[Asia] Big Bang vs Super Junior at the Asia Song Festival

Yahoo! News

During the recent 2009 Asia Song Festival at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, a total of 13 idol groups from all over Asia performed at this annual event. It featured the likes of Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Big Bang, 2NE1, Gackt, mihimaru GT, K-Otic, Ekin Cheng, Show Luo and many more international artistes.

To match up to the performances from the different participating groups, Taiwanese artiste Show Luo revealed that he invested in an S$28,300 outfit for the performance. He was glimmering from head to toe as he danced to his titular hits, “One Man Show” and “Best of the Bunch”, receiving rave reviews for his routine.

Show revealed that he was particularly impressed by the multi-hyphenate Japanese performer (singer, composer, lyricist, actor), Gackt, who conversed with him in fluent Mandarin. The Japanese singer explained that his proficiency in Chinese came from his Taiwanese relatives and frequent trips to Taiwan.

Gackt even spoke a mouthful of Korean when he took the stage and brought the atmosphere of the event to an all-new high. Shocked by Gackt’s multi-linguistic capabilities, Show vowed to learn from Gackt and work doubly hard to master a foreign language.

According to Show, there was a little brush-off between Korean boybands, Super Junior and Big Bang as both groups wanted to perform the finale act. As there was no fixed performance sequence, in order to placate the members of Big Bang, the organizers of the event decided to give them the opportunity to perform the closing act.

When Big Bang’s performance ended, the host asked fans if they would like to listen to another song and fans were greeted with a final performance from Super Junior. Big Bang felt cheated about their supposed “closing act” and reportedly left the event in a huff without collecting their award.

 

[K-Pop] The Japanese Woman Behind K-Pop Bands’ Moves

Behind the powerful performance and dance skills of many manufactured K-pop bands, there is a woman: Rino Nakasone, a Japanese dancer and choreographer. She is best known for choreographing several songs of popular Korean music bands SHINee and Girls’ Generation but also recently choreographed one of songs of SM Entertainment’s new girl group f(x).

Nakasone was first recognized by Korean music fans in June 2008, when she gave SHINee dancing lessons for their debut with “Replay.” At the time, she had been a backup dancer for the Harajuku Girls and featured in stage shows and music videos for Gwen Stefani in the States, earning some attention for her brilliant performance.

Born in Okinawa, she moved to the U.S. when she was 19. “I am a huge fan of Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson,” she says. “They’re like my teachers. I never took any dance classes when I was in Japan, I just watched them and started copying what they do. And I knew I had to move to America, so I did in 1999. I had to be close to Michael Jackson and all the inspiration was in the U.S. I got to meet, learn, and work with people that I was fan of and respect, so it really has been a dream come true being here in Los Angeles.”

She says becoming a dancer or choreographer was a “natural step.” “It didn’t happen overnight. I just kept doing what I love to do, which was taking classes, going auditions, or teaching my own class. Then many opportunities came to me.”

She says it’s fun to work with Korean artists. “When I was in Seoul working with SHINee, I was very impressed how hard they worked. I love their songs. They were great at picking up choreography fast and were able to do anything that I taught them.”

She also created the choreography for Girls’ Generation’s popular song, “Tell Me Your Wish” in collaboration with SM Entertainment’s dance team. “They learned off the video tape that I dance in and we all went over it together later. Soo-young of the band speaks Japanese and Jessica speaks English, so I had no problem communicating with them, but I just listened to the song first and the move came up. Music tells me what to do. When I look back, it could look like tango or salsa inspired. That’s what I do. I see some dance movement that I like and I tweak it and change to make it my own.”

Nakasone says Girls’ Generation’s music and dance “make people want to do what they do. It’s unique to see nine beautiful girls performing on stage. It’s a lot for a band, but their formations are well-organized and they all look together, which is very important in a group.”

Personally, she is more of an old school lover and always will be. “I still listen to Michael. Any good music that catches my ears, I listen to it,” she says. “I’m learning Korean because I want to be able to sing their songs at karaoke. Working with SM Entertainment, I got to know Korean entertainment a little bit. I think I know more K-pop than Japanese pop these days. I love dance and I love watching any dancers. I enjoy challenging and trying new things to bring different flavors on each artists and each songs.”

Nakasone says she would love to keep working with Korean artists when opportunities arise. Currently she is focusing more on doing some stuff with her crew Beat Freaks and her dance partner Maryss from Paris.

source: chosun

 

[J-Pop] 70,000 people go wild for Arashi’s 10th anniversary at Kokuritsu!

