#loveline song reviews

[fantastickkay]

Album Review of the Week: Karen Carpenter - Self Titled (1980; unreleased until 1996)

In 1979, Karen Carpenter - of the Carpenters - set off on her first and only solo recording venture. Produced by Phil Ramone, the sound is set firmly in adult contemporary, with some elements of what I like to call "mall jazz" - although I believe the technical term is smooth jazz, country and even disco!

The most beloved alto of our time, Karen's vocals only falter in the opening track Lovelines. While the instrumentation is funky and really fun, the key may just be too high. Her vocals soar in the rest of the album however! Especially in Remember When Lovin' Took All Night. This one has a higher tone as well, but it just sounds nicer and the way her voice floats along the flouncy melody makes for a great listening experience. If I Had You is another major standout, the melody is smooth yet a little bit dramatic. Almost 3 minutes, we get some really fantastic vocal layering!! My Body Keeps Changing My Mind is the most disco of them all, it follows the blueprint closely to create a great dance-able tune!

Unfortunately, the record executives could not see the vision and this record remained shelved for 16 years! Some tracks were reworked for the 1989 Carpenters release Lovelines, this 1996 release is the first time the songs were unearthed with their original production. While I absolutely adore a few of these songs, I can't say that I believe it would have been a smash hit in 1980 unfortunately. There are just too many downtempo tracks. However, she loved the album and I am glad it got a release after all!!

[namjhyun]

Hospital Playlist | Winter Garden

*SEASON 01 SPOILERS ALERT*

Remember you can find all the Hospital Playlist reviews/analysis filed in “hospital playlist reviews” tag at the end of the post.

It would be very difficult to talk about Jung-won without mentioning Gyeo-wool and vice versa. Their respective journeys have been intertwined from the very beginning and in ways we didn’t even know until the end of the first season of Hospital Playlist. Theirs turned out to be a symbiotic relationship. So, I decided to dedicate a full review to them.

Jung-won’s life was one of the first mysteries in Hospital Playlist. The drama introduced his character little by little and almost always thorough other characters to give us an idea of the kind of person he is. So, when it was revealed that he is the youngest son of the CEO of Yulje Foundation and Hospital, we already got the general idea that he was a dedicated and hardworking doctor, with a very particular (and hilarious) family situation that put him in the spot to take over his father’s place. And that he didn’t want that position at all.

Still, it’s pretty obvious Jung-won has a head for business. You can tell by the proposal he presented to Chairman Ju in the first episode when he transferred his family’s hospital stocks to him. In exchange he got lofty jobs for his friends and himself, and even complete control over the money coming from the VIP ward in the hospital. This is a man that clearly thinks several steps ahead. A man that goes the distance. A marathoner.

Right after his father’s funeral (in March) and finally free of the pressure of having to run his family’s foundation, Jung-won put that determination into achieving his childhood dream of becoming a priest.

Enter Jang Gyeo-wool.

When we were first introduced to Gyeo-wool, I remember thinking she was the opposite of Jung-won. While she was presented as blunt and aloof, he was tactful and a bleeding heart. Because of this I always believed the two actually made a good team and that they could learn from each other.

Now that the first season is over, I think that was Writer Lee and PD Shin’s purpose all along: to make the viewers connect the two, at least in a professional light at first, so that we would eventually start picking up subtle hints that something else might be going on between them.

Of course, Hospital Playlist exceeded my expectations because things started to be not so subtle pretty fast. For me it really was when Jung-won said that Gyeo-wool wasn’t his “cup of tea” that I started to think about them in terms of a possible loveline. But it was the scene of the maggots that really solidify it and I told everyone “He likes her”. Not for one minute I thought Jung-won was going to go through with his priesthood plans after that.

Soon, Jung-won’s good deed of helping his friends get better jobs backfired on him spectacularly: Lee Ik-jun, MD and Certified Cupid, was trying to find ways to win Jang Gyeo-wool’s favor in order to get her assistance in the OR. And since Hospital Playlist spent the entire first season letting us know that Ik-jun always knows what’s up, naturally he realized Gyeo-wool had feelings for Jung-won. And that they might not be unrequited.

