What Can We Expect from BTS’ “Dark & Wild”?

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In honor of the KPOPme team attending BTS‘ concert at KCON 2014, I’m going to briefly talk about BTS’ upcoming comeback and why you should be excited for it.

As the majority (if not all) of us know, BTS debuted a little over a year ago with No More Dream. I remember watching that music video and wondering if this group of little boys would actually make an impact in the already overcrowded K-Pop scene. I am happy to say that they made me eat my words. Looking back at that music video the boys all look so young and innocent, butthey came out hard and continued to do so with their later releases.

2013 was the year of BTS. They won New Artist of the Year at the MelOn Music Awards and released their debut single album 2 Cool 4 Skool as well as their O!RUL8,2? EP. With each single and performance BTS proved that they were in this industry to make a long-lasting impact.

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    Although BTS won the New Artist of the Year award in 2013, they came out hard and ready to take on 2014. With the release of their second EP Skool Luv Affair, BTS proved, yet again, that they are always churning out hit after hit. Their debut track Boy In Luv stayed with the tough hip-hop theme of BTS’ previous singles. It wasn’t until Just One Day (하루만) was released that fans saw a softer side to BTS. They manage to perfectly blend their talented rapping with their beautiful vocals to create an appealing song.

    The boys have been busy performing throughout Asia as well as in California since the end of their Skool Luv Affair promotions. But, they have constantly been uploading short videos to their YouTube channel to stay connected with their fans around the world. This past week BTS gave fans really what they wanted and released their comeback trailer for their first studio album Dark & Wild.

    dark&wild

    The tagline reads:

    WARNING!
    Love hurts, it causes anger, jealousy, obsession, why don’t u love me back?

    From the comeback trailer, as well as the tagline, it is clear that BTS’ next album will explore the idea of love and the roller coaster of emotions associated with it.

    Dark & Wild will be just that. BTS continue to stick to the school-age love theme and why not, when it’s working so well for them? Naturally their material showcases the members’ growth in maturity since their debut. But they are still teenagers and sing and rap about what teenage boys are going through. That is one thing that I really enjoy about BTS. Their music speaks to who they are as producers, musicians, singers, rappers, and people. They don’t worry about the latest trends in K-Pop, but stick to their instincts to produce authentic material for their fans.

    The comeback trailer starts off with a fairytale-like string and horn introduction and Rap Monster’s upbeat and happy rapping. He raps about his love for this girl and eventually how the two of them have confessed their feelings for each other. About half way through the trailer, the music takes a turn and slows down and is no longer happy and upbeat. Rap Monster’s tone also changes to one of annoyance and irritation. Even the graphics change from bright, warm colors and graphics to cold, dark tones and graphics.

    All of a sudden he is the victim of a one-sided love, where he loves the girl and she no longer shows interest. The trailer perfectly depicts the tagline in the picture above. Things started out smooth and all lovey-dovey and then all of a sudden obsession, jealousy, and anger take over and cloud one’s judgement.

    Based on the comeback trailer, Dark & Wild will be another amazing comeback for BTS. Even without the trailer I would still think that way. It’s all that’s keeping me sane until August 20th.

    Are you guys excited for BTS’ Dark & Wild comeback? Do you think it will surpass their previous comebacks? 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.

    5 Reasons to Watch “Marriage, Not Dating”

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    Marriage, Not Dating may almost be over, but it is worth your while to binge watch the 10 episodes currently available and fall in love with the drama like the rest of us! I stumbled upon this drama randomly about a week ago and decided to watch the first episode. I’m glad I did because I was hooked after that and ended watching the rest of the available episodes that weekend. I did pick it initially for the title, I’m all for long term love and commitment, not for hookups and constant flings. That’s why I value marriage such a great deal, whether its atheist marriage, christian marriage, muslim marriage, it doesn’t matter because to me the qualities and morals of the pairing are all the same no matter what belief you have. So when I saw this, I thought wow this will take my fancy! And I was right, but not entirely for those reasons I had thought in the beginning.

    There are a lot of factors as to why I enjoy this drama so much. I would say most of them are subtle reasons that cater to my personality. I love sarcasm, wit, one-liners, comedy, and romance. Marriage, Not dating has all of that and more. So I decided to highlight the 5 biggest reasons (according to me) why you should start watching this great drama (they are in no particular order).

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        1. The concept
        The storyline of Marriage, Not Dating is somewhat complicated and most likely unrealistic, but who cares? Gong Gi Tae wants to stay a bachelor, but his nagging mother wants him to get married. She tells him that she will set him up with a bride of her choice if he doesn’t get his act together. Gi Tae and Joo Jang Mi cross paths, and they end up starting a fake relationship. A concept that’s similar to how someone in real life might hire a london escort to be their “partner” at an event. So it’s not too far-fetched that they do this in the hopes that it will get Gi Tae’s mother off of his back. The end goals are so Gi Tae can live alone as a bachelor, while Jang Mi aims to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be Gi Tae’s best friend.

        Meanwhile, Jang Mi’s coworker (and friend), Gi Tae’s friend Hong Doon, Hoon Dong’s employee Yeo Reum, and Gi Tae’s ex-fiance, along with Jang Mi and Gi Tae, all end up mixed together in a mess of relationships and pheromones (look here if you’re asking what are pheromones?). It’s not the greatest description of the show, but trust me when I say that it is an entertaining drama that will keep you begging for more.

        2. Jinwoon of 2AM
        2AM’s maknae, Jinwoon, has a fairly prominent role in this drama. He is Hong Doon’s employee and Jang Mi’s potential love interest. He doesn’t have very many lines in the first ten episodes, but he has plenty of screen time, and his smile will seriously make you melt.

