Girls’ Generation Has Much Success in Japan, Matures Beyond What Fans Have Seen Before
After being judged as the “standard of success” for Korean singers in Japan, Girls’ Generation set a new record, over senior singer BoA, on the Oricon Charts. The members’ mature transformations, which have been revealed on their Japan tour, have been garnering attention from Japanese and Korean fans, opening up Girls’ Generation’s “success generation” in Japan. (more…)
“Music Bank” year-end special highlights
The year of 2010 is just about to end, and KBS MUSIC BANK is all set for their year-end special to happen this day of December 17, 2010.
The scheduled list of stars who will attend include SISTAR, Rainbow, miss A, CNBLUE, Son Dambi, SG Wannabe, Super Junior, SHINee, Homme, IU, 2AM, F.T. Island, B2ST, 4minute, T-ara, SECRET, KARA, SNSD, 2PM, After School, Girl’s Day, NS Yoon Ji and ZE:A.
There will be five special stages to take place:
▲ 2010 Hot Trends of the Korean Music Industry I. <“The Center of Hallyu! K-Pop of the World!“>
- SNSD (“Oh!” & “Hoot”)
- KARA (“Lupin” & “Jumping”)
- Super Junior (“BONAMANA”)
▲ Hot Trends of the Music Industry II. <”Duet Craze“>
- IU & Seulong (“Nagging”)
- Homme – Changmin & Lee Hyun (“I Was Able To Eat Well”)
▲ 2010 Hot Trends of the Music Industry III. <Girl Group Generation>
- After School & Rainbow & SISTAR & Girl’s Day & NS Yoon Ji
▲ 2010 Hot Trends of the Music Industry IV. <Unique & Different Performances>
A parody performance of Orange Caramel’s “Magic Girl”
- ‘Music Bank Caramel’: SHINee & Beast & ZE:A
▲ 2010 Hot Trends of the Music Industry V. <Talented Vocal Line>
- SG Wannabe & Super Junior & SHINee (“My Everything”)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
▲ Other special stages:
- SISTAR (“Push Push” + “How Dare You”)
- Rainbow (“A” + “Mach”)
- miss A (“Bad Girl Good Girl” + “Breathe”)
- CNBLUE (“Love” + “I’m A Loner”)
- Son Dambi (“Queen” + “db Rider”)
- F.T. Island (“Love Love Love”)
- BEAST & 4minute (“Soom” + “Huh” + Dance Performance)
- T-ara & SECRET (“I Go Crazy Because Of You” + “Magic” + “Madonna” + “Yayaya”)
- SHINee (“Lucifer”)
- SG Wannabe (“Sunflower”)
- 2AM (“Can’t Let You Go Even If I Die” + “You Wouldn’t Answer My Calls”>
- 2PM (“Without U” + “I’ll Be Back)
With the unstoppable Hallyu Wave, different K-pop groups keeps sprouting and keeps getting better. With these star studded artists to perform together in one show, there is no doubt that this year-end special of Music Bank will be a mark for a new beginning for Kpop on the upcoming 2011 year.
KARA, 2PM, BEAST On Oricon, Oh My!
Its idol madness on Oricon!
This week KARA released their 1st original album Girl’s Talk while BEAST released their first album BEAST – Japan Premium Edition and 2PM released their 1st Japanese DVD Hottest ~2PM 1st MUSIC VIDEO COLLECTION & The History~
But sadly, neither one has made no.1
KARA unfortunately picked a nasty week to go against Utada Hikaru one of the Japan’s biggest and most popular singers who released her farewell album Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL. 2 as she goes on hiatus, throwing KARA in the no.3 spot which is still impressive and a first for female K-pop groups but clearly everyone from SNSD to Big Bang is itching for that no.1 spot that no other Korean group besides TVXQ has held.
Despite their relative unknown status BEAST faired not too bad debuting at no.6 for a group only in their 2nd year.
And finally 2PM shined bright on the charts as the only reason they didn’t win no.1 was because of the King of Pop, Micheal Jackson’s Visions DVD so that certainly is still impressive!
KARA Won’t Be “Jumping” In Korea With Those Outfits!
With KARA ready for their Korean comeback next week the group recently hit a bump with the new outfit regulations as they have been warned to not perform their main track “Jumping” with their original “revealing” outfits
As it was previously new rules have been added to every major music show which prevents female idols from performing with short shorts or belly shirts or perform that can be considered sexual like Rainbow did lifting their shirts in A
But despite having no problem performing in major Japanese shows, KARA’s “Jumping” outfits have been deemed “sexual” because of their exposed stomachs by officials in Korea.
