Psy's new album soars / Korea Times FilesGlobal K-pop star Psy’s seventh album, “Chiljip Psy-da,” dominated eight domestic charts, including MelOn, Genie and Mnet.com, today.The two title songs -- “Napal Baji,” which means flared pants, and “Daddy” -- topped seven domestic charts and another track, “Dream,” topped a Bugs chart. The album’s other songs settled in the top 10 of the eight charts.The album has nine tracks, ranging from electronic dance music to the more-recent trend of trap music. Artists including will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas, Ed Sheeran and Junsu of K-pop band JYJ feature on the album with Psy, 37.The two titles target domestic and international fans respectively -- “Napal Baji” for Koreans and “Daddy” for overseas fans.“Napal Baji” is funk music that adopts the retro style of the ‘70s rhythm guitar and drumming, with humorous lyrics in Korean.“Daddy” is an energetic dance song with an addictive repeating hook in English, having a strong tune based on a fast-tempo synthesizer soDec 1, 2015
Psy hopes for another 'Gangnam Style' success K-pop star Psy speaks at a press conference about his newly released seventh album at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Monday. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunGlobal K-pop star Psy returned with his seventh album, but he is doubtful about duplicating the success of his 2012 megahit “Gangnam Style.”“I don’t think another success like Gangnam Style will happen to me again,” said Psy during the press conference for his new album at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeouido, Monday. “It is a miracle when songs full of Korean lyrics gain worldwide popularity. I cannot compare the new track Napal Baji to Gangnam Style and I don’t want to. Gangnam Style has become a song that is too heavy for me.”The veteran singer and rapper rose to stardom internationally after Gangnam Style hit No. 2 on the Billboard’s single chart for seven consecutive weeks and set a record of the “most watched video” on YouTube with 2.443 billion views.However, the 39-year old K-pop star still holds out hope for another breakthrough with his latest albNov 30, 2015
Young pianists attract female fans Pianist Cho Seong-jin autographs CDs for fans after his recital at the Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan, Monday. / YonhapPianist Lim Dong-hyek / Courtesy of CrediaPianist Kim Sun-wook / Courtesy of VinceroBy Kwon Ji-younClassical music albums by young male pianists are flying off the shelves.Cho Seong-jin, winner of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition, has started an extraordinary classical music boom here in Korea, mainly among female fans. A good number of these fans were spotted queuing for hours on Nov. 6 to purchase a live recording of the 21-year-old’s performance at the prestigious contest, a sight more commonly associated with the release of a K-pop idol’s new disc.Cho’s records ― and those of other young male pianists, namely Lim Dong-hyek and Kim Sun-wook ― are sweeping the charts as well. According to major Korean online retailer Yes24, recordings by Cho, Lim and Kim sat atop its classical album rankings in the third week of November. Cho in particular has fans lined up for the release of a second pressing of his live performaNov 24, 2015
Dynamic Duo releases 'Grand Carnival' Choiza, left, and Gaeko of Dynamic Duo / Courtesy of Amoeba CultureBy Kim Jae-heunDynamic Duo, led by popular Korean hip-hop musicians Gaeko and Choiza, released its eighth album, “Grand Carnival,” after nearly two and half years and held a showcase at YES 24 MUV Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Tuesday.Grand Carnival is the name of the van the musicians ride on tour. They spend more time in the van than they do at home, eating, sleeping, playing games and producing music. Their idea with the album is to share their stories of life as musicians.The rappers, who started 20 years ago, gained popularity for music their fans can easily empathize with. “Grand Carnival” is not so different from previous albums. The new songs are about the duo’s experiences, which many Koreans in their 30s are also going through.“There is a song that best represents the story of the album,” said Choiza during the press conference. “It’s called ‘Repeat Mark.’ We thought we worked hard and were successful but when we see our annual account report, Nov 18, 2015
YG's iKON determined to pursue own music Members of iKON pose at the 2015 Melon Music Award at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium on Nov. 7. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunYG Entertainment’s new boy group iKON released its new album “Welcome Back,” Monday, and some of the new tracks are said to be similar to Big Bang’s music.It is no surprise, considering that YG’s top producers, Teddy and Kush, who have produced songs for Big Bang, worked on iKON’s new album. iKON is praised for its ability to produce its own music, still, B.I., the leader and producer of the band, acknowledged they have a long way to go to be as good as Big Bang.“Many people compare our music to Big Bang,” said B.I. when asked if their song “Apology” sounds like it is sung by T.O.P and Tae Yang of Big Bang during an interview at a coffee shop in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. “Big Bang’s music covers many genres, though. While we still lack experience, we will try hard to walk a different path than Big Bang. They told us we should not follow their musical path.”B.I. grew up Nov 18, 2015
