Playlist Sunday: K-Pop Feuds

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Playlist Sunday: Favorite February Releases

K-pop is a cutthroat battlefield in many ways, but the public feuds are few and far in between. This week’s Playlist Sunday focuses on some of the most sensational K-pop Feuds over the past few years, either between agencies and idols, or singer against singer.

While some K-pop feuds are between two people, the ongoing dispute between JYJ and SM Entertainment is something that has been going on so long that it has even led to action from Korean politicians. JYJ (Junsu, Yoochun, and Jaejoong) is made up of three former TVXQ members who left the group in 2009. Seven years later, the trio still finds their activities blocked bythe influence of their former agency. But in the “Untitled Song, Part 1” (Or “The Nameless Song, Part 1”), which was released as part of JYJ’s 2011 self-composed music essay, the three went out and attacked their former agency, addressing in song what had led to the trio splitting from the other two members of TVXQ. The song, written and composed entirely by Yoochun, details their time at SM Entertainment from 2003 in an earnest way that is lacking from many K-pop songs. The trio sings and raps about their hardships, their journey to the top in Korea and Japan, and the pivotal moment when they reached out to SM Entertainment’s CEO and were disappointed. “When he needed us, we were family to him,” sings JYJ. “When we needed him, we were strangers to him.” The song continues on to express that JYJ’s members realized they weren’t getting paid enough and other hardships and is a frank depiction, and explanation, of the turmoil that led JYJ to leave from TVXQ at the pique of the group’s height. The song ends with JYJ thanking fans for their support. Musically, the song is simple, but the lyrical storytelling is heartbreaking and shows JYJ’s side of a story.

— Tamar

Also on KultScene: 5 Everyday EXO Looks We Love [+ North American The EXO’luXion Tour Information]

Hot off the back of his win on “Show Me The Money,” iKon rapper Bobby released a diss track calling out all idol rappers. He said that they have smeared the name of idol and rapper but took the time to exclude WINNER’s Mino and Block B rappers Zico and P.O. While making some good points about the overall state of rapping idols, coming for the most of them meant he insulted a lot of people who probably don’t take rapping that seriously. You might say that maybe they should, but in the context of being an idol it makes up only one part of what is expected of them. Generally he came off as arrogant and whiny just to drum up some extra attention. I don’t think that VIXX’s Ravi’s response to him is in any way a better rap, but I do agree with the sentiments. His corny track “Diss Hater”
was about how he thinks all idol rappers are just that and it makes no difference how good you are. Listen to Ravi everyone, we’re all the same really so relax.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: ’20 Once Again’ vs. ‘Miss Granny’: Which One Is Better?

What do you do, as a big shot entertainment company, after you’ve “let” an artist go because of “misinterpretations” to then seeing them trying to make a comeback in the industry that you wanted to potentially claim yours? Due to some severely “mistranslated” and overlooked comments that ex-2PM member Jay Park made while still a trainee about the unfavorable aspects of Korea, he was then practically shunned from the industry and country. Although by the time Jay was ready to make his comeback in Korea in 2010, while everyone else was ready to welcome him back with open arms, JYP Entertainment wasn’t having any of that. The company made it so that Jay was blocked and blacklisted from making any possible televised appearance. Jay would be scheduled for certain tv shows, appear on set and then be told to leave and/or get calls the morning of and be told that for whatever unforeseeably reason, his appearance had been cancelled due to “pressure” from the “higher-ups.”

After an almost five year hiatus back in the United States, you can imagine that Jay’s comeback was anything but smooth. Things eventually got better; producers from certain broadcasting stations eventually realized that Jay would be able to grant them better viewership. Certain shows like “Immortal Song 2” and “Dream Team” brought him on knowing that aside from the past drama stemming between JYPE and Jay, that Jay himself would be good for their business. For the sake of their company and pressure from the industry, I get why the company sent Jay off like that, but they shouldn’t have gone about it the way that they did and even afterwards when things were long done between the two parties. Although it seems like the two have moved on from the past, JYP seems to still be holding on to some angst, considering how Jay can’t appear on “Running Man” due to the producers familial relationship with Park Jin Young himself.

— Tam

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

Playlist Sunday: Idols in the Army

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kpop artists idols in army military

Any longterm fan of the Korean entertainment industry knows that every once in awhile, it’s time to say farewell to some of the most popular men in the K-pop world. Due to the ongoing war with North Korea, all able-bodied South Korean men are required to serve a period of around two years in the South Korean armed forces or public service. Which means, unfortunately for K-pop fans, some of the most popular singers are currently serving. This week’s KultScene Playlist Sunday is devoted to all of those idols in the army.

