‘Hello Bitches:’ Choreographer Parris Goebel Talks CL & Women Empowerment Through Dance [INTERVIEW]

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parris goebel interview hello bitches cl choreographer

What does the all-girl slayage choreography on Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” video and Taeyang’s hard-hitting moves on “Ringa Linga” have in common? No, not a hot male artist who excels at dance, but the “Polyswagg” creator and world-renowned choreographer who’s taking the industry by storm. I’m, of course, talking about Parris Goebel.

Even if you’re not familiar with the 24-year-old’s name, you’re aware of her work. If not from taking center stage in the Biebs’ video, her participation with her female dance squad ReQuest on “America’s Best Dance Crew,” or acting in the movie “Step Up 5,” then you might remember a certain girl in chains in BIGBANG’s “Bang Bang Bang” music video or the dancer with the bangs on CL’s “Hello Bitches.”

bang bang bang bigbang gifbigbang bang bang bang

bigbang bang bang bang gif

via gd-peaceminusone @ Tumblr

Yep, that’s Parris.

The New Zealand native has been in demand by everyone these days for her strong and sexy presence and style, especially empowering female artists who’ve noticed how she’s empowering women through dance. So just to give you an idea of the magnitude of her caliber, let’s just grace the surface of her resume by saying her work includes choreographing Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, and even Chinese pop diva Jolin Tsai’s latest tours. No biggie.

After working with BIGBANG and on Taeyang’s solo, she has now teamed up with the YG Entertainment artist that embodies female empowerment and sexiness, the baddest female herself CL and helped her shape the precedent of what we’re to expect from her upcoming American debut album. And not only did Parris choreograph and, along with ReQuest, star in CL’s teaser song “Hello Bitches,” but she directed and produced it as well. As a result, we got a fierce and flawless dance performance video that highlights CL’s sexy, sassy, and self-empowering image fans have loved her all along for.

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via seungriseyno @ Tumblr

KultScene recently caught up with Parris shortly after her stellar MAMA performances — where she and rest of ReQuest danced on CL, BIGBANG, and 2NE1’s stages — to talk about CL and “Hello Bitches,” and how she’s revolutionizing the dance game one collaboration at a time.

Also on KultScene: 8 Moments You’ll Want To Rewatch From MAMA 2015

First and foremost, congratulations on your MAMA performances. You completely owned them and it genuinely seemed like you and the rest of ReQuest were having a blast. How was the whole experience for you?
Parris Goebel: It was a great experience for me and my girls. The awards is a massive event and it has a star line up of artists performing.

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via femaleidol @ Tumblr

You’ve described your style of dance “Polyswagg.” Can you give us a crash course on what it is and how you coined the term?
We had to come up with a description of our style of dance on “America’s Best Dance Crew” when we were on it [Season 6]. So we had swagg but our own style and I’m Polynesian so I put the two together.

What would you say sets you apart from other dancers and choreographers that has made you so in demand by artists?
My own individual style and always trying to be fresh with what I create.

For “Hello Bitches,” you didn’t only choreograph the song but you also directed the video. How did you come up with the whole concept, choreography and theme wise?
I just took the song and then thought about what would make CL look hot. CL is a great dancer in her own right and loves to do different things so it was a lot of fun to put it all together for her.

What I really enjoyed about this particular video was that the dancers weren’t mere props adorning the singer, like we often see in a lot of music videos nowadays. You were all main characters and the way the choreography was done conveyed a very interactive vibe. Was that the point or what did you want to portray with the concept?
Really the main essence of the video is dance so shooting CL with the girls around her all the time dancing all made sense.

In the “Hello Bitches” behind-the-scenes video you said you had never connected so well with an artist as you did with CL. How was working with her different and more special than other artists you’ve collaborated with in the past?
We really like all the same things – dance, music, and fashion. CL is more my age and very creative and making a difference for women so all those things make her so much fun to work with.

cl hello bitches parris goebel choreographer

You’ve worked with great female artists of color that embody female empowerment like Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, and now CL. What does it mean to you as a woman of color working with these artists that have done wonders for representation and visibility of WOC in the media and industry?
It’s always a pleasure to work with such strong females each in their own right. They are all successful, they all work hard and they are all very driven. So for me to get to work with them is a real blessing and it makes my job easy because they all embrace womanhood.

What do you think about CL and other Korean artists taking artistic elements from non-Korean societies and cultures? Where do you see the line drawn between cultural appropriation and appreciation?
In music there are no lines – it’s all about expression no matter what race or culture you are. That is the beauty of music – it has no borders.

hello bitches gif cl parris goebel

via soojoo @ Tumblr

Also on KultScene: 6 K-Drama Girl Friendship Goals

Will you continue to work with CL for her American debut?
I definitely hope so.

