Actor Ji Chang Wook and singer The One (Jeong Soon Won) will welcome 2016 in China.
On Monday, Dec. 7, Chinese media reported that Ji Chang Wook and The One will appear on Jiangsu TV's New Year's eve concert.
Ji Chang Wook will perform with a Chinese singer (not yet revealed) and sing "Starry Mood," a song by Jay Chou.
The One will sing a song from TV variety show We Are in Love, which is the Chinese version of the popular Korean program We Got Married.
The concert is scheduled to broadcast on Dec. 31.
The One (Jeong Soon Won) is known for winning the second season of MBC's survival program I am a Singer. His last activity was the release of duet single titled "Wistful" with Sonnet Son on June 19, 2014.
Super Junior's Kyuhyun treated fans to a special song cover during his "Fall Once Again" solo concert performance on November 6.
Fans were elated when halfway through the show Kyuhyun "introduced" two surprise performers for the night: the legendary rapper Song Minkyu and Big Bing's Kyuhyun. The audience was quick to pick up that Kyuhyun was parodying Mnet's rap competition program Show Me the Money 4 (Kyuhyun's version titled Give Me the Money 4) with a performance of WINNER member Mino's "Fear" featuring Big Bang's Taeyang. On stage, Kyuhyun impressed fans with his rap abilities while Big Bing's Kyuhyun provided the featuring vocals via a video at the performance, according to an article by Soompi.
"Fall Once Again" marks Kyuhyun's first solo concert. The event is currently being held at SMTOWN COEX Artium in the SMTOWN theater. Kyuhyun will be holding a total of six shows from November 6 through November 8 and then three more from November 13 thru 15.
Ahead of his solo show, Kyuhyun released his second EP in October, showcasing his sweet vocals. With one show already down, many are excited to see what other surprises Kyuhyun brings to his sold out concert series.
Unfortunately, there is no official audio of Kyuhyun's cover released yet and videos were strictly prohibited. However, many fans have uploaded their recorded audio so everyone can enjoy Kyuhyun's version of "Fear." Source
After nine long years, Shin Seung Hoon will be making a comeback with his 11th full-length album releasing on October 29th.
The new album will be released in two parts where the Part 1, "I Am" will release on the 29th while Part 2 in mid-November titled "& I Am." Each album is an EP consisting of six tracks.
In Part 1, listeners wll be able to meet the legend of Shin Seung Hoon that has been ongoing with the musical history of now. While maintaining the same music styles and sounds he kicked off his career with, this part will be dedicated for the fans who had been anticipating new material from the balladeer.
However Part 2 will showcase Shin Seung Hoon's future direction of music taking new different genres and sounds to incorporate and present a new style.
In addition, to follow up the new album, Shin Seung Hoon will be holding a concert from December 4th through December 6th at Kyung Hee University Hall of Peace called "The Shin Seung Hoon Show - I Am Shin Seung Hoon."
Sexy female K-pop group Nine Muses will be making their comeback before the year is over
A representative from their agency, Star Empire Entertainment, revealed on Monday, Sept. 21 that the group is preparing another album. With no release date scheduled yet, Nine Muses are aiming to drop the album sometime before the end of 2015.
Known for their model-like image and sexy concepts, Nine Muses most recently promoted the summer single "Hurt Locker," which was released on July 2 and included on the group's fourth EP S/S Edition. Prior to that, on Jan. 23, the group unveiled their single "Drama" off the EP of the same name.
Nine Muses consists Kyungri, Hyuna, Sojin, Erin, Sungah, Hyemi, Minha, and Keumjo.
The group made their debut on August 12, 2010, with single titled "No Playboy." Over the years, Nine Muses have had several members leave the group in order to pursue other careers.
Well, the Wests are officially back in town. After heading out late last week, the couple arrived in New York City over the weekend to prepare for the upcoming shows with daughter North in tow. And it’s clear that the expectant mom has brought her fashion A game with her, too.
