The Colors Of K-Pop: Red

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K-Pop is a musical genre that is as colorful as music can be. There are a lot of bright colors in music videos, K-Pop acts with color in their name, etc. Here are some of the most popular songs in Korea that have the color red in their name.

HyunA Red

You may know this song. It has over 16 million views on YouTube, and Hyuna’s Red made a lot of headlines for its sex-filled concept. Red reached number one on several music charts, and the music video stayed atop of China’s Yin Yue Tai V-Chart for four days. The rapid-fire rap, HyunA’s twerking, and electronic-EDM-hip-hop elements seems like a mess at first, but Red is an enthralling song, filled with red-related passion.

SMTOWN Red Sun

One of SMTOWN’s from 2006, multiple SM Entertainment artists including TVXQ, BoA, Kangta, The TRAX, Super Junior etc. lent their voices to the song. Some of the artists are no longer active or have since left the company (the three members of JYJ, ex-Super Junior members, The TRAX, Black Beat, CSJH The Grace,) but the song is still an upbeat summer song that will make you want to head to the beach and enjoy the sun. Fun fact: Pre-Girls’ Generation SM Entertainment had only less than ten active female singers.

Shinhwa Red Carpet

Shinhwa may be one of the longest running groups in K-Pop, which made its comeback in 2012 after a four year break. On that comeback album, The Return, Red Carpet stood out as a strong dance track. The song was written by member Minwoo (known as M,) and is a synth-dance mix up that emphasizes Shinhwa’s vocal line.

f(x) Red Light

One of the most experimental songs out of SM Entertainment in years is f(x)’s hit song Red Light. The song is an electronic house song with a rhythmic beat that is addictive. Red Light‘s promotional period was cut short due to member Sulli going on hiatus, but it still did well on multiple music charts, including reaching the top 5 on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100 chart.

IU Red Shoes

A song meant to show the transition of IU from Korea’s little sister to a more mature singer, Red Shoes describes a woman trying to find her way. Red Shoes uses a big band sound, evoking swing and jazz music. It, and other songs from IU’s Modern Times album, won multiple awards and gained much acclaim in South Korea.

Heyne Red Lie

Not to be confused with Hyuna, Hyene is an up-and-coming solo singer. Her cute voice may be typecast to sickeningly sweet love songs, but Red Lie is anything but, with lyrics like “love please go away.” The song and cinematography of Red Lie are really unique and definitely worth listening to. Fun fact: There’s very little red in the video. Perhaps a shout out to red being the color of lies, as the title suggests.

Son Dambi Red Candle

Composed by SHINee’s Jonghyun, Son Dambi’s Red Candle is a sophisticated track that depicts celebrity life. The gentle intro into the song seduces the listener to the gentle Latin-fusion style that’s different than Son Dambi’s typical dance song. Dance is prevalent and the music video is absolutely beautiful with a black-and-white film noir feel to it.

Did we list all your favorite “red” songs? Look forward to the rest of this ROGYBIV series in coming weeks. 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.

K-Pop Comebacks We Need NOW

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With the recent debuts and comebacks of new and some older artists, there are always certain groups that you just need new material from. More likely than not, they are artists who have been in the industry for some time. The following artists have been together for many years, but have not had a decent comeback in some time. It’s time for them to warm up their vocal chords and get to work.

BIGBANG

In all honesty this whole article could be devoted to the first group I am about to name: BIGBANG. Seungri, GD, and Taeyang have all had Korean solo albums since BIGBANG’s last album. Daesung recently released his third Japanese solo album and T.O.P is heating up the box office with his acting (and his abs). Obviously fans are excited that each member is doing something outside of the group, but after two years of solo activities, we need a follow up to Alive, stat.

Winner debuted over the summer, iKON will debut in a few months, and now YG is throwing all these new collaborations at us. All of this is a pretty good indication that Big Bang is not quite ready to release a new album. Nonetheless, it needs to happen by the end of 2015. We need another Fantastic Baby, but on a different level.

SHINee

Sticking with the boy group theme, the next artist that needs to make a comeback is SHINee. Understandably, the guys are taking a break for many reasons. First, in 2013 they released two full-length albums and one mini album. That’s a lot of music in one year. Then this year, Onew had throat surgery and Taemin had his solo debut. But now, it’s time for the boys to get back into the studio to make more SHINee magic and come back to their fans.

TVXQ

Staying in the SM Entertainment family is TVXQ. Spellbound was their last single, and in all honesty, they did not pre-promote as heavily as I think they should have. The duo flew slightly under the radar with that release. The song was great, but we need something more impactful and noteworthy. The jazz/swing sound and overall concept from both Something and Spellbound suits the boys well, but they need to amp up the promotions to make a lasting impression.

