K-Pop Fashion Predictions: Spring-Summer 2015

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Fashion Week is the time of year when the major design houses present their newest collections. The designers showcase a season in advance so that magazines and buyers know what will be in next season. For fashionistas out there, this is the perfect opportunity to know what new trends are coming and thus be prepared when the next season arrives.

There is no question that K-Pop idols love to wear the latest trends and newest collections on stage, music videos, performances, and their everyday lives. Now that all the major Fashion Weeks around the world are over, here are our predictions of some possible fashion that you’ll see K-Pop idols wearing during Spring-Summer 2015.

1. Chanel

Chanel presented their newest collection was inspired by menswear and powerful women. Chanel took us back when women began wearing suits to demonstrate their power. There was even a staged “feminist” protest by the models and head designer Karl Lagerfeld at the end. Chanel has always been a power house and the brand features in many women’s wardrobes, especially thanks to Luxurytastic Replicas for those who can’t quite afford the real deal. This collection maintains Chanel’s status at the forefront of fashion.

G-Dragon is always seen attending the Chanel shows in Paris every season. He is an avid lover of the brand, and even wore head-to-toe Chanel pieces on his video for One Of A Kind. His androgynous figure let’s him play with the brand’s womenswear, and there is no doubt we will see him sport some of the Chanel pieces from the Spring-Summer 2015 collection.

G-Dragon at Chanel via MNET America

G-Dragon at Chanel via MNET America

Moreover, Girls’ Generation’s outfits are typically custom made for their specific concept, which tend to look more like costumes rather than actual fashion. Chanel’s collection had many pieces that would look amazing on all the girls. We have already seen some of the girls of the group wearing the brand in their everyday life and the I Got a Boy teaser pictures, but not on stage. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see them all styled in head to toe Chanel pieces? One can dare to dream.

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2. Hood By Air

K-Pop idols love to wear Hood By Air, and the latest collections for womenswear and menswear had many pieces that we will definitely be seeing in K-Pop very soon. HBA showcased over-the-top accessories for their menswear collection; a cool and unique take on men suits and their iconic prints. Hood By Air catches K-Pop stylists’ attention because of their uniqueness and stage ready pieces. We will definitely see idols like BTS, SHINee, 2NE1, BEAST, EXO, and K-Hip-hop rapper Beenzino wearing this collection in their upcoming projects.

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Also on KPOPme: Best K-Pop Music Video Fashion: September Releases

3. Moschino by Jeremy Scott

Jeremy Scott’s second womenswear collection for the iconic brand Moschino has everyone in the fashion world talking because this season’s inspiration was none other than Barbie. The Barbie collection is definitely every girls dream. 2NE1 has a long love affair with designer Jeremy Scott’s designs. Not only have they been his muses, but they have always supported their friend’s work. CL has already worn Moschino several times, like when she was Jeremy Scott’s date for a Harper’s Bazaar ICONS Fashion Week party. Not only can we predict 2NE1 wearing Moschino, but we can picture Red Velvet, f(x), and Lee Hi sporting the brand.

Jeremy Scott and CL via Moschino Instagram

Jeremy Scott and CL via Moschino Instagram

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Moschino also revealed it’s menswear collection that was full of prints and was very reminiscent of the ’80s. We can already see SHINee, BIGBANG, BEAST, Got7, and even the new group MADTOWN showing Moschino’s latest pieces in their variety show appearances, stages, and album jackets.

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4. KTZ

KTZ is known for it’s avant-garde designs and incredible statement pieces. The brand’s womenswear and menswear were inspired by Greece and Alexander The Great. The collection is full of black and white and gold that give a very strong image. Both collections could be styled perfectly and fit a lot of bands in K-Pop.

BTS has worn KTZ in the past, and Rap Monster’s outfit decked out in the brand has become a K-Pop cosplay favorite. We have mentioned 2NE1 before, but they are one of the most fashion forward girl groups in K-Pop and we are sure we will see them in this collection. Block B is another group that has shown love in the past for KTZ. A lot of pieces from their Very Good video were KTZ. Other K-Pop artists that we can expect to see wearing KTZ are once again SHINee, EXO, BEAST, f(x), B1A4, and even the men of Super Junior.

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Also on KPOPme: Fashion Icon: 2AM’s Jo Kwon

5. Versace

When you think of Versace what immediately comes to mind are flashy, opulent, and over the top pieces. For the Spring-Summer 2015 collection, Donatella Versace had a lot of fun with her designs. The whole collection has amazing cutouts, beautiful metallics, and, of course, Versace’s iconic Medusa head. Whether it’s a complete head to toe look or just a compliment piece of an outfit, Versace’s pieces are always a great statement. 2NE1 and BIGBANG are groups known for incorporating pieces from the brand. Girl groups like 4MINUTE, T-Ara, and boy groups like WINNER and BTS would also look awesome in pieces from this collection.

