[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.

[Bonus] The Late Report: May 2019

Oh boy, May was quite a doozy. There's a lot I want to mention in this post, and not all of it is music though certainly no shortage of that. Part of the reason is because I didn't really write a lot and another part is because of the sheer amount of STUFF last month. Youtube has been broken for me for the last few days so I'll probably have to edit this after publishing. But let's take a look at the mega May edition of The Late Report.

Lee Hi - No One (feat. B.I)

Praise everything that is holy, Lee Hi is releasing new music again. Of course this is only because YG is fucking sinking faster than the Titanic but whatever, I'll take it. Whatever is going on in the backing audio, I'll have that and then some. It's almost janky but reminds me of like funky reggae, which I dig. B.I shows up with a classic iKON rap and if you only heard his rap you wouldn't be judged if you thought it was a new iKON song. Her "I don't care about shit" is so soft-spoken it's like she's afraid to curse. That bridge is absolutely powerful and Kpop could learn from it. No comment on Lee Hi with cat ears or any of the other feline imagery...

[Bonus] 2016 Kpop Awards: Part I

Welcome to the 2016 Kpop Awards! The exciting and prestigious event that dates all the way back to 2015. Most of the ideas have previously been used during the awards from last year, but I made sure to throw in a few new ones, too. The various categories will be related to group popularity and success, but I'm also invested in their consistency and potential heading into the new year. There are roughly 15 awards to look at so let's not waste anymore time. I originally didn't want to split the post into two parts but I'd rather have more manageable sections than one giant wall of text.

Best Girl Group: Twice

No more games, no more denial. Twice towered above the competition this year. Whether you're looking for the insanely popular "Cheer Up," or the Halloween-themed "TT," Twice did a perfect job solidifying their status at the top of the girl group ladder in 2016. Both songs were a massive upgrade to the disjointed feel of "Like Ooh-Ahh," and they have established staples between their catchy choreography and beautiful bridges. With such a large roster, they have personalities and appearances of a wide variety, which helps attract fans of all kinds. If anything, they should work on getting more variety starts in 2017. Other groups certainly were successful this year, but none of them have exploded quite like Twice did this year.

Best Boy Group: BTS

Hmm, what a familiar feeling. BTS won this award last year, and it may not come as a surprise to see them take it again. There's simply no other group with the efficiency and work ethic of BTS. They debuted in 2013, and have averaged 3.5 title tracks a year. That number only includes Korean releases, by the way. That is insane. Anyway, 2016 saw songs like "Fire," "Save Me," and "Blood, Sweat, & Tears" enjoy considerable success. Along with the "Wings" album, Suga also had solo work (despite the unfortunate usage of a stage name for his stage name). With Big Bang departing for military service, the difference between BTS and rival boy groups seem worlds apart.

[Bonus] Best Of 2016 (#8-#1)

#8. Big Bang - Last Dance
Big Bang's final hurrah came in the form of "Last Dance" and "Fxxk It." The latter was briefly mentioned in the recap piece, but the former is really the song worth talking about. Somber vocals from each member really set the tone for the song (and the year, to be honest). And then T.O.P started singing and it was beautiful. If nothing else, 2016 has proven that rappers deserve singing lines too! T.O.P and Yubin have made a statement with their voices. Also live performances of "Last Dance" are...interesting. Big Bang will leave us for military service on a good note in an illustrious career.

#7. Twice - Cheer Up
Only one girl group can claim to be the hottest in 2016. Twice dominated Youtube, hearts, and charts with "Cheer Up" and even their most stout critics were silenced by the success of "Cheer Up." This was a group finding their form: between the vocal leadership of Nayeon and Jihyo, the shared rap between Chaeyoung and Dahyun, and pretty bridges and aesthetics, this song (combined with "TT" later) cemented Twice's position as the best girl group of the year (oops, spoilers for the Kpop Awards). Throw in a fun choreography and dance break and this was Twice firing on all cylinders.

[Blog] Kpop in Seoul-ish

If you, dear reader, are like me, then you are probably curious about Kpop in Korea. After all, most of us are international fans. I had the opportunity to be in Seoul (more specifically, the Myeongdong and Hongdae area) for a week. While I was enjoying my time buying and eating everything in Seoul, I paid attention to the songs that Korea (or rather, Korean shops I suppose) were listening to. A few notes before moving forward:

- I recorded songs that were within hearing range. I wasn't about to bulldoze my way through a crowd to figure out a song because that's unnecessary. And like mentioned earlier, these were primarily in the streets of Hongdae and Myeongdong.

- My library is not all-encompassing. There were certainly songs that I didn't recognize, and I tried to account for them as best I could whenever I had the time (because an international plan only gets you so much data).

