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Playlist Sunday: Latin Sounds

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K-pop is a mixture of sounds found in all genres around the globe; nothing is too much or too little and it’s all fair game. That’s why we’ll often see songs with middle eastern sounds or Bollywood-like disco in some of our favorite hits. And for this week’s Playlist Sunday we picked a particular theme that encompases many genres from several regions: Latin America. Salsa, trova, merengue, you name it, K-pop’s tried it. Here are some of our picks that have Latin flavor.

Super Junior‘s 2014 comeback song Mamacita is the epitome of Latin-infused K-pop. Super Junior acts out a Western-themed cops-and-robbers mini-movie that is a bit analogous with the title and style of the song, but the smooth Latin beat of Mamacita works. The song’s complex Spanish-infused style is different from many of Super Junior’s pop-dance songs, but still has the catchy hook-chorus and an iconic dance for the ten members to dance. The music video is fun, the song is catchy, the vocals are great. What more is there to ask of Super Junior?

— Tamar

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The opening guitar and trumpet in FT Island’s I Wish immediately tell the listener that the song will have a different sound compared to other K-pop songs. The Latin music is used throughout the song and perfectly fit the style and feel of it. The pop/rock song utilizes the trumpet and acoustic guitar for a softer beginning of the song. After the chorus, which uses the rock sound, the music calms down and again uses the trumpet until the chorus comes back around. The Latin flare mixed with FT Island’s pop/rock sound creates an appealing song to listen to and sing along to.

—Tara

In the wake of Stellar’s semi-success with the controversial video for Marionette, many girl groups tried to recreate that magic. It was 4L who pushed this to the limit. The video for their song Move was not only a complete jack of Marionette, but was much more explicit and even included some lesbian scenes. Unnecessary lesbians aside, the song was actually great. It’s a surprisingly classy slice of tango pop. Guitars and accordion are the main melodies of the song and make for a steamy but sensual three and a half minutes.

–Joe

Despite the Latin American sounds dissipating once the singing starts, the opening of MBLAQ’s Oh Yeah is lead by a trova guitar riff that sets the tone for the flavorful song. Once Mir begins rapping, the guitar turns into a synth, but still playing the same notes. And while that might have been the only glimpse at a Latin American sound influence, Oh Yeah is a song you feel at the hips and chest, much like many other Latin genres. And who better to dance to a song like this than MBLAQ, a performance group formed under the representation of sex in human form Rain?

–Alexis

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SHINee‘s Señorita is one of my guilty pleasure songs. Key starts off the song speaking Spanish saying, “Damas y caballeros, amigo baila conmigo. Somos SHINee!” which means, “Ladies and gentleman, my friend dance with me, we are SHINee!” The song has a very catchy chorus and the boys sound very sexy saying “Señorita.” The song has a guitar that plays rhythms that are usually heard in Latin music and are very subtle in SHINee’s song. Their vocals are stunning as usual, making it one of my favorites songs from the group’s early days.

—Alejandro

What are some of your favorite Latin style K-pop songs? 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: Fairy Tale

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Everyone loves a good fairy tale and all of us here at KultScene are no exception to that. K-pop delivers with many fairy tale-themed and styled songs that are not only attractive musically, but lyrically as well. From the title of songs to the other worldly feel to the lyrics, K-pop provides us with a healthy amount of fairy tale songs to choose from. These are just a few that of those songs that we wish to share with you in this week’s Playlist Sunday.

EXO’s love song titled Peter Pan uses the Neverland story, but instead of Peter falling in love with Wendy, he is looking for his true love, the fairy Tinkerbell. Throughout the song, EXO lets the listeners know the story of Peter and Tinkerbell. Peter starts looking back at an old diary and reminisces about all the memories that he had together with the fairy, only to realize how much he misses her and loves her. Even if he is trapped in time and still a child, he is ready to become a man for her and be with her. EXO delivered a cute ballad with soft and beautiful vocals thanks to the group’s vocalists. With Peter Pan being one of my favorite fairy tales, I just couldn’t help but love this song.