Other than BIGBANG, 2NE1, and CL, is there any other Korean artist you would like and/or wish to work with?
I really enjoy working with the YG Family as they are all professional and dedicated artists so happy who I am currently working with.

Thank you so much for answering my questions for KultScene. What’s next for you and ReQuest?
Keep changing the game and keep traveling the world.

How much did you love “Hello Bitches?” 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.

Pictures courtesy of Parris Goebel, edited by Alejandro Abarca.

Whales & K-Pop: EXO, BTS, & The Loneliest Creature In The World

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EXO "Sing For You" BTS "Whalien 52"What does EXO and BTS have in common?

Ask me this yesterday, and I’d have said a variety of things like, “K-pop boy bands, good looking, talented, etc.” Ask me today and I’d have to say “they’re lonely.” Or, alternatively, both BTS and EXO are fans of the 52-hertz whale, known as the loneliest creature on this planet.

It is pretty well-known that K-pop idols are dedicated to their craft and their fans. Fan service, the shows of affection that Korean singers put on for their fans that range from throwing hearts into crowds to getting down on one knee and mock-proposing to fans with roses, is commonplace. As entertainers, it is the job of Korean idols to make fans believe that they are happy; showing anything less than a large smile is often seen as unprofessional.

But within the past two weeks though, two of K-pop’s most up-and-coming idol groups both addressed loneliness verging on depression, using the lonely 52-hertz whale, the world’s so-called loneliest whale to do just that.

The Loneliest Animal On Earth

“It’s as if he speaks his own language– a language of one. Even stranger, 52 Hertz does not follow the known migration route of any extant baleen whale species. He sings alone and travels alone.” — Bryan Nelson for Discovery.com

The 52-hertz whale was first heard in 1989 by a team of scientists, singing a whale song that was more than double the average frequency of whale song from other species of the animal, which sing between a range of 15-25 hertz. Since then, the 52-hertz whale has been identified as single, solitary whale. He is the epitome of loneliness on this planet, and has been this way for at least twenty years.

And BTS and EXO have each tied this lone creature into their recent songs, turning the 52-hertz whale as a symbol of both depression and hope.

Also on KultScene: Which BTS Member Are You? [QUIZ]

BTS – “Whalien 52”

BTS’s “Whalien 52,” from their latest album “The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, Part 2 “ is a song about being misunderstood and not being able to fit in. The title is an amalgamation of the 52-hertz whale’s name and the idea of “alienation,” or being apart and different from those around you.

“Alienation- A withdrawing or separation of a person or a person’s affections from an object or position of former attachment : estrangement. (Alienation…from the values of one’s society and family.-S. L. Halleck)” — Merriam-Webster

BTS’s song was produced by Pdogg in collaboration with members Rap Monster, J-Hope, and Jungkook, giving “Whalien 52” a personalized touch that is usually missing from K-pop songs. BTS has set themselves aside from most new K-pop groups for this reason, with members taking a role in just about every song of their latest album. Which means that the final message of “Whalien 52,” to be the best “whale” you can be, and do your own thing even if it means being alone, is a message directly from the mouths of these K-pop idols themselves.

The everyday loneliness that people feel isn’t something that is a typical part of K-pop, which more often than not offers up love songs or bombastic anthems. “Whalien 52” is one of the few songs out there to discuss how each and every person has their own life that is unlike that of anyone else in the world.

BTS’s lilting take on “Whalien 52” takes a harsh subject and gives it a lighter feel, with an ultimately inspiring ending. The initial dark, solitary lyrics and meaning of “Whalien 52” bely the harmonies and raps interspersed with tinkling keyboard and synth sounds, which innately give the song an uplifting vibe to match the song’s final message rather than the initial feeling of being alone.

EXO – “Sing For You”

The lyrics of EXO’s most recent winter ballad, “Sing For You,” describes someone who has regrets towards the person that they love and expresses the desire to sing a confession song for that person. But the music video, an entirely black and white production, initially shows EXO’s members enjoying their winter days and then hints to the darker feelings that people repress under their surface.

The music video depicts literal loneliness, anger, and misunderstanding through the actions of EXO’s members, some fighting, some disappearing etc. And Sehun explores space as a lonely astronaut who meets a solitary, 52-hertz whale.

This isn’t a case of possibly misunderstanding the music video plot; the 52-hertz whale is a symbol of loneliness and the wintery scenes likely hint to depression, particularly seasonal depression, a condition that accompanies the winter months and affects millions of people. The video ends with EXO’s members coming together and Sehun befriending the whale, showing that loneliness can be beaten with the help of others.

Cultural Meaning

EXO is currently one of K-pop’s most popular groups and has spent much of this year competing with Big Bang to take first place. To address the loneliness that people feel, both when they’re on their own (figuratively in outer space,) and when they’re with others, is a big step for the K-pop industry.