Technically speaking, Lee Seung Gi isn’t serving in the army yet, but as of the first of February he’ll be enlisting as a Private and will be serving for the next two years. He will join thousands of other men and women who will be serving for their own countries, protecting them from the ongoing wars that are occurring all around the world. In fact, many of their families even decide to purchase something like these army flags for sale to show their support for all the serving soldiers, as well as those who have unfortunately lost their lives in combat. Lee Seung Gi will be doing his country and family proud. As a farewell to his fans, this actor-singer released a single “I’m Going To The Army” when his enlistment date was announced. With its melancholic melody and heartfelt lyrics such as “It’s only for a moment, I’ll be back soon” and “I’m leaving behind the words, I love you, I love you,” this song will surely bring tears to the eyes of listeners as it wholly expresses Lee Seung Gi’s love for his fans who will be missing him. The structure of the song is typical and even borders on boring, but these were Lee Seung Gi’s roots as a ballad singer and his strong emotive voice really made this song a moving one. The repetitive lyrics (especially in the chorus) also empathizes the fact that he will return soon and this promise is a great comfort to his fans. It’s going to be difficult surviving these next two years with his absence in the entertainment scene but I’ll definitely be a loyal fan and eagerly await his return.

 

 

— Anna

Also on KultScene: 11 Korean Idols Who Overcame Hardships

Who told Park Yoochun (JYJ) that it was okay for him to hit me with all the feels the way he did while listening to “How Much Love Do You Have in Your Pocket?” This song was dedicated to his late father and brushed on their relationship. You live only to end up dying but what makes the biggest difference and what matters the most is what you do in between those two stages. Sometimes we can take those around us for granted, whether it’s a friend, siblings, parents, or any family member. The world is constantly revolving and we’re always moving at such a fast pace that there are times in which we’ll lose out on the opportunities to truly cherish the little things and the people in our lives. As if the meaning wasn’t deep enough, the song itself was even more heartwarming seeing how these were Yoochun’s inner and raw feelings before enlisting. Hopefully he’s not having too hard of a time on his own in the military and is able to channel his mind on happier thoughts!

 

 

— Tam

Super Junior is many things, but it’s also one of the only K-pop groups that has seen the most members heading off to the military. As an ELF (Super Junior fan), anytime a member goes, it’s a bit of a heartbreak for me personally, but luckily they’ve given us quite a few beautiful songs before going to the military. “A Short Journey” was released shortly after Kangin went into the army, and many of the members who are currently enlisted were featured on the song. “A Short Journey,” a melodious song dedicated to Kangin’s leave from the group, and a promise that the separation would be “short,” is a beautiful ode to a couple who is unable to be together at the moment. The song, which also acted as a way for Kangin to express his desire to regain the trust of his fans who he had disappointed (“I’ll go back to the place I once was”), is the epitome of Super Junior’s determination to return from the military to their fans once again. It’s a bit trite, but it’s beautiful and even years after Kangin’s return from the military, and the departure of several others, “A Short Journey” still makes me think of that first temporary exit.

 

 

— Tamar

Also on KultScene: 10 Baby Making K-Pop Songs

Before member Heechul enlisted in 2011, Super Junior released their “Mr. Simple” album. One of their b-sides, “Oops,” was his “see you later” song, and featured fellow SM Entertainment group f(x) and bandmates Leeteuk, Shindong, Eunhyuk, and Donghae, who wrote their raps themselves. Prior to his verse, Heechul states, “2 years, I’ll be back,” and while enlisted, Super Junior regularly performed the song at their concerts and featured a VCR of Heechul rapping while everyone saluted as they watched the screen. Out of the members featured, everyone except Heechul and Leeteuk, who already completed their stint, are serving their time in the military right now. Out of all the songs Super Junior has released prior to a member enlisting, “Oops” is the most fun and features Heechul as he is best known for: a narcissist. It also allowed Super Junior’s rap line to have a go at rapping, which is not always featured on most of their songs.

 

 

— Alexis

What’s your favorite song from an artist currently serving in the army? Share your picks and thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Kara Tribute

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kara playlist music songs kpop korean k pop

After a long, successful run with numerous hit songs, the iconic K-pop girl group Kara announced their disbandment last week. As one of the most notable girl groups over the past 10 years, this week’s Playlist Sunday is a look back of some of our team’s favorite Kara songs to celebrate their awesome career.

