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Playlist Sunday: Rainy Days

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KultScene rain playlisyWe all know that rainy days can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how you view these things. Rain can mean that you cancel plans, but it could also mean that the grass is green and that the crops will grow, while playing around in sun shower is one of the best joys in the world. For this week’s playlist, KultScene’s staff picked all of our favorite rain-based Korean songs that help us get through all of the rainstorms in our life.

Super Junior’s ”Raining Spell For Love” from their ”Mamacita” album is one of my favorite songs by the SM Entertainment boy band. Starting off with a thunderstorm, the slow pop song is an emotional whirlwind that makes the most of Super Junior’s vocals and harmonization. After a rap by Eunhyuk, the song begins in earnest with Kangin, whose voice has always seemed particularly melancholic to me. With individual member’s singing, belting, and breathlessness before coming together in the chorus, Super Junior’s colorful, diverse talent really shines in the song, and the gentle sound, yet pounding beats, is reminiscent of a storm and really reminds me of the depressed feeling that many of us feel on rainy days. While the song has its depressing moments, the Korean title for “Raining Spell For Love” is actually “Love Won’t Stop,” and there are a lot of musically uplifting moments that keeps Super Junior’s song from being too heartbreaking.

— Tamar

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Usually, I try to stay as far away as possible from ballads. They are so profoundly dull and most K-pop groups don’t have good enough singers to really pull them off. I’m glad to say there are some exceptions, namely all of Brown Eyed Girls’ ballads. But for today, I’m going with 4minute’s recent “Cold Rain”. So not just rain but cold rain, cool right? This ballad stands out because of its unpredictable piano and vocal melodies. The piano glides up and down scales seemingly at random. It gives the song an edge over usually monotonous piano. The contrast of 4minute’s voices also help. Between Gayoon’s high pitch, Hyuna’s nasally rap, and Jiyoon’s power, there’s a lot of different tones to hear with just these three members.

— Joe

“Rain” from 2PM’s fourth album “Go Crazy” is an extremely interesting song. Although it is a ballad, it sounds nothing like it with Taecyeon’s rap, the constant drum beats, and vibrant instrumentals. I’m definitely not complaining, especially because the members’ vocals are enhanced and highlighted through this track. Another interesting point would be the lyrics of the song. Rain is often seen as something that is sad and most people would probably prefer to have sunshine. This song, however, is about not wanting the rain to end because that would also mean the end of a relationship. It’s surprisingly depressing, but in a lovely way.

— Anna

“Love Rain” is one of my all-time favorite K-Dramas, so when we picked the theme for this week’s playlist, my mind immediately went to the OST by the same name sung by the leading male Jang Geun Suk. Even if it’s an older song, it makes me feel all warm inside everytime I listen to it. Maybe it’s because Jang Geun Suk’s voice is incredibly delicate and tender, which contrasts incredibly with his usual characters, or maybe because I associate the song with all those sweet moments in the drama where the song would chime in.

— Alexis

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I’ve been lucky enough to have seen B.A.P perform “Rain Sound” five times for both Live On Earth Tours in 2013 and 2014. Surprisingly, the song took on a different meaning every time I saw it. I was able to notice the different facial expressions and subtle changes made by the B.A.P members each time. It goes to show that no matter how often a song is sung and performed, just like your feelings and mood, your behavior can also change. It’s like how the rain can too modify the way you feel; whether it’s the calming sound of the light droplets or the sudden rush of heavy rain.

— Tam

What’s your favorite rainy day K-pop song? Share your picks 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.

Playlist Sunday: K-Pop Clubbing Songs

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kpop playlist clubbing club songs

Summer, for some of us, means a break from school and even work. If not, it at least implies going out with friends and partying. Depending on the laws of the country you live in, you may even hit the club if you’re of age, or have access to one of the best fake id websites. And given that we’re all K-pop fans here, we’ve all fantasized about dancing to our favorite songs at the club or a party. That’s why this week’s playlist is about our favorite clubbing tracks that would make us all tear the dance floor.

When one mentions B.A.P, most people will recognize them for their heavy beats, inspirational lyrics, and powerful choreography. Some of their songs might be considered to be too choreographed or too lovey dovey; it’d probably never occur to you that they’d have a song fit to be played at a club. Of the many songs that they’ve released since debut, “Hurricane” is the most party-like anthem, from the consuming beat, to the accompanying scratch, which then leads to the dance break. If you needed more reasons as to why this song should be played at a club, just check out the music video for “Hurricane.” Starting from the flashy night-lights and different infrastructures in Las Vegas, to B.A.P’s loud outfits and lavish suits, it can’t be any more suiting then this!

