South Korea's "Gangnam Style" on Nov. 24 beats Justin Bieber on YouTube! Congrats to Asia! :) 

UPDATE!!! PSY’s Manila concert now scheduled on Dec. 21 at MOA open grounds!

Why is this dance craze so crazily popular???? Please share your comments at the end of this blog post :)

Click the video below of Korean rapper Psy's Gangnam Style performance (with MC Hammer as special guest) at the 2012 American Music Awards! Beware USA, Korean pop culture is coming!!! :) Enjoy the dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOyo7JD7hjo

Here's a Reuters news report published by the New York Times on this Korean pop culture mega-hit:

---

November 24, 2012

Psy's 'Gangnam Style' Video Becomes YouTube's Most Viewed

By REUTERS

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - South Korean rap star Psy's music video "Gangnam Style" on Saturday became the most watched item ever posted to YouTube with more than 800 million views, edging past Canadian teen star Justin Bieber's 2-year-old video for his song "Baby."

The milestone was the latest pop culture victory for Psy, 34, a portly rap singer known for his slicked-back hair and comic dance style who has become one of the most unlikely global stars of 2012.

Psy succeeded with a video that generated countless parodies and became a media sensation. He gained more fame outside his native country than the more polished singers in South Korea's so-called K-Pop style who have sought to win international audiences.

YouTube, in a post on its Trends blog, said "Gangnam Style" on Saturday surpassed the site's previous record holder, Bieber's 2010 music video "Baby," and by mid-day "Gangnam Style" had reached 805 million views, compared to 803 million for "Baby." Within a few hours, "Gangnam Style" had gone up to more than 809 million views.

"Gangnam Style" was first posted to YouTube in July, and by the following month it began to show huge popularity on YouTube with audiences outside of South Korea.

"It's been a massive hit at a global level unlike anything we've ever seen before," said the YouTube blog.

The blog also said the "velocity" of the video's popularity has been unprecedented for YouTube.

In his "Gangnam Style" video the outlandishly dressed, sunglass-wearing Psy raps in Korean and dances in the style of an upper-crust person riding an invisible horse.

The song is named after the affluent Gangnam District of Seoul and it mocks the rampant consumerism of that suburb. Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, is no stranger to wealth as his father is chairman of a South Korean semiconductor company.

His parents sent him to business school in the United States but he confesses that he bought musical instruments with his tuition money. He later graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and won fame in South Korea with his 2001 debut album.

The viral success of "Gangnam Style" on YouTube also has translated into strong record sales. In late September, the song jumped to the top of the British pop charts and it also has sold well in other countries.

Popular parodies of the "Gangnam Style" video included one featuring the University of Oregon's duck mascot, and another done in the "Star Trek" language Klingon.

The official YouTube view count for Gangnam Style represents only the figure for the original video posted to the site, but copycat versions, parodies and videos by people commenting on the song have been posted to the site and elsewhere on the Web.

Counting all those different versions, "Gangnam Style" and its related videos have more than 2.2 billion views across the Internet, said Matt Fiorentino, spokesman for the online video tracking firm Visible Measures.

"Without the dance, I don't think it would have been as big as it is," Fiorentino said. "And the other thing is, Psy has a unique sense of humor which comes through in the video. He doesn't take himself too seriously."

(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Bill Trott)

 

Here's an article on Gangnam Style from the Daily Beast:

‘Gangnam Style’ Sets YouTube Record

Move over, Justin Bieber, there's a new YouTube favorite in town. South Korean pop artist Psy's catchy dance tune "Gangnam Style" became YouTube's most-watched video on Saturday, registering over 803 million views and squeezing out Bieber's "Baby" from the top spot.

Is it because Psy's dance moves are more fun than Bieber's? Because women would rather be Psy's "sexy lady" than Bieber's "baby"? Did Obama's endorsement help? Whatever it is, we now know that China's no threat to American culture. It's South Korea we have to watch out for.







Bangkok-based Kate Hodal of the Guardian wrote this article below on this pop phenomenon:

The dance has inspired a host of parodies, the song has hit the top of the charts in South Korea, Malaysia, Finland and Latvia, and the YouTube video has accumulated more than 227m views. Now, according to Thai media, Gangnam Style, by the K-pop star Psy, has inspired a West Side Story-esque show of rivalry between two Bangkok gangs who are said to have had a dance-off before engaging in a gun battle.

