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Playlist Sunday: Favorite February Releases

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The month of February has given us a plethora of K-pop releases. From veteran artists such as Shinhwa to rookies such as Rubber Soul, it has been a busy month for music. We feel it is important to show the shortest month of the year some love and now that February is over, it’s time to take a look back at some personal favorites by KultScene’s staff.

I’m not going to lie, I may or may have not spent the entire month listening to songs released by the competitors of No.Mercy. But while picking a song for this playlist, while trying to convince myself that I should probably not force my taste on other people, I discovered Kris Leone’s The End and I’m absolutely obsessed. Kris Leone is South Korea’s rock princess, the daughter of Boohwal’s Kim Tae Won. Kris Leone’s The End is the perfect answer for someone looking to take a break for a few minutes from bubbly K-pop. With crisp instrumentals and Kris Leone’s powerful vocals, The End is hopefully this singer’s beginning.

–Tamar

The legendary Shinhwa is back! This is a rather dark concept for the group, one in which they stepped outside the box and dared to try something completely different than what we’re all use to seeing from them. Every member displays a sexy and mature vibe, reminding the audience that although they’re in a “boy band” they’re fully grown men who mean business.

Moreover, each member had his own peculiar and bizarre role. You have cool guy Eric whose smoking a cigar, Minwoo crotched between his leading lady’s legs, Dongwan who is apparently up to no good in his ‘lab,’ Junjin walking into a room to a girl sitting on top of a table, Andy who’s playing guard with his cane, and Hyesung who doesn’t show his aggressive side until the end. The members are able to portray each individual persona, and because these are men are in their 30s, that makes it all the more believable. This recent comeback has taken everyone by surprise; I can only imagine what else they have in store for us!

–Tam

Also on KultScene: 5 K-Pop Songs To Help You Unwind From The Work Week

In all honesty, I didn’t really keep up to date on the comebacks for February. Is it because there wasn’t much promotion from companies and groups beforehand or was I just not paying close enough attention? One comeback I was surprised about was NU’EST. They haven’t released anything in a while, and then all of a sudden I see they have a new music video on YouTube. When did this happen? The group will celebrate their third anniversary together on March 15th, hence the digital release. Their R&B styled song I’m Bad was released on February 27th. The slower tempo shows off the guys’ soft and sultry vocals and rapping. Unfortunately, Baekho does not sing on the title track due to the fact that he was still recovering from surgery, but he does sing on the B track. Although February is a short month, and I somehow missed the majority of the comebacks for the month, there are a lot of good songs that came out throughout February. NU’EST’s comeback is definitely a welcomed one.

— Tara

It took me a few listens to really like Rubber Soul’s debut track Life. But after a few plays and listening to their debut album, I started to notice these girls’ potential. Choi Cho, Lala, and Kim show their rapping skills throughout the song, but Choi Cho also shows us her soulful voice. The three member girl group is clearly inspired by ‘90s hip-hop and rap and give us ‘90s lovers a nostalgic feeling while listening to the song. Madclown starts the song by spitting out his rap followed by the girls. The chorus is extremely addicting and very uplifting. Every time I sing along the chorus “Life is like a song of happiness” it instantly brings a smile to my face.

–Alejandro

Also on KultScene: Best K-Pop Music Video Fashion: February 2015 Releases

Even if the format of Unpretty Rapstar sucks a bit, there’s no denying that the girls are absolute badasses and incredibly talented. And out of all the contestants, the two baddest females, in my opinion, who are the best are Cheetah and Jessi, who won the second challenge and thus got to release a collaboration song with M.I.B’s Kangnam. On their M! Countdown performance, the ladies looked like accessories to the guy — but don’t get it twisted. On the original performance of My Type on Unpretty Rapstar was all about the girls’ verses. Jessi and Cheetah both exude confidence that comes with being a strong female rapper. A real one, none of that K-pop star thing. So even though the performance on the music show was a bit weak (remember these girls aren’t tained idols), they both slayed the song. Here’s to hoping more flawless releases from these rappers.

