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Let’s Discuss: Why Does ZE:A Get So Little Love?

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ZE:A is one of the best, most consistent idol groups out there today. The group has several amazing songs, and some duds, but since their debut in 2010, ZE:A has struggled to place in charts to reach the fans.

Even its recent song, Breathe, has gained little attention.

The group has filmed over 20 music videos since debuting, featured in countless songs. Four of the nine members: Kwanghee, Hyungsik, Siwan, and Dongjun, are pretty well known for their acting and variety skills. They’ve appeared in popular shows and movies like The Heirs, Star King, The Moon That Embraces The Sun, Real Men, We Got Married, To The Beautiful You, and A Company Man.

With individual members so popular and the group so prolific and talented, it’s always bothered me why ZE:A isn’t more well received. This past April, the group was ranked as having the 33rd largest fanclub in South Korea; that’s no small feat when there are so many idol groups. YG’s upcoming boy group, WINNER, ranked #26.

This could be a simple matter of larger companies filling up the idol scene and promoting their members better than a smaller company like ZE:A’s, but that’s not the case. Star Empire Entertainment was founded in 2000 and produced not only ZE:A and Nine Muses, but also popular groups Jewelry and V.O.S.

The group is popular enough to rank on the idol fanclub chart (it’s harder than it seems – JYJ, Secret, and SISTAR were at the bottom of the list, despite their popularity). People know the names of some of the members. Several of their albums ranked within the top ten charts, but the group has never won an award on one of the music shows like Inkigayo. They’ve debuted in Japan pretty successfully and have unit groups, but ZE:A still struggles.

So what’s going on?

 

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I’ve also thought about it as the group doing too much, without being exceptional in any single way.

The group’s debut song, Mazeltov, was okay. That’s me being extremely nice — I rewatched it and thought that it was a bit of a mess. But the group made up for it with the follow up track, All Day Long. Songs like Here I Am, Heart For 2, Aftereffect, Phoenix, Step By Step, and my personal favorite, The Ghost of the Wind, have proved that the group can create great, catchy songs.

But not charttoppers.

Popular, but never popular enough. That seems to be ZE:A’s “claim to fame.”

The popular members are popular, but not popular enough to bring ZE:A into the spotlight as a group. The songs are good, but never can compete to be number one. The company is a good one, but doesn’t have the ability to promote ZE:A as much as a bigger company would be able to.

The group tries extremely hard, but it’s like ZE:A is climbing a never-ending staircase. ZE:A’s almost reached the top, but when it pauses for a moment or two to catch it’s breath, another idol group comes out with something that slips ZE:A up.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be changing. Every time a new ZE:A song comes out, I, and other ZE:A fans, get excited. Ghost of the Wind really should have been “the” song for ZE:A. But it wasn’t, primarily thanks to too much competition – EXO, B.A.P, f(X), and BEAST were all promoting at the time of Ghost Of The Wind’s release.

Based on the fact that it hasn’t happened in four years, it’s unlikely that ZE:A will produce a song that gains enough attention. The songs are catchy, the vocals are good, but they seem to be missing that special thing that makes certain releases from less popular idol groups shoot to popularity.

Considering this, it’s sad that ZE:A’s debut song wasn’t all that great – some groups debut with such a great concept that fans can’t help but pay attention, like B.A.P. Groups like VIXX and INFINITE debuted with strong songs, and then gained momentum to propel them to become current front-runners of K-POP.

But ZE:A’s first song was, as I said, less than exciting, and the group has been around for so long that people know that they’re there, but just don’t really care.

It must be incredibly hard for ZE:A to work so hard day after day, knowing that there will always be more groups to compete with. ZE:A lost it’s chance for a solid debut back in 2010, and it seems that no matter how hard the group tries, it all seems futile.

Rather than saying the flooded idol market or something like lack of talent or a small company is to blame for ZE:A’s failure to gain attention, I think that apathy is ZE:A’s biggest enemy.

We know it, but we don’t love ZE:A. We listen to the songs, watch them entertain us, but there’s no real connection. Something’s missing in the relationship between ZE:A and fans, and until the group does something to change that, it will always lag behind other, newer, K-Pop acts.

Hopefully something will happen that will propel ZE:A into the spotlight that they deserve, or at least allow people to acknowledge the talented, hard-working  group.

What are your thoughts on ZE:A’s lack of popularity? 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: Lucia

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If you haven’t heard of Lucia, then you’re missing out on an incredibly soothing voice in K-Indie genre of the music industry. Her peaceful vocals and thoughtful music videos earned her the spotlight for this article, and the following three songs will show you why you should give this singer a try.

Sim Kyu Seon debuted in 2010, under pastelmusic, but she already had a musical, The Magicians, under her belt prior to moving onto a new career path. Even though she changed her stage name to Lucia a year or so after her debut, she is still best known for her calm, gentle tone and lovely ballads.

