It’s unbelievable how quickly the year has come to an end. And though there’s still so many hours of un-watched films, we must all begin sharing our End of the Year lists.
As per tradition, here’s my 2018 music highlights. As Jocelle pointed out, might change drastically midway through 2019. LOL Remember when Su Yunying released an album on December 31st? Chinese people got no chills.
Verve Magazine has a wonderful cover this month featuring Tabu — shot by Bikramjit Bose [Website][Instagram], because the promotions for Andhadhun [Trailer][1][2] are on full steam. I hope someone gets to scan it, ‘coz lol where to get a single issue.
Rajeev Masand also just posted a +40min. interview with Tabu, and has her overview her 10 favorite roles in her +80-film filmography. Her long-time favorite roles make it, of course. It makes for a great Beginner’s Guide to Tabu, except I’m not a big fan of Biwi No. 2 lol — Don’t judge me, I laughed so much more to Saajan Chale Sasural xD, and I was quite lukewarm with Cheeni Kum.
Mamamoo has officially become the group with most albums in my music collection— officially 8 albums; but honestly it’s 9 albums (with a double Purple edition), plus a SolGam tape, a SolGam LP, two kihno kits, a DVD and a BR of Moosical. LOL
Once upon a time, there were five albums by P!nk, but there were also six albums by the BackStreet Boys, six Hanson albums, six Westlife albums, four turned to five Marit Larsen albums, five Salyu-related albums, five albums eventually turned to seven by BiBi [it became viral on Weibo xD], seven albums by Shiina Ringo, seven albums by Bjork— altogether, I have 6 Brown Eyed Girls-related albums but that’s three albums, a fancy collectible repackage and two GaIn minis. Phew.
Also~
Zico’s Artist isn’t honestly my favorite track in Television, but damn! It’s probably my favorite live of the album, coz- duh! Live band~ I mean, it’s almost impossible to beat any You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook (유희열의 스케치북) when competing with a live band, but not even the Sketchbook performance of Anti or the MAMA one top it, because that’s the type of song you listen to at home in the middle of the night at 3-4AM.
Just finished going through Mamamoo’s Rooftop Live, and just got in the mood of finding drinks for Mamamoo’s Four Seasons, Four Colors project. Coz LOL Yeba saying the lime was a kiwi and trying to stab it xD and Whee-in’s mixology skills; and my children having a blast at their Red Moon and Yellow Flower cocktails. xD
Even though I don’t drink, I do have a thing for mixology— especially for non-alcoholic drinks; so I spent some time browsing the web to find these seasonal drinks~
First off~~~ Hwasa’s Yellow Flower drink: the Ginger Apricot cocktail.
Apricots are -supposed to be- in season in spring and early summer~ they’re sweet compared to other spring-y things like cherries, kiwis, lemons, kumquats or strawberries… and they’re kinda like peaches, which are supposed to be in season later. The ginger adds to the punch xD
According to rokz it’s made of:
Whee-in, you’re supposed to add your liquid ingredients (except the soda, coz lol carbonated) in the shaker with ice, shake it to chill it, and then pour it in your glass (with large ice cubes) through the strainer. Add some pureed apricot, top with soda.
You could probably substitute the vodka (and soda xDDDDD) with non-alcoholic ginger beer. This is my favorite brand.
Blessed!
Good luck on the comeback, Mamamoo kids. Red Moon, Fighting! Mariachi Maria la del Barrio Moonbyul, Fighting! Pole-dancing Solar, Fighting! Burn-everything Whee-in, Fighting! Just chilling in the tub Ahn Maria Hwasa, Fighting! Mamamoo, Fighting!
Also, my Japanese reading skills~ lol, thank you. And here is something I never thought I would say… bless Dispatch? LOL
Anticipate staying awake until Monday for Red Moon activities~
Also, sharing that overdone Beginner’s Guide I did because I couldn’t make up my mind, LOL
Happy listening~ xD
I was gushing about it over the weekend, but I thought I should also post about it here.
I think it’s oddly befitting that Yu-chan wins her first ever (unbelievable, right?) Japanese Academy Best Actress trophy the year that I’m celebrating my 10th year as her fan. It’s so moving. I’ve had a moving couple of days [low-ley Mamamoo insert, lol]. It was so satisfying seeing Yu-chan being so overwhelmed and so overcome with emotion that it just made me happy for her.
I haven’t seen KanoTori yet, ‘coz duh~ Japan obviousness xDDDDDDDDD but I’ve heard great things about it and, frankly, Yu-chan rarely disappoints me (I’m looking at you Henshin xDDDDDD). I had totally forgotten that Hula Girls was a supporting role for Yu, and that One Million Yen Girl was her last lead for a very long time… until Azumi Haruko and KanoTori.
Please, Yu-chan, don’t make us wait another 8 years or near-decade for your leading roles. You know it’s been ten years since Osen and since Camouflage?
Here’s to many many many more years of successes, Yu!
Your one and only Spanish-speaking Non-Japanese-speaking fan. xD
You know, for a year when I didn’t watch that many movies, I’m doing pretty good. LOL Confession! I haven’t been following award season, it does feel like it’s my second or third year already. I do know that people have been freaking out because all critic guilds and industry guilds have been awarding all different movies. As the saying goes~ todos parecen más perdidos que cuy en tómbola!
Here’s my Spirit Award one.
Light blue highlights mean watched, hot pink are pending, and green on the queue already.
My favorite competing film this year (so far) is Lady Bird coz it got me in the feels. I wouldn’t mind The Shape of Water winning, though. Considering BAFTA nominations (Producers’ Guild win and Directors’ Guild nom), The Shape of Water does seem to have a love more momentum than actors-backed Three Billboards, and this one also has a strong BAFTA showing.
Fun fact, yo! Darkest Hour, Phantom Thread and Victoria & Abdul are [most likely] the first Chinese-backed films that make it to Oscar. All backed by Perfect World Pictures (北京完美影视传媒) [1].
My yearly tradition~
(even though I haven’t been writing at all~~~ lol)
I hope I get to be more productive next year.
Happy listening~