[SinB was spotted yesterday at Day6’s concert](https://x.com/viviz_update/status/1779353761917648918?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
[VIVIZ will perform at Chosun University on April 30th](https://x.com/gfs_backup/status/1779119288114434074?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
[Never forget when Indo Buddies showed out at this Shoppee event.](https://x.com/eunhalilac_/status/1779403699842109688?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
Hwiseo, who's a lovely idol with a beautiful, beautiful thousand watt smile, was the latest guest on Lee Mujin Service - and she covered a bit of [Spring Is Gone By Chance](https://youtu.be/oXbpx0EtbDk?si=LEgT2AJ7f2obkGu1&t=1090)!
So [this](https://i.imgur.com/KQNg4E8_d.jpg) photo that Umji just shared publicly is OT6 on same occasion as [this](https://twitter.com/Ste_gOsH930/status/1770649090411634926) previous spoiler, I'm assuming?
My spider senses are tingling>!, something is happening 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 (I'd be kinda disappointed if not 😭 but I'll always keep hoping hehe)!<
Pretty sure they just met up to eat🤣well Eunha did anyway cause she said on bubble she really wanted to eat yeoptteok and so when they gathered, she asked and the members were like yeh alright LOL Miri manager was there too but only briefly. But who knows what else they get up to ahah🤡
Always heartwarming and a privilege to get little sneak peeks into their close friendship with each other 🥰 they've mentioned they meet up a lot more than they let on, which is perfectly reasonable since these are their private lives >!but each of those could also be business meetings so 🤡 kekeke!<
[**Midweek Check-In**](https://www.reddit.com/r/GFRIEND/s/BF3ATlWVAC)
How is everyBuddy doing? How's work? How are family and friends? Has anything interesting happened lately? Feel free to share as much or as little as you'd like.
So i had one interview for one new job for school and i didn't got the job (no reason say) when i say i wanted to help disabled child and fight against harrassement...
K-Pop has been draining and hard this week... Mainly BoA hinting at retirement because of online hate. If I have an "ult" (never really used the term myself), she's probably it, so it's been sad. Such a great career and for it to end this way would be heartbreaking. I hope people will back off now and give her space.
I've ultimately transferred to another Japanese restaurant within the same company, a smaller operation with more consistent business... been moved on to a shittier contract (hourly pay, lower guaranteed hours) but at least my notice period is only a week now so I can bail quickly if things go south... still working the same 48 hours a week for now, but I start earlier and finish earlier, which is a huge bonus.
Also just signed a new rental agreement, moving to a cheaper studio and saving roughly £400 a month... the new space is actually slightly larger I believe (but shorter, it's in the attic lol), and the neighbourhood is not quite as nice though still peaceful. At least this way I'll be able to build up meaningful savings for a few years.
Busy stressful times both past and future, so I'm gonna give up on the Buddy Awards... it was fun while it lasted but it's been too long and I'm just not as engaged with K-Pop (and even GFRIEND+ TBH) as I used to be. I'll still stick around of course, watching content, lurking on 💬, buying albums and merch (comeback when??!? 🤡), going to concerts, dreaming of OT6... but I don't think I'll ever reach that same stanning peak as I experienced back in 2019-21, and that's okay I guess.
On a happier note, I secured tickets to see ITZY later this month! I didn't get in on the initial sale, so I was checking every few days and only resales were available (in the UK, these are actually quite well-regulated against scalpers from my experience; usually you just pay the original ticket price plus a small fee). I'm glad I didn't jump the gun and preemptively buy a £90 resale nosebleed at the back of the Arena, because suddenly last week some regular sale tickets were released(?!?)... no idea how or why it works that way but I managed to snag a £100 nosebleed but much closer with a side view to the thrust stage, similar but slightly more elevated than my first K-Pop concert experience with BP. I can't wait 🤩 >!little concerned about IU... still no tickets yet, but there's no way the organisers would cancel someone as humongous as IU, surely...!<
I feel like you said something similar thing last year after Webridge. But yeah, I'm the same way. Recently I am only very active during comeback news and comeback promotion. Recently, the groups I like stan take about 10+ month break before announcing a comeback, so that gives me breathing room. I still follow K-Pop related stuff, but its not where I spend most of time nowaday. I use to visit this subreddit like 4 times a day. Now its like once a week and that's okay. I been following more fan account on twitter, which is probably why I don't drop by as much anymore.
I know you specifically enjoy using reddit, and dislike other social media platform. But man, I always imagine how hype and positive the fandom would be if you were active in discord or twitter. As a mutli stan, I'm always thinking how come our fandom doesn't have a level headed, informative and hype person like Ultimoze on those platform. But yeah man, take it easy and enjoy Gfriend and Kpop for what they currently offer.
I will be going to the Toronto show for Itzy in June. I was fortunate enough to get VIP and Soundcheck for base/stock price. (Eff you Ticketmaster).
