Shenyuepop prides itself in how fast the news drops in our forums, and it seems that you guys here in the blog are a deprived of condensed, up-to-date news. So here is a recap of the last 7 days in K-Entertainment. (For those who didn’t realize that Shenyuepop has a forum, you’ve missed out.)

Kim HyunJoong cast as Hanazawa Rui in Korean ‘Hana Yori Dango’:

Now whoever said reality Tv is only 15 minutes of fame and then history is probably wishing he lived in Korea. Because evidently, that’s not the case in good old Seoul. The celebrities in these ubiquitous reality shows are gaining immense popularity and plenty of offers for great gigs. Now before anyone mentions it, we know it’s not ‘finalized’, but releasing the news on practically all news sites and newspapers tells you that they have cast him but are checking on the public response first. Poor ‘Group Eight’ has been planning this remake of the Jdrama for a while now and wants to make sure that people will tune in, no matter how ‘mediocre’ the acting may be. No one else is officially cast and it will be broadcast early next year on KBS.

SS501 Number 2 in Oricon Daily Chart

Staying on course of the SS501 members it seems that they’re finally seeing the fruits of their labours and scored an impressive Number 2 on the Daily Oricon Charts. Well done boys, though I do wonder how well they speak Japanese.

Lee Hyori wants to catapult herself into a Pop Art icon

Hyori tries to pull off a vintage, pop art feel. Instead, she puts Andy Warhol to shame and ends up looking kitsch.

As well as scoring a great Vidal Sassoon CF where she practically gets all hair products for free and a guarantee for great looking locks all through out the rest of the year, Sister Hyori has had still images of her MV leaked as well as the audio. This is a great shame since of course, it was meant to be officially released in a few more days. Now news has it that Mnet (Lee Hyori’s Management) are super duper unbelievably mad at the leak and swear on their souls that they’re going to catch the guy that did it. Lucky for them that this leakage gives a little extra publicity to her mildly anticipated Summer Comeback. News also has it that Hyori’s a little upset, and with all that tough filming in gorgeous Hawaii, who can blame her?

Check out the leaked teaser:

Credit:Youngmankore

Here are the leaked still images from the MV.

Stars dropping like flies:

Who hasn’t been to the hospital lately in the K-Entertainment world? It seems like stars left, right and center are finding themselves bitten by that dreadful fatigue bug. For a small country they really know how to get all they want from their stars, wearing them out and forcibly sending them to the hospital inorder to rest. Latest victims to this horrible celeb virus are MC Mong, actress Lee Dahae and Big Bang’s TaeYang.

Military Men

Yes, Military men – past, present and near future- are making their rounds in the celeb news circuit this week, and here’s what they’ve been up to.

Singer Sung SiKyung is doing the usual Pre-military man activity boost, where he’s practically everywhere at once. Saucy nerd SiKyung is not only releasing a new album before he parts with his fans, but he also has a now Sold-out concert to croon his way in to hearts that won’t forget him for two years. He also managed to clear that unbelievable scandal he supposedly had with Jewelry star Seo In-Young. Hands up to who ever heard of it and/or believed it.

Singer Eru who hasn’t left the Entertainment scene for that long, posted pictures of himself while performing his patriotic duty at his probably exhausting desk job. It’s understandable that he would be bored since he just sits at a desk all day. I mean don’t all guys that go to the military do that? Yes, I’m being sarcastic. The star doesn’t understand that it’s not just another day at the office but his military service. So I guess its understandable too that netizens gave him a stern chiding, to the extent that poor Eru had to apologise on his personal homepage. Oh Eru, what do they say about idle thumbs?

Kim Jong Kook, the singer freshly out of the military is keeping his already impatient fans still waiting on his comeback album, as he is putting off the recording for a wedding. Not his, but friend MC Yoo Jaesuk. He promised to sing at his wedding and canceled his already booked flights just to stay faithful to that promise. How sweet.

Return of A Legend

It’s been something some fans have been waiting years for, and it’s completely justified. Seo Taiji is finally making his comeback this summer and this week it was announced that he will have some absolutely killer artists lined up to perform at his Music Festival, also staged as his comeback. The ETPFest scheduled for the 16th of August in Seoul is organised by Seo Taiji’s company and have lined up a large array of National and International artists. Clazziquai were confirmed this week for the gig on the eve of the festival. Marilyn Manson is also coming to Korea to scare the land of the morning calm.

Oh yeah and that dude Ajoo is making his comeback too. He seems to have the ‘Papparazzi’ stalking him.

