Song of 2011

2011 was a year of musical genius in South Korea.  Even Girls Generation didn't do that whole cutesy one word title song that was extremely annoying yet catchy.  The rookie groups were hot (for the most part) and there was an overflow of talent in just about every sub genre of kpop.

I decided to select my favorite song(s) of 2011 and share them with whoever is interested.

1) Dear TV - Tablo
 16 lines of lyrical genius created by the genius Tablo.  The entire song is in English, but I still ended up running to the dictionary, since I didn't understand half of the words he used.  Okay, that's an exaggeration, there were only a few words.  Still though, that was my first time listening to a rap song that didn't only make me think, but also taught me new words.

2) Shouting to Memories - Jang Woo Hyuk
I fell in love with the song for a variety of reasons.  One, I could relate to the lyrics.  Two, Jo Hyuna is a vocal beast. Three, the music video was quite entertaining.  This was one of those songs where the video was just a bonus, the song itself sells.  Jang Woo Hyuk's rapping skills are quite nice, I must say, and, as I said earlier, Jo Hyuna is an amazing vocalist.

3) I Remember - Bang Yong Guk ft. Yang YoSeob
Is it obvious that I'm a sucker for good rap music?  This song took mainstream kpop hip hop to a whole new level.  I mean, the song itself is still about the regular break up, but Yong Guk adds a bit of hardcore swag to it.  And Yoseob's voice compliments the song perfectly.  The video was just badass and I am still surprised that it took so long to be banned.

4)Be My Baby- Wonder Girls
Definitely one of the better songs by a girl group this year.  The girls vocals were alright and of course, Yubin's rapping was nice.  The video reminded me a bit of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" though.  Still, it's enjoyable. Even my dad liked the song and video.

5) Going Crazy - Song Ji Eun ft Bang Yong Guk

At first, I didn't even give the song a listen.  I thought it would be the same as every song sung by a female in kpop...either pronouncing how they don't need a man, how they're so pretty, or how they're so in love.  But this one turned out to be different.  For once, the guy was completely lovestruck and the girl was tired of being stalked, which is what it should be like.  I mean, have you actually paid attention to the words of alot of these kpop songs.  They're forever watching and following people around, which is essentially stalking.  Finally, someone spoke out on it. 

K Dramas

One of my greatest loves as a k-entertainment fan is the dramas.  Over the past year, I watched quite a few dramas.  Some of them I loved, others bored me to bits.  So, here's my view on the dramas.

First, there's always some sort of love triangle or square or pentagon.  It makes for an interesting plot of jealousy and fighting for the person you love, but there must be something else that happens in life, like something bigger than that.  I wonder what a drama would be like if there was no love triangle, just a few people, one couple and the rest friends who have to deal with a few life crisis's (lol I mean more than one crisis).  

Then, there's the annoying as hell lead female character who is either helpless, poor, naive or a pushover.  There have been a few exceptions to this (based only on the dramas that I've watched of course), but the majority of the characters are retarded and annoying.   Even though my heart goes out to the character, more often than not, I just want to reach out and smack them upside the head for being so stupid.  Especially when the character starts off with a good personality (smart, pretty, rich and strong headed) and then turns into a mute idiot when they need to speak up and defend themselves most. 

Those are my biggest issues with the dramas that I've watched.  Now, after saying all that, here's a short list of some of my favorite dramas.

1. Marry Me Mary/Mary Stayed Out All Night - both guys started off as jerks...so psssssssssh

2. You're Beautiful - although it was ridiculously predictable, there was a lot of humor

3.  Protect the Boss - One word: Jaejoong

4. My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox - the main male wasn't that much of a jerk, only a bit selfish, Shin Min Ah is a brilliant actress (Lee Seung Gi is a great actor too) and there was a mix of sci-fi and comedy with the romance and the regular boring plot.

