† The Official SPICA Thread - Bohyung releases solo "Hwol Hwol", OT5 reunion † MERCURIES will stand by SPICA members forever! †

[Hoku]

Bbo was amazing!  I love the fact that SPICA can entertain people of all ages when they perform. It amazes me that big concert promoters, like the the Dream Concert people, don't book them. They may not be the biggest name in Korea but they put on some of the best live performances of any kpop group.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Hoku

[Hoku]

 They did her bikini thing in a pretty classy way. I was worried it was going to be a whole thong deal going on. 

Edited June 11, 2014 by Hoku

[Hoku]

 

140619 Merlot

"In seoul producing this music video ! #seoul#gangnam #spica"

 

 

 

 

So I'm guessing it's going to be a July or later release now, assuming this is the digital single release that was planned for June. And if this much effort is going into this release(MV and assuming now a promoted comeback), I can't see how they can have a full album out in the fall. Well let's hope for the best.

 

I really wish B2M would at least make some announcements once an awhile about what's going on. So far everything is coming from the producer's IG posts. I mean if they are planning an international release wouldn't it be good to inform the international fans? Sometimes they make it harder than it needs to be to be a SPICA fan.

[Hoku]

I really hope it's not a sexy concept....or at least if it is, it's a fun sexy not a serious/sad sexy.

[Hoku]

I got excited when I saw all the alerts on this thread thinking it was news on the comeback, but alas it was not........ but welcome to all the new people, I recognize Ikotai's name from AKP. Also glad to see a subber (enyoung) in here too.

[Hoku]

yay thank u so much! ;3;

i hope they release an album before the beginning of july

cause then i can get my cousin to buy one for me

 

but they didnt say anything about a release date yet, did they???

 

The album isn't until the fall, it's a digital single release that's coming up. It was supposed to be out this month but since they just finished filming the MV over this past weekend, I'm guessing it will be sometime in early July.

[Hoku]

Also on a side note, I think I may just be the only guy in this thread LOL

 

No you're not, I'm a guy too.

[Hoku]

This is why I posted earlier about my concerns about this release being a sexy concept. If it was one of the earlier releases I would have had less apprehension but with this one being produced by foreigners AND being an international release AND it being at such a critical time for SPICA, anything can happen. To me if B2M is trying this and committing to the full album then they are going all out to give that one last shot for SPICA to hit it big, if not I think it's over. When you add in that desperation they could be willing to push the boundaries. Hopefully I'm worrying for nothing and it all works out..

 

As far as the US release, I'm all for it. SPICA style better suites the US market then Korea. The don't do aegyo, they haven't done an uncomfortable sexy concept, and they actually sing live without almost any digital assistance. And biggest of all is they all sing, none of that visual/dancer stuff because that would be a joke here. All those things are expected of musical groups here in America and the singing live one is what especially gives them an edge over any other group that has tried. They just need a good song and a little bit of luck and they could do decently or maybe even hit it big. Here in the US we don't care if you're popular in your home country, if your music is good we'll listen to it.

 

The Korean market is only now starting to sorta warm up to them but really the thing that makes it really hard is the fandom culture there. SPICA as a group is older than most and since they don't do the normal act of aegyo and sexy they are harder for young girls to relate to and it's the young girls that make up most of the fandoms. And when you consider that when fans go to a music show they can only sit with one fan club you can see why SPICA's has never been big. I think if they can make even a small name for themselves internationally that will get the younger crowd there to take a harder look at them.

 

It's funny that people are split on SPICA's favorite songs. A lot of the old time fans like their earlier work (Russian Roulette, Painkiller) while newer fans prefer their later work(Tonight, YDLM). This is one of the most under-appreciated aspects about SPICA, they can pull off a wide variety of styles/concepts and they can do them all well. I read a lot of flak about SPICA doing different concepts but it's that versatility that makes them so good. People are always complaining that groups all do the same thing but here you have a group that does different things and they get slammed. But the US market would definitely appreciate it. 

