RaNia (Left to Right: Riko, Xia, Di, SeMi, T-Ae, Joy, Jui)
Rania is composed of eight members, though their eigth member has yet to perform live with them. She is however in the Dr. Feel Good video.
LeeJo can be found at:
0:38 - the far back one in the middle.
2:14- the back left
2:15- close up of her face and
2:19- she's sitting in front of Di and T-Ae.
Here are some member profiles for you:
Name: Hwang Saem ( 황 샘 )
Stage Name: SeMi
Position: Leader
Birthday: May 5, 1989
Height: 171 cm (5'6")
Weight: 48kg (106lbs)
Name: Kim JuYeon ( 김 주연 )
Stage Name: Riko
Position: Sub vocals
Birthday: March 10, 1989
Height: 166cm (5'4")
Weight: 41kg (90lbs)
Name: Kim JeeHye (김 지혜)
Stage Name: Joy
Position: Sub vocals
Birthday: July 27, 1990
Height: 166cm (5'4")
Weight: 41kg (90lbs)
Name: Jooyi (주이)
Stage Name: Jooyi/Jui/Lucy
Position: Vocals
Birthday: August 20, 1990
Height: 167cm (5'5")
Weight: 50kg (110lbs)
Name: Kim DaRae (김 다래)
Stage Name: Di (디)
Position: Rapper, sub vocals
Birthday: October 18, 1991
Height: 170cm (5'6")
Weight: 49kg (108lbs)
Name: Lee TaeEun (이 태은)
Stage Name: T-Ae (티애)
Position: Sub vocals
Birthday: September 24, 1993
Height: 171cm (5'6")
Weight: 49kg (108lbs)
Name: Jang JinYoung (장 진영)
Stage Name: Xia (시아)
Position: Maknae, sub vocals
Birthday: November 15, 1994
Height: 171cm (5'6")
Weight: 48kg (106lbs)
So I've done books, I've done animes, so now it's time for a bit of music. Considering I'm a huge Asian buff, most of the music I listen to is obviously Asian... I used to be really into J-rock but now I'm more biased to the Korean side of things so K-pop is my main music genre.
Like the title says, this blogs about a kpop girl group called Rania. They debuted around April 6th I do believe... They only really have two songs with two versions each (Dr. Feel Good and Masquerade).
Rania is made up of seven girls (Di, SeMi, Riko, T-Ae, Jui, Xia and Joy) who are almost equally talented in both vocal areas and dance areas.
Their first single was
Dr. Feel Good which came out first with a very provacative music video before it became too much for those tender little netizens and a "cleaner" version of the video came out.
Here are the music videos if you are interested in seeing them:
Dr. Feel Good- RaNia (Version One)
Dr. Feel Good- RaNia (Version Two)
The difference between these two song versions and video versions you'll find is that some of the lyrics have changed from the first version to the second and that the zooming in on the crotches was taken out for the cleaner, second version. Also, LeeJo (the new member) was not seen in the first video but is indeed seen in the second and it now seems that LeeJo will not be dubuting with the band as it was announced that she left the group before their Pop Pop Pop promotions even started.
On top of these two Korean versions, there is also the English version of Dr. Feel Good which you can listen to here:
Dr. Feel Good- RaNia (English Version)
Now although Dr. Feel Good was their debut song and usually that's supposed to get them out into the open, RaNia was very bashed by netizens for having too much of a sexy, provocative feel to their lyrics, video and dance. Not only did they have to change their music video but RaNia was forced to change dance moves and outfits for their live performances and were banned on certain TV stations.
The sliding on the knees dance move was removed and the lacey, leather outfits of the girls were forced to change. If you don't understand, here are some live performances to show you what I mean.
Before the bans and changes: Dr. Feel Good- RaNia (Debut Stage) Live
After the bans and changes: Dr. Feel Good- RaNia (Live- May 28, 2011)
The differences couldn't be any clearer. Not only where their sexy, lacey outfits taken out for being too revealing (although if you take a closer look, barely any skin but the stomach and parts of the thigh are showing) but their sliding knee move was taken out (where they open and close their knees at SeMi's part:
I need a f-f-fix, some type of d-d-d-drug etc. etc) but also one of my favourite parts where Di (the blonde girl) and T-Ae have their near kiss. Apparently all of this was too suggestive for the Korean youth and the TV networks.
Nonetheless, RaNia didn't need specific outfits or dance moves to keep their powerful performances coming and thankfully, even with all the negative reactions they were getting, RaNia pushed through and proved that they were just as good - if not better - than any Kpop group out there as they made strong performances on radio shows that really show cased their vocals. Take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWJJ38TfDdA
SeMi was unfortunately sick for that performance so Jooyi took over her parts, but the leader does have some powerful vocals to her.
Our leader is not the only one who has jaw dropping vocals. You saw how all the members were talented in the vocal range with that radio performance, but the person in RaNia that usually catches most eyes and does lead them away from staring at their "sexy persona" is Jui who impresses in each of their live performances and songs with her extremely powerful voice. If you don't know what I mean, listen to this and you will soon figure it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHYrFD2MTNU
And if you're STILL not convinced that RaNia has nothing but a sexy image to them then take a look at this compilation video of each RaNia member getting show cased in vocals and try to tell me that there is nothing to RaNia but a sexy look.
RaNia Vocal Compilation Video
Now I know if there are dedicated RaiNstorms like myself reading this story, you might be wondering: Isn't Riko the leader?
Yes and no. Riko was the leader before debut but now SeMi is currenly leading this group of talented girls.