The INN website reported that the two gangs were dining in the same restaurant when "the younger members of both groups danced provocatively at each other in the manner of top hit Gangnam Style". The dance-off escalated into an argument and, eventually, a gun attack in the upmarket Ekkamai neighbourhood, in which one of the gangs fired at least 50 bullets from a carbine and an 11mm gun.

No one was injured in the incident, police Lt Col Apichart Thongchandee told the Bangkok Post. He said the two gangs had a history of confrontation and would face arrest warrants.

The shootout has stoked debate over gang violence in Thailand. Much of the violence plays out in secondary schools and vocational colleges – the latter primarily cater to working-class children – where students seek to defend their school's honour with guns, knives, machetes and even homemade grenades. Between January and July this year, Bangkok police registered more than 1,000 cases of student rivalry, according to a recent report by Agence France-Presse. Several students have been killed or injured since the start of the school year in May.

Thai authorities recently established an army-style boot camp where, according to AFP, repeat offenders must endure regular fitness drills and 5am wake-up calls side by side with their rivals. Not all those attending went back home reformed, Lt Col Wanchana Sawasdeem said, "but for 90% it will work, even if it just means they hesitate before fighting … At least the camp will have made them think."

That the two gangs apparently engaged in a Gangnam Style dance-off is indicative of the video's popularity. Psy, otherwise known as Park Jae-Sang, told Radio 1's Scott Mills this week that his distinctive dance style emulated "riding an invisible horse in your lower body". The video features Park doing the dance all over Seoul – from car parks to steam rooms – with a supporting cast dressed as geishas, nuns and boxers. Park sports various outfits, among them a blue tuxedo together with shellacked bouffant and sunglasses. "This is the point of the Gangnam Style," Park told Mills. "Dress classy and dance cheesy."

The track, which is said to mock the affluent Seoul suburb Gangnam, could become the first Korean pop song to reach number one in the UK charts, according to the BBC. Park has already featured on numerous US TV shows, taught the horse-riding dance to Britney Spears, and helped inspire a flash-mob wedding proposal in Malaysia. The video has been parodied by Los Angeles lifeguards (who, according to LA news outlets, were fired for the stunt), an American college football team and even the government of North Korea. Park recently signed a record deal with Justin Bieber's management team.

South Korean singer Psy persuades United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to perform his Gangnam Style dance routine

(Below are images from Atlantic Wire, claiming North Korean leader lauds Gangnam Style)

Piolo Pascual and Gerald Anderson of the Philippines to do action film soon, both are stars of ABS-CBN 2, both have previously done well in drama or romantic comedies.

Your comments or opinions on them in a new action movie together? What is the future of action films in the Philippines?

Piolo will play the role of an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), while Gerald will play the role of a prisoner who becomes a professional killer.

Celebrity triathletes Matteo Guidicelli and Drew Arellano, plus others of their Vaseline Men XTERRA Philippine Team, recently represnted the Philippines in the XTERRA Off-road Triathlon Global Championship held in Maui, Hawaii, USA.

Triathlon is quite a strenuous and difficult sport! Whew!

Who else in showbiz in the Philippines, Asia or the world who are triathletes?

Don't underestimate showbiz folks! Genius Albert Einstein's IQ test results was 160. Marilyn Monroe scored 168! :)

Who in Philippine or Asian entertainment industry also super smart, high IQ or very intelligent?

Fearless Forecast! Actress Heart Evangelista as future First Lady of the Philippines?

Philippine actress Heart Evangelista seems ideal as future Philippine First Lady, agree? She's beautiful and smart. Is this one reason intrugues are coming her way, especially since her boyfriend Senator Chiz Escudero is a possible future Philippine President?

Please share your opinions at the Comments section way down below?

The reply of Heart Evangelista on insinuations or intrigues that Senator Chiz Escudero is allegedly only using her to advance his political career: "Okey lang. Bahala na sila. Hindi naman sila ang kinikilig, e!” Translation in English: "It's ok. It's up to them.




(Philstar photo below)

Twitter and online bashers should respect Megastar Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan and her love for daughter KC Concepcion, stop provoking anger and also backlash from admirers of Sharon and KC

The multi-talented Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan is one of the most admired and respected entertainers ever in the Philippines, those negative people or twitter bashers or haters should stop provoking anger.

(This photo below from ABS-CBN.COM)





I read this news from pep.ph and ABS-CBNnews.com:

Sharon Cuneta said she might be provoked to reveal the truth behind her daughter KC Concepcion’s breakup with matinee idol Piolo Pascual should the cyberspace bashing keep coming.

