2016 rumbles on even longer with still little to show for itself, but that’s okay! The year is still young. What it does however, is lead me back to 2015 to continue remembering what a great year it was for K-pop. The multiple top songs of the year lists that were put out (including ours) were wonderfully varied and each one managed to honor great music. It’s a testament to 2015 that I still felt there were many songs that deserved some end of year recognition. So I decided to make my own alternative best of list in order to celebrate some of those artists.
In this case, alternative does not necessarily mean alternative music. There is still room for K-pop here. Rather, it means anything that didn’t garner as much attention last year, as I personally thought it deserved. To further restrict myself, I also didn’t allow any songs that I had previously written about before. So that counts out BESTie, D.Holic, Fiestar, Purfles, Blady, A.Kor Black, and many more. Instead of mourning all of those amazing girls, let’s move on to the first category.
Idol Solo Debuts
Finally making that long awaited jump to a solo career can be tricky for some idols. There are those who are so popular that no matter what they do it will be a success (G-Dragon, Taeyeon). There are also those who are so talented and charismatic that it’d be hard to mess up an opportunity (Yonghwa, Choa). For the next idols though, their groups were either on the way down or stuck in the one spot. Having a solo career gave them a chance to stand out.
Teen Top have consistently been on the fringes of success. More popular than their immediate contemporaries like Dalmation (DMTN) and Z:EA but less popular than newer groups like B.A.P and BTS, they have yet to carve out a niche for themselves. When lead vocalist Niel went solo this year, to his credit, he did not play it safe. “Lovekiller” is a slow burn that I almost didn’t fully listen to because it was straying very close to ballad territory. That said, the stripped back opening of acoustic guitar and Niel’s sweetly distinct voice is better than what most ballads. If that was all Niel could muster though, it would have been forgettable. Halfway through the song however, a disco drum beat is introduced followed by a funky but subtle electric guitar. Essentially, “Lovekiller” becomes a Michael Jackson tribute. If the music wasn’t enough to signify this, the choreography also literally tips the hat to MJ. This change of pace invigorates the song and is a testament to Niel’s talent. His delicate high pitched voice perfectly suits both musical styles and helps him stand out among other idol soloists.
Any of the 2AM members could have gone solo and easily held their own. They were a ballad group and so they had to be great singers. Seulong took his solo work in a completely different direction than previously explored by the group with “Mood Swings.” The song doesn’t take its title to heart — it’s moody but laid back, not making any big jumps to unsettle the tone. Carried by a simple hip-hop beat, the song is tinged with lowkey piano and gorgeous guitar licks that are sparse enough to create a sense of loneliness. The lyrics mirror this. Seulong repeatedly whines lines like “there’s no me.” It’s an almost uncomfortably calm look into a man’s depression. It works precisely because there are no mood swings. It is measured in a way that shows a man who understands his problem. “Feeling the darkness even more,” Seulong yearns for a change. “Mood Swing” is at once beautiful and disturbing.
I don’t think there could be a song more different to “Mood Swing” than Goo Hara’s “Choco Chip Cookie.” It takes its title literally by being a super sweet slice of R&B. It’s the perfect summer song with a laid back electro vibe sprinkled thoroughly with twinkly pianos and synths. Hara does not stick to conventions though, as the structure is not immediately obvious. If you were to identify a chorus you might say the part at 1:15, signaled by the lightest triangle ting. That sounds more like a pre-chorus though, which eventually moves the songs back into its chilled out groove. While the lyrics could definitely be seen as childish, the song is anything but. It is a mature and risky move from Hara to put out a summer song that defies pop music standards, and is more daring than what Kara’s done in the past.
New Takes on the Cutesy Girl Group
Following A Pink and Sistar’s growing success in the last two years, a rise in aegyo (cute) filled girl groups occurred again. Most, however, took from A Pink too much, as very few of them tried to play with the formula at all. Groups like April are great at what they do but have yet to distance themselves from the herd of Fink.L wannabes. K-pop wouldn’t be K-pop without them though, so it’s especially refreshing when groups to take the time to project new ideas onto old trends.
UNICORN came to us with this sole intention, to heal. Not just this tired genre, but to heal us all with their music, just like a unicorn would with its horn. That is their actual concept; can I just say that I love K-pop? Unicorn’s debut single “Huk” is the dreamiest bit of synthpop you will ever hear. Fantasy like guitars mix with the synths and breathy vocals to create this tone in the intro. The production value is much higher than your average rookie group, and it’s the first thing that sets them apart. The second is the use of their rapper. It’s hardly uncommon today to make the rapper the main focus of a group, but here, it changes the song and slips us out of the cute girl group mindset. It is not jarring however, the rap maintains the effervescence of the song by being delivered in a more conversational way. The contrast in the verses between the usual saccharine vocals and the rap give “Huk” an added dimension elevating UNICORN above their peers.
While UNICORN were trying to lull their way into your subconscious, myB was shouting at you to get up and dance. The platinum blonde sextet burst onto the scene this year with “My Oh My,” a song that instantly caught attention due to its energy and cuteness. It wasn’t until follow up “DDO DDO,” however, that did their style really work. The two songs are essentially the same, infectious bubblegum pop that whizzes and bangs at every corner. “DDO DDO” is superior though, merely because its production is a little bit tighter and more organic. Vocally, all the members suit this style, and even the raps are made to be adorable. What myB do best of all the rookie girl groups is dance. The choreography for both songs is intense and, like G-Friend, they can look like a small army when on stage. Next time someone complains about cute girl groups being boring just show them myB.
Europe + Korea = The Perfect Match
Europop has been long been a staple genre of K-pop. It dates back to the earliest groups like H.O.T and Turbo, who just made a fantastic comeback with “Again.” Here we take a look at a classic europop track as imagined by K-pop and something a little more alternative shall we say.
If there was anyone who could be responsible for europop’s ubiquity in K-pop, it’s Sweetune. The producer duo have cultivated the success of groups like INFINITE and KARA off the back of their skills with synthesizers. They brought this sound to Romeo, a rookie boy group who probably had high hopes for this year. Unfortunately, they didn’t go very far but, fortunately for us, their debut single “Lovesick” is a smash. “Lovesick” has a relentless beat but never gets too strong. It’s held back by the retro synths and the sometimes sweet vocals. The problem is that it’s honestly hard to defend “Lovesick” from being little more than an rip-off of 2011-2012 Infinite. Although that is one of the greatest eras for any boy group, it’s also hard to say that’s a bad thing. Romeo ultimately make it work with though their rookie energy and adolescent emotions by taking something tried and true and attempting to make it their own.
Waltzsofa Records are one of the most interesting labels working Korea right now. The music they have released so far is all tinged with the same retro genre sounds, mostly disco. Male vocalist Ban:Jax is one of their artists. He released a number of retro inspired songs this year, each showcasing a different aspect of him. The standout is his collaboration with label mate and producer Humming Urban Stereo “Mid Summer Night.” HUS’s sound is immediately recognizable on this track. His nu-disco synths pop with such clarity, they are one of the most satisfying sounds in pop today. Ban:Jax’s vocals harken back to American soul and are filled with passion. It even features backing vocals that appear to be provided by another label mate, female soloist Risso, whom you should check out too. Each of these elements gets its time to shine in the song before melting together for a strange but amazing climax. “Mid Summer Night” exemplifies what Waltzsofa are about while also offering something new to the great retro collection of 2015.
If retro sounds are not your thing, then I’m sure you found solace in the mountains of hip-hop that 2015 also had to offer. Thanks to the success of shows like “Show Me The Money” and “Unpretty Rapstar,” hip-hop is becoming mainstream, and, for better or worse, that means we are going to get a lot more of it. Due to the fast turnaround of those shows, simple rap songs that focus on a beat and flow have become popular. It would be a shame if tracks like that become the norm, though, as they can never be more than just alright. Since that’s not the case at the moment, let’s see what else Korea can offer.
