Kpop: Top 10 second quarter 2014

I usually do kpop top 20's of each quarter, but this time around I have been increasingly begun shifting more of my interest towards japanese and chinese pop, so a top 10 was more natural. But these 10 are then also really worth listening to. And for the first time ever, the boys dominates the top, with three out of four in the top being male groups/singers.

First, an honorable mention goes to Crayon pop and their "Uh ee", in which they continue to hold the nerdy-kpop flag high. And again it is a charming video but a song I won't listen too. COme on, you can do better.

And now to the top 10:

10. NS Yoon G & Defconn - Give it to me. This is really a telephone ad hidden in a parody of Sistar's super hit from last year. But the odd pair makes it both fun and sexy, and I just love these kind of ironic videos.

9. Mamamoo - Mr Ambiguous. The soulful ladies again does an extremely stylish number in their video. I really want to like their song more, but it honestly isn't quite as much a hit as their first songs. But you must see the video.

8. Boys Republic - Video Game. As a long time gamer, you may believe that is may reason for liking this, but it is not - rather it is the song that is precisely the kind of uptempo boy band kpop I can't get enough of.

7. AoA - Short Hair. Again the seven foxy ladies of Ace of Angels does their by now well established dance routine. And I love the crispness of their singing. It's just…something…missing for the final top spots. It's like its too well polished?

6. Bob Girls - No Way. Compare now well established AoA with rookies Bob Girls. In all departments one could argue that AoA is stronger. But i still like their No Way slightly more. It got a kind of more passion and is more interesting somehow.

5. NS Yoon G - Yasisi. Well, this video is like a korean drama in miniature, playing out a love drama between a bodyguard and his seductive employer, framing the song perfectly.

4. Jay Park - Metronome. I feel somewhat unfair actually, to place the charming Jay Park so low as number four for this in some ways fantastic piece of modern Justin Timberlake-hit. But that is also what somehow makes me hesitate as it feels almost a little out of place. And his rap is just to long.

3. Orange Caramel - Abing Abing. This ice cream commercial is actually one of the better songs that my long-time favorites Orange Caramel has sung. It is happy happy and without complicating stops. A perfect summer hit.

2. History - Psycho. With a slightly creepy theme of stalkers, this hit from History has a risk of glorifying something that is despicable, but I think they manage to convey the right psychological image in the video to instead make this a deliciously example A of when male kpop does songs with breaks and drama without losing the fun pop entertainment value.

1. VIXX - Eternity. Finally. A good song again from VIXX without any distractions. Just pure kpop perfection. I still get goose-bumps now and then when I listen to Eternity.