        I see why Jang Mi falls for him: he’s tall, handsome, has a great smile, he can cook, and he shows off his fit body while at the beach! From that description alone, he seems like the perfect man. But there are few things that have happened so far that may make you wary of him. And I have a feeling something more may happen in the later episodes. It seems like he has a lot of secrets, and it’s almost impossible to get them out of him.

        3. The adult content (don’t worry it’s all PG-13)
        There are a lot of dramas that don’t talk about kissing, boyfriends, girlfriends, sex, and things like that. Then again, there are a few that do. I’ve noticed that tvN’s dramas tend to talk more openly about relationships and what goes on while two people are in a relationship.

        There are a lot of not-so-subtle moments where Gi Tae implies that he and Jang Mi are always sleeping together. He mostly says things like that to his mother, so she won’t keep barging in at his house. It’s refreshing to watch dramas that don’t shy away from all aspects of relationships (even if this relationship is fake). It makes the scenarios seem more realistic, and they are more relatable for mature audiences.

        4. The comedy
        Another thing I love about tvN’s dramas is the comedy. Every drama I have watched on tvN has been more mature, with great comedic scenes, one-liners, and characters. Marriage, Not Dating is no exception! Since there are already 10 episodes that have aired, it’s hard to pick out a single funny moment.

        However, there is one episode in which the Gi Tae’s mother visits Jang Mi in her workplace, and she desperately needs to use the bathroom. The whole episode shows Jang Mi’s struggle with trying to get to the bathroom before she explodes. In a way it’s a metaphor of her current position in life, where she’s constantly put into uncomfortable positions because of her fake relationship. But the acting throughout the episode really makes you feel for her. That is only one example among many throughout the series so far.

        5. The REAL kisses
        I know I’m not the only one out there who gets so frustrated whenever there is a kiss in a K-Drama. More times than not, the kiss consists of the male character placing his lips on top of the female character’s lips. There is no passion, no movement… nothing. It’s awkward and sometimes cringeworthy to watch. Already in 10 episodes of Marriage, Not Dating we have seen two REAL kisses with two different men. You go, Joo Jang Mi!

        It’s obvious when two characters are about to kiss. The way the director sets up the scene tells you something is about to happen. Most of the time the two characters look into each other’s eyes, and then the slow motion and repetition of scenes sets in. Other times, one character is rapidly talking about something while the other character stares lovingly at them. Then BAM, the kiss. And in this drama, we get real kisses with mouths open, reciprocal kissing, and most of all, passion.

        There are still six episodes remaining, which I patiently await. I hope Marriage, Not Dating continues to impress me with the remaining episodes. SO many times a drama loses its initial spark toward the end of the series. But, I have high hopes for this one.

        Are you guys watching Marriage, Not Dating, what do you think of it so far? 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.

      What’s Wrong With A.KOR’s Kemy Dissing Park Bom?

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      One of the most recent scandals involves A.KOR member Kemy and her controversial “diss rap” on 2NE1‘s Park Bom, and wow, has it brought up a lot of conflict. For the most part, fans and friends alike have stood up for Bom, whose drug scandal prompted a personal letter from YG regarding her need for the medicine. However, is that all to the story? Is Kemy truly the bad guy in this issue, or does she have some truth in her rap?

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      First of all, let’s get everything straight: I am in no way saying that Kemy’s actions were right. To be honest, this was an extremely rude composition and an extremely bad decision in summary to even bring up a senior idol in such a bad light. Logically speaking, I don’t understand why she would record such a rap, given the fact that they’ve barely debuted and have yet to establish a reputation in the industry; was she intending to ruin their chances before they even had a chance?

      In short, I don’t think so. Recent rookies have been aiming for more unique, interesting ways to gain fame, whether it’s eccentric fashion or music style. In my opinion, it seems like Kemy attempted to catch attention with this track, and she succeeded. Unfortunately, I’m just not so sure if she expected the backlash, although it would be ridiculously foolish if she didn’t. Speaking from a marketing perspective, this was a wild card that played out less in her favor, and that’s just one of the things that happen when you go down the dissing route.

      But what if this wasn’t an attempt to bring attention to herself? What if it was to bring attention to the suspicious drug scandal fiasco that YG managed to cover up? Am I saying that I don’t trust YG’s explanation? Of course not. I’m just trying to speak from Kemy’s perspective.

      When you think about it, South Korea has quite a large stigma attached to mental illness and drugs, so I did understand this negativity in regards to Bom being let go in a simple manner. Also, let’s not forget that celebrities seem to always be treated differently when it comes to crimes, no matter the country, so why wouldn’t someone be angry with this?

      Kemy definitely wasn’t wrong for stating her opinion on this scandal, but it was not a smart move in rapping about it and directly addressing Bom in the piece. The fault in this diss is purely a matter of respect and professionalism for me, personally. And before anyone says that Kemy should suffer or be boycotted, let’s keep a rational mindset and understand that A.KOR has already stopped their promotions prematurely as a response to this controversy. Isn’t that enough?

      Yes, Bom was wrong in bringing illegal drugs in such a shady manner, but that case is settled, like it or not. Does it seem like she got special treatment? I’m not going to lie; it does seem like it. But just because it seems like she had the case handled in her favor doesn’t mean that releasing a public rap about telling her to do the right thing will help, right?

      To put it shortly, I’m not really sure why Kemy thought it was a good idea to go through with this, but I’m not going to hate on the girl. The meaning behind the rap is rude and uncalled for, and it only managed to damage A.KOR’s image more than hurting Bom’s. There are things that don’t make sense with how quickly the case was solved, and she definitely did dish out some truth, albeit in a slightly distasteful manner.