–Alexis

Rainbow finally came back after over a year away in February with their mini album Innocent. I liked the single off it Black Swan but the highlight of their comeback is another track from Innocent. Pierrot mixes danchall and Europop to great and weird effect. Its transitions have little build up but seem to work because of the quality of each part and Woori’s rap. It also marks the first ever time I’ve heard Rainbow make good use of No Eul. Her visual and voice are uncommon in K-pop but here her sympathetic voice fits the pre chorus so perfectly.

–Joe

Share your favorite February releases in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Villains

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When people initially think of K-pop they picture bubblegum pop, bright colors, and lyrics as sweet as sugar. Whether it comes as a surprise or not, K-pop actually offers much than the saccharine coated lyrics. Villains make their appearance in many forms and styles throughout K-pop songs. For this week’s Playlist Sunday we pay ode to those villainous songs.

Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: Giriboy

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Playlist Sunday: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

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Snowstorms in the Middle East and Texas are not exactly normal, even in January, so this week’s Playlist Sunday is dedicated to everyone suffering from the unusual cold weather. Here are some songs that will definitely warm you up or remind you of the coldness in the world.

Even though it’s cold outside, ice eventually thaws. Nobody knows that better than TVXQ in Love In The Ice. The song is not only one of TVXQ’s most vocally impressive ballads from pre-2009 split, but relates feelings to the seasons; that narrator of the song sings about wanting to melt his lover’s heart that is frozen from past failed love. “A single ray of light will swoop down into the darkness,” sings the quintet, which can apply to both heartbreak and the dark, cold winter months.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: K-pop Fashion Predictions: Spring-Summer 2015

If you’re going outside in this terrificly cold weather remember to wrap up well like Brown Eyed Girls in the video for their song L.O.V.E. The warm feeling of this song will also help as you walk through bitter winds with your headphones on. L.O.V.E, like the majority of Brown Eyed Girls songs, is a masterclass in line distribution. Each member is perfectly suited to their parts and pull them off accordingly. They have some of the best vocalists in all of K-Pop with Jea’s showstoppers, Narsha’s falsetto and Ga-In’s huskier tones. Yet, Brown Eyed Girls are the type of group with enough range that they can let their rapper, Miryo, take the majority of a song like in L.O.V.E and it still be great.

–Joe

Eric Nam’s Melt My Heart is a very fun upbeat ballad that will surely melt your heart and keep you warm. In this track, Eric serenades a girl that he loves but it’s not part of his life anymore. Every winter reminds him of her, when the snow falls he just can’t help to think of her. He wants to know if this girl still feels the same as he does. Even though the song’s lyrics are sad, the track keeps a very happy beat. Eric’s vocals and cute looks will surely keep anyone warm specially if his serenading you in your ear.

–Alejandro

Akdong Musician’s Melted describes instances of cold, ice, frozen feelings, shadows, gray skies and more in a metaphoric way. Either way, the song and the music video portray people who are cold toward each other. The somber violin throughout the song lends to the feeling of being sad, lost, and confused. The duo’s vocals perfectly depict the characters’ (of the song) feelings. They sing, “If the ice melts, a warmer song would have come out. But why is the ice so cold? Why is it so cold?” In the music video, the old man’s drink in the beginning is full of ice as he looks out over the city. We then see his experiences as a younger man, and at the end, he finally found compassion and thoughtfulness from someone. As we flashback to the current old man, his ice has melted in his drink as he thought of the kind man who helped him. During these cold months, remember that there is warmth all around us in many forms.

