Popular Malaysian singer-songwriter and actor Michael Wong will arrive in Vientiane next week, according to the World Vision Office to Laos yesterday.

Mr Wong will visit Laos from June 10-14 as World Vision Malaysia 's goodwill ambassador. He will visit development projects in Khammuan and Savannakhet provinces.

During his time in Laos Mr Wong will trek through poor rural villages to meet children and families living in poverty, and learn how he can respond to the needs of the communities they live in. He will also visit exciting projects to understand how community development works in Laos and how these projects improve the lives of poor people...more info>>

After his visit, Mr Wong will return to Malaysia to raise awareness and promote the fight against poverty in Laos and in other parts of the world.

He will be promoting a special campaign called the “30 Hour Famine” through which young people learn about poverty and are given opportunities to raise money and awareness to eradicate poverty and hunger around the world.

The hope is that through Michael Wong's personal experience and example, the youth of Malaysia will become more active in their support for those living in poverty, especially children.

Michael Wong has recorded over 8 albums and has 10 movie and drama appearances to his credit. He is in the Malaysia Book of Records as the Malaysian Chinese male composer with the highest number of awards and also for his best selling album entitled Tong Hua. He has earned 44 awards for his music.

Gaining more and more recognition globally, Mr Wong was recently appointed as Tourism Malaysia 's ambassador. His participation in the A Music records label in Hong Kong has also gained him more recognition in Asia .

World Vision is an international NGO working in 31 districts of 6 provinces in Laos to create lasting change for children, families, and communities living in poverty. Through child sponsorship funding, World Vision works in many sectors, such as mother and child health, food security, and education.

By Vientiane Times

Lao Music Awards to promote music industry

A total of 14 awards will be presented at the first ever Lao Music Awards to be held on July 26 in Vientiane

Last Friday, a press conference was organised by Sengdara Communications at the Lao Plaza Hotel to announce the categories in which awards will be presented. The event was attended by the Acting Director General of the Fine Arts Department, Mr Xaysavath Singnamvong, and Vice President of the Lao Journalists' Association, Mr Somsanouk Mixay.

The press conference featured performances of the event's theme song performed in both pop and country music style and closed with a lucky draw for two air tickets to Malaysia .

The awards ceremony will promote the local music industry and acknowledge the wealth of quality Lao performers and their work...more info>>

“This will be the first ever event in Laos to recognise successful songs and artists, as well as those working behind the scenes especially song composers and producers,” said Sengdara Communications Director Viroun Sengdara.

“The awards ceremony will become an annual event and will help to raise the standard of the music industry in Laos to equal that of neighbouring countries,” Mr Viroun said.

“The establishment of the Lao Music Awards is in accordance with the government's policy to promote art and culture.”

Awards will be presented in 14 categories, including prizes for the best album, song, group, new artist, male and female artist, most popular artist and country or folk artist of the year.

Trophies will also be given for the best traditional Lao, pop, rock and hip-hop artists of the year. The best producer and composer of the year will also be honoured.

Winners in each category will receive a uniquely designed vintage record player or gramophone incorporating the dok champa (frangipani), the Lao national flower.

“Applications for the awards are open to all Lao artists. Entries will be accepted until May 15. A judging panel and the general public will then spend 10 days selecting the winners,” said Head of Office of Sengdara Communications, Mr Somsack Khandavong.

“A judging panel together with public votes will select four finalists in each category to appear at the awards ceremony, as well as selecting the winners on the night.

Members of the public can vote by sending an SMS through the Tigo network and by completing competition details on specially marked products offered by event sponsors,” Mr Somsack said.

The 2008 Lao Music Awards will be held at the National Culture Hall and will be broadcast live on Lao TV channels. People can obtain tickets to the event by purchasing specially marked products offered by event sponsors and following instructions on the packaging to receive tickets.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes

Well known Korean pop idols Paran melted spectators' hearts on Saturday at celebrations in Vientiane to mark the first anniversary of Tigo, a mobile phone operator.

The exciting concert took place at the Lao-ITECC in front of a crowd of more than 7,000 fervent spectators, with free games, activities and give-aways.

