Big Bang fo’sho!

It has been weeks (or maybe it just felt like that) since I last updated. The reason? School, Projects, Maths and Big Bang! How can one Korean band cause hiatus in someone’s far-from-popular blog? Well, I’ve been busy..uh, researching.

I’m currently burying myself in watching episodes of their documentary. And since the computer is currently in comatose, I can only use my sister’s laptop. And she uses her laptop like there’s no tomorrow. The only time I can use it is when I’m lucky and when she’s doing something else…which is slim to none. So here I am, updating while she’s still sleeping and making the most of it with the documentaries. Seeing TOP is like heaven dipped in chocolate for me.

So what exactly is so awesome about this Korean band? Hot men aside (that’s almost always one of my basis when I favorite a Korean band), they have sexy voices (and bodies) and professional dance moves. And off-cam, they are really giddy! After watching the documentaries, they came into a much newer light for me. Believe me, they went through a lot. If I was there, I would have given up and sent my things flying. But these men stood through it all. Which makes them all the more adorable!

Big Bang Members

G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-Yong)

The hot leader of Big Bang is Ji-Yong under the stage name G-Dragon.

He has been in YG Entertainment since he was 12 (mainly rapping) and auditioned (for Big bang) when he was 18. Having had more experience than his peers, he was chosen leader because of his rapping, singing and dancing skills.

According to Wikipedia, two of his singles, Heartbreaker and Butterfly, caused controversies. Sony Music accused Ji-Yong of plagiarism. Claiming that ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Butterfly’ sounded similar to Flo-Rida’s ‘Right Round’ and Oasis’s ‘She’s Electric’, respectively. YG, of course, denied any of these accusations. And frankly, I don’t think Sony Music was in their right minds. They don’t sound alike. Not in the slightest bit.

Personally, when it comes down to looks, Ji-Yong has that naturally handsome face. And doesn’t hurt that he’s got talents, too! But watching the documentaries, he seemed always in a bad mood. I don’t like to judge him too much but as I have already said, the documentaries presented the members in a new light for me. And it just so happens that Ji-Yong landed on the dark light.

That is not to say that I hate him. When I first watched Big Bang’s music videos (which was not too long ago), I actually loved him first. I saw him with the blond hair first and…well, it captivated me. His voice and ability to rap made me like him deeper. But I’m always prejudiced against the popular. Since he’s the most popular, I kind of felt different as time went by and it didn’t take long for me to settle on TOP instead!

SoL (Dong YoungBae)

Like Ji-Yong, he also started in YG early and was already popular even before they released an album.

Since he started training in YG almost at the same time as Ji-Yong, I can guess it’s sort of a blow on his ego for Ji-Yong to be chosen (as leader)  instead of him. At around episode 3 in the documentary, the president even criticized his progress in singing. I feel for you Youngbae!

After Hyunseung’s departure from YG (and giving up on all chances of ever joining Big Bang again) you can say that Youngbae is now the most sensitive out of all the members. He also confessed that he feels shy towards women and had his first kiss only because he has to in a music video for his single.

This will make it hard for you, ladies, to try and talk to him! He claims that he only looks on the ground and Ji-Yong does most of the talking. Let’s just hope his rise to fame diminished his shyness…even just a little bit!

VICTORY (Lee SeungHyuun)

The youngest of the group is Seung Hyuun, who coincidentally shares the same name with the oldest, had to face being dropped out first before officially being a member of Big Bang. But his determination to become a singer pushed him to try harder, making the president finally decide that he is worth having and…well, you have to admit that without him, Big Bang just won’t work out.

The sad thing is that there are times when the dance moves that are assigned to him are just…gay. It isn’t his fault because he didn’t actually choose the moves; but it was unfortunately passed to him. Or maybe only him can do it. Taeyang is too buff. It doesn’t fit Daesung and G.D and T.O.P isn’t good at dancing.

Poor SeungHyuun is often called gay by my siblings. This doesn’t hinder me from loving him, though. He is very sexy, with the best voice (yes, he does have the best voice out of the 5 members. My opinion, anyway) and no doubt the best dancer (even the president of YG thinks so, too).

I’ve heard he’s quite the lover boy. That is not to say that he has multiple girl friends at the same time (unlike some ‘feeling-popular’ singers), it’s just that he is close with girls. According to this forum, SeungHyuun is close with one of KARA’s singers and some other girl that I didn’t even bother knowing. After watching the episode of KM Idol World, where the Big Bang members appeared, I must say he beats his seniors when it comes to pleasing girls (SPOILERS! : He lost to T.O.P, though!)

