Kpop | K-Pop BFFs: G-Dragon Explains His Life-Long Friendship With ...

K-Pop BFFs: G-Dragon Explains His Life-Long Friendship With ...
5 K-Pop Stars That Are Making Us Hungry : KpopStarz
10 Awesome Times K-Pop Was Featured On American TV : KpopStarz
Get That K-Pop Look: Yoo In Na Airport Fashion : KpopStarz

K-Pop BFFs: G-Dragon Explains His Life-Long Friendship With ...

Posted: 09 Dec 2014 06:16 PM PST

GD and Taeyang remained friends through the early days of Big Bang to their current state of fame.

(Photo : YG Entertainment/Paris Fashion Week )
GD and Taeyang remained friends through the early days of Big Bang to their current state of fame.

Big Bang's G-Dragon recently spoke fondly about his thirteen-year friendship with group mate Taeyang during a promotional interview for the pair's new single together.

G-Dragon and Taeyang met with members of the media on November 25 for a round table discussion in support of their project single "Good Boy." During the interview session, G-Dragon weighed in on promoting with Taeyang. Taeyang gave his perspective on their friendship and spoke about their working relationship as members of Big Bang.

Korean media outlet Enews published one of the first English language translations of the interview session. One of the questions which prompted the discussion of the friendship focused on the reasons behind the formation of their new unit GD x Taeyang. Taeyang explained that he and G-Dragon formed the unit after hours spent working on his solo album "Rise."

According to Enews, Taeyang stated, "G-Dragon and I didn't come up with the project after deciding to go for unit activities. My album was released this year and G-Dragon took significant participation in my album."

Taeyang then provided further explanation about the unit through his statement, "Since G-Dragon and I spent a lot of time together in the recording studio, the song was produced naturally."

G-Dragon explained the creative process behind Big Bang, while providing context for the dynamics of his working relationship with Taeyang. He referred to Taeyang as being better than a brother, while admitting that he and Taeyang often provide the demos for Big Bang's albums. During the interview, he stated, "Even for Big Bang albums, I would make the demos, and Taeyang and I would always be the ones to record the other members' parts together."

G-Dragon and Taeyang have maintained a friendship since their adolescence.

(Photo : G-Dragon Instagram )
G-Dragon and Taeyang have maintained a friendship since their adolescence.

G-Dragon's explanation for their extensive time spent together in the studio, included the points that T.O.P was in the midst of filming his movie while Daesung promoted his solo release in Japan. He also explained that "Seungri had something to do, so Taeyang and I spent a lot of time together." This statement provides context for the delay in the upcoming Big Bang comeback release while giving further insight into the creation of the GD x Taeyang hip-hop unit.

The tone of the round table conversation then shifted from their musical process to their iron-clad friendship. After G-Dragon made a warm statement about Taeyang, the reporters at the round table asked Taeyang to make a positive remark about him. In regards to G-Dragon, Taeyang stated, "I think he is a really good person. His heart itself is really good-natured."

English media outlet Soompi continued the translated portion of the interview. G-Dragon then went on to examine Taeyang's strengths and weaknesses, happily accepting the compliment from his friend. G-Dragon stated, "Taeyang's strength and weakness is that he is really stubborn. It's because he perfectly carries through according to his thoughts that the current Taeyang exists."

GD and Taeyang remained friends through the early days of Big Bang to their current state of fame.

(Photo : Taeyang Instagram )
GD and Taeyang remained friends through the early days of Big Bang to their current state of fame.

The Big Bang members are considered to have one of the strongest friendships in K-Pop which led to their recognition from Fuse as one of "Music's 17 Greatest Bromances." G-Dragon and Taeyang became friends after they met each other as trainees at YG Entertainment at age thirteen.Since becoming friends as teens, the duo have had the opportunity to work together through the group but this is the first time they have had an official release as a unit. GD x Taeyang is especially significant to the friends, as it is representative of their on-going relationship.

G-Dragon then went on to provide a strong, emotional statement regarding his friendship with Taeyang. Drawing on some of Taeyang's best qualities he stated, "Taeyang doesn't talk much and he doesn't act out loud, but he's a friend that brings a lot of feeling when he's next to you." G-Dragon then went on to give the heartfelt comment, "If there could be one friend next to me when I die, I hope it's Taeyang."

5 K-Pop Stars That Are Making Us Hungry : KpopStarz

Posted: 12 Dec 2014 08:46 AM PST

The world of K-pop isn't exactly known for its healthy eating practices and acceptance of all body shapes, so it's especially refreshing when a star isn't afraid to go to town on their favorite foods. It's also a cool way to learn more about Korean foods (or know what kind of non-Korean grub they find most appealing).

