(March 2005) This album is a winner. Some might dismiss it as pure kitsch, standard Korean ballad / R&B fayre, but it’s always just within the bounds of good taste. For those unfamiliar with K-pop stars, Kangta is a solo act which spun off from the now defunct boy band H.O.T. (Highfive of Teenagers) and … [Read More]
Music (page 86)
Another internet concept which almost works. But doesn’t.
Browsing aimlessly (trying to find reviews of Korean popular music CDs) recently I came across Last.fm, an internet radio station. It claims to have a huge playlist, and what’s played to you is determined by what styles you select and the sort of stuff your buddies are listening to. It seems very promising, with all … [Read More]
Lee Soo Young #6: The Colors of my Life
(YIGA Entertainment, 2004) A great ballad album. From the big ballad 휠릴리 (track 4) via the more intimate 너도 그런지.. and Sam Lee’s funk-inspired “You want me” (featuring Eric) to a more R&B 겁쟁이 (track 7), Lee Soo Young shows how it should be done. She has a good team of song-writers — showing that … [Read More]
Think Korea 2006 – the Jae-Eun Park Ensemble
Details of an unusual event as part of Think Korea 2006: Jae-Eun Park Ensemble with City of London Sinfonia Date : 27 – 29 October 2006 Venue : SOAS & St Giles Cripplegate Programme October 27, 7:30 pm The Harmony within East & West City of London Sinfonia Dominic Wheeler, Conductor Transformation for Orchestra by … [Read More]
The versatile Uhm Jung-hwa (엄정화)
A rather silly item in the Chosun Ilbo (entitled Singer’s Hotpants Inflame Cyberspace) has alerted me to an actress that I hadn’t really focused on before. She’s been in films that I’ve seen and vaguely registered as quite interesting, or films that I’ve missed and am eager to see. I haven’t heard her sing, and … [Read More]
Chuseok celebrations at Asia House
The Chuseok celebrations at Asia House on 12 October, though a couple of days late for the festival itself, were warmly received by a capacity audience. Dr Keith Howard from SOAS gave a useful introduction to the meaning of Chuseok, and also explained the genesis of one of the instruments being played that evening — … [Read More]
Sunwook Kim triumphs at Leeds piano competition
Thanks to Aidan Foster-Carter for the following: It was a notable night for Korea at the finals of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition 2006. Held triennially, this is one of the world’s leading prizes. Past winners include Radu Lupu, Murray Perahia, Dmitri Alexeev, and Artur Pizarro. To those illustrious names, add Sunwook Kim (above): at … [Read More]
Rollercoaster # 1: Come Closer
Roller Coaster – first album: 내게로 와 (1999) Rollercoaster, according to KBS, were the first Korean band to turn to Acid Jazz. Certainly one of the western bands which comes to mind when listening to this album is the Brand New Heavies. But the use of horn effects and guitar rhythms in some of the … [Read More]
Think Korea: Fantasia
An evening of traditional dance as part of Think Korea: Fantasia Cultural Foundation of the National Museum of Korean Performing Arts Group 14 September 2006 7:30pm London, The Bloomsbury Theatre 16 September 2006 7:30pm Manchester, Bruntwood Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music CFNMK Performing Art Group was founded on 20 July 2004, with the founding … [Read More]
Think Korea: Baudeogi
An evening of traditional street performance as part of Think Korea: Musical: Baudeogi 11-12 September 2006 The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre | 15 Gordon Street | London WC1H 0AH Introduction It is one of the most superior musicals to be staged on a traditional Korean open stage on a large scale. It features a panorama of … [Read More]
Yoon Do Hyun: Difference
I often find myself puzzled by the blurb at YesAsia. The editorial commentary on Yoon Do Hyun’s second solo project, Difference, is stranger than usual. If you haven’t listened to the album, it might seem quite informative if you edit out the superlatives: Yoon Do Hyun, head and vocalist of the K-pop formation Yoon Do … [Read More]
Ballads dominate K-pop albums in 2006
I keep an occasional eye on what’s top of the music charts. I’ve been noticing that one or two of the album’s I’ve bought have been appearing there. Whether it’s because I’m at the cutting edge of K-pop I somehow doubt. I just tend to buy the things I come across in the blogosphere because … [Read More]
Baek Ji-young: Smile again
(Loen Entertainment, April 2006) It shouldn’t take six playthroughs to enable me to say anything constructive about this album. On first playthrough it made no impression on me whatsoever. Some generic ballad / R&B songs which could come from any of a wide range of Korean artists, and some songs with a Flamenco / Latin … [Read More]
Bada and the birthrate
I wish I was in Seoul today. I recently posted about Anna Fifield’s article on Korean family planning, and in particular the government’s plan to spend $30 billion over the next 5 years to try to boost the birthrate. Here’s a story about how some of that $30 billion is going to be spent: a … [Read More]
London Korean Ensemble plays St Margaret’s Westminster
I just happened to spot this browsing Time Out yesterday. A drive-time concert of Mozart, Bizet and Piazzola at St Margaret’s Westminster today. I’m not sure what mix of instruments they are (presumably they include an accordionist given the Piazzola?). Go along and find out, at 6pm. Tickets £7 (concessions £5) from 020 7121 6604 … [Read More]
Dulsori evening class # 5: the performance
If anything was going to go wrong, it was going to be the Hwimori. The others were easy: at most four lines, each one the same length, and played once before moving on to the next; and the cycle was repeated several times so that there was no way you were going to forget it. … [Read More]