Skip Beat

Love the manga and anime version of it! Unlike Nodame, I've been following the manga since... 2006 (the manga officially started from 2002 and is still on going). In truth, my heart did skip when they made it into anime in 2008.

The manga revolves around the life of Mogami Kyoko, who was dump by her long time boyfriend Shotaro Fuwa, a famous idol, after being treated like a maid and eventually she found out that he's been playing around too. This turning point sets Kyoko into another new journey to avenge her demise against Shotaro. The first step of her revenge is to enter the showbiz world by auditioning at Shotaro's company rival, LME. There, Kyoko met Tsuraga Ren, whom Shotaro despised, and their adventure begins.

What I love about Skip Beat:

1. The graphics!!! I'm a sucker for bishounen's manga (any kind, except those yaoi, though they're beautifully drawn, but I can't bear the story Lol!).
2. The character. Each character has their own traits, antics and their own past. Kyoko is an above and beyond in her perseverance mode, which is often the cause of why she eventually succeeds. Ren, with his mysterious past (this is just because his past never been revealed 100%), but with the soft point when people are sincere in their work. And, off course the obnoxious Shou, though he's been pictured as a total jerk, he actually has some difficulties in expressing his feelings thus in the end torturing Kyoko, instead.
3. As for the anime, love the OST! Especially the new ending theme 'Eien' by Yuusaku Kiyama. I have yet to find the PV or any clip for this. Sobs!
4. A good thing about the anime is that it follows 90% of the manga storyline, which is fantastic. It's like the manga being brought alive!

With the popularity of Skip Beat, it's a no wonder that Taiwan want to make it into a live action as what they had done with Hana Yori Dango and Hana Kimi. I'm not a Taiwan drama fan, so I may be biased. But Hana Yori Dango and Hana Kimi proved to be... dragged and often boring, so I'm not looking forward to the Taiwan version of Skip Beat. Plus, with leads like Jerry Yan? Jerry Yan as Ren? Come on, Ren shouldn't be pictured as a guy without a vertebrae. It's just wrong (again, I may be biased). Though I'm not really thrilled with the Taiwan version, but I'll look forward if they decide to make the J-dorama version of Skip Beat. :)

I'm Sorry ~ TIM

Im Sorry - Tim

Thus far, my favorite song from TIM, not the song that made me a fan, but still think this is one of his best. Can't get enough of it. It's a sad song, an OST from the movie '...Ing.

I'm sorry 니 안에 살던 날
I’m sorry ni an ee sal don nal
I’m sorry I who lived in you

I'm sorry 참 행복했던 날
I’m sorry cam hengbok he don nal
I’m sorry I who was so happy

널 내 품에서 울게만 해서
Nol ne pume so url geman he so
For making you cry on my chest

잘 못해줘서 지치게 해서
Jal mod he juo so jichi ge heso
I was wrong, I made you exhausted

힘들게 해서 떠나게 해서
Himdul ge he so ddo na ke he so
I made it hard for you, I made you leave

그런 부족한 나라서
Gu ron bu jok han nara so
Because I was the one lacking

미칠 것 같아 bye bye bye bye bye
Mi jil god katha bye bye bye bye bye
I feel like I’m going to go crazy bye bye bye bye bye

거짓말 같아 bye bye bye bye bye
Ko jid mal katha bye bye bye bye
I feel like a lie bye bye bye bye bye

니 모습 사라질 때까지 다 사라져도
Ni mosurl sarajirl ddekkaji da sarajyodu
Until your appearance disappears, even if it all disappears

난 돌아설 수 없잖니 후회가 많아
Nan durlasorl su objanni huhuoka mana
I can’t stand with my back turned, I have many regrets

I'm sorry 널 보고 싶은 밤
I’m sorry norl bogo shipun man
I’m sorry The night I want to see you

I'm sorry 잠들 수 없는 밤 (I'm so sorry baby)
I’m sorry jamdurl su obnun man (I’m so sorry baby)
I’m sorry The night I can’t fall asleep (I’m so sorry baby)

