[NEWS] BIGBANG PICKED AS MOST POPULAR K-POP STAR IN FIRST HALF OF 2012

Big Bang was named the top K-Pop celebrities in the first half of 2012. On April 18, a Korean research agency called Leespiar released results to their recent survey that asked for the most popular Korean celebrity in the first half of 2012.

In the male artist category, Big Bang won 18.1% of the votes, earning the top male singer honor. Lee Seung Gi came in at second with 11.3% of the votes, followed by 2PM, Rain, and 2AM. Shinhwa, who returned with their 10th album last month, was ranked at #10.

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Source: soompi

[NEWS] BIGBANG'S SHUFFLE DANCE IS ATTRACTING GREAT ATTENTION

Advertisement agencies for this spring season are big on dancing this season. The most recent rounds of advertisements show an increase in the number of advertisements featuring stars dancing, much to the amusement of viewers. In particular, Big Bang’s shuffle dance is attracting great attention.

In Coca-Cola’s ‘Sparkling Lemonade’ commercial, featuring Big Bang, as soon as the members take a drink from the sparkling lemonade, a ‘Fresh Switch’ is turned on, leading to the members displaying their wild and exciting shuffle dance moves. The excitement from the dance and the ‘Fresh Switch’ leads to the passing bystander joining in on the fun.

In another advertisement, Infinite, who recently emerged as the winners of a dance battle on a television variety program, displayed its dance skills for a Galaxy Player advertisement. The unveiled ‘Galaxy Player Dance’ was first seen on YouTube, prior to the commercial’s television premiere, and attracted a large amount of views. Yet another advertisement features soccer player Cha Du Ri in an new updated commercial for Ursa as he was joined by his father, coach Cha Bum Kun, and younger brother Cha Se Jji as they sing and dance while proclaiming,“It’s because of the liver!” In particular father Cha Bum Kun and Cha Du Ri′s popping and breaking skills have drawn amusement to viewers.

Cha Tae Hyun also displays his dance moves in men’s beauty brand, UL OS, where he dances his oppa skin shuffle dance in a bathrobe, reflecting his young skin and healthy image. Davichi’s Kang Min Kyung also does the shuffle for a fiber drink commercial, although with a twist as the ‘Diet dance’.

This sort of dance and advertisement combination is being seen not just in Korea but globally as well. Regarding this, marketing agency Ham and Partners explained, “In an age where the power of viral marketing through users is showing its power, ‘dance-vertising’ goes beyond just introducing a product and is creating a new trend.”

Source : enewsworld.com

[NEWS] G-DRAGON & TOP TO HOLD COLLABORATIVE PERFORMANCE WITH THE TOP 3 FINALISTS ON K-POP STAR

With SBS’s ‘K-Pop Star’ down to its Top 3 finalists (Lee Ha Yi, Park Ji Min, Baek Ah Yeon), the three will each be holding a special collaboration stage performance with top artists under the three agencies YG, SM, and JYP Entertainments.

On April 18th, several sources revealed to Star News that Big Bang’s sub-unit GD&TOP, would be making an appearance on the April 22nd live broadcast of ‘K-Pop Star’ to hold a joint stage performance with one of the Top 3 finalists.

Viewers and fans are highly anticipating the upcoming broadcast as it will not only feature top idols on the show, they will also performing on the audition program live with the talented contestants. Meanwhile, a representative of the audition program stated, “We will reveal everything once everything has been confirmed.”

Tune in to find out which finalist performs with who on the April 22nd live broadcast of ‘K-Pop Star’ airing at 6:00PM KST!

Source : Star News via Nate (via allkpop)

[NEWS] BIGBANG TO JOIN HANDS WITH JEJU AIR

Affordable airline, Jeju Airlines has joined hands with idol group Big Bang.

Jeju Airlines has acquired Big Bang to lift their image as a global airline, because Big Bang is representative of K-Pop stars. This was revealed on the 18th.

Big Bang, as a 5 member group consisting of G-Dragon, Taeyang, TOP, Daesung, and Seungri will bring popularity to Jeju Airlines through their destinations of Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam. They will be on the home page, newspapers, magazines, online advertisements, and each overseas counter of Jeju Airlines.

