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: Boys Republic - Video Game

The theme of Boys Republic new video says it all "Video game" and as a lifetime gamer I must approve of this concept. ;-)

• Boys Republic - Video Game (Story version)
• Boys Republic - Video Game (Dance version)

Kpop: Top 20 second quarter of 2013

My personal list of best kpop songs for January - March was so full of good songs that I had to expand it from 10 to 20, but after that I have seen several disappointing returns for many groups, especially the female ones. This meant that I was prepared for a more meager list this quarter, but it actually wasn't hard to find 20 videos I like much enough to repeat my blessing of them. Here they come:

20. Lee Hyori - Going Crazy. This is more like an honorable mention, but she has really done some fun and different videos. I honestly don't listen to them at all as mp3's, but the visuals are just excellent.

19. G-Dragon - Michi Go. Well, this video is more than PSY's comeback Gentleman the funny video to watch and laugh at (and then forget) this late spring/early summer.

18. 4minute - Is it poppin? Again a somewhat disappointment in the relative sense from 4Minute, but it is OK.

17. Gavy NJ - Farewell Cinema. I actually often begin to laugh when I see the trio sing, because they really put their all into it, so much it goes over the top. But it is a bit unfair, it really is a nicely crafted melodramatic (ah, sorry again) ballad. With subtitles (thx LOEN).

16. Lyn - Breakable Heart. If Gavy NJ makes me laugh, Lyn actually manages to touch me for real. This is a korean ballad that goes straight into the heart.

15. WonderBoyz - Tarzan. The video is a classic Tarzan movie themed nostalgia trip that works really well and the song, albeit repetitive, has some great sound bites.

14. Pure - I still love you. Another nice uptempo song from a rookie boy band. Nothing stranger than that.

13. Girl's Day - Female President. They did the best song last quarter, so its hard to beat that. Even though the song isn't near as good as Expect, the new video is quite nice too.

12. 9Muses - Wild. Its hard to put the finger on exactly what 9muses style is, but its a kind of sexy ladies in a dance box thing. In this video they went the furthest they have done up till now.

11. After School - First love. My first thought was - pole dancing in 2013? - but after listening to it a few times it is actually not a bad song at all. And it *is* a lot of eye candy.

10. Shinhwa - This love. The old guard know what they are doing, and they do it well.

8. Boys Republic - Party Rock. The name say what it is about. Song beats you have heard before, rearranged in a nice way.

7. MBLAQ - Smoky Girl. The question we all want to know is what about the girl is "smoky" or if its another case of engrish, ie they meant "Smoking"=hot?... ^_^

6. Andamiro - Waiting. She has a really distinct style (and looks) for kpop, in what I would call Italopop goes korean.

5. Crayon Pop - Bar Bar Bar. I really just looove Crayon Pop's dance videos and would have put this even higher on my list if it wasn't for my saner self realizing it may get a bit repetitive to listen to more than five times a day...

4. Heo Yeong Saeng - The Art of Seduction. This is really a March track, but I managed to miss it on my reviews then, it is such a good video it gets another chance here! The story line and song is just what brought me into kpop, it really makes me happy every time I hear it.

3. Chocolat - Black Tinkerbell. They continue to make good tracks, and hopefully will soon rise to more fame as they sorely deserve.

2. 2PM - A.D.T.O.Y. I'm a guy, but I can still say this is such a sexy video and song, am I not right?

1. Sistar - Give it to me. What Sistar and Crayon Pop does so good is that they have found their sound and niche, and evolved qualitiatively around that central theme. While Crayon Pop does their goofy dances, Sistar does sensual grown-up woman in a classy style (that never gets vulgar) combined with music that is just right for the setting. Perfection in its simplicity.

Kpop: Boys Republic - Party Rock (전화해 집에)

The first song from Boys Republic has a sound that in its whole and its integral parts consists of familiar beats, but it is still a very nice debut, that suits just fine on the dance floor or party.

• Boys Republic - Party Rock (전화해 집에)