True talent reigns in "Immortal Song 2"...

Immortal Song 2 from KBS

There's a reason that I don't really write about each and every Korean album that comes out. For one thing, I don't really think it's nice to say (or write) bad things about artists. Like I said in my other post, artists are meant to be loved.

My other reason --- well, I go for vocal talent and musicality than hype. A lot of the idols that come out of the woodwork are either a product of tweaking (music editing and auto-tuning galore), and lots of hype. Unfortunately, the bad apples tend to spoil the lot, and even the artists who actually have talent are unfairly judged as well.

This is the reason why I love watching the show "Immortal Song 2" from KBS. It showcases live performances from some of the top idol vocalists in the industry. They're there to prove that idols are artists too, and that they got the stuff to make people believe that true talent does exist in the industry.

[POLL RESULT] Who's your favorite funny male idol?

AND THE WINNER IS....


SHINee's own resident diva ---
KEY!

I've been following SHINee for nearly a year, and I've seen a lot of their TV appearances on YouTube (my favorite being their short-lived reality stint "Hello Baby!", where they had to become parents to a toddler). Key has always been the life of the party, and his sense of humor borders between insane and utterly outrageous. The striking (and, I guess, irresistable) quality of his personality lies in the fact that he's very transparent --- he speak his mind out, and is very vocal about his opinions (even to the point that it may seem a little unreasonable... but he always gets his way by sneaking in a smile or two). 

I'm pretty sure Key is slowly raking up more fans from all over, especially in the UK and in Japan, where SHINee has been very active in promoting their re-released singles. I'm looking forward to SHINee's return to Korea, and their comeback (which is apparently slated for the 3rd quarter of the year).

And now... off to our new poll!

[UPDATE] Put your hands up, and get your drinks up! 2PM is rocking the house with "Hands Up"!

The boys of 2PM (L to R): Junsu, Junho, Chansung, Wooyoung,
Nickhun and Taecyeon

UPDATE - Am I right, or am I right!?!? Hahaha!!! As expected, the video for "Hands Up" was just released through the 2PM YouTube page. It's probably one of the most fun dance videos I've EVER watched... you have to see it after the jump!


Originally posted June 20, 2011 1:30pm GMT +8
A week ago, I posted about the pending comeback of 2PM to their Korean stage. I was surprised with the amount of searches and hits I got for that post, which is currently sitting on the top of my weekly list (if you want to read that post, you can click here). It's a clear indication of how well anticipated 2PM's comeback album, "Hands Up", is. With teaser after teaser coming out from JYP Entertainment, I guess everyone is just as excited as I am to hear more from the boys coming from their triumph in Japan.

Their album was released earlier today, and within 15 minutes, I was seeing the hashtag #2PM2NDALBUM trending in Twitter. When I checked Allkpop.com, they were already at the top of the real time music charts in Korea (click here for the article). From the look of things, 2PM has truly solidified their position as a hot property in Korean music.

[UPDATED] Put your "Hands-up" for 2PM's comeback album!

UPDATE (June 20, 2011 4:00pm MNL GMT +8) --- This post focuses on the teasers for "Hands Up"'s release. If you want to read the actual review for the album, please click here.

UPDATE --- JYP Entertainment just dropped a teaser video for 2PM new album, "Hands Up". Uber cool video that you need to check out after the jump!

Originally posted June 13, 2011 2:52pm MNL (GMT +8)

There's a lot of things to look forward to in late June... and one of those things is the release of 2PM's comeback album in Korea, "Hands Up". JYP just came out with a press release indicating that 2PM will be releasing their comeback album consisting of 12 tracks on June 20 (which is next Monday). Perfect timing for them to make the most out of the summer season in Korea (just a funny thoughts --- although it's summer in Korea, it's now monsoon season in Manila, and kids are now starting to go back to school... hehehe... this would've been a bad time to release an album in our perspective).

