Re-discovering Lucid Fall…. & Hello, Lee Jin Wook

Two musicians who were on my playlist recently are singer-songwriter Lucid Fall and pianist Li Jin Wook.

Lucid Fall – fronted by lone musician Jo Yun Suk - returned  to the K-pop scene in December 2009 with his new work “Les Miserables”. The 34-year-old took a hiatus when he headed to Switzerland to concentrate on working on his Phd thesis on nanotechnology. After 7 years of research, the talented songwriter was ready to bid goodbye to life as an academia to pursue music again.

Lucid Fall

In his interview with  the Korea Times, he said his decision… which was pretty abrupt, was intuitive.

“The decision was quite clear. I’m not sure what it was (that made it clear), but it just felf right. It was a moment I can’t explain logically, but (leaving) felt like the right thing to do,” he said.

It was a right decision – the chemical engineer belongs to music, and his comeback album “Les Miserables” is proof to that.

The relaxingly dreamy and breezy sounds from his latest works seemed markedly different from his older stuff. I could be wrong because I am not a close listener of his work.

While I enjoyed his second and third studio albums “Oh, Love” and “A Night At Border”, they sounded too folksy and subdued to hold my attention for long. But I enjoyed the jazz and bosa nova sounds in his OST work for “Bus Stop”.

However, I was delightly enlivened by “Les Miserables”. Though I have yet to link the album title to his music, “Les Miserables” is truly an impressive album. It is richer in sounds, thanks to the use of the saxophone, piano and harp, compared with his previous releases.  It is also livelier and happier – as if he’d unloaded the burden from his heart and started afresh.

Lucid Fall's 4th album

Cliche this may sound, but it’s a perfect-10 album. From composition to arrangement, there’s no flaws that could be picked at. What is amazing is that though some of the pieces may not sound catchy, they are wonderfully melodious. An oddity is that I couldn’t hum the tune even after numerous plays,  yet they made a deep impressioin. And I remember it because every note in his pieces move me.

The other thing that I love about “Les Miserables” is the generous use of the piano. As the playlist runs along, you hear a different instrument taking centerstage in each song. For instance, the clarinet that came in at  Track 5 or 6 ( I can’t remember which) during the bridge was a stunner. I hadn’t seen it coming, and so, was caught by surprise. I could still remember when I heard it the first time – I was slouching on the bus, my eyes watching the passing sight outside the window. Then the clarinet came in through the earbuds connected to my Cowon D2… I sat up, and I could feel the corners of my mouth quirking upwards … the arrangement is simply ingenious, and it took my breath away.

It would be truly regretable if not more people give this album a spin.

Lee Jin Wook in "Deja vu Waltz" MV

Moving on… I came across pianist Lee Jin Wook by chance. I happened to click on his album “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” on some music site and liked the sound of his work. But I fell for his music when I got my hands on his debut release “My Waltz Style”.

 As the title suggests, all tracks from “My Waltz Style”  are centered around waltz – one way or the other.

Music box tinkles formed the intro of the opening track from the 2009-released album, giving hints of what’s to come. The emotions that the simple tune that ”After Dreaming” evoked in me was similar to when I listened to Chong Park’s “Prelude No. 2″ for the first time.

The second track “White Cloud” is a happy piece that seemed to plonk me onto summery fields faraway, where I can smell the greens and tip-toe on the grass, and feel the breeze under cloudless skies…  The third track “Deja vu Waltz” – a quintessentially waltz piece – maintained the high bar set, followed by the quieter notes of “Home Sweet” and “One Summer”.

The flow and style was consistent except for the little oddity in “Laissez-faire”, an electro-pop-commercial-like jingle. 

Though having had the album from the mail for months now, I have yet to closely sample the rest of the tracks, but what’s on A-side are promising stuff.

 This Youtube clip shows a sampler of his music from “Waltz Style” performed live at the Naru Arts Center.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YeqKA1U1Dw&feature=channel

 

Waltz Style

 

SuJu’s Super Show 2 in Malaysia

The night of March 20, 2010 was special, because of Suju. Their Super Show 2 was uber fun, and I wished I had bought tickets to better seats – my only regret.  

You could probably tell the sound systems are of sub-par quality, going by the warm-up acts at the opening.    

There is only one mega speaker located at the top, front of the Bukit Jalil Stadium – which means no surround sound. The volume knob was turned up to high, and the music was distorted and screechingly uncomfortable on the ears. It was made worse when my seat – on the second floor – was not far from the speaker.   

The good part was you can feel floor and seats rumble with the bass, but I’d much prefer a softer, clearer sounds. And most of the time, Suju’s voices were drowned out by the blastingly loud accompanying music.  

Super Junior's Super Show 2 in Malaysia

One saving grace was the rectangular-shaped stage layout, which extended outwards and lined the railings where the audience were seated. The center of the stage was crossed, with two rock pits located on each side, bringing the members closer to the 15,000 fans. If you were standing at the rock pit, you’ll be able to touch them with your outstretched hands.  

I could remember holding my breath the moment the concert began – at 8pm sharp,  an hour after admissions. By then, the seating hall had morphed into a sea of sapphire blue – a sight to behold – as fans wrung out their light sticks and flailed their arms in anticipation.  

I had no idea where to look because I couldn’t tell where they’ll spring from. Then I saw Donghae, who appeared first. The rest followed one after the other at various points of the stage. They were plonked all over and you find yourself diverting your attention at various places because the 10 of them were everywhere.  

Speaking of Donghae, he sported a shorter hairdo from last year - during his SJ-M Supergirl album promotional activities in Taiwan last year.  

Kyuhyun had shorter hair too, but the perm seemed a tad stiff. Nonetheless, his vocals was in top form. Despite the horrendous sound system, it’s a miracle he could still sound a tune. His solo – he sang a Chinese number – was actually pleasant coming from those speakers.    

One other member that caught my eye was Sungmin. He looked completely different, with hair tied up and swept on one side of his face – very edgy, and very cool. It was a far cry from his bubbly, sunshine image, that I’m used to. But it was definitely a pleasant surprise.    

Cinderella Heechul wasn’t a princess that Saturday night, garbed in J-rock-inspired outfit and makeup. Not surprising since he had mention before that he used to listen to J-rockers such as L’Arc-en-Ciel.