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K-Pop and fashion go hand-in-hand, and every time there is a new collection, you can’t help but wonder who will be wearing it next in the K-Pop world.

Which collection was your favorite? Which one would you love to see on your favorite idol? 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.

7 K-Pop Halloween Costume Ideas

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K-Pop artists and their music video ensembles make the greatest Halloween costumes because of their creative fashion. There’s everything from high fashion to concept costumes to the WTF looks. But if K-Pop music video and artists’ styling have one thing in common is that they’re always created with that eye-candy factor in mind while still being innovative.

And since going on Youtube means opening a pandora box of overwhelming choices, here’s our picks of great costume ideas that will make you stand out at a party or event:

1. G-Dragon

Despite G-Dragon’s personal style being high fashion and avant garde, for the regular public, his music video and everyday ensembles make the perfect costumes. He’s widely known for his innovative and out-of-this-world showstopping fashion, so focusing on only one look would be ludicrous.

Whether it’s black and white or full-on technicolor, GD has done it all. So if you want to be BIGBANG’s leader for Halloween, here are a few iconic ensembles. In Michi GO!, he wore a huge afro and a harness in the bathroom scene, while in Knock Out he sat on a war tank dressed in a studded leather jacket and knee high yellow socks. But if you want a more colorful look, Crayon’s laidback look with the Wonder Woman robe or Bad Boy’s iconic jacket with fur on the back are the winners.

Dressing as GD is all about being the center of attention, and these outfits will definitely have people looking.

2. Red Light Witches

f(x) red light fashion

This was the first time SM Entertainment’s experimental girl group took on a dark concept, making it the best (and newest) option for Halloween costumes. To tell you the truth, every look on f(x)’s Red Light music video could be a great costume (revolutionist? yes please!) But the most striking and memorable one is definitely the all black witch-like ensembles à la American Horror Story: Coven. Why be a sexy witch when you can be an editorial-yet-easy-to-wear one?

It doesn’t get more dramatic than the one eye lined, the eye-patch, or the porkpie hat. And bonus points if you include a burned book!

3. Orange Caramel Sushi Pieces

Orange Caramel is a group known for their quirky-weird overly-cutesy costumes, so the choices for Halloween are endless. However, “Orange Caramel on X video” is very expected. So how about Orange Caramel as sushi pieces, seen in Catallena?

The looks are very DIY friendly, given that they use print dresses to simulate the shrimp, mackerel, and salmon. The rice piece could easily be a pillow with smaller ones attached to it. And if you want to take it to the next level, be Catallena herself as an octopus.

These costume picks are innovative, and the accessories give the ensemble a Harajuku-like vibe. Even if your friends don’t know you’re doing an Orange Caramel costume, they’ll definitely get the sushi reference.

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

 

4. Girls’ Generation as Flight Attendants

girls generation flower power flight attendant

Girls’ Generation are among the girl groups with the most iconic costumes. Sightings of fans cosplaying their Genie, Run Devil Run, or Mr. Taxi music videos are very common at K-Pop events. But one that is definitely pushes to the back burner (maybe because it’s a Japanese single?) are their flight attendant costumes for Flower Power.

Channel your inner Barbie with these futuristic stewardess costumes. Because if you’re going to wear a metallic dress, might as well be on Halloween. But other than the dress, everything else about this costume would be toned down. The girls’ styling is very minimal while still being their signature feminine chic selves.

So if you’re going to be SNSD for Halloween, go for the less tried options.

5. HyunA’s Golden Playboy Bunny

hyuna red fashion

The playmate costume is anything but original. And yet, HyunA’s stylist found a way to give it a new spin on Red. HyunA dons a gold metallic suit with matching bunny ears, statement shoes, and superhero bracelets rather than your typical store bought costume.

For obvious reasons, this look is for someone who’s confident about herself (or himself? No judgement!) and her body. The key to pulling off this look, just like HyunA, is all about confidence rather than a rocking body, although having the latter helps.

6. Reply 1997 Students

reply1997

The sexy schoolgirl is also one of those standard, prepackaged, ready-to-buy costumes. But just as people have reinvented it to fit their desired theme (Hogwarts student sans robes, Britney’s Baby One More Time), this can also happen with your favorite K-Drama.

Reply 1997 was ahead of the game when they foreshadowed the ‘90s revival trend. And since regular student uniforms won’t be as meaningful by themselves, add the ‘90s pieces that made the drama’s poster stand out, such as Shi Won’s puffy hair pieces or the guy’s hair parted down the middle or any H.O.T memorabilia as accessories.