As a kind of warm up song for her appearance on “Unpretty Rapstar,” Sistar’s lead vocalist Hyorin enlisted the help of rappers Paloalto and Zico. “Dark Panda” mixes retro with hip-hop to become something entirely modern. It takes cues from British house music and more American hip-hop sounds. The production is masterful, repeating synths create the atmosphere while shorter electro licks come in and out breathing life into the song. Hyorin leaves the rapping to the boys, as she does what she does best. Her vocals here are as beautifully hoarse as usual, but the slow build of the song lets her notes fade out ethereally giving the song an ephemeral beauty. The raps are just as impressive. Hyorin’s vocals and Paloalto’s nasally delivery contrast with Zico’s sharp bites, which at first makes Zico sound out of place. On repeated listens though, it becomes apparent as a way of lifting the song, priming it for a climax. He brings us to that end that is so important.
Zico returns (seriously, how many songs did he feature on this year?) to rap on a track for up and coming soloist Dean, known as Deanfluenza when producing. If Dean’s popularity had started to rise a few weeks earlier, I think he would have made it onto a number of year end lists. That’s no matter to him, though, as he is clearly on the up. “Pour Up” is as smooth as they get. Its electro R&B drips slowly throughout, exuding a serene sexuality. Dean’s voice does nothing to stop these feelings, perfectly measured over the hip-hop beats, as he tells us about his sexual encounters. If Dean does become big in Korea, my great hope for him is to make sex mainstream.
For sure, Supreme Team rapper E Sens has been through a lot the last few years. This year, he produced a great album seemingly on the way back up. When it came time for it to be released however, E Sens was in jail for smoking marijuana. Not great for his promotional chances, but that doesn’t taint the record. Title track “The Anecdote” is the standout for sheer raw emotion. E Sens can lay himself out on a track, exposing his frailties. “The Anecdote” is about his father, who died when E Sens was only nine years old. Any song about a topic like this would be poignant, but E Sens is more revealing than most. He spits about his shame at never being close to his father, about the shame of being poor, about how his father’s death shaped his life. E Sens’ flow suits songs like this. There’s an anger to it, a cathartic energy that drives his honesty. His voice is well accompanied by haunting pianos that repeat over and over. They loom like a ghost as E Sens remembers one.
Are there any songs you think were overlooked in 2015? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/goo-hara-choco-chip-cookies-9.jpg7681366Joe Palmerhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngJoe Palmer2016-01-15 11:48:422016-01-15 14:54:56The Other Top 10 Korean Songs of 2015
DSP Media’s rookie girl group April entered the scene last August and has released three albums since then. They’ve also had their fair share of pre-debut drama and member departures, even though it’s only been less than a year since their debut. With so much going on for them however, why is it that April remains so unknown and underrated?
Sure, they have a loyal group of supporters who have followed them since the start (especially for Chaewon, who was part of the “Kara Project”), but their fan base has remained stagnant over the year, unlike fellow rookie groups such as TWICE and Oh My Girl. For a group that has produced consistently good music, April really deserves more attention.
They kicked off their journey in August 2015, when the original six members released their first mini-album “Dreaming.” With their title song “Dream Candy,” April really sold their image as pure and innocent young girls, which seemed especially appropriate for this group with an average member age of 16-17. Although this cute concept led to April’s eventual blending in with several other girl groups who were all using similar concepts, it would be hard to imagine this youthful and energetic group of girls doing anything else.
While I wasn’t immediately taken by their debut, mostly because of how similar all the members looked and the rather mediocre quality of their title track, once I listened to their whole album I realised that they had a lot of potential, both as individual members and as a group. There were standout tracks that I really enjoyed and gave me faith in the group, such as “Hurry Hurry.” It had the catchy melody that “Dream Candy” slightly lacked, and also much less auto-tune so I could enjoy the unique voices of the members better. All in all, the album was merely a stepping stone for this group, as evidenced by their subsequent releases.
Three months later, along with the news about the departure of leader Somin, came the news that April was making a comeback with “Boing Boing,” a new mini-album. Despite the member shake-up, April didn’t seem to be too affected by the change and came back with an even better song than before. “Muah” still had the same identical styling and cute dance that “Dream Candy” had, but with a more addictive melody and less auto-tune. The music video was also more entertaining because it had a storyline that was both adorable and suitable for the members. They weren’t proper and perfect little girls this time, rather they fantasized about romantic encounters with cute guys, just like most teenage girls. This made them more endearing, in my opinion, because they acted more like themselves and not as if they had just come out from a K-pop idol training factory. Each member was also given more time to shine as there were more individual scenes this time around, allowing fans to enjoy April’s individual charms.
Towards the end of their whirlwind year, in fact, even before finishing their “Muah” promotions, DSP media announced that April would be releasing a Christmas album.
I was skeptical about this because April seemed to be releasing way too many songs for a rookie group but at the same time I was excited to see what they would have in store for their fans. “Snowman” was a definite success in my books because it showed their growth and slight maturity as artists, despite the short period of time since their debut. The style of their music video was very much the same as the previous two releases and, despite the lack of a proper storyline, it was a sweet video filled with scenes of the members preparing for Christmas.
The best part of the release however, was the song itself. “Snowman” didn’t just fit the winter and Christmas theme perfectly, it was also a platform for the members to show off their vocal chops in a way that they had never done before. Even less vocally impressive members were able to sing without much auto-tune this time, and the two main vocals, Chaewon and Jinsol, simply amazed me. I had known for a while that Chaewon had a great voice, but the fact that Jinsol, the 14 year old maknae (youngest member) of the group, had a voice that was stronger than all her fellow members shocked me.
Jinsol’s voice has a very unique tone that makes it instantly recognisable and despite her young age she controls her voice well, it’s powerful when it needs to be and subtle in the quieter parts of the song. The two main vocals had more adlibs on this song as well, allowing it to be more layered and nice to listen to.
Although they probably spent a lot of their time recording songs and practicing for their countless stages, April somehow found the time to do some variety as well. Apart from having their own variety program, “Here Goes April,” they also guested on well-known programs such as “Weekly Idol” and “Let’s Go Dream Team!.” Although they are still very young and inexperienced, (with the departure of Somin, who was their oldest member, their oldest member is only 18 years old) there’s a lot of potential for April because they’ve proven (albeit in minor ways so far) that they’re able to let go of their pristine idol images for the sake of good entertainment. Energetic members like Jinsol are also able to hype up the atmosphere so I’m really looking forward to their future variety programs.
Since their debut April has given us many venues to see how hardworking and talented they are. Though they are still starting out, and they have a lot of room to grow, they’re also very young and brimming with potential. I trust that their troubles are over and from now on, as long as they keep improving with every song or album that they release, they’ll definitely be successful and go far.
What do you think 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/1452767501350.jpg20482048Anna Cheanghttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2016-01-14 07:24:072016-01-14 14:51:11Artist Spotlight: April
Toronto K-Pop Con is a few months away, and organizer Pop Goes The World recently announced that VIXX and GOT7 will be headlining the three day event, along with two other currently undisclosed acts. While both K-pop boy bands will be performing in Toronto next May, VIXX will kick off the event on May 20, and GOT7 will perform on both May 21 and May 22.
While we definitely hope that every K-pop fan will attend both VIXX and GOT7’s shows, we know that people have biases towards one group over the other. It’s just how K-pop works. But do you know which group you really should like? This quiz will help you figure things out.
Tickets to see VIXX are already on sale, while tickets to see GOT7 go on sale Friday, January 15, 2016 at 8:30 PM EST on Toronto K-Pop Con’s official website. (Bonus: VIXX tickets come with free admission to all three days of the con.) Toronto K-Pop Con also just added Day6 to the line up so make sure not to miss out!