6. Shining Inheritance - the lead femal character wasn't a push over or stupid...she was actually quite admirable.

My Favorite Girl Groups

Most girls don't really follow girl groups. They may listen to one group religiously and maybe a sprinkling of songs, but they don't really follow them as much as they follow boy groups.  I was like that not too long ago.  I was a hardcore Blackjack, and would listen to a handful of songs from other groups, but recently, I've found myself enjoying girl group music.  Here's a short list of my favorite girl groups and a bit of the reason why I like them so much.

1.  2NE1

My favorite girl group (currently) is none other than the queens of swag, 2NE1.  First off, their music matches more to my style. They are probably the only group who doesn't rely on their looks to sell their music.  Instead, they create music that empowers and encourages females.  They have this bad girl thing about them and they're sexy with it.  The first time I watched one of their MV's my mouth literally hit the floor because it was different from what I was used to K-pop girl groups putting out.  My favorite song from this group is "Go Away".





2. 4Minute


While their vocal ability doesn't wow me, I'm still infatuated with this group.  Why? Similar to 2NE1, their image is different from the cutesy one that dominates the industry.  They seem more normal, like me.  While 2NE1 is like the rebels of the industry, 4Minute is  the group of regular girls that don't fit in exactly, but don't really stand out.  My favorite song from this group is Bababa.

3.  Brown Eyed Girls

 Honestly, this group is (in my opinion) the BEST female idol group in the industry.  Their vocalists, Jea, Narsha and Ga-In, are amazing and their rapper, Miryo, in undisputedly the best female idol rapper.  Every member in this group is sexy and they have really cool personalities as well.  Their music, similar to 2NE1, goes beyond just fluff and has great appeal to anyone who wants to listen to something more mature.  And they have great stage presence. Favorite song: their latest hit Sixth Sense.

4. Secret

Lastly, I love this group. Not a hundred percent sure why, but I do.  Their voices aren't extremely light, instead they have rich vocals.  And their music is fun.  I guess that's all really. My favorite song from this here group is Madonna.

5 Overrated (Mainstream) Artists

This is Part 2 to my earlier post about underrated mainstream kpop artists.
1. Hyunah (4Minute)

Yeah, she's pretty.  And she's a decent dancer (as I will say for most artists since I can't dance better than any of them).  But really, why is she so famous?  She's not a very good singer (even though it's her job to sing), and while she does write some really decent lyrics, she doesn't have much flow either.  I mean, even her company realized that and doesn't have her rap in her own/her group's songs.  She does have a stage presence, though, so that may just be why her fans tend to exaggerate her greatness.  Also, she can be sexy, at times, but sometimes, the feeling that she's trying too hard can be felt (that's when she actually tries since she's sexier when she isn't trying).  Still though, can't hate her for it (lol yes, I'm a fan) since even she admitted that she feels she's overrated. 

2. Girls Generation

Okay, so this group is super famous - for being good looking.  They do have some really nice songs, but as a singing and dance group (and this is only MY opinion) they are given so much more attention than groups that put out better music.  Once again, can't blame them too much, since I remember reading somewhere that they have very little creative freedom.  But still, I mean.  Only two of the nine can really sing. The other seven are mediocre singers (can carry a tune and have a pretty voice).  No one in the group (that I've heard so far) can rap and only one member is a really good dancer.  I remember being disappointed when I watched one of their videos for the first time.  It's actually a song that I like (Run Devil Run), but I can distinctly recall asking why the girl groups were worse than the boy groups.  They do work hard, and should be respected for that alone, but all the hype that surrounds them is extremely misleading. 

3. Kim Hyun Joong

Yes, Kim Hyun Joong makes it onto the list.  And yes, it is killing me to put him here (well not really).  I really do believe that this very sexy young man who was my ultimate bias for a little more than a year (which is spectacular since I normally can't stick that long to any one person or thing) is overrated.  Why?  First, he's a singer, but he's a mediocre singer.  It was kind of baffling to see him win an award over his group mate,friend and the obvious better singer, Heo Youngsaeng.  He also acts.  Personally, I thought he was brilliant in both of the dramas he was in, but even though my bias for him makes me think he's the best at everything, the truth is that he's not that great of an actor either.  He's very good looking, but he's not that great of a model either (due to his extreme awkward personality in front of the camera).  Get my drift?