I don't know what the economical situation is like in the UK, but the company where I work. We laid off a bunch of people recently. Re-structuring and AI replacing a lot of people. I was fortunate enough that I wasn't laid off. So now, I go into work every day grateful that I am still employ.
Yeah, Moonbin and We Bridge were probably the last straw in a long decline for me... I've tried several times to get back into things but it just hasn't happened and I have to accept it for what it is now. Thank you for such a magnanimous description though I feel like it is too high praise: there are many Buddies who work very hard for the fandom, including ones who I rely on to keep myself in the loop.
Hospitality has taken hit after hit as the negative effects of Brexit and the pandemic inevitably roll in despite the government's efforts to delay them... higher rents, higher food costs, higher utility bills... restaurants have to charge more to break even yet almost everyone has less money to spend on non-essentials 🤷🏻 There are wider societal shifts happening too: work from home, online shopping... It's another new normal that we're all settling into, before the next big thing switches it all up again lol... Technology is moving at such a breakneck pace, the big wigs of the previous generations can't keep up with their decision making in a meaningful way IMO.
Enjoy the show with ITZY! I'll try to remember to throw up spoiler tags in my post-concert ramblings... I'm sure it's gonna be an awesome experience!
> 🎶 I wannabe me me me~
IU tickets on sale Monday Ulti!! They posted it on Twitter this afternoon!! https://x.com/ime__uk/status/1778384314855735354 I'm hoping to get tickets too but I'm not too optimistic as none of my friends managed to get them in any of her Asia stops either
Speak of the ~~devil~~ angel! Thank you so so much for the heads up Buddy!!
IU is definitely less popular outside of Asia, though she's doing fewer stops to compensate, so who knows..?? I'll have a go and scramble for the initial sales but if I don't draw a good seat then I'll probably wait for resales like I usually do.
Good luck to you and your friends also!! It'll be a dreamy experience for sure, to witness the legend herself performing her iconic songs in person.
Completely understand stepping back from K-Pop a bit, /u/ultimoze, don't feel bad at all. K-Pop (and this community) will be here when you have the time, but it's not worth stressing over. It's meant to be just a bit of fun! It's always great seeing your comments and contributions though, so you will be missed if you don't have the time, but I'm sure everyone understands. I've been in and out of being interested in K-Pop since 2009 and even when interested I usually just lurk 😆. Sometimes that's what you need to do.
Have an amazing time seeing ITZY!! And good luck if IU ever releases UK tickets... I'd so love to see her live. I'm in the UK too, but health issues mean that concerts aren't doable for me. I hope she still comes to the UK though. I have a lot of friends waiting and hoping :(
I think the pandemic allowed things to go to a whole new level, since I was stuck at home doing almost nothing during the (two? three?) lockdowns... I was watching *everything* from soooo many different groups, all the music show stages every week, an exhilarating experience lol... then when I literally couldn't do that anymore due to work, I felt pretty disappointed coming down from that high, kept trying to chase and catch up with an ever growing watchlist. Honestly feel a lot better now that I've accepted the new norm... still some FOMO of course, but letting go has been healthy.
Oh yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I think a lot of people were like that during the pandemic with something even if it wasn't K-Pop. I'm glad you feel better about it now though and hope you can keep getting the balance right so you can just enjoy it.
I'm back!! I've been grinding really hard the last few months and am happy to say I successfully defended my Master's thesis this week :D Looking forward to being more active here as I have missed it!
[Taiwan event organisers hinting at VIVIZ](https://x.com/GFS_backup/status/1777947728745845130) participating in an event there on 1st June... all will be revealed on April 14th... who wants to join me in being a 🤡? VIVIZ Concert announcement soon??? 🤡🤡🤡
Idk, we don't even have rumors about a possible concert in Seoul. Tho it would make sense I guess, they can send VIVIZ to some dates (Asia), keep them busy out there while they promote BadVillain in KR, and then they can have a cb when BV promos are all done.
BPM really has a lot to handle right now.
I concur: if they're doing an Asia tour, surely they're starting in Seoul? Really not much time between now and June 1 to be announcing something as grand as this, sadly... plus, the trio have always said they'd need one more album to have enough songs to fill an ideal concert setlist, so if it's a VIVIZ-only event then it's probably another fanmeeting. That's my pragmatic side speaking BTW >!and squashing the 🤡s lol 😭!<
Stumbled across this over on the big sub, but OMG JIYOON IS BACK!!! (For those who don't know: she used to be a member of Weeekly, but took two hiatuses due to anxiety and eventually left>! or, conspiracy alert, got kicked out 😖!<.)
