Kpop: Song Ji Eun - Bobby Doll (바비돌)

The theme of the latest video from Secret member Song Ji Eun is again somewhat dark, about sexuality and being in someone's control. The subject is often touch upon in kpop, from (mostly in) playful or lightly humorous ways down to (much more seldom) outright abuse (think Ga-In). The lyrics are somewhat ambigous, and visually "Bobby Doll" places itself somewhere in the middle to with it depicting a sexualized but dark dominance senario. Still, the general impression is one similar to "False Hope", which is a good thing.

• Song Ji Eun - Bobby Doll (바비돌)

Jpop: Top 10 of third quarter 2016

There hasn't been *that* much jpop that caught my eye this quarter, but what there was, was good.

10. Daoko - Daisuki. The third video is the coolest, with industrial robots making it all interesting.

9. Charisma.com - Moya moyashite. This video which makes the duo look almost native manages to return much of what made me like them from the beginning.

8. Yumemiru Adolescence - Leadership. Film everything on a 45 degree slope - that's enough to create something new to lift a whole video.

7. Devil No Id - Eve. Basically trying to momic Babymetal, the initial song still has promise, and they may still eke out something of their own.

6. Wagakki Band - Strong Fate. The classical instrument band cum japanese fantasy cosplayers delivers another diorama of dramatic role play and music play.

5. Daoko -  Moshimo Bokura ga GAME no Shuyakude. The second of the three videos/songs from her triple single is the best, celebrating computer gaming.

4. Passepied - Hyper Realist. One of the best tracks by this stylish band.

3. Reol - Give me a break Stop now. We finally get to see Reol and she is such a cool young lady, with a great track.

2. Czecho No Republic - Dream Beach Sunset. The humor and retro electronica is pitch perfect.

1. Taemin - Sayonara Hitori. The video is almost too much of everything, but the glorious romance and passion combined with Taemin singing in Japanese works perfectly.

Kpop: Top 20 third quarter of 2016

A great quarter where the best songs more often than not had a more soulful or western sound than usual.

20. Crayon Pop - Doo Doom Chit. The most cute kpop girls are back with another catchy track with a saxophone and refrain that slays all opposition.

19. San E & Raina - Sugar & Me. I really, really don't have a soft spot for all these duets in kpop, but this is an exception. It got that dynamic and creativity that is often missing.

18. Zhoumi - What's Your Number? The track sounds familiar - in a good way. Soft and retroesque, Zhoumi invites us for some reality escape.

17. Two X - Over. Actually, the video is the strong point here to be honest. I find the girls and the story super charming. ;-)

16. Hitchhiker - 10$. Some will hate this track, call it a failed 90s fallback techno track, but love the trashy samples and video. Hypnotic like in the good 'ol MTV days.

15. Jaeney - Tell Me Why. Great ballad, and the only thing I disagree with is why they don't use the real singer in an otherwise atmospheric video.

14. Beatwin - Your Girl. Classical romantic kpop boy band song with a sweet melody.

13. Mino - Body. Yo, Mino, damn are you one cool guy. Love the way you sing and all.

12. Sweet Sorrow - No Dae-bak. The veteran boys gives us attitude - and it is super Dae-bak!

11. Cosmic Girls - Secret. A relatively new group, this video is their best so far, a fantasy that is combined with a well delivered and sweet track.

10. Spica - Secret Time. If there was a top list for competent and charming kpop girl groups that never quite gets a break, Spica must be in the top.

9. Clazziquai Project - #Curious. The rhythm. The soulfulness. Aaah.

8. Eric Nam ft Loco - Can't Help Myself. His voice is just to die for, again.

7. Red Velvet - Russian Roulette. Kpop quality A, again the girls of RV delivers a world of rhythm and distinction that is all familiar and still their own.

6.Taewan - Problem. The passion is very much tangible in the song and the video.

5. Stellarjet - Just Before A Storm. SUng in english, it may seem like a 90s throwback, but it is rather a timeless indie song.

4. Jero ft Giriboy - Airplane. I just love the swing in this track, it's just perfect.

3. Fei - Fantasy. It's a dreamy song that is light a sensual fantasy, a great solo debut for Fei.

2. Kiha & The Faces - The Smell's Gone. That refrain just sticks there, with all the guys presenting a tight and well delivered track.

1. ELO - Rose. Nostalgic and very beautiful song with a cool ELO performing.

Kpop: SHINee - 1 on 1

Kpop veterans SHINee delivers a title track "1 on 1", from their new album with the same name, that shines (yes!) with 80s retro making me all warm and fuzzy.

• SHINee - 1 on 1

Kpop: Crayon Pop - Doo Doom Chit (두둠칫)

The masters of cute choregraphy. Crayon Pop, is back!! Their new song is "Doo Doom Chit", which is the name of the internet meme with the same name. The video is a CP classic with the girls doing a happy and fun choreography, and the song has them going back to their roots (which is good) witha sound that makes me think of italopop. And of course the song can be pronounced as "The Dumb Shit"!

• Crayon Pop - Doo Doom Chit (두둠칫)