Montrealers get it turnt up! Last weekend, the whole gang from Pop! Goes The World! took a roadtrip down to Montreal in collaboration with Quebec co-producers Nana Blackstones and Milin Lafcktop. We already knew Kpoppers can party, but we never expected THIS level of hype! The show featured a headlining performance from East2West, the original group of B2M’s trainee Lee Yohan (see here for Yohan’s appearance at Eric Name’s concert!)
The all-rounded one day event featured all things Hallyu and more, including over 120 performers and singers. A warm thank you to Rin Photography for providing the following digital images from the event.
Kpop vendors and artists lined up along the main foyer area. From fan art, to clothing, to CDs, all Kpop fans were sure to complete their collection!
A mountain of EXO merchandise awaited happy stans!
Yours truly, host of the 2014 EXO Panel!
The doors opened around 4:30, and a massive line of fabulously dressed Kpoppers rushed in! I hosted the EXO Panel and shared some hilarious stories and prizes with the coolest EXO-stans in the country! Props to the girl who had a dream where Luhan became the president.
In the gym area, more folks gathered for an invigorating class of Kpop Zumba! From what we saw, instructor Ann-Alisabeth sure knows how to get everyone work up a good sweat! Did we mention that Kpop is good for your health?
I want you back, back, back! Our well-known Youtube dance teacher and leader of R.P.M is Jennifer Martin, who taught Infinite’s “BACK” later into the evening.
Hyun and I take a moment to snap a picture with our Missha samples!
Free for all! All attendees got to take home a generous grab-bag of high quality Korean cosmetics from Missha! The discount code MNTRLKFSTS2 can be used to get a 15% discount off Missha.ca! In addition, random fans were given prizes of assorted Kpop CDs and gifts, courtesy of Nana Blackstones.
2KSquad literally sweeping you off your feet!
As the night progressed, over 300 guests gathered to the main stage for a high energy 2.5 hour concert featuring dancers, singers, musicians, and more! I was honoured to MC the event alongside my colleague Hyun (AKA DJ Aimee from Seoul). At one point, the crowd was so loud that we had to crank up the music so that dancers could stay on beat! Talk about a wild audience!
Hyun and I sharing a moment on stage!
Junie & Sky captured the hearts of the audience with a soulful acoustic performance.
Montreal group QU33N show off their girl power!
OHDT from Ottawa received a standing ovation after rather risqué cover of Taemin’s “DANGER”! Check out the video footage of the performance below:
Girls got swag too!
2KSquad with a heartwarming tribute to Ladies’ Code.
I was genuinely baffled and so remarkably impressed by how much the crowd loved the show! Imagine nearly 400 Kpop fans gathered together in one theatre, sharing the Hallyu experience. At one point the energy was so high, that it brought tears to my eyes as I stood beside the DJ booth.
After 9PM, the hardworking volunteers cleared away the chairs, and VJ Gee and DJ Aimee from Seoul blew up the venue with an All-Request-Kpop dance party! Lightsticks and balloons filled the air!
I must extend my heart out to all the staff and volunteers who helped make this possible. We all struggled and painfully moved around sound equipment in high heels and cold weather. In the end, it was worth it to see the smiles and tears of joy on everyone’s faces. That is the only way I can describe the shared love of Kpop that brought us all together that night! Fighting!
Montreal is a beautiful city with bright coloured architecture, and I was glad to have a few hours of sightseeing before we drove back to Toronto that night. A few of us drove down Sherbrooke and had a pub night out with OHDT and East2West until the late hours. If I learned anything, it’s that Montreal is a city alive at night!
Ottawa Hallyu Dance Crew took me to a charming small macaron shop called Point G.
The beautiful overhead sight of the Quebec city! Autumn leaves accent such a breathtaking view.
Thank you for having us Montreal! It was an incredible day of love and laughter, and of course- Dancing! I can’t wait to be back to dance with the Quebec Kpoppers once more!
For a rundown of Kfest, check this highlight reel, courtesy of Jennifer Martin!
