New Banner: Ella Chen Edition

A.E. Experience is out with another new banner and layout. This time it is in honor of the lovely Ella Chen's upcoming wedding. Ella will be getting married on May 1st to her boyfriend (or fiance at this point), Alvin Lai. As some readers might know, I have been a long time fan of S.H.E. and hearing about their back to back weddings warm my heart. I was unable to do a banner for Selina when she had her wedding (probably because this blog didn't exist back then ;D), so I was insistent on doing a banner for Ella as soon as I heard of her wedding plans.

Picture Orders:
On the top, I have gathered pictures of S.H.E. throughout the years.
On the left and right are Ella and S.H.E.'s collaboration with other artists (mostly Fahrenheit xD, but Jerry Yan is in there too!)
On the bottom are solo pictures of Ella showing off all of her different charms.
And finally, in the middle, is a picture of her and Alvin together.

I wish the couple long years of happiness and success in all that they do.

P.S.: I just realized that I didn't put the blog name on this banner, but oh well! ^^ The main point is that Ella and Alvin look so sweet together.

Staff Song Review: 4Minute's "Volume Up"

Song reviews are something we do commonly here at AE Experience, but now we're taking things to the next level.  Besides simply writing individual song reviews of songs we like, we will start working together to write reviews of the latest releases in Korean and Chinese music.  This means 2 or 3 of us here will collaborate to write one large song review, which will offer different points of views and insights.

The first staff song review will be 4Minute's "Volume Up", which Niki and I are writing together in addition to the one Pinki has already written.  For these reviews, I (Iris) will offer more of a critique on the music itself (due to my lack of knowledge in K-Pop), Niki will provide more background information and insight on the artist, and Pinki will offer a general opinion.

Iris: 4Minute is back with new single "Volume Up", which offers pleasant surprises as well as letdowns.  My personal favorite part of the song are the verses.  The song starts with a lot of edginess, a great hook, and some awesome belts and long notes by Ji Hyun following the verse. It is powerful, in your face, and catchy while having good style.  Unfortunately, in my opinion, the chorus is a letdown.  It's still catchy, but so typical.  The song sheds its edginess and power in the chorus by transitioning into a poppy club and party feel that's been seen so many times before.  It redeems itself in the bridge, which is slowed down with a more mysterious feel.  The problem with the song is that it seems to exhibit three very different feels though. I still love the song, but the chorus is definitely the weakest link.

According to Pinki, the song's lyrics is about the criticism girl groups get online.  When I searched up the translations of the lyrics though, the supposed message turned out to be vague and could easily be interpreted as a song about a bad or lost lover.  However, it's far from having the worst lyrics ever; they just weren't as detailed or straightforward about the promoted message as I imagined they'd be.

Niki: "Volume Up" marks another successful comeback for 4Minute. The song shows off the edgy, yet feminine style that they're so well known for. The sets, clothing style, and use of the saxophone was all very refreshing. However, as Iris had stated, the song isn't as great as it could be. I share the same feelings as Iris towards the chorus and lyrics of the song. From the amazing build up from the verse I expected the chorus to be just as strong, but instead it turned out to be a simple pop beat. The chorus, by itself, however is catchy and Ji Hyun's strong vocals were able to shine here.
The vague meaning and chorus aside, the lyric distribution for this song was clearly disproportional. Hyuna, Ji Yoon, and Ga Yoon had dominated most of the song while So Hyun and Ji Hyun had two to three measly lines. Agreed that their voices aren't the strongest in 4Minute, but they definitively deserve more than 5 seconds of screen time (considering that Ji Hyun is the leader, she deserves more recognition within the group).


Conclusion 


Niki: With slight disappointment in the distribution of parts and in the chorus, "Volume Up" isn't my favorite song from 4Minute, but it is one catchy and empowering song. The club-like chorus makes it a typical K-pop song while the verses and bridge gives it a hint of uniqueness. And the ladies of 4Minute pulled of the femme fatale look very well, making the performances very eye-catching.


Iris: Overall, "Volume Up" is a great upbeat and catchy track with s, but not very consistent.  Improvements could have been made on the chorus, but I absolutely love the style and edginess of the verses.

Kelvin Kwan releases official MV for "People of My Generation/我這一代人" (MV Review)

After about a month's wait, Kelvin Kwan has finally released the official MV for "People of My Generation/我這一代人".  Before covering the official MV though, here's the unofficial MV released a month ago and a short critique:

Directed by Kelvin himself, the video is simplistic and raw.  There is not much but the lyrics flashing across the screen, shots of Hong Kong in chaos, and a quick close up of Kelvin at the end.  And yet, that was all was needed.  It manages to evoke so much emotion and be so powerful with minimal effects.

And now to finally unveil the official MV...

I was hesitant on how the official MV would turn out, as I was fond of the  concept of the previously released MV.  It turns out that the original lyrical concept was kept, but intercut with scenes of Kelvin that are fantastically shot.  The shots of him driving, staring out into the horizon, and running backward show great cinematography not usually seen in music videos while remaining powerful.  The ending where he jumps off the building, and the screen fades to black to show a single period is haunting and wraps everything up well.  Overall, the official MV retains the simplicity and rawness, but incorporates additional well shot footage to create a powerful end product.  Kelvin continues to release great material!