Jeju Airlines is also sponsoring Big Bang’s Japanese and Asia Tour, starting next month. Big Bang will be boarding these planes with their staff as a group to go on tour. For the Asia tour starting in October, in Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam, they will be not only promoting, but there will also be a Big Bang Concert Travel Package.

Jeju Airlines representatives have stated that “The fact that top class K-pop star Big Bang endorsing the affordable airline, Jeju Airlines, will be a hot topic in Asia,” and “They will be a huge help in bringing Japanese and other east asian travelers who wish to come to Korea.

Source: asiae.co.kr , facebook.com/funjejuair
Translated by: @kristinekwak

[NEWS] Big Bang to Appear on ‘MTV World Stage’

Big Bang will be meeting with fans in 160 countries around the world through MTV World Stage-Big Bang Alive before the start of their world tour.

MTV World Stage-Big Bang Alive will air worldwide on May 4. Most of the broadcast will be devoted to the group’s performances of tracks from its fifth mini album Alive.

The performances of Bad Boy, Fantastic Baby and Blue from the group’s Big Bang Alive Tour 2012 held in Seoul in February will be making it into the broadcast, which is expected to effectively draw anticipation from the fans waiting for Big Bang’s world tour to come by their countries.

More performances from Alive and interviews of the members previously revealed through the ‘YG On Air’ service on Naver Music will air alongside the other videos.

MTV World Stage is a show that airs clips from live concerts of globally renowned artists with the aim to deliver a wide variety of genres to its viewers. In 2009 it started with Coldplay, and continued to air concerts and music festivals by big stars such as Oasis, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Black Eyed Peas.

After becoming the first Asian team to win the Worldwide Act Award at the MTV Europe Awards, Big Bang managed to follow the feat up with the broadcast, standing shoulder to shoulder yet again with world class singers.

From May, Big Bang will start up its Big Bang Alive Tour 2012 in Japan with Live Nation, the entertainment company that helmed the world tours of Madonna and U2.

Source : enewsworld.com

[NEWS] Big Bang selects Japanese comedienne Watanabe Naomi as their ideal type

Big Bang’s ideal type is becoming a hot topic of conversation amongst netizens.

Big Bang recently filmed for TV Asahi’s hit variety program ‘Onegai! Ranking’. They guest-featured alongside actresses Nagasawa Masami, and Oshima Mai, as well as comedienne Watanabe Naomi.

After the boys were praised for their impressive “Fantastic Baby” stage performance, the members were asked which of the three female guests came close to their ideal types.

The audience members assumed that the boys would choose one of the beautiful actresses on set, but Big Bang surprised everyone by selecting comedienne Watanabe Naomi.

The others on set with Big Bang could not believe their ears, and continued to ask the members if they were truly being honest.

‘Onegai! Ranking’ starring Big Bang will air on May 3rd at 12:20 am.

Source : TVDaily via Nate (via allkpop)

[NEWS] BIGBANG to appear on TV Asahi’s ‘Onegai! Ranking’

It’s been revealed that Korean group BIGBANG will be making an appearance on TV Asahi’s popular variety program, ‘Onegai! Ranking‘.

BIGBANG will be introduced by comedian Watanabe Naomi in the “Ima Hamatteiru Artist” (Artist I’m Into Right Now) segment of the program, and they will perform their new song, “FANTASTIC BABY“.

Aside from Watanabe’s segment, the episode will star actress Nagasawa Masami and talento Oshima Mai, who were all born in 1987. The program’s ‘Strike Music‘ segment features 3 celebrities who were born in the same year, and they present songs they were hooked on during their childhood days. If both agree, it’s a “strike”; if only one agree, it’s a “spare”; and if no one agrees, it’s a “gutter”.

During the recording of the show, Watanabe praised BIGBANG saying, “Their song, dance, rap… everything is just perfect!” The BIGBANG boys also made a surprise appearance, leaving Watanabe speechless. However, as the members hugged her, she said, “What should I do?”

After their live performance, Watanabe, Nagasawa, and Oshima all took the stage, asking BIGBANG, “Among the 3 of us, who is your type?” Surprisingly, 3 out of the 5 members chose Watanabe.

‘Onegai! Ranking’ starring BIGBANG will air on May 3rd at 12:20 am.

Source : Mantan Web (via tokyohive)