— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
A new Rain Effect episode Thursday… but, oh no! Say it ain’t so! The final episode of the season? (#RainEffect 마지막방송! /Rain Effect final broadcast!) Nooo… ㅜ.ㅜ ^@@^
(Source credit: Mnet Korea @Twitter, 1/22/2014.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Cube Entertainment shared three JiHoons with us today, haha! Our mega-entertainer by the name of Jung JiHoon (Rain), a lovely female singer and figure-skater named Shin JiHoon (also known as “Sin JiHun”, in the white), and Roh JiHoon (also known as “Noh JiHoon”), K-Pop idol singer and dancer. All three JiHoons are signed by Cube.
Now, why Macos Adamas (a popular jewelry/sunglasses/leather goods/accessories supplier to the stars and the K-Drama industry) posted the picture on their Weibo micro-blog, I haven’t a clue. But it sure was nice of them to do so. 🙂
Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org
(Source credits: @cubeunited / Macos Adamas @weibo)
Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer
Four soju bottles later…….
Fab One Ko SooBong recently shared this shot of himself and his Diamond style cohorts from their adventures at Vivaldi Park. Now tell me…who wouldn’t want to hang out with these three???
[Image credit: Soo Bong Ko]
And speaking of Vivaldi Park…
Fab One Big K, Fab One Hongshi, and Diamond Supply Co. went on a nice tear around Instagram. Just too cool in their Diamond and Grizzly wear.
Michele @cloudusa.wordpress.com/CloudUSA.org
[Images credit: Park KyungYeol / Song JaeHong / Diamond Supply Co.]
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
The latest from the official Mentholatum China micro-blog, posted yesterday, 1/21. (Image credit: mentholatum001 @weibo)
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Can’t get enough of him on Inkigayo this past Sunday! Wahhhh. (Wall images credit: RainBiLove2)
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Rain at his mini fan meet before a super-early morning pre-recording of the most recent SBS Inkigayo (1/19), where he graciously provided hot coffee and food to his Clouds waiting in the super-cold. (Image credited as tagged)
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Rain on the most recent episode of popular show 1 Night 2 Days (1/19). (Images source: RainBiLove2 / Rainstorm. GIF by Baby_Tree.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
As Park HyoShin would say, “Ah lurrrrve it.” ^@@^
(Source credits: LG Electronics / ElectroTube @YT.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Wow, talk about looking HAWT. (I’m a sucker for dark long-sleeved coats, Sir Rain, uhnnnn…) And the Crew was like, smoldering. (Dang, Big K, looking all tasty, heheh.) ^@@^
(Fan cam credit: 미성년)
Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer
Two weeks following his first solo appearance on the Inkigayo stage, Rain was back again to try to avoid the sun. I always like to find different nuances from performance to performance – because they are there. It is safe to say that all of his music is most assuredly engrained into his genetic make up with each lyric and each choreographed move precise, crisp and in numbers like these, intense. But Rain is a versatile performer.
On November 23, 2003, instead of being firmly in place on the stage as the number began, he came up through the floor arriving to the stage, sunglasses firmly in place and set to groove. He always feels this song…but here, I think those pyrotechnic fire bursts along the stage were keeping things (and him) hot as he kept teasing us with removing his jacket, letting it loosely drape off of one shoulder….or both.
Ok, isn’t it just AWESOME that it actually looks as if he is standing in the direct sunlight? I don’t know for a fact, but I have to guess that he has lots of input in the staging and lighting of his performances.
And he is as raw and intense as ever.
Music is this man’s life force. It breathes life into him and sustains him.
Oh, and when the sunglasses came off, they stayed off.
Somehow I get the feeling when Rain steps on the stage and sings one of his songs, for him it is like singing something brand new, singing it as if there is someone in the audience who is hearing it for the first time. ♥
Michele @cloudusa.wordpress.com/CloudUSA.org
[Video credit: aj53love]
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Friday, February 7, 2014. Venue opens at 6 PM. Event starts at 7 PM.
(Image source: Rise Communications / http://risecom.jp/rain/)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(cap credit: Rainstorm)
Remember this article about how LG Electronics and Rain will be promoting his music globally this year?
Ever since that came out, I’ve been scouring the CES website and waiting, hoping that someone would catch a glimpse of the “30 Sexy” or “LA Song” music videos in random footage. Well, I needn’t have worried one whit because LG themselves made certain to put up their own Ultra HD TV booth footage, and voilà—La la, lalalalala!