The first MV on my list is a collaboration between Lucia and INFINITE’s Woohyun, titled, Cactus.

While this is labeled as a duet, the first half consists of mainly Woohyun singing. I wish there were more harmonic parts to this, because the pair’s (most surprisingly, Woohyun’s) soft voices complement each other quite well, especially at the end.

The video itself may be sad, but it’s wonderfully put together. I am in love with the split screen, and both sides use water and tears to interact with one another. Not only does this represent the fluidity of emotions between people in relationships, but it also shows how, despite the break up, the two still have a special connection.

When discussing her works of art, I must include Lucia’s That Season for Korean-Japanese movie, Flower Shadow:

Right from the get-go, I knew that watching this music video would be a wonderful experience. The animation is simple but conveys so much emotion and movement reflecting that of the song and Lucia’s vocals. The use of colors (not to mention a lack of colors) and emphasis of red definitely highlight the strong sense of love and loss. The rise and fall of action in the video also synchronized perfectly with the singer’s voice.

This is probably my favorite composition from Lucia, mainly because I just can’t get enough of soft but strong ballads with an equally controlled voice.

Another project of Lucia’s that involves dance is Demian, from her latest album, Light & Shade:

This is where Lucia showcases her powerful voice and vibrato, along with some interpretive choreography on an otherwise not-so-flashy set. Due to the simplicity of the background, certain elements like the fluttering of fabric, the throwing of rope, and the scattering of smoke stand out and capture your attention.

Both Lucia and the male dancer perfectly express the feeling that Demian gives off, using a slow build of curves into a flight of muscles with a flow that parallels a stream setting into a waterfall. I think this is absolutely breathtaking, and it’s definitely the right representation for the theme of her album.

Four years into the business, and Lucia just seems to blossom even more with each release. It’s a shame that she’s not as well known as she should be, but I’m quite happy to be able to discover her talents and share them with you. Be sure to follow her on Twitter and Facebook to keep a tab on new music!

Are you a fan of Lucia, or have you never heard of her? What do you think about her work? Share your opinion 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.

Best English Covers by K-Pop Artists

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We recently talked about K-Pop Instrumentals, now let’s look at a few of our favorite artists covering some of our favorite English songs. Occasionally, K-Pop songs have a few English words and/or lines throughout them. Unfortunately, the pronunciation and even use of the word(s) are oftentimes not correct or irrelevant. It sometimes makes you wonder whether or not these idols could hold their own with an English song. Well let me tell you, a lot of them definitely can. It takes a lot of practice and confidence to pull off a cover of an English song. Especially when there are so many fans from Western countries.

EXO: Open Arms
First is EXO singing Journey’s Open Arms. Baekhyun, D.O., Chen, and Luhan all demonstrate why they are the vocal line. These four gentlemen showcase their amazing and powerful vocal talents, as well as English pronunciation, in this wonderful song. And can I just say, those harmonies, whoa… Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! These types of performances are nice because fans really get to experience another side to their favorite idols. In a group as big as EXO, and one that is made up of many parts (singers, rappers, etc.), it’s rare to have a song of just great vocals. This is a treat, and I’m so glad fellow writer and KPOPme co-founder, Thuc, suggested it.

Eric Nam & Boa Kim: Say Something
In all honesty, this cover of Say Something, was the first time I actually heard the song (I don’t listen to the radio that often). You may consider this one slightly cheating because as we know, Eric Nam is indeed from Atlanta, Georgia, and therefore he is fluent in English. Either way, his voice is amazing, and I like to hear him sing. But, Boa Kim, a member of SPICA, holds her own and then some in this song. Her vocals perfectly match the mood, tone, and energy of this song. Her pronunciation is flawless, and I could honestly listen to this cover all day. The music video is also done quite well.

TaeTiSeo: DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love
Next is TaeTiSeo singing Usher’s DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love. TaeTiSeo is made up of Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun. Again, Tiffany can speak fluent English, but that’s not the point. The point is that Taeyeon and Seohyun sing their English lines very well with confidence, which is the key to a great cover; this is a live performance full of energy that keeps the crowd pumped up throughout the song. It also doesn’t hurt that EXO joins the trio during the rap part of the song. Let’s be honest, can one really go wrong with an Usher cover? No, no one cannot. Also the numerous cuts to the middle-aged man dancing adds to this video.

SHINee: Just Dance
We’re throwing it back to 2009 with this little gem. SHINee give Lady Gaga’s debut single, Just Dance, their own Gaga flare. With this cover, Key is the frontman, because his English is the best out of all of the members. The performance may be short, but SHINee’s Gaga-inspired outfits and their dance moves keep the audience interested from beginning to end. I would love to hear another cover by these guys today, since their pronunciation is much better now.

Changmin & Kyuhyun: Just The Way You Are
These SM artists love their English cover songs, and you’ll hear no complaints from me. On their own Changmin and Kyuhyun have amazing voices, but put them together, singing a Bruno Mars cover, it’s magical. I’d like to thank Alexis, co-founder and writer for KPOPme, for suggesting this cover. I couldn’t find a great video of the duo, but you can still feel their passion and talent. I’ll stop talking now and let Changmin and Kyunhyun do the rest.

