The Big “I” with Big B Radio Part 2

Radio DJs often stand at the forefront of music culture. They get to experience music audiences firsthand to see who reacts to the music and what could possibly be the “next big thing” on the scene.

We continue our interview with Big B Radio. In Part One of the interview, DJs Emergency, Typo, And, Rexie, Ben, Kagome, and Lizzie introduced themselves, their interests, and their radio audience.  In Part Two, they share their thoughts and observations of how Asian music impacts the world and different cultures.

 

In your country, how big is the Korean Wave, and how much of an influence do you think it’s had on people if any?

And: I can’t speak of the entire United States, but as far as North Carolina is concerned, the Korean Wave is barely a blip on the radar. Yes, everyone has heard of PSY, but other than that, you see no signs of people even being aware of Korean entertainment. Most of us have consumed it unaware: “I Am the Best” playing in the Microsoft commercial or being used during So You Think You Can Dance and the instrumental once during a football game broadcast, or a Korean actor being in a Hollywood film. I only met one person (meaning not met online) that has any experience with K-Pop, and they introduced it to me. Due to this, I don’t think the Korean Wave has even been felt at all.

Ben: Can’t really determine how big the Korean Wave in Canada is right now, but unfortunately we get the short end of the stick compared to the US when it comes to concerts and events from K-Pop artists. “Gangnam Style” might have triggered and exposed many Canadians to K-Pop because it was quite popular that it even played on our own local radio stations. From what I have read and heard from an online source, Toronto might get a KCON in May 2015 if their Kickstarters funding goal becomes a success. This will definitely play a major role in spreading K-Pop to Canada and creates a platform for future K-Pop artists to hold more concerts, events, or tours in Canada. Hopefully this Kickstarter becomes successful.

Typo: For Estonia, K-Pop has a small influence since we are already a small country. But PSY’s “Gangnam Style” was a huge hit here! I know only two people in my country who like K-Pop; the rest who I have told about it don’t think much about it.

Kagome: Korean music is not really that big in the USA. It`s a shame. It has a lot of great groups and artists.  Maybe in the bigger cities K-Pop is bigger. Very few artists and groups tour the whole USA, only in LA and NY and maybe some college towns.

Rexie: Here in Puerto Rico, I thought the Korean Wave wasn’t big at all. Boy, I was wrong.  I was so surprised to find out there are many fan groups here and that a lot has been done to spread the K-Pop-love on the island to the point that the Korean group Boyfriend held a concert here last year.  Just found out they’re opening a small K-Pop store on the island. It’s fun to find out that people of all ages are hooked on K-dramas. I think people are more open to accepting things that are not the norm here.

 

What are some of the biggest influences Asian music has had on your culture if any? Have there been any negative influences?

Ben: Can’t say it has any major influence on me due to the fact I am Asian (Chinese) myself except for the taste of music. I grew up listening to the 90s and a bit older C-Pop due to my dad karaoking almost every night. *Laughs*Now I can’t get used to the new C-Pop artists out there due to the fact that they are certainly influenced by the styles of Western artists such as rapping, electronic music, dubstep, etc.

Emergency: I’m actually glad you asked this question because I do see a lot of change in people that went from listening to American music to Asian music. Some people don’t want to believe that music influences your everyday lives when it actually does. More people are becoming faithful and respectful to their loved ones which also influences the people around them to change. It may seem like entertainment to you, but deep under all of this is that good message you needed to hear to change your perspective on life completely.

The only negative that comes from it is that a lot of older people don’t understand it and think it’s [dumb] or too happy for them. What they don’t realize is they need to have the happy feeling in their life rather than drown themselves in depressed music. What I say is… If your life is miserable you should first look at what is surrounding you, because what you see with your eyes and hear with your ears effects your mind and soul.

Rexie: In my opinion, I don’t think it’s had a big influence in the culture.  Here, people are open to other things but are very protective of what’s our own.  Wouldn’t say there’s been negative influence. There’s always going to be those who don’t like K-Pop because it’s different, but what they think doesn’t make a huge impact.

Lizzie: Hmm, I would say that the biggest influences are our communication and interaction with one another. Taking my friends and I for example, we tend to talk about schoolwork only before we got to know about K-Pop. Now, with these Asian music, it brings us more topics to start on and somehow it makes our friendship deepened.

Negative influences may lie on those around us who are not into K-Pop/J-Pop. When a group of friends are talking about K-Pop/J-Pop, the one who is not into these Asian music will be left out. Therefore, when there is a friend of mine like that around me, I will tend to not talk about K-Pop/J-Pop stuffs.

Typo: Most music comes from the USA. Since English is more understandable than any Asian language, then I think it would take lot of time when K-Pop or any other will have any good future here. My hopes for good Asian music here goes out for our local fan!

Influence? I’d say again PSY “Gangnam Style”: Groovy song until fans started to not like since as usually songs get overplayed here. Even schools here made their video of “Gangnam Style” dance.

Kagome: The Lolita and Japanese Street fashion and the music artists like Moon Kana. There have not been any negative influences.

 

When it comes to acceptance, do you find your country to be more accepting of Hallyu, or is there any type of resistance toward K-Pop—or even J or C-Pop—from anyone in your country? What is this like if you could explain?

And: The US loves a caricature, right? People are fine with PSY entertaining them, but eventually the novelty wears off.  I think people, in general, simply don’t care because nothing is happening on a big scale. The most resistance you’ll get is people saying things like “But, the songs aren’t in English.” Nobody probably cares that a small segment of the population is consuming Hallyu, so there’s no acceptance or resistance. It’s more like apathy.

Lizzie:  I’m sure Singapore is to be more of the accepting part. We even have K-Pop concerts set in Singapore. And just recently during New Year Eve, Big Bang came for countdown to a new year! Woohoo!

Emergency: Mainly, the older generation doesn’t understand it [J-Pop] and those that are stuck in the rap scene think it’s corny. If only they can see what we see it can change their life completely. I’m actually glad that it’s getting big because we need that influence in our lives to change us to become a better person than what we are. The morals and the lyrics really make you think outside of the box, you know?

Kagome: A lot of people around here don`t care for Asian music, it’s sad they do.  They prefer acts like Taylor Swift or the Black Eyed Peas, or Snoop Dogg, etc.

Typo: I do think Hallyu can be accepted here, but since USA music is played everywhere, and Estonian and Russian, then I think it would take some time to be accepted here fully. Unless there will be K-Pop Radio or any other Asian genre radio, then I think [time] will tell.

Rexie: I think Hallyu will be well accepted. I don’t think there will be much resistance. People here love their island and anything that can get our island noticed by other countries is very welcomed. I’ve heard of concerts held from different types of genres and from groups from different parts of the world. They’ve been well accepted as long as they’ve not been disrespectful to our culture.

Ben: Some of the main problems I see in Western countries when analyzing (facing) K-Pop/J-Pop/C-Pop is the language barriers, the “need” for numerous members, bizarre (unique) wardrobe the idols wear, and the “weird”(Not really weird) story plot concepts in music videos. Not being able to understand the song (language) is a major factor in the Western communities since they feel like they need to “understand” what they are saying in order to like the  artists. This kind of intertwines with trying to understand the MV’s of certain songs. I realize to a certain extent that people always question the need for large amount members in groups. This may be due to the fact that the Western music industry never really had a large amount of members in a group before and that’s why they aren’t used to it. In conclusion, I suppose people who don’t understand (through lyrics) what the singer is trying to convey through the song makes it harder for them to accept it.

 

Depending on how long you’ve been listening to J-Pop, do you think it’s changed much since the J-Wave of the early 2000s? What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen?

Kagome: Yes, it has changed a lot from the days of Keiko Fuji and Pink Lady.  You have acts like Ayumi Hamasaki and Koda Kumi and AKB 48 and Seamo and An Cafe and YUKI and Moon Kana, Diggy Mo… They have taken the music and the videos to the next level and changed the face of J-Pop music.

Emergency: I wasn’t really around for it in the early 2000s because I was still into the hip hop/rap scene listening to 50 Cent, Young Buck, etc… The group that first got me into the Asian scene was 2NE1 with their song “Can’t Nobody” and it was before the English version was released. From there I discovered 4Minute, E.via, Wonder Girls, After School, and more. It just grew on me completely and since then I never turned back.

As for changes hmmm… In my opinion I believe that some of K-Pop has become a bit Americanized than before and the message they put out has changed compared to what it used to be, but that doesn’t go for all groups. As for J-Pop I’m seeing a change as well. Lyrics-wise, it’s pretty much the same J-Pop you hear, but I think some Korean influences are coming about like E-Girls for example. Music is always evolving so who knows what’s going to be in the future.

Typo: Everything changes with time. Their way of singing… Style has lot of changes. Stakes are getting higher and higher which makes it harder to debut for new groups.

 

In the US, do you feel J-Pop is still just as relevant as it was in the past decade? Furthermore, how much of an influence do you think it’s had on people if any?

Emergency: I will tell you that both J-Pop and K-Pop have become more popular in the states and it will continue to grow daily. This year, we had many J-Pop artists come over from overseas and their tickets sold out almost every show. The same is going on with K-Pop and a matter of fact, if you think about it, they are out selling the local artists here which I believe is a good thing. American music needs to change completely before it can make a com back, but for now it’s a sinking ship that keeps drowning. I know some American artists are taking cues from Asian fashion, but it’s not changing the music itself. AMERICA WE NEED CHANGE! BRING US CHANGE PLEEEAAASSEEE!! LOL!

 

 [Emergency], your bio hints at you being a J-Pop enthusiast. With K-Pop taking over, interest in J-Pop seems to have gone down since the early 2000s. What makes you like J-Pop, and what do you think music fans are missing by not giving it a chance?

Emergency: Well, I was originally into K-Pop and kinda still am, but for the past year or two I’ve been getting into J-Pop with artists like Perfume, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, LiSA, and more.

As for K-Pop taking over I think in some aspects it is and it isn’t. There is always room to listen to both as they each progress and change as time goes on. I for sure think American music is pretty much dying. People are getting tired of listening to music that encourages them to cheat on their loved ones or go to the club for a fling which is barely ever found in Asian music. There’s more of a positive influence and I believe people should really tune in and see what’s going on rather than push it away, because it’s in a different language. The whole argument of which is better (J-Pop vs K-Pop) is really irrelevant because both have their own unique style to it.

 

When you look at Korean music culture, do you see any similarities between it and your music culture? What about with J-Pop and C-Pop? What similarities and differences do you see, and how do you think this impacts music consumption in your country?

And: There are some definite similarities with fans. Western music has a long history of roadies, stalkers, and rabid fans. K-Pop is no different.

However, I think the importance of social media is greater for K-Pop. We live on the Internet as K-Pop fans, because that’s the only way to continuingly consume the genre. For Western music, we can simply go to the store to pick up an album, or turn on the radio. We don’t have that option with K-pop – at least not to a great, commonplace extent. Therefore, K-pop is more about streaming, tweeting, commenting, and blogging, than about attending concerts and buying posters at the local mall.

Kagome: I think that it’s way better than the Western music. I see differences. Western music is the same; with every artist, it’s all the same. Cookie cutter formula.   K-Pop, C-Pop, and J-Pop artists always reinvent themselves with every release, and it is always fresh and new.

Rexie: To be honest, I don’t see much similarity between the Korean music culture and the Puerto Rican music culture.  I think because Asian music, in general, is different.  It makes it appealing– the culture–  but the impact is slowly growing.

Lizzie: Singapore is a multiracial country which makes us have different kinds of music like Chinese, Malay, and Indian. To point out a similarities in it is kind of hard for me. Haha! Since I’m a Chinese, I’ll talk about the similarities about C-Pop and K-Pop then. The answer is, English. K-Pop and C-Pop music, 9 out of 10 will have at least some English words inside it. Can this count as a similarity?

Yes! *Laughs*

Typo: I think there are very less similarities in our music and their music. Just that music comes from their soul, when they sing. Overall, I think I see huge gap since Estonian music is different and has low standards. I could compare Estonian music to C-Pop.

Ben: I can say about 50 percent of the Korean Music Industry have some sort of western influence involved because they aim to be global and in order to become global, they first need to be able to sell “music” that is acceptable on a Westernized standard. If the public likes the “music,” then K-Pop can break the borders and thrive globally and not only in the Asia. An example would be Wonder Girls [who were] sent by JYP to try and break into the American industry, but they simply could not gain enough popularity to rival domestic artists (such Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry) even when releasing Westernized songs like “Like Money” and “The DJ is Mine” (Did like both songs though).

C-Pop is similar to K-Pop, but they don’t strive to go global as much I believe. J-Pop (Japanese music in general) doesn’t seem to be influenced too much by Western styles, but rather seclude themselves in their own format. Maybe I worded that wrongly, but what I am trying to say is that they are more focused domestically rather than globally or internationally. By adjusting to the standards of Western countries, consumption will probably go up, but that also lowers the quality (uniqueness) they previously had before the adjustments. Although, I hope these artists would not change too much to accommodate to westerners tastes and stick to their original flavor too.

 

In your opinion, what should the Chinese music market do to expand into the global market?

Rexie: In my opinion, I think they should start bringing their artists to other parts of the world. They should try appealing to radio station outside of Asia. I think that can be a start.

 

For the Asian music scene to attract more of an audience, what do you think the companies and artists need to do to improve their reach?

Ben: Apart from trying to copy or imitate the Western format, I believe that companies and artists should stick to being original (being themselves) and steadily break that global barrier instead of rushing in. As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day” so continue to progress until you have gained the experience and skill that will not go unnoticed by others.

Rexie: Companies need to reach out to other countries, especially to the radio stations.  They should do more shows/concerts out of Asia. People all around the world love Asian music especially K-Pop and J-Pop.

