Get it? Like December blues? But this month, we're proud to say, will be sponsored by Luhan! If that makes no sense to you, you'll just have to tune in to this episode to find out. Also discussed is new music from CL, PSY, BTS, Verbal Jint, and Nine Muses. Join Tim, Sarah, and Zander as they try to fight through the obligatory holiday releases to find a few hidden gems.
You can subscribe to the Critical Kpop Podcast on iTunes, or check this and future episodes out at www.mixcloud.com/CriticalKpop. You can expect a healthy serving of news, reviews, and critical analysis in every episode. The Critical Kpop Podcast is the only podcast that invites you to LISTEN HARDER.
After announcing official comeback on 4th December, TaeTiSeo continues to provide fans with more eye candy, this time with Tiffany's individual teaser image.
She's seen lying comfortably in her latest pictorial with innocent gaze, fitting the Christmas themed pictorial absolutely well with her all white outfit.
Dear Santa, i bet you have sent the right gift this year!
2015 was a pretty mind-blowing year for K-Pop, and although it’s still a little early for New Years’ parties and Gayo Daejun festivals, we can already point out some of the year’s most obvious rising stars — BTS, MAMAMOO, 4minute’s Jiyoon, BtoB’s Sungjae, and many, many more. But rising stars aren’t always ones that shine so brightly — they just shine brighter than they have before. So instead of talking about 2015’s more obvious winners, let’s talk about someone who we don’t really talk about all that often — Kwon Yuri, member of Girls’ Generation. Her star is shining brighter than ever before, and here’s why.
Despite being an already well-established idol in what is arguably K-Pop’s most well-established group, Yuri has constantly been on the lower end of Girls’ Generation’s popularity rankings. In the past, SM usually threw her one or two unmemorable lines per song, leaving her to stand behind the spotlight (instead of under it) as part of GG’s tragically underused dance line (SM, PLEASE MAKE SHY HAPPEN ALREADY). But 2015 changed everything for Yuri — we are finally hearing her voice outside of two-second ad libs and momentary melodies.
It started with GG’s explosive first release of the year in April, when “Catch Me If You Can” saw Yuri take more singing time (24 seconds) than some of the group’s more usual vocalists like Tiffany (17 seconds) and Seohyun (14 seconds). Not only does she start the song, but she also dances front-and-center for the entire second chorus, in addition to handling both singing and rapping lines throughout the song (in other words, total and complete slayage). But many would be quick to counter the argument that “Catch Me If You Can” is Yuri’s claim to fame, stating that the song is simply an outlier among the group’s discography — one that purposely emphasizes the dance unit more so than did other songs. Since this is a very, very valid counterargument (along with Yuri, Yoona and Sooyoung take a majority of lines throughout the song as well), let’s look at some of the group’s later releases to further prove Yuri’s rising stardom.
Party was the group’s first single album release since their debut in 2007. It featured B-side “Check,” a 90’s style R&B track that was performed a few times on music shows during Party’s first week of release in July. “Check” was a blessing for Yuri fans because she spent a majority of the performances towards the front-and-center, slaying fans with her flawless curvy figure.
To any S<3NE watching the group make their long-awaited comeback in July, Yuri’s presence was definitely notable, much more so than in previous years. The trend continued in “Lion Heart,” in which Yuri sings a large part of the second chorus, and “You Think,” in which she handles an entire dance break. The pattern is unmistakable — Yuri’s role in the group is finally gaining importance. She’s no longer a forgotten dancer — she’s now a vocal and a visual as well. Even Billboard’s K-Pop columnist Jeff Benjamin takes note of Yuri’s increasing share of the line distribution, claiming that it’s “a decision that further shows that Girls’ Gen is embracing change in their eighth year together.”
Many of you might be wondering: Why did Yuri become so much more relevant all of a sudden? Well, the answer definitely isn’t definite. In fact, it’s most likely a mixture of many factors — her raw dancing talent, her blossoming into a full-fledged visual, her curves (something fairly rare in the K-Pop world), the group’s newfound inclination towards sexier, more provocative concepts (where Yuri shines strongest), the departure of one of the group’s main vocalists in 2014, and the announcement of her short-lived relationship with baseball player Oh Seung-Hwan in April of this year. All of these reasons, some of which relate to the group’s changing musical color and lineup, contribute to her upward surge.
