#posts by e

1) Catallena: Orange Caramel

Like last time, I’m gonna start with the bubbliest and poppiest end of the spectrum in the playlist. You have to hand it to Orange Caramel– they make consistently strong singles that are always catchy, lively, and fun. I think they need some more love This earworm of a single about a love/hate girl crush is their best single so far. The song and video both have more to them than at first glance, and are refreshing unique takes on what seems like a standard pop song at first. Just watch Eat Your Kimchi’s review of the song for a detailed explanation on actually how brilliant and creative the video is. .

2) Bubble Pop: HyunA

I don’t think I need to explain why this is on a summer  K-Pop list. I think the annoying dubstep break is the only reason it didn’t make the last list.

3) The Day We Broke Up: ZE:A 5

Now shifting a bit from the in-your-face-pop from the ladies, we move to an upbeat and fun song from ZE:A. It’s not the most memorable song in the world but hey - cute boys dancing on the beach in oversized sweaters? That is the true meaning of summer.

4) One Love: F. Cuz

In a similar style, F. Cuz’s ‘One Love’ is next. This song seemed a little J-Pop to me in the very light and airy way that you’d probably find as the opening song for some cutesy monster-collecting anime. Right? Just me? Okay whatever. Either way, it’s cute and uplifting and has a summery vibe to it that earns a spot on this list.

5) Empty Room: GIl Hak Mi

This one has a similar dance beat but with a more somber tone. Who said the summer has to be happy bubbly songs all the time, right? This song still has a good beat combined with Gil Hak Mi’s emotional vocals to make a simple but nice addition to this summer playlist. It’s the kind of song that just sounds prettier each time I listen to it.  

6) Tonight: SPICA

This way under-appreciated song from vocal powerhouse group SPICA would make a perfect summer anthem, knocking  GD’s ‘Crooked’ out of the top spot for best song to play on a road trip, top down, yelling at the top of your lungs. It’s music video is essentially a long commercial for Urban Outfitters, with a montage of summery and hipstery scenes  all ranging from the classic pillow-fighting to….. getting high in a tent? Either way, Lee Hyori apparently helped out with the song/video to help her label-mate group, so it has to be awesome.

7) Crooked: G-Dragon

Just because it comes in second place for best song to play on a road trip, top down, yelling at the top of your lungs doesn’t mean it can’t earn a place on the summer K-Pop list. The dance-able (or jump-up-and-down-able?) beat and the yell-able chorus are both perfect for any impromptu summer dance session. I can say this from experience. The video gets to show us GD at his craziest public disturbance spoiled brat character yet – and he’s fantastic. Whatever my opinion of him, the guy can perform (and act – from the over-the-top right down to the subtle helplessness that’s just pitiful to watch). It’s such a simple melody but oh so addictive, typical GD. This very standard pop song was the height of the trying-to-be-edgy Coup D'etat album, oddly enough.

8) Happy: 2NE1

Meanwhile, 2NE1 vastly superior album (schwingggg) brings the next song in our playlist – the teasing and bouncy song ‘Happy’. As their new album seemed to be a new and updated selection of all the shades of classic 2NE1, this song seemed to be the new and updated version of I Don’t Care in terms of style and beat. It’s a cheery and innocent break-up song, with all the fun they always promise.  It also, unlike some of their recent stuff, isn’t a one-woman CL show with 3 back-up singers (double schwingggg).

9) Bloom: Ga-In

This song is a bright, cheery, but mature summery song about innocent love, sexual curiosity, and losing one’s virginity. Ga In handles the controversial topic with total class, even with sex scenes that are explicit by K-Pop standards. But enough of that – someday I’m going to go into detail on the greatness that is Ga In and this song and its handling of sexuality. Or something. The song is bubbly with an old-fashioned beat, it has almost a disco undercurrent that fits in with the older and cheesy theme of the video and makes for a stylish but offbeat addition to the list as we shift styles for a bit.    

8) Ooh Ooh: Eric Nam

Speaking of offbeat throwback styles that are oozing with class let’s talk about Eric Nam’s latest hit for a second. It’s amazing. The style of the video is all from the decade of awesome. And Eric Nam is just overflowing with boyish charm. The opening 20 seconds of the video are just him slipping into clothes, showing off mickey mouse underwear, and hopping into tight jeans, and making it all look so cute – why can’t I do that, huh? Ok enough about Eric and the fabulous video. This song’s unbelievably catchy beat and chorus will keep you snapping your fingers and singing along (or trying to, in my case) all summer. (Bonus: Eric Nam being adorable on Eat Your Kimchi).

