Music Bank K-Pop Festival, the biggest K-pop show lands in Paris
The Music Bank K-Pop Festival, a musical show coming from South Korea, will come to Paris for the first time on 8th February 2012 for an exceptional concert at Paris-Bercy. Following the phenomenal success encountered by the double concert at Paris’ Zénith on 10th and 11th June 2011, the K-Pop music phenomenon seems to establish itself in Europe and more precisely in France, as after the Zénith, Korean organisers have decided to sell Paris Bercy out, one of the biggest concert venues in France and in Europe.
The Music Bank : a major TV show
Besides being a concert, the Music Bank K-Pop Festival is a real musical concept. But the Music Bank is, above all, a TV show broadcast live every Friday at 6:10pm (KST) on the Korean channel KBS (Korean Broadcasting System). This show displays the Korean charts of the week. Its principle is a simple one: the groups and solo singers topping the charts come to defend their newest song (and hence promote it) and are submitted to the viewers’ voting. The two artists getting the more votes are then submitted to an other vote, and the group or solo artist who comes first receives an award that is challenged the following week.
It is the most popular show of that kind in Korea, and it has contributed, and still contributes to the famous Hallyu Wave sweeping across Asia. Since 2010, this program has been broadcasted in many countries through KBS’ international channel, KBS World. Music Bank was broadcasted in 72 foreign countries and has a very steady fanbase all around the world, as it remains one of the only shows that satisfies every week their craving for K-Pop.
Furthermore, the show is hosted by either a duo or a trio who is regularly changed, and most of the time consisted of K-Pop idols and young actors made famous by dramas. Since early January 2012, UEE and Lee Jang Wook have been appointed hosts of the show. Lee Jang Wook is a young rising actor, who is a star of the TV show “We got Married” and became famous for his roles in the dramas Human Casino and Man of Honor. UEE is a member of the girl group After School and became a TV star after taking part in the emblematic series “You’re Beautiful”.
The Music Bank K-Pop Festival : An exceptional show
Seeing the global success of the show, Music Bank’s producers have created the Music Bank K-Pop Festival, a huge show that gathers the biggest K-Pop stars of the moment in one single show.
Beyond a simple concert, it is a real concept that already impassioned the Tokyo Dome, the biggest venue in Japan (45000-capacity) and the Randall’s New Jersey in New York. Paris-Bercy (15000-capacity) is the new stop of this “World Tour” of the biggest K-Pop concert ever.
The concerts are real shows that use the principle of the “hosts” or MCs, most often two members (a male and a female) of the performing groups. The french performance will have the privilege to welcome eight of the most popular Asian groups who will set the audience on fire with their powerful choreographies and their romantic ballads. Often punctuated by surprises and unique performances, the Music Bank K-Pop Festival is a unique, enchanting and quality show.
SHINee: Formed in 2008 under SM Entertainment, the group is composed of 5 members, Onew, Key, Taemin, Jonghyun and Minho. SHINee has been interviewed by the French TV channel France 2 for the « Un Œil sur la Planète » documentary about South Korea that was broadcast in January 2011. Since they performed at the SM Town Live in Paris, they have become real Asian stars and have held a showcase at the Opening of The London Korean Film Festival in September 2011.
Girls’ Generation/SNSD: Formed in 2007 under SM Entertainment, the group is composed of 5 members (YoonA, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny). They’re also called SNSD in France due to their Korean name “So Nyeo Shi Dae” which means Girls’ Generation. Very famous all around Asia, they are pursuing an impressive career in Japan and met a great success during the concert at the Zénith of Paris in June 2011.
2PM: Formed in 2008, the group is composed of 6 members (Junsu, Junho, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung and Chansung) and became famous for their complex and acrobatic choreographies. The six members have also conveyed a very masculine and virile image, differencing themselves from the other boysbands with a strong “pretty boys” image. They are very famous in Asia and especially in Japan where their appearance gathers crowd.
4Minute: Formed in 2009 under Cube Entertainment, the group is composed of 5 members, HynuA, JiHyun, SoYoon, GaYoon and JiYoon. The name of the group means that they will show all their charms during the 4 minutes that a stage performance lasts. They are currently very appreciated in Japan and in Korea.
Beast: Created in 2009 by the agency Cube Entertainment, the group is composed of 6 members who all have their own individual fanclub (DuJun, HyunSeung, JunHyung, YoSeob, KiKwang and DongWoon). Some of the members were already quite popular before the group was created, which explains an almost-instantaneous popularity when they debuted. They are mainly known for their exceptional vocal abilities and regularly hold Asia tours.
T-ara: Created in 2009 by the agency Core Contents Media, the group is composed of 7 members:
Boram, Qri, Soyeon, Eunjung, Hyomin, Hwayoung and Jiyeon. The specificity of the group is to have a different leader each year. They have signed the most expensive contract ever for a Korean group in Japan, where they are experiencing an unprecedented popularity.
U-Kiss: Created in 2008 by the NHMedia agency, the group is composed of 7 members: Kevin, Soo Hyun, Dong Ho, Eli, Ki Seop and A.J. Their debut was characerized by fast-tempo choreographies and electro tracks. But the group’s style underwent drastic changes in 2011 in order to become more mature and show its evolution. The name of the group means “Ubiquitous Superstar International”. They are encountering a growing popularity in Asia.
Sistar: Formed in 2010 under Starship Entertainment, it’s a 4-members group (Bora, Hyorin Soyoun and Dasom) which name means “4 sisters who became stars one day”. Even though their career is just starting, Sistar is one of the rising groups in Korea.
Bercy: a legendary place
The Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy, the biggest venue in France (15000-capacity), is an exceptional place where the “world tour” of all the biggest international stars has stopped. Madonna, Britney Spears, Marilyn Manson, Johnny Hallyday, all of them came here to meet with their fans. The fully adaptable venue lets the artists be the closest to their audience, to the greatest pleasure of both the artists and the fans.
Event Details
Name: Music Bank K-Pop Festival
Date: 8th February 2012
Venue: Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy
Organiser: KBS and Caramba Spectacles & 109 Prod
Ticketing:Bercy, FNAC, Carrefour, TicketNet
Ticket Prices:
- Cat 1: 99.40 €
- Cat 2: 88.40 €
- Cat 3: 69.70 €
Events surrounding the concert
The Korean Connection association organizes several events around the Music Bank K-Pop Festival.
The organization of a Flashmob contest that gathers K-Pop fans everywhere in Europe during the week from January, 22nd to January, 28th 2012. The best Flashmobs videos will be uploaded on the show’s official website.
http://www.facebook.com/events/221159891292413/
A Cover Dance Contest that allows all the K-Pop fans to hope to dance among their favorite idols. Indeed, the winners of the contest will dance on the Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy’s stage, on the day of the Music Bank K-Pop Festival.
https://www.facebook.com/events/164989256933881/
As for My Music Bank, it incites the fans to be original in order to celebrate their favorite K-pop artists coming to France. The best projects will receive a promotional support from the Music Bank K-Pop Festival.
https://www.facebook.com/events/253183564748543/
If you are looking to win some tickets to this great music festival, keep your eyes fixed on our Facebook and Twitter. We may spring you a surprise and send you there (transport not included =P).
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Source: Korean Connection via KAvenyou
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