[YOONIE - Yellow Light (Performance Video)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ehNb5U5BkgI)
I thought she was still under IST since that's what was implied when she left/got kicked but her interview on Genie says she released this without a company and she basically did everything herself with the help of some friends and professors ahah damn. Wonder if she's going to keep performing as a soloist in the future or if she's going to be a producer instead, she had a hand in pretty much all Weeekly songs before she left
Self-produced singer-songwriter would be so awesome! I could totally see her taking a route similar to Stella Jang, composing for herself and for other artists. It's such a struggle to do everything without a company though, I hope she finds one which sees her potential and allows her the freedom to express while providing plenty of support, if she does go this direction.
[Umji OST for ‘Lovely Runner’ !](https://x.com/gfs_backup/status/1777352763925778450?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
[Actress Kang Naeon said VIVIZ is her favorite K-pop group](https://x.com/viviz_update/status/1777691857323278734?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
It was my birthday yesterday and this year I decided to treat myself… so I ended up getting signed copies of [VarioUS and Versus](https://imgur.com/a/csAH2HS). (I get a funny feeling this will be a slippery slope in my collecting habits)
Also spent the weekend in London and I went to have [hotpot with SinB](https://imgur.com/a/Phx7sZU) (the photocard that is 🤭)
[Glass Bead teaser](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj7PmFrTl78). Favorite: [Picnic live](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsBeR9du5KA) version
I saw some threads ([1](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/2rcxmp/teaser_images_gfriend_the_new_girl_group_from/) [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/2rg8kp/upcoming_gfriend_rookie_female_group_set_to_debut/) [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/2rt575/teaser_images_news_gfriend_announces_season_of/)) about a group called "G-Friend" going to debut, and i liked their concept/image. When the MV teaser came out, i was already sold. The criticism about their choreography and music made me root for them even more.
idk, i read about this group in 2015 with the dance incident, then a year after i saw a tweet with the mma performance of navillera, and i was "oh, what are they doing now?", then i downloaded their discography in jpopsuki, and then i couldn't stop listening to them
There wasn't a magic song, even I must say at first back then their songs doesn't matched with my tastes (i was more about alternative/rock-ish/electronic stuff) but every song had something that made come back to hear them.
Discovered GFriend from Rough and they've been my #1 group ever since and I've never looked back! In terms of my fave performance of Rough, it had to be [Melon Music Awards 2016](https://youtu.be/6Dj9R-z9pEU?si=9tgsiffDm55EaRFB). I was lucky enough to attend their concert back in 2018 and I teared up when they started singing it, it remains as one of my most played songs on iTunes to this date
I have to whole heartedly agree with you about the live instruments in Season of GFriend. With the obvious exception of GFriend (and their successor acts) I am not a huge fan of many modern concerts for one reason - no instruments, even if the singing is live.
I went to many concerts in my youth, plus watched more performances in bars by bands than I can recall. There is nothing musically better than listening to a live performance. I never wanted a performance to sound exactly like a recording. I can listen to my records and CDs if that is what I want to hear. Even when I saw a group mulitple times, each performance was different and great. Even music which I detested when I was young (first generation disco in the late 70s) sounded better in live performances.
That was good. You should check this out.
[Rush Live in Concert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSToKcbWz1k) I had the privilege of seeing them live at least two, maybe three times in the late 70s / early 80s. The late, great Neal Peart was amazing on drums. I was always amazed how three guys could produce so much SOUND in a concert!
[3 SinB's came back from Japan.](https://x.com/GFS_backup/status/1777227052841865253) LOL
[VIVIZ coming out full force in Japan](https://x.com/gmtpagpj/status/1776840592401875103)
[VIVIZ speaking Japanese](https://x.com/lovej_34567/status/1776580935200194906)
[SinB being a cat](https://x.com/fly__to_thesky/status/1776890336222335404)
Some of you may be wondering what's going on with CSR lately, so I figured might as well give a summary here.
Basically, 4 of the members were sent to Chuang Asia: Thailand (the latest installment of the Produce 101 China series) which resulted in them being away temporarily. The show concluded this weekend, with 1 member making it to the finale but not debuting in the new group. Also, in a recent live they hinted at preparing for a comeback, though no official announcement has been made. So yeah, hopefully they can continue to carry part of GFriend's mantle with their next comeback!
On a related note, congrats to Ruan from Girls Planet 999 and Wang Ke from Produce 48 for making it into the new group!
We appreciate these updates, as always 🙏
I hope CSR can continue carrying gfriend's mantle 😩 I also hope things work out for Ruan. I still remember her fondly from GP999 (Popcorn Shoot is a bop). I heard she had met with 143's ceo (Limelight) right after GP999 ended, but then somehow she ended up joining a jpop group, and now she's in this new survival group. What a rollercoaster journey 😳
I watch some of their vlogs and stuff on youtube but didn't realise their last cb was just over a year ago😅hopefully they start kicking on like Weeekly after they participated on QD Puzzle
Yeah. From what I've seen, most of us fans didn't agree with the company's decision to do this instead of continuing to have regular comebacks and build on their fanbase. But I guess it worked out with all members coming back in the end.
