5 Reasons to Watch ‘Abnormal Summit’

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JTBC’s Abnormal Summit (aka Non-Summit) is one of those shows that rarely makes international headlines because it’s devoid of a K-Pop idol cast. It doesn’t address artist-centered topics or is meant as a promotional stint for celebrities; it’s quite far from that.

Abnormal Summit’s “abnormality” starts with its format: a panel of 11 men together with the three hosts and a guest (Korean representative) discuss various topics concerning Korean culture for 70 minutes. The panelists, or G11, are actually all non-Korean men from different countries who live in Korea and are thus fluent in the language. Together with the Korean MCs –Jun Hyun Moo, Yoo Se Yoon, and Sung Si Kyung –they all emulate a world leaders summit in talk show format and debate topics such as same-sex marriage, the country’s infatuation with beauty, drinking culture, and more.

What could turn into utter disaster is actually quite insightful and entertaining. The creators positioned Abnormal Summit’s set to appear like a serious UN meeting, but it actually resembles what a group of men would act like at a gathering or bar, making it just really good TV. Need further persuading? Here are five reasons to look up Abnormal Summit and watch it:

1. Interesting Topics & Point of Views

When I say “utter disaster,” I’m not playing. Eleven foreigners criticizing Korean culture? Can’t end well, and that’s exactly why that doesn’t happen in Abnormal Summit. Instead, the Korean representative for the day brings up a personal topic and asks G11 if they’re abnormal. G11 then doesn’t lecture the guest, but offer their personal opinions and share their home countries’ stance on the subject.

So far, the sixteen episodes aired have shown that when you put together such a big group of men, regardless of age, the discussion’s tone is not going to be serious all the time. Having a comedian as an MC together with foreign 20 to 30-something-year-old men on TV, they’re going to tackle the issues with humor.

But leaving the variety side of the show behind, Abnormal Summit addresses issues that affect youth not only in Korea, but all over the world, and it always sheds interesting insight. Some of the topics covered so far include pre-marital cohabitation, sex education, living in Seoul, career pursuits, etc. Since G11 come from different countries around the globe, it’s always interesting to witness their point of views. For example, Enes Kaya from Turkey and Zhang Yuan from China are generally the conservatives ones, while Belgium’s Julian Quintart and Germany’s Daniel Lindemann are more liberal. While Enes opposes cohabitation, stating that the woman is affected if the relationship doesn’t result in marriage, Julian refutes that couples learn if they want to get married by living together before marriage.

zhang yuan abnormal summit

via abnormalsummitgifs @ Tumblr

abnormal summit gif

via abnormalsummitgifs @ Tumblr

The key point to this panel is that no matter where G11 is from –taking into account culture and beliefs –they always talk about topics respectfully. But just in case things get heated up, they all hold hands and sing Koreana’s Hand in Hand.

Also on KultScene: 9 K-Pop Songs For Twerking

2. International Eye Candy

I’ve purposely refrained from talking about G11 more specifically before because I was waiting for this. Unlike America, Korea is not an immigrant country, meaning there’s not a lot of diversity of people living there, thus on TV. However, producers managed to find a few expats who are fluent in Korean and very attractive.

Since the cast is so different, each of the guys has their own special features that make them attractive. Sam Okyere from Ghana, German Daniel, and Guillaume Patry from Canada all have super hero builds, while Julian, Robin Deiana from France, and Takuya Terada from Japan (who is in K-Pop group Cross Gene) have that flower boy essence we love. Alberto Mondi from Italy, Enes, and Yuan swoon audiences with their romantic, family-centered views, and Australia’s Daniel Snoeks has a bad boy image, being covered in tattoos. Lastly, Tyler Rasch from the U.S. and former panelist James Hooper from the U.K., showcased more mature and savvy images.

G11 is so popular and well-accepted by the Korean public that they all do CFs and magazine editorials now. And with these looks and charisma, who can blame them? They definitely give lots of idols a run for their money.

3. It’s All About G11

As mentioned before, a Korean representative is featured in each episode and presents a topic to be discussed. Some past guests include 2AM’s Jo Kwon, Sistar’s Soyou, Roommate’s Jo Se Ho, and Running Man’s HaHa. However, even though these are all bigger names than the panelists, the Korean representative is always overshadowed by G11. The show truly is about the foreign views on specific subjects, so guests are never truly the focus on Abnormal Summit, even if they are debating their “abnormalities.”

4. Camaraderie

One of the most touching things about the show is to see the progression in the guys’ relationships with each other. Most of these guys started out as strangers (Robin and Julian were friends before the show) and some held prejudices against others (Yuan brought up China’s conflicts with Japan and the U.S., causing tensions with Takuya and Tyler). And yet, with each week, you see their friendships and understandings of each other grow and strengthen.

abnormal summit julian robin gif

via Yaliyaliyalasheng @ Tumblr

A great example of growth is how on the first episode, the hosts asked Takuya to dance since he’s in a boy band. This, understandably, caused weird stares from the rest of the panelists. However, when Takuya was asked to dance again for the Chuseok special, G11 cheered for him and even danced along with him.

