Ajumma's Journal: Korean pop music

Showing posts with label Korean pop music. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Kpop As YouTube Genre

These days, when one's fame is measured in terms of the number of Facebook "likes", it's a sure sign that Hallyu has spread its wings beyond the Asian market when it has been listed as a genre on the Youtube music website since 15th December. This is probably the first time the pop music of a particular country has been highlighted, much to the delight of fans of Super Junior, Girls' Generation and so on.

BUT, what about those outside Kpop mainstream? Don't know when Fluxus's Channel first appeared on cyberspace but here's hoping more people around the world will become familiar with these indie musicians like Yi Sung-yol, W and Whale, Ibadi and Clazziquai.

Sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_musicnews_detail.htm?No=17070
http://www.youtube.com/profile?feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_776510&user=fluxus&src_vid=ScURmRUgZt0

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Top Ten Concert Posters for 2010

Here are my favourite 2010 concert posters from Korea in no particular order:

1. Tables are turned as Wheesung appears here as 13 members of the audience; the singer could give lessons in posing to contestants on America's Next Top Model.

2. Nice touch to this poster featuring music by Jeong-yeop, singer-songwriter and leader of Brown-Eyed Soul but why can’t they remember to add the ‘s’ to the plural noun? Shouldn’t the word read “humans”?

3. The playful arrangement of the Hangul letters even suggests an abstract depiction of a child’s playground in this poster for the “Play With Us” concert, featuring Kim Gwang-min, Lee Byung-woo and Yoon-sang. Check out their haunting "Lullaby" from the OST for "A Tale of Two Sisters".

4. This colourful poster for Kingston Rudieska stands out for its imaginative portrayal of music as an organic thing.

5. Liked the energy conveyed by the splash of orange as background to the singer bathed in red light. Lee Seung-hwan , the former husband of actress, Chae Rim, has been in the music industry for 21 years and recorded 10 albums. How’s that for staying power?

6. This profile of Lee Sora reminds me of one of those Buddhist or Kwan Yin statues I must have seen in a museum in

Korea

. More intensity than serenity, though, with the slight furrow in the eyebrows.

7. Half expected Johnny Depp’s face in weird makeup to appear under that top hat but what’s more intriguing is the missing vocalist behind the mic. Where's Park Hyo-shin?

8. Three cheers for these two guys, Kim Jang-hoon, a.k.a Donation Angel and Psy, who aren’t afraid to ham it up in front of the camera.

9. Featured this poster of former g.o.d. member, Sohn Ho-young before so please excuse my bias for posting this pic again. Need I explain why?

10. Lucid Fall has enjoyed great success at home but has yet to make an impact abroad in other Asian countries. The hand-sketched outlines here of a traditional streetlamp, the artiste and his guitar case as well as the minimal colours are charming in their simplicity. Understated classiness seems to be the hallmark of his music and that’s reflected as well in his album covers. Click here for an earlier posting.

Sources:

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_concert_detail.htm?No=2611

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

How did Yiruma Get Mixed Up in Twilight?

Rumour had it that this piece was featured in the movie, Twilight. Wrong. Still, whether or not you're a fan of the film based on Stephanie Meyer's books, you can enjoy the music here.
For more about this pianist-composer from South Korea, click here.

Monday, September 14, 2009

KBS World Radio – 2nd Anniversary DJ for a Day Contest

Ø Do you fantasize about being a DJ for a K-pop show?
Ø Do you like listening to and talking ( in fluent English) about K-pop songs?
Ø Do you have great ideas to pitch to the producer and hosts of K-Pop Connection?
Ø Can you be reasonably comfortable in front of the mic?
Ø Do you have an international passport with 6 months validity?
Ø Are you old enough to travel unaccompanied?
Ø Can you be in Seoul before the 10th of November to record the show if you’re chosen?

If you are and you can and you do, send your ideas or theme for your own show on K-Pop Connection to kpop@kbs.co.kr ( with heading : DJ for a Day Contest)
Remember to include your phone numbers.

Deadline : 4th October, 2009.

**If a listener outside Korea is chosen, KBS World will provide airfare and accommodation**

For more information, click here.

Source http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_bbs_read.htm?No=67200

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

My Fav K Sounds - Part 3

Before the days of TV, DVD and youtube, there was Pansori. Before Superjunior, the Wonder Girls or TVXQ, there were pansori singers. Past generations of Koreans used to get their entertainment from this traditional opera form. But it's also very different from Verdi or Chinese opera.

A solo singer stands while recounting a legend or folk narrative. A drummer, who sits cross-legged on the floor, accompanies him or her. I don’t understand a single word of the lyrics but find the performances impressive because of the unearthly intensity and expressiveness of the voices. Harsh, guttural, raw at times, the singer’s voice could also be full of pathos and sorrow. I know nuts about voice technique but it seems that the throat ( rather than the diaphragm ) of the pansori singer is made to do extraordinary things.

