Mandopop: Top 20 of 2016

I have said it before and I will say it again - I do think the Chinese musicsphere hasn't yet found it's own sound as a whole, and how can it - with so many people being part of it?
My favorites of 2016 shows this, being an eclectic mix of corny KTV songs, beautiful but almost overstyled videos, and very good and funky tracks of world class quality.

20. Yuki - Oh My! Is this the end of Yuki's troubles and a start of a more normal artistic life? Who knows, but one can hope.

19. Ma Ning - Anyway, it's all me. Quite gay and very watchable, Ma Ning does a fascinating musical diorama with this video.

18. Jane Zhang - Dust My Shoulders Off. Enlisting Timbaland and making a gorgeous video refrencing so much modern pop history/art, Jane Zhang really made something not to be missed.

17. Jeannie Hsieh - Boom Boom Par. She does another one of her crazy but so intensively styled videos. Slightly irritating and very addictive.

16. Leah Dou - Brother. She is such a cool young artist, and no surprise as she is Faye Wong's daughter.

15. Sophia Wang - Versailles Tears. A kind of odd historical time piece that actually works quite well, the melody and song is clear and well tuned.

14. Michiyo Ho. Part of the collective Red People from Malaysia, she has really started showing off her qualities this year, with lots of funny and ironic themes.

13. Astro12 - Waiting For You. This idol group had yet to show off all its members, so it was just a trio that performed this song. The song shows good promise so we will see what 2017 holds.

12. One Two Free - Kiang. The ironic and iconic duo again creates a great theme for funny and crazy video.

11. Xue Zhiqian - Beginner. A white haired vampire and some gothic themes in general suited this song perfect.

10. Mao Ze Shao. Both her videos have great rhythm and feel, if she gets a little better styling and quality of her production, she could ge really far.

9. Li Yunchun - Sense of Presence. The electronic sound is what Chris Lee has been about the last few years. I do hope she keeps at it.

8. Vanness Wu - Boom. The singer and movie star is really channeling a lot of Michael jackson in this video, but you know what, he does it in a great way.

7. No Party For Cao Dong - Mountain and Sea. The dark passion is the strength of this indie song, so strong that it almost pulls it down, but then comes the airy strings and it lifts again.

6. Hebe Tien / Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless. After watching the video of Zhang Xiaoqi performing the song I still think it is such a great performance, quite perfect.

5. Qi Qi Ge - People of the Prairie. Like an anthem, Qi Qi Ge sings with such feeling that all thoughts of this being nutty folk music disco is put away.

4. Zhengyue Shiwu - Little Grape. Yes, it is one of those cheesy song made to be sung at KTV (karaoke), but oh I love it none the less. The warmth and happiness can't be stopped.

3. Milk@Coffee - We're missing just a little. Such a trivial song, it doesn't make much noise for itself, but the mood and lyrics are in such melancholic harmony.

2. S.H.E. - Irreplacable. Just as the year was ending the famous trio from Taiwan returned with a bang, this song is really irreplacable in a discography of their songs.

1. Dizzy Dizzo ft E.So - Who loves who. This song again proves that the chinese really can do funky/retro really well, and even the rap (not something I warm up to usually) is just perfect. The amvience and sound is just right.

Jpop: Top 20 of 2016

The year of 2016 in Japanese pop has for me been less idols and more electronic and synth songs. Still a lot of strange and freaky, but in a more tempered way.
So here is my top 20 songs in some kind of order.

20. Ladybaby - Renge Chance! The bearded Australian doing maid cosplay with a heavy metal voice returned with an ode to ramen! Of course!

19. Natsu no Mamono. Cos-players and crazy live festival organizers, one has to love their videos, so full of just plain fun.

18. Awesome City Club. I like their sound, full of air and happiness.

17. Sasanomaly. Yes, the music is fine, but really, it is the videos you can't miss. They are arts-and-crafty litter masterpieces!

16. Fake - You. At first I felt like, hmm, it's OK for this kind of model group. But go beyond the surface and the song is a polished pop hit that has no unused space.

15. Haraeki Stage Ace - Rockstar. Passion and energy in this fighting track. Now can you please start posting full videos...?!

14. Suchmos - Stay Tune. It was like Jamiroquai had landed in a pop song in a good way.

13. C-ute - Dreamlike Climax. Mixing classical music and pop may sound odd, but it worked really well for C-ute, the drama of song and dance harmonizing with the classic melody.