With this KARA’s agency has stated “KARA will be replacing all their outfits for their promotions in Korea. We will be having a new concept and put together new outfits.”
KARA Kick Starts Their “Jumping” Promotions On Mezamashi TV
With only one week left until the release of their 2nd J-pop single “Jumping” today KARA kicked off their promotions performing on Mezamashi TV
Since their debut in Japan KARA has been able to maintain themselves high on the charts with their first Best Of album KARA BEST 2007 – 2010 ranking no.7 on the Oricon Monthly Charts and their debut single Mister charting no.5 on the chart, a first for any K-pop female group. KARA was also recently revealed to begin MCing for the Japanese music info program, Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke ~EIGHT~, starting November 3.
In 2 weeks the girls be releasing their first album Girl’s Talk which experts expect will sell around 200,000 copies!
Check out their performance of “Jumping” after the cut (more…)
AKB48 Meets KARA, Without Strangling Eachother At The Asian Song Festival
History was made as Japan’s cute met Korea’s sexy at the Asian Song Festival
Since the minute the girl’s landed in Japan there has been much comments among netizens about a battle royale between either KARA or SNSD vs AKB48 but thankfully things went well for everyone at the press conference for the concert.
AKB48 grumpily admitted “We have a lot of KARA fans amongst our members.”
While KARA happily commented “It’s an incredible joy to be able to perform with one of Japan’s greatest girl groups. We’re thankful that they even came all the way to Korea just to perform. We will work our hardest.”
AKB48 replied to this kind comment saying “It’s an honor for us as well to be able to stand on this stage in representation of Japan. We’ll work hard to show our youth.”
Even AKB48’s own producer, Akimoto Yasushi couldn’t help but bow down to KARA’s appeal to the Japanese culture saying “KARA’s dance performance is captivating. This is an aspect that AKB48 can never follow. They are currently still improving.”
KARA To Enter The Lion’s Den, Against AKB48 At The Asian Music Festival
VS
Various presses, both local and foreign, showing great interests in Korean vs. Japanese girl group competition
Following the announcement of the 2nd lineup of 2010 Asian Song Festival, various presses, both local and foreign, are showing growing interests in the competition between ‘Kara’, the Korean girl group currently doing great in Japan, and ‘AKB48′, representative of Japanese girl groups.
Major Japanese media including Nihon TV and Mainichi shimbun simultaneously reported that both Kara and AKB48 would appear on the same stage at 2010 Asian Song Festival, to be held on coming 23rd at Seoul Olympics main stadium.
They introduced this festival as an “A match” in the music industry and reported that girl groups representative of both countries would compete fiercely with each other on stage, drawing attention to another round of Korea vs. Japan match following the recent one at the U17 women’s world cup. (more…)
KARA Tells Us That With Their New Fame They Won’t Lose Their Identity
Girl group Kara reached a new milestone in Hallyu history. Their album ‘KARA BEST 2007~2010′, released on 29th of the last month, has placed in the second place in the Japanese Oricon chart. Now it isn’t such a feat to enter the Oricon chart as numerous other Korean singers had already done that, but this time it’s special. What’s special is that all the 12 songs in the album are in Korean, not translated to Japanese. What’s more encouraging is that it’s only two months since their actual promotion in Japan has started.
It’s what even Boa and DBSK couldn’t have achieved. (more…)
Oricon Weekly Album Charts: So Close Yet So Far, JUJU Puts KARA In Their Place
Sorry ladies but it seems that nothing was gonna get in JUJU’s way last week as she finally achiveved a no.1 album with her latest cover album REQUEST
Selling a grand amount of 128,965 copies JUJU who has always been an artist to hit the Top 5 with her albums was finally able to bring her A game on with REQUEST.
At no.2 selling 50,666 copies were KARA who showed the Japanese the K-POP WAY with their best of album KARA BEST 2007-2010 becoming the first Korean female group to enter the Top 5 album charts in Oricon history (and possibly the biggest debut for ANY idol group including TVXQ & Big Bang)
Coming in strong at no.3 was western group Linkin Park with their new album.
At no.4 was DJ KAORI’S INMIX VI
And finally at no.5 we have the album Otoko to Onna 3
KARA Will Promote “Jumping” In Korea Too
After releasing a teaser for their upcoming Japanese single, ‘Jumping,’ Kara has announced plans to promote the single in both Korea and Japan at the same time. (more…)
KARA May Have Not Won The Oricon Charts, But The Ruled The Itune Charts
Korean female idols Kara have grabbed another title in Japan with their best album becoming the most downloaded record on iTunes Japan.
