K-Pop

Trouble Maker's sexually-charged k-pop video

SO BADDASS IT'S GOOD

Steamy kissing scenes. Passionate making out. Implied threesome. Binge-drinking and smoking

   Drugged-out protagonists leading a wayward life of violence and bloodshed.

   This is no gritty Hollywood flick, but the latest eyeball-grabbing music video Now from K-pop's most exciting and unconventional duo, Trouble Maker.

   Comprising girl group 4Minute's curvaceous bombshell HyunA and boy band Beast's charming Hyunseung, the delectable pair making a winning combination by boldly deviating from K-pop's structured mould which - let's face it - has always preferred its A-list idols earnest and clean-cut.

   Playing cutesy and goody-two-shoes was, from the get-go, obviously not in this couple's DNA.

THE CRED

Trouble Maker, a sub-unit formed by record label Cube Entertainment (home to both 4Minute and Beast), debuted in November 2011 with their eponymous EP. Groovy, catchy single Trouble Maker was an instant hit, winning them a string of awards, including Best Collaboration at the 14th Mnet Asian Music Awards and Hot Trend Song at the 4th Melon Awards last year.

   As evident in the music video of Trouble Maker, HyunA, 21 and Hyunseung, 24, were determined to stand out from their K-pop peers, wowing audiences with their titillating dance moves - cue several scenes of hips gyrating and bodies pressed close to one another.

   With the Oct 28 release of the visually-impressive Now, aptly described by Billboard.com as boasting of "a modern-day badass Bonnie and Clyde storyline", they have pushed the envelope further, making what could very well be the most sexually-charged K-pop music video of 2013.

THE CRAZE

If you're wondered whether conservative Asian audiences can accept their favourite poster boy and girl indulging in crime and all sorts of vices, the answer is clear.

   In less than two weeks, Now has accumulated more than nine million views on YouTube.

   The uncut six-minute version, which is double the running time and features more moments of intimacy between HyunA and Hyunseung, has attracted more than one million views in less than a week.

   Looks like Trouble Maker has successfully made raunchy and risque their signature traits.

THE CHEMISTRY

While their sizzling on-screen chemistry might seem effortless, HyunA told Korean news website Soompi.com last month that filming the kissing scenes with Hyunseung was, in fact, "embarrassing".

   Echoing similar sentiments was Hyunseung, who agreed that they had to overcome the initial "awkwardness" and "shyness".

   Eventually, they did it as "we are both from the same company and it is not our first time working as a duo," he said.

   "So we managed to work in harmony."

THE COMEDY

On last week's episode of Korean TV variety programme SBS Cultwo Show, the pair also shared a comical behind the scenes moment.

   "We were supposed to kiss while the fire was burning next to us, but the fire unexpectedly started burning too soon, which gave us no time to get into the 'kissing mood'," said HyunA.

   Added Hyunseung with a tinge of disappointment: "We had to hurry through the kiss."

Some were less of a hit

On paper, sub-units formed by K-pop record labels are a dream come true

They fulfil fans' fantasies of seeing their favourite members from different boy bands and girl groups perform as one, and Trouble Maker is hands down the most successful of the lot.

   However, in reality, this side project concept is not foolproof. Here are a couple who have been left on the sidelines.

S.M. THE BALLAD

Comprising Super Junior's Kyuhyun, SHINee's Jonghyun, rock band TRAX's frontman Jay and trainee artist Jino, S.M. The Ballad were billed as entertainment giant SM Entertainment's all-male ballad group as all four were picked for their vocal prowess.

   The quartet released their debut effort. Miss You, in November 2010, but it failed to create much of a stir, despite the album boasting gorgeous R&B number Hot Times.

   To date, they haven't scored a follow-up release.

YOUNIQUE UNIT

Another brainchild of SM Entertainment dance pop sextet Younique Unit was formed in October last year as a one-off marketing collaboration between the label and Korean automobile brand Hyundai.

   Comprising SM Entertainment's best dancers - Super Junior's Eunhyuk, Super Junior-M's Henry, SHINee's Taemin, Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon and EXO's Lu Han and Kai - they released just one song, Maxstep, and an accompanying music video.

   Maxstep, chockful of dubstep sounds, is included in a mini compilation album, PYL Younique Volume 1, which features two other songs by BoA and Girls' Generation's Jessica.

Nude photos of k-pop starlet Ailee leaked online

The surprise: She's now even more popular

Career boost, not bane

Instead of the expected backlash, K-pop singer Ailee has been gaining in popularity after her nude photos were leaked

IN TEARS: Ailee broke down after she learnt about the leaked nude photos

Just as fame beckons K-pop singer Aliee, nude pictures taken of her before she became well-known have surfaced to haunt her.

The sexy Korean-American broke down when she found out last week about the leaked pictures, for which she had posed for fully naked, South Korean media reported.

   Hardly surprising since such pictures usually lead to scorn and even career suicide, especially for K-pop stars.

