Man, it seems like this year has gone by both really quickly and slowly at the same time. There's been...a lot going on. But we're not hear to talk about the whims of the world in 2020, we're here to chat about various stuff that happened in November. Unlike the average Thanksgiving plate, this edition won't be so stuffed.
More Of 1million
Ah, 1million. I remember attending KCON and attending their dance workshop and also being in their video during 2017. Good times. Anyway this crew has been pumping out content for a long while now and the quality continues to improve. This time with Soyeon and Miyeon joining them in studio. It's really unfortunate how awkward Miyeon is in her stage presence, as she pales poorly in comparison to Soyeon and all the other dancers. Yoojung is still impeccable, and her movements are easily the highlights of the video (even if her pants aren't...). Listening to this again reminds me that I wanted to review the whole album, but maybe I'll get to that in December.
August wraps up with a pretty hefty edition of The Late Report. Let's check out what the last month had it store for us. Spoiler alert: there's actually some interesting stuff to go over so that's exciting. From serious to memes, good music to bad, variety is the spice of life.
JYP & Sunmi - When We Disco
And you know I'll start with memes! Twice? Itzy? Nah JYP is the comeback of the month because he's still got the moves even when he's almost 50 years old. Sunmi is of course spectacular in both voice and visual, and it's funny how she got to collab with him after leaving the label. The other funny aspect is the idea that these two put on a very simple choreography display for us after Red Velvet's tutting broke everyone's arms. How thoughtful of the legend.
Lee Hyori Assembles The (Female) Avengers
Holy shit you thought SuperM was a hype ass group? This quartet has it all. Lee Hyori, Uhm Junghwa, Jessi, and Hwasa. That is maximum bad bitch energy right there. That is combined decades of experience, talent, and wisdom all working together. And I expect something magical from this squad. My favorite comment was the in the r/kpop thread where someone said "Lesbians. It is our time." But yeah man I'm really interested in seeing what these four can bring to the table together.
Taemin - 2 Kids
Never have I pretended to know anything about choreography and that isn't changing anytime soon. Especially in my post-dance crew years. Anyway Taemin continues to produce art. That's all I really have to say. Watch the man work.
Ah, shit. I forgot that there are only 30 days in April. Oh well, we own our mistakes here. If you thought I didn't keep up much with Kpop before the pandemic, then boy this edition is gonna be shorter than Sunny. Let's see what I manage to scrounge up this time around.
Apink - Dumhdurum
One of the oldest surviving groups returned with yet another twist on their more mature sound. Gotta say that I am definitely loving their shift and the songs themselves are pretty solid. Unfortunately, they decided to ruin a completely viable song with the cursed rap line. In three seconds they committed three fouls: had a bad rap, had someone unfit to do said rap, and used the lame rising inflection at the end. The bridge is also pretty mediocre as far as Apink songs go. My sisters asked if I think Naeun had some surgery done, to which I responded "that's pretty much every idol though" and I stand by that. Although if anyone from Apink did something lately, I have a feeling it's Hayoung.
Quarantine is weird. There's a lot of things to do, but also not a lot of things to do. Or at least there's much less urgency. Anyway, it's been a while since the last teaser snip and I'm feeling especially lazy after a hard day's work in Animal Crossing. I will only write their group name once so here it is: this is gonna be another showing of dark (G)I-DLE and I'm all for it. The English narration is kinda cringe but I suppose it could always be worse. As long as it doesn't translate to some boring chants in the actual song then I'm okay. Poor Yuqi has to try and act tough again when we all know she's a softie. I'm immediately reminded of the aesthetic that "Hann" brought to the table. Considering "Hann" was their best release until the days of "Lion," I look forward to what a return to the dark side may bring. Hopefully we will be saying "oh my god" but in a positive way come tomorrow.
What better way to get rolling in 2020 than with some tier lists? EXO featured in my pilot episode and now we have a conglomerate of Cube girl group members, both active and disbanded. The five members from 4minute, the seven members from CLC, and the six members from (G)I-DLE will compete to see who will take the inaugural tier list of the newest year. We shall start from the bottom and work our way up.
D Tier: Sohyun, Shuhua, Yujin
The inhabitants of D Tier all share something in common: they're the awkward member of their respective groups. Not only that, they're all the forgettable awkward members of each group. Compared to the other idols they seem the least settled in their roles and coincidentally provide the least vocal utility on average. I also thought that Yujin was the maknae of CLC for the longest time but she's straight up like the 3rd oldest. That's how lacking I find her presence... Shuhua only recently broke out of the whole "sing one syllable in every song" phase so she has the most potential to escape this tier, but Sohyun's long career with 4minute takes precedent for now.
