K-pop

16-07-2010 Taeyang - I Need A Girl (1 week on top) -- youtube.com/watch?v=nWq4evFjYrU

Seductive rnb which follows in the wake of other 'soft men' rnb singers who are not so much demanding that girls come to them, as pleading that they give them a chance, promising the earth and the stars. He wants "a girl who's good at eating the kimchi fried rice I make" instead of one who's making it for him. And he's making a potent distinction in saying, "even though we've got different interests, we share the same taste". Lovely stuff. Dara from 2NE1 plays the arrogant, dangerously beautiful 'girl' in the video. 9/10

23-07-2010 miss A - Bad Girl Good Girl (1 week on top) -- youtube.com/watch?v=o7f3lx9fNfE

Rookie girl group. I didn't like the song at firs, found it anonymous-sounding, but then I didn't really listen to it. The sound is nothing too original, sure, but there's a conviction to the delivery and a power behind the words. And twas the lyrics which made me want to give the song a second chance -- they're taking names and calling out hypocrisy and I find myself thinking of these girls as the real deal. 8/10

06-08-2010 SHINee - Lucifer (1 week on top) -- youtube.com/watch?v=Dww9UjJ4Dt8

The third installment in our autotune trilogy and a real hot mess. There's not a trace of melody here, and I can't think of many songs as extreme as this charting anywhere. But this time it's too hectic, too inaccessible, too unfriendly. The fans must see it differently. 5/10

13-07-2010 BoA - Hurricane Venus (3 consecutive weeks on top) -- youtube.com/watch?v=vz7Gstx5ogk

How sweet to end this round-up with BoA, and to see her successful in Korea again after five years in Japan (with a short American stay). I prefer her in RnB mode, but Hurricane Venus flaunts a huge chorus, and BoA sells it. The live performances have been stunning and worth the entry price no matter the song-- her stage presence and dance moves are second to none in the world of pop. 7/10

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And those are the Music Bank winners. Disappointingly some of my favorite hits hadn't actually won, but that was that.

great work! after all that, the ones that I ended up getting:

big bang - sunset glow
SNSD - gee
IU & Seulong - nagging
taeyang - I need a girl

think I need to come back to this and go through the songs more thoroughly. but for the moment, I am k-pooped.

Will wait for abcfsk to weigh in on the 2NE1 three-in-one-day onslaught before trying to form my own opinion, but just want to link the tag for the K-pop discussions we've been having on my lj, if anyone wants to join in.

For reference, the three singles and music videos they released in one day are:

Go Away - youtube.com/watch?v=3yW13T2sfKg
Clap Your Hands - youtube.com/watch?v=ZTw-UM5Jy4E
Can't Nobody - youtube.com/watch?v=Ihi_kJJj_8A

I listened to the album a few times before I watched the videos so I've had some time with the songs. At first I had to accept that they're not really the pure hip-hop/rnb group of 'I Don't Care', but a uniquely Korean urban brand of their own. "A sound that's not quite anything I've ever heard" as Frank says. 'Go Away's bittersweet and catchy melody makes it the most straightforward of the three songs, so it's no wonder it gets a story MV. 'Clap Your Hands' is, I think, my favorite, and it stands among their best songs. The fluid way it morphs from the snake-like autotune verses to the chorus and the rap parts. I might form more rational thoughts after a while, but for now I guess it's just got a certain "I don't know what" that makes me play it on repeat.

That one and 'Can't Nobody' would fall spectacularly flat, I feel, if they were performed by less aggressive artists. You have to fight hard to stand out as personalities among all the production tricks and vocal effects. But these girls do, and they are, and as a result I think they're one of the most constantly stimulating groups in k-pop (or pop in general) so far in their short career. I've been excited to see the reception these songs get, cause they're potentially very marmite-y tunes aren't they?

Promoting three title tracks at once seems like a mental idea to me, but so far the sales have been huge. All three performed live today: http://www.allkpop.com/2010/09/2ne1-returns-with-triple-hit-stages-on-inkigayo

'go away' is pretty massive, does she say 'han solo' and 'beyonce' in her verses?? could do without the scenes of domestic violence in the MV though

my facebook feed is blowing up with people sharing these 2ne1 videos, btw - feels like a huge event

"Fiance? Beyonce - I'm walking out on destiny." is what I hear. The video is quite violent isn't it, and the debate has been raging about who dies at the end of it. First it seems only her car blows up, but then both are engulfed in flames--- but THEN, as the girls walk away, supposedly only his car is burning in the background, and CL's participation was a fantasy.. because she let his sorry as go and doesn't care anymore. Who knows.

