New York Daily News lists top 5 must-hear K-pop groups

With the holding of the first K-pop concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City recently, American newspaper New York Daily News ran a story on K-pop.

“Since the turn of the millennium South Korea has been pumping out dramas and music videos as a means of influencing the broader culture throughout Asia. South Korean president Lee Myung-bak ranked K-Pop as one of the country's greatest achievements in an August speech celebrating Korea's independence from Japan,” the widely circulated newspaper said.

NY Daily News picked the top 5 K-pop groups that “will help immerse you in the world of K-pop.”

They are 2NE1, Big Bang, Super Junior, TVXQ and 2PM.

NY Daily News said noted 2NE1 for their “anthems on girl power and boy bashing” and fashion sense.

“Unlike other Korean girl groups who capitalize on sex appeal or being saccharine and cutesy, this group rose to the top of the charts for their anthems on girl power and boy bashing,” it said.

The newspaper said 2NE1’s “fierce” fashion, wearing clothes by “Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, Proenza Schouler, Balmain and Jeremy Scott, who has become one of the band's biggest supporters.”

As for Big Bang, 2NE1’s big brothers at YG Entertainment, NY Daily News said the boy band “has since become one of Asia’s most recognizable acts.”

“It seems like Asia's not the only place they're receiving attention,” it said.

On the other hand, Super Junior was described as “one of South Korea’s biggest ‘hallyu’ groups.”

NY Daily News said, “How do you get attention from tween girls everywhere? Stick as many good-looking guys as possible on a stage. The 12-member Super Junior has already been deemed one of South Korea's biggest ‘hallyu’ groups by the BBC and they have a far reach of fans from Slovenia to Peru, where they were named one of the 30 ‘Sexiest Men in the World.’”

Boy band 2PM was described by the newspaper as “Chippendale-like” because of their six-pack abs that the group displays during performances and acrobatics.

“While other boy bands captured attention through their pretty-boy images, this group capitalizes on their masculine look,” NY Daily News said of boy band 2PM.

It added, “The six-member group focuses on heavy acrobatics and intricate dance moves and has become almost Chippendale-like — without the cheesy bow ties.”

Duo TVXQ was noted for choreography and voices.

“With tight choreography and impressive pipes, this dynamic duo has become the epitome of K-Pop: slick dance moves, stellar musical productions and big voices to boot,” NY Daily News said.

source: NY Daily News

Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 Grand Finalist

The Grand Finals will be held at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City on October 22-23, 2011. 

Twelve acts from the Semi-Finals round will perform again to win the title of the third Pilipinas Got Talent winner.

Hosted By Billy Crawford and Luis Manzano, together with the 3 judges Freddie M. Garcia, Kris Aquino and Ai-Ai delas Alas.

Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3

12 Grand Finalist 

El Gamma Penumbra (Batangas City) – Shadow Play (Public Votes)

Lucky Twins (Tacloban City) -Dancing (Judges' choice)

Sandugo Band (San Pablo, Laguna) – Musician/Band (Public Votes)

Muriel Lomadilla (Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu) - Singing (Judges' choice)

Jefferson and Kurt Bringas / Bringas Brothers (Bansalan, Davao del Sur) - Musician (Public Votes)

Synergy (Negros Occidental) – Aerial and Pole Dancing (Judges's choice)

Loverkada Kids (Butuan City) - Dancing (Public Votes)

Twin Divas (Nueva Ecija) – Singing and Dancing (Judges's choice)

Maasinhon Trio (Southern Leyte) - Singing (Public Votes)

Renagine Pepito (Cagayan de Oro City) - Singing (Judges's choice)

Khalil Joseph Ramos (Paranaque City) - Singing (Public Votes)

Kiriko (Sta, Cruz, Laguna) - Rap (Judges choice)

Who will be the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 Grand Winner?

Who will be the next Jovit Baldivino (season 1)  and Marcelito Pomoy (season 2) ?

FEATURED BAND/ARTIST - YENG CONSTANTINO (Philippines)

Josephine "Yeng" Constantino, is a singer and host. She won as "Grand Star Dreamer" of Pinoy Dream Academy, the Philippine edition of Endemol's reality TV show  Star Academy. She is also "Rock Princess" of the  Philippines.

After winning as the Grand Star Dreamer, Star Records launched Yeng's debut album entitled "Salamat", containing 10 songs, in which 7 of it were Yeng's original compositions. Her album reached its "Gold Record" two weeks after its release and then later took its "Platinum Record" after a month, followed by "3x Platinum Record" after several month of its release...

When Star Records saw the great achievement of the preppy-rocker, they produced her sophomore album after the multi-platinum success of her debut album. On February 28, 2008, her second album "Journey" was launched. The carrier single of the said album is "Ikaw Lang Talaga". The album contains 12 tracks, some of which were written by Yeng herself, The album reached Gold after several months.

LAPIT, her third studio Album which she currently promotes contains the catchy single "Jeepney Lovestory"- the music video of which was produced by Yeng herself. The said music video features cameo appearance of PBB Teen Clash Big 6 Ivan Dorschner and Ultimate Heartthrob, Piolo Pacual.

Aside from being a regular performer of ASAP ROCKS, Yeng also hosts the nightly show "MU LIVE!" with Tutti of 6cyclemind and Gee Canlas...