Before arriving in NYC, Mrs. West stepped out in Los Angeles on Friday wearing a Maison Margiela look over a blush pink dress. Then last night in Manhattan, she put her own elevated spin on an all-black-everything urban uniform. Her Valentino dress featured a built-in cape, continuing the trend seen on stylish A-listers such as Lupita Nyong’o (Remember the red Ralph Lauren Collection dress she wore to the 2014 Golden Globe Awards?) and Gwyneth Paltrow (who wore a white Tom Ford version to the 2012 Oscars). Grounding both looks were thin, strappy sandals from Tom Ford and Manolo Blahnik. With Kim set to make several front row appearances this week, here’s hoping she brings more of that evolving maternity style to the shows.
After nearly a decade since their last interaction, Shinhwa will be reconnecting with their Japanese fans in October, reports The Korea Herald.
After nearly a decade since their last interaction, Shinhwa will be reconnecting with their Japanese fans in October, reports The Korea Herald.
Shinhwa held their last official Japanese fan event in 2006 but they promise to make up for it with a fan meeting in Tokyo, Japan at the Makuhari Event Hall on Saturday, October 10.
The group has unveiled the fan poster, and it revealed details of the upcoming Japanese fan event, including the title of "Ten x Ten Party" in reference to the event date.
Shinhwa will be conducting two performance sessions that day, one at 2 PM and another at 6 PM with unique performances in both shows, adds The Korea Herald.
"The members are looking forward to the upcoming fan meeting. It will be the first step of Shinhwa's future musical activities in Japan," said the long-running boy group's agency.
Shinhwa has just finished touring Asia and their encore concert at Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Arena held over the weekend which marked their 17th anniversary since debut.
Aside from the renewed fan engagement in Japan in October, member Jun Jin is looking to release a solo album early next month, his first new music since releasing the EP Fascination in May 2009.
K-pop girl group Apink released their second album, “Pink Memory” today including their song, “Memory,” which features a fun rhythm and vintage sound.
“We are finally coming back with our second album,” said member Jung Eunji posted Thursday to the Korean news website OSEN. “We hope that everyone can remember that we released a song for the summer as well.”
“Memory” was also released on Genie, Olleh Music, Naver Music, Mnet, Bugs and continued to top the real-time charts.
The group will make their comeback performance tomorrow through KBS 2TV “Music Bank.”
On July 1, the Korean outlet Dispatch published an exclusive story which claimed that "Pinocchio" stars Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk were dating. S.A.L.T Entertainment, the agency which represents Park immediately denied the claims. Their statement was followed by one issued on behalf of Lee Jong Suk, who also denied the dating rumors.
A representative from Wellmade Yedang provided a statement to Newsen which refuted the claims. "Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye are not dating," said the spokesman. "They are just friends."
Dating rumors surrounding the couple escalated after they were spotted together, along with other top Korean stars, at a May 2015 resort wear party hosted by Chanel.
While their agencies denied that they were dating, outlets including the Korea Times posted photos from the Chanel resort event and social media to bolster the rumors.
News of Park Shin Hye and Lee Jong Suk was less startling to audiences who fell in love with their on-screen image during "Pinocchio."
The biggest challenge for actors and K-Variety stars is to convince audiences that an on-screen relationship could develop in the real world.
Here are five K-Drama and K-Variety couples that touched our hearts during the first half of 2015.
1. Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye
Most fans were not shocked by news that Lee Jong Suk would actually date Park Shin Hye. Their on-screen chemistry in "Pinocchio" provided some of the sweetest K-Drama moments of early 2015. From their toast kiss to their shaving scene, the pair managed to captivate viewers.
2. Song Jae Rim and Kim So Eun
The LTE Couple is one of the most beloved pairs to appear on "We Got Married," in quite some time. Viewers continue to mourn their departure from the variety show while harboring hopes that they will continue their romance off-screen.
3. Gary and Song Ji Hyo
The playful banter between Gary and Song Ji Hyo are one of the primary reasons to watch "Running Man." The Monday Couple continues to attract attention, years after they were made an on-screen pair.
4. Park Min Young and Ji Chang Wook
Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young shared so many adorable moments in "Healer." Their charismatic interactions transformed the action series into a timeless K-Drama hit.