If you haven't checked out the album you might also be interested in the English version of 'Can't Nobody' youtube.com/watch?v=8A5Kz3n5C1k

was there ever a mecha-hiphop subgenre that ever took off other than that Taekwon-V single?

^ Same label as 2NE1. I don't think so, that would be most welcome. Spiritually I guess you could say that yes, many artists today sound like half robot hiphoppers.

Also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLcZlDMKCqk

don't know what's gonna come out of this. Nervous, cautiously optimistic.

i guess they're referencing irreplaceable then?

Beyonce leaving Destiny's Child is the pun, surely.

Here's a slice of meta-k-pop, one of the first I've come across. San E is slightly reminiscent of early Eminem in delivery and humour, including some jabs at girl groups (but featuring a member of one). The English subtitles are from the official channel, albeit clearly written down in a hurry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jx3qP9LiqI

You have to launch it in its own tab/window to see the subtitles, it seems.

If you're interested in a quick overview of what's selling in Korea right now, this youtube channel does a nice job of presenting the combined digital single sales, weekly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5keJyNlw8w

New BoA single

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJwIMW7jTIA

No matter the song there's no one I'd rather see on stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTnwjlDhAY4

released today, apparently. percussion reminds me of swizz beatz. a little, at least.

That's a catchy tune, I think this group is finding their place and aren't sounding like all the others at the moment. Probably the strongest 2010 girl group debut. I see their label JYP now subs all the new video releases in English on their official channel. Recall that 2NE1's label YG is now going to upload their TV show "2NE1 TV" on youtube with subs, as well. Performance show 'Music Bank' has recently started reading international twitter requests (in English) to the artists, in an effort to reach out to the global audience. In the past year they've really become aware of the power of the international fanbase, doing things like this and releasing stuff on Itunes internationally by default.

And on that note, ANOTHER new girl group tries out a different strategy, debuting in Korea and America at the same time:

http://www.allkpop.com/2010/09/upcoming-girl-group-rania-to-debut-in-both-america-and-korea

I feel Hyunah's "Change" live routine is Electrik Red's "We Fuck You" as interprative dance. Either way it's one of the best live performances of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0w5Vdl02lo

Video makes it even more... direct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCMlVS-66hw

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

K-pop history: In 1992 "Seo Taiji Boys" debuted and changed the industry in every conceivable way. In this clip they perform on a talent show and are promptly given two thumbs down by a stern jury:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC7yS0kpHWM

... but this is the template, the blueprint, through which k-pop as a sound and identity was created. You hear it today, not only in hip hop groups, not only in male groups, but from more or less all artists on the chart. Taiji is to many The icon or the founding father of Korean pop. (One of the other three members is Yang Hyun Suk, the current chief of YG Entertainment where Big Bang, Se7en and 2NE1 are signed.)

The group's explosive popularity upended censorship laws and norms both on and off scene. Their blend of dance pop and hip hop is why even most cutesy girl groups today have a dedicated rapper. Even stately ballads have rap parts! Electro-club-hip-hop still dominates among both girl and boy groups.

any speculation on why their use of metal didn't carry over to the rest of the genre?

also does anyone have more info on the anti-beef imports DBSK beef? (I saw it mentioned in businessweek of all places)

I don't know why, exactly, but plenty of other 'noisy' elements seem to have replaced it.

The beef details escape me, but you should know that DBSK's fan club ('Cassies') is the craziest and most zealous fan club among countless crazy and zealous k-pop fan clubs. Those girls are dangerous, and to get what they want they organize and demand it. The group members themselves had nothing to do with, it was a case of angry forum discussion among the club members leading to organized protests. And Koreans are very defensive about their beef.

the only reference i saw online had some group member being poisoned with krazy glue slipped into their drink.

Oh yes, an anti-fan of DBSK's Yunho, a schoolgirl, gave him a glue-poisoned drink. He ended up in hospital, it was bad. He decided to not press charges because she was the same age as his sister. The fans were less forgiving--- "yunho oppa, i will poison and kill that fucking ugly girl that poisoned you. she must rot and die in hell" reads one Youtube comment. It's probably the most severe case of k-pop antis acting out on their fucked up ideas, although sending a blood-stained letter to SNSD's Yoona doescome close.

this was all over a beef protest the group had nothing to do with? what happens when a group does get politically active?

No, that had nothing to do with the beef thing. The beef thing did not create any backlash against the group. This is the note the homicidal hater delivered along with the poison:

To, Jung Yunho

You watch your mouth!! Ever since the debut you were so stuck up. You won't last after a couple years... You would be forever seen as some teen idol, not a real singer. Do you know your limit? Only little kids like you!... I really want to kill you.

