Giving you the most recent updates that you might have missed from the week that was, here’s everything that the pop culture world has seen on films, music, events, and the Internet.
Hoist your flag, as the world is being rocked by Filipino actresses with foreign films appearances. With their poisonous return and no known cure, Blackpink is literally all over the area throughout the list. This week, a glance inside the world of E-sports also made the radar. Discover some music releases, new flicks, and events in this week’s digest.
Listening Station
Lil Nas X and Billie Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” Music Video surpasses 1 Billion Views on YouTube
American rapper Lil Nas X and country music singer Billie Ray Cyrus have officially made it to YouTube’s Billion Views Club as the official music video for their mega hit collaboration “Old Town Road” reached the 1 billion views milestone on August 10.
The iconic hip-cowboy anthem spawned massive recognitions globally and broke multiple records when it was released in 2019. It was also remixed by a variety of artists from all over the music industry, including the hottest boyband right now, BTS.
Lil Nas X marked the monumental achievement by replying to his fan’s account post with a picture of a woman wearing a shirt that says “Old B**ches Winning” and he proudly captioned it with “WE DID IT!”
Adie releases a new song “Kabado”
We can always count on Adie to serenade us with the right, soothing music. Written by Adie himself, mixed and mastered by Hazel Pascua, arranged by Franz Sacro, produced by Franz and Adie, under OC Records, the artist’s newest song, “Kabado,” was made available on Friday, August 12.
The 21-year-old singer and composer, who first rose to prominence with his song “Paraluman,” released a music video for the song starring Sharlene San Pedro. The music video is a follow-up to Adie’s music video for the song “Mahika,” which was released not a long while back on August 6.
SHINee’s Key unveils plans for 2nd solo album
Shawols, are you ready? SHINee member Key is currently getting ready to set you on fire with his upcoming second full-length album “Gasoline.” His spooky-themed-but-in-a-cool-way posters, which were released back-to-back, will give you a hint of what to expect from the idol’s return after his solo project September last year with the album title “Bad Love.”
Midnight of August 9 KST, SHINee revealed on their official Twitter account, the first poster of Key’s solo comeback project, along with its release date August 30, 6 pm KST. Key also shared on his personal Instagram page his comeback’s poster with a caption, “I’m back.”
It was followed by a schedule poster on August 10, which is a rundown of his plans for his comeback. On August 16, a teaser poster will officially kick off his return, which will be followed with more surprises for the next occurring days.
“Gasoline” is now available for pre-order.
NCT 127 is finally coming back with a new album in September
NCTzens, the start of your “ber” months will be extra special as NCT 127 will gift you a new album on September. As per Soompi‘s report, a source from the group’s agency SM Entertainment confirmed the news of the groups comeback, “NCT 127 is currently filming their new music video, and they are preparing a new album with an aim to make a September comeback. Please look forward to it.”
It’s apparent how eager the fans are to see their idols perform again, 11 months after their last project, with how excited they are even when the comeback was still a rumor on the internet. The exact date of the album’s release is yet to be announced, but one thing’s for sure, NCTzens are already gearing up for NCT 127’s return.
Benny Blanco releases a music video for “Bad Decisions” featuring BTS and Snoop Dog
Yup! It’s finally here. On August 5, the music video for the much-awaited collaboration track “Bad Decisions” featuring the voices of American singer Benny Blanco, K-pop phenomenon BTS, and American rapper Snoop Dog has been landed on YouTube.
The video features Blanco as an enthusiastic BTS fan, popularly known as “ARMY,” whose own bedroom is full of their merchandise and is very ecstatic to attend the group’s concert. Leading to the band’s show, he prepares a purple-colored cake, dressed up as Jimin from Dynamite MV, and the group’s iconic light stick.
The lyrics video and visualizer were also released the following day after the MV was dropped. Fans are all excited for the exclusive behind-the-scenes recording sketch of the song that will be released on Tuesday the 16th.
Blackpink teases pre-release track with series of title posters
To celebrate their 6th year anniversary, Blackpink announced that they will release their second studio album, ‘Born Pink’ among other activities to meet their fans.
If you want to see them perform live? Blackpink will be coming to Manila in March 2023 for their “Born Pink” World Tour, as announced on their official IG account, where they also released a poster for their world tour schedule.
Ahead of the release of the “Born Pink” album, Blackpink released a series of posters for their pre-release track, “Pink Venom”.
The album is set to release on September 16th while the track will be on August 19th.
Screening Room
Lisa Frankenstein, a Hollywood horror-comedy film, features Liza Soberano
Ending bread crumbs left on social media that led to wild excited rumors that had been swirling online, Liza Soberano officially revealed that she will appear in Zelda Williams’ Lisa Frankenstein, which is led by Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton.