— Tam

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These days, I’m not big on the EDM craze. However, a couple of years ago, I was riding the last wave of club-ready songs I was able and willing to stomach. Consequently, T-ARA N4‘s “Jeon Won Diary” was one of them. The song was a strong attempt by the group to stay relevant, and even if they failed, the song was one of the few new ones they released I could still enjoy post bullying scandal. I was able to like “Jeon Won Diary,” then and now, because even if it has your normal electro, thumping beats, it has a nice melody, interesting instrumentals, and a catchy, singable and danceable chorus. I mean, the why you hating? line is so infectious and daring and just… badass for a group who also has songs called “Lovey Dovey” and “Roly Poly.” Besides, the girls’ styling has never been more on point, prior or even after “Jeon Won Diary,” nor have they had a strong message in the lyrics. Seriously. Basically telling the haters to fxck off? Unheard of!

— Alexis

As 2PM continues to mature as artists, their fun and crazy side is starting to surface a lot more, especially through the song “Go Crazy.” When it first came out, it seemed to be a repeat of 2011’s hit “Hands Up,” but on second listen, it is more of a party anthem than “Hands Up” ever was. With its addictive and catchy melody, this song fits well with ridiculous and enthusiastic dancing and really gets you in the mood for a crazy time. It allows you to forget your troubles and inhibitions; to just loosen up and have fun. 2PM shows this perfectly through their hilarious choreography for this song and their enjoyment can also be seen in their various live performances during their promotions. The lyrics in the song fully encompasses the freedom of this song, with lines such as Go crazy, tonight, we are determined to go nuts. Just for one night, go all out, go crazy. To kick this up a notch, 2PM even released a party version of their original music video, which is full of clubbing, hangovers, and hallucinations that make it highly entertaining watch.

— Anna

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Let’s slow it down a bit and take a listen to “Komplikated,” fresh off of TVXQ‘s latest album, “Rise As God.” The solo track by leader Yunho is a pop-dance track that is filled with auto-tuned vocals and EDM elements, and perfect for a night of inebriated dancing. It has a futuristic sound to it, and is repetitive enough to get a gyrating feel going that’s perfect for swaying to rhythmically.

— Tamar

What’s your favorite K-pop club banger? Share your picks 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. Read more

Playlist Sunday: Foreign Language K-Pop Covers

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Playlist kpop foreign language vietnamese spanish chinese

It’s always fascinating to see artists singing in a foreign language that are not their own. Not only does it require a lot of practice, but also a lot of persistence and self-motivation. It can be rather difficult trying to learn lyrics to a song in a different language when the pronunciation of some of the words in that song doesn’t exist in your own native tongue. At KultScene, we decided to name a few of our favorite different language covers sung by K-pop artists.

How would you feel if one of your favorite singers sung a song in your native language? Thrill? Joy? Exhilaration? I felt all three and more when I saw the video of Chunji (from Teen Top), Key (from SHInee) and JB (from Got7) singing a cover of a Vietnamese song, “Yeu Lai Tu Dau”, at the recording of Music Bank in Hanoi. I was taken aback at their pronunciation, especially JB and Chunji. You can tell that they practiced extremely hard to remember all the lyrics and how focused they were on pronouncing everything to the best of their ability. On top of that, as a Vietnamese fan, it was rather breath taking at times being able to understand them and being able to feel the raw emotion, which is always a plus. If these guys didn’t have Vietnamese fans before the show, they sure do now!

— Tam

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Even though I strongly believe that music (K-pop in particular) transcends all languages and boundaries, it’s still nice when my favourite K-pop singers sing in my mother tongue. It gives me a sense of familiarity and makes me happy that I can fully understand what they are singing. During their last world tour in 2014, 2PM made a stop at Nanjing and it was during their concert there that Jun. K sang this amazing cover of a well-known Chinese song, “唯一“. It must have been difficult for him to sing this because of the language barrier, but he still tried his best for his fans, who immediately demanded an encore.

— Anna

When haters say that EXO can’t sing in English, what do they go and do? Wow us in Spanish. In a special stage for KBS’s Music Bank in Mexico, EXO-K, the Korean unit of EXO, performed “Sabor a Mi” live in front of 12,000 fans who were all singing along to the familiar tune. Though Spanish might not be my first language (or anywhere close for the matter), I was absolutely impressed by their pronunciation and by the way they were able handle a completely foreign song in its entirety. The boys rolled their R’s like a native and each member was able to contribute a fair amount to the song. Even member Chanyeol lent his warm vocals to the song in such a sure manner that I would never have guessed that he was a rapper line! And of course, the song would be no where near complete without Chanyeol’s soothing acoustic guitar accompaniment, making it the perfect lullaby to fall asleep to on a warm night.

