2PM’s Music Video Evolution

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2PM, the original Beastly idols, has graced the K-Pop scene for the past six years and fans have watched the members grow and mature into artists throughout that time. They debuted with a strong image that showcased their masculinity and mature song themes. As the years have gone by, 2PM has come back with stronger and more mature material that prove they are transforming into artists.

Who remembers 2PM’s debut song 10 out of 10 in 2008? The music video highlighted their acrobatic abilities as well as their masculine outfits to further promote the beastly image. The song itself is catchy, and the video is comical with an entertaining story that shows the members daydreaming about a woman. It’s a fun and upbeat song that only hinted at the dorky and fun-loving personalities of each member of 2PM.

Fast forward a year to 2009, when 2PM released Again & Again. The video, again, showed 2PM’s dancing skills and their masculine image with all black outfits and simple hairstyles. The song focused on the mature theme of ending a relationship and the longing to be with the girl one more time. Again & Again also showcases the vocal abilities of the group more than their debut song.

Later in 2009, 2PM made its comeback with Heartbeat. It wasn’t until this comeback that 2PM truly showed its beastly image. The guys were dressed in suits, wore minimal makeup, and stayed with their natural hair color. And how can we forget the live performances where they showed off their impressive muscles? The video is oozing with masculinity in the choreography and within the members’ facial expressions. This was also the first song since Jay Park left the group.

Next up is I’ll Be Back from 2010. It wasn’t until this single that 2PM’s members started to add their input and songwriting skills into their albums. I’ll Be Back continues with the dark concept and introduces heavy eye makeup for the group. The song also went back to their debut concept where they showed off a lot of acrobatics, which were not present during Again & Again and Heartbeat.

2PM’s second studio album gave fans the lead track Hands Up. The music video showed 2PM enjoying the lap of luxury, which included yachts, private jets, expensive cars, and of course, spending the evening at a hip night club. Hands Up was one of the first looks into 2PM as a fun and energetic idol group. The group’s previous singles were all about showing their manly images and dealing with the struggles of love. Hands Up was 2PM having a good time and sharing it with their fans (as well as a prelude to Go Crazy! perhaps?).

After promoting in Japan for a couple of years and doing other activities, 2PM finally made their Korean comeback in the spring of 2013. Come Back When You Hear This Song, although a long English title, introduced fans to a new version of 2PM. The mature, grown-up and manly 2PM.

The music video focuses on the seven deadly sins and how each member embodies those sins as they progress in their relationship with a woman. The song showcases the members’ singing abilities, their mature, gentleman style, and a different musical style than their previous promotions.

To add to the sweetness that was 2PM’s Korean comeback, JYP decided to release another music video from 2PM’s Grown album. A.D.T.O.Y. was the definition of beastly idols. The guys were dressed in everyday wear, their hair and makeup were the most natural of any of their promotions, and they all had intimate scenes with a woman.

A.D.T.O.Y. was 2PM’s declaration to their fans that they are now mature adults.The black and white video and chair choreography adds to the masculine and charismatic image 2PM showed with this comeback. Grown also showcased more of 2PM’s songwriting abilities with four out the six members contributing to the album’s lyrics.

Where do you go from A.D.T.O.Y.? Well, according to 2PM, the crazy, fun, party route! Go Crazy! at first watch and listen will more likely than not make you question what you just watched and listened to. But then you realize that Go Crazy! is a brilliant song with an equally brilliant music video.

Jun.K wrote the song and it shows that 2PM is comfortable being quirky, dorky, and eccentric. They don’t always need intense, manly songs to showcase their talent. Go Crazy! shows 2PM’s true personalities. The members always having a good time, and don’t really care what they look like or what happens while doing so. They are comfortable with themselves, as a group, and as artists to experiment with a wild and crazy song.

Go Crazy! is like a part two to Hands Up. Three years later, it shows the growth of 2PM’s experience with drinking and club culture. 2PM go all out for Go Crazy! Their glittery and crazy outfits, their motorcycle-inspired choreography, and the overall feel of the song and video create a carefree world where having fun is the only priority.

To further promote Go Crazy!, 2PM participated in 1theK’s #hashtag series where their honesty gets the best of them. Themes for discussion include Go Crazy!, drinking, and, naturally, hangovers.

2PM as a group has grown from beastly idols with catchy tunes, acrobatics, and intense themes to manly idols (with some beastly qualities thrown in) with mature, intimate, and wild & crazy themes. To see how much 2PM has evolved from their debut to now makes the anticipation build for their future comebacks.

Do you prefer the 2PM of the first half of their career (10 out of 10, Heartbeat, etc.) or the 2PM of the latter half of their career (A.D.T.O.Y., Go Crazy!)? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below 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.

