Thursday, January 23, 2020
Friday, April 19, 2019
TOP 25 BEST KPOP SONGS OF 2018
25 fromis_9, To Heart - Cute-girl groups are not my usual Concept but the energy of this song is so upbeat and joyful. It gives me shiny happy feelings
24 Oh My Girl, Banana Allergy Monkey - I don't like cute songs. I only occasionally make exceptions for cute songs and when I do they seem to be the cute songs that the majority of cute song fans don't like. Banana Allergy Monkey is one of those songs. It was unpopular with the majority of Oh My Girl fans, but I really like it.
23 Marmello, The Moment of Glory - This son was written for the World Cup Soccer Tournament. I remember it was playing when I read the news that Korea had won a big soccer game and I said "woah" at the same time girls were singing the "wo-o-oah wo-o-oah" chorus.
22 Exid, I Love You - I never have high expectations for Exid. I have never liked any of their other songs. This one makes my list because of song composition and vocal performance. However, seeing EXID dance this song live is a little unsatisfying.
21 14U, N.E.W.S. - Big groups are awesome to watch dance. 14U has had a few songs that I really liked, and that, sadly, went ignored. I think they could catch fire if they got a bit more exposure.
20. April, Oh My Mistake - I've had had fascination with April ever since 'Tinkerbelle' caught my eye in an unexpected way. With this slightly more mature concept I can appreciate them so much more and they've earned a spot on my list.
19. CROSS GENE, Fly - Cross Gene made an album where almost every song was title-track worthy. Of the three singles that were made into videos this one has the most uplifting vibe. To me music is all about how it makes you feel.
18. A.C.E., Take Me Higher - Last year was A.C.E.'s debut year, and debuts are always strong, but A.C.E. is keeping up the quality into year two. I'm looking forward to them coming out with that one song that makes them stars!
17. Sugar Tint, Heart Pyong - I heard that this group is under direction of a former member of Purfles. No wonder they have a great song and choreo and far too few people have heard of them, just like the Purfles.
16. Kim Donghan, Sunset - I was skeptical about the idea of a dancer/visual becoming a soloist. In fact, despite being a Joyful I'm reluctant to stan any of the members of JBJ post-breakup except Taehyun, my UB. But... Donghan and JBJ95 really are winning me over with good music.
15. TVXQ!, Love Line - If this song had been performed by anyone lesser it would have been ridiculously boring forgettable. It sails along like a pleasant dream. and TVXQ perform with the precision you could only expect from experienced veterans like them.
14. NCT 127, Regular - I love NCT 127's experimental sound. Whatever you hear from NCT 127 you know they are not trying to copy anyone else.
13. Sunmi, Siren - "Get away outta my face!" I like songs that are aggressive. I like Sunmi's legs. I like that this song feels like it's about her breakup with JYPEntertinment.
12. Sam Kim, Make Up - Sam's song writing is so emotionally personal. The way he is able to pull good songs out of his life experiences is a gift.
11. iKon, Killing Me - Usually I love iKon songs but hate the way iKon performs them. This time however they did it! They had major "it".
10. BLACKPINK, DDU-DU-DDU-DU - How could anyone not be seduced by BP's unique vocal tones, but the song itself is a bit too expected. This is generic YG sound. But even generic YG is soo good, so it gets in the top 10
9. Eric Nam, Potion (ft Woodie Goldchild) - I'm not sure why this song was less popular than the other song he released at the same time "Honestly". 'Potion' is fun and enchanting. Eric Nam song are ones that I usually have to squint at to see that they are good, because they are not my preferred concept, but this one is! Now that I can properly enjoy Eric Nam I can put him on my top 10 list.
8. S.O.U.L., Get Myself With You - This is a song from a fictional Kpop group in a Kdrama. Is it a bad sign that a fictional group is better than so many legit ones?
7. LUCENTE, Your Difference - The award for the most underrated song of the year goes to LUCENTE. Did someone say "nugu"? This group has the sound that I think is lacking in most of the current Kpop groups
6. BOL4, Travel - I am so thrilled to be adding Bol4 to the top 10 for the first time. They have the most amazing folk vocal tone. Now that they have an amazing pop-folk single I can add them to this top 10 without bias.
5. BTS, Fake Love - If this were a list of the top ten best Kpop performances of the year BTS would be on top. But it is top ten Kpop songs of the year. Fake Love is not quite at that masterpiece level. That being said, it is beautifully moody and striking. I get the impression that this is a song written about the love they get from the public and how it is not unconditional love. Fans only love them for the image that they choose to show in public... and BTS might doubt whether people would still love them if they knew all their private thoughts.
4. Amber X Luna, Lower - When this song came out in January my immediate reaction was "Amber and Luna have saved Kpop 2018 before it's barely even started!" f(Amber+Luna) is a severely under rated duo.
3 The East Light, Real Man - I love the subtle humour of this song. A group of teenage boys telling the older women that they are the real men that they need. The East Light made some great songs this year. Sad to hear that they were being abused while making it. They deserve a new company who treats them right. P Nation, will you step up?
2 Shinhwa, Kiss Me Like That - It's really easy to love this song. If you can't tell that this is a good song from just one listen then there's something wrong with you.
1 Pentagon, Shine - This song comes together perfectly from the boys performance to the combination of the good song composition and quirkiness. This song is seriously perfect and delightfully playful. The song of the year.
24 Oh My Girl, Banana Allergy Monkey - I don't like cute songs. I only occasionally make exceptions for cute songs and when I do they seem to be the cute songs that the majority of cute song fans don't like. Banana Allergy Monkey is one of those songs. It was unpopular with the majority of Oh My Girl fans, but I really like it.
23 Marmello, The Moment of Glory - This son was written for the World Cup Soccer Tournament. I remember it was playing when I read the news that Korea had won a big soccer game and I said "woah" at the same time girls were singing the "wo-o-oah wo-o-oah" chorus.
22 Exid, I Love You - I never have high expectations for Exid. I have never liked any of their other songs. This one makes my list because of song composition and vocal performance. However, seeing EXID dance this song live is a little unsatisfying.
21 14U, N.E.W.S. - Big groups are awesome to watch dance. 14U has had a few songs that I really liked, and that, sadly, went ignored. I think they could catch fire if they got a bit more exposure.
20. April, Oh My Mistake - I've had had fascination with April ever since 'Tinkerbelle' caught my eye in an unexpected way. With this slightly more mature concept I can appreciate them so much more and they've earned a spot on my list.
19. CROSS GENE, Fly - Cross Gene made an album where almost every song was title-track worthy. Of the three singles that were made into videos this one has the most uplifting vibe. To me music is all about how it makes you feel.
18. A.C.E., Take Me Higher - Last year was A.C.E.'s debut year, and debuts are always strong, but A.C.E. is keeping up the quality into year two. I'm looking forward to them coming out with that one song that makes them stars!
17. Sugar Tint, Heart Pyong - I heard that this group is under direction of a former member of Purfles. No wonder they have a great song and choreo and far too few people have heard of them, just like the Purfles.
16. Kim Donghan, Sunset - I was skeptical about the idea of a dancer/visual becoming a soloist. In fact, despite being a Joyful I'm reluctant to stan any of the members of JBJ post-breakup except Taehyun, my UB. But... Donghan and JBJ95 really are winning me over with good music.
15. TVXQ!, Love Line - If this song had been performed by anyone lesser it would have been ridiculously boring forgettable. It sails along like a pleasant dream. and TVXQ perform with the precision you could only expect from experienced veterans like them.
14. NCT 127, Regular - I love NCT 127's experimental sound. Whatever you hear from NCT 127 you know they are not trying to copy anyone else.
13. Sunmi, Siren - "Get away outta my face!" I like songs that are aggressive. I like Sunmi's legs. I like that this song feels like it's about her breakup with JYPEntertinment.
12. Sam Kim, Make Up - Sam's song writing is so emotionally personal. The way he is able to pull good songs out of his life experiences is a gift.