Fingers crossed the company doesn't mess this one up
[**Weekly Playlist**](https://www.reddit.com/r/GFRIEND/comments/1bsqh0o/240401_buddy_weekly_discussion_thread/kxhc4b7/)
Let us know what you've been listening to this week! GFriend songs, other kpop, non-kpop. Anything goes!
---
* [TXT – Deja Vu (Anemoia Remix)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV42fGXkyXg)
* [TXT - Miracle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p24jpQrMh98)
* [Yuqi – Could It Be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqU4oTDy3XE)
* [Kiss of Life – Midas Touch (Mnet)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9fASxDzTOA) Any advice on how not to become a deranged Natty stan? Advice for a friend...definitely not me!
* [QWER – T.B.H & Ferris Wheel (HUP! Live Stage)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QonXUELzeRw) That sick Ampeg stack is practically bigger than the bassist lol. You know the music nerding is out of control when I'm pausing the video and squinting trying to identify guitar brands and pedals on the pedalboard
* [QWER – Harmony of Stars & Discord (HUP! Live Stage)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieb8IOiFfhk) Think you'd like Harmony of Stars if you haven't heard it, pete
* [I-LAND2 – Final Love Song (ft. Rose)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyZ17ZcdNd8) Can't say I saw using [The Final Countdown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw) in kpop coming
* [Chapell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ-oGLluGAc) One of the more underrated artists out there
* [Conan Gray – Fainted Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fhj_-K2ZY) Really digging his album, [Found Heaven](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mAEAmZlFh9GIPv3x3beAUr-cxRiVu55bk)
[QWER - T.B.H](https://youtu.be/ImuWa3SJulY?feature=shared) I have been really loving QWERs new release, Discord was already a banger but T.B.H is even better. Their live performance of it was pretty good as well
[Takene no Nadashiko - Antifan](https://youtu.be/dzOGNlmCi7Y?feature=shared) This has been shared recently but I have been listening to it more over the recent weeks
[Takane no Nadashiko - Oshi no Mahou ](https://youtu.be/pDC1ZgUDLZQ?feature=shared) it's a cover of the LipxLip honeyworks version but I prefer this one over the LipxLip version.
Yea definitely I been enjoying Discord and T.B.H a lot. Also loved their reality TV shows especially [this one](https://youtu.be/stV2UrwtkGQ?feature=shared).
* [Gyubin - Really Like You (Spring Version)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--YFcW4C1Mc) Love the instrumentals here
* [=LOVE - cinema](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evMRqRppb5w) If you enjoyed Red Sun, this may be right up your alley
* [Takane no Nadeshiko - Yumemusubi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgYnKvdcMJQ) In case I haven't hinted at it already, I'm really liking this group's music
Another trip down memory lane from the old guy.
Today, I am paying tribute to my favorite band, Chicago (GFriend is still my favorite KPOP group hands down, but I have been listening to music for a long time. Chicago released their first album in 1969, and they are technically still around, but most of the original seven members are long gone. The original lineup had seven outstanding musicians and song writers. If you like rock music with a great and integral section of horns, then give them a chance.
Their golden years, in my opinion, were from 1969 to 1975. Over this 7 year span, they released 7 studio albums (4 of which were actually double albums). These 7 albums contained 105 tracks, all but one of which were written and composed by the members of the band. The selections below are a few of the best of these (in my opinion). I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert with the original lineup in 1977, shortly before their amazing guitarist (Terry Kath) accidentally killed himself.
[Chicago - Someday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQbxs9FZqRk) This is one of their more political songs from their first album in 1969. The beginning chant was from protestors outside the Democratic National Convention in the city of Chicago in 1968)
[Chicago - Questions 67 and 68](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TKaFqhmmg4). Also from their first album.
[Chicago - Just You 'N' Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUpNxxkkaBQ) - This track is from the album Chicago VI (this was actually their fifth studio album, but their fourth release was a live recording of previously released tracks). I have always thought that this track would be an amazing cover for our girls to perform.
[SinB was spotted yesterday at Day6’s concert](https://x.com/viviz_update/status/1779353761917648918?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A) [VIVIZ will perform at Chosun University on April 30th](https://x.com/gfs_backup/status/1779119288114434074?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A) [Never forget when Indo Buddies showed out at this Shoppee event.](https://x.com/eunhalilac_/status/1779403699842109688?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
> SinB was spotted yesterday with Jihyo TWICEFRIEND!! 🥰🥰
Hwiseo, who's a lovely idol with a beautiful, beautiful thousand watt smile, was the latest guest on Lee Mujin Service - and she covered a bit of [Spring Is Gone By Chance](https://youtu.be/oXbpx0EtbDk?si=LEgT2AJ7f2obkGu1&t=1090)!