D.Lite (Kang Daesung)

Dubbed as “The Smiling Angel” of Big Bang, Daesung is the least attractive out of all the members. But with his bright personality and amazing talents, who could hate him? In fact, YG staff admitted that he was sometimes called by them (secretly or not, we don’t know) as ‘the not-so-attractive guy’. But in the end, when the president asked the staff to name two members that they want to stay in Big Bang, they all chose Daesung! And he seems to have the most supporting fans!

I never liked Daesung before. He is not that attractive, his actions when he sings are sometimes over-the-top and he didn’t boast any exceptional talents in dancing. But what can I do? After watching a lot of videos about Big Bang, Daesung just attracted me to him. His smile and silly antics was like magnet trying to pull me to him and push the negative thoughts about him aside.

In videos about them, it’s easy to miss filming one or two members. Especially since there are five of them. One either gets very little camera time or none at all. But a video about Big Bang will never be complete unless you film Daesung’s (and T.OP’s) antics. He seems to always bring laughter.

With that looks of him, it’s easy to say, ‘Let’s leave him out. He’s probably boring.’ and then you realize seconds after that you got the wrong idea. He may not be as attractive as Ji-Yong, or as sexy as T.O.P but he certainly boasts something that equals (or even exceeds) that. He is humorous and talented and brings fun in every hard training they under-go.

T.O.P (Choi SeungHyuun)

Finally! The best part about Big Bang!

Being the older brother of the group, you’d think he’ll be serious and be the perfectionist that never takes things lightly. But TOP is just the opposite. He raps. He sings. He dances (though not as good as the others). He acts. He is a sexy model. And he makes them laugh. What more can you ask for a guy? He seems the perfect character!

I already fell for him the first time I saw him. It was when I saw the Music Video of Koe Wo Kikasite.And I love him the more videos I watch. He just brings the laughter (along with Daesung) and the fun! Ahh…Words can’t describe how very, very crazy I am now about TOP.

I think his movie, Iris, even received positive reviews! A guy who can dance and sing AND act. What is there to add?

But like any other person, he has his weaknesses. I mentioned he can dance but if you put him together with the other members, he will turn into an abysmal loser. It has nothing to do with his self-proclaimed ’shyness’. It has something to do with his weight before, though. He used to be obese before (and pictures around the net gives proof to this) and you can say that obese people definitely don’t dance well. They are stiff as board. But TOP is hot now and that’s all that matters (maybe not).

I wish I could have done him some justice but my abysmal writing skills just won’t permit me. So, there you go. Big Bang and it’s five interesting members. Check out their videos in YG’s youtube page. :)

Natasha Bedingfield [artist]

If someone told me 3 years ago to go and listen to Natasha Bedingfield, I would scoff and say ‘Sure’ but listen to my rock collection anyway. Who would have thought that a day would come that I would actually delete my rock music?

That is not to say that I absolutely loathe noisy music, but it just got really boring. I got tired of stomping my feet to the beat. Or imagining myself actually doing the drumming. I find rock music only useful whenever I’m trying to block out disgusting sounds. Like drunk people feeling sick, for instance.

Soft and mellow or just beautiful up-beat songs are my thing right now. They soothe me before I fall asleep. Doesn’t bother me when I am studying about Philippine history (which is just plain boring). And allows me to daydream without the images of me drumming getting in the way.

Currently, my obsession lies with Natasha Bedingfield’s voice. She has a strong voice without trying to be. Her up-beat songs always get me to nod my head in time with the rhythm. And she’s British! Beautiful British people!

Must-Listen Songs

Pocketful Of Sunshine:

+Pocketful Of Sunshine

+Love Like This

+Say It Again

+Angel

N.B

+I Wanna Have Your Babies

+When You Know, You Know

Unwritten:

+These Words

+Unwritten

+I Bruise Easily

+Frogs & Princes

Emma [manga]

Emma
by Kaoru Mori

Emma, a maid working for an old mistress, is well-known not only for her unnatural beauty (considering she’s a maid) but also for her silent demeanor and habit of turning down anyone who ever tries to court her.

When William Jones, an old student of the mistress’ that Emma was working under, visited and saw Emma for the first time, they both met their match. It only took one single look to make both blush.

However, William came from a respectable family that was still trying to rise higher into society and marrying a mere maid will not do anything to help his family achieve this status.

Will a love that was doomed from the start still grow into something else? How far would their troubled hearts go to get what they truly want when other people are concerned?

