Album Review: MYNAME's "Five Stars"

I often forget how much I enjoy listening to MYNAME, not through any fault of theirs, but because they end up so sparingly marketed in Korea. When a worthy band winds up being more appreciated in Japan with their overseas releases, I tend to gain more of a taste for their foreign language albums since I not only want to support the band, but also the fans who serve as the backbone of their popularity. In the case of MYNAME, I also think their Japanese albums are legitimately better than Korean ones, though I do enjoy both.

Needless to say, I was quite pleased to hear a new Japanese album was in the works following their overseas debut record WE ARE MYNAME. “We are the Night,” “(If You Wanna) Be My Baby,” and “Anonymous” are some of my favorite tracks by the group, and I was looking for that same blend of mature dance tracks and breathtaking ballads as that album delivered.

Here's my takeaway from MYNAME's second Japanese album, Five Stars:

Klick: Now this is how you start off an album! Upbeat and chic, “Klick” is a strong self-anthem that captures the same edgy flair the boys brought to the starter tracks of their previous Japanese release. Much like the similarly themed “Paparazzi” by Girls' Generation, this track is hooky in all the right places and starts the album off on the right note.

Hocus Pocus: The second track keeps the pace going strong, and while not quite as catchy or engaging as “Klick,” its beats are enjoyably hypnotic and-- dare I say it?-- magical. MYNAME has pulled better tricks out of their hat, but it's a fairly solid track nonetheless.

F.F.Y: “F.F.Y”, or Fight For You, was the lead off single from the album, and since the video has been out since February, it has the benefit of being the track fans are already most familiar with. As a J-Popper, I'd argue that this track is one that does the best job of reflecting the trademark Japanese sound. I could completely see a Johnny's group working with a track like this, though naturally I'm thrilled that MYNAME is the one behind it given how well their voices suit the throwback melody and dynamic pacing. I prefer “Klick” overall as a track, but this is still one heck of a single for the group, and serves as an excellent representation of their Japan-specific sound.

Baby I'm Sorry (Japanese version): It takes a lot to get me to enjoy a Japanese version more after I'm used to listening to the Korean version, but “Baby I'm Sorry” happens to be a great track no matter what language it's sung in, and I ended up enjoying this rendition as much as the original. It also brings back fond memories of Gunwoo and JunQ's “SORRY” high note battle on After School Club, which resulted in JunQ repeatedly yelling “Saw-ry” in his delightful low voice that of course didn't want to go much higher.

Interlude: Nice instrumentation, I guess?

STARS: “STARS” is the first original ballad off the album, and also the first nod to the album title itself. Insoo and Gunwoo's vocals are killer, but it does get a little bit sleepy in places due to the lack of variety in the pacing. A soothing track, but not particularly memorable.

Shirayuki: This ballad did a better job with me, once again because of how well they captured the Japanese style of music while still putting their own spin on it. I prefer the vocal line in “STARS,” but I feel the story of this track more based on the emotionally delivery alone without even having to look up the lyrics. A great track for this year's never-ending winter!

We Made It: I usually like their upbeat tracks quite a bit, but this one was a bit lukewarm for me. I did enjoy the rap parts, but the overall melody wasn't anything special. It's not bad, simply meh.

Guilty as Charged: “Guilty as Charged,” on the other hand, is everything I like about their faster paced songs. It's not their most complex song ever, but it's delightfully dark and moody. I'd rave to this in a heartbeat if I could find a club in New York that would play this kind of song.

Sha la la: I was wary after seeing the title of this track, since I don't like songs that sub a lot of la las and na nas as legitimate lyrics, but then I heard the violins and cheered up a bit because violins far outweigh all the sha las on the planet. I'm glad I opened my mind to this song, because I did end up enjoying it. I'm not quite sure what they mean by “you are my sha la la,” but I still have a weakness for first love songs for nostalgia reasons.

No Joke: In spite of a moment of confusion where I was convinced they said “F**k the light,” this smooth jam won me over courtesy of rap line of Seyong and JunQ, who haven't had as much of a chance to show off as the vocals. That being said, the vocals are still pretty dang sexy on the chorus, although they could use a little bit of enunciation to avoid the f-word issue.

Robot Boy: After “Klick,” this is my second favorite from the album, particularly when it comes to the lyrics. Comparing living with a damaged heart to being like a broken robot not only rings true, but the message is also delivered in the English-language chorus, which makes it easy to pick up for international fans. The vocals and raps are both on point, and the “fix me, can you come and fix me?” line is the most memorable of the album.

Your Answer: I was expecting another ballad here, but “Your Answer” ended up being a mid-tempo track brimming with nicely done harmonized back-up vocals and lots of romantic optimism. Not a bad wrap up number!

Girlfriend (Japanese version): Like with “Baby I'm Sorry,” I did like their Japanese rendition of the song quite a bit, but was a wee bit disappointed that the album didn't close off with an original number. I would have traded this track's position with “Your Answer,” which had the makings of a good closer. Whenever I hear this song, I'm not expecting the album to end, I'm expecting the Hwanhee outro to follow it up! Still a good track, however, as was the original version. 

