think I'll stop embedding for the sake of everybody's browsers
http://youtu.be/raOsXsYgd7M nice straight-up dance pop
― dayo, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 13:16 (twelve years ago) link
Don't know if you meant to post the two big old-skool k-pop boy bands after one another, but it's a nice example of how one comes off slightly desperate in his comeback attempts (Tony An, not talking about that performance, though) and how Shinhwa still seem pretty well-suited for the pop star life. Wouldn't say Venus is amazing, but people have been saying the EP is pretty solid.
As for Ailee there, I said somewhere else, she and her songwriter really nailed that formula. The big melodic belter. To be honest I think that stuff would have an easier time making it big on the Billboard than the ones trying really hard.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 15:54 (twelve years ago) link
hah I don't know shinhwa, but it pleased me to see H.O.T. doing 'candy' in 2012 (or, as it were, just tony an)
― dayo, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 17:27 (twelve years ago) link
but yeah ailee strikes a nice balance between ballad and banger
as for ballads I like Lyn
― dayo, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 17:28 (twelve years ago) link
I like this Ali ballad http://youtu.be/U6xIO6j2mqE
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 27 March 2012 17:34 (twelve years ago) link
New SPICA - Painkiller http://youtu.be/gO-n43lUS7s
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:26 (twelve years ago) link
http://youtu.be/QbJCB2ArgK0
Tomorrow at the lower east side!!
― rayuela, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 18:22 (twelve years ago) link
(probably not the perfect thread for that band but i had to express my glee)
― rayuela, Wednesday, 28 March 2012 18:23 (twelve years ago) link
'follow me' really seems to have been the template for 'i am the best'
― dayo, Monday, 2 April 2012 02:08 (twelve years ago) link
new 4minute rather disappointing
opening of 'dream racer' rather blatantly copies a part of 'i am the best'
― swaghand (dayo), Monday, 9 April 2012 12:14 (twelve years ago) link
Volume Up is a mega hit.
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 April 2012 12:18 (twelve years ago) link
I can find nothing redeeming about it
― swaghand (dayo), Monday, 9 April 2012 12:28 (twelve years ago) link
Adding the sax hook was a good idea - it will make this a big sales hit like Trouble Maker. Love the rest of the song as well, the lyrics, the techno beat, the main vocalists belting without being cloying about it.
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 April 2012 12:50 (twelve years ago) link
"volume up" is totally awesome, sorry dayo
― Whiney vs. (BradNelson), Monday, 9 April 2012 15:36 (twelve years ago) link
thought there were a lot more jams on the LP
http://youtu.be/Qk3Cxmvljpk
― swaghand (dayo), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:25 (twelve years ago) link
4minute also totally biting themselves w/ the buildup to the chorus in volume up
http://youtu.be/h97jt1XtnGQ
― swaghand (dayo), Monday, 9 April 2012 22:33 (twelve years ago) link
totally into self-biting
― Whiney vs. (BradNelson), Monday, 9 April 2012 23:36 (twelve years ago) link
losing my faith in k-pop anyway since 'busker busker' is occupying the charts
― swaghand (dayo), Tuesday, 10 April 2012 12:41 (twelve years ago) link
Good week - Sistar comes back with a really sexy track http://youtu.be/E0ZHXVp_wUE
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 April 2012 04:50 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.soompi.com/news/jyp-sheds-light-on-koreas-deeprooted-racial-divide-on-sbs-kpop-star
― swaghand (dayo), Thursday, 12 April 2012 12:03 (twelve years ago) link
Having watched the show I don't think that was the best example, isolated speaking, as she did reach #5 and except for one dude I thought the others left were better - but it was a great opportunity to bring up a real problem so kudos to JYP. Yesterday's poor performance by the opposition in the Korean parliamentary election wasn't the most uplifting result, but a lot more women were elected and one of them the first naturalized Korean citizen to do so, Jasmine Lee from the Phillipines. Her inclusion was a move by the ruling party to appeal to the growing number of naturalized citizens and is an acknowledgement that that number IS steadily growing. So the topic will (have to) be dealt with, one way or another and I'm happy JYP talks about it in such a super-mainstream setting. The blackface incident earlier this year also got a lot of talk going, which isn't a matter of course as those skits have been pretty frequent on Korean TV. Some people defended it but it got a lot of coverage online and in the news, and artists like Tiger JK spoke up about it (himself being the husband of African American / Korean Yoon Mirae). Pretty obvious there's a lot of work to be done but I'm glad it's a mainstream issue at least (at last).
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 April 2012 13:10 (twelve years ago) link
Didn't mean to suggest a connection between Michelle and the plight of naturalized citizens, of course, though my confusingly worded post might lead you to that idea --- just talking about the new multicultural Korea.
― abcfsk, Thursday, 12 April 2012 13:13 (twelve years ago) link
― abcfsk, Thursday, April 12, 2012 6:50 AM (3 days ago)
K-pop SOTY
― abcfsk, Sunday, 15 April 2012 10:08 (twelve years ago) link
everything in that sistar song is a hook
― Whiney vs. (BradNelson), Sunday, 15 April 2012 16:44 (twelve years ago) link
it's a lot more po-faced than their previous singles
― swaghand (dayo), Sunday, 15 April 2012 17:07 (twelve years ago) link
excited about the new girl's day!
