ZE:A declares “Here I Am” on Music Core

ZE:A has officially kicked off their round of comeback promotions through today’s episode of MBC’s ‘Music Core‘!

Their title track, “Here I Am,” is an up-beat urban pop track with an addictive hook that brings out the happiness of love. For their performance, the boys decided to swap out their aggressive, masculine images for a more romantic and suave one.


Before the broadcast, the boys expressed their determination to win the top spot. “While preparing for this album, all of us banded tightly together. We’re determined to work to the death in order to win #1 on a music program. There are a lot of other talented teams, but we hope to captivate the hearts of our fans with our lovely new image and show our fans that we can win #1. We’ll be working hard, so please look forward to our transformations.”

Check out their comeback stage below, which also includes “Again…“!




source: allkpop

Far East Movement performs “Rocketeer” on Music Core

Hip hop group Far East Movement performed for the first time on today’s episode of MBC’s “Music Core“!

The group is currently visiting Korea for their Korean concert tour and decided to hit up “Music Core” with a special performance of “Rocketeer,” a track off of their latest single.

Through Star News, representatives of MBC revealed, “Far East Movement promised a performance with us this week, but because their track, ‘Rocketeer,’ has a form of advertisement in the lyrics (‘Super Mario’), we’ve decided to edit that portion of the lyrics out and submit it for a quick evaluation before they make their appearance.”

Although Far East Movement has experience performing at the “2010 MAMA” last November, this will be the first time the group has made an appearance on a public broadcast music program.

Check it out below!




source: allkpop

Girl’s Day returns with “Twinkle Twinkle” on Music Core

Girl’s Day has been exceeding the expectations of many, and as a rookie group, that’s truly a hard accomplishment to achieve. Music fans were left speechless by the radical transformation the girls underwent for their newest release, “Twinkle Twinkle“.

Ahead of the broadcast, the girls stated, “It feels like we’ve just debuted again. We all worked so hard on this album – it doesn’t feel like a comeback, but more like a debut. We’re very thankful towards the people who complimented our song, and we’ll try our best to live up to expectations.”


The girls concluded, “There’s a lot of men that like our new concept, and we think it’s probably because there’s something that makes your heart flutter with schoolgirl outfits. We’ll be working hard to show the best sides of ourselves, so please look forward to us.”

So check out the girls as they “Twinkle Twinkle” for you on today’s Music Core.



source: allkpop

The YG Family is taking “A Shot a Day”

Earlier, we reported that the YG Family and Nikon Imaging were joining forces in a new campaign called “A Shot a Day“. Nikon products will be used to capture moments from the stars’ daily lives, which will be later released in an episode format.


However, for now, they’ve released a short CF featuring T.O.P., Seungri, Yoo In Na, PSY, Goo Hye Sun, and many more members trying to take “a shot a day“.

Check out the clip below!





source: allkpop

Subin releases comeback single, “I Couldn’t Smile After We Broke Up”

Former Turtles member Subin has finally made her return to the music industry after a seven-month hiatus.

Fans saw her back in August with a fun dance track, “Like A Lost Child“, but her promotion was short-lived, as she began suffering from depression. In the midst of an idol-dominated industry, Subin revealed that she had felt too weak to compete as a solo artist and took a brief period of absence.


By giving vocal lessons to trainees, she didn’t let go of her musical ties; eventually, she was able to battle her depression through music.

Her latest single, “I Couldn’t Smile After We Broke Up“, was released on March 18th and received an immense amount of support from fans who had been awaiting her return. Netizens commented, “The lyrics and her voice really pains my heart,” “I can hear the maturity in the song,” and “It’s already stuck in my head.”

Her agency, KP Contents, commented, “Since she has overcome much obstacles, she will be promoting with the heart of a rookie. Fans can look forward to her live performances on radios.”


source: allkpop

“Welcome to the Show” airs pilot episode with top idol stars

SBS’s new reality sitcom show, “Welcome to the Show,” finally unveiled its pilot episode on March 16th amidst an impressive lineup of cameo appearances from top idol stars.

