Weekly K-Pop Faves: June 27 – July 3

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With summer in full swing, K-pop acts have started to bring their A game with all their releases. It’s currently the time of year where the market is oversaturated with songs from everyone and their mommas. And while artists have more competition for sales and music shows, the fans enjoy every second of it. Here are our faves from the week:

“Shut Up” by Unnies (Uploaded June 30)

When I saw Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany share a video on Instagram featuring Min Hyo Rin and at JYP Entertainment’s building, I knew this was going to be amazing. Add in Ra Mi Ran, Kim Sook, Jessi, and Hong Jin Kyung, the other cast members of the show “Unnies Slam Dunk,” and I had a feeling this would be a big summer hit. The Unnies, or older sisters, appear together on the variety show and the girl group was formed to fulfill Min Hyo Rin’s dream of being in a girl group. Bringing in grade A producers like Park Jin Young and Yoo Hee Yeol, the song shows us just how fierce these maturer entertainers are and why they have survived the cutthroat Korean entertainment world. The Jazzy hip-pop number “Shut Up” is topping charts in South Korea, so maybe we’ll see even more collaborations between industry insiders… Plus, I feel like it’s been awhile since Park Jin Young has graced us with his “JYP… Introducing XYZ” intro.

— Tamar

Also on KultScene: The K-Pop Phoenix: The New Generation of Girl Groups

“Night” by Taeyeon (Released June 27)

Taeyeon has proven herself a solo artist to be reckoned with in the future. She’s been improving with every release, and latest album “Why” is a smash. Album closer “Night” offers something different to SM’s love of house music these. A groovy slice of R&B, it smooths over your ears with Hammond organs. Taeyeon’s vocals — which I at first thought were generic — are bending around a number of styles and none better than here. She speaks softly in the verses, wails in the choruses, and whistles her ad libs with gusto.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: The Unreality of Reality TV Reaches K-Dramas

“NICE (VERY NICE)” by SEVENTEEN (Released July 3)

After “Mansae” and “Adore U,” I was keeping an eye out for SEVENTEEN. But then their latest releases rolled in and were complete lackluster. I lost a bit of hope. The boys had come out strong with their debut, but “Pretty U” wasn’t up to what I thought they were about. So you can imagine my delight this morning when I woke up to “NICE (VERY NICE),” which embodies everything they displayed with their first two singles: a familiar yet fresh perspective backed by the combination of the members’ individual talents. Matching outfits aside, “NICE (VERY NICE)” is flawless; from the funny music video involving a creepy/stalkery crush, to the rollercoaster of sounds in the song. “NICE (VERY NICE)” does well what EXO’s “Wolf” and Girls’ Generation “I Got a Boy” made a mess out of (#SorryNotSorry). SEVENTEEN’s song, while chaotic, is cohesive because, even at Woozi’s slow verse, is still fun and playful. I’m officially back on the bandwagon again.

— Alexis

What’s your favorite song of the week? Share your picks and thoughts with us 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.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: June 20 – 26

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Every day there is new music coming out of South Korea and each week our writer’s pick some of their favorite releases to feature in our weekly K-pop faves playlist. This week, Kultscene’s staff discovered some songs from a rising boy band, the competitors on this season of ”Show Me The Money”, and a surprise hit from summer’s favorite girl group.

“Emptiness” by MADTOWN (Released June 21)

For those who’ve listened to MADTOWN before, we can all agree that “Emptiness” was quite the unexpected change for the idol group. Having debuted with a lively and swagged out track “Yolo,” to then following up with a high energy dance track “New World” and funky “OMGT,” to see them transition over to a mellow ballad was rather refreshing. “Emptiness” showcases tranquility and sorrow, both of which are things we haven’t seen with MADTOWN’s past comebacks. There are moments of despair, moments that make you want to clench your chest due to a surge of heartache (yes, Jota, I feel your pain), to moments where all you want to do is run into a significant ones arms.