이별 뒤에서 눈물 알아서
I byol duieso nunmurl araso
After this separation I realized tears

너무 늦어서 그리워 해서
Nomu nudaso guriwo heso
Because it was too late, I yearned

니 맘 떠나서 사랑 알아서
Ni mam ddonaso sarang araso
Because your heart left, I understood love

그런 미안한 나라서
Kurom mianhan naraso
Because I was the sorry one

어떻게 보내 why why why why why
Ottohke bune why why why why why
How can I send you why why why why why

어떻게 잊어 why why why why why
Ottohke ije why why why why why
How can I forget you why why why why why

니 걸음보다 내 눈물이 더 앞서 흘러
Ni Korlum buga ne nunmurli go apso hurlro
Instead of your footsteps, my tears flow ahead

널 막을 수만 있다면
Norl magurl suman idddamyon
If I could just block you out

난 말할 텐데 난 다 줄 텐데
Nan harlhan tende nan go jurl tende
I will probably talk, I will probably give you everything

또 니 앞에서 내 무릎을 꿇고서
Du ni apeso ne murupurl kkurlgoso
Again, I kneel in front of you

난 빌 텐데 사랑한다고
Nan hirl tende saranghan dago
I will probably kneel, that I love you

너 없이 난 아무것도 할 수 없는 바보라고
No obsi nan amugodo harl su opnun paborago
I’m a fool that can’t do anything without you

어떻게 보내 why why why why why
Ottohke bune why why why why why
How can I send you why why why why why

어떻게 잊어 why why why why why
Ottohke ije why why why why why
How can I forget why why why why why

니 걸음보다 내 눈물이 더 앞서 흘러
Ni Korlum buga ne nunmurli go apso hurlro
Instead of your footsteps, my tears flow ahead

널 막을 수만 있다면
Norl magurl suman idddamyon
If I could just block you out

미칠 것 같아 bye bye bye bye bye
Mi jil god katha bye bye bye bye bye
I feel like I’m going to go crazy bye bye bye bye bye

거짓말 같아 bye bye bye bye bye
Ko jid mal katha bye bye bye bye
I feel like a lie bye bye bye bye bye

니 모습 사라질 때까지 다 사라져도
Ni mosurl sarajirl ddekkaji da sarajyodu
Until your appearance disappears, even if it all disappears

난 돌아설 수 없잖니 가슴이 아파
Nan durlasorl su objanni kasumi apa
I can’t stand with my back turned, my heart hurts

Lyrics and translation from http://aheeyah.com

ラブシャッフル ~ Love Shuffle

Finally, an interesting dorama to follow in 2009! With the intriguing plot of 4 couples shuffling their partners, we would wonder who end up with who. Each main character has his/her opinion about this, so how about you?

One pull of why I quickly click on the link to watch it is off course, Tamaki Hiroshi. But, the rest of the male leads also are not to be underestimated eye candy with their own charm and wits (or may be not Lol??!!) And, to balance out the eye candy factors, the dorama also throws in quite strong female leads. So it's a win win situation for all audience :d Lol...

The OST is very unusual, I wonder why they don't let one of the leads to sing the OST eg. Tamaki or DAIGO.

Anyhow, this dorama definitely goes to my must watch list!

Fantasy - eart wind and fire

황영민 ~ Tim

Another singer goes to my K-pop book. This time is Tim (the stage name for Hwang Young Min). His debut began in 2002, but being a not so avid K-pop follower anymore, I just need to settle to encounter his songs in IMEEM. And it only took 1 song to make me officially a fan, Serendipity.

Most of his songs are ballads which are very fitting to his vocal. In terms of music style, Tim's is very much similar to K. However, there's still a different in there. In some ways, Tim's are more subtle and tend to be softer. His vocal delivery is not as aggressive as to K, which in his case, it works wonder to the songs. The mellow tones for the ballads, it's like a lullaby to easy listening before bed time.

