Acclaimed artist and producer benny blanco has teamed up with Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook of BTS and Snoop Dogg for a new song, “Bad Decisions,” out August 5. “Bad Decisions” is the first single to be released from benny’s forthcoming third LP, set for release later this year.
“I’m still pinching myself,” says benny. “I can’t believe I have a song coming out with Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook of BTS and Snoop Dogg. It doesn’t even feel real!”
Furthermore, Xbox will present benny, BTS and Snoop fans all around the world with several unique and unprecedented ways to celebrate the release. More details are forthcoming.
benny blanco is a multi-Platinum, award-winning artist, record producer, songwriter and musician. His two albums to date—FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS and FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS 2—have been streamed more than 8 billion times to date and seen him collaborate with Justin Bieber (their Platinum hit “Lonely” reached #1 on Top 40 radio and has been streamed more than 1 billion times), Halsey and Khalid (on the five times Platinum “Eastside,” a worldwide smash hit and Top 40 #1), Juice WRLD; Selena Gomez, J Balvin, Tainy, Calvin Harris and a host of others.
As a producer and songwriter, blanco is responsible for hundreds of millions of album sales worldwide due to his work with artists including Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Halsey, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Kesha, Sia, The Weeknd, Selena Gomez, Wiz Khalifa, Kanye West and many more. He is the founder of two labels in collaboration with Interscope Records: Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets.
BTS are a GRAMMY-nominated South Korean boyband that has been capturing the hearts of millions of fans globally since their debut in June 2013. The members of BTS are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook. Gaining recognition for their authentic and self-produced music, top-notch performances, and the way they interact with their fans, the band has established themselves as 21st century pop icons breaking countless world records, including six #1 Billboard Hot 100 singles in a span of a year and just over a month, and multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world. BTS were nominated two years in a row for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd and 64th GRAMMY Awards and have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards (Artist of the Year 2021) and MTV Video Music Awards. Jin, Jimin, V and Jung Kook are vocalists in the group.
An entertainment industry mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force who has raised the bar as a globally recognized innovator. Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman and icon. In addition to his extensive work in music, Snoop Dogg is a serial entrepreneur with endeavors in Web 3.0 tech, entertainment, lifestyle, global consumer brands, food/beverage and cannabis industries.
#BennyBlanco #BTS #SnoopDogg #BadDecisions #August52022 #BennyBlancoBTSCollaboration #hiphop #kpop #pop #BIGHIT #HYBE #Xbox #BennyBlanco3rdLPRelease #newrelease #BTSCollaboration #kcrushnews #BTSSouthKorea #hiphopmusic #bennyblancoproducer #Jin #V #Jimin #JungKook #SacksandCo
GLOBAL CHART DOMINATING K-POP ACT TO FINALLY MAKE THEIR LANDING IN EUROPE
SOLD OUT STOPS IN NORTH AMERICA WITH ADDED SHOWS, SET TO TAKE OVER FIVE CITIES IN EUROPE
K-pop’s queens of musical lore, LOONA, announced the European leg of their 2022 LOONA 1st World Tour : [LOONATHEWORLD]. After taking on a full 14 shows in the Americas with sold out nights, the supergroup is ready to take on five cities in Europe, with stops in Warsaw, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, and London. Their European leg of the tour kicks off in Warsaw on September 6 and continues on through three more cities before reaching the last stop in London on September 16.
2022 LOONA 1st World Tour : [LOONATHEWORLD] sees the group make their first landing in Europe, a long awaited moment for fans of the group. It comes as no surprise that the tour itself was organized from the requests of many fans for the group to come to their city, concrete proof of their growing popularity.
The group stands as the epitome of mystery and allure in their concept storyline, seasoned with the charms of the different members that come together for the perfect combination of what makes K-pop unique. Even within the realm of K-pop, the girls stand tall in their distinctive personalities and charms – a dozen main characters, one for each month of the year.
The tour follows a successful first half of the year for LOONA who made their return to the big stage in front of an audience with 2022 이달의 소녀 CONCERT [LOONAVERSE : FROM] in Seoul back in February. From breaking their own first week sales with their recently released Summer Special Mini Album [Flip That] as well as dominating with No.1 on the iTunes Top Albums charts in at least 31 regions, the girls are set to bring their enchanting performances to Europe.
Information regarding presale and general ticketing for the shows can be found on https://mmt.fans/bFQS or through MyMusicTaste’s social media channels.
2022 LOONA 1st World Tour : [LOONATHEWORLD] in EUROPE Dates:
September 6, 2022 – Warsaw / Poland / Arena COS Torwar
September 8, 2022 – Amsterdam / Netherlands / AFAS Live
September 11, 2022 – Frankfurt / Germany / Jahrhunderthalle
September 13, 2022 – Paris / France / Le Zenith
September 16, 2022 – London / United Kingdom / O2 Academy Brixton
ARTIST) About LOONA:
From their unique debut with staggered member reveals over the span of two years starting in 2016 to their official musical release of the song “Hi High” in August of 2018, LOONA has embraced the mysterious and lore driven concept of their group to become a name that represents the core of K-pop: performance, production, and addictive melodies. LOONA’s twelve members: HeeJin, HyunJin, HaSeul, ViVi, YeoJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, Choerry, Yves, Chuu, Go Won, and Olivia Hye create the blended mix of charms, talents, and personalities that brought catchy pop tunes like “Butterfly” to the top of the Billboard charts. Their 2020 releases of “So What” and “Why Not” continued their ranking on international music charts, making them a staple recommended K-pop group on multiple social media networks. They’ve stacked up achievements like their 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards win for Best Korean Act and their 2021 placement as having one of the most requested songs on radio shows. Their latest music video, “Flip That” has already garnered over 35 million views to date. The title track over their mini album of the same name also dominated the iTunes Top Albums charts with No.1s in 31 regions.
MANAGEMENT AGENCY) About Blockberry Creative:
Blockberry Creative is a South Korean record label formed in 2016. The label is home to the girl group LOONA. Blockberry Creative has lived up to its own name through the unique approaches of artists development and promotions.
PROMOTER) About MyMusicTaste:
MyMusicTaste is a fan initiated live event making service that brings fans, artists and promoters from all over the world together in one place to create a valuable and meaningful concert experience for everyone involved. MyMusicTaste puts the power in the fans’ hands, allowing fans to request their favorite artist’s concert in their city. With the mission to connect and amplify the voices of fans all over the world, MyMusicTaste successfully promoted concerts of artists such as EXO, GOT7, MONSTA X, The xx, Machine Gun Kelly, and more in over 57 different cities. With the simple idea–empowering fans to bring their favorite artist’s concert in the city of their choice based on fan demand–MyMusicTaste is challenging the $27 billion concert market through cutting-edge technology and sophisticated, user-friendly service. Currently, www.mymusictaste.com supports more than 30 countries and offers 15 different languages.
For more about LOONA, visit:
Website: http://www.loonatheworld.com/
Facebook: loonatheworld
Instagram: @loonatheworld
Spotify: LOONA
TikTok: @loonatheworld
Twitter: @loonatheworld
YouTube: loonatheworld
#LOONA #MYMUSICTASTE #BlockberryCreative #LOONA1stWORLDTOUR #LOONATHEWORLD #kcrushnews ##HEEJIN #HYUNJIN #HASEUL #VIVI #YEOJIN #KIMLIP #JINSOUL #CHOERRY #YVES #CHUU #GOWON #OLIVEHYE #LOONAButterfly #LOONAFlipThat #LOONAWhyNot #inpersontour #LOONAConcert #LOONAfans #kpop #kpopmusic #kpopidols #kpopEuropeConcerts #kpopUSconcerts
Having taken the No.1 spot on the US Billboard Hot Trending Songs chart, the soaring Japanese boy band BE:FIRST are preparing to release their long-awaited debut album ‘BE:1’ on August 31, 2022. But fans won’t have to wait to hear new music from BE:FIRST – they have now released ‘Scream’, the lead single from the album, along with a music video.
‘Scream’ is an intense exhilarating dance track that shows a challenging new side of BE:FIRST. The song is produced by the power duo of SUNNY BOY, known for songs for artists including BTS, BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, 2NE1, Namie Amuro, Daichi Miura, and SKY-HI; and Maxx Song, the leading K-pop producer behind BoA, Red Velvet, TWICE and more. The track features lyrics by SKY-HI that proclaim the dawn of a new era – perfectly fitting for the lead single from the debut album ‘BE:1’.
BE:FIRST ‘Scream’ download and streaming links:
The track is accompanied by an energetic music video based on the idea of “returning to the new normal” in a world where self-restraint and other limitations still continue; it interprets the title ‘Scream’ as a thirst for liberation, with visuals that show the catharsis of loudly screaming one’s desires. The video tells the story of the members of BE:FIRST overcoming the oppressive world of “walls”, “rules” and “fear”, to face the future and advance to the highest stage.
The dance elements were choreographed by Kazuki (s**t kingz), who took first place in the leading United States dance contest BODY ROCK in 2010 and 2011 as a member of s**t kingz. Look out for dance performances that showcase the energy of the group and the cool series of individual shots that highlight the skills of each member.
BE:FIRST ‘Scream’ music video:
BE:FIRST’s official YouTube account has already surpassed an astonishing 200 million views despite its opening seven short months ago. In addition to music videos, dance practice videos, and livestreams, the channel also features the ‘You’re My “BESTY”’ series, which shows a glimpse of each member’s unique character and natural vibes. Videos in the series are subtitled in multiple languages so that fans around the world can appreciate the charms of BE:FIRST first-hand, as well as listen to their music.
‘You’re My “BESTY”’ playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrvWONK6FcnT_u87ljOQ-n419GILIo3
BE:FIRST is a seven-member dance and vocal group featuring SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO. They signed with BMSG, the management company and label led by SKY-HI. Their debut single ‘Gifted.’ was released in November 2021 and hit No.1 on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100, as well as reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot Trending Songs 24-hour chart. Their second single ‘Bye-Good-Bye’ also topped the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100, and its music video has received over 25 million views on YouTube.