Spotlight: Kelvin Kwan (Part 1: Biography and Artist Critique)

Having overcome a major scandal and needing to start from scratch, Kelvin Kwan has outperformed people's expectations and matured into one of the most talented young singers in Hong Kong today.

Biography
Born on March 24, 1983, Kelvin Kwan was raised in Canada in a wealthy family.  He was discovered in 2004 when he went out for a night of karaoke with his father's ex-coworkers.  He was offered an audition, and then signed by Go East, part of Universal Music.  Popular and established Cantopop singer Alan Tam took Kelvin as his godson, and helped him with his music career as well as taught him skills like how to face the media.  Kelvin and Jill Vidal, his girlfriend and another rising singer, became known for their participation in anti-drug campaigns.

His self-titled debut album was released on October 11, 2006.  His duet with godfather Alan Tam, "Big Cry Baby", was ranked as China's 4th most popular duet by China Central Television merely 5 days after the album's release.  Following his successful debut, he released "What Do You Take Me For" in 2007 and "Hello...My Name Is" in 2008.

Kelvin with former girlfriend Jill Vidal

Kwan's career took an unexpected dark turn when he and Jill Vidal were arrested in Tokyo for possession of marijuana on March 3, 2009.  Godfather Alan Tam expressed anger and disappointment with him.  After spending a month in a detention center, Kwan was released and held a press conference to apologize.  There, he announced he would be taking a break from the entertainment industry and take the time to reflect on himself.

Kwan did not return to the music industry until over a year later in mid 2010.  His comeback single "One Year/一年" was a personal song that reflected on himself and the year he was away from the industry.  He released his comeback album "Here I Am" on September 22, 2010.  In general, the public was willing to give the singer a second chance and the comeback was met with relatively positive response.

Following his comeback, Kwan changed his image and musical style.  He adopted a more mature image and started getting involved with his music.  He's experimented with many different sounds and taken part in the writing and composing process of several of his songs.  Having developed more of an artistic and musical direction, he has unexpectedly evolved into something more than just a simple pop singer or gossip magnet.  He released his new and best selection album "Occupation" on March 30, 2012.

Artist Critique

Addressing his past...
At first sight, Kelvin Kwan was just another pretty boy with lots of connections who probably wouldn't last too long or make it too far in the music industry. His career could've died after his arrest in 2009, or he could've continued as an idol singer pretending as if nothing had happened. Unexpectedly, he has taken another route since making a comeback in 2010 and emerged as one of the most talented young singers in Hong Kong.

I won't deny that Kelvin hasn't done stupid and foolish things. In fact, I think it was hypocritical of him and former girlfriend Jill Vidal to be doing marijuana when they actively took part in anti-drug campaigns. Being a celebrity doesn't make up for his fault. However, he's also human. I strongly believe that a person can change and that they should have second chances. Kelvin didn't kill someone, nor did he commit a serious felony. He deserved a second chance, just like any other person who made a couple mistakes as an impressionable young person under pressure. In the end, what matters is whether or not that person turns their life around.

Kelvin was lucky. When he decided to make a comeback, he had the support of his whole record company. Would he have been able to stage such a successful comeback without the massive support? Maybe not. It's his connections and support that got him back into music. However, it's thanks to himself that he's gone so far instead of fading into oblivion after releasing one or two singles. He's proven he has what it takes to not only return, but stay on the music scene for a long time as well.

His music...

As opposed to continuing being the typical good looking young Cantopop singer who only sings love ballads, he's turned into an experimental and developing musician. He's not an excellent one man show who can do everything, but you can easily tell he's trying to improve himself and working to get there. Since his comeback, he has taken on a significantly larger creative presence for his music. He's taken part in songwriting, composing, and has even directed one of his music videos.

Kelvin Kwan has gone from being simply a singer into a developing artist. He is genuinely talented. With a great voice with decent range, he can do a variety of musical styles. His recent music is a joy to listen to because it is refreshing mainstream pop. He incorporates different elements such as rock, rap, hip hop, R&B, etc. He's breaking free of his previous image of singing love ballads too by also singing about political and societal issues. His music feels familiar yet fresh. It is well polished and produced, but his personal touch to it is also obvious. 

Overall

The truth? Kelvin Kwan is a flawed young man who has made stupid mistakes. However, it is because of talent, persistence, and a little bit of luck, that he's still here today. He's stayed out of trouble since and has made up for his wrongs. Forgiveness is a part of life. I have forgiven Kelvin for his mistakes because he's taken advantage of everything he's been fortunate enough to have to be better than ever.