Minzy: Halo
I have to show some love for the female power vocals in Kpop. First up is Minzy of 2NE1. She took a bold step and covered Queen B’s Halo. I think she did an amazing job. Her pronunciation and vocal range is amazing! I’ve always loved Minzy’s voice, and this cover is reason enough to love her. The song on its own is a hard one to sing, and Minzy gives it her all. She is a true talent.

Ailee: I Will Always Love You
The last cover song I want to talk about is Ailee’s rendition of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. We all know Ailee has a phenomenal voice. When I first heard that she covered this iconic song, I wasn’t sure if she would be able to live up to its reputation. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ailee’s voice, but I Will Always Love You has so many nuances throughout the song that need to be met in order to be a good cover. Nevertheless, Ailee owned this song; her performance was amazing! With flawless vocals, she was powerful when she needed to be and still had that finesse in her voice that complemented the song.

Although some of these idols may not be fluent in English, they could definitely fool me based on their amazing performances of English covers. This is only the beginning of a long list of great covers, what are some of your favorites? 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.

Will WINNER Live Up to the Hype With its Debut?

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YG Entertainment is gearing up for WINNER’s debut. The hype has recently started again, and fans are really excited. WINNER will be YG’s newest idol boy band after eight years of debuting BIGBANG. The members consist of leader Kang Seung Yoon, Kim Jinwoo, Lee Seung Hoon, Song Minho, and Nam Tae Hyun.

WINNER MEMBERS

WINNER has had quite a journey. Competing as Team A, they battled Team B and won the reality competition, WIN: WHO IS NEXT?. They were scheduled to debut back in February of this year, but YG pushed back the date, to much disappointment from fans.

After the show, the band started their ten-episode YouTube series, WINNER TV. The members made different missions and opened BIGBANG’s Japan dome concerts, along with writing and producing their own songs for their debut album. They also opened concerts for 2NE1’s ALL OR NOTHING World Tour and were part of the YG Family concert.

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WINNER showcases their self-written and produced songs to Yang Hyun Suk on WINNER TV:

YG really wants to make sure that their newest boy band will be successful. They created a lot of excitement (they already even have CFs with Niikorea! and Fanta) prior to their debut. But with talented members, perhaps that wasn’t necessary. Given their popularity, the band would had been successful at any rate. They have the looks and talents that are needed to be standout in the K-Pop industry.

The group’s pre-debut popularity ultimately may or may have not inspired SM Entertainment to jump on the band wagon by creating a brand for their SM Rookies. And who could forget EXO prior to debut, releasing individual video teasers of each member, making them one of the most successful rookie bands in Korea? Creating a fan base before the debut of a group is slowly turning into a marketing strategy for more entertainment companies.

WINNER FANTA CF WINNER NIIKORE CF

WINNER’s debut seems imminent now that YG has started teasing us. They released their first teaser video named The Visitor, an artsy piece that reminds me of a video fashion editorial. We are not sure if that’s a teaser for a song, or a compilation of different ones, but it sounds very interesting.

Being a fashion lover myself, I recognized a few terms in the video, like S/S (spring/summer). Designers release collections every two seasons, so this got me a little confused: are they releasing a fashion line or their debut album?

When their Facebook page uploaded the launching promotion photo, which was the final piece of the puzzle:

winner launching plan

Once again, fashion seems to be taking big part in their debut album. They are making it seem like a fashion collection launch, following a Test Week, New York Week, and Winner Week and resembling the different Fashion Weeks all over the world.

But what does that mean? These may be just my personal predictions, but I think that, during Test Week, they might start promoting a song, or preview their songs for the album to garner reactions.

WINNER went to New York in May and were spotted filming something. So that would lead to New York Week, in which they might continue to release teasers, photos, or a video of their journey in New York.

Then Winner Week would follow, during which I can clearly assume that they will release their first official single and music video. At this point, fans are really excited for the group to debut after so many teasers; their hard work will finally be compensated! We are really intrigued to know what their music and visuals will be like.

Are you excited for WINNER’s release? What sound would you like WINNER to have? 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.

6 Songs Non-K-Pop Fans Can Like

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[Disclaimer: Information is solely based on personal experience]

If you’re anything like me, you have lots of non-K-Pop fan friends who generally don’t support your favorite music genre. However, you still play them song after song in hopes that there will be one they actually like. And although my actions have often been unsuccessful, there have been some instances where it works. Alas, here’s what you should try with your friends if you want them to ride the Hallyu wave with you:

2ne1 1

This is probably the first K-Pop music video I ever saw and liked (although I had no idea who they were, what language they were singing, or what I was getting myself into), so this song was a no-brainer as the first choice for introduction. It may be the visuals, or the clothes, or the dances, or the epic intro, but this song captivates you right from the get-go – everything about I Am the Best is meant to lure you in. And boy does it work!

