Simply Sarah

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

8eight and the Beginning of Spring

Here are the pictures of the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival (formerly known as the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival) I promised~

If you look carefully, you can see petals showering passers-by

...which leads to this: nature's confetti

Trying to study when the weather's warm and the flowers are blooming is next to impossible

Chris and I had the chance to interview R&B/hip-hop trio 8eight again for Korean Pop Interactive (April 12, 2009). We interviewed them almost a year ago (May 14, 2008) and it was fun seeing them again. "Beautiful leader" Lee Hyun, Joo-Hee and rapper Baek-Chan talked about their new album, how their lives and music have changed in the past year and also what they like to do in their free time. They're holding their first ever concert this weekend (April 25th) at Club Answer in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, so check it out if you're in the area!

Baek-Chan, me, Joo-Hee, Chris, Seong-Yeong (our co-worker) and Lee-Hyun

The warm weather and burst of greenery are definitely making me feel cheerier and you can feel and hear the buzz of happy Seoulites whenever you go outside. There are more people strolling around the city and cafes and restaurants have set up tables outside for customers to enjoy the season. I hope you are all enjoying spring (or fall for of you below the equator)~ I certainly am! :)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

I'm Back~

Well, I've been back for 3 weeks now. Did you miss me?? No? I know Chris and Sue did a great job while I was away...maybe too great! I'm glad to be back, though.
I arrived Monday night and was back at work on Tuesday! Whew!

Iinterviewed duo Davichi that week for Korean Pop Interactive's Star Chat (3/22)

At "Music Bank" rehearsals on March 27th

Davichi-members Kang Min-Kyung and Lee Haeri

They were very upbeat and outgoing. They also have AMAZING voices! Their talent definitely sets them apart from some of the other female groups.

Chris and I interviewed Super Junior's Lee Teuk and Eun-Hyuk the week after, for Korean Pop Interactive's April 5th episode.

Music Bank (3/27)

I found this on the bus stop sign outside KBS and thought it was hilarious. I have used my editing skills (really good, right?? haha) to protect the people who defaced public property from receiving prank calls. I like how it says "only 13!"

Us with only 2! Eun-Hyuk and Lee-Teuk, who either had a cold or was taking protecting himself from yellow dust (황사/hwangsa, which blankets Korea every spring) very seriously.

You could tell these guys are pros--not only were they fun interviewees, they even made sure they took turns answering questions. You'd think having to share the spotlight with so many members would make them bogart the mic any chance they got--I would! :-P

That's it for this time~ I'll be posting pictures of cherry blossoms soon :)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Star Chat, pt. 2

Here are more pictures from the "Star Chat" interviews we did in February.

Tiffany and Jessica from Girls' Generation (February 9th):

I don't know why we posed with the ugly plant

The girls were bubbly and sweet. They also gave a lot of insight into the real life of trainees (not as horrific as we thought it was!).

I interviewed 4/5 of the girl group KARA the next week (February 16th):

Goo Hara, Park Gyuri, Nicole and Han Seung-Yeon

The girls had just woken up from a brief cat-nap (they have to squeeze in the zzz's whenever they can) to come record the interview, but they were very pleasant and professional. Kang Ji-Young couldn't be there for the interview (she was at her middle-school graduation!). There's always next time~

Chris joined me to interview Bobby Kim the week after (February 23rd)

Seong-Yeong surprises Chris with the camera

Finalizing our questions

Looks like the "yo mama" joke I told didn't go over so well with Bobby

But we made up long enough to pose for this picture ;)

I'm just joking. Bobby Kim was really cool and the passion and seriousness he puts into his music is obvious. His concerts, to be held next week, have all sold out and his singles are rising up the charts. We wish him continued success and perhaps he'll even take up our invitation to hang out :)

Star Chat will be on hiatus for a few weeks, but we'll be back in mid-March with more hot interviews. Keep tuning in~

Star Chat: K.Will & SS501

If you've visited our site and/or tuned in during the past few weeks, you'll have noticed that we've started up "Star Chat" again. "Star Chat" is an interview segment on our Sunday hour-long program "Korean Pop Interactive."

I interviewed singer K.Will on January 23rd.

He's a very sweet and humble guy. I was not flirting, by the way; I giggle when I'm nervous. It was my first interview without Chris and also my first in 3 months, so of course I was a bit tense :)

The week after (February 1st), Chris was back by my side for an interview with 3 of the members of SS501. Though group leader Kim Hyun-Joong is currently busy appearing in the hit drama "Boys Over Flowers" and Park Jung-Min is performing almost nightly in the musical "Grease," the three remaining members (Heo Young-Saeng, Kim Kyoo-Jong and Kim Hyung-Joon) are continuing on with group activities until all five regroup in June.

That's our co-worker Seong-Young standing in the corner like a stalker ;)

Kim Kyoo-Jong, Kim Hyung-Joon & Heo Young-Saeng

Seong-Young, friend (sorry, don't know her name!), SS501, Me & Chris

I have more pictures from my interviews with Tiffany and Jessica from Girls' Generation and Kara that I will post later~

Hope you enjoy these for now :)

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

music bank - part 3

Finally, the last post on my first "Music Bank" experience!

Seung-Ri from Big Bang performing his solo single "Strong Baby"

The show's finale, when the hosts bring everyone back on stage.

After the show, my cousins and I went backstage to see if we could get pictures with the singers.

We first bumped into Seung-Ri and my cousins were so star-struck, they couldn't even speak.