K-pop 2013

Pretty vocal layering. It's a little bit of a let down after their teasers but a solid song with high production values. I like the kind of "Eastern" melody.

Also this is the first Kpop song in a while where everything comes together in just the right way, and the whole thing feels experimental and interesting but also universally accessible and just undeniably good - like I could show this to any serious music fan and expect them to like it.

As of this week the Gaon Chart is no longer letting us freeloaders look at entries from 101 to 200. I'll have trouble tracking my low-tier darlings from now on. In any event, back on June 27, Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar" entered the chart at an anemic 143, lifted a little to 90 on July 4 on the heels of a Music Core appearance, slipped back to 116 on July 11, seemingly prepared to join my faves GLAM, Evol, Tiny-G, ChoColat, Z.Hera, and D-Unit in the Land Of Flopperooni. But then on July 18 (w/ no single precipitate cause that I've been able to identify; I assume the catchiness and the dance were steadily building support) it hopped to 54, and today is at 18. This is the digital chart I've been tracking. Is also 18 on Gaon's Mobile chart, 20 on the Download chart, 22 on the Background Music chart, 26 on the Social chart, and 29 on the Streaming chart. Anyway, over the last few days it's been hovering between 10 and 15 on most of the daily and real-time charts (in top ten on Melon, in the 20s on Monkey3, and of course it hit number one on Melon's video chart the other day). So it might peak just outside the top ten, though appearances on the TV performance shows could give it another surge (Crayon Pop had only gotten to perform "Bar Bar Bar" once on Music Core and once on M! Countdown until today, when they were back on M! Countdown. Hope the other three of the Big 4'll will give 'em a full slate this weekend.

I doubt that the slow rise (as opposed to the usual flash-and-fade trajectory of most idol tracks) is as unprecedented as some online commenters are saying: with little-known groups on small labels it's really the only route up, and I'm guessing that when a hip-hop group breaks through it also follows that path, though I have no actual information. The dip down and back up is unusual; I suspect that "Bar Bar Bar" was losing airplay just as the dance and vid were gaining word-of-mouth support, and when the latter kicked in it got the airplay back.

In other chart news, Shinsadong Tiger, who'd had a relatively quiet year, now has two tracks in the top five, just as he did two summers ago. But those two (T-ara's "Roly-Poly" and HyunA's "Bubble Pop!") were wonderful, whereas our current prizes, Ailee's "U & I" and Apink's "NoNoNo" feel botched to me (though not to many fans, obviously). Ailee seems to have lost any sense of give-and-take in her bombast, while "NoNoNo" is yet another nice bit of summer breeze but has this strange bumblefunk accompaniment that makes the ride gusty and choppy. Last year, when Tiger created a similar mismatch on Jewelry's "Look At Me," it worked brilliantly, a fetching bit of high-style pleading thrown atop a rough-n-gritty accompaniment that could have been a B-side tossoff from King Records' blue-collar 1950s r&b catalog. So I'm glad the Tig is still up and interesting, just wish I enjoyed this year's version as much as previous models.

And speaking of unexpected surges (okay not really...), Tahiti's new track is surprisingly great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9-VHJtQEGU

I was expecting this group to sink into obscurity, so this is a pleasant surprise!

Also not sure if we talked about Female President yet but this week's performance was right on.

I posted 'Lovesick' to Omona and the thread turned into an Aly and AJ appreciation post:

http://omonatheydidnt.livejournal.com/11515412.html?view=1113204756#t1113204756

Not quite ready to comment on fx yet.. meanwhile here's one hell of a rookie music video. North / South reunited at last!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkxa8C_6iS4

Holy bovini! It's been Armato & James week on the two ilX threads I pay any attention to anymore, what with me finally picking up on Chuck's cue on Rolling Country and listening to Kacey Musgraves' "See You Again" and learning that it really is "See You Again" and then following the link here to Subdee's Omonatheydidnt "Love Sick" thread and finding a controversy over whether Tahiti's ripping off "Potential Breakup Song."

It's kinda got the hook and chords but I don't think it's nearly close enough to constitute plagiarism. Don't think it's nearly as good as "Potential Breakup Song," either. And I'm flabbergasted that there's been a new 78Violet (Aly & AJ) song out for almost three weeks without my knowing about it.

Kpop is my favorite genre, though I am interested in European music..

omg abcfsk I think that might be my favourite video of the year. Amazing.

that video, wow

actually it's touching and kind of sad and bittersweet... when j.fla wakes up from her stupid story dream, both sides are still in detente

that video is... unbelievable. haha, wow.