      On the other hand, just because the lyrics are negative doesn’t mean that Kemy has no talent nor potential. I have to admit that it bothers me when fans try to come to Bom’s aid by dissing Kemy in return; there’s no use in getting an eye for an eye, because all you end up with is a bunch of blind followers going in a variety of directions for no reason. In a musical sense, I really do feel like Kemy is a great rapper:

      I just wish she would have thought this decision through.

      What was your reaction to Do The Right Rap? Do you agree with what Kemy’s trying to say? Share your thoughts below and remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

      Best of the B Tracks

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      During an artist’s debut or comeback, they promote one or sometimes two songs from their recent release. I find more often than not that there are songs on the album that I enjoy much more than the title song, or songs that I think warrant the same amount of popularity as the promoted track(s). I will highlight a few of my favorite B tracks found in my K-Pop collection. This is by no means a definitive list; it is solely based upon my opinion and the styles of music I tend to gravitate towards.

      There is no rhyme or reason as to how I chose these songs. If I enjoy the beat, vocals, instrumentation, etc. then the song is most likely on the list. I also looked at how many plays these songs have on my iTunes. That’s a pretty good indication of if I really like the song.

      Artist: SHINee
      Album: Dream Girl: Misconceptions of You
      Song: Spoiler

      When I first heard Spoiler I thought my iTunes somehow messed up the first song. I thought it re-downloaded Sherlock (Clue + Note). I rewinded the song a few times before I decided to keep listening to see if it really was Sherlock. SHINee got me good with that one. I realized after the first 10 seconds that it was indeed a different song. When I first listen to a song, I tend to listen to the beat and the music of the songs as opposed to the lyrics. For K-Pop, that’s really all I listen to since I don’t understand 98% of the lyrics. Anyway, Spoiler has a sick beat. There’s no way around it. There are so many different elements in the song, but they all fit together and don’t take away from the song or overpower the vocals.

      Speaking of vocals, all five guys have a dark tone to their voices throughout the song, and especially leading up the chorus. This was the first SHINee album where everyone’s vocals really shined and impressed me. Obviously, Jonghyun and Onew always had great voices, but Key, Taemin, and Minho have all improved tremendously and Spoiler gave fans a hint of what to expect, vocally, on the rest of the album. I already loved the song, but after I found out that Jonghyun wrote it, and that it was a song that introduced the songs on their Misconceptions albums, I fell more in love with Spoiler, which is aptly named.

      Artist: SHINee
      Album: Dream Girl: Misconceptions of You
      Song: Punch Drunk Love

      I want to highlight another song from this album. Initially when I started to compile this list, I wanted to stay away from repeating an artist and definitely stay away from choosing more than one song on the same album. But as I went through my K-Pop collection I had to choose Spoiler as well as Punch Drunk Love. They are two songs that I will never skip over in my K-Pop collection. Alright, Punch Drunk Love. Listen to it with headphones. That bass is brilliant. The entire musicality of the song is a blast from the 60s, 70s, and a few elements from every era afterwards.

      The instruments used and sound of the song was one reason I was initially drawn to Punch Drunk Love. The whole thing was different from the K-Pop songs out at the time (and even now a year and a half later). But the main element that made me fall in love with this song, aside from the super upbeat and funky vibe, was the harmonies of these amazing men. You can hear their wonderfulharmonies throughout the song, but it isn’t until the last 5 or seconds that the music cuts out and all we’re left with are the angelic voices of SHINee. Definitely the best 5 seconds of that song.

      Artist: f(x)
      Album: Red Light
      Song: Dracula

      Keeping it in the SM Town family, my next B track favorite is f(x)’s Dracula. Before I ordered their Red Light album, I listened to all of the songs online to make sure I enjoyed the majority of the album. I’m one of those people who tends to only like a small amount of songs on an album. But Red Light’s songs were all different and enticing in their own way. Dracula was one that stood out to me for a few reasons.

      The first reason is the amount of English lyrics in the song. Obviously there are two native English speakers in the group, but I couldn’t help noticing and appreciating how good Luna’s, Victoria’s, and Sulli’s English pronunciation is.

      The different tempo changes throughout the song all work really well together. The song starts off with a deep, dark voice and then goes into an uptempo beat. The transitions connect each tempo change perfectly. The leadup to the chorus brilliantly showcases Luna’s and Kyrstal’s voices. And that chorus, so simple, yet so so memorable. The song overall has a catchy beat throughout and an easy chorus to sing along to, and that stays stuck in your head (in a good way). Honestly, how can you go wrong with a song titled Dracula? Well, I’m sure you could, but f(x) certainly did not.

      Artist: Zion. T
      Album: Red Light
      Song: 지구온난화 (Feat. 양동근)

      Zion.T. I could leave my explanation for this choice at that. But I will elaborate. Zion.T has a unique voice that I absolutely love. It’s so smooth and has a tone I haven’t heard before. Every song he sings and features on is amazing. I love hearing his voice and 지구온난화 gives fans a different side on Zion.T. The song is heavily influenced by reggae, which is one musical genre that I love. Pair a reggae track with Zion.T’s voice and you win. Hands down win. The song has a chill vibe that will have you swaying and falling into Zion.T’s vocals.

      Artist: 2PM
      Album: Grown [Vol. 3]
      Song: 오늘부터 1일 (First Date)

      This song is in the top 5 of my Top 25 Most Played Songs playlist on iTunes. And that is saying something. 오늘부터 1일 (First Date) starts with a piano and Nichkhun’s attractive vocals. The piano is prevalent throughout the song and keeps an upbeat tone as the guys sing of their love. We’re able to hear everyone’s vocals throughout song, along with Taecyeon’s rap. The piano is paired with horns as the song gets to the chorus, which adds another layer and more texture to the sound of the song. It’s a fun and cute song that fits with any season and always makes me happy when I listen to it.

