[Today’s K-pop] CL drops 2nd single, “Lover Like Me"

CL unveiled the second single from her debut studio album in advance on Wednesday. 　 British singer/songwriter Anne-Marie co-wrote the song, titled “Lover Like Me,” which exudes confidence as the narrator coolly lets go of a partner who tried to cheat, saying the cheater will never meet anyone else like her. “Lover Like Me” highlights her vocals, while the previous single, “Spicy,” focused on her rapping and performance skills. 　 The first single from her u

K-popSept. 29, 2021

Ciipher welcomes love during autumn with ‘Blind’

As the days are shortening, the leaves are starting to change, people are pulling out their sweaters, and rookie boy band Ciipher is hoping to capture the mood of the season. The septet has returned with their second EP “Blind,” released Tuesday evening, a follow-up to their debut “I Like You” which dropped in March. The seven-member group said their title track, “Blind,” is a song about how a guy succeeds in confessing his love to his crush and how one cou

K-popSept. 28, 2021

[Herald Interview] CIX ready for new journey with first studio album

We know that a K-pop idol group is on the right track when they set the bar higher with every comeback. For quintet boy band CIX, the recent release of their first studio album “‘OK’ Prologue: Be OK” was more than enough to prove to the world and to themselves that they were heading the right way. One of K-pop’s up-and-coming boy bands, CIX made a splash with the 10-track album on Aug. 17, instantly placing five tracks on the top of Bugs’ real-time chart and

K-popSept. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key tops iTunes chart in 32 regions

Key of SHINee landed atop iTunes top albums charts in 32 regions with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” which came out Monday. 　 The EP also topped a series of charts in Japan and China as well as at home. 　 The album consists of six tracks and he wrote the lyrics for two. “Hate That ...” featuring Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation was dropped in advance last month and topped iTunes top songs charts in 11 regions. 　 The title track was performed for the first time a day

K-popSept. 28, 2021

Documentary reveals joys, challenges of making BTS-Coldplay collab 'My Universe'

South Korean supergroup BTS has released a heartwarming documentary about its collaboration with British rock band Coldplay for their recent single "My Universe." The 13-minute video was posted on BTS' YouTube channel Sunday, two days after the song dropped amid high anticipation from fans worldwide. The documentary opens with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin relaying a story about how the high-profile collaboration began."About 18 months ago, I got a message from somebody. They s

K-popSept. 28, 2021

BTS to hold first in-person concerts in 2 years with events in LA

K-pop sensation BTS will hold a series of live in-person concerts in Los Angeles in November and December after two years away from such events due to the new coronavirus, the band's label said Tuesday. "BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA" will be held at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 1 and 2, according to Big Hit Music. They will be the septet's first live in-person concerts since 2019, when the group performed in Seoul. "The time is approaching when we can dance

K-popSept. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee’s Key drops 1st EP “Bad Love”

Key of Shinee came out with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” on Friday.   　 It has been 2 1/2 years since his previous solo album.   　 “It will be impossible to make an album that is perfect in every aspect but I am satisfied in that I’ve been able to have quite a say,” said the veteran idol. He was inspired by the combination of retro and space and the overall concept was based on that idea.   　 The title track boasts a powerful choreography all the

K-popSept. 27, 2021

'Kill This Love' becomes second BLACKPINK video to top 1.4 billion YouTube views

The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" has exceeded 1.4 billion views on YouTube, its management agency said Sunday. The video hit the milestone at about 6 p.m. the previous day, becoming the second video from the group to do so after the 2018 hit song "Ddu-du Ddu-du," according to YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK is now the only K-pop group with more than one music video that has over 1.4 billion views. "Kill This Love" reached No. 41 of the B

K-popSept. 26, 2021

BTS performs from iconic Seoul gate for 'Global Citizen Live'

K-pop sensation BTS kicked off an international music festival Sunday with a performance of its hit song "Permission to Dance" from an iconic gate in Seoul. The septet opened "Global Citizen Live," a 24-hour concert featuring dozens of top artists from around the world, with a prerecorded performance filmed at night outside Sungnye Gate, South Korea's No. 1 national treasure. "Welcome to Seoul, Korea!" the band said in unison before starting the show. The seven memb

K-popSept. 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] ITZY hollers out that it’s “crazy in love”

The five members of ITZY talked about their first studio album “Crazy in Love” that came out on Friday through a Q&A statement released through their label JYP Entertainment. 　 The LP consists of 16 tracks and Ryujin admitted that it was not easy since it was the first time she recorded so many songs in such short time. 　 “But I am glad that we get to show a diverse range of new songs,” she said. The name of the lead track, “Loco,” is a slang for crazy

