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SEVENTEEN Reveals Tracklist for Upcoming Japan Best Album ‘ALWAYS YOURS’

The PLEDIS Entertainment boy group SEVENTEEN is gearing up for the release of their Japan Best AlbumALWAYS YOURS.’ To that end, they shared the tracklist for their highly-anticipated compilation.

The album is divided into two discs, each packed with a selection of SEVENTEEN‘s best songs. The first disc has a total of nine tracks, including “CALL CALL CALL,” “Happy Ending,” “Fallin’ Flower,” “24H,” “You’re Not Alone,” “Power of Love,” and “DREAM.” However, the first two tracks remain a mystery, adding anticipation and excitement for the album’s release.

The second disc is a compilation of 16 tracks, all Japanese versions of SEVENTEEN‘s biggest hits. It offers Japanese Carats a whole new way to enjoy their favorite songs, reimagined in their native language. What’s more, the album comes in several editions, each with a unique set of inclusions.

https://www.tiktok.com/@13nekohoshi40/video/7252601533110455554?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6908322787502065153

SEVENTEEN‘s Japan Best Album ‘ALWAYS YOURS’ is set to hit record store shelves on August 23. This album promises to be a treat for fans, offering a comprehensive collection of the group’s best work in Japan. With the tracklist now revealed, the countdown to the album’s release has truly begun.

(Featured Image: This is one of several concept photos for SEVENTEEN’s latest Japanese release. Source: Twitter/SEVENTEEN’s Japanese Twitter account)

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ENHYPEN Teams Up with Pokémon for “One and Only” Music Video

K-pop boyband ENHYPEN has recently embarked on a unique collaboration with the globally beloved franchise, Pokémon. The band released a video for their latest drop, “One and Only,” as part of the Pokémon Music Collective project. This collaboration has not only delighted fans of ENHYPEN and Pokémon but also marked a significant milestone in the intersection of music and gaming culture.

The music video for “One and Only” features the members of ENHYPEN accompanied by popular Pokémon characters like Charizard, Charmander, Lucario, Pikachu, Piplup, Snorlax, and Zoroark. The video showcases the band members and their Pokémon companions preparing for a special camping trip. After setting up their caravan, they enjoy roasting marshmallows and take to the skies in hot air balloons.

The lyrics of the song reflect the joy and excitement of this adventure, with the chorus stating, “The whole world is beautiful, it’s so wonderful / When the day goes by, my heart flutters even louder / It makes me excited, more and more / It goes on even when I close my eyes / You’re my one and only.”

The Pokémon Music Collective is a collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Universal Music Group. It features new tracks by various artists, incorporating sounds and music from the Pokémon video game universe. “One and Only” is the second track to be released from this project, following “Utau” by J-pop producer Imase in September 2022.

This collaboration comes less than two months after ENHYPEN released their fourth mini-album, DARK BLOOD, led by the single “Bite Me.” The album marked the first installment of the boyband’s new ‘Blood’ series of releases and was praised as ENHYPEN’s most cohesive work so far.

The music video for “One and Only” is a delightful blend of the band’s energy and the charms of the Pokémon. The Pokémon are shown living with the ENHYPEN members in their dorm and helping with various chores, adding a touch of whimsy and cuteness to the video.

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ペアのキャラクターはどうやって選んだんだろう🤔 楽曲の公開が楽しみ(*´꒳`*) #ENHYPEN #엔하이픈 #POKEMON #oneandonly #リザードン #ヒトカゲ #ゾロアーク #ピカチュウ #ルカリオ #ポッチャマ #カビゴン

♬ 10 Months – ENHYPEN

ENHYPEN isn’t the first artist to team up with Pokémon. The Pokémon Company has collaborated with artists like Ed Sheeran, J Balvin, Katy Perry, and Post Malone. In the K-pop sector, Pokémon has also worked with the girl group ITZY.

Formed under BELIFT LAB, ENHYPEN debuted in 2020 after its members were selected through the reality show I-LAND. They recently confirmed that they would start their second world tour in South Korea.

(Featured Image: This was posted on Twitter when the music video dropped. Source: Twitter/ENHYPEN’s Japanese Twitter account.)

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‘Squid Game 2’ Issues Apology for Airport Filming Issue

Filming for the second season of the hit thriller series Squid Game has only started but it’s already met with controversy. 

On Tuesday, July 11, an anonymous user made a complaint on an online community about their encounter with a Squid Game 2 staff the previous day. 

The individual shared that during the show’s filming at the Incheon International Airport, a staff member had aggressively prevented bypassers from using the public escalator. They continued that the staff member was rude when instructing them to move to a different place, instead of giving them an explanation as to why they’re not allowed to use the elevator. 