Playlist Sunday: Summer 2014 Hits

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It’s the last day of summer for those of us in the Western Hemisphere, so the KPOPme staff is dedicating this week’s playlist to the songs that came out this past summer. Some of these songs are from the very start of the sunny season, while others were released within the past few weeks. But from 2PM to Big Byung, these songs will always make you reminisce about Summer 2014.

Even though Big Byung was just a project group for the MBC show Hitmaker, Stress Come On was the one summer song that realistically spoke to me. Composed and written by Weekly Idol’s MCs Defconn and Jung Hyun Don, Stress Come On is a, loosely, gangster rap-style song about everyday stresses. Chicken with no cola? Parents pressuring you to get married? Unequal pay for the same job? Yeah, we can all relate to those!

Moreover, I really liked seeing a new side to BTOB’s Sung Jae, and VIXX’s N and Hyuk, since they are not rappers in their respective groups like GOT7’s Jackson. In the show, you could see that rapping didn’t come as natural to the VIXX members, so it was great seeing that they pulled it off in the end product. The song, music video, and especially the reality show are all very funny. However short-lived the project group was, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and aspect of it.


–Alexis

Yes, we talked about BEAST’s Good Luck more than a few times, but it’s such a good song that we just can’t help it. With this week being about the bests songs of the summer, I couldn’t pick any other song other than Good Luck. If there’s a song that is my summer jam, it’s this one. It was definitely my favorite from all the releases of summer 2014.
The song itself is quite addicting, and that intro with Yoseob’s beautiful voice melts your heart away. The video, the song, the styling, and the synched choreography all came together to create a spectacular production by BEAST. Can’t wait for their comeback!


–Alejandro

For our ode to Summer hits this week, I’m choosing 2PM’s Go Crazy!. The song and the video, as the title states, are both crazy, but extremely fun and entertaining. To me, that’s what summer is all about. We have the chance to take more vacations, hang out in the sun, break it down on the dance floor, and of course, for those of age, hitting up the party scene.

The good thing about Go Crazy! is that although it was technically released in Summer, it isn’t a Summer-specific song. If I play Go Crazy! in the middle of January with sub-degree weather and snow up to my waist, it won’t feel out of place. In fact, it will make me dance and therefore warm up. No matter what season, Go Crazy! is a great party song to listen to.


— Tara

The summer’s pretty much over, but I’m still listening to the refreshing song Cup Of Water by B1A4. The quintet always has fun songs that I can’t help but sing along and dance to. After seeing B1A4 perform the song at KCON, using super soakers to spray the crowd with water, I just can’t help but think of a hot, sunny summer day and a nice water fight when I listen to this song. The refrain is really catchy, and even if you don’t understand the lyrics, it’ll get stuck in your head.

And the best thing? The song was originally called Cup Of Alcohol based on the similarity between “mul” (water) and “sul” (alcohol,) but B1A4 wanted young fans to be able to enjoy the song.


–Tamar

What’s your favorite summer 2014 song? Be sure to share it and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Why Taemin Was First in SHINee to Go Solo

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Taemin, member of popular boy group SHINee, debuted six years ago and has now blossomed into a solo artist. This summer, SHINee’s youngest member released his first solo album. Not only is it his first solo project, but Taemin is the first member of SHINee to have a solo album.

Six years ago, I don’t think anyone would have guessed that Taemin would go solo before his other group mates. Did you think this young kid…

Taemin Replay

… would turn into this grown man?

Let’s revisit Taemin as the first SHINee member to have a solo debut. First of all, Taemin’s solo was hush hush until the end of July when rumors speculated about a solo debut. SM Entertainment did later justify the rumor, but with little information given. Finally, a week before his debut, SM released his teaser photos (see photo gallery above).

Not much was provided in terms of build up for the debut. Maybe SM wanted to go with the element of surprise with this one. And who would blame them? If there was a lot of talk leading up to his debut, there would most likely be more people questioning why Taemin received a solo before Onew and Jonghyun, the main and lead vocals of SHINee.

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Publicly talking about and acknowledging Taemin’s debut months ahead of the release also opens up the door for a lot of speculation and expectation from fans. Doing the project in as much secrecy as possible allows for an organic process with little interference from fans and others not involved in the project. It also creates a better experience for fans as they do not know what to expect and will hopefully be impressed with the entire project.

Since SHINee’s debut six years ago, people haven’t really noticed (for lack of a better word) or talked about Taemin until SHINee’s most recent comebacks. Most notably, Dream Girl, when he famously went from Taemin to TaeMAN. With each SHINee comeback, fans have seen him grow in age, maturity, and not to focus on looks, but in his looks as well. But the most notable improvement from the dance machine, has been his singing voice.

TaeMAN

Again, starting with Dream Girl, Taemin received more singing lines, and when Jonghyun was out during their Why So Serious promotions, Taemin sang his parts during their live performances. Maybe this was SM’s brilliant idea all along. Give Taemin more singing parts so fans can see how much he has improved, and one day, we’ll give me a solo debut. But that’s just speculation…

The meat of this article is about Taemin and his solo debut. Initially, when it was announced that he would have a solo, I questioned it. I thought Jonghyun would be the first SHINee member to have a solo. BUT after watching Taemin’s music video and live performance of Danger, I realized SM made a great decision.