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.
My blog and random breaks, name a more iconic duo. It's been a rough time across the holidays...I won't front, my mental state has been in disarray for a while and even before that. Still, I'm gonna keep fighting and writing, as the latter is one of my most surefire ways to focus and recenter. I have some typical end of the year stuff to wrap up 2019, and we'll start December as we should any month: with the Late Report.
(G)I-DLE - Lion
I dread writing this group name every. Single. Time. Anyway "Lion" is their most complete work in their short careers thus far. The usual contributors are doing their thing: Yuqi and Soojin have their beautiful voices, while Soyeon drops yet another bomb rap break. But then the surprises like Miyeon rocking the chorus and sounding her best since "Pop/Stars," Minnie getting her chances to shine, and Shuhua getting more lines! This is as balanced a performance you'll ever see, and they continue to improve with every subsequent release.
This is blog post #500(!) and I finally have another edition of Girl Group Power Rankings. I'd love to say this was all part of my grand scheme for delaying this for so damn long but we all know that's bullshit haha. It's been a while so this will serve as a refresher course for the Power Ranking posts. Group Power Rankings are all about what a team has done lately, what talents they bring to the table, and how consistent they are / could be. They're all subjective lists anyway but I like showing the criteria I use, if only to keep my own rankings consistent over time.
Even though it's been a while, I still reference the previous list which was nearly one year ago (yikes), but also treat 2019 almost like a brand new year. Older groups that previously were on the list due to legacy but have since disbanded or "gone on hiatus" will not be making an appearance, so you won't see names like Girls' Generation, EXID, or Girls' Day on here. Though it should be mentioned that Brown Eyed Girls is having a comeback soon but their veteran status is so lofty it wouldn't feel right putting them here with these youngsters. In a similar vein, shoutouts to AOA for their participation in Queendom. They've handled well as a group of five.
Previous installments have included a "new releases" tab where I showcase some of their work between ranking posts and that trend will continue. No auxiliary releases though: only main Korean comebacks and other noteworthy efforts - there will be no OST work or Japanese promotions. Is that enough rambling? Alright, onto the list!
Honorable Mention: Black Pink * New Releases: Kill This Love
In a company battle reminiscent of the late 2000's, YG's Black Pink barely edges out JYP's Itzy for the last honorable mention. They're contrasts to each other in many ways: BP has better rappers, Itzy has better singers, and both groups are known for their choreography. Itzy is a newcomer with a pair of meh tracks to their name so far, while Black Pink has been around with enough inactivity to kill a cow. Speaking of killing, "Kill This Love" was touted as the worst Black Pink release during my review back in April. While that statement still stands true I have thought better of it upon scarce listens since, plus it eases expectations for their next comeback in the year 2021.
It's the late edition of The Late Report haha. Almost two weeks into July and we've got our retrospective into June. From now on, these posts should be out before the first week on the month. Can't wait until August to break this rule immediately. Let's look at the selections.
Sulli - Goblin
June was kind of an average month for music (that interested me). Chungha's "Snapping" was the headliner so I'll use Sulli's unexpected song "Goblin" in its place. How fucking sad is it that Sulli released music before the rest of f(x) did. Probably as shocking as her lack of eyebrows in the music video. The song itself is alright but the message and theme about psychology and dissociative disorder is the more prominent aspect.
I'm back from my weekend of degeneracy. Once I settle back into the routine of life I'll try to round out June by storm. This group - yes, I'm continuing to avoid typing their actual name - is coming back and once again I've baited myself into getting hype for this release. Soyeon as always is the star of the show and the overall vibe of "Uh-Oh" gives the feel of an older generation of Kpop. That with the slower pace and denim outfits tells me we're in for a smooth ride with these girls. And Shuhua fans despair, because y'all already know what your girl's gonna get for lines.
Another year, another edition of the prestigious Kpop Awards. There's a slate of nine exciting awards that will be handed out to this year's very best. Who will take home the wonderful prizes? Who will have to wait until next time? Let's find out with the 2018 Kpop Awards.
Best Girl Group: Mamamoo
After the battles between Red Velvet and Twice (sorry Black Pink), Mamamoo come out on top of the girl group ladder. To call 2018 "the year of Mamamoo" is an understatement. Whatever you wanted from them, you got. Group comeback? How about the diverse tastes of "Starry Knight," "Egotistic," and "Wind Flower." Solo efforts? Solar continued to release soft ballads while Moonbyul and Wheein had strong debuts with "Selfish" and "Easy." Even though I predict they'll slow down a bit in 2019, their incredible 2018 campaign lands them as the best girl group of the year.
