Videos: Nana Working the Runway at Tokyo Girls Collection 2012 S/S [ + BTS Flick]

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Start the first video at 9:50 and the second at 4:56 – In the picture Nana is with Kozue Akimoto

x via x + bull red via @NieyaOzil + bull red via @APSCLASZIX

Info: After School – June 17th Episode of ‘Running Man’

All the members of After School will the on the June 17th Episode of ‘Running Man’. [Broadcast June 17th & June 24th]

This episode will feature After School, Dal★Shabet, Girl’s Day & A Pink.

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Lizzy gets to hang with her old crew

Info via: jinahed via FyAfterSchool + dal-legend

Info/Opinion Piece: Playgirlz Radio ~ 1st Japan Radio Show

Jacked from: okdr

Playgirlz Radio - I’m half of it…

• The show is nothing new on groups that do similar radio magazines in Japan. Is about self-promotion, it reminds me of BRIGHT’s radio show the most.
• They have 2 MC’s holding the show, since the girls don’t know that much Japanese to hold it on their own.
• But the girls do try to speak as much Japanese as possible. Even if it’s a medium-level, they try hard, I’ve only heard a translation at the beginning, while explaining the meaning of After School (Kahi did the explanation in Korean first, then one of the male MC’s translated it).
• They play their latest singles, and the Just In Time (PLAYGIRLZ track) CM song for Samantha Thavassa.
• They talk about the members that aren’t in the show and the reasons (most of them are recording shows or have other endorsments in Korea). They describe them as well.
• They talk about the amount of K-Pop idol groups going to Japan, and that means the competition is harder, and how they work hard to stand out, despite of it. And they use it as an excuse to introduce Orange Caramel.
• They explain that AS has a sub-unit, then they introduce OC, explaining the meaning of the name and how they are different from AS’ concept.
• Then they talk about their Japanese lessons, and some idiomatic issues of Korean/Japanese.
• They make a test playing a ‘shiritori’ a Japanese game consisting on making words with the last sillabes of each word. Is a word chain.

Honestly, AS is trying to crave in the niche market they’ve managed to get into. They’re not that flop haters want us to believe, as well as they aren’t such a hit in Japan. They caused a certain impression with Bang! and they failed to keep going up onwards, but managed to expand their already existing fanbase, that was way more small before debuting there.

The girls have different levels of Japanese. Lizzy might not be the best, but she could get them more fans if she keeps improving, since she’s smart and quickly tries to make jokes and keep the audience entertained. Then, Raina sounds skilled, and, by their diary entrances, E-Young (who’s not in this show) and NANA are the ones who looked more advanced (the less is Juyeon, despite she’s just like Lizzy on using her entertaining skills whenever making a blog entry).

The importance on keep working from scratch and demostrating their interest for the Japanese audience is huge. Japan is the second biggest music market in the whole World, as well as they’re neighbours with Korea (even with their historical and political issues), and Japanese fans are always willing to buy whenever supporting an act. They can be of great help to keep them strong in the Korean market whenever they release a single.

As well as I find stupid when people cannot see a group needs to keep their presence wherever they have a fanbase. Even if they’re from Korea, they made a choice by debuting in Japan that has its consequences.

I would appreciate if their upcoming single for Korea wasn’t a Japanese recycled song, but I’m afraid the chances of being one of the PLAYGIRLZ tracks are 80%… even if they take Gimmie Love, which I find catchy enough and fierce enough, maybe K-Pop fans from Korea would find it annoying. As long as the Korean Playgirlz keep on supporting them, I guess they’ll be fine. Even if some so-called fans say they are underrated and feel pressured because what they actually want is be fans of a top group, not fans of AS.

BTS Flick: JuYeon & Tsuyoshi Osato at Tokyo Girls Collection 2012 S/S [ + Runway Flicks Featuring Kahi]

Emergesいえばご挨拶戴いてしまい恐縮です,さらにお写真まで· ·まわりの,視線も気にせずパチリ.あざーす.  美しいですよ,近距離から拝見しても.ニコニコしていたし.ハンパないです.これぞスター.