— Tara

Also on KultScene: SM Entertainment Goes Disney

Coldness is probably one of the best metaphors to describe an aching heart post break up, and that’s exactly what 2NE1 use in Missing You. The music video in itself evokes a cold and somber feeling by utilizing dark colors, and the styling is also winter themed. Also, the snowing throughout several scenes is the most explicit sign of coldness. The lyrics, for their part, talk about yearning over a past lover inspite of feeling negatively towards him. When Bom and CL sing in the chorus, “My cold heart is still missing you” we get a raw, heart wrenching confession of the complicatedness of the break up. Furthermore, the girls’ demeanor throughout the video is also cold and distant, as if trying to not appear sad and heart broken. All of this serves as the perfect metaphor of describing how a relationship turns cold when it meets its end and how the effect lingers even after some times passes.

–Alexis

What are some of your favorite songs that warm you up during the cold days? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Christmas Edition

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We’ve made it a tradition to come up with playlists for Sunday Playlist holiday themed when they’re approaching, and of course one of the major ones couldn’t be bypassed: Christmas. For this edition, we’ve come up with a few songs that set the perfect mood for Christmas parties or the actual 25th. Our picks are songs that get us in the Christmas spirit while still having fun.

There are many western Christmas classics open for K-Pop groups to cover around the festive time to show their spirit. These songs are such a big part of Christmas in the west that it’s fun to hear the odd Korean version. SHINee chose the ever popular Last Christmas by British duo Wham. Although as you start listening you might be mistaken that it actually is a cover since the production has been nearly completely changed to a strange twirling electronic sound. The pronunciation is all ok but helps the endearing charm of it all. I say let’s have some more weird covers of classics, that’s the true spirit of Christmas.

–Joe

White Confession (Lately) is an original song by INFINITE to express the warm spirit of the holiday season. White Confession is a song about remembering old relationships around the holidays and the desire, but also embodies the feeling many people have around this time of year. The song uses INFINITE’s typical retro style with bells that are reminiscent of holiday tunes, creating a sweet song for the winter months.The video music shows the seven members of the idol group shopping for one another and enjoying time together in the winter, when people come together to spend time with their loved ones.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: 5 Standout K-Pop Underdog Rookies Of 2014

Super Junior’s White Christmas talks about the important stuff to worry about during Christmas: presents and snow. Or at least that’s half of what I think about during these holidays (no snow in SoCal *sigh*). The song is upbeat and fun, a now staple concept for this group of derps, and is refreshing because it’s not a dull ballad. I picture this song in a playlist along with Jingle Bell Rock and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. It’s the perfect song to get everyone in a cheery mood.

–Alexis

What’s your favorite K-Pop Christmas song? Share your pick in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Winter Edition

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Even though winter began last month, it wasn’t until recently that the season was fully experienced by all of us at KultScene. That’s why this week’s Playlist Sunday is fully dedicated to all things winter, including and especially the cold that comes with it. Our picks include songs that talk about snow, the weather, and how love is experience during this chilly season.

Living in Ireland means that when I think of winter, I think of the cold. So I decided to think outside the box and go for It’s Cold by Epik High and Lee Hi. Lee Hi was the perfect YG Entertainment artist to pick for this song as her vocals can have a cold, unemotional feeling to them in the best possible way. It mirrors the frosty nature of the song with its slow piano melody and lyrics about cold hearts. It makes winter feel like a never ending season, one of regret and hurt. This sometimes feels painfully true as I wear five layers of clothing every day.

–Joe

Winter in Korea is pretty frigid, but Girls’ Generation Snowy Wish is heartwarming and will make any snowstorm romantic. Even though the snow is falling, Girls’ Generation’s voices and lyrics make the frigidity something endearing, just another memory to make a relationship even better. The sweet-sounding tune is filled with hope and longing for a successful, warm relationship, and Girls’ Generation really makes listeners feel loved during live performances of the song.

–Tamar

Jonghyun and Juniel’s Love Falls gets us in the winter spirit for many reasons. One being that the song actually uses bells in the instrumentals that creates the picture of soft snow falling onto an already snow covered ground. The second reason it gets us into the spirit of winter, is the love story involved. Juniel and Jonghyun’s sweet vocals perfectly compliment each other and give off the feeling of warmth and love for the season. Even with the slight hiccup in their seemingly perfect relationship, the two are brought back together in the beautiful nighttime snow fall, so romantic.

