5 Korean Actors Who Can Carry A Tune Better Than K-Pop Idols

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5 actors

When you see the phrase “actors who can sing,” famous examples such as Lee Seung Gi and Seo In-Guk immediately come to mind. Reason being, they are amazing actors and vocalists alike, but perhaps more known for their dramas than their released albums. It is hard to remember that they started off in the K-pop industry before venturing into the world of acting. In fact, these occurrences are getting more and more common. There is virtually no K-drama showing now that does not involve an idol actor, whether they are playing supporting roles or even having leading ones. All of this made me wonder whether there were existing all-rounded actors and actresses who could go against the norm, to debut as actors before entering the K-pop industry. Lo and behold, I found five of them.

1. Park Seo Joon

You might recognise this multi-talented actor from his currently airing drama “She Was Pretty,” but did you know that he can sing? Unfortunately, his releases have only been limited to drama OSTs so far, but he undoubtedly has a really beautiful voice. Not just that, there is also evidence of training in his voice because he controls it skilfully. He doesn’t just act with passion and emotion, he sings with it as well. Take “Letting You Go” from the “Kill Me Heal Me” OST for example.


In the drama, his character Oh Ri On has to make several painful and difficult decisions regarding his adopted twin sister Oh Ri Jin, such as enabling her romance with the main character Cha Do Hyun, even when he himself has romantic feelings towards her. This heartbreaking dilemma is portrayed perfectly through Park Seo Jun’s acting, but even more so through this appropriately titled OST. Even for a person who doesn’t understand Korean like me, his voice transcends the boundaries of language and makes me understand fully what he is trying to convey through the song. Park Seo Jun is a real gem in the making, and I hope that he will release more OSTs and even an album soon.

2. Kim Soo Hyun

This actor is still at the height of his popularity a year after his hit drama “You Who Came From The Star,” but there is more to his charm than just his acting. He is a great singer as well and has released OSTs for every drama he has been in, with the exception of his latest drama, “The Producers.” Kim Soo Hyun’s voice is extremely skilled, and he sounds very sincere whenever he sings. He also loves to sing randomly, as can be seen by behind the scene videos of his dramas. Even in the 2011 drama “Dream High,” his vocal abilities stood out amongst the several idols who acted in the drama as well, especially in his emotional performance of “Dreaming.”


It is already difficult to act well or sing well, but to be able to do both well is a feat that few can pull off. Kim Soo Hyun’s singing in the wrong key for the first half of the song was impressive to me, because believe it or not it is hard to sing in a different key from the music that is playing around you. Not to mention the fact that he had to portray his difficulties clearly through his expression and his singing, and when he did this perfectly it created an extremely memorable scene in this drama.

Also on Kultscene: 4 K-Dramas That Need To Be On Your ‘To Watch’ List Right Now

3. Sung Joon

When I first watched Sung Joon in “Shut Up Flower Boy Band,” his raw acting captivated and moved me to fall in love with his character. As I downloaded and listened to the OSTs of the show however, his tough and gentle voice reached out to me even further. He has the ability to carry rock songs powerfully but also melt your heart with his sincere ballads. It is a comfort to listen to his voice because he sings so effortlessly. In particular, I especially loved his rendition of “Words You Shouldn’t Know” from the OST of said drama.


While not as skilled as the previous two actors mentioned above, he definitely knows how to express himself through his voice and has the potential to become an even greater singer.

4. Lee Minho

Perhaps the most famous actor on this list, Lee Minho is an internationally recognised Hallyu actor. He debuted as a singer with “My Everything,” but was never recognised by fans as a good vocalist. That was what I thought initially as well, while I did enjoy the song his voice definitely had lots of room for improvement. He did not have many vocal techniques nor did his emotions come through in his singing, much like his acting for that matter. This all changed in 2013, when he acted in hit drama “The Heirs.” The drama as a whole left much to be desired, but it was through this drama that I discovered Lee Minho’s astounding improvement as a singer, evident through the OST he released, “Painful Love”.


If I remember correctly, the first time I cried in this drama was when this OST was played. I didn’t like Kim Tan (Lee Minho’s character) at all, but when he cried so painfully in an empty apartment, it broke my heart. Those emotions are brought across perfectly through this OST and Lee Minho’s voice has become a lot more confident since “My Everything.” He is even able to reach high notes and create climaxes in his songs. The OST is very moving because his pain is so believable and it just shows how talented he is both as a vocalist and an actor.

 Also on Kultscene: 5 Tear-Inducing K-Drama OSTs Pt. 3

5. Jo Jung Suk

Ever since I watched him in “The King 2 Hearts” and “You’re The Best, Lee Soon Shin” I’ve been in love with this actor. And over the years, I can see how much he has improved in terms of his acting. As a vocalist however, he only has one OST under his belt but his natural talent shines through very well. “I Completely Love You” is an adorable acoustic song that suits his gentle voice, and the way he sweetly sings it makes his affection for Lee Soon Shin (played by IU) so believable. He has confidence in his voice and reaches the high notes effortlessly, which is perhaps aided by his background in theatre and various musicals. He also applies more vocal techniques than the other actors listed above and uses them smartly to convey his emotions.


He shows great potential both in acting and as a vocalist, while I’m happy that he is being given more lead roles in dramas and movies, I hope that he will receive more opportunities to sing as well. I want an album Jo Jung Suk!

Do you agree with the actors on this list? What do you think about actors who can sing?Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

f(x)’s “4 Walls” Album Review

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f(x) album review four walls 4 walls
After abruptly ending promotions for their last album, “Red Light”, and becoming a quartet instead of a quintet, f(x) is back. The four members Luna, Krystal, Victoria, and Amber are ready to show their new sides with their latest album, “4 Walls.” It’s an album full of experimental pop, deep-house, EDM, techno, and even some Latin influences. f(x)’s return is better than ever, showing that they don’t need to be a five member group to shine.