   Then came the big surprise: Instead of the expected backlash, the starlet, who made her K-pop debut only last year, found herself gaining in popularity.

   So much so that the 24-year-old is now on the brink of being voted Best Female Artist at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards (Mama), which will be held in Hong Kong.

   Mama is Asia's top music awards show and K-pop A-listers like T.O.P, 2NE1 and Girls' Generation are expected to attend.

   In the last three days, Ailee has surged ahead in the fan-voted awards to overtake Lee Hyori in the race for Best Female Artist. The US-born singer has also surged past IU to lead the Best Female Vocal Performance category with her song U & I.

   For this, Ailee, whose debut single Heaven was a huge hit in South Korea last year, can thank K-pop fans who rallied behind her out of sympathy and voted online to support her.

   One fan said: "I voted for her because I felt bad for her when I saw the pictures. This was certainly not her fault.

   "I thought she would be dropped by her label because now she's 'damaged goods'. You know how it is in the Korean music industry - the singers have to be all nice, sweet and decent."

   Another fan who also voted for Ailee, said: "I don't mean to be mean, but Ailee is dumb. There's always a chance that such pictures will be released.

   "This doesn't mean I will stop loving her music. I'm just surprised she's not the street-smart girl she appears to be."

   Other netizens were less forgiving, with one saying that Ailee can no longer be a role model for young girls and another questioned whether the pictures were a publicity stunt.

   When Ailee was named as one of the Top 10 K-pop artistes of 2013 at the Melon Music Awards last weekend, she burst into tears.

   She said in her acceptance speech: "I want to say 'I love you' to all the people and fans who have supported and loved me, no matter what happened."

   Her management company, YMC Entertainment has confirmed that she is the woman in the photos.

   It said: "We've confirmed that those photos were taken for a camera test after Ailee received a model casting offer for a famous American underwear company while she was living in the US."

   "Ailee was told that she needed to take the nude photos for an accurate examination of her body and she agreed to take them under the belief that since it was for a famous underwear company, all information would be secure."

   The agency said there had been no response from the underwear company and Ailee has made a report to South Korean police. It also said it would be taking legal action against the person who leaked the photos.

   Korean media reports had earlier implicated Ailee's ex-boyfriend Daniel Lee, the vice-president of US-based Korean entertainment website Allkpop, as the perpetrator because the pictures reportedly appeared there first.

   In an interview with a Korean news programme, Mr Lee denied leaking the pictures and said he had not spoken to Ailee since the scandal.

   He said a Canadian citizen had contracted the website in June in an attempt to sell Ailee's nude photos.

   "A misunderstanding happened and I can only say (I'm) sorry about it."

5 things about Ailee

1. BEGINNINGS

Before 2010

She was born Amy Lee in Denver, Colorado, She grew up in New Jersey. Her first foray into singing was posting her videos on a Youtube channel she created.

2. THE BIG MOVE

2010

She moved to South Korea in 2010 and was signed to YMC Entertainment after she aced the audition with the company.

3. RAP

2011

She was featured in Korean singer Wheesung's song They Are Coming. In it, she showed off her rapping skills.

4. ACTING

2012

She made her acting debut in the second season of Korean TV drama Dream High as Ailee, one of the members of fictional K-pop group HershE.

5. MUSIC

2012-2013

So far, she has released two mini albums - invitation (2012) and A Doll's House (2013)

Other nude-photo scandals

Ailee's nude-photo scandal may have done more good than harm. Here are some showbiz beauties whose lives fell apart after their bits were put on show.

GILLIAN CHUNG

Pictures of the Hong Kong actress-singer posing in wild, sexual abandon made their way online in 2008 via Hong Kong actor Edison Chen's hacked laptop.

   Her career took a nosedive as she had always sold herself as an innocent.

   Her fans cried foul online, recalling with distaste when she cried in front of the Hong Kong media in 2006 after a peeping Tom took pictures of her in the changing room.

   Her lucrative endorsement deals were cancelled and she beat a hasty retreat from the public eye.

CECILIA CHEUNG

When Hong Kong actor Edison Chen's laptop was hacked in 2008, pictures of his ex-girlfriend Cheung, naked, were leaked online.

   Everyone was shocked because the Hong Kong actress was already a wife and mother.

   She was married to Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse, and the couple had a year-old son, Lucas.

   Tse publicly supported his wife and the couple had another son, Quintus, in 2010.

   But in 2011, the couple headed for splitsville.

MAGGIE WU

Just as she was making headway on TV with a leap from supporting to lead roles, sordid sex photos of the Taiwanese model-actress in bed with Taiwanese playboy Justin Lee were leaked online last year.

   Wu was reportedly so emotionally distraught that she lost 5kg in 10 days after the photos appeared online.

   Her manager claimed she was been drugged by Lee, but this didn't help her already sullied reputation.

   Her career hit rock bottom.

