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Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 23-29

May 29, 2016/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

The final (full) week of May brought a lot of returns from some of our team’s favorite artists. Girl groups, boy groups, solo artists, and a wide variety of genres are represented in this week’s KultScene weekly K-pop faves. “Windy Day” by Oh My Girl (Released May 25) With “Windy Day”, Oh My Girl threatened […]

‘Another Oh Hae Young’ Asks Why Women Feel Insecure

May 29, 2016/in Entertainment, Television /by Joan Vos MacDonald

[Disclosure: This article contains some spoilers] The drama “Another Oh Hae Young” is aptly named. Yes, it’s a drama about two women who have the same name, but it’s also the story of two women who suffer from imposter syndrome and they mirror each other in their insecurity. Imposter syndrome is a term coined by […]

Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 23-29

May 29, 2016/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

‘Another Oh Hae Young’ Asks Why Women Feel Insecure

May 29, 2016/in Entertainment, Television /by Joan Vos MacDonald

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Weekly K-Pop Faves: May 23-29

May 29, 2016/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

“Windy Day” by Oh My Girl (Released May 25)

With “Windy Day”, Oh My Girl threatened us with a most dreaded coffee shop ballad. I nearly stopped listening after twenty seconds due to intense disappointment, especially this being the best and most exuberant of all rookie girl groups. I perked up by Yooa and Binnie’s angelic pre-chorus and was absolutely hooked by the Middle East-inspired break after the chorus. Between these parts, the song is driven by Oh My Girl’s perpetual dynamism. First by the chorus vocals in which seven of the members participate in and then by those wonderful strings (might be an Oud) and choreography. No group has exuded such youthful apathy towards musical norms quite like Oh My Girl. They are the rightful heirs to Girls’ Generation’s throne.

— Joe

“Life in Color” by Beenzino (Released May 26)

After the lackluster that was “We Are Going To,” it’s comforting to see that Beenzino is back at it making up for the lost momentum after his “Up All Night” album. It’s no secret that Beenzino is #artsy: one of his most artistic music videos is last year’s “Break.” Continuing the concept and, with another Digipedi music video, comes “Life in Color.” The track is more on the experimental, hypebeast hip-hop side rather than the Southern rap stuff Illionaire regularly does, which makes it that more refreshening. Korea is all about making rap music that doesn’t sound like rap music (mainly slow tempo tracks with a singer at the chorus), but Beenzino mastered this practice by creating something interesting and new while keeping it upbeat. I for one am now highly anticipating his new album (which drops tomorrow!) and hope we see more songs on par with “Life in Color” rather than “Break” and “We Are Going To.”

— Alexis

“so-so” by Baek A Yeon (Released May 23)

I accidentally came across this song while scrolling through Youtube. Baek A Yeon’s soothing vocals blended with the soft melody is easy on ears. This ballad track has R&B and soul effect to it which portrays the feelings of being single and lovesick. The lyrics are quite relatable and hold some bitter reality to them. The subdued effect of the song is neutralized by using pastel shades for the video. The music video has a cute concept and is pleasing to eyes. Baek A Yeon’s “So So” is skyrocketing the music charts, like her previous hits.

— Sana

”Monodrama” by Lay (EXO) (Released May 26)

I really missed hearing R&B from EXO, and even though he only makes up a ninth of the group, Lay’s “Monodrama” was enough to satiate that musical craving. Performed in his native tongue, this song is exactly what I imagine when I think of Chinese R&B. And like all quintessential R&B slow jams, this too makes generous use of layered claps and sensual guitars, giving it a very classic, old school sound. I don’t have to read into the lyrics (I mean, I did) to understand that this isn’t exactly a celebratory song because the instrumentals more than expressed the heartache that “Monodrama” is all about. Lay may not be the strongest vocally in his group, but with this comeback he definitely was able to brandish more than he did when he had to share lines with eight other members. Those several laudatory high notes alone probably made this one of SM Station’s best releases yet.

— Shelley

I was thoroughly absorbed in the music video for “All In” when I heard it the first time, to the degree that I honestly missed much of the song and had to go back to listen again. This music video, which appears to set up a dystopian trilogy featuring some of the members of Monsta X committing suicide, had me thinking of Nazi Germany, The Lord of the Flies, Japanese-occupied Korea, The Walking Dead, yaoi manga, and at least ten other K-pop music videos from the past decade. All at the same time. That said, because of the convoluted plot I feel like the music video honestly didn’t suit the song. As with all Monsta X singles, “All In” has an aggressive sound. Despite the pounding chorus and horn-heavy raps, the song isn’t actually about war or anger, so I feel like it should be accompanied by a music video about sports or some other difficult to achieve goal rather than a fight-for-life plot. The lyrics reflect being all in a relationship; translating this to being all in on a team or a competition makes sense while depicting it through revolution seems off the mark. But, back to the song, within two listens this pounding beat got stuck in my head and I really enjoyed the raps; It’s their most diverse single to date, while still retaining their specific style.

