Leg movements transcend suckage

[koganbot]

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"

Watch on YouTube

Teen Top "Miss Right"

Watch on YouTube

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.

Comments

[askbask.livejournal.com]

Ailee made it big, if she counts. (Lee Hi's fellow K-pop Star alumni Baek A-yeon was also instantly popular. Park Jimin and her duo 15& pretty popular.)

[koganbot]

Yes, Ailee counts. I simply forgot her. Props to New Jersey. So far, Baek A-Yeon hasn't followed up on that initial burst of popularity. And it's too early to tell if Park Jimin and 15& will have staying power.

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.

[koganbot]

Doing some more Voice followup: I like Son Seung Yeon's Hyundai promo more than her actual single. Haven't heard any post-Voice stuff for Yu Seong Eun or Bae Geun Seok. But I see that Lee Sojung is now a member of Ladies' Code!

No time to watch various Season Twos. Any recommendations?

[askbask.livejournal.com]

Never did follow The Voice outside of what you've posted. Sometimes I've watched a few minutes the few times I watch live, random TV, but names and stars escape me. I usually catch on to most talent show stars after they top the charts.

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

[askbask.livejournal.com]

Well the JoongAng Ilbo steps in and does what I can't do http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2969649