Wonder Boyz

Now for a group that is not as well known or publicly acknowledged as the previous groups, Wonder Boyz. Their last single was Tarzan, which they released in May of 2013. The song’s beat, choreography, and story and dance versions of the music video all made this song amazing.

It will be hard to beat Tarzan, but I think Wonder Boyz are capable of doing so. The boys have kept low profiles since 2013. The most recent thing from them is that one of the members, K, did a dance cover of Chris Brown’s Fine China. Let’s hope they come back soon with another hit.

Roh Ji Hoon

Roh Ji Hoon is in dire need of a comeback. His debut song Punishment had a catchy hook and dance that showcased his wonderful vocals. Since then he has had one other single, A Song For You, that still has not catapulted him into commercial success. His songs, live performances, and attitude as a solo artist prove that Roh Ji Hoon is meant to be a commercial success. Maybe he’s working on something spectacular that will finally be his big break; he definitely has the star power to make it big. We’ll see what happens in the future.

Brown Eyed Girls

Brown Eyed Girls last released a song in 2013, Kill Bill. Their music instantly piqued the listener’s interest based on their addictive beats and hooks and lyrics. Brown Eyed Girls always bring the sexy to everything they do, and showcase their provocative choreography with confidence, proving that women in their 30’s can still be sexy and singers. The fact that three of the four members are in their 30’s also is a good indication that the songs’ lyrics are more mature and regarding adult situations. These girls need to give us some of that ASAP.

miss A

miss A also released their last single Hush in 2013, coming back with a very sexy and mature sound and look. I hope they continue to develop those themes and concepts more as they grow in maturity and as artists. And even though JYP revealed that the group would make a comeback next summer, even just a digital single in the meantime would do the trick. You know, just something to keep fans wanting more. In all honesty, miss A deserve at least a comeback a year. Their music is always good and their vocals and dancing skills are unbelievable. Every member equally pulls their weight in the group.

What K-Pop artists do you want to see with new music? 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 K-Pop Girl Power Anthems Pt. 3

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As we’ve stated before, K-Pop songs are mostly focused on love related topics; breakups, first loves, revenge, you name it… And they’re cute and all, but sometimes they’re just not the best message for impressionable young women. That’s why we dig through the archives to compile lists of Girl Power Anthems that are empowering.

On this latest edition, the songs touch upon topics such as sex, self-confidence, friendship, and more.

1. Orange Caramel – Catallena

It may be difficult to look past Catallena’s music video. And with the sushi concept, the girls dressed as mermaids, and even eating themselves at the end, who can blame you? However, the song is actually about a girl named Catallena, who is the Regina George (pre-demise) of their world in that she’s the girl everyone wants to be or have as a friend –especially this trio.

Lizzy, Nana, and Rania compliment Catallena calling her “chic and proud,” “great,” and even admitting that they have fallen for her and want to dance with her. In the song, Orange Caramel is singing about having a girl crush, which is perfectly normal. Being a hetereosexual woman, having a girl crush can be romantic, but it’s not sexual. Girl crushes are all about admiration, so while a lot of artists, in and out of K-Pop, like to focus on putting other women down in order to pull themselves up, Orange Caramel is promoting healthy relationships between women with this song.

2. Gain – Bloom

Gain is not one to shy away from sexy concepts, but with Bloom she took it to a whole different level by talking about the O word. Yes, orgasms. You can’t get any less cliche than relating a woman’s sexual awakening with a flower blooming, but since K-Pop tends to be conservative, it’s the best metaphor in order to not be banned from promoting the song.

Even though the song’s lyrics are far coyer and making it seem romantic, the rated 19+ music video shows Gain masturbating and having sex. This means that her “wonderland” and “whole new world” is not necessarily a guy, but orgasms. Gain is a grown woman and should be singing about topics that relate to her, and sex is one of those.

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

 

3. Sunny Hill – Is the White Horse Coming?

Sunny Hill is known for their social commentary songs, and Is the White Horse Coming? is no different. The lyrics talk about having your life under society’s scrutiny when it comes to dating, and how you shouldn’t lead your life seeing yourself and potential suitors as pieces of meat. It criticizes society’s vanity and encourages people to cut the bs and just be themselves. With this song, the girls deliver probably the most positive song in K-Pop by saying,

Stop being self-conscious toward others, this isn’t some show
Stop looking for something to display, come on
Stop crying because you’re lonely, stop looking far away
Just look near you, come on

4. Lee Hyori – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

KultScene has featured Lee Hyori on this list’s first and second editions because she epitomizes the strong female artist image. But this time, it’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang that made the cut for being an anthem for independent women. Despite the title being, well, odd and irrelevant, the lyrics are actually about a boss lady in control of her life and work and being proud about what she achieved on her own. If that doesn’t scream “girl power,” I don’t know what does…

5. miss A – Ma Style

miss A is another regular in our girl power lists, and now we bring you Ma Style. This song talks about meeting a guy —sans specs, six pack, and playboys– who is just their style and being bold enough to voice that to them. While the K-Pop and K-Drama industries generally portray women as passive and not as assertive when it comes to having a crush, it’s refreshing that there is one group –miss A –that is all about being strong women who know what they want and how to get it.