Emergency: Create a mainstream radio station based on J-Pop and K-Pop or even better just get the music played on the radio AS IS. What makes their American albums fail is they try to do it in English and try to please the American industry. They should just release the music and get it on the radio no matter what language it is. People will catch on to it in no time. Look at some of the music that became popular in the past that was in a language other than English. It caught on so why can’t they do the same with J-Pop and K-Pop?

Kagome: I think that the record/music labels need to support their Asian artists here in America. There is a big market for Asian music, but the major labels don`t want to cut into the market of their Western artists here. They do push and promote their Western artists in Asia.

And: Let’s face it; the music industry in the US is incredibly superficial (not to mention inherently racist), just as in Korea. So, companies can’t do much to improve. They already have the pretty and hot part down pat. Companies being able to break the racial barrier or sexual barrier will be almost impossible. People will fetishize and stereotype. I have no doubt, also, that people will revolt against some cultural aspects, especially male skinship, due to them seeing the acts as fitting in Western ideas of homoerotism. Right now, all they can hope for is word-of-mouth and massive social media presence continues – and that popular Western artists do some marketing for them. It’s sad, but a reality.

Lizzie: Basically, people always look at their style. How they are dressed and how their hairs are styled. Oh! And most importantly, their makeup. That plays a big part in music scene, from my opinion.

Typo: With time, everything changes, so yes, every company needs to finds ways to reach even bigger audiences. Some less, some more. And companies need to respect their singers!

 

Looking at C-Pop, J-Pop, K-Pop and even Thai-Pop and Viet-Pop, if Hallyu bubble ever bursts, what do you think will be the next music sensation out of Asia and why?

Lizzie: In my opinion, K-Pop will still be my bias if its bubble bursts. It is a really difficult question for me to answer as I wish that Hallyu will continue standing strong for generations. But if I have to choose, maybe C-Pop? As for the reason… mainly because C-Pop has a lot of similarity to K-Pop: The clothing, dance moves, etc.

Typo: I would be between on J-Pop and K-Pop. I think both of them have lot of worldwide fans and growing with time. Just a matter of time…

Kagome: That will be hard to say.  Music taste changes faster than the wind. I would say C-Pop will be the next big thing. I doubt that Viet or Thai pop will be the big. There is a lot of big and new up and coming C-Pop artists and groups coming out of China right now.

Rexie: To be honest, I haven’t given any thought to that. I probably think this Hallyu Wave will be around for a long time.

Emergency: I’m not too sure about the next big thing, but I do know that Asian music will continue to grow as long as they keep doing what they’re doing and not try to please the American industry. If they could look at it in a way that the American industry is failing and is no longer the top dog they should have nothing to worry about. Cater to your people and it will cater to us just like don’t change for us, but change for your own people. That’s how I see it.

Ben: I haven’t even thought that far into the future yet, but that does really get me thinking. Even when I keep thinking, nothing seems to pop up. I guess that is the fun part to not knowing the future because the future is full of interesting possibilities. If the Hallyu bubble does pop during my lifetime, I wonder what would come next.

And: I think one of K-Pop’s biggest beneficial factors is that it’s similar to Western music – same goes for C-Pop. I’m not sure about other Asian countries, so if anybody is going to take over, it’ll be a country that has music that also matches up well with Western trends.

 

Thank you so much for your time! Do you have anything else you would like to add?

Emergency: Yes! Tune into Big B Radio for the hottest Asian music out there! Shout out to all the DJs at Big B Radio, DJ Amaya, ApieceofOnion, K-BitCRUSH, Xulikken, i5cream, DJ SE7EN, Areia, Pianosalmon, DJ Shenny, Kelly Hilltone, and many more. If I forgot to mention your name, I apologize!

 

Big B Radio is always looking for a broader audience. Take the time to check out the crew and their music any time at www.bigbradio.com. Also, if you want to keep the music going and you like what you hear, the station runs on donations, so check out their YouCaring page at “Keep Big B Radio Alive 2014/2015.”

DJ Emergency has a SoundCloud dedicated to his remixes. You can check them out at https://soundcloud.com/djemergency!

Thank you, Big B DJs, for your time and patience!

Plastic surgery used to be a very unusual thing, when you tell people you had something done; they would be in complete shock.  It seems like that has died down a lot over the last few years.  Plastic surgery is now popular more than ever and it’s so common that 1 out of 5 people have gone under the knife.  Koreans are known for being beautiful but a lot of times, it doesn’t come naturally.  I personally like those who didn’t get something done because I think that natural beauties are the best.  I dislike how negative our society has become, because people get judged by their looks all the time, which is why the number of people getting plastic surgery done is increasing rapidly.  Nowadays, if you go to big cities in Korea, such as Gangnam, Hongdae, etc., you will notice that many people look alike. And this doesn’t just go towards normal people; it’s the same for the celebrities.

Most foreigners don’t know this, not even the ones who are into Korean entertainment industry. I hate to break it to you but most celebrities have gone through some kind of plastic surgery before their debut and a lot of them slowly fix their looks as the years go by so that people won’t notice the changes.  There are those who have natural beauty and there are others who go under the knife to create better looks.  It bothers me so much that these people have to go through the pain in order to debut because in reality, or at least in Korea, you have to be attractive to become famous.  I mean sure, there are other celebrities who became famous without going through this process, but it’s very uncommon. Your looks have to be outstanding to receive attention. Honestly, it’s more about the looks than talent.  I’m not trying to criticize through the entire article, but really.  Take a look at idol groups for example, they’re all attractive.  No one is ugly.  In an idol group, the members are divided into these categories: visual, main vocal, main dancer, rapper, and just vocals in general.  A lot of times the member who is in charge of visual is the most popular among the other members despite from their talent.

 

Now let’s talk about actors and actresses. Let me tell you, there are some really talented actors/actresses out there, but that doesn’t mean all deserve the attention they receive. To start this off, you might now know that native Koreans and people who aren’t Korean have very different opinions.  Native Koreans are very strict when it comes to judging celebrities.  Even if they have gone through the same surgery process as the celebrities, they will still bash on them if they don’t have enough talent.  This is a complete different perspective from idol groups because actors/actresses tend to have higher standards when it comes to talent, so if they don’t have the skill, people think they don’t deserve the spotlight they get because if you really think about it, anyone can become a celebrity if they’re attractive no matter how untalented you are.  Foreigners however, have different opinions than Koreans. They are more open towards the celebrity’s feelings and are gentler and tend to stick up for them if others are bashing.  I’m not saying all Koreans are critical and all foreigners are nice towards everything, I’m just saying this is the majority of what I see in media.

 

I honestly think plastic surgery is taking over the entertainment industry in Korea.

Even the comedians look good when their job is to be funny. I have no hate towards people getting surgery because it’s their choice to get it done, but it’s just saddening to see what the country has become.  What makes it even worse, is that Korea is the number 1 country with the most population of people getting plastic surgery and the numbers increase every year.  Everyone has their own beauty and people should not be judged by looks and they definitely don’t need to have operations done just to impress others.

—- Juyeon Oh

In the early 2000s, Asian entertainment culture began its spread to Western audiences. Anime, manga, dramas, film, and music migrated toward the computers of Westerners by way of illegal file sharing and YouTube, creating the boom of which many are familiar.  Currently, Internet radio plays a large role in the spread of Asian music culture.

Big B Radio is one of the stations leading the charge in the spread of Asian music. Big B got their start in December 2004 through SHOUTcast Radio. The station caters to C-Pop, J-Pop, and K-Pop fans with their different station choices, so any Asian music lover can find something they love. With thousands of listeners, the commercial-free station was even named the most followed K-Pop and J-Pop station by TuneIn! After 10 years, the station shows no signs of stopping as fans continue to join in to listen to their favorite groups.

Recently, K-Crush got in touch with Big-B and had a chance to catch up with personable DJs Typo, Emergency, Rexie, Lizzie, And, Kagome, and Ben to find out their thoughts about the rise of Asian pop, the genre’s acceptance in the West, and any plans they have if the West loses interest in the music.

 

Thank you so much for your time! To get started, do you mind introducing yourselves, where you’re from, and how long you’ve been a part of Big-B Radio?

Kagome: My name is Kagome Dirksmeyer.  I am from Alton, IL USA. I’ve been a part of Big B Radio for over 2 years now.

Lizzie: Hi! Lizzie from Singapore here! I have been tuning in to Big-B Radio (BBR) since 2012 using an online-streaming radio. I only happen to know that BBR has a main webpage for us to tune in and request songs at around February/March last year (2014). *Laughs*

 In May, I was then chosen to be a Request DJ. And I am really grateful that DJ Rip, the Boss, decided to let me be a part of BBR Family to help him.

Emergency: Well, first I would like to say hello to all the readers of K-Crush, your #1 place for good news in the K-Pop scene! I’m DJ Emergency, upcoming producer out of the woodwork! Some of you may know me by my remix releases that’ve been going out on SoundCloud and a lot is yet to come! I’ve been DJing for Big B since October, so not really long and will stay as long as I can.

Ben: Hello, DJ Ben here. I am DJ for all of the Stations (Asian Pop, K-Pop, C-Pop, K-Pop) on Big B Radio and enjoy all types/genres of music (C-Pop, J-Pop/J-Rock and K-Pop/K-Rock). I am currently living in Canada, but used to live in the small city of Montego Bay, Jamaica. I am fully Chinese, but I was born and raised for about 13-14 years in Jamaica due to my parents’ occupation.

 I started around March 2014 (I think), so almost a year soon since I have been with Big B Radio. Time sure flies by when you’re spreading the love of music. My hobbies entail listening to music, gaming with friends, reading manga/manhwa and fictional novels. Oh almost forgot to add that I do enjoy long walks on the beach and laying under the moonlight watching the stars, so if anyone’s interested, feel free to contact me. (Don’t take that last sentence too seriously, haha.)

 

Big-B plays J-Pop, C-Pop, and K-Pop, so you cover a lot of interest areas. What genre(s) attracted you to Big-B, and what inspired you to want to become a DJ for the station?

Emergency: Well, I got a love for Asian music for sure and it pretty much beats American music any day, but how I knew about Big B Radio was that I needed to hear some new music and, for one, I had no place to go. So I did a Google search to find a station to listen to and Big B was the first to show up. Later on I hit up DJ R.I.P. to see if he was interested to have a live DJ mixing on the decks and then everything hit off from there. At the current moment, I’m the only one that does live mixing and I hope soon more people get inspired to work for Big B. The people at the station are great, respectful, and show a lot of love to their audience. They do this for the love which you don’t get much of  anywhere when it comes to the industry. Other places just want to make money and a profit which Big B radio is the opposite of that. They work off of donations which pay for the website and everything under the hood, but they cater to you, the listeners.

Lizzie: Exactly! BBR plays all 3 different genres, and this is why I’m attracted to it. When I feel like listening to K-Pop, I’ll open the K-pop page. If I feel like tuning in to J-Pop, I’ll open up the J-Pop’s [page], and vice versa for the C-Pop.

I’m a K-Pop fan since 2012. I’m not sure when I started to like K-Pop so much, but I’m positive it’s due to K-Dramas and friends influence. As for J-Pop, you can blame Inuyasha (an anime) for getting me addicted to it. *Laughs* I think I was into J-Pop first before K-Pop took over. Last but not least, C-Pop. I’m a Chinese nationality, so I tend to listen to Chinese songs since I was young.

What inspired me to be a DJ are the DJs that helped out in BBR. Before I became a DJ myself, I would always request for songs. And it feels great when my requested songs are played. Most of the DJs do not have the same time-zone as mine when I started tuning in to BBR. During my afternoon, there will be quite a number of requests weren’t answered. That’s when I decided to give it a try being a DJ as well. I wish to help out those listeners who wished to have their requested songs played on air. Moreover, some of the listeners will leave a “Thank You” whenever their songs are played. It seems like your help is appreciated by someone, and that’s what makes me feel warm in heart.

Rexie: The genre that attracted me was K-Pop. That’s what I listened to the majority of the time.  I always thought it be cool to be a DJ, being able to play the music for those listening, and being part of such an awesome family.  I didn’t think I would have the time to do it, but when I was personally asked by the Boss [DJ Rip], I thought to give it a try and it’s been an amazing experience.

Typo: Well, to start, I found K-Pop on our local electronics store. On TV, they had playing a 2NE1 video. After that, I YouTubed it and found SNSD, a little J-Pop and C-Pop later. Overall, I like Pop, Dance, upbeat songs, R&B.

It was a long way [for] me to become a Request DJ because every other [DJ] I knew in Big-B got to be a DJ faster because they knew way too much about K-Pop then I did at that time and I did not pass our Head DJ “Eyeball” test in chat. I was very lucky to be a DJ since other DJs were not so active.

Ben: I cannot say that one certain genre captured me on Big B Radio because I am always so open to listening to so many different types of music out there. Whether the genres are trot, ballad, pop, electric, rap or rock; I would explore these genres as well as the artists that catches my eye. Even within my time at Big B Radio, I am still not able to fully grasp all the great music that each of these countries have to offer. Every day I come across songs that get me hooked which are either requested by listeners (you guys are awesome) or being played on the stations during rotations. Nothing inspirational happened that lead me to become a DJ for Big B Radio, but I did want to give a helping hand to the station and introduce some artists from C-Pop, K-Pop, J-Pop/J-Rock to listeners.

Kagome: I was looking for a station that played J-Pop. I found Big B Radio. I hung around the website and the owner DJ RIP asked me if I wanted to be a DJ.  I enjoy and love music and I enjoy sharing music and I have a great knowledge of music (J-Pop, C-Pop, and K-Pop). I used to DJ at parties for my friends and I was in radio for a short time in college.

 

DJ Rexie, your bio says you love both K-Pop and C-Pop. With K-Pop being a big thing now, C-Pop gets lost in terms of interest. What makes you like C-Pop, and what do you think music fans are missing by not giving it a chance?