“Step” was the Kara song that the group needed after garnering major attention for hits like “Mister” and “Lupin.” While it’s not a Great in the sense that other Kara songs were, “Step” is Kara at their very best. The upbeat 80’s inspired disco track had the retro synth elements and a catchy hook that Kara’s perfected over the years, with the majority of the song dedicated to the chorus. Those elements paired with a catchy melody and some outstanding vocal performances from the Kara ladies make it impossible for someone to listen to “Step” and not immediately get the song stuck in their head; this is what Kara does best. “Step” features some electro-funk elements that were ahead of their time for K-pop, and an extremely good example of Kara’s vocal prowess about a minute and fifteen seconds into the song. “Step” is perhaps the last Kara song released from their dance-hook era, and their next release, “Pandora,” is a sadly overlooked example of K-pop experimentation at its greatest. But just because it’s last doesn’t make “Step” boring. Even in 2016, this 2012 hit is still a fresh-sounding song that will get everyone “Step”-ing.

— Tamar

Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: April

We can’t have a playlist remembering KARA without mentioning some of their Japanese releases. Considered the first big crossover group and are probably the only Korean group to really establish themselves in the Japanese market, not seeing it as just another possibility for success but as equally important as the Korean market. After leaving KARA in 2014 Jiyoung went on to become an actress in Japan showcasing exactly how popular Kara had been over there. My favourite of their Japanese songs is the impossibly sugary “Bye Bye Happy Days”. The first thing you’ll think when you listen is that this has to be an anime theme song and you’d be right. It was used for KARA The Animation, a show portraying each of the members pursuing different careers. The synths are in full flow, the smiles behind the vocals beam out, and the girls are pulling their best aegyo. A song like this should be irritating but somehow it worms its way into your head and heart. Just like KARA did all those years ago, *sniff*.

— Joe

Most people probably don’t know or remember that KARA was once a four member group. This was pre- Hara and Jiyoung, and certainly well before their latest member Youngji, during a time when the group was struggling to get their name out there after being considered a commercial failure (their first album was not well received by the general public). I suppose that’s why their single“If U Wanna” is still so underrated. But what’s not to like about it? The strong female image they debuted with is evident here in the spunky and collective raps and percussive claps, which at times come off as cheer-like. It’s girly, but in no way like the bubblegum sweet way that other girl groups often went for. There’s a youthful pep in their vocals that gives away their rookie group status, but it’s endearing especially when you consider how much the group has evolved over the past nine years. Back when K-pop was still trying to gain a foothold internationally in 2007, KARA was already off to a great start… well, at least in my books.

— Shelley

Also on KultScene: The Other Top 10 Korean Songs of 2015

By far, my favorite KARA song is “Step,” but at a close second is 2014’s “Mamamia,” which was also KultScene’s second favorite song of the year, by the way. “Mamamia” is a electro pop and disco extravaganza full of my favorite attitudes a girl can have: fierceness and sass. And not only is the jam fabulous, but the four girls look absolutely flawless with their gorgeous styling. Not to mention the killed the choreography. I will miss KARA’s ability of dropping banger after banger and how they achieved the perfect formula of femininity, sexiness, and strongness. Other girl groups may try to fit into one or another category, but only KARA mastered them all at once.

— Alexis

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

Playlist Sunday: Dystopian K-Pop Music Videos

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dystopian K-pop playlist

It’s no secret that K-pop is full of futuristic elements, and sometimes that future is bleak. This week’s Playlist Sunday features a variety of K-pop music videos that offer up a dystopian take on things. Whether it’s a bleak, post-apocalyptic world or a police state, K-pop doesn’t really think that this world is going to end well and we have a lot of dystopia to deal with. But this dark view of things has given us some of the most creative K-pop music videos of all time.

Not only is B.A.P known for their forceful sounds but also for their lyrics and influential messages that they convey to the listeners and public alike. The lyrics are, if not, even more powerful than the tunes itself. “Badman” lyrically and visually shows a side of reality that we as citizens sometimes tend to brush aside, much like this world’s corrupted governments. People only see what they want to see instead of trying to dig out the hidden meanings that’s been tucked away on purpose. “The despair that I hear in the darkness. The world that is ridden with fear,” sings B.A.P. It’s hard not to see what’s going on in the world everyday. Yet we turn the other way and ignore the fact that, although all these arising issues may not be affecting us directly as individuals, there are things that are ineed affecting and disrupting the society that surrounds us. What good will it do if we keep looking the other way, not batting a single eyelash, as if all the wrongs in the world will naturally go away on it’s own? B.A.P wants you to know that they too, see and hear everything that’s going on, but unlike some, they’ll be the ones to take things head on and fight for what’s right, right then and there.