However, I thought he seemed kinda moody and heavy-hearted that day. Maybe this is one of his many offbeat personas, but I doubt it. I suspect it could be the Hankyung factor. And he didn’t sing too much that night either – he sounded soft on his mike, at times even missing his part whenever it’s his turn to sing.  

As with the previous outings in Taiwan and China, 3 members – Hankyung, Kangin and Kibum – were absent.  

Leader Lee Teuk was in his charmingly happy, chatty self, covering most of the MC with Siwon as his unofficial translator. And Siwon showed much skinship that day, to the delight of fans. He was constantly exhibiting his six-pack, whether voluntarily or otherwise.  

Like most ELFs, seeing the Suju members for the first time outside of the PC or TV box was a surreal moment… Eunhyuk, Ryeowook, Shindong and of course fellow Yiruma fan – Yesung!  

Anyhow, the group launched straight into a set list of fast numbers such as ”A Man in Love “, “U”, “It’s You”, “She Wants It”… etc in the introductory part of the show.  Accompanied by high energy choreographed dance performances, it couldn’t have been a better opening as it revved every single fan in the stadium!

Fans were jumping up and down along with Suju, and you wouldn’t believe they’ll have energy to last the entire show, but they did. The ELFs beside me, behind of me, and in front of me screamed their lungs out for three straight hours! I’m not exaggerating.   

Like their first concert, Super Show 2 was interspersed with short video clips, play-backed on the 3 giant screens on the centre and at each side of the stage. It was probably to allow for costume change time but that didn’t slow the pace of the show.  

The second segment was individual solos – Donghae danced and sang to “Beautiful” followed by Ryeowook’s ”Insomia” - which I wasn’t fond, until I heard his rendition. 

Then there’s Kyunhyun’s amazing warm vocals and Yesung’s number. Lee Teuk’s ”Honey” was really fun too and it left a deep impression on me. I always thought Teukkie looks a lot like his sunbae Lee Jihoon… 

After the slower-paced segment, the members reunite onstage for some adrenalin-pumping dance music again. The part that I liked best was when they performed the concert remix of their hit song “Sorry Sorry”.

Decked in all-white suits, the 10 members were in sync in vocals and moves as they sing to “Sorry Sorry”. This the song that I’ve seen & heard countless times on YouTube and TV – both parodies and originals. But to see and hear it ‘live’ was beyond what words can describe.  This song alone, at least for me, is worth the ticket price, including the return plane fare.    

Unless you have a fave Suju member, it’s really hard to focus on all members because most of the time, they are standing at various points of the stage. But since I am fond of Donghae at the moment (it was Kyuhyun just a few months ago!), my attention was on fixated him. He was extremely thoughtful towards fans, always reaching out to them. I found my eyes roving in search of Sungmin as well, cause I was really taken by his cool and edgy look that day.  

Though missing on 3 members, SJ-M’s Zhoumi and Henry made appearances, joining in the performances of songs “Supergirl” and “Blue Tomorrow”.

Despite clocking a whopping 3 hours, fans were reluctant to see the marathon concert end, hollering for an encore performance.

Suju ceded to fans’ call and returned on stage in casual, animal-prints Tshirts. They battled with fans at the rock pit with water guns as they encored with “Wonder Boys” and “Marry U” before wrapping up the concert. It seemed the latter song is a must-sing in their concerts, given what it symbolized between ELFs and Suju. And emotional Teukkie and sensitive Donghae were caught on cameras teary-eyed.

I’ve always wondered if Kpop groups sang live or lip-sync in concerts… I’m guessing it’s half-half. The solos were definitely live, but the dance numbers could have been half-lipsynced and half-live (eg: recorded chorus). When singing “Wonder Boy”, some members forgot it was their turn (or maybe cause they were so busy running up and down the stage while playing water games with fans), and you can hear the music without the singing.         

In all, the concert was a most unforgettable experience, and it was definitely a super-duper happy day for ELFs.  

While SM Entertainment has yet to announced the release dates for the Super Show 2 DVD, the closest thing is their Premium Live event in Japan last year, which is out now on DVD. It’s pricey, just because it’s a Japanese version, but it’s a must-have if you want reminisce the concert. You can check out the uploads on Youtube.   

And another plus is, you get to see 12 members there - it’s a treasured recording of one of their happier outings, something which won’t come by easy given Hankyung’s lawsuit.

Who Is Ryu Deok-Hwan?

Ryu Deok-Hwan on set of "Our Town"

Can you believe that this fresh-faced lad in the picture above is a serial killer? He must possess great acting talent then, to have convinced me in the slasher Korean flick ”Our Town”.

This young, promising actor sent me on a movie marathon recently after I saw him in ”Our Town” – which I’ve dreaded to watch ever since I bought the DVD some time ago, because I just don’t have the stomach for the horror genre.

When I finally mustered enough courage to plod it into my DVD player, I wondered why it took me this long – it’s a decent enough film (at least it’s not some senseless slasher Korean flick) with some pretty good acting and direction all round.   

Two characters caught my attention right away – Ryu Deok-Hwan and his dog. By the way, the 22-year-old actor played a serial killer in “Our Town” and he killed his dog just half hour into the  movie because it ate his lunch.

I guess one is not supposed to like the serial killer – because that would probably mean the actor didn’t do justice to the character. Or maybe it’s the plot that set him up so that he garnered some sympathy votes? It’s a little of both… his character is burdened with a sad story, but a serial is supposed to inflict fear. I was disappointed with the scene where he had to kill the vet, because it was one of the few that showed him actually knifing a victim. But it didn’t turn out as impactful as I’d hoped.

Nonetheless, he displayed some fine acting in the movie. Despite his slight built, he held his own against his bigger name co-stars Oh Man Seok and Lee Seon Gyun. Impressed by his performance, I checked out his previous work and realized that he’d earned recognition as an actor in his debut role as an aspiring transgeneder, overweight but talented Ssireumm teen wrestler in the critically-acclaimed and crowd pleasing indie flick ”Like A Virgin”.

Coming from “Our Town”, I couldn’t recognized the boy that was buried beneath the flab, but those eyes and voice were him.  He put on 28kg in 3 months to play the part. His understated acting won him a deserving nomination at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor.

Scene from "My Son"

Post-”Virgin”, the slimmed-down Ryu went on to play a son in Jang Jin’s project “My Son”, alongside Cha Seung-Won.  At six-foot plus, Cha towers over the slight Ryu, yet the young actor commanded as much presence onscreen as his more experienced co-star.

