K-pop 2013

I've been the first to label Hello Venus a useless, anonymous, rubbish group, blandly cute and daft and nothingy, but their new single forces so much play out of the euphemism "Do you want some tea?" ('Do you want to have sex?') that I find myself charmed http://youtu.be/dyH2O_te-ss

The Hello Venus song is so adorably and hilariously subversive XD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqpStn7sioY

Controversially "Gee" at #3

Haaah. Well, it's hard to argue with Abracadabra, and it was clear 10 entries in that whoever made this list a huge BoA (and Big Bang) fan, so far enough, I suppose XD. Also, everyone says this, but 2009 really was a great year for Kpop, huh.

This is kinda old but it's been confirmed that San E is, indeed, leaving JYP. Dude sounds pretty relieved to be out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfkFoXa9F-Q

Twas the Popjustice (k-pop listening) users collectively.

Ahah San E. Well, I think it shows that even if the people on top mean well it's often not a good idea to join one of the three big labels. Dude didn't release anything for ages. I have to doubt how the companies are run at times. You see it at YG - they just don't seem to have the resources to nurture all their artists careers evenly. SM as well, look at someone like J-Min or The Grace. Except for those from K-pop Star (Lee Hi, Jimin) the talent show standouts seem to go to other labels and get to release stuff immediately - look at Roy Kim, Busker Busker, the new ballad stars. Half of them would probably nervously wait in the basement of YG JYP or SM. See Lee Michelle and her group signed to YG and then released. Immediately she has music out.

Ah okay, in that case I'm surprised the list came out as evenly as it did! It is however missing one of my favorite songs from 2009, which is One Two's Starry Night.

And, agreed, the big three idol agencies often seem to have more talent than they know how to manage. SM at least sometimes allows talented members of overlooked groups to write music or produce, but YG and JYP... forget it. Half of Cube are former JYP trainees. (Though I believe there is some kind of business relationship between JYP and Cube.)

I really like Roy Kim's Spring Spring Spring, btw. He has a lot of charisma as a performer, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3-BDy55tq4

lol 2009 was when I first moved back to Southeast Asia - K-pop was just starting to blow up here but "Gee", which was inescapable (along with Super Junior), made me actively not want to explore it further. Unpopular opinion I know, but I really don't like that song, even though I've come around to SNSD (still kinda hate SuJu though, haha).

2NE1 was my gateway to K-pop a couple of years later (a friend of mine was visiting from the Philippines and played me a bunch of their songs) but I didn't get heavily into it until early last year I guess.

I missed this as well as all-girl Korean group Miji's Saturday free performance at the Korean embassy. Just discovered this after the fact

http://usa.mofa.go.kr/english/am/usa/mission/notice/index.jsp?sp=/webmodule/htsboard/template/read/engreadboard.jsp%3FtypeID=16%26boardid=13910%26seqno=694279%26tableName=TYPE_ENGLEGATIO

What: K-Style DC
When: May 1-3, 2013
Where: Washington Dulles International Airport (2nd floor lobby)

The Korean Cultural Center Washington DC is taking the local Korean Wave to new heights with K-Style DC, a 3-day event featuring traditional-modern fusion music, Hanbok fashion shows, Taekwondo exhibitions, and interactive K-Pop dance performances at Washington Dulles International Airport, May 1-3.

Sure to delight guests are a lively rendition of Psy’s Gangnam Style on centuries-old instruments by performance group MIJI, and the designer fashions of Joo Young-sook, whose clothing has appeared in several Korean dramas. Both will be visiting from Korea for the event.

so I finally checked out SHINee's Lucifer album and... i really like it! where else can i hear this mid-2000s era high-production R&B (The-Dream, Cassie, Kelis) sound in K-pop? I haven't really checked out guy groups much at all.

A pre-2010 Kpop fan could probably answer this better, because I think this was *the* Kpop style from 2006-2009 (just when it was starting to break internationally).

