K-pop

So, Big Bang's new mini-album. Quoth descriptivist above, "Are these solo projects just so Big Bang can keep doing what it's doing without stifling its members?" It seems like that is the plan: Solo / side-projects: Let them do what they want, experiment according to taste and curiosity, get Diplo to do a single, whatever--- Big Bang as a group: Play it safe, give the fans what they expect. Lead single "Tonight" is a bit disappointing -- pretty, but not huge and meaty like, say, 'Sunset Glow', and it sounds much like their recent Japanese output.

But it's popular. It's currently at #12 on the American main iTunes album chart. A new high for an all-Korean album, surely?

Disappointing is the word. It's "Lies" + Seungri's "What Can I Do" + echoes of "Mazeltov" aka the WORST K-pop boy band song!!! And I thought we weren't doing Autotune any more. (I do like that in the MV they let the least sexy member have the (implied) sex scene.) But I missed Daesung's voice so I'm hoping the rest of the songs are a bit more listenable.

Have Korean albums always been available through iTunes or is this a new thing? Because given the recent increase of articles on the rise of K-pop overseas via the internet, I think appearances by Korean albums on the American digital sales charts can only increase.

I have to say that I've been hoping some more stranger elements of kpop gain traction overseas, maybe provoking something maybe not so much as embarrassment, but an internal re-evaluation of what is culturally valuable. this might be a false hope because in the other direction, glenn branca isn't as much a household name in SK as yngvie malmsteen.

I think in order for that to happen, at least from my North American frame of reference, K-pop would have to jump, if not knock down, the "other countries are so weird and different" hurdle that's been set up here - otherwise, audiences and critics are more likely to perceive the differences ("haha, we're not that weird") than the similarities ("oh, that's what our popular music sounds like to other cultures...hmm"). For some reason the only example that comes to mind is Dragostea Din Tei, which became known here not because it held up a mirror to the North American boy-band craze, but because its hook sounded so hilarious.

I wonder if the Korean diaspora and the huge online communities would make a difference on the mainstream perception of a weird k-pop tune making waves. Pushed from the inside. The k-artists who have tried have more or less attempted to be an exact mirror image of American pop, or just quite bland (Wonder Girls).

'Tonight' ended up peaking at #6 on itunes, but has fallen a lot since, and I don't know how many albums are sold on itunes. Anyone know any figures for a typical weekly #1? Impressive, anyway. I think some companies, like SM Ent, were quick to offer their music internationally on iTunes, with others coming along. I even find some stuff on Spotify, now.

@descriptivist loads of kpop stuff is available via itunes, but they've never been actually promoted or even mentioned. i usually search for artists by searching for one of their tracks that had an english title in korea... kpop artists' data in itunes is not very clean, so searching for the band doesn't always gets you results.

anyway, i checked in after i found this
japanese version of beast's shock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDKjdBus4xs

Just for laughs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpXJJ71OxAA

^The tables have turned.

This one isn't plagiarism - LPG got the rights to do a remake of 'We No Speak Americano'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ofAaHwrN5A&feature=player_embedded

and I confess a weakness for the sunny sounds of Infinite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpT4EkgSIQg

New Girl's Day song, "Twinkle Twinkle". It's certainly no "Nothing Lasts Forever", but it's kind of nice, in the same vein as "Rock U"/"Honey"-era KARA. Orange Caramel proves there's a market for this stuff, but I'm not sure how, well, relevant it is right now. (Someone want to jump in with a counterexample?) At least we find out that previously mute member Yura (the blonde one) is actually the rapper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEEIN-mtN6c

Yeah, sounds a bit like Kara. I don't know if Orange Caramel are comparable.. they sold that crazy aesthetic more than the songs (which I kinda like). But in the aftermath of Orange Caramel, hardly any girl group have gone for cutesy songs NOR silly cute costumes. Now Orange Caramel is coming back (...again) and they've dropped the kids stuff in favor of silly fashion-y costumes.