Today, the hashtags #SNSDStayStrong and #SNSDAlways9 fluttered in waves around Twitter. From the tragic death of two Ladies’ Code members, to drug accusations of Park Bom, 2014 was a whirlwind of drama in the Kpop world. Then something happened again- Jessica Jung of Girls’ Generation was officially booted from the group yesterday.
SM released this official statement last night:
“Hello. This is SM Entertainment. We’re here to explain about Jessica’s Weibo posted today.
Due to her personal business, Jessica has notified us that she will halt the team (SNSD) promotions with the release of 1 more album this spring.
The agency and Girls’ Generation members tried our best to conclude this with the best and possible direction. However, during the negotiations about the priorities and interest, Jessica launched her fashion business. Due to this, it has come to the point where Jessica could not maintain in the team anymore.
The agency had no choice but to continue Girls’ Generation with 8 members earlier than planned. We’re about to annouced this but Jessica has posted her words on weibo this morning. Reason
From here now on, our agency will continue to support 8 members Girls’ Generation and Jessica’s individual activities.”
Jessica responded with a statement as well through her fashion line BLANC, highlighting that:
“However, in early September, after only a month since the launching, the members suddenly changed their position and held a meeting, and told me to either quit my business or leave Girls' Generation without any justifiable reason.
I explained that I had already received permission from the agency, that I had never neglected Girls' Generation's activities, and that I could not suddenly halt my business due to my contract with my business partner after a month.”
SM’s hottest girl AND boy group will now have lost a member in 2014 (it wasn’t too long ago when EXO’s Kris called it quits).
Fans around the world are now grieving the end of the iconic 9-membered SNSD. The girls enjoyed 7 successful years as the queens of the Kpop kingdom, and topped charts with the comeback “MR MR”. Heartbroken SONES can only shake their heads in disbelief, as they tweet out the following messages:
“JESSICA CANNOT LEAVE SNSD. SHE CAN'T!!!! 8+1 = ALWAYS 9!!!!”
"Girls' Generation to continue as an 8 member group, sounds so wrong... it's not going to be the same.”
“I don't blame Jessica at all, I feel bad for her.”
One Twitter fan reminiscences about an old quote about the seemingly unbreakable group:
“Nine people who are very different from each other, have now become one." - Sooyoung
It's almost that wonderful time of the year: the weather is getting colder, the nights are getting longer, and creepy things are starting to make loud bumps in the night. That's right, it's almost Halloween. If you love dressing up and spooky creatures, you probably love Halloween Kpop MVs as much as I do. They're fun, spooky, and sometimes even downright creepy. Here's a list of my favourite Kpop Halloween-themed music videos.
1. Narsha – Bbi Ri Bba Bba
Although this is an older song, it is still a great Halloween treat. The video follows the story of a construction worker who breaks into another world and encounters the dark and mysterious Narsha, who takes on many forms. This tale is a reverse Alice in Wonderland, equal parts enchanting and downright frightening. Narsha takes on many roles from the seductive witch, to the pure innocent and it all works wonderfully. The video is dizzying, and the song compliments the frantic visuals.
2. VIXX – Voodoo
VIXX was one of the first groups to base their entire concept on dark themes. While pretty much any pick from their videography could be on this list, Voodoo Doll is by far the creepiest of them all. The choreography and theme work together with the song itself, so the whole package is well-produced and executed without being overbearing. The video reminds me of why I love Kpop and Halloween: even the violent images, blood and gore are kept stylistic and intended to remain visually appealing.
3. Sunny Hill – Pray
“Pray” is not necessarily a video I would consider to specifically be a Halloween song, but it is on this list for a reason. The MV does have a creepy vibe, as it uses recognized horror symbols such as the disfigured monster character. The music video shares many common features with thriller films, especially the betrayal of trust, and a revealing surprise ending, which in themselves can be quite scary.
4. Taeyang – I'll Be There
“I'll Be There” is another older Kpop tune, hailing all the way back from 2010. It features Taeyang of Big Bang paying his own homage to the original Halloween music video, Thriller by Michael Jackson. The visual aesthetic of the graveyard, haunted mansion, and lifeless, jerky choreography of the song are enough to be recognized as one of the most memorable Halloween Kpop MVs to date.
