[Bonus] Best Of 2020

Since I didn't follow Kpop much at all throughout the year, I originally only had 12 tracks on the ballot which wasn't enough to justify a separate post for honorable mentions. Thus, two songs ended up getting cut from the final version which is unfortunate but hey that's the theme of 2020. Also I am once again bitching about the formatting because it won't every align everything properly or the way I want. I will continue to be tilted about this shit as long as Blogger keeps it up. Or I eventually stop writing here...

#10. K/DA - More

Damn if K/DA doesn't release powerful music consistently. Last month I talked about the 1million cover, but this month it's time to talk about the song. And yeah, I'm never getting to that album review... Anyway, Soyeon continues to put in work. Her verse is incredible at setting the tone and pace for the rest of the track. Lexie Liu's Mandarin bridge was also delightful. K/DA have shown their talent at mixing multiple languages seamlessly. What can I say, I'm a sucker for multilingual music, and "More" uses all three extremely well.

#9. Suhyun - Alien

Kinda wild to think that Akdong has been active since 2012, yet we only got a true Suhyun solo release this year. "Alien" is distinct from the usual AKMU sound yet Suhyun utilizes her talent to still give it a typical feel. Her voice glides through the song and is a nice compliment to the more harder-hitting instrumental. Also I didn't know this but their channel literally posts the lyrics in the video description. Suhyun edges out Chungha for representation here. Retro groove drives "Alien" forward, something it shares with the next song coming up.

#8. Seulrene - Naughty

It's a good thing these lists are for music only, otherwise there'd be an Irene-sized can of worms to discuss. Anyway, "Naughty" has that right combination of groovy powerful instrumental, electric choreography, and soothing vocals. Tutting has always been rare in the dances of Kpop so seeing it as the center of "Naughty" is really cool. Of course that's because of the execution by Seulgi and Irene. The chorus is pretty bland, but overall the pieces fit together very well. This track surpasses their other release "Monster" because of its polish.

[Misc] Happy Younha Day

There's still time to finish out the rest of the standard protocol for October. So on my birthday, I will merely post a video of Younha and nothing else. She remains my #1 Korean music darling and has been so for the last 12 years. Almost half of my entire life has been gifted with her voice (I'm 27 now). One of my dreams is to attend a concert of hers. Of course with the apocalypse that is 2020, who knows when the next opportunity for that would be. Hope everyone has a good long weekend. I know my unemployed ass sure will.

[Bonus] The Late Report: January 2020

Whoops. Sometimes you just forget things. And I forgot about December's Late Report. Thus we'll have a super mega awesome combined deluxe version for this month (even though it'll mostly be for news from January regardless). These will also come out at the end of the month instead of the start of the following month, so this edition makes its debut on the final day.

Younha - Winter Flower

Alluded to in my review of "Dark Cloud," "Winter Flower" is a sensational track that features the brilliance of Younha's powerful voice with an electrifying instrumental and RM's appearance. Obviously he's a little busy as of late so he wasn't able to join her in this performance. No idea who BX is but he did a solid job stepping in for RM here. His voice is too nasally for my ears on a first listen but he keeps pace with the original, so props. I like this song so much that I'm trying to learn it on the piano. This will be the first time in almost a decade since I've touched a piano ha, should be a fun challenge.

BTS - Black Swan

Speaking of, here's BTS performing on the Late Late Show with James Corden. Considering that I did not look at any of the "Black Swan" releases of any form, I didn't know what to expect. The first thing I noticed was that this is very much modern BTS with the dancing and style of the song. Not surprising since this formula has been relatively untouched since their meteoric rise. The second thing I noticed was that they weren't wearing shoes. That couldn't have been easy. Shoutouts to the show and all because the whole setup was phenomenal: stage, scenery, lighting, etc. It's a great teaser for their upcoming album, that's for sure.

Red Velvet - Psycho (Remix) (feat. Nicki Minaj)

Kpop remixers really out here trying to add Nicki Minaj to every song. When it's this well-done, can you complain? No, you can't. Given that she has collaborated with BTS before, you could show this to someone new and they'd probably think this was legit. Okay given Nicki's lyrics probably not but you get the point haha. Since we've yet to see the rumored English version of "Psycho," a remix like this will have to do for now.

[Review] Younha - Dark Cloud

Bless you, Younha. It's been over 15 years since you started on your musical journey, and over 12 since I discovered your incredible talent with "Ima Ga Daisuki." I've kept up (mostly) with you over the last decade plus between albums and minis, covers and OSTs. There is nobody in the industry that is more deserving of being the first review of 2020.

[Bonus] The Late Report: July 2019

Hm. Been busy with work, courses, and gaming but that doesn't make a week+ break acceptable. Welcome to the July edition of The Late Report. This is a grim reminder that I haven't been interested in too much new music lately, so here's hoping the beginning of the fall season brings some good stuff.

