[#43] B1A4 - "Baby I'm Sorry"

From: "Ignition"
Format: Full-Length Album
Released: March
Territory: South Korea
Previous Best of Appearances: First Appearance

I actually liked B1A4 when they debuted, more than some of the other groups they came with, because I genuinely thought "OK" was an okay song, and they carried it well on stage. But then something went wrong after, and "Beautiful Target" was nowhere near beautiful, or even okay. You can imagine my relief when I heard "Baby I'm Sorry".

I know some people who don't really like "Baby I'm Sorry", and I understand. It's a very manic song, heightened by the almost-rough delivery, but what I like is that they stuck to their guns and didn't shy away from the intensity. It's very easy to just laze around and let the song take over for three and a half minutes, but they didn't.

But I like it, I like the fact that it seems like there are a million things running around all over the place, and I like the fact that when I take a step back to listen to the song as a whole, I still hear one, solid package. I like the explosions at the chorus, because they give the song this slightly epic illusion, and I can imagine how it translates great on stage. And I love the rest of the arrangement too, especially how they pulled off the transition between the middle 8 and the last chorus.

This song is also ridiculously catchy, and catchy in my favorite way -- the melodic kind. It's a simple melody, and despite the slightly higher notes in the first half of the chorus, the hook proper ("every night, every night, you") is easy enough for anyone to sing along to. The melody is also gorgeous, and I actually like the auto tuning -- it kind of smooths out the wild backdrop it's set against.

"Baby I'm Sorry" is very performance-ready, it's something you'd imagine a stage performance to, even if you're just listening to it. But I like that even then, they still took time to make it a genuinely good song that works both on stage, and off stage.

[June 2, 2012] MBC Music Core Highlights + Commentary

Aside from the line-up being ridiculously packed, today's recap is extra, extra special because McRoth of McRoth's Residence and I plan to take over the world with it! Just joking. Partially. If you're sick and tired of only me doing the babbling during my music show recaps, then you're in for a treat, because yes, McRoth is joining us tonight! What's the occasion? Nothing, actually. But since when did I ever need an occasion to pull in blogger friends of mine?

I know that a lot of you guys who read Pop Reviews Now also read McRoth's Residence, for the simple reason that McRoth is amazing at what he does!

Nikki: After we're done I think you'll have enough time to go take a nap LOL.
McRoth: lmao. I’m wide awake. Might eat breakfast.
Nikki: ^_^ And I slept for half the afternoon so I'm wide awake.
McRoth: this is gonna be a loooooooooooooong post :o
Nikki: T_T
McRoth: Readers' scroll bars will be in pain by the end of this.
Nikki: I wonder if it's longer than the one I did with Mel.
McRoth: what did you write about with her? I forgot.
Nikki: ...DBSK.
McRoth: OH.
Nikki: We fangirled over a few songs.
McRoth: No way is this longer. Anything DBSK will always trump everything else.
Nikki: The one I did with Ree was pretty short.
McRoth: It was, that's why I was able to read most of it lol.
Nikki: the one I did with Mel was just a block of text.
McRoth: o.o I think I remember that

None of the videos are ours, credit as tagged. Let the world domination begin!

A-Jax - "One 4 U"
McRoth: Okay. IM HITTING PLAY.
Nikki: ME TOO.
McRoth: I don't know names, btw.
Nikki: Me neither.
McRoth: lol
Nikki: Anyway. Mmkay.
McRoth: glad to see we're in the same boat
Nikki: I'm getting serious EXO vibes from them. And I don't like it.
McRoth: I'm getting EXO vibes, visually, but generic everything else
Nikki: Yeah, they sound like SS501 rejects.
McRoth: that ballad was a snooze-fest. I can't even remember it, and I just listened to it
Nikki: Me neither. I don't know how to feel about "One 4 U", honestly
McRoth: I like that it's extremely thematic, like the orchestration is big, but everything else is so not amazing.
Nikki: It reminds me of a worse "Love Ya". And they're lip-synching.
McRoth: Ew
Nikki: WHY IS EVERYONE LIP-SYNCHING.
McRoth: ROOKIES ARE SCARED.
Nikki: JJ PROJECT ARE ROOKIES!
McRoth: I love them ._. But we'll get to them soon.
Nikki: I do too. But back to A-Jax.
McRoth: lol
Nikki: Performance-wise they're pretty generic too.
McRoth: Okay, about the orchestration, I take that back. This song is incredibly repetitive
Nikki: As expected.
McRoth: that I'm taking something back? are we bringing up my Junsu fail from 2011?
Nikki: No no. That the song is repetitive LOL
McRoth: lol. GOOD
Nikki: But even if they're lip-synching, they don't make me want to watch them -- and that's the problem.
McRoth: I'm kinda not even watching lol, I'm watching the backup dancers
Nikki: LOL!
McRoth: or is that the group??
Nikki: The backup dancers are in black?
McRoth: This song felt like one giant pre-chorus.
Nikki: DSP has truly lost it's touch.
McRoth: And its heart. There was no soul in that -- at all
Nikki: Yeah, even "Tri-Angle" had emotion
McRoth: lmao
Nikki: It's true!
McRoth: It did, this had no feels
Nikki: Can you not feel the emotion from Changmin's spiky hair?
McRoth: I can almost feel him poking me
Nikki: At least it's over. Phew.
McRoth: yeah.

She'z - "I Feel Like It"
Nikki: I like the idea of She'z
McRoth: NEVER HEARD THESE BROADS, so this is my first.
Nikki: But they're so cheap, it hurts.
McRoth: I like their voices
Nikki: Although they kind of drag their notes too much, so it ends up sounding sloppy. I blame that on a lack of training.
McRoth: one of them looks like Park Bom, as in she looks like her face will slide right off any second now/
Nikki: LOL! They remind me of Black Pearl.
McRoth: oooh, BP!
Nikki: Which is kind of an insult because Black Pearl is irrelevant T_T
McRoth: what happened to them!? T_T
Nikki: I have no idea. They're lip-synching today though
McRoth: She'z is good, with some training they'll be good.
Nikki: And better material please.
McRoth: I can't tell if they're live or not :o
Nikki: D:
McRoth: blame it on the fact that I haven't listened to their song yet :x That wasn't terrible, but the song isn't amazing
Nikki: The vocals saved it. They need better material, and better outfits.
McRoth: definitely. they have a strong set of vocals. Haha yeah, I wasn't digging the Candyman outfits. Candy CANES, more like it.
Nikki: T_T And the choreography was... questionable
McRoth: I thought they were just making random formations. So… what choreo? lol
Nikki: Touché.

