HipMamaB's Asian Pop Culture Education Week! Lesson 3: Boy (and Girl) Bands that Put US and UK to SHAME

August 08, 2013 in LaLaLaLife

A side outcome of my trip to San Francisco with the Samsung Imagelogger team was my introduction into the work of KPop and Hong Kong popular culture. Since you all know I'm a huge dork when it comes to what is COOL AND POPULAR, I glommed onto my new bestie, Hong Kong photographer Kar Hoo Chow, for a crash course on all things popular in Asia. This week, I'm going to school you on all that I learned. Because, really? It's so amazingly fun.

So you thought we had boy bands? You think that One Direction, The Wanted, The Jonas Brothers etc are crazy? Well, Korea puts them all to SHAME.

With large boy bands and huge girl groups, the KPop PWNED us Westerners on this front. And just like with Psy, you may not know what the hell they are saying, but you will desperately try to sing along.

Super Junior

This THIRTEEN member band has it all. The moves, the looks (all different for different styles!) and they were the best selling KPop band 3 years in a row. Their hottest song, "Sorry Sorry," is fun, catchy and the video is totally hilarious.

Hyuna

South Korea's answer to Brittany or Katy, Hyuna is an IT girl of the region. Apparently she used to be part of a girls group, and then maybe a duo? But in her break-out hit "Bubble Pop", she appears to be solo. This song has it. In fact, I'm shocked it hasn't been a bigger hit over in the States. It's kinda addicting. After watching the video, I DARE you not to sing along.

Girls Generation

Last, but not least is the power house girls group, Girls Generation. Named one of Forbes most "powerful entertainers of South Korea" in 2011, this group sold more than 11,730,000 digital albums and singles collectively in one year. Their hit single, "Gee", about a girl falling in love for the first time, has over 101 million view on YouTube. While I definitely like the "Bubble Pop" song better, I'm guessing you don't mess with Girls Generation in South Korea.

And since I know the number question on your mind... yes, Koreans are also sick of Gangham Style. But? They do love them some Psy.

HipMamaB's Asian Pop Culture Education Week! Lesson 2: How to Look Like A Ball Jointed Doll

August 06, 2013 in LaLaLaLife

Lesson 2: How to look like a "Ball Jointed Doll"

So, as we discussed yesterday, looking cute is something girls strive for in Asian pop culture. And is there anything cuter than a doll? Well, maybe don't answer that. But apparently there is some need to dress up like the famous "BJD" or "Ball Jointed Doll."

From Wikipedia:

A ball-jointed doll is any doll that is articulated with ball and socket joints. In contemporary usage when referring to modern dolls, and particularly when using the acronyms BJD or ABJD, it usually refers to modern Asian ball-jointed dolls.^[1] These are cast in polyurethane synthetic resin, a hard, dense plastic, and the parts strung together with a thick elastic. They are predominantly produced in Japan, South Korea and China. The BJD style has been described as both realistic and influenced by anime.^[2]^[3]^[4] They commonly range in size from about 60 centimetres (24 in) for the larger dolls, 40 cm (16 in) for the mini dolls, and all the way down to 10 cm (4 in) or so for the tiniest of the tiny BJDs. BJDs are primarily intended for adult collectors and customizers. They are made to be easy to customize, by painting, changing the eyes and wig, and so forth.

So how does a girl do her make-up just right to get this famous "doll look?" Well, once again we take to YouTube for a step-by-step tutorial.

Quite honestly, I found this video amazing. Did you see how doll like she looked at the end? I mean, homegirl has it down. That was IMPRESSIVE.

And with 8,187,906 hits - she has obviously helped many people with their doll like fantasies.

HipMamaB's Asian Pop Culture Education Week! Lesson 1: Gwiyomi

August 06, 2013 in LaLaLaLife

Lesson 1: Gwiyomi

In Asia you just can't be TOO CUTE. In fact, sugary sweet cuteness is what it's all about. And the song Gwiyomi is just that. A song about a Korean girl's adorable love for her boyfriend and how she wants him to promise that they will be together forever (with a pinky swear), ending with six kisses - one for each finger and thumb.

"One plus one is cute, two plus two is still cute, three plus three is also cute"

Basically the song is the same words over and over sung as cutely as possibly. But on top of it, girls have added cutesy hand signs from 1-6 in addition to adding other cute expressions like pouting and cupping their chins to pretending to be cute bunnies and kittens. And filming themselves doing this. And adding them to YouTube.

This particular video has over 3,600,000 hits!

While obviously some things are lost in translation, here are the English lyrics to the song:

Over a chocolate muffin

Waiting for a cup of savory milk

Oppa and I sit facing each other

And scribble on each other’s hands

Don’t look at other girls

No matter what they say

You’re mine (You’re mine)

Don’t even talk to other girls

I’m yours (I’m yours)

Please pinky promise me

That you’ll never leave me alone

1 plus 1 equals Gwiyomi

2 plus 2 equals Gwiyomi

3 plus 3 equals Gwiyomi

4 plus 4 equals Gwiyomi too

5 plus 5 equals Gwiyomi too

6 plus 6 equals chu chu chu chu chu chu Gwiyomi

I’m Gwiyomi

So there you have it. Gwiyomi.