Also on KultScene: Best English Covers By K-Pop Artists 

5. Genuinely Funny

Even though Abnormal Summit is a hybrid of a talk show and a variety one and some aspects of it are obviously scripted, there’s just no way a writer comes up with the comedy seen in the show. It’s just impossible! They don’t rely on gimmicky jokes or acts, they just talk amongst themselves and the comedy ensues naturally.

via abnormalsummitgifs @ Tumblr

via abnormalsummitgifs @ Tumblr

via abnormalsummitgifs @ Tumblr

via abnormalsummitgifs @ Tumblr

Their running gags are some of the key points in their comedy. It’s always funny when none of the hosts believe Sam on anything Ghana-related, when Enes gets teased for his countless Turkish proverbs, or when they bring up Julian’s parent’s pension in Belgium. This comes from the fact that “boys will be boys.” They tease each other and never take it to heart. G11 also never shies away from being complete derps –one of the many reasons why they’re so lovable and charismatic.

abnormal summit

via Yaliyaliyalasheng @ Tumblr

Do you watch Abnormal Summit? What’s your favorite thing about the show? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

5 Overlooked K-Pop Singles

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Have you ever been extremely excited when a K-Pop group releases a great single and then disappointed in humanity when it doesn’t become as popular as it deserves? Well, we’re right there with you here at KultScene and below are only a fraction of K-Pop singles that deserve much more love. So read on to see if your favorite overlooked single made list, and hopefully we can introduce you to some new tunes as well.

Artist: Ajax
Album: 2MYX
Song: 2MYX

Let’s start this article with some ‘80s throwback music. Ajax’s 2MYX is laden with ‘80s sounds musically, and I absolutely love it. The beat, the synths, the drum beat, everything is great. The chorus is extremely catchy, and the members’ vocals are pretty impressive as well. The music reminds me of a Michael Jackson tune along the lines of Why You Wanna Trip On Me. The rapping fits well with the song; there’s a slower part with the accompaniment of an electric guitar that continues throughout the remainder of the song. All in all, 2MYX is a great jam if you’re feeling like a throwback day musically.

Also on KPOPme: 9 K-Pop Songs for Twerking

Artist: Roh Jihoon
Album: The Next Big Thing – EP
Song: Punishment

I thought Roh Ji Hoon was going places, and I’m surprised he hasn’t had a comeback recently. Punishment showcases his single abilities beautifully and that handsome face of his. Aside from his handsomeness, the piano in Punishment sets the tone for the song and is prominent throughout. Roh Ji Hoon beautifully executes his notes and manages to put emotion into Punishment.

The video views from Cube’s channel and 1thK’s channel add up to around 1.5 million views, which makes Punishment the most viewed video on this list. But it didn’t catapult him to stardom like I anticipated it would.

Artist: Able
Album: Able의 1’St 앨범
Song: 미스테리 (Mystery)

To be honest, I’m not sure how I found this song, but I’m happy I did. Mystery has the ‘90s boy band backing music and vocals. The English may not be as clear as it could be, but that doesn’t matter. The guys sing the song very well and the style of the song is quite enticing. The quick beat and pace of the song will also keep listeners interested until the end. Mystery is just a fun song with a great beat. You may forget about it after listening to it, but when it pops up on your shuffle it’s a must to listen to.

Artist: Bigstar
Album: Hang Out EP
Song: Run&Run

Yes, Bigstar’s Run&Run is the second most popular song on this list in terms of video view counts. However, they just have over 1,00,000 views in over a year since release. When Run&Run came out, not many people knew about it and it took awhile to gain some popularity. Bigstar is a talented group and this song showed their fun, goofy side as a group. The video is fun to watch and the chorus and choreography (the easier parts) are extremely addictive.

Run&Run is one of those songs that needs to be listened to while watching the music video (at least once) so listeners have an idea of what is going on in the song. The video helps to clarify the story within the song.

Also on KPOPme: M.I.B & 4TEN Shine At The NYC Chuseok Festival

Artist: Wonder Boyz
Album: 타잔 Tarzan – Single
Song: Tarzan

Tarzan is my favorite Wonder Boyz song. It was the first time that I really noticed them. I had their previous mini album, but didn’t pay much attention to them. This song boasts great music, a great beat, great vocals, and great rapping. The flow of the song is quick and memorable. Not to mention the choreography in the video is also pretty great. Moreover, the English lyrics are easy to sing along to and follow as well.