–Alejandro

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With sweet, delicate vocals and an infectious electro pop beat, Neon Bunny’s 2012 song Oh My Prince sounds like a fairy tale in itself. However, the actual lyrics are another story. The singer uses “prince” to describe a guy’s negative traits rather than good ones, meaning a man who thinks he’s all that. Right off the bat, she disses the guy by telling him she doesn’t care what school he graduated from or what household he comes from, and suggests he tattoos it on his face given he’s so proud… you can imagine how the calling-out continues throughout the song. The use of the jarring lyrics and Neon Bunny’s sugary tone set a cool contrast that pokes fun at these types of guy. Because no, the idea of having a prince in your life or as your partner isn’t always a fairy tale.

— Alexis

Before Disney, L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz was the epitome of the American fairy tale, and Clazziquai’s Wizard of Oz puts music to dream-like quality of the famous story. Alex and Horan’s whimsical voices match with not only the famous story itself, but also with the hypnotic, poppy-induced tune created by DJ Clazzi. The song tells the story of how we all really live in Oz without realizing it, thanks to our dreams and adventures. The music video is also fairytale inducing; it features some of the most popular stars from 2009 including Kim Bum, Kim Ki Bum of Super Junior, Lee Yeon Hee, and Yoo Seungho.

–Tamar

In the hands of Ga-In fairy tales become a lot more adult and sexual than your usual K-pop fairy tale concept. If EXO are mischievous rascals as Peter Pan, Ga-In is a sexy temptress as Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell is about two Romeo and Juliet-like lovers who meet up at night for their fleeting but passionate sexaul encounters. Ga-In’s solo work is known for pushing boundaries, and Tinkerbell is the song that does this on her second album Talk about S. The lyrics are a great reimagining of a fairy tale with added maturity. The production is innovative and jarring. It sounds like she took the Latin guitars from Irreversible and cut out every second note. The pre-chorus is built around a strange vocal effect similar to the guitar. So if you’re looking for a more adult fairy tale, Ga-In’s your girl.

–Joe

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U-KISS’ Neverland is a fun song about a fantasy land where staying young and having fun are priorities. The beat on Neverland is club-ready and will make anyone feel young again. You can shout the chorus to the skies as you dance the night away wishing you were flying to Neverland. If it’s good enough for Peter Pan and for U-KISS it’s definitely good enough for the rest of us. The song doesn’t boast much lyrically or have any deep symbolism behind the words. Instead it makes us feel like a kid again as we jump around the room with the volume turned all the way up.

— Tara

What are some of your favorite Fairy Tale-themed K-pop songs? 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: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

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Snowstorms in the Middle East and Texas are not exactly normal, even in January, so this week’s Playlist Sunday is dedicated to everyone suffering from the unusual cold weather. Here are some songs that will definitely warm you up or remind you of the coldness in the world.

Even though it’s cold outside, ice eventually thaws. Nobody knows that better than TVXQ in Love In The Ice. The song is not only one of TVXQ’s most vocally impressive ballads from pre-2009 split, but relates feelings to the seasons; that narrator of the song sings about wanting to melt his lover’s heart that is frozen from past failed love. “A single ray of light will swoop down into the darkness,” sings the quintet, which can apply to both heartbreak and the dark, cold winter months.

–Tamar

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If you’re going outside in this terrificly cold weather remember to wrap up well like Brown Eyed Girls in the video for their song L.O.V.E. The warm feeling of this song will also help as you walk through bitter winds with your headphones on. L.O.V.E, like the majority of Brown Eyed Girls songs, is a masterclass in line distribution. Each member is perfectly suited to their parts and pull them off accordingly. They have some of the best vocalists in all of K-Pop with Jea’s showstoppers, Narsha’s falsetto and Ga-In’s huskier tones. Yet, Brown Eyed Girls are the type of group with enough range that they can let their rapper, Miryo, take the majority of a song like in L.O.V.E and it still be great.

–Joe

Eric Nam’s Melt My Heart is a very fun upbeat ballad that will surely melt your heart and keep you warm. In this track, Eric serenades a girl that he loves but it’s not part of his life anymore. Every winter reminds him of her, when the snow falls he just can’t help to think of her. He wants to know if this girl still feels the same as he does. Even though the song’s lyrics are sad, the track keeps a very happy beat. Eric’s vocals and cute looks will surely keep anyone warm specially if his serenading you in your ear.