His quiet acting, coupled with the witty dialogue and wry humor – characteristic of any Jang Jin movies – left a strong impression.

“My Son” tells a story of a convicted murderer played by Cha, who’s serving a life sentence, getting to spend a day with his son whom he’d never seen for 15 (?)  years. The first meeting was as awkward as you would have imagined, but when the two finally warmed up to each other, it was  time to head separate ways. There’s also a rather nice twist at the end by the way.

There’s no lack of memorable scenes from the movie – the two runing down the  streets, the scene at the telephone booth with the fly, the dinner scene… just to name a few.

Though simple on plot, “My Son” is easily a classic and a must-watch for Kmovie buffs. Definitely a finer example of Korean cinema, amidst some of the senseless flicks that are churned out ever-so-frequently.

Ryu’s latest outing was a doctor in training in2009′s “Private Eye”, a mystery-thriller set in the early 20th century when Korea was still under Japanese colonial rule.  

The plot is simple – A medical student chanced upon a corpse in the woods, wheel-barrowed it home for dissection practice, but found out later that the victim was the son of an influential politician. And so, the student enlisted the help of a private investigator (played by Hwang Jeong-min who was impressive in the chilly “Black House”) to find the real killer. And here’s the catch – Hwang was not our seasoned PI, but he’s a pro at tracking down cheating spouses and exposing illicit scandals.

The movie was a fun ride and it kept you guessing who the killer was. Though not as nail-biting as a Holmes case, or as jaw-dropping when the final truth was unveiled, it entertained nonetheless. Initially, I thought the period at which this movie was set would work against it, just because I’m not fond of anything that’s not contemporary. Surpringly, it gave the film a rustic air and helped set it apart from the scores of mystery thrillers elsewhere.

There’s little that I know about the actor, due in part to his lack of star status (hence the lack of interviews) and his standing as a serious actor. He does stage plays at times and plays the piano – at least I think he does, because the piano scene in “My Son” didn’t seem fake. And he dances well, just check out “Virgin”. Then again, a lot of Korean actors got some nifty moves up their sleeves, some of whom I’d least expect.  

What is impressive about his body of work is consistency – in terms of his performance and the quality of projects that he’d picked. None of the movies that I’ve seen him in were stuff that you’d wished you hadn’t seen.

He reminds me a lot of another actor that I like – Ninomiya Kazunari. Both  seemed to share the same style in acting – quiet, understated, but strong – and both of  them pay a lot of attention to the details.

I wish I knew more about this actor, but knowing so little about him has its advantage…

Gentle Giant… So Ji Sub

There’s something special … or rather unique, about So Ji Sub. What is unusual about him is that he seem strong (due mainly to his built), yet extremely vulnerable on-screen at the same time. 

So Ji Sub in "Cain & Abel"

He was best remembered for his role in MISA, which I had a good impression of too. But I wasn’t taken by the love story, as most fans were. I thought it’s more of a tale about the estranged fate between a mother and her son. I was however more impressed with the top-notch acting and rustic cinematography that won me over.

And after two years of military service, So finally returned to the small screen with SBS’s revenge thriller “Cain & Abel” and this drama outing only affirmed what a wonderful actor he is.

The project was delayed countless times and saw some major cast changes and script rewrites as well. But So stuck with the project and the production team returned his loyalty with “Cain & Abel”.

“Cain & Abel” is serious drama that’s high on quality but suffers just a tad from a weak and somewhat clichéd plot. However, the brilliant performance from the cast saved the show, which made it an enjoyable watch.

So admitted more than once that he’s drawn to complicated characters – including some that his fans may not like – so it’s not hard to understand his choice of MISA and “Cain & Abel”.

Lee Cho In is an interesting, and well fleshed out character in “Cain & Abel”. It also gave So lots of room to work his character which went from a jovial, naïve and skilled doctor in the early episodes to a man on the run, and finally, a angsty character with a vindictive mission.

And he was on the mark with his delivery – the slight changes in the tones of his speech over the episodes as his character develops, and the mannerisms as well. Many actors have fallen prey to over-acting, especially in dramatic roles, so it was a relief to see that he’d avoid the trap.  

The 1.82-meter tall actor towers over her co-star in MISA but that didn’t stop the pair from becoming one of the Korean TV drama’s favorite couple. And it was the same with Han Ji Min in his latest work. Like everyone else, I didn’t think they’ll make a likely pair, but on and off-screen, the  chemistry between the two were faultless.

Gentle is often the word that fans use to describe So – an odd choice for someone with his built. But for those who are familiar with the introverted star, it’s an apt description.

I met this lady a few years ago – in 2005 I think – she was at So Ji Sub’s fanmeeting in Seoul and she was recounting to me how surprised she was to find out that this actor is such a shy and reserved guy.

The lady - a retiree who is taking Korean language classes at a school in Seoul – is obviously a fan. I didn’t take her words too seriously, until I chanced upon a YouTube clip that showed him in an old interview alongside Hallyu stars Song Seng Hun and Park Yong Ha. They were asked about their impressions of So and both fellow actors gave some really funny accounts. But more importantly, their stories shed light on the kind of person So is.  (YouTube clip here  – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TNfO-H2S-E&feature=related)

The interviewer also shared his account. He was travelling on a small plane with So. The interviewer was on the edge of his seat most of the time because there were much turbulence and the plane was shaking wildly. He stole a peek at So and found that he was unperturbed by the turbulence and continued with his reading quietly. After the plane landed, the interviewer asked So if he were scared if there was a mishap.

His reply was “If I were to die, everyone else on the plane would die too.”

That line says a lot about him, I think.

I can still remember watching So and his MISA co-star at an award show – the genteel and thoughtful demeanor towards Lim Su-jung was especially impressionable.

The star confessed being an introvert and doesn’t like talking in front of people. Interestingly, the actor is crazy about hip-hop music.  Off cameras, he’ll be sporting curly hair in true hip-hop fashion.  He had even performed some hip-hop tunes at his fanmeeting in the past.

And more recently, he started dabbling in hip-hop music –  going by the name G. The singles are released in Japan.