Fantaken Event Flicks: U-ie at the 48th Baeksang Art Awards – 120426

Go http://hi7093.blog.me/40158516428 for five more HQ pictures via AsFan

Opinion Piece: K-pop’s Archetypes

(*Admin note* The “Opinion Pieces” are not mine and I don’t agree with everything that is posted in them – I just think they are interesting. For the Opinion Piece below I added the pictures of the AS members who reminded me of the posted descriptions the most – the underlined parts of the descriptions are what reminded me of them )

Jacked from SeoulBeats

For anyone with experience in K-pop, it would be impossible not to notice some common themes between idol groups. As K-pop becomes increasingly saturated, losing originality and creativity as the comebacks and debuts come and go, it’s easy to point out the similarities between K-pop groups. One such similarity is archetypes. In every group, there are certain archetypes: sexy, responsible, cute, weird, funny, and sassy. The reason for this is simple: there’s an idol for everyone. Some people prefer cute idols and others like the outgoing, funny ones. But every idol group has archetypes in some form or another, which lead to this list of some of the most prominent archetypes.

First off, there is cute. Every idol group, even the “tough” ones, has a cute member. Typically, this member is the maknae, the youngest in the group. The cute members are the easiest to spot – they’re generally shorter than the other members, have fuller faces, larger eyes, and a strong tendency to perform aegyo as often as possible. Generally, the cute role is expected of the maknae, because they’re the youngest and therefore the most likely to retain some resemblance of childlike cuteness while the other members are expected to be more mature. However in some cases, older members, like SNSD’s Sunny and Super Junior’s Sungmin, will usurp the cute position in the group.

The cute ones’ tactics are simple: they’ll charm you with their infallible aegyo, their endearing behavior, their innocence, and frequently the color pink. They often have personality to back up their appeal, making you laugh while also leaving you smitten with their big, sparkling eyes. Don’t be surprised if you begin to feel protective over the cute ones – they’ll bring out the mother or uncle instincts in you. Rather than marry the cute member, you’ll probably want to adopt him or her and spoil that member and keep that member safe from all wrong-doings.

Some “Cute” Idols: Super Junior’s Sungmin, SNSD’s Sunny, SHINee’s Taemin, B.A.P.’s Zelo, B1A4’s Gongchan, T-ARA’s Boram, pre-breakup TVXQ’s Junsu, MBLAQ’s Thunder, Beast’s Yoseob, 2NE1’s Dara, SS501’s Hyungjun, Boyfriend’s Minwoo, Miss A’s Suzy, Exo-M’s Tao, Exo-K’s Sehun, andWonder Girls’ Lim.

Aside from cute, there is the necessary sexy member. Maybe you don’t like aegyo and idols acting younger than their age annoy you. Perhaps you find sexuality the most appealing trait of an idol and are attracted to the most pretty, sexual members of the group. If this is the case, than you’d like the sexy member. The sexy member is generally one of the dancers, capable of moving his or her body in ways you could only dream about. They don’t usually have the most talent within a group but they got that little something extra, like chocolate abs or frequent body rolls, that make you look at them again when they’re on stage. Aside from sexiness, the sexy member often has a lot of personality or charisma, too, to make up for the lack of talent.

Some “Sexy” Idols: 2NE1’s Park Bom, SNSD’s Yuri, MBLAQ’s Joon, T-ARA’s Hyomin, KARA’s Nicole, Infinite’s Hoya, Sistar’s Hyorin, Secret’s Hyosung, Wonder Girls’ Yubin, Miss A’s Jia, Super Junior’s Siwon, Exo-K’s Kai, Beast’s Kikwang, and 4Minute’s Hyuna.

Video: Nana on “Tokyo Brand New Girls” Episode 9 – 120527

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Year in Rewind – Video: After School at ‘MTV The Show’ 110527

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I love the chanting in the video!!!!

You can see more pictures from this performance here & here

Credit: MaMAyyPlaygirlz

Flicks: Ara Ogles at U-ie

o·gle http://img.tfd.com/m/sound.swf (gl, ôgl)

v. o·gled, o·gling, o·gles

To stare at impertinently, flirtatiously, or amorously. [dictionary]

Credit: as tagged via pledis-hellovenus via iceprinceafterschool

News: Girl Group “Model Girls” = Japanese Version of After School?

The entertainment company Oscar Promotion held a press conference in Tokyo for their new girl group “Model Girls” on May 21st.

This group is comprised of eight members. All the members have slim figures and combined have an average height of 175cm. These characteristics are reminiscent of After School’s current group size along with their physiques. Model Girls derived their name not only from their enviable physiques but from the fact that they are all models.

The group’s leader, Sakura Nakamura is 30 years old. She stated “I want to show the world the beauty of Japan… I want to climb to the highest spot“. If this group is in fact styled like After School idols like Kahi are showing that age should not play a part in an idols opportunity to debut.

Model Girls is scheduled for an October debut.

Article: enews Trans: AfterSchoolDaze