–Tam

Also on KultScene: Let’s Discuss: Park Yoochun & The Changing Perception Of Leading Men in K-Dramas c

“Comfortable feat. Simon D and Gray” by One (Uploaded June 24)

Despite the fact that I’m way behind on “Show Me the Money 5” (no pressure, lovely subbers!), that doesn’t shield me from videos from the performances popping up on my news feed. Such was the case with One, [Spoiler alert] who went on the AOMG team with Simon D and Gray. Other than his looks, I don’t care much for One. However, who can resist Gray and Simon D’s vocals and rap? I know I can’t, since I clicked on the video as soon as I realized they were both on the track. It’s unusual to see these two established rappers and producers singing sweetly at the beginning, but interesting nonetheless. I still think they’re better at rapping, but I now know what a Gray and Simon D ballad sounds like.

— Alexis

”I Like That” by Sistar (Released June 21)

If you had told me last week that I would ever be a fan of Sistar, I would have laughed at you. Their songs had never done it for me. Then came “I Like That,” the group’s latest song. With nearly 5 million views on YouTube in a little under a week, it’s clear that I’m not that only one that likes this song. Even though it’s less upbeat than their more recent hits, “I Like That” takes the best of Sistar’s sexy side seen in “Alone” and “Give It to Me” and combines it with the catchiness of their summer hits like “Touch My Body” and “Shake It.” The song is sultry to the extreme, but has a hook-filled chorus and also incorporates a cheesy cheer number halfway through to ensure it’s addictiveness. Combined with the music video, this is Sistar at their very best.

— Tamar

What was your fave K-pop song this week? 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.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: June 13-19

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After last week’s domination by EXO, the K-pop scene remained a bit sleepy this week with only a few songs coming out over the past few days. But that’s fine- our writer’s still were able to pick out a few new releases that all K-pop fans should be aware of.

DIA “On The Road” Released 14 June

DIA’s “My Friend’s Boyfriend” was a seriously underrated gem of last year. Thankfully with help from “Produce 101” and member Chaeyeon, the group gaining traction on the charts. To capitalize on this they released “On The Road.” “On The Road” is reminiscent of GFriend’s cute energetic sound and look. It’s hard to properly criticize DIA for this similarity, given that it’s expected for copies of popular artists and GFriend aren’t even the originators of this sound. What DIA do bring to this sound is a distinct sense of humour in that weird opening to the video. Maybe it’s not supposed to be funny, but it is. I also love the vocal rhythms in the chorus and the rap.

–Joe

Also on KultScene: Podcast Guide For Fans of All Things Korean Pop Culture c

Younha “Get It?” feat. HA:TFELT and Cheetah

If you’re a fan of retro alt-rock and girl power, then here you are. The fierce trio put together this synth pop attack on men who break their hearts. And it’s glorious. This take-no-shit single (and video) is playful in its aggressiveness and sounds like something straight out of the ‘80s. While an atypical sound for Younha, the styles of each of the three artists meld together as they demand mercy- Younha’s sweet tone contrast with the sultrier style of HA:TFELT (Wonder Girls’ Yeeun, who sports amazing purple hair in the video) and Cheetah’s tongue-in-cheek rap. (That said, I’m a huge fan of Younha’s former musical sound so I’m still a tiny bit saddened by the extreme shift.) The allusions to con artists and literary characters are something more K-pop songs definitely need. Hopefully this trio will reunite for similarly-styled songs because this was wonderful.

Also, I want to give a shout out to Bada’s special 20th anniversary release, “Flower” feat. Kanto.

–Tamar

What was your fave K-pop song this week? 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.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: June 5-12

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Let’s just admit it. No matter how much we praise the K-pop songs released this week, they will all be overshadowed by EXO. Not to say their singles are the best, but they definitely have all the attention. Nevertheless, here are a couple other of our faves this week.

“Heaven” by EXO (Released June 8)

This track from EXO’s third album “EX’ACT” stands out instantly amongst the darker tracks in the album and is alluring from the get go thanks to Chen’s honey voice. The smooth transitions between the raps and the vocal parts in “Heaven” flow perfectly with the constant melody and rhythm of the song, making for an enjoyable listen. The light-heartedness of the instrumentals suits the sweet and cheerful lyrics of the song to a tee.

— Anna

Also on KultScene: Tips on How to Maximize Your KCON 2016 Experience

“Heartbreak Hotel feat. Simon Dominic” by Tiffany (Released June 9)

SM Entertainment’s Station project has been an interesting thing to follow. Most releases have ranged from generic to weak. At its best though, it offers some of their artists a chance to shine by themselves (Amber is still trying, bless her heart). With “I Just Wanna Dance,” Tiffany already proved herself capable, but with “Heartbreak Hotel,” she keeps up the pace. Her voice is at its best in the mellow verses, containing a melancholic tinge that she rarely gets to emote. Along with simple piano melodies and shimmering synths this space of torn hearts is created well. I can even forgive the rap because Simon D is good and the beat changes effectively before kicking back in before he finishes.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: K-Pop Reactioner MRJKPOP talks YouTube, Producing, & Analyzing Korean Music

“Stalker” by U-KISS (Released June 6)

U-KISS break my heart. For such a long career filled with strong releases, they should be more popular than they are. But the resilience and innovation shown in “Quit Playing” is back with “Stalker.” The song is reminiscent of what Timbaland was doing for artists like Justin TImberlake in the mid-00s, and I live for it. Not to mention that each member was given the perfect part for their vocal range, so the song has no low moment. I especially love how they didn’t butcher it with a rap (sorry Eli). It’s a damn shame that they put out this song on the same week as EXO and has not even reached 200 thousands views in the six days since released. U-KISS will forever be an overlooked gem.

— Alexis

What was your fave K-pop song this week? 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.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 23-29

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The final (full) week of May brought a lot of returns from some of our team’s favorite artists. Girl groups, boy groups, solo artists, and a wide variety of genres are represented in this week’s KultScene weekly K-pop faves.

“Windy Day” by Oh My Girl (Released May 25)

With “Windy Day”, Oh My Girl threatened us with a most dreaded coffee shop ballad. I nearly stopped listening after twenty seconds due to intense disappointment, especially this being the best and most exuberant of all rookie girl groups. I perked up by Yooa and Binnie’s angelic pre-chorus and was absolutely hooked by the Middle East-inspired break after the chorus. Between these parts, the song is driven by Oh My Girl’s perpetual dynamism. First by the chorus vocals in which seven of the members participate in and then by those wonderful strings (might be an Oud) and choreography. No group has exuded such youthful apathy towards musical norms quite like Oh My Girl. They are the rightful heirs to Girls’ Generation’s throne.

— Joe

“Life in Color” by Beenzino (Released May 26)

After the lackluster that was “We Are Going To,” it’s comforting to see that Beenzino is back at it making up for the lost momentum after his “Up All Night” album. It’s no secret that Beenzino is #artsy: one of his most artistic music videos is last year’s “Break.” Continuing the concept and, with another Digipedi music video, comes “Life in Color.” The track is more on the experimental, hypebeast hip-hop side rather than the Southern rap stuff Illionaire regularly does, which makes it that more refreshening. Korea is all about making rap music that doesn’t sound like rap music (mainly slow tempo tracks with a singer at the chorus), but Beenzino mastered this practice by creating something interesting and new while keeping it upbeat. I for one am now highly anticipating his new album (which drops tomorrow!) and hope we see more songs on par with “Life in Color” rather than “Break” and “We Are Going To.”

— Alexis

“so-so” by Baek A Yeon (Released May 23)

I accidentally came across this song while scrolling through Youtube. Baek A Yeon’s soothing vocals blended with the soft melody is easy on ears. This ballad track has R&B and soul effect to it which portrays the feelings of being single and lovesick. The lyrics are quite relatable and hold some bitter reality to them. The subdued effect of the song is neutralized by using pastel shades for the video. The music video has a cute concept and is pleasing to eyes. Baek A Yeon’s “So So” is skyrocketing the music charts, like her previous hits.