6. Wonder Girls – G.N.O 

G.N.O stands for “girls’ night out,” so this song by the Wonder Girls is exactly that; a party song about hitting the town with your friends wearing high heels and tight dresses. It’s an upbeat and fun jam that celebrates friendship and letting loose. In the lyrics, they mention leaving their “boo” back home in order to go out with their girlfriends, perfectly portraying how you should put your friends before your significant other.

7. 2NE1 – Pretty Boy

On Pretty Boy, 2NE1 puts a guy on blast for being vain and all talk and no action. It criticizes “pretty boys” who think they can get by with their looks only with girls, rather than personality and character. 2NE1 flipped the situation, since women normally have these prejudices held against them, and put the spotlight on those men out there who are all about appearances and no heart. They these type of guys,

Hey pretty boy, you’re lacking something
You don’t have any charm, you’re just pretty
Hey pretty boy, put some effort into it
More like a man, more with personality
Ch-ch-ch-change yourself

You’re too P.R.E.T.T.Y
Don’t just rely on your pretty face to steal a girl’s heart
You’re not for me, I’m not for you

The song does come off pretty strong, but given it’s a hip hop track, the disses are understandable.

Also on KultScene: 5 Reasons To Attend VIXX’s Chicago & NYC Concerts

 

8. Brown Eyed Girls – Glam Girl

Brown Eyed Girls are also a group of women who follow the sexy concept but always push the “strong woman” image. Their music videos and performances exude confidence, but with Glam Girl, it’s all about self confidence. Taking the “glam” in its actual definition, the girls sing about them being fashionable and fierce and super hot. If you look past all the superficial aspects of the track, the message is actually about being comfortable and confident in one’s skin. Hey, if you don’t think you’re “G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S” yourself, who will? But being a Glam Girl doesn’t just apply to them. Brown Eyed Girls tell listeners that they can be one too if they truly believe it.

What’s you favorite song from the list? Let us know, 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.

[Renders: MinHoonie, Sellscarol, THYNPH, classicluv]

8 Reasons To Watch ‘Love Cells’

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Love Cells is a new webseries airing exclusively on DramaFever, about “a virgin trying to seduce an idol.” Does it sound fun yet? KultScene checked it out, and fell absolutely in love with Love Cells. The show is based off of a Korean webtoon with the same name, and keeps the essence of the comic that made Love Cell so endearing. Love Cells stars Kim Yoo Jung, Park Sun Ho, and 4MINUTE’s Nam Ji Hyun.

1. The Plot

Love Cells, for the lack of a better word, is original. There are a few things we’ve seen before, such as idols in complicated personal relationships, but mostly what we’re seeing is a lot of new plot points that many dramas don’t feature. The main couple is a unemployed guy and his love cell, a cell that comes out his body and turns into a woman because his body demands love. The whole thing is about falling in love and doesn’t waste any time with tangential side points; this is a story about a love cell acting like a cupid in order to save her own life. It’s great; we haven’t seen it often.

love cells intro gif

via rainbowyoujung @ Tumblr

2. Kim Woo Bin Is The First Thing We See

Unfortunately, Kim Woo Bin just makes a cameo in Dae Choong’s (played by Park Sun Ho) nightmare, but it’s a nice entryway into the drama. He only appears for a split second, but fans of the actor probably were severely disappointed when they realized that Kim Woo Bin is just a figment of Dae Choong’s imagination and only appears in the first episode.

kim woo bin love cells gif

via kimwoobinseyebrows @ Tumblr

3. It Breaks Idol Stereotypes

4MINUTE’s leader Nam Ji Hyun plays Seo Rin, a goddess-like idol. Fans adore her, and Dae Choong dreams of her being perfect. However, it turns out that her image is just a façade and she actually just wants to relax, drink soju, and eat chicken feet in her spare time. K-Pop idols are supposed to be perfect, and Love Cells loves playing up the “no, that can’t be Seo Rin. She wouldn’t eat chicken feet.” The explanation in many cases? People love Seo Rin so much that they get plastic surgery to look like her, so it’s just one of her numerous doppelgangers. Everything about it is a bit silly, but it works.

