Music Asia

UNDERRATED K-pop quintet Sunny Hill, known for its creative concepts, is back with yet another awesome single, The Grasshopper Song, reports koreaboo.com.

Sunny Hill

Han Hyo-joo

Masami Nagasawa

Yoon Jin-seo

Sung Joon

Rainbow Pixie

Song Qian

Yo Oizumi

It’s a reinterpretation of the Aesop fable, The Ant And The Grasshopper, with a 21st Century twist. The fable is about a hardworking ant who toils to store food for the winter, while a lazy grasshopper spends his time having fun, eventually starving to death when winter comes.

In the song, the story is told from the grasshopper’s perspective, that a little fun won’t hurt. Check out its quirky music video at www.youtube.com/user/loenSUNNYHILL/featured.

-When two hurting hearts meet

KOREAN actress Han Hyo-joo has been paired with Go Soo in Jung Ki Hoon’s upcoming movie Band Aid, reports soompi.com.

In this romantic melodrama, Han plays a doctor who has hardened her heart so she won’t get hurt again, while Go plays a firefighter struggling with the loss of his wife. They meet and help heal each other’s pain.

-Dual role

JAPANESE actress Masami Nagasawa will play a dual role in WOWOW’s new miniseries Bunshin (Doppelganger), reports tokyohive.com. Based on Keigo Higashino’s mystery novel of the same name, it revolves around two identical-looking women trying to unearth the secrets of their past. It will be directed by Koto Nagata.

-Dating spree

KOREAN actress Yoon Jin-seo will headline cable network TVN’s rom-com miniseries Twelve Men In A Year, reports dramabeans.com.

An adaptation of German author Martina Paura’s 2005 novel Zwolf Manner Hat Das Jahr, it revolves around writer Mi-Roo (played by Yoon) who gets all panicky as she still hasn’t found Mr Right and she’s pushing 30. To find Mr Right, she goes on a dating spree with 12 men in a year, unaware that person is right under her nose. Playing her love interest is On Joo-Wan as Jin-Oh, her long-time friend.

-Cute pixies

K-POP fans who love Orange Caramel and its cutesy and bubbly brand of music will enjoy Rainbow Pixie’s debut digital single, Hoi Hoi, reports allkpop.com.

Rainbow Pixie, comprising Kim Jisook, Oh Seungah and Cho Hyunyoung, is a newly formed sub-group of the seven-member girl group Rainbow who is known for its sexy concept.

Check out the music video for the catchy single at www.youtube.com/user/OfficialTheRainbow.

-Victoria’s drama debut

SONG Qian, better known as Victoria Song, the leader of K-pop girl group f(x), has been cast as the female lead in the Taiwanese drama series tentatively titled The Prince Without A Castle, reports cpopaccess.com.

The Qingdao-born star plays the long-lost granddaughter of the owner of a large corporation. And with love triangle a common feature in most dramas, here we have Taiwanese boy band Fahrenheit’s Calvin Chen and Super Junior-M’s Zhou Mi fighting over Victoria’s character.

Meanwhile, netizens have commented that no dubbing is necessary since all the protagonists are native Mandarin speakers.

-Rocker boy

KOREAN actor Sung Joon will play a rocker in tvN’s 16-episode miniseries Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, reports dramabeans.com. It’s the broadcast station’s second project under the Oh! Boy Series, which targets the teen audience with its cast of pretty boys.

This series centres on Eye Purification, a high school rock band formed by a group of misfits and how they deal with relationships and their passion for music. Sung Joon plays the band leader and singer Kwon Ji Hyuk.

-No regular family

JAPANESE actor Yo Oizumi will co-star with Kumiko Aso in Toru Yamamoto’s new movie, Good Morning Everyone!, reports tokyograph.

An adaptation of Toriko Yoshikawa’s book of the same name, this comedy revolves around a complicated family of three. A co-habitating couple — Yagu (played by Oizumi), a vocalist in a punk band, and Aki (Aso) — lead a regular family life with their 15-year-old daughter, Hatsuki (Ayaka Miyoshi), only that he’s not her biological father.

Aso trained for a month to play the guitar since her character is that of a former guitarist in Yagu’s band. Expect scenes of the couple performing with the band.