Edited June 26, 2014 by Hoku

[Hoku]

I think people are blowing the MuCore thing out of proportion. Yes, it has no effect on SPICA because they perform live with very little backup track anyway. But MuCore isn't saying no lip syncing at all. they are just trying to cut down on it. So maybe there's are a few groups that are in trouble but in most cases they'll just have to cut down on the choreography so the singers can sing. Not that they'll all be able to belt out their songs perfectly but that's just part of singing live. I find it funny all the people who are butthurt over this considering almost everyday people are posting so called "live" performances of their biases flawless singing with captions like "see they can sing live!"

[Hoku]

I really hope they debut their new song at KCon like GD did for Niliria. That would be a fantastic move for them

 

 

It's looking like that's what's going to happen. I thought they would've had the comeback at the beginning of this month so it would be done by KCON (since a comeback promotion usually lasts a month). My only concern now is what the delay on this comeback does to the full album release. I mean I'm looking forward to this comeback but I was hoping it would be a springboard for the album, which is something I'm REALLY looking forward too.  

[Hoku]

Still waiting for any news on the comeback.......come on B2M, say something already.

 

 

slightly off topic comment:

 

I've been watching the kdrama "You're All Surrounded" and Go Ara kinda looks like Boa. They look like they could be sisters. I find it weird because Koreans thinks Go Ara is gorgeous(which she is) while they say Boa looks weird (I presume because she doesn't look typically Korean).

[Hoku]

I think they're waiting for KCon to say anything about SPICA

 

 

i would think if they are debuting the single at KCON then they would announce it earlier to make it more enticing for passive SPICA fans to buy tickets and attend. I mean if they want to make an impact then they need fans cheering for them. They can't do it like they do a teaser vid which is usually only released a few days prior to a comeback.

[Hoku]

 

Guys question. Wasn't there going to be a comeback?? I have been out for a while so I really don't know who's coming back now.

 

The producers of the single(not B2M) has posted on IG that SPICA would comeback in June. They didn't actually finish shooting the MV until very late in June so we were expecting a July comeback. But now that SPICA will be performing at KCON we are now expecting that they will either debut the single at KCON or very near to it.

[Hoku]

Here's a couple of IG posts, first one is from Boa and the second is from Jiwon. It's good to see Boa with them and hopefully this means SPICA is forming up for the comeback. From all their IG posts over the last couple of weeks it seemed like they had a small vacation to visit friends and family but I have been wondering when they would start the preparations for KCON and the comeback, hopefully this is it.

 

credit for the pics below:  everythingspica.tumblr,com

 

 

140722 Boa’s Instagram Update @spickimboa

 

부럽지롱 ~난 스피카랑 논다~~

Are you jealous ~I’m playing with Spica~~

 

 

140722 Jiwon’s Instagram Update @wldnjs62

 

연습 ë나구 â€œë³´ì•„ì–¸ë‹ˆì˜ ìˆ ì•ˆë§ˆì‹œë©´ 난갈게†로 ì¸í•´ 멤버들ì´ëž‘ ì´ìƒ¤ë‹˜ì´ëž‘ #ì„œëž˜ë§ˆì„ #잭콕

 

Top Left: After practice “Boa unnie’s 

if you don’t drink I’m leaving

" led to this with the members and the director #SeoraeVillage #JackCoke

(T/N: JackCoke seems to be combination of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and Coca Cola.)

#스피카 ì„œë¡œì˜ ë¬¸ì„ ì—¬ëŠ” ë‘드림

 

 

Bottom: #Spica opening each other’s doors through slapping

 

 

ìžëª½#마티니 ë¼ê³  들어는 보셨나! 짱

 

 

Top right: Grapefruit #martini have you heard of that! Jjang

 

Edited July 23, 2014 by Hoku

[Hoku]

What have they done to Juhyun's legs... 

 

 

Same with Narae......

 

Still, glad to see some info leaking out. Hopefully next week they start hyping it up for KCON and the eventual comeback.

[Hoku]

Just to clarify, is this the English single or their Korean comeback single?

