Chae Jung-ahn comes back with TV Love

12 November 24, 2008

by javabeans

Chae Jung-ahn is returning to her roots with her first album in seven years.

Chae, like Jung Ryeo-won and Jeon Hye-bin, is the type of actor who’s finding a lot more success in her second wind than she’d found in her initial foray into entertainment as a “dance gasu,” or a pop singer whose shtick is based more on dance routines than sheer singing ability. She’d been in a bit of a career slump, but following a divorce and a revitalized image with Coffee Prince, she’s now enjoying a rejuvenated career.

I never really liked her music all that much — she released three albums of that awful trancey processed kpop that was so popular in the late ’90s, like the stuff Uhm Jung-hwa and Lee Jung-hyun were putting out. But the “teaser video” for her comeback single, “TV Love,” has just been released (watch below), and if that’s the sound her music is taking, it’s a marked improvement. (Considering her career upswing, the title is pretty apropros.)

It’s got a tinge of what he article describes as “Brazil electro,” which I think is better termed bossa-nova-inflected or groove electronica. I’m a bit sad that, while I love the music, it seems to be heading into “flavor of the week” territory, but in any case, I might as well enjoy the trend while it’s here.

Via Sports Chosun

SONG OF THE DAY

Chae Jung-ahn – “아니야” (It’s not). Here’s a track off her last album, released in 2001, which is mostly upbeat techno pop. This one’s a little more listenable, imo, than some of the other stuff on the album. [ Download ]

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Tags: Chae Jung-ahn, comebacks, singers

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1 Christina Leung

November 24, 2008 at 7:49 PM

have you heard of Tortoise Matsumoto or トータス松本? I know it's not korean music, but i like most of the songs you post up and I like his music too. here's a link to a video that has one of my favorite songs of his: (it's not a music video because they deleted it. maybe it has to do with copyright stuff)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo-_c6TeW2Q

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2 belleza

November 24, 2008 at 8:21 PM

Haha, this song takes me back. Back in my HS and uni days, people used to blast this Eurocheese-flavored K-pop rather LOUDLY from their lowered cars/rooms. I kinda miss it though. When Epik High kinda brought back the late 90s, it made me smile.

"the article describes as “Brazil electro,” "

BLEH!!! THIS is Brazillian-inflected electro/micro house foo!!! Recognize Korea!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jf2ie6XQUg

I'm glad house and downtempo are finding their way into people's coffeehouse habits.

I'm watching Breathless (vignette-ish writing lacks rhythm, but it's nonetheless charming and subtly observes class and gender expectations) but right now, and it reminded me why I always saw her as the female Lee Dong Gun. She acts comfortably within her range, rarely overacts, and is personable. She's one of the better singer-turned-actresses out there.