The concert kicked off with some of Vientiane 's top acts, such as Idols, Punky Dolls, LOG, Overdance, Moderndance, A Pact, Nalin, Aluna and Sam, and hard rock groups Uluvus and The Cells before the appearance of Korea 's grooviest band.

The audience raised their voices like a siren and the ground before the stage shook when Paran appeared for their provocative song and dance act, and greeted the audience with a burst of Lao...more info>>

The band played hit songs from their first two albums, such as Five Steps, First Love and others before the concert had to be stopped because of strong winds on stage.

Tigo staff gathered on stage to blow out candles on their birthday cake in between acts.

The name Paran (which means blue in Korean) is an acronym comprised of the members' stage names. The band has five singers: Joo Jong Hyuk also known as Ryan, Yang Seung Ho or Neo, Lee Soo In or P.O., Choi Sung Wook or Ace, and Kim Jae Sub or A.J., who also raps for the group. They are all aged between 15 and 23.

“We are so happy and exited, because this is our first time in Laos , and it is great to perform in concert to commemorate Tigo's first anniversary,” said Ryan at a media conference at Green Park Hotel on Friday.

The band's first album was entitled I Hold My Breath , and came out in September 2005. Their follow up release was called Beyond the Blue Sky , in September 2006.

“Since I've been here one night, I only have two impressions: one is that the weather here is better than in the Republic of Korea now, where it is still cold, but here it's neither very hot nor cold, which is more comfortable,” said Ace.

“Besides that, Laos still preserves a lot of its nature. I saw green mountains as our flight came across from Vietnam , and now I can also say that here it is peaceful and there is very little traffic.”

“Another thing is the warm welcome we're received from people here, especially the smiles of the Lao women which make me want to stay longer,” Ace said.

Before the band arrived in Laos they toured countries such as Thailand , Taiwan , Singapore , Vietnam and Indonesia .

This is the second time the Millicom Lao Company has brought a Korean band to Laos . In December they presented one of Korea 's most famous girl bands, Baby Vox Re.V, to perform in concert to welcome in the International New Year.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes
http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

Paran, a five-member male vocal group which debuted in 2005, has made inroads all across Asia, including China, Indonesia, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

Members of Paran held a showcase concert at the amphitheater of Lao ITECC, an exhibition center in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on April 5. It was the first concert by a male foreign group to attract 10,000 audience members. The event will be televised on Lao Star TV, the public broadcaster of Laos.

Laotian fans, who frequently enjoy Thai TV shows, raved over Paran's performance, although they did not understand the Korean lyrics...more info>>

Fans frantically took photos of the group, waved photographs of the members in the air, screamed and blew kisses to the stage.

Paran returned to Korea and April 7. Soon after their arrival, members of the group wrapped up recording their third studio album, which is slated for release on April 11. The album will be released simultaneously in six Asian countries.

The members recently said they plan to sweep their Korean fans off their feet with their new album.

Source: KBS

Eric B, whose song Jop Jop Kan Pai (The End of Love) is now popular on the radio waves in Vientiane, has set back the launch of their self-titled album from March to April.

Managing Director of Modern Music Company, Mr Oudalai Nusyhalad, said that the change of plans was because the album is not completed yet and half of the group, Mr Eric, or Air, is in the US and unable to return for a concert.

“Eric B is the newest hip hop act from our company. There are two lyricists - Mr Eric and Ms Phouvilai Seng-akhom, also known as Noy. The forthcoming album also features a performance from rapper Lair who is in the band Laoster,” Mr Oudalai said...more >>

“The two main reasons for the delay in the album and concert are that we want to launch the audio CD and VCD at the same time, and we have had some problems during our work, which has wasted time. Another problem is that Eric, and also Lair, are unavailable due to work commitments and they asked to move the launch back so they can be here,” he said.

“We are still working hard on the album, with only about 5-10 percent to go. So now we can plan for a special event with a launch concert in April to coincide with the Pi Mai Lao celebrations,” he said.

The album features 12 songs, all of them recorded and produced in Vientiane . Many of the songs reflect the social lives of young people and mix both Lao and English lyrics.

The rappers have already released two singles, You My Girl and Jop Jop Kan Pai, both currently hitting the airwaves in Vientiane.

Eric B and the company started work on the album in 2006 with extensive song production from Sam and Mee, who helped in the writing and creating of the album and videos.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes