[YesAsia] February~March 2008
SUPPORT YOUR FAVE ARTISTS!
FEBRUARY~MARCH 2008
CHINESE
Leo Ku 2008 New + Best Selection (2CD + Karaoke DVD)
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Leo Ku continues to charm music lovers with his easy listening Canto-pop songs. Last year he received several music awards for his major album Moments. Now Leo returns with the follow-up to his best-selling compilation album Leo Ku 2005 New + Best Selection. His latest greatest hits plus new song release includes the special medley "Classic New Song 2 - Ballad King" (CD 1 - Track 1) featuring Leo’s covers of songs like Winnie Hsin’s Taste, Faye Wong’s "I Am Willing", and David Tao’s Airport. Other featured highlights include "Ask Myself" (CD 1 - Track 10), "Genius and Fool" (CD 2 - Track 2), and "Dream Lover" (CD 2 - Track 7). Leo’s smash hit "Want To Go Home" (CD 2 - Track 1) and the duet version of "Belated Love" (CD 2 - Track 12) with Vivian Chow have also been included on this release.
This edition comes with a 12-track karaoke DVD featuring music clips.
Cyndi Wang - Red Cyndi (New + Best Selection) (CD + Karaoke DVD)
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Cyndi Wang is back for more with Red Cyndi, her latest release that counts down all her biggest hits. It starts from "Cinderella’s Tears" (Track 13), which dates back to Cyndi’s 2003 debut album Begin, all the way to "That’s What Love Is All About" (Track 16) from her 2007 release Fly Cyndi. Also featuring Cyndi’s latest three songs - "Because It’s You" (Track 2), "Water Fairy" (Track 3), and Hihi Byebye - Red Cyndi is easily Cyndi’s best compilation to date.
This edition comes with Cyndi photo cards (set of 20) and a thirteen-track karaoke DVD.
Stephy Tang - Stephilosophy (CD + Bonus DVD + Special DVD) (Special Edition)
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This edition comes with a DVD featuring behind-the-scenes trivia from 360° see thru stephy live 2007 and the MV of the album’s principal track "see thru". Also included is a special DVD featuring the music clip of "Golden Bright" plus the trailer and making of footage from L for Love - L for Lies starring Stephy and Alex Fong.
In her five years in the Hong Kong entertainment circle, singer/actress Stephy Tang has established a unique status in the music industry, both as a solo artist and as a member of the girl group Cookies. Her solo works Coloring Stephy, Fantasy, and Dating Stephy were all well received, and she’s even established herself as a box-office force with hit films like Marriage With A Fool and Love is Not All Around. Her premiere solo tour, "Stephy Tang Live 07", is due to launch before the end of 2007, and Stephy is busier than ever rehearsing songs and dance moves for the event. As a treat for her fans, and a preview to the live show, Stephy’s sound comes alive once more with the all-new release, Stephilosophy.
The Most Distant Course (DVD) (2-Disc Deluxe Edition) (Taiwan Version)
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The feature-length debut of Taiwan director Lin Jing Jie (Bad Girl Trilogy), The Most Distant Course takes the route less traveled to present an uncommon road film and a lingering essay in modern alienation. Like in fellow 2007 entry Island Etude, the sounds and sights of Taiwan are main players in The Most Distant Course as it follows the journeys of three flustered souls played by beguiling Taiwan beauty Guey Lun Mei (Secret) and actors Mo Zi Yi (Somewhere Over the Dreamland) and Jia Xiao Guo (Hidden Whisper). True to its title, The Most Distant Course does not take a short or conventional narrative route, jumping readily between forlorn and fanciful during its travels around Taiwan, and into the pains and uncertainties of the protagonists. A remarkable and affecting piece from off the beaten path, The Most Distant Course weaves a very worthwhile journey that offers no clear-cut answers but many memorable musings and sounds, including Jia Xiao Guo’s booming baritone voice which is as unforgettable as his unhinged character.
The Most Distant Course (DVD) (2-Disc Deluxe Edition) (Taiwan Version)
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TVB actor Benny Chan Ho Man has starred in many popular Hong Kong television series, but he is perhaps best known for fantastical period dramas like Journey to West II, Dragon Love, Gods of Honour, and 2003’s Whatever It Takes. Set during the last years of Empress Wu Zetian’s iron reign, the drama reimagines the youth of Xuanzhong, the Tang Dynasty’s longest-reigning emperor, combining history and royal intrigue with folklore and fantasy for an exciting and entertaining period adventure. Whatever It Takes co-stars popular actresses Annie Man (Colorful Life) and Tavia Yeung (Twin of Brothers), as well as reliable supporting players like Evergreen Mak, Liu Kai Chi, Helena Law, and Law Koon Lan.
JAPANESE
Amuro Namie - 60s 70s 80s (SINGLE+DVD)(Japan Version)
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The Namie music wave continues.
