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BTS’ Jimin and Jungkook Join the ‘Billionaires’ Club’ on Spotify

The international K-pop sensation BTS is known for breaking records. So it’s not surprising that two of its members, Jimin and Jungkook, have carved out their own unique places in the annals of music history. Their solo work not only resonated with fans, but has also set unprecedented milestones on Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming platform.

Jimin ‘FACE’ Playlist l 지민 ‘FACE’ 플레이리스트 – BTS (방탄소년단)

Jimin, despite having struck out on his own as a solo artist just five months ago, has had an enviable, undeniable impact. His solo debut set new milestones previously unseen in the history of Korean solo artists. For instance, he became the first Korean solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and achieved the highest debut for a B-side track by a Korean soloist on the same chart. Furthermore, Jimin became the first Korean soloist to reach No. 1 on the Japan and US Billboard Artist 100 charts, ranked as the top two biggest music markets worldwide. 

Most importantly, his album FACE has now exceeded 1 billion streams on Spotify as of August 24, making him the first and so far only Korean soloist to cross that mark with just one album. Notably, FACE achieved this record in just 153 days.

Jimin and Jungkook shine on their own

Meanwhile, Jungkook has written a new history on Spotify. If you add up the number of streams his solo songs have earned, they’ll amount to 2 billion streams. This includes the streams earned by hits like “Dreamers,” “Left and Right,” “SEVEN,” and “Still With You.” Jungkook joins the ranks of BTS member SUGA and female soloist IU in achieving this particular milestone.

정국 (Jung Kook) ‘Seven’ @ BBC The One Show

Jungkook‘s achievements don’t stop there. In July, he became the first Korean soloist to debut a song at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. charts. His song “SEVEN” has maintained its hold on the No. 1 position on both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts for an impressive fifth consecutive week. “SEVEN” has also achieved the distinction of becoming the very first Korean song to spend five weeks at No. 1 on the Global 200, surpassing the prior record set by BTS‘ 2020 hit “Dynamite.”

Even as BTS is taking a break from group activities, individual members like Jimin and Jungkook are proving that they too can shine brightly on their own. Their recent Spotify achievements are a clear indication that K-pop, as a genre, is not just a fleeting trend but a musical movement that’s here to stay.  Congratulations, Jimin and Jungkook! – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Not many can say they’ve hit this milestone. Source: Twitter/@BIGHIT_MUSIC.

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BTS K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BTS’ Jungkook’s Accuser Is Facing Plagiarism Accusations Himself

The K-pop world is buzzing with a series of plagiarism allegations that are taking an ironic twist. Yang Joon Young, a first-generation K-pop producer, accused BTS‘s Jungkook of plagiarizing his song. Jungkook‘s accuser claimed that “SEVEN” copied the scale sequence of Fin.K.L‘s “Time of Mask,” a track he had produced. 

This bold claim was met with skepticism from many corners, especially since “SEVEN” was crafted by international producers. Moreover, a significant portion of listeners found it hard to pinpoint any notable similarities between the two tracks.

The plot thickened when Dispatch, a reputable news outlet, stepped into the fray. On August 24, they published an article that seemingly exonerated Jungkook from Joon Young’s plagiarism claims by providing compelling evidence. 

But as the controversy continued to simmer, many listeners, driven by curiosity, revisited Fin.K.L‘s “Time of Mask.” Their collective astonishment was palpable when they discovered the song bore a striking resemblance to the Spice Girls‘ 1996 classic, “Say You’ll Be There.” 

@jantristan3

Fin.K.L is accusing Hybe of Jungkook’s Seven plagiarising their song Time of Mask but it seems that it’s them who obviously plagiarized Spice Girls’ Say You’ll Be There 3 years after release #jungkook #jungkookseven #plagiarism #BTS #finkl

♬ original sound – Jan Tristan

It’s worth noting that the Spice Girls‘ track predates “Time of Mask” by three years, having been released in 1996.