10 orchestra workers booked for defamation of ex-CEO By Kwon Ji-younPark Hyun-jungTen employees of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) were booked Thursday, on suspicion of having falsely accused their former CEO Park Hyun-jung of sexual and verbal abuse, according to the police Thursday.The ten were among 17 employees of the SPO’s administrative department who issued an anonymous press release in December last year requesting Park’s resignation and an internal audit into her conduct. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), Park filed a petition in December 2014 asking the police to identify the 17 employees behind the press release that detailed her alleged mistreatment of employees during her term as SPO’s chief executive.Among the 10 booked is an employee surnamed Kwak, who accused Park of sexual assault.The SMPA requested a warrant for Kwak’s arrest on Wednesday. Baek, the secretary of SPO music director Chung Myung-whun identified only by his last name, will also be summoned for questioning soon.“The number of SPO employees booked will likely increase as we confirm more identNov 12, 2015
Korean schoolgirl's cover of Adele's 'Hello' surpasses 5 mil. views A high school girl sings her cover of Adele’s “Hello” in this image capture from YouTube.A Korean schoolgirl has made headlines in foreign media for her astonishing cover of Adele’s “Hello,” captured in a video clip posted on YouTube that has accumulated almost five million views as of Monday.Mashable and UK Cosmopolitan, among others, reported last week that a Korean schoolgirl’s rendition of the British diva’s new song had “everyone stopping dead in their tracks,” stunned by her “astounding” voice and “passionate, heart-rending emotions that Adele has become synonymous with.”“If it’s even humanly possible, she sounds more convinced of her pain than Adele does,” reads a report by New York Magazine.The video of the schoolgirl, a student at Seoul Music High School, was shared on U.S. social media Reddit when it was uploaded to YouTube, Thursday.Mashable picked up the video Friday, posting it with the title “High school student absolutely kills a simple cover of Adele’Nov 9, 2015
컴백 라니아, 걸그룹 첫 흑인 멤버 영입해 화제 이달 컴백한 라니아가 국내 걸그룹 최초로 미국 흑인 멤버를 영입해 화제다. 9일 소속사 DR뮤직에 따르면 최근 새 앨범 '데몬스트레이트'(Demonstrate)를 발표한 라니아는 멤버 재정비를 하면서 미국 출신 흑인 여성 래퍼 알렉산드라(Alexandra·21)를 영입해 활동에 나섰다. 미국 캔자스주에서 흑인 아버지와 백인 어머니 사이에서 태어난 알렉산드라는 텍사스, 뉴욕 등지에서 거주하며 미국에서만 생활해왔다. 그는 카니예 웨스트, 리아나, 드레이크 등이 포진된 미국 유명 힙합 레이블 데프잼에서 15세 때부터 소속된 이력이 있을 정도로 남다른 프로필을 보유하고 있다는 게 소속사의 설명이다. 미국 가수 겸 배우 제이미 폭스의 뮤직비디오 '유 체인지드 미'(You Changed Me)의 뮤직비디오 여주인공으로 출연했으며, 미국 래퍼 에미넴 등과 작업한 작곡가 알렉스 다키드, 브리트니 스피어스와 작업한 작곡가 제이알 로템과 한팀이 돼 작곡가로도 활동했다. 또 미국 음료 게토레이의 지면 광고 모델, 맥주 하이네킨의 CF에도 등장한 적이 있다. 그는 리아나의 전 매니저이자 현재 브루노 마스의 매니저인 스캇과 함께 데뷔를 준비하고 있던 중 우연히 라니아와 인연이 닿아 정식 멤버 계약을 했다. 소속사는 '알렉산드라의 한국행은 높아진 K팝의 위상과도 무관치 않다'며 '알렉산드라는 유튜브 등지에서 K팝 콘텐츠가 큰 인기를 누리는 것을 보면서 평소 K팝에 관심을 두게 됐고 한국행을 결심했다'고 말했다. 이어 '알렉산드라가 합류하면서 라니아의 미주 매니지먼트를 스캇이 전담한다'고 덧붙였다. 미국 빌보드는 지난 6일(현지시간) 'K팝 걸그룹이 아프리카계 미국인을 멤버로 영입했다'며 알렉산드라가 합류한 라니아의 소식을 전했다. (연합뉴스)Nov 9, 2015
Korea is Asian home for Damien Rice Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice will hold a concert at Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University onNov. 22. / Courtesy of Access EntBy Kwon Ji-younDamien Rice calls Korea his “Asian home.”The singer-songwriter’s gig at the Grand Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University on Nov. 22 will be his fourth in Seoul, having visited every year since 2012. He keeps returning because of the invitations, he told The Korea Times in a recent interview.“Much like a friend who invites you to dinner, Korea has been very inviting and each time I go to Korea I enjoy it,” Rice said. “It’s starting to feel like a home in Asia. I have made some friends there and the different promoters I’ve worked with are all very friendly and so the experience is always interesting and enjoyable.”This year, he has added a stop in Busan to enjoy a “new city” experience.“But I try my best not to ever have expectations,” Rice said of his Busan concert. “I find it’s more interesting and rewarding to enter any new experience with an open miNov 8, 2015
Chopin contest victor wins Koreans' hearts Pianist Cho Seong-jin takes a bow at his first recital Paris, Saturday. / YonhapCho Seong-jin, who won the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw last month, hosted his first recital in Paris, Saturday.The two-story Salle Gaveau concert hall of 900 seats was filled with French and Koreans, Yonhap reported. Cho played the encore piece three times.Following the performance, dozens of female fans greeted the pianist and handed him flowers and gifts.Record label Deutsche Grammophon's album of Cho's performance at the Chopin competition has swept major online album charts by subscription sales. The album topped online Kyobo bookstore’s overall best album chart the week following the competition and still remains No. 1. It was released Friday.Meanwhile, tickets for 2,500 seats of Cho's gala concert slated for February 2 at the Seoul Arts Center sold out in 50 minutes.Nov 8, 2015By Kim Bo-eun
