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Fashion Icon: 2AM’s Jo Kwon

June 27, 2014/in Fashion, Style /by Alejandro Abarca

In lieu of Jo Kwon’s super-fabulous musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Dessert, let’s take a look at his fashion icon standing. When it comes to his style, Jo Kwon is constantly changing. His androgynous features and amazing body make him the perfect chameleon. Whether he is looking like the boy next door, or strutting in Jeffrey Campbell heel-less shoes, he always looks fierce. Let’s showcase the prominent styles that Jo Kwon loves to wear.

The Boy Next Door

One of the styles that we see Jo Kwon wearing is “the boy next door” look. He loves to look well kept and clean, pairing sweaters with dress shirts. Even if he looks very preppy, you can see him adding a little twist to the look by carrying an amazing clutch, a Lady Gaga shirt, or streaks of green in his hair. This look is mostly seen in his variety appearances, press events, and his run on the show, Global Request Live: A Song For You. He looks very handsome and, with this look, you could totally bring him home to meet your mom. Check out these cool articles around the web

The Trendy Kid

The ’90s fashion is still here and doesn’t seem to go away any time soon. Jo Kwon seems to love sporting this style the most. He pairs oversized sweaters, shorts with socks, and baseball hats. Even overalls (which is one of the trendiest items of the season) look amazing on him. I personally love him in this style because it suits him so well. He becomes a full on avant-garde fashionista when he attends fashion shows.

Pretty In Drag

Even though this style is mostly worn on stage, it deserves an honorary mention. Jo Kwon’s appearance lets him play with his image a lot. Throughout his promotions for Animal, from his solo album I’m Da One, Jo Kwon fully expressed himself with his outfits. He became a bird-like creature with feathers and leather that danced on stage. The heel-less Jeffrey Campbell shoes (the shoes assimilated animal feet) created a well-thought-out fashion statement. The shoes brought the animal in Jo Kwon’s mind to life.

Furthermore, he looks gorgeous on his spread for Vogue Korea, revealing his androgynous beauty, and as Priscilla in his musical, Priscilla: Queen Of The Dessert.

Even though statements of him being gay have been refuted, Jo Kwon does more for the gay community than most idols, from going to gay bars in Thailand to addressing negative comments on his Instagram:

Jo Kwon is not afraid of supporting the gay community. And for me, being a gay man, I see him as an amazing role model for youth in Korea and abroad. I really hope that more K-Pop idols start supporting equality for everyone.

But overall, Jo Kwon will surely continue to surprise us with his fashion and his awesome self.

Which style is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below. 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.

Review: Block B Showcase in New York

June 24, 2014/in Events /by Tamar Herman

Early Sunday evening in the middle of nowhere Long Island, Block B held their first showcase in New York. The seven member idol group played at NYCB Westbury Music Theater in Long Island, which was a bit of a hassle to get to for many fans. Buses were arranged to bring fans who met up in New York City, and by the time I got there about four hundred fans were standing in line in the sweltering heat.

But there wasn’t really a need for fans to be doing that. All seats were assigned in advance, so it would have made more sense to just have fans wandering about enjoying the sun. Instead, fans grew impatient as they waited to be allowed. Even this small planning issue didn’t make fans too annoyed, since they were so anxious to see Block B.

Doors opened on time, but it still seemed to drag on. However, excitement was palatable since the theater was extremely cozy (small), meaning that Block B would be relatively near to even the cheapest priced seats. The small, round theater meant something else that fans quickly picked up on: Block B would have to walk through the crowd to get to the stage.

The energy was crazy as the group began the showcase with Very Good, one of Block B’s most popular songs. The members then performed a combined mash-up of Freeze and Wanna B before stopping for introductions. An emcee was in charge of the event, dealing with translating the member’s words for the primarily English-speaking audience.

Because it was a showcase rather than a concert, Block B was able to interact really freely with the fans. The guys would sing a few songs, and then did a special activity. The members picked names out of a box and brought seven lucky fans on stage to receive roses as Block B serenaded them, and then afterwards played a game of charades with another set of seven fans. The fans were all extremely grateful, with one fan even commenting that she now “knows there is a God,” resulting in many laughs from the fans.

