While school’s getting under way for many of our readers, K-pop’s also starting off again. Although there were some more high profile releases, a few of our writer’s fell in love with new music by Clazziquai and K-Tigers. Take a listen and let us know what other songs we missed from the past week!
“#curious” by Clazziquai (Released Sep. 5)
After being absent for two years, Clazziquai and their smooth vibes are back with “Curious.” The track is the first single off their upcoming full-length album “Travelers” and keeps it simple by focusing on the feel-good melody. The trio is famous for their synth-y, groovy songs and this is no different, nor does it disappoint. It’s a nice little preview of what’s to come from the album, and I can’t hardly wait.
— Alexis
“Arirang” by K-Tigers feat. Eun Ga Eun & Microdot (Released Sep. 5)
Korea’s popular Taekwondo performance team K-Tigers began releasing original songs earlier this year, but “Arirang” is the first one to capture my attention. Based on the Korean folktale of the same name, the electronica hip-hop offering is the best K-Tigers have released so far and I’d love to see more like it. The powerful song gives the athletes a space to perform their choreographed moves (and a few members a chance to sing along with the lilting melody) but it’s featured artist Eun Ga Eun who steals the show. Her vocals act as the emotional backbone of the song and brings the power vocals that the team itself has yet to develop, although some of the members do show potential. (And if they were to just pull the vocalists and Eun into a group, I’d be alright with that too…)
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— Tamar What’s your favorite song from last week? Did it make our playlist? 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.
Like every week, this weekend our writers put their heads together and picked their favorite K-Popreleased of the past week. Soloist Jay Park came back with a new song, Nu’est returned with their second album of the year, and I.O.I added a track to the drama, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.”
“Me Like Yuh” by Jay Park (Released Sep. 1)
If you’re able to get through the cringey line of “I’d even dye my hair blond for ya, I can be your Justin Beiber,” “Me Like Yuh” is actually a pretty dope song. Detracting from what’s trendy in South Korea (trap, mainly), Jay Park taps into the Caribbean/deep house hybrid sound that is hot right now Stateside — all thanks to Cha Cha Malone, of course. For this fresh track, Jay refrains from rapping and serenades his love interest in his signature high-pitched voice. It;s more in tune with “Nana” rather than “Mommae,” or anything he’s released as of late. While most fans hate when Korean artists sound like mainstream Western music, “Me Like Yuh” has a nice groove that seizes your body and makes you dance and sway. I, for one, can’t wait for Jay’s album to drop. Even if it contains “Aquaman.”
“Love Paint (every afternoon)” by NU’EST (Released Aug. 29)
While their little brother group Seventeen has shot to immediate success, it’s Pledis Entertainment’s NU’EST whose sound I’ve always been drawn to. Their latest, “Love Paint,” is filled with melodic synths and vocal harmonies that take the group’s sound into new, more artistic territory. (I can’t help but think of SHINee vs EXO at Korean music powerhouse SM Entertainment, where the former older group has been able to develop their own unique experimental style versus EXO’s more typical K-pop sound.) Between the pre-chorus builds and the underlying orchestral accompaniment, plus a really well delivered rap that sounds like it belongs on mainstream American radio (or at least “Show Me the Money!”), this is the sort of pop R&B I want to see more of from this group.
”I Love You, I Remember You” by I.O.I (released Aug 30)
Shortly after the group’s release of “Whatta Man” which changed my opinion of this group’s vocal prowess forever, I.O.I released their first OST for currently airing drama “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo.” The relatively slow and sweet ballad is definitely unexpected coming from this lively girl group and while not all the members were able to show off their unique styles or voices through this release, the song was good as a whole. The spotlight was also cast on a few members in particular, such as main dancer Chungha, who wowed this time not through her dance but through her stable and strong vocals. Rapper Yoojung stood out as well, especially since she did not get as many singing parts in their previous releases. The OST proved the potential and versatility of IOI and I hope that they’ll experiment with different genres of music in the future tracks they release.
–Anna
What’s your favorite song from last week? Did it make our playlist? 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.
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Every Sunday, the KultScene team puts together a playlist filled with their favorite new songs from the past week, ranging from singles, b-sides, and live performances. Over the past few days, we fell in love with tracks by Laboum, Park Jimin, Triple T (aka Park Jin Young, Hyoyeon, Min and Jo Kwon), and SPICA.