PS: I came across a clip of him at the 2009 NY Asian Film Fest, for his movie “Rough Cut”. You can see a very enthusiatic crowd and the very tall So Ji Sub.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=so+ji+sub&search_type=&aq=f

Yiruma’s Movement on a Theme Concert 2009

It was a familiar sight at the concert hall at Jeju Culture and Art Center in Jeju City on Christmas eve  – an austere stage with just a semi-concert grand Steinway, minus any superfluous stage design and lighting. Yet, Yiruma’s piano concert is nothing less than grand, in terms of the sensory experience.     

Yiruma's Movement on a Theme concert at Seoul Arts Center

 Anyone familiar with Yiruma’s music would probably know what to expect – wistful tinkles that are stunningly beautiful and unbearably tender. 

The giant screen at the center of the stage lit up, playing a pre-recorded clip, signaling that the concert has begun. The mild-mannered pianist - dressed in a laid-back dark-colored sweater and pants – appeared on stage and played the first two songs – his signature tracks “Kiss The Rain” and “When The Love Falls”. 

What’s different between the concert versions and the studio recordings are the improvisations and arrangements with strings accompaniment. For example, the cello and guitar for pieces such as “I”, “Fotografia” and “Indigo (with guitar)”.   

The intro to “I” was one of the prettiest I’ve ever heard. It opened with soft tinkles on the grace notes, harmonizing with the melancholic mumbles from the cello. The dialogue between the piano and cello continued in splendid synchrony, carrying the tune forward. This arrangement is the same as the one that was played last year, but good nonetheless. 

There were three musicians who collaborated with Yiruma on his Movement touras - a cellist, who also worked with him on the Ribonized tours last year, as well as two guitarists – one of whom doubled as vocalist. He goes by Ruvin – the voice behind “River Flows In You”. 

Other familiar pieces dominating the first part of the concert include  “Sometimes… Someone”, and “Tears On Love”. 

The surprises came after the intermission, where Yiruma returned with a newly improvised “Maybe”.   

And what was especially impressionable in this concert, at least for me, was his playing of “Sunbeams… They Scatter” – a brilliant piece that requires precision and concentration - you can tell from the way he paused slightly at the Steinway keys before hitting the first note.  This is the first time he selected a piece from Nocturnal/His Monologue albums, and one of my favorite piece. 

Other less popular pieces such as “Sunny Rain” and ”Septemberise” also made it to the set list for the first time.  The rest consisted a predictable selection of popular tunes, but I’m not complaining because each one of his compositions is awe-inspiring and lushingly beautiful.   

  

Yiruma signs autographs

 Curiously though, despite the title of the tour, we don’t get to hear pieces from his latest mini album in this concert, aside from the vocalized version of “Rives flows in you”. 

And in keeping with tradition, the soft-spoken pianist sang one number during the encore - he sang “Our Same Word” in Jeju but chose “Dream” instead in the Seoul shows. He also played Christmas medley in Jeju since it was Christmas eve. He replaced that with the main theme from movie “Cinema Paradiso” by Ennio Morricone at the December 26, 8pm Seoul performance. It’s a well-know tune but flavored with Yiruma’s stylings, and was absolutely awesome~ 

There weren’t any performances scheduled on December 25 because he probably had to do his weekly radio stint on Fridays, so in fact, he did spend Christmas with fans. If you had tuned in to his radio program on Friday, you would have heard his romantic Christmas tinkles over the air waves.    

As usual, Yiruma – being an engaging performer – addressed the audience in between songs to introduce the next piece. I remembered he mentioned working really hard right after he finished his navy stint. He worked non-stop for days without resting (for his album P.N.O.N.I) but later qualified that it’s not healthy and advised against it. 

I guess the reason the reason I brought this up is because it just goes to show the hardwork behind making music, or any music for the matter. People have criticized that his music sounds easy but to write deceptively simple tunes that sound great at the same time takes as much work as writing any song.   

Long line of fans waiting to get his autograph

 The demographics of the crowd in Jeju and Seoul are interestingly different. There used to be a far younger audience in the Seoul shows but surprisingly, the 8pm crowd was much more mature as compared to the 2pm Seoul audience. And I thought the elderly likes only classical music. 

The mood however was best in Jeju, mainly because Yiruma was more relaxed, and slightly playful, and the smaller hall – with a capacity of less than 900 – was personal and cozy in spite of the wintry weather. The Seoul crowd was just a tad more sombre – maybe it’s the age factor. 

There were also more foreigners in this year’s concert - lots of Japanese and a few Caucasians in the Seoul shows. 

Really, there’s usually nothing over the top about Yiruma’s piano concerts – be it his attire, the stage set, his gestures, his accompanying musicians and even his piano. Yet, the experience is nothing short of grand. 

And responses to his shows are typically well-received – listeners were enthusiastic and generous with their applause, and sighs of disappointment echoed throughout the hall when the last song was announced. And the encore sought to bring some kind of consolation at the closure.    

  

Concert catalog with mini digital album

Korean Drama – ‘Revenge Thrillers’

This is a rare genre in the world of Korean dramas, and so far, only three titles made the cut. They are “Resurrection” (KBS, 2005), “Green Rose” (SBS, 2005) and “Time Between Dog & Wolf” (MBC, 2007).  

All three share similar fates – less-than-ideal ratings, due more or less to an action-centered plot where romance took a back seat.

Seoul has churned out numerous immensely popular dramas in the romantic-comedy genre in recent years. Though the Japanese are still more versatile in TV drama production, the work that the Koreans have produced proved they are catching up fast. And they may just have surpassed their neighbouring counterparts  in the romantic-comedy genre…. though some may disagree. Anyways, this is strictly a personal opinion.

Though all three dramas run on the same theme, they couldn’t have been more different in their execution. “Green Rose”and “Resurrection” came out in the same year, “Green Rose” first, and followed by “Resurrection”. The starking contrast between them is the way the story was told. We know who the murderer/baddie is in “Resurrection” right from the beginning, and the story follows the character’s vindinctive progress to seek out the killer. (There’s a nice twist at the end though.)

Green Rose

“Green Rose” on the other hand works like a mystery novel, keeping viewers in the dark as to who the killer might be, and it keeps you guessing right up to the finale when the truth is unveiled. It’s like… when you think you know who the killer is, the next scene throws you off course and you wonder again if you made the wrong guess.

When watching “Time Between Dog & Wolf” two years later, I can’t help but notice that it shares a similiar opener with “Green Rose”.

