David Archuleta’s “Begin.” Review

There was a time when the world suffered from a shortage of real singers with golden voices and when true music fans were hungry for real artistes, not just the ordinary manufactured pop star. Then, we were introduced to reality TV star searches and singing competitions. Not only did it help your every day person shoot to stardom, it also quenched the public’s thirst for talents.

During the seventh season of American Idol, young David Archuleta single-handedly won over the hearts of listeners worldwide although he was only a runner-up. A year later, he released his self-titled debut album. It sold over 900,000 copies globally. And since then, it has been a nonstop adventure for the idol.

This year brings David’s fourth album, “Begin“. As expected, it’s a pop buffet because it includes popular covers of hit songs from the past, from as “old but gold” as Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, to R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts”. to Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colours”, and more recently, Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”.

But of course, no album from a star is complete without an original song:

[youtube id=”le0Jxq6ra3Y” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Written by Jon Hunt, “Broken” is complemented with David’s extremely underrated but golden voice. You could probably imagine him lulling you to sleep with this one. We can’t help but wonder why there aren’t many original songs on “Begin” – don’t let your talent go to waste, David!

Also, check out David’s version of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel“:

[youtube id=”xdhHU6d3r4A” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Honestly? Sarah should be listening to this one because we’re pretty sure that the songstress would be blown away by David’s take on her 1997 hit song too. We know we were! Doesn’t anyone else think that this definitely landed “in the arms of an angel”?

We’d rave about other songs but we wouldn’t be doing him any justice. Go on and pick up a copy. Like, now. “Begin” is available at all major music stores near you! Alternatively, you could also purchase the album via iTunes here.

For more information, hit up David Archuleta’s website or Facebook page.


#Vape: Malaysian Cabinet Decides Against Imposing A Ban On Vape/Vaping

Still reeling from news of the vape ban and all the vape fiasco? Settle down, because we hear that it’s not getting banned. For sure. More or less.

According to Malaysia’s Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, that is.

He uploaded a Facebook post about an hour ago today (Friday, 30th October) to confirm that the Cabinet has decided against imposing a ban on electronic cigarettes/vape or vaping. In his post he said:

Translation: Good news for vapers, vape brewers, and vape salesmen. Today, the Cabinet has decided not to ban vaping. Thank you to the Prime Minister and Government who understands the aspirations of the youth. I believe that vaping is the best alternative to discourage smokers from smoking and to live a healthier lifestyle.

This is coming right after reports that the Health Ministry was considering imposing a ban on vaping/the vape. On Wednesday (28th October), Health Minister Datuk Seri S Subramaniam said that vaping will be banned once they have settled the legalities.

He went on to say that they’re looking into choosing an Act that will give them the most “power” which will enable them to ban it.

Of course, this was quickly disputed by Deputy Health Minister, who confirmed that there are no plans to ban or regulate vaping at the moment.

Source: The Star Online, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s Facebook page.

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Celebrities Hacked: Kim K, Paris, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Etc

Whoa. Some major celebrities have all-at-one-go fallen into the hands of a pretty pro hacker recently. Celebrities such as Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Ashton Kutcher, Paris Hilton, and even world icons like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, LA Police Chief Charlie Beck, and FBI director Robert Mueller have had their sensitive financial information posted online.

We know what you’re thinking , “Where, exactly?”.

We don’t know as the website has not been named. C’mon, it does have Hillary Clinton’s and an FBI director’s most personal information, after all. But what we do know is that the information leaked includes social security numbers, credit card details, and details tied to mortgages, loans, and other banking matters.

Dang. We so wanted to know how much Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton spends in a day though! Or rather, in one night of partying.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD):

LAPD detectives are investigating the recent disclosure of Chief Beck’s personal information. Apparently, this is not a hacking incident. It’s called “doxxing”. It has happened to the chief in two other occasions post-Occupy LA. We are not at a liberty to discuss the others mentioned in the web post. There will be no other comments of press conferences on this matter.

Doxxing or hacking, it just goes to show that no one is immune to hackers. No one.


#KTM: 6 Extra Trains To Run From 1st – 10th July To Accommodate Raya Traffic

In conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya festive season, Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) has announced that it will be providing 6 more Komuter trains.

The additional trains, which will run from 1st – 10th July, will only involve the Butterworth-Padang Besar-Butterworth route. According to KTM Komuter Service general manager Azsnidah Shah Shahari, waiting time is expected to be reduced from 2 hours to 1.

“On normal days, we provide 14 train services, involving the 3 routes, namely Butterworth-Padang Besar-Butterworth, Butterworth-Gurun-Butterworth, and Butterworth-Kamunting-Butterworth, but for Aidilfitri this year, we will provide 6 additional trains for the Butterworth-Padang Besar-Butterworth route,” Azsnidah told Bernama.

“Passengers on normal days numbered around 3,000 daily, but it is expected to double up during the festive season. It is hoped that with the 20 trains to be make available from 1st to 10th July, the increased number of passengers will be well accommodated,” she added.

For more information, visit KTMB’s website or call them up at 03-22671200.


Harry Styles May Play Prince Eric In “The Little Mermaid” Live-action

Since last year, it has been rumoured that Disney is eyeing actress-singer Zendaya to play the titular character Ariel in the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid”.

Though nothing is officially confirmed, now a new rumour has circulated on the casting of Prince Eric and it has been reported that former One Direction member Harry Styles is one of the stars being considered for the role.

— heather (@hesmyfineline) March 5, 2019

Over the weekend, Prince Eric was actually trending on Twitter. This is because a Twitter user called @theredneighbour has revealed that Disney will be announcing the live-action cast of “The Little Mermaid” at D23 expo on 23rd August 2019.

According to the tweet, 2 actresses and 2 actors have been considered for the role of Ariel and Prince Eric respectively, with Rob Marshall as the movie’s director.

“Spiderman: Far From Home” actress Zendaya and scream queen star Jane Levy are being considered to play Ariel while former boy band member Harry Styles and Noah Centineo from Netflix romantic comedy “Sierra Burgess Is a Loser” are the contenders for Prince Eric.

A small correction: The direction of The Little Mermaid will be by Rob Marshall.

Jennifer Lee will take care of another live-action.#D23 #D23Expo #Disney #TheLittleMermaid pic.twitter.com/jlWo4F75bb

— The Red Neighbor (@theredneighbor) June 16, 2019

But before you get excited about the news, do remember that Disney still hasn’t confirmed any of these rumours, so it is better that we take it with a grain of salt.

Despite so, many fans are totally into the idea of casting Harry Styles as Prince Eric, because seriously, not only is he good looking and good at singing, his acting performance in “Dunkirk” has been widely praised by critics – plus, he’s British! (a very princely characteristic if you ask us.)

Ariel has always been one of my Disney favorites and prince eric is without question the most handsome Disney prince and now that @Harry_Styles is rumored to play him he got even hotter pic.twitter.com/u3QZxUGnD3

After seeing the announcement about the potential cast for Prince Eric, fans have also started to throw out other actors or singers which they think would suited for the role as well. Some of the notable mentions include Park Jimin of BTS, Shawn Mendes, Darren Criss, Hendery, and more.

Anyway, since nothing is officially on the table yet, let’s just wait for the real announcement at D23 expo.

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GFRIEND To Include Malaysia & Singapore In Asia Tour 2019

The 6-member girl group from South Korea has just announced their Asia Tour for 2019 and guess what? Malaysia has been included! Besides us, Asian countries include Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, and Taiwan.

Formed by Source Music in 2015, GFRIEND comprises of Sowon (소원), Yerin (예린), Eunha (은하), Yuju (유주), SinB (신비), and Umji (엄지). Since their debut, the K-pop group has released 7 EPs and 2 studio albums, including the recently-released LP, “Time for Us”.

Concert details for their Malaysia & Singapore pitstops are as follows:

Stay tuned to this space for more details.


Fara Mendoza Denies Doing “Dirty” Work In High-End Prostitution Ring

Malaysia’s entertainment scene was left in a state of shock after authorities found local female celebrities charging up to RM40k per night in a high-end prostitution ring.

Since no names were mentioned, netizens made their own assumptions and accused actress Fara Mendoza as one of the celebs involved in the illegal act.

The 30-year-old actress described the allegation made towards her as completely unfounded. The accusations were made through the comments section on her Instagram posts, to which Fara said she could only laugh at the absurdity.

She stated that she wouldn’t have to work anymore if she was involved with the high-paying act. Fara explained, “I don’t even want to be a ‘foster girl’, what more doing dirty work. Think logically, if I did sex-for-hire, why would I still post all my work (paid reviews and ads) on Instagram?”

The controversial celebrity asserted, “I won’t have to sell chips or other people’s products through paid reviews anymore. I don’t have to change my outfits and put on heavy make up doing promotions every day. I don’t even have to be a ‘bigo star’ and go live every month.”

The “Raisha 2” actress further questioned netizens, asking why would she continue to review videos everyday if she’s being paid up to RM40k per night as a high-end prostitute. Fara Mendoza explained that she would only have to flaunt all her luxury assets without any proof of work, before questioning, “Is that what happened? Did you see it?”

Chacha Maembong has also received similar accusations and decided to lodge a police report against the naysayers.


#Marvel: “Avengers – Infinity War” To Explore 3 Key Relationships

There is no doubt that the soon-to-be-retitled “Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1” and “Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2” films are going to be epic. The Russo brothers – Joe and Anthony Russo – have referred to these sequels as “a culmination of everything that’s occurred in the Marvel Universe up to the point where the Marvel Universe is released.”

The Avengers team have been getting crowded by the movie, and Marvel’s expansive cinematic franchise will amplify that in a huge way in “Infinity War”. As aforementioned, a grand total of 67 separate characters are being considered for the 2-part series. However, there are a handful of relationships between the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes that the directors are keen on delving into.

“Captain America: Civil War” did an excellent job exploring the relationships that have build up from past Marvel films. And as Jack Giroux points out, the movie script did not spent too much focusing on the future of the MCU. All of the superheroes were given ample room and time to develop, including new characters like Black Panther and Spider-Man, and we were left wanting to see where these relationships are heading.

