The Korea Herald

Kanye West, Adele lead Grammy nods

Dec 1, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ―U.S. rapper Kanye West has won the most nominations for next year’s Grammys, followed closely by British singer Adele, continuing her awards success despite recent health woes.West was nominated Wednesday in seven categories for the music industry’s top awards, to be given out February 12, while Adele got six nods ― including three of the key categories ― as did Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars.Lady Gaga was arguably the star of the nominations show at the Nokia Theatre in Los Ange
Jackson doctor called suicidal after verdict

Nov 30, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge's stern voice broke the silence of a Los Angeles courtroom: "Money for madness medicine," he said before sentencing Dr. Conrad Murray to the maximum four years behind bars for Michael Jackson's death."Absolutely no sense of fault, and is and remains dangerous" to the
Doris Day sings out for first time in 17 years

Nov 29, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Doris Day, America’s pert, honey-voiced sweetheart of the 1950s and 1960s, beguiled audiences with her on-screen romances opposite top Hollywood leading men Cary Grant, Rock Hudson and Jack Lemmon.She adored and misses them all, says the 88-year-old Day. But her deepest yearning is reserved for her late son Terry Melcher, a record producer whose touch and voice are part of Day’s first album in nearly two decades.“Oh, I wish he could be here and be a part of it. I would just lo
Romanian star Inna starts campaign to curb domestic violence

Nov 28, 2011

BUCHAREST (AFP) ― Romanian dance music star Inna launched Friday a campaign against domestic violence with a website and a video clip of her newest song, encouraging women to speak out against abuse.“Unfortunately, domestic violence is an extremely serious problem, and not only in Romania. I hope that this campaign will help solve it,” Inna told AFP.“Women are ashamed to admit they have been physically or verbally abused. Our site (www.bringthesuninmylife.com) will address this issue in such a f
George Michael treated for pneumonia, cancels tour

Nov 27, 2011

LONDON (AP) ― George Michael has postponed all his remaining 2011 tour dates as he recovers from pneumonia, the singer’s publicist said Friday.Michael was hospitalized in Vienna, Austria earlier this week. A statement from publicist Connie Filippello said the 48-year-old former Wham! singer “is responding to treatment and slowly improving.”Michael “is ill with pneumonia and any other speculation regarding his illness is unfounded and untrue,” the statement said.Two Austrian doctors treating Mich
Calendar

Nov 25, 2011

Classical Music“Chung Kyung-wha: ‘She is Back’”: Violinist Chung will perform on Dec. 19, 21, 25 and 26 in Seoul and other Korean cities for her first solo recitals in the country in nine years. Suffering a finger injury five years ago, Chung has been unable to hold a solo performance for years, focusing on teaching at the Juilliard School in New York. Chung will be performing with American pianist Kevin Kenner, whom she calls “a great partner,” playing Mozart’s “Violin Sonata No. 21 in E Minor
Cuba decries ‘vulgarity’ in music

Nov 24, 2011

HAVANA (AFP) ― Cuba on Wednesday took aim at “vulgarity” in popular music, decrying the sexually graphic lyrics that are increasingly common in music played by young people on the communist island.“We note with great concern that in the past few years there has been a ... type of artistic expression, including in popular Cuban music, that leaves much to be desired,” read the opinion piece appearing in the daily Granma newspaper.Cuba sees itself as the birthplace of salsa, which is seen as a nati
Taylor, Gomez join Swift onstage

Nov 24, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Taylor Swift closed her “Speak Now World Tour” with her best friend and the man her parents named her after.The 21-year-old brought out James Taylor and Selena Gomez at her concert Tuesday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden.Swift said her parents named her after Taylor, and the two performed his hit “Fire and Rain.” Taylor also played the guitar while Swift performed her song “Fifteen.”Gomez joined the country singer earlier in the night, and the two sang a duet version of
Dylan discs to benefit Amnesty International

Nov 24, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― A sprawling new collection of Bob Dylan cover songs is being released in January to benefit Amnesty International.The human rights organization said Wednesday that all of the songs on the 4-CD collection will be new or previously unreleased versions, with the exception of Dylan’s title cut, “Chimes of Freedom.”The disc, to be released in the U.S. on Jan. 24, is being produced by the same music executives who made a 2007 benefit album for Darfur featuring John Lennon songs.Partici
Grammy noms special to honor Ashford, Leiber

Nov 23, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Three months after losing musical and life partner Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson acknowledges that she still has a hard time performing any of the classic songs they created together.“I get a big lump in my throat when I try to sing one of our songs right now,” she said.She will get a little help next week as Usher is set to sing from the Ashford & Simpson catalog for what promises to be a poignant moment in the usually upbeat Grammy nominations prime-time special. It will be par
Jazz drummer-composer Paul Motian dies aged 80

Nov 23, 2011

NEW YORK (AFP) ― The influential U.S. jazz drummer and composer, Paul Motian, died Tuesday at the age of 80 in New York, a close friend said.“Paul did pass away early this morning,” Carole d’Inverno, a painter, told AFP. Jazz producer Hans Wendl said Motian had died from complications from Myelodisplastic Syndrome, a bone disorder.In the latter half of his career Motian became a band leader, playing with saxophonist Joe Lovano, guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist Masabumi Kikuchi among others, an
Queen reigns 20 years after Mercury

Nov 23, 2011

LONDON (AFP) ― Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago on Thursday but his star has only burned brighter in the two decades since, with Queen and their larger-than-life frontman as popular as ever.The British rockers, marking their 40th anniversary this year, are among the world’s biggest-selling artists ever ― with most of their sales coming in the 20 years since Mercury died.Queen’s guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor are busier than ever and Mercury’s songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and
Bruce Springsteen plans world tour

Nov 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP) ―Bruce Springsteen is making plans for a world tour in the new year, with European dates to be revealed in a matter of days, as well as a new album of new material, his official website brucespringsteen.net said Sunday. “A lot of you have been hearing that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be on tour in 2012. That is absolutely correct,” it said, confirming speculation on fan sites over the past several days. “The European dates run from the middle of May until end of
Beyonce on secrecy of pregnancy

Nov 21, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― It’s tough to keep a pregnancy a secret when you’re in the public eye, and for a while, Beyonce thought the jig was up.“The whole time I definitely was thinking, ‘Everyone knows, everyone can see,’” said the singer before the screening of her new concert DVD Sunday in New York.It became particularly difficult for her to hide the growing baby bump when the Grammy-winner performed for four nights to sold-out crowds at New York’s Roseland Theater in August.
Taylor Swift wins 3 trophies at AMAs

Nov 21, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Taylor Swift was crowned artist of the year at the American Music Awards for a second time.“This is so crazy!” the country superstar said after beat such contenders as Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to capture all three awards that she was nominated for at Sunday’s ceremony, including artist of the year, the show’s highest accolade that she previously claimed in 2009.“I ended up writing the record by myself, so the fact that you would honor it this way, you have no idea what