What's something for which you are waiting your tern? The BTS concert in Hamilton on September 23! They just started their Love Yourself World Tour in Seoul last weekend and are making their way to North America next week, and this is the first official BTS tour with Canadian dates! Finally!
What have you lately gone cuckoo for? I just watched To All The Boys I've Loved Before when I was at my friend Tuta's apartment last week, and it is so freaking cute. I read the novel when it first came out and didn't think it would become a film, but they actually did a really good job at adapting it. It's well-cast and well-scripted, and just as charming as the book. It's totally one of those feel-good teen rom-coms that I can watch over and over again.
What's got you feeling down? I've been getting a lot of neck cramps lately. It's either my pillows or my mattress, or both. But I changed my pillows last year and didn't get neck cramps for a while, so I think I just need to get a new bed. (The one I'm using currently is as old as me, so I think it's about time.)
What's something you acquired that was unexpectedly cheep? My BTS Official Light Stick Ver.3. I don't want to say that it was cheap, but it was cheaper than I was expecting. I had asked my BTS merch guy in Seoul to pre-order one for me from the BigHit Shop because it always ends up being cheaper to buy through him with standard EMS shipping than for me to directly order from the BigHit Shop with standard shipping (BigHit charges way more for international shipping for some reason). They're ₩33,000 in South Korea, which is about $40 CAD. He charged me $38 USD for it, which was a steal even after shipping, because they would've been double the price with shipping if I directly ordered it from the BigHit Shop. Plus, they're going for $55 USD at their concerts and for US orders, so I still got a good price for it.
What's that fowl smell? Crowded public places. It's summer. It's just a sea of body odor and hot, wet garbage out there.
I've been intrigued by Function of Beauty for some time now and finally decided to check them out for real. They're a NYC-based company that makes "personalized haircare based on hair type, goals, and preferences" and is "cruelty-free, vegan, and formulated without toxins." The concept of custom haircare is unique in itself and enough reason to be interested in them, but what really got people to notice them was their aesthetic. I actually found them through a few people I follow on Instagram, who posted their own custom bottles of shampoo and conditioner. My immediate thought was, "Ooooh, those are pretty!" before reading some really good customer reviews on how their personalized shampoos and conditioners made a noticeable difference in the look, feel, and texture of their hair. And then over the past month, their ads started showing up on my Instagram feed with some regularity. So to further prove that Instagram advertising works, I finally decided to take the plunge.
First, you fill in this hair profile, where you input your hair type, hair structure, scalp moisture, five "hair goals," the name you want printed on the bottle, the colour of your shampoo and conditioner, the scent of your shampoo and conditioner, and the fragrance strength. For myself, I have straight, medium density hair with a normal scalp, and I wanted my haircare to replenish, fix split ends, strengthen, hydrate, and volumize. I chose their new limited edition ocean blue colour (for me, this colour is pure happiness) for both my shampoo and conditioner with the "feeling (f)ineapple" scent, which smells like coconut and pineapple. (I was in a summery mood.) I guess I was feeling really bougie because two 16oz bottles ended up being $61 USD after tax and shipping (it's free shipping with the monthly replenishment programs, but I didn't want to commit so soon so I only chose to order it once). We'll see if they're actually worth it when I take a look at the quality of my hair over the next couple months. At the very least, they smell really good and look really freaking cute in my shower. Anything to make washing hair less tedious, right?
My dad and half-sister are heading back to China tomorrow, so we decided to celebrate their last day here with some peking duck at Dayali (which worked out really well because I had been craving peking duck for like, a month, and my dad picked the restaurant without knowing). I had pretty high expectations for Dayali given that it's a restaurant that specializes in peking duck, and despite the fact that you have to pay extra for spring pancakes as well as cucumbers and spring onions (which is bogus because peking duck as a dish is supposed to be served with them), it does live up to the hype and is actually quite reasonably priced compared to other restaurants in the GTA. The duck meat is really juicy with perfectly crispy skin, and they serve the meat and spring pancakes on top of a warmer so they don't get cold and hard (as with most places). I would come again when the peking duck craving strikes.
