KPOP STAR WATCH: The results of the first round of casting auditions... Pt. 2

Here we are, second part to the first casting auditions!
Because BoA seemed very focused on creating a super girl group this season, this seems to have dictated a lot of her casting choices. This didn't apply for all of her choices, but that is something she seemed to be set on and it streamlined a lot of what she was doing.

KPOP STAR WATCH: The results of the first round of Casting auditions... Pt. 1

I contemplated updating after the ranking auditions, but there were too many names and faces that I couldn't keep up with. I decided to keep up from the Casting auditions, because that's where we get to be more familiar with the contestants and actually see who are the core of this competition.

Group 1:  The Contract Couple Kim TaeYeon & Park JongBin
This was the first "couple" group that was put together as competition for the real couple group coming up next. Because they weren't a real couple but were expected to perform like one, they tried very hard (as seen in the BTS in the clip) to find the chemistry they needed. Kim TaeYeon was noted for her pretty voice during the ranking auditions, and sure enough was casted by JYP for her skills. Park JongBin however was the Sung ShiKyung look and sound-a-like, and for that reason despite everyone's efforts he was not casted.

KPOP STAR WATCH: Ha Minseong, Oh Dawon, Seong Sujin

My favourites from last week's episode, which was also the last first round auditions episode.

Ha Minseong (31)
Half Viet half Korean from Germany, many know him as urbangermany on YouTube. He's a professional songwriter and has already done a huge playlist of amazing song covers. Allkpop did a piece on him earlier this year which I totally recommend you to read, because he talks about affiliations with kpop artists in the past. Translating from the interview before his performance: The positive feedback of his Bad Boy (Big Bang) cover on YouTube made him realize that he too could become a singer. He noticed that the judges on Kpop Star unlike judges at other singing competition shows gave a lot of feedback to the contestants about things they actually need to develop as a singer, which led to him to want to audition for the show.
From the judges expressions during the performance you can probably guess that he made it through to the next round. Boa also clarified that when she said he liked guys who sang while playing the guitar last season, it wasn't all guys with guitars that she was talking about. She liked the guys like this guy.
And I like this guy :)

Jellyfish Entertainment and their wonderful Christmas songs

Last year, Jellyfish Entertainment released one of my favourite songs themed for the Christmas season.
I'm not too big on Christmas themed things but this is such a great song and their voices are just great.

Christmas for Everyone


This year, it looks like the boys at Jellyfish Entertainment are putting together a Jelly Christmas 2012x2013 Heart Project. I'm not exactly sure what that entails but the video they released for the Project single is basically behind the scenes of their photoshoots. This is after Brian left the company, so you won't be able to find him here, but this project brings together Sung Si Kyung, Park Hyo Shin, Lee Seok Hoon, Seo In Guk, VIXX 
So many well-dressed boys with golden voices... Enjoy!

Because it's Christmas

[Lyrics Translation] Shut Up - Ailee ft. Simon D

Combined with the bumpin bass and her super refreshing voice, this track makes me feel as though everything bunched up within me explodes out and fades away. It's invigorating.


Yeah, Ailee. I'm Simon D.
We collab baby
Mr. Real flow on this track
This song is dedicated to.. whatever I don't know

Coming totally out of the blue, why are you dissing my man?
What do you mean I'm being wasted? I feel sorry for you
When was it that you dumped me  that you're telling me to come back
Have you gone crazy since I last saw you? Don't block my way and go

Shut up shut up shut up yeah you
Shut up shut up shut up just go

I'm warning you, before I start to yell
Get out of my way and stay far far away
If not, stay with me all night so I can brag about my man
I can do that for you, so you can't say anything

Shut up shut up shut up yeah you
Shut up shut up shut up yeah you
Shut up shut up shut up yeah you
Shut up shut up shut up

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah from today on you
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah inside my heart
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah you're completely done

Where do you keep looking? Can you get your boyfriend to just stop
contacting you? Tell him that you don't feel well, whatever
Honestly you enjoy it, don't pretend to ignore me
You haven't forgotten me, oh you're pushing my lips away?
Are you thinking of spending the night with me? Look at that big bag
So you're thinking of marriage? Me, me take me
Shut up? what do you mean shut up? That's so harsh
Even while cheating on your man with me

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah from today on you
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah inside my heart
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah you're completely done

Can you listen to me for a bit? Shut up
I think there's some kind of misunderstanding. Shut up please
I didn't come for this. Shut up
Shut up Shut up Shut up

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I appreciated it
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah for making me laugh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I feel free inside

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah shut up, shut up
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah shut up, shut up
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah shut up, shut up

Oh, please just go

CLAZZIQUAI IS COMING BACK ON DECEMBER 5.

As they've shared with this video.

KPOP STAR WATCH: McKay Kim, 2 Thousand Won, Akdong Musicians

Favs so far (age in Korea are counted one more than in North America because at birth you are one years old...):

McKay Kim (20)

How adorable is he? and he composed that song himself. After his performance during the judges' commentary (which is not included in this clip) JYP asked McKay what that chord he looked impressed with was. He obviously passed.

2 Thousand Won (Kim Il-do & Kim Hyobin both 23)

In this clip they explained that they are called 2 Thousand Won because they performed on the street when they were in the 8th grade and all they could make was 2 thousand won (which is almost 2 USD). Kim Hyobin (the singer) was recognized by JYP because he actually sang back up for his concert tours. JYP thought Kim Hyobin performed with him for only 2 stops when he did for 9 stops and about 4 TV performances. They performed JYP's uber popular song "I Have a Girl But..." from 2001, with some new rap verses. They also passed with flying colours.... but we can only hope they'll be able to stick together throughout the competition.

Akdong Musicians (siblings Lee Chanhyuk 17 & Lee Soohyun 14)
This duo (from the first episode) live in Mongolia, where their parents work. They came to Korea for this competition but have already captured the attention of the nation with their original piece titled "Don't Cross Your Legs". They originally started off singing "Breathe" by Miss A (with Miss A in the audience!) but were stopped by JYP because after being impressed with their musical interpretation of the song he was too curious about their original piece. They were much loved by the judges and the general public because the lyrics are witty and fun (and kind of hard to translate with the same effect). It was revealed in the beginning of the second episode that their song was the top searched in many of the Korean search engines after the first episode had aired. The song was composed by Lee Chanhyuk (the brother) and essentially is about the static feeling in when you cross your legs for too long.

Survival KPOP Star Auditions is back!!