–Tam

INFINITE is one of my favorites and they are famous for their in sync dances. Since their debut, they have been striving hard to produce unique music. In January 2011, the band released the music video for “BTD (Before The Dawn).” While many of the fans and viewers are only familiar with the dance version of this song, “BTD” has a dark take on things. This dystopian music video shows the members imprisoned in an inescapable place, where a person has to kill another in order to free himself. Being friends, none of them are willing to harm each other. The lyrics describe the situation really well: I can’t let go like this, it’s suffocating. And I don’t know what to do….. I want to have you in the end no matter what. The members further question why they ended up in these circumstances? The title and music video of the song emphasizes on leaving this place before the dawn. The music video got +19 rating for being too violent. The group’s agency, Woollim Entertainment, stated that its intention was to visualise the inner conflict of the characters in the video, and not to display gratuitous violence.

–Sana

Not many groups can pull off a dystopian concept well, but as mentioned above B.A.P certainly can. Their 2012 release “POWER” is a song filled with loud instrumentals and a forceful performance from the group in all aspects, singing, dancing and rapping. The accompanying music video is appropriately dark and graphic, filled with backdrops of war vehicles and fire. The whole video serves to bring out their strong lyrics, a call for action against the people who are oppressing and filling our world with lies. We got the power. Fight against them and don’t look at me with your angelic face. Everything is a lie. There’s probably no better fight song for a revolution than this.

–Anna

If we’re talking dystopian, you can’t go without a casual mention of XIA Junsu’s “Flower.” The song itself is a fabulous, haunting track featuring Epik High’s Tablo, and all about finding light in the darkness. (It’s also the second collaboration of the two, since their equally dystopian AnyBand music videos.) The music video keeps the eeriness of the song, and transposes it into a post-apocalyptic world where Junsu is the god in a crumbling world. The world is quite literally falling apart as the devil dances, so to speak, with a king who doesn’t care about anything other than his own haven amidst a ruined world. There are hints of an anti-nuclear message (the mutated fish) from Junsu, but the whole music video is full of symbolism against excess, even towards Junsu himself, even while he is clearly on top of his game as a member of JYJ and a former TVXQ member. There are questions of innocence, there are questions of morality. It’s an artistic, philosophical take on the K-pop dystopian music video and we love it.

–Tamar

Playlist Sunday: Worst Korean Singles of 2015

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Worst Korean Songs of 2015


Now that 2016 is well under way, we’re definitely ready to say “goodbye” to some of K-pop’s worst singles of 2015. For this week’s Playlist Sunday, KultScene’s staff members each picked their least favorite songs of the year.

[Disclaimer: These picks are based on individual taste, so feel free to disagree in the comments.]

I get it. “Lion Heart” is the epitome of what Girls’ Generation represents: The archetype for the perfect feminine and demure woman. The song’s beat and the overall styling of the music video takes us back to the ’50s and early half of the ’60s, when young women aimed to look like their older and glamorous mothers. When the sexual revolution and women’s liberation was about to explode and a woman’s value equated to her looks and how refined she seemed. But fine, it’s a pop song, and every woman can choose to be anyone they want and dress however they want. But. That. Chorus… If you want to torture someone, just play “Lion Heart,” it’ll make their eardrums bleed. Truth is, SNSD’s latest album and singles (with the exception of “You Think”) were largely disappointing compared to their previous work. Especially considering that the album had better bubblegum pop with throwback feel contenders like “Fire Alarm.” The whole concept behind “Lion Heart” makes sense for a group like Girls’ Generation, yes, and we all like them for their girly ways. However, musically, they don’t have the vocal chops to carry that chorus, no matter how nasally and high they make Yuri sing.