I can vividly remember fellow KPOPme writer Alejandro requesting it with me at a bar in our hometown and watching everyone dancing to it. And then see it happen again the next week… And the next… And the next! This works for every demographic: my gay and girlfriends love it for the fierceness and (a few of) my guy friends like it for the “hot girl” in spandex (or Bom, really).

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exo growl

Similar to I Am the Best, Growl is well-liked by most of my friends, but more surprisingly, my EDM-groovy-soul loving straight guy friends. Everything I had ever listened to up to this point was “noise,” but this EXO song crossed cultural and gender boundaries. My friends praised the song for its funkiness and groove emulating Jamiroquai. The fact that 12 guys were singing and dancing was not an issue anymore, because the music was genuinely good.

Super Junior Opera

While Opera falls under “noise” to some of my guy friends, it’s the only K-Pop song some of my girlfriends like. Maybe this is due to it being the equivalent of drinking a Monster Energy Drink in one shot – it’s a blast of energy pumped forcefully into you. However, I never showed them the Japanese music video – that would definitely stir them away, and I don’t particularly want that. While I love Super Junior and I support their Phantom of the Opera concept, I wouldn’t shove that down my Westernized friends’ throats. It’s too much… I shall rely on randomly playing it in my car while they sing the chorus.

bigbang bad boy

Back in 2012, Gawker named Bad Boy the perfect pop song, validating what K-Pop fans have known for years: BIGBANG is awesome and crazy talented. Although blending pop and R&B is BIGBANG’s staple, they reached perfection with this song. I mean, who could resist T.O.P’s deep vocals, G-Dragon’s overall demeanor and style, and Taeyang’s soulful verses? Like I Am the Best, Bad Boy itself and its music video are eye and ear-candy (cue Baek Ji Young) – no one could resist this track! Not even a male writer at Gawker! I rest my case…  And even if I can’t really think of any of my friends liking this song, I recommend that you should recommend it because it is flawless.

brown eyed girls abracadabra

Abracadabra is a song about casting a spell on your ex so he’ll get back together with you and leave his current girlfriend. However, this completely escaped my friends, who only focused on the famous hip swinging dance and the chorus. This was perfect, since that is what I focused on too when I first got into K-Pop. Back then, it was all about the visuals, the dances, and the superficial appeal – which may be crucial to luring friends into liking K-Pop, that’s how I got sucked in! It didn’t hurt that this song, like I Am the Best, had the “fierce” factor Beyoncé-loving girls and boys crave.

lee hi 1234

With no conventional visual appeal or fierce factor, Lee Hi won some of my friends over with pure talent. This girl fought her way through K-Pop Star and fought her way through idol-dom as well in order to establish herself as a bright star among those dimly lit. If your friends judge all the girl and boy groups you like by labeling them “talentless,” they sure fall short of an insult with Lee Hi. 1234 is a fun song that could be sung by any Western diva if it were in English – and that’s what resonates with my friends.

If these songs don’t work on you non-K-Pop fan friends, then I don’t know what will. Have you tried to introduce your friends into K-Pop? What songs did you use in your endeavor? 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.

K-Pop Standout Instrumentals

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There are plenty of good songs in the world of K-Pop, but only a few stand out for their amazing music. When you are a fan of certain idols or groups, we are sometimes biased about their music. But do we really like the song, or are we playing favorites?

There is nothing wrong with not liking a new song that your favorite group released. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes we get a little bit blinded by our love for them. Here at KPOPme, we have been guilty of that a few times.

So this time, we are going to forget all about the lyrics and voices. We are only going to focus on the instrumentals. Sometimes the best songs don’t make it into singles, but the music itself is amazing.

A song is constructed by an introduction, verse, and chorus, and sometimes ad libs are added to build the composition’s intensity. After a song is composed, the lyrics give life to the melodic story.

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One of the best examples of an amazing instrumental is f(x)’s Rum Pum Pum Pum (produced by Erik Lewander).  The song is a mixture of organic drums, guitar riffs, and synthesizers. The introduction itself starts with two different guitar riffs. The guitar really has its own voice throughout the whole song. The percussions start to kick in and rise at the chorus, representing the sound of a heartbeat. f(x) has many amazing songs, but this one really stands out for us for its originality.

We talked about how it’s not wrong to not like a song from one of our favorite bands, and this is what happened with EXO. When they realeased Wolf, we really didn’t like that song too much. It was so busy and full of dubstep, although the boys redeemed themselves with the next song, Growl.

Right off the bat, the song starts with the same melody as the chorus. The music changes completely on the bridge before the chorus and brings us down to a very smooth melody. The chorus hits and we hear the same beat starting again, just a little bit faster. The music is very funky and very sexy. This song has already become EXO’s signature. It really reminds us a lot of those great boy band songs from the 1990s, and we love it!