“4 Walls”

The album opens with the title track “4 Walls,” which was cleverly accompanied by amazing marketing for presenting f(x) as a quartet. The girls have us going back to what SHINee did with their comeback for “View” earlier this year.

“Four Walls” sees the girls singing on a deep house track with sultry and raspy vocals combined with added sound effects to impact the mystery of the song. The lyrics are unclear about who the girls are professing their love to but the title’s idea of keeping things between “4 Walls” leads to interpretation of a secret love affair.

The continuous drum beat in the background creates anxiety and adrenaline for the listeners, mimicking the feeling of being with your lover behind four walls. The chorus quickly comes in with the members singing “love is four walls…” behind a heavy bass and synth. But the best thing about this track is Amber’s rap after the first chorus drops. She keeps improving over the years and this track convinces the listeners of how important her role in the group is. There are also seapunk influences, very a la Jamie XX and Blood Diamonds, on this song that make “4 Walls” great.

Also on KultScene: Topp Dogg’s ‘The Beat’ Album Review

“Glitter”

With the next track, “Glitter,” f(x) has all the ’90s kids nostalgic for one of the best cartoons, as the first three beats seem very familiar to “The Rugrats” theme song. The girls leave their sultry and raspy vocals from the past track behind and their vocals become sweeter for this record. The track is a hybrid of electronic and organic sounds, from guitars to applause and synthesizers. A quick song, which falls under the average industry run time of three minutes, about falling in love that uses glitter as a metaphor for the bright future you can see in a romantic relationship.

“Déjà Vu”

“Déjà Vu” quickly explodes into a heavy EDM beat as soon as it starts. The song feels a little chaotic with all the crazy heavy beats in the back but they mix very well with the girls vocals and give that crazy feeling of when you get a déjà vu. A great song that seems familiar to what we are used to hear from f(x), that crazy experimental pop that they pull off so well. The chorus is very addicting and has a great flow that almost feels like a rap. The fast beats never seize in the track, making it a perfect dance song to get crazy to.

“X”

With “X”, f(x) slows us down after the chaotic “Déjà Vu,” and gives us some more ’90s cartoon refrences –Chemical X from “The Powerpuff Girls.” This track has the members singing very seductively, which is probably their sexiest vocals yet. Pay close attention to how the girls stretch their vocals throughout the song, making them increasingly sexier and sexier. The subtle bass that repeats in the backtrack has heavy influences from the late ’70s and early ’80s funk tracks. The record is dark, sexy, and mysterious in many ways, feeling retro and modern at the same time.

“Rude Love”

The following track “Rude Love” carries the tropical deep house theme of “4 Walls.” It’s a track that seems to come from the late ’90s and early 2000’s when techno and house where at their peak. The repetition of the title in the chorus gives that feeling of being a song from those era but still feels very current and fresh. It’s a sound style that SM Entertainment started experimenting with SHINee that definitely suits f(x) very well. Amber is being used more as a singer than as a rapper on this song and her voice is very nice as we had seen in her solo track “Beautiful.” The chorus is so catchy and addicting, it makes the listeners keep singing “I want your rude love” repeatedly. This song is definitely a contender for the best record on the album.

“Diamond”

“Diamond” has a very interesting sound, it almost feels like an older and mature sister of their debut track “La chA Ta.” Luna’s vocals on this track aresolutely aboutstanding. Her voice really shines through in the bridge and blends seamlessly towards the trap section before the chorus. This song is the one on the album that Amber raps in the most. It’s not one of the best tracks in the album, but it’s certainly not a filler. The complex beats and the trap elements mixed with Amber’s raps and the girls vocals create a very interesting track that’s worth a few listens.

Also on KultScene: TWICE “Like OOH-AHH” Music Video & Song Review

“Traveler”

The next track has a collaboration from Block B‘s Zico. “Traveler” takes the album back to the ’80s with its experimental synth pop era and industrial music influences. The heavy synth sounds alongside Zico’s rap reinforces the juxtaposition of the song’s dark and happy feeling. Zico provides a certain darkness with his strong voice while the girls offer a sweeter feeling with their vocals that explode into a happier chorus. I only wish we could have heard more rap from Zico and also get an Amber rap in this song. But, nevertheless, the record is incredible and a great contender for one of the best tracks released this year.

“Papi”

“Papi” is the track where we see Latin and tropical house influences coming out. The song has the girls in the chorus cheering atop of a brass soundtrack with dubstep and Latin sounds. The music is difficult to understand at first, but the nonsensical combination of influences works very well with f(x) making this a very fun track for their fourth album.

“Cash Me Out”

The next track in the album is “Cash Me Out,” which is probably the most EDM-influenced track on “4 Walls.” The record mixes seapunk beats with dubstep and typical EDM drops and buildups. The track could have gone without the heavy EDM in the chorus; in all honesty it makes the song mediocre. They could have kept the seapunk vibe and mix it with either deep house or 80s’ synth pop and would have made a much more interesting track.

“When I’m Alone”

The album ends with “When I’m Alone,” an upbeat ballad that serves as the perfect conclusion for this album. The track is full on synth pop and R&B and has f(x) fully engraved in the experimentation of this genre. The repetitive chorus brings the listeners back again to those early 2000’s songs that had choruses repeated over and over and are stuck with us until this very day. Their vocals are back to the sultry and mysterious tones of the title track “4 Walls,” but “When I’m Alone” has their voices exploding in the chorus, showing great harmony between the girls.

