Jpop: Morning Musume - Confront With Bare Nakedness (ムキダシで向き合って)

The jpop idol group Morning Musume has in their newest single "Confront With Bare Nakedness" one of their best songs so far, both in regards to composition, drama and lyrics. It's very much a conventional idol song, but inside those (arguably) narrow limits it does really well, and the girls delivers the song with passion.

• Morning Musume - Confront With Bare Nakedness (ムキダシで向き合って)

Mandopop: Yuki Hsu (徐懷鈺)

Taiwanese singer Yuki made a comeback this year with the positive and sweet "Oh My!", but her life and career has been anything but that as she has been involved in processes involving contract breaches, sex harassment and at the same time being the main provider for her extended family.

• Yuki - Oh My!
• Yuki - Separate (分飛)

Jpop: C-ute - Dreamlike Climax(夢幻クライマックス)

The best songs of C-ute has for me always been the ones with some drama and tempo, so its no surprise that their "Dreamlike Climax" with its piano (sampling Beethoven‘s Modschein Sonate) and gothic influences has me feeling mushy inside.

• C-ute - Dreamlike Climax(夢幻クライマックス)

Mongol pop: NMN

I felt it was time for some mongolian pop again. Not many people in the west is aware of the great vibes on the mongolian pop scene. It is quite something different from its Chinese or Korean neighbours, instead drawing much more on eastern european vibes combined with some great steppe melancholy. I don't know much about NMN than that she has a voice that I love hearing more of.

• Zorigt ft NMN - Special
• Lego ft NMN - I do
• NMN - Bi gantsaaraa bish
• Orgil feat. NMN - Ene Udaa
• Tsetse ft NMN - With You

Kpop: Thunder (천둥) / Park Sang Hyun (박상현)

After having left MBLAQ, and acted some, Thunder debuts with one of the best kpop video concepts of the year. It sees him gotten taught the hard way by lovely Goo Hara (from Kara) how to get to first base with a girl. Each time he fails, he gets shot(!).

• Thunder ft Goo Hara - Sign 

Kpop: OhBliss (오블리스)

So, really, I shouldn't like this stuff so easily anymore. But, well, this was what got me into kpop from the start, so there is not helping it, but this is perfect debut stuff from the girls of OhBliss.

• OhBliss - BunnyBunny (바니바니)

Kpop: 100% - Better Day (지독하게)

The latest single from the boys of 100% is the perfect example of dramatic but mainstream boy kpop video. It's not going to be the no 1 of the year, but it is well worth saving.

• 100% - Better Day (지독하게)

Jpop: Suchmos

Japanese Suchmos make me think of Jamoriquai, which is a good sign, and they have a really nice jazzy/pop/indie feel to them.

• Suchmos - Stay Tune
• Suchmos - Mint
• Suchmos - Fallin
• Suchmos - YMM
• Suchmos ft Ryo Nuno - Girl

Kpop: Yoo Jae Yuk & EXO - Dancing King

SM Town's dance and EDM label/brand SM Station has been establising itself as a place to find new combos and a bit more international sounds that, although mainstream by western measures, steps outside the normal boundaries of kpop. The 32nd release is a colloboration between MC Yoo Jay Yuk and super stars EXO, and it's a really groovy track that would feel at home at the Rio festival, I imagine.

• Yoo Jae Yuk & EXO - Dancing King