Entertainment

7 Times SEVENTEEN Made Our Day At Their IDEAL CUT Concert In Singapore

26 Sep 2018 by Chew Hui Ling

There’s just something about Korean boy group SEVENTEEN that makes them so likeable – perhaps it’s their solid live vocals that never fail to blow us away; or their crisp, synchronised moves that you couldn’t help but awe at.

For us, one thing became very apparent when the 13-member hit machine took the stage for their IDEAL CUT concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium: they know exactly how to entertain a crowd. It was clear how much the boys actually enjoy being on stage, and it just made the whole show that much more personal despite being held at such a large venue.

“Our goal for the concert is to make Carats happy,” the band announced, and they’ve definitely achieved that. In between the blistering performances, energetic unit stages and comical banter, Carats were showered with unbelievable amounts of fan service that will make even the most stoic of non-fans break into a smile. For those who missed out on the showcase, here are our top moments that – in line with their latest album You Make My Day – made our day.

#1 When Seungkwan asked the crowd to cheer in ASMR style

➚ seungkwan telling us to cheer in asmr style then scolding us for having no sense when we failED pic.twitter.com/WFAVbyFHLQ

— rocket emoji dumbass (@hjssvt) September 22, 2018

As one of the members in SEVENTEEN’s resident gag trio, Seungkwan had us tickled pink when he made the hilarious request of asking the audience to cheer in ASMR-style. Which failed terribly, as everybody simply ended up cheering at the top of their voices instead. A flabbergasted Seungkwan then proceeded to playfully chide the fans for having “no sense”, inciting another round of laughter from the crowd.

#2 When SEVENTEEN cosplayed as Caratbongs

Undoubtedly our favourite moment of the night was when they dressed up as Caratbongs (SEVENTEEN’s official lightstick) during their performance of ‘Thinkin’ Of You’. Donning their diamond headbands, the boys were literally exploding with cuteness as they enthusiastically paraded around the stage. BRB, we’re slipping into the diamond life.

#3 When DK, Mingyu and Jun gifted roses to Carats

THEY THREW THEIR ROSES WHAT#IDEALCUTinSG pic.twitter.com/K2HSTjlpBL

— َ (@poutsboo) September 21, 2018

As the rest of the members scurried off the stage, DK, Mingyu and Jun stayed behind to deliver a swoon-worthy serenade of ‘Hello’. Taking a moment to interact with fans, the boys decided to take a sit along the extended stage and started throwing out roses to the front rows. Singapore Carats are indeed a lucky bunch!

#4 When Mingyu flaunted his smooth BLACKPINK moves

kim mingyu x blackpink i need that collab! #IDEALCUTinSG pic.twitter.com/n9hGZZMzFE

— for cheol 💛 DINO WAVED AT ME (@softycheols) September 21, 2018

SEVENTEEN is no stranger to girl group dances. From Girls’ Generation to Mamamoo, Red Velvet to Twice, they can do no wrong. But leave it to Mingyu to give BLACKPINK a run for their money, as he showed off his smooth moves to ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’. Petition for Mingyu to drop a full cover!

#5 When the other members decided to abandon Seungkwan

they ditched seungkwan when he was doing his sexy walk and then he called it his solo concert HAHAHHA look at him fall on the ground when he saw they were gone HAHAHHAHA #idealcutingsg #IdealCutinSG pic.twitter.com/ufcHSNx2X6

— xen💦원우 (@jeonwonwooooooo) September 21, 2018

What’s SEVENTEEN without their usual trolling shenanigans, right? When Seungkwan was busy doing his model-like sashay during the sexy dance segment, the other members decided to prank him by ditching him midway and leaving him all alone on stage. Unfazed by their antics, Seungkwan took the opportunity to declare it as his own solo concert titled The Ideal Boo (Boo is his surname). What else can we say, we stan an unbothered king!