11. iKon, Killing Me - Usually I love iKon songs but hate the way iKon performs them. This time however they did it! They had major "it".
10. BLACKPINK, DDU-DU-DDU-DU - How could anyone not be seduced by BP's unique vocal tones, but the song itself is a bit too expected. This is generic YG sound. But even generic YG is soo good, so it gets in the top 10
9. Eric Nam, Potion (ft Woodie Goldchild) - I'm not sure why this song was less popular than the other song he released at the same time "Honestly". 'Potion' is fun and enchanting. Eric Nam song are ones that I usually have to squint at to see that they are good, because they are not my preferred concept, but this one is! Now that I can properly enjoy Eric Nam I can put him on my top 10 list.
8. S.O.U.L., Get Myself With You - This is a song from a fictional Kpop group in a Kdrama. Is it a bad sign that a fictional group is better than so many legit ones?
7. LUCENTE, Your Difference - The award for the most underrated song of the year goes to LUCENTE. Did someone say "nugu"? This group has the sound that I think is lacking in most of the current Kpop groups
6. BOL4, Travel - I am so thrilled to be adding Bol4 to the top 10 for the first time. They have the most amazing folk vocal tone. Now that they have an amazing pop-folk single I can add them to this top 10 without bias.
5. BTS, Fake Love - If this were a list of the top ten best Kpop performances of the year BTS would be on top. But it is top ten Kpop songs of the year. Fake Love is not quite at that masterpiece level. That being said, it is beautifully moody and striking. I get the impression that this is a song written about the love they get from the public and how it is not unconditional love. Fans only love them for the image that they choose to show in public... and BTS might doubt whether people would still love them if they knew all their private thoughts.
4. Amber X Luna, Lower - When this song came out in January my immediate reaction was "Amber and Luna have saved Kpop 2018 before it's barely even started!" f(Amber+Luna) is a severely under rated duo.
3 The East Light, Real Man - I love the subtle humour of this song. A group of teenage boys telling the older women that they are the real men that they need. The East Light made some great songs this year. Sad to hear that they were being abused while making it. They deserve a new company who treats them right. P Nation, will you step up?
2 Shinhwa, Kiss Me Like That - It's really easy to love this song. If you can't tell that this is a good song from just one listen then there's something wrong with you.
1 Pentagon, Shine - This song comes together perfectly from the boys performance to the combination of the good song composition and quirkiness. This song is seriously perfect and delightfully playful. The song of the year.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Top 25 Best KPOP of 2017
My annual KPOP list has been a top 30 for the past 2 years. But this year I feel there is a drop off in quality after 25 songs. So here it is!
Top 25 Best KPOP Songs of 2017
25 Fingertip by GFRIEND- GFRIEND is usually not to my taste but this song is so different from their usual style. It is like music from an '80s action movie. In the video I really wish that they had used their "Fingertip"s as guns instead of the plastic ones.
24 Ko Ko Bop by EXO- EXO did not impress me as much this year as they usually do. The dance breaks in this song were trying too hard to be cool. LOL. But, the parts where they sing actually are cool. And cool is the best word to describe this funky laid back track. The choreography was for the most part excellent, but at times I think the arm movements were too fast to make a proper impact.
23 Save Me by I'M- This is a slow song from a former member of Topp Dogg. I believe he is someone that deserves more attention. I love the layering of the vocals and the changes in melody. The heavy hearted mood created by the song is captivating.
22 Gashina by Sunmi- This song is like a journey. A fun journey with your friends. A journey where something fun is always happenning and the destination isn't really the point of the trip. I think that metaphor will stand as the only sort of review I give this song.
21 Like This by Pentagon- Pentagon had 6 comebacks this year. "Like This" was the strongest. It has a chorus that soars. A lot of songs this year were just simple and pleasant background music and "Like This" almost falls into this category too. But there is something uplifting about it. It isn't just background music it makes you feel something. I get a similar feeling when I hear rock songs like Don't Stop Believin', Journey and Beautiful Day, U2.
20 Reborn by Jay Park, BOI B, DOUBLE K- The year cannot be complete without hearing at least one thing from Jay Park with this kind of sound. It is Jay at his usual greatness, what else can I say? I understand it is an ad for a digestive medicine: Hwalmyeongsu. Such a shame that a good song will be associated with sickness.
19 Whisper by VIXX LR- VIXX LR has a different sound to it than VIXX or than Ravi's solo rap. VIXX LR is my favourite version of VIXX. This song is sensual and melodic.
18 Run The Streets by DEAN- I love DEAN's unique voice. He has a sincerity in his voice. He is not being over theatrical. The lyrics are really dramatic and he doesn't over do it to sound like he is bragging or like he is venting. He is just stating and it seems more sincere that way. He goes into a bit of a scat in the middle, which is brilliant.
17 Energetic by Wanna One- I haven't enjoyed anything as much as I enjoyed Produce 101 Season 2. This show had me falling in love with every contestant. They didn't even have to try to make good music after that, but they did! The human piano was inspired! and that "why~~~" near the beginning of the song just makes me melt. Then in the chorus they do that "got me feelin energetic" with the 'Macarana' type dance moves and I'm hyped! This song gives me a total range of emotions.
16 Kiss Me by WJSN- The cute girl concept usually doesn't appeal to me but this one is too catchy to ignore! It is not even really cute in the typical sense. It's just fun and fluffy. That must be why I enjoy it. It is also very consistent. There is no part that stands out as better or worse than another. It flows nicely and always sounds like it's over too soon. I could loop this for an hour.
15 Dance With Me by VAV- VAV has song writers from SM Entertainment and they put great riffs and runs in this song. Since this was a group that I hadn't heard much from VAV before it took me a while to realize how good this song actually was. It includes harmonies in the background which is something a lot of groups don't bother to do. It really enriches the sound.
14 All Night by Girls' Generation- This kind of sound has been missing from Girls' Generation for a couple of years, and I'm so glad to hear it again. More than that, however, I love the outside-the-box outfits. I feel like a lot of Kpop groups have been playing it safe and wearing clothes that are conventionally pretty. But we can count on SM entertainment have the balls to dress their artists in all kinds of deliciously tacky sparkles and feathers!
13 Cherry Bomb by NCT 127- NCT 127 has made a creative effort again this year. This time it landed a little better than last year's "Firetruck". Every verse and chorus and dance step gives me something I haven't quite seen or heard before. It falls short of off-putting and lands in engaging.
12 I Love You by Bobby- Bobby seems so natural and comfortable in this song. He has the natural YG swagger, even if his style of swagger is a little more youthful and vibrant than other YG artists'. The song has a little bit of the Carribean flavour that has been so popular in 2017, but not so much that you would call it tropical.
11 What's Good by Niel (feat. Justhis)- Niel is an amazing dancer. The choreography in the rap break is killer and Justhis' rap is brilliant. The chorus and the verses both move you to groove along.
10 Sorry by The Rose- This singer takes the opposite approach from DEAN and I like it that way too. The singer puts so much emotion into every word that you can feel it even when you don't understand the language. I think that is something very special about music in a foreign language. It allows you to listen to peoples emotions without being distracted by their words. I don't usually fall for the rock genre but I will be looking out for The Rose in the future.
9 Don't Wanna Cry by Seventeen- This song is very sparse in terms of vocals. The dance is my favourite thing about it. I want to call this the choreography of the year.
8 Stranger's Love by Barberettes X Jang Jinyoung- These girls have buckets full of talent. I'm thrilled to be putting the Baberettes in my top 10 list this year.The tone of this song is so seductive.
7 Dirty House by Nam Taehyun (South Club)- I'm not a K-rocker, but I think this song is so cool. Play it while you are cleaning the house. Ever notice how the word house sounds a lot like the word hoes. Dirty hoes? I kind of like how the song crashes for a few seconds in the middle and then recovers.
6 Fruity by Hyolyn (feat. Kisum)- How can an ad for a fruity drink be such a good song? I hope these companies keep pumping money into KPOP if this is the result.