However, because only a few fans were involved and there were less songs than American K-Pop-concert-goers are used to, some fans were a bit disappointed. The performances were great, but the new style of a showcase threw a few people off.

Despite a little bit of confusion about the concept of the showcase, every time the group performed, the crowd became crazy. Even though everyone was seated, if Block B opened their mouths to sing then the fans stood up. Nalina and Blockbuster evoked a crazed response from the audience, with the atmosphere being similar to a club; everyone was dancing and jumping as the stood by their seats. Even calmer songs like Be The Light were popular among the fans, who couldn’t resist singing along.

When Block B left the stage, there wasn’t even a split second before fans immediately started to cheer “encore, encore.” Block B didn’t let them down, and came out to perform two songs, including a rock version of the hit song that they opened with, Very Good.

The members were clearly thrilled to be in New York, and it was nice to see so many international fans supporting the group after all of its hardships. Hopefully Block B’s remaining US showcases will go well, and the group will continue to flourish both abroad and in Korea. Block B has a showcase in DC tonight (June 24^th) and a showcase in Florida on June 27^th.

Here’s an exclusive KPOPme video recompiling a few highlights from the show:

Moreover, check out a few pictures too:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What’s your favorite Block B song? Share it with us! 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.

Got7’s “A” Music Video Review & Rundown

June 23, 2014/in Entertainment, MUSIC VIDEOS /by Tara

Summer is here and so is Got7 with their latest comeback song A. The song is upbeat and fun, making it perfect for the summer months. The music is reminiscent of the 1990’s boy bands, which is always welcomed by me. There is a part where the beat slows down and strings are added in, but it all fits well together and does not interfere with the overall tempo of the song.

Music Video Setting

The video starts with the boys entering a diner/eatery that reminds me of Johnny Rockets’ in the States based on the decor (jukebox, red and white checkered table clothes, waitress uniform, overall decorations, etc).

After dancing in the diner, the boys take it to the streets and show off their smooth choreography. During the nighttime street scene, the boys utilize the layout of the street to pose behind the girl and of course show off their signature acrobatics. Aside from a fire hydrant and some pillars, there are other civilians in the background and they’re of different ethnicities.

Next is the grocery store. If only I saw these goofs in my local supermarket. During the grocery store scenes all seven boys are practically drooling over the girl. They go as far as to buy the same exact products as her as they follow her throughout the store. There are also just group shots of the boys in their shopping carts wheeling down the isles singing to the camera.

The street/parking lot scenes are the dance scenes. Toward the end of the music video, Jackson raps in front of a trio of classic cars and Got7 as a whole dances in front of a Jeep and other classic cars in a parking lot during a sunny afternoon.

Outfits

The outfits match the boys’ ages perfectly, with t-shirts, jeans, shorts, and vests/coats. They’re all in similar color pallets of blues, whites, and different hues of khaki. As for the shoes, it’s either sneakers or Tims. They aren’t wearing those leggings with shorts or oversized t-shirts. They literally look like any regular guy their age hanging out with their friends.

In the night/grocery store scenes, the boys have an edgier look with black and white themed clothing and leather and more jewelry than before. The clothes are simple, yet noticeable, which is perfect for this video that has a lot of colors, textures, and objects in the background.

Choreography

As for the choreography the boys are always on point throughout the dance. It’s fun and fits the tempo and style of the song. It looks simple, but even the simple steps would probably take me hours to learn. Toward the end of the song, the choreography becomes more demanding and this is where we see some more of the acrobatics that helped put Got7 on the K-Pop map. The dance is catchy and suits the mood of the song.

Vocals/Rap

I personally think each member of Got7 can hold their own when it comes to singing. As I mentioned in the opening of this article, the song is a fun summer song and therefore does not stress amazing vocals. I’m not saying Got7 does not sing the song well, it’s that this style of song does not require outstanding vocals. The BamBam and Jackson’s raps fit well, in my opinion. They didn’t break up the flow of the song, but added to it.