#6 When Vernon teasingly chose chilli crab over Carats

We all know how much of a tease Vernon can be, but we certainly weren’t ready for this attack. During his ending ment, he claimed that he missed chilli crab the most but it wasn’t even a second later that he started cracking up. “I’m just kidding,” he grinned. “Of course it’s our Carats!”

#7 When The8 was being all romantic on a rainy day

“It was raining outside too, being with all of you when it’s raining is actl pretty romantic. I hope (…) I’ll think of all of you when it rains, I hope that you will think of us too(?) So… Let’s meet in our dreams, let’s meet in the rain, see you all next time!”#IDEALCUTinSG pic.twitter.com/XRrZsIncbx

— 𝙹𝚊𝚗 ◡̈ (@DandelionHoshi) September 22, 2018

Although the weather was pretty gloomy during the concert day, our hearts were warmed by The8’s words during his ending ment. “It was raining a lot today, right?” he spoke carefully in Chinese. “It’s kind of romantic to spend time with all of you in the rain. I hope you can think of us on rainy days, just like how I would always think of you guys. See you in our dreams tonight!” Can anybody say awww?

Before we know it, it’s time for goodbyes…

We weren’t quite ready to say our goodbyes, but it seemed like the SEVENTEEN members were just as reluctant to go. Because in SEVENTEEN’s books, one encore is apparently not enough. Just as the members started to retreat backstage and the audience got up to leave, the group bounced back to hit replay on their final song ‘Very Nice’. And we weren’t just fooled once, but twice (not that we mind).

All good things had to come to an end, but not without a resolute promise from leader S.Coups to come back to Singapore very soon. And when they return, we bet they will be drawing bigger and greater crowds than ever.

Featured image: Fast Track Events

Entertainment

Everybody Needs To Watch BTS' Emotional Speech At The UN General Assembly

25 Sep 2018 by Chew Hui Ling

Ever since their debut, BTS has been on a mission to change the world – one song at a time. Unlike their K-pop counterparts who croon and dance to factory-made perfection, the seven-member juggernaut rebel against the norms with lyrical themes tackling social hierarchies, self-acceptance and empowerment, in the rawest and least filtered form. It’s no surprise they’d make the perfect role models for today’s generation, having joined forces with UNICEF to launch an anti-violence campaign dubbed Love Myself last October.

At the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on 24 September, BTS made an appearance at the monumental event as UNICEF goodwill ambassadors alongside First Lady Kim Jung Sook and other prominent leaders. In support of the launch of UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited initiative – a new global partnership that aims to “get every young person into quality education, training or employment by 2030” – leader RM represented the group to deliver an inspiring six-minute speech to support the campaign. Here’s the speech in full:

“Thank you, Mr. Secretary General, UNICEF Executive Director, Excellencies and distinguished guests from across the world. My name is Kim Nam Joon, also known as RM, the leader of the group BTS. It’s an incredible honour to be invited to an occasion with such significance for today’s young generation.

Last November, BTS launched the Love Myself campaign with UNICEF, building on our belief that ‘true love first begins with loving myself.’ We have been partnering with UNICEF’s #ENDviolence program to protect children and young people all over the world from violence. Our fans have become a major part of this campaign with their action and enthusiasm. We truly have the best fans in the world!

“I want to hear your voice… No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself.”

We 💜 @BTS_twt‘s inspiring message to young people around the world at the UN General Assembly. #GenUnlimited #UNGA #ENDviolence #Youth2030 pic.twitter.com/kWOoSfLkiq

— UNICEF (@UNICEF) September 24, 2018

I would like to begin by talking about myself.

I was born in Ilsan, a city near Seoul, South Korea. It’s a beautiful place, with a lake, hills, and even an annual flower festival. I spent a happy childhood there, and I was just an ordinary boy. I would look up at the night sky in wonder and dream the dreams of a boy. I used to imagine that I was a superhero, saving the world. In an intro to one of our early albums, there is a line that says, ‘My heart stopped… I was maybe nine or ten.’

