NCT 127 first K-pop band to perform at 2019 Global Citizen Festival K-pop boy band NCT 127 performed at the 2019 Global Citizen Festival in New York. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaUp-and-coming boy band NCT 127 was a special guest at the 2019 Global Citizen Festival in New York City's Central Park on Saturday (local time) ― the first K-pop group to perform at the event. The 10 members captivated the 60,000 audience with its latest releases “Superhuman” and “Highway to Heaven” from the album “We Are Superhuman.” The album ranked No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart. British rock band Queen, American singers Adam Lambert and Alicia Keys headlined the show.NCT 127 performed “Superhuman” and “Highway to Heaven.” Courtesy of SM EntertainmentThe Global Citizen Festival is an annual charity concert organized by Global Poverty Project, which aims to end extreme poverty. The star-studded event premiered in 2012. “It's very heartwarming to be able to participate in an event like this for such a good reason,” Canadian rapper Mark was quoted as saying. “As much as it's for a Sep 30, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
NU'EST to return on Oct 21 K-pop boy band NU'EST is set for a new release. Courtesy of PLEDIS EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop boy band NU'EST is set to release an album on Oct. 21, according to its agency PLEDIS Entertainment, Monday. The managing company floated a teaser clip on the band's official Twitter on the same day. The video features five elegant swords in the form of sand art, along with the moon and an antique table with a ribbon-tied gift box on. It also includes text that reads, “The book has been closed. And shall we meet at…? 2019.10.21.”Watch the video: bit.ly/2nGa3QuK-pop boy band NU'EST. Korea Times fileBut the titles of the album and the lead track are still under wraps. “The upcoming album signals the group's fresh start,” a PLEDIS official said.The five-piece band, comprising JR, Aron, Baekho, Ren and Minhyun, debuted in 2012 with the digital single "Face." Its flagship songs include "Hello” (2014). Minhyun was a member of now-defunct project boy band Wanna One, comprised of 11 top rankers from Mnet's survival reality show “Produce 101 season 2&Sep 30, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
EXO's Chen shows teaser for 'Shall We?' video EXO's Chen released his debut solo ep in April. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentEXO member Chen is giving fans a glimpse of his new music video.The South Korean singer, 27, shared a clip of his video for the single "Shall We?" on Friday.The teaser shows Chen standing on top of a building at sunset with a view of the city. The K-pop star wears two layered white shirts and dark pants."Shall We?" appears on Chen's forthcoming second EP, “Dear My Dear.” Chen will release the EP and the full "Shall We?" video on Tuesday.Dear My Dear consists of "Shall We?" and five other tracks. Chen shared two versions of cover art for the EP this month that depict people under night skies. Chen released his debut solo EP “April, and a Flower,” in April. He found fame with boy band EXO, which is known for the singles "Growl," "Call Me Baby," "Ko Ko Bop" and "Love Shot." (UPI)Sep 29, 2019
J-Hope and Becky G's 'Chicken Noodle Soup' spawns dance challenge BTS member J-Hope and singer Becky G. Capture from YouTube account of “ibighit”You've heard of the chicken dance. Now get ready for ... the "Chicken Noodle Soup" dance."Chicken Noodle Soup," the much-anticipated collaboration between "Shower" singer Becky G and J-Hope of the K-pop band BTS, has inspired a new viral trend on social media.In music video, released on Friday, the pair performs a hip-hop version of the chicken dance ―elbows out, legs bent and all. And their clucky moves might just shut down the internet with the "Chicken Noodle Soup" challenge."Chicken noodle soup, chicken noodle soup. Chicken noodle soup, with a soda on the side,” the duo rap over a funky, bass-heavy beat.In the hours since the song's release, J-Hope shared a video of himself recreating the choreography on Tiptop, and many have now followed suit, posting their own takes on the dance on social media with the hash tag #CNSChallenge.Becky G and J-Hope's catchy tune is actually not the first song titled "Chicken Noodle Soup." Theirs is a cover of the original 2006 "Chicken Noodle Soup" by DSep 29, 2019
Lovelyz's Kei to go solo Kei of K-pop girl band Lovelyz is about to go solo. Korea Times file, Courtesy of Woollim EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaKei of K-pop girl group Lovelyz will release her first solo album on Oct. 8, the first member to do so. The lead vocalist of the eight-piece band is planning to take on a new musical challenge through the album “Over and Over,” according to her agency Woollim Entertainment, Friday. The lead track's name is still under wraps. Woollim unveiled the album's teaser photo on the group's official Twitter, Friday ― a photographic patchwork featuring Kei, with a text that reads, “Kim ji yeon 1st mini album.” Kim Ji-yeon is Kei's real name. She will use her real name ― instead of Kei, which she has used since her debut in 2014 ― to accentuate her own “color of music.” Kei, 24, began her singing career as a Lovelyz member with the album "Girls' Invasion.” Lovelyz, comprising Baby Soul, Yoo Ji-ae, Seo Ji-soo, Lee Mi-joo, Kei, JIN, Ryu Su-jeong and Jeong Ye-in, shot to fame with a popular number “Ah-Choo” released in 2015. The Sep 29, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
