Super Junior Climbs Oricon Chart

Hot idol group Super Junior’s first Korean licensed single in Japan “U/Twins” has climbed to No.4 spot on the Oricon single chart. Their emergence on Japan’s premier music chart indicates that Super Junior’s popularity in Korea, China, and Thailand has been no fluke.

It is very unprecedented for a song sung in Korean to enter the top 5 of the Oricon chart. The ranking shows the prestigious status of Super Junior in Asia, given that the group had not engaged in any activities in Japan prior to their first fan meeting event in Budokan last Tuesday and Wednesday. Super Junior’s single album contains the Korean language versions of hits “U” and “Twins,” and the Japanese version of “U” as a bonus track.

In the meantime, Super Junior’s fan meeting in Tokyo has been a resounding success. Some 8,000 fans filled the venue, as well as reporters from Fuji TV, Mainichi Shimbun, and other leading media. The group plans to visit Bangkok this Saturday to hold “Super Junior the 1st Asia Tour Super Show in Bangkok.”

Credits: KBSWORLD

Korean Singers Aim for the Olympics

Only a month to go until the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Korean singers are getting ready to enter the vast Chinese market in an attempt to make their marks in Asia.

The first one out of the starting block is Super Junion-M, a new branch unit of Super Junior working out of China. Super Junior M released a debut album in China last April, which contains “The One,” a song that wishes for the success of the 2008 Olympics. They have sung “The One” whenever there was a special event or performance related to the Olympic Games.

Today’s hottest female group Jewelry is also rolling out a new version of their latest hit “Everybody Shh!” with the lyrics rewritten to cheer on Korean athletes. The song with new lyrics will be performed for the first time at the “Olympic D-30 Show” on SBS.

Hot idol group Big Bang also plans to release on August 1st a new mini album with a song specifically written for the Olympics. Their management company YG Entertainment says that Big Bang’s new album contains “Oh My Friend,” which well represents the Olympic spirit.

Credits: KBSWORLD

Big Bang TOP featured in ‘the singer without a face’ Zia’s new song

Big Bang member TOP will come out again for singer Zia.

Zia is in the last stage of preparing for her first official album, and TOP has participated in one of the rap part for her song.

TOP got the role of the featuring with the help of one of Yang Hyun Suk’s representatives. This representative of Yang Hyun Suk is actually a fan of Zia.

And with the request of Zia’s company TaeWon Entertainment’s president Jung TaeWon, TOP participated as a featured artiste to rap in the song “그대만 보여요 (I only see you)”. It was revealed that TOP is also a fan of Zia.

The MV for Zia’s first album was revealed on 9th July online. The MV, which cost 1 billion Korean Won to make, and involved actors Shin Hyun Joon and Miss Korea Honey Lee, has got much attention from fans and netizens.

Zia’s first album “Road Movie” will be released on 14th July.

Credits: sookyung.multiply.com

Tohoshinki’s song for Universal Studios Japan’s “Hollywood Dream the Ride”

After previously being appointed the Universal Studios Japan’s “Goodwill Ambassador for Asia”, Tohoshinki is making it big!

The group’s recent summer track with a reggae feel, “Box in the Ship” from Doushite Kimi Wo Suki Ni Natte Shimattan Darou? (Why did I fall in love with you?) single will be used as the new song for USJ’s roller coaster “Hollywood Dream the Ride”. The single will be released in Japan on July 14, 2008 and is being highly anticipated.

In addition, a life-size photo of the group will be displayed in the Palace Theater in the Japanese park’s New York Area. Special made rubber stamps of the five members will also be distributed at the entrance. This will run from July 23rd (Wednesday) to August 24th (Sunday). The designs will be modified from time to time during the said period.

credits: translated by izy@soompi

Alex’s first solo concert opens early September

As we know, his album “My Vintage Romance” was released last month and he has started his solo activities to promote the album. Today, I finally see his concert’s poster (above) all over the news. Hehe.. it’s about time they announce it (I’ve seen this poster a few weeks back). Now, if only I live in Korea, his Korean fans can all now look forward to early September for his first solo concert, “My Favorite Songs”

For his first concert’s opening performance, “My Favorite Songs” will be inviting popular artists such as Kim Dong Ryul, Lee Juck, and Sung Si Kyung (err, not sure if this one is correct, since SSK is currently serving his military term, and I don’t think he can have any music activities O_O so I dunno if this is a mistake in the news article or what)

As for the songs he’ll be performing, Alex will pick his most favorite songs (obviously lol), which also include some remake songs such as Kim Dong Ryul “Like a child” and Loveholic “Flowerpot” (these two songs have been fairly popular ever since he did his version of it through “We Got Married” episodes)

The concert will be held two days, Sept 6 (7pm) and Sept 7 (5pm) at Ewha Women’s University Auditorium and he’ll also have his Busan concert in late September.

And as we know, Alex has been working on the side as a radio DJ of this MBC Radio show called, Blue Night (everyday at 12:00 midnight). And so, he also will participate on the MBC Radio Summer Festival from July 31 through August 2.

MBC radio reporter Kim Young Hyeon from FM4u will host the show from July 31-August 2 at Hanyang University in Seoul for three days of this summer music festival. The event will start at 7:30pm daily starting on July 31. Starting with the theme “Romantic Day”, Wheesung, Lena Park, Alex, Big Mama and many more will be up on stage performing live for this event. (oh my, sounds like so much fun!) Also, they’ll also have two other themes such as “Fantastic Day” (for the fans to meet their fave stars), and “Dynamic Day” which is reserved for hip-hop/dance genre, inviting artists such as Akon, DJ Doc, Jewelry, Dynamic Duo and Brown Eyed Girl. (Wow, Akon? For real?)

The admission is free, and by July 13, there’ll be lottery tickets available through MBC homepage (www.imbc.com), and also through MBC FM4U radio shows.

Credits: KBSWORLD