Girls' Generation films their first CM in Japan!

Girls' Generation films their first CM in Japan; "We want to do a nation-wide Japan tour this year"

The 9 member Korean girl group, Girls' Generation, appeared at "UHA Mikakutou e-ma throat candy" new CM launch event held in Tokyo on the 21st. They have appeared in their music video CMs aired in the past, but this time, it will be their first CM recorded in Japan. Leader Taeyeon commented with a smile, "I feel really honored and it will be a good experience for us." Yuri boldly spoke of their aspirations for this year, "I'm the happiest when standing on stage together with everybody. We seriously want to do a nation-wide Japan tour this year. We also want to meet our fans from all over the world."

In the new CM, "Girls' Dinner," the 9 members were dressed in European style clothing and it is as if the camera is moving within a picture and pressed ahead taking an one-shot while each of the members posed standing still. They also took a challenge in speaking Japanese for the narration. Looking back at the filming, Yoona said with satisfaction, "Being surrounded with a pretty set, we were able to film feeling really good." Despite the rigorous conditions that comes with filming standing still for a long period of time, "the one-shot was our first experience and we couldn't move our hands or blink, but it was fun," (Hyoyeon) and the new experience felt fresh.

Sooyoung, who had a change of heart since her first visit to Japan, said with a big smile, "At first I was a little worried, but all the fans are caring and now I've gotten used to it and now it has become fun. I look forward to meals in Japan and I ate soba (Japanse buckwheat noodles), Japanese beef, and toro (fatty tuna) sushi with the members yesterday." Because of their extremely busy schedule in Japan, they don't often have off days, Seohyun wished, "We all have gone to Disneyland on an off day we had and it was a fun time. I want to try going to an onsen next."

Girls' Generation new CM, "Girls' Dinner," will start airing nation-wide from Feburary 26th.

Translator note: CM = Commercial

SNSD model for Dior Tote bags!

SNSD's girls latest modelling photos for Dior Tote bags have been revealed on Cosmopolitan.

All the girls look gorgeous here especially Jessica who shows her sexy side in her solo picture.Hope to see the photos from the other girls in the future!

Tyler Brûlé mentions Korea’s power brands !

Worldwide trend setter Tyler Brûlé has nothing but praise for the excellent achievements of the Kpop industry.

Global culture style magazine ‘Monocle”s editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé said on Bloomberg TV, “Kpop is Korea Republic’s most effective and powerful weapon”. In the broadcast, Brûlé also mentioned, “Samsung, Hyundai and LG are the brand names of Korea Republic’s largest exports but now, what actually appeal to most people are Korea’s power brands such as BoA, SNSD, Epik High,Super Junior and other Kpop singers”.

The development of Kpop is a product of the advancement of digital media. He added, “As we progress into the digital era, Kpop has been reaching out to fans around the world through YouTube”. The program then played videos of Wonder Girls’ ‘Nobody’ parodies and covers.

In last month’s edition of Financial Times, Brule had also mentioned some of Korea’s most-likely-to-be-successful exports which includes SNSD. Brûlé was particularly attracted to SNSD’s ‘Run Devil Run’ music video.

IU and Taeyeon, female idols with the best vocals!

Recently, TV Report has conducted a survey,’Idol with the best vocals’, on 223 students from UVA. For the female idol section, IU was ranked first.

IU has shown her ’3 octave vocals’ in a music program, which gained her a great amount of fans. Her natural-born talent is obvious as she has such a powerful vocal although she is still young. In the recent survey, she received 66.16% of the votes and took the 1st place. No one seemed to have any objection towards the result.

SNSD‘s Taeyeon came in 2nd with 18.69% of the total votes. Taeyeon has proven her vocal skills through many solos she sang. Not long ago, MR-removed version of Taeyeon’s ‘I Love You’ had garnered huge attention due to her great vocals.

Wonder Girls’ SunYe was placed 3rd with 8.59%. Recently, Her clear and delicate voice was presented in KBS Dream High’s OST ‘Maybe’.

Meanwhile, Luna from f(x) came in 4th, collecting 5.05%, while Jieun from Secret secured the 5th spot with 4.55% from the total votes cast.

Preview of SNSD's First Japan CM released!

Check out the teaser of SNSD's first CM in Japan here before the video is removed by youtube!

"I Just Wanna Wish"; SNSD's "Tell Me Your Wish" Draft Version Revealed!

Recently, an MP3 of SNSD’s track “I Just Wanna Wish” has recently surfaced on the net, sending fans into a frenzy. While the title may sound unfamiliar, it is in fact a song very well known to SNSD fans.

“I Just Wanna Wish” is a draft version of SNSD’s hit 2009 song “Tell Me Your Wish (Sowoneul Malhaebwa)” that was recorded and used for the girls’ practice sessions – however the song was quickly revised shortly before its release and “I Just Wanna Wish” became the “Tell Me Your Wish” we all know and love today.

While most of the song remains the same, the lyrics in the chorus of the draft version are different from those of the final version, with a more mature and sensual style. Another major difference between the two versions of the song is the bridge, that starts about two and half minutes into the song, right before Tiffany’s iconic “DJ, put it back on”. The bridge incorporates more harmonization and highlights Jessica’s clear and sultry voice through her ad-libs; it also retains the repetitive beat similar to those often used in “Tell Me Your Wish” remixes.

Have a listen for yourself and see if you can spot the differences;

If the draft version sounds familiar to you, “I Just Wanna Wish” first surfaced over almost two years ago in an SNSD dance practice UCC video that was uploaded onto the internet around the time of “Tell Me Your Wish” promotions.

Mnet Media to provide SM Entertainment songs starting February 21st

After overcoming their dispute earlier this year, Mnet Media will finally be distributing songs from SM Entertainment through their music site, Mnet.com.

In 2009, SME officials claimed that Mnet Media was not authorized to use their content and pulled the songs from their artists from the website. The agency also refused to attend any Mnet-related music event.

The public was alerted of a compromise on January 20th with the appearance of TVXQ on ‘M! Countdown‘, the first appearance made by an SME artist in nearly two years.

A representative of SM Entertainment confirmed, “Mnet Media, who runs music site ‘Mnet.com’, apologized to SM for issues such as failing to receive prior consent before distributing our content, and promised to maintain a truthful relationship in an effort to prevent it from happening again. Their sincere stance and determination in restoring truth in the relationship has led to a compromise between both parties.”

They continued, “In order to distribute more joy and convenience to music consumers, and in an effort to revitalize the online music market, we have decided to supply our songs to Mnet’s music service. In the future, we will be discussing a variety of different music-related services with Mnet Media.”

Music fans can purchase songs off the site starting February 21st.