— Sana

”Monodrama” by Lay (EXO) (Released May 26)

I really missed hearing R&B from EXO, and even though he only makes up a ninth of the group, Lay’s “Monodrama” was enough to satiate that musical craving. Performed in his native tongue, this song is exactly what I imagine when I think of Chinese R&B. And like all quintessential R&B slow jams, this too makes generous use of layered claps and sensual guitars, giving it a very classic, old school sound. I don’t have to read into the lyrics (I mean, I did) to understand that this isn’t exactly a celebratory song because the instrumentals more than expressed the heartache that “Monodrama” is all about. Lay may not be the strongest vocally in his group, but with this comeback he definitely was able to brandish more than he did when he had to share lines with eight other members. Those several laudatory high notes alone probably made this one of SM Station’s best releases yet.

— Shelley

I was thoroughly absorbed in the music video for “All In” when I heard it the first time, to the degree that I honestly missed much of the song and had to go back to listen again. This music video, which appears to set up a dystopian trilogy featuring some of the members of Monsta X committing suicide, had me thinking of Nazi Germany, The Lord of the Flies, Japanese-occupied Korea, The Walking Dead, yaoi manga, and at least ten other K-pop music videos from the past decade. All at the same time. That said, because of the convoluted plot I feel like the music video honestly didn’t suit the song. As with all Monsta X singles, “All In” has an aggressive sound. Despite the pounding chorus and horn-heavy raps, the song isn’t actually about war or anger, so I feel like it should be accompanied by a music video about sports or some other difficult to achieve goal rather than a fight-for-life plot. The lyrics reflect being all in a relationship; translating this to being all in on a team or a competition makes sense while depicting it through revolution seems off the mark. But, back to the song, within two listens this pounding beat got stuck in my head and I really enjoyed the raps; It’s their most diverse single to date, while still retaining their specific style.


—Tamar

What song was your favorite of the week? 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.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 15-22

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As summer nears in, K-pop releases are turning up the tempo. So for the faves songs of the week, most of them got us dancing and vibing. Check them out!

“10 Seconds” by AOA (Released on May 16)

I think everyone was at least a little bit disappointed by the AOA’s comeback “Good Luck”. It doesn’t seem to have the growing power of “Heart Attack” either so we can be thankful that the mini album has a couple gems. Best of the bunch is “10 Seconds”, a glistening synth pop track that plays up AOA’s strengths. It’s the perfect soundtrack to an 80s erotic film with a slower pace that allows for sexier vocals and choreography than anything AOA have done yet. Main vocalists Choa and Yuna shine with whistling ad libs while the other members need not exert themselves, favouring sensual whispers.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: Madeleine Music CEO Dongsoo Lee Shares About His Hopes & Motivations [INTERVIEW]

“All In” by Monsta X (Released May 17)

I’ll be honest, I didn’t have much interest for Monsta X when they debuted (at the time, I was juggling way too many boy groups to deal with another one.) But after seeing then at KCON LA last summer, I can’t help but pinch myself for not having given them the time of day. The groups’ latest release “All In” has entrancing beats from beginning to end, making it impossible to sit still. The song only gets better and better with each listen. Both rappers in Monsta X, Jooheon and I.M add a cool pizzazz and zing to the song making it all the more intense, to go along with the cinematic music video. Watching “All In” is like watching a dramatic post apocalypse movie with a whole lot of great visuals; both in structures and members wise.

— Tam

“Aphrodite” by B.I.G (Released May 16)

I honestly don’t know anything about B.I.G. Since I had included one of their songs in a Misheard Lyrics article in the past, when their video for “Aphrodite” popped up in YouTube, it caught my attention. I can’t say I loved this song or anything, but having zero expectations, it did leave a good impression on me. While the music video and their overall styling seems like something we’ve already seen from other groups throughout the years (I thought of History, for some reason), the song was refreshing in that in evoked a past time in K-pop. The song isn’t swarmed by EDM or trap or even your now standard #Swag hip-hop beats. I was also entranced by the cool contrast in the member’s voices; the vocal line has a high pitch while the rappers have deep voices. I especially like how the song doesn’t go hard a la Monsta X or iKON, but stays perfectly situated within the pop realm where the hip-hop beat is merely an accessory to the overall sound. I don’t think “Aphrodite” is the song that will catapult B.I.G to K-pop royalty, but it’s enough to keep me coming back to see how they’re doing.