Visit: www.torontokpopcon.com/Tickets
Are you more like GOT7 or VIXX? Are you excited for Toronto K-Pop Con? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/vixx-got7.png6401024Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2016-01-13 18:45:262016-02-18 10:24:36VIXX or GOT7? Which Toronto K-Pop Con Headliner Are You? [QUIZ]
As far as K-pop acts go, EXO has kept it pretty simple when it comes to their stage outfits. While SHINee is the SM Entertainment poster boy for colorful skinny jeans, EXO is the company’s spokesperson for varsity prep fashion.
EXO keeps it typically pretty safe with less than shocking outfits (a la VIXX’s “Chained Up”), but they make the least-embellished outfits seem high class with a few key touches. Throughout much of last year, we’ve seen EXO keep it simple in the best way possible.
Jean on Jean
Jean on jean may make you think of Britney and Justin, but wipe that image from your mind and replace it with EXO’s take on the 2001 style. Because during their “Call Me Baby ” performances, EXO showed off a variety of different ways to wear the basic jeans and t-shirt combo.
From the members who kept it simple with a button down shirt paired with their jeans, or the more daring approaching like Xiumin’s vest-shorts combo and Kai’s zippered short-sleeved jacket, this may not be for everyone, but it works for EXO. (Except Chanyeol’s jumpsuit. Nobody should ever wear a denim jumpsuit except under threat of death.)
College Prep
Needless to say, 2015 was a busy year for EXO. So keeping it cozy was probably the best way to play it. They definitely did just that with their promotional images for their Japanese release of “Love Me Right.”
With button down shirts, sweatshirts, denim letterman jackets, jeans, loafers, and white socks, EXO could be mistaken for extras in a 70’s college film (“Animal House,” maybe?) Retro is the trend in K-pop, and this “Love Me Right” promo pic makes it blatantly obvious why. You take the style of the past, make it comfier for the present, put it on nine of the most popular men in Asia, then looking good is easy as 1,2,3.
If other looks donned by EXO this year were low key to the nth degree, their ad campaign for KFC had the members of EXO back in black. This urban take on their jacket and jeans concept had EXO looking a bit like a group of biker wannabes, and that’s okay.
High tops and ripped jeans kept it comfy, but the different styles of black jackets and black shirts showed off the individuality of each EXO member. The detailing is nuanced, but appropriate for each member: Suho (peddled as the most high brow of the group thanks to his family background) still has a blazer on, while the rappers are in similarly draped jackets.
Colorblacked Shirts
Perhaps it’s not color blocking if it’s just a few parts of their shirts, but whatever it is, EXO looks good. Tight leather jeans aside, putting the EXO members in what could be boring button downs is one of the best things SM Entertainment’s stylists have ever done. Offering a new take on a simple, old school style is one of the things that EXO (and their stylists) are the best at and this is a look EXO should hold on to.
The shirts, each of which is differentiated to highlight each member of the massive group as individuals, are all white bases with black portions. Some come off as being more traditional, with just the collar or arms blackened, while others offer up a post-modern take on the white collar style. In the picture, Suho and Chen are in traditional white suit shirts that have been heavily altered, while Baekhyun’s shirt, with its rolled up sleeves and mostly black portions, looks more like a simple button down than something meant to be worn under a suit jacket.
EXO’s members definitely don’t pick all of their own clothes out, so it’s nice to see what they wear in between the live shows and in front of the paparazzi. SM Entertainment provides regular photos of its artists behind the scenes, which means that this is EXO camera ready, but on their own terms.
The outfits are all similar to what EXO wears on stage (likely because of personalized corporate gifts and sponsorship). There are the varsity tees, jackets, and button downs. But they look comfortable, and each member of EXO is doing his own thing, looking like the 20-somethings they are. Their personalities are obvious; it’s easy to tell which member doesn’t care at all about being anything but cozy (spot the member in sweats) while other members practice in leather jackets, dress shoes and/or parts of their stage outfits.
Speaking of stage outfits, some lucky North American fans are going to see EXO for the first time next month at EXOPLANET #2 – The EXO’luXion – in NORTH AMERICA. MyMusicTaste is working with SM Entertainment to bring the group on their first ever North American tour, and tickets are going on sale later this week.
Here’s all the information that you need to know if you’re interested in buying tickets. Seating charts have yet to be released, but MyMusicTaste shared ticket prices through their Facebook page.
All tickets go on sale Saturday, Jan 16 at 8PM EST/5PM PST.
Which EXO look do you like the best? Are you going to their tour in North America? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Untitled-design-6.jpg7681024Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2016-01-13 06:09:552016-01-13 13:39:595 Everyday EXO Looks We Love [+ North American The EXO’luXion Tour Information]
2015 is the year that could do little wrong when it came to Korean music, and just when KultScene’s staff thought we were done adoring songs from last year, we decided it was time to single out our favorite non-singles. The list, compiled by several members of our staff, takes into account personal taste and the overall quality of songs as we strive to highlight the overlooked B-sides from some of K-pop’s best albums.
30. Infinite – “Between Me And You”
Undoubtedly one of Infinite’s best ballads to date is “Between Me And You,” a song that allows all the members to show off their extremely emotive vocals. Less vocally impressive members, such as Sungyeol and Sungjong, held their own in this track and showed how much they improved since their last album. Unlike most ballads, this song didn’t get boring, mostly because of the drum beat that was present throughout the song and the passionate raps provided by members Dongwoo and Hoya. This track proved that Infinite is more than just a dance group as the members showed off their great vocal talent, revealing that Infinite still has a lot of potential to grow.
29. Red Velvet – “Lady’s Room”
You honestly cannot find a cuter song than “Lady’s Room” on Red Velvet’s stand out album “The Red.” The song is about friends opening up about the boys that they like, talking together in the “Lady’s Room,” and overall enjoying the company of one another. It’s perfect for Red Velvet’s fresh and youthful image, and the song’s composition is filled with synth undertones and absolute sweetness. It’s an adorable ultramodern take on the typical girl group pop song, with crisp vocals and playful back and forths between the members. The falsettos and harmonizations in the chorus show Red Velvet’s cohesiveness as a vocal quintet as opposed to the dance-ready choruses of many of their other songs. Seulgi’s “follow me” line is a standout favorite, but the song’s continual playing with different tones and styles is just absolutely fitting for the fun girl group known for its constant reinvention of itself.
28. TVXQ Yunho – “Komplicated”
2015 was Yunho’s time to shine. The dream-inducing rhythmic track “Komplicated” is a trip dance song that would be perfect at any club. Heavy house influences on the trippy song fit with Yunho’s vocal color and preference towards dance music. The song starts off slow with pounding beats and quieter wailing sounds before giving Yunho a moment to let his vocal color show. And then the listener is slowly drawn towards the spiraling, pounding dance breaks. The song is minimalistic with a true emphasis on the music rather than the lyrics, while still giving Yunho a chance to show why he’s considered one of K-pop’s most versatile singers. MonoTree is credited with editing the warped vocals on “Komplicated,” and he’s done an absolutely phenomenal job creating one of K-pop’s best house songs of the year.
27. Shinhwa – “Alright”
“Alright” has a feel-good vibe, one in which you’ll continuously find yourself twiddling your fingers and nodding your head back and forth. There’s an immense sense of sexiness that exudes from their (well) aged voices. What’s great about Shinhwa, and I say this in the most positive way, is their lack of skin exposure; their sexiness is purely in their natural charisma. The members are now well into their mid 30’s, and with that said, it’s admirable seeing them toy around with new genres of music. The incorporation of ChaCha Malone and GRAY from AOMG in composing and arranging this song, lightly sprayed a swag element to the track.
