BTOB beats Highlight to shoot to top K-pop boy band BTOB members pose before the press conference for their new album “Brother Act.” at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunK-pop group BTOB beat one of its rival boy bands Highlight as they returned with a second album “Brother Act,” Monday, topping four major local music charts.Both BTOB and Highlight released new albums on the same day, heralding a competition in good faith. They were contracted to the same management company CUBE Entertainment until Highlight left to seek new careers shedding their old name BEAST.BTOB’s new track “Missing You” ranked No. 1 on the biggest online music streaming service Melon on Tuesday morning, along with Genie, Olleh Music and Bugs.Highlight’s title song of the new mini-album “CELEBRATE” commemorating the eighth anniversary of their debut stopped at No. 3 on Melon’s top 100 list and No. 2 on Genie, Olleh Music and Bugs.Such a result is meaningful not only that BTOB defeated Highlight, who has a large fan base, but also that they beOct 17, 2017
Singer's wife dies of rare disease By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-sooKim Min-woo / Captured from MBCThe wife of Kim Min-woo, one of the most popular singers here in the 1990s, died of a rare disease called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in July. She was 42.Her death was belatedly made public on Tuesday.The disease causes the body to make too many activated immune cells that lead to life-threatening inflammation.“She suddenly became sick and passed away after a week,” Kim was quoted as saying in a report.The couple married in 2009 and they have a child.Kim shot to stardom in early 1990s with “‘It’s only love,” “Inside the army train” and “A friend like a break.”He is now a car dealer. Oct 17, 2017
GOT7 proves global popularity with new album GOT7 / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentK-pop band tops iTunes Album chart in 17 countriesBy Kim Jae-heunGOT7 confirmed their global power by topping the iTunes Album Charts in 17 countries, including Brazil, Finland and Mexico on Wednesday.The seven-member JYP Entertainment act returned to the stage as a full group, releasing their seventh mini-album “7 For 7,” seven month after they revealed “Flight Log: Arrival” in March. In this context, the number seven is meaningful in their album title.Hong Kong member Jackson was away for his solo activity in China while JB and Jin Young released a mini-album as K-pop duo JJ Project in August.GOT7 fans have long been waiting to see the band perform with all seven members together.The band’s new single “You Are,” written by JB, expresses the group’s gratitude to their fans for giving them big support. It is a contemporary pop song with lyrics telling a wishful story asking their fans to always be there when they are exhausted and tired.“We wanted to deliver our thank-you message to our fans as Oct 16, 2017
Member departures: Girls' Generation at risk of slipping off stage Girls' Generation / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Bahk Eun-ji, Park Si-sooWill Girls’ Generation break up?The iconic K-pop girl band is at a critical juncture after three of its eight members did not renew their contracts with the group’s agency, SM Entertainment. The contracts of the three ― Soo-young, Seo-hyun and Tiffany ― expire soon.The three had hinted at their departure ― Soo-young and Seo-hyun to make a career shift to acting and Tiffany to attend an overseas graduate school. The band’s fans fear their departure will undermine the unity of the five remaining members, which could lead to the band’s complete meltdown.The agency denied such speculation, saying their departure won’t damage the remaining members’ unity.“Girls’ Generation means a lot to SM Entertainment,” the agency said on Tuesday. “Members of Girls’ Generation and SM have never thought of disbanding, but the direction for future activities will be discussed, as the three members’ contracts have already ended.” Oct 10, 2017
Zandari rocks on, despite new political reality The Bohemian Betyars, a “speed-folk freak-punk” band from Hungary, will perform for Zandari Festa at 8 p.m. Sunday in Rolling Hall. By Jon Dunbar Zandari Festa returns for its sixth year Friday to Sunday, amid a totally new political environment that would have been unimaginable last year. But musicians -- local and foreign -- are ready for the nation’s main indie music showcase.This year’s event offers 140 music acts, with more than 50 from overseas, at 11 venues around Hongik University, Seoul. Additionally, 36 delegates representing overseas festivals and labels are in town.Many delegates have arrived days ahead of the festival so they can also attend Mu:Con, a government-run music conference.“I usually just come over for Mu:Con,” said John Kastner, representative for Canadian Music Week (CMW) and Montebello Rock Fest. “Everyone always tells me about Zandari but they’ve been a bit far apart for me to stay that long.” Canadian punk band Pseudo, seen here performing at Thunderhorse Tavern in Seoul, Sept. 8, will plSep 28, 2017