“Shooting Love” by Laboum (Released Aug. 23)
Laboum have been working hard to stay relevant since their strong debut in 2014. Still without a considerable hit yet, they have been consistently releasing music of varying quality. Their latest “Shooting Love” is their best since since sophomore single “What to Do.” Produced by Command Freaks, who have been given a chance with a single after being so used to b-sides for some time now. “Shooting Love” is blistering bubblegum pop propelled by hip-hop beats and swollen with horns and bubbling synths. It moves at such a constant high pace and has a feeling of going on for longer than it really is. This is great when everything about it is so enjoyable. Vocally it sticks out as well with the repeated sugary raps being the most fun.
“Young 해” by Park Jimin ft. Young K (Released Aug. 23)
15&’s Park Jimin returned with her second solo mini-album “19 to 20” featuring a wide range of songs showcasing her versatility and beautiful voice. “Young 해” is my favourite of those songs with its lively nature and a fantastic feature by DAY6’s Young K, whose amazing chemistry with Jimin overflows into the track. Park Jimin shines through this release and I hope she won’t be as underrated in the future!
— Anna
“Born to be Wild” by Park Jinyoung x Hyoyeon x Min x J Kwon (Released Aug. 25)
Despite the fact that SM Station’s existence and purpose remains an enigma, it has been putting out so many amazing releases that those answers are irrelevant at this point. The newest is the brilliant collaboration between miss A’s Min, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon, 2am’s Jo Kwon, and Mr. Park Jinyoung (JYP) himself, “Born to be Wild.” I generally stand clear of EDM bangers, but the amount of sass and fierceness overpowered it whole; I was slayed. Min and Hyoyeon are known to be awesome dancers, and Jo Kwon brought back his “Animal” concept (which is his true artistic self), proving that they are the true queens of K-pop. I don’t really know what JYP’s doing on the track, but I love the fact that he did his signature whisper on an SM Entertainment song. “Born to be Wild” proved that Hyoyeon, Min, and Jo Kwon are all underrated, underappreciated, and misused in their respective groups. This supergroup needs to be a permanent thing since they pretty much brought back the slayage to K-pop (which has been dead since 2NE1 is on “hiatus” or whatever).
It’s no secret that SPICA is one of the most vocally expressive girl groups to ever descend on K-pop, but for a variety of reasons their songs have never brought the group much success. Their latest, “Secret Time,” is their first since the group’s 2014 attempt to break into the English-language market with “I Did It” and it’s exactly what fans have come to expect from the group: a belt-filled, pop R&B track. A bit more upbeat than many of SPICA’s songs, “Secret Time” seems a lot like something I’d expect from EXID, which makes a lot of sense considering the two groups have a lot of similarities. Incorporating a bevy of electronic sounds, including a full-fledged EDM bridge, it’s clear that SPICA’s trying to attract a larger audience than just their dedicated fanbase. Unfortunately, the sound comes off as a tiny bit dated so it’ll be interesting to see if this is the song that will be able to relaunch their career.
— Tamar
What’s your favorite song from last week? Did it make our playlist? 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.
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August is almost over, but K-pop is really just getting started for the summer. This week saw a bevy of releases from many acts so, as usual, our writers picked out some of their favorite songs from the past week. For fans of indie, we have Nell’s first song since setting up a new company, for fans of “Produce 101” we have I.B.I’s debut, and for fans of the powerhouse Girls’ Generation we have a new song by two members, Yuri and Seohyun. Rounding things out we have some Cosmic Girls for your listening pleasure.
“Secret” by Yuri x Seohyun (Released Aug 18)
Too bad Yuri and Seohyun’s ad for Pantene didn’t come out during Pride Month, because “Secret” is tailor made for the gay club and I absolutely love it. By now, gone are the days of the electro Euro popish sound. So if SM producers have to combine this with EDM to make contemporary bangers, I’ll take it. For lack of a better, more suitable word, Yuri and Seohyun absolutely slay, both vocally and choreography-wise. The concept and song suits Yuri like a glove, and while I would’ve chosen someone else in SHY over Seohyun, she manages to not look super robotic as usual. “Secret” is exactly my type of jam and here’s to hoping for a Yuri solo.
I.B.I is a project group consisting of some finalists from “Produce 101,” the show that launched I.O.I. After being put together as a dream team by fans of the program, the group finally made their debut this week with the adorable “Molae Molae.” Light-hearted, sweet and fun, this song fully showcases the youthful charms of the group, along with their vocal talents. More than that however, the uplifting lyrics reflect the hopes and dreams of these five girls, girls who have faced failure several times in their K-pop journey but are not going to give up anytime soon. It’s a beautiful message and I’m definitely rooting for these underdogs, so here’s to hoping that this group will become a permanent one soon!