Hip-pop queen Amuro Namie propelled her popularity to new heights with 2007’s Play album, which was accompanied by her same-titled tour. Her latest release sees her joining hands with haircare brand Vidal Sassoon for new CM songs. Namie received stylistic help from costume designer Patricia Field (of The Devil Wears Prada fame) and hairstylist Orlando Pita who used to work with Madonna. Focusing on the theme of "remake", Amuro presents 60s, 70s, and 80s-style songs with her personal touch of modernism. The featured songs are New Look (a cover of the Supremes classic Baby Love), Rock Steady (a dance track that samples Aretha Franklin’s same-titled song from 1971), and a remake of Irene Cara’s What a Feeling.
Kanjani8 - Wahaha (First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
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Just in time to pass on the positive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year season, the boys from Kanjani8 return with their first single in 2008. Their new song title Wahaha says it all and fans can now join in on the laughter with the arrival of this single. This release also includes the side track Dare Yori Kimi ga Suki Dakara and the karaoke version of Wahaha.
This edition comes as super picture CD with a 12-page booklet.
Miyavi -This iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock- (ALBUM+DVD)(First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)
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Miyavi’s neo visualizm lives again. The seventh album from the creative guitar wizard, -This iz The Japanese Kabuki Rock- features 11 tracks including his most recent songs Sakihokoru Hana no Yo ni, Kabuki BOIZ , and Subarashiki kana, Kono Sekai -What a Wonderful World-. Hi no Hikari sae Todokanai Kono Basho de, which features LUNA SEA guitarist SUGIZO, has also made it onto the track list.
Initial version comes in high-quality SHM CD format with a DVD featuring special video footage.
Hero (Movie) (DVD) (DTS) (Special Edition) (First Press Limited Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
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Topping the Japanese box office for seven consecutive weeks, Hero is Japan’s big blockbuster of 2007, and it comes with no special effects. Hero started out in 2001 as an immensely popular Fuji TV serial, one of the top ten rated Japanese dramas of all time. Ratings guarantee Kimura Takuya (Love and Honor) gave a memorable turn as a laidback public prosecutor with ripped jeans, unconventional working methods, and a weakness for television mail order junk. The drama was resurrected in 2006 for a TV special that proved every bit as popular, paving the way for this blockbuster big-screen adaptation.
Quiet Room ni Yokoso (DVD) (First Press Limited Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
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Sanity is relative in Otakus in Love director Masuo Suzuki’s new film Welcome to the Quiet Room (a.k.a. Quiet Room ni Yokoso). Based on the director’s own novel, the film follows the experiences of a young woman who gets committed into a mental institution. Popular television actress Uchida Yuki (Cat’s Eye), starring in her first film in nine years, plays a typical fast-living urbanite whose thin guise of sanity is suddenly stripped away. A goth-looking Aoi Yu (Hula Girls), campy Tsumabuki Satoshi (Nada Sou Sou), scenery-chewing Otake Shinobu (Go), and tough-talking Ryo (Canary) round out the film’s questionably mad, questionably sane characters, along with screenwriter-cum-actor Kudo Kankuro (Ping Pong) and director-cum-actor Tsukamoto Shinya (Nightmare Detective).
Ex Machina - Appleseed Saga (DVD) (Standard Edition) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
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Based on the classic manga by Shirow Masamune, Ex Machina - Appleseed Saga (a.k.a. Appleseed: Ex Machina) is the sequel to the hit 2004 computer-animated film Appleseed. Taking place in the futuristic utopia of Olympus, Ex Machina features the continuing adventures of ES.W.A.T. member Deunan Knute and her partner/lover Briareos, a cyborg possessing a robot head instead of a human one. The two find their close partnership tested when they receive a new teammate, Tereus, a bioroid (an artificially-created humanoid) who was built based on Briareos DNA - meaning he has a human face and latent feelings for Deunan. But the arrival of an insidious, mind-controlling virus puts the love triangle on hold. Free will and individuality are being threatened in Olympus, and only Deunan and Briareos can set things right.
KOREAN
Seven Days (DVD) (First Press Limited Edition) (Korea Version)
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Replete with seat-gripping action and nerve-wracking intensity, Seven Days is filmmaker Won Sin Yeon's second feature film following his 2005 horror flick The Wig. Won's new kidnapping thriller sold more than one million tickets nationwide within two weeks of release. Kim Yoon Jin (Shiri), now a world-class actress most recognizable for her US television series Lost, delivers a rock-solid, compelling performance as a top-notch lawyer who must acquit a murderer of his crime within seven days to save her kidnapped daughter. Though internally teetering on the brink of madness, Kim's character remains icy cool, carefully maneuvering through a complex maze of puzzles with stern focus and dexterity while her daughter's life hangs on the edge. The adrenaline-driven tension that mounts during the emotionally charged negotiations between Kim and the suspect is said to match that of Hollywood hit thrillers Negotiator and Ransom. The plot progresses at thunderbolt speed, squeezing out suspense and thrills at every turn and leaving the audience with sweaty palms. With its mind-bending, unimaginable plot twists, Seven Days stands in the vanguard of today's Korean crime thrillers.