Also on KPOPme: 2PM’s Music Video Evolution

 

7. B1A4’s Pizza Delivery Boy

sandeul solo

Just as Orange Caramel, B1A4 is also known for it’s kooky music videos. Consequently, their looks also follow down the path of the quirky cute. Take for example their music video for Solo Day.

If you have an eye for fashion, the Moschino bag he casually sports caught your attention almost immediately. But you don’t have to break the bank to buy this purse in order to recreate Sandeul’s pizza delivery boy. The outfit itself and accessories are pretty doable, while the purse and pizza boxes are a cool DIY craft waiting to happen. Also, if Halloween isn’t really your thing but you feel the pressure to dress up, this pick suits you given that it’s very easy to recreate. Plus, you get to eat pizza in the name of your costume.

Here’s an example of Sandeul’s Solo Day outfit done at KCON 2014 by a cosplayer.

sandeul b1a4 solo day cosplay

Are you wearing a K-Pop themed Halloween costume? Let us know your pick! Also, 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.

Beast Excites Fans for Fall Comeback

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With the release of their individual photos and group photo, Beast has announced its official fall comeback. October 16th is the day of their comeback, which also happens to be the date of Beast’s fifth anniversary since debut.

The images of the guys show them on an empty beach at sunset and dusk. The warm glow from the sun contrasts beautifully with each member’s fall-inspired wardrobe. Sweaters of gray, black, and white are worn and give off the feeling of the cool fall air. Boots and hats are also used in the photos, which again alludes to the fall season and gall weather. The setting offers a romantic feel to the photos with the warm lighting and, of course, the handsome men in each photo.

 Also on KPOPme: Rewind Review: Beast’s “Good Luck”

Each individual photo, as mentioned above, takes place on a beach. Either the members have large rocks as their backdrop, or the actual ocean. Both backgrounds are simple while highlighting the natural beauty of that particular beach. Each photo utilizes the textures found in nature, which adds substance to the otherwise simplistic photos.

A video teaser was also released, which focuses on the same beach as the teaser images. Written on the beach is Beast’s comeback date, “1016” as well as, presumably, the time of release, “1230.” The music in the teaser is again simple, like the photos, and the musical notes have a minor quality to them, but toward the end of the teaser there is a possibility of those somber notes turning into major notes.

The waves of the ocean are also included in this teaser, which helps set the scene for the song. Yoseob sings the only lyrics in the teaser, “drive, drive” clean and crisp and beautifully teases fans. Whether the teaser is for their single or just a general teaser, fans can expect a great comeback.

Based on the teaser we can speculate that the song might be titled Drive and will be either a ballad or a mid-tempo song. It could be along the lines of Midnight or Shadow, that type of style and tempo, which have both slow and faster moments in the song. Also there’s the question of whether or not the ocean sound is included in the actual song or if it’s just there for the teaser. If it is in the actual song I can’t perceive it being continued throughout the song. Maybe only in the opening and/or ending of the song. No matter how the song turns out, it will be worthwhile.

Beast’s Good Luck comeback garnered a lot of music show wins for the group and further showcased the producing skills of Junhyung. The group’s fall comeback will hopefully play off of the success of Good Luck and give fans more wonderfully-produced hits. Beast’s 7th mini album may take a completely different direction from Good Luck, which will allow the group to further showcase their talents and that the members can effortlessly pull off different styles.

 Also on KPOPme: K-Pop’s Love Letter to Hood By Air

There is also another group teaser photo with the word TiME in the middle with 12:30 beneath it. The way TiME is stylized implies that it is the title of Beast’s 7th mini album. 12:30 is still ambiguous because both TiME and 12:30 are separate hashtags. 12:30 could still allude the time of release or the title of the song. In the top right hand corner is the date: 2014.10.20, which is the date of release.

via Beast Official Facebook

via Beast Official Facebook

It also says Special 7th Mini Album. I did mention earlier in the article that October marks Beast’s 5th anniversary in the business. Maybe there will be bonus tracks, or a track specifically dedicated to their fans, or a golden ticket to meet Beast in each hard copy… we can dream, right? We’ll have to wait until October 20th when all of our questions will be answered.

Are you looking forward to Beast’s Fall comeback? Everyone here at KPOPme is excited! Leave 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.

Let’s Discuss: EXO Luhan & Departure Rumors

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This isn’t the first time that it’s being said, but 2014 was not the best year for SM Entertainment. Kris leaving EXO, Sulli going on hiatus from f(x), and Jessica’s removal from Girls’ Generation are not exactly signs of a stellar company. And now there are rumors, mostly among international fans, that EXO’s Luhan will be leaving the group due to poor health, which isn’t good. Not that Luhan shouldn’t take care of his health, but the rumors themselves, and if they were to come true, are not good.

Why Are The Rumors Bad?