Overall Thoughts

I enjoy A. It’s perfect to get the summer season started off right. Roll down those windows, crank the stereo and sing your heart out!

Do you guys like this comeback from Got7 or do you prefer their earlier songs? 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: Get Lucky

June 22, 2014/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

South Korea might have lost to Algeria today at their World Cup game, but that doesn’t mean we’re not cheering and wishing them luck for their upcoming game against Belgium (Park Chu-Young, fighting!). So to continue the high spirits of luck, this week’s playlist revolves around that. Whether it’s wishing an ex-lover luck on their life, considering oneself lucky for having that special someone in our lives, or just having it, we’ve recompiled the luckiest songs in K-Pop.

If there’s one song that got the entire KPOPme staff excited this week, it’s BEAST’s Good Luck. Where do I even begin? The styling, the choreography, the song itself with its lyrics and beats… *sigh* Sheer perfection, I tell you. I can’t stop doing the initial dance move in the chorus –it’s applicable to pretty much any situation where you want to brush someone off with dignity.

Written by Junhyung, Good Luck is a break-up song where the guy still loves the girl even though she dumped him, and ultimately he’s left with nothing but to wish her the best. Even though the track is bittersweet (more bitter than sweet, to be honest), it’s a great dance tune to enjoy while doing anything. Like I mentioned before, we’re all obsessed with the song and it’s been on repeat all week!

–Alexis

When I first heard Super Junior-H‘s Good Luck, I didn’t realize that it was about dating. Based on the title, I thought it was some motivational song made for students, since Korean idols often do that. Once I learned more Korean, I realized it was a song being sung by friends trying to set up a couple who have had a hard time dating in the past.

Even though I may have missed the meaning behind the lyrics, Super Junior Happy’s song, (yes, the “H” is for “Happy,”) really cheered me up. The sweet melody starts softly and then goes up through the octaves, building up the meaning of the song, as if the Super Junior members were really cheering the listener on with each new verse of the song.

— Tamar

This song brings me back so many memories of watching my first K-drama, the little known cult-favorite Boys Over Flowers (I’m obviously kidding). Those romantic moments when Lucky by Ashily came up had me singing along to the song and thus addicted. However, the songs talks about a different kind of luck, being the luck of having the love of your life. And me being the hopeful romantic that I am, this corny lovey-dovey song gets me every time I listento it.

–Alejandro

Every time I listen to EXO-M‘s Lucky, I feel enlightened. This is a pretty sweet song, although I could stand without some of the cheesy lyrics, but Luhan’s voice makes up for it. What’s so great about this is that it shows the vocal talents of some of the rappers! While I enjoy their rapping, I also enjoy hearing them sing. I feel quite lucky to have been able to fall upon this piece!

–Thuc

Kim Hyun Joon’s Lucky Guy is an upbeat, fun song. The actor/singer doesn’t shy away from expressing how extremely happy he is when this woman comes into his life. The music video is fun while it goes between scenes of Kim Hyun Joong dancing and scenes of him interacting with this mysterious woman. But if you’re a fan of SBS’ The Roommate, the actress might not be such a mystery, for she is Hong Soo Hyun!

Throughout the video, Hyun Joong is clearly just living his life and having a good time throughout the video. Even in the end when he gets caught, he still has that ridiculously gorgeous smile on his face. The song may be titled Lucky Guy, but let’s be honest, Soo Hyun’s character is the lucky one.

–Tara

What’s your favorite K-Pop good luck song? Share it with us! 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 English Club In K-Pop

June 22, 2014/in Features /by Tamar Herman

Expats living abroad in the same country tend to bond with one another, and that’s definitely true about Korean idols who speak English. Whether because of similar work activities (like working at Arirang, Korea’s English language channel), or simply because they lived similar lives at one point, transitioning from Western society to becoming iconic Korean figures, English-speaking Korean idols are drawn to one another.

Even though these idols may not necessarily be the most popular ones in their group, fans from all over the world adore them and follow their SNS since English speaking idols are often more accessible than idols who only speak in Korean. With K-Pop growing popular around the globe, idols who speak English can play a real role in connecting directly with fans around the world. Imagine K-pop stars using the services of something like Effortless English Club to help improve their English! That would be so cool. There’s always that one member of K-pop groups that is fluent in English, so you see them speaking the most during interview.

