Entertainment Archives - Page 34 of 42

Korean Drama Trends to Look Forward to in 2015

December 25, 2014/in Entertainment, Television /by Tamar Herman

It’s time to say “goodbye” to 2014, and “hello!” to 2015. In other words, there will be many more Korean dramas beginning in the next few months. There will be some really great dramas to come in 2015, and even more semi-disappointing ones. KultScene ’s done some digging and here are some trends to look forward to in the beginning of 2015.

Psychologically Driven Dramas

The 2014 hit It’s Okay, That’s Love handled psychological problems in a way that hasn’t been well-represented in Korean dramas in the past, and the show was so successful that several other therapy-based dramas are in the works. Kill Me, Heal Me, starring Ji Sung (Secret Love), Hwang Jung Eum (Endless Love), and Park Seo Joon (Witch’s Romance), is about a man suffering from Dissociative identity disorder (also known as Multiple Personality Disorder). Heart to Heart is about a woman (7^th Grade Civil Servant’s Choi Kang Hee) with social phobia falling in love with a psychiatrist (Reset actor Chun Jung Myung) who has his own issues, while the two work through their problems together. Dr. Frankenstein will also feature a character with multiple personalities.

Webtoon Adaptations

Based on the success of this year’s Misaeng, webtoon-based dramas are here to stay. Which is great news, considering that South Korea has some really great online comics that deserve more attention. Two upcoming dramas, circus-based Hyde, Jekyll, Me, starring Hyun Bin of Secret Garden and Han Ji Min of Rooftop Prince, and Ho-Gu’s Love, with Lee Soo Kyung, Choi Woo Shik, and Uee, are both based on webtoons. Misaeng is also rumored to be getting a second season, which brings us to…

Also on KultScene: South Korea’s Portrayal Of North Korea Isn’t A Comedy So Stop Laughing At ‘The Interview’

Hyde, Jekyll, Me Cast Reading

Continuations of Popular 2014 Dramas

Series with multiple seasons are very rare in South Korea, but a few cable networks are trying to change that. TvN, in particular, has implied that popular dramas Liar Game and Misaeng will get second seasons. The same station also announced that Let’s Eat will get an additional season. Broadcast networks in South Korea haven’t announced anything yet, but it seems like, as dramas get more and more of a following, drama writers will try to write open endings to keep an additional season open.

Mothers Will Rule Their Daughter’s Lives

A few recently announced dramas for 2015 will prominently feature mother-daughter relationships. Angry Mom will be about a still mother (unconfirmed who is playing her as of yet) sneaking into her daughter’s (Love Cell‘s Kim Yoo Jung) school to help defend her against bullies, while Equator’s Flower will be about a woman, Kim Sung Ryoung, who encounters the daughter she once abandoned, played by It’s Okay, That’s Love‘s Lee Sung Kyung. Unkind Woman with Lee Hana and Song Jaerim will be about several generations of women living together with one another-grandmother, mother, and granddaughter.

There are many other different types of dramas coming out in 2015, but these are some of the most noticeable trends. There will be some fantasy based dramas, some medical-based shows, and something that will surely surprise us all.

Do you like the sound of these trends? Is there something else that you’d like to see in dramas in 2015? Let us know in the comments and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2014

December 24, 2014/in Entertainment /by KultScene

After the many debacles that plagued the K-Pop industry this year, with scandal after scandal, it seemed like 2014 was the worst year since 2009, and possibly even worse. With members leaving well-established groups, personal scandals, and lost lives, 2014 was not a good year. However, we must not diminish the greatness in music that artists in 2014 delivered. One of the things that made 2014 great was the fact that companies and artists experimented with their sounds and there was little sentiment of repetition among the releases. This year saw outstanding comebacks, entertaining subunits, rising underdogs, and shocking debuts. Because, even if 2014 will go down in history as K-popcalypse, there’s no denying that we also got some great releases. And after much thought, KultScene came up with our list of top 20 K-Pop songs of 2014. The picks are simply based on our personal tastes and preferences and is only intended to recognize extraordinary singles of the past year.

20. INFINITE Last Romeo

Ending out our list is INFINITE’s Last Romeo, a song that is dramatic and theatrical. Heavy percussions and repetitive vocal sounds like “nanana” and “woohoo” open the dark pop song with an 80’s style synth-rock sound. Even without seeing a performance of the song, the chorus audibly builds up to powerful moments that were made with INFINITE’s perfectly synchronized dances in mind. INFINITE’s songs are typically very strong, and the sound and style of Last Romeo shows the group’s growth as a performance group in the best way possible.

19. Taeyang Eyes, Nose, Lips

After releasing Ringa Linga, Taeyang came back to his roots as an R&B singer with Eyes, Nose, Lips. The sad ballad starts with a melancholic piano tune, quickly transitioning into Taeyang’s heartbreaking voice for the first verse. Throughout the song, he makes the listeners feel as the man of the story from the song. He lets the listeners feel the sadness and anger of the situation stated in the track. The song was so popular that it gained recognition around the world, and was followed by covers by fans, K-Pop artists like Eric Nam and even YG Entertainment released a series of covers with Akdong Musician, Tablo, and Lydia Paek. This is Taeyang’s most vulnerable song and one that will go down as one of his best songs.