It shows panic among SM Entertainment’s audience. Other SM Entertainment idols have been sick in the past and have taken extended leave. SHINee’s Onew only recently rejoined activities after surgery, but there weren’t wide-spread rumors about him leaving the group. However, following the news that Girls’ Generation, one of the most seemingly-stable groups in K-Pop, is removing a member, SM Entertainment fans show that they no longer know what is what at the company.If fans cannot show full support for SM Entertainment, it is likely that SM will act even more recklessly than it has recently.

Following a downward spiral of f(x)’s Red Light promotions being overshadowed by Sulli’s dating and hiatus scandal, SM announced a new girl group, Red Velvet. Unlike the highly hyped debut of EXO, Red Velvet released its first song with little prior-fanfare, and a relatively sloppy, problem-plagued debut.

In regards to Girls’ Generation’s disaster, SM is continuing as usual with TaeTiSeo and individual promotions. But everything that the Girls’ do and every word they say is under strict scrutiny, and the company is likely to announce a comeback of one of its other groups to try and get attention off of the remaining eight Girls’ Generation members.

Also on KPOPme: Let’s Discuss: Jessica’s Departure & Girls’ Generation’s Future

SM Entertainment is often perceived to be the “worst” company of “the Big 3” Korean entertainment companies (SM, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment), due to its history with contract scandals and idols leaving the company. The company needs intense PR, but sudden member losses has become almost expected; EXO fans are practically counting down the days until another member announces that he is leaving, and Luhan appears the likely choice, due to his health issues.

The rumors are bad because it shows a complete lack of faith by fans in SM to manage its artists. SM fans need to support not only their favorite artists but the company, because the Korean entertainment industry is currently a company-dominated one. But right now, SM is in crisis mode and lack of support is making the company struggle anymore.

What oh nonon Luhan

via baekhyunniesbeagle

What If Luhan Actually Leaves?

If Luhan leaving EXO becomes reality, not just a rumor, SM Entertainment will find itself in serious trouble. Luhan is one of EXO’s three remaining Chinese members, and by far the most popular one. Luhan is so popular that he earned a Guinness Award for on Weibo- over 13 million comments on his account, double the amount of the next runner up. If Luhan’s health issues require that he, unfortunately, leaves the group, it would mean that SM’s EXO experiment has failed.

EXO has already failed in some ways, when the group became EXO rather than EXO-K and EXO-M. Fans wanted all twelve members together, but it meant that the split marketing campaigns were a failure, and fans wanted one, traditional K-Pop act.

Luhan’s absence would mean that only two Chinese members of EXO remain, Lay and Tao. Both, as all members of EXO, are immensely popular, but former member Kris and Luhan have definitely been the two most popular members of the EXO-M contingency. If Luhan leaves, EXO’s Chinese fanbase will reel and accusations of unfairness towards Chinese members will fly.

Also on KPOPme: Let’s Discuss: Did ZE:A’s Lee Hoo Go Too Far?

Remember, initial reports of Kris’ withdrawal blamed his health. Luhan’s poor health condition has already been acknowledged by SM Entertainment, so the rumors are understandable. Hopefully, they will just be rumors and Luhan will get the rest that he needs.

via allaroundasia

EXO needs no more problems, and SM Entertainment needs no more headaches. Hopefully these rumors will be pointless, but if Luhan, or any Chinese member leaves, EXO is in trouble.

Are you worried about EXO and Luhan? How do you feel about the recent SM Entertainment scandals? Be sure to share it and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

[Picture credit to SMTOWN]

Playlist Sunday: Bad Girls Club

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The good, cute girl image seems to be the norm and a favorite among the female K-Pop groups, but what about those who take a walk down the bad side? For this week’s playlist theme we chose groups and solo artist who aren’t scared to explore and show their bad girl images.

The Bad Girl image isn’t necessarily one you associate with K-Pop darlings Girls’ Generation, but that’s exactly what they tried to do back in 2011 with their Japanese single. Soshi went the cliché route by dressing in lots of pleather, posing in motorcycles, and dancing in an empty garage. But whether the concept was successful or not, there’s no denying that Bad Girl it’s an incredibly addicting song because of the repetitive “oh’s” in the hook.

The lyrics talk about being “bad” for a guy –the most perfect he’s ever seen, actually. You could even say it’s a complete 180 turn from Genie; the first is about dominance while the second is about compliance. Girls’ Generation might not have stuck with the naughtier image, but Bad Girl will always be “that time the girls went bad,” and who doesn’t like a good girl gone bad?

–Alexis

Brown Eyed Girls is definitely a group that epitomizes the Bad Girl theme. Their songs often depict mature content as seen in their music videos and choreography, and heard in their lyrics. For this week I chose BEG’s Kill Bill. The song has a story version music video as well as a performance version, both of which show off BEG’s “bad girl” personalities.

