Kpop: Hyolyn ft Jay Park - One Step

All the images is from One Step

Hyolyn has released two videos for songs from her new "It's me" EP. I like One Step more, as it has got a better sound and hook in my opinion.

• Hyolyn ft Jay Park - One Step
• Hyolyn - Paradise

Kpop-ish: Far East Movement

The successful EDM trio Far East Movement from Los Angeles will with their upcoming album Identity connect more explicitly with their korean heritage by doing collabs with several kpop artists like Chanyeol (EXO), Hyolyn (Sistar) and Yoonmirae.

• Far East Movement & Marshmello ft. Chanyeol & Tinashe - Freal Love
• Far East Movement ft. The Cataracs, DEV - Like A G6
• Far East Movement ft. Cover Drive - Turn Up The Love
• Far East Movement & Justin Bieber - Live My Life

Kpop: Rain (Jung Ji-Hoon)

The other big first kpop release of 2014 is of course Rain's double comeback, where he, like Hyolyn recently, fires off two videos at the same time, "30Sexy" and "La Song". Successful in many ways, he had to take a 21 month break from his career for mandatory military service, but was released at the end of summer and his comeback is now here. 31 years old, he seems to be out to prove that you can still be hip and sexy at 30+. Which I think he manages well; I really like 30Sexy, and while La Song simply isn't my kind of music, it *is* catchy and the general impression is then that he hasn't lost "it".

• Rain - 30Sexy
• Rain - La Song

Kpop: Hyolyn - One Way Love (너 밖에 몰라)

I suppose the tactic with releasing two debut songs/videos like Hyolyn's company is doing, can have the benefits of higher exposure and also getting fans and subtractors to divide among themselves which one is the better one. And, yes, I will bite and say that I prefer the better song from "Lonely" to the more sexy but plain "One Way Love". The theme, common in kpop and kdrama, also makes me slightly sad as the signals in the video somehow sends double messages. Sure, that kind of uncertainty can be common in a relation, but it is just so often one is even supposed to somehow even enjoy this kind of misstreatment from men of their "loved" ones in korean/japanese/chinese dramas (as a kind of romantic suspense until thw two finally "falls in love") so I would rather skip it when possible. I'm not blaming Hyolyn for this, she's just part of an industry that really should learn to differentiate between sexy and sexistic a little bit more. It can be a thin line, but at least it could avoid flirting with such male chauvinistic views. It is like the difference between humor and sadism. One is enjoyed by both and the other is (usually) a One Way "Love".

• Hyolyn - One Way Love (너 밖에 몰라)

Kpop: Hyolyn (효린)

Just because she's part of favorites Sistar, I will blog shortly about Hyolyn's debut song "Lonely" from the new Album "Love & Hate". The song and video is well produced and even if they visually are going for a slightly more rugged and playful look than Sistar's, she's lovely as always, but it's neither is really my cup of tea.

• Hyolyn - Lonely (론리)
• Hyolyn - One Way Love (너 밖에 몰라)
• Hyolyn ft Jay Park - One Step
• Hyolyn - Paradise