We know, UEE, we know
After School is one of the less popular girl groups in kpop right now. And really, since their debut.
There are DEFINITELY aspects of After School that I (As in ME, Kang Hyo Rin) like a lot like members Park Ga Hee, Kim Jung Ah, and Kim Rebecca as well as songs “Because of You” and “When I Fall.” But there are some aspects that really are not my thing.
I suppose their company, Pledis Entertainment, have been brooding, wondering “why” that is?
It could do something with the rotational line up (aka, instability) or a bizarre combination of talented, untalented, pretty, and non pretty members, or the lack of good music writing and producing.
But after, what I’m sure was hour upon hour of relentless debate, they decided that the group was so big that their personalities and talent did or did not shine. That’s fair enough. Super Junior has 13 (Yes, this number is debatable but I don’t want to get into that) members and they split up into sub units and it worked out well for them.
Our first sub group:
Yummy...yeah? Yeah well, NO!
Orange Caramel (Should I even start with the name? No, I guess not. But I will say: Kind of REALLY silly) consists of three members: Oh Hye Rin, Lim Jin Ah, and Park Soo Young.
About these dramatic personaes:
Raina: She has a killer voice. Although I do prefer Jungah’s vocals, Raina knows how to sing and I respect that. As far as her looks go, she’s cute.
Nana: I’m not a big fan of Nana. I don’t think she has a nice voice. And I don’t think Pledis does either because I’m pretty sure she sings AT MOST 4 lines a song. And as far as her looks, I go back and forth. Sometimes I think she’s pretty, sometimes I don’t. But you know what, she won a Super Model Contest so I suppose I do not know what I am talking about.
Lizzy: She’s new and I guess she’s cute. I don’t really know what to say about her. I’m still confused as to why she’s in the group.
And if you haven’t noticed, this unit consists of the latest members to join After School.
From the photo: I was like, “eh.” I don’t like the whole “cute” thing. It’s kind of perverse for women in their late teens and early twenties to be walking around in pastel dresses, holding cupcakes, acting like Polly’s Pocket. Lizzy looks nice though. Can’t say the same for the other members considering Nana’s one eye is closed and Raina looks a little less than a 100% excited.
Here’s the teaser:
From the MV Teaser: Well, they all look pretty. They’re wearing these nice, cool pastel colors, they’re sleeping (Angelic or peverse?). They’re wearing some weird ass party hats though. But the revolving like a clock camera movement is interesting so I forgive. And then they wake up and do something that is not THAT different from So Hee’s “Omona” in the “Tell Me” MV. Very pretty but again, why are these WOMEN doing this? Especially with the lullaby melody in the background? Like why? Women of an age that can go to a bar and get perfectly smashed on a Friday night or women who can enlist in the army and kill people should not be doing things that BABIES do.
And NOW…the MV:
Visually speaking, the MVs has some Hits and Misses. Again. Very pretty. The pastel colors, the cakes, the paper laterns. They’re styled pretty nicely. The only outfits I hate are the pink, polka dot dresses. Their make up and hair is pretty nice., espeically Nana’s pig tail style. OH and then MIN HYUK. I love CN Blue so Min Hyuk, who like never shows up, SHOWS UP. He’s decked out in typical, uppercrust Asian male fashion but he’s holding onto a bike? The image is very boyish but then again, the concept for Orange Caramel is innocent, cute, fresh, and youthful. Min Hyuk walks by, they stop talking, and stare. Like he’s the only man they’ve ever seen in their entire life. And the pop out sets, oh boy, how campy. Paper Mario, flashbacks everyone? And Nana floating over the ultra fake Parisian background? I don’t know…
In the opening, Min Hyuk walks away and DRUMS (How fitting!). Oh and then comes these dreadful, retro, sterotypical keyboard synths. And that cascading piano motif, makes it sound like a crime drama and in the rest of the song, it grows to become something very akin to the Sailor Moon OST. And then, as the lyrics progress, it might as well be. Raina begins the song and I HATE IT. This girl has such a rocking voice and in her opening lines, I really can’t tell the difference between her and your regular, homogenized female idol. I don’t if she’s purposely sounding like that or if it’s a effect put in during production but I hate it. And the “어떡해 어떡해?” SUCH A STEREOTYPICAL phrase in korean pop. And for some reason, these girls say it with QUITE the accent. Lizzy’s vocals are acceptable. I’ve never thought she’s had a good voice. It’s okay. Like a homogenized idol’s voice. But Nana, oh honey. When she belts, you can hear her struggle on the ending, gasping desperately for air. If you can hear it on the track, then imagine what it must have been like during practice…
Overall, my assessment of Orange Caramel: mediocre, unoriginal, and so sugary that you’ll need to inject yourself with insulin for the rest of your life.
I think these girls have talent/potential. Raina has an awesome voice. Nana is really pretty. And Lizzy…well, I’m sure she’s got something; I just haven’t discovered it yet. But why did they have to do something like THIS? It’s cute; it’s whatever but they COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING ELSE.
My personal prescription:
Visually: Give them blazers and flowing blouses. Make them look like something out of The Hills or The City. Make them look like YOUNG WOMEN (Not young children).
Musically: They once did a cover of “Irreplaceable” by Beyonce and I think that sound would be very appropriate for Raina, Nana, and Lizzy. Acoustic noodlings with a bass beat. Fresh, young, and natural.
I’m not a big fan of the sub unit concept because I don’t think that’s part of the problem. I’m sure these girls have personality and talent that aren’t showcased because they’re overshadowed by their fellow members but I’m sure there’s a reason why that occurs. They’re just not as strong as other members and even if they weren’t as strong as the other members, but strong in retrospect, the group as a whole would be a lot more popular. Whether it’s looks, musical talent, or just plain, old public reception. There’s a reason for everything.
But there’s nothing one can do. I guess, in a way, I’m looking forward to the next subunit simply to see what Pledis will do. But if they do ANYTHING like this to Kahi, I swear. Twill’ not be very good.
In the meantime, let’s hold out and wish these girls the best of luck, like good playgirls.
We love you too, After School!
Oh and by the way, I realized that I didn’t ONCE mention the song’s name. Oops, really embarrassing. But the only reason I do not correct this error and act like nothing ever happened because I think it can attest (One last time), how much I do not care for this.
In order to enrich your reading experience, here are some links:
To read more about After School:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_School_(band)
or
http://www.divadetention.com/forum/index.php
To Watch the “Because of You” MV:
To Watch a live of “When I Fall”:
To Watch the “Tell Me” MV:
To Watch a video of Paper Mario (But only the first couple of seconds, it’s a pretty long video):
To hear a snippet from the Sailor Moon OST:
To Watch the “Irreplaceable” MV:
And as always: comment, subscribe, send me an email, and SPAMSPAMSPAM!
효린(아!) 