The lyrics are about a girl finding out about the unfaithfulness of her lover. Throughout the story version music video, each member is involved with the killing of a man and eventually themselves. Along with the lyrics and music video plot is the provocative choreography. The mature idols show off their sex appeal and that they are comfortable with themselves through the choreography for Kill Bill. BEG is the queen of mature and bad girl content.

–Tara

Good girls become bad girls for a reason, and NS Yoon-G isn’t staying quiet about who is to blame for the dramatic change. The Reason I Became A Witch is not only a great song, but the music video is perfect for October, with NS Yoon-G wearing her Halloween appropriate black-and-white tights. She starts the video behind a curtain of white, showing her demure self, before she turns into some S&M goddess who could be playing Catwoman in a Batman (or a female version of Fifty Shades of Grey). In The Reason I Became A Witch, NS Yoon-G doesn’t just bring sexiness, she brings fierceness and shows how a good-girl-gone-bad will never be controlled by a guy ever again.

–Tamar

Ladies Code Bad Girl talks about a man that mistreats a woman. The man keeps telling his lover that she is weak and pitiful, so the girl is ready to be alone, but he just doesn’t want to leave her. After continuos name calling, she becomes strong and tells him that she is not that girl, that she is actually a bad girl and demands him to start calling her that. The video has the girls styled beautifully and accompanied by many men. The video is serious at times, but then It gets really fun, especially when they are putting makeup and wigs on the guys. It’s so cute and funny.

— Alejandro

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

Album Review: Clazziquai Project’s “Blink”

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Clazziquai Project has had a musical career spanning ten years, and 2014 marked their 10 year anniversary. With that, they released their full-length album Blink. The album sticks to the trio’s jazz, electro, pop genre, but boasts a more mellow feel compared to their previous releases.

Clazziquai Project released music videos for their three singles, Madly, Still I’m By Your Side and Call Me Back. Alex and Horan’s complimentary vocals lead us effortlessly through the album.

Still I’m by Your Side

The lead-off track is upbeat from the beginning, with Alex opening the song. The chorus is easy to sing along to and the English lyrics help connect to fans who understand and appreciate English lyrics in Korean songs. Still I’m by Your Side has a peppy beat and a multitude of instruments and instrumental sounds being used throughout the song. If you strip the song of the vocals, the music will undoubtedly be able to stand on its own. But with Alex and Horan’s soft vocals there’s no need to abandon their voices. Still I’m by Your Side is a great lead-off track for Blink, and It draws listeners in from the opening beat alone and keeps them interested throughout the song.

Madly

Madly is slower than Still I’m by Your Side, with Horan opening the vocals. This song doesn’t have as much going on music-wise as Still I’m by Your Side, which is perfect because the tempo and style don’t need a lot of instruments and sounds. Again, Alex and Horan’s vocals depict people who are madly in love and wish for love; the softness, and emotion in the vocals bring you into the song.

Crave You

When Crave You first begins it seems like it will be a ballad, which this author is not a fan of. But shortly into the song you realize Crave You is more than that. The chorus is simple and to the point. It’s a song that you’d hear in a coffee shop, and, again, the music compared to the main track of Blink is more minimalist. This allows the vocals to bleed with emotion. The build up to the chorus is what makes this song. You can feel and hear it coming, it’s subtle but enough to change the tempo and feel of the song.

Also on KPOPme: KARA’s “Mamamia” Music Video & Song Review
Android

Android starts with a voice introduction and a strong beat. Horan sings throughout the song. One thing about Android is that the entire song is sung in English. Listening to the lyrics, it brings about a multitude of options for the meaning. The song could be sung from the point of view of the Android, but also from the point of the view of the person using it, wanting to be free from technology that humans are so dependent on these days. Android is a a tun and quirky track.

Maybe Baby

Maybe Baby is the first ballad on Blink. A somber piano plays the introduction, and then Horan adds her quiet, emotional vocals. The music is reminiscent of a slow jazz song sans the saxophone and other horn instruments. Maybe Baby gradually builds with more instruments and stronger vocals added into the song. It ends similar to how it begins, with a piano outro, but the notes are more major than minor like in the beginning.

Love Satellite

Love Satellite is a fun track after a love confession song. The beat is strong and addictive. Horan and Alex’s harmonies and short and abrupt lyrics match the beat. Alex’s falsetto during the chorus makes it seem like you are actually among the stars. The music and vocals take you out of this world and make you feel like you’re soaring through space while listening. The musical break also adds to the celestial feel of the song.

