Kpop: Eric Nam (에릭남)

American-Korean charmer Eric Nam has some real charisma and like many western stars kind of started of with a YouTube cover and got attention from Korean music industry and participated in shows and so forth, today having established himself as a nice alround entertainer. The new "Can't Help Myself" is yet another example of this, he really has that musical charisma going for himself.

• Eric Nam ft Loco - Can't Help Myself (못참겠어)
• Eric Nam ft Hoya - Ooh Ooh
• Eric Nam - Melt My Heart (녹여줘)
• Eric Nam - Interview
• Eric Nam - Good For You

Kpop: Sweet Sorrow (스윗소로우)

It all started out as a glee club at prestigous Yonsei University but ended up with the four members left at the end starting the music group Sweet Sorrow in 2002 and them going professional. They won some competitions and have a number of albums behind them. Though loved by many, I often find them a bit to sweet for me, but their likable "Just Get Away" from 2012 now got some great company with their new single "No Dae-bak" (meaning 'No big success"), which is a song full of attitude and vocal gymnastics.

• Sweet Sorrow - No Dae-bak (대박금지)
• Sweet Sorrow - Just Get Away (You deserve it) (괜찮아 떠나)
• Sweet Sorrow - Pounding Heart (설레고 있죠)
• Sweet Sorrow - First Date (첫 데이트)
• Sweet Sorrow - Hiding My Heart (사랑한다는 말은 못해도)
• Sweet Sorrow ft Park Ji Yoon - Again and Again (몇번이고)
• Sweet Sorrow - Wonderful Day (멋진 날)

Jpop: Charan-Po-Rantan (チャラン・ポ・ランタン)

These sisters is ... intensive. Charan-Po-Rantan have a very unique blend of accordion, balkan, french, jewish, gypsy and circus influences that still becomes one unity in the hands of Koharu and Momo. I love it and slightly hate it. It is just like a heavy cake or intensive kitsch - you have to digest it in reasonable amounts... ;-) Read good articles on their background here and here, they make you want to see a movie about their life.

• Charan-Po-Rantan - The End of the Möbius Strip (メビウスの行き止まり)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - Last Supper (最後の晩餐)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - Parade of Life (時計仕掛けの人生)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - Obesessed with France (フランスかぶれ)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - The Marie who wasn't caught by the trapeze (空中ブランコ乗りのマリー)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - Beauty and Youth (美しさと若さ)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - 7.1 Billion Pieces of a Puzzle (71億ピースのパズルゲーム)
• Charan-Po-Rantan - With us to the Grave (墓場までご一緒に)

Jpop: Charisma.com - Moya moyashite (もや燃やして)

The rap duo Charisma.com from Japan with the coolest attitude is back, this time in defense of frustrated office women. I think the title is a play on words with something called 'Moya moya women' as the title roughly means burning moya. Moya moya (with another spelling) is also the name of the cloudy bits in miso soup. Together this points to the frustrations and constricted situation of the (female) Japanese office worker. The duo does an explicit and clear intervention in the womans life to help her confront her inner demons. The famous Japanese beer Kirin has also sponsored the whole thing, which is evident in the ending scene. ;-)

• Charisma.com - Moya moyashite (もや燃やして)

Kpop: Hoody (후디)

Hoody is part of Jay Park's label and particpated in his song "Solo", and was earlier part of the duo Brand Newjiq. In both cases her vocal capabilites has been obvious and with the song "Like You" it seems she releases her third solo single, and I think it should be about time she gets some traction in her career, she really deserves it.

• Hoody - Like You
• Hoody - Baby Oh Baby
• Hoody & Cokejazz - Blue Horizon
• Hoody - My Ride

Kpop: f(x) - All Mine

When SM Town starts posting regular group singles like f(x)'s new "All Mine" on their [Station] project, it is obvious (at least to me) how much this is to be mainly a EDM themed channel. Which is perfectly fine for me! Note to self; Amber looks more and more charismatic for every video she is in.

• f(x) - All Mine