Makes me want to jet over to the mall, hunt down some LG TVs, and see if some Rain Effect MVs are on them too, as they’re supposed to be, haha. Olé! 😀
Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org
(Source credit: lgnewsroom @YT.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
» You can read a brief synopsis and see the movie trailers for Hot Young Bloods (a.k.a. Blood Boiling Youth, Hotblooded Youth, etc.) HERE on AsianWiki.
» You can see a slideshow of many of the celebs at the VIP premiere of Hot Young Bloods on HanCinema HERE: [Photos] VIP premiere for the upcoming Korean movie “Hot Young Bloods” with Lee Min-ho, Lee Bo-yeong, Rain…
(Credit: 남상미)
(Source credit: TV Daily / Nate News. Courtesy of ratoka.)
(Images credit: various media, as tagged / Nate News)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Mr. Rain was really having a blast, wasn’t he? (No doubt cutie KyuSang partook of another Rain fur and was showing out, LOL). 🙂
(Images credit: SBS)
Need a 30 Sexy Hot Clip from KBS? You got it! ^@@^ (Source credit: KBS World @YT.)
Aww, thanks so much, Jess!^^ ♥ *blushing* ^@@^
Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer
I am going to be the first to admit that I cannot keep up with the Rain storm that has been unleashed upon us since August 2013, following Rain’s discharge from the military. My head is literally spinning, and my phone and every other device that houses any type of social media is in a constant state of alarm. So I decided to kick back and do a little retrospective here of Ji Hoon’s appearances on SBS’s Inkigayo. I chose Inkigayo because, well…I just like the name, Inkigayo. ^.^
Inkigayo (a.k.a. Popular Songs, a.k.a. The Music Trend) has been around since 1991. It went off the air in 1993 and returned again in 1998, just prior to Rain exploding on the scene. It’s a chart show that has been through a few evolutions of style. In fact, in 2003 it changed its format from a chart show to a competitive show, in 2007 from a recorded broadcast to a live broadcast, then finally back again to a chart show in 2013. But it always remained a showcase for performers to light up a huge stage, introduce their songs and in Rain’s case, make the fans scream!!
Rain made his first stop on Inkigayo (as a solo artist) on November 9, 2003 with How To Avoid The Sun. I will always appreciate Rain’s intensity during this song and his play with the sunglasses – take them off, glare at the camera, put them on, avoid the sun, take them off, make the fans scream, put them on and saunter into the sunset. Love it.
One thing Rain has been consistent with in every single solitary performance, be it on television or on the live stage in a concert performance, is his ability to connect with the camera and/or with you. He sings to YOU – even when it’s via the camera. And you feel every emotion as result. I think this is one of the things that makes Rain such a special performer and sets him apart from many. He is fully integrated in the performance from every angle. He is not out there doing it for himself. He is out there doing it for us. Props, Ji Hoon….big props!
Michele @cloudusa.wordpress.com/CloudUSA.org
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
LOL! Rain and the Trot X guy, kekeke. 🙂 If a translation becomes available, we’ll post it here.
(“Tae JinAh and Rain formed a duet?!” ^@@^)
(Source credit: SBS / courtesy of ratoka)
° ° °
Ah… now things are becoming clearer.
An AWESOME mash-up video on Facebook Mobile of the old (Tae JinAh, traditional Korean trot music) and the new (Rain, LAsong/Latin music) got a lot of people buzzing about the unusual combination (it has almost 80,000 likes), and the media caught wind of it. Rain himself tweeted the mash-up on the 16th. CLICK on the image of his tweet below, and click on the link in his actual tweet to see the video.
* NOTE: I only see comments when I open the link in FireFox or IE. I can see and play the video in Chrome, and even share it if I log into Facebook Mobile. Go figure.
Y-Star News even released a news clip about JinAh-ssi accepting Rain’s “proposal.” 🙂 All I can say is, whatever comes of this (a real duet or a duel?) ought to be interesting!
Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
If a translation becomes available, we’ll post it here. » You can see images from this show in our previous post HERE.
(Source credit: KBS / clip courtesy of ratoka]
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
He most certainly did! » To see images and fan cams from this mini fan meet, you can visit our previous post HERE.
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eNewsWorld 1/20/2014 — by Lee So Dam / Translation Credit : Yeawon Jung
Rain decided to become a ′morning angel′ for his fans.
For 300 of his fans who have been waiting to attend filming for a music program since 6 am (KST) on January 19, Rain decided to give out coffee in cups with hand-written messages along with bread.
It has been revealed that Rain organized this special event since the early morning that day, writing ‘thank you for always being by my side. I love you’ on each cup.
After the filming was over, Rain held a mini fan meeting on the spot, having conversations and enjoying his time with his fans.
Meanwhile, LA Song, the title for Rain’s sixth full length album, ranked number one on music program as soon as he made his comeback and currently tops various music charts.
