Will Dumbledore’s Sexuality Be Addressed In Fantastic Beasts 2?

Many fans are expecting “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” to explore Dumbledore’s romantic feelings towards his childhood friend, the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. After all, it has been a long time coming ever since JK Rowling outed Harry Potter’s mentor years ago.

In speaking with Entertainment Weekly, director David Yates revealed that the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald won’t be explicitly addressed in the sequel. “I think all the fans are aware of that. He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other’s ideas, and ideology and each other,” he said.

Instead the storyline will focus on Grindelwald’s criminal nature more than anything else. Is the filmmaker avoiding any referencing to homosexual romance onscreen just to avoid controversy? In doing so, many fans from the “Harry Potter” franchise have been outraged.

After experiencing a series of backlash from disappointed Potterheads, Rowling took to Twitter to address the controversial statement made by Yates. “Being sent abuse about an interview that didn’t involve me, about a screenplay I wrote but which none of the angry people have read, which is part of a five-movie series that’s only one (instalment) in, is obviously tons of fun…” the 52-year-old author tweeted.

Her words seems to hint that although “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” won’t delve into Dumbledore’s sexuality, there are still 3 more following movies in the 5-part saga. That’s understandable if the goal is to see Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship progress over subsequent films.

.@claraoswiin But of course. pic.twitter.com/Galu47MT4X

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 16, 2014

Back in 2014, Rowling responded to a fan with this meme saying, “If Harry Potter taught us anything, it’s that no one should live in a closet.”

Sources: Coming Soon, Screen Rant, Polygon.


Get In Conrol With Logitech For Windows 8

Logitech (SIX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) launched a new lineup of products designed for easy and intuitive navigation of Windows 8 in the Malaysian market. New in the market are the:

All of which are specifically designed to work with the Windows 8 touch interface.

The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400r recharges through USB and has up to two years of battery life on a full charge. The On/Off switch also helps you save power when not in use. The Logitech Touch Mouse T620 has a six-month battery life, and the Logitech Zone Touch Mouse T400 has an 18-month battery life.

Similar to the keyboard, the Logitech Zone Touch Mouse T400 also features an On/Off switch and a low battery indicator light. The battery life for each product is based on varying user and computing conditions.

This new family of products takes the traditional mouse functionality you’re used to and optimizes it for the navigation experience offered by Windows 8. The new mice and keyboard replicate the touch-screen experience that you’ve grown accustomed to on smartphones and tablets. With Windows 8 now offering a similar touch experience, the products will give you quick, easy and dynamic access to the core elements of the new interface.

The Logitech Touch Mouse T620, Logitech Zone Touch Mouse T400, and the Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400r are expected to be available in the Malaysia beginning November 2012. For more information please visit their website.

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#ULTRASingapore: Singapore’s Inaugural Ultra Music Festival Drops Lit AF Lineup

Having more than proved its worth with the initial Road To Ultra event in 2015, the world’s premier, award-winning and most successful independent music festival brand is expanding its presence in Singapore in September 2016, to a full scale 2-day festival experience.

ULTRA Singapore is proud to announce their Phase 1 Lineup for this year’s 2-day 3-stage music festival. Over 50,000 festival goers will see world renowned names like Afrojack, deadmau5, Kygo, Axwell /\ Ingrosso, DJ Snake, Nero Live who are supported by acts like Far East Movement, Jauz and Marshmello.

Canadian luminary deadmau5, who is currently mid way through his ULTRA Worldwide 2016 global tour, will have completed a colossal 5 ULTRA dates this year after his appearance in Singapore. The mau5 sent fans into a frenzy in March this year, throwing down a staggering 3 unique sets at Ultra Music Festival in Miami.

Kygo – the crowned king of a billion Spotify streams – will make his debut at ULTRA Singapore on his very own birthday weekend, bringing his unique and versatile style to the main stage.

Scandinavian stalwarts Axwell^Ingrosso will fly the flag for Sweden, British 3-piece live electronic band NERO will rep the UK, while everyone’s favorite producer DJ Snake does the same for France. Ticketholders can expect nothing but colossal performances from these mainstage masterminds, as the combination of top-notch talent with ULTRA’s unmatched festival production will render fans breathless.

Completing the Phase One lineup, the mysterious masked producer / DJ Marshmello, Bass House pioneer, JAUZ, and Hip Hop-EDM Collective Far East Movement. This array of top-notch talent will be performing at the stunning new ULTRA Park venue across the weekend, set on Singapore’s very own “Bayfront Avenue”.

With Early Bird tickets for RTU Singapore selling out in just 21 minutes back in 2015, tickets for Ultra 2016 have been selling fast as fans are quick to guarantee their spot this September.

For more information, hit up ULTRA Singapore’s website or Facebook page.


#PENTAGON: Cube’s Rookie Group To Make Their Way To Singapore In February

It hasn’t been 6 months since PENTAGON‘s debut, but the boys have been fairly active in the music scene – having participated in a reality survival show and releasing 2 mini albums.

And now, the boy group is ready to meet their overseas fans in their upcoming showcase in Singapore. Simply titled “PENTAGON FIRST SHOWCASE IN SINGAPORE 2017”, the members will arrive in the country this coming February.

PENTAGON is Cube Entertainment’s latest rookie group, made up of Yeo One, Kino, Wooseok, E’Dawn, Yan An, Shinwon, former JYP Entertainment trainee Yuto, former YG Entertainment trainee Hongseok, former SM Entertainment trainee and SM The Ballad member Hong Jinho, as well as leader Hui.

Prior to their debut, the boy group got their name out there via “Pentagon Maker”, a reality show to determine the final lineup of the group. The members had to show their various talents and appeal themselves to the public in order to complete their pentagram. Yan An, Shinwon, and E’Dawn failed to do so, but after much consideration, Cube Entertainment decided to debut all the members.

They first made their presence in the music industry known with the release of their first self-titled mini-album in October, which contained the title track “Gorilla”. Less than 2 months later, they made a comeback with “Can You Feel It”, which was included in the album “Five Senses”.

Organised by IME Singapore, event deets are as follows:

Tickets will be launched on 14th January (Saturday) from 10am onwards via Sistic’s website.

For more info, visit IME Singapore’s official website and Facebook page.

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#LEP: 7 LRT Stations To Go Live 31st March 2016; 14 News Trains For Kelana Jaya Line

With the LRT Line Extension Project (LEP) comes not only travel alternatives but new trains as well! 14 new train sets, to be exact.

According to a The Star Online report, the 14 new train sets will run on the Kelana Jaya LRT Line when its extension goes live in June 2016.

Assembled in Canada, the first of the blue-coloured Innovia 4-car sets were shipped to Malaysia on 18th October from train maker Bombardier Hartasuma Consortium.

“We now await its arrival next week,” Prasarana’s Integrated Management and Engineering Services section chief executive Khairani Mohamed said in a statement today (Thursday, 26th November). It added that the trains would have “dynamic route maps” and “plugged-in doors” for improved noise levels and cooler surroundings.

Khairani added that upon arrival, the train would be sent to Bombardier’s plant in West Port for interior works and testing. After that, it will be taken to Prasarana’s Kelana Jaya Line Subang depot for more testing.

The other 13 sets will be sent for routine testing, with the second set to come here in early December. The rest will come here in stages over 2016.

The Kelana Jaya extension will see another 12 stations stretching from the Kelana Jaya stop up to Putra Heights, which will link with the Ampang Line extension.

The first phase of the Ampang Line extension went live on 31st October, with 4 new stations opened to the public. Another 7 will be opened on 31st March.

All stations will be equipped with various facilities for customer’s convenience such as lifts, escalators, public telephones, suraus and public toilets. The stations will also be equipped with Universal Access facilities such as ramps, tactile tiles, low ticket counters and toilets for people with disabilities.

For more information, visit MyRapid’s official website or call MyRapid’s helpline at 03-78852585.


Lenny Kravitz Cancels Sepang F1 Post-Race Performance

Lenny Kravitz who was set to perform at the post-race concert for the 2015 Formula Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix on March 29th (Sunday) has cancelled his show. According to the “Are You Gonna Go My Way” rocker’s statement, the cancellation is due to unforeseen scheduling issues.

“Unfortunately, due to contractual scheduling conflicts beyond my control I will not be able to come to Kuala Lumpur to perform. I have been looking forward to coming to play for my fans and I’m deeply sorry that my concert had to be cancelled. My ability to come play for you all is a huge concern to me and I’m looking forward to rescheduling so I can perform for you as soon as possible,” said Kravitz.

Fortunately, the show must go on so ticket holders can be rest assured that the post-race concert happening from 6.30pm to 11.30pm at Helipad in Sepang International Circuit will go on as scheduled.

“We understand the disappointment of Lenny Kravitz’s fans, and we have taken steps to ensure that a rocking good time will still be enjoyed at the concert by securing another artiste as the new headline act, to complement our line-up of local performers. We will be announcing the new headline act soon, so do look out for news from us,” said Dato’ RazlanRazali, CEO of Sepang International Circuit.

Tickets purchased for the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix permits ticket holders entry to the post-race concert as well as the F1 Carnival and other selected activities at no extra cost. Ticket holders will also be rewarded with One Ticket Unlimited benefits which includes discounts and promotions from various retail outlets and brands in Kuala Lumpur.

Fans who would like to inquire about their ticket status can call the Sic Ticket Hotline at 03-8778 2222 or log on to the website.

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Westlife To Kick Off Asia Tour 2019; Announces Singapore Pitstop

This is literally music to our ears. Is Westlife is kicking off their Asia tour sooner than expected?

This morning (Thursday, 24th January), the UK group officially announced on their Facebook page that they are coming to Asia, more specifically Southeast Asia. The first country on their itinerary – Singapore.

A post shared by Westlife (@westlife) on May 23, 2019 at 8:58am PDT

If you’ve been listening to Westlife songs since childhood, you best get ready cause Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne will be visiting Singapore in less than a week!

The announcement image doesn’t exactly indicate which day Westlife will be performing for fans but it suggests that the British performers will be in the country for 4 days – between 29th January (next Tuesday) till 1st February (Friday).