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Topp Dogg’s ‘The Beat’ Album Review

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Eve's Topp Dogg

Following the recent shock departure of Gohn and Kidoh, Hunus Entertainment’s ten member rap group Topp Dogg staged a comeback on October 19 with their fourth mini album, The Beat. It is the group’s first release in a year and shows a marked maturity, not only in terms of vocal accomplishment, but also the choice of material. The songs incorporate influences from around the world and Topp Dogg inject life and energy into all of them.

“Runaway”

The album bursts into life with this up-tempo song, which effortlessly fuses hip hop and retro rock with several brief interludes of dubstep. The aggressive guitar playing and strong beat drive the track along at a furious pace and are guaranteed to get listeners dancing in no time, making “Runaway” a fantastic opener for the EP.

“The Beat”

This totally addictive title song is one of Topp Dogg’s most interesting musical experiments to date. It combines their signature rap sound with elements of both Bollywood and bellydance music. The vocal harmonies here are superb, but the highlight of the track has to be the rap verse from Yano and Jenissi.

Also on Kultscene: Seventeen’s ’17 Carat’ Album Review

“O.A.S.I.S”

Topp Dogg get into funky disco mode in this catchy and upbeat song. A prominent brass section, synthesizers and electric guitars inject a sense of fun into this lively composition, which brings to mind the music of the 70s. Although the members slightly mispronounce the title, “O.A.S.I.S” is hugely enjoyable.

“All Eyez On Me”

Jimi Hendrix style guitar playing opens this edgy song, which inventively mixes gangster rap, jazz and funk genres to great effect. Composed by former member Kidoh, with current member Yano, this is a truly standout track which really showcases Topp Dogg’s unique talents to perfection.

“Emotion”

This 90’s style ballad marks a massive departure from Topp Dogg’s usual street sound and subsequently feels slightly incongruous on “The Beat”. The brief rap breaks up the flow of the song unnecessarily, so the whole thing doesn’t gel successfully. Top marks to them for attempting something different, though.

Also on Kultscene: INFINITE’s ‘Reality’ Album Review

“Sweetheart”

Sangdo’s solo track, composed by fellow member, Yano, takes an unexpected turn down the sophisticated jazz ballad route, yet it works surprisingly well and has a sound that is reminiscent of Zion.T’s output. Sangdo’s vocals here are smooth and heartfelt and the piano solo towards the end really sends the EP out on a high.

Overall Thoughts

In spite of the recent upheaval in the group, “The Beat” proves that Topp Dogg are still on top form. This is a must listen to cd for fans of Korean hip hop music, which should allay any fears that Topp Klass (the group’s fan club name) may have about their ability to carry on with reduced numbers. May Topp Dogg continue to go from strength to strength.

Did you agree with my sentiments about Topp Dogg’s album? What are your thoughts on this release? 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.

5 Tear-Inducing K-Drama OSTs Pt. 3

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TWICE “Like OOH-AHH” Music Video & Song Review

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Twice debut review

JYP’s new girl group, TWICE made their debut on the 20th of October with their mini-album “The Story Begins” and their title track “Like OOH-AHH”. This debut comes highly anticipated due to the competition show “Sixteen”, in which this group of nine members was first formed. Did they live up to their potential with this title track? Here is my review on it.

Song

I love the instrumentals throughout the song, especially at the beginning and when it was building up to a climax. Most of the girls showed off their great vocals as well, in particular members Jihyo and Nayeon. It is a very catchy song and has a youthful feel with the girls cheering lines such as “I want to fall in love!” The chorus has a good hook, is filled with energy and is my favourite part of the song. The track is far from perfect, however, especially because of the massive overuse of autotune for non-vocalist members such as Momo. The rapping done by Chaeyoung and Dahyun was rather underwhelming however, especially because I’ve seen better rapping from Chaeyoung during “Sixteen”. So is the surprisingly sombre bridge, which got the original highly energized song screeching to a halt. It felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the song, which is unfortunate.

On the bright side, the lyrics of the song and cheers are cleverly worded. Apart from throwing in JYP Entertainment references (“Who’s Your Mama?”), there are puns on their name being used as well. Take for example the cheer they shout out before they sing the final chorus.

Better think about it TWICE
Let me see how you gonna treat me
I ain’t no easy
Better think about it TWICE

The song was good as a whole but was disappointing because TWICE has a lot more potential than they showcased. It was a surprise to me as well how the lines were quite evenly distributed, considering the fact that there are nine members in the group.

Also on Kultscene: Which TWICE member are you? [Quiz] 

Videography

I really didn’t understand the use of the zombies in this video and their relation to the song, but I’m happy to report that the rest of the music video is solid. It takes place in what is supposed to be a school but ends up looking more like a club. It’s pretty hilarious how there is a gigantic hole in the wall of a classroom and how the toilet has pink and purple lighting complete with glow in the dark scribbling. The video is colourful just like the personalities of the TWICE members and I really enjoyed the transitions from member to member as the specialities of each member was showcased.

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My favourite part of the video would be when the girls were gathered in front of the school bus dancing together with Momo (main dancer) standing inside the bus. Apart from showcasing her awesome skills (she was really shortchanged on the vocal part) it also featured TWICE dancing together as a group, instead of having them separated like they were for a majority of the video.

via boxxsaltz on tumblr

The humor incorporated throughout the video also stands out to me because it gave the TWICE members a friendly and cute image, particularly when cheerleader Sana attempted to mimic the flexible movements of her members Mina and Momo and failed horribly at them. When the rest of the members got off the bus coolly Sana also managed to fall on the ground (in a cute manner of course). It just seemed so true to her playful character that I found it adorable and endearing.

