[article] The Jeju Weekly: What is it about Rain? The answer: ‘Abmosphere.’
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HUGE thanks to The Jeju Weekly editor-in-chief Todd Thacker for letting us post their exclusive article for our readers. And thanks to Sarah Delroy for this write-up and for her personal pictures of Rain at his Best Jeju concert stop. (On a personal note, it’s difficult to hear Ninja Assassin and flop in the same sentence, but the truth of it is that words only have the power you give them. The movie did not do as well as we hoped it would, that is the plain truth. What it did do was finish well into the black, introduce Rain to Hollywood and show his amazing skills, make him a nice chunk of change, and give great enjoyment to many martial arts fans and Rain fans alike. So let’s not rag on Sarah—she’s written a really solid, complimentary piece about Rain here, and again, we thank her.)
— Stephe @cloudusa.wordspress.com, Managing Editor ^@@^
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The Jeju Weekly/Arts, Culture 9/5/2011 [Jeju Island, South Korea] —
What is it about Rain? The answer: ‘Abmosphere.’
K-pop superstar Rain entertained Jeju last Saturday on his ‘Best Show Tour’
Written by: Sarah Delroy, contributor @jejuweekly.com
(Image credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
What is it about Rain?
He’s more than a triple-threat singer/dancer/actor. He is a known force in Korea and outside of it. As Ailbhe O’Donnell, a Jeju English teacher, puts it, his name is not simply Rain. It is “The International Pop Superstar Rain.”
What is it about him that makes professed feminists scream in high-pitched voices to rip his shirt off during concerts? How did a Korean pop star make it onto Time’s 100 most influential people who shape our world in 2006, top of the list in 2007 and again this year? How has he managed to stay around in a music industry that is famous for it’s two-year turn over? How, with his music and movies and television shows, and touring, and production company and clothing company, does he ever sleep?
All these questions jettisoned out of mind on Saturday at his concert in Seogwipo when the lights went down. The bass began thumping so loudly my body became a drum. The curtain dropped and the crowd collectively gasped, then screamed at top volume.
Rain appeared in blue silhouette on a lift.
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
I was surrounded by grandmothers, young children, mothers and teens. Men seemed to be there of their own volition. All of them went crazy. Every able body was standing on a seat or rushing the isles, to the chagrin of security.
“I’ve never seen this before,” said Sarah Ranco, an Epik English teaching and long time K-pop fan. “Even at the SHINee concert they all stayed in their seats.”
Rain wore an Asian-styled black tank with gold bars that caught the stage lights, making him a small sun.
I was immediately struck with the image of a younger Michael Jackson. Throughout the concert he pulled several signature MJ moves. At one point he stood over an air vent that shot plumes of dry ice smoke two stories up as he doubled over the microphone and sang with closed eyes. Classic Jackson.
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
Rain knew exactly how to work his fans. His presence was so magnetic that just a glance towards a general slice of the crowd elicited loud screams in hopes of more attention. His other fan favorite moves were pelvic thrusts and making like he was about to take his shirt off.
The beginning of Rain’s career was road blocked by his eyes. The production companies thought he was talented, but just not good looking enough — read no double eyelids. At one point he even had a plastic surgery appointment scheduled, but vetoed it.
Eventually he was recognized as an incredibly hard worker and was picked up by JYP Entertainment.
His work ethic is famous. On his website he posts his motto: “Endless effort, endless endeavor, endless modesty.”
Endless abs, one might add.
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
I asked concert attendee Dani Carisse why she has been listening to Rain’s music for over nine years.
“Because his music is good and he has great abmosphere,” was her reply.
“His voice is like sexy chocolate,” her friend Sarah Ranco added.
When asked about what their favorite part of the concert was, they said without hesitation that is was when, after hours of teasing, he finally ripped off his shirt and stood under a two-story shower of rain.
It seems there must be more than Rain’s sexual chemistry keeping “clouds,” as his fans call themselves, coming back for more year after year.
His work ethic may be the answer to his staying power.
When he is not working on a new album, he is filming a new movie or television series, or unveiling a clothing line. Unlike most K-pop stars, he has had very little bad press or gossip. And even more incredible is his popularity overseas. Before I knew much about Korea, I knew about Rain.