5 O Sole Mio by SF9- This song is framiliar sounding. The Spanish guitar rhythms are gorgeous and delicate. Can we talk about how they sing four languages in only one line O sole mio Italian, te quiero Spanish, neo nae taeyang Korean, O my Lady English. The innovative wardrobe caught me eye too. Their large shirts are like a modern take on the matador cape. So many details in this song.
4 On/Off by ONF- If you look up the word bop in the dictionary this song starts playing. Someone had to bring a happy, catchy boy band sound this year. We got it from the debut song of ONF! Well done new boys!
3 Sixteen by Samual (feat. Changmo)- The best post-Produce 101 song. This has early Justin Beiber feels to it. Or at least Justin wishes his video were this good. Samuel makes dancing look easy and natural.
2 Wake Me Up by BAP- This song is about a big and important issue, but read a translation of the lyrics and they are just ambiguous enough so that the song can be about any issue that the listenner wants it to be about. Even with the video there are still gaps left open for the viewer to fill in. It's really cool when the same art means something different to different people.
1 Goodbye by 2NE1- The perfect goodbye song. 2NE1 is a group that got a lot of people hooked on KPOP. The world would not have been the same without them. If they had to leave I am glad they left on such a beautiful note.
Top 25 Best KPOP Songs of 2017
25 Fingertip by GFRIEND- GFRIEND is usually not to my taste but this song is so different from their usual style. It is like music from an '80s action movie. In the video I really wish that they had used their "Fingertip"s as guns instead of the plastic ones.
24 Ko Ko Bop by EXO- EXO did not impress me as much this year as they usually do. The dance breaks in this song were trying too hard to be cool. LOL. But, the parts where they sing actually are cool. And cool is the best word to describe this funky laid back track. The choreography was for the most part excellent, but at times I think the arm movements were too fast to make a proper impact.
23 Save Me by I'M- This is a slow song from a former member of Topp Dogg. I believe he is someone that deserves more attention. I love the layering of the vocals and the changes in melody. The heavy hearted mood created by the song is captivating.
22 Gashina by Sunmi- This song is like a journey. A fun journey with your friends. A journey where something fun is always happenning and the destination isn't really the point of the trip. I think that metaphor will stand as the only sort of review I give this song.
21 Like This by Pentagon- Pentagon had 6 comebacks this year. "Like This" was the strongest. It has a chorus that soars. A lot of songs this year were just simple and pleasant background music and "Like This" almost falls into this category too. But there is something uplifting about it. It isn't just background music it makes you feel something. I get a similar feeling when I hear rock songs like Don't Stop Believin', Journey and Beautiful Day, U2.
20 Reborn by Jay Park, BOI B, DOUBLE K- The year cannot be complete without hearing at least one thing from Jay Park with this kind of sound. It is Jay at his usual greatness, what else can I say? I understand it is an ad for a digestive medicine: Hwalmyeongsu. Such a shame that a good song will be associated with sickness.
19 Whisper by VIXX LR- VIXX LR has a different sound to it than VIXX or than Ravi's solo rap. VIXX LR is my favourite version of VIXX. This song is sensual and melodic.
18 Run The Streets by DEAN- I love DEAN's unique voice. He has a sincerity in his voice. He is not being over theatrical. The lyrics are really dramatic and he doesn't over do it to sound like he is bragging or like he is venting. He is just stating and it seems more sincere that way. He goes into a bit of a scat in the middle, which is brilliant.
17 Energetic by Wanna One- I haven't enjoyed anything as much as I enjoyed Produce 101 Season 2. This show had me falling in love with every contestant. They didn't even have to try to make good music after that, but they did! The human piano was inspired! and that "why~~~" near the beginning of the song just makes me melt. Then in the chorus they do that "got me feelin energetic" with the 'Macarana' type dance moves and I'm hyped! This song gives me a total range of emotions.
16 Kiss Me by WJSN- The cute girl concept usually doesn't appeal to me but this one is too catchy to ignore! It is not even really cute in the typical sense. It's just fun and fluffy. That must be why I enjoy it. It is also very consistent. There is no part that stands out as better or worse than another. It flows nicely and always sounds like it's over too soon. I could loop this for an hour.
15 Dance With Me by VAV- VAV has song writers from SM Entertainment and they put great riffs and runs in this song. Since this was a group that I hadn't heard much from VAV before it took me a while to realize how good this song actually was. It includes harmonies in the background which is something a lot of groups don't bother to do. It really enriches the sound.
14 All Night by Girls' Generation- This kind of sound has been missing from Girls' Generation for a couple of years, and I'm so glad to hear it again. More than that, however, I love the outside-the-box outfits. I feel like a lot of Kpop groups have been playing it safe and wearing clothes that are conventionally pretty. But we can count on SM entertainment have the balls to dress their artists in all kinds of deliciously tacky sparkles and feathers!
13 Cherry Bomb by NCT 127- NCT 127 has made a creative effort again this year. This time it landed a little better than last year's "Firetruck". Every verse and chorus and dance step gives me something I haven't quite seen or heard before. It falls short of off-putting and lands in engaging.
12 I Love You by Bobby- Bobby seems so natural and comfortable in this song. He has the natural YG swagger, even if his style of swagger is a little more youthful and vibrant than other YG artists'. The song has a little bit of the Carribean flavour that has been so popular in 2017, but not so much that you would call it tropical.
11 What's Good by Niel (feat. Justhis)- Niel is an amazing dancer. The choreography in the rap break is killer and Justhis' rap is brilliant. The chorus and the verses both move you to groove along.
10 Sorry by The Rose- This singer takes the opposite approach from DEAN and I like it that way too. The singer puts so much emotion into every word that you can feel it even when you don't understand the language. I think that is something very special about music in a foreign language. It allows you to listen to peoples emotions without being distracted by their words. I don't usually fall for the rock genre but I will be looking out for The Rose in the future.
9 Don't Wanna Cry by Seventeen- This song is very sparse in terms of vocals. The dance is my favourite thing about it. I want to call this the choreography of the year.
8 Stranger's Love by Barberettes X Jang Jinyoung- These girls have buckets full of talent. I'm thrilled to be putting the Baberettes in my top 10 list this year.The tone of this song is so seductive.
7 Dirty House by Nam Taehyun (South Club)- I'm not a K-rocker, but I think this song is so cool. Play it while you are cleaning the house. Ever notice how the word house sounds a lot like the word hoes. Dirty hoes? I kind of like how the song crashes for a few seconds in the middle and then recovers.
6 Fruity by Hyolyn (feat. Kisum)- How can an ad for a fruity drink be such a good song? I hope these companies keep pumping money into KPOP if this is the result.
5 O Sole Mio by SF9- This song is framiliar sounding. The Spanish guitar rhythms are gorgeous and delicate. Can we talk about how they sing four languages in only one line O sole mio Italian, te quiero Spanish, neo nae taeyang Korean, O my Lady English. The innovative wardrobe caught me eye too. Their large shirts are like a modern take on the matador cape. So many details in this song.
4 On/Off by ONF- If you look up the word bop in the dictionary this song starts playing. Someone had to bring a happy, catchy boy band sound this year. We got it from the debut song of ONF! Well done new boys!
3 Sixteen by Samual (feat. Changmo)- The best post-Produce 101 song. This has early Justin Beiber feels to it. Or at least Justin wishes his video were this good. Samuel makes dancing look easy and natural.
2 Wake Me Up by BAP- This song is about a big and important issue, but read a translation of the lyrics and they are just ambiguous enough so that the song can be about any issue that the listenner wants it to be about. Even with the video there are still gaps left open for the viewer to fill in. It's really cool when the same art means something different to different people.