26. ToppDogg – “O.A.S.I.S”
When I think of ToppDogg, hard hitting, rap based songs like “Follow Me” come to mind, so when I first heard “O.A.S.I.S,” it was a pleasant surprise. Especially considering another artist, Crush, released his own yummy R&B song with the same title last year. But rather than being a carbon copy or a lesser version, ToppDogg’s “O.A.S.I.S” is a funky, disco-ey symphony displaying all the right sounds from the ‘70s. This track showed the boys’ versatility, how they’re not stuck in one genre and are open to more croony sounds. And even if the oasis in question is a girl, the true oasis is the song itself for being incredibly smooth and delicious to the senses.
25. GOT7 – “Put Your Hands Up”
Disguised as a party song, “Put Your Hands Up” doesn’t imply raising your arms in the air and waving them like you just don’t care. For this B-side on their “MAD” album, GOT7 play with the idea of arresting a girl who doesn’t realize they’re into her. Instead of relying on the talented vocal line, “Put Your Hands Up” is a rap-driven earworm reminiscent of their senior’s “Hands Up.” The hip-hop influence was very visible on this album, but the jumpiness and easy to follow chorus is what makes “Put Your Hands Up” super fun.
It seems as though GOT7 is all about making their listeners feel good nowadays, and it’s definitely working in their benefit! “Feeling Good” allowed members Bambam and Yugyeom, who are less likely known for their vocals, to give you a taste of their serene and soothing voices without taking the shine away from the already skilled JB, Jr., and Youngjae. “Feeling Good” is filled with charming melodies that’ll easily swoop in and wrap you up into a bundle of greasy GOT7 feels. Considering how young the group is, GOT7 certainly knows how to get your hearts fluttering with their pleasantly delicate voices and sweet compliments of one’s beauty and fullon wonderfulness. Instant swoon, is it not?
23. Kim Sungkyu – “Daydream feat. Tablo & JW”
Kim Sungkyu, the main vocalist of Infinite, released a great solo album in 2015 filled with songs of different genres, but “Daydream” was one of the standouts. Sungkyu’s calming voice along with the leveled rapping by Borderline (Tablo & JW) was perfect and created chill vibes for the whole song. Despite only having one main melodic strand, the song never got boring because of the various ways the repetitive melody was presented, a sign that shows the high production quality of this song. The emotions in the song were shown well through Sungkyu’s voice as well, which went from appropriately soft and mild to loud and full of feeling at different points in the song. It’s not a typical song to get hooked onto, but it’s definitely an earworm in its own right.
22. G.Soul – “Dirty”
Words can’t begin to express how amazingly versatile of an artist G.Soul really is. “Dirty” is different than anything that he’s done since debuting. Not only does it incorporate deep house music, but it’s also sung in English! I kept forgetting that I was actually listening to a Korean artist and not an American. The lyrics were slightly raunchy and in your face, not the norm for a number of Korean singers, but G.Soul’s always pushing different boundaries. And maybe it’s because “Dirty” was in English, but as soon as he let out that first soulful note, my heart started doing somersaults. It blows my mind as to how well he can continuously pump out all these EPs and transition from R&B to neo-soul to house music with little to none promotions and still make it all work.
21. Nine Muses – “Yes or No”
Nine Muses tried hard this year. Three albums but little to show for it in terms of success. What they do have, however, is this delicious slice of disco. “Yes or No,” for those who venture past their singles, is a song about waiting for a reply to that risky text you sent a crush. It’s a lighter look at Nine Muses. Luckily, their wide ranging vocals survive the trip and the sound here allows both high pitched and low pitched vocalists to shine. It even has an adorable Instagram video which matches nicely with the modern look at love the song gives us.
20. f(x) – “Diamond”
“Diamond” encapsulates what makes f(x)’s album cuts so good. Like many of the best songs on “Pink Tape” and “Red Light,” it starts off one way and slowly but surely becomes something completely different by the end. In this case, we start off hearing a plodding hip-hop beat, Luna’s vocals working to make it even heavier as she delivers each syllable with an assured confidence. The song is carried like this for a while longer before Luna herself turns up again to begin lifting the song off its feet. Her 30-second long pre-chorus with Krystal adds a growing sense of euphoria ready to burst after a long build up. It then drops into a fierce electro chorus. Only f(x) could carry such an array of elements in the one song and not allow it sound a mess. “Diamond” is full of surprises, each one of them a joy.
19. MFBTY – “Let It Go feat. Yoon Junhyung”
MFBTY’s “WondaLand” is a pop album unlike anything else from K-pop in recent years. Every song is different, and “Let It Go,” featuring Beast’s rapper Junhyung, doesn’t hold back. The travel-oriented tune starts off with simple enough piano tune that leads into Yoon Mirae’s English intro before turning into Tiger JK’s devil may care rap about finding happiness and throwing away burdens. Yoon Mirae picks up the song with a spitfire “f- you” rap that references Kelis’ “Milkshake” before returning to her singsong English lines. Junhyung joins the couple on the track with his own building rap. The song’s message is exciting enough, but it’s the constantly differentiating stanzas and musical styles each singer utilizes throughout the track that made us fall in love with this MFBTY hip-pop song.
18. Hyuna – “Get Outta My House feat. Kwon Jung Yeol of 10 cm”
For Hyuna’s solo work, we’ve come to expect the ultra sexualized EDM banger with a catchy chorus or hook. And that’s fine, we all grow into liking those earworms. However, for her latest solo mini album “A+,” Hyuna showed us she’s growing and exploring more sounds. The perfect example of this is “Get Outta My House,” a slow tempo almost ballad where she talk raps about kicking a guy out of her house and the relationship. Hyuna’s voice can come off nasally and borderline annoying at times. But with “Get Outta My House,” she’s finally found the right flow for her tone, which is even sexier and goes better with her overall image than what she normally does. “A+” was solid, especially coming from Hyuna. So if she continues to drop tracks like “Get Outta My House,” we might be able to fully take her seriously as a rapper.
17. EXO – “Promise (EXO 2014)”
EXO’s “Love Me Right” repackaged album definitely saved the best for last. Closing the group’s second studio album is “Promise (EXO 2014),” a track that is as poignant as it for the members as it is for the fans. Firstly, member Lay helped compose and write the lyrics for both the Chinese and Korean versions, while members Chen and Chanyeol participated in the lyric-writing of the latter, giving the song a great deal of personal meaning. The alternate title “EXO 2014” emphasizes the importance that the year 2014 was for the boy group, and it’s not difficult to figure out why. It alludes to former Chinese members Kris and Luhan’s departure, and as if that is not depressing enough the funereal piano melody and string sections only makes listeners feel worse. But this is not what the group wants us to take away from the sentimental track. Despite all the trials and tribulations, they want to convey their appreciation for the fans who have stuck by them through all of their trials and tribulations. “Thank you, I’m sorry, I love you,” raps Chanyeol. Even if you have a distaste for all things ballads, please make an exception for “Promise (EXO 2014).”
16. Kim Sungkyu- “Alive”
Sungkyu’s silky voice is at its very best in “Alive,” which showcases a perfect combination of wonderful music production and great vocals. The unconventional but wholly appropriate music instrumentals in the background of this track stand out on their own but also enhance Sungkyu’s voice, creating this addictive and touching track. With lyrics such as “I’m better off just longing for you, that’s right, I have no other choice,” the best part of this song is its emotional climax, where Sungkyu is singing passionately and the instrumentals are on the brink of overwhelming his voice. The hopelessness is conveyed in such a clear manner that even non-Korean listeners would be able to understand the pain and meaning behind the lyrics, a trait that makes this song a really amazing one.
