yeh the coverage has been a lil strange
xp that sunmi song rules
― nxd, Wednesday, 27 March 2019 09:36 (five years ago) link
re coverage: I think it's because it wasn't a single exposé that revealed everything or a scandal that was focused on a particular issue - it started with a brawl at a club, and unfolded in fits and starts to uncover all manner of wrongdoing in Seoul's celebrity/party/business circles. The central figure in all of the stories is Big Bang's Seungri, who straddles all of these worlds - on top of being part of one of Korea's biggest and most-loved boy groups, he owns a successful ramen chain and has a reputation as a party boy. So all of the reporting has ultimately been about him really, even as it has engulfed other pop stars/celebs.
I will say that as a former Big Bang obsessive, nothing that has come out about Seungri has been particularly surprising, other than being baffled by why he thought it was a good idea to go so far in the first place. I'm just looking back at stuff I wrote in 2012-13 in which I had described him variously as: "a frat douche", "a skirtchaser", "an uncontrollable freak" and "a sociopath" - like even though I was half-joking in most of these, the signs were always there.
I'm mostly heartbroken for the young women and teenagers who worshipped these guys - it's always a huge betrayal when you find out your favourite artist are secretly terrible people. weirdly, it hasn't affected me that much but I've gone off Big Bang quite a bit in the past few years (plus, I think after Jesse Lacey/Brand New, I've come to expect that bands/male artists that mean a lot to me will probably disappoint me eventually).
― Roz, Wednesday, 27 March 2019 14:32 (five years ago) link
artists*
― Roz, Wednesday, 27 March 2019 14:36 (five years ago) link
Another distinct female rapper hitting it big... outside of all the shitty news stories 2019 is a good year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcpHE-BpGHAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBBQNCDzeYo
― abcfsk, Sunday, 31 March 2019 15:58 (five years ago) link
For posterity, and for purely selfish reasons (as I’m in a country rn that won’t allow to see YouTube links): what songs are those?
― breastcrawl, Sunday, 31 March 2019 16:12 (five years ago) link
allow *me
― breastcrawl, Sunday, 31 March 2019 16:14 (five years ago) link
Swervy, young rapper and recent signee on Paloalto's label Hi-Lite, and her debut single "Red Lite", and the new collab single with the rest of the label's crew, "Hi-Lite Sign", which is rising on the charts
― abcfsk, Sunday, 31 March 2019 21:45 (five years ago) link
Thank you - hopefully the tracks will be on Spotify soon...
― breastcrawl, Monday, 1 April 2019 00:30 (five years ago) link
recently kpop has been really quite uninteresting unfortunately but there's finally something of note
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P87gzqWr1_U
Lim Kim finally returns with this weird rap track in english that doesn't bare any resemblance to her previous work! i'm not sure how to feel about it but it's at least interesting
― ufo, Friday, 24 May 2019 05:48 (five years ago) link
Love the synth bass on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1taLXjVxB4UWeki Meki • Picky Picky
(from the Songs of the Summer 2019 thread, where it was posted by eric)
― breastcrawl, Monday, 10 June 2019 20:03 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBnGBb1wg98
new Red Velvet summer single "Zimzalabim" is all over the place, idk what to make of it yet. the production is quite fun but it doesn't really end up cohering into much and isn't that hooky?
― ufo, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 09:54 (four years ago) link
^ i feel pretty much the same. what a mess.
― fragglerock, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 10:07 (four years ago) link
yeah it's a mess even by kpop kitchen sink pop standards. i feel like with a better structure and a proper chorus it could have been good, there's enough good ideas in the production, but it doesn't amount to much at all as it is. a real shame after how great "Sappy" was
― ufo, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 10:34 (four years ago) link
It'll prob never happen but I would die for a Sunmi + Chungha collab.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycYLPbtxU1Q
― Roz, Thursday, 27 June 2019 14:42 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deV_DmHKwjc
on that note, seems that 90's r&b is this year's summer trend
― ufo, Thursday, 27 June 2019 14:45 (four years ago) link
xpost woops wrong link although that (G)I-DLE song is good too! Snapping was what I meant to post lol
― Roz, Thursday, 27 June 2019 14:46 (four years ago) link
yeah i like both, Soyeon and Chungha are both real stars
― ufo, Thursday, 27 June 2019 14:53 (four years ago) link
I wrote a bit about Seungri over on Frank's livejournal, like Roz I was surprised by the extent of Seungri's actual crimes but not that we was involved in unsavory stuff in some way (https://koganbot.dreamwidth.org/373664.html)
Also in small world news, our boy Jakob is out here getting interviewed by the Reacttothek youtube folks, but I think the interview is locked to their Patreon supporters. Maybe only of interest to a small circle of people anyway...