      Artist: Beast
      Album: Good Luck
      Song: We Up

      Alright, alright. I’m breaking my own rules with this one. Beast did promote We Up with Good Luck, but I couldn’t overlook this song. For starters, the beat. I mentioned it before and I’m sure you have noticed, but if a song has a solid and catchy beat, I’m already into it. And if Junhyung’s “Give it to me now” in the very beginning doesn’t pull you into the song then his singing definitely will. Whenever I listen to We Up I find myself moving my head and shoulders to the beat.

      The chorus, which Dongwoon begins, draws you in with the opening word “tonight” then Yoseob finishes it off with his beautiful vocals. I really can’t explain why I like this song so much. All of the elements are there. The music, the vocals, the beat, the tempo, the overall feeling. I’m not sure what We Up really means, but this song always puts me in a good mood. It’s perfect for blasting in your car with the windows down, not a care in the world.

      Artist: Yong Junhyung
      Album: Flower EP
      Song: Slow

      My next choice I’m going to Slow it down (pun intended unfortunately). This song is off of Beast’s rapper Yong Junhyung’s debut EP. Slow showcases Junhyung’s delicate singing as well as his attractive rapping. I usually do not enjoy slower songs, but Junhyung’s producing skills clearly pull at my heartstrings. Somehow, he manages to make me listen to the entire song without a thought of skipping over it. And that, my friends, is a great feat. I love the song. The beat, I love the beat and the fact that Junhyung is singing as well as rapping (I love his rapping). It’s a good listen.

      Artist: G-Dragon
      Album: Coup D’etat
      Song: 너무 좋아 (I Love It) Feat. Zion.T, Boys Noize

      Zion. T makes another appearance on my list, this time with Big Bang leader G-Dragon and Boys Noize. 너무 좋아 (I Love It) is off of GD’s most recent album Coup D’etat. The first time I heard this song, I was in awe. I think I replayed it at least 5 times afterwards. The beat, piano, vocals, rapping, production, overall mood, everything are all amazing. All of these elements fit effortlessly into this song to come together and create one of my favorite songs. It’s not only my favorite song on this album, but from out of all of G-Dragon’s solo collections.

      And, can we just take a moment to admire the gritty vocal tone of Mr. GD himself? I LOVE IT (the pun is obviously there but not intended, because I’m being sincere). The singing and rapping fit together like missing puzzle pieces and they create a beautiful end product. Zion.T’s vocal quality and tone added to GD’s gritty, raspy vocals creates a beautiful pairing that should be utilized many, many times in the future.

      Artist: History
      Album: Desire EP
      Song: I Got U

      If you read my previous article about History, you’ll know that one thing I love and admire about these boys is how well their voices go together. Their harmonies are impressive, and they sound like they have been together for years! I Got U is the leadoff track of their latest EP, Desire. History promoted Psycho, which honestly took more than a few listens to grow on me. But as soon as I heard I Got U, I was hooked. I don’t know if it would have been a better promotional song, but I’m glad I came across it. I Got U is one of the reasons I bought Desire.

      History’s always-present harmonies are sprinkled throughout I Got U and, again, that beat. It always draws me in… Always! However, the bass is definitely what holds this all together; it’s strong and prevalent throughout the song. But, I can’t just write about I Got U without mentioning History’s vocal abilities. It seems like this song excels at it all: harmonies, falsettos, strong vocals, soft vocals, sexy vocals, deep vocals, and pretty much EVERYTHING. These guys deserve more recognition!

      Artist: CNBLUE
      Album: Can’t Stop EP
      Song: Like a Child

      To close out this article I leave you with CNBLUE and Like a Child. From the title alone, you know this song is about innocence and the beauty found in the simplest of things. CNBLUE melts my heart with the melody of this song and Yonghwa’s vocals. I actually also put this song on my “Easy Listening K-Pop Edition” playlist. The piano and strings blend perfectly with the drums and guitar and bass. Everything fits so well and the song makes me feel weightless and happy.

      I picture CNBLUE performing this song in a lush, green field with a light breeze and the sun shining upon them. The English translated lyrics say:

      Like a child, just like heaven, a melody to spread all over the world
      Like a child, just like heaven, a melody to make you smile

      How can one go wrong with the feeling of being a child again and the glorious elements associated with the belief of Heaven? Like a Child is a song that fits any season and any mood. This song can be played all day every day. If you’re feeling a little down, play Like a Child. If you’re in a great mood, play Like a Child. If you’re getting ready for a job interview, play Like a Child. It’s a mood changer and a mood maker; a beautiful song.

      There are so many amazing B tracks out there and this is only a very (very) small portion of them. If you have suggestions of B tracks that I should check out, leave your choices in the comments below! I’m always looking to broaden my K-Pop horizons.

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      Intro To WINNER

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      YG’s highly anticipated boy band WINNER is finally debuting. Although the group has already a large fan base around the world, there might be a few folks that may not know anything about the members.

      WINNER consists of five members: Kang Seung Yoon, Kim Jinwoo, Lee Seung Hoon, Song Minho, and Nam Tae Hyun. They opened for BIGBANG in their Japan tour and starred in various CF prior to their debut. They successfully concluded their ten episode run of WINNER TV , where we all got to meet them without the stress of competing, went on to open senior label mates 2NE1 on their All Or Nothing tour, and appeared on Taeyang’s Ringa Linga video as backup dancers.

      WINNER members

      The group has already released various photos and teaser videos that demonstrate how their image has changed from their trainee days. They have matured their cool boys style into fashionista men. The launching show will be on August 8, 2014, followed by the online-release on August 12, 2014, and offline-release on the 14th.


      [WINNER’s 1st Teaser, The Visitor]


      [WINNER’S Debut Album Teaser]

      The Name:

      They were formerly Team A in the show WIN: Who Is Next? where they competed against Team B. They won the show and got crowned as WINNER, which became the name of their group.