God, I love this so, so, so much. Honestly, of the new tracks on Love Yourself: Answer, "I'm Fine" and "Trivia 轉 : Seesaw" are my favourites. I get why "IDOL" was chosen to be their title track (it's more hype and holds more global appeal in its sound, plus it's the main message of the album as a whole), but I really think "I'm Fine" could've been a strong contender. I digress, but as it is, I like that they made a point of showing that this is the sequel — the answer, if you will — to "Save Me" (from 2016's "Young Forever"). The message isn't just in the music, but in the choreography, too (which includes one of the hardest integrated moves I've ever seen at around 2:02, when J-Hope and Suga have to slide inwards to hold up Tae, and then again at 2:17, when they all have to change positions to lie flat on the floor to hold onto Jimin). I really can't wait to see this live.
After BigHit stated last month that there would be no promotions for Love Yourself: Answer due to their touring schedule, BTS ultimately decided to give up their rest week before heading off to North America to perform on select Korean music shows and attend the Soribada Awards because they wanted to give more to the fans (they won't be heading back to South Korea until late November — after they tour North America, they head straight to Europe and then Japan). And it kinda breaks my heart because these boys really do not rest. Even their "vacations" like Bon Voyage or Summer Package are for promotional work, and they are consistently being filmed or interviewed. I sincerely hope they get some sort of break because this world tour is going to be incredibly grueling and their health is more important than anything else. So it's only fair that we give their performances on these music shows all of our love and support because they really, really didn't need to do them. Their latest album and its title track, "IDOL," have been breaking records since their release last Friday, and this kind of promotion was completely unnecessary. That having been said, it still amazes me how their choreography only gets more and more challenging and they somehow conquer it while singing completely live. No one these days can compete with BTS in showmanship and integrity.
YES, THE COMEBACK SHOW FOR LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER IS FINALLY UP WITH SUBTITLES!
(Also, I'm almost positive that V Live didn't allow embedding their videos before, but I guess they decided that it was about time to try to appeal to YouTube users and expand their popularity.)
Made my second food trip to the CNE today with my friends Tuta, Sam, and Elisa. We went really early and got there for noon (admission was free before 1:00PM today!), but I think because it was still early in the day, we all got full a lot faster than the last time I went. We weren't as ambitious today, but we still made solid picks:
Big Poppa (a mega burger combining a premium beef patty, luncheon meat, chicken katsu, cheddar cheese, shogun sauce, and all the toppings between ramen noodle buns) from Yatai Japanese Street Food
Cheesecake Panini (creamy cheesecake topped with cheddar cheese and bacon bits, served on a sweet Long John doughnut, pressed to a crisp, golden brown) from Fran's Restaurant
Movie Night Cheesecake Bar (a chilled cheesecake bar dipped in chocolate, drizzled with caramel, and topped with caramel popcorn and M&M's) from Cake Shack
We did also have the Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese and the deep-fried Mac & Cheese Balls from Mac & Cheesery, but I didn't get a picture in before Sam and Elisa started eating them (Tuta and I were still in line at Yatai when they got their orders and I guess they were too hungry to wait). They weren't particularly photogenic so I don't feel too bad, but rest assured, they were also fatteningly delicious. Oh, and we also got a bag of Tiny Tom's doughnuts. My only regret was not getting some to bring home before we left the grounds. Ah, well. Until next year!
Someone fucking pinch me. I just got an e-mail from Powerhouse Live (the promoters for the BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in North America) announcing that I am one of 500 people that was selected to go to the soundcheck viewing for the BTS concert in Hamilton on Sunday, September 23. Honestly, I totally forgot about this random drawing. It was announced when the tour dates were released and I distinctly remember saying to my friend, "Whatever, let's see if I can even get tickets first. Even if I do, that's like, a 3% chance of being selected. It's not gonna happen." So, um, yeah, it happened. I even thought it was a scam at first before I checked Powerhouse Live's Twitter, which pointed me to their Facebook page to see the full list of winners. And lo and behold, my name is on that fucking list.
