K-pop

I get the link to Totally Amazing, but not any acoustic covers.

― abcfsk, Sunday, 7 August 2011 14:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

ok, here is the acoustic cover:

― descriptivist, Monday, 8 August 2011 02:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

― abcfsk, Sunday, 14 August 2011 08:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

Was going to post that on lj last night if I hadn't been too sleepy. Will probably do so today. HyunA's relative stillness makes her just as steamy as she always is, and Zico just kills it. I think his rap in the middle is entirely new - doesn't seem to match DOK2's on the EP. And he improves it.

The Block B EP starts strong with "Halo" and then blands out; too much mediocre boyband singing, but Zico's rapping is sterling; unfortunately, he doesn't get many chances to stretch out as he does here.

― Frank Kogan, Sunday, 14 August 2011 19:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

Evidently he's got a mixtape. Hope he doesn't feel the need to be too tough and real.

― Frank Kogan, Sunday, 14 August 2011 20:03 (1 year ago) Permalink

haven't caught up with this thread yet but just stepping in to agree that the dubstep breakdown in Bubble Pop is AWFUL A-W-F-U-L

maybe someone can do an edit? :\

― dayo, Monday, 15 August 2011 11:46 (1 year ago) Permalink

I certainly don't think there's an agreement on that.

― abcfsk, Monday, 15 August 2011 12:00 (1 year ago) Permalink

Tea and cakes at the Blue House looks like an awkward affair

― abcfsk, Friday, 19 August 2011 10:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

sweet

― fauxmarc, Monday, 22 August 2011 16:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 Launches; Sistar Is No. 1 on New Korea Chart

Billboard goes K-Pop today (Aug. 25) with the launch of a new chart, the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100. The tally, which ranks Korea's top-selling songs, kicks off with girl group Sistar's "So Cool" grabbing the No. 1 slot and beating out second-place Leesang and 2NE1, who land not only at No. 3 (with "Ugly") but also No. 14 ("Hate You") and No. 21 ("I Am The Best") on the chart dated Sept. 3.

The Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 chart, launched in conjunction with Billboard Korea, is based on digital sales via leading websites as well as downloads from mobile service sites using an industry-standard formula and the most credible music data sources within Korea. The K-Pop Hot 100 debuts simultaneously here on Billboard.com, in the international chart section of Billboard.biz, in Billboard magazine, and also on Billboard Korea's website, billboard.co.kr.

"The launch of the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 chart is a milestone event, as it will provide the Korean music market with what we believe is Korea's most accurate and relevant song ranking," says Silvio Pietroluongo, Billboard's Director of Charts. "We're excited to be expanding Billboard's globally recognized Hot 100 chart franchise into this country, and look forward to enhancing the K-Pop Hot 100 chart in the near future with additional data as well as creating new charts that showcase the breadth of Korean music."

― abcfsk, Thursday, 25 August 2011 16:51 (1 year ago) Permalink

finally caught up with this thread. the 4minute album is nice!

'ugly' really bothers me, seems not good for people with self esteem issues.

― dayo, Sunday, 28 August 2011 15:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

sorry if its already been mentioned, but this is amazing

― prego, Sunday, 28 August 2011 21:26 (1 year ago) Permalink

New U-KISS single, Neverland. Of note because it was written and produced by JD Relic, an American who is mostly known for posting English-language covers of K-pop songs on Youtube.

It sounds pretty North American to me, though maybe that's just because the "shiny club beats" trend is happening everywhere anyway. Also if you're unfamiliar with U-KISS this amount of English used isn't unusual for them - part of their deal has always been that they have a fairly high ratio of native English speakers (3 out of 7 members).

― descriptivist, Sunday, 4 September 2011 14:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

My favorite is "Someday" from the new U-Kiss album. It's the anthem of non-successful K-Pop acts.
They really stepped up with this one.

Re their English, probably because of the native speakers, even the others are above average English speakers.