Photo credit: Cube DC
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
First, let’s bring on a little Random Rain Effect Goodness from across the Rainiverse.
(Cocorain0625)
(The Witch Underworld @tistory)
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Rain, Lee GiKwang of BEAST, and their fellow Cube artists present a 28th Golden Disk Producer Award to CEO Hong of Cube Entertainment. (Image credited as tagged)
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Backstage at M! Countdown. Don’t be glancing around and blushing, we saw you, LOL! 😛 ^@@^ (Rain Effect Episode 5 Images credit: Mnet / courtesy of RainBiLove2)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
» LINK: Rain’s episode of 1 Night 2 Days on Tudou. (credit: tvtv8882147483647)
(1 Night 2 Days images credit: various media @Nate News)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
As I understand it, it was super-early in the morning, around 6 AM, when Rain greeted his attending Clouds in the freezing cold in his RainEffect/DiamondSupply wear.
But getting to have hot coffee and pastries with special Rain Effect souvenirs on them, and getting to see Rain’s sincere smiles meant especially for them, was probably enough to warm up every single Cloud in the crowd. What you wanna bet? 🙂 ^@@^
(Fan cam credits: RainOnly0625 / Raintic)
(Images credit: Terry / michi1108 / moon @rainstorm)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
None of Rain’s fur coats are safe. And that wig… I just don’t know. Rain was like, Whatever, dude. ROFLMAO! ㅎㅎㅎ
(Courtesy of Net Bestiz.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
*Edited to Add 1/21: Episode 5 with English closed-captions. English translation by 화니. Closed-captions from that translation by Ygami Skett.^^ Don’t forget to turn your CCs on when watching! ^@@^
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ORIGINAL POST
(“No No — there is no/not enough force.” LOL ^@@^)
Now, this is one expression (the admission of utter defeat, but only for the moment) that totally cracked me up. Aww! 😛 I had to laugh again when later, after finally reaching success, they sampled their handiwork and the A Twosome Place lady’s bite was delicate but Rain’s greedy bite meant almost half of his pastry was immediately wolfed down. He wasted no time tearing into it. ㅋㅋㅋ
I have to say that ever since Rain began promoting his new album, I’ve been absolutely digging how he’s put me into retro mode by combining Prince Rogers Nelson/80s–90s flava with his own natural style. Those of you who experienced the Purple Rain tour, as I did, know exactly what I mean—the high-waisted, pencil-legged pants and 4+ inch heeled boots, the tight-waisted, broad-shouldered, blazers, the sculptured head of loose curls pushed to one side, not to mention the way he’s working that falsetto to death in “30 Sexy”, yessir.
Great minds think alike, even when they’re years apart.
When a translation of Episode 5 becomes available, we’ll bring that to you here. In the meantime, the KpopStarz article below (scroll waaaay down ↓) sheds a lot of light on what happened in the episode. Thanks for your tip on the article, Wesley. And thanks, all. ^@@^
(Source credit: Mnet / courtesy of Maclk Đại Bàng)
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19sbop_140116-rain-effect-ep-05_shortfilms
[Epi 5 clip] Rain shows much love to VIXX and Girls Day. (Source credit: Mnet @YT.)
[Epi 5 clip] Surprise, fans! Rain baking. (Source credit: Mnet @YT.)
For those of you who can watch it on Mnet Korea, that VOD link is here:
» Rain Effect Episode 5. http://mnet.interest.me/tv/vod/159566
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[Rain Effect Episode 5 English translation credit: 화니 @The Cloud]
From the first part of Ratoka’s video:
dailymotion.com/video/x19s2ey_140116-rain-effect-ep-5_music
2:03
World star Rain who has returned to the music scene after a two year absence.
2:07
Rain’s career as a singer begins in earnest again, starting with his performance in Japan.
2:12
Rain’s fans have given him lots of support while he has a hectic daily schedule.
2:19
Rain’s constant challenge.
2:23
Rain is busy preparing for a hectic day’s activity before his comeback to the music scene with his new album.
2:27
Rain’s 6th album – It is the product of his painstaking effort that took six months to complete.
2:38
[Rain] : I try to remember when I first began.
2:41
Again, Rain is back with his fans in 2014.
==================================================================
From mazingga69’s video:
youtube.com/watch?v=tdWKvgct_qM#t=256
0:07
In the beginning of the story, Rain is back at the top of the chart.
0:09~0:15
[Rain] : Thank my late mother, and thank my fans who have waited for my comeback for four years. Thank you again.
0:19
Rain is back.
0:24
On the day of his showcase.