Quite like new girl group Chi Chi's debut single, Don't Play Around. The "I'm gonna break you" reminds me of E.Via's Shake, but otherwise the chorus reminds me of another song, possibly non-kpop. Any help?

Maybe the middle eight (which, say, 4minute would have made a full song out of) is meant to acknowledge current trends/add an edge? It's true that even Orange Caramel is no longer doing Orange Caramel.

I dig the new girl's day track!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7aFRaKyTfo

Some euro dance, courtesy of Orange Caramel: Bangkok City

As per the discussion of Girl's Day's "Twinkle Twinkle" above, here's some more girl groups getting sexy/adult. First, 4minute's comeback, "Mirror Mirror":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbXMJuzebOI

And then there's Rania's "Dr. Feel Good", which is also of note because this group has been trying to debut for at least a year. They're produced by Teddy Riley and, if I recall correctly, were slated to debut in the U.S. and Korea at the same time, though I'm assuming that plan has been scaled back. Either way, I'm hoping this song is gonna be huge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aEZJz2c-Vw

Ok, the more I listen to that 4minute song the more I realize it's a damn mess.

Yeah I've held back on scoring Mirror Mirror because I've come to love k-pop tracks that seem like a damn mess before, but I'm not sure about this one. Some good parts, though - I really like the keoura-keoura keoura-keoura of the chorus.

The Rania girls are hot. I wonder if the video will get any rotation on TV.

that twangy synth sounds straight lifted from like a g6... seems like they're mining that song pretty heavily (iirc the double bubble song or w/e also pretty directly references it)

haha the dr feel good video reminds me of those nudie pens that you turn upside down

Feel Good live @ M!Countdown

Killing those moves... but I'm not convinced any lines were sung live.

Endless stream of new releases. Summary:

Big Bang - Love Song
Big Bang - Stupid Liar
New rnb group Brave Girls
Rainbow - To Me
English version of 2NE1's Can't Nobody video

Kim Greem - a lot more 'self-made' artists are finding themselves at the top of charts in the aftermath of 'Superstar K', a Korean Pop Idol-ish show. Ironically, perhaps.
Jang Jae In is another star from the same show.

SHOW ME THE RECEIPTS/MR REMOVED!
Maybe when Rania's dance gets banned they'll be able to put more energy into singing...For a debut stage I think they should have at least done the improvisations at the end live to prove they can, but w/e.

Is this the "rock sound" G-Dragon's been promising? urrrrgh

The first thing I learned about k-pop was to not take promises about how songs would sound seriously. "This girl group will do hip hop a-capella" -> proceeds to release generic electro pop track. "This release will show fans a shocking transformation" -> same old shit.

I can answer my own question from upthread as to whether the latest Lee Jung Hyun album is worth investigating. Sadly, it isn't. Sounds really generic, unfortunately.

Shame.

Mnet have started a performance show, Club MRoot, seemingly in response to complaints that there are no real places for indie bands to show themselves off http://www.allkpop.com/2011/04/10cm-monni-mate-no-reply-perform-on-mnets-club-mroot

I'm not a big indie rock listener in general, but some of these bands have got a nice pop sensibility and what I'd call a very Asian (J-rock-ish) sense of melody. This seems like a nice show, anyway, a good idea.

Bonus: SNSD - Run Devil Run Japanese video, released later this month with their first original Japanese track, Mr Taxi.

Debut of (overhyped?) boy group Block B: Don't Move

I actually get more out of this song by pretending it's Big Bang's comeback and their whole "rock phase" (where "rock" = post-2000 U2) never existed.

Another so-called hip hop group that ends up being totally generic electro crap.

Ahaha, the Love Song video has been released and it's U2 as well! Here.

Gotta say.. I enjoy the new Dal Shabet single more than any other E-Tribe production in a long time. They're often too clever for their own good with the awkward structures and general mayhem of their compositions, and maybe that's the case here as well, but it's prettier this time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Foi2dmN0r4

As far as cutesy rookie groups go, Dal Shabet was made instantly irrelevant when A Pink made their debut in 'SNSD four years ago'-mode. The packaging is way too sickly sweet, but it's an undeniably catchy song and I think they've got an enthusiastic fanbase already.

But let's talk about f(x). How can they sound so f(x)-like on each single when they change producers all the time? The group's got a real strong identity - do any artists sound like them in Korea or elsewhere? - and that's without just copying their recipe each time.

Nu ABO is one of the great k-pop singles, in my opinion, and it's co-written with a Scandinavian team and SM Ent's representative producer Yoo Young-jin, who said in an interview about the fascinating co-op process:

Sometimes I take the sub-melody in the original composition and make it the main melody, or even make a new one from scratch. If a song has a great overall flow but a weak climax, I make it stronger. For example, [Korean girl band f(x) member] Luna's singing part in the latter part of "Nu ABO" -- that part changes the entire flow of the track. But the way it breaks the original flow and changes to a completely different vibe with a definite impact -- I think that is the style of Korean pop music.

Their new single Danger... I really like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKS12iGFyEA

New SNSD JP joint / 'dance video' for Mr Taxi
Enjoyed the dance.

SM Town World Tour(SNSD, Shinee, TVXQ, SuperJunior, f(x)) will be the first big k-pop show in Europe - at Zenith de Paris, capacity ~7000 people.

I think SM underestimated the k-pop interest in Europe and especially France, because the tickets went on sale today and were sold out within 40 minutes. On ebay now up to 400€.

I may be holding the fort here alone, but we're experience the best month of the year. After School released what is, after initial disappointment that it wasn't Bang! 2.0, surely one of the grooviest summer jams we'll see this season.

After School - 'Shampoo', the most unswerving extended metaphor of the pop year

experiencing*

ha, I'm reading! haven't really been impressed with any of the stuff lately. feel like K-pop might have run its track? dunno

Dunno, 2010 had a slow start but the 2nd half made it top 2009. 2011 has had a slow start but this month rocked. Did you listen to 'Shampoo'? Gorgeous.

okay yeah I dig this. those are gorgeous synths.

my friend just sent me this from 2009

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

what are the k-pop classics of yore?

Love that track and that dance. Jay Park sounds quite a bit like Taeyang on his new mini-album 'Take a Deeper Look', which you should check out. He's released two videos, Tonight and Abandoned.

'Ma Boy' by this Sistar sub-unit is has grown on me so much, one of my favorites of the year now. Sexiest K-pop rnb EVER (assisted by body waves). Here's the video.

First single from new 2NE1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n4V3lGEyG4

Won't be promoted, so it's just a buzz single

Posting the weekly Gaon digital numbers now that they've started providing them

1. Yim Jae-Bum - 너를 위해 339,398 HOT
2. After School - Shampoo 334,252 UP
3. Miss A - Love Alone 312,456 NEW
4. Park Bom - Don't Cry 300,478 DOWN
5. Sistar19 - Ma Boy 291,397 NEW
6. f(x) - Danger 288,548 DOWN
7. BMK - 꽃피는 봄이 오면 262,411 HOT
8. Lena Park - Mia 237,380 NEW
9. Toy - 여전히 아름다운지 228,024 HOT
10. 10cm - Americano 198,999 HOT

If anybody here didn't already know this, Frank Kogan has been discussing K-pop regularly in his livejournal blog in recent months:

http://koganbot.livejournal.com/tag/k-pop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyy4VLqCMaQ

I can't wait for this album. Love the teaser.
If people are gonna be overusing the words 'Fact' and 'Fiction' in the following months, blame B2ST.

B2ST release something every month, don't they? Seems like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Ue2sHpUVk

B2ST? They haven't released anything since last December. I was gonna go crazy, cause I'm addicted to them.
Their comeback stage (since last October I think? not sure) is tomorrow, it's gonna be fun.

Did you listen to Fact and Fiction? Some really nice vocals.

On the SM Town thing: the French/Spanish fans succeeded. They added a 2nd date.
I was planning on going, but there're only €220 VIP tickets left... That's just a bit too much for me at the moment with the flight and hotel costs. I'm saving up to go to Seoul instead.