5. Lee Jong Hyun and Gong Seungyeon
CNBLUE's Lee Jong Hyun and actress Gong Seungyeon have helped to draw interest back to "We Got Married." Whether they are learning Kendo or visiting their family members, they approach one another with lighthearted joy.
2PM released a sexy teaser video of their new album's title track, "My
House."
Released on June 12 through JYP's Official YouTube channel and homepage, the
teaser video stirred wild imaginations with its alluring cinematography.
"My House" is a unique track composed and written by Jun.K. It features
electronic sources, acoustic guitar, and synth. Its addicting lyrics will talk
about a man's strong attraction toward a woman.
2PM's new album, "No.5," will transmit the group's diverse colors through
various genres such as acoustic, urban, R&B, punk, electronic, and more.
"No.5" will be released on June 15, and 2PM will officially begin their
comeback activities through Mnet M Countdown on June 18.
EXO-M's main dancer Zhang "Lay" Yixing has a message for fans of the Chinese
"sub-unit" of K-pop blockbuster boy band EXO--you can count on him.
In an interview published Saturday in the Chinese magazine SE Weekly, Lay
reassured any fans insecure about the band's future following the departure of
two EXO-M members, Luhan and Wu "Kris" Yifan (both currently in ongoing legal
negotiations with the group's label SM Entertainment to get out of their
recording contracts), within the past 12 months.
"The members trust me very much," Lay said. "Just like the [EXO] song
'Promise,' I will always keep my promise with EXO. There is no way I will
terminate my contract, but I will keep persevering."
Comprised of two groups, EXO-K featuring six Korean members and EXO-M, now
down to four members, EXO is arguably the hottest male group in K-pop right
now.
Their second studio album "Exodus," released on March 30, received 500,000
pre-sales, a new record for a Korean pop album, according to the Korean
entertainment website allkpop. And the music video for the latest EXO single
"Call Me Baby," has already received over 13 million views.
Yet, for Lay it is not enough.
The 23-year-old pop star feels the weight of keeping EXO-M afloat if for no
other reason than to assure that their will always be a place for Chinese
performers in K-pop.
"I must use my own hard work to prove that Chinese people can be trusted,"
Lay said.
"If everyone [in EXO-M] terminated their contracts, there is a possibility
that SM will never work with Chinese people in the future and that will obstruct
the cultural exchange between China and Korea."
But he also has a huge devotion to the group's devoted fans.
"Fans have really done a lot of things that touched me, many romantic
things," Lay said.
"They will write letters to me, like love letters, and I keep them very
diligently. When I have time, I will read them. Some of these love letters,
beyond praising me will remind me of a lot of problems, such as taking care of
my body. [They'll tell me] not to slouch. These are very helpful love
letters."
And that devotion to the fans and fellow Chinese performers translates into a
steady, deliberate work schedule for the EXO band member, who recalled skipping
out on Chinese New Year festivities back in February, so he could stay in Seoul
and work on his moves.
"If I went home, I wouldn't know how to dance and it would hold back our
members," he said. "I don't want to be the one holding back others."
I listen to music when
I’m travelling, which means my iPhone becomes one of my travel companions, and
also on my computer with headphones. YouTube is also a fantastic way to discover
music and to listen to repertoire I don’t know.
What was the
last piece of music you bought?
Theodora by Handel
played by les Arts Florissants and William Christie I am singing this oratorio
for the first time next October and need to work a lot in advance on my English
pronunciation.
What’s your
musical guilty pleasure?
If you found
yourself with six months free to learn a new instrument, what would you
choose?
The cello, for sure.
When I started studying music I was a violinist; I would love to learn a bass
instrument. That would be very useful too, because I would love to conduct in
the future.
Is applauding
between movements acceptable?
It depends on the
situation. During a symphony I prefer not, but for example after a movement of a
concerto, if people are particularly happy, why not? More and more I try to make
programs with links between the pieces to avoid too much applause. A meaningful
silence can be so magical. Having said that, it is the audience who always
decides!