Looking back, that’s when I began to worry about what other people thought of me and started seeing myself through their eyes. I stopped looking up at the stars at night. I stopped daydreaming. I tried to jam myself into moulds that other people made. Soon, I began to shut out my own voice and started to listen to the voices of others. No one called out my name, and neither did I. My heart stopped and my eyes closed shut. So, like this, I, we, all lost our names. We became like ghosts.

I had one sanctuary, and that was music. There was a small voice in me that said, ‘Wake up, man, and listen to yourself!’ But it took me a long time to hear music calling my name. Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were hurdles. Most people thought we were hopeless. Sometimes, I just wanted to quit. I think I was very lucky that I didn’t give it all up. I’m sure that I, and we, will keep stumbling and falling. We have become artists performing in huge stadiums and selling millions of albums.

But I am still an ordinary, 24-year-old guy. If there’s anything that I’ve achieved, it was only possible because I had my other BTS members by my side, and because of the love and support of our ARMY fans. Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.

I would like to say one last thing. After releasing the Love Yourself albums and launching the Love Myself campaign, we started to hear remarkable stories from our fans all over the world, how our message helped them overcome their hardships in life and start loving themselves. These stories constantly remind us of our responsibility.

So, let’s all take one more step. We have learned to love ourselves, so now I urge you to ‘speak yourself.’

I would like to ask all of you. What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat? Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin colour, gender identity: speak yourself. Find your name, find your voice by speaking yourself.

I’m Kim Nam Joon, RM of BTS. I’m a hip-hop idol and an artist from a small town in Korea. Like most people, I made many mistakes in my life. I have many faults and I have many fears, but I am going to embrace myself as hard as I can, and I’m starting to love myself, little by little.

What is your name? Speak yourself!”

This is a significant milestone not only for the members of BTS, but also marks the start of a whole new era of change. And these are not just empty words. Besides donating a portion of their Love Yourself physical album sales revenue, they have also pledged 500 million KRW to the #ENDviolence campaign over the next two years, amongst other advocacy efforts. If that’s not enough indication that they are worthy of speaking at the UN General Assembly, we will end this with a message from UNICEF on the Love Myself website:

“The members of BTS strive, in their own ways, to make the world a better place to live. This is what BTS has pursued, and will pursue, through the Love Yourself album series and Love Myself campaign. Since they are now in their 20s, they are going to raise their voice to support young people in this world. They insist that the future should be different from the past as they are now the pillar of society. People need to speak of love and lingering hope, they say, even in this world wracked with hatred and violence.”

From seven young hopefuls who overcame all odds to realise their dreams, to becoming the voices of youths across the world, BTS has truly made history.

Entertainment

9 Beginner Tutorials That Will Help You To Dance Like A Pro

25 Sep 2018 by Teenage

Let’s admit it: we aren’t all blessed with Beyonce’s divalicious body rolls, and neither can we bust out a moonwalk as smoothly as Michael Jackson. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to pick up choreography like a pro. We compiled a bunch of instructional videos that will help you to upgrade your get-down in no time.

Let’s start with the basics.

From popping to locking, to lesser-known forms like electric boogaloo and gangsta walk, here are some dope street dance styles you should know about.

#1 Footwork

Originating from Chicago, this hyperspeed dance style may seem hard to master, but you can start off with some basic footwork steps like the ones in this video. There’s no narration to guide you through, but the moves are simple enough to follow for even the uncoordinated.

#2 Popping

A funk dance style that involves the tensing and relaxing of muscles to create a flow, popping requires a lot of repetition to get it right so we recommend practicing with one body part at a time. Learning how to pop your arms is a good place to start.

#3 Krumping

Also known as clowning, it takes a great deal of energy and body control to keep up with this fast-paced dance form. Some basic krump moves are the stomps, chest pops, jabs and arm wings – and you can learn it all from fellow krumper BDash right here.