Come on and Go with Me

Come on and Go with Me is one of my favorite tracks of the album. The intro sets the tone for the song. It’s clear that the song with upbeat, but with a mellow tone throughout. Horan opens up the song vocally, and Alex adds his harmonies before he comes in. Come on and Go with Me perfectly showcases Horan and Alex’s beautiful vocals. The instrumentation and sounds used do not drown out their voices. Instead, they compliment the vocals and we are able to hear and understand and feel them more.

Life etc.

Life etc. has a completely different sound than the previous tracks. It reminds me a little bit of some of Philip Glass’ work. It has that out-of-this-world sound and feel. The piano used adds a feel of being at a large event for your company. There are many elements in Life etc. that remind me of different scenarios or composers, which is fitting for the title. Life has many elements and influences, and this song has that feeling. On the surface, Life etc. sounds chaotic, but once you really listen to each instrument has a purpose and they’re not overpowering or distracting.

Also on KPOPme: Hyuna’s “Red” Music Video & Song Review
Call Me Back

Call Me Back is another single from the album with an accompanying music video. With Call Me Back we are back to the mellow, chill feel of the rest of the album. The song even has some rapping in it, which adds another color to the track and album. Call Me Back is a song that brings the listener to a relaxed place. Somewhere that does not have stress or worries. That’s the type of feeling Call Me Back evokes.

Think About It

To round out this great album we have Think About It. Think About It sticks to the theme of the album with similar musical qualities and instruments. Think About It is the true ballad of Blink. Alex’s beautiful vocals portray the feeling perfectly. As I mentioned before I’m not a fan of slow songs or ballads, but Clazziquai Project has a special place in my heart so I can’t not like this song. It’s a beautiful song, but one that I may not listen to as often as the others.

My overall thoughts of this album are that it is a beautifully produced and everything flows together. The songs are all intertwined with the style of music and interments used, but each song has its own flavor. I suggest Blink to Clazziquai Project fans as well as music lovers who may have never heard of them. Blink is the perfect album to put on when you’re in a chill mood or need some relaxing, but entertaining music to listen to.

Clazziquai Project's 'Blink'
4.5

Do you like Clazziquai Project’s Blink? Leave 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.

Artist Spotlight: Crucial Star

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The combination of a calm beat, soft vocals, and rapping is something that’s becoming popular in the K-Pop scene. But where did this style come from? Surely something in the mainstream must’ve had its beginnings somewhere else. Crucial Star, real name Park Se Yoon, is a South Korean rapper, producer, composer and lyricist who has that craft down to a T in the hip hop spectrum.

crucial star rap korean

via Grandline Entertainment X N’Ouir

The 25-year-old began his career at the age of 17 performing with the hip hop group Libra Twins, but then joined label Soul Company and became a solo artist. Crucial Star debuted in 2010 with his first single Catch Me If U Can, and released his first mini-album A Star Goes Up in 2011, where he featured artists like Dok2 and Basick. He followed that up with A Star from the Basement in the same year, where he talked about the Korean hip hop scene and how most artists in the game don’t understand the fundamentals of the genre.

Also on KPOPme: Let’s Discover: EXID

In 2012, Crucial Star changed labels again after Soul Company went under and joined Grandline Entertainment, home to Geeks, Rimi, and K Jun. The piano and percussion song Nothing Lasts Forever from his mini-album Fall, is his reflection on the aftermath following the company’s disbandment, where he talks about his dreams and determination going forward. However, it was Flat Shoes from his previous EP Drawing #1: A Dream Spokesman featuring Lovely that was a hit.

Crucial Star draws inspiration from his daily life, talking mostly about his own experiences and especially women. He loves a heavy bass within a gentle beat, which is the staple in his music. His rapping style resembles that of American rappers Drake or Kid Cudi by being laid back and cool. The artist mixes his rapping with his vocals effortlessly, which creates a very nice ambiance in his music. He also tends to do many collaborations with other hip hop and even K-Pop acts.

In 2011, he composed I Just Want U and iPod Girl for then label mate Mad Clown. Once situated with his new company, Crucial Star collaborated with Zion.T, TakeOne, and The Quiett for Own Way for his EP Fall. Geeks also featured him on their remix version of Out of Breath, along with Ugly Duck, Zion.T, DJ Dopsh, 화나, and Block B’s Zico.

Also on KPOPme: Best of the K-Pop B Tracks

As far as collaborations with K-Pop idols, Crucial Star was featured on Jepp Blackman’s, a.k.a. B.A.P’s Yongguk, Last One. And earlier this year, he released a remake of the jazzy Park Hye Kyung’s 2000 song Three Things I Wanna Give You together with Girl’s Day’s Sojin.

The rapper released two EPs in 2013, Drawing #2: A Better Man and A Winter Love Song, and is now preparing to release his first full-length album. Midnight will mark his fresh start. The first single is Paris, a song that compares a woman to the city of lights. Directed by Lee Byungil, the music video is a beautiful work of cinematography that’s simple and chic at the same time, and has a very romantic feel to it.