For more news just head over to our forums. Check out exclusive celeb photos and videos by becoming an SYP member >>>

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Credit for ShenYuePop.com: noonoo_shoo, soyboy, StrawberryBJ + Shenyue!
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Ahem, anyway. Let’s get to the point. By now, if you’re a big Korean Entertainment fan and is with it in all the latest news, you probably know about all the shock and rage from the fan(girls) whose idols did not win. Before I continue, see for yourself what the award show was like with the >>Compiled MKMF videos<< I compiled.

Well, let’s start with the DBSK fans. DBSK and BoA were stuck in Japan and could not make it to the award ceremony and perform. Poor fans! But what angered them the most is that DBSK didn’t win anything this year, quite a shocker yes (well to the fangirls at least)? Sources say that maybe it really wasn’t the weather’s fault… but more like the boys being too tired from a performance they did on the same day. If they had flied to Korea right after, it would have been too late for preparations. Lucky for them that the weather just happened to be bad so they could make an excuse not to come!
The weather was not so bad in Japan, but it was in Korea (or so they say…). Supposedly bad enough that flights to Korea were canceled, or that it was too dangerous for celebs like BoA and DBSK to be taking.
Can’t blame this one on BoA though, for her performances were done in the 16th and not on the same day. DBSK needs a better schedule manger. Their fangroup, Cassiopeia, fought with the guard because they didn’t come! M.net said that there was not a ‘board post’ that ensure DBSK for attend the event, so DBSK’s fans don’t have to make a big drama for this. Mr. SM on the other hand said, “Today on MKMF are invited some of our artists like Super Junior, CSJH and SNSD” so the absence of TVXQ wont cause a lot of controversy.”

After seeing the performance list, Tablo and BoRa were not included in the ANYBAND performance. Which was quite odd seeing as Epik High was there for Tablo to be able to participate. Here’s the set list of what it should have been:
Min Hyori + Jung Inwoo – Award presenters
Shin Dongyap + Lee Dahae – Emcees
Lee Yunjung – Designer
Park Jinyoung + Wonder Girls – Combined Dance Performance
Seo Nyeo Shi Dae + Wonder Girls + Black Pearl + Kara – Combined Dance Performance
Gackt (Japanese rock artist)
Zhen Yuan Chang (Taiwan artist)
TVXQ
Super Junior
BoA
Big Bang
Cheon Sang Ji Hee
Epik High
Seo Inyoung
Cheo Shinsung (Supernova)
Lee Minwoo
ANYBAND – BoA + Xiah Junsu – Performance
Younha
Fly to the Sky
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Set list credit: Baidu & Amanda@cyxion.net
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Now, it’s my favorite time… the rant. Yes, and after you read this, you can share with me all your thoughts.

I’ll start off with the good, since there were people who deserved it. To make it easier for you, I shortened my reasons (ya’ll know how much I like to write ) Who’s on the list:
SG Wannabe – Come on. These boys? What group can compete with such ballad vocal? No competition there.
Epik High (for Hip Hop artists) – With awesome writing skillz and flow, it’s no disappointment here(I only say that because FreeStyle didn’t come out with anything)
Clazziquai – Can anyone really compete with them this year? They’re so damn catchy. Humming Urban Stereo would have been a close call though.
(Definitely ma girl) Younha – Come on, piano skillz? Vocal skillz? Writing skillz? Even language skillz? And now dancing skills: >>1<< >>2<<
Wodner Girls (best new female) – But then again, it could have been anyone like KARA or SNSD really. Black Pearl – no, Baby Vox Rev – no.
SeeYa – What other group out there that isn’t new deserves this?
Big Bang (for best male group and song of the year) – There’s no doubt about it. They were all over the media this year. I think they even deserved other awards…

So you’ve heard how SuJu was supposed to win the award that BIG BANG won, and the award that SuJu won was an award that someone else won. And now news has hit that there was a mistake, etc etc. Honestly, why is SuJu mad? Because they won an award they didn’t deserve and didn’t get the one that they paid for? This is the exact reason why Minwoo and Shin Hye stepped out of MKMF, they knew it as rigged! MKMF awarded those who had great achievement lately, not the whole year. If they did award for achievement through out the year, it would have been KARA’s award that Wonder Girl’s got. And where’s Fly to the Sky? Don’t tell me they don’t deserve something. Kim Ji Eun? As a new artist, she’s been blowing people away!
Which brings me back to my first topic. Bad weather? Of course not! They knew this was going to be a joke of an award show! If the weather was so bad in Seoul, BoA and the boys could have took a flight to another airport in Korea and drove there!
Now, you may be asking yourself, “If it’s rigged, then why do they even bother to make poles?” Well the more interactive shows like these are, the more people will watch to see if their idols won.