18. WINNER Empty

WINNER debuted this year differently than other bands. Usually when a new boy group debuts, they do so with an upbeat song and not a ballad. But WINNER came out with the sad ballad Empty, which talks about a man who feels completely empty after breaking up with his lover. The track starts with Mino rapping very softly with a very vulnerable voice. Then Kang Seung Yoon starts singing with his raspy voice, followed by the rest of the members to the beautiful soothing chorus. Nam Tahyun’s high falsettos in the background accompanied by guitar riffs and basses add to a very spectacular song.

17. Sunny Hill Here I Am

A soft ballad that rapidly develops into a tumultuous, whirlwind of a dance song before returning to a slower pace, the quartet’s Here I Am is one of the best songs of 2014. Here I Am is a storm of emotion that builds up gradually before settling down again before swiftly picking up. Sunny Hill’s range of vocal styles come together, soothing and heartfelt one moment then raspy and strong the next to emulate the swift changes of emotion that the lyrics describe. Sunny Hill has tried out many different styles of music throughout the years, and Here I Am is the zenith of that experimentation.

16. Girl’s Day Something

Girl’s Day fully embraced the sexy concept with the flawless Something. The song is smooth, sensual, and uses traditional instruments like guitars and pianos in an interesting and effective way. Having fully embraced their style, Girl’s Day have also found their most sophisticated sound. The video, which is an homage to Park Ji Yoon’s Coming of Age Ceremony, is also a defiant statement that this is their style.

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

15. Rain 30 Sexy

Rain’s 2014 comeback was highly anticipated and he did not let us down with 30 Sexy. Rain’s smooth, alluring vocals and phenomenal falsetto make 30 Sexy one of the hottest songs of 2014. Although the music is repetitive, one hardly notices it over his singing. Rain is in his 30s, he’s sexy, and this song perfectly showcases his vocal ability and musical talent. I still think he says “dirty sexy” instead of “30 sexy”, but either way the song is top notch.

14. Crucial Star Paris

In a year where trap and other EDM music styles reigned supreme in music releases, there was a more mellow yet strong undercurrent that challenged the hype. Rapper Crucial Star, void of the club sound, released Paris this fall. The track, with its calm beat, is all about the rapper’s soft vocals and verses about comparing a girl to the city of lights. Paris is a refreshing song that stands out for its simplicity and emotion rather that an over production.

13. K. Will Day 1

K. Will gave us the perfect upbeat ballad this year with Day 1. The song talks about a guy that fell in love with a girl and he’s letting her know that out of all the ugly guys, he’s the best looking one and he wants to let her know how crazy she makes him feel. The song is an honest ballad that makes the listeners relate to it. The song showcases K.Will’s beautiful voice, with those heart melting falsettos. His singing is amazing and when he hits those high notes, he makes us fall in love with this song over and over again.

12. GD X Taeyang Good Boy

Offering the antithesis to BIGBANG’s Bad Boy, lyrics and sound wise, the group’s BFF ‘88 liners teamed up this year and delivered the EDM/hip hop hybrid Good Boy. GD and Taeyang showcased the awesomeness of their friendship and teamwork by coming out with such an outstanding, shoulder swaying, twerk inciting club jam. GD’s rap paired with Taeyang’s R&B vocals and melodies deliver the perfect pop song of the year. Expect to see similar songs next year…

11. Purfles 1, 2, 3

The three Purfles girls smashed onto the scene without much warning with the excellent 1, 2, 3. This sexy, confident electro banger showcased how good a rookie group can be. The vocals and choreography are executed perfectly and the high energy catchiness makes it infinitely listenable. Watch out for these girls as they have the potential to make a storm in the K-Pop world.

10. HA:TFELT Ain’t Nobody

Wonder Girls’ Yeeun’s solo song starts off pretty slowly with some simple instrumentals and then suddenly jumps to become an intense, dubstep-infused song that’s different than anything we’ve seen from her in the past. Wild jumps between soft singing and powerful belting makes the Ain’t Nobody seem all over the place, but the song’s diverse elements come together to be an evocative song about heartbreak.

9. BTS Boy in Luv

Boy in Luv starts off with the guys’ hard hitting and masculine vocals. The rapping is on point, the singing is on point, the dancing is on point. Boy in Luv showcases what boys in high school do when they want their crush to know they like them. The music has elements of rock, hip hop, and pop, which makes for an inviting song for many listeners. The breakdown toward the end of the song displays the softer side to BTS, but only for a moment, then it’s back to the hormone raging boys.

8. Girls’ Generation Mr. Mr.

It’s easy to forget that SNSD released a song this year ever since we’ve been crying ourselves to sleep every night since Jessica left. They did however put some music out, and boy was it good. Mr. Mr. marked the final move away (despite the lyrics) from the cute girls they became famous for. Now, they’ve embodied the strong women they have perfectly grown into. Mr. Mr. is a glossy urban pop delight, and vocally, the girls are at their best ever. Hopefully SNSD can get past all the hardships and get back to making more music like this next year.