K-popSept. 24, 2021

BTS, Coldplay team up for ‘My Universe,’ full roll-out unveiled

After rumors of BTS and Coldplay teaming up for a song circulated months ago, two of the world’s biggest acts revealed the much-anticipation collaboration “My Universe” on Friday. The song talks about putting love first. It touches on the difficulties two people may face “because we come from different sides,” but provides hope by adding, “I just want to put you first,” likening the person to the singer‘s universe. Adding to the excitement, Par

K-popSept. 24, 2021

BTS returns home after visit to UN, New York

K-pop superstars BTS returned home Friday after a weeklong trip to New York as special presidential envoys for future generations and culture, their label said. During the week, the septet gave a speech at the opening of the Sustainable Development Goals Moment event at the 76th UN General Assembly, and joined President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook during interviews and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. BTS also dropped by the Korean Cultural Center in New York, according

K-popSept. 24, 2021

[Feature] What it takes to be an idol: The academies that train K-pop wannabes

Seoul’s posh Gangnam district is known for its private educational institutes, called “hagwon.” Seeing students rushing to hagwon after school is nothing new for Seoulites. But the number of private academies that offer dance and vocal lessons has mushroomed as more youngsters aspire to K-pop stardom. Private training systems Lee Jae-won has run a dance academy in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, for eight years, training young idol-wannabes. Lee’s institution system

K-popSept. 24, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] aespa ups the ante with teaser photos

Winter and Ningning of aespa signaled an even more dramatic return with teaser photographs that were released at midnight Thursday. 　 The two struck poses under the theme. The images carry on the narrative that weaves through their previous singles -- “Black Mamba” and “Next Level” -- and depict them in hallucinations induced by a Black Mamba that threatens the world and keeps the members of the group from connecting with their avatars. 　 The photographs are part of the

K-popSept. 23, 2021

BTS 'Permission to Dance' at UN tops 12m views on YouTube

The video featuring K-pop sensations BTS performing "Permission to Dance," one of their hit singles, at the United Nations headquarters has exceeded 12 million views on YouTube, becoming the most viewed clip on the UN channel. The video that was uploaded at the UN's official YouTube channel Monday has racked up 12.7 million views as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. South Korean superband BTS addressed the UN General Assembly Monday and praised the world's young people for welcoming the challe

K-popSept. 22, 2021

BTS delivers message of hope, but speechwriter’s identity remains a mystery

A week after South Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed musical sensation BTS to a cultural diplomacy role, the band accompanied Moon to New York for the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. As “special presidential envoys for future generations and culture,” their first official duty was an appearance at the SDG Moment, the second meeting devoted to the UN’s sustainable development goals. Each band member stood at the podium on Monday (US time) and opened

K-popSept. 22, 2021

BTS praises youth for welcoming challenges of COVID-19 pandemic

　South Korean superband BTS addressed the U.N. General Assembly Monday and praised the world‘s young people for welcoming the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. 　The septet flew to New York to speak in person at the 76th U.N. 　General Assembly’s Sustainable Development Goals Moment event as special presidential envoys for future generations and culture. 　  Following a speech by President Moon Jae-in, the K-pop act took the podium at the U.N. General Assembly Hal

K-popSept. 21, 2021

[Herald Interview] Yang Yo-seob hopes to shape his musical experiences with wider taste

A year since Yang Yo-seob of boy band Highlight announced his discharge from the military, he has fans brimming with excitement that new music was on its way. The singer is finally returning to the stage with his first-ever solo LP, “Chocolate Box,” released Monday evening. The 31-year old talked about how dropping new music and showcasing his voice and songs to the public gave him butterflies and agitation at the same time. “I had always set my heart on releasing a full-len

K-popSept. 20, 2021

NCT 127 gifts fans a boxful of joy with ‘Sticker’

Returning a year and half after their smash-hit second full-length album, K-pop boy band NCT 127 said the main concern in preparing new album “Sticker” was going beyond themselves. They achieved the goal -- and much more -- with preorders for their third studio album “Sticker” surpassing 2 million copies Thursday, triple the number of their second studio album “NCT #127 Neo Zone” even before the release of the album the following day. During a media showc

K-popSept. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT127 poised to show another side with 3rd LP

NCT127 held a showcase on Friday to roll out its third full album “Sticker.” 　 “It has been almost 1 1/2 years and I am nervous and excited at the same time,” said Doyoung, asking fans to enjoy the moment as well. 　 Since its previous song “Kick It” was a huge hit, it put pressure on the band, members said. 　 “Preparing for this album, we were worried and anxious if we could do better, if we would be able to put on a cooler performance,” Taeyong

K-popSept. 17, 2021