Shakira’s new album should be much better

Shakira’s domination in America has dwindled since she became a hip-swiveling goddess of festive pop hits like “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” Already a superstar in her native Colombia, the multitalented singer-songwriter-instrumentalist took the American pop scene by storm when she made her U.S. language debut in 2001 with personal, rich songs about romance and more. But her recent albums haven’t matched the spark, edge and charisma of her work a decade ago, and her new self-titled

March 25, 2014

Jo Sung-mo returns after 4 years with ‘Wind of Change’

Ballad singer Jo Sung-mo returned to the music scene Monday with his latest EP, “Wind of Change,” his first extended release in nearly four years. The singer partnered with former entertainer-turned-producer Hyun Jin-young, who is often credited as being one of the first to introduce hip-hop to Korea. Although Hyun was an iconic dancer in the early stages of his career, he has slowly moved his interests toward jazz and art house music. After meeting Hyun through a TV program, Jo said the two bec

March 24, 2014

Incheon airport offers music festival

Incheon International Airport is holding a public music festival featuring diverse, renowned artists this week, in celebration of the airport’s 13th founding anniversary and the 9th anniversary of consecutively ranking No. 1 in airport service quality.The airport’s “Orchestra Festival” is scheduled to last for five days from March 26-30. Each day, an open-air performance will be staged for roughly one hour starting at 4 p.m. at the Millennium Hall on the ground floor of the passenger terminal. T

March 24, 2014

Aretha Franklin celebrates birthday with Denzel

NEW YORK (AP) ― The fellas love Aretha Franklin: Denzel Washington helped the Queen of Soul celebrate her 72nd birthday in style, and Andre 3000 and Babyface are working on new music for the icon. Franklin held an exclusive and small party Saturday in New York City for her birthday, which is on Tuesday. Washington entered the Ritz-Carlton Hotel quietly, though the crowd got excited after realizing it was the Oscar winner under a baseball cap. Franklin thanked the actor for attending. Just hours

March 24, 2014

Music and the sea

Tongyeong International Music Festival opens Friday at a brand new concert hall that embodies just what this year’s festival is all about ― the sea and great music. Nestled on a hill overlooking the sea, the Tongyeong Concert Hall mixes the two in a way that the festival’s organizers hope will inspire artists as well as audiences. “The theme of this year’s festival is ‘seascapes,’” the Tongyeong International Music Festival Foundation said in a press announcement. “It is our hope that the magnif

March 23, 2014

[Band Uprising] Winterplay pioneers jazz-pop genre in Korea and abroad

As the Korean music market is beginning to receive more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the fourth installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed. On the surface, musicians Lee Ju-han and Moon Hae-won seem like the most unlikely of bandmates.As the son of a Korean diplomat, 48-year-old Lee spent much of his life abroad, more accustomed to speaking English

March 23, 2014

[Weekender] Korean musicals evolve

Last year, the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots,” co-produced by Korean entertainment company CJ E&M, won a total of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Leading Man.The company, which has been investing in West End and Broadway musicals such as “The Bodyguard” and “Big Fish,” invested $1 million in “Kinky Boots,” becoming the sixth-largest investor in the production. It was the first time that a musical co-produced by a Korean company received such honors. “I guess

March 21, 2014

[Weekender] For better or worse? K-pop stars flood the stage

While Broadway is certainly no stranger to shows led by big-time Hollywood talent, the trend of Korean musicals casting K-pop stars has gotten to the point where it’s now almost routine in a large production. The inclusion of K-pop stars not only helps sell shows, it has become an almost unspoken policy that any non-Broadway musical that wants to hit it big should include a popular K-pop star in its cast.  Whether it’s Girls’ Generation’s Jessica in “Legally Blonde,” 2PM’s Jun.K and SHINee’s Key

March 21, 2014

[Weekender] Global blockbusters in store for Korean audience

This year will see a rush of hit musicals in Korea following the footsteps of successful foreign-licensed shows such as “Wicked,” “Three Musketeers” and “Elisabeth.”Starting with “Le Roi Soleil” next month, popular musicals such as “Marie Antoinette” and film-turned-musicals “Priscilla” and “Once” are lined up for Korean fans.  “Le Roi Soleil,” scheduled for Blue Square in April and May, will feature Shin Sung-rok, from the recently ended smash hit TV drama “My Love from the Star” as Louis XIV.