My introduction to this Korean art-form came by way of Im Kwon-taek’s movie, Seopyeonje. The children of a pansori singer become his pawns in his relentless quest to keep his craft alive at all costs. Not only does the movie feature some beautiful landscapes but it also has some riveting performances. By listening to pansori, one may have a glimpse into the Korean soul.

The first extract from the movie here features the Jindo Arirang and the second is a bit of a spoiler because it's near the end of the movie. The first time I saw the movie, it came with English subtitles. When I had the chance to visit Korea, I had to get a copy of the movie. Unfortunately, English subtitles weren't available but I still had to have it because it's a compelling story with some powerful & haunting music.

More on pansori and the movie in future postings.

For movie review, click here.

Why a Goose's Dream?

Can someone please explain to me why that particular bird is in the title? Not that I've anything against geese but am just curious as to what the bird means to Koreans. Anyway, whether it's a goose, duck or swan, it's a great song and delivered impeccably by Insooni. The song is also featured in Beethoven Virus.

A Goose’s Dream / A Swan’s Dream
Translation by x3Yesung of Soompi

I have a dream, Even if I’m thrown away or ripped to shreds
Deep in my heart, I have a dream as precious as gem
If by chance, without a reason,Somebody ridicules me behind my back
I should be patient, I would wait just for that day.

As you always worry, You say that foolish dreams are poisonous.
Just like a book that tells us about the end of the world
There’s the reality that we can’t turn back already

Yes I have a dream.I believe in that dream
Please watch over me, Standing in front of that cold wall called fate
I can firmly face it, One day I will pass over that wall
And be able to fly, As high as the sky
This heavy thing called life can’t tie me down
At the end of my life, on the other day that I can smile, let’s be together

Hangul Lyrics
거위의 꿈
인순이
난 난 꿈이 있었죠
버려지고 찢겨 남루하여도
내 가슴 깊숙히 보물과 같이
간직했던 꿈

혹 때론 누군가가
뜻 모를 비웃음
내 등뒤에 흘릴때도
난 참아야 했죠 참을수 있었죠
그 날을 위해

늘 걱정하듯 말하죠
헛된 꿈은 독이라고
세상은 끝이 정해진 책처럼
이미 돌이킬수 없는
현실이라고

그래요 난 난 꿈이 있어요
그 꿈을 믿어요 나를 지켜봐요
저 차갑게 서 있는
운명이란 벽앞에
당당히 마주칠 수 있어요
언젠가 난 그벽을 넘고서
저 하늘을 높이 날을수 있어요
이 무거운 세상도
나를 묶을순 없죠
내 삶의 끝에서
나 웃을 그날을 함께해요
그 꿈을 믿어요
나를 지켜봐요

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Which Kpop stars appeared on the cover of TIME magazine long before RAIN?

Which Kpop stars appeared on a TIME magazine cover long before Rain?
Answer: g.o.d. ( Groove Overdose) made of five guys before they became a 4 man group.

The TIME article was actually about the entertainment industry in Korea in the 1980s. I forgot that I had heard of g.o.d. and had actually seen their faces on the cover of TIME magazine long before I was swept up by the Hallyu Wave and long before I had actually heard their music.

They were also proteges of JYP and unfortunately, I only started listening to them just before they disbanded because of national service commitments and efforts to develop solo careers.

They're great entertainers and I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will regroup to record new albums. Check out some bio-data from KBS although it needs to be updated.

Pic : Taken near Ssangyesa, Hadong

GIL ( Road or Path )

Translation of lyrics by seohee ( Gamsa-hamnida to you!)

Where is this road I'm taking leading me to, where that place is.
i don't know i don't know i don't know but i'm walking this road today also
i wonder if people all have their chosen way to go or if they make their own ways.
i don't know i don't know i don't know but i'm walking this road like this again

i wonder why i am standing on this road i am at right now
if this is the right way to go. if my dreams will come true at the end of this road.
i wonder what really gives me pleasure, money, reputation, or the ones i love
i want to know i want to know i want to know but i can't figure it out yet

i want to say that this is my road with confidence
and believe in my faith, and never turn back, never regret my choices..
i want to walk like that i want to walk like that i want to walk like that but i still don't have any confidence

what am i dreaming of, who is that dream for
if those dreams come true would i really be happy
oh~ where am i.. really going right now what do i really have to live for

i wonder why i am standing on this road i am at right now (why this road)
if this is my right way (is this really my right way)
if my dreams will come true at the end of this road.. (will my dreams come true)

what am i dreaming of, who is that dream for (what am i dreaming of)
if those dreams come true would i really be happy
oh~ where am i.. really going right nowwhat do i really have to live for

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