15. GOT7 – “Good”
With such a positive start to the song, how can one not automatically feel good? Sure, when looking at the lyrics, some will probably question why and how GOT7 can be so “full” of themselves, but if the members are able to confidently sing it, then where’s the problem in that? If you’re well put together, whether it’s your outfit, hair, makeup or all of the above, then why not strut and show it off? Self-confidence and self-loving can only start with you. But lyrics aside, not only will “Good” have you in a delightful mood whilst listening to it but it also shows the diversity and unique vocal techniques with each member’s voices. The smooth blending of members JB, Jr., and Youngjae’s voices will surely have you swooning in no time. You don’t have to worry GOT7; we’ve already fallen for you.
14. Jonghyun – “Deja-Boo”
One of the best things to have happened to K-pop was SHINee’s Jonghyun’s album “Base,” and one of the best songs to have hit us was “Deja-Boo” off of said album. With this song, we see a smoother side to the SHINee leader that was previously masked in the group’s more dynamic productions. Throw in Zion T. as a feature into the mix, and now you can pretty much bet on a pretty solid R&B track. And as the intro song as well, it sets the right tone for the rest of the album. The song, laced with finger snaps and a mellow bassline, is flirty yet funky, just like its coy lyrics about a woman who Jonghyun swears he encountered before. There may not be a climax moment, but the varied structure – some singing abbreviated with soft murmurs – makes it nevertheless very addicting. Trust Jonghyun to deliver yet another well written and composed song.
13. BTS – “Boyz With Fun”
Sometimes I forget how young the members of BTS really are. Their lyrics and music are usually deep and transcends powerful messages to the listeners. One would think they’re all serious and no fun, but “Boyz With Fun” showed otherwise. This song does exactly what the title states. The members are cheerful from beginning to end. It’s easy to sense their playfulness towards one another, even without watching their live performances. With it’s hooking beat, who could possibly sit still and maintain any sort of calmness while listening to this? BTS doesn’t want to be bothered with someone who’s not down to having a good time, would you? What would life be like if it was just filled with humorless and full days? “Boyz With Fun” is reminder to always fill your days with as much enjoyment as possible!
12.5 Super Junior “Stars Appear”
Due to editorial oversight, “Stars Appear” was not included in the originally published version of this list. Our bad!
Super Junior’s known for their dances, but some of their most memorable tracks throughout the years have been power ballads. “Stars Appear” begins with a simple piano melody before building into a soft rock song that is all about the group’s decade-spanning career together. The member’s vocals come together in an emotion-wrought chorus over strings and clashing cymbals, along with a lot of subtle sounds. The song comes to a sudden with an acoustic, a nearly a cappella bridge filled with Kyuhyun and Ryeowook’s smooth crooning before returning to its previously-introduced tempo. The song has plenty of parts distributed so that Super Junior’s members each get a chance to sing, but the real beauty of “Stars Appear” are the choruses, which have several members showing off their vocal colors backed by the rest. Super Junior’s a big group, but this song gives each member a time to shine.
12. miss A “Love Song”
Despite JYP Entertainment having its best year in a long time, miss A still seemed to slip under the radar compared to their compatriots. This is a shame as their album “Colours” was fantastic and this track from it, “Love Song,” is one of the best of the year. The song opens with an atmospheric piano melody that transitions into a subdued but moody verse. The intro then returns as a pre chorus before what can only be described as a crunk classical chorus. It is merely oriental strings along with a bass drum and snare but manages to be instantly danceable and energetic. This unexpected turn transformed “Love Song” from a great filler track to a genre-creating masterpiece. ‘’Like a tornado’’ is right.
11. BEAST – “See You There”
2014 was BEAST’s year — no doubt about that. “Good Luck” and “12:30” won everything in music shows and rocked our worlds. So when 2015 came around, we were perplexed by their singles that were subpar to its precedents. I say with deep pain in my heart that BEAST was a disappointment in 2015, but at least they managed to release an awesome b-side worthy of their previous album, “See You There.” The synth beats effortlessly weave into the R&B influences, with the member’s velvety vocals bringing the whole thing full circle. Not only are the lyrics, about a man wishing to meet his lover where they first met, beautiful, but it’s the perfect example of BEAST’s flawless harmonization. It’s a sweet, feel-good song, but it’s also the best in the entire album “Ordinary.”
Perhaps the song most celebrated by Inspirits for having the best line distribution in Infinite’s mini album “Reality,” “Moonlight” is an upbeat dance track that has Infinite written all over it, mostly because it sounds familiar to their old hits such as “Paradise.” Surprisingly, this track does not have any raps in it, but perhaps this is for the better because it gave resident rappers Hoya and Dongwoo a chance to show off their amazing vocal ability. Dongwoo in particular had several high notes in the track and pulled it off very well. The producers of the track should be given credit as well because of how skillfully originally weak vocalists such as Sungyeol and Sungjong were used in the song. Yes, their parts were auto-tuned sometimes, but for once, the auto-tune didn’t sound out of place and fitted the song perfectly. They were also given parts which suited their voices and allowed them to sound really good. The track was also layered with many vocal ad-libs and strong instrumentals, all in all creating one of the best songs of the album.
9. EXO – “Hurt”
EXO’s “EXODUS” album from earlier this year was absolutely stuffed with addicting songs and “Hurt” is the highlight of the non-singles. The haunting instrumental opening drops into an electropop song that is addicting that leads into a dub-pop dance break. “Hurt” stands out by giving EXO everything that the members need to shine; there are individual, building solos, there are harmonization-filled choruses, some raps that don’t detract from the abundance of heartbreaking crooning. The moody, angsty song’s lyrics are like something out of late 2000’s MySpace pages, and the narrator of “Hurt” probably could use a few hugs. “Will you take me inside the veil that covers you?” sings EXO. “Can’t you make me live?” EXO does well at being the desperate lover, and “Hurt” is the epitome of that. EXO is an idol dance group first and foremost, but the artistry of “Hurt” with its ability to seamlessly introduce different rhythms and musical styles is a standout from EXO’s discography.
8. BTS – “Hold Me Tight”
BTS’s “Hold Me Tight” is easily title track material, if only their album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1” did not already have two other singles already. The song walks us through several distinct moments, from the opening with the delicate piano instrumentals, to the body’s snaps and snares, and finally to the bridge with the muffled rap. The members’ long vibratos and angsty raps makes it one of the group’s most emotional songs, and the harmonizations throughout the verses and choruses are exemplars to the group’s talent. Moreover, the passionate mood perfectly conveys the lyrics about the regret and the desperation that accompanies a foreseen breakup. But, wait, it gets better. In collaboration with Slow Rabbit, pdogg, and the rapper line, the song is composed and written by member V, making it his first time participating in a BTS production. For a first, it is pretty impressive, but then again it is BTS, so what else is new?
7. f(x) “Rude Love”
The love of British dance music didn’t end with “Four Walls” for f(x); “Rude Love” is a sprawling house ode to sex. While it is ostensibly a house track, it also seems to borrow from other British music of the same era. The satisfyingly simple piano is reminiscent of a Stone Roses or Happy Mondays track, and I assure you f(x) are picking the right influences. These pianos mix with the house beats to create an almost pure dance track only lifted by the dynamic vocals. The muffled refrains of “I’m wanting you baby” being particularly important to bringing it all together.
6. BTS – “Silver Spoon”/“Crow Tit”
BTS may not have a “Cypher Pt. 4” for us in their album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2”, but they do have “Crow Tit” (“Silver Spoon”), which is pretty much the same thing. On the surface, it’s one of those songs that make listeners feel bigger than life with its trap beats, but at the microlevel, it’s a track about originality, social expectations, and generational divides. The title refers to a Korean proverb “If a crow-tit walks like a stork, it will tear its legs,” which, in turn, translates into an expression about people who ruin themselves by trying to emulate those who are better. In this case, BTS are the crows who are condemned by the superior storks. But BTS embraces their crow-like position, as supported by the implementation of crow caw beats, and thank their haters (“Thanks to the stork, my legs spread”), which explains the members’ cocky tones. The track boasts of each member’s’ colorful voices, which are barely indistinguishable here, and it’s just one of their many songs that listeners have to see live.