The journey was slow paced and frustrating at times. With each episode it was more and more clear that Jung-won was going out of his way to keep Gyeo-wool at arm’s length. He was resolute to keep on track with his decision to become a priest and I commend him for it... but this is when his smoking became a sign that things wouldn’t be going his way. For someone who wants to be pure and closer to the Lord, that’s a pretty nasty habit. One that to me was always a sign of doubt. Bottomline, it’s a sign of his humanity. Another sign? His headaches. He was suddenly overthinking things and questioning himself.

I’m not saying Jung-won wasn’t sincere about becoming a priest but if he had wanted to do it, a man with his kind of determination, would have got up and leave. Instead, when he talked with the priest helping him with his journey to Italy, Jung-won kept pushing the date of his departure over and over again. Always prioritizing his patients. This is when I knew that priesthood was a dream idealized from childhood and I believe that in some place of his subconscious he was choosing this path in order to runaway from the pain of not being able to help all the people he wants to help. Fact is that at some point in his life he had fallen in love with his profession as pediatrics surgeon but his soft personality put him through much pain, specially with the most difficult cases. He had given up on hobbies like photography because he couldn’t stand to see the photos of patients he lost, and almost never took time off to do any of the sports he loves so much. When he did it was to support a cause like breast cancer.

My point is that I understand why Jung-won wanted to quit: he is overworked, stressed and tired of having to carry on his shoulders an understaffed pediatrics department. Add to all that he was also running the Daddy Long Legs program by himself, getting calls from hospitals all over the country, and that he was in a passive aggressive fight with his Mother that didn’t want him to become a priest. The only down time he was getting was when he played the drums with the band and went out with his friends. But even then we saw him get up and help the people running the restaurant. Yeah, he clearly couldn’t go on like that. Something needed to change.

His first move was to delegate the Daddy Long Legs program to Song-hwa. A wonderful idea and the first hint that he was up to something. Like I mentioned before: Jung-won thinks several steps ahead. And this was also around the time he had his heart to heart talk with Ik-jun. At this point of the story, it was clear to Jung-won that his feelings for Gyeo-wool were not going dispel and that spending time with her, watching her work through her hardships and getting to understand her, were only making him fall deeper in love with her.

In return, Gyeo-wool spent that time growing as a doctor, learning from Ik-jun and Jung-won on how to talk to patients and their guardians. Something none of the other doctors bother to teach her before because they all considered her competent enough due to her OR technique. She shed off some of her shyness and started to show her warmth, became bolder and more proactive to try to find ways to connect with people around her. She went from eating alone to always share a meal with other residents and/or Dr. Bong. She sassed Min-ha on her make up, kinda told off Jun-wan and behaved like a cutie pie around her honorary big brother Ik-jun. Gyeo-wool remained steadfast and composed through every professional and personal hardship, and her bluntness was no longer a weakness but a strength. I honestly believe that by watching Gyeo-wool in action, Jung-won learned a thing or two about perseverance and not running away but facing your troubles.

I also think Ik-jun didn’t tell Gyeo-wool about Jung-won’s feelings for her because he didn’t believe it was his place. Sure, he had his fun trying to get reactions out Jung-won and giving his support to Gyeo-wool but, at the end of the day, he knew it was Jung-won and Gyeo-wool the ones that needed to take matters into their hands and have a proper talk about their feelings.

When Mama Rosa witnessed that sweet, sweet, moment all the shippers were waiting for between Jung-won and Gyeo-wool, she saw her last hope. A last-minute Hail Mary. And while I think Mama Rosa put Gyeo-wool in a terrible position by asking her to stop Jung-won from becoming a priest, this was the first time Gyeo-wool got any indication that maybe her love could be successful. That her heart and instincts were in the right place. And despite the uncertainty that followed her through the entire first season, she went for it. Like the complementary sprinter she is to Jung-won’s marathoner. Watch out Usain Bolt.