And lately, many of them have been doing it in a very public way. English speaking idols have shown that they have friendships that cross company lines.

Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany and 2PM’s Nichkhun Dating

Do they speak English to each other when on dates? Not necessarily, but both idols lived in L.A. prior to becoming trainees at two of the biggest entertainment companies in Korea. Touted by their groups for their English language skills, both Tiffany and Nichkhun became some of the most popular idols abroad- they each have huge fan followings, partially due to their accessibility to international fans. At the time of their debut, a contact explained:

Since the two have known each other for a long time and are both from the States, it was natural for their friendship to go to another level.

Eric Nam, Miss A’s Min, Ailee, U-KISS’s Kevin, BTOB’s Peniel, f(x)’s Amber, and Royal Pirates’ James Played On Twitter

Eric and Kevin were celebrating Kevin and the Royal Pirates’ Moon becoming MCs of the show After School Club, and some other people felt left out. Ailee and Amber joined in and convinced Kevin and Eric to get fat. Ailee invited the Miss A dancer along too.

Min only studied in the US for a short period of time, but her inclusion in the English club makes sense. Kevin faces James a shout out, and then James started correcting peoples grammar. After that, Amber initiated on shouting out Peniel and he was initiated into the group of English speaking idols.

(Credit: Soompi)

Eric Nam, U-KISS’s Eli, and NS Yoon-G Also Tweet Together

The two solo artists and U-KISS members have shown time and time again on Twitter that they are on very good terms. Kevin and Eric work together at Arirang, and Kevin had a cameo in Eric’s Ooh Ooh, and the two have promoted one anothers songs on social media. Eric, Eli, and NS Yoon-G gained attention earlier this year for a set of tweets that revolved around the boy’s commenting on Yoon-G’s sexy concept for Yasisi. They playful thread of Tweets showed how friendly they are.

Again, is it because they all lived in English speaking countries for a time? Not definitely, but the shared language and experience definitely seems to have a role there.

Celebrating Min’s Birthday

Several of the English-speaking group came together this weekend to celebrate Min’s birthday. Eric shared the pictures on Instagram, once again proving how language has bound the group together.

There are countless other idols who have lived in English speaking countries- Solo artist and Super Junior-M member Henry Lau, Girl’s Generation’s Jessica and her sister f(x)’s Krystal, Jay Park, 2PM’s Taecyeon, Nu’Est’s JR and Aron just to name a few.

What do you think, are English speaking idols more likely to get along? Are you more likely to like them because you understand their language better (I’m assuming you are reading this because you speak English just as well as they do)? 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.

Can History reach success with “Psycho”?

June 21, 2014/in Entertainment, OPINION /by Tara

Loen Entertainment has made a name for itself by distributing music videos of famous Korean groups and artists. Aside from assisting with the distribution of new music, the company houses a few artists as well, under their artist label, Loen Tree. Sunny Hill and IU are under Loen Tree, along with label mate History.

Initially, in 2008, IU did not have much success when she debuted. It wasn’t until her follow-up album, Growing Up, that her name became known, and she became popular. Her third full-length album, Modern Times, was a hit from release, topping several music charts and programs. Although IU did not instantly become a huge sensation, she has developed into a great singer-songwriter; people absolutely adore her! Now it’s History’s time…

Let’s be honest, how many of you knew that History’s comeback will be their 3^rd mini album? Anyone? I sincerely hope that this is the mini album that will make History popular among mainstream music. Granted, they are competing with BEAST‘s recent comeback and many other well-known artists, but people just need to give History a chance. I thought their debut song, Dreamer was a phenomenal piece, but, unfortunately, it did not receive much commercial success.

From their debut, it feels as if History is a group that was together for a while, based on how well their voices compliment each other and how mature they all sound. These boys slay all harmonies; they are just so amazing! Their voices all suit each other so well and sound so smooth together. Their sound isn’t really mainstream at the moment, but that’s part of what gives History their pop. Their music sounds familiar, yet modern and new. I can’t quite describe it, but I know that I love it.