The dance version of the music video only has over 600,000 views, and it deserves much more. There are two music videos for the song, the dance version (below) as well as the story version. Both of which are quite enjoyable. Tarzan is an extremely catchy song that sounds amazing with the volume turned up as loud as you can handle.

Stay tuned for more overlooked K-pop singles. What are some of your favorite singles that just didn’t receive the love they deserved? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Haters Gonna Hate

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Haters will always be around and we can either become consumed with their negativity or brush it off and continue to live our lives the way we want. This week’s Playlist Sunday is all about shutting up those haters and showing them that we don’t give a damn about their pessimism and snide remarks. With the help of Beenzino, CL, G-Dragon, and Teddy, Epik High (with some friends), and MBLAQ let’s all forget about the haters and enjoy the music.

Beenzino’s Up All Night talks about a different kind of hate and how the narrator deals with it. He just lost his lover and he hates everything and everyone. He just wants to go out, get drunk, have fun, and forget everything else, especially his love situation. He hates love songs and dealing with a breakup, and he makes it more intense during the bridge when he adds some cuss words. At the end of the song, he clearly states how much he hates his haters while continuing his use of profanity, but lets his fans know that he does everything for them.

–Alejandro

If we’re going to talk about haters, there’s probably not two people in K-Pop who have gotten more hate than G-Dragon and CL. That’s why in The Leaders, the idols, together with YG Entertainment producer Teddy, came out with a song celebrating themselves. In the song, they talk about being on top of their game and not being fazed by any haters. The Leaders has the best one liner disses in english ever, making it the reason I love this song. It’s a very smug song, but true nevertheless.

–Alexis

[Note: The following song contains explicit content.]

Epik High celebrated their 10th anniversary last October with the release of an exclusive track on their Soundcloud. The song, 420, was produced by DJ Tukutz and highlights Tablo’s and Mithra’s rapping. But this song isn’t just Epik High, seven other rappers join the hip hop group. Double K, Yankie, Dok2, Sean2Slow, Dumbfoundead, TopBob, and MYK all have a verse in the song.

The song is about Epik High’s rise from the bottom and how they’re still here and the same group as when they started. Each verse gives listeners brief insight into each rappers’ career, beginnings, and feelings about the hip hop scene. The beat is addictive and everyone’s verses flow well together. 420 is not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely worth listening to and understanding the lyrics.

— Tara

MBLAQ’s known for its dance and R&B songs, but Run is one of MBLAQ’s most powerful, epic songs as well as by any idol group. It serves as the introductory song on MBLAQ’s 100% Ver, and sets the mood for the entire album- the idea that MBLAQ loves what it’s doing, and doesn’t really care what your reaction to the album is.

MBLAQ has done a lot of experimental stuff, and Run is the group’s anthem saying that it doesn’t really care what your reaction is, but MBLAQ is going to overtake you. Run is the intro for an album with a multitude of song styles including This Is War, Hello My Ex, and Scribble, and the variety is a bit overwhelming. Run knows that not everyone will be comfortable with every song, with every style that MBLAQ includes in the album, but MBLAQ is ready for both criticism and competition.

–Tamar

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

9 K-Pop Songs for Twerking

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[Disclaimer: This was written by a young, awkwardly tall Latina girl with no butt. However, if I did have a prominent derriere and fierce hip hop skills, this is what I would be twerking to. This article is only meant as fun, so don’t take it so seriously.]

Last year when Wa$$up debuted, the K-Pop girl group faced lots of criticism and slut-shaming because of their alleged twerking. However, anyone with an internet connection and access to Youtube knew that Wa$$up’s hip thrusts and booty shakes were certainly not twerking. Moreover, the slut shaming has been the response to every other “provocative” dance over the years; Elvis’ hip thrusts? Oh my! The lambada? Someone separate those two! In other words, people, once again, were big squares over self-expression through dance…

But just because Wa$$ap doesn’t live up to their twerk-dol tag nor any other artists twerk their way through music videos, this doesn’t mean they don’t release music that would be perfect for this type of dance. That’s why we curated a list of nine songs, slowly growing on tempo, that would be perfect to twerk to.