It’s been confirmed that Westlife will be holding an exclusive Q&A session with fans on 31st January (Thursday) at 6pm. Universal Music Singapore has not disclose the exact location but fans can try their luck in winning passes here.

We suspect that the quartet could be announcing their Singapore concert date during the fan meeting.

Stay tuned to this space for more updates.


Hype’s Weekender: #RIPRiSe + #ScarJo’s First Child + #DavidBlaine + MORE

September has only just begun but judging by the waves of both shocking and exciting news, there might be more that are ready to just come at us by the end of the month.

Nonetheless, the past few months have been incredibly wonderful and we couldn’t be any happier!

Just recently, we had the chance to interview the lads from British rock band, You Me at Six who came to Malaysia for their concert and the world’s most enigmatic magician, David Blaine who was in town as part of his “Real or Magic” tour. However, Malaysia’s entertainment central is not limited to just Kuala Lumpur alone as we also travelled all the way to Sarawak to rave at Mysterious World and to Johor to check out the limited-time only LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland model display at LEGOLAND Malaysia!

Now, aren’t those pretty awesome ways to start our last quarter of the year?

However, we must say, we’ve also been whipped around in one hell of an emotional roller coaster ride as September kicked off with the tragic death of EunB from Ladies Code.

As if this wasn’t enough to break our heart, it was reported that the comic legend Joan Rivers died at the age of 81 after suffering cardiac arrest during a medical procedure on her vocal cords. This morning, we were hit with yet another awful piece of news as Ladies Code’s RiSe passed away after her condition remained critical over the past few days.

Our hearts shattered upon hearing the tragic news but we’re sending our prayers and positive thoughts to the family and friends of the deceased members. May their souls rest in peace.

In case you missed it, here are some other groundbreaking news that have happened during the first week of September:

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(UPDATE) #SMTOWN: f(x) & Red Velvet May Make Respective Comebacks This Coming Fall

Step aside, boys. It seems like the girls from SM Entertainment will end 2015 with a bang!

According to Korean news outlet OSEN, f(x) and Red Velvet will be making their respective comebacks this coming fall after Girls’ Generation wraps up promotions for their latest album titled, “Party” .

A slew of SM artistes have been scheduled to make comebacks and solo debuts since the beginning of 2015. SM Entertainment began by having SHINee‘s Jonghyun and f(x)’s Amber make their respective solo debuts, followed by the triumphant return of Red Velvet, EXO, BoA, SHINee, Girls’ Generation, TVXQ, and Super Junior. The Korean entertainment powerhouse then scheduled to have EXO and SHINee returning for a 2nd time to promote their repackaged albums titled “Love Me Right” and “Married to the Music” respectively.

After unveiling the hit summer single “Party”, Girls’ Generation will make another comeback around mid-August to promote “Lion Heart” and “You Think” from their full studio album by the end of this summer.

Red Velvet is said to have begun filming the music video for their new single as several reports revealed that Changmin of TVXQ showed his support by sending a churros truck to the music video set. Their comeback date hasn’t been confirmed but it seems like they will make their comeback before f(x).

Meanwhile, f(x) will now promote themselves as a 4-member group as Sulli has recently decided to pull out of the group. The remaining members will continue to juggle group and individual activites as they always have while Sulli will focus on her acting career. They are expected to make their comeback sometime before the year ends.

It’s safe to say that their upcoming comebacks are highly anticipated by fans as f(x) members have been busy focusing on their individual activities while Red Velvet has been staying under limelight since their “Ice Cream Cake” promotions ended.

It was confirmed that both f(x) and Red Velvet will make their respective comebacks in September.

According to Soompi, Red Velvet will make their comeback before f(x) in early September. f(x) is said to be in the final stages of recording their 4th full album and they are expected to make their comeback at the end of September of in early October. It will be their first comeback as a 4-member group as Sulli is no longer part of the group.

Further details are being kept under wraps, but for more information, visit SM Entertainment’s Facebook page.


Anwar Tells Dr M To “Just Die”

On Wednesday, former DPM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was called to speak at a “ceramah” in Kampung Abdullah. When we say, “speak”, we’re merely putting it lightly.

Apparently, he called on former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to “just die” instad of campaigning for Barisan Nasional. In his exact words, “Sudah mau mati, dah 83 tahun. Berapa la lama lagi? Kalau dah nak mati, mati saja lah!”, which translates into:

It’s almost time for him to die, at 83 years old. How long more? If you’re going to die, just die.

(By the way, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is actually 87 years old.)

Of course, this could’ve stemmed from the dark times from when he was DPM. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked following allegations of abuse of power and sexual misconduct.

Dr Mahathir, when asked to comment on Anwar’s remarks, said he was merely exercising his rights of freedom of speech:

The opposition leaders have yet to form the government, but they have asked the people to shut up. People had used vulgar words against me when I was the prime minister. Some of them had even labelled me as firaun (pharaoh), a racist and an ultra-Malay but I never asked the authorities to arrest them.

So now, why are they trying to deny my right to speak up?

Fair point, no? And the general election campaigning continues to brew.

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Asia’s First HeliPad Cinema Returns With Classic Christmas Movies

If you’ve enjoyed watching movies under the stars, HeliPad Cinema is returning to Stratosphere this festive season with some classic Christmas movies.

Famous for its 360-degree panoramic view of the city, many have called it the ultimate movie experience. This outdoor cinema experience will run for 3 days, between 15th to 17th December 2017, where 1 film will be screened per day.

As aforementioned, although there’s no specific dress code required, you’re advised to wear something to keep you warm as the weather can get a little chilly after sunset. You are, after all, on The Roof. But don’t worry if you forget, because HeliPad Cinema will be providing blankets to cover yourself.

The 3 classic Christmas films available are:

The details to HeliPad Cinema’s Christmas movie screenings are as follows:

For more information or to book tickets, head on over to HeliPad Cinema’s official website here.


#Zootopia: Disney Unveils Special Series Of Southeast Asia Exclusive Art

Disney’s “Zootopia“, the upcoming comedy-adventure movie release from Walt Disney Animation Studios, features a team of filmmakers from all over the world.

From Southeast Asia, there are 5 hometown heroes, specifically from Singapore and Thailand, each of them with different roles in the production of the movie. From lighting artists to modeler, these hometown heroes are based in Burbank, California, working alongside the directors of Disney’s Zootopia, Byron Howard and Rich Moore.

“The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together – a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.”

The film stars the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Octavia Spencer, Kristen Bell, Tommy Chong, Jenny Slate, Don Lake, and more.

To celebrate the global release of Disney’s Zootopia, a special series of Southeast Asia exclusive art has been drawn by Fawn Veerasunthorn, a Thai story artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios. For Disney’s Zootopia, Veerasunthorn was responsible for visualising the script into panels of drawings.

This special series of Southeast Asia exclusive art features drawings of the movie’s characters, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, with local iconic landmarks in Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.

“Zootopia” is set to be released in a cinema near you on 25th February 2016.

For more information, visit the movie’s microsite or Facebook page.


AirAsia’s Latest Big Sale Promo To Launch On 20th September

Do you have any plan to travel overseas during the first half of 2020? Then pay close attention cause AirAsia new promo is something not to be missed out.

A weeks ago, we reported that the flight courier is set to launch their free seats promo again in September. Word on the street has it that it’s happening this Friday, 20th September!

During AirAsia’s big sale promotion, ticket prices tend to start from RM13 (for airport taxes and miscellaneous fee). If you haven’t signed up as a AirAsia Big Member, please do so. Not only will you get first dip on choosing flight seats, there are also other benefits to enjoy.

Take AirAsia’s e-wallet BigPay for example: in addition to accumulating BigPoints, you can also get RM10 off when you key in the referral code “GU3AJX1QAQ” or “WEHG33KVO6”.

Not a BIG Member yet? Sign up now at https://air.asia/4qu66 to enjoy Priority Access to our BIG Sale!

For more info, check out AirAsia’s website.

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#Florida: Man Opens Fire At 2 Pokemon Go Players; None Injured

Pokemon Go continues to be a growing global phenomenon and although the catch ’em all craze has seemingly taken over pop culture, the game is also causing real life dangers.

During the weekend, an unidentified homeowner in Florida fired a handgun at 2 teenagers who were playing Pokemon Go outside his house, after he mistook them for burglars.

The 37-year-old man was sound asleep in his Palm Coast home when he was woken by a loud noise at 1:30am and went to investigate with a handgun in his hand. According to the authorities, the man initially suspected that the teenagers may have broken into his home and stole something after he heard one of the teens asked the other “Did you get anything?”

He didn’t realise that the 2 boys were actually attempting to capture Marowak and Tauros, the virtual reality Pokemon monsters in the game that were listed to be somewhere within the vicinity.

However, when he confronted them and ordered the teens in the car not to move, they panicked and sped away. But not before the man fired several shots at them. Thankfully, none of the 2 boys were reported injured.

Later that morning, one of the teens’ mothers called the police after discovering the vehicle had bullet holes in the hubcap, fender, and rear tire. The investigation on this case is currently underway.

Contrary to earlier rumours, Pokemon Go is a no-go for Malaysians yet. So several local Pokemon fans have come up with some of the funniest memes of their favourite Pokemons.


“Banglasia 2.0” Set For Major Theatrical Release In Bangladesh

Namewee’s latest film “Banglasia 2.0” is set for a theatrical release in Bangladesh due to the surging interest from the country.

The comedy movie which was banned 5 years ago had its premiere last week and now it has collected more than RM1 million in 4 days.

“I wish to thank all my Malaysian viewers for coming out in droves over the weekend that encouraged cinema operators to extend its screening for another week,” actor-director Namewee said in a statement.

“I also learned that we will be the first feature film starring Malaysian and Bangladeshi actors to debut on silver screens in Bangladesh, after receiving tremendous commercial enquiries. Hearing my character’s voice dubbed in Bengali will be quite interesting, so Dhaka here we come!”

According to the movie producer Fred Chong, the film is currently being dubbed and translated into Bengali language. Chong aims to have the film released in Bangladesh in April 2019.

Bangladeshi heartthrob Nirab Hossain, who is one of the lead stars of “Banglasia 2.0” and one of the top actors in Bangladesh, said that his role in the movie serves as tribute to his fellow countrymen in Malaysia “who toil for a better living in a foreign land.”