[Editor’s Note: “Growl” is probably the only song my non-K-Pop fan friends genuinely like]

SHINee’s Symptoms is a great example of a great R&B song in K-Pop. The Underdogs produced it, and it’s the perfect mixture of R&B and Soul. It’s very slow, but it builds up on the bridge. The drums give a feeling of explosion in the chorus that really make you feel the emotions conceived in this song. Then it drops again and keeps us on a roller coaster of sounds. The song ends abruptly when the beat just stops, giving us a metaphor of how a relationship could end all of a sudden.

If you were to name a great pop song, it would be BIGBANG’s Blue. It keeps a steady beat that slightly changes on the bridge and flourishes in the chorus. The guitar adds an acoustic feel, while the piano gives life to the piece. The electronic beats synch perfectly with all the instruments and create a very dynamic melody. The song also features different sound effects in the background. Blue has been one of the most successful BIGBANG singles in their career, and that’s because it is pure perfection.

Girls’ Generation’s Mr.Mr is the perfect example of a modern pop song. The beat reminisces the disco era, but somehow feels very modern with the added sound effects. The claps before the chorus even give it a feeling that you are there, hearing the song live. Unlike what they tried to do with I Got A Boy, the song mixed different genres very well and doesn’t seem that there are different songs in one. Why is it that when a song incorporates old music elements, it makes it feel modern?

Talking about old music, IU’s Red Shoes gave us a very creative and new edge in K-Pop. The song incorporates classical swing-jazz melodies that makes us want to stand up and dance. It perfectly captured the feeling of the 1920s and gives it a modern twist, with a few electronic beats at the beginning.

G-Dragon’s Shake The World gives us an example of a song that can speak by itself. If you hear the instrumental, you can really feel how much is going on in GD’s mind. There is a feeling of despair, a lot of screaming, and a lot of hidden emotions.

The song starts with a sound effect of a cash counter, really setting a scene for the ending. It makes us feel that he is running away from a bank they just robbed. The melody is full of personality, and that trap in the end is amazing. It’s really surprising, as it constantly goes up and makes us never want to go down. My favorite part of the song is the saxophone before the exploding chorus, it’s just so unexpected!

2NE1 always loves to mix genres, and, with Come Back Home, they nailed it. The song goes from pop to reggae to trap. This holds the future of K-Pop music, where mixing different styles create a very unique concept. They had done it before with other songs, but this one was perfection. Even if the song doesn’t have a fast beat, it still wants to make us dance.

Do you know any other K-Pop songs that have amazing music? 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.

Sexualization in K-Pop: The Bare Truth

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When asked about why they prefer K-Pop over Western music, many fans say that the former is less sexualized than the latter. But is that really true? For newer fans, they may be pulled in by bubble-gum pop groups; however, they don’t realize that there are many idols that show off their bodies and croon about sex in their songs.

Am I saying that it’s wrong? Absolutely not! This just goes to show that sex sells. You can see plenty of examples of sex being sold at websites such as fuckedgay, they have sexual content that shows off the sexual prowess of many. So there isn’t anything wrong with this! And it’s not just limited to Western music. Furthermore, it’s not like our favorite idols are an eyesore to look at!

Some people feel as though female idols are more sexualized than their male counterparts, to which I respond:

I’ve always had the unfortunate opportunity of coming across hostile comments towards girl groups about their skirts being too small, their cleavage being too exposed, or their dances being too risqué. But very few times have I seen a complaint about a guy taking off his shirt too many times, humping the ground too many times, or thrusting in their hands instead of keeping their legs closed. Are you getting what I mean? Like I said before, being sexy is not a crime. Sexualization in K-Pop should not be a crime, either, unless minors are involved (and I’ll talk about this in a bit).

For a few large examples, let’s start off with Rain‘s Love Song. A classic, and the perfect beginning to this article.

Okay, so everything looks fine for the first half of the music video, right? He’s got his fancy eyelashes on, trying to touch the memories of his ex-girlfriend. It’s actually pretty innocent and kind of touches your heart, as you can see how torn up he is about the failed relationship. And then, all of a sudden, BAM!

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There they are, shiny studded shoes (shiny studded everything, to be more precise), and whoa, look at those body rolls! Just when you think it’s going to stay at that level… Nope! The jacket gets off, the shirt gets off (most of it), and now he’s flaunting his refined pecs and abs. He definitely would fit in at websites similar to cartoonporno. With such a hot body all the women on that site would be dying to shoot videos with him.

Let’s take a step back, shall we? What’s this song exactly about? He’s basically calling upon a deaf ear, as he tries to ask his former lover to come back to him. He believes that this song would convince her to return, so that they could be together again.

Hm… Is there any reason why he should be stripping? Any reason for the seemingly suggestive body rolls? Of course, there’s always going to be people like me trying to find meaning in everything, but when you get down to the dirty business… You can’t really argue that his body is a large selling point of this, can you?