Time Between Dog And Wolf

Initially, I was disappointed with the lack of originality with ”Time Between Dog & Wolf”. I thought perhaps they could have thought up a more original opening, than to rip off the introductory scene from “Green Rose”. But by the second episode, I knew “Time Between Dog & Wolf” is a worthy contender for one of the best thriller drama that ever came out of Korea.

The winning element for “Time Between Dog & Wolf” is its perfect pace and lean storyline. Not a single minute of reel time was wasted and everything was packed perfectly in 16 episodes. The story came to a full circle at the end when the ironic relationship between Lee Junki’s character and his syndicate boss, which gave the show one of the best closures in drama history.

Of the three, “Time Between Dog & Wolf” boasts the best pace and best OST music. ”Resurrection” gets top marks  for its ambitious and really smart plotline and “Green Rose” scores for keeping me in the dark on who the real killer is. It also features one of the best comeback/return-for-revenge scene.

Resurrection

This KBS drama aired between June and August in 2005,  but ratings suffered miserable as it had to contend with ratings champ “My Lovely Kim Sam Soon”.

Resurrection

The plot was convoluted and complex, with subplots interpersed all around. The story was about a pair of twin brothers – Yoo Gang Hyuk and Yoo Shin Hyuk – who were separated when young. Shin Hyuk was raised by his mother after the father and brother Gang Hyuk were in a car accident. Unknown to all, Gang Hyuk survived the crash but lost his memory. He was taken in by a Seo family, grew up as Seo Ha Eun and later became a detective at the police force.

While investigating a murder case, he uncovered clues that took him back to the case that his father was investigating before he died. Turned out his father death was not accidental, but a carefully planned murder. The case would also  lead him to his twin brother and mother.

But their happy reunion was shortlived. The men who plotted his father’s murder wanted Gang Hyuk dead as well, before he uncovers more dirt. Unfortunately, the baddies got the wrong guy and Shin Hyuk was  killed instead. A devastated Gang Hyuk vowed revenge. In order not let the baddies know they got the wrong guy, he pretended to be Shin Hyuk and returned home….

Despite the poor ratings, “Resurrection” garnered  a cult following online and die-hard fans were loyal right to the end. And for good reasons. This drama made no secret who the culprit was, and the entire show was a smart cat and mouse game which saw Gang Hyuk plotting to take down the bad guys.  

The secret to the show’s success was the well thought out game plan and a twist at the end. There’s a plot within a plot, and the ingenuity that each development in the story was not incidental, but a purposeful move that will make viewers go, ” … so that’s how he is related to him” at the end.  

Many times, a show tries to be too ambitious and caused its downfall. Not only did ”Resurrection” avoid falling prey to this trap, it managed to tie all the differing threads to give it a coherent ending.

The various actors performances added to the drama’s success.  Actor Uhm Tae Woong, who played Gang Hyuk/Shin Hyuk/Seo Ha Eun, was perfect for the part, and delivered a compelling and award-winning performance. One example was when he had to attend his own funeral where he portrayed convincingly the pain of witnessing the death of his brother, whom he’d just reunited with; the pain of being the only one who knew Shin Hyuk had died in his place, and yet not able to share this burden with anyone.  

Actress So Yi Hyun who played a crime reporter involved in the case was brilliant as well. By conparison, Han Ji Min, who was Gang Hyuk’s love interest, played second fiddle.  

The extended cast read like a list of who’s who of veteran actors. Actors Kim Gyu Chul (who played Choi Dong Chan) and Kim Yeon Suk (who played an ex-convict turned PI) were noteworthy and deserving of any supporting actors awards anytime.

Fans of this drama were captivated by the brilliant and complex plot, and that interest last till the final 24th episode, and it’s no easy task trying to guess the ending. Towards the concluding episodes, they even requested that the production team refrain from showing trailers at the ending credits, so as not to give the nail-biting ending away.

Green Rose

This drama was produced and aired months prior to “Resurrection”. The starkest difference, compared to ”Resurrection”, is that the two dramas are like mirror images – “Resurrection” lets viewers in on who’s the killer right from the beginning, “Green Rose” does the opposite and keeps viewers in suspense till the last, revealing who the bad guy was in the final episode.

Goo Soo in "Green Rose"

The show opened with Goo Soo, who plays the main character Lee Jung-hyun, breaking out of custody. A convicted criminal turned fugitive, he escaped to China in search for the answers to why he was framed for a murder he didn’t commit. The victim was the boss of the company he worked for and incidentally, the father of his girlfriend. 

“Green Rose” also features an affecting introductory episode which set the record straight on what Lee Jung-hyun lost when he was accusesed of a murder. An employee at a leading IT firm, Lee jung-hyun coundn’t have been more normal man on the street. He has a loving mother, a kind-hearted and pretty girlfriend, and good college pals who work in the same company. But all that dissipated after some guy got jealous and decides to make him the scapegoat in an attempted murder.

The drama then follows Lee Jung-hyun’s escape to China where he meets a wealthy businessman with mafia links, who gives him a new life. The drama then takes on an interesting turn when Lee Jung-hyun returns to Seoul with a new identity to seek justice. 

“Green Rose” become exciting hencewith because our protaganist is now shrewd, smart and rich, and he’s now ready to turn some tables on those people who destroyed his life. Vengeance is sweet, escpecially in this drama.  

The scene that showed him returning Seoul was particularly noteworthy, and was at this point on that the action took off.

Time Between Dog & Wolf

A younger and better-looking cast at the helm did not make this a lesser drama, compared to the two above. Credit goes to the strong script, pacy execcution and excellent performance by the actors.

Lee Junki as Agent Lee Soo Hyun

The drama tells the story of Lee Soo Hyun, whose parents (Dad was a secret agent and Mom a prosecutor) were killed by a Thai criminal syndicate.  He was adopted by a friend of his parent - also an intelligence agent – and when he grew up, he too joined the same profession. But he has a hidden agenda - he wants to find out who killed his parents.

Truth is, Soo Hyun had a difficult childhood. Though he was surrounded by a loving foster family, he didn’t recover from witnessing his mother being shot to death before his eyes. When the opportunity came for him to infiltrate the criminal syndicate as an undercover, he couldn’t really pass that up. Faking his own death (as planned by the Korean intelligence that he worked for), he gave up his identity, family and girlfriend (played by Nam Sang Mi) and went to Thailand with a new name – Kay. 