March 21, 2014

[Weekender] ‘It’s time for global K-musical’

Korean musical producers should go global with universal themes, storylines, characters and crew, according to the managing director of CJ E&M, the country’s leading cultural corporation. “You have to be quite sensible when talking about musical productions. It is business after all and it needs to generate profits,” Lauren Park, head of live entertainment at CJ E&M, told The Korea Herald. The company is said to have accounted for 30-35 percent of the 300 billion won Korean market for musicals i

March 21, 2014

Brilliant young man who made classical music sexy

Inside of the case that houses violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill’s 18th century Matteo Goffriller ex-Trampler wrapped up in an orange-and-white horse pattern Hermes scarf are several photographs placed in a row.They are pictures of his father at various stages of his life and Toby Saks, a dear friend who passed away, O’Neill explains. “I did not mean it to be a memorial,” he says with a smile; yet, whenever he opens the lid, there they are ― his loved ones who are no longer here.O’Neill, 35, who h

March 21, 2014

Eyelike: 4minute returns with new EP, ‘4minute World’

4minute returns with new EP, ‘4minute World’4minute“4minute World”(Universal Music)K-pop girl group 4minute returned to the local music scene with its fifth EP “4minute World” on Monday, premiering the music video of the title track “Whatcha Doin’ Today?” in which the five girls party in wild and odd settings.Though 4minute definitely establishes its own style throughout the album, some parts of the album are disappointing, lacking in originality and depth. The slower, melodic tracks better reve

March 21, 2014

Superstar K ballad singer puts on dancing shoes for first time

After playing on the streets of Hongdae for spare change as a struggling troubadour looking to help his single mother and himself make ends meet, former Superstar K4 contestant Hong Dae-kwang is rapidly putting his tough past behind him and looking toward a bright future as a singer.Hong released the second half of his “Silver Lining” album, “The Silver Lining ― Part 2,” on Friday. The new EP features the lead track “Thank You My Love,” and despite being relatively slow-paced, it has the most up

March 21, 2014

Lady Gaga adds K-pop act Crayon Pop to N. American tour

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― K-pop made fresh inroads Thursday when Lady Gaga revealed that South Korean girl group Crayon Pop will open her upcoming summer concerts in Canada and the United States.“I’m excited to announce June 26 through July 22 of Lady Gaga’s artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball will be opened by CRAYON POP!” the “Mother Monster” announced on her @ladygaga Twitter feed.The candy-colored quintet topped the K-pop charts last year when their danceable ditty “Bar Bar Bar” ― featuring their signature h

March 21, 2014

SM faces probe over tax evasion

The nation’s largest entertainment agency, SM Entertainment, is currently under investigation for allegedly evading tens of billions of won in taxes, The National Tax Service announced Thursday. According to news reports, the agency is suspected of having established “paper companies” in Hong Kong using famous artists’ names in order to avoid reporting the profits earned from performances overseas. The Seoul tax authorities have now launched a formal investigation into the agency’s finances and

March 20, 2014

Kim Jang-hoon to hold special exhibit on former sex slaves in Shanghai

South Korean pop singer Kim Jang-hoon will hold a special exhibition of photos depicting Korean women forced into sex slavery by the Japanese military during World War II as part of his upcoming art show in Shanghai, his management agency said Thursday.Kim plans to hold the art show on South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo from April 17-26 at the Korean cultural center in Shanghai to help raise the Chinese people’s awareness that Dokdo is part of South Korea.The singer will add the special e

March 20, 2014

2 CDs of rarities mark Sheldon Harnick’s birthday

NEW YORK (AP) ― Sheldon Harnick has done some extensive spring cleaning and come up with a two-CD box set of very rare tunes. Harbinger Records said Wednesday it will release “Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures, 1949-2013” on May 1 in conjunction with the Tony- and Grammy Award-winning lyricist and writer’s 90th birthday. The set will include some 53 demos and songs cut from 17 shows featuring such singers as Audra McDonald, Brian d’Arcy James, Hugh Martin, Charlotte Rae and Sheldon’s wife, actre

March 20, 2014

Apartments, dream home for Koreans

Among many features that define the cityscape of Seoul, one thing makes the capital distinct. That’s the gray skyline along row after row of near identical concrete apartments.The sea of concrete high rises stemmed from a public housing project initiated in the 1970s to accommodate the mounting urban population efficiently. It has now become the type of residence most preferred by a majority of Seoul citizens.An exhibition at Seoul Museum of History takes the audience on a journey through the hi

March 19, 2014

Sunye of Wonder Girls to head to Haiti for missionary work

Sunye, the leader of the Wonder Girls, has announced that she will head to Haiti to carry out missionary work there for five years with her husband through their self-established NGO “Whitestone Global.”Sunye broke the news on the group’s official fan website on Tuesday by uploading a personal statement that explained her reasons for moving to the Caribbean nation with her missionary husband James Park.“During a short week that I spent volunteering in Haiti while living abroad, the direction of

March 19, 2014