Best Boy Group: BTS
Goodness, BTS have won this award for four consecutive years. From this series' inception in 2015, no other boy group has been as dominant and as consistent as BTS. This was another year full of production from the squad. The R&B-infused "Fake Love" started their year while "Idol" was full of psychedelic elements in both song and video. So trippy in fact that there was a version with Nicki Minaj guesting. Individual stages were also plentiful, just check out the end of the year performances for proof. Huh, they're finishing up another album? Are we sure these dudes are human?
Hey I had to work on Christmas Eve haha! Who needs an introduction? These are my picks for the top songs in 2018. Let's fucking get it.
#10. Pristin V - Get It
Apparently people slept on "Get It" but it's the best ever released by Pristin (even though this is a subunit). It's kinda sad, but this is what optimal Pristin looks like. The song matches the instrumental in the hard-hitting nature, while everyone serves up that femme fatale look. From Eunwoo's vocals to Rena's rapping, each member puts in a solid performance for a well-rounded track. Without any aegyo bullshit or unnecessary moments, it's easy to see why "Get It" earned a spot on this list. Hopefully the rest of Pristin can get on this level for the future.
#9. Stray Kids - I Am You
Stray Kids are the new kids on the block, and they've amassed quite the early portfolio. "I Am You" is a refreshing take on the typical energetic dance track mixed with some powerful rapping. Like SM, JYP finally has some solid rappers with this generation of groups. As far as first impressions go, they remind me of GOT7 if GOT7 had actual rappers. Changbin, Han, and Felix make the highlight reel (though the latter is mostly on voice alone) and the singers aren't bad either. I imagine they will pan out nicely thanks to their rapping and composition abilities.
Should probably have had some more of these throughout the years - they're simple, easy to write, and have basically no restrictions on what or how I want to write. Anyway, Kpop has had an...interesting week. All kinds of news and most of it is not the good kind. The main headline is of course that Hyuna and E'Dawn would be leaving Cube Entertainment. This comes a month after their revealed relationship which has been a thing for over two years. Buckle up because this is quite the doozy.
With Visual Power Rankings out of the way (and class ending) I can write actual content. Also this group's name puts them at the very top on Blogger's labels which pisses me off. Anyways, here's their first comeback with "Hann" and those verses are fucking gold. The English "do you remember what you said" flows super well unlike other tracks and goes right into the Korean. The rest of the English in the song...not so much (mostly because of pronunciation). The verses are drawn out so each member gets plenty of singing time. Miyeon and Soojin benefit heavily and sound amazing in lead roles. Soojin in particular leveled up since "Latata" with her mannerisms and stood out more - having bright red hair certainly helps. The song builds well on itself throughout but "Hann" struggles in the chorus game, leaving much to be desired. Hopefully this doesn't become a trend where they have really solid verses with lackluster choruses. They've been too repetitive and dull. I wasn't floored by this choreography either but the formations of an even membered group are enough to hold it down. Soyeon delivers another solid performance though it's not as impressive as her debut with "Latata." Like the verses, the bridge is also really good and builds into...an awkward dance break by Shuhua. Huh. Not what I was expecting but it'll do I guess. That break and the choruses hurt this song's chances of being better than "Latata." Plus Yuqi got ruined by those bangs, goddammit.
Three years after CLC, Cube Entertainment is bringing us another girl group with the tragically-named (G)I-DLE. I'm honestly going to avoid typing their group name out as much as possible, it's that bad. The Korean name isn't much better, either. Anyway this new squad is headlined by Soyeon, a young rapping talent that did extremely well on Produce 101 and Unpretty Rapstar Season 3. My immediate fears are that this is the start of a new Hyuna and friends but that may be the 4minute PTSD in me talking. Can't think negatively about a new group already, let's check out their debut song "Latata."
You can tell right away that this song is similar to other Cube girl group releases. That's because Big Sancho is behind "Latata." He also worked on past Cube hits like Hyuna's "How's This" and CLC's "Hobgoblin." It's a lot slower-paced than those examples, but the similar sound persists. Both the bridge and rap break helped mix things up while still maintaining the same speed of the song. Almost nothing feels out of place. Minnie's part was very awkward and definitely the weakest part of the song, though thankfully for her Yuqi makes up for it immediately afterward (more on her after the jump). There's nothing intricate here. "Latata" is a simple, balanced, and effective song. It's a good safe choice out of Cube's third girl group.