1 Goodbye by 2NE1- The perfect goodbye song. 2NE1 is a group that got a lot of people hooked on KPOP. The world would not have been the same without them. If they had to leave I am glad they left on such a beautiful note.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
IU Jam Jam: Easy to Read Lyrics (Romanization)
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO https://youtu.be/ERlGI10Jrig
al man-han sa-ram-ggi-ri i jeong-do geo-jin-ma-ren
so-ga-ju-neun ge ye-ui a-nin-ga-yo
dwil-lae geu-ggat meong-cheong-i mwo-deun hae-bwa-yo u-ri
saeng-gak-hal gyeo-reul-jo-cha ju-ji ma-yo
seol-tang-i pi-ryo-hae
nan mo-me na-ppeun ge jom pi-ryo-hae
tteu-tteun-mi-ji-geun-han geon geu-man-hae
mak sol-jik-ha-get-da-go? geu-ge mwo-ra-go
I need some sugar
I need something fake
jin-sim-i-ran ge mwo-ya? nan sang-gwan an hae
dul da al-jan-ha limit got ggeun-nal ten-de
sik-gi jeo-ne nal bu-di han-ggeot no-gyeo-jwo babe
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
al man-han sa-ram-ggi-ri i jeong-do geo-jin-ma-ren
so-ga-ju-neun ge ye-ui a-nin-ga-yo
dwil-lae geu-ggat meong-cheong-i mwo-deun hae-bwa-yo u-ri
saeng-gak-hal gyeo-reul-jo-cha ju-ji ma-yo
Jam
seol-tang tang tang sa-rang rang rang
Jam
seol-tang tang tang sa-rang rang rang
sa-rang-han-da-go hae
i-be bal-lin ma-reul hae ye-ppeu-ge
kkeun-jeok-kkeun-jeok jeo-ryeo-seo bo-gwan-hal-ge
sseok-ji an-ge a-ju o-rae
I need some sugar
I need something fake
cheon-yeon geu-reon geo mol-la ja-geuk-jeo-gi-ge
gu-di al-lyeo-go ha-ji mal-ja
ui-mi geu-nom-ui ui-mi
eo-seo da no-gyeo-jwo babe
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
Jam
a-ju hyeong-che-do a-ra-bol su eop-ge
Jam (i-geot bwa)
on-mo-me mu-deo-sseo
sa-rang sa-rang sa-rang
Jam
baby make me be sweet
baby make me so sweet baby
Jam
Oh baby make me be sweet
baby make me so sweet
al man-han sa-ram-kki-ri i jeong-do geo-jin-ma-ren
so-ga-ju-neun ge ye-ui a-nin-ga-yo
dwil-lae geu-kkat meong-cheong-i mwo-deun hae-bwa-yo u-ri
meong-cheong-i u-rin
saeng-gak-hal gyeo-reul-jo-cha ju-ji ma-yo
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO https://youtu.be/ERlGI10Jrig
al man-han sa-ram-ggi-ri i jeong-do geo-jin-ma-ren
so-ga-ju-neun ge ye-ui a-nin-ga-yo
dwil-lae geu-ggat meong-cheong-i mwo-deun hae-bwa-yo u-ri
saeng-gak-hal gyeo-reul-jo-cha ju-ji ma-yo
seol-tang-i pi-ryo-hae
nan mo-me na-ppeun ge jom pi-ryo-hae
tteu-tteun-mi-ji-geun-han geon geu-man-hae
mak sol-jik-ha-get-da-go? geu-ge mwo-ra-go
I need some sugar
I need something fake
jin-sim-i-ran ge mwo-ya? nan sang-gwan an hae
dul da al-jan-ha limit got ggeun-nal ten-de
sik-gi jeo-ne nal bu-di han-ggeot no-gyeo-jwo babe
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
al man-han sa-ram-ggi-ri i jeong-do geo-jin-ma-ren
so-ga-ju-neun ge ye-ui a-nin-ga-yo
dwil-lae geu-ggat meong-cheong-i mwo-deun hae-bwa-yo u-ri
saeng-gak-hal gyeo-reul-jo-cha ju-ji ma-yo
Jam
seol-tang tang tang sa-rang rang rang
Jam
seol-tang tang tang sa-rang rang rang
sa-rang-han-da-go hae
i-be bal-lin ma-reul hae ye-ppeu-ge
kkeun-jeok-kkeun-jeok jeo-ryeo-seo bo-gwan-hal-ge
sseok-ji an-ge a-ju o-rae
I need some sugar
I need something fake
cheon-yeon geu-reon geo mol-la ja-geuk-jeo-gi-ge
gu-di al-lyeo-go ha-ji mal-ja
ui-mi geu-nom-ui ui-mi
eo-seo da no-gyeo-jwo babe
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
Jam
a-ju hyeong-che-do a-ra-bol su eop-ge
Jam (i-geot bwa)
on-mo-me mu-deo-sseo
sa-rang sa-rang sa-rang
Jam
baby make me be sweet
baby make me so sweet baby
Jam
Oh baby make me be sweet
baby make me so sweet
al man-han sa-ram-kki-ri i jeong-do geo-jin-ma-ren
so-ga-ju-neun ge ye-ui a-nin-ga-yo
dwil-lae geu-kkat meong-cheong-i mwo-deun hae-bwa-yo u-ri
meong-cheong-i u-rin
saeng-gak-hal gyeo-reul-jo-cha ju-ji ma-yo
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
deop-go geu wi-e da-si eon-go tto-da-shi
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO https://youtu.be/ERlGI10Jrig
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Teen Top - Love Is Lyrics EASY TO READ ROMANIZATION
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO https://youtu.be/pcUrJIPJe9A
Love is gone away
Love is gone away
Love is gone away
neon ut-go in-neun-de nan mi-chyeo-ga Oh no
myeo-chil-jjae wae yeol-ra-gi eom-neun geo-ya
neo ttae-me nan jam han-sum-do
mot jan chae
myeo-chil-jjae nun-mul-lo bam ji-saen geo-ya
do-dae-che eol-ma-na deo a-pa-ya hae
eol-ma-na deo a-pa-ya hae
mae-il dwi-pu-ri dwi-neun sang-hwang ji-geut-ji-geut-hae
gyeol-guk nun-mu-ri dwi-neun gyeol-mal meo-ri ji-kkeun-ji-kkeun-hae
nae-ga mwol
eo-tteo-ge hae-jwo-ya-man ne-ga nal jo-geum deo
nal wi-hae
i-hae-hae
jul su in-ni babe
neon i-ge jae-mi-sseo nan ji-geum juk-ge-sseo
sa-rang-eul ha-ryeo-myeon jom je-dae-ro ttok-ba-ro hae
ye-jeon-ui na-neun eop-seo
i-je geu-reon no-meun eop-seo
chak-gak-ha-ji ma-reo
nae mal mwon ma-rin-ji a-reo girl
Love is gone away No No
Love is gone away I’m going d-down
Love is gone away No No
neon ut-go in-neun-de nan mi-chyeo-ga
neon mwo-ga jae-mis-seo eo-i-eop-seo down
Love is gone away
Love is gone away
jin-si-meu-ro geu-dael sa-rang-haet-dan ma-ri-e-yo
geu-dae-do geu-raet-da-go eo-seo ppal-li mal-hae-yo
wae nal i-reo-ge seul-peu-ge ha-neun-de
al su-ga eop-seo neo-ui ma-eum-eul
dal-la-ji-get-da-neun ne ma-re ko u-seu-mi na
mi-an-ha-dan ne ma-re freaking liar
cham eo-i-ga eop-seo neon
jo-geu-mi-ra-do ne-ga nal
saeng-gak-haet-da-myeon i-reol sun eop-seo
neon i-ge jae-mi-sseo nan ji-geum juk-ge-sseo
sa-rang-eul ha-ryeo-myeon jom je-dae-ro ttok-ba-ro hae
ye-jeon-ui na-neun eop-seo
i-je geu-reon no-meun eop-seo
chak-gak-ha-ji ma-reo
nae mal mwon ma-rin-ji a-reo girl
Love is gone away No No
Love is gone away I’m going d-down
Love is gone away No No
neon ut-go in-neun-de nan mi-chyeo-ga oh no
geu-dae-neun tteo-na-ga-go
a-jik nan yeo-gi i-dae-ro
na hol-lo nam-gyeo-jyeot-ji-man
geu-dae-ui on-gi-neun a-jik geu-dae-ro oh no
Love is gone away No No
Love is gone away I’m going d-down
Love is gone away No No
neon ut-go in-neun-de nan mi-chyeo-ga Uh no
L. O. V. E. is gone away
This is not funny I’m going d-down
L. O. V. E. is gone away
neon ut-go in-neun-de nan mi-chyeo-ga
neon mwo-ga jae-mi-sseo eo-i-eop-seo
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO https://youtu.be/pcUrJIPJe9A
Monday, April 10, 2017
EXO - Monster: Cookie Monster Parody Lyrics
WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_bgF6y8TibQ
Cookie got me gone crazy.