— Alexis

Girls’ Generation’s “Party” makes me want to dive into the body of water that they’re filming the music video on and stay submerged for as long as humanly possible (without dying, of course). Can someone please tell SM Entertainment and Girls’ Generation to stop it with their attempts at rapping? Oh, and for Tiffany to stop it when her random ass English segments in their songs. Yeah, yeah, we get it, it’s party time. “Party” had a lot of ups and downs (emphasis on the down) moments for me; I couldn’t figure out if they were trying to make this a summer anthem or if it was an attempt of them being sensually cute by experimenting with livelier beats and adding alcoholic beverages in their lyrics but either way, I was disappointed. There were too many transitional breaks throughout the song, too many moments that had me waiting for someone to hit a higher/lower note than they actually did. Sure the music video was semi fun to watch, also very scattered, but the song just makes me want to pull out every strand of hair on my head. Can they have more concepts like “Oh!”, “Run Devil Run,” and “The Boys”?


— Tam

JYP Entertainment had a great year in terms of music. miss A released a pretty solid album, Wonder Girls finally came back, and the company even debuted two new rookie groups, both of which quickly grew in popularity. They did everything right and more… Except for one disservice. I don’t know what they were thinking with giving the green light to 2PM’s “My House,” but the song is a far cry from their usual good releases. I get that they want to spice up their sound and want to show that they are more than party boys and sex icons, but something feels lacking. Where are the interesting beats? Where is the build-up? Maybe it’s because I have been babied by fast-paced songs like “A.D.T.O.Y.” or “Go Crazy,” but “My House” feels bland. It’s very forgettable, and doesn’t add much to their already remarkable repertoire. The only saving grace was the video, which contained an underlying fairy tale thematic.
Oh well, better luck in 2016, boys.

–Shelley

Maybe I loved “Can’t Stop” way too much to have realistic expectations for anything CNBLUE could offer for their comeback but I was woefully disappointed with their 2015 release “Cinderella.” They may have achieved a lot of commercial success (as usual) for this song but while the song isn’t horrible, I’ve definitely seen (and heard) CNBLUE do so much better than this auto-tuned track that seems to only have two lines and a bridge that hardly seems like part of the same song. To make it worse, their album “2gether” actually has some great B-sides such as “Roller Coaster” and “Radio” that overshadow this title track completely. Seriously, what was going on in the heads of the album producers? In a K-pop industry with more and more popular bands (both indie and idol ones) CNBLUE really has to step up their game in 2016 to show fans what they’ve truly got.

–Anna

Let’s get one thing out there. Park Jin Young aka JYP is a great producer. But he’s a misogynist, and his hit song “Who’s Your Mama?” highlights that more so than just about everything else he’s ever said or done. The song’s funky, jazzy beat is good, and Jessi’s solo rap is nothing to sneeze at, but Park Jin Young is literally describing his perfect woman’s ass and saying that that’s all what he looks for when looking at women. I wish I could say that it’s satire a la Psy’s “Gentleman,” but that doesn’t seem the case. The song begins with Park asking a woman what her hip and waist measurements are before going into a song describing his love of big butts. “Shake that booty” is one of the most prominent lines of the song as Park diminished women as anything other than physical beings for him to oggle. “Who’s Your Mama?” is K-pop’s “Baby Got Back,” and the song did exceptionally well on charts, but that still doesn’t make it okay. 2015 was the year of the booty, but JYP took it to another level in a way that was blatantly sexist. We’re in 2016, let’s put an end to this obsession with equating women with their ass-ets.

–Tamar

I could have picked any song from the many iKon released towards the end of the year, but for sheer lack of imagination, I’ll go with “Airplane.” Apart from their whole shtick being based off what’s popular in K-pop right now (rap,) iKon also come across like Big Bang-lite (so like another WINNER but even less interesting.) “Airplane” has twee synth and piano sounds that are used to make their ballad sound less like a ballad. I’m all for ballads not sounding like ballads but this screams of trying too hard, “it’s not a ballad guys, we rap, we’re cool, I was on that rap show remember?” Speaking of Bobby, I’m also not one to care too much about line distribution but this is ridiculous. It’s unfair to both B.I and Bobby who should be in a duo or going solo and to the rest of the members whom might as well not exist. Mostly I hate how YG thinks he can put a bit more rapping into a song and that makes it good enough to be recycled over and over. It was great back in 2008, but it’s time to move on.

–Joe

Playlist Sunday: Happy New Year

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boy group covers kpop

With 2015 coming to a close next week, we’re dedicating our final Playlist Sunday of the year to 2016. We’re celebrating the new year with Korean songs about new beginnings and leaving the past in the past. We hope all our readers have a happy new year and enjoy our picks!