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BE:FIRST release information
New single ‘Scream’ out now
‘Scream’ download and streaming links:
‘Scream’ music video:
1st album ‘BE:1’
Released Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Product details/store:
https://shop.md-sass.jp/en/collections/befirst
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BE:FIRST profile
A seven-member dance and vocal group featuring SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO, signed to SKY-HI’s management company and label BMSG. Each member has a high level of ability and potential for singing, dancing, and rap, along with a musical sensitivity reflected in their songwriting and choreography. Each owns an attractive individuality that marks each of them as unique. Under the name BE:FIRST, this seven-piece group has swept the No.1 spots on various charts in Japan since before their debut. Now they are taking their bold first steps toward Asia and the world.
BE:FIRST links
Official website: https://befirst.tokyo/
Japanese Twitter: https://twitter.com/BEFIRSTofficial
Global Twitter: https://twitter.com/BEFIRST_global
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/befirst__official/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEFIRSTofficial
TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSJnapbvM/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BEFIRSTOfficial/
BMSG links
Official website: https://bmsg.tokyo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMSG_official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmsg_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BMSG_official
#BEFIRST #BEFIRSTScream #BMSG #JPOP #SOTA @SHUNTO #MANATO #RYUHEI #JUNON #RYOKI #LEO #SKYHI #Asianmusic #Japaneseboygroup #Kazuki #YOUREMYBESTYSERIES #Debutalbum #ScreamMusicVideo #BEFIRSTSCREAMMUSICVIDEO #B1album
Former figure skater and Olympic medalist Kim Yuna will be a newlywed soon!
Korean media source The Fact discovered Kim has been dating Forestella’s Ko Woo Rim after essentially stalking the star for two months to uncover if dating rumors surrounding her were true. The Fact later published images of the two together on a date July 23, 2022. Along with the images, The Fact shared “proof” the female with Ko was Kim based on the design of woman’s phone case.
Kim, who leads a private life, has reportedly been dating Ko for three years. Beat Interactive, Ko’s agency, said Kim and Ko met in 2018 following the All That Skate Ice Show.
Following The Fact’s sharing of photos and Newsen’s report of the dating news, Beat Interactive released a statement that also confirmed Kim and Ko will get married this fall.
Hello. This is BEAT INTERACTIVE.
We have happy news to share regarding our agency’s artist Ko Woo Rim. Ko Wo Rim will be getting married to figure skating queen Kim Yuna in October.
The wedding ceremony will be carried out privately with close relatives and acquaintances, so we ask for generous understanding from the many fans and media for not revealing the specific details of the wedding date and wedding hall location.
Ko Woo Rim first met the bride-to-be in 2018 at the congratulatory performance for the All That Skate ice show, and after three years of dating, their love has come to bear fruit in the form of marriage.
Ko Woo Rim is a graduate of Seoul National University’s department of vocal music, and he is a member of the crossover male quartet group FORESTELLA that ultimately won JTBC’s “Phantom Singer 2.” With his weighty yet gentle and charming voice, solid singing skills, and romantic sensibility, he has been greeting the general public with numerous albums, concerts, and broadcast performances.
After marriage, Ko Woo Rim will continue to work actively as a member of FORESTELLA, a vocalist, and a crossover singer. Please send lots of support for Ko Woo Rim’s activities as he shows a more mature side to himself within a stable family.
Thank you.
Kim’s agency, All That Sports, also confirmed the marriage news.
“Kim and Ko first met when Forestella appeared as a guest singer at the All That Skate Ice Show in 2018, and dated for three years,” said All That Sports. “Both Kim and Ko want to have a normal wedding only with close relatives and acquaintances. We plan to proceed privately without revealing the specific wedding date and venue to the media.”
Kim is considered a national treasure in South Korea. She is the 2010 ladies’ singles figure skating Olympic champion and 2014 Olympic silver medalist. She is the 2009 and 2013 ladies’ figure skating world champion, 2009’s Four Continents champion, three-time Grand Prix Final champion, 2006’s World Juniors champion, and the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final champion. She is also the six-time South Korean figure skating national champion. Kim is also the first female skater to win every major international figure skating competition. She is also the first figure skater ever to complete a Career Super Grand Slam by also winning the Junior Grand Prix Final and the Junior World Championships. During her career, Kim’s held 11 world record scores and broken 13 world records. Kim’s also the first and only figure skater to have never finished off the podium in her entire career under the current ISU Judging System.
Ko is the maknae of Forestella, a crossover vocal quartet. Ko graduated from Seoul National University as a voice major in 2019. He competed on Phantom Singer 2 where he was initially eliminated but ultimately saved. Prior to the show’s conclusion, Forestella was formed with Ko as a member of the group and won the competition. Ko is currently attending graduate school to earn a Master’s degree.
Congratulations to Yuna Kim and Ko Woo Rim on their relationship and upcoming marriage!
—-Olivia Murray
#Forestella #YunaKim #KoWooRim #YunaKimQueenOfFigureSkating #figureskater #PhantonSinger2 #SeoulNationalUniversity #kcrush #kcrushnews #AllThatSkateIceShow #weddingannouncement #engagement #BeatInteractiveAgency #SeoulKorea #Olympicmedalist
2012 was one of K-Pop’s stand out years thanks to hits from BIGBANG (“Fantastic Baby”), 2NE1 (“I Love You”), FTIsland (“Severely”), EPIK HIGH (“Don’t Hate Me”), Lee Seung-gi (“Return”), T-ara (“Lovey-Dovey”), Sistar (“Alone,” “Loving U”), and Block B (“Nillili Mambo”) among others. The year brought plenty of mainstream hits and helped the Hallyu Wave crash into more shores, especially in the United States. However, no song released at that time made the splash quite like PSY’s “Gangnam Style.”
“Industry executives, government officials, pundits, critics, fans… just assumed that the breakout star from Korea would likely be either a boy band or a girl band,” said president of the Seoul-based DFSB Kollective artist and label services agency, Bernie Cho. PSY “proved to everybody that instead of a Korean version of a Western pop star or an international pop star, what the world wanted was something very authentic, original, unique.”
Released on July 15, 2012, the smash hit was not only popular in South Korea, but it quickly climbed international charts, causing the song’s popularity to grow. Soon, “Gangnam Style” not only became a song that was both loved and loathed because of its airplay on the radio, TV shows, sports stadiums, and talk shows, but it also became an international dance craze and an award-winning track that placed K-Pop on the map as a culturally significant music genre in the West.
“It was really influential in perhaps making Korea or Korean music or Korean media more of a common element of general knowledge in lots of places… certainly in the US, but also globally,” said scholar Michelle Cho.
“These kinds of going-viral-on-the-internet media platforms, (such as) YouTube, made K-pop and hallyu really popular and big overseas,” Gyu Tag Lee, a Cultural Studies Professor specializing in K-Pop at Icheon’s George Mason University, said. “Without the big hit that was ‘Gangnam Style’, there may not have been BTS, there may not have been BLACKPINK.”
“I feel very proud that I had a role in being that trigger. BTS have thanked me for that part several times, so I’m proud of it,” PSY said during a press conference for his latest album, PSY 9th.
“He was always someone I was grateful for,” BTS’ Suga said in an interview in May 2022. “With ‘Gangnam Style,’ he paved the way for K-pop in the United States that we were able to follow his footsteps with ease.”
“To have played a role in paving the way for music of all kinds to transcend borders is a true honor,” said PSY.
When it was released, not even PSY could have predicted how much of a viral hit and pop culture icon “Gangnam Style” would become.
According to PSY, “Gangnam Style” was created to poke fun at the Gangnam district lifestyle.
“People who are actually from Gangnam never proclaim that they are—it’s only the posers and wannabes that put on these airs and say that they are ‘Gangnam Style’—so this song is actually poking fun at those kinds of people who are trying very hard to be something that they’re not,” PSY told CNN in 2012.
The satirical song and video are about claiming to be from Gangnam in order to impress a girl, while the video’s dance and themes are intentionally uncouth as part of the fun. Initially, “Gangnam Style” was intended for the local South Korean audience as the humor within the themes, celebrity appearances, and lyrics would be familiar to the local audience.
However, the catchy song and music video appealed to international audiences, causing PSY to become a household name.
“The YouTube video never targeted foreign countries,” PSY told Reuters in 2012. “It was for local fans. My goal in this music video was to look uncool until the end. I achieved it.”
“Gangnam Style” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while carving a path in music history. In the United States, it was certified platinum five times, while Australia saw the song certified 10 times platinum.
PSY’s hit track became the first YouTube video to hit 1 billion views, a feat it achieved December 21, 2012. Ten years later, it’s still one of the top five most-viewed YouTube videos, coming in fifth with 4.4 billion views as of July 15, 2022. The top four consists of “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and featuring Bruno Mars (4.6 billion views), Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” featuring Charlie Puth (5.5 billion views), “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (5.7 billion views), and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee (7.8 billion views). The YouTube “Billion Views Club” now has over 300 members, and this is thanks to “Gangnam Style” breaking the floodgates.
“[PSY] broke the rules of the game. The traditional marketing and promotional playbooks were essentially thrown out the window,” said DFSB Kollective’s Bernie Cho. “[‘Gangnam Style’ showed] the importance, the impact, the influence of YouTube on pop music and pop culture worldwide.”
Since the release of “Gangnam Style,” streaming has become the music industry’s main source of revenue. In addition to changing the industry’s revenue stream, music charts have also adapted to include YouTube and other streaming services into their metrics.
Ten years later, PSY is still going strong. Since 2012, PSY has gone on to create other well-known hits including “Gentleman” (2013) and “Daddy” with CL (2015). He’s also collaborated with Snoop Dogg (“Hangover”) (2014) and “That That” with Suga (2022). He’s also created his own company, P Nation, which is home to HyunA, Dawn, Heize, Crush, and Jessi (formerly). PSY also developed his own idol group, TNX, which debuted in 2022.
“Gangnam Style” is one of those once in a generation pop culture events that will be looked upon in the years to come. Congratulations to PSY for his impact on music history!