      The Members:

       

      The leader Kang Seung Yoon might seem familiar: he was a former contestant of Superstar K2 and appeared on High Kick 3. He debuted as a solo artist on YG Entertainment with three successful singles: Wild & Young, It Rains, and Stealer. He was born in 1994.


      Kang Seung Yoon

      Kim Jin Woo is the oldest member of WINNER. He is the main vocal of the band and started training in YG since 2010. Throughout the run of WIN: Who Is Next?, he showed that he was a hard worker. He worries a lot about his members, and, as their hyung, he takes good care of them. He was born in 1991.
      Kim Jin Woo

      Lee Seung Hoon is one of the rappers and main dancer of the band. He was a former KPOP Star 1 contestant when Yang Hyun-suk saw his potential and signed him as a trainee for YG Entertainment.  He was born in 1992.
      Lee Seung Hoon

      Song Minho started as an underground rapper, who then went to train as an intended member for BLOCK B and later on dropped the project. He debuted as a rapper on the group B.o.M, but the band disbanded after not having popularity. His rapping skills were recognized by his seniors, T.O.P. and Tablo. He got recruited for YG in 2013. He was born in 1993.
      Song Minho

      Nam Tae Hyun is the maknae of WINNER. His droopy eyebrows gave him recognition throughout WIN: Who Is Next? He is one of the vocals of the band and one of the most popular members. Beside having a beautiful voice, he helps the members with producing and composing the songs. He was born in 1994.
      Nam Tae Hyun

      Everything seems to point out to the right direction for WINNER. They will have a very successful debut as the newest boy band from YG, since BIGBANG. They debut has been highly expected by many and the time has come for WINNER to show what they have.

      What do you think of WINNER? Do you think they’ll have a successful debut? Don’t forget 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: Is JYP Still One Of The Big 3?

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      This is a bit of a loaded question – JYP Entertainment has been one of the three most prominent entertainment companies in the K-Pop industry for years, and it’s still treated as such. However, nowadays, the main competition is between YG Entertainment and SM Entertainment, and it’s worth looking at why exactly this is the case.

      The Success

      Park Jin Young, JYP himself, was one of Korea’s most popular singers in the early and mid-1990’s. In 1997, he founded JYP Entertainment, and ended up producing idol groups like g.o.d, which was one of the K-Pop groups that started the first Hallyu wave in Asia. g.o.d’s popularity is still so immense that the group recently made a comeback, to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary.

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      JYP produced several other acts, but in 2002, it was Rain who ended up becoming JYP Entertainment’s pride and joy. Other popular JYP acts from the early 2000’s included Noel, Park Ji Yoon, and Byul.

      In the mid 2000’s, JYP scored major successes with the debuts of Wonder Girls (2007), 2AM, and 2PM (both 2008). The three groups became some of the most popular acts in K-Pop and immensely popular throughout not only Asia but also the world.

      The Wonder Girls gained enough attention to result in Perez Hilton showing off their songs, like Tell Me and Nobody; the group ended up touring with the Jonas Brothers and filming a show for Nickelodeon in the US.

      2PM started a trend of “beastly idols,” known for athleticism and masculine concepts, which was different from the flower boy trend of other groups like TVXQ, SS501, and Super Junior.

      While it looked bad for 2AM, since ballad groups were losing popularity in favor of K-Pop acts in the past, these guys are actually more popular than their label mates, the Wonder Girls and 2PM. Unlike the average K-Pop group, 2AM attracts all sorts of fans, not only the more typical, young fans who tend to be attracted to pop music.

      The Slow Downward Spiral

      Wonder Girls, 2PM, and 2AM gained a lot of success and were able to promote competitively against Kara, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Big Bang, and other groups that were popular in the late 2000’s. Songs by the three JYP groups were extremely popular, and, for a few years, it seemed that JYP was at the very top of its game.

      Miss A debuted in 2010 to much acclaim, but it was another two years before JYP debuted a new group, which was the duo 15&;. While 15&; is very talented, it hasn’t attracted as much attention as other YG groups.

      It was around 2009 when JYP started to suffer. Out of JYP’s top three teams, only 2AM has kept its original member line-up. This was due to the leader of 2PM, Park Jay (Park Jaebeom) withdrawing from the group and the Wonder Girls focusing on their American promotions. The Wonder Girls also had a lineup change; Sunmi left the group and Hye Lim joined.

      Both groups were still considered leaders of Hallyu, but, since then, the Wonder Girls have disbanded, and 2PM, despite promoting continuously to much success, isn’t as active as groups like Big Bang and Super Junior. Furthermore, the influx of rookie groups also endangers 2PM.

      Miss A is popular in its own right, but Suzy has become one of Korea’s darlings; the rest of Miss A’s members are well-known, yet not half as popular as Suzy. Miss A last promoted Hush in 2013, and it is almost the end of 2014. It is now JYP’s oldest girl group, but Miss A is hardly active as a whole.

      JYP’s other three current acts are two former Wonder Girls, SunMi and Yeeun (who made her solo debut recently as HA:TFELT). Both solo artists are extremely popular and hint to JYP regaining its stride, but that will still wait to be seen.

      This year, JYP also debuted GOT7, which achieved a lot of success abroad but has met less acclaim than YG Entertainment’s yet-to-debut group WINNER.

      While this could all just mean that JYP is in third place, after the other two largest entertainment companies, that doesn’t really seem to be the case. JYP is still popular and considered one of the best primarily because of its past — the current idols are good, but in an over flooded marketplace, they don’t particularly stand out.

      JYP is also rumored to release another boy group and girl group this year, which seems like it would simply overstretch the company’s capabilities.