― blah blah blah, Monday, 5 September 2011 11:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

caught up with the TSJ reviews and can I just take a moment to point out that korea and japan are not the same? really getting tired of japanese references (i.e. harajuku girls, hello kitty) making their way into k-pop reviews.

― dayo, Monday, 5 September 2011 12:12 (1 year ago) Permalink

Kara

― abcfsk, Monday, 5 September 2011 16:14 (1 year ago) Permalink

video is down

― dayo, Monday, 5 September 2011 17:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

it was working like 45 mins ago

― prego, Monday, 5 September 2011 17:28 (1 year ago) Permalink

this should work

― blah blah blah, Monday, 5 September 2011 17:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

my eyes hurt

― dayo, Monday, 5 September 2011 17:50 (1 year ago) Permalink

thanks for the link!

― dayo, Monday, 5 September 2011 17:50 (1 year ago) Permalink

The bridge to Step feels like an injection of morphine.

― abcfsk, Thursday, 8 September 2011 05:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

it's like "bang!" for people who think after school are too scary

― descriptivist, Friday, 9 September 2011 17:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

great thread guys. kinda love this:

A Pink - It Girl

― seasoning sauce all over me (tpp), Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

the outfit coordination in that kara video is next level

― seasoning sauce all over me (tpp), Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

my friend just sent me this from 2009

http://www.youtube.com/v/EHWklhbVXSw&fs=1&hl=en

this is properly amazing

― seasoning sauce all over me (tpp), Monday, 12 September 2011 22:58 (1 year ago) Permalink

I always thought "Where U At" sounded better with the beat from a Justin Bieber song under it.

― descriptivist, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 03:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

I like A Pink's Protect the Boss song as well. I know this is blasphemy, but they're like a (vocally) improved version of SNSD to me.

I wish Jay Park sold better...

Perfect.

Also I can't get over Someday. It's so touching.

― blah blah blah, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 16:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

woah!! 'abandoned'!!

― seasoning sauce all over me (tpp), Wednesday, 14 September 2011 17:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

Yeah, I was spinning that a lot. His EP is solid.

Blasphemy or not, I really don't see how A Pink is a vocally improved SNSD. If they are they haven't got any chance at showing it off with that cutesy affectation on every track. They're kinda similar to Kissing You-era aka shitty era SNSD , though, I'll give you that.

― abcfsk, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 17:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

Omg there's an English version of SNSD's "Born To Be a Lady" on Demi Lovato's new album.

― abcfsk, Thursday, 15 September 2011 05:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

So much feel-good energy in this performance

― abcfsk, Sunday, 18 September 2011 08:30 (1 year ago) Permalink

Brown Eyed Girls, finally back. Stepped up their badassery.

Great gender-switching performance of buzz single 'Hot Shot'
Sixth Sense live

― abcfsk, Saturday, 24 September 2011 08:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

WHO RUN THE WORLD (BROWN EYED GIRLS)

― descriptivist, Thursday, 29 September 2011 04:40 (1 year ago) Permalink

The new SNSD album was originally set to be released on 10/04, but evidently that's been pushed back a couple of weeks to work out better international distribution deals.

The teaser trailer (which, why isn't this a more common practice globally?) is here:

I hope that the music sample is actually taken from the album and isn't just filler, because it sounds fantastic.

― jon_oh, Friday, 30 September 2011 18:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

the trick to 'bubble pop' is to listen to so much shitty brostep that the brostep breakdown seems good by comparison.

the production on this song is really great, balanced but the attack is quick.

― （╯°□°）╯︵ mode squad） (dayo), Tuesday, 4 October 2011 14:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

by contrast, on the 4minute album they often sound like they're using a webcam to record.

― （╯°□°）╯︵ mode squad） (dayo), Tuesday, 4 October 2011 14:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

Many different opinions about SNSD's Korean/worldwide comeback single The Boys. More on that later. You can't deny though that they naaailed their first perfomance. This song really allows them to show off themselves as powerhouse vocalists, and the choreography is really powerful as well. It's all very cool image-wise. Seohyun is AAA here.