1. Jay Park – Nana

Released earlier this summer, Nana is a laid back tempo track that also mixes in a catchy head-nodding beat. Because the pace is a bit slow, it makes for a subtle twerk. And since we’re building momentum here, this Jay Park featuring LOCO track is perfect to get started –a warm-up, if you will.

rap monster twerking

via bangts @ Tumblr

2. 4minute – Wait a Minute

To bump it up a notch, 4minute’s tempo on Wait a Minute is still not that fast, but it’s clapping beats make it easy to follow. The song, in my opinion, is an allegory for sex, so it sets the scene perfectly for a coyer interpretation of twerking.

nari wassap twerking

by frafranza

3. f(x) – Boom Bang Boom

Traditionally, f(x)’s music is not what one would associate with any ramifications of the hip hop genre. However, with Boom Bang Boom, the girls presented an interpretation of it that stayed true to their concept; experimental yet cute. Like the previous pick, this track has easy to follow claps and snaps throughout the melody. Furthermore the break down after the chorus also serves for the perfect moment to showcase one’s hip thrusts.

j hope bts twerking

via Tumblr

Also on KPOPme: 5 Fantasy Collaborations With Non K-Pop Artists

4. EXID – ??? (UP&DOWN)

I know, I know. Hip hop nor rap nor any of those genres fit EXID’s concept, but LE’s rapping in ??? (UP&DOWN) together with the bubble-popping sounds and instrumental beats in the song make it an innovative yet fun pick to twerk to –excluding the chorus, of course. Moreover, since sultry is EXID’s brand, we can easily picture the girls doing it in a solo showcase not broadcasted on television.

exo tao twerking

by smilexiumin

5. Dok2 – Outchea

But now that we’ve tried a few experimental groups and sounds, let’s go back to basics. Dok2’s Outchea offers a more, let’s say, traditional hip hop beat for twerking. The tempo is mostly slow, but picks up at the chorus. As opposed to the previous choices, this song does offer the possibility to squat lower and lower as you see fit.

minzy twerking

by GlobalMinzy

6. Hyuna – Blacklist

Twerking to a track that tells a guy to piss off might seem contradictory to some. However, Hyuna and LE acknowledge their sexiness in Blacklist and are not going to stop being them over some dude. Let’s call it twerking with a purpose. Girls who twerk are confident in themselves and their dancing, so this song’s beat, lyrics, and fierce idol rappers set the perfect atmosphere for it.

bi rain twerking

via Black Kpop Fans @ Tumblr

7. G-Dragon – One of a Kind

As a producer and composer, G-Dragon (together with YG Entertainment’s house producers) always find new and ingenious ways to mix hip hop with trendy beats, and that’s exactly what they did with One of a Kind. The song’s hooks give way to faster movements, while the actual chorus allows for slower and deeper ones. One of a Kind is an all-around fun song, so why not twerk to it? The female backup dancers at one point do make some butt popping, so it’s just a matter of taking it to the next level.

miss a min twerking

by sexyhoneythighs

8. WINNER – I’m Him

We’ve finally arrived to that part of the list where you’re supposed to let loose and just go with the track. It is physically impossible not to get immediately drawn and addicted to WINNER’s I’m Him; from the strong thumps in the beat to Mino’s rapping, even if you can’t twerk, you’ll be dancing. This song really needs to explanation… Just play it, and you’ll instantly feel it in your backside.

minzy twerking

via cindres13

Also on KPOPme: Artist Spotlight: Beenzino

9. 2NE1 – MTBD

And now, the most twerk-tastic jam in K-Pop ever: 2NE1’s MTBD. Similar to the previous entry, this song speaks for itself, but ok, let’s get into it. This piece is the perfect canvas for your dancing masterpiece. From the trap beats to the electro-hip hop fusion to CL’s fierce rapping, the the twerking possibilities are endless. The song offers different tempos that allows a fully-developed diverse choreography. If this song doesn’t make you want to thrust your butt and unapologetically purse your lips, I don’t know what will…

miss a min twerking

by sexyhoneythighs

Do you twerk (or try to or wish you could?) What’s your favorite song to twerk to? We’d love to hear your thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

[Renders by: classicluv, thisisdahlia, dianpotpot, Kookieng]

5 CL Outfits We Want to Wear

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Has there ever been a time when you look at an K-Pop artist’s outfit and you really wish you could own it? Idols are mostly always fashionable from head-to-toe, thus having fashionistas around the world on the lookout for inspiration. But no one makes us yearn over their outfit choices quite as the Baddest Female herself, miss CL.

The 2NE1 leader wears fierce outfits like no other idol, because not only does she have the right body for it, but she also has all the sass. Her style is very versatile and always evolving; you will never see her in the same style every time. She can be seen wearing something super feminine one day, and exploring her man repeller the next. Although it’s much, much more, we’ve picked five times where CL completely slayed fashion and made us want to dress like her.

1. Unicorn dress

CL wore Jeremy Scott’s F/W 2012’S Unicorn dress during 2NE1’s promotions for their first Global Tour: New Evolution. If there is anyone who can pull-off this look anywhere is CL. Even if this look can’t be worn in the real world, we still desire and would love this dress to be part of our closet. It throws you back to our childhood and those Lisa Frank stickers.