The 24-year-old actress is “ecstatic” to make her Hollywood debut with Carla Gugino, Joe Chrest, and Henry Eikenberry in the Focus Features cast.
The film, which is set in 1989 and was written by Diablo Cody, tells the story of an outcast high school student who unintentionally brings to life a lovely Victorian corpse during a lightning storm. The girl begins using a tanning bed in her garage to transform him into the man of her fantasies.
Roles for the cast and a release date have not yet been disclosed because the production is still in its early stages. But one thing is for sure: Soberano will perform.
Filipino actress Dolly De Leon shares official trailer for iconic Triangle of Sadness role
Raising the Filipino flag on a darkly comedic film on the exploration of class and inequality, Dolly de Leon avidly shared on her Instagram the official trailer of Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or–winning movie, Triangle of Sadness.
The main characters of the film are a group of extremely wealthy passengers on a luxury yacht being steered by an insane boat captain who finds the social order turned on its head when they get stuck on a desert island. De Leon portrays Abigail, a cleaning lady who is stuck on an island and forced to coexist with a fashion couple and a gang of billionaires.
On October 7, Triangle of Sadness will be released in theaters following its TIFF debut. Get ready, it’s going to be “really, really bad,” as the now world-celebrated Filipina actress said on the trailer.
Youth MT, an upcoming South Korean variety show, released its main poster
TVing released the main poster for their upcoming variety show with star studded-cast, Youth MT. The show will feature the cast members of Love in the Moonlight, Itaewon Class, and The Sound of Magic to enjoy meals, different activities and many more.
Which K-Drama squad are you most excited to see? Youth MT will air on September 9th exclusively on TVing.
Netflix releases teaser trailer for Korean-adaptation of Little Women
South Korean cable network tvN is gearing up to serve you with a quite modern take of the famous Louisa May Alcott coming-of-age novel Little Women. On August 9, Netflix released the official teaser trailer of the upcoming series that will also be available on the streaming platform.
The adaptation will alter the original storyline by focusing only on the relationship of three sisters, instead of four. In-ju, In-kyeong and In-hye, which will be played by Kim Go-eun from Yumi’s Cells, Nam Ji-hyun from The Witch’s Diner, and Park Ji-hu from All of Us are Dead, will take you to a journey of trying to get through the challenges of life. Wi Ha-joon from Squid Game will also be a part of the series, portraying a student from a prestigious university, Choi Do-il.
Little Women is set to air on September 3. Check out the teaser below.
Netflix drops new trailer for Seoul Vibe
On August 10, Netflix Asia released another trailer for the upcoming new movie Seoul Vibe. Netflix will begin streaming the Korean adventure-action film on August 26. The film will take us back in time to the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Starring in the Moon Hyun-sung-directed movie are Yoo Ah-in as Dong-wook, a driver with excellent drifting skills, Ko Kyung-Pyo as John Woo, a club DJ, Lee Kyoo-hyung as Bok-nam, a human navigator, Park Ju-hyun as Yoon-hee, a talented motorcyclist, and Ong Seong-wu as Joon-gi, a technician.
Events and Festivals
SB19 released a series of intriguing teaser videos for new project
Everyone should see the intriguing teaser that the P-pop Kings posted. #WhereIsSB19 began to trend on Twitter as soon as the teasers were revealed leaving SB19’s fandom A’tin thrilled.
The group began sharing a teaser on social media the evening after the Acer Green Mark performance, at which the PPop powerhouse also performed in the show. From Sunday to Friday, August 7 to 10, the group then released a series of teasers, which prompted a lot of fan theories.
The teaser videos feature several tricky hits for the upcoming project of the group. Some believed the teaser was for the group’s unreleased song WYAT, while others felt it was for a world tour or new album.
But after all the teasers, the group finally confirmed on August 11 that some of the theories were accurate by announcing their new single “WYAT (Where You At)” and the tour’s kickoff concert in September.
With all of these announcements and teasers, one thing is certain: SB19 will make another spectacular comeback that every A’tin is eagerly anticipating.
Jacob Collier is performing in Manila on November
The London-based musician is bringing his “Djesse” world tour to Manila, on November 23. Collier will be performing at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang.
Recognized for being a one-man band when it comes to songwriting, playing a variety of instruments so easily, including bass guitar, mandolin, melodica, guitar, drums, ukulele, and keyboards, the 28-year-old performer will soon perform for his Filipino fans in November. Enjoy Jacob’s most recent song, “Never Gonna Be Alone,” which he wrote alongside the legendary John Mayer and another incredible artist, Lizzy McAlphine.
Don’t miss this chance and purchase your ticket through this link and follow Jacob Collier on his social media accounts.