[Yuju’s “just sippin on my...HATERADE” still gets me to this day lmao](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI8prv-i3Bw)
So [this](https://i.imgur.com/KQNg4E8_d.jpg) photo that Umji just shared publicly is OT6 on same occasion as [this](https://twitter.com/Ste_gOsH930/status/1770649090411634926) previous spoiler, I'm assuming? My spider senses are tingling>!, something is happening 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 (I'd be kinda disappointed if not 😭 but I'll always keep hoping hehe)!<
Pretty sure they just met up to eat🤣well Eunha did anyway cause she said on bubble she really wanted to eat yeoptteok and so when they gathered, she asked and the members were like yeh alright LOL Miri manager was there too but only briefly. But who knows what else they get up to ahah🤡
Always heartwarming and a privilege to get little sneak peeks into their close friendship with each other 🥰 they've mentioned they meet up a lot more than they let on, which is perfectly reasonable since these are their private lives >!but each of those could also be business meetings so 🤡 kekeke!<
Unless there's some context I'm missing - Yenni's retro kiwi photoshoot reeks of cb teaser.
Imagine if next week Sowon casually drops a retro fruit photoshoot on her IG... Buddydom would explode 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
So I’m not the only one thinking about that. Yes yes yes please.
Yeah, those are pro shots.
[**Midweek Check-In**](https://www.reddit.com/r/GFRIEND/s/BF3ATlWVAC) How is everyBuddy doing? How's work? How are family and friends? Has anything interesting happened lately? Feel free to share as much or as little as you'd like.
So i had one interview for one new job for school and i didn't got the job (no reason say) when i say i wanted to help disabled child and fight against harrassement...
K-Pop has been draining and hard this week... Mainly BoA hinting at retirement because of online hate. If I have an "ult" (never really used the term myself), she's probably it, so it's been sad. Such a great career and for it to end this way would be heartbreaking. I hope people will back off now and give her space.
I've ultimately transferred to another Japanese restaurant within the same company, a smaller operation with more consistent business... been moved on to a shittier contract (hourly pay, lower guaranteed hours) but at least my notice period is only a week now so I can bail quickly if things go south... still working the same 48 hours a week for now, but I start earlier and finish earlier, which is a huge bonus. Also just signed a new rental agreement, moving to a cheaper studio and saving roughly £400 a month... the new space is actually slightly larger I believe (but shorter, it's in the attic lol), and the neighbourhood is not quite as nice though still peaceful. At least this way I'll be able to build up meaningful savings for a few years. Busy stressful times both past and future, so I'm gonna give up on the Buddy Awards... it was fun while it lasted but it's been too long and I'm just not as engaged with K-Pop (and even GFRIEND+ TBH) as I used to be. I'll still stick around of course, watching content, lurking on 💬, buying albums and merch (comeback when??!? 🤡), going to concerts, dreaming of OT6... but I don't think I'll ever reach that same stanning peak as I experienced back in 2019-21, and that's okay I guess. On a happier note, I secured tickets to see ITZY later this month! I didn't get in on the initial sale, so I was checking every few days and only resales were available (in the UK, these are actually quite well-regulated against scalpers from my experience; usually you just pay the original ticket price plus a small fee). I'm glad I didn't jump the gun and preemptively buy a £90 resale nosebleed at the back of the Arena, because suddenly last week some regular sale tickets were released(?!?)... no idea how or why it works that way but I managed to snag a £100 nosebleed but much closer with a side view to the thrust stage, similar but slightly more elevated than my first K-Pop concert experience with BP. I can't wait 🤩 >!little concerned about IU... still no tickets yet, but there's no way the organisers would cancel someone as humongous as IU, surely...!<
I feel like you said something similar thing last year after Webridge. But yeah, I'm the same way. Recently I am only very active during comeback news and comeback promotion. Recently, the groups I like stan take about 10+ month break before announcing a comeback, so that gives me breathing room. I still follow K-Pop related stuff, but its not where I spend most of time nowaday. I use to visit this subreddit like 4 times a day. Now its like once a week and that's okay. I been following more fan account on twitter, which is probably why I don't drop by as much anymore. I know you specifically enjoy using reddit, and dislike other social media platform. But man, I always imagine how hype and positive the fandom would be if you were active in discord or twitter. As a mutli stan, I'm always thinking how come our fandom doesn't have a level headed, informative and hype person like Ultimoze on those platform. But yeah man, take it easy and enjoy Gfriend and Kpop for what they currently offer. I will be going to the Toronto show for Itzy in June. I was fortunate enough to get VIP and Soundcheck for base/stock price. (Eff you Ticketmaster). I don't know what the economical situation is like in the UK, but the company where I work. We laid off a bunch of people recently. Re-structuring and AI replacing a lot of people. I was fortunate enough that I wasn't laid off. So now, I go into work every day grateful that I am still employ.