4. Super Junior

This group is highly debatable.  But I decided to put them on the list because all their title tracks, since Sorry Sorry, sounds the same.  Sorry, Sorry, Bonamana and Mr. Simple have almost no variations in the songs.  Even A-Cha sounds the same.  Despite this, they continuously top charts (with the same songs) which aren't exactly great.  Why? Because of their hundreds of thousands of fans that support them whether or not the song is actually worth supporting.  Still, this group always has at least three amazing songs on every album, even if it isn't the title track (which was why I had to really debate placing them on this list).

5.  Yoona (Girls Generation)

Even though I've already posted SNSD as a group on the list, I had to put Yoona as an individual.  Yoona's position in Girls Generation is visual.  Now, I don't have a problem with that (even though I think more than half of the group, including Yuri, is prettier than she is). After all, L is the visual for Infinite yet he's not in my top 5 best looking members of that group. What I do have a problem with is the fact that her fans make it seem like she's the most important member of the group.  I mean, yeah, she is pretty, but big deal.  There are 8 other girls that are just as attractive as she is.  Not only that, but when it comes to musical talent, Yoona has almost none.  It seems as if her fans forget that even though she does help with the beauty of the group, she doesn't really contribute much as a singer, dancer or rapper.  If anyone deserves the hype in SNSD, I'd say Taeyeon or Jessica or Hyoyeon, because they make the biggest contributions (performance wise) and they're all just as pretty (if not prettier).

While this list could be much longer, I had to find the criteria that would make it fair.  When I do a bit more research on other artists, I'll post up the rest of this list...or at least five more artists.

10 Most Underrated (Mainstream) Artists

Remember folks, this is in MY opinion.  Due to the fact that I can't really say who is more underrated than who on this list, the numbers are irrelevant, it's just to say there are 10 artists on the list.

1. Zico (Block B)

First person that comes to my mind as underrated is the "almost maknae" 19 year old swag king and leader of Block B. He is the younger brother of Taewoon  from Co-Ed School.  Formally an underground rapper and currently the leader and producer for a k-pop idol group, this young man has proven that he has incomparable talent.   His group isn't spectacularly popular, either, which is a bit disappointing seeing that they have better songs than quite a few of the more popular groups.

2. Daesung (Big Bang)

The second person that I think about when I hear the word underrated, is my honey bunny, Daesung.  The young star definitely has one of the richest, most powerful voices in the industry.  Not only that, but he also knows how to use it.  He is a member of super popular boyband, Big Bang, which may be the reason why he's so underrated.  Honestly, I feel as if he should be given more lines, or even a solo album.  I love Taeyang, but the dude sings the majority of the singing lines in most of the songs...Dae can definitely afford to get more shine time.  

3. Sungmin (Super Junior)

The talented Lee Sungmin is definetely an underrated celebrity.  He's an excellent actor, singer, dancer and can play several different instruments.  He should be well respected when it comes to him being an entertainer.  However, all of these qualities get overshadowed by the talents of his group mates in Super Junior.  With the more powerful voices of Yesung, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun in the same group, he doesn't get much shine in that department.  Dancing alongside Eunhyuk and Donghae can also prove to be a bit futile if looking to be recognized as a dancer (which he's not, but still...).  The acting department is completely dominated by Heechul, Siwon and Donghae, who have starred in numerous dramas.  And playing instruments is cool, only if you're in a dance group, it doesn't really fit in.