- Girl groups and soloists only. I didn't pay attention for boy groups, but even then I could easily tell you that the three dominating parties were: ballads, hip-hop and rap (plenty of San E), and Big Planet (Big Bang and EXO). I also heard more Psy than I would have thought.

[Review] Hi Suhyun - I'm Different (feat. Bobby)

Suhyun of Akdong Musician and Lee Hi of Lee Hi join together for this YG subunit release. Lee Hi had been inactive for a while so it was nice to see her return to the stage / studio with this song.

While the subunit name "Hi Suhyun" wasn't very clever, the actual pairing was. Lee Hi has a very rich voice and in contrast, Suhyun has a really clear and light voice and they match well. One of the true markings of a good collaboration is that neither voice overpowers the other, and that both members have proportionate line distribution (obviously). Hi Suhyun scores high on both marks, and combined with the quality combination of both voices, and there was little room to fail.

Unfortunately, YG managed to find a way to do so with having the prechorus in rap form. Perhaps it's not completely traditional rap but they're certainly not singing and they certainly would've been better off without rapping. Like I get it, they're cute and sassy but this is definitely not their cup of tea, and it just might've been better if Bobby was doing the prechorus for the girls.

Speaking of, Bobby shows up for a short bit and is pretty solid. I first saw him in Epik High's "Born Hater" and he really impressed for such a young one / rookie and he kept up the good work here. Surely Bobby saved Lee Hi and Suhyun because if not for his actual good rap, I'd have marked them down a ton for the prechorus.

The MV is adorable and compliments the song and lyrics. There isn't much to talk about, since the MV speaks for itself. Poor girls.

"I'm Different" is different in many ways. The song is light and catchy, the vocal pair is really strong, and the MV is absolute quality. Bobby's rapping is good, and the girls' rapping is not. Still, it's something I didn't really expect out of YG and pleasantly exceeded expectations.

[ Score: 85 / 100 ]

[Bonus] Kpop Free Agency: Soloists

We’ve all imagined idol group shuffling, where members get exchanged for some dream, interesting, or just downright wacky new groups. But what about solo artists? What if they had the choice to join groups? Would they go for something that they’re right at home with, or try something entirely different?
~
Ailee

There’s no secret that Ailee wouldn’t mind being in a group. Ailee has stated in interviews that she gets lonely at times and thus would love being in a group. Ailee named 2NE1 as the “dream” group she would like to be in. While Ailee’s powerhouse vocals and fluency in English would certainly help out 2NE1′s foray into the US (and the thought of listening to her in songs like “I Am The Best” and “Falling In Love” are highly entertaining), there is another group more tailored to her skills. Imagine if you will, Hyorin and Ailee the powerful juggernaut vocals of Sistar’s music, with Dasom and Soyu providing supportive transitions with their lighter voices. Ailee’s addition into Sistar would not only improve the already excellent vocal quality of Sistar, but also bring some more diversity in terms of the rapping. Bora and Ailee can share parts, which will either bring more exposure to Bora or force Starship to give Bora some singing lines.

IU

While a little behind on the timing, IU’s maturity from (bubblegum) pop to more serious songs really strikes a tune with Girl’s Day’s transition to “Expectation” and “Female President.” Girl’s Day has always been one of the girl groups with better line distribution, so including IU in the mix will not leave her overshadowed or underrepresented at all. IU’s voice brings another layer to Girl’s Day’s vocals, with her higher register meshing well with Minah. IU’s distinct voice will also provide a blend from members like Sojin and Yura who have lower voices. The primary difference that would result from being in a group like Girl’s Day is the outfits in MVs which are more revealing in contrast to IU’s more conservative outfits. All in all, IU’s unique voice and charm could help bring Girl’s Day into the spotlight with the recent releases.

Lee Hi

When first brainstorming this topic, Ailee and Lee Hi were the first two that came to mind. Ailee easily found a home with Sistar, but for Lee Hi, something was different. Her rich voice certainly appeared to be a valuable asset and could appeal to any group, but when you look at her music, it is so very much “YG” that it was difficult to think of a complementing group. A group like Brown Eyed Girls would bring challenges for Lee Hi as she tackles different genres, but joining 15& would accentuate the distinct voices of the girls already in the group. Something not yet mentioned thus far is age, which Lee Hi not only fits in age-wise, but also by the age of their careers, both having debuted in October of 2012. This also was the more interesting choice since she’s going from YG to JYP, but Lee Hi’s proficiency in English enunciation will only help her with the plethora of English found in most JYP songs.
~
This was just a few ideas amongst a multitude of solo artists. I didn’t mention more seasoned singers like BoA and Younha, while neglecting male solo artists like Huh Gak and Se7en entirely (although for the latter, that may the better choice). The world of group theory is a diverse and interesting one. Who are some solo artists you could see fitting into groups, and which groups are they?

