Discovering INFINITE, and their Fansites! <('o'<)

You will never ran out of things to do in Twitter. Like, just follow a couple of Fansites (check if the twitter account has a lot of followers, like 5 thousand or more) and a few fellow fans (called mutuals) and you will be on your road to lots of time burning, spazzing on your favorite Idol group - and of course your bias. I swear, opening your twitter with the intention of just seeing a few pics or few updates of your favorite KPOP idol is not possible. You would probably be spending no less than 30 minutes without you realizing it. :P 

Search Result

I followed a few fansites, with the advice of a friend who became an inspirit before me. But actually when you just search for the name of your bias, if will load a lot of tweets and from there, suggested accounts will be given to you by the app itself. :D 

Follower count

As an infinite FAN, I followed a lot of Sung Gyu Fansites first. As I get to know Infinite members more, that is the time i took time to also follow their followers. Maybe this is how it was for me, I get to know the one that got my attention first before moving on to the other members. 

Elvis Gyu Support Slogan

Dongwoo and Sung Gyu USB

So just a month after following the fansites, came Sung Kyu's birthday and the fansites, and other mutuals would have tweeted about their Support Projects for the artist. I have had thoughts about it, but it seemed as though its wuite legitimate so yeah, I did try to participate in such supports - plus the fact that I get to have a fan, or a photobook, or a good that is inspired by the artist. 

There are a lot of supports, every concert they have supports, every activity, they have supports as well, especially if the artist will have guested on a show, or will tape a drama of at least 16 episodes. There are also the birthday supports. The goods or items are really wonderful too! Its like they are made with so much creativity and there are also fansites who would collaborate, two or more fansites of different members would join hands and sell their support goods that have similar items, like bracelets, mirrors, or photocard themes, etc. 

Type of goods are as follows:

Photo cards (size of a calling card, now there are also plastic or non carton photocards)
Photo Postcard (in multiple quantity / different shots)

More Than Kyu Photocard Set

Fans (the most common - sometimes photo of the artist, or sometimes a fanart or cartoonized version of the artist) Aren't they cute? Fansites really choose the best pics when it comes to these support goods to attract us all, and it is so hard to resist! 

Tumbler / water bottles (bulky, but very useful)

Dolls (one of my favorites, but these are special cases, does not come often)

Summer Dong Woo Doll

USB (designs are fanarts of the artist, contains videos or photos too) 

Summer Dong Woo EMS

EMS (electro magnetic stickers - i like this because i like decorating my phone with EMS. :P)

Notepads, Sticker Sets, (sometimes just comes with the support package you avail)

Made in L Stickers

Season's Greetings / Calendar Sets (always comes around when its year end, proceeds of these support goes to gifts to idols during the Christmas Season.)

Douerky Calendar Support

Photobooks (Also another favorite, But I have yet to get myself a full set of about 100 pages and more. Also most photobook sets are like gathered in a concept, like this one, Suit Boy. All photos are collected and all you see here are Sung Gyu in Suit!) 

Turningpoint Photobook

There are also other stuffs they include in ther support packages, like L Holder, Stationary and envelope sets, iRings, keychains, and now i saw their into embroidered bracelets - all designs are really so cute. 

The fansites, are really so good at taking photos of the idols that we love, they are known to the artists themselves already too(i think), because a lot of photos they share have eye contact too! (❀‿❀) 

The support goods, are actually fund raising on the part of these fansites... they send gifts to our idols and the range of their gifts are outstanding! They are in a different level! A scale so amazing you'd be left wondering as to how they can afford such lavish gifts! =) 

The truth is, buying the goods is like hitting two birds with one stone, i mean you get to have a goods so cute and increase your memories and collection of KPOP items you have and also in part, the gifts your idol or bias receives, actually also comes a portion of it by your participation. :D 

 

Fansite samples (i participated in) for Goods: 
@stay_gyu @douerky @turningpoint428 @summer_dw @Kyutizen @madeinL @morethankyu

Support Gifts: 
@stay_gyu @nwhtree91 @blissinyou_wh

Fangirl? Are you sure? Are you Ready?! Can you handle it?