In speaking with /Film, the Russo brothers spoke about 3 particular connections they intend to focus on moving forward. The relationship between Vision (Paul Bettany) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) have grown since we last saw them in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and continues to get complicated throughout “Civil War”.

“Certainly Scarlet Witch and Vision. It’s a very compelling story. Obviously, it’s one ripped from the comics that, for many years, there was some very interesting storytelling and characters. One character is searching for how to identify with humanity, another who is on a journey away from her humanity towards becoming a very powerful being,” said Joe.

“I would also say Captain America and Iron Man is central. Can those guys ever repair their relationship? What is their relationship ever going to be like moving forward from this?” Anthony added. While Captain America and Iron Man will most likely kiss and make up in time to save the world, it’ll be interesting to how they come together again after the events from “Civil War”.

The Russo brothers may be done with the “Captain America” films, but the directors aren’t finished exploring the relationship of Cap and Bucky just yet. During one of the post credits scenes in “Civil War”, the audience got to see a new version of Bucky, and the upcoming sequels will once again deal with the complexities of that relationship.

“The other relationship that’s still exciting to us is, again, Cap and Bucky. The wonderful thing about this movie, which started in Winter Soldier, is that Cap had a belief in him, that there’s still a human being inside the Winter Soldier that he can save and that he can reach, and he’s gone to incredible lengths now, with incredible faith, that that’s waiting for him if he goes there,” said Anthony.

“He’s found that human being inside Bucky Barnes, but who is that guy going forward? Just because he’s found and he’s there, he’s still this crazy, bastard hybrid of who he used to be in The First Avenger and this killing machine,” he continued.

While Joe and Anthony Russo didn’t reveal any new characters, we’re pretty sure that there will be more characters playing major roles in “Infinity War”. We’re hoping Black Widow and Black Panther will get the opportunity to explore their relationship either in the upcoming “Infinity War” or by including Widow in the solo adventure of “Black Panther”.

In the meantime, check out our “Captain America: Civil War” movie review here.

“Avengers: Infinity War Part 1” is due to be released on 4th May 2018 while “Avengers: Infinity War Part 2” will be released on 3rd May 2019.

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Frozen 2: Get To Know The New Characters In The Sequel

Social media has been raving about “Frozen 2” ever since the 2nd official trailer dropped last night.

The long-awaited sequel finds Anna and Elsa journey together beyond the borders of Arendelle in an attempt to save their home from another meteorological fiasco. As they encounter new dangers, our leading ladies also come in contact with some new characters.

Check out the character descriptions below:

1. King Agnarr: The son of King Runeard, King Agnarr is married to Queen Iduna, and is Anna and Elsa’s father. King Agnarr loves his family, and would do anything to ensure his daughters’ wellbeing and safety. Alfred Molina lends his voice to King Agnarr.

2. Yelana: The unspoken leader of the nomadic Northuldra. She is fiercely protective of her family and community but is known to soften when people show an understanding of nature and their environment. Martha Plimpton was called on to bring Yelana to life.

3. Honeymaren: A member of the Northuldra, Honeymaren is a true free spirit and wants nothing more than to bring peace to the enchanted forest. She is bold and brave, with a reverence for the magic of nature. Rachel Matthews provides the voice of Honeymaren.

4. Ryder: Eager and fun, Honeymaren’s brother Ryder embraces life with optimism. Ryder’s love of reindeer might just rival Kristoff’s – but unlike Kristoff, Ryder has never roamed the great plains outside of the Enchanted Forest. He longs to embrace the world and venture beyond the magical mist. Jason Ritter lends his voice to Ryder.

5. Bruni, the little lizard: Curious and cute, this salamander inhabits the Enchanted Forest. Though shy at first, Bruni can’t help but be drawn to Elsa’s icy magic and enjoys the cool snowflake treats she creates.

Disney fans aren’t just excited to see these favourites kick butt. They are also collectively freaking out over the cute little lizard whom Elsa has taken a liking to. This much we know – everyone has already fallen for Bruni, as evidently below:

excuse me frozen 2.. who is THIS and how do i acquire it pic.twitter.com/QXWI9A7VLK

— vase 🥹 (@thisisvase) September 23, 2019

Mother of dragons: a song of ice and fire⠀ By ittargaryen | TW⠀ -⠀ #frozen2 #gameofthrones #samesamebutdifferent #9gag

A post shared by  9GAG: Go Fun The World (@9gag) on Sep 23, 2019 at 8:00am PDT

“Frozen 2” arrives in theaters 22nd November.


#CaptainAmerica3: Daniel Brühl Will Play Baron Zemo

The cat is finally out of the bag because German actor Daniel Brühl finally revealed the role he’s going to play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige first confirmed his involvement in the film franchise back in November 2014. At that time, Fiege only stated:

With Daniel’s ability to deliver intense, nuanced performances, we knew we had found yet another great actor to share the screen with some of our biggest heroes.

Though no further information were revealed, sources told Variety that Brühl’s role in “Captain America: Civil War” will be relatively small as he will later emerge as the primary antagonist in Marvel’s “Doctor Strange”.

Several months after the casting announcement, the actor himself spilled the beans in an interview with The Independent that he will play Baron Zemo, a villainous character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

I think I can tell you that without being thrown into Marvel prison… For the first few days I’ll walk around like a little boy, just amazed by the megalomania of it. It’s such a huge project. We could do 20 films with the budget.

Given the current timeline of the MCU, Screen Rant reported that Brühl will most likely play the 13th Baron Zemo, who was brought up by his father Baron Heinrich Zemo to believe in the Nazi ideals of a master race. This will link back to Steve Rogers/Captain America’s past as Heinrich was a Nazi scientist and weapon maker who teamed up with The Red Skull (played by Hugo Weaving in the first “Captain America” film) to fight against Rogers during the World War II.

However, Marvel Studios has yet to confirm the report.

The movie is a follow-up to Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and it will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. It will once again star Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man and Chris Evans as Captain America. Their characters are the major players of the film as the story will be based on the Civil War storyline in the Marvel Universe, where the mayhem begins with the Superhero Registration Act.

Marvel superheroes are forced to pick a side: Join Iron Man’s side if you want to support the programme or join Captain America’s side if you oppose it.

Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie will also reprise their respective roles as The Winter Soldier and The Falcon, alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson.

After working together on Disney’s “The Fifth Estate”, Brühl may work with Benedict Cumberbatch again as the latter has also joined the MCU to portray the titular character of Marvel’s “Doctor Strange“.

The filming for “Captain America: Civil War” will begin soon as it is slated to be released on 6th May 2016.

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M’sian Students Are Trending #SuaraPelajar On Twitter For This Reason

As of today (Wednesday. 20th January), schools are now officially reopening only for SPM and STPM 2020 candidates, amid the whopping number of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.

However, the recent news about 18 students being tested positive for Covid-19 in Sabah has in turn sparked a major concern among students. This prompted former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq to come up with a padlet link for them to pour out their thoughts about the government’s decision on his Twitter. He also accompanied his tweet with the hashtag “#SuaraPelajar” (voices of students).

Dah ada 18 pelajar positif COVID-19 di Sabah. Menteri Pendidikan tetap akan buka sekolah untuk calon SPM & STPM esok.

Saya perlukan bantuan anda semua untuk mengumpul suara pelajar di Padlet & gesa KPM untuk dengar.

Boleh isi maklumat di https://t.co/xn6bShTjKy#SuaraPelajar

— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) January 19, 2021

Soon after, the hashtag “#SuaraPelajar” (voice of students) became a trending topic on Twitter not long after he posted his tweet. In this case, many of them expressed their opinions about sitting for exams in this current pandemic situation.

Most students have been fighting for their voices to be heard because they are worried and afraid of being infected when sitting for exams. After all, they are not required to undergo swab test for Covid-19. Apart from that, others also called for the government to provide a better solution to the matter.

‘We are the future pillars of this country and we shouldn’t be treated like this. 3000+ Covid-19 cases per day is dangerous. No students should risk their health / sacrifice their lives just for an examination during pandemic. We need to fight and we need to be heard!” Twitter user @JiaZhe49383286 wrote.

Feel free to read some of their thoughts here:

Soo whatt still need going to school while pandemics is almost kill us all and being surrounded if one of the students suddenly bring that virus to school even dia tktau then semua dpt virus tu then they only have about two three weeks left from spm💀💀 #suarapelajar https://t.co/oGyZ6jAgGP

I lagi suka f2f than online classes but bukan mcm ni lol. Risking our life for a piece of paper dgn case sdh 3K++ Cmon kpm you can do better than this. #SuaraPelajar

reading the notes left the students in YB's link srsly broke my heart alot and i also realized that even if I wasnt writing and uploading what I feel the other students already are. Tbh, what's so hard for them to listen to us? Students barely ever try to speak up this loudly.

We are the future pillars of this country and we shouldn’t be treated like this. 3000+ COVID-19 cases per day is dangerous. No students should risk their health / sacrifice their lives just for an examination during pandemic. We need to fight and we need to be heard!#SuaraPelajar

— Jia Zhe (@jiazheyeap) January 19, 2021

What do you think about this whole situation? Feel free to sound off in the comments. :)

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Top 5 Solo Dining Spots In KL

Up until recently, solo dining was synonymous to a takeaway for one that’s usually scoffed down in the car or anonymously eaten at home. Alone. Most people would never want to be spotted solo dining because it automatically associates them to being a “friendless person” or for lack of better word, #foreveralone. It’s practically social suicide!

However, these days, more and more people are choosing to dine out alone. The observation was initially made by BBC but even in Kuala Lumpur, a hub for city slickers who are constantly on-the-go, solo dining is on a steady rise. As such, cafes and restaurants are making way for these customers by making themselves more welcoming. The little touches that they’ve made could easily be ignored by other diners but it shines like a beacon to solo diners.

Here are our picks for the top 5 solo dining places (could be a little pricey) in Kuala Lumpur:

Considered a “newbie” because they just opened in 2013, Porcelene Jazz brands themselves as a fun and funky hangout and Malaysia’s first acid jazz restaurant and bar. The restaurant serves an Asian-European flavourful fusion menu that’s catered to both the local and visiting foreigner’s palate e.g. soups, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, and burgers. We especially adore how solo diners will be able to fit right in and super comfortably at the restaurant’s smaller tables which can only fit a max of 2 patrons per table. Not awkward at all!

