JYP Entertainment brings new girl groupBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter JYP Entertainment, the creator of the Wonder Girls, 2AM and 2PM, will bring a new girl group next month. The new outfit is ``miss A'' and will be managed under JYP Entertainment's sub-label, AQ Entertainment. The quartet has already made a start on its career in China as commercial models and is now ready to meet local fans, according to the agency. Comprised of four members _ Fei, Jia, Suzy and Min _ the group is expected to add more competition to the girl group frenzy in the music industry here. Min, who had trained for more than seven years under JYP, was the last member to join the group. ``We are looking forward to miss A's activities, especially because they were created and trained by the makers of Rain, the Wonder Girls, 2AM and 2PM. With `A-class' talents, the unit will hopefully grow as a group that can represent Korea, like the senior groups,'' AQ Entertainment said through a press release. ``We hope to bring more creative ideas and experimental attempts through the band and we hope everyone will tune into the agencyJun 23, 2010
Album ReviewsLCD Soundsystem ‘This is Happening’ (WARNERMUSIC KOREA) James Murphy returns to the scene, breaking down the barriers of retro punk, rock, pop and dance with his raw vocals and synth beats. The man behind LCD Soundsystem works as a producer, mixer and musician - and co-founder of DFA Records - having worked with the likes of pop queen Britney Spears, Le Tigre and Nike. Murphy’s third album melds classic genres colored with a decidedly (post-)modern twist with some near-spoken tracks like “Pow Pow,” and the selfreferential and aware “You Wanted a Hit.” Nearly every track has something to offer listeners, with the surprisingly emotional “Dance Yrself Clean” opening the release with a particularly smooth orchestration that culminates in ultimate danceability and that heartbreakingly raw voice. Oasis ‘Time Flies’ (SONYMUSIC KOREA) Oasis returns to their public one last time with this commemorative 27-track, 2- disc compilation of their singles and greatest hits over their 15-year history. Though disbanded for a year, the British sensation continues to live on inJun 22, 2010
Ke$ha redefines pop princess with styleBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter Blonde, blue eyes, a sweet smile and a distinctive voice easily translates into a formula for a pop princess. But when it comes to personality, American singer Ke$ha is all about being different. Instead of sexy pink outfits, perfect makeup and gorgeous hair, Ke$ha dons animal prints and glitter, dark eye makeup (usually smeared) and matted blonde hair. ``Garbage chic'' was how she explained her overall look during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. The 23-year-old released her first single ``Tik Tok'' in late 2009 and her studio album ``Animal'' early this year. ``Tik Tok'' reached No.1 in 11 countries, becoming the longest running No.1 debut single by a female artist since 1977. The song also skyrocketed in online music charts here, and she has now become one of the hottest and trendiest young singers in Korea, with the eyes of young, hip local fans on her every move. The tracks on her album, including the hit ``Tik Tok,'' ``Blah Blah Blah'' and ``Take it Off,'' were made based on her adventures, and it seems the wackier theJun 22, 2010
‘Road No. 1’ to feature war, love, comradeshipBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter MBC will start airing the highly anticipated drama ``Road No.1'' this month and hopefully renew hope, love and sacrifice in the hearts of the viewers while commemorating the treacherous and devastating times. The Korean War (1950-53) may have lasted three years, but it has left lasting scars on many during the 60 years since. Among them would be young and passionate lovers, who had to go through a separation they didn't see coming. ``Road No. 1'' hopes to highlight the sad story of such lovers, played by heartthrob So Ji-sub actress Kim Ha-neul and singer-turned-actor Yoon Kye-sang. Lee Jang-woo (played by So) and Kim Soo-yeon (played by Kim) are in love, but the Korean War tears them apart. Lee is forced to leave Kim to contribute to the war effort, and years later a note arrives for Kim telling her that the love of her life has died in battle. Struggling to move on, Kim meets officer Shin Tae-ho (played by Yoon) and decides to marry him and leave the past behind her. This takes a turn when Shin discovers that Lee is not only alive, but isJun 21, 2010
Lee Hyo-ri admits plagiarizing songsBy Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter Amid an escalating plagiarism debate, pop star Lee Hyo-ri admitted herself that several tracks from her fourth album were indeed borrowed, Yonhap News reported Sunday. Her agency Mnet Media plans to sue the songwriter who gave the songs to Lee if the songs in question are proven to breach copyright laws. ``There were problems regarding the pieces by (the newcomer songwriter) Bahnus Vacuum,'' said Lee in a message posted on her fan website. ``At first I was convinced that the demo tape of the songs suffered (premature) exposure. I didn't have any doubts since I received the songs through the company (Mnet Media). But after an investigation it turns out that they were not Bahnus' songs.'' Seven titles on her latest recording ``H-Logic''are credited to Bahnus Vacuum (real name Lee Jae-young). There has been much debate over the originality of the songs for some time now among netizens but Mnet Media previously issued a statement upholding Bahnus' claim that the demo tracks were prematurely exposed. ``It took some time to track down the oriJun 20, 2010