jihyun love cells gif

via calmlyandnaturally @ Tumblr

Also on KultScene: 5 Reasons To Attend VIXX’s Chicago & NYC Concerts

 

4. There’s A Cell That Wants You To Fall In Love– Played By Kim Yoo Jung

Kim Yoo Jung plays Nebi, the “love cell” from Dae Choong’s body who will die if he doesn’t find love within a month. She came out of Dae Choong’s body as a pink blob and his cat Nebi ate it- then turned into Kim Yoo Jung. Kim Yoo Jung’s Nebi is hilarious, and always has a plan to help Dae Choong get his girl. She’s doing it all to ensure her continued existence, but it’s sweet to see her get excited whenever one of her ideas helps Dae Choong get a bit closer to Seo Rin. Kim Yoo Jung plays Nebi with a bit of seriousness, some humor, and enjoys breaking the fourth wall once in a while to look at the audience as if she’s saying, “these people I have to deal with.” She also loves smacking people around in comical ways.

love cells korean drama

5. Park Sun Ho’s Dae Choong Is Adorkable

Ma Dae Choong is a 27-year-old useless sort of guy –unemployed, doesn’t pay his rent, dirty, knows nothing about love or friendship, and is a little bit of a pervert. Chae Doong is described as “a dating virgin.” However, he’s played by the handsome Park Sun Ho, who makes the buffoonish Dae Choong come across as endearing. In moments when Dae Choong doesn’t know what to do, Park Sun Ho’s acting helps the audience empathize with the guy who simply hasn’t done anything with his life.Park Sun Ho in 'Love Cells'

6. Magical Items That We All Wish We Had (And A Park Joon Hyung Cameo)

g.o.d’s Park Joon Hyung makes a cameo in Love Cells as the salesman who is promoting Nebi’s magical items that help Dae Choong succeed in love. Among these are a magical face cream that helps the object of your affection notice you, a guitar pick that turns anyone into a superstar, perfume that will attract any member of the opposite sex, etc. Everyone wants something like that every once in a while, and Park Joon Hyung is a really hilarious salesman who does his job incredibly well. If only those items really existed…

via Tumblr

via Tumblr

Also on KultScene: Playlist Sunday: Raunchy Tunes

 

7. You Can Watch An Episode In Less Time Than It Takes To Get Dressed

Every episode is less than eight minutes long and they come out on Dramafever every day for the three weeks that the show is premiering. If you don’t believe how fast they are, check out the first episode right now:

8. Love Cells Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

Like the 1960’s kitschy I Dream of Jeannie with a similar plot of a magical creature coming to “help” someone else, Love Cells has serious moments but never forgets that its existence is to make the audience smile. Slapstick comedy is rampant in Love Cells, used in just the right places to make each episode that much better.'Love Cells' Kim Yoo Jung Magic Face Cream
The short episodes usually end with cliffhangers that show Seo Rin and Dae Choong’s changing relationship, but by the next day, their problems have somehow turned into a good thing. Love Cells is well produced, entertaining, and an all around feel-good webseries.

Do you watch Love Cells? What’s your favorite thing about the drama? Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Let’s Discover: Crush

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It’s been a while since KultScene has done a Let’s Discover piece. And this one may not seem like a true Let’s Discover as there are a good amount of people who already know about this young man. But for those of you who want to know more, or do not really know him at all, this article is for you. Crush is the focus for this Let’s Discover. From his vocals to his humor, Crush is an all around entertainer.

Vocals

Crush’s voice perfectly suits his R&B and hip hop style. His powerful vocals can easily show fans his finesse when singing. His falsetto is another key element of his voice. Crush uses his falsetto in almost every, if not every, song on his first album. His tone is different from other artists, which makes his voice easy to pick out among others.

There are a lot of instances where an artist’s voice does not live up to the hype when they perform live. There is a lot of production behind the scenes to create an album and in some instances the artist’s voice is altered, if ever so slightly. But with Crush, what you hear is what you get, which is a good thing. If you listen to his songs on his album and then live versions, they are just as good as the album.

Also on KultScene: 5 Reasons To Attend VIXX’s Chicago & NYC Concerts

Songs & Music Videos

Something that sets Crush apart from other K-Pop idols and solidifies him as an artist, is that he writes and arranges all of his songs and lyrics. Crush debuted with Sometimes an R&B song that perfectly showcases Crush’s vocal abilities, arranging capabilities, and writing skills. The music video loosely tells a story related to the lyrics. Crush shows off some of his dance moves as well. Not to mention he holds a jam session with some well-known names in the Korean hip hop industry.