Taemin has many qualities that make him a suitable artist for a solo debut. First, he can dance. We all know this. Since debut, that kid could dance. Obviously as he’s gotten older his dancing has improved and matured. He’s always fun to watch during the dance breaks in the music videos and at live performances. SHINee as a whole are AMAZING dancers, but Taemin just has that extra oomph that puts him above his hyungs. Although he is the best dancer in SHINee, he doesn’t brag about it or flaunt it. Yes, he usually shows how to do the dance moves before the other members, but he doesn’t go around stating he is the best dancer in SHINee. He’s humble, and that is what makes a great solo artist.

Second, Taemin has grown up. It’s hard to imagine what a 15-year-old boy will look like at 21. And Taemin clearly has good genes because he has grown into a handsome young man. Aside from being handsome, he has a tall and thin frame. And although he is thin, he doesn’t look fragile or weak. Instead, he is elongated and elegant, which adds to his powerful and impressive dancing.

Third, Teamin can sing. He is finally past puberty and actually has a great singing voice. It may not be very powerful or soulful, but that doesn’t matter because it’s own sound that’s different from others. In order to have a solo debut, it would serve that person best to have their own sound that isn’t like anyone else’s. Not only that, but he sings live while hitting his dance moves hard. That is talent.

Finally, when you watch Taemin perform his solo songs, it’s clear he is doing this for the love of music. The choreography for his songs are perfect for him. He puts his all into every dance move and makes the whole dance his own with his charisma and overall dancing skills. After watching his Danger music video (in the above playlist), it is also clear that Michael Jackson was the inspiration for the choreography, outfits, and even some of the singing in the song.

All of these qualities are what make Taemin a solid choice for a solo artist. The numerous videos SM posted of his dance practice with Ian Eastwood and the full choreography, and his Ace video concept show that he is a true performer. His stage presence is unbelievable, which he has had six years to craft and he surely has done that.

As fans and non-fans listen to Ace in it’s entirety, it’s clear to hear that this mini album is Teamin’s style. The vocals, the beats, the music, everything feels like a perfect fit. These are the types of songs Teamin was meant to sing and he does so with confidence and gusto. He has proven once and for all that he is more than just an exceptional dancer and a handsome maknae. He is a vocalist and I can’t wait to see his role in SHINee’s next comeback, whenever that may be.

Until then, listen to Taemin’s solo debut mini album Ace and you will see why Taemin is the first SHINee member to have a solo debut. What is your favorite song from Taemin’s mini album? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below 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.

Playlist Sunday: Sleepy-Time Songs

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Don’t let the title of this playlist fool you. The songs below do not make us fall asleep because they are boring. Instead, they aid us as we try to relax and unwind from a strenuous day. Or when we just feel like being taken away to another, peaceful world.ep. For some music inspiration, this week’s songs are all mellow in their own way, and we invite you to enjoy our collection of easy listening K-Pop songs as we get ready to start a new work and school week.

Even when I want to fall asleep, the normal lullaby bores me. However, No Min Woo’s song Can I Love You? from the Midas soundtrack is the perfelend of softness with a slightly-rock sound. Starting off with a simple piano accompaniment to No Min Woo’s heartfelt vocals and lyrics, the song grows to include simple guitar chords and light drum beats, making it mimic the complexity of a relationship where the two people don’t love one another the same way.

The poignant lyrics of the song are heart wrenching, including lines like, “May I love you? Can I embrace you?” It’s not a simple love song, but someone who is unsure if they’re even allowed to love. Hearing No Min Woo’s soft doubting question turn into a powerful statement (the last lyrics are “I will protect you, I love you”) is the perfect thing that lulls me to sleep.


–Tamar

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CNBlue’s Sleepless Night will, unlike the title, help you fall into a blissful and peaceful sleep. Yonghwa’s vocals start off soft and are soothing and calming. Typical of a CN Blue song, we are presented with rock elements throughout the song, but nothing that will affect you as you drift into dreamland. The mellow music and vocals put me into a relaxed state as I fall into the song. Even if you aren’t asleep after Sleepless Night, you at least listened to a great song.


— Tara

When I think about soothing K-pop songs, I tend to go the road less traveled: outside of K-pop. Everything about Eddy Kim’s The Manual is tender and easy. From the uncluttered music video sailing on a boat in a river and roaming through Amsterdam to the sweet lyrics talking about his love interest. The music video is so simple and romantic that it allows Eddy’s soothing voice to shine through. Furthermore, the lack of clutter continues with The Manual only using one instrument, the guitar. I love listening to this song when I write or when I just want to relax, but it could definitely send me off into REM sleep with ease too.