K.Will releases new album to celebrate 10th anniversary K.Will performs his new song “Nonfiction” during a press conference at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunBallad singer K.Will returned to the K-pop scene after two and a half years, releasing his fourth studio album “Part.1 Nonfiction,” Tuesday.During his hiatus, the singer was active as a radio DJ. He also performed in the Korean edition of popular French musical “Notre Dame de Paris” and received a “Rookie of the Year” award for his performance. But he said he missed his main job _ being a singer.“As my hiatus was getting longer, I became nervous. I was worried people could forget me if I didn’t make a comeback soon,” K.Will said during a showcase for his new album release at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul. “Still, I achieved something by receiving a rookie award with a musical performance. It is my first rookie award since my debut as a singer 10 years ago.”K.Will is a well-known ballad singer and he has been sweeping charts with many hit songs like “Left Heart&rdqSep 27, 2017
'Collaboration with Wu Tang Clan will be good gift to our fans,' says The Quiett Rappers The Quiett, left, and Dok2 of Illionaire Records pose after the press conference at MBC Building in Sangam, Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of KOCCABy Kim Jae-heunRapper The Quiett of hip-hop label Illionaire Records said their collaboration with Masta Killa of ‘90s American hip-hop legends Wu-Tang Clan will make a good gift for fans.Illionaire Records will reveal their collaboration masterpiece with the Wu-Tang Clan member, Wednesday, during their performance at the international music fair MU:CON 2017 at the MBC Building in Sangam-dong. The event runs until Thursday.“We grew up idolizing Wu-Tang Clan and listening to their music,” said Dok2, the label’s other founder, during a press conference at MBC Building, Tuesday. “Collaboration with the legend could also be seen as a personal achievement to me and it is a beautiful thing that the collaboration is taking place between artists from different countries.”“Working with Wu-Tang Clan doesn’t really help us with our activities abroad. It won’t help us perform more concerts overSep 26, 2017
Sechs Kies' new album after 18 years proves success Sechskies members, from left, Eun Ji-won, Lee Jai-jin, Kang Sung-hoon, Kim Jae-duck and Jang Su-won pose before the press conference at CGV Cheongdam Cinecity in Gangnam, Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunFive-member K-pop act Sechs Kies released their fifth album “Another Light,” Thursday, topping three online music charts here and iTunes’ Album Chart in four countries _ Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines.It is the band’s first studio album after 18 years since their last album “Blue Note” was released in May 2000. Sechs Kies disbanded abruptly then, announcing that they wanted to leave when their popularity was at its peak and pursue an ordinary life. It was only three years since they debuted under the management of DSP Entertainment.However, the Sechs Kies returned to the stage through popular TV show “Infinite Challenge” last April, which invited idol groups of the 1990s to make an episode reminiscing old K-pop groups. After witnessing their ongoing popularity with some 5,000 fans gathered Sep 22, 2017
Les Arts Florissants brings 18th century Baroque opera to stage A scene from opera "Daphnis et Egle" / Courtesy of Hanwha Classic By Yun Suh-youngThe extravagance of the Baroque period will be reenacted through an operatic performance later this month as period music specialist William Christie will be performing with period instrument ensemble Les Arts Florissants.The group will perform at the Seoul Arts Center Sept. 23, prior to a performance in Daejeon Sept. 24 at the Daejeon Arts Center. The performances are part of Hanwha Classic's classical concert series which have been offered by the Hanwha Group since 2013.American conductor, harpsichord player and professor, William Christie, is known for his masterful interpretation of French music ranging from the 17th and 18th century Baroque to the 20th century Romanticism, emphasizing the beauty of the form and innovativeness. Christie is especially known for reenacting the techniques of the times and bringing back old instruments from the period. He moved to Paris in the 1970s and since then has brought back to life musical scores that have been dormant in the national librarSep 19, 2017
Guitarist, pianist, cellist coming to Seoul Marcin Dylla_ Courtesy of Dario Griffin PhotographyBy Yun Suh-youngSeveral renowned classical artists in different genres will be meeting with their Korean fans in the coming months.The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra will be visiting Seoul to perform on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. at the Seoul Arts Center. The orchestra's visit this month is the fourth since visits in 1991, 2001 and 2014.This tour of Korea and Japan will be commemorative for the orchestra's late chief conductor Jiri Belohlavek who died at the age of 71 in May, just before the closing of the 2016/17 season. Replacing Belohlavek, Czech conductor Petr Altrichter will take the helm of the orchestra for the tour, dedicating the performance to Belohlavek and the Czech Philharmonic's past. Altrichter replaced Belohlavek during the scheduled May programs of the Czech Phil when the late conductor suddenly passed away. Altrichter is one of Czech Republic's representative conductors who has been principal conductor of the Brno Philharmonic for seven years until 2009 and also of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony OrcheSep 18, 2017
