hahahah, welllllll the EXID thing is a bit more complicated than that. it cut out the BS of "safe-for-broadcast" choreo revisions and PG-minded camera focus to laser in on the sexiest member doing the unaltered dance, which had a level of mainstream appeal that no TV show does. it spread like wildfire to millions (many of whom watched it ad nauseum), and repeated exposure w/ the right context is usually enough to make a conversion in pop. plus korea is a market where people might buy a song to support an artist because their most beloved celebrity is in it, moreso/more consciously than in america for example. so we're comparing apples and oranges at best here.
music shows' ratings are nothing special, but the youtube viewership can be pretty significant in and of itself. and in any event, the audience watching it is highly engaged like you say, and they're where the buzz typically begins. celebs on the order of DBSK and G-Dragon wouldn't still bother doing it if it didn't matter.
and yes, music survival shows make hits, but only of songs that get performed (by contestants, typically not debuted artists). but yeah, if g.soul could make it onto one of those shows as a 'vocal master' who gets his own backstory segment/performance, that'd do the trick.
― soyrev, Monday, 26 January 2015 16:03 (nine years ago) link
i should also say that i think EXID always had a great song, it just didn't win the music show lotto and was hampered a bit online by its ratchet video. it just needed a new context to shine. (still one of my absolute favorite k-pop songs of late, so dang good)
― soyrev, Monday, 26 January 2015 16:05 (nine years ago) link
I got really interested in EXID when I Feel Good came out, thought that song was so dang catchy + the vid was really amusing (LE at the car is legit funny). And then when they redid Telephone (best song on their mini, and one LE helped write both the music and lyrics for) as Every Night I was sold. A shame they didn't do anything in 2013 aside from that forgettable Dasoni subgroup but they got huge with UP&DOWN so I guess it was worth it. Have really high hopes for them this year.
― misterjoshua, Monday, 26 January 2015 16:22 (nine years ago) link
fortunately the song that blew them up is awesome, so hopefully their team tries to explore that direction a bit more.
― soyrev, Monday, 26 January 2015 16:34 (nine years ago) link
G-Dragon/other YG artists typically only do <i>one</i> of those shows (Inkigayo), sometimes two (Music Core), not the whole gamut. But EXID's music video for Up&Down *was* ratchet, and moreover they'd (imo) lost too much weight ahead of their comeback and lacked energy. In later, less hungry performances their skills were more obvious.
But I think abcfsk is right about the music shows. Veteran non-idol singers like PSY, Choi Pil Kang, and Seo Taiji don't bother showing up even when they're nominated for a win; Crayon Pop got their break with a viral video and street performances after getting locked out of the shows. Groups like GOT7, TOPP DOGG, Fiestar and SPEED have international fans but aren't popular domestically. And so on.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Monday, 26 January 2015 19:05 (nine years ago) link
YG limits that shit b/c of affiliations they have w/ certain programs and supposed bad blood they have with others. i.e., they don't perform at things where they know they'll have a disadvantage anyway (same with the year-end shows).
and nah, PSY and choi are just old, and Seo Taiji is an actual musician with a real band, for which these shows are completely ill-equipped (busker busker also didn't bother w/ that shit). crayon pop def promotes on the shows now that they have a way in, and although all those groups don't have domestic fanbases they still perform on the shows. in korea, it's a platform you should absolutely use if you fit the mold, at the very least strategically in the way YG does.
but yeah maybe g.soul refuses to learn choreography and knows he'd be at a disadvantage without one. still think it could only help him though, and i want to see him do well...15 years...;_;
― soyrev, Tuesday, 27 January 2015 04:05 (nine years ago) link
also groups like GOT7 would kill for more domestic exposure and the CF money that entails...even groups made for the chinese market like UNIQ release korean versions first and hit the shows, korea's all about exposure and TV is the only reliable medium. (no one listens to radio)
― soyrev, Tuesday, 27 January 2015 04:08 (nine years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lse2Lix6j3k
he's back
― soyrev, Friday, 30 January 2015 06:54 (nine years ago) link
I wouldn't say no one. For one I listened to a lot of radio in Korea and radio appearances are also a mandatory part of idol promotion rounds (and something the good talkers hot from time to time).
― abcfsk, Friday, 30 January 2015 07:59 (nine years ago) link
Could be the sleep deprivation but I'm really feeling A.KOR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56AL8xnOqI
It's mixed like one of those sad 90s alternative anthems, but with a ghostly 80s synths countermelody thrown in to keep it interesting, and a key change at the end just because.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Friday, 30 January 2015 20:31 (nine years ago) link
Or something...
