Actor Oh Man Seok has confirmed that he is, in fact, dating his co-star Jo Ahn, from the drama “Everybody Cha Cha Cha,” which aired last summer up through January of this year. However, the reps for Oh Man Seok have said that no hanky-panky was going on during the filming or broadcast of the drama, and that their relationship was “strictly professional.”

And I believe it. I mean, with 155 aired episodes, who had time for romance?!! Also, I totally understand how two actors working closely together for a few straight months may develop a budding relationship-spend that much time with anyone, let alone a charismatic, handsome and talented actor, you’re bound to go a little gaga, right?! And vice versa-Jo Ahn is gorgeous! C’mon people-it’s not like we haven’t seen this before-Brangelina, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, Hyun Bin and Song Hye Gyo etc. etc!

Oh Man Seok, however, does not want to be  the next Brangelina, and asked that fans and the public respect his new relationship with his new leading lady- also stating that although grateful for (and sometimes burdened by) the overwhelming attention, “It is a very private matter and I hope that others can respect that.”

Scandalous rumors began to circulate when the pair were seen with Oh Man Seok’s daughter at a children’s center in Anyang in May. And only recently did the two finally ‘fess up and confirm their relationship status when Ilgan Sports captured the two departing on a trip to Japan at Incheon International Airport!

Respecting their wishes, this will probably be the last time I mention their relationship here on this blog. That is, until they get pregnant, engaged, or break up!! (Not that I am wishing for any of these things, one way or another.) Ahn is currently filming the daily drama Three Sisters, while Oh is preparing for an upcoming episode of Drama Special (“The State of South Korean Trader Kim Cheol-Soo” with T-ara’s Q-ri), and the comedic musical Toxic Hero. All the best to them both!

It’s been two months since f(x)’s popular androgynous rapper pulled out of promotions for unconfirmed health reasons. F(x) has been surging ahead as a four-member group, but what has fans really in a tizzy is a current crop of promotional photos that were done with all members, minus Amber.

Concern rises from the fact that currently Minho of SHINee is injured and unable to perform on stage but is still included in performances, appearances etc. That hide nor hair of Amber has been seen with mixed reports circulating concerning her progress is making fans suspicious of SM for the shroud of secrecy surrounding the situation (which, let’s be honest, not hard to be suspicious of SM these days).

The recent paparazzi video doesn’t help:

It is allegedly Amber taking a stroll with a guy friend, and the only footage we’ve seen of her since the injury. She appears fine, though we can only see the back of her and there is no way to really know her health condition from one blurry visual.

I may be jaded in my 23 years, but I would not put it past SM to place Amber on a mini “vacation” to keep fans guessing and then, oh SURPRISE! guess who shows up for the SM Town concert?

I kind of hope that’s the scenario, because if that other thing happens, as talented as they are, I don’t know if f(x) can survive without her.

Any Amber sightings? Where do you think she is?

It’s often said that if you want to make it in the “business” you must be willing to throw any notion of shame and pride out the window.Of course many people would say that’s an easy decision to reject, but is it really, to turn away the one thing you’ve worked for for most of your life? For some, in light of fame and stardom lack of sleep and starvation don’t seem so bad.

However, since former Super Junior member Hangeng (Hankyung) left SM Entertainment in December, he has not been shy in expressing the reasons for his departure.

At a recent press conference in China for his new album, he revealed that he thanks SME for their “grooming”, but that he ultimately left because of collaboration issues and his pride. He went on to say, “From today onwards I will start afresh my entertainment career as a soloist.”

And so far his new career has been going pretty well. Hangeng recently held two concerts in Beijing and his album Geng Xin released today in China with an already high amount of pre-orders.

I can understand that fans were upset about Hangeng’s departure (though hey, you’ve still got 11? 12? other guys left to scream over) but I also understand that sometimes you’ve got to do what’s best, and for Hangeng, that looks to be working out just fine.

Kpop’s hip hop sunbaes DJ DOC who ruled the scene in the 90’s with the likes of 45RPM and JinuSean make their comeback with the record DJ DOC Volume 7.  DJ DOC’s last album was 2004’s Love & Sex & Happiness.  Today, the hip hop trio consisting of Lee Ha Neul, Jung Jae Yong, and Kim Chang Yeol, released the MV for their new song “I’m A Guy Like This”.  The video is hilarious as they channel LL Cool J, Run DMC, and The Beastie Boys while parodying the MVs of After School’s “Bang,” Lee Hyori’s “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” and T-ARA’s “Bo Peep.”  Check it out here via DJ DOC’s official YouTube channel DJDOC1994.

