Features

Divas of wistful sorrow bring sad songs to Seoul

When the wind gets chilly and autumn foliage starts blowing in the breeze, soft and sorrowful songs are heard more often. Some of the songs that we hear every year, with their distinctive folk guitar accompaniment are “The Saddest Thing” by Melanie Safka, “The Water is Wide” by Karla Bonoff and “We’re All Alone,” by Rita Coolidge. These three folk song divas are coming to Korea to perform on the same stage together.
All three singers were very popular in Korea during the 1970s and 1980s, when jeans, beers and guitars were the latest thing. Koreans used to ask for such folk songs to be played in “music salons” while sipping a cup of coffee.
In order to stimulate nostalgia among people who are over 50 the stage design will be like a music salon of the 1970s, according to the promotional materials. The organizers hope the event will be a pleasant step back in time as well as an opportunity for a younger generation to experience some moving folk music.
Also, for the last concert on Nov. 5, about 30 Korean singers who were popular in the period, including Kim Chang-wan, Yang Hee-un and Lee Moon-sae, will come on stage to sing Korean folk songs.
In addition, Safka is planning to come to Korea earlier in order to perform a mini-concert for peace at Panmunjeom in the demilitarized zone. The decision to hold this additional concert was made after the North conducted its nuclear test. “We already have permission for it, but the date and the venue haven’t been decided yet,” said Yoon Sang-deok, an official at B-mine Communications, the concert organizer.

by Park Sung-ha

“Three Divas Live in Concert 2006” will start at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 5. It will be held in Olympic Hall, inside Olympic Park. The nearest subway station is Olympic Park, line No. 5, exit 3. Ticket prices range from 66,000 won ($69) to 198,000 won. They will also perform in Busan on Nov. 4 and in Ulsan on Nov.6, both at 7.30 pm. For more information, call (02) 543-2784, or visit http://ticket.interpark.com.