K-pop group 2AM comes back with new album Korean boy band 2AM came back to the local music market on Tuesday with a new album after a one-and-a-half year hiatus. The mini-album titled "Fitzgerald-style Love Story" is the group's second since October 2010 when their first regular album titled "Saint o'clock" was released. "Songs contained in this album have the sentiment of Gatsby in the American novel, 'The Great Gatsby.' He suffers in silence rather than expressing his feelings after separating with a lover. We tried to express such a sentiment in the songs," Jo Kwon, the leader of the band, said during a news conference held in Seoul to promote the new album. F. Scott Fitzgerald is the author of the famous novel. Debuting on a KBS television music program in July 2008, the four-member group has gained popularity among local music fans with their sweet harmonies. (Yonhap) Mar 13, 2012
’Shinhwa’ hopes to remain Korea’s longest-running boy bandKorea's popular K-pop group "Shinhwa" said Monday it wants to remain the country's longest-running "boy band" as it announced plans for a new album and concerts after four years away from the stage. Clad in sharp black suits, the six members of the group expressed their excitement at a news conference in Seoul to mark their 14th anniversary and upcoming Asian tour. "I feel really great and thankful about coming back to the stage," Eric, the group's leader, told reporters. He is also chief executive of the Shinhwa Company, an entertainment agency set up by the group. "We will become a group that stays in the center of the pop musical world for a long time in the future, not ending with our 14th anniversary," he said. He expressed special thanks to Lee Soo-man, a singer and head of SM Entertainment, for having "six boys of naught" gather under the name Shinhwa, and also the group's fans for their consistent support. After making its local debut in March 1998, Shinhwa and another boy band "H.O.T," which has since disbanded, enjoyed huge popularity through the late 1990s. Mar 5, 2012
K-pop group Secret begins first concert tour to JapanKorean girl group Secret began their first concert tour to Japan on Monday, their entertainment agency said. According to TS Entertainment, Secret are to perform in Osaka on Monday, Nagoya on Wednesday and Tokyo on Thursday. The group, during the concert titled "Secret Time," will present its hit songs such as "Madonna," "Magic" and "Shy Boy" and solo performances by its members. "It is Secret's first solo performance since its debut two years ago," the agency said in a release. "The group will show its best." (Yonhap) Mar 5, 2012
Big Bang not so ’Alive’Visibly ill band disappoints despite int’l backing, new records By Kwaak Je-yup Even before the concert, all five members of Big Bang reeked of fatigue. The press conference preceding the evening show Friday was meant to celebrate the 25-city 16-nation world tour they were about to embark on, but instead, G-Dragon, T.O.P., Taeyang, Daesung and Seungri were demure, even aloof. They sneezed and coughed sporadically. “We’re definitely not in our best condition,” said Taeyang. “But we’ll make sure you won’t see that on stage.” While he kept his word, others failed to match his level of energy or panache. The first night of the “Big Bang Alive Tour 2012” was a mixed bag ― even after taking into consideration the members’ less than perfect health ― because it offered little new. The overall “upgrade” by celebrity creative director Laurieann Gibson of Lady Gaga fame added little excitement. Some of her influences actually worked to the show’s detriment. The backup band, provided by Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter/organizer, was the biggest plus; iMar 5, 2012
will.i.am to spin at Club Answer By Kwaak Je-yup will.i.am, American producer, songwriter, rapper, singer and member of hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas, will host a club party this week, CJ E&M announced Friday. Taking place Wednesday at southern Seoul hotspot Club Answer in Cheongdam-dong, the “will.i.am DJ Set in Seoul” is also bringing the Grammy-winning group’s collaborators DJ Poet and DJ Ammo to spin during the event. “will.i.am, who is scheduled to visit Korea soon, requested a meeting with Korean fans, up close and personal,” said a spokesman for CJ E&M. “We organized a club party to respond to his wishes, letting fans enjoy his proximity in a relatively intimate space, where will.i.am will DJ himself.” All three musicians are known to be producing new material for YG Entertainment’s girl group 2NE1, which the management agency has been promoting for some time. This is not the first time will.i.am has made waves in this part of the world. He made a high-profile appearance with 2NE1 member C.L. at cable channel Mnet’s Asian Music Awards (MAMA) last November, performing the American group’s smash Feb 26, 2012
