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Leg movements transcend suckage
I must say that the South Korean Singles Chart is kinda sucking at the moment. Good songs by SHINee and Sistar will soon be winding up their runs, and Girl's Day's pleasingly perky "Expectation" could only manage one week in the Top Ten. Meanwhile, the music that's been exciting people here and on Rolling K-pop (Gaeko, GLAM, D-Unit, Ladies' Code, MYNAME) are down in the lower reaches, when they're there at all. That this week the chart is topped by over-precious talent-show indie and unremarkable balladry isn't the particular problem — this often happens. I'm disappointed by the idol ballads too (Davichi and Taeyeon), but that's not a giant surprise either. I only ever like a small percentage of ballads. I guess what I'm bummed about is that, after Rainbow came out with a dull non-SweeTune track and a boring concept, the SweeTune comeback track for Infinite is also something of a drag: murky and meh. SweeTune tend to pile sounds into their tracks, and this time the boys' voices couldn't lift the weight. Teen Top's holding on with an okay bit of cod-Latin, but they've been catchier too.
Not that I think the Korean popular genres are in trouble. That there's plenty of good stuff hitting small or flopping means that the wellspring is still gushing, even if the dice are landing wrong. And actually, onstage, with the excellent dancing and the thrilled fans, Infinite and Teen Top are coming through, K-pop as a never-ending stream of event upon event upon event. The spark's there, crisp movement, sharp with the kneebend, just needs better notes and the voices need to be used better:
Infinite "Man In Love"
Teen Top "Miss Right"
By the way, down in the OST ballad pit, Baek Ji Young is excellently overdramatic on "Acacia," and was even more excellently extreme three months ago giving way to hate.
Not that I think the Korean popular genres are in trouble. That there's plenty of good stuff hitting small or flopping means that the wellspring is still gushing, even if the dice are landing wrong. And actually, onstage, with the excellent dancing and the thrilled fans, Infinite and Teen Top are coming through, K-pop as a never-ending stream of event upon event upon event. The spark's there, crisp movement, sharp with the kneebend, just needs better notes and the voices need to be used better:
By the way, down in the OST ballad pit, Baek Ji Young is excellently overdramatic on "Acacia," and was even more excellently extreme three months ago giving way to hate.
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I guess the idea is that they want to be global icons. Like the Beatles. Still...
I take it that the visual concept is "tomboy"! Or maybe even "Lipstick Tomboy."
Strange.
Wouldn't bet on success, though the brief squibs on allkpop make me think that GI are aimed internationally, not trying to get a base in Korea first. Korea will be an international selling point. Someone thinks they're commercially viable. I don't think the track is strong enough. But it is enjoyable, you're right.
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I like Beatles but don't see how they'd survive in an overcrowded market, as I wrote another place before catching my own joke.
Another girl group debuted this week as well http://youtu.be/TloLiJE5jsM
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Maybe I'm missing someone obvious. Dal★Shabet? Exid? BTOB? Spica? Nu'est? I wouldn't say any of them are stars. Unless I'm wrong. Block B are in limbo.
Chi Chi were still in business as of mid 2012; deserve more attention than they've gotten. Don't know if we'll ever hear from ChoColat again, though I hope their label's sticking with them. Ditto for Crayon Pop. My favorites Flashe and New F.O seem to have disappeared; I assume they're lost causes, though maybe their agencies will persevere with them for the long haul. Fat Cat had health issues last year; otherwise, I'd say she got enough attention to be guaranteed a few more chances.
Delight's "Mega Yak" sounds strong. My guess is that it's not got enough of a hook to break a new band with — even if there were room for a new band.
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Do you know if anyone from Year One of the Korean version of The Voice has gone on to do good stuff, whether popular or not? I was real disappointed by the Yaori EP (best track was "Level Up," the good parts of which reminded me of Miley Cyrus's "Fly On The Wall"). People have posted recent live clips from Woo Hye Mi, which are good, which isn't surprising — she's got a strong blues and jazz voice and a developed sense of her own style. What she's doing isn't idol material (though I remember reading that she was once signed with an agency). She has a nice guest spot on the Baechigi EP, though the best track on it is the one with Ailee (which reminds me a bit of "St. James Infirmary").
On the show, I thought Woo Hye Mi was best doing straight-out blues belting; reasonably enough, though, she's too restless to stick with that. I think her taste is jazz playfulness.
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No time to watch various Season Twos. Any recommendations?
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K-pop Star Season 2 started out with a lot of good contestants. As usual I lose interest going into the top 10 -- I did last year even when I liked more of the top 10. You noted the twee, always-writing-new-songs duo Akdong Musician on the charts. Pretty sure they've already won.
Admittedly I watch the show mostly because of BoA anyway and am selfishly most interested in her power maneuvering in Korean showbiz
http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.kr/2013/01/tv-spoilers-k-pop-star-2_20.html
http://netizenbuzz.blogspot.kr/2013/02/tv-spoilers-k-pop-star-2.html
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j1E5DKVPr0