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
In 2008 he had a small role in the film “Speed Racer,” which landed him the title character in the flop “Ninja Assassin.” The role did earn him MTV’s Biggest Badass Star in 2010 and has most likely opened even more doors to him in the west.
His work ethic was evident in his concert. The three hours were filled with non-stop entertainment. Some of it was quite bizarre, but all of it interesting.
Though there were enough pyrotechnics to keep even the most match-happy pyro satisfied. There were also: Korean men wearing disco wigs dancing in roller skates, stripper poles, a black light disembodied hands and face laser show, a large gold throne, ghost masks, blaring heavy metal costume change interludes, a final impromptu dance party and three pauses to talk with the crowd for over ten minutes each time.
Is this normal? I asked Ranco, concert attendee.
She assured me that it is usual for K-pop bands to stop the music and talk with their fans because the bands are so short lived and they want to make a lasting connection.
“They have really good showmanship here and connection with the crowd. It’s an element that’s not in North America,” Ranco said.
“You’ve been spoiled by this being your first K-pop show,” she warned me.
To the “clouds” I spoke with, the concert was indeed The Best Show.
I can’t say, not having seen U2 or Michael Jackson, but I can say that the next day the world did seem a bit dreary for not having an impromptu dance party to LMFOA’s “Party Rock Anthem” featuring Rain’s abmosphere.
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
(Image Credit: Sarah Delroy @Jeju Weekly)
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Cloud USA 
Ninja Assasin is not a flop it just got a negative review from the critics. A movie is called flop when the budget spent is not reached when the movie is released. The box office of Ninja Assasin exceed 20 million dollars from its $40 million budget. Basically speaking the movie have a bad review, that’s all.
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NINJA ASSASSIN IS THE SOLE REASON HOW I FOUND RAIN. how could that b a flop??? hmmmm? now im following my dreams and living in Korea. IT WAS A PRETTY DAMN GOOD MOVIE TO ME!
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This was a great article, thanks for posting it. As far as the whole “Ninja Assassin” being a flop. I didn’t exactly see it as a flop. I mean there are a lot of movies out there that are considered successful that I could care less for. “Ninja Assassin” was a great way to introduce people to the greatness that is Rain and to me I consider that successful.
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i AGREED with her 110%
Because his music is good and he has great abmosphere,” was her reply.
“His voice is like sexy chocolate,
🙂 he have that sexy and smooth!!!!! sinful sexy and no body can RESIST him from top to bottom and from his move to persent his dance the man is MAGNIC
It seems there must be more than Rain’s sexual chemistry keeping “clouds,” as his fans call themselves, coming back for more year after year.
EXACTLY !!!! that is how i felt from i first when to see hin LIVE Concert and i did not want to leave at all he got this sneser that make all his fan attract to him ahahahah .
and the right K_pop are spoiler and i bet they will even more to see of this for me i will spoiler him all to what i got ahaha
i have no word to AMEN !! she saying coz it was trues
but for Ninja Assassin Twilight and vampire films. Maybe after two years on his comeback alongside Richard Gere we might be able to taste a different genre of Rain film…I’ll keep my fingers crossed on this one.
yup that i agreed maybe rain can give a better taste on that next LEVEL on this Blockbuster but i have to say even though that flim as so popularity but it was very good that i keep watching myself couple coz he very put a lot TYPECAST AND hardworking threw that flim and his box office was a pay off too i am ver proud with it so far
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I am glad Sarah Delroy took the time to see for herself what’s Rain’s concerts are about, that she wrote about it and best of all that she took such beautiful picts. Only for that I forgive her for saying that NA was a flop. It wasn’t. NA is one of those movies that over time will get the recognition it deserves. In the meantime, it gives Rain exposure to new markets that, in other way, it was impossible for him to reach. Take me as an example, in Puerto Rico we only know about Korea when its a war incident or a sport issue. Because NA and Speed Racer I was able to know about Rain, kpop and dramas. Now I am a loyal fan. The seed was planted. NA showed us what a magnificent actor Rain is and in the long run, when he gets the opportunity to show his skills in another character then people are going to understand. It’s a matter of time.
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“His work ethic may be the answer to his staying power.”
“Unlike most K-pop stars, he has had very little bad press or gossip. And even more incredible is his popularity overseas. Before I knew much about Korea, I knew about Rain.”
“Endless abs, one might add.”
