HIATUS

For the past few days, I've been itching to write reviews for all the new material coming out (sometimes faster than I can handle), but school has really been keeping me from doing so. In the past, I'd drop school and write the review, but I now realize that this is not the past.

I'm graduating in 2 months. I have half a semester left - a thesis to write, 2 "businesses" to run, calculus class to pass and a host of other curricular, and extracurricular, activities to do, and finish. Unlike the years before, I have to finish these things to graduate - when I leave in April, I leave for good, nothing can be left behind. Getting into university would be a waste if I don't graduate - this is the last stretch, I might as well do everything I can.

This is not like the previous years - 2011 is a turning point in my life, away from the blog and everything on the internet. I'm graduating from high school, and entering the top university in the country, studying literature from the writers themselves - this is more than my portfolio, it's what will define me. I can't afford to screw up, and I need the time that I'd regularly use for PRN, to spend on school.

Which is why I'm going on a hiatus. As much as I don't want to do this for more than a month - I have to. No reviews, no rants, no nothing - until I graduate in April. PRN is a big priority for me, as you all know, but you have to realize that if I don't graduate, the future I'm working for will be non-existent. A portfolio is flexible - it will grow when I want it to grow, and when I can make it grow, but an education will not. I have to finish this year, I have to enter university, I have to do all these things - so I can continue writing.

I will be back. I don't give up something like PRN that easily, trust me. You guys are one of the mean reasons - no amount of "thank you"'s and praise can accurately describe how much of PRN's existence I owe to everyone who reads, and comments, on my work - it means so, so much.

My archives are always open, and you're more than welcome to read back on my reviews over the years - I promise to come back with a bang, or at least find a way to. ;D

Nikki

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Major January Releases: Part 1

Woohoo! Why is it that whenever I bring out a post, something good happens to me? I think you remember me freaking out earlier this month when I was accepted into the #1 university in the country, into my first course choice at my campus of choice, but apparently the fun didn't end there - I got into the #2 university as well! There's no way I'm gonna trade being a Fighting Maroon for a Blue Eagle, but I'm happy nevertheless.

Because I neither have the time nor the energy to put out a truckload of full reviews for all the music that's come out in the last few weeks, here's like a sum-up of the major releases. It's basically a full review of each without the track-by-track breakdown - just those first few paragraphs I put at the start.

READ AFTER THE CUT. ;D

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HoMin - Why? (Keep Your Head Down)

Before we get to the review, I would like to apologize to my Twitter followers for spamming your timeline with profanities and "WHAT IS LIFE?" tweets - that's what happens when you mix part of my favorite band with a world-domination song I waited yearS for. Yes, part and yes, years. Had it been all five of them I don't know what I would've done.

However even with all my spazzing, crying and whatnot, would you believe me if I said I'm writing this with absolutely no idea what to write? Usually when I write a review I have a general idea of what I want to say, and everything just pours out - I'm not too sure if that's happening right now.

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"Dream High" is really exciting me now! + Secret's new teaser

It's only the start of the year and the new releases are already overflowing! Yay!

When all the fuss started, I wasn't really paying attention because to be honest with you I'm not really the biggest JYP fan ever, but now I'm seriously regretting my decision. Because by the looks of it, Dream High is turning out to be a Korean version of my beloved Britannia High, only with actual pop stars this time around! Paul will be happy.

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The 10 Best 2010 Gayo Daejun Performances

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope you all had enough partying to last the whole year, because it's back to business! This is another one of my "oh my god wouldn't it be great to write about this?" moments while watching videos. Ahhhh. But before we get to the post, may I direct you to my spankin' new About Page? ;D

Gayo Daejuns, or Song Festivals in English, are the highlight of a k-pop fan's, and singer's, year. They're held by MBC, SBS and KBS, Korea's "big 3" TV networks, for 3 consecutive days at the end of December - the 29th, 30th and 31st. Basically it's all of the year's biggest acts thrown together in one big show, performing some of the year's biggest hits. From what I've seen, these shows are by invitation.

I know I'm a few days late, but I honestly needed time to digest three consecutive hours-long shows! With special performances left and right as well as a lot of acts I've talked about on the blog last year (so not used to saying that!), it was rather overwhelming, even if this is my second year watching this. Gawd I remember that epic Davichi+2AM performance last year - epic. And who can forget SHINee doing Lady GaGa?

There were acts who only showed up for certain gayo daejuns, however the big acts showed up for all three. 2PM, SHINee, SNSD, KARA, Super Junior, After School, and a few others did all three shows.

Over the past few days there have been talks, both among bloggers and fans, of which show was the best this year - the consensus is that the SBS one was crap, and the MBC one was the best. But to be honest with you, all three gayo daejuns had their moments, and I'm slightly leaning towards the KBS one only because I watched it on an actual TV, and so I'm picking ten of the best performances, regardless of the network. Call it a very quick recap of the three shows.

I only watched the KBS one from start to finish on my TV, but I did watch majority of the other two shows. If I missed anything, it's probably because I didn't have time to digest it - just because it's good for you and it's not on the list doesn't mean I didn't see it. I watched the shows, thank you very much. And the list is in no particular order, just to clarify - no way I'm telling you my rankings for these. The fun starts under the cut!

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