I really love this performance by 2pm of Again and Again on the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
The formation is the same, there’s just a space for Jaebeom. Jaebeom’s solo part wasn’t sung by any of the members, and you can hear the fans singing (or screaming) it instead. There’s also a spotlight just in front of the dancing members that I’d like to think is for the missing Jaebeom. Doesn’t it make you look forward to Jaebeom’s return? It’s just so much love! ^_^
credit: sanakujira@youtube
I decided to look around for 2pm news today and saw they’ve already released their new album called 1:59pm with the comeback song “Heartbeat.” Only 6 of the members are in it. I think the album is a reference to the absence of their leader, Jaebeom. This is 2pm’s first full-length album and I’m a little sad their leader isn’t on it.
I did read on 2pm-online.com that JYP, CEO of 2pm’s company, made a statement regarding Jae on Korean show, Golden Fishery. He said that Jae needs time and that he (JYP) supports him by keeping up his standard as an artist through dance and singing lessons in the US. If he returns (I don’t know if the usage of “IF” and not “WHEN” is a consequence of translation), he will return as a 2pm member and leader, not as a solo artist. His statement is quite lengthy and a good read so I invite you to visit http://www.2pm-online.com/eng.php
Another JYP representative also said they’re not picking a new leader and that all members are sharing the tasks of a leader. So… big chance that Jae is coming back, right? Right? I certainly hope so.
The song is actually pretty interesting… I don’t know if I like it yet. It’s not one of those songs that grabbed me at the first listen but it might be because I’m looking for Jae…
credits: 2pm@youtube
Okay, this is seriously not news (it’s a day and a half old) but I only found out about it now!
I’m not as interested in 2PM like I am in DBSK but when I last made a count, there were only 5 bands I actually liked apart from DBSK, and 2PM is (is it “was” now?) one of them. They’re fun and give me a good laugh when I watch their antics on YouTube. They’re songs are also catchy, which helped.
So what’s the story? Four (4) years ago, Jaebeom, then a trainee with JYP posted on MySpace that (okay, this isn’t verbatim, alright?) he basically didn’t like Korea and Koreans and wanted to go back to the US. The post was unearthed late last week, became a huge controversy, Jaebeom apologized on Saturday, and then posted about his retirement from 2PM on Tuesday. A few hours later, he got on a plane and went back to the US. All 2PM’s activities have been put on hold, including the Wild Bunny show I have been watching.
Huh.
Okay, now… thoughts. If I were Korean (which I’m not), I’d probably get my patriotic ire up and I might even say he doesn’t deserve to be idolized. But (and this is my big BUT) you might also want to think of the circumstances back then. Born and raised in Seattle, got shipped to Korea to start training for an idol group, not very fluent in the language, difference in culture, no friends, and please let me say that I seriously think Korea’s way of training their future artists is no joke. He posted the stuff he did and then he apologized.
I would say it was understandable. Apology accepted.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so. Korean fans are asking for his return.
How did it get to this point anyway? Is it the end of 2PM? Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
Warning! Video below is noisy!
Fans in Denial 