#Marrybrown: Free B’day Parties For Baby Who Was Born In Fast Food Restaurant

A simple visit to a fast food restaurant turned out to be an unforgettable trip.

When Nur Haslina Abdul Halim, 27, and her husband Mohd Lufti Hussein, 32, were having their dinner at a Marrybrown outlet in Sungai Petani on Sunday (2nd October), they certainly did not expect their 2nd child to make her grand entry to the world.

The husband and wife pair was enjoying their meal at Amanjaya Mall when Nur Haslina’s water broke while she was washing her hands. The incident, which happened around 10:40pm, was witnessed by outlet manager Shahrizal Daud, 43.

She herself was a mother of 8 children, and reacted promptly by asking her female staff to form a human barrier around the mother as she gave birth. At the same time, Shahrizal called the nearby Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital for aid.

Fortunately, an off-duty nurse was also there to help Nur Haslina before hospital personnel arrived. At around 11:20pm, a healthy baby girl of around 2.95kg was born on the very bench that Nur Haslina was having her dinner.

When met at the hospital, Mohd Lufti told The Star Online, “We were at the mall to buy some baby items and dropped by at Marrybrown for a meal after our shopping. While eating, Nur Haslinah said she felt uncomfortable and I had planned to send her to hospital after our meal but my baby girl did not wait and I am grateful for everyone’s help. My wife and newborn girl will be discharged (today).”

Nur Haslina also told reporters that she wasn’t expecting her child, which she named Nur Dayana, to arrive this early as her due date is on the 28th October. She said, “As the baby was about to be born, I felt pain in my abdomen but I thought that was normal since there was no indication of giving birth.”

The CEO of Marrybrown Group, Datuk Joshua Liew, exclaimed his excitement when informed about the birth. He also revealed that Nur Dayana, dubbed the “Marrybrown Baby”, will be able to enjoy free birthday parties at any Marrybrown outlets until she is 12.

He continued, “Since Mohd Lufti is from Johor, Marrybrown Johor will organise a grand celebration to welcome the ‘Marrybrown Baby’ when she returns to Johor to meet her relatives.”

Shahrizal also visited Nur Haslina and her baby at the hospital to present them with a hamper and flowers.

Sources: The Star Online, The Malay Mail Online.

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10 Entertainers & Artists Who Make Us Proud To Be Malaysians

Happy Hari Merdeka everyone! We’ve been through a lot as a nation for the last few years but in spite of the challenges, we’re still kicking. We’re still carrying on and we’re still picking food fights with Singapore. So as we celebrate 65 years of national independence, we want to remember the Malaysian entertainers and artists who make us proud to be who we are in the world of culture.

When it coes to the international stage, it can be easy to feel small about accomplishments. Well take heart friends because we’re counting down some our favourite Malaysians entertainers and artists who have shown that we can make a mark out there!

When it comes to discussions of modern day blockbuster horror, you’d be hard-pressed not to bring up the name James Wan. This Sarawak-born director took the world by storm with two of the most popular supernatural horror series of the last decade, the “Insidious” and “The Conjuring” franchise. Through fantastic world-building, memorable characters and creepy, old-school scares, he breathed new life into the genre through his unique vision. He showed that there is a place for classic demons, witches and creepy nuns in this age!

And let’s not forget that Wan is the first, and currently only, director to deliver the DC Extended Universe’s (DCEU) its first billion-dollar film with “Aquaman”. He made a guy who talks to fish one of the most badass live-action superheroes. My man!

For our next spot on our list, we want to show some love to our local R&B Pop singer, Yuna. With a voice that can melt butter, she’s come a long way from her MySpace days. The singer has even appeared on American talks shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers”. And in spite of the pressure to from the outside to alter her image for one crowd or another, she’s still managed to maintain her identity as a strong, empowered Hijabi Muslim woman. If you’ve never heard of her before, we highly recommend checking out her music on Spotify today! FYI, “Rescue” is a great jam on the way to work.

If there’s one thing Malaysians love to do, it’s having a good laugh. Which is exactly what funnyman Kavin Jay has been doing for over a decade! Whether it’s cracking jokes about having to pay for two-seats on an airplane or settling chicken-rice controversies, you can always trust that the man has something witty to say. The comedian has been featured on networks like Comedy Central and was even given his very own special on Netflix called “Kavin Jay: Everybody Calm Down!”. Through the use of comedy, Jay has been able to tackle issues of race and his experience as a Malaysian minority with humour and insight. Right now, he’s one of the best comics in Malaysia!

From humble beginnings at comedy clubs to meeting Gordon Ramsay, comedian Nigel Ng has become an international comedy sensation. All achieved through the help of his alternate persona, the critical, vulgar and heavily accented Uncle Roger. In spite of the fact that the man has no professional culinary background, he’s best known for his hilarious reaction videos to cooking tutorials. His magnum opus of course is his famous takedown of British Chef Jamie Oliver’s rendition of the beloved egg fried rice dish. Some people love him, some people hate him but let’s be honest, he’s the closest we’ll ever get to having revenge on the English. For that, he gets a spirited FUYOH!

Once again, we have another Sarawak-born pick with the dashing and charismatic Henry Golding. The actor made quite the impression as the male lead in the world’s first all-Asian Hollywood romantic comedy, “Crazy Rich Asians”. He stole our hearts with his role as the conflicted and romantic Nick Young who must choose between his mother and the love of his life. The man does more than just romance though, he’s also proven himself a capable action-star with his role as the titular, nameless assassin in “Snake Eyes”. Our personal favourite role he’s played has to got to be the deliciously scummy crime-boss Dry Eye in Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentlemen”. He’s definitely one to watch out for.

Speaking of actors with amazing range, we would be remissed if we left out the legendary Dato Michelle Yeoh. From Hong Kong crime thrillers like “Police Cop 3: Super Cop” to Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” to starring in the first Asian-led Marvel film “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, Yeoh has solidified her name in the annals of martial arts cinema history. She’s also proven to be an auteur who is open to experimentation with her role as Evelyn in the mind-blowing “Everything, Everywhere All at Once”. Fingers crossed, she makes it all the way to the Oscars this year!

Malaysia has some of the most beautiful women in the entire world and we are proud to have Miss Shweta Sekhon represent our nation. At the age of 24 years old, she has already won two beauty pagaents in Malaysia. In 2016, she was crowned Miss World Malaysia and she won the title of Miss Universe Malaysia in 2019 as well. From there, she went on to represent us on the world stage in the international “Miss Universe” competition. More than just a pretty face, Sekhon is also a powerful advocate of body positivity when she launched her #YourBodyYourSay campaign.

The Americans can have Michael Jackson because our main man Sudirman Arshad will always be the King of Pop in Malaysia! He was a trained lawyer before deciding to break into the music industry. From then on, Sudirman dominated the local airwaves with songs like “Balik Kampung” and “Pelangi Petang”. His proudest moment though was when he was named Asia’s No. 1 Entertainer at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1989. With magnetic stage presence and a killer voice, he delivered with his song “One Thousand Million Smiles” (which he surely did). He is a national treasure and a testament to Malaysian talent.

Few figures in Malaysia’s filmmaking industry have cast a shadow as far and wide as our dearly beloved Yasmin Ahmad. A peerless director who pushed the cinematic boundaries of Malaysia with films like “Sepet” and “Muallaf”. Never shying away from touching on controversial topics of race and religion with stunning clarity and unapolegetic commentary. Even her advertisements are pieces of art! She’s received a myriad of international awards such as the Best Film Award at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival and the award for Best Director at the 54th Asia Pacific Film Festival. Years after her death, she remains a revered icon within the Malaysian film industry. She is the Queen of the Silver Screen!

Was there ever any doubt? To not include the man, the myth, the legend himself would be criminal! Oh yes, the one and only P. Ramlee. He was by all regards was a polymath of the arts. He was a brilliant comedic actor as seen in films like “Do Re Mi” and a powerful dramatic thespian as witnessed in the heart-wrenching “Anak-ku Sazali”. Seriously, we get choked up everytime it reaches the scene near the end. He has recorded over 500 different songs. Some of his best hits include “”Engkau Laksana Bulan” and “Azizah”. Out of the 62 films P.Ramlee acted in, he directed 33 of them! He burned far too bright and far too quickly, leaving us at the age of 44. He ushered in a golden age of Malaysian cinema, and is an inspiration to every local filmmaker and actor.


#SuicideSquad: Leaked Footage Shows Joker & Harley Quinn In Intense Showdown

Multiple photos and videos featuring the cast members of DC Comics film “Suicide Squad” on the film set in Toronto have been leaked online.

One of the leaked videos caught fans’ attention as it teased the abusive relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn.

In the comic books, Harley Quinn is formerly Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatric intern at Arkham Asylum. While researching the lunatics at Arkham, she became fascinated with the Joker and volunteered to analyse him. However, the Clown Prince of Crime gained her sympathy and seduced her, causing her to fall madly in love with him. Since then, she has the frequent accomplice and girlfriend of the Joker.

Their relationship is one of the most complex love affairs in comics due to Joker’s abusive and manipulative nature towards Harley. Despite Joker’s frequent attempts to kill Harley, she is also the only person who’s managed to become intimate on a long term basis with him.

Fans are now suspecting that a scene which displays their relationship will be featured in director David Ayer’s “Suicide Squad” as Jared Leto and Margot Robbie were seen having an intense showdown in a leaked footage.

That's gotta be a flashback to when Harley was Harleen, right? #SuicideSquad pic.twitter.com/Z5TJluHMuS

— Josh Wilding (@Josh_Wilding) May 18, 2015

The footage, which was already removed by Warner Bros., showed Jared Leto sporting vivid bright green hair and wearing a flamboyant purple shirt and silver blazer for his role as the Joker. Margot Robbie, who will portray the Joker’s girlfriend Harley Quinn, stood in front of a fancy purple sports car demanding Leto’s Joker to get out. However, Robbie is wearing a normal outfit instead of the crazy outfit shown in the official cast photo.