—Tamar

What song was your favorite of the week? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

‘Another Oh Hae Young’ Asks Why Women Feel Insecure

May 29, 2016/in Entertainment, Television /by Joan Vos MacDonald

[Disclosure: This article contains some spoilers]

The drama “Another Oh Hae Young” is aptly named. Yes, it’s a drama about two women who have the same name, but it’s also the story of two women who suffer from imposter syndrome and they mirror each other in their insecurity.

Imposter syndrome is a term coined by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978. People afflicted by imposter syndrome feel like a fraud no matter what they’ve accomplished or are capable of. Although they are high achievers, they feel that it’s only a matter of time until someone finds out how incompetent they are and that they’ve been faking it. They anxiously anticipate being embarrassed.According to the American Psychological Organization, the syndrome is not unique to women but affects anyone who feels they have to work harder to make up for a disadvantage. The extra pressure to achieve may leave a person susceptible to the syndrome if they fall short of their own, often unrealistic, standards of success.

Both women named Oh Hae Young suffer from imposter syndrome, feeling they are secretly not as capable or worthy as others perceive them to be. Ironically, the Oh Hae Young played by Seo Hyun Jin went to school with the Oh Hae Young played by Jeon Hye Bin and the inevitable comparisons made her miserable. Jeon Hye Bin’s character was the queen bee at school, popular, and always the center of attention. Seo Hyun Jun’s character was always “the other Oh Hae Young.” Occasionally, she was unfavorably compared to the “Pretty Oh Hae Young.”

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Seo Hyun Jin’s Oh Hae Young was shy in school. She felt she was plain compared to her namesake and saw herself as an outsider, definitely not as one of the cool kids. Jeon Hye Bin’s character was the standard by which she was measured and she fell short. In the drama’s present day segments, Seo Hyun Jin’s character has matured into an attractive and stylish woman. She has the kind of quirkily endearing personality that’s often born of growing up as an outsider. Although she’s attractive, likeable, and has a good job, she’s not secure in her accomplishments or secure in her sense of self-worth. After the sudden cancellation of her wedding, she meets Jeon Hye Bin’s character again, having to work under her at the office. She’s overwhelmed with insecurity and feels like a second-class citizen. Anyone might feel emotionally derailed by a canceled wedding, but meeting Jeon Hye Bin’s Oh Hae Young adds the emotional equivalent baggage of returning to the worst part of high school.

In a conversation with Park Do Kyung, played by Eric, Seo Hyun Jin’s character tells him that Jeon Hye Bin’s character is in another league than she is. Seo Hyun Jun classifies herself as a B, while she classifies Jeon Hye Bin’s character as an A. And she classifies her former fiancé, played by Lee Jae Yoon, as another A. She figures that he must have been confused to want to marry her and that they broke up because he finally came to his senses. She’s sure the marriage was cancelled because he realized her shortcomings.

Meanwhile, the other Oh Hae Young might seem chic, savvy, and successful, but she’s also far from secure. Jeon Hye Bin’s character had an unhappy, impoverished childhood and has been working overtime to make up for it. She worries that her past will make people look down on her so she works hard at being successful and popular. When the mother of her ex-fiancé said she was not worthy to marry into the family, her fears and insecurity forced her to run away.

While it might be a bizarre coincidence that Eric’s character dates two women named Oh Hae Young, it’s no surprise he dates them. His character has a history of feeling sorry for women, based on past experiences with his pitiful mother. During the course of the drama he expresses pity for both Oh Hae Youngs. He almost married the first Oh Hae Young out of pity. He figured she was so broken, so damaged by her childhood that he could not break up with her. Despite Seo Hyun Jin’s admiration for Jeon Hye Bin’s character, Park Do Kyung actually pities the “pretty Oh Hae Young” and sees her as less than perfect. He treats Seo Hyun Jin’s character as if she were more resilient.

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The drama illustrates the obvious lesson that every woman has her own battles to fight. Another woman’s life may seem perfect from a distance, but it’s often not so appealing up close either. “Another Oh Hae Young” is at its strongest, story-wise, when it shows how precarious and fragile a woman’s sense of self-worth can be.

Hopefully by the end of the drama both Oh Hae Youngs will give up on their impossible standards, learn to love themselves, and realize their true worth. Both characters have a lot to offer.

Are you watching “Another Oh Hae Young?” How are you liking it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and to keep up with all of our posts.