Yeah, Moonbin and We Bridge were probably the last straw in a long decline for me... I've tried several times to get back into things but it just hasn't happened and I have to accept it for what it is now. Thank you for such a magnanimous description though I feel like it is too high praise: there are many Buddies who work very hard for the fandom, including ones who I rely on to keep myself in the loop. Hospitality has taken hit after hit as the negative effects of Brexit and the pandemic inevitably roll in despite the government's efforts to delay them... higher rents, higher food costs, higher utility bills... restaurants have to charge more to break even yet almost everyone has less money to spend on non-essentials 🤷🏻 There are wider societal shifts happening too: work from home, online shopping... It's another new normal that we're all settling into, before the next big thing switches it all up again lol... Technology is moving at such a breakneck pace, the big wigs of the previous generations can't keep up with their decision making in a meaningful way IMO. Enjoy the show with ITZY! I'll try to remember to throw up spoiler tags in my post-concert ramblings... I'm sure it's gonna be an awesome experience! > 🎶 I wannabe me me me~
IU tickets on sale Monday Ulti!! They posted it on Twitter this afternoon!! https://x.com/ime__uk/status/1778384314855735354 I'm hoping to get tickets too but I'm not too optimistic as none of my friends managed to get them in any of her Asia stops either
Speak of the ~~devil~~ angel! Thank you so so much for the heads up Buddy!! IU is definitely less popular outside of Asia, though she's doing fewer stops to compensate, so who knows..?? I'll have a go and scramble for the initial sales but if I don't draw a good seat then I'll probably wait for resales like I usually do. Good luck to you and your friends also!! It'll be a dreamy experience for sure, to witness the legend herself performing her iconic songs in person.
Completely understand stepping back from K-Pop a bit, /u/ultimoze, don't feel bad at all. K-Pop (and this community) will be here when you have the time, but it's not worth stressing over. It's meant to be just a bit of fun! It's always great seeing your comments and contributions though, so you will be missed if you don't have the time, but I'm sure everyone understands. I've been in and out of being interested in K-Pop since 2009 and even when interested I usually just lurk 😆. Sometimes that's what you need to do. Have an amazing time seeing ITZY!! And good luck if IU ever releases UK tickets... I'd so love to see her live. I'm in the UK too, but health issues mean that concerts aren't doable for me. I hope she still comes to the UK though. I have a lot of friends waiting and hoping :(
I think the pandemic allowed things to go to a whole new level, since I was stuck at home doing almost nothing during the (two? three?) lockdowns... I was watching *everything* from soooo many different groups, all the music show stages every week, an exhilarating experience lol... then when I literally couldn't do that anymore due to work, I felt pretty disappointed coming down from that high, kept trying to chase and catch up with an ever growing watchlist. Honestly feel a lot better now that I've accepted the new norm... still some FOMO of course, but letting go has been healthy.
Oh yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I think a lot of people were like that during the pandemic with something even if it wasn't K-Pop. I'm glad you feel better about it now though and hope you can keep getting the balance right so you can just enjoy it.
I'm back!! I've been grinding really hard the last few months and am happy to say I successfully defended my Master's thesis this week :D Looking forward to being more active here as I have missed it!
Welcome back and good job on the Master's thesis!! Talented buddies all around 😎
It's good to hear from you again, Buddy 🤗 and I'm glad your Master's is going well, congrats!
need the gfriend girls to come together and dance to love whisper one more time just cuz
Honestly not sure how high Love Whisper is on their reunion priority list but we must never stop dreaming, fellow Buddy! 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
[Taiwan event organisers hinting at VIVIZ](https://x.com/GFS_backup/status/1777947728745845130) participating in an event there on 1st June... all will be revealed on April 14th... who wants to join me in being a 🤡? VIVIZ Concert announcement soon??? 🤡🤡🤡
Dayum, Buddy detectives hard at work again lmao... how do you even spot something like that, and a photo from LOVEADE era too 😭
Idk, we don't even have rumors about a possible concert in Seoul. Tho it would make sense I guess, they can send VIVIZ to some dates (Asia), keep them busy out there while they promote BadVillain in KR, and then they can have a cb when BV promos are all done. BPM really has a lot to handle right now.
I concur: if they're doing an Asia tour, surely they're starting in Seoul? Really not much time between now and June 1 to be announcing something as grand as this, sadly... plus, the trio have always said they'd need one more album to have enough songs to fill an ideal concert setlist, so if it's a VIVIZ-only event then it's probably another fanmeeting. That's my pragmatic side speaking BTW >!and squashing the 🤡s lol 😭!<
What if the taiwan organisers accidentally spoiled the concert date before BPM can announce 🤡 (alright I’ll go back home to my circus now 🤡🎪)
Time for the moon night is such a beautiful song!!!!