#4 Knee Drop

This flashy B-boy stunt will no doubt score you a ton of swag points, but it’s important to do it properly to avoid slamming your kneecaps. Fret not – choreographer Mihran Kirakosian does a thorough explanation of each step in this detailed yet easy-to-follow tutorial.

#5 Shoot Dance

You’d have to be living under the rock if you haven’t heard of the viral shoot dance that originated from Tennessee-based rapper Blocboy JB. Unlike the other tutorials in this list, YouTube personality JustKryptic keeps it lighthearted and fun.

It’s time to step it up.

If you’ve already got the basics down, why not take your street dance game up a notch by learning the routines to some of the popular tracks on the charts?

#1 ‘I Like It’ – Cardi B

We’re going to be honest here: this one can be pretty tricky for beginners. But choreographer RainO breaks down the steps into slow, digestible chunks so you’ll be able to nail most of the routine by the end of it (after all, it’s 23 minutes worth of learning material).

#2 ‘In My Feelings’ – Drake

So everyone knows how to do the shiggy (#InMyFeelings challenge, anybody?), except you… right? Well, now you can thanks to this Chop Daily tutorial!

#3 ‘Shine’ – Pentagon

One of the first few K-pop acts to jump onto the shoot dance bandwagon, Pentagon’s take on the viral trend is fun, cheeky and oh-so-catchy. We particularly love RPM Dance Crew’s tutorial, which brings you through the steps in a raw yet concise manner – it’s almost as if you’re attending the actual dance class itself!

#4 ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ – BLACKPINK

With their fierce hip-hop attitude and eclectic style, BLACKPINK oozes girl crush vibes with every bop they put out – take their latest track ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ for instance. Fellow K-pop dancer Lisa Rhee has an entire tutorial on this, and the best part? Not only did she split up the routine into parts for easier learning, she also included both mirrored and slowed-down versions to help you along the way.

Are you up for a challenge?

Want to show off your best moves on the dancefloor? Sign up for NYP Groove! Street Dance Competition and you may just be the next street dance champ!

Registrations are now open till 25 November 2018.

Entertainment

Meet The Spellbinding Characters Of Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

20 Sep 2018 by Jasmine Ong

We’ve all heard by now that our favourite teenage witch will be making her way back onto our screens in an all-new Netflix Original series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. But here’s a heads-up: this isn’t going to be a reboot of the ’90s version we all grew up with, though some of the OG characters will be making a comeback (yes, Salem too).

Based on the comic book series of the same name, get ready for a reintroduction to Sabrina Spellman in this dark coming-of-age tale filled with adventures steeped in horror, the occult, and of course, witchcraft. The story takes place in the present where Sabrina finds herself reconciling her dual nature as she stands against the constant evil forces that threaten her, her loved ones and the world she lives in.

As we await to binge-watch this highly-anticipated series, here’s a quick crash course who’s who in the supernatural town of Greendale.

SABRINA SPELLMAN (Kiernan Shipka)

Half-human, half-witch, Sabrina Spellman is an empowered young woman who is just beginning her dark education as a sorceress while trying to maintain a normal life as a sophomore at Baxter High. Intelligent, compassionate and brave to the point of recklessness, Sabrina is all that stands between humans and the forces of darkness that threatens the world.

HARVEY KINKLE (Ross Lynch)

As Sabrina’s boyfriend, he’s the prince charming of this dark fairytale. Unlike Sabrina, Harvey Kinkle is a normal human dreamboat who’s the son of a coal miner. He is also completely unaware of the dark forces conspiring to keep him and Sabrina apart.

HILDA SPELLMAN (Lucy Davis)

Known as the more nurturing one out of Sabrina’s two witch aunts, Hilda Spellman’s motherly nature and warm sense of humour belies a wicked, ghoulish streak. She is as adept at brewing spite jars against her family’s enemies as she is at concocting love potions for the students at Baxter High.