—-Olivia Murray
#PSY #GangnamStyle #Gentleman #YouTube #kpop #koreanmusic #Asianmusic #PSYInternationalCharts #PNation #PSY10Years #kcrush #kcrushamerica #PSY10TimesPlatinum #DFSBKollective #BernieCho #PSYDaddy #PSY2012 #PSYBrokeRecords #kpopidol #GangnamStyleBroughtStreaming #PSYInternationalMusicCharts #TNX #HyunA #Dawn #Heize #Crush #Jessi #YouTubeBillionViewersClub
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was gunned down Friday July 8, 2022 while campaigning in the city of Nara. The longest running Japanese prime minister (2006-2007; 2012-2020) was 67-years old.
Abe, who was campaigning for political candidate Kei Sato, was giving a speech at the time of the shooting. Video taken during the event shows Abe speaking to constituents prior to collapsing from gunshot wounds in the chest and possibly the neck*. Another video also shows a man wearing grey holding what appears to be a large, crudely made gun prior to being tackled by security and arrested.
Reports suggest the weapon the alleged gunman— identified as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, a former Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force member— used is a homemade gun known as a “zip gun,” but Japanese authorities have yet to confirm this information, although they have said the gun appears to be homemade.
Following the shooting, reports indicate that Abe was briefly responsive before “showing no vital signs.” He was transported to the hospital “in a state of cardio-respiratory arrest**” where initial reports indicate he was in “critical to very grave condition.” He was pronounced dead at 5:03pm local time.
Nara Medical University emergency department chief Hidetada Fukushima said Abe suffered major damage to his heart in addition to two neck wounds that damaged an artery, causing extensive bleeding.
Abe’s assassination is the first murder of a Japanese prime minister since Tsuyoshi Inukai in 1932. He is the third prime minister in Japan assassinated. Takashi Hara was the first in 1921.
Japan has some of the world’s strictest gun laws, so the shooting adds another layer of shock to a country already dealing with Abe’s death.
The World Reacts
Many current and former world leaders expressed their shock following the news of Abe’s death.
“He was working for peace and stability in Japan and the world,” current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a press conference. “He was a dear friend who loved this country… To lose such a figure in this manner is absolutely devastating.”
“I am stunned, outraged, and deeply saddened by the news that my friend Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed while campaigning,” Joe Biden, President of the United States said. “This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him.”
President Biden also added, “He was a champion of the Alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people. The longest serving Japanese Prime Minister, his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific will endure. Above all, he cared deeply about the Japanese people and dedicated his life to their service. Even at the moment he was attacked, he was engaged in the work of democracy.”
“I am shocked and saddened by the assassination of my friend and longtime partner Shinzo Abe in Japan. Former Prime Minister Abe was devoted to both the country he served and the extraordinary alliance between the United States and Japan,” former United States President Barack Obama said in a statement shared on Twitter.
While attending the G20 summit in Indonesia, United States Secretary of State Tony Blinken told reporters, “This is shocking. It’s profoundly disturbing … It’s also such a strong personal loss for so many people. In the United States, Prime Minister Abe was an extraordinary partner. And someone who clearly was a great leader for Japan.”
“Incredibly sad news about Shinzo Abe,” United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and the Japanese people. The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.”
“On behalf of the French people, I send my condolences to the Japanese authorities and people after the assassination of Shinzo Abe. Japan is losing a great Prime Minister, who dedicated his life to his country and worked to bring balance to the world,” French president Emmanuel Macron tweeted.
“Horrible news of a brutal assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. I am extending my deepest condolences to his family and the people of Japan at this difficult time. This heinous act of violence has no excuse,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a tweet.
Shinzo Abe’s Prime Minister Tenure
Abe was the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the time of his death.
In 2006, Abe held Japan’s Prime Minister position, making him the youngest post-war prime minister in Japan’s history.
His first stint as prime minister was rocked with scandal, including the government’s loss of pension records that affected 50 million claims according to the BBC. The LDP party suffered during 2007’s upper house elections, which didn’t help Abe’s role at the time.
In 2007, he stepped down due to ulcerative colitis, but with the help of medication, he got the disease under control. He was once again voted in as prime minister in 2012. He was re-elected again in 2014 and 2017, helping him become Japan’s longest serving prime minister. He retired in 2020 due to his inability to carry on his duties due to a return of his ulcerative colitis.
During his tenure, Abe was known for his nationalist views. While his tenure as prime minister had many successes, there were failures and controversies in-between.
One of Abe’s economic policies, “Abenomics,” was viewed as helping Japan return to an economic growth period. The policy involved negative short term interest rates “that made it cheaper for consumers and companies to borrow money and spend, increasing government spending on infrastructure and more financial incentives such as tax breaks, and reforms that sought to add more women into the workforce, and allow more migrants in to ease labor pressures and kickstart growth,” according to the BBC. While Japan’s economy did experience growth, the Covid-19 outbreak forced the country into a recession, which led to criticisms of Abe’s economic policies.
Other criticisms surrounding Abenomics involved the shortcomings of tackling nepotism, having more women in the workforce, and changing unhealthy, negative working environments. Critics cite these promised changes remained unfulfilled during Abe’s tenure.
In 2015, Abe was successful in passing legislation that allows Japan’s military to expand its operations overseas in support of allies.
During the pandemic, Abe faced criticism regarding his handling of the outbreak as he campaigned to boost domestic tourism, which many viewed as assisting the virus’ spread.
Abe was unable to secure the return of the Northern Territories/Kuril Islands off the coast of Hokkaido. The disputed islands are claimed by both Russia and Japan.
One of his goals during his prime minister stint was to change Japan’s pacifist constitution which was drafted by the United States following WWII. Japanese conservatives view the constitution as a humiliating defeat following WWII, while others view it as “a brake on entanglement in foreign conflicts.”
Amending the constitution did not happen.
Abe was also critical of China, often angering the country, especially regarding his stance on Taiwan.
“A Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” Abe said while adding it would be impossible for Japan not to get involved in a conflict with China over Taiwan’s self-governing status.
China and Japan also have disputes over islands in the East China Sea.
Controversies
Abe wasn’t a stranger to controversy during his prime minister run.
In 2012, Abe proposed the Restoration of Sovereignty Day, which was first celebrated April 23, 2013. The holiday was designated to mark the end of end of the US occupation of Japan. Many Okinawans viewed the celebration as an act of betrayal. Okinawa was invaded by the United States in 1945; it wasn’t returned to Japan until 1972. Nearly three-quarters of US troops stationed in Japan under a bilateral treaty are based in Okinawa.
China and South Korea, collectively, took issue with Abe’s handling of post-Japanese occupation and comfort women controversies accountability.
With China, seven decades of bitterness exist over the atrocities the country suffered at the hands of the Japanese during Japan’s occupation in Manchuria and Nanjing among other locations. Japan was responsible for millions of deaths in China during their occupation.
In South Korea, the wounds left by Japan stem from nearly a century of forced labor, occupation, and kidnapping and sending women to work as comfort women in Japanese-run brothels. South Korea has demanded apologies and reparations for the atrocities they endured thanks to Japanese rule.
Japan’s issues with both South Korea and China are more detailed and nuanced.
While both countries have asked for formal apologies, Japanese officials have provided them over the years, but Abe’s actions have been viewed as insincere. Instances where Abe visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine have been viewed as unfavorable as the shrine is a site linked to Japan’s militarism before and during WWII.
Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan’s war dead and convicted war criminals.
“The Yasukuni Shrine issue is about whether Japan correctly acknowledges its history of invasion and of Japanese militarism, and about the feelings of the people in the victims’ countries, including China,” China’s former Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in 2012.
Visitations to the shrine are viewed as leadership lacking remorse for the war crimes Japan committed in China and South Korea, and his visits in 2013 and 2020 were met with protests from the Chinese and South Koreans.
In 2015, Japan–South Korea Comfort Women Agreement was declared to resolve the comfort women issue between the two countries. In the agreement, Japan was set to apologize for Japan’s treatment of comfort women with South Korea set to accept the apology.
During the summit phone call December 28, 2015, Abe sent his “sincere apologies” to South Korea’s then-president, Park Geun-hye. The phone call addressed that a final agreement was in place between the two countries.
Afterwards, a foundation was set up in South Korea under the Japan–South Korea Comfort Women Agreement where Japan provided 1 billion yen to the foundation. According to The Japan Times, of the 47 women who were alive when the agreement was reached, 36 wanted to receive cash payments and 34 of them went on to receive about 10 million yen each.
However, South Korea did not support the agreement, so the deal was scrapped in 2017. In South Korea, President Moon Jae-in’s administration dissolved the foundation, effectively annulling the agreement that was in place between the countries, once again heightening tensions.
Prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korean president Moon Jae-in once again called for renewed talks with Japan and a sincere apology from Prime Minister Abe, to which Abe told reporters, “We can by no means accept South Korea’s unilateral request for additional measures,” adding that additional apologies are “unacceptable.”
While many in Japan praised Abe’s stance to not give in to South Korea’s demands, others internationally view Abe’s comments and actions as detrimental and a roadblock to creating a working relationship between the two countries.
Despite his politics and controversies, many view the assassination of Shinzo Abe a horrific wrong bestowed upon Japan and the legacy he worked to build.
Abe leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Akie Abe (née Matsuzaki). The couple did not have children.
*Initial reports stated Abe was shot in the neck and chest. Later reports state Abe was only shot in the chest. However, the medical team that tried to save Abe said he had wounds to the neck and chest.
**In Japan, a “state of cardio-respiratory arrest” is used before a death is confirmed by a doctor.
—-Olivia Murray
#ShinzoAbe #JapanesePrimeMinister #JapansFormerPrimeMinister #Japan #ShinzoAbedeath #kcrushnews
– Leader Castle J’s title song #MOOD Lyricist and co-composition participation, eye-catching!
– Simultaneous release of 4th mini album on/offline on July 7th
4th generation global idol group MCND has released the track list of their new album [THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.2].
The track list of the 4th mini album [THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.2] was released through the MCND official SNS channel at midnight on the 1st.
The track list, designed with the motif of the message screen, tactfully expresses the emotions of the MZ generation, who communicate with emoticons. The image with the meaning of communicating through trendy music raised the expectations of global fans for this album.
The track list includes the title songs ‘#MOOD’, ‘BLOW’, ‘REDSUN’, and ‘Back to you’. In addition, ‘W.A.T.1’, which pre-released a ‘perfect group dance performance’ as a track video, and ‘JUICE’, which drew an explosive response from global audiences on the European tour stage, are attracting fans’ expectations.