Gaining the trust of Mao, head of the thai syndicate and alleged killer of his mom), his investigation finally got headway after two years but  tragedy struck when he lost his memory during a car accident (he was set up by rivals in the Thai syndicate). And this is when the real action begins. He forgot his undercover cop identity and believed that he’s a thug, and acted like one.  Herein, it was fun to watch Lee Junki play Kay like Kay should be – slightly arrogant, smart, sometimes a jerk,mischievous, but at the same time, a loyal thug.

This drama has lots going for it – it’s pacy, full of unpredictable twists and a credible cast. Just when you think you know where the plot is headed, it throws you a curve ball from nowhere.  

I knew lead Lee Junki is an extremely well known actor across Asia, but couldn’t really understand why. I did see him in ”King  and Clown” (he did a good job playing an effiminate playactor) and “My Girl”, and thought to myself… “where lies his appeal”. I found the answer in ”Time Between Dog & Wolf”, which I think is his vehicle.

Second lead actor Jung Kyung Ho and lead actress Nam Sang Mi were awesome as well, especially the former. the lanky actor may seem thin on character and built, but he delivered some noteworthy performances that were quite on the mark.

Press conference (Time Between Dog & Wolf)

His character is extremely likeable as well. He is the one who brought Lee Soo Hyun (Lee Junki’s character) out of his shell and pain), is supportive of his friend and adopted brother, and finally, the one who wants to avenge his death (though the death was staged).

Korean drama-makers may be masters at the romatic comedy genre, they are equally apt in the thriller genre as well. If the ratings had been more encouraging, it just might have spurred them onto more productions of this kind.

Taiwanese Drama: Sweet Relationship (2007)

Love sells, in whatever forms or manifestation – be it romantic novels, romantic-comedic movies, dramas, and even porn.

Love – I suppose that’s one of the reasons for liking “Sweet Relationship”. I love the love between the two leading characters, the way the characters interact on screen… so much so that it made me yearn “it” as well, something I’ve shoved aside and ignored for the longest time. 

Sweet Relationship

The premise is simple; girl meets boy, falls for him by the third episode or so, but that love is unrequited, or so she thought, but in fact, boy is slowly falling for her as well, but refuses to admit it, fearing that it’s too good to be true - this flawed psyche a result of a childhood trauma. Then you get other supporting characters who likes the main characters as well, and want a piece of them.

And so the story goes, revolving around food at the same time. You see, the girl -Bai Hui  (Patty Hou) - is a rich young lady-turned-poor girl after the death of her father. Her only talent is her taste buds – she’s a great food critic – and she decides to be chef and wants to learn under boy – Zhi Tian (Vic Zhou), a talented chef who works at a small family restaurant, which according to some, is a waste of his talents.

Ratings for the show fell short of expectations, with most viewers complaining that Bai Hui and Zhi Tian spent too much quarreling and fighting. It was up against Angela Chang and Wu Chun’s “Romantic Princess” that year. Somewhat affected by this hearsay, I avoided this drama until recently, for some reason, I got in the mood for it and dug it from the bottom of a mountain of drama boxsets.

To get a taste of the show, I played an episode at random and chanced upon a scene from the third episode, where Patty Hou’s character had to drag, literally, a seriously ill and half-conscious  Zhi Tian home.  That scene pretty much set the tone and direction of the show, and it was just plain good all the way after that.

A scene from Sweet Relationship

This show made me a Patty Hou fan. She is extremely likeable in her debut screen role as the loveable and slightly dense Bai Hui. Hou, in person bu the way, is an extremely smart and witty host. Her transition from a newbie actress to getting in-character was startling - you can see a sharp learning curve, and even before halfway of the show, she’s become Bai Hui. She was so in character that Vic had to constantly remind her not to invest too much emotions in it, or she’ll have a hard time getting out of character. In any case, she’s got my respect as an actress.

Vic Chou, despite his constant frowns, is endearing here as well. The other noteworthy performer is Alan Kuo, who was just as good as in his debut role, as an apprentice chef who has a crush on Bai Hui.

Sweet Relationship - press conference

There are other reasons why this drama ticks – one of the them is the director. I was drawn by the way the story was told and progressed - and that’s basically the job of the scriptwriter and director. Of course, the actors are an important part in this respect, but as important is the director, who manned the pacing of the story and is tasked with drawing out the charms of the characters. Director Cui You Ning couldn’t have done a better job.

Cui is famed for directing ISWAK, which I thought I’ll hate, but was charmed at the end. I remembered avoiding ISWAK conscientiously because it was too popular, because I wasn’t ready to watch it, and because I wasn’t too fond of Ariel Lin. I saw it finally two years after it first TX-ed, and wondered to myself how much I would’ve missed if I’ve never seen it in my lifetime.  

Never listen to nay-sayers – seemed like a lesson I never learnt.  Then again, timing was important. I would not have felt the same if I’ve seen it then, and not now.

I’m guessing the majority of viewers who wrote off this drama probably felt it wasn’t as romantic – expectations at play here. It was also sad to hear that the producers lost money over this production – they over-ran on shooting time (the team spend 9 months working on this project) and budget (the director is known for his strict standards in production).

I do appreaciate efforts and hardwork put in by the team – note the piping hot and beautifully crafted French delicacies – and I can truly feel the sense of happiness and sweetings, which did move me, and am grateful for. I could remember the countless times I caught myself smiling stupidly at myself. This show is a wonderful find – definitely a keeper.

Vic Chou & Patty Hou

At a press conference before shooting began, Patty Hou commented that she’s looking forward to working in show and said it would be fun working with Vic who is a funny person. I think she might have realized how wrong she was even before shooting wrapped up. In an interview on her talk show on Azio, where her guests were Vic and Mark Chao who were promoting their latest drama “Black & White”, she revealed that Vic hardly speaks to anyone on the set – which is a known fact. Still, she had a wonderful time working on “Sweet Relationship”, evident in the body language and the friendship between the two former co-stars.

Movement On a theme by Yiruma (I & II)

Pianist/composer Yiruma is set to embark on a nationwide tour – titled “Movement On a theme” – in November and December this year, in conjunction with the release of his new EP of the same title slated for October 13.

It’s a digital single with 4 tracks, including a vocalized version of “River Flows In You”, sung not by Yiruma but by a male vocalist going by Ruvin.

The MP3s of all the tracks have already been making its rounds on the Internet… I’m not sure if this is fortunate or unfortunate. Then again, it would be hard to purchase this EP since it’s a digital single.     