“I look forward to seeing a even bigger response back home very soon,” he said.

Since its Malaysian premiere on 28th February, the film has received extensive press coverage in Bangladesh from at least 16 media outlets, thanks to Nirab’s pioneering acting role in the movie.


April Fools’: Google Launches Awesome Google Search Buddy, The Google Panda

Just a little earlier today, Google revealed a neat game that you can play from either your desktop or mobile phone by utilising Google Maps. If you haven’t been playing the game, a Google Maps version of Pac-Man, in the past half a day, you’re clearly missing out!

But wait, before you venture into wasting a couple of precious, productive hours on Pac-Man, take a look at this other thing – the Google Panda.

Google announced that this will be their new face of search, one that you can both utilise to find all the answers your curious mind needs as well as hug when you need a snuggle.

Haven’t we all yearned for a friend who could answer any question, while always being there for a snuggle?  Today, the wait is over — Google Panda is here.

With state of the art emotional and conversational intelligence, Google Panda changes the face of search. From the smallest child to the grandparent who’s never used a computer, anyone who can ask a question can own and love a Google Panda.

Now available in Japan, Google Panda comes in classic black and white, offering answers and hugs in two sizes: Panda 5 and Panda 6.

To learn more about Google Panda, here’s a video from their announcement event today with VP of Engineering, Chris Yerga:

P/S: By the way, happy April Fools’ Day.

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#ITSTHESHIP: What To Expect From Asia’s Largest Festival At Sea

The dates are looming, the days are drawing closer, and for those of you who have cinched your spot (or rather, cabin) for Livescape Asia’s epic “It’s The Ship” part cruise holiday part party, we know you’re almost exploding with excitement. And we’re going to help you prepare a little bit more to go absolutely crazy on board! No, we’re not talking about helping you with your packing checklist ;)

We’re going to throw in some fun facts about the ship you’re about to board and what you can expect from “It’s The Ship”. Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our friends from Livescape Asia. Are you ready to find out what “It’s The Ship” has in store for you?

Meet the “Voyager of the Seas”, home to “It’s The Ship”.

The ship you’re about to board is no ordinary cruise chip. In fact, you’re about to get on the newly revamped Royal Caribbean 13-tier mammoth aptly named “Voyager of the Seas”. And some voyage it’ll be because the luxurious “Voyager of the Seas” is officially one of the largest cruise liners in the world, a floating mammoth is over 1,000 ft in length, with 14 decks and more than 1,500 cabins for their guests.

Rock climbing, surfing, and golfing on a ship. Yes, on a ship.

Oh, what? You wouldn’t have imagined that you could do out-of-the-ordinary activities on “It’s The Ship”? Think again! On “Voyager of the Seas”, you will have the chance of the lifetime to go rock climbing in the middle of the ocean, surf on a surf stimulator, shooting hoops as and when you’re not drunk, and maybe play some golf while you’re there. Believe us when we say that all of the activities that we’ve just mentioned will never be the same again once you’ve done it all on a massive ship!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..

Outdoorsy activities not your thing? No problem! The “Voyager of the Seas” also comes equipped with not one, not two, but 3 swimming pools and 6 whirlpools. So yes, there’s a lot more than you can do other than just soak up some sun rays. Also, who needs to worry about overcrowding when there you’re so spoilt for choice, right? Ahem, just don’t forget those swimsuits or board shorts ;)

A holiday cruise with both international and regional artistes on board!

Of course, aside from that, the main attraction would be the 5D4N’s worth of parties. Seriously, where else can you find 16 international DJs and 30 regionals acts all in one place at one time to play banger after banger and essentially be the livewires of the parties? We also hear that some acts will be partying with the crowd after their sets such as Basement Jaxx and Jillionaire. Jillionaire told us personally that he’ll be on the lookout for people that he’d like to engage for his label, even. You heard it here first!

What, you need a pitstop? Say “Ahoy!” to Malaysia’s “jewel”, Langkawi island.

Think that 5D4N might be a little too long for you? Fret not! The “Voyager of the Seas” will make a quick pitstop at Langkawi, where you will have the opportunity to stand on land again for a bit. If you like, you can even explore the island and maybe snap up loads of duty-free goodies while you’re there. So long as you return to the ship before the day is over and most importantly, not miss a party that will see headliner Lil’Jon perform a special DJ set.

Last but of course not least, where else can you walk amongst A-list DJs/producers such as Dash Berlin, Alex Metric, Aly & Fila, Sick Individuals, DJ Craze, and many more? Don’t be surprised if you catch them eating in the same restaurant or even better, if you happen to walk past them down a hallway on the “Voyager of the Seas”. We say you best prepare a pen and paper if you want to collect them autographs.

But don’t tell Livescape Asia we told you that ;)

For more information on “It’s The Ship”, hit up their Facebook page.


Maya Karin Makes Her Hollywood Debut With Tyler Posey

Malaysian actress Maya Karin will be making her Hollywood film debut in “Alone” where she will star alongside “Teen Wolf” actor Tyler Posey and veteran Canadian star Donald Sutherland.

The 39-year-old actress is currently shooting the film in Los Angeles and she has been sharing her updates on social media for the past few days.

A post shared by Maya Karin (@maya_karin)

Maya told Malay Mail that her offer came at the very last minute and she has only one scene in the movie but a very crucial one.

“Through my connections and networking, I made friends with director Martin, and a Malaysian counterpart offered, and helped send me to LA to shoot this one scene.”

“Basically the main reason I came here was for just one scene in my first Hollywood movie,” she said as quoted.

Directed by Johnny Martin, “Alone” follows a young man named Aiden (Posey) who barricades himself inside his apartment and starts rationing food when an outbreak hits the city. His complex is overrun by infected Screamers, and he is left completely alone fighting for his life.

Maya will play a scientist who is researching on the virus infection. Though she has only one scene in the movie, she revealed that her script is 4 pages long and she’s given only one day to memorise her “science dialogue”.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Jay Park – You Know (뻔하잖아) ft. Okasian

Ooh, this one’s too sizzling hot for us to ignore.

Back in May, Jay Park toyed around with a sexy concept for his first English single, “Sex Trip”. And as the name would suggest, the music video was just a little steamy, featuring a gorgeous woman and very little clothes.

Then, in August, 4Minute rapper HyunA, too, unveiled a totally risque concept for her long-awaited comeback. This was accompanied by lots of sexy teaser pictures that left very little room for imagination, if you know what we mean.

Now, what do you think would happen if we put Jay Park and HyunA in a music video together? It would sizzle so hard, that’s what!

The music video for Jay Park’s latest song, “You Know” (ft. Okasian) features sexual dance moves and pole dancers, and Hyuna. It’s so hot that the music video has just been given the 19+ rating aka “too sexual for young viewers”. As such, it has also been banned for the underage by various broadcast stations.

We gotta say though that there was a lot less HyunA than expected, considering the MV teaser that was released just a couple of days ago. And that’s okay, we guess, because some HyunA (and Jay Park, of course) is better than none at all.

For more information on Jay Park, hit up his Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram :)


#SuicideSquad: Common Joins Cast For An Undisclosed Role

Ooh, things are about to get real interesting in the DC Cinematic Universe (DCCU) because The Hollywood Reporter revealed that rapper-turned-actor Common is joining the cast of Warner Bros’ upcoming DC Comics film, “Suicide Squad“.

No details regarding Common’s role were revealed, but he had a connection to the DCCU in the past.

At one point, he was attached to portray John Stewart aka Green Lantern in George Miller’s “Justice League: Mortal”. The sets were built and the costumes were fitted, but the production was stalled in 2007.

In a recent interview with Screen Rant, he said he wouldn’t mind playing Green Lantern in Warner Bros’ upcoming solo movie of the same name. However, the latest casting announcement for “Suicide Squad” indicated that he could be portraying another character instead. The studio had no comment on the deal.

Common is best known for being an American hip hop recording artiste, but he is also widely known for his significant roles in various films including “Termination Salvation”, “American Gangster”, “Happy Feet Two”, and so on. Just recently, he star starred as Elam Ferguson on the AMC’s “Hell on Wheels”.

During the Golden Globes 2015, he won an Academy Award with John Legend for “Glory”, a song that was featured in the movie, “Selma”.

Common is joining the all-star lineup of “Suicide Squad” that includes Jared Leto as The Joker, Will Smith as Deadshot, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, and Cara Delevingne as Enchantress, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Killer Croc, Karen Fukuhara as Plastique, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

Produced by Charles Roven and Richard Suckle, “Suicide Squad” will be directed by David Ayer based on Justin Marks’ screenplay. It will be executive produced by “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” director Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson, and Geoff Johns. is attached to direct the film,

The film is based on the original DC Comic of the same name, which is created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru back in 1959. The story centres on a group of supervillains wo find themselves going on a most unlikely mission for a shot at redemption. However, the mission will probably kill them all.

Jay Hernandez, Scott Eastwood and Raymond Olubowale are all attached to star in the movie, but no details regarding their roles were revealed. Ike Barinholtz is said to be portraying Dr. Hugo Strange while Adam Beach is rumoured to be playing Ravan. Though no official casting announcement was made, Jim Parrack is said to be portraying Deathstroke, a role which was originally offered to “Magic Mike XXL” star Joe Manganiello.

Common recently appeared in “Run All Night” alongside Liam Neeson and award-winning civil rights movie “Selma”. He will be seen next in Relativity’s “Hunter Killer” with Gerard Butler.

“Suicide Squad” is currently slated for release on 5th August 2016.

(Source: THR / Featured image: Huffington Post)

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10 Years Later, We Miss You Much, Leslie

Last night, at Leslie Cheung’s commemorative concert, Tony Leung took the stage to talk about the late pop star. Tony revealed:

There’s something that I’ve always wanted to tell you. Not long after you left, I still continued keeping your number on my cellphone. There was a time I accidentally pressed your number and heard a familiar voice. At that time, I left a message for you. I said, “Why don’t we start over from the beginning?”.

I’m sure I’m not the only one on stage tonight who wishes we could start over from the beginning. If you could leave a message for us now, what would you want to say?

