The Korea Herald

Celebrities offer support for Whitney Houston's daughter

Feb 2, 2015

Celebrities are offering their support and prayers for Whitney Houston's daughter, who authorities say was recently found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub in a suburban Atlanta townhome. Police said 21-year-old Bobbi Kristina Brown was taken Saturday to a hospital in the northern Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Georgia. La Toya Jackson is one of several celebrities who used Twitter to express her support Sunday."Let's All Send Love Light & Prayers to Bobbi Kristina Brown!" Jackson tweeted. "Wi
McCartney likely to perform in Korea this May

Feb 1, 2015

Paul McCartney performs in Brazil in July. (Official Website)Paul McCartney may be performing his first in-Korea concert on May 2 at Jamsil Sports Complex, reports said. Though official announcements are yet to be made, according to industry insiders, final negotiations on concert details are well underway. McCartney was originally slated to perform in Seoul last year on May 28 in the Super Concert series organized by Hyundai Card. However, the 73-year-old musician canceled what would have been
Jay Z to acquire Wimp music service

Feb 1, 2015

OSLO (AFP) ― U.S. rap star Jay Z made a $56 million foray into the music streaming business Friday, buying Norway’s Wimp in a bid to compete with giants like Spotify and Apple.The platinum-selling artist and businessman used his controlling stake in Project Panther Bidco to launch a 464 million-kronor ($56 million) bid for Aspiro, the Swedish-listed company that owns Norwegian streaming service Wimp.Jay Z’s company confirmed the bid in a statement on Friday as competition heats up in the music s
Daughter of tragic singer Whitney Houston found unconscious

Feb 1, 2015

The daughter of late singer Whitney Houston was pulled unconscious from her bathtub Saturday at her Georgia home, in an eerie echo of her mother's tragic death three years ago.Bobbi Kristina Brown, 21, was found by her husband and a friend at her home in Roswell, roughly 35 kilometers north of Atlanta, Roswell Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Holland said."She is still alive and breathing and other than that I do not know her condition at this time," Holland told a news conference. "Investigat
Eyelike: Garth Brooks makes a return to music

Jan 30, 2015

Garth Brooks makes a return to musicGarth Brooks“Man Against Machine”(RCA Nashville)As would be expected, Garth Brooks strives for an epic statement on his re-entry into full-time recording, after a 13-year hiatus.Unlike most modern male country stars, Brooks looks beyond partying and celebrating rural life on “Man Against Machine.” Like U2 or Bruce Springsteen, Brooks positions himself as a cultural figurehead who speaks for, and to, the common man.To his credit, Brooks represents the middle cl
2PM tops Oricon chart with new single

Jan 30, 2015

2PM2PM has topped Oricon chart with the new single “Guilty Love” since its release on Wednesday, the group’s agency said. According to JYP Entertainment, the group also held the first and second spot on Japan’s leading music streaming service charts RecoChoku and Dwango, respectively. The single has also won the top-tier spot in the list of record sales at Tower Record. “We are glad 2PM started the year with their success on major music charts. They send their appreciation to their fans,” said t
Katy Perry says halftime performance will make you ‘Roar’

Jan 30, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) ― Katy Perry says her American football championship Super Bowl halftime performance will make you “Roar” ― with animals.The singer told reporters at a press conference that her performance Sunday will include “a lion and sharks.”“It’s going to be wild out there,” Perry teased.Perry, 30, said she feels blessed to perform on the Super Bowl stage “at such a young age.” She said she enjoyed past Super Bowl performances from Beyonceuro and Madonna, and what she adds “is some lighthearte
Yoseob and Kuhyun to star in ‘Robin Hood’ musical

Jan 30, 2015

Kuhyun (left) and Yoseob star in the musical “Das Musical Robin Hood” (OSEN)Yoseob of K-pop idol group BEAST has joined the Korean rendition of the German musical “Das Musical Robin Hood.” He will play the protagonist Prince Phillip, sharing the role with Kuhyun of idol group Super Junior and musical actor Park Sung-hwan. “It was difficult to play a role that requires (one) to be childish,” said Yoseob at a press event in Seoul on Friday. “Contrary to my image, I am not immature,” he said with a
Classy take on Latin American folk

Jan 29, 2015

Up-and-coming violinist Zia Hyunsu Shin ventures into a new terrain, playing Latin American folk songs on a new album. “Canto Antigo,” released Tuesday by Universal Music, is a collection of 16 folk pieces ― mostly from Latin America ― played on a rare combination of instruments ― one violin and two classical guitars. “At first, I was a little worried about the combination, but it turned out very nicely. The sounds (of violin and guitar) go really well together, adding a warm feel to the music,”
Jazz greats Corea, Hancock to headline Seoul festival

Jan 29, 2015

Legendary American jazz pianists Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock will make their way to Korea in May to stage a joint performance at this year’s edition of Seoul Jazz Festival, organizers announced Thursday.The two legends will be performing a piano duet in Seoul as part of their world concert tour. It has been 37 years since Corea and Hancock last toured together ― the last time being back in 1978.“Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock are top-notch jazz artists. Their music has stood the test of time,
YG confirms comeback of Big Bang

Jan 28, 2015

Big Bang. (YG Entertainment)K-pop hit idol group Big Bang will make a comeback in the coming months, almost two years since it released its album “Still Alive,” a local media outlet said Wednesday.Yang Hyun-seok, the CEO of YG Entertainment, confirmed in a recent interview that Big Bang is putting the finishing touches on its new album.Big Bang fans have been waiting for a new album since early 2014, when the five members had a concert tour of Japanese cities.YG chief also said confirmed the lau
Hongdae’s ‘Live Club Day’ to resume after long hiatus

Jan 28, 2015

Poster for “Live Club Day.” (Yonhap)An iconic Hongdae music festival will start up again after a four-year halt, a music industry official said Wednesday. According to the music agency Company F, the “Live Club Day” festival will resume on Feb. 27 with the participation of 10 live clubs and 40 teams of musicians. Live Club Day, which will be held on the last Friday of every month, will offer music lovers access to different clubs in the Hongdae area with the purchase of a single 20,000 won ($18)
Domingo to sing in opera directed by Woody Allen

Jan 28, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Placido Domingo will take on his 146th role when he sings the title character of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” in a Woody Allen production on Sept. 12, the opening night of the Los Angeles Opera 2015-16 season. Allen will return to direct his staging, which premiered in 2008, the company announced Tuesday. Domingo will conduct the second half of the double bill, a revival of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1996 production of Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” featuring Marco Berti as Canio. Placido
When K-pop meets technology

Jan 26, 2015

Holograms and virtual reality bring stars closer to fans, sort of
Rihanna goes for acoustic sound with McCartney

Jan 26, 2015

NEW YORK, (AFP) ― Rihanna, who has topped the charts with a pop-driven R&B sound, has unveiled a new acoustic song in a collaboration with Beatles legend Paul McCartney.Rihanna unexpectedly late Saturday released the new single, “FourFiveSeconds,” which features the Barbados-born singer’s signature robust voice but has a minimal backdrop of McCartney’s guitar strumming without percussion or electronic elements. The song also features verses sung by rapper Kanye West. The track is the latest coll