My Top 15 Songs from 2015

I know that many bloggers, youtubers, kpop enthusiasts have long since posted this but I can't just leave y'all hanging despite being extremely late. Any who, below are my top 15 songs of 2015.

It was really hard to narrow it down but I sobbed and sorted out these songs for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

15. "Just" by Zion.T X Crush

14. "Just Right" by GOT7

13. "You and I" by Crush

12. "4 Walls" by f(x)

11. "Cinderella" by CNBLUE

10. "Won and Only" by Simon D

9. "Call Me Baby" by EXO

8. "Bae Bae" by BIG BANG

7. "Good Times" by Palo Alto ft Babylon

6. "Take Care of You" by Giriboy

5. "Island" by Primary

4. "Automatic" by Red Velvet

3. "Solo" by Jay Park X Hoody

2. "View" by SHINee

1. "Your Love" by Elo

If 15 isn't enough for you then check out my playlist of my Top 100 songs of 2015. 

The list is sorted by number of views.

My Favorite K-Pop Songs of 2015: September to December

The cooler months of the year had a lot of warm and cozy songs. It was really hard to choose from the awesome comebacks, debuts, and the new sounds from some artists. After much deliberation I present to you my ultimate favorite songs from September to December of 2015.

1. Dumb Dumb by Red Velvet - This is such a fun song with a captivating video. I fell in love as soon as I heard it.

2. Solo by Jay Park - Jay Park really does get better and better with every passing year. This year he also collaborated a lot with producer Cha Cha Malone who in my eyes can do no wrong musically. I've probably played this song more than 100 times since it's release, that's how much I love it.

3. Cinderella by CNBLUE - I was so excited for a CNBLUE comeback and of course they did not disappoint. This is a great song that has not only a rock sound but also a bluesy feel as well.

4. Airplane by iKON - iKON's releases were a little different than many fans expected but I think that they are continuing to win fans everyday. Out of their releases this one is my absolute favorite. It had all the elements that I like in an emotional tune including soulful rapping and singing.

5. Moonlight Sonata by Bigstar - I absolutely love this song. The R&B sound is one I really enjoy and Bigstar did it so well.

6. Lean On Me by Soyou and Kwon Jeong Yeol - Soyou is the queen of co-ed collaborations and she continued her reign with this emotional track perfect for fall. And if she wasn't enough Kwon Jeong Yeol's soft vocals will definitely make you fall.

7. If You Do by Got7 - GOT7 came back with a strong image this time and it totally works. From the commanding dance to the alluring singing and rapping. I think they are on their way to pulling off 2PM manly image flawlessly.

8. Get Some Air by Gary ft Miwoo - Kang Gary came back with such an awesome album this year. Every track had it's own charm that I couldn't help but enjoy. This particular song was characterized by Miwoo's unique signing on the chorus. It made the lyrics even more poignant.

9. You Know by Jay Park - I. LOVE. THIS. SONG. In all honesty upon seeing teasers and clips from the video I was prepared to listen to the song and dislike it. Jay Park has a tendency to use a lot of strong language so even though I usually like his music I tell myself not to listen to it. However, as soon as the song started with the "Oh oh oh oh oh oh ooooh" I was hooked. Jay Park's signing, Okasian's rapping, that Cha Cha beat! Everything was so perfect that I just lost it. I will warn you though, the video goes a little hard.

10. 6AM by MFBTY - This song off their WondaLand album (which I still haven't listened to) just has me feeling some kind of way and I like it. There was a lot of unique singing and rapping styles and they all worked well with the mellow R&B instrumental.

11. No Makeup by Zion.T - At first I didn't really like this song. There is nothing wrong with the sound of it and Zion.T's singing is as perfect as ever but the song was little ordinary. Even though Zion.T is an R&B artist he manages to have a charm in his music that most artists just don't have. Initially I didn't hear that in this song, but it's still a good song that I enjoy listening to plus I like the lyrics.

12. Jam by Dynamic Duo - This is another song that I just can't get enough of. Not only are Double D's skills on full display for all to enjoy, the video is pure joy. A must watch and must listen.

13. 4 Walls by f(x) - I'm so happy f(x) came back but so sad that they are missing a member. However, this song is so great. The retro sound and look is perfectly in line with many SM artists but also f(x)'s eclectic vibe.

14. Parachute by Code Kunst - Such an inspired creation, like, really. If Code Kunst's beat wasn't enough to make you nod your head in utter satisfaction then Oh Hyuk's soulful rasp will definitely have you going.

15. Twenty-Three by IU - I think G-Park managed to win her over. IU made a darn good dance song y'all. She not only asserts her adulthood in this song but also lets us know that she can pretty much do anything that she sets her mind to.

16. Insane by Ailee - I am a fan of Ailee's more R&B songs. For one I think they suit her voice best. She is fully able to show off all her vocals tricks without them seeming awkward or out of place. This song also gave me serious Mariah Carey feels.

17. Joa by Gary ft Jay Park - Again, I'm not supposed to really like this song, it's so sexy. However, I think that's why I'm drawn too it. Mr. Gae brings the sexy not only in his rapping but in everything going on in this song. You might have to cool yourself down after listening and watching this one.

18. Oo Oo Oo by Kassy ft Eluphant - This is such a sweet song. Kassy isn't a name I've seen a lot when on the search for Korean music but I am glad it popped up this time around.

19. Calling in Love by Suran ft Beenzino - Suran has been making her name known with her collaborations with popular artist such as Primary, Beenzino, and Zico. In her solo song she proves that she can hold her own. Her unique voice is completely captivating and the lyrics in this song are sweet.

20. Pour Up by Dean ft Zico - Dean kind of came out of no where but completely took over the R&B scene. Ever since the release of this song all of his previous works and his later works have received positive attention so I think fans can expect a lot from him in 2016 and beyond. As for this song it is just as bouncy and sexy as it wants to be. And of course Zico's rap gave it even bigger wings.

21. Anthem by iKON - I think this song was what fans really expected from iKON, but it must be noticed that it really only contains two of the seven members in the song. Anyway, I like it. It's kind of your typical hip hop idol song but because Bobby and B.I. are such talented rappers they sell it.

22. Like Ooh-Ahh by Twice - I tend to stray away from too poppy girl groups just because it's not a sound I really like but somehow I fell in love with this song. I am not sure what did it for me but I really like the song: it's catchy, and cute, and fun to sing along too.

23. 247 by Junggigo ft Zion.T, Dean, Crush - This song features all the kids I really like and of course you can't take anything away from Junggigo. The song is mellow but still soulful and each singer shines.

24. Ordinary Love by Kyung Park - This song is so cute. I listened to it often after it came out. Kyung Park does a great job singing and rapping and Park Boram brings it home with her own little rap breakdown and sweet voice.

25. Chained Up by VIXX - I'm not a solid VIXX fan but every once and a while they put out a song I just fall in love with. This year that song is Chained Up. My favorite part is the chorus.

26. Sour Grapes by San E and Mad Clown - San E and Mad Clown are too much really but in a good way. The song is pleasantly tongue and cheek and the video has a lot of fun moments including a flawless Hotline Bling parody.

27. Confession Song by Got7 - I honestly cried while watching this video. Whether it was real or fake it was seriously heartwarming. As for the song, GOT7 sounded as great as usual.

28. Rush by Monsta X - I am still waiting for that one MonstaX song that will make me want to drop everything and go to one of their performances, but in the meantime I'll just like this song. It's a nice hip hop track that most idols tend to go for but MonstaX, they have so many talented kids that I find it hard to ignore them.

29. Isn't There by Playback ft Eric Nam - Playback has managed to make me a fan with their sweet vocals and throwback sound. A little Eric Nam never hurts either.

30. Break by Beenzino - This was a different sound for Beenzino but with the theme of the song and his effortless rapping it totally works.

31. If It Wasn't for Music by Truedy, Cheetah, Verbal Jint - In all honesty not many songs from the second season of Unpretty Rapstar managed to to captivate me but I really like this song. I think it's the combination of Truedy, Verbal Jint, and Cheetah that really made me like it. But I always have a special place in my heart for chill Hip Hop songs with a nice groove.

32. Ssenunni by Jessi - This song is totally Jessi's style, so I like that she stayed true to herself while playing off of her new image and a popular sound.

33. Beautiful by Amber - Not only is Amber a pretty good rapper, but she also has a pretty singing voice that she displayed nicely with this emotional song.

34. Run by BTS - If you're not for BTS yet I'm not sure what you're waiting for but I really think you should get to being obsessed with them because they are fabulous. I think their charm is in the mix of their amazing talents with songs that have a somewhat familiar but a totally unique sound. It's just really hard to put them in a box sometimes and I like that about this song too.

35. Insensible by Lee Hong Gi - It's not even worth mentioning how amazing Lee Hong Gi's voice is because everyone should already know that, but if you really want to hear how powerful his vocals are then this is a great track.

36. Sing for You by EXO - The video and song alike are so sad, makes you wanna cry, but unlike some of their other sad songs everyone has a singing part and they kill it. Especially Chanyeol, to me.

37. Lonely by N. Flying - N.Flying is one of those bands that I am really excited to see get more and more popular. They're really talented and they manage to make the mix of rock and hip hop seem natural.

38. Chocolate by Kangnam ft San E - Kangnam has many noticeable qualities and it's great to see his singing get some love. The song is sweet and fun.

39. Congratulations by Day6 - Upon first listen this song doesn't demand a lot of attention but the more you listen to it the more you find yourself liking it. It gets caught in your head before long and you find yourself belting it out at the most random moments. I am really looking forward to their comeback.

40. New Days by Zzapa ft Microdot - Zzapa's unique voice and Microdot's cool flow come together in this sweet and addictive R&B track about every day being new and good when you're with the person you love.

41. Draw You by Ra.D x d.ear x Brother Su x Jooyoung - Another mashup of powerful voices in R&B. This song has a more ballad like vibe then 247 by Junggigo but it has all the honey voiced singers that I like.

42. Welcome by Big Brain - The song remind me of Boyz II Men and that alone is enough reason to love it. Big Brain has some serious vocal power so I highly recommend listening to them.

43. Nail by The Legend - The Legend group that is kind of hit or miss for me. I think what made me like this song was the smooth R&B sound.

44. Q&A by Seventeen ft Ailee - This is the first song that Seventeen put out that I liked upon the first listen. It's not exactly the most unique song but I like that it's cute and fitting for their image. Plus, it indeed shows off some of the group's talented members.

45. Money by Hyolyn, Jay Park, Geegoin (Prod by Cha Cha Malone) - I was really impressed with Hyolyn's rapping and I think the feature artist and producer further elevated the song.

46. Wow Wow Wow by Jun Jin - It's a track with a powerful sound that perfectly fits Jun Jin's voice.

47. Reborn by Click B - Continuing the trend of first and second generation K-pop comebacks, Click B returns. The sound of this song is perfectly theirs but has been updated just enough.

48. Closer by Oh My Girl - Much like Twice I just found myself surprisingly liking this song. The sound is nice and the vocal talent of the members is really good.

49. I by Taeyeon ft VerbalJint - Among all my friends that have heard this song I am actually the only one who likes this song. If this song did nothing else it made me really love Taeyeon's voice. She has an amazing set of pipes and they are displayed really well in this song. If I had one source o discontent then it would be Verbal Jint's rap. Usually Verbal Jint would be my favorite part of the song but his rap made the song even more cheesy than it already was.

I was beyond happy being a fan of Korean music in 2015. There were so many awesome songs and amazing musicians that it was really hard to choose my absolute favorite songs throughout the year. I'm really looking forward to 2016.

REVIEW: The Time We Were Not in Love (SPOILERS)

Photo from asianwiki.com

This show had all the trimmings of one of the best dramas of 2015. I mean you can't really go wrong with Ha Ji Won as the lead actress, right? Unfortunately, for me, the show fell flat half way through and I had to make myself watch the remaining episodes. Overall, it was an entertaining show with a lot of cute moments but there was a lack of tension and chemistry for me.

In the beginning, since everything was new and I was just excited to see the show, it was a really great ride. L was stirring up emotions and Lee Jin Wook was the masculine and caring male lead that we all love to see. However, there was a major event that shook up not just the characters but the show in general.

So, as much as I love seeing up and coming actor Yoon Gyun Sang in anything, his character kind of ruined the show for me. This has nothing to really do with his acting it's just that his character was really wet blanket. The character of Cha Seo Hoo was supposed to have our male leads battling to the death and our female lead really torn over who to go to, right? Well, what we get is Oh Ha Na being dragged along (again) by Cha Seo Hoo and Choi Won (Lee Jin Wook) fighting a battle all by himself (sort of). It was seriously like one of the hardest things to watch. To me it would have been better if at least Oh Ha Na seemed like she was secretly pinning after Choi Won or something but it felt like her character gave up which basically left the male lead that we were all rooting for in limbo. Ugh!

After that everything seemed like a half baked attempt to patch the original premise of the series back together. I have not seen the Chinese original yet, but since it has gotten rave reviews I am assuming that things were handled much better. If that wasn't enough however when our OTP does finally get together there were no sparks at least not from Oh Ha Na. Like pretty much all the relationships in this show (except Dae Bok and Eun Jung, and Mi Hyang and Park Jong Hoon) seemed one sided. Seriously, like no one liked the person that liked them. It was weird. It was even more weird that our leads who've built up levels of love practically their whole lives had no real romantic moments. I mean I guess you can count the wedding, but what wedding isn't romantic?

Now, it is possible that I am being overly critical/cynical of the show since it just straight up bored me near the end, but I have to say that if you are thinking about watching this show I say don't worry about it. Unless you're a super huge fan of one of the main actors you can pretty much skip it.

Please let me know what you think. 

And please let me know if I missed something that actually made this show magical.

JAPAN: First impressions -- Heat & Death Note (2015)

Image from asianwiki.com

Heat is about a real estate agent who wants to use an entire town for one of his clients. In order to buy up the town he becomes a volunteer firefighter so that he can become close to the residents and buy them out. I thought of this as a second coming of a Bitter Blood and started it right away. There are many similarities between this show and Bitter Blood (Partners by Blood) - action packed, funny, and a full cast of characters that are just as important as the main lead. So far, the main lead, Tatsuya Ikegami, is a self-centered workaholic and it's clear that he does not care about actually doing the job of a volunteer firefighter correctly. However, as episodes go on and hi-jinks ensue you can see him start to understand the importance of being a firefighter and hopefully as time goes on he will start to act more like one before someone really gets hurt. The only thing I am unsure of at this point is if there will be a romance in the show. Right now there are two potential matches for Tatsuya: Sakura Azumi and Eri Yuki. Even though it seems that he has a relationship with Eri Yuki, there seems to also be room for him to care about Sakura Azumi too. Right now, that is not the focus of the show but there's always that underlying plot, isn't there? I've only seen two episodes of the show so far but it's very entertaining and endearing. I am looking forward to watching the remaining episodes of Viki.com.

Photo from asianwiki.com

I can't even remember how I stumbled upon the information for this show, but once I did I had to watch it. I have not read the manga, seen the anime, or watched the movies, but I was not going to pass up a chance to watch the live action television version of the show. [I'm sure I can watch the anime in no time if I really want to and catch up on the movies.] Since I have no real reference for the show I can't say if it's just as good or better than any of the others, but I can say that it is pretty interesting to me as someone who is experiencing it for the first time. As of now I am both fascinated, entertained and freaked out by the show, but I am sure that's the feeling you generally get when dealing with any version of Death Note. If I were to just talk about this version I'd have to say that the acting is good and the actors are definitely keeping my attention. In that regard I guess it may be worth watching to someone who's already a veteran of Death Note.

First Impressions: High Society & Hidden Identity

When I saw the announcements for these shows I was really really excited. I honestly haven't seen Kim Bum in anything since I watched Boys Over Flowers (my fault for not being attentive). Also, I've become a fan of Uee since watching her in Hogu's Love and Park Hyungsik since watching him in The Heirs. I don't even need to talk about my excitement at seeing Sung Joon in something new. I was just all around ready for these two dramas and thankfully they have finally come to me. 

Cue my happy face. 

Anyway, I've watched the first two episodes of both shows and indeed I was not disappointed. For more specific details on how I felt upon first watching please continue reading. 

High Society (aka The Privileged)

So, I am not going to lie, I am getting serious Heirs vibes, but like a more adult version of The Heirs. Uee is playing a character very similar to her Hogu's Love character. She's blunt and not afraid of saying what she's thinking. It's always a bit refreshing to get female characters like this, but I think the thing that is going to make this drama special is that none of the characters are actually what they seem to be. At first glance Sung Joon's character (Choi Joon Ki) seems like a nice, poor guy who has to work his way up the ranks to get any recognition. However, he also seems to be calculative and cold in some ways. I am looking forward to seeing the future interactions between the characters and how they develop as they get what they want or lose what they wanted. So far the double life that Uee is living also seems to be on verge of unraveling and it's only been two episodes. As of now I know that 5 or 6 of the episodes have been released, so I need to catch up and see if any of my original feelings and thoughts will stick. I definitely recommend this show though, if nothing else you can at least count on some Grade A acting.

Hidden Identity

I had to take a pause and absorb the greatness that is this show after watching the first two episodes. I really didn't know what to expect from this show. So far, tVN nor Kim Bum have disappointed me but I wasn't expecting a show this good. Pretty boy Kim Bum, who has never been shy of using his fists in dramas, slimmed down for the role of a disgruntled cop. Even though the change was drastic and shocking, he now fits in perfectly with the darkness of the show. The show is well cast and at the moment it is well written. Every episode is like a mini movie full of action and suspense. I think the suspense is really killing me. It's only been two episodes and so many unimaginable events have occurred, waiting to see how they'll turn out has me on the edge of my seat. If you're a fan of the action dramas then you will love this show.

These were must-watch dramas for me so I am very happy that they are finally out. If you're pondering watching either then do not hesitate any longer. I definitely recommend both. I am watching High Society on Viki and Hidden Identity on DramaFever. 

My Favorite K-Pop Songs of 2015: January to April

Korean Music has been so good to 2015 so far. We're only 4 months in and the list of songs that I have on repeat is almost endless. And much like 2014 we've heard epic comebacks and impressive rookies, making the selection of songs vast and varied. Check below for my favorite songs of 2015 from January to April, in order of most listened to, and linked. Also, just so you know this isn't even all the songs I liked from these four months, but I thought 52 songs was enough. 

1. Cheers by Gaeko x Yankie ft Babylon & Beenzino - Had to start of the list and of course my year. This is what I think we can all refer to as a "Turn Up Song." Every thing about it gets you in a celebration mood, from the sound to the lyrics, to the feature artists.

2. Good Times by Paloalto ft Babylon - Love the instrumental for this song, especially the intro. It gives off a cool west coast hip hop vibe but it feels unique to 2015.

3. Your Love by Elo - You really can't go wrong with something produced by Gray and of course Elo's smooth vocals just bring it all home. This song helped me convert a friend so I hold it in high regards.

4. Just by Zion.T & Crush - I honesty have some sort of disorder. Every time I hear this song and watch the MV I just want to cry, it's that amazing. If you've seen it you know how simple everything is for Cruch and Zion.T: all you need is smooth vocals, a slow and bouncy jazz/blues instrumental, and a black and white video. All the fancy sets, flashing lights--don't need 'em.

5. Deja Boo ft Jonghyun ft Zion.T - This is one of many songs from Jonghyun's BASE mini-album that I loved, not liked, loved. First off the jazz funk combination is becoming a mainstay in K-Pop and it's a sound that lends itself well to Jonghyun's vocals. Also, having Zion.T feature is like icing on cake, it's just as smooth but is doesn't overshadow the main artist.

6. You by G.Soul - 15 years! That's all I can think about sometimes when I listen to this song. I have to say that the 15 years of "training" didn't go to waste. G.Soul has an amazingly soulful voice, making the emotional R&B ballad hit home in more ways than one.

7. Interstellar by No. Mercy ft Yella Diamond - I didn't follow MONSTA X's journey into being through No.Mercy, however I will say that the show put out some pretty great music. I like that the song is upbeat and has a raw hip hop feel while taking full advantage of the brass band sound that a lot of songs are incorporating these days.

8. My Type by Jessi, Cheetah, & Kangnam - This song is great in so many ways. Not only does it feature two of the best female rappers that Korea's ever seen but it also showed off Kangnam's unique but steady vocal skill. I also can't leave out the fact that Verbal Jint produced a hard-hitting, club worthy track. It's hard not to like this song.

9. My Love by Eddy Kim - This song is so romantic and if the lyrics weren't enough to make you swoon then Eddy Kim's beautiful voice will. I like that it had a Beatles kind of sound too it, soft but still a bit rock n roll.

10. Mileage by Jun Yong Hwa ft YDG - Such a fun MV. The song is really cute and Yonghwa sounds amazing, but the MV is everything. It's cute, funny, colorful, and just plain awesome. A must watch.

11. Man of the Year by Hanhae ft D.meanor - This may not be the most unique song on the list but I like it for it's throwback sound. This song totally reminds me of early 2000s R&B/hip hop songs. It's slow but has a good beat, and Hanhae's flow with D.meanor's soulful voice is a great combination.

12. Life by Rubber Soul ft Mad Clown - If you've ever listened to a TLC song or watched a TLC video then this song will give all kinds of flashbacks to the 90s. At first I didn't really like it, but the more I listened the more it grew on me. Much like Man of the Year, I like that it reminds me of the songs I grew up listening to in the States (in the 90s) and of course the lyrics have a nice message.

13. Island by Primary & Oh Hyuk - I am so glad that Primary is back, it's been too long. Anyway, this is a very thoughtfully produced song. A lot of Primary's songs go for a R&B/hip hop/funk/jazz feel, but this one was a bit different. It definitely still had those elements in them but I feel like they were downplayed so that OhHyuk's voice and the lyrics could take center stage. I think that if you are a Sam Smith fan then you'll like this song, it has that feeling.

14. Automatic by Red Velvet - Red Velvet completely transformed themselves and I am not mad at them for it. This song is so sultry and smooth. Also, they killed their choreography.

15. Love Is Madness by 15& ft Kanto - So, I don't think you can ever really go wrong with a 15& song. The ladies just sang so well, I am in awe every time.

16. Zero Gravity by Zion.T - So, upon first listen this song doesn't seem like much. It's a typical Zion.T song--slow, jazzy, but incredibly catchy. Although the song isn't much of a break from Zion.T's usual offerings it is still an amazing song. The vibe is so chill and the video is really nice.

17. Apologize by Eddy Kim - Eddy Kim's go-to blues/soul style does not disappoint in this song. It's perfect for a break up song. I also really liked the video, it gave Eddy Kim a different and stronger image.

18. Pretty by Infinite H - I thought the video was really entertaining and I liked the 90s hip hop feel of the song.

19. Buckubucku by MFBTY - The greatest thing about this song is that they stuck to the basics and made something that any hip hop fan would like. And can I just say that though this was an MFBTY song, Rap Monster practically stole the song with his verse.

20. One Fine Day by Jung Yong Hwa - Yonghwa's voice must have been made for ballads. He sounds so beautiful and that's really all that matters.

21. Auditory Hallucination by Jang Jae In ft NaShow - I wouldn't usually include an OST (Kill Me, Heal Me) in this list but I had too. For one, the sound and lyrics of the song perfectly reflected the emotions in the drama. A lot of OSTs tend to be cheesy and sound really similar but this one was very fresh especially considering the drama.

22. Pillow by Soyu & Giriboy ft Kihyun - Soyu's beautiful voice, Giriboy's melodic rapping, and Kihyun's smooth vocals was a really nice combination, one that is really enjoyable to listen to weather you're a fan of Starship Entertainment's survival program or not.

23. Call Me Baby by EXO - Aren't we all just a little bit happier now that EXO's back? Well, I am. The kids killed it, from the sound of the song to the choreography. I found myself crying from joy after watching it the first time--that's how sick it is! A. MUST. LISTEN.

24. Unpretty Dreams by Jessi - Jessi's rapping is amazing but I have to say that her vocals over Gray's instrumental is what truly makes this song special. Somehow Gray managed to make a complicated instrumental easy to listen to and Jessi rapping on top of that made the song even more catchy. More than that though are the lyrics about Jessi's struggle and journey to success.

25. Your Number by SHINee - I didn't realize how much I missed SHINee as a unit until I saw this video and listened to the song. It's not actually K-Pop because the song's in Japanese but I liked it so much that I couldn't miss an opportunity to talk about it. For one thing SHINee killed their choreography--it was so smooth and they were so in sync that it made me really appreciate them as a group again. The song had the same effect--they were in such amazing harmony.

26. Ice Cream Cake by Red Velvet - The music box intro goes well with their sweet image and the song is furthered with a more pop sound that kind of reminds me of f(x).

27. Bawling by Primary & Oh Hyuk - The jazz sound I've come to love is back and I am glad to say that I still love it. Primary and Ohhyuk make such an amazing combination of smooth that it's hard to dislike. The pairing perfectly conveys the emotions of this song about growing apart.

28. I'm Bad by Nu'est - I don't know what it is about Nu'est that I find appealing. This song isn't all that special but there's something about it that makes it worth listening to. Maybe it's because the members actually sing really well. I haven't heard them live but when listening to them in music videos their vocals are always good.

29. Just Do It by Gray ft Loco - Had to have him on the list. These days it wouldn't be a favorites list if Gray isn't on their somewhere. I like that this song is exactly in Gray's style: bouncy hip hop with a mix of electronic and real instruments, a great beat, and melodic rapping.

30. Bang Diggy Bang Bang by MFBTY - This song is more on the pop side, but I'm not mad at it. It's a fun dance track with just the right amount of hip hop influence that gives it a bit more strength (trying to avoid the word "swag").

31. Too very so Much by MYNAME - So, the sound's a little typical, but it's still a fun song.

32. Lovekiller by Niel ft. Dok2  - Very unexpected collaboration but it totally works. Niel has a very unique voice (among idol singers) and it goes well with the sound of the song which is highlighted by guitar and accompanied by a very trendy snapping sound. Dok2 did a great job, he added a little edge to the song.

33. Coach Me by SanE, Hyolyn, Jooheon - A sensual R&B song that is taken home with Hyolyn's vocals, and SanE and JooHeon's rapping.

34. So What by Beenzino - Beenzino uses a very nice sound in order to tell people to leave him alone.

35. Bounce by Boyfriend - Now that Boyfriend's narrowed down their concepts to be more fantasy/fairy tale they seem to be gaining more traction in the industry. I think the 80s pop mixed with the brass band sound that's typical of funk was a good combination and one that look forward to hearing more of it's done this well.

36. Sniper by Shinhwa - Great comeback. I like this comeback because it's right on trend with current idol songs and concepts. Though I praise other OG idol groups for their throwback sound, the more modern sound is really attractive on Shinhwa.

37. Young by Giriboy, Mad Clown, Jooyoung ft No.Mercy - I don't think this one of the most unexpected combinations but is was a really good one. Each of the rappers had strengths that the others didn't so with each new verse there was a different feel. 

38. Take Care of You by Giriboy - I'm actually a big fan of Giriboy. This song is a great display of his charm which is a very melodic rapping mixed with singing that can only be done by him in his songs. Though the song is quite simple it sounds quite deep and full and it goes perfectly with the words.

39. Tell Me One More Time by Jinusean ft Jang Hana - I really love this song. I like that Jinusean brought it back in not only the sound of the song but also the video. Jang Hana may still be a trainee but I think she did an amazing job in this song. I also found all the celebrity cameos in the MV super entertaining.

40. Break Up with Break Up by Pretty Brown ft Kanto - It's an upbeat R&B song with a lot of soul. The video trend these days seems to be the fish eye effect (Also in NC.A's Cinderella Time)--it's kind of fun. 

41. blu by IRON ft. Babylon - Iron's long awaited debut finally comes to us. He's been keeping busy with many features, but his single was a great way to solidify his place in Korean hip hop. Though the song has a lot more pop and rock influence than maybe one would expect, it worked. It also seems that Babylon is also carving out his niche as a sought after feature artist on hip hop tracks. This is the third time he's on this list so who knows what more we can hear from him. I look forward to more of the both of them.

42. Ahh Oop! by Mamamoo ft eSNa - The 60s R&B sound that Mamamoo does so well is alive and well in this song. The song also has a bit of an edge that their other songs didn't have so it feels fresh.

43. See You by Primary ft BSK & Gaeko - This is Primary going back to basics and because it's him it works so well. Besides the funky sound Kim Bum Soo's vocals are just perfect for this song: their smooth but powerful so the song has a lot of soul.

44. Flower by Junsu (XIA) ft Tablo - A very powerful song in sound, lyrics, and delivery.

45. Me You by San E ft Baek Yerin - I honestly think San E is like the king of sweet hip hop collabs. Much like his collaboration with Raina (A Midsummer's Night Sweetness) this song is about a relationship and features an amazing female vocalist. A great springtime song.

46. Love Game by Lim Kim - If I am not mistaken this song is Lim Kim's first dance track. It's definitely more on the dance pop side of music but her unique vocals separate it from most mainstream dance pop songs.

47. Awoo by Lim Kim - I love it and if you're like me you'll love it to. She did a great job of making the song sound as flirtatious as the subject matter. I also feel like this song would be played a lot on American radios (you know if it were in English).

48. I Need U by BTS - I have to talk about the music video first. I am calling it the sequel to their Danger MV. It's kind of dark and has their usual theme of angst but it also reminds me a lot of B.A.P.'s One Shot, and the drama Shut Up Flower Boy Band. It's basically like their a bunch of punks that love being around each other, however somehow they sneaked in "I need you girl" which to me makes the MV a little weird but.... Now the song, it's a bit different from what they usually do but it's still a nice song and it showcases everything we love about BTS--great rapping, great vocals, and an edge that other idols groups may not have.

49. Apple by Ga In ft Jay Park - So, it's not that hard to decipher what this song is about, but I like the jazz/funk sound, it works well with Gain's voice and it goes well with Jay Park's rapping.

50. Spring Breeze by Lee Moonsae ft Naul - I truly love this song. This is my first time listening to a Lee Moonsae song (I think) and it's stirring a fan up inside me. The song is perfect for spring and has a chill surf rock vibe like The Beach Boys. Also, the music video is one of the coolest I've ever seen.

51. EOEO by UNIQ - Didn't know I'd like this song as much as I do before clicking on the link. The sound is kind of standard for many idol groups these days - hip hip/electro, but I still think this song has a great beat and the rapping is on point, so I am pleased.

52. Bae Bae by Big Bang - I had to include this on the list (just in time). For one thing, the video was just weird, I can't describe it any other way. You can go look in the comments because I am not alone in thinking that they were on something. Despite that, and the sexual nature of the song, I actually really like the sound of the song. It has a bit of a reggae undertone to it but it's also kind of electro-funky. It's good and it's so Big Bang.

Monday Marathon: Dream Knight

I am officially a fan girl of GOT7 now. I was a fan of their music and I was becoming a serious fan of Jackson after watching him in Roommate but I think I've fallen in love with all seven of them after watching Dream Knight.

Overview: A high school orphan gets bullied and is also sick but four dreamy guardians, played by JB, Mark, Youngjae, and Jackson of GOT7, come to protect her. The show is 12 episodes long with episode lengths ranging from 12-22 minutes long. I watched it on DramaFever.

Why It's Worth Marathon-ing:
1. GOT7: Some may complain that this is only a promotional opportunity for GOT7, which it is, but they're worth promoting. Not only are they talented at singing and dancing but they are pretty decent actors too. I was surprised that they acted so well and made me really enjoy watching their performances. Aside from that their looks kind of made me fall for them even more. There are a lot of close ups of their faces in this drama so if you are already a GOT7 fan this'll be a treat for you.

2. PLOT: Sometimes in mini-dramas, plots get rushed or have holes, but this one was pretty well written and well executed. They managed to tie all the strings in the drama successfully. Also, though parts of the plot are quite familiar, the show never got boring and it managed to feel fresh.

3. CAMEOS: There were some amazing JYP cameos in the drama. From 2PM's Chansung to Miss A's Min to 2AM's Changmin to 15&'s  Jimin to Choi Woo Shik, to JYP himself. It was very nice to see members of the same agency supporting each other, but it was also nice to see their acting skills.

4. THE ENDING: I am not going to say anything about what happened during the ending, but I must say that it was a very good ending. It was sad but sweet. I actually cried which is really rare for me. 

This was a really nice drama. It was a little cheesy at times but it didn't take any skin off my back to watch it for almost 3 hours straight. I ended the drama feeling satisfied and with a new place just for GOT7 in my heart, which I am sure was the point of giving them their own miniseries. I highly recommend it. If you're not a drama snob then you'll like it. Also, if you have a friend that you've been trying to expose to dramas little by little then I don't think this one would be a bad one to start with.