–Alexis

SHINee’s Sleepless Night is a beautiful and soothing ballad that makes you feel that they are just whispering in your ear. The boys did an outstanding job while recording the song; you can really hear the power in their beautiful vocals. The song talks about the feelings of wanting to be back with the one you love. Despite of all the bad times, you still miss them and are longing to be with that person again.

Everytime SHINee releases a ballad, they are beautiful. Onew and Jonghyun’s vocals really shine on ballads, and this is one of my favorite by SHINee. Take a look at their live performance of this, so you can hear their powerful vocals sans the studio editing.


–Alejandro

What’s your favorite sleepy time song? Be sure to share it and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Tribute to Ladies’ Code

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For this week’s Playlist Sunday, we wanted to pay homage to the group Ladies’ Code upon their terrible tragedy. Countless tributes have been delivered, from celebrities to music shows to the overall media. KPOPme wants to remember the girls through their incredible work at much happier times.

Here’s a list on our favorite songs by Ladies’ Code, and may EunB and RiSe be in better and more peaceful place.

I’m going to be completely honest… Before EunB and RiSe’s passings, I had never listened to a Ladies’ Code song. So when the tragedy happened, I wanted to see for myself what the world was missing out on. As I clicked through Youtube videos, I was surprised to see that the girls are all pretty talented vocalists. However, I especially liked their heartfelt performance on Hate You.

The music video is very pretty aesthetically, with its dark undertones that highlight the despair behind the song’s message, while the pops of color romanticize it at the same time. Similarly, the styling was on point with a sartorial glam concept that the girls pull off flawlessly. I didn’t really understand what was up with the dolls, but it definitely makes for an interesting plot.


–Alexis

Like Alexis, I too had never listened to Ladies’ Code. As I was listening to their songs, their debut track Bad Girl stuck to me for a few reasons. The beginning of the song starts off with a piano introduction played by member Sojung. The production of the song is appealing in that they incorporate strings and the big band sound with the horn section into the song. The ladies’ vocals are amazing and I love, love, love their outfits. This is great debut song for the talented group that really showcases their vocals.


— Tara

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I listened to Ladies’ Code’s Pretty Pretty after hearing it included in a SHIMMixes song. Even though only a few short words were included in the remix, the song caught my attention and I became addicted. Ladies’ Code’s powerful vocals surprised me from the first listen, and I wanted the girl group to be successful.The song’s a declaration about girls being pretty since birth, and, in a weird way, is empowering- girls so often worry about their looks that I thought Pretty Pretty was a nice change of pace.


–Tamar

Ladies’ Code released Kiss Kiss this past August, and the song is really fun and bubbly. It’s really reminiscent of their song Pretty Pretty; even the music video has similar colorful contents! Their great vocals really stand out on the bridges of the song. Moreover, the chorus is very addicting especially when they go, “Oh Oh Kiss Kiss”.

The girls are battling in their minds that they really want to kiss the guy but it’s not time yet. I love this song because of that, it’s a very relatable situation and the girls delivered it very well. The art direction in the music video and the styling are also beautiful. They really make you pay attention to every detail of the music video, thus making it very entertaining.


–Alejandro

What’s your favorite Ladies’ Code song? Be sure to share it and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

8 K-Pop Jams For Your Next Workout

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This article will focus on about 30 minutes worth of energy-pumping, adrenaline-rushing, endorphin-enducing K-Pop music. Hooray! Although beach season may be coming to a close soon, that doesn’t mean we should neglect our beach bodies.

These eight K-Pop songs will get you through your next 30-minute workout without any trouble, so let’s dive in.

1. M.I.B. – Men in Black
The first song on your new K-Pop workout playlist is none other than M.I.B’s Men In Black. The song begins with a catchy beat and Young Cream’s rapping. It’s the perfect song to get you started on your workout. From the beginning, it’s not too intense, and eases you into your workout and gets you pumped up for the next 30 minutes.

2. VIXX – On and On
Song number two on your new playlist starts along the lines of Men In Black, in that the beginning of the song is a little lighter. The beat throughout Vixx’s On and On is perfect to set a decent pace as you workout. Listening to those harmonies as you sweat buckets makes the whole process a little bit easier. There are a few pauses throughout the song where you can either test yourself to see if you can keep your current pace or slow it down or if you’re really daring, speed it up. Remember though, this is only song number two of eight, so pace yourself.

3. BTS – Jump
You can’t complete a workout without a BTS song. The song of choice is Jump. The beat is not as quick as the previous two songs, but you deserve a little break for your hard work through the first two songs. And despite the beat may not be as fast, there is rarely a moment of silence or a pause throughout the entire song. BTS will continuously encourage you to keep at it with their rapping and singing. During the breakdown part with Suga and Rap Mon’s raps, slow it down to match the beat, but get ready to pick it up with the next song.