JJ Project - "Bounce"
Nikki: I'm ready to fangirl. I have it loaded already :D
McRoth: oh haha ok.
Nikki: See? JJ Project loves me.
McRoth: lmao
Nikki: so I love them back ^_^ Play!
McRoth: PRRRAY
Nikki: They are SO fun, without compromising their vocals.
McRoth: I love their energy.
Nikki: I've sang and jumped at the same time before. It's not easy.
McRoth: It saves this song, because honestly, Bounce isn't exactly amazing. composition wise, it's verging on bi polar.
Nikki: LOL! Yes. They carry it so well. And it takes a lot to carry something as whacked out as this.
McRoth: I think the song is no bueno, but I agree that they sell it like effing hot cakes. Totally.
Nikki: And they've always sang live. Unlike SOME people. *ahem*EXO*AHEM*
McRoth: Haha AND ALL THE ROOKIES WE JUST WATCHED. What I love about this is that the material is age appropriate, youthful, and plain ole fun to listen to.
Nikki: It is!
McRoth: The energy transcends the shittiness of the song :x
Nikki: It's just the right amount of repetitiveness that it's not annoying. At least, I'm not annoyed.
McRoth: I'm not either, which says a lot. this is kpop after all. Aw, it's over. I want to see “Hooked” live so bad.
Nikki: I do too! It's a different kind of fun.
McRoth: THAT IS MY JAM.
Nikki: I'd like to see how they pull off "Before This Song Ends" though
McRoth: ooh, me too
Nikki: Because the recording is all over the place, but with their presence it can possibly be really good.
McRoth: Yeah. Considering it's JYP though, they may not be getting proper vocal lessons. Just listen to Miss A. they sound terrible
Nikki: They do they get all these gorgeous arrangements, like the SBS Gayo one, but their vocals can't carry it live.
McRoth: They don’t know how to sing them. :o
Nikki: Oh JYP.

Hello Venus - "Venus"
Nikki: Hello Venus have gotten boring. I realize that maybe I only liked them because they were new.
McRoth: I like Hello Venus, but this song has gotten stale.
Nikki: Yeah and I hate that the choruses are practically lip-synched because of the backing track.
McRoth: Yeah I hear that too. And by hear that, I mean I don't hear them at all, so yeah.
McRoth: I think if they were singing this live adding ad libs and stuff, it would spice it up
Nikki: Definitely.
Nikki: I like that Lime can sing though -- she's not the useless rapper type.
McRoth: I like Lime too.
Nikki: But they've gotten comfortable on stage, which is always a good thing.
McRoth: I think they showed edginess in their mini, but I don't see it here at all.
Nikki: Yes! I genuinely enjoyed their EP
McRoth: I hope we get to hear a bit more edge and sass later down the road, because they have what it takes to transition smoothly to it.
Nikki: But Pledis almost always screws their A&R up.
McRoth: lol. Oh lPedis. I'm frightened to see what they do with AS this year.

EXO-K - "MAMA"
Nikki: I still don't like EXO-K.
McRoth: I like them, I just don't like them on this song, or their live vocals.
Nikki: They're not the world's most amazing singers to start with, and to top it all off they move with no grace.
McRoth: DO is inconsistent, as is the rest of them. They still lack fluidity.
Nikki: I don't expect them to do body waves or anything, but like, you're human, aren't you?
McRoth: They're thinking too much about how they look.
Nikki: That's exactly why I can't stand Joon, but even he has some fluidity.
McRoth: LMAO
Nikki: If I may say so
McRoth: I don't know why they lip sync 3/4 of the song and the 1/4 they do sing live is that weird screamo bit.
Nikki: LOL
McRoth: They're not confident singers, and that worries me.
Nikki: The problem I have with EXO is that SM set the bar too high for them.
McRoth: Exactly.
Nikki: If it had been lower, they'd be average. But they're supposed to be the "biggest thing since anything", when they can't even carry themselves on stage
McRoth: It feels like they know that, too, so they're kind of scared of themselves. I have faith in them though, because there's talent in there. they just need to know how to execute it properly.
Nikki: I... don't.
McRoth: ;_;
Nikki: Until they give me a promo cycle that's worthy of all the hype.
McRoth: Yeah, true. I think M's sheer superiority proves that somewhere at SM someone is teaching them the right ways of doing things. K needs some of that.
Nikki: Yes! I actually enjoyed M's performances more, because they were confident without being arrogant.
McRoth: They're my fave of the two. :o

My Name - "Hello & Goodbye"
Nikki: Sad Song?
McRoth: Apparently.
Nikki: That's what Seohyun said LOL.
McRoth: LMAO. D:
Nikki: It's an okay song. That guy looks strange. MJ strange. O.O
McRoth: Nothing amazing about this so far. LMAO. PEDO ON THE LOOSE. HIDE YO OPPARS HIDE YO NOONARS.
Nikki: HAHAH. How many of them are there?
McRoth: I don’t know, like 10 thousand. so many people on stage.
Nikki: 4?
McRoth: five?
Nikki: five.
McRoth: three?
Nikki: Dance Break?
McRoth: they copied Suju's dance break for “Mr. Simple” LOL.
Nikki: I haven't seen a dance break on a music show in ages, but LOL.
McRoth: OMG I JUST SAW MJ! Itotally see what you're talking about
Nikki: I TOLD YOU. Seriously. IT'S THE NOSE
McRoth: This song is nothing special at all.
Nikki: It's generic.
McRoth: Rather boring, in my opinion.
Nikki: And their stage presence is meh.
McRoth: That dude needs to open his vocal chords. MJ, I mean.
Nikki: From now on I'm calling him MJ.
McRoth: Me too lmao. That nose is hella pedo MJ.
Nikki: Most interesting part of the performance...
McRoth: ... was his nose. I agree.
Nikki: So creepy.