 

 

I'm almost positive this is the US release/digital single so it should be in English. But since no official word has come out saying that, I can't be 100% sure. I'm still not sure how things are with the album, it doesn't look like they have been working on it and with the delay in this comeback it doesn't look like that will meet the fall release schedule they announced for it.

[Hoku]

English single???....can someone explain this. I haven't been here a while.

 

 

A foreign production team consisting of producers from Japan, Europe, and the US is involved in this digital single release and MV. It is actually supposed to be a full international release but even they keep emphasizing it as a US release so we are assuming it is an all English song, or at least there will be an English version of it. 

[Hoku]

B2M sucks so bad........I mean if the foreign producers hadn't posted on IG months ago we would literally know absolutely nothing. Their strategy makes no sense to me, spend big bucks on a US debut and then say nothing about it. I mean all they had to do was post it up on their FB page and a few other sources for free and word would have spread like crazy by now. They should have given advance notice about debuting the song at KCON, then maybe more SPICA fans could have made plans to go. 

[Hoku]

Found this when I googled them, it was just posted 20 min before I posted this. If the quote from Jiwon is correct then it sounds like the full album will be in English too.

 

http://ventsmagazine.com/spica-makes-us-performance-and-song-debut/

 

SPICA makes US performance and song debut

 

SPICA, one of South Korea’s hottest girl groups, is set to make waves in the US. The group will make their US performance debut at KCON – America’s largest annual K-pop concert – on August 10th at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. SPICA will perform with K-pop icons G-Dragon and Girls’ Generation.

KCON Ticket Information: http://kconusa.com/

 

To kick off their US invasion, SPICA will partner with Billboard Magazine to debut the album’s lead single and music video, “I Did It,†on Thursday, August 7th. The single (releasing on ASA Music LLC), is a first completely English language song from the girls, is produced by Oliver ‘Oligee’ Goldstein, Cory Enemy, and Daniel Merlot who have credits with Carly Rae Jepsen, Shakira, Ellie Goulding, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.

 

“We’re so excited to release our first song and video in the US. Cory, Oli and Daniel delivered an awesome track which we had to release as our debut single. We’re also very proud of our new English album. We hope everyone loves it,†exclaims Jiwon from SPICA.

 

SPICA is not your average girl group. First off, all five members (Boa, Bohyung, Juhyun, Narae, Jiwon) have all found considerable success on their own and have joined forces to combine their very talented vocals and artistry. Boa has been a vocal trainer for five-time Golden Disk Award winning group INFINITE and SBS MTV Best Of The Best award winning group KARA. Bohyung is the top vocalist and winner of Korean music television channel MNet’s singing competition “100 Seconds Battleâ€. Juhyun is an accomplished model that starred in music videos for Queen of K-Pop Lee Hyori and rising star Heo Young Saeng. Narae was a top ten finalist on talent competition Superstar K. And Jiwon was featured on the MTV reality show “Diary Of Five Girls†and in the video for Baechigi’s number one hit “Shower of Tears.â€

 

Since their debut in 2012, SPICA has released four singles, two mini albums and one repackaged album to widespread acclaim. Lee Hyori has been a long time mentor to SPICA and has had a hand in producing two singles and two videos for the group.

Edited July 31, 2014 by Hoku

[Hoku]

All of this is just too much for me right now

I'm not ready for this slayage guys. I'll never be ready.

You people who get to go to KCON are lucky.

My god Jiwon and Narae slaying 'Tonight' all by themselves.  Jiwon's vocal slide

 

The last I heard of their English is that it wasn't the best lol. But flawless English when they sing. Jiwon seems like she would have best English just basing on her voice and how she communicates. Juhyun and Boa love talking the most so maybe they will be like that for English too. Maybe they won't be having many English interviews.

 

When they had the concert in Singapore and Eat Your Kimchi interviewed them, it was Bohyung who did all of the talking. But being Bbo, it was hard tell how good her English was because her answers were pretty short. But she understood all the questions and her accent wasn't super heavy. I know in the Arirang radio interviews they don't always seem to understand when the hosts speak in English. I do remember them mentioning during the YDLM promotions that Narae was taking English lessons, maybe they all have since then but I don't expect any of them to be near fluent. I thnk Bbo has the best chance at being conversational in English.