Fiction was indeed a very nice song.

SNSD's first Japanese album is so good! Such a huge surprise seeing as they've always gone the filler route when it comes to most album tracks previously. This sounds like a real album.

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

I was never really into SNSD, but I have to admit their new Japanese stuff is good.

SMTown Paris is over, now it's time to get that YG London rumour confirmed... I can't wait to see Big Bang and 2NE1.

Haven't been posting much due to having to kill shockwave flash and therefore kill the embeds to get this thread to load on my computer. Also, was listening to new music early in the year, missed a couple months, now only somewhat back. Anyhow, here's a K-pop best-of of what I've heard so far for 2011:

EPs & ALBUMS:
1. SOOLj Electro SOOLj (EP): As advertised, hip-hop guy explores the electric beat, flicks around very well among synthesized menace and synthesized beauty.
2. LPG The Special: "Trot" is the genre, they say; sounds like the Korean equivalent of light-of-step, eclectic disco.
3. Rainbow SO女 (EP): You know about "A" and "To Me"; in "So Cool" they wrap themselves around a guitar chord and a tough beat; in "Mach" they breathe in opposition to synth squelches. Singers seem overmatched, but that's not too much of an obstacle.
4. Kim Hyun Joong Break Down (EP): Never heard of him, though Wikip tells me he's a long-running heartthrob. He sounds reasonably pretty, while synths and beats carry knives.

Singles 2011 (I'm counting anything late November and onward as 2011)
1. GD&TOP "High High": Everything at the wall, everything clicks, exuberant.
2. Galaxy Dream ft. Turbotronic "Ready 4 Romance": Deep-night trance and sex.
3. IU "The Story Only I Didn't Know": Art ballad, small-voiced IU climbing cliffs and walking across high wires. Lots of feeling, total control.
4. Big Bang "Tonight": Everything at the wall, and harmonies too! Lyric translations (and the Japanese version has way more English, for some reason) reveal potential ugliness of sentiment, though I'll have to examine further: think that when T.O.P. romantically says "Good night" at the end, he's basically kicking the woman out of bed. Men are scum.
5. GD&TOP "Knock Out": Goofballs. Cutely handsome, aren't they?
6. Secret "No. 1 (Inst.)": The singers are unbearably cutesy, so take them away and you get a wicked little dance track.
7. Girl2School "Let's Play Dance": Lack style, can't sing, can't really dance, lousy video. So I guess this is all on the song and arrangement, as the music rolls over all resistance, like bumpercars. Don't know whether to excoriate K-pop for wasting so many good songs on lackluster voices, or to see this as strength, that they can achieve greatness through anyone. Maybe there are times when good voices would get in the way.

8. Kara "Jumping": It's like Latin freestyle riffs that have pumped iron and were given a high-glaze finish.
9. Rainbow "To Me": Wavers among come to me but on my terms, come to me on any terms, come to me or you're a goner. Draws on freestyle too: not the riffs but the emotional wail at the end.
10. T-ara "Why Are You Being Like This?": Pretending to be frustrated by love games, they sound as if they're on a total lark.
11. T-ara "Ya Ya Ya": More tongue-sticking and nyaah nyaah. Video is problematic, featuring arrows and a captive audience.
12. 4minute "Mirror Mirror": Can they sing? Can they dance? Does anyone notice if they can't, or care? They can stand, they can pose, they can wiggle, they've got the greatest hair. Here's the live version that shocked easily shockable TV viewers (see 2:41 especially). Maybe the ordinariness of the voices is a virtue, as the young women struggle through, and look sultry. Am I overrating this? Underrating this? Great song, at any rate.

13. Blady "찌릿찌릿": Cute, passionate, and cute. And cute. Good if cute is your thing.
14. Orange Caramel "Bangkok City": Excellent Italodisco that's simultaneously haunting and nonchalant. But this time I can't rationalize the mediocre singing.
15. Teen Top "Supa Luv": Voices are too weak, but this crew show promise in a world created by New Edition, Bel Biv DeVoe, New Kids, Backstreet Boys, etc.