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Here's a list of some of the K-pop stars that are making our stomachs growl:

miss A's Min

Min understands Instagram. Her account is the perfect mix of flattering selfies, nail art, an attractive fluffy white puppy, and of course, FOOD. She brings Korean staples like kimchi fried rice, ramyeon, and omurice into the mix, but the account is also a treasure trove of Western junk food. Pepperoni pizza seems to be a favorite, and cheeseburgers get captions like "DROOL" and "WANT." She's also a girl that knows that sharing a steak with mom is the best kind of meal and that heaven is truly the chip aisle of an NYC supermarket. Our favorite, though, would have to be a post from her now-defunct me2day account with a photo of her eating fried chicken. The caption reads, "Cut my bangs, wearing my sunglasses, and in the process of inhaling chicken. Chicken is my best friend." Ours too, Min. Ours too.

Min Chicken

(Photo : Twitter)

CNBLUE

Meat: it's what's for dinner if you're CNBLUE. The boys are notorious for their love affair with all things meat and have earned the nickname of the "Meat-lover's Idol." The topic came up on their episode of Taxi, where they suddenly turn animated when talking about the meat on which they spend a good chunk of their paychecks. Their mutual meat love also brings out their nostalgic side -- another time, Jonghyun told concert goers that before the guys hit it big, they used to go to the supermarket in the wee hours of the morning, when meat was discounted, to spend the little money they had on a small portion of meat. They would then divide it evenly between the group. Check out a classic clip of CNBLUE campaigning to be hanwoo spokespeople on an episode of Gourmet Road:

T-ARA's Jiyeon

The title of this video really says it all: Jiyeon puts all other noodle-eaters to shame with her boss-like eating. Save some for us, please!

Park Soo Jin & Kim Sung-eun, Hosts of 2014 Tasty Road

Tasty Road is a super fun show that guides viewers through the streets of South Korea, trying out new foods, restaurants, and styles of growing and preparing meals. The latest season (the fourth in the series) is led by these two charismatic stars who seem to genuinely love the food they eat. Their passion and their knowledge of the world of food will waft straight from the screen to your taste buds.

Yoon Eun Hye in "Coffee Prince"

This woman knows how to make eating look fun. In her role as the Go Eun-Chan, the tomboy with the appetite of a hippo, the actress had us simultaneously laughing at the pint-sized scoops of ice cream she inhaled and salivating at all the delivious meals she devoured. It's exactly the kind of eating that makes us want to change into sweats, order takeout for 5, and call it a night.

10 Awesome Times K-Pop Was Featured On American TV : KpopStarz

Posted: 29 Nov 2014 02:03 PM PST

The history of K-Pop on Korean television could fill volumes. As much as Hallyu has helped K-Pop cross continents, though, its presence on American TV isn't quite as rich. But the genre has had a few notable guest spots on everything from news shows to sitcoms to reality shows. We can only imagine that this collection of K-Pop spotlights in the U.S. will continue to grow, but for now, we leave you with some of these great moments:

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2NE1's "I Am The Best" on The Bachelor

In this episode, Juan Pablo and his potential brides traveled to South Korea and got a taste of two things - first, how difficult it is to be a K-Pop star, and second, how huge 2NE1 is in its native country. Most of the girls totally embraced the K-Pop vibe, and we love how they go all out with their bright outfits and dance style.

Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar" on Selfie

This was one of the smartest ways we've seen K-Pop portrayed in mainstream American TV. In it, one of the young characters is playing DJ and turns on a K-Pop song as a Korean-American character (BONUS: he's shown as a fun, attractive love interest rather than a stereotyped caricature) enters the club. The Korean-American character gives the little DJ a hard time. "Oh, I get it," he says. "Just because I'm Korean, you think I like K-Pop?" After an awkward silence, though, his body can't stop itself from rocking to Crayon Pop's hit and the whole crowd gets moving.

It's an honest portrayal of what non-Korean people assume about the Koreans in their lives. It also makes it clear that K-Pop is a genre that any human can get behind.

2NE1's "I Am The Best" on Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 Commercial

This one is especially fun because of it's secretive jab. Korean speakers and K-Pop fans got to hear this commercial (where 2NE1's "I Am The Best" plays as a Surface Pro 3 and iPad sit side by side) and chuckle because they were in on a joke that many viewers of this commercial probably didn't get. Even if you didn't pick up on the "I Am The Best" message, though, the commercial made any viewer want to get up and dance. That makes it an all-around winner in our book.

K-Pop Boot Camp Special on ABC News

After Gangnam Style took the world by storm, people worldwide wanted to know more about what this K-Pop thing was all about. ABC News took viewers into what they called "K-Pop Boot Camp," one of the agencies that auditions and trains the thousands of hopeful young K-Pop wannabes. It's a world with an ugly side that deserves a bigger look than the 3 minutes ABC devoted to it, but it's a good glimpse at all it takes to make it as a K-Pop star.