The popular group Arashi has welcomed the first day of “ARASHI Anniversary Tour 5×10″, their 10th anniversary concert tour, at Tokyo’s Kokuritsu Kyogijo (until the 30th). “We want to become a group that is known throughout the world 10 years, 20 years from now.” Just as they had vowed at their debut 10 years ago, these five people are stirring up a storm not only in Japan, but Asia as well. A million sales of their best of album is also right before their eyes. The hottest five people right now held a magnificent celebration of their memorial year with 70,000 fans.

The final stage. “We are blessed to have received support over these 10 years.” Overcome with emotion and moved to tears, leader Ohno Satoshi (28) was hugged by Aiba Masaki (26). It was a very Arashi-like scene.

The tour title, “5×10″, represents the 10 years they had gone through together. With three consecutive days of performances at the Kokuritsu for the first time in history for starters, it was a brilliant curtain-dropping to their following 5 dome commemorative tour that will attract 760,000 people.

It was a masterpiece from the very beginning. Just as you wonder if you can see their figures high up in the sky on the stage constructed beside the main stand, they flew 200 metres all the way to the Olympic flame platform at a height of 30 metres. Taking in the view of the seating below them, they hyped up the 70,000 strong audience with “Kokuritsu, let’s have fun!!”

With “Raising a storm in the world” as their catchphrase, they debuted in November of 1999 with an average age of 16.6 years. They have literally created a “storm” on this island, but while their national popularity has reached the top, the road they’ve traveled to get this far had not been smooth.

September of 1999. Starting with a flashy debut conference in Hawaii, they were offered one topic after another. On the other hand, there were periods where their CDs did not sell as many as expected as well. Up until now, the number of both singles and albums that became million-sellers is zero. To Arashi, their first million-seller is right before their eyes with the best of album that went on sale this month, “All the BEST! 1999-2009″.

It had taken time for their big break. After their debut, they had taken the train to their jobs for 4 to 5 years. During their 2002 tour, all the members would gather in leader Ohno’s hotel room after their shows ended each night to worry over “What should we do to be Arashi-like?” “How can we become like our senpais?” and so on, holding discussions over the direction they should take. It was there that the self-awareness of the members became unified for the first time, and began to move forward in a single direction.

“All of us are diligent. I believe that this is the fruit born from doing everything with care.” Like Matsumoto Jun (25) had said, it is the accumulation of hard work and achievements. With Ninomiya Kazunari (26)’s appearance in “Iwojima kara no tegami” (released in 2006) directed by Clint Eastwood and Matsumoto’s “Hana yori dango” series that caused a social phenomenon, they succeeded in reaching a new, wider demographic of fans as well.

At the news conference before their show, Sakurai Sho (27) spoke his mind frankly and honestly: “We’re a group that took its time a bit. We took the roundabout way, but we’re glad to have finally arrived here. We feel all the more joyous.” The 10th year is just a single checkpoint. “Arashi’s Era” still has yet to end.

Source: daily sports online
translations credits to ames_909 @ LJ

 

[K-Pop] G Dragon Releases New Solo MV “Heartbreaker”

Big Bang’s G Dragon made a surprising comeback by winning in various music programs despite the on-going girl groups war.  Moreover, his new album “Heartbreaker” sold over 100,000 copies already! Way to go, GD! ^_^

He also dyed his hair to blonde/white-ish XDDD I love it! XD It reminds me of HYDE’s Roentgen era ^_^

Here’s his new MV “Heartbreaker”:

 

[J-Pop] BoA to Have Christmas Concerts in Japan

South Korea’s top pop star BoA will have her first Christmas live concerts in Tokyo in two years.

BoA announced on her Japan Web site earlier this week that she will hold the live concerts under the title of “BoA The LIVE X’mas.” More recently, she has been active with “Girlfriend,” her new collaboration song with Crystal Kay, Japan’s top singer.

BoA’s Christmas live concerts will take place in Tokyo on Dec. 4-5 and in Osaka on Dec. 8.

BoA, 22, who had been performing in Japan, released her U.S. album on March 17 amid high expectations and has since been stepping up her American activities.

She is struggling to repeat her success in Japan in the United States. Specifically, she has signed a contract with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the No. 1 Hollywood entertainment agency.

Under the agreement, within North America CAA is representing BoA in all areas, including music, film and merchandising. The agency is mulling a U.S. tour in the second half of the year.

source: koreantimes

 

[K-Pop] SM’s New Girl Group f(x) Declares War Against YG’s 2NE1! ^^

source: newsen
Korean to Chinese translations Chika @ 21.Impact
Chinese to English translations pasta & Luragon @ YGLEdited by Luragon @ YGL
Shared by Bulletproof @ F(x) Forums

The battle of the girl groups this year is just getting more and more interesting.

f(x)’s presence has become a declaration of war against this summer’s reigning rookie group, 2NE1.