      Other than the fact that few of its artists have as large fanclubs or as many hits as artists at SM and YG, there are a some other reasons JYP is no longer really the top.

      The most important factor is the fact that JYP is not one of the biggest three earners in Korea’s entertainment industry.

      In March 2014,  SM Entertainment had over 30% of the market, and YG had over 14%, while JYP wasn’t even ranking in the top ten. This was a continued trend that further revealed itself in 2013, when JYP Entertainment was relegated to the “Other” category, rather than gaining its own ranking on Gaon’s market share chart.

      KPOP sales 2013

      [Credit: ALLKPOP]

      JYP is also facing an investigation into being illegally funded by JYP’s in-laws, who have a relations to the company that is currently being tried for homicide in the Sewol Ferry tragedy. The Korea Herald reported that JYP tried to avoid an investigation by selling JYP Entertainment to YG Entertainment’s CEO, Yang Hyun-Suk. This has resulted in JYP’s stock price plummeting.

      Between the financial scandal and the lack of aggressive, constant promotions (unlike SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment), and the fact that the CEO tried to sell the company, JYP is in serious trouble.

      Could the company be saved? Maybe.If JYP has successful comebacks from 2PM, 2AM, and Miss A within a span of a few months, and the company’s solo and rookie artists do extremely well, JYP may be able to return to a competitive standpoint. But at the moment, it seems that it is barely managing to hold onto its fading glory.[This inadvertently became part of a series, pointing out issues with each of the big three entertainment companies. The one about YG Entertainment HERE. Look forward to my discussion of SM Entertainment’s practices in an upcoming “Let’s Discuss.”] Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

      Playlist Sunday: All Girls

      /in , /by

      K-Pop is a genre mostly dominated by the male idol groups or soloists. It’s hard to find girl group fandoms as dedicated and loyal as ELF or VIP –unless you’re Blackjack or SONE. But K-Pop girl groups are so much more than just Girls’ Generation and 2NE1, even though we also love them. So for this week’s playlist, we’ll focus on girl groups that need a little more love and attention.

      This week I cannot get enough of f(x)’s Milk, their lead-off track on their Red Light album. The songs starts out kind of quirky with the sounds of a cat meowing and a dog barking, as the cat swats at the dog and it whimpers. We also hear glass break and then we hear a gun being cocked. From there we go right into the vocals. The song has a chill, laid-back vibe in the beginning. The girls’ vocals compliment each other extremely well, especially during the harmony parts.

      I honestly can’t pick a favorite part of this song. The whole thing is so different and interesting from the other K-Pop songs out there that I haven’t tired of listening to it yet. And I don’t foresee that I will tire of it anytime soon. At first listen, it may seem a bit strange, but trust me when I say that by the end of the song, you’ll most likely hit the replay button.


      –Tara

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      Right when Miss Korea began with the smooth guitar riff, I knew I was in love with Lee Hyori‘s comeback last year. It’s a perfect blend of classy and sexy, along with an interesting style in clothing. The music video is grayscale and brings up a retro feeling, especially with some of the outfits and dance sequences that she uses. The chorus is addicting, and the entire song is absolutely mesmerizing. I definitely love and prefer her sultry tone! What makes this even more marvelous are the lovely drag queens she performs with in one of the scenes.


      –Thuc

      If Girls’ Generation and f(x) where to have a child, the result will be SM’s newest girl band Red Velvet. They just debuted this week, and I can’t get enough of the group’s song! The title is Happiness, and it suits the track very well. I find myself feeling very happy and bubbly when I listen to this song.

      I really love Happiness because it’s very easy to listen. Seulgi’s rap is very good and doesn’t show up in the song randomly. I also really like the whole seapunk feel of the track. The tropical sounds and drums give it a very unique feel. From the bridge and into the chorus there is a perfect transition, and that chorus is so catchy.They barely debuted and I feel like I already fell in love with these girls.


      –Alejandro

      When it comes to speaking about the girls, I can’t help but think of Girl’s Day’s Female President. One of the most empowering songs out of K-Pop in recent years, Female President reminds women that there’s a female president in South Korea, so why shouldn’t every girl do whatever she wants? There’s no reason to be coy, or play hard to get; just take what you want.

      The video breaks all of the stereotypes of most K-Pop songs, with the members stripping in silhouette in the beginning, and then two of the members dressing up as a couple questioning its relationship. The whole thing was extremely shocking at the time of its release, portraying Girl’s Day as both sexy and powerful women. And if that wasn’t enough, Yura’s dress gave the misconception that she was actually naked.

      Female President’s catchy sound and message led to the song being a major success. Take a listen, and try to resist standing up and thinking (male or female) that you can do every and anything that you want.


      –Tamar

      I’ve never been a big fan of miss A, despite them having better messages in their lyrics than most girl groups. But once they released Hush, I began paying them more attention. That’s how one day while listening to Seoul FM, I spotted a miss A song that I now play regularly on my own playlist, Lips.

      I like how their voices sound very sultry throughout the song as they fantasize about kissing the boy they like; it makes for a very sexy song to sway your shoulders to while singing. Moreover, the chorus and bridge are very easy to follow. My favorite part is the boom boom la la li lala negero, but the whole song is great, really.


      –Alexis

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

      K-Pop Release Cheat Sheet 07/27-08/02/14

      /in , /by

      Once a week, KPOPme will post a list with all the latest music videos and singles released. We will aim to recompile every single song  each week, but between the multitude of K-Pop groups and OSTs released weekly, sometimes we’ll miss something. Please let us know if we do! We aim to please.

      Here are the release from the end of July and the first few days of August. Some of the biggest names (JYJ, HyunA) made comebacks, and some interesting debut songs (HA:TFELT, Red Velvet) were also released this week. Check them all out!