7. Beenzino How Do I Look?

This year proved that the spotlight is no longer just on K-Pop and it is not the only exciting music coming from Korea. Korean hip hop took center stage in 2014, and in the middle of it all was Beenzino and his smooth, swagtastic track How Do I Look?. In his music, and especially How Do I Look?, Beenzino does the whole Drake thing by singing and rapping on his tracks, giving us one of the coolest choruses (in English, mind you) to sing along to all year.

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6. EXID Up & Down

EXID’s catchy jam grabs you right from the beginning of the song. LE’s rapping is, as always, on point and perfectly fits the tone and rhythm of the song. The chorus changes pace slightly, but just enough to keep you interested and wanting more. The girls of EXID show off their vocal talents with this fun and addicting song. Up & Down was a strong debut release with their new entertainment company this past summer. And even though it gained recognition months after its released, the attention was well-deserved.

5. Hi Suhyun feat. Bobby I’m Different

Following a much suspenseful series of teasers featuring two girls and a guy, YG Entertainment debuted the sub unit Hi Suhyun comprising of Akmu’s Soohyun and Lee Hi, with Bobby delivering a rap verse. I’m Different is a cute jazzy and funky song that highlights the vocalists’ powerful voices, something reminiscent of Lee Hi’s 2012 solo work but paired perfectly with Soohyun’s light harmonies. What’s more, Bobby’s quick but decisive verse added that je ne sais quoi that brings the soulful song to a full circle. The song, while atypical from YG, won the ex K Pop Stars contestants their first number one on a music show, proving K-Pop is not only about the club banging hits.

4. Kyuhyun At Gwanghwamun

When it comes to idols debuting as solo artists, Kyuhyun’s At Gwanghwamun sets a high bar. The song begins in a soft, melodious way that builds up to an impressive show of Kyuhyun’s wide range of vocals. Soft piano and strings are a mainstay of the song, but powerful beats play a role later on. Kyuhyun’s breathy, emotive singing and the heartfelt lyrics of At Gwanghwamun made the song a hit in Korea, and earned it a spot in the top five of this list.

3. f(x) Red Light

When it comes to experimentation in K-Pop, we can always count on f(x) for that, and Red Light is the perfect example. The song uses jarring music and vocal changes within a fairly standard structure to keep us on our toes and make a statement. The siren-like electro riffs that run throughout the song act like a call to end conformity in music. The verses gradually become more normal before the chorus comes crashing back in. Innovation alone is enough to warrant Red Light’s place on this list, but the incredible production and delivery from the girls guarantees it.

2. KARA Mamma Mia

After losing members and gaining a new one, KARA came back with an amazing song this year. Mamma Mia showcased the powerful vocals that we are accustomed to from the members. The song is full of techno beats and seems come out of a late ‘70s, early ‘80s disco music video. Despite KARA returning with a member line-up change, the fans seemed to love the song and happily stated that KARA was finally back after a long hiatus. As the song says, “Hit the lights, let’s go!” So grab your dancing shoes and get ready to bust out to this wonderful track by KARA.

1. Beast Good Luck

Following the success the group received with Fiction, the guys seemed to had finally found their niche and spot in K-Pop, and Good Luck is a continuation of exactly that. The song utilizes multiple instrumentals and EDM sounds to create a unique overall sound not heard in K-Pop before its release. The guys’ vocals are rippling with emotion and the hook and chorus are easy to pick up and so much fun to sing at the top of your lungs. Not to mention the choreography is pretty killer for this track. Junhyung did his bandmates and fans well when he created this gem, proving to be the crown jewel in their discography. Or at least up until now. If Good Luck and 12:30’s success is indication of anything is that veteran groups like Super Junior, BIGBANG, and TVXQ! should watch their backs because BEAST is quickly escalating to the top spot in Hallyu.

Check out KultScene‘s top 20 K-pop songs of 2014 video compilation here:

What 2014 K-Pop songs are your favorites? Share your picks 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.

South Korea’s Portrayal of North Korea Isn’t A Comedy So Stop Laughing at ‘The Interview’

December 23, 2014/in Entertainment, Movies, Television /by Tamar Herman

James Franco and Seth Rogen think that North Korea is a joke, based on the trailers for The Interview. But South Korea doesn’t really think the same way.

North Korea may be a crazy country that allegedly hacked Sony because of a single movie, but South Korea thinks of North Korea less as the deranged cousin that it doesn’t want to see as much as a long-lost sibling. Sometimes North and South Korea are portrayed as lovers, sometimes as mortal enemies; it just depends on what movie or show you’re watching.

Hot on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment industry hacks in history, the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy The Interview is all people seem to be able to talk about. And the fact that it is a comedy movie about assassinating the dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, emphasizes how Hollywood thinks that North Korea is a big joke.

“The Interview” via Tumblr

But to South Korea, North Korea is anything but a joke and this can be seen in the variety of ways that North Korea is portrayed in a variety of South Korean films and television shows.