Leto then got out of the car and talked to her very animatedly. Robbie “shot” an innocent bystander who approached them with a tire iron before pointing her weapon at Leto. It seemed like Robbie was about to shoot him, but Leto quickly pulled the gun away from her, pointed it at his own head, and smacked her across the face.

Closer look at Harley Quinn and The Joker on the set of #SuicideSquad pic.twitter.com/EIHEQnp8cM

— Hero Breakdown (@HeroBreakdown) May 18, 2015

It is believed that this scene will be a flashback, taking place some time before Harley Quinn became the twisted lover of the Joker and a member of Suicide Squad.

However, it is unclear how their relationship will be prominently featured, considering how the film will mostly centre on the Suicide Squad team. In fact, Harley has an intimate relationship with fellow squad member Deadshot briefly in the original comic books, making it hard to predict where the scene will ultimately fall in place.

Filming for “Suicide Squad” is still underway in Toronto, but the production crew may need to tighten up the filming security to avoid potential spoilers. Charles Roven and Richard Suckle serve as the producers of the film, which will be executive produced by Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson, and Geoff Johns. Ayer is attached to direct it, based on Justin Marks’ screenplay.

The movie also stars Will Smith, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Common, and Jim Parrack. Jay Hernandez, Scott Eastwood, Adam Beach, Ike Barinholtz, and Viola Davis are also set to appear for the undisclosed roles.

Slated for release on 5th August 2016, “Suicide Squad” is part of Warner Bros.’ DC Cinematic Universe.

(Sources: TheWrap, Screencrush, JustJared)

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Carly Rae Jepsen + Sky Blu + Psy + Aerosmith In SG!

Grammy nominated Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen and Sky Blu (one half of US electronic dance music duo LMFAO), will perform at the inaugural Social Star Awards, which will take place at the Marina Bay Sands on 23rd May 2013 (Thursday).

Other acts performing at the Social Star Awards include Aerosmith, CeeLo Green, Blush, and South Korean superstar Psy.

Described by organisers as “the Oscars of social media”, the Social Star Awards recognizes the biggest stars on social media. It is based on data from Starcount, a web application which aggregates and charts the popularity of various personalities and brands on social media, by looking at the social media activity of 1.7 billion people, across 11 major social media networks around the world.

Carly Rae Jepsen, who is best known for her hit song “Call Me Maybe”, will also be performing on the first day of The Singapore Social Concerts, which will be held at The Meadow, at Gardens by the Bay, from 24th – 25th May 2013.

[youtube id=”9mG705zBQwI” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Both the Social Star Awards and The Singapore Social Concerts will be streamed live on video sharing site YouTube.


#BatmanVSuperman: Jesse Eisenberg Says #LexLuthor Won’t Be A “Silly” Villain

Comic character Lex Luthor has been brought to life by an array of actors, from the late Lyle Talbot to Academy Award winning actor Gene Hackman to “Smallville” actor Michael Rosenbaum. Having portrayed by so many actors, it is inevitable for fans of the character to have a certain expectation of how their favourite villain will turn out in “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice“.

Fans will be glad to know that the latest incarnation of Lex Luthor won’t be a “silly, villainous” character. This promise comes from Jesse Eisenberg, who will be the next actor to take up the role as one of the most nastiest villains of all time.

Eisenberg is in the midst of promoting his new film titled “The End of the Tour” with Jason Segel (famed for his appearance as Marshall Eriksen in “How I Met Your Mother“). As part of the promotions, he did an interview with MTV, in which he stated that he’s not worried about fans’ expectations about his performance of Lex Luthor as he already “has his own”.

The expectations that I have are never the same expectations that an audience has. I don’t have expectations for myself to adhere to a comic book character, but a lot of people are interested in how I would coincide with the comic book character. But it couldn’t be farther from my mind, because I’m just playing a role.

He also talked a little about his upcoming portrayal of Lex Luthor, and added that the character is not the comical kind of villain, but is actually one who is spurred on by his feelings:

It’s a really great character that’s written by this guy, Chris Terrio, he’s a phenomenal writer… He loves my character in the same way I love my character. He put a lot of work into it. It’s a great character, there’s an emotional core to the character. It’s not this silly, villainous character.

This is a real depiction of a person who thinks these things. So the challenge is to make it seem real.

From what Eisenberg has revealed, it seems like his version of Lex Luthor will be one to look forward to. Guess we will just have to wait for the film’s release to enjoy his portrayal of the enigmatic bad guy.

“Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” will see Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne reprising their respective roles from “Man of Steel” as Superman/Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Martha Kent, and editor-in-chief of “Daily Planet” Perry White. Ben Affleck, Jeremy Irons, and Gal Gadot are joining the existing cast as Batman/Bruce Wayne, butler Alfred Pennyworth, and Wonder Woman/Diana Prince.

The upcoming superhero epic is directed by Zack Snyder, based on a script by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer. Charles Roven and Deborah Snyder is producing while Christopher Nolan is involved in an advisory role as executive producer.

“The End of the Tour” is slated for release in the US on 31st July 2015 while “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” will hit cinemas worldwide on 24th March 2016.

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Olivia Wilde Slams Airlines For Censoring Lesbian Scene In “Booksmart”

Several airlines were slammed by actor and director Olivia Wilde recently. This happened after she discovered a lesbian sex scene and other references to female sexuality that were cut from her film, “Booksmart”.

After viewing the edited version in a flight, the 35-year-old star took to her Twitter account on Wednesday to vent her frustration. In a series of posts, she criticised the sanitised version of the film shown in airlines while also diving deeper into the details on how her movie was censored.

I finally had the chance to watch an edited version of Booksmart on a flight to see exactly what had been censored. Turns out some airlines work with a third party company that edits the movie based on what they deem inappropriate. Which, in our case, is … female sexuality? 🤔

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) October 30, 2019

In the same series of tweets, the “House” star also questioned why the film was edited in the first place. Since viewers were required to agree to a “parental advisory” warning before being able to view the movie.

“First of all, in order to select this movie from hundreds of options, you have to agree to a ‘parental advisory’ that warns you that viewer discretion is advised,” she wrote. “Once you click ‘proceed’, it seems like you’ve agreed to watch the movie in its original form,” she added.

The scenes that were edited out from the film include a sexual interaction with the movie’s character, Molly, the second half of an animated doll sequence, and Amy and Hope’s love scene in a bathroom (where Wilde pointed out to have “involves zero nudity”). The latter scene was also said to have contain essential plot points for the lead character.

The “Tron: Legacy” actress also noted some disparity with the censorship when words such as vagina and genital were edited out from the scenes. While curse words such as F**k and a scene where a male character deep throating a microphone remained.

“What message is this sending to viewers and especially to women? That their bodies are obscene? That their sexuality is shameful?” she asked. “I urge every airline, especially those who pride themselves on inclusivity, to stop working with this third party company, and trust the parental advisory warning to allow viewers to opt out if they choose.”

The movie in question is a coming-of-age comedy, where two girls are graduating high school. It is a directorial debut for actress Wilde. “Booksmart” received a R-rating for the sexual content and vulgar humour contain within the film.

So do you think the actress was right to question the censorship, or do you think the airline did the right thing in cutting those scenes?


#HeinekenMY: Heineken Launches “Imagine” Campaign To Inspire Creativity

Heineken unveils its latest campaign “Imagine” aimed to evoke discovery of the brand. This fully integrated campaign will culminate with a creative showcase that celebrates the brand’s iconicity.

To complement the campaign, Heineken launched the new Star Can that embodies the brand’s cool and ever progressive character.

The brick and steel skeleton of Slate @ The Row will be transformed into a pop up gallery as Heineken collaborates with a heady mix of creative visionaries for an artistic showcase that will offer consumers some unexpected experiences.

Heineken has recruited emerging artists from the worlds of fashion, motion design, filmmaking, sculpture, photography, graphic design and sound art to create an intuitive space that both stimulates and inspires the imagination. In commissioning the project the brand asked the commissioned artists some simple questions.

They were asked to wield their imaginations, with their solutions to be unveiled on 12th September.

Of course, no Heineken event would be complete without music.

This thought provoking space will be filled with sounds as Heineken’s local DJs and performers accentuate the artistic experience to spark social conversations amongst peers.

The Imagine pop up gallery will open its doors to the public from 5pm on 12th and 13th September 2015 at Slate @ The Row, Jalan Doraisamy, Kuala Lumpur.

For more information, hit up Heineken Malaysia’s website or Facebook page.

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Football Fans! Come Celebrate The World Cup 22′ Finals At Pavilion KL!

If you are here, you’re probably looking for a fun place to watch the World Cup Qatar 2022. Well, stay and read on because Pavilion KL is the perfect place to start as they are kicking off the football madness with exciting activities and events lined up at its premise!

Pavilion KL is offering one-of-a-kind experiential football zones, exclusive pop-ups, and unique displays to check out. There are even exciting limited-time offers to engage with and provide shoppers with the ultimate football madness experience! Here are seven World Cup places to visit in Pavilion KL;

1. Giant Football Exhibit at Couture Walk

From now until the World Cup finals, stop by the Giant Football Exhibit at Couture Walk and be amazed by the large colourful footballs they have on display. Renowned for being one of the most Instagrammable places, you and your loved ones should come and dress up in your favourite football team or pair up with any football accessories for an even more memorable shot!

When you are done taking Insta-worthy pictures at Couture Walk, don’t forget to upload and tag Pavilion KL on social media! Fans who do so stand a chance to win exclusive prizes such as fitness equipment worth up to RM100! Simply take snap a photo or video of yourself with anything World Cup-related at Pavilion KL and use the hashtag #PavilionKLWorldCup2022. Winners will be contacted on 23rd December.

To add to the spirit of football this World Cup season, football fans will almost always don their favourite team jersey! If you don’t own one, now is the time to buy because Adidas is having a jersey promotion right now! With a purchase of any selected federation jersey, shoppers can choose their favourite player’s name and number set printed for only RM99! Exclusively for adiClub members (sign up is free), so head on over to Adidas now!

