Article: Manila Bulletin – “Sandara Tries Fashion Via Elle”

Sandara Tries Fashion Via Elle

Sandara Park, now simply known as Dara, a member of the Korean girl group 2NE1, has posed for a fashion magazine.

After sporting a half-shaved hairstyle last year, the former Kapamilya talent who earned the moniker “Pambansang Krung-Krung ng Pilipinas,” is featured in a fashion spread for Elle Korea’s March 2013 issue.

Sandara channels the beauty of white and femininity in a series of photos wearing various signature brands like Gucci and Chanel, as released by the publication on its official website. Reports say that her ring with a large stone in one of her shots is a 100-carat pink diamond.

The magazine feature titled “Say My Name” traces the singer’s roots in showbiz in the Philippines until she became the famed Dara of 2NE1. She also used the name Park Sandara instead of Sandara Park.

Sandara revealed in her Elle interview, “Nowadays, even I myself feel awkward when someone calls me Park Sandara instead of Sandara Park. It sounds weird to me.”

The 30-year-old explained that she got used to being called Sandara Park, the name she was known for when she was in the Philippines and one that she continued to use for 2NE1.

Since finishing runner-up on ABS-CBN’s defunct reality talent search “Star Circle Quest (SCQ)” in 2004, Sandara juggled between stints in both film and TV while fulfilling her dream to become a recording artist. It was in 2007 when she decided to leave for her birth place South Korea, to try her luck in showbiz. In 2009, Sandara became a seminal member of 2NE1.

“I was young back then. I don’t think I’d be able to do that now. I received a lot of love in the Philippines so it hurt my heart, but I wanted to tackle a new challenge in Korea. I think I came fearlessly because I could be a part of YG (Entertainment), which had been my dream,” Sandara recalled in the same Elle interview.

She also related feeling awkward at first around her group co-members. “It was incredibly awkward. But when the three of them ate or practiced alone, I approached them first. That’s probably why we got closer quickly. I think now, the three members protect me and take care of me instead.”

As announced by the group’s record label and talent agency YG Entertainment, the rest of 2NE1 members will also appear in different fashion publications: Park Bom for Allure Korea, Lee Chae Rin (aka CL) for Bazaar Korea, and Minzy for Marie Claire Korea.

Source: Manila Bulletin by Jecelyn V. Macahindog

Article: Hilltop Views Online – The American Mainstream Only Gets a Taste of Asian Pop Music

This time last year, the majority of Americans had never heard of K-pop. Then, of course, came “Gangnam Style,” which people should probably be sick of by now but is still worth mentioning.

Psy’s “Gangnam Style” gave the American mainstream a glimpse into the shiny, high-octane world of Korean pop music. The song became so viral it garnered attention from American news networks like CNN, with speculation as to what the song’s popularity could mean for both American and Asian music markets.

Recently, the Asian-American pop group Aziatix signed a deal with Cash Money Records, a mainstream American record company home to artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil’ Wayne. With this move, it might seem like Asian pop is starting to break into the American musical consciousness.

What’s funny, though, is that the select examples of Asian pop trickling into the American mainstream aren’t necessarily the epitome of “mainstream” in the Asian markets that produced them. Psy’s first five albums, prior to his contract with big Korean label YG Entertainment, came nowhere near the success of “Gangnam Style.”

Aziatix is far from the typical Asian pop group, either. Only one of the group’s members was born in Korea, and all three were raised in America. The group is also more popular in Japan than in Korea. On top of that, most Aziatix songs are in English, and the group has had more tour dates in the U.S. than in any other country.

Meanwhile, some of the most popular musical groups in Korea and Japan, like Girl’s Generation, 2NE1, BIGBANG, SHINee and 2PM have all tried their hand at breaking into the American mainstream, with concerts in New York and Los Angeles and devoted groups of American fans. But none of this popularity can even brush America’s viral obsession with Psy’s bizarre lyrics and quirky presence.

Still, many of the albums and music videos these groups put out exemplify Korean pop music’s long-time love for Western culture. English words and verses are typical in mainstream K-pop. Big-budget music videos showcase Western fashions and concepts similar to American pop videos.

BIGBANG and 2NE1 in particular have taken cues from American culture in terms of fashion and musical style, and Girl’s Generation’s newest music video trades their usual uber-feminine aesthetic for more powerful hip-hop dance moves. Despite this ongoing cultural mash-up, Asia’s love for American music culture remains somewhat unrequited.

It seems the groups that actually try to break into American markets face a unique predicament: the mainstream tastes that brought fame to such songs as “Gangnam Style,” “Call Me Maybe,” Taylor Swift’s entire discography, and good old “Dragostea din tei” (the numa numa song) can be highly unpredictable, even baffling. As a result, the piece of Asian pop music introduced to America through Psy and Aziatix is just that– a piece.

Source: Hilltop Views Online via @ForeverWithDara

Article: 2NE1, Se7en and Sean to Participate in a Charity Concert

2NE1, Se7en and Sean will be showing off their talents to help those in need.

On March 7, 2NE1, Se7en and Sean will appear in the 2013 Severance Love Share Concert. 2NE1 and Se7en will perform, while Sean will give a lecture on his history of sharing.

The YG Entertainment singers were brought to join the concert through their agency′s campaign ′YG With′. The campaign donates profits from the YG singers′ concerts, albums and goods sales, and leads YG artists to participate in many charity events.

Sean even currently heads the ′10,000 Won Miracle′ project. The collected funds will be used to build a childrens′ rehabilitation hospital.

In order to expand its efforts toward goodwill, YG signed a campaign agreement with Severance Hospital in 2011. In January 2012, 2NE1 visited Severance Hospital to meet hearing impaired children in the children′s ward and deliver its donations.

The 2013 Severance Love Share Concert is a free concert that invites donators and others who have applied. Ha Ji Won, Lee Su Geun and more celebrities will also appear this day.

Source: http://mwave.interest.me