Rexie: At first I had no interest in C-Pop because the Chinese songs I had listened to before were not of my interest; but one day while on chat, one of the C-Pop DJs was online and I decided to join her on the C-Pop station and tune in to the music she was playing. I was surprised and enjoyed it very much.  I like C-Pop because I think it’s very relaxing. Even though I like upbeat songs, C-Pop can really help when you need to kick back and relax. Fans are missing out on some amazing artists and great music. I say they should give it a try. There is plenty of variety in C-Pop.

 

Emergency, you also remix J-Pop music on your SoundCloud, Josh. What made you want to do this, and how has the response been toward your remixes?

Emergency: I’ve been making remixes for so many years. At first I was remixing music by 50 Cent and other rap artists, but with that scene I got so many haters and people disrespected me for what I enjoyed doing. When I switched over to Asian music I got nothing but love and the haters vanished. The person that influenced me the most to get into it with J-Pop and K-Pop was DJ Amaya. This guy is a legend, a friend of mine, and one of the best electronic producers out there in the Asian scene. If you never heard of him you are missing out on some good stuff. I also got some influences from ApieceofOnion, K-BitCRUSH, Xulikken, i5cream, DJ SE7EN, Areia and of course Camelia. All these producers are great for what they do and if you haven’t heard them yet you need to check them out for sure.

 

Looking at your radio audience, which country do you estimate has the largest audience currently and why?

Ben: Our statistics shows that the USA has the largest amount of listeners. This is not surprising since the US hosts many events such as K-Con that exposes K-Pop to the unknown community, thus increasing in the numbers of K-Pop fans.

Lizzie: I would like to say Singapore, but we’re placed in #3 at this hour (took a peek at the Country Raking tuning in to BBR before answering this question). *Laughs* But according to the requesters from Chatwing and the people on Chatango, I will say that most audiences are from United States. Up to now, the majority of audience that I had conversation with are from US. Still, I [was] able to make 2 friends from Chatango who are Singaporean like me and a Malaysian who is from a neighboring country.

And: The country with the largest audience is most likely the United States due to the population size and Internet access. Most people have the internet and spends hours on it doing things. Streaming is one of those big things. Even local radio stations have internet streams; so naturally, people will stream Asian music when most places lack a radio station that actually plays such music.

Emergency: People from all over the world listen to Big B Radio and their listeners are growing daily. As for what country listens to it the most it’s hard to tell because it changes from day to day. The best person to ask that question to would be DJ R.I.P. He’s the man of the show, hehe.

Rexie: We have listeners from all around the world, but usually Japan and United States hold first and second place in the listeners list. I’ve gotta be honest, I’ve  always been curious as to what station those listening Japan are tuned in to.  With those who listen from United States I would say they listen to more of K-Pop and J-Pop.

Typo: Japan has the biggest audience, and after that, Taiwan usually. Japan listeners may be looking for something “fresh” and “young” and since some K-Pop groups do Japanese versions of their songs it attracts more people to listen to K-Pop.

 

Many feel the Korean wave impacts young people the most. Where you live, do you find this to the case? From your perspective, what audience absorbs K, C, or J music most in your country and why?

Ben: The younger Asian community is definitely more open to K-Pop, C-Pop, and J-Pop because we tend to enjoy the cultures of each of these three nations. I also see that others from different racial backgrounds do enjoy these types of music as well.

I live in Markham, Ontario where it is a relatively quiet city, so I can’t see any here. Although I can definitely see why it appeals to the younger generation more than the older generation due to the music tastes. The older generations tend to not be so open to foreign music while the younger generation has a more open view of music. The only time I have ever heard K-Pop play in a store or restaurant is when I am eating in a Korean restaurant with my friends and they play the songs or at a karaoke.

Kagome: Not very many people around here listen to K-Pop and other Asian music. The Asian music is a very small market [in the] USA.  A lot of the K-Pop artists don’t make it in the American music market, only a handful do but don`t because the labels here support their American artists than their Asian artist they have on their rosters.

Lizzie: Not only youngsters get hit by the Korean wave here. Some 30-40-year olds also listen to K-Pop. I remember that there is a mini-drama showing parents can be into K-Pop as well. And also, I happen to see a fancam filming a granny and her grandson attending a K-pop band concert,  so I’m sure that Korean Wave does not only impact on young people the most but also the more aged ones.

Instead of audience, I would likely to say gender. From my perspective, girls are more into the K-Zone. According to my surroundings, I can only find girls to talk to about K-Pop. As for the guys, I would say “Off they go to the J-Zone.” I’m guessing mainly because of the anime(s) that they are watching, which makes them more on the J-Zone instead of the K. As for C-Zone, it’s neutral.

And: This is actually quite funny. Of the people I’ve met online, most are in their 20s, so I don’t see it as a youth-centered movement. Most kids are more interested in One Direction or Disney, in my perspective. Consuming Asian music takes a large time commitment and money. To watch all the MVs (and dramas, as an extension) means spending a lot of time in front of a computer or other devices, and most parents wouldn’t approve of their 14-year old child being up at 2am to wait for the newest video to be released. Also, if you’re going to support your favorite artist through physical albums, you need a lot of money for shipping. Therefore, it’s easier for adults to be active and truly absorb the music.

Additionally, all these groups are more aligned with Backstreet Boys than One Direction, so older people are more likely to find a connection with that type of music and format, than younger people. At least, that’s how I think – I could be entirely wrong.

Typo: I think it only impacts young K-pop lovers trying look like their Idols. But Estonians are not that “brave” since in here would get judged easily by looking like any of the K-Pop idols. I would be happy to look like any K-Pop male star if I had “looks” for it. J-Pop and C-Pop would go more to older people I think.

Rexie: Yes, the Korean Wave does impact young ones the majority of the time.  But it depends on what is considered young.  *Laughs* Here, yes many young ones from ages 12 and up show an interest in K-Pop, I’ve met older ones in their 50s who enjoy watching K-dramas. I do feel that K-Pop and J-Pop appeals a lot to teenagers and young adults because the majority of the music is upbeat and miss like-music that makes them happy and that makes them move.  I feel C-Pop appeals more to older ones just because it’s more relaxing and calm.

 

As DJs, I assume you listen to a lot of music every day. Overall, do you think the music quality has gotten better or worse? Why?

And: It’s not so much better or worse, just different. Production quality is of course higher, but you still have ridiculous lyrics and compositions. Then you have amazingly composed music and deep lyrics. Yes, there are artists who will release a song I find worse than their previous works, but sometimes it’s infinitely better. It’s a mixed bag, and saying it is better or worse is shortsighted and narrow.

Typo: I’m very easy going with music unless it has noticeable “autotune,” but I have not noticed such songs yet. Overall, I think it has been a good year since I am easy to satisfy. Older music gives that old good vibe in me, nowadays it is more, like, young and how to be hip.

Ben: In all honesty, I believe that K-Pop and J-Pop/J-Rock are the top contenders in the Asian music industry because the quality music they produce is truly awesome. While I believe the quality of C-Pop has gone down quite far unlike during the golden age where artists such as Leslie Cheung, Andy Lau, Teresa Teng, I could be mistaken and be biased since I truly adored the 90s era for C-Pop.

Kagome: Yes, I do listen to a lot of music every day on a regular job, and I listen to it at home. I work for one of the major music labels when I am not DJing. I have advance notice what is coming out and it will hit the airwaves. Music has gotten a lot better and you can do more with the music [because of] the technology we have today since the old days of 2-track analog channels from 50-years ago.

Rexie: I do listen to a lot music, did so before becoming a DJ, now I do it even more.  I think it [music] has improved, but that’s my opinion.  There’s always that song that is a huge “No,” but I think music quality is different to everyone.  What I think is a great song, it may have all the great elements in it, but to others it may be not be so good. Not their taste.

 

Many see DJs as advocates for the music they play. Have you done anything to help generate interest in the Asian music scene? What have you done, and how did people perceive or accept these actions?

Rexie: I definitely share my love for K-Pop and C-Pop with all my friends and those who I meet that love music in general. Also, I play my music wherever I go so people are exposed to the music I listen to. Some accept it, some don’t.  On the Big B Radio, I’ve been doing C-Pop marathons. It not only helps me expand my knowledge on C-Pop artists, but I think marathons make people curious and they might tune in and hear something they like.

Lizzie: I don’t remember whether I have or have not done anything to help generate interest. But I do know that whenever there are new listeners appearing in BBR Chatango, I will warmly welcome them and have some chit-chat as well. By doing so, I can see that some of the anons have become our permanent listeners. 

Typo: I do very little to be honest. I have shared lot of Asian music-related videos; very little interest unless song titles hint about love, then it gets more attention. I have done a few remix marathons, one football themed marathon, few birthday marathons. That’s what I have done for Big B.

Kagome: I have a lot of people ask me who I would recommend to them to listen to or try. I tell who the best and that the little known artists or groups are really the best than the big well-known artists or groups and share songs and have them listen to. I have influenced a few to listen to K-Pop and J-Pop.

Ben: Many DJs at Big B Radio will schedule marathons for artists on specific stations (Asian Pop, K-Pop, C-Pop or J-Pop). Marathons will be carried out either by themes, special dates (birthdays or anniversary dates of either the artists or group), or just specific artists. We try to spread the marathons on each station evenly. I have taken it upon myself to hold marathons on the J-Pop Station by introducing different artists every week and even take requests from listeners who want to have a marathon for a specific artist. By doing so, I will be able to allow others to hear a variety of different genres and artists. Most listeners enjoy the marathons and give feedback when possible.

And: I admit my lack of social skills limits my ability to really spread the music – amusing since I’m a DJ and a writer, right? I have been in situations where someone would ask what I’m looking at or listening to, and I tell them “Korean music” or a “Korean drama.” They simply say “oh ok” and move on.

I honestly find more joy in exposing other K-Pop listeners to different artists. This is why I host Throwback Thursday. There are a lot of great older artists that Korean music consumers simply don’t know about. So, I like introducing them to the originators of the genre. I also tweet and blog about underrated or non-Big 3 artists, so others can learn about them, as well. Most appreciate it and enjoy the music.

Emergency: Sure! As a DJ, my job is to bring fresh music to the audience and I bring Asian music to the table that not many American DJs do. So to get people to hear it I feed it to them not caring if they like it or not, LOL, but at the end of the day they enjoy what I bring which brings more people to the scene. I basically shove it down their throats.

 

Finally, if Hallyu does burst and interest wanes, what are your plans? Will you continue DJing?

Lizzie: Of course I will still continue to DJ because I am sure that there will still be listeners getting immerse into K-Pop. Also, my main reason to become a DJ is to fulfill a listener’s song request.

Emergency: I doubt it will ever come to that point, but if it does I’ll continue what I do best for my audience.

And: As long as I have the time, and someone still cares, I’ll continue DJing. Good music is good music regardless of the market size.

Ben: Even if the Hallyu bubble does burst and interest wanes, I will probably still continue to listen to Asian music because I enjoy it and not because people stop having interest in it. I will most definitely continue DJing because interacting with those of similar interest is what makes it interesting and enjoyable.

Rexie: I will forever continue to listen to K-Pop and C-Pop and the occasional J-Pop. I will be a DJ at Big B Radio while my circumstances allow it or Big B Radio doesn’t want me, *Laughs*

Typo: I have not honestly [thought] that far yet. Since life is one unexpected thing and I might not DJ at that time anymore? If Big B still exists and accepts me, then for sure I will DJ. But I do continue it for now and always root for K-Pop no matter what.

 

Stay tuned for Part Two of our conversation with Big B Radio! In Part Two, the DJs discuss their thoughts on Asian music’s impact cultural and societal impact!

In recent years, the music industry in Vietnam has been greatly developed and has become an attractive area to step into. Therefore, nowadays, there are a lot of new solo singers and groups. Some of them are very talented; they make high quality music products with unique voices and performances. They greatly contribute fame to the music industry of Vietnam.

 

My first favorite female pop singer is My Tam. She is one of the most successful and famous singers. Even though, more than ten years have passed in her music career, she still maintains a strong and passionate voice.  Everyone still shouts out her name and claps whenever she steps on the stage. She is now the “Queen of V-pop”. I love her style of music, which is mostly a combination of softly R&B and ballad. Some of my favorite songs are: Singing With The River, I Wish, Pretend We Had No Start, Like A Dream, My Everlasting Love. I could feel her feelings through every single word in the lyrics. She has received so many prizes and honorable awards, both domestic and international. What I like the most about My Tam is that, she is not only an amazing singer, she is also a kind and warm-hearted person. She regularly makes a lot of charity trips. She established a charity foundation under her name to build houses for the poor, give scholarships to students, provide medical needs for the elderly and orphans, and more. Many people love My Tam because of her friendliness and kindness.

The second female pop singer that I like is Thuy Tien. She is just a talented and sexy lady. She always carefully invests her creativity, effort, energy and time into every single minute of her music videos. Therefore, her albums are very good quality and highly invested music products. I always enjoy watching her video clips regarding her albums. She is good at both soft music and dance music. She is also the writer for some of her songs. The lyrics are always warm and touching in her soft songs. Her expressions, her sad voice and her beauty make a wonderful combination and very inspirational. Thuy Tien takes audiences into every word she sings. On the other hand, her performance of dance music is also amazing. Her sexy body combines greatly with her skillful dance moves.  She usually makes everyone just want to join her and dance the night away.  Some of her highlighted songs are Snowy Dream, Full House, I’m So Over You, Diary, My Secret, Happy Wedding, Kiss Me.