Crush released a second music video from his Crush on You album a few months after Sometimes. Hug Me features Gaeko and even has choreography featuring female dancers. Sometimes and Hug Me stick to the overall theme of his album, which is smooth R&B tracks that will draw you in with his great vocals.

Crush recently came back with his latest single, Sofa. Sofa shows a slightly different side to Crush in that they song begins with strings instead of a R&B beat and his vocals carry so much emotion.

Collaborations

Before he debuted with his first full length album Crush on You, Crush featured on many artists’ songs, such as Supreme Team, Zion.T, Gaeko, and more. His solo debut also sees the likes of those artists as well as Lydia Paek, Jay Park, Choiza, Gray and more. In fact there are only three songs out of the 11-song album that do not feature another artist.

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

Personality

There aren’t many videos of Crush online. He isn’t on any variety shows. But there are videos of him in 1theK’s original YouTube video series. These videos are one-on-ones with Crush so fans get a feeling for his personality and they get to know more about him through the questions he answers.

In both videos, Crush jokes around with himself and the staff off camera. It makes the interview experience more enticing to fans as they sit and watch and listen to him. His personality isn’t over the top or boring. His humor, at least in these interviews, is subtle and if you’re not paying attention you may not catch it.

Crush mentioned in the latter video that he started underground and took the time to hone his skill. If he is this good now, I can’t imagine what he was like when he started (he must be a natural). Crush’s R&B style music, multiple featured artists, and talent for writing and arranging his songs shows his passion and talent as an all around artist. His music is always worth listening to and we look forward to more music from him in the future.

Are you a new fan of Crush or an old faithful? 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.

K-Pop Stand Out Remixes Part 2

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There are so many K-Pop remixes that stand out for us here at KultScene that we just had to continue our list of stand out remixes. Whether you feel like twerking or just dancing like crazy with any of the remixes, this time around the list went a little more club influenced. Making it the best additions to your personal K-Pop dance party playlist.

1. T-ARA – Sugar Free (Aeria Remix)

When T-ARA released their comeback single Sugar Free it gained the attention of many fans and the media due to plagiarism claims. Aeria’s remix for Sugar Free really makes the listeners forget about those past allegations and enjoy the good and addicting chorus of the song. The trance remix blends in very well with the original voice track and makes it remix that is perfect for the club.

2. 2PM – Go Crazy (BOYTOY Crazy Remix)

If 2PM’s Go Crazy wasn’t danceable enough, BOYTOY’s remix gets the track ready for the clubs or a fun night out with your friends. The remix is packed with electronic and dubstep beats that create a chaotic track that goes well with the title of the song. This crazy remix includes a few clapping sounds that make the listener feel that you are watching 2PM live. If you really think about it, this could have been a very good rendition for one of 2PM’s stages.

Also on KultScene: K-Pop Stand Out Remixes

3. 2NE1 – Happy (Aeria Remix)

Yes, we have another Aeria remix on our list, but we just can’t help it. Their remixes are very well produced and they have remixes of the best songs in K-Pop. 2NE1’s Happy is one of my favorite songs from their CRUSH album, and when I found this remix, I instantly fell in love. The bubbly feeling and happy vibe of the song translate perfectly into the remixed track.

4. Mino – I’m Him (Mr. Haneul Remix)

Feeling like you want to twerk? Mr. Haneul remix of Mino’s solo song, I’m Him, from WINNER’s debut album brings out the twerking vibes from the original song. The trap in the remix makes the listeners wants to dance, twerk, wiggle, or whatever style of dance you feel like doing while listening to this track.

5. EXID – Every Night (Moises Karo Remix)

EXID’s Every Night remix by Moises Karo really brings out the sexiness of the song. He took the ringing phone theme of the song and made the listeners feel like you are in a sexy phone conversation with the ladies of EXID. If you listen carefully, the vocals and the sound of the ringing phone change to the left and right speakers through the remix creating a sense of desperation, like when you are hearing your phone ring, and you can’t find it. Which, in a way, if something is unavailable to you, it makes you want it even more. The strong bass through the track ties in the remix combined with the different arrangement of the girls’ vocals, making it a very sexy and sultry house track.

Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: Beenzino
Bonus:

SAINT & G-BUCK – Gijibae

Saint & G-Buck collaborated to create a remix that samples CL’s The Baddest Female. Diplo and CL even sampled this track on their SIA 2014 performance, and it gained a lot of recognition for it. The remix uses CL’s chorus of the song and Saint & G-Buck loop it throughout the song and blend it with amazing trap beats.

Below is CL’s and Diplo’s performance in SIA 2014. CL even did a live cover of Diplo’s Revolution that slayed the original version.

Will you be adding any of this remixes to your K-Pop dance party playlist? Which one was your favorite remix? 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.