5. GOT7 – “Back to Me”
Before GOT7 released “If You Do” and the album “MAD,” their thing was the cutesy and playful concept epitomized by “Just Right.” However, on that same album, we got other just as good lively and cute jams like “Back to Me.” Sprinkled with hip-hop, “Back to Me” is the sweetest song about wanting a girl back that allowed for the backup vocalists Jr. and Yugyeom to take the lead. It’s impossible to hear this strong and not have your heart immediately warm up and a big smile form in your face. While GOT7’s manly and fierce image was the true revelation of the year, we’ll always cherish their perfectly human boyfriend concept paired with bubblegum pop/hip-hop hybrids.
4. Red Velvet – “Time Slip”
Red Velvet has had a great year and their album “The Red” was truly a wonderful one. “Time Slip” is simply exceptional though, with its use of cohesive instrumentals and a great bass. It’s tempo is similar to that of English hits such as “Fancy,” but comparatively, “Time Slip” has more interesting sounds (a school bell was used at one point). The vocals of the members are also showcased well here and they brought out the meaning of the lyrics because they literally transported listeners to another world through this song. The song seems like a successful experiment which worked exceedingly well for Red Velvet and I’m glad that they’re defying conventional K-pop girl group standards. I’m really excited to see what else they have in store for us because they are a group with boundless potential.
3. EXID – “Thrilling”
EXID’s funk-dance songs like “Up & Down” and “Ah Yeah” are great, but the girl group’s vocal performance in “Thrilling” is one of KultScene’s favorite songs of the year. The alluring, haunting track offers up a bevy of everything that makes EXID the fierce group we know and love. The vocal talent, the seductive voices, the take no bullshit attitude… “Thrilling” is EXID at their very best. EXID’s distinct sound is clear throughout “Thrilling,” and is the grown up version of 2012’s “Every Night.” The song doesn’t hold back, and each member is given their chance to shine. The highlight is definitely the builds that lead into the singsong chanting chorus featuring Junghwa, and there’s an absolutely phenomenal harmonization towards the end of the song featuring Hani’s sultry voice lightly layered over Solji’s belting high note.
2. BTS – “Whalien 52”
BTS is known for being K-pop’s “social conscious,” as they often tackle heavy subjects such as oppression and the pursuit of happiness through their lyrics, so with their latest album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt.1” this is not any different. In particular, “Whalien 52” uses a real life solitude creature, a whale who communicates at a disparate 52 hertz wavelength, as a trope to speak about loneliness and despair. Unlike what one would expect, however, the group approaches the topics in a hopeful manner. Behind all the light piano melody and synth sounds is an inspirational song also about how one day this whale’s tune will reach someone, just as how through the right effort and persistence one can leave a dent in this world. A repetitive wailing in the backing track resembling a whale song further supports the notion of how this whale should keep singing until its voice is heard, and continues throughout the tune until it ends on one resoluting cry. “Whalien 52” attests to how an unlikely muse like a marine mammal can be incorporated into both the greater message and the production of a beautiful track.
1. Brown Eyed Girls “Wave”
In the context of Brown Eyed Girls’ album “Basic”, “Wave” plays almost like a warm up for lead single “Brave New World,” but goes above and beyond the single’s radio-friendly take on ambient pop. With less bombast, “Wave” washes over its audience and allows a build of quiet tension to pervade its entirety. The instrumental intricacies are similar to “Brave New World” but work to give us something more chilled out but with a broken hearted bite, matched by breathtaking harmonies. “Wave” contains similar funk guitars and a gorgeous slinking bassline, but it’s more mellow in its overall sound. Simple keys open up the song before a perfectly tight rhythm section and eventually a funky scratching lead guitar. Each of these elements are balanced delicately, coming in and out of the song to build the aforementioned tension and also to create a heavenly climax during Miryo’s rap. “Wave” is one of Brown Eyed Girls’ most spectacular productions to date, and it is something we’d love to see more of this sort of song from the talented vocal group.
What were your favorite K-pop B-sides? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/TOP.png7681024KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2016-01-12 16:03:582016-01-12 17:34:51Top 30 Korean B-Sides of 2015
So far 2016 has been a slow year, aside from Dal Shabet nothing of any interest has been released. This has led us to looking back at how great of a year 2015 really was. To celebrate it, one of our writers cut together a video of the top 25 songs of the year as voted for by the KultScene writers. As you may have seen our top 50 list, this video takes the top 25 and edits them together in inventive ways. This is something to celebrate the year in music with, but mostly we hope you have fun watching it.
What was your favorite Korean song this year? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/GOt7.png7681024KultScenehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2016-01-12 13:42:592016-01-12 15:18:37Video of the Top 25 Korean Songs of 2015
Following a slew of K-Pop groups that embarked on European tours in 2015 comes Loen Entertainment’s five member boy band, History. Comprised of Kyungil, Dokyun, Sihyung, Jaeho and Yi Jeong, History debuted in April 2013 with the critically acclaimed “Dreamer.” A supremely talented quintet, History’s unconventional sound and bold concepts make them stand out in the highly competitive boyband market and will undoubtedly make their tour an unforgettable experience for all STORIAs, History’s fans.
Arpeggios Entertainment organized three shows for Helsinki, Finland on Feb. 20, London, UK on Feb. 21, and Paris, France on Feb. 24. Meanwhile, a final show has been set for Bucharest, Romania on Feb. 27, organized by Kompas Events.
Their Musical Style
History has consistently switched up their sound with every comeback, giving them an element of surprise with which to delight their fans. The boys have also introduced many genres into their music to showcase their incredible versatility. For example, the concept for “Dreamer” could have come straight from a Broadway musical, while follow-up song “Tell Me Love” is a 90s style techno dance song. Each song is diverse: “What Am I To You” incorporates Latin influences, “Psycho” was a throwback to 80s electronica, and the band’s latest single, “Might Just Die,” mixes both classical and hip hop influences. All of this, plus History’s exemplary vocals and rapping, add up to a truly unique style that we can’t wait to hear performed live.
History’s first music video, “Dreamer,” features carefree dance moves highly reminiscent of Fred Astaire, while they make a stark 360 degree turn in “Psycho” and “Might Just Die,” both of which involve sexually suggestive choreography. The latter has all the classic boyband staples of body rolling, ab flashing and raunchy choreography, but it is executed with such amazing finesse that when the members throw themselves on the floor towards the song’s conclusion the viewer is sure to be bowled over! Be sure to keep an eye on Kyungil during “Might Just Die”- his choreography had to be altered for broadcast performances in South Korea.
Their Daring Music Video Concepts
With “What I Am To You” and “Psycho,” History ventured into bold new territory. The music video for “What Am I To You” was shot in Germany and features scenes of Kyungil drinking heavily, downing pills and smoking marijuana, while Yi Jeong is beaten up by thugs. “Psycho” gave all the members a chance to show their acting abilities, with each representing a facet of Yi Jeong’s multiple personality disorder. He obsessively stalks a woman and an evil facet of his character, represented by Kyung Il, tries to harm the girl, only for Yi Jeong to fight back. History’s youngest member replicates the mannerisms of Norman Bates from Hitchcock’s eponymous thriller “Psycho” and by the conclusion intends to murder the woman who torments him. While the music videos may play before the show, here’s to hoping that their concepts will be carried over into History’s performances!