–Alejandro

Akdong Musician’s Melted describes instances of cold, ice, frozen feelings, shadows, gray skies and more in a metaphoric way. Either way, the song and the music video portray people who are cold toward each other. The somber violin throughout the song lends to the feeling of being sad, lost, and confused. The duo’s vocals perfectly depict the characters’ (of the song) feelings. They sing, “If the ice melts, a warmer song would have come out. But why is the ice so cold? Why is it so cold?” In the music video, the old man’s drink in the beginning is full of ice as he looks out over the city. We then see his experiences as a younger man, and at the end, he finally found compassion and thoughtfulness from someone. As we flashback to the current old man, his ice has melted in his drink as he thought of the kind man who helped him. During these cold months, remember that there is warmth all around us in many forms.

— Tara

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Coldness is probably one of the best metaphors to describe an aching heart post break up, and that’s exactly what 2NE1 use in Missing You. The music video in itself evokes a cold and somber feeling by utilizing dark colors, and the styling is also winter themed. Also, the snowing throughout several scenes is the most explicit sign of coldness. The lyrics, for their part, talk about yearning over a past lover inspite of feeling negatively towards him. When Bom and CL sing in the chorus, “My cold heart is still missing you” we get a raw, heart wrenching confession of the complicatedness of the break up. Furthermore, the girls’ demeanor throughout the video is also cold and distant, as if trying to not appear sad and heart broken. All of this serves as the perfect metaphor of describing how a relationship turns cold when it meets its end and how the effect lingers even after some times passes.

–Alexis

What are some of your favorite songs that warm you up during the cold days? 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: Wedding Edition

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In honor of the recent K-Pop wedding of Super Junior’s Sungmin and actress Kim Sa Eun, this week’s Playlist Sunday is all wedding themed. While some of the songs on this list are bright, happy songs, we’ve also included some wedding-themed ballad songs that make us think twice about everybody attending weddings. Included on the list are songs by Super Junior, F.T Island, BIGBANG’s Taeyang, K.Will, and B1A4. You could even use this playlist at your own wedding. Lots of people forget that organising a playlist should be at the top of your list of priorities when it comes to wedding planning, as it really helps set the tone for the day, along with booking in your photographer because the best (visit olgatopchii.com for an example) are never available if you wait too long.

Even though the music video is several years old and outdated, Super Junior’s Marry U is a timeless song that asks the eternal question: “Will you marry me?” The thirteen members of Super Junior try to woo Girls’ Generation’s YoonA in the music video throughout the mid-tempo R&B song. The harmonies as well as the individual voices of the members really stand out in Marry U. Fittingly, now-married Sungmin is the first vocalist to sing following a rap intro.

–Tamar

What’s more appropriate for a wedding-themed playlist than a proposal song? F.T. Island’s Marry Me expresses the man’s point of view when he realizes that he wants to be with his love forever. The song talks about how they can do more things openly when they are married and how they will never have to leave each other once they vow to stay with each other forever. The lyrics are sweet, but the rock instrumental and Lee Hongki’s raspy vocals give Marry Me an attractive aura. If F.T. Island is proposing, especially in song form, I don’t know who would be able to resist that.

— Tara

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K Will is the master of the K-Pop ballad. Where most are dull and completely indistinguishable from each other, K Will offers something else. His always perfect voice, interesting instrumentation, and forward thinking ideas are what set him apart and would make him perfect as your wedding singer. Please Don’t is the highlight of his career for me due to its immediate easy listening and amazing music video. In it, Seo In Guk plays the conflicted best friend of a man who is about to be married. The video makes it seem like he is in love with the bride to be, Sistar’s Dasom, but in the final shot we see he is actually in love with his best friend. Not the bro kind of love either, real love.

–Joe

Weddings can sometimes be the end for some people. In Taeyang’s Wedding Dress he tells the story of a man who knows that his loved one is getting married. The thought of letting her go has him thinking about all the times they had together and how he could have been the one she married. This song showcases Taeyang’s style and amazing dancing abilities, and it’s one of his staple songs. The R&B ballad may not be the conventional wedding song, but whenever I think of a wedding song, this comes to mind.

