Another Late Report, yay! Hope you weren't used to the August edition and the extra credit there, because this month has slimmed down considerably and is more in line with other previous installments. Wonder what is in September's grab bag of goodies.
Presidential BTS
Really seems like BTS are doing some groundbreaking worth every month or so. Granted I haven't really listened to any of their recent music, but still. To get a letter from the president is pretty rad - doesn't matter if you follow, love, or hate them. They really are on another level by this point, and not even the worldwide pandemic has been able to slow them down in any capacity. Scary shit.
Choa - Girls Like You
Amidst all the depressing news revolving AOA (and the rest of the world), it's nice to have some good show up. Choa has been out of the spotlight for a while now and I'm glad she is back. Her voice is delightfully refreshing and this Maroon 5 cover does a great job of that. This should be a slow but steady return to at least singing in the public sphere for her. Welcome back, Choa.
Happy Brthday my queen. Turning 31 years young and still killing it everywhere she goes. The new song "Happy" looks like it'll be yet another twist on Taeyeon's superstar vocals. Can't wait!
This is also a PSA that I'm gonna be out for a week, heading to Los Angeles to travel and hopefully catch the coronavirus or something. By the time this post is live I should be in the air. Might be able to upload some cheese or simple reviews during my stay but if nothing new gets posted you now know why. Perhaps I will purchase some authentic merch while in Koreatown. Enjoy your week all the same.
February has come and gone, now we head into March. This was one helluva month, with comebacks galore and an extra 29th day to boot.
Everglow - Dun Dun
Dun? Done? Dumb? Which is it? I think it's actually a mixture of all three, but you can imagine my confusion on first listen. "Dun Dun" is Everglow's latest project and probably their most well-rounded of their three tracks so far. Thus, it's the one I like the best even though I'm not entirely sold on them yet. Everglow's trademark appears to be exhilarating dance tracks with impactful choruses that are loaded with lots and lots of energy. But for me it's the little things like the sly harmonies of each chorus that edge out "Adios" and "Bon Bon Chocolat." Aisha shows promise as a rapper with her voice and flow, I'm excited to see more of her.
Yezi - My Gravity
Hang on, this is Yezi...singing. What timeline am I in? Don't get me wrong, this is a gorgeous display of her vocal abilities, I simply was not expecting said display. This is the same girl that raps like a crazy dog and had a badass attitude on Unpretty Rapstar. The sheer surprise factor of how "My Gravity" is a ballad made me forget how I tend to really love the idols who are multitalented and Yezi is certainly showing she wants a place on that list.
Last year, the Best Of 2018 post was released Christmas Eve on which I worked. This year's Best Of 20XX will be released on Christmas Day. Can you guess if I worked yesterday? Hope you said yes because I'm drowning myself in alcohol over the next few days. These are my picks for the top tracks in 2019. Remember, it's just an opinion bro.
#10. Taeyeon - Blue
Starting off with a B-side? You goddamn right I am. Taeyeon has made more progress to her career this year, but none better than this somber and soothing ballad. Don't get me wrong, "Four Seasons" and "Spark" are both excellent additions and showed yet more of her brilliant versatility. Combined with her Japanese release "Voice," they make for a fine 2019 trilogy. However, the simple beauty of "Blue" rises above the rest. It definitely feels weird to have a B-side on the Best Of 20XX series but hey it's been done before. Hell, I'd argue that it's kinda surprising that none of her title tracks were better, though that may be because of her high standards.
#9. Mamamoo - Gleam
Mamamoo have had a year of ups and downs. Activity and popularity-wise they have been rolling, but between "gogobebe" and "Hip" nothing has really knocked my socks off. Then I remembered that they released "Gleam" which was more a promotional CF of sorts kinda like "Woo Hoo" was for some Samsung phone. The fact that it's an ad for (sun)glasses makes it better. It's the most polished Mamamoo track despite "Hip" being solid thanks to its simplistic nature. Shoutouts to the bowling alley dance floor. First a B-side and then a promotional song, what a weird start to this year's best.
The queen is back. Taeyeon has returned with a new album "Purpose." If I was a true fan, I'd go and review the entire album but I know myself: I'd try and give up halfway through because I'm a lazy piece of shit. To that end, here we have the title track of this album, "Spark." Because I'm true Taeyeon trash I exposed myself to the music video teasers (and highlights from the album, too) so I was feeling pretty good about another solid Taeyeon release. Here's what I think.