The idea of members sending hearts into the audience will surely make stomachs fill with butterflies, but any STORIAs in the audience are sure to keep an eye out for interaction between Kyungil and Yi Jeong. The two members have the most adorable father-son/brotherly relationship that’s filled with hugs, silly interactions, and far more. Meanwhile, don’t forget about the other three. Just because they’re in the middle of the group age-wise doesn’t mean that Sihyung, Jaeho, and Dokyun will be annoyed. No, there’s going to be a lot of fun interactions from History at these shows so be prepared!
Yi Jeong’s Creative Input
Youngest member Yi Jeong proves his musical dexterity on the group’s latest mini album, “Beyond The History.” He showed off his talent by composing the title track “Might Just Die,” a feat relatively rare in K-Pop. Yi Jeong also wrote the electronic hip hop song “Ghost,” as well as his own solo rap track “1Century,” which showed a much edgier side to his usual persona as a main vocalist. The youngest member’s solo stage will surely wow the crowd.
History’s forthcoming European dates promise to be outstanding and will surely garner them even more acclaim, while increasing their fanbase significantly.
Tickets for the London show at the O2 Academy Islington are £95 for VIP tickets, including a meet and greet and early entry, or £35 for the normal tickets. They’re on sale now through Weeze Events.
Tickets for the Paris show at the Divan Du Monde and the Helsinki show at the Gloria are €99 for VIP or €39 for the standard. Tickets are also available through Weeze Events (Paris tickets , Helsinki tickets).
The final show in Bucharest will be held at the Palatul National al Copiilor, and tickets are on sale for 300-150 RON. They can be purchased through Bilete.
What do you love about History? Are you going to their tour? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/History.jpg640960Eve Backhousehttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngEve Backhouse2016-01-11 12:56:062016-01-20 08:03:30Get Excited For History’s Live Tour In Europe
It’s no secret that K-pop is full of futuristic elements, and sometimes that future is bleak. This week’s Playlist Sunday features a variety of K-pop music videos that offer up a dystopian take on things. Whether it’s a bleak, post-apocalyptic world or a police state, K-pop doesn’t really think that this world is going to end well and we have a lot of dystopia to deal with. But this dark view of things has given us some of the most creative K-pop music videos of all time.
Not only is B.A.P known for their forceful sounds but also for their lyrics and influential messages that they convey to the listeners and public alike. The lyrics are, if not, even more powerful than the tunes itself. “Badman” lyrically and visually shows a side of reality that we as citizens sometimes tend to brush aside, much like this world’s corrupted governments. People only see what they want to see instead of trying to dig out the hidden meanings that’s been tucked away on purpose. “The despair that I hear in the darkness. The world that is ridden with fear,” sings B.A.P. It’s hard not to see what’s going on in the world everyday. Yet we turn the other way and ignore the fact that, although all these arising issues may not be affecting us directly as individuals, there are things that are ineed affecting and disrupting the society that surrounds us. What good will it do if we keep looking the other way, not batting a single eyelash, as if all the wrongs in the world will naturally go away on it’s own? B.A.P wants you to know that they too, see and hear everything that’s going on, but unlike some, they’ll be the ones to take things head on and fight for what’s right, right then and there.
–Tam
INFINITE is one of my favorites and they are famous for their in sync dances. Since their debut, they have been striving hard to produce unique music. In January 2011, the band released the music video for “BTD (Before The Dawn).” While many of the fans and viewers are only familiar with the dance version of this song, “BTD” has a dark take on things. This dystopian music video shows the members imprisoned in an inescapable place, where a person has to kill another in order to free himself. Being friends, none of them are willing to harm each other. The lyrics describe the situation really well: I can’t let go like this, it’s suffocating. And I don’t know what to do….. I want to have you in the end no matter what. The members further question why they ended up in these circumstances? The title and music video of the song emphasizes on leaving this place before the dawn. The music video got +19 rating for being too violent. The group’s agency, Woollim Entertainment, stated that its intention was to visualise the inner conflict of the characters in the video, and not to display gratuitous violence.
–Sana
Not many groups can pull off a dystopian concept well, but as mentioned above B.A.P certainly can. Their 2012 release “POWER” is a song filled with loud instrumentals and a forceful performance from the group in all aspects, singing, dancing and rapping. The accompanying music video is appropriately dark and graphic, filled with backdrops of war vehicles and fire. The whole video serves to bring out their strong lyrics, a call for action against the people who are oppressing and filling our world with lies. We got the power. Fight against them and don’t look at me with your angelic face. Everything is a lie. There’s probably no better fight song for a revolution than this.
–Anna
If we’re talking dystopian, you can’t go without a casual mention of XIA Junsu’s “Flower.” The song itself is a fabulous, haunting track featuring Epik High’s Tablo, and all about finding light in the darkness. (It’s also the second collaboration of the two, since their equally dystopian AnyBand music videos.) The music video keeps the eeriness of the song, and transposes it into a post-apocalyptic world where Junsu is the god in a crumbling world. The world is quite literally falling apart as the devil dances, so to speak, with a king who doesn’t care about anything other than his own haven amidst a ruined world. There are hints of an anti-nuclear message (the mutated fish) from Junsu, but the whole music video is full of symbolism against excess, even towards Junsu himself, even while he is clearly on top of his game as a member of JYJ and a former TVXQ member. There are questions of innocence, there are questions of morality. It’s an artistic, philosophical take on the K-pop dystopian music video and we love it.
–Tamar
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/dystopian-playlist.png7681024Tamar Hermanhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2016-01-10 14:29:372016-01-10 14:39:57Playlist Sunday: Dystopian K-Pop Music Videos
Recently South Korean hip-hop group BTS made headlines again for their latest feat: For the second, non-consecutive week the septet was able send their latest album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2 atop Billboard’s World Albums chart, making the group the first K-pop act to have the same album spend more than a week on top. This only comes after their other accomplishment as the first K-pop act to enter the Billboard 200 that is not from a large company, such as YG or SM Entertainment, after the album was released back in late November. With this, the group joins their senior groups EXO, BoA, Girls’ Generation and its sub-unit Girls’ Generation TTS, 2NE1, and Big Bang. Indeed, BTS’s international success, coupled with their five music show wins for their title track “Run” in their native Korea, makes a strong case for the group’s rising popularity.
What makes the achievement even more salient is that BTS has not even been around for long. Debuting under the small company Big Hit Entertainment back in June 13, 2013, the underdogs managed these unprecedented feats in an extremely and relatively short amount of time. And as their company’s first attempt at a boy group, the members of BTS did all this and more without much experience from their agency, unlike some of their contemporaries. When we consider just how much BTS carries the weight of their company on their shoulders, it really puts their surging popularity and multiple triumphs into perspective.
But so we get it. The damn group is taking great strides toward stardom. They’re the face of their company, its cash cow. From a business standpoint, however, it’s nothing special unless we can analyze what exactly it is that they are doing right. And in BTS’s case, it’s not just one particular thing, but several.
Starting at the most basic level – what gets monetized and why the group exists in the first place – is the music. Since debut up until now, the group has always had an active role in the genesis of their albums, whether it is in lyric-writing, song composition or production. This is especially true for the rapper line, which consists of leader Rap Monster, Suga, and J-Hope, who have all taken part in the rap making of their songs. Their character is delivered through their original lyrics, and through these lines the group weaves together a story told through multiple vignettes. There is always a conversation happening in their songs, but it also does not at all mean that they always end in reconciliation. A notable example is in “Converse High,” off of their album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1, in which Suga took the notorious dissenting opinion when he said “Converse, Converse, I really hate a Converse.” Contrast this to the rest of the song, which literally promotes how great the shoe is. Even though it might create a lapse in the theme of the song, the members are true to their feelings. By not playing it safe and by offering different outlooks, the piece actually ends up becoming more personal.