For more information, visit their website.

Stylish and comfy to a tee, Alexis is known to serve a yummy selection of thin-crust pizzas and all-time Asian favourites. Their desserts, too, are absolutely delectable such as the pavlova and tiramisu. But perhaps the most unique selling point is the intimate outdoor seats (there are only a few) along the front of the bistro, which caters for a small party of 2 or solo diners. We love how the cushioned seats are strategically placed to face the road so that solo diners can “people watch” or watch the world go by and not feel all that #foreveralone while wolfing down a bowl of Sarawak Laksa.

3. Coliseum (Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur)

An old colonial haunt, the legendary Coliseum offers not only good food but also, character. The restaurant takes it customers back to basics with its whirling ceiling fans, ornate dark wood furniture, and linen tablecloths all “encased” in the traditional structure of the restaurant lot. In fact, Coliseum has been serving food and drinks for more than 90 years and they are known to dish out some of the best (and afforable) steaks e.g. sirloin, rump, fillet, etc. in the city. We wouldn’t call it a Western gourmet heaven but because of its bar seats and some smaller tables, it’s worth the visit for solo diners.

For more information, visit their Facebook page.

4. La Bodega (Telawi, Bangsar & Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang)

Known to be Kuala Lumpur’s most prominent Spanish food chain, La Bodega will satisfy all your tapas cravings and more. La Bodega first opened along Jalan Telawi 2 in 1999. Since then, it has become the perfect place to hide out amidst the busyness of Bangsar. We especially love their refreshing sangria! The outlet in Bangsar has a warm and cosy atmosphere so you can enjoy a meal alone indoors while being bathed in soft lighting. La Bodega in Empire Shopping Gallery also has bar seats so you can go ahead with your solo dining without interruptions – except for maybe striking up a conversation with the friendly bartenders!

Easily overlooked while driving down the street it’s on, Grafa Cafe boasts an ambience that will make you believe you’re not in the heart of the busiest part of Subang Jaya. It’s extremely hidden and doesn’t have much of a facade to it so you’ll need to spot the Pattern Store which is located right in front Grafa Cafe. The eatery serves just about anything from pastas to pizzas, to lamb chops and grills, and of course a delicious selection of local food e.g. meehun goreng tomyam, nasi lemak, etc. We love the solo seats along the entrance’s corridor and the smaller tables inside. Perfect!

And that’s all we’ve got – for now. Know of any other interesting places that you’d like us to add to the list? Drop us a tip in the comments box!


The Saem: SEVENTEEN To Hold Fan Meeting In Pavilion KL This February

Malaysian CARATs are in for a lovely surprise! K-pop group SEVENTEEN is visiting us yet again this year.

The boys will be making their appearance in Kuala Lumpur during Chinese New Year. So if you’re not going back to your hometown outside Klang Valley, come meet the K-pop stars in person and spend some time with them.

SEVENTEEN does seem like the gift that keeps on giving. Consistently visiting Malaysia annually since 2017, the super group will now be coming for a fan-sign event under The Saem!

Yes, you read that right, the rarity of fan-signs are actually happening here in our very own Pavilion KL mall. Keep your calendars cleared for the 16th of February, where you could possibly be seeing your favourite SEVENTEEN member up close and personal!

For those wondering what’s the connection to The Saem, the SEVENTEEN members are the current ambassadors of The Saem, a leading skincare and beauty brand in South Korea. They have been affiliated with the brand since late 2017.

The details to The Saem x SEVENTEEN’s fan-sign event in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:

Here is the mechanism on how to win the fan-sign event:

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#SongsofInnocence: U2’s Bono Says The Album Isn’t Free “Per Se”

At #AppleLive yesterday, Bono announced that U2 would be releasing their 13th studio album, “Songs Of Innocence” for free via iTunes. The album will be an iTunes exclusive until mid-October. After performing the phenomenal single, it was revealed that the album would be available for free to iTunes half a billion subscribers.

Half a billion, subscribers, yo. In case you missed it, watch the announcement video below:

This isn’t the first time that U2 is collaborating with Apple. In 2004, U2 collaborated on a special edition (RED) iPod. Also, if a certain icon on the Apple iPhone and iPod touch looks familiar, it’s because the Apple interface design team modelled it to look like Bono.

“Songs of Innocence” is U2’s most personal work to date, charting the band’s earliest influences from 70s rock and punk rock to early 80s electronica and ambient music and giving insight into how and why the band came together. The album deals with themes of home and family, relationships, and discovery and was recorded in Dublin, London, New York, and Los Angeles and is produced by Danger Mouse, along with Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Declan Gaffney,and Flood.

The track listing for “Songs Of Innocence” is as follows:

Watch the trailer for “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)” here:

On another note, there has also been some confusing with the whole “gifting of U2’s latest album” move. Although Bono said that they’ll be giving out “Song of Innocence” for free on iTunes, it doesn’t mean that it’s free per se. As in, the band didn’t really “give” the album away. Bono told TIME, “We were paid. I don’t believe in free music. Music is a sacrament.”

He didn’t divulge what Apple shelled out for “Songs if Innocence” though. Well, whatever the price tag might’ve been, a free album is always good news to music fans!

Meanwhile, you may download U2’s album, “Songs of Innocence” for free here.


Is It Really Over For Datuk Lee Chong Wei?

After four years, he has finally been defeated by his arch-nemesis for the world of badminton’s biggest title. In the latest ranking list released by the World Badminton Federation (BWF) yesterday, it was stated that our Datuk Lee Chong Wei is no longer No. 1.

And in his place is the name of four-time world champion, China’s very own pride and joy, Lin Dan.

Chong Wei’s great fall started when he failed to defend his title at the Indonesian Open coupled with his absence in international tournaments following an ankle injury at the Thomas Cup Finals. As it is, the pressure is high for our Datuk, who needs to train hard for the 2012 Olympics which will happen next month.

The Olympics is crucial for Chong Wei as he will be challenging now world No.1 badminton player Lin Dan for the gold medal. While others see it as a blessing (the injury and the drop in ranking), we feel that it could be translated into a pure form of demotivation and now worry if he will be able to take on the defending champion at all or not. The only consolation is knowing that our badminton hero is giving his 110% at regaining his form for the impending big game.

Datuk, it’s all in your hands now to take home the Olympics gold medal.


Arrest Warrant For DMTN’s Daniel

Previously known as “Dalmatian”, DMTN is a six-member K-Pop idol boy group managed by IS Entermedia Group. DMTN consists of members Inati, Dari (currently fulfilling mandatory South Korean military enlistment time), Simon, Donglim, Jeesu, and “maknae” Daniel.

The group has previously released two mini albums to date and had just made their long-awaited comeback earlier this year, after moving to a new label (from Monkey Funch Entertainment to IS Entertainment Group) and changing their group name (from “Dalmatian” to “DMTN”).

But it seems that a major setback has come to rain on their parade.

Moments ago, it was reported that DMTN’s “maknae” (aka youngest), Daniel is in some serious trouble. An arrest warrant has been issued against the 22-year-old idol for the sale and use of marijuana. In fact, the report specifically states that Daniel also under suspicion of repeated marijuana use from September 2012 to December 2012. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s narcotics division filed the warrant this past 8th.

Oh boy. This is going to make G-Dragon’s case look like a walk in the park. Or the South Korean actresses’ Propofol abuse look like eating a sandwich on a sunny day, on a park bench. You get the picture – this weighs really, really heavily upon not only Daniel but also DMTN and their agency.

Meanwhile, DMTN’s agency has released a statement which says, “The situation is more complicated than what the report states.We’ll give you a detailed explanation later on”. Uh oh.

DMTN’s label has since released an official statement which reads:

Daniel was investigated by the police and prosecutors on the 9th. At first, the prosecutors suspected him of smoking it himself and ran a drug test on his hair and urine. However, all his tests came back negative. He was acquitted on the charge that he smoked marijuana, and was investigated for the other charges.

Daniel immaturely and thoughtlessly believed that as long as he did not smoke himself, it wasn’t a big crime, and that’s what led to this incident. He’s currently deeply reflecting on his actions. He feels guilty that he acted rashly and committed such a big crime.

Daniel has not received a court sentence yet, but he does not want to make excuses for his mistakes. He wants to pay the consequences under the law, and the staff is supportive of his decision. We plan to help him mature as a member of society in the future.

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#FiftyShadesDarker: Sequel Gets R Rating For Graphic Nudity & Sexual Content

Remember when “Fifty Shades of Grey” was released last year and many complained that it wasn’t erotic enough? Well, here’s something for all you dissatisfied viewers to look forward to.

The anticipated sequel, “Fifty Shades Darker”, promises to be raunchier than the previous movie. That’s because the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) has slapped the new film with a hard R rating for “strong erotic sexual content, some graphic nudity, and language”.

Announcing that “Fifty Shades Darker” will feature sex and nudity is the least surprising news for fans who already know the storyline. If there’s anything to take note, it’s the possibility that viewers will be able to see Jamie Dornan in all his Christian Grey full frontal glory.

It’s only fair, no? Anastasia Steele shouldn’t have to shoulder the most physically revealing scenes all by herself. As Dirk Libbey points out, if this is about a relationship between 2 people, then Dornan should be as naked as Dakota Johnson. This will certainly encourage more people to watch it in cinemas.

Having said that, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if Malaysia decides to ban the “Fifty Shades” franchise again during it’s expected premiere date on 10th February 2017.

It feels like just yesterday that we were fanning ourselves over the sexy snapshots of the 2 actors filming their intimate honeymoon scenes in France.


#NowPlaying: Twitter Launches Music Service

Twitter has launched a music service that recommends tunes based on what people are tweeting about and lets people sample songs they might like:

We’re releasing Twitter #music, a new service that will change the way people find music, based on Twitter It uses Twitter activity, including Tweets and engagement, to detect and surface the most popular tracks and emerging artists It also brings artists’ music-related Twitter activity front and centre. And, of course, you can tweet songs right from the app.

So, if you’re interested in the songs that have been tweeted by the artists and people you follow on Twitter, you can navigate to #NowPlaying to view and listen to those songs.

