Kpop

by Nick on December 3, 2024 at 3:59 pm

K-Pop’s first generation is often referenced as the foundation for the industry we enjoy now, but there aren’t enough good English-language sources that give its music the focus it deserves. I’m hoping to change that with a continuing flashback series, spotlighting personal highlights from the era – both iconic and obscure. The era in question … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 3, 2024 at 3:48 pm

One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! One (from Flower Bud – 2015) One sounds like an easy, breezy summer afternoon. This style of song tends to waft in one ear and out the other – very pleasant while it’s playing but not the kind of thing I’d seek … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 3, 2024 at 3:43 pm

I feel like I may have inadvertently cursed NINE.i by placing them atop last year’s “Top 50 Songs” countdown. Since then, they’ve had agency issues and — apart from some great solo releases from leader Vahn — have been musically inactive. That changes today with the release of new Japanese single Mirage (蜃気楼). Sadly, the … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 3, 2024 at 3:26 pm

I’m shocked a K-Pop group hasn’t already repurposed the word “sleigh” into the homophone “slay” for a holiday track. With so many groups peddling bratty attitude, this seems like an obvious (though cringey) decision. This lyrical twist is present (see what I did there?) on the chorus of this new Chungha single, but thankfully she’s … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 2, 2024 at 3:26 pm

We’ve entered December, which all but ensures a steady stream of ballads from both K-pop and J-pop. This softer energy tends to be quite seasonal, as listeners seek coziness over musical bombast. Japan has an especially insatiable appetite for ballads, making NiziU’s AlwayS the perfect release for this time of year. AlwayS starts life as … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 2, 2024 at 3:23 pm

K-Pop’s first generation is often referenced as the foundation for the industry we enjoy now, but there aren’t enough good English-language sources that give its music the focus it deserves. I’m hoping to change that with a continuing flashback series, spotlighting personal highlights from the era – both iconic and obscure. The era in question … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 2, 2024 at 3:20 pm

One song. Every day. Alphabetical order. Keep up with GFriend’s A-Z reviews here! Oh Difficult (with Sonar Pocket) (from Oh Difficult – 2019) Now this one’s a bit different because it’s a duet and it doesn’t appear on any GFriend album. In 2019, they collaborated with male Japanese vocal/performance unit Sonar Pocket for this special … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 1, 2024 at 3:06 pm

A week after the MAMA Awards, it’s Melon’s turn to throw its annual celebration. Since the ceremony is centered around a digital streaming service, the criteria is more statistics-based than other shows. However, I’m always surprised how many random award categories these events can come up with to make sure everyone goes home with something. … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 1, 2024 at 2:50 pm

In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in … Continue reading → […]

by Nick on December 1, 2024 at 2:44 pm

K-Pop’s first generation is often referenced as the foundation for the industry we enjoy now, but there aren’t enough good English-language sources that give its music the focus it deserves. I’m hoping to change that with a continuing flashback series, spotlighting personal highlights from the era – both iconic and obscure. The era in question … Continue reading → […]