I haven't been around at all this year because I was so disappointed in myself for not recommending Heize's Jenga for the 2018 year-end poll, and then I didn't like most of the big singles. But maybe there will be something in this post that draws me back in.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Wednesday, 3 July 2019 14:59 (four years ago) link
Will this work? Let's see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDKrFJ3mq3E
― hurricane weather (forapper), Wednesday, 3 July 2019 15:05 (four years ago) link
From the end of that interview, described as following the emo-rap trend, but with like RnB instead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8mF7CBVCf4
Jakob says the rapper sounds like he's almost screaming, but I think he sounds like he needs to clear his throat... maybe needs to watch his technique or he won't have any voice left soon.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Wednesday, 3 July 2019 15:46 (four years ago) link
Apparently Day6 is touring. My 13yo asked if she go to the gig. Duh
― nathom, Wednesday, 3 July 2019 16:52 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EfjXQgE1e8
Baek never disappoints; jazz watch 2019
― hurricane weather (forapper), Thursday, 11 July 2019 04:05 (four years ago) link
Love this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-iJZ0gfKPo
― Roz, Friday, 26 July 2019 00:57 (four years ago) link
Not sure where else to post this but I love this vietnamese track, thought folks here might enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU4s65RAAKQ
― Will (kruezer2), Tuesday, 30 July 2019 19:02 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHS9E6JFja8
new red velvet "umpah umpah" is a big improvement over "zimzalabim", not really up with their best but considering how dull this year's generally been i'll happily take this
― ufo, Monday, 19 August 2019 23:59 (four years ago) link
God, that Toc Tien track rules.
― emil.y, Tuesday, 20 August 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
Really the only track I like this year is Baekhyun's "UN Village" and the only Mini I like is his mini "City Lights"!
I mean, I stopped listening actively to Kpop but still.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bck8PTQGujo
― hurricane weather (forapper), Wednesday, 28 August 2019 13:26 (four years ago) link
the only track i really love from this year has been red velvet's "sappy". feels like everything's even more caught up in bland trop house than before so i've been increasingly uninterested
― ufo, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 13:36 (four years ago) link
for me it's mostly just been
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bRyQbD9U9c
― lowercase (eric), Wednesday, 28 August 2019 13:47 (four years ago) link
feeling “UN Village” and “Love Talk”, thanks for those!
― breastcrawl, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 21:43 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ymwOvzhwHs
twice go deep house on "feel special", it's fun enough
― ufo, Monday, 23 September 2019 09:30 (four years ago) link
OKAY there are TWO tracks I like this year... one is Baekhyun's UN Village and the other is GWSN's The Interpretation of Dreams!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_j8OKeZMHg
It's a throwback to the alt-RnB sound Kpop had in 2012-2013 and I'm here for it.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Sunday, 6 October 2019 19:08 (four years ago) link
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191014008551315
RIP Sulli, f(x) were the greatest so this is very sad
it's being investigated if her death was suicide and i've seen some places claim to confirm that it was, which would be extremely tragic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnku4o3tRB4
― ufo, Monday, 14 October 2019 11:15 (four years ago) link
Just saw this news, so heartbreaking. f(x) were indeed the greatest. :(
― Roz, Monday, 14 October 2019 12:29 (four years ago) link
Yeah, rip :( The Pink Tape is the best k-pop album, and one of the very best pop albums of the decade, imo.
― Frederik B, Monday, 14 October 2019 12:42 (four years ago) link
"Airplane" still rules
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70MBQrlsr_M
I always felt bad for Sulli, she was treated very badly by the Korean press over her dating "scandal" and basically not fitting in the image her label had crafted for her.
― Roz, Monday, 14 October 2019 12:48 (four years ago) link
yeah if it is indeed suicide it would unfortunately be not that surprising considering all the ridiculous shit she's had to deal with from the public and the press on top of her struggles with anxiety and depression
― ufo, Monday, 14 October 2019 12:56 (four years ago) link
Just watched this from June, have people seen this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5uE7KDkDFE
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Tuesday, 15 October 2019 13:18 (four years ago) link
I'm sad about Sulli.
There's a photo that circulated a while back, of f(x) on the set of variety show A Song for You on their press junket for.... I can't remember? The one before 4walls.
Anyway the episode was edited to make it look like Sulli was not there, only the other four were. And they laugh and joke like everything's fine. But in the photo Sulli is sitting right next to them on set, basically catatonic/too depressed to function.
I think about this often because it shows the gap between image and reality. And Sulli more than others really suffered from this gap, I think.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Wednesday, 16 October 2019 03:21 (four years ago) link
Hmm I found the clip - they were promoting Rum Pum Pum Pum just before Sulli's break from the group in 2014. Anyway out of respect I don't really want to link to the video but you can find it on omonatheydidn't by searching "f(x) a song for you".
Anyway the heartless capitalist logic... the social media logic... the entertainment industry logic of always needing to pretend that you are fine. And if you are not fine, well then, you simply won't appear at all.
RIP Sulli.
― hurricane weather (forapper), Wednesday, 16 October 2019 03:32 (four years ago) link
p basic but i really like ladies code 'set me free'
http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gif0f4_1z2w
― oscar bravo, Thursday, 31 October 2019 18:12 (four years ago) link
also i was only so so on 'bon bon chocolat' so ended up being a couple of months late on everglow's follow up but i really like 'Adios' even though i get the urge to sing a speeded up 'god rest ye merry gentlemen' over the chorus break
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gX_p1VkgA4
― oscar bravo, Friday, 1 November 2019 17:01 (four years ago) link
didn't see it mention on this thread but one of my favourites from early in the year is mamamoo 'gogobebe'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp56JdkmE9s
― oscar bravo, Thursday, 7 November 2019 16:52 (four years ago) link
1 billion views (in 18 months) for BLACKPINK's "The Ddu-Du Song"
"Blackpink are the first K-pop band to join YouTube's 'billion views club'"- https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50405408
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHNzOHi8sJs
Looks like everyone has been hit with that ddu-du.
So, tell me... Have they hit you with that ddu-du?
― sbahnhof, Wednesday, 13 November 2019 22:55 (four years ago) link
I am far from a scholar but this strikes me as a C+ jam at best
― Simon H., Wednesday, 13 November 2019 23:16 (four years ago) link
Rene bae has taken over my ig, don’t even know why
― June Pointer’s Valentine’s Day Secret Admirer Note Author (calstars), Wednesday, 13 November 2019 23:19 (four years ago) link
iirc the favourite blackpink tracks here are "whistle" and "if its your last" which are both fantastic. "ddu-du ddu-du" is still as mediocre as it was on release
― ufo, Wednesday, 13 November 2019 23:44 (four years ago) link
i like 'kill this love' a lot as well as 'ddu-du' and 'whistle'.
from earlier in the year i like hwash's solo 'twit'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScSn235gQx0
also oneus 'twilight'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Njp-J2s5uw
― oscar bravo, Thursday, 14 November 2019 16:26 (four years ago) link
*hwasa not hwash
― oscar bravo, Thursday, 14 November 2019 19:46 (four years ago) link
ddu du ddu du is a perfect storm of easily replicable song-specific dance, killer video (fennec fox! disco ball tank!) and a good jam, all of which travels well. not surprised it hit hard.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Friday, 15 November 2019 17:38 (four years ago) link
i like "psycho" a lot but it's still only their second or third best single of the year
― ufo, Tuesday, 24 December 2019 11:34 (four years ago) link
I couldn't get into any of their other singles this year, sadly. Really like "Psycho", but I would - "Bad Boy" is my favourite track of theirs and this is fairly close to it.
Meanwhile, horrifying details about Wendy's onstage accident at SBS' Gayo Daejun: https://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/25230978.html#comments#comments
She fractured her right pelvis and wrist and cracked her right cheekbone. She also suffered multiple bruises all over her body. It is expected that it will take months to recover. She's currently in a hospital in Seoul undergoing a thorough inspection. The swelling is so severe that it's impossible to give an accurate diagnosis.
Music aside, 2019 really feels like all of the worst aspects of k-pop coming to the fore. :(
― Roz, Friday, 27 December 2019 17:35 (four years ago) link
"sappy" is one of my absolute favourites of theirs and "umpah umpah" was solid. "zimzalabim" was a total mess though.
i hope wendy recovers well and that this incident can lead to some of the necessary changes in the industry so that actually caring about the safety of idols, and everyone else, can become important. seems unlikely though :/
― ufo, Friday, 27 December 2019 22:30 (four years ago) link
rolling kpop 2020
made a new thread at last
― ufo, Wednesday, 5 February 2020 10:36 (four years ago) link