Gardot to Entertain Seoul in MarchBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Rising jazz singer Melody Gardot is getting ready to play her first concert in Seoul. Gardot, who received critical acclaim for her latest album, "My One and Only Thrill,'' will be performing at Centennial Hall, Yonsei University, March 16. ``My One and Only Thrill,'' her second album, debuted at number 2 on the Billboard charts, and topped the charts in Japan. The 24-year-old has received acclaim for her silky smooth vocals and songwriting skills, but it's her story of overcoming physical hardships that is truly inspiring. A fashion student at Community College of Philadelphia, Gardot's life changed when she was involved in a serious accident in Philadelphia when she was 19 years old. She was riding a bicycle when she was hit by a car. As a result, she suffered severe neural, spinal and pelvic injuries that kept her in the hospital for a year. One of the effects of her injuries is hypersensitivity to both light and sound, requiring her to wear dark sunglasses all the time. During her treatment, a doctor suggested music theJan 24, 2010
US Rock Band The Killers Cancels Seoul ConcertBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American rockers The Killers have cancelled their Asian tour, including the Feb. 6 concert in Seoul. In a statement on The Killers' official Web site, the band said it was forced to cancel dates in Seoul, Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila and Tokyo ``due to unforeseen circumstances involving a serious illness of a close family member.'' ``The band deeply apologizes to their fans and hopes to reschedule their shows in these cities soon, we hope you understand and respect our privacy at this difficult time,'' The Killers said. The band was supposed to hold their first concert in Seoul on Feb. 6 at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The group's Australian appearances, which start in Sydney on Feb. 13, will remain as scheduled. The Killers had earlier announced they would be going on indefinite hiatus after their spring tour to ``spend more time with their families.'' It sparked speculation the band would soon break up, and that the lead singer, Brandon Flowers, would be going solo. However, the band denied the Jan 24, 2010
Girls’ Generation Coming Back With Second AlbumTop K-pop group Girls' Generation will release its second album on Jan. 28. The title track will be electronic pop number ``Oh!'' The bubbly and energetic song is about confessing one's feelings to a love interest, explained the group's agency, SM Entertainment. It is by the same composer who wrote the band's hit songs ``Gee'' and ``Genie (Tell Me Your Wish).'' The nine-member band will premiere ``Oh!'' on MBC's ``Show! Music Core'' on Jan. 30. On Feb. 27 and 28, the group will give live performances at the Fencing Stadium of Olympic Park, Seoul. The shows are an encore to the group's first concert last month. The group's ``Into the World'' tour attracted sold-out audiences in Korea and included stops in Japan, Thailand and China. hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr 소녀시대 28일 2집 발표 9인조 걸그룹 소녀시대가 28일 정규 2집을 발표하고 그룹 활동을 재개한다. 소녀시대 소속사인 SM엔터테인먼트는 "정규 2집 타이틀곡 '오!'는 히트 작곡가 켄지가 만든 세련된 일렉트로닉 팝 장르의 노래로, 생기발랄하고 경쾌한 에너지가 담긴 소녀시대만의 트렌드를 정확히 보여줄 노래"라면서 "좋아하는 사람에게 보내는 고백을 귀엽고 솔직하게 담은 가사도 음악 팬들을 매료시키기에 충분할 것"이라고 자신했다. 소녀시대는 오는 30일 MBC 가요 프로그램 '쇼! 음악중심'에서 이 노래를 처음으로 Jan 21, 2010
Album ReviewsKe$ha `Animal' (SonyBMG) Ke$ha makes an impressive debut as a pop star, with her first single ``TiK ToK'' landing on the top of Billboard's single charts for the first two weeks of 2010. ``TiK ToK'' has shades of Lady Gaga, but Ke$ha describes her music as ``trash-glam-pop-electro.'' Listen to ``Animal'' and you'll know exactly what the 22-year-old pop singer-rapper means. The album is filled with perky dance tracks with lyrics that will appeal to a youthful audience. She talks about creepy older men hitting on girls in ``Dinosaur,'' stalking her crush in ``Your Love is My Drug,'' and partying hard in ``Party at a Rich Dude's House.'' The slick sound is courtesy of top producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin. Whether you like Ke$ha's songs or not, there's no doubt that the infectious beats will stick in your head. _ Cathy Rose A. Garcia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack `Sherlock Holmes' (SonyBMG) British director Guy Ritchie's irreverent film adaptation of ``Sherlock Holmes'' offers action, mystery and thrills. It's only appropriate that the soundtrack bJan 19, 2010
2 Many DJs to Hold First Show in SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Belgian duo 2 Many DJs is coming to liven up Seoul's party scene next week. Music label Locksmith by Shyoshyo Type is launching its first concert, ``Locksmith Adventure,'' featuring 2 Many DJs as the headliners on Jan. 29 at Melon-AX Hall. Other performers include actor-singer Lee Min-ki, Japanese electro group 80kidz, electronica muse Sheean and Locksmith Music Crew. The duo is a DJ unit composed of David and Stephen Dewaele, who are also known as the alternative rock/electronica band Soulwax. Originally from Ghent, Belgium, the Dewaele brothers have led the way in electronic music since they debuted 10 years ago. They are also one of the hottest headliners in the international music festival circuit. As Soulwax, the Dewaele brothers have come out with remixed covers of electronica acts such as MGMT, The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy to the music of Beethoven to dance tracks by Kylie Minogue and Madonna to rock songs by Nirvana and The Clash. The Dewaele brothers formed 2 Many DJs because they wanted to continue playiJan 19, 2010