GFriend - Fever

There's not been much of note on the main front, but GFriend did drop something summery for us with "Fever." Immediately got TXT "Crown" vibes with the groovy instrumental and that isn't a bad thing. The dance itself isn't noteworthy as it lacks in comparison with their past choreographies. Eunha and Yuju continue to do the heavyweight vocal work, and SinB attempted to audition for Girl Group Rapper Power Rankings with her brief burst. Regarding the MV: why does Sowon need heels? The girl is a giant! Not a great song, but not a bad song either.

[Bonus] The Late Report: December 2018

December is always a weird month for Kpop in my mind. There's not too much activity due to the holidays and end of the year shows and performances. Plus most of the new music usually follows the Christmas spirit and theme. Personally I don't care for it, but that also means I don't pay much attention to the Christmas songs. Here are three short selections from the last month-ish that are worth checking out.

Younha - Snail Mail

When does Younha disappoint? Never. "Snail Mail" is yet another beautiful ballad from the established veteran. I tend to get sentimental (read: at a loss for words) when it comes to Younha since she was the artist that got me started on my Kpop journey, and her music is always emotional yet powerful. Damn, her lyrics got me feeling mellow early in 2019.

Yubin - Thank U Soooo Much

Despite the cringeworthy title format, Yubin discreetly dropped a sick retro track at the end of November. Wonder Girls have gone but Yubin carries their legacy with the retro domination. You can easily hear how the whole gang would've sang this track (which is both good and bad). While I wish she could've had a smooth rap, she makes up for it with her surprisingly clear voice. Really makes you wonder why it was never utilized during her Wonder Girls tenure, right JYP?! Like the song title, some of the English is suspect, and there should always be a higher standard of English in JYP Entertainment but I guess the old dog does the same tricks still.

EXO - Tempo

Chen continues to kill it. Dude was made to sing anything and everything. EXO are known for their insane bridges but the opening of "Tempo" might be one of the greatest I've ever heard. There are some old EXO classics - killer instrumental, vocal artistry, along with some new wrinkles - extended rap sequences, demonic intermission which make "Tempo" appear more experimental at first listen. Then again, as someone who isn't too privy on EXO's full discography this could be an incorrect assumption. I didn't have the balls to predict this in Kpop Hopes but I think Lay is done with EXO. Maybe not this year, but after the main Chinese promotions wrap up and he's settled a foundation back in his homeland. Sooner or later, pressure will get to him and I think he'll complete the Chinese desertion project. Goodness, this took a dark turn. Happy Saturday!

[Bonus] Best Of 2008 (And Earlier)

If I was hardcore I'd have remembered the exact day and month I got into Kpop but as a scrub I only know fall 2009 is when I started really getting into this field. Thus anything here is primarily thanks to history, legacy, and lore. Here are the best of what Kpop offered during the mid-2000's.

#10. Younha - Password 486

Even though her "Someday" album is the true masterpiece of the early Younha era, I had to go with "Password 486" because it's more iconic. Younha was already doing work in Japan but this release put her on the spotlight in her native country. The pop rock elements and her strong voice are the driving forces behind a cute song. Check out Younha killing it with some younger stars earlier this year.

#9. Kim Jongkook - One Man

Ballads used to be king back in the day. Gummy, Davichi, etc. Kim Jongkook was no exception and his "mosquito voice" works its magic here. I never talk about lyrics but that last chorus, damn. It's honestly one of the most memorable ballads in Korean music history. Kim Jongkook has stayed relevant over the years doing music and variety, so his longevity is impressive. Too bad the MV isn't found anywhere on Youtube. This breaks the continuity early on, oh well.

[Bonus] Best Of B-Sides: Part I

Sometimes, the title track is poorly chosen, or is simply a bad song. Thankfully, there are other songs around to help it out. These posts will highlight some of my favorite songs off albums that weren't title tracks. B-sides are often difficult to compile if only because nobody has all the time in the world to scour every album and every tracklist. However I have my fair share of albums in my library, so this should be an easy task. The songs themselves won't be ranked, mostly because these posts will be recurring - as they essentially give me an outlet to write on any given day even if I'm stuck on a review or can't get ideas flowing.

BTS - Butterfly

Perhaps the hottest boy group right now is BTS. And while they're often known for their insane choreography and in-your-face energy, they have some really great stuff on the slower side of the spectrum. "Butterfly" is a classic example and both the singers and rappers restrain themselves wonderfully. Despite the mass amount of falsetto, it's a rare instance where it works given the pace of the song. BTS shows that you don't need excellent vocalists to have excellent ballads.

Younha - Realize After Breakup (feat. Kim Bumsoo)

As mentioned previously, Younha has seen her fair share of strong collaborations. This was a top-end ballad of 2009, and the names alone reveal why. Contrasting Kim Bumsoo's sharp voice is Younha's more clear and rounded one. They combine for wonderful harmonies throughout the song and easily make this piece a karaoke classic. Neither singer overpowers the other, which is a quality I really love seeing in duets (even if it's rather uncommon). Impressive singing from start to finish, what more could you ask for?