K-Wave 2013

BLOOM: Big K-pop names including girl group 4Minute chose to go floral this year, from magazine shoots to album promotional pictures.

M looks at the top five trends in K-pop and Hallyu culture that have blown us away this year

Just when everyone thought the South Korean craze had hit its peak with Gangnam Style and was set to go downhill, a hankering for all things Korean has been hotting up like kimchi.

   If there was a time when the Hallyu (literally, flow from Korea) Wave ruled the world, it probably is now.

   M looks at five trends in the world of K-pop and South Korean culture...

FLORAL PRINTS

Stylistically, these patterns are often deemed retro and campy. But you can always count on your favourite K-pop idols to make them cool and current again.

   This year, big names such as 4Minute, Girls' Generation, IU and T-ara N4 chose to go floral, from magazine shoots to album promotional pictures.

   It was also the new look of top boy bands SHINee and Infinite, who prove that it takes real men to channel bohochic, topped off with a generous does of flower power.

COMING OUT ABOUT PLASTIC SURGERY

It is an open secret that many female celebrities in South Korea have gone under the knife. Altered faces are practically the norm in the image-obsessed world of K-pop.

   But 2013 marked a turning point for being open about cosmetic surgery - three stars have publicly acknowledged that they have done nips and tucks, including Kara's Goo Hara (fillers injected into her nose), After School's Uee (double eyelid surgery) and 2NE1's Minzy, who told fans through her label YG Entertainment that she had "fixed" her "crooked nose".

   Whether you are for or against plastic surgery, these stars admitting that they have gone for plastic surgery deserve our respect.

K-POP-MANDOPOP COLLABORATIONS

The much-hyped collaborative effort between K-pop and Mandopop artists has become an annual ritual of sorts.

   Last year, American-Taiwanese singer-actor Van Ness Wu performed a duet with 2PM's baby-faced Lee Junho.

   This year, the baton has been passed to Taiwanese superstar Show Luo and sultry Brown Eyed Girls' maknae (Korean for youngest member) Ga-In.

   The sexy singer, who previously raised temperatures in Psy's Gentleman music video, appeared in Luo's video, Cast The Net Of Love, oozing effortless charm with her smouldering smoky-eyed gaze.

PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES IN REALITY TV

It is not all fun and games on South Korean television. Not all variety programmes are wacky and hilarious like Running Man and Strong Heart.

   More South Korean reality TV shows are resorting to extreme measures in a bid to rack up viewership, reported The Wall Street Journal.

   Splash, a diving-themed competitive reality show, was pulled off the air earlier this year after several celebrity participants suffered injuries.

   Another, The Law Of The Jungle, dispatched star into primitive, natural areas to make them learn how to survive with minimal resources. In one episode, a comedian dived into the Caribbean Sea and briefly lost consciousness.

FINGER-LICKING KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN

With its crispy skin and moist meat, Korean fried chicken has won the hearts of many people.

   And now, fast-food chain KFC has joined the ranks of eateries offering this delicious comfort food - at prices that will definitely not burn a hole in your wallet.

   Sink your teeth into KFC's jucy chicken marinated in seven types of chillies and peppers, or take a bite of KFC's very own Korean-style burger, glazed with spicy Korean sauce, creamy mayonnaise and crunchy lettuce.

   It's super-enticing - choose between KFC's Spicy Korean Crunch Meal which comes with two pieces of Spicy Korean chicken, regular fries and regular lemonade or the Spicy Korean Box which consists of a Spicy Korean Burger, one piece of Spicy Korean chicken, a regular whipped potato and regular lemonade.

   Big eaters can upsize to a large shaker fries and medium lemonade at only $1.

   Shake up your fries with a coating of spicy Korean seasoning and get an extra special kick!

Rain's first album after military service

Seoul - South Korean singer Rain, known as the King of K-pop, yesterday released his first album in four years as part of a long-awaited comeback after mandatory military service.

   Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji Hoon, released online his sixth album, titled Rain Effect, as well as music videos for its double title numbers 30sexy and La Song.

   The album is his first since he finished 21 months of military service - mandatory for all able-bodied South Korean men - in July last year. His previous studio album, Rainism was released in October 2008, and re-packaged and re-released in March 2009. A special EP album, Back To The Basic, was released in April 2010.

   Rain, 31, composed the songs and wrote the lyrics. A video for 30 Sexy, posted on YouTube yesterday, features him wearing high-waisted suits and high-heeled shoes, performing to a melody led by a synthesizer and backed by a simple hip hop drumbeat.

   "In the past, I used to present scenes of clothes being torn off and my torso exposed, I decided to come up with something different," he said.

   A video for La Song shows him with newly permed hair, performing with other dancers to a Latin melody mixed with hip hop, electronic music and rock. "I made this song which football fans can sing along to cheer their favourite teams during the (Brazil) World Cup", he said.

   He will be making a screen comeback when he stars alongside Jason Patric, John Cusack and Bruce Willis in the action movie The Prince.

Agence-France-Presse