THEME SONGS

Hawak Kamay Kasal Kasali Kasalo (Movie)

If We Fall In Love feat. RJ Jimenez (Princess Hours Theme Song)

Habambuhay Sakal Sakali Saklolo (Movie)

Wag Mong Iwan Ang Puso Ko (Ysabella Theme Song)

Awit ng Pangarap (Pinoy Dream Academy Theme Song)

Sabihin Mo Na (My Girl Pinoy Ver. Theme Song)

Habambuhay (They Kissed Again Theme Song)

Himig ng Pag-ibig (Dyosa Theme Song)

Time In (Varga Theme Song- Lyrics were changed)

Ikaw Lang Talaga (Why Why Love Theme Song)

When I Fall In Love (The Wedding Sub-Theme Song)

Promise (The Wedding Sub-Theme Song)

Di Na Ganun (The Wedding Sub-Theme Song)

Ikaw Lang Talaga (Miss No Good Theme Song)

Bagong Simula (Bayan Ni Juan Theme Song)

Bagong Umaga (Philippine National Red Cross Theme Song)

May K! Ako (Knowledge Channel Station ID)

Lapit (Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo Sub-Theme Song)

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2011

MYX Music Awards 2011: "Favorite Female Artist"

MYX Music Awards 2011: "Favorite Music Video" -Jeepney Love Story

MYX Music Awards 2011: "Favortie Song" -Jeepney Love Story

MYX Music Awards 2011: "Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ"

MYX Music Awards 2011: "Favorite Collaboration" -Kung Wala Ka Na with 6 Cycle Mind and Kean Cipriano

2010

Tambayan 101.9 OPM Awards 2010: "Female Artist of the Year"

2009

Philippine Digital Music Awards 2009: "Best Female Artist"

1st Waki OPM Awards 2009 - "Album of the Year"

Star Magic 3rd Annual Ball 2009 - "Most Fashion Forward"

ASAP 24K Gold Award - "Journey" Album

2008

Pop Music Video ("Himig ng Pag-Ibig"): ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Awards 2008

Awit Awards 2008: "Best Album of the year" - "Salamat"

Awit Awards 2008: "Best inspirational/religious song" - "Salamat"

Awit Awards 2008: "Best-selling album of the year" - "Salamat"

Awit Awards 2008: "People's Choice Favorite Song of the Year" - "Salamat"

Awit Awards 2008: "People's Choice FAvorite Music Video" - "Time-In"

2007

Best Theme Song (Kasal Kasali Kasalo's "Hawak Kamay"): 32nd Metro Manila Film Festival

Most Promising Female Recording/Concert Artist: 2006 Box Office Entertainment Awards.

Best New Female Singer: Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Awards

Female Artist Awardee: ASAP '07 24K Awards

Pop Movie Theme Song (Kasal Kasali Kasalo's "Hawak Kamay"): ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Awards 2007

Pop Music Video ("Time In"): ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Awards 2007

Compilation Awardee ("Nagmamahal Kapamilya Album"): 3rd ASAP Platinum Circle Awards

Female Awardee ("Salamat"): 3rd ASAP Platinum Circle Awards

Best New Artist: 2007 Aliw Awards

Favorite New Artist: 1st OPM Songhits 2007 Awards

Top 40 Brand Award: 1st OPM Songhits 2007 Awards

Best Theme Song (Kasal Kasali Kasalo's "Hawak Kamay"): 55th FAMAS Awards 2007

Breakthrough Artist: 1st OPM Songhits Awards 2007

Hitmaker Of The Year: Yeng Constantino (7 hit songs for the year 2007): 1st Megamixx Radio Music Awards (Guam)

Most Popular Song by a Duo ("If we fall in love" with RJ Jimenez): 2nd IFM Pinoy Music Awards

Extremely Requested Videoke Song ("Hawak Kamay"): 2nd IFM Pinoy Music Awards

TELEVISION

Main stay:

Music Uplate Live as Host (2010)

ASAP XV as Host/Performer/Herself (2010)

ASAP 09 as Host/Performer/Herself (2009)

ASAP 08 as Host/Performer/Herself (2008)

Pinoy Dream Academy: Season 2 - Special Primer as Host/ Herself (2008)

ASAP 07 as Host/Performer/Herself (2007)

ASAP 06 as Host/Performer/Herself (2006)

Pinoy Dream Academy as a contestant (2006)

Previous appearances:

ABS-CBN Christmas Special (2007)

Myx Music Awards 2007 (2007)

Your Song: "Salamat" (2007)

Your Song: "If We Fall In Love" (2007)

Your Song: "Cool Off" (2007)

Your Song: "Pangarap Lang" (2007)

ABS-CBN Christmas Special (2006)

Pinoy Dream Academy (2006)

Umagang Kay Ganda (2007)

ALBUMS

LAPIT

1. Jeepney Love Story

2. Siguro

3. Lapit

4. Pagayaw Muna

5. Huwag Kang Magtatanong

6. Takas

7. Akin Ka Na

8. Maghihintay

9. Ligaw

10. Wag Na

11. Bonus Track

JOURNEY

1. Di Na Ganun

2. Ikaw Lang Talaga

3. Promise

4. Pili Ka Lang

5. Tao Lang Ako

6. What About Us

7. Himig ng Pag-ibig

8. Bakit Nga Ba

9. If You Go

10. Why Can't You

11. Tala

12. Habambuhay

SALAMAT

1. Salamat

2. Away-Bati

3. Coll-Off

4. Time-In

5. Bulag, Pipi, Bingi

6. Just Can't Say

7. Awit ng Pangarap

8. If We Fall In Love

9. Pangarap Lang

10. Hawak Kamay

OTHER ALBUMS

1. Pinoy Dream Academy Originals (Volume 1)

A2. Pinoy Dream Academy Originals (Volume 2)

A3. Pinoy Dream Academy Originals (Volume 3)

A4. Pinoy Dream Academy Originals (Volume 4)

A5. Star Magic Christmas Album

A6. Judy Ann Santos: Musika ng Buhay Ko

A7. Nagmamahal Kapamilya Album

A8. My Girl OST Album

source: yengconstantinorocks