— Alexis

Also on KultScene: 5 Tracks To Get You Ready for Sungha Jung’s L’Atelier Concert

“I Remember (How Are You These Days)” by KNK (Released May 16)

If it weren’t for the fact that I scrambling to look for something to write about for our Weekly K-pop Faves this week, I probably would have glossed over KNK’s surprise mid-tempo R&B track “I Remember (How Are You These Days).” It’s a shame really that the group chose not to promote the special release; the easy piano melody and friendly guitars makes it a perfect addition to any springtime themed playlists. It doesn’t go hard like their debut single “Knock” did, and it may be a safe song, but it’s pleasant enough to be enjoyed on its own. The longing vocals, added onto the similar instrumentals and sentimental lyrics pondering old love, reminds me a lot of the more ballad stuff that groups like BEAST has been putting out recently (that is, if they were still active). Throw in a few synths, and you just made yourself a spitting image of BEAST’s “At That Place.” Not to discount the song or the group, though. Despite still being in their awkward rookie group phase, KNK has proven in the past with their covers and now with this that their vocal capacity is anything but amateur.

— Shelley

“Save Me” by BTS (Released May 15)

BTS experimented and blended various genres for their latest album “Young Forever.” I am absolutely in love with the whole trilogy of “the Most Beautiful Moment in Life,” signature trademark of BTS and makes them stand out from the rest of the K-pop industry. “Save Me” is a sentimental track that holds various musical influences. This song consists of various EDM sub-genres from trance to techno and blending in with euro dance. The lyrics emphasize on redemption and desperation of love. For the music video, I was expecting something similar to “I NEED U,” sentimental and pessimistic. But “Save Me” is a dance choreography video with rhythmic moves. The video is shooted on a deserted landscape and gives a gloomy look, but it is aesthetically pleasing. The apparel is simple and elegant similar to the style of the “I NEED U” music video. “Save Me” is a soothing track with catchy chorus which is accompanied synth whistles that create an atmosphere of melancholy. All I can say is that this song is entirely different from “Fire” and I cannot get enough of it.

— Sana

What was your favorite K-pop song this week? 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.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 8-14

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This week, we saw a slew of K-pop group and soloist comebacks and debuts. And while this column is all about picking faves, here are the ones that impressed us the most.

“Flower” by Subin (Released May 12)

Solo digital singles by lead vocalist members of idol groups released with little fanfare are my worst nightmare. Nine times out of ten they are the dullest form of ballad you can find. Companies obviously trying to capitalize on their groups’ downtime with a cheap and easy song that could catch on. All of that makes me appreciate Dal Shabet’s Subin so much more for her new track “Flower”. You could probably call it a ballad but “Flower” has enough going for it to make it not just worthwhile but my favourite song of the week. It’s the perfect summer slow jam with a number of musical flairs that bring it up a level. Joe Hisaishi-style pianos and reverbing fingersnaps make up the subdued rhythm of the track with organs and guitars adding the groove. Vocally as well it does not just go for the big moments, Subin whispers over the verses and has a kind of conversational style for the chorus refrain that immediately catches the ear.

— Joe

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“Talk” by Tiffany (Released May 10)

I’ve never really cared for Tiffany. I can appreciate some of her parts within a Girls’ Generation song, but her voice is a bit… forced… for me. However, every preconception and bias and prejudice went out the window when I found out Nicola Roberts from the epic now-defunct British girl group Girls Aloud had written “Talk.” Honestly, it could be any idol girl singing this song and I’d like it. However, I will give Tiffany some credit for her interpretation, for she does a sufficient good job on the sexy/longing front. Nicola has been writing songs for other artists for years, much to my dismay, but having her and K-pop collide is mind-blowing and I’m here for it.

— Alexis

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“Nodding” by Woohyun (Released May 8)

If Sungkyu got experimental on “27” (one of my favorite albums of 2015), Woohyun was set up to be the total opposite. And it is pure ballad perfection. Woohyun’s vocals have always been a mainstay of INFINITE’s songs, and his solo debut song “Nodding” is lyrical expressiveness at its best. His range is all over the place, bringing him to the highest falsettos at points, as he sings of the loss of love. A bit banal of a topic, but Woohyun’s sweet tone is like a warm blanket being wrapped around you when you’re feeling heartbroken. And the music video is so beautifully shot it deserves multiple viewings.

