This blog offers selected features of alternative Asian TV segments, news stories, editorials, photos and more from Japan, Korea, India, China and many other Asian countries. This blog also includes some WTF Japanese, North Korean online videos, entertainment news, beautiful Chinese and Japanese models, and much more.
Via The Sun April 30, 2013
Born and raised in hell on earth - Camp 14 Total Control Zone - escapee Shin Dong-hyuk has just released a new dance pop tune entitled "Vanish The Night". Working with England's well-known pop unit Ooberfuse, they wrote a song together that protests against Kim Jong Il. With this new release they hope to illuminate the North Korean government's infamous human rights violations and tell the world more about the murder and abuse that Shin witnessed first hand prior to his escape in 2005.
He said: “Our song is a message of hope for the ordinary people of North Korea whose suffering often goes unnoticed and whose cries are largely unheard.
“Don’t forget us.”
Well it is not quite as engaging as Psy's mega monster-sized worldwide hit Gangnam Style. But it is close and a damn good song with a great beat that you can dance to:
NOTE: This music video includes some grim footage. Viewer discretion is advised:
On this day his 66th birthday, January 8th 2013, David Bowie has made a long-awaited, surprise comeback into the spotlight with the release of a new single "Where Are We Now?" and a pre-release announcement of his upcoming new ablum entitled "The Next Day" on his official website and iTunes.
NEWS UPDATE: Via iTunes Store Top 10 Songs January 8, 2013 "Where Are We Now?" is currently #1 on the UK and Sweden iTunes charts. Also it is now rated at #2 in Finland and #4 in The Netherlands.
Here is the music video "Where Are We Now?"
Here is the official press release:
New York, NY--January 8, 2013--In the early morning hours of Tuesday the 8th January, Iso/Columbia Records released a new single by David Bowie titled 'Where Are We Now?' exclusively launching in the iTunes Store in 119 countries. David Bowie's first new album in ten years and his 30th studio recording, THE NEXT DAY is also available as a pre-order on iTunes with a wide release scheduled for March. January the 8th is of course David Bowie's birthday, a timely moment for such a treasure to appear as if out of nowhere.
Throwing shadows and avoiding the industry treadmill is very David Bowie despite his extraordinary track record that includes album sales in excess of 130 million not to mention his massive contributions in the area of art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary. It goes without saying that he has sold out stadiums and broken ticket records throughout the world during this most influential of careers.
In recent years radio silence has been broken only by endless speculation, rumor and wishful thinking ....a new record...who would have ever thought it, who'd have ever dreamed it! After all David is the kind of artist who writes and performs what he wants when he wants...when he has something to say as opposed to something to sell. Today he definitely has something to say.
Produced by long term collaborator Tony Visconti, 'Where Are We Now?' was written by Bowie, and was recorded in New York. The single is accompanied by a haunting video directed by Tony Oursler which harks back to David's time in Berlin. He is seen looking in on footage of the auto repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time and a lyric constantly raising the question Where Are We Now?
"The moment you know, you know you know" resonates from the new single's lyric. Now we all know...David Bowie has been in the recording studio...just when we least expected it!!
And here are the track listings for the new album:
The Next Day tracklisting
Standard Version:
01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine's Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I'd Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25
Total (Approximately) 53:14
Deluxe Version
01. The Next Day 3:51
02. Dirty Boys 2:58
03. The Stars (Are Out Tonight) 3:56
04. Love Is Lost 3:57
05. Where Are We Now? 4:08
06. Valentine's Day 3:01
07. If You Can See Me 3:16
08. I'd Rather Be High 3:53
09. Boss Of Me 4:09
10. Dancing Out In Space 3:24
11. How Does The Grass Grow 4:33
12. (You Will) Set The World On Fire 3:30
13. You Feel So Lonely You Could Die 4:41
14. Heat 4:25
Bonus tracks:
15. So She 2:31
16. I'll Take You There 2:44
17. Plan 2:34
Total (Approximately): 61: 03
Here is a scan of my signed copy of the mishmash*Julie Watai 1st Album that will be released tomorrow (12-5) at record stores throughout Japan and via the Nature Bliss web store. The standard release includes a music CD with 13 wonderful songs, a colorful 44-page booklet that contains the Japanese and English lyrics to all the songs, exclusive photos of Julie Watai and a 22-page manga comic strip story entitled "My Quarter Note" and a special serial code to download all the music videos from this album. You can preview the high quality music videos at the below links. Indeed, this standard package is quite a unique and special offer for only 3,900 yen (US $47.60).
"But wait! There's more!" There are also some very limited special gift packages that include all of the above plus a tee-shirt, a memo pad, stickers and other items and an individualized recorded voice message from Julie Watai. Some of these are already sold out and, most likely, the standard release package will also be sold out in a very short time. Also, there are some cute character keychains that commemorate this first album release available here. So hurry on over to the Nature Bliss web store and make your reservation now!
mishmash*Julie Watai is Toyoaki Mishima, Julie Watai and Masu Hiroshi Masuyama. If the standard release package sells out, you can always download this group's popular mp3 songs from Amazon, Ototoy and iTunes.
Related:
mishmash*Julie Watai Release Go Furby GoJulie Watai & mishmash* Debut Single "Roll of Love"mishmash*Julie Watai 'Veiled by Reverb' 2nd Singlemishmash*Julie Watai Release 3rd Single