M.I.B. - "Only Hard For Me"
Nikki: Is he singing?
McRoth: I think so? Yes, yes he is.
Nikki: Okay now he is. It’s an interesting voice -- stable.
McRoth: It's an interesting voice.
Nikki: His timbre sounds kind of Japanese.
McRoth: I hear it too.
Nikki: Right? Like Arashi or something.
McRoth: Definitely. Slightly whiny, slightly nasally. I’m not feeling the rap sections. EW.
Nikki: Me neither.
McRoth: That rapper in black is awful on the ears.
Nikki: Thiis song is painful.
McRoth: The only saving grace is that dude's voice.
Nikki: Yeah.
McRoth: This is getting uglier.
Nikki: Where did these guys come from?
McRoth: iI's falling apart. I don’t know, the streets of Korea.
Nikki: LOL
McRoth: That was not pleasant. It fell apart half way through and never recovered
Nikki: My ears, I don't know where they went.

B1A4 - "Baby Good Night"
Nikki: I caught on to "Baby I'm Sorry" pretty late, but I hate this new song. Where's the singing?
McRoth: I didn't like “Baby I'm Sorry”, but I dislike it LESS than this new song.
Nikki: I hate the chorus -- it's cheap and annoying.
McRoth: The entire thing is mediocre, at best.
Nikki: What makes it worse is that it's trying to be subtle, so it gets even more annoying.
McRoth: They should have left out Baro's rap.
Nikki: Whoever he is, I agree.
McRoth: it's already an unstable song, why make it even more so by adding rough rap?
McRoth: Some of them aren't even singing.
Nikki: Exactly!
McRoth: As in they're not moving their lips -- AT ALL. This song is terrible.
Nikki: I actually liked them when they debuted -- they were fun.
McRoth: It's like eating a sour strawberry
Nikki: But after "Beautiful Target" which was painful on all levels...
McRoth: I HATED THAT SONG
Nikki: I HATED THE CHOREOGRAPHY. WHAT THE HELL. WERE THEY DOING.
8:26 PM
McRoth: I don’t know, B1A4 aren't really cutting it anymore. They need to take a good year off and think about their wrong doings.
Nikki: LOL! We need to sit them down and knock some sense into them.
McRoth: Or knock them across the head, literally. :x
Nikki: I nominate myself for that. I need to release some anger.
McRoth: The floor is all yours then haha.

Dalmatian - "E.R."
Nikki: I see potential in the song, but they have to start singing!
McRoth: I'm not even going to lie, I love this song. BUT it's not exactly the best on stage. it doesn't translate well, especially since it's so falsetto at the chorus.
Nikki: Yeah.
McRoth: They do need to sing louder.
Nikki: Falsettos are only good in small doses, if they aren't sang amazingly well.
McRoth: The chorus is good, though. This song sounds good on recording. Live, not so much.
Nikki: I haven't heard their album yet.
McRoth: O_O They sound really good.
Nikki: I should listen to it after this.
McRoth: Which is sad, because they're not showing that in these lives stages. Anyway. Yes. I'm still not convinced with them as as live performers. But it was better than last week.
McRoth: So, overall, I think this stage was one of their better lives. But it's still very lacking.
McRoth: Yeah, I agree. The fact that they're jumping like crazy monkeys doesn't help.

A Pink - "Hush"
McRoth: I don't like them anymore, they've been fucked over so badly.
Nikki: I loved “My My”.
Nikki: But this is just...
McRoth: This is disgraceful.
Nikki: Cube is such a disappointment this year, I don't even know where to start.
McRoth: TELL ME ABOUT IT.
Nikki: But it better end with A Pink, because BEAST cannot be screwed up.
McRoth: 4minute, A Pink, and BtoB. How many times can one company fuck over their artists?!?!
Nikki: Ugh Cube, so much potential.
McRoth: A Pink have completely lost their charm with this song.
Nikki: Such crap material
McRoth: They had something really unique going last year, and that all has been sent through the kpop shredder.
Nikki: I know! “My My” was brilliant, and catchy, and so them. Now they're bad at being plain.
McRoth: This is an insult to their artistic identity and to my ears.
Nikki: ...they had one?
McRoth: They were old-school, synth-pop. :o
Nikki: Oh. That identity. Okay, fair enough.
McRoth: Now they're generic nobodies.
Nikki: Like everyone else.
McRoth: this is like watered down coca cola. WATERED DOWWWWN
Nikki: blegh
McRoth: to the point that it tastes nothing like soda
Nikki: So now you're using food analogies too? ;D
McRoth: OMG I AM aren't I?! Can we just use food analogies from here on out?
Nikki: I TOLD YOU. THEY WORK.
McRoth: They do!
Nikki: And everyone can relate to them
McRoth: And they're so easy to understand too lol. Exactly!

G.NA - "2Hot"
McRoth: I still don't know how I feel about this song.
Nikki: I have the urge to throw things across my room whenever I hear it.
McRoth: It's better than "Top Girl", but it still sucks. "Top Girl" was atrocious, this ... is less so.
Nikki: They both suck.
McRoth: This one is just boring.
Nikki: It pains me so much, that I don't even want to know which one sucks more.
McRoth: lmao
Nikki: I LIKED G.NA. AND I WANTED TO KEEP LIKING HER.
McRoth: ME TOO. She has the potential, but Cube continues to screw her over with crap music. I'm losing faith in her. Which is sad.
Nikki: I've lost faith in Cube. Tt's not her fault -- I just keep telling myself that.
McRoth: I think Cube has the means and brain to do great things, but that hasn't shown this year.
Nikki: Honestly I think they only have the means to do one good release a year. Last year it was BEAST, and this year it’ll be BEAST too. IT BETTER BE.
McRoth: because that's the one group that has seen the most success across the board. OK IM WATCHING THIS MESS NOW.
Nikki: But if they don't give everyone else decent material, they're not going to get anywhere!
McRoth: I agree, they can't be biased like that.
Nikki: I hate how slutty they're making G.NA.
McRoth: I hate the choreography to this.
Nikki: And slutty in a cheap way. I'll admit, there's classy slutty, this this is sad.
McRoth: She looks so uncomfortable.
Nikki: G.NA sounds like a five year-old.
McRoth: A five year old on crack.
Nikki: LOL
McRoth: A bratty five year old.
Nikki: This is why she never wins anything.
McRoth: A five year old who is trying on mom's clothes, and pretending she's a diva.
Nikki: HAHA!
McRoth: The heels don't fit, honey. She won’t win anything. There's no consistency in her work, and her work is really effing terrible.
Nikki: Maybe that's the consistent part?
McRoth: LMAO. That's just depressing.
Nikki: Cube's trying to cut corners, so consistency is now in how horrible their material is.
McRoth: I guess they're going back to battling out with CCM to see who can bust out the worst material.
Nikki: Don't even get me started on CCM. Although “Cry Cry” was pretty good last year.
McRoth: Both companies are failing so hard this year. It was decent on T-ara standards.
Nikki: But that's it. PHEW. It’s over.
McRoth: YES