For number junkies:

Until Apink's "NoNoNo" went to #3 last week, no idol group that had debuted in the last two-and-a-half years, since the beginning of 2011, had put a song in the Top 5. Not B1A4, not EXO (who apparently have in China, but haven't come close in Korea), not Block B, not B.A.P. And I don't mean that no idol groups have gone top 5 with their debuts, but that none of those 2011-and-on idol groups have gone top 5 at all. (With singles; albums and EPs are a different market.) Some "indie" groups from talent-show hell have hit, some successful ballad singers may be new (I haven't been tracking them), and solo acts Ailee and Lee Hi have gone #1 (though whether they're "idol" is somewhat iffy); but fame only has a limited number of slots, and among the K-pop idol groups, the relative veterans (Classes Of 2007-2010 more or less) have been holding them.

But if early-in-the-week numbers on the daily and real-time charts hold up over the next six days - we probably won't know for sure until the Thursday after next - there'll soon be another idol group to join Apink in breaking this barrier:

CRAYON POP!

Astonishing. Right now "Bar Bar Bar" is top 5 on all the real-time charts except Monkey3. Is number 2 on mnet.

f(x)' album sounds very solid on first listen. My impression is it does as an album what all of the group's singles have done so far, stay true to to their unique flavour and freshness.

what do you think of Airplane abc? seen a lot of people rave about it but it just sounds like k-pop making a mess of j-pop to me. that said it's an interesting mess...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6S9WNunDi8

The spoken-word parts on Airplane are terrible. Which is too bad, because it's a pretty song.

On the other hand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3dezFzsNss

<33333

Also LOL at this year's most hilarious sponsored remix: No drinks for me tonight... I'll just have some of that... GLACEAU vitamin water! ft. Tablo and Lee Hi.

I enjoyed that Niel, Kwanghee and Eunji Fanta CF quite a bit as well.

Don't love that f(x) song but I'll check out the whole album tomorrow.

wow that EXO video is incredible.

Isn't it? Looks computer-generated in parts.

Some songs I have been enjoying tonight that I don't think have been specifically mentioned in this thread:

VIXX - G.R.8.U. http://youtu.be/zIJaJjVOJfE
VIXX continue to be totally unsubtle in this video wanting to rewind time to before things got messed up. Follow-up to "hyde"

Henry - Trap http://youtu.be/prurE5jKrBg
Song has never blown me away but the piano and live vocals always sound refreshing after heavily autotuned and electronic songs; I'm always happy when it comes up in playlists.
Am breathlessly awaiting the English version, which is said to contain such immortal lyrics as "Like a kitty in a cage/Like a puppy in a box on a plane/I'm trapped"

f(x) Step http://youtu.be/QQvgvEf5DFE
My favorite song on the album, but man do I wish the lyrics weren't about putting other girls down for being too stereotypically girly.
I hope whichever Norwegian songwriter sold the demo retained the rights to this track and we get something better than this out it.

Say Yes - Feel Good http://youtu.be/cCj4E-UGxFY
LEDApple better watch themselves, a younger group with their same big-band sound is gunning for them.

BTS - We Are Bulletproof http://youtu.be/sdTyZcXFDfc
Speaking of younger groups, I have a friend who's obsessed with these guys. How old are they, like twelve? (The youngest is 15.)
Not here for raps about pulling all nighters in the practice room instead of going to school, but the backing track is solid.

Dynamix Duo ft. Muzie of UV - Baaam http://youtu.be/rPnpIsak0zU
For people who loved #Beautiful and Get Lucky. Amoeba records is having an amazing year this year, putting out tons of great tracks

Teen Top - Clap Encore http://youtu.be/XixRDbtEhbM
It's a remake of their first song, in celebration. Superior to the original version, and to most Teen Top songs, because they let Niel sing most of it. Niel has great voice...
Also of note, the life preserver staff throw to the member of Teen Top (C.A.P.?) who can't swim, but jumped into the pool with the rest of them anyway. Dedication!

BEAST - Shadow http://youtu.be/GBq4ojFm5IY
Not as good as "Will You Be All Right?" but a solid song. BEAST lyrics always irk me, though, for some reason. Maybe it's because they're supposed to be a "serious" group but they never self-reflect.

100% - Want You Back http://youtu.be/99YEL-UuBRc
This is actually a really good song! If you only listen to one song from this post, listen to this one.

MIB - Nod Along http://youtu.be/ZMi6h67T1MQ
And speaking of irksome lyrics... this is quite a good song though, too, damn them.

Finally:

Xia Junsu - Incredible http://youtu.be/XmYXjWO69-A
There's nothing specifically Kpopish or original about this one, but I found myself enjoying it quite a bit on this night, tonight, when I can't fall sleep. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQvgvEf5DFE

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99YEL-UuBRc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMi6h67T1MQ

xp Airplane is pretty good, spoken word parts make it more than just a generically pretty and catchy tune- reminds me more of American pop in melody than Japanese, though, but I can sorta see where you come from. Not f(x)-y or special enough to be a single, like some fans want.

