The Korea Herald

Feist wins Juno for Artist of the Year

Apr 2, 2012

TORONTO (AP) ― Indie-rock songstress Leslie Feist took home a Juno for Artist of the Year on Sunday night, her third win at the 41st annual Canadian music awards ceremony.Feist, best known for her whimsical 2007 song “1234,’’ which became an international hit after it was featured in an iPod nano commercial, might have surprised some with Sunday night’s win since her contemplative fourth disc, “Metals,’’ wasn’t nominated for Album of the Year.Another of the night’s early winners was no surprise:
Korean-American playwright brings unusual portrait of immigrant family

Apr 2, 2012

Lloyd Suh’s drama ‘American Hwangap’ gets its first Seoul runThe concept of home and belonging has been repeatedly discussed in migration studies and art, yet many local viewers may find Korean-American playwright Lloyd Suh’s play quite equivocal and even unusual.As its title, “American Hwangap” suggests, the play deals with the clash between two different worlds: Korea and America, parents and children, and the past and the future. It deals with an uneasy reunion of an immigrant family, as well
Whitney memorabilia auctioned

Apr 1, 2012

Beverly Hills (AP) ― A bustier worn on stage by Whitney Houston fetched $18,750 at an auction in Beverly Hills of memorabilia from the late pop star’s career.Julien’s Auctions says the sale of 13 items Saturday brought in a total of $80,187 from bidders in the gallery, on the phone and online.A grey velvet gown the singer wore to music mogul Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party in 1996 went for $11,250.Pearl drop earrings worn by Houston in “The Bodyguard’’ sold for $2,812, while a vest she sported in
Swift to take teen with cancer to ACMs

Apr 1, 2012

A New Jersey high school senior who has battled leukemia twice said it's "insane" he's singer Taylor Swift's date to the Academy of Country Music Awards.Taylor Swift (MCT image)Kevin McGuire, a senior at Sterling Regional High School in Stratford, said he hopes his blood cell and hemoglobin counts are good enough for him to make the trip to Las Vegas for the Sunday awards show, the Cherry Hill (N.
Eyelike

Mar 30, 2012

Madonna still brings heat, beats on ‘MDNA’Madonna“MDNA” (Interscope Records/Live Nation)Madonna says it best on the opening track of her 12th album: “No one can put out my fire.” At 53, she’s still got it going on. And thankfully so. Her newest release, “MDNA” -- her first apart from her longtime label, Warner Bros. -- is full of upbeat dance jams and simmering slow grooves, and it delivers for the most part. True, it’s not nearly as top-notch as past records from the pop icon; the songs on “MDN
Lady Gaga’s Seoul concert banned for teenagers

Mar 30, 2012

American pop singer Lady Gaga's upcoming Seoul concert has been restricted to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board, as the Gender Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as “inappropriate” for minors.The rating board's decision came after a series of complaints filed by conservative NGOs and Christian groups, who demanded Hyundai Card to cancel the show on grounds that Lady Gaga promotes “inappropriate behavior” for youngsters, including homosexuality and mocking of r
Under-18s banned from Lady Gaga concert in Seoul

Mar 30, 2012

Lady Gaga (Bloomberg)American pop singer Lady Gaga’s upcoming Seoul concert has been restricted to over-18s by the Korea Media Rating Board, as the Gender Ministry considers one of her songs to be performed at the show as “inappropriate” for minors.The rating board's decision came after a series of
Improved Ditto Fest moves beyond classical music

Mar 29, 2012

Violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill debuts as conductor performing water symphony ‘Liquid Interface’ by Mason BatesJune’s Ditto Festival, led by all-male chamber ensemble Ditto, will attempt to break barriers between classical and contemporary music.The slogan of the 2012 Ditto Festival will be “Nuovo Ditto,” to reflect the ensemble’s aim to creating new musical performances that go beyond the classical genre.The festival’s artistic director and renowned violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill will make his
Boy bands are back and doing big business

Mar 29, 2012

Many are products of industry masterminds looking to capitalize on juvenilesLOS ANGELES ― Hundreds of glow sticks luminesced over the sold-out crowd at Gibson Amphitheatre on a recent Friday night. Prepubescent girls snapped cellphone pictures and out-screamed one another as younger kids were hoisted onto parents’ shoulders for better views.The cheers morphed into hysteria as Big Time Rush emerged.The scene onstage is familiar: five seemingly interchangeable young guys linked by one band name an
Aerosmith promises new album in 3 months

Mar 29, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Aerosmith has reunited with longtime producer Jack Douglas and the band says it will release a new album in three months.Steven Tyler said Aerosmith was finishing two final songs for the album, its first since 2004’s “Honkin’ on Bobo.’’ Joined Wednesday by Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer at a Los Angeles mall, Tyler revealed three track titles: “Legendary Child,’’ “Beautiful’’ and “Out Go the Lights.’’ Earlier in the week, the band announced that its 18-stop “Global Wa
Winehouse family to get her $4.66 million fortune

Mar 29, 2012

Records show Amy Winehouse left an estate worth 2.94 million pounds ($4.66 million)) after her death last year.The 27-year-old soul diva was found dead in bed on July 23 at her London home.Probate documents showed Wednesday that she left behind assets totaling more than 4.25 million pounds ($6.7 million), with 2.94 million pounds ($4.66 million) remaining after debts and taxes.Since Winehouse did not leave a will, the money will go to her parents. The documents list father Mitch Winehouse as adm
Susan Boyle takes to stage in new musical of her life

Mar 28, 2012

Scottish singer Susan Boyle made a triumphant return to the British stage Tuesday at the premiere of a musical charting her rise from humble church volunteer to global superstar.Wearing a glittering red dress, the 50-year-old received several standing ovations as she sang her signature tune, “I Dreamed A Dream”, at the opening night of the musical of the same name in Newcastle, northeastern England.“We love you,” shouted out a member of the audience.“I love you too -- see me outside,” replied Bo
Madangpan attracts foreign visitors

Mar 27, 2012

A crowd of some 200 Koreans and foreigners gathered outside in Insa-dong on Tuesday afternoon to watch a traditional Korean performance.The event, organized by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, featured a combination of the Bongsan Mask Dance Drama, a social satire performed by players in masks who dance and sing, and a traditional wedding ceremony. During the performance, the players bantered with the spectators, sometimes exchanging jokes, all in the spirit of “madangpan,” which involves
Pianist Kim to explore Beethoven’s music, life

Mar 27, 2012

25-year-old musical prodigy says he feels warmth, compassion in Beethoven’s 32 sonatasPianist Kim Sun-wook, a leading young Korean musician, returns to his fans with a two-year-long project on Ludwig van Beethoven’s complete 32 piano sonatas, offering a performance that has become more mature and profound. The 25-year-old pianist will perform all of Beethoven’s 32 sonatas, considered some of the greatest compositions for the piano, over a two-year period in eight concerts starting Thursday at LG
Gugak Center to hold concert for Nuclear Security Summit

Mar 26, 2012

The National Gugak Center will hold a two-day special concert as a part of several cultural events planned for foreign officials currently in Seoul to attend the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit. The Court Music Orchestra of the center will perform a complete version of “Yeongsanhoesang,” the most representative piece of pungnyu music or music appreciated by Joseon’s high society, today and tomorrow at the National Gugak Center in Yangjae, southern Seoul. The orchestra will perform three versions of