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
Gentlemen Propose Love ConcertsBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Romantic holidays are around the corner and the biting weather might be a great excuse for loving couples, family and friends to huddle closer together ― and a group of gentlemen promise to make the occasion extra warm, with a classic touch through chamber concerts. Seoul Arts Center will offer a two-part ``Love Concert’’ for Valentine’s Day and White Day, on Friday (rather than Sunday since it coincides with Lunar New Year’s) and March 14, respectively. On Friday, members of the much loved ensemble M.I.K. will reunite on stage: cellist Song Young-hoon (Young Song), violinist Kim Soovin, violist Kim Sang-jin and pianist Julius Jeongwon Kim. Each sought-after soloists near and far, the four friends are credited with establishing a niche here for the underappreciated genre of chamber music. A highlight of the upcoming performance is the premiere of ``Sere-monade,’’ by yet another popular young gentleman, Yiruma. The composer is known for paving a new path in Korea’s New Age music scene and has inspired a staunch following with his delicate piFeb 7, 2010
Whitney Houston Kicks off World TourBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop diva Whitney Houston kicked off her first world concert tour in 10 years in Seoul, Saturday evening. Approximately 11,000 fans flocked to Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park for a chance to see the six-time Grammy winner perform in Korea for the first time, as part of her ``Nothing But Love'' 2010 world tour. A few minutes past 7 p.m., Houston emerged clad in an all-black outfit: a turtleneck, leather pants and a floor-length coat. She sounded shaky at first, performing fast-paced songs ``For the Lovers'' and ``Nothing But Love.'' Her entrance was marred by audio and technical problems, with the backing tracks appearing to overshadow Houston's own voice. ``Good evening, Korea. Welcome to the Whitney Houston show. This is the first show of our world tour and we're starting here. We're working out a lot of details, but hopefully you've come here to hear me sing. I'm going to sing to you from my heart. It's hard for me to lip synch. I tried to do it, but I can't,'' she said. The 47-year-old singer appeared to need some time to wFeb 7, 2010
Fall in Love With Beethoven This YearBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Bach, Beethoven and Brahms each define an era in musical history. While some argue that their compositions are overplayed it would be difficult to object to a carefully planned retrospective of their oeuvre. The Seoul Arts Center has launched ``The Great 3B,'' a three-year program fathoming the timeless works of the three maestros, beginning with Beethoven this year. Kim Dae-jin will lead the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra in performing the full cycle of the famously deaf composer's nine symphonies, five piano concertos and three violin pieces, over eight concerts through December. The series will feature some of the most talented young soloists and invites fans to become intoxicated with romantic classicism. Kim has a special relationship with Beethoven. The pianist-turned-conductor has a Daniel Barenboim-esque understanding of the scores, having played his concertos as both soloist and conductor. In 2000, he sat before the piano to give a historic, one-day marathon performance of the complete piano concertos. Last year, he took the baton Feb 2, 2010
Basement Jaxx to Party at Club EdenBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Grammy-winning British electronic duo Basement Jaxx will heat up the party scene with their upcoming performance Feb. 27 at Club Eden, Ritz Carlton Hotel, southern Seoul. The duo, composed of Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Burton, are behind some of the most popular progressive house anthems in the British club scene. Ratcliffe and Buxton met at a riverboat party in Brixton, south London in the early 1990s. Before they met, Radcliffe was into Latin funk, while Buxton was interested in Chicago house music. Their distinct influences came together as they formed Atlantic Jaxx Records in 1994. Among their early releases was ``Da Underground'' and ``Samba Magic,'' which was distributed by Virgin Records. As they gained recognition as a top house production unit, the duo was tapped to remix songs for Pet Shop Boys and Roger Sanchez. The single ``Flylife,'' which entered the Top 20 of the U.K. charts in 1997, was one of the year's most popular club anthems around the world. Basement Jaxx also performed regularly in nightclubs, where Feb 2, 2010