In response to the post, the producers of Squid Game 2 issued a statement to apologize about the incident. 

The creators shared that they’re aware of the social media post wherein a person expressed their discomfort during the filming encounter, and while they attempted to inform the people present in the shooting area about the ongoing filming, they still apologize for making other people uncomfortable. 

“We sincerely thank the citizens who understood [our situation during] the shoot, and we will be even more careful during filming in the future,” they said, according to a Soompi report. 

Netflix first announced in January 2022 that Squid Game will be getting a second season, but it’s only in June when they announced the cast members for the sequel. 

Lee Jung Jae, Lee Byung Hun, Wi Ha Jun, and Gong Yoo are confirmed to reprise their roles, while Yim Siwan, Park Sung Hoon, Kang Ha Neul, and Yang Dong Geun will join the second season. 

Other new additions include Cho Seung Hyun (also known as BIGBANG’s T.O.P), Jo Yur, Park Gyu Young, Lee Jin Uk, Won Ji An, Roh Jae Won, Lee David, and Kang Ae Shim. 

However, T.O.P’s involvement was met with mixed reactions that Lee Jung Jae’s agency even had to clarify that he has no involvement in the idol-actor’s casting. “The casting of a project is the authority of the director and the production company,” Lee’s agency Artist Company said.  

Squid Game 2 is expected to air in 2024, but a final release date has yet to be announced. 

Featured image: Netflix’s Twitter

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Is Blackpink’s Lisa Leaving YG Entertainment?

All eyes are on K-pop girl group BLACKPINK as rumors that they might not be renewing their contracts with YG Entertainment start to circulate. 

On Wednesday, July 11, outlet Munhwa Ilbo reported that among the four BLACKPINK members, Lisa has a high chance of leaving the agency once the group’s contract ends. 

BLACKPINK made their debut on August 8, 2016, and their seven-year contract is set to expire by August 2023. 

According to the report, there’s ongoing discussions between Lisa and YG Entertainment regarding her contract renewal, but the two parties haven’t reached any agreement yet. They also added that according to industry representatives, the contract renewal process for the three members – Jisoo, Jennie, and Rose –have gone relatively smoother. 

Munhwa Ilbo also cited an anonymous agency that allegedly claims that they’re coordinating with YG Entertainment to schedule Lisa’s appearance in a variety show. However, said agency was reportedly informed that scheduling activities for Lisa from August onwards would be challenging due to uncertainties surrounding the Thai star’s contract. 

In response to the report, a source from YG Entertainment told Korean media that the issue with scheduling “has nothing to do with contract renewal.”

“[The uncertain scheduling] is due to the tour schedule as well as her individually scheduled activities,” the agency said, according to a Soompi report. 

The label added that “contract renewals are currently under discussion,” but provided no further details. 

BLACKPINK is currently embarking on their BORN PINK” concert tour. 

BLACKPINK is known for their songs Pink Venom,” “Shut Down,” “As If It’s Your Last,” andTypa Girl.” The group’s music video for “Boombayah” became their third music video to surpass 1.6 billion YouTube views, following Ddu-du Ddu-du” andKill This Love.” 

Featured image: BLACKPINK’s Facebook

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Safety Concerns Raised at NMIXX’s K-909 Recording Session

K-pop girl group NMIXX, known for their impressive dancing and singing skills, recently experienced a series of unfortunate events during a pre-recording session for JTBC‘s music program K-909. The incident, which involved two drone accidents and a stage fire, raised concerns about proper safety measures in the entertainment industry.

On July 10, fans who attended the recording of NMIXX‘s performance for K-909 reported several safety concerns. According to these accounts, a fire broke out on stage due to mishandling of stage props. As if that wasn’t bad enough, a drone got tangled in member Kyujin‘s hair, and another drone hit member Lily‘s arm. The incident was a shocking and terrifying experience for the fans who were initially excited to hear NMIXX‘s new song before their comeback.

In response to these reports, the K-909 production team issued a statement. They explained that the fire was caused by an issue with one of the props, specifically some pink muhly grass. When the team noticed what had happened, they quickly evacuated NMIXX from the stage, extinguished the fire, and ventilated the whole area. They denied claims of an audience member fainting, stating that one audience member felt unwell and left the filming location with a staff member.

The K-909 team also addressed the drone incident involving Kyujin. They revealed that filming came to a screeching halt when the drone ended up in her hair. It was only after they made sure she was alright that they resumed filming. They ended their statement by expressing their commitment to intensifying efforts to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Despite the incident, NMIXX pushed through with their comeback plans. Their latest single album, A Midsummer NMIXX’s Dream, and its title track, “Party O’Clock,” were released on July 11. You can watch the MV for the latter below.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures in the entertainment industry, highlighting the need for thorough precautions to ensure the safety of all involved.