Korean War programs made abroad to air on Arirang TVBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter English network Arirang TV is bringing programs made overseas dealing with the Korean War to commemorate its 60th anniversary. Instead of bringing something with an inside view, the network decided to bring works that were made by fellow allies ― Turkey and the Philippines ― under the theme ``Allies Remember the War.’’ The documentary ``The Forgotten War, Korea’’ (2009) will bring the Turkish point of view of the war. Korea was destroyed, but it wasn’t alone. Numerous soldiers and their families suffered from the neighboring war, and the documentary shows how such families managed to brace themselves back up and start a new life. From interviews with Turkish soldiers and their families to their lives nowadays, ``The Forgotten War, Korea’’ will remind both young and old viewers of the treacherous times and also the hope found after. ``The Forgotten War, Korea’’ airs June 22 and 23 at 8:30 p.m. The following two days will see the Filipino film ``The Forgotten War’’ (2008). The movie is comprised of three separate episodes. They mayJun 20, 2010
US-based agency to bring girl bandBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter With numerous local bands and soloists waiting in line to become the next big thing in the United States, a U.S.-based entertainment agency and its head is thinking outside the box and planning to do it backwards. ``The fact that many Asian entertainment companies have been coming to the U.S. to buy music and work with U.S. producers has given us the desire to reverse the trend and create a group from Hollywood and send them to Korea to cater to the music industry out there,'' Stephen Um from West Side Entertainment told The Korea Times. Um started working in Hollywood from the early 2000s and realized that there was no Asian presence in the U.S. music industry. While working with various figures in Hollywood, including producer Cudda Love who nurtured stars such as Nelly, he found that he could start using his experience and expertise to help Asian entertainers. Thus, Um and the agency have begun working on creating a girl band in the U.S. The five-member group will consist of two Korean Americans, two Koreans and one Korean-Japanese. Jun 16, 2010
Mnet Media to recruit via TwitterBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter Will Mnet Media start a new trend in recruiting? The media giant announced Monday that it was planning to start recruiting online through Twitter, the instant messaging service that lets users send and receive short messages of up to 140 characters. ``We believe Twitter is the best communication tool to recruit future employees for Mnet Media, which is working to become Asia’s No.1 music and entertainment firm. This will surely help in recruiting some of the most talented and passionate applicants around the world,’’ the company said through a press release. This is the first time for a local firm to recruit through the online network from start to finish, including posting the recruitment, scheduling interviews and making final announcements. The Twitter page for Mnet Media’s head Park Gwang-won, www.twitter.com/antoniopark, lists the qualifications for applicants and also how to apply. Numerous users have left tweets on their sites, including @hellodellolla who commented that the announcement was indeed a breath of fresh air, Jun 15, 2010
Strong, sexy Christina Aguilera returnsBy Han Sang-hee Staff reporter She may have added a few more roles to her already colorful resume, including loving wife and mother, but these haven't retired Christina Aguilera from the pop scene. With her fourth studio album ``Bionic,'' she's ready to prove she's still got it. The pop princess has surprised fans around the world over the past 11 years, evolving from the innocent girl with the strong voice (``Christina Aguilera,'' 1999), to the sexy, fearless diva (``Stripped,'' 2002) to a classic Hollywood beauty (``Back to Basics,'' 2006). The 29-year-old is currently pushing the envelope further with a brand new look, that is maybe a bit too sexy and provocative for her teenage fans, but stronger and more comfortable than her previous albums. ``The meaning behind the album title `Bionic' is very layered. It means to me having bionic body parts, in particular the vocal cords are highlighted in the album art work. And then you have bionic coming from the notion of just being super highly electronically charged and excited about the future. And also it's the way I Jun 15, 2010
Another top-star couple?Korean pop sensation and singer Rain, and actress Jeon Ji-hyun are dating, Sports Seoul reported Thursday. Both Jeon's and Rain's agencies have denied the report. ``Rain's acquaintances are unaware of any romance between the two,’’ said Rain's J-Tune Entertainment. They have been dating since last October, the report said. The report added that the two made painstaking efforts to not appear as a couple, and mainly saw each other at Jeon’s apartment in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. The report was accompanied by photographs showing Rain's vehicle entering Jeon's apartment building on multiple occasions, including the night before he left for the U.S. to attend the MTV Movie Awards on June 2. Jeon's apartment, a high-rise, is only three minutes from the apartment complex Rain lives in. Sports Seoul also claims the couple has a matching ring and bracelet by Cartier.Jun 10, 2010By Kim Ji-soo