Kpop: AoA - Excuse Me & Bing Bing

After having done a couple of (too) sugar sweet or just different songs for their japanese debut, AoA are finally back to an anticipated comeback i their traditional kpop sound. Excuse is their typical storydriven and sexy video while Bing Bing is them going to the circus. Welcome back!

• AoA - Excuse Me
• AoA - Bing Bing

Kpop: Yoari (요아리)

Yoari, or Kang Mi Jin as is her real name, has a history in kpop that is quite unlucky, basically she was going to be part of now famous group Brown Eyed Girls but got put in a loser group which disbanded almost directly and has been struggling since then. The song "Excuse Me" from 2010 touched many and will most probably be the song she is remembered for, with a video that suits it perfectly in its personal dramatic touch. On the other hand you have the relatively fresh "Do You Like It?" which still showcases the kind of rocky image that was the initial reason for her being moved from BEG. She got some more publicity for her participation in Voice of Korea in 2012.

• Yoari - Excuse Me (저기요)
• Yoari - Do You Like It? (맘에 드니?)

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