It'll be tradition to post a Best Of the year at the midway point because I loved the idea that some songs would start strong early and then falter off, or new challengers would rise up during the second half. In the 2018 edition four of the nominees would go on to make the final list at the end of the year so let's see if 2019 can do better. Compared to last year, I haven't paid as much attention music-wise because I've been busier (though blog production is the best going into July over the last three years) but I'm pretty comfortable with my list. This time we'll go in alphabetical order by artist, to prevent bias when I reference this at the end of the year for Best Of 2019.
Chungha - Gotta Go
Oh look it's Chungha again, back so soon? "Gotta Go" is the pinnacle of her solo career thus far, showcasing her wide range of vocals, enchanting choreography, and gorgeous visuals. She struts her stuff from start to finish and the fact that it kept improving off her previous releases makes things even better. Extremely consistent, excellent composition, and stellar aesthetics make for a well-rounded track out of this well-rounded artist.
GFriend - Sunrise
This entry is a painful reminder I need to finish the next iteration of Girl Group Power Rankings seeing as GFriend is coming back very soon. Nonetheless their "Sunrise" was a perfect way to start the Kpop year. The main selling point of this song is the chorus, which is once again spearheaded by their two-headed vocal monster in Yuju and Eunha. Said chorus is exhilarating and climbs in both the notes and energy, something which you'll see from another girl group later in this post. Between the strong team performance and beautiful structure of the song, "Sunrise" is yet another addition to GFriend's repertoire.
Hold up, what universe are we living in? I had to use this performance instead of the MV because (a) when has SM ever promoted concert material? and (b) I simply love watching Taeyeon perform. Yes the music video was artistic and timeless - her bangs look was really taking me back to my early Sone days - but her mannerisms and expressions in the live are too lovely to pass up on.
Taeyeon is still the best Kpop girl. May her reign continue to be prosperous. Hopefully by March's end those patient Girl Group Vocalist Power Rankings will be released so she can maintain her throne at #1.
After the unofficial prologue of the previous post, it's time for some more teasing. I've picked five songs which barely missed out on being in the top 10. These will be unranked, and only have brief notes about each selection. There's absolutely zero reason why previous Best Of 20XX posts never included the music videos so I'll be remedying that starting this year. Here are the songs that almost made the cut.
Taeyeon - Fine
"My Voice" assembled many superstar tracks together, and leading the charge was this song. "Fine" is probably the strongest of her title tracks up until now. It's not a pure ballad / lullaby like "11:11," nor is it the dance number like "Why." Since she has many beautiful moments in this track across her vocal range, "Fine" was a lock for the top songs, and her appearance here as a solo act previews what is to come in tomorrow's reveals.
Rather than make another Best Of B-Sides installment and having to refer to the list of ineligible artists, I figured I could use this one to highlight some B-sides that were some of my favorites of the year. It'll keep things recent while still providing some quality tracks that will segue nicely into next week's post about the best overall songs of the year. Treat this almost like a prologue to the Best Of 2017, if you will.
Primary - Drama (feat. Sunggyu)
Primary always drops amazing music. Even though they always trigger me because the featured artist is the only singer, I can forgive them for the quality songs. What's up with releasing half of a music video though? They did it with Solji, too. Anyway Sunggyu rocks "Drama," his voice stretches all across his range in this song and works very well on either end. Sunggyu has historically been great at conveying emotion when he sings, and that's evident throughout Infinite's discography and any collaborations like this one. With a group comeback in the work (sans Hoya) it'll be good to hear his voice some more.
Taeyeon - Fire
This is the best song with the title of "Fire." Get at me 2NE1 and BTS. Anyway "My Voice" is one of the best albums of the year (surprise) so it's not surprising to find the tracklist extraordinary. Much like Sunggyu in "Drama," Taeyeon runs her voice everywhere and sounds wonderful doing so. What's special about "Fire" is that the chorus comes in super fast: 35 seconds in but the song as a whole never feels rushed. That bridge is therapeutic, too. I'd love to hear like a heavy rock variation on this piece, or even with just a heavier drums influence.
The finale to the Best 201X Revisited is probably premature, considering we're only barely halfway through 2016, but I committed to it and wanted this one written before anything like a Best Of 2011 so here's another look. Unlike other installments, I'm pretty satisfied with my 2015 set (and part of that is certainly due to the shorter time between revisions) so there are relatively few changes across the board. With the said, it'll likely prove difficult to write anything substantial about the songs that I didn't already say before in December. Still, we'll give it a go and wrap up this series today.