"I wish I could move your heart, that would last deep inside me; The= movement , that would inspire you - Yiruma

The musician is scheduled to tour some 14 cities and I’m hoping to catch the Seoul performances at least, as soon as bookings open (whips  out credit card!)

Yiruma has released his second digital mini album on December 1, comprising 4 songs. Three of the songs are vocalized and the Korean pianist lent his voice to two of them.

Deconstructing Zai Zai

There are instances where the more you understood something, the more mystified you become… And the only thing that’s certain is the realization of how little you know.

I’m referring to people in general, and I think perhaps Vic Chou belongs to this category, because he becomes more of an enigma when you read and hear more about him. 

He needs little introduction… everyone knows who’s Zai Zai, at least in Asia. He stormed into the entertainment world after idol drama Meteor Garden gained immense popularity in Asia. He was one of the four main leads in this Taiwanese production.

Vic Chou

He is known to be shy, introvert, quiet but very funny at the same time. He was a reluctant star having stumbled onto the acting career. He had accompanied his friend to Meteor Garden’s audition, and talent spotted by the producers. Apparently, he was hiding by a quiet stairway while waiting for how when someone asked him to step in for an audition. The reason? His back view exudes a melancholiness that reminisces that of Rui – the character which he will play later.   

He was given the role but he rejected it instead, saying he has no interest in acting. He told his mother about it, who in turn encouraged his son to accept the role as a part time job. That role eventually launched his career.

At the beginning, Vic did not take his acting seriously, and thought about quitting every year. But over a span of 9 years, the reluctant star began falling in love with acting, and with that psyche, he embarked on his most ’unusual’ role to date in his latest drama “Black and White”.

Black and White

Director Cai Yue Xun had been preparing for this drama for years and Vic knew he would be one playing one of the main lead. Cai said in more than one occasion that there are two sides of Vic – the melancholic Vic and the funny Vic. But the latter is never really known to the public as it’s the private  side of him. And this is also the facet that Cai wants to bring out of Vic, hence the role of a weak-willed police officer. 

In truth, the playful side of Zai Zai has shown itself last year when he released his third album titled “I’m Not F4″. Vic was frank about the motivation behind this album – he wants to cast away his F4 image and lay bare his true self. He wants to connect with his fans. I remembered the first thing that jumped at me was his shorter hair.

If you’ve seen him on talk shows promoting his new album, you would agree that his attempts were successful. His sense of humor and playfulness was evident – a true Gemini. Just check out the episode on YouTube when he was guest in variety show with Show Luo. He talks to fans like they are his friends, and the way he treats everyone as equals shows that he looks beyond physical attributes and into the hearts of people. Vic is down to earth and has a good heart – a rarity in people these days, and all the more admirable given his star status.  

He is also extremely frank, sharing thoughts about everything – including his love life, his families and the difficult childhood he had to go through when his parents divorced – which moulded his introverted personality. Vic is known for having a hermit-like personality. Recently, he locked himself at home for two months to relax and recuperate after filming for ”Black and White” wrapped up – he said he was too worn out from years of working non-stop. And his roommate – Xiu Jie Kai (right-most in the ”Black and White” poster above) took on the arduous task of feeding Vic.  

Echoing Director Cai, Vic admitted that doesn’t understand himself either. And he tries to find a piece of him in every role he plays.

So, as he begins to take his acting vocation seriously, Vic lets his singing career take a backseat. Bad news actually, because I do love to hear him sing. He has very mellow vocals which sound especially warm when he sings, like he’s whispering sweet nothings in your ears. Very charming, really.

But he’s not writing off singing entirely, and said he will return to it when time permits and the opportunity arises.

Apart from music, what I would love is for him publish an art book of his own sketches. Those who’ve seen his doodles would know that he has a immense talent in this area. In Taiwan, it’s a trend where stars and celebs author books – either fiction and non-fiction (travel, makeup, health, sports, etc), so an art book by Zai Zai may not seem too far-fetched.

PS: October 16, 2009 – I was surprised Mark Chao won the Best Actor award in this year’s Golden Bell awards. I know he’s good, but not that good.

Though I was rooting for Zai Zai, but I thought veteran actor Zhang Shi (for drama “Justice For Love”) should have gotten the award. Just my two pennies.

“Black & White” was a fair number of trophies that night. Frankly, I think “Justice For Love” of the same genre (police/detective drama) was a better production. One simple reason reallly… ”Black & White” has too much frills on the sides, some of which are totally unneccessary.

Tender Huang Teng Hao: A Star or Actor?

Once in a while, a good drama/movie comes along, blazed the ratings, and along with it, made stars out of the casts. This is how stars are born, and such is true for upcoming Taiwanese actor Tender Huang Teng Hao (黄腾浩).

Huang Teng Hao (L) with good friend Yan Yi Zhan

Huang and the rest of the casts, including Tammy Chen Yi Rong and Leroy Young (Yan Yi Zhan), shot to stardom after appearing in the immensely popular family drama “Story of Time” aired late 2008.

Set in the 1960s to 1970s, the 107-episode drama tells the story of the struggles, ups and downs of a few families in a quiet Taiwanese town. Sounds boring? Like something your parents would want to watch? Far from it. Reasons for the drama’s success are aplenty – there’s lots of humor peppered all over, the script is mighty strong, and the chemistry among the actors - dynamite.

One couple in particular, stood out in the drama – Tammy Chen and Tender Huang. Chan plays a ditsy, but extremely lovable Sun Yi Mei. Innocent and dense, her character gets to read some pretty witty lines in the drama, lines that made no sense at the same time, but were so funny that it tickled audiences, and endeared them to her.  

Co-star Huang plays a toughie with a big heart who falls for Sun. Again, it may seemed cliche, tried and used, but the bantering and chemistry between the two actors earned a huge following for the drama. 

While Tammy Chen is no newbie, her performance is by far one of the  best I’ve seen. She is comfortable as the ditsy Sun Yi Mei and it’s a pleasure just to watch her play the role. Her successful portrayal of Sun Yi Mei has in fact opened the door for more versatile roles coming her way.  