4. Seungho (MBLAQ)

Yang Seungho also falls on this list.  Why?  I bet you didn't know that he's the main vocalist for MBLAQ.  If you did, then you must be a fan (like myself).  He has a husky voice that almost sounds auto-toned even when it isn't, yet he still only sings approximately eight lines in the title tracks.  And those eight lines are really just two lines that get repeated four different times in the song.  Seungho can also play the piano and he's an excellent dancer.  

5. Dalmatian

Yes, a whole group made it onto the list.  Actually, there are quite a few groups that can make it here, but let's not get into that.  Dalmatian is an "idol" group.  However, they don't receive half the attention that they deserve.  Every song on their only mini album is exceptionally composed and recorded.  The boys had some of the most enjoyable and professional performances I've ever watched from a rookie group.  Yet, their popularity is almost non-existent. I'm not quite sure why since they have great music, fun MV's and performances and good looks.

6. SoYou (SISTAR)

Yes, she is underrated.  She's a member of girl group, SISTAR.  The fact that I didn't know this, even though I listen to the group's music and watch all their videos, proves it.  She has a decent voice (once again better than some of the more popular celebrities), but she get's overshadowed by the other members of her group.  

7. HITT

Rookie group HITT, I feel can be included on this list.  They debuted the same year as groups Block B and B1A4.  Thing is, their debut song wasn't all fresh and fun and bouncy as just about every other rookie group last year.  Instead, they debuted with a sad pop song. The rapping is on point, as are the vocals. Personally, I only had to listen to it once to fall in love with it, but even after attaining the digital single, I put it aside to listen to more catchy songs like "Beautiful Target" and "Boyfriend".   So yeah, I kind of helped to make this group underrated.

8. 4Men

This group has been around for quite some time, and their name is not a misnomer (lol unlike Se7en and 8eight).  There were originally four members, but now, there are three.  Anywho, this group contains three of the best vocalists I have ever heard...full stop.  They're a ballad group who's music reaches deep to the core of anyone who will take the time to listen to their songs.  However, not many people do because they're not "idols".

9.  JunHo

Yes, I am speaking of no other than Rain's long lost son (I'm joking if you didn't know), Lee Junho from 2PM.  The dude is hot: he's good looking, can sing, dance and rap.  Yet he is never truly acknowledged for his talent, skill and hard work.  Once again, he's overshadowed by a stronger vocalist (Junsu), a taller rapper (Taecyeon) and a more adorable dancer (Wooyoung).  

10.  Brown Eyed Girls

Definitely one of the most underrated girl groups there are is the Brown Eyed Girls.  Their rapper Miryo is just....words cannot express.  She is one of the best female rappers in the industry.  And Narsha as well as Jea both have amazing voices.  The maknae, who just happens to be popular due to her time on "We Got Married" with 2AM leader Jo Kwon, can belt notes like Mariah Carey, and has just as much sex appeal.  Their song, Abracadabra, was viral and kpop fans everywhere stop what they're doing and dance whenever they hear the beat (once again this can be credited to Jo Kwon).  Yet, these girls don't get half as much shine time as lesser groups.  

There are many more artists that are extremely underrated, but really, I don't want to drone on and on and on.  So we'll end it here for now.  But, I have one request.  Let's all try to appreciate the music for what it is, not for who sings it.  And let's give praise where it is due.  Not just the popular and goodlooking artists should be recognized for their hard work.  It's usually the ones behind the scenes, the ones that we overlook, who have the true talent and who work the hardest. 

The History of K-pop - Trot Music

So yeah, it's been a while since I've been on this here my special blog. I've been very busy since last year.  But now I have some time.  So, I'll start writing again.

Tonight, I'll be writing on the history of k-pop.  We all love our idol groups like Super Junior and the Wonder Girls, but do we know where it all originated from?  Probably not.  The history is actually quite interesting...to me...Anyway, here we go.