4. Supernova – Addicted
Number four, we’re halfway there! Supernova is a group made up of Koreans who mainly promote in Japan. So this next song choice is J-Pop, but it’s, as the title suggests, addicting all the same. Addicted is a get-up-and-jump type of song. The beat stays constant and quick throughout the song and the chorus will have you singing along in no time.

5. Teen Top – Rocking
To keep your energy high, Teen Top’s Rocking is the next song of choice. This song is perfect for motivation during a workout. At the number four spot on the playlist, this song will keep your head in the workout and keep you pushing with all you have.

To help distract you mind (if you are like the author and need distractions while working out), imagine Teen Top’s intricate footwork to Rocking and their shiny and fun outfits in the music video. When they tell you put your hands up, go ahead and indulge, you’re more than halfway done!

6. BIGBANG – Fantastic Baby
You can’t have a K-Pop playlist without Big Bang. Fantastic Baby is perfect for the fifth song on the list. It starts a little slow, with breaks in the music, but once that chorus comes around you’ll be in overdrive. The beat throughout the song is perfect to help keep the end of you workout strong. Just listen to the boys as they sing and rap and all will be well.

7. B.A.P – Hurricane
The second to last song!! You’re almost there, you can see the finish line… There are many B.A.P songs to choose from, but Hurricane is winner for this playlist. Alike many of the songs on this list, Hurricane starts out slower. It gives you a chance to regroup and slightly catchy your breath before entering the frenzy that is the song. The beat and music isn’t constant throughout the song, but since it’s almost the end of the workout just try to enjoy this part. The chorus and the break down will definitely have you moving at your maximum level.

8. MFBTY – Sweet Dream
You made it, the final song! Just get through this and you’re done… MFBTY’s Sweet Dream, again, starts slow and gradually builds to a beat-busting song that is a perfect way to wrap up your workout.

You’ll start out much slower at the beginning of Sweet Dream than at the end of Hurricane. But you’ll soon be up to a decent speed as the song progresses. The ending of Sweet Dream is the perfect ending for a workout. As you come to the conclusion of your intense workout, a piano will serenade the end as you feel elated that you finished.

Congratulations, you just completed your 30 minute K-Pop workout! This playlist is perfect for a run outside or going to the gym or whatever else you wish to do during your workout.

What K-Pop songs get you pumped up during a workout? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below 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.

Playlist Sunday: Super Junior Edition

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With the long-awaited release of Super Junior’s Mamacita, there was unanimous agreement that this week’s KPOPme Playlist Sunday would be dedicated to the super group. With seven studio albums since debuting in 2005, Super Junior has something for everyone, and KPOPme’s staff members each have our own favorite song.

Super Junior was and remains my favorite Korean group ever since 2009 when I listened to It’s You. This song was the follow up track to Super Junior’s hugely successful track Sorry Sorry, which I thought was extremely catchy, but wasn’t what did it. It’s You‘s sound, mixing a dance track with a melodious, heartfelt melody, is one of Super Junior’s most underrated songs. Each member of the group has his own time to shine, with clear, distinct vocals that blend into the chorus of the song when they all come together to create a beautiful sound.

This song is also dear to my heart since it’s the last music video that features Super Junior’s 13 primary members (Sorry Sorry Answer was released afterwards, but filmed prior to It’s You). Kim Kibum appears as an actor, and this is the last song that Han Geng (known then as Hankyung) promoted with Super Junior. The song’s poignant, yet dramatic, sound perfectly suited the end of an era for Super Junior.


–Tamar

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In all honesty I do not know a lot of SuJu songs, but I do enjoy their sound. I chose Superman for this week’s playlist for a number of reasons. To begin with, that intro… whoa, so strong and great. It immediately draws you into the song. The beat throughout it is constant and fits perfectly with the guys’ deep voices.

Superman keeps it simple musically so we can fully appreciate the array of vocals throughout the group. Every time I listen to this song I turn up the volume and bob my head to the beat. It may not be their best song vocally or production-wise, but it is definitely worth a listen or two.


—Tara

The first time I roamed through Youtube watching K-Pop videos, all it took for me to become a hardcore fan was one Super Junior music video. I mean, 10+ guys dancing and wearing awesome clothes? Yes please! This groups is definitely my favorite in the genre, and while it’s hard for me to pick favorites, I just have to go with Bittersweet from their previous album Sexy, Free, & Single.

All it took for me to get hooked on this song were Kyuhyun’s breaths at the beginning. Oh my god, my feels! This song is KRY at its best, complemented by Sungmin, of course. Yesung, Ryeowook, and Kyuhyun are some of the best vocalists in all of K-Pop, and deliver a powerful, heartsick ballad with Bittersweet. Even if you don’t understand Korean (or have read the lyrics’ translation, for that matter), you can feel the heartache conveyed in the song. And that’s what singing is all about!