–Anna
“Dream Catcher” by Nell (released Aug 18)
As the first single they’ve released in several years and also the first since departing Woollim Entertainment, I was really anticipating Nell’s “Dream Catcher.” Things could either be phenomenal or go horribly wrong. Luckily, Nell is a talented band and my worries were relatively pointless; “Dream Catcher” is a twinkling display of glorious electronic-pop. Nell is one of the most versatile bands in South Korea, able to do anything from ballads to hard rock, and the trance-evoking song is simply wonderful. The colorful, hallucinatory music video combined with the lilting synth notes that create the guiding sound to “Dream Catcher” truly evoke the idea of a fleeting dream. It’s perfect for the summer and, although it’s a bit upbeat, Kim Jong Wan’s vocals and the song’s overall style make me just want to close my eyes and simply dream.
“Secret” by Cosmic Girls (WSJN) (released August 17)
Since I haven’t paid too much attention to new artists from this year, this release caught me completely off-guard. But after hearing the news of I.O.I’s Yeonjung being added to the group (which I originally thought was a horrible idea), I decided to give their new song a chance and I’m thoroughly impressed. Among the massive 13 members, I’m glad to hear some great vocals singing along with Yeonjung (who was one of two members of the group that I was actually acquainted with before listening to this song, the other being EXY). The song is catchy, but transcends the typical K-pop mold with a more ethereal sound and aesthetic. The music video is absolutely beautiful, and the song has a light/airy quality that accentuates the “cosmic” quality of the group itself. While their debut didn’t really leave me with a strong impression, Cosmic Girls shows a lot of potential for a strong future in K-pop with this release.
–Kushal
What’s your favorite song from last week? Did it make our playlist? 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.
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This past week was an important one in K-pop given a certain girl group from a certain big three company finally debuted. And while those releases took a big chunk of the spotlight, believe it or not, other artists also dropped their songs. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all whistling and boombayaing, but we were also feeling other songs this week.
“Puzzle” by BewhY and C Jamm (Released Aug 11)
After finishing first and second place on Mnet’s Show Me the Money 5, BewhY and C Jamm graced us plebeians by collaborating on “Puzzle.” The rappers have been good friends ever since high school, and with their newfound popularity thanks to the show and their innate talent, it made sense that they would work together to deliver a fiery track. Devoid of the overproduction of the tracks they released via SMTM5, “Puzzle” has a more real, underground though never amateur feel and mixes BewhY’s signature solemn almost cathedral-like sound with C Jamm’s more hard-hitting yet relaxed approach. It’s a weird combination of an anthemic track with a bit of tropical flavor. It sounds crazy, but it works. BewhY and C Jamm are definitely K-rap’s future.
If you want sexy idol solos, come to JYP. After Fei’s tantalizing “Fantasy,” 2pm vocalist Jun.K released his own masculine sexy track “Think About You.” I had little expectations given his image as more of a ballad singer but this is a huge song of genuine passion. LAced with hip-hop and R&B sounds, Jun.K croons about a lost lover. Considering the build-up of emotion that is so tangible in his voice it’s easy to see this as a song actually coming from the man himself. Jun.K did write and produce alongside Boytoy and it’s great to see him trying something out. It really takes off towards the end as it becomes an almost total trap breakdown with Keith Ape-like sqwaks. Jun.K really woke us up from the hazy dream Fei lulled us into.
— Joe
“Baby Ride (feat. Hyunsik)” by Luizy (Released Aug 14)
Cutie pie Seungyoun from UNIQ, who uses his stage name Luizy whenever promoting solo, teamed up with honey vocalist Hyunsik from BtoB to give us a sweet summer love song, “Baby Ride.” I can’t help but want to sit back on a lawn chair by a pool, a beach, or anywhere by a mass of water really, let the slight breeze hit my hair with a mojito in my hand and simply relax whilst jamming out to this song. Feeling a little tense? Stressful day at work/school? Take a breather, unwind and let “Baby Ride,” with it’s cheerful and delightful beat alleviate you of all your troubles.
Seungyoun has been a busy body the last month, having recently also released “Recipe” featuring Flowsik, an edgier rap, which showcases his dominating rhymes, but he easily transitions over and becomes an an angelic like rapper in “Baby Ride” with his sweet verses in this summer tune. It’s also such a treat to see Hyunsik feature his charming voice in this song, especially since he hasn’t been able to use it to it’s full potential with BtoB’s recent releases.