Rising stars are not necessarily the idols who wholeheartedly capture the entire public’s attention or gain thousands on their Daum fancafe page — they’re sometimes those who take advantage of the one opportunity they’re given, those who quietly maintain public respect without making a big fuss about their good deeds, or those who, in the case of Yuri, go from dancer to visual/singer/dancer/rapper. It’s pretty safe to say that Yuri is one of 2015’s rising stars — not because she was “the trend” or bringer of cultural revolution, but because she rose among the ranks of her own group, effectively becoming a frontwoman of one of the most powerful acts in K-Pop history.
Kushal Dev is an Indian-American writer based in New Jersey. He discovered K-Pop through friends and YouTube, and has been an avid follower of Korean entertainment for 4 years. He biases 2NE1, Girls' Generation, f(x), MAMAMOO and EXID.
This is getting to be just too much now, friends. As a lover of girl groups, and resident girl group Kpop lover here at Critical Kpop, I've been ready to wave the white flag and declare 2015 Year of the Boy Band. But the girl groups are back, with an unrelenting vengeance. And they're rewarding/punishing their fans by having their releases days apart, in a clash of the girl powers the likes the world has never seen (we imagine)! Hyperbole aside, let's look at the continuing clash of the girl groups! Who are the winners here?
AOA vs. Sistar
This faceoff seems like it's getting strangely personal between the groups and their respective fandoms, with even the voting on music shows being suspect. There have been conspiracy theories for a while that MBC and Music Core despise Sistar and love seeing them fail, and when Sistar beat AOA on all categories except fan texting, and still lost, Sistar fans felt like this was another prime example. And when you look at Sistar, after hearing that AOA has won, Hyorin does not look happy. She leaves immediately as the encore begins, and none of Sistar congratulates AOA.
To be fair, AOA looked less than thrilled when Sistar won on Music Bank, and to be fair to both groups, the stakes are high here: Sistar wants to stay on top and may feel the strain of proving, with every release, that they're elite. AOA is hungry and has been so close to being elite that they're seeing red. But, really, both of these groups are going to win their share of music shows, so fans should be advised to, well, chill. Sistar and AOA are not direct rivals - they're very different in almost every way (except for their love of BUTT). Kpop is big enough for the both of them, and if they have one thing in common it's that neither of these songs are works of art. They're fun, they're light, and perfectly targeted for summer. But let's not pretend that one group is dominating the other with these releases.
Sistar vs. AOA: It's a Draw!
SNSD vs. Alternate Universe SNSD
Just over a week ago, the leaked footage of Jessica in "Catch Me If You Can" reopened a wound that hasn't even healed completely. It could be divine providence that we now get the first of three(!) releases that showcase an SNSD as eight, enjoying the summer sun. Okay, let's be honest with ourselves here. This release, besides featuring Kpop's favorite girls, is so, so boring. Even looking at this objectively, as a summer song, it falls flat. We don't even like Sistar's summer songs but they can give SNSD a pointer or two, at least. Yes, this will dominate the charts, but will we even remember this song by the end of the year?
That's not important. SM knows this, you know this. Consider this the appetizer to the two other releases, which seem like they'll be more ambitious attempts at stealing your hearts.
But that still begs the question: Will "Party" be memorable enough, in the meantime, at expelling Alternate Universe SNSD's version of "Catch Me If You Can" from the Kpop consciousness? Looking at the charts, which SNSD has quickly topped and All-Killed, it seems like "Party" can and already has. Even with the public breakup, SNSD has not received T-ara-level backlash. SNSD is untouchable, in any universe. They're an institution. They're money.
SNSD vs. Alternate Universe SNSD: OT8
Girl's Day vs. Expectation(s)
Here's my advice to you, dear reader: Give this song multiple listens. It does get better in time, but no matter how many times you listen to it, "Ring My Bill" is a cluttered mess. The chorus of "Ring ring my bell/Ring my bell," feels so disjointed that it halts the song right when it's picking up momentum. Minah's killer vocals almost bridges to the chorus, but the song just veers into too many directions to be enjoyed with major enthusiasm. Believe me, I've tried. Girl's Day has been one of my favorites. But this song is damaged goods.