Cha Eun Woo receives warm welcome from Filipino fans as he returns for the ‘Starry Caravan in Manila’ fan meet
The night of August 6th in the big dome was indeed starry for Arohas as ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo returned to Manila for his fan meet. Nearly two years after his last visit, the South Korean actor-singer finally reunited with his Filipino fans who welcomed him with screams of excitement and delight.
The meeting was definitely worth every penny for the fans as it was packed with serenades and performances from Eun-woo himself. There are also different interactive segments such as answering questions to get to know him more, reenacting scenes from some of his popular series, creating a self-portrait using clay, and a lot more. No doubt, Eun-woo’s bewitching charms captivated the hearts of Filipino K-Drama and K-Pop stans.
Zack Tabudlo and Johnny Orlando teamed up to give fans a free show
Known for their songs that will make you want to experience the depths of love again, Zack Tabudlo and his special guest Johnny Orlando serenade fans at the “Z Marks the Spot: The Reveal” live busking event last August 7 at Venice Grand Canal.
People passing by had to stop and listen to the soothing voices of the two musical powerhouses. Fans were delighted with the unexpected collaboration of the Canadian singer and one of Philippines’ rising OPM artists at the moment.
Snaps and clips from the free show were all over Twitter with fans sharing the kilig brought by the two artists. Tabudlo and Orlando seem to enjoy each other’s company as they are also seen together after the performance, is this a hint of an upcoming collaboration? We’ll see.
Super Junior postponed their concert in the Philippines
On the day of the concert, Super Show 9: Road in Manila was postponed due to unexpected events. Despite the show being postponed, the 6 members that were present at the venue still went up the stage to meet their fans and sang 3 of their songs.
Through a twitter post, The concert producer thanked Elf’s, Super Junior fans and promised to find a new date for the concert. The tickets of the concert can be used again for a Super Junior concert.
88rising announced “Head In The Clouds” festival in Manila
88rising’s Head In The Clouds music and arts festival is finally heading to Manila.
On their official twitter account, 88rising shared that the festival will happen on December 9 and 10 at the SM Festival Grounds, Parañaque City. Although the artist line up hasn’t been announced, the 2day ticket passes for the Festival are already on sale.
You can buy your tickets here.
Much anticipated MPL Philippines S10 Regular Season returns with live audiences
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines Season 10, the most talked-about event in E-sports, kicks off its action-packed matches for the regular season in front of live audiences for the first time in two years with the theme “Lakas Na10 ‘To.”
The regular season and the playoffs are the two phases of the MPL PH Season 10. For the MPL PH S10 championship title and the majority of the USD 150,000 (about PHP 8 million) prize pool, eight of the greatest ML teams in the nation will be squaring off into the Land of Dawn.
There’s no time to lose! Put your skates on as tickets will be given away for free at ICite Bldg. Auditorium along Mercury Avenue, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, on a first-come, first-served basis to watch the celebrations of your favorite team’s victories up close.
For safety reasons, the venue can only hold 90 people on Fridays and Sundays, while only 70 people can watch the games live on Saturdays.
Pulse
Grease star and pop icon Olivia Newton-John leaves with a lasting legacy
Olivia Newton-John, despite her passing recently from cancer at the age of 73, will always be remembered and have a special place in people’s hearts with her dedication in her craft and sharing her purpose.
Her husband John Easterling on August 8 informed the public that the actress, singer, and philanthropist ‘passed away peacefully at her ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends.’
After amassing multiple awards and recognitions at the prime of her career, the icon chose to focus on giving back to charities when she learned of her diagnosis with breast cancer in 1992. She became one of cancer patients’ strongest advocates with how devoted she is with supporting research and treatment at Melbourne’s cancer center that is named after her.
Celebrities and TV personalities pay tribute to veteran actress Cherie Gil
The showbiz industry was in deep sorrow after the news of passing of one of the well-known and skilled actresses in television, Cherie Gil, 59, on August 5. It was first confirmed by her talent manager and friend Annabelle Rama on her personal Instagram account as she posted the sad news.
Gil’s son, Raphael, confirmed in an official statement posted on Sunday that his mother “passed away peacefully in her sleep after a brave battle against cancer” at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Sharon Cuneta, Vilma Santos, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez, Iza Calzado, Dawn Zulueta, Dina Bonnevie, Sunshine Cruz, and Angel Aquino paid a heartfelt tribute and recalled the kindness of the dubbed “La Primera Contravida” on Philippine television.
A source close to the actress has revealed that the family is planning to bring her remains here to the Philippines if plans are pushed through.
Compiled and written by Mike Bryan Agcalis, Clark Nick Casabuena, Allysa Mae Esperida, Kyneth Brian Magayanes, and Tifany Rose Soringa