Below is the playlist that I discovered in IMEEM, full of Tim's ballads. To be honest, I'm quite surprised with his songs. All of them are so easy in the ears and they're all nice songs. Not the type of songs that will make you boring after listening to them more than 2 times. Definitely I have my own favorites, like Serendipity, I Love You, and Wish List.

In conclusion, I'll be looking forward for his next music, for sure.

Tim ~ Hwang Young Min

자유롭게 날 수 있도록 ~ H.O.T

Free To Fly - H.O.T

Yes, it's one of the fossil songs coming from 15 years or so ago. It brings out the nostalgic where the likes of Youtube and Itunes were unthinkable, so we have to buy the CD to get the songs (or at least that's what I did during that era). Koala introduced me to H.O.T thus brought me to the world of K-pop. And this song was the trigger to my K-pop mania, and still a K-pop fan until now...
The lyrics was not that fantastic if you compare to the current mainstreams, kind of lame if you think back. But, hey, it's the Backstreet Boys songs era... so these types of lyrics were the IT lyrics.

모두 잊고 살 수 있게 너를 버려야만 했던
끝을 향한 내 이 마음을 너는 이해할 수 있니
어떤것도 내게 힘을 주진 못했기에
더이상은 짐이 되긴 싫었어
아직 맘속에 내가 살아있다면....
너는 행복할 수 없을테니까
지워야해.....

너와 함께 할 수 있는건.....
너무 어렸던 날들의 작은 꿈이었어....
자유롭게 날 수 있도록
나의 곁에서 너를 날려 보내줘야해......
나를 잊어줘 안녕...

의미없던 시간들일 뿐이라고 말했어도,
사실 내게 있어 가장 소중했던 순간들을
영원토록 묻어 둘 수 밖에 없다는게,
나에게 아픔만을 남겨주지만

너와 함께 할 수 있는건.....
너무 어렸던 날들의 작은 꿈이었어....
자유롭게 날 수 있도록
나의 곁에서 너를 날려 보내줘야해......
하지만 너를 사랑해
이것만은 알아주길 바랬어
너는 잊겠지만 나는 못 잊겠어
언제까지나 이대로..

너와 함께 할 수 있는건.....
너무 어렸던 날들의 작은 꿈이었어....
자유롭게 날 수 있도록
나의 곁에서 너를 날려 보내줘야해......
나를 잊어줘.......
영....원.....히........

Just so I could forget everthing and live on,
I had to throw you away
Do you understand that of my heart towards the end?
Nothing could give you strength,
So I didn't want to be a burden anymore.
If I am still alive in your heart,
You wouldn't be happy,
So you have to erase me.

To be with you...
was a small dream in the days I was too young.
Just so you can be Free to Fly,
I have to fly you away.
Forget me... goodbye~

Even though I say those were meaningless times,
Those were really the times that were most precious to me.
The fact that I have to bury them eternally only leave me pain.

(Forget me) But I love you.
Oh! I just wanted you to know that.
You will forget, but I can't forget.
Till whenever, I'll just be...like this...

Lyrics & translation are from http://aheeyah.com

Olivia ~ Tears & Rainbow

Can't get enough of this sad yet heart lifting song... A reason for being a fan of her...

Tears & Rainbow - Olivia Lufkin

物憂げな君 瞳に映る星

Monouge na kimi, hitomi ni utsuru hoshi
You're to tired; stars reflected in your eyes

瞬き遥か遠い 幾光年の涙

Matataki haruka tooi, iku kounen no namida
The twinking far, far away; so many tears of lightyears

Come be as one
Come be as one
And fall in love
In love, in love, in love

Touch it touch it now
Touch the tears & the rainbow

過去に手に入れたものさしはもう捨てて
Kako ni te ni haireta monosashi wa mou sutete
I've already thrown away the ruler I got from the past 

Touch it touch it now
Touch the tears & the rainbow
ありのまま感じて

Ai no mama kanjite
Feeling like it's love

雨の囁き 耳を傾けて
Ame no sasayaki, mimi wo katamukete
I my ear to hear whispers of the rain 

