EASTER POST

Some words which have come into my head which I want to write about, eh?

Easter

I’ve been off for Easter this past week and next week too. So far I’ve had a lovely time off - meeting up with people I haven’t seen and also creating my Motion Graphics Visual Diary. We’ve also got some Easter Eggs which I plan to tuck into tomorrow. Yummy!

Car

I like driving now - how hypocritical of me, but I when people say getting your test is so much more better than learning, it’s definitely true. I never thought I’d like it though. Although I enjoyed the craic with my instructor, learning did get very tedious after a while. I’m glad that part of my life is over. I’ve my whole life ahead of me and I am free. Driving alone is so much more fun!

Social Networking

Okay, okay this is the very very last time I will rant about this. In the past few months, Twitter - you all should be familiar with it - has been increasing in popularity. I used the Twitter sphere to ESCAPE from silly Facebook friends’ updates - and now they all are making a Twitter account and FOLLOWING ME.

GO AWAY. GO AWAY, I SAY. I miss my freedom of expression, where I could tweet whatever I wished - now I feel I must censor it according incase it offends any of my followers. Hogwash!! I will only follow my friends and a few special others - this includes people from my course, celebrities and interesting/amusing people. Oh! And finally, don’t say Twitter is better than Facebook - it certainly is not. They both have their own features unique to the site - so just, eh, just shut up....and now I will too.

Friends

I’ve met many fantastic people through university, but nobody understands me like my friends back home do. We’ve been through so much together this past couple of months and we still stick together. I actually love you guys. Let us have many more laughs and memories together.

Diet

My weight is the bane of my life. For a while it was great, I actually had kinda lost my appetite - still not sure why, but alas, it has returned to it’s all-powerful self. I miss last year...I want my confidence back.

University

Would I go back to school? Not in a million years. I adore university - the freedom, the opportunity to meet new people and to study what I love.

My Classmates: Hannah, Seb, Rebecca and Emma in particular,

The other IMA guys who have made us all very welcome to our course: Eoin, Wilson, Michael, Nick, Louise, Lance, Sam and many others too!

My Flatmates in Cranagh: Kerri, Deirdre, Joanne and Anne.

CU friends: Shannon, Alison, Rachel, Danielle, Hannah S, Jenna, Alannah and some others too...

You guys are all awesome!

Music

I’ve been trying to re-evaluate my life this past fortnight and I’ve been cleansing myself from some certain music. Sometimes you can get carried away and you don’t even realise. I need to get my priorities right and my music is a good place to begin. I told a few people I’m trying to sort myself out, and honestly I don’t think they took it seriously - but I feel in my heart it’s time to move on. Although it won’t be easy, sacrifices need to be made to make room for greater things.

Faith

Last Monday we were challenged by our Small Groups leader to wake early and have our Quiet Time in the morning before we get up. Normally I would do a quick Bible chapter and prayer and conk out at night. Some nights when I was too tired I wouldn’t even bother. I knew it wasn’t very effective but it was just a bad habit I was stuck in. So I took on this challenge, and seriously, it’s been the best choice I’ve made in a long time.

I’m most focused in the mornings - so it’s a perfect routine for me and I’m able to spend more time praying and understand what I’m reading easier because my concentration level is higher. It’s also affected my whole day - I swear I’ve had the most fulfilling days since starting it. I’m happier and I feel closer to God, which is incredible. I love it!

Time for bed,

- Claudia

K-POP MUSIC VIDEOOOOOOOOOOOS

Okay, so I’m getting a bit tired of the other blogging meme. I’ve had lots of work to do lately which involves spending endless hours on the computer, so blogging hasn’t really been my favourite thing to do. Big deadline is just before Christmas and I can’t wait to get everything handed in. I started this blog post a few weeks ago and decided to finish it on my night off.

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So I started listing my favourite K-Pop music videos - I can’t actually remember what made me want to do this but it seemed like fun.

Then I realised that 25 music videos were a bit much, so here I’m trying to list my ULTIMATE favourite music videos. Like, the absolute BEST. Yes, that’s a very difficult thing to do! And I’m inviting/forcing you to watch them. *o* ENJOY.

In no particular order...

Sorry Sorry - Super Junior

This song and music video was the culprit which introduced me into the world of K-Pop. I’m not sure if the overall music video is anything fantastic or is it just a mixture of affection and nostalgia for me. However it’s unarguably Super Junior’s best comeback and it’s one of the last videos where all 13 were together. (Yeah, 13 members.) Also it’s very, very catchy.

Haru Haru - Big Bang

First of all, it’s Big Bang. If that doesn’t instantly eradicate your conscious into mindless fangirl/boy squealing like it does for me, watch this one and follow a beautiful but soul-destroying story about two guys’ relationship with a girl. I’m not going to give anything away but get tissues.