“Miss You Leslie” was attended by Leslie Cheung aka Gor Gor’s fellow friends in the music industry and beloved fans who have been missing him dearly for 10 years long. Amongst the Hong Kong performers who attended the event included Anthony Wong, Hins Cheung, Joey Yung, Grasshoppers, Julian Cheung, Vivian Chow, Tai Chi, Leo Ku, Andy Hui, Karen Mok, Kiki Sheung, Kelly Chen, and Jacky Cheung.

Towards the end of the night, all the performers came together and sang, “The Moon Represents My Heart”.

10 years ago today, 46-year-old Leslie Cheung jumped to his death from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. Moments before his fall, he reportedly called his former manager and friend, Florence Chan, and said, “I want to take a chance to have a good look at Hong Kong”. 40 minutes later, just as she was arriving at the hotel by taxi, Leslie called her again and said, “Wait for me five minutes at the hotel entrance and I will come”.

Five minutes later, she heard a loud noise and saw an object landing on the hotel pavement. Sensing something was amiss, she called Leslie – it went to voicemail.

Back then, initial reports said that he jumped from the hotel gymnasium but it was in fact a Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hong Kong suite on the 24th floor from which he fell. It was also revealed that Leslie wore a suit and fell onto a canopy on the second storey before hitting the street. Talk was that Leslie, who was openly gay, was battling depression because of show-business pressure but his eldest sister Ophelia recently told RTHK radio that his doctor said the cause was a physiological, chemical imbalance in his brain.

The news of Leslie Cheung’s tragic death shook the world and continues to hurt even until today. 10 years later, Leslie, do you miss us as much as we miss you?


#TerminatorGenisys: New Featurette Reveals Cyborg’s Name + Sarah Connor Bond

Just like in “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” and “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines”, the terminator’s sole purpose is to protect human beings and in “Terminator Genisys“, he will be obliged to protect Sarah Connor.

Even though the trailer has revealed a number of major spoilers and showed plenty of big action sequences, there’s still a lot of questions and uncertainty that have left the audiences wondering.

So, to answer some of these doubts and questions, Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions have released a new behind-the-scenes featurette that centres on the relationship between Sarah Connor (played by “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke) and the aged T-800 cyborg (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger).

Watch the “The Guardian” featurette here:

The new featurette has shone the limelight on Schwarzenegger’s cybernetic organism as they’ve revealed the cyborg’s name, Guardian. They’ve also displayed the intimate bond between the Guardian and Sarah Connor, especially when Sarah called her Guardian “Pops” in one of the featurettes’ clip and also when the Guardian reminded Sarah to put on her seat belt.

Towards the end of the featurette, Arnold was heard saying, “I think people can really expect great entertainment”. So, is that a huge hint that the movie will be a mind-blowing one? We’ll see in less than a month ;)

Alan Taylor (of “Thor: The Dark World” fame) is on board to direct the first in a planned trilogy based on a script written by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. The film also stars J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Matthew Smith, Courtney B.Vance and Lee Byung-Hun.

The film centres on John Connor (played by Jason Clarke), the leader of the human resistance, who send sargeant Kyle Reese (played by Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future. But an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. The story continues with sargeant Reese finding himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he has to deal with unlikely allies, including the Guardian, an extremely dangerous feud, and an unexpected new mission: To reset the future…

“Terminator Genisys” will hit cinemas near you on 1st July 2015 while the second Terminator film is slated for release on 19th May 2017 and last but not least, the third instalment to conclude the trilogy will be released on 29th June 2018.

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

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7 Key Scenes You’ll Get To Enjoy When Experiencing Encore Melaka

600 years of rich history, 200 local performers, 70 minutes – hop onboard the Encore Melaka ship and experience a visual feast directed by Wang Chaoge.

Last Saturday (7th July), members of the media were invited to the grand launch of Encore Melaka. Built on a 360-degree rotating audience platform, Encore Melaka is the first Impression Series project outside of China. This state-of-the-art production is a “retelling of Melaka’s beginnings and growth through a timeline of 6 centuries” through dances and songs.

Presented in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, and other local dialects, get ready to be transported through different eras with the following 7 chapters:

“In 1400, Prince of Sumatra, Parameswara came to Melaka on a hunting mission. Parameswara was resting under a tree near a river during a hunt when one of his dogs cornered a mouse deer. The mouse deer bravely kicked the hunting dog into a river and ran away. Astounded by the courage and relentlessness of the mouse deer, Parameswara then decided to build his kingdom there and named it after the tree he rested under, Melaka.”

“In 1405, Cheng Ho’s fleet arrived in Melaka for the first time. Their arrival was marked by the drummers from Cheng Ho’s fleet. They arrived in Melaka in peace. Tales say that they fell in love with the locals, had children of their own, and began the heritage of the distinctive Baba Nyonya culture.”

“This is the scene of a wedding in 1880. Descendants of Baba Ah Jie and Nyonya Ah Lan, from Cheng Ho’s time, still live in Melaka. You can meet them when you visit Jonker Street.”

“In 1948, there was a shipwreck. A baby floated on a plank and drifted to the Melaka port. 6 women from the Melaka city passed by the port, heard the baby’s cries and adopted him. They gave him everything – food, clothes, education, and love. With hardship and love, they cared for this boy who eventually nurtured a harmonious nation with a bright future.

70 years have passed, and by now, his mothers have all been laid to rest, but his longing towards them never stopped. The 6 mother embody Melaka, the boy represents the people of Melaka.”

“The city’s longevity exists due to generations of people. This scene represents generations that have been born in Melaka, paying homage to those who have rooted and moulded the Melakan culture, and will continue to do so.”

“Melaka is historical, a UNESCO heritage. Apart from its old buildings, the people and crafts of the city are also living histories. Visitors admire and respect Melaka’s heritage that continues to thrive, thanks to generations of skilled craftsmen. Portrayed through the character Awang, a kite maker, and his dedication to a life of passion for arts and craft. Chief Director Wang Chaoge pays tribute to all the inheritors.

From the blacksmiths and songket weavers, to the silat and zapin dance teachers, as well as the beloved chicken rice ball cooks – all these inheritors have contributed to Melaka’s historical identity. This is truly the spirit of Malaysians.”

“With a modern approach to storytelling, the sounds and scenes of Encore Melaka will linger on in the minds of the audience.”

When one leaves the theatre and faces the serenity of The Straits of Melaka, the intention of Encore Melaka is to inspire each and every audience member to ponder on what they have just witness.

The details to “Encore Melaka” are as follows”

For more information, visit Encore Melaka’s official website or contact +06 270 7777.


First Look At Josh Brolin As Cable In “Deadpool 2”

Ryan Reynolds has dropped another teaser image for “Deadpool 2”!

Recently, the actor posted a photo of Josh Brolin as Cable on Twitter. In the photo, Brolin has a scar on his left eye while his right eye is glowing. He is also seen giving the camera a “shh” gesture.

“We all have that one, grumpy, heavily armed Uncle from the future,” wrote Reynolds in the caption.

We all have that one, grumpy, heavily armed Uncle from the future. #PremiumCABLE #JoshBrolin pic.twitter.com/JV3yBIIPQH

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) August 7, 2017

Meanwhile, “Deadpool” creator Rob Liefeld took to Instagram to share a photo of Brolin in full Cable costume. The picture features Brolin donning a bionic left arm while holding a massive gun with a ton of ammunition strapped to his body. He can also be seen holding a teddy bear.

As Movie Web pointed out, the teddy bear may be attached to Hope Summers. Apparently, the movie will likely touch on Cable’s role as a surrogate father to a young mutant named Hope Summers, whose name was displayed in the “Deadpool 2” teaser.

A post shared by Rob Liefeld (@robliefeld)

In case you didn’t know, Cable, who appeared on Marvel’s “New Mutants #98”, is the son of Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Madelyne Pryor (a clone of Jean Grey). This piece of history most probably won’t be brought up in “Deadpool 2” as the focus may centre on the polar opposite personalities between Cable and Deadpool.

“Deadpool 2” will be helmed by “John Wick” director David Leitch with a screenplay by screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. It is slated for release sometime in 2018.

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#FiftyShades: LEGO Spoof Trailer May Be Better Than The Original

Two content creators have assembled an alternative version of the sex-fueled “Fifty Shades of Grey” trailer that has captured the Internet with its unique spin.

Stop-motion animators Antonio and Andrea Toscano have created a hilarious spoof on the “Fifty Shades” sneak peek with the use of LEGO mini-figures. And you know how much we love anything LEGO-related. The viral clip recreates the official trailer scene-by-scene, including Anastasia’s interview, her helicopter ride with Christian Grey, and the BDSM-filled moment in the Red Room of Pain.

Antonio and Andrea have already created LEGO trailer spoofs for “Captain America”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Iron Man 3”, “Man of Steel”, and more. “Fifty Shades” is based on a three-part novel penned by best-selling author by EL James. The film adaptation is expected to arrive in theatres (not in Malaysia though) on 13th Feb.

For comparison, check out the real trailer below, and let us know which version you think is better:

Meanwhile, some other “Fifty Shades”-related videos worth mentioning include the music videos for songs off the original movie soundtrack such as:


#RapidKL: 50% Discount Off MRT, LRT, Monorel, & BRT Till 31st August

Are you a frequent public transport commuter? We’ve got wonderful news for you ;)

In conjunction with the launch of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Rapid KL announced that commuters will get to enjoy 50% discount off Light Rail Transit (LRT), Monorel, and Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) rides. The promo begins tomorrow (Tuesday, 18th July) and will last till 31st August.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak stated that the public will be entitled to free rides on the new MRT line (Phase 2) as well enjoy 50% off other transportation modes till Merdeka Day.

“I am pleased to announce that starting from 4pm until midnight today, all passengers will be able to enjoy free rides on this new MRT line. I would also like to announce that all passengers will get to enjoy 50% discount from tomorrow (Tuesday) until Merdeka Day on August 31, for all MRT, LRT and Monorail lines,” the Prime Minister said.

MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang has a total of 31 stations with a cost of RM21 billion. The project was completed with RM2 billion less than the initial estimated budget of RM23 billion.