Scraping off the romantic aspects of the song, I’m with Verbal Jint on his view on how to spend New Year’s: with a few close friends and not at a party. “Good Start” is a song about starting off the new year fresh, leaving that someone in the past in order to move forward. It’s a final adieu to a significant other you spent the year with, acknowledging that you’re not that sad about it anymore and that you’ll be completely over it come spring. While mellow and the rap not being as laid back as Verbal Jint normally does, “Good Start” has that happy-sad vibe that makes you feel hopeful. It’s a mature song for people who are aware of the things they need to let go of and the fact that it must be done so the future is better.

— Alexis

Also on KultScene: 8 Apink Songs to Hype You Up for their North American Tour

Seo In Guk may be apologizing and asking for a new beginning in “Brand New Day,” but the singer-turned-actor is at his best in this song. While the song is very safely in Seo In Guk’s realm of comfort (an upbeat love song), the experimental electronic elements and a rap in the middle of the song add extra depth to the otherwise saccharine song. A break up song, or maybe something with a bit more meaning, “Brand New Day” is all about beginnings and the perfect thing to listen to when trying to break up with 2015 and begin anew in 2016.

— Tamar

As the saying goes, “new year, new me” and that’s exactly what Ailee is all about in her post-breakup song “I Will Show You.” Just like a bad year, the soloist wants to leave all her memories with her former lover behind and get back up on her feet. She makes resolutions to herself that she will “show a completed change [her]” and a “way prettier [her]” who will meet someone better for her. Even the glitzy fashion pieces, which includes colorful sequined dresses and large statement jewelry, in the music video seems New Years Eve party appropriate. With her signature power vocals, Ailee’s “I Will Show You” is perfect in every way to brave a fresh 2016.

— Shelley

Also on KultScene: Top 50 Korean Songs of 2015

The New Year makes me think of beginnings. After School, true to their name and concept, have through many new beginnings in their career. Also, I want them to have another new beginning because it has been far too long. Their last Korean single charts the beginning of love. “First Love” not only features the greatest choreography concept in K-pop history but also was a ‘90s throwback long before that became cool. It mixes slinky R&B with trap beats to create something akin to the confusion of young love. That’s not to say it’s a mess, the song marries these elements beautifully thanks to Brave Brothers’ laid back approach to the production. After School’s soft melancholic vocals help bridge the gap between the simultaneously smooth and edgy song.

— Joe

What was your favorite new year themed song? 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.

Playlist Sunday: Holiday Tunes

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christmas songs playlist kpop

With Christmas and Kwanzaa right around the corner, and Hanukkah ending recently, we’re all feeling all kinds of cheery and warm inside. So for this week’s playlist, we’re listing all the holiday songs we love — or at least the ones we can stomach — by our favorite Korean artists.

GOT7’s formula for releasing singles since debut seems to be to release a powerful dance song, followed by cute and playful one. So after the release of their manly single “If You Do,” it’s time for the cute one. And since tis the season, the boys put out a Christmas song, “Confession Song.” The cool thing about it is that it’s not another lame holiday song about Santa and reindeer and all that nonsense. Instead, they take the non-Christian Korean concept of Christmas, a day to spend with your significant other, and give us a sweet song about writing a love confession to the person of their interest. But to still keep that Christmas cheer, bells ring throughout the track. In true GOT7 fashion, “Confession Song” is just the right amount of cute and cheesy that never taps into the ridiculous. It’s just a cute song that will make you feel like a middle schooler again.

— Alexis

Taetiseo made a relatively low key comeback recently with Dear Santa and still managed to make one of the best K-pop Christmas songs. In fairness, there’s not a lot of competition for this crown but Girls’ Generation’s subgroup TTS stuck to what they’re best at and slayed the concept. The opening harmonies are some of the best vocals they have ever done, and offer us something different to the saccharine that is to come. It is almost sickeningly sweet but this is Girls’ Generation meets Christmas. It had to be like this. There’s sleigh bells jingling, plenty of piano, and vocals that are as fun as Mariah Carey’s to belt out on Christmas day. In keeping with the more western version of Christmas they are portraying here, TTS also released an English version of the song, to make sure we don’t mess up the lyrics. How thoughtful.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: 2015 Gift Guide For Fans Of Korean Pop Culture