What none of us knew by the time episode 12 started is that Jung-won had already made the decision to stay after the family of a patient thanked him for going the extra mile for their daughter. The past months of being able to have the 99ers as a support system at Yulje and having Gyeo-wool around to help him with his work, made him felt happiness and a new sense of fulfillment. For the first time in years, he was feeling the weight on his shoulders was lighter and his good friend Song-hwa could see it in his face. She knew all along he was in a crossroads about his profession. That scene in Song-hwa’s office was significant because it was the first time he voiced out his feelings and to his surprise, just like Ik-jun, Song-hwa knew all about his Lady Winter.

So, when Christmas arrived and Gyeo-wool finally musters up the strength to go to his office, everything comes together. Even though she thinks Mama Rosa is wrong about him having feelings for her or that she knows it’s not her place to interfere with his decision of becoming a priest, she still can’t let go of him. Meanwhile, he had decided weeks ago to stay at Yulje, in no small part because of her, and remained silent. He held back. Again! And fret over how, when or what to say - just like he did in front of the ER’s door- because he didn’t know how to start the conversation. Why? Because the fool himself put them in a strictly professional relationship by refusing to have any kind of interaction outside the cases they shared or the hospital.

But in that final scene at his office, Jung-won sees a vulnerable Gyeo-wool. Suddenly her emotional resilience is nowhere to be found and she is wide open for him to witness how much he has put her through over the past nine months. Even worse he realizes that she knew all along about his plans and said nothing. Gyeo-wool’s bravery makes him see himself for the coward he has been for the past three weeks. For the first time in the whole season, he stops overthinking, FINALLY does as his heart is telling him and jumps into action. Jung-won answers Gyeo-wool’s confession and request with tender affection, longing looks -that communicate he too has been struggling-, kisses and a hug. He didn’t need to say anything. Like Gyeo-wool taught him: actions speak louder than words.

[nanachingu]

Drama Review: Go Ahead (Chinese Drama)

Wow! An achievement for me. Writing a review for Chinese drama. Never thought that this time would come. Actually, I watched many dramas from many countries, like I watched a little Japanese drama and Thai series too. I always search for Chinese drama if I need drama who have light, fun, cheesy romance vibe, and didn’t have too much bad characters in it. That’s always my mindset for Chinese drama. This few weeks or month? I didn’t found any K-dramas that interesting and I was too reluctant to watch any Kdramas. So I was trying to watch several Chinese Drama that got into my bucket list and starting available in Netflix. Several dramas that I watch before this were Go Go Squid (before found this drama, I think this is the best Chinese drama I’ve ever watched), Le Coup de Foudre, Wait My Youth, My Girl, etc. Till I found this drama on Youtube. Go Ahead not a cliche drama that I can guess where it’ll be heading. Many characters who really bad, tragic fate, heartbreaking story, but also warm family story, friendship, and love. 

First impression from the cover on thumbnail, hm interesting. good. handsome. Picture below was my first impression. What happened with 2 dads and 3 kids? 

Turns out it’s a story about 2 family with no mothers (of course look at the picture!) cared for them, and their dads start to take care of each other and took their 3 kids into siblings with no blood related. Let me introduce you the biggest Gēgē (brother), Ling Xiao the tallest, second Gēgē, He Ziqiu on the right, and little Meimei, Li JianJian, with Ling Dad sitting on the left and Li Dad on the right. Ling Xiao and his parents (yes his Mom) moved into Li family neighborhood. Li JianJian mother’s was dead so Li Dad needs to take care of Li Jianjian by himself. AND he DID really really great job as a father and mom for her. Li Dad was an angel I swear. One day, He Gēgē came to Li’s family because of the circumstances and Li Dad make a decision to take care of him as his own son. Ling Gēgē also left by his mother because of their family problems and I think their mom personal problem. Really, something wrong with his mother’s mind and attitude. I hate her. Because of Ling dad who always busy as a policeman, Ling Gēgē always playing and take care by Li Dad and they agree to take care and treat each other as a real families. It’s become Li Jianjian’s dream for having a big brother and now she got 2 instantly.