#12. Big Bang - Loser (-2) Original: 9MUSES - Hurt Locker
Simplicity is key, and Big Bang capitalize on that statement with the quiet and calming track that is very much the successor to "Blue." However, while no one can question the quality, it simply loses out to other songs based on their general noise and energy. When you need some relaxing tunes, or want to emo out for a bit, "Loser" has your back. "Loser" falls to 12th not because it's a loser - it is very much a winner, but because it's the most boring song on the list.
#11. Mad Clown - Fire (NEW) Original: IU - Twenty Three
Honestly, Mad Clown has some transcendent stuff. He has a pretty unique flow and his voice can sometimes be grating, but it's never really turned me away from his music. With "Stupid In Love" having placed him on the radar, Mad Clown joined forces this time with the less known Jinsil for "Fire." Jinsil has a sultry seductive voice, which is a pleasant counter to Mad Clown's explosive rapping. By all means this song should've catapulted both into stardom but that hasn't happened quite yet.
As we celebrate Taeyeon's 27th (international) birthday, and before I get swamped with exams, let's have a Taeyeon appreciation post! Or at least in some way. We're just gonna highlight some of my favorite Taeyeon performances and appearances across the years. They'll mainly pertain to some of her best vocal work because who doesn't love some good Taeyeon vocal runs right?
5. How Great Is Your Love
This is the only ballad on the list, and it's a good exception to the rule. "How Great Is Your Love" is not only one of Taeyeon's best solo attempts, but also one of the group's best as a whole, too. The tracklist for "The Boys" was pretty wild, and was held together by this excellent ballad and of course, the masterpiece "Trick." Taeyeon is crystal clear here, and the rest of the supporting cast as well. As far as the most serene Taeyeon has ever been, it doesn't get much better than here.
4. Twinkle
Taeyeon is known for her incredible OST work and excellent ballad voice, but "Twinkle" accentuates her versatility like no other. She sounds very comfortable, and shows flashes of brilliance, too. Keep in mind, this was the debut track of the TTS subunit, the prized vocal line of Girls' Generation. "Twinkle" couldn't afford to disappoint, and thankfully did the opposite. And yeah, she sounds more strained here than in almost any other song since debut, but that doesn't take away from everything else.
3. Stress
Now "Stress" is a real earworm. Combining pop rock elements with Taeyeon's voice, illustrates yet another side to her utility as a singer. If she had never sang a single ballad in her life, or debuted in 2007 with something like this, I doubt anyone would bat an eyelash (though there is slight strain). English is pretty much perfect as per Taeyeon's usual standard, too. The key success of this piece is that "Stress" follows in the footsteps of yet another Taeyeon classic.
2. Devil's Cry
"Devil's Cry" is without a doubt Taeyeon's best individual effort in anything anywhere. The world never expected to see the power of rock course through her veins, yet she delivered a smashmouth performance no one ever imagined. The reason "Stress" wasn't ranked higher than "Devil's Cry" even though the former is a complete song is that there's not enough power, not enough aggression. Taeyeon ramps those dials to 11 here and it's a damn shame the length of this could not have been extended. Also noteworthy is that Gayo Daejun performance with Changmin of TVXQ. A killer combination for a killer song.
1. Genie
The song that started the Girls' Generation train for me has no reason not to be here. Outside of the choreography which made waves and the general catchy nature of the song, the final moments of "Genie" were what captivated me to Taeyeon in the beginning. It's honestly not quite the most impressive vocal run ever, but my goodness does she sound good or does she sound good. After all these years, Taeyeon's part in "Genie" should still rank among the best girl group vocalist sections of all time.
Other excellent pieces that didn't make the cut include the Mr. Go OST "Bye" (and the Chinese version!), the really good runs in "The Boys," and the recent smooth-as-silk "Rain."
Here's some awkward placeholder text because I felt too claustrophobic putting the spread images and Youtube videos so close together. Here's the next set of 2015's best releases. Depending on how productive (or not) today ends up being, I may finish the whole series before Christmas Day so I can then work on the awards piece.