I also like a few groups, but they usually break up after a few years. I remember one of my favorite girl groups when I was young was Mat Ngoc. I think the reasons I like them is because their songs are very lovely. They sing about childhood, friendship memories in school, teenager’s first love, and appreciation to teachers and our country. Those songs are always cherished and meaningful. No matter how many years passed by, people still listen and sing their songs, especially high school students. The original members were 4 energetic and cute young ladies, Thanh Ngoc, Thuy Nga, Quynh Anh and Duy Uyen. Later on, some of them separated from the group and moved on to a solo career. The group now has 3 girls. Some of the highlighted songs of Mat Ngoc are: Fly To The Dream, Girls’ Love, Innocent Love, When Am I Sad, Young City.

One of my favorite male singers is Duy Manh, the man of sad songs. That is also the reason why I like him. He is a very talented songwriter. Because he writes his own songs, they always sound so real. Most of them are pretty sad. He sings to express his own true feelings in real life. Every word in the lyrics comes deeply from his heart. Each and every song is a story. Duy Manh has a very unique and deep voice. Everyone can recognize him by his voice. I bet if anyone is sad and listens to his singing, that person would break down and cry. Even most of his songs are sad, but his music is very romantic. He also plays saxophone in his music video. I really enjoy all the stories behind his songs and videos. My favorite songs of him are: Your Love Is The Big Ocean, Come Back By My Side, I’m Not Drunk, Love You Forever, I Really Miss You, Gambling Life.

The last singer I want to talk about is also the most famous male singer in the country. He is called “The King of V-pop”. His name is Dam Vinh Hung. People also call him Mr. Dam. Just like My Tam, he is one of the most successful pop singers in the country. He has received a lot of honorable and big music awards in his music career. Mr. Dam has a great knowledge and techniques of music. He is one of the judges for many reality shows, such as “The Voice Vietnam”, “X-Factor Vietnam” and others. Through those shows, as being a coach, people could see in him a dedicated and devoted teacher. He carefully teaches his students a lot of performance skills and techniques. He has a very strong voice. Whenever he sings, we feel his emotions and all the energy he puts in his performances. He always gives audiences strong impression with his highly trendy fashionable outfit whenever he shows up. Some of his famous songs are: The Morning Will Bring You Away, Peaceful Sky, Sorry Love, Late, How Do I Know and others.

 

—-Titi Chan

By Chuck Taylor for Kcrush.

South Korean pop/rock band FTIsland (a.k.a. Five Treasure Island) has long been a phenomenon at home, since their 2006 debut album ““Cheerful Sensibility,” was deemed the No. 6 best-selling album of the year—while their launch single “Lovesick” was lodged at the top of the K-Pop charts for 8 consecutive weeks.

In 2014, FTIsland upped the ante with the release of their latest full-length album “All About.” Writing all of their own songs, the quintet comprises members Choi Jong-hoon (guitar & keyboard), Lee Hongki (lead vocals) Lee Jae jin (bass & vocals), Song Seung-hyun (guitar & vocals) and Choi Min-hwan (percussion).

With nearly a decade of ongoing success, FTIsland is now ready to conquer the world. In January 2015, they will be performing live in Paris, Santiago, Mexico City and Los Angeles. And on Wednesday, January 28, they will take on the holy grail of entertainment cities: with a concert in New York City, at the Best Buy Theater… in the heart of Times Square. In all, the venue seats 2,100 fans. Talk about world domination!

Chuck Taylor is an award-winning Arts & Entertainment journalist, whose worked for 14 years at Billboard magazine in New York City as a Senior Writer, Editor & Single Reviews Editor.

In recent years, Korean pop music and Korean movies have become really popular in Vietnam.  Therefore, Vietnamese fashion is influenced by a lot of Korean pop stars and movie stars, especially young people.   Here are a few fashion trends in Vietnam nowadays.

 

1. Simple youthful Street styles

Young people like to wear simple color outfits, but they create interesting and youthful styles.  They want to look energetic and cheerful, and also fashionable.  For girls, sweaters or t-shirt, tank tops with cardigans, are mixed with high-rise shorts, skirts or skinny destroyed jeans.   Boots or sneakers usually look well with those tops and bottoms.   For guys, they usually wear jogger pants, jeans with flat shirts, hoodies, T-shirt and sneakers.

 

2. Simple and elegance

Vietnamese woman would like to look elegant.   They also learn from the world’s trend, which is simple color.   They usually choose to wear long and straight one color dresses.   Because the dresses are simple, therefore, they mix them with a little fancy accessory, like necklaces, earrings, and purses.

 

3. Young and sweet style

A-line skirts, flowery dresses are the popular items for young and sweet style today. Women, who prefer this style, usually want to show their feminineness.  Sometimes, they wear midi skirt with button-down shirts or blouses.  The material of their clothes is usually soft, bright colors.  A lacy dress is also one common item for this style.

 

 

4. Men’s body fit dress shirts

Not only women care about fashion, men do also.   Vietnamese men are trying to catch up with the world’s trends.   They care about their body and fitness.   They have started going to the gym to work out and built muscles.   They want to look manly, strong and sporty.   Therefore, their fashion has changed as well.   Nowadays, even in business casual, they prefer to wear body fit clothing with simple colors. They also often choose a smaller/narrow tie.

 

5. Business casual for women

Business casual is no longer just black and white.  Vietnamese women choose to wear a variety of classy and fashionable clothes in the office.  Still with the traditional black skirts or dress pants, but they mix those with blouses.  That combination makes businesswomen look very classy and fashionable.

 

—-Titi Chan

2014’s undisputable hit, Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” (ENL), seems to be embroiled in some controversy lately as amateur artist Derrick Bullock accuses him and YG Entertainment of plagiarism.

Bullock claims the instrumentals for “ENL” came from his song “Change Me.”  Bullock claims he has ownership of the instrumentals and says he has paperwork to prove it. On the now nonexistent MV for “Change Me,” Bullock wrote, “…It [the song] DOES NOT belong to a Korean band — it was stolen from me and used in music in Korea 4 years ago. Before you start telling Derrick he stole this music, get your facts straight. Video and paper documentation are available for proof that all rights belong to Derrick Bullock.”

Both K and I Netizens have called Bullock’s word into doubt given the release timeline for both Taeyang and Bullock’s songs since the timeline shows– in terms of availability and release– Taeyang came first. And Bullock’s own words posted earlier than the amended text (image, above left) on the “Change Me” MV seem to contradict his claim (image, Right).

Timeline:

June 3, 2014: Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” released digitally

June 10, 2014: “ENL” released on RISE’s physical album

July 11, 2014:YG releases the official instrumental version for “ENL”

July 31, 2014: Bullock uploads “Change Me” to YouTube

August 12, 2014: Bullock uploads “Change Me” to iTunes

Bullock also seems to contradict his own timeline, first by saying the song was used in Korea 4 years ago (2010-2011), then stated he began composing it in 2008 (7 years ago), then told someone on Koreaboo that he wrote it in school 5 years ago.

Bullock could just have a fuzzy memory. He allegedly has paperwork to prove he composed the song years earlier, but he has yet to produce such documentation. By producing legitimate documentation, the whole issue could be laid to rest, and YG and Taeyang may face consequences.

Upon Bullock’s accusations, YG released a statement that said, “We are aware of the issue at hand and we are internally preparing to deal with the matter.”

As of January 6, Bullock’s heavily synthed and autotuned “Change Me” was blocked on YouTube on YG-filed copyright grounds; Bullock later removed the entire video.

With YG looking into the matter, fans anticipate that some legal action will be taken. In response to the individual who contacted Bullock about the copyright issue, he stated “I composed this music back in school 5 years ago with all the documentations to prove it. If anyone is getting sued, it’s your boyband guy that stole my music, not me. Thanks tho.”

There are a few different angles to this story:

1)      Taeyang did plagiarize the song. Given the timeline and contradictions, this seems unlikely for now until Bullock produces the alleged paperwork.

2)      Bullock plagiarized and is now trying to cover his tracks after getting caught.

3)      This is all a publicity stunt on Bullock’s end to raise awareness toward his music and artistry.

We’re only a few days into 2015, and already it looks like scandal-filled 2014 isn’t ready to let go. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and watch how this whole scandal unfolds!

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

 

—–Joelle Halon

The Big Three’s artists dominated as expected in 2014, and other non-big-three artists like A Pink, Girl’s Day, BTS, VIXX, Orange Caramel, and B1A4 among others produced many fan-favorite hits that dominated the scene. Of course, there are some hidden gems that barely earned attention. Hopefully, you will give them a chance!

 

Amor Fati “Say the Word”

Since AOA has seemingly ditched their band concept in favor of sexy, cookie-cutter K-Pop themes, there are very few (read practically non-existent) girl groups who fulfill the girl-band concept. Enter Amor Fati’s “Say the Word” that easily fills the girl-band void. The girls sing beautifully and play instruments well. They have hints of Sikkim’s Genesis of Pink, so fans of them may enjoy Amor Fati.

 

The Barberettes “Little Girls”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djUtkx9DjBY

The Barberettes: Young ladies with old souls. Brilliant! The ladies channel the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s with ease and class, and they make old songs sound brand new again. Their concept is singing. There’s no glitz, glamour, hardcore dancing, and screaming fangirls and boys. Nope, they’re all about purely singing and it’s wonderful.

 

Bay.B “Que Sera Sera” (listed as “Quecera Cera”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F85tDzHAug8

The Bay.B girls did a lot of covers on YouTube, so it’s great to see them release fresh music that’s all their own. Bay.B sports powerful vocals and an old-school feel. They’re all about vocals over visuals, a refreshing change of pace from today’s K-Pop. If you enjoy pure singing, then Bay.B is for you.

 

Chaness “SeSeSe”

Chaness, subunit of LPG, debuted this summer with “SeSeSe.” While it’s not the strongest song vocally at points, it does show Chaness’ improvements as artists and as storytellers. “SeSeSe” is sensual without being overtly sexy.  Its ballroom music soundtrack helps its sensual feel, and its beat may make you want to dance along.

 

Dia “Paradise”

Dia’s vocals have a special type of emotion wrapped in them that it’s hard to tell to pinpoint what exactly one hears when listening to her sing. There is joy in her melancholy, sadness in her happiness, but everything comes together to create a woman who knows how to make a listener feel her words. “Paradise” has simple instrumentals that fade into the background to allow Dia to shine. If she decided to stay solo over returning to Kiss&Cry, it would be 100 percent okay if she keeps releasing music like this.

 

J.Min “Shine” and “Hoo”

J.Min (To the Beautiful You) made her long-awaited Korean appearance with “Hoo” and followed it up with the equally impressive “Shine.” She plays guitar and sings, showing her talent. She’s different from other SM artists in that she’s not the stereotype of a dancing machine, and that’s why she should have fan attention.

 

Lucky J “Can You Hear Me?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDPvocJ3Mq0

J’Kyun, Jessi, and J’Hyo come together to form Lucky J, a co-ed trio with great voices that created a pretty epic song. Jessi’s voice has rawness and scratchiness that makes it unique and memorable while fitting the tone of the song well. J’Kyun and J’Hyo add a surprising sense of softness to Jessi’s hard edges. Together, beauty exists.

 

Mario ft. Kim Boa (SPICA) “Damages”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KiihLqqfog

Mario’s speedy rap and Kim Boa’s singing and soft rapping pair nicely. Kim provides the emotional response to Mario’s seemingly angry verses to create a multi-layer song that could please any type of listener whether that person is a rap-lover or has an appreciation for a pretty voice.

 

Michelle Lee “Without You”

Michelle Lee was our first cover girl when K-Crush was established, and rightfully so! She provided the world with a beautiful song that paired with an equally beautiful and moving MV starring Yunji Collier as young Michelle. The song may be a power-anthem for the broken-hearted, but with the video, it’s a song about self-acceptance and gaining strength in a closed-minded, racially charged society where people seek tolerance. The song struck a chord with K-Pop bloggers and those who create reaction videos because of its message.

 

Ouigee “Speeding”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_skD8aZO4Wo

When anyone thinks of Trot music, many foreigners think of older audiences enjoying the music. 2014 rookies, Ouigee, dabbled in the Trot genre and created a fun, youth-oriented track about a short relationship gone wrong that can help Trot gain younger audiences. The Ouigee members have great charisma and a nice sense of fun about them, which makes them—and this song—not to be missed.

 

Puer Kim “Manyo Maash”

Puer Kim generated a lot of buzz on K-Pop forums with “Manyo Maash.” First, the mannequins with the SM and YG references made it seem like she was hinting at both companies mass-producing similar-sounding artists (no comment), but she denied this, but it still had fans buzzing. However, the song is perfectly retro and simple, making it a great jam for those with old souls.

 

Purfles “1, 2, 3”

Purfles had one of the best K-Pop girl group debuts for 2014… but few knew about it. The MV they debuted with was on the weak side, but it gave them the opportunity to focus on their vocals which are, to date myself, “all that and a bag of chips.” They’re loud, they’re proud, and their vocals just kick a whole lot of butt.

 

WINGS “Blossom”

If listeners are fans of Davichi, WINGS are right up their alley. Sony’s rookie duo was strong out of the gate with “Hair Short,” but “Blossom” is where they bloomed with heart and emotion. WINGS effortlessly flow from slow-to-mid-tempo ballad to create an interesting dynamic.

 

Yery Band “Romeo Mannequin”

Korea’s rock side often gets forgotten since pretty boy and girl groups dominate for young audiences. However, the rock scene shouldn’t be forgotten. 2014 gifted us with Yery Band, a hard-edged rock band who wasn’t afraid to push the envelope with their bloody, truly 19+ rated-MV. Yery Band channels Japan’s Visual Kei trend with the group appearing in Gothic clothing, tattoos, and harder-edged than the traditional candy feel of K-Pop. While the song is angsty and the video flips the “damsel in distress” themes, the MV does get old quickly because of all the death and destruction and constant geysers of unrealistic blood splatter. However, the song should have gotten more attention, MV aside.

