Visual: Chanmi - Miniskirt
Before Hyejeong, Choa, and Seolhyun dominated with their visuals, there was Chanmi. "Miniskirt" was the first AOA song I discovered (bless) and Chanmi was beyond gorgeous in this MV. Her eyes are sparkling (even though I couldn't find a good still of her from the MV on Google) and although she may have changed her hair color soon after for "Short Hair" she still stuns in black. Glad she stuck with that over the years. Chanmi remains underrated for her looks due to the tough competition with other members.
Dance: Eunhyuk - Bonamana
I've never been a dancer, so it's fairly easy to impress me. However, back in the day this was even more true. The choreography to "Bonamana" was really the first song that made me want to learn it. More specifically, that dance break was nice and Eunhyuk was the center of attention for it. While that's to be expected given his position in Super Junior, the Kpop newbie in me simply saw a sick dance and he was in the middle. Despite lacking in comparison to recent dances, it still stands out even when I look back at it.
Variety: Yerin - Running Man
What makes Yerin's appearance on Running Man so impressive is that she was a rookie. I remember being surprised that she and CLC's Yeeun got to the show in the same year they debuted. Not only that, but Yerin and GFriend debuted in January 2015 and made it to Running Man less than two months later. This was also before they really blew up from the slipping performances which makes this all the more impressive. Anyway this was a great episode but Yerin did not shy away from the spotlight, and her dancing segment is one of the most memorable moments for any Kpop idol in Running Man history. 10/10.
Vocals: Zion.T - No Makeup
Unique voices are the easiest ones to impress. That's why Zion.T's first appearance on my Kpop radar makes this list. Prior to his showing on Gaeko's track, I had only heard murmurs of Zion.T and never experienced his soulful voice (partly due to laziness and partly due to simply not caring enough). But the hype about this guy is deserved. Granted he's still not a heavy presence in my library but that's bound to change once I have more time to filter and update my music.
Rap: Yubin - I Dance
Other than Erin in "Wild," Yubin's rap break in Ivy's "I Dance" is one of the single best rapping efforts I've ever seen. Those two raps are what all other girl group rappers should aspire to be where appropriate, of course. The thing is, Yubin might have been the only member that made this rap so good. Only other rappers like D.ana could've pulled this off with their voice. The power, speed, and technique is all there and Yubin makes this a difficult rap to forget because of how good it is.
Vocals: Ailee - Reminiscing
Anytime Ailee takes the stage, you know your ears are about to be blessed. I've enjoyed most of her material but "Reminiscing" is something else. Whatever she's doing with her voice throughout this song, I love it. Those runs are beautiful and like Yubin above, I don't think there's another singer that could do what Ailee does in this song. She has wonderful pieces like "Heaven" and "Insane" in her resume, but this is another noteworthy addition to her library.
Haha, did you really think I was gonna talk about a male visual? That will never happen in a million years. FIESTAR is full of beauties and while Jei isn't one of my favorites, in "You're Pitiful" nobody else commanded attention on the screen like she did. Her small face, doll-like features and pretty smile separated her from the rest of the pack - and is a trend that has continued since. So long as her group does the more mature (read: not pop) concepts, Jei will stun all audiences.
Rap: Bobby - Born Hater
Most of these entries have not been about first impressions, so I'm okay with talking about Bobby here. He and Mino were really impressive and the fact that they were included along with greats like Tablo, Verbal Jint, and Beenzino is worth applauding. Bobby has an aggressiveness to his rapping style (with the growl that isn't all too common) that makes for great delivery and flow. Of course his background and experience certainly helps with that but that doesn't take away from his showing in "Born Hater."
Dance: BoA - Only One
Truthfully, I could've listed any BoA dance track and that would suffice but I chose "Only One" because I feel the song was a perfect fit for what the choreography presented. Or is it the other way around? The dance is engaging, mesmerizing and well-paced for my non-dancer mind, and everybody loves a good couple dance (segment). All the more striking is that there aren't too many other dances with the same setup. Taeyeon's "Why" is similar but still utilizes girl backup dancers who are absent here.
Variety: Heechul - Knowing Bros
Kim Heechul simply doesn't give a fuck. If that wasn't already readily apparent with Super Junior, his Knowing Bros moments are a constant highlight reel of him being savage and roasting everyone in sight. From actresses to S.M. hoobaes, nobody is safe from the wrathful words of Heechul and it's downright hilarious watching (listening to) these exchanges. His ability as a host or MC is going to serve him very well if he continues to work in the entertainment industry post-Super Junior.
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