There's also Yongwha's multilingual (Korean-Chinese) duet with JJLin, which I'm liking for similar nostalgic reasons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUyq02k6-sE
― hurricane weather (forapper), Friday, 30 January 2015 20:35 (nine years ago) link
Hitchhiker: the return everyone (no-one) was waiting for. But that video is pretty great.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Friday, 30 January 2015 20:38 (nine years ago) link
In more indie news, trad hip hop: http://youtu.be/n-vteByk3jo
― hurricane weather (forapper), Friday, 30 January 2015 20:59 (nine years ago) link
Looks like Shinsadong Tiger wrote the A.KOR track... which explains why it's so much better than their last one
― hurricane weather (forapper), Friday, 30 January 2015 21:18 (nine years ago) link
I really like 4Minute. Most of their songs have something. Is It Poppin? was underrated. Hyuna sounds nice there. It's different http://youtu.be/DRSRpXPZVdM
Jiyoon has produced (and composed) a song on their upcoming mini. We saw her in her own little studio playing with sounds years ago - I really hope this marks the arrival of an interesting new creative force in the group.
― abcfsk, Saturday, 31 January 2015 23:50 (nine years ago) link
yeah i love "is it poppin." it was on my top 20 k-pop list of 2013 for vice.
― soyrev, Sunday, 1 February 2015 01:06 (nine years ago) link
"cold rain" is excellent too
― soyrev, Sunday, 1 February 2015 01:08 (nine years ago) link
The closest song in Kpop to Is it Poppin is After School RED - Night Sky I think http://youtu.be/63WubbkFIxo
And the closest to hitchhiker's 11 (remix) is UKISS - Top That http://youtu.be/SemnBw9T940
― hurricane weather (forapper), Sunday, 1 February 2015 01:45 (nine years ago) link
Nice Christmassy RnB song from Zion T (ft Crush) that probably should've come out a little earlier, but better late than never:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FHOigzF1Uw
Crush isn't much of a rapper, Zion T sounds great as always though
― hurricane weather (forapper), Monday, 2 February 2015 04:38 (nine years ago) link
Song's perfect with the Chicago weather right now. And Zion.T always looks so good.
― misterjoshua, Monday, 2 February 2015 18:05 (nine years ago) link
Solo album from Amber coming out next week. Super interested to see how that goes.
― misterjoshua, Monday, 2 February 2015 18:07 (nine years ago) link
Speaking of pop trot w Lizzy, the reigning queen Hong Jin Young releases a shameless sequel to 'Love Battery' that's still pretty great http://youtu.be/so9-z28EX88
― abcfsk, Wednesday, 4 February 2015 08:19 (nine years ago) link
been a slow start to the year, hasn't it? by this time last we had "fxxk u," girl's day "something," "miniskirt," some good stuff on the TVXQ album, etc...
― soyrev, Wednesday, 4 February 2015 09:02 (nine years ago) link
i went insane on this one. K-Pendium entry 2, 2NE1 "I Am The Best" http://www.k-pendium.com/002/
― soyrev, Wednesday, 4 February 2015 20:31 (nine years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9CdlrJCYAEv40Z.jpg:large
― abcfsk, Thursday, 5 February 2015 00:08 (nine years ago) link
― soyrev, Wednesday, February 4, 2015 8:31 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
that modal analysis timeline is outstanding, thank you! it's the first thing you notice about the song, it should just not work at all, but instead it is total ear-blinking fusion
― Milton Parker, Thursday, 5 February 2015 00:22 (nine years ago) link
If you go back to 2013 it was the same thing though, ballads & comfort tracks in January, cutesy pastel-colored tracks in March, a couple people trying to corner the market on 'song of the summer' in May... the machine doesn't really get going until mid-late summer and the hits tend to come out in the second half of the year.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 5 February 2015 01:10 (nine years ago) link
Cheers for the article... I thought I was done with IATB after 8,999 replays but I just added one more. It's freaky how well that song gels (and you can remix it with other songs and it will still mostly gel). Maybe it's because there's so much empty space in each layer. I remember when I first got REALLY into 2NE1 and shared their album with a drummer friend his main comment was that it was more precise/less busy than Western pop (though not as precise as Jpop).
Did you have anything to do with the Tzechar piece of investigative journalism on Vice, soyrev?
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 5 February 2015 02:17 (nine years ago) link
Found out in roundabout way that N.SONIC (remember them?) have been touring and building a fanbase in India... *ahead* of the major Kpop players. Usually the little groups play the same game as everyone else (at worse odds), so I was surprised, and kinda happy to see them being so scrappy.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 5 February 2015 02:47 (nine years ago) link
Not of interest to this board I'm sure, but I have a soft spot for N.SONIC.