Can I ride into the sunset with these two too? And oh, did I mention how evident and adorable their bromance is?
I love a good fierce/hardcore/almost-sexy concept, and in this release, I.O.I’s subunit delivers in every aspect of fierce, hardcore and almost-sexy. With a great beat, strong vocals, and killer choreography, I.O.I has completely flipped its image for their second comeback, and I’m all for the versatility. Not only in concept, but also in the members themselves. Surprisingly, the vocal caliber of I.O.I skyrocketed after its two main vocalists, Sejeong and Yeonjung, withdrew from this release. The visuals have now become vocals, dancers have become centers, and some girls serve as main dancers and lead vocals (most notably Chungha, who choreographed the entire performance in all its glory). While many doubted I.O.I’s skills at the time of their debut (including myself), we were all proven wrong with this release, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
— Kushal
“Starry Night” by Onew & Lee Jin Ah (Released Aug 11)
Ever since the fourth season of K-Pop Star, I’ve adored the sound of Lee Jin Ah’s childlike voice. Bringing her tone together with SHINee member Onew’s mellow style is a bit of a surprise, but the sprightly ballad that the two put together is exactly the sort of thing you want to listen to when staring up at the “Starry Night” and thinking about the one you love. This is very much a typical coffeehouse style track that I don’t think will do very well outside of Korea (although it’s doing nicely at the moment on many Korean charts) since it is such a low key jazz song, but I’m going to enjoy listening to this song often in the foreseeable future. I was also completely won over by the cute animation of the music video, so even if you’re not a fan of either artist you need to check this out.
— Tamar
What was your favorite song released 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.
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As summer comes to a close, K-pop releases are beginning to slow down. However, we still racked up a short list of our weekly faves, which have proven to be a bit biased, but oh well! Gotta work with what we’re given.
“Shh” by Nine Muses A (Released August 4)
Considering their seemingly imminent demise, it’s a great relief to hear anything from Nine Muses, even if it is a sub-unit. Nine Muses A consist of Kyungri, Hyemi, Sojin, and Keumjo and are debuting without the usual tag of a cute or badass or whatever version of their parent group. Their album “Muses Diary” is a superbly tight work of sexy and sweet pop. The standout is “Shh,” a blistering mix of euro pop and orchestral music. It has an anime theme song feeling to it with its pulsing bass drum and swirling strings that build momentum. Each moment brings back different memories of pop for me. The aforementioned anime influences, the rapping in pop which K-pop has revolutionised, and best of all the Max Martin-esque chorus with its little delay before the beat kicks in again.
Throughout the years, B.A.P has experimented with music a lot. Their discography has a diverse range; from fighting everyday injustices, innocent first loves, to just down right having fun. The group’s latest EDM infused release “That’s My Jam” is unlike anything they’ve ever delivered before. Prior to it’s release today, fans had already gotten a taste of the group’s strong interest in EDM and rock during their recent Live On Earth 2016 World Tour.
This energetic song and it’s consistent overflowing addictive beat will without a doubt get you on your feet! Even without watching the music video, you can easily sense the members high enthusiasm and “fighting” spirits. Their delightful (and Yongguk’s heavily attractive) voices will quickly absorb and hypnotize one into a deep trance. Oh but if we had to talk about the music video, all I have to say is “VISUALS.”
“That’s My Jam” showcases a brand new side of B.A.P, which can only make us anticipate for what’s to come in the future. As the members matured and grown, so has their styles. It’s great seeing them getting away from their darker concepts and actually enjoying themselves, even with fake beers in hand. If you were in search of summer anthem, then this is your jam!
— Tam
“Stuck” by Monsta X (Released August 7)
Monsta X was clearly busy while in Los Angeles earlier this week. Between opening up the second night of KCON 16 LA and flying between the US and Korea, they had the time to film the music video for “Stuck.” They pulsating track brings Monsta X’s style of aggressive dance music that they’ve been promoting over the past few months, but their vocals really shine and the distribution between the seven members may be the group’s best yet. (There’s no “Trespass”-style dominance by rapper Jooheon and vocalist Kihyun). “Stuck” is a gift to fans but even people who haven’t heard their other songs will be grooving to this track. (Plus, the music video has an insane dance break with Shownu flaunting his abs so if that’s your thing make sure to watch).