I see thread contributor descriptivist is disappointed with the Korean lyrics on her tumblr. Yes, maybe I agree, it's not like it should be their place to cheer on the boys. But the lyrics don't really come off as simple as that. Sunny says as much in an interview:

Sunny – “The lyrics’ (meaning) are up to the interpretation (of the listeners'). Rather than just the simple meaning of girls giving boys support, it can be interpreted in many ways. The girls could be telling the boys that we’ll take the lead, giving off a more tough image. It could also be interpreted as girls telling the boys to get their act together and cheer up. (laughs) The song is also aims to give courage to people, whether they’re girls or guys, who are tired out (by life).”

Then there's the rap thing and the Athena reference..

― abcfsk, Friday, 21 October 2011 17:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

I found this song really plodding and without melody imo

k-pop just can't pull off these bangers

― dayo, Friday, 21 October 2011 20:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

don't really know what 'these bangers' means here

― abcfsk, Friday, 21 October 2011 20:31 (1 year ago) Permalink

okay, well, aggressive, dirty sounding assertive bangers

― dayo, Friday, 21 October 2011 20:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

kpop has been a big internet fad for a lil while huh

― puff puff post (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Friday, 21 October 2011 20:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah

check this version of the boys out btw. I like it better than the final mix

― dayo, Friday, 21 October 2011 20:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

"okay, well, aggressive, dirty sounding assertive bangers"

foundation of k-pop imo. what they do best

― abcfsk, Friday, 21 October 2011 20:46 (1 year ago) Permalink

what are your favorite kpop dirty bangers

the singers never feel like they have enough individuality to pull off the swag necessary for a dirty banger

― dayo, Friday, 21 October 2011 21:32 (1 year ago) Permalink

who is the beyonce of k pop

boa?

― dayo, Friday, 21 October 2011 21:32 (1 year ago) Permalink

Well don't you think 4Minute's singles fit that category? The 'Huh's? Shinee's Lucifer? Some of 2NE1's hits? I think I might like DR Feelgood even better as far as Riley-produced girl group bangers go, though. Maybe we have different definitions of dirty bangers, but when Seo Taji and his followers put down the rules in the 90s they were basically about sounding dirty and loud.

BoA is more like.. a super-talented britney mixed with a bit of Ciara. Beyonce of k-pop.. Hyori fits the career trajectory of being too big for a big girl group and becoming the leading pop star in the country, all individuality and sass, but her music, style, voice, don't fit. Some people predict Sistar's Hyorin going that way, she's done beyonce dances on tv, her voice is great and rnb-y, she's been a solo star in 'Immortal Song', the singing contest where established artists battle eachother.

Pitchfork give their official take on k-pop http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/8700-to-anyone-the-rise-of-korean-wave/

― abcfsk, Wednesday, 2 November 2011 12:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

Bah! I wanted to write something about K-Pop for another outlet but the thunder's being stolen left, right and centre. I hope the growing interest lasts longer than a few articles, though.

― Mohombi Khush Hua (ShariVari), Wednesday, 2 November 2011 13:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

The up and coming Minneapolis duo Elite Gymnastics are very vocal K-Pop fanatics. They have a free mix here with a lot of K-Pop on it:

http://elitegymnastics.tumblr.com/post/8628044234/all-we-fucking-care-about-is-kpop-whitehouse-and-our

K-Pop is definitely a growing internet sensation among Western Audiences.

― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Wednesday, 2 November 2011 14:27 (1 year ago) Permalink

Sorry if that came off spammy - I really like these guys but they seem relevant to the "Is K-Pop going mainstream in the West?" discussion.

― Badmotorfinger Debate Club (MFB), Wednesday, 2 November 2011 14:28 (1 year ago) Permalink