In particular, MCND leader ‘Castle J’ participated in writing and composing the lyrics for the title song ‘#MOOD’, and received credits for a total of 4 songs including ‘BLOW’, ‘JUICE’, and ‘Back to you’. . He drew attention by revealing his name. ‘Castle J’, which debuted in 2020, has steadily climbed the album credits until now, showing off its status as a self-produced idol.
Meanwhile, MCND’s new album [THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.2] will be released on/offline on July 7th. The showcase held on the day of the album’s release will be broadcast live simultaneously through Naver’s ‘Vlive’ channel and Shopping Live, and will meet fans through an offline fan showcase for the first time since their official debut in Korea.
photo = TOP MEDIA
#MCND #CastleJ #MCNDcomeback #MCND4thminialbum #TheEarthSecretMissionChapter2 #MCNDMOOD #MCNDBLOW #MCNDREDSUN #MCNDBackToYou #kpop #kpopmusic #kcrushnews #kpopidol #MCNDNaverVlive #MCNDMZGeneration #kcrushamerica #kcrush #MCNDnewreleaseJuly
Three-piece band Chilli Beans. was formed in 2019 by members Moto (vocals), Maika (bass and vocals) and Lily (guitar and vocals). Today they released the music video for ‘School’, a song from their upcoming debut full album, titled ‘Chilli Beans.’
‘School’ music video:
‘School’ subscription
https://chillibeans.lnk.to/School
The lyrics to ‘School’ are a declaration of cutting ties by a girl who no longer wants to follow the rules. It takes full advantage of each Chilli Beans. member’s shared role as vocalist, with bassist Maika’s vocal line contrasting with the choral blend at the song’s finale, resulting in an unmistakable song that is drenched in noise yet somehow also nostalgic.
Chilli Beans. are a neo-garage band combining rock and next-generation sounds, with a unique vocal sense and a talent for melodies that linger in the ears. The band’s secret weapons are their outstanding songwriting sense, skillful vocal work and overwhelming live performances.
The track ‘lemonade’ from their first digital EP took the No.1 daily spot and No.3 weekly spot on Spotify’s ‘Viral 50 – Japan’ playlist when it was released in August 2021, and the band have reached a wide range of fans across generations on social media.
March 2022 saw the release of their second digital EP ‘Daydream’, and their song ‘Tremolo’ was used in a commercial for cosmetic brand Rosette. Following this success, the band’s second digital single ‘My Boy’ was released on April 13 and was selected as the opening song to MBS TV drama series ‘Motokare←Retry’.
The band held their own live event titled ‘Dancing Room 002’ in Tokyo and Osaka in June, which followed March’s ‘Dancing Room 001’, and they are now preparing for their first solo concert on September 9 at LIQUIDROOM in Tokyo, titled ‘1st Oneman Live Chilli Beans. Room’. This breaking band are growing day by day.
Their self-titled first full album, ‘Chilli Beans.’, will be released on Wednesday, July 13. As you may guess from the title, it will be an album that reflects Chilli Beans. exactly as they are, expressing themselves through free production and through making music just the way they want to make it. The album will include 14 songs.
This year, Chilli Beans. will also appear at two of Japan’s most iconic music festivals: SUMMER SONIC 2022 and ROCK IN JAPAN 2022. Keep an eye out for more!
◆ First full album info
Artist: Chilli Beans.
Title: ‘Chilli Beans.’
Release date: Wednesday, July 13
▼ CD preorder link
https://www.merchbar.com/pop/chilli-beans
▼ Tracklist
CD (for all three versions)
1. School
2. lemonade
3. It’s ME
4. This Way
5. neck
6. Undoron
7. My Boy
8. L.I.B
9. Tremolo
10. HAPPY END
11. blue berry
12. Vacance
13. Shekilala
14. call my name
More info
▽ Official website
https://chilli-beans.amebaownd.com/
▽ Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/chillibeansmusic/
▽ Twitter
Tweets by chillibeans_mc
▽ TikTok
@chillibeans.official
#ChilliBeans #debutselftitledalbum #Julyannouncements #kcrushnews #ChilliBeanspressrelease #jpop #Japanesepopband #ChilliBeansSchool #ChilliBeansdebutalbum #Moto #Maika #Lily #MV #ChilliBeansMoto #ChilliBeansMaika #ChilliBeansLily #ChilliBeansSchoolmusicvideo #kcrush #kcrushamerica #Japaneseidol #3membergirlband
The good news keeps on coming for acting stars Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin!
On March 31, 2022, the Crash Landing on You super couple married in front of close family and friends at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin Gu, Seoul. After the wedding, the couple honeymooned in Los Angeles, California.
View this post on Instagram
On June 27, Son Ye Jin announced the pregnancy news on her official Instagram. The translated message reads:
How are you all doing?
I’m doing well ^^
Today I would like to share with you some cautious and happy news.
A new life has come to us..🤗
I’m still stunned, but I’m living day by day feeling the changes in my body amidst worries and excitement.
I’m so grateful, but I’m so careful that I haven’t been able to tell the people around me yet.
To the fans and those around us who will be waiting for this news as much as us, we deliver the news before it’s too late.
We will protect the precious life that has come to us.
I hope you all stay healthy by taking good care of the things you need to protect in your life..🙏
Be happy
A few weeks prior to Son’s confirmation, Netizens speculated the pair may be expecting a baby. The speculation stemmed from a May 29 Instagram post Son shared wearing a white, flowy dress and playing with her dog. Fans of the actress felt she may have been hiding her “baby bump,” but her agency, MSteam Entertainment, denied the rumors saying they were “not true at all.”
View this post on Instagram
Now with the pregnancy confirmed, everyone hopes Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin will have a happy, healthy baby!
Congratulations to the newlyweds as they embark on their parenthood journey!
—-Olivia Murray
#SonYeJin #HyunBin #babynews #June2022 #kdrama #hallyunews #kdramanews #kcrushnews #GrandWalkerhill #Seoul #Koreanews #MSteamEntertainment #CrashLandingOnYou #kdramacouple
Actress and singer Jang Na Ra, 41, married her non-celebrity partner June 26, 2022!
The Go Back Couple star announced her marriage June 3. In her announcement, Jang said,
I have personal but happy news to share with you all today.
I’m getting married!
After two years of dating a friend six years my junior who is in video work, we have promised to become one another’s life companions! I fell for his beautiful smile, kind and genuine heart, and above all else, the way he is overflowing with sincerity and pours his whole heart into his work. The fact that I will be spending my life together with such an amazing person makes me so happy that I couldn’t ask for anything more, and I wanted to honestly share my joy with all of you, who are so precious to me!
We will live joyfully, happily, and well [together]!
it seems like just yesterday that I, who am nothing special, debuted as a celebrity, but so much time has passed since then. I sincerely thank you for embracing me, supporting me, and always looking kindly upon me for a long time.
I plan to greet you with a fun new project immediately after the wedding, so I’m working hard on preparations for that as well! I will become an actress who does her utmost in every moment with a heart that is even heavier with gratitude than before.
I am truly sorry for the fact that I am not able to go into more detail [about my fiancé], out of the worry that he—who is not a celebrity—might face discomfort at work because of me. I earnestly ask you for your generous understanding.
Thank you always!
Jang’s June 26 nuptials were held outdoors that had friends, family, and fellow celebrities in attendance. Among the guests were CNBLUE’s Jung Yonghwa, Park Kyung Lim (who hosted the wedding), and Lee Sang Yoon. Jung’s father, actor Joo Ho Sung, walked his daughter down the aisle.
Guests, photographers, and videographers did a great job hiding the groom’s identity to protect him. Prior to the nuptials, Jang’s agency, Lawon Munhwa, announced they would pursue legal action if anyone spread rumors or information about Jang’s fiancé.
“As Jang Na Ra herself asked previously, please refrain from spreading or publishing indiscriminate, speculative posts or articles, and/or spreading private information including the identity of Jang Na Ra’s fiancé, who is a non-celebrity,” Jang’s agency said. “From now on, all posts which are deemed as partaking in the nonconsensual spread of private information online, as well as malicious posts and comments about Jang Na Ra and her family, will be met with legal action.”
Following the wedding, Lawon Munhwa said, “Jang Nara happily wrapped up her wedding ceremony amidst the support and congratulations from many people. We ask once again for your understanding that it was not possible to film and cover [the wedding] to be considerate of the non-celebrity groom’s side and due to the spread of COVID-19. Please send lots of support for Jang Nara going forward as she starts the second chapter of her life.”
Jang said, “Thank you so much for congratulating me with your interest and love. To repay your love and support, I will live happily and merrily as a great wife at home and a sincere actress at work.”
Congratulations to the happy couple, and may they have a long, happy marriage!
Catch Jang Nara in her latest drama Sell Your Haunted House on Viki! The drama also stars Jung Yonghwa.
—-Olivia Murray
#JangNaRaOfficiallyMarried #JangNara #SellYourHauntedHouse #kcramaactress #kdrama #GoBackCouple #LawonMunhwa #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #koreanactress #koreansinger #JangNaramarriageannouncement
Spoiler Warning: Review talks about key moments in the drama
Trigger Warning: Review mentions self-harm, suicide, and abuse
As one 2022’s most buzzworthy dramas, The Sound of Magic has plenty of promise. Based on the webtoon The Sound of Magic: Annarasumanara, the Netflix series sticks fairly close to the source material (minus Il-deung’s odd-shaped head), but it comes with complications as the story closes.
The Sound of Magic follows 17-year-old Yoon Ah-yi as she shoulders the pains of adulthood while attending high school. Abandoned by her mother and father— the latter of whom is on the run from loan sharks—Ah-yi is left to take care of her younger sister while trying to succeed in high school. Ah-yi must do odd jobs to afford rent, bills, and basic needs while managing her studies and harassment by her father’s debt collectors and landlord. At school, Ah-yi is picked on for her obvious poverty. One day, fate and money blowing in the wind leads her to an abandoned amusement park and her introduction to mysterious magician Ri-eul, a man subject to rumors and urban legends.