[Spoilers ahead.]

Shiri (1998)

The first film Korean blockbuster, Shiri (also known as Swiri) had it all; explosives, spies, romance, North Korean-South Korean reunification… Yes, Shiri was the first Korean film to really address the fact that North Korea, while depicted as a military state with countless deadly spies, is South Korea’s twin state. The two countries have been divided since the 1940’s and the politicians in the film were meeting to figure out a potential path to reuniting the two halves of the whole. Shiri humanized North Korea in a way that had never been seen in South Korean film.

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The movie ends with many deaths and a tragic love story between North and South Korean operatives. But the main point of the movie is that they are simply Korean, it doesn’t matter what side of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone that separates the Koreas) someone lives on. So too, does the shiri fish swims in both North Korean and South Korean waters, but doesn’t know where one country’s waters begin and the others ends.

King 2 Hearts (2012)

A drama in a what-if world where South Korea retained its monarchy after the Korean War, but the countries are still divided. So many different impossible things were going on during this television show that it seems unlikely that anything real was truly represented. But the tensions between North and South Korea, where sometimes the two countries are on the brink of war and other times working together to help the people of both nations, were accurately portrayed.

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The idea of North Korea and South Korea being lovers who are separated by outside factors has become a sort of anthropological narrative in South Korea. King 2 Hearts is just one example of a situation where the two lovers, Lee Seung Gi and Ha Ji Won, are stand in for the tempestuous relationship of the country. Unlike Shiri where the lovers were unable to be together due to the differences, King 2 Hearts represents a more hopeful view for the future of the two Koreas.

Secretly, Greatly (2013)

This film takes a different take on the story and instead of showing the relationship between the two countries and the politicians who trying to bring about reunification like the previous examples, Secretly, Greatly shows North Korean spies falling in love with South Korea. The sleeper agents spend several years integrating into South Korean life in order to save their families from torture in North Korea, and after going to South Korea they see what it’s like to be average parts of society. Secretly, Greatly depicts North Korea as a ruthless country that is willing to kill its own elite operatives rather than risk losing those very same spies, and demands everything from its people without giving much back.

The film shows the idea that many South Koreans have of North Korea: it is an evil place that doesn’t care about its people. Secretly, Greatly is itself a comedy, but a dark comedy that is tragic. The leaders of the country are not people to mock, but instead people to be afraid of. It’s a very different take on North Korea than Shiri and King 2 Hearts, but that is because North Korea takes on so many roles as the rival nation to South Korea.

There are countless other Korean portrayals of North Korea: Iris, Doctor Stranger, Joint Security Area, and Taegukgi are just some of the more popular portrayals of North Korea by South Koreans. Many of these, the ones listed and the ones discussed in this article in depth are dramatic, some are comedic, and many are both. But none have evoked the wrath of North Korea by minimizing and mocking the threat that is very real to South Korea.

North Korea is portrayed many ways: lover, potential ally, enemy, etc. But South Korean filmmakers do not mock North Korea as openly as Hollywood’s The Interview, because such a complicated matter does not warrant complete disregard.

What do you think about South Korea’s portrayal of its relationship with North Korea in film and dramaS? Share your comments 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 Standout K-Pop Underdog Rookies of 2014

December 16, 2014/in Entertainment /by Joe Palmer

‘Tis the season to be jolly, which means we are coming towards the end of the year, which also means it is the season of end of year lists. We are starting off the look back at this year with a consideration of the new. We’re highlight the K-pop rookie groups that have stood out without the backing of one of the big three companies in 2014.

It is becoming more and more difficult for a group to stand out from the crowd since the number of debuts is rising all the time. Without the backing of one of the big three, it is even more difficult to get any sort of publicity. What marks my picks is their lack of gimmick in that it is unusual for a group to debut without one now but these groups have their mark with quality alone. There are some absolute gems to be found and there is lots of potential for the future here.

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5. High4

High4 are best known right now for their collaborations with IU and Lim Kim. Even if it was IU who seemed to gain most from these team ups and given how hard it is to outshine Lim Kim’s unique voice, it still gave High4 an interesting way of entering the K-Pop market and brought them a fan base. They have also shown great range through these two songs and their first solo song Headache. Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms with IU is a sweet song perfect for its spring release. A Little Close with Lim Kim is a smooth R&B track where their vocals are pushed, and Headache is a high energy funky song that was a big departure from their collaborations. While there is no obvious standout track here, there is a lot of potential to go forward and create interesting songs in a diverse range of genres.

4. Purfles

There always seems to be rookie groups popping up with the strangest names. Purfles were right up there in terms of weirdness, and their lack of teasers meant no one was expecting anything from them. The release of 1,2,3 in October completely smashed expectations as it was one of the most polished productions of all the debuts. Starting off as sexy means this trio of girls are clearly looking at sexiness as their main focus and as something they can add to rather than switching to it to sell records. So far, they are certainly making a mark with this concept. 1,2,3 is an exciting song with sharply executed choreography and ‘na na nas’ that do not leave your head. Expect Purfles to comeback soon to capitalize on their surprise release.