Their new album is already available for digital download on various music portal sites, but the physical album is listed as being released on August 2nd.  There are 12 tracks on the new album:

01. In To The Rain feat. YDG
02. 나 이런사람이야
03. 오늘밤 feat. IVY
04. 투게더
05. I Believe feat.김장훈
06. 서커스(Suckers) feat. Maboos, J’Kyun, Swings, Deepflow, B-free
07. 이리로 feat. Tiger JK, Bizzy, J-Dogg, sean2slow,YDG
08. LOVE feat. 이승환
09. 부치지 못한 편지
10. 투게더 (Remix)
11. 오빠 그런 사람 아니다
12. Fat Girl feat. 45RPM

I wasn’t into Kpop back in the day when DJ DOC ruled the world, but I learned more about them after finding this epic compilation of Super Junior, SS501, and Big Bang’s performances of one of their biggest hits “Run To You.”  Check it out here.

Ah, I love this compilation and “Run To You” was really an epic song.  Be sure to check out DJ DOC’s new album for more Khip hop greatness.

cr:  Osen, MDToday, MTStarNews, DJDCO1994, SujuBang

]]> http://seoulbeats.com/2010/07/dj-doc-drops-im-a-guy-like-this-mv/feed/ 6 http://seoulbeats.com/2010/07/onew-casted-in-musical-rock-of-ages/ http://seoulbeats.com/2010/07/onew-casted-in-musical-rock-of-ages/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:01:09 +0000 cantoallavita http://seoulbeats.com/?p=51474

I don’t know what it is with Korea bringing over the crappiest of the crappy Broadway musicals and casting idol stars in them. First Xanadu with Super Junior’s Kangin and Heechul, then Legally Blonde with SNSD’s Jessica…and now Rock Of Ages, which opened on Broadway in 2008 and will be opening in Korea later this year. I guess that’s how they plan on selling the show.

After making his musical debut earlier this year in Hey Bro!, SHINee’s leader Onew will be playing the principal lead, “Drew,” in the musical Rock of Ages. He will be sharing the role with Ahn Jae-wook and TRAX’s Jay. The leading female principal, “Sherrie,” will be shared by fellow SM labelmates Dana and Sunday of CSJH The Grace, as well as veteran singer-actress Moon Hyewon. Here’s a brief video teaser featuring the Korean cast of Rock Of Ages.

Rock Of Ages features music from the 1980’s American rock scene, its soundtrack full of hits by the likes of Styx, Bon Jovi, Pat Benetar, Poison, and Journey. It tells the story of a young aspiring rocker named Drew Bowie, whose dreams of making it big are traded for a temp job as a busboy at a popular Hollywood club named the Bourbon Room. There, he meets Sherrie, an aspiring actress and the two fall in love. Two acts, 23 songs, and lots of cheesy plot turns later, all is well as the cast joins in a chorus of “Don’t Stop Believing.” No, I’m not kidding.

I got a chance to see the Broadway production last year, and what the show doesn’t have in substance, it makes up for in fun and absurd comedy. The show fit in just right with the slew of rock musicals that hit Broadway in the past years, alongside crowd favorites like Hair, Next To Normal, and Passing Strange. However, I’m curious to see exactly how Rock Of Ages will pass in Korea, considering its notable features of women in spandex, gratuitous rocker heresy, and one notable bathroom sex scene between Drew and Sherrie. Oh yes, there is a bathroom sex scene involving Onew in the show. Hold onto your hats, noonas.

Not a huge fan of the original Broadway production, but it’s certainly a surprise to see a young idol star like Onew cast in a fairly risque musical like Rock Of Ages. Now if they’ll only cast Key as Moritz in Spring Awakening, then my life might be complete.

YG Family’s sunbae, Se7en made his comeback with performances of “Digital Bounce” and “Better Together” on today’s broadcast of Mnet M! Countdown.  As one paper put it, it was a comeback of a man amongst boys.  Se7en had been missing from the Kpop scene in Korea for more than three years while trying to break into the US market and he was sorely missed.  First up from tonight’s show is a backstage interview with MBLAQ’s G.O. and Lee Joon.

I know G.O. and Joon were just doing their job as MCs, but they seemed really giddy to be interviewing Se7en.  Next, was Se7en’s performance of “Digital Bounce” featuring Big Bang’s T.O.P and I only got two words about this performance “Hot Damn.”

I’m not really into the whole club/electronica scene, but I.love.this.song.   I was wondering how Se7en would pull off a live performance of “Digital Bounce” because it definitely is not an easy song to do live, but I think the whole performance was awesome.  And, how great was it to see McSmexy himself,  your namja T.O.P., performing with his sunbae?  Ah, I can’t wait for Big Bang to return…  Anywho, next up Se7en performed his title track “Better Together” and again he doesn’t disappoint.