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I have two main complaints about the video though. Firstly, the zombies were really unnecessary in the video. I’ve read some explanations online regarding the meaning behind the zombies and how they relate to the song but I would argue that this video would have been better off without them. It didn’t help that they were quite scary looking, or maybe I just have a low threshold for horror, but they somewhat ruined the aesthetic and fun vibes of the video. If TWICE had gone for a truly scary concept from the start the addition of the zombies would definitely have been more logical.

Next, it may be because TWICE are rookies, but there were some instances where the members’ lip-syncing was quite obviously off. While it did not really affect the video very much, it did take out some of my enjoyment of it.

Also on Kultscene: HEO’s Ambient Rock Sound Takes The Stage At Seoulsonic 2015 [Interview]

Styling

I absolutely love the styling for this video, be it their academic attire or their rooftop attire. The outfits were vibrant and interesting, in some cases they were even catered to the individual personalities of the members. Jungyeon, her messy hair and her gym tracksuit is a great example of this.

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I appreciate the fact that the TWICE members are not just trying to look pretty but that they want to be unique and have their own style. I can say with satisfaction that they have certainly succeeded in doing.

Overall Thoughts

TWICE was a group that I was expecting a lot from, especially because I had watched them in their trainee days through “Sixteen” and I was already a fan. There were many flaws evident in both the song and the music video, but as a whole I enjoyed it. This may not be the best work put out by JYP Entertainment this year, but it is a great start for TWICE and I hope that they will only grow from here.

TWICE 'Like OOH-AHH'
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Did you enjoy TWICE’s debut? 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.

4 K-Dramas That Need To Be On Your ‘To Watch’ List Right Now

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4 Dramas That Should Be On Your 'To Watch' List

This is definitely the season for new Korean dramas, with three new dramas from different channels premiering on the same day last week. With the annual drama awards coming up soon, the competition between the dramas in their respective timeslots is heating up. Out of the many dramas airing at the moment, here are four exceptional dramas that need to be on your ‘to watch’ list right now.

1. “Twenty Again”

If you are looking for a new drama to encourage you and brighten up your day, this is the right one for you.

This drama is reaching the end of its airing, but for people who have yet to catch it, it is a must-watch for several reasons. For starters, if you are a person who enjoys watching romantic comedy, this drama is a perfect fit for you because of the adorable chemistry between the two main characters No-ra (Choi Ji-Woo) and Hyun-seok (Lee Sangyoon). What makes this couple a winning pair, however, isn’t just the actors who play them but rather the fact thattheir characters feel well-fleshed out and developed, which makes their relationship all the more believable. The strength of this drama’s scriptwriter (So Hyun Kyung) is that she is able to come up with an admittedly basic plot but turn it into an engaging and lively story, with well-thought out plot lines and character interactions.

This drama isn’t just about romance however. More importantly, it is an empowering story about how a middle-aged housewife, No-ra, can return to college and continue to pursue her dreams. It is heartwarming to see the transformation in her character as the series goes along, especially as she regains her spirit and confidence of her youth. Choi Ji-Woo fits this role to a tee, with her never-ageing beauty and her cheerful personality. Lee Sangyoon finally has a chance to smile in this drama, after serious dramas like “Liar Game,” and it is definitely great to be able to see his amazing dimples so often this time around.

2. “She Was Pretty”

If you are looking for body gags and a lot of laughs, this is the drama for you.

If you were a fan of Oh Ri-Jin and Oh Ri-On’s relationship in the drama “Kill Me Heal Me,” you cannot miss this show. This drama is centered around a magazine company with Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) and Sung-Joon (Park Seo Joon) working in the same office. Not just that, they used to know each other when they were younger, and Hye Jin was Sung-Joon’s first love. As the title suggests, Hye Jin, who used to be a pretty girl, grew up to look very different. The conflict of this drama is born out of Hye Jin’s hesitance to show herself to Sung-Joon, creating lots of comedy and melodrama along the way.

The storyline does get frustrating sometimes when Hye Jin constantly hides her identity from Sung-Joon, but the characters are endearing enough to make this drama a fan favourite. A highlight of the drama would be the character of Shin Hyuk (Choi Siwon of Super Junior). He’s eccentric, handsome, and super caring. Although he is playing the second lead of the drama, Choi has been drawing a lot of attention for his realistic acting and at times has even stolen the spotlight of the other actors in the drama. His character may be too awesome to exist in real life, but it is well-written and developed. He also enjoys great chemistry with his fellow co-stars, especially with Hwang Jung Eum and Go Joon Hee, who rounds out the rest of this love square. With great performances put out by the cast and a fun storyline, this drama is well worth a shot.

Also on Kultscene: What K-Drama Cliche Is Your Life? [QUIZ]

3. “The Village: Achiara’s Secret”

If you are looking for something to scare you at night, this is the drama for you.

Personally, I’m more attracted to dramas filled with suspense rather than predictable romantic ones, and ever since the promotions for this drama came out, I was super excited to begin watching it. Currently only two episodes have aired so far, but it shows a lot of promise and lives up to the high expectations created by the posters and teasers. So we have a mysterious village called Achiara (a fake Korean village) filled with even more mysterious characters, and the drama follows Han So-Yoon’s (Moon Geun Young) arrival in the village as a new English teacher. She encounters a lot of weird and creepy things in her first few days, such as being followed by a scary guy in the pouring rain, living in the house of a “missing” person, and finding a skeleton. All of these suspenseful and horrifying moments are played out very well with Moon Geun Young’s acting and the accompanying music, which just serves to hype up the tension.