      [Music Video]

      JYJ Back Seat

      Red Velvet Happiness

      HA:TFELT (Yeeun) Ain’t Nobody

      Clazziquai Project Madly

      Sunny Hill Once In Summer

      Tae Wan Good Morning feat. Vebal Jint

      BESTie Hot Baby

      4L Move

      LC9 East Of Eden

      HyunA Red

      High4 A Little Close feat. Lim Kim

      Sonnet Son Love Again

      [Song]

      Davichi It’s Okay, That’s Love [OST It’s Okay, That’s Love]

      Bob Girls Oh My Boy (Summer Edit)

      Sunny Days Half Of The World Are Men

      What was your favorite song released this week? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

      Let’s Discover: MAMAMOO

      /in , /by

      This Let’s Discover is a true one in that I will focus on rookie group Mamamoo. I’m not sure how many people have heard of this girl group, but I want to give them the spotlight. Personally, I didn’t discover them until a few weeks after their debut, and I decided to see what their music video was like. I am so happy that I stumbled upon this group. These four ladies have an immense amount of talent and I look forward to watching their career blossom.

      Mamamoo consists of four girls: Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa. They debuted in June with Mr. Ambiguous. The song has strong jazz and swing elements to it, which is the perfect style for their sultry vocals. I did not hear anything about Mamamoo leading up to their debut, or even after their debut. Nevertheless, Mr. Ambiguous is a great debut song.

      MAMAMOO

      (Top, L-R) Whee In, Hwa Sa (Bottom, L-R) Solar, Moon Byul

      As I mentioned above, the jazz and swing elements in the song make it stand out among other K-Pop songs. The song sticks to traditional instruments and does not heavily rely on machine-made sounds. It is not overly produced and, to me, it gives off a crisp feeling, because of the different sound from the mainstream K-Pop songs out now.

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      Aside from the refreshing sound, the music video for Mr. Ambiguous boasts appearances by well-known celebrities. Wheesung, K.Will, Lee Jonghyun (CNBLUE), Bumkey, and Baek Ji Young, among others, all make appearances in the music video. Even if these girls do not have a strong commercial following (yet), they are certainly given love by some of the big names in the business.

      From the music video, it’s clear to see that these four ladies are talented individuals who shine as a unit as well. The style theme they chose for their debut sticks to the older sound of their song. They wear fitted, yet modest dresses, sensible heels and just the right amount of makeup to act as an accessory rather than a separate character. Their hairstyles and colors are also simple and do not take away from their vocals, which was the right decision for this debut. With voices like these, the outfits, hair, makeup, and accessories should accent their vocals, not overpower or overshadow.

      Mr. Ambiguous was a perfect debut song for Mamamoo. And the fact that part of Mamamoo’s choreography incorporates fake mustaches was enough for me to like them. Their mini album Hello contains six songs all of which stick to the older, jazz, and swing sounds.

      As I listen to the mini I picture myself in a lounge enjoying a cocktail while Mamamoo perform their songs flawlessly on stage. Their songs transport me to an era before I was born, but one that I long to experience.

      Aside from a kick-ass mini album, I literally just found out today that Mamamoo sings a song from the OST of my favorite drama at the moment. Love Lane appears in the drama Marriage, Not Dating, and when I fist heard it played in an episode, I immediately paused the episode to look up the song. I was excited to see that it was Mamamoo, and not in the least surprised based on the vocals in the song.

      I hope Mamamoo gains the love and support they deserve. I’m interested to see if their future comeback will stick to the jazz and swing-themed music or branch out into other genres. Quite frankly, with the vocal ability of these four ladies, they could probably pull off any genre. Only time will tell.

      What do you guys think about rookie group Mamamoo? Do they have what it takes to thrive in the constantly-changing K-Pop genre, or will they thrive in other ways? 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.

      Rewind Review: Beast’s “Good Luck”

      /in , /by

      You may remember our past article on BEAST‘s music video fashion in Good Luck, but I think it’s imperative to go back in time and take a look at their overall comeback. Once you really look into the music video, you’ll get caught off-guard at how symbolic it is!

      Music Video

      This may not be the most amazing video in the world, but it’s near the top of my favorites list. You see, it combines intense choreography with a meaningful plot that really ties into the song; watching this music video was quite the pleasant experience.

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      Atmosphere

      The video wastes no time on dropping the mood on you; right from the beginning, the dark, cool colors and scenes of cheating and dischord. At some parts, the coloring is almost completely unsaturated, which does partners well with the atmosphere. Other scenes focus on a blue and orange color scheme, with pops of green and red now and then. Implementing complementary shades definitely works well for the conflicted feeling you get from the idols, acting as the foundation for this well-executed video.

      The introduction, with an orchestra playing a Gothic sequence, also serves as the warning seriousness and reflects the dark emotions experienced by the members. Add the repetition of the “make you mine” and “good luck to you” wording during their street sequence to the camerawork that ebbs and weaves through their expressions, and you realize how hard it is for them to accept this reality of a break-up.

      Plotline

      I generally see the same story in these break-up videos with male groups: there’s a girl whom everyone loves, but she’s cheating on all of them. So yeah, the plot is a tad typical. However, that doesn’t mean that this is a typical video. There’s a complex mix of emotions that are heartbreaking when you figure out what’s going on, especially with Jonghyun’s scene at the dinner table.

      But first, let’s observe the numbers, 2046 and 2047. They’re most likely used as time markers, but I like to do a little research just in case there’s a hidden meaning. I managed to find some interesting tidbits: 2046 was a Hong Kong-Chinese film that dealt with an affair, while, in 2013, researchers predicted that a climate departure would occur in the year 2047, in which the average temperatures around the globe will be significantly higher than those in the past.

