Fan Zone

I just created a Fan Zone on my site. It is basically like a guestbook or a very limited forum where you can post messages about Big Mama or just simply leave me a comment. You are still welcome to comment on the regular entries in the front page, but I just wanted to create a space where people can post about the latest Big Mama news and interact with other fans.

I was surfing for some Big Mom news and stumbled on this survey on the Korean idols of the present time:

Mnet music research centre did an investigation on 1000 male and female adults for the whole month of June. The investigation looked into the 57 singers/teams who are the most active currently in the Korean music scene in terms of vocal capabilities, appearances, amiability, talent, performance and variety. (Source).

I have no interest whatsoever in the so-called idols, but one of the results caught my eye because Big Mama is ranked number 1 in Vocal Capabilities. Here’s the top 10 list:

Vocal capabilities:

1. Big Mama
2. Gummy
3. Lee SeungChul
4. Kim TaeWoo
5. Park HyoShin
6. Yoon MiRae
7. SG Wannabe
8. KWill
9. Kim BumSoo
10. Shin SeungHoon

I’m not surprised that Big Mama came in first on singing talents. The individual members are terrific singers in their own right but together they’re unstoppable! If only they would start performing again already.

Digital Single – Never [절대]

01 절대 / Never

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Big Mama released new single

Sorry for having disappeared for a while. Real life has kept me away from this site as well as from following Big Mama closely. I’m really grateful for people who continue to visit this blog and leave comments updating us on our favourite group. Since I will be rather busy for a while, I might need to rely more and more on other fans for the latest Big Mama news. I’m trying to think of a way to create an area on the blog here where fans can easily post about Big Mama and interact with each other. This way the site can keep going even when I’m not around.

Anyway, the latest Big Mama news is that the group just released a digital single called [절 대]. Google translated the title to “Never”. Any Korean speaker want to confirm or correct that?

You can check out their latest single below (thanks to DGRLA for the tip!):

It’s a pretty upbeat song and I like it. What do you think?

Birth Of the Rich [부자의 탄생] OST Part 3

Lee Ji Young and her brother Lee Seung Woo of Soulstar recently participated in the soundtrack for the TV drama “Birth of the Rich”. The CD was released this Monday as a single with two tracks. Both tracks are kind of jazz-y, and I especially enjoy Lee Seung Woo’s upbeat number. He has a pretty good voice.

Thanks to LENOVO for the tip!

Title: Birth Of the Rich [부자의 탄생] OST Part 3
Artists: Lee Ji Young (Big Mama) & Lee Seung Woo (Soulstar)
Release date: 2010.04.12

Tracklist:

01 Find The Day – Lee Ji Young (Big mama)
02 배짱가 – Lee Seung Woo (Soulstar)

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Where are they?

Can’t believe it’s already been two weeks since Big Mama released their fifth album, and we still haven’t seen them out and about promoting it! Why are they hiding out? Why are they torturing their fans? We’re going crazy waiting!

Anyway, here’s a clip of Lee Young Hyun singing ‘Resignation’ live. Not sure when it was filmed … earlier this year maybe? This will have to do for now until we get some new clips of Big Mama!

Promo pics

Here are some promotional pictures I found online. They just came out but I don’t think they are current. Judging from their hairstyles, the pictures might have been taken last year when their 5th album was supposed to be released. Here are some pictures from last year where they had the same hairstyles as in the pictures below. I suspect we will see a different look from them when they finally come out to promote their album, but who knows, I could be wrong. They might have kept their hairstyles … stranger things have happened.

My thoughts on “5″

I have had “5″ on repeat for the last few days, and it still blows my mind. What a comeback! After such a long wait, I would have been happy had Big Mama released a mediocre album, but they came out – pardon my baseball metaphor – swinging for the fences. I feel like all our patience has been rewarded with this amazing album, and I’m inclined to agree with those who believe this might be their best one yet. In a way, it is a very Big Mama album, full of songs that showcase their powerful vocals and beautiful harmonies, but it also sets itself apart from their previous efforts with the amount of quality, variety and maturity in the music. The songs were well chosen to show off their musicality with a mix of music genres that include pop, R&B, jazz, and even some hip-hop and Latin beat! As usual, the members’ solos add something extra to the album with their individual flavours, but this time we also get two duets! It’s quite a treat for us Big Mama fans.