The episode focused on what went on behind-the-scenes of “Inkigayo” and drew the happenings of the day’s event from morning to live rehearsal, showing in detail how singers prepare for the broadcast behind the glitz and glam of the stage.


The show boasted a top tier lineup including Nichkhun, Sulli, Seulong, IU, TVXQ, B2ST, MBLAQ, Lee Jung, Krystal, G.NA, Jewelry, INFINITE, ZE:A, and Dal Shabet.


Sulli and Nichkhun also brought out jealousy from the viewers with their affectionate attitudes, as they were seen often texting each other throughout the show. Unfortunately for Seulong, whose character has a crush on Sulli in the show, he was forced to observe from afar as he had yet to obtain her number.

Seulong suspects the two to have something going on, and finally has his beliefs confirmed when he finds Nichkhun covering Sulli’s eyes and expressing, “I’m the totally handsome and cool Thai prince, Khun oppa.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Nichkhun takes him aside and reveals his feelings for Sulli, describing her as an “elf that has descended from Heaven.“ Although Seulong tries to console himself by muttering that “she isn’t that pretty,” he later finds himself in awe as he stares at her beauty.

Despite the hype and top tier cast, “Welcome to the Show” recorded a dismal 3.9% in viewer ratings, according to AGB Nielson Media Research. Viewers remain divided on the show, with some claiming that the acting was embarrassing to watch, while others felt that the concept idea was fresh and interesting enough to pursue with improvements.

Through Newsen, PD Park Seung Min addressed the low viewer ratings by stating, “There’s only so much you can show in a one act sitcom, but I did try to give the new genre a try. Thank you to all of those that thought it was a fresh idea. This sitcom took a lot of time and preparation, so the results are a bit disappointing. Should I try this again, I do not think I will be using ‘Inkigayo’ as the backdrop again.”







source: allkpop

2AM releases remake of Fukuyama Masaharu’s “Best Love”

On March 15th, 2AM released their remake of Fukuyama Masaharu’s “Best Love“.

The track is part of the Japanese singer-songwriter’s cover/remix album, titled “With Special Guests – Fukuyama Masaharu Remake“, which features Korean guest participants like B2ST. The original track, “最愛,” was used as the theme song for the movie “Suspect X” in 2009. 2AM received the opportunity to recreate it with their own emotional voices to add a more modern touch.

Fukuyama praised, “I think 2AM’s remake is better than the original. They reinterpreted the song very dramatically; it’s excellent.”

Check it out below!



source: allkpop

TVXQ’s Changmin and Lee Yeon Hee host a “Paradise Ranch” event for their fans

Lee Yeon Hee and Shim Changmin held a fan event celebrating the conclusion of “Paradise Ranch” on March 15th.

The two leads of SBS’s “Paradise Ranch” watched the last episode with 200 fans. They also presented their fans with signed CDs of the drama’s soundtrack, and donated 10 million won to SBS’s ‘Hope TV‘, a fundraising program for charities.


Reflecting over the experience, Lee Yeon Hee mused, “It was an event where I was able to feel my fans’ love. I’m very happy that I was able to watch the last broadcast with my fans, and so it’s a very meaningful experience for me“.

Changmin also stated, “It was my first drama, so everything was new to me and I was able to learn a lot thanks to everyone. I hope that even as time passes, everyone will continue to love ‘Paradise Ranch’. I also ask that you please continue your love and interest in Lee Yeon Hee and I.”

“Paradise Ranch” concluded on March 15th, recording a viewership rating of 8.4%.




source: allkpop

Bang Yong Guk on his experience, writing stalker raps, and debuting with a boyband

Ji Eun’s guest rapper, Bang Yong Guk, has turned quite a few heads ever since he first appeared on stage with her for “Going Crazy“. Ever since then, he’s risen as a top ‘rookie to look out for’, especially because his resume boasts extensive underground experience.

