My Perspective on EXO...

I actually used to be a huge EXO fan last year and maybe even when they first debuted. SM Entertainment created a huge hype when EXO was just about to debut back in 2012. So I was really excited for them. And when they finally came out with their songs, "What is Love", "History" & "Mama", I wasn't super impressed but I did like their songs. Back in 2012, EXO was basically just one of those K-pop groups I listened to but not really may favorite. Then last year in 2013, there was another big hype for EXO's comeback. And for me, I was even more excited because I found out they were coming back as a group as a whole (not just separated by K and M). And when they came out with song, "Wolf", I actually didn't like the song itself at first. But I LOVED the MV. Their choreography was on point and I was just so mesmerized. Because of this MV, I purchased my very first K-pop album (I had other K-pop albums previously but I bought it off my friend who got it in the Philippines). And this album was legit because it came straight from S.Korea AND I absolutely loved all the songs on the album. And then they released the song "Growl" which became like my most favorite song, choreography, and MV ever (at the time)! And I just became a huge fan for EXO after that. I ended up buying all their albums (except the repackaged XOXO because I already had the first version :P). At the time, my bias's were Kris (because he spoke English) and Baekhyun (because I coincidentally got all his photocards in every album except in Miracles in December). And then EXO became the new faces of Nature Republic so I was DYING to get my hands on any merchandise with them and then they had their show EXO Showtime...I was just so obsessed. Fast forward to 2014 and I finally got most of EXO Nature Republic products and pre-ordered their Overdose album. And then...and then... Kris nullifies his contract with SM and the K-pop fandom world goes crazy (including me)! Half the fans are against SM, acusing them for their strict contracts. The other half are upset that Kris left during promotions and right before their first concert. Then, EXO members had some (what I call) "tough love" comments indirectly towards Kris and... it was just a mess when he left EXO. I guess I was so obsessed with EXO at the time that I couldn't even sleep that night this all happened and I felt so broken that my bias left lol. I mean I got over it after a week but after that, I REALLY, just REALLY couldn't view EXO the same way. It's not that I hated EXO and SM Entertainment for what happened, I just couldn't love the group the same way knowing that a member left. EXO just didn't feel complete to me anymore. And as much as I wished Kris would have come back, the reality was that clearly Kris wasn't satisfied with SM and he just wanted a new change. From what I see in the K-pop industry, idols don't really have a lot of freedom in general. And so being an idol can be really frustrating because they are always so busy working and always being the in public's eye. We will never truly know why exactly Kris wanted to leave, nor what the other members really thought about the situation but sometimes, shit just happens. After that, I listened to EXO a little less and I just really couldn't watch any shows with them as a group as a whole because it just wasn't the same for me. EXCEPT, I would watch Roommate... because Chanyeol became my new bias lol. I just really adore Chanyeol's personality :3. Anyway, fast forward a couple months later and Luhan also nullifies his contract with SM. And now I'm just confused. When Luhan left, it seemed like the members were more supportive this time around. Although I feel like Luhan left because the fandom for EXO was just too big. He was one of the members who really expressed his frustration of some hardcore fangirls following him around and invading his privacy. So it kind of felt expected that he would leave. But the reason why I am confused with this fandom for EXO is that I honestly think they have been over-hyped these past three years. For example, they are nominated and leading in many categories for the MAMA awards and I just cannot find myself voting for them. Like there were so many other good songs and artists but EXO is literally taking over almost every category. I admit Overdose was a good song but others songs were good too. I want them to win at least some categories but I do not think they deserve to win all (that they were nominated for). I mean they won the two previous years in a few categories and this year wasn't even their strongest year. I think last year was their best year yet. Idk, I still just feel weird about EXO. But, now that they are down to 10 members, I hope that they can prove to everyone that they are stronger than ever and will grow as a whole. They had one heck of a rough year and I look forward to what they have to show in the future. So maybe one day, I will go back to this fandom. But for now, EXO is just one of those groups I listen but they are not my most favorite group.

Our (small) K-pop Collection

 シェルビー:
- 4Minute - For Muzik: The 1st Album
- BTS - O!RUL8,2?: The 1st Mini Album
- BTS - Skool Luv Affair: The 2nd Mini Album
- BTS - Dark & Wild: The 1st Album (*Autographed)
- BTS - In the Mood for Love Part 1: The 3rd Mini Album
- Epik High - Shoebox: Volume 8
- EXO-K - MAMA: The 1st Mini Album
- EXO - XOXO: The 1st Album (Kiss version)
- EXO - Miracles in December: Winter Special Album (Korean version)
- EXO-K - Overdose: The 2nd Mini Album
- Infinite - Paradise: The 1st Album (Special Package)
- Infinite H - Fly High: The 1st Mini Album
- Super Junior - Bonomana: The 4th Album (Repackaged)
- U-KISS - Moments: The 8th Mini Album (*Autographed)
- WINNER - 2014 S/S (Launching Edition)

pkimhi:
- Ailee - Magazine: The 3rd Mini Album (*Autographed)
- f(x) - Chu: The 1st Single Album
- CN BLUE - Can't Stop: The 5th Mini Album (*Autographed by Yonghwa)
- CN BLUE - Present: Japan Best Album
- Jung Yong Hwa - One Fine Day: The 1st Album (*Autographed)
- ZE:A FIVE - Voulez-Vous: The 1st Mini Album (*Autographed)

K-Pop Q&A: Here is a little about us...

