Kpop: JJCC (제이제이씨씨)

JJCC is a kpop group started last year by chinese/Hollywood movie star Jackie Chan, said to long have favored kpop but I would guess he also wants to tap in on the success of kpop in (among others) China. I liked Bing Bing Bing last year and with the new Where you at, they are actually looking like more than 'just' a pet project.

• JJCC - Where you at (어디야)
• JJCC - BingBingBing (Oneway / 빙빙빙)
• JJCC - At First (첨엔 다 그래)
• JJCC - Fire (질러)
• JJCC ft. Jung Hoon Hee - On The Flower Bed (꽃밭에서)

Kpop: Girl's Generation - You Think

However you measure who is the biggest and most popular group from Korea, you will undoubtedly land with the answer Girl's Generation/SNSD. The title isn't wholly undeserved but so often with this kind of position it means that the artist in question deliver slightly bland and, by definition, mainstream, pop songs. I loved Catch Me If You Can relesed this spring but then came the totally meaningless Party followed up by the two latest Lion Heart and now You Think. If these three I would say You Think is the one most deserving of attention, so I suggest giving that one a chance.

• Girl's Generation - You Think
• Girl's Generation - Lion Heart
• Girl's Generation - Party

Vietnamese rap: Big Daddy ft Hanh Sino - This Is Why I'm Hot (Nóng)

The video from 24 year old vietnamese rapper Big Daddy is quite fun and the rap is done with that ironic/fun swagger that I just love, with the mostly local language making it swing even more.

• Big Daddy ft Hanh Sino - This Is Why I'm Hot (Nóng) 
• Big Daddy - Talking With You (Nói Với Em)

Kpop: 9Muses - Yes or No

The girls of 9Muses have a steady and working concept as sexy pinup girls with easy-to-like (k)pop songs with just the right amount of substance to excuse watching their videos, an idea which I found slightly spoiled by their latest video Heart Locker. Therfore it is refreshing to see them release a slightly (for them) experimental video, as the whole of "Yes or No" is filmed as a long Instagram selfie with the girls also singing a much more laid-back and charming song than one would expect from them. I like it and I hope this is not only a creative way to cut production costs but instead rather means that they will develop positively from now on.

• 9Muses - Yes or No

Mandopop: Cosmos People (宇宙人)

Four previous university classmates started Cosmos People in 2004. Today they are three men playing an enjoyable kind of funk/jazz but their variation is beyond that; myself I have their 2012 funky/electronic "I Hate You" as my favorite. Their latest is "Islands" from this summer, a pretty good too.

• Cosmos People - I Hate You (我討厭你)
• Cosmos People - Hello Princess (你以為)
• Cosmos People - Islands (不孤島)
• Cosmos People - 10000 Hours (一萬小時)
• Cosmos People - Let's Go Running Together (一起去跑步)
• Cosmos People - And You? (那你呢)
• Cosmos People - Oh Girl
• Cosmos People - I want to make a movie of you
• Cosmos People - Song (軍歌, a Nirvana tribute in my eyes)
• Cosmos People - Sweetheart (心上人)
• Cosmos People - Move Forward (往前)
• Cosmos People - Big Fish (大志若魚)

Kpop: AoA - Heart Attack (심쿵해)

So, as I blogged earlier, this AoA song is still one of my disappointments this summer. But after listening more to them I realised I have been somewhat unfair. It's just that "Heart Attack" is 'just' good and several of their other songs (Confused, Like A Cat, Short Hair, ...) are better. This latest track actually finds its place in my favorite collection, it just took some time.

• AoA - Heart Attack (심쿵해)
• AoA - Heart Attack (Choreography version)
• AoA - Heart Attack (Eye contact version)