YB to debut in U.S., U.K. with ‘Cigarette Girl’

Korea’s chief rock band YB is set to debut in the United Kingdom and the United States with its signature single “Cigarette Girl,” according to the band’s management company on Tuesday.

YB, which recently signed with the former manager of American hard rock legend Guns N’ Roses Doug Goldstein, will unveil the English version of “Cigarette Girl” on Feb. 18, marking the band’s first official international appearance under a foreign management agency.

“Cigarette Girl” was originally sung by veteran Korean folk singer Song Chang-sik and remade by YB in 1999 as part of its fourth album, “Sing Korean Rock Again.” It has become one of YB’s trademark songs.

The song was selected after music industry officials in the U.K. and U.S. determined that it “most appropriately represented YB’s musicality and character,” said Dee Company.

“Feelings of love, laughter, satire and much more are embedded in this song. The tune itself is also very energetic and can be improvised in many ways, allowing for a dynamic live performance,” said YB’s leader Yoon Do-hyun.

“I told Song that an English version of ‘Cigarette Girl’ will be released overseas, and he gladly gave his support,” Yoon added.

The music video of the song will also be released on Feb. 27.

By Sohn Ji-young (jiyoung.sohn@heraldcorp.com)