Currently, he’s a trainee under TS Entertainment, but before that, he was part of the esteemed Soul Connection crew in 2008 and had toured with his crewmates nationwide.

When told of his increasing popularity, he shyly laughed and stated, “There are so many people more amazing than me, I’m a bit embarrassed that people have taken an interest. I think that the fans probably felt a sort of freshness in the fact that my husky voice didn’t really match my face.”

Turning to his experience, Bang Yong Guk revealed, “I began performing in Hongdae clubs when I was in my third year of junior high. By the time I was 21 years old, I had performed about 200 times; I gained a lot of experience through that. Now I’m working on writing my own raps, and although my composing skills aren’t up to par yet, I’ve been making my own raps and melodies for a while (laughter).”

Bang Yong Guk actually wrote the haunting rap lyrics for “Going Crazy” himself, and revealed how he came up with them: “I watched a lot of movies and read books on stalking about a month before the song’s release in order to come up with the lyrics. I think I’ve seen nearly all of the movies out there about stalking.”


Bang Yong Guk stated, “I began with the name ‘Jepp Blackman.’ I wanted a name that gave a strong vibe and never once used my real name in my work. Through this opportunity, I thought I’d give my name a try and I’m quite satisfied with it (laughter).”

He continued, “Now that people know me by my real name, I’ve been reminded of the hardships I faced during my younger years. I feel really affectionate towards the name, and as it is pretty unique, I’m glad that people are able to remember it more easily.”

When asked about his plans for his future, he stated, “I’m currently preparing to debut as a five member group. Our debut date isn’t set in stone yet, but luckily I received the opportunity to start promoting first, so I’m going to try my best. I’ll make sure to learn everything I can through this opportunity and pass it on to my members. Instead of focusing on gaining headlines, I think it’s more important to just try my best and work hard (laughter).”


source: allkpop

IU loves Corinne Bailey Rae more than her mom

A few days back, IU got to perform as the opening act for her role model, Corinne Bailey Rae, when she stopped by Seoul for her Korean concert. Today, “One Night in TV Entertainment” aired IU’s excited reactions when she finally got to meet the singer-songwriter backstage!

IU gushed, “I love her as much as I love my mom. I can’t even speak properly, and my hands are shaking!”


Unable to contain her excitement, IU later added, “I love Corinne-ssi more than my mother!” and went on to reveal that that it was because of Rae that she picked up the guitar and found the strength to carry on, even after failing over 20 auditions in a row.

When told that IU wanted to hear her play the guitar, Rae happily agreed, and the two performed a duet on the spot. IU shook off her nerves by continuing to exclaim, “This has to be a dream!”




source: allkpop

5dolls are both thankful and sad about their joint performance with T-ara

The members of 5dolls have expressed both gratitude and sadness about their collaborative stage with T-ara. They shared their feelings during a recent interview with Joy News 24.

5dolls linked up with T-ara for a special joint performance of “I Mean You” last week, which garnered much attention. This performance caught particular interest because 5dolls was constantly being compared to their labelmate seniors, T-ara.

5dolls stated,

“Honestly, T-ara are our rivals. They give us a lot of advice about what to do on stage in order to come out pretty, and what gestures to do. This joint performance was done because the T-ara seniors supported us by suggesting, ‘How ’bout we do a special stage?’.“

They continued,

“‘I Mean You’ is our song and since we are rookies, we have a lot of greed, but because T-ara shared the stage with us, there was a good response. We are thankful. But we are also sad because we feel as if we lost the chance to stand on our own. It is our debut song, and we needed to show our own individuality. To be honest, we do have an upset heart; we think we need to let our name be known to the public more.

We also wonder what it would be like if we joined T-ara for their performance. We hope that when T-ara releases another album, we’ll be able to return the favor.”