— Shelley

Leave it to the king derps of Super Junior to turn a seemingly sexual song like “Eu Si te Pego” into a cheesy, goofy cover. Two years ago when they toured a few South American countries, they picked the Brazilian mega hit heard all over Latin America as the song to perform on that leg of the tour. While only Kyuhyun and Ryeowook sango most of the song, all of the members did the signature hip thrust move at the chorus followed by prancing — yes, prancing — and hand flopping around the stage as if they were bumblebees. It was the ultimate fan service, making ELF lust and cringe after them at the same time. And while Brazilian is not my native tongue nor can I speak it, I, for one, found it incredibly cute how they pronounced “delicia” as “delisha.”

— Alexis

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When SHINee toured in Mexico City with SHINee World III, I had the privilege to witness their funny rendition of the Latin classic “La Macarena” live in concert. Not only is this song in my first language, Spanish, but this one of the of most danced songs at every wedding, Quinceañera, and basically every party around the world. It became very popular in the ‘90s, and hearing them perform it gave me absolute life. Seeing Jonghyun with a zarape (like a poncho) and mariachi sombrero just made it even funnier. Everyone in the crowd was so happy and excited to see them having so much fun with this Spanish cover. This is definitely one of my favorite moments that I have witnessed in my life.

— Alejandro

Music Bank in Mexico is a mine of performances if you want to see idols singing in different languages. That is if you want to hear them singing in Spanish. But still it’s a novelty for any listener. Ailee’s performance of Tish Hinojosa’s ‘‘Adonde Voy’’ sticks out for me for a number of reasons. Mostly because unlike the rest of the idols she nails the pronunciation. That may be unfair since she is American but it gives her the edge nonetheless. More interestingly is the thematic undercurrent of the song being sung by Ailee. It is the story of an immigrant who misses her lover (or country) dearly. As Ailee herself is not a total native to Korea it makes for a more meaningful performace. The last reason is her voice. Wow.

–Joe

What’s your favorite foreign language cover by a K-pop artist? Let us know your picks 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.

Playlist Sunday: ‘Wonder’ Girls

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kpop playlist songs wonder girls superwoman

In honor of JYP Entertainment’s announcement confirming a comeback from one of the most iconic K-pop girl groups, Wonder Girls, KultScene is dedicating the Playlist Sunday this week to all of the wonder girls out there, whoever they are. Whether it’s a song about being a cool girl, female empowerment, or our favorite Korean female singers, they all make it to this KultScene curated list of wonder girls.

Kicking the playlist off is nobody but, who else? The Wonder Girls themselves. The group’s song “Tell Me” created a dance phenomena throughout Asia, but the music video for it is actually really empowering and features a literal wonder girl. Former member Sohee plays an average school girl who is secretly Wonder Woman and who rescues her classmates from bus accidents, perverts, and more. The song is a bit old school, but it’s one of the most iconic K-pop songs of the late 2000’s and we absolutely love it. It also introduced us to the fierceness that is Yubin for the first time, after HyunA left Wonder Girls.

–Tamar

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True wonder girls are girls who are independent and strong. They’re confident of their own abilities and do not require the approval of the people around them to go on living their own lives bravely. Miss A demonstrates this independence through the song, “I Don’t Need a Man”, which is dedicated to “the proud women who refuse to make easy-money, who don’t like to live on the money of their men or their parents”. The song is really empowering and with its catchy chorus also becomes one of our favorite Miss A songs.

–Anna

SPICA released their first american single “I Did It” and it was all about female empowerment. The song is all about doing everything for yourself not for anyone else and having fun with your friends. Musically, the song is very refreshing. It has that vintage brass feeling and the hip-hop beats make the song very modern. The track is very upbeat and it’s the perfect song to go out and party with the people you love. The vocals from the band are always impressive and hearing them sing in English was great. The chorus is super addicting and what’s more empowering than saying “I did for me”.

–Alejandro

Wonder Girls are the true and original superwomen in K-pop, whether it was by pushing the envelope sound wise or opening doors for other groups to popularize overseas. I’ve never been a big fan of this group, but even I can’t deny their greatness. When their songs are good, they’re good. And one of my favorites is “SuperB.” The Sohee and Yubin solo is all sass and attitude about knowing your worth. And even if it puts down other people, the track says there are different types of success and that it’s not for everyone. For them, however, it is.

–Alexis

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While Wonder Girls may be known for their many popular hits and dances, including “Tell Me” and, of course, “Nobody,” their B-sides receive much love from us too. Like “SuperB,” another great girl power themed song off of their second studio album “Wonder World” is “Stop!” It’s all about having respect for oneself and knowing when a guy’s interest is genuine. Despite what others say might say about someone’s character, your judgment is final so trust it! The track opens with a Western cowboy sound, but don’t let that fool you since that will quickly develop into a fun and loving pop song. Not only do the girls spread important messages that every girl need to hear, they also put out wonderful music while doing it.