I like this song too and the only thing that stops me from “loving” it is the siren that goes off intermittently during the song that makes me feel like a blunt object is being pushed in my brain from my eye.  Okay, enough about me.  It was definitely another great performance although Se7en could have done without the pink collar/scarf thing around his neck and what’s with the little kid airplane choreo during the intro to the slow parts of the song (which are the parts of the song that I really like)?  To end the night, guess who won the countdown?

Ah, Se7en it’s good to have you back in Kpop, teach the young ‘uns how it’s done.  Other performances of the night included 2AM’s Changmin & 8Eight’s Lee Hyun’s duet, DJ DOC, Chae Yeon, the Apple Girl, Black Pearl, Teen Top, Taeyang, MBLAQ, G.NA, Narsha, and Miss A all of which you can check out here.

cr:  Osen, StarNews, SeoulNewspaper, BBSHINeeWorldKR

The female duo Davichi released the MV for their song “From Me To You.”  The song was part of composer Cho Young Soo’s All Star album which also featured  ”Bubble Love”  a duet between MC Mong and Seo In Young.

Lee Hae Ri and Kang Min Kyung have great voices and can wail with the best of them.  The song is sweet and does highlight their voices.  The MV is simple, a behind the scenes look at them in the recording studio for the song, with Cho Young Soo, check it out here.

I often think that Davichi doesn’t get as much attention or credit as they deserve because the girls can SING!  I am surprised that they are not more popular, but I guess maybe they’re 7 members short?  Anyways, Davichi rocks and if you’re not familiar with them you should definitely check them out.

cr:    AsiaToday, DIPCommunications, TheKoreaEconomicDaily, sugizo17

The Homme project, which is a collaboration between 2AM’s Changmin and 8Eight’s Lee Hyun was finally released today.  Both the song and the MV for the single “I Was Able To Eat Well” produced by “hitman” bang (aka Bang Shi Hyuk) hit the internet today.  The song sounds great combining the powerful voices of Changmin and Lee Hyun in a rock ballad type of song.  The MV is pretty steamy itself showcasing two buds, hot bods, a surprise ending, and supposedly a hint about 2AM’s upcoming album.  Check it out here.

Producer Bang Shi Hyuk said about the project, “Homme was made with my very personal intentions of wanting to put together a new combination of singers with exceptional vocal abilities. This project is made possible by the outstanding talents of Lee Hyun and Changmin. By listening to ‘I Was Able to…’ listeners will be able to see what kind of syngery is made when two of the greatest vocal talents come together.”

The song has already shot to the top of the charts within moments of its release.  Changmin and Lee Hyun will debut their duet of “I Was Able To Eat Well” on Mnet’s M! Countdown on the 29th.

CREDITS : SPORTS CHOSUN (SOURCE); hazyfiasco@2ONEDAY.COM (TRANS)

cr:  AsiaEconomies, DailyNews, Osen, 2oneday.com, number1gailkimfan

Today’s Seoulbeat’s Tweet of the Day comes from one of Kpop’s fiercest women, Hwang Bo.  Yesterday, Hwang Bo tweeted this message and pic of herself on vacay in a location which is becoming increasingly popular amongst Kpop stars.

Estella816

Hawaii Tue. am1:51 aloha!! pic. Waikiki

She later tweeted this.

배꼽에 지퍼달았다. 열면 무엇이 있을까  (attached to my belly button is a zipper. if you unzip, what might be there?)

Seems like Hwang Bo is enjoying bikini season on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii.  Other Kpop stars that have been in Hawaii this summer include the Wonder Girls and JYP (although technically there were there in concert), Bae Yong Joon, Lee Hye Young (the actress who portrayed Gu Jun Pyo’s mom in BOF), and Insooni.

In the two weeks since its release on the 13th, Jay Park’s mini album Nothing On You is making record setting album sales. According to his label, Warner Music Korea, in the two weeks since its release Jay’s record sales have reached 700 million won (about $590,000).  They went on to say that about 50,000 albums were sold offline and digital sales of the album were about 200 million won (roughly $169,000).  Wow, way to go Jay.

The mini album has three version of the song “Nothing On You” which was originally released and made famous by B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars.   Jay’s versions include: 믿어줄래 (Nothin’ On You), Jay Park (Full melody version / Korean) ; Count On Me (Nothin’ on You), Jay Park (Full melody version / English); and 믿어줄래 (Nothin’ on You) – Subman & KYU Remix.  If you haven’t got it, you can still find it at your favorite Kpop dealer of choice.  Fans first heard Jay singing the song back in March of this year when he released a clip of himself on his YouTube channel, it was his first foray back onto a public forum.

More good news out there for Jay Walkers, Jay’s official page on his Korean entertainment management company, SidusHQ’s website has been released and features news and pics of Jay.  You can check it out here.  I’m glad that Jay is doing well and has found success on his own

cr:  TheKoreaEconomicDaily, SeoulNTN, KoreaTimes