Overall, this album earns a solid B. I prefer their WE ARE MYNAME album, but Five Stars has plenty to offer fans of their Japanese work. The groups remains frustratingly underrated in Korea, but if it means more quality J-Pop releases like this, I can hardly complain!

8 Gifs Which Prove Minho is a God of Aegyo

Our sweet Taeminnie is growing up, and the days of seeing aegyo like

this

this

 and this

may very well have passed us by. Now who can we turn to in SHINee for overflowing aegyo? Can't be flaming charisma, manly man Minho, can it? Or...

DIBDIBDIS, yup it's Minho <3

Thoughts On: Hallyu in Japan

I love the Japanese releases of K-pop artists. Maybe it was because I was a J-Pop fan way before K-pop entered my radar, but I like the differences in style that the J-Pop albums bring out. U-Kiss, Girls' Generation, 2PM, SHINee... some of their Japanese albums get played just as often as their Korean counterparts on my Ipod. Some artists, including MYNAME and The Boss, sound so great in Japanese that their J-pop comebacks sometimes mean more to me than their Korean ones do.


Also, I very much appreciate how much the Asian music industry has done to open countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, etc to each other. Perhaps the fact that they share musical influences is small in the face of politics, but it's still a step in the right direction that Korean groups can debut in Japan and Japanese, Korean, and Chinese bands include members of varying Asian descent.


That being said, there's always been something that has annoyed me a bit about the Japanese Hallyu wave, and that's how soon we've forgotten the sacrifices of the artists that paved the way for this movement. Most groups, male groups especially, enter the K-Pop industry with the expectation that they'll make a Japanese debut eventually. Japan even approaches certain groups and requests that they release material for Japanese fans; some groups have even been asked to debut in Japan before releasing anything in Korea.



Flashback several years ago to when TVXQ made their Japanese debut. SM Entertainment didn't want them to be Hallyu idols; they wanted the group to be J-pop idols, with a completely different sound from their TVXQ releases. And so Tohoshinki was born. The five members were thrust from the height of their Korean career into Japan to start at the bottom. They couldn't speak the language yet, and since they couldn't be true J-pop stars if they appeared with translators, they simply had to forgo reality shows until they could speak with fluidity. Without those promotions, it was difficult to face-off properly against Japanese powerhouses in the male idol industry like SMAP, Arashi, and EXILE. 



Of course, we all know Tohoshinki picked up Japanese, and went on to become the first non-Japanese artist in 24 years to hit number one on the Oricon charts multiple times. Their popularity overseas remains to this date, and much of their promoting takes place in Japan rather than Korea. And when it comes to how Tohoshinki is viewed, they did dodge becoming Hallyu stars-- they are very much Japanese idols when promoting as Tohoshinki.



The new Hallyu stars certainly can't be blamed for SM Entertainment's way of positioning Tohoshinki, but I think there's a reason why it hasn't really been repeated again and most idols like U-KISS and FT Island have been allowed to pick up Japanese at their own pace. Though THSK is the exact kind of J-pop star the label wanted, they had to go through some awful experiences emotionally to make that dream happen. Whenever the members talk about their early experience in Japan, it's clear to see they were depressed at the time and on the verge of giving up on themselves after being forced to navigate an industry and country they were entirely unfamiliar with without much in the way of help. When Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu brought their lawsuit against SM, it was also clear to see that they felt the company had overstepped the line in their treatment of the group during their Japanese debut.



These days, groups can have a relatively successful career in Japan knowing only conversational Japanese and taking on the Hallyu style rather than shifting most of the way into J-Pop style. I enjoy the Hallyu wave and all it has to offer, but sometimes I'm filled with sadness that Tohoshinki had to suffer so much in paving the road for the others. I hope when the other Korean idols begin their Japanese careers they remember the challenges of those who came before them!

8 Adorable Gunhee/Heechul Moments

So if you've been following Heechul at all after his return from military service (and I mean more than just noting that he's in global WGM), you've probably noticed that he's developed a closer bond with his childhood friend and now-hair stylist Gunhee, who's been spotted with Heechul and the group so often that we're considering adopting him as the next Super Junior member. Heechul himself has admitted that Gunhee has been a huge source of comfort and happiness recently, and clearly enjoys spending lots of time with him.



Of course, this has sparked the debate whether they're a pairing, especially considering Heechul's track record for being a bit touchy with the same sex. As for me? I'm happy that Heechul is happy. I'll love whatever makes up that happiness for as long as it puts a smile on his face. And, of course, I love watching Gunhee bring out the best of our Heechul, especially since he's been sorely missed by us fans in the past few years. So ship or not, let's just take a moment to give kudos to this happy friendship for Heechul!