–Shelley

What are your favorite ‘Wonder Girls’ song, from the actual group or figuratively? 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. Read more

Playlist Sunday: Favorite ‘90s K-Pop Covers

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kpop playlist 90s cover exo

Newer artists doing covers of famous songs by beloved artists of the past can be a tricky thing to pull off, not just in K-pop. However, why focus on the negative when we can just enjoy what we’re getting, new music by the artists of today that we like. That’s why for this week’s playlist we’re putting together a list of our favorite K-pop covers of ’90s hits by contemporary groups.

Although I was barely old enough to appreciate the good music at the time, H.O.T’s 1997 hit single “We Are the Future” is forever one of my most adored ‘90s jams. So when I discovered that their junior group under the same company EXO delivered their own contemporary take of the single, I seriously thought that I had hit the jackpot. For the 27th Golden Disk Awards held in Kuala Lumpur, EXO paid homage to their predecessors by performing a remix version of the song that stripped many elements of the original, such as the chimes and futuristic reverbs, and replaced it with some new sounds, like a piano melody which gave the song a bit of a cleaner feel. And while remixes can be risky business, EXO was still able to maintain the nostalgic boy band feel of the era with the electronic instrumentals and synchronized choreography. But above all, what I love about this cover is the vocals distribution. Members in the past who have largely gone unnoticed, such as lead vocalist Xiumin, were finally given solo parts and were able to showcase their talents, which I am sure fans are very appreciative of. The only sin here is that EXO has not released an official full version of the hit yet.

— Shelley

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What better way to pay your respects to those (idols) who came before you than to cover one of their most notorious choreography? With their polished suits and alluring visuals, the six members of B.A.P took the audience in a time machine when they covered Shinhwa’s infamous “Wild Eyes” on Korean pop music TV show, “You Hee-yeol Sketchbook” in 2014. There have been a number of idol groups, both male and female, who have covered “Wild Eyes” throughout the years; some were able to mimic the choreography pretty well, but lacked the intensity and charisma and vice versa. Whereas in B.A.P’s case, they evenly distributed their energy into both their singing and dancing. Although this may be wishful thinking, but it’d be pretty darn spectacular if Shinhwa were to cover a B.A.P song somewhere down the line. I would definitely pay to see that!

— Tam

Before I knew that H.O.T had originally made it, I was already in love with Super Junior’s “Happiness.” It’s one of Super Junior’s early songs from 2007, and when I first discovered it way back when, I was obsessed. The video for “Happiness” is tons of fun and one of the few prior to Kyuhyun joining Super Junior, so I particularly enjoy it because some other members get a chance to shine vocally (even though I do love Kyuhyun’s voice). The song is an amazing pick me up, and will cheer anybody up from a gloomy day. The Super Junior version of the remake is essentially the same thing as H.O.T’s original, but the two groups are so different that the remake is just as much Super Junior’s song as it is H.O.T’s.

— Tamar

I always found it weird that Girls’ Generation had a song titled “Girls’ Generation,” but assumed it was their manifesto or something. It wasn’t until much, much later that I learned it was a cover, and even more that it’s originally sung by Lee Seung Chul, a man. The song came back in 1989, and the girl group used it as one of their lead singles in 2007 for their debut album. The contrast between the two versions is stark, with SNSD making it uberly sweet, while Lee Seung Chul is a rock anthem. The girls tried to embody his persona by mock playing instruments as in a band, which they mostly pulled off.

— Alexis

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I always think releasing a cover of a classic song is a lazy route for groups to go. Even though pop music is not exactly the go-to for originality, it’s still frustrating that there are covers of songs only twenty years old. That being said, I did enjoy Red Velvet’s second single, a cover of S.E.S’s ‘’Be Natural.’’ The strange thing about it is that they did not change a single thing about the song. Usually, this would annoy me even further, but here, it’s not necessary. The song sounds thoroughly modern and at ease in today’s environment. Maybe tastes have come full circle and we are merely listening to the same music as back then. Whatever the reason, the song holds up. It’s the sultriest piece of lounge R&B you’ll ever hear. Red Velvet’s whisper sultrily over slinking guitars and horns. It’s probably SM Entertainment’s most outwardly sexy concept ever and the girls can pull it off despite being relative newcomers.

— Joe

What’s your favorite ’90s K-pop cover? 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.

Playlist Sunday: Girl Groups Covering Boy Groups

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boy group covers kpop

At KultScene, the predominant female staff has never tried to hide their biases for boy groups, but in an effort to be inclusive, we decided it’s time to give the girls some love as well. On a previous installment, we compiled our favorite boy groups covering girl group songs, so now is the time to make a playlist the other way around.