 

Who were your favorite under-the-radar groups and singers for 2014? Share below and let us know!

 

—–Joelle Halon

As we all know that learning a foreign language, regardless of the language, requires keen interest and focus, as well as rapt concentration. It also requires more exposure to the language as much as possible. But still each language has its own uniqueness in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary as well as its grammar. So here are some very usable tips on the best way of learning Chinese:

Tip 1: Chinese is a tonic language. Its four tones are distinctive in meanings. So the learner must have this basic awareness in order to learn Chinese properly.

Tip 2: The tones are important and essential, but that doesn’t mean you need to think about the tones when you are actually speaking the words. Most people find it really hard to remember the tones as it seems there are no rules for them to refer to. This really drives them crazy. The truth is this : when you first meet the new words, pronounce them slowly and exactly with the right tones and then turn the tones in your mind. When you start talking, just focus on the meaning you are trying to make instead of focusing on what tone each word has.

Tip 3: A Chinese word is mono-syllabic, but compound words—combination of words, are more common. So always treat the compound words as one word in English.

Tip 4: The most common way to create a Chinese word is to use a base word, and then add a modifier to this base word to form a new vocabulary.

Tip5: Chinese grammar is very simple, basically following the same pattern of Subject +Predicate + object (just like in English), but we put time expression before the predicate instead of after it.

So, “ I go to work at 8:00AM “ in Chinese will be “ I at 8:00AM go to work”

Tip 6: I think everyone will love Chinese verbs because they are always the same regardless of its gender, tense, forms-singular or plural.

Tip 7: Chinese characters, some call it symbols are made up of lines. They are pictographic. Knowledge about the symbolic meaning of the patterns is helpful and essential in understanding the structures and meanings of the characters.

www.tianchinesehome.com       E-mail:tianchinesehome@yahoo.com   Skype: tianchinesehome

It’s been almost 6 years of listening to kpop. I didn’t like it at first because it was so different than what I was used to. My friend was the one who convinced me to listen to it because she used to be obsessed with kpop back then.

 

My Top 5 Favorite Boy Groups

 

1)     My number 1 favorite boy group would have to be Big Bang. This group really gained my interest and without this group, I probably would have stopped listening to kpop as soon as I first heard it.  My favorite songs from Big Bang are: Haru Haru, Tonight, Lies, Café, and Fantastic Baby.  Even though the songs besides Fantastic Baby aren’t as known, I suggest you listen to them if you haven’t already.

 

2)     Second favorite group is EXO.  What got me interested in this group was their dance choreography to one of their older songs called ‘History.’  It was amazing how they can pull off a 3-4 minute song with such difficult choreography.  Many people are only interested in their title songs because it has cool dance moves, but other songs in the albums are actually better.  If you have not listened to: Moonlight, Peter Pan, Run, Baby Don’t Cry, Thunder, Christmas Day, and 3.6.5. , you should get on that because you will not regret it.

 

3)     Third favorite is Beast.  I’ve actually been a fan of Best since their debut.  They weren’t as popular back then, but fans started to recognize them as they released more songs.  One of the members, Yong Joon Hyung, he writes and produces songs for the group.  He wrote and produced the songs ‘Shadow’, ‘Good Luck’ and ‘12:30’, which were title songs.  He also participated in previous albums, but not as much as these three songs.  This group has many great songs and in fact, all their songs are good. My favorite ones are: On Rainy Days, The Fact, Back To You, Virus, You, and more.

 

4)     My fourth favorite is Shinee. This is one of the most skilled/talented kpop groups.  It’s very rare for all the members to be good at singing, but this group beats the stereotypes of being just famous for looks and with no talent. I’ve actually been to one of their concerts two years ago and it was amazing. They have the most difficult choreography among kpop groups and they manage to pull it off every time they get on stage.  My favorite songs from Shinee are: Hello, Replay, Lucifer, Dream Girl, and more.

 

5)     Lastly my fifth favorite boy group is WINNER.  This group debuted in 2014 and became an instant hit when the album was released.  They were supposed to debut last year after the show WIN was over, but in order to debut with better quality music, the date kept getting pushed back.  This is the first boy group by YG in 8 years.  They haven’t produced a new boy group since Big Bang, so they were already gaining a lot of attention before the debut.  Their songs became a huge hit and were on the top 10 charts for weeks.  My favorite songs are: Color Ring, Empty, Don’t Flirt, Different, Tonight, and Smile Again.

 

My Top Girl Groups

 

1)     My number 1 is BOA.  She’s a solo artist so she doesn’t really fit into this category, but it’s still kpop.  She is one of my biggest inspirations and listening to her music made me think I wanted to become a kpop singer just like her.  Of course I got over that because I can’t sing, but that’s how much I was into her music.  She debuted at the age of 13, which is very young to debut as a singer.  Despite all the struggles she went through at such a young age, she became an inspirational artist.  She spent half of her life in the music industry and is still going strong.  My favorite songs are: Number 1, Girls On Top, Atlantis Princess, Only One, The Shadow, and more.

 

2)     Second favorite group is 2NE1.  I don’t care what anyone else thinks about Park Bom’s issue with drugs, 2NE1 is still one of the most powerful girl groups in kpop.  I honestly think this group has the best songs because the beat is always strong and very catchy.  CL has strong charisma when she’s on stage and it just drags you in and soon you’ll be one of the supporting fans. Minzy has some awesome dance skills; it’s amazing how she learned the techniques at such a young age before she even debuted.  Park Bom is one of the best vocalists among kpop groups.  She has a very unique voice that most of us weren’t familiar with and I think that’s why so many people were into this group until recently when Par Bom’s issue became public.  But there are many fans that remained to support the group, including myself.  And the member Sandra is the visual for this group and she’s so funny and cute.  My favorite songs are: You and I, Lonely, I Don’t Care, Go Away, Come Back Home, and more.

 

3)     Third group is Girls Generation aka SNSD.  This is probably the most popular girl group and two of their music videos have reached over 100 million views on YouTube!  It’s crazy because they’re the first female group to ever reach that many views, in fact, not even that many boy groups can get that many views.  The only artist/group that has gone over 100 million are Psy and Big Bang so for Girls Generation to go over the limit was very special.  A few months ago, one of the members Jessica left the group to focus on her career as a fashion designer.  Many fans were shocked and I’m sure the other members were too, but the group still remains strong.  They did a performance a few days ago without Jessica and everything went so smooth and you couldn’t even notice there were only 8 members.  My favorite songs are: Tell Me Your Wish, Mr. Mr., Hoot, Oh, and more.

 

4)     My fourth favorite group is Apink.  This group has released a lot of songs in the past two years and I think that’s why they became so popular.  All their songs are catchy and they’re not promoting a sexy concept so anyone can listen to and watch their music videos.  Every song they release has become a hit and they’re gaining more and more fans each day.  All their songs have cute dance choreography to them and it’s very easy to dance along. My favorite songs are: My My, I Don’t Know, Mr. Chu, LUV, and more.

 

5)     And lastly, my last favorite group is F(x).  It saddens me because this group deserves a lot more fandom than they have right now.  They debuted in 2009 and the group hasn’t even had their own concert.  They have so much talent, but the company doesn’t seem to be supporting them as much.  After their hit release ‘Electric Shock’ the attention has gone down a lot and when they made a comeback a couple of months ago, one of the members Sulli temporary left the group and they kind of just stopped promoting their comeback song ‘Red Light’ after couple of stage performances.  Despite what people think, I personally liked their comeback song.  Many people were saying the song was bad, but it’s very catchy and after listening to it a couple of times I began to really like it.  My favorite songs are: Nu Abo, Electric Shock, Red Light, and more.

–— Juyeon Oh

Top Ten Albums of 2014

Besides individual songs, there are many great albums that dominated 2014. In fact, there were so many good albums, it is difficult to choose the most impressive ones without careful consideration. After some diligent thought, here are the top ten albums of 2014!

10. g.o.d Chapter 8

2014 gifted us with returns from a few first generation groups; the returns just made missing the worse feel worse. Chapter 8 gave K-Pop fans a taste of an era gone by and proved age is just a number for g.o.d. They still have the magic. Songs like “The Lone Duckling” caught many listeners’ attentions when it was first released, but “Sky Blue Promise” and “Saturday Night” provided an opportunity to earn a whole new fan base. The album was a perfect mix of nostalgia and freshness that made it a feel-good album this year.

 

9. B.A.P First Sensibility

B.A.P’s first full album had something for everyone starting with its impressive title track “Angel (1004)” to the sensual “Body & Soul.” Yongguk once said the group wanted to try different styles; First Sensibility fulfilled that wish. Fans still experienced B.A.P’s hip-hop styling, but they also got to experience Rock through “Bangx2” and the members’ sweetness with “With You.” First Sensibility displays why B.A.P earned a large international following.

 

8. Roy Kim Home

Roy Kim’s folksy, artsy album is one of the feel-good albums of the year. Home packs an emotional wallop with “Home” and “Nothing Lasts Forever,” but provides some upbeat sound with “Now I Know.” Kim manages to provide music for any mood and can easily lift sadness with Home. On an international scale, Home is truly underrated.

 

7. Nell Newton’s Apple

Kim Jong-Wan provided one of Nell’s best albums with Newton’s Apple. Lush storytelling, instrumentals, and vocals come together to create a seamlessly harmonious musical triumph. The album connects to the broken-hearted while pairing the group’s Indie Rock sound. Listeners can experience a wide range of emotions from angst via “Night of Rebirth” to desperation in “Escape from Extinction.” Newton’s Apple is a perfect example of why Nell quietly dominates the Indie scene.

 

6. CNBLUE Can’t Stop

Can’t Stop earns a star for not having a bad song on the album. The album’s title track showcased Yong-Hwa at his finest, songs like “Cold Love” with its bitter undertones and the soft “Like a Child” bring out the best in the group as a whole. The rock scene is sadly under-represented in the Asian music scene these days, but CNBLUE perfectly fuses their rock roots with contemporary K-Pop. The best element of Can’t Stop is how accessible it is to a K-Pop audience and even those outside of K-Pop since it has a certain maturity and great songwriting to make a statement without being potentially obnoxious.

 

5. Ha:felt Me?

Wonder Girl’s Yenny makes her debut with a beautifully touching album that engages the senses. The album dabbles in Indie music, emotional ballads, and sweet rawness that suggests Yenny is baring her soul for all to see. “Ain’t Nobody,” the album’s single, perfectly introduces audiences to her vocal styling, while “Peter Pan” goes right to the heart of things by leaving a mark on the heart. The album should have been discussed more as a possible award contender, but sadly, it was not.

 

4. 2NE1 Crush

Since its release, Crush has been one of the most talked albums in 2014. Why not? Songs like“Come Back Home” and “Gotta Be You” have been discussed for awards, the latter picking up an MTV Iggy. The album even debuted at #61 on Billboard’s top 200 list. The lyrics presented on many of Crush’s songs are raw and personal with instrumentals pulling from Middle Eastern sounds and hip-hop influences. The ladies of 2NE1 stay true to who they are as well by showing unwavering resolve and power.

 

3. Seo Taiji Quiet Night

Electropop, synth, and the artist-with-an-inability-to-age, Seo Taiji, come back after a five-year hiatus, and the results are delicious!  The album feels like something out of a Tim Burton film, especially the song “Christmalo.Win” which combines themes of Halloween and Christmas to make for an interesting song. The live stages also combine both themes to add to the imagery. Songs like “Fighter of the Forest” and “The Christmas Miracle” sample from the sounds of the 1980s and 1990s to reach older audiences. The thing about Seo Taiji is he is quite the smart man and made music that can reach an audience both young and old.

 

2. Taeyang Rise

Taeyang embraced both R&B and hip-hop with Rise with his tracks “Let Go” and “Ringa Linga” to help show growth and range, but “Eyes, Nose, Lips” was the runaway hit this year. Rise also caught the attention of the American audience by debuting at 112 on Billboard’s hot 200 chart, making Taeyang the highest charting Korean male soloist. The album did boast other great songs besides “ENL” like “1am” and “Stay With Me,” so it’s easy to say that if every song was a single, chances are they would all chart. Taeyang impressed with his skill and any accolades he received was well-deserved.

 

1. Epik High Shoebox

Produced by Epik High, Shoebox is one of the group’s most personal albums that covers many highs and lows. From the raw, edgy, and swear-riddled “Born Hater” to the pretty “Happen Ending,” Shoebox does well in showing the many facets of Epik High. “Amor Fati” and “Spoiler” also impress with their content value and lyrical styling to the point of taking one’s breath away at the brilliance behind the music. Then again, it’s rare to expect anything else outside of excellence from Epik High.

—- Joelle Halon

What I found unique about kpop is that there are always a large amount of group members and they each represent something in the group such as lead vocal, lead dancer, visual, etc.  I think it’s really cool how all the groups have choreography to their songs.  Having different dance moves that go along with the song are one of the biggest reasons why so many people are into kpop.

When you’re first introduced to kpop, you might be confused and overwhelmed especially if you’re watching the music video because there are so many things going on all at once.  It’s very hard to figure out what the music video is about because it doesn’t really go with the lyrics of the song.  It’s almost always random things to gain more attention.  Not everyone is into kpop for that reason, but it’s also the biggest reason why people like it.  And to those who don’t like kpop are the ones who listened to it for the first time and first time only.  They watch one music video and think it’s stupid, so they don’t watch another one to see if they will like it or not.

To the people who are into kpop, probably didn’t like it at first either, but they had the patience to watch/listen to other songs and maybe one of them gained interest and kept looking for more to see if there were more they liked.

Music videos are always interesting to watch.  If you ever get bored and have nothing to do, you might as well watch the music videos because it’ll keep you entertained.  Some kpop videos are very long and it’s almost like a short drama. Most songs are between 3 to 4 minutes, but the ones with short stories in them will last from 8 to 20 minutes.  An example of this would be IU’s music videos and also T ARA’s music videos.  It will feel like you’re watching a short musical/film or even drama if the story gets intense.