Teen Top - "Baby U" + "To You"
Nikki: I'm still really neutral towards Teen Top. Sometimes I hate them because Niel's voice annoys me.
McRoth: Me too.
Nikki: But I liked this song.
McRoth: Niel's voice is ... an acquired taste
Nikki: LOL! He looks like someone I know too, which freaks me out majority of the time.
McRoth: hahaha
Nikki: But yeah, their vocals on this one were pretty strong.
McRoth: I love me some ricky, I just wish he had an actual voice worth listening to :x They don't sound bad.
Nikki: I don't even know who Ricky is. And seeing that I like the song to start with, this wasn't half bad!
McRoth: He's the one with the glasses!
McRoth: I think they're starting to grow as unit -- chemistry is growing.
Nikki: It better! They've been around for a few years now. And Infinite has slayed them.
McRoth: What I really love about TT though, is how strong of dancers they are. They give it 100% :o
Nikki: I hate how it reminds me so much of "Alone", because I hate "Alone".
McRoth: It IS “Alone”, basically
Nikki: Oh Brave Sound.
McRoth: But that's Brave Bros. for you
Nikki: One minute I love you for making "Because Of You", the next I hate you for everything else.
McRoth: Recycling material is his hobby
Nikki: It's his livelihood. Sad, really. Their vocals are surprisingly strong though.
McRoth: This isn't that strong for me, but they don't sound bad. They're moving so much. O_O
Nikki: It's not as painful as I was expecting it to be.
McRoth: How do they have the air to sing? All this sexual frustration won't fair well with noonas.
Nikki: LOL
McRoth: They sound good, but they're starting to get outta breath. Which always happens with them since their choreo is crazy as hell.
Nikki: At least it's not has bad as Miss A though, who are out of breath from the beginning.
McRoth: Oh, don't get me started on them lol
Nikki: Hahah!
McRoth: This wasn't bad at all
Nikki: I'm pleasantly surprised!
McRoth: Me too. I've always liked Teen Top. They just need to diversify their material and stop letting Niel take all the lines.
Nikki: ...I was on team Infinite.
McRoth: I’m still on team infinite lol.

Infinite - "The Chaser"
Nikki: On a musical level, I stan Infinite. They have identity.
McRoth: I stan them on all levels.
Nikki: They bore me to death on variety. D: But yeah. THIS is how to move with sophistication.
McRoth: I never watch variety programs, so I can't say much about them there. They know how to perform, and how to perform well
Nikki: That's my basis for stanning after music. They do! So classy, this entire package.
McRoth: Definitely, I also like that their songs are NEVER OUT OF THEIR RANGE, meaning they can sing it all.
Nikki: YES!
McRoth: Perfectly.
Nikki: Unlike idols who sing other people's songs better than their own. I'm looking at you, SNSD.
McRoth: I know, right. They're incredibly consistent, and that's respectable. They're also incredibly good looking. :x
Nikki: Oh McRoth :D
McRoth: Whaaat, all of this bare chest action is teasing the hell out of me T_T And those arms. *fans self*
Nikki: Trying goes a long way. That's why I like them and BEAST -- because majority of them are average, but they make up for it with good material and conviction.
McRoth: Definitely!! I can't wait for BEAST T_T I need them back in my life.

SNSD (Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun) - "Twinkle" + "OMG"
McRoth: Alright. Sooyoung is in this one, apparently.
Nikki: Yup, she dances at the beginning.
McRoth: I'm watching that now. She's so skinny.
Nikki: I know! I can see her bones, it's scary.
McRoth: I can't see her at all in that black dress lol. I just see a head bobbing around
Nikki: LOL. Taeyeon sounds glorious.
McRoth: Alright, Taeyeon is clearly in her element. This is the kind of music that works for her, imo.
Nikki: It is! Tiffany sounds less like a 3 year-old, but she could've done a lot better.
McRoth: SEO EMPRESS RULING LIKE THE EMPRESS SHE IS.
Nikki: I don't like her on this song. She's technically on-point but she only gets the intensity for like one second then BAM it's gone.
McRoth: >:[ I have to agree, this genre isn't for her. at all, actually.
Nikki: And when she's beside someone like Taeyeon.
McRoth: She wasn't a good fit for this unit, especially with this song.
Nikki: Ree was saying that Seohyun has the personality of a potato chip -- and I agree.
McRoth: HOW DARE SHE. HOW DARE YOU TWO DEFY MY EMPRESS LIKE THAT >:[
Nikki: ^_^ She has a gorgeous voice though.
McRoth: She sounds amazing, even if this song sucks.
Nikki: It's just not for these kinds of songs.
McRoth: This song was good for about a day, then I got over it.
Nikki: I never liked it, so anticlimactic.
McRoth: YES. It leads nowhere. I’m a big 'direction' guy, and this has one, but it leads no where.
Nikki: And SM production weighed it down Like, Taeyeon has soul, but the rest of the song has absolutely none.
McRoth: i call these kinds of songs circle songs, in that they drag you around in one big circle rather than leading you to a destination. I agree, Tae Tae is perfect on this song. Tiffers sounds ... Odd.
Nikki: She sounds like a pre-schooler.
McRoth: SEO EMPRESS ... needs to slay the person who added her to this unit, because she's not a good fit.
Nikki: But none of the others are good enough.
McRoth: Maybe Sunny?
Nikki: ....no. Please.
McRoth: LMAO
Nikki: God no.
McRoth: REE WOULD MEAN MUG YOU RIGHT NOW
Nikki: SHE KNOWS HOW I FEEL. If they turned Tiffany into a toddler.
McRoth: SHE'S MEAN MUGGING YOU RIGHT NOW
Nikki: They'd turn Sunny into a newborn
McRoth: LMAO