–Alejandro

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Even though this song is not about marriage per se, the lyrics are hardcore romantic, so it would be weird for it to be for a regular girlfriend. Plus, and most importantly, it’s the OST for the show We Got Married global edition, where K-Pop celebrities are paired with foreign ones for a virtual marriage. Sunshine by B1A4 is so cheesy, with its lyrics and sound, that you can’t help and smile a little bit (or a lot) when you listen to it. The song, as the chorus says, basically says the girl is his everything and he loves her.

–Alexis

Playlist Sunday: Danger

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KPOPme’s Playlist Sunday series features different themes, and this week, we picked a single word to describe these songs: Danger. Every once in a while, we all feel it, a sense of danger.

This summer’s releases from BTS and SHINee’s Taemin were both called Danger, so there was no avoiding this week’s theme. In addition to the two recent releases, KPOPme‘s staff included songs by 2PM, f(x), and BoA that aptly fit into the theme.

Being a die-hard Shawol, I got very excited when SM Entertainment announced that Taemin from SHINee was their next artist to get a solo album. ACE is the name of his first mini-album, and his first single, Danger, was the perfect track for Taemin. He has always been a fan of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, and I love how this songs and video is almost like an homage to him.

The song has a very cool beat, and there are different genres mixed in that create a very unique sound. We all are used to see Taemin as the cute maknae from SHINee, but here, he gives us a very cool bad boy image. His incredible dancing talent really makes the amazing choreography shine, and you need to see the live stage for this song to fully appreciate it! The “Bbam, bbam, bbam” part is very addicting. And as he says in the song “It’s my showtime,” and it definitely is. Taemin’s time to shine is here.


—Alejandro

Continuing on with the theme for the week, my choice is BTS’ Danger. The boys perfectly continue the theme from Intro: What Am I Yo You as they explore more of their relationship woes in Danger. The song begins will a somber piano and a haunting chorus, and then, all of sudden, we get BTS’ hip-hop with some beat boxing.

The song is calling out their so-called girlfriend like no one but BTS can do. They hit hard right from the beginning with Rap Monster’s hard-hitting rap, and Jungkook adds some verses as well. It then goes into Jin’s gentle vocals, as the builds throughout Jimin’s part, and then we get the hook/chorus, the meat of the song, with rock-inspired instrumentation. At first listen, Danger was not what I expected. But as I listened to it a second time, the song grew on me immensely, and the video shows off BTS’ amazingly in sync dance moves.


– Tara

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f(x) definitely was in danger when they released Pinocchio, as they fell victim to the throngs of love and fascination with their sweetheart. The song’s title seems to refer to their inability to confess the truth of their obsession with their love, and that’s quite a dangerous situation. Besides the meaning behind this song, it’s quite addicting and just a great listen, especially if you need a quick picker-upper for your day.

The music video might not make that much sense, but the dance is really fun! It’s not the most difficult choreography, especially in the chorus, so it’s an enjoyable experience trying to follow along. While the fashion styling was a little interesting at some parts, the ladies still rocked this concept and it’s one of their most iconic songs.


–Thuc

Taking the danger concept a little further, what about dangerous people and situations? This week, I picked 2PM’s Dangerous out of their album Grown, which showcased a more mature side of the guys than in previous releases. Dangerous talks about how much they want a girl, and how this desire is, well, dangerous. .

The track is an easy listen not cluttered with over-produced sounds. It complements the guys’ vocals and image perfectly –that whole tough guy with a soft heart concept, that is. I definitely enjoy this song when I want something more calm than, say, Hands Up.


—Alexis

In celebration of her tenth anniversary in 2010, BoA released her album Hurricane Venus, and on that album is one of my favorite BoA songs, Dangerous. The electric style of the song was conducive for the singer to show off her amazing dancing skills. With a heavy beat, BoA’s throaty voice declares how she learned from her “dangerous experience” with a guy.

BoA exudes power during the performance, with her dance moves being both feminine and powerful. The song is heavily auto-tuned, but with solo artists, it’s usually easier to tell when someone is singing live. That’s the case with this performance; BoA’s live singing feels almost electric, as if the song’s style is just meant to meld with her voice. When people say that K-Pop’s girl groups are just sexy or cute, BoA’s Dangerous definitely make it clear that female singers can perform just as powerful stages as any male idol.


—Tamar

What’s your favorite danger song?  Let us know in the comment section below. Don’t forget to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, andBloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.

