Backstreet Boys Share Secrets to SuccessBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Boy bands are as popular as ever in Korea, with groups like 2PM, Big Bang, SuperJunior and TVXQ. But in the United States, the trend peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Backstreet Boys (BSB), N'Sync and 98 Degrees sent millions of teenage girls swooning with their cute looks, mushy love songs and slick dance moves. While most of the boy bands have disbanded and been forgotten, Backstreet Boys has remained together, still making music and touring around the world. BSB members AJ McLean and Brian Littrell said the group has always remained focused on their music throughout the years. ``There were a lot of things going on but music was always our main focus. It is quite hard to survive in the music industry but we managed. We tried to stay focused for the past 17 years and understand each other, which made our bond stronger and that's our secret. We spend the best days of our lives together, there is no reason why we can't in the future," said McLean and Littrell in an email interview with The Korea Times. The groupFeb 22, 2010
Album ReviewsVampire Weekend `Contra' (Kang & Music) American indie band Vampire Weekend first grabbed listeners' attention with the irresistible ``A Punk'' from their self-titled debut in 2008. The band, whose members met while studying at Columbia University, have managed to avoid the sophomore slump with a clever and catchy new album, ``Contra.'' ``Contra,'' which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard album charts, has more of the band's indie pop-rock tunes, with a dash of hip-hop, African rhythms and electro music. ``Horchata'' (incidentally, a Mexican rice drink) sets the pace of the album with its easy charm, followed by the laidback ``White Sky.'' Vampire Weekend continues to impress with their witty lyrics and unique musical styling, particularly with the standout tracks ``California English,'' ``Diplomat's Son'' and ``I Think Ur a Contra.'' / Cathy Rose A. Garcia Feb 16, 2010
The Swell Season to Return in AprilBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the Oscar-winning stars of the indie film ``Once,'' will be coming to Seoul for the third time in April. Hansard, Irglova and the rest of The Swell Season will be performing April 7, Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The Swell Season is a favorite among many Korean fans, who embraced their low-budget film and made it a hit in Korea. In ``Once,'' Hansard and Irglova played musicians who fall in love, and their on-screen chemistry carried on off-screen. A big part of the film's success was attributed to the music, mostly composed and written by Hansard. Hansard and Irglova's lovely duet ``Falling Slowly'' won the Academy Award for Best Song in 2008. The Swell Season finally released its long-awaited album ``Strict Joy,'' last fall. Hansard and Irglova had broken off their romantic relationship, but their musical partnership still continued. The album title was taken from ``Strict Care, Strict Joy," a poem by Irish writer James Stephens that Hansard had read. ```Strict JoFeb 16, 2010
Sumi Jo to Return With German Folk SongsBy Kim Ji-soo Staff Reporter Renowned soprano Sumi Jo will bring her interpretation of German folk songs to Korean fans in March. These romantic German songs, also known as ``lied,'' are part of an ongoing artistic experiment by the veteran lyric coloratura soprano. In 2008, she released a crossover album containing 16 songs in 11 languages ranging from Nordic hymns and Mexican serenades to Yiddish tunes such as ``Dona Dona." For the upcoming performances, she will also present works ranging from Franz P. Schubert's ``Die Forelle'' to the first-ever performance in Korea of arias from Richard Strauss' opera ``Ariadne Auf Naxos." In particular, the arias by Strauss, known for their high notes, are expected to be a not-to-be missed performance. The concerts will be a preview of her new album, which is expected to be released in March. The folk songs are known to require not just technical finesse but an understanding of the poetry that is the basis of the music. She will perform on March 28 at Seoul Arts Center's Concert Hall in southern Seoul. She will then perform iFeb 15, 2010
Haiti Fundraising Concert to Be Held at SACBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The Korean alumni of a U.S. music school will hold a charity concert for Haiti earthquake victims Thursday evening at Seoul Arts Center, the event sponsor, Hyosung Group said. Top artists who graduated from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia will perform, including pianist Lee Kyung-sook, conductor Sung Ki-sung and soprano Kim Young-mi. Lee is currently honorary professor at Yonsei University while Kim has performed on the world stage opposite such superstars as the late Luciano Pavarotti, and remains one of the country's leading dramatic sopranos. The Curtis Institute is reputed for offering a merit-based full-tuition scholarship to its entire student body, and other graduates include Maestro Leonard Bernstein and the pianist Lang Lang. The "Curtis & Friends" concert program features staple works of classical music such as Elgar's ``Serenade for Strings,'' Sarasate's ``Ziegeunerweisen,'' Chopin's ``Un Sospiro'' and a handful of numbers from Prelude Op. 28, Schubert's ``The Shepherd on the Rock'' and Barber's ``AdaFeb 10, 2010