4. OSIM’s uThrone Gaming Massage Chair World Cup Series

These days, many of us choose to watch the World Cup from the comfort of our homes, and sometimes that means a computer, high-speed internet, and a chair. But to add some comfort to the football madness, shoppers should check out OSIM’s exclusive comfortable Gaming Chair featuring V-Hand Massage Technology!

The Gaming Massage Chair World Cup Series provides gamers with the additional energy boost they require to get longer gaming sessions while watching the World Cup! Let’s talk about 2 in 1 here! Available in five country designs; England, Argentina, France, Germany, and Brazil. Support your team and get one now!

5. Celcom Final Football Match LIVE on Elite LED

Location: Pavilion Elite LED Screen, Main Entrance

Wondering where to find a big enough screen to watch the game? Catch the final football match LIVE at the main entrance of Pavilion KL on the Elite LED Screen! Bring along your football pals and gather around the Celcom territory exclusively on the finals’ match day on 18th December. Mark your calendars because shoppers can also expect a fiesta packed with exciting activities, incredible bargains, and incomparable freebies that are all up for grabs!

If you’re looking for a place to sit down, relax, crack open a cold one and just enjoy the game, stop by Pavilion KL’d Connection! Carlsberg has made an exclusive Football Viewing Lounge for this football season. With thrilling activities available such as Nintendo Switch Stations, Photo Spots, DJ spinning during the viewing party, as well as complimentary drinks to fire up the football fever, you know you’d definitely have fun! The best part is that entrance is free!

7. Have an Artful Moment with 1664 Blanc

If you are looking for a more chill football date, take your plus one out on a stroll down the elegant street of Rue 1664 at Connection, Pavilion KL. Come and take advantage of the exclusive unique workshops including Fluid Pouring Art, Cocktails, and Tote Bag making on the weekends. Come by at night to enjoy the Blue Hour timing from 6pm to 8pm, with special performances and refreshments. From now until 2nd January 2023, enjoy the special delectable brews with a 1664 Blanc just like a French person would.

To find out more about Pavilion KL’s GAME ON, check out their official website here.

Puteri Teja contributed to this article.

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(Video) Kim Seon Ho Makes First Public Appearance Following Scandal With Ex-GF

Kim Seon Ho (김선호) has been living a rather peaceful life free from controversy now that the issue involving him with his ex-GF seems to have died down. Last we heard, he’ll be starring in a new movie titled “Sad Tropics” opposite Go A Ra. Sadly though, he won’t be accepting any more job offers for the rest of the year.

Recently, the 37-year-old sent fans into a frenzy over his most recent appearance after a period of silence following the scandal. On 31st March (Thursday), My Daily reported that Seon Ho was spotted at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. He donned a simple white T-shirt with a pair of gray sweatpants.

Apparently, this is the first time the former “Two Days & One Night” cast member came out in public ever since the shocking scandal broke out. It is also said that Seon Ho also wore a mask to cover his face. However, the news outlet pointed out that the Hallyu star still “stood out from the crowd” with his tall and lean physique.

Seon Ho wasn’t alone, though. In particular, the actor was also accompanied by famed director and screenwriter, Park Hoon Jung. He’s also the director of the movie “Sad Tropical”, in which Seon Ho was cast as the lead actor. Therefore, the public speculated that Kim Seon Ho had flew to Thailand to shoot the movie.

Of course, many fans have been waiting for so long for the “Start-Up” actor’s to make his return in the showbiz. Earlier on 29th March (Tuesday), it was revealed that Kim Seon Ho came in second place in the artiste’s popularity ranking announced by media outlet OSEN, with 18,000 votes. This proved that despite the controversy surrounding him, the public’s love and affection for Seon Ho remains unchanged.

Are you excited for Seon Ho’s acting comeback? We know we are!


#Jackie: Natalie Portman’s Portrayal As First Lady Is Already Getting Oscar Buzz

Be prepared to see a whole lot of Natalie Portman during the coming awards season.

The 35-year-old actress, who took home an Academy Award for her portrayal as Nina in 2010’s critically-acclaimed “Black Swan”, will likely earn another Oscar nomination for her role as Jacqueline Kennedy in the upcoming Fox Searchlight biopic, “Jackie”.

The official synopsis of “Jackie” is as follows:

“Jackie is a searing and intimate portrait of one of the most important and tragic moments in American history, seen through the eyes of the iconic First Lady, then Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Natalie Portman). Jackie places us in her world during the days immediately following her husband’s assassination.

“Known for her extraordinary dignity and poise, here we see a psychological portrait of the First Lady as she struggles to maintain her husband’s legacy and the world of ‘Camelot’ that they created and loved so well.”

Considering that many of us are already familiar with Jackie’s story, the new trailer dispenses the usual plot points and dives straight into Portman’s haunting performance. The clip opens with the titular character looking out from a vehicle at the sea of people who had lined up in the streets to attend the president’s funeral procession in 1963.

The scene then cuts to her more joyous moments (dancing with her hubby, John F. Kennedy, at a gala) to her sorrow (when she’s in the shower, washing off her husband’s blood off her body).

A musical number by Richard Harris singing the title song from “Camelot” can be heard over the footage with Portman’s Jackie uttering the infamous lines, “People like to believe in fairy tales. Don’t let it be forgot that for one brief, shining moment, there was Camelot.”

Portman’s portrayal as Jackie is seriously giving us the chills. Talk about goosebumps!

Directed by Pablo Larraín, the film also stars Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, Academy Award nominee John Hurt, and Peter Sarsgaard.

“Jackie” will be released in US cinemas on 2nd December 2016.

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K-netizens Slam PSY For Sexual Objectification Of Women At Concert

K-pop superstar PSY (싸이) has successfully wrapped his headlining year-end concert late last month.

However, the sold-out event drew massive amount of debates among K-netizens for its alleged sexually explicit contents portrayed by the dancers.

The show depicted a dance battle session between the male and female dancers, where the “Gangnam Style” hit maker acted as the DJ. The girls stripped off their white shirts while doing their suggestive routines, before wetting themselves with water in their black bralette worn underneath the top.

As mentioned earlier, the segment generated criticism among many online. A group of Korean netizens took to an online community post titled “PSY’s Shocking Concert” that was posted yesterday (7th January) to slam the singer as well as the event.

In this case, most of them believe that the dance battle showed prejudice against the female community. They also pointed that PSY was sexually objectifying the dancers to fulfil his pleasures. Check out some of the highlighted comments here:

On the other hand, other fans argued that the male dancers also went shirtless and danced in an indecent manner just like the female dancers. Most of them pointed out the double standard exists in Korea, where people think it is okay for men to show off their skin while it’s considered wrong for the women.

They further claimed that these so-called conservative community was just overreacting about the performance and defended PSY for his actions. Here are some of their responses to the issue as well as the full clip of the segment below:

At the time of writing (Wednesday, 8th January), PSY has yet to give any statement to address the case. Probably he’s been busy managing his company, P-Nation.


Adibah Noor’s Tribute Song To Rape Victim Used As Wedding Theme?

Malaysian veteran songstress Adibah Noor is shocked to find out that her award-winning song “Terlalu Istimewa” (Too Special), a tribute song dedicated to rape victims especially the late Nurul Huda Abdul Ghani, has been used as the theme for a certain couple’s wedding.

For those of you who are not aware, Nurul Huda was a 10-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Gelang Patah, Johor back in 2004. The song was released in 2005 and won several awards at the 21st Anugerah Juara Lagu (Champion of Songs Awards), one of Malaysia’s prestigious award ceremonies.

“To all the brothers and sisters… For those who love listening to songs but don’t quite understand the lyrics, ‘Terlalu Istimewa’ is my tribute to the late Nurul Huda Abdul Ghani and those that suffer the same fate,” she said in her tweet.

“So, please don’t use the song for your wedding video,” she added.

makluman..kpd yg suka dengar lagu tapi tak berapa nak tau lirik

lagu terlalu istimewa tu adalah tribute saya kpd allahyarham adik nurul huda abdul ghani.. dan kanak2 sepertinya.

jangannnn ler kome buat lagu utk video perkahwinan kome ya.

— ADIBAH NOOR 🇲🇾😼 (@adibahnoor) October 7, 2018

Many on Twitter are also surprised to learn that some people actually used the heart-wrenching song for happy events as the message are quite clear in the lyrics and music video.

The 48-year-old singer who used to be an English teacher also said that some people even sing the song live at weddings, noting that many of them didn’t understand the lyrics properly.

m hm.yes.dan jangan guna utk majlis jasamu dikenang juga ya.

“Please do not use the song at someone’s appreciation event as well okay,” the actress-singer said in another tweet.

“Terlalu Istimewa” is composed by Azlan Abu Hassan with lyrics written by Adibah herself. The song was the overall champion, the best ballad, and best vocal at the 2006 Anugerah Juara Lagu.

Featured Image: Astro Awani, Lobak Merah

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#CriticsChoice: Critics’ Choice Awards 2016 The Winners List

The critics have spoken and they loved “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Spotlight”. Both films emerged big winners at the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards.

It was the first time where the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association joined forces to combine the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and the Critics’ Choice TV Awards into one event; celebrating both the big screen together with the small screen.

On the TV front, “Fargo” scored the most nods with 4, while “Mr Robot” was closely behind with 3.

Check out the full list of winners below:

For more information, visit their official website.


#Lego: 5 Reasons To Join The Lego Batman Experience At Mid Valley’s Toys ‘R’ Us

If you’re a fan of The Dark Knight and Legos, then listen up, cause there’s an event happening tomorrow you wouldn’t want to miss out!

In conjunction with the upcoming “The Lego Batman Movie”, Lego is organising a special Lego Batman Experience tomorrow (Saturday, 14th January) at the Toys ‘R’ Us branch in Mid Valley Megamall.