Album ReviewsVarious Artists `(500) Days of Summer' (Warner Music Korea) One of the best things about the Marc Webb film ``(500) Days of Summer'' is the music. Described as an ``anti-love story,'' the film's hip soundtrack is appropriately devoid of mushy love tunes and cheesy lyrics. It is a cool mix of old and new music, from The Smiths and Simon & Garfunkel to Regina Spektor and Feist. It's a great way to remember the film's funniest moments like Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) playing The Smiths' ``Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want'' to get Summer's (Zooey Deschanel) attention, or Tom prancing in the streets to the tune of Hall & Oates' ``You Make My Dreams.'' Also included is former supermodel and now France's First Lady Carla Bruni's lovely 2002 song ``Quelqu'un M'a Dit'' (Someone Told Me). ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Diane Birch `Bible Belt' (Warner Music Korea) Diane Birch is a preacher's daughter with a smoky voice that invites comparisons to Carole King, Norah Jones and Aretha Franklin. Her debut album ``Bible Belt'' offers songs that blend soul, jazzFeb 2, 2010
Explore Something New at Classical Concerts Sung Shi-yeon will conduct the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Thursday in the first of the ``Explorer’’ series, which highlights pieces that are rarely performed here such as Schubert’s ``Unfinished” Symphony./ Courtesy of Seoul Philharmonic OrchestraBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Cellist Yang Sung-won once told The Korea Times that musical compositions are only made complete the moment they are performed. Indeed, the typical classical concert may feature centuries-old scores but live performances always make room for something new and different. The Seoul music scene offers exciting programs this month, including rarely performed classics, new contemporary works and a debut performance. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra invites concertgoers to discover masterpieces that are seldom played here through its ``Explorer’’ series. On Thursday at Seoul Arts Center, the orchestra’s assistant conductor, Sung Shi-yeon, will helm the first concert featuring Schubert’s ``Unfinished’’ Symphony No. 8 in B minor. The symphony is often conJan 31, 2010
Chung Still Searching for World of Infinite Challenges, PossibilitiesBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Sixty years ago, a bloody conflict engulfed the Korean Peninsula, uprooting millions of lives. But one woman made sure that not only her family, but also the family piano, survived. Maestro Chung Myun-whun was born in 1953, toward the end of the Korean War (1950-53), to a mother who would not allow showers of bullets to compromise her children's piano lessons. She therefore hijacked a truck to take the massive instrument with them as they fled to safety. Seven years later in 1960, a young pianist debuted with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He now stands before the ensemble as its music director. But unlike 50 years ago, when the audience laughed upon seeing such a small child tackling the keys, the conductor inspires enthusiastic ovations. Whether he conducts the orchestra in fine-tempered direction of the Korean National Opera as he did on his birthday last week or paints bursting symphonic colors of Mahler, the maestro moves and stirs up the listener, reminding that art is, as Kafka said, "the axe for the frozen sea within us." "Jan 29, 2010
Chinese, Canadian Rock Groups to PerformBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Chinese punk trio Carsick Cars and Canadian instrumental rock group Do Make Say Think will be hitting the stage in two separate performances in Korea next month. Carsick Cars, a post-punk band, will be performing in Seoul, Feb. 6 at Drug, a club in Hongdae. They will also play at The Basement in Busan, Feb. 4, and Heavy in Daegu, Feb. 5. Described by The Guardian as ``China's most visceral new act,'' Carsick Cars is composed of Zhang Shouwang on vocals/guitar, Li Weisi on bass, and Li Qing on drums. The Beijing-based band is at the forefront of the Chinese underground music scene, having played at major venues in Beijing and Shanghai. Sonic Youth invited Carsick Cars to be the opening act for their concerts in Prague and Vienna in 2007. Since then, the band has attracted attention in Europe and U.S., and has been invited to the South By South West (SXSW) music festival in Texas this year. Meanwhile, Do Make Say Think will be making its first appearance in Seoul at V-Hall, Hongdae, Feb. 21. Do Make Say Think is a TorontoJan 26, 2010
Album ReviewsOne Republic `Waking Up' (Universal Music Korea) One Republic, best known for their breakout hit with Timbaland ``Apologize,'' is back with their second album. The band haven't seemed to tinker much with their formula for success, which is perhaps why ``Waking Up'' has shades of their debut album, ``Dreaming Out Loud.'' There's a lot of pop-rock tracks like ``Made for You,'' ``Everybody Loves Me,'' and the title track, ``Waking Up.'' Vocalist Ryan Tedder, who has written songs for Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Leona Lewis and Westlife, comes up with good, radio-friendly material. ``Marching On'' seems poised to be this album's ``Apologize,'' even receiving the same remix treatment from Timbaland. The standard version includes two extra songs, including a live version of Tears for Fears' ``Shout,'' while the deluxe version includes a CD of five additional songs. While it doesn't quite break new ground, it's still a good sophomore effort. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia OK Go `Of the Blue Colour of the Sky' (Warner Music Korea) OK Go's third album, ``Of the Blue Colour Jan 26, 2010