I’ve always been reading romance mangas and novels and yes, I do get tired of the same old plot. The boy meets girl. Childhood friends meet again. And love at first sight. But Emma didn’t annoy me, didn’t bore me and most definitely didn’t make me panic and think ‘Maybe I’m reading too much romance novels/mangas?’. This may be partly because it’s my first time (yes, first time, sad to inform you) reading a historical romance.

Historical for me links to fighting and swords and shounen. I don’t mean to say that shounen is not good in my list. Most of them are. But it’s just a pain in the ass to read very long ones and having to understand the logic of how that thing worked and all that.

Anyway, Emma reminded me of the genius Jane Austen and her classic novels. The characters, the dresses, the topic of conversations (fashion, gossip, fashion!) and the smell of England that satisfies the raging anglophile in me. I loved the way it was drawn (especially the eyes!) and the words that flow out of their mouths. I loved how the mangaka shows women as still having control over their men and how there are still people who didn’t marry for status and fortune. I loved the relationship between Emma and William. I loved Emma’s formal attitude and the amusing, the coquettish and the high in status kind of characters. I basically loved everything from the manga.

For some, the idea of a rich man falling in love with a poor girl (and vice-versa) may seem like the most cliché and overrated plot that was ever thought of. But this manga proves you wrong. It wasn’t predictable (in most parts, anyway) and the detours and bends that their life took until they finally ended up in the same destination was interesting to watch.

For those who need a much-needed break from the suffocating world of predictable and cheesy shoujo mangas (and for anglophiles like me!), Emma is the right pick.

Rated 5/5

Chibi Vampire [manga]

Chibi Vampire
by Yuna Kagesaki

My “Favorite Manga” list (that seems to be forgotten for awhile now) just got updated! I am so happy! And the latest addition? Yes, you guessed it right, Chibi Vampire!

Karin Maaka is not your ordinary vampire. She walks in the sunlight, likes cooking with garlic and sleeps during the night. Every angle you look at her, she seems to be just an ordinary anemic human. But in reality, she is a vampire who defies the common vampire knowledge.

Instead of drinking blood, she gives blood by biting a human or otherwise sprouts enormous nosebleeds. Not even her best friend knows about this secret that she holds. That is, until a transferee, Usui Kenta joins her in school (and work).

Every time she is near Usui Kenta, her body produces more blood. After an accidental sprouting of large amount blood, Usui Kenta learns about Karin’s secret and meets creatures that are long thought to be myth.

As Kenta learns more about Karin’s secret, they start developing feelings for each other. But a relationship with a human and a vampire is doomed from the start. How far will both of them go? And what if they learn more about Karin’s situation? Would Kenta still accept Karin?

As cliche as a vampire and human falling in love with each other sounds (and believe me, I am also getting tired of that), Chibi Vampire is not your common Vampire story. It doesn’t only focus on their relationship but on Karin’s situation and different aspects of life.

What truly drew me into loving Chibi Vampire (aside from the vivid and beautiful way of drawing) is because the mangaka values the real meaning of family.

Reading mangas for years now, I realized that most mangakas provide a sad and hidden past for their main characters. Mostly involving a death in the family, or parents that just don’t give a damn about their kids. You can say that I was getting kind of tired of the usual cliche stuff by now. True that it mostly gives a sense of drama but repeat it in every single manga and it gets boring.

Yuna Kagesaki, though, fills me with happiness just looking at the fictional family that she created. And the irony is, vampires aren’t supposed to be gentle. They are supposed to be fierce and badass. And yet I find the perfect dose of caring and close family in a vampire story. Even Ren, whose beautiful face is rarely seen and who bullies Karin all the time, obviously cares for her. Showing it in his own tsun~tsun ways.

As the manga progresses, the suspense and the mystery just grows more and more. Usui and Maaka’s love are tested but always win in the end. AND their close family ties are as broad as daylight. And there was this amount of moe and ecchi that I approve of very, very easily. It was ecchi without going too far. Chibi Vampire just never got boring.

I just didn’t quite agree with the ending, though. Yes, it was good but there was just this little something that made me go ‘What the hell?!’ But I try not to dwell on the bad parts because it’s nothing compared to the loveliness of the first few chapters and the middle/climax.

If you’re looking for a love story with suspense and mystery without the overdose of too much drama, then Chibi Vampire is waiting in your doorstep.

Rated 5/5

Dance [One-shot]

Title: Dance
Pairing: None in particular
Summary: This is what happens in a twisted Harry Potter world with Pre-Sadie Hawkins Dance that never happened. Utterly pointless
Commentary: This turned out really different from expected. Snapey-poo isn’t supposed to be part of this supposed to be meaningful fic.