Norwegian Duo Kings of Convenience to Play in AprilBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience are bringing their soft, sometimes melancholic, acoustic tunes to Seoul in April. Kings of Convenience, composed of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe, are performing April 4 at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The duo are best known for their touching and stripped down melodies that have earned them comparisons with the likes of Simon & Garfunkel and Belle and Sebastian. Oye and Boe first met as 16-year-olds in high school, where they formed a band with other friends. A few years later, they formed Kings of Convenience and made their debut in 2001 with the album ``Quiet is the New Loud.'' They followed it up with 2004's ``Riot on an Empty Street,'' which garnered critical acclaim and earned them fans all over the world. The songs ``Stay Out Of Trouble'' and ``I'd Rather Dance With You'' were especially popular in Korea, where they were used as the soundtrack for TV commercials. Having earned a dedicated fan base in Korea, Kings of Convenience made their first trip tFeb 9, 2010
Bob Dylan to Perform in Seoul for First TimeBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will be performing in Seoul for the first time at the end of March. Concert organizer Access Entertainment announced Dylan's first concert in Korea will be held March 31 at Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. In a statement, Access Entertainment said news of Dylan's concert has generated significant interest from many fans between the ages of 30 and 50 in Korea. In order to allow more people to enjoy Dylan's first concert in Seoul, concert organizers have adjusted the ticket pricing scale to make it more affordable. Tickets for the one-night-only concert start from 66,000 won to limited VIP seats worth 198,000 won. Prior to coming to Seoul, Dylan will be holding a series of 12 concerts in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka starting March 12. Access Entertainment noted that tickets to Dylan's 12 concerts in Japan sold out in 10 minutes. Tickets for the Japan shows were also more expensive than the ones in Seoul ― 12,000 yen and 20,000 yen (approximately 157,000 won and 262,000Feb 9, 2010
Album ReviewsVarious Artists `2010 Grammy Nominees' (Warner Music Korea) The ``2010 Grammy Nominees'' album gives listeners a chance catch up on some of the year's best songs. The compilation includes big Grammy winners such as Kings of Leon's ``Use Somebody,'' which won Record of the Year, and Taylor Swift's ``You Belong With Me'' from Album of the Year ``Fearless.'' Beyonce's ``Single Ladies,'' which won Song of the Year, is missing from the compilation, although ``Halo,'' which was nominated, is included. While the album is dominated by pop and rock hits from Green Day, Coldplay, Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga, there's some country flavor courtesy of Best New Artist winner Zac Brown Band (``Chicken Fried'') and Lady Antebellum (``I Run to You''). ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Them Crooked Vultures `Them Crooked Vultures' (SonyBMG) Nirvana and Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl came up with the idea to form a super group with legendary Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Joshua Hommes. They named themselves Them Crooked Vultures, and relFeb 9, 2010
Pianists Volodos, Lim Coming to TownBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter This month classical piano fans may find themselves torn by the agony of choice, albeit a rather happy one. The day Feb. 27 marks the local concert debut ofRussian piano virtuoso Arcardi Volodos at 5 p.m., Seongnam Arts Center, Gyeonggi Province. The same day at 8 p.m., Lim Dong-hyek, the enfant terrible of the classical music world, will give a recital at Seoul Arts Center. Continuing Horowitz’s Legacy Volodos may not have a conspicuous cult following here like his countryman Evgeny Kissin but he is nevertheless a hero among connoisseurs, and the anticipation is all the greater since the tour comes on the heels of the one that was cancelled two years ago. Critics and fans around the world praise Volodos for following in the footsteps of Vladimir Horowitz, filling the void left by the piano legend after his death in 1989. Volodos has built a reputation for his grand 19th-century style, complete with virtuosic agility, profound intelligence and lush lyricism. Born in 1972 in St. Petersburg, Volodos was no child prodigy. He began seriouFeb 9, 2010
Chicago Shares Secret to LongevityBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Chicago, one of the longest-lasting pop-rock bands in the world, shares some secrets to its longevity. Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of Chicago in 1967, believes their secret is in the music. ``It is original music and most of songs are very, very good, very sophisticated and people around the world, they sense that the music is authentic, and that's what keeps us going,'' he said, in an email interview with The Korea Times. It's been more than 40 years since the band was formed in the Windy City, with Lamm, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, guitarist Terry Kath, drummer Danny Seraphine, trumpet player Lee Loughnane, trombonist James Pankow and bassist Peter Cetera. While the lineup has changed over the years, Chicago has continued to delight fans around the world with their music. Throughout their career, Chicago has sold more than 120 million records, including 20 Top 10 hits and 12 Top 10 albums. Their songs ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry,'' ``If You Leave Me Now,'' ``Love Me Tomorrow'' and ``You're the Inspiration'' remain fFeb 8, 2010