[Bonus] Best Of 2013 Revisited

As a heads up, I'm gonna be pretty busy over the next few weeks. Apparently my next online course is no joke with the amount of reading materials, and I'll be traveling to Korea for a week (which is gonna be awesome!). I have a plethora of writing I want (and started) to do - as evidenced by the "Coming Soon" section, but no idea if they'll come to completion or not. Anyway, here's a look back at my picks in 2013 and how the list would look like now in hindsight.

#12. Davichi - Turtle (NEW)
Original: Davichi - Be Warmed
Davichi's original two tracks have been dropped and replaced by the lovely "Turtle." I consider "Turtle" the medium between "Be Warmed" and "Because I'm Missing You Today." It possesses the lighthearted feel of the latter while still maintaining an intensity in the powerful vocals of the former. Sure there's no Verbal Jint appearance but he's already a bonus to begin with. The vocal work between Minkyung and Haeri is divine in "Turtle," and has over the years risen to be my 2nd favorite Davichi track (behind "Don't Say Goodbye," naturally).

#11. Gaeko - Rhythm Is Life (NEW)
Original: JeA - Days & Nights
In the first list, Dynamic Duo was the sole male representation. This time around, only Gaeko returns (though there is another male artist later). Like I mentioned in Best Of 2012 Revisited, Korean hip-hop didn't fly onto the radar until 2013, and this was one of the pioneering tracks. Gaeko's "Rhythm Is Life" is a straight masterpiece in terms of the execution of lyrics. His delivery is pretty close to flawless and the replay value is through the roof. Gaeko and Dynamic Duo helped pave the way for other hip-hop artists to join my library.

[Bonus] Best Of 2012 Revisited

Here's a fun twist. I'm going to look at and revise my list of best songs from each of the past 4 years. Well, maybe. I'm going to start with the 2012 set for obvious reasons, and we'll see how I feel as it goes. Should be an interesting take and parallel to the Power Ranking pieces. Each entry will include a link to the MV, the original song in that position in parentheses (to make the list look prettier), and then some short comments about the song's rise, fall, or if it's a new addition to the list, why it deserves to be here and etc.

#12. B.A.P - Warrior (--)
Original: B.A.P - Warrior

Starting off the revisions with a lack of revision, B.A.P's "Warrior" remains one of the strongest and impressive debuts to date. The choreography was excellent and the rapping on another level (in terms of debuts anyway). While the team blonde look didn't help us get acquainted with the members, it's an iconic image if only for Zelo's ramen hairstyle. This introductory piece did a great job laying the foundation for B.A.P tracks to come.

#11. Juniel - Bad Man (-7)
Original: EXO-K - Angel

So I vastly overestimated Juniel back in 2012. She has had a good string of releases up until her departure from FNC, but "Bad Man" remains her best work. To put it in top 4 though was very very ambitious and as I found out over the years, Juniel's music is very niche and as a result doesn't have as much staying power as I'd want. Regardless, it's still good enough to not get outright dropped like other songs. And there's more to do with reevaluated songs being better than "Bad Man" being overhyped back then.

[Bonus] Best Of 2015 (#15-#11)

Best Of 2015 is officially underway, and I've selected my top 15 picks for this year of Kpop. While we'll get a headstart on this set, I'll also be working on a "2015 Kpop Awards" excerpt that will cover a broad variety of topics. Any extra content recapping the year will be good, considering I've slowed down the last month and a half. But so has Kpop, and it's honestly a nice reprieve until 2016 starts up. Without wasting more time, let's get into the bottom section of the Best Of 2015.

15. SHINee - Married To The Music

This was SHINee's breakout year. The group's 4th studio album was perhaps their best yet, with tracks like "View" and "Love Sick" on the spotlight. But when the typical S.M repackaged version came along, "Married To The Music" became a premier dance anthem of 2015. With a Halloween-inspired MV, excellent choreography native to SHINee's name, and addicting vocals from everyone (except poor Minho), the title track of the repackage finally gave SHINee a spot among the greats. "Good but not great" was always what I had previously described this group with, but that was before this year. Catchy lyrics and powerful dancing appear to have achieved a final form with SHINee and "Married To The Music."

14. Sistar - Don't Be Such A Baby

Maybe it's because I consider "Alone" to be their best title track and the group's best era, that I find a song in a similar vein just as good. "Don't Be Such A Baby" is the standout B-side of "Shake It," as previously mentioned during the summer reviews. Breathy vocals from Hyorin and Soyu were joined surprisingly by Dasom who did not sound out of place in any way. The rap combo between Bora and Giriboy provided lighthearted and charismatic rapping that put both rappers in a positive light. Live performances didn't demonstrate too much choreography. The girls mostly stood around looking fantastic but what little dancing was smooth and sensual, just like the song. "Don't Be Such A Baby" recovered the "Shake It" mini along with Sistar's top 3 placement as a girl group contender.