Twitter Music applications for Internet web browsers and Apple mobile devices let people see what songs are hot and get recommendations based on their tastes.

Twitter users can get 30-second samples of songs from iTunes, Spotify, or Rdio music services, but the default provider is Apple’s online shop iTunes.


Women Of K-pop: 9 Female Artists To Listen This International Womens’ Day

As a wise woman once said, “Who run the world? Girls!” This International Womens’ Day, we celebrate being female by appreciating these wonderful women of K-pop.

Choosing specifically from soloists, this list features some of K-pop’s most talented gals if you haven’t already checked out their music yet. Ranging from dance pop to R&B to power ballads; there is nothing these ladies can’t do.

It’s impossible to have not heard of Sunmi if you are familiar with the K-pop scene. From making her debut with Wonder Girls to her brief dabbling with solo work before returning to the band scene once again; everyone has been seduced by this temptress at least once. After the disbandment of Wonder Girls, she rocketed onto the scene with her hit song, “Gashina” which took South Korea by storm. From it’s trademark gun dance move to its natural addictive nature; the song defined most of 2017 for many. Now out with her latest single, “Noir”, Sunmi tackles on the dark side of social media and the glamorisation of mental illnesses.

K-pop’s sweetheart, IU, has been a name that’s no stranger on the charts for more than a decade. However it’s in her years of experience that makes her such a veteran, with the amount of concepts and genres she’s experimented with. A particular highlight in her discography that is always worth mentioning is none other than the jazz album, “Modern Times”, which featured a big musical-esque number “The Red Shoes” as the title track. The music video is embellished with Gatsby like designs, adding to the atmosphere. With collaborations from various other artists such as G-Ain from Brown Eyed Girls and the late Jonghyun from SHINee, the album seems to have aged wonderfully with time. Recently however, IU goes for a more bubbly image (evident from her latest single, “BIBIBI”) She throws shade at the haters for spreading pointless rumours about her, in a playful yet sassy way; there’s no denying how cheeky the fox-like IU can be.

2019 sure seems like Chung Ha’s year. With a new song out in January, the soloist has finally secured her first few wins at music shows! The winner of Produce 101’s first season and ex member of girl group I.O.I., Chung Ha chose to be a soloist instead of joining a girl group like some of her ex members.

Clearly a wise decision, the fruits of her efforts are finally ripe! From slowly building hype to rising to the top, it was “Gotta Go” that caught everyone’s attention this year. From the sultry choreo to the interesting take of the lyrics, it’s a song that gets you from the start. Chung Ha may have sold us from her iconic freestyle dancing video on Produce 101, but often we forget that it’s in her equally powerful vocals that makes her such a force to be reckoned with.

A classic for any lists involving female soloists, it’s impossible to not mention the vocal powerhouse herself; Taeyeon. From singing alongside her members in Girls Generation to belting vocals all by herself, Taeyeon has always been a staple to the essentials of Kpop. With a voice that powerful, she has always sailed to the top with her various comebacks. Perhaps the most iconic one would be the refreshingly simple, “I”, that was the calming anthem of 2015. Shot in New Zealand, the music video makes us want to just drop everything we’re doing and run off, much like Taeyeon did in the video, though perhaps we wouldn’t casually have a fancy car ready to drive off from our part time job.

Often times in history, it isn’t about who does it first–but rather who did it best. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be too preposterous to call HyunA a pioneer of her time, as she paved the way with high heels and even shorter shorts. Unapologetically sexy and controversial, HyunA has always been a shocker. With her iconic rapping style and scandalous dance moves, she slowly broke free of her girl-next-door image with “Bubblepop!” to just amping the sex appeal up comeback after comeback. “Roll Deep” is arguably one that says it best; complete with back-up dancers in leather and on leashes, twerking, and not to mention the legendary bra and jeans combo.

Despite all the skin exposure, HyunA makes it very clear that this is no invitation for anything. “You can’t touch me, don’t touch me,” she sings on the track. Serving empowerment in showing skin, HyunA embodies confidence and celebrates being sexy for no one else but herself.

Winding it down to the R&B path, Heize has always been looming on the horizons of the genre. With her haunting vocals and gloomy atmosphere, she has always felt like a pixie, ghosting us with her charm. The melancholy in her tracks take you into a different time, one that most of us would try to forget. This is perhaps best said in her track, “First Sight”, which catches you off-guard from the start. The crimson shades of the music video sets a romantic mood for the unlikely love song, but it strings up all the right heartstrings.

From belting along with her members in the vocally powerful Mamamoo, Hwasa has finally gotten a solo song! Showing her charismatic and sexy appeal, “TWIT” does all of that and more. With gorgeous visuals, iconic outfits and a catchy sing-along chorus; the music video quickly shot up to the millions upon its release.

Hwasa has always wanted to dabble with sexier, raunchier outfits (evident from her MAMA performance where she wore a red, latex bodysuit) to embrace her gorgeous body. Being one of the few curvier girls in K-pop, we have all been all over her (and her amazing thighs!) from the very start.

A name that often is met with confusion (sorry ARMYs, it’s not what you think it is), Park Jimin has been a slow burning yet strong flame. The winner of K-pop Star, with a viral video of her at 15 singing Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep”, Jimin (or Jaime) is more often known for her position as Arirang’s “After School Club” ’s host. Being a woman of many talents; her sharp tongue and quick wit isn’t all that is impressive about her. Shifting to R&B from her previous pop sound, Jimin utilises her sexy crooning on the seductive “April Fools”–her latest release. With rather dark and slightly suggestive imagery in the music video, it’s evident that she is reinventing her image into the charismatic soloist she is.

The sexy starlet of ex group SISTAR, Hyolyn, has always established a name for herself with her killer vocals. However it was when she dropped “DALLY” last year that we all truly lost our minds. Possibly her most notable single as a soloist, the track was easily a summer staple. The smooth and chill nature of the song paired with a seductive choreo was what made it an absolute must watch (even more so with Hyolyn in a red bodysuit and doing a full number in knee high boots!) With her gorgeous chocolate complexion and natural confidence in rocking whatever she has on— we can’t seem to take our eyes off her.

A huge thank you for these wonder women whose hard work are evident in their legacy and will continue to be bops for years to come. For now, we can’t wait to see what more they have in store for us this year ;)

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It’s A Wrap For Whitney

On the 11th of February 2012 (just hours before a star-studded party on the eve of the music industry’s annual Grammy awards show), the news of pop legend and soul diva Whitney Houston’s tragic passing shook the world.

Since then, there has been many speculations as to how she died or what exactly killed her. Ruling out suicide and foul play, coroners set deep into the investigation of the singer’s untimely death.

An empty bottle of Xanax (a well-known prescriptive sedative drug) and a plethora of medication bottles, alcohol, and cocaine, amongst other items were found strewn around the room

And now, they can finally wrap up her case.

Today, more precise and accurate information have emerged, trumping all other rumours that have been heavily fogging up entertainment news. The coroner’s report reveals the grisly details of Whitney Houston’s death:

Go here for the final coroner’s report on her death.

May we remind you that she won six Grammys and sold over 170 million albums, singles, and videos over her booming career. However, her stardom suffered a great fall when in recent years, the singer’s accomplishments were overtaken by her struggles with drug addiction.

Sigh. Life is a short, and it is precious. It truly is. Rest in peace now, Whitney.


#NandosMalaysia: Flame-Grilled Chicken Restaurant Faces PERi C*BAI PR Disaster

An image that has been circulating on the interwebs shows a receipt (dated 17th May 2015) from a Nando’s Malaysia outlet located at IOI City Mall which had a Hokkien derogatary term printed on it.

As most of you might know, the Nando’s restaurant chain in Malaysia, especially, has always been popular for its wicked sense of humour (read: ads). But this was perhaps taking it a little too far:

Note: In case you’re wondering, a Nando’s IOI City Mall employee was calling a customer a “C*BAI” aka a female’s genitalia in Hokkien.

Needless to say, it didn’t take long for it to become a complete PR disaster as the incident blew up all over the local interwebs, with Facebook users and Nando’s fans taking to Facebook to express their sheer disgust. Some users have even asked Nando’s for an explanation over the incident, saying the company should apologise for the behaviour of its staff.

As such, Nando’s restaurant have taken to their Facebook page (under the comments section of this post) to clarify:

This incident has ruffled all our feathers at Nando’s and we do take matters like these very seriously. We have gotten in touch with the customer and that we are very grateful that she accepted our apologies. We feel really bad for such disrespectful behaviour from our crew member. We are very sorry and appreciate you taking the time to inform us. As of today, the staff in question has been officially terminated from employment. We thank all of you for your support and we apologise on behalf of our staff for any offense he may have caused anyone else.

Nobody really know how or why the unnecessarily harsh term came to be on the receipt though. Your guess is as good as ours!


#QUIVO: Celebrate #Spectre With A Secret Mission Martini Night

You’re officially invited to join the secret mission at QUIVO as they have big plans to bring you a spectacular night with James Bond 007!

One-of-a-kind eatery QUIVO adds a fun twist to the best features of the Mediterranean and incorporates them into a welcoming and contemporary urban environment.

In celebration of the highly-anticipated release of “Spectre”, the latest James Bond movie, QUIVO presents you with a taste of Bond’s world – a night of elegance, style, and unassuming sophistication.

Looking for a little action and fun? Glitz and glamour? Then QUIVO is the place to be on the 30th October! Their in-house mixologist will have a list of specially curated 007 Martinis – shaken, not stirred, of course – awaits you.

Don’t forget to bring out your inner secret agent and embrace the night’s “Dress to Kill” dress code because you might stand a chance to win 2 exclusive tickets to the pre-screening of “Spectre” on 2nd November 2015 followed by an after party at QUIVO where you can enjoy free-flowing Bollinger Champagne.

It will indeed be a Bond approved night!

“007 Comes to QUIVO” night is now open for reservations, call +60321417711 to make a booking.

QUIVO is open daily from 10am to 2am at the Connection Precinct, Level 3 of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

For more information, visit their website.

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#AirAsiaX: KL To London & Hawaii Air Route Might Open In 2017

The competition between the major airline companies in Malaysia is getting tighter as AirAsia just said that the reopening of Kuala Lumpur-London air route is very likely to happen soon.