2ne1 CL fashion

2. Moschino by Jeremy Scott

CL’s Instagram gives you a very inside look to “The Baddest Female’s” world. Moschino was revived by Jeremy Scott recently, and many fashionistas fell in love with his fast food inspired collection. CL was lucky enough to have Jeremy, his dear friend, gift her pieces of his collection for her birthday. That Moschino sweater and bag are to die for; they are inspired by the iconic McDonald’s golden arches. Who wouldn’t love to have those pieces in their wardrobe?

3. Versus by VERSACE

During the Falling in Love promotions, 2NE1 wore head-to-toe Versus by Versace. The label really brought out those iconic prints that Gianni Versace made famous in the ‘90s. This collection sold out online really fast, and the crop top that CL is wearing was one of the most coveted pieces. If we could have that crop top we could easily pair it with so many things, like ripped boyfriend jeans, a circle skirt, or joggers. It could work for anything!

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4. Kesh for American Apparel

CL wears from high-end designers to more accessible labels like American Apparel. When 2NE1 wore the acclaimed Kesh for American Apparel pieces, Blackjacks around the world were very happy. The collection had just launched and it was very attainable since it wasn’t crazy expensive.

5. Shaun Samson and Chanel

Who doesn’t love cats, especially if it’s a cat that has piercings all over his face? CL wore Shaun Samson’s SS 2013 pierced cat shirt and paired it with checkered shorts and Chanel creepers. G-Dragon also wore these pieces before during his Michi Go promotions. But seeing the way CL styled both items together, it really makes it look effortlessly chic.

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[Featured picture via LuannaMaria]  

What’s your favorite CL look? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear you thoughts, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

M.I.B & 4TEN Shine At The NYC Chuseok Festival

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The 32nd New York Korean Chuseok Festival took place on October 11th and 12th in Queens, New York at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Even though it was a traditional festival, there were aspects of pop culture, including performances by Korean idol groups M.I.B and 4TEN, and other Korean celebrities. Local acts also performed, combining the foreign and the local, the traditional and the modern, into one festive event.

KPOPme attended the second day of the festival, arriving early on the bright, sunny day. The Chuseok Festival was a whole day event, with families arriving early in the day to enjoy booths set up by Korean companies, ranging from makeup brands to airlines, and some light entertainment, including a rock climbing wall that proved pretty popular, as well as a raffle to win a round trip to Korea. Since winter is coming to New York, many people arrived wearing coats, but the day became sunny and soon everyone was walking around and enjoying the weather and culture. The majority of the crowd was made up of Korean families, but there were numerous foreigners interspersed.

Even though there were people enjoying the festival all day, there was a state of anticipation for the main attraction of the day: the concert. Around 2 p.m., a formal award ceremony began, honoring those who helped run the festival, and at 3 o’clock, the show began.

A local dance team, SJ Team, danced to sultry songs including HyunA’s Red, and were followed up by a local duo that won the previous day’s dance contest. MC Kim Hak Rae took to the stage, entertaining everyone with his comedy, before introducing the first idol group of the day, 4TEN.

4TEN debuted only a few months ago, so not even K-Pop fans in the audience knew the songs that the four member performed. However, their stunning rendition of Tornado immediately drew the attention of the crowd. The song begins slowly before becoming a bass-filled dance track that let members Hyeji and Hyejin exhibit their powerful vocals, getting the catchy hook “oh oh oh” stuck in everyone’s head. Eujin and, especially, Tem’s rapping simply wowed the crowd. Even though they’re rookies, 4TEN’s members are no joke and everyone in the audience recognized that pretty quickly.

 Also on KPOPme: Review: BTS Show & Prove In Los Angeles

The girls’ had a pretty short set, but performed two of their own songs as well as a flawless cover of Nicki Minaj’s Super Bass. They introduced themselves, speaking in both Korean and English to the crowd. Tem, who is American, expressed how excited 4TEN was to be performing in New York. By the end of their set, the audience definitely wished that it was a bit longer to see more of what the four had to offer.

Following 4TEN was Lee Eun Ha, who was one of Korea’s most popular singers in the 70’s and 80’s. She was a perfect pick for the audience, which was mostly families. One hilarious elderly man even walked to the front of the audience and started dancing to Lee Eun Ha’s songs, amusing both the crowd and the singer.

Finally at around 4 p.m., M.I.B came to the stage, and there was palpable excitement. There were about 100 fans there who been waiting all day for the hip-hop group to get on stage, and the minute M.I.B was visible walking onto stage, those fans went absolutely crazy. Many of the elder audience members also seemed to recognize singer Kangnam from his recent variety show appearances, which are getting a lot of popularity.

5zic, $IMS, Young Cream, and Kangnam started performing Chisa Bounce as the crowd greeted them with loud cheers. The funky hip-hop track set the tone for the rest of their set- even though many people in the family-friendly audience didn’t know the group’s songs, M.I.B was just set on having fun. The members didn’t stick to a tight choreography, but instead moved freely around the stage and had fun. At one point, to the delight of fans in the audience, Kangnam jokingly even started grinding with Young Cream.