(Note: I was really rooting for her to win the Best Actress trophy at this year’s Golden Bell awards. She was so good as Sun Yi Mei. But the award went to veteran actress Liu Rui Qi. I’m fine with her, so long it’s not Cheryl Yang Jin Hua (from “My Queen”). I still don’t understand why such a pretty thing like her comes off so unlikeable in that drama. Blame the scriptwriter I guess.) 

Tender Huang (whose real name is Huang Teng De 黃騰德) meanwhile stunned audiences with his first major role. He had been an actor for the last four years, mostly doing MVs and taking small parts in movies and dramas. You can see him as a budding musician in movie ”Anna & Anna” (2007) opposite HK actress Karena Lam; he also had a small part in Jerry Yan’s vehicle “The Hospital” (2006), where he played a lawyer. You can also catch a glimpse of him in “Angel Lover” (2006), which stars Ming Dao.

He was in scores of MVs for singers since 2002, when he was a hairstylist. He made a career switch into acting after years of moonlighting as an actor in music videos. He was an assistant to a hairstylist at top salon Eros in Taiwan, whose clients include celebs Jay Chou and Jolin Tsai. It was a difficult decision for Huang, who was about to be promoted after years of hardwork. But by then, he seemed to have fallen in love with acting and with encouragement from Jay Chou and others, chose to set his tress designing career aside and responded to his inner calling. Opportunities do not come twice and he didn’t want to regret not having taken the path.

So at the age of 28, he made a fresh start all over again. He was darling among MV directors, and over the years, appeared in the videos for singers including Stefanie Sun, Nicholas Teo, Aska Yang, Jay Chou, Penny Hsu, Nicky Lee, Wilbur Pan… just to name a few.

That seemed to be the only training ground he had while struggling to make it as an actor, and the revelation all the more stunning when audiences saw him in “Story of Time”, wowing them with a convincing delivery.

He exudes has a flair for acting and the directors agreed, calling him a natural born actor. And this is the edge that made him stand out from among the throes of actors in Taiwan’s entertainment scene. While there’s no shortage of actors in Taiwan, there aren’t too many with the acting chops.

About Tender Huang

The 32-year-old (born Feb 12, 1977) actor may look cool, collected, and aloof but according to his friends and co-stars, Huang, a self-professed guitar enthusiast, is a big kid at heart when you get to know him.

“There’s two sides of Tender. Those who don’t know him too well would think he’s a mature dude, but those who are close to him, would know he’s not only a mature guy, he’s extremely childish as well, especially when he’s fooling around with close friends,” according to Megan Lai Ya Yan, who worked with him on “Story of Time”.

 This testimony is consistent with the rest.

“I first met him at GTV (broadcast station), where the casts of Roseate Love had to assemble. Then he arrived in low profile fashion, and greeted everyone politely. But that’s all a farce… (laughs)… No, really, he’s quite a fun person,” recalled Rachel Liang Wen Ying, her co-star in ”Roseate Love”.

Tiffany Xu Wei Ning agreed: “He’d come across cool and aloof whenever I talk to him, and it felt like he doesn’t cozy up to people easily. But that wasn’t so. Later, I realized he likes cracking jokes about others…”

“He’s slow to warm to up people, like myself too, but once we get to know each other, we’ll go crazy! He’s aloof and may seem cold when you first get to know him, but after some time,  you’ll find that he’s not like that at all,” said Leroy Young, his close bud, who is also one of the leading man in “Story of Time”.

A Star Yet?

Without a doubt, Tender Huang has what it takes to become big in entertainment industry. But an actor’s success or failure depends on factors that are beyond his or her control – factors like timing, scandals (if any), and the projects that come by the actor’s way. You can be a fine actor but you may not land a winning drama. You can slog in the industry for years, yet remain meagre and unknown. You may not even have the looks to take on a leading role, but if audiences like you, you get your ticket to stay.  

But his good looks could be a curse, as it just might overshadow his credibility as an actor. A good example is Takeshi Kaneshiro, who had to work doubly hard to earn recognition as an actor, because his star status precedes him.

Hopefully, Tender Huang can and will stick around for a long time to come. It’s a joy to watch him on screen, he made acting seem easy, but it’s a craft that a priveledged few can excel in. And despite his modest body of work.  he’d already proved to directors, critics, fans and viewers that he has that talent.

Roseate Love

Huang’s latest work “Roseate Love” is currently airing in Taiwan. The drama revolves around the character played by popster Rachel Liang Wen Ying, who decides to become a singer after her childhood sweetheart – an aspiring rock singer – dies in an accident. She took over that role – to live on his dream and memory. Tender Huang plays an enigmatic music producer who will help her realize her dream.

Just a trivia… Though now an actor, Huang hasn’t forgotten about his other vocation. Fellow actors comment that he would unwittingly do the hair for others at the set. Actors need to get their hair set before going in front of the camera. At the set of “Roseate Love”, not only does he help to do the hair of his co-stars, but he does it on the extras as well.

For those who can’t catch the telecast (on Taiwan’s CTS and GTV), you can stream ”Roseate Love”  on Youtube. This 13-episode drama is already at Ep 5 at the date of this blog entry.

PS: While watching the drama, I thought it’ll be nice to know how to fold the origami rose as well. I wanted to make the exact one that was featured in the drama. I thought it’ll be diffcult to make but it turned out pretty easy. You can find detailed steps on how to make it in one of the official TV books released for this drama. There are two books – one is the TV novel, the other is a pictorial book. The steps to make the origami rose is found in last pages of the pictorial book.

Link to the picture book – http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010446342

Link to the TV novel – http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010446182  

List of MV appearances -

2002
鄭秀文~捨得
江美琪~東京鐵塔的幸福 

 

2003
孫燕姿~不能和你一起

2004
范瑋琪~最初的夢想
JS~殺破狼
林冠吟~兇手

2005
阿桑~寂寞在唱歌
張棟樑~寂寞邊界(Taiwan Version)
張棟樑~重傷(Taiwan Version)
張棟樑~我真的以為(Taiwan Version)
SHE~不做你的朋友
SAYA~原來你一直都在
孫燕姿~眼淚成詩

  

2006
潘瑋柏~我想更懂你
楊乃文~分開
蕭瀟~對不起我愛你
李雅微~我們的紀念

  

2007
許哲珮~永遠在一起
深白色~Cold Silence
李玖哲~想太多
孫燕姿~逆光

 

2008
楊宗緯~洋蔥
周杰倫~蘭亭序

 

2009
夏宇童~找一句新的話來說喜歡我