9) Love Blossom: K. will

Sliding into the more laid-back section of the summer playlist is K Will’s adorable song with an adorable and… randomly fantastic video. At first glance it’s a typical boy-meets-girl video (featuring the cute as ever L from Infinite, daww look at himmm). Then all of a sudden there’s a silencer. And a dead K Will. But it still goes on in its happy adorableness focused on the happy couple. It’s hilarious, just watch it. The song is light and sweet, all set to K Will’s smooth and rich voice. It’s perfect for that summer stroll or biking in the park. If you’re active unlike me, that is. Good for you.

10) Rain: Lim Kim

Slowing down even a bit more, we slow the pace of that summer stroll to Lim Kim’s quiet and simple ‘Rain’. The indie star has such distinctive, gentle vocals you may actually just want to take a break altogether and go find the nearest hammock to chill in or something. You should really listen to her entire album. Save from a couple of weak tracks the entire thing is pretty great and Lim Kim’s vocals, creativity, and touchingly astute lyrics (from what I can tell in the English translation anyway) earn my complete respect for her as a young artist. It was very hard to pick just one song from the album (well, one besides the song that finishes off this playlist – that was guaranteed to be included anyway) so I’ll leave links to the 2 runners up as well. She even has acoustic covers of these songs that are just as smooth and as beautiful. ‘Rain’ was picked for a number of reasons, but most obviously for those summer rain showers – it’s perfect whether you’re indoors or out.

11) Falling: John Park

John Park has another soulful addition to this playlist, but he adds a more somber and strained emotion to his voice. “Falling” is another very gentle and breezy tune, but again like “Empty Room” still maintains a sad and longing tone that the video helps show. There’s a sense of loneliness and helplessness that sounds rather gloomy but still manages to come off lightly and delicately in the song. John Park’s nice falsetto certainly helps. Ok that’s way too many adjectives and adverbs for one description. Just ignore that and listen to the song. Or look at the pretty gif, ooooo.

12) The Cure: Drunken Tiger

I could go on for pages and pages on how purely awesome the trio of Drunken Tiger is. But I’ve already been talking too much and literally no one cares so I’ll just get the point. The hiphop trio, unafraid to stray into neighboring genres, brings us the elegant reggae-beat song about battling mental disorders and conditions, a controversial topic in Korea that’s virtually unheard of in its music. Yoon Mi Rae is lovely as ever, and her powerful voice shines even in these more tender choruses with an almost motherly touch that we don’t get to see as often. It fits perfectly in between Tiger JK and MC Bizzy’s melodic raps, again in the reggae style that works so well here. It’s another gentler addition to the playlist while filling in some of the richness that Drunken Tiger always brings to their work.

 Okay because I love her so much here is a bonus gif of Mi Rae

FAVORITISMMM ok moving on

13) Story of Someone I Know: San E

Bringing in a song from my recent K-HipHop kick is San. E’s ‘Story of Someone I Know’. San. E has a very distinctive style. He doesn’t try to be too cool or too sexy, but goes for a younger and sillier vibe that leads to very laid-back and charming tunes like this one. And, like most of his videos, includes a twist at the end...They’re always worth a watch with English subtitles on for the sweet lyrics. Like Lim Kim, San. E had a couple of songs that almost made it to the list instead, but in the end I chose this as the best fit with the songs around it in the playlist at the moment. The easy-going beat fits in with the summer vibe, and it’s a bit more melodic than the others. I don’t want to use the word ‘standard’ here, but it isn’t quite as offbeat as his others. It keeps this little hiphop sidetrack here from derailing us too much as we finish up the playlist with…

14) Goodbye 20: Lim Kim

Again, best for last. I already gave this song its own post because I just adore it so much, so this is totally overkill. But what can I say? The tune is perfect, the lyrics are perfect, the video is perfect. I can’t say it’s my favorite K-Pop song as she really is a more indie artist (though this is the closest she’s gotten to ‘pop’), but I would say this is now my favorite Korean song, period. Sorry Lessang. It’s a perfect end to this summer playlist with its upbeat and, like I said, pop-indie vibe that always makes for good fun. Plus Kim’s vocals are at her best here, showing both her gentler side and her stronger ‘belts’ that she barely shows elsewhere. Plus the nostalgic theme, typical teenage worries and desires, the frustrating anticlimax that is adulthood: Truly the summer spirit. 

And that's all folks!

HAPPY SUMMER!