[Review] Lee Hi - It's Over

Vocals: 10 / 10

Did you listen to the first thirty seconds? That is probably the smoothest and colourful introduction to a song I’ve heard, it’s incredible. When I first listened in, the song seemed like there wasn’t too much going on, but further repeats revealed there’s actually a lot of harmony work and lively ad libs scattered around, and it’s really good to listen to. The song is just full of a “serene evening” vibe. Lee Hi’s voice is perfect for this type of smooth music, YG really got it spot on for her.

Appearance: 10 / 10

It’s funny because during my review of “1,2,3,4” Lee Hi would’ve gotten a perfect score in appearance if not for her awkwardness. Now, that awkwardness is gone (see the MV bit), and she proves what I said right. Lee Hi probably had twenty plus outfit / hair changes in a variety of looks from cute, playful, sexy, innocent, elegant. In other words, she looks amazing. She could do without the bright red lipstick of a few looks though. Also, while I loved the use of the giant teddy bear, it made Lee Hi look a lot smaller in stature than the already short 156 cm listed on her profile.

Dance: ? / 10

I’m not sure if I should really talk about the dance at all. There’s like tiny glimpses of it during the chorus, but nothing much otherwise. Compared to “1,2,3,4” there’s even less overall, so I guess I shouldn’t. For what it is worth, the chorus dance / arm movements are pretty simple, cute, and follow with what she sings.

Music Video: 8 / 10

Everything about this is a straight upgrade to “1,2,3,4”. Except for the ridiculously boring blank room… Lee Hi’s lipsyncing has improved tremendously, it’s nowhere near as sloppy as it once was. Within the first five seconds of screentime she’s got quality energy and said energy extends throughout the rest of the song. She’s expressive and interactive with the props and the bear. She has personality, charisma, and charm now and I love it. The various hilarities with the bear was cute and fitting for her age. The “One Of A Kind” cameo (I guess it’s a cameo of sorts) was…interesting, complete with backup dancers and all. If the sets from “1,2,3,4” were used this would have been perfect, too.

~

Overall: 90 / 100

Wow, Lee Hi definitely delivered with this comeback, and it really highlights how she’s grown over the last couple of months. Husky smooth vocals that are expressive all around with some adorable acting with the teddy bear. I heard she’s getting her own apartment, too. Lee Hi fighting!

[Review] Lee Hi - 1,2,3,4

Vocals: 10 / 10

Lee Hi has a kickass voice! Not necessarily through emotion and power, but distinctive in the sound. The kind of voice that would rock songs like “Lady Marmalade” and other sassy type songs. That said, this song definitely has the Lady Marmalade vibe to it, so Lee Hi sounds fantastic. Her English is also really refined, something I didn’t expect. There’s a variety of English thrown around (required by the Korean music order) and not a single word is mispronounced. A solid range, pretty expression, and flawless English give Lee Hi a perfect score for vocals.

Appearance: 8 / 10

For such a young one, she looks way older, but I suppose that’s a trait shared by a variety of idols. I had no idea she was to be a member of YG’s upcoming girl group, so that threw me off in age guessing. At most angles, she looks like a younger Miryo (especially the ones with her hair back) and that is not a bad look at all. If she wasn’t so awkward in the music video, I probably would’ve given her a 9 or even a 10. Oh well, next time, Lee Hi!

Dance: 7 / 10

This song doesn’t place much emphasis on choreography (or the music video either, har har) and there isn’t much focused choreography until the second chorus. There’s no real theme to the dance either, just your typical shenanigans here and there. I probably should be ranking this out of 5 or not ranking it at all since it’s less focused but whatever. This will tie into what I have to say about the music videos later, but since Lee Hi is clearly the vocal dominant type, I think she should just forgo dance altogether (save it for the debut with the girl group) and just have a mic on set, and go from there (similar to Younha’s work).

Music Video: 4 / 10

Awkward does not begin to describe this video. I understand Lee Hi is young, and a rookie, but other rookies like EXO and B.A.P were pretty much flawless with their debut appearances in terms of energy, charisma, and most importantly lipsyncing. Lee Hi is to put it bluntly awful at lipsynching, in an eerie resemblance to YG labelmates Park Bom and T.O.P. Maybe it’s a trend: at least one member of each group has to (purposely or not) be terrible at lipsyncing. Does this mean T.O.P is actually good at singing?! The world may never know. Outside of really bad lipsyncing, her acting / energy in the music was lackluster, too. She looked stiff for pretty much the entire video except for miniscule seconds of emotion like a smile or wink. Hope she loosens up for the future!

~

Overall: 75 / 100

Out of the blue, YG delivers Lee Hi with a catchy debut track full of soul and great vocals. While not something YG would normally release (I suppose save for 2NE1), it is very pleasant to listen to. Lee Hi is sure to be a standout vocalist in YG’s new girl group that’ll debut soon…right?