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3. MAMAMOO

Standing out from the crowd is what all rookie groups want to do. Usually using strange gimmicks like a group of girls with bob haircuts (Bob Girls) or a boy group with seventeen members (Seventeen, note the original names too). A truly great group, however, stands out with their sound, and this is what MAMAMOO has done. They focused on a small group of all talented girls and paired with a jazzy pop sound, slightly reminiscent of Brown Eyed Girls’ sound on Sixth Sense. Both their singles, Mr. Ambiguous and Piano Man, were strong and showed incredible vocals. MAMAMOO can fill the gap left by the Wonder Girls.

2. LABOUM

Of their two songs released this year, the most recent is a knock out, but Pit a Pat follows at a close second making this a great first year for LABOUM. Their look and sound resembles a mix of the simple cuteness of A Pink and the edgier Ladies’ Code. Pit A Pat is so much fun and interesting enough to catch your interest, which is worthwhile since they released the even better What About You? soon after. Hopefully they’ll follow A Pink into great success without giving up on their original style.

1. Lovelyz

This may be cheating since Woolim Entertainment is now part of SM, they still compete for fans with that one other rookie group not listed, Red Velvet. While more than a few people looked forward to a possible girl version of Infinite, Lovelyz turned out to be nearly the complete opposite of that. In fact, they have the a J-Pop inspired sound on their album Girls’ Invasion and on their lead single Candy Jelly Love which is a delightful slice of bubblegum pop that is sweet and satisfying like its title. Getaway is a strange little song reminiscent of early f(x). They even have an interesting ballad, which is rare for a rookie group. Needless to say, Lovelyz are going to go far with the backing of great company and a fresh style on their side.

Do you think we missed out on any great rookies from this year? 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.

Best BTS SoundCloud Songs

December 12, 2014/in Entertainment, MUSIC /by Tara

[Disclaimer: Some of the content below contains profanity.]

SoundCloud is a music platform that allows anyone to upload their music and share it with others. It’s a great platform to discover new artists and you can record music with your computer and upload it for all to hear. It’s also good for listening to well established artists too. BTS is, without a doubt, a very talented group. The majority, if not all, of the members have a hand in the writing of their songs, and some of them have even ventured into producing music. But before these seven talented guys became a huge success, they were writing and recording demos. Luckily for us, some of those have made it onto their SoundCloud. With a total of 21 tracks on the site, BTS gives fans a little bit of everything. Singing, rapping, singing and rapping, great beats, and catchy tunes. The following highlights a few tracks from BTS’ SoundCloud that you should listen to. If you’ve got a SoundCloud of your own that you’d like to improve awareness of, you can use a service such as upyourplays to do this and bring some more ears to your music.

1. Beautiful

Beautiful displays the rapping and singing skills that BTS as a group holds. The sound and music is light and enticing. The boys’ younger, more raw vocals truly showcase the base for their talent. The rapping isn’t too harsh, which parallels the soft vocals throughout the song.

2. Born Singer

Born Singer is another of the singing/rapping tracks on BTS’ SoundCloud. Similar to Beautiful, Born Singer, again, highlights the groups’ individual skills and skills as a cohesive group. The rapping is much more intense and hard hitting, whereas the singing is softer and more delicate.

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3. Monterlude

The next song only showcases Rap Monster’s skills. But instead of highlighting his impressive rapping, Monterlude introduces fans to Rap Monster the vocalist. Now, he does not have the strongest vocals in the group, but the way he delivers the lyrics to Monterlude perfectly embodies the emotion of the song.

4. All I Do Is Win

We have to give Suga some love, his solo rap track All I Do Is Win displays his quick rap with an attractive beat. The song may be short but it perfectly embodies Suga as a rapper. He is hard hitting, fierce, and confident in his delivery.

5. Rap Monster

Similar to Suga’s solo is one of Rap Monster’s many solos on their SoundCloud, Rap Monster. The song personifies the young rapper. The beat is the first thing we hear and it immediately grabs you for the entirety of the song. Rap Monster’s delivery, at first, is steady and crisp. As the short solo continues, he quickly increases his words per beat for a portion of the song, which perfectly shows off his impressive rap skills.

6. ????

Rap Monster, Suga, and Jin are the perfect combo to pull off this style of song. Jin’s soft vocals perfectly match the high pitched piano, while Rap Monster and Suga’s deep and raspy voices beautifully create contrast and add another layer to the already good song.

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7. Too Much

The beginning of Too Much is something completely different than what you might expect from someone who calls himself ‘Rap Monster.’ Sampling Drake’s song by the same name, the introduction immediately grabs you with the hollow piano and Rap Monster’s raw vocals at the chorus. He goes between his impressive singing and flawless rapping throughout the song. Too Much is a beautiful song that impressively showcases the leader’s multiple talents.

What are your favorite tracks from BTS’ SoundCloud? 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.

