Well known Korean pop idols Paran melted spectators' hearts on Saturday at celebrations in Vientiane to mark the first anniversary of Tigo, a mobile phone operator.

The exciting concert took place at the Lao-ITECC in front of a crowd of more than 7,000 fervent spectators, with free games, activities and give-aways.

The concert kicked off with some of Vientiane 's top acts, such as Idols, Punky Dolls, LOG, Overdance, Moderndance, A Pact, Nalin, Aluna and Sam, and hard rock groups Uluvus and The Cells before the appearance of Korea 's grooviest band.

The audience raised their voices like a siren and the ground before the stage shook when Paran appeared for their provocative song and dance act, and greeted the audience with a burst of Lao...more info>>

The band played hit songs from their first two albums, such as Five Steps, First Love and others before the concert had to be stopped because of strong winds on stage.

Tigo staff gathered on stage to blow out candles on their birthday cake in between acts.

The name Paran (which means blue in Korean) is an acronym comprised of the members' stage names. The band has five singers: Joo Jong Hyuk also known as Ryan, Yang Seung Ho or Neo, Lee Soo In or P.O., Choi Sung Wook or Ace, and Kim Jae Sub or A.J., who also raps for the group. They are all aged between 15 and 23.

“We are so happy and exited, because this is our first time in Laos , and it is great to perform in concert to commemorate Tigo's first anniversary,” said Ryan at a media conference at Green Park Hotel on Friday.

The band's first album was entitled I Hold My Breath , and came out in September 2005. Their follow up release was called Beyond the Blue Sky , in September 2006.

“Since I've been here one night, I only have two impressions: one is that the weather here is better than in the Republic of Korea now, where it is still cold, but here it's neither very hot nor cold, which is more comfortable,” said Ace.

“Besides that, Laos still preserves a lot of its nature. I saw green mountains as our flight came across from Vietnam , and now I can also say that here it is peaceful and there is very little traffic.”

“Another thing is the warm welcome we're received from people here, especially the smiles of the Lao women which make me want to stay longer,” Ace said.

Before the band arrived in Laos they toured countries such as Thailand , Taiwan , Singapore , Vietnam and Indonesia .

This is the second time the Millicom Lao Company has brought a Korean band to Laos . In December they presented one of Korea 's most famous girl bands, Baby Vox Re.V, to perform in concert to welcome in the International New Year.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes
http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

Paran, a five-member male vocal group which debuted in 2005, has made inroads all across Asia, including China, Indonesia, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

Members of Paran held a showcase concert at the amphitheater of Lao ITECC, an exhibition center in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on April 5. It was the first concert by a male foreign group to attract 10,000 audience members. The event will be televised on Lao Star TV, the public broadcaster of Laos.

Laotian fans, who frequently enjoy Thai TV shows, raved over Paran's performance, although they did not understand the Korean lyrics...more info>>

Fans frantically took photos of the group, waved photographs of the members in the air, screamed and blew kisses to the stage.

Paran returned to Korea and April 7. Soon after their arrival, members of the group wrapped up recording their third studio album, which is slated for release on April 11. The album will be released simultaneously in six Asian countries.

The members recently said they plan to sweep their Korean fans off their feet with their new album.

Source: KBS

Weza , a new band from Savannakhet province, have released two hot singles, and played their first shows for Vientiane fans at Lao-ITECC last weekend.


The concert was organised by the Vientiane Youth Centre for Health and Development and the Vientiane Women's Union .

They performed three songs to greet the Vientiane crowd - the singles Khor Khuam (Message), Thon Bor Vai (Can't Endure), and Sou Phueua Fan (Fight for a Dream)

“This is our first time on stage here and we are so happy to play at this concert; we never thought we'd appear here when we launched the band,” said 21-year-old vocalist Mr Xayxana Silylasak (Ai) of his three-piece, which also includes Mr Vongphasouk Khenthanavong (22) or Lulu, and guitarist, Mr Xaixana Sengsopha (20) or Thang...more

“We first met each other in 2003, when we attended a song contest while we were in secondary school in Savannakhet province,” said Lulu.

“We were interested in each other's music and we formed a band called Impression, which had seven members, but it was unfortunate that not everyone got along and the band soon dissolved, and then we were all busy with our final exams,” said Thang.

In 2004, after graduation, he called the members back in hopes of getting together again, but only three of the former band mates were available, and so Weza was born.

“Weza comes from two words - ‘We', or ‘us', and ‘Za', which is short for ‘Savannakhet'. Our band name tells people who we are and where we come from,” said Ai.

“Our dreams came true after the first disappointment, when we failed to pass the final round of the Close-Up Music Award in 2006. Luckily, there was a producer in the audience from Samlan Entertainment, who approached us and suggested we sign up with them,” Ai said.

“We were stunned, and there was one question in our minds: why, if we failed the contest, would they want us to join their company? But we weren't about to say no.”

A few weeks later, the company began talking about making an album for them, and the band signed the contract here in Vientiane , where the US recording company has its local studio and sub-branch.

The band spent over a year on the album, before they launched the first single that made them well known to radio listeners.

The lyrics of Khor Khuam were written by Ai's mother, a gift to him; the song is about the love of a teenage boy for a girl, but he doesn't dare tell her how he feels, and he only knows her mobile phone number so he sends a text greeting to her every day.

“My mother is not a songwriter, she just loves music and I was really surprised when she gave me the lyrics, and just said “sing it”. We adapted it a little bit, and we never expected the song would become a hit,” said Ai.

“The second single, now getting airplay, is titled Thon Bor Vai, written by DJ Hieng, which tells what happens when girlfriends break our hearts.”

The full album, entitled Kap Ma (Come Back), has nine tracks and has already been launched in the US ; the company is preparing its local release for March.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes