My Favorite, Recent K-Pop Trends

OG COMEBACKS 

From g.o.d to Jinusean, many K-Pop originators have been releasing new music putting the youngsters to shame with reminiscent tracks that not only attract the older K-pop fans but also excites the newer generation.

HIP HOP/R&B

That's right, this has become a trend in K-Pop. Though a lot of K-Pop songs have always had a rapping portion or some sort of R&B influence, these days that influence is getting stronger and stronger. Whole groups have been composed with the main members being rappers instead of singers. Also Hip Hop and R&B singers that long dwelled in the underground indie scene are starting to get a lot more attention.

90's THROWBACK

A lot of songs these days have a 90's sound to them. However the 90s sound isn't exactly from Korea, instead it's more in the vain of American 90s R&B and Hip Hop. Though there are similarities between the two countries, 90's American R&B and Hip Hop has a more grimy street vibe where as 90's music from Korea has a lot of pop twisted into it. Either way, there are a lot of great songs that have taken on this sound. One of my favorites is Life by Rubber Soul. 

SINGLE SUB-UNITS

These days instead of someone being the featuring artist, artist are creating sub units for one single. The trend seemed to pick up serious steam after Soyu's successful collaboration with Junggigo for Some and now the collabs won't stop. The most recent example of this is Jimin N J.Don of FNC. Of course, who can forget GD X TAEYANG, one of the best collabs of 2014.

SOLO ALBUMS/PROJECTS

A lot of talented group members have been flying solo. Some even have solo tracks on their group's album. With the formal introduction of band members' stellar talents many fans have been impressed over and over again by not just veterans but also rookies.

Trends that should stop:
1. Rookies: Is it just me or is there like a new rookie group every week these days. I like that more and more people are debuting and getting into the rotation sooner rather than later, but there's so many that it is hard to keep up with which ones are which. Also I think a lot of them can get lost in the shuffle. I've been trying to stay on top of it as much as possible but as soon as I grab one, another one knocks them out. I think agencies should slow down a bit and really look for the most optimal time to release their new artists. From their standpoint that might be exactly what they're doing but I'm not so sure that peak season is always the best season.

2. Nonsensical videos: I really hope that music videos in general will start to match the songs at least a little bit. There's nothing wrong with an artistic video or a video that showcases the good looks and smooth moves of a group but I think that a great music video could be made with sticking to a cohesive and thought provoking story line too.

3. Disbandment & Member Losses: I know am not alone in hoping that the groups that are together stick together until the end. I know that sometimes people have to think of themselves first but it's so sad to see your favorite groups get shaken up and broken down. It's sad and I hope that it doesn't happen too often this year because last year was crazy.

Trends that I'm Excited to See:
I am hoping that as 2015 progresses that there will be a rise in Rock music from Korea. It's already starting with the comebacks of F.T. Island and Lee Moon Sae. And you can't forget the solo debut of Jung Yonghwa. Also, last year we saw the return of 10cm and other residents rock groups of Korea. Jung Joon Young made an awesome comeback recently and the Indie band Hyukoh is steadily on the rise. I think that it's safe to say that Korea is ready to rock out.

I must also note that with the debut of Hip Hop/Rock Band, N.Flying, and Rock/Hip Hop tracks from a few other groups that the mix of the two genres might be a popular one this year. I am looking forward to it.

TAIWAN: In a Good Way

This increasingly popular show has definitely earned its great ratings. The show is well written and the lead couple is all sorts of adorable, even if they aren't a couple yet. 

Synopsis:
In a Good Way is about Lin Jia En and her life as a college student in Taipei. Though Jia En is a smart and friendly person, at the time when she was finishing high school she wasn't very independent. She relied on her best friend Zheng Ren Wei for a lot and though she saw no problem with it, it bothered him. In order to gain some much wanted freedom not just from Jia En but also from his parents he enrolled in a university in Taipei. To his father's shock he gets in and sets his sights on freedom. Unfortunately Jia En doesn't get into any college that year and is forced to wait a year before reapplying. Ren Wei gets his freedom but little did he know, Jia En follows him to Taipei, where her parents live, to study and to be with her friend. Her plan ultimately hits a few bumps and she ends up meeting Liu Shan Feng or Liu Chuan, who becomes one of her closest friends in college. From there more interesting events and mishaps occur including Liu Chuan falling for Jia En. 

My Thoughts:
So far the show has 9 episodes out and so far it has been very enjoyable. When the release of the series was first advertised on DramaFever I didn't think much about it, but after some time, I gave it a look. The first 5 episodes were already out by the time I had decided to watch it. I instantly liked the show. It's funny, but not slapstick funny, it's the type funny life is (if that makes sense). It is the type of funny that occurs naturally when friends are together. The chemistry of the entire cast is great and it creates for a very realistic and easy going show. However, that doesn't mean the show lacks drama or tension. It has been planned well. 

The main character Jia En is noted for being very smart and inquisitive but she isn't always the sharpest tool in the shed. Sometimes she is slow to catch on to things like Ren Wei wanting to put some space between them, or the fact that Liu Chaun likes her (not that he's completely obvious about it). Though that trait can sometimes gets annoying it really just notes how innocent and sweet she is. 

Also, the friendships that have formed on the show have been enjoyable to watch. Jia En, Liu Chuan, Ren Wei and a few other characters have formed this cute group on campus and it is fun to watch them become closer friends as the series continues. 

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I would recommend this series to anyone that is thinking about trying a Taiwanese drama. Since the drama isn't trying too hard to be funny or romantic or melodramatic, I enjoy it.

If you've seen this drama and have opinions leave them in the comment section below or comment about any other Taiwanese dramas you think are worth watching.

Thanks for reading!