Extracted from,
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/show/story/0,4136,143694,00.html
FOREVER 4 FOR HOW LONG MORE?
F4 reunited recently in Korea. But why was Vanness Wu the only one performing?
By Chang May Choon In Seoul
October 03, 2007
A FAN banner for Taiwanese quartet F4 read 'Yong Yuan Bu Mie'.
It's Mandarin for 'never dies'.
But strangely, only one of them - Vanness Wu - performed at the Seoul World Cup stadium where the fourth Asia Song Festival was held on 22 Sep.
The other three - Jerry Yen, Vic Chou and Ken Chu - only joined Vanness on stage briefly, to help introduce other Chinese performers like A-mei and Gigi Leung.
How come?
When asked at a press conference the previous day, Ken, 28, replied irritably: 'Didn't I already mention this just now? It's due to scheduling conflicts.'
He did not offer details.
Could the no-show be linked to mumblings we heard about F4's 'arrogant' attitude during the festival?
We don't know, but to their credit, the group - which shot to phenomenal fame in 2001 with the Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden - has somehow managed to revive its popularity time and again.
Despite critics giving them two years, they have lasted six and are still counting.
Their latest achievement?
Becoming the face of Taiwan tourism in Korea, after scoring an endorsement deal with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau early this year.
And of course, being invited to the prestigious Asia Song Festival says something about their popularity.
But for how long more can these guys hold it together when there are so many younger and cuter acts vying for teenage attention.
While their fans were excited to see them together again, the mood at the group's 'Wish To See You In Taiwan' press conference at Shilla Hotel on 21 Sep was anything but.
They should be seasoned artistes by now, but the four guys, who recently renamed themselves JVKV using their initials, still came across as shy when fielding questions from the host.
BLAND ANSWERS
Their answers were so bland, it was more fulfilling to sip the sweet and flavourful bubble milk tea provided by the organisers.
Only the goofy Vic, 26, gave a quotable quote when introducing Taiwan's famous pineapple tarts.
'It's like Taiwan, full of inner beauty. It's a little sticky, but full of passion,' he said with a laugh.
The rest just gave updates on themselves - Jerry's new project is still in talks, Vanness just finished filming a China-produced drama, while Ken and Vic are busy playing cab drivers in a drama commissioned by Taiwan's Tourism Bureau.
But they made sure to highlight that they would hold a fan gathering in Taiwan on 28 Oct and urged their Korean fans to sign up and get freebies like F4 T-shirts and figurines.
One would expect more enthusiasm, perhaps a hint of drama.
But the 40-minute session offered little insight about the four guys or their hometown, except to introduce some popular local food like xiao long bao (pork dumplings).
At the farewell party, Vanness, 29, was the only energetic one, while Jerry, 30, and Vic looked incredibly bored hiding at one corner while their managers fended off interview requests.
Ken chose to mingle with A-mei and her entourage instead.
Reunited they may be, but can they stay united for their fans?
Perhaps not.
[
本帖最後由 whalesg 於 2007-10-8 13:34 編輯 ]