Artist Spotlight: Yoon Mirae

December 9, 2014/in Artist Spotlight, Entertainment /by Tamar Herman

When it comes to talented women in South Korea, Yoon Mirae is on, if not at the top, of the list. Singer, rapper, dancer, mc, mother, wife, activist—there’s hardly a title that Yoon Mirae hasn’t held since the 1990’s when she entered the Korean music scene. As one of the first rap and R&B singers in Korea, Yoon Mirae set, and continues to influence, the tone for the future of Korean music.

Born in the United States to a Korean mother and an African American father, Natasha Reid debuted in Korea under the name T, sometimes Tasha, as part of the original line up Uptown. Since then, along with being a talented solo artist, Yoon Mirae has been associated with various hip-hop crews in South Korea, including The Movement, Drunken Tiger, and MFBTY (short for My Fans Are Better Than Yours.) Each of these crews includes both Tasha and her husband, Tiger JK of the group Drunken Tiger.

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Yoon Mirae appears to thrive on collaborating with others, and her solo songs are nothing to scoff at. Nowadays, she’s been gaining a lot of attention for her soulful songs for the soundtracks of dramas like The Master’s Sun and It’s Okay, That’s Love. Such a prolific artist is hard to summarize in a few songs, but here are several songs that paint a picture of Yoon Mirae’s talent and her typical style.

Memories (Smiling Tears) came out in 2002, and is an early song that highlights Yoon Mirae’s rapid-fire rap skills and her R&B style that is reminiscent of some famous singers, particularly Lauryn Hill. Yoon Mirae’s songs are almost always inspiring, and Memories is one of her iconic songs with lyrics like “all the hopes and the dreams will survive.” It also has an example of numbers, which appear in several of Yoon Mirae’s songs.

Next up is Black Happiness, from Yoon Mirae’s 2007 album T3 – Yoon Mi Rae. This is one of Yoon Mirae’s most iconic songs about her heritage as a biracial artist in Korea who was met with racism since a young age, but turned to music to find refuge. Even though her father’s skin color was the “problem,” Yoon Mirae sings that her connection to music is thanks to him, and that music has gotten her through everything. Her aggressive rap complements her inspirational lyrics, depicting the struggle that Yoon Mirae went through while growing up.

They told me to wear a mask
They said my mom’s race was okay
But not my dad’s

I felt like I was in jail
And I leaned on myself
I spent endless, painful days
I ignored their warnings
And because I missed music
I tried to escape

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Get It In was the start of a new sound for Yoon Mirae. Mixing her traditional hip-hop sound with electronic music. Get It In, featuring Tiger JK and solo singer Jung In, has a club feel to it and ends with a pounding beat that Yoon Mirae rarely utilized in her earlier iconic songs. Released in 2011, the song is about someone searching for their own place in the world– continuing Yoon Mirae’s philosophical style. Personally, I interpreted the battle scene in the music video as the singer’s fight with the world around her to continuously improve.

2013 brought a new, more popular version of Yoon Mirae with the song Touch Love from The Master’s Sun soundtrack. Without her usual rap, the song doesn’t really feel like it’s Yoon Mirae’s style, but Touch Love just shows another side to Yoon Mirae’s talent, where she goes the typical Korean ballad route rather than sticking to a more Western-influenced style. The song won multiple awards, and Yoon Mirae also sang I Love You for It’s Okay, That’s Love OST.

And, finally, Yoon Mirae’s latest song Angel. Not only does she look fantastic in the music video, but Yoon Mirae’s powerful singing appears in a mature, heartfelt way. The song isn’t about a lover in specific, but the people who support you when you’re having a hard time. Yoon Mirae released the song after a year where she lost her father-in law (This article had previously said her father), was betrayed by someone she trusted, and started a new company, but even so she has people around her who help her keep faith during hard times. Angel’s meaning led it to reaching the number one spot of multiple Korean music charts shortly after being released this month.

Do you like Yoon Mirae’s style? What’s your favorite song. 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.

Sunny Hill’s ‘Here I Am’ Music Video & Song Review

December 7, 2014/in MUSIC VIDEOS /by Tamar Herman

Sunny Hill’s latest single Here I Am is underratedly one of the best Korean songs released in November. Even when it looks like Sunny Hill is just singing a seemingly banal song about grief and neglect following a break up, the talented group doesn’t disappoint and instead presents a well-rounded, musical experience.

Here I Am is Sunny Hill’s 7th anniversary commemorative song, and it doesn’t let Hillers (Sunny Hill’s fans) down. The quartet’s come a long way, beginning as a co-ed vocal group and then gaining a lot of attention for powerful, meaningful songs and music videos. Even though they’ve seen some lineup changes (Seungah and Jubi are the only original two left in the group) and are no longer co-ed, Sunny Hill continually releases great songs. Here I Am shows the maturity of the group, taking the styles that the group has explored over the years while still keeping some of Sunny Hill’s original elements. The singing is phenomenal, and the plot, visuals, and acting in the music video are near perfection. Member Misung wrote the lyrics for the song, adding a personal touch and raw emotion to the track.

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Song

Many K-Pop songs make use of multiple genres, but Sunny Hill is one of the few groups that could pull off a song like Here I Am and express the full meaning solely through the emotional range of their voices. Even though the song is beautiful in its own right, the music video for Here I Am adds further depth and expresses Sunny Hill’s growth as artists.