I promise we don’t have an agenda to push Monsta X down your throats. But since last week’s KCON 16 LA, I have to admit I’ve been paying more attention since coming face to face with Shownu’s arms. Alas, I digress. The point is that now that I’m paying attention I found this collaboration with a few members of fellow Starship Entertainment’s girl group Cosmic Girls called Y Teen. Their collab song, “Do Better,” is a CF for… something requiring them as models… and sounds like your regular Monsta X song with the EDM-y, clap ridden jam. However, I could’ve done without the cutesy element Cosmic Girls brought into the mix. And while it may not offer anything new necessarily, it’s still a fun song where the rappers dominate and excel — especially Exy from Cosmic Girls who hasn’t been allowed to showcase her full potential. Monsta X kill it though, but what else is new?
— Alexis
What’s your favorite song of the week? Share your pick in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
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Summer’s well underway and K-pop took a bit of a vacation over the past week. While we’ve recently received an onslaught of new releases, the middle of July lagged a tiny bit. Our writers highlighting songs by the likes of Hello Venus, Amoeba Culture artists, Stellar, and f(x) in our weekly column. Look at all those girl groups!
Take a listen and comment at the bottom of this page to let us know what song you like the most from the past week!
“Paradise” by Hello Venus (Released July 18)
To few people’s attention, the girls of Hello Venus released the song of the summer this week. Produced by team Devine Channel, “Paradise” is a tropical doo-wop track made for days on the beach. Its music is lowkey with sporadic guitar licks and bursts of brass. “Paradise” really beckons with its vocals however. There’s a great range and assurance of voice on display. New girls Yeoreum and Seoyoung open brilliantly with a cheeky rap and an enticing vocal respectively. The rest of the girls go on to show their own takes on similar styles all while adding a new hook of their own. Throughout the day I could get any part of this song stuck in my head and be more than happy. It’s a perfectly pitched summer track made for only a digital release.
— Joe
“highfiVe” by Dynamic Duo, Primary, Boi B, Crush (Released July 21)
After a string of disappointing songs released this summer, Amoeba Culture artists came to the rescue. Dynamic Duo, Primary, Boi B, and Crush teamed up and put their amazing chemistry to good use to come out with “highfiVe”. It makes you want to grab a drink and dance the night away in an outdoor bar or club — and not only because it’s an ad for the Korean beer Cass. Seriously, how can you go wrong with Crush’s buttery vocals, Dynamic Duo and Boi B’s fiery verses, and Primary’s hyped up beats? It might not be anything groundbreaking, but it’s a fun track. And given the spot for summer anthem has yet to be grabbed, I’ll take it.
— Alexis
“All Mine” by f(x) (Released July 22)
f(x) is back! Well, kind of. This past week, f(x) unleashed this single as the next installment of SM Entertainment’s weekly STATION project. The EDM banger is produced by LDN NOISE, some of K-pop’s more well-known EDM producers. With a memorable melody, the song is matched with an equally cute music video, which shows the four members singing along to the song at various parts of an SMTOWN concert venue. And while they aren’t promoting it on music shows, the song is actually doing amazingly well on the charts (unlike most other SM STATION releases this year). It’s nice to see f(x) together releasing a song, especially considering that the group has been under a lot of speculation in regards to disbandment. Whether the members renew their contracts or not (and it’s likely that they will), it’s great to have this song to get us through the remainder of the summer.
— Kushal
”Crying” by Stellar (Released July 18)
While I’ll let Joe and Kushal be called our resident girl group experts, I was intrigued by Stellar’s latest release for the sole reason that it was giving me major 2010 K-pop feels. While an extremely different song, producer Brave Brothers utilized similar synth chords and autotuning on both “Crying” and NS Yoon-G’s “Just Dance” of that year. Since I’m obsessed with NS Yoon-G and think she’s been robbed of her career, I played “Crying” and “Just Dance” alongside one another for about a half hour before I realized it was the mellow dance pop sound of both songs that really drew me in as a listener. This is clearly a 2016 take on what Brave Brothers has done best for much of his career, but I felt like it wasn’t a far enough step to give Stellar the leap they need to propel themselves to the height of popularity. Sweet and soft is fine, but please bring back Stellar’s biting unique sound and style for their next release!
— Tamar
Share your picks and thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
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Every weekend, KultScene’s team of writers put our heads together to highlight some of our favorite releases from the past week. This Weekly K-pop Faves playlist has a lot of variant styles and features recently released singles by Heize and Dean, M&D (aka Heechul of Super Junior and Jungmo of Trax), and GFRIEND.