13. Younha - Thinking About You

A beautiful ballad that was the essence of autumn, Younha graces the top songs of the year for the 4th straight time. While she wasn't too active in 2015, the appropriateness and serenity that "Thinking About You" had more than makes up for lost time. Soft and pretty vocals control the flow of the song, and had potential to be a quietly perfect song. It's a shame this chance was ruined by Chanhyuk's rapping segment. Maybe said rap could've done better in a different song, but here the rap sounds awkward and very out of place. I wasn't even aware he rapped in any of Akdong Musician's music. Oh well.

12. 9MUSES - Hurt Locker

"Hurt Locker" was what 9MUSES needed to get back on the radar after the ineffectiveness of "Drama." Instead of a subpar beat with uncomfortable transitions, "Hurt Locker" delivers active singing and dancing from start to finish. The instrumental is pretty killer and Erin's rap doesn't have any unnecessary guest Sungah appearances. Everything about the song is in place and while it's certainly no "Wild," (or even "Glue" for that matter) "Hurt Locker" became a premier summer jam and was in general one of the best songs over the summer. Considering how inactive they were the year before, getting (back) into the top 12 is worth applauding. Here's hoping they gain some more momentum and recognition for next year.

11. IU - Twenty Three

Another artist that wasn't too active in 2014, IU's much-anticipated return with "Chat-Shire" exceeded all expectations (which is already a tall order). Silly shenanigans that can't even be called "controversies" aside, every track on the mini was delightful and "Twenty Three" was the spearhead for such a successful EP. With one of the most artistic (flamboyant?) music videos of the year, IU displayed character, charisma, and most importantly, consistency in the short 3 minute span. Admittedly the bridge could've been better but with such high marks everywhere you can hardly complain. "Twenty Three" provides stiff competition to "Good Day" as one of IU's absolute bests.

[Bonus] Best Of Younha Revisited

About 7 years ago, I discovered Younha and fell in love with her music. This would eventually lead me to other Korean artists and my journey into Kpop. About 3 years ago, I wrote a "Best Of Younha" piece, highlighting her finest work. This was early on in my blogging career and the first "Best Of" that would eventually spawn future series. Now that another 3 years have passed by, let's revisit my favourite artist and see how her new content has fared, as well as if the songs of old can retain their spots.

10. One Fine Day (NEW) (Just Listen)

"One Fine Day" is the first of the new songs to make the list, at does so at the simple #10. This song is rock / pop rock and has Yoon Dohyun written all over it. The laid back guitar and drums, emphatic harmonica, and Younha's energetic voice drives through the chorus. "One Fine Day" gets extra character to the song through crowd interaction during the final minute of the song thanks to the simple yet effective chants of "oh oh" while Younha belts her heart out. This song cleanly took over some of her older pop rock tracks.

[Bonus] Best Of 2014 (#16-#13)

16. SPICA - You Don't Love Me

SPICA are talented. Almost everyone knows this, and yet time after time they come back with a new song that blows me away. "You Don't Love Me" arguably boasts the most vocal power on the list, with Bohyung continuing to melt my heart with her voice. It's rich and powerful, and even Boa (who I usually am not a fan of) shines. Considering this is a retro track, I wasn't really paying attention to the choreography because this music video is just fantastic. All of it. From the hilarious outfits, to popping up behind doors, to flawlessly throwing laundry on yourself, this MV is all kinds of great and the 2nd best MV of the year.

15. Super Junior-M - Swing

I realize that this may be a bit of a cheat, but since this song has been released in both Korean and Mandarin "Swing" qualifies to be on the list. "Swing" is a energetic dance number and man this dance is awesome. Even during the dubstep break, Eunhyuk and friends command attention with the choreography. Kyuhyun and Ryeowook continue to deliver with vocals that are just right for this dance song and wrapped in an aesthetically pleasing MV and you have all aspects covered. Similar to CL and "MTBD," Super Junior-M's "Swing" is a welcome return to form. During the years where "Sorry Sorry" and "Super Girl" dominated, "Swing" gives us a friendly reminder of the good ol' days of Super Junior strength.

14. Younha - What Does My Heart Become

Younha had a good year, though most of that goodness was actually from feature work. Still, "What Does My Heart Become" is an excellent addition to Younha's "Songs with Long English Titles that are Awesome." See "The Real Reason We Broke Up" and "Would We Have Changed" for reference. Anyway, everything about this song is very serene, from the enhancing instrumental to Younha's soft and delicate voice. The buildup into the final chorus is also very strong and beautiful. In a year where most songs were characterized by strong starts and weak finishes / bridges, "What Does My Heart Become" remains consistent from start to finish with Younha's trademark sound.