Also on KultScene: Meet iDR, The Man Behind EXO’s “Love Me Right”

Whereas BTS is a relatively independent K-pop group (if such a thing were possible,) with members having real roles in creating their music, EXO is the exact opposite. The group is perfectly produced by SM Entertainment with only a few instances throughout their career where EXO’s members have been able to try their hand at playing a part in their artistic career (such as Lay’s hand in the beautiful song, “Promise 2014.”)

But, regardless of their differences, both groups have recently addressed loneliness, comparing the individual’s struggle for understanding to that of a solitary creature who roams the world without literally being understood by its peers.

Both EXO and BTS have offered inspiration in the face of estrangement (BTS- keep persevering, EXO- Find others who understand you), and that’s all good and dandy but there is something deeper behind these two songs than just the normal K-pop/hip hop ballads.

South Korea, the country that makes bubblegum K-pop for all of us to enjoy, is one of the most depressed countries in the world. It has the highest suicide rate by country, with 24.7 people out of 100,000 committing suicide each year according to the Washington Post. According to the OECD Better Life Index, South Korea has the lowest ranking community support in the world, with only 72% of South Koreans feeling that they have people to turn to in times of need. Additionally, South Korea’s work-to-life ratio is lower than that of many other countries.

By offering up inspirational tracks in the dark of the winter, BTS and EXO offer their own sort of 52-hertz whale to their fans. “Whalien 52” and “Sing For You” feature aspects of loneliness, offering understanding to K-pop fans, both Korean and otherwise, who need support in the lonely world.

But, even more so, the message of each song/music video also shows that even the perfectly coiffed K-pop world is a lonely place.

BTS’s members personally partook in writing “Whalien 52” and EXO’s members vividly drew attention to their own battles with loneliness while still trying to keep their smiles on their faces at times. It’s almost expected that BTS has a harder time, because several of them were underground artists and because the group is still under a relatively small entertainment agency, and members of the group have addressed depression in interviews.

But because EXO is under SM Entertainment, the largest entertainment agency, they’re expected to put on a good face the majority of the time and the meaning behind the video of “Sing For You” is almost shocking.  It’s been some time since an SM Entertainment artist discussed depression (several members of Super Junior and Girls’ Generation have addressed it in the past), and it’s the first time that this writer can recall where an SM Entertainment music video hit on something related to mental health.

Because it breaks the illusion of what it means to be an idol, and EXO is arguably the most popular young male K-pop idol group in the world today, depression has been taboo to the group (despite former members leaving and others visibly struggling through performances). But throughout the music video for “Sing For You,” EXO depicts the sort of inner turmoil that isn’t about the love-related lyrics of the song, and instead depict the struggles that go along with the world that they (and the rest of us) live in. “Sing For You” is the opposite of an upbeat anthem; the music video shows suffering and loneliness in a way that just doesn’t let the viewer ignore it.

The 52-hertz whale may be alone, but he’s also a symbol of hope, of resilience, when feeling alone. By bringing out their inner whales and depicting loneliness that is on par with that of the 52-hertz whale, BTS and EXO not only helps their audiences understand that each individual isn’t the only one struggling in this world with loneliness, but also helps people relate more to the very human K-pop idols.

What’s your interpretation of the BTS and EXO songs? How do you deal with loneliness? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Circus

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k pop circus songs playlist

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

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

— Alexis

Also on KultScene: 5 Underrated K-Pop Rookie Songs

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

— Tam

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

— Joe

Also on KultScene: Artist Spotlight: Burstered

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

— Tamar

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

6 K-Drama Girl Friendship Goals

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korean drama female friendship gil woman k-drama

Let’s do an experiment. Go on your search engine of choice and look for “K-drama friendships.” What comes up? A bunch of articles on our favorite bromances and ships. But with most of the K-drama fans being women, why are we always emphasizing the guys’ friendships? When I watch a drama, I can never relate to two boys having skinship. Sure, I fall into the thirst trap and I find it cute and all that, but that is it. However, when one female character comes through for her girl, that hits home. And yet, the guys get all the attention.

K-dramas are predictable when it comes to women and friendship. We either have the mean girl who wants the leading guy for herself or the sidekick who gets minimal screen time. So when new dramas with well written, round female characters and the friendships between them come out, I celebrate. I mean, it’s 2015, who wants to see more girl hate?

That’s why I’m highlighting six K-drama friendships that are the ultimate friendship goals. These woman uplift, support, and are loyal to each other, especially when it comes to boys, giving female viewers a whole different set of feels.

[Disclaimer: This article contains a few spoilers.]