Jungkook’s accuser exposed himself

Netizens worldwide recognized the irony of the situation. Many took to social media platforms to voice their disbelief and amusement. Comments ranged from observations about “Time of Mask” sounding more like the Spice Girls than Jungkook‘s “Seven,” to declarations that the Fin.K.L track was eerily similar to the British girl group’s classic.

The overwhelming sentiment was one of incredulity, with many finding it almost laughable that Yang Joon Young‘s attempt to call out Jungkook for plagiarism had inadvertently shone a spotlight on his own potential act of borrowing from a legendary pop group.

As the K-pop community and fans worldwide continue to grapple with this unexpected development, the question remains: What’s next in this unfolding drama? – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Jungkook’s accuser shot himself in the foot when his attempt to shame the global star backfired. Source: Naver.

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BTS K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Armys Enraged After a Fan Grabs BTS V in a Japan Event

Kim Taehyung, also known as BTS V, has been the talk of the town for his highly-anticipated solo debut. However, his recent encounter with fans is making headlines for an alarming reason. 

On Wednesday, August 23, the idol was visiting the newly-renovated flagship store of CELINE in Tokyo, Japan. V is known to be one of the brand’s fashion ambassadors, alongside Park Bogum and BLACKPINK’s Lisa.

For the event, the idol was sporting a denim jacket and form-fitting leather pants. 

After his visit to the store, V was seen waving enthusiastically to the crowd that formed who went there just to catch a glimpse of him. Based on the videos by fans, the artist was smiling and waving to ARMYs around the area. 

 

Unfortunately, the crowd’s enthusiasm got a bit out of a control, with some even pushing each other. In the middle of the commotion, one unnamed fan grabbed V’s hair in excitement while he was trying to enter the vehicle. 

Luckily, the singer was able to escape the hold and was quickly escorted by the security to leave the area. 

ARMYs reminder to fans 

Videos of the incident circulated on social media, with several ARMYs reprimanding the fan’s behavior. 

“Please don’t do this ever again,” another fan wrote. “Trying to grab Taehyung’s hair is never okay. You can tell he is so happy seeing his fans but keep it respectful. 

Another wrote: “This is disgusting behavior. Idols also deserve personal space and respect. This is never okay.” 

“Not only are you losers mobbing him and creating an unsafe environment, but now you’re touching him without his consent,” a different user said. 

https://twitter.com/taeminjoestar/status/1694376082403897741

Aside from calling out the rude behavior, ARMYs also urged their fellow fans to be on their best behavior every time they meet BTS members in public. 

Moreover, some fans are also calling for a tighter security for BTS especially when they’re in public. 

 

Layover of BTS V

Currently, V is in the middle of promotions for his upcoming solo debut album Layover. The six-track EP will be released on September 8.  

Even before the official release of Layover though, V has already treated fans to two tracks from the album: “Love Me Again” and Rainy Days.”

Interestingly, Layover will be in collaboration with Min Hee Jin, the creative director of NewJeans and CEO of ADOR. 

Moreover, V is the last member of BTS to officially make a solo debut. Since the group took a break in June 2022, the members have been busy working on solo endeavors. 

Featured image: BTS V on his way to the CELINE event in Japan. Credit: Twitter/ELLE Singapore

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

NCT’s Taeyong Worries Fans With Recent Health Updates

Taeyong of K-pop group NCT sparked concern among his fans as his health condition seems to worsen in the days leading to the act’s upcoming NCT NATION: To the World tour. 

After performing at the KCON LA 2023, Taeyong held a live broadcast wherein he updated fans with what he’s been up to lately. At one point of the livestream, he was seen trying to get up while appearing to look like he’s experiencing a lot of pain. 

The idol then confessed that he’d been feeling weak and experiencing chest discomfort recently. Because of this, Taeyong shared that he’s apprehensive as to how he’ll perform at the group’s August 26 concert. 

“I don’t know if I can perform well next week. I’m worried. I hope I get better by then,” he said. 