Newly debuted idol girl group The Ark has done a number of dance covers on their YouTube channel, but the girls looked like they were having the most fun covering boy group BTS’s Boy In Luv. Aside from their black and white outfits, which gave them an edgier look, their choreography was clean, and mimics BTS’s original version quite well, even with fewer members. A large portion of Boy In Luv includes synchronized choreography, while some parts are of the members jumping around and over one another; it looks like a fun song to dance to. It’s nice seeing a girl group covering a forceful song, one where they don’t have to worry about upholding a cute image, but rather showing off how well they can dance.

–Tam

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You don’t understand you guys… When “A.D.T.O.Y” by 2PM came out, it was my jam. And now with miss A delivering their own cover giving it a female angle for the JYP Nation One Mic Tour, it’s just beyond stellar. Even if it’s a breakup song and 2PM performed it with a lot of sensuality, miss A took it to a whole other level with their sultry voices and dance moves that extended the sense of longing in the song. The ladies of miss A are already sexy in their own right, but if they were to pursue this overtly sensual route as a concept, I’d be all for it! Sorry 2PM, but miss A beat you at your own game.

–Alexis

It’s no doubt that within the YG Family idol groups, Big Bang and 2NE1 are very close to one another. Naturally, this affinity would result in the brother and sister group to cover one another’s hits, offering their own respective flair in the renditions. This was the case in 2NE1’s take on Big Bang’s award-winning title “Last Farewell,” performed at SBS’s “Inkigayo” just a few months after their debut. It’s pretty hard to believe that during this time the four-member girl group was still considered a rookie group, seeing as how they absolutely owned the dance track. Leader and rapper CL was able to deliver the energy that was needed to fill up the barren stage with her nimble and confident raps that would even make her Big Bang counterpart G-Dragon proud, while the collective harmonies of the four work in adding a feminine touch to the song. The original club sound that followed a throw-your-hands-up choreography still remains in this cover, and the members genuinely look as if they are having a blast as they fiercely sing along to their label mates’ song.

— Shelley

It certainly seems like dance covers of 2PM songs are really popular among girl groups, because here’s another one! After School’s version of 2PM’s “Again and Again” adds a whole new charm to the song, with precise dance moves and vocals that are on point. The dance break in the middle of the song was the highlight of the performance for me, as their powerful dancing and flexibility were showcased. 2PM is well-known in the K-pop world for their dancing abilities, but After School rose to the challenge and nailed it, making this one of my favorite covers of all time.

–Anna

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2PM is a group that a lot of girls want to cover, and this collaborative performance of their hit “Heartbeat” is one of my favorites. After School’s UEE and former leader Kahi, 4MINUTE’s HyunA, and Former KARA members Nicole and Seungyeon took on the roles of 2PM for this hypnotic, puppet-like dance. Their dancing is up to par with 2PM’s, and their singing isn’t perhaps as mysteriously dramatic as 2PM’s but is a really nice take on the original song. Also, ignore the title that the uploader used. It’s not HyunA featuring the rest, but a collaboration.

–Tamar

What’s your favorite cover by a girl group of a boy group song? Share your picks with us 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.

Playlist Sunday: Ultimate Bias

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Do you remember who your first ultimate Korean idol bias was? Is it still the same person? No? Yes? Well, at KultScene, we understand it might be hard trying to narrow it down to a single favorite artist, especially with new groups debutting each day. However, we all have that one that triumphs over the rest of them. So for this week’s playlist we’re choosing songs from our ultimate K-pop biases because we can’t contain all our feels.

Let’s throw it back to 2002 when I first laid eyes on my first Korean idol and forever-ultimate bias, Eric Mun, from SHINHWA. Eric’s found a nice balance between leading the longest running Korean idol group, to showing off his charismatic acting skills. Not only is he the alluring leader of SHINHWA, he’s also a skilled actor and quite the prankster wherever he goes. Aside from his silly antics, there’s something about those sad puppy eyes, deep husky voice and manly built of his that continuously draws me in. Eric’s been talking about marriage for several years now, but nothing’s really come of it yet, which I’m fine with because I don’t think my heart is ready to let this 13-year-old love go. But when the time comes, I’ll let him go with an open heart. With this said, I have to go with Alright because he gave a great performance.

–Tam

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The first time I saw Jang Wooyoung (on TV that is) was in 2011, when he acted as Jason in Dream High. Back then, I took a special interest in him, especially as I started to find out about his group, 2PM, and listen to their songs. It was only after I heard This is Love, however, that Wooyoung became my ultimate bias. It may not be a very well-known song, especially compared to the rest of his solo releases, but to me, this jazzy and relaxing song filled with his silky vocals is a masterpiece that showcases Wooyoung’s growth both as a singer and as a composer. It makes me look forward to his future works, and I’ll definitely be supporting him all the way.

