Friday, March 26, 2010

Wonder Girls 3.0

Wonder Girls 3.0


It's verging on obsession, but I can't help it. Whenever a well-established institution undergoes a significant change, one can't help but  stare transfixed at the ensuing development. JYP encountered a lot of criticism for the handling of  Sunmi's departure and replacement in the Wonder Girls, and while the swiftness of the the situation took many fans by surprise, in the end it was for the best, as no one was exposed to a long drawn-out dramatic fallout as a result *cough 2PM cough*.
I think it shows in how smoothly the Wonder Girls have picked up and moved on, continuing their promotions as usual, with barely a hiccup to show for it. And with Lim acclimating herself to the group, it's appealing to take the measure of the new group dynamic with the rookie member; since we don't know and haven't experienced much of Lim or her personality as of yet, it will be interesting to see how her involvement will change and shape the future of the group.
This is all my long-winded way of saying, my interest in the Wonder Girls, it is peaked.
For instance, my discovery of this five-part interview the girls gave in English for a television station in Singapore. It's amazing how far along the girls (minus Lim) have come with their English-speaking skills. Of course it's not perfect, but for learning a second language, they've become fairly adept at expressing themselves. A few of my favorite parts:

When asked why their song 'Nobody' is so popular, Yoobin initally answers, "I really don't know why it's so popular." Ha!
Also, when asked if the girls would be afraid of being one-hit wonders (no pun intended) from the song, Yeeun gives a surprising insightful answer, noting that the general k-pop listening populace are more familiar with their catchy singles than the girls themselves. Of course the girls are recognizable to any casual k-pop fan – but the Wonder Girls have never been promoted as having out-sized personalities, their songs and concepts greatly defining them to those only casually acquainted with them.
In addition, Part 4:

I can't help it, I dig Lim. She and Sohee stayed mostly quiet throughout the interview, but we get a little morsel of her personality here. I have to admit my bias is due partially to the fact that her looks and demeanor strongly resemble those of a close friend of mine. Plus we have the same taste in men; that's all it takes for me to like someone, really.
Just 'Cause, Part 5, the Wonder Girls' 38759386348945755th performance of 'Nobody':

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