Kpop: San E & Raina - Sugar & Me (달고나)

With the success of San E & Raina's previous cooperation two year's ago, "A Midsummer Night's Sweetness", it isn't surprising that they came together again this summer for "Sugar & Me". And in both cases I didn't care, and especially with the new song where Raina only figured in a token short five secs at the start (to be followed by a anonymous model for the rest of the song). Then comes the charming Date version and -wham- I love it! The charm and presence is all there, and isn't there quite the chemistry too? ... :-)

• San R & Raina - Sugar & Me (Live/Date version)
• San E & Raina - Sugar & Me (달고나)
• San E & Raina - A Midsummer Night's Sweetness (한여름밤의 꿀)
• San E & Raina - A Midsummer Night's Sweetness (Acoustic ver)

Jpop: Root 5 (√5)

As a math teacher, of course I'm a bit weak for when a music group uses mathematical names (hello korean tough girls f(x)...)but of course there needs to be something more. For Root Five, the theme of the new "Love Ninja" is good enough, a humorous one.

• Root Five - Love Ninja

Kpop: VIXX - Error

VIXX has done several great videos, among them I count "On and On" and the recent "Eternity" as among the best. The new "Error" has a title inviting several bad puns if it turned out bad, but that is not the case. At all. From the dramatic and unexpectedly nuanced vocal harmonies to the touching story about love and loss, "Error" is a great return for the boys of VIXX and it may even be that this surpasses "Eternity" as their best best song this year, and both will for sure place in my top 20 kpop songs of 2014.

• VIXX - Error

Ukrainian pop: Kazaky

What probably strikes you when watching one of the videos of the ukrainian electropop group Kazaky is of course their looks and dancing which very obviously connects to gay-culture, something which they seems to do fantastically and they has gathered fame from this (among other things, featuring prominently in one of Britney Spear's videos...). Watch their funny parody of airport control intimacy or their high heels in "Love". I suggest you start with "Touch Me" and then watch the new "Strange Moves".

• Kazaky ft The Hardkiss - Strange Moves
• Kazaky - Touch Me
• Kazaky - Pulse
• Kazaky - The Sun
• Kazaky - Love
• Kazaky - Dance and Change
• Kazaky - Last Night
• Kazaky - Crazy Law