On Friday, the girls’ agency DSP Media announced that “KARA BEST 2007-2010″ was the No. 1 downloaded album on iTunes Store Pop. (more…)
KARA Reveals A Preview Of Jumping
Today a Japanese show revealed a preview of Kara’s next single Jumping set to be released next month! And thankfully its long enough for us to hear a good minute of it!
From a short listen to song you can tell it will clearly pack that fun energy the girls gave out in their Mister single
Check it out after the cut (more…)
KARA Will Confront Perfume Again, In Their Next Singles
Even though Kara did the K-pop world proud, by breaking records with their 1st J-pop single Mister the group was no match for the powerhouse trio that is Japan’s idol group Perfume with their last single that charted no.2 compared to Kara’s no.5 spot that week of their releases. (more…)
KARA Almost Outnumbered JUJU On The Daily Oricon Charts!
Wow this is pretty impressive, KARA who just released their first album/Best of called KARA BEST 2007-2010 debuted at outstanding no.2 on the daily chartswhich i’m pretty sure is the highest FIRST album debut than any other K-pop idol group so far!
But get this coming in at no.1 was popular R&B artist JUJU who sold 19,974 copies with her album REQUEST, and how many did Kara sell? 18,223 copies. (more…)
Naughty J-pop Can You Be Any More Obvious In Copying KARA?
9nine has returned this year with whole new concept compared to their sweet innocent image from before where the girl’s are clearly going for a sexier looking image the only tiny little problem is how this concept of there’s looks like a total RIP OFF Kara’s Mister outfits! (more…)
KARA opens Japan Mobile Fanclub Site and will release a BEST album
3 carriers, Docomo, Softbank and au, will open KARA’s official mobile fanclub site called KARA MOBILE. (more…)
Who’s The Most Popular Of Popular Female Korean Groups In Japan?
Japan’s social networking site Mixi recently surveyed to see which Korean girl groups had the highest number of fanclub members. Who came out on top? (more…)
Kara Is Good For Business
Girl Group KARA’s effect has started to be seen on Real Company’s casual ASK line.
Items that KARA wear have become popular and these are the items that have been re-order. The baseball Jumper that GOO HARA and NICOLE wear within just a week have become Best Product and got into reorder. And it is similar case with “Hara’s atZine” special denim. (more…)
CDTV Rankings + Performances
This week on CDTV was an interesting day as Big Bang, KARA, and SNSD all charted on the TOP 30 rankings possibly making it the most K-pop artists to appear on the list at once with SNSD charting as high as no.4!!
Today’s performances included Japan Record “New Artist Of The Year” group Hilcrhyme and popular J-rock group Uverworld check out the rankings and performances after the cut (more…)
KARA is owning Japan getting the 1st place on preorders!
KARA‘s Japan Best Album Online Reservation Sales was ranked at position #1. (more…)
Dance battle between KARA and 4minute
Korean Idols KARA and 4minute MBC’s variety show, “Flower Bouquet,”.
(more…)
Together We Stand Divided We Fall, SNSD, KARA, 4minute To Appear Together On E! TV
Well this is a great idea!
As it is known 4Minute, KARA and Girls’ Generation are currently busy making their promotions in Japan. And with that, the three girl groups will make their appearance at SBS E! TV in topic Star Girl Groups Q10 in Japan-Wave. It will reveal the three girl groups’ activities at there.
The show will also ask the viewers 3 questions about the girl groups’ promotions in Japan which are the things that we do not know.
Pretty cool idea, i wonder though who will be ones that will show off their awesome Japanese skills!
Source: NATE
Translating + Reporting: 4MINUTE Utau@4-minute.com
KARA Delays Comeback After Seungyeon Gets Hospitalized
KARA’s Seungyeon has been hospitalized after damaging her lumbar (lower spine).
Currently, she is hospitalized in a Seoul Kangnam hospital for treatment. She had felt pain in her lumbar region and the doctors told her she had to be treated for it.
DSP Media (KARA’s company) said on the 7th, “Seungyeon is in the hospital due to pain in her lumbar area. It looks like she got hurt while exercising. She had been exercising a lot lately and started to feel pain so she visited the hospital. We thought it wasn’t a big deal but her lower spine has been damaged quite a bit. She’s now taking a rest and her condition is improving. It’s not too serious.”
As a result of her injury, KARA’s comeback has been postponed. The girls had been looking to return in the end of this month but they will now delay it to the beginning of October.
Well that blows :/