5. T-ARA – Roly Poly (Zombie ver)
No Halloween list can be complete without this classic MV. The full-length version tops out at a long 6 minutes, but not without good reason. The girls of T-ARA find themselves in a nightclub where dancers and club-goers are slowly picked-off by hungry flesh-eating fan boys...I mean zombies. The girls of T-ARA even break out their best Michael Jackson-inspired costumes to dance along with them, and the end result is a fun, uncomplicated tribute to the spookiest night of the year.
6. BTOB – Thriller
BTOB's “Thriller” is a typically Kpop-approach to Halloween. This is a video I would expect to see at a dance party complete with flashy costumes, detailed sets, and complicated dance moves. While this video isn't necessarily scary, it still houses many of the elements that are essential to Halloween: chains, zombies, skeletons and graveyards. It's also surprising to note that this is the third tribute to “Thriller” on this list! There's no doubt that many musicians have been influenced by this song, and Kpop is no exception.
7. Queen B'Z – Bad
The first thing you notice when watching this video is that it's quite risqué and mature. The debut MV from this rookie group uses a lot of familiar cinematic tropes such as a spurned lover, and seductive vampires. The entire video plays out like a campy horror flick, from the attractive ladies fighting off monsters in high heels to the fan service in the final scenes. Overall, this MV is fun if not a little bit confusing and odd in the later parts, but it all adds up to a great tune that reminds me of Halloween.
8. Beast – Shadow
“Shadow” is a song that is about duality, and works well by incorporating a number of Halloween-esque images: skulls, snakes, spiders, and most importantly, a strong element of darkness. If “Bad” is the campy horror film, “Shadow” is an artful contemporary and sexy horror film. Shot entirely in desaturated film, the colours are muted and dank, and the sets range from crumbling hallways to Gothic chambers. This video is a welcome addition to any Halloween playlist.
9. Ladie's Code – Hate You
Human puppets, creepy dolls and subliminal messages makes “Hate You” an eerily beautiful entry into the Kpop market. With respect to the passing of members RiSe and EunBi, the MV is a reminder that life is best when it is lived. The ladies carry around inanimate plastic dolls while keeping their movements slow and minimal. Could it be that the dolls are carrying their souls? Or perhaps the dolls have switched bodies with the group members. Either way, the visuals and static, unflinching stare of the members of Ladie's Code make “Hate You” unsettling and creepy.
10. 100% - Beat
“Beat” is in the same vein as VIXX, taking a relatively dark theme (in this case, genetic engineering and resurrection) and adding a distinctive Kpop flair to it. The costumes take hints from Gothic subculture clothing, including belts, rivets, chains and platform boots, but incorporating the clean and fitted styles found in Kpop aesthetic. Overall, this is one of my favourite underrated Halloween videos because of its attention to detail and style.
BONUS:
Epik High – Don't Hate Me
So it's not scary per say, but this is still an upbeat tune from some of Kpop's most beloved veterans. It does feature much of the cast dressed up in Halloween costumes of famous villains and little chaos-creating monsters. If nothing else, it reminds us that we should remember to break the rules and act out sometimes.
September is usually a busy month for everyone. As soon as summer vacation comes to a close, it's back to school, books and work. Luckily for us, Kpop has been more exciting than usual lately. There have been scandals and new releases by the dozens and always something new to talk about. Whether you're a new fan, an old fan that hasn't been into Kpop lately, or just looking for a refresher, I'm here to rundown some of the biggest Kpop stories of September.
By far one of the biggest stories this September was Z:EA leader Lee Hoo, AKA Junyoung making serious accusations against his company, Star Empire Entertainment over Twitter. In his claims, Lee Hoo stated that he had some serious dirt to unload about his company if CEO Shin Juhak did not appease his outbursts. As Lee Hoo began to tweet open more, he revealed the issues were around mishandling of members during variety shows, and unfair contracts, such as the 70/30 split in profits. Z:EA was allegedly receiving 30% to split between 9 members. Lee Hoo began calling out to fans to not be swayed by the flashy exterior, and to take a deeper interest in what really goes on behind the scenes of the industry. The debacle ended rather abruptly with a final tweet, where Lee Hoo explained that he had been in talks with CEO Juhak in regards to Z:EA's contract. The specific details are still under wraps. Although the situation lead to an interesting conclusion, Lee Hoo's Twitter rampage revealed what many of us already knew about Kpop: It can be an unfair and brutal industry. Where Z:EA's future, and ultimately the future of Kpop goes from here is yet to be seen.
