Charice, from girl-next-door to divaBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter The world has seen numerous rising stars through various reality shows and competitions on the small screen, but Charice may be the face, or voice, to remember. When Korea first got a glimpse of the girl with the big voice on local talent show ``Star King’’ in 2007, Charice looked like any other 15-year-old, bashfully smiling to the audience and cameras, dressed in pink from head to toe. But now, with her first studio album ``Charice,’’ out, after performing with big stars including Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli, appearing on top shows like ``Oprah’’ and ``Ellen,’’ she has gained much more confidence and it seems she is ready to finally surprise the world with her signature music and charm. The 18-year-old Filipina was playing some tunes on a piano program on her laptop when The Korea Times arrived for an interview at Warner Music Korea in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. ``It feels great to be back,’’ she said, smiling, dressed in a sophisticated silver and black outfit with dark smoky eye-makeup. Her new album was produced by the Jul 20, 2010
Fusion music band to hold concert at SACBy Chung Ah-young Staff reporter The fusion “gukak” (Korean traditional music) group Gong Myoung will perform at the Jayu Theater in the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) from July 21 to 25. Gong Myoung means resonance in English and the band mostly uses a variety of traditional percussion and wind instruments made of bamboo. The group consists of four men ― Song Kyoung-kun (daegeum or Korean woodwind instrument), Lim Yong-ju (buk or traditional percussion), Park Seung-won (piri or woodwind instrument) and Kang Sun-il (janggu or traditional hour-glass shaped percussion). Song generally leads the melody with calm and soft sounds. A “daegeum” is a Korean woodwind instrument which is made of bamboo and played like a flute. Lim plays the “buk,” a Korean drum. This adds a dynamic and rhythmical power to the music. Park plays the “piri” which is another Korean woodwind instrument and played like a recorder. He also plays the recorder and guitar and takes the lead for the melody. Kang plays the “janggu,” a Korean drum which leads the rhythm section. Each member’s unique sound is diJul 19, 2010
20 years of giving saxophone classical spinBy Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter For many Koreans the saxophone may evoke Cha In-pyo’s iconic 1990s screen persona, donning a shirt that’s unbuttoned a tad too low and rocking the instrument to woo a lady, or the likes of jazz legends like Sonny Rollins. But this is no great surprise. While the saxophone possesses all the advantages of both the woodwind and brass families, it took a while since its invention in the 19th century for it to secure a more permanent spot in classical compositions. It didn’t help that in the years leading up to World War II in Germany, for example, the sax was banned along with other ``negro music’’ imports. It was through Gershwinm along with Bernstein, Prokofiev and other modern composers, that it became a more regular part of classical scores. There thus seems to be a limit insofar as the general public is concerned for the sax to appear as a suitable rival of the violin or such. In the Far East, one artist has been making waves by showing the solo potential of the sax, in both recitals and grand orchestral performances. Nobuya Sugawa makes aJul 19, 2010
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony back with new albumBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter At a time when numerous music groups and soloists come and go continuously on an almost daily basis, sticking to your roots, respecting the fast paced present and bringing something new can be a difficult task. But for hip hop band Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, which started making music in 1991, it wasn’t impossible to realize the true essence of their music. The five-member group’s new album ``Uni-5: The World’s Enemy’’ was released last April and they once again proved that, despite the ups and downs during their 19-year musical journey, it was music that glued them together with their fans. ``Basically, we create music `Bone Thugs-n-Harmony’-style. We have new listeners, but we still have the old listeners, so we continue doing what we have been doing but to a different beat. We are still talking about the same struggle. We are always going to keep it really authentic,’’ Big Sloan, a hip hop artist who collaborated with the band for the album, told The Korea Times in an email interview. As the pioneers of the so-called ``melody rap,’’ whichJul 19, 2010
Album ReviewsKylie Minogue `Aphrodite' (Warner Music Korea) Kylie Minogue returns with her 11th album, recalling the pop and high-pitched vocals that characterize the multi-talented Australian diva. Though the record starts off fairly static with her chosen singles (albeit, that helped thrust the release's debut into the no. 1 spot in the U.K. charts), the album as a whole carries Minogue's sincerity. Produced by Stuart Price (who has worked with Madonna), the record and its lack of pretension for what Minogue does ― has done ― in her life shines through, particularly with the passionate ``Better than Today'' and ``Can't Beat the Feeling.'' The 42-year-old Minogue shows that she is still both endearing and fun. ― Ines Min Sarah McLachlan `Laws of Illusion' (Sony Music Korea) The seventh album by Canadian vocalist Sarah McLachlan showcases the range of the singer, but a lack of brilliance fails to catapult the album into anything memorable. Known for her sweet love songs ― and contributions to original soundtracks ― it's undeniable that McLachlan is a giant in the industrJul 13, 2010