Let’s just say that Snape (and Alan Rickman [/sighs dreamily]) managed to break into my mind. If you don’t like to waste your time reading fanfics with just utter randomness inside, I warn you now. Leave and never come back until you see the beauty of randomness…

…and Alan Rickman’s voice of smex.
Disclaimer: Tom Felton’s voice is beautiful, James and Oliver Phelps’ accents are brilliant, Alan Rickman’s voice is sexy…And I don’t own Harry Potter [/sighs]

—————————————————————————————————————————

Dance

To save me the trouble of starting this fan fiction with the boring introduction of  “(insert proper name here) is an ordinary blahblahblah…,” I’ll start with introducing the place where it all started.

Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardy is the worst example of the word we know as ‘normal’. It’s a place where flying things, moving portraits, and ghosts flying about are anything but abnormal.

Normal for other schools are what they believe as abnormal, and vice-versa. So it came as surprise to the students to have Dumbeldore announce a certain something that would have caused an eruption of cheer had it been a different (and sane) school.

Not that the Hogwarts’ students didn’t find it a most curious event. Why else would the school be filled with more buzz than usual?

Every girl who wasn’t a tomboy or is most seriously ill, and there are only two of them, giggled whenever a boy, be it handsome or stupid-looking, passes them.

Dumbeldore smiled, congratulating himself most smugly at his so brilliant an idea.

I wouldn’t be able to give you the full account of how this happened; for when I visited my “idea lounge”, this was already going on. I can, however, entertain you by telling you how it started and mentioning a bit of how Snape managed to cope up with an idea that back-fired to him even before he can change his plans. Let us omit the troublesome parts of the Ministry approving it, some parents protesting and etc and just get on with the story.

It all happened one very fine morning, when the birds are twittering and inviting everyone to join them and the clouds occasionally hiding the sun. Our ever concerned headmaster watched the students coming and going in the Great Hall. Most were just twirling their forks or raising their spoons while studying every single holes in their breakfast.  Dumbeldore, not being one to tolerate a low-spirited atmosphere, turned to McGonagall to discuss this, in his opinion, very important matter, “I do believe, Minerva, that our school is too dull.”

And thus, started the fanfic you are currently reading.

After this partly-true but very dangerous conclusion, Dumbeldore ordered everyone to coöperate and think of ways to make the school a much happier place.

Everyone, of course, helped, in fear of what Dumbeldore might do to them if they don’t. Unfortunately for Snape, Dumbeldore doesn’t believe he was helping enough (his idea of helping is when he enjoys looking at you. Sadist.) and the latter decided to assign Snape the task of looking for the perfect event that will surely make most of the school population erupt in cheerful joy. Little does Dumbeldore know that the very idea of any events is more than torture for Snape (or maybe he does know but was just needing some entertainment. Sadist)

Our not-so-clever-now Snape took revenge on Dumbeldore bu choosing the most annoying (in his opinion) event – the Sadie Hawkins’ Dance. But alas! the forces of evil arose and decided to bombard Snape with bad luck. Dumbelore felt ecstatic with the idea.

And thus was the fate of our beloved potions master.

—————————————————————————————————————————

It was another beautiful day in Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. And this time it was full of chattering and giggling…and flirting. It seems that the only silent place at that time (and until the ‘Sadie Hawkins’ Bug’ completely goes extinct, really) was the Hospital Wing (No One was around there) and the library. Even the latter is noisier than the usual sounds of scratching parchment and rustle of papers.

“She’s beautiful, George.” Fred suddenly commented, chin rested on his palm and a dreamy look on his face.

“Huh? Who?” George replied, startled. Fred pointed at their right. George turned his head and received the greatest shock of his entire life…no exaggeration. Standing there was their sweet-tempered teacher, Professor McGonagall.

“P-pro-p-professor?!”

“We call her professor?” Fred asked, slightly shocked.

‘Oh, right. We don’t call teachers professor’

“She’s wearing a bun today.”

“Huh? Isn’t she always wearing a bun?”

“Huh? She wears braids sometimes. And most of the time she just let’s it down”

Another jolt reached George’s spine. “When?!”

“Everyday…? Man…You’re slow…”

“Well, excuse me for not relating to your feelings, whatever-the-opposite-of-pedo-is!”

“Oh…you haven’t been to her room?”

“You have been there?!”

“Uh, yeah? YOU have been there, too!”