Another major story involved the tragic death of Ladies' Code members RiSe and EunB when their van crashed during a rainy night. RiSe, 23, and EunB, 22, died of complications sustained from the accident in early September. Expert statements claim that the van the women were in was speeding in excess of 137km/hr during wet conditions, and seat belts may have not been worn. Ladies' Code's entertainment company Polaris recently released a statement about members Sojung, Zuny and Ashley stating that they are still receiving therapy for their injuries. The fate of the group is still undecided at this point. This is a tragedy that fans and non-fans of Kpop alike are deeply saddened by. Our condolences go out to their family and friends.
Unfortunately this was not the only car accident this month. Big Bang member Seungri (Lee Seung Hyun) was hospitalized and remained in ICU after his car flipped in a September 12 accident. According to investigations, Seungri crashed his Porche into another driver during the early morning hours, and speed has been considered a factor. Drunk driving has been ruled out, and YG Entertainment has kept Seungri's condition quiet. We hope for his speedy recovery.
And finally, GLAM member and Monstar actress Da Hee has admitted to blackmailing actor Lee Byung Hun with a recording of “lewd” comments he made during a rendezvous including alcohol. Da Hee and model Lee Ji Yeon were asking for 5 million USD to not release the cell phone recordings and also purchased plane tickets to flee South Korea. Gangnam Police have issued a warrant for Da Hee. Questions have been raised regarding allegations of sexual harassment, and whether or not Da Hee will be imprisoned for her actions. Her status in GLAM is unknown.
Now for some light bite-sized news:
Crayon Pop of “Bar Bar Bar” fame has released their new subunit, consisting of the Heo Twins, Choa and Way.
KARA member Nicole is rumoured to be making her solo comeback in October.
CL of 2EN1 is the first Korean Singer to be on the cover of Elle Korea, and has revealed she is preparing for her first solo album.
That's all for this month. Stay tuned to ArirangKorea TV to keep up to date on all your Kpop news, reviews and more!
Local Kpoppers went “Ooh Ooh!” over Toronto’s second crowdfunded Kpop concert, this time featuring solo artist Eric Nam! The interactive concert, organized by local fan-run organization KpopMe, was flooded with over 700 excited fans of the charming singer and After School Club host. As an added treat, B2M’s trainee Yohan made a special appearance as well.
Eric was all smiles while signing posters for fans! Credit: Jorge Toledo—Ramirez.
Lina, one of the main organizers of the event, was graced with the opportunity to share the MC stage along with Eric Nam. When asked how she felt, Lina humbly responded , “Seeing how Eric, Yohan, and the fans smiled was more than enough. All the restless nights were worth it."
Lina and Eric sharing jokes and laughter together on stage!
Tickets were sold faster than the speed of light as fans (mostly female) had dreamed of getting close to the young star. The event took place on September 20th in the distinguished Winter Garden Theater, right in the heart of downtown Toronto. VIP and VVIP ticketholders also had the opportunity for a hi-touch, meet & greet session with Eric after the concert.
Canadian fans show their support for Nam! Credit: Jennifer Martin
The concert featured unique interactive games with fans, as well as a Q & A Session. Credit: Jorge Toledo—Ramirez.
Fans leave sentimental gifts and best wishes to the star! Credit: Jorge Toledo—Ramirez.
Ooh Ooh! A few very lucky fans were chosen for a serenade by Eric himself, with the song “Say Something”! The two lucky winners were chosen out of many who sent in letters. Credit: Jennifer Martin
As for whether Eric enjoyed himself? We certainly think so, based on his latest twitter reply! Check it out for yourself!