— Tamar

What was your favorite K-pop release this week? Share your picks and thoughts with us in the comment section and make sure to subscribe to the site, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 1-7

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“U” cover by Seventeen (May 5)

When it comes to Super Junior covers just about every other boy band, and some girl groups, has covered “Sorry Sorry” at some point. Yes, it’s an iconic song with an iconic dance by an iconic group that represents an iconic time in K-pop history, but it’s also a very predictable choice. “U” isn’t exactly a refreshing song to cover either, but done by Seventeen, well, it changes things. No other group can cover Suju better than them, really, since they have the chops, numbers, and talent. I even dare say that they’re an upgraded product of the Super Junior model — and this is coming from an ELF! Because even if they didn’t change the song’s arrangement much or the choreography, it still feels like Seventeen put their own flavor in it. I would’ve appreciated an original rap, but the purist in me also likes it as is. This massive group is proving that they deserve to be one of the next generation’s top tiers and I’m looking forward to even more Super Junior covers.

— Alexis

“Oh Ma Mind” by MIXX (released 3 may)

“I’m a sinner captured in a cage called you”

It’s not a sin to desire MIXX, nor do you need this boy to be your hero. You’re not a little princess, just a regular princess who can ride a white horse just as much as a prince. Tired gender tropes aside, MIXX have crafted maybe the best debut of the year so far (in a year of few great debuts). “Oh Ma Mind” is one of those classic K-pop tracks where it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. It mixes vocal and musical styles to create something they can call their own. The vocals are typical for a cutesy girl group, fragile and sugar laced. The music is a funky mix of R&B and tropical synths that gleefully bounce. It also has a wonderfully fetishistic music video directed by production team of the moment, Digipedi. Given their involvement, a closer look at those gender stereotypes might yield some interesting results. But that’s an issue for another time. For now, let’s just bop and play some tennis.

–Joe

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“Re-Bye” by Akdong Musician (released 3 May)

This comeback by K-pop’s favourite sibling duo may be two years late, but the wait was definitely worthwhile. One of two title songs off of their latest album “Spring Vol. 1/Puberty”, “Re-Bye” is an addictive track that fully showcases little sister Suhyun’s great and improved vocals. The accompanying music video is also a delight to watch, set in an opera house with the two siblings as undercover detectives. It’s both playful and thrilling, part of which can be credited to the arrangement of the piece and also to the vocal ability of the siblings. Their growth over the past two years is extremely evident in the maturity of their album as a whole and this was one of YG Entertainment’s best releases so far. Even though they came back at a time with a lot of K-pop competition, Akdong Musician stands out and will continue to do so in the industry. Here’s looking forward to the next release!

–Anna

“Green Window” by Akdong Musician/AKMU (released 3 May)

Like Anna, I’m another one who is a big fan of AKMU’s album, “Spring Vol. 1/Puberty.” But while the singles were decently solid, it was the b-side “Green Window” where I truly think the brother-sister duo shines. I really hope that they create a third music video to match the upbeat sound of “Green Window,” which I personally think thing is the song that most fits the album’s springtime theme. The song’s production recalls AKMU’s debut album “Play” with it’s almost juvenile instrumentation and hopeful lyrics; it’s almost impossible to listen to “Green Window” without feeling inspired. The song’s rainbow motif reflects the relative age of AKMU (both siblings are in their teens) while the lyrics themselves show insight into the human condition. The song is pretty fast paced throughout, but the staccato build into the bridge’s harmony and eventual synth sound is just inspired.


–Tamar

What was your favorite song this week? 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.

Weekly K-pop Faves: April 24-30

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This week, some of the major contenders for K-pop’s biggest boy and girl group acts from the new generation made comebacks. As summer nears in, the competition is just starting. And while we may or may not be feeling these comebacks, here are our faves from this week we can’t stop listening to.

“This Love” cover by GOT7 (Apr. 28)

This. Performance.