Usually I don’t expect much of K-pop holiday songs. Because, let’s face it, they all follow the same boring, slow ballad formula that it has become quite the science. But INFINITE’s “Lately” is the only exception to this. If it were not for the nutcrackers in the music video and the bells in the instrumentals, it probably could pass for any old K-pop track. The festive tune retains the same classic INFINITE sound, what with its guitars, chic raps, and warbly vocals, that it’s unmistakable who it belongs to.The rise and fall of the harmony gives the song actual contour, as opposed to the one flat mess of a song that is common nowadays. The video itself is also very endearing and warm, as it avoids the “let’s pretend we are having a blast around the Christmas tree and yule log” bit. I want to believe that the members actually exchanged gifts over a company dinner. I want to believe all the interactions in the streets with the civilians are genuine. Its low production cost is exactly what makes everything seem so much more relatable. Since its release in 2011, there has really been no other K-pop holiday song that has done it as well as INFINITE’s “Lately” has.

–Shelley

Being that there will never be a K-pop song for Chanukkah, picking my favorite K-pop holiday song is like picking a pair of shoes I’ll never wear. They’re all good, but I’m not personally invested. But Nell never disappoints, and their “White Night” reminds me of the winter holiday season (and not only for the title!) The romantic, building rock ballad depicts the perfect picture of this time of year. The twinkling, tapping sounds remind me of snow, and the lyrics describing someone you want to be around is just like every holiday film about not spending the season alone. It may not be conventional, but Nell’s ardent expression of being with the person they love, even if it means trying to turn back time, is something I just adore and listen to each December.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: Playlist Sunday: Roaring Twenties

EXO came back recently with their winter special album “Sing For You” and while all the tracks on the album are amazing, their title song of the same name was the one which really touched me. It’s a ballad, which may seem typical of this season but with the soothing guitar instrumental and the wonderful voices of all the EXO members the song stands out and becomes something special. It’s a song about being in love and wanting to confess but always missing the chance to do so. The lyrics speak of regret and reflection, a feeling we’re all prone to experiencing at this time of the year, even amidst all the bright lights and hearty Christmas celebrations.

–Anna

What’s your favorite holiday themed K-pop 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.

Playlist Sunday: Roaring Twenties

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kpop songs playlist 1920s 20s

2016 is less than a month away, which means that the roaring twenties will be closer to us than the 2010’s. KultScene’s staff is always excited when it comes to throwback elements in K-pop songs, and you can hardly get more retro than the 1920’s jazz and swing music. This week’s Playlist Sunday is dedicated to the roaring twenties, and to all the brassy jazz songs we can’t but help to love.

Every other K-pop song nowadays incorporates soul and funk into their hybrids, but TVXQ mixed in jazz and a swing elements to their 2014 single “Spellbound.” And while the choreography is meant to seem as a magic show to fit with the song’s theme of love as a spell, it’s the ‘20s style of it all that stood out most to me. The dancers wearing what a “Sexy Mobster” Halloween costume would look like and the modern art deco-lite casino room made me think of the Prohibition era in the US, when citizens were constitutionally barred from drinking alcohol and Al Capone and the likes terrorized cities like Chicago over bootleg alcohol and drugs. Not to mention the music video starts out in grayscale and eventually changes to color, even though the palette remains mainly black and white, hinting at when subtractive color in film was first introduced (which was also in the 1920’s). But of course, “Spellbound” isn’t that deep. Regardless, it’s a gem of a song and choreography and should be recognized.

— Alexis

Also on KultScene: 6 K-Drama Girl Friendship Goals

Brown Eyed Girls are the purveyors of jazz in K-pop. In particular, their album “Sixth Sense” is full of jazz tracks that burst with retro excitement. Each one is single worthy but right now my favorite is “Vendetta.” It is, naturally, about a girl out for violent revenge against a boy. Ferocious acid jazz accompanies the passionate vocals of Brown Eyed Girls who bite and snarl every line to great effect. Drums roll at lightening speeds and horns blow loudly in a song that updates the ‘20s jazz as a soundtrack for bitter women. Also the way Miryo says ‘vendetta’ at the end of her rap is the coolest.

— Joe

Most people’s first impression when they hear Lee Hi sing for the first time is “wait, how is that voice coming out of a little girl like her?” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel that same shock the first time I heard her voice. How can one possess as much pizazz and soul at her age? A number of Lee Hi songs contain a jazz element but “Rose” in particular is a beautiful blend of jazz and R&B, both genres in which she excels at. It’s always refreshing to hear a K-pop song that isn’t under the influence of dubstep and auto tune. It’d be great to see more musicians who were able to apply their great vocals and deep emotions like Lee Hi towards all their songs in order to improve it metaphorically. Like many others, I’m just waiting for a Lee Hi come back because it’s been way too long!