 

But what caused more worries among fans was that Taeyong had to fly out of the United States a day after his KCON LA 2023 stage to return to South Korea to resume his preparations for the group’s upcoming concert.

What frustrates fans even more was that the artist even arrived in the US on the day of his performance, proving that he’s following a very tight schedule. This incident then prompted discussions about NCT‘s hectic activities and well-being. 

Taeyong and his grueling schedule 

2023 saw Taeyong bloom as a solo artist while still doing promotions with NCT. 

In June, he made his highly-anticipated solo debut with the EP Shalala. Additionally, he also had solo schedules such as attending Paris Fashion Week and performing at the KCON LA 2023. 

 

On top of his solo ventures, he’s also actively participating with NCT’s group activities. In fact, he tried juggling his solo work and preparation for the group’s upcoming concert. 

However, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Taeyong was notably absent from a group photo taken during rehearsals. Since fans were getting perplexed about his whereabouts, the idol explained that he had to visit the hospital. 

Additionally, the artist disclosed through the online cafe that he had to receive treatment because of cold and high fever. Instead of focusing on his health, though, he was more fretful about missing the rehearsals. 

“There was no time to feel sick,” he wrote. 

Fans irked by SM Entertainment’s treatment of artists

Following Taeyong’s situation, fans took to social media to send their well wishes and prayers for the idol’s recovery. 

Moreover, many of them called out SM Entertainment for not putting their artist’s health and safety their priority. Several pointed out that the agency didn’t even updated fans about the idol’s health status.  

 

Several were also scrutinizing at how the label just let their artists continue to do a series of rigorous activities despite not being in their best health conditions. 

However, what angered fans the most is that Taeyong isn’t the only NCT member who’s not feeling well. Taeil will be taking hiatus from group activities after he sustained a fracture in his thigh because of a motorcycle . 

Aside from Taeyeong and Taeil, other members such as Winwin, Renjun, Haechan, Johnny, and Chenle were also experiencing health problems in the previous months. 

https://twitter.com/staytinyallie/status/1694745128399728669

 

Despite this, fans pointed out that SM Entertainment isn’t doing enough to make sure that their artists aren’t overworked.

Given that NCT has more scheduled activities set for the coming weeks, fans are asking for the agency to at least give the group a proper resting period. 

Featured image: Taeyong in the teasers for NCT’s ‘Golden Age’ album. Credit: Facebook/NCT

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Look: Seventeen Releases First Season of Artist-Made Collection

SEVENTEEN surprised fans by announcing that they’ll be releasing their first batch of artist-made collection! 

Similar to BTS’ artist-made collection, this SEVENTEEN version will see each 13 members create their own set of merchandise. 

From conceptualizing and planning the product to reviewing the samples, each merchandise in their collection was made with personal contribution of the SEVENTEEN members. 

 

However, the release schedule for the artist-made collection of the members differ. The SEVENTEEN members were divided into three groups, whose collections will be released from 2023 to late 2024. 

According to the scheduler released by HYBE MERCH, the division of the members and the release date are as follows: 

  • Season 1 (September 2023): S.coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun 
  • Season 2 (Early 2024): Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8 
  • Season 3 (Late 2024): Mingyu, Vernon, DK, Dino, Seungkwan

 

The first season of SEVENTEEN’s artist-made collection will be available via offline and online stores.

Offline stores will run from September 1 to September 10. Meanwhile, the online selling will start on September 13. Additionally, the shipping schedules also vary for each regional retailer. 

On the other hand, there’s still no other details about the second and third season of the artist-made collection for the rest of the SEVENTEEN members. 

Moreover, HYBE MERCH also released a making log of how each product came to be. 

S.coups’ collection 

With the theme “bright after rain,” SEVENTEEN’s leader made a customized umbrella and glass set for CARATs. 

“When it rains, I don’t usually feel very happy,” he said. “So I want you all to use the umbrella I made on a rainy day and feel a little bit better.” 

 

The umbrella has bright doodles inside, while the glass set even has stickers and features that changes depending on the temperature. Seungcheol even joked that he’ll use the glass set often. 