–Alexis

Super Junior has a very special place in my heart. Even if they are not my favorite boy band out there, I truly love what they do. In their recent comeback album MAMACITA, there’s a song that really captured my attention, Evanesce. The song is an uptempo ballad that got me right away.

The start with Kyhyun’s beautiful voice gives me chills, and the chourus comes into the song very smoothly. You can hear in their vocals their suffering when they sing, “tell me why, don’t know why!” The instrumental for the song is amazing –very ‘90s R&B. And that synthesizer really gives me life, which is why I love this song so much.


–Alejandro

What’s your favorite Super Junior song? Be sure to share it with us and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Super Junior Makes Epic Comeback

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Super Junior finally made its long awaited comeback with Mamacita today, making fans worldwide sigh in relief for it being a really good song. Cheesy, of course, but good. Because, even though SM Entertainment released numerous good songs one after another as of late with artists like SHINee, f(x), and EXO, Super Junior seemed to be pushed to the back burner since leader Leeteuk left for the army two years ago. But with Mamacita, SM finally threw SuJu a bone. And, boy it is epic.

The arguably kings of Hallyu went into a semi, not really, but yes really, hiatus following Leeteuk going into the army. Sure, the subgroups still released projects, but Super Junior as a whole waited for their leader to come back, and instead released new material via the subgroups and abroad. They promoted as a whole in Japan and had releases from Super Junior-M, Donghae and Eunhyuk, and even debuted Henry as a soloist. Business, obviously, continued as usual with other SM artists.

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Since 2012, SM has definitely raised the standard in terms of the production behind the music that its groups have put out. EXO’s Growl was so popular and its style is still unmatched in the genre, while Girls’ Generation’s I Got a Boy gave us about three songs in one while exploring different styles, and TVXQ brought big band back with Spellbound, just to name a few. Needless to say, SM has been cooking some good stuff.

On the other hand, Super Junior’s subunit releases during Leeteuk’s absence weren’t on the same level as, say, f(x)’s Rum Pum Pum Pum or even Electric Shock. Super Junior-M’s Break Down was a dubstep mess (in contrast, TVXQ’s Catch Me was better executed), and what was up with the Japanese releases Hero and Blue World? Just, agh! And this is coming from an ELF…

Sure, Henry’s releases were, indeed, good. Fantastic is, well, fantastic, and Trap is just as interesting for their incorporation of different instruments and not relying solely on electronic beats. Super Junior KRY’s releases were flawless, but they are after all a vocal subunit.

Furthermore, the Eunhyuk & Donghae Japanese project relied on the dancing and visuals more than their vocal capabilities (however limited they are, let’s be real here). Motorcycle is great, but those honking sounds and the hook pretty much ruin the flow of the song. Not to mention that they looked like G-Dragon and Taeyang at times during the music video… Similarly, Skeleton is a pretty cool song, but the chorus is, for a lack of a better word, lame.

So fast forward a few months after Swing (which was also not that great) and Fantastic (is Henry still promoting?), we now have Mamacita, and it’s better than anything we could’ve hoped for.

Super Junior’s staple is cheesiness; we all know that and love them because of and in spite of that. Mr. Simple, Spy, Opera, No Other, all cheesy, all great! But it’s inevitable to see how Super Junior’s quality went down after Leeteuk’s leave of absence, and how it picked up with his return. Is there a direct relationship? Probably not, but maybe a correlation; it’s great that they’re back and doing what they do best.

Mamacita is the group’s revindication and product of SM finally sharing the good ish with them, and not giving the “goods” to all to the rest of its acts. The music video? Fun, and surprisingly with a plot (a drama version will be released too!). The sound? A revival of swing mixed with a piano melody and prominent percussion. Cheesy? Of course! But in a good way. Super Junior’s members are all past 25-years-old; they need to follow through with being their adorable dork selves to stay relevant in the business.

According to the Korea Times, Leeteuk explained during a press conference for the track:

Our goal with this new album is to have a good time.

… Which is obviously apparent with Siwon playing sherif, going around town looking for Leeteuk the bandit, with Heechul as the bartender being the real crook, etc.

They also claim that they wish to promote a manlier side to them with this comeback, which is entirely true. There probably isn’t a music video out there where the entire group has looked as attractive and sexy as in Mamacita. Their stylists hit a home run with the looks chosen for each member: Eunhyuk is back to blonde, Kyuhyun has darker hair, Sungmin has that Cruella De Ville hair which weirdly suits him, and Siwon got rid of the moustache… Just kidding, he’s just as hot with it.

All in all, let me just say (in a SHINee opening type of way,) Super Junior’s back! Their album comes out September 1st and their comeback stage will be held on Music Bank on the same day.