1. Kim Hye Jin and Min Ha Ri from “She Was Pretty”

Even though I’m not ranking the friendships, if I were to, Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) and Min Ha Ri’s (Koh Joon Hee) from “She Was Pretty” would come on top. While they had a rocky period when Ha Ri was secretly dating Hye Jin’s first love Ji Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon) — which is a huge if not the no-no in girl code — it is the latter part of their relationship and everything else aside from this incident what makes it great.

she was pretty gif hye jin ha ri friendship

via dalpengi @ Tumblr

Both girls saw each other as family — as sisters — not just friends. Ha Ri practically supported Hye Jin when she was down on her luck and Hye Jin’s family saw Ha Ri as their third daughter, having her over all the time and the parents being genuinely concerned over her. However, the crucial part in their friendship which made it remarkable is how Hye Jin reacted when she found out Ha Ri was dating Sung Joon while passing off as her. She didn’t go ballistic on her, which, honestly, is what a lot of us would’ve done. Instead, she wanted to wait until Ha Ri told her herself. Hye Jin never acted cold or distant or even resentful towards Ha Ri, even after Ha Ri came clean. Hye Jin was even willing to renounce Sung Joon because her best friend had feelings for him. Similarly, at Ha Ri’s birthday party, she blew off her male friends for Hye Jin. If that’s not the true meaning of “sisters before misters,” I don’t know what is.

Moreover, Ha Ri and Hye Jin had the cutest relationship, funnily acting as husband and wife; they always put each other before anyone else and caring about the other’s well-being. And who can forget about when Ha Ri decided to go back to school and Hye Jin was going to move away for a new job, the mini party they had where they sang, and danced, and ended up crying together over how much they were going to miss each other? Without a doubt, these two’s relationship is one we can all look up to.

ha ri hye jin gif she was pretty

she was pretty gif ha ri hye jin friendship

via dalpengi @ Tumblr

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

2. Sung Si Won and Mo Yoo Jung from “Reply 1997”

Another friendship which a lot of us can relate to if your best friend is into K-pop is Si Won (APink’s Jung Eunji) and Jong Mi’s (Shin So Yul) from “Reply 1997.” These two were not only friends, but accomplices, stanning the same boy group, H.O.T. They went to events and even stalked their idols together.

reply 1997 answer me 1997 hair

Of course, like any friendship, they both had their hiccups and became estranged when Jong Mi changed fandoms, but like the previous entry, let’s focus on all the good stuff. The prime example of how deep these girls’ dedication for each other ran, let’s revisit the incident when Si Won’s dad cut her hair for going to a show and being caught on camera. Jong Mi, the ever ride or die, chopped off her hair on her own in solidarity. Who can honestly say they’d do that for their best friend? Exactly.

3. Kim Hyun Sook and An Jong Mi from “Unkind Women”

Awesome girl friendships are not reserved for the youth. And probably one of the best relationships between adult women was presented in “Unkind Women” with Chae Shi Ra and Kim Hye Eun’s characters, Hyun Sook and Jong Mi, respectively.

Like the “Reply 1997” girls, these two were friends since a very young age and the ultimate accomplices. Jong Mi was the Robin to Hyun Sook’s Batman, always with her to back her up and support her, whether it was morally or economically. But most importantly, Jong Mi stuck by Hyun Sook’s side through all her hardships, which if you saw the drama, you know how much she endured! She was down for whatever when it came to her best friend. Lend Hyun Sook clothes so she’ll look sharp? Sure. Stand up for her when someone insults her? Always.

unkind women

Hyun Sook and Jong Mi are the perfect example of how growing up and having separate lives doesn’t mean you have to let go of your friends and your loyalties to them. Also, how even if you’re in your 40’s, you can still mess around and be goofy with your best friend.

4. Yoon Se Na and Joo Hong from “My Lovely Girl”

Speaking of women who help out their girlfriends when they most need it, we also saw a good example of this on “My Lovely Girl” when Joo Hong (Lee Cho Hee) helped out her friend Yoon Se Na (f(x)’s Krystal) when she moved to Seoul in hopes of becoming a music writer. A good friend offers you their home for a few days while you look for a place to stay. A best friend let’s you move in with her and her boyfriend, even if they don’t have any privacy anymore, as long as you need it. That’s exactly what Joo Hong did for Se Na.

For most of the drama, Se Na was down on her luck with moving to Seoul, having no family to rely on, and struggling to achieve her dream. Her friend Joo Hong did not have it made and her boyfriend didn’t really dig having Se Na around for that long. But still, Joo Hong helped Se Na out and even got emotional when she ultimately left.

my lovely girl

It is during difficult times that one finds out who their real friends are, and Joo Hong was just that for Se Na. Instead of putting her boyfriend before all else and keep him happy, she chose friendship first and still found a way to balance both of her relationships.

