Showing 1 - 10 of 132
Global dominance
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 30/12/2025
» This year was another in which K-pop continued global expansion. Let's start with Netflix's animation, KPop Demon Hunters, which features the popular soundtrack Golden, sung by Huntr/x, a trio girl group. Written by Ejae, a Korean American singer-songwriter and Mark Sonnenblick, Golden ranked number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. Golden was not only a popular animation soundtrack, but also received four Grammy nominations: Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Remixed Record.
YouTube to use AI to upscale old videos to 1080p clarity
Life, Puriward Sinthopnumchai, Published on 11/11/2025
» YouTube has announced a major update for its smart TV application aimed at elevating video quality and the overall viewing experience.
Revenge fantasy is this week's hottest show on Netflix
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 17/10/2025
» If you could have three wishes granted, what would they be? Believe it or not, but for the first wish most people would ask for a large sum of money. The other two wishes are also for themselves. Only a few people are willing to make a wish for others or society. On social platforms, you can see these kinds of comments regarding Genie, Make A Wish, the most popular Netflix TV series in Thailand this week.
Isan sound goes global
Life, John Clewley, Published on 13/09/2025
» Last month, World Beat was invited to join a government sponsored event to promote molam music from Isan on the international stage. The event was held on Aug 12 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok as part of the National Science and Technology Fair 2025.
A new oud masterpiece
Life, John Clewley, Published on 30/08/2025
» This month's Transglobal World Music Chart has plenty of interesting new albums, with many released to coincide with the summer festival season in Europe and North America.
Old wine, new magic
Life, Alongkorn Parivudhiphongs, Published on 16/08/2025
» Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera has stood the test of time thanks to its unforgettable score, lavish staging and irresistible Gothic romance. Iconic numbers like Music Of The Night and All I Ask Of You remain instantly recognisable, while the candlelit lair, crashing chandelier and opulent costumes immerse viewers in a world of mystery, obsession and exquisite beauty. Its blend of romance, horror and spectacle has made it a global phenomenon, appealing to newcomers and seasoned theatre fans alike.
Girls gone bad
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 18/07/2025
» Remember the popular HBO series Girls from over a decade ago? The show was widely recognised for its postfeminist commentary on female sexuality and millennial angst and it ran for a surprisingly long six seasons. To this day, I still don't really understand the rave reviews. I only watched a few episodes here and there, so I won't pretend to be an expert on it, but what I saw never quite resonated with me.
Will Tesla's camera-only autonomy prove its mettle?
Life, James Hein, Published on 02/07/2025
» I'm still not convinced that Tesla's camera-only approach will work well in all situations. According to a quick AI search, Elon doesn't like Lidar based on "cost, complexity, and philosophical disagreement with its necessity". Other manufacturers seem to have no problem with the first two of these and I challenge his last reason. I would have thought that a combination of available technologies would give you the safest options for all circumstances.
Rising rents threaten the vibrant street food scene of the once-booming Banthat Thong Road
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 09/06/2025
» As night fell, neon signs gradually lit up Instagrammable restaurants and cafes. Despite pouring rain, tourists were taking photos of a dessert shop's logo of a boy holding a bun at an iconic intersection. Some eateries were teeming with customers, with a long queue of them spilling onto the sidewalk. Some, less popular, saw staff sitting idle. Others put up advertisement for lease.
Revisiting a golden age
Life, John Clewley, Published on 04/06/2025
» Arabic popular music produced several divas in the 20th century, with each blessed with a powerful distinctive voice. Some of them included the "Egyptian Immortal" Oum Kalthoum, who dominated Arabic radio with her expressive voice; "Algerian Rose" Warda; Farouz, "The Star of Lebanon"; and "Syrian Mystic" Asmahan, whose life was tragically cut short at just 32.