— Tara

In SoCal, there’s no such thing as snow in winter, unless you travel to a mountain town. Despite this, snow is one of the default things one associates with winter, and that’s why I picked Super Junior’s First Snow. At first, the piano and bell sounds create a Christmas jingle feeling, but as the song progresses, we hear a signature Super Junior chorus in the likes of Miracle or Dancing Out, with its cheerful and cheesy sounds. Not that that’s a bad thing! The cheesiness and uplifting feeling of the song is what makes this a warm and cute song about young love.

–Alexis

Yes, we all have heard thousands of covers of the movie Frozen’s famous song Let It Go. But in YG Entertainment’s Mix & Match survival program, a new and fresh version was showcased. B.I, Donghyuk, Hongseok, and Lee Hi adapted the Oscar winning song into a new genre. B.I. made the song into trap, and it just makes you want to go up and dance. The song gives you a very fun and exciting new perspective of the song. Their version makes the song perfect for a winter party or a kick back.


–Alejandro

Playlist Sunday: Junk Food Edition

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If we’ve learned anything from watching variety shows is that K-Pop idols love eating. And while Korean food ranks among the healthiest, it doesn’t make for great pop songs. That’s why while picking a theme for this week’s <b>playlist</b> we took the wrong turn in terms of nutritional value and went for <b>junk food</b>. Because no matter how good kimchi is, it will never taste as comforting as a milkshake.

Woolim rookies Lovelyz burst onto the scene with the candy themed Candy Jelly Love. As always, it is not explicitly about candy but a metaphor for love or something a little bit more racy, if that’s how you interpret it. Anyway, it’s the production of this song what makes it truly candy-like. The twinkly J-Pop influenced sound reminiscent of early Kara is instantly satisfying and sweet combined with the dreamy, innocent vocals make this worthy of the food Lovelyz are singing about.

–Joe

Also on KultScene: Epik High’s ‘Born Hater’ Music Video & Song Review

f(x)’s Lollipop is a fun, flirty, and addictive song. The beat, the vocals, and the featuring artist, SHINee, all make this a timeless song. The sugary sweet song is fun to listen to with the volume turned up, especially in the summer. I wish there was a music video for the song; it would be fun to see both f(x) and SHINee do a video for Lollipop. I can’t even imagine what their outfits and sets would look like. The song has everything, female vocals, male vocals, harmonies, catchy hooks, what more could we need (beside a music video)?

— Tara

BIGBANG and 2NE1 released a song together on 2009 called Lollipop. At first, the song starts with the girls of 2NE1 singing in a very cute voice, which get’s the listeners confused because none of these bands are known for being cute. But then G-Dragon comes in and says “Nah, that’s not how we do it,” and the song changes to their signature YG Entertainment hip-hop swag. Both 2NE1 and BIGBANG are styled with very fun ensembles and crazy hair, specially Dara. This collaboration makes me want to see them release a song together.

–Alejandro

Also on KultScene: YG Entertainment Wants You To Know It’s Different

Even though we already picked a f(x) song for this week’s playlist, they make a second appearance because, among girl groups, they always come up with the most interesting albums music wise. This time pick is Milk, a confusing song about healing a broken heart with cold milk, but with great Middle Eastern beats, which blend effortlessly with the girls’ vocals and harmonies. Milk is a flawless production of pop music; every aspect of it is perfect. The track, just as milk itself, is a tall glass of freshness.

–Alexis

What are some of your favorite junk food-themed K-Pop songs? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Rookie 2014 Edition

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Every day in K-Pop brings new comebacks, new music videos, new everything, and that includes rookie groups that debut in hopes of making lasting impressions on fans and being successful. Countless new groups debuted in 2014, so for this week’s Playlist Sunday, we all picked a particular group that stood out from the rest to us.