The series also follows 17-year-old Il-deung as he struggles to be the perfect son destined for greatness thanks to the path his parents laid out for him. Additionally, The Sound of Magic also has a side story involving a missing student Ha-yoon.
Penned as a musical drama, The Sound of Magic has a solid cast that carries the story’s duality well. Choi Sung-eun (Beyond Evil, Start-Up) delivers as Yoon Ah-yi. Choi embodies Ah-yi’s innocence, hopefulness, and despair. Regardless of the situation, Choi radiates a bright light that helps draw in the viewer.
Choi’s bright portrayal of Ah-yi is contrasted by the darker portrayals of Ri-eul/Minhyuk (Ji Chang-wook) and Il-deung (Hwang In-youp). Ji does well portraying the mysterious Ri-eul. Like Ah-yi, he, too, exudes hope through despair, but his portrayal is sullen and introspective.
Meanwhile, Hwang’s take on Il-deung is more closed off and much like the character in the original webtoon. Hwang, like Ji, does well portraying someone deeply troubled. While Hwang plays Il-deung much like the webtoon character, he does come across as too one-note at times, so it’s hard to buy him as someone who has a crush on Ah-yi, especially when he has self-serving tendencies.
Baek Ha-na (Ji Hye-won) is easy to dislike. Ji Hye-won plays the role well, but Ha-na is a stereotypical antagonistic high school female. She’s smart, callus, and sneaky, providing all the criteria that embody the schoolgirl bully archetype. Her disdain toward Ah-yi is strongly evident, and even when she does try to be helpful, she comes across as snarky and insincere.
Despite strong actors and characters, The Sound of Magic’s story is one that tries to cover too much in a span of six episodes. As a result, the story drops the ball to where it becomes a rushed, muddled mess at the end that leaves more questions than answers. That’s not to say that The Sound of Magic doesn’t have positive points as it does have those. However, trying to cram a lot of content into six episodes wasn’t a smart move on Netflix’s part. Extending the story to even eight or ten episodes may have helped wrap up the show in a way that could be satisfying for all audiences.
First, The Sound of Magic does a solid job blending fantasy and reality. The abandoned amusement park serves as a great backdrop for the characters as it was once a place of hope, fun, and joy. While the façade and crowds have faded, the dreary scenery has moments of brightness as Ri-eul takes Ah-yi on a journey to help brighten her spirits even though the amusement park, specifically the carousel, has sad memories attached.
There are several beautiful moments present as the story unfolds, especially the parts shown in the initial teaser trailer where Ri-eul fills the amusement park with fireworks to seemingly show Ah-yi the beauty of the world around her. These magnificent moments appear frequently to help move the plot and reflect how each of the main characters have more purpose and light in them than their current grinds.
Note: The following section contains spoilers for Ah-yi and Il-deung. Please skip ahead seven paragraphs if you don’t want spoilers.
At its heart, The Sound of Magic is about going against the grain and finding a place in this world even if it isn’t what society wants. This is where the drama shines even while focusing on the issues of sexual assault, suicide, self-harm, poverty, and mental illness.
For Ah-yi and Il-deung, the growth they experience feels realistic even though the duration’s compressed over six episodes. Ah-yi, who is already self-sufficient and capable, learns to find her own happiness. Some of the show’s most beautiful and meaningful moments stem from the conversations she has with her younger self. For anyone who ever grew up in a desperate situation, these scenes do touch the heart as Ah-yi tries to convince her younger self that everything will turn out okay (“Consolation”). When her past and present selves connect, the audience may feel a sense of yearning while Ah-yi reassures her younger self. These well-done scenes will linger in memory.
Meanwhile, Il-deung experiences exponential growth. Il-deung, who is seemingly emotionless throughout much of the series, has sparks of personality, especially where he imagines singing “I Mean It” to Ah-yi while sitting in a field. This scene is so sweet, magical, and pure! Il-deung’s soft-hearted, kind personality shows through.
However, Il-deung’s growth at the end of the series should earn Hwang In-youp some props! As indicated in several scenes in The Sound of Magic, Il-deung struggles with self-harm due to the increasing pressure to be perfect and follow the path his parents laid out for him. Il-deung’s often seen scratching and clawing at the back of his neck, leaving an open sore. The only times he doesn’t engage in this act is when he is learning and performing magic with Ri-eul. Il-deung learns to loosen up a bit, only to be thrown back into his sullen world whenever his parents throw their influence around. Anyone who grew up in a controlling household may sympathize with Il-deung, making him of the show’s most relatable characters.
Il-deung’s also involved in many of the show’s most emotionally charged scenes, which is why Hwang In-youp needs recognition. During “The Curse of Asphalt” scene when Il-deung realizes he is a slave to the grind and chasing the limelight, Hwang does an amazing job switching his emotions between anguish and the realizations his current path isn’t the one he desires. The facial expression subtleties enhance the scene. Il-deung’s internal struggle presents itself well here.
Hwang makes Il-deung’s internal struggles flourish more as the show progresses. Two other standout scenes featuring Il-deung involve his future self as well as his breakdown from his stress. These are showstopping moments since they sum up crumbling under society’s expectations and pressures. It’s a moment that viewers should pay attention to in an age where there is a better attempt at trying to shine a light on mental health.
However, there are times when Il-deung reacts jealously toward Ri-eul and Ah-yi’s friendship. Thanks to Ha-na’s influence, Il-deung believes Ri-eul and Ah-yi’s relationship to be romantic in nature. Il-deung takes to creeping around Ri-eul’s space and lurking around corners watching Ah-yi as if she is a possession instead of person. These moments, along with Il-deung’s treatment of Ah-yi while he pays her to do his schoolwork and to fail an exam make Il-deung a walking red flag at times. Unfortunately, these moments negate some of his positive developments.
Ri-eul (whose real name is Minhyuk) is the complex magic man behind Il-deung and Ah-yi’s transformations. When he’s introduced, he’s subject to Ha-na’s urban legends. Early in the story, not much is known about Ri-eul other than he lives in an abandoned amusement park with his scarlet macaw, Bella. He seems to know the Ah-yi and Il-deung need help and that they seem to be outsiders in their community much like he was when he was younger when he discovered he wasn’t meant to do what was expected of him. Slowly, Ah-yi and Il-deung learn more about Ri-eul, but it takes hearing the story from his high school friend for Ri-eul’s story to be heard.
Ri-eul’s story makes him a sympathetic character to some degree, especially since you can see pieces of his sad tale through Ah-yi and Il-deung’s current existences. Like Il-deung, Ri-eul was expected to be a perfect student and set out on a life laid out for him. Like Ri-eul when he was young, Ah-yi loses her sense of innocence and wonder. Ri-eul takes on a savior role to help Il-deung and Ah-yi not become like him when he was younger: People who lose their sense of self and all hope in order to fit into a pre-determined box. As Il-deung states, “Now I know. No one in this world is crazy. They make you into a crazy person little-by-little if you don’t fit into society standards” (Episode five, Curse of Asphalt).
The following section contains spoilers. Skip ahead eight paragraphs.
While the revelations into Ri-eul’s past provide insight into the character and how a suicide attempt shaped who he is today, the disclosures do leave more questions than answers.
Late in the show, it’s revealed that Ri-eul is a person of interest in Ha-yoon’s disappearance as well as another case in Seongmi. Then, there’s the elephant in the room regarding his actions against Ha-na that were dropped just as quickly as Ha-na did from the show’s finale!
While it is revealed that Ri-eul is not involved in Ha-yoon’s disappearance, the whole mention of him being considered in the disappearance of another girl did a vanishing act (much like Ri-eul did at the drama’s close!). This whole plot was odd at best considering how Ri-eul was angrier about accusations that his magic wasn’t real over being accused of being behind the disappearances of two high school girls. While the reaction does seem to be in line with Ri-eul’s overall character (he spends much of the drama trying to convince others his magic is, indeed, real), being questioned for other crimes seems to be too big of a revelation to drop.
Considering how the real culprit for Ha-yoon’s murder is caught, is it possible this same culprit is also the one responsible for the other disappearance? This individual also tried to sexually assault Ah-yi, so it could be plausible. However, how probable is it that this person happened to be in each place Ri-eul happened to live in to commit these crimes? This is just one of the issues with the overall plot. The storyline isn’t completed, and it’s never made clear if Ri-eul is innocent or guilty. How he doesn’t fight back against the allegations regarding the other disappearance could make some viewers think he might be involved. It is hinted at that he is on the run again, so it may make the audience wonder.
The show places a shadow on Ri-eul as flashback scenes show he has some deeper issues than what’s alluded to in his origin story (time at the hospital, time at a mental institution)., but the biggest issue is how he lashed out at Ha-na.
Granted, Ha-na is a character the audience will love to hate given her conniving personality. She sneaks around, bullies, and spies on people. Even when she tries to be sincerely concerned, she seems to have ulterior motives. However, it doesn’t excuse how Ri-eul reacts to Ha-na when he caught her wearing a camera when she came to visit him. In a pivotal scene, Ha-na goads Ri-eul, first by telling him she wanted to see magic but that she could see it in a theater and not at his place. She then confronts Ri-eul with video she took of him struggling with another person before telling him he’s crazy and his magic isn’t real. A struggle ensues and Bella gets injured. The attack on his magic causes Ri-eul to snap and he shows his rage by choking Ha-na. If it wasn’t for Bella’s squawks, Ri-eul may have killed Ha-na in his rage.
This is a massive issue The Sound of Magic glosses over. Despite a few mentions after the fact, there’s a suggestion the audience should get over this incident because Ri-eul believes his magic is real, he creates magic in the lives of Ah-yi and Il-deung and helps them find their way. Ri-eul’s character is ultimately romanticized and portrayed as a man wrongly accused of crimes and sympathetic because of his tragic backstory, but it doesn’t change how he attacked someone almost half his age because she accused him of being a con without real magic.
Yes, Ri-eul struggles with mental illness and feelings of inadequacy, but the actions here are inexcusable and shouldn’t be swept under the rug because of his seemingly kindly and helpful actions toward Ah-yi and Il-deung. While Ha-na is a character that provokes others, what happened to her shouldn’t be pushed under the magic carpet because the audience wants Ri-eul to be the good guy.