Eric and Yunho snapping a selca on stage! Credit: Jennifer Martin
Thank you Jorge and Jennifer for sharing the photos, and a big congratulations to KpopMe for pulling off a wildly successful concert! We hope to see more of Eric Nam and Yohan in the future, while welcoming them back to Toronto with open arms.
Chérie representing Sistar! Permission & Credit by: Jason L.K. Lau (EARS Online)
Did you take a second glance in Toronto last weekend, when you thought you saw your favourite idols? So did we! Dance crews all across Ontario were invited to represent the most iconic K-pop acts of the generation, at AllTV’s Music Bank style performance. From SHINee’s famous hand tutting in “Lucifer”, to the sexy allure of Sistar’s “Touch My Body”, all crews WOWED the Korean Harvest Festival with their own unique interpretation of the top Kpop hits.
1. DnA, representing - Miss A
Hush, hush- it’s DnA! Dasha and Alison complete the power duo group DnA, as they embodied the red-lipped and sophisticated Miss A! The two long-time friends formed the group to celebrate their love of dancing, and thus DnA was born!
2. M.Y.Soul, representing - 2NE1
Hailing from Toronto is the all-girl M.Y.Soul dance crew, who put a sexy spin on 2NE1’s hit songs including banger “Come Back Home”. The group has a cool history since being established in 2009 at University of Toronto and continues to experiment with various dance styles.
With more than 20 members in total, Underground Pulse seriously impressed BTS fans with their upbeat energy and hip hop swag, including a mic prop to capture the complete music bank experience. The large group oozed boyish confidence, style, and “DANGER”!
4. Chérie, representing – Sistar
The 5-member girl group Chérie never fails to charm viewers with appealing outfits and feminine flair! Chérie is perfection! The ladies grew out of talent company Brand New Style, but now are active on their own Youtube channel. Currently, they have over 1000 followers on Facebook.
5. Ottawa Hallyu Dance Team, representing - GOT7
Girls, girls, girls absolutely loveee OHDT! Ottawa Hallyu Dance Team is famous for a strong co-ed group of dancers, who know how to please the crowd with amazing floorwork and (occasionally) fanservice! OHDT celebrated a successful year in 2014, after placing #1 at Dano Festival’s Kpop Dance Competition. They also hosted the Hallyu Gala in Ottawa during August which featured dance workshops by various groups.
6. NATsquared, representing - SHINee
Did you know that the three ladies of NATsquared are only in highschool, and are all related? The dance gene must run deep in that family! The charismatic trio completely nailed the complicated choreography of a diverse selection of SHINee’s hits, all while sporting SM-inspired outfits. (Did we spot a feathered boa?)
7. R.P.M, representing – EXO
The show came to a close with the theatrical EXOtic mashup by R.P.M’s 4-member girl group from Toronto (including myself!). Though the group only formed earlier this year, the girls have grown to be close friends and continue to experiment with funky formations and dance styles. Fun fact: The costumes were designed and hand-printed by the members themselves!
OHDT representing GOT7! Permission & Credit by: Jason L.K. Lau (EARS Online)
To complete the circle of Hallyu love, Pop! Goes The World! also made an appearance by greeting fans at the K-pop DJ Booth (VJ Gerald Belanger and DJ Aimee from Seoul).
By the look of it, it seems Hallyu is alive and well in Toronto! Oh Canada, we can’t wait to see what you have to offer next!
La-la-la, happiness! One of our buddies Jorge Toledo-Ramirez (AKA "Gentleman Bear"), writer of popular blog Rhythm.Connection and music producer, has just come forward with a secret about SM's new 4-member group "Red Velvet". Remember the blue-haired diva with the killer vocals? That's Wendy Son, the 20 year old star of "Happiness", who emerged from Richmond Hill, Canada!
"I discovered her back in 2011 after attending an event hosted by Cube Entertainment in Vancouver, " says Toledo-Ramirez, "We were working on a track together until early 2012 when she was casted by SM. " "During our time working together, I encouraged her to continue auditioning for agencies in Korea. And two and a half years later when she was revealed as an SM trainee, I was happy to hear that another company was interested in her and took it a step further."