5. Kang Soon Ok and Jang Mo Ran from “Unkind Women”

Perhaps one of the best friendships on K-drama to ever be portrayed was Soon Ok (Kim Hye Ja) and Mo Ran’s (Jang Min Hee) from “Unkind Women” because of how it came about and the progressive commentary it offers on women and friendship. Female characters and the relationships between them are often lazily written to always revolve around male love interests and the pettiness and cruelty is can arise in women because of it. That would’ve been the go-to scenario for these characters, given that Soon Ok’s husband left her for Mo Ran. Throughout most of the beginning of the drama, we see Soon Ok resentfully messing with Mo Ran, and who can blame her, right?

Well, it turned out the husband’s love for Mo Ran was one sided. Mo Ran never reciprocated the affection; her only fault has relying on her oppa too much. It took a lot of time, and Mo Ran endured a lot of sxxt from Soon Ok graciously, but they ultimately became the best of friends. They developed a really cute relationship that was playfully love-hate, with Soon Ok becoming an unnie to Mo Ran, always pestering her to take care of her health after nursing her back to life.

unkind women 2

Soon Ok and Mo Ran’s friendship showed how complex relationships between women are. In dramas specifically, it’s too easy to pin women against each other when it comes to men. But “Unkind Women” was all about showing round characters and depth in their situations. Soon Ok and Mo Ran started out in the worst way and ended up upholding “sisters before misters,” even when Soon Ok’s husband came back into the picture.

Also on KultScene: Here’s Why The Wall Street Journal Is Wrong About K-Drama Fans

6. An Chae Yool, Yoon Mi Do, Lee Yee Hee, Kim Ha Jae, and Choi Sung Yoon from “Detectives of Seonam Girls’ High School”

In “Detectives of Seonam Girls’ High School,” the investigator squad formed by An Chae Yool (Jin Ji Hee), Yoon Mi Do (Kang Min Ah), Lee Yee Hee (Girl’s Day’s Hyeri), Kim Ha Jae (Lee Min Ji), and Choi Sung Yoon (Stephanie Lee) gave us not only friendship goals, but #SquadGoals. These high school girls were out trying to figure out and fix all the problems going on in their school, from creepy perverts to breaking the taboo of lesbian relationships.

While it may have started with a bit of deceit, Chae Yool ultimately gets into the investigations with her newfound friends. The gang is a great representation of positive female friendships with a quirky spin, with the whole “fighting crime” angle. The girls not only investigated the problems concerning them, but the ones with their peers, showing positive images of how compassionate and empathetic women are from a young age. And more importantly, they’re always there for each other.

via hanichul @ Tumblr

What’s your favorite female frienship in K-dramas? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Which BTS Member Are You? [QUIZ]

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BTS, The Most Beautiful Moment In Life Read more

8 Moments You’ll Want To Rewatch From MAMA 2015

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MAMA 2015 2NE1

One of the biggest events of the K-pop year was held earlier today in Hong Kong and, needless to say, a lot went on at the Mnet Asian Music Awards that you don’t want to miss out on. If you didn’t get a chance to watch the show live, or just want to relive it, then this rundown of all of the memorable moments from MAMA 2015 is definitely for you.

1. 2NE1 Returned

If there is one thing to take away from the 2015 MAMA ceremony, it was that 2NE1 was back. There was silence, tears, and shrieks from fans watching live and at home as CL disappeared beneath the stage after her solo performance of “Hello Bitches” and Dara rose up, followed by Minzy, Park Bom, and CL. The performance was like a rebirth of the group, which has been on hiatus for over a year, and they brought their fierce talent performing their debut song “Fire” and their most popularity song to date, “I Am The Best.”

Also on KultScene: MAMA 2015 Award Show Scoresheet + WINNERS

 

2. Jolin Tsai Dominated The Stage

The Taiwanese singer surprised the crowd with a performance of her hit song “Play.” The Queen of C-Pop showed everyone what she was worth, offering a fierce rendition of “Play.” Backed by a crew of male backup dancers in drag, Jolin Tsai showed the camera who is boss with her intense gaze and sharp dance moves, matched by her fire-spit rap and belting vocals. And when she broke character and couldn’t help but show her bright smile, it was absolutely great.

Honorable mention to the fangirls who just couldn’t believe what was happening.

3. JYP Embarrassed Everyone

Park Jin Young, also known as JYP or J.Y Park and the CEO of JYP Entertainment, took to MAMA with a mature performance that left people with their eyes wide and jaws open. Except for the members of JYP Entertainment idol groups Twice and GOT7, who were looking for the exits. The members of the two idol groups went so far as to cover their eyes and imitate killing one another to keep themselves from seeing their mentor get down with the female dancers.