1. How and when did you first start listening to K-pop?
シェルビー: I first started listening to K-pop towards the end of 2008. I was actually in to J-pop at the time but my friend introduced me to some K-pop songs and I found it really catchy.
pkimhi: In High School, my best friend started telling me to listen to kpop because I am part korean, and I needed to connected to my culture... apparently kpop was a means for that. 

2. What was the first K-pop MV you ever saw?
シェルビー: Sunset Glow by Big Bang
pkimhi: I think it was Breathe By Miss A.

3. Who do you think is the most talented vocalist and why?
シェルビー: Jonghyun of SHINee because his voice is very powerful and he can hit some pretty high notes.
pkimhi: Ailee, hands down! She has such a wide range, and I haven't heard a song that I don't love from her!

4. Who do you think is the most talented dancer and why?
シェルビー: Kai of EXO because I think he has a background in a variety of dances.
pkimhi: Taemin from SHINee yo~ I mean, as far as group choreography goes, he is always the cleanest looking dance moves.

5. Who do you think is the most talented rapper and why?
シェルビー: Rap Monster of BTS because he writes his rap lyrics and the lyrics he writes are very meaningful.
pkimhi: G-Dragon because he just is. Sorry to keep naming popular artists.

6. Which artists do you think should collaborate?
シェルビー: Taeyang x Ailee
pkimhi:  IU and K.Will

7. Which K-pop artist or group do you respect the most (Not necessarily your favorite)?
シェルビー: Tablo of Epik High
pkimhi: BoA

8. What is your favorite English version of a K-pop song?
シェルビー: Nobody by Wonder Girls
pkimhi: Taeyang's Wedding Dress

9. What is your favorite Japanese version of a K-pop song?
シェルビー: Tic Tock by U-Kiss
pkimhi: Replay by SHINee!!! 

10. What is your favorite OST from a Korean drama?
シェルビー: Kiss Me by G.Na (from the drama Playful Kiss) I actually never saw this drama but I really like the song xD.
pkimhi: From Princess Hours (aka Goong), the song, Two Words by Jung Jae Wook & The One

11. Which K-pop song do you NOT like at all?
シェルビー: Here I am - ZE:A
pkimhi: LOL-ing so hard because my least favorite song is also from ZE:A Five (the sub group of ZE:A) called "Change Up" (its a long story but I have ZE:A Five's Album and thats the song I always skip)

12. Who is your favorite subunit group?
シェルビー: Infinite H
pkimhi: SISTAR19

13. If you were to audition for a Korean Entertainment Company, who would it be and why?
シェルビー: I would audition for JYP Entertainment because I think Jin Young Park is well respected and treats his trainees and artists very well.
pkimhi: Dittos to this one ^^ because I don't really have enough swag for YG, but I also don't want to sell my soul to SM. sorry bout it. 

14. Who do you prefer: JYP, SM, or YG and why?
シェルビー: YG Entertainment because they REALLY train their artists to their best potential and they have really good producers.
pkimhi: Also YG because honestly, you don't ever hear about so many bad things like from SM, and their fashion style is on point.

15. Who is the most underrated artist(s) in your opinion?
シェルビー: SPICA
pkimhi: SPICA.  They just have amazing vocalists and no one really recognizes that.

16. Which K-pop album would you recommend to others?
シェルビー: EXO: XOXO (1st album)
pkimhi: 2NE1's Crush album

17. What is your favorite MV and why?
シェルビー: Butterfly by G-Dragon because I love the fact that it was mostly animated and it was really artistic and pretty.
pkimhi: Oh YAY, so the MV "Beautiful Enough" by Verbal Jint ft. Sanchez is so good! It has a twist in the end that's like WOW!

18. Who is your ultimate bias group/artist and why (PICK ONLY ONE)?
シェルビー: Big Bang because no matter how long you have to wait for their next album or song (as a group), the wait is always worth it. They never disappoint you and their songs/performances just keep getting better.
pkimhi: Okay, so I really still have a love for SHINee.  They were the first boy group that I was into and they've just matured a lot since I started listening to them.  I still like a few of their recent songs and they just really seem to work well as a group.