Okay, this is kinda random, but my order of paper soap arrived today. It's by a Japanese company called Charley, and they make six different scents of paper soap that come in cute colour-coordinated pods. In case you don't know what it is, paper soap is literally sheets of dry soap that dissolve and lather under water and are super handy when traveling. It isn't common in Canada, but can be found everywhere in Asia (in fact, the first time I used paper soap was in Hong Kong when I was 8) so I found these cute ones from a Taiwanese seller on eBay. (There are actually some available on Amazon, but they weren't as cute and there was no choice in scent and I'm particular like that.) The reason for ordering paper soap is because I get hand eczema from most detergents, especially liquid hand soaps. I use Live Clean hand soaps exclusively at home and at work (yes, I bought my own separate hand soap to use at work because that pink public bathroom soap gives me immediate hand eczema outbreaks), but I was trying to find an alternative to carrying my own bottle of liquid hand soap which is tedious and has potential for spillage in my purse. And then I remembered that paper soap was a thing, so I started searching for various options and this was the best one I found. I picked four different scents — Lemon, Rose, Lavender, and Apple — and each pack has 50 sheets. I busted open the Apple one today, and I am happy to report that it smells delightful, it lathers beautifully, and best of all, I'm not allergic to it!
What was your favourite year in school, and what was special about it? Senior year, which I think is everyone's favourite year. It was harder academically, but there was a sort of social freedom in senior year because you know you're gonna get the fuck outta high school soon. It was the year where I had a core of amazing friends (all from different "groups" or "cliques," which I think made my social interactions with them far more interesting) and had the most fun. I was also a lot more confident in who I was and what I liked.
Can you fake any accents? I do a pretty good Southern accent. And, of course, a Chinese accent while speaking English.
How do you like your popcorn? Depends on my mood, really. If I'm at the movies, I like straight-up classic buttered popcorn (extra butter, layered). I do really like Chicago Mix popcorn, too. And also the Cheesy Dill and Jalapeño Jack flavoured popcorns from Kernels.
A recent unexpected makeup, skin care, or beauty find? The Mediheal W.H.P White Hydrating Black Sheet Masks. I bought them originally as apart of the Mediheal x BTS Brightening Care mask set and loved them so much I bought a box of just the black sheet masks separately. They make my skin feel softer than a baby's butt and I swear my skin actually looks significantly brighter, clearer, and more even after using them.
I HAVE BEEN ATTACKED. I don't even care if they're wearing some of the gaudiest suits I have ever seen in my life. They are serving some serious visuals. Goddamn, these men are aging like fine fucking wine. (Jimin with messy silvery brown hair will be the end of me. That is all.)
Ronsee and I made our annual CNE food trip today! This year's picks, in the order we ate them:
Fried cheeseburger and fries chimichanga from Farm to Fryer
Izakaya Dog (an all beef corn dog topped with nori flakes, crispy onions, pickled ginger, wasabi mayo, an teriyaki ketchup) from Hungry Husky Waffle Dog
The Juicy Crab! (a freshly baked brioche bun stuffed with East Coast lobster in brown butter, Thai shrimp, whitefish, Atlantic smoked salmon, smoked aged cheddar, and braised short rib topped with a crab xiao long bao, lemon Kewpie mayo and tarragon dijon slaw) from Hot Bunzz Street Cuisine
Jungkook's beautiful intro finally gets a full version in Love Yourself: Answer, and he does it so much justice in the live performance. This song deserves so much more recognition. God, I can't wait to see these new performances live. 28 days until I get to see them in person. Even though I've watched so many of their live performances on DVD and YouTube, I just know it's going to be surreal when they're actually in front of me.
Went to Chat Bar for late-night skewers with Maegan, Jason, and Johnson after work tonight. Because nothing celebrates the beginning of a weekend off like delicious meat on a stick.
This week's Friday Five: In honour of BTS' release of Love Yourself: Answer yesterday, all the songs mentioned here are by BTS, and the lyrics are English translations from Korean.