(I dunno about their chances though because there's such a strong local pop scene in (parts of) India already... Every now and then I think about submitting something from the local 'desi' station to thesinglesjukebox, but when I track the songs down they're inevitably not current. Some day!)
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 5 February 2015 02:52 (nine years ago) link
thanks for the props, y'all. please do pass it around if you don't mind, more on the way soon...
hurricane, this one?
http://thump.vice.com/words/i-tracked-down-the-elusive-k-pop-remixer-tzechar
nope! predated me being aware of tzechar at all, i think. but tzechar did just float me one of the best mixes i've ever heard, and i'm hoping to do something via vice or elsewhere about it...seriously so fucking good...
― soyrev, Thursday, 5 February 2015 05:16 (nine years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCLBTmjJBY
― misterjoshua, Monday, 9 February 2015 03:11 (nine years ago) link
a lot better than similar sounding songs; the energy's really sustained throughout (sohyun omg). and bless the costume designer who wanted to incorporate health goth elements <3 <3
― misterjoshua, Monday, 9 February 2015 03:17 (nine years ago) link
really happy they didn't have brave brothers produce their lead single
― misterjoshua, Monday, 9 February 2015 03:26 (nine years ago) link
yeah they killed this one. "cold rain" is even better but this is an awesome banger. four-on-the-floor EDM build prechorus + glassbreak/reverse snare transition into that really swung beat chorus is super gratifying
― soyrev, Monday, 9 February 2015 04:04 (nine years ago) link
whole 4minute mini is really strong actually, best of year so far
― soyrev, Monday, 9 February 2015 04:58 (nine years ago) link
that was great! has Red's chant-choruses and 'castle in the sky' synth melody but it's more fun with five (and gayoon and sohyun BOTH killed their parts).
― hurricane weather (forapper), Monday, 9 February 2015 23:13 (nine years ago) link
accidentally xposted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyZJIJqx3ww
Yerin <333
― hurricane weather (forapper), Monday, 9 February 2015 23:17 (nine years ago) link
It's good but so far nothing has matched the covers she uploads on youtube or instagram.
― abcfsk, Monday, 9 February 2015 23:44 (nine years ago) link
I dunno, I think there's something to be said for originals.
And speaking of originals, here's one for EVOL watch 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZ66TiZB-E
― hurricane weather (forapper), Monday, 9 February 2015 23:46 (nine years ago) link
misterjoshua, I'm reading that Gayoon was the style director on CRAZY <3
― hurricane weather (forapper), Tuesday, 10 February 2015 00:46 (nine years ago) link
Dalmation/DMTN lives too! http://youtu.be/AJ29X5Dwang
I'm into this trend of talented people from failed idol groups going solo
― hurricane weather (forapper), Tuesday, 10 February 2015 04:33 (nine years ago) link
Will also agree with the "there's something to be said for originals" sentiment. Song's nice, not sure if I vibe with Kanto's part thoguh. But maybe that's just because he has such a recognizable voice. Digging that EvoL song as well despite how straightforward it is. And pretty awesome to hear Gayoon played a part in the costuming ahh
― misterjoshua, Tuesday, 10 February 2015 04:55 (nine years ago) link
And yeah whoa definitely feeling that KIXS song. fun video too. I also absolutely love San E so much. He's proving to be the only Korean rapper that has a sort of personality that I care about. You look at him and you can just tell he's a goofy guy, and dude really sells it on every song he's on. love the outtakes in the video for A Midsummer Night's Sweetness (acoustic).
― misterjoshua, Tuesday, 10 February 2015 05:06 (nine years ago) link
There's something to be said for originals but none of the originals have been good enough.. she's got the greatest voice in k-pop and the composers should work to bring it out.
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 10 February 2015 07:54 (nine years ago) link
Another good low-key JP AS release
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWScSWtG6IU
― abcfsk, Tuesday, 10 February 2015 23:23 (nine years ago) link
Seems too simple, but charming.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 12 February 2015 02:32 (nine years ago) link
Michin geotcheoreom, geurae michin geotcheoreom
VS
Nan nappeun gijibae, na- nan nappeun gijibae
?
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 12 February 2015 02:36 (nine years ago) link
4minute's opener "Call Me" is even more indebted to Baddest Female... that song was really ahead of its time, huh.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 12 February 2015 02:37 (nine years ago) link
^^Cut it Out, not Call Me
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 12 February 2015 02:38 (nine years ago) link