The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

Eason Chan goes retro with 3mm
Exclusive interview with One Direction
Judge gives Chris Brown green light to travel

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 05:32 AM PDT

Eason Chan boogies to flashy disco music with his new Cantonese album ...3mm.

EASON Chan has got to be the chattiest Hong Kong celebrity ever.

The personable singer-actor could hardly be interrupted when he started talking about his music during a press conference held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday to promote his new album ...3mm.

Fondly dubbed by the media as Hong Kong's third God Of Song after Samuel Hui and Jacky Cheung, Chan also merrily hummed and sang a few bars from each song he introduced from the Cantonese release, which is his 36th studio album.

For ...3mm, Chan decided to work with Jerald Chan and Eric Kwok of Hong Kong pop duo Swing.

"The title ...3mm actually means three married men, because that's what we are. When we first met, only one of us was married, but now we all are. Also, the 10 songs represent the 10 things that are important to a married man," explained Chan, who is married to former TVB artiste Hilary Tsui and has an eight-year-old daughter named Constance.

Inspired by the disco music of the 1970s and 80s, Chan said he wanted to do some retro-themed dance pop for a change and thought of such classic hits as Alan Tam's Love Trap and Leslie Cheung's Monica.

"Even the electric blue and neon pink used in the design of the album were very popular colours during that time," he said, showing how the reflective surface of the album cover reminded one of mirrored disco balls.

Although he was still recovering from surgery on his left knee due to a meniscus (cartilaginous tissue) tear sustained during his world tour concert, Chan was really excited about his new songs and even got up to show how he would boogie to them.

"I can still dance on tip-toes. The only problem is I cannot bend my knee and lean on it," said Chan, showing some discomfort as he returned to his seat.

For the first track titled Chung Hau Mei (Heavily Flavoured), on which he sounded very similar to Tam, Chan mused that he had even recorded another version with Tam, which he calls the "Headmaster mix", alluding to the Chinese media's nickname for Tam.

The sixth-track Mun (Mosquito) was one that he found most challenging to record.

"The lyrics are such a mouthful. I had to learn the words for the whole song by heart before I started recording it. I've never had to do that before," said Chan, who not only sings but writes songs for others, and is known to play several musical instruments, including the accordion, bass, drums, guitar, harmonica, piano and violin.

Doing a series of interviews in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, the 38-year-old performer was quite tickled when a local journalist said he sounded like the late Sir Paul McCartney of the wildly popular sixties British rock band The Beatles. "I shall take that as a compliment," exclaimed Chan, who added that he was sent to study in Britain from age 12 to 21, and acquired an English accent as a result.

Chan also has some three dozen movies under his belt, including his first English-speaking role in Hong Kong-American mystery thriller Strawberry Cliff (2011).

However, he did not make any films this year because he was busy with his concert tours and new albums. "I'm first and foremost a singer, so my chief concern is making music. However, if there is a movie with Chow Yun-fat, I will surely grab the opportunity."

Eason Chan's ...3mm is distributed by Universal Music Malaysia.

Exclusive interview with One Direction

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 05:30 AM PDT

IT seems like most people, including us here at Galaxie, just can't get enough of One Direction. As the release date for its latest album Take Me Home is fast approaching (Nov 12, to be exact), we can't wait to see what the boys have in store for us in the 13-track album, or 17 tracks if you are getting the limited "yearbook" edition.

Also, we are anxious to see if this album could top the success the group already had with its debut album Up All Night, which conquered charts in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, the United States and of course, Britain.

During an exclusive phone interview with One Direction's Harry Styles, he explained why the group chose Take Me Home as the title of its second album. "In one way, it could be quite cheeky and the other, you know, we are always on the road so a lot of times there is that feeling of wanting to go home for a while," he said.

Awww, that's so sweet. However, don't expect the album to sound all sad and gloomy. In fact, like the lead single Live While We're Young, the album is more energetic and vibrant. "After doing the first album and then the tour, we all agree that our songs sound better when we do it live," said Styles.

Guess things would sound much better during its world tour next year, which might include Malaysia on the schedule of stops.

For more on the one-on-one interview with Styles, pick up the Nov 1-15 issue of Galaxie from a newsstand near you.

The issue also has stories about blonde hottie Kaley Cuoco, who talks about the relationship between her character, Penny, and Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki) on The Big Bang Theory.

"I think down the line I'd like to see them together. I think they have a lot to learn, but my heart is definitely with that relationship," confessed Cuoco.

Another hottie, Lana Del Rey, reveals why she loves taking somebody "downtown".

The Ride singer tells us that "it has a couple of meanings. One is 'let's go out, let's go downtown!' and the other is ..." Hmm, interesting!

Poster lovers can get their hands on pictures of the sexy Chris Hemsworth, Andrew Garfield and Kim Kardashian. If that's not enough, there are some awesome prizes to be won too, such as limited edition Skyfall merchandise, cute The Big Bang Theory "Bazinga" T-shirts and special screening passes to catch Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

On top of that, for the first time, Galaxie comes to life this issue with iSnap (using the free Star Mobile app, which utilises augmented reality technology, rich media content such as music videos, movie trailers and photos are delivered to your smartphone screen). Do give it a try with the Nov 1-15 issue and see more of your favourite celebrities.

You can get more of Galaxie, which is owned by Star Publications (M) Bhd and voted entertainment magazine of the year two years in a row – 2011 and 2012, online at galaxieblog.com.my.

And for the latest updates, check out Galaxie's Facebook page (facebook.com/GalaxieMagazine) or Twitter (@galaxiemag) for your everyday dose of entertainment! – Vivienne Wong

Judge gives Chris Brown green light to travel

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 02:26 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - R&B singer Chris Brown was given the go-ahead to carry out his European tour after a Los Angeles judge said on Thursday that the entertainer was "in compliance" with probation imposed for his 2009 assault on former girlfriend Rihanna.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg had the authority to jail the Kiss Kiss singer if she had found that Brown had not kept up with the terms of his probation, which includes community service and an already-completed domestic violence program.

Brown, 23, is half way through his five-year probation sentence after pleading guilty to assaulting his fellow R&B star Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 Grammy awards.

Brown's European tour begins on November 14 in Copenhagen and will finish in Paris on December 7. He will perform in Germany and Norway, among other countries.

The singer's next progress hearing was set for January 17.

Brown and Rihanna have reconciled in recent months. Brown Tweeted a photograph of himself at Rihanna's Halloween party in West Hollywood on Wednesday, dressed in Arab robes and brandishing a fake assault rifle.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Jumaat, 2 November 2012

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

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