I don’t see how you can listen to this song (or watch its brilliant music video) without a huge smile on your face. SSAK3 brings together K-pop legends Rain and Lee Hyori with equally legendary MC/comedian Yoo Jae-suk for a co-ed trio formed on his show Hangout With Yoo. Their goal is simple, pure and … Continue reading
Tag Archives: rating 8
Song Review: Yukika – Yesterday
I debated whether to feature this song as a “buried treasure” or a full single, since it was only given a pre-release choreography video. But, regardless of how you classify it, Yesterday (안무 영상) deserves attention. Yukika’s entire album is consistent in its retro sound and vision, even going so far as to include themed … Continue reading
Song Review: Kalen Anzai – Bokura wa Tsuyoku Nareru
Watching the roll-out for Avex’s newest pop soloist Kalen Anzai has been interesting, to say the least. While most agencies would attempt to break an artist through some combination of currently popular music trends, Anzai has been positioned as a nostalgia play for late-90’s J-pop – specifically the icy-voiced, melodic dance sound of Ayumi Hamasaki. … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: 2NE1 – Falling In Love
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: SMTOWN – Let’s Go On A Trip
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
Song Review: Lee Hi – HOLO
Lee Hi’s HOLO is her first work as part of the AOMG label, a signing that was officially announced this week. This is great news for fans. Unlike YG Entertainment and its subsidiaries, AOMG is known for… you know… actually releasing music. We may no longer have to wait years in between new Lee Hi … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: Uhm Jung Hwa – Festival
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
Song Review: SixTONES – Navigator
After a blockbuster debut in January, SixTONES are back with their follow-up single Navigator. Originally scheduled for release at the beginning of June, Navigator takes a hard turn from the stadium balladry of Imitation Rain, in line with the detective anime series it soundtracks. This sound is closer to what I had expected from the … Continue reading
Song Review: Yukika – Soul Lady
Many well-meaning fans pointed me toward Yukika’s Neon last year, knowing how much I love anything that draws influence from the 80’s. And I did enjoy it, even if I think it bops along a bit half-heartedly, without the bite I like to hear in a good pop song. But for me, that’s city pop … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: 100% – U Beauty
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
Song Review: Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi – Naughty
I really wish that I enjoyed Irene and Seulgi’s Monster more than I do. I love a good badass, female-fronted comeback, but the track’s droning vocal loop just sounds like bad Halloween to me. Because of this, I’m happy to see that they’re promoting the superior Naughty (놀이) as a follow-up. While Naughty doesn’t bring … Continue reading
Song Review: Misako Uno (AAA) – Stand UP!
Today is AAA soloists day on The Bias List, as two of the group’s members have new material to write about. Given the fact that the group is going on indefinite hiatus soon, I expect we’ll see much more music like this in the future. As AAA’s sole remaining female vocalist, Misako Uno hasn’t been … Continue reading
Song Review: Sky-Hi – Sky’s The Limit
I’ve compared Japanese co-ed group AAA to Bigbang several times before, even though each act crafts wildly different music. But, they’re both the kind of supergroup that functions well together and results in equally amazing solo material from its diverse, charismatic members. If you buy that comparison, Sky-Hi would be AAA’s answer to G-Dragon. I … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: Girls’ Generation (SNSD) – Party
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: The Solutions – Ticket To The Moon
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
Song Review: Tomohisa Yamashita – Nights Cold
This may be the first time I’m writing about Tomohisa Yamashita on The Bias List, but don’t let that undermine my regard for him as a performer. Debuting as a member of boy group News, Yamashita released his first solo work in 2006 and eventually left News in 2011 to fully pursue solo activities. He’s … Continue reading
Song Review: The Midnight Romance – Midnight Romance
As someone who writes about K-pop every single day, there are few groups I’m not at least casually aware of. But beyond the idol world, Korea is bursting with all sorts of indie acts that don’t often enjoy the same promotion. That’s where youtube teasers come in, and every once and awhile one will catch … Continue reading
SUMMER OF K-POP: Taeyeon – Baram x 3
There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year. There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. … Continue reading
Song Review: Stray Kids – Hello Stranger
It’s not unusual for an idol group to perform an OST track, but most of these songs are outsourced to producers who may or may not have a history with the group’s discography. Very few OST songs could be considered highlights within an artist’s catalog. More often, they’re generic pop tracks or melodramatic ballads. In … Continue reading
Song Review: 1THE9 – Bad Guy
Not every survival series can be a massive hit, and 2018’s Under 19 struggled to attract a wide audience. This made the fate of debuting group 1THE9 a tricky proposition. Due to the confines of the series, their contract was limited to two years. And rather than capitalize on any hype the show may have … Continue reading