ZELDA SPELLMAN (Miranda Otto)

Proud and devout, Zelda Spellman is Sabrina’s sterner other witch aunt who believes that there is no greater honour than in serving the Dark Lord as a member of the Church of the Night. Aside from being the family’s disciplinarian, she is also fiercely protective of Sabrina and is very much Cain to Hilda’s Abel.

MARY WARDWELL / MADAM SATAN (Michelle Gomez)

Mary Wardwell is Sabrina’s favourite teacher and mentor at Baxter High. But when she gets possessed by the Devil’s handmaiden, Madam Satan, Miss Wardwell turns into a sultry, cunning manipulator who constantly tries to lure Sabrina down the dark Path of Night.

AMBROSE SPELLMAN (Chance Perdomo)

Hailing from England, Ambrose Spellman is Sabrina’s warlock cousin who had been placed under house-arrest by the Witches Council, where he is forbidden from leaving the funeral home where he lives with the Spellman women. Witty and puckish, he is always up for mischief as one of Sabrina’s partners-in-crime.

FATHER BLACKWOOD (Richard Coyle)

He is the High Priest of the Church of Night and Dean of the Academy of the Unseen Arts. Ruthless and ambitious, Father Blackwood hides a terrifying dark agenda that, if discovered, will put him in a direct conflict with Sabrina and the other members of the coven.

SUSIE PUTNAM, ROSALIND WALKER (Lachlan Watson, Jaz Sinclair)

Susie Putnam is one of Sabrina’s friends at Baxter High and a founding member of the school’s newly formed WICCA club, whereas Rosalind Walker is Sabrina’s best friend whose father is a Greendale church minister. While Rosalind is known to be a brash, empowered and outspoken girl, Susie is brave and optimistic despite being bullied at school and living on a farm at the outskirts of town with a terrifying supernatural threat.

NICHOLAS SCRATCH (Gavin Leatherwood)

He is a young and handsome warlock at the Academy of Unseen Arts. As a follower of Sabrina’s father’s teachings, Nicholas Scratch finds himself drawn to Sabrina, thus creating immediate sparks between them.

AGATHA, DORCAS & PRUDENCE (Adeline Rudolph, Abigail Cowen & Tati Gabrielle)

A trio of powerful and unusual teenage witches at the Academy of Unseen Arts who abhors the sight of Sabrina because she is half-mortal.

Photo credits: Netflix Singapore

Ready to get bewitched? Don’t forget to catch the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina premiering on 26 October 2018, only on Netflix!

Entertainment

Goblin Couple Lee Dong Wook And Yoo In Na To Reunite For New Drama

20 Sep 2018 by Chew Hui Ling

It seems like Sunny and Wang Yeo are getting their very own epilogue story! Well, kinda.

Previously, it was reported that Yoo In Na was in talks to star in the upcoming tvN drama Touch Your Heart alongside actor Jung Kyung Ho. But bless the casting gods (no offence to Jung Kyung Ho, of course), as it’s now confirmed that her former costar Lee Dong Wook from the hit drama Goblin will be taking up the male leading role instead.

Set to be directed by Park Joon Hwa who’s the brainchild behind What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, Touch Your Heart is based off a web novel about fallen actress Oh Jin Shim whose career went up in smokes after getting herself involved in a dating scandal with a chaebol, and she ends up working as a secretary for the cold-hearted Kwon Jung Rok at a top lawyer firm.

Just from the plot alone, it already sounds like an epilogue for Yoo In Na and Lee Dong Wook’s Goblin characters, who are reborn as an actress and a detective respectively in their next lifetime. If only Kwon Jung Rok’s a detective, right? But hey, we aren’t complaining – at least we get to witness the sizzling chemistry of our favourite onscreen couple again. After their heart-wrenching romance in Goblin, we hope these two will get their well-deserved happy ending in Touch Your Heart. And who knows, perhaps Kim Shin and Ji Eun Tak might even make a surprise cameo!

Touch Your Heart is scheduled to premiere in January 2019.