4. The Fashion Was On PointBIGBANG MAMA 2015 Fashion

Everyone came out in their best, combining chic urban wear with fabulously classy numbers. Fur was a big component in several people’s outfits, including HyunA, Truedy, Yezi, and Jessi’s. BIGBANG went all out mobster chic, while BTS brought a retro, Grease-inspired fashion for their performance of “Run.”

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Actress Stephanie Lee stood out amongst a lot of classic black and white numbers worn by presenters by wearing an eggplant-colored dress with cut outs, while actress Park Shin Hye opted for a little black and white preppy lace number.

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And San E’s stylist should maybe rethink things because his entire outfit was a mess, just saying.

5. Yezi & Lil Boi Strutted Their Rap Stuff

If 2015 was the year for any rapper, that rapper was none other than Fiestar’s Yezi. The “Unpretty Rapstar 2” contestant joined “Show Me The Money 4” contestant Lil Boi on stage and they just couldn’t be controlled. The “Show Me the Rapstar” segment was a rap battle between the pair and Truedy and Basik, the winners of their respective competition shows, but Yezi proved to everyone that she’s not just a pretty face while Lil Boi brought a bouncing rap that had the crowd feeling the rhythm.

Also on KultScene: 6 INFINITE Songs That Will Prepare You For INFINITE Effect

6. EXO & BIGBANG Were Crowned Kings of 2015

EXO won three awards, including Best Male Artist and Best Album of the Year, while BIGBANG took home four awards for Best Music Video, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and MAMA Worldwide Favorite Artist.

Enough said.

7. The Seungri+Sehun Ship Set Sail

The most shocking, or hilarious, moment of MAMA was when BIGBANG’s Seungri cozied up with members of EXO during “Bae Bae.” EXO’s Sehun reciprocated by pretending to fall asleep on Seungri’s shoulder, and that was it. The (relation)ship soon filled Twitter as fans reacted to this unlikely encounter between members of groups from the two largest Korean entertainment agencies.

8. There Were Lightsabers

While the battle could have been better, MAMA included a lightsaber duel. What more could you ask for? It’s “Star Wars,” but live!

What was your favorite moment from 2015 MAMA? Did we miss anything? Let us know 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.

MAMA 2015 Award Show Scoresheet + WINNERS

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MAMA 2015 Mnet Asian Music AwardsThe Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) will be held in just a few hours, and we’re ready for it! Join KultScene on our live Twitter coverage of the event, as we congratulate winners, applaud amazing stages, and judge everybody’s fashion choices in the nicest way possible.

And now… The award scoresheet that we’ll be marking up throughout the evening! (If you’re here early, check out our fantasy MAMA winners article from a few days ago.) Don’t forget to watch the show live via Naver V app or KCON.

Overall KultScene Award Winner- 2NE1

Best New Male Artist

iKON
N.Flying
Monsta X
Seventeen
UP10TION

Best New Female Artist

CLC
TWICE
Lovelyz
GFRIEND
OH MY GIRL

Best Male Solo Artist

Zion.T
Kyuhyun (Super Junior)
J.Y.PARK
Jung Yong Hwa (CNBLUE)
Jonghyun (SHINee)

Best Female Solo Artist

BoA
IU
Ailee
Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)
HyunA (4Minute)

Best Male Group

BIGBANG
EXO
BTS
SHINee
Super Junior
SHINHWA

Best Female Group

AOA
Apink
miss A
Girls’ Generation
SISTAR
Wonder Girls

Best Dance Performance Solo

Ga-In (Brown Eyed Girls)- “Paradise Lost”
Niel (Teen Top)- “Lovekiller”
J.Y.PARK- “Who’s Your Mama?”
Amber (f(x))- “Shake That Brass”
HyunA (4minute)- “Roll Deep”

Oupu Best Dance Performance Male Group

BIGBANG- “Bang Bang Bang”
EXO- “Call Me Baby”
GOT7- “If You Do”
VIXX- “Love Equation”
SHINee- “View”
INFINITE- “Bad”

Best Dance Performance Female Group

AOA- “Heart Attack”
EXID- “Ah Yeah”
Girl’s Day- “Ring My Bell”
Red Velvet- “Ice Cream Cake”
SISTAR- “Shake It”

Best Vocal Performance Male

SG WANNABE- “Love You”
Zion.T- “Eat”
Kyuhyun (Super Junior)- “At Gwanghwamun”
Lim Chang Jung- “Love Again”
Huh Gak- “Snow of April”

Best Vocal Performance Female

Davichi- “Cry Again”
MAMAMOO- “Um Oh Ah Yeh”
Baek A Yeon- “Shouldn’t Have…”
Ailee- “Mind Your Own Business”
Taeyeon (Girls’ Generation)- “I”