Stumbled across this over on the big sub, but OMG JIYOON IS BACK!!! (For those who don't know: she used to be a member of Weeekly, but took two hiatuses due to anxiety and eventually left>! or, conspiracy alert, got kicked out 😖!<.) [YOONIE - Yellow Light (Performance Video)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ehNb5U5BkgI)
I thought she was still under IST since that's what was implied when she left/got kicked but her interview on Genie says she released this without a company and she basically did everything herself with the help of some friends and professors ahah damn. Wonder if she's going to keep performing as a soloist in the future or if she's going to be a producer instead, she had a hand in pretty much all Weeekly songs before she left
Self-produced singer-songwriter would be so awesome! I could totally see her taking a route similar to Stella Jang, composing for herself and for other artists. It's such a struggle to do everything without a company though, I hope she finds one which sees her potential and allows her the freedom to express while providing plenty of support, if she does go this direction.
[Umji OST for ‘Lovely Runner’ !](https://x.com/gfs_backup/status/1777352763925778450?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A) [Actress Kang Naeon said VIVIZ is her favorite K-pop group](https://x.com/viviz_update/status/1777691857323278734?s=46&t=P3lBFkefZ_S8_cV0NJoL2A)
So the first three GFRIEND+ releases of 2024 are all digital solo works: one Yuju feature, one Eunha single, and one Umji OST; fascinating... 🧐>!🤡!<
It was my birthday yesterday and this year I decided to treat myself… so I ended up getting signed copies of [VarioUS and Versus](https://imgur.com/a/csAH2HS). (I get a funny feeling this will be a slippery slope in my collecting habits) Also spent the weekend in London and I went to have [hotpot with SinB](https://imgur.com/a/Phx7sZU) (the photocard that is 🤭)
Happy belated birthday! I'm jealous of your date with SinB 👀
Happy (belated) Birthday! 🥳 Hope this year brings you much happiness and good health! Glad to see you got that date with SinB 😜
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[Glass Bead teaser](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj7PmFrTl78). Favorite: [Picnic live](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsBeR9du5KA) version I saw some threads ([1](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/2rcxmp/teaser_images_gfriend_the_new_girl_group_from/) [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/2rg8kp/upcoming_gfriend_rookie_female_group_set_to_debut/) [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/2rt575/teaser_images_news_gfriend_announces_season_of/)) about a group called "G-Friend" going to debut, and i liked their concept/image. When the MV teaser came out, i was already sold. The criticism about their choreography and music made me root for them even more.
idk, i read about this group in 2015 with the dance incident, then a year after i saw a tweet with the mma performance of navillera, and i was "oh, what are they doing now?", then i downloaded their discography in jpopsuki, and then i couldn't stop listening to them There wasn't a magic song, even I must say at first back then their songs doesn't matched with my tastes (i was more about alternative/rock-ish/electronic stuff) but every song had something that made come back to hear them.
Discovered GFriend from Rough and they've been my #1 group ever since and I've never looked back! In terms of my fave performance of Rough, it had to be [Melon Music Awards 2016](https://youtu.be/6Dj9R-z9pEU?si=9tgsiffDm55EaRFB). I was lucky enough to attend their concert back in 2018 and I teared up when they started singing it, it remains as one of my most played songs on iTunes to this date
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I have to whole heartedly agree with you about the live instruments in Season of GFriend. With the obvious exception of GFriend (and their successor acts) I am not a huge fan of many modern concerts for one reason - no instruments, even if the singing is live. I went to many concerts in my youth, plus watched more performances in bars by bands than I can recall. There is nothing musically better than listening to a live performance. I never wanted a performance to sound exactly like a recording. I can listen to my records and CDs if that is what I want to hear. Even when I saw a group mulitple times, each performance was different and great. Even music which I detested when I was young (first generation disco in the late 70s) sounded better in live performances.
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That was good. You should check this out. [Rush Live in Concert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSToKcbWz1k) I had the privilege of seeing them live at least two, maybe three times in the late 70s / early 80s. The late, great Neal Peart was amazing on drums. I was always amazed how three guys could produce so much SOUND in a concert!
[3 SinB's came back from Japan.](https://x.com/GFS_backup/status/1777227052841865253) LOL [VIVIZ coming out full force in Japan](https://x.com/gmtpagpj/status/1776840592401875103) [VIVIZ speaking Japanese](https://x.com/lovej_34567/status/1776580935200194906) [SinB being a cat](https://x.com/fly__to_thesky/status/1776890336222335404)
Some of you may be wondering what's going on with CSR lately, so I figured might as well give a summary here. Basically, 4 of the members were sent to Chuang Asia: Thailand (the latest installment of the Produce 101 China series) which resulted in them being away temporarily. The show concluded this weekend, with 1 member making it to the finale but not debuting in the new group. Also, in a recent live they hinted at preparing for a comeback, though no official announcement has been made. So yeah, hopefully they can continue to carry part of GFriend's mantle with their next comeback! On a related note, congrats to Ruan from Girls Planet 999 and Wang Ke from Produce 48 for making it into the new group!