___
The Sound of Magic also covers the silencing of crime victims. This may be a theme that some viewers may miss, but it should be noted that Ah-yi, Ha-na, and Ha-yoon were silenced by the men that attacked them. In episode five, Ah-yi is silenced by the shopkeeper Doo-shik (Yoon Kyung-ho) when the police ask if she knows him. It appears she tries to tell the lead detective that Doo-shik attacked her, but he instead talks over her to where she can’t say anything. Ha-na is physically silenced, while Ha-yoon’s murder silences her permanently in exception of the little bit of magic that revealed what happened to her.
The show does too much to try to cover a lot of societal issues that occur globally but more heavily in South Korea. The ambition here should be commended, but The Sound of Magic could have been more successful in addressing these issues if it was longer than six episodes. There’s a lot to unpack, so it is a shame the show was so condensed.
Overall, there are solid characters despite the rockiness of the storyline. However, the issue regarding Ri-eul is problematic and one that’s not solved adequately. The message sent that he’s a protagonist is questionable at best, but it is a topic worth discussing.
The Sound of Magic earns a solid 3/5. It was a decent show, but the issues associated with it can’t be ignored.
—-Olivia Murray
#TheSoundOf Magic #kcrushreview #YoonKyungho #TheSoundofMagicAnnarasumanara #netflixseries #buzzworddrama #kdrama #kdramaseries #kdramareview #JiChangwook #HwangInyoup #kcrushofficial #webtoonreview #Rieul
VERIVERY a seven member group debuted on January 9, 2019, with Jellyfish Entertainment. This group’s pre-debut song, titled “Super Special,” became an instant hit and was the OST of their first reality show. The members consist of DONGHEON, HOYOUNG, MINCHAN, GYEHYEON, YEONHO, YONGSEUNG, and KANGMIN. Their first full album, “SERIES ‘O’ [ROUND 3 : WHOLE]” was recently released and has a huge following of their music video and song, “0” from the album. VERIVERY’s fans known as “VERRER” are very special to them and they have worked hard to bring about this first album, full tour in 2021 and more. You can look forward to new things from them soon. We want to thank them for taking time out for this interview and we say much continued success.
#VERIVERY #JellyfistEntertainment #kcrushinterview #VERIVERYInterview #videointerview #kpop #kpopidol #newVeriVeryinterview #kcrushoriginal #officialkcrush #Asianmusic #Asianidol #Seoul #kpopboyband
Back in 2018 and 2019, Kcrush published two articles about biracial celebrities with Asian backgrounds. We’re revisiting those articles and including more celebrities that have Asian backgrounds. Of course, we encourage our readers to share others we may have missed!
Bruno Mars
Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars (Peter Gene Hernandez) is of Filipino, Puerto Rican, Spanish, and Jewish descent.
During his time in the music industry, Bruno Mars has stated that record executives “had trouble categorizing him” because of his mixed-race background. He’s even been accused of cultural appropriation due to his racial ambiguity, though several celebrities have called the allegations bogus.
“There are a lot of people who have this mixed background that are in this gray zone,” Bruno Mars told Latina magazine. “A lot of people think, ‘This is awesome. You’re in this gray zone, so you can pass for whatever the hell you want.’ But it’s not like that at all. It’s actually the exact opposite.”
Despite his struggles in the industry, Bruno Mars has become one of the most recognized singers over the past decade. With songs like “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “Locked Out of Heaven,” and “Uptown Funk” among others, Bruno Mars is a certified hit-maker!
Charles Melton
Riverdale actor Charles Melton is of Korean and English descent. Melton grew up in both the United States and South Korea. The model-turned-actor is the first Korean-American/Asian-American actor to lead a teen romance film by a major Hollywood studio when he starred in The Sun is Also a Star.
Chrissy Teigen
Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen is of Thai and Norwegian heritage. Teigen, who is married to John Legend and a mother to two children, began her modeling career with the clothing company Billabong. She’s also modeled for Sports Illustrated prior to morphing into a television personality and an oft-controversial figure.
Teigen is also a cookbook author, having two cookbooks published that went on to be New York Times best-sellers. In 2019, Times Magazine named her as one of the top influential people in the world.
Danny Pudi
Best known for his role as Abed Nadir in the TV show Community, Danny Pudi is Indian and Polish. The three-time Critics’ Choice nominee grew up in Chicago where he attended Notre Dame College Prep in Niles, Illinois. Growing up, Pudi spoke Polish to his mother and grandmother; he also took Polish dance lessons. He is a Marquette University graduate with a degree in communications and theatre. While attending Marquette University, Pudi was the first recipient of the Chris Farley Scholarship which opened the door to him performing improv and studying at Chicago’s Second City.
Besides being known for his role in Community, Pudi also stars as Brad Bakshi in Mystic Quest and voices Huey in the 2017-2021 Ducktales reboot.
Darren Criss
Darren Criss—who is a singer, actor, and songwriter— has Chinese, Filipino, Spanish, English, German, and Irish roots.
The Glee alum has an impressive acting and Broadway resume, but many will remember Criss as Harry Potter in A Very Potter Musical, A StarKid Production musical; Criss is a founding member and co-owner of StarKid.
Criss is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for his role as spree killer Andrew Cunanan in 2018’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. On Broadway, Criss replaced Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. During his three-week stint, Criss’ appearance helped the show turn in three of its most lucrative weeks. Impressive for his Broadway debut!
Devon Aoki
Actress and fashion model Devon Aoki has Japanese, German, and English backgrounds.
Aoki, who is the half-sister of Steven Aoki, has had starring film roles in 2006’s DOA: Dead or Alive and 2008’s Mutant Chronicles. She’s appeared in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Sin City (2005), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (2009).
Aoki made her modeling debut in 1997. She’s walked the runway for Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and Comme des Garçons. In 1998, she was the face of Versace. She’s also appeared in ad campaigns for Tiffany & Co., Baby Phat, and Marc Jacobs among others.
In 2009, Aoki retired from acting to focus on motherhood. She and husband James Bailey share three daughters and one son.
Aoki is the daughter of Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, the founder of Benihana restaurant and Genesis Magazine. She is also the aunt of model and singer-songwriter Yumi Nu.
H.E.R
H.E.R (Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) is of Filipino and African American descent.
H.E.R debuted as a musician in 1997 when she performed as Gabi Wilson when she appeared on The Today Show. The singer-songwriter is known for her R&B hits like “Focus” (2016), “Best Part” (2017), and “Damage” (2020). Several of her hits have been certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA, and she’s the 2021 Apple Music Awards Songwriter of the Year. Between 2017-2021, H.E.R has headlined three tours.
In 2021, it was announced H.E.R would make her feature film debut in the upcoming adaptation of The Color Purple. She is slated to play Squeak.
Han Hyun-Min
In 2017, Time Magazine named Han Hyun-Min as one of the magazine’s top 30 most influential teens.
Han, who is of Nigerian and South Korean descent, is the first Korean model of African descent to appear on South Korean and international catwalks. A modeling agency discovered Han on his Instagram when he was 15-years old. Following a meeting at a coffee shop, Han was signed on-the-spot and quickly became one of the modeling world’s most in-demand models… but that doesn’t mean he didn’t face racism along the way as his career blossomed. He hopes to someday become a model in Japan.
Hayley Kiyoko
Singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft has Japanese, Welsh, and Scottish roots.
As an actress, Kiyoko’s appeared in Lemonade Mouth (2011), Jem and the Holograms (2015), and the TV series The Fosters (2014).
As a singer, Kiyoko was a founding member of the American pop group The Stunners. Kiyoko, who identifies as a lesbian, uses her music to tell her story about coming to terms with her orientation. Through her music, she hopes to inspire others who struggle with their sexual identities.
“I think it’s just important for people to lead by example,” Kiyoko told Billboard in 2018. “My motto is to help people love themselves sooner. I can’t teach them how to do that. They have to figure that out on their own — that’s their journey.”
Henry Golding
Malaysian-British actor, TV host, and model Henry Golding had quite the journey before his starring role in Crazy Rich Asians made him a recognizable face!
Born in Sarawak, Malaysia, Golding’s mother is a native-born Sarawakian of indigenous Iban Dayak ancestry. Golding’s father is British. Golding moved to England when he was eight-years old before moving to Kuala Lumpur to pursue acting. Prior to heading back to Malaysia where he was TV host for The 8TV Quickie, Football Crazy, and The Travel Show, Golding worked as a hairdresser in London.
In 2017, Golding won the role of Crazy Rich Asian’s leading man, Nick, following a casting call. His charm and personality caught Jon M. Chu’s eyes after his accountant brought him to his attention. As the cliché goes, the rest is history!
Following the success of Crazy Rich Asians, Golding earned roles in A Simple Favor (2018), Last Christmas (2019), and The Gentleman (2019).
In 2016, Golding married Taiwanese TV presenter Liv Lo. Prior to their marriage, Golding had to complete a bejalai—an Iban rite of passage into manhood—as part of his Iban Dayak’s ancestry’s culture. He spent two months in the Borneo wilderness. He filmed his experience for the documentary Surviving Borneo which aired on Discovery Channel Asia.
Golding has several projects in the works coming out in 2022 and 2023. In 2021, he and his wife Liv welcomed their first child.
Jessica Henwick
Chinese-Singaporean and Zambian actress Jessica Henwick has had her hand in some of pop culture’s biggest shows and movies!
In 2009, Henwick became the first actress of East Asian descent to have a lead role in a British television series when she landed the role of Bo in Spirit Warriors.
From 2015-2017, Henwick had a recurring role as Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones. From 2017-2018, she played a main role in Iron Fist, The Defenders, and Luke Cage as Colleen Wing. She also appeared as Jessika “Testor” Pava in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Bugs in Matrix Resurrection, the latter of which earned her Best Supporting Actress nominations by Gold House and CAPE.
Karen O
South Korean-born singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer Karen O (Karen Lee Orzolek) sports a Korean-Polish background.
Karen O is the lead singer of the American rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. While she was born in Busan, South Korea, she grew up in New Jersey. In addition to being the lead singer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, she’s also an accomplished soloist who’s collaborated with Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Trent Reznor among others.