19. Who is your ultimate bias member and why (PICK ONLY ONE)?
 シェルビー: Rap Monster of BTS because I really admire his personality as a rapper. On twitter he shares some pretty deep thoughts and always tweeting about songs he is listening to. You can tell he is really passionate about his work as a musician. He's not the most perfect artist but he's the perfect "imperfect" idol.
pkimhi: Shocker alert, not really... It's Jung Yonghwa from CNBLUE!  He composes a lot of the songs on their album like Can't Stop, and the song "you've fallen for me" from the Drama 'Heartstrings' and probably a lot more! Gotta love his skills and voice <3

20. Name your top 5 favorite groups or artists:
シェルビー: Big Bang, 2NE1, BTS, U-Kiss, EXO
pkimhi: 2NE1, BIGBANG, CNBLUE, K.Will, Kim Ye Rim

What is "Yonghwaiting Hoodlums"?

Basically, between me and pkimhi, we took two of our favorite K-pop groups to create this name. Her favorite group is CN BLUE (hence, why "Yonghwa" is part of our name lol). And my favorite group is BTS. When I think of BTS, I think about how their concepts have always been like a "bad boy/rebellious" image, kind of like "hoodlums." And lastly, we hope this blog will be relatable for many K-pop fans who come across us. We are always "hwaiting" in support for K-pop artists and K-pop fans like us.

But our blog name doesn't mean that we are ONLY going to be talking about CN BLUE and BTS, it means that we will talking about a variety artists in the K-pop industry. If you think about it, CN BLUE isn't completely K-pop, they have more of a Pop Rock sound and same thing for BTS, they have more of a Hip-Hop sound. So from CN BLUE to BTS and everything in between, welcome to our blog :).

Best Songs to get into K-pop

So you want to be a k-pop fan ehh?

K-pop (Korean pop) has been going mainstream lately *woot woot* I mean, sadly, some people are transitioning from Gangnam style or haven't even skimmed the outer shell of all the glorious-ness of this genre.  This is my personal list of songs that I think are great if you or your friend are trying to get into k-pop.  Get ready to Fangirl or fanboy yo brains out!

1.  Wonder Girls "Be My Baby"
So much nostalgia! Wonder Girls is probably the first girl groups I liked and got me into kpop.  This is and still is one of my favorite songs with its catchy "please be my babyy~" chorus.  It will definitely get stuck in your head!

2.  BIGBANG "Bad Boy"
Probably one of the most popular groups from YG Entertainment, Bigbang is one of the top k-pop artists. G-Dragon, TOP, Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri, are all individually talented in rapping/singing, but together they form like this Power Ranger Megazord rap group!

3.  Taeyang "Wedding Dress"

Also a member from BigBang, Taeyang has those honey vocals and dance moves that make girl's all over the world thank god for making such a human being exist.  Remember how i said each is individually talented?  Taeyang's voice reminds me of Usher or Chris Brown (strangely though, i don't even really listen to them).

4.  2PM "A.D.T.O.Y"

aka "Beastly idols" 2pm is my kind of group.  They're like the songs you listen to when you be dancing at the club~ or in this case, when you feel sexy AF.  Heyo, black and white MV + chair dancing? it's like the recipe for how to create fangirls.           ヽ(｡･ω･｡)ﾉ

5.  SNSD (aka Girl's Generation) "Genie" 

One of the most internationally popular kpop girl groups, SNSD,  is just AMAZING.  Girls and guys both love them! I mean, I can't even describe them... they're like the Unicorns of the music world,  you can't help but just be mesmerized by their synchronization and singing skills.  

6.  EXO "Growl"

So one thing to know about Kpop groups is that Dancing is just as important as the singing.  So, practically ALL groups you see have awesome dancing skills.  Plus, if you don't know them, EXO is one of the most popular ovary-bursting groups right now (girls be cray-cray for them).  But I don't know for how much longer since 2 of 12 members (Kris and Luhan) have left the group T^T

7.  2NE1 "I Am The Best"

Okay, so I've been thinking of this post since forever, but if you saw that new Microsoft commercial with a sassy laptop tablet thing then you probably heard this song.  I mean, who can't love 2ne1's songs?  This is so perfect for feeling like a boss. 

8.  AKMU (Akdong Musician) "200%" 

The first time I listened to this song, I fell in love with this brother-sister duo.  The song itself is just so happy and upbeat.  I don't even speak korean and yet it's so catchy~

9.  CNBLUE "Can't Stop"

 Of course, I can't exclude my bias group! (a bias is basically your favorite idol/group) And CNBLUE is one of the few popular actual BANDS that i love.  They compose a lot of their own music and most of them are power ballads like this. hehe and chelby will probably be mad that i didnt include her group in here (oops). 

10.  Ailee "U & I" 

If this were a list ranked by order of favorites, Ailee would be like my #1.  She is the Beyonce of Asian singers.  If you like them high notes, she delivers!  You should also look at her debut song Heaven.