Shinhwa press conference to be broadcast live onlinePopular K-pop group 'Shinhwa' will hold a news conference in Seoul next month to publicize their comeback after a four-year hiatus during a live online broadcast for the group's fans all over the world, the group's entertainment agency said Friday. The news conference is scheduled to be held at a CGV chain theater in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, on March 5, the Shinhwa Company said. Fans of the longest-running boy band in the country can watch the event in real time for free by connecting to any of the three Websites of local music cable channels at www.mnet.com, global.mnet.com, and www.tving.com., according to the company. "The decision for an online broadcast was made as Shinhwa members expressed hope to share the moment of their first public appearance in four years together with their fans who supported them for the past 14 years," the company said. Shinhwa will hold a concert to mark the comeback and its 14th anniversary at a gym at Seoul's Olympic Park on March 24-25. All tickets for the concert were sold out within 40 minutes of going on sale, according to the Feb 24, 2012
Top K-pop star Rain to serve as ’entertainment soldier’Korean pop singer and actor Rain will serve as what the military has dubbed an "entertainment soldier" during the remaining period of his mandatory two years of military service, a government agency in charge of publicizing the military said Friday. Rain will be assigned to a new group within the military that provides programming for TV and radio broadcasts next month, the Defense Media Agency said. He will then appear in television and radio programs of the Korean Forces Network, a broadcaster run by the defense ministry to boost morale of soldiers, and take part in weekly concert tours to military units across the country, it added. Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is one of the most popular male celebrities in Korea and a well-known star in other Asian nations. The 30-year-old singer joined the military last October and was originally set to serve as an assistant instructor of recruits at a military boot camp located in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, since he wanted to be an active-duty soldier. (Yonhap) Feb 24, 2012
Reveling in music, youth, hallyu: F.T. Island F.T. Island aims for success outside K-pop comfort zone By Kwaak Je-yup At a studio in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, only three out of five members of the F.T.Island are waiting; the missing two are at a doctor’s being checked up for fatigue. Of those present, bassist Lee Jae-jin looks at the interviewer with a curious grin but becomes a little alert when their eyes meet. Choi Jong-hoon, guitarist and keyboardist, and Lee Hong-ki, vocalist, are enjoying their “time off,” jamming on an acoustic guitar and sitting quietly as the hair and make-up crew put on their final touches. They are stars, their faces mostly inexpressive — impenetrable. Or maybe they are just tired from their 20-hours-a-day routine that began with the newest EP release earlier this month. But they are also just young men who are reaching their 20s. When all five reunite at last, with Choi Min-hwan, drummer, and Song Seung-hyun, guitarist and vocalist, they become a playful gang, cracking jokes about each other’s pet peeves or latest love interests. “You know, I didn’t even know singers nFeb 22, 2012
Swizz Beatz paints K-pop’s rosy future in world marketSwizz Beatz, a renowned American rapper-producer, said on Monday K-pop is leading a trend for new music and that he wants to play a leading role in introducing Asia to the West through Korean music. "What I found in Korean pop music is a new expression. The world is open for new things and I think right now K-pop in Korea is leading in that area. I'd like to be the one to introduce that to the West," the musician said during a news conference in Seoul. The musician, also husband of the famous U.S. singer Alicia Keys, is in Seoul to sign a partnership agreement between his company named after him and O & Media, a South Korean entertainment company. The agreement calls for the two companies' partnership in helping U.S. pop artists advance to the Asian market and new K-pop artists to the U.S. market, according to the local entertainment agency. The two sides also plan to produce joint albums of leading musicians of both countries, it said. "My idea to bridge the world together with music starting in Asia and going to the West is something that is new, untapped and leading toFeb 20, 2012
Korean magicians invited to world‘s largest magic festival Eight Korean magicians have been invited to the world's largest magic convention set to open this weekend in Blackpool, Britain, a local entertainment agency said Friday. The Black Magic Convention, which marks its 60th anniversary this year, is the world's largest festival of professional magicians, magic dealers, lecturers and stage performers. This year's event is scheduled for Feb. 17 through 19. The Koreans, including rising magicians Yoo Ho-jin and Ha Won-geun, will perform in the category of "Magic of the Orient" for Asian magicians, Klaus said. "World-class South Korean magicians have just begun to shine," Lee Hyung-jin, head of the company, said. Their shows in Blackpool "will serve as a bridgehead for local magicians to advance to the world stage," he added. (Yonhap) Feb 17, 2012