rolling kpop 2023

as is right - most of the big boy group releases this year have been meh, including comebacks by major 2nd gen groups like Infinite and SHINee :(

have been mildly fascinated by a couple of the newer bgs making GFriend/Lovelyz-style wholesome, cutesy spring music (which I've recently discovered is now being called christian horse girl kpop lol). these male versions aren't quite as enjoyable imo, but I appreciate the attempt to do something different. examples:

The Wind - Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHkdp0uaolE

ZEROBASEONE - In Bloom (interesting interpolation of "Take On Me")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trzeUClQIIg

into this wavey ballad from IVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hu4GYtye5U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlyrt5eAtKI

new red velvet single "chill kill" is pretty good although not one of their singles i'm instantly astounded by

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHygO__-WK0

lol i like that we're getting k-afrobeats now. i don't think it quite works but it's admirably close

like it's quite pleasant but the vocal doesn't quite fit in the groove in the right way. which is interesting to be fair

ha yeah I see what you mean, I’m not entirely sure afrobeats is a natural fit for the kind of rigid melody structures that kpop favours but it’s nice

g-dragon posted a video of himself dancing to “Love Nwantiti” last year which made me think he prob would’ve gone down the afropop route if he wanted to go back to making music. but he’s caught up in yet another drug scandal now so probably not anytime soon