JYP - "You’re the One"
Nikki: The first time I saw this live was during K-Pop Star.
McRoth: :o
Nikki: And he was lip-synching.
McRoth: This is live.
Nikki: Yeah.
McRoth: And he's wearing weird leggings -- it's creeping me out.
Nikki: O.O They're like the ones JJ Project had last week, only more distracting because he's in a suit and he’s old and can’t carry it.
McRoth: LMAO ARE THEY SHARING WARDROBE?!
Nikki: I think it's kind of bad that we're talking about the clothes more than his performance.
McRoth: He has a great command of the stage, which comes naturally - OMG THE BACKUP DANCERS ARE WEARING THE SAME THING.
Nikki: THEY ARE.
McRoth: They distracted me lmao.
Nikki: MY EYES.
McRoth: I was about to say ... he's very natural on stage
Nikki: I... don't see it. I'm sorry.
McRoth: He's also very awkward .. this is getting awkward.
Nikki: I never really followed JYP as a performer. Like, I watched all the classics like "Honey” but that’s it.
McRoth: lol his voice cracked at the very end
Nikki: OMG LOL it did. Oh JYP.
McRoth: This wasn't a very memorable performance. I want JJ Project back, please.

------------


McRoth: that was such a terrible way of ending this recap T-T
Nikki: Well technically this isn't the end of the recap, but JYP isn’t that glorious and end either.
McRoth: Oh, haha. I agree.
Nikki: Aaaand we're done!
McRoth: AWESOME
Nikki: YAY!
McRoth: That was all over the place, but still fun.
Nikki: That's where the fun is. ^_^
McRoth: lmao
Nikki: We should do this more often. WE SHOULD RE-START THE KPOP PANEL. T_T
McRoth: Yesss. Mel, if you're reading this - COME BACK TO US D: The panel does not exist without you. ;_;
Nikki: It doesn't. We need youuuuuuuuu
McRoth: alright, that's a wrap!
Nikki: Whoot!
McRoth: I'm gonna go eat something now, im starving

But wait! There's more! When McRoth and I sat down to do this, we also did a lot of random talking, and it would be a waste to not include some parts of them. I present to you, the outtakes!

Nikki: It better be epic. I bought "Fiction and Fact" without batting an eyelash
McRoth: LMAO ME TOO. I have it right next to SHINee's "Lucifer" album. Yes, I bought it. >.Y
Nikki: I had “Rising Sun” and “Lucifer” bought for me in Korea.
McRoth: D:
Nikki: I keep them in my shrine beside my TSC DVD LOL
McRoth: LOL. SHRINE.
Nikki: TSC IS THE SINGLE BEST LIVE DVD BY A KOREAN ACT OKAY. IT DESERVES MUCH MORE THAN A SHRINE.
McRoth: HA :P It deserves a room to itself. OKAY.

------------

Nikki: It would be painful. I can imagine it already. Sunny needs to sing age-approriate things, like her duet with Miryo.
McRoth: I think they would keep her at the same level of excruciating cuteness, though.
Nikki: But SM doesn't get that.
McRoth: Ohh that song was pretty.
Nikki: IT WAS
McRoth: She sounded so nice on that one.
Nikki: IT WAS GLORIOUS. I loved it.
McRoth: Probably my fave track on that entire mini next to revenger. The rest flew right over my head.
Nikki: Really? I only liked the Sunny song and “Party Rock”. Guilty pleasure D:
McRoth: That one was okay. I did NOT LIKE the lead single
Nikki: Eh. Hated that.

------------

Nikki: No? Links?
McRoth: O_O Let me check.
Nikki: My Name and MIB. That's it! And we’re done. Then I have to do some massive editing.
McRoth: LAMO. LMAO ok. We did not plan this out so well haha.
Nikki: It's okay LOL. I edited horrible gramamr my entire senior year.
McRoth: *grammar lmao
Nikki: Yeah LOL. Sorry.
McRoth: That was less of a typo and more of a scrambled word.
Nikki: T_T
McRoth: :P MIB or MN first?
Nikki: You gave me My Name. That sounded strange.

------------

Nikki: But the line-up this week is really packed compared to some of the others.
McRoth: I noticed. The more we talked, the more of a cluster fuck it became. So many rookies.
Nikki: LOL!
McRoth: @_@
Nikki: And I can't believe that Infinite is second to the last in terms of seniority. Oh wait. Third. We did JYP.
McRoth: lol. That's just odd. They're a 2010 group. HOW ARE THEY SENIORS ALREADY?
Nikki: T_T
McRoth: I feel so old, too, with all of these babies running around.
Nikki: Ugh tel me about it
McRoth: Dalmatian has old members though, one of them is 30 O_O.
Nikki: REALLY? O.O
McRoth: Yeah o_O
Nikki: Gahee's around that age too, right?
McRoth: 31 I think. Inati of Dalmatian was born in 1981 O_O
Nikki: O.O

[April 14, 2012] MBC Music Core Highlights + Commentary

And we move on to today's episode of Music Core. Music shows are getting more and more enjoyable these days, which is really good! And, surprise, surprise, MBC's sound system seems to be getting better as well. Or, they put someone better behind the system. Today's show features EXO's debut, and comebacks from 4Minute and SISTAR.

Video credit goes to shu35151224@YouTube.

EXO-K - "History" + "MAMA"
Looks like someone took my comment on them singing together too seriously, because now it's 80 percent backing track, 10 percent random mumbling in the background, and another 10 percent belting out unnecessary notes. However, the parts which weren't drowned out by the backing track were much, much, better today. There are still so many major problems with their performance though. First off, the six of them are still singing and moving for themselves rather than for EXO as a whole, and so the performance is so robotic. I believe I said this before, but they don't look like they're happy to be on stage, like it's a privilege -- they look like they were pushed on stage against their will. You don't need to smile to show joy, or prance around not caring about anything to show effortlessness, but their performance has no emotion whatsoever. Which leads me to believe that these guys aren't in it for the music, but for the popularity. And I'm extremely disturbed by that. And secondly, I was telling Ree just a while ago that pretty much all of the SM bands have a very obvious "lead singer" figure from the very beginning. While that figure can change through time (like Junsu and Jaejoong in DBSK), it is always present, and very obvious, even to the untrained ear. I don't see that with EXO. In fact, listening to them now, if I didn't know any better I wouldn't think they were an SM group. They don't move like one, they don't act like one, and they don't even sing like one either. All of this is very strange.