Here’s a fun fact: average kpop group spends anywhere from a month to 3 months on one choreographed routine.   It’s not because the choreography is hard to learn, it’s because there are other members besides yourself so just because you have it down perfect, doesn’t mean everyone else does. All the members have to be on point and they keep on practicing until no mistakes are made. This is a lot harder than it sounds because every dance move has to be sharp and formations have to be correct every time.  If one of this fails, the entire choreography will look messy no matter how great they were doing in the beginning.  As a dancer myself, I know how hard it is to cooperate with many people while doing the same thing.  Even if you’re an amazing dancer, you can’t leave practice until all the members have caught up to your speed.

Another fun fact: most groups have at least 1 foreigner in the group.  This is to help the group gain interest from different countries.  For example, if the member is from the United States, people who are into kpop in the U.S. will be interested in that member and if he/she meets their expectations, they will become a fan of him/her. Also, if the group goes to a foreign country and if it’s the country the foreign member is from, that person will be in charge of talking and promoting the group.  It’s a win-win for the foreign member and also other members/company.  The member who is not Korean will be able to live their dream of becoming a kpop idol and the other members will gain more popularity.

—-Juyeon Oh

The end is year, so now we face the final curtain as we reveal the top ten best songs for 2014. As with the rest of the list, there are quite a few surprises on top. Let’s close out 2014 with some songs that made the year worthwhile!

10. Younha “Umbrella”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTVvtlfU-Ts

Ten years after the original release, Younha released “Umbrella” sans Tablo. Younha still provides strong emotion and beauty which makes the updated version just as gorgeous and memorable as the original. The ending notes where “forever in the rain” echoes and trails off packs such a heart-wrenching punch, even the coldest of people may feel some tears. “Umbrella” truly stands the test of time.

9. Ailee “Don’t Touch Me”    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a5zTTYaNl8

Ailee’s music has an empowering quality that just makes a listener want to burst into a room and strut like she’s an unstoppable being. “Don’t Touch Me” embraces power and womanhood in its beat and instrumentals, making the song feel less about ending a relationship because personal empowerment reigns supreme more. You go, Ailee!

8. Puer Kim “Manyo Maash”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2sMLUyoNfY

Released in February, it’s pretty safe to say “Manyo Maash” has been forgotten by many because of the rush of idol group releases and rookie debuts. If that’s the case, it’s a shame since Puer Kim’s unusual vocals are memorable. Her dark, gothic styling for the song turned her into a modern-day Morticia Addams with jazzy, bluesy sound. She’s different and that matters!

7. Akdong Musician “Melted”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUCIzn0mRHc

The AKMU siblings have wisdom well beyond their years as shown in “Melted.” “Melted” gets right to the bottom of human existence these days by covering how people generally seem colder and less kind, yet it leaves the door open for hope. While these two are still in their early teens, it’s safe to say people can learn a lot from them in terms of musical styling.

6. Roy Kim “Home”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czdxV99r89Y

Roy Kim is not just a singer: He’s a storyteller. His vocals in “Home” paint a picture of the meaning of family eloquently. Kim’s talent should not be denied.

5. Girl’s Day “Something”

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

“Something” surprised everyone with how much of a hit it was, propelling Girl’s Day into a position of being one of the next “it” groups. The sexy yet classy dance added to the song’s appeal for many also. Since “Something,” Girl’s Day has made many TV appearances, held fan meetings, and released two other successful singles. There’s “something” about them these days.

4. Beast “Good Luck”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs8QGv2VqJA

Billboard named “Good Luck” as the top K-Pop song of the year for 2014. From the word “go,” the song captivates while providing an awesome dance track. Yoseob and Junhyung feed off each other greatly, and the other members stepped up to shine in each of their respective parts. The MV’s themes pull from the films 2046 and In the Mood for Love and does so effortlessly and flawlessly to show how well Beast thinks about their concepts.

3. MC Mong “Miss Me or Diss Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6OxVfem0WM

MC Mong made his return much to Korea’s chagrin, but that shouldn’t undermine how amazing his return was. “Miss Me or Diss Me” covers his time away and how he felt in a beautifully poetic way. Jinsil’s chorus is what will keep listeners’ attentions because she plays a powerful role in the song’s bold message.

2. EPIK HIGH “Happen Ending”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8GUlNNXBVg

Whenever EPIK HIGH releases a song, fans can count on it being popular. “Happen Ending” just had all the right moves in all the right places. 조원선’s voice added depth to Tablo and Mithra’s rap to make the song haunting and amazing. But, it’s EPIK HIGH, can we expect anything less?

1. Taeyang “Eyes, Nose, Lips”

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

When it was released, “Eyes Nose, Lips” set the bar high for music this year to the point where it was pretty much clear it was the song of the year. Other artists covered it; fans covered it. The song was everywhere, yet, it never got annoying. Taeyang had a bonafide, timeless hit on his hands, so there’s no denying it is 2014’s Song of the Year!

There you have it: 2014’s best songs! Of course, our list may be different than yours. What was in your top 10?

Now it’s time to look ahead to 2015. Who will be on top then?

—- Joelle Halon

The beginning of 2014 was a huge shock for the EXO fans.  As much as they were excited for the comeback, things didn’t go the way it was planned.  After a week or two the music video was released and the group started promoting ‘Overdose’ it all went down hill when it was all over the news that Kris had filed a lawsuit against SM for not giving him fair choices and taking advantage of him.  His reasons were that when he was sick, he couldn’t take time off to rest, money wasn’t given fairly, etc.

I understand his point of view, but he was very selfish to file the lawsuit at the last minute when he knew they were having a comeback.  The members kept performing without Kris and some members even cried when they went on a variety show to discuss about Kris leaving.  Just when the fans thought everything was going back to normal, another member filed a lawsuit against SM.  Luhan, had similar reasons as Kris and this was a bigger shock for the fans because Luhan had always had an innocent image, so for him to turn back on the team members was just too much. In my opinion, their biggest reason for leaving the group was because of money.  They grew up in China in wealthy homes, so I guess they didn’t realize how hard it was to make money from being an idol in a different country. I do understand their decision, but at the same time I don’t. I mean, why would you go through all the tough training years just to quit?  It just shows they didn’t care about the team members because they would not have backstabbed them if they cared about the group. Since they gained enough fans through EXO, they thought they would be able to gain success in China as well.

The rumors say that Kris and Luhan have met with some big companies in China but no one really wants to sign a contract with them because they know what they did was wrong and many people look at them negatively. It wasn’t hard to notice the struggles the remaining members were going through because they hardly participated in variety shows during their promotion.  Since EXO is divided into EXO M for promoting in China and EXO K for promoting in Korea, I wonder if they will be promoting their next comeback song in China after losing two Chinese members.  They still have two more Chinese members remaining in EXO M but it won’t be the same. Maybe SM will combine the two groups and have the 10 members promote together instead of dividing them equally to balance out the team.

I feel like their comeback would have been a lot more successful if these incidents hadn’t happened, but there is nothing we can do now.  Maybe it’s for the better because it seems like the members have a stronger bond between them. You know what they say, the more difficulties you go through in life it will push you to become more successful.  After all the struggles the other members have gone through, they are stronger than ever.  The 10 members performed at 2014 SBS Gayo Daejun and you couldn’t even tell someone was missing.  Their performance looked amazing and they are way better off without the two members.  With all the past pushed to the side, SM released a teaser for EXO’s comeback in January 2015 on their YouTube page.  Hopefully nothing will go wrong this time and I wish them the best of luck.

 

—-Juyeon Oh

This week has been a competitive week for the artists. There are so many singers/groups making comebacks and the rankings on the chart have been on and off.

1)     Number one on the charts would have to be EXID- Up and Down. This song was released in the summer and wasn’t very known, but when a fan uploaded a fan cam of the member Hani dancing to the song, it started gaining more and more attention. This video instantly went viral and it almost has 5 million views on YouTube, which has higher viewers than the music video. Their song has been on the top 10 charts for weeks now and it recently reached number 1. It’s crazy to see how many fans this group has gained by just one fan cam.

2)     Super Junior’s member Kyuhyun released his first single as a solo artist and the song became a huge hit. Not to offend anyone, but it was very surprising to see how much success he had with the solo because it’s rare to see solo artists who have become successful in SM. The groups are popular in this company, but a soloist has never been a hit until Kyuhyun-At Gwanghwamun. This song is pleasing to listen to because he has a soft tone in his voice so it’s very relaxing and smooth.

3)     Apink-LUV. It seems like every song they release is a hit. Apink has never gained so many trophies from music shows until this song and they sure deserve it. This song is so catchy and it will be stuck in your head after listening to it even if it’s your first time hearing it. I love how this group doesn’t have to change their concept to sexy to gain interest from people. Apink is probably the only group to debut as a cute concept and still have the same concept years after their debut.

4)     GD, Taeyang- Good Boy. It was nice to see GD work with Taeyang. They’ve been training together for years before their debut and they never got the chance to work together, separately from Big Bang. It was nice to see their teamwork that built since the training years. This song is really upbeat with cool choreography. Although the choreography is hard to dance along to, it’s one of those songs you can easily free style to.

5)     Epik High-Happen Ending. It’s been more than a year since their last comeback , so many people were looking forward to this song. With the sad melody, this song will remind you of the person you’ve been missing, but the lyrics will help you push through the tough times.

6)     Toy-Three People. Toy has finally made a comeback and the song is featured by Sung Si Kyung. The melody is so touching and sad, but the song is so addicting that you will find yourself replaying it.

7)     Beast-12:30. This song is produced and written by one of the members Yong Jun Hyung, and the song really shows the strength in their vocals. The chorus part is so high pitched that most male singers are not able to reach, but the main vocalist seems to pull it off without any problems. You can see how much talent his group has by just listening to this song and they sing amazing live.

8)     Park Hyo Shin-Snow Flower. If you want to listen to a guy with a sweet voice, this song is for you. His voice is so unique and it’s not something you’ve heard before. This song is perfect for this kind of weather and it’s good to listen to while relaxing.

9)     AOA-Like A Cat. This group made another hit comeback with this song. Just like the title, it’s basically about the members acting like cats to win the guy they like. The choreography is also fun to dance along to and the song is overall just fun and catchy.

10) Hi, Suhyun ft. Bobby-I’m Different. This is a new unit from YG. No one was expecting this kind of collaboration and it sure met and exceeded the expectations people had. The song has a fun/catchy beat that you’ll be able to sing along after only listening to half of the song.

 

—-Juyeon Oh

The end is in sight with our countdown of 2014’s top songs. At this point, it’s clear some really great songs were left off, but then the list would be hundreds of songs in, and really, “ain’t nobody got time for that” to quote the Internet meme. With that said, let’s get into numbers 20 through 11!

20. Block B “Her”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0WCva5Stk4

Block B’s signature quirkiness and wacky antics provide one of the most feel-good songs of the year. It is impossible to not dance along to “Her.” The song’s addictive hook and beat are enough to propel to top-20 status.

19. J.Min “Shine”

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

J.Min’s music seems to have gotten lost in the idol group melee this year, which is shame considering she made her Korean debut with two amazing songs in “Hoo” and “Shine.” “Shine’s” subtle rock sound and J.Min’s amazing vocals make up for the lackluster lyrics. The chorus feels empowering and sends a message about reaching the stars, and that’s a message we all need.

18. Wings “Blossom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVOB29KelYc

Sony’s rookie duo Wings has the vocal prowess to become the next Davichi if utilized well. Wings has heart and soul in their voices along with raw talent. Their debut song, “Hair Short,” showed their personality, but “Blossom” gave them a chance to show off their vocals in a beautiful way.

17. Raina & San E “A Midsummer Night’s Sweetness”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkfMN-jaycA

Raina made her solo debut, which was one of the highlights of 2014. Her voice definitely feels like a midsummer night sweetness because it’s heavenly and soft. The song performed well on the music charts and caused many fans to “ship” Raina and San E because they had great chemistry together.

16. TVXQ “Something”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9HBT6sRSZ8

Big band and 1940s charm dominate “Something,” and it turned out to be one of TVXQ’s best moves of late. The song is enjoyable, but the MV and live performances are what make it great. TVXQ’s backup dancers stole the show and help make the song way more amazing than it already was.

15. CNBlue “Can’t Stop”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75KBwVtd_W0

“Can’t Stop” couldn’t be stopped earlier in 2014. The song shifts from mid- tempo to a quicker paced song to eliminate dullness. For those who hate ballads, this is the perfect song for you. For anyone who wants to introduce CNBLUE to a non-fan or non-K-Pop lover, “Can’t Stop” is perfect. The echoing vocals and Yong-Hwa’s high notes are beyond delightful.

14. Dia “Paradise”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D0_mglcEAw

How can a song that came out a few days ago make it to the top 20? Simple: Sing a great song that provides a hopeful message about a personal journey. Dia’s voice has hope and makes a listener feel that hope. The message Dia flawless delivers makes the song great.

13. Roy Kim “Nothing Lasts Forever”                   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JRS28BaQjs

Roy Kim’s Home album should have been a contender for album of the year, and “Nothing Lasts Forever” needed more recognition. The song itself is one of the best on the album because of the chorus and the power that erupts toward the end.

12. Ha:tfelt “Ain’t Nobody”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQT82EOXX7c

Wonder Girls’ Yenny released one of the absolute best songs of the year this summer, yet it’s seldom discussed. Her vocal range was on-point in “Ain’t Nobody,” and the emotional performance in the MV—which utilized interpretative dancing well—made the tune even more glorious.

