Mandopop: Hebe Tien / Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless (無用)

The first image above and below is of Zhang Xiaoqi, the other two of Hebe Tien.

Earlier this year, Taiwanese singer Hebe Tien (from S.H.E) released the song "Useless", which was kind of nice. This autumn she went on to participate in the TV-show "Sound of my Dream"(梦想的声音) as one of the judges/teachers. The show is novel for a music show in the sense that it isn't quite a competition as more of an "open" arena where singers are invited. The high point of the first months came last week when Zhang Xiaoqi (张小七) sang "Useless" in a fantastic interpretation that surpassed the original. Not much is known about her, but it is rumored that she works with accounting in her family business, and sings on her free time at the local bar. Anyway, I do hope this is one voice I expect to hear much more of.

• Hebe Tien - Useless (無用)
• Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless (無用)

Japan: Yuko Oshima meets the Kano Sisters

It is hard to miss that my blog takes it name from japanese Yuko Oshima, the extremely charming and popular ex-AKB48 member that for represents much of my ideal personality would be. Everyone who follows japanese pop and their idol groups can't miss out on how chaste the girls are supposed to be. Even a suggestion of one of them having a boy-friend may merit exclusion from all activities. It may then come as a surprise when we get to see her not only visit but do ... things ... that we almost wouldn't see on sexually liberated swedish television. The Kano Sisters are known for their big 'charms', but actually their fan base is as much women as men. Please read this very nuanced article before you judge them. The short clip is also an excellent peek into the kind of anti-stylish and very folksy TV shows that are so popular in Japan. Yuko Oshima shows what a big heart she has, expanding the narrow idol role to something more and meaningful, something about human equality and even love.

• Yuko Oshima meets the Kana Sisters

Mandopop: Elephant Dee/Dee Hsu/Xiao S (徐熙娣/小S)

Elephant Dee is really Dee Hsu (or Xiao S) who is a well known co-host for the Taiwanese TV-show "Kangxi Arrives (康熙來了)", one of the more popular variety shows in the Chinese speaking world. She and her sister Barbie Hsu actually did have a singing career back in the 90s (as the group ASOS; All Sisters of Shu), but the two new videos of "Blue" from november and now "Heart spurting" shows of a much more mature and darker side.

• Elephant Dee - Heart Spurting (心臟噴血)
• Elephant Dee - Blue
• ASOS - Love does not last long
• Funny live performance
• Last friday's episode of "Kangxi comes" which was an excellent ecample of the shows modern themes, being about the problem so many modern economies share - a falling birth rate, and young mothers and women was invited to talk about this.

Thai pop: Double Tap ft Ruby

Double Tap is an participant from Thailand's Got Talent and Ruby is a talk show host from the TV show called VRZO. See her doing this funny episode as an example. The video is ofc also a meant to be a kind of PSY-style comedy.

• Double Tap ft Ruby - Front right (หน้าแก่)