13. Girls' Generation-TTS - Stay

Girls' Generation had a tough year. "Mr. Mr" was rather quiet and "Holler" was a bit too loud in the wrong way, but the rest of the album had promise. And of this promise was "Stay." This is the highlight of the album, and the prime reason you put Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun together in a subunit. This song is amazing and doesn't disappoint. All the girls show off their skills, and even Tiffany has a rapping segment. Now naturally such a thing should never happen, but truth be told Tiffany is the only girl (in the group) who can put that amount of pizzazz and spark with her California accent and make the rap work, which I can respect her for that. "Stay" clearly should have been the title track on "Holler," but I will forgive Soshi this once considering the crazy year they had.

[Bonus] Best Of 2013 (#8-#5)

8. Dynamic Duo - Hot Wings (feat. Hyorin)

Unlike last year, there isn’t much presence from the males on this list. But Dynamic Duo is here to help us a little. “Hot Wings” is excellent showing of the rapping off Choiza and Gaeko, and along with LeeSSang’s “Tears” these two songs have pioneered the hip-hop realm this year. The medium paced song is ridiculously catchy as far as the chorus goes, and with the charisma and talent of Dynamic Duo, the song is just pleasant from start to finish. Speaking of, Hyorin’s guest appearance is incredible, with her sultry high voice making the highlight of the second half of the song.

7. Sistar - Give It To Me

Last year, Sistar made rank #10 off “Alone” and the classy sexiness. This time, with “Give It To Me”, the song is a straight upgrade from “Alone”. Bora’s rap is upgraded, the vocal work between Soyu, Dasom, and Hyorin are upgraded, the sexiness is upgrades, and the pace and MV are also upgraded. While the chorus may have been on the bland side for a Sistar release, the fluid breathy verses from Hyorin and Soyu more than make up for things. With the prominence of Sistar this year, and the most likely departures of Wonder Girls and KARA, Sistar has even more room to thrive for the upcoming 2014 year.

6. EXO - Baby Don’t Cry

EXO finally released the official track “Baby Don’t Cry” even though the teasers came out over 2 years ago, and it’s just as glorious as was teased. Jongdae is impressive, and the support vocalists from Baekhyun and Lay especially, were very strong. The chorus is one of the best out of ballads this year. The song itself is very consistent, and while Chanyeol and Tao’s raps came seemingly out of nowhere, the rap was very soft and kept with the rest of the song, making the rap breaks one of the better ones seen this year. There’s no MV or choreography, so EXO would earn near full marks on the impressive vocals and complimentary rapping.

5. Younha - Not There

How do I describe Younha’s “Not There”. It’s so…different in sound and structure than what I’m used to. While I would never classify this song as “indie”, compared to what Younha usually releases this certainly feels “indie”. While I did appreciate the variant with Eluphant’s multiple rapping sequences which were very good, the version in the music video with heavier strings instrumentals was much cleaner and I appreciated the softer background noise paired with Younha’s precious vocals. I preferred the clean voice accompanied by the various instruments than the rapping support with a more electronic sound. Younha’s 2013 year was very productive, and while none of her songs made the very top, she’s comfortably placed two songs in the best of the best.

[Bonus] Best Of 2013 (#12-#9)

I would characterize the 2013 year as a year ripe with drama. Dating exposure was crazy, and relationships were discovered everywhere. This year also saw and might mark the “end” of some veteran staple groups potentially losing members like KARA, inactivity from TVXQ, and future army enlistment in Big Bang. However, there was some damn good music this year from January to December, so we’ll be covering my top 12 best of this year.
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12. Davichi - Be Warmed (feat. Verbal Jint)

Davichi has been steadily progressing throughout the years, and “Be Warmed” is something moving that I haven’t seen since the likes of “Don’t Say Goodbye”. The instrumental at the opening is pretty, leading into the strong vocals. The chorus has had me hooked since the release, and it’s rare a ballad has the quality of making me sing along every time. Verbal Jint is a solid rapper and his appearance is more than welcome, but his lines seemed lackluster compared to the power vocals from Minkyung and Haeri. Nonetheless, Davichi’s powerful and emotional vocals push past the mediocrity from Verbal Jint into 12th place.

11. JeA - Days & Nights (feat. Eric Benet)

Funnily enough, the other song that was competing with JeA for this placing was M&N’s “Tonight”. Nonetheless, some variant of Brown Eyed Girls earns a spot on the list. The emotional and soulful sound from JeA and Eric Benet work wonders throughout the song, and the pronunciation was excellent all around from JeA’s English to Eric’s Korean. Both of the exchanges were really surprising and impressive. The chorus gets caught in a loop for a while, with a good bridge in crescendo, and the harmonization work between the two can be equally addicting.

10. Younha - The Reason We Broke Up

Younha at first glance, took a fall from her spot last year at #2 with her placing here at #10 with “The Reason We Broke Up” but don’t worry. “The Reason We Broke Up” is much softer and less complex, but the beauty lies in the simplicity and beauty of Younha’s vocals. There’s plenty of variance and a delightful mixture of emotions, consistency, and power. It’s friendly, moving, and met with a artistically crafted music video.