Jeonghan’s collection 

As for Jeonghan, he mixed a bunny and a squirrel to make a character that represents him. 

I want him to be bright and energetic but gets exhausted easily,” he said of Toram. Aside from his representative animals, Jeonghan also used wings as the ears for his character.

 

For his products, he had a stuffed animal of Toram that carries a blanket and a mood light. 

After seeing the final products, Jeonghan said that he was so happy with the results. “i’ve always wanted to create my own character. And through this great opportunity, we got to create this after a long discussion,” he said. 

Joshua’s collection 

One of Joshua’s recent habits is making scents, as mentioned in SEVENTEEN’s In The Soop. So it was not surprising that he made a DIY perfume-making kit. 

He said that it was a kit that includes different scents that he personally likes. “CARATs can mix the scents however they want,” he explained. 

Among some of the scents included in his kit are vanilla, rose, woody notes, and citrus. What makes it even cuter is the scents had names associated to Joshua, such as “Sunday morning” and “deer.”

Juns collection 

Most, if not all, CARATs knew that cats are Jun’s representative animal. And seems like the idol’s more than okay with it as he makes a cat-themed collection. 

One of his two products are the phone cases. Jun said that since he changes phone cases often, he’d want to use the same style as CARATs. 

Next are stuffed animals, cats, specifically. He explained it’s because he has been playing claw machines often lately. 

 

CARATs, they’re all cute, right? Which one of them are you planning to get? 

Featured image: SEVENTEEN shares how their artist-made collection came to be. Credit: Twitter/HYBE MERCH

 

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GIRLS GENERATION’s Sooyoung on Decision To Pursue Acting Career

GIRLS GENERATION member Sooyoung is opening up about her successful career shift. The former SM Entertainment talent has been pursuing an acting career after leaving her original agency. But does this present a dilemma for Choi Soo-young? The “Winter Breath” singer has opened up about her decision to make the move to acting and how it affected her career.

Sooyoung on Balancing GIRLS GENERATION With Acting Career

Sports Chosun, a prominent media outlet, recently conducted an insightful interview with GIRLS GENERATION’s Sooyoung. This engaging conversation, dated August 24, 2023, delved deep into various aspects of her acting career.

Sooyoung’s transition into the acting industry following her remarkable tenure in the nation’s top idol group, GIRLS GENERATION, has been widely recognized. For numerous idols who embark on an acting career, shedding their idol image can be a challenging feat. There’s often a prevailing bias against idol-actors. During the interview, an intriguing question was posed: whether she felt any constraints as an actor, given her firmly established image as a member of the girl group.

Interestingly, Choi Soo-young gave her answer a lot of thought and her response was intriguing.

“I’ve never thought about ever breaking up GIRLS’ GENERATION and leaving. GIRLS’ GENERATION’s existence is akin to my own skin,” she said. “It is a matter of my own skills and competitive edge, for the audience to not be reminded of GIRLS GENERATION as I promote as an actor.”

“I think that this isn’t a question of the essence,” Choi continued. “Although I am working on acting projects as Choi Sooyoung, I cannot change the fact that I’ve been living as part of GIRLS’ GENERATION continuously. There’s nothing to change about this in fact. It’s not something that I have to escape from. If GIRLS GENERATION becomes a weight for me to bear as an actor, then I think that my own skills are lacking.

Choi Soo-young began her acting career by working on variety shows. She made her acting debut in “Hello, Schoolgirl” in 2008. Since then, she appeared in TV shows like “The Third Hospital”, “Run On”, and “If You Wish Upon Me.” Sooyoung also appeared in films like “Girl Cops” and “New Year Blues.”

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NBA and BTS’ SUGA Launch Collaboration With Mitchell & Ness

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and BTS’ SUGA announced on Friday, August 25, its collaboration with clothing brand Mitchell & Ness for a new apparel collection.

The collection comes months after SUGA was named as the league’s global ambassador in April. “Music and basketball have been shared passions of mine since my youth, and it’s a dream to be named an NBA ambassador,” SUGA said then. 