Guitar Legend Jeff Beck in Seoul for First TimesBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck is coming to Seoul for the first time in March. Beck, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, is considered one of the best guitarists of all time. ``Jeff Beck: The 1st Live Concert in Seoul'' will be held at the Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Park, March 20. Beck is one of a few musicians who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, as a member of the Yardbirds, and as a solo artist. He was also ranked 14th in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists of all time. Many of Korea's rock musicians, such as Lee Seung-hwan, YB's Yoon Do-hyun, Boohwal guitarist Kim Tae-won, and Jang Ki-ha of Jang Ki-ha and the Faces, have looked up to Beck. The British guitarist is renowned for his experimental and spontaneous playing and technique. ``Writer Gene Santoro hailed `his strong vibrato, his fierce attack and fat tone, his acute microtonal sense of pitch when he bends or slides into a note, his sophisticated sense of melodic and rhythmic playing, his ability to wring pJan 18, 2010
Green Day Promises to Rock SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Grammy award-winning rock trio Green Day promises to put on a spectacle for Seoul, when they hit the stage here for the first time Monday evening. Green Day, composed of vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool, wants fans to enjoy themselves at their first concert here at the Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. ``We want everybody to have a good time at the concert. We don't want anybody getting hurt. That's punk, playing a show, having a party, having a good time. Come and expect to have a great time and see a great rock show! Because it will be one,'' Green Day said, in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times. Green Day has come a long way from starting out in Berkeley, Calif. in the early '90s to recently being voted Best Artist of the Decade by readers of U.S. magazine Rolling Stone. ``Boulevard of Broken Dreams'' was also voted Best Song of the Decade, while ``American Idiot'' was named Best Album of the Decade. ``We think we truly believe this is like our era. IJan 17, 2010
Enjoy Pink Martini on White DayBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pink Martini, an acclaimed ``little orchestra'' from Portland, Ore., will be playing in Seoul for the first time in March. Self-described as a ``rollicking around-the-world musical adventure,'' Pink Martini will bring its eclectic style of retro music to its first concert in Seoul, March 13, Melon-AX Hall, eastern Seoul. ``If the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we'd be that band,'' said bandleader and pianist Thomas Lauderdale on the band's Web site. Lauderdale was working in politics when he realized there was a dearth of good music at political events. Inspired by different genres of music from classical, jazz and pop, he formed Pink Martini, a small orchestra band, in 1994 to provide a beautiful musical soundtrack for political events. Searching for the band's lead singer, Lauderdale called up his friend China Forbes, who he met while they were both studying at Harvard. They started writing songs, and their first collaboration, ``Sympathique,'' became a hit in France. It even received a Song of the YeJan 12, 2010
Album ReviewsOriginal Motion Picture Soundtrack `Nine' (Universal Music Korea) The ``Nine'' soundtrack is comprised of songs from its star-studded cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Judy Dench, Sophia Loren and Fergie. As the lead actor, Day-Lewis does well in ``Guido's Song.'' Cotillard, who plays his wife, shines in ``My Husband Makes Movies,'' while his mistress played by Cruz oozes sex appeal in ``A Call from The Vatican.'' Hudson creates a playful atmosphere in the 60s-inspired track ``Cinema Italiano.'' Fergie, lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas, seduces listeners with the engaging ``Be Italian.'' While most of the cast prove to be able singers, the songs themselves are not very impressive. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack `Avatar' (Warner Music Korea) The outstanding visual effects of director James Cameron have made ``Avatar'' a blockbuster hit, but the music by award-winning composer James Horner has made it even more memorable for viewers. Horner has managed to create an exotic and othJan 12, 2010
Seoul Philharmonic to Expand HorizonsBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) has long been reputed as one of the country's representative music ensembles, but in recent years it has risen to become a marketable brand. It's not unusual that the orchestra consistently performs to sold-out audiences; last year, sales went up in spite of the fact that more than half of its 127 concerts were charity events and that ticket prices were lowered for its subscription concerts. This year, the SPO is gearing up to take the next step in its musical endeavors, Maestro Chung Myung-whun, its music director and conductor, told reporters last week in Seoul. It will offer a more ambitious program, crowned by a series of Mahler symphonies, a bona fide overseas tour and a recording project. ``It's been five years since I began leading the SPO, and during that time there has been much improvement,'' he said. He had once said it would take a decade for the orchestra to become competitive in Asia, and another ten years to become a strong player in the global music scene. ``I think we have a strongJan 11, 2010