City Hunter: Lee Min Ho

Since I've been blogging about artists - singers, bands, and actors (among other things) - I might as well write about my favorite Korean actor as of late, Lee Min Ho. 

( photo source: spv.sbs.co.kr )

( photo source: leeminho.wordpress.com )

Not much is written about him, online (and in English) that is.  I do know that he was cast as the lead actor in Boys Over Flowers, it was his first major role, and that it shot him to fame.  It  was a well-deserved one though, 'coz  I think he has proven how good he is as an actor.  He's got this certain charisma that just draws audiences to him.  I don't know, I am never really one to follow drama series, but lately, I've had my fair share of addiction.  And Lee Min Ho dramas just happen to be one of them.  XD!

His drama Personal Preference (Perfect Match in the Philippines) got me into knowing more about him.  At first, I watched it because of the charming and bubbly but clumsy character of Son Ye Jin (the lead actress), but later on got hooked because of Lee Min Ho.  He gets into the character he portrays and owns it, and I mean really owns it!  I thins that's one of the reasons why he is so brilliant and effective as an actor.

Not only is he an excellent actor, he is charming as well, not to mention gorgeous... what with those perfectly chiseled features and all!  And his eyes... they are very expressive.  I especially love it when he doesn't say a thing but his eyes say everything ~ not all actors can do that.  He... is so... damn good!

( photo source: spv.sbs.co.kr )

( photo source: spv.sbs.co.kr )

Now, I am watching his new drama, City Hunter, online and it seems that he's only getting better in his craft.  I admit I was quite skeptical when I learned that the lead character in this drama is a womanizing detective, but he was perfectly able to play the character and bring justice to it.  Oh, I'm really lovin' this guy!  He is a natural.

( photo source: spv.sbs.co.kr )

( photo source: spv.sbs.co.kr )

City Hunter Trailer:




Catch the episodes with English subs via Youtube or mysoju.com.

Know more about LMH through his website: www.leeminho.kr
Check out his Facebook Fan Page
Follow him on Twitter: @ActorLeeMinHo

The "V" that is Van Ness

V, the initial letter for a whole lot of adjectives -- versatile, vogue, vivacious, vehement -- or collectively, could simply mean VAN NESS.

I just listened to his latest Japanese album "V" and Van Ness Wu never fails to amaze.   Apparently, some tracks in the album were previously released as singles, but this is the first time I've heard all of them.  I had to look for translations for the purely Japanese and Japanese-English tracks and luckily, there were some on the net; and I must say, the songs are truly inspiring & beautifully-written... comes from the heart.

My favorites are No More Tears, which is about a person getting to a point in his life where his dreams are within reach and there is no turning back, no matter what happens; Better, a man's song for the most important woman in his life, asking her to hold on and never let him go; and Love Will Come, written by Van Ness himself.

No More Tears



Better




Incidentally, he also did another TV drama entitled Material Queen which was aired in Taiwan last June 17.  The theme song for the said drama, Is This All,  is also the title track of his new Mandarin album after a 3-year hiatus, C'est La "V".




The first two episodes were bereft of the usual plethora of emotions present in most TV dramas and are actually quite funny (which is good! i know, i know, that's why they're called dramas in the first place but, oh well!).  It's somewhat different from Autumn's Concerto, the previous one he did.  Here's a sneak peak of what to expect from this new drama...




Promotional photos for his Mandarin album C'est La "V"

Visit his blog www.iamvanness.com.
Check out his Facebook page.
Follow him on Twitter: @vannessvanwu.

Rockin' with The Script

Another band whose songs I’ve recently been listenin' to is The Script, an Irish pop rock band from Dublin.  They did a show here in Manila about a couple of months ago.  Mad love their song “Breakeven” though I feel a bit uncomfortable where the lyrics say “I prayed to a God I don’t believe in” -- kinda against what I believe in... hehe. ",)  But generally, their songs are superb, the music great!

Some of my favorite songs...

Breakeven



The Man Who Can’t be Moved



I’m Yours



Visit their webiste - www.thescriptmusic.com - and Facebook Page to know more about them.  Check out their videos in YouTube.  Follow them on Twitter: @thescript

MikeyBustos... Hey there, Spider!

I <3 Mikey Bustos, the Filipino-Canadian responsible for the viral "Filipino Accent Tutorial" that has been posted, shared, and re-shared in Facebook a couple of months ago!  I came across his video in FB and have watched it for I don't know how many times (and still laugh like hell each time!).  He is quite a character!  I find him so funny, witty, and sincere; and his eyes... they say it all.  I greatly admire that he has not lost his "Filipino-ness" despite being born in another country (Kudos to his parents!).  It seems he is more Filipino than most Filipinos (no offense meant, just objective observation).

Mikey truly is an inspiration!  He is so transparent in his messages -- his songs, his videos, Facebook posts, and tweets.  I can't even put into words how this guy has inspired me to become more grounded with my identity as a Filipino.  I'm just happy I came across his videos in Youtube... everything just comes from the heart.    

My favorite song...