The second single Pretty Girl dropped on October 1st, and is a bit more uptempo than its predecessor. Pretty Girl is yet another collaboration with Lovely, who adds her sweet vocals to a very fresh and clean, soft hip hip song.

Midnight, a 15-track album, will be released on October 24th, Crucial Star’s 26th birthday.

Do you like Crucial Star? We’d love for you to share 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.

5 K-Pop Songs For Morning Commutes

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Getting out of bed is only half the battle during the week, but actually making it to work in a relatively decent mood is the next step. Music can serve as a great pick me up, so when you’re on your morning commute to work or school, listen to some of our favorite K-Pop songs. For people who like to take the day more slowly, there are some songs for you, while those of you who need something fast-paced to get you really revved up, there’s also that. Whether you’re in a car, on public transportation, or your own two legs, these songs will really hit home. If your morning commute doesn’t involve driving (or if it does then you can have a look at it later), then you may wish to pass the time reading a blog about motorists and their music habits. If this is something that you think you might be interested in, then you can find it here.

K.Will – A Bright Day

Before getting into anything that will definitely wake you up, take it slowly. Listen to A Bright Day; think about what the day ahead of you will hold. Will it be a great day, an okay day or, unfortunately, a difficult one? Hopefully, it will be a fulfilling one, and make this commute well worth it! Mediate for a few minutes while listening to K.Will, and then move on to some other songs in this list that are a bit more upbeat.

MBLAQ – R U Ok?

You’re already awake and on your way, but you may not be completely awake. The soft snapping and piano instrumental at the beginning of R U Ok? transitions into a faster beat that will wake you up a little bit, to the point where you may be bobbing your head along to it.

 

Also on KPOPme: 8 K-Pop Jams For Your Next Workout

EXO-K – Angel

If you still have gunk in your eyes and you’re not so sure if all of your buttons are done properly, you’re probably not ready for something really loud and wild. EXO-K’s Angel, from the group’s debut album, is a simple ballad that has some great high points throughout the song that will definitely lift up your mood.

Roy Kim – Love Love Love

The singer’s acoustic guitar and gentle voice will gently raise your level of awareness. The melody has its fast points and also soft, harmonious moments that ends in a crescendo that will result in anybody feeling a bit more awake after listening.

Also on KPOPme: K-Pop Songs to Start Your Morning

SHIMMixes – K-Lubbing

This song is a bit jarring, so this may actually be a great replacement for coffee. It’s not a K-Pop song per say, but one of the greatest mash-ups of songs from May-September 2013 by SHIMMixes. The entire mix will have you dancing in your seat, so that by the time you’re at work you’ll be pumped.

What’s your favorite song to listen during your morning commute? We’d love for you to share your picks, 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: Jessica’s Departure & Girls’ Generation’s Future

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Let me tell you something before getting into anything else: We’ve been here before and we can get through it. But can Girls’ Generation?

A member leaving one of the biggest idol groups in K-Pop? Fans going crazy? Support the member’s decision? Protest their selfishness? Is the company lying? Who is telling the truth? Are the members upset? What’s going on??

First off, K-Pop is a business. Both fans and idols delude themselves into believing the lies of the industry, but, at the end of the day, idols are employees of companies. And, if an employee has a disagreement with a company about what sort of work he or should be doing, they often leave or asked to leave the company.

Girls’ Generation’s Jessica is currently embroiled in just that situation. Fans might be angry, hurt, upset, confused, and any other synonym for “what the eff?” But Jessica clearly started a fashion brand, Blanc, and SM Entertainment reacted in a certain way. Jessica released her own statement saying that the other members decided to force her out of the group, but that surely wasn’t an easy decision to make– the members were in tears at their latest performance. As outside observers, we may never know the entire truth from both sides.

So what does this mean? It means that Girls’ Generation’s tightly wound image is starting to break apart. Does that mean that it will completely unravel? Maybe yes, maybe no.

There are three paths for a group when a member leaves: continuing on without them, replacing them, or falling apart. SM Entertainment tends to opt out of replacing members, and isn’t a company that just lets it groups disappear when there are still viable members. TVXQ, Super Junior, and The TRAX all showed that SM’s management style is to keep going ahead with what it has rather than trying to do something new.

Girls’ Generation (and this applies to f(x) as well but that is for another discussion,) is likely to keep promoting as a girl group with eight members, as SM Entertainment has already said. However, unlike TVXQ, Super Junior, and The TRAX, where members left the group to pursue their own careers willingly, Jessica’s situation is different. From her point of view, Jessica was kicked out by the other members because her personal desires didn’t fit in with the group’s, which may show the fragile ties keeping Girls’ Generation together.