0:26
[Rain] : Today is the day of my showcase. I feel so good.
0:27~37
[Rain] : I’m full of mixed emotions when I’ve come to be with my fans again, and I’m very excited about it.
0:39
Rain is busy rehearsing his song even in the car.
(Back in Rain’s 24hours “The Day” era, he did have his own line of sunglasses as well. Pretty cool.)
» You can visit the previous Open Thread HERE. And of course, don’t forget that our Cloud USA Forum is a most excellent place for Rain love, fan communication, and self-expression. By the way — have you left a message for Rain on the official Korean Cloud OR on the official Japanese Cloud today?
» Help us recognize Jung JiHoon as a leader in global entertainment excellence. Join the World Star Rain Brigade with your Twitter or your Facebook today, or add the World Star Widget to your website! Big thanks, fans. ♥
» Cloud USA disclaimer. READ it.
» Visit DramaFever HERE to watch ALL of your favorite Korean dramas, K-Pop music shows, Latin American telenovelas, and Asian TV shows and movies for free, subtitled, and in crystal clarity. It gets no better than this!
»DramaFever NEWS. For the latest on your Korean, Latin, and Asian stars and their shows.
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» [links] All of Jung JiHoon/Rain’s films are on Netflix.
» [info][R2B] CJ Entertainment America: Where to BUY the Black Eagle North American DVD.
» [Overseas info][구름9기] Recruitment of Rain’s Official Fan Club for its 9th Cloud term.
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RAIN SUPPORT
By Snail Mail: Send everything to RAINY Entertainment’s office address for now, until Rain or RAINY or Cube DC say otherwise. » Rain’s official website. » Rain’s official Twitter. » RAINY Entertainment’s official Twitter. » Rain’s official YouTube channel AND » Facebook page. AND » Rain’s Chinese micro-blog on Weibo. AND » Rain’s official Instagram. Rain has NO OTHER OFFICIAL SITES, PAGES. or SOCIAL MEDIA EXCEPT THE ONES LISTED in this post.
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FAN MADE VIDEO OF THE WEEK: “Smooth Criminal Is Coming”, a 2010 DJ MASA mash-up masterpiece combining MJ’s “Smooth Criminal” and Rain’s “I’m Coming.” My Rating: S-w-e-e-t! Right on, right on! My favorite mash-up in the world, eclipsed ONLY by the real-life mash-up of James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti, “It’s a Man’s World.” *fanning and getting happy in the church aisle*
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Cap courtesy of michi1108)
Pardon me, Mr. Cameraman, while I adjust the camera a little… yeah… yeah, that’s good. Now I can cut loose.
LOL! Gone ‘head then, Rain. ^@@^
(Courtesy of MBCkpop @YT.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(Cap courtesy of michi1108)
Yet another awesome comeback stage for Rain and his Fabulous Ones. Everyone was on point and giving their all, and Rain was brushing his shoulders off, bravo! 😀
I about busted a gut when KyuSang suddenly started his own choreography—throwing on Rain’s long “LA Song” coat, prancing around the stage wherever he wanted to like a cat on fire, and getting in Rain’s face with the “30 Sexy” dance even though they were doing “LA Song”. Rain cracked up and I just fell out, LOL. SangQ, honey, you are hilarious and I love it. You might think we’ve all forgotten the first time we saw you go buck-wild on Rain, back at the Radienteering Competition Event when Rain was a soldier in June 2012, but we haven’t, oh no. Rain laughed back then too, but only after finally shoving you out of his space with an “I will beat you down, dude” look. LOL!^^ Ah, the memory.
Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org
“LA Song” on yesterday’s Music Bank. (courtesy of Net Bestiz.)