“No, I haven’t! I have only been to her office.”

“Office? She doesn’t have and office.”

“Yes, she does!”

“…Who are you talking about?”

“No, who are you talking about?”

“Angelina, of course! Who did you think it was?”

George looked there again and saw Angelina talking to McGonagall, both in tight buns. Stupid prefect candidate. “…Angelina, of course…”

—————————————————————————————————————————

Meanwhile, Snape and Dumbeldore are having problems themselves.

“Dumbeldore, you can’t do this!”

“Whatever are you talking about, Severus?”

“The dance! Stop it while there’s time!”

“But Severus! You suggested it in the first place.”

“I know, I know…but…but please. Please, Dumbeldore”

“What will you give me in return, Severus?”

“Anything”

For a moment there was a silence so heavy that Snape felt his shoulders sag from the weight. The effects of gravity are always obvious when we are in a hopeless state. The heavy atmosphere burst when Dumbeldore smiled nostalgically.

“Oohh…How dramatic. I felt the cold sense of Deja Vu.” Dumbeldore replied, smiling as if he is enjoying everything and, well…you have to admit that maybe he is enjoying the gravity’s effect on Snape.

“It was when you hired the J.K woman to write about us.” was Snape’s exasperated reply.

“Oh yeah!” Dumbeldore smiled as if he just remembered it now. But for something that big, I doubt that even with his old age he could forget it. For awhile, there was the danger of them falling into the depths of the black hole we now call ‘awkward silence’.

But as much as Dumbeldore loves the mystery (and humor) that envelopes this  black hole, he broke it with sadness in his heart by saying, “Maybe I should hire J.K again.”

“Wh-what for?” Snape stuttered for the first time in 40 years, fearing that the answer might lead to his eminent death. “Ignorance is bliss.” is a phrase that Snape took for granted…until Dumbeldore showed his madness.

“To write about the Sadie Hawkins Dance that you so kindly offered.” Dumbeldore replied, stressing the italicized words.

“Dumbeldore! This is not the time for that!” Snape argued, standing up, hoping to at least look intimidating to the headmaster. No such luck…

“Are you still mad that she killed you?” Mock sadness in his face.

“No. I was, and still am, glad to be away from her brutal mind.” Ready to stab expression.

“Then…you’re mad that she didn’t let you and Lily end up together?” Confusion and concern.

“Of course not!” That’s ridiculous written all over his face.

“…Minerva, then?” Guessing.

“…” Snape was dumbfounded beyond words. Either because it is true or the stupidity astounded him, we should never know. But it seems that our ever assuming headmaster jumped to the conclusion that it was the former. He clapped his hands once.

“That’s it!” I knew it! expression. He turned to Fawkes and started giving instructions to the magnificent bird to drop by J.K’s mind and suggest the idea. However, before he can finish, Snape stopped him.

“Stop being stupid, Dumbeldore!”

The old man stopped mid-sentence. “…You’d rather she write about the dance?”

“No!”

“Then what do you want? The dance or you and Minerva?”

Snape thought of this for a long while. He certainly didn’t want the dance to happen. In Voldemort’s name, there is just no way he was gonna choose that. But he and Minerva? He never even thought of her!

“One book said that I loved Lily Evans. If she changes it now, the fans will be enraged.” Snape is looking smug. Very smug.

“J.K will manage. She’s a smart lady.”

“No, she’s not!”

“Severus, you don’t understand! I have to do this.”

“Why? It’s nothing important Dumbeldore! The fans are satisfied with the books already!”

Dumbeldore’s face darkened and Severus feared he might have angred the greatest wizard of all time. “I want to kick that annoying Potter boy from the spotlight…”

Snape’s face brightened. Dancing isn’t such a bad idea, after all, if it means removing Potter from fame’s good side.

“And besides, I’m itching to drop those sparkly vampires from the bestsellers list.”

Snape nodded fervently. No wonder Dumbeldore’s feared by everyone! He praised the old man over and over again in his mind.

That is…Until Dumbeldore gave him a look that made him feel stupid for believing.

“DUMBELDORE!!!”

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A/N: there should be more to this than just that. But what can I do? Someone pushed a button and now I’m having writer’s block…for 3 months.

Give Snape some love and send lovely reviews of his awesomeness. And sorry about the random thing about the twins…They just kept knocking.

P.S Since the book about the dance and the Snape/McGonagall was never published (not under the name of J.K Rowling anyway…), Snape obviously won. Sad, but true.

I am never writing Dumbeldore’s name again. I’m having nightmares.