Kristin Kreuk
Perhaps best known for her role as Lana Lang in Smallville, Canadian-born actress Kristin Kreuk’s background is Chinese and Dutch.
Kreuk began acting in 2000 when a casting director contacted her for a role in the Canadian soap opera Edgemont. From Edgemont, Kreuk snagged the lead role in Snow White: Fairest of Them All for ABC. After Snow White wrapped, Kruek, who was also still acting in Edgemont, landed the role as Smallville’s Lana.
Since Smallville, Kruek has appeared in the revival of the TV series Beauty and the Beast and Burden of Truth. She also works behind the camera as a producer.
Kreuk also had ties to NXIVM, a cult and multi-leveling marketing group. Kreuk left NXIVM in 2013. Initially, she believed it was a “self help group,” and didn’t see any wrongdoings during her time with the organization. Meanwhile, Smallville co-star Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan) was arrested and charged due to illegal activities with the organization including sex-trafficking, racketeering, and forced labor. Mack is serving prison time for racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Best known as Saved by the Bell’s Zach Morris, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is Dutch and Indonesian.
“I was arguably America’s favorite white boy at one point,” Gosselaar told Newsweek in 2019 when asked about his own interracial experiences growing up. “…[It’s] like, ‘Wait, that guy is mixed?’ It’s one of those things that because of the way I looked I didn’t have to deal with it. It’s a conversation I have had and I do have with my kids because they are—as well—mixed.”
Gosselaar, who has been an active actor since 1986, has appeared in Mixed-ish, Hyperion Bay, NYPD Blue, and in the Saved by the Bell spin-offs and recent revival.
In addition to acting, Gosselaar is also a race car driver, cyclist, and pilot.
Michael Yo
Michael Yo has a black and Korean background.
The actor, stand-up comedian, and former host of The Insider has a solid résumé! In addition to his stand-up routine Blasian, Yo hosts the The Yo Show on Yahoo TV! and provides commentary on Showbiz Tonight. He’s also appeared on Chelsea Lately and America’s Got Talent.
Yo is married to Miss Wyoming USA 2010 winner Claire Schreiner.
Naomi Scott
Many know Naomi Scott for her roles as Mo in Lemonade Mouth and Kimberly the Pink Ranger in 2017’s Power Rangers movie. The English-Indian actress and singer became a household name for Disney fans thanks to her role as Jasmine in 2019’s live-action adaption of Aladdin.
Scott’s been active as an actress and singer since 2008. She was originally discovered by British pop singer Kéllé Bryan, which helped open many doors for Scott. Throughout her career, Scott’s work with British songwriters and producers Xenomania and appeared in the Disney UK’s series Life Bites. In addition to Power Rangers, Aladdin, and Lemonade Mouth, Scott also held roles in Charlie’s Angels (2019), Anatomy of a Scandal (2022), and 2022’s film Distant.
For her acting roles, Scott’s been nominated for Teen Choice, Saturn, and Shorty awards. In 2019, she won a Teen Choice Award for her role as Jasmine in Aladdin.
If there’s anyone we missed, stay tuned for part four! Of course, continue the discussion in the comments below!
Photo credits: (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16)
—-Olivia Murray
#biracialcelebrities #Asianbiracialcelebrities #HER #NaomiScott #MichaelYo #MarkPaulGosselaar #KristinKruek #KarenO #JessicaHenwick #HenryGolding #HaleyKiYoko #HanHyunMin #DevonAoki #DarrenCriss #DannyPudi #ChrissyTeigen #CharlesMelton #BrunoMars #kcrush #kcrushamerica #Asianhistory #Asiancelebrities #CrazyRichAsians
On June 18, 2022, former B.A.P leader and current rapper and producer Bang Yongguk will be holding a global fan meeting at 1am CST and 5am CST (15:00 and 19:00 KST).
The event titled Bang Yongguk Global Fan Meet-Up: Bangstergram, which is hosted by Hello Live, is a ticket-only event. We at Kcrush will be giving away two tickets to two lucky fans for this event!
To enter, we’re asking for donations to be made to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) via K-Pop Social Night’s fundraiser on the NAMI webpage. Even a donation as small as a $1 gets you entered into the contest. After making a donation, take a screenshot of your donation (do not provide any personal information!) and message us on Facebook to let us know. That’s it! We’ll notify winners on Friday June 17 by 3pm CST.
Each ticket will be purchased under the name and email of the giveaway winner, and we will send you the login information. The winning tickets will not include the video call.
Good luck to all who enter!
#BangYongGuk #giveaway #contest #BangYongGukFanMeeting #BAP #BAPBABYS #kpop #kindie #ksoul #BangYongGukCONCENT #Junefanmeeting #meetandgreetBangYongGuk #livestreamfanmeeting #BangYongGuklivestream #BangYongGukJuneevents
After setting the world on fire with their mega hits like “Butter,” “Fire,” “Boy in Luv,” and “Fake Love” among other tracks, BTS announced that they will be taking a group hiatus to focus on solo projects.
On Tuesday June 14, 2022, BTS made the announcement during their 2022 BTS Festa live video.
“We’re going on a hiatus now,” Suga said. “Should we talk about why we’re not doing the FESTA or making content?”
From here, the septet discussed their rise to fame and how COVID-19 and some of their music releases impacted the group.
RM added that when he writes song lyrics, the message he wants to send is important.
“We have to accept that we’ve changed,” RM said. “For me, it was like the group BTS was within my grasp until ‘On’ and ‘Dynamite,’ but after ‘Butter’ and ‘Permission to Dance,’ I didn’t know what kind of group we were anymore.”
Later on in the event, Jimin echoed RM’s sentiments.
“We can’t help but think of our fans no matter what — we want to be the kind of artists that are remembered by our fans,” Jimin said. “I think now we’re starting to think about what kind of artists we each want to be remembered by our fans. I think that’s why we’re going through a rough patch right now: We’re trying to find our identity and that’s an exhausting and long process. Our fans know us, and we know us.”
Suga later said, “We need something to say … you can’t force it. I have to talk about something that I really feel, but right now I’m just squeezing it out because we have to satisfy people’s wants and the listeners … it’s so painful.”
RM continued by describing how he wanted to mature but that the K-Pop machine doesn’t really allow for maturity or growth.
“They don’t give you time to mature. You have to keep producing music and keep doing something,” RM said. “…I need to think and have some alone time and then those thoughts can mature into something uniquely mine… I can’t physically mature anymore.”
RM then described how he felt it was his job to be a rap machine and English speaker for the group, adding that he felt “trapped inside himself” even as he praised the team.
“Right now, we’ve lost our direction and I just want to take some time to think,” RM said.
RM alluded that he plans to take time for himself before being able to show his true self again.
While the news sounds dire, J-Hope assured their fandom, ARMY, that the hiatus doesn’t mean BTS will be breaking up. As it is, the group wants time to recharge and find themselves while showing off their individual colors.
“I think that change is what we need right now,” J-Hope said. “It’s important for BTS to start our second chapter.”
“We’re each going to take some time to have fun and experience a lot of things,” Jungkook said. “We promise we will return someday even more mature than we are now.”
The members then announced they will be releasing separate mixtapes.
Following the Festa, however, Hybe Entertainment announced that BTS are not taking a hiatus.
“BTS are not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time,” Hybe said in their statement.
Meanwhile, it was also revealed that the BTS members have moved out of the dorms and are currently living separately.
“It is not right for seven grown men to live together,” RM said. “We are family more than friends, It’s about keeping a little physical distance and protecting each other’s privacy.”
While the news is shocking to fans, the BTS members will be active in various ways moving forward. J-Hope will perform as a headliner at Lollapalooza in Chicago July 31, 2022. He is the first Korean act to be a headliner at the music festival.
On June 13, Jungkook dropped his solo track “My You,” a gift for ARMY.
In the coming months, the group will release their solo efforts with J-Hope’s set to drop his first.
Meanwhile, BTS released their three-disk anthology Proof with the new track “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment).”
What do you think of BTS’ hiatus? After nine years of consistent work, their break seems well-deserved, and we look forward to what their solo efforts and new chapter brings!
—-Olivia Murray
#BTS #koreanboygroup #BTShiatus #BTSsoloefforts #BTSanthologyProof #BTSProof #korea #kpop #kseoul #Asianartists #Asianmusic #BTStopKoreangroup #Lollapalooza #HYBE #BIGHIT #kcrushnews #kcrushmedia #kcrushamerica #BTSFesta2022
What were your favorite K-Pop tracks from May 2022? Let us know in the comments! Here are our favorites for the month.
– MCND’s 4th mini album pre-released song, “W.A.T.1” teaser! A powerful performance that catches your eyes and ears + melody
– Continuing on with the American tour in August, all seats in Europe are sold out! 9 cities in 4 countries including Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Canada will be visited At midnight on the 10th, the teaser for the track video “W.A.T.1” was released on MCND’s official channel. The addictive sound in the teaser video captivated listeners’ ears, while MCND members performed intense performances like an “all-main dancer group” while traveling between the desert during the day and night, raising expectations for the upcoming track video main and album.
MCND announced its comeback in July at midnight on the 4th through a post with the phrase “JULY.” Following “THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION CHAPTER.1”, which was released in August last year, the news of the official album release in 11 months drew attention from K-pop fans at home and abroad.
MCND, which opened the first K-pop performance in Europe since the pandemic in April, will start performing in the Americas in August with MCND AMERICA TOUR 2022 (First MCND America Tour). Starting with Sao Paulo on August 12, he will visit four Brazilian cities, Mexico City, LA, San Francisco, New York and Chicago, and Toronto, Canada, to perform in four American countries.
MCND proved its global popularity by selling out all seats on the European Tour, and showed the potential of the “fourth generation representative talented group” by making a rare scene in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris through the European Tour.
MCND’s “W.A.T.1” track video will be released on its official channel at midnight on the 12th.