Although the fun-lovin' boys of 2PM have been super busy promoting their album in Japan, they've also been concurrently planning and preparing for their Korean comeback too. Along with the media release, they also released teaser photos too! Check them out after the jump.

[POLL RESULT] Who won our most anticipated comeback poll?

AND THE WINNER IS... 2NE1

Yes, the girls of 2NE1 topped our poll for the past two weeks! Their return single, "Lonely", had been highly anticipated for weeks, and had been a quick hit as soon as it hit digital stores last week (the single apparently achieved an "all-kill" in all music charts in Korea).

Thanks to all the people who voted in the last poll! It was a neck-and-neck contest between 2NE1, 2PM and SNSD... it was good that a final vote came in hours before that broke the tie.

Post a comment... whose comebacks are you looking forward to?

But of course, it's time for another exciting poll from The Pinoy Kpop Fan!!!

And here it goes...

A crazy day with new releases --- SPOTLIGHT on 2PM and After School!

Album jackets for 2PM's "Take Off" and After School's "Virgin"

It's another crazy day in Kpop-dom, and it seems that a lot of the agencies just chose to drop a lot of their new songs and MVs this week! It's always a welcome problem to have new stuff to listen and watch to, right? I'm sure the fanboys and fangirls are just going nuts with all the new stuff coming out one after the other... hehehe!

This time around... we're going to focus on a new song and an MV release.

From who? Why 2PM and After School, of course!

Who was your favorite feature for the month of April? (...and our new poll too!)

2AM --- Jo Kwon, Seulong, Jinwoon and Changmin

And our winner is.... 2AM!

These guys have been very busy with their Asian tour, and with their recent promotional tour for "Saint O'Clock" here in Manila, it's not surprising that most of the folks who voted for 2AM were from the Philippines (45% of my blog's hits and pageviews for the month come from my home country... thanks for the support, mga kababayan!).

[UPDATE] 2AM LIVE IN MANILA! @ The Venice Piazza

At last... I was able to upload the vid file from my camera to YouTube. It took forever since internet traffic last night was a killer. Had to sleep it off and upload the vid today.

Here's the video in all it's screamy pleasure! Enjoy!

Blogging from the front lines! 2AM LIVE IN MANILA @ The Venice Piazza

YES... I WAS AT THE PIAZZA! YAHOOO!!!

I never really expected to be blogging from the frontlines of Kpop events... BUT I AM! I'm still at the Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill near Bonifacio Global City, having dinner while the album signing part of the event is still happening (so the boys are actually still on stage while I'm writing this entry).

Why am I here considering it's still a Friday and I'm supposed to be at work?

I filed a leave with my boss yesterday when I realized that the 2AM meet-and-greet was today (I earned a couple of extra leaves last week since I worked through the Lenten holiday). My boss knows how much of a Kpop fan I am, and understood why I wanted to go on leave (or at least I think he understands --- right, boss? Hahaha!). I seldom attend Kpop events, but I think this was pretty important considering that actual artists were visiting... and no less than 2AM too!

Did I just see a Jay Park video?!?!? I think I just wet my pants (hahaha!)

I have to admit that I'm a big 2PM fan, and that it was such a shame that Jay Park had to leave the way that he did. It's not a most pleasant experience when you become the center of an entire scandal that pits you against an entire country.

But I guess hotness and time appeals and heals all wounds... because the b-boy is back in Seoul, and he's got more than sweet chocolate abs to back up his latest attempt to establish himself at the top of Kpop (not that I'm complaining about what he's got... oh boy, I'm not!!! hahaha!).

Just saw that his album is out, and just saw his video. Yes. I think I wet my pants. See for yourself.

"Abandoned" by Jay Park

Will find time to review the album later this weekend (still got Infinite on queue... hehehe!). For the meanwhile, let's just clean ourselves up, shall we? (hehehe!)

A new beginning...

I've never been a regular blogger before. Often I would find myself typing and retelling either the little exciting things that happen in my otherwise mundane life, or while away minutes musing about life and current events. After I get bored, I stop. That's how my blogging life has been so far.