Entertainment - The Korea Times

Lady Gaga to Hit Seoul Next Week

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Best known for her hit songs ``Just Dance'' and ``Poker Face,'' Lady Gaga will arrive in Seoul, June 16, and stage a show at Club Answer, Cheongdam-dong, June 17. The much-anticipated show will also feature rising K-pop singer A.J. as the opening act and DJ Koo. Tickets to the show are only by invitation. Lady Gaga will also have a press conference to promote her first album ``The Fame,'' which is all about today's celebrity and fame-obsessed world. The pop star made her debut last year, with catchy dance songs like ``Just Dance'' and ``Poker Face'' that shot up the Billboard charts in the United States and charts around the world. ``Just Dance'' was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the Grammy Awards. Her subsequent singles ``Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)'' and ``Love Game'' also climbed up the top ten of the Billboard charts. The music video for ``Love Game'' was directed by Joseph Kahn, who also directed videos for Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and The Pussycat Dolls. Lady Gaga also caught everyone's attention wit

Jun 9, 2009

Singer Chae-yeon Brings Sexy Back

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korea may have their fair share of sexy female singers, but it's hard to find someone who not only has her own style but sticks to it. One of them is Chae-yeon, who recently released her new album in two years, ``Shake," and the 30-year-old returned with a fresh, yet fitting concept of sexy. ``I worked on the album with (Kim Chang-wan) who I have been working with from my debut album. Electronic dance is a genre I was always comfortable with, so it's more of my style with a hint of the current trend,'' she told The Korea Times during an interview last week at a cafe in northern Seoul. Chae-yeon made her debut in 2003, but she initially went to the Japanese entertainment business, releasing albums under the name Jinny. She returned to Korea at the age of 25 and started her life as an aspiring singer all over again. ``When I first started working on my Korean debut album, I was all ears. I really wanted to start my career in Korea and I wasn't that young, so I needed to put all my effort and time to that one album. It was then or never

Jun 9, 2009

Pop Group Pussycat Dolls Sizzle in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Pussycat Dolls lived up to the hype of being the ``sexiest girl group in the world'' during their ``Doll Domination'' concert in Seoul, Saturday night. Deafening screams greeted The Pussycat Dolls when they finally made their entrance at the Olpark Soccer Stadium, Olympic Park. Wearing glittery skimpy outfits that showed off their tanned and toned bodies, the Dolls rocked the stage with ``Taking Over the World'' and ``Beep.'' Fans appeared to quickly forgive the Dolls for the nearly 30-minute gap between the main concert and the opening acts, K-pop group After School and Son Dambi. ``For the first time ever in history, The Pussycat Dolls are in Seoul,'' lead singer Nicole Scherzinger said. Throughout the concert, the Dolls showed their trademark sexy but powerful dance moves and seemingly endless energy. Fans were jumping, screaming and dancing to the Dolls' hit songs like ``I Don't Need a Man,'' ``Buttons,'' and ``Wait a Minute.'' However, only four members of the Dolls performed at the concert and Melody Thornton

Jun 7, 2009

Wondergirls to Make US Debut

South Korea's top female pop group Wondergirls will make their debut in the United States this summer, releasing an album in English and joining U.S. idol group Jonas Brothers on a concert tour, according to JYP Entertainment, one of South Korea’s leading agencies Friday. The all-girl band recently signed a management contract with the Jonas Group and Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will be working as the band’s agent, JYP said. Wondergirls will debut with an English version of ``Nobody,’’ its big hit in South Korea last summer. The five-member group’s first U.S. album will also feature English versions of other hit songs including ``Tell me’’ and an electronic house song written and composed by the Jonas Brothers. Wondergirls will tour with the U.S. band as the opening act in concerts throughout Portland, Los Angeles and Atlanta beginning June 27 through August. A JYP official said the retro mood of ``Nobody’’ appealed to the American musicians to a large extent.

Jun 6, 2009

Insooni Still Going Strong to Become Legend

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean pop culture has been around for a long time, but there are only a few names who can truly claim to be the ultimate divas of the local music industry. One of them is Insooni, 52, who recently released her 17th album this month under the title ``Insooni.'' Her title track is a musical-like number called ``Fantasia.'' ``I named it `Insooni' because I thought I didn't need any adjectives to explain myself anymore. My fans don't like me because I am like this or that, but because I am myself,'' she told The Korea Times last week. She was speaking briefly before the rehearsal of a music program, and even though there was time before the rehearsal, Insooni was contrite in her desire to conduct the interview afterward. ``Sorry, but it would be better if we could do the interview after my rehearsal. I need to save all my strength and voice,'' she said in a whisper. Born to an African-American father, whom she barely remembers, and a Korean mother, she started singing in nightclubs in 1978. Through thick and thin, her career has span