“Ulsanbawi” by Kim Heechul & Kim Jungmo (M&D) (Released July 12)
A few days after I casually told someone that I felt it was a pity K-pop hadn’t spread more of Korea’s homegrown sounds, SM Entertainment’s resident (loveable) fools released a brand new trot song. “Ulsanbawi” is actually a trot-rock hybrid created by Super Junior’s Heechul and Trax’s Kim Jungmo (mostly Jungmo). It’s not a song I’ll listen to every day but its release is definitely something that K-pop fans should be aware of thanks to Korea’s long history with trot (the title is also innately Korean- it references a mountain range.) Heechul, who is also a member of of the Super Junior-T trot subunit, shines on the song with his overwrought vocals paired by Jungmo’s electric rifts. It’s not SM Entertainment’s usual MO but I’m definitely a fan. (I.O.I/DIA member Jung Chaeyeon stars in the music video, so there’s also that fun bonus of seeing Heechul act like a vagrant bum.)
— Tamar
“And July (feat. Dean, DJ Friz)” by Heize (Released July 17)
I wasn’t here for “Shut Up & Groove,” but Heize and Dean’s newest collaboration “And July” is a step up. On this new release, Heize’s vocals aren’t as piercing as the first song and the synergy between her singing and rapping are balanced better. Dean, as usual, kills his verses and I’m here for anything that includes his “Ooh’s,” which is a standout in the song, to be honest. The lyrics, I assume, probably talk about a romantic relationship, but the interactions in the music video between the two artists looks more like a petty war between siblings. It’s cute, but if the lyrics are romantic, then it’s a bit weird. Nevertheless, it’s an easy, mellow listen and I’m glad Heize is slowly finding herself as an artist.
— Alexis
“Navillera” by GFriend (Released July 11)
They’ve done it again! GFriend has brought out another catchy bop to continue the summer K-pop rush. While I wish it stood out a little more compared to their other releases, I’m pretty satisfied with the way it came out — as always, GFriend is powerful and strong, but catchy and innocent at the same time. It’s good to see them bringing out their charms in a song that can easily be left on repeat for days on end. “Navillera” tells the K-pop world that GFriend has their own trademark style among girl groups. While other groups have been trying to ride the “GFriend reign,” none of them compare to these girls. GFriend is here to stay, in both their K-pop relevance and their musical style.
— Kushal
Share your picks and thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
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Each week, the KultScene team puts their heads together and discusses their favorite songs of the past week. This time around, K-pop saw new songs released by INFINITE, Glen Check, and Wonder Girls and they completely blew us away.
“That Summer (Second Story)” by INFINITE (Released July 7)
When it comes to fanservice, INFINITE has always done a lot of it and their latest release is just that: “That Summer (Second Story)” (also known as “Hey Hello”) was originally released as a hidden track on their “Season 2” album and dedicated Inspirits (the group’s fan club) have eagerly been anticipating the official version. INFINITE unveiled the full take of the song at their recent concert in Seoul and the rock-pop track, plus it’s accompanying music video, is so heartwarming for the summer time that it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with INFINITE again. That said, there was some upset about the fact that INFINITE’s summer return was merely a clean version of what was previously revealed. Here’s to hoping for this actually being a pre-release of their upcoming summer comeback and that this was just dedicated to their “That Summer” concert series.
“Fakin’ (feat. Kim Ximya)” by Glen Check (Released July 6)
After joining a new agency, June One Kim of the indie electro duo Glen Check released “Fakin’” to commemorate the event. And while the other half of the band Hyuk Jun Kang sit this one out, Jun recruited the help of the XXX’s rapper Kim Ximya. True to Glen Check’s sonic aesthetic, “Fakin’” is a lounge-y and refreshing track that features a myriad of trap and deep house beats and sounds. Plus the addition of the rap instead of Glen Check signature sweet vocals creates an interesting and on-trend mix perfect for the summer.
Since its release on July 5th, “Why So Lonely” has been making K-pop fans everywhere say “they still got it!” with newfound excitement and pride. After some fans were disappointed by “I Feel You” last year (personally, I loved it, but that’s beside the point), the future of the Wonder Girls, as well as their new band concept, was left in the balance. But “Why So Lonely” put all of those worries away for good — the girls killed it with a catchy reggae-inspired retro track to cool you down on these hot summer days. This song is one of K-pop’s many breakup anthems, but adding a unique sound to an already more emphasized instrumentation makes this one stand out from the rest. Not to mention, the girls had a very large part in composing and writing this song themselves. Props to you, Wonder Girls — thank you for reclaiming your seat on the throne where you belong.
— Kushal
What was your favorite song of the week? Share your picks in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
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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.
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.
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.
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