While some critics still question whether K-hop will ever make waves on mainstream U.S. radio, Korean-American producers such as Teddy Park (of 2NE1) and Jae Chong (of Aziatix) are hoping that the genre will be the true crossover hit, with its ties to hip-hop, soul, and electronica. Park grew up in New Jersey and California on a diet of Queen and the Wu-Tang Clan. The 33-year-old, who has overseen 2NE1’s career from its inception, always wondered why the world music scene was missing a big global Asian act. Meanwhile, Chong was among the first producers to bring soul and RB to Korea, in the early 1990s. For Chong, raised in Los Angeles, it was a challenging time. “Seoul’s hip-hop community was tiny,” he says.

U-Kiss Dongho Denied A Taxi Ride?

IU Receives the Greatest Applause From the Korean Military

Happy Lunar New Year to all our readers!

There was a lot of movement on the chart this week. T-Ara’s “Lovey Dovey” is our new No. 1 song, replacing IU’s 4-week long reign with “You And I.” “Lovey Dovey” wins with a very high score of 983, just 17 points shy of a perfect 1000. This is also T-Ara’s third straight No. 1 song on our chart and their second chart topping hit in five weeks. “Cry Cry” was No. 1 a little bit over a month ago. Not to mention their mega hit “Roly Poly” was crowned our 2011 Song Of The Year.  It is safe to say that T-Ara has risen to become one of Korea’s top girl groups now.

The No. 2 song this week is brand new to the top 10. Hip-hop group Dynamic Duo’s latest hit “Without You” debuted at No. 15 last week and made a big 13-spot jump to No. 2 this week. This is the highest chart position of any songs Dynamic Duo has released. Dynamic Duo is one of the very few hip-hop groups that maintain an underground sound on their music, yet they always crossover to mainstream pop charts. “Without You” is a very listener friendly song, perhaps the most mainstream hit you’ll ever hear from Dynamic Duo. It is about a man missing the lover who has just left him.

Another new song in the top five is rising boy band Teen Top’s “Crazy,” also making a 13-spot jump this week to No. 4. Teaming up with hit maker Brave Brothers for the first time, “Crazy” becomes the group’s first top five hit. This song is a club number with sophisticated beats and lyrics about a guy wanting to hold onto his girlfriend. The emotional vocals and dynamic rap is expected to capture fans’ interests.

There are two more new songs in the bottom of the top 10 this week. At No. 9, Korea’s longest running mixed group Koyote returns to the top 10 with “Repeat The Same Words.” Koyote also works with Brave Brothers for the first time on this song. The trendy electronic sounds along with Koyote’s own color make this song very danceable.

At No. 10, it is the first pre-released single from veteran songwriter/producer Yoon Il Sang 21^st anniversary special album. Underground folk rock group 10cm remade “Sorrow” in which Yoon Il Sang wrote for Cool in 1998. It was the title song on Cool’s 4^th album. 14 years later today 10cm remade this song. Cool’s version is full of their trademark fun summer sound. The new version by 10cm is totally different as the song transform to an acoustic folk ballad. Watch out for more pre-released singles on this album by different singers.

SOOMPI CHART for 2012, Month 1, Week 3

1. (+4) T-Ara – Lovey Dovey ***1st Week @ No. 1***
Score: 983
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Shinsadong Tiger, Choi Gyu Sung / Lyrics: Shinsadong Tiger, Choi Gyu Sung
Album: T-Ara mini-album Vol. 5 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

2. (+13) Dynamic Duo – 거기서거기 (Without You)
Score: 865
Genre: Hip-Hop

Music: Dynamic Duo / Lyrics: Dynamic Duo
Album: Dynamic Duo Vol. 6 – Digilog 2/2 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

3. (-2) IU – 너랑 나 (You And I)
Score: 778
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Lee Min Soo / Lyrics: Kim Ina
Album: IU Vol. 2 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

4. (+13) Teen Top – 미치겠어 (Crazy)
Score: 776
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Brave Brothers / Lyrics: Brave Brothers
Album: Teen Top Mini Album Vol. 2 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

5. (+1) Lee Hyun – 너니까 (Because You Are You)
Score: 768
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Hitman Bang / Lyrics: Hitman Bang
Album: Lee Hyun Vol. 1 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

6. (-4) Trouble Maker – Trouble Maker
Score: 684
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Shinsadong Tiger, Rado / Lyrics: Shinsadong Tiger, Rado
Album: Trouble Maker mini-album | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

7. (-4) Davichi T-Ara – 우리 사랑했잖아 (We Were In Love)
Score: 651
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Cho Young Soo / Lyrics: K Smith
Album: T-Ara mini-album Vol. 5 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

8. (-4) A Pink – My My
Score: 648
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Shinsadong Tiger, Rado / Lyrics: Shinsadong Tiger, Rado
Album: Apink mini-album Vol. 2 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