Just to remind everyone: I find no issue with that. What. So. Ever. Just look at him!

bi rain

But moving on: the highly popular duo of HyunA and Hyunseung in Trouble Maker, formed in 2011, has been quite a spicy pair. With their sexually suggestive choreography for their debut, Trouble Maker, they are not shy in the field of sexiness. Their latest hit, Now (There Is No Tomorrow), showcases both of these idols’ looks and vocals.

A personal favorite of mine, this music video hits you immediately with the act of love (or is it really love?), as Hyunseung wakes up with women strewn about him. Meanwhile, HyunA is avoiding unwanted attention at a club, gyrating by a wall, seemingly in deep thought and longing. From the closeups of their bodies to an intense lovemaking scene, it’s pretty obvious what their relationship is about. But there’s more, as fights break out, and Hyunseung seems to have issues with his own deranged sociopath. I ended up thinking, “Well… I’m glad I’m not a people person.”

In addition to the video’s plotline, the choreography reflects the chemistry between the two. But, more importantly, let’s look closer at the meaning of the song.

This couple has problems that they can only deal with together, so, despite a caustic, bipolar relationship, their only way of surviving is to stay with each other. Does the video represent that? Yes. Is the sexualization of the pair necessary? I’d like to think it sticks to the truth of many relationships in real life, so yeah, having them actually dealing with sexual needs, drug use, alcohol use, and physical abuse does help remind the viewers that life isn’t just bubble-gum pop.

Last but definitely not least, I present you with Rania‘s Dr. Feel Good.

Do I really need to say much about this? I’m actually a fan of this song and the intense choreography, albeit the lyrics being a bit cheesy at some points. Now, you might criticize me and say, “I don’t think it’s that hard to wiggle your butt around and hump the air, Thuc!”

In a normal situation, I’d agree. What makes this different is that the movements go along with the beat of the song, and they are synchronized. I don’t know if many of you have tried learning this choreography, but it is difficult. Being sexy takes a LOT of practice. Should I also add that the opening sequence looks like the awakening of sirens from the depths of… badness? In other words, it looks really cool.

There’s not really much of a plot, as the music video focuses on their visual appeal. This is a song that reminds me of some kinky roleplay sequence that people usually try to keep behind closed doors. The meaning? Well, all that I get from this is that these “patients” would really like some pleasurable, alone time with their doctors. Once again, nothing wrong with that.

Rania recieved some criticism for their racy attire and choreography, forcing them to change some aspects to be able to promote on music shows. I think it’s a bit unfair, considering that they’re showing just as much skin as many boy groups, and thrusting into their hands in a similar manner.

Hey, if the guy groups can get away with singing about sex, why can’t the ladies? It’s a natural act, and, even if I may not be into the practice, it doesn’t mean that I should shun any type of sexiness in the media. Even U-KISS recently dropped quite the music video for Quit Playing, bringing up the topic of threesomes and showing off the members’ sculpted bodies.

All in all, what I’m trying to say is that sexualization in K-Pop shouldn’t be seen as a rare occurrence or a sin. Why? Simply because it is not. As you can see, male and female groups, and even groups with both, use their bodies to the best of their abilities to provide a little boost to promotions.

Sometimes it’s not very necessary, sometimes it helps develop a view on the world, or sometimes it’s just a straightforward message of “Hey, I’m into this kink, and I’m not ashamed of it.”

Of course, putting minors into a sexualized role of being an idol does create issues not only for that minor, but for the public in general. Personally, I believe in giving the choice to people who are supposed to be mature enough to understand the workings of the industry, not forcing a role onto someone who may be too young to truly comprehend why they have to grind against their microphone stand.

Do you have a different opinion on this matter? Should sexualization in K-Pop just not exist, or should it still remain in use? 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.

Playlist Sunday: Male Solo Edition

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For this week’s K-Pop playlist, we compiled a group of songs by some of our favorite male performers. Some are idols, some are artists, and we love them all. Check out our picks here:

Jung Joon Young is an unsung hero in Korean music; he brings a unique and ethereal sound to his rock songs. Spotless Mind was Jung Joon Young’s debut song, and it didn’t disappoint his fans. He may be known for his 4D personality on We Got Married, but Spotless Mind proves that he is an amazing musician.

The two versions of the music video show the different emotion of a man dealing with the feelings of a broken heart and confused mind. The rock ballad has an acoustic guitar sound which, combined with Jung Joon Young’s deep voice, is pervasive throughout the song, bringing forth heart-wrenching emotions.


— Tamar

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Producer and singer-songwriter Crush debuted earlier this spring with his digital single, Sometimes. Crush’s voice is reason enough to listen to anything he sings. It’s so smooth and attractive; I love it! Sometimes is a song about a man who can’t let go of his former love. He constantly thinks about her and the memories they shared together. Crush’s tone and vocal ability suit the song well, and you can feel his emotion in every word he sings.


