By APA Staff

Our innocent tastes are sometime so, so guilty. But in a year when such luminaries as Vanessa Hudgens, BoA, and Edison Chen make headlines, can you really blame us?

Beijing Olympics opening ceremony

I can't tell if saying I thoroughly loved Zhang Yimou's opening ceremony makes me a traitor to liberal cultural criticism or a steadfast Chinese patriot. In either case, I don't like it, so I'll just base my enthusiasm on aesthetics and let readers hang me for my political naïveté. Chinese intellectuals called Zhang Yimou's rendition of Chinese history white-washed and simplistic and his use of actors dehumanizing; meanwhile the Beijing-lovers called it the bold emergence of China on the world stage. I call it simply a technological and aesthetic masterpiece. Be it the mesmerizing electronic scroll or the Busby Berkeley-esque use of human bodies, the opening ceremony was a rush of color and movement, a sensational vision of China past and present rendered through uplifting bodily excess. However you interpret the politics, one must admit that the style through which those politics were communicated commanded our senses in ways as revolutionary as it was a symbol for China. In a word: herculean.  --Brian Hu

Britney Spears' "Womanizer" video (directed by Joseph Kahn)

Ah, Britney Spears... she engages public attention like few entertainers do. While Spears expressed frustration with being depicted as "making a comeback," there's little dissent among pop-culti observers (most of her fans included) that she did less entertaining on the stage and more on tabloids. This lasted a year and some odd months, up until her father gained legal stewardship of her. As the weeks passed in mid to late 2008, not-so quiet whispers of her dropping a new album heightened newer levels of obsession, er coverage among media outlets. Americans, after all, love a good comeback story. And this Joseph Kahn-directed vid was a bid to make THE ultimate comeback.

The dancing may not be too intricate. But that's not really what drives the music video for "Womanizer." It's really the set of visuals meant to feed into the anticipation of seeing her reclaim the allure she had as an entertainer, back in the pre-MTV '07 VMA, pre-Kevin Federline days. And there are few better suited than Kahn who directed "Toxic," a video that garnered much attention for a racy, costume-changing Britney in various caper-like scenes. "Womanizer," in comparison, has been deemed by some as "Toxic Part II" and rightfully so. Along with the visual similiarities, it returns her to what her fans seem to love best –- sassily and sexily schooling men on their bad, bad ways. --Christine Chiao

BoA

She's barely turned 22 and already she's made a name for herself all over Asia. This past year, BoA Kwon finally took it one step further and decided to "eat up" the world, with her new single "Eat You Up." She's become a seasoned dancer and granted, she still maintains a strong accent as she sings her lyrics (chalk full of sexual innuendos), but we have to give her credit for putting herself EVERYWHERE. She's made a free pre-show appearance at KIIS FM's Jingle Ball, an MTV stage performance and even an appearance in West Hollywood's gay club Rage! She's slowly climbing up the dance charts in America – and regardless of whether she really hits it big in America, we still love her anyway.  Come on folks, if the boys of WeHo love BoA, then heck, America should too! --Kanara Ty

Jay Chou

In 2008, Jay Chou released his worst album ever (Capricorn) and performed in his most dismal movie to date (Kung Fu Dunk). So why can't we keep him off our "Best of 2008" issue? Just check out the video for "Fragrance Rice (Dao Xiang)" which shows what APA writer Winghei Kwok calls Jay's "lecture" mode, where he sermonizes about family dysfunction. The video, directed by Chou himself, depicts a father who loses his job and is unable to face his wife and daughter, so he runs away. Hardly the standard MTV fare, and Jay Chou shows once again why it's good to be king: you can pretty much make whatever you want, pedantic though it may be. As the economy falters, it's weirdly enough Jay Chou (and not the indie rockers who are, ironically, too obsessed with doomed love affairs) who captures Taiwan's woes gracefully and sincerely.  --Brian Hu

Snoop Dogg makes Bollywood debut

"Cheese makes dollaz, east west masala / Singh is the Kinng, so you all have to follow." 2008 brought about a hilarious, if not epic, collaboration between Snoop Dogg, RDB, and Akshay Kumar, in the title song for Kumar's 2008 film Singh is Kinng. According to the New York Times article "India's New Partnership: Bollywood and Hip-Hop", complete with a photograph of Snoop Dogg wearing a Sikh turban and sherwani for the "Singh is Kinng" music video shoot, the rapper talks about the natural fluidity between hip-hop and Indian music, promising his fans, new and old, "more movies with some of my Bollywood homies" in the future. In addition to chanting "Singh is Kinng" on top of Pritam's beats, Snoop Dogg also raps about representin' Punjabi, and of course: watching him zoom by, boom by, sayin' what up to the ladies hanging out in Mumbai. --Ada Tseng

Edison Chen

Though I've missed Gillian Chung and Cecilia Cheung more, I've quite enjoyed the assorted Edison sightings we've had in the wake of the January 2008 photo scandal that had investors and distributors backing out of the superstars' projects. The industry's conservatism has been both annoying and disturbing, especially for those of us who wanted to see Gillian as one of Mei Lanfang's wives in Forever Enthralled, or Edison as a no-good punk in, well, anything. Everyone's hatin' on Edison this year, so I'll admit to have found his blink-and-you-miss-him role in The Dark Knight downright hilarious. Why even keep him in at this point, other than to poke further fun at his diminished status? Best of all was his cameo in Edmund Pang's Trivial Matters, released in Hong Kong a mere month before the scandal, in which Edison plays -- what else? -- a smart-alecky English-speaker trying to pick up stray girls in a club with conversation about poo. The scandal only made his scene that much more scandalous -- and laugh-out-loud funny. Of course Trivial Matters also showcased Gillian Chung in possibly her best role to date, reminding us of how we've been robbed of one of Hong Kong's most underrated talents. --Brian Hu