9. Davichi - Because I’m Missing You Today

Oh hi Davichi, I didn’t expect to see you so soon. But here we are. “Because I’m Missing You Today” is full of bright and lively emotion as long as the song’s title (in both English and Korean). Compared to the darker more intense sounds of “Be Warmed”, “Because I’m Missing You Today” keeps the same tempo and paces very strongly (since there is no awkward rap break) and is matched by Minkyung and Haeri’s serious tones that carry a tint of cheer in them. My only complaint is that the belts during the second chorus and on are so quiet and restricted, and I do love me some Davichi belts.

[Bonus] Best Of Pioneers

I wanted to show appreciation for a select set of songs which helped bring me into the Kpop fold. There’s a mixture of nostalgia, first impressions, relevance in time, catchiness, etc. On Thanksgiving weekend, I’m thankful for these Kpop songs, as they’re responsible for attracting and keeping me in the Kpop world.

12. Wheesung - Insomnia

- Arguably one of the first of the Kpop videos I’ve ever watched, and despite it technically being a cover, Wheesung does a delightful job with the vocals and impressed. The flashes between scenes coupled with the dance would almost make it seem as if the vocals weren’t the main sellling point. The MV was pretty boring, but being one of the first videos, I had no idea what a stereotypical MV it was just yet.

11. Wonder Girls - Nobody

- It’s hard to argue the explosiveness that Nobody had during the 2009 year. The pretty dresses, catchy dance, and equally as catchy lyrics make for one hell of a song, along with a fierce rap segment. Speaking of, Yubin made a strong debut showing for rappers of any group.

10. KARA - Lupin

- Lupin was my second exposure to KARA after Mister, and what a follow-up punch. Lupin delivers in the powerful introduction and instrumentals, with Nicole’s rapping being very strong. When I first listened to this song though, the latter half of the song wasn’t as appealing to me, for whatever reasons it may have had that effect.

9. Younha - Ima Ga Daisuki

- Okay so this song is technically a Japanese song, but hear me out. This was my first Younha song ever, and therefore also my first Younha video ever, so it as to hold a special place in my heart. It’s a addictive pop rock style that instantly drew me to her and her works.

8. Wonder Girls - So Hot

- Even though Wonder Girls’ Nobody was extremely addicting, I was drawn more to So Hot because of the standard pop sound, and the chorus was equally as catchy as Nobody’s was. Serving this song as a follow-up to Nobody, Yubin continued to deliver on the rapping.

7. Super Junior-M - Blue Tomorrow

- So just two more songs later, we’ve got a Chinese song. During early drafts of this list, Super Girl was on the list but Blue Tomorrow wasn’t, until I realized that the very foundations of what I enjoyed and was attracted to in Kpop are the vocals, and the vocals in Blue Tomorrow are arguably one of the best on the entire set. Throw in a very serious MV, and you’ve got one incredible ballad.

6. Big Bang - Koe Wo Kikasete

- I promise that this will be the last “foreign” song on the list, heh. Big Bang’s debut for me wasn’t the stellar Haru Haru or Lies, but Koe Wo Kikasete. The rapping of G-Dragon and T.O.P were easily the highlight, since not many of the groups had standout rappers, but the vocal work between Taeyang and Daesung was even better.

5. Girls’ Generation - Genie

- Yeah, Gee isn’t on this list. Believe it or not, I was turned off by Gee at the beginning, since there was way too much “cutesy sound” (ahh, how weird the term aegyo would’ve seemed if I had heard it then). Genie, on the other hand, delivered a strong chorus, and absolutely amazing vocals from Taeyeon, Sunny, and Tiffany (Taeyeon’s adlibs at the end are what essentially earned her the #1 bias spot).

4. f(x) - La Cha Ta

- My first f(x) song was f(x)’s first (title) song. Luna and Krystal were outstanding in both looks and vocals, while the dance was impressing, while Sulli and Amber would go on to be undiscovered players. Even after four years, this is still my favourite f(x) song. The raw dance pop sound hasn’t been topped by the girls since.

3. 4minute - I My Me Mine

- Can you believe it? I can’t either, but certainly 4minute places in the top 3. If I thought La Cha Ta was the epitome of dance pop, then I My Me Mine certainly was the epitome of the more electronic pop songs. There weren’t many other electronic songs on the list or drafts, but the dance and vocals complimented each other very nicely. And may I mention that (a) the video effects on the “Click click” part of the dance was awesome, and (b) Gayoon’s belt still sends chills down my spine.

2. Younha - Hero

- I’ve mentioned Hero so many times on this blog now that I reallywanted to omit this song from the list, but it simply has to be here. Badass instrumentals, beast piano solo bridge, 110% high level vocals coupled with belts and the like. I’m still amazed this was never a title track. But all this talk aside, it’s still not #1 (I even surprised myself).