On 26th Nov, AirAsia group co-founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes announced via Twitter that the Kuala Lumpur-London air route is “definitely on the cards”, adding that a discussion with the Mayor of London Boris Johnson will be happening next week.

The suggestion was made due to the high demand and requests to reopen the KL to London air route, a route which was forced to end in March 2012 due to high taxes in Europe.

Despite its closure, Fernandes tweeted that the air route is the “most wanted route” for AirAsia X due to the low-cost, long-haul flights to United Kingdoms.

The decision to reopen the route is linked to AirAsia’s with Air Bus, a global team designing, manufacturing, and supporting the world’s leading aircraft. It was reported that the 50 A330-900neo aircraft will be ordered in July to ensure the resumption of service on this route.

To add icing to the cake, the AirAsia CEO has also announced a flight to Hawaii is being considered as part of their growth strategy. Having taken various AirAsia X flights, Fernandes is confident that AirAsiaX is going to better than full service airlines.

He also tweeted that AirAsiaX is on its way to profitability despite some odd pricing.

Although Fernandes did not release any new information about the flight routes yet, AirAsiaX CEO Azran Osman Rani told The Rakyat Post that “a deal should be reached” by this year.

He also revealed that the long-haul flights to London won’t be happening anytime soon. The deliveries will only start from 2017 once they’ve found the right planes that would give much better fuel economy for AirAsiaX.

While we await further updates on the flight service, Fernandes tweeted that he will be giving out one free air ticket to people who tell him why they love AirAsia X.

What do you think about the reopening of the KL to London air route? Are you excited for AirAsia’s plans to open a new route to Hawaii? Share your thoughts in the comments box below!


Fly FM’s Hunny Madu Is Pregnant

Hold up, drop whatever you’re doing because today’s awesome-st piece of news just swung by. And in a not-so-quiet whisper, it said, Hani Farhana aka Hunny Madu is pregnant! Yay!

The expectact mom, who is known for her passion in music and her quirky character, wed her husband Khairul Azhar, in 2010 but it hasn’t stopped her from working super hard.

At only 28 years old, she has taken the reins for and mastered the arts of TV hosting (for Hitz.TV, 8TV Quickie, 8TV Nite Live), acting (in 8TV’s drama “5 Jingga”), singing, songwriting, as well as radio DJing. Her most recent and still is her current stint would be her Fly FM’s air waves’ dominance from 10am to 1pm on weekdays.

Do you tune in? That’s her you’re listening to!

She says that she plans to release more music this year and you know what though? Judging from the rate of her success, we don’t think this baby news is going to slow her down. Not likely.

Congratulations, Hunny! We’re extremely happy for you.

Love Hunny Madu? Follow her Twitter account for more timely updates on, well, her.

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Syed Saddiq Apologises After Johor Prince TMJ Accused Him Of Lying & Using The People For His Gain

In case you missed it, Muar Member of Parliamaent, Syed Saddiq, recently declared that he will shave his head and go bald if he manages to raise RM200,000 for 100 laptops in five days starting 26th December (Saturday).

Syed Saddiq’s post also managed to catch Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Idris’ attention. The Crown Prince of Johor contributed a generous amount of RM300k to the people of Muar. However, there seems to be some kind of a “bad blood” between the two public figures, as seen in the latter’s Instagram Stories updates.

TMJ addressed his contribution with the statement, “There’s no need to steal the rakyat’s money while you are still having an ongoing case with SPRM. There’s no need to lie, there’s no need to act and there’s no need to go bald,” seemingly throwing shade at the former Youth and Sports Minister’s effort.

He further added by urging Syed Saddiq to stop using the people of Muar for his own personal interests. “The difference between you and me is, you are only talk from the beginning. I ACT. I accomplished what you failed to do in 22 months, in 2 months,” TMJ wrote in another social media update.

In response, Syed Saddiq later uploaded a video on his Twitter account, apologising to Tunku Ismail and also thanking him for his generous donation. He also pointed out on how he, along with the rest of the people of Muar, felt indebted to him.

The young politician said, “As a normal human being, I do make mistakes occasionally. I take this opportunity to apologise, if I’ve offended your Highness and the rest of your family. As a Johor-born who was raised and schooled here, my whole family and I are extremely indebted to Tunku and family as the rulers of Johor. May Allah always bless you and your family, Tunku.”

“I thank Tunku Ismail for donating RM300,000 to the children of Muar. The people of Muar, along with me, are grateful to your Highness’ act of kindness,” Syed Saddiq added. “I believe, we must always do good and be competitive in performing good deeds. May God always bless and protect Tunku and family.”

Terima kasih Tunku Mahkota Johor atas sumbangan yang diberikan ke Muo.

Patik & orang Muo terhutang budi ke Tunku.

May Allah bless Tunku & family. pic.twitter.com/xLifgTMNf6

— Syed Saddiq (@SyedSaddiq) December 29, 2020


#ZoukKLBeatship: A Quick Chat With Paul van Dyk Aka “Godfather Of Trance”

There’s no deying that Paul van Dyk (or affectionally known by fans as PvD) is one of the most talented trance music DJ/producers in the world.

He is, after all, commonly referred to as “The Godfather of Trance” by electronic music veterans.

Born in East Berlin, Paul van Dyk has been active in the electronic dance music scene since the early 90s. Though he first achieved popularity with trance music, he now prefers to describe his current music style as electronic music.

The German trance DJ/musician/record producer was the first artiste to earn a Grammy nomination in the newly-added category of “Best Dance/Electronic album” for his 2003 album “Reflections”. He was also named the the World’s #1 DJ in both 2005 and 2006, further proving that he is a true superstar in the music scene.

Having performed at numerous sold-out shows and huge music festivals all across the globe, it’s no surprise that his career has taken him all over the world for over a decade.

Exactly a week before this year’s Halloween, global nightlife brand Zouk Kuala Lumpur and lifestyle cruise Beatship marked the first of their regional strategic partnership with a collaborative gig. The event was held at indoor arena KL Live at Jalan Sultan Ismail, featuring headlining acts Paul van Dyk, Andrew Rayel, and Aly & Fila – all of whom are current top ranking DJs. The trio was supported by one of KL’s best musicians – BATE and Chukiess & Whackboi.

Before Paul van Dyk went on stage for his set, we caught up with him real quick for a chat.

Welcome back to Malaysia! You were here last year for Future Music Festival Asia. How do you feel about coming back to Malaysia again?

Well, it’s always great. It’s a great place with a very exciting crowd. So it feels so good to be back.

The 2nd “Politics of Dancing” was released 10 years ago and you finally released “The Politics of Dancing 3” this year. Was the 3rd one a particularly difficult record to make as compared to your previous work?

No. It’s because “Politics of Dancing” was previously a brilliant mix compilation as well. Now, we’re coming out with another collaboration album and the creative process is almost similar, so it’s not a particularly difficult record to make.

So, what’s your daily working routine if you’re not touring? What do you to ensure that you don’t get bored?

Well, actually I like to read books. So, it’s something that I like to do to, you know, get my mind away from music if necessary (laughs).

You lent your talents to remixing Batman’s “Dark Knight Theme” written by Hanz Zimmer. Is the process of composing for a feature film different from composing for the music festivals?

Yeah, of course! Especially when you make stuff for films, pretty much what’s happening there is..getting inspired by what you see rather than everything else.

Speaking of movie soundtracks, are there any particular tracks in your albums that were inspired by movies? If so, what movie is that?

Okay, that’s cool. That’s all for our interview then! Thank you!

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Thanks Paul van Dyk for taking time to do this quick interview and special thanks to our friends from Zouk Club KL for making it happen :D

For more information about Paul van Dyk, visit his official website or follow him on Facebook, Twiter, and Instagram.

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#Valentines2015: How Valentine’s Day Is “Celebrated” 12 Times A Year In South Korea

To both the singles and the couples, the annual 14th Feb aka Valentine’s Day celebration holds a great significance because it’s a meaningful day. Jacked up menu prices, roses, and chocolates aside, the now “Hallmark holiday” is observed and celebrated in many countries around the world despite it not being a public holiday.

Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the “Feast of Saint Valentine”, began as a celebration of someone named Valentinus. There has been many versions of the backstory but a popular hagiographical account (of Saint Valentine of Rome) states that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.

Also, according to legend, during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. An embellishment to this story states that before his execution he wrote her a letter signed “Your Valentine” as a farewell.

Fast forward to many hundreds of years later, as we mentioned earlier, Valentine’s Day is very much a “Hallmark holiday” now, an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, sending greeting cards (known as “Valentines”), or splurging on the ever more expensive gifts just that one time a year.

Here’s the thing though; Did you know that there are several “Valentine’s Day”s in a year in the world?

For example, it has been said that in South Korea, Valentine’s Day is a bit different from everywhere else in world because it’s one of 12 “love days” celebrated on the 14th of every month in the country. These days range from the popular (White Day) or depressing (Black Day), to the bizarre (Hug Day) and everything in between. Big money is both spent and made on Valentine’s and White Day, while the other love days receive little to no commercial attention.

Since it falls in January and the beginning of the new year, it’s assumed that people would have confessions to make to their lover or their loved ons. Hence, one would usually present a gift in the form of a diary book to the other half so that he/she can document every single memorable moment together.

Of course, you all already known this one. Just like anywhere else in the world, big celebrations are held for this day. For those who want to finally confess their love, they can in the form of sentimental presents e.g. chocolates, candies, roses, jewellery, etc. Here’s the catch: In South Korea, the recipient can actually “respond” to the giver on the following 14th (read: 14th March), which is known as “White Day”.

No, “White Day” isn’t a dress code day of some sort. On this day, men are expected to reciprocate with non-chocolate candy to the woman/women who showered them with gifts on Valentine’s Day. This is also popularly known as the day of the truth because it’s when a woman or women will know whether their previous confessions was a success/accepted or not. Also the start of many relationships, of course.