[Renders:KseniaKang, bibo2203, classicluv, seouleater, milevip]

Intro To Lovelyz

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Woollim Entertainment’s upcoming girl group Lovelyz is the long-awaited little sister group to popular act INFINITE, and the company’s first girl group. Because of these two factor and the fact that Woollim is also the company that created popular hip-hop trio Epik High and one of Korea’s most popular indie rock band’s Nell, Lovelyz is highly anticipated.

Fans have been waiting for the so-called “Woollim Girls” for a long time; one fan reserved the Twitter handle @WoollimGirls in August 2011. Because of their popularity, some people are wondering who these eight girls are, and we know about them.

Lovelyz also released a teaser video for the group’s debut song, Good Night Like Yesterday. Yoon Sang, who has written songs that IU and Ga-In have sung, wrote the song. The album will be called Girls’ Invasion. 

[UPDATED TO MUSIC VIDEO]

Image credit: Woollim Entertainment

Image credit: Woollim Entertainment

Baby Soul

The leader and vocalist, Baby Soul, was born in 1992. Her legal name is Lee Soo Jung, and she’s one of the most popular members in Lovelyz. Fans of INFINITE’s subgroup, INFINITE-H, will recognize her rapping on the songs Fly High and Crying.

Also on KultScene: Intro To WINNER

However, Baby Soul’s done more than just feature on songs. She released a solo song, Stranger featuring Wheesung, in 2011. She also released a duet, She’s A Flirt with former Woollim trainee Yoo Ji Ah in 2012. Along with several other members of Lovelyz, Baby Soul has appeared in several of INFINITE’s dance performances.

JIN

The main vocalist gained attention for her solo song Gone due to the music video featuring popular actress Kim Yoo Jung and EXO’s Xiumin. She also featured on INFINITE-H’s Life Goes On. JIN’s legal legal name is Park Myung Eun.

Lee Mi Joo

Lee Mi Joo appeared in INFINITE’s music video for Last Romeo as the love interest. She will be Lovelyz’s rapper/dancer.

Also on KultScene: Intro To Red Velvet

Yoo Ji Ae

Lovelyz’s visual and vocalist released a solo song, Delight, in 2013. She is best known to long-time INFINITE fans who watched the group’s pre-debut show, You’re My Oppa, where she acted as the group’s little sister. Yoo Ji Ae also appeared on a 2013 episode of Running Man with other trainees.

Seo Jisoo

Born in 1994, Jisoo appeared as a contestant on Korea’s Got Talent in 2011. Her special talent? Imitating animals, specifically puppies!

Kei & Ryu Soojung

The two members only appeared publicly as Woollim trainees during a year-end KBS show, where seven members of Lovelyz danced with INFINITE.

Jung Yein

The maknae joined Woollim Entertainment in July 2014 and was born in 1998.

Lovelyz also released two other videos, a teaser image video and a pre-debut video. The image teaser is Girls’ Invasion:

And their pre-debut video:

What do you think of Lovelyz’ members? Are you excited for their 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.

Artist Spotlight: Almeng

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All of you who followed K-Pop Star 3 got to witness the incredible talent of the Almeng co-ed duo. In every round they delivered incredible unique performances, from arranging an established song and making it their own to creating their self-composed song. They never ceased to amaze the viewers with their talent and originality, leading them to debut under YNB Entertainment this past October.

Almeng is composed of Chae Rin and Lee Hae Yong, two friends who started collaborating due to their intense love for music. As soon as they began to work together, they found their unique voice. The duo composes and produces their own songs, and they love to inject their unique personalities in their work. All of this came together with their debut mini-album, CompoSing of Love.

Almeng Cover via YNB Entertainment
The group’s album is very fresh to the K-Pop music industry. It contains elements of different music genres, and is heavily influenced by hip-hop, R&B, and pop. The album tells different stories about love and the meaning of the word through the members’ eyes. Choi Rin is in charge of the main raps, which create a fluid conversation though every track. Her flow and soft yet powerful raps mixed with Lee Hae Yong’s unique and tender vocals give you a feeling of listening to a musical. Choi Rin has also the ability to vocalize beautifully, which enables her to harmonize with Lee Hae Yong’s voice.

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They made their debut with a double single, Half an Hour and Phone In Love. The later is their first official single, and it gives listeners a modern take on blind dates. It talks about how those dating apps give a different take on the old ways of how people used to meet each other and fall in love. Almeng dwells on how the virtual world has changed the way people interact with each other to the degree that it has even changed the way that we fall in love.

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Half an Hour shows a couple complaining about those thirty minutes that could have been spent loving each other, but instead, they are used for waiting, fighting, and not paying attention to their loved ones.