Through out the years, he's outperformed many people's expectations, including mine. I certainly would not anticipate someone of his background and past would become the promising and creative artist today. It's not surprising Kelvin Kwan made a comeback. It is however, a surprise that he's managed to do so much and go so far. However, it's definitely a pleasant surprise. Because of all this, my like for him continues to grow and he is now one of my favorite singers. I strongly believe he will only continue to go farther. Best wishes to Kelvin and his future!

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Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoyed reading my take on Kelvin and his career, which has been met with mixed response. I tried to be as impartial as possible. What is your opinion on Kelvin's comeback? This was a longer spotlight post because of the in-depth artist critique. I'll be posting the second part (the song recommendations) soon.

Song Review: 4 Minute's "Volume Up"

4 Minute releases their song "Volume Up" in their 3rd mini album "Volume Up", which was released on April 9th, 2012. This mini album has a total of seven songs: "Get on the Floor", "Volume Up", "I'm OK", "Say My Name", "Femme Fatale", "Dream Racer", and "Black

THE SONG:

The song "Volume Up" is very upbeat, energetic, and rebellious as well. I think this song fits into 4 Minute's usual musical style. I really like this song because of the beat and the meaningful lyrics, it really moves me. Throughout the song there are solo saxophone parts and the song also has a techno sound to it.



THE MV:

In the MV, there are many things that caught my attention. It starts out with HyunA walking, then you hear little echo sounds. They also show her tattoo, which reads "My mother is the heart that keeps me alive". Then, when she turns around she shoots her red vampire looking eyes, which completely stunned me. I felt like I was watching one of those vampire scenes in "Twilight". They also have some interesting objects like a snake wrapped around them and a skull. The meaning behind the MV is about all the hateful and offensive comments and criticism that girls groups face online. Overall, I like the MV and all of the five girls were confident during the scenes.

Song Review: G.E.M.'s "Someday I'll Fly"

After taking a 1 1/2 year concert break, G.E.M. finally makes a comeback with "Someday I'll Fly".  As one of the best marketed and promising young singers in Hong Kong, this song and music video was definitely something that was highly anticipated.

"Someday I'll Fly" has a simple composition and meaning, but is executed beautifully.  The song is very inspiring and uplifting.  With her signature incorporation of English lyrics and Western pop elements, she once again brings her own style to Cantopop.  

There was a lot of hype and promotion before the release of the MV, which was pushed back several times.  In terms of having a simple enough plot that also compliments the song, the music video for "Someday I'll Fly" is G.E.M.'s best yet.  A lot of effort was put in it, from G.E.M. shaving the side of her head to fully execute the feel of the video and learning ballet for three months prior to filming to achieve realism.  The directing in the video is great, from G.E.M. throwing her ballet slippers at her ex-lover.  The shot of her standing on top of the mountain and slowly falling then flying is also beautiful.  

Overall, "Someday I'll Fly" is a powerful and wonderful song accompanied by a great music video.  I am so happy to have G.E.M. back, and can't wait to hear more new music from her!

The Impact of Mr. and the Return of Cantonese Rock Bands

There once was a time where rock held significance on the Hong Kong music scene, thanks to  "Beyond", who were a huge sensation in the 80s and 90s.  Having experienced massive success in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, and Mainland China, they are still considered the most successful and influential Cantonese band.

Since the turn of the 21st century though, bands, as well as a love for the rock genre, have faded into oblivion in Hong Kong.  Rock music became something that operated underground in HK.  "Mainstream Cantonese music" became classified as mainly pop ballads.  The early and mid 2000's saw the popularity of pop singers like Joey Yung, Eason Chan, and so on.

However, Cantonese music has seen a shift in gears the last few years.  More rock bands have emerged in Hong Kong in recent years.  What's even more of a breakthrough, is that they're debuting under established mainstream record companies and achieving moderate success.  Thanks to bands like RubberBand, Dear Jane, C Allstar, Supper Moment, and most notably Mr., Hong Kong is finally getting a taste of great rock music and bands again.

In 2008, Universal Music's Cinepoly took a chance by signing Mr.  It was an extremely risky move for the Cantopop industry, as it was the first time in 10 years a major record label had signed anything as "unsafe" as a band.  Since then, they've become the most successful and known band in Hong Kong in years.   This has paved the path for rock bands to continue developing and growing in front of the public eye.

Mr. is not the most amazing band ever and I will definitely not say that they are comparable to Beyond, but I greatly credit the return of popularity of the rock and band sound to them.  They're talented and were blessed with luck as well, and they deserve the success they've been getting.  They are well polished enough they fit within the realm of Cantopop, but have a distinctive rock influence that sets them apart.

As a fan of rock music, I'm very happy to see that rock bands like Mr. are finally starting to gain popularity again.  There is no doubt that we will be seeing more of them.  The next band up to debut?  Patrick Tang's recently formed SirV.  Stay tuned for more information about SirV!

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Author's Note: While I listen to a lot of pop music, my favorite genre has been pop/rock and rock for as long as I can remember.  Since getting back into Cantopop and exploring and discovering different artists and styles, I've been very happy to discover Cantonese rock bands like Mr. and Dear Jane.  I wish all these bands even more success for years to come!