Our first anniversary has come and gone, with us of course hilariously forgetting to mention it on time. For those of you who just joined or who have been with us the entire way we’ve prepared a very special celebratory episode.
Download Episode 49 (right click and save as)
We’re going through a lot of our favorite topics and revisiting our thoughts on events.
Prominent News Stories:
U-KISS’ member Shuffle
JYJ being cockblocked
MBLAQ and our opinion on Thunder
KARA’s contract negotiations and Japan Success
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family wielding that almighty (if mostly belated) banhammer.
Favorite Comebacks/Debuts and New Releases of the Past Year (WARNING: video heavy), (additional warning, Hyuna)
4minute – Heart to Heart
Big Bang – Tonight
DBSK – Before U GO
Rania – Dr. Feelgood
SNSD – The Boys
Wonder Girls – Be My Baby
B2ST – Fact & Fiction
Trouble Maker – Trouble Maker
Hyuna – Bubblepop
After School – Virgin
SISTAR19 – Ma Boy
Tablo – Fever’s End
2PM – Hands UP
U-KISS – NEVERLAND
BEG – Sixth Sense
N-Train – One Last Cry
Free Talk:
We revisit Jung Ja Yeon’s death letters and wonder if anything has truly changed.
Artists being overworked and underpaid, the ruthless training system and older idols finding their critical voices.
Of course, the topic of 2011 – RACISM.
K-Pop departs for the West, and its plans of global domination.
Entertainment industry suicides.
Sasaeng/Privates and all of this.
Self-image, beauty, aegyo and the relentless sexualization of idols (often children) and their “innocence”.
Our Great Idol Steal & Idol Singing Royale, both to be continued.
Opening Song: m-flo & 2NE1 – She’s So (Outta Control)
Closing Song: Big Bang – Bad Boy
You can email us at TheAlwaysRationalKpopPodcast@gmail.com pop us a line on Twitter @ARKpopPodcast and Like us on Facebook.
Happy Anniversary! Truly appreciate all your efforts.
I was shocked to see the episode released today because I had been checking almost everyday for 2 weeks. It was a pretty good episode. Its funny to see how that almost every topic covered in this podcast has either the same or similar issues still going on a year later. One thing I was surprised by one topic you didnt have a list of least favorite comebacks/debuts or new releases in the past year (like “Mr.Simple” *cough cough*). I can agree with Foxy Brown with the waste of money YG has spent on Big Bang videos this past year. I can only imagine how much it cost to shoot the 2 of the 3 MV’s for “Alive” because NYC charges so much for permits to even shoot a 10 second CM on the sidewalk. Anyways, thanks for the new episode and I hope the next episode does not take as long to produce (I respect and thanks Noelle for doing the editing even when she is sick).
PS: Is the “Artist Spotlight” segment going to come back? It would be cool if it were at least once a month. I felt it did a good job either opening me up to an artist I did not know or made me give an artist a 2nd listen to see if I could grow to like them.
Congratulations on your first year anniversary! Keep up the good work!