버벌진트(Verbal Jint) – 시작이 좋아 (Good Start)

First of all: Happy New Year!

2013 is definitely a year of new beginnings for me! I started a new job this week and it has been a super challenging yet rewarding week. I am now working at an international school teaching Grade 2! And my contract is for 18 months so I will be in Korea for at least that long. It’s all very exciting but overwhelming at the same time.
On the first day of school I talked with my students about New Years resolutions. They came up with some average responses (“I will be better at soccer, I will do ‘plus’ better in Math”) and some really outstanding resolutions such as “I will be more creative” and “I will be a more positive person”. I can tell that I am going to learn a lot from these kids. My personal resolutions are to be more organized (although looking around my room I see I still need to work on that one) and to be the best teacher I can be for my students.

So far 2013 has gotten off to to a very good start and listening to this song just makes it better :)! I love Verbal Jint, especially when his songs feature a strong female vocalist. The lyrics are really good too. He talks about getting over a break-up and looking past everything to the year ahead.

It’s a good start
I came to the quiet sea alone
And I made wishes for the New Year
The strong cold that tortured me for a while is now cured
It feels good

So yeah, this may be a new favourite! I like everything about it except for the inappropriate beach footwear! Oh Korea! Hope you enjoy it!

pump me up!

If you work out, you know that good music can make or break your workout. Personally, I’m always on the lookout for new songs to keep my feet moving. Here are some of my favs when I’m in the mood for a K-pop-a-licious workout.

Warm-up

Big Bang – Love song. It starts off slow but I find it’s a good song to ease me into cardio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKZEmLvYVF0

Verbal Jint – Perfect Day. This song makes me so happy! Listening to it in the mornings gets my day started on the right track.

Cardio

Jo Kwon- I’m da one. Jo Kwon is so quirky and upbeat he makes me want to dance, but I’ll settle for the treadmill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWgH0DsD0pQ

Tasty – You know me. I cannot say how much I love this song. Or, more accurately, the twins’ dancing. They’ll never be able to teach me how to dance if I’m huffing and puffing. Cardio UP!

Teen Top – Supa Luv. This song has a great beat and the rhythm is perfect for jogging. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boQFnQAaCZc

Sistar – So cool. I mostly just added this song because I noticed I had no female singers on this list. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj3q0ZChgFE

U-kiss – Te Amo. I do cardio so that when I finally meet U-Kiss I can chase Eli down singing this song. Motivation! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxumtpLkyl4

Super Junior – Super Girl. LeeTeuk from SJ has enlisted in the Korean Army *sigh*. I figure when he gets out we’d better be in equally as good shape.

Weights

Younique – Maxstep. This is actually a brand new song so I haven’t been listening to it for long. The group is made up of members from several different groups (including my second favourite member of SJ!). So far it definitely gets me pumped up!

BAP – No Mercy. Someday, I want to be as tough as BAP “,) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hzz4mGyehw

2NE1 – I am the Best. After the gajillionth time hearing it, the bratatata’s still get me goin’! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7_lSP8Vc3o

G-Dragon – One of a Kind. So me and G-D are homies and we like to do badass things together. Like pump iron.

Cool-down

BoA – One dream. An inspirational song. I need inspiration to do abs and stretching after a hard workout!

Big Bang – Ego. A nice winding-down song that doesn’t put me to sleep.  Plus, beginning and ending my workout with Big Bang makes me a happy girl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-oj33ZnAlQ

This is not the full playlist, obviously but I thought I’d share some gems with you :)! Please send more pump-up music my way too!

Promise Promise

I have posted several videos on facebook lately and I’ve noticed that they’re all quite ridiculous vids. For example, Gangnam Style by Psy is UNreal, Baby Goodnight by B1A4 is super cutsey, and Wingardium Leviosa by Jo Kwan is… well it’s a Harry Potter spell, let’s just leave it at that. I feel like I haven’t given a good representation of what K-Pop is because there are some really beautiful songs out there. This is one that I haven’t been able to get out of my head and if you read the lyrics it is a really gorgeous song.