(Image credit: rain_oppa @ IG. He was so excited about being honored with the Asia Society’s 2019 Entertainment Game Changer Award, his head was spinning, haha~ ❤ ^@@^
From the 2019 U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit & Game Changer Awards Gala, in LA. You can see the event schedule HERE, and program book HERE. ^@@^
The Rain (Jung Ji-Hoon) during the Asia Society 2019 U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards Dinner at the Skirball Cultural Center on Nov. 5, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)
There has been an influx of new Clouds and new Rain fans, and Rain has mentioned working on new music. Don’t know if he is or not, but now is a great time to go all the way back and get folks up to speed on his albums, from 1998 to 2017!
My fourth installment of this series celebrates the time when 22-year-old Rain dropped his third album in October 2004, Vol. 3 It’s Raining, and became known as the real deal and not a manufactured idol. You see, even though his first two albums made him very popular, some people and the media still saw him as only Park JinYoung’s protégé, yet another product of JYPE. It’s Raining put a stop to that real quick and Rain was seen as a bona fide star, a unique talent in his own right. His road to ending up an icon well and truly took off.
Korean album images credit: jessloveblues ↓ ↓
Also that year, TV drama Full House (with Song HyeKyo) premiered in 11 Asian countries plus Australia and India, and made him a household name and the originator of the Korean Wave that rolled over Asia. The drama was so popular, its ratings were as high at 52% and it spawned a massive fan base. Everyone would stop what they were doing wherever they were and watch this show!
In Korea, there are singers who act, and actors who sing. Rain is one of a rare few who is considered an actor and a singer equally by the Korean people. AND he had his very first live concert (RAINY DAY) three months after album It’s Raining dropped.
The song “It’s Raining” is still celebrated by the industry, journalists, and music aficionados today. I expect it always will be. 🙂 — Stephe^@@^
Fan cam, 2019. “It’s Raining” at the Z_Pop Dream Live Concert in Seoul, this past February 2019. He’s still got it!! ^@@^ (Credit: mang2goon)
“Welcome 2 Life” [웰컴2라이프] GIFs credit: R.A.I.N. Company / MBC.
There are waaay too many good shows of all kinds on TV in many countries and online these days and we need a place to dish about ’em, am I right? What say you? Let’s discuss! ^@@^
WE GOT SPOILERS. Please back out of here & DON’T SCROLL unless you’re good with that.
The previous Cloud-watching post from 5/26/2018 – 10/11/2019 is HERE. ^@@^
Early this year, Rain participated in promotions galore for his most recent movie 자전차왕 엄복동 (Bicycle King Uhm Bok Dong, a.k.a. Race To Freedom: Uhm Bok Dong). Included in those promos were interviews and photo shoots for several major media outlets.
Whoa. I just checked down the blog — waaaay down the blog — and Rain’s 2019 photo shoots from Esquire Magazine and 1st Look Magazine are not here. How could they be on our social media but not here? Especially when they’re like, the best things since sliced bread?
*shaking my head*
Posting these babies, including Esquire and 1st Look blasts from the past. Right now!! Bad Stephe. Bad Stephe!!!
See them and drool, y’all. ^@@^
Down below: 1st Look, Vol 171 NEVER MIND, March 2019. You can see Rain’s 2011 photo shoot in 1st Look mag — endorsing Adidas 3-in-1 Outdoor wear — HERE and HERE.
You know the drill. Appearing on the street and shutting it down, having fun with fans and passers-by, then a sit-down with the host, this time to promote movie Uhm Bok Dong. I love Guerrilla interviews (a.k.a. Star Dates). I hope he has more in the coming years! 🙂
I couldn’t find an English-subbed version on KBS World… wonder why? Did I just overlook it? ^@@^
Not because there’s anything wrong with it — there isn’t. It’s well written and researched (with the exception of one small error) and gives Rain and his superb acting chops what they deserve. It’s a great write-up!
Rain’s latest stint in Kstyle Magazine (based in Japan) talks about Welcome 2 Life coming to Japanese television this month, asks what would HE be in a parallel world, and other interesting things. The images are AMAZING. Just scroll down and look at him!
If a kind soul were to rise to the challenge of providing an English translation of the article on Kstyle —
With his co-honoree, President Wei Zhang of Alibaba Pictures! 🙂 ^@@^
We’re so proud of him, we’re just beside ourselves, you know? Not only because he was chosen for the award, but because he earned it.