–Tara

When it comes to rappers, they’re well known for their strong confidence and big egos. That’s a trademark that boosts their attractiveness for some, and it’s a tool widely used in the music industry. Block B’s Zico is no stranger to showing off his self-esteem, as shown in Sam, a single from his mix tape, Zico on the Block.

What you may not know about this idol is that he’s been an underground rapper for a number of years before being discovered by Brand New Stardom Entertainment! It should be no surprise that he’s proud and shows it in this song that discusses jealousy and his rise to fame. There is a brief moment of questionable language (in English), so I warn younger fans to approach with caution.


–Thuc

If you watched the drama To the Beautiful You featuring SHINee’s Minho and f(x)’s Sulli, you’ll certainly remember the tune that blasted every time anything cute happened. That song is Onew‘s In Your Eyes. While he might be SHINee’s second main vocalist (but first in my heart), Onew delivers a power ballad about love declaration that will surely melt your heart.

I would like to say that listening to this song takes me back to watching the drama, but it actually makes me think of Onew performing In Your Eyes at SHINee’s fifth anniversary concert with joyful tears filling-up his beautiful eyes. This ballad proved that he is one of SM Entertainment’s best vocals and should be given more solo opportunities, whether it’s on SHINee albums, movie or drama soundtracks, and/or singles. His delivery is flawless and genuine – I would love for him to sing this to me ♡(.◜ω◝.)♡


— Alexis

My pick for the week is Eric Nam’s Ooh Ooh featuring Infinite’s Hoya. I love this song because of the fun beat and its funkiness. It makes me reminisce of SHINee’s Dream Girl’s sound a bit, making me love it even more. Being very fashion biased, I enjoyed all of Eric’s styling choices and the overall music video concept. And of course, who doesn’t love U-KISS member Kevin’s cameo? It’s the perfect, groovy track for the weekend! I thoroughly enjoy it.


— Alejandro

What male soloist were you listening to this week? 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.

The Soccer Idols: Doojoon, Junsu, & Minho

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In light of the 2014 World Cup starting next week, I’m going to look into a few of our favorites male idols who cannot live without soccer (football). Being a soccer fan myself, it’s fun to watch idols play with each other and see a different side to them compared to their singing and dancing. Soccer brings out the competitor in those who play it and show each person in a new and attractive light. There are plenty of people out there who would call themselves fans of soccer, there are those who are happy to just watch the game, but some take it a step further and are keen to take part in things like a Football Stock Market (check out Footballindexanalysis.com for more information on this). Of course, it doesn’t matter how you enjoy the game, just that you are a fan! People enjoy things in different ways, so don’t worry if you aren’t interested in making any money off the sport you love. However, if you do want to try and make some extra cash as you watch the game, you could also consider placing some bets on the team you think is most likely to win. By using Indiana mobile sports betting apps, for example, fans could potentially profit from their favorite team. However, you don’t have to place bets to enjoy the game, so make sure you do whatever feels right for you!

The first idol I want to talk about is BEAST‘s very own Yoon Doojoon. There’s no question that Doojoon loves soccer. He was even dubbed Soccer-dol in the idol world. His thick thighs are evidence enough that he loves to play the sport as often as possible, and could be a great addition to anyone’s fantasy soccer team. It is even said that he carries around a fold-able goal post, so when he and his members have some free time, they can have matches verses the staff and managers.

Doojoon helped his team score at the 2013 Idol Athletic Championships and displayed an array of skills and knowledge of the game. He is currently on Cool Kiz on the Block with fellow BEAST member Gikwang. They are only two episodes into the soccer episodes, but from these two episodes alone, it’s clear that his reputation as the Soccer-dol is known throughout the entertainment business and is a just title. It wasn’t until the second episode that he had a chance to find the back of the net when he was put on offense as a forward.

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Doojoon’s love of the game is evident every time you watch him play soccer or talk about it. With this type of passion for the game, it’s no wonder Doojoon was recently named honorary ambassador for the Korea Professional Football League, or the K-League. He will help promote soccer in Korea while promoting the K-League with a series of events and online and mobile channels.

Doojoon Juggling Skills

Another idol I want to mention is Kim Junsu of JYJ. Junsu is actually the captain of the celebrity men’s team FC Men (of which Doojoon also plays on), which is made up of actors, singers, and models. That title of captain alone tells us that Junsu genuinely loves the game as well as understands the various aspects of soccer. Not only is he knowledgeable of the game, but his teammates look up to him as someone who will lead them during each game and each practice to enhance their skills and teamwork. Junsu’s skills, persistence, and thirst for competition, are only a few of the attributes that make him a great player and leader.

Finally, we have SHINee‘s Choi Minho. Anyone who is familiar with SHINee knows that Minho loves soccer. With a soccer coach as a father, why wouldn’t he? Minho is a very competitive individual in any sport he plays. Just watch some of the Idol Competitions and it’s clear he is there to win.