These are my favorite lines in the article! Oh, and who can forget the terms “aBmosphere” and a voice like “sexy chocolate”? Haha! Love it. 🙂
Stephe ^@@^
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I agree with you these are my favorite lines in the article too. I really love the line a voice like “sexy chocolate”!!!!
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The thing I noticed and really liked about this article is that she shed lots of light on Rain’s diverse fan base (young, old, male, female, Asian, non-Asian) that makes him a true world star, she shed lots of light on his amazing work ethic, his magnetic presence, how he appreciates his own idol and loves his fans.
She talked about how his creativity and charisma worked on her, without her being a cloud at all. 🙂
She gave the clouds she met a voice, without making them sound stupid.
She kept hammering home how hard he works.
And I realized that she mentioned Ninja Assassin matter-of-factly, without any malice, as if in passing. I’ve read “mean” and there was nothing mean about what she said. I don’t think she wasn’t taking a pot shot at Rain or the movie.
In NA’s defense… A flop is defined as a “complete failure”, and seeing as Ninja Assassin was made for $40 million and made back $61 million box office and an estimated $16 million DVD sales in the U.S. alone (with the overseas home market, the total NA take should be well over $80 million) it is hardly that. A flop, unfortunately, would be The Warrior’s Way, which was made for $42 million but made back an estimated $12 million before being pulled. Ouch.
But it’s common for people to use the word loosely, rather than technically, for any movie that doesn’t break the bank with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions. That’s not something I particularly like, but it is what it is.
I think NA was a great first vehicle for Rain (it sure did make him a lot of new male and female fans and get him a LOT of notice by Hollywood movers and shakers). How many fledgling unknown leading men from another country can carry a movie to where it makes back double its budget? Haha, not many. And there’s nowhere for him to go but up!
I’m glad we’re getting the chance to read and comment on this write-up. Well-written and fairly balanced English articles about Rain concerts don’t just fall from trees every day. 😀
Stephe ^@@^
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I agree, who keeps saying NA was a flop? I know I certainly don’t believe that, personally. Blockbuster blow out, maybe not (by Hollywood standards). However, it was what they refer to as a Modest Hit…MOST DEFINITELY. As far as I’m concerned personally, it was a Big Hit and it keeps on “hitting” every time I put it in my DVD player. If it wasn’t for NA, I wouldn’t Even Know Baby Love….OH the thought that I would never have known him, had we not rented that movie. Now, THAT hurts my heart, especially now that I know what an Amazing Human Being I have come to know.
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@felisshi i agree with you its not >>>>flop <<<< they didnt make right publishing for it ..only Hollywood films take there space with propagation
they may even try to make it fail !!! but for someone try to say something about Rain it must be good while he make all that success in his tour in "the best show" or there is no need for such post !!! …its not easy to try make the star down !!
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Oh and of course there were some MJ “gems” infused in the concert. MJ was Bi’s idol. I think his “homage” to MJ is certainly fitting and very cool. (SMILES)
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Personally, I don’t think about NA and how well it did or didn’t do. All I know is, this is the film that introduced me to Rain on a night when we were bored and wanted to watch something exciting. I have been “hooked” ever since. So, NA is the “cat’s meow” as far as I’m concerned and like Felisshi said had NA not been released at the same time as Twilight it would have done much better. The Twi-hards were out in full force and some of us who are Clouds now only just got to know Rain at the time, otherwise, Clouds would have been all over those Twi-hards. Rain will only be gone the length of time it takes for a Hollywood film to go into production and be released. He’ll be back before you know it and he and “Mr. Richard” will be showing us something new! Can’t wait. This was a great piece, thanks for “talking up” Baby Love, Sarah!
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She’s right. We k-pop fans are a bit spoiled, aren’t we? And we love it that way!
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Interesting piece… full of enthusiasm… except for the not too pleasing to the ears word “flop” Ninja Assassin. That may be true in a sense having been shown simultaneously along blockbuster films made by famous Hollywood stars, but then again, that’s because Ninja films were not as popular as the more trendy Twilight and vampire films. Maybe after two years on his comeback alongside Richard Gere we might be able to taste a different genre of Rain film…I’ll keep my fingers crossed on this one. But, anyway, thanks to this writer, Rain’s popularity will remain floating on a high level internationally.
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