12. Stereo Japan - Dancing Again. Good song but those breaks with super funky sounds made all the difference.

11. Babymetal. An anticipated comeback for the jpop metal girls, with The One and Karate holding up to expectations.

10. Oyasumi Hologram - Neuromancer. This indie duo delivered a track with a superb nerve that really made it stand out.

9. Reol - Give me a break Stop now. She finally showed herself in a full video, and such a great video it was - cool and catchy, so a great way to debut!

8. Cherrsee - White Shirt. While this is unabashed "Brave Sound in Japanese", it is still high quality and polished pop.

7. Czecho No Republic - Dream Beach Sunset. When they get their synths right, CNR is such a great group. Like here.

6. Cicada - Yes. The voice and the sound of "Yes" is soft and inviting, silent passion in harmony.

5. Have A Nice Day! ft New World's Girlfriend - New Romance. This song proves again that feeling and that extra 'it' always beats static perfection.

4. Taemin - Sayonara Hitori. Even though the video sometimes passes over to gaming territory, it is still a great ballad, with drama and a song without dead spots.

3. Niji no Conquistador - ↓Alien Girl in New York↑. The passion and the humor made me instantly love this song by the idol girls of Niji no Conquistador.

2. Frederic. The group may not have changed their basic concept so much, but "Only Wonder" was another great example of their trademark sound, and I do think their later "Night Step" marks a new step in a kind of darker and fresh direction.

1. Metafive. Even though the participating artists may have seen their best days, the stylish mega-group had high expectations on it when it debuted early this year, but they have surely delivered. Both "Luv U Tokio" and "Musical Chairs" are music perfection.

Kpop: Joosuc (주석)

 All the images is from "I Kno".

I haven't really felt anything for Joosuc's rap up until now, but the track "I Kno" is something different from the videos he has done before - instead of rougher rap he goes for laid back R&B of the kind that koreans does so well. Please stay in this zone, Joosec!

• Joosuc ft Sanchez - I Kno
• Joosuc ft Satbyeol - Property
• Joosuc ft July31 - Shoelaces (신발끈)

Jpop: Awesome City Club - I will decide we are not making a mistake tonight

Awesome City Club will be releasing their new album "Awesome City Tracks 4" at the end of January, and the first release from that is the new song with the somewhat unwieldy name "I will decide we are not making a mistake tonight", but it is a nice one anyways.

• Awesome City Club - I will decide we are not making a mistake tonight (今夜だけ間違いじゃないことにしてあげる)

Kpop: Stellarjet - I Don't Like You

Even if this is nominally "kpop" because it is performed by a band from Korea, "I Don't Like You" is a song that may as well has had its origin somewhere in any given place in the cultural western hemisphere, if there still is such a distinction anymore. Whatever, Stellarjet delivers another track with great feeling and soft melancholia.

• Stellarjet - I Don't Like You

Mandopop: Hebe Tien / Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless (無用)

The first image above and below is of Zhang Xiaoqi, the other two of Hebe Tien.

Earlier this year, Taiwanese singer Hebe Tien (from S.H.E) released the song "Useless", which was kind of nice. This autumn she went on to participate in the TV-show "Sound of my Dream"(梦想的声音) as one of the judges/teachers. The show is novel for a music show in the sense that it isn't quite a competition as more of an "open" arena where singers are invited. The high point of the first months came last week when Zhang Xiaoqi (张小七) sang "Useless" in a fantastic interpretation that surpassed the original. Not much is known about her, but it is rumored that she works with accounting in her family business, and sings on her free time at the local bar. Anyway, I do hope this is one voice I expect to hear much more of.

• Hebe Tien - Useless (無用)
• Zhang Xiaoqi - Useless (無用)

Kpop: Uhm Jung Hwa (엄정화)

The 2nd image above and the two first below is from "Dreamer", the rest is from "Watch Me Now"

This being the year of comebacks in kpop, it's natural to see 47 year old Uhm Jung Hwa make a comeback too. She has been all over the korean wave of music, movies and media, and fits right into this. Her two videos are really two excellent and slightly dark examples on how to make a good come-back, "Watch me Now" being my favorite.

• Uhm Jung Hwa - Dreamer
• Uhm Jung Hwa - Watch Me Now

Mangopop: Vanness Wu - Boom (蹦蹦)

Well, even though that new style in "Boom" is quite different and a bit on the wild side for Vanness Wu, I like it. Combine it with a video that feels a little Michael Jackson, and you got something good going.

• Vanness Wu - Boom (蹦蹦)