Yep, I’m ready to renounce GOT7’s cute and playful concept if they go the sexy beast route they displayed on their cover of SHINHWA’s “This Love” on “M! Countdown.” This would’ve been everything had JB been on it (he’s recovering from a hip injury), but the rest of the kids still pulled off an amazing performance without him. However, JB’s exclusion was a great opportunity for the rest of the members to shine — and boy did they! Youngjae was indisputably the star vocalist, since he got all of the high pitches and harmonies leading up to the chorus. Yugyeom also got some velvety croons in there and while Jr. left much to be desired vocally, I forgive him since his main task was body rolling. I can see what they were going for having Jackson sing in a deep, raspy voice, but he still has a long way to go vocally. And as for Mark………………. Y’all, I’m just going to say he killed it. Bam Bam also, both choreography and rap-wise.

While it was only a cover, I can only hope we see more of this sexy, “If You Do” spin that we NOW know works with them. Their JYP sexiness a la 2PM is finally showing, and I love it.

Also on KultScene: 5 Things To Know About Toronto Kpop Con 2016

— Alexis

“Exquisite” by CocoSori (Apr. 29)

That Babymetal influence. CocoSori a female duo made up of….Coco and Sori look like your average cutesy group, but thanks to an injection of heavy metal they have their own flavour. “Exquisite” straight looks and sounds like Orange Caramel but halfway through the first verse the screaming starts with some clips of a weird cat. Even without the screamo parts, this is an aggressively hypnotic track. Guitars withstand the whole song and the vocals while cute most of the time are delivered at unintelligible speeds. The song and video were made to get across everything about this group in three and a half minutes. In reality, nothing about this group justifies having heavy metal a part of their concept. All it does is help them stand out alongside their their hyper videos that feature giant cats with shiny eyes, lots of cosplay, and space warps.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: Spiritual K-Pop: Lovelyz & Berry Good Find Their Destinies

“Tinker Bell” (April 26)

While April hasn’t really managed to stand out amongst the fierce competition of K-pop girl groups, “Tinker Bell” changed that for me. While I wasn’t expecting much during my first listen, I was caught off guard by a build around 50 seconds into the song that for some reason resonated with me. April is still very much a girl group (emphasis on the girl), but “Tinker Bell” comes off as sweet and fitting for the spring weather without being too juvenile or overly saccharine. The song falls safely into the genre of bubblegum pop, but has electronic influences and string elements that combine together to create a bright song that is perfectly suitable for the bright fairies of April. And, as for the video, I absolutely adore the Disney themes and that choreography with the star is just inspired.

— Tamar

What was your favorite song this week and the whole of April? 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 B.A.P Member Are You? + Live On Earth World Tour North America Info

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B.A.P Live On Earth 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today, April 14, is the kick off show of B.A.P‘s Live on Earth 2016 World Tour in North America. San Francisco’s BABYs (official fans) will be the first to greet the sextet to the country, while K-pop aficionados in Los Angeles, Vancouver Dallas, Chicago, Toronto, New York City, and Atlanta will also have the chance to meet B.A.P throughout the month. And for all of those BABYs in Mexico City, B.A.P will have one show in Mexico at the start of next month. Brought to the U.S in coordination by Powerhouse, the tour marks B.A.P’s first stateside appearances since a legal dispute that ended, happily, with B.A.P remaining as a whole and putting out the music fans have come to love.

So ahead of their concert, find out now which member of B.A.P you are most like!

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Tickets are still on sale for the tour through Ticketmaster, AXS, and Powerhouse, so if you want to see B.A.P while they are in this hempisphere you still have a bit of time to make your plans!

B.A.P’s 2016 North American Tour Dates

April 14- San Francisco, The Warfield

April 17- Los Angeles, Microsfot Theater

April 19- Vancouver, Orpheum

April 21- Dallas, Verizon Theater

April 23- Chicago, Rosemont Theater

April 24- Toronto, Massey Hall

April 25- New York, Playstation Theater

April 27- Atlanta, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

May 1 – Mexico City, Pepsi Center WTC

Did you get who you thought it’d be? Are you going to any of B.A.P’s concerts or have you seen them in the past?? 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.