11. MBLAQ “Be a Man”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jcsjuK6j-k

MBLAQ does ballads well as heard in “Be a Man.” From high note to low note, the members harmonized well. When paired with the MV, the song becomes even more impressive and worthwhile. Sadly, two members have now left MBLAQ. Hopefully the three who remain can recapture the magic.

 

Tomorrow brings us to the finish line! Have you seen your favorites yet? Who do you hope will be in the top ten?

 

—-Joelle Halon

We’re at the middle of the road with the music; the end is in sight! Numbers 50 through 31 brought some surprises and shocks, I’m sure, and that’s not going to stop. So what other songs made it? Let’s find out!

30. Stellar “Mask”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnROp2RyanM

Stellar was another group mired in controversy this year due to their initial comeback single “Marionette.” When they returned with “Mask,” a sexier concept remained, but this time it was toned down and people took more notice to the music. “Mask” has a mid-2000s K-Pop feel backed by pretty singing. The parts where they sing “I’m afraid I’ll get caught” (English trans.) provide coy femininity as the lines are considerably quieter than the rest of the lyrics. Despite the controversies, this style of music suits Stellar well.

29. Kyuhyun “At Gwanghwamun”

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

Kyuhyun’s voice is perfectly suited for ballads, so it is fitting he made his solo debut with one. “At Gwanghwamun” radiates warmth and tenderness even though the MV and song reaches out to singles. There is emotion in his voice although the MV is pretty much emotionless, but that’s okay. The song will make a listener have all the feels anyway.

28. Wheesung “Night and Day”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdep8srF-w8

Wheesung’s voice is absolutely necessary in the industry, period. He is distinct and recognizable which adds an amazing layer to his music. “Night and Day” provides strength and emotion with every waver of his voice. Listening to Wheesung here provides an opportunity to escape to a whole other world.

27. Lucky J “Can You Hear Me?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDPvocJ3Mq0

Co-ed groups add an interesting dynamic, so it’s a shame they’re so few currently. Lucky J’s “Can You Hear Me?” is rich and smooth in a unique way with feminine soul and ear-catching rap. The R&B elements that peek out here and there just give the song something that makes a listener pause to truly listen to words.

26. Kiss&Cry “Domino Game”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCC4XQj4aUc

With conflicting reports over whether they completely disbanded or “on pause,” anything negative happening to Kiss&Cry is inconceivable considering how they caught everyone’s attention when they debuted. “Domino Game” is abnormally good because of Kiss&Cry’s amazing vocals. The song is crazy-addictive and deserved way more recognition than it received in Korea. Hopefully 2015 will bring the girls back as a whole group because the world is theirs for the taking!

25. Purfles “1, 2, 3”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzB41vHI9Vw

Another rookie group to watch in 2015, Purfles, came out with guns blazing. “1, 2, 3” boasts amazing bass, but Purfles just brings the house down! Their voices contain so much power that they are extremely hard to ignore.

24. Mamamoo “Mr. Ambitious”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15-XYRubsc

“Mr. Ambitious” marked Mamamoo’s official debut though they had two songs prior to it. What makes Mamamoo awesome is how they incorporate 1940s swag and swing to make a modern hit to create a song that has an old soul and lots of fun. Mamamoo is an exciting group to watch. Plus, they’ve yet to have a bad song.

23. Mad Clown ft. Hyorin “Without You”

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

Mad Clown’s rapping sounds more like talk-rapping than actual musical-rapping. In his case, it actually works to generate an interesting dynamic with whomever he pairs with for a title track. Mad Clown and Hyorin create something magical with the sadness she conveys in her parts and the anger he has in his. Together, the two create magic.

22. B.A.P “1004 (Angel)”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGolQ9LzbkY

It’s been quite a year for B.A.P: Another world tour, a nomination for an MTV EMA, and a lawsuit, the latter finishing their year. However, “1004” was one of the many highlights. The song won them a few music show trophies and gave them further international recognition. The emotional song still carries B.A.P’s signature style which makes it unique and powerful.

21. Winner “Empty”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEqlF5N8UMs

New YG groups tend to not feel like rookies when they debut, and that’s the case with Winner. “Empty” features smooth rapping and vocals that capture the ears and mind. Seungyoon and Mino’s back and forth starting at 3:13 is especially pleasing and soothing. “Empty” has something for everyone.

 

We’re heading toward the end. Have you seen your favorites yet? Who do you predict will be in the top 10 coming soon? Stay tuned tomorrow for 20 through 11!

—-Joelle Halon

Welcome back!

The countdown continues with 2014’s top 50 K-Pop songs. Numbers 50 through 41 rang in yesterday, so who will shine today? Here are numbers 40-31. Where did your favorites rank and who is yet to come?

40. Lip Service “Yum Yum Yum”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnCAj6ssJj8

Lip Serviced earned attention for their food anthem for good reason. The then duo (now trio) showed they can be cute, fierce, and relatable with a kitschy song that quickly earned them a fan base. But in all honestly, how can anyone turn down a song with hamburgers and Americanos?

39. Berry Good “Love Letter”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pYziw7QGOI

Their name suggests they’re an aegyo group and Berry Good members are quite aegyo. However, if you’re not a fan of cute groups, don’t let those feelings deter you! “Love Letter” is a sweet song with an amazing chorus and great harmonies. The instrumentals have an early-2000s K-Pop feel, so nostalgia may ride high for those who’ve been around K-Pop since that period. If anyone remembers and liked BP Pop from 2013, Berry Good echoes their style but with stronger vocals and music.

38. EXO “Overdose”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI0DGvqKZTI

2014 gave EXO better songs with both arrangement and lyrics, and before EXO-M began falling apart, EXO released “Overdose,” a song that marked a nice comeback. The chorus really hooks a listener, and the melodies are much better. In typical EXO style, “Overdose” won plenty of music shows and year-end awards. Sadly, “Overdose” tended to be overplayed on the radio, so it was possible to OD on it.

37. Ladies’ Code “Kiss Kiss”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3egSFB8hVY8

With each comeback, Ladies’ Code showed moxie and continuously improved. “Kiss Kiss,” although similar in style to 2013’s “Pretty Pretty,” should have helped the ladies gain more recognition for their vocal talent, quirky nature, and personalities. “Kiss Kiss” is a relatable song since it covers fears of the first kiss. The chorus captures Ladies’ Code’s strengths with blending their vocals while each girl remained distinct enough to pick out. Months after their accident, it’s still difficult to grasp Kwon Risae and Go Eun-Bi are no longer with us, making “Kiss Kiss” difficult to listen to for the most part. However, its strengths can’t be overlooked.

36. Sunmi “Full Moon”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BBF3vRY85M

Sunmi and JYP trainee Lena pair up to create a song that has a haunting quality. Lena doesn’t sound much like a trainee which adds to the tune’s appeal. Sunmi’s voice, though thin-sounding at times, impresses with each verse. The story tied into “Full Moon”  is also pretty sweet for those still  into vampire romances, although the video can be laughable since who knew vampires like to dance awkwardly on rooftops.

35. Soyou & JunggiGo “Some”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-FhDScM_2w

As an international fan, it was humorous to see how people fought over this song this year. I-Fans couldn’t quite understand why it was popular and while K-Fans helped keep the song on top of the charts for several weeks. The song is cute, upbeat, and Soyou and JungGiGo knocked it out of the ballpark. The beat of the song just induces happiness, so why hate?

34. Orange Caramel “Catallena”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Med2XipHJJM

Orange Caramel wouldn’t be Orange Caramel without a weird, quirky concept? “Catallena” serves up seafood with a story and pairs it with disco and Pakistani-Panjabi influences. The fusion makes “Catallena” unique and enjoyable.

33. AOA “Miniskirt”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6f-LLM1H6U

AOA made a comeback with a sexier comeback, but this one was classy compared to many comebacks—from both males and females—this year. “Miniskirt” earned them plenty of recognition that propelled them to becoming a contender for a top-tier group position. The only downfall for “Miniskirt” is that it is a departure from how AOA started: A girl group with a band concept. Hopefully, 2015 will bring that concept back around because fans need to hear how multi-faceted AOA truly is.

32. 2NE1 “Gotta Be You”

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

“Gotta Be You” is one of several 2NE1 releases this year. While “Come Back Home” held the emotional appeal, “Gotta Be You” is the song picking up year-end awards. The song’s dance track is impressive paired with 2NE1’s voices. The lyrics are interesting and fit CL’s rapping. Minzy, Dara, and Bom shine well, especially since Bom doesn’t sound out of place. The MV, however, sends a message that it’s okay to go back to a cheater if he apologizes. Has no one heard the saying “once a player, always a player”?

31. SPICA “You Don’t Love Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc1RwpRfbT0

Why SPICA doesn’t get more recognition will always remain a mystery, but they should considering how they are a chameleon in the K-Pop industry. They can cover just about any style with ease. “You Don’t Love Me” recalls the Motown era; SPICA owns the sound and the feel. Plus, Lee Hyori helped with the MV and track.

Stay tuned tomorrow for numbers 30 through 21! Who do you expect to see?

 

—  Joelle Halon

2014 brought K-Pop lovers some awesome songs from Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” to Girl’s Day’s surprise hit “Something.”  But the music scene can’t always be perfect, and artists in the industry can release some stinkers here and there. So what were some of 2014’s worst?[i]

Hyomin “Nice Body”

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

While Hyomin may have wanted to empower women to be proud of their bodies through good health and exercise, the overbearing message many received was that women should be thin in order to be considered beautiful. In fact, many comments on the video’s YouTube page thank Hyomin for encouraging eating disorders through the MV and song and consider the opening and closing sequences to be an act of “fat shaming.” The song itself sends the same mixed messages. This was a song that could have been positive, but it remained shallow and clueless instead.

Crayon Pop “Uh ee”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDG3BQRdDY

The Trot vibe of the song is the best part of the song, but the part that makes the song weak is how pigeon-holed Crayon Pop is since the viral success of “Bar Bar Bar.” Prior to “Bar Bar Bar,” Crayon Pop had a range of songs like “Saturday Night” and “I Am Beautiful” that showed their potential.  Since “Bar Bar Bar,” their music has remained the same gimmick that has gotten old and tired. “Uh ee” follows the same formula as “Bar Bar Bar” with a repetitive chorus and goofy fashion. Chrome needs to move on from milking the silly, quirky act and give Crayon Pop something to show their true abilities.

ToHeart “Delicious”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdrz_e2mbtE

A pairing that consisted of SHINee’s Key and Infinite’s Woohyun sounds like a dream-come-true. The song, sadly, is generic and preteen-friendly. The chorus is decent but contains a high cheese factor. Their subsequent song, “Tell Me Why,” showed their vocal talents better.

PSY and Snoop Dogg “Hangover”

 

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

 

Kudos to PSY and Snoop Dogg for creating a song that sounds exactly what I expect a hangover to feel like. Of course, this was the purpose of “Hangover” because it does seem to be poking fun at Korea’s soju culture.

While billed as PSY’s song, Snoop Dogg was front and center, so it is really his song with PSY as background. The main gripe is how it feels wrong to glorify drinking so much that people don’t remember what happened. The song just doesn’t work, but it seems like something that would be featured in the film Hangover. “Hangover”  is just flat-out obnoxious!

 

Hitchhiker “Eleven”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZa4yre0uEk

For 3 minutes and 51 seconds, a girl makes noise and beats her mouth. This is called music.

Let’s absorb that a minute.

Sure, club-type and experimental music is different and people have different tastes, but is it really a song? Why not? It has a good beat, but it gets annoying real fast. A few people I know who are into the club scene thought it was awesome, but it’s just not fit for a lot of everyday listeners.

M.o.A “I’ll Call Ya” and “Run for Your Dream”

Rookie group M.o.A has had a rocky start to their career, and it’s a shame since they could have potential if they had better songs.

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

“I’ll Call Ya” had a catchy chorus, but the song as a whole was short cohesiveness with instrumentals that drowned the girls out. Sadly, the M.o.A ladies lacked good vocal technique too since poor control made the song sound like a call for help over a call to a potential love interest.

Three members left and joined the new group 4L after this song’s release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkLXx4D983w

“Run for Your Dream” gets credit for not using autotune, but the vocals are weak, shaky, and often fade out. The rap portion lacked flow, so it felt more like amateur hour than a professionally produced song. The tempo change made it sound like the song was two different pieces sewn together. After this release, two more members got the boot. Here’s to hoping Professional Entertainment gets in gear to help these girls succeed.

GOT7 “Girls, Girls, Girls” and “A”

GOT7 had a lot of hype leading up to their debut, and there’s no doubt these guys are talented. Luckily, they have a strong fan base because their debut and follow-up singles were average at best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sAoKmg7qPI

“Girls, Girls, Girls’” old-school track made the song worth listening to the first few times, but after a while the instrumentals get annoying because they remain in the same key throughout. The overall lyrics and chorus aren’t memorable and too self-serving. “Girlsx3’s” is confident, yes, but since it was a debut song, why emote the feeling that girls will love the group already? The song comes across as cocky because of it, but since GOT7 comes from a “Big Three,” it seems they knew it was safe to choose this song for a debut. However, it would have been better as a non-title track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eISomx-VMow

With “A,” the intro immediately draws a listener into the song with its summerly vibe. “A,” however, feels like it’s yelled more than sang making it less enjoyable.

However, GOT7 will do well despite these average starts. With over 24 million views combined for both MVs, fans will support them no matter what, but stronger songs will help cement their place as a top rookie.

Aila “Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Girl”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6v0GdN-W2Q

Aila had, perhaps, one of the saddest debut stages in recent K-Pop history. The Aila ladies look older than the typical female idol group, and their voices suggest this is the case too. This song is too young-sounding for them! Their harmonies in the chorus are messy since they sound like they’re all singing a different song. The pitchiness makes the girls sound obnoxious, which is a shame because there are hints of potential. If they are allowed out of K-Pop obscurity, hopefully their company will give them a more mature song to fit their vocal range because it would be nice to hear what they can do.