Is Girl's Day damaged goods too? Netizen Buzz seems to think so. They've posted multiple articles that target Girl's Day: from accusations of plagiarism, to shorts being too short, to the girls being aloof during an internet show. I'm not linking them here, because linking to internet attack hounds seems counter-intuitive to how I want my Kpop world to be. Netizens are eating this up and being pretty brutal with their comments to these manufactured "issues." Girl's Day is getting big-time hate here. Do you know what that means?
They've made it!
Girl's Day vs. Expectation(s): Every Day, Girl's Day!
(Mamamoo Just Wants to Have Fun)
They've always given stellar live performances, but they're really tearing up the music shows right now, and having more genuine fun at just being there and competing on the charts (hovering in the top ten!), that it will make your cold, wicked Kpop heart warm for summer.
Watch Every Mamamoo Live Performance!
Nine Muses vs. EVERYBODY
And then there's Nine Muses, and, listen, there's a reason that they're the cover image: Their "Hurt Locker' BEATS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE RELEASES. Not in the charts, no, not even close. But the song? Maybe their best since "Wild," in their fabled and epic 2013. It has the summer energy without the summer cheesiness. In fact, Nine Muses spits in the face of that summer fluff. There's power and emotion in this song that the other girl groups aren't even touching right now. This song is being epic while the other girl groups are tanning on the beach.
The choreography? Move over, butt shakes! Get out of her, leg wobbles! Have you even seen (Nine Muses') Sojin dance? Watch the live performances. You'll be a believer.
This is a killer release and Nine Muses rises above the summer mediocrity with the best girl group song this side of 4Minute's "Crazy." Will it win on the charts? Will it win on a music show? Does Nine Muses ever win?!
Nine Muses vs. EVERYBODY: Nine Muses Never Wins WHY
Timothy Moore writes from Chicago. He blogs at Read My Blog Please, and edits at Ghost Ocean Magazine. His biases are T-ara, Block B, Nine Muses, Brown Eyed Girls, and Girl's Day.
In this week's episode, we talk about all the new releases: 2PM, BTS, Teen Top, AOA, Mamamoo, Sistar, and more! Whew! We also welcome a new contributor to the show: Claire! Tune in to see which new releases are duds, and which ones have us excited for more!
You can subscribe to the Critical Kpop Podcast on iTunes, or check this and future episodes out at www.mixcloud.com/CriticalKpop. You can expect a healthy serving of news, reviews, and critical analysis in every episode. The Critical Kpop Podcast is the only podcast that invites you to LISTEN HARDER.
To slay or not to slay? That should not even be a question! But lately, with girl group releases, it seems to be a legitimate question to pose. We've been trapped in a wave of mediocrity since maybe 4Minute's "Crazy" but hope is on the horizon, Hope that came in this weekend's major releases. But did any of our favorite girl groups make a deep impression? Did any of them actually Slay ? Let's take a look!
Heir Apparent?
This is what we tweeted after watching AOA's "Heart Attack" for the first time:
And we stand by this tweet. We were really that excited to see AOA back with a fun summer song and a (cute) bad-80's-teen-comedy concept. But does it slay? Well...the music here is a bit overpowering over AOA's lovely vocals, although AOA is not exactly known for their singing anyway (beyond maybe Choa and Jimin's trademark voice).
But what still excites us is AOA reminding us of early SNSD - the SNSD / 2PM "Caribbean Bay" CF comes to mind especially - with the lovesick characters and extensive training for a goal wherein the stakes are beyond the viewer's understanding (but we root for them anyway!), sprinkling a strange wholesomeness ontop a bevy of fan service. The girls use their feminine wiles to win the game, which seems about twenty years outdated, at least, but Kpop. And, again, AOA is more SNSD than 4Minute or 2NE1, in sound and in gender dynamics.
Does it Slay? We've always considered AOA the true successors of SNSD, and they've taken a large step to fulfilling that destiny with this release. But this song does not slay, it just misses the mark.
Love U I Swear Touch My Body I Swear I Love U, so Touch My Body and then Shake It!