ACDC vs. Miley Cyrus

After directing the box-office hit Step Up 2: The Streets, Jon M. Chu went where few adults have gone before. He publicly challenged teen queen Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) to the biggest online dance battle in YouTube history. He recruited his Step Up 2 star Adam Sevani (ACDC stands for Adam/Chu Dance Crew) and successfully got the attention of Miley Cyrus and her friend/backup dancer Miley Jiroux (who have their own "Miley and Mandy" show on YouTube). First was the challenge and M&M's first response; then ACDC brings some A-list celebs, and M&M turns to magic. After garnering millions of views per video and earning a spot on the Teen Choice Awards for the final battle, Jon Chu debuted his latest showcase, The League of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) at November's YouTube Live concert. And then there was the official Republican vs. Democrat dance-off. It's hard to keep up, but if nothing else, these dance battles represent innovative ways in which the new generation of entertainers are utilizing the internet to heighten publicity and further their careers. --Ada Tseng 

Dostana

Two straight men pretend to be gay (ironically, in attempts to land the ultimate bachelor pad), fall in love with the same women (who happens to be the third roommate), and comedic hijinks ensue. Sounds a lot like I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, which is, in my opinion, one of the most offensive and homophobic movies I've seen. But why am I totally in love with Dostana, when the two plots are essentially the same? In the face of beach bodies, Bollywood dance numbers, and a piece of constantly unraveling eye candy named John Abraham, I am rendered weak.
 
The topic of homosexuality is still taboo in India. Despite questions of whether the film ultimately does more harm than good for the Indian gay rights movement, Karan Johar was awfully forward to produce a gay-themed mainstream comedy and dare two of Bollywood's most famous leading men to "kiss" onscreen. Yes, the wrist snapping, the predatory behavior, the spike chokers, leopard prints, silk scarfs -- and in one golden moment, the sailor uniforms -- are over the top. But the outrageous humor makes the joke seem to be on gay stereotypes instead of gay people. Besides, Sameer (played Abhishek Bachchan) has a coming-out scene that is genuinely heart-warming, and you can't deny the chemistry between the three unlikely roommates. Politics aside, Dostana is the ultimate chick flick. Fun times with gay friends. Having two hot guys fight over you -- and your boss waiting on the line. Getting promoted and being "the hottest girl in the world." This Will & Grace-on-steroids is every woman's dream come true. Despite its sloppy ending, Dostana successfully captured its audience with pure flaming hotness. Not to mention, John Abraham's yellow swimming trunks. --Winghei Kwok 

Vanessa Hudgens

In the middle of the High School Musical 3 trailer when Gabrielle, clad in a white empire-waisted babydoll dress, rises like a pristine phoenix from a sea of scarlet red (created by a bleacher full of Wildcat basketball fans), we know that everything will be alright in High School Musical land. It's okay that Troy, standing nervously in the middle of the court, can't breathe, because ohhh Gabrielle believes, and... that's all he really needs. What fun it is to watch Vanessa Hudgens swirling around with white flowers in her perfectly curled hair, squealing as Zac surprises her from behind, pointing her stiletto-ed feet as he lifts her up during a waltz. Even grouchy critics who couldn't stomach the by-the-numbers storyline had to admit the musical numbers, choreographed by Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing, Xanadu, Michael Jackson concerts), were worthy of High School Musical's much-anticipated leap to the big screen. Despite a box office record-breaking senior year, Hudgens still had time for extracurricular activities, including recording her second solo album, Identified. For a snazzy mix of 80s revival, girl power attitude, and shameless product placement, check out Hudgen's single "Sneakernights." --Ada Tseng

Johnnys

Dear Johnny Kitagawa,

Your agency Johnny's and Associates has managed to turn all your beautiful boys into money making, hip-thrusting machines -- pimping them out on every inch of commericial space in Japan, whether it be a television dramas, variety shows, stage plays, or environmental charity events. You even use them in commercials to sell body deodorant, mobile phones, bath products, and fried chicken. You've let their bubblegum pop music invade all our heads. Some of us find ourselves unconsciously doing the dance steps and matching hand gestures in public. Some of us even parade around as them!

And let's not talk about how well your boys sell: in the Oricon Top 50 of 2008, 20 of the singles are from Johnny's talent. Kanjani8 and Arashi earned the top two selling music DVDS, and let's not forget about the top selling photobooks from Arashi. Stage plays, such as Koichi Domoto's Endless Shock held its 500th show this past year. All the live tours of the boys are highly-coveted tickets. This year, Matsujun was named one of GQ Japan's Men of the Year; Kimutaku and Junichi Okada both took home Best Actor awards at the Television Drama Academy Awards.

Some boys are talented, some boys are not, and some boys... I question if they're even boys in the first place. But that just means there's a boy out there for everyone! You're very protective, making sure your boys aren't wrongfully portrayed in the gossip magazines -- not even letting Asia Pacific Arts use a picture of MatsuJun for our interview story (hmph!). You probably have some master plan to take over the world with your army of beautiful bishounen. After winning the hearts of millions and millions of fangirls, why not conquer everyone else?

Well, all I would like to say is thanks. The world is a much better place, now that we have boys with great hair in flashy, sequined costumes. I can die happy now.

Sincerely,
Kanara Ty

Back to APA's Best of 2008 issue

Published: Friday, January 2, 2009