With N.Y. shows, Mariah Carey thrives on Christmas

NEW YORK (AFP) ― The festive wreath above the New York stage bore the insignia “MC” ― at once “Merry Christmas” and the initials of the evening’s attraction, Mariah Carey. Indeed for the pop diva, the holiday and her identity as an artist increasingly go hand-in-hand.It’s been 20 years since Carey released “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which quickly became a seasonal favorite with its bouncy holiday cheer infused by a touch of longing.Carey has put out two full Christmas albums but now has

Dec. 25, 2014

Let the light shine

Museums and galleries are holding exhibitions in keeping with the festive, yet reflective mood at the end of the year. Two art exhibitions feature different representations of the symbols of Christ and reflections on our modern life, making them timely for the holiday season. Seoul Museum presents a unique painting series by the Korean artist Kim Ki-chang (1914-2001), who imaginatively portrayed the life of Christ set in the Joseon era. Some 30 major scenes from Christ’s life are on display at t

Dec. 23, 2014

[Herald Review] ‘Happy End’ to sweet, sorrowful year

The four gentlemen of vocal group Sweet Sorrow have returned with a series of year-end concerts to bring 2014 to a happy end. The year-end concert series, titled “Happy End,” comes less than six months after Sweet Sorrow held its nationwide “Harmony” concert series after its fourth studio album, “For Lovers Only,” was released in June. Though Sweet Sorrow is not part of the mainstream K-pop scene, it still managed to attract thousands of concertgoers to each of its shows, making it one of the mo

Dec. 23, 2014

Elton John weds after 21 years with partner

WINDSOR, United Kingdom (AFP) ― British pop legend Elton John married long-time partner David Furnish in Windsor on Sunday, the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership, with the singer posting evidence on social media.The 67-year-old singer posted a picture on photo-sharing website Instagram of himself and Furnish in blue suits brandishing a pen as they signed a form.“That’s the legal bit done. Now on to the ceremony!” said the caption.The star-studded ceremony was to take place at their Wi

Dec. 22, 2014

[Herald Review] A ballet to bring out the ‘rage’ within

Twenty-five dancers, 70 minutes, 11 frantically energetic scenes and no intermission: “Rage” truly turns classic ballet on its head and gives the poetic dance form a modern, fury-provoking twist. Seoul Ballet Theater’s latest production is not what the general public might expect from a night at the ballet. Unlike a traditional performance, “Rage” is action-packed, nonstop adrenaline with dancers running across and around the stage in a constant state of unrest. The choreography was the brainchi

Dec. 21, 2014

Furious at leaks, Madonna releases songs early

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Madonna on Saturday suddenly released six new songs months ahead of schedule, furious that early versions had leaked online in what she had described as “artistic rape.”The songs will appear on the pop icon’s first album in three years, “Rebel Heart,” which comes out in March. The six tracks show Madonna going further in a hip-hop direction and include a collaboration with leading female rapper Nicki Minaj.The Material Girl said she decided to put the songs on sale online after

Dec. 21, 2014

Embroidery elevated to an art form

From the outside, the private museum looks like any other apartment unit in Seoul. Open the metal door, however, and your eyes are dazzled by what unfolds before you: an entire apartment filled with embroideries on the wall, embroidered folding screens, and cabinets and tables decorated with intricate embroideries. In fact, every surface seems to be covered with needlework.Some of them are so fine and intricate that from a distance they appear to be paintings. Some are so hyperrealistic that the

Dec. 19, 2014

Eyelike: Flaming Lips fail with ‘Sgt. Pepper’ cover

Flaming Lips fail with ‘Sgt. Pepper’ coverThe Flaming Lips“With a Little Help from My Fwends”(Warner Bros.) Ever wonder what “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” would sound like sung by robots? Me neither, but here’s the answer.The Flaming Lips have recorded a full-length tribute to the Beatles’ 1967 album, and the music is even more far-out and psychedelic than the landmark original. This daft pop is silly, bombastic, druggy, irreverent and rude, with lots of bleeps and blasts, but it’s not

Dec. 19, 2014

Sculptures born out of respect for nature

For artist David Nash, trees are more than sources of material for his sculptures. They represent the life cycle of living beings and have certain characteristics and traits, just like humans. “Trees are like us. They have life. They grow from a seed, live and die. It took me a long time to realize that trees are not made of wood. A tree is a living being. While trees are alive, every part of trees work to make them alive,” said Nash at the press preview of his solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery o

Dec. 18, 2014

Eric Idle brings ‘Not the Messiah’ to Carnegie Hall

NEW YORK (AP) ― And now for something completely different. During a time of year when Handel’s “Messiah” is frequently presented around the world, Eric Idle of Monty Python fame brought “Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy)” to Carnegie Hall, a comedic oratorio based on the movie “The Life of Brian.”From the opening overture of John Philip Sousa’s “The Liberty Bell” ― familiar as the theme of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” on BBC from 1969-74 ― the audience laughed loudly and repeatedly Tu

Dec. 18, 2014

African art show explores class, race, migration

“Crash Wily” by Yinka Shonibare. (Tiroche DeLeon Collection)A wide range of contemporary African art is being showcased for the first time in Korea. The Seoul Museum of Art has brought together foreign artists of African descent and ones based in African countries to introduce the overarching identity of African art to Korean art fans. The exhibition is also attempting to bridge the geographical and cultural gap between Africa and Korea. On Jan. 23, a discussion among art experts and culture cri

Dec. 17, 2014

An R&B Jesus? D’Angelo challenges with ‘Black Messiah’

NEW YORK (AFP) ― After a wait of nearly 15 years, D’Angelo is making a Second Coming of sorts with “Black Messiah,” a hard-charging attack on racial injustice that challenges listeners both musically and lyrically.Released as a surprise Monday, the long-anticipated album moves D’Angelo beyond his R&B roots to embrace the passions of protest rock at a time when demonstrations have swept the United States over police killings of unarmed African Americans in New York and Ferguson, Missouri.D’Angelo

Dec. 17, 2014

[Herald Interview] Behind magic moments of ‘Once’

Kim Mun-jeong can’t forget the day when the set, props and lights all came together onstage for the Korean production of the musical “Once.” The set was a rustic Irish pub, with walls covered with tiny lamps and mirrors of varying size and shape. “Other than the mirrors and lamps, there was really nothing. It was just one simple set,” she said, sitting on a couch at Seoul Arts Center on Thursday, two hours before the night’s show started. “I thought to myself ‘What is this show? What made it so

Dec. 16, 2014

Atari’s ‘E.T.’ game joins Smithsonian collection

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) ― One of the “E.T.” Atari game cartridges unearthed this year from a heap of garbage buried deep in the New Mexico desert has been added to the video game history collection at the Smithsonian. Museum specialist Drew Robarge made the announcement Monday in a blog post. He included a photograph of the crinkled cartridge along with the official serial number assigned to the game by the city of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The game was one of hundreds recovered at the city’s

Dec. 16, 2014