Since the lyrics are all penned by the members, they are also all free to express whatever they want with whatever they want. Using the same “Converse High” track as our model, we see that not only do the members mention the inescapable “Converse” brand, but also name drops a slew of other brands, including “Chanel,” “Alexander McQueen,” and “Raf Simons.” However, the use of brand names is deemed unfit for broadcast and resulted in the song’s ban. But the boys, who have had their songs banned in the past on the basis of coarse language and vulgar jokes, are no stranger to this by now. The group would much rather forgo public friendly content than sacrifice meaning, and you cannot say that is not admirable. There’s just something in sharing in on the same insiders (“Hey! I know that brand too!”) that feels more rewarding. BTS is definitely the type of group who speaks the truth first, and thinks about its consequences later.
Usually, I would take idol produced anything with a grain of salt, as they are often trained more in the performance than the actual doing, but with BTS it’s an exception. The rapper line even inspired the vocalists to become more involved as well, which was highlighted in their album “The Most Beautiful in Life Pt. 1” in which the youngest Jungkook and fellow member V wrote the songs for “Outro: Love Is Not Over” and “Hold Me Tight,” respectively. Being actively involved might not seem like such a big deal so long as the end product has that catchy hook, but it’s what separates passion from a hobby and a flame from a spark. One look at their discography, and anyone can see that the group knows what the fans wants. From the tough, bad boy image they debuted with, they matured over the years to bring us a more sophisticated sound. And through it all, they found a way to use music as an outlet to tackle subjects such as the pursuit of happiness and the rejection of our ideologies, which becomes all the more significant taken in the context of their conservative environment.
Another hallmark of the group’s appeal is their PR and social media presence. An idol group is nothing without their fans and as Big Hit Entertainment’s golden child, all efforts at bolstering their name is directed at BTS. They are constantly on their SNS giving us fan service, whether it is through Twitter, the V app, or their YouTube where their meokbangs (eating shows), logs and Bangtan Bomb segments can be found. This is all in addition to their fancafe posts and to their own blog as well, the latter of which the members use to upload exclusive content and member Jin’s cooking recipes. Through these various platforms, fans are able to catch a glimpse of the playful beagle-like, idols in their downtime in all their barefaced glory. Fans eventually come to learn that behind all the glitz and glamour is a group of seven twenty-somethings who shop the same drugstore brand lip balm and who love the latest internet trend as much as we do. At times, they share their personal struggles or their intimate thoughts with us, too. As much as the boys are dedicated to their stage, they are even more dedicated to their fans. It’s actually surprising how they are not so burnt out yet.
With so many opportunities to get to know the boys online, it’s no wonder their fanbase, both domestically and internationally, is so strong. Throughout 2015, they were able to rack up 116,582 additional members in their fancafe, the highest amount for a fancafe last year. BTS was able to headline their “2015 BTS Live Trilogy Episode II: The Red Bullet” concert tour overseas very early in their career, which stopped at eighteen cities at thirteen different countries. What’s even more impressive is the fact that they were able to sell out shows in places like Sydney and Melbourne that traditionally do not experience that level of success when it comes to selling out venues for K-pop acts. Indeed, with Hallyu picking up speed, their company must have realized the size and importance of an overseas market.
Korean boy group FanCafe rankings from Jan 31th 2015 – Jan 2nd 2016 with BTS at #4
Part unbridled personality, part musical talents, BTS is engaging in everything they do. They understand that in order to release good music, they have to have fun with it. Sometimes, it’s difficult to extricate their personas on stage from their everyday personalities precisely because they are able to blur the line that marks this distinction. The group, with some members who began music from the underground scene, started from the bottom of the barrel but evolved into one of K-pop’s best Horatio Alger story. Without a doubt, BTS is one group to watch out for in the 2016 year.
Are you a BTS fan? What makes them special to you? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/RIDE-WITH-ME-ON-THE-JOURNEY-OF-MORE-SUCCESS.jpg7681024Shelley Foohttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngShelley Foo2016-01-09 21:03:162016-01-09 21:04:44From Underdogs to International Stardom: BTS’s Rise to Success
After starting more than a few highly talked about feuds, performing in major stages like 2015 MAMA, and coming out with some of the hottest collaboration tracks of the year, there’s no denying the popularity and influence of the hit show Mnet “Unpretty Rapstar.” Whether we’re talking about season one or two, there’s no doubt that both installments showcased a lot of talented female rappers that are slowly becoming household names. It was only a matter of time before these acts made their way to the US where they’ve also established a fan base.
The first “Unpretty Rapstar” contestant to hold a show in Los Angeles last October was Jessi. But while we still have to wait for that season’s winner, Cheetah, to pay us a visit, the latest winner Truedy and semi-finalist Heize are set to host a K-Pop Club Night in the City of Angels. The two rappers will perform at the Conga Room inside the LA Live on January 22. Tickets are already on sale through Powerhouse and they’re $35. However, this is a 21+ event — sorry kids!
Unlike Jessi or other “Unpretty Rapstar” participants, Heize and Truedy hadn’t had a long career before appearing in the show. Despite this, the tracks that they have released, either independently or because of the show, were fire. So let’s revisit a few of their songs to get us hyped and ready for the show.
“Don’t Make Money” by Heize
Among the songs in the semi final, Heize’s “Don’t Make Money” is one of the best. With the concept in mind — Heize telling her family not to make money because she’s going to provide for them — paired with the pump up beats make it the perfect song to turn up to.
“If It Wasn’t for Music” by Truedy
Truedy started off the season strong, and that’s how she rapidly landed a feature one of the first songs. And if Verbal Jint being the producer wasn’t awesome enough, season one’s winner Cheetah also featured on the track. Interestingly, Truedy’s old school flow fits perfectly with Vebal Jint’s clean and modern sound. As a result, “If It Wasn’t for Music” offers a perfectly balanced throwback feeling.
“I Know” by Heize
Based on the fierce and sexy image Heize portrayed on “Unpretty Rapstar” and what she repeatedly said throughout it, we’ve come to associate it her with a harder concept. After all, she wants to be the first female rapper signed to Illionaire Records. So imagine our surprise when we came across “I Know,” a song where she sings more than raps — and is not bad at it. On the contrary, “I Know” is a chill song to sway. It’s unlikely that Heize will perform this track on the concert, but even so, we dig it.
“Bandz Up” by Truedy
Compared to her first win track, “Bandz Up” produced by Dok2 fits her hard image better. On this track, we can honestly say Truedy spit fire and showed that her style fits more traditional hip-hop feels rather than something more experimental.
“My Boyfriend Thank You” by Heize
While Heize was still on “Unpretty Rapstar,” news broke that she had dated fellow Korean rapper Crucial Star. Is this song about him? We’re not quite sure. However, we do know that this song resembles Crucial Star’s laid back flow and soft beats. With Heize’s soft and girly vocals, “My Boyfriend Thank You” is also a feel good song.
As previously mentioned, Heize and Crucial Star used to date, so it makes sense that two rappers who share a similar style and flow would collaborate. The end result is “After I’ve Wandered a Bit,” a song about taking a break from a relationship. Even if the theme is a bit somber and the rap is serious, Heize’s voice at the chorus gives the song an overall bittersweet feel.
“Pride (feat. Gummy)” by Truedy
Ultimately, Truedy was the season’s winner. And with her crown came the last featuring song, which was a collaboration with singer Gummy. Even if Truedy didn’t produce it herself, “Pride” was tailor made for her, with it’s bouncy, old school hip-hop feel.
Which of these songs are your favorite? 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.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Untitled-design.png7681024Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelumhttps://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAlexis Hodoyan-Gastelum2016-01-07 18:14:522016-01-08 10:40:165 Songs to Get You Ready for ‘Unpretty Rapstar’ Heize & Truedy’s Los Angeles Show