Best Rap Performance

Gary- “Get Some Air”
Dok2- “I Will”
Mad Clown- “Fire”
Jay Park- “Mommae”
San E- “Me You”

Best Band Performance

CNBLUE- “Cinderella”
FTISLAND- “Pray”
NELL- “Green Nocturne”
JJY Band- “OMG”
Hyukoh- “Comes and Goes”

Best Collaboration & Unite

Zion.T & Crush- “Just”
Block B Bastarz- “Zero For Conduct”
VIXX LR- “Beautiful Liar”
Soyou & Kwon Jeong Yeol- “Lean on Me”
INFINITE H- “Pretty”

HotelsCombined Best Music Video

BIGBANG- “Bae Bae”
f(x)- “4 Walls”
SHINee- “Married To The Music”
Wonder Girls- “I Feel You”
INFINITE- “Bad”

UnionPay Artist of the Year

Bigbang

UnionPay Song of the Year

BIGBANG- “Bang Bang Bang”

Album of the Year
EXO- “EXODUS”

MAMA Worldwide Favorite Artist

BIGBANG

Thailand Favorite Artist

Potato

Vietnam Favorite Artist

Dong Nhi

Indonesia Favorite Artist

Ran

Singapore Favorite Artist

Stefanie Sun Yanzi

Japan Favorite Artist

AKB48

Best Asian Artist Mandarin Award

Jolin Tsai

Global Fan Choice Award Female

f(x)

Global Fan Choice Award Male

EXO

Best Producer Korea

J.Y Park

Best Producer China

Gao Xiaosong

Best Producer Vietnam

Phuc Bo

Best Engineer Korea

Ko Hyun Jong

Best Engineer China

Lup Groinig

Best Engineer Japan

Yoshinori Nakayama

Best Live Entertainment Korea

In Jae Jin

Best Live Entertainment China

Wu Qun Da

Best Live Entertainment Thailand

Vit Suthithavil

Worldwide Inspiration Award

Pet Shop Boys

World Performer Award

BTS

What do you think about MAMA 2015? Did the performances and awards match your expectations? Let us know 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.

6 INFINITE Songs That Will Prepare You For INFINITE Effect

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INFINITEINFINITE is returning to the Americas with their solo tour for the second time. INFINITE Effect will land in Vancouver on January 7, followed by stops in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Santiago, and a final stop in New York on January 19. Anybody who missed INFINITE coming to this side of the world in 2013 will definitely want to see the group in 2016. But what will they be seeing?

Along with INFINITE’s most popular songs, like set opener ”Before The Dawn” and encore ”Come Back Again,” INFINITE will be performing a large variety of songs, along with some of their newest songs.

”Up To You”

The setlist for INFINITE Effect contains every song off of INFINITE’s most recent “Reality” EP, which was released earlier this year. “Up To You” comes at the end of the show, but will be a great way to pump up the crowd with it’s playful, funk vibe. “Up To You” makes a good show of giving each member a time to shine, without any harmonizing or distortion to distract from the vocal clarity of each voice. It will likely be one of the highlights of the show as INFINITE gets a second wind ahead of the finale.

”The Chaser”

Personal bias aside, “The Chaser” is one of INFINITE’s best songs hands down and no performance by the group is complete without this song. Sharp, distinct retro sounds are now considered the representative element of INFINITE and set the group apart from other K-pop groups. No song displays these aspects of INFINITE’s music more wholly than “The Chaser.” The synth-pop song recently appeared on Rolling Stone’s “50 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time,” and there’s a reason for that.

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

”Bad”

In the INFINITE Effect setlist, “The Chaser” is followed up by INFINITE’s latest single, “Bad,” and that’s pretty good. The two songs have distinct, yet similar, dance-synth retro styles. “Bad” is one of INFINITE’s strongest songs to date, with a more aggressive style than the group used to lean towards and it comes out in the vocals and the dance. The dramatic song will be one of INFINITE’s last songs on stage but, as the saying goes, it will definitely not be the least of their performances.

”Kontrol” (Kim Sungkyu)

INFINITE has numerous extremely talented singers in the group, but it’s leader Sungkyu who really makes a splash when it comes to his solo stages. The last time INFINITE was in this part of the world, Sungkyu was performing songs from his “Another Me” EP, and his latest music shows him as a more mature, expressive performer. Sungkyu’s “27” EP is one of the best albums out of Korea this year, so if you haven’t listened to it yet, you may want to prepare yourself for his soul-filled synth-rock performance.