Why's my heart racing?
After one bite of cookie goodness
I close the box, but I know
I'll open it again,
eat another cookie.
It's for me.
Cookie starts with C.
You're in my sight.
Don't put up a fight.
You know we're going to enjoy this.
Don't be afraid my mouth is the way.
Shortbread, you got it.
Call me cookie monster.
I'm creeping in the box, babe.
I'll flip it open and I'll take you.
Will I swallow you or savour you?
I'm going to eat you up.
On my soul you're engraved.
It's you that I crave.
You're a part of me forever.
Oh you know, you call me monster.
You can call me Cookie Monster.
Cookie got me gone crazy.
Why's my heart racing?
I'm sorry, I just couldn't wait.
There's no more cookies, it's too late.
I ate them all already.
That's right, my type.
They were good. I have no regrets.
I feel it again. Listen my friend,
you're in a great deal of danger.
Don't be afraid, my mouth is the way.
Shortbread, you got it.
Call me Cookie Monster
I'm creeping in the box, babe.
I'll flip it open and I'll take you.
Will I swallow you or savour you?
I'm going to eat you up.
On my soul you're engraved.
It's you that I crave.
You're a part of me forever.
Oh you know, you call me monster.
You can call me Cookie Monster.
Feeling the urge...
feelings emerge.
I will be ending your life.
I'm sorry, you make me so crazy, you know you do.
Everyone wants a piece of me,
but I'm untouchable, man.
You can't resist me if you tried.
It's just the way that I am.
I hide my face from you
and you're surprised.
You say "who?!"
A figment of your imagination/nightmare come true
It's how we do
날 그대로 받아들여
너의 두려운 걱정은 접어두렴
네가 견딜만한 고통을 누려
더 깊이 빠져들어
널 맘대로 가지고 놀아
내 손에서 맘껏 놀아
도망가지마 넌 영원히 맴돌아
Call me Cookie Monster
I'm creeping in the box, babe.
I'll flip it open and I'll take you.
Will I swallow you or savour you?
I'm going to eat you up.
On my soul you're engraved.
It's you that I crave.
You're a part of me forever.
Oreo, you call me monster.
You can call me Cookie Monster.
Creepin', creepin'
creepin', creepin'
ooooh oh oh
Creepin'.
WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_bgF6y8TibQ
Cookie got me gone crazy.
Why's my heart racing?
After one bite of cookie goodness
I close the box, but I know
I'll open it again,
eat another cookie.
It's for me.
Cookie starts with C.
You're in my sight.
Don't put up a fight.
You know we're going to enjoy this.
Don't be afraid my mouth is the way.
Shortbread, you got it.
Call me cookie monster.
I'm creeping in the box, babe.
I'll flip it open and I'll take you.
Will I swallow you or savour you?
I'm going to eat you up.
On my soul you're engraved.
It's you that I crave.
You're a part of me forever.
Oh you know, you call me monster.
You can call me Cookie Monster.
Cookie got me gone crazy.
Why's my heart racing?
I'm sorry, I just couldn't wait.
There's no more cookies, it's too late.
I ate them all already.
That's right, my type.
They were good. I have no regrets.
I feel it again. Listen my friend,
you're in a great deal of danger.
Don't be afraid, my mouth is the way.
Shortbread, you got it.
Call me Cookie Monster
I'm creeping in the box, babe.
I'll flip it open and I'll take you.
Will I swallow you or savour you?
I'm going to eat you up.
On my soul you're engraved.
It's you that I crave.
You're a part of me forever.
Oh you know, you call me monster.
You can call me Cookie Monster.
Feeling the urge...
feelings emerge.
I will be ending your life.
I'm sorry, you make me so crazy, you know you do.
Everyone wants a piece of me,
but I'm untouchable, man.
You can't resist me if you tried.
It's just the way that I am.
I hide my face from you
and you're surprised.
You say "who?!"
A figment of your imagination/nightmare come true
It's how we do
날 그대로 받아들여
너의 두려운 걱정은 접어두렴
네가 견딜만한 고통을 누려
더 깊이 빠져들어
널 맘대로 가지고 놀아
내 손에서 맘껏 놀아
도망가지마 넌 영원히 맴돌아
Call me Cookie Monster
I'm creeping in the box, babe.
I'll flip it open and I'll take you.
Will I swallow you or savour you?
I'm going to eat you up.
On my soul you're engraved.
It's you that I crave.
You're a part of me forever.
Oreo, you call me monster.
You can call me Cookie Monster.
Creepin', creepin'
creepin', creepin'
ooooh oh oh
Creepin'.
WATCH THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_bgF6y8TibQ
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Top 30 Best KPop of 2016: Countdown and Review
30. Still Alive by J.Y. Park
This song is about an aging pop star still trying to be cool and popular with young people. It earned extra points with me because I am a little older than the median KPOP fan. The first listen is a little awkward but that seems to add to the concept. He's not supposed to be totally smooth.
29. I Just Wanna Dance by Tiffany
This was the song that had my favourite choreography this year. The title was very apt. The only problem is that she sings "I just wanna dance the night away" and yet the music video shows them dancing in the middle of the day. Regardless, this KPOP song has a genuine retro feeling and makes me want to sing even more so than dance.
28. Whatta Man by I.O.I
Any fan who was familiar with the Salt N' Pepa version of this song would have been anticipating great things and great things is what they got, indeed. The I.O.I version of "Whatta Man" had everything the old school one did in terms of catchiness. I originally had it ranked much higher but after a few listens I began to notice little parts in the vocals that were just a little off. That detracted a bit from my ability to appreciate it as deeply as I would have wanted to.
27. Me Like Yuh by Jay Park X Prepix X Purplow (feat. Hoody)
"I'd even dye my hair blonde for ya, I can be your Justin Beiber" Jay totally ruined the English version of this song with that line and it took me a while before I was able to see the beauty of the Korean version. Jay isn't into subtlty when it comes to lyric writing so Korean lyrics usually a safer bet with Jay Park songs for those who don't understand Korean. This song is consistant with what Jay Park usually delivers. Great dancing and the "cha cha beat".
26. Fire by BTS
"Fire" was supposed to be the big follow up to "Dope", the high energy song that got everyone to take note of BTS last year. The music video even begins with a sample of "Dope". In my opinion this was a mistake. "Fire" is not on the same level as "Dope", so being reminded of how good "Dope" was lead to a bit of a let down when "Fire" started. However, this song started a bit of a trend in KPOP. It uses loud, industrial sounds which I believe influenced other KPOP songs like "Hard Carry" by GOT7, and "Fire Truck" by NCT 127. This song is no "Dope", but it does grow on you and can really get you pumped up!
25. I Just Wanna Sing by Esbee
This is a debut and not many people noticed it. Perhaps it just hit me at the right time but it really struck me as beautiful. From the R&B melody to the harmonies he infuses into it this song is fluid and sentimental.