What's a stupid lyric from a song you like? "Did you see my bag? Did you see my bag? / It's hella trophies and it's hella thick / What you think 'bout that? What you think 'bout that? / I bet it got my haters hella sick." ("MIC Drop" by BTS)
What's a pretty good lyric from a song you dislike? "Sometimes I'm afraid of all this / Because I came to have so many things that I love / Some say you're almost an old fossil now / You're not qualified, just do what you've been doing well / But I still want to be a hero / All I can give you is Anpan / And a word, "You've worked hard" / But I'll fly to you right away if you call me." ("Anpanman" by BTS)
What's a good non-Weird-Al-Yankovic lyric about food and drink? "Drink a cup of warm tea / Looking up at the Milky Way / You'll be fine / This is Magic Shop." ("Magic Shop" by BTS)
What's a good song lyric to describe your week? "I worked so hard and earned my pay / Gonna spend it all on my stomach / Pinching pennies to spend it all on wasting it / Let me be, even though I overspend / Tomorrow morning, I may act crazy / And break apart my savings." ("Go Go" by BTS)
What’s a good song lyric about inclement weather? "Over the winter lake, I was thrown / A thick ice has formed / In the dream I shortly went into / My agonizing phantom pain is still the same." ("Singularity" by BTS)
I AM SHOOK. It's nothing like "Ddaeng" at all, like I thought it would be from the teaser. It uses South African beats mixed in with traditional Korean instrumentals and EDM, and it goes hard. The video makes no sense and reminds me of an exotic acid trip, but it seems like that was the point. It's like a play in contradictions to troll their haters (the traditional Korean imagery and wearing traditional Korean hanbok seems like a big middle finger to those who said they were getting too "Westernized"; the non-sensical imagery, crazy chaotic colours, flamboyant outfits, and green screen/CGI work are meant to be tacky and reflective of stereotypical K-Pop videos that critics love to hate; the multiple imprints of themselves in various scenes seem to be poking fun at people that say "there are too many of them" or "they all look the same"; etc.). While this is not my favourite title track (that honour still goes to "Blood Sweat & Tears") and I can see why people have mixed feelings about it, this song is still hype as fuck. Like, it is literally impossible for me not to tap my foot, bop my head, shimmy my shoulders, or do all of the above while listening to this. It is going to be ridiculous live. Also, these boys look fucking divine no matter how ridiculous their outfits, and the choreography is as intense and impressive as ever. (Jimin is serving some serious fucking visuals in this video. He is coming for me hard.)
Both this video and Love Yourself 轉 'Answer' only dropped a couple hours ago, and I am already sufficiently overwhelmed. While I am waiting for my physical copies of the album to be shipped from Seoul (even though I said I would never do so again, I ended up having to order them from the BigHit site because they're the only retailer that offers all four different versions in one set... which means I may not get my albums until, like, October), I have downloaded the album both on Apple Music and bought every individual track on iTunes (because I am a dedicated fan who wants to contribute to their charting success both in South Korea and in Canada). And I noticed that all the speculations of the Nicki Minaj collab were all fucking true. Because there, at the bottom of the track listing, is a surprise 26th track that is available on the digital album only: an alternate version of "IDOL" featuring Nicki Minaj. I'm pretty indifferent when it comes to Nicki, but you can't deny the power behind this grouping. To think that a K-Pop group would ever be able to collaborate with an artist of this caliber was just a dream, totally unheard of. This is bigger than Steve Aoki, Desiigner, Wale, or Fall Out Boy. BTS is now out-of-control huge, and I am so glad that I joined the fandom just in time to witness these seven Asian men rule the music industry. It's something I never thought I would ever see in my lifetime.
Addendum (2:37AM EST, 08/25/18): I was at work all day, but I managed to watch the video at least 12 times and have played all 26 tracks of Love Yourself 轉 'Answer' about three times through. I love that they sectioned off the album by Love Yourself chapters, starting with Wonder and ending with Answer. What I will always appreciate about BTS is that they aren't afraid to experiment with sounds and genres. Listening to any of their albums is like a sonic adventure every single time, and there is something for every mood or atmosphere.
