May Pang's Asian Media Internet News

Yes! It is here! TaeYang just released his album just hours ago and more surprises are at hand! Right now M! Countdown is being aired as we speak and while that show is going on, his MV was released! It's just a simple video, which I find cute! Take a look for yourself!

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Hollywood is constantly making remakes. For the most part, they need to leave the originals alone. A few nights ago I decided to go to the movies, (thanks to a friend named Edward Hong) with a posse of friends, including fellow AMIN writers: Lara Visconti and Jessica Dawson to watch The Karate Kid 2010 movie. I was so skeptical. I am a fan of the original one with all of its cheesiness. I do admit that I watched  all of  The Karate Kid sequels ever made. Part two was my favorite, because Mr. Miyagi, played by the late Pat Morita, and Daniel, played by Ralph Macchio, went to the beautiful island of Okinawa. I hated part three and the feminist in me  likes part four just because for a change a girl was The Next Karate Kid.

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Fans got really excited when they found out Big Bang's vocalist TaeYang, real name Dong Young Bae, will be releasing his first full length album "SOLAR" on July 1st. Throughout the week, YG Entertainment has been releasing the track titles from his album, leaving the fans in suspense. Some of the tracks you may already heard, like "Wedding Dress," "Only Look at Me," "Where U At," and "Prayer," but there are new tracks that are to be heard. There will be two versions of this album: a regular version and a deluxe version.

Well, the full track list is finally complete! Along with an audio preview to the first track, which is called, "SOLAR." The title track in which TaeYang is to promote will be "I Need a Girl," featuring Big Bang Leader G-Dragon. The MV is already in the process of filming and it is heard that Sandara Park will be in the video, based on the photos from her me2day . What a great contribution for YG Family, they're ALWAYS together! Also Shaun Evaristo, whom we interviewed in the beginning of this year, is to be helping YG Entertainment and TaeYang with choreography, so we all know that the dancing is going to be flawless!

I'm excited for this album to come out! Being a TaeYang fan myself, I'm ready to hear and see what he has in store for us. What do you guys think of his track list and audio preview?

Here is the full track list:

source: bigbangupdates, bbupdates2010 @ youtube, allkpop, soompi, omgkpop, ygbigbang,com/taeyang

Open auditions for the L.A. K-town based Jersey Shore series will begin this April 24 from 12pm to 6pm. Those who are interested can apply here Craigslist. You can also send in your headshots, cover letter, and/ resume to asianrealityshow@gmail.com. Be sure to join the Facebook group!

After months of on going investigations on his Shine A Light Tour concerts showcased December of last year, due to inappropriate performances of sexual behavior and banned songs, Big Bang Leader Kwon JiYong aka G-Dragon, has been cleared of all charges.

YG Entertainment has stated that even though songs such as Korean Dream and She's Gone were banned because of ratings, the concert itself wasn't banned, making the concert unable to break any laws performance wise.

As for the 'bed' scene in the song Breathe, showcased during the concert, it was meant for show so that charge was cleared as well.

Even though G-Dragon's concerts were cleared of charges, they were to pay a fine of 3,000,000 won ($2,600 USD) as demanded by police. YG Entertainment's staff took care of that matter, as G-Dragon was the performer, he must take responsibility for his actions.

It's good that G-Dragon wasn't put into jail and that leaves a big sign of relief for Big Bang fans right? At least no drastic actions were taken on the fans' part, aside from ongoing support and petitions stating that G-Dragon did nothing wrong.

G-Dragon is also expected to release a collaboration with Flo-Rida in the near future, another controversy due to plagiarism cleared when his album and title song 'Heartbreaker' was released in August 2009. Are fans excited to hear this?

source: allkpop

G-Dragon, leader of the Korean boy band Big Bang, had a controversial concert last year in December. As we have been reporting, G-Dragon had recently been taken in for questioning on the events that happened. He and choreographer Aimee Lee Lucas performed his song "Breathe" where they shared a bed and took part in activities of what some have said is sexually explicit. Now, G-Dragon's concert has been aired in Japan with the footage unedited and everyone gets to see what really happened that night.

What do you all think? Was taking G-Dragon into questioning worth the trouble?

Come on guys! Our contest to win three exclusive Official 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Booklets and three official posters ends this Sunday, February 14 on Valentine's Day. I myself went to New York City's Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square to watch the Grammy's along with other recording academy members that did not go out to the event in Los Angeles on the big screen and I had the best time ever. I was given my own copy of the Grammy booklet and official poster. The Grammy Award booklet is 144 pages and it contains awesome photos of all the nominees, including a page dedicated to the one and only King of Pop Michael Jackson, and dedications to Grammy music legends.

Don't miss out on this one time opportunity to receive some awesome memorabilia from the most watched music award ceremony in history! Comment on this post or on this one http://maypang-amin.com/2010/02/02/grammy-awards-giveaway/ for your name to be drawn to become one of the three lucky winners whom will be announced on Monday February 15.

Just when you think things will lighten up for Big Bang member and leader G-Dragon, he was secretly summoned to the Prosecution Office for questioning of the controversies that occurred during his Shine A Light concerts in December.

He arrived at the Prosecution Office during the evening of February 4th, and was held there for an hour. The investigations of the concerts were to determine whether G-Dragon performances were planned by the company and done on purpose, or was he just implying a sexual act for his audience.

The Ministry of Family Health and Welfare asked prosecutors to investigate G-Dragon's concerts, as families of those who attended the concerts being under aged complained that his performances were indeed inappropriate and it violated both youth act laws and public performance laws.