In a report by ABS-CBNnews.com, the Megastar was said to have engaged in another quarrel with netizen bashers over social networking site Twitter.

On Friday night, November 2, the actress-singer and mother of X Factor Philippines host KC, defended her daughter against a series of tweets meant to lambast her and her family.

Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan celebrates adopted son Miguel & new townhouse venture in QC

By Wilson Lee Flores (The Philippine Star) | Updated November 11, 2012 - 12:00am

The living room and dining room at The 6 On Rallos residential project of Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan at No. 74 Scout Rallos Street, Quezon City (near Tomas Morato Avenue)

Live with no excuses and love with no regrets. — Montel

MANILA, Philippines - One of the Philippines’ smartest, popular and most well-read showbiz stars, megastar Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan of TV5, and her husband Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan last Oct. 27 celebrated the third birthday and Christian dedication of their adopted son Miguel Samuel Mateo Pangilinan at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion, McKinley Hills in Taguig City. His legal adoption was completed last year.

The name Miguel came from St. Michael the archangel, their daughter Frankie also liked the name Samuel, and Sharon herself also liked the name Mateo, so that became the son’s full name: Miguel Samuel Mateo Cuneta Pangilinan.

One of Sharon’s closest friends, actress Judy Ann Santos, also has her own adopted child. In fact, it was Judy Ann’s husband Ryan Agoncillo who talked to Kiko Pangilinan about Sharon’s plan to adopt a son. Both Juday and Ryan are among the godparents of Miguel.

 Another reason to celebrate for Sharon is her venturing into real estate development with her new project now under construction: a secured compound of first-class four-story townhouses at No. 74 Scout Rallos Street, Quezon City near the lively restaurant row of Morato Avenue. Completion is expected next month.

Called “The 6 On Rallos,” Sharon’s exclusive residential project of six townhouses has the highest-quality finishes plus elegant and functional designs by her brother-in-law architect John Pangilinan.

I have seen Sharon at work; she personally discusses and reviews every detail of the architectural plans. Each townhouse residence is meticulously crafted with premium materials, finishes, practical features and beautiful designs.

Although a daughter of Pasay City’s late legendary Mayor Pablo Cuneta, Sharon’s success is self-made, thanks to her own three decades’ hard work, professionalism and consistent savings of earnings as singer, actress, TV host and top celebrity endorser.

She hosts a daily afternoon talk show Sharon: Kasama Mo, Kapatid on TV5, a show that is both entertaining and inspiring.

The megastar is not only a positive role model of success, but also of good citizenship and social responsibility.

In the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s list of top taxpayers of 2011, Sharon ranked No. 1 among female celebrity taxpayers and reportedly paid P100 million in taxes.

Others in the BIR top 10 but further down in amounts of taxes paid compared to Sharon were: No. 2 Nora Aunor, No. 3 Kris Aquino, No. 4 Sarah Geronimo, No. 5 Angel Locsin, No. 6 Marian Rivera, No. 7 Anne Curtis, No. 8 Vilma Santos, No. 9 Toni Gonzaga, and No. 10 Mariel Rodriguez.

What are her other new plans in the future? Perhaps a major movie project which her fans have been waiting for? Venturing into tourism with resorts in Bohol and Palawan to express her creativity as well as entrepreneurial spirit?

Maybe someday Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan could be convinced to enter politics to help others, as many like Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago have suggested?

Channing Tatum named by People magazine as "Sexiest Man Alive". Congratulations!

 

What about us guys here in Asia, who deserves that title from our entertainment stars or other celebrities?

 

People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" issue has awarded the top honors to Hollywood actor Channing Tatum, naming the star of the movie Magic Mike as "the sexiest man alive". Do you agree? Why or why not?












(A shot below from the movie Magic Mike)

Is the on-going world tour concert of Jennifer Lopez over-rated or just unappreciated by this U.S. music critic of Bloomberg, who had watched the show and wrote this surprisingly very negative review?

J-Lo Mixes Sexy Disco With Over-Slick Pop on World Tour: Review

By Robert Heller - Nov 5, 2012 8:00 AM GMT+0800 Bloomberg

Jennifer Lopez’s “Dance Again” concerts promise sparkle. They deliver stodge.

J-Lo, as she is best known, is on her first world tour at 43. She’s been playing in the U.K. where her curves have been the star of every show she’s done.

Jennifer Lopez on stage at Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands. J-Lo is on her first world tour, "Dance Again," at the age of 43. Photographer: Rob Verhorst/WireImage via Bloomberg

J-Lo sings onstage in her "Dance Again" world tour. She has moved from the U.K. and will now perform in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia and more before traveling to Asia.