After “White Day” comes “Black Day” – although it’s not really a day of mourning per se. What usually happens on this day is that the singles that didn’t receive a Valentine’s Day or White Day gift will congregate to eat “Jjajyangmyeon” (Black Noodles) with other single friends. It’s really not all that miserable, since the weather in South Korea at this time is generally fair and mild, and summer is around the corner, hence an awesome time for a get-together!

If you’re still single by this day, feel free to wear something yellow be it a shirt or a dress – whichever suits you better. Because the colour of your clothes will imply a “I’m still available” message to others around you. This is also the very same day where a gift of red roses would indicate a confession to someone whereas a gift of yellow roses is a sign of “Goodbye”. Yellow roses also signifies friendship, by the way. Take note!

Not that couples or people in love generally need a day to tell them to kiss but in South Korea, 14th June is the official “Kiss Day”. And that’s kind of self-explanatory, no? ;) Just don’t be shocked to see people going at it (by that, we mean kissing) while you’re taking a stroll down the streets in say Hongdae or Myeongdong. It’s absolutely normal!

If South Koreans ever needed a day to “pressure” their other halves into meeting their parents, this day would be it. Also known as the “Silver Day”, 14th July is known as a day in which you need to meet the parents. Sure, it sounds scary – but it’s also an excuse for you to bring your other half to meet your parents. So really, no one has it easier than the other.

True to its every word, “Green Day” is a day for couples to go out and be one (or rather, two) with nature. It’s a big plus for couples who already love outdoorsy activities such as hiking, swimming, running, so on and so forth. If your other half isn’t naturally inclined to doing things outdoors, then this would be a good opportunity to introduce some activities to him/her. Hey, it could be interesting ;)

If you managed to hit your “outdoor activities with other half” goal the previous month, then it’s time to move on to better things such as social activities! On “Music & Photo Day”, you can formally introduce your boyfriend/girlfriend to your friends, colleagues, so on and so forth. Keep it casual so that interaction won’t be awkward, but also plan fun stuff to do such as dancing, a photoshoot, maybe a karaoke sessions, you get the drift.

Well, this one’s quite a no-brainer but yes, 14th October is a good opportunity for you to enjoy a great candlelit dinner complete with a delicious main course of your choice (steak, medium rare?), wine, and classical music. Ah, romance is in the air!

Not that it should dictate the only time in a year when you’re allowed to catch a flick but the “Orange & Movie Day” encourages couples to hurry on up and get to the nearest cinema. They’d also need to make a stop at the concession stand to purchase some orange juice because supposedly, it’s a reminder of “sweet and sour moments of you two”. Whatever that means! Cute, nonetheless.

No explanations needed. Just don’t walk around offering hugs to random people!

In the Chinese culture, there are two Valentine’s Days in a year. One is called the Chinese Valentine’s Day aka Qixi (七夕) Festival and another is known as “Chap Goh Mei”.

The Chinese Valentine’s Day aka Qixi (七夕) Festival

Also known as “The Night of Sevens”, it’s celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar and commemorates a day on which a legendary cowherder and weaving maid are allowed to be together. According to the legend, the cowherd star and the weaver maid star are normally separated by the Milky Way (silvery river) but are allowed to meet by crossing it on this day.

The other Chinese Valentine’s Day aka Chap Goh Mei

On the 15th day of Chinese New Year, singles gather around bodies of water to celebrate a day called, “Chap Goh Mei”. Those who are wishing for some romance in their lives will participate in the ritual of throwing Mandarin oranges containing their personal details (written on it) into rivers or lakes, in hopes of finding their match.

So, if you’re game to celebrate them all, we say go for it. All in the name of love and some fun, no? ;)

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the upcoming Valentine’s Day, we’ve picked some of our all-time favourite romantic South Korean films to stay in and get cosy with. Sounds like a good plan to you too? Check ’em out here.

Sources: Asia Society, Valentine’s Day Wikipedia, HubPages / Featured image from here.

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SuperPark Malaysia Is Offering Super4 Promotion Till 9th August!

To quote SuperPark Malaysia, every hero needs a crew. That’s why the all-in-one indoor activity park is encouraging you and you super friends to sweat it out through fun and fitness.

In conjunction with World Friendship Day (which falls on 30th July), SuperPark Malaysia is offering visitors a Super4 Promo deal – a purchase of 4 tickets for only RM150. And the offer will only last till 9th August.

In case you didn’t know, SuperPark Malaysia features 3 main areas –Adventure
Area, Game Arena and Freestyle Hall – with more than 25 exciting activities. From obstacle walls, trampolines, zip wires, slides, to play towers, pedal car racing track, and more, this park caters to both young children and adults alike.

It’s a suitable venue to channel your competitive spirit with your loved ones without having to suffer the heat and unwanted harmful UV rays. Come rain or shine, SuperPark is a safe place to take part in various physical activities. It not only tests your skills but also hones how you perform in a team.

“At SuperPark, we believe in combining fun, fitness, and friendship as the core of what we do, and we want to extend this to wider Malaysians. There’s no better way to foster healthy relationships than to discover new adventures together. In the spirit of that, we are driving this campaign as more reason to encourage friends and family to spend quality time while having fun and active lifestyles,” said Andes S.H Wong, Senior Marketing Manager, SuperPark Malaysia.

If you’re keen, the Super4 Promo is valid for the following package:

Do note that this promotion is only valid via online booking. Admission ticket do not include SuperPark grip socks (compulsory for all guests), which is priced at RM5 per pair.

A post shared by SuperPark Malaysia (@superparkmy) on Apr 1, 2019 at 7:24pm PDT

We love the park, but don’t take it from us! Hear from the guests who’ve come and tried for themselves! And make sure you do so too. #SuperParkMY #SPRPRKMY #SPRPRK #SuperPark

A post shared by  SuperPark Malaysia (@superparkmy) on Feb 20, 2019 at 8:54pm PST

The details for SuperPark Malaysia are as follows:


#Jumanji: Remake Gets “Con Air” Writer; Set For Christmas 2016 Release

While the idea of remaking a cult classic sounds a little unconvincing, we wouldn’t mind it if the remake is in good hands.

Now, we have another reason to believe that the “Jumanji” remake could actually be a good film because according to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott Rosenberg is on board to pen the script.

“Jumanji” is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film that was directed by Joe Johnston and written by Greg Taylor, Jonathan Hensleigh, and Jim Strain. It is the film adaptation of the 1981 children’s book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.

In this movie, a 12-year-old kid named Alan Parrish becomes trapped in a board game while playing with his best friend Sarah Whittle in 1969. 26 years later, the now-adult Alan was unwittingly released by siblings Judy and Peter Shepherd who find the game and begin playing it. After tracking down Sarah, the quartet resolve to finish the game in order to undo all of the destruction it has caused.

The film was one of Robin Williams‘ most popular films before he passed away last year. It also starred Kirsten Dunst, David Alan Grier, Bonnie Hunt, Jonathan Hyde, and Bebe Neuwirth.

Rosenberg is the writer behind 80s hit films such as “Con Air” and “Gone in 60 Seconds”. He is attached to work on the script for the “Jumanji” remake.

Jeff Pinkner, who co-created CBS’s “Zoo” with Rosenberg, is on board to consult on the project that will be devloped by Sony Pictures. Both Pinkner and Rosenberg are also the partners of their Midnight Radio production banner.

The remake is due to be released on 25th December 2016 and we can’t wait to see it! What about you? Who do you think should join the film? Let us know in the comments box below.

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Jay Chou’s Love Life Makes Official Debut On Weibo

Mandopop superstar Jay Chou gave his fans a rare glimpse into his love life when he posted 2 photos of himself and girlfriend Hannah Quinlivan on his product brand Mr. J’s Weibo micro blog account early on Monday (17th Nov) morning. The high-profile release of the photos was unusual for Jay Chou, whose relationships have been quite low-key.

In fact, his romance with pop star Jolin Tsai was never acknowledged even after it ended in 2005, with him leaving her for television host Patty Hou.

Chou performed in Kuala Lumpur on 14th and 15th Nov. In a message which accompanied the photos, he explained his decision to post the pictures:

Yesterday, after the concert, I received a lot of well-wishes from my fans, who hoped that I will be happy. I am very moved seeing you all at my concert. Some of you even brought your children and entire family to the show, and shared your joy with me. It has been 14 years, so I think it’s my turn to share my joy with you all.

Although he has been linked to Quinlivan since 2011, they have never made a public appearance together. In June, he said he would be married before his 36th birthday in January, but did not name his bride.

The micro blog post has since attracted about 100,000 comments. The majority wished Chou and his girlfriend well, but there were also some fans who expressed sadness that their idol is now clearly off the market.

We think they look absolutely sweet together! Congrats, Jay Chou :)


#PitchPerfect2: New Trailer Features BIGBANG’s “Fantastic Baby”

“Pitch Perfect” may be known for their renditions of chart-topping songs, but its latest trailer spotlights one of the biggest K-pop hits ever.

In a new trailer for the upcoming “Pitch Perfect 2” movie, BIGBANG‘s Korean electro-pop hit “Fantastic Baby” is played through clips of Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow and the rest of the cast.

Viewers are  introduced to the single via it’s addictive English hook “Wow, fantastic baby” before its Korean verses are heard throughout the trailer.

While’s not clear to how much of “Fantastic Baby” will be used in the film, a sync in a movie like “Pitch Perfect 2” is yet another win for Korean music as it continues to grow worldwide through various channels.

Check out the new trailer for “Pitch Perfect 2” below:

“Pitch Perfect 2” will be making its way to a cinema near you on May 14th so be sure to mark your calendars.

Also, we’re leaving you today with BIGBANG’s “Fantastic Baby”. Happy weekend ya’ll!

For more information, log on to the movie’s official website and visit its Facebook page.


#KLSentral: Toddler’s Hand Severed After Getting Caught In Escalator

We can’t stress enough that escalators aren’t playgrounds, especially

In May last year, 7-year-old girl Nurul Emielda Nadia Sallehuddin fell to her death while she was playing with the escalator’s handrail belt at The Gardens Mall. Then moving handrail left lifted her, after which she lost her balance and plunged to her death. Just a couple of months ago, a 6-year-old girl fell to her death at Kenanga Wholesale City when she was playing near the escalator.