When I started fangirling FTISLAND, it was rather easy, getting updates from official accounts of their agency, and following their IG and twitter accounts and some fansites would already suffice. I mean, it was not as complicated as it was, but yeah at first I was overwhelmed with all the terminologies and all... But the most important thing is, I only have to prepare for their Japan Album, Korean Album (come backs), and concert goods. Their Korean albums - this is what counts when it comes to comebacks, awards and well - popularity in music shows. Korea, have daily music shows! When your bias group does not win a single trophy in these music shows, it is really very painful!! ='(

Sample Fansupport

Being a fan, you would have felt a mix of emotions! :D You'd be so happy, you'd feel betrayed when they do not win an award especially when they really deserve it. You would laugh, cry, and then you'd be in panic, you will turn to their agency and cuss at them for not giving them enough time to promote! =P Ha it can be really funny thinking about all these times, but yeah we all go through such a cycle every time they have a Korean comeback. Following other groups, I have also started feeling the need to get a hold of those fantaken photos, these fansites also releases photobooks, their very own version of goods whatsoever. Ah! it just doesn't stop there. The list where you have this inner battler on whether to buy or not is going to haunt you even in your dreams! :P 

First, Preparing for the official: 

A lot of things to consider to support them in comebacks: 

Streaming, Digital downloads - a lot of sites have this, and it matters most in Melon! During FTISLAND's Where's the truth comeback, We streamed and streamed for like 24 hours. I kept hearing Hongki's voice even when there's no music turned on already...(hahaha) but hey, just recently Melon said international streaming doesn't count.. like really?! a lot of international fans spent over $15 to subscribe to this and download MP3 to support their artist and then they say we don't count?!  

Music Shows and live voting - forms part a percentage of their score, so it matters if your fandom is actively supporting, and not only buying their albums (physical). You see, fandoms have this habit of counting all the trophies their idol has and of course this is such an honor for the fandom too, because it means they are great in numbers and is able to fully support their idol groups. There are also sites that do online voting, and it takes a lot of time and effort doing so. We even had 700 accounts used to vote daily for one site - so you see how it is when you decide to dedicate your time to this whole KPOP culture... (•‿•)

Physical album sales and everything else- oh yah, if you think saving up for that one album is hard enough, well think about other fans who buys like a lot! i mean, at least three, probably and would buy all versions of the same album! 

Then size does matter as well, since music shows and performance of an album also gets stats from social media, news articles, and youtube streaming. so if the fandom is of huge membership, then a lot of the members would be able to increase the youtube views in no time at all. Other groups' MV would reach 10M in no time, while others will find it hard to reach a million in a week! 

Credit:@Shineurlight428 for the sample Fansupport Promo Banner (Kim Sung Gyu Fansite)

Some things to help you get started on your account in melon (if you wish to do so): 

Melon Site: 
Registration, a lot of fandoms already have this so i created other tutorial that is not readily available. 

     Change your Profile Pic and Banner Photo

     Download DCF and Make a Playlist

    Melon Tutorial - How to use Melon (app) as Mp3 Player

INFINITE: The Kings of Reality / Variety Shows

I am no expert in Music, in technicalities of it, and of whatsoever professional assessment there is when it comes to singing... I rely on my own feelings and wants whenever i have a song preference. So i won't be able to say the exact reason why I fell in love with Sung Gyu's voice. When I first tried to look him up, It was this performance (Time Spent Walking Through Memories) that Got me... I had listened to the whole performance closing my eyes and he was really good!!! I did not even expect that much from INFINITE (my bad) because I only listened to Love Letter, and it was a simple song (in my opinion). 

So After this song, I played the next and then the next in Youtube. and downloaded a copy for myself. =P then I watched the MVs of SungGyu's solo, then moved to Infinite's performances - I was really sorry for myself.. why did I only discover them now? Why did I not give them a chance when I saw Myung Soo in a drama before?! I was 6 years late! =( Oh well But this sure gave me a lot of materials to drown myself into over the next couple of weeks. 

It took a few episodes of Infinite Showtime, As I was having a hard time knowing all their names but I enjoyed it very much that I had a re-run of it after watching another Reality/Variety show of Infinite - Ranking King. And then, after that, I still want to see them more, so i watched Sesame Player - even if the video was of low quality, I just could not let it go. 

These boys are so fun to watch, they just look so close together, and watching them is such a great time to waste! haha Infinite is so funny, they are not boring, and they have wonderful personalities. 

FTISLAND: Coming! Out - Much more than a Reality Show

Rewind to 2015, The time FTISLAND released a reality Show called COMING Out! This probably shook FNC more than excites them. You know how FTISLAND is, All members here are just tackless. They say anything they want, they do whatever they can to diss each other and diss their company and even the CEO. :D This was a proof actually when Hongki went to Witch Hunt to guest because he was too pissed at what CEO Han said in an interview. 

Oh Well, But Primadonnas are really excited about this show and it was one great way for everyone to get to know these rockstar idols. I too was as excited as everyone. Afterall, we want to know how they are behind the scenes and this show holds no barred! Everyone was exposed, from Hongki's stubborness not attending their practices and getting too drunk, to Min Hwan and Jae Jin getting their body hairs stripped off. 