According to Wikipedia, Wendy blew away the casting agents with her multifaceted talents, including being able to play the piano, guitar, flute, and saxophone. She attended Richmond Hill High School.
Each member dyed the ends of their hair a distinctive colour, with Wendy sporting a cool blue. Jorge adds: "Ironically, I remember telling her that someday a company would sign her- Literally a few months before it actually happened!"
"Aside from the song I was doing for her, in late 2011, I began work on another track that was supposed to be a collaboration between her and the Youtuber (former JTBC Made in U contestant) Eric Moon. The track wasn't finished, for the same reasons... and mainly timing."
What's it like working with Wendy?
"She's really easygoing from my chats with her, "Jorge muses as he recalls fond memories, " And even called me oppa a couple times! But that's not really worth mentioning."
Even though Wendy is now residing in South Korea, Jorge remains happy about the time he was able to work with the young star, and the two maintain a good relationship across seas.
Despite having only one debut MV for "Happiness", Red Velvet already racked up the top of music charts upon release. The music video was a highly stylized combination of jungle dancing, cheerleader aegyo, and some trippy animations, That's the power of SM! We're all looking forward to what this group will come out with next!
Jorge sporting his awesome T-shirt
Wendy has been heavily involved in activities of her own as well. For example, she sang the song "I Have To Forget You", from the popular K-drama "Mimi", and was featured in the official music videol. Our Canadian pride shines bright for you, Wendy! Fighting!
Disclaimer:This is the ORIGINAL interview with Canadian producer "Gentleman Bear" (Jorge Toledo-Ramirez) about Wendy Son from Red Velvet. Any replication/ trans. without permission, of this article, is a copyright offense. The facts are validated and confirmed in Toledo-Ramirez's follow-up article HERE.
There’s no doubt that this summer belonged to girl groups. They dominated the charts and the critics with their sexy, smooth and steamy tunes. But for us fangirls that prefer male groups, we had to be a bit more patient with our boys. Compiling this list was no easy feat. The research was gruelling as I watched almost every boy group MV released this summer. There was a lack of definitive summer jams, but a couple groups stood out above the others.
Here are my Top 10 picks for Male Group Releases for this Summer
10. History – Psycho
This video opens with a somewhat melodramatic scene. The monochrome tone sets the mood that something unfortunate is going to happen with these looming figures. However, what we actually get is an unexpected taste of 80s new wave-inspired melodies, which is incredibly popular this summer as we’ll see in other videos. “Psycho” is sexy and dangerous, with clean scene changes between choreography and the attempt at a story. Although the MV sticks to the mediocre formula of the “box” dance and the pretty girl, the song itself manages to save itself by being catchy and worthy of humming. With a conceptually better video, “Psycho” could have been a breakaway hit.
9. Boy’s Republic – Dress Up
Last year, Boys Republic debuted with “Party Rock”, a true summer jam. This year, they offer up “Dress Up”, a cute story of a girlfriend’s makeover. And this MV is exactly that. It’s cute. The MV showcases clean sets and the boys dressed in typical audacious outfits that would not work in real life, but are perfectly on-point in kpop style. The song is simple and has no real surprises in store. “Dress Up” is typically-kpop and although that isn’t a bad thing, it’s cliched in plot, tone, and execution. But for a light-hearted summer sing-along, these cliches work.
8. B1A4 – Solo Day
With recent singles and releases, B1A4 has managed to surprise me with their brand of quirky but stunning imagery. “Solo Day” is a sweet summertime song for cruising in a convertible or having a drink on the patio. The choreography is equal parts comic and beautiful, highlighting what we love about summer—long drives and beach strolls. The song is an easy and slow melody that’s easy to sing along to. With a twist at the end of this video, B1A4 takes the right approach to remind us that summertime is all about living out fantasies.