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:44 (twelve years ago) link
You hate on the two great singles of the year, but Girl's Day gets you in the mood?!
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:49 (twelve years ago) link
well I haven't actually listened to girl's day yet
but sorry, those two singles are sleek but lifeless!
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:50 (twelve years ago) link
the 'mehness' of the new 4minute made me revisit their LP though, which is really quite good
http://youtu.be/tL9OB0DxkE4
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:54 (twelve years ago) link
and 'ma boy' still walks all over the new sistar!
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:55 (twelve years ago) link
Their LP was really weak, but I like their previous EPs.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:55 (twelve years ago) link
I know you don't actually believe that!
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 11:59 (twelve years ago) link
I like them american rnb-y (as their album tracks pre-LP are) over that brisk synth pop stuff. And their singles should aggressive, not sweet like the extremely disappointing "Heart to Heart". Now THAT was lifeless.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:00 (twelve years ago) link
hah well I guess that's where you and I diverge. K-pop is at its best for me when it's fun and bombastic and spilling over the edges, not when it's trying to be a jet-black sports car, but that's just me!
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:10 (twelve years ago) link
What do you think about f(x)?
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:19 (twelve years ago) link
may have heard a few singles in passing but not sure any have stuck. what do you recommend?
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:22 (twelve years ago) link
my fave from the 4minute album would be first if it was the japanese version. it's my fave 4minute song by far, and i love 4minute, so...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1L8k4KXmbsi really wanted to like volume up. one of gayoon's best tracks. but the saxophone just puts me off. whatever.
just to troll the f(x) talk, here's their best songhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDbUqDGGtl8the only reason i forgave sm for destroying this, is that the f(x) mv had a pink tank in it.
― blah blah blah, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:44 (twelve years ago) link
what do you recommend?
Just asked because they're very far away from a jet-black sports car, and their particular, f(x)-ian style of singing is all about fun and games. But I'm not sure if that's the kind of thing you refer to as your k-pop fun. Melody is ignored in favor of rhythm.
All their singles are kinda similar. "Nu ABO" probably defines them more than anything else and received a lot of analysis and confusion upon release (including the lyrics).
http://youtu.be/E8ZrPFMr_nY
I can see why some people find their style inapproachable, but imo this is a majestic tune and they're one of a select few k-pop groups who truly have their own sound they stick fairly closely to with each release. I put last year's "Danger" near the top of my year-end list, but didn't see much discussion of it among writers.*
* Said this mid-year 2011: "Youthful brattiness and staccato nonsense, one note repeated until a gorgeous bridge achieves liftoff and briefly breaks away from the madness of jump rope rhymes. "
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:45 (twelve years ago) link
Funny thing is even if their cover of Hot Summer does little new it still sounds like a typical f(x) single. I guess songwriter Troelsen is more or less an SM dude by now, though.
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:47 (twelve years ago) link
hah nu ABO is great! thanks for that
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:49 (twelve years ago) link
my fav k-pop group is still 2ne1, if that tells you anything
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:50 (twelve years ago) link
I kind of love these rhythm-based, motorik tracks like nu ABO and follow me
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:51 (twelve years ago) link
one note repeated
― blah blah blah, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:56 (twelve years ago) link
one-note repetition reminds me of the best one-note songs ever
http://youtu.be/QA1M_Wyrnco
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 13:54 (twelve years ago) link
my fav off the new girl's day (warning: very sugary)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp4teLl8Jwk
― dayo, Wednesday, 18 April 2012 14:41 (twelve years ago) link
that one-note song could be used to interrogate me. i need to put on pop pop pop by rania asap
― blah blah blah, Thursday, 19 April 2012 09:06 (twelve years ago) link
f(x) Hot Summer and Montrose Hot Summer are the same song because this guy wrote both (also Nu ABO and Pinocchio):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Troelsen
Maybe it's just because I know the reason he gets so much work in Korea is because he wrote Mirotic for TVXQ, but I think of the Thomas Troelsen production style as being like... opening up all aural channels at once. Like just blasting a smooth sound into every single aural receptor. I don't even think Shinee's "Sherlock" is a good song but it has that hitting-every-spot-at-once appeal. I kind of think of this as being the aural equivalent of like... shooting up (heroin), again, because of Mirotic.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 19 April 2012 22:10 (twelve years ago) link
My favorite Kpop songwriter-for-hire (meaning not an in-house songwriter) is Brave Brothers, because he adds genre-depth to his pop songs** and they're generally a bit more relaxed than the Kpop sped-up-beat and tuned-up-synth sound.*** His new stuff for Brave Girls ("Nowadays You") is in that mode. Sometimes I wonder if that song, B1A4's "Baby I'm Sorry", f(x)'s "Pinocchio", etc, are all about the same person.
**e.g. Brave Girls reggae phase, the first Sistar LP
***My theory on which BTW is that because Korean censors ban sex and drugs references in idol music, "mania" is the only kind of euphoria left to pop music aha. Though more and more groups are trying to sneak some sex in, which, you know, if it relaxes the music a little bit, I think is a good thing?
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 19 April 2012 22:31 (twelve years ago) link
he doesn't get much work in korea, only does singles for sm.
my fave is shinsadong tiger. i probably love him for his obsession with the northern european sound.
― blah blah blah, Friday, 20 April 2012 09:45 (twelve years ago) link