17/07/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | JULY 17, 2025

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CNBlue’s Yong Hwa making solo return to Malaysia J UNG YONG HWA (Yong Hwa), the all-rounder South Korean idol best known as the frontman of CNBlue, is set to make a return to Malaysia for o Tour coincides with release of third mini album

ICONIC singer, actor and entertainer Kenny Bee is set to bring his heartfelt motto to life with an unforgettable evening of music on Aug 23 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting. From his early days as a lead singer of Hong Kong Cantopop chart-toppers The Wynners in 1973, to developing his solo music career and songwriting prowess in the early 1980s, Bee has won the recognition of countless fans with his voice and talent. As an actor, Bee has acted in over 100 films, such as Let’s Make Laugh (1983), Shanghai Blues (1984), Fist of Fury (1991), The Chinese Feast (1995), Initial D (2005) and more. The concert titled Live in the Moment embodies Bee’s personal motto and life philosophy. “Live in the Moment is my motto – not to encourage reckless spending, of course. To me, living in the moment means allowing ourselves to slow down and take a break at the right time on our journey of hard work. “Put everything aside for a while, listen to some music and enjoy a concert. Let us cherish the past, look forward to the future and share a joyful night together. Live in the moment,” Bee explained. Fans can anticipate an intimate, soul-stirring performance filled with timeless hits and heartfelt storytelling as Bee invites everyone to pause, reflect and embrace the present – through music that has touched generations. Tickets for Bee’s Live in the Moment Concert are priced from RM238 to RM838. Tickets will be available for public purchase next Monday. Kenny Bee to play gig in Genting Fans can catch Bee’s concert on Aug 23 at the Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting.

his first-ever solo concert here. Organised by Lo-Fi Entertainment, 2025 Jung Yong Hwa Live “Director’s Cut: Our Fine Days” in Kuala Lumpur will hit the stage at Mega Star Arena on Sept 14. Celebrating the 10th year since his solo debut, the tour coincides with the release of his third mini album One Last Day . With his signature command of stage, captivating vocals and charming moves, Yong Hwa is geared to deliver a familiar yet different excitement for the fans. First shot to fame with CNBlue under FNC Entertainment, Yong Hwa launched his solo career on the side in 2015 with his debut studio album One Fine Day , which was followed by the mini albums Do Disturb in 2017 and Your City in 2023 prior to One Last Day . Apart from his popularity in K-pop, Yong Hwa has also made inroads into J-pop and C-pop with recorded songs in Japanese and Mandarin, which consists of collaboration tracks with Mandopop stars such as JJ Lin and Jam Hsiao. Yong Hwa has not only established himself in music, but also in acting. Having starred alongside Nicholas Tse in the Hong Kong film Cook Up a Storm (2017), his recent K-drama lead roles include Brain Works (2023) and Sell Your Haunted House (2021), which won him 2021 Excellent Actor at KBS Drama Awards.

He also hosts a music talk show called LP Room on YouTube. With a decade of memories to share, Yong Hwa’s upcoming solo show is more than just a celebration of his journey so far, but also a tribute to his fans for their support along the way. Tickets, priced from RM368 to RM888, will be available for sale on Aug 1. National Art Gallery publishes Stage 0.1 concert photobook by Tapa Otai IN a move to expand the Yong Hwa has also made inroads into J-pop and C-pop with recorded songs in Japanese and Mandarin.

Saari. “U-Wei asked me about all the concert photos I had taken. I told him I just kept them. A few days later, we met again, and he suggested I publish a book,” he said. Tapa Otai added that the book mainly focuses on musicians who are often overlooked, although it also features some well-known artistes as added value. “I dedicate this book especially to the musicians who are the backbone of the industry – those working behind the scenes. This book is for them. I do not focus too much on singers, but I have also included photos of renowned artists, such as Datuk M. Nasir, Datuk Ramli Sarip, Wings and Search, to add to its appeal,” he said. Apart from being available at the National Art Gallery, Stage 0.1 is also sold on the e-commerce platform Shopee for RM180. – Bernama

rock music scene. “When he expressed interest in publishing a book based on his collection, we agreed to support it through a collaborative publishing platform, which also covers printing and limited distribution at the gallery,” he said at the gallery last Friday. Fairus said the gallery also viewed Stage 0.1 as an effort to document Malaysia’s rock music heritage from a photographic perspective, noting most of Tapa Otai’s works had previously been kept privately, without any formal publishing platform. He added that the book is not merely a collection of concert photos, but a significant visual archive, which shines a light on the musicians and crew behind the scenes – the true heartbeat of every performance. Meanwhile, Tapa Otai, 70, said the idea of producing the book came after a suggestion from film director Dr U-Wei

documentation of Malaysia’s visual arts, the National Art Gallery has, for the first time, published a concert photography book, titled Stage 0.1 , by veteran photographer Mustaffa Ahmad Hidzir, better known as Tapa Otai. The 240-page book features around 300 photographs of local rock concerts, including behind-the-scenes shots of musicians who are rarely captured by the camera. National Art Gallery Publications Branch curator Mohd Fairus Ismail said the book’s publication is part of the gallery’s new approach to documenting the country’s music and cultural scene. “We started this initiative while planning an exhibition focused on social, cultural and musical issues from the 1979 to 1989 era. During the research, our curators discovered Tapa Otai’s photographs, which captured many significant moments in the local

Fairus (left) and Mustaffa. – BERNAMAPIC