A.I.N “Candy Girl”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgNhTmKBTW4

Nothing against Nurse in Angel because they do seem genuinely talented (though I’m not buying the sexy nurse concept) with the potential to become a known group, but the song just isn’t for them. The song is in too high of a key to complement their voices leading the song to sound shrill at times. The song isn’t bad per se, but it would have worked for a different group who can reach a higher pitch better. The song is solely on this list due to the miss-match of artist and music.

CL “MTBD”

Earlier this year, “MTBD” caught the ire of many when people thought they heard elements from the Quran in the song. YG neither confirmed nor denied this, and it’s really unclear if the Quran was used. There are clear Middle Eastern and South Asian influences though.

Controversy aside, “MTBD” had too many elements pieced together that made it sound like a breakdown. The “boom” portions sounded a bit like Madonna’s “Vogue,” and the “how beautiful is this life” at the end is just whiny and grating. While it’s great K-Pop is working toward embracing other cultural sounds via instrumentals, sometimes it just doesn’t work. “MTBD” is one of those songs where very few elements came together to make a likeable song.

Pritz “Too Difficult Oh Eh Oh Eh”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b9TWbkN0K8

Pritz feels more J-Pop than K-Pop, not that there’s anything wrong with that. “Too Difficult…” fits well in an anime as an intro or closing credits song, but it’s definitely not a standalone song. The random cheers and yelling are unbearable since there is very little singing going on. With “Go Girls,” Pritz seemed like a group with a cool concept and sound.  Since then, they’ve gone downhill and even got embroiled in some controversy.

Scarlet “Hip Song”

http://youtu.be/95LWTeda-qk

 

The song is catchy for summer, butthe message suggests women should only be about impressing men through body language and brainless actions. The nonsensical, repetitive lyrics create a song that’s cute the first few times it’s heard, but why be dumbed down? Scarlet, you are so much more than this, I know it!

HyunA “Red”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTXCgR93zC8

The bridge leading up to the chorus and the way the instrumentals make the body sway are the best part of “Red”; everything else got old quickly. The lyrics are some of the worst ones this year although they seem to be based on a Korean nursery rhyme, but the arrangement seems off. HyunA’s high-pitched sound wears thin quickly also, and it would be nice to hear her sing in her lower, natural voice.

 

What songs did you loathe this year? Share with us in the comments below!

 

[i] Opinions are solely the author’s and do not reflect K-Crush America’s stance as a whole.

 

— Joelle Halon

So long, farewell!

We’re now saying goodnight to 2014, and what a year it’s been! 2014 brought us a lot of thrills and chills in the music industry. Despite the highs and lows, the music never stopped. The year brought us some amazing albums like Taeyang’s Rise, Roy Kim’s Home, Good Luck from B2st, and 2NE1’s Crush, and with these albums, we had some memorable songs.

Ranking the 50 best songs from 2014 is a tough task because there were so many good ones this year. Rookies came out strong while some veterans faltered a little although they provided some strong contenders. So where did this year’s songs fall on the top 50 scale? Let’s find out!

Here are numbers 50-41!

50. IU “My Old Story”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npttud7NkL0

Part of IU’s appeal is her ability to tell a story through her music. She’s an old soul who can appeal to many, proving that in “My Old Story.” The imagery, instrumentals, and vocals bring feelings of old Hollywood glamour, while the heartbreaking lyrics resonate to those who lost love. IU’s grace through music leaves a nice impact especially here.

49. BIGFLO “Delilah”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKKJ5N0soRk

BIGFLO’s debut was one of the better male group debuts in 2014. “Delilah” is a massive earworm track, and the members have the swag to pull it off. Their debut album is equally impressive! BIGFLO’s unfortunate downfall right now is how similar they sound to Block B. However, as time goes by and they settle into an identity, they can become a group worth talking about more.

48. Girls’ Generation “Mr. Mr.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8j_XEn9b_8

SNSD are still relevant and a top-tier female group, though it seems they are losing steam and falling into a trap with songs that sound too similar year-to-year. “Mr. Mr.” has a fun video to analyze and decent lyrics, and it is also great to see the ladies mature, but it’s not a breakout hit like previous Girls’ Generation songs. Of course, fan support will remain strong so they will continue to dominate the music shows for that reason, but “Mr. Mr.” was good but not great.

47. f(x) “Red Light”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv-8-EgPEY0

“Red Light,” like other f(x) songs, is simplistic lyrically allowing the dance track to carry the song. Like SNSD this year, f(x) find themselves falling into the cookie-cutter-song-type trap with a bangin’ beat and some repetition. However, the simplistic lyrics have a message as they pin f(x) against haters and those who want to stop them from creating their own sound and identity; the MV is filled with images supporting the idea also. The imagery and content are what put the song on the list, but overall, it’s a typical f(x) dance track.

46. Super Junior “Mamacita”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYiIpocQxL8

This SuJu comeback is, by far, one of their most fun. Siwon’s creeper ‘stache, Heechul’s bartender act, Shindong as the heel… what’s not to love? The drama version of the MV show that Super Junior are more than just dancing-machine-idols locked in an oddly lit room. The chorus will—and does—get stuck in a listener’s head, but in this case, it’s okay. The fun element makes “Mamacita” a winner.

45. Megan Lee “8dayz”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC4kLPBZdGU

Megan Lee is adorable and charming in “8Dayz,” her official K-Pop debut song. The song’s bubbly beat and lyrics bring about feelings of summer and happiness. Lee simultaneously released Korean and English versions to reach out to her supporters internationally; the Korean version (shown) has B2st’s Junhyung rapping to fulfill the typical K-Pop song formula of singing-rapping-singing. “8dayz” provided a glimpse of Lee’s talents; sadly, she, like many others in the industry in 2014, is locked in a lawsuit with her company. We hope to hear from her again soon!

44. History “Psycho”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJDc5vYw_UE

The beauty of “Psycho” is how it incorporates some 1970s’ sound with some cult-classic musical charm. The distortion at the end of the chorus is enough to draw a listener in since it’s part of the song’s fun. The lyrics, at times, feel weak, but they don’t impact the overall vibe of the song.

43. Fiestar “One More”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9sEjiBew18

“One More” hosts a great dance track and addictive chorus that solidifies Fiestar as one of the groups to keep an eye on in the future. Sadly, this song faded into obscurity since it wasn’t allowed to be performed on music shows due to the song’s controversial subject involving sex and a hinted at threesome. Despite its supposed controversy, “One More” is one of Fiestar’s best comebacks to date.

42. U-Kiss “Don’t Flirt”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0pJ-mBHiV0

Like Fiestar’s “One More,” “Don’t Flirt” is rich in sexual tension. U-Kiss’s more mature concept did raise a few eyebrows as members even apologized for the overt sexual overtones. However, the harmonies and chorus are strong and impressive and show U-Kiss members are more than dance tracks like in “Neverland,” “Believe,” and “Dora Dora.”

41. Rosemary “That’s What They Say”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5AA8kNPSx0

It’s astounding how these amazing ladies sneaked into the industry under the radar because they deserve to be recognized. Rich vocals dominate “That’s What They Say” and help soothe the soul. Their Indie vibe remains intact as they head into the mainstream which helps them stand out as a superior group with true, raw talent. Their self-titled mini album boasts a nice range of styles including Jazz and pop.

 

Of course, this list is just the opinion of one person. Where do your favorites fall? What’s yet to come? Stay tuned tomorrow for 40-31!

 

— Joelle Halon

Most K-drama fans would agree that once you start watching K-drama that suits your taste, it’s difficult to drop watching halfway through when the storyline unfolds.  Some writers would even go as far is re-writing the storyline at the last minute just before the show airs- making it mega difficult for the viewers to predict the ending.

 The Korean drama production is undertaken as quickly as possible under very tight schedules. The filming crew, writers and actors spend months shooting into the night, lacking sleep, overworking to produce something good for the viewers.

 Hallyu, a.k.a the Korean Wave is a term which refers to the rise of the popularity of the Korean culture which began in the late 90’s.  The word ‘Hallyu’ is said to be first used by the Beijing journalists who were awed by the China’s growing mania for Korean media for K-dramas, K-movies, K-pop music videos and so on. During the era when social network services were not very oriented, K-drama in particular accumulated solid fan base from all over the globe.

 For this article, I want to introduce four TV dramas that were aired over a decade ago, around the era when the term, ‘Hallyu’ was formed. TV dramas that made huge hits in many countries of the world and these shows played a huge role in paving the way of Hallyu.

 Jewel In The Palace

The popular K-drama, ‘Jewel In The Palace’ which aired in 2000, is based on a historical scene and the story about an orphan who is trained in a King’s palace to pursue her dreams as the king’s top chef. The main character is named ‘Jang-geum’ and according to the old documents, her name is actually mentioned once for being rewarded for her services in the palace. The storyline for the drama is all fiction but the scenes displaying traditional food, recipes, health tips from the ancient times really adds a very special element to its production.

 In Korea, ‘Jewel In The Palace’ ranked tenth as the most viewed drama of all time. The episode which aired March 23rd in 2000 had the ratings of 57.8% who tuned in. Considering the fact that the last episode of the hit drama, the ratings for ‘The Heirs’ (2013) received the 25.6%, the record of the ratings of “Jewel In The Palace” is solid proof how massive this drama was in the year of 2000.

 When ‘Jewel In The Palace’ was aired for 54 episodes, it received huge support from numerous countries across Asia, Europe and Africa; getting repeatedly aired on many National TV channels with extremely high ratings.

“Truth”

A popular K-drama that aired in the year of 2000 was called ‘Truth’ or ‘Honesty’ which attracted many viewers and is one of my favourites despite its dramatic storyline and suspense. This was one of the shows that the writer had to change the ending for fear of getting complaints from the netizens. Unlike the drama’s title, the show is mostly about the lies, cover-ups, cheating, blackmailing and most of all, enough drama to draw viewers and keep them entertained.

 Ja Young (Played by Choi Ji-woo) is from a poor family who lives in the basement of her affluent classmate, Shinhee’s house since Ja Young’s dad is a chauffeur of Shinee’s (Park Sunyoung) family. While Ja Young is a top student in the school, Shinhee does not show any ability academically. Things start to get more complicated when Shinhee’s family bribes Ja Young to take the college entrance exam for Shinee. For months before, Shinhee was  tormenting her to help her cheat in exams. Real trouble emerges when Shinee’s crush, Hyun-woo (Ryu Siwon) starts going after Ja Young and they eventually start to date; this is when Shinee starts scheming for bigger and nastier plans.

 One of the main characters was actually supposed to die in the original story, but instead of wrapping up the show with a sad ending with a character dying with a loss of memory, it was overturned and the story was re-written so justice was served. The majority of the viewers are said to actually sympathize with the villains at their last scene. If you’re interested to know how the show came to an end, maybe you should check this drama out sometime.

Miss Mermaid

 In 2002, a TV drama with the title, ‘Miss Mermaid’ was aired. The title drew a lot of attention since the viewers could not fathom the meaning and the intention of its title. The main character, Ahri-young (Seohi Jang) was not on any TV production for many years and she seemed to be a fresh face for the viewers.

 Ahri-young is a successful drama writer who is from a very dysfunctional family background. Her father left the family for another woman who is a well-known actress, consequently her mother was left blinded from the shock and her autistic brother was kidnapped and later died.

 Ahri-young plans on avenging her father since her childhood and after she becomes a popular script writer and starts writing a story for a TV drama; she casts her father’s new wife for the leading role. Ahri-young also plans to steal her stepsister’s husband-to-be for herself and things become complicated when her feelings get in the way of her plans. She hurts many people along the way, initially her plans seem to work out as she had planned, but not for long the plans start to take different turns.

 The ending for this TV drama series was quite ambiguous and not quite what people would normally expect; the series seemed to drag on and the story was overall quite outrageous nearer to its ending after 256 episodes. Overall, this drama really did stand out due to its very unique script and top class acting. Even the names of the characters were surreal, making this production quite memorable.

Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven was a drama that was aired from the end of 2003 until February of 2004 for 20 episodes, accumulating very high ratings; an average rating of 38.8%, and 45.3% for its finale.

 Jungsuh (Played by Park Shin-hye) and Song-joo (Baek Sung-hyun) grow up together and they share a special bond. Song-joo is the heir of a Jaebol company and they make plans to go abroad to study together. Jungsuh’s mother had died years ago and her dad remarries. The step-mother brings her own two children, Yoori (Kim Tae-hee) and Taehwa (Shin Hyun-joon) to live with the family – those two siblings, especially the step-sister causes a lot of misery and needless trouble for Jungsuh during the whole show. The step-mother is an actress who is a spiteful and jealous type and she starts manipulating her husband to keep Jungsuh from going abroad. Years later, Song-joo returns to Korea to take over the company. Yoori who gets eager to stop Jungsuh from meeting Song-joo, drives after her and runs her over then taking Jungsuh’s nearly dead body to her real father to hide it away.

 Most people, including Song-joo are deceived Jungsuh really died in a car accident by an unidentified driver. Yoori blatantly takes Jungsuh’s place as his fiancé. Jungsuh has a memory loss and lives her life not knowing her true identity. Of course, the story doesn’t end there and goes on. The ending I was not able to foresee, since it wasn’t that predictable until the end.

 In 2004, the broadcast rights were sold to Japan for around ? 1.2 billion which was at the time a record price for a Korean drama export. According to a survey by SMAP Station in May 2007, Stairway to Heaven ranked as the third most popular Korean drama in Japan. This drama also aired in the Philippines in 2004, as one of the highest rated programs ever in the country. In 2005, the broadcasting rights to ‘Stairway To Heaven’ were sold to eight countries across Latin America.

—- J Chung