What I’m loving the most about the drama so far are the supporting characters, the other people living in the village. Whether they are artists, pharmacists or school teachers, they all have complex characters and are all painted in a shade of grey;none of them seem to be completely good or completely evil. Of these characters, Yoon Ji-Sook (Shin Eun Kyung) is slowly becoming my favourite, for the sole reason that she has so many layers to her character. It confuses me but it keeps me guessing as well. There is an exception, however, with Park Woo-Jae(BTOB’s Sungjae), who plays a cheerful police officer in the village. He’s literally the only bright spot around, and Sungjae’s acting is definitely on point here. He’s an extremely promising idol actor and I hope his skills will improve over the course of this drama.

Also on Kultscene: 5 Tear-Inducing K-Drama OSTs Pt. 2

4. “D-Day”

If you like to watch “Gray’s Anatomy”, this is the drama for you.

The only reason why I was initially attracted to this drama was because of INFINITE’s Sungyeol, who is starring in this drama as a medical intern. When I started to learn more about the drama however, its storyline drew me in right away. Dramas or movies about natural disasters are not new. In fact, a setting of a natural disaster often makes for a good story and production. What is different about this drama, apart from the fact that it is almost entirely pre-produced rather than shot live like most Korean dramas, is that it doesn’t focus as much on the disaster as much as it does on how people from different professions and lifestyles deal with its aftermath. Although “D-Day” is essentially a medical drama, it isn’t just about doctors or the medical profession. t also glorifies the efforts of other heroes such as firefighters and the random kindhearted strangers. In spite of all the tragedy and cruelty depicted in this drama, there are also several heart-warming moments which, to put it dramatically, allows viewers to restore their faith in humanity. (Trust me, it’s not easy when you watch hospitals prioritize VIP patients at the expense of others.)

Another aspect I am enjoying of the drama would be how realistic it is. Don’t get me wrong, I know how unrealistic the portrayal of the earthquake and its aftermath (destruction of buildings etc) is, and I definitely can see how it is rather impossible for a band of doctors and patients to escape death narrowly so many times in a single episode. To me, it is realistic in the way it presents the moral dilemmas and hardships the characters face every single episode. In the case of Hye-Sung (Kim Young Kwang), he constantly has to choose which patients to treat and which to abandon, for the devastating reason that the hospital no longer has supplies. In their own way, almost every character in the drama has to face their own moral battles, but it is precisely through these instances that the characters grow and change. For a drama with so many characters, it is amazing the way the characters have continual development (so far, at least) and I hope it continues. The drama may be more serious than all the other dramas listed above but it has an important message and is definitely a drama that you need to watch right now.

Which K-drama are you watching now? Are there any K-dramas that you want to put on your ‘To Watch’ list? Share your throughts 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.

Pungdeng-E’s ‘Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa’ Music Video & Song Review + Autographed Album Giveaway

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pungdeng-e ppi ppi ppa ppa song music video mv review

Perfectly timed to coincide with their appearance at the 42nd Los Angeles Korean Festival, Doma Entertainment’s Pungdeng-E released “Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa” on October 1. This comedic, three-piece girl group, whose name translates in English to “beetle,” debuted in December 2013 with the unique concept of performing in different Korean regional dialects. Pungdeng-E’s over-the-top musical style has frequently been described as “aegyo hip hop,” but the term doesn’t even begin to describe the girls’ unabashed eccentricity. Frankly, no other Korean girl group is as willing to look so totally ridiculous, as demonstrated amply in “Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa.”

Song

In the same vein as Pungdeng-E’s previous songs, “Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa” is a highly unusual composition which, against all the odds, manages to successfully combine such varied elements as traditional German brass band music, with circus overtones and a Latin interlude. For good measure, there is even a catchy saxophone solo towards the song’s conclusion. Blue and Red, known as the rappers of the group, feature prominently, yet blend perfectly with Yellow’s sweet and understated vocals. “Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa” has a chorus which is impossible not to sing along to and will remain in your head long after the track has finished – in other words, an indisputable earworm.

Also on KultScene: Flash Music Video Reviews: Taeyeon, 24K, Oh My Girl, MFBTY, Ailee, Melody Day, iKon, AA

Videography

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via thegifmill @ Tumblr

This highly inventive music video opens with a rural setting shown on a retro TV, to the loud accompaniment of a cockerel crowing twice. The camera pans down to reveal the members of Pungdeng-E living in a dilapidated shack, which appears to be somewhere in Europe. The girls wake up from sleeping on the floor and merrily go about their daily routine, marching everywhere with boundless energy. The video is full of hilarious moments, most notably the members messily eating a celebratory cake with their hands and toasting each other with wine glasses full of milk.

“Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa” takes an even more bizarre turn when Pungdeng-E watch themselves on TV, displaying incredible super powers and dancing to their own song. We see Yellow lifting cattle in the air, Blue zipping around like Road Runner, and Red flying past jumbo jets, having been launched into space. There is an obvious movie reference to “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” when the girls take off in a flying car, followed by another to “ET” at the end of the video, when the same car is silhouetted against the moon.

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via thegifmill @ Tumblr

Styling

In keeping with the song’s European rustic concept, the girls are styled in peasant ensembles, with Yellow wearing dungarees and Blue and Red in dresses. All the members have their hair in plaits or bunches and these are maintained throughout the video. In stark contrast to the muted and earthy colours of their previous outfits, Pungdeng-E are seen in ‘90s style hip hop gear for the dance breakdown and wear colourful baseball caps, hot pants, and pedal pushers, covered in glitter. Of particular note is Red’s short sleeved basketball jersey, which bears the phrase “Norway 22.” Several YouTube users have mentioned this in the comments section and stated that they hope the group will subsequently gain more attention from European fans.