24. Deepened by Brave Girls
Keeping with the subject of sentimental and fluid songs. The Brave Girls (now with new members) had a stunning comeback with "Deepened". Brilliantly composed, this song sets a chill yet sultry mood. The rap break is one of its strongest points. Often a rap break is put into a KPOP song despite not adding anything to it but this was so necessary and brought the song to a new level.
23. Fire by J.Y. Park (feat. Conan O'Brien & Steven Yeun & Jimin Park)
When KPOP makes its way into the American mainstream some people reject it. But this song is so much fun. Don't deny yourselves pleasure just to seem cool, you guys! I like that J.Y. Park has a thrown. I like that Conan has a face full of makeup. I like that they incorporated Conan's string dance into the plot of the video. I like Steven Yeun just for being Steven Yeun. Also, I recognized the costume TWICE wore as being very similar to what Ariana Grande wore at the 2014 Victoria Secret fashion show. Anyone else notice that?
22. Mistake by Drug Restaurant
I am not big into rock music of any nationality. I was surprised that I liked this song as much as I did. The composer has so much talent. The guitar kept me engaged the whole time and then the guitar solo in the middle of it really did me in.
21. Mama Don't Worry by Sam Kim
This is a song written by an 18 year old boy about what it is like to be away from your parents for the first time. It has something that is rare in KPOP and that is authenticity. Most songs are not written by the singers themselves. Often the songs are written about something that even the song writer him/herself has not experienced. But this song was written in real time, as the Sam Kim himself was experiencing it. The song takes the form of a letter written by the mother to her son, then the final verse is a the reply letter from the son to the mother. With the refrain "Mama don't worry" in between. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I can't listen to it while reading the lyrics without tears building up in my eyes.
20. Love Me the Same by Jessica
Of all the Girls' Generation solos and subgroups this year Jessica's was the one that did the most for me. It is a slow song which are often challenging to make appealing but this song has emotion in the composition. The story in the music video is a cute and totally endearing metaphor.
19. High Heels by Brave Girls
This song is so brainless, but I can't help loving it. The more I listen to it, the more I can't live without it. This is the Brave Girls second entry on this years chart. I don't want to jinx anything, but I think the Brave Girls are becoming my new Girls' Generation. Emphasis on my. They do not have enough cache to be a true replacement for Girls' Generation who seem to be turning a corner in their careers.
18. Lucky One by EXO
You can always expect a high level of production from EXO songs. The song is so layered and intricate and you have to appreciate that. One beef I have is that "lover" does not rhyme with "clover". Take that line out!
17. What Is Love by Yu Yeong Jin X D.O.
This song is sung with so much passion. If you did not know who Yu Yeong Jin is then I recommend that you look him up. He is a song writer, and his writing credits are so vast you are likely to find that he wrote many of your all-time favourite songs. From the sounds of things he is quite the vocalist as well. This song was released on SM Station and, although I did not include many of those songs on my list, they really did show us a lot of interesting collaborations and solos that really enriched the KPOP world this year.
16. Ah-Ha by SS301
This song was released in the summer at the same time as many big name comebacks so it was kind of buried. But it still stood out for me. In my opinion it really is more about the music than the group. This song was really engaging, and more fun to listen to, and more dynamic than a lot of the other songs of that time of year.
15. Crush by I.O.I
This was the first song released by I.O.I and, as someone who had not been interested in the competition show Produce 101, it took a while before I really took note of it. But "Crush" shows off some really strong vocal skills and it is a concept I think we need more of: the teenager concept. I hope it s obvious what I mean by teenager concept. I'm talking about songs about things relevent to teenage life like having a crush on a boy. It makes some people uncomfortable to see young women acting too sexy and it makes some people uncomfortable to see young women acting like small children, so the teenager concept is a fair comprimise, it would seem.
14. Feel So Good by B.A.P.
The first song I've really, really liked from BAP. BAP has used a variety of concepts this song is very happy, fun, and boy-next-door. The music video uses the brightly coloured sets and wardrobe that one would hope for from a KPOP video. The chorus is uplifting. The rap breaks did not add anything but hey, you gotta have a rap break! (that was not sarcasm)
13. Boombayah by BLACKPINK
I had two immediate reactions after hearing this song:
1. I love Lisa! Lisa opens the song with an English rap and exudes attitude all over the video. She also has the number 1 best line in KPOP this year "BRRR Rambo!"and 2. This sounds a lot like "Fire" by 2NE1 just not quite as good. It does have the same song writer as many 2NE1 songs, including "Fire". It might be unfair to compare a new song to one of my all time favourites but when the sound is so similar it is hard not to. If I can block out the memory of "Fire" by 2NE1 I do appreciate "Boombayah" a lot more. "Boombayah" is like a thrilling amusement park ride.
12. Very Nice by Seventeen
Is it cheating to have so many members? It makes the choreography look so good, makes the sound so much more energetic and dynamic because there are so many different voice types. They definately used their numbers as an advantage in this song. I love the break down near the end. This song deserves all the love it gets.
11. Dancing King by EXO
Most would not rate this song so high relative to their other comeback "Lucky One". We've all heard songs like this before. It is a very common Latin beat. This is nothing ground breakingly innovative. But, I have a tendency to rate songs higher depending on how much they make me wanna dance and I could dance the this song all night. I was confused into thinking I didn't like this song at first because the music video had some pretty trippy editting. It's hard to make cute pink puppets and EXO boys dancing look bad and yet somehow they managed to edit it in a way that did exactly that. Only later when listening to the song without watching the video did I realize how happy it made me.
WATCH THE TOP 10 HERE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHiUfH0z--g&feature=youtu.be
10. Excalibur by N-Sonic
The first song I've ever heard from N-Sonic and, apparently, their last song together before military conscription. What timing. The choreography fits the song and looks like something that might have come from my own imagination. I like that there is enough freedom in the choreography to see their personalities. Also, one of my least favourite things about KPOP dance is that the person who is singing breaks out of formation and steps forward. This dance, very cleverly, avoids that by creating formations that are centered around the member who is singing so that is doesn't ruin the symmetry.
9. I'm Fine by Grace
This is the debut song from Grace. Even though this video did not have a huge budget they still went all out. In fact, they went ALL out and then kept on going. Just like what you'd want from KPOP. It has the loud wardrobe and so much random. Ultimately, it is Grace and her attitude that sell it so well. She has that je ne sais quoi! You'd never suspect this was her debut. I originally thought the English part of the lyrics were the result of someone who had completed only one English lesson. Like the writer was all "Hey we need to put some English words in this song, but I don't know any." Then he took one English lesson and put the phrase he learned in the song. But, that is clearly not the case because Grace speaks fluent English and is American.
8. Save Me by BTS
This song is just ultra beautiful. I was contemplating putting it in the number one spot, but I didn't. Why not? It was just too beautiful, too easy to love. The instrumental is so moving, the dance is so emotional, the lyrics are so meaningful. Where is the part that challenges me? Where is that weird bit that I don't like at first and then grow to love. Perfection isn't always a good thing. and I do not write this tongue-in-cheek I mean it sincerely. A song that is so perfect doesn't seem human and that makes it dull. But hey! It is at the number 8 spot, so perfection will get you pretty far!
7. HookGa by HIGH4 20 (feat. Hwasa of MAMAMOO)
This is my first encounter with the group HIGH4. I could listen to this beat everyday for the rest of my life and the dance fits it so perfectly. The choreographer is Canadian! Rep-re-sent! Hwasa speaks French in her feature I heard "Maxi beaucoup" rather than "Merci beaucoup" but good effort yeodongsaeng. I have to say I do not appreciate the play on words for this sub-group or the song. I find drugs to be such a turn-off. I suppose that makes me not cool and I don't care. But the name does not take away from how much I dig this song.
6. Still 24K by 24K
The instant I played this song for the first time I knew it was great. It takes me back a few years to when Super Junior was making the best songs I'd ever heard in my life. Those were the type of songs that made me fall in love with KPOP. Still 24K has a great balance between melodic and hip hop. I found the plot of the music video really compelling and it was cool that it left on a cliff-hanger. Visually, this video did not use colours but used only black, white, grey and metallic which was so effective. The fashion in the dance scenes was uniform and monochromatic (either all black or all white) and so intricately accerssorized. I especially appreciated the rings they wore on the upper part of every finger. That is something I had never seen before.