Shake it, already! We've already detailed some of Sistar's problems right here, friends, and how they are trapped in summer: they're hitting peak summer saturation! So let's talk about something else, shall we? Let's talk about how, despite our reservations, for what it is, and despite its similarities to summer song's past, this is a fun song that will probably do well enough to keep Sistar in summer for a few more years (God help us all) . And visually, the video is stunning - and we're not just talking about these gorgeous women - the colors onscreen just jump out at you, with a metallic edge that leaps into your eyeballs.
There's enough cheesecake and curves here to make Wa$$up blush, and though the video has a similar school setting as AOA, the goals of our dear Sistar are a little less ambitious, with their devotion only to "shaking it" and tormenting their poor teacher and a perv who happens to be the quintessential perv in Kpop now (though there happens to be a lot of pervs in Kpop this year). There's a lot of gawking in this video, as there was in AOA's. Which is odd - it's almost as if all these agencies are not confident that we'll find these idols breathtakingly attractive, they feel as though they have to teach the audience to feel this way. But they really don't.
Does it Slay? Summer is great and all, but it's time for Sistar to find another season. They're getting a bit too comfortable shaking it instead of slaying it .
THE WILD CARD
We LOVE Mamamoo. After AKMU, they may have been the best rookies of 2014 . Their raw talent is unparalleled, Their charisma electric, and their music videos are usually nothing short of spectacular. Except with this video and this release. Yes, we've been seeing Mamamoo embrace their inner-zaniness in behind-the-scenes footage and clips, so this release isn't exactly a surprise. And, to Mamamoo's credit, this is easily the best song out of the new girl group releases, and a song that has gotten more attention out of the gate then any of their previous releases.
We prefer the Live Performances though, where Mamamoo really Shines. The video involves gender-swapping that could, with more thought, be used to say something beyond the gropiness of the characters. But it's all done for laughs and slapstick, which only goes so far in our book. By the end, with a handful of flat jokes and a "surprise twist" that, again, feels about twenty years outdated, the video does more harm than good in Mamamoo's ability to slay.
Does it Slay? Sorry Mamamoo, we'll take slick and cool over slapstick any day. We still love you though, promise.
Alternate Universe SNSD Invades from Earth 2, Internet is Destroyed Forever
All jokes aside, watching the leaked "Catch Me If You Can" video with Jessica in the group is tantamount to stepping into an alternate universe. A kinder, safer universe, where "OT8" is not a part of the SNSD vernacular. We'd post the video here, but by the time this goes up, it'd get taken down again. You can surely go on Reddit to find it, friends, the very same Kpop subreddit that, for a time, had this video and the discussion surrounding it ranking above all of these new releases. Do we have an unlikely winner here?
While the rest of these girl group releases fall away from memory, this leak is the stuff of legend. It was legend even before anyone knew about it.
Just having Jessica sing the song absentmindedly on a variety show (we were going to post the video here but even that was taken down) made SONES imagine what could have been. Then came some leaked pictures. Then some audio. Then ... the fabled video came into existence and fans realized that their hearts were still broken, still reeling. Slaying does not always have to be a positive thing. Does it Slay? Seeing Jessica as part of SNSD again has slayed us all.
This leak getting this much buzz is saying something, surely, about this open, festering wound but also these new girl group releases. If there's one unifying factor that ties all of them together, it may just be how unremarkable they ultimately are. They get our attention but do not keep it for long. It's summer but it's also troubling. Seeing a glimpse of Alternate Universe SNSD is the only "release" here that elicits any genuine emotion. Our heartbreak.
Timothy Moore writes from Chicago. He blogs at Read My Blog Please, and edits at Ghost Ocean Magazine. His biases are T-ara, Block B, Nine Muses, Brown Eyed Girls, and Girl's Day.
We're excited to introduce the brand new Critical Kpop Podcast! Join 'L,' Tim Moore, and Zander Stachniak as they discuss the clever censorship of EXID's "Ah Yeah," BASTARZ (or BASTARDS?) and the apparent racism in "Conduct Zero," JYP and his butt obsession--we mean "Who's Your Mamma," and the sexy construction workers of Girl's Generation's "Catch Me If You Can."
You can subscribe to the Critical Kpop Podcast on iTunes, or check this and future episodes out at www.mixcloud.com/CriticalKpop. You can expect a healthy serving of news, reviews, and critical analysis in every episode. The Critical Kpop Podcast is the only podcast that invites you to LISTEN HARDER.
