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!