      At 2046, Doojoon puts back the woman’s heel as she lies motionless on a bed; this appears to indicate the aftermath of an affair. At 2047, Kikwang finds out about the promiscuity of his beloved, and that’s when the heat begins to rise, and the action picks up.

      If you go by American time, 2046 translates to 8:46, which was the approximate time that 9/11 occurred and the first airplane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Even extending from time alone is 8:47, corresponding to John 8:47, which states, Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.

      When you look at the music video through those perspectives, the amount of shock and horror resonates as the BEAST members find out the truth. After catching onto the affair, Kikwang most likely doesn’t see his sweetheart in the same light, as she is no longer with him.

      Of course, these is merely me being extremely analytical and pulling out a tad too much meaning. However, I’m not going to ignore the obvious Biblical allusion that comes at the 3:30 mark of the video:

      At first, you think it’s just representing the feeling of betrayal that Jonghyun feels from the girl. However, it’s not a shallow feeling; the dinner table alludes to the Last Supper, after Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins, and before Jesus was ultimately arrested in Gethsemane.

      That’s a pretty awful sense of betrayal, and the video makes it worse by showing you how the girl stabs Jonghyun in the heart, with no fighting back from him. This resonates with Jesus accepting his fate and still forgiving Judas while awaiting his demise at the cross: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

      That pretty much ties everything together with this song; the members know what their love has done to them, and, while they hate the act, they still love the girl and wish her good luck.

      It’s been a while since I’ve watched such a heavy-laden video!

      Makeup

      As uber fashionista and fellow writer Alejandro already went into detail about the fashion, I’ll just talk about their makeup. This darker concept made good use of the pale skin, black eyeliner, slightly smoky eyes, and finely groomed, straight brows that reflect the emotions of each member. A matte, light BB cream was most likely used for their faces, although the color editing probably affected our perception of their looks. Nude and light pink lips showcase the rawness of the video, and that’s basically their makeup for the video. Simple but effective!

      Choreography

      This video was roughly about 60 percent plot and 40 percent dancing sequence, which means that we got a pretty good glimpse at the choreography. I definitely liked what I saw, from the high energy to the sharp movements. There were moments of restraint, especially at the chorus when they say good luck:

      They pause when they give the victory sign, as if they’re still unsure about letting go. The focus on the legs and arms represent their chase of of this love and the eventual release of such love:

      I think watching their live performance is a better example of the choreography (plus they’re great at singing live):

      Song

      I really like this song, from its flow to the way it picks up the tempo to the fluid transition to and from the raps. You don’t just feel sad from listening; you feel regretful, betrayed, and angry, and that amount of depth is always wonderful.

      Instrumental

      Although I was pulled into the video because of the orchestra, the instrumental is still beautiful. They may rely on electronic sounds, but the moments when they use the piano and guitar are played very well. I’m also adoring the tempo, especially when there’s the pause right at the chorus. It’s addicting, and, even though that moment doesn’t have instrumentals, you still get pumped up because it’s a build-up factor.

      Lyrics

      The lyrics may have more of a bitter aftertaste, but you can still understand how much they loved and how much they lost. Here’s the English translation from pop!gasa:

      Why why you leave me alone baby
      I’m still still loving you
      You’re leaving me right now
      but I hope you’ll be happy
      You always had a habit of telling me
      our looming farewell (the last)
      I always had a habit of telling you
      I’ll do anything to
      protect you

      (I wanna) Hold you tight
      Make you mine
      Never leave me alone
      I only want you,
      that’s all I need
      Eventually everything fell apart
      Why are you leaving me like this

      Good luck baby
      Good luck to you
      You better be happy
      if you’re leaving me,
      the one who only knew
      and looked at you.
      Good luck baby
      Good luck to you
      No matter who you meet
      you better be as happy as
      the amount of pain you’ve left me with.

      I hate you love you
      Several times a day Up and down
      Feels like an elevator
      Heal me I’m heartsick
      There ain’t no cure for my disease
      I’m worn, because of you
      I can’t uphold the immense pain you’ve left me with
      In this situation I find myself putting my hands
      together for you. I pray for ya, Good luck to ya

      (I wanna) Hold you tight
      Make you mine
      Never leave me alone
      I only want you,
      that’s all I need
      Eventually everything fell apart
      Why are you leaving me like this

      Good luck baby
      Good luck to you
      You better be happy
      if you’re leaving me,
      the one who only knew
      and looked at you.
      Good luck baby
      Good luck to you
      No matter who you meet
      you better be as happy as
      the amount of pain you’ve left me with.

      You have to be happier,
      just remember this
      no one will love you more than I did
      I might be just one of your many farewells
      but you will be my first and last.

      Good luck baby
      Good luck to you
      You better be happy
      if you’re leaving me,
      the one who only knew
      and looked at you.
      Good luck baby
      Good luck to you
      No matter who you meet
      you better be as happy as
      the amount of pain you’ve left me with.

      Ouch! Even if this ex doesn’t know the amount of pain, you can feel it from the lyrics alone. What’s even more heartbreaking is that they wish her happiness; a lot of people want their exes to suffer for their betrayal and break-up, but it’s so depressing when you see how they’re the ones accepting the pain.

      Style & Vocals

      Yoseob is known for being a great vocal, but the wonderful part about this comeback is that everyone gets to shine! Each member gets a decent amount of lines, and they’re not the easiest notes to hit when you’re dancing as hard as they are. This style is something that BEAST has done before, with Fiction, but there’s more energy this time around, with more layers to the song. It combines ballad, pop, and rap well; this ranks just as high as Fiction on my favorites list.

      Overall Ratings

      Do you really need me to explain my ratings?

      MV: 9/10
      Song: 9/10
      Both: 10/10

      Did you notice all the allusions in this video? How did you feel about BEAST’s release? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.