7. Boyfriend – Obsession
I’ll admit that when Boyfriend first came into the kpop scene, I was immediately skeptical. And for good reason since their debut was sugar-coated flower boy averageness. After the pleasant surprise “Janus”, I started to take note. “Obsession” is another progression in the evolution of Boyfriend. There is nothing groundbreaking about the MV and song, but together they deliver a solid package. The plot is easy enough to follow when a young girl is stolen by an abusive man and the boys of Boyfriend are determined to save her. But in the context of your next summer party, it’s a clean and visually impressive video with bright contrasts between the rusty hangout of the boyfriends, and the crisp whites surrounding the girl. While it lacks a little something that would cement it as a party song, this obsession will last long past summer.
6. C-Clown – Let’s Love
If you’re familiar with 90s street rap, “Let’s Love” will sound familiar to you. The song opens with a slick call-out introduction that leads into an unexpected big, sexy hook and accompanying chorus before falling back on a solid rap verse. The layered harmonies are reminiscent of 90’s style r&b and the MV setting reflects this theme. What we get is a street setting, gritty but still youthful reflected in the choice of street-style clothing and bright colours. Aside from the off-beat shirtless dancing scene, the sets click together under a common theme; street hood party! I especially like the larger than life texts behind the dance scenes. Once you throw in some English gibberish, you’ve got a hit on your hands.
5. Infinite – Back
There are two major types of kpop music video. The feel-good silly colours-and-ridiculousness everywhere type, and the serious, broody and dramatic type. And with recent releases, Infinite has found their category. This group never disappoints and when they go big, they go all or nothing. This MV isn’t necessarily summer-based, but it boasts a slick retro throwback that wouldn’t be out of place on a movie soundtrack. “Back” opens with rich, but flighty piano chords that are juxtaposed against brutal on-screen violence, and that theme continues through to the last scene. This is a decidedly more grim release that lacks a summer vibe. But based on cinematography, “Back” just rounds up the top 5.
4. Beast – Good Luck
Beast was the first kpop group that I fell in love with. Even though I find myself disappointed with some of their later singles, “Good Luck” reminds me of what drew me in the first place. The boys have grown up and it’s obvious in the way they approach videos. “Good Luck” is a pleasant surprise as it returns to Beast’s electro-pop roots but with a darker theme. Soundwise, I was hooked from the intro, but the chorus fell slightly flat as I expected something with a heavier sound. Visually, the monochrome matches the clean sound, and is even amplified by the neon set in the second half, which adds to the feeling of a hot summer’s night. Even if some of the interior scenes felt too classy in comparison, the overall clean composition of the song and video make for a great summer dance classic.
3. Homme – It Girl
Despite my heavy metal roots, I was a huge fan of the swing-genre that invaded kpop earlier this year. Sadly, it didn’t last long, but “It Girl” is an example of the style done completely right. It’s a sexy, smooth tune that relies primarily on the strong vocal talents of its singers. There is a distinct lack of over-produced clicks and whistles. The MV reflects this sentiment with soft pale colours and simplistic sets where the actors are highlighted. The props are simple, and somewhat cheeky without being overtly sexual.
2. Nolza – Bubi Boom
This release is placed higher on my list than I originally thought. Think “Gangnam Style” but a thousand times more awkward. This video features four unlucky guys working at an amusement park in the heat of summer who throw off their responsibilities and dance. That’s it. Right from the opening note, the song packs an unexpected punch and that energy continues throughout. What really makes this MV work is that it’s not trying to be sexy or glamorous. There are no matching outfits here, just tie-dyed football padding and choreography that is so simple, it borders on dumb. It’s genuine without being intimidating, forgoing slick production for shots of the members having a really good time in bumper cars and on roller coasters. This is the stuff that summer is made of. I would jump into that pool and party too!
1. Block B – Her
Of course, this comes as no surprise. I found myself going back to watch this MV several times in a row and for good reason. From the opening gospel-like chorus, we know that this video is going to be a high-energy and upbeat treat. We see the boys’ typical brand of goofy, energetic, ridiculous humour and we want to share it with them because the weather is hot and we want to celebrate too. Visually, the colours and patterns are bright and the soft pastels are on-point with summer trends. How cool and original are the melted, cut-out pop art cut-aways? The crisp scene changes punctuate the strong opening beats and chorus of the song and match the summer vibe without resorting to the typical beach-bikini combo. Good job, boys!
