Frank Kogan

And now it isn't even the most frequent mode, since butt shaking sexiness has become boringly similar across the field. To the point where old fashioned SNSD-y cuteness of Lovelyz felt fresh (helps that they sound pretty good) and a (sonically) pretty unexciting 'tough' hiphop-y concept from new group Sonamoo gets k-pop fans talking them up just because they do stand out in the current climate. I have a feeling butt shaking sexiness is on the way out also among k-pop labels, though, although EXID's late 2015 sudden success and chart re-entry of their pretty good and catchy 'Up Down' was at least sold in the media as a butt shaking sexiness success story.

Another discussion we briefly had over at ilxor is the fact that non-idol korean pop was what dominated the charts in 2014.