The Korea Herald

Psy, SNSD recognized on Time’s Top 10 Everything of 2013

Dec 5, 2013

Time magazine has selected the music video for Psy’s comedic single “Gentleman” as the No. 1 Viral Video of 2013 as well as Girls’ Generation’s “I Got a Boy” as No. 5 on the Top 10 Songs of 2013 in the magazine’s list set of the Top 10 Everything of 2013. Psy and Girls’ Generation were the only two Koreans on the publication’s set of Top 10 lists. Rap star Psy’s “Gentleman” music video raked up more than 595 million hits on YouTube since it was released in April. “Think lightning can’t strike tw
Boohwal’s vocalist Jung Dong-ha to marry next year

Dec 5, 2013

Jung Dong-ha, the vocalist of South Korean rock band Boohwal, announced Thursday that he is marrying his girlfriend of eight years.“Next year, I will tie the knot with my girlfriend who has waited and supported me for more than eight years,” the 33-year-old singer said on his official online fan page. In the letter titled “Promise,” which was addressed to his fans, he said, “This year was a blessing, thanks to my fans supporting my dreams with me.”The singer said he is planning to hold the weddi
Time announces top songs of 2013; Girls’ Generation at No.5

Dec 5, 2013

K-pop group Girls’ Generation turned heads on Wednesday by making No.5 on Time magazine’s list of “Top 10 Songs of 2013” with "I Got A Boy."“The nine-woman, South Korean group Girls’ Generation is a ridiculously effective hook machine, and a major phenomenon in Asia,” the magazine said. While the group enjoys gigantic popularity here and in most parts of Asia, it is still a relative newcomer on the world pop stage. The group, which unexpectedly took “Video of the Year” at the first-ever YouTube
G-Dragon’s ‘Niliria’ among Complex’s top 50 songs of 2013

Dec 4, 2013

American men’s fashion and entertainment magazine Complex has named G-Dragon’s electro pop song “Niliria” as one of this year’s top 50 songs. “Niliria,” featuring U.S. hip-hop artist Missy Elliott, is a single from the artist’s second solo album “Coup d’etat,” released on Sept. 5. “Niliria” was produced by G-Dragon, Missy Elliott and Teddy Park. The hybrid track, featuring traditional Korean sounds fused with electro pop and hip-hop, ranked at No. 32 on the Complex magazine list. “Korean pop sup
Britney Spears makes official Las Vegas entrance

Dec 4, 2013

LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Fire-breathers, contortionists, snake charmers and hunky dancers welcomed Britney Spears to the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Tuesday afternoon in a staged event kicking off the pop icon’s two-year Las Vegas residency.One block of the Strip was briefly shut down as the star pulled up to the casino in a convoy of black Cadillac Escalades. Spears’ show debuts Dec. 27, just in time for Sin City’s massive New Year’s crowds. She will perform 50 shows each in 2014 and 2015, in a
Billy Joel unveils New York concert residency deal

Dec 4, 2013

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Grammy-winning U.S. singer Billy Joel on Tuesday announced a residency deal with Madison Square Garden that will see him play once a month at the iconic New York venue “as long as there is demand.”The deal makes Joel the Garden’s first-ever “music franchise” ― he joins the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty, all sports teams, as a resident of one of the world’s most famous arenas.The first four shows in January, February, March and April ― which were previously announced ― are
[Photo News] 9muses makes its return with “Glue”

Dec 4, 2013

K-pop girl group 9muses made its comeback with a new single, “Glue,” on Wednesday.The nine-member group kicked off online sales of the song and released a music video on its official YouTube channel. The song’s lyrics are about a woman who is “glued” to the memories of her days with a boyfriend she recently split up with. It is a medium tempo dance number with a 1990s-style disco rhythm. 9muses will perform on cable channel Mnet’s “Mcountdown” for its comeback show on Thursday. (minsikyoon@heral
Bob Dylan charged in France over Rolling Stone interview

Dec 3, 2013

Bob Dylan has been charged with incitement to hatred in France after he was quoted comparing Croats with Nazis in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, a judicial source said Monday.The world-famous American singer was questioned and charged last month while on a visit to Paris during which he gave several concerts and was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, one of France's top honors, the source said.The charge against him centers on a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone magazine during which he co
Joy of Strings ensemble to hold European tour

Dec 2, 2013

Korean classical music ensemble Joy of Strings will hold a European tour with its art director Lee Sung-ju this month. Their repertoire encompasses Austrian and Korean music including Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto,” Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C Major, Mozart’s Divertimento in D, Kreisler’s “Liebesfreud & Liebesleid,” Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” Lee Young-jo’s Arirang Variations for String Orchestra and several carols. Lee, a noted violinist, will participate as soloist. The string ensemble will kick o
Psy reveals Santa dress code for concerts

Dec 2, 2013

The comedic rap star Psy has released a new promotional image of his head placed on a muscular male body sporting a sexy Santa outfit, revealing the event’s dress code for his upcoming winter series. As in Psy’s previous concert in Seoul, with its all-white dress code, the singer has set a dress code for the upcoming concerts: He is asking that fans come dressed up in their best Santa outfits. The performer is making his return just in time for the holiday season and holding a special four-day s
Big Bang performs for 30,000 fans in Osaka

Dec 2, 2013

As part of the group’s Japanese dome concert tour, the five hallyu stars of K-pop idol group Big Bang performed in front of 30,000 screaming Japanese fans on the tour’s Osaka stop, selling out the weekend performances. The three-day, three-hour long concerts held at the Kyocera Dome were the second leg of the group’s six-city, 15-concert “Big Bang Japan Dome Tour 2013-2014.” The tour kicked off with two performances at the Seibu Dome in Saitama on Nov. 16 and 17 and will soon take the artists to
EXO to release special winter album

Dec 2, 2013

Ultra-popular K-pop rookies EXO will be ending the year on a celebratory note with the release of the group’s winter EP, “Miracles of December.”The new album is said to contain five “winter-inspired tracks” and will be released in both Korean and Chinese, according to a representative at S.M. Entertainment. EXO will prerelease the album’s lead track on Thursday through local music sites. The album in its entirety will be available on Dec. 9. The 12 members of EXO, also split into the subunits of
‘Darker’ take on Phantom classic opens U.S. tour

Dec 1, 2013

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) ― Mark Campbell started memorizing the songs from “The Phantom of the Opera” when he was 14 ― he’d sing along with his portable CD player while mowing the lawn. Not long after, he saw his first performance of the show, and waited outside the stage door to meet the man behind the mask.Now, he’s playing the Phantom himself in a reimagined production of the longest-running show in Broadway history. In some ways, Campbell has had to let go of the Phantom he grew up with
U.S. rappers say they filmed music video in N. Korea

Dec 1, 2013

BEIJING (AP) ― Two aspiring American rappers said Saturday that they had filmed part of a music video in North Korea, hoping the novel locale will make it a hit.The rappers known as Pacman and Peso did not say where and how they filmed the footage, which their fundraising proposal suggested would be done on a karaoke party bus in Pyongyang.Their custom trip was arranged through a travel agency specializing in taking Westerners to North Korea, according to the proposal.Americans are able to trave
Taking pride in Korean hip-hop

Dec 1, 2013

Honey Family’s Digiri hopes more artists rap in Korean