The Korea Herald

Bieber, Gaga, Obama join Beyonce for campaign

NEW YORK (AP) ― Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Michelle Obama are giving a helping hand to Beyonce.Obama and the pop stars have signed on to support Beyonce and the global campaign for World Humanitarian Day, which is Sunday.The campaign asks that on Sunday people help others through such acts as making sandwiches for the homeless or volunteering at a local charity. The goal is to share 1 billion messages of hope.A representative for Beyonce says that Bieber, Gaga, Obama, Rihanna, Shakira, Jay-Z,

Aug. 19, 2012

Bieber, Gaga, Obama join Beyonce for campaign

Talent thrives among Elvis’ grandkids: Lisa Marie

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AFP) ― Elvis Presley’s grandchildren all have show business in their blood, but their mother Lisa Marie Presley said Friday she hoped they would succeed at whatever they chose to pursue.Presley, 44, discussed her iconic rock ‘n’ roll father, who died 35 years ago this week, alongside her mother Priscilla during a half-hour talk before Elvis fans at the family’s Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.It was the first time the singer-songwriter, whose latest album “Storm and G

Aug. 19, 2012

Calendar

Dance“Talk to Igor” and “The Last Supper”: Korea National Contemporary Dance Company is staging newly-created performances choreographed by two prominent local artists. One is Jeon Mi-sook’s “Talk to Igor,” which delves into the theme of modern marriage. The piece has been choreographed by Jeon to the music of Stravinsky. Choreographer Chung Eui-sook, on the other hand, has been inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s 15th century mural “The Last Supper” to create a piece of the same title. Twelve dance

Aug. 17, 2012

Eyelike

Branford Marsalis Quartet “Four MFs Playin’ Tunes” (Marsalis Music)Don’t let the understated title of the new Branford Marsalis Quartet album mislead you into thinking this is some loosely arranged jam session. Saxophonist Marsalis leads one of the most cohesive, intense small jazz ensembles on the scene today. The group’s three long-standing members -- Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo and bassist Eric Revis -- each contribute original tunes to “Four MFs Playin’ Tunes” and there are covers of T

Aug. 17, 2012

[Newsmaker] Singer becomes sensation

South Korean singer Psy’s every move is headline news after his new single, “Gangnam Style,” went viral in July. The tongue-in-cheek, laugh-out-loud music video of the hit song and its infectious “horseback riding” choreography have spawned a global buzz that refuses to die down. Paparazzi followed the 34-year-old star to Incheon International Airport on Wednesday to catch him before he boarded a plane for the U.S., where he is scheduled to meet pop star Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun. N

Aug. 16, 2012

First Korean ‘Hedwig’ returns

Actor Oh Man-seok once again stars as transgender singer seven years after the musical’s first runIt took shaving armpits and legs, wearing a heavy wig, and going on a strict diet for actor Oh Man-seok to play the role he became famous for seven years ago.The actor recently made a comeback as “Hedwig,” the East German transgender singer, in the Korean adaptation of John Cameron Mitchell’s famous rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” “I could not work out (because I’m not allowed to have mus

Aug. 16, 2012

‘Cannibal Corpse’ returns for second Korea concert

One of the most prominent death metal groups, Cannibal Corpse, will perform at AX-Korea, Seoul, on Oct. 19. The concert, titled “CANNIBAL CORPSE Live in Seoul,” is the band’s first visit to the country since its Korean debut at the 2002 Busan International Rock Festival.Debuted in 1988, the band is one of the leading groups in the death metal genre. Its members are guitarists Rob Barrett and Pat O’Brien, vocalist George Fisher, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz and bassist Alex Webster.The band’s first

Aug. 16, 2012

‘Cannibal Corpse’ returns for second Korea concert

Global activists gear up for Pussy Riot rallies

Pussy Riot members, from left, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Maria Alekhina sit in a glass cage at a court room in Moscow, Russia on Aug. 3, 2012. (AP-Yonhap News)The global campaign to free Pussy Riot is gaining speed: Supporters of the punk provocateur band are mobilizing this week in at least two dozen cities worldwide to hold simultaneous demonstrations an hour before a Ru

Aug. 16, 2012

Global activists gear up for Pussy Riot rallies

Art exhibition portrays Korean anxiety

Society’s mental state expressed in awkward, uncomfortable settingsAnxiety seems to be the word that best explains the current state of Korean society, as demonstrated in the choice of anxiety and tension as the focus of an upcoming experimental art exhibition. The annual thematic exhibition at Arko Art Center in Seoul portrays different aspects of anxiety under the theme of “Playground” from Friday to Sept. 28.It features works by nine artists, illustrating the anxiety-ridden state of contempor

Aug. 15, 2012

Fans flock to Graceland in memory of Elvis Presley

MEMPHIS (AFP) ― Fans of Elvis Presley are flocking to his Graceland estate for Thursday’s 35th anniversary of his death, their enthusiasm for the king of rock ‘n’ roll undiminished by the years.Organizers of the annual Elvis Week expect this year’s edition ― which shifted into high gear on Tuesday ― to be the largest ever, with Presley’s widow Priscilla and daughter Lisa Marie Presley participating.“Elvis is fan-driven,” Joe Guercio, Presley’s musical director from 1970 until the star’s sudden d