 Also on KPOPme: 6 Best K-Pop School Uniform Concept Music Videos

M.I.B then introduced themselves in Korean before heading into G.D.M (Girls. Dreams. Money), Let’s Talk About You, and Money In The Building. Some audience members were wondering if one of the 4TEN members would sing the part of A-Pink’s Bomi since 4TEN and M.I.B are both from Jungle Entertainment, but sadly, none of the members joined in. M.I.B stopped to speak again, and decided to only speak English (but failed at that). Kangnam’s variety show personality appeared again and had the crowd laughing when he brought up the fact that even though he went to high school in Hawaii, he got kicked out so his English isn’t very good.

The group ended the day with Dash (Men In Black,) which seemed very appropriate considering that the Chuseok Festival took place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the location of the 1964 World’s Fair- which was featured in the movie Men In Black. Dash (Men In Black) was definitely M.I.B’s best performance of the night, combining the member’s witty humor with their talented rap and vocal skills.

Even though M.I.B was supposed to be the last performance, up-and-coming K-Pop cover artist, Arnelle “Elly” Nonon ended the night with her flawless covers, including a fierce rendition of Winner’s Mino’s I’m Him, which she turned into I’m Her). And with that, the festivities ended.

With idols for the younger audience members, comedy and a starlet in her own right for the older audience, everyone was able to enjoy the 2014 NYC Chuseok Festival.

Check out KPOPme’s photos of the 2014 NYC Chuseok Festival.

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Did you attended 2014 NYC Chuseok Festival? Which one was your favorite performance? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Let’s Discuss: MBLAQ, Failures or Realists?

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In 2009, MBLAQ and Beast both debuted. MBLAQ was the clear winner –it was the group that Rain had put together; his pet project. Beast, on the other hand, was a group of “rejects” from JYP and YG and failed solo acts.

Fast forward to 2014 and the tables are completely turned. With the announcement that Lee Joon is likely leaving the group, rumors that Thunder (Cheondung) will also not renew his contract with J. Tune Camp, and Beast’s highly anticipated comeback, it’s clear to all that Beast ended up on top. Does that mean that MBLAQ has failed as idols? Perhaps so, but perhaps not also.

What Went Wrong With MBLAQ?

Many things, and nothing. The group has had popular songs, but won few awards. Only Y and This Is War won awards on music shows, while those two and Mona Lisa are the only songs by the quintet to ever be nominated for MAMA awards. Moreover, not a single MBLAQ song achieved number one on Korean charts, although multiple of their albums did gain that distinction.

Lee Joon, Thunder, and G.O have gained recognition for acting, and G.O has gained a lot of attention for his vocal and producing skills. Mir has also become renowned for his rapping skills. MBLAQ members are popular on variety shows and have featured on numerous songs. But as idols, not a single member of the group or a song has made a huge impact. People know the members’ names, but the group has never hit the top tier of idols.

Source: Tumblr via Leyez

Source: Tumblr via Leyez

In a world where catchy dance songs are king, MBLAQ’s R&B style hasn’t led to major success. Not a single one of MBLAQ’s Korean songs ever placed above fifth on Korean or international music charts. Several Korean songs charted at number two on the Japanese Oricon chart (Your Luv and Baby U), but otherwise, MBLAQ’s songs have never had that “hit” factor.

MBLAQ is well-known, and many people think that means that the group is successful. But a boy band that doesn’t gain recognition for its music is not necessarily ideal or something worth continuing. Lee Joon and Thunder’s desire not to renew their term with the group may be a result of the overall failure of MBLAQ as a musical act.

 Also on KPOPme: Let’s Discuss: YG’s Luck With Damage Control

Who Is To Blame? Management?

The group is a very clear case of not having one single entity organizing it. MBLAQ did pretty well before Rain entered the army at the end of 2011. Rain’s popularity had been transferred to MBLAQ since debut, and the five members are artistically talented enough to stand on their own feet. But there was always the fact that the group was the five-member version of Rain, with his style influencing the group.

Right before Rain entered the army, MBLAQ’s style changed. Stylistically similar songs like Cry, Stay, Y, Oh Yeah, etc. became Mona Lisa, Hello My Ex, It’s War, Run, etc.

Rain hasn’t touched the band since entering the army; when he came back, Rain went to Cube Entertainment. J. Tune Camp has managed every MBLAQ activity since the end of 2011. Rain’s name is still attached to the group, but his magic touch is gone.

