live performances
Although she couldn’t attend, Karol G was the top winner at Premio Lo Nuestro 2024 with nine awards including artist of the year, followed by Maluma, Carin León, Shakira and Peso Pluma (the last two also absent), with four trophies each. But the highlight of Thursday night’s (Feb. 22) event weren’t the winners themselves, but […]
Despite an ongoing battle with her former record label since splitting from her girl group, former LOONA member Chuu continues her career with a new duet alongside a trusted collaborator.
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Delivering a breezy, bossa nova-tinged duet suited for spring weather, Chuu brings her signature sweet vocals to “Let’s Love” alongside Kim Yo Han, a singer-rapper in boy band WEi and former member of X1.
The delightful duet lets the two K-pop stars effortlessly harmonize and synchronize their voices throughout the verses and chorus, with Yo Han also spitting a rap in the second verse.
This K-pop duo previously teamed up in 2021 with R&B star Eric Bellinger on “World Is One,” which acted as a campaign theme song in Korea to aid children marginalized by COVID-19.
“Let’s Love” marks Chuu’s latest musical move after exiting her girl group amid her ongoing battle with former record label BlockBerryCreative, which has extended to more LOONA members.
Since Chuu was expelled and withdrawn from the Billboard 200–charting act after BlockBerryCreative cited “violent language and misuse of power” in November 2022, which Chuu denied, the remaining 11 members of LOONA have all filed lawsuits attempting to cut ties with BlockBerryCreative. After reports of BlockBerryCreative attempting to prohibit Chuu from working in Korea’s entertainment scene, citing contract violations, the 23-year-old made a short statement on Feb. 1 via Instagram regarding “slanderous” claims and expressed her distress over the label’s actions towards her and the LOONA members.
At press time, a representative for the label did not have a statement for Billboard other than official word from BlockBerryCreative will be shared in the future.
With the release of “Let’s Love,” it appears Chuu is still moving forward with her career.
Meanwhile, the other 11 LOONA members have not been very active in K-pop, but several have hopped onto social media. While the last personalized communication on LOONA’s official Twitter and Instagram accounts came from member ViVi on Dec. 9, 2022, members JinSoul, Kim Lip, Hyunjin, Choerry and ViVi have all since opened personal Instagram accounts.
On Dec. 22, 2022, BlockBerryCreative announced it had decided to indefinitely postpone a new EP from LOONA scheduled for Jan. 3, 2023.
Stream “Let’s Love” here and watch Chuu and Kim Yo Han perform the track live below:
While K-pop performances are synonymous with coordinated choreography and flashy stage setups, singer-producer Lee Chanhyuk brought something entirely new — and shocking — to the live stage.
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In support of his newly released album Error on Oct. 17, Chanhyuk took to the South Korean music television program Inkigayo to deliver one of the first performances of the LP’s lead single “Panorama.” But instead of bringing the synth-pop cut to life with a dramatic spotlight and onstage mirror like he did previously, the singer opened his performance sitting completely still in a chair and wouldn’t move until the cameras cut. With just the stand holding a microphone near his mouth, a barber wrapped a sedated Chanhyuk in a white sheet boasting the Error album title and began to buzz off his freshly bleached blonde hair as the star gave a pitch-perfect rendition of his new single.
Chanhyuk is one half of the beloved K-pop/folk duo AKMU with his younger sister Suhyun. The pair got their start on the Korean singing competition K-pop Star 2, before signing with YG Entertainment (the same label home as BLACKPINK and BIGBANG) in 2013 and becoming one of Korea’s most beloved and reliable chart-toppers. The primary producer and writer behind the team, Chanhyuk not only handles a majority of AKMU’s work but has lent his talents to write for K-pop legends like Lee Seungchul, Lee Hyori and IU.
Error marks the 26-year-old’s opportunity to share his unique musical style via listening and visual experiences.
The 11 tracks of Error are said to tell a story detailing someone’s reaction after being involved in an accident in the opening track “Eyewitness Account.” The story continues through song titles like “Siren,” “If I Can’t Go See You Right Now,” “Goodbye, Stay Well” (the album’s sole feature from K-pop soloist Chung Ha) and, ultimately, with “Funeral Hope.”
The accompanying music video for “Panorama” encapsulates the album’s story as Chanhyuk is seen on the brink of death after an accident and recalling his memories.
A theme throughout the album, and first shared on the “Eyewitness Account” track, is about a protagonist that’s fallen into a coma from an accident and can’t move. The record’s storyline likely plays into Chanhyuk’s head-shaving performance and why he chose not to speak during on-camera interviews for other shows like M Countdown.
Similar to how The Weeknd has embraced various characters, both physically and personality-wise, in his eras, Chanhyuk is taking his album persona seriously and creating all the more intrigue around his album. Written entirely by Chanhyuk, the throwback ’80s sounds throughout Error were already refreshing to the K-pop scene this year. Even as fans are holding debates around the promotional tactics, these slightly bizarre, excitingly artistic performances make the impressive LP all the more compelling.
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