Kpop: Top 10 second quarter 2014

I usually do kpop top 20's of each quarter, but this time around I have been increasingly begun shifting more of my interest towards japanese and chinese pop, so a top 10 was more natural. But these 10 are then also really worth listening to. And for the first time ever, the boys dominates the top, with three out of four in the top being male groups/singers.

First, an honorable mention goes to Crayon pop and their "Uh ee", in which they continue to hold the nerdy-kpop flag high. And again it is a charming video but a song I won't listen too. COme on, you can do better.

And now to the top 10:

10. NS Yoon G & Defconn - Give it to me. This is really a telephone ad hidden in a parody of Sistar's super hit from last year. But the odd pair makes it both fun and sexy, and I just love these kind of ironic videos.

9. Mamamoo - Mr Ambiguous. The soulful ladies again does an extremely stylish number in their video. I really want to like their song more, but it honestly isn't quite as much a hit as their first songs. But you must see the video.

8. Boys Republic - Video Game. As a long time gamer, you may believe that is may reason for liking this, but it is not - rather it is the song that is precisely the kind of uptempo boy band kpop I can't get enough of.

7. AoA - Short Hair. Again the seven foxy ladies of Ace of Angels does their by now well established dance routine. And I love the crispness of their singing. It's just…something…missing for the final top spots. It's like its too well polished?

6. Bob Girls - No Way. Compare now well established AoA with rookies Bob Girls. In all departments one could argue that AoA is stronger. But i still like their No Way slightly more. It got a kind of more passion and is more interesting somehow.

5. NS Yoon G - Yasisi. Well, this video is like a korean drama in miniature, playing out a love drama between a bodyguard and his seductive employer, framing the song perfectly.

4. Jay Park - Metronome. I feel somewhat unfair actually, to place the charming Jay Park so low as number four for this in some ways fantastic piece of modern Justin Timberlake-hit. But that is also what somehow makes me hesitate as it feels almost a little out of place. And his rap is just to long.

3. Orange Caramel - Abing Abing. This ice cream commercial is actually one of the better songs that my long-time favorites Orange Caramel has sung. It is happy happy and without complicating stops. A perfect summer hit.

2. History - Psycho. With a slightly creepy theme of stalkers, this hit from History has a risk of glorifying something that is despicable, but I think they manage to convey the right psychological image in the video to instead make this a deliciously example A of when male kpop does songs with breaks and drama without losing the fun pop entertainment value.

1. VIXX - Eternity. Finally. A good song again from VIXX without any distractions. Just pure kpop perfection. I still get goose-bumps now and then when I listen to Eternity.

Kpop: AoA - Short Hair (단발머리)

I thought AoA's song Confused from 2013 was the second best kpop songs of 2013 and the follow-up with Miniskirt was again a good pop song. "Short Hair" isn't quite up there, with a flirty video that reminds me of 9Muses. Don't get me wrong, again Brave Brothers have designed a smooth list song for the girls of AoA, its just not as good as what has come before.

• AoA - Short Hair (단발머리)

Kpop: Top 20 fourth quarter 2013

Time for the final top 20 list of 2013. As usual, when I sum up a quarter, I get pleasantly surprised of how many good songs there are out there in the famous but small world of kpop. As usual, even if this may be a list of videos, I prioritize good songs over visual candy.

First, a honorable mention goes to the following five videos:

Park Ji Yoon - Mr Lee. She's got style.
Zion T - Miss Kim. The first song of Zion T that I actually liked.
Tren-D - Candy Boy. A retro-sounding debut which I liked.
Kahi - It's me. Cool solo-debut from ex-After School member.
Seo In Young - Love Me. There is something about her. She mixes western style with kpop.

Now the 20 finalists, let us start from the bottom:

20. Pa Hul Za - Indocaresia. This is not your usual kpop. It is more like PSY on Viagra and a number of LSD drugs…

19. Im Chang Jung - Open the door. If Pa Hul Za is psychedelic PSY, Im Chang Jung is the nice guy version.

18. After School - Shh. A perfect marriage of kpop and jpop that is super-classy but may be a little too strict for its own best. It reminds me somehow of a Japanese high-class business district. Beautiful architecture but somehow distant. Fascinating, still.

17. Brand Newjiq - Stay by me. Silky voice and jazzy feeling, I can't resist this soft song with a Gary Moore-sounding guitar.

16. Miss A - Hush. This may be perfect example of the classical high-quality kpop video. Sexy song and dancing, but maybe a bit repetitive for me as it misses some genuine passion. It's like it is too perfect.

15. Troublemaker - There is no tomorrow. I am a bit divided about this one. Im not sure whether to love it or be like "meh, it is to calculated". But it is one of the more interesting kpop videos of the year.

14. T-ara - Number Nine. This is T-ara's best track this year, and it is good. Still, I am missing that super-hit this year.

13. Norazo - Wild Horse. The point with them is that beyond the comedy, the songs are really good too. Wild Horses doubles as a rewarding rock song too.

12. Lady Cube - I'm singin' for you. This saved my kpop-Christmas, when this duo came wading through a sea of miserable Christmas ballads.

11. WHoWho - Her. This is the kind of indie music that you can find be it Korea, America or Europe, and it is really enjoyable.

10. BESTie - Love Options. The new Kara? Yes, it may very well be so.

9. Song Jieun - Spotless Mind. OK, so she may be taking the vulnerability and doe-eye thing to far in this video but I think it strikes a chord in many hearts, so she is forgiven. A passionate track from the Secret member.

8. Jaurim - Icarus. 15 years in the business and still going strong.

7. Heyne - Love007. I know her voice may not be for everyone, but this song is of the kind that sticks in your head or like a chewing gum you can't stop chewing.

6. 9Muses - Glue. …and the song is really good, too.

5. 9Muses - Gun. Yeees, I like 9Muses. The thing is, this video has just so many nice production qualities - the setting, the song, the humor, and of course, the girls. It just makes me happy every time I watch it. This is how kpop should be, flirtatious and uptempo without any pretensions.

4. U Sung Eun - Healing. Perfect in every tone and with a video that is a celebration of dancing and passion. I may listen to other tracks more, but this is the one that heals me when I listen to it.

3. Tiny-G - Miss you. Oh, the rhythm in this song is a real killer, it's to die for. The small miss's of Tiny-G has delivered their greatest hit so far with "Miss You".

2. Yong Junhyung - Flower. This reminds me very much about Yang Yoseoub's song "Caffeine" from earlier this year; melancholic and stylish with a video that is spot on.

1. AoA - Confused. So, while 9Muses delivers stable hits, some other groups are sure to top them now and then, and this time around it is AoA who did it. Even though Elvis was a good debut, with this new offer they take a definite step up in their careers. There is nothing confusing about this track, the seven girls of AoA is visually and song wise so right - "Confused" is just heaven.