Korea’s first Buddhist rock band hits stage

“Udumbara Band” surprises many with its unique title as the first Korean Buddhist music band. Seven monks with musical talent passed an audition held last July and became members of Udumbara Band. They have been practicing for their debut since August 2012. Udumbara is a plant that flowers, according to Buddhist legend, once every 3,000 years. The band was named after this plant to celebrate the first Buddhist music band to be formed in Korean Buddhism’s long history.　The band is made up of qual

Feb. 7, 2013

Jason Mraz visits Korea for another concert

Jason Mraz, a singer-songwriter from the United States, will perform in Jamsil, Seoul on May 17, according to the Nine Entertainment.The new concert came about a year after the singer performed in Busan and in Nami Island near Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in June 2012. Thanks to his poignant melodies, Mraz has become one of the most popular international singers among Korean fans. In 2008, Mraz released the album titled “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things,” which has since sold about 140,000 cop

Feb. 7, 2013

Picasso lover portrait sells for $45 million: Sotheby’s

LONDON (AFP) ― A portrait of Pablo Picasso’s lover Marie-Therese Walter sold in London on Tuesday night for 28.6 million pounds ($45.0 million) Sotheby’s auction house said.The colorful and curvaceous “Femme assise pres d’une fenetre (Woman sitting by a window),” painted in 1932, was sold at a crowded salesroom to an anonymous telephone buyer, a Sotheby’s spokesman said.It had been expected to go under the hammer for between 25 million pounds and 35 million pounds.“We are delighted that this stu

Feb. 6, 2013

A Grammy maybe? Carly Rae Jepsen heads for gold

NEW YORK (AP) ― Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe’’ became the soundtrack for endless viral online fun last year: U.S. infantry soldiers lip-synched to it in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province. So did James Franco and the U.S. Olympic swim team. Models from Abercrombie & Fitch showed off their abs to it, as did hair-whipping Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. Dogs have barked the whole song. Parodies of it have been parodied.Fellow singers from Katy Perry to Selena Gomez embraced the pop goodness.Even the C

Feb. 6, 2013

Clazziquai Project trio returns with ‘Blessed’

Electro-pop trio Clazziquai Project has made a much-anticipated return to the music scene with its fifth full album titled “Blessed.” This comeback is the first full album that the group has released in more than three years.On Tuesday, the three members DJ Clazzi, Alex and Horan released the 11-track album, which includes the track “Love Recipe” written by Horan herself. The album also includes the trio’s soundtrack single that was released last year titled “Can’t Go On My Own,” from the JTBC r

Feb. 6, 2013

’Gangnam Style’ baby picks up Facebook hits

A video of a baby waking up to dance to Korean pop star Psy’s global hit “Gangnam Style” on Facebook is going viral.In the 30-second video posted on Wednesday, a sleeping baby in a carseat suddenly wakes up as soon as the radio plays “Gangnam Style.” He flails with eyes wide open as a little girl beside him howls with laughter.The posting received about 30,000 “likes” just four hours after being uploaded. By Kim Bo-ra / Intern Reporter(bora_kim@heraldcorp.com)<관련 한글 기사>"강남스타일"에 몸부림치는 아기 귀여워!"강남스

Feb. 6, 2013

Psy to release new song in April

Korean rapper Psy said Monday that his next song would likely be released in April.“I’ve already finished the song, but it has been hellish trying to make the music video,” he told reporters at Incheon International Airport. The rapper achieved worldwide recognition last year for his music video “Gangnam Style,” the first to hit 1 billion views on YouTube. Last month the video surpassed 1.2 billion views.The singer recently starred in a Super Bowl ad for Wonderful Pistachios, a popular snack bra

Feb. 5, 2013

KNB to stage 19th-century Austrian ballet set in Korea

A recently-discovered 19th century Austrian ballet about two young Korean lovers at a time of war will be restaged by Korean National Ballet with new choreography, the state-run troupe said Monday.The music score of the piece, titled “Die Braut von Korea” (The Korean Bride), was discovered in Germany by Korean scholar Park Hee-seok, who has been researching how Korea was perceived in the European country in the 19th century. Park discovered the score last year, which had been left neglected in t

