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I think 2014 has been very kind to Korean Music fans thus far. We've experienced triumphant returns and stellar debuts, and I personally can't wait to see what else the year has in store for us. During the first four months of the year there have been many notable songs released and with each passing month my taste and knowledge of Korean Music gets wider and more eclectic. ~pats self on back~ All that being said, here is the list of songs that I have had on repeat since January, ordered by most listened too.
1. 30Sexy by Rain: The King of Kpop returns with his sexiest song and MV yet. At first the song, especially the high pitch electronic sound really irritated me, but the more I listened and the more I watched the MV, the more I liked it. Now, I play it like once a day and bonus, my sister likes it too. 1 point in the column for Kpop fans!
2. Spellbound by TVXQ: If you've read my "TVXQ's Comeback Singles" blog post then you already know how in love I am with this song. It shows off how amazing TVXQ really is, vocally and physically (they danced soooooo hard).
3. Just One Day by BTS: I wasn't originally a BTS fan, but this song got me. It's not only sweet sounding but the lyrics are sweet too. Bonus: I was able to pick up the chorus really quickly. Yay me!
4. Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms by HIGH4 ft. IU: Definitely my favorite debut so far. I am in love with this song! IU worked her magic and wrote a stunning song that not only showed off her talents but HIGH4's talents as well. I am really looking forward to their album.
5. 200% by Akdong Musician: Another stellar debut! These kids know what they're doing. They're not your typical K-pop group and they aren't trying to be. #RESPECT One of my favorite MVs of the year so far. It's so cute and heartbreaking that it should be made into a full blown drama. I'm sure there are about a hundred dramas like it already, but this time it should star this adorable brother/sister duo.
6. Be a Man by MBLAQ: Though I have known of MBLAQ's existence for some time, I only just now started listening to their music. Shame, I know. Anyway, this song is so cool! Their harmony is so tight you can't even slip a piece of paper in there and they are definitely one group that pulls off the mature, mysterious vibe that other groups sometimes have to fake.
7. Metronome by Jay Park ft Simon D & Gray: I'm not that big a fan of the MV, or I should say I'm not a fan of the half naked lady and some of the weird projections. However (comma) I like the sound of this song. I've been listening to a lot of Jay Park lately and I think this song solidifies his transition from super sexy slow jams to hard hitting hip hop.
8. Hold Me Tight by Loco ft. Crush: I should probably move this song up the list, but I'm just going to leave it here and geek out. So, Loco is an artist on AOMG which means AOMG is doing something right because this dude is AH MAY ZING! His flow is perfect, he never loses the beat, which sometimes happens in Korean Rap. And the addition of Crush takes a great song to the next level. I would really love a full album from this dude.
9. Sometimes by Crush: Speaking of Crush, he also released a single early this year and I loves it. Crush's voice is beyond..., it's just beyond and I love the MV with cameos of other Amoeba Culture artists like Zion.T. The song and video really displays Crush's all around talentedness (if that's not a word, it is now).
10. The Manual by Eddy Kim: Sometimes you have to slow things down and strip all the synthesizers away. This acoustic song is really something special because it truly lets the artist's vocal talent and the message of the song shine. A must listen in my book.
11. Come Back Home by 2NE1: The ladies of YG are back and still rocking that whole electro-raggae-pop thing that they do so well. Great song from beginning to end. It's fast when it needs to be, slow when it needs to be and everybody sounds really good. The video's crazy too!
12. Ooh Ooh by Eric Nam ft. Hoya (of Infinite): I was a little reluctant to like this song, just because it felt so Bruno Mars-y. But I don't want to take anything away from the talented and adorable Eric Nam or the people that worked on this song so eventually I gave in and anytime I need a pick me up this song is among the first I turn too. I am a big fan of the funk sound the song has and for some reason I really enjoy the addition of Hoya. The MV is pretty awesome to.
13. Can't Stop by C.N. Blue: Listened to this song right before starting this post and I must say it is probably the prettiest song on the list. C.N. Blue does it again and shuts down the rock ballad section of my life (that's a good thing for those of you who may be lost by the words "shut down"). Anyway, Yong Hwa and Jung Hyun's vocals are perfection and the instrumental is a work of art. And the MV? Well, let's just say that it was magical for me too.
14. It's You by Neon Bunny: Two cheers for Indie Synth/Electro Pop! I started to listen to Neon Bunny because of "Eat Your Kimchi's" YouTube introduction of her. My sister calls this a "Forever 21" song. I most certainly could hear the song playing in the background while shopping at my nearest trendy teen store. However, the song is so much more than that. Neon Bunny's music has a way of making you feel happy and upbeat even though you don't know what's she's saying (talking to my fellow non-Korean-speakers).
15. Some by Soyu & Junggigo ft Lil Boi (of Geeks): This is a great song. It's sounds so sweet and upbeat even though it's about the irritations that come with relationships and trying to be with the person you like. The video's really cute.
16. Beep Beep by BTOB: I love the jazzy/blues-y sound of the song and the clarinet in the instrumental is awesome. The lyrics present a clever metaphor of traffic and a frustrated heart/mind. They look like they're having a lot of fun in the video, part of that probably comes from the scantily clad young ladies and another part is probably from the various cars that they get to pretend to drive. My favorite part of the video starts at around 2:07 where they are suddenly dressed in suits and standing around a piano, now that's what I call a "breakdown."
17. Overdose by EXO-K: I haven't fully committed myself to loving this song however, I find it very hard to pass over it and not play it. It's a good song but it's also a little typical so I'm not sure if I can really go all out for it. However, EXO is like my favorite male group in K-Pop so, I have to support them. If you ask me, the video is really a mix of several videos from other SM artists (like TVXQ and Super Junior). I'm not saying that's a bad thing but I think a little originality could have gone a long way. Choreography is pretty amazing as always though.
18. Victorious 2 by Swings ft Gray: The lyrics are a little awkward (that may be due to translation), however it is a very inspiring song that takes you into Swings's mind just a little bit. If you're getting into Korean Hip Hop then Swings is a "Must Listen To" artist. Swings's flow is amazing and I am a big fan of his punchline form of rapping. It's a good fighting montage song.
19. Delicious by Toheart: Key and Woo Hyun are too adorable to ignore. The first time I heard the song I was a little annoyed especially by the "come on girl love is so nutritious, come on girl it's so delicious." What's that about?! Anyway, I have started to enjoy the song particularly because of the guys' vocal talents. The video is really fun too.
20. Full Moon by Sunmi: Love the soft and sultry sound of this song. Not a big fan of the MV because of it's rather raunchy choreography, but I do like the dark vampire concept.
21. Beat by 100%: My very first 100% song. They sound great and look great. The video is kind of weird to me, but I think that's what they were going for so I'll let it go.
So, that's my list. I'm very excited to see what else 2014 has to offer in the world of Korean music.
How about you?
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