And just this morning, we got word that a toddler’s hand was severed at the wrist after it got caught in an escalator at the KL Sentral in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

First reported by Harian Metro, 15-month-old Mohd Afkar Daniel Freedy was believed to have been playing near the escalator when the incident happened about 6:30am on Monday (15th June). Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad said his parents were busy shopping and was not aware that he had wandered off towards the escalator.

The victim is believed to have taken the escalator from the second floor to the first floor when his hand got caught. His hand was severed at the wrist and the severed part fell into the gaps between the escalator. A member of the auxiliary police who was nearby rushed to Mohd Afkar Daniel’s aid before the boy was sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

The severed hand was only recovered 2 hours later, the report said.

This breaks our hearts and we truly hope that the boy will fully recover as soon as possible.

On another note, please, please always keep an eye on your children to avoid future accidents like these. It’s incredibly important to always keep them close or within view.

Sources: Malaysian Edition, The Star Online.

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Alesso Reveals Debut Album Name & Tracklist

Fresh off a killer performance at Ultra Music Festival, Swedish superstar Alesso, has finally unveiled the highly awaited details for his debut studio album. Alesso took to Snapchat Discover to preview a brief snippet of a new track, “PAYDAY”, and to let fans know that his debut album will be titled “Forever”.

In addition to announcing the name of his album, Alesso also revealed the full tracklist for the very first time. Consisting of 14 tracks, “Forever” also includes our favourites such as “Under Control” featuring Calvin Harris and Hurts, “Heroes” featuring Tove Lo and “Cool“.

“Forever” is now available for pre-order on iTunes and the tracklist of can be seen below:

We leave you today with Alesso’s full set at Ultra Music Festival 2015.

Stay updated with Alesso via these platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


#PSY: “Gangnam Style” Breaks YouTube Views Counter

We always knew that PSY‘s “Gangnam Style” was a huge hit but we certainly didn’t expect it to be of this size! The worldwide phenomenon took the term “gargantuan” to a whole new level 2 years ago when it took the world by storm, infecting people with its gallop-y dance moves. Now, it seems that the sensational viral song has broken the Internet once again when it busted YouTube’s video views counter.

According to YouTube, “Gangnam Style” has now chalked up more than 2.15 billion times, the equivalent of one-third of the world’s population, although PSY has long since retired promotions for the song.

But the problem was that YouTube designed its counter with what is known in computer science as a 32-bit integer, meaning that the maximum number of countable views was 2,147,483,647. It has been watched so many times they were forced to upgrade their system to a 64-bit integer because it effectively busted their video views counter.

That means the next video to break YouTube will have to be viewed more than 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 times aka 9 sextillion views. The company shared on their Google Plus:

Who or what is going to be cray cray enough to break the 9.22 billion views mark? We’ll see ;)


DJs’ Leaked Riders

Drama unfolds in EDM land as a couple of (perhaps your favourite) DJs and producers have had their supposedly confidential contacts and riders leaked. What are riders? Usually a list of things added to a bill or something that has already been said or agreed on. In simpler terms, requests.

Some go for pure technical things in their riders such as David Guetta. Although we had difficulties omprehending “Ibiza girls” and “lollipops” as “technical”. And where would one find a “2 meter big heart”, really?

Others request for things to eat and drink backstage, which is totally understandable. They need to feed, right? But it seems that many of these EDM performers stretch their requests (read: demands) in their lists. One such person would be Steve Aoki.

On top of his reasonable requests for towels, organic fruit, grass fed meat, non-refined sugars, non-bleached flours and such, he also tends to ask for American Apparel or H&M black v-neck T-shirts and get this..six pairs of men’s underwear.

That’s right. Underwear. And briefs please, not boxers.

Did we also mention that “soft cake, soft icing, nothing dense or bundt” is part of his riders? Tsk. Oh, and he has since posted his rebuttal on his blog. So check out what Steve had to say about his rider.

Other DJs who have, most unfortunately, had their highly confidential riders leaked are such as Calvin Harris (a bunch of bananas), Paul van Dyk (selection of fresh fruit such as apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, pineapples, mangoes), deadmau5 (1 large inflatable animal, inflated and at least 5’ tall), and Afrojack (preferably a Bugatti Veyron for mode of transporation).

And the DJ with the least amount of “requests” (also the least ridiculous ones), is none other than:

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#Twins: Cantopop Duo To Hold #LOL Concert In Genting This June

Cantopop fans, we’ve got some good news for you :)

After 5 years, popular Hong Kong pop duo Twins will be holding their #LOL concert in Genting Highlands on 3rd June 2017 (Saturday).

The group, which consists of members Charlene Choi (蔡卓妍) aka Ah Sa and Gillian Chung (鍾欣潼) aka Ah Kiu, made their debut in August 2001 with their first EP, titled “Twins (AVEP)”. Their early music typically targeted young teens. After that, they ventured into different music genres in 2004, earning them a wider fan base.

With numerous music awards under their belt, Twins has released 12 Canto-pop albums, 4 Mandarin albums, as well as an array of EPs, compilations, and live recordings. Their chart-topping hits (including “A Boy in a Girls’ School”, “Love Is Bigger than the Sky”, and “Samba Queen”) played a major role among Hong Kong youth in the early 2000s.

They also starred in several Hong Kong feature films such as “The Twins Effect”, “The Twins Effect II”, “Love on the Rocks”, “House of Fury”, “Twins Mission”, and more.

Details for Twins’ #LOL Live In Genting are as follows:

Note: All prices include RM4.00 processing fee and GST.

For more info, hit up Resort World Genting’s website.

Sources: TicketCharge, The Hive, Resort World Genting.


#FantasticBeasts: Eddie Redmayne Officially Joins “Harry Potter” Spin-Off

Fans can celebrate at full force now because Warner Bros. Pictures has officially confirmed that Eddie Redmayne is involved in the “Harry Potter” spin-off film, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them“. He will be playing Newt Scamander, the main protagonist of the film.

The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production of Warner. Bros Pictures, on late Monday (1st June).

Eddie Redmayne has emerged as one of today’s most extraordinarily talented and acclaimed actors. We are thrilled to welcome him into J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world, where we know he will deliver a remarkable performance as Newt Scamander, the central character in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”.

Director David Yates also spoke for Rowling and himself as he expressed support for the decision:

Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity. I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling’s wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way.

It was previously reported that Nicholas Hoult was also eyed to star in the spin-off as the leading man, but Redmayne emerged as the studio’s top favourite instead. In the latest development, Warner Bros. stated that they chose Redmayne as he is one of the most celebrated actors in recent times.

Scamander is a fictional magizoologist, who travels around the globe in a mission to document the natural behaviour and habitat of all magical creatures. In the “Harry Potter” universe, he is credited as the author of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, a textbook used by 1st years of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Rowling, writer and creator of the “Harry Potter” series and its spin-offs, will be penning the script of the movie, which will also serve as her screenwriting debut. This project will also see her as producer. Nothing much has been revealed of the script, but Warner Bros. did claim that the movie centred on Scamander will “further explore the unique wizarding world she has crafted in print and bring it to life on screen”.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will see a few familiar faces returning in the production side. David Heyman, Steve Kloves, and Rowling will be producing, with Lionel Wigram executive producing. Heyman was the producer for all of the films in the series while Kloves penned all of the “Harry Potter” films, except for “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”. Yates and Wigram worked together in the final 4 instalments of the movie franchise, with the former directing and the latter executive producing.

Redmayne is an award-winning actor who has played a myriad of characters throughout his career. His 2014 outing as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” won him the approval of several acting associations, including the Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He is also an experienced theatre performer, having made his debut in “Oliver!” when he was 11 years old.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is slated for worldwide release on 18th November 2016. It will be available in 3D and IMAX.

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Ed Sheeran Is The World’s Most Streamed Artist Of 2014

Spotify’s year in music reveals the tracks and artists that rocked 2014.

With less than four weeks left in 2014, Spotify has unveiled the list of tracks and artists that took the past year by storm. English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran who will be making his way to Malaysia next March, holds the title of 2014’s most streamed artist and most streamed album for “x”, his second studio album.

The “Give Me Love” singer is crowned the most streamed artist of 2014 as his tracks were listened to more than 860 million times across the globe this year on Spotify. His second studio album, “x” which was released in June was streamed over 430 million times by fans and listeners alike.

In Malaysia, British rock band Coldplay was the most streamed artist of 2014, narrowly beating out Sheeran who takes the second spot. However, Sheeran takes the top spot for the most streamed album with “x” while Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter Jay Chou tops the streaming charts as the most streamed Asian artist. The track with the highest number of streams among Malaysian music fans is ‘Rude’ by Magic!

This past year also saw Katy Perry take the crown from Rihanna, who held the title of the most streamed female artist on Spotify consecutively for the past two years. Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” spent 11 weeks at #1 on Spotify’s US Top 50 chart, the longest run at the top of the chart in 2014. Mr. Happy, Pharrell Williams, united fans around the world with his highly contagious and super joyful track, “Happy” which was the most streamed track in the world in 2014 on spotify with over 260 million plays.

“2014 has been a fantastic year for music fans with a vibrant mix of Asian and global artists topping the end-of-year Spotify charts,” said Sunita Kaur, Managing Director (Asia), Spotify. “Spotify’s Year in Music is a great way for music fans to look back on their favourite tunes of the year and discover new tracks and playlists.”

Steve Savoca, Head of Content, Spotify added: “This has been a phenomenal year for a rich variety of amazing artists on Spotify. Over fifty million dedicated music fans listened to more than 7 billion listening hours in 2014 alone. We’re extremely proud that Spotify allows music fans to discover, enjoy and share a world of new music, while helping artists reach new audiences.”

He added “Huge congratulations to Ed Sheeran on achieving most-streamed album on Spotify for the wildly successful x, and also for earning the overall most streamed artist of 2014 thanks to his dedicated fans on Spotify.”

Ed Sheeran said: ‘“It’s a great thing to be above so many amazing artists who I’d assume would be streamed more than me!”

This Christmas, music fans not yet on Spotify can now take advantage of Spotify’s Christmas promotion and get 3 months of Spotify Premium for just MYR 14.90 for ad free music. Go to Spotify for more details.