PFC Rain and Crew perform “It’s Raining” at the military’s Radienteering Competition Event in the summer of 2012, and Mr. Red Hat (KyuSang) pranks Rain by going rogue. 🙂 (fan cam credit: TypeB345)
(Caps source: RAIN☆ANGEL)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Beautiful images from Episode 3 of “Rain Effect”, when Rain was in Mobile, Alabama filming movie-in-production The Prince with Bruce Willis. (Source credit: Mnet / caps source: michi1108)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
Random Rain Goodness: 4, 3, 2, 1… it’s showtime. (Image credit: sizuku219 / The Witch Underworld @tistory)
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More Rain at A Twosome Place, on TV show Rain Effect. (Source credit: Mnet / courtesy of RainBiLove2)
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Trying to pop that bubbly at his mini fan meet outside of KBS studios, after his Music Bank Rain Effect comeback stages, on 1/10. (Images credit: mongshari)
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A fan of Lee GiKwang and BEAST capped these lovely images of the handsome cutie and tall, suave Rain during the 2014 28th Golden Disk Award presentation, where CEO Hong was given the Producer Award. I can’t blame them for loving GiKwang at all—the dude’s voice is like butter. My favorite BEAST (B2ST) songs to this day are “Yet” (아직은) and “Mystery.” ^@@^ (Images credit: Tsui / as tagged)
And a few more images backstage, with junior artists who look up to senior Rain as a role model. (Images credit: Media, as tagged)
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A few more gorgeous shots of Rain at M! Countdown last week, when he won his first Rain Effect comeback TV chart (1/9). (Images credit: Mnet)
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Lovely wallpapers of Rain’s appearance and Rain Effect comeback on Inkigayo, 1/12. (Images credit: RainBiLove2)
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Rain Effect .gif(ts) for you. 🙂 (Credit: tonchan / RainBiLove2)
A snippet of Rain in the MBC documentary about legendary rock musician Kim JongSeo, where he gives JongSeo a complimentary copy of Rain Effect. This aired today, 1/18. ^@@^ (courtesy of ratoka)
Cloud cover by: Michele, Staff Writer
Awwwwwzzzz, how cute is Lee Jong Suk? He showed up on the most recent episode of the Rain Effect and spent time with our World Star and fellow hottie actor, Jung Seok Won.
Jong Suk seems to fear the variety show thing, but hopefully some of his fears were eased with his appearance on Rain’s reality show. It is no doubt that Rain could give Jong Suk some pointers as he himself is no stranger to the variety show thing, having made countless appearances on many throughout his career (Love Survival among my faves). Rain is definitely a worthy sunbae!!!
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CJ E&M enewsWorld – 1/17/2014 Jung Jin Young [Image credit: Mnet]
Lee Jong Suk confessed that he has a variety show phobia.
Appearing in January 16’s broadcast of Mnet’s Rain Effect, Lee Jong Suk met up with Rain and talked about the reason he rarely shows up on variety shows.
“I’m afraid of variety shows,” revealed the actor. “I can’t really talk when I go on a show. I heard idols get trained for that too. I wonder if I should take lessons on public speaking.”
Jung Seok Won, who was also present, showed his surprise upon hearing that idols get trained for variety shows.
[Source: http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/56240/leejongsuk-does-not-know-what-to-say-on-variety-shows]
° ° °
But wait!! Lee Jong Suk is a long-time Rain fan.
Back in July 2011, he crossed paths with Rain and took a pic, posting it on his Me2day account saying, “He is the man I really want to do the same thing as. He is a Real Man, ‘Ji Hoon’ hyungnim (Rain).” Can’t you just feel the love?? And, who can blame him, Rain IS the real deal!!
[Image credit and source: news.nate.com]
Then again in August 2012 he ran into Rain while Rain was on leave during his military service and posted this pic on his Me2Day account calling Rain his ‘eternal idol’ and encouraging everyone to go see Return to Base. ^.^
Michele@cloudusa.wordpress.com/CloudUSA.org
[Image credit & source: kdramastars.com]
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
A Twosome Place, a desert cafe chain known all over South Korea for its traditional European-style deep-roasted coffee and sweet treats, posted a sweet tweet today when Rain made a stop at the Chungjeongro location for a taste of the new spring strawberry latte.
Trivia question: What does Rain and A Twosome Place have in common? They’re both sponsored by the massive CJ Group conglomerate. Birds of a feather…
I like their shout-out to “LA Song”, too: 라~라라라라~~♥ (La~la la la la~~♥) So cute. 🙂 ^@@^
(Source credit: 투썸플레이스 / @atwosomeplace, 1/17/2014.)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
*Edited to Add 1/18: Fan cam, abbreviated “LA Song” at the Golden Disk Awards. (credit: RYV L)
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ORIGINAL POST
Rain presents a 2014 Golden Disk to Cube Entertainment and co-founder/CEO Hong SeungSung, and is joined on stage by his fellow Cube artists BEAST and 4Minute. They all accepted on Cube’s behalf. Nice. 🙂 (courtesy of ratoka)
Rain and his Fabulous Ones perform 30 Sexy and LA Song. (courtesy of GDA)
(courtesy of QTDPRO)
(Images credit: various media, as tagged)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
How does it feel, Chilean cloud Aracely, to make it onto M! Countdown all the way in Korea? Way to represent for Rain’s global fans!^^ 😀 ^@@^
Royal blue for a prince of a guy. ^@@^ (30 Sexy clip courtesy of ThanhnamKoreanMusic)
(Images credit: Nate News / various media, as tagged)
— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
(courtesy of onlyone0625)
Cloud USA 