Go Away - 2NE1

Okayy this video stars my all-time favourite female k-pop star CL, leader of girl-group 2NE1. (To Anyone or Twenty One). 2NE1 are like a sister group to BIGBANG because they are part of the same company, YG Entertainment. 2NE1 are my in my favourites because they are bold, quirky and haven’t the typical pretty appearance like most female artists, see Girls Generation or Wonder Girls etc. They stand out and aren’t afraid to be different, and also their tunes are CLASS! I could talk about them all day, but I need to remain focused and examine the video. I chose this one because it shows how badass they are, especially CL’s fierceness and individuality which I was trying to explain before. Also, their style is amazing.

This video was released in 2010 as part of their To Anyone album - so if you’re looking something new to listen to, I highly recommend it because I love every song.

Soooo, basically CL breaks up with her boyfriend (lol he looks female) and she is devastated. She seeks revenge and attempts to beat him in a race and fails, then she visits him at her house and he beats the living crap outta her (seriously), then she races him again... and then you can see what happens after that. I don’t want to give anything away. Incredible video but still...frustrating.

Roly Poly - T-ARA

Okay this one is so much fun. “Roly Poly” is an utterly addictive retro track with a fantastic music video to match. This M.V effectively imitates the seventies’ trend and T-ARA looks fabulous moving to the groovy choreography. You’ll have it on repeat.

Ring Ding Dong - SHINee

I initially heard this song about two years ago now and I still spontaneously sing a bit of it every day. This will be, without a doubt, the most catchy song you will ever, EVER hear. Like it or not, with one listens only once, it will be trapped in your head forever. To ensure this is permanent - the music video must also be viewed, meaning you can dance along. SHINee are, dare I say it, the One Direction of Korea - they have a band member to suit every girl’s taste. Except SHINee can dance with coordination and resilience! And in water too! Yes, SHINee are probably the best boyband out there at the minute. I lovvee this video. Fantastically elastic.

Mirotic - DBSK

If you like nakey men dancing sexy watch this. This was DBSK’s last comeback before they dissolved and WHAT A SHAME that was!! This video is captivatingly beautiful - it’s passionate and to put it bluntly, arousing. Yes, it’s rather sexualized with all their sexy moves and provocative outfits....but none of us really mind...good job SM Entertainment, good job.

Gee - Girls Generation
Just to point out the obvious comparisons between 2NE1 and every other girl group, here are Girls Generation - in other words, the goddesses of Korea. I find Girls Gen, or SNSD for their Korean name (So Nyuh Shi Dae) too skinny and fake, but most other boys in the world think otherwise. Despite this, I still like them and like their music too. This was the first music video of their’s that I watched but still think it’s one of their best. It’s cute and endearing and so typically asian. And, believe it or not, it’s catchy - I wish there was another word for catchy but I can’t think of one. But that’s exactly what it is. Ladies, prepare to hate your figures.

Butterfly - G-Dragon

In case you didn’t know, I’m very much YG biased, so I totally adore and support BigBang and 2NE1. As much as I love SHINee, I struggle to like SM Entertainment because they treat their artists like slaves, and I feel they have no freedom making their own music, unlike YG. Can’t remember why I started writing that sentence but G-Dragon, incase you didn’t know, is the leader of BIGBANG. In 2009, the members took a break and released individual singles. GD released the wonderful Heartbreaker album, another one of my favourite CDs which I could listen to the whole way through. He released this pretty song in late October. If you are into Anime and all that, I highly recommend this, because this MV is breathtakingly beautiful. GD is propelled into an animated world and meets a girl who falls for him. (Probably because of his gorgeous smile, how is he so pretty...) The odd thing here is how he’s the only one not animated, but his whole appearance makes it look like he is? It boggles my mind. Anyway it’s super cute and if you’re into the whole Anime art it would be worthwhile to have a lookie, I know Mary-Jane adores this.

Lucifer - SHINee

More SHINee - don’t be surprised. These guys released a Korean version of Lucifer in 2010, then a Japanese one a couple of months ago in 2011. My advice here is to watch the Korean first and take that in - it’s not as catchy as Ring Ding Dong - but after many listens I love it too. The highlight of this one is definitely Taemin’s hair - surprisingly gorgeous, and I want it! The outfits and hairstyles are a bit off (cough, Minho) but the choreography is fierce.

Having said that, in my opinion, the Japanese one is a TRILLION times better! Yes! You may wonder how SHINee could get ANY better but like, wow, the stylists actually got the hair and style 100%. It’s been like 9 weeks ago since they released it and I’m still geeking out. They look FLAWLESS. The cinematography is stunning - the varying pace in the speed of the image is absolutely perfect - I say this because it would be so complicated to get accurate in a fast-paced song. These impeded shots can reveal breath-taking close-ups of the boys’ singing and their movements - AND equal screen-time too, oh it’s faultless!