5. Press Your Number by Taemin
This song changes and flows so well. I usually appreciate repetitiveness in my music, but this one evolves so organically that I can't even tell that it is changing. Each verse sounds different and blends into the song seamlessly. This isn't one of those "Franken-songs". And the plot of the music video is challenging and full of symbolism. What does it really mean? Are we even supposed to know?
4. Shut Up & Groove by Heize (feat. DEAN)
Words fail me here. I think I should just do as the song says and shut up and groove. and enjoy looking at DEAN's flawless face.
3. Whistle by BLACKPINK
This song had me in its clutches even before I listened to it. BLACKPINK was so highly anticipated and I was sure it was going to be phenominal. It was epic. I hate admitting to biases, but I don't actually believe that my anticipation coloured my judgement in any way. Of the four BLACKPINK songs this year this is the only one that truely blew me away. These girls' voices were so on point with one small exception: Jennie's verse in the middle of the song (1:54) "just whistle to my heart". Jennie is a rapper so her singing voice was not likely not a priority in her training. But it did pull me out of my state of bliss for a moment when I was having that transcendant first listen and that is how I can say with confidence that the high rating of this song was NOT a result of a bias! LOL.
2. Love You More by Kim Jae Joong
I like TVXQ a lot but I have a terrible memory for Korean names. I didn't know Kim Jae Joong was from that group when I heard this song. It caught me off guard and made me want to run, turn, leap and fly. Apparently, this song was released while Jae Joong was still in military service. Amazing that he managed that. Even more amazing that it was part of a full album. Every song on that album is worthwhile, by the way. No bad songs on that album, not even one.
1. Blood Sweat & Tears by BTS
I was nervous that there wasn't going to be a huge boy group smash this year. But BTS did it! You can always tell when you've heard a good song because when it's over you feel like you've just been smacked across the face. This is one of those songs. The instrumental makes me think of India or the middle east. I wouldn't anticipate this kind of sound from KPOP. It's the thing that was missing from "Save Me" something to confuse me at first and then learn to love. In the vocals I especially liked the breathy, descending "ga~" and how it mimicked the wail of someone on verge of emotional and physical exhaustion. In the video . . . well wow. Every second is saturated with metaphor, symbolism and references to art, literature and philosophy. It's even got me reading the book that was quoted in the spoken part in the break of the song just so I can understand and appreciate the music video better (Demian by Hermann Hesse is the book if you were wondering). So much brain and heart was put into the comeback. KPOP SONG OF THE YEAR!
Watch the list here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHiUfH0z--g&feature=youtu.be
This song is about an aging pop star still trying to be cool and popular with young people. It earned extra points with me because I am a little older than the median KPOP fan. The first listen is a little awkward but that seems to add to the concept. He's not supposed to be totally smooth.
29. I Just Wanna Dance by Tiffany
This was the song that had my favourite choreography this year. The title was very apt. The only problem is that she sings "I just wanna dance the night away" and yet the music video shows them dancing in the middle of the day. Regardless, this KPOP song has a genuine retro feeling and makes me want to sing even more so than dance.
28. Whatta Man by I.O.I
Any fan who was familiar with the Salt N' Pepa version of this song would have been anticipating great things and great things is what they got, indeed. The I.O.I version of "Whatta Man" had everything the old school one did in terms of catchiness. I originally had it ranked much higher but after a few listens I began to notice little parts in the vocals that were just a little off. That detracted a bit from my ability to appreciate it as deeply as I would have wanted to.
27. Me Like Yuh by Jay Park X Prepix X Purplow (feat. Hoody)
"I'd even dye my hair blonde for ya, I can be your Justin Beiber" Jay totally ruined the English version of this song with that line and it took me a while before I was able to see the beauty of the Korean version. Jay isn't into subtlty when it comes to lyric writing so Korean lyrics usually a safer bet with Jay Park songs for those who don't understand Korean. This song is consistant with what Jay Park usually delivers. Great dancing and the "cha cha beat".
26. Fire by BTS
"Fire" was supposed to be the big follow up to "Dope", the high energy song that got everyone to take note of BTS last year. The music video even begins with a sample of "Dope". In my opinion this was a mistake. "Fire" is not on the same level as "Dope", so being reminded of how good "Dope" was lead to a bit of a let down when "Fire" started. However, this song started a bit of a trend in KPOP. It uses loud, industrial sounds which I believe influenced other KPOP songs like "Hard Carry" by GOT7, and "Fire Truck" by NCT 127. This song is no "Dope", but it does grow on you and can really get you pumped up!
25. I Just Wanna Sing by Esbee
This is a debut and not many people noticed it. Perhaps it just hit me at the right time but it really struck me as beautiful. From the R&B melody to the harmonies he infuses into it this song is fluid and sentimental.
24. Deepened by Brave Girls
Keeping with the subject of sentimental and fluid songs. The Brave Girls (now with new members) had a stunning comeback with "Deepened". Brilliantly composed, this song sets a chill yet sultry mood. The rap break is one of its strongest points. Often a rap break is put into a KPOP song despite not adding anything to it but this was so necessary and brought the song to a new level.
23. Fire by J.Y. Park (feat. Conan O'Brien & Steven Yeun & Jimin Park)
When KPOP makes its way into the American mainstream some people reject it. But this song is so much fun. Don't deny yourselves pleasure just to seem cool, you guys! I like that J.Y. Park has a thrown. I like that Conan has a face full of makeup. I like that they incorporated Conan's string dance into the plot of the video. I like Steven Yeun just for being Steven Yeun. Also, I recognized the costume TWICE wore as being very similar to what Ariana Grande wore at the 2014 Victoria Secret fashion show. Anyone else notice that?
22. Mistake by Drug Restaurant
I am not big into rock music of any nationality. I was surprised that I liked this song as much as I did. The composer has so much talent. The guitar kept me engaged the whole time and then the guitar solo in the middle of it really did me in.
21. Mama Don't Worry by Sam Kim
This is a song written by an 18 year old boy about what it is like to be away from your parents for the first time. It has something that is rare in KPOP and that is authenticity. Most songs are not written by the singers themselves. Often the songs are written about something that even the song writer him/herself has not experienced. But this song was written in real time, as the Sam Kim himself was experiencing it. The song takes the form of a letter written by the mother to her son, then the final verse is a the reply letter from the son to the mother. With the refrain "Mama don't worry" in between. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I can't listen to it while reading the lyrics without tears building up in my eyes.
20. Love Me the Same by Jessica
Of all the Girls' Generation solos and subgroups this year Jessica's was the one that did the most for me. It is a slow song which are often challenging to make appealing but this song has emotion in the composition. The story in the music video is a cute and totally endearing metaphor.
19. High Heels by Brave Girls
This song is so brainless, but I can't help loving it. The more I listen to it, the more I can't live without it. This is the Brave Girls second entry on this years chart. I don't want to jinx anything, but I think the Brave Girls are becoming my new Girls' Generation. Emphasis on my. They do not have enough cache to be a true replacement for Girls' Generation who seem to be turning a corner in their careers.
18. Lucky One by EXO
You can always expect a high level of production from EXO songs. The song is so layered and intricate and you have to appreciate that. One beef I have is that "lover" does not rhyme with "clover". Take that line out!
17. What Is Love by Yu Yeong Jin X D.O.
This song is sung with so much passion. If you did not know who Yu Yeong Jin is then I recommend that you look him up. He is a song writer, and his writing credits are so vast you are likely to find that he wrote many of your all-time favourite songs. From the sounds of things he is quite the vocalist as well. This song was released on SM Station and, although I did not include many of those songs on my list, they really did show us a lot of interesting collaborations and solos that really enriched the KPOP world this year.