–Anna

He might have not been my first K-pop bias or even my favorite in Super Junior, but Kyuhyun is definitely bae now. And with his solo debut last year, this week’s playlist theme is the perfect opportunity to brag on my baby’s talent. Of course At Gwanghwamun is stellar, but it was his contribution to the recent drama Fool’s Love that gets my pick this time. ’Till I Reach Your Star is the main reason why I decided to watch the drama in the first place, and it being played at every other scene was the icing on the cake. The song is everything Kyuhyun is the best at: emotional, heart-tugging ballads. And even though he tones his greatness down, he still delivered a powerful performance.

— Alexis

If you ask me who my favorite K-pop star is, I may have a different answer every day, but there are two people I always go back to, and the first was Super Junior’s leader Leeteuk (The other is INFINITE’s Sungyeol, by the way). As a singer, Leeteuk is typically overlooked as a mediocre vocalist in Super Junior, but he’s the heart and soul of the group. His version of Huh Gak’s Hello from Super Show 6 gave him a chance to shine as a vocalist in a way rarely previously seen from him, showing a great deal of growth and improvement from a singer who had typically shied away from vocally strenuous performances.

–Tamar

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When I think of ultimate biases I always think of the idol that I most want to succeed and I have no doubt that that is Rainbow’s Kim Jaekyung. She is one of the only idols that so completely outshines the rest of her group that I feel sorry for her. Jaekyung excels at singing, dancing, and on variety shows. She is one of the most beautiful female idols working now and is multi-talented (check out her instagram to see the many things she draws and makes). If given the chance to go solo, she would nail every aspect and perform better than nearly all female soloists working right now. I always get the feeling that she genuinely enjoys what she does, and for me, that is most endearing. Unfortunately, Jaekyung has not had the chance to do any solo work that I know of, so I’m picking Rainbow’s To Me for my song. She particularly excels in the chorus wailing her lines to perfection.

–Joe

Who was your first K-pop bias? Share your picks 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.

Playlist Sunday: Mother’s Day

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With much of America (and KultScene’s writers) celebrating Mother’s Day today, we thought it would be appreciated for all of us to take a moment and call our mothers and tell them how much we love them. Then we looked at our playlists and picked our favorite mommy-related songs.

INFINITE’s ballad Omma (Mom) is a heartfelt confession by sons toward their mothers, apologizing for being difficult over the years and not always showing their affection and thanks properly. The keyboard and strings-based song describes the desire to say “I love you” more often, expressing the idea that this is something that many children don’t say outright to their parents but instead hope that they know. “Something that’s so common, but I was never able to say it before,” sings INFINITE. The song is made more beautiful during the group’s concert performances, when pictures of the seven singers and their mothers appear in the background.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: #CallMeBabyXWin: Korean Music Shows & The Songs That Win Awards

G.O.D’s To My Mother does a great job tugging on my heartstrings. It’s almost impossible to watch this video without shedding a tear here and there. The song talks about the hardships and obstacles the leading ladies in their lives endure and go through, while raising them on their own. Although the song is a bit on the more sorrowful side, it delivers a strong and meaningful message and reminds us to never forget to say our I love you’s to those who we hold near and dear to our hearts.

–Tam

Lee Sul Ah from K-Pop Star 4 made everyone cry, including the judges, with her original song Life As A Mother. The song talks about a mom staying up late to see his son come back home after a night. The song expresses every worry that a mom has and how at the end of the day they are always there for us. The song is beautiful and so simple but makes a big impact on everyone’s hearts.

–Alejandro

Since it’s not Mother’s Day where I am (Ireland), I’ve decided to go with something that has nothing to do mothers but has MAMA in the title. LC9 debuted at a bad time in 2013, right after many other boy groups with a similar powerful concept (B.A.P, Block B, etc.) had already reached popularity. LC9 were not promoted well enough though to follow in the success. It’s a shame as their debut album Skirmish and single MaMa Beat were excellent. MaMa Beat is a heavy slice of EDM hip-hop that features the musical equivalent of a circle (listen and you’ll get it). The vocal talent on display was impressive too, in singing and rapping. It even featured a pretty interesting video inspired by Street Fighter that actually showed some violence where so many others are afraid to. The violence is cartoonish but it’s still there.

–Joe

Also on KultScene: April’s Best K-Pop B-Sides

Even though it wasn’t among my favorites, I can’t deny the lyrics to Kisum’s song for the Unpretty Rapstar semi-final To. MOM was the sweetest ode to mothers everywhere. Even though the song isn’t much musically (or at least to me, anyway), the lyrics are super relatable to anyone who thinks their mom is the best. Of course the footage of Kisum’s mom actually being there and the legendary Insooni featuring on the track made it that more special, but the rapper’s sincere feelings shone through and could’ve also stood on its own.

— Alexis

What’s your favorite K-pop song dedicated to mothers? 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.