As an NBA ambassador, the rapper is expected to participate in numerous initiatives and promotional activities that will be featured on the league. 

In an official release, NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum also shared his excitement towards joining forces with the worldwide superstar. 

Tatum said: We look forward to working with SUGA to bring the same excitement he engenders from his global fanbase in support of our continued efforts to grow our brand.” 

Even before he was made an ambassador, SUGA has been very vocal about being an avid fan of basketball. The producer opened up that he initially dreamt of becoming a professional basketball player when he was younger. 

In one of BTS’ initial interviews, the rapper also revealed that even his stage name is inspired by the sport. The idol took “SUGA” out of the first syllables of “Shooting Guard”, a position he played during his early years.

The SUGA X NBA Capsule Collection 

Taking their relationship into the next step, the NBA and the South Korean idol now unveiled its collaboration with the American sports clothing company Mitchell & Ness

Titled “Suga x NBA Capsule Collection,” it will feature a total of six NBA teams. The list includes Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.

These teams were chosen based on the US locations the BTS member visited for his Agust D D-DAY world tour.

 

The apparel will include hoodies, jackets, t-shirts, shorts, and headwear featuring the said teams. The collection, which SUGA personally provided creative input into, will also include the Agust D logo.

“I’m so excited for the next phase of my relationship with the league with the launch of my very own NBA capsule collection. As a longtime fan of the NBA and its teams, this collection is incredibly special to me. I look forward to sharing this with all of you.” SUGA said.

Meanwhile, NBA announced that the “SUGA x NBA Capsule Collection” will be available in the coming weeks via NBA stores, Mitchell & Ness stores, and HYBE’s Weverse Shop

Fans can also get early access to the collection by registering with an NBA ID through the league’s Official Website.

In other news, SUGA started his military enlistment process in early August. He will be the third member of BTS to enlist in the military. 

Featured image: NBA shares SUGA’s capsule collection. Credit: Twitter/NBA

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BLACKPINK’s JENNIE is First K-Pop Artist On ELLE France Cover

BLACKPINK’s Jennie Kim has firmly established her presence in the global fashion realm, gracing the cover of ELLE France’s September issue. This significant achievement underscores her profound impact and influence within the fashion industry, a feat rarely accomplished by K-pop idols.

ELLE France Unveils Jennie’s September Issue Cover

ELLE France shared the news on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. The tweet shares the cover of the magazine’s upcoming issue and it features the BLACKPINK member. Not surprisingly, Jennie is clad in one of her group’s trademark colors.

Following her historic appearance as the first Korean idol on the cover of ELLE USA in late 2022, Jennie has now extended her accomplishments by becoming the first K-pop artist to feature on the cover of ELLE France. Furthermore, she joins the ranks of only a few Asian artists to achieve this honor, with the last being acclaimed actress Maggie Cheung in 2004.

ELLE France, renowned as a premier fashion publication worldwide, typically reserves its covers for French celebrities and models, making this recognition exceptionally rare for Hollywood or Asian luminaries. Jennie’s cover debut signifies the end of nearly two decades since an Asian artist was last featured. ELLE France celebrated this historic moment on their official Twitter account, eliciting widespread excitement among her fans.

BLACKPINK’s Jennie Foray Into Fashion

Jennie Kim, a prominent member of BLACKPINK, has recently made a splash in the fashion world with the launch of her exclusive capsule collection, JENNIE for Calvin Klein. This limited-edition line, handpicked by Jennie herself, encompasses both intimate and outerwear pieces, highlighting “minimal silhouettes with a relaxed attitude.” Her venture into the fashion industry demonstrates her evolving influence and taste beyond the music scene.

Furthermore, Jennie’s versatility extends to the screen, where she appeared in the HBO series “The Idol,” sharing the spotlight with stars like Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd. Her foray into acting showcases her multifaceted talent and expanding horizons in the entertainment realm.