Judged on K-Pop Star 3 praised Almeng for creating music and stages that were relatable to everyone. YNB Entertainment gave the duo their full trust on letting them manage every detail of their debut album. By doing so, the group was able to be themselves and continue to relate to every listener out there. Almeng only just debuted, but they sure have a long way to go with their unique take and creative minds.

Do you like Almeng? 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 Overlooked Female K-Pop Singles

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Is there anything worse than discovering a song and then realizing that it has not received the love and support it deserves? In short, yes, but for the purpose of this article, no, there is nothing worse than that discovery. Below is a short, and by no means complete, list of overlooked K-Pop singles by female artists. Theses ladies, in most respects, get shafted quite a bit and we wanted to shed light on a few hidden gems of the K-Pop music scene.

HELLOVENUS- What Are You Doing Today?

HELLOVENUS’ What Are You Doing Today? was released in December 2012. Even though it is a fun song that may not be everyone’s style, the peppy, synth-dominant music will grab your attention during your first listen. But, the girls’ vocals will either pull you in more or make you turn and run the other way. Make sure to give the song a chance! The song perfectly embodies the phrase, “bubblegum pop;” the sweet, innocent vocals are prominent throughout the chorus. Leading up to the chorus, the girls only give listeners a small fraction of the sweetness they are about to unload.

About two-thirds of the way through, the song starts to get repetitive. But there is a saving grace, the rapping. In a song like this rap verses are not expected. The rapping is perfectly placed. It breaks up the monotony of the song and adds rock guitar to the instrumental. HELLOVENUS’ What Are You Doing Today? is a fun song that should be in everyone’s music library.

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Kiss&Cry- Domino Game

From the opening musical and vocal notes, it’s clear that Domino Game and Kiss&Cry are different from the mainstream female K-Pop acts. There’s something familiar about the style of Domino Game, yet one cannot put a finger upon what it is. The music utilizes horns on top of a pop, ballroom dancing-style beat. This creates a sound that is current, but not widely used in K-Pop.

The ladies’ vocals sound great together and individually. But together they create a force of power that rings through the speakers. Domino Game is a song that does not sound like any other K-Pop song. The use of the horns, the guitar, and ballroom dancing-style music helps make the song stand out. It’s so unfortunate that the group has disbanded.

D-UNIT- Talk To My Face

There is a lot going on music-wise and in the music video, but somehow it all works. If you just listen to Talk To My Face you will notice there are a lot of sound effects and layers of music throughout the song. Although there is a lot musically, the vocals are never compromised. Even when watching the music video, which also has a lot going on, the vocals and dancing are still the highlight of the video.

Talk To My Face is a song that will make you get up and dance. You simply can’t sit still while listening to this song. The music video adds to the song, but the song is also capable of standing on its own. The music video has a fun video concept, a lot of bright colors, and a fun dance. When Talk To My Face first came out, I was surprised and impressed. The vocals are not overly sweet, but they aren’t fierce either. They fit the group’s image for this particular song and create a pleasant listening experience.

퍼펄즈 (Purfles)- 1,2,3

Who is 퍼펄즈 (Purfles) you may ask? To be honest, we’re not really sure here at KultScene. They just appeared out of no where and debuted with this amazing song. 1,2,3 showcases these talented ladies’ vocals as well as gives K-Pop fans, and music fans in general, a strong dance track.

From the opening acapella notes to the strong club beat, 1,2,3 is a diamond in the rough of constant releases of K-Pop songs. These ladies are fierce and show it through their powerful vocals and their dancing in the music video. 1,2,3 is a song that will be on repeat.

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Mamamoo ft. Bumkey- Don’t Be Happy

Mamamoo is one of the most underrated girl groups to come out of K-Pop. Although their debut was only this year (2014), they deserve much more recognition and popularity, hopefully in time.

Don’t Be Happy was a pre-debut release single and is actually different than the album version (Bumkey has a more prominent role on the album version). Don’t Be Happy showcases the ladies’ soulful and powerful vocals. Mamamoo’s style is different than other K-Pop groups and songs currently out. Swing and jazz are major influences,which add to the refreshing style of the quartet. I really cannot say enough about Mamamoo or Don’t Be Happy. And once you listen to the song and hear their amazing vocals, you will understand why.

There are many female K-Pop singles that have been overlooked throughout the years. What are some that you enjoy? 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.

What to Expect from ‘Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip’

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B1A4 recently visited four U.S. cities with their Road Trip Tour, and Mnet America documented it all in Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip. The four episode show will showcase B1A4’s adventures in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco, where they explored the cities and mingled with fans.