Everything You Need to Know About “WandaVision”, Marvel’s Upcoming Psychedelia Extravaganza

When Marvel Studios first announced that they were developing shows for Disney+ back in 2019, it came as a pleasant surprise. After a bunch of movies which saw The Vision and Scarlet Witch take on the roles of a supporting member of the cast, it was finally time to give the uncanny couple the spotlight.

Marvel has celebrated success on television before with Netflix’s “Daredevil” and “Punisher” along with ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “Agent Carter”. Nevertheless, a prominent criticism of these shows came from the fans themselves who wanted to see these characters interact with the larger MCU.

“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Agent Carter” did utilise characters like Sif and The Howling Commandos in certain episodes but this was not reciprocated in the movies. One exception would be “Avengers: Endgame” which brought James D’Arcy’s Edwin Jarvis to the silver screen for the first time. The supposed MCU outings remained coy about such appearances in later seasons due to the two movie and TV divisions not being in sync. The tagline “It’s All Connected” was a contrived notion that practically meant nothing in recent years.

Needless to say, there was a real hunger to witness the TV and movie realms bounce off each other, creating a synergy with the movies like never before. As Marvel Studios themselves are in charge of creating these Disney+ events, they will likely embed the formula that has served them well over the last decade.

If you’re lost as to what “WandaVision” is about based on the trailer, fret not. Here, we have the tantalising details and a pinch of theories to prime you up for the first entry in the next phase of the MCU. Let’s dive in!

Originally meant to be the second MCU series after “Falcon and The Winter Soldier”, “WandaVision” seemingly leapfrogged its way ahead as production on the series had concluded. The series will now be premiering on 15th January 2021. While it’s a bummer that we’ll not be getting WandaVision this year (dang, what a missed opportunity to have perfect eyesight), a mid-January date isn’t too far off.

The announcement of “WandaVision’s” release officially establishes 2020 as a most dismal year, marking the first time since 2010 that the MCU has not made any new releases. “Black Widow” and “Eternals” both have been pushed to 2021 and “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” has yet to announce a date.

According to Disney’s official synopsis of “WandaVision”, the new series is set to “blend the style of classic television sitcoms” with the powered world of the MCU. “WandaVision” will indeed pay homage to the various eras of television, from the black and white days of “I Love Lucy” up till 90s sitcoms like “Full House”. What a way to get the ball rolling here with a television series about television.

The entire pilot takes pages out of a midcentury sitcom, with the use of a grayscale palette and period lenses to capture the perfect vintage quality. A live studio audience was present throughout the episode to provide the signature ‘hahas’, ‘boos’, and ‘awws’ indicative of a sitcom. To cater to the monochrome effect, Paul Bettany was also painted in blue instead of the usual maroon to provide a better contrast to his appearance.

It also seems that Marvel may be having a little meta fun here as Elizabeth is the younger sibling of Mary-Kate and Ashley, who were the stars of “Full House”. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Olsen described her time on “WandaVision” as a full-circle experience, reminiscing those sets where her siblings were filming as kids.

Returning in their roles as Wanda Maximoff and Vision are Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany respectively. Having made their debut in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, the duo have experienced a whole lot together, from emotional rifts to fractured ideals, right up to a full-fledged romantic relationship. From the trailers, it appears that Wanda and the Vision have finally found their happy ending as they have tied the knot and are living under one roof in the suburbs. However, all may not be as it seems.

As we know, The Vision was one of the casualties of Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones, dying not once, but twice within a matter of minutes. With the mind stone plucked out from his forehead like a grape, Vision’s lifeless body was last seen in monochrome fashion, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes surrounding his shell as they contemplated their loss. However, the sentient android appears to be alive and well from the trailers. So, how exactly was he brought back to life?

When we last saw Wanda at the climactic battle of “Avengers: Endgame”, she had just ‘blipped’ back into existence. Filled with immeasurable rage, she attacked the Mad Titan with all her telekinetic might. Nevertheless, though Thanos and his army were eventually defeated, one fact remained: The Vision was still dead.

A possibility here is that Wanda has created a new reality with the love of her life entirely out of her own will. While she has not displayed this ability prior, Olsen has previously quoted that viewers will see Wanda evolve into the Scarlet Witch that we know and love from the comics.

If Wanda were to embrace the full set of skills displayed by her comic counterpart, she could definitely rise to become the most powerful being in the universe. Her signature ability to manipulate Chaos Magic has not yet been explored. This skill would grant her an edge as she would be able to destabilize probabilities and alter physical structures on command.

Comic-accurate outfits will also be featured in the series, though they will most likely be used as a plot device with the spooky greetings of Halloween. The Scarlet Witch’s trademark cape and headpiece will be worn at some point by Wanda. Vision also dons a costume which seems to be taken right out from his very first appearance in The Avengers #57.

Kat Dennings, who may be familiar to some from her role as Max Black in the CBS series, “Two Broke Girls”, will be reprising her role as Darcy Lewis, the bumbling intern from the “Thor” series. The character was last seen in 2013’s “Thor: The Dark World” preventing a potentially realm-shattering event alongside the god of thunder. Whether or not she still is under Jane Foster’s wing remains a question to be answered as it has been a decade (according to the MCU timeline) since her intern days. Maybe she’s inspired to become a top-secret agent? – more on that later.

“Fresh Off The Boat’s” Randall Park also makes a comeback as FBI agent/youth pastor, Jimmy Woo, who was last seen in 2018’s “Ant-Man and The Wasp”. This time he won’t be dealing with size-shifting mechanisms but rather an entirely new reality. As such, it would be interesting to see what he thinks of this new card trick.

Teyonah Parris will be playing Monica Rambeau who is an agent of S.W.O.R.D. While the actress is new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the same cannot be said about the character. Monica was actually introduced in 2018’s “Captain Marvel” albeit as a child played by Akira Akbar. Seeing that the character was only a kid in that movie, Monica of the present day would definitely have grown in stature. It is worthy to note that Monica is a superhero in the comics as well, taking on several names such as Photon, Spectrum, and even the title of Captain Marvel.

Newcomer Kathryn Hahn is the real enigma. Credited as Agnes the nosy neighbour, Hahn seems to appear a lot in the trailer, visiting Wanda and Vision in their cosy home and asking the duo questions that they do not know the answer too. So, who exactly is this mysterious lady?

Clues suggest Hahn is or could be playing a version of Agatha Harkness (Ag-nes, geddit?), who in the comics is one of the witches who escaped the Salem Witch trials. Initially appearing in some issue of the Fantastic Four series, she later became a significant player within the 616 Universe. At one point, she mentored Wanda, tutoring her in the ways of magic and witchcraft. Most of Wanda’s greatest decisions have involved Harkness in some form. From harnessing her powers to her offspring, right up to the Scarlet Witch’s eventual madness, Harkness was always there.

It is worthy to note that Hahn can be seen donning a black outfit at one point in the trailer along with a silver hairdo and pointy hat. If that doesn’t spell out ‘W-I-T-C-H’, we can concede with the fact that we’re just mindless muggles trapped within an iridescent bubble of existence.

S.H.I.E.L.D. may have fallen in the aftermath of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, but it seems that another secret organisation may have risen to the occasion. S.W.O.R.D., the famous cosmic equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is set to make its debut in “WandaVision”.

Christened the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, the concept was created by Joss Whedon and first emerged in Astonishing X-Men Vol. 3. The organisation was originally an offshoot of S.H.I.E.L.D but grew astray of its roots due to tension between the two agencies. Led by Commander Abigail Brand, S.W.O.R.D. specializes in dealing with extraterrestrial threats to the Earth, which is basically what their parent company does…

EXCEPT S.W.O.R.D. has a giant space station shaped like a blade orbiting the Earth’s atmosphere named Peak VII. Beat that, puny Helicarrier!

Interestingly, it has taken this long for the fictional organisation to make a live-action appearance due to the rights for a couple of notable S.W.O.R.D. operatives being owned by 20th Century Fox. Nevertheless, with Marvel regaining the rights to such characters, the studio has wasted no time in making sure S.W.O.R.D.’s first encounter with the MCU shatters their reality.

In the trailers, there are several interesting shots featuring a pregnant Wanda and another one showing the couple with two younglings of their own. Before you go insane, attempting to make out the biological requisites of making this work, think again. This IS a fictional universe filled with magic, science, and whatever ditzy comes in between.

As a matter of fact, yes. Scarlet Witch and Vision did have children in the comics. Due to Vision being a synthetic being, the Scarlet Witch begets her offspring via magical means. The two children were given the names Thomas and William. However, unbeknownst to the couple, Thomas and William were actually fragments of the demon Mephisto’s soul!

To cut the story short, Mephisto laid his claim on the boys, causing them to disappear from the loving arms of Wanda. This eventually leads to Wanda becoming insane and creating an entirely new reality where everyone is granted their deepest desire. Cue the House of M storyline.

Thomas and William do get reincarnated as Tommy Shepherd aka Speed and Billy Kaplan aka Wiccan many titles later. Both of them possess powers of their own. As their names suggest, Speed has similar abilities to his uncle, Pietro. On the other hand, Wiccan has magical powers just like his mother.

If anything, the introduction of Speed and Wiccan would be an excellent setup for a Young Avengers feature. Given the opportunity, Cassie Lang and Monica Rambeau could very well adopt hero monikers in the near future. A group of young teenagers taking on the greatest threats the world has ever seen? Count us in!

“WandaVision” has been confirmed to tie in with Sam Raimi’s “Doctor Strange” sequel. As we know, the Doctor Strange follow up is titled “The Multiverse of Madness”. Indeed, we believe Wanda’s dabbling with the multiverse will lead to her eventual derangement (hence the title) during which Benedict Cumberbatch’s good doctor will swoop in to assist.

“The Multiverse of Madness” is still a long way ahead of us and it will be a while before we get the scoop on who is appearing in the film and who is not. Nonetheless, the prospects of Scarlet Witch’s arc in the MCU will draw limitless potential. Could she be a villain moving forward? Could Wanda splinter the entire MCU as we know it? All these answers will come when “WandaVision” premieres next year on Disney+.

Are you excited for “WandaVision”? Do you have any other theories about how this may tie into the larger MCU? Lay them all out in the comments!

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