They grew up together, really taking care of each other, everytime and everywhere. You’ll get a warm hearted by watching their flashback story. A happy family eventhough they don’t have a mother. I really admire Li Jianjian how she always been cheerful and never feel so little in front of other people. It’s because she already have 2 big brothers that really love her and treasure her. No it’s not over, it’s just starting. When the problems always coming and make this sibling must separated and become far away. JianJian really broke my heart when saw her crying and can’t accept that both her Gēgē will leave her alone. After all this years they’ve been together, how they take care each other, and love each other, they must back to their family who abandoned them. Why she must through this hardship and accept that when it’s the outsiders who left her brothers since they were little. They really separated for a long time, for years, and when they reunited it’s become really awkward moment for them. They become a strangers after all this years. 9 years. When the communication slowly dissapeared. When they didn’t know what to talk about and just send wishes on birthday, new year, and certain events. They also already becoming a grown up. Ling Gēgē is a dentist, He Gēgē is a pastry chef, and Jianjian is a wood sculptor. Interesting, the brothers job was inspired by their Meimei. Jianjian really loves sweets that made her teeth bad. But at the first place they’re family, they just need a little time and space to accept that they’re together again, get used to it,  to become like they used to before. 

I was crying when they need to be separated, when Ling Gēgē must through so much problem that makes him become adult really fast. I love how they potray the character when they were teenagers and after becoming an adult. I can see their growth from the pain and many things. I think the brother’s life were really tragic. They were both abandoned by their mothers, and even one of the mother is really selfish. I really love how they put this story one by one, how their relationship growing into another, like yeah two of the siblings decided to change their relationship to lover. This drama is not just about romance, I think not cheesy romance at least but I love Song Wei Long hahaha. But it’s focused on mental health too. How Ling Gēgē in a mental pressure, nsomnia, and anxiety after all the things he must through in his life, far away from Jianjian and his loved family, how He Gēgē always think that he’s owe all his life to Li Family, always worried as he’s not their real families, and all his fear and worries buried by himself. But I love that they have 2 Dads that always support them, always love them without any condition, and it’s funny when the Dads knew that 2 of them are together in love relationship. 

But one thing that really make this drama more complicated is the loveline really. It’s like the main role and the support role can’t like each other. (IT’S SPOILER) Ling Gēgē likes Jianjian, Mingyue (Jianjian friend) likes Ling Gēgē, He Gēgē friend likes Mingyue, and Tangcan (Jianjian friend) likes He Gēgē friend. It’s like a relay. Why this drama can’t make the supporting role like each other character?! It’s too sad to see a several times broken heart in this drama. Even He Gēgē intend to marry Jianjian, but I think it’s not because he really loves her as a woman, but it more because he really want become a real family legally with her and Li Dad. I’m happy that Jianjian can handle this situation well. But I like it because the siblings are back together eventough it needs 9 years to reunited but they still the same as long time ago.

Overall I really love this drama because of the conflict, story, and have many messages that we can took from this drama. Especially family problem. I’m sure it will make many people crying because the story focused on family problem and how to deal it as you are getting mature and know that life as an adult is not easy especially if you have a selfish mother haha. For the first time I really love the OST in Chinese drama. Like I said, because of the story I think I’m just too immersed to the OST too. I love the acting too. They can portray their characters really well, especially He Gēgē, I always pity him because he got too many crying scenes hahaha he always sad, he deserves to be happy! Ling Gēgē too. I really fall in love with my first Chinese actor. Okay Song Wei Long you’re in! I’m shocked when I knew that their age difference in real life. Their little Meimei in the drama actually a big sister for the brothers. And the biggest Gēgē in this drama is maknae!!! Song Wei Long is born in 1999. OMG even he’s younger than me hahaha. But they can portray their characters well even I can’t see their age gap in the drama. I wrote this when the drama isn’t over yet. So I hope this drama will find their happy ending and I can’t wait and I can’t guess how’s the ending.

For you who bored for Kdramas or wanna trying something new and wanna try Chinese drama, I think this drama is a must for you! You’ll be no dissapointed. I’ll give this drama rating 4.5 out of 5 stars because I haven’t watch the finale and curious to see how they’ll packed up this drama.