What did you think of Mamacita compared to Super Junior’s previous releases? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

5 Fantasy Collaborations with Non K-Pop Artists

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Have you ever had any fantasies about your non K-Pop artist collaborating with your favorite idol? Some collaborations have happened before (the most recent one being Psy and Snoop Dogg with Hangover) but there are not that many out there. Having exposure outside of Korea with this type of collaborations would be beneficial for both artists.

Non K-Pop fans would be exposed to the idol, and if they like the collaboration, they will certainly research more about the artist. Same goes for the idol fandom being acquainted with the foreign artist. Here at KPOPme we want to give you a list of our top five fantasy collaborations that we would love if they happened.

 5. HyunA and Miley Cyrus

hyuna and miley cyrus fantasy collaboration When HyunA made her comeback with Red, Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop was undeniably the inspiration, so that’s how this fantasy came about. Can you imagine an English remix of Red featuring Miley Cyrus? The Wrecking Ball singer would add her signature raspy voice to the song and dance along to the sexy choreography with HyunA, and it would be flawless. The two ladies know what they have and they are not afraid to flaunt it!

4.BEAST’S Junhyung, Lana Del Rey, & Woodkid

Junhyung Woodkid and Lana Del Rey Fantasy Collaboration Lana Del Rey and Woodkid have previously collaborated together plenty of times, like the time he directed her video for Born To Die or when he sang with Lana her hit song Video Games at one of his first showcases. When you put together Lana Del Rey’s vocals with the raspiness of Woodkid’s voice, it creates a very special collaboration. Add Junhyung from BEAST’s powerful yet soft rapping skills and his creative mind, and we have a very interesting song. Plus, this trio could definitely create a very visually stunning video filled with beautiful imagery.

When Junhyung came out with his solo track FLOWER, you could see how much he got involved in the creative process. He loves captivating visuals, and his video is full of that. The rapper took a very artsy route for his solo project, making a collaboration with Lana and Woodkid ideal.

I can see this trio creating a very sad and powerful ballad, where Lana is the lead, Woodkid adds his raspy voice to the chorus and directs the video, while Junhyung also raps and produces the song. Here’s Woodkid’s video for I Love You.

3. HAIM featuring Lee Hi and Lim Kim

Lee Hi Lim Kim and HAIM fantasy Collaboration American pop rock band HAIM is the work of three sisters: Alaba, Danielle, and Este Haim. Their distinctive music style is a mixture of ’70s rock and ‘90s R&B, captivating the hearts of a lot of fans around the world. On their song The Wire, the ladies display their vocals, which would be perfect for a collaboration remix with powerful vocalists Lee Hi and Lim Kim.

The song is really fun, and fits very well with Lee Hi’s and Lim Kim’s personalities. Hearing their vocals mixed with the Haim sisters’ would be amazing. Picture Lee Hi and Lim Kim adding their ad libs during the chorus and/or have their own verses before the climax of the song. So good!

2. 2NE1 , Lady Gaga, & Beyonce

2NE1 Beyonce and Lady Gaga Fantasy Collaboration We can only dare to dream, but imagine having 2NE1, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce on the same song. It would certainly make the world stop or crash the internet. Even if 2NE1 is very popular around the world, if a collaboration like this were to happen, the exposure it would bring them would be immense. Lady Gaga and Beyonce are two of the most talented performers out there. Together with 2NE1’s stage presence and talent, it would make an epic song .

Gaga and Queen B have already worked together before on Gaga’s smash hit Telephone and Beyonce’s Video Phone, so we already know how well they compliment each other. Bring 2NE1 into the mix, and the potential track would be further complemented with Park Bom’s power vocals (which would balance very well with the mega stars’ voices), Minzy’s and Dara’s fierce voices on the bridges, and CL could smash everyone with her rapping (joined by Beyonce, of course).

Since their song I Am The Best was the one that brought them international recognition, they could come out with I’m The Best Part 2 featuring Lady Gaga and Beyonce. The track would be very fun and very truthful to the style that has made 2NE1 appeal to a lot of fans: strong lyrics, easy to follow choreography à la Bad Romance, and amazing fashion.

And while we’re talking about music here, I’m already picturing the music video… The ladies would all be styled by Jeremy Scott and Donatella Versace –in their own creations, of course. All of them have been muses to these fashion designers, so the idea is not far-fetched. In addition, who could say no to a 10 minute long music video with this army of fierce women?

1. G-Dragon and GRIMES GD and Grimes Fantasy Collaboration This is a collaboration that I personally have been waiting for desperately. Experimental Canadian singer-songwriter and visual artist Claire Boucher, known as Grimes, is an avid J-Pop and K-Pop fan. Furthermore, her music and aesthetic has a lot of influence from multiple Asian acts. She is a fan of BIGBANG and G-Dragon, having interacted with the leader himself on Twitter for all the world to witness their first exchange of words (which was every fangirl’s dream!). G-Dragon and Grimes Talk On Twitter Later, Grimes took to Twitter again to express how excited she was to meet him for the first time. Grimes Tweets Excitement Before Meeting G-Dragon Grimes is rumored to have worked together with GD on a project, and was even allegedly escorted by Mr. Kwon Ji Yong himself to her show in Hongdae.

