Eyelike

Keys matures as ‘Girl on Fire’ ignitesAlicia Keys``Girl on Fire‘’(RCA Records)Alicia Keys doesn‘t do half-measures. Her fifth studio album, ``Girl on Fire,’‘ comes on hard and fast, seemingly stripped but rich in sound, triumphant to the point of a cinematic epic scope. It’s her first release since marrying producer-rapper Swizz Beatz and the birth of their son, Egypt.Keys‘ name pops up buoyantly on all writing and producing credits of this 13-track record, a perfect mirroring of its title. But

Nov. 30, 2012

JYJ and S.M. Entertainment end three-year legal spat

Wednesday saw a historic showbiz moment as the legal battles between idol group JYJ and S.M. Entertainment came to an end. Industry insiders are watching whether the settlement will have much influence on entertainment companies often accused of abusing their power. On that day, both parties withdrew all lawsuits and came to a mutual understanding, filing written agreements not to interfere with each other’s future activities.“We judged that we no longer need to provide management service to the

Nov. 30, 2012

Lunafly wants listeners to feel over the moon

Standing apart from the K-pop music scene is a group of young guys who can not only sing, but play their instruments and compose their own music. They are the acoustic-pop trio Lunafly, comprised of Sam Carter, leader, guitarist and singer; Shin Tae-ho, who goes by the stage name Teo, on vocals, percussion and piano; and singer and guitarist Han Seung-yoon, who goes by the stage name Yoon. “When people look at the moon, they receive a lot of different emotions,” Teo says, explaining the meaning

Nov. 29, 2012

Yo-seob of Beast makes debut solo album

Yang Yo-seob, musical actor and main vocalist of K-pop group Beast, has released his first solo EP album, titled “The First Collage,” on Monday.The album, which includes five tracks, was partly produced by rapper, composer and fellow Beast member Yong Jun-hyung, who co-wrote, produced and is featured in one of the tracks, “Caffeine.” “You’re bad to me, so bad to me, oh girl, you’re like caffeine,” is the main chorus line to the title track, which is an upbeat ballad comparing the trials of love

Nov. 28, 2012

Artist of Spring sculpture in Cheonggye stream holds retrospective in Seoul

Portraying everyday objects with humor has been the foundation of Claes Oldenburg and the late Coosje van Bruggen’s sculptures. By twisting and simplifying shapes and adding humor to it, the sculptors produced iconic works in major cities in the world including “Spoonbridge and Cherry” in Minneapolis, “Saw, Sawing” in Tokyo, “Cupid’s Span” in San Francisco, and the highly sensational and controversial “Spring” in Seoul. The retrospective exhibition at PKM Trinity Gallery in Seoul presents a comp

Nov. 27, 2012

Wonder Girls’ Sun-ye announces engagement

Sun-ye, leader of popular K-pop girl group Wonder Girls, will marry her boyfriend of about two years on Jan. 26 next year, the singer announced on Tuesday. On her fan site, the 23-year-old singer said she would wed a 28-year-old Korean-Canadian missionary, whom she admitted she has been dating since early last year. “The two will become one and promised to walk the road of life together,” she wrote. Sun-ye’s agency, JYP Entertainment, also confirmed the news on the day. “We understand that her d

Nov. 27, 2012

Aimard nails Ligeti impeccably

Amid Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and other classical powerhouses ruling the November music scene here, French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s Sunday recital highlighting contemporary classical composers was bold but a successful breath of fresh air. The concert held at LG Arts Center was delicate, sophisticated and a good two-hour journey into a field of music many Koreans were not familiar with. His program was filled with some friendlier names such as Debussy and Schumann ― his Debussy was clear an

Nov. 26, 2012

Herald Artday winter auction presents variety of contemporary art

  Artday, a sister company of The Korea Herald, presents a variety of contemporary art by Korean and foreign artists for its winter auction and exhibition. It features about 110 paintings by Korean and foreign artists including Kim Jong-hak, Ha In-doo, Ji Seok-chul Yayoi Kusama and Fang Lijun. Artday Auction, launched in October last year, is known as an online auction that is easily accessible for both first-timers and experienced collectors. It aims to become a trusted art auction house that o

Nov. 26, 2012

Rolling Stones rock London in 1st of anniversary shows

LONDON (AFP) ― The Rolling Stones rocked London on Sunday as they thrilled a 20,000 crowd in the first of five concerts to mark their 50th anniversary.Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood were joined by their original bass player Bill Wyman at the O2 Arena as the ageing rockers performed their first major concert for five years.Lead singer Jagger made light of criticism of the ticket prices for the sold-out gig, with fans paying up to 406 pounds (650, 500 euros) for a stand

Nov. 26, 2012

Rolling Stones mark 50th year with London show

The Rolling Stones made a triumphant return to the London stage on Sunday night in the first of five concerts to mark the 50th anniversary of their debut as an American-oriented blues band.They showed no signs of wear and tear _ except on their aging, heavily lined faces _ as frontman Mick Jagger swaggered and strutted through a stellar two-and-a-half hour show. He looked remarkably trim and fit and was in top vocal form.The Stones passed the half-century mark in style at the sometimes emotional

Nov. 26, 2012

Assemblage of images, time and sound

Shinro Ohtake, an internationally acclaimed Japanese artist, has been pasting printed materials, advertisements and whatever images that intrigue him into notebooks for 35 years. Filled with pages of unique collages and taking on sculptural dimensions through the density of the accumulated materials, his recent scrapbook #65 weighs 28.9 kg and has 895 pages.The mixed-media scrapbooks ― the core element of Ohtake’s art ― became the basis of his major works introduced at Kassel Documenta 2012, the

Nov. 25, 2012

Jack of all trades

This is the fifth in a series on foreign entertainers gaining popularity in the Korean entertainment industry. ― Ed.Belgian Julian Quintart may be young ― he turned 25 this past August ― but he’s already played many roles in Korean entertainment in his eight years in the country.He’s been on TV, appearing in SBS’ “Way to Eat Well and Live Well” and KBS’ “Golden Star Bell,” in movies such as “Papa” and “My Tutor Friend 2,” in dramas like “Sky High,” held concerts, performed on “Inkigayo,” modeled

Nov. 25, 2012

Calendar

Dance“Swan Lake”: Following Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet’s performance in November, Seoulites are getting another chance to see the Tchaikovsky classic “Swan Lake” ― this time staged by the Korea National Ballet. The famous ballet tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. She tries to break the curse with her love interest prince Siegfried, but fails as the prince gets tricked by the magician. For the upcoming show, Korea National Ballet is performing a v

Nov. 23, 2012

Eyelike

Rihanna brings the goods on 7th albumRihanna"Unapologetic"(Island Def Jam Music Group)There‘s something about Rihanna. And her producers.The singer’s new album -- her seventh in as many years -- is like many of her other releases, full of songs that are catchy, fun and addictive. Her albums are almost like listening to a "NOW" compilation disc."Unapologetic" is no different. It‘s full of future hits, and not a single miss."Phresh Out the Runaway," which kicks off the album, does so with a bang.

Nov. 23, 2012

Opera Gallery marks anniversary, greets new home

Marking the fifth anniversary of its opening, Opera Gallery Seoul is holding a special exhibition at its new location from Friday to Dec. 23. Opera Gallery Seoul, part of the world’s leading contemporary art gallery which has 11 branches worldwide, recently moved from a gallery building in Cheongdam-dong to a more spacious site on Dosan Boulevard.Some 70 paintings and 30 sculptures from Opera Gallery Seoul’s collection, including works by 10 well-known artists such Damien Hirst, Jean Francois La

Nov. 22, 2012