On August 24th, via Youtube and SM’s broadcast, SM Entertainment revealed new five-girl group (x)’s debut music video “Lachata” teasers.

f(x) is a girl group that consists of group members Victoria, Amber, Sulli, Luna, and Krystal. This time, SM Entertainment’s goal is not only Korea, but also all of Asia and perhaps even the whole world’s entertainment industry, by preparing long and hard for a global, international girl group. According to SM spokespeople, f(x) will be performing powerful dance moves and songs.

This produces a “powerful” image for the girl group, which discards the old “cute” girl band image, thus becoming a formidable rival for successful girl group 2NE1. SM Entertainment has come out with a statement, saying that through the “powerful” group rivalry, f(x) will gain more popularity.

What’s interesting is that both groups have been through long periods of time as trainees, and are both elegant and have long histories. 2NE1’s Sandara Park was a teenage star in the Philippines, who later returned to Korea to become a member. Gong Minji, stage name Minzy, has also raised a lot of attention, and Park Bom and CL, also YGE trainees, have become celebrities.

f(x) also has impressive history. Krystal, SNSD’s Jessica’s younger sister, has already been a hot topic among netizens. Victoria, a natural born Chinese citizen, has been through various interviews and auditions in China in order to be accepted into SM Entertainment. Sulli has also been a child actress since she was young.

What’s more interesting about the rivalry between 2NE1 and f(x) is the competition between the pride of their two management companies. 2NE1’s company, YG Entertainment, and f(x)’s company, SM Entertainment, are traditional rival entertainment companies when it comes to idol groups. Also, being the management companies for the two largest national bands, DBSK and Big Bang, the competition has now been transferred to the two girl groups.

Judging from the aforementioned points, in the future there should be growing tensions between the rival groups.

 

[Korea] Lee MinHo and 2NE1 Sandara Park for Cass Beer CF

STOP CALLING SANDARA PARK AS THE PHILIPPINES’ BoA! BLASPHEMY.

Boys Over Flowers Lee MinHo and 2NE1 member Sandara Park will join Big Bang for star-studded beer endorsement frenzy.

It has been confirmed that Sandara Park of 2NE1 will join Lee MinHo for endorsing Cass 2X campaign. She is the next idol after Big Bang members to endore beer CF.

OB Beer said, “Sandara Park, who debuted as ‘Philippines’ BoA’ will transform into a femme fatale, shedding her pure image with her long hair in this CF. She will wear sexy smokey eye makeup, and her hair will be pulled back, and wear skinny jeans – she will show the ‘toxic’ youthful image for Cass beer.”

The marketing team for OB Beer also added that they have got the icons for youths these days to endorse the beer. And through this CF, the company also aim to present a new trend amongst netizens through this iconic stars.

source: kbites

 

[J-Pop] Police file papers on event organizers over singer Hamasaki’s outdoor event

Police on Thursday sent prosecutors papers on three companies and 11 employees that organized an outdoor event featuring pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki without permission in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward in April.

The companies, including Hamasaki’s agent Avex Management Inc., are charged with violating the road traffic law in holding the 15-minute event designed to mark the publication of her book on the afternoon of April 7.

The event was held in an open space in front of the fashion emporium Shibuya 109, causing crowds to flood onto the streets.

About 3,000 people swarmed to the venue, disrupting the traffic on the streets, according to the Tokyo police.

All of the 11 employees have admitted to the charge, police said, quoting them as saying they knew they would not be able to get permission to use the road if they sought advance notice and would probably have had to cancel the event plan.

Avex had claimed it knew nothing of the situation because the other companies were tasked with organizing the event. But an investigation led Tokyo police to conclude that Avex was responsible in part for causing the trouble, according to investigative sources.

The police did not question Hamasaki herself because they thought she was not directly involved in the process of planning the event.

breitbart.com

 

[J-Pop] SMAP Urges Voters to Back Incumbents in Election

SMAP, the Japanese pop group that has dominated the nation’s music scene for more than two decades, urged voters to support incumbent politicians as the ruling party faces likely defeat in a national election this weekend.

The five-member all-male group, which has had a top-10 selling compact disc for 17 straight years with songs such as “Celery” and “Fly,” appeared in a four-page newspaper ad this week titled “How to Build a Happy Nation.”

“When the economy is good, prime ministers are popular, but in bad times, that popularity fades,” the band said in the ad, which was wrapped around the Aug. 26 morning edition of the Sankei newspaper. “Still, these are people whom we’ve elected, so let’s make some allowances and support them.”

The ad is an appeal to young voters to support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Takao Sasaki, a professor of politics and media at Heisei International University in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

“The ad clearly backs the LDP and Aso, and it could affect younger voters and SMAP fans who haven’t decided whom to support,” said Sasaki. It may have confused readers because it didn’t cite any products or affiliation on the first page, Sasaki said, adding he initially thought the ad had been placed by the election management commission as a public service.