BTOB - "Insane"
I never thought I'd say this, but honestly, BTOB sound much better than EXO, because for one thing, at least they, or some of them, can sing their own song. Yeah sure they murdered DBSK's Love In The Ice, but EXO murdered their own song.

NU'EST - "FACE"
NU'EST fulfill one of the most important traits in a new group -- if you don't have good material, if you don't have amazing voices, at least pull of what you have, so much that you keep people's attention on you until the day you do get good material and you do become brilliant singers. And really, they pull this song off so well, that I had to do a double-take to see if they were lip-synching, which they were not. I have my eyes on you, NU'EST, you better not disappoint.

Spica - "Painkiller"
Another strong performance, however, again, I'm more concerned with what they're going to release next than I am the song they're currently promoting. These girls need an explosion of a song to show off their vocals!

B1A4 - "BABY I'M SORRY"
Seriously, B1A4, after a disastrous singles last year, you're quickly turning into a band I'm keeping my eye on for quite a long time! They all look like they genuinely enjoy being on stage, on top of consistently pulling off a strong performance. The song matches their vocals, and they all know how to perform it as well. Pretty good, B1A4!

SISTAR - "Lead Me" + "Alone"
To answer the reactions to my comment on their performance yesterday, there are three other members in SISTAR, are there not? Hyorin is not the only member of SISTAR. But, I'm glad they didn't lip-sync Alone today. My problem with SISTAR has always been the combination of their performances and their material, and how they can never seem to pull them off with a sense of finesse. The same goes for today's performance.

4Minute - "Dream Racer" + "Volume Up"
So far, 4Minute are creaming SISTAR in terms of live performances -- from song selection to stage presence and the consistency of their vocals. The middle 8 of Dream Racer was really sloppily done, but the rest of it was pretty good. And for a second there I was really surprised at HyunA's not painful vocals, then I realized that this performance was overdubbed and double-tracked, very badly may I add. Which is suspicious because this could possibly mean that they can't pull this song off for three days straight, which will ultimately make them lose to SISTAR, who we know can pull their single off. Hmmm. We'll see.

SHINee - "Sherlock"
Strong, consistent performance today. Very effortless but accurate and snappy at the same time. Everyone sounds good, Taemin and Onew in particular. But then again, I expect nothing less from SHINee.

Shinhwa - "Venus"
A lot more stable than yesterday, but of course, performance-wise they're still consistently effortless, as individuals and as a group. They look not only like they belong on stage, but like they love being on it, they love performing. That's something new groups have to learn and take to heart, because it's one of the most important aspects of a live performance -- if you can't sell what you have, no matter how good you are people won't be convinced.

[April 13, 2012] KBS Music Bank Highlights + Commentary

Why hello there! (^_^) Music show recaps are now in full-swing after re-starting with Inkigayo last Sunday, and today's show was full of comebacks! If you haven't already, acquaint yourself with new offerings from EXO-K, 4Minute and SISTAR before we go on to the show itself.

Today's show was actually pretty good, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear very few extremely painful moments. However, we weren't completely free of them.

Video credit goes to shu35151224@YouTube.

EXO-K - "History" + "MAMA"
YES! They finally sing live! However, like everything else SME does, it's once again a huge disappointment. I thought you guys could sing? You're even worse than DBSK when everyone but Yoochun sounded painful. When they hit the chorus of History, I literally started laughing. What is this? A screaming contest? What are you, a bunch of starving 3 year-olds during lunch time? I admire you all for singing at the choruses, but that was just painful. That high note at the beginning of the second chorus is MAMA was painful beyond words. Whoever did that should be sent back to SME bootcamp. It was even more painful than Changmin's wail during their performance of Mideoyo back in 2004, because at least that had some semblance of a note. The problem is that by themselves they're not exactly brilliant live performers, so when you put them together, it's not enough that you put six new vocals together, they also have little group dynamic, and they don't have a concept of just standing back and letting someone else bask in the spotlight. They have to learn that they're now in a group with five other guys -- they can't go prancing around like the "star trainees" they used to be, because the most important thing now is not standing alone, but helping other guys stand. It's like a human pyramid, if the guys below are shaky, everything else becomes a total disaster.

NU'EST - "FACE"
If there's something Pledis has done right, it's giving NU'EST this song. From the performances you can tell that they're not the world's best singers, and if they sang something from more vocally capable bands they'd probably sound like dying chickens too (I'm looking at you BTOB), but they got the right song for their vocals, so they actually sound pretty good. A few slips here and there, but over-all they've gotten to a point where they can all pull this song off well. I'm keeping my eyes on you, NU'EST.

Spica - "Painkiller"
I should really get to listening to their album. After the show, I will. That said, it's another strong performance today, but I think I know why that's all I ever say about them. The song itself is not really made for performance, even if it's an okay song when you think about it. Therefore, although they do a really confident and consistent job at pulling it off, and they themselves have wow factors of their own, the song is pretty flat when performed in front of a live audience, and goes right through us.

B1A4 - "BABY I'M SORRY"
B1A4, you're slowly inching back into my good books. Today's performance was strong, and even if I was in the middle of writing my EXO comment when they came on, I stopped to watch and I definitely wasn't disappointed. The vocals were consistently strong, and they're beginning to show that attitude of holding the audience in their hands. Good job, B1A4, good job.

Nine Muses - "Ticket"
Everyone sounds pretty okay today, surprise surprise, and it's a solid performance over-all, they have presence and all that, but that's all this will every be -- just okay at best. And that's what bores me, because it's the same thing every week and they're not good enough to draw us in every single time.

Seo In Guk - "Tease Me"
I usually only recap idols, but I was really drawn in with Seo In Guk's performance today. I was aware that he does have a voice, but this song reminds me so much of the Hwanhee songs I adore. It has groove, and despite not hearing the recording before today's show, it drew me in amidst writing comments for Spica -- I had to stop and watch. Well-sung, well-performed, amazing song.

