K-pop

Yo-Yo Ma Brings Joy in New Album

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter World-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma wanted to recreate and share the ``joy'' of the holidays with his latest album ``Songs of Joy and Peace.'' ``I'm happy this album has come out at this particular moment because for me, music is a personal thing that we all share, but sometimes I feel there's a distance between what goes on stage and what happens at home when we listen to music,'' Ma said, during a press conference at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Gangnam, Wednesday. Ma said his family and friends usually spend the holidays at home having fun and playing music, which includes him ``playing the piano badly.'' He wanted to recreate these special moments on an album, but this time with his ``best musical friends, who feel like family.'' As a result, ``Songs of Joy and Peace'' features collaborations with top artists like Dave Brubeck, James Taylor, Renee Fleming, Chris Botti, Diana Krall, Pacquito D'Rivera and the Assad family. ``This is an album that can never tour. It's impossible to bring everyone together to do five minutes of musi

Album Reviews

Pink `Funhouse' SonyBMG Pink has always been known for aggressive pop-rock songs that are just bursting with energy. Fresh from her divorce from pro motocross rider Carey Hart, Pink seems to have channeled all her anger and energy into this new album ``Funhouse." ``So What" is Pink's message to her ex-husband, as she sings ``I'm still a rock star and I don't need you. And guess what, I'm having more fun now that we're done." She also includes some heartfelt ballads like ``I Don't Believe You" and ``Glitter in the Air." Overall, ``Funhouse" is all about Pink working out her anger and pain, and isn't really much fun. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia

SHINee Open to New Opportunities

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korea boasts a number of idol groups, especially young, pretty, talented boy bands, and SHINee is starting to steal the spotlight with their cute image, catchy music and chic fashion style. The Korea Times met the group last week at their agency SM Entertainment, while middle and high school students waited in front of the building in the hope of getting a glimpse of the young stars. The group_ Jong-hyun, Min-ho, Tae-min, O-new and Key_ entered the room with a ``annyeonghaseyo!'' (loud and clear.) The young singers looked tired from their hectic schedule, with blank expressions and sleepy eyes. However, their eyes lit up when asked how they became singers, answering that their love for music gradually led them to the entertainment business. ``After watching K-pop singers like H.O.T. on television, I started to mimic their dance moves. I loved it, and it turned out that I was actually good and so I went for an audition,'' Tae-min added. Considering that the members are all relatively young, the youngest Tae-min being 14 and the o

Oasis Doesn’t Care What People Say About Album

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter British rock superstars Oasis are finding renewed commercial and critical success with their latest album ``Dig Out Your Soul.'' But Oasis is not concerned about what the people say about their music. ``It's interesting to see what people say but at the end of the day I don't care. We're so far beyond people making a difference with a review. So it doesn't really matter to me what people think about it,'' Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher told The Korea Times in an email interview. Oasis returned with their seventh album ``Dig Out Your Soul,'' which many critics say is the best Oasis album in a long time. Noel and his younger brother Liam have written songs that show a more mature side of Oasis. Most of the songs still show strong influences from The Beatles, something Oasis is always known for. Gallagher describes the music as ``driving, pounding, acid rock, added with much more groove.'' He wrote the first single ``The Shock of the Lightning," which was released last month. ``We don't really like setting out ground rules about

Album Reviews

John Legend `Evolver' SonyBMG For his third album ``Evolver,'' R&B singer John Legend shows his growing maturity as an artist. His silky vocals are still evident in romantic ballads like ``This Time,'' ``Take Me Away'' and ``Good Morning.'' Some of the catchier tracks on the album are Legend's collaborations with Andre 3000 (``Green Light''), Kanye West (``It's Over'') and Brandy (``Quickly''). The songs are fantastic, but the guest artists nearly steal the show from Legend. ``If You're Out There,'' an inspiring song Legend performed at the U.S. Democratic National Convention last August, is also included on the album. - Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Traditional Singer Jang to Hold Concerts

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Jang Sa-ik, a Korean traditional singer, will hold concerts in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju for the first time in two years. The 59-year-old singer recently released his sixth album ``Flower Viewing,'' and fans will have the chance to listen to some of his new songs at the event. ``Flower Viewing'' is also the title of the concert and the main track of his new album. Jang, who made his debut as a singer when he was 46, is famous for fusing Korean traditional music, particularly pansori, with elements of jazz and pop. His previous five albums represent Jang's contemplative perspective toward life and death, which is also portrayed in his song ``Father.'' The song is about the experience and emotions he had after he buried his father, while other songs like ``The Road to Heaven'' and ``The Grave'' also express the nihility of life and death. The performance will be presented in three sections, the first being a stage that carries tales of life and death. The second section will be a showcase of new numbers from his new al

Top Balladeer Gives New Twist

Singer Shin Goes Strong Both in Korea and Japan By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter For a singer, it is important to have a signature style. But if that style stays for more than 15 years, that conventional trait may seem a bit boring for fast-paced fans today. That's why singer Shin Seung-hun decided to give a ``twist'' to his music. ``I've done mambo, rock and roll and even gospel, but people tend to forget those numbers and just put me under the label `ballad singer','' Shin, dubbed Korea's ``King of Ballads,'' told The Korea Times during an interview last week. So the 40-year-old singer released his new project ``Three Waves: Unexpected Twist'' which includes three separate albums that

Album Reviews

Keane `Perfect Symmetry' Universal British rock band Keane's latest album ``Perfect Symmetry,'' went straight to number one on the U.K. charts earlier this month. Keane was popular for its piano-rock sound, but this album veers away from the band's tried-and-tested formula. The first track ``Spiralling'' is a surprise because of Keane's use of synthesizers and distinct 80s vibe. ``The Lovers are Losing'' and ``Better Than This'' also showcases Keane's new sound that combines the best of 80s pop with modern rock. But hints of the old Keane sound can still be found in tunes like ``You Don't See Me'' and ``Love is the End.'' - Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Han-na Chang to Explore Vivaldi With Album, Concert

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Child prodigy-turned-young virtuoso cellist Chang Han-na is returning to local fans with a new album that carries the works of Venetian Baroque music composer Vivaldi and also a tour with the London Chamber Orchestra. ``Vivaldi was the first artist to make cello concertos during a time when the instrument was still considered only as an accompaniment instrument. In that I thank him and it made me want to go back to the start of cello music. There are actually about 30 cello concertos done by Vivaldi, but they are rarely put on stage,'' Chang said during an interview session Monday. The 25-year-old seemed pleased to be back home, and was giggling as she talked about her new album and upcoming concert. ``I wanted to understand how he expressed his feelings through his music, instead of working on already well-known classics like `The Four Seasons,''' she added. Her album ``Han-na Chang Cello Concertos Vivaldi'' was recorded with the famed orchestra and maestro Christopher Warren-Green, and is the first time for Chang to record an albu

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