OnePackAB

Source: OnePackAB

Furthermore, J. Tune Camp’s parent company, J. Tune Entertainment, merged with JYP in 2009. But J. Tune Camp was left alone, showing that there are some issues with internal management at the company. Without the backing of a stable company, the guys had a lot of activities, but never really focused on being singers. Promotions as MBLAQ have come in spurts, with individual members focusing more on their individual promotions than as members of an idol group.

Five years is a good amount of time to test the waters before some of the members decided that a “career change” may be a better option, and that looks like where we are right now.

Or Maybe We Should Blame The Timing?

With more and more new idol groups every day, the group didn’t really stand a chance. At the time of debut, MBLAQ was heralded as a manly, powerful group that would be well-received in a crowd of girl groups (2009 saw the popular debuts of 2NE1, f(x), Secret, After School, T-ara, and 4Minute, and the super success of Girls’ Generation, Kara, and Wonder Girls). It was the second coming of Rain, and the only prominent rival was Beast, the “reject” group.

But then K-Pop exploded in 2010 with boy groups. INFINITE, Teen Top, DMTN, Led Apple, JYJ, ZE:A, F.CUZ, CNBLUE, and The Boss. By 2011, rookie groups began popping up left and right, male and female, making older idol groups passé.

Also on KPOPme: 6 Songs Non-K-Pop Fans Can Like

Or, Maybe, Nothing?

MBLAQ was supposed to be the next “nation’s idol.” However, the group never had a hit song, because of constant comebacks and the debuts of the next-big-thing. The members are talented, as a group and on their own and they’re well recognized. Their songs have done well, but MBLAQ as a whole hasn’t. There’s no one real reason –company, members, timing, chance –that made MBLAQ an idol group without a single number one hit.

But the members have been going for five years, waiting for that one hit, and it hasn’t happened. Fans are reeling from scandals, but perhaps it is time to accept that K-Pop groups do not last forever. Accepting that is key, and sometimes idols need to transition from idol-dom to celebrity-ship.

Source: Lembas via ABM

Source: Lembas via ABM

MBLAQ and its members are many things –talented, funny, handsome, etc. But they are not one thing: Korea’s top idol group. After five years, it is time for both the group and its fans to recognize that, and MBLAQ’s potential disbandment (or continuing on as a trio/quartet, depending on different rumors) should be applauded.

Idol groups always end; even long-lived groups like Big Bang, Super Junior, and Girls’ Generation won’t last forever. If MBLAQ isn’t as successful as it could be, isn’t it better for the members to realize that now, before they are too old to regret being a second tier idol group? It’s been fun, but maybe it’s a time for a change.

Source: Hello Baby via Tumblr

Source: Hello Baby via Tumblr

What do you think? Should MBLAQ’s members stick together? Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Review: B1A4’s Road Trip Tour in San Francisco

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by Lynh Nguyen

Read more

Playlist Sunday: OST Favorites

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Whether Korean dramas got you into K-Pop or the other way around, one thing’s for sure: they’re both inevitable gateways into each other. Maybe your favorite idol was in a drama, or maybe that group you’re listening to participated on an OST. Since K-Pop is mainstream music in Korea, it comes as no surprise when idols sing OSTs, even if they don’t act in them.

And since we’re all K-drama addicts at KPOPme this week’s Playlist Sunday is dedicated to a few of our favorite OSTs.

When Jonghyun’s (CNBLUE) character was introduced in A Gentleman’s Dignity, I did not expect the My Love OST. The scene of him playing guitar and singing on the street is the first time we hear the song. As soon as I saw this scene and heard this song I was hooked. My Love showcases Jonghyun’s gentle and innocent vocals. It’s a beautiful song performed by a beautiful man with beautiful vocals. I can’t get enough of the song and as soon as I heard it in the drama, I loved it.

–Tara

Few dramas tugged at the viewers’ heartstrings like Rooftop Prince, and Ali’s song Hurt is one of the songs that helped set the tone. Ali’s deep voice portrays the emotions of someone full-heartedly in pain, making the melancholy ballad the perfect backdrop to the pain and suffering of the couple in both Joseon and present times.

— Tamar

Boys Over Flowers was the first Korean drama that I ever watched, and SHINee was the first K-Pop band that I fell in love with. So naturally while watching the drama and heard the song, I was hooked. Stand By Me really brings out the softness in Onew’s vocals. They may not be as powerful as in other songs, but for this type of song, it was perfection. Jonghyun, Taemin, and Key lead you perfectly to the chorus, and once you hear this song, the soothing melody will make you never forget it.

–Alejandro

Monstar was one of those dramas with idols who are in a fictitious band. This time, said idols were BEAST’s Junhyung and BTOB had a few scenes since they were in the band, but not relevant to the story. After Time Passes was the song that played anytime there was a bittersweet moment. And what makes this song stand out from others in the drama is that Junhyung sings rather than raps in it. The lyrics talk about still being hung up on a girl, but anticipating getting over it and thinking less and less of her as time passes. The track is very mellow, making it an easy listen for whenever.

