Kpop: Pentagon (펜타곤)

All screenshots are from "Can you feel it"

Pentagon is a debut group with 10 members, which kind of explains the name (penta = five). The first single "Gorilla" from October wan't that much to listen to, but the December release is more interesting. Will they overshadow their label mates BTOB and Beast? "Can you feel it" too?

• Pentagon - Can you feel it (감이 오지)
• Pentagon - Gorilla

Kpop: Yong Junhyung (용준형)

Main rapper of Korean group Beast, Yong Junhyung releases a Christmas track that *thank gods* isn't either another Christmas caramel or boring ballad. Both the song and video got that nerve that makes all the difference.

• Yong Junhyung - Flower

Mandopop: Jolin Tsai - Beast

I'm somewhat ashamed to have missed out on Taiwanese dramatic pop star Jolin Tsai returning with her new song earlier this spring, but here it is. Beast is one big powerful statement from the pop queen of Taiwan. From the impressive "The great artist" with Victorian steampunk references here she goes all out with a red, biotech style which actually makes me think of the Nintendo series Metroid (which is a very positive comment from me).

• Jolin Tsai - Beast

Kpop: Beast/B2st (비스트)

Beast, or B2st, is one of those bands composed from ex-memebers of others band and therefore in general doesn't have that good future prospects. Still, Shock as an example is quite a good track, and maybe the higher visibility of lead vocalist Yoseob can help the group also.

• Beast - Shock (쇼크)
• Beast - Breath (숨)
• Beast - Bad Girl (배드 걸)
• Beast - Fiction  (픽션)

Kpop: Yang Yoseob (양요섭)

The single Caffeine from Beast main vocalist Yang Yoseob is a real gem, both in its sound and melody, but also the delivery, which is quite well tailored to the mood of the song. He has done a number of duets and solo songs for dramas and such also, here I link one done with A Pink's Eunji (which I just love in her role in Answer Me 1997).

• Yang Yoseob - Caffeine (카페인)
• Yang Yoseob and Jung Eun-ji - Love Day (러브 데이)