Our game changer has been envelope-pushing and opening doors for his juniors and those coming along after him all of his career. He has a list of “firsts” longer than your arm. The buckets of blood, sweat, and tears has paid off, with so much more coming our way from this phenomenal entertainer. The future looks so bright, we have to wear… well, you know. 😎
Rain, loving and believing in you and your continuing goals is easy as pie. 화이팅!!! ^@@^
Asia Society, full program. Rain’s introduction video starts at minute marker 1:50:20. And OMG — he was introduced by Daniel Dae Kim! WOW. And yes — he said “make some noise” like it was a concert and I cracked up, bwahaha! *thumbs up* ^@@^
Behind every Cloud is a silver lining. His name is RAIN.
Cloud USA (EST. January 21, 2010) is an UNOFFICIAL FAN SITE where all English-speaking Rain Clouds of every age and ethnicity around the globe can share in their love of JI-HOON JUNG, the talented Korean artist known the world over as Rain [비] (Bi). We want to provide a comprehensive introduction of Rain to those who may not know much about him, as well as help increase his presence in North America.
We also would like to further the popularity of Korean art and culture in the United States.
ENGLISH SPEAKERS FROM ALL COUNTRIES ARE WELCOME HERE. We hope you will visit and participate often!
Special thanks to…
THE Official Korean CLOUD
The Ladies at RAINLISTINGS
Cuckoo, Scorpiola, Ratoka, & RAIN LEGEND international fan forum
Absolute MBLAQ
Rain’s Hawai’ian Cloud
RAIN Germany
rain bird & Rain Europe
huhuhuhu & Raincloud Hong Kong
Rain Destiny Peru
…for the wonderful job you do, and for continuing to feed the Rain fan inside all of us. Fighting!
Cloud USA
3961 Floyd Road
Suite 300130
Austell, Georgia 30106
EMAIL:letitrain @ cloudusa [dot] org
ALT. EMAIL:stephe @ cloudusa [dot] org
THIS MEDIA BLOG IS BEST VIEWED IN MOZILLA FIREFOX, GOOGLE CHROME, and MICROSOFT EDGE.
We are not associated with Rain and his management companies in any way. No copyright infringement intended; all videos (embedded or linked; there are NO uploads) and images remain the property of RAIN and their respective owners and are used for promotional purposes of Rain only.
FAVORITE K.dramas: SKETCH (2018), BACKFLOW (2018), PLEASE COME BACK MISTER (2016), THE NIGHT SCHOLAR (2015), IL JI MAE (2008), VAMPIRE PROSECUTOR (2011), THE FUGITIVE: PLAN B (2010), GU FAMILY BOOK (2013), CHUNO (2010), KINGDOM OF THE WINDS (2008), A LOVE TO KILL (2005), A THOUSAND KISSES (2011)
FAVORITE Rain songs: “The Best Present”, “GANG”, “AGAIN”, “SUNSHINE”, “BECAUSE OF YOU”, “Get in The Car (Baby)”, “Dear Mama Don’t Cry”, “얼마나 사랑하는지” (How Much I Love You, w/Byul/STAR), “Superman”, “LA Song”, “Instead of Saying Goodbye” Alternative/Grunge Rock version, “No No No”, “Hip Song”, “Props In My Life”,”Love Song”, “Move On” Japanese version, “Even You”, “The Empty Space”, “Quiz”, “Because I Was Too Hot”, “Familiar Face”, “Slowly”, and “Don’t Stop”
Terri
FAVORITE RAIN SONGS: " Marilyn Monroe," "Get in The Car (Baby)", "September 12", "Slowly," "Even You," "Because of You," "Man Up", "Too Much," "Familiar Face," "Move On (Japanese)" Oh, good grief. I love too many of them. I give up. :-}
Jim
FAVORITE GIRL GROUPS: Wonder Girls, SNSD (Girls Generation), and Perfume
FAVORITE RAIN SONGS: "Rainism" & "Hip Song"
(although every five minutes, the man is humming the "Love Song" tune for some reason, probably to try out on some woman)
JJ
FAVORITE RAIN SONGS: "Love Story," "Because of You," "Move On," Only You," "Rainism, "Harudo," and "Friends."