Feb. 4, 2013

Sistar19 makes comeback, sweeps charts

The two members of the sexy Sistar unit group Sistar19, vocalist Hyo-rin and rapper Bo-ra, made their comeback official with their latest EP album “Gone Not Around Any Longer.”“Gone Not Around Any Longer” was released on Thursday and its title track received a perfect “all-kill,” sweeping all the main real-time local music charts, making it the second certified all-kill of the year after Leessang’s hip-hop single “Tears.” The newest release from the duo is a mid-tempo pop song featuring Sistar’s

Feb. 4, 2013

Beyonce brings out Destiny‘s Child for Super Bowl thrill

Pop diva Beyonce thrilled the Super Bowl crowd Sunday with a pyrotechnic half-time spectacular that doubled as a much-anticipated Destiny’s Child reunion.Fireworks burst into the sky from the Superdome field just vacated by the game-leading Baltimore Ravens and lagging San Franciso 49s as the 31-year-old chart-topper took the stage with “Crazy in Love.”Blowing a kiss to the live television camera after her opening number, she looked relieved to get the much-hyped, 15-minute show underway, but t

Feb. 4, 2013

Nudes in Korean art

Nude paintings were banned from public exhibition and publication in the early days of modern Korea: When a daily newspaper ran a story of a Korean painter winning a Japanese art award in 1916, the story ran without a picture.The editor’s note read, “The photo of the painting cannot be published as it has naked women.”The painting by Kim Kwan-ho, featuring two females standing in the nude, was considered the first nude painting of modern Korean art. While nudity was associated with disgracefulne

Feb. 3, 2013

Lady Gaga: Never promised former aide OT

U.S. pop star Lady Gaga said a former aide who is suing her for unpaid overtime thinks she‘s “the queen of the universe.”Jennifer O’Neill sued Lady Gaga in 2011 for overtime she said she‘s owed for working as her personal assistant from 2009 to 2011, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.In a 6-hour deposition obtained by the New York Daily News, Lady Gaga, 26 -- whose real name is Stefani Germanotta -- said O’Neill worked for her twice and “knew exactly what she was getting into, and she knew t

Feb. 3, 2013

Contrite Japanese pop star Minami Minegishi shaves head

Japanese pop star Minami Minegishi tearfully shaved her head in an online video as a gesture of contrition after breaking her band AKB48‘s no-dating rule. Minegishi, 20, apologized to her fans and swore she did not want to leave the band, despite having violated its production company’s guidelines by spending the night with her boyfriend, the BBC reported Friday. The dalliance became public when she was photographed by a tabloid leaving her beau‘s flat. Her nearly 4-minute vid

Feb. 3, 2013

Eyelike:

4men vocals soar on ‘The True Story’4Men“The 5th Album Vol.1 (The True Story)”(CJ E&M)The ballad trio of 4Men continues to showcase its trademark soulful sound with its fifth album. Although the boys did not venture into any innovative styles, Shin Yong-jae’s voice carries the album as a whole and together 4Men release another noteworthy R&B collection. The album’s main track, “Hello It’s Me” is a mid-tempo ballad that starts off with a slow piano riff while highlighting Shin’s distinctive and p

Feb. 1, 2013

Beyonce admits inauguration day pre-recording

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ― Beyonce answered critics of her Inauguration Day performance the best way she could - with another sterling performance of the national anthem.The difference?On Thursday, it was live: She admitted during her Super Bowl news conference that when she performed for President Barack Obama and the nation, she decided to sing to a prerecorded track because she didn’t have time to practice. Calling herself a self-proclaimed “perfectionist,” she said wanted the day to go off without a

Feb. 1, 2013

Psy wins Seoul Music Awards

K-pop star Psy claimed the grand prize at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards on Thursday, marking another victory in the pop music scene. In the “Gangnam Style” singer’s absence, Tablo, leader of hip-hop group Epik High and fellow artist at YG Entertainment, accepted the award on his behalf at the award ceremony held at the SK Olympic Handball Stadium. Psy instead appeared in a video message to express his gratitude. “I am sorry to accept the award through a video, but I am very thankful,” he said. “Th

Feb. 1, 2013