Fans took a stand against the Prosecution Office by sending petitions saying it was not inappropriate and that G-Dragon should not be charged. G-Dragon himself as well as Aimee Lee Lucas, his dance partner during his 'Breathe' performance even gave their two cents of the concerts.

Yang Hyun Suk, the President and CEO of YG Entertainment, stated that the performances were planned and it was to showcase a diversity to the fans who attended the concerts. However if legalities were to occur, he would humbly take the blame.

The Prosecution attorney plans to end all investigations by next week once all considerations for legal violations are finalized for the artist.

What are your feelings on this? We want to hear from you!

credit: asiae, omgkpop

If you're reading this now, Kwon JiYong, aka G-Dragon from Big Bang, showcased a well-talked about concert, his Shine a Light Tour. The concerts got so much attention, especially from two songs that were performed, that netizens started to highly criticize the artist and management company for showcasing such inappropriate performances for a young audience. It came to the point where police officials started to investigate the concerts. If the officials rule that G-Dragon did violate the law, the artist would result to paying a hefty fine, as well as going to prison.

Fans of G-Dragon and Big Bang were infuriated that their idol was getting bashed left and right; from the controversies of plagiarism of songs in his first album "Heartbreaker" to hearing he might go to jail because of the 'extreme' performances. They had to take a stand. From all over the world, they began sending petitions to the prosecution office. Even fans who attended the actual concerts protested saying that G-Dragon's actions were not obscene enough to receive such harsh consequences. They decided to show their support and make petitions for their beloved leader.

Aimee Lee Lucas, the female dancer who was in the infamous 'bed' scene with G-Dragon during 'Breathe,' was actually surprised of the reactions after the concerts:

“I was shocked when I heard what was happening,” Aimee says. “We performed two shows on a Saturday and Sunday. All the VIPs and big people came out on Saturday and no one said anything. During rehearsals, no one told us we were going too far and should hold back. So the reaction was surprising.”

It's true that a picture can speak a thousand words. One of the photos from the concert showed Aimee with her legs around G-Dragon, making it look like a 'dry humping' act. However Aimee stated:

“There was no humping,” she continues. “If you watch the (footage), the whole bit lasts only a few seconds. He straddles me for a bit, we do some ‘acting’ and then we’re done. I had to lift myself (on the stand-up bed) and hang there and support all my body weight with my arms. I could only do that for a couple of seconds so there wasn’t any time to do any humping.”

Not long after Aimee released her statement, G-Dragon released his own two cents on the concerts. From a person who pushes himself to the fullest, giving his all to make sure everyone in the audience (even those sitting in the back) got the full Kwon JiYong effect, was indeed effected by the netizen's harsh criticisms.

He stated:

"I’m a popular artist for the public. I believe in how the public judges me. It’s my fault if the public felt what I intended was too much or too inappropriate. But it wasn’t a concert that was aired to the public so I wanted to show a more fierce and memorable side. I’m so sad that things weren’t accepted the way I intended them to be accepted.

I really ran straight forward to get to this solo concert since I was a young kid. I might be saying this because I’m still young but after the concert I thought to myself, “I don’t want anything else.” But then the next day, I only saw criticism on the internet so my heart felt like it was breaking.

A fake laugh came out instead of tears as I asked myself, “Wherever I go, will I be criticized?” All I wanted was to show the audience various sides of me. I showed many images of myself during my performances, including a cheerful look and a cool look; why was only this part highlighted and made into an incident? The press articles of the media used such strong words in the headlines, and when I realized that my parents would see the articles, I felt embarrassed and disappointed.

I didn’t think too much. But I wish people wouldn’t judge so quickly and pessimistically. The song Breathe is about not wanting to wake up because your ideal type keeps appearing in your dream. The song has a fantasy theme so I wanted to use the bed to show someone who’s lost in his dreams. To the public, it came off as something too sexual. I thought to myself, “I’m not like that but I guess it seemed that way to people.”

Whether people give positive or negative comments, they are taking interest in me. If someone tells me I did something wrong, I take it as a comment to help me fix my ways. I’ll listen to what everyone’s saying and use it to help improve the next album. I’ll do my best with the Big Bang album coming out later this year."

It just truly shows how strong minded G-Dragon is. He keeps going even when he is being pushed to the ground. So what is your reaction to this news? Should this all just stop and let the artist be or does he really deserve what he's getting? Including possible imprisonment? We want to hear your thoughts on this.

source: allkpop, youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily, kr.news.yahoo, omgkpop, soompi.com

After hearing about the possibilities that Big Bang member and leader G-Dragon will face charges for obscene actions during his Shine A Light Concerts, Fans from all over began to write petitions to send to the prosecution office. This plan of action has been going around since December. A second and third petition are in the process of being made as well, according to GDragon Supporters, a page made by fans to show support to the performer.

“We will also be sending out petitions to YG Entertainment and GDragon with 2000 signatures. We hope that we can get them to see the heart and sentiments of us many and also that of the artiste himself. Instead of waiting for the case to be over, we want to relay the right meanings and sentiments. It is like a precious present as compared to just showing support, to relay the enthusiasm and also the subjectivity of the case,” The fan page also stated.

In addition, those who attended the actual concert sent a petition as well to state that G-Dragon's "obscene actions" weren't bad enough to face such harsh consequences.

Here is and excerpt from the petition:

In order for a performance to be filed for being obscene, the audience must agree to it. However, the concert was not obscene to the viewers and none of us were sexually offended. We can not let a single performance degrade the quality of the whole concert.

So what is your opinion? Does G-Dragon deserve to jail? Or are the authorities clearly over reacting? We want to hear what you think about this.

credit: allkpop, kbites, omgkpop, popseoul