(Featured Image: The NMIXX members made wacky faces on the set of their comeback showcase. Source: Twitter/NMIXX’s official Twitter account)

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Watch: Enhypen Trains Their Own Pokémon in ‘One and Only’ Music Video

From vampires to… pokémon trainers?

After stunning ENGENEs with their sexy concept in BITE ME,” the title track of their fourth extended play Dark Blood, K-pop boy group ENHYPEN went for a cuter route in their collaboration with Pokémon. 

In the “One and Only” music video released on Wednesday, July 12, ENHYPEN went on a camping trip with  different Pokémons such as Pikachu, Charizard, Piplup, Snorlax, Charmander, Zoroark, and Lucario. 

 

The new single is ENHYPEN’s collaboration with The Pokémon Company for its “Pokémon Music Collective” project. In a press release, the project aims to create music “inspired by the sounds of the Pokémon series video game universe by artists across multiple genres.”

 

The Pokémon Company has previously collaborated with Katy Perry and Post Malone for the Pokémon 25: The Album, which was released in 2021, as well as Ed Sheeran in 2022 for  Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. 

Aside from “One and Only,” ENHYPEN is also reportedly collaborating with the ““Pokémon Music Collective” for the group’s variety show EN O’CLOCK. Other details have yet to be announced. 

 

Pokémon is a global video game and animation franchise handled by Ninetendo, Game Freak and Creatures. 

Meanwhile, ENHYPEN is set to embark on their second world tour titled FATE, which will kick off on July 29 and 30 at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea. It will also have stops in Japan and the United States. 

Composed of Jungwon, Heeseung, Jake, Jay, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki, ENHYPEN was formed through the reality talent program I-LAND. They made their debut in November 2020, and are known for songsDrunk-Dazed,” “FEVER,” “Polaroid Love,” andFuture Perfect.” 

Featured image: Screenshot from ENHYPEN’s YouTube

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Monsta X’s Joohoney to Enlist in Military on July 24

Joohoney of K-pop boy group MONSTA X has announced that he will be starting his mandatory military service on July 24. 

In a handwritten letter posted on MONSTA X’s fan cafe on Tuesday, July 11, Joohoney opened up to MONBEBEs why he decided to share the news through an online post instead of revealing it during the group’s recently concluded fan concerts that were held on July 8 and 9. 

“I wanted MONBEBEs to smile and feel happy while watching me during our fan concert, and I wanted to see you all smiling like that. And I also wanted to make it possible for you all to feel that way,” he wrote, according to a translation by Soompi

He also assured his fans that he’ll stay safe during his service and will return as a better person. “I’m not leaving forever, so please don’t worry about me,” Joohoney wrote. 

“After I come back, I’ll show you more good things,” adding that he’s thankful for MONBEBEs for teaching him how to love. 

Joohoney, or Lee Joo-heon in real life, will be the third member of MONSTA X to enlist in the military following members Shownu and Minhyuk. Shownu was discharged from the military in April, while Minhyuk enlisted in the same month. 

Before his enlistment, Joohoney made his solo debut with the album Lights, which was released in May. 

With members enlisting in military services, MONSTA X has focused on solo and sub-unit activities: I.M made his solo comeback in June with the mini-album Overdrive, while members Shownu and Hyungwon are set to make their sub-unit debut on July 25 with The Unseen. 

Composed of Shownu, Minhyuk, Hyungwon, Joohoney, Kihyun, and I.M, MONSTA X made their debut in May 2015. The group is known for their hits Love Killa,” “Hero,” “Shoot Out,” “Dramarama,” “Gambler,andBeautiful Liar.Their last full comeback was in January with the mini-album Reason. 

Featured image: MONSTA X’s Facebook

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YG’s New Girl Group Babymonster to Debut in September

BABYMONSTER, the highly-anticipated new girl group of YG Entertainment, is gearing up for a September debut. 

The agency told Korean media on Tuesday, July 11 that the debut project of the seven-piece act is coming together swiftly under the monitoring of producer Yang Hyun Suk. 

YG Entertainment also shared that the group will have a strong hip song for their debut track, and that the members are currently working on the song’s choreography and preparing for the filming of the music video. 

The label said that the debut song is set for a September release, but additional details, such as final release date and title, have yet to be announced. 

 

BABYMONSTER will serve as YG Entertainment’s first girl group since BLACKPINK made their debut in 2016. 