16. Ah-Ha by SS301
This song was released in the summer at the same time as many big name comebacks so it was kind of buried. But it still stood out for me. In my opinion it really is more about the music than the group. This song was really engaging, and more fun to listen to, and more dynamic than a lot of the other songs of that time of year.
15. Crush by I.O.I
This was the first song released by I.O.I and, as someone who had not been interested in the competition show Produce 101, it took a while before I really took note of it. But "Crush" shows off some really strong vocal skills and it is a concept I think we need more of: the teenager concept. I hope it s obvious what I mean by teenager concept. I'm talking about songs about things relevent to teenage life like having a crush on a boy. It makes some people uncomfortable to see young women acting too sexy and it makes some people uncomfortable to see young women acting like small children, so the teenager concept is a fair comprimise, it would seem.
14. Feel So Good by B.A.P.
The first song I've really, really liked from BAP. BAP has used a variety of concepts this song is very happy, fun, and boy-next-door. The music video uses the brightly coloured sets and wardrobe that one would hope for from a KPOP video. The chorus is uplifting. The rap breaks did not add anything but hey, you gotta have a rap break! (that was not sarcasm)
13. Boombayah by BLACKPINK
I had two immediate reactions after hearing this song:
1. I love Lisa! Lisa opens the song with an English rap and exudes attitude all over the video. She also has the number 1 best line in KPOP this year "BRRR Rambo!"and 2. This sounds a lot like "Fire" by 2NE1 just not quite as good. It does have the same song writer as many 2NE1 songs, including "Fire". It might be unfair to compare a new song to one of my all time favourites but when the sound is so similar it is hard not to. If I can block out the memory of "Fire" by 2NE1 I do appreciate "Boombayah" a lot more. "Boombayah" is like a thrilling amusement park ride.
12. Very Nice by Seventeen
Is it cheating to have so many members? It makes the choreography look so good, makes the sound so much more energetic and dynamic because there are so many different voice types. They definately used their numbers as an advantage in this song. I love the break down near the end. This song deserves all the love it gets.
11. Dancing King by EXO
Most would not rate this song so high relative to their other comeback "Lucky One". We've all heard songs like this before. It is a very common Latin beat. This is nothing ground breakingly innovative. But, I have a tendency to rate songs higher depending on how much they make me wanna dance and I could dance the this song all night. I was confused into thinking I didn't like this song at first because the music video had some pretty trippy editting. It's hard to make cute pink puppets and EXO boys dancing look bad and yet somehow they managed to edit it in a way that did exactly that. Only later when listening to the song without watching the video did I realize how happy it made me.
WATCH THE TOP 10 HERE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHiUfH0z--g&feature=youtu.be
10. Excalibur by N-Sonic
The first song I've ever heard from N-Sonic and, apparently, their last song together before military conscription. What timing. The choreography fits the song and looks like something that might have come from my own imagination. I like that there is enough freedom in the choreography to see their personalities. Also, one of my least favourite things about KPOP dance is that the person who is singing breaks out of formation and steps forward. This dance, very cleverly, avoids that by creating formations that are centered around the member who is singing so that is doesn't ruin the symmetry.
9. I'm Fine by Grace
This is the debut song from Grace. Even though this video did not have a huge budget they still went all out. In fact, they went ALL out and then kept on going. Just like what you'd want from KPOP. It has the loud wardrobe and so much random. Ultimately, it is Grace and her attitude that sell it so well. She has that je ne sais quoi! You'd never suspect this was her debut. I originally thought the English part of the lyrics were the result of someone who had completed only one English lesson. Like the writer was all "Hey we need to put some English words in this song, but I don't know any." Then he took one English lesson and put the phrase he learned in the song. But, that is clearly not the case because Grace speaks fluent English and is American.
8. Save Me by BTS
This song is just ultra beautiful. I was contemplating putting it in the number one spot, but I didn't. Why not? It was just too beautiful, too easy to love. The instrumental is so moving, the dance is so emotional, the lyrics are so meaningful. Where is the part that challenges me? Where is that weird bit that I don't like at first and then grow to love. Perfection isn't always a good thing. and I do not write this tongue-in-cheek I mean it sincerely. A song that is so perfect doesn't seem human and that makes it dull. But hey! It is at the number 8 spot, so perfection will get you pretty far!
7. HookGa by HIGH4 20 (feat. Hwasa of MAMAMOO)
This is my first encounter with the group HIGH4. I could listen to this beat everyday for the rest of my life and the dance fits it so perfectly. The choreographer is Canadian! Rep-re-sent! Hwasa speaks French in her feature I heard "Maxi beaucoup" rather than "Merci beaucoup" but good effort yeodongsaeng. I have to say I do not appreciate the play on words for this sub-group or the song. I find drugs to be such a turn-off. I suppose that makes me not cool and I don't care. But the name does not take away from how much I dig this song.
6. Still 24K by 24K
The instant I played this song for the first time I knew it was great. It takes me back a few years to when Super Junior was making the best songs I'd ever heard in my life. Those were the type of songs that made me fall in love with KPOP. Still 24K has a great balance between melodic and hip hop. I found the plot of the music video really compelling and it was cool that it left on a cliff-hanger. Visually, this video did not use colours but used only black, white, grey and metallic which was so effective. The fashion in the dance scenes was uniform and monochromatic (either all black or all white) and so intricately accerssorized. I especially appreciated the rings they wore on the upper part of every finger. That is something I had never seen before.
5. Press Your Number by Taemin
This song changes and flows so well. I usually appreciate repetitiveness in my music, but this one evolves so organically that I can't even tell that it is changing. Each verse sounds different and blends into the song seamlessly. This isn't one of those "Franken-songs". And the plot of the music video is challenging and full of symbolism. What does it really mean? Are we even supposed to know?
4. Shut Up & Groove by Heize (feat. DEAN)
Words fail me here. I think I should just do as the song says and shut up and groove. and enjoy looking at DEAN's flawless face.
3. Whistle by BLACKPINK
This song had me in its clutches even before I listened to it. BLACKPINK was so highly anticipated and I was sure it was going to be phenominal. It was epic. I hate admitting to biases, but I don't actually believe that my anticipation coloured my judgement in any way. Of the four BLACKPINK songs this year this is the only one that truely blew me away. These girls' voices were so on point with one small exception: Jennie's verse in the middle of the song (1:54) "just whistle to my heart". Jennie is a rapper so her singing voice was not likely not a priority in her training. But it did pull me out of my state of bliss for a moment when I was having that transcendant first listen and that is how I can say with confidence that the high rating of this song was NOT a result of a bias! LOL.
2. Love You More by Kim Jae Joong
I like TVXQ a lot but I have a terrible memory for Korean names. I didn't know Kim Jae Joong was from that group when I heard this song. It caught me off guard and made me want to run, turn, leap and fly. Apparently, this song was released while Jae Joong was still in military service. Amazing that he managed that. Even more amazing that it was part of a full album. Every song on that album is worthwhile, by the way. No bad songs on that album, not even one.
1. Blood Sweat & Tears by BTS
I was nervous that there wasn't going to be a huge boy group smash this year. But BTS did it! You can always tell when you've heard a good song because when it's over you feel like you've just been smacked across the face. This is one of those songs. The instrumental makes me think of India or the middle east. I wouldn't anticipate this kind of sound from KPOP. It's the thing that was missing from "Save Me" something to confuse me at first and then learn to love. In the vocals I especially liked the breathy, descending "ga~" and how it mimicked the wail of someone on verge of emotional and physical exhaustion. In the video . . . well wow. Every second is saturated with metaphor, symbolism and references to art, literature and philosophy. It's even got me reading the book that was quoted in the spoken part in the break of the song just so I can understand and appreciate the music video better (Demian by Hermann Hesse is the book if you were wondering). So much brain and heart was put into the comeback. KPOP SONG OF THE YEAR!
Watch the list here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHiUfH0z--g&feature=youtu.be
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