And Super Junior as ‘ARTISTS OF THE YEAR’ ARTIST?! Dose anyone KNOW what an artist is?! FOR THE LOVE OF YO MAMA, artists are not a bunch of boys who sing with no over the top talent! Tell me, ANYONE, especially you crazy fangirls, EXACTLY what is their talent? What is it that they contribute to the ART of music? To the ART of dancing?! For heaven’s sake, even their hair isn’t a work of art! Their fashion is far from it as they all dress alike! And their faces look like abstract to me! Gah, I am furious. It’s bad enough that they took home a bunch of a awards, but it angers me that they got ARTIST of the year! If BIG BANG won this, but lost ‘MALE GROUP OF THE YEAR’, I would have been fine. I probably would have still preferred BIG BANG for both, but at least I know that a group deserved something for their art for G-Dragon actually wrote the song that got them the attention they so deserved.
Only awards SuJu deserved were the ‘AUCTION NETIZEN POPULARITY’ and ‘MOBILE POPULARITY’ awards. Why? Because there are so many freaking fans on the internet and mobile, that’s why. Plus, remember how many ’supporting’ fans SuJu had when they boycotted Henry joining? (Oh~ the love~ *eye roll*) End of statement, that’s a fact.

That being said, here’s my list of those who are undeserved:
SuJu – ‘Artists’ my ass.
IVY – No, not because of her so called “sex scandal” (it ain’t a scandal till there’s proof. So show me the goods already!) but because I don’t see her as talent. Kim Ji Eun or Lee Jung Hee totally deserved it.
Shinhwa – OKAY fucking seriously. Not because I’m a BoA fan, but WHERE in the hell is Shinhwa bigger than BoA overseas? More people know BoAin the U.S., her career is bigger in Japan (it IS the biggest Korean career in Japan), and China knows her as well. Let’s not forget the South Asians who praise her too! I think maybe even RAIN (as much as I hate him) might have deserved this!

To quote someone else, “BEST ARTIST AS IN ARTIST THAT “SINGS” BEST?
SUPER JUNIOR CAN’T EVEN SING. LOLS. THAT’S THE FACT.
THIS IS WAY OVERATED. MNET HAS ITS SENSE OF HUMOUR AS ALWAYS.” – Anonymous
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Anyway, enough with that; let’s get to the fun part!
Before the award ceremony, all I would read about in the girl group forums (forums for KARA, SNSD, and Wonder Girls) were voting for the DANCE BATTLE. Being that I’m a fan of the three of them, I couldn’t choose!

My exact thoughts while watching this (I took out the drooling comments ;]):
Uhhh how exactly did BLACK PEARL even get a part when hey didn’t dance?
And SNSD had the same dance from their video… KARA actually used a NEW dance and performed a remix… Wonder Girls came out in gun and interactive way, really confident too.
Competition was definitely between KARA and WG. All the songs were great though. And the Individual dances were good! Nicole danced for KARA, SunYe danced for Wonder Girls, Mika danced for BLACK PEARL, and prodigy HyoYun danced for SNSD/SuShi. Dizzam, you saw how everyone got up for HyoYun? XD
Mika chick messed up in the beginning of the last group dance (you have to watch closely)
Surprised that Sun Ye was the one that danced, and not Ye Eun or SooHee (whom by the way is looking a lot less…weird looking but more like really pretty).
But ‘Best dance’ award goes to CSJH? I mean, I know Stephanie is awesome, and all four of them are hot… but the bigger topics this year were KARA, Wonder girls, and SNSD…. As much as I wanted KARA to win, I really thought with Wonder Girl’s ‘Tell Me’ spreading like the black plague, that it would win!

In the end, the congratulations goes to WONDER GIRLS who took the prize for the dance battle. And I must say, this song from Black Pearl ain’t bad… the first song I heard from them was not my type at all… but I see their voices are really good. But good enough to be with SeeYa and Brown Eyed Girls?
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Trend of the night: FUR. Seriously, everyone and their mama was wearing fur! Even sexy Lee Da Hae wore it for her performance!

Who looked the hottest that night? Lee Da Hae, that’s who. Never mind that her version of I Love Rock and Roll was laughed over by some (I thought it was okay until the chorus…) but admit it. She was hot. Her outfit in yellow… >>was hot<<. Did I mention it was hot?
OH! But let’s not forget that she played the drums! And ya’ll know how much props I give on that.