Between 2022 to 2023, the agency saw departure of its several artists, including BIGBANG members Daesung and Taeyang, boy group iKON, and actor Kang Dong-won. The only remaining artists in their roster are BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, duo AKMU, groups Sechskies, WINNER, BLACKPINK, and Treasure. 

YG Entertainment launched the reality show Last Evaluation in March, wherein it will follow the formation of its new girl group. Founder Yang Hyun-suk initially announced that only five members will be included in BABYMONSTER, but after a huge demand from the viewers, YG Entertainment decided to include all seven members in the official lineup. 

In May, BABYMONSTER released their pre-debut song “DREAM.” 

The group is composed of Ahyeon, Haram, and Rora from Korea, Pharita and Chiquita from Thailand, and Ruka and Asa from Japan. 

Featured imageBABYMONSTER’s Facebook

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KARD’s Provocative “CAKE” Choreography Shocks Fans

DSP Media’s co-ed K-pop group KARD is making waves with their provocative and sexy choreography for the song “CAKE.” Known for incorporating mature themes into their work, KARD has once again pushed the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in the K-pop industry.

Earlier this year, KARD stirred controversy with their latest mini album, “ICKY,” and its title track of the same name. The song’s lyrics, packed with suggestive phrases, sparked reactions from critics and fans alike. BM’s verse, in particular, had everyone doing a double-take. BM himself had fun with netizens’ reactions, tweeting that “ICKY” was milder than the other songs on the album, including “CAKE.” 

He’s right. Based on the title, one might think it’s about dessert, but it’s not. Like “ICKY,” its lyrics are packed with sexual innuendos, and BM told fans the choreography would be “freaky.” Sure enough, when the group did “CAKE” on their 2023 PLAYGROUND World Tour, the performance raised eyebrows. Some were taken aback by the song’s suggestive choreography since KARD is a co-ed group.

Usually, not many people would bat an eyelash at provocative dance moves like humping. Especially not in this day and age. But the fact that a co-ed group performed such moves added an extra layer of shock. Some fans who were going to watch the concert with their parents are reconsidering their decision, given the explicit nature of the performances.

Despite the controversy, KARD continues to captivate huge crowds on tour. Besides, their longtime listeners know none of this is that shocking. For one thing, BM’s solo work, which includes songs like “Bad Intentions,” makes “ICKY” sound downright wholesome. Not only that, but he was featured on “Put It On Ya” by Jessi alongside Korean rapper Nafla, and that song is also quite explicit.

The ladies of KARD aren’t shy when it comes to lyrics, either. On their new album, they have a song together called “Fxxk You,” which is not about hating someone.

(Featured Image: The members of KARD took time out for a selfie during a recent video call event. Source: Twitter/KARD’s official Twitter account)

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Look: Twice’s Misamo Are Stunning in Teasers for “Do Not Touch”

MiSaMo of K-pop girl group TWICE are serving looks ahead of their much-anticipated sub-unit debut! 

JYP Entertainment released on Wednesday, July 12, a group teaser for “Do Not Touch,” the title track for the MiSaMo’s first Japanese mini-album Masterpiece. 

In the video, members Mina, Sana, and Momo flaunted their top-tier visuals – first with the group shot of them in dreamy and colorful ensembles and in close-up shots of them posing in black-and-white. 

Mina, Sana, and Momo are the Japanese members of TWICE. MiSaMo will be the first sub-unit of the group to make an official debut.

Aside from the group teaser, the label has also been releasing individual teasers of the members. 

Masterpiece, which will be out on July 26, features a total of seven tracks, including “Do Not Touch,” “Behind The Curtain,” “Marshmallow,” “Funny Valentine,” “It’s Not Easy For You,” “Rewind You,” and “Bouquet.

 

Momo contributed to the lyrics of “Funny Valentine,” Mina in the track “It’s not easy for you,” while Sana helped in writing Rewind You.

The sub-unit has also released on June 15 the music video for their pre-release track “Marshmallow.” 

In the making video for “Marshmallow,” the members have expressed their feelings for their upcoming unit debut. 

“This is our first time working as a unit, and we’re all really nervous and excited. We’ve been working really hard, so we hope our dearest ONCE will like it,” Mina said

Sana added that they filmed a lot of content as she hoped that the MiSaMo unit is something that the fans have been waiting for. 

 TWICE is a nine-member girl group under JYP Entertainment that made their debut on October 2015. They are known for songs “The Feels,” “TT,” “I Can’t Stop Me,” and “Feel Special.”

They are currently embarking on their READY TO BE concert tour, wherein they made history as the first K-pop girl group to sell out at a stadium in North America. 

Meanwhile, member Jihyo is also set to make her solo debut in August with “Killin’ Me Good.”

Featured image: TWICE Japan’s Twitter

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