We think awareness about us has risen, but looking at the music charts, we fell short of expectations. We need more effort.

This year’s goal is the rookie award. Since we didn’t win the rookie award with Co-Ed, we think that if we win the rookie award as a girl group, it will be a new feeling. We will work hard to achieve good results.”



source: allkpop

IU explains her JYP audition was the most memorable because of Goo Hara

Korea’s pop sensation IU recently guested on the March 14th broadcast of MBC’s “Come To Play“. During her appearance, she shared a story about a memorable audition.

Since she participated in many auditions, IU was asked to share an interesting story about one of them. Reflecting, she mused, “I think about the JYP audition the most. Because the girl who auditioned after me was very pretty, I thought, ‘I’m probably not going to make it this time either.’”

IU continued, “A few days later, I saw the list of people who passed, as well as their videos. I was eliminated, but the girl after me was there.”

After IU debuted, she met the same girl again at a broadcast. That girl is none other than KARA’s Goo Hara. IU expressed, “Even though Goo Hara didn’t know who I was, because she is so pretty, I remembered her instantly.”



source: allkpop

IU says goodbye with “Cruel Fairy Tale” on ‘Inkigayo’

Although it’s only been three weeks since IU kicked off her promotions for “The Story Only I Didn’t Know“, she’s already wrapping up her promotions this weekend.

Filming for “Dream High” might have concluded a while ago, but IU has already taken on new jobs, with a new SBS sitcom on the horizon and a hosting gig with “Inkigayo“. IU has thus decided to end her promotions in order to concentrate fully on her upcoming activities.


Musing over her new position as a MC alongside fellow newbie, B2ST’s Kikwang, she expressed, ”When I think about doing a live broadcast every Sunday, I get nervous. Also, I will learn a lot from Jo Kwon oppa and Sulli, so that I won’t make any mistakes.”

To give fans a nice parting gift, she performed “Cruel Fairy Tale” for the first time!




source : allkpop

Big Bang wins Inkigayo Mutizen again + other performances

SBS’s Inkigayo is back once again, and this week’s show was full of amazing and fun performances from the top participating K-pop artists!

As reported earlier, it was Jung Yonghwa’s last episode as MC due to other commitments, and he will be replaced by IU and B2ST’s Kikwang from next week.


The ‘Take 7′ nominees for the March 13th episode of Inkigayo were IU (“The Story Only I Didn’t Know“), Lee Hyun (“You Are The Best of My Life“), Navi (“Well Done“), MBLAQ (“Again“), Big Bang (“Tonight“), G.NA (“Black & White“), and Mighty Mouth feat. Soya (“Tok Tok“). Lee Hyun was not present on today’s show due to another schedule.









Since they’ve already won four trophies through “M! Countdown” and “Music Bank“, Big Bang claimed their sixth trophy by winning the ‘Mutizen’ again on “Inkigayo”. Congratulations to Big Bang!



Other artists who performed on this afternoon’s show include Kahi, Kan Mi Youn, TEEN TOP, Kim Hyun Jung, Dalmatian, 5dolls, Song Ji Eun, Coin Jackson and Ye Ara.















source: allkpop

Yoseob loses the ‘dance copy machine’ title to Kikwang on “100 Points out of 100″

On March 12th’s episode of “100 Points out of 100“, B2ST’s Yoseob demonstrated his dance ‘copying’ skills again as he tried to master MBLAQ’s “Again” dance.

However, unlike his usual self, Yoseob looked nervous, getting teased by the cast for being self-conscious of Kikwang, who followed the choreography secretly from the sidelines. In the end, his nerves got the best of him and Yoseob had the title of ‘dance copy machine’ taken away.

Meanwhile, Kikwang was praised, and even managed to dance to his own version of the “Again” dance. The cast complimented his dancing skills as Yoseob angrily asked him what his real identity was.

Check out the funny clip below:




source: allkpop