From a UK-based boy band to a South Korean underground rapper-cum-YouTube sensation, here are some of the unexpected yet stunning breakthroughs in the entertainment industry from 2012.
PSY
Park Jae-Sang, better known as Psy, is the hottest export from South Korea, which is saying something amid K-pop’s success. His infectious “Gangnam Style” music video has captivated everyone from the likes of Katy Perry to MotoGP winner Jorge Lorenzo. Even UN General-Secretary Ban Ki Moon, who is also Korean, was bitten by the Gangnam bug and received a dance lesson from the man himself. The real secret to his success, in his own words, is simple: dress classy, dance cheesy.
Jessica Chastain
After starring in seven films and winning over 35 critics’awards in 2011, Jessica has established herself as the lastest “it” girl in Hollywood. But it wasn’t until her performance in The Help that she finally became a bona fide Hollywood A-lister.
“Most little girls dream of their wedding dress; I grew up dreaming of my Oscar dress,” she was quoted as saying when asked about her dream to conquer Hollywood. Is it really any wonder why TIME magazine decided to include her in annual 100 most influential list in 2012.
Maudy Ayunda
Maudy’s acting skills have impressed since her debute in 2006’s Untuk Rena. But it’s her recent movies Perahu Kertas (Paper Boat) and Perahu Kertas 2 that have helped turned this 18-year-old into big-time movie star. Starring alongside Reza Rahadian and Adipati Dolken, Maudy steals the acting honores with her convincing performance as Kugy, a brokenhearted and emotional young girl. Did we mention she also composed and sang in the soundtrack for both films? Now that she’s reportedly been accepted as a student at Columbia University in New York, it’s looking to be a great year for this talented teenager.
One Direction
In September 2011, boyband members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson conquered the UK music scene with their mega-hit What Makes You Beautiful. But it was only in 2012 that the rest of the world began paying attention to these teenagers.
Their album “Up All Night” was released globally in early 2012, and managed to secure the number one spot on the US Billboard 200 chart. This achievement made them the first British group in US chart history to enter at number one with a debut album. During the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, the band was declared the biggest winners of the night by sweeping all three of their nominations, including the much prized awards of Best new Artist.
Cherrybelle
Formed back in February 2011, these nine lucky Indonesian girls were personally selected by music producer Dino Raturandang from thousand of hopefuls at an open audition held in Jakarta. The goal was to form a homegrown girl band similar to Girls’Generation and Wonder Girls. Despite skepticism about their musical talent, Cherrybelle has proved to be a hit from the get go. In 2012, they scored at least nine endorsement deals, three awards and theis very own autobiographical movies Love is U.
Adele
Adele’s “21” album, with massive hits such as Someone Like You, Rolling in the Deep and Set Fire to the Rain, became the offical soundtrack for the brokenhearted in 2011. By 2012, this vivacious singer gained industry recognition after winning six Grammy Awards. Her other achievements this year include being declarated the first female in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have three singles in the top 10 at the same time; recording the hit theme song for the latest James Bond movie Skyfall, and perhaps her greatest accomplishment of all, celebrating the birth of her new baby boy.
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