Jpop: Nature Danger Gang (ネイチャーデンジャーギャング)

Last year, I shared some of the jpop bands like Riemann mic and Sloth that conciously delves into a more "everyday ugly/vulguar" side of modern japanese pop culture. Nature Danger Gang with a home in fashion-eclectic Shinjuku, Tokyo, is another example of this with a techno sound that would even make some 90s music offenders blush. But I so love this kind of kitsch now and then!

• Nature Danger Gang - Cherry Blossom Uncle (桜おじさん)
• Nature Danger Gang - Dopa (どぱ)

Kpop: Up10tion (업텐션)

10 man kpop boy group Up10tion has tried hard to be kind of tough and cool in their first two debut videos last year, but I find the more soft and melodic Attention that has gotten my (haha) attention. I was going to pass it over but find myself drawn into the song. It has the promise of a more mature sound that may prove successful.

• Up10tion - Attention (나한테만 집중해)
• Up10tion - So, Dangerous (위험해)
• Up10tion - Catch me! (여기여기 붙어라)

Jpop/Kpop: AOA ft TM Revolution - Give Me The Love (愛をちょうだい)

The 4th japanese single from korean belles AOA is a cooperation with cool TM Revolution aka. Takanori Nishikawa in where they goes to the F1 Circuit to race some. As usual the video is eye-candy for all lovers of kpop, with Hyejeong looking not a little like Harley Quinn (as in the member of the Suicide Squad) and everyone being as charming as usual.

• AOA ft TM Revolution - Give Me The Love (愛をちょうだい)

Mandopop: Wang Lin - I am a singer (我是歌手)

Some of my chinese friends won't like it when I say this, but this video is a very typical chinese video - cheezy, overloaded kitsch...and very charming. Wang Lin has been one of my favorite KTV (karaoke music) singers for a while, she has this semi-nerdy charm that really makes you love all of it.

• Wang Lin - I am a singer (我是歌手)

Kpop: Sleepy (슬리피)

I think it may be the production by Giriboy, but the new "Body Lotion" from korean rapper Sleepy is so good that even I who seldom likes hiphop can dig it.

• Sleepy ft Bang Yong Guk - Body Lotion (바디로션)
• Sleepy & Song Jieun - Cool Night (쿨밤)
• Sleepy ft Baek Ah Yeon - Kibuntat(기분탓)

Jpop: Passcode

Passcode's brand of intensive hard electro/"metal" jpop hasn't struck me as anything more than slightly too much so far, but with their "Ninja Bomber" from the new album Virtual (late May release) they have injected some more humor and a little more structure beyond crazy bpm. Obviously they are trying to ride on the Babymetal train, but I don't think they really play in the same division (or genre), but the ninja thing could be the start of something.

• Passcode - Ninja Bomber
• Passcode - Axis
• Passcode - XYZ
• Passcode - from here
• Passcode - Asterisk (アスタリスク)
• Passcode - Never Sleep Again
• Passcode - Nextage
• Passcode - Now I know
• Passcode - Uppheaval progressive (激動プログレッシブ)