[Hoku]

^ I can't get over those harmonies!

 

Edit: People are starting to really hate on Spica ever since word that they're having a US release. I mean, I respect the opinion of those who simply think its not the best idea, but some people seem really pressed. Call me crazy but I sense some underlying jealousy. Just because your faves haven't had a US debut or had an unsuccessful US debut doesn't automatically mean that Spica will suffer the same fate. It would be incredible if Spica is able to prove these naysayers wrong. All kpop fans care about is popularity and flop this and flop that. Most people who listen to pop or r&b in the US care more about vocals and quality of the music. I think some people are afraid of Spica doing what their faves couldn't.

 

 

I agree, I think some of them don't want to believe that anyone can succeed because their bias' didn't.  I also think that a lot of them are just young and immature so they immediately take the negative stance because that puts them in the position to say "I told you so" if things don't go well. I doubt many of them will be big enough to step up and eat their words if SPICA does well. I don't jump into the arguments too much because nothing good can come if it. I remember getting into it a few months ago when everyone kept saying that no kpop group had broken into the US market so SPICA should give up. I responded that they were talking like quitters who would never accomplish anything worthwhile in life. If you want to do big things in life you have to have the confidence to carry on when everyone thinks it's impossible. 

 

It's funny when every other group tried the US market everyone was saying "Let's support so and so to support kpop." But as soon as SPICA was announced people were saying they are going to flop, and sounding happy about it.

 

I think I'm like most people who post in this thread, we're cautiously optimistic that they can have a decent showing. And maybe, just maybe, with a little bit of luck, that they'll make a mark here in the US. However it goes I'll support them.

[Hoku]

Love Juhyun! Narae is my favorite by I actually love them all. That's why I asked to change the rules for the OP's poll above. I wanted to vote for Juhyun too so she could catch up. I love the fact that they are all relatively close in the poll, and no one member is obvious focus of SPICA as far as fans are concerned like it is with many other girl groups.

Edited August 3, 2014 by Hoku

[Hoku]

 

 

I wonder if it's going to be true. I think they will delay the Korean Album. Promoting two albums in the same month is not that much believable and convincing. And I think it depends on the success on the new song as well (I think). My guess the Korean Comeback could be just next year.

 

Or is it the same songs but in Korean? idk...

 

--------------------------

 

 

 

I think the Korean comeback will be the full album they announced a few months ago which means everything is going off pretty much as planned. My guess was the the US single/debut was never supposed to be a full on push into the market but more a "let's test the waters" type of thing by producers. When the KCON concert opportunity came up they decided it fit in so they delayed the debut of the single until then, which put it close to the album release. Whether or not there will be a Korean version of "I Did It" is hard to say.

 

If all that is true than I'm really loving the plan now. Really all SPICA needs to do is get some slight recognition in the US market and I think Korean audiences will open up to them, especially kpop fans. Not to mention having some US fans, no matter how small, helps with the Youtube views and SNS numbers they need for music show wins and maybe even some digital sales(even though it is Korean songs). So a couple of weeks in the US promoting, then back to Korea for a week or so of prep for the comeback. If they keep the momentum I think this could be there breakthrough in Korea that they've needed.

[Hoku]

Ha! Narae has a Hawaiian teddy bear with a lei and hula skirt. That's significant to me because I'm from Hawaii and she's my favorite SPICA member!

[Hoku]

It's hard to tell who's taller than who sometimes because at any given point half of them are wearing high soled shoes. I also find it hard to tell if SPICA as a group is tall. I know Boa is but I'm not sure about the rest, even though other artists have commented that they are all tall. 

 

Are Boa's tattoos real? I first noticed them in the I'll Be There MV but I always thought they were just temporary.

 

Always knew about Jiwon's lisp, noticed it right off the bat because it's cute.

 

House may be Daniel Merlot's, as he is the American producer on the team.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Hoku