Frank Kogan

Wow these Serebro girls put out some good songs this year. I usually find one or more catchy Russian pop stars every year, but I have very little knowledge of the context of any of it. I live in a country with part of its border neighboring Russia, but I know very little of how their pop culture fits in Russian daily life, who listens to this and that artist. I tried to read up a little in the wake of t.a.t.u - there were a few groups who like them oddly mashed up social commentary, political symbols and shock factor - I remember one who nicked the 'two girls making out' thing but in the videos were these portraits of big leaders of history. Anyway, catchy songs.

I wonder if IU will be political in her next comeback. She's never been afraid to do her thing, but I didn't really know she could do political songwriting until her last big single, Twenty-three, which wasn't political really but a piece social commentary, and very witty at that. Trying to look past the fact that she was 'brought up' in that leftwing-coding Loen pocket she did also do a somewhat risky collaboration with Seo Taiji commenting on some of the darkest sides of Korean history. We'll see. She's definitely both seen in alternative circles and smack dab in the middle of the most mainstream parts of Korean culture (tv dramas, ad deals for chicken restaurants).

Speaking anecdotally I don't know if jocks and cheerleaders make out the most hardcore k-pop fans, the ones who follow artists around. Just a feeling, but I get the sense that a lot of the most loyal fans find a 2nd home, a family in that bond, with the artists and with other fans. Of course you can hear kpop blasted out on all streets of Seoul and jocks and cheerleaders are part of the big general crowd lapping it up too. And then I can't really say I know how jocks and cheerleaders operate in Korean schools either.

39. Mamamoo "Taller Than You"



I haven't done any lists of favorites this year. My most ambitious project was a playlist of J-pop songs with castanets (mirroring the Ronettes) but though I know there are a lot of examples I've only managed to add seven so far https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50tdxFws5x4&list=PLLkaNi6oDBeCFrhfB6m6XWbIXVaNkzNAO