Also on KultScene: Playlist Sunday: Cute K-Pop Concepts

”My Girl” (INFINITE F)

The last time INFINITE was in North America, INFINITE F wasn’t a thing yet. During their One Great Step tour, Sungyeol and Sunjong had a set while L had his own one. This time around, the subunit will come together on stage for what is sure to be a sweet performance of “My Girl,” preceded by a remix version of “Heartbeat.” “My Girl” was originally in Japanese, but INFINITE F will be performing a Korean version of the song. The song is a light, upbeat tapping tune that makes the most of the subunit’s soft vocals, and will definitely provide a light touch amidst the stronger songs dance songs performed by INFINITE as a whole.

”Together”

Only INFINITE would end a concert on a song that isn’t even a B-track, let alone a single, but the soundtrack to their “Grow” documentary. “Together” is a soft ballad promise to INFINITE’s fans, Inspirits, and has been sung as the final encore at INFINITE Effect stops. The song was composed by Woohyun, and reflects INFINITE’s feelings. Needless to say, prepare tissues for both the audience and the band at each stop because there will be many people crying as they sing along to this heartfelt tune.

Also look forward to performances of “Back” and “Last Romeo,” which are two of the singles INFINITE has released since the last time they brought their tour to this part of the world.

Tickets are currently on sale for INFINITE’s Los Angeles stop, and range between $50-$150 USD. They can be purchased on AXS’s site.

What are you looking forward to the most at INFINITE’s concert? What’s the song you want to see INFINITE perform the most? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Cute K-Pop Concepts

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GOT7 for KultScene Playlist SundaySexy and strong is great, but K-pop comes in all shapes and sizes and sometimes that size is “cute.” This week’s KultScene Playlist Sunday features our favorite cute K-pop concepts. These bright, colorful, upbeat songs and music videos were handpicked by KultScene’s staff to put a smile on anyone’s face as these girl groups and boy band win their way into everybody’s hearts.

I don’t know where exactly DIA’s “My Friend’s Boyfriend” falls on the cute spectrum, but I have no doubt that it is there. If I were to guess it would be somewhere between Red Velvet’s chaos and A Pink’s purity with added self-parody. This confusion becomes immediately apparent with a first listen. The song opens with blaring sirens and rolling drums that recall heavy American hip hop more than a cutesy pop song. This is straight undercut though by soft vocals in the opening verse, which harmonize in traditionally satisfying ways when it comes to being cute. The song doesn’t stop throwing stuff at us there though, still to come are coughs, psychotic la las, and a fiery rap which follows the first chorus with barely a blink to recover. The whole song is more akin to an obsessive young person who thinks they’re cute and will never believe that the object of their desire has no feelings for them. I mean, they are literally stealing their friend’s boyfriend.

— Joe

Also on KultScene: 5 Underrated K-Pop Rookie Songs

I’m really not a fan of the cute girl concepts. For me, they cater to the male gaze by falling into the stereotypes of the uber feminized, demure woman that just isn’t prevalent anymore. So imagine my pain when I began liking APink’s “Mr. Chu” and see it become one of my favorite songs from last year. This group is the epitome of the hypersexualized virginal, docile woman in my eyes, but even I couldn’t help but fall for the catchy chorus and the awesomely shot music video by one of my favorite directors, Digipedi. Because at the end of the day, it’s more important not to promote girl hate and just accept them and enjoy their feel-good music.

— Alexis

GOT7 has shown us an array of styles, everything from preppy and cheerful to the mysteriously rugged. It was only a matter of time before they gave us an overly cute concept like “Just Right.” There’s been times where I had forgotten how old these guys really were, especially when the choreography for songs like “Girls Girls Girls” and “Stop Stop It” required them to be a bit more serious, through their dance moves and facial expressions. “Just RIght” was a nice break from it all. Even though it was rather cringe worthy to watch at times anyone who watched this music video and saw the members frolicking around, making derpy facial expressions and acting as goofy as they did, probably couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. Whether it’s the finger snaps or the addictive “woo-oohs”, it’ll only take one listen before you fall in love with this song.

–Tam

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

When you think of INFINITE, you don’t necessarily think “ah they’re adorable.” But in 2013, the group released “Man In Love,” and the song is just an ode to the group’s cute, whimsical side. “Man In Love” takes everything good about INFINITE- the retro inspired dance songs, the synchronized dance moves- and adds an element of sweet, adorableness that other INFINITE songs don’t display. The 80’s inspired song is lighter than most of INFINITE’s more recent songs, while similar to early songs like “Come Back Again.” The music video is filled with images that are sure to make INFINITE’s fan’s hearts flutter (Sungyeol baking, Sungkyu’s light show, L’s romantic silliness in class, etc.) but the lyrics of “Man In Love” are also simply adorable. “Like a young child, I keep laughing for no reason” and “The letters in my book are dancing as they form your name,” give the song a lighthearted meaning that I absolutely love and would be happy to see more of from INFINITE.

–Tamar

What’s your favorite cute K-pop song? Let us know 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.