9. (+4) Koyote – 했던 말 또 하고 (Repeat The Same Words)
Score: 577
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Brave Brothers / Lyrics: Brave Brothers
Album: Koyote Single Album | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

10. (+15) 10cm – 애상 (Sorrow)
Score: 572
Genre: Folk

Music: Yoon Il Sang / Lyrics: Lee Seung Ho
Album: Yoon Il Sang 21st (digital single) Part 1
Watch: MV

Rank
Artist
Song
Score
11
Fat Cat (+24)
예쁜게 다니 (Is Being Pretty Everything)
532
12
Zi-A (-4)
속상해서 (술 한잔 해요 Part 2) (Depressed (Have A Drink Part 2))
516
13
MBLAQ (new)
전쟁이야 (This Is War)
508
14
Wanted (new)
Like You (feat. IU)
405
15
Wonder Girls (-6)
Be My Baby
404
16
Ali (-4)
촌스럽게 굴지 마 (Don’t Act Countrified)
399
17
Huh Gak LE (-7)
그 노래를 틀때마다 (Every Time That Song Is Turned On)
399
18
NS Yoon G (+21)
미녀가 된 이유 (The Reason I Became A Witch)
348
19
Electroboys (-12)
Ma Boy 2 (feat. Sistar Hyo Rin)
332
20
Young Joon (Brown Eyed Soul) (-9)
꽃보다 그대가 (You Are Prettier Than The Flowers (feat. Simon D))
330
21
Noel (-2)
살기 위해서 (Just To Live)
317
22
Boy Friend (-4)
내가 갈게 (I’ll Be There)
300
23
Sunny Hill (new)
베짱이 찬가 (The Grasshopper Song)
258
24
Monday Kiz (-2)
미행 (Follow)
248
25
Dong Hae Eun Hyuk (Super Junior) (-11)
떴다 오빠 (Oppa Oppa)
246
26
Bobby Kim (new)
너만이 (Only You)
233
27
Park Jae Bum (-11)
별 (Star)
222
28
Rainbow Pixie (new)
호이 호이 (Hoi Hoi)
216
29
SNSD (-6)
The Boys
215
30
J-Cera (new)
사랑시 고백구 행복동 (Love City Confession District Happiness Town)
188
31
Nine Muses (new)
뉴스 (News)
170
32
Kim Yeon Woo (-8)
더 가까이 (Little Bit Closer)
156
33
Orange Caramel (-13)
Funny Hunny
145
34
Joosuc (-13)
Sun Star (feat. Lim Jung Hee)
136
35
Yoon Jong Shin (+2)
느낌Good (Feel Good (feat. Jang Jae In))
130
36
F.I.X (-3)
말하지마 (Don’t Say)
128
37
Lee Young Hyun (Big Mama) (-8)
이별사랑 (Love, Break Up)
122
38
Lee Seung Ki (-8)
친구잖아 (We’re Friends)
117
39
Jea (-7)
그대 바보 (You Fool)
103
40
Spica (new)
독하게 (Potently)
101
41
U-Kiss (-15)
평생 (For Kiss Me)
76
42
Piggy Dolls (new)
사랑이 뭐길래 (Feat. Simon D) (What Is Love)
75
43
Infinite (-16)
하얀 고백 (Lately)
67
44
Chaos (+4)
그녀가 온다 (She Is Coming)
56
45
Secret (-9)
사랑은 MOVE (Love Move)
55
46
Yim Jae Bum (-6)
사랑..그 놈 (Love..That Thing)
52
47
Lim Jung Hee (-3)
필라멘트 (Filament)
49
48
Kim Won Joo (4men) (new)
겨울연가 (Winter Sonata (feat. Mi))
46
49
Shin Hye Sung (-6)
돌아와줘 (Come Back To Me)
44
50
Shin Gun Taesabiae (new)
이 또한 지나 가리라 (This Too Shall Pass)
39

BONUS TRACK:

 愛-Say  – 사진 (Picture)     
Genre: Acoustic Ballad
 
Album: 愛-Say digital single “Picture”
Listen To: Full Song
Comment: Rookie female duo, Ae-Say released their first digital single, “Picture” this year. Their name was formed by combining the Chinese character for “love” and the English word for “to say.” Thus, as the name suggests, the duo hopes to relay messages of love to those who listen to their songs. The title song is “Picture,” a remake of hit single of the same title sung by male duo Dragonfly in 2002. Ae-Say reinterprets this song with female vocals. This song is a medium-tempo number with a simple melody line. The acoustic arrangements accompanied by clear vocals give this song new color.  (credits to motoway065 for translations)