I am living for the full versions of "Euphoria" and "Serendipity." I can't believe they were holding out on us for that long. They honestly did such a disservice to "Euphoria" by not releasing the song officially when the video was first released. Of the rapline solos, "Trivia 轉 : Seesaw" really stood out to me with its laid-back, groovy feel; Suga's singing voice is truly wonderful and I love that he now has the confidence in his vocals to record a solo track that isn't solely rap. I love that they released "I'm Fine" as the sequel to "Save Me" and finally gives some closure to that part of the Youth era. "DNA" got a complete makeover with the Pedal 2 LA Mix, and for someone who loves rock music first and foremost, I thought this was a stunning transformation to the song with the '80s heavy metal guitars. And, of course, "IDOL," a straight-up bop, the ultimate anthem for self-acceptance and self-love. As for the video? Well, it's currently at just under 51 million views at Hour 22, which means it is now the most viewed music video within 24 hours of all time (and second most viewed video in general within 24 hours). Their world domination is no joke.
Went to Pho 88 at Don Mills for dinner tonight with my friends Tuta and Maegan. First off, this particular location of Pho 88 is by far the biggest and most aesthetically pleasing pho restaurants I have ever seen. It's clean, sleek, and contemporary with dark wood benches, hanging lightbulbs, and a massive industrial metal wine rack displayed across the back wall. We shared a mango salad and the spring roll platter (which includes two deep-fried spring rolls, two shrimp rolls, and two deep-fried shrimp rolls), and I got the rare beef and flank satay pho. While the noodles and the meat were standard, the satay broth here was not good. First off, it didn't taste like satay. Secondly, it was completely watered down. Thirdly, it's more expensive than the regular broth. At least the mango salad and rolls were decent. Not particularly noteworthy, but our cravings were satisfied.
But the reason I will not return here is because the service was beyond poor. We were barely at our table for a minute before the server asked if we were ready to order, then she forgot to give us bean sprouts/lime/mint (which most places set at the table before the pho even gets there), then she forgot to get us our drinks, and each time we had to get some service, she wasn't paying attention to the patrons (which is ridiculous as there weren't many of us to begin with and she was just wiping down drink glasses). Then she totally disappeared and we had to get the other guy to get our bill, and when we asked to split it, he rolled his eyes and made an exasperated "ugh" sound. Then it took him another ten minutes to get the bills to us, then another five minutes to bring the card machine, and he just left the machine at the table. As in, he didn't even bother inputting the costs of our bills so we could pay. He just walked away and we had to work the machine to charge ourselves. Look, I get surly Asian servers. I don't go to Asian restaurants for the service. But even this was a little ridiculous. He came back ten minutes later and was like, "You did it?" Suffice it to say, he didn't even deserve the 10% tip we left. It might as well have been self-serve.
Well, look what arrived today: my BTS Official Light Stick Ver.3! And it comes with not just one photocard, but one for each member! Just in time for the comeback this Friday! I was kind of annoyed that BigHit came out with a new one this year because I had just gotten Ver.2 a couple months ago (that, despite being brand new and authentic, was way overpriced on Amazon and didn't come with any photocards), and then they announced last month that they were going to release a third version that would render the Bluetooth function of the Ver.2 useless. (Basically, the light sticks can be controlled by a central Bluetooth system to create cool light effects at their concerts, as you can see here. So with the release of Ver.3, the Ver.2 light stick would just become a glorified flashlight.) So I asked my BTS merch guy (who lives in Seoul) to pre-order one for me because the pre-orders started in South Korea first and domestic orders obviously get delivered before international ones. Plus, he only charged me $38 USD plus shipping which, as it turns out, is cheaper than the USA only version and also cheaper than ordering one myself from BigHit's official merch shop (because shipping to Canada from their site is, for whatever reason, more expensive and far slower than regular standard shipping from South Korea). Anyway, that was just a long-winded story to say that now I am all set for their concerts in September.
About five minutes ago, BigHit released the teaser for BTS' new title track, "IDOL." I'm getting "Ddaeng" vibes from this with the traditional Korean instrumental beats, so it's definitely gonna be a straight-up bop. But regardless of what the final song will sound like, we already know from this 41-second teaser that it's going to be one of the most iconic and serious game changers in the music industry.