SISTAR - "Lead Me" + "Alone"
I, once, again, predicted the accompanying song. What can I say, it's a talent. Will this get me hired as an A&R person now? (;D) Lead Me was done pretty well, and I liked the cute set design, plus, it's a good thing they didn't make tutu girl (who I see is still wearing frilly skirts) sing live, because that would ruin everything. Let her hide behind her backing track, that would be less painful, thank you. Now, Alone. I love the set, but hate the outfits and the choreography. And, why, may I ask, are you girls lip-synching? You can try hiding it, but you're forgetting that I have ears. Someone turn on their mics or face death! NOW!

CN Blue - "Hey You"
Aaaaand they pushed the drummer back again. Just when we were beginning to get along about this matter, Korea! I'm disappointed. And also, while you're at it, please plug in their instruments. Thanks!

4Minute - "Dream Racer" + "Volume Up"
Guess who predicted their second song? Me! It's a performance song, and even if the verses are kind of meh, I genuinely like the melody of the chorus. Volume Up was how I expected it to be, and while Hyun A sounded whiny and the leader's voice was non-existent, the magnae did a pretty decent job, Gayoon was consistent as always, and Jiyoon hit those notes pretty well considering that they're pretty high to be doing more than one or two times. Not bad at all, 4Minute.

Shinhwa - "Venus"
Now I'm sure we've pretty much acknowledged that Shinhwa are not exactly the most amazing live vocalists, but what they do in spite of that fact is what makes them such amazing performers. No one's perfect, and there were slips with the vocals today, but as a whole it was really a show. And note, they're using the standard-issue KBS handsfree mics that everyone but DBSK seems to sound horrible with. The stage presence they have, the fact that when they all sing together they sound like a whole (take notes, EXO), and how they confidently carry their not really amazing live vocals -- that's what makes the performance a pleasure to watch.

SHINee - "Sherlock"(WINNER)
It's good to know that after last Sunday's meh performance, SHINee haven't entirely lost it. Everyone was much better today, and the intensity of their presence is back with a vengeance. Always a good thing, SHINee, always a good thing.

[2011 Gayo Daejun Special] SBS - The Good, The Bad, and The Promising

It's January first pretty much everywhere now, I guess, so happy new year to all you guys! Thank you for making 2011 such an amazing year for me, without you guys and your constant pestering and all your tear-jerking comments, as well as all the trolling I got this year, I would've never been able to get through the year in one piece, and win my very first Philippine Blog Award! Thank you so much for taking time out of your lives to read my work, and even more time out to comment on my posts. I may not answer your comments, but I read every single one of them. You've made Pop Reviews Now one of the leading critical K-Pop review blogs, and although I still have a long way to go, I promise to make an effort to repay you guys this year for all your support. Also, thank you for reading this, because it means you're sticking with me this 2012!

Allow me to explain this post first though. I really meant to do a recap of the 2011 Gayo Daejuns, but the original plan was throwing everything in to one huge post with all three networks' shows divided into several categories. However, due to the fact that I want to get the Gayo Daejun post out as fast as possible before it becomes stale news, and also the fact that I'm still in the process of getting a copy of the MBC show (which I've heard is the best out of the three), I've decided to split the posts by network. Today's recap is of the SBS show, which was broadcast on December 29th. Tomorrow I will be recapping the KBS show, and on Tuesday the MBC show (hopefully I have a copy of it by then), if everything goes as planned.

The first of the three Gayo Daejuns this year, SBS delivered a solid show with 170 singers packed in to three and a half hours of running around stage. The show was divided into several themed stages, including a special suite for SM Entertainment artists (and the debut of several EXO members), one which featured CN Blue and FT Island collaborating with f(x) and the Wonder Girls, and a hip-hop stage. The SBS show was a balance of familiar, hit singles from 2011, and special stages.

But that doesn't mean it was immune to disasters, because there were quite a few. And there were those performances that could've been really amazing, but didn't really come out right. I won't be recapping the entire show, instead, we'll talk about the best, worst, and the most promising performances.

THE BAD

B1A4 - Beautiful Target
And the award for the worst performance of the night? Well, that goes to none other than B1A4. For several reasons. First, obviously the song itself is a complete and utter disaster. It's all over the place in the most spread-out way possible. You look away for a while and the song sounds completely different, plus, about 99% of the song has to utilize a backing track, because the vocal treatment changes every five seconds, so basically all these guys are doing is screaming "yeah!" and running around stage. I'd hardly call that a performance. Second, what is with that choreography? My eyes. And third, when you put the song, together with the horrid choreography, and the fact that they're actually trying desperately, it's hilarious.

Gain (Brown Eyed Girls), Jiyeon (T-Ara), Hyun A (4Minute), Sunhwa (Secret), Fei (Miss A), G.NA - "Run the World"
Oh wow. Where do I start. Well, I appreciate the effort, and I appreciate the fact that they included Ga-In (even if she forgot some of the choreography), but this performance was another mess. Too many girls, and I guess they didn't have enough time to learn the whole song, because for the majority of the song they danced in shifts, and yeah, choreography was forgotten. The dancing in shifts really irritated me though, because it really shows how unprepared they were, and it's like the performance was half gyrating all over the place, and half dead air. At the same time. It's inconsistent, three or four of them are dancing, then there are two or three just standing there on the side. What are they, mannequins? If they didn't have enough time, then they should've just done one verse and a chorus or something. I'd rather they did that then haphazardly do a full, 3-minute performance. And really, people can only take so much of that kind of dancing.

G.NA - "Top Girl"+"Black&White"
It really breaks my heart to see G.NA like this. With that horrid choreography at the beginning, those pretty weak vocals throughout, and the cheap repertoire. She's talented, she shouldn't be singing songs like this, because they do her absolutely no justice.

KARA and 2PM - "Every Little Step"
Everyone was so dead during this performance. I mean I understand that KARA and 2PM aren't the best singers around, but what makes this so bad is that it was already lip-synced for heaven's sake, and yet the singing was wimpy and lifeless. I would've written it off anyway if the vocals were fixed up, but not as much as I am now. If you're going to lip-sync a performance anyway, at least use all those studio tricks to make the track sound damn good. Such lazy, lazy people.

THE PROMISING

Miss A - "Goodbye Baby"
I adore this arrangement, I really do. It's so fierce, and it matches the melody so well. It's obvious that this was thought about. However, their vocals on this were so disappointing, bad almost. Like, really, they were weak and everyone sounded like they were being strangled all the way through. I've dealt with the regular Miss A breathlessness since they debuted, and they got better this year, but this performance was so painful to listen to. It's such a waste though, because the arrangement was really good.