[thecantabilelife]

Favorite Quotes of Age of Youth (K-Drama, 2016)

Brief Review:

Judging from its title, I thought Age of Youth would have light & cute vibes resembling the bittersweet of youth ages. But, apparently, this drama is darker and a bit depressing. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, in fact, I am pleasantly surprised that this drama was dare to take sensitive issues in society (such as sugar daddy, dating violence, mistreatment at workplace) and pull it to an intriguing plot. All 5 main characters are flawed, and seem unlikable based on first episode, but when their layers are peeled off one by one, I start to relate to their stories. This drama is not just about a bonding relationship of 5 girls who live together in boarding house, or the characters that are described only as white & black – protagonist & antagonist. As a coming-age drama, Age of Youth offer more mysterious stories and complex characters, but still, can give moral values about how to overcome struggles and growing up. It’s such a pleasure to find an unconventional K-Drama like Age of Youth, a little gem of female centric drama with well-written story, and I can’t wait eagerly for Season 2. Yeay!

Ep 1

I thought that I was the only one who was holding back. I thought that I was the only one who felt uncomfortable at times. I thought that I was the only one who was being wary of others. I thought that it would be of no use, even if I did say something. I was scared that I would be hated if I did say something. I assumed that they’d laugh at me. In that way, I assumed that other people were completely different from me. I thought that they were ruder than me, and more reckless than I am. I thought that they wouldn’t care. I was being arrogant. Others are just like me. Other people are people, just like I am. They feel as uncomfortable as I do, and hesitate, just like I do. There are plenty of people who are as nice as I am. – Yoo Eun Jae

There are two kinds of secrets. Secrets that you can tell, and secrets that you can’t tell. Secrets that are okay to share at moments like these are secrets that are okay to be told to others. I have a secret that I can never tell. I’ve killed someone before.  – Yoo Eun Jae

Ep 2

Lies may be similar to makeup. Just like one puts on makeup to hide their naked face. People use lies to hide the truth. I tell more and more lies as my makeup gets thicker. Since when did I start feeling that going out with no makeup on was embarrassing? Since when did I become so ashamed of the truth? Yeah. The truth is pathetic, sad, and pitiful, just like that. Because it’s truly painful when your earnestness is rejected by someone else. Acting cool, and acting as if you like the other person less and acting like you’re just joking.  – Jung Ye Eun

Ep 3

I hate you because I’m jealous of you. I hate you because you have nothing to your name, and yet make me feel so poor. I hate you because you make me envy you. I hate you because I want to become like you, but can’t. So I can’t help but to hate you. That’s why it’s smell. There’s rotting smell coming from my envy. – Kang Yi Na

Ep 4

There was once a time when I longed to be special. I believed that I had a special fate in store for me and that my life would be different than of others. I told myself that I wouldn’t end up becoming average, no matter what. To be average means to be comfortable. To be average means to not catch anyone’s eye. To be average means to be boring. I’m even less than average right now. – Yoon Jin Myung

When I think that someone may like me, I become weak. And if I become weak now… it’ll really be the end for me. So… don’t like me. – Yoon Jin Myung

Ep 5

Breaking up with someone means that even if something good happens, you can’t be happy together. And that you can’t worry about them, even if something bad happens. The fact that you’ve broken up with someone means that you can no longer be curious about each other. The fact that you’ve broken up with someone means that the future that you’d imagined, with you being alongside them is something that you must give up on. – Jung Ye Eun

Ep 6

Friends shouldn’t photoshop the reality of their lives to one another. – Kang Yi Na

No incident starts out dramatically. Everything that happens in our daily lives is due to cause and effect. In retrospect, there were signs hidden everywhere. A small joke. A passing glance. The meaning behind a sigh that you thought meant nothing. If only I’d known what they’d meant, back then. But, just as foreshadowing only becomes obvious in hindsight, one only realizes the gravity of each passing second only after it’s gone. Thinking back on that day now… I may have set the stage for everything, despite not having any bad intentions. – Song Ji Won

Ep 7

You should be an independent woman who don’t need a man! This is the 21st century! – Song Ji Won *Ji Won is my spirit animal*