Aug. 15, 2012

Fans flock to Graceland in memory of Elvis Presley

Musicians remember Elvis’ talent, character

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) ― Elvis Presley left behind hit songs, epic performances, some so-so movies and an image as a handsome, rebellious, talented and sometimes-troubled artist that remains indelibly marked in America’s pop culture psyche 35 years after his death.Presley also left behind memories held closely and deeply by the songwriters and musicians who not only helped him work his magic in the studio and onstage, but also worked hard to keep his music alive today. Many described him as int

Aug. 14, 2012

Artday highlights promising artists

Art company launches project to discover young creative talentArtday has launched a project to discover young, promising artists and help them debut in the art market. The online auction company, a subsidiary of the Herald Corp., is holding an exhibition of 15 young artists in their 20s and 30s from Aug. 15-31 both on its website and at a gallery in Seoul.The Rising Artist Project serves as a platform to facilitate the sales of the young artists’ works, a feature that distinguishes it from other

Aug. 14, 2012

Psy to meet Justin Bieber’s manager

South Korean singer Psy will be meeting American pop star Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, during a trip to the U.S., according to a representative of Psy’s agency.“It will be an informal affair,” the YG Entertainment representative said over the phone, explaining that Psy had originally planned to visit America for some downtime and added the meeting to his itinerary approximately a week ago. Psy is slated to depart for the U.S. on Wednesday. There has been much talk about why Braun, a h

Aug. 14, 2012

Psy to perform at Gangnam Station tonight

South Korean singer to do guerilla performance of hit single ’Gangnam Style’South Korean singer Psy will be holding a guerilla performance of his explosively popular hit single "Gangnam Style" at Seoul’s Gangnam Subway Station intersection Tuesday night at 7 p.m., a representative of the artist’s agency confirmed. The performance comes on the heels of his concert which attracted a crowd of over 30,000 last Saturday and before a second music video version of “Gangnam Style" with K-pop artist Hyun

Aug. 14, 2012

Decrepit Lisbon district counts on fado music to revive

LISBON (AFP) ― Today the Mouraria, a maze of narrow alleys, cobblestone squares and decrepit buildings strung with washing at the heart of Lisbon, is known more for drugs and prostitution than as a tourist stop.But the neighbourhood, one of the capital’s oldest, is also where Portugal’s melancholy national song style, the fado, was born in the 19th century ― a bit of history that locals want to tap in a district long neglected by city hall where even Lisbonites rarely venture.To do so, a grassro

Aug. 13, 2012

Chang Han-na continues sharing music project

Cellist-and-conductor to perform with her teacher Mischa Maisky at annual music festivalChang Han-na surprised the world’s music scene when she won the prestigious Rostropovich International Cello Competition at age 11. Not many recognized her young but amazing talent before the contest. But it was Mischa Maisky who believed in her and led her to take classical music seriously.“Maisky, my teacher, is the one who turned my life around. I was 10 when I first had a lesson with him and he taught me

Aug. 13, 2012

Chang Han-na continues sharing music project

Psy to unveil new version of hit music video

South Korean pop singer Psy will unveil another version of his hit music video “Gangnam Style” this week, his management agency said Monday.The new video whose title translates into “Oppa, You‘re Just My Type” in English will be put on major online music sites for free on Wednesday, YG Entertainment said.Psy, whose real Korean name is Park Jae-sang, rose to stardom on YouTube for the video of his new single “Gangnam Style.”The video in which the singer demonstrates a comical horse-riding dance h

Aug. 13, 2012

Psy to unveil new version of hit music video

Patriotic musical flawed but beautiful

‘Yun Dong-ju Shoots the Moon’ offers solid music, strong vocal performanceWhen the creators of the hit musical “Hero” announced they would be working together for another piece, and that it was going to be about the late poet Yun Dong-ju (1917-1945), many predicted the emergence of another grim, patriotic piece.What was unveiled on Friday at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater was exactly that, with a number of notable fortes in music, stage design, and vocal performances. The piece’s lack of adeq

Aug. 13, 2012

Psy to meet Justin Bieber’s agency

South Korean singer Psy will meet Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun this week, his agency said Monday.YG Entertainment said Psy will be departing for the U.S. on Wednesday to meet the pop star’s manager. It added that Braun and Psy might discuss possible collaboration.No other details were released, but some sources have said Bieber’s management seeks to buy the rights to "Gangnam Style," a song from Psy’s recently released album.Braun reportedly has praised the "Gangnam Style" music video,

Aug. 13, 2012

I will never give up on performing: Psy

Singer Psy has appeared on an edition of SBS television talk show “Healing Camp” to be aired Monday, and confessed that he once experienced a life-threatening accident on a stage.Psy, who earned international attention along with the hit of his latest single “Gangnam Style,” and is also well known for his powerful performances said that he would never give up performing on stage despite the accident. He also revealed the story behind his 12 years in music, including his drug use and military ser

Aug. 13, 2012