PSY signs with YG and gets a bigger sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmHdefsaL6I

SNSD "Hoot"

Catchy, autotune-free, interesting chorus. Music video tomorrow.
----

Will.I.Am must've gotten inspired working with 2NE1. His new video with Nicki Minaj is Koreanified up the wazoo. http://community.livejournal.com/omonatheydidnt/4907406.html

Maybe Korean is the new Japanese in terms of pop culture adaptation ala Gwen Stefani's "let's put some japanese girls up in here".

On today's charts SNSD is #1 in Japan with Gee and #1 in Korea with Hoot. Historical feat in many ways!

SNSD 'Hoot' video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4-SxcCO5d0

Now for something completely different

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xwI8GLwqjQ

This tune's got a pretty great one minute long climax at the end

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy2szffdMSI

the first k-pop song I've really liked in weeeks! love the soaring chorus.

however, this group seems to be composed of the can't dance rejects from the higher echelons.

those guitars in the chorus are a good look

I love the style switchups - starts out with club banger synths, then transitions into an anthemic 'go away' type song

Yes. And I like a good balls-out break-less ending.

The new KARA is a pure crowd-pleaser, which is the path they should go down as a fairly nondescript group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIl-Vl1n1m4

Let's try that again

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

I seriously cannot stop listening to the nothing lasts forever song. so exuberant! I wish the music video matched the sense of melancholy present in the song, but it's about partying.

It is pretty great, and such a huge surprise/turnaround since the group debuted earlier this year with shit no-one cared about. You can always watch the live performances -- they sing well, and do a weird splits sequence, even if the dance is otherwise amateurish.

oh lord at the splits sequence

disappointed they didn't strap on guitars midway through!

Liking this Gummy - There Is No Love (live)

An absolute smash hit from 2NE1. Supposedly a song made for Yamaha as a commercial soundtrack thing, but I hope this gets the proper treatment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5ekB4l-6wg

have to wonder, is this current phase of k-pop running out of steam?

^ you say that after that BANGER?

Well yeah, 2009 was a peak year and set so many milestones that 2010 has ended up as a "well, shall we try to do that again?" year. A very attentive global WWW audience has worked with the same zealous force as Bieber fans in pushing videos to the 'most viewed' section of Youtube and artists to Twitter TT, and we've seen a successful move into Japan and a potentially lucrative future. But the music has felt less eventful than the stories. Meanwhile, those who have actually taken different paths have silently found a bigger success -- group member gone solo Ga-In, who was cheeky enough to take some control herself and put out a record with an oddly fully-fledged tango pop sound, did a lot better than her company expected and reached #1. Secret went the Rich Harrison-route, a sound no one else is doing in k-pop now, and took off, despite a low-key media presence. Countless new rookie groups who have copied others with a lot of attention given to them, meanwhile, have failed sales-wise. That should be a wake-up call.

Prospects: Big Bang is coming back, partly this december and fully in February. They're increasingly self-made, songwriting and producing much of the material themselves now and with the rest of the YG artists represent a more feel-good view of the k-pop industry. Koreas (potential) Taylor Swift (credit: me) IU is coming back in a WEEK and I have no idea what it will sound like, but if it isn't guitar-driven and if she hasn't been given a chance at songwriting herself (obviously something she can do as per her cover arrangements) I might give up on the industry. God knows she's got the potential to single-handedly change it and inspire a flood of self-made girls/ labels giving them a chance, because every little 'featuring' she's had on a song this year has made it reach #1. She's definitely one of the most valuable assets for the industry.

I think that's where it needs to go: Stronger personalities and characters, not another girl group made of long-legged models with 10 members who don't even have the dance/vocal skills we always knew we'd get in k-pop (*cough* Nine Muses) - and I do love k-pop girl groups. But there's a reason the buyers prefer 2NE1, or Taeyang, or this year's "Korean Idol" winners. And I do think it's where they will go, because the industry's turnaround rate is pretty impressive. It's only a few years ago when girl groups were all out of fashion.

My personal best of 2010 list soon.

yeah, the asian penchant for copying things to death is well known. I'm excited for IU - I only have that one song she did with 2AM, but it's fabulous. one of my students was really excited about her because of the reasons you mentioned.

And this gorgeous duet she did with the mellowest voice in Korea. His is the sound of cream poured over strawberries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcQ7YBjb89A

is there any kind of NK-pop scene? (state sponsored or otherwise)
the last article i read about refugees only had a snippet about a kind of tacitly approved black market in chinese pop stars for DPRK ex-pats.