Kpop: Jay Park - Aquaman

All the images are from Aquaman

Every Jay Park new song, I'm so unfair because, well, I don't know. Maybe because he sounds so well produced and kind of American main stream R&B (in a good way, mind you), making me not feel he is part of this blog. But when looking back this year, I have at least three songs I must push, and they are "All I Wanna Do", "Drive" and "Aquaman". First out, All I Wanna Do, is a great choregraphy video made together with the fantastic 1 Million Dance Studio. Then we have Drive, were he, Gray and stylish Bora from Sistar sing in a laid back video just oozing summer. But the main number of this all, which surely will go down as one of Jay Park's musical mile stones, is Aquaman. Already the title implies what it is all about, but let me quote some lyrics just to give you the picture:
and before I go put it in 
I’ll go underwater girl just like a fish 
and the way I stay down there 
you gon’ think I’m Aquaman 
baby oh when I’m all up in it 
I’m gonna get lost up in yo sea
Ah, yes, Jay Park goes "all in" showing he is all about pleasing his woman, without explicitly stating that this song is indeed a song about cunnilingus. Read the comments to see how it is received... ;-) And I think he rocks to, he's a master of doing korean R&B.

• Jay Park - Aquaman
• Jay Park & 1MILLION ft Hoody & Loco  - All I Wanna Do 
• Jay Park ft Gray - Drive

Kpop: Hoody (후디)

Hoody is part of Jay Park's label and particpated in his song "Solo", and was earlier part of the duo Brand Newjiq. In both cases her vocal capabilites has been obvious and with the song "Like You" it seems she releases her third solo single, and I think it should be about time she gets some traction in her career, she really deserves it.

• Hoody - Like You
• Hoody - Baby Oh Baby
• Hoody & Cokejazz - Blue Horizon
• Hoody - My Ride

Kpop: Jay Park ft Okasian - You Know (뻔하잖아)

Jay Park has really gone for that international career with his songs from the album, yes, "₩orld₩ide". I like his style (his Saturday Night Live Korea videos are gold), but I didn't quite fall for his expensive rap videos as they fell mostly like a big ego trip (no offense meant actually). The newest "BO$$" is an excellent example of this. Great show but just a bit to high a testosterone vs substance rate. The recent "You Know" is an exception though. It is very laid back, and as a bonus almost (inadvertedly?) funny. I mean, the butcher? But that means a feeling of self distance, I hope. And the slooow rap of Okasian actually is just right here. And yes, it is Hyuna in the video too.

• Jay Park ft Okasian - You Know (뻔하잖아)
• Jay Park ft Yultron, Loco & Ugly Duck - BO$$ 
• Jay Park ft Hoody - Solo
• Jay Park - Sex Trip
• Jay Park ft Ugly Duck - Mommae (몸매)
• Jay Park - Welcome
• Jay Park ft Loco & Gray - My Last

Kpop: Brand Newjiq (브랜뉴직)

I'm not usually that keen on R&B and even more so asian R&B as I then dont even understand what they are singing. The new "Stay By Me" with Brand Newjiq is an exception. It's a duo consisting of singer/producer Francis and rapper Hoody, but as far as I can tell Francis has taken a step into the background on this one and Hoody has really taken the center stage, and *wow* how he does it well. The second thing is the guitar which must be the best guitar sounds I have ever heard in an asian song. I mean they really like them 80s guitar solos in the east, but this kind of sensitive and emotional backing to the vocals makes me think of for example Gary Moore where the instrument almost carries the whole song. The guitarist is called Captain CyrusNine at has a Twitter account.

• Brand Newjiq ft. CyrusNine - Stay By Me
• Brand Newjiq - Excuse me