To entice fans of all ages, Lego will launching its Limited Edition “The Lego Batman Movie” Toys ‘R’ Us Exclusive Arkham Asylum set. Participants who love the dark-caped superhero will stand a chance to win goodie bags and exclusive premiere tickets.

If that’s not enough to encourage to join Lego at Toys ‘R’ Us, here are 5 awesome things fans can look forward to tomorrow’s unique Lego Batman experience:

The details to The Lego Batman Experience are as follows:

For more information, visit LEGO® Malaysia’s Facebook or Toys ‘R’ Us Malaysia’s Facebook.


#Luhan: Opens Up During “Miss Granny” PC, Admits He’s Constantly Nervous

K-pop singer Luhan admitted to nerves and pressure after taking on a role in the Chinese remake of the Korean film “Miss Granny”, according to Chinese media reports on Sunday (2nd Nov).

This was his first high-profile public appearance after he sued his management agency S.M. Entertainment to terminate his contract and leave his band EXO.

At the press conference for “Miss Granny” in Beijing, he said:

I haven’t really studied acting so I’ve have been constantly nervous, as well as a little excited about my role. Everything is new and exciting. Acting is enjoyable but it is even more enjoyable to act alongside my two “grannies”. My character and I are very much alike. We are both young men who are passionate about music, who won’t look back, won’t give up and bravely go forward to realise their dream.

“Miss Granny” is a romantic comedy about a grandmother (Gui Yalei), who is miraculously made to look like her 20-year-old self (Yang Zishan) one day. Hilarity ensues when her grandson (Luhan) and a music producer (Chen Bolin) fall in love with her without knowing her true identity, and vie against each other, as well as against her elderly husband for her affection.

Following the press conference, Luhan also wrote on his Weibo:

Today is the first movie of my life! During this time, I really appreciate Gua Ah-lei teacher, son Shan sister, brother Bolin, director Leste Chen, all predecessors and crew for all staff for their help and their encouragement! I learned a lot! I will continue to work hard! I am honoured to have been able to make a movie with everyone! ^^ hope to have the opportunity to also work together in future!

Directed by Leste Chen, Miss Granny is scheduled for release in January next year. Who’s excited to watch it?

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SuperM: Taemin Declines Leadership Role So Members Pick Baekhyun

It appears that SuperM (슈퍼엠) has a new leader in their midst!

During a recent Instagram Live broadcast, all 7 members – SHINee’s Taemin, EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai, and NCT’s Taeyong, Mark, Ten, and Lucas – sat down to answer some fan questions.

A number of topics were brought up such as their first impressions of each other, how they reacted to the news when SM Entertainment and Capitol Music Group wanted to form an Avengers-like K-pop supergroup, as well as their upcoming new music.

But one of the interesting answers that fans got was the reveal of which member would take on the leadership role in SuperM. When Taemin’s name was brought up, he immediately shut it down and suggested another member.

“No, I personally think that it’d be best if Baekhyun were the leader. It’s true that if you look at the length of our careers, mine is longer, but even in SHINee, I was the youngest. And since we (SuperM) practiced a lot together, (I noticed) that Baekhyun takes especially good care of the other members, and I rely a lot on him as well. To be honest, I personally wanted to request that Baekhyun take on the role (of leader),” Taemin said.

Baekhyun didn’t need much convincing, saying, “Ah, I wouldn’t mind being leader.” Even Kai pointed out, “Both in EXO and in SuperM, you have a lot of influence on the group atmosphere.”

taemin said his baekhyun hyung takes care of them really well so he thinks that baekhyun should be the leader of superm to which baekhyun replied “leader.. it’s not bad~”

baekhyun is voted to be superm’s leader 🥰#SuperBAEKHYUN pic.twitter.com/0C2w9n3T11

— best 백현이 pics (@bestofbyunbaek) September 11, 2019

taemin didn’t even let baekhyun breathe sksksks my lungs he went NO pic.twitter.com/bg0qp6FXrF

The full broadcast was also recorded and uploaded on YouTube:

All that’s left now is SuperM’s fandom name. Any good suggestions y’all have come across?


Another Closure: 4-Star Hotel In Penang To Cease Operations

With the high number of vaccination rates in Malaysia, no doubt Malaysians nationwide would be rejoicing over the fact that various economic sectors and social sectors have started opening up after a long period of being left in the dark. Well, while many businesses have chosen to open up amidst the new regulations by the government for fully vaccinated individuals, some had ceased operations! This might come as a shock for many especially, people who have made these places their go-to location for a fun day out.

Affected the most by the pandemic, is the tourism industry especially with the travel restrictions imposed within districts, states and nations. Therefore, some hotels have taken a drastic decision to cease operations, over the past year. Adding on to the list of hotels closing down their doors to tourists is the famed, four-star, Hotel Royal Penang in George Town, Penang. It’s set to cease operations on 15th November this year.

According to its management, the closure of the 276-room business hotel is part of a management restructuring exercise due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As for the employees, they were given a two-month termination notice effective yesterday and were told that their last day of employment is on 14th November 2021. The retrenchment benefits will be calculated in accordance with the collective agreement to be paid out within 7 days after their last days of service.

This Singapore-owned hotel which is located along Jalan Larut, is actually one of the several hotel properties owned by Hotel Royal Limited in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Other sister hotels (which have obviously, yet to be closed) include, Hotel Royal Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Royal Singapore, Hotel Royal @ Queens in Singapore, Hotel Royal Bangkok @ Chinatown in Bangkok, the Burasari Resort in Phuket and The Baba House in Melaka.

As the world opens up post-pandemic, it is definitely sad to see restaurants, shops and hotels shutting down due to the after effects of Covid-19 and its devastating impact to the respective industries. Let’s hope this situation won’t be prolonged!

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#SabahQuake: Kota Kinabalu & Other Parts Of Sabah Rattled By Earthquake

Tremors shook Kota Kinabalu and other parts of Sabah’s west coast on Friday (5th June) after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit near Ranau district.

Initial reports from the Malaysian Meteorological Services Department said the quake struck 16km northwest of Ranau at 7:17am. The US Geological Survey put the Richter scale at 6. No tsunami warning was issued.

It said that the strong quake struck at a depth of 10km, with its epicentre located 19km from the town of Ranau, and 54km from Kota Kinabalu.

Apart from the state capital, the tremors were felt in the northern Kudat and Kota Marudu districts, and as far away Beaufort in the south. The tremors shook buildings and rattled windows prompting people to run out from their houses, shops, and even at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport terminal.

The National Earthquake and Tsunami Centre, in a statement, said the tremor was felt in most places in Sabah, including Ranau, Tambun, Tuaran, Pedalaman, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud.

Immediate damages caused by the earthquake could not be immediately ascertained, but fellow Malaysian netizens are circulating images from the aftermath of the quake.

Earth Quake this morning in Sabah, Malaysia. 5.6.2015. pic.twitter.com/vvSvep1XiZ

— GOne Madden (@noryed8700) June 5, 2015

Photos of damages caused by the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Sabah at 7.20am earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/opaKHqCmXV

— Ameerul Amde (阿米路) (@AmeerulAmde) June 5, 2015

More photos of the damage caused by the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Sabah earlier in the morning. pic.twitter.com/5fbF39hqMK

According to The Star Online, although no casualties have been reported as at time of writing, the fate of several climbers at the peak in Mount Kinabalu remains unknown as cracks and boulders were reported to have been dislodged following the 7.17am earthquake in Ranau.

Sabah Park officials said they have no reports of any casualties but have directed everyone to climb down from the 4,095m mountain peak as a safety precaution.

Reports of rock and landslips emerged from people at the foothill and officials are waiting for the situation to settle before determining the next course of action.

More to come as we get more information.

Sources: The Star Onilne (1), malaysiakini, The Star Online (2).

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Hyuna & E-Dawn Kicked Out Of Cube Entertainment

Hyuna and PENTAGON’s E-Dawn have been removed from Cube Entertainment, with the company citing lost of trust as the reason.

“We have come to a final decision that HyunA and E’Dawn will be leaving CUBE Entertainment. At our agency, having mutual trust with our artists is deemed as an importance. However, after discussions and thoughts with both HyunA and E’Dawn we have determined we won’t be able to earn their trust back from the two. We are thankful for both artists and their fans who have been with us till then. Thank you.”

This comes after the couple announced that they were dating last month. While Cube Entertainment denied that the two were an item, the couple admitted to Yonhap News that they’ve been going out for 2 years. Hyuna also took to Instagram to confirm the news.

The couple were quoted as saying, “While we knew that (dating publicly) would cause us to be linked in some way, both of us felt that it would be hard to meet our fans’ eyes (while performing) on stage. We wanted to honestly tell our fans and show ourselves confidently having fun performing.”

Since the dating news, E-Dawn has been excluded from PENTAGON’s activities. Cube Entertainment did not give a reason for this exclusion. Hyuna was also set to perform in a concert on 31st August, but was taken off the list due to Cube’s “internal circumstances”.


Bruno Mars Will Be Performing In Singapore Before Coming To Malaysia

Are you still heartbroken that you didn’t get to purchase your Bruno Mars tickets? We’ve got another option for you.

Fans went absolutely cray when PR Worldwide first announced that the talented musician was bringing his “24K Magic World Tour” to Malaysia. Unfortunately, tickets were sold out in less than 2 hours. Guess what peeps? The singer will be performing at Singapore a few days before coming up to Kuala Lumpur!

Yesterday (Thursday, 12th October), it was announced that Bruno will be bringing his “24K Magic” of awesomeness to Singapore Indoor Stadium on 6th May (Sunday). As you may know, it’s 3 days before his Kuala Lumpur show on 9th May (Wednesday). If you think that Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), or Japan are inconvenient, maybe you’d like to consider his Singapore concert instead.

