Eddy Kim reprises past love confessional in ‘My Love’

[The Korea Herald]

Former Superstar K4 contestant Eddy Kim melts young female hearts when he performs his enchantingly romantic, self-written ballads with his signature ladies’ man, charming demeanor. 

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter on Wednesday dropped his six-track, second EP, “Sing Sing Sing,” more than a year after releasing his debut EP “How To Use You.” 

“With this new album, I really wanted to be able to create something that my fans could listen to and say, ‘Wow, he’s more than just a romantic ballad singer,’” he said in an interview with The Korea Herald.

Kim, who in 2012 made it through to the top six round of Mnet’s popular audition program “Superstar K,” earned a reputation as a soulful, hopeless romantic with his self-produced and self-written singles. 

Then, after signing with music label Mystic 89 Entertainment, he further propelled his sentimental image with his love-inspired first EP. 

“When I released my first album, as opposed to creating music for other people’s tastes, I really focused on wanting to write and perform the kind of music that I personally felt best shows my style and personality,” he said. 

“I’m not necessarily looking to shed my ‘romantic singer-songwriter’ image that I’m better known for, but I just want to try new approaches as an artist,” Kim added. “This time around with my new album ‘Sing Sing Sing,’ I definitely feel that it’s a little more mainstream and that my songs will be able to reach a wider range of fans.” 

Kim performed his latest singles live for the first time at a showcase on Wednesday at Seoul Olympic Park’s K-Art Hall.

He kick-started the showcase with “Apologize,” with which the singer wanted to show that he was capable of more than just singing about pining for the opposite sex, belting out the lyrics, “This freaking love’s done!” 

“‘Apologize’ is all about meeting the worst kind of woman,” Kim explained. “And after meeting this woman, I am then demanding that she apologize to me for all the wrong she has done.” 

The artist also went on to perform the album’s eponymous upbeat pop rock track “Sing Sing Sing,” as well as the EP’s starry-eyed romance piano ballad lead single, “My Love.”

“‘My Love’ is a song that I originally wrote in English a long time ago, but eventually decided to translate the lyrics into Korean to include the track on my album,” he said. 

“At the time when I wrote the song, I was in a relationship and it was a song I intended to sing to her ― but things obviously didn’t work out,” he said blushing, adding that he had written it nearly five years ago while studying music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. 

By Julie Jackson

Source: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/entertainment/eddy-kim-reprises-past-love-confessional-in-%E2%80%98my-love%E2%80%99-2816#sthash.XnFG9GWP.dpuf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FczK7M6qPOQ

Davichi returns with new, mature sounds

[The Korea Herald]

K-pop female pop-ballad duo Davichi has by all accounts upgraded its musical style, and revamped its image in the act’s latest EP, “Davichi Hug,” which was released on Wednesday.

The two artists, Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung, previously enjoyed a string of successes with hit songs like “The Letter,” “8282” and “Turtle” under their previous management label Core Contents Media.

However this time around the idols seem keen to leave their girly and bubbly images behind by returning to the scene with more melancholy notes and mature themes that permeate throughout their latest EP, released under their new managing agency CJ E&M Music.

Davichi’s medium-tempo song “Sorry If I’m Happy” strikes a distinctively feminist approach, in contrast to some of the duo’s previous releases, including the energetically mournful single, “I Love You Even Though I Hate You.”

The new album’s lead single “Cry Again” is also another lovelorn ballad. The music video for the track was shot on location in Budapest and shows the singers enacting a heartfelt dramatic sequence with expanded emotional and vocal range.

By Yoon Sarah

- Source: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/entertainment/davichi-returns-with-new-mature-sounds-2817#sthash.tDEPW5P6.dpuf

UN chief condemns IS killing of Jordanian pilot

UNITED NATIONS (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday condemned the killing of a Jordanian pilot held captive by the Islamic States (IS), saying the terrorist organization has "no regard for human life."

