by Y. Peter Kang
When Brian Joo hit the stage at the Highlands Hollywood nightclub last Friday, a surge ripped through the typically blasé L.A. crowd. Fans — mostly female — abandoned their just-lit cigarettes on the veranda and pushed through the doors and towards the stage.
The R&B singer, who made his name in Korea, did not disappoint when he began his brief four-song set with Neh Yujah, or My Girl, from his 2009 album Manifold.
After the song, Brian introduced himself to the crowd as Brian Joo of Fly to the Sky.
“Now I’m doing my own thing and I’m blessed to be where I am right now,” he said.
He then proceeded to bring three female fans on stage and serenaded them with his next song “It’s Over Now” from his new EP Unveiled.
But it wasn’t all swooning women, there were several enthusiastic male fans in attendance; this reporter witnessed a tall 30-something black man singing along word-for-word.
Some of those in the multicultural audience were even surprised Brian — who grew up in New Jersey — could speak English.
“We love Brian even more now because he speaks English,” said 24-year-old fan Anna Jin of Los Angeles.
Others were pleased Brian was championing the cause of Asian American musicians.
“I really like how the Asian Americans who went to Korea are now coming back to us to tie it all together, it helps Asian American visibility,” said Lailanie Gadia, 21, a Loyola Marymount student who recently moved to Los Angeles from Guam.
Gadia was among 50 fans who participated in a “meet-and-greet” session with Brian after the show.
Nearby, actors Aaron Yoo, Justin Chon and James Kyson Lee shared a VIP table.
Yoo told KoreAm that he came in support of his friend Brian. The two initially met in Busan, South Korea several years ago and quickly became close.
“I would go to the ends of the Earth for that guy,” Yoo said. “We are both New Jersey boys who met in Busan and became best friends.”
Check out the video of Brian’s hit song “My Girl” after the jump
Continue Reading »
Megan Lee likes to keep busy. This time she performs quadruple duty, singing every part of girl-band 2NE1′s Lonely. Watch the tech-savvy teenager, who recently sang the national anthem at Dodger Stadium, harmonize with … herself.
Remember our March cover boy? He’s just released a single, “Shine (On Your Heart),” from the soundtrack of the upcoming movie Propose, and it’s already got his loyal fans squealing.
Check it out below – is this the return of saccharine sweet K-pop…or did it never actually leave?
Posted: March 7th, 2011
Filed Under: Back Issues , BLOG , FEATURED ARTICLE , March 2011
For more than a decade, Korean American singer Brian Joo has held his grip on fame in South Korea – an impressive feat given the country’s cutthroat industry and ability to churn out scores of new acts yearly. Here, Brian, hailed for popularizing R&B in the mother country, speaks candidly about his unique 12-year career as an “idol,” being the recipient of death threats, and why dating requires going “somewhere dark.”
By Jaeki Cho
Photographs by Eric Sueyoshi
Hair/Makeup by Jane Suh (Kutting Room)
Styled by Chriselle Lim (www.chriselleinc.com)
• • •
EVER SINCE Brian Joo’s successful 1999 debut as one-half of the South Korean music duo Fly to the Sky, his popularity has remained in the upper ranks of the K-pop food chain. Now a household name, Brian, a 30-year-old Korean American singer born in Los Angeles, has continuously churned out new albums, including The Brian in 2006 and Manifold in 2009.
In the notorious scene known as South Korean entertainment, where factory-made “idols” are easily created yet disposable, maintaining such relevance is a praise worthy feat. Despite Fly to the Sky’s first two albums (Day by Day and The Promise) delivering bubblegum pop ballads, or fast-paced techno medleys—already standardized by the group’s distinguished label, SM Entertainment—the duo eventually set out to adopt a genre not yet familiar to the Korean public: R&B.
Though Fly to the Sky, which consists of Brian and South Korean native Hwanhee, was initially billed as a typical K-pop duo that could sing, rap and dance, it is hailed today as South Korea’s first R&B group. Although critics weren’t initially too pleased with the pair’s transition in sound, style or image, the group went on to release six successful albums and garner numerous awards along the way.
Of course, Brian’s journey wasn’t solely paved with flowers. In 2002, when two Korean girls were run over and killed by a U.S. Army armored truck on a public road, anti-American sentiment was at its peak. During this time, Brian was hosting a radio show and when a guest brought up the issue, Brian, then 21, replied, “While the American soldiers must be brought to justice, I do not want relations between Korea and the United States, my home country, to become strained.” His statement was misinterpreted by press as: “You can’t talk badly about the United States in front of me; I’m an American. Please only hate the American soldiers.” Naturally, the Korean public did not embrace these comments—and for months, Brian received profane, even life-threatening messages.
In this interview with KoreAm, Brian, who lives in Seoul, opens up about this critical period in his career, as well as shares the real story behind his relationship with Fly to the Sky partner Hwanhee—a friendship that has become strained due to misunderstandings piled up over time. In one of his most candid interviews (in English, at least), the New Jersey-reared artist also reflects on his past 12 years in South Korea, helping to demystify the South Korean entertainment industry and shatter pretty-boy idol stereotypes, while musing on what he plans to tackle next. Continue Reading »
Most Kpop covers of American songs are plagued with bad accents and mediocre vocals, but this cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” is honestly pretty amazing. It features Fluxus Entertainment artists Clazziquai, Yi Sung Yol, Park Ki Young, Whale, Namu, Winterplay, and Euna Chang singing with accompaniment created solely with smart phone music applications.
Fluxus Entertainment is known for their skilled indie artists who are often overlooked in favor of the sugary sweet Kpop girl groups and boy bands, but no one can deny their talent.
Check out Winterplay’s cover of “Billie Jean”:
FOR ONLY $28!
Featured Event
One of the the biggest Asian cinema events to hit Southern California opens on May 10. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Visual Communications, features the latest works by established and emerging filmmakers, along with seminars, panel discussions and symposiums on topics relevant to Asian Pacific cinema.
Opening Night features “Shanghai Calling,” directed by Daniel Hsia and starring Korean American Daniel Henney, who plays a Chinese American expat lawyer navigating his way through the mean streets of Shanghai (the picture above also indicates he is a raisin smuggler). But does he take off his shirt? Go watch the movie to find out! read more
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