Playlist Sunday: Korean Idols We Want to Be BFFs With

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KultScene Playlist Sunday: Animal Edition

Do you ever sit there and think about what your life would be like if you were best friends with a Korean idol, past or present? It’ll probably be tough to narrow down since there’s such a large pool of interesting people in the industry. Here at Kultscene, we thought it’d be cool to put a list together of idols we’d want to share our secrets and be best friends with.

Fly to the Sky was one of the first Korean artists that I listened to when I first got into K-Pop in 2003. Not only was I drawn to their powerful ballads, but I also thought it was especially cool that one of the members, Brian Joo, was actually from the States. It didn’t occur to me, at the time, that Brian would turn out to be the clown that he is. Whenever Brian’s on stage, he’s a serious performer, granted, FTTS sings a lot of sorrowful love songs, but when he’s off stage, whether he’s doing interviews, on variety shows, or hanging out with friends, he’s a total prankster. He’s full of jokes and isn’t afraid to speak his mind, and he has major sass, which comes out full throttle whenever he’s speaking in English. As a best friend, I think his maturity and experiences would be of great guidance for me, due to the age gap between the two of us. I have yet to meet Brian Joo, but when I do, I’ll take it as the golden opportunity to ask if he’ll want to be my bestie!

–Tam

Also on KultScene: ‘Gangnam Blues’ Delivers Beautifully Gory Cinematography & Stellar Lee Min Ho Performance 

I may be in my mid-twenties, but that doesn’t mean I act mature all of the time. GOT7‘s Jackson would be an amazing best friend for many reasons. One, he can speak English fluently so we can quickly and easily communicate between our broken Korean. Two, Jackson is an extremely outgoing person who thrives of sarcasm and fun. And I’m all about sarcasm and fun. Three, he can introduce me to his members and all of the other JYP acts (2PM & miss A, I’m looking at you) and we can all be one big group of friends. In general, Jackson seems like a person you want around to help lighten the mood and create hilarious memories. I don’t have any problems treating him like a little brother either. Having Jackson as a K-pop BFF would keep me on my toes and enjoying everything we do together. One of GOT7’s songs that shows all of their goofy personalities, and especially Jackson’s, is in the last episode of Real GOT7 where they create their own music video for Follow Me. The actual music video doesn’t start until the end of the episode (22:55), but the whole episode is worth watching.

— Tara

2NE1 was the first group that got me into liking K-pop because of all the awesome, flashy clothes. As I got into the fandom, I quickly learned that CL was the ultimate fashionista within the group, K-pop, and the world. So, of course I would love being best friends with the Baddest Female, and that’s why I chose a song penned by her, Baby I Miss You. On this soulful track, CL left the confidence aside to let her vulnerability show, resulting in a sad ballad about a past relationship with a younger guy. We don’t really know if CL actually wrote this song out of experience, but it certainly spoke to me. Besides her high profile, I think CL and I would connect over our love for fashion, female MCs, and showing the world a hard exterior while actually being kind of soft inside.

— Alexis

As someone who doesn’t really have such a great sense of humor, someone immature would never be a really good friend to me. Someone who knows how to create laughter while still showing off seriousness would be an ideal friend for me, so I pick JYJ’s XIA Junsu as the K-pop idol I’d like to be friends with. Sweet, funny, with a good amount of severity in his personality, Junsu’s flamboyant and fun when he wants to be and serious when he should be. XIA’s Set Me Free featuring MFBTY’s Bizzy (check out our interview!) is about a man trying to forget his relationship, but feels like it could also be a message to me to let loose and let go of things a bit more easily than I tend to do.

–Tamar

Also on KultScene: ‘Twenty’ Is The Korean Coming Of Age Film That Will Make You Laugh Until It Hurts

When SNSD’s Catch Me If You Can was released, everyone came out of the rafters claiming delight that Hyoyeon was their favourite and they were so happy that she got more lines. I don’t believe you chancers for those chancers for once. I’m sure they’re all Yoona stans who just want to look alt for a moment. Hyoyeon was the first ever K-pop idol I was ever biased towards. I knew straight away she wouldn’t be the most popular member due to her lack of singing ability and being the ugly duckling of the group. I quickly started rooting for the plucky underdog which turned out to be not so hard at all. Her quick wit and dorky attitude are so immediately endearing and charming that I knew the Korean were so fickle not to worship her over the Yoona’s of this world. So Hyoyeon is most definitely my idol BFF and bonus it means I get to hang out with Min, Amber and all her other K-pop mates. I’m picking The Great Escape as my song because Catch Me If You Can is too generic and I’m not fully ready to accept a Jessica-less Girls’ Generation.

–Joe

Who would be your K-pop BFF and what’s your favorite song by them? Share your picks 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.

Playlist Sunday: Korean Competition Show Songs

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Big K-pop groups from big agencies get all the attention abroad most of the times. But in Korea, the songs performed by contestants participating in competition shows chart regularly alongside established idols and artists and are immensely popular. That’s why we’re dedicating this week’s playlist to the songs that came out of our favorite shows.