A Chance To Star In Avril Lavigne’s New MV!

Avril Lavigne has made an indelible mark on the music community, selling more than 30 million albums worldwide, bagging eight Grammy nominations, and the winner of seven Canadian Juno Awards.

She burst onto the music scene in 2002 with the critically acclaimed “Let Go” featuring the smash singles “Sk8r Boi” and “Complicated.” Her 2004 release, Under My Skin, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, as did her third album, “The Best Damn Thing”, which produced the irrepressible #1 single “Girlfriend” logging more than 198 million views on YouTube!

And now, the international pop superstar is set to return to the airwaves with her new single, “Here’s To Never Growing Up” releasing 9th April 2013 via Epic.

Celebrating the release, Avril’s fans are invited to star in the lyric video for “Here’s To Never Growing Up” using a groundbreaking app where fans can submit their own content from their computer.

The app will feature a brief audio clip of the track and participants can either upload photos of themselves with Avril and/or photos inspired by the title of the song, OR they can sing-along the words to the song title and using the embedded video technology the app will capture and submit their clip.

For more information, visit her official website or her Facebook page.

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Namewee Dedicates Valentine’s Day Song To His Girlfriend

Singer-songwriter Namewee (黃明志) has admitted that he is not much of romantic person, but he is definitely loyal.

In conjunction with the upcoming Valentine’s Day, the multitalented rapper has dedicated a touching love song to his non-celebrity girlfriend of 7 years, Sarah.

Titled “Behind Me” (在我背後), the song celebrates Namewee and Sarah’s 7-year journey as a couple as they go through all the ups and downs.

“I am very thankful to my girlfriend for being involved in my song creation and supporting me throughout my career,” Namewee said in a statement.

“Even though she was affected so many times, she’d still waited for me when I was in prison and always sought help on my behalf.”

Many fans are urging the 35-year-old singer to immediately tie the knot with his girlfriend who works as a makeup artist.

Namewee also said that every Chinese New Year, his relatives and friends also questioned him about marriage, but the singer believed that marriage should comes naturally.

The “Stranger in the North” hitmaker believed that he and Sarah are only separated by a piece of paper. They are currently satisfied with their calm and stable relationship.


Netflix Brings The 80s Glam Of Stranger Things 3 To Malaysia

Looks like Kuala Lumpur transformed into Hawkins last night (Monday, 1st July) when we entered the Upside Down!

Netflix Malaysia held its first ever screening in Malaysia for the highly anticipated return of “Stranger Things” season 3. The event was held at TGV 1 Utama, where the halls of the theater were decorated to launch us into the glam of the 80s.

“Stranger Things” exploded on the scene when it first aired in 2016 and has since been growing into a cult favourite. The modern masterpiece of the Duffer Brothers has become a phenomenon with the first season starring Millie Bobby Brown as the mysterious Eleven, alongside Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers.

The show was a critically acclaimed hit worldwide, with young and older viewers alike. 2017 brought the second season with more twists, characters and even stranger occurrences which left fans hooked for more.

The event brought several familiar faces to the scene, including local celebrities such as Chew Kin Wah, an actor from “Crossroads: One, Two Jaga”, and Adrian Teh, director of “Paskal” (both films available for viewing on Netflix!).

Influencers included the likes of local songstress Daiyan Trisha, Athisha Khan, and Yaya Zahir, along with Arwind Kumar, Zhafran Zukifly, Nabil Mahir, Fiqrie Dahari, Sheryl Ng and Desmond Lim. They came together to start their own gang by dressing up as the iconic characters themselves; Eleven, Will, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Nancy, Steve, Jonathan, Joyce, and Sheriff Hopper.

However, the surprise of the night came in the form of a Demogorgon scaring the wits out of unexpected guests. Local cosplayer Saakira Izumi attended the event dressed as the terrifying humanoid creature that lurkes the Upside Down, and occasionally sneaking into our realm. It is especially impressive to note that Saakira actually created her costume from scratch for this screening!

With prominent influencers, media, brand partners and some lucky super fans, decked in their wild and groovy outfits, everyone contributed to the nostalgia of the simpler days of hair spray, synth-pop, and Eggos.

Bangers like A-Ha’s “Take On Me” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” added to the mood, where everyone’s 80s inspired outfits made it seem like a scene right out of the show! Complete with standees for guests to take photos and give us their best poses, the event was nothing short of a success.

“Stranger Things 3” will be available for viewing worldwide on the 4th of July, exclusively on Netflix.

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#Photograph: Matt Cardle Wants To Stay Out Of Ed Sheeran’s Lawsuit

A lawsuit against Ed Sheeran has sparked off a Twitter war on social media with fans of both singers taking sides on either Team Ed or Team Matt.

So did the global phenomenon Grammy winner really plagiarise someone else’s song? Sheeran’s fans obviously think that isn’t the case at all. After facing a backlash from Twitter, former X-Factor UK winner Matt Cardle has officially spoken out in support of Sheeran and to distance himself from the copyright case.

Yesterday (9th June 2016), we reported that Sheeran had been slapped with a US$20 million (roughly RM80.7 million) legal lawsuit for allegedly copying “Amazing”, sung by Cardle, for his song “Photograph”, which was most recently featured on the “Me Before You” movie soundtrack.

It’s important to note, however, that “Amazing” was entirely written by people that weren’t, and are still not, Cardle. That honour would fall to Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard, who are represented by the same lawyer (can you guess?) who was in charged of Marvin Gaye’s family for last year’s “Blurred Lines” copyright case.

With that being said, it’s probably unfair for fans to attack Cardle on Twitter and other social media platforms since it wasn’t the singer who filed the lawsuit in the first place. So perhaps, it’s not accurate for netizens to attach his name to this legal drama.

Although the 33-year-old singer is not directly involved in the controversy, he tweeted his support for Sheeran saying, “Please read news articles closely. This is not my lawsuit. I think @EdSheeran is a genius & 100% deserves all his success.”

Please read news articles closely. This is not my lawsuit. I think @edsheeran is a genius & 100% deserves all his success 🙏🏽❤ X

— Matt Cardle (@MattCardle) June 9, 2016

For those of you who haven’t heard the comparison of both ballads, you can do that here.

Sources: The Guardian, Unreality TV, Evening Standard.


(UPDATE) #VGL2015: The World’s Most Popular Game Concert Is Coming Back To Malaysia

Having debuted on 6th July 2005 at the world famous Hollywood Bowl in LA with the LA Philharmonic, Video Games Live quickly became the biggest and most popular game concert in the world.

In the same year, they broke new ground once again by putting on the very first video game concert in Canada (Vancouver). This was followed with groundbreaking first ever game concert performances in countries such as England, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, France, Taiwan, and China. And on 22nd October 2007, Video Games Live became the first and only show to sell out the Royal Festival Hall (Philharmonia Orchestra) since the refurbishment earlier in the year.

Video Games Live is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Top orchestras and choirs perform along with exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronised lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment experience!

It bridges a gap for entertainment by exposing new generations of music lovers and fans to the symphonic orchestral experience while also providing a completely new and unique experience for families and/or non-gamers. It’s the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology and interactivity of a video game all completely synchronised to amazing cutting edge video screen visuals, state-of-the-art lighting and special on-stage interactive segments with the audience.

Video Games Live features the best music and exclusive synchronised video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present.

Classic Arcade Medley featuring over 20+ games from Pong to Donkey Kong including classics such as Dragon’s Lair, Tetris, Duck Hunt, Ghosts ‘n Goblins, Gauntlet, Punch-Out, OutRun and many more!

Whether it’s the power and passion of the more recent blockbusters or the excitement of remembering the sentimental classics you played growing up, Video Games Live will truly be a special night to remember.

Deets for Video Games Live 2015 in Malaysia are as follows:

Venue: Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur

Ticketing: The Maze (RM98), Sabre (RM188), Golden Dagger (RM288), Scepter (RM388), Broad Aze (RM588)

Video Games Live is created and produced by industry veteran and world famous video game composer Tommy Tallarico.

According to our sister site Lowyat.Net, the upcoming VGL concert has been postponed to February next year due to concerns with several events happening on the Merdeka Day weekend.

In a newly-released press statement, the organiser cited the upcoming Bersih 4.0 rally, which is happening from 29th to 30th August, as one of their reasons for delaying the concert by 4 months.

“The late postponement is primarily due to the organiser’s trying to mitigate the situation caused by the numerous events leading to Merdeka 2015, which includes the Bersih 4.0 rally, scheduled for 29 & 30 August, with a likelihood of it being held at Bukit Jalil. Taking this and the concerns of ticket holders, parents and partners over these uncertainties, and to prioritise the comfort of all concert goers, we have come to the difficult decision of postponing VIDEO GAMES LIVE. We sincerely apologise to all Video Games Live fans who have bought tickets and looking forward to the show.

We will be get in touch, and inform all ticket holders on how to proceed with confirmations for your new tickets, venue and how to apply for refunds.”

In addition, the concert is prevented from being held at Stadium Putra as the stadium will be closed in September for upgrading work. The owners of the venue, however, have offered VGL the use of an interim structure within the Bukit Jalil grounds.

At the time of writing, the organisers are exploring other options and will announce the new venue within the next 3 weeks. Ticketing for VGL is being halted from today and will only resume on 14th September (Monday).

For more information, visit their website or hit up the Facebook event page.

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Get To Know The 10 Characters From “John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum”

Five years ago, Summit Entertainment kicked off the “John Wick” franchise with the release of its debut film “John Wick: Chapter 1”. In it, actor Keanu Reeves portrays the title character, a former hitman coping with the death of his wife.

However, after a home robbery and the murder of his puppy, Wick returns to the world of crime to avenge the culprits. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the film was well received and became a commercial hit at the box office. The motion picture grossed over 88 million worldwide against a budget of 20 million.

Due to this, the franchise received a sequel in 2017. As expected, the follow-up was a commercial success, gaining over 171.5 million worldwide. Thanks to the reception, Reeves will be reprising his role again as John Wick for the third installment.

While John Wick is back and ready to kick some ass, let’s get to know the 10 characters from the movie.