Photographer: Rob Verhorst/WireImage via Bloomberg

There’s also an army of dancers that includes her current boyfriend, 25-year-old Casper Smart. Of the clunky pop music, the least said, the better. Her vocals, a little on the shrill side, are satisfactory, not show-stopping.

Consider yourselves warned if you live in continental Europe, where J-Lo heads next. After that, she’s off to Asia and Australia.

Lopez possesses what’s said to be the most revered bottom in the world, with many urban myths about how much it’s insured for. Her prime asset is unashamedly exploited onstage.

A large portion of her hit “I’m Into You” is sung with her back to the audience, the renowned backside smack in the spotlight. Background video graphics regularly linger in the same area.

That alone isn’t enough to explain J-Lo’s success. She’s a Hollywood actress, a judge on “American Idol,” has her own range of perfumes and sold more than 70 million records. She maintains an astute portfolio of liaisons with international brands, in fashion and beyond. On her website, brand-heavy pages devoted to “Style + Beauty” and “Body + Mind” have equal footing to those devoted to her music.

Body Worship

Her dancers’ lithe Latin routines require them to unashamedly worship her body, clad in a succession of tight glittering outfits.

The glamorous photos in the tour program, the diamond painted on the stage curtain and the video sequence of luxury goods that accompanies “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” suggest dazzling entertainment. Instead, we get cheap and hackneyed staging: not much more than a flight of steps that sometimes light up, like a 1970s light-entertainment television show set.

The choreography, bar a brief salsa blast for “Let’s Get Loud,” lacks set-piece spectaculars. We get Broadway-on-a- budget chorus lines and dubious hip hop gymnastics.

All would be forgotten if the music was up to scratch. The paltry 90 minutes of the show (encores included) suggests that Lopez could use a few songs with real depth. Her onstage chatter is inane.

 

Sloppy Smoochy

When Lopez first came to pop prominence, hip-hop and R&B dominated the U.S.; a slick groove and a hollered hook were key components of chart success. She jumped on the bandwagon. With 10 years’ perspective, 2002’s “Jenny From the Block” sounds generic and uninspired. The 1999 debut single “If You Had My Love,” played as an acoustic ballad, is sloppy rather than smoochy, as if one’s innamorata had passed out from boredom and was dribbling on one’s shoulder.

Other songs explore the euro-dance sound. “Waiting for Tonight” bumps along like a 2 Unlimited classic demented with a determination to take itself seriously.

“On the Floor” is a hellish mash of blunt dance beats, with “Llorando Se Fue” (infamously known as the “Lambada”) fused with second-hand lyrical cliches about generic “party people” who -- no great surprise there -- are “in da club.”

Lopez is clearly a celebrity with considerable business acumen. This is a truly poor show.

Rating: *.

The Jennifer Lopez tour has moved to continental Europe after gigs in the U.K. She plays Stockholm tonight, followed by concerts in Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia. Shows later this year are in Dubai, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Puerto Rico. Information: http://jenniferlopez.com/blog/post/on-tour

What the Stars Mean:
*****      Fantastic
****       Excellent
***        Very Good
**         Good
*          Poor
(No stars) Avoid

(Robert Heller is a music critic for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

Congratulations former Miss World beauty queen finalist Ruffa Gutierrez for her 2 bright kids Lorin a
nd Venice, their new "Love Collection" of party dresses designed with Rajo Laurel.

These special dresses---at P2,000 pesos each and with different unique designs/colors---are for sale at
The House of Laurel in Rockwell, Makati City, the Philippines

Ruffa Gutierrez is not only beautiful, glamorous and intelligent, she is a successful mother as shown by her two talented, well-educated daughters. Congratulations!

Lorin Gutierrez Bektas is studying in British School Manila, grade 4, now 9 years old.

Venice Gutierrez Bektas is studying in Everest International Academy, grade 3, now 8 years old.

The Love Collection will be launched on November 10, 2012 at The House of Laurel in Rockwell, Makati.

(The first photograph below from the Philippine Star newspaper shows Philippine designer Rajo Laurel with celebrity kids Lorin Gutierrez Bektas and Venice Gutierrez Bektas with their Love Collection party dresses)



(Another photo below of fashion designer Rajo Laurel with the talented Lorin and Venice Gutierrez Bektas, from Manila Standard Today)













(Photo of Lorin and Venice from Pep.ph website)