Just like his Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil pitstop, Bruno’s show in Singapore will be a 1-night performance only. Fans can expect American pop sensation to churn out popular hits such as the melodic “That’s What I Like” and sexy ’80s-inspired ballad “Versace on the Floor”.

Brought to you by Live Nation, the details for the concert are as follows:

Concert tickets will go on sale 19th October at 10am via sportshubtix.sg, the Singapore Indoor Stadium Box Office and all SingPost outlets.

Source: Live Nation Lushington SG’s Facebook/ Featured image: Asia Live.


Johor Prince TMJ Shares Spooky Story At A Public Playground

Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Idris shared a spooky story following his royal visit to a public playground with his kids on his Instagram account recently.

In a series of snippets posted by TMJ on his Instagram Stories, it appears that the swing located in the outdoor park was moving by itself, without anyone using the equipment. Plus, it is also understood that he was the last person to exit the place!

“7:05pm. After I went back, this uncle recorded a video of the incident at this playground swing that I rode on. I’m sorry, uncle. Perhaps I forgot to bring my bodyguard back,” he wrote in one of the posts.

As shared by TMJ on his social media, His Majesty and his family visited the playground at 6:30pm. However, after all of them went back, the swing was still moving on its own, and there was no one at the playground at that time.

For those interested, check out the chilling clip here.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Zayn Malik – Like I Would

Nevermind that Zayn Malik’s debut single “Pillowtalk” is still sitting comfortably on the Billboard Hot 100 (currently #8), the singer is already surging forward with a brand new music video.

Directed by X aka Julien Christian Lutz, “Like I Would” sees a futuristic robotic-like Zayn rocking fiber optic-powered glow-in-the-dark jumpsuit and trainers while wearing a single bright orange contact lens that makes him look like a character from the “Tron” franchise.

The futuristic visual certainly takes inspiration from 2010’s sci-fi movie “Tron:Legacy”. Zayn very casually performs the track while standing in a prison of lasers with a dazzling arrays of flashing lights. The R&B dance track also features several gorgeous dancers in red latex and camouflage ensembles performing a fierce sexy choreography.

Add the former One Direction singer’s sensual, cocky lyrics (“He won’t touch you like I do /He won’t love you like I would / He don’t know your body / He don’t do you right / He won’t love you like I would, love you like I would“) to that image and we have the fitting cyborg Zayn from the future.

The track is a club banger and the visual is pretty Tron-tastic, but it would have been better if the 23-year-old pop star didn’t look so hesitant and awkward the entire time.


SEVENTEEN Cancels “Ode To You” Tour Including Kuala Lumpur

We hate to break it to you CARATs but SEVENTEEN (세븐틴)’s world tour dates for February and March have officially been cancelled.

This announcement was made via Pledis Entertainment and iMe Malaysia over the weekend. In light of the coronavirus epidemic, the label is not willing to put anyone at risk of infection.

“As the health and safety of the artist, audience and staff is our top priority, we made this decision to prevent any potential harm,” Pledis Entertainment said in a statement. Besides Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Madrid, Paris, London and Berlin have also suffered the same fate.

SEVENTEEN’s world tour “Ode To You” Live in Malaysia was supposed to take place at Axiata Arena next weekend on 22nd February 2020. There’s no question that people’s safety and health have to take precedence. iMe Malaysia has also announced that all K-pop fans will be able to get a full refund from TicketCharge. Full refund details are expected to be released sometimes this week.

There’s possibility that concerts schedule from now till May or June may be cancelled. Fans are now worried that Kim Jae Joong, AB6IX, Super Junior, and GOT7’s upcoming concerts (all of which are schedule in March) will likely be called off or postponed.


#AirAsiaX: Budget Airline Announces Sapporo Flights, Beginning 1st October 2015

What? Another AirAsia X flight to Japan? Yes please!

It was announced yesterday that from 1st October onwards, AirAsia X will be flying to Sapporo.

As part of its launch, the airline will be offering promotional fares from RM99 for economy class and RM999 for Premium Flatbed for those booking flights until 2nd August. The promotion is applicable for those travelling between 1st October and 31st August next year.

According to AirAsia X acting CEO Benyamin Ismail, AirAsia X is the first Asian company to offer direct flights to Sapporo. He added that AirAsia X has carried over 1.5million passengers between Japan and Malaysia and was confident that the new route would also draw inbound Japanese tourists from Sapporo.

“This direct route will entice them to visit Malaysia and subsequently connect to various destinations in Asean and beyond,” he said at the launch.

The airline’s customers can also opt for its optional Fly-Thru service, where they can have their baggage checked-through to the final destination if they are going through multiple transit hubs. Passengers can now travel seamlessly between all Asian and Australian cities.

AirAsia flight D7 550 will be flying from Kuala Lumpur to Sapporo at 11:35pm every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. It will arrive at 8:10am. Flights from Sapporo to Kuala Lumpur will leave at 9:20am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday and arrive at 5pm.

Just as well and right on time, if you asked us, because there are about 8 official long weekends next year!

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Hype’s Now Playing: SNSD – Lion Heart

Oh boy. SNSD Girls’ Generation‘s hearts are getting stolen by a mysterious man in the music video for “Lion Heart”, one of the double title tracks off their upcoming studio album.

After releasing a set of teaser images, Korean entertainment powerhouse SM Entertainment finally unveiled SNSD’s “Lion Heart” music video, featuring the members themselves falling in love with the same mysterious man.

The release of “Lion Heart” came after they unveiled “Party”, a song that they promoted earlier in June. However, unlike “Party”, this song is described to be a track with “an addictive retro melody”. It bears a slight resemblance to Secret’s “Starlight, Moonlight” and “Twinkle”, a song from SNSD’s sub-unit group, TaeTiSeo.

Check out the music video of “Lion Heart” below:

A total of 5 songs from the album are being released at the same time as “Lion Heart” while another 5 new songs and the music video of “You Think” will be out on the 19th. “You Think” is described to be an intense pop dance track.

The group will perform for their first comeback stage on 21st August through KBS’ “Music Bank”.

For more information, visit the group’s official Facebook page.


Here’s How Users Can Redeem The Free 1GB Data Daily From Telcos

In conjunction with the 2nd phase of Malaysia’s movement control order (MCO), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that free additional daily 1GB Internet data will be provided this month.

So whether you’re using Maxis, Digi, Yoodo, U Mobile or Tune Talk – find out how you can redeem more data below:

Starting on 1st April, all Digi prepaid and postpaid customers can enjoy free 1GB of data between 8am to 6pm:

Maxis Postpaid
MyMaxis App – Click on “Get More Data” and select Free 1GB/ Day Pass under Time Based Pass

Maxis Biz Postpaid
MyMaxis Biz App – Click on “Get More Data” and select Free 1GB/ Day Pass under Time Based Pass

Hotlink Flex Postpaid
Hotlink Flex App – Click on “Get More Data” and select Free 1GB/ Day Pass under Time Based Pass

Hotlink Prepaid
Hotlink RED App – Click on the Homepage Banner and select FREE 1GB / Day Pass or activate the Pass under ‘Shop’ tab

All Celcom postpaid and prepaid customers will be able to enjoy this free data offer automatically.

All active customers (postpaid, prepaid, broadband) are eligible to receive the free data, provided your line remains active. To enjoy this offer, perform a one-time opt-in redemption via the UMB menu:

In addition to the 20% top-up extra credit for prepaid reloads, the free 1GB data is available when you perform a one-time SMS opt-in by sending a text STAYHOME by SMS to 2222.

All active users can now enjoy free 1 GB Data every day. Unlike other telcos, the free data is accessible at anytime of the day.

7. Unifi Mobile – Complimentary 999GB LTE Hotspot Pass to all Unifi Mobile Postpaid subscribers.

8. ONEXOX – Refer to the ONEXOX Black application or dial *150#.

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Calm Down, Facebook Messenger Isn’t Going To Secretly Video You

Or send your profile information to others.

Or call up your friends (or worse, non friends) without your intervention.

Recently, Facebook has been getting its users to install its new Messenger app because soon, we won’t be able to use Facebook’s messaging feature without the actual Facebook Messenger app. While the idea behind this “force download this free app and use it” seems good for Facebook since it leaves users no other choice but to use the app (much to its users’ dismay), drama regarding privacy concerns has brewed over this recent development.

It all stemmed from this old Huffington Post news.

The post is currently doing its rounds on the interwebs, warning Facebook Messenger users of the app’s “insidious” terms of service. You know, the usually one-off ones that most people just tend to just scroll past really fast and agree to or accept without stopping to read. Well, it appears that these were stated in the terms of service:

Users who have seen or heard of the above outrageous Facebook Messenger terms have called the company out to have pushed this too far. After all, Facebook has always been thrown right smack into the heat of privacy issues, amongst other things. Plus, to put it into perspective, over 1,000,000,000 people have accepted the said terms, raising alarm to how “frightening” this issue really is.

Calm down, people. It could’ve all just been blown out of proportion. Maybe the app just needs access to your handset’s microphone so you don’t have to grant it access every time you make a phone call through it? Maybe it just needs access to your camera otherwise you won’t be able to use the function to send snapshots to your friends?:

According to IBN Live, Facebook has also come forward to clear the air by saying, “Almost all apps need certain permissions to run on Android, and we use these permissions to run features in the app. Keep in mind that Android controls the way the permissions are named, and the way they’re named doesn’t necessarily reflect the way the Messenger app and other apps use them.”

This means that you could’ve given similar permissions in the past while installing other apps as well! But just as harmless altogether.

And what about forcing users to download the Facebook Messenger app?

A Facebook spokesman said that the move is intended is intended to ensure that users have a consistent and high-quality experience. The free, standalone Messenger app is faster than the messaging service that’s currently built into Facebook’s primary mobile app. On top of that, Facebook users can also access more features in the Messenger app, such as the ability to make voice phone calls.

Perhaps it’s not that crazy after all, huh? If you haven’t downloaded the app, it’s available via Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.