Victor Entertainment Inc., which sells SMAP CDs and is a subsidiary of JVC Kenwood Holdings Inc., said it paid for the advertisement. An official at SMAP’s agent Johnny & Associates declined to answer questions on the phone about the ad.

‘Sotto Kyutto’

On the back side of the double-paged spread is an ad for a new CD called “Sotto Kyutto” or Softly, Tightly, which went on sale on Aug. 26 for 1,155 yen ($12.30).

The advertisement wasn’t meant to support any specific candidate or political party, said Yoichi Miyagawa, a Victor official who manages the SMAP account.

While the ad doesn’t mention any politicians by name, the message is clearly voicing support for Prime Minister Taro Aso and his party, said Susumu Kato, a managing director and chief economist at Calyon Securities.

The LDP, which has governed Japan for all but 10 months since 1955, is facing a landslide loss in the Aug. 30 election, according to newspaper polls.

“This advertisement wrapped around a national newspaper delivers a strong and clear message to support Aso and the ruling party,” said Kato. “The problem is it’s unclear who is behind this advertisement and for what purpose. The ad could affect the decisions of younger voters.”

112 Seats

The Democratic Party of Japan, which had 112 seats in the lower house when parliament was dissolved last month, may win more than 320 of the 480 seats to be contested in the election, the Asahi newspaper reported yesterday, citing its own telephone survey taken Aug. 22-25.

An LDP spokesman who declined to be identified said that while the party wasn’t involved in planning or creating the ad, it appreciated it as a show of support.

Sankei, a national newspaper that has a daily circulation of 1.8 million, said in a statement faxed to Bloomberg News the advertisement was appropriate and neutral.

SMAP debuted in April 1988 and its members are between the ages of 32 and 37, according to the Johnny & Associates Web site. Members of the group appear on their own in TV dramas, variety shows and music programs each day of the week, and the group appears together in a variety program called “SMAP x SMAP” that airs every Monday from 10 p.m. They also appear in commercials for companies such as Softbank Corp.

Indecent Exposure

One member of the band, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, 35, dominated media coverage for several days when he was arrested in April for indecent exposure in Hinokicho Park in the Akasaka neighborhood of Tokyo. Kusanagi had appeared in a government- sponsored campaign promoting digital TV. The ads were suspended temporarily and have resumed airing.

Tokyo prosecutors decided not to indict Kusanagi because he showed remorse, and the singer rejoined his group to tape “SMAP x SMAP” in late May, Kyodo News reported May 28.

bloomberg.com

 

[J-Rock] VAMPS article in the latest issue of the Time Magazine!!!!

Out for blood
Vamps dispense with fripperies to deliver a raucous, pounding album

Hard Bitten

By Pavan Shamdasani Monday, Aug. 31, 2009

 

In music terminology, Vamps are recurrent themes, usually chords or series of chords played continually to establish rhythm. VAMPS is also the name of a side project by two of Japanese music’s leading lights — alt-rock singer HYDE and guitarist K.A.Z (the professional name of Kazuhito Iwaike).

The two have titled their debut album the same way, and while it’s tempting to think of the name VAMPS as an advertisement for the chugging three-chord rock within, chances are it’s more to do with the fangs and bleeding lips on the album cover, the gothic song titles (“Bite,” “Sex Blood Rock N’ Roll”) and an opportunistic nod to the current youthful fad for all things vampirical. Whatever the intent, the name works both ways.

HYDE’s and K.A.Z’s full-time bands (L’Arc-en-Ciel and Oblivion Dust, respectively) have always had strong presences in the J-rock scene, each shifting tons of albums to a shared fan base. But there’s no escaping the fact that their day jobs were never this straight-up. Like a well-deserved summer break, the album sees them do what they do best, showcasing screeching vocals and guitar against the unobtrusive, workmanlike backing of a rhythm section of keyboards, bass and drums. Almost all experimental fat is trimmed.

Split evenly between English and Japanese, HYDE’s vocals are at their most grungy and guttural, while K.A.Z’s fluid technical skill is showcased in endless fret-board runs. Their latest single, “Love Addict,” epitomizes the sound with its barrage of power chords, senseless lyrics and throbbing drums. Barring a couple of diversions — the chart-friendly, emo paean “Evanescent,” the wistful ballad “Sweet Dreams” — the album sticks to this no-frills template, which is no bad thing. All the hallmarks of classic J-rock are here, but amped up and hardened for a more streetwise generation.

Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1917645,00.html

 

Because of this article, I’m gonna hunt for my copy of the Time Magazine tomorrow morning!!! ^_^