I know there are some foreigners who have no interest in Korean music, but I am not one of them. I started listening to Korean music my sophomore year in college once I got into Korean dramas. I love the way Korean sounds the way some people love how the French language sounds. IDK, there is just something very captivating about the language. Which is why I am trying to learn it in the hopes of being somewhat fluent in the distant future.

So, if you have not given Korean music a chance, here is an opportunity to start. I tend to stay away from the extreme K-poppers like SNSD or Super Junior and go for the more mellow, indie, or hip-hip music. So here are a ten of my favorite Korean artists and their songs. (Excludes songs from other entries)

Enjoy!!!!!

My favorite song from my first Korean drama; Full House

One of my favorite Korean bands: Nell (Totally underrated)


How can you not love Epik High? As much as I adore Tablo, my heart belongs to Mithra!


This song captured me the first time I heard it. There is a very haunting element to it.


The minute the music starts I cannot help but smile.


This trio is all kinds of awesome mixed into wonderful songs:)


Loveholics know how to make you addicted for life


This is my favorite Fly To The Sky song


Mr. Sexy Voice


Very unique sounding

These songs don't even begin to dent my collection of Korean music, let alone Japanese and Taiwanese music.

Other Korean artists you should check out if your are curious, bored, or just have free time

-Rain
-Se7en
-Lee Seung Gi
-Big Mama
-Drunken Tiger
-Biuret
-Donawhale
-Humming Urban Stereo
-Sol Flower
-Tearliner

There is a whole world out there filled with awesome Korean music if you are willing to give it a chance. Yeah, you might not/most likely won't understand what their saying, but the last time I checked music was a universal language!

Explore and Enjoy:)
Lola O.

I think Mithra is so adorable, and I love his voice. This song is on repeat on my Ipod these days.

The Countdown till I leave for Korea has started! I have a month left before I leave and it feels like time is speeding up and I can hear this internal clock ticking away. It is exhilarating and scary at the same time. I think the plane ride to Seoul is going to be the longest one of my life both literally and figuratively.

I just hope I don't end up crying when I say bye to my mother or have some kind of panic attack at the airport where I start questioning my decision to do this. I just don't want to freak out...at least not in public!

My days seem to be spent reading up on everything I can possibly find in regards to life in Seoul and stuff about South Korea in general. This is the first time I am doing something like this and I am doing it alone for the most part. So it is a big step for me to get out of my comfort zone and like Nike says "Just do it." As far as I know we only get one life, one chance to do the things we want to do while we can. For me, I want to travel around for now and that journey starts with South Korea.

I don't want to be tied down to one job or one place. Instead I want to experience different things so that when I choose that one job and one place in the future I won't have regrets about it. The sky is not my limit, I want to reach higher and higher heights until there is no height left to reach. Lately, I have been thinking about my future, and how I feel a lot more internationally inclined. It would be cool to work for an international company, be a diplomat or ambassador, or an international lawyer.

I'm hoping South Korea helps me get closer to figuring out where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be in the future. For once I don't have a plan, but I know God has a plan for me and he will lead me on the right path, the only path created just for me. It is kind of nice not having a plan and just opening my mind to the infinite possibilities of life. I'm 21 years old, I don't have to have all the answers, and I don't know how to ask all the questions, and that is perfectly fine. Lol...this isn't the post I planned but yeah:)

As far as my expectations/hopes for going to South Korea. I am expecting to have fun, learn a lot, experience so many different things, eat lots of delicious food, learn Korean, and make some good friends with minimum drama. I know I will have my ups and downs but for the most part it will be ups!:) I think my biggest fear is how people (Koreans) will react to me. I am not looking forward to being stared at or touched or etc..but I am going to have to deal with it so it is good to know what to expect!

Overall, I know it is all going to work out in my favour because God is supporting me in this endeavor. I think I am probably going to spaz out my last week here, but I am definitely going to enjoy my friends and family before I leave. So peeps if your in Phoenix we shall hang out before I go!!!:)

The Fabulous Epik High: FAN


Ciao,
~Lola O.~

I got into Korean dramas my sophomore year of college and from there I became hooked and absolutely would rather watch a Korean drama than any American show. American entertainment could learn quite a few things from the Korean entertainment world.

You could say my love for Korean dramas sparked my interest in the language, culture, and eventually made me want to change my life and move to Seoul to teach and see life in new eyes.

It all started with...


This was my very first Korean drama...and I wish it hadn't taken me so long to discover how awesome K-dramas are. After watching this drama I wanted more, and eventually got into Japanese dramas (Hana Yori Dango, Kimi Wa Petto) and Taiwanese dramas (MARS, ISWAK, Devil Beside You) and my love for all thing Asian grew from just the entertainment side to the language and of course the culture.

I love the passion of the Korean language. I just love how it flows off the tongue...I don't know but for me listening to people talk in Korean or listening to Korean music is wonderful.

Alrighty on to My Firsts...
K-drama: Full House
K-movie: 200 Pounds of Beauty
K-crush: Rain
K-forum: Soompi (best site ever for all things Korean)
K-blog: Javabeans
Korean words: Anyounghaseyo (안녕하세요)...Kamsamnida (감사합니다)
Korean phrase I love: Do you want to die?(죽을래)....lol when they say it in Korean I just love the way it sounds.

*Favorite Korean Dramas*
Soulmate
Goong
Golden Bride
Dal Ja's Spring

*Favorite Korean Music*
Nell
Epik High
Loveholic
Clazziquai
Big Bang

Note: A lot of people ask me what is the point of listening to music when you don't understand what their saying. My response is the language that is music has no limitations. I love the way it sounds, and I will usually try and find an English translation. But for me it doesn't matter so much that I don't understand the words, but that the song impacts me. The beauty of music is the freedom to listen to it.

I'm excited to experience Korean culture firsthand and not from my computer screen.
Best
~Lola O.~