Classical music summer specials for youthBy Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter A packed classical performance here may initially seem a little empty when viewed from the back of the hall, since the heads of the young members of the audience, hidden by the backs of the chairs, aren't readily visible. Children and teens comprise a significant portion of local classical concertgoers; a huge number of studies indicate that kids regularly exposed to classical music read earlier and improve everything from hand-eye coordination to their IQ to creative thinking skills. Moreover, it inspires appreciation for the arts and culture and the beauty of taking part in the creative process of a live performance. Specially tailored programs for and by youths are lined up for the summer vacation season, so parents should get ready to plan family outings. The Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra will offer performances that the whole family can enjoy. Summer Classics, to be held over two evenings on July 30 and 31 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul, will present jewels of the classical repertoire along with talJul 6, 2010
Album reviewsMiley Cyrus `Can't Be Tamed' (Universal Music Korea) The 17-year-old Miley Cyrus has endeavored to mature into a sophisticated lady with her second album. Though the lyrics are often trite (``The only thing real, when push comes to shove/are the acts of forgiveness and love''), the dance-pop sound is catchy enough to get teens bopping along. The No. 1 hit single ``Can't Be Tamed'' leaves far to be desired in terms of originality, but the more genuine ``Two More Lonely People'' carries a charming naivete. Cyrus' vocal talent lags far behind the likes of the then-Christina Aguilera or even Britney Spears, but she is also a girl coming into her own and, to concede, kids today could do worse for a pop idol. _ Ines Min Eminem `Recovery' (Universal Music Korea) Eminem returns from the depths of drug addiction with his seventh studio album, aptly titled ``Recovery.'' From the directness of ``Talkin' 2 Myself'' (``Encore I was on drugs, Relapse I was flushin' 'em out/I've come to make it up to you now'') to his dedication to late-friend and rapper Proof (``You're NJul 6, 2010
Caribou to promote album with show in KoreaBy Ines Min Staff reporter A quick search on Google will provide this definition for ``Caribou'': Arctic deer with large antlers. But continue on down to the fourth definition, and one will come upon the entry for an indie electronic mammoth _ and that's exactly who Korea can look forward to this weekend. Daniel Snaith, the man behind Caribou, will play in Seoul Friday night for a show filled with beats and sweet samples. Part of the tour to promote his latest album, it will be the Canadian musician's first performance in Korea. ``Swim,'' released in April, brings a new dance feel to Caribou's sound, moving away from the pop of 2007's ``Andorra.'' Snaith spoke with The Korea Times in a recent phone interview about his latest album and upcoming performance here. ``There's so much diversity of music that I listen to and dance music has always been a part of that, as well as psychedelic pop on the last record,'' the musician said. ``But the last few years, the most exciting music I've heard has all been from the world of dance music.'' Add that to a lifestyle of inJul 6, 2010
Usher weary, but alive for first Seoul concertBy Ines Min Staff reporter Saturday evening thousands of fans gathered for one man: Usher. From Korean celebrities ― including the likes of Jun Ji-hyun and Jung Woo-sung ― to American expatriates here for military service, a range of ethnicities and ages were brought together with the beats of the R&B star. Usher gave his first performance in Seoul at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in Olympic Park, Saturday night, organized as part of the Hyundai Card Super Concert X series. Playing to a packed house of roughly 10,000 fans, the first half of the show saw nary a bottom touching the seats of the broad arena. With no opening acts, the artist ― born Usher Raymond IV ― jumped straight into the show with ``Caught Up,'' inciting roars of cheers from his fans. Wearing a white tank top and pants, accented with a black leather jacket and boots, the sunglasses-clad Usher charmed audiences with his only concert in Asia. The 31-year-old was on tour for his sixth studio album ``Raymond v. Raymond,'' which was released in March. However, staying conscious of the fans' love for claJul 4, 2010
Album reviewsThe Chemical Brothers `Further' (Warner Music Korea) Since 1991 Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have been mapping the electronic-music landscape for artists to follow. In their seventh studio album, the duo returns to maintain that classic quality of strong beats, interspersed with the just-ripe quirks that define them (try the fantastical whinnying sample on ``Horse Power''). A special DVD released in conjunction with the album showcases a video for each track _ by Adam Smith and Marcus Lyal _ but visuals are almost unnecessary with the smooth dance numbers with lulls of soothing synth (``Snow''). Avoiding the eclecticism of those indie groups emerging onto the hybrid techno/hip-hop field, The Chemical Brothers stays purely in the realm of the electronic, keeping their music simple, clean and solid. _ Ines Min Pendulum `Immersion' (Warner Music Korea) The third album of the electronica six-piece Pendulum certainly makes an effort of sorts. The 15-track release uses a range of techno, heavily mixed with artists such as Cocoa Tea and other bars that will seem disJun 29, 2010