Other stars of the night:
Nice to see Park Si Yun (from My Girl) in there and looking good and the leader of the Park team on XMAN (sorry, I forget her name!) was looking great as well. And man, Younha came in style! She was looking great AND someone was holding the umbrella for her (talk about pampered!). Unlike Wonder Girls, who had the wind and rain falling on them.
All in all, horrible show. No Se7en, no BoA, no DBSK, not even Hyori!? And Gackt didn’t even perform LAST SONG? —- Wait, why WAS >>Gackt<< there in the first place? XD Why not Angela Aki, Utada Hikaru, Ayumi Hamasaki, YUI or Kamiki Aya? Hell, Morning Musume was there, why not them? Was it because Gackt is such a sexy beast? If so, they should have asked The GazettE to come, since there’s five sexy beasts in there. All young too. Mhhm mhmm *nod nod*

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CREDIT SOURCE: BoAJJang, Asianfnatics.net, SOOMPI, Hello-online.org, YOUTUBE uploaders
CREDITED WRITER for ShenYuePop: sLaVe
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Clazziquai Project, comprised of DJ Clazzi, Choi Ho-ran and Alex Chu, has just released their third album “Love Child of the Century.”

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

In the world of K-pop dominated by sappy ballads and bland pop songs, Clazziquai Project stands out for their unique brand of chill-out electronica music. Clazziquai’s name describes what its music is all about: a soothing combination of classical, jazz and groove.

Clazziquai Project, comprised of producer and mixer Kim Sung-hoon, also known as DJ Clazzi and vocalists Alex Chu and Choi Ho-ran, sat down with The Korea Times for an interview at a coffee shop in Yeoido last week.

Clazziquai members eagerly talked about their third album “Love Child of the Century,” which once again brings a new kind of music surprising even their fans.

“In our first album, many people said the songs sounded Japanese. But no artist wants to be told that their work sounds similar to other artists. The second album had an acoustic sound, while the third album has a new wave and European sound. We are constantly searching for originality in our music,” Kim said.

Clazziquai has come a long way from its start as a “project group” formed by Kim, a classically trained musician and jazz music enthusiast who also worked as a web designer. He started experimenting with music, creating a cross between “chill-out lounge and house music.”

In 2001, Kim started sharing his music, featuring Chu and his sister Christina as vocalists, online. He received positive feedback from netizens, which eventually led to the release of their breakout album “Instant Pig” in 2004. Then Choi joined the group as female vocalist.

While Clazziquai has been steadily gaining fans, the turning point came when their songs “Be My Love” and “She Is” were featured in the hit MBC drama “My Lovely Samsoon” in 2005.

Kim said he did not write the songs specifically for the drama. However, the show’s producers heard the songs and requested to use them in the show. “Having the songs appear on the drama was good for us because it introduced Clazziquai to the public,” he said.

Clazziquai’s sound has become so distinctive that Kim has been sought out by other artists to mix their music. “Sometimes someone asks me to do a remix in a Clazziquai way. But I honestly don’t know what that is. I just do it in a natural way. That would be the Clazziquai way. There is no secret,” Kim said.

Chu and Choi are the voices that give Clazziquai’s sound a dreamy quality, making it soothing and pleasant to the ears. Chu also writes lyrics for the songs, taking inspiration from his past experiences. One of the standout tracks in their third album was “Friday Blues,” a song Chu penned about the pain of saying goodbye.

Choi, known for her dreamy voice, said she feels very comfortable being the only female in the group. “Sometimes I feel more comfortable being the only girl with two guys than with a group of girls. We spend all our time together, so our lifestyles match each other’s,” she said.

Even though Clazziquai started out posting their music online, now they are also being affected by rampant illegal music downloading. Chu said that with the growth of the digital market, it’s a question of whether musicians should still produce CDs or just go digital.

However, the Internet has helped Clazziquai gain fans from all over the world. Some of their music videos have been uploaded on You Tube and other Web sites. Their albums have also been licensed in Taiwan, and they have released a mini-album “Love Mode” in Japan. Plus, the group has collaborated with Japanese artists like m-flo and Ryohei.

“In the future, we would like to expand to Europe and if things work out, the United States. But we’re doing everything slowly, taking baby steps,” Kim said.

Clazziquai will hold a concert, featuring many of the songs on their new album, on July 14 at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, while Chu will perform during m-flo’s concert in Tokyo on July 20. Then, the group will hold shows in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka to round out the month.

When asked about Clazziquai’s future plans, Kim, Choi and Chu could not give a definite answer. “I don’t know. Nothing comes to mind. We are just going with the flow. We’ll see how it happens… fans have asked us why our third album sounded so different. We’re always changing, we’re always evolving, nothing stays the same,” Kim said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

source : koreatimes.co.kr

i laughed as i read the entry line of this article, sappy ballads and bland pop songs, LOL, so true!!

Clazziquai IS great, and i almost burst in happy tears to hear their new song!!

Clazziquai LOVER BOY MV from the newest album

Our Lives MV