Philippe Jaroussky in Il Sant’Alessio, the 1632
“dramma musicale” by Stefano Landi, directed by Benjamin Lazar at Caen theatre,
2007.Photograph: MYCHELE
DANIAU/AFP/Getty Images
What single
thing would improve the format of the classical concert?
I think the format
works well, that’s probably why it hasn’t changed very much this last century!
Just one frustrates me - sometimes, in order to have the chance to attend
certain performances or subscription series you need to buy tickets six months,
even one year, in advance. Maybe we should keep back some tickets for sale only
a month ahead so as to give people who are not so used to going to classical
concerts and booking very early the chance to go.
What’s been
your most memorable live music experience as an audience member?
The first time I heard
a concert in the Berlin Philharmonie. It happened to be my favourite symphony by
Shostakovich, the 10th, conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Of course I cried!
What was the
first ever record or cd you bought?
I remember this
perfectly. It was Paganini’s 24 Caprices played by Itzhak Perlman. I was 11 and
a violin student. I always listen to this recording with emotion. He was my idol
when I was young.
Do you enjoy
musicals? Do you have a favourite?
Yes, but I’m touring
all the time so I haven’t had the chance to see a musical for so long.
How many
recordings of the Goldberg Variations do you own? Do you have a
favourite?
I have Glenn Gould and
Pierre Hantaïs Goldbergs. Difficult to have more opposite versions, but I like
them both.
American conductor and composer Leonard
Bernstein.Photograph: PA/EMPICS
Which
conductor of yester-year do you most wish you could have worked
with?
I would have loved to
work with Leonard Bernstein. What a talent! You can feel this by watching his
videos, how inspiring he was for all. My dream would be to work with Nikolaus
Harnoncourt too. Maybe in the future? For me he is the conductor who really
changed the way we now play Bach, Mozart, Beethoven…
Which
non-classical musician would you love to work with?
In the baroque spirit... Lady Gaga performs live at
London’s 02 Arena on 23 October, 2014.Photograph: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Lady Gaga. I was very
impressed by her last jazz album with Tony Bennett. She is totally in the
baroque spirit. I have already worn costumes as crazy as hers in some baroque
opera productions!
Imagine you’re
a festival director here in London with unlimited resources. What would you
programme - or commission - for your opening event?
I would produce a
“Handel night” ( a four to five hour show) with different baroque groups, choirs
and of course singers. Because he is just the best!
What do you
sing in the shower?
Mostly phrases of
arias I will be singing in public the next days… it’s a good way to win some
time!
If you think that boho fashion is all about Sienna Miller in a kaftan in
2005, you need to make your way to London’s Fashion & Textile Museum this
month for its new exhibition on Thea Porter. Though she’s no longer a household
name, Porter basically owned the boho look from the late 60s onwards, and this
retrospective is a long-overdue celebration of her impact on fashion then and
now. Here are five things to know about her.
1. Growing up in the Middle East had a lasting influence on her designs
2. She started out with interiors, and menswear followed
Her first shop, on Soho’s Greek Street, is being reconstructed for the
exhibition and sounds like quite the hangout. It opened in 1966, and sold
Porter’s ornate, colourful furnishings, including wall hangings and curtains.
The Beatles snapped them up to decorate their short-lived Apple Boutique. Rock
royalty liked her menswear designs, too. Elton John was an early fan and Pink
Floyd wore her embroidered jackets and vibrant shirts on the cover of their
appropriately trippy debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn in 1967. Floral cotton voile dress, 1969.Photograph: Courtesy of the Venetia Porter
collection/V&A Photographic Studio
3. She also excelled at womenswear
Porter fitted into the floaty, feminine mood of the time that other designers
– Bill Gibb, Ossie Clark, Laura Ashley – were also exploring, but made it her
own with several signatures. Along with the aghabani shirtdress, her so-called
“gipsy” dress – layers of vibrantly printed chiffon, with a tight bodice and
flowing sleeves – had the requisite wild romanticism, especially when worn with
swashbuckling boots. For those who fancy trying to recreate the look now, East,
the high street store sponsoring the Fashion & Textile Museum show, has
produced a capsule collection in homage. Thea Porter in her workroom at the back of the
Greek Street shop.Photograph: Patrick
Hunt
4. She had a good business brain on her chiffon-clad shoulders
A regular in the pages of British Vogue – where luminaries including Lauren
Hutton, Penelope Tree and Rudolf Nureyev modelled her clothes – the likes of
Barbra Streisand and Faye Dunaway were clients in the Greek Street store and
Elsa Peretti modelled in her shows. While Porter’s name faded into obscurity in
the 1980s and 90s, it’s since become a cult favourite on the vintage scene, with
original pieces fetching more than £1,000 on eBay. Kate Moss, Nicole Richie and
the Olsen twins – all very fond of the modern-boho look – are latterday fans.