Jonathan Wick better known as John Wick is a former hitman that has been on the run since he broke the rule of the Continental. With a 14 million global contract for his arrest, Wick is forced to fight his way out of New York City.

Unlike the previous films, Wick can no longer find refuge at any Continental as he lost the privilege when he murdered Camorra lord, Santino D’Antonio in the Continental. With limited options, Wick reaches out to hitwoman, Sofia for help.

Sophia, an old friend of John Wick reluctantly agrees to assist him in his escape. Speaking to ComingSoon net, Reeve revealed that;

“John Wick is fighting for his life and thinks that Halle Berry’s character has some information for him. They have a past, and they get involved with The High Table, this kind of overloading entity.”

Assisting her in her battles are her two German shepherds. Not only are they her constant companion but they are also a symbol of someone she’s lost. According to the director, Sophia and her dogs “work very well tactically”.

Winston is the owner and manager of the Continental Hotel in New York which exists solely to cater to criminals. In both movies, Winston has proved to be a friend of Wick. For example, he gave Wick a one-hour head start when he broke the rules of the Continental. In addition, he also informed him of the High Table’s decision to double the fine from 7 million to 14 million.

4. Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King

The Bowery King is the leader of the intelligence operatives network. The network covers almost every corner of New York and operates on agents who disguise as homeless citizens. The Bowery King manages a flock of homing pigeons with the purpose of utilizing them to deliver messages and small objects. This way, he maintains an additional level of secrecy. In the second film, he proves to be on Wick’s side as he helped treat Wick’s injury and guided him on his journey to finding Santino.

Mark Dacascos first gained recognition for showcasing his martial art skills in movies like “Cradle 2 the Grave”, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”, and  “Mortal Kombat: Legacy and Brotherhood of the Wolf”.

For this film, Dacascos will be playing the main villain of the show, Zero who is an assassin that intends to kill John Wick for the money. However, in his interview with Empire Magazine, Dacascos revealed that the villain actually has admiration for Wick, noting;

“He’s a huge John Wick fan, so you’ll see an essence of, ‘I have to kill you, but you know if I didn’t have to do that, we’d be besties!’

“Orange Is the New Black” star, Asia Kate Dillon is set to appear as the Adjudicator, a member of the High table. By definition, an adjudicator is someone who decides who is right in a disagreement. Even though not much has been disclosed about her character, we are guessing she will have a role in determining John Wick’s fate.

A concierge at the Continental Hotel in New York, Charon has always been a neutral, courteous and patronizing persona. Having said that, Charon has helped Wick in a number of instances. One would notably be when Charon cared for his dog while he was away even though it’s against the continental rules.

In addition, he offered John some advice and assisted him in his journey in both movies. Maybe this time around, he will do Wick bigger favour? Guess, we will have to wait and see.

A member of the High table, Anjelica Huston plays the Director of the council. With that amount of power, it’s no wonder she is being referred to as the one who is responsible for John Wick’s upbringing and his protection.

Not much information has been provided about Saïd’s role in the upcoming film, except for the fact that he will be appearing as a member of the High Table.

Jason Mantzoukas has previously starred in comedy films like “Parks and Recreation” and “The Good Place”. However, this film will see him portray an assassin called Tick Tock Man.

Similar to Saïd Taghmaoui’s case, not much info has been given about his role. Nevertheless, in an interview with Slashfilm, he teased his role, noting,

“I think The Tick Tock Man is probably going to be a pretty legendary character.”

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#TWICE: To Hold Concert “TWICELAND” In Singapore For The First Time Ever

Onces (as fans of TWICE are lovingly known), get ready to party because the girls are coming to our side of the world!

The girl group will be holding a concert for the first time ever in Singapore, and it’s part of their “TWICELAND – The Opening” tour. Well, there’s some travelling to do to see them in the flesh, but at least it’s not a 6-hour flight, right?

Prior to their debut, TWICE had already made a name for themselves through the reality survival show “Sixteen”, created by JYP Entertainment and Mnet. The members of the group had to go through various grueling challenges in order to prove themselves worthy. After 10 episodes, Nayeon, Jungyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu were chosen to be in the final lineup.

They made their official debut in October 2015 with the mini-album “The Story Begins”, which spawned the hit “Like OOH-AHH”. Their subsequent releases, “Cheer Up” and “TT”, were also extremely popular and successfully topped all Korean music charts.

The group will be making their comeback next week (20th February) with “Knock Knock”, so fingers crossed that they’ll be performing their latest tracks then!

All VIP ticket holders are entitled to exclusive gifts and will have a chance to win autographed posters and to be in the same photo as TWICE. Winners will be selected at random through a lucky draw. 500 lucky ticket holders will be able to snag a photo with the girls while only 100 will get an autographed poster.

Tickets will be made available on 18th February (Saturday) at 10am onwards via APACTix’s website, booking hotline +65-3158 8588, Singapore Indoor Stadium Box Office, The Star Theatre Box Office, and all SingPost outlets. Each buyer will be able to buy a maximum of 8 tickets.

Aside from Seoul and Singapore, “TWICELAND” will also be held at Bangkok, Thailand, on 8th April.

For more info on the concert, check out ONE Production’s official Facebook page and Twitter. For updates on TWICE, visit their official website and Facebook page.


Netflix’s Bombay Rose Review: Easily One Of The Best Animated Films Of 2021

Gitanjali Rao is the very epitome of an auteur. A woman with a ferocious vision of the world of Bombay, or Mumbai. One that lends us the viewers her eyes and insights into a city that is altogether terrifying and tragic, and yet surreal and magical. Unlike the polished and sanitised cardboard worlds that Disney tries to paint in poor lip-service to reality, “Bombay Rose” accomplishes what it sets out to do. Achieving a magical realism that rivals any book or painting set within the genre. Right but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Like the amateur art critics we are, we invite you to walk with us through Rao’s uncompromising gallery of Bombay. One that demands your gaze, if not your adoration.

First thing to note is that “Bombay Rose” is very much a slice-of-life film. The film does have a central plot per se but it’s not as assertive as the ones you may find in other animated films. Much like the works of Makoto Shinkai, Rao’s film takes its time to set up its world. Occupying every detail with stunning life and beauty. One may even say, she allows it to simply bloom before our very eyes. The film mainly revolves around the life and times of two sisters: Kamala and Tara. Two desperate souls trying to forge a new life for themselves amidst the hustle and bustle of the city of Mumbai.

Where things get interesting is when we see how their visions of the world diverge. Kamala, the eldest of the two, is a product of tradition and the stories of old. This conservative view is typified in her daydreams. As she sells flowers on the streets, she encounters a cast of colourful characters who take the shape and form of Indian mythology. For example, when she first meets Salim, a handsome but poor northerner, she begins to fantasise about him. He is transformed into a fine prince dressed in linens and silk. She longs for nothing more than to be enraptured in the romances of folklore, if not embroiled in the melodrama of Bollywood.

Her sister Tara though, her world could not be farther from her sister’s. Unlike Kamala who must sacrifice her development for Tara, she is allowed to flourish. She attends a colonial school called St. Andrews, and she has private lessons with an English teacher named Shirley D’souza. Together with Ms D’Souza, they view the world through the streets of Bombay in light of English occupation. A town steeped in quaint manners, Anglo-Saxon sensibilities with all the wit and repartee one may find in a Jane Austen novel. That being said, at no point does Rao lionise India’s colonial influence. Instead, she provides insights into how the well-to-do upper classes wear English society as a symbol of culture and power.

We all have our meta-narratives. Stories we imagine for ourselves in which we use to explain the world around us. Rao displays a deep and powerful understanding of how meta-narratives are entwined with our class position and lived experiences. It even begins to influence our relationships and how we present ourselves. Kamala’s world is one created by patriarchal influences. She cannot dream of one beyond this structure and therefore can only picture a fantasy that is informed by it. Tara walks a different path with a far more progressive image of the world. Eventually, the two clash with Kamala’s more cynical and orthodox way of life battling against Tara’s hopeful idealism. Ultimately they two learn to reconcile their differing views on reality.

Through the medium of animation, Rao depicts these two separate views on life in Bombay with magnificent visual flair and breath-taking clarity. The film is brought to life by 60 artists and animators, all tied by Rao’s unique artistic direction. “Bombay Rose” seamlessly transitions from the gritty earthen colours and sights of the streets into the bright and vibrant shades of a royal tapestry of Kamala’s eye. One where every shade is more pronounced and the fantastical becomes possible. There were moments in which we had to pause the film to drink in everything we saw. The landscape of Tara’s world shifts and changes into the old postcards and sketches of the idyllic European towns. Completed with lined rail cars and Mary Poppins like mentors to show her the ropes.

While we wholeheartedly loved “Bombay Rose”, we should prime potential viewers to come into the film with an open mind. Admittedly, the film’s plot can be a tad slow at times. So if you’re expecting to sit down with your kids to have a fun, chill cartoon session you may find Rao’s film a difficult watch. Amidst the adventures of Kamala and Tara, there are lots of adult themes that will require unpacking. Especially when we learn of Kamala’s second job outside of the flower-selling business. Even the seemingly silly adventures of a mute and deaf boy evading escape from the police is mired in a troubling reality. One that forces you to choose between education and starvation.

The soundtrack to the film is also absolutely phenomenal. Inspired by a number of different influences, the score flirts with everything from sombre sitars to rhythmic bongos to Bollywood grooves. The most memorable theme for us was a beautiful song sung in Hindi about the life-giving Maa Rewa river. A melancholic ballad signaling the glory days of yore. Before modernity and colonialism swallowed Bombay in a sea of poverty and ruin. A myth that persists in the hearts of those who believe.

Gitanjali Rao’s “Bombay Rose” delivers one of the best animated films of 2021. Period. Alongside a talented team of creators and artists, she clutches us by the hand to lead through narrow slums, royal palaces and rose gardens. Populated with people and stories that are as real as us and yet far more magical and dangerous. If you’re a hardcore cinephile looking hungry for a great foreign-language film, then this is for you. For the love of cinema, go watch “Bombay Rose” on your Netflix account right now!

If you love animated films as much as we do, be sure to check out our thoughts on Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”. Also, do you know any hidden animated gems? Let us know in the comments down below!