But soccer is a sport that Minho always goes back to and loves. I’m sure many of you remember SHINee’s reality show, Wonderful Day (One Fine Day), where each member chose to go anywhere they wanted for a mini vacation. Without hesitation, Minho chose England so he could watch the pros in the Premier League. From the response of his members, it’s clear that soccer is always on his mind. He even goes as far as to try to change the start date of his trip in order to watch a game.

In this episode, Minho looks like a kid in a candy store. He cannot contain his excitement leading up to the match. But the most memorable part for him was getting a high five from Queens Park Rangers player Park Ji Sung. Minho’s pure joy as he recounts the match clearly shows how much he loves soccer, whether he’s playing it or watching it.

I only touched on a few idols who are massive soccer fans and I know there are many more out there. Who is your favorite soccer-loving idol? Make sure to cheer for Korea during the World Cup as they take on the best teams in the world and 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.

The Hot Women of “Roommate”

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Move over last week’s article of the hot male cast of SBS’ show Roommate for it’s the girls’ turn now. As we previously explained in said article, the show’s 11 hot women and men cast members have made us fall for their charms and quirks every week.

But even if you can’t stop swooning over Seo Kang Joon’s heart-melting smile or Lee Dong Wook’s steamy chocolate abs, you can’t forget about the ever fierce and elegant female cast consisting of model Lee So Ra, 2NE1’s Park Bom, After School’s Nana, actress Hong Soo Hyun, and MMA fighter Song Ga Yeon. And even though they’re all different and have found similar interests of traits in order to bond, it’s safe to say the female cast of the show is equally if not hotter than the male. Let’s take a look at the sexy female roommates:

Aside from EXO’s Chanyeol, the person who made me want to watch this show was none other than 30-year-old Bom. We all know her for her role as 2NE1’s main vocalist and her love for corn (or maybe that’s just a Blackjack known thing?).

2NE1 Bom Sexy

This girl definitely has an enviable body and always rocks the best tight dresses in K-Pop. And even though she’s a young adult, her ditzy personality full of cuteness captivates us, whether she’s eating bread while sleeping, fighting with the camera, or blushing when revealing her love interest within the Roommate house.

Next up is the eldest woman, 44-year-old model Lee So Ra. The Project Runway Korea host is without a doubt the most regal figure in the house. Maybe it’s her modeling training or just her personality and the way she carries herself, but she emulates a classy beauty you don’t see that much anymore with younger celebrities.

Lee So Ra Hot

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Even though So Ra started as an outsider in the house, she has taken on the role as the top unnie in the house, taking care of all the other women and being their rock. It’s really nice to see a warmer side to her when preparing low calorie meals for the roommates or consoling her fellow dongsaengs.

But since we’re on the beauty route, let’s talk about the second most beautiful woman in the world, Nana. I suppose a picture speaks more than words, so let’s see:

Do I really need to spell it out? Where would I even begin?! This girl has a great body, a great face, great hair, and great dance moves and overall body movement. I mean, she only lost to French beauty Marion Cotillard on that list. But through the show, we’ve seen another side to Nana than the sexy one we normally see.

Nana, who’s 22-years-old, bonded on the Roommate house with pretty much all the female cast for her uniqueness. For example, she shares a 4D personality with Bom, and watching those two divas interact so cutely with each other exposes a whole other side to both women. Nana was very affectionate towards So Ra at the beginning of the show. Maybe they bonded for being national beauties. Moreover, she’s also cute and weird with Soo Hyun, as they dance in their room and talk for hours.

With two popular idols on the Roommate house, one would expect them to be the most popular among the male members, but this was shot down by none other than Soo Hyun. Fellow cast members Seo Kang Joon and Park Min Woo revealed that this 33-year-old noona was their ideal type.

Hong Soo Hyun Sexy

And who can blame them, I mean, Soo Hyun has a slender body and appears to be very feminine while also seeming down to earth. Plus, her love for wine made me think she’s probably very fun to be around when drinking or even sober.

And last but certainly not least we have the maknae of the house, 19-year-old Ga Yeon. She’s definitely the breakout star in the show since she’s an athlete and not a celebrity (or a celebrity athlete like Kim Yuna, for example).

Because she’s a professional athlete, I’ll say she’s probably the healthiest person in the house and thus has a pretty rocking body. You can often see her on the show waking up early to work out, even before most of the roommates are awake. She can wear shorts and tight clothing even better than her idol counter parts, I mean, have you seen her thighs? I want healthy, hot-looking thighs like that!

Song Ga Yeon Hot

But Ga Yeon’s appeal goes beyond her looks. Since she’s not that used to the spotlight, she lacks a pumped variety program personality, but rather than hurting her, it adds to her charm. She’s regularly shy and struggles to feel comfortable around her oppas, even when Min Woo tells her repeatedly (and even flicks her forehead for it) to feel at ease with him.

After reading this list on the hotties of Roommate, who’s your favorite female cast member? We want to know! 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.