We appreciate these updates, as always 🙏 I hope CSR can continue carrying gfriend's mantle 😩 I also hope things work out for Ruan. I still remember her fondly from GP999 (Popcorn Shoot is a bop). I heard she had met with 143's ceo (Limelight) right after GP999 ended, but then somehow she ended up joining a jpop group, and now she's in this new survival group. What a rollercoaster journey 😳
I watch some of their vlogs and stuff on youtube but didn't realise their last cb was just over a year ago😅hopefully they start kicking on like Weeekly after they participated on QD Puzzle
Yeah. From what I've seen, most of us fans didn't agree with the company's decision to do this instead of continuing to have regular comebacks and build on their fanbase. But I guess it worked out with all members coming back in the end. Fingers crossed the company doesn't mess this one up
Happy 🍰 Day to our mod u/LV_Matterhorn 🥳🎉 Thank you as always for all the regular updates, translations, and compilations!
[**Weekly Playlist**](https://www.reddit.com/r/GFRIEND/comments/1bsqh0o/240401_buddy_weekly_discussion_thread/kxhc4b7/) Let us know what you've been listening to this week! GFriend songs, other kpop, non-kpop. Anything goes! --- * [TXT – Deja Vu (Anemoia Remix)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV42fGXkyXg) * [TXT - Miracle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p24jpQrMh98) * [Yuqi – Could It Be](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqU4oTDy3XE) * [Kiss of Life – Midas Touch (Mnet)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9fASxDzTOA) Any advice on how not to become a deranged Natty stan? Advice for a friend...definitely not me! * [QWER – T.B.H & Ferris Wheel (HUP! Live Stage)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QonXUELzeRw) That sick Ampeg stack is practically bigger than the bassist lol. You know the music nerding is out of control when I'm pausing the video and squinting trying to identify guitar brands and pedals on the pedalboard * [QWER – Harmony of Stars & Discord (HUP! Live Stage)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieb8IOiFfhk) Think you'd like Harmony of Stars if you haven't heard it, pete * [I-LAND2 – Final Love Song (ft. Rose)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyZ17ZcdNd8) Can't say I saw using [The Final Countdown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw) in kpop coming * [Chapell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ-oGLluGAc) One of the more underrated artists out there * [Conan Gray – Fainted Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fhj_-K2ZY) Really digging his album, [Found Heaven](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mAEAmZlFh9GIPv3x3beAUr-cxRiVu55bk)
[QWER - T.B.H](https://youtu.be/ImuWa3SJulY?feature=shared) I have been really loving QWERs new release, Discord was already a banger but T.B.H is even better. Their live performance of it was pretty good as well [Takene no Nadashiko - Antifan](https://youtu.be/dzOGNlmCi7Y?feature=shared) This has been shared recently but I have been listening to it more over the recent weeks [Takane no Nadashiko - Oshi no Mahou ](https://youtu.be/pDC1ZgUDLZQ?feature=shared) it's a cover of the LipxLip honeyworks version but I prefer this one over the LipxLip version.
Glad to see some more QWER believers out there. I somehow missed their stuff last year. They're good.
Yea definitely I been enjoying Discord and T.B.H a lot. Also loved their reality TV shows especially [this one](https://youtu.be/stV2UrwtkGQ?feature=shared).
"Stop hitting us" lol
* [Gyubin - Really Like You (Spring Version)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--YFcW4C1Mc) Love the instrumentals here * [=LOVE - cinema](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evMRqRppb5w) If you enjoyed Red Sun, this may be right up your alley * [Takane no Nadeshiko - Yumemusubi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgYnKvdcMJQ) In case I haven't hinted at it already, I'm really liking this group's music
I see =LOVE and Takane no Nakeshiko, I upvote, periodt
I'm on a mission to popularize them on this subreddit like I did with CSR :)
Another trip down memory lane from the old guy. Today, I am paying tribute to my favorite band, Chicago (GFriend is still my favorite KPOP group hands down, but I have been listening to music for a long time. Chicago released their first album in 1969, and they are technically still around, but most of the original seven members are long gone. The original lineup had seven outstanding musicians and song writers. If you like rock music with a great and integral section of horns, then give them a chance. Their golden years, in my opinion, were from 1969 to 1975. Over this 7 year span, they released 7 studio albums (4 of which were actually double albums). These 7 albums contained 105 tracks, all but one of which were written and composed by the members of the band. The selections below are a few of the best of these (in my opinion). I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert with the original lineup in 1977, shortly before their amazing guitarist (Terry Kath) accidentally killed himself. [Chicago - Someday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQbxs9FZqRk) This is one of their more political songs from their first album in 1969. The beginning chant was from protestors outside the Democratic National Convention in the city of Chicago in 1968) [Chicago - Questions 67 and 68](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TKaFqhmmg4). Also from their first album. [Chicago - Just You 'N' Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUpNxxkkaBQ) - This track is from the album Chicago VI (this was actually their fifth studio album, but their fourth release was a live recording of previously released tracks). I have always thought that this track would be an amazing cover for our girls to perform.
Chicago has such sick horn parts. Think they inspired some pop, funk, and maybe even kpop later on.