Mandopop: Top 10 of the fourth quarter of 2015

My selection of Chinese language songs may still be smaller than the corresponding korean or japanese ones, but what there is, is still very interesting and it is obvious that the Chinese market is still very much evolving and trying to find its own general style. Being bigger as a country than  its neighbors, it will probably not become as uniform as kpop as an example, but it also still obviously is examining influences from America and other countries for inspiration. This reminds me of Sweden's process in many ways.

10. Wang Rong - Shark Shark. I should have chosen a better song for number 10, but this is just so crazy-fun so it had to be this in the end. Wang Rong does it again.

9. K Na - Sensitive Principle. For the chemistry between the dancers.

8. Han Geng - Heart Shot. Dramatic video with a sound track to match this.

7. Celeste Syn - Control Freak. She matches her song theme and video very well, and shows of a quirky (european? french) style that's not to usual in mandopop, but still feels very natural for her.

6. Xiao Ai & The Flowers band - Return of the King. A mixture of goth and cosplay, this video has its place just for lifting up the growing gamer/fantasy sub-culture in China.

5. Tianyo - Three Second Countdown. Very stylish dancing and production from a man that himself is the owner of a HK branding company.

4. Popu Lady - Gossip Girls. This video would feel at home as a music video for a Hollywood drama production. Soo stylish.

3. Jike Junyi - Lotion Song. Her best song so far takes a step off the/her beaten path and enter a dreamy universe beyond the usual R&B.

2. Li Yuchun - Only You. Is she the synth queen of mandopop now? These two songs does well to place her firmly as a eastern pop/electronica icon in my eyes anyways.

1. Momo Wu - I wanna be your lover. I have always felt that she has brought a bit too much of her theatrical diva into the singing, but here it finally is turned down to just the right level, instead changing it into a great asset as an emotional bottom for a great pop song.

Mandopop: Han Geng - Heart Shot (瞄準心臟開一槍)

This is a another of Han Geng's visually impressive videos, again in colors of black and white, making it worth watching just for the artful visuals, but the dramatic track is nice enough too.

• Han Geng - Heart Shot (瞄準心臟開一槍)

Chinese pop: Top 10 of the third quarter of 2014

Summing up the best Chinese pop (Mandarin & Cantonese) of July, August and September, I first want to mention the five just outside the top:

15. Alex To - Shake
14. Popu Lady - More
13. Jeannie Hsieh - To Be Mature
12. Elva Hsaio - Romance Strikes
11. Amber An - Welcome to the party!

The final 10 are then:

10. Chopstick Brothers - Xiao Pingo. In some sense this one should be at the top as it is THE viral hit of this year in the Chinese-speaking communities. One couldn't watch a TV-show this summer without seeing the dance of "Little Apple" being done at some point...

9. Han Geng - Wild Cursive. Basically a cool ex-Super Junior dude doing cool war cosplay video.

8. A Mei - Faces of Paranoia and March. Beautiful singing and interesting video (with "Faces...").

7. Show Luo - Fantasy. I have been lazy about Mr Luo but with his double co-op with Ga-In from Korea, I had to write about him in this fascinating video about working in the office. Which is lika a jungle. A sexy jungle.

6. Keeva Mak - Terminally Ill. Somber video which matches the song's theme well.

5. Huangqi Wen - Rain & Happiness. Two quite different sounds but both videos complements each other quite well and makes Ms Wen someone to look out for in the future.

4. Kerin - Good As You. Cheap video from an unnoticable artist, but that doesn't matter as the music is a perfectly good dance track.

3. Jane Zhang - Bazaar. If Show Luo's video is like a sexy fashion shoot, Jane Zhang's Bazaar is a less explicit image of fasionability, but more interesting as her singing tops Luo's.

2. Alan - Mo Lan. Eerily beutiful "ethnic" singing combined with quite the unexpectedly bizarre video that I wouldn't let my younger children watch makes this a must see (and listen).

1. Li Yuchun (Chris Lee) - In 1987, I didn't know I would meet you. Ah, the electronica of this video is just so delicious, and this new direction of Li Yuchun is just perfect.