Korean Heartthrob Joo Ji Hoon To Kick Off First Asia Tour In July

Wanna get up close and personal with Joo Ji Hoon (주지훈)?

The 36-year-old South Korean actor is set to kick off his first fan meeting tour in almost 6 years! Titled “All About Joo Ji Hoon”, KeyEast announced that his Asia tour will begin in July.

Only 4 countries have been announced for Joo Ji Hoon’s fan meeting tour so far. They include:

The handsome star has been on a roll thanks to his hit films and dramas, such as the “Along with the Gods” series, “The Spy Gone North”, “Dark Figure of Crime”, and the popular Netflix series “Kingdom” (filming for the 2nd season is currently underway). Fans have also been raving about his latest drama, “The Item”.

A post shared by jjune (@_jujihoon) on Oct 14, 2018 at 5:45am PDT

Hopefully Malaysia will also be included in his list of pitstops.

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10 Japanese Brands Making Their Malaysian Debut At LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre

We know that you have heard that LaLaport is opening another one of its outlet in Malaysia, and it is located in Bukit Bintang. Some of you might have gotten a sneak peek of it here. But are you aware of what Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport has to offer?

LaLaport is collaborating with the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) to bring you the Japanese lifestyle! This project will become Mitsui Fudosan’s very first LaLaport mall in Southeast Asia and one of its largest commercial facilities with over 82,600sqm (est.) of floor space.

Here are the Japanese brands that will be making their Malaysian debut at Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre:

Zoff is a popular eyewear brand in Japan that offers you good quality with affordable price. Not only that, but you would also look chic with the designs that they offer. The best news is, they will be opening their first Malaysian outlet in LaLaport BBCC!

NITORI is a Japanese furniture and home accessories outlet. If you like simple Japanese furniture and home decors, this is the place you would like to take a look at. It’s also a good shop if you would like to change your space along with your lifestyle. Because your personal space affects your daily lifestyle, doesn’t it?

It is well-known that Japan has one of the most advanced technologies and gadgets in the world, with good quality even. Now, you can get your hands on a wide variety of not only their gadgets in Nojima, but also furniture and furnishings. Nojima’s first ever store in Malaysia will be in collaboration with their local subsidiary, Courts Malaysia.

If the community of BBCC would like to instill the Japanese lifestyle into their future generations, Star Child is the place. Star Child is a nursery school that incorporates Japanese-style childcare and intellectual education, one of the first of its kind in Malaysia will open in LaLaport.

Japan’s biggest pet shop is finally opening in Malaysia. Not only that you can shop for your beloved furry friends, but you can also visit the attached cat café next to it with 4 different themes, and interact with 50 different breeds of cats.

The founder of METTA, Chef Won, is finally launching his own restaurant that is curated around transcendental dining. Experience various of elevated Yōshoku creations fused with modern French techniques using exquisite Japanese produce and Malaysian homegrown ingredients.

We know Japan has unique desserts like their mochis, cheesecake, and all those usual ones. But at Mini One, you might have to hold your drools looking at their shiny glazed croissants and their milky chocolate mochi.

Life may be cold, but it isn’t that bitter. MATCHA EIGHT serves you with premium artisanal Japanese ice cream. Their tea powder are the finest ones imported straight from Kyoto. They have three types of Matcha ice cream (medium Matcha, strong Matcha with bitter aftertaste and another one with tea aftertaste) and Sencha ice cream. If you want to know more, try checking them out here.

You want to go for fine dining but your date wants to go for Yakiniku? Why not go for both at YAKINIKU SIZZLE? Premium meat cooked down to perfection, there’s nothing more you could ever ask for after dining in YAKINIKU SIZZLE.

The Tamaruya wasabi company is finally bringing their first steakhouse to Malaysia, and you can enjoy your finely cooked steaks with their spicy but smooth wasabi.

If you can’t choose which restaurant to go, you can always opt for the wide variety of food scenes that they offer at their F&B floor. They have “Depachika Marche” where you can take away food, their “Cafeteria” food court, the “Gourmet Street” where you can enjoy fresh al-fresco dining and the “Garden Dining” food court. This latest shopping mall is also easily accessible by public transport like LRT and KL Monarail.

So, head over to LaLaport as soon as it launches in 2022 and get a taste of that Nippon lifestyle!


#DanielaAndrade: YouTube Sensation To Hold 1st Malaysian Promo Tour This October

Calling out to all YouTube music lovers!

Canada-born singer-guitarist Daniela Andrade will be coming to Malaysia as part of her Asian tour at Bentley Music Auditorium in Mutiara Damansara on 19th October 2016.

Best known for making acoustic renditions of hit songs such as Radiohead’s “Creep”, Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”, Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love”, and Drake’s “Hotline Bling”, Andrade’s YouTube channel has an international following of over 1 million subscribers. She has received national television airtime on the USA network drama series, “Suits”, and her music has also been featured in CBS’s “Supergirl”.

The singer recently dropped her latest visual extended play (EP), titled “Shore”, that consists of 4 heartfelt songs about “the fall-out of love despite best intentions”. The 4 tracks includes “Digital Age”, “Sound”, “Come Around”, and “Shore”.

The visual EP fuses beauty, symbolism, and technology in the digital form of 4 music videos that will be released over the summer.

Aside from her beautiful covers, fans will be able to watch her perform songs from her latest EP at her promo tour.

Details for Daniela Andrade’s live show are as follows:

Concert tickets are already on sale via TicketPro Malaysia.

For more information, check out TicketPro Malaysia’s website and Facebook page.

To stalk Daniela Andrade, you can follow her on Facebook and Instagram :)

Sources: The Hive Asia, Edmonton Journal, Daniela Andrade’s Website.

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When Death Row Would Be Insufficient

During his appearance in court yesterday to hear the charges against him, he seemed impassive – which means that he basically showed no emotion, and his face bore no remorse. Even if he was under the scrutiny of an audience of prosecutors, a jury panel, a judge, and most of all, under the cold stares of relatives of the theater shooting victims.

It was disturbing that neuroscience student James Holmes, who was responsible for each of the 12 deaths that occurred during the “The Dark Knight Rises” massacre simply sat dazed and emotionless for the entire 45 minutes in the courtroom.

He remained that way as Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers listed 142 charges (including 24 counts of premeditated murder, 12 counts of murder with malice and extreme indifference to human life, and 116 counts of attempted murder) against him. (Source)

He was said to have spent all of those minutes sitting back in his chair, sometimes swaying side to side or swiveling, while staring down at the table before him. Oh, there were also instances where he would roll his eyes. We know what you’re thinking – “What?”

Legal analysts say an insanity defense is likely given the nature of the crime and revelation he was a psychiatric patient. Clearly, it’s probably the only defense he has considering the twisted nature of his case. (Source)

And even so, a death row may not suffice. But that’s just our opinion.


Celebrities Rock Up To Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve!

With a two-hour tribute to the genius behind the “watch the ball drop in Times Square” New Year’s Eve segment, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” rang in 2013 with high notes. In its first year since the passing of Dick Clark, the show, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy, raked in its largest audience since 2000 with 13.3 million viewers and a 4.1 in the key 18 to 49 years of age demographic.

Yes, this means that “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” beat out all other New Year’s Eve competition flat.

It also helped that the show featured some of the music industry’s top artistes, filling up the hours and satisfying anxious fans before the “ball drop” with epic performances by:

Need we go on? It was truly a show in honour of the world’s oldest teenager, who wouldn’t have wanted New Year’s Eve celebrated in any other way.

Here’s to you, Dick Clark. Happy new year!


First Look At “Upside Down”

And now, a first look at Kirsten Dunst in a science fiction romance flick!

This August, a story of the every day ordinary “boy next door” from an extraordinary universe is going sweep you off your feet. It follows Adam (played by Jim Sturgess) living humbly, trying to make ends meet and really, is the most decent person at face value. But still water runs deep and lo and behold, his romantic spirit holds on to the memory of a girl he once met, once upon a time.

The girl named Eve (played by Kirsten Dunst) is from another world, an inverted affluent world with its own gravity. Uh, clearly beyond reach.

What started out as two youth’s innocent childhood flirtation becomes an impossible love. A science fiction, “breaking all laws of science”, head over heels kind of love. And like all love stories, it seems that Adam will stop at nothing to get Eve back. Even if it means searching an alternate universe. Or defying gravity:

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Will Adam be united with his long-lost childhood love?

We say, this is definitely a change from Kirsten Dunst’s role as “Mary Jane” in Spidey movies. And who can say no to the talented Jim Sturgess? Right?

Catch “Upside Down“, written and directed by Juan Diego Solanas when it comes out in cinemas near you on the 30th of August 2012!

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Hype’s Exclusive: High Flyin’ With Paperplane Pursuit

Local electro pop rock band, Paperplane Pursuit is made up off three very interesting guys – John O, Liang and Andrew. Their debut album under a different name – SilentScream was the kick start to their career and Revolution, the debut single of the album stayed on top of the local charts for consecutive weeks and got the band three (3) Music Authors’ Copyright Protection Awards (MACP), and an Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) nomination.

The band went through a series of reshuffling before deciding on a three piece lineup to pursue a more radio friendly path as Paperplane Pursuit. Together, they’ve released their album Malaysia 2.0 which consists of five (5) tracks in which two of their top singles Goodbye and Forward were major chart toppers in Malaysia. They also made waves on MTV Asia as they achieved daily rotation airwaves in late 2010. Paperplane Pursuit toured around Malaysia in 2011 and 2012 following their success of Malaysia 2.0.

However, it wasn’t till late 2012 that Paperplane Pursuit started releasing a string of singles that were aimed for a greater amount of radio airplay and YouTube views. The band released three singles titled Everybody Wants Somebody, Ah Song and What If accompanied by its own music video.

Hype.My managed to catch Paperplane Pursuit perform live at the 11/10 Experience with Salty Customs event recently and snagged them in for an exclusive interview.