10. Big Bang - Loser
Let's kick off the top 10 with a slow yet enjoyable song. The title and lyrics of "Loser" sounds depressing but that's part of the song's beauty. You can feel the defeated emotion in each member's parts, most notably in the rapping from G-Dragon and T.O.P. Taeyang's bridge is also just as moving, even Seungri's faded choruses, too. The video expanded on the sad nature of "Loser" with various scenes of every member in the sad_zone. Pinpointing where this song could've done better is tough, but the simple reality of being a slower song puts "Loser" at a disadvantage with some of the other upbeat tunes. A well-rounded song no doubt but not the best on the album. But don't worry, we'll soon get to that.
9. Taeyeon - I
Did someone say Taeyeon solo? Of course this would find a spot here. Slightly unorthodox (at least compared to what is normally expected of Taeyeon) but unquestionably serene, the pop track has familiarity to her past OST work, while incorporating rock elements to make "I" something special. The repetition in the chorus isn't too bothersome when you take in Taeyeon's vocals. From Taeyeon's hair porn, Verbal Jint's surprise appearance, and the wonderful New Zealand visuals, the music video is also a treat. "You Think" was very close to making the list but was just barely edged out in the end. Taeyeon will gladly put the SNSD name on board either way. "My life is a beauty," indeed. The world could use more Taeyeon solo goodness. Let's hope this comes sooner than later.
8. EXID - Ah Yeah
Capitalizing on the "Up & Down" momentum, EXID moved onto "Ah Yeah" early in the year. With perhaps the smartest decision to follow in the footsteps "Up & Down" as opposed to straight up making another version, "Ah Yeah" is damn good from start to finish. Armed with the best verses in 2015, Hani and LE set each other up for success and delightful contrasts between the sultry vocals and aggressive rapping. Junghwa's awkward transitions still leave much to be desired, but her parts here are better than anything else in EXID's title tracks. Solji continues to provide extremely powerful vocals that make me want a Dasoni comeback more and more each passing day. This song seemed untouchable for a good 6 months, and surprisingly this placement seems low despite all the praise.
7. Big Bang - Sober
With the desire to avoid repetition, let's just say what has to be said about "Sober." It's an incredible track to rock out to all day every day. It's perhaps the most complete track on the "Made" album and definitely has the fewest faults compared to the others. The drums and other noise drive the instrumental and that only furthers an already confident Big Bang song. Consistent performances out of G-Dragon and friends plus a vivid (and trippy!) MV culminate in a pleasant product. "Sober" certainly lives up to the Big Bang standard and the hype of being the album's #1. Given that this veteran group may all be enlisting soon, the statement from "Made" was profound and impressive.
6. Mamamoo & eSNa - Ahh Oop!
Rising stars Mamamoo teased their album by releasing the "Ahh Oop!" single in April. This song quickly rose through the ranks back then and quickly rose through the ranks now. "Ahh Oop!" is 3 and a half minutes of addicting ear candy. Mamamoo and eSNa is a pleasant combination and strangers to the group might have mistaken eSNa as the 5th member on the team. By now everyone knows the singing titans they are, with a capable lineup of Solar, Wheein, and Hwasa. These ladies deliver with talent, sass, and energy (especially evident in the final chorus). As we trend into the very best, a shared attribute is that these songs are all accompanied by superb raps, and Moonbyul is no exception. The rap in "Ahh Oop!" provides buildup into the final stretch and honestly is my favourite overall rap inclusion of the year. You can't go wrong with "Ahh Oop!"
Today I'm gonna try something different, something new. Let's try to talk about an album. And what better album to discuss than Taeyeon's very own solo debut mini. It'll probably be a quick rough jumble of words as I try this out but we'll see how this goes. This is a solo debut that has been sought after for at least 4 years now. Taeyeon is Girls' Generation's prized vocalist so suffice to say, the expectations for this debut were high. Upon release, "I" delivered. Containing 5 songs, the album has already been doing extremely well on the charts, but more time is needed to see if Taeyeon has the staying power to keep dominating October.
1. I (feat. Verbal Jint)
The title track "I" brings us lively vocals along with an equally lively instrumental. Right at the beginning, Taeyeon stuns with a lovely run of "sky" which will show up plenty more times in the chorus. Just as quickly, we're whisked away to Verbal Jint's feature on the track. This established veteran drops a quick rap that packs a bit of punch in terms of narrative. Also helping the track along is an active instrumental. There's about 12 seconds of break before the bridge, which is mainly for the purposes of the music video but you get to hear more of the instrumental during that window. The final chorus is where Taeyeon truly shines, mixing high notes and adlibs, with background vocals before ending the song on a clean low note.