History is back again with their upcoming 3^rd mini album Desire. It consists of five tracks and displays elements of funk, jazz, swing, and other genres that are appealing to listeners. Hopefully, this will be the album where people recognize History’s talent so that their popularity could grow

Their title track, Psycho sounds like an ’80s anthem with the synths and bass. Let me tell you: I love me some ’80s anthems. There are only two teasers out, but I can already tell that this song is going to be on repeat for a while. As I mentioned before, History’s harmonies are impeccable, as are their high notes. There’s literally only 20 seconds of singing in each of their teasers, and the majority of the it is laced with harmonies. And that ending, with the creepy smile… This is going to be good.

The second teaser gives us a little more insight into the choreography and setting of the music video. It’s clear that the boys are in an asylum, because their love has turned into an obsession. The choreography looks like it will be pretty good. There wasn’t much given away in terms of dance, but there is a lot of touching each other on the neck and head area, as well as pushing each other away. There were a lot of scenes done in black and white, which I love for its artistic value in any video. Sometimes the simplicity of black and white just adds so much more feel and emotion.

History will release their Desire album on June 23^rd, along with their title track, Psycho. Just like IU, I hope that History’s popularity will rise. There are a lot of talented artists out there, but there are some who are just under the radar. History is one of those groups. Psycho could be the catalyst that catapults them into mainstream popularity. No matter the outcome, I will always be a fan of History.Are you guys excited for History’s comeback? Do you think they’ll gain the following they need to make an impact in the mainstream Kpop scene? 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.

Music Video Fashion: BEAST’s “Good Luck”

June 19, 2014/in Fashion, Style /by Alejandro Abarca

When it comes to BEAST‘s music video fashion, it changes for each songs’ concept. With their recent comeback with Good Luck, they nailed it with the styling. They really bring out the urban feel of the clothes and turn it completely into high-end fashion.

It’s already well known that throughout the past years BEAST reinvented themselves into fashionistas. They’re known for wearing the latest pieces by Givenchy and edgier Raf Simons, not only in real life, but also on their TV appearances and concerts.

Check out these cool articles around the web

But let’s get to the point: When I first saw the video, I got instantly drawn to the fashion. Not only is the song good, but the styling is impeccable. We have already seen the varsity-inspired looks in other idols like EXO, SHINee, BIGBANG, B.A.P., and many more, but BEAST took it to another level.

The guys are decked out mostly in Hood By Air Spring 2014 collection. There are other designer pieces here and there, but this brand stands out the most. The band was very well coordinated and every outfit showcased each members’ personalities. There are mesh jerseys, dress shirts with the number 69, shorts paired with knee-high striped socks and amazing tennis shoes.

Talking about shoes, which is one of my favorite topics in fashion, the boys wear a variety of brands, from commercial VANS and Converse, to high-end designer shoes like Rick Owens for ADIDAS. We also see Timberland classic boots that bring back the feeling of 1990’s hip-hop acts.

Many fashion houses around the world are being inspired by the 90s fashion. That particular era was full of sportswear, hats, and oversized clothing. The mixture of music genres also appeared in fashion, mixing hip-hop clothing with flashy pop dresses and grunge while creating unique styles.

Now, lets take a look at the video:

styling, I’m really fond of the varsity style. So this one is for all of our male readers out there. If you want to recreate a look similar to BEAST in Good Luck, here are some fashion tips and, if you want to shop the look, click on the pictures below:

Find a jersey or a shirt with numbers on it, put some gym shorts on (like the ones pictured below), find a cool looking snap-back, a faux leather vest, and the ever-classic creepers to get the look.

Which one was your favorite look? Let us know if you want to see more post like this from us. 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.

Did SM Entertainment Treat Kris & EXO-M Unfairly?

