The Korea Herald

Super Junior to hold concert in Paris

Mar 7, 2012

Super Junior, a 10-member K-pop group, will hold its first solo concert in Paris next month, according to reports on Wednesday.The Paris show is part of Super Junior’s world tour titled “Super Show 4” and will take place on April 6 at Le Zenith de Paris where world-famous stars including Neyo, the Pussycat Dolls and the Jonas Brothers have performed. The boy band performed for French fans at the same venue last year along with other K-pop artists under SM Entertainment.In December, the group per
Controversy grows over recording of JYJ allegedly assaulting fans

Mar 7, 2012

Controversy over fans invading the privacy of K-pop stars and the performers’ sometimes violent reactions is growing after the release of an audio recording of JYJ allegedly hitting and swearing at fans.The 10-minute clip released by online news site Dispatch on Tuesday appears to feature Park Yu-cheon cursing at a fan on the phone, accusing them of invading his privacy. The clip is reported to be from 2009.What appears to be another member, Kim Jae-jung, can also be heard assaulting and threate
Lady Gaga sets Twitter fan record

Mar 7, 2012

Lady Gaga walks through the campus prior to an event at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012.(AP)Lady Gaga has become the first person to amass20 million followers on Twitter.The pop star cracked the milestone on Monday, beating out other pop culture luminaries such as Just
Sherman, composer of Disney songs, dies

Mar 7, 2012

LONDON (AFP) ― Robert B. Sherman, the composer of the “Mary Poppins” song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and other Disney classics, has died in London aged 86, his publicist said on Tuesday.“He died peacefully yesterday,” a spokeswoman for Stella Richards Management told AFP, without giving any further details.New York-born Sherman and his brother Richard worked as staff composers for Disney between 1960 and 1973, during which time they wrote more than 200 songs for 27 films and two dozen
Singing prodigy Charice to perform in Seoul

Mar 6, 2012

Charice, a YouTube star who was introduced to the world through South Korean TV show “Star King” in 2007 is returning to the Korean audience. After huge success in the United States and Europe, Charice, an 18-year-old Filipina with an incredible voice, will hold her first live show in Seoul on March 21.“Without ‘Star King’ I would never have been noticed. I owe a lot to that show and am honored to be back,” she said in an e-mail interview.She was praised by Oprah Winfrey as “the most talented gi
K-pop star JYJ under fire for hitting and cursing fans

Mar 6, 2012

An audio recording confirmed a rumor that two members of K-pop group JYJ assaulted and cursed at fans, accusing them of invasion of privacy. The 10-minute clip released by online news outlet Dispatch on Tuesday features Park Yu-cheon swearing at a fan on the phone.Kim Jae-jung can also be heard beating and threatening his fans. Kim then warns the victims not to report it to the police. The fans had followed Kim to a bar, Dispatch reported.“Do I have to live like this? I’ve been troubled because
Photo show captures Bob Dylan, rock star in the making

Mar 6, 2012

PARIS (AFP) ― Rare photographs of Bob Dylan, shot over a year-long period in the mid-1960s, go on show in Paris on Tuesday in an exhibit that captures the moment the protest folk singer morphed into cult rock star.From 1961 to 1966, Dylan wrote seven albums that marked the history of pop, but also underwent a radical transformation between the first, “Bob Dylan,” and the last, “Blonde on Blonde.”Entitled “Bob Dylan: The Rock Explosion 1961-66,” the Paris show centres on 60 rare shots by the New
Coldplay performs to defend freedom of expression

Mar 6, 2012

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Coldplay and Mumford and Sons were among the performers here late Sunday at an Amnesty International concert organized in defense of freedom of expression. The show marked the first time that the “Secret Policeman’s Ball” ― organized by Amnesty International since 1976 ― was held in the United States.Television comedian Jon Stewart was among the performers, sharing the stage with a fake Kim Jong-un, who wanted to dominate the stage at all cost.U.S. actor Ben Stiller and Briton D
Pop stars flock to Korea

Mar 5, 2012

Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz to hold their first concerts in SeoulSeoul becomes the center of pop music this spring with a number of world-famous musicians and celebrities coming to the city to hold their own concerts. U.S. pop diva Lady Gaga kicks off her “The Born This Way Ball” world tour at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, one of the biggest sports and concert venues in Korea, on April 27. The concert will be “the first-ever pop electro opera” and is the first full-fledged concert in Seoul by Gaga.
Romanian opera diva debuts in Washington

Mar 5, 2012

Romanian opera diva Angela Gheorghiu was hailed Saturday in Washington as she made her opera debut in the U.S. capital, 20 years after launching her international career in London.Gheorghiu, 46, was treated to several standing ovations for her recital largely of works by Jules Massenet at the Kennedy Center, with excerpts from the operas “Cherubin,” “Manon” and “Le Cid.”Although she has sung many times at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Gheorghiu had never performed in Washington until now.A
Rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose dies aged 64

Mar 5, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose, who formed the band that bore his name and performed with some of rock’s heavy hitters, has died.His booking agent, Jim Douglas, says Montrose died Saturday at his home in Millbrae, California. He was 64.Douglas says Montrose had been in declining health for some time, battling prostate cancer and what Douglas termed “personal demons.’’In addition to forming his own band in 1973, Montrose performed with a number of musicians, including Sammy H
Korean rock bands to take on North America

Mar 5, 2012

Korean rock bands are making inroads into the United States and Canada this month in a bid to introduce the country’s unique indie music culture to the West.“From indie clubs to international festivals, SEOULSONIC pushes the tempo of Korean music acts making waves across and beyond Asia,” said DFSB
Celebrities hold concert to support North Korean defectors in China

Mar 4, 2012

Amid growing public criticism of Beijing for forcibly deporting North Korean defectors to their home country, about 30 Korean celebrities were to hold a concert Sunday evening to urge China to stop the repatriations.The concert at Yonsei University’s 100th Memorial Hall in Seoul was to be hosted by “Cry with Us,” an organization recently formed by celebrities including actor Cha In-pyo, his actress wife Shin Ae-ra, veteran singer Yoon Bok-hee, comedian Park Mi-sun and pop singer Ivy. Some 30 tee
Korean rock bands to take on North America

Mar 4, 2012

SEOULSONIC to take bands to South By Southwest, Canadian Music WeekKorean rock bands are making inroads into the United States and Canada this month in a bid to introduce the country’s unique indie music culture to the West.“From indie clubs to international festivals, SEOULSONIC pushes the tempo of Korean music acts making waves across and beyond Asia,” said DFSB Kollective, a Seoul-based music agency. The project features talented Korean rock bands Yellow Monsters, 3rd Line Butterfly and Cryin
Mariah Carey returns to stage since giving birth

Mar 4, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― Mariah Carey made her return to the stage since giving birth to twins in diva-like form: She changed her shoes after singing two songs and touched up her hair and makeup in a sleek, sleeveless black dress, all in front of an eager audience.Carey, who gave birth to fraternal twins via C-section in April, performed for a few hundred fans Thursday night at New York’s Gotham Hall.Of her return she said: “I didn’t realize this was a big deal.’’The Grammy winner sang a number of her hi