Off the top of my head, though, I'd say 2PM (Still 2PM era), also other SM groups like EXO; TVXQ (one, two, three); early SNSD (one, two); and probably a bunch of BoA songs absfck could tell you about. Or if you want less processed vocals, anything by Taeyang but especially his (great) album Solar; and Chocolat; and SPICA (one, two).

Whoops, wrong link for Taeyang. Here's Solar. Big Bang - Remember is the most Taeyangish of the Big Bang albums, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxHy4G9FMI

This kind of pop-rock isn't my thing, but always admire B1A4 for handling their own production & songwriting and being unafraid of putting 6-7 melodies in a single song (because there's always more where they came from).

Also maddie links to these songwriter notes and omona points out the similarity of the video to this.

Nine Muses 'Wild' MV http://youtu.be/fwN_Axs7pL4

It's missing the burning anger that fueled their previous singles with Sweetune, I think. Not bad but the beat just kind of sits there.

LC9 debut with a dramatization of the selection process for idols: http://youtu.be/gaxwMw2Qctc

This must have been pretty dangerous to film, I'd surprised if there weren't some injuries. I know BAP had some when they their car-smashing MV for Warrior.

I'd BE surprised if there weren't injuries, I know BAP had some when the FILMED their car-smashing MV...

First SALTNPAPER album has some very nice Goo Goo Dolls/Third Eye Blind late-90s alt-rock vibes: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh1FnrV6pZe-tFqKZjq7Xq7qXAb9CeX_M

Nine Muses plagiarism accusation: http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/1518-nine-muses-under-fire-for-plagiarism-allegations/

It's smarter as a more-work-than-you-can-handle hot Korean producer to do it the Brave Brothers way, and just borrow from yourself.

Lee Hyori on living without regrets even when you aren't happy with your plastic surgery:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLlD9HYWeRo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=gaT8j1yIbCg

Not quite sure where to put this, but on balance it's more in line with Kpop trends than Jpop trends, even though it's in Japanese.

Anyway: !!!

Aw, no preview. You should click, though! Certified jam!

i don't know if someboy has posted Crayon Pop already but they are hands down the best thing i've seen all year... and possibly ever?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0yii3pPNKw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2M5eTEmwaI

it's like they took everything unintentionally awesome about how cheesy T-ARA can be and just went with it. i've never seen a girl group so cheeky and confident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LP4foN3Xs4

cant watch dances in high heels without thinking of beyonce. also detect a lil ciara in the part w/ the black tracksuit

i dig this tho

That CL track is great.

Crayon Pop <3 They're returning with a new song in, I think, the third week of June. Chocolat are also coming back!

As for the CL track, I like like the beat a lot, but I don't think she's a good enough rapper to really carry the slow tempo. I also think she's a better singer than rapper, so to me it seems like a case of not knowing your strengths as an artist.

Maybe this is a good place to ask, though - does CL "The Baddest Female" sound a like Exo "Wolf" to anyone else???

Crayon Pop had a reality show last year in which, according to allkpop, "Crayon Pop Reveal They Aren't Afraid To Confront Agency," making them heroes of cultural studies departments around the world.

Says my lj buddy David Frazer, "Episode 1 is where they criticise their manager and he criticises them. In episode 2, Way and Soyeul get separated from the others after a concert at a mall and sneak off to eat churros at a snack stall, so the managers punish them by making all the members go home by bus."

The wearing of ski clothing indoors was pioneered in K-pop by Seo Taiji & Boys, though note that YG abandons the heavy garb at 2:00.

My favorite track Crayon Pop track is "Saturday Night."

My favorite track Crayon Pop track is "Saturday Night."

Er, that sentence has one more "track" than it needs. "Saturday Night" is merely my favorite Crayon Pop track. My favorite track period is probably Spoonie Gee's "Spoonin' Rap." My favorite K-pop track is T-ara's "I Go Crazy Because Of You."