In a responding note to the media, Ban said he shares the sorrow of the family and loved ones of Moaz al-Kasasbeh, the pilot of the Jordanian Royal Air Force, and stands in solidarity with the people of Jordan in denouncing this "appalling" act.

Ban also urged all governments to strengthen their efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism within the bounds of their human rights obligations, according to the note.

UN Security Council also deplored the apparent murder of the pilot and strongly condemned the "heinous and cowardly act."

Al-Kasasbeh was captured after his plane crashed in December. Since then, he has become a main pawn for IS. The Jordanian government had expressed readiness to conduct a prisoner swap with IS in exchange for the safe release of al-Kasasbeh and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. But the deadline for the swap expired on Jan. 29 as Jordan demanded proof from the IS militants that al- Kasasbeh was still alive.

The video of al-Kasasbeh's purported death came just days after the IS militants beheaded the Japanese journalist. The Jordanian government said it has confirmed the man burned to death was al- Kasasbeh and Jordanian TV reported that the killing took place on Jan. 3, far earlier than the prisoner swap proposed by IS.

In a press release shortly after Ban's statement, the Security Council demanded an immediate, safe and unconditional release of all those who were kept hostage by IS, and stressed the need to defeat the organization as well as stamping out the intolerance, violence and hatred it espouses.

Noting that IS is included on the al-Qaida Sanctions list, the most powerful UN body further recalled that any individual or entity that provides financial or material support to the group, including the provision of arms or recruits, is eligible to be added to list and subject to sanctions measures.

 - See more at: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/world/un-chief-condemns-is-killing-of-jordanian-pilot-12213#sthash.f1cPZS9H.dpuf

Forum discusses sustainability in the Lower Mekong

Forum discusses sustainability in the Lower Mekong

PAKXE, Laos (Vientiane Times/ANN) -- Representatives from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam met here Monday  with experts from the United States, donor countries and international institutions to discuss sustainable economic growth and development in the Mekong sub-region.

The two-day conference titled ‘Extraordinary Friends of the Lower Mekong and Mekong Sustainability' was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith and Counselor of the US Department of State Mr Thomas A. Shannon.

In his opening address, Mr Saleumxay said Laos attached great importance to the Friends of the Lower Mekong Forum.

He said the conference was a significant platform for sharing experiences and approaches for improving sustainable economic development in the region, which will contribute to poverty reduction and prosperity in the lower Mekong countries and the region as a whole.

He assured the meeting that Laos will continue its active participation, together with other Mekong countries and development partners, in supporting the development of the region toward the establishment of the Asean Economic Community in 2015 as well as the fulfillment of sustainable development goals.

Also speaking was Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Viraphonh Viravong, who said “In the words of our law, and the work we have done, the Lao government and people have been steadfast in pursuing the highest level of sustainability in development.”

“In the energy sector we have demonstrated this commitment to the development of hydropower projects that are technologically advanced and socially and environmentally responsible.”

Mr Viraphonh said Laos is fully aware of the many sustainability criteria put forward by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, development partners and the International Hydropower Association.

“We cannot promise to score 100 percent on every protocol but I can assure you that Laos strives for the highest level of sustainability possible, with regard to technical environmental and socio-economic sustainability,” said Mr Viraphonh.

The Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) is a broad dialogue that aims to improve donor coordination in the Mekong sub-region and supports integrated cooperation between and among the Lower Mekong countries of Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as well as the United States.

FLM members include Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

The overarching goal of the meeting is to find ways the FLM group can work together to bolster regional economic growth and strengthen the environmental and social aspects of regional development, including smart infrastructure, hydropower, and alternative energy.

The FLM group's efforts also include building peer-to-peer technical networks and developing practical solutions that incorporate environmental and social safeguards in relation to economic growth and energy security planning.

- See more at: http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/forum-discusses-sustainability-in-the-lower-mekong-8143#sthash.3xHmWHFx.dpuf

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