Girls Generation "The Boys" on the Late Show with David Letterman

This is quite the get for a group's first late night on American TV. Girls Generation gave a spirited live performance for an excited audience (that even included Bill Murray and Regis Philbin.)

Zony and Yony performing Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

After itty-bitty Taiwanese twins Zony and Yony charmed the world with their choreographed performance of Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar" on YouTube, Ellen invited them on their show for an interview, a performance, and a chance to train with DJ Twitch. The interview contains crucial information about how to tell them apart: obviously one is "beautiful" and the other "cute."

BTOB's "Beep Beep" and lines from "Emergency Couple" on America's Next Top Model

This was a great and totally practical challenge for the people competing to be models on Tyra Banks' show: travel to Seoul and flawlessly perform dance moves and/or deliver lines, all while looking fantastic. It was a tough challenge for the competitors, but just a day in the life of a K-Pop or K-drama star.

Big Bang's "Fantastic Baby" on "Glee"

Frankly, we're surprised "Glee" didn't jump on K-Pop sooner than it did. It's the perfect genre for a show about young performers looking for the latest and greatest in dance, fashion, and pop music to wow audiences and beat their provincial competition. "Gangnam Style" also got a cover in this episode, after one of the show's characters proclaimed that Korean groups were "tearing up the scene."

Tiffany Singing the National Anthem at an LA Dodgers Game

The LA Dodgers have a history of K-Pop stars singing the Korean National Anthem at some of their games when they honor people of Korean descent. This day was notable though, in that Taeyeon performed the Korean anthem and Tiffany belted the Star Spangled Banner.

The Wonder Girls Special on TeenNick

A few years ago TeenNick aired a one-hour special that follows the Wonder Girls on their (fictionalized) first world tour, when they wind up entering a competition at the legendary Apollo Theater against the wishes of their manager. This movie, like so many aimed at teenagers that have aired on TeenNick, has its cringe-worthy moments. It falls less into the "stellar TV" category and more into the "watch ironically with friends but then end up unironically loving a little bit" category. So, all in all, worth a watch.

Get That K-Pop Look: Yoo In Na Airport Fashion : KpopStarz

Posted: 12 Dec 2014 07:59 AM PST

Welcome to this week's Get That K-Pop Look, where we showcase an original K-Pop outfit and give you tips on putting together your own similarly styled, affordable outfit.

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The 2014 MAMA Awards wasn't the only place to find the hottest in Korean fashion this week. Most of the night's stars had to fly through Incheon Airport to get to the ceremony in Hong Kong, and in doing so proved yet again that K-Pop Stars are the kings and queens of airport fashion.

There were plenty of travel styles to emulate as idols made their way to the awards, but we're going to highlight Yoo In Na's. This is a look that could be listed under "classic chic" in the fashion dictionary, but she somehow manages to give it a vibe that's modern enough for a hip young star and comfortable enough for slogging through the airport.

Yoo In Na

(Photo : KPopStarz)

ASOS Oversized 70s Sunglasses

Keep out the paparazzi, channel your inner Jackie O, be able to forget about eye makeup while traveling - not that you needed any of these excuses to throw on a pair of oversized shades. Even if you're not jet-setting to sunny shores, these are a travel necessity and an easy way to add a little glamour to an everyday outfit.

(Photo : ASOS)

Petite Long Sleeve Turtleneck, $49.99 from Ann Taylor

They're baaaaack! But they're no longer just the bulky uniforms of homeschooled high-schoolers and frumpy librarians. Turtlenecks have gotten a huge makeover for this winter. The new style gives off the perfect vibe - flattering without showing too much and as soft and comfy as can be without looking like pajamas. Ann Taylor offers this style in a few colors, so pick a bunch and make it a winter staple.

(Photo : Ann Taylor)

i jeans by Buffalo Zipper Jeggings, $29.99 from JCPenney

The airport fashion gods smiled upon humans when they invented the jegging. It's comfortable, shows off a great curve, and yet still looks dressy enough to go straight from brunch to the airport to a post-flight cocktail. This version from JCPenney adds a little extra zipper flair similar to Yoo In Na's look.

(Photo : JCPenney)

Charming Long Sleeve Beige Woolen Coat with Button, $43.45 from Rosewe

Traveling can be a drag and sometimes you just need a big bear hug in the midst of it. If you're not the type to walk around the airport soliciting one from strangers, this coat is the next best thing.

(Photo : Rosewe)

Michael Antonion Myron Black Stiletto Ankle Boots, $24.99 via 6 pm

Traveling 101: On the plane, wear the shoes that are both comfortable and take up the most room in your suitcase. Traveling 101 if you're Yoo In Na: wear a killer black boot.