We also have to give credit to Jong Hoon here, who seemed too cold of a leader who actually prepared and went out of his way to cook dinner for his members only to come home to them too full as they've eaten chicken before heading home. 

This was really a must watch because We'd get to see them as how they are, what they feel when disappointed, what they do when they are not holding those instruments performing for fans. they even shared their fears and flaws. Oh, their fans loved them the same, if not more after this reality show - probably much to the surprise of FNC. hehehe

If you get into KPOP... You'll probably know most of them, if not all! =P

It is quite different now, Actually Years ago I have only my eyes and ears to FTISLAND. but really Kpop has a lot of talented people and when you get to know one you would actually find it hard to resist the others, Its just so that you will love one group more than the others (which is the case for me). 

Last Year, about this time, Feeling I want to view a video copy of the Love Letter song from INFINITE. I have been listening to it since their Reality Comeback as it was suggested to me by a Primadonna too, ha. I should have looked it up then. Too bad for me it was only in 2016 that I looked them up and just one Video of their Love Letter Performance and I am hooked. Love at First Sight! The World stood still. Everything is just about that little eyed guy  and me. I know him though but I have never looked at him that way. 


When he sang "You Don't Understand, you Don't love me..." My heart was screaming! I knew I love him so. :D And since then, I sort of shifted all my attention to the Infinite as a group and to the Leader, Gyu with all my heart. Stanning them took a lot of time, but it was not as hard as following FTISLAND because INFINITE had a lot of fansites, and sites that collected all their video shows, subbed or not. These boys are so wonderful you will fall in love with all of them and really smile everytime they smile, or be teary eyed with their sincere actions towards each other and to their FANS. 

Now, I am into IKON as well, after watching WIN, and Mix and Match and Mari and Me, these young hip hop group from YG is to watch out for, they are very young, but very talented as well. =) 

My First Ever KPOP Album... FTISLAND - I WILL

I happen to to start getting information about Lee Hong Ki, this Jeremy guy in the KDrama You're Beautiful around the same time they had a Korean Comeback. 

Comebacks are well, that is what they call when they release a new album. Regardless if they just released an album a month a go, or what, Comebacks are like supposed to feel, they "comeback" after a long time of hiatus but then, that is not the case for the KPOP industry. hehe It is a CB if they promote a new album, or a single in music shows. 

Right, so It was around March 2015 that the boys had a Comeback, or CB and after following a Hongki Biased group in the Philippines, I managed to order an album thinking, If this was not delivered then it would have been a great loss. I bought the CD for about 1000+ because it was a "limited edition" with photobook. 

Okay, so i bought the album thinking it is the first and the LAST one I will buy because I just want to support their first baby... (Yeah right!) I also thought the other releases or album types don't have a PB so I bought this one and well had my Poster tubed, coz I really do not want it folded. :D Below is the Limited Edition Poster (shot in Paris) 

So as I browse twitter, I got to see a group in the Philippines, well and learned a lot about KPOP from there. =) Most of us have become really close friends too (but this is yet another story). 

Nevertheless, only a few weeks after ordering the I WILL, I saw another post from a local FTISLAND FB Group, they are selling signed album for the same price, and It is well another version (the Studio Version) so I got myself one! It was explained to me that this one too actually has a photobook, only a different version and was shot in studio, unlike the limited that was shot in Paris. So yeah, I thought I could get Hongki's Signature so why not... 

But, I got Seung Hyun signed album, Thank God though that the FTI Group gave me a Hong Ki photocard. So Apparently, Korean Albums (for most idol groups) do have photocards in them in random, so if you bought it sealed, you have about 1 our x number of members chance to get your "bias". Bias is the member you liked the most in the group. =) 

ALBUMS Here: 

FTISLAND I WILL Studio (Signed by SeungHyun) with Hongki Photocard

FTISLAND I WILL Limited version (Paris Photos) with JongHoon and SeungHyun Photocard

I WILL is FTISLAND's 5th Studio Album, with 11 Songs, all self composed.

Title Song: Pray

Released: 23 March, 2015

Starting a collection of KPOP Goodies

When you get into KPOP, One of the challenges you will face is the number of collectibles and items both official and unofficial that you have to say NO or YES to. Believe me, you will probably say to yourself, you won't buy anything as they are quite expensive - but will end up buying one and then everything they release in no time! 

It was such for my case, though. I said I will only Buy One album and support their first ever full album that is 100% composed by FTISLAND but yeah, then comes the signed version, then another release... and so on. 