To people acquainted with the boy group, their playful and high spirited manners are no surprise, but for those of you who are not, you’re in for a treat as well. B1A4 showed their charms in previous Youtube series and more, but Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip will follow them as they made their way through the country in their first ever American tour. And even though the guys were pretty active on SNS and fans flooded different social media sites with their accounts on their interactions with the group, there’s still a lot unknown from their travels.

So whether you’re familiar with them or not, B1A4 is a group that will have you smiling ear to ear with their antics and their overall fun nature. But taking all this plus the several teasers uploaded to Youtube, what does Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip have in store for viewers? Let’s explore the possibilities.

Interactions with American Fans

From past shows, fans know that B1A4 is very dedicated to their fans. For example, on B1A4 ‘Road Trip’ Ready? Behind Clip, Gongchan says he monitors fans through SNS to see what they say about him and amongst themselves. Moreover, clips of them greeting fans at different events are also common, so having the boys on this side of the world means that they will now cater to American fans.

What to Expect from ‘Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip’ gif

via 6xc @ Tumblr

From the several teasers of the show, we can see the boys roaming the cities while always being followed by fans. Instead of leaving the site or having someone make them stop recording them, they acknowledge and/or approach the fans and even take pictures with them. Right from the get-go we know their interactions with fans won’t be limited to the high touch events at concerts. Instead, viewers will see more direct interactions on Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip.

What to Expect from ‘Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip’ gif

via koreanpants @ Tumblr

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Baro’s Sexy American Accent

Out of all the boys, Baro is probably the member who speaks the better English. As seen on their various Danny from L.A. appearances, he can easily make himself understood. Since the show will follow them through four U.S. cities, we can assume we’ll see B1A4 speaking English at times, but no one will be as good as Baro. And while some people may find K-Pop idols’ attempts at speaking English cute, others (like this writer!) finds them hot.

Maybe it’s because he’s the rapper of the group or because he carries himself in a very cool demeanor, but when Baro speaks English, he owns that ish. Even if he struggles, Baro will bluff it through and the outcome will be flawless.

Fun Adventures

As mentioned several times before, Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip will feature the boys’ antics through Dallas, San Francisco, New York City, and Chicago, and not just focus on the actual concerts. While not preparing for their shows, the guys visited a few tourist attractions such as when they were in Chicago, B1A4 visited the Navy Pier and Willis Tower, which is the eighth tallest freestanding structure in the world. Moreover, headlines plagued different sites about fans doing a flash mob in San Francisco to welcome them and show their appreciation for the group. And while we’ve seen fan cams and a short clip in the teasers, we’ll finally see the full length version in the show.

What to Expect from ‘Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip’ gif

via orange-sandeul @ Tumblr

Members Tease Each Other a Lot (Especially Sandeul)

Having five guys around or of the same age who live and work together filmed is bound to reveal something very close to their true natures. In past shows, we’ve seen the members tease and borderline bully each other –especially the main vocalist. Who can forget that mean joke where they made Sandeul believe a cute, blonde girl was asking him out during the Danny from L.A. taping? However, they all get their fair share — remember CNU, Sandeul, and Jinyoung making fun of Baro’s Esquire editorial in B1A4 ‘Road Trip’ Ready? Behind Clip? It goes around, and this show won’t be any different.

Just by the teasers, viewers already see a few instances of how playful the guys are amongst each other. Whether they’re teasing Sandeul for eating a lot of deep dish pizza or mocking Baro for being afraid of heights or filming CNU while sleeping, viewers will get lots of moments to laugh with and at B1A4. To say the least, we can expect it to be funny and lots of fun.

What to Expect from ‘Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip’ gif

via orange-sandeul @ Tumblr

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Acoustic Versions of their Songs

B1A4 made their mark in K-Pop for not sounding like any other idols in the industry. The guy’s concept is a lot quirkier than most boy groups since they don’t have flower boy or beast idol images, and their songs reflect that as well.

The group has lots of slow tempo songs, but their singles are mostly always upbeat and have lots of production behind the melodies. However, through the show’s features we see various instances where the boys unplug for acoustic sessions or just jam it out for fun. In Washington Square park, they sing Lonely and, in San Francisco, Because of You. Plus, Jinyoung plays his newly bought guitar in the Chicago hotel room while Sandeul delivers a powerful rendition of Baby Goodnight. Needless to say, viewers are in for reinterpreted versions of their favorite songs.

Since each episode will follow a reality show format, fans and viewers (aka future fans) can expect to see the boys let loose, have fun, and enjoy their new journey through a new country and meeting new fans. Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip premieres on November 5th through Mnet America.

Are you planning on watching Go! B1A4 2.0 – Road Trip? Let us know and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.