Playlist Sunday: Love Edition

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When it comes to love, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t come in a packaged, conventional way. No; love has many shapes and forms and can’t be restricted to just one definition. It can be big and boisterous for a higher power, or small and growing for a significant other. For this week’s playlist, we chose songs that talk about overall love, whether it’s love confessions, feeling desperate over it, or just embracing and rejoicing it.

After seeing BTS at their free showcase, Show & Prove, in Los Angeles this week, they became my current obsession. So naturally when I found out about the theme for this week’s playlist, I automatically thought of their song, Boy In Luv. This is one of my favorites from BTS; it’s cute, but it still showcases their tough side. The beginning is the part that I love the most: telling the girl “I want to be your oppa” is just too cute coming from them. They are in love with a bad girl, and they don’t know what the girl wants or what to do to be with her. Poor guys; the girl just keeps playing and teasing them! The music video is very fun and has the group looking very cute and sexy with school uniforms. Get ready to get addicted to the song’s chorus; it’s very catchy.


–Alejandro

Ailee‘s Evening Sky isn’t a typical love ballad about a couple; her composition actually brings up her faith and devotion to her religion and God. While that isn’t a romantic sort of ordeal, the song is still a wonderful example of another kind of love that can exist. She showcases her beautiful voice and amazing control in this piece, as she goes from soft and soothing to powerful vocals seamlessly.

Her lyrics are also extremely poetic, as she struggles with keeping a personal attachment to God despite sharing the faith with many other people. Even if you look past such allusions, it’s not difficult to see that this is a sweet song of adoration, confusion, trust, and acceptance. What else do you need in love? You don’t have to be religious to enjoy this, and that’s just another reason why I picked Evening Sky for this week’s playlist.


–Thuc

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One of the most tender songs I’ve ever heard is Falling In Love With A Friend by Beige, featuring Super Junior‘s Ryeowook. Although it’s a featured song, the two really are collaborating, singing each part of the couple that’s struggling to make the jump from being good friends to something more. The confession itself is beautiful, depicting the nervous anticipation of friends who have reached this point.

Rather than being a slow, soft ballad to depict the anxious emotions, Beige and Ryeowook’s duet has an upbeat melody that helps portray the happy feelings of each other as they realize that they want to be closer. The music video is also well done, partially being a behind-the-scenes look while the two recorded, but it also features the two as friends in circumstances where they bond and grow more fond of each other. All in all, it’s an adorable song about reaching out and confessing to your beloved.


–Tamar

I don’t remember when or how I first heard 15&’s Can’t Hide It, but, from the opening lines, I immediately knew this would be on repeat for a while. The chorus of the song is mostly in English ,and the girls sing “I’m in love” throughout it. I’m in love with this song! Can’t Hide It is a perfect spring and summer love piece.

The beat and music is reminiscent of ’90s and early ’00s R&B. Jimin and Yerin’s voices are perfect for this genre. The ladies’ power vocals carry the notes effortlessly, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s always on my car playlist, and, every time it comes on, I blast it and sing along enthusiastically. I have to admit that I try to convince myself that I sing as well as the talented duo (which I clearly don’t). These girls own their live stages, too, which is amazing. If you haven’t heard Can’t Hide It, then I suggest you listen to it and then go buy it; you won’t regret it, I promise!


–Tara

Earlier this week when watching ASC After Show, Eric Nam and GOT7’s Jackson and Mark danced to their song, I Like You. I instantly had it stuck in my head all week. The backup vocals repeating nan niga joha, niga joha had me doing the elbow swaying dance as I jammed along. Some people in my household (who will remain unknown) said that it was annoying, but I love it! I dig that all the boys got to showcase their talents –Yugyeom, Mark, Jackson, and Bam Bam with their fierce rapping while Jr., JB, and Youngjae with their powerful yet soothing vocals — to the max. I Like You is the boys’ love confession to a girl, complimenting her on everything they like about her. It kind of made me draw parallels between this track and One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful. I listen to it while driving or writing (or pretty much all the time). The music doesn’t overpower their vocals, making them the true stars of the song and not just the producer.


–Alexis

What’s your favorite K-Pop love song? Let us know in the comment section below. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter,
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