I will talk about the stuffs they have released and what I got so far and my dilemma and reasoning (to my self) for buying them. 

I am sure a lot of Fangirls there would be able to relate to some of my stories if not to all of them. Funny How I said I'd only buy one and that's it... but to date, see my FTISLAND tower... 

I still have yet to share the goodies I bought during these time, and all in a span of two years (to date). 

Heck, I don't even play these CDs or DVDs, but yeah, I got ém! 

What Got Me into KPOP?

Been a fan of Drama since I don't know when, Years ago i have been following Lee Jun Ki and well I just stopped for a while - watching drama but not getting attached to any actors nor am I interested in getting to know one. While Watching You're Beautiful, I was attracted to this guy whose role is JEREMY. And the rest is history...

I love Korean Dramas and yes I watched a drama that turned me into a KPOP / KROCK fan. I have no intentions but it just went through and I was sucked into it almost forcibly (by some unknown Force).

I just want to introduce them to you all of you here! And move on and try to update the blog with travels and of course some food trips. So please allow me to just allot this page and a few others (in the future) to be dedicated to them.

I am now a PRIMADONNA! oh yah. If you are sucked in to one KPOP Group and all you think about is their music, their performance, and you follow all their accounts in social networking sites, you already belong to a FANDOM. Basically my fandom name is PRIMADONNA. We bear the color yellow, a pentastick and a lightstick that is only that of the group I FOLLOW.

So what group is that?! Its FTISLAND. Five Treasure Island. Okay, not very catcy name. Perhaps i can refer you all to some of their songs, and performances (you can message me for all of those) and you'll know why i got hooked in the first place.

FTISLAND "I WILL" Album Cover

Anyways, Here are the members of the BAND. Oh yeah, by Band I mean they play instruments and they are not your typical IDOL groups that dances on stage. Hence, they are not as well known as their BIGBANG and SUPER JUNIOR Counterparts.

Lee Hong-Gi (Or Lee Hong Ki / Lee Hong gi) is the Main Vocalist. He is basically the frontman, the one everyone sees all the time. He is the owner of the very unique voice - that is only him.
* he joined a singing contest in a KOREAN show where his face was covered in mask, and yet almost all judges knew it was him (its got to be him because his unique voice has surrfaced) 

Lee Hong Ki (FM302 Album Cover)

Choi Jong Hoon is the Lead Guitarist. He is the leader of the Band. He is the one that basically tells everybody when they should practice, how they should interact, and all. He loves BearBricks and is very addicted to it. He even brought them and well guested one in his very recent drama. (yeah a toy got a guest appearance)

Jong Hoon and his Bearbricks

Lee Jae Jin is the Bassist. He is basically the band's middle child. trapped between the oldest and the youngest member of the group. He is also known as the "Saico". Meaning he is actually a bit psychotic at times haha . nah by that i meant he is funny, and just being him.

Lee Jae Jin

Song Seung Hyun is also a guitarist, joining the band when another member left, he is matured for his age, but is always happy. He shows a happy disposition despite a lot of challenges; and he is also called a soft smile hero - his smile can light up even the darkest room. It is such a stress reliever.

Seung Hyun the Soft Smile Hero

Choi Min Hwan is the group's youngest member. He is so cute, really. ha ha well he is the Band's genius drummer. He always does cute faces, and is very good at doing selfies. He did a 30 minute show teaching their fans how to maximize and make yourself a good selfie photo! :D

The Cutest Maknae Choi Min Hwan

Collectively, the Band - FTISLAND is not a dance idol, they are a rock band. Very famous in JAPAN and has held several concerts a year. they are a bit underrated, as they have little fan based (not the strongest in numbers but i guess the strongest at heart).

What I love about this band is that they are very true to everyone who follows them. Sometimes a bit too much honest. They do not try to put up a fake image and tries to cover up mistakes. they just show the real nature of their personality. This is probably why even the small fans they have have mustered up all their strength and gives them the support, as much as they could.

Interested to see the true colors of the band that is the FIRST group to have a Rated+19 Show in KOREA?? Check this out!  Coming Out Episode 1: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2npvqo and search from there. This MTV reality show has 5 episodes.

More information:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.T._Island
Youtube Official: https://www.youtube.com/user/ftisland


Philippine Fan Club (Not official)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FTIPriPhilippines
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FTIPriPhilippines 
Twitter account: @FTIPRI_PH

This is a repost of the original one back in 2015:

http://kiamoydiary.blogspot.com/2015/11/i-have-been-k-popped.html