Took advantage of Cineplex's half-price movie Tuesdays to finally watch Crazy Rich Asians tonight. I read the first book three years ago and could always picture this world of grandeur and excess to be made into a movie, so I actually wasn't surprised when it was finally announced that it would happen. What I wasn't expecting was how good it would be and how much I enjoyed it. For the most part, it was loyal to the book with some minor exceptions for the sake of movie flow and sequel opportunities, but even without comparing it to the novel, it was just a good rom-com, period. It's charming and exuberant, and surprisingly relatable despite its overindulgent settings. I genuinely loved the entire cast and how they portrayed their characters, too; I especially enjoyed Awkwafina's Peik Lin, who pretty much stole the show. My favourite scene, though, was at the mahjong parlour, where Rachel confronts Eleanor. It was such a quietly epic, ultra classy "fuck you" executed in the most Asian way possible. Though it makes me proud to see an all-Asian cast in a big budget, Hollywood film (in which Asians are often underrepresented), Crazy Rich Asians isn't just a great "Asian movie." It's a great movie that just happens to be about Asians.
I literally chased down my mailman today. Again. (This happened to me two weeks ago, too.) I was expecting a package this morning but was sleeping and didn't hear the doorbell, so when I woke up and checked my tracking status and it said, "Left notice," I immediately went to my front door and found that a notice card was left literally ten minutes beforehand. I was so infuriated because I was at home and had just missed him, but then I saw him driving down my street and parking at the community mailboxes to deliver the regular post, so I ran to him at his car and waved my notice card and yelled, "I keep missing you!" So he did end up being able to deliver my package, after all. That was a long-winded story to say that I got my BTS 2018 Summer Package in Saipan today!
This year's version comes in a cute hard shell zip-around case that looks like a mini suitcase. While I don't think it's as pretty as previous years' outer cases, I can appreciate that this is more protective and useful because you can actually use it as a travel case for toiletries or makeup or loose knick-knacks. Of course, it comes with the usual Making DVD and the beautiful photobook (seriously, these boys get prettier with every shoot), a set of mini posters (I wish they included a group shot, too, but I'm glad they included all seven members rather than one member at random), a mini "guide book" for Saipan (each member wrote one but each set comes with one member's at random, so I got Jin's), a clasp-on "Beyond the Scene" strap (I know Beyond the Scene is technically one of their official names now, but I just can't bring myself to refer to them as that; they're either BTS or Bangtan Sonyeondan to me), and a "travel topper" (I'm not even sure what one does with a travel topper, but it's cute...?). I've been avoiding watching all the spoiler video clips of this trip that's been filling up my Twitter timeline and YouTube notifications because I knew that I was gonna buy the set (it was released on August 14, so those who live in South Korea were able to get theirs on the day of whereas the rest of us have to wait for shipping), so I'm gonna go paint my nails and watch this DVD now. Happy Monday!
Denise, '86 liner. Chinese-Canadian, born, raised, and still living in the Greater Toronto Area. Professional make-up artist turned office manager. Introvert with brilliant extrovert skills. BTS ARMY since 2016, OT7, Jungkook and Jimin biased. BTS and BT21 merch collector, amateur foodie, skincare fiend, mascara connoisseur, shopaholic, teetotaler, Scorpio, avid The Sims 4 player, K-drama addict, and Potterhead since 1997. Penchant for live concerts, collecting figures, dining out, building LEGO, and food photography.
About the Site
Circuits of Fever is a personal blog and a hobby only. It mainly features my interests in BTS, food, beauty, music, photography, travel, lifestyle, and culture. The name "Circuits of Fever" is a song by Thursday from their 2009 album, Common Existence. The title of this blog has no relevance to the actual purpose of or topics discussed within the blog.
All photos since November 2023 have been taken with an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. All photos are taken by me, unless otherwise noted. Please do not use my photos or blog content without permission. Photos are edited by me using Adobe Photoshop 2024. This blog is written and edited by me using Blogger through Google Chrome, on an Apple MacBook Pro.
Note: None of these posts are sponsored. All products reviewed or shown on this blog are purchased by me for personal use only.
Playlist (March 2026)
BTS - 2.0
BTS - Aliens
BTS - Body to Body
BTS - FYA
BTS - Hooligan
BTS - Into the Sun
BTS - Like Animals
BTS - Merry Go Round
BTS - NORMAL
BTS - One More Night
BTS - Please
BTS - SWIM
BTS - They Don't Know 'Bout Us
Naver x Dispatch: BTS "IDOL" MV Photoshoot — Jin / Kim Seokjin