One look around this exhibition, and we bet you will be too.
Last night, Calvin Klein underwear unveiled its latest star – singer Justin
Bieber. Given his teenage girl fanbase and the brand’s iconic coolness, is this
a mistake?
Justin Bieber in Calvin Klein’s 2015 campaign. Photograph: Mert Alas and
Marcus Piggott/Calvin Klein
After several days of drip-fed teasers, last night saw the unveiling of
Calvin Klein’s newest underwear model: singer Justin Bieber.
The black and white campaign, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, features
the topless 20-year-old in various poses, staring with his familiar “who me?”
look of bemusement alongside Calvin Klein model Lara Stone. Tanned,
heavily-tattooed and clearly no stranger to planking, Bieber’s casting makes
aesthetic sense. There’s just one issue: if the aim of the campaign is to boost
sales, who is it aimed at?
We know that Bieber’s audience is primarily pre-teen and teenage girls. This
suggests that the adverts are aimed either at girls with both a disposable
income and a desire to turn their boyfriends into Biebers, or boys who either
want to look like Bieber (unlikely) and/or please their girlfriends. This might
seem sad or misguided: historically, Calvin Klein’s underwear models scream
cool, whereas last year, Forbes declared Bieber one of the most overexposed
celebrities in the world. But as with Kim Kardashian and her ilk, we know
there’s no link between saturation point and selling power.
Bieber’s immeasurable popularity, born on YouTube and nurtured at an
impressive rate by social media, has seen him become more of a brand than a
singer. Short of selling tampons, Bieber has successfully endorsed everything,
from bags and dolls to shower curtains and acne cream, earning an estimated $58m
last year. In 2012, his Girlfriend fragrance was the best-selling celebrity
licensed perfume. He is a cash cow first, artist second. With Lara Stone.
With Lara Stone. Photograph: Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott/Calvin Klein
The main issues with his casting is not his target market; rather it’s how
the rest of the world sees him. In the past, Calvin Klein have cast their
underwear models from one of two pools: relative obscurity or celebrities with
edge. To wit, former models Antonio Sabàto Jr, Australian Travis Fimmel (who
reportedly became the first male model to earn six figures for a single
campaign) and Jamie Dornan pre-The Fall, alongside rapper Marky Mark (Mark
Wahlberg, who appeared with Kate Moss), actor Djimon Hounsou and footballer
Freddie Ljungberg, the latter appearing in one of the brand’s most successful
campaigns to date.
Extremely famous and deeply uncool, Bieber is in neither camp. His recent
dance with controversy, which saw him charged with assault and dangerous
driving, might neatly echo the narrative of proto-Bieber, Mark Wahlberg, who had
several drug and assault offences to his name by the time he appeared in his
Calvin Klein boxers in 1992, but that’s where the similarity ends. Furthermore,
it’s unlikely the brand would actively choose to be seen promoting or courting
controversy.
In his defence, Bieber is a longtime fan of the low-rise jean, wearing logoed
Calvin Kleins with shameless visibility for several years, for once suggesting
this is case of product following placement. It’s just whether you’d buy
underwear from a man who sings: “Stay in my backpack for ever, stay in my
backpack for ever/ You know I gotta find my spaceship, my planet’s outside there
waiting”, six pack or not.