#MCND #MCNDcomeback #MCNDWAT1 #MCNDAmericaTour2022 MCNDBrazil #MCNDMexicoCity #kpop #kpopidol #MCNDCanada #MCNDtickets #MCNDconcertsellout #kpop #koreanmusic #MCNDmusic #kpopfans #newAmericantour #kcrushnews #kcrushofficial #MCNDJuly2022comeback
As the excitement from her incredible, emotional 20th anniversary concert the previous day lingered, BoA released her 20th anniversary album ‘The Greatest’ on May 30 – just as she entered the 21st year since her debut in Japan. The album hit No.3 on the Oricon Daily Album Ranking on its first day, as well as taking the No.1 spot on AWA’s real-time chart, proving BoA’s enduring power in both the physical and digital markets.
Download and streaming links:
‘The Greatest’ includes 10 self-covers that were originally released over 10 consecutive weeks, as well as the title track ‘The Greatest’, BoA’s latest dance track whose music video set the internet alight. It’s an album that captures the essence of BoA as she is today, so don’t miss it.
‘The Greatest’ music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxaWj8eoRmw
BoA recently marked the climax of her 20th anniversary with a one-off concert titled ‘BoA 20th Anniversary Special Live -The Greatest-’, held at the Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium in Japan. The concert brought together around 7,000 fans, as BoA was joined on stage by VERBAL (m-flo), Crystal Kay and Yunho from TVXQ for an unforgettable show.
As she enters her 21st year, BoA continues to shine – keep an eye out for more!
Social media links
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/boa_avex_staff
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boa_jp/
Release information
BoA 20th anniversary album ‘The Greatest’
Released May 30, 2022
■ CD version (supports Sumapura) <first pressing limited edition>
Specifications: Double-face sleeve, changeable jacket
*Tall case size
Price: 5,500 yen (tax included)
Catalog number: AVCK-79833 / POS: 498806479833/9
CD tracklist:
○ The Greatest
○ Dakishimeru -The Greatest Ver.-
○ make a secret -The Greatest Ver.-
○ Kono Yo no Shirushi -The Greatest Ver.-
○ AGGRESSIVE -The Greatest Ver.-
○ Sweet Impact -The Greatest Ver.-
○ Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi- -The Greatest Ver.-
○ LISTEN TO MY HEART -The Greatest Ver.-
○ DO THE MOTION -The Greatest Ver.-
○ LOVE LETTER -The Greatest Ver.-
○ QUINCY -The Greatest Ver.-
○ My Dear
■ CD version (supports Sumapura) <regular edition>
Price: 3,080 yen (tax included)
Catalog number: AVCK-79834 / POS: 498806479834/6
CD tracklist:
○ The Greatest
○ Dakishimeru -The Greatest Ver.-
○ make a secret -The Greatest Ver.-
○ Kono Yo no Shirushi -The Greatest Ver.-
○ AGGRESSIVE -The Greatest Ver.-
○ Sweet Impact -The Greatest Ver.-
○ Every Heart -Minna no Kimochi- -The Greatest Ver.-
○ LISTEN TO MY HEART -The Greatest Ver.-
○ DO THE MOTION -The Greatest Ver.-
○ LOVE LETTER -The Greatest Ver.-
○ QUINCY -The Greatest Ver.-
○ My Dear
CD purchase links:
BoA profile
BoA made a huge impact with her debut release in Japan, ‘ID; Peace B’, on May 30, 2001. Her first album ‘LISTEN TO MY HEART’ went straight to No.1 on the Oricon Album Chart and became a million seller. She went on to top the charts with six consecutive original albums, securing her position as one of Japan’s top recording artists. In March 2009, she made her North American debut with the self-titled album ‘BoA’, expanding her arena of activity from Asia to the world. In 2014, she released the long-anticipated ‘WHO’S BACK?’, her first new original album in four and a half years, and began a nationwide tour the same month, eagerly awaited by her fans in Japan. Next, BoA continued to expand her career as an actress and served as a judge on an audition show with huge viewership in her home country of South Korea, further cementing her position as a genuine artist. In 2021, she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut in Japan and released a new digital single ‘My Dear’ on November 5, her birthday. Following the ‘BoA 20th Anniversary FILM LIVE ~BoA THE LIVE EDITION~’ concert tour held in December 2021, BoA continues to draw attention as her career goes from strength to strength.
#BoA #BoATheGreatest #JPOP #21stAnniversary #KPOP #TheLiveEditionConcertTour #kcrushnews #jpopidol #kpopidol #BOAtheactress #BoAthesinger #BoAYoYoGiNationalStadium #Japan #Asianmusic #Asianperformers
Japanese male-female dance-pop group lol recently released their new single, ‘Baby tonight’. This love song was written by group member Yusuke Sato, while his bandmate honoka was inspired by the lyrics to write the rap section. ‘Baby tonight’ was unveiled during the group’s first national tour in about two and a half years, ‘lol live tour 2022 -laugh out loud-’, and the intense dance performance and melancholy lyrics became a hot topic among fans.
lol / ‘Baby tonight’ Dance Practice Moving ver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toIiWbAgY3E
‘Baby tonight’ download and streaming links
https://lol-JP.lnk.to/BabyTonightGD
Lol are a five-member group consisting of hibiki, moca, Yusuke Sato, honoka and Naoto Komiyama. They are best known for their songs ‘power of the dream’, which was used as the final-season opening theme tune for anime series ‘FAIRY TAIL’; and for ‘trigger’, which was a big hit on TikTok in Japan.
lol / ‘power of the dream’ art track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCPHC_5TxKg
lol / ‘trigger’ music video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KluTpe-nyQE
Fashionista hibiki is also the brand director of fashion label VIVAMUS, a hot brand that is growing in popularity among Japanese artists.
VIVAMUS
As the youngest in the group, moca is currently a university student. She has a beautiful singing voice and a sweet smile. She is currently learning Chinese, and is an artist with an affinity for various forms of culture and entertainment.
Both hibiki and moca are also members of the group QUEENDOM, who performed the theme song ‘CIKI CIKI BAM BAM’ for the hit anime series ‘Ya Boy Kongming!’, attracting the attention of anime fans in Japan and around the world.
QUEENDOM / ‘Ya Boy Kongming!’ opening theme ‘CIKI CIKI BAM BAM’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XicdpSmxuT0
Yusuke Sato is also an actor who has appeared in the BL (boys’ love) drama series ‘Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice But to Kiss!’, and his popularity among teen girls in Asia is skyrocketing. His deep understanding of the BL genre and his earnest attitude have endeared him to fans, and when he posted a photo on social media showing him in a costume from Thailand’s global hit BL drama show ‘2gether: The Series’, he sent fans around the world into overdrive. Sato is about to release his second photobook, which is available to pre-order from the link below.
Yusuke Sato Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/lol_yusuke/status/1529372088196567042?s=20&t=Dk5lx717Nr2GPjPtF_aFgw
With her own solo career also in the ascendant, honoka is a skilful rapper and dancer, who stands out thanks to her cool performance style.
honoka / ‘rai-rai’ (producer: KM) music video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QB6FHGsRjE
Naoto Komiyama is the leader of the group. He is such a masterful performer that he sometimes even teaches dance workshops, and recently he has been actively honing his skills as an actor on the stage.
lol information
▼ Official website
▼ Official Twitter
▼ Official Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/lol_official_avex/
▼ Official TikTok
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSJYCfWmu/
Yusuke Sato’s 2nd Photobook
Pre-order: May 16, 2022 – August 27, 2022
Shipping begins in September 2022
*Each copy includes a bonus large photocard
#lol #YusukeSatophotobook #NaotoKomiyama #Japanesemalefemaledancegroup #JPOP #JPOPIdols #Honoai #Hibiki #Moco #Japanesegroup #kcrushnews #lolBabyTonight #lolTRIGGER #lolPowerOfTheDream #lolnewsingle #newjpopmusic #lollivetour2022laughoutloud
This summer, BROOKLYN will hit the road on his ‘I’M GONNA LOVE YOU TOUR,’ performing in cities across the United States and Europe.
BROOKLYN REVEALS U.S. DATES FOR SUMMER 2022 TOUR
BROOKLYN will perform live in Houston, Orlando, Miami, and San Diego this summer on the North American leg of his 2022 ‘I’M GONNA LOVE YOU TOUR.’
Watch the U.S. dates reveal video here: https://youtu.be/tvlubx7YA6Q
U.S. Dates:
Sat June 25 — Houston, TX — Independence Park
Sat July 02 — Orlando, FL — The Geek Easy
Sat July 09 — Miami, FL — Miami Beach Convention Center
Sat July 16 — San Diego, CA — Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre
For tickets, visit: https://www.brooklynofficial.com/tour
Stay tuned for the announcement of Europe dates!
Watch the tour trailer here: https://youtu.be/Aovmj6aBBdk and stay tuned for date announcements!
—
About BROOKLYN
BROOKLYN is a modern rockstar. His music is a unique offering in K-Pop with nearly every one of his releases incorporating a glowing guitar melody. In 2018, BROOKLYN started performing live in Seoul, which quickly escalated into sharing stages with the likes of A.C.E and industry veteran Amber Liu (SM Entertainment) in North America the same year. Bending the rules established by K-Pop, BROOKLYN displays an uncommon authenticity in his music and voice. Growing up, BROOKLYN found a necessary emotional escape in his favorite rock music. Today, he strives to give his audience that same cathartic experience through his own artistry.
MUSIC VIDEOS
BROOKLYN 브루클린 ‘I’M GONNA LOVE YOU’ M/V: https://youtu.be/-DGrv5t8TT0
BROOKLYN 브루클린 ‘IMAGINE’ M/V: https://youtu.be/TcmrflACLIA
SOCIAL MEDIA & STREAMING LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooklynjuliana/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooklynjuliana
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brooklynjuliana?
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/brooklynjuliana
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BROOKLYNJULIANA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/brooklyn/935326941
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AJKk9TOuKRj9iZqDjb77T?si=1SJFO01sQMyRRvhOLEHILg
WEBSITE & MERCHANDISE
Official website: https://www.brooklynofficial.com/
Merchandise: https://www.brooklynofficial.com/shop
#Brooklyn #BrooklynUSTour2022 #BrooklynEuropeanTour2022 #BooklynImGoingToLoveYouTour #livetour #liveconcert #BooklynImagine #kpop #kpopmusic #krock #Korea #Asianmusic #kcrushnews #BrooklynTourAnnouncement2022