INTERVIEW How all-Filipino K-pop boy band SB19 rose to stardom All-Filipino K-pop boy band SB19 recently shot to fame in the Philippines with “Go Up.” Capture from SB19's FacebookBy Dong Sun-hwaA “Korean pop (K-pop) band” no longer means a group comprising all Koreans. Its definition has expanded, with more music labels here setting their sight on the global market by recruiting foreign members, dressing up and training them like Koreans. But there are more adventurous people who do not even include one Korean when launching a band. Jung Sung-han, CEO of entertainment company ShowBT, is among them. Jung's long-time goal has been the “localization” of K-pop. Hence, in 2018, he showcased a K-pop boy band SB19 in the Philippines, composed of five local boys ― Sejun, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin. Jung recently became a game changer thanks to the group's sudden rise in the Philippines. The quintet climbed up the local charts including “MYX Daily Top 10,” “Pinoy MYX Countdown,” and “MYX Hit Chart” with its latest single “Go Up,” released in July. Watch the music video: Sep 27, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
All-star boy band SuperM to make US debut next week SHINee's Taemin and WayV's Ten are among the members of SuperM. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Cho Hae-minSuperM, a seven-member project team composed of top K-pop artists, will make its debut in the United State next week with its first mini-album, “Jopping.”According to SM Entertainment Wednesday, the members from its most popular boy bands ― Taemin of SHINee, Baekhyun and Kai of EXO, Taeyong and Mark of NCT and Lucas and Ten of WayV ― will hold a promotion event in Los Angeles at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 (local time). The event will be aired live through YouTube.Capitol Music Group, an American label owned by Universal Music Group, has collaborated with SM Entertainment for the project.The title, “Jopping,” is a combination of two words “jumping” and “popping.” It means “let's party,” according to the agency. The album includes five songs.Sep 27, 2019
BTS' J-Hope releases collaboration with Becky G J-Hope / Korea Times fileBecky G / APJ-Hope, a member of K-pop boy band BTS, will release Friday a hip hop single featuring American musician Becky G, his management agency said. The song, "Chicken Noodle Soup," set for release Friday evening through BTS' official social media channels, is a recreation of the namesake song released by American musician, DJ Webstar and rapper Young B. The new song will also come with a music video featuring J-Hope and Becky G, according to Big Hit Entertainment. J-Hope wrote Korean rap lines for "Chicken Noodle Soup" while Becky G wrote her lines in Spanish, adding fresh elements to the old-school hip hop song.The two artists joined hands for the collaboration, having both fallen for hip hop music in their childhoods. The song also comes with witty choreography executed by J-Hope and Becky G in the music video as well as a dance ensemble of some 50 dancers from across the world. J-Hope, known for his dance prowess, has also shown talent in music production, having joined in the production and rapping of many BTS songs, including "MIC Drop," "Blood SweSep 27, 2019
AKMU releases songs written by Chan-hyuk at sea during days as marine Sibling duo Akdong Musician (AKMU) released its third full-length album “Sailing” on Monday. Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaWhen Lee Chan-hyuk of brother-sister duo Akdong Musician (AKMU) was doing his obligatory military service in the Marine Corps, the environment wasn't perfect for him to work on music. In particular, he had virtually nothing to play when his unit was out at sea during a drill with the Navy ― not even a recorder. As a Marine, he had to be on board a naval ship for as long as a month at a time.But this could not kill his passion for music. Amazingly, Chan-hyuk created dozens of cross-genre numbers included in the duo's latest release “Sailing” while he was in the corps from September 2017 to May 2019. “This is why the titles of most tracks are linked to ships and the ocean,” he said during a press preview on Wednesday at the CGV Cheongdam Cine City in Seoul. “I solely resorted to pen and notebook to compose them while on board ship. I suffered from seasickness sometimes. The EP in general revolves around farewelSep 26, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS's 'Blood Sweat & Tears' hits 500 million YouTube views BTS' 2016 music video "Blood Sweat & Tears" surpassed the YouTube milestone of 500 million views Wednesday, becoming the eighth BTS video do to so.The video for "Blood Sweat & Tears," the main track of the K-pop band's second full-length album, "Wings," hit the threshold Wednesday morning, nearly three years since its release in October 2016.It was the eighth BTS music video to pass the milestone. Other BTS videos that have achieved the feat include "DNA," which went on to garner more than 800 million views, "Fire," which has more than 600 million views, and "Fake Love."The band's two latest songs, "Idol" and "Boy With Luv," have also hit the 500 million mark.Among South Korean artists, BTS has the greatest number of music videos over the 500 million YouTube views threshold. (Yonhap)Sep 25, 2019