1. Making a heart in Singapore

Around the time Gunhee was just being put on fans' radars, he and Heechul formed a heart together during a hotel stay in Singapore

2. Yukatas in bed!

Honestly, Heechul's the only person who could post this kind of photo and not have an automatic scandal over it :)

3. Groping at the radio station!

Gunhee is living the dream here

4. Motor bike fun

Eunhae aren't the only ones who rock motorcycles

5. Behind the scenes at WGM

Even he's a bit unclear on who he's supposed to be marrying here

6. Vacation with Gunhee and Anna

Allegedly to do more WGM shooting, too. Can't do that without your BFF or Frozen doll

7. Do you wanna build a snowman?

Bursting in on people in the bathroom is the best

8. Hairwash

Never attempt without half-naked stylist in tub

6 J-Pop Artists Who Should Come to America Right Now

Outside of the convention scene, J-Pop acts don't usually make it to America. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is one of the few singers who has rolled out a full-blown touring stage in the recent years, and though the J-Rockers have continued to draw crowds, most of the best-known names of J-Pop remain a distant dream for their North American fans.

Here are five shows I think is America is ready for!


1. A Johnny's Entertainment Showcase

SMTown and YG Family do tours-- why shouldn't Johnny's? Sure, there's a lot of them... but that's kinda the point!

2. AKB48

If they can't bring the otaku boys out, I don't know who will (Miku?)

3. EXILE

They may be an older act, but do we fangirls really care? I sure don't! They sound good, look good, and put on a great live show.

4. Momoiro Clover Z

Their costumes and stage antics would be so fun to see live. They may be kawaii, but it's a powerful kind of cuteness

5. Namie Amuro

Out of the female solo pool, Namie's got the full package when it comes to singing, dancing, and putting on a crazy show

6. TM Revolution

He's an icon, fan favorite, and visually one of the most remarkable non-visual kei performers in Japan. He'd bring the house down and have a lot of fun doing it

10 Jokes Only EXO Fans Will Get

EXO-L is a very talkative fandom... only because they give us such hysterical things to talk about. Here are jokes all EXO-L know... and everyone else thinks they're lunatics for.

1. "Listen! Enjoy the mayo!"

Luhan commands. And then get ready to detail your download history

2. "ROLL LIKE A BUFFALO!"

Anyone else want a detailed interview with the songwriter for the deeper meaning?

3. "Yehet!"

The maknae's most important contribution to EXO's growing list of trending phrases

4. "Not my Style"

So says Kris before eating all the chicken

5. "I'm a unicorn!"

He doesn't just heal people. He's a freakin unicorn

6. Ggapsong/kkaebsong

He just got a little surprised, that's all. No big deal.

7. Galaxy

Kris is done with Earth. Time to go back to EXO planet! 

8. EXO Lunchtime

And yet we watched the whole thing, anyways 

9. Tao + Gucci

Put it all on the credit card, Kris-gege, kthanxbye

10. Kris the Artist

The animals of the world captured by his masterful brush

5 Fangirl Thoughts After the Teen Top Hi-Touch

So, the other day I went to the Teen Top concert in NYC. The concert marked the first time I'd participated in a Hi-Touch event, which for those of you who haven't done much hi-touching either, is pretty much where the group stands in a line and you can hold their hand for about three seconds. It's not a freebie, because, you know, they take us at our word when we say we would do anything to see our oppas. Including empty our wallet. Which I did without regret.

Not that I would do it for just anyone! Shelling out money for 10 seconds of handshakes is something I'll reserve for my sacred Top Ten: Big Bang, SHINee, TVXQ, U-KISS, Super Junior, Teen Top, 2PM, EXO, B1A4, and NU'EST. My life would be complete if I got to meet all of them.

The few seconds of hi-touching were sacred, and went by too quickly. My brain didn't have time to process it while it was happening, but after it was over, a few memories did stick out!

1. OMO, MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE

It was a pretty close call, too.

2. CAN HUMAN BEINGS REALLY BE THAT ATTRACTIVE?

Apparently yes, because I know I didn't imagine that flawlessness

3. I JUST MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ALL SIX MEMBERS OF TEEN TOP isohfoishoihfosif

Yes, it happened. But I think I'll just replay it five billion times in my head just to be sure.

4. NIEL, YOU JUST BROKE MY BIAS LIST WITH YOUR EYES!

CAP was my bias, what the heck did you do to my bias list when our eyes met? I don't care if I'm a bit of a pedonoona. You are my new favorite. My heartbeats don't lie.

5. CAP, WHY THE HECK WERE YOU WEARING SUNGLASSES????

The fact that I couldn't see you properly gave Niel the big opening he needed to steal my heart. Please can we meet again so I can see your smoldering gaze?

Welcome to A-POPS!!!

Love Asian pop? Love fangirling? A-Pops is your nerdy source for both!

I'm Julie Marie, the music writer with GoBoiano. I'm a J-Pop, K-Pop, and J-Rock devotee and anime lover. I have a giant sized crush on TOP. I'm addicted to music by Yuya Matsushita. I've touched all 6 members of Teen Top. I'm a DB5K supporter and Yunjae shipper. Tegomass and GD&TOP are the bestest sub-units in the world.

In short, Asian pop is a huge part of my life. And I would have never been able to discover it without the help of fans, so this feed is my way to give back. With GB I have the chance to share Asian music with the larger Asian pop culture fandom, and with A-POPS, I also want to have fun with the direct fandom of Asian music!

So have fun, and now it's time to FANGIRL!!!!!!