そこに隠された 七色の秘密

Soko ni kakusareta, nanairo no himitsu
I a seven-coloured secret at the very bottom

Come be as one
Come be as one
And fall in love
In love, in love, in love

Touch it touch it now
Touch the tears & the rainbow

虹の中雨が太陽に口づける
Niji no naka ame ga taiyou ni kuchidzukeru
In a rainbow, rain is kissing the sky 

Touch it touch it now
Touch the tears & the rainbow
Just the way you are

Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn is the last installment of Twilight saga. Finally it's coming to an end. It's also the thickest out of the whole saga and contains the longest plot and chain of events. After reading the whole series, I find that the first and the last book are the best, the 2nd and 3rd books are the seasonings to make you appreciate the last book. Another bravo for Meyer.

Again, picking up what was left in Eclipse, Breaking Dawn starts with a happy, merry chain of events for Bella and Edward (ugh, it's so hard not to give out too much spoiler), but off course after around 150 pages, things suddenly turn bleak (where got the fun of reading the book if it's all about happy events, right?).

What's unique about this book is that half of the book is told from Jacob's point of view. Partly maybe because it's too intense if it's told from Bella's point of view. But this way, readers can understand Jacob better and can't deem him to be too annoying anymore.

As for Edward, well, he wins our hearts again and again. Amazingly selfless and clearly devoted to one girl, it's any girls' dream comes true, in books, no reality. Lol... But in here, his sacrifices at least were equalized by Bella's, which won't make us think that Bella is one damn lucky girl. Again, it's part of a good plotting.

Less action than Eclipse, but enough suspense and rush thanks to Volturi evasion attempt. Surprisingly the chapters for this are very long, considering what previous books have, where action parts are relatively short. This time it takes about more than 1/3 of the book to plot the stress and demise that Volturi caused the Cullens.

So, overall, absolutely adore this saga because:
1. light reading (I can't take heavy readings, except for compulsory accounting textbooks)
2. good balance of comedy, drama, romance, and action, which is very entertaining
3. love the characters
4. it's a good bed time story, period.

Eclipse

Eclipse is the 3rd installment of Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. Unlike Harry Potter series that you can read in not necessarily in order, you'll miss a lot of meaning reading Eclipse without reading the New Moon first. For starter, it picks up what was left in New Moon, literally a continuation.

Overall, I would give this book a PG-13 rating. All the dreads felt from reading New Moon (may be partly because of my impatience) eventually are answered in here:
1. Vampire on Vampire action, tons of them, though mostly are toward the end of the book. At least more details written about the fight, so it's very easy to imagine.

2. More twisted love triangle. Definitely entertaining to read 2 sworn enemies by legend, neck to neck competing to get the girl. It's a good thing that Bella never budged from who she loved the most, so we don't see the manga heroines' dilemma, which most often are annoying.

3. Totally agree with Koala, Edward's character is Korean drama's character with the American face. Lol in here. If you set aside cultures, countries and origins, girls will always be girls. We all love the cheesiness and corniness, which blatantly displayed in Twilight series, however big our denials are. So just suck it up and dream about it. There won't be any reality like that. Yes, we know that, that's why we all like to wish and dream.

4. The romance level is up along with the cheesiness off course. That's why it's PG-13 in the first place. But the good thing is, Meyer did a quite good job in having which part should have more details elaboration and not. So, it left us free to wonder and imagine. Again, it's all about imagination Lol...

5. Bella's hormone starts to kick in in this book which is totally hilarious. Absolutely love the twist and turn dialogs of compromising, which make it very fun to read and make the relationship feels real.

6. Alice's part is getting bigger, and adding more laugh factors in this book. As much as we love Bella, we definitely love Alice too.

Off course, as Twilight saga is designed for teenage girls, you may feel that some parts was just too high-schoolish, which is why the book is so light and easy to read, despite the overwhelming thickness... wondering how long will it take for Koala to finish it...