The lifespan of girl groups are much shorter than male idol groups. Looking at all of the first generation groups that are making a comeback –SHINHWA, g.o.d, Fly To The Sky –they’re all males. Girl groups by definition are meant to be youthful- girls, not women. Girls’ Generation’s name has come under fire for several years now, as the members of the girl group got older. The group’s concept has also not changed so much, varying from cute to sexy but still maintaining the image of youthful, spunky young ladies. Soshi’s songs have shown change and maturity, but as a whole, the group hasn’t quite morphed from girls into adults.

Jessica’s departure highlights the problem, because it is all happening due to her desire to have a more serious, adult, career and personal life. The other mature groups at SM (TVXQ, Super Junior, The TRAX) all have members who do something other than their activities as group members. Girls’ Generation has a few members who have done so (YoonA and Sooyoung act, Sunny DJs, Taeyeon and Seohyun sing solo songs, etc.), but none of them really are able to stand on their own two feet as anything other than a Girls’ Generation member doing some other activity.

A member leaving doesn’t mean a death sentence for a group, even one as cohesive as Girls’ Generation. But it could hint to the fact that Girls’ Generation’s concept is unstable, and unless SM Entertainment reconsiders the fact that the members are women and not girls, more members are going to search for more fulfilling, more problematic “secondary” activities. If SM doesn’t want to lose its most prominent girl group, it had better think fast.

What do you think? Is Girls’ Generation’s future at stake? Is Jessica in the wrong? We’d love to hear you thoughts on the subject, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Best K-Pop Music Video Fashion: September Releases

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September came to an end, and the fashion in the K-Pop music video releases for this month really left us wanting more. Most music videos released had fashion that looked very dated and out of style. However, September also saw a very fun comeback from 2PM and the debut of a new sub-unit, SPICA S., where they both showcased really cool fashion. Check out our picks for the best music video fashion from the September releases.

SPICA S. – Give Your Love

spica s best music video fashion

SPICA S. is the new sub-unit from SPICA, with Park Juhyun, Park Narae, Yang Jiwon, and Kim Bohyung. They debuted with Give Your Love, and not only are the song and video sexy, but also the styling of the girls. There are some parts where they wear lingerie and show a lot of skin, but it’s done tastefully and not vulgar at all. Each member is styled differently in their individual shots, and Jiwon wears a beautiful pastel color cutout dress. When they all are wearing the nude coat dresses, they look so sexy with the thigh high stockings. If you look closely, each member has a different design, and they look so good!

BTOB – You’re So Fly

btob best music video fashion

BTOB came back with You’re So Fly, and it’s one of their most fun comebacks yet. The video has very colorful sets, and the fashion in it is very fun. The boys are dressed in urban clothes that feature different prints. From KTZ to Saint Laurent, the members look very cool throughout the music video. The stylist definitely had a lot of fun with the styling and complimented each BTOB member very well.

Kidoh- Taxi On The Phone

kidoh best music video fashion

Kidoh from Topp Dogg released his solo song Taxi On The Phone this month. The video features his band mate Sangdo and comedian and Roommate cast member Lee Guk Joo as the female lead. Even though Kidoh only wears three outfits in the music video, they are styled very well. Two of the ensembles are classic men’s suits in which the stylist added statement accessories that gave a very unique look. All the cameos are great, especially Lee Guk Joo; she looks so fashionable with that high waist black skirt and white blouse.

2PM- Go Crazy

2pm best music video fashion

2PM came back with an amazing music video, styling, song, and choreography. Their comeback song Go Crazy really gave 2PM’s stylist a carte blanche to do really fun looks. The stylist was able to go crazy with their outfits and each outfit really portrays each member’s goofy personality. Even though Taecyeon is wearing the most simple outfit, his tennis shoes are amazing. He is wearing Raf Simons for ADIDAS and they are to die for. Then if you look at the party version for this song the stylist kept the fun vibe and craziness with their outfits. My favorite look is Junho with that holographic varsity jacket. Who wouldn’t want it in their closet?

TROY- Why Are We?

TROY best music video fashion

TROY had one of the best stylings in this month’s music video releases in K-Pop. Their music video for Why Are We? even gave us ‘90s boy bands nostalgia. The talented guys of TROY gave off a feeling of time travelling when they wore the all white outfits. It reminded us of Backstreet Boys on their Millenium album. TAnd when they’re all are styled differently, everything still looks cohesive.

Kanto and Chang Woo have the best stylings on the video; they look so handsome and cool. Take a very close look at each member, their hair styles are amazing –especially Jae Woon. He looks so manly with his hair slick back! TROY has many close ups where you can appreciate even the slightest detail in their outfits.

Which one was your favorite fashion of the music video releases in K-Pop for the month of September? Did we miss your favorite? 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.