June 19, 2014/in Features, OPINION /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

Unless you’ve been living in an underground bunker, you’ve probably been keeping up with all the drama surrounding SM Entertainment and EXO-M’s former member, Kris. Was Kris selfish, perhaps wanting to pursue a solo career in China? Did SM mistreat him, his health, and his career? Whether you’re #TeamKris or #TeamEXO, everyone seems to question what exactly made Kris leave the group and company. With recent news of Kris’ new movie deal in China, the former questions seem to arise anew.

So, did SM Entertainment really treat Kris or any of the other EXO-M members unfairly compared to their Korean counterparts? Let’s take a look…

EXO-M was destined from its inception to focus its promotions in China, while EXO-K promoted in Korea. Both groups debuted with Mama on the same day in their respective countries and had great success on various music charts. However, they promoted together as 12 members throughout 2013 with Wolf, Growl, and Miracles in December, but were mostly split again for Overdose this year.

They were derp-ishly adorable!

It is news to no one who follows K-Pop that EXO’s popularity is rarely matched. Fans loved them through the teaser videos to the pre-debut songs to Mama and beyond. Their drama, CF, music video appearances, movies, emcee, and radio and variety show gigs were distributed mostly evenly for EXO-M members in Korea. EXO-K solo member’s activities far outnumbered their Chinese members because, as I said before, they were the ones geared to promote in Korea, not EXO-M. SM Entertainment has more leverage within Korea, so it makes sense that EXO-K had better accessibility to activities.

But in order to get a better picture of how EXO-M’s appearances were distributed between the members, take a look at these infographs:

[Disclaimer: Some appearances might be missing]

… And more specifically:

As you can see, Xiumin has the lead, but let’s not forget he has an upper hand on because of his fluency in Korean, due to the fact that he is, of course, one of EXO-M’s Korean member. On the other hand, the other Korean member, Chen, had more appearances than Kris, Lay, and Tao, but fell behind Luhan, a Chinese member. So, were these assigned fairly? Yes, considering lots of these were done with other M and K members in Korea.

Since those were individual appearances, let’s now take a look at the ones they did together as EXO-M:

The news about Kris terminating his contract with SM and thus leaving EXO broke in mid-May, a month after SM announced that Luhan would be starring in a Chinese movie. Among his alleged grievances for leaving the company, there was some mention of the EXO-M rapper wanting to pursue acting in China, and this request being denied by the company. Coincidentally, news broke yesterday that Kris will be working with Chinese director Guo Jingming on a “mysterious project.” Furthermore, news about Tao starring in Zhang Li Yin’s new music video with f(x)’s Victoria also broke today.

It seems the question about who’s really to blame – Kris being selfish or SM mistreating him– seem to confuse us more than clarify the issue. Was Kris jealous of Luhan for having acting roles? Is SM giving Tao minor acting roles to appease rumors of inequality among the members? Geez, this plot is better than any K-Drama I’m watching right now…

Whether Kris is in the right and SM in the wrong, like with Super Junior’s Hangeng and JYJ, or vice versa, one thing’s for sure: SM was not treating EXO-M’s appearances unfairly. They all seem to have had around the same number of gigs. As to why they weren’t as involved in China, I do not know, but SM is definitely trying to get the EXO-M guys out there more.

What’s your take on the whole SM vs. Kris debacle; who’s in the right? Share your thoughts with me, and let’s talk about it! 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.

Artist Spotlight: Neon Bunny

June 17, 2014/in Artist Spotlight, Entertainment /by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum

If we love K-Pop for its glitz and glamour, K-Indie takes a spot in our hearts for its more genuine and mellow feel. And considering that K-Pop is not even that popular in Korea, let’s take a look at a more coffee shop friendly artist of whom I love: bedroom pop princess Kim Yu Jin, more famously known as Neon Bunny.

In an international spectrum where K-Pop idols reign supreme, Neon Bunny stands out for her electro pop sound that’s completely foreign to the genre. Her 2011 debut album, Seoulight, set her apart from the mainstream dub step pop for her danceable guitars and synthesizers reminiscent of early French band Phoenix’s work. Critics acclaimed Seoulight, and it even won her the Best Pop Album award at the 2012 Korean Music Awards, where Yu Jin beat out IU. Some of the album’s standouts include Long-D and Can’t Stop Thinking About You.