About the Soompi Music Chart:

Soompi Music Chart is unlike any other music charts or television rankings.  It takes into account rankings by various major music charts in Korea and airplays of each song, making it an unbiased and objective tally of what’s going on in the world of K-pop.  Our chart is composed of the following sources:

Air Monitor Chart - 15%
GAON Music Chart – 15%
Various Internet charts (Olleh, Bugs, Melon, Soribada, Naver, Daum) – 15%
Billboard Korea – 15%    
SBS (Inky Gayo Take 7 + voting list) – 10%
MBC Inky Top 100 Chart - 10%
KBS Music Bank K-Chart - 10% 
MNet Chart – 10%

Thanks to Mardi09 for helping on this week’s internet chart research.

JYJ’s Kim Jae Joong Shares a Photo of “Our Jun Jju”

A Pink has proven themselves to be the ultimate rookies of 2011.

On January 19th, A Pink won the ‘Rookie award’ at the 21st^{Seoul Music Awards}, making it their fourth consecutive win for this highly coveted nomination. The girls had also won rookies awards from the ‘2011 MAMA‘ (female division), the Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards, and from the 26th Golden Disk Awards, thus resulting in an ‘all-kill’ from the four major rookie trophies.

A Pink debuted last April, and managed to charm their way into the public’s hearts with their innocent and cute charms. Their latest song, “My My“, is one of their strongest yet, as its old-school K-Pop flavor and modern aegyo delivery has drawn fans from a broad generational spectrum.

The girls will be concluding their promotions for their second mini-album this week, with their final stage being held on January 21st’s ‘Show! Music Core’.

Source Image: Newsen via Nate

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YG’s First Official Announcement of “Big Bang is Coming”…Greatest Promotion

With the Lunar New Year coming up this weekend, the members of T-ara sat down with Star News to discuss their holiday plans.

Dressed in colorful hanboks, the girls shared a sweet New Year’s greeting with their fans. “Our schedule for this Lunar New Year is jam-packed, and we are hard at work in our promotions, so please show us a lot of love… We hope you will eat delicious food with your family and friends, and spend a great time watching T-ara on TV during the Lunar New Year holiday.”

Having worked tirelessly on music, drama, advertisements, and musicals for the last half of 2011, T-ara was asked if they would get a break this Lunar New Year. They responded, “There is no break.”

The girls revealed that after their debut, they haven’t had many opportunities to spend time with their families during the holiday.

Eunjung reminisced, “I remember during the holiday break once, I was at the jjimjilbang (a sauna facility) with my family when I had to leave all of a sudden because I was informed I had something scheduled…”

Brightening, she said, “This holiday brings us to the year of the dragon, so it feels different. Everyone, have a Happy New Year, and to all those 88′ers born in the year of the dragon, keep your energy up.”

Hwayoung also shared a family memory, saying, “Although I have a twin, I’m the younger one so we always received different amounts of New Year money… After performing the traditional bow to the elders, I would sneak a side glance to count Hyoyoung unni’s money, and then proceed to shoot her puppy eyes to convince her to split the money with me.”

As the leader, Soyeon shared her reflections about T-ara’s growth. “This year, I have become the 4th leader… T-ara’s songs have received a lot of love, and since we are off to a new start with so much good news, I’m very happy.”

When asked how they planned to spend the holiday, the members responded cheerfully, “We are going to make Korean pancakes and  rice cake soup with our members and our agency family… Hyomin is really good at cooking, and Boram and Jiyeon are good at grilling meat.”

Having brought out hit after hit starting with “Roly Poly” followed by “Cry Cry” and “We Were in Love”, the girls have continued their streak in 2012 with “Lovey Dovey” by ranking #1 on charts and music programs.

The girls did not forget to thank the fans for their continuous love and support which helped the girls achieve all that they have so far.

Soyeon stated, “I think this is the most we have suffered since our debut days. Currently, our schedule is packed until April. While we have been running nonstop, every member has gotten sick, but every word from our fans energizes us [so much].”

She continued with a smile, “We wanted to greet our fans quickly with great songs. We were worried that fans might get tired or sick of our songs, but luckily, our songs were great, and we are grateful that the fans have received them with warm hearts.”

As the interview came to a close, the members stated, “As soon as ‘Lovey Dovey’ promotions end, we’ll be going to Japan again to work hard to spread K-pop… We will all try our best to show you our continuous growth, so please look forward it.”

Source + Photos: Star News via Nate

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