Despite these individual endeavors, Jennie remains committed to her BLACKPINK duties. Fans can eagerly anticipate her continued contributions to the group as they maintain their presence and impact in the world of music.

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Look: Astro’s Sanha to Star in Historical Romance Film

Sanha of K-pop boy group ASTRO is confirmed to be the main lead in a historical romance film titled Suunjapbang

On Friday, August 25, the film’s producers shared the photo of Sanha with other cast members Kim Kang Min and Baek Sung Hyun. 

According to Korean media, Sanha is set to play the role of Kim Yu, a noble based on a real person who wrote a traditional cooking book called “Suunjapbang” during the Josen Dynasty

Then, Kim Yu meets Gye Am, who calls himself the best chef in Joseon. Gye Am will be played by actor Kim Kang Min, who starred in To My Star.

Meanwhile, Casting a Spell to You actor Baek Sung Hyun will also make a special appearance in the film as Kim Yu’s older brother.

 

Interestingly, the real life “Suunjapbang” is considered as one of Korea’s national treasures as it is the oldest Chinese manuscript in Korea containing numerous traditional Joseon-era dishes.

Suunjapbang is set for a December 16 release. 

Actor Sanha is back! 

Fans, especially AROHAs, can’t help but feel emotional upon hearing the news. They quickly took to social media to mark the milestone, trending the hashtag: “Yoon Sanha Actor Return.” 

In the past, Sanha has appeared in various dramas including To Be Continued, Soul Plate, and Your Playlist. However, this project will serve as his first time being casted as a main lead in a movie. Additionally, Suunjapbang will also be Sanha’s first Joseon-era acting project. 

You made me go speechless! A movie? That too the MAIN LEAD? Bro, that is huge! I am so proud of you. ACTOR YOON SANHA IS BACK”, one fan wrote.

https://twitter.com/behappy_sanha/status/1694946804146843740

 

Moreover, fans are extra sentimental about the movie given it’s Sanha’s first solo major project after the passing of ASTRO member Moonbin in April.

They were the group’s first official sub-unit and the duo was in the middle of their DIFFUSION fan concert tour during Moonbin’s death. 

Featured image: ASTRO’s Sanha to star in film ‘Suunjapbang.’ Credit: Twitter/Fantagio Group

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BTS’ V Calls ‘Barbie’ The Most Impactful Movie He Watched

V is sharing his thoughts about everything, from his beloved dog Yeontan to the best film he has watched. The BTS member is currently promoting his upcoming album “Layover” but he also spoke about movies that had an impact on him. Not surprisingly, Kim Taehyung called “Barbie” the most impactful movie he has seen recently. In addition to that, the “Rainy Days” singer discussed how jazz influenced his solo endeavor.

V Gushes About ‘Barbie’

Kim Taehyung recently sat down with W Korea for a photoshoot and an accompanying interview. When asked if he had watched any good movies lately, V enthusiastically admitted that he has seen “Barbie.”

“I watched ‘Barbie’. Seriously, it really is the most impactful movie I’ve watched recently,” he said.

“Barbie” is directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie as the titular doll. The film follows Barbie and Ken (Ryan Gosling) as they embark on a journey of self-discovery following an existential crisis. “Barbie” has grossed $1.28 billion worldwide, becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2023.

It’s great to know that V has already watched “Barbie” but the influences on his new album are very different from the film’s soundtrack. Still, Kim Taehyung confirmed that “Layover” is inspired by his love for jazz.

“Standard jazz could be a bit too complex, so I tried to make my songs more contemporary and popular,” he said. “When the sun’s setting, under the sunset, when you’re driving, when you get off work… That would be the best time to listen.”

V has recently unveiled two pre-release tracks “Love Me Again” and “Rainy Days”. He is now preparing to drop his third one, titled “Blue.” All this excitement precedes the highly anticipated release of the BTS member’s debut solo mini-album, “Layover,” scheduled for September 8th. Fans are eagerly anticipating this milestone in his career, as V showcases his individual artistry and musical prowess.

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