Despite all this contraversy that arose with RaNia's debut they came back with another amazing song to add on to the greatness they already held. Now, there is no music video for this song (unfortunately) but if you want to take a listen to the audio, than just go here:
Masquerade- RaNia (Korean Version)
Masquerade- RaNia (English Version)
Here are several live performances so you can take a look at their dance and how they came back with their uniqe outfits:
Masquerade- RaNia (Come Back Stage: June 10, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (June 11, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (June 17, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (Outdoor Special) June 18, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (June 24, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (June 25, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (July 2, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (July 8, 2011)
Masquerade- RaNia (Goodbye Stage: July 9, 2011)
There are some performances for you. You'll notice on the July 24, 2011 performance that SeMi isn't dancing. For that certain performance, a whole air routine was planned on where Di, SeMi and I believe Riko or T-Ae would be in the air but during rehearsal SeMi fell from the ropes holding her up. She fell 4 metres and landed on her hip and ankle and was rushed to the hospital. Thankfully she only got some bruises but that is why she is wearing that long dress and not dancing because our poor leader fell...
Since then, RaNia has been left by Teddy Riley and began working with Brave Brothers. On November 16 they released their second single album and have been promoting it very well.
Pop Pop Pop is very different from Dr. Feel Good and Masquerade... The first time I heard it I was actually really disappointed because the concept was so different and there was an unfairness to the distribution of parts and the parts were not even distributed properly.
Take a listen to both of the songs on Rania's new songs:
1.
Pop Pop Pop - Rania ( Music Video)
2.
Goodbye - Rania
An official instrumental also came with the album which you can listen to here:
Pop Pop Pop - Rania (Instrumental)
A teaser video/song was also released called Time to Rock da Show which you can also listen to here:
Time to Rock da Show - Rania
There are many things with these songs that please me and disappoint me at the same time. When I saw the intro song (Time to Rock da Show) I was totally excited because it looked so amazing and sexy just like Rania was and then they performed Pop Pop Pop live for the first time it was sloppy, the singing was mostly lipsyncing... And not to mention Jui - Rania's most powerful vocalist - was given a massive rapping part when Di is the main rapper (that part REALLY pissed me off). Not to mention that when the music video came out it looked sloppy, the choreography was different and it just didn't flow well.
I consider myself a hard core Rania fan so I let the song grow on me and it's actually gotten pretty catchy and I actually love the choreography now and the tune (even if I did find the intro song catchier). That still doesn't excuse the fact that the music video was really crappy.
I know Brave Brothers probably gave this song to Rania so they could get more fans in Korea because their debut caused much controversy, but for their next song I would like to see Rania stick to the sexy side and not be so cutesy.
And I really wish they made a music video or live performance of their song Goodbye...
Nonetheless, here are all the live performances:
Pop Pop Pop - M!Countdown Comeback
Pop Pop Pop - Music Bank Comeback
Pop Pop Pop - Music Core Comeback
Pop Pop Pop - Inkigayo Comeback
Pop Pop Pop - Music Bank
Pop Pop Pop - Music Core
Pop Pop Pop - Music Bank (This performance did not have Joy because she had surgery for her appendix and was resting up with her family in Thailand)
Pop Pop Pop - Music Core
Those are only a few of their performances but you can see how their choreography and singing has been improving as they go along.
Here's a behind the scenes video of Pop Pop Pop:
Pop Pop Pop - Rania BTS
And Jui singing Christina Aguilera's song
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
And the whole group singing
What You Do.
This group I definitely have to say is
not for everyone and quite a few people do not like them and in Korea, RaNia doesn't get nearly as much credit as they should. I suppose it's because the majority of the population in Korea is used to those cutesy, rainbows and sunshine groups such as SNSD or A Pink (nothing against them, they're just the typical, well liked groups in Korea) and are so used to innocent videos and I know for a fact that Koreans are more conservative then say the American or Canadian population.
With Rania's new songs I hope they'll be able to gain more fans and popularity (especially since they've been promoting like crazy), but even if they don't I will continue to support them no matter what.
However, just because these girls debuted with a different approach than the usual Kpop girl group does not mean that they are any less talented in dancing, singing and/or performing. They're all equally gorgeous and have modeled for certain companies. Here are some of their modeling pictures:
Left to Right: SeMi, Xia, Di
Left to Right: Jooyi, T-Ae, LeeJo
Left to Right: LeeJo, T-Ae, Jooyi
Left: T-Ae (top), Di, (bottom)
Right: Joy
Left to Right: T-Ae, Riko
Joy and Riko
Left: Joy and Riko
Right: Jooyi (top), SeMi (bottom)
T-Ae and Di
(Personally, I LOVE these two and this is one of my favourite pictures)
Xia and SeMi
Here are images from their Arena 2011 Summer Shoot:
Left to Right: Di, Random Guy, Xia
Di and T-Ae
SeMi
Riko
Xia
SeMi
T-Ae
Di, Riko, Xia
Left to Right: Di, T-Ae, Xia, SeMi, Riko, Joy
Other photo shoot pictures of RaNia:
Riko and Joy
Xia and Di
T-Ae and SeMi
Di and Xia
Di
Left to Right: Di, T-Ae, Riko
Left to Right: Riko, Joy, Jooyi, Xia, SeMi, T-Ae, Di
And just to wrap up RaNia's excellence, here are some amazing dance and vocal covers I've found on YouTube from the devoted RaiNstorms that I KNOW are out there.
Dance Covers:
Dr. Feel Good
GROUPS
SOLOS
Vocal Covers:
GROUPS
SOLOS
Masquerade
Dance Covers:
GROUPS
SOLOS
Vocal Covers:
GROUPS
SOLOS
Go support all these amazing YouTube artists!
Hopefully this brought more love to this totally under rated rookie group. Let's give them support as they go through their first tour in Thailand (where Joy is from).
FINAL RATING: 10/10