So, there was this guy right.  His name was Masao Gouga and he was Japanese-Korean (or Korean-Japanese if you're picky about stuff like that).  Anyway,  according to my sources, he decided to mix traditional Korean music and gospel music that was introduced to Asia by American evangelists to create what is known in Korea as Trot music, and in Japan as Enka.

In 1932, the a conflict broke out between the Korean and the Japanese (shocker!) in regards to the music.  Gouga's song, "Sakewa Namitaka Tameikika" was accused of being a rip off of "The Calm Jung Ahn" written by Korean composer, Jeon Su Lin.  This controversy brought to the forefront a slew of talented Korean composers.

After the Korean war, which lasted 3 years and resulted in the split of North and South Korea, American troopers remained in the South to help protect the country.  This opened the window for Western music to infiltrate Trot music, Korea's first form of "Pop" music, and transform it into what it is today.

Check out a sample of Trot music below:

Trot music is being revived however, especially with younger stars like Super Junior-T representing it fairly well.

Idols: Looks Only?

There are many people who question the talents of the idol stars.  Many think that all idol stars are, are pretty faces with somewhat decent personalities (if that much).  They don’t seem to realize that idols are extremely talented, hardworking, personable and then good-looking. 

                Then the question arises, “What about SM?”  True, it is a known fact that SM only hires “good-looking people” (for the most part). Even the idols under the company will admit that.  But even with that, look at who they produce (in terms of idol stars).  Let’s take for example the cash cows of SM, Super Junior, DBSK and SHINee.  These three boy bands are immensely talented.

 Let’s start with Super Junior since there are so many of them.  They can all dance, excepting Heechul. They all have extremely loveable personalities.  They can all sing (including Heechul). As a matter of fact, they have three of the top idol singers in Korea in that group (yes, I am referring to KRY [Kyuhyun, Ryeowook and Yesung]), and you can tell anyone that I said that, because it’s the truth. They have very successful radio personalities in the person of Shin Dong, Heechul, Eunhyuk, and Leeteuk. Many of them play instruments, including Sungmin (who can do everything), Donghae, Heechul and special member Henry Lau.  They have a number of actors, such as Kibum, Siwon and Donghae. They are all good-looking, including Shin Dong (despite his weight) and Ryeowook (even though his good looks are a bit creepier than the normal).  To add to their marketability, there is no dull member in the 14 member boy band.  Even the quieter members have some quirks that make them fun to watch and all the more loveable.

DBSK, as five or (even though I hate to say it) as two, is another exceptional idol group that sets the pace for all of their hoobaes.  They can sing and dance at the same time (without sounding all breathy and tired).  Their music is exceptionally well written, which shows that even if they don’t produce or write their own music, they know how to select songs that suit their voices and capabilities.

SHINee, is probably the most mediocre boy band in SM, yet, their talents are still very good.  All around player, Kim Kibum, better known as Key, can sing, rap and dance.  Baby faced Taemin, is an amazing dancer, and has recently improved his vocals, so much so, that he has more lines in the Japanese remakes of their Korean songs.  Rapper Minho can at least carry a tune on key.  Leader and main vocalist and the lead vocalist, Onew and Jonghyun are both exceptionally skilled singers.   This group has the widest range of personality, from the diva Almighty Key, to the competitive and charismatic Minho, to the innocent and adorable Taemin and the clumsy, loving leader Onew, to the masculine Jonghyun, each aspect of every personality is present, thus creating a talented and loveable boy band.  It’s no wonder this group is the pet group of the company and the founder Lee Soo Man himself.

Other super talented idol stars include, but are not limited to:

Big Bang – choreographer, dancer, music producer, lyricist, vocalist, rapper

Beast – dancers, writers, producers, actors, vocalists

Bang Yong Guk – producer, lyricist, rapper

SNSD - dancers, singers, actresses

T-Ara – actresses, singers

SS501 – Vocalist, businessman, rappers, dancers

Note:  I used SM artists because SM Entertainment is the one that is known for choosing their artists based on looks.