May 26, 2009

Iris to Bring Spy Story to Small Screen

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter ``Iris'' is gearing up for a new genre of drama ― espionage action. The new series, expected to air in September, has fans anticipating where it will refuel the passion for hallyu. ``Iris'' is not only based on the hit movie ``Swiri'' (1998), but also stars some of Korea's best-known actors. Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee, Jung Jun-ho, Kim Seung-woo, Kim So-yeon and Big Bang member T.O.P. will appear in the ``blockbuster action melodrama,'' and even the actors said they were worried how the drama makers will pull out all the charms from the colorful actors. ``We approached `Iris' like it was a spy film, so viewers will get to watch movie-like scenes along with the emotional details that have made Korean drama so popular over the years at the same time,'' Kim Kyu-tae, the director, said. ``One of the most interesting issues here is the division of South and North Korea. It's something that the world is interested in, but we tend to avoid mentioning the issue. `Iris' takes place in the middle of all this, so I believe that's one of the reaso

May 24, 2009

Kim Sees Singing as Learning to Feel, Control

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Many may not recognize the name Kim Yeon-woo, 37, but his soft yet powerful ballads like ``Still Beautiful?" and project group Toy may ring a bell. ``I have been doing ballads for the past 14 years. Old habits die hard, and I guess it was hard for me to move out of the box,'' Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times at Yeouido last week. Kim is one of the best known vocalists here, giving vocal lessons to top singers like Lee Young-hyun from Big Mama, Lee Suk-hun from SG Wannabe, Lim Jeong-hee or J.Lim and also teaching aspiring singers at his alma mater. Building a career as a singer is never easy, and for Kim, his professional career took unexpected turns at an early age. As a student in the School of Music at the Korea National University of Arts, he got a glimpse of the music industry as he worked as a chorus member for singers like Lim Chang-jung and Kim Hyun-chul. Then came the big opportunity. As soon as Kim won a prize from the You Jae-ha Singing Competition, he got a call from singer and songwriter You Hee-yeol

May 19, 2009

New Epic Drama to Bring Rivalry, Love to TV

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter MBC is bringing the tale of Korea's first reigning Queen Seondeok to the small screen through its new drama ``The Great Queen Seondeok'' next week. Queen Seondeok was the firs female to rule the nation, and the broadcaster of previous successful lineups, including ``My Wife is a Superwoman,'' and ``Beethoven Virus,'' will bring the life and struggle of the queen to viewers. As the drama takes place during the Silla Kingdom (668-935), the drama crew set their eyes on Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, one of the most famous historical sites during the era in Korea. ``It is the first time to bring a drama based on the Silla Kingdom, and we will strive to bring historical facts and stories that have never been shown through dramas,'' Park Hong-gyun, the producer, said at the press conference held at Gyeongju last week. Indeed, the franchise will use 25 billion won on production and almost half of it in the art department, from costumes and sets to props. Being the first drama to depict the royalty of the Silla Kingdom, Gyeongju city

May 19, 2009

Jin Mei-er on Way to Stardom in China

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Jin Mei-er was born in China, but when the time came for her to choose a song she would sing in a competition that would change her life, she chose the Korean folk song ``Arirang.'' ``It's like the Chinese version of `American Idol.' There were many contestants from minority races but when I was the only one who was left for the finals, I wanted to sing something that had my people's characteristic. I mostly sang pop songs at first, but I really wanted to sing `Arirang,''' Jin, 26, said at an interview Monday at SBS in Mok-dong, northern Seoul. With more than 3,000 contestants competing to become the winner of the popular competition aired on CCTV (China Central Television), Jin made it to the top by singing a techno version of the traditional song many Koreans enjoy even today. ``The `Arirang' I sang started with the version from Hwanghae Province, North Korea, and slowly caught up to a faster beat of the version of Jindo, South Jeolla Province. The song is originally very sad, but I recreated it as an exciting song where the two Korea

May 6, 2009

Stars Blogs as Tool of Communication

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter As one of the most wired countries in the world, it is hard for anyone here to stay offline for long, and now even the busiest singers and actors manage to squeeze their time to communicate with fans and express themselves through the Web. Many celebrities each have their personal blogs, mostly on the famous networking Web site Cyworld. More than 20 million Internet users have joined the site, and thanks to its easy-to-use features and popularity, it has become one of the easiest and effective ways for celebrities to openly express their thoughts. It started with actors who wanted to show more of themselves as ordinary people, not as the fashionable stars they were presented as through the media. Actors Lee Hye-young, Hwang Ci-ne and singers Park Jun-hee and Ock Joo-hyun's blogs were some of the most popular, with photos of their personal life, friends and even pets helping them to get closer to the public. Now, stars and fans alike are using the simple medium to communicate, support and sometimes even criticize a range of topics.

May 5, 2009

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