Raining Goong

I can’t believe I’m going to blog about Rain and Goong again after being away for a week.

Rain’s concert appeared as a full page advert in The Straits Times on Monday. It would have cost the organizers over $10,000 to place the advert.

And well, what do you know? The cast of Princess Hours (except for Song Ji Hyo) is on the cover of I- Weekly this week.

So I guess I have no choice really. It’s a sign from above.

Rain- Vol 4 Rain’s World

Now that his much anticipated 4th album is out, publicity wheels for the album have been spinning non-stop, starting with the promotional concert that was held just last month. The high point will be his world concert series that will kick off in Seoul on 15th December and will tour 12 countries.

And Singapore, miraculously, will be Asia’s first stop for this concert series. It will be held here at the Singapore Indoor Stadium (where Shinhwa had their concert) on the 21st January 2007. Singapore’s concert was making news waves. Or to be more precise, the ticket prices caused a tsunami.

When the concert was announced, the cheapest ticket was $188 and the most expensive was $888. I almost had a heart attack!

Ouch! And Ouch again! Make that another Ouch! And a thousand Ouch!

Crazy prices. And yet I heard all 200 of the $888 tickets were ‘pre-booked’, and the $188 prices went fast too. I know of at least 4 people who booked the $588 tickets. What can I say? Rain does have loyal fans.

But would he have enough loyal fans for the concert to succeed?

I’m not sure whether the exorbitant prices was a publicity gimmick, but over the last weekend, I heard that the prices would be adjusted and I was really glad… thinking that I would be able to afford it. Then I saw the advert in the newspaper and I was sorely disappointed again.

The most expensive was $488 but the cheapest was still $188. Even with 10% discount, it would still be S$170. And for that price, I will be looking at a Raindrop.

I am aware that Rain’s concert will involve some spectacular effects and he has also roped in some of the best production people for a great concert. I have no doubt that it will be a eye-opener concert judging from all the clips that I’ve seen. However, I’m there to see Rain sing, the rest are fringe benefits that adds to the experience. So…

Anyway, for further information, you can log onto Rain’s official tour website or Singapore’s co-ordination company, UnUsual Production. For booking of tickets, log onto to SISTIC.

I’ve watched 2 MVs from in his new album and I’m still trying to decide if I like the songs.

Now don’t be mistaken. His performance is great. And he has great charisma too. No doubt about it.

But I find the songs more suited to ‘watch’ than to ‘listen’. Without the enhanced experience of watching Rain perform whilst singing the songs, I find it a little hard to feel connected to the music.

Maybe I need to listen to the songs a few more times.

Maybe I’m getting too old for such loud music.

Or maybe his music just isn’t for me. But I do like his BMW mv

MV song from his latest album. What do you think?
I’m Coming
In My Bed

But whether you like his songs or not, there is no denying that he puts in great effort in his performance. Just look at the photos.

I must say that the stage production is really something. You can see what I mean from this clip of his recent promotional concert in Seoul where he performed the song Friend. Apparently, his new album signifies Rain washing away the dirt and filth of the world. A chingu said that Rain is trying to save the world. I told her that he would be saving me if the concert tickets are cheaper because then I wouldn’t have to rob a bank to watch him. hahaha!

Channel U is really laying out the publicity blitz for ‘Princess Hours’ or ‘Goong’. The number of times they have appeared on the various newspapers and magazines is totally amazing. Their PR dept is really working hard. Of course, I know the drama and the artistes have quite a number of supporters. At one time, there were at least 4 bloggers I know that had the theme song from ‘Goong’ on their site (including me. Haha!). Spicebear’s Simply Korean is still playing the song. And Ani has recently blogged about ‘Goong’ again on her blog, Solely Seoul.

So what have the various ‘Goong’ actors been doing as they’re not involved in Goong 2?

Yoon Eun Hye finished another drama not too long ago.. ‘The Vineyard Man’. Although the ripple weren’t big for this, I think the feedback was ok. You can watch the MV here. The OST seems nice leh.

She’s also been busy with quite a number of CFs. Hehe! All her CFs quite cute lah, I especially like the LG Telecom one.
Green tea
LG telecom
DHC
MPLE bag

Song Ji Hyo is now in ‘Jumong’ as Yesoya. I don’t think I need to say anything more about this drama as it is already over 40% in ratings. I do feel a little sorry for her though as pictures in the publications often exclude her from the cast of ‘Goong’. She’s also come under some fire about her performance in ‘Jumong’. But it’s hard to be popular when you’re the other woman. There were some comments about her ‘poodle hair’ initially but that seems to have been corrected. hehe! There is now talk that ‘Jumong’ may be extended to 85 episodes from the original 60 episodes, which means it will end in March next year. I think it’s probably due to Bae Yong Joon’s ‘Great King Four Gods’ being scheduled to air at that time next year. MBC has always wanted to air the 2 period dramas back-to-back.

I think she’s really quite pretty.

She doesn’t seemed to have as many CFs as Yoon Eun Hye, but she did appear for Nakine clothes together with Jo Ji Hoon in the beginning of the year. You watch some filming here

Ju Ji Hoon has been lying low and taking on only CFs. He was after all, a model to start with. But there’s a rumour that he may be considering a movie. So far, it’s still a rumour, so please, all the fans out there… don’t get so excited.
OB beer
Green Time
Crown butter waffle
(I know of a certain someone who received the waffles. haha! Read here

And if you want to see a Crown Prince doing the catwalk…
in green brief
Bon fashion

Ok lah… I must admit he has charms and is good looking. No wonder got so many people swooning over him..

As for Kim Jung Hoon..he’s just a busy. He was in Taiwan just last week for some promotion. And his record company, making full use of his current popularity, has released a compilation of his songs recently.

It has 12 of the best songs of both his solo and UN. I really like it. ^^ There’s also a bonus dvd… so you can catch some of the mvs of his older songs. And boy, does he look young then.
You Are the One, 2001
Pado, 2nd album

I think he looks better now. More matured.

His new Japanese album, 5 Stella Lights as also been released on the 25th October. Here’s a short preview clip of the song Sirius. Sounds good enough. Very Japanese in flavour.

Btw, he’s known as John Hoon… for this album…not sure if it’s only for the Japanese market… but here he is… Mr John Hoon

Well…. I guess that’s all… Sorry to those who have absolutely no interest in either ‘Goong’ or Rain.

I promise that my next posting will not be on them… ^^