25 Days Of Christmas Countdown: Top K-Pop 2016

Oh my gosh this is so difficult. Last year K-pop was just starting to become interesting again so it was easier, but this year, K-pop was actually really great and I had a hard time coming up with this list. I'm glad that groups moved away from that awful "I'm sexy!" concept that kept going on. Very few K-pop groups can actually pull off the ultra sexy concept without seeming try-hard. This new synthpop/electro route this year was absolutely awesome. Especially the stuff coming from SM. SM used to be the super generic company with box MVs what the heck happened? I'm looking forward to next year's music scene, although I'm a little worried at the same time. I have a feeling that with Twice's success that other groups will try to emulate them like with the sexy concept overflow after Sistar's success. I adore Twice. I love them to bits, but their concept is another of those concepts like Sistar's that is difficult to replicate without looking try-hard or over the top. Even TT (which I loved) seemed over the top for Twice. I can't even imagine how awful it would've looked for a different group. Because it was so difficult, I did my top 10, but also included some "runners up" that were so close to making it.

Special Mention Runners Up:

EXO - Lucky One

Rainbow - Whoo

#10

Cosmic Girls - Secret

#9

4Minute - Hate

#8

Wonder Girls - Why So Lonely

#7

Blackpink - Whistle

#6

BTS - Save Me

#5

Oh My Girl - Liar Liar

#4

Twice - Touchdown

#3

Dal Shabet - Someone Like You

#2

Luna - Free Somebody

#1

Blackpink - Playing With Fire

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #23: K-pop Groups to Watch in 2016

So this is slightly different than the other posts I've done. I want to highlight three groups that debuted this past year that I'm looking forward to seeing more of in 2016. I should also say that I likely won't get tomorrow's post up for tomorrow. I'll be running around everywhere because of the busy-ness of Christmas Eve, but I hope I can get it up.

Group #1: Oh My Girl

Oh My Girl is an eight member group that debuted in April of 2015 with their first mini album, Oh My Girl. The lead single from the mini album was Cupid, a cute track somewhere between an early SNSD and KARA's recent material sound wise.

In October, Oh My Girl came back with their second mini album, Closer, with the lead song being the title track. Closer is a mid-tempo track with an ethereal sounding EDM beat, reminiscent of what you would hear on Ellie Goulding's Halcyon. With this track, it seems as if Oh My Girl has lit a fire in the international K-pop community, gaining the song a lot of praise for an offering from a new girl group.

Oh My Girl hadn't managed to capture my attention with their debut track, but blew me away with their comeback. There will be a lot of hype for the follow up to Closer, and this makes Oh My Girl a group to watch out for in the coming year.

Group #2: Twice

Twice is a nine member group that debuted in October of 2015 with their first mini album, The Story Begins. The lead single from the mini album was Like Ooh-Ahh, an upbeat pop track which is almost like a combo of early 4Minute and early SNSD.

Twice's debut had been highly anticipated as they began on the JYP Entertainment survival show Sixteen. As they have a lot of momentum behind them and they are yet to release a follow up, they are another group to look out for in 2016.

Group #3: CLC

CLC is a five member group that debuted in March of 2015 with their first mini album, First Love. The lead single from the mini album was Pepe, an upbeat and colorful track that showed off the girls' charms.

After the release of their debut CD, the girls made their comeback with the digital single Eighteen in April. The song is a synth filled pop track catchy pop track that follows Pepe nicely. While not a true comeback, the release served to generate hype for the next mini album which was released in May, with the title track Like. This song is a peppy cute track in contrast to their first release.

Although CLC failed to impress me with their comeback, I still am looking forward to what they can come out with next. I have hopes that they'll rise to the level of 4Minute's music. As they have gone the longest of the three groups with no comeback, their return hopefully with happen in early 2016.

25 Days Of Christmas Countdown Day #17: Top K-pop 2015

So unlike my earlier lists which were all time lists, now we're on to the year specific lists. The first of these is K-pop 2015. For the past couple of years, I felt like K-pop was on a decline. In 2014, I felt like K-pop had taken a nosedive into that decline like it had never before. There's really only a handful of songs I can name from 2012-2014 that I would still call today "pretty good", unlike 2009-2011 where K-pop was at it's peak. This year, however, the releases have actually been pretty good. I'd say that 2015 is a great turnaround for K-pop and I'm hoping that it continues into 2016. As I don't listen to boy groups much anymore, this list is all from the ladies lol.

#10: Twice - Like Ooh-Aah

#9: EXID - Ah Yeah

#8: Girl's Day - Ring My Bell

#7: 4Minute - Crazy

#6: AOA - Heart Attack

#5: Nine Muses - Hurt Locker

#4: Red Velvet - Dumb Dumb

#3: Brown Eyed Girls - Brave New World

#2: Wonder Girls - I Feel You

#1: Oh My Girl - Closer

Enjoy! What are your thoughts on K-pop this year?

New Music Thursdays (Nov. 5, 2015)

Sorry this is a day late! I can't even blame being busy on the lateness....I just simply forgot. Gotta get back into the routine of doing it after missing two weeks' worth lol.

Track #1: Twice - Like Ooh Aah

I didn't like this when I first heard it, but now I love it. It's such a grower of a track. Reminds me a lot of earlier K-pop tracks from SNSD or KARA. On a side note, I ADORE Tzuyu's outfit with the black crop top. Twice's first mini album, The Story Begins, released on October 20th.

Track #2: f(x) - Papi

I was so incredibly disappointed with 4 Walls (the song, not the album). I guess I just had such incredibly high expectations because it was an f(x) comeback and they fell short. I immediately listened to the album clips to see if anything was better, and this stood out above the rest. I haven't heard the rest of the album in full yet, but this is certainly the most instant (and more "mainstream" K-pop, I guess you could say) song on the album. It's crazy catchy and would have made a great title track. f(x)'s new album, 4 Walls, released on October 27th.

Track #3: G.E.M. - Blindspot

I'm actually glad I didn't post this yesterday because this wouldn't have been on it. I've followed GEM on and off over the years and I was just absolutely blown away by this track. It's so gorgeous (THAT BRIDGE. WOW.) and the music video is equally as gorgeous. GEM's new album, Heartbeat, releases on November 9th (which, now that I look up the date, is coincidentally my birthday xD)

Enjoy!