How did you guys come up with the name Paperplane Pursuit?
Everything else we came up with was taken! We finally settled on Paperplane Pursuit because we liked the way it sounded, what it represented to us, and most importantly, the name wasn’t taken by anyone! Actually we kinda wish our name was a little shorter haha.

How long have you guys been performing together?
15 years this November! It feels like we’ve been playing music forever!

 What do you think about the current local music scene?
We feel the local English scene is going through a really cool ‘hands on’ phase, with many artists doing their own music production, some their own video production, and of course we’re very much a part of that whole DIY movement. We English artists have always been the underdogs of the Malaysian music industry, and it’s interesting that what started out as necessity due to budget constraints is leading to some awesome bursts of creativity and independence.

If you could change one thing about the local music industry, what would it be?
The “support me because I’m local” attitude. It somewhat implies that people owe us their support just because we’re local, but really the world doesn’t owe anyone anything. The public will naturally develop pride for local music when they see great talent on display, they won’t need to be told to. Of course it has to be said that that goes hand in hand with the media giving the public a chance to check out local music, and we’ve been very blessed to have a lot of support from the local media.

 What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at an event?
We were called to perform for a matchmaking event. We were about to play when someone found out that we were gonna play “Goodbye”. They wanted us to play “Hello” instead. We ended up not playing.

What is the first thing that comes to mind, when you think about music?
LOVE! But Andrew thinks of angry thoughts and angry metal bands.

If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would say to them?
There are too many to name, but we probably wouldn’t wanna say anything to them, instead we’d love to just shut up and listen haha.

If Paperplane Pursuit were a biscuit, what song would best represent you?
We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus, because once you have a taste, you gotta keep having more hahaha.

 Favourite songwriter?
Tough to narrow it down to just one, but maybe Michael Jackson. People tend to see only the performer side of him (and he’s AMAZING at that), but he also wrote an incredible amount of mind blowing songs. Listening to his albums even today, you get the sense that every single song could be a single that would top the charts on radio. That’s an attitude that’s inspired our approach to our newer songs – every song should be a single worthy of radio airplay.

 If you had a million dollars, how would you spend it?
We’re all actually pretty geeky, so our honest answer is so unexciting – we’d probably invest it and live off the interest :p

What is the one thing that has happened in your life that has made a big impact on who you are today?
We’ll it’s not exactly ‘one thing’ but going to school at The Victoria Institution definitely had a big impact on us growing up and shaped us into the people we are today. It was there that we started playing together, and the whole culture of the school was one that encouraged us to push ourselves to the absolute limits and excel without expecting any assistance from adults. We started out as an eager young band when we were 14 and in about a year or two we became the default band to play at just about every school function, made us feel like quite the rockstars haha.

When the partying is over, how do you like to unwind?
A nice warm bath together in our hot tub.

What is the one thing that not a lot of people know about Paperplane Pursuit?
The band is secretly made up of two doctors and one accountant, as unlikely as that sounds. Also, John was born with blue hair, and he’s finally decided to go natural.

If you could collaborate with a local artist who would it be and why?
Funny you should ask that, we’re actually about to release a new collaboration single with a local artist we’ve always wanted to work with (who is still a secret, so we’ll call this artist ‘X’ hehe ),X has been an inspiration to us because of the massive amounts of talent X has in every area of music, and how consistently X is able to put out high quality tracks that always sounds a few steps ahead of everybody else.

Where can our readers listen to get updates on Paperplane Pursuit?
Readers and fans can get anything and everything Paperplane Pursuit worth on our social media sites – Facebook and YouTube.

Watch Paperplane Pursuit’s single What If right here:

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Hype’s Movie Review: #TheBoxtrolls Is Cheese, So Much Cheese

When we first saw the trailer for “The Boxtrolls”, we knew we had to watch it. Thanks to our friends from United International Pictures Malaysia, we were fortunate enough to have caught the press screening for the film before it was released.

Based on an Alan Snow novel titled, “Here Be Monsters!”, “The Boxtrolls” is a surefire way to fill up your extra time with a little mindless comedy and adventure. The stop-motion animation film’s storyline centres on a character named Eggs (an orphan, voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright), Archibald Snatcher (a power-hungry pest exterminator, voiced by Ben Kingsley), and Winnie Portley-Rind (a poor little rich girl, voiced by Elle Fanning).

Eggs is a human boy who have been raised by the Boxtrolls since infancy. His name is “Eggs” because, well, that’s what it says on the box that he’s wearing. In the world of the Boxtrolls, his father figure is a Boxtroll named, “Fish” – because that’s what it says on the box “Fish” is wearing. Together, they live with all the other Boxtrolls (“Shoe”, “Fragile”, so on and so forth) in the sewers underneath the town of Cheesebridge.

Although the Boxtrolls are essentially nice characters with a “petty thief” streak since they’re often seen rummaging through garbage or collecting trash, the town of Cheesebridge believes that they steal both children and cheese. This “belief” is further reinforced by Archibald Snatcher, a lethal exterminator that is determined to kill every single last Boxtroll within the vicinity.

Eggs enters the town of Cheesebridge to try to make peace in order to save “his kind”. There, he meets a girl named Winnie, who agrees to help him. But his appearance forces the truth behind a “dark secret” to come to light and Archibald Snatcher is immediately threatened by it. What to do, what to do? He tries to stop Eggs and the Boxtrolls the best way he knows how – to destroy them all.

Will he succeed? We’re not telling. You’ll just have to watch it yourself ;)

Overall, we wouldn’t say that the storyline for “The Boxtrolls” is super duper great although there’s enough slapstick and cheesiness to go around, to entertain people of all ages. But if you pay really close attention to the work that went into it, you’d be amazed by the details. Of course, to understand that, you’d need to understand how stop-motion animation works.

Stop motion (also known as stop frame) is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence. Dolls with movable joints or clay figures are often used in stop motion for their ease of repositioning. Stop motion animation using plasticine is called clay animation or “clay-mation”. Not all stop motion requires figures or models; many stop motion films can involve using humans, household appliances and other things for comedic effect. Stop motion using objects is sometimes referred to as object animation.

So if you decide to watch “The Boxtrolls”, watch closely! Also, we need to add that since it’s by Laika aka the same people behind “Coraline” and “ParaNorman“, it’d be pretty hard for “The Boxtrolls” to fail horribly.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out some fun facts from behind-the-scenes of “The Boxtrolls”. You might just be surprised at how much work actually went into the production of the stop-animation film and want to applaud Laika for all that effort!

“The Boxtrolls” has been released in a cinema near you.

For more information, visit the movie’s official website.


BLACKPINK Kill This Love Album Review: What We Liked & Didn’t Like

April must be the holy month of comebacks. K-pop queens Blackpink have returned with another mini EP, which Blinks have been ravenous for since their last release in June 2018. The foursome consisting of Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo and Rose have been making headlines from the moment they debuted. This time does not seem any different, with them breaking records after records within a blink (pun intended!) of an eye!

Their new release, “Kill This Love”, features 5 tracks in total; 4 new songs and 1 remix of “Ddu Ddu Ddu”. Despite the slight disappointment of this being Blackpink’s third year into the industry with no full length album yet, there is always hype when it concerns these four feisty gals. Well, without further a-ddu ddu ddu, let the review begin!

“Kill This Love” is ever the bombastic anthem it is, to our delight. To be honest, there was slight fear that this would be yet another “Ddu Ddu Ddu”, which felt very lazy as a song by itself. However “Kill This Love” is exactly what we love the best about Blackpink; it’s loud, catchy and has an aura of badassery to it. The classic “Blackpink in your area!” chant makes a return as well, which we were estatic about. From the beginning alone, we can already see how Blackpink brings a new sound to the table but with strong reminders of their initial influences.

Despite having a similar structure to “Ddu Ddu Ddu”, the new elements and instruments added to the song gives it much dimension. The track’s use of brass and drums gives us the feeling of this being a battle cry, almost. The lyrics speak of a ending a toxic relationship, which is a far better colour on the girls than the message of “Playing With Fire”. In a way, it highlights Blackpink’s maturity; both lyrically and musically. “Kill This Love” probably has the most English that Blackpink has used in a Korean song as well, which is an interesting note as previously this was only evident on Japanese versions of their older songs. Perhaps this is their company slowly opening up more doors into the world of Western music. After all, these girls are Coachella performers now!

The music video itself was just a work of art. Clearly having the budget to blow on sets, the girls look even more expensive than they already do when paired with aesthetically pleasing backgrounds and designer clothing. However there was a bit of controversy being sparked with Lisa’s choice of hairstyle. In her rap scene, the 22 year old is seen sporting box braids – a hairstyle that is deeply rooted in African culture. Not surprisingly, fans voiced their disappointment over Twitter – resulting in a discussion about cultural appropriation.

However with the little control K-pop artists have over the concepts (and more than often, the outfits and styles) they are given, this may have been more of a management issue than it is with the artists themselves. Fans have settled with messaging Blackpink’s official hair and makeup staff member about education on the topic itself, especially considering how they are going to American soon. Blinks were concerned that lack of research on such issues like these might cause unnecessary hate towards the girl group, even more so at a festival as big as Coachella.

“Don’t Know What To Do” starts off as an emotional pop song. However as the song progresses, it builds up to a club banger instead with the EDM in the chorus. The track feels like it has influences from Zedd, “Clarity” in particular. Especially paired with Foxes’ style of singing, the similarities can be drawn to a certain extent. The track is still scattered with Blackpink’s classic sound though, especially notable with the guitar. The club-like EDM isn’t a surprising route to find Blackpink on though, as Jisoo did happily cover “Clarity” during their tour earlier this year! The song has a rather unexpecting ending though, for something rather club driven.

“Kick It” is an interesting blend of a seemingly slow pace song with a heavy bass beat. We see bits of Blackpink’s country influences with the bits that feature Jisoo and Rose singing, very reminiscent of “Stay”. The emotion in the song does register as an honest track sung in a laid back manner. In a way, the track is rather confusing musically with its drastic switch ups. Somehow, the girls make it work, with the throbbing bass in the background.