Ep 8

Everyone has their own circumstances to deal with. And until you know the circumstances they’re in, you can’t tell people how to live their lives. It’s not just Ye Eun. It’s Senior Kang and Senior Yoon, too. I’m sure you have something like that about you, too. Something that others can’t understand about you, but you can’t help. That’s why you can’t judge people willy-nilly…  – Song Ji Won *Ji Won is so cool!!!*

I can’t quit. To me, this place is like a test. A trial run, kind of. If I can’t last here, I won’t be able to last anywhere. But if I can last here… I can last anywhere. I’ve decided that, on my own. So I… won’t quit this job. – Yoon Jin Myung

Sometimes, I want to cry out loud. I want someone to hear me crying. I want them to hear my cry, and tell me everything will be okay. I want someone to pat me on the back, and tell me that it’s not my fault. Sometimes, I want to throw a tantrum. At a person, or at my fate. And tell them, “stop it, already.” “Haven’t you done enough?” “Please, just spare me.” And… I’ll find hope, once more. – Yoon Jin Myung

Ep 9

I thought to myself, “Why are they all trying so hard?” Life is more fragile than a cheap toy. So how is it that they all consider their lives to be that precious? I’m curious. I thought about why everyone is trying so hard to move forward. Even though they don’t even know what awaits them. I felt like people who plotted out a point somewhere and worked hard to get there seemed strange.  – Kang Yi Na

I thought that people only got lost when they tried to go somewhere and I thought that people’s lives only got hard because they set objectives. But staying in the same place for too long makes you lose your way too, it seems. I may have been… stuck underwater all this time. As I slowly sank downward. So… who was the one who’d held me back all this time?  – Kang Yi Na *I truly can relate*

Ep 10

Humans are not such simple creatures. She wouldn’t have made a decision like that just because of one reason. Right?  I mean, even if one final straw breaks the camel’s back, that’s just one piece straw we’re talking about. The reason is because of the crushing weight, not just that one piece straw… The same weight and responsibility as one piece of straw…  – Song Ji Won

And I’d especially like to pray for Senior Yoon. Senior Yoon needs help right now. Please let me know how I can be of help to Senior Yoon. And if I can’t be the one to help her, please help her, God. – Jung Ye Eun

Ep 11

You said before that everyone has their own circumstances affecting what they do. I just felt like you, of all people, would understand why I did that. I wanted someone to tell me that… there was nothing else I could do in that situation. I wanted at least one person in this world to understand me.  – Yoo Eun Jae

Ep 12

Living life diligently sure is a lot of work. Should I just quit? What if I just keep trying my best, but this isn’t the right path for me? Shouldn’t I try to find a different goal to work toward, as soon as possible? This is driving me crazy! It’s not like I’m going through puberty! Why am I worrying about what I want to be when I grow up, at this age, when other people have been done thinking about this a long time ago?  – Kang Yi Na *Again… Can relate.*

I guess people’s memories really aren’t trustworthy.  – Yoo Eun Jae

I want to do something capricious for once in my life. To be honest, I felt a bit nervous. It feels like I just jumped off a moving train by myself. – Yoon Jin Myung

Special Note:

Kang Yi Na and Song Ji Won are my favorite characters. Such a pity that the Production Team decided to not continue Kang Yi Na’s story in Season 2 (she maybe appear as cameo in 1-2 episode), because I love Kang Yi Na’s badass & tough personality *it’s so rare to find this type character in K-Drama land*. Whatever the reason behind this, I hope they can make a new great character as interesting as Kang Yi Na.

As for Song Ji Won, she is so cool and ultimately my spirit animal. She is like a glue in the squad, and I love that behind her quirky and weirdness personality, she is actually thoughtful and wiser than the other girls, and this is played brilliantly by Park Eun Bin. I am a little disappointed that her character is underused here, so I hope they can more focus and explore Song Ji Won’s story in Season 2, as she has so much potential and there are some unanswered questions in her arc. Hopefully, my wish will be granted :)

Please make a loveline for these cuties >.<

See you in Season 2 :)

-AquaMarine-