A couple days ago I was just lazy-browsing the Youtube, looking for some SNSD music videos since a few days before, I found some of their videos which looked quite nice. I managed to find some, and another Korean video—I didn't know why, but this one other video seemed to catch me in the eyes. So I saved those videos files to watch later-I seldom watch videos while on line.
As soon as I got home, I checked the videos. It was SNSD's Gee, and some other videos from the same group. Then I watched that other video. KARA – LUPIN.
Speechless, I was becoming.
I had never seen anything like this, I thought. The music, choreography, sets & background and even the whole concept were very interesting. And that is the keyword for anything to get my attention. The image it offered was also one thing I had never encountered before—the image of thieves.
Even so, funny that time I wasn't really sure if it was KARA singing LUPIN or otherwise. So the next day, I browsed the internet with both words.
Reading Wikipedia, I personally am beginning to think that they have some similarity with our favorite Japanese techno-pop unit, Perfume. KARA lost a member early in the beginning of their journey; though two talented members came joining later to fill that position—in a sense, does that mean Perfume Nocchi equal to two KARA members? JK XD. They have also been trying to offer various images to their spectators up until now, some were good, others were so-so or less, I think. Having browsing the net—and of course jpopsuki XD, I come to a conclusion that this Lupin song is considerably famous both in the net and real life, as expected. So I also begin to think that this mini-album Lupin may become one important milestone in their whole career, pretty much like Perfume single Polyrhythm or Chocolate Disco.
Reviewing the mini-album, the song Lupin really is in a different level than the other songs—and also in different mood. But that doesn't mean they suck, in contrary, Umbrella and Tasty Love are starting to find their way to reside in my music-brain. The music sounds pretty attractive, though it's a pity that they seem unable to make the other songs to be consistent with the dark-mysterious-mature image that Lupin shows.
Well, their time might not yet to come, but if they can somehow manage to keep this tide high, the brighter future sure is on its way already. Also, being compared to Perfume, KARA's dancing might need more work on synchronization, but other than that they actually have two advantages: First, their original voices are being exposed a lot more—it proves that they are able to sing well and not only dolls with nice legs, for some people this fact may greatly improve their respect towards the artist. Second, they have made their first showcase outside their motherland, furthermore, it was in enemy's territory: JAPAN.
Unlike SNSD, identifying the members is not that hard; but unlike, Perfume, I have a hard time choosing one favorite member over another. KARA are:
Park Gyu Lee (박규리)
As the leader of the team Gyu Lee portrays one perfect type of a woman. She always looks beautifully mature compared to the other members. In LUPIN Jacket promo, They swapped her image with Nicole's; The short-haired Gyu Lee looks so sexy. Also, I think she possesses the best singing voice. Sometimes, I think she looks like younger Mika Nakashima, LOL.Nicole (니콜)
Nicole was born and brought up in America, which explains her fluency in English and her being the writer for the English rap tracks for KARA songs. This short haired girl acts as the lead dancer of the team.Han Seung Yeon (한승연)
Honestly, I have never seen any attitude like the one she showed M-net M!Countdown, April 15th 2010 when KARA singing Lupin LIVE. She might be the strongest member KARA has. She has her image completely changed in Lupin, that is more mature and stronger.Kang Ji Young (강지영)
Together with Hara, Ji Young were those two new talented members who came up to fill the left position. Being filled with lots of youthfulness and kawaii-ness, she might be the most popular members among the others.Gu Hara (구하라)
This neko-girl (girls with cat eyes and face contour fall into this category) gradually changes to be sexier and more attractive. It's undeniable that she poses as one of the most powerful magnets in the Lupin MV, though personally, I think she still needs to absorb more nutrients.Links:
Official site: http://kara.dspenter.com/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_(band)
Fansite forum: http://www.karaholic.com/forums//index.php?act=idx
Members info: http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=124384
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