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Gitanjali Rao’s “Bombay Rose” delivers one of the best animated films of 2021. Period. Alongside a talented team of creators and artists, she clutches us by the hand to lead us through narrow slums, royal palaces and rose gardens. Populated with people and stories that are as real as us and yet far more magical and dangerous.


#StarWars: Felicity Jones Joins Spinoff Titled #RogueOne; Episode VIII Set For 2017

From superhero movies to horror films to novel-turned-films, it looks like we have tonnes of great movies to look forward to in the coming years. Of course, there is no lack of sci-fi goodness as well because Disney finally announced its plans for the “Star Wars” cinematic universe.

On 12th March, Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger hosted an annual shareholder meeting at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. While we await the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awaken”, Iger announced that the studio has set a release date for “Star Wars: Episode VIII” and found the lead for the first “Star Wars” spinoff film.

Titled “Rogue One”, the spinoff film is based on an idea given by John Knoll, the Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor and the CCO of Industrial Light & Magic. Knoll will executive produce the film alongside Simon Emanuel and Jason McGatlin. Oscar nominee Chris Weitz (of “Cinderella” and”About A Boy” fame) is set to pen the scipt based on Knoll’s idea and “Godzilla” director Gareth Edwards will helm the project. Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To are set to produce the film while John Swartz will co-produce.

Multiple Hollywood actresses including Tatiana Maslany, Rooney, and Kate Mara, and Felicity Jones were previously eyed to play the female lead. As it turns out, Jones has been cast to play the leading role.

The English actress received widespread critical acclaim for her role as Stephen Hawking’s wife in “The Theory of Everything”. However, the Oscar-nominated actress may experience scheduling issues as she is set to co-star in Ron Howard’s “Inferno” (the sequel to the “Da Vinci Code”), which is set to begin filming in Europe next month.

As for the “Star Wars” spinoff film, it set to begin shooting this summer in London.

No plot details were announced, but it was said that it will be “a unique series of big-screen adventures that explores the characters and events beyond the core Star Wars saga”. An untitled standalone movie is in the works as well, but it will be directed by “The Fantastic Four” director Josh Trank and written by “X-Men: Apocalypse” scribe Simon Kinberg.

Iger did not announce any details regarding Josh Trank’s “Star Wars” standalone movie, but he did announce the details of the 8th instalment of the “Star Wars” franchise. Slated for release on 26th May 2017, “Star Wars: Episode VIII” is set to be written and directed by “Looper” director Rian Johnson. J.J. Abrams will executive produce the movie, as the film takes place after the events of Abrams’ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. Kennedy is on board to produce the film as well, alongside Ram Bergman (“Looper”, “Don Jon”, “Self/Less“).

J.J. Abrams’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is scheduled to arrive on 18th December this year while the spinoff film will open on 16th December 2016.

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


#Malaysia: Netizens Turn Rude Lady Who Threw Slipper Into Funny Meme

Yesterday (Thursday, 1st June), news about a rude Malaysian woman driver went viral online after it was reported that she went ballistic upon being confronted for stealing a parking spot.

Since then, the woman who threw her slippers and flipped the bird has become somewhat of an overnight online sensation – albeit for the wrong reasons. People do get famous rather easily these days, don’t they?

Perhaps inspired by the drama from the “Fast and Furious” films, the woman’s scary expression has been photoshopped into a series of movie posters (including the recently-released “The Fate of the Furious”). Even Hollywood actor Vin Diesel was not spared. Lol ;)

If that is not hilarious enough, someone even upgraded the rude woman to become a Shell mineral water lady. Scary much? That’s not all, a Facebook user also subjected her image to become more animated via FaceApp. To top it all off, someone even called her the new “Unhappy Polla”.

Out of all the memes above, which ones are your favourite?

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#ZoukOutSG: 7 Things We Loved About ZoukOut 2014

We’ve said it many times before but we’ll say it again anyway – ZoukOut is hands down the best and the biggest beach festival in the region. And by saying that, we’re not alone in thinking so. With a whopping total of 20,000 odd partygoers on the first day/night (12th Dec) and 25,000 on the second day/night (13th Dec), totalling up to an attendance of 50,000 people over the 2-day event, it’s pretty clear that ZoukOut has become more than just a party – it’s a prominent brand on its own.

The 2-day festival that featured some of the biggest global acts alongside Singaporean talent, saw 40% tourists from around the world, including visitors from neighbouring countries including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia (that’s us!), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. As a matter of fact, the annual event this year was the largest turnout in ZoukOut’s 14-year history, with many staying on till the “first light” of the morning.

We would know, we were just a few in the a crowd of thousands ;)

Did you skip this one out this time around? Fret not. Here are 7 things we loved about this year’s ZoukOut at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach, Singapore:

1. Above & Beyond’s #ABGT ZoukOut 2014 edition

Being fans of English trance trio Above & Beyond ourselves, it’d be an understatement to say that their set was amazing. With offerings of the right dosage of much needed “Group Therapy”-style trance at midnight on day 1 of the festival, Above & Beyond raised the bar for the other acts on the ZoukOut 2014 bill. Their set also saw the Singaporean debut of some new tracks off their new album, “We Are All We Need”. And in true ABGT (Above & Beyond Group Therapy) style, Paavo and Tony spoke to the crowd at Moon Stage with more than just music alone. Memorable, to say the least.

2. The trippy laser lights extravaganza at the Star Stage

Sure, the Moon Stage saw a stellar lineup of some of DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs such as Above & Beyond, Nicky Romero, Martin Garrix, and Showtek, just to name a few. But it was the Star Stage that stole the show with its laser lights extravaganza. Fortunately, it wasn’t heavily populated by partygoers and we assume that it’s largely due to the EDM preference. Nonetheless, we were blown away by the mesmerising display of laser lights, topped off with what some of the more seasoned dance music lovers would call, “real music”.

3. Heineken balloons surprise during Skrillex’s 6am set

A photo posted by lainey ying ツ (@laineyyyx) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:51pm PST

If you stuck around long enough on day 2 of ZoukOut, you’d have witnessed Skrillex‘s genre-defying set. Mostly hip hop and dubstep with dabblings and samplings of your average EDM and house, Skrillex proved that it’s never too early for his music. Heck, even at the crack of dawn, the crowd showed no signs of slowing down or stopping. A genius in his own right, the Grammy award-winning DJ brought the energy level to an all-time high. At the same time, 120 giant green balloons filled with Heineken merchandise were released into the crowd – shirts for those who “made it” till “first light” ;)

4. Installations & art to encourage photo frenzy & participation

A photo posted by lainey ying ツ (@laineyyyx) on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:54am PST

If there was anything else that deserved props from us, it’d be the installations, art, and performers on the festivals arounds which encouraged a photo (read: Instagram) frenzy, participation, and interaction from the ZoukOut partygoers. We spotted dancers wearing LED-lit outfits, fire dancers, stilt-walkers decked in the most colourful of outfits, as well as Instagram-worthy flashy art installations scattered around the venue. We dare say that we ended up with a pretty sweet collection of pictures ourselves! Bragging rights, anyone?

5. The return of the mafia, Steve Angello

The last time we saw Steve Angello was in October 2012. Back then, he was still part of the Swedish House Mafia trio. So you can imagine our excitement leading up to ZoukOut when we knew that we’d be witnessing his solo set for the first time ever! Steve opened his 4am set with much grandeur on day 2 of the festival, instantly turned the atmosphere around. And yes, he dropped some familiar Swedish House Mafia tracks but he also introduced us to a Steve Angello-branded house music world that was his own – and it wasn’t at all disappointing.

6. Fireworks display + pyrotechnics + confetti blasts

This year’s festival also offered an abundance of pyrotechnics, confetti blasts, and an amazing fireworks display which lasted for a good few minutes, adding to the high energy atmosphere. Because let’s face it – no festival will be complete without ’em. The addition of these showstopping displays was testament to the ZoukOut 2014 production team, which is to say that they’ve done good delivering top-notch, world-class entertainment of the festival kind. Of course, this was all also eye candy for partygoers who simply lapped it all up with glee  as soon as it was “served”.

7. World-class organisation from walk in to point of entry

A great festival experience starts from the very moment partygoers walk into the festival grounds and the ZoukOut team most certainly had that down pat. From walking in to the point of entry right before you sink your feet into the sand at Siloso Beach Resort, the “journey” was made enjoyable (with hardly even a second of annoyance) all thanks to the extremely professional ZoukOut crew. It helps that they all knew exactly what to do at all times, were organised and friendly. Because we all know how rowdy it can get with festival crew who try to exert authority over partygoers. Just saying.

Check out the gallery below for more ZoukOut 2014 sights:

We could go on and on about our ZoukOut experience but words will never do it any justice. If you missed out on this year’s festival, there’s always the following year’s to come.

For more information, visit ZoukOut’s official Facebook page.

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Hype’s Exclusive: A Wild #DavidBlaine Appears!

Thanks to our friends from LOL Events and Livescape Asia, we were given the opportunity to meet the one and only David Blaine in the flesh! In case you haven’t heard (and can’t fathom why you could’ve not heard), David Blaine is here in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as part of his “Real or Magic” tour. The show is happening this Friday (5th September)!

But, before that, we got a chance to see him at the press conference (did we already say in the flesh?) in the city and interrogate him politely ask him some burning questions that we’ve always had about his craft. Was he down-to-earth? Yes. Was he accommodating? Like you wouldn’t imagine.

Hi David! It’s Lainey from Hype Malaysia. You’ve done so many death-defying stunts in the past e.g. “Vertigo”, “Frozen in Time”, “Buried Alive”, etc. How much research do you do before performing them?

“Well, those were pretty much experimental and just “testing time” so I put a coffin in my friend’s living room and started sleeping in it just to see how I could do. Then I started learning to fast for an extended time. So that one was pretty much self taught. And then the ice was..my second stunt, it was the same process. We went to a freezer locker and built blocks of ice just to see how long I could withstand it. But then I as started working on things like holding my breath or fasting for 44 days, I started to study with physiologists and I’ve met some really great doctors and scientists so I started to have more access to more people. And the Internet started to expand and research was more available so I started to incorporate that to what I do.”