“Hope Not”, the last original track of the EP, is starts off as an melancholic, youthful ballad. With Rose’s honey-like voice complementing Jennie’s sharp and crisp one; the two singers croon together with the other pair on back up vocals. When it’s time for a swap of roles, Jisoo and LIsa did an equally great job of singing their hearts out. The beauty of this song is that despite the weight it carries, it’s sung in such a delicate manner. Perhaps it’s to signify how heavy the pressure is that Blackpink face yet they continue to tread lightly, making sure they have proper footing before doing anything drastic. The song feels like a perfect farewell song at a concert, which we hope we’ll be able to see again soon next year!

The EP wraps itself up with a remix of last year’s anthem; Ddu Ddu Ddu. The remix actually is an interesting take on the song, completely removing the calamity in the form of electronica that started the song. Instead, we hear a rather chic beat that accompanies the verses and bridge, but they completely lost us in the chorus. The clanging of instruments was not something we expected, but the Skrillex-esque nightmare was probably inevitable when something has the word ‘remix’ slapped on it.

Nevertheless, while the track may not be something pleasant just to listen to— it makes us curious to think about the potential dance breaks that Blackpink would have come up with. When we apply that lens onto the chorus, suddenly it feels like something we can stomach better. Perhaps the remix is more of a performance that requires visual appreciation than being a purely auditory experience for now.

Overall, “Kill This Love” is a mixed bag. With a killer title track that finally brought what we’ve been wanting Blackpink to bring to the game, the rest of the EP pales to all of that. At this point though, we are hoping to see more variety from Blackpink, as most of their songs are starting to echo their former ones.

Perhaps all of this is an elaborate plan to utterly blow our socks off with their long awaited full length album? Only time will tell… and until then, we’ll be replaying this title track until it kills our love for it (though we’re pretty sure it won’t be anytime soon).

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Album Review: Super M Came For Blood With Their Debut Mini Album

If you told us last year that EXO’s Kai, SHINee’s Taemin and NCT’s Ten would be together in a group, we would not have believed you.

Yet we stand corrected, as it seems that the brain behind SM Entertainment, Lee Soo Man himself took matters into his own hands to create the K-pop equivalent of The Avengers. By handpicking the most popular members of previously formed groups, a supergroup was born.

Super M consists of Shinee’s Taemin, EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai, and NCT’s Taeyong, Mark, Ten and Lucas (who also make up WAYV). With Baekhyun being the leader, it seems like Super M would be the group to top all groups. Their self-titled mini album dropped on 4th of October 2019, with the world premiere of the highly anticipated single, “Jopping”. With that, let’s cut in deep and see what Super M is made of.

“Jopping”, the title track and first track off the album, had sky-high expectations even before the release date. After all, these are a cast of star-studded idols from the biggest entertainment industry in South Korea. With the gorgeous visuals from the teasers they had dropped, it seemed only appropriate to assume that that the song was going to be the song of the year.

SuperM came in guns ablazin’ with “Jopping”, going big and cashing everything out (literally, judging from the quality of the music video). The song itself is bombastic; complete with electric guitar riffs, deep house beats, claps, and horns to pack it with a similar sense of awe and one would anticipate from a much-awaited superhero movie.

“Jopping” is exactly what the K-pop industry was missing this year and the fact that SuperM delivered with such an over-the-top track that absolutely pummels the point home, is exactly what makes the track a whopping success. Without a doubt, this is a strong contender for one of the best singles for K-pop this year.

The best song on the mini album however, would have to be the second track.  “I Can’t Stand The Rain” piqued our interest from the very beginning, as the instrumental was the only trace of SuperM that saw the light of the day before anything else. “I Can’t Stand The Rain” wins because of the number of layers the track has; lacing it with drama, raw vocals, all while incorporating the beauty of traditional instruments. The percussions and strings are what make “Rain” flourish, elevating it to a level of drama like never before.

You can hear how Taemin and Baekhyun complement each other so well, with their vocals bringing out all the emotion and theatrics of the song to its fullest extent. And then we have the switch from Kai to Taeyong on the verses before the bridge, which makes us see how Lee Soo Man wanted us to appreciate the uniqueness that each performer brings to the table. Ten’s clear cut singing style contrasts Lucas’ gruff voice, which is all washed down with a smooth glass of Mark when he raps. Overall, it is in “Rain” that we see all of SuperM being used to their full potential.

The third track, “2 Fast”, is a snazzy, seductive dance track that gets you on your feet. It echos of the sound of SHINee mixed with a touch of EXO. Above all, it feels like the most fashionable song off the album. The prim and proper vibe that is delivered by Ten, Taemin and Baekhyun get cut by Lucas’ rough edges when he raps or adlibs on the song, which is what makes the song feel like a night out that one can’t quite remember.

And then we have “Super Car”, the better-looking cousin of “My Van” by NCT 127. This track probably has the least originality to it, as it sounds like it could easily be on the next NCT 127 release. Despite that, it’s still one of the stronger songs off the release. If “2 Fast” was primarily led by the vocalists of the group, “Super Car” is where rappers Mark and Taeyong go hard. And yet, “Super Car” is still rather melodic. In fact, the most memorable parts of the song are still it’s pre-chorus and chorus, both of which are still sung by Taemin and Baekhyun. Regardless if “2 Fast” was the show and tell, “Super Car” has a stinging bite.

The mini-album bids us a slow, seductive goodbye with “No Manners”. Personally, this felt like the most forgettable song of the entire album. The sexiness doesn’t quite entice us as much as it should, but instead it just lingers; leaving us in limbo.

Taemin’s singing style leaves us in a foggy wonder, but it’s Taeyong’s impeccable verse that brought us back to reality. It would be satisfying to watch this live, as lord knows how much body waves could be potentially packed into this…

The main issue fans have with SuperM is that most of their songs sound like they could potentially just be songs for SM’s other groups, mainly NCT. However after listening to it, we’ve realised that it doesn’t have to be seen as a bad thing. It’s common knowledge that all of these groups share similar and if not, the same, producers and songwriters. So what if it sounds similar? SuperM is a Wattpad dream come true, and we shouldn’t be upset about it. If anything, we should be reveling in it while it lasts.

Overall, SuperM’s self-titled mini album is probably the most solid releases we’ve heard from K-pop in a while. SuperM showed us what you get when you throw in some of the industry’s most seasoned performers and then added newcomers to the stage. They say too many good cooks spoil the soup, but after tasting the concoction that is SuperM; we can’t seem to get enough. These guys didn’t just set expectations sky high—they broke through it entirely.


Interview: Simon Cowell On “Celebrity X-Factor”, The Judges & Contestants

The stakes are higher with “Celebrity X-Factor”. The “X-Factor” used to be staple viewing but after more than a decade, people have grown tired of it. This is why Simon Cowell decided to do a soft reboot.

The auditions have already come and gone. Soon, it’ll be the live shows. Would these celebrity contestants be able to find success once the show is over? Time will tell. But in the meantime, here’s what the 60-year-old music mogul has to say about his fellow judges – Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger – as well as the talents.

@TheXFactor live shows are back #XFactor

A post shared by @ simoncowell on Oct 8, 2016 at 11:15am PDT

Why did you decide to change up the normal version of the show and do a celebrity one instead?

It just felt so obvious to do a celebrity version. The only condition was I couldn’t know who was going to be on it. I said to the team, “You’ve got to find some acts who you believe can sell records off the back of this, because if you don’t do that it won’t work.” So that was the deal and we stuck to it. I swear to God I didn’t have a clue who any of the acts were. I did walk away thinking, “If we’re smart, we have artists here who could actually sell records off the back of this”. So I thought that was fun and very exciting for the show.

They do say a change is as good as a rest…!

Exactly! I think change in any aspect is good, but I was saying to someone the other day, “I’ve signed Westlife, I’ve signed Five, El Divo, One Direction, Little Mix. They’re all groups, but they’re all different.” Sometimes you’ve got to take a break of at least a year, two years between signing one kind of group and then launching another. And it’s the same with The X Factor. You can’t just keep making the same show that it was 14 years ago and expect it to be the same show today. You’ve got to take a step back for a little while.

Do you think Louis is different this time around?

I do. Apart from anything else, you have got to remember Louis was a manager when I first met him. So we’ve worked together on a lot of acts that he’s managed. I’ve never, really ever had a disagreement with Louis over an artist or a decision or anything else. We’ve worked as friends. We’re genuinely friends and that was part of the decision to have him on the show again this year. It wasn’t just the fact that he’s been on the show, it’s just that it reminded me, unlike other people, that managers can be great friends as well. Louis is a great guy. He’s a great friend. He’s gone away and has taken that time to remember what makes him tick, and that’s music.

How did it feel sitting with Louis and Nicole again?

Sitting with the two of them was like we picked it up five minutes ago. I think Nicole is great because the funny thing is everyone thinks that she’s super confident, but she’s not. She’s an incredibly dignified person. The thing with her as well is she’ll speak directly to the team rather than going through the press. It’s so rare to find that now, a million percent, she’s special.

How did it feel filming the auditions at your house?

When we filmed it that night it didn’t feel like work. I loved every second of it. I said to the producers, “If this really doesn’t work, we will have to re-audition for the show. That’s the deal.” So the fact that I felt we didn’t need to was just great. I found it interesting and fun, and doing this version of the show has also given me the chance to do All Stars. I’ve wanted to make the best of the best version of The X Factor for a long, long time. It’s been brilliant. I’ve loved every minute.

What did you think of the celebs when you first met them?

I tell you what, I was really surprised and happy about how much they cared about being on the show. With the celebrities, they really wanted it, I felt that if they bring that energy to the show and hopefully we can do our job, which is to help them make some great records, you know, we’ve got some really good artists on our hands.

“Celebrity X-Factor” airs on Sundays 7:55 pm only on Blue Ant Entertainment (Unifi TV Ch 473).

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