1. Super Junior - It’s You

- You’ve probably noticed that there have been a lack of comments regarding music videos, and a majority of remarks for vocals, because that’s what really drew me to Kpop and absolutely It’s You. Between the overcrowded choreography, steady background music, calming choruses, and superstar belting from Yesung (won’t sell out the other members’ vocal performance either though). This song was and still is dangerously addicting and once you get this in your head, you’ll have a tough time getting It’s You out.

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“Honorable Mentions”

Younha - Telepathy

Brown Eyed Girls - Abracadabra

Younha - Houki Boshi

Super Junior - Sorry Sorry

Girls’ Generation - Girls’ Generation

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What about you guys? What were some of the songs that brought you into the Kpop world?

[Review] Younha - The Reason We Broke Up

Vocals: 25 / 25

Younha struts her stuff or rather her voice quite well in this song. She goes from sounding light, to powerful with fluid transitions all around, while bringing plenty of emotion into the mix. Furthermore, the instrumentals are excellent at complimenting her voice, filling in the empty spaces throughout the song without being too excessive, and the restriction to acoustic and some strings was a really nice touch. With “The Reason We Broke Up”, you have a variety of sounds all tied together nicely, and the two ad lib sections are delightful. Honestly, not many of Younha’s songs would get less than perfect (“123” is a rare example) so this is no exception. The ending is a little fuzzy but easily forgotten.

Music Video: 23 / 25

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t find the dancing throughout the video very interesting, or fitting. But after a few more watches and I started to see the artistry in it. The MV starts off practically frozen, with Younha and the ex-boyfriend but as things continue on, the people provide graceful movement and act as visual transitions. The movie theater scene especially. It’s also a welcome addition because generally speaking Younha videos are about love and relationships, meaning she’s nearly always seen in music videos looking upset (understandably so). With something else to look at, it adds another flavor to the MV. Also, all of Younha’s solo shots involve blurred out backup actors playing the supporting instruments which I loved. On an end note, Younha’s hairstyle (you know which one I’m referring to) is sexy. Jussayin’.

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Overall: 96 / 100

“The Reason We Broke Up” is another incredible addition to Younha’s repertoire. Mirroring the score of the fantastic “Run” over half a year ago, it’s the second song to achieve this high a score from my reviews and rightfully so. The emotion and vocal showing is flawless and the music video is just as complimentary as the instrumental track. It’s a perfect ballad piece which provides a familiar piece on the new EP.

[Review] Younha - It's Not That

Vocals: 25 / 25

“It’s Not That” reminds me a lot of “Set Me Free” at first listen. It’s very light and delicate at the start, but suddenly, it explodes, bursting with energetic belts that of which impress anyone regardless of whether or not they know of Younha. Like past releases “Hero” and “Run”, it’s incredible how Younha sustains such high notes and power for such a period of time. And it’s truly beautiful. I thought the background voices / mumbles were really distracting but I couldn’t even discern what they were saying behind Younha’s emotional voice to begin with. Oh well, not too bad a damper. Younha continues to be just about perfect.

Music Video: 20 / 25

Out of courtesy and love and respect, I’ll give Younha 20 points here. There was so much potential for a colourful and expressive MV but we got something much more tame, even after the buildup to the explosion of vocals. Younha looks very pretty and the sets have good design but that’s the entirety of the ballad. Past ballads like “Please Take Care Of My Boyfriend” and “Broke Up Today” were just as emotional with supporting music videos so I was a little disappointed here. I wasn’t looking for anything breakout like the MV for “Run” but something with a little more “oomph” in it.

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Overall: 90 / 100

Another brilliant piece by Younha with emotional and explosive vocals from start to finish. I wish the music video could have been a little more artistic but even superstars like her need to slow it down every once in a while to rest up. The only thing really “unacceptable” about this song is the variation of titles it could have.

[Bonus] Best Of Vocalists: Balanced

In this “Best Of” series, we’ll be taking a look at the various fields of talent in KPop. What kind of talent? Vocal talent, of course! I’ll bring up eight of my favourite singers across four different categories, while highlighting some of their most impressive works of course.

While none of these are particular rankings, these eight might just be the overall best, balanced in pretty much every way between control, pitch, range, utility, and more. While they are essentially capable of being leads, they’re just too strong at everything else to be labeled as such. 

Younha leads the pack as my favourite vocalist ever. She may not have the widest range or the most powerful voice, but the ability to put emotion, innocence, and consistency in her voice is unrivaled and her versatility is remarkable. Through the emotional “Broke Up Today”, energetic “Houki Boshi”, and the powerful “Hero”, Younha is allstar material.

Hyorin is known for carrying Sistar, who are at best mediocre singers without her. Her prowess in lower ranges is incredible, and her high notes and belts are something, too, if but a little airy. Hyorin’s voice is probably best described as “running velvet”, or “silvery”. It’s like methodical but precise, able to adapt to various styles at ease. Hyorin is hailed as Korea’s Beyonce, and justly so.