The R&B-Hip-Hop duo 2000 Won may not be so popular among international K-Pop fans, but their debut song I Hate Seoul is a wistful soul-filled song that highlights the duo’s strength. 2000 Won gained popularity in K-Pop Star 2, but only debuted in 2014. Singer Hyobin, with his flower boy looks, stars in the music video with Hello Venus’ Nara, as a man who has to leave Seoul because every place he visits reminds him of his ex-girlfriend. Ildo, 2000 Won’s rapper, acts as the narrator and Hyobin’s conscious, and breaks up Hyobin’s melody with his powerful raps. Not an idol group, but this song is one of my favorite of 2014.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: K-Pop Comebacks We Need NOW 

While Wonder Girls’ Ye Eun is not new to K-Pop , her alter-ego HA:TFELT is. Her song Ain’t Nobody, as well as her full solo album, really impressed me. Her debut solo track it’s an exceptional piece, a mixture of a ballad, dub step, and trap. The mixture of different genres creates a very unique musical experience that makes the listeners empathize with what HA:TFELT is feeling in the song.

–Alejandro

Mamamoo is one of the best rookie groups of 2014, in my opinion. These four ladies exude sultry sexiness. Their songs are jazz and swing based, but relevant and catchy. The ladies’ vocals are all exceptional, which is a feat in K-Pop. It’s rare to have more than one or two great vocalists. Even their rapper, Moonbyul, is quite good. Her rapping somehow fits seamlessly into Mamamoo’s jazz sound. Each girl shines in their songs and their music videos are fun and entertaining. Piano Man is Mamamoo’s comeback single, and it further proves that they have the voices and attitudes to go far in the business.

–Tara

I was not entirely impressed by this year’s rookies, but Nega Network’s LABOUM immediately stood out as the highlight for me. That does not, however, make them merely the best of a bad bunch. Their second single of the year, What About You? is an excellent entry into the quirky cute category similar to Hello Venus. With elements of ‘80s pop, an assured interesting rap, ticking 8-bit beats, and a member who looks like Girl’s Day’s Hyeri, where can you go wrong?

–Joe

Also on KultScene: 8 K-Pop Girl Power Anthems Pt. 3

Big things were expected of JYP Entertainment’s newest boy group, especially since SM’s rookie group was doing exceedingly well. And while GOT7 has not yet taken K-Pop by storm like EXO or even WINNER, their debut and two subsequent comebacks have brought catchy, well-produced singles with top notch performances. Their latest, Stop Stop It, is heavy on the autotune, but instead of this being a crutch for the young group, it was actually used on the two best vocalists in order to create a futuristic sound on par with the music video. Good luck trying to get the chorus out of your head or not to do the choreography after watching the music video since Stop Stop It is highly infectious. What’s more, each of the members got at least a decent part in the song and they were all allowed to shine, making this song even more enjoyable.

–Alexis

Who’s your rookie 2014 favorite? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Korean Rap Edition

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We’re going to take a quick break from K-Pop and highlight the amazing Korean rap scene. A lot of the time Korean rappers may go unnoticed to K-Pop fans. But, as I’m sure most of you are aware, the majority of these rappers are extremely talented and use both Korean and English rhymes, which adds texture and shows the amount of skill these artists have. For this Sunday’s playlist we want to show the rappers some love. From this playlist alone it is clear that each rapper has their own color and style, which is one of the reasons why we love Korean rap here at KultScene.

A popular theme in rap is asserting yourself as the best and/or different than other artists in the game, and that’s exactly what LOCO does with No Manners. The song is his manifesto that he’s going to “keep crossing the line” and

kill it, stomp the business unapologetically.

LOCO raps about how he’s not going to hold back in order to be number one, even if he’s perceived as rude and, well, with no manners. The rapper owns the criticism against him and cleverly uses it to his advantage. Other than that, the hook where he sings “no manners” is pretty infectious and the beat has great flow without being too overpowering; it is LOCO’s rap that is the highlight.