With ballad, acoustic, and electronic influences, Here I Am is both soft and strong in the face of heartbreak. Even though a slow soft ballad would seemingly be perfect for the depressing lyrics, Here I Am crescendos multiple times as the narrator tries to figure out how to get over heartbreak and move forward like her ex.

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Even though the singing is a bit unevenly distributed, with Jubi and Kota singing a majority of the lyrics, the four voices are impeccably juxtaposed with one another and come together to perfectly depict the rawness of the song’s emotions. Jubi’s belting voice and Kota’s rough lines interplay with Misung and Seungah’s sweeter and rawer voices.

Can you hear me? Here I am
Tonight I think of your scent
I lean on time, saying that pain will be gone eventually

Here I Am starts slow, with acoustic music and rapidly gains a faster beat, before reaching the zenith of the song, with Sunny Hill declaring that heartbreak will eventually end.

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

When you are in love, being broken up with is extremely difficult, and Jubi was absolutely devastated by her lover’s actions. Everybody who has ever had his or her heart broken probably has wished that they could just wipe their mind clean, and Here I Am hints to the fact that even if you forget, some small part of you will always remember love.

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Here I Am ends when the narrator/singer is still in pain over the breakup, it is implied that this pain will eventually pass. The music video recognizes this, but also recognizes how painful breaking up is, and has Jubi erase her own memory to get over the heartbreak.

Music Video

The video exhibited how good Sunny Hill has become at creating complex, unique storylines for their songs, to add further depth to their already meaningful songs. The music video has winter-inspired elements and an intriguing plot, which seems like something out of the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

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Sunny Hill’s acting in the video was great; Jubi’s emotion is always clear through her actions and expressions, the other three members shine as the fairy godmothers of memory loss. HISTORY’s Sihyung has a cameo as the man who breaks Jubi’s heart, and his various expressions of love in the flashbacks and disdain in the present are simply heartbreaking.

During the scene at the end, when Jubi returns to the café, Sunny Hill’s expertise at portraying emotions visually really shows. Seungah’s protests against showing Jubi the picture and telling her about what she wants to forget, Misung’s acceptance of erasing heartbreak, and Kota’s empathy towards Jubi’s desire to forget, reveals how not only do Sunny Hill’s members know how to express emotion clearly through their voices but also through their actions.

The settings are beautiful, with a soft glow of sunset pervading through most of the scenes as if to hint to the fading emotions and end of a relationship. Even though it’s not obviously winter, there is a chilly factor to the overall video that hints to both the coldness of the weather and the coldness of the man’s (Sihyung’s) feelings towards his ex.

Also on KultScene: Has Wa$$Up Found Its Musical Niche?

Instead of going for daring outfits, like Sunny Hill’s done in past songs such as The Grasshopper Song or Is The White Horse Coming?, the girls wear everyday, fashionable outfits that can be seen around every street corner in Korea. Yet outfits have meaning in the video.

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Here I Am is a song for everybody, and the member’s elegant yet simple black and white outfits seem to emphasize the message, “this is a black-and-white story about heartbreak and loss that we all have to deal with sometime.”

Jubi outfit is clean cut and refreshing blue and white, expressing how her mind is free of excessive pain (following the cleansing.) In the flashback of Jubi crying, she’s seen wearing a confining white shirt, symbolizing the grasping, restriction of her feelings. At the end of the video, when Jubi seeks Kota, Misung, and Seungah out for help, and instead of their earlier white and gray (clean and fresh) outfits, they’re wearing complex, dark, black and red witch-like outfits to show their power over memories.

Overall Thoughts

I really thought that Here I Am is a beautifully made song, musically, lyrically, and visually expressing its message perfectly. I started to like Sunny Hill because of their unique style in Midnight Circus and following intriguing concepts, but even when doing a seemingly simple song like Here I Am, the group brings in complexity and mystery. I think that the different sounds in Here I Am could make a great dance, but Sunny Hill has yet to perform the song on any music shows so I’m still looking forward to a live performance.

Sunny Hill's 'Here I Am'

What did you think of Here I Am? 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.

The Colors Of K-Pop: Orange

December 5, 2014/in MUSIC /by Tamar Herman

Next up in our Colors of K-Pop line-up, the color orange!

Even though orange is the next in the rainbow’s acronym Roy G. Biv, it is not a color that is extremely popular in South Korean music. Only a few songs had the song title,

Seo Taiji Orange

Korea’s King of Culture Seo Taiji recently made headlines for his 2014 comeback and appearance at MAMA 2014, but its song Orange that we’re highlighting today. From Seo Taiji’s 2000 album Ultramania, the song features Seo Taiji’s typical metal-synthpop style. Orange is not one of Seo Taiji’s most well-known songs, but it’s definitely worthy of listening to.

Orange Caramel Playlist

The number one search term in South Korean music and the word “orange” was, unsurprisingly, Orange Caramel! If you haven’t listened to Orange Caramel’s zany songs yet, here’s a playlist for your listening pleasure. The playlist includes top hits by Orange Caramel, including Lipstick, Aing, and more.