So I hope you are now thinking “Wow Claudia, that was fantastic! Thank you for recommending such wonderful and beautiful music videos to me!”

And if you don’t feel that, watch them all again.

LADYBOYS!

"Think Fantasy, think feathers, think fantastic!"

Right, you may think I’ve gone mad firstly to the fact that I’m blogging at 1.30am (which may mean the English grammar is atrocious, sorry) and secondly, to the wacky title I’ve given this post!

Well today has been one of the most erratic but best days of 2010: and trust me, I’ve had so many good days: but this is close to topping it. It would be more sensible to blog about Gaga, but it’s gonna have to wait another time because this performance is so fresh in my mind.

So, has anyone heard of the Ladyboys? Gosh it sounds so weird typing it. It’s basically transvestite Thai men who travel around the world performing as women. It so happens that tonight ‘The Lady Boys of Bangkok’ were performing in Belfast and I went to see it. ‘Why?’ I hear you ask. And no, my adoration with Asians wasn’t taking a step too far. My Uncle got free tickets from work and since we were all down in Victoria Square shopping, he phoned us asking if we wanted to go.

Of course, when I first heard about it, I was a bit iffy. Like, these were foreign guys dressed as girls, it just sounded really really really disturbing and tacky. Like the cheap crap acts you saw on holiday in the hotel. Then he said many of his workmates said it was unreal, so we might as well, right? So after we went out for tea we headed over to Custom House Square.

The place was packed. It was then that I got to read through the leaflet about it. It said “Fantasy and Feathers is performed by 16 of the world’s most beautiful show-girls (who just happen to be men) it’s the glamourous fun filled show everyone is talking about!” and “One of the most fabulous cabaret shows I have ever seen!” We had the very front seat too! When the curtains opened I was struck with awe: we were so close! I was a little bit frightened at first, you were afraid to make eye contact incase they winked or something! So I took many photos...which might help me explain it a bit better before my brain turns to mush.

This was just a random decoration I took a photo of when I came in.

The show has begun! This is the second song, I can't remember the title of it. But LOOK at the guy on the right- seriously he was gorgeous. And that girl there? SHE'S A MAN WTF. And yeah, I KNOW they are all men: you would too if you had my view of the stage. O_O

First attempt at taking a photo of the oh-so-attractive male dancer. Fail. Well..it's his chest. Maybe not a fail. The stage smelt funny: like a sweet smell. We thought it was like perfume or body spray they put on to hide the sweatiness. Whatever it was, I have become so addicted to it while everyone else hated it. It's on my clothes and coat and I hope it doesn't go away!

This guy's skills were wicked! He had a bathtub below him and he swung right above us! His muscles were so big!

Here he is again. Doing some stretches. He eventually got in the bath, but soaked us all below.

Yes. A man. Gosh, I can't get that into my head.

They done this X-Factor/Britain's Got Talent act. It was very funny. There was a midget who played Simon. Tough little guy.

They also included some acts too: Jedward! This was again the super cute guy- he soaked me with the water pistol!! haha! Cheeky!

One of the guys being Susan Boyle. It was hilarious when medical people came in and took her away in a strait jacket!

Also a Cheryl Cole act.

This was at the interval. You could go up and get your photo taken with them. I managed to catch a picture in-between. The one on the far right was definitely the most beautiful. (What am I saying??!?)

Woman in feathers.

This one sang 'Barbie Girl' She switched sides of her body when it was Ken's lines- very amusing indeed.

So much Gaga recently! An excellent rendition of 'Poker Face.' Dance moves were flawless.

This was Grease! Sorry, I couldn't help taking photos of these guys when they were just so so close to me! *attempts to stretch arm closer*

Oh! How I love this photo! I just set it as my wallpaper because it's such good quality. It's Grease again. That cutie at the end makes me melt.

If the show couldn't get ANY better, they also mimed 'Summer of '69' and look who their front man was?! *takes 100 more photos*

Random drummer guy. Nobody in the show sung or played at all. They mimed everything. It worked though.

All you single ladies, put your hands up!

This guy was a great Michael Jackson impersonator. It said on the background "This Isn't It" It surely was not.

He performed 3 songs: This was during 'Beat It' Some of the guys banged their chests together! My gay radar didn't function well tonight because I just couldn't decide if they were or not.

This was at the end when all the cast came on stage for the encore.

And I sneaked this little photo hehehe.

So anyway, by looking at that, it looks like the most perverted, disgusting, unethical thing I've ever been to, and yes, it probably was. But it was a fantastic evening and I loved it. So please don't shun me! It was an experience that shouldn't be missed! They are performing until Saturday 20th November, I highly recommend that you go to see it. (And take me again too!!)

- Claudia