What was the first magic trick that you learnt and who taught you that trick?

“One of the first things that I remember was when I was about 5 years old and my mother used to work multiple jobs so I would wait at the library. The librarian noticed that I always carried cards with me but I didn’t know what to do with them. So she worked me through a book of magic which was..I believe self working card tricks. And when my mother showed up, I did something very simple but reacted like she had just seen something amazing. So, I believed that I was able to do magic and that was the beginning of my love for performing. I didn’t perform for kids though because I didn’t want to be made fun of – probably smart!”

How do you feel about magicians who expose or reveal show secrets of magicians to the public?

“I think that’s just bound to happen in any art form. There’s always a few people who want to put the easy stuff out to make their quick dollars. Real magicians would never do that because they work too hard on their craft. Usually, the guys that entertain or that you’re fascinated by, they work so diligently and practise so hard and work through so many failures that they wouldn’t just put their craft out on a platter like that. But those guys are rare and a few.”

What can people expect from your “Real or Magic” show at Stadium Negara this Friday?

“I’ve bringing some of my favourite performers from around the world to give me a break while I rest in between recovering from one thing before I go to the next thing so..the show should be about 90 minutes. There will be some incredible, incredible talent that breaks up my piece, yeah. I’ve been working with them for awhile now and they’re phenomenal – I’m just worried that they probably will outshine me. One of the guys’ name is Yann Frisch (French magician), who is considered one of the best magicians in the world..he does this juggling act that he made up that’s just mind-blowing. Another is a dancer named Salah who to me is..he redefined dance. He is the guy that everybody looks up to, studies, and emulates. I’m excited about the show and putting it together but it is very experimental and anything can go wrong, anything can go happen. I don’t have props, I don’t have things hidden, I don’t have things behind me. What you see is what you get so this isn’t like the typical illusion show where you’re seeing a lot of things that are behind-the-scenes. I won’t have sleeves on so everything that you’re seeing it what it is. And I think that’s what makes it interesting because technically I’m actually just giving you everything that..I put in my life..into my magic.”

If you wanna grab those last minute tickets to his “Real or Magic” Kuala Lumpur show, tickets are still available here. Probably not for long though so you better hurry!

For more pictures from the press conference, check out our gallery here:

Also, we’ll be updating live from David Blaine’s “Real or Magic” show in Kuala Lumpur so don’t forget to follow us via our Twitter or Instagram accounts.

For more information, visit David Blaine’s official website.


#Fuel: Diesel Price Up By 10 Sen Effective 1st August; RON95 & RON97 Prices Unchanged

Hey Malaysian drivers, here’s an update for this month’s pump prices for fuel.

As of today (1st August), the price for diesel has gone up by 10 sen. However, Petron Petrol Station Operators Association president Datuk Alang Zari Ishak said that the prices for RON95 and RON97 will remain unchanged.

As such, the new price for diesel will be RM1.70 per litre, up from RM1.60 per litre, while Euro 5 diesel has also received a 10 sen increase, from RM1.70 per litre to RM1.80 per litre. RON95 and RON97 fuel prices stands at RM1.75 and RM2.10 per litre respectively.

Fuel prices for diesel, RON95, and RON97 all increased by 5 sen last month – the first time since April.

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Fun Facts: 19 Shades Of Greyson Chance

He’s back and he sounds nothing like we last remember. In fact, at (almost) 19 years of age, he looks nothing like we last remember.

First discovered when he was only 12 years old, Greyson Chance’s return to the music industry was officially announced late last year. In case you missed it, the young (still young!) musical genius surprised the world when he rocked up on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (where he was first introduced some years ago) in November 2015 for a quick catch up session:

We know that you’re thinking, “They grow up so fast. Sob.”

It has been years, but we hear that he’s ready to meet his fans once again and perhaps take the opportunity to show a more mature side of him this time around. He’s even due to perform at an intimate showcase in Kuala Lumpur sometime next month ;)

But before we get into that, allow us to take you down memory lane with some fun facts about gifted singer-songwriter:

1. American singer-songwriter Greyson Michael Chance was born on 16th August 1997. The youngest child of Scott and Lisa Chance, he has an older sister named Alexa and an older brother, Tanner. Both of whom also make music.

2. Greyson began playing the piano at age 8 and had 3 years of piano lessons. The lessons would serve him well as his April 2010 performance of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at a 6th-grade music festival went viral on YouTube, gaining over 56 million views and counting as of May 2016.

3. Aside from the piano, the multi-talented kid can also play the ukulele. However, you’d be surprised to find out that he has never had any voice lessons. So them mad singing skillz and the amazing Greyson Chance vocal range, it’s the real deal, yo.

4. The success of his “Paparazzi” cover was so phenomenal that it later earned him a spot in the popular American talk show hosted by the one and only Ellen DeGeneres, the multiple Daytime Emmy award-winning “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, in May 2010.

4. Because “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is taped in Los Angeles, California, Ellen DeGeneres had to fly him in from Edmond, Oklahoma specifically for the show. Greyson’s flight to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” marked his first flight, and he was very scared.

5. Ellen DeGeneres was the first person to invite Greyson on a TV show. The host was so impressed by his talents that she created a record label, eleveneleven, so that Greyson could release an album.

6. In speaking about Lady Gaga, Greyson said, “Lady Gaga is my biggest inspiration. Her voice and songs are the parts of art, and Gaga has already changed my life. If she didn’t create Paparazzi song, I would never be like this. She’s so incredible.” Well, he was in for a real surprise while taping “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” when Lady Gaga rang him up during the interview!

7. Even from the very beginning, he wasn’t just good at covers. He made his own music! 2 of his original compositions, “Stars” and “Broken Hearts“, gained over 6 and 8 million views respectively on his YouTube channel.

8. He once revealed that he’s a big fan of American rock band Augustana, adding that their songs are his inspiration. In September 2010, Greyson uploaded a cover of Augustana’s “Fire”, which featured him singing along to the song while playing the piano. That video has garnered more than 1.8 million views to date.

9. His debut single, “Waiting Outside the Lines”, was released in October 2010, while his debut album, “Hold On ‘Til the Night”, was released almost a year later in August 2011. The music video for “Unfriend You”, a single off “Hold On ‘Til the Night”, featured a cameo from “Victorious” star Ariana Grande.

10. Greyon’s first Southeast Asia tour kicked off in 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where in addition to a showcase, he was also invited to perform at the Malaysian Music Industry Awards show with Malaysian YouTube sensation Najwa Latif. He was the first foreign artiste to be invited since 1999.

11. Even at the tender age of 15, Greyson knew exactly what he wanted. He told us exclusively previously, “People underestimate me a lot because of my age. I write my own music and people are constantly very surprised by that when they hear that – because they think, oh Greyson is only 15 years old, he can’t do this, he can’t do that. And I’m kinda just like..get out of my way, let me show you that I can do it! It makes me angry because, I think now, especially in these times, no matter how young you are..if you’re determined and you want it, you can totally go out and do it if you work hard enough!”

11. As his music career became more and more demanding, Greyson spent very little time with his siblings, both of whom he’s very close to. In fact, he’s so close to his sister, Alexa, that he goes to her for lyric help. So whenever he missed them, he’d call or Skype them.

12. In 2011, Greyson made his first foray into acting. He played a younger version of Jimmy Chance, the protagonist of Fox’s comedy, “Raising Hope”, in the series’ 2nd season premiere. The episode aired on 20th September 2011.

13. His favourite ice cream flavour is “Black Cherry” from Bahama Ice. He’s such a loyal fan of Bahama Ice that he once had a snow cone named “Greyson Michael Chance” after him at Bahama Ice in Edmond, Oklahoma.

14. Growing up, he was often compared to teen sensation Justin Bieber despite having different musical styles because they’re both around the same age (there are only 3 years between them). However, being the good sport that he is, Greyson said that he’s flattered to be compared to Justin. And yes, they’ve met.

15. Greyson mentioned that he’d love to work with Amy Winehouse, Hayley Williams (Paramore vocalist), and Taylor Swift. At one point in time, 30% of the music in his iPod are Taylor Swift’s songs. Also, he once showed us his Amy Winehouse wallpaper on his iPhone. Not sure if that has changed over the years ;)

16. Speaking of collaborations, could he secretly be a fan of electronic dance music? Because Greyson was recently featured on a track by tyDi and Jack Novak titled “Oceans“, which was released on 19th February 2016. Dare we say that it’s actually pretty good!

17. His family is of German, English, Polish, and Czech ancestry but when asked about a language that he wants to learn, Greyson chose French. He revealed, “I always want to be fluent in French. I think French is a part of an art. And, I like the way it sounds.”

18. Chart-topping pop icons like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, One Direction have got their own dedicated fandoms e.g. Swifties, Beliebers, Directioners, respectively. But not Greyson, no. Because he has not one, but two fandoms – Enchancers and Greysonators – with very different characteristics (or so we’ve read). Greysonators are unstoppable supporters of Greyson’s career, who would really stop at nothing to “terminate” his haters, while Enchancers just..love Greyson eternally.

19. With August right around the corner, his showcase in June sounds like the perfect time to celebrate his 19th birthday. Ah, but Greyson is not the biggest fan of birthday parties. “I actually don’t like parties. I hate birthday parties! Because it’s just like, oh great..another year has gone by. I’m one year older,” he said. So put those balloons away and cancel the clown/magician please.

Greyson Chance recently made his comeback with a new EP titled, “Somewhere Over My Head”. Get it off iTunes or stream it via Spotify.

We’ll leave you now with Greyson Chance’s live performance of “Afterlife”, the official lead single off his EP. Enjoy:

19 shades of Greyson Chance not quite enough? Let’s make it 50! If you’ve got questions that you’d like us to ask Greyson when he’s in town, leave them in the comments below and we’ll get them to him personally ;)

For more information, hit up Greyson Chance’s website or Facebook page. Alternatively, you could visit Universal Music Malaysia’s Facebook page.

Sources: The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Greyson Chance (Wiki), Fanpop, greysonchance.proboards.com, Billboard, vitanovato, greyson97, Bahama Ice, CandyMag / Featured image: Universal Music Malaysia.

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