–Tam

Also on KultScene: OWOL’s ‘Dream On You’ Music Video & Song Review

You can’t get more jazzy than the princess of K-pop, IU herself. Recent scandals aside, IU’s voice was practically built for jazzy, all-over-the-place numbers and she does it the best in “The Red Shoes.” The song is technically (at least according to its official information) a bit more like the big band swing of the 30’s than the roaring 20’s, but the brass elements and tapping beat would have any flapper getting her game on. IU’s voice goes all over the place in accompaniment to the spiraling, twisting and turning elements of the song and music video, and throws in some nice onomatopoeia elements for good measure. If Gatsby was Korean, he’d probably be as in love with this song as I am.

–Tamar

What’s your favorite 1920’s themed K-pop song? Or maybe any of the other cities? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Circus

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k pop circus songs playlist

Nothing screams spectacle and entertainment like the circus. Even if you’re not a fan of clowns, there’s always a sideshow for everyone. Leaving the animals out of the discussion, the circus dates back to the turn of the last century as the first form of entertainment for a lot of people not living in the major cities in the U.S. Since then, every form of art has incorporated the circus in some way, especially music. So for this week’s playlist, we’re listing all the songs and music videos either about circuses literally or metaphorically.

Even if the music video has nothing to do with circuses, the now disbanded trio W & Whale‘s “Circus” was used as an OST for the horror flick “Cats: Two Eyes That See Death.” And while the video just features different scenes from the film, the actual song is an eerie electro pop tune about life being a circus. The metaphors include life being a tightrope performance, the greatest show on earth, and how you should just enjoy it if you can’t avoid it. With lead singer’s Whale theatrical performances, I can’t help but think that this would’ve been an awesome music video if it had been circus themed. Regardless “Circus” is still cool song.

— Alexis

Also on KultScene: 5 Underrated K-Pop Rookie Songs

Circuses are supposed to be fun, right? Well, sometimes. There are shows with weightless acrobatics flying through mid air and animals filled with tricks. Then there are ones with bone chilling looking clowns and creepy ventriloquists. Sunny Hill decides to incorporate a little bit of both worlds in “Midnight Circus.” The song itself showcases the members of Sunny Hill’s stunning vocal abilities and unique style contrary to the eerie concept. If you’re able to look past the semi freakishly filmed scenes, you’ll be able to uncover the hidden message behind this creative music video. The video highlights the dark side of the Korean entertainment industry; animals that are in the circus are put through rigorous years of training, same goes for these idols. It portrays sadness, emptiness, and the sense of longing for both those involved in the circus and the idol world. “Midnight Circus” showed us that no matter how glamorous something may be on the outside, the feeling of loneliness can sometimes play an even bigger role.

— Tam

While it may not contain any obvious circus elements, I’ve always thought Nine Muses’ “Drama” sounds like a raucous circus ride. It takes a strange structure by starting and ending strong rather than building up to a climax and mellowing out. It seems to last shorter that it is, just like when our parents had to drag us away from the fairground rides at the circus. Even though we may have been upset at that when we look back we know we had a great time. The song explodes into life thanks to blistering turns from resident rapper Erin and the nasally Sungah. It’s an unusual way for a pop song to move, having the most energetic part at the beginning but the song somehow holds together despite. From here the song moves up and down at random, rollercoastering its way through bombastic horns, sudden raps, and exquisitely high vocals. It’s held together by a wonderfully funky bassline which sounds like it wouldn’t fit with everything else but is the key to the success of this song.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: Burstered

Needless to say, Block B makes the creepiest clowns. Their fun, hectic song “Jackpot” is definitely not your typical circus theme, but the music video for the song is all about the crazy circus world. The lyrics themselves the greed of the “circus” that is humanity and are incredibly deep. But then we have the music video that takes place in a psychotic circus, starring the clowns that make up Block B as they play around with their “toy,” actress Kim Sae Ron. You can’t get more circus, with fire eaters, hoops, and a large circus tent, but the clown makes from the beginning are just the most horrifying thing I have ever seen.

— Tamar

What’s your favorite circus themed K-pop 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.

Which BTS Member Are You? [QUIZ]

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BTS, The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Read more