Ji Yeon (Kim Yoon Jin) has built a sterling reputation as a first-rate, no-nonsense lawyer. Though she puts on a stoic facade at work, at home Ji Yeon is a loving single mother. Always feeling guilty for missing out on her daughter's activities, she takes time out of her busy schedule to attend her daughter's school event. But Ji Yeon is faced with a parent's worst nightmare when her daughter is kidnapped. Then the kidnapper calls, but it is not ransom he asks for. Instead, she is given an almost impossible mission: acquit a murderer of his crime in just seven days, or she will lose her child.
Le Grand Chef (DVD) (Standard Edition) (Korea Version)
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Based on Hur Young Man’s best-selling comic book series, Le Grand Chef revolves around the rivalry between two men as they battle it out for the title of best chef in the nation. A huge success at the box office, Le Grand Chef which is directed by Jeon Yoon Soo (My Girl And I, Besa Me Mucho), won the hearts and stomachs of the audience. With dazzling, mouth-watering images that highlight some of the best culinary dishes in Korean cooking, the film rolls out a wide range of cuisine from easy common recipes to the most challenging fancy entrée. Delectably honing both their kitchen and acting skills are Kim Kang Woo (The Railroad), playing a cheeky, near-genius chef who puts his heart and soul into his creations, and Yim Won Hee (No Comment) portraying a greedy, devious chef. Adding a delightful garnish to the plot is Lee Ha Na (Alone In Love) who received numerous accolades for her spunky VJ role. Satisfying the viewers’ visual appetite while throwing in some sprinkles of wisdom, Le Grand Chef has the audience chanting "bon appetite" all the way.
Shin Hye Sung + Lyn Project Album - He Said She Said (a.k.a. The Story of That Man and That Woman)
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In early 2007, Shin Hye Sung and Lyn collaborated for the first-time in a compilation album Winter Story Music Drama OST, with a duet number Sarang...HooEe ("Love... After"). The song exploded onto the airwaves, earning a record number of downloads and requests, and sweeping top spots in major online charts. Always in tune with fan demand, Shin and Lyn return with a full-fledged album entitled He Said, She Said (a.k.a. The Story of That Man and That Woman), containing the two artists’ solo cuts, duets, and covers.
The principal track Geudaejoh ("It’s You" - Track 1) takes the baton from the duo’s last smash Sarang...Who Eh. Cruising with a beautiful easy-listening melody, this lyrical ballad delivers a tender loving message in dedication to one’s love and shows all signs of becoming one of the most memorable duet songs of 2008. Mae Ah Ri ("Echo" - Track 3) and Ne Namja ("My Man" - Track 5) contain the same melodies with each piece rearranged, delivering two separate renditions. Penned by Shin and Lyn, the two tracks fully maximize each star’s own unique appeal. The acoustic arrangement featured in Mae Ah Ri complements the lyrics, which lament the regret of a past love.
Kang Ta Mini Album - Eternity
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Just before the deadline of April 1, 2008 which marks the commencement of Kang Ta’s two-year military service, the gifted, handsome singer-songwriter releases Eternity as a sweet consolation to his devoted fans worldwide. What seemed like Eternity for many, his latest mini album took three years to make after the 2005 release of his last solo cut Persona. Eternity finally arrives filled with brand new tracks that stay true to Kang Ta’s signature sounds, including some memorable instrumental tunes. Kang Ta pours his creative energy into the album’s titular track Eternity (Track 1), rolling out waves of beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Also, sparks fly high as the star pairs up with Tae Yeon of Girls’ Generation in the spellbinding duet 7989 (Track 5). On March 29, 2008, Kang Ta plans to hold a live concert at Yonsei University in Seoul before bidding farewell to his fans who have stood by his side for the last 12 years. But rest assured, he’ll be back before you know it.
Zhang Li Yin Vol. 1 - I will
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Nicknamed the Chinese BoA, Zhang Li Yin was discovered by SM Entertainment in 2003 at the budding age of 13, around the same time fellow Chinese-born artist Han Geng was chosen to join Super Junior. Making her official debut in her native land of China, Zhang (who also goes by the Korean name of Jang Ri In) releases I Will, featuring 12 songs in her mother tongue (Tracks 1 through 12) and two songs in Korean (Track 13 and 14). The first Chinese female artist to break into the Korean music industry, Zhang, whose parents are both violinists, showed signs of musical craftsmanship at an early age.
Loveholic - Dramatic & Cinematic
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Korea’s popular modern rock trio band Loveholic recently lost a member when lead vocalist Ji Seon signed with a different agency to pursue her solo career. One of the group’s core members, Kang Hyun Min, who had written and produced hits for many artists, founded Loveholic in 2003. After releasing their debut album Florist, the trio topped the music charts with the self-titled smash Loveholic and went on to release two more albums. Fans put Ji Seon’s charismatic vocals in the same category as Jaurim’s Kim Yoon Ah, and soon the group’s lead singer became the center of attention. Unfortunately, Dramatic & Cinematic marks Ji Seon’s last act with Loveholic before venturing out on her own, but Loveholic promises to march on. The group plans on finding a replacement through auditions.