A lot of contestants go on these shows to sing and sometimes most of them do just strictly that, which is understandable since it is a singing competition and they’ll want to showcase their voices and any other potential talent that they may (sometimes, may not) have. But every now and then there’ll be a contestant who’ll not only blow the judges mind away with their heart rending voices, but they’ll also leave not only the judges but the audience as well, feeling touched, with tears in their eyes. Jung Seunghwan proved to be that person. Whether you keep up with Korean singing competition shows or not, I’m sure you’ve heard about or read articles surrounding K-Pop Star 4 contestant Jung Seunghwan. He became a hot item back in December for his rendition of I Want to Fall in Love originally sung by Kim Johan. It was my first time hearing this song and I had no idea what the song was even about, but Seunghwan delivered it with so much warm and raw emotion that it truly felt as though he wrote that song from his own personal experiences; he owned that stage. With so much artistry in his voice and presence, I know K-Pop Star won’t be the last time we see of him.

— Tam

Also on KultScene: Primary’s ‘See You’ Song Review

This year K-Pop Star 4 brought us incredible talent. The Top 10 was filled with completely different singers, but one of my favorites since the beginning of this season has been Lee Jin Ah. Not only are her piano skills wonderful but she has such an unique voice that moves people and make the judges go crazy every time she performs. Her original songs have witty lyrics that make you feel nostalgic about past lovers, friends, and childhood memories. For a special stage during the competition, Lee Jin Ah had a duet with Kwon Jin Ah from K-Pop Star 3, who is currently signed with Antenna Music. Both singers gave a rendition of two of the most celebrated tracks from Lee Jin Ah and they made an incredible performance. Both of their voices fit perfectly with each other and the crowd went crazy when Lee Jin Ah hit the melody for Slow Down Time, the first song she auditioned with and made the top spots in the Korean music charts.

— Alejandro

Bobby’s performance of L4L (Lookin’ For Luv) with Dok2 and The Quiett on Show Me the Money 3 was what made him an actual contender and threat in the competition. Because up until that point, the YG Entertainment trainee had skated his way through based on his idol popularity, but with this performance, he surely turned skeptics into believers. Following a series of losses, Team Illionaire, Bobby and his mentors Dok2 and The Quiett, decided they were going to go big or go home. That’s why they basically went all out with this performance. From the girls in tight clothes and dancing sexily to the catchy EDM beat to the exuberance of swag and, of course, the featuring of the mentors, they brought the house down. L4L (Lookin’ For Luv) earned twice as much money as his opponent, Olltii, Tablo, and Masta Wu of Team YG. This track is not only a winner because it eliminated team YG, but because it’s quite a jam.

— Alexis

Kihyun of upcoming Starship Entertainment group Monsta X is a vocalist who literally leaves his competition out of breath while trying to keep up with him. After less than satisfactory ranking in the beginning of No.Mercy, Kihyun proved his worth throughout the show and made the final cut to debut as a member of Monsta X, but to be honest it didn’t even seem like a question after his first debut mission performance of SHINee Jonghyun’s solo song Hyeya. During the performance, not only did Kihyun get to show the softness of his vocals prior to building up to a massive crescendo, but the emotion of his voice brought expressions of awe to the faces of the judges and the other trainees alike, even as those very same trainees knew that he was nearly impossible to compete with.

— Tamar

I don’t watch much singing competitions so I’m drawing from a small pool of songs here. I doubt, however, there would be much that could compete with my choice, Cheetah’s semi-final Unpretty Rapstar song Coma 07. The track is a raucous but straightforward enough piece of EDM to give the lyrics centre stage. It includes a beeping line throughout which acts as a heart monitor constantly following Cheetah’s every move. This parallels the lyrics of the song which are about a coma Cheetah was in. It’s at the same time a vulnerable outpouring of emotion and a defiant statement of her character.

— Joe

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Like Joe, I don’t watch any singing competitions. I would love to, but unfortunately my work life does not provide an ample amount of time for me to become invested in competitions and other shows. With that, I’m going to go back a few years to K-Pop Star’s inaugural season in 2012. Park Jimin was the shows first winner and she clearly has done quite well for herself. She is one half of the successful duo 15&, she has co-hosted After School Club, and she just recently released her solo debut album. Jimin’s charisma and pure talent are what brought her to the final of K-Pop Star and it’s no wonder she won the show. Her vocals are absolutely stunning and her English skills are impeccable, and her personality is friendly and goofy. She has it all! her performance of Adele’s Rolling In The Deep is the perfect evidence of the talent Jimin had in 2012. Now that she’s with JYP Entertainment and her voice has matured, she sounds even better. I can’t wait to see what else this talented young woman has to offer.

— Tara

What’s your favorite song out of a competition show? Share your picks 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.