I just love the song "Grenade."



My all-time favorite.



Know more about Mikey Bustos -
Official Website:  www.mikeybustos.ca
Youtube channel:  MikeyBustosVideos
Facebook:  Mikey Bustos Fan Page

Follow him on Twitter: @MikeyBustos

Flying Without Wings

I'm not a Westlife fan but I’ve been listening to their songs lately and am pleasantly surprised that they have really good ones.  And one that I really liked, loved actually, is the song “Flying Without Wings” (circa 2009, I think).  When I first heard it, I was smiling to myself, speechless... an avalanche of thoughts running through my head.  The lyrics are just so meaningful; the message, very profound.

It's a song meant for that one person you value the most in life, someone you can’t live without, so to speak.  Cliche as it may sound, it’s about finding that one person or thing that would make your life complete.  Not everybody gets to do that in a lifetime, don’t you think?  Too bad the music video failed to capture that very essence.  I’m including the lyrics and MV here, you be the judge.

Everybody's looking for that something
One thing that makes it all complete
You'll find it in the strangest places
Places you never knew it could be

Some find it in the face of their children
Some find it in their lover's eyes
Who can deny the joy it brings
When you've found that special thing
You're flying without wings

Some find it sharing every morning
Some in their solitary lives
You'll find it in the words of others
A simple line can make you laugh or cry

You'll find it in the deepest friendship
The kind you cherish all your life
And when you know how much that means
You've found that special thing
You're flying without wings

So, impossible as they may seem
You've got to fight for every dream
'Coz who's to know which one you let go
Would have made you complete

Well, for me it's waking up beside you
To watch the sunrise on your face
To know that I can say I love you
In any given time or place

It's the little things that only I know
Those are the things that make you mine
And it's like flying without wings
‘Cause you're my special thing
I'm flying without wings

And you're the place my life begins
And you'll be where it ends
I'm flying without wings
And that's the joy you bring
I'm flying without wings

Bruno Mars

He has a show in Manila tonight.  Too bad I won't be able to go (*sigh*).  But next time, I swear I'd definitely see him!  Oh, I do hope there would be a next time sometime soon...

Love, love, love his songs...

Americanarama by Hollerado

I really loooove this "Human 8-bit Video" by the group Hollerado.  Can't get over it!



Formed in 2007, Hollerado is a Canadian indie rock band from Ontario.  Know more about them - www.hollerado.com.  Also check out their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/hollerado.

On VAN NESS WU

I wanna write about Van Ness Wu because I admire the guy!  I admire his guts, his sincerity, humility, and absolute passion for what he does and believes in.  I think he's got real talent; and I like his wit and humor.

(source: Van Ness Wu's Facebook page)

                                                        

First off... prior to writing this, I didn't know much about Van Ness Wu except that he was part of the drama Meteor Garden, a few episodes of which I was able to catch while it was aired in our country years ago, and I thought he was a lousy actor.  Apart from that, my knowledge of Van Ness goes no further than him being a member of a boy band called F4.  I never saw his other dramas and movies.  Not that I knew he had a lot, 'cause I didn't.

That was up until a few months back, when I saw a teaser for his drama, Autumn's Concerto (Next Stop, Happiness), as it was about to air in our country.  This got me curious because the storyline, based on the teaser, seems promising to me.  I am not actually fond of dramas but I thought - Why the hell not?!  And so, that started me watching it on Youtube (and later on via SUBlimes' blog) and was surprised to see that he has greatly improved in his acting.  Actually, I think "greatly improved" would be an understatement 'coz he was damn good!  He was such a revelation in this drama that I decided to know more about him.  I learned (from his numerous interviews and performances on Youtube, plus stuff written about him) that he has indeed matured not only as an actor but as a person as well.  And it seems much of it is due to his experiences and realizations in life.  From seeing him as the seemingly arrogant and immature person he was, my perspective changed to one of admiration and respect.  That he greatly values his family, friends, and all the people important to him, fans included, is just laudable.  

I really admire the person he has become; and I hope he continues to be the sincere and humble person he is and further inspire the many supporters he has.

Know more about Van Ness from his blog - www.iamvanness.com and Facebook page - www.facebook.com/vanness.  Follow him on Twitter: @vannessvanwu.

Here's the teaser of the drama I was talking about (can't find an English-subbed one)...

Switchfoot

Switchfoot is coming to Manila in April.  I really don't know who they are but a billboard caught my eye.  I thought to myself - Nice name! Catchy. - without knowing what it actually means.  I later learned that they are an American alternative rock band from California, and that "switchfoot" is a surf term which means "to take a new stance facing the opposite direction" (you learn something new everyday!).  They became popular when four of their songs were included in the movie "A Walk to Remember" and yet another song as part of the original soundtrack of "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." 

I listened to their songs via Youtube and they became instant favorites. 

I like these songs from the movie "A Walk to Remember"...






The song from "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"...




My favorites from the album "Hello Hurricane"...







If you want to learn more about Switchfoot, check out their website - www.switchfoot.com or their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/switchfoot.