Them potentially working together raise so many questions: What on Earth could these two amazingly creative and innovative persons come up with? And why is it not out?! Grimes is known for doing pop melodies that are filled with dark undertones and very obscure lyrics that range from feminism, alcoholism, love, and sexual assault.

One wonders how her creative ideas could pair with G-Dragon’s equally creative and twisted mind. Both of their imagination to create outstanding visuals would make the perfect collaboration. And whether the end product is a remix of one of their songs or an entirely new one, it will surely be amazing. g-dragon and grimes Here’s Grimes’ Genesis,  just in case you are not familiar with her work.

Everyone has different tastes in music outside of K-Pop, so do you have any fantasies about Korean and foreign artists working together on a track? Let us know in the comments below.  We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Danger

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KPOPme’s Playlist Sunday series features different themes, and this week, we picked a single word to describe these songs: Danger. Every once in a while, we all feel it, a sense of danger.

This summer’s releases from BTS and SHINee’s Taemin were both called Danger, so there was no avoiding this week’s theme. In addition to the two recent releases, KPOPme‘s staff included songs by 2PM, f(x), and BoA that aptly fit into the theme.

Being a die-hard Shawol, I got very excited when SM Entertainment announced that Taemin from SHINee was their next artist to get a solo album. ACE is the name of his first mini-album, and his first single, Danger, was the perfect track for Taemin. He has always been a fan of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, and I love how this songs and video is almost like an homage to him.

The song has a very cool beat, and there are different genres mixed in that create a very unique sound. We all are used to see Taemin as the cute maknae from SHINee, but here, he gives us a very cool bad boy image. His incredible dancing talent really makes the amazing choreography shine, and you need to see the live stage for this song to fully appreciate it! The “Bbam, bbam, bbam” part is very addicting. And as he says in the song “It’s my showtime,” and it definitely is. Taemin’s time to shine is here.


—Alejandro

Continuing on with the theme for the week, my choice is BTS’ Danger. The boys perfectly continue the theme from Intro: What Am I Yo You as they explore more of their relationship woes in Danger. The song begins will a somber piano and a haunting chorus, and then, all of sudden, we get BTS’ hip-hop with some beat boxing.

The song is calling out their so-called girlfriend like no one but BTS can do. They hit hard right from the beginning with Rap Monster’s hard-hitting rap, and Jungkook adds some verses as well. It then goes into Jin’s gentle vocals, as the builds throughout Jimin’s part, and then we get the hook/chorus, the meat of the song, with rock-inspired instrumentation. At first listen, Danger was not what I expected. But as I listened to it a second time, the song grew on me immensely, and the video shows off BTS’ amazingly in sync dance moves.


– Tara

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f(x) definitely was in danger when they released Pinocchio, as they fell victim to the throngs of love and fascination with their sweetheart. The song’s title seems to refer to their inability to confess the truth of their obsession with their love, and that’s quite a dangerous situation. Besides the meaning behind this song, it’s quite addicting and just a great listen, especially if you need a quick picker-upper for your day.

The music video might not make that much sense, but the dance is really fun! It’s not the most difficult choreography, especially in the chorus, so it’s an enjoyable experience trying to follow along. While the fashion styling was a little interesting at some parts, the ladies still rocked this concept and it’s one of their most iconic songs.


–Thuc

Taking the danger concept a little further, what about dangerous people and situations? This week, I picked 2PM’s Dangerous out of their album Grown, which showcased a more mature side of the guys than in previous releases. Dangerous talks about how much they want a girl, and how this desire is, well, dangerous. .

The track is an easy listen not cluttered with over-produced sounds. It complements the guys’ vocals and image perfectly –that whole tough guy with a soft heart concept, that is. I definitely enjoy this song when I want something more calm than, say, Hands Up.


—Alexis

In celebration of her tenth anniversary in 2010, BoA released her album Hurricane Venus, and on that album is one of my favorite BoA songs, Dangerous. The electric style of the song was conducive for the singer to show off her amazing dancing skills. With a heavy beat, BoA’s throaty voice declares how she learned from her “dangerous experience” with a guy.

BoA exudes power during the performance, with her dance moves being both feminine and powerful. The song is heavily auto-tuned, but with solo artists, it’s usually easier to tell when someone is singing live. That’s the case with this performance; BoA’s live singing feels almost electric, as if the song’s style is just meant to meld with her voice. When people say that K-Pop’s girl groups are just sexy or cute, BoA’s Dangerous definitely make it clear that female singers can perform just as powerful stages as any male idol.


—Tamar

What’s your favorite danger song?  Let us know in the comment section below. Don’t forget to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, andBloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.