In contention for said title is rising rookie Ailee, whose explosive voice (“Girl On Fire”) is also the same lofting beautiful light ballads (“Evening Sky”). Throw on being a native English speaker and the ability to rap (Wheesung’s “He Is Coming”), and Ailee was my candidate for “Best Rookie 2012” or at the very least the solo artist recipient. If all else, Ailee will probably have one of the best covers ever (“Halo”).

Taeyeon finishes off the girls’ list in glory, as the most impressive female group vocalist with 5+ years in experience. Years have gone by and all Taeyeon has is matured since 2007. Complete versatility (“7898”, “Devil’s Cry”, “Hoot”) and angelic power notes (“O Holy Night”) are some of the best qualities.

Over on the males side, Kyuhyun tops out Yesung for Super Junior’s representative (don’t worry we’ll talk about Yesung later). While Yesung is definitely the expert at ballads and emotion, Kyuhyun isn’t that far off and is also stellar at various genres like rock (“Pretend Party”) and pop (“Rise & Shine”), too.

When one brings up DBSK, Junsu is the essence of prime vocal ability. The unique sound he possesses and quality control make Junsu instantly recognizable and with work like “In Heaven” and even older releases like the “Timeless” duet with Zhang LiYin (which was lovely, may I add), it’s not hard to see why. Since the DBSK / JYJ split, JYJ’s music has always tailored more to the vocal talents, and Junsu utilizes that as much as possible.

Seulong has the smoothest voice in 2AM and thus overall. Being a member of 2AM, most of his work is ballads (“You Wouldn’t Answer My Calls”, “Even If I Die I Can’t Let You Go”), he has branched off so to speak with collaboration work in “Nagging” with IU and even under “I Did Wrong”, too.

Originally, I thought of Daesung as a support role. While he does do the vocal work in Big Bang, it’s not typically expressive enough as some of the other singers on the group. However, going back through older stuff reminded me on just how brilliant he can be, with more recent things like “Baby Don’t Cry” and “Bad Boy” highlighting his smooth voice. The very fact that I feel his voice is more utility but at the same time omnipresent is proof enough of his skill.

[Bonus] Best Of 2012 (#4-#1)

4. Juniel - Bad Man

Juniel’s Korean debut with “Illa Illa” immediately gave her a unique position amongst solo debuts. I thought of her like a pleasant combination of Younha and IU, two who also happen to be standout vocalists. However, “Bad Man” is more along the lines of ranking Juniel along with the prestigious high note ballad masters, like Joo, Minkyung, and Jessica. While Juniel has such a pretty voice, I think she’ll probably be limited to this type of music, since I don’t see her being able to hold her own in anything requiring more power. Regardless, she’s flawless and the adlibs are delicious. The ending is a perfect “picture” of the song, with innocent Juniel’s extremely pretty voice singing “You are such a mean person, you are such a bad person”, it’s almost eerie.

3. Big Bang - Blue

This song is amazing because Big Bang doesn’t typically release this style of music. What is even more amazing is the perfect execution by all the members. Yes, even T.O.P pulls his own impressive weight in this soft medium tempo ballad. Everyone’s notes are mellow, the tune is relaxing and soft, and the rap singing isn’t out of place, a culmination of something we don’t expect to see coming out of this loud and electric group. The most interesting part of the song is the chorus, since at first listen Seungri and G-Dragon seemed to merge. I think since “Blue” was released first, I had increased my expectations for the other two title tracks which (for the most part) did not fail to disappoint.

2. Younha - Would We Have Changed (feat. John Park)

You saw glimpses of my praise for this song in “Best Of Younha”, so you already know what I’ll be saying. The harmonization work between Younha and John Park is practically unrivaled. While 2012 did bring out some other really strong harmony showings (Kyuhyun and Tiffany in “Rise And Shine”), this song sets a standard far above what many singers can reach. The emotion and synchronization is flawless, making “Would We Have Changed” easily the best song of Younha’s 4th album and propelled “Supersonic” to one of my favourite overall albums.

1. Ailee - Heaven

Since the days of her Youtube channel, Ailee has shown off beautiful talent which has not lingered through her path to stardom. With the debut of “Heaven”, the incredible performances on Y’s Sketchbook and Immortal Song 2, to the comeback with “I Will Show You”, Ailee proved she isn’t merely a Korean American soloist but carries much stronger potential than most people thought. While her covers of “Halo” and later, “Girl On Fire” have showcased her power, “Heaven” brought out and perfected the “power ballad” genre, mixing explosive high / power notes with soothing verses and bridging crescendos. Ailee even utilized her husky voice at the end, truly standout work.
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So there you have it, my list of the top 12 songs in this bright and explosive year. Essentially, to me ballads are too strong for the singers with incredible voices for the dance pop genre to put up a serious fight. For 2013, I will be changing up the schedule a little, mainly releasing the weekly review on Sundays, optionally followed by either bonus writings or a retro review on Wednesdays and Fridays. Stay tuned and happy New Years