Im Soo-jung (Happiness) has a new CF out, and it prominently features a catchy jingle, the 달라송. (This is also why I should listen to the lyrics more carefully before translating: Hearing the chorus refrain the words “달라, 달라” over and over, I assumed she was saying “gimme,” as in, gimme that car. Turns out it’s singing, “I’m different.”)

In the CF (watch below the cut), which just premiered last week, Im drives around and dances to the song while promoting the i30cw, a car model for Hyundai. Well, apparently the song is a hit with viewers, and is so popular that the producers of the jingle have revealed that the song — sung by Clazziquai’s Horan and pop singer Park Ki-young — will be sold as a digital single.

Producer Park Shi-hyuk actually explained that they’d been keeping the singers’ identities a secret to cultivate interest, but those speedy netizens beat them to the punch and one-upped their own reveal.

The single goes on sale November 11.

[Read more →]

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I love Horan. Not only is she a great singer for electronica group Clazziquai as well as indie band Ibadi (not the strongest vocals, but lovely all the same), she’s smart and literate (she put out a collection of essays, served as book columnist for a magazine, and hosted an educational book program on television).

Now the singer-author-MC-radio DJ takes her first stab at a new type of stage: musical theater. Next month, she’ll debut in SHOUT! — “the mod musical” about women’s liberation that takes place in England’s swingin’ ’60s — which has enjoyed successful runs in England, the States, Australia, and Japan. Characters are named after colors (Yellow, Green, Blue), and Horan steps into the role of “Red.”

SHOUT! runs from October 24 through January 18 in Seoul’s Cecil Theater.

Via Sports Khan

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“Cannes queen” Jeon Do-yeon reteams with “Chungmuro’s blue chip” Ha Jung-woo in a new movie (they’d previously both acted in the drama series Lovers in Prague), directed by Lee Yoon-ki (Ad-lib Night). While the direct translation comes to “A Fine Day” [멋진 하루], My Dear Enemy has been selected as the English-language title.

The film held its press conference on the afternoon of August 26 at Seoul’s Artsonje Center, where indie band Ibadi (featuring lead singer Horan of Clazziquai) took the stage for a performance. (And Jeon sure looks radiant — maybe it’s her pregnancy?)

The story is described as a departure from the typical romance formula, and centers around an odd day spent between two former lovers. The woman (Jeon) has no job, no boyfriend, and is past the ripe old age of 30; she meets with her ex because of a money issue and the two spend a weird day together. The film opens September 25

After her Cannes Best Actress win for Secret Sunshine, Jeon’s international profile has risen, prompting questions of whether that translates into ambitions to act abroad. She answered:

“I’ve had a few offers for foreign films, but I thought of how difficult it is acting in Korean, and how difficult it would be acting in another language. I talked about this jokingly with [Sunshine co-star] Song Kang-ho, but we both came to the conclusion that we don’t have that kind of confidence. We don’t even dare dream of it.”

Thus spake two of Korea’s most acclaimed actors — finally, a voice of reason.

More pics of the press conference >>

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These photos come from yesterday’s (July 21) Nike Human Race Training Run, where approximately a hundred participants ran under the banner of either (Clazziquai’s) Team Alex (red) or Team Horan (yellow).

The two teams raced a 10K along the Han River in Yoido; on August 31, 25 cities worldwide will host the Human Race event, including Seoul.

Via Mk.co.kr

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Here’s what I wanna know: Which industry bigwig is brand-new rap duo Mighty Mouth servicing sexually? Or bribing? Or blackmailing?

First, Yoon Eun Hye lent her vocals to their debut single, “I Love You,” and her high-profile collaboration helped the track shoot to the top of music charts with stunning speed. The song was then performed live by JOO, and then actress Han Ga In.

Now the rest of their first full-length album is poised for success; the current song gaining traction is “Energy,” which features the Wonder Girls’ Sun Ye. But that’s not all — the album features performances by Solbi, Yuri, DJ DOC’s Kim Chang Ryeol, and even Horan. (Horan?? That sure caught my eye.)

Sure, kpop is a relatively small pool, and singers and groups do tend to work together frequently — but not usually with such a high density of high-profile names in a brand-spankin’-new artist’s debut album. Big producers require big money, which a new group wouldn’t have. And as far as I can tell, Mighty Mouth aren’t themselves a hotbed of genius musical talent — the album is half-decent, I’ll agree (though also half-meh), but not extraordinary. I don’t see how this rap duo attracted such big names from the get-go without some major behind-the-scenes maneuvering going on. Until that reason becomes clear, I consider myself at leisure to conjure up plausible explanations myself. Right now I’m going with servicing sexually.

Via International Business Times

SONG OF THE DAY

Mighty Mouth featuring Horan – “Cry” [ Download ]

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