–Alexis

Also on KultScene: Let’s Discover: Crush

Gaeko makes up one half of the talented duo Dynamic Duo. His solo song Rhythm is Life expresses his feelings about his occupation and what people think of him and of Dynamic Duo. Gaeko is known for his singing as well as his rapping, but Rhythm is Life strictly showcases his talented rapping skills. His flow is unbelievable, the beat is unstoppable, and his lyrics give us an insight into his thoughts about his music career. It’s clear that Gaeko is doing what he loves and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Music is my playground, I’m like a mischievous child, running around and playing all night

Rhythm is Life addresses Gaeko’s thoughts about his long career, the new kids on the scene, the old people who don’t understand what he does, and all the haters. It’s a song that deserves undivided attention.

–Tara

Over from Epik High‘s 2010 Epilogue is one of Epik High’s few fully English language songs, and has a different feel from many other Epik High songs. Tablo’s rap dominated the song, and DJ Tukutz’ absence is noticeable, but there’s still an Epik High feel to it- the message of the song makes it 100% clear that Over belongs to the hip-hop group that criticizes many aspects of Korean lifestyle. The title revolves around being an overachiever, and Tablo’s soft spoken rap is an accusation towards everyone who “all you do is do.”

— Tamar

Also on KultScene: 8 Reasons To Watch ‘Love Cells’

Beenzino‘s Dali, Van, Picasso is one of my favorite songs ever. This track is Beenzino’s self portrait. He lists his art influences through the song and let’s the world know that Salvador Dali, Picasso, and Van Gogh’s work influenced him through his life.

–Alejandro

Who are some of your favorite Korean rappers? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Raunchy Tunes

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Not everything in K-Pop is cuteness and sweetness and retellings of innocent first loves. The genre does explore topics on the raunchy side like sex and usage of cuss words, but the references are often obscured or just don’t make it on music shows. But since we’re all adults here on KultScene we figured it was time to address more mature and naughtier songs for this week’s Playlist Sunday.

Seungri‘s Let’s Talk About Love should actually be called “Let’s Talk About Sex,” because that’s what he and his groupmates G-Dragon and Taeyang are singing about. They obviously never mention it directly, but with lyrics like these:

Past the stage of ecstasy, we’re trembling
From your head to your toes, I won’t miss a single part
Scream louder, I want to fly
You want to climax? I be ya thriller
Let’s talk about me? Let’s talk about you
Let’s talk about love? Let’s talk about X

… It’s like they’re just trying to hide it enough for it not to be banned or censored on T.V. The song is unmistakably an invitation for sex, but a fun, nice to dance to one. Besides, if any of the BIGBANG members would want to “talk about love” (wink, wink) with me, who am I to say no to them? Sex can be a little bit of a taboo subject to discuss but it is part of who we all are, however, it can be a dicey subject if a person may be having an ‘issue’ whilst in bed. Luckily help found at https://www.blinkhealth.com/viagra can assist with this need and eventually get people to talk about sex. Maybe this music will also help that along!

–Alexis

Also on KultScene: 5 Reasons To Watch ‘Abnormal Summit’

BEAST‘s So Hot is a very sexy ballad that talks about a one night stand. Through the song the listener is taken on the journey of a man who instantly lusts about a woman he just met at a club. As soon as he sees her he is taken aback by her sexy persona and beautiful eyes. By the end it, the narrative eventually leads into a one night stand, but the man realizes that he wants to turn their encounter into a long term relationship. BEAST’s smooth and sexy vocals really enhance the sultry raunchiness of the song.