Kwon Sohyun Orange

4Minute’s youngest member Sohyun may look a little different to you now, but when she debuted as a member of the young girl group Orange, she still had a lot of her charge. The group’s debut music video is absolutely sweet and adorable. Unfortunately, Orange disbanded due to numerous anti-fan cafes, but Sohyun ended up debuting with popular girl group 4Minute.

Coming soon to KultScene’s The Colors of K-Pop? Yellow!

Did we list all your favorite “orange” songs? Let us know 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.

K-Pop Idols Who Need to Release Holiday Songs

December 4, 2014/in Entertainment /by Tara

This Holiday season we all need some music to fit the mood. It’s about time that some K-Pop idols release a Holiday song or even a Holiday CD. The idols listed below are known for being able to sing in both Korean and English, which is beneficial for this particular concept considering there are a lot of Holiday songs originally sung in English. English or Korean, or another language, it would be great to see these songs happen this year.

Eric Nam

via jjigaehouse @Tumblr

Eric Nam is well known for being the main host of After School Club. His quirky and fun personality keeps fans engaged and entertained throughout ASC and the After Show. Not only does Eric have the personality, and looks, but his voice is spectacular. Winter Wonderland, The First Noel, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and others would all be great choices for Eric Nam and he would be do justice to all of them.

Also on KultScene: Best English Covers By K-Pop Artists

Ailee

by kpopcorngifs

Ailee could ace any Holiday song coming her way. Her voice is so powerful and regal that any song would sound great. But a few that would sound amazing are Silent Night, O Holy Night, and the Holiday classic All I Want For Christmas Is You. She has actually already sang the latter song choice, but I wouldn’t mind a solo performance where fans can really feel her power.

miss A

via TAEMON

miss A is a group that doesn’t have many comebacks and are extremely talented. Instead of a full on comeback before the Holidays, we’ll settle with a song or two for the season. Carol of the Bells would really show off their abilities vocally and would sound great with a girl group at the helm. It would be hard to pull off, but miss A can definitely sing Carol of the Bells beautifully. For a more fun route, they could take on Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree as well. The fun and upbeat Holiday tune would be much more fun with miss A singing it.

CNBLUE

via cnbjonghyun @ Tumblr

CNBLUE would be a great group to add a rock vibe to the Holiday classics. They really could pick any Holiday song and pull it off. They have the looks, the sound, the talent, and the vocals to make any Holiday song a smash hit. Little St. Nick, Feliz Navidad, and Jingle Bell Rock are a few classics they could rock on a small stage or a huge arena.

Also on KultScene: The Colors Of K-Pop: Red

Mamamoo

via @lovelyhari99

The all female rookie group would bring Holiday classics to a whole new level. Their sultry and soulful voices would only enhance current classics, such as White Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, and more. Mamamoo would have the best stage for a Holiday classic. I can see it now, they would be in a red dresses with white faux fur trim and their makeup and hair would be spot on (as usual).

The ultimate Holiday gift would be if all of these artists got together to create a Holiday CD and collaborate on a few songs with each other. If only, if only.

What Holiday songs do you want to hear from the K-Pop world, and who do you want to sing them? 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.

8 Misheard K-Pop Lyrics

November 26, 2014/in Entertainment /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

One of the main problems of being an English speaking fan of K-Pop is not fully understanding Korean. Add the fact that music writers like to throw English words and phrases into the songs and you have opened the door to confusing the lyrics. We can’t be the only ones who have thought a Korean word was actually and English one or vice versa. That’s why we made a quick list of misheard K-Pop lyrics we thought meant one thing at first, but actually mean something else.

1. TVXQ! Keep Your Head Down

What we heard: “Now I’m just chillin, feel like a villain”
What it says: “Now I’m just chillin, feel like I’m healing”

via fyeahyesunggifs @ Tumblr

2. CNBLUE Coffee Shop

What we heard: “A dildo”
What it says: “Yeonin deuldo”

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Also on KultScene: VIXX & Its Successful Use Of Themes

3. 2NE1 I Love You

What we heard: “Cinco de Mayo”
What it says: “Meomchuji mayo”

via fy2pmshow

4. EXID 위아래 (UP&DOWN)

What we heard: “We are, we, we are”
What it says: “Wi arae, wi wi arae”

via girlgroups @ giphy

5. SHINee Sherlock

What we heard: “Soy un Dorito”
What it says: “Soyongdorichyeo”

by youaretrouble

6. BTS No More Dream

What we heard: “Money, money!”
What it says: “mwoni, mwoni”

via lotsofkpopgifs @ Tumblr

Also on KultScene: 6 Best K-Pop School Uniform Concept Music Videos

7. Girls’ Generation Flower Power

What we heard: “Americano flavor”
What it says: “Amai kaori to flavor”

via happyvirus

8. EXO-K MAMA

What we heard: “Heartless, motherless”
What it says: “Heartless, mindless”

via lotsofkpopgifs @ Tumblr

What’s your funniest misheard K-Pop lyric? 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.