Also on KultScene: 8 Jessi Songs To Get You Ready For Her Los Angeles Show

Overall Thoughts

Pungdeng-E’s collective sense of humour and totally unpretentious style are a breath of fresh air in a sea of Korean girl groups, who are marketed largely on conventional concepts of sex appeal. At present the girls have a relatively small fan base, but thoroughly deserve more recognition for their efforts to be highly individual. Following on from the equally innovative “Al-Tang” and “Baechu Bossam,” “Ppi Ppi Ppa Ppa” is another fine addition to Pungdeng-E’s fledgling discography.

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Flash Music Video Reviews: Taeyeon, 24K, Oh My Girl, MFBTY, Ailee, Melody Day, iKon, AA

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iKONI tried my hand at flash music video reviews earlier this year and I’m back for more. This week, I reviewed music videos released by Korean artists including Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, AA (Aoora & Hoik,) MFBTY, Oh My Girl, 24K, Ailee, Melody Day, and iKon. Each mini review doesn’t offer up in depth critiques of the music or music videos, but instead represent this writer’s first impressions.

Taeyeon “I”

First off, this music video has four million views already, so I know it’s going to be good. Taeyeon is a very talented singer and looks mad adorable as a waitress. The earthy elements and cinematic videography is really lovely. This soft rock thing that seems to be going on is new for Taeyeon, but it’s a nice change and it suits Verbal Jint’s featured rap. Those sheep are adorable, and I want Taeyeon’s outfits to laze around my house in.

I’m not sure if this is a complaint, but it took over a minute to get to a main stanza of the song and hear its sound other than its chorus. I’m a big fan of this sound. The lyrics are inspirational and shows of Taeyeon’s powerful vocals in a great way, while offering a really nicely made music video (obviously filmed in Portland.) With fuzzy sheep and a pretty butterfly, there’s really nothing I can fault.

The song isn’t typical K-pop, which is really great to see SM Entertainment attempting as its artists mature. Also, did she just steal her boss’s key after quitting? It doesn’t matter, this is a beautiful song and a beautifully shot music video. SM Entertainment really knows what it is doing with these solo debuts and taking time to make sure that everything is stellar.

24K “Super Fly”

This music video got a lot of attention because it was erroneously reported that a member was caught fighting in a club. But oh, they’re not in a club but instead being school delinquents. We’re going the really strong and powerful, hip hop oriented route that’s been so popular in K-pop lately. Am I watching Monsta X? What happened to my adorable “U R So Cute,” 24K?

This rap at the beginning is pretty powerful and the visuals are great. I’m a fan of this singing part that bridges into the chorus, but the whistling and thumping sirens could be brought down a few notches. This is a pretty high quality video, which is really nice to see from a group that I’ve been keeping an eye on for a while, but it seems like they took out all the big guns to just go with what has been trending lately and try to get popular. (Is taking out hip hop tropes K-pop male groups the same as wearing scanty clothes is for K-pop girl groups?)

This is a love song, but it seems like the powerful images and sounds would be better put to singing against the establishment. 24K hold their own in this music video, and this is really a step up in their game.

Also on KultScene: Flash K-Pop Music Video Reviews: Jonghyun, Jung Yonghwa, Mad Clown, From The Airport, Eddy Kim, GFriend

Oh My Girl “Closer”

“Cupid” was probably my favorite rookie girl group debut of the year, so hopefully “Closer” will live up to that, both plot-wise and musically.

Nope, we’re getting away from the adorable cupids to a really beautiful setting and lovely outfits. Nice dance moves, but I feel like we’re moving away from what made Oh My Girl stand out and moving stylistically more towards the trends. Oh wait, I take that back. These vocals are on par with what I expected from this group. The fairytale elements are really nice, and you can tell that WM spent a lot on this (that company never really disappoints).

I’m two minutes in and I’ve already decided that Oh My Girl should probably be Red Velvet’s real competition for the next generation of K-pop queens (okay, maybe that’s too much but they really deserve to be acknowledge). This song has really clear vocals that I feel like aren’t what most girl groups are putting out today and the members each have distinct images to the point where I don’t feel like I’m looking at plastic surgery monsters. Side point, the dance at the beginning and end are really good.

MFBTY ”6am”

“WondaLand” is easily one of the best Korean albums of the year, so now that MFBTY is out with a music video for “6am,” I hardly need to review this. So this plot is pretty simple, but this is kind of fun to see Bizzy act lovelorn. Oh, and angry. Wow, he’s really angry now. This back lighting is a bit irritating and I’d like it for a few seconds, but I feel like it doesn’t really feel like “6am” but more likely gives the sleezy bar at 1am feel.

This love story is really nicely done, although I definitely need to watch this again to figure out what is going on at what point in the relationship. This is definitely one of MFBTY’s most basic music videos to date, but that’s not really such a bad thing. Keep it simple sometimes.

I have to confess that “6am” is probably my least song from “WondaLand,” and since I’ve already confessed my love for this album, I don’t have much to say about the music except that I wish MFBTY used less autotune on this song.

Ailee “Insane”

Watching a girl while she sleeps isn’t exactly alright and this room is pretty creepy. Oh nevermind, maybe. Work it girl, do rhythmic modern dance moves while some creeper is watching you sleep. Obviously you don’t realize he’s there. Oh! He’s her dream guy, that’s kind of cute for a plot of a music video with a really simple setting.