–Alexis

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

Best of the K-Pop B Tracks: Part 3

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Are you ready for the next installment of our Best of the K-Pop B Tracks series? Part 3 introduces new artists to the series and talks about one or two artists from the original post and from Part 2. The majority of these songs are not single material, but nonetheless, they are great tracks to enjoy on their respective albums. The following seven songs share some similarities as well as differences with each other, but all of them are great tunes.

Artist: Miss A
Album: Touch
Song: Lips

We’re starting Part 3 of this series off strong with Miss A’s Lips. The song starts off with a strong beat and club/EDM-inspired music. The ladies’ vocals are strong and powerful during the verses. Then more feminine and soft when the chorus appears. The chorus is addictive and easy to sing along to, which helps listeners get into the song. Lips is the perfect song to dance to at the club on a Friday or Saturday night. Just unwind and let go.

Artist: SHINee
Album: Dream Girl: The Misconceptions of You
Song: 히치하이킹 Hitchhiking

Next up of course is a SHINee song. 히치하이킹 Hitchhiking like Lips starts out strong with a synth and strong beat before and during Key’s intro. The music for 히치하이킹 Hitchhiking is insane. The almost overproduced beats seem like they would be too much, but somehow the music manages to work for the song.

The vocals and music are both quick, which keeps listeners interested. There aren’t any pauses in the music. Instead it slows down and thins out in some spots. The guys’ vocals are, as usual, flawless. The harmonies and falsettos are superb as well. 히치하이킹 Hitchhiking is a fun song to listen to when you’re feeling like hitting those high notes as you sing along.

Artist: LC9
Album: Skirmish
Song: Skirmish

LC9 came onto the K-Pop scene with Mama Beat and haven’t really been heard from since then. This next song is from their debut mini album titled Skirmish. The lead-off track is of the same name and one of my favorites. The beat and music are completely different from other K-Pop songs.

The music makes the song seem like it should be a hard-hitting song. But the vocals, especially in the beginning, are softer and inviting. After the chorus, the music becomes more minimal, and then builds again as the chorus approaches. The style of singing in Skirmish is what attracted me to the song. The members drag out their words and loop them together to give a wavy flow to the lyrics. Skirmish is a great song to bob your head to while listening to it with headphones.

Artist: Henry ft. Seul Gi
Album: Fantastic
Song: Butterfly

The next song is considerably different from the heavy EDM songs above. Henry’s duet with Seul Gi from his second mini album is a beautiful song that showcases both singers’ vocals. The two sound great together and the song, Butterfly, uses piano, guitar, and drums as the basis of the music.

It feels like a small lounge song with the duet singing to you in person. Butterfly is a pretty song that isn’t overpowered by the music and Henry’s and Seul Gi’s vocals compliment each other extremely well. When you feel like taking a break from the world listen to Butterfly.

Artist: Mamamoo ft. Geeks
Album: Hello
Song: Heeheehaheho

Mamamoo is a rookie group that deserves much more recognition. The soulful ladies have amazing vocals and great songs. Heeheehaheho is from their debut mini album Hello and is a little slower than the other songs. But it beautifully showcases the ladies’ vocal talents. Heeheehaheho is a R&B song that slows down life for a few minutes. It’s a simple song that brings out the soul in each members’ voice.

Artist: 2PM
Album: 미친거 아니야? GO CRAZY!
Song: Mine

2PM’s Fall release, 미친거 아니야? GO CRAZY!, gave us the likes of Go Crazy!, a crazy party song. But a few more tracks into the album we get Mine. Mine is a song that starts out with strings, piano, and funk, jazz-inspired music. Jun.K kicks off the vocals with his soulful tone and draws you into the song. The music is simple and provides a strong beat for the 70s-inspired vocals. We get soul, falsetto, Taec’s rapping and of course some 2PM flair.

Artist: Clazziquai Project
Album: Blink
Song: Life etc.

The final song for this installment of Best of the K-Pop B Tracks, is Clazziquai Project’s Life etc. from their Blink album. Alex does all of the singing in this song while Horan adds backing vocals. There’s a lot going on musically, but it does not distract from the song, it adds to it. Alex’s calm and soothing vocals makes a perfect pair with the zealous music.

The music may seem chaotic but it is essentially the main star of the song. Alex does sing throughout the song, but there are a lot of musical breaks where the listeners can just jam to the music. Alex adds to the story with the lyrics and his vocals. Life etc. is a fun song to listen to whenever you need a quirky pick-me-up.

Did you enjoy Part 3 of our K-Pop B Tracks series? Share some of your favorite K-Pop B tracks with us in the comments below. Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.