I don't see at all how 'Step' is meanly putting down anyone - it's about a girl who chooses differently that day, who acknowledges the choice is there, to go with sneakers, to run quickly past those who don't... a positive enough message, if the few words there can be said to have a message.

It's because women denigrating stereotypically feminine things and asserting their rights to choose differently is second-wave feminism, and we're in third-wave feminism right now, reclaiming the feminine and insisting that it be equally valued.

And f(x) are obviously saying their choice is better. f(x) are all about being superior to other people, that's a big part of their charm.

You are right that "Girls! You can wear sneakers! They're more practical than heels!" is a positive message, though.

When was that established as being part of their charm? Not sure I've caught that vibe.

There's no denigrating an alternative here imo. "Today I let go of those things and run with the wind" is all.

And in my opinion "you don't have to doll up all the time", if that's the point, is still worth reminding people of here in Korea. Not said enough in the media, that's for sure. Not that I would praise the lyrics for being particularly powerful stuff.

I was half-joking, but f(x) are best known for Nu ABO, aren't they?

If you're reading a lot of third-wave feminism stuff, you can see it in Step too, that's all. I'm not being totally serious, I know that the context in Korea is different.

What're the odds MIB (the Kpop group) got permission from Warner Brothers to use props from MIB (the movie) in Men In Black, do you think?

Boo URL reformatting. It's this: http://youtu.be/mAIG2G5TAV4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwVWMmcM7HQ

Video to San E's "Story Of Someone I Know" gives a reason for the breakup that the song lyrics don't seem to.

Spelling things out (D-O-Y-O-U-L-O-V-E-M-E) is an old and tired trick for Teddy, and the song as a whole is a lot safer and more generic than Falling in Love. I'm happy to see CL singing again, though - she's a better singer than rapper and she's still got it.

Korea's first "twerking"-themed idol group can't twerk or even shake their asses in time with the beat, but their debut song is surprisingly fun: http://youtu.be/lOdG3jctLtM

I mean, don't get me wrong, I think their whole enterprise is misguided - from the forced group concept to the fake tans. But the song is actually pretty decent.

Whoever it was on omona that predicted that this group would have a terrible "rapper" was OTM, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot_P_6c-3t8

"do you love me" as a song is kinda whatever but as a video it's unreal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRTb81FpWq0

The low-budgetness of this is shocking. I think they filmed the "club" scenes in Teddy's Twosome cafe. Sheesh.

Anyway it's hipster party-cam video with some Cassius thrown in, but the oddballs in 2NE1 are quite charming, it is true.

Maybe (probably) it's the Brave Brothers fangirl in me speaking, but Bigstar - Run and Run is a lot of fun.

That was a link to their live stage as the MV is pretty dire: http://youtu.be/RgnJOc0bkf8

Actually, why not, here's the Bigstar video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtN99rbBAlk

Also I assume we're all too embarrassed by BAP's Badman to post it. I will say that they almost, <i>almost</i>, manage to save it live: http://youtu.be/6ww0zdEsxsM

so far i feel like my favourite songs of the year aren't so much whole songs but the last minute of I Got a Boy or T-ARA N4's single or I Like That. When all the disparate hooks that have been stitched together throughout the songs are thrown together to bring home the whole song. It's like candy to my ears. It even redeems The Baddest Female towards the end, only just.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2013/08/11/K-Pop-phenomenon-brings-hope-for-peace-in-the-Mideast.html

Enjoying this more than Sunshine: Rainbow - Don't Touch.

I got super into "Tell Me Tell Me" earlier this year, and since watching a bit of Invincible Youth 2 I really love Woori--which reminds me, would variety show talk fall into this thread? I'm 44 episodes into Running Man and I think it may be the best TV show I have ever seen???

Running Man is good stuff. The amount of cameras used, the editing work and planning required, boggles my mind. I had a period where I would watch the newest episode as it came out, now I've had a break for a while.

If you haven't you should track down Family Outing, same director, some of the same staff and some of the same members - and the same roleplay / game show mixture. It's looser in structure - go to a town, tend to a house, do some games, but the members have a chemistry that's beyond anything.

yeah, I'm passing familiar with FO: enough to understand why Hyori guested in the first episode and why Daesung and Jaesuk fell into particular goofy roles when they met again. I'd like to watch it but I have a real limited attention span so I gotta power through RM's Eng subbed eps first

Seconding Family Outing! I also have a regrettable addiction to Hello Counselor, an awful show where people compete over who has the most serious social/psychological problem. It's, um, educational?

Speaking of MC chemistry, Happy Camp (Chinese variety show) MCs are on another level, it's unreal.