Out of love of Korea: Lady Gaga to kick off world tour in Seoul

Published : Feb. 9, 2012 - 10:59

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U.S. pop diva Lady Gaga has decided to kick off her 2012-13 world tour at Olympic Stadium in Seoul because she wants to interact with enthusiastic Korean fans, a tour promoter in Seoul said.

The world star unveiled the schedule of her tour via her Twitter on Wednesday, surprising her fans in Seoul with the announcement that it will kick off here on April 27.

An official of Live Nation Korea told The Korea Herald that Gaga will hold her Seoul concert at the Olympic Stadium, one of the biggest sports venues in Korea.

Live Nation is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world and is the international tour promoter for Lady Gaga’s worldwide concerts.

File photo-Lady Gaga poses for photographers at a press conference to promote her debut album 'The Fame' in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

When asked why she chose Seoul as the first city of her upcoming world tour in Asia Pacific instead of Japan, Asia’s largest music market, the official said, “Lady Gaga said she just loves Korea.“

“She is looking forward to meeting her Korean fans who showed enormous passion and enthusiasm during her last showcase in Seoul (in 2009),” said the official who asked not to be identified.

The pop star believes that the Korean audience will interact with her shocking performance better than any others, he added.

The singer reportedly will visit Seoul a month prior to the concert to rehearse and hold the first press conference here. Live Nation Korea, however, said both plans are “not confirmed yet.”

Live Nation expects to draw at least 35,000 people to the April concert.

World pop star Michael Jackson performed for 65,000 Koreans at the venue in 1996.

Starting in Seoul, Gaga will then take her pop hits and eccentric costumes to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand and perform six shows around Australia.

The 25-year-old pop artist is expected to hold 110 shows this year including the initial 11 concerts in Asia.

“Just saw first photos of the stage being built. Just peed all the way down to my Chanel shoes!!” Gaga wrote on Twitter last month.

All the stage settings are being built in the United States and will be transported here, Live Nation Korea said.

The pop superstar has already revealed the concept of her stage setting, a medieval castle, to her massive fanbase on Twitter ― just under 19 million followers.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, became famous with the hits songs “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face.”

By Cho Chung-un
(christory@heraldcorp.com)

<한글 기사>

[단독] 가가 '한국서파격적인 공연할 것'

팝스타 레이디 가가가 올해 월드투어의 시작을 서울 올림픽주경기장에서 연다고 세계적인 공연기획사인 라이브네이션이 말했다.

레이디 가가의 월드 투어를 기획하고 있는 라이브네이션은 그녀의 서울공연이 "올림픽 주경기장에서 열린다"고 코리아헤럴드와 전화인터뷰에서 밝혔다.

월드투어의 시작을 서울에서 여는 이유에 대해서 라이브네이션은 "레이디가가는 한국을 너무 좋아한다고 말했다"고 밝혔다.

"지난 서울쇼케이스때 한국팬들이 보여준 열정과 열광적인 모습에 반했다" 며 "이번 서울콘서트때 한국팬들에게 뭔가 '파격적'인 무대를 선사할수 있을것" 이라고 덧붙였다.

올림픽주경기장은 월드스타 故마이클잭슨의 1996년 한국공연이 열렸던 장소로 당시 이틀동안 진행됐던 공연에 6만 5천명을 동원했다.

한국시간으로 목요일 아침, 레이디 가가는 트위터를 통해 "4월 27일 서울공연을 시작으로 월드투어를 한다"고 밝혔다.

올해 월드투어 '본 디스 웨이 볼(Born This Way Ball)'은 일본, 싱가포르, 뉴질랜드,호주등 11국에서약 110회정도 진행될 예정이다.

2008년 데뷔 후 독특한 의상과 퍼포먼스로 전세계 이목을 받았으며 히트곡으로 '포커 페이스', '베드 로맨스' 등이 있다.

가가는 2009년 한국에 쇼케이스차 방문한적이 있고, 절친이 한국인이라며 한국 사랑을 표명해왔다.

(코리아헤럴드)

Out of love of Korea: Lady Gaga to kick off world tour in Seoul

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