Her following EP in 2012, Happy Ending, was heavily ’80s new wave influenced and delivered stronger messages with songs like Oh My Prince. Neon Bunny’s sound became more disco and therefore club friendly with more upbeat tempos than before, such as in Bubbles. You could say Happy Ending is trendier than her earlier work.

Neon Bunny laid very low after her Happy Ending success for a while, only helping out with bands Smells on Listen to your Heart and Demicat on Singing Bird. But the hiatus ended back in March of this year when she released the single, It’s You, produced by Demicat himself. And while an album or EP is still not confirmed, It’s You sufficed for us fans.

It’s You’s sound seems like Happy Ending’s continuation, embracing the retro synth and electro elements. You can see her progression since her last EP by noticing Singing Bird’s influence on the song, but still retains her individuality and signature voice. This song leaves listeners with high expectations of what’s to come from Neon Bunny in the near future.

How do you like Neon Bunny? Let me know, let’s fan-girl about it! 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: First K-Pop Listens

June 15, 2014/in Fans, Playlist Sunday /by KultScene

For this week’s K-Pop playlist, KPOPme’s writers did some soul searching and recalled the One. The first K-Pop song that they remember listening to, the first music video they ever saw. Most are extremely popular songs, trend-songs that still are entrenched in K-Pop’s history, but some are a little bit surprising.

If you remember the craziness that was 2008 and 2009 in K-Pop, there were a lot of trendy songs with addicting dances. So Hot, Nobody, Sorry Sorry, Gee… This was their time to shine. Somehow, even though I never really looked at the site, I discovered the Wonder Girls‘ So Hot on Perez Hilton’s site.

The addicting tune was catchy, but I couldn’t figure out what the heck was up with the bizarre leopard print outfits and comical circumstances in the music video. So Hot is hilarious but at the time I was turned off. It wasn’t until I heard 2PM’s 10 Points Out Of 10 a few weeks later that I started seriously looking into K-Pop, and realized how amazing the Wonder Girls actually are.

–Tamar

Gee, I think my first encounter with K-Pop was back in middle school. Yup, it was when I was standing in line to get some lunch when I heard some faint music. I looked around, asking people if they noticed the sounds as well, before the little whispering noises turned into a thundering song over the loudspeakers. It was addictive from the beginning, and I didn’t even know how to sing along! If you haven’t guessed it already, my first K-Pop song was Girls’ Generation‘s Gee.

Maybe it was the upbeat rhythm, maybe it was the cute vocals, or maybe it was the fact that I absorb music better when I’m hungry, but I was hooked. Upon finding out the title of the song, I stormed YouTube in order to find its origins and came across the bubbly group and their other releases. I think this was a pretty great introduction, for me at least, because it’s actually pretty fun to (attempt to) sing along with and (try really hard to) dance to!

–Thuc

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SHINee’s Sherlock (Clue + Note) was the first K-Pop song I ever heard. It was the summer of 2012, and I was on a family trip to Taiwan, when my sister and I turned on the TV in our hotel room and the music video for Sherlock was just beginning. My sister and I were immediately hooked. We grew up in the era of Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, so obviously we love our boy bands. Thanks to SHINee I’m a fan of K-Pop.

–Tara

Alexis was who first introduced me to K-Pop by showing me a few songs she had discovered, but the song that captured my heart, mind, and soul was SHINee‘s Lucifer. I got trapped the moment I saw Minho. Not only was the song fun but had amazing choreography. Being in love with boy and girls bands growing up, I finally found a band that could fill hole that had been gaping for some time.

—Alejandro

The first K-Pop song I heard was 2NE1‘s Can’t Nobody, English version. Since I’m very fashion conscious, the name brand dropping in CL’s opening rap captured me instantly. As I continued to watch the video and hear the song, I was instantly hooked by the music, visuals, and the fact that this girl group seemed completely badass. I’ve always loved good quality pop music and this was exactly it. 2NE1 is still one of my favorite bands to date and it’s all because of that one song that started it all.

–Alexis

What was the first K-Pop song you listened to that got you hooked? Share it with us! 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.

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