Personally, I love every minute of the album, so it’s hard for me to pick a favourite. I’ll say though that the first few tracks are mighty impressive. The great start sets the standard for the rest of the album. I know people might have different opinions as to what their favourite Big Mama album is, but I think most people would agree “5” is their most mature and complete album to date.

Welcome back, Big Mama!

5

It’s here!!

Tracks:

01 Fire
02 Beautiful Day *lyrics by Big Mama
03 기다리다 미쳐 [Go Crazy Waiting for You]
04 태우다 [Burn] *lyrics by SYA
05 소녀를 사랑한 소나무 [The Pine Tree that Loved a Girl] – Park Min Hye & Lee Young Hyun *lyrics by SYA
06 하루만 [Just One More Day]
07 좁은 하늘 [Narrow Sky] – Shin Yeon Ah *music/lyrics by SYA
08 오직 사랑 [Only Love] – Lee Ji Young *music/lyrics by LJY
09 Rainbow Dream (feat. MJ of Sunnyside)
10 Daylight
11 우리, 결혼해요 [We Are Getting Married] – Shin Yeon Ah, Lee Ji Young *lyrics by SYA
12 그날의 우린 [Us in Those Days ] – Lee Young Hyun *music/lyrics by LYH
13 The Way – Park Min Hye *music/lyrics by PMH
14 사랑 [Love] *music/lyrics by SYA
15 혼잣말 [Monologue] *accoustic ver., lyrics by SYA

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*English translations courtesy of Robert
**Music originally uploaded by K-Stalker.

기다리다 미쳐 (Going Crazy Waiting) Full MV

The full version is out!

It looks like a depressing video in the tradition of Big Mama music videos. I guess it suits the song, which sounds awesome. How I have missed them! I hope they’ll get to make another music video that is more light-hearted though (like my favourite video of theirs, “Never Mind”). The newly released video and Big Mama’s comeback are already getting a lot of buzz on the internet. It’s so nice to see that the fans still remember and like them after they have been gone for more than 2 years. It’s been too long indeed.

By the way, I didn’t realize Big Mama has been together for 7 years! That’s quite impressive in the Korean entertainment industry. When you think about how they got started and what they have been through all these years with different record labels, it makes their fifth album even more meaningful somehow. Can I just reiterate how happy I’m that they have decided to stick together? Big Mama wouldn’t have been the same without the 4 unique and talented individual members that make up the quartet. I feel so lucky that we get to enjoy them for longer … hopefully a lot longer!

Anxiously awaiting their new album … one more day!

New album info

OK I’m on a roll today. Weekend means catching up with Big Mama news!

Here’s the official CD cover and track list for the fifth album.

01.Fire (유지영 작사/심태현 작곡)
02.Beautiful Day (신연아,이영현,이지영,박민혜 작사/홍정수,박영민 작곡)
03.기다리다 미쳐 (류재현 작사/작곡)
04.태우다 (신연아 작사/이현정 작곡)
05.소녀를 사랑한 소나무 (신연아 작사/황현 작곡)
06.하루만 (서엘 작사/강화성 작곡)
07.좁은 하늘 (신연아 작사/작곡) – 신연아 Solo
08.오직 사랑 (이지영 작사/작곡) – 이지영 Solo
09.Rainbow Dream (메이비 작사/홍정수,박영민 작곡)
10.Daylight (김진환 작사/작곡)
11.우리, 결혼해요 (신연아 작사/박영민 작곡)
12.그날의 우린 (이영현 작사/작곡) – 이영현 Solo
13.The Way (박민혜 작사/작곡) – 박민혜 Solo
14.사랑 (신연아 작사/권석홍 작곡)
15.혼잣말 (신연아 작사/윤승환 작곡)

I bolded the tracks that have been released (or a snippet of it anyway). It looks like the tradition of Big Mama members writing their own solos continues for this album as well. I’m trying to see what other tracks have been written by Big Mama, but all the Korean characters are making my head hurt.

Anyone wants to try and translate the titles?