Where is Spoonie Gee today? Loved that track too. K-pop I don't know that well.

did anything else amazing happen in the lower rungs of k-pop i don't know about? i haven't been keeping track

As far as documentary-things go, the Nine Muses documentary that aired on the BBC last year was a pretty amazing, frank, horrifying, etc. look at company mismanagement.

BTOB routinely get up to questionable stuff on their reality show, though always(?) with their managers' permission.

There was another one, but it's slipped my mind.

LOL @ super-literal editing of VIXX "Hyde" on Show Champion: http://youtu.be/rv_V9rQqmWM

Meanwhile, B2ST at the top of the charts with a familiar-sounding, emotional ballad that is getting to me anyway, because I know exactly what they mean: http://youtu.be/TZRKg-qJpZk

MBLAQ return with a song that's super-effective at capturing that feeling of something bubbling up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTDmIiGLFEw

VIXX "Hyde" and Shinwha "This Love" have been growing on me, despite what I initially heard as cheap/cheesy beat-based production. Speaking of beats, "Mama Beat" has grown on me as well. Rainbow "Sunshine" is an acceptable type of quirky aegyo, better than the bland aegyo of "Tell Me", although so far the song seems like it's just okay. The terrifying methamphetamine weirdness of EXO "Wolf" has been toned down for the official release, leaving something that's an odd mix of aggressive and declawed, highly processed music that's cheesy, experimental and utterly joyless all at the same time. San.E "Rap Circus" is the opposite, minimal production but giddy, pressurized, shit-talking rap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=farP2g0ZPes

^San-E

mblaq song is basically an incredible feat of production

thing is both pristine and woozy

Brad, the producers of "Smoky Girl" are Primary, Zion. T, and Simon D, all of whom are involved in urban and hip-hop. The way the song starts reminds me of The-Dream, the way the rhythm is half-suspended to create suspense.

Primary and Zion.T and Simon D, really? ...that would explain why the video was up at the amoebarecords youtube account, huh. That's pretty awesome, definitely a better demonstration of Primary's talents than Infinite H was.

I'm so excited for Chocolat, you have no idea.

One more for the "bad girl" pile, from Bumkey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=FFDD_3IV7fU

And if I can rep one more SM summer jam, again in Japanese... na na na na na, na na na LOVE AND GIRLS.

Truth speak from Hyori http://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/11252565.html

Dash, so far it's been a glorious year on the lower rungs. I'll do a roundup when I get the chance. In the meantime, there's a fancam of the new Crayon Pop song, "Bar Bar Bar." CRAYON POP DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! I had to get out of my chair: I was laughing so hard I was afraid I'd hurt myself. I think those are toboggan helmets they're wearing.

H/t David Fraser on Crayon Pop, as usual.

that routine is amazing !

ChoColat perform (or perform to, at any rate) a minute of "Black Tinkerbell" on After School Club (an English-language interview show; ChoColat's Tia was guest host this week; I haven't watched the entire episode, but it features good new boyband Vixx). (H/t David Frazer again.) "Black Tinkerbell" sounds good, similar to ChoColat's previous three in that there's a touch of mid-Eastern quasi-freestyle mournfulness, and all four singers get time in the spotlight. Today is Min Soa's birthday; tomorrow is "Black Tinkerbell"'s release.

And the "Black Tinkerbell" video is out now. Sounds like the teasers, but longer.

love and girls!

Na, na na na na na, na na na love and girls :D

I really like Black Tinkerbell, it's just really pretty, and seems to drop hints of deep emotion without indulging in it too much. The writer is an indie rock dude? Does that mean it's a song about being in The Friend Zone(TM)?

Sistar celebrate their promotion to the ranks of the top-tier girl groups with a glitzy video in the Sistar tradition of working-girls-aiming-for-classy-and-endearingly-just-missing. Song is just okay, I think.