–Alejandro

Jay Park‘s Welcome is, as he states, “…a rated R love song.” The whole song is about Jay welcoming his girlfriend to his bed. He sings about what he wants to do, touch her all over, keep the lights on so he can see her body, turn off her cell phone, and more. He can’t wait any longer, she’s driving him crazy, and his emotions and lust for her are taking over. The sexy lyrics are brought to life with the equally sexy music video. Welcome is an intimate love song that clearly expresses Jay’s feelings and thoughts at that time. All he sees is his girlfriend and all he wants is,

I don’t want anyone bothering us
I want to fall into a world of our own
This bed, your pillow, your body
I want to stay like this forever, I don’t wanna go to work
Making sweet love music
This is how we how we do it

— Tara

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Ga In‘s Fxxk U featuring Bumkey is one of the overly sexual songs out of K-Pop ever. The song is about abuse, of someone telling their lover that they don’t want to have sex right now. The music video has the two visually representing the lyrics in a dark, raunchy film that is both shocking and exciting. Fxxk U is different from the normal K-Pop song and approaches basic emotions and desires in an artistic way that makes it a fantastic song.

–Tamar

What’s you favorite raunchy K-Pop song? Share it with us and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Day of the Dead Edition

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Following the holiday theme for our Playlist Sunday, this week’s focus sets on The Day of the Dead. Although it may sound macabre, November 2nd is a day dedicated to remembering and honoring deceased loved ones. And while it’s very unlikely that K-Pop groups would have songs about the Day of the Dead, we’re interpreting it in our own way by choosing songs with similar festive makeup, about lost love, and saying good bye.

Even though it’s not a real Catrín (dapper male skeleton), Jay Park donned skull-like makeup for the music video of his album’s intro New Breed. The track was not a single, but Jay Park decided to release a video for his album’s intro by the same name with the eye catching makeup to further enhance his message of him being different to other artists in the game. The look was inspired by Rick Genest, aka Zombie Boy, rather than the Day of the Dead, but the similarities and loose connection to the Catrín are there. This song is full of curse words, so listeners wary and click play at your own discretion.

–Alexis

Also on KultScene: Why Hyomin’s ‘Nice Body’ Is Offensive To Women

 

My pick for this week’s theme is not related in any way to the Mexican holiday. Instead, I am playing off of the name “Day of the Dead” for my pick. Primary’s Poison featuring E-Sens talks about an array of feelings and emotions that make the narrator feel half dead and wanting to be more free. The lyrics show the pain the narrator experienced through a period of time. He went through a lot of dark and rough times and it took awhile for him to realize that he is in control of his happiness. He was in such a dark place that he didn’t realize all of the things he was losing. The end of the song brings some clarity in the form of these lyrics:

If I rush to follow along, I keep forgetting which one is me
If I rush to follow along, I keep forgetting which one is me
If you need to stop, then stop now
We lose too many important things in life
If I rush to follow along, I keep forgetting which one is me

— Tara

Nell’s The Day Before may not be exactly what The Day of The Dead is about, but the song’s video remind me of the feelings that someone has towards the passing of a loved one. The lyrics are seemingly about a couple that’s broken up, but Nell’s music video shows that the band wrote it with the thought of death in mind.

It was difficult at first
More than I will admit
It was burdensome
But after accepting it,
it makes me too sorrowful.

Losing a loved one is difficult, but even after you accept that you will never see them, that pain never goes away. It’s hard and burdensome to love and lose someone, but as humans it is what we do.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: 5 Reasons To Love Kim So Eun & Song Jae Rim On ‘We Got Married’

Day Of The Dead is a holiday to remember the loved ones that passed away. In HA:TFELT’s song Nothing Lasts Forever, she talks about losing someone you love and not being able to say goodbye to them. This song is very dear to my heart because I wasn’t able to say goodbye to my grandmother before she died, and listening to this song, it gives me a lot of peace. In her voice you can hear a very fragile tone and how regretful she is of not saying that last goodbye. She knows that even if she didn’t have the chance to say what she wanted to say, at least she has that last memory of her loved one. That’s what Day of the Dead is all about, knowing that your loved ones who have passed away are at peace and in a better place, even if it’s hard at first to accept it; you will always remember them.

–Alejandro

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