After School - "Diva"
This was a really interesting song choice, but also a very logical one, because "Shampoo" would bore people to death. Just the idea of hearing them perform "Diva" after so long is enough to get people interested, but in true After School fashion, they failed to deliver. Add the fact that line-stealer Raina struck again, STEALING LINES FROM JUNG AH (HOW DARE SHE), and that they didn't do the entire song and it just disappeared into them and Pledis boys dancing to dubstep (snore..), the originally good idea turned into bad execution.

KARA - "Step"
This is another arrangement I really like. "Step" in itself is already a big performance-ready song, and there's little you can do, but I like how they made the percussion sound a lot more real as if they had a live band behind them. They didn't lose that high-energy, yet girly, sound, but they made it a lot more apt for a live performance, and the transition to and from the dance break was very smoothly done. The let down? Again, the vocals. I'm not surprised, in fact I was expecting worst, but just because this is the best they can do, doesn't mean I'll forgive them for being inferior. They can't sing live, and it's such a shame because their material is really, really good, fun, pop.

T-Ara - "Cry Cry"
If this was done completely live and pulled off just as well as it was lip-synced, this would've been one of the best performances. But no, the backing track wins and you hear next to no live vocals. The arrangement is brilliant, the dance break is different but not disjointed and they kept the distinct piano line, even a bit of the original feel of the song, but made it fresher, and interesting. And believe me, after looping this for over 200 times this year, thus making the original arrangement pretty stale for me, this is really a strong, new, but faithful take on the song. It's an amazing arrangement ruined by bad production decisions and possibly the lack of solid live vocals.

CN Blue and The Wonder Girls - "Tainted Love"
First of all, Yoobin shouldn't have been the first to sing, because I was turned off right away. Yoobin isn't a bad singer, but you have to have a certain level of proficiency to sing songs like this, and she doesn't have that. She sounded like she was drunk and singing this on karaoke or something, not on stage. But Sohee and Lim don't have that proficiency either. Lim needs more power and this is a song she can't get away with because she has an American accent. And really now Sohee, why do you even try. Her line was all air and no singing, she was useless. It should have been just Ye Eun and Sun Ye doing this, because if it was it would've been an amazing performance.

Wonder Girls - "Be My Baby"
It was a classy performance, with decent vocals and a very polished arrangement, but even if the arrangement was fresh, it was boring. Pretty piano line, yes, and if you think really hard it's actually not a bad performance or anything, it surprisingly matches the lesser members' vocals even if it's now more dependent on the melody, but this is a performance, it's supposed to really catch your attention from the very beginning. In a sense, this arrangement was so predictable, but on the other hand, had they done a rock remix it would've been boring too considering all the other rock-ish arrangements that came before them. But actually, I liked the track that was playing during the intro, if they turned that into the remix things would've been interesting. Basically, what this performance lacks is shock. I know I have very high expectations of them, but after "Wonder World", why wouldn't I?

SMTOWN - "The Sound of Hallyu"
I loved the idea of this, and I loved how, even if majority of them weren't playing live, it was made very obvious that the people who played instruments actually know how to play them in real life. And I like how the people who sang were actually the people who can sing, and they didn't force people who are dancers, not singers, to sing. Like Taeyeon and Changmin's duet. Even if Changmin out-screamed Taeyeon, she was definitely the right choice for the song. If it had been Jessica I would have raised hell. The Shinhwa and H.O.T. covers were tame, and that's one of the two reasons why this is a "promising", but not one of the best performances. The songs they chose need savage vocals. Raw, powerful, with minimal processing, but seeing as the people they got to sing those parts, although good singers, simply don't have the vocals to do those songs justice. Of course the Exo members were a big part of the thrill of this suite, but they, or actually just one of them, are the second reason I didn't put this down as one of the best performances. Towards the end, the second guy to the left of Changmin, I think he was the one who danced after Victoria, was TALKING to the other Exo guy beside him. That's such horrid stage deportment. It may not be a lot to you guys, because the standard reaction is "So what's wrong with that? They're just talking.", but this is one of the most basic forms of courtesy towards not only the audience, because they have a responsibility to give their full attention to the audience and their performance, but also towards the other artists on stage. How would you like it if the guy beside you was talking to someone during your big solo? If, this early, that kind of behavior is just let go, forgiven and forgotten, it will get worse. Trust me, I've seen it happen, and it definitely doesn't end pretty. And considering how Exo are being hyped to be extremely talented, if they don't have basic stage manners it will be a huge waste of their talent.

THE GOOD

Yoon Mirae with Gary, Dynamic Duo, Jun Hyung (BEAST), Hoya (Infinite), Mir (MBLAQ), Taecyeon (2PM) - "Get It In"+"Monster"
And the award for the best singing of the night goes to Yoon Mirae. All these idols should be ashamed to call themselves singers after Yoon Mirae, who I believe raps majority of the time (the new times I've heard her material), out-sings them all without lifting a finger, by just by singing a few lines. Backing track, yes, but you know she's rapping and SINGING live, it's so obvious, but she does it so well that to untrained ears it may be a bit confusing. But apart from the strong vocals, she has the stage presence to not have to jump around too much. She still does towards the end, but she has a certain air to her that you know she's having so much fun and you want some of it too, but she still commands the stage, and all the guys sharing it with her. This, my friends, is a true performance.

2NE1 - "I Am The Best"+"Ugly"
I didn't like "I Am The Best", but like I always say, you have to watch 2NE1 for their material to make sense. It's not that their recordings are bad, because the production on them is outstanding, it's not that they can't sing, because my God can Minzy and CL sing, it's that their material is made to show off their strengths, and 2NE1's strengths lie in performance. They don't exactly run around stage because the majority of their performances are choreographed, but they have a command of it that's like no other. It's not just stage manners, or presence, it's really a command and it shows in everything -- the way they move, the way they sing. Pair that with a very creative and accommodating talent agency, and you have familiar, but stellar performance.

Brown Eyed Girls - "Sixth Sense"
I noticed that hardly any of my favorite performances were full remixes. But I guess that it's harder to perform a familiar arrangement and still make it sound interesting. But that's exactly what the Brown Eyed Girls did. Apart from adding a few bits and pieces (literally pits and pieces) all over the place, and adding a dance break, the base is still the same. This is one