Straight off the bat, this isn’t my favorite Ailee song, but she’s rocking this dance and I’m very happy that she is getting to sing some R&B, since that’s definitely her strength. These lyrics are really pretty and I love this back up chorus. This song definitely reminds me of Mariah Carey, which isn’t a bad thing. I see why Ailee is promoting “Mind Your Own Business” more, but this song is a really stellar addition to her repertoire.

Also on KultScene: Taeyeon’s ‘I’ Music Video & Song Review

Melody Day “Speed Up”

Melody Day is well known for their vocals, but I saw a screen cap that showed this is a dance song, so let’s see how this goes. Because right now, all I see is GOT7’s JR. I’m not complaining. Oh wow, this is really a spin.

They look good and not showing too much skin, but they’re definitely going the sexy dance song route instead of keeping to their typical ballads. I’m really not in love with this song, it seems very typical and Melody Day has much more talent than this song or video showcases. Maybe if this was three years ago, I’d love the styling and video, but this is just basic K-pop at this point. The outfits are pretty great and they’re showcasing a lot of different looks, but it seems just like a really busy music video.

The breaks in the song to tone things down are really cute, but I can’t tell where this song is supposed to be going and the music isn’t ideal for showcasing their talent. There’s a lot of potential, but it feels like every time I expect Melody Day to show off what they have, the song disappoints by taking a vocal group and giving them a KARA or Girl’s Day Concept.

Aoora & Hoik of AA “Afternoon Morning Evening” feat. Taeyeon of she’z

The fact that something happened and AA never had a proper comeback after a member left was really disappointing to me, because their previous songs were really great. But now they’re back, to some degree, with this. Aoora’s had a few solo releases (most of which I was shocked by), but Hoik’s voice was the the thing that really caught my attention when AA debuted and this song is starting off soft and gentle, giving him the perfect way to showcase his voice.

This song is really just perfection, it’s like AA’s “Rollin’ Rollin’” all grown up. The video looks like it has a pretty low production value, but it’s simple and adorable. The song gets a bit quieter towards the end? I can’t tell if that’s my audio or something, but regardless, the combination of the pair’s voices with Taeyeon’s of she’z go really well together.

iKon “Rhythm Ta”

Let’s see, YG, bring your game. Oh, I don’t love basketball jerseys as outfits in K-pop just because it kind of seems a bit lazy. I get that their comeback is basketball themed, but this comes off as a bit too 90’s to me. Definitely not my type of song, but it’s nice to see YG trying to get back to its early hip hop routes.

Compared to Winner’s debut music video, I feel like this looks pretty cool, but I’m a little bored. Oh, hey, there’s a dog! The members look good, but wow there are a lot of dogs in this: I’ll take it. This song is groove-able, but definitely not one of my favorite debut songs of 2015, which is a little bit disappointing considering how much YG Entertainment has hyped up iKON. The groups look good, but the repetitive nature of this song doesn’t seem like something that we should be waiting for. I’d love to hear more of the vocals from this group, because these few moments where the vocalists sing is really great. Side note, why are only the vocalists blonde? This group has a lot of promise and I see why people like them, but I’m going to wait a bit to see if I like iKON’s other songs.

What’s your favorite recent song out of Korea? Are there any upcoming songs you’d like to see a quick review of? Let us know in the comments 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.

Taeyeon’s ‘I’ Music Video & Song Review

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Taeyeon music review

I am not a Sone (official fanclub name for Girls Generation) but I have always enjoyed Taeyeon’s solo releases, especially popular OSTs such as “Missing You Like Crazy” and “And One”. That was why I got excited when I heard about Taeyeon’s solo album, and even more so when I heard that her title track “I” achieved an all-kill on local and international music charts. With well-known rapper Verbal Jint featuring on this track, I knew that it would be something special. Without further ado, here’s my review of “I”.

Song

The track opens right away with the addictive chorus but is immediately followed by Verbal Jint’s short rap. The first time I heard it I found the transition a bit abrupt, especially since the chorus is repeated again after his rap. Taeyeon’s style of singing the chorus, or mainly the word “I,” reminds me of country music and Taylor Swift (in her first few releases). While it is nice to listen to, initially, I got quite tired of it by the time the song was over. The song picks up considerably during the other verses and the bridge though, both in terms of melody and the emotions in Taeyeon’s voice. I especially love how Taeyeon’s voice grows stronger and more free in the bridge as the song comes to a climax, as it clearly empathizes the meaningful and inspirational lyrics of the song.

Flower petals wilt
I had difficult times, but followed a small light
Distant day, let it go far, faraway
I fly splendidly
Sky that pours light
Renewed eyes (Renewed eyes)
Fly far away (Fly high, fly high)
Beauty that belongs only to me

The instrumentals were pretty amazing from start to finish as it started out softly but gradually built up and really enhanced the track; it honestly blew my breath away towards the end of the song. I would probably have enjoyed the song more if Verbal Jint’s presence was more prominent because he definitely added a level of intensity and depth to this otherwise catchy but musically shallow track. That’s not to say that it was bad, because Taeyeon exceeded my expectations entirely with this release.

Also on Kultscene: Girls’ Generation’s “Lion Heart” and “You Think” Song Review

Videography

The music video for this song is simply gorgeous, mostly because of the natural scenery featured frequently in it. The music video was shot in New Zealand, a country famous for its physical beauty, and the videography certainly did justice to it.

taeyeon review 3

I love the fact that this music video has an engaging storyline and an empowering message. Featuring Taeyeon as the protagonist, she plays a waitress who hates her dreary life in a cafe and is constantly dreaming about frollicking freely in nature. She eventually quits her job at the cafe (in a totally bad-ass way) and gets to live out her dream.

Don’t be afraid to follow your heart and fulfill your dreams is the beautiful and inspirational message that Taeyeon is conveying through this video. As can be seen by the comments left on her video on Youtube, this message is encouraging and relatable to many viewers who feel stuck in their tiring daily lives. It is rare to see K-pop music videos these days that have such meaning and it is certainly refreshing.

Also on Kultscene: 8 Jessi Songs To Get You Ready For Her Los Angeles Show

Styling

Taeyeon wore a few outfits throughout this video and definitely looks gorgeous in her waitress uniform even though I think she had too much jewellry on. However, her styling when she was in the fields leaves much to be desired.

During scenes when Taeyeon is surrounded by nature, she sports a country-style white dress and a cute braided hairstyle, but the make-up splattered on her face does not suit her attire at all. The choice of the feather earring for these scenes was also a bit unfortunate because it kept flying up her face due to the strong winds.

taeyeon review 2

I love this look on Taeyeon though, she pulls off the girl-next-door vibe very well. It looks comfortable but still extremely glamorous on her with her flawless beauty.

Overall Thoughts

This was a good solo debut for Taeyeon and she certainly deserves the success she is getting from it right now. The song and video were not perfect but they undoubtedly brought out the right tone and message befitting the lyrics. She has set a high bar for her future releases and I cannot wait for her next comeback.

  • Taeyeon 'I'
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Have you heard ‘I’? What do you think about it? 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.

Blink & You’ll Miss These ‘Doctor Who’ References In K-Pop Music Videos

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Doctor Who Meets K-PopK-pop and British pop culture has little direct influence on one another, but some K-pop music video directors are definitely fans of the iconic British television series, “Doctor Who.” Although they’re few and far apart, there are some K-pop music videos that directly take influences from “Doctor Who.”

In honor of the new season of “Doctor Who” being well under way, I took a look into three K-pop music videos that get their inspiration from “Doctor Who.” Even if you’re not a fan of the British show, you know these K-pop music videos and may be surprised.

Big Bang’s “Bang Bang Bang”

Long before Buzzfeed’s Try Guys noticed a connection between the British television series “Doctor Who” and one of this year’s most watched K-pop music videos on YouTube, I noticed a seemingly impossible reference to the iconic sixth season premiere, “The Impossible Astronaut.” In the music video, wearing a cowboy hat and a leather jacket, Big Bang’s rapper T.O.P appears to be no other than the stand in for the show’s leading man, The Doctor.

Also on Kultscene: 4 K-Pop Songs Casting ‘Harry Potter’ Spells

Yes, T.O.P is The Eleventh Doctor. And River Song. Or, at least, he’s wearing a cowboy hat while hanging out with an astronaut, who also appears to be T.O.P. To my knowledge, YG Entertainment hasn’t explained if T.O.P kills himself and ruins the history of time forever or is married to himself, but it’s a pretty humorous few moments in the music video.

Think the cowboy and astronaut are just coincidences and accidentally appear to be referencing “Doctor Who?” Think again, because here are definitely alien-like specimens in jars on the sill and that white room looks a bit like the room from the episode “The Girl Who Waited.”

ZE:A’s “Breathe”

The Big Bang music video is actually just the most recent addition to this list of K-pop music videos that take aspects from “Doctor Who.” The 2014 music video for ZE:A’s song has a bit of a depressing tone to it, like the whole world being destructed and ZE:A dancing in a spaceship, but then we get our space elements that take us to “Doctor Who” and everything seems like it is much better.

In this case, we don’t get a blatant reference to The Doctor or any other character from the show, but we do get a TARDIS. Yes, a TARDIS, but not The Doctor’s TARDIS. This is more like ZE:A’s COE.

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For K-pop fans who don’t know, The Doctor’s TARDIS is his spaceship that travels through time and space, and it looks like a 1960’s police call box from England. Its name is an acronym for “Time And Relative Dimensions In Space.” So, going with that, ZE:A’s blue box has the group’s name it in English, which is Children of Empire so… I decided that ZE:A’s spaceship is called a COE, and it doesn’t really travel through space and time as much as it makes a handsome K-pop group.

ZE:A’s music video has a lot of out of this world elements, but I can’t help but wonder whether their blue stage outfits came before or after someone suggested throwing in one of the most iconic images of British pop culture, the TARDIS from “Doctor Who”.

IU’s “You & I”

Last but definitely not least, we have a K-pop singer emulating The Doctor.This 2011 music video from IU takes us to England, or somewhere that looks like it, with a clock tower that can’t quite compare to Big Ben and a cozy little house with black and white pictures and a random goose walking around IU’s home as she counts down to D-Day.

Do you remember how I explained that the TARDIS is a spaceship that travels through time and space? Well, IU’s waiting for some handsome guy to wake up and there’s a magical mystery device that says “time” and “space” on it.

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And then it gets better!

Not every season of “Doctor Who” has clockwork in the beginning of each episode as part of the opening theme, but clockwork played a role in the intro of the eighth season of “Doctor Who,” and what is IU dancing in front of during the intro of the song? Nothing more than tons of clockwork gears.

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Okay, that may be a bit of a stretch, but here is the best use of any “Doctor Who” reference in K-pop to date- IU uses the TARDIS. Or something that looks like it and works the same way.

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Yes, Korea’s pop princess IU takes a ride on a train called the Fantasy Express and then gets into a time machine that looks oddly like a TARDIS from the outside. “You & I” foregoes the delightful bright blue color for something a bit more sedate, but there’s the same twirling and cosmic ambiance of IU’s box of time and space.

Do you know any other references to “Doctor Who” in K-pop? Let us know in the comments 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.