The Korea Herald

Thriller from beyond grave: new Jackson songs wow critics

May 14, 2014

Self-styled King of Pop Michael Jackson is back from the grave again this week with a second posthumous album of songs recorded before his death in 2009."Xscape" went on sale in the United States on Tuesday, after being released in various European countries at the weekend and on Monday."This music has never been (previously) released," said L.A. Reid, the veteran American music mogul behind the project, on NBC television's "Today" breakfast program."Some of it has been leaked through the years.
Hyundai Card rock festival to feature over 30 acts in August

May 13, 2014

This summer, Hyundai Card is once again launching the two-day rock festival Hyundai Card Citybreak 2014, which brought world-famous bands Muse and Metallica among other local and foreign musicians to Seoul last year.The festival will take place on Aug. 9-10 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The first Hyundai Card Citybreak rock festival took place in 2013 and was attended by over 75,000 rock fans. It featured an impressive artist lineup that included headliners Muse and Metallica, as well as Iggy
Hotel decries video leak of Jay Z, Beyonce sister

May 13, 2014

Entrepreneur and singer/songwriter Jay Z (left) and his wife, singer Beyonce, watch an NBA playoff game in New York on Monday. (AP-Yonhap)NEW YORK (AP) ― The Standard Hotel in New York City says it is investigating the leak of a security video that appears to show Beyonce’s sister, Solange, attacking Jay Z. Asked about the video on Monday by the Associated Press, the hotel issued a statement saying it is “shocked and disappointed that there was a clear breach of our security system.” TMZ posted
Julio Iglesias is a fan of Eurovision queen Conchita

May 13, 2014

Spanish singer Julio Iglesias poses for photographers at a press conference with his award after being named the “Most Successful Latin Artist of All Time” at a central London venue on Monday. (AP-Yonhap)LONDON (AFP) ― Spanish singer Julio Iglesias on Monday expressed his admiration for Conchita Wurst, the Austrian bearded transvestite who won Eurovision at the weekend.“She’s a super singer and she’s an amazing girl, very sensitive, and I’m really happy for her,” said the 70-year-old.Iglesias wa
Toy’s Yoo Hee-yeol writes requiem for Sewol victims

May 12, 2014

Yoo Hee-yeol performs “Sea of Mother” during his music program Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook on Saturday.Composer Yoo Hee-yeol, leader of the project group Toy, has written a requiem for the victims of the Sewol ferry accident.“Sea of Mother” is a calm and melancholy piano composition written by Yoo as a small gesture of encouragement to a nation grieving deeply over the accident, said his management agency Antenna Music.Its theme is a healing mother, who provides peace and solace to her children du
McCartney returns to Tokyo venue for first time since 1966

May 12, 2014

Paul McCartney performs during the opening concert of his “Out There” tour in Montevideo on April 19. (AFP)TOKYO (AFP) ― Paul McCartney is to play Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan Hall this month, marking his first return to the venue since appearing there with The Beatles in 1966. And for some fans, the nostalgia even extends to the tickets, with 100 seats for those aged under 25 going on sale for 1,500 yen ($15), the same price as they were 48 years ago, organizers said. The rest of the tickets for the
Austrian drag queen wins Eurovision song contest

May 11, 2014

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) ― The Austrian bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst won the 59th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with a James Bond-inspired power ballad that had unleashed a wave of protests in eastern Europe before the competition. The song, “Rise Like a Phoenix,” helped Wurst ― the alter ego of 25-year-old Thomas Neuwirth ― secure Austria’s second victory in the competition with 290 points. The country also won in 1966. “This is dedicated to everyone who believes in a
Dynamic duo: The success of Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre

May 11, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ― They truly are marching to the beat of their own drum.It’s as though anything Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre touches turns to gold: The dynamic duo marked epic-level success when they introduced Eminem to the music world 15 years ago, and their lucrative Beats by Dre business reached blockbuster heights following reports that Apple plans to buy the headphones’ parent company, Beats Electronics, for $3.2 billion.But the music industry veterans have had a string of triumphs, and we take
[Band Uprising] Expat rock band New Blue Death looking to break into underground scene

May 11, 2014

As the Korean music market begins to receive more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the 11th installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed.Six strangers from different walks of life, hailing from across the globe and all with different occupational backgrounds, found themselves in Korea on a temporary void-filling search for something new and exciting. Lit
Eurovision winner says bad planning behind tepid sales

May 7, 2014

COPENHAGEN (AFP) ― Despite winning hands down at last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Danish singer Emmelie de Forest has struggled to find commercial success in her native Denmark. “I had too much to think about. You have so much to think about when you win Eurovision,” said de Forest, who this year will perform the official Eurovision theme, her latest single “Rainmaker,” at Saturday’s final in Copenhagen. As fans from around the world descend on the Danish capital, the city has converted its
[Herald Review] John Mayer brings warm, groovy performance to Seoul

May 7, 2014

The internationally renowned singer-songwriter John Mayer delivered a heartfelt performance for more than 12,000 fans in Seoul on Tuesday evening, staging his first concert in South Korea since his debut 13 years ago.Appearing on stage right on time, Mayer was greeted by a large crowd of enthusiastic fans who did not seem to mind the chilly night winds at the outdoor Auxiliary Stadium at Jamsil Sports Complex. Mayer, backed by his seven-piece band, casually kicked off the evening with the folksy
Seoul music festival to kick off

May 6, 2014

Event presents nine concerts with focus on Italian links
Eyelike: Damon Albarn looks back on 1st solo album

May 2, 2014

Damon Albarn looks back on 1st solo albumDamon Albarn“Everyday Robots” (Warner Bros.)Twenty years after he became a Brit-pop poster boy as lead singer of Blur, Damon Albarn has released his first solo album.He’s been busy in the meantime, fronting cartoon hip-hop band Gorillaz, forming the supergroup The Good, the Bad and the Queen and even writing a couple of operas. So “Everyday Robots” is hardly the work of a novice -- rather of a man in his 40s looking back with a mixture of wonder and regre
Hip-hop no longer just a boys’ club

May 1, 2014

Rapper Jolly V carves out a space in male-dominated scene
John Mayer contemplating ways to aid Sewol victims

Apr 30, 2014

American singer-songwriter John Mayer, scheduled to stage his first concert in Korea this month, has expressed his sympathy for the victims of the deadly Korean ferry sinking.Mayer revealed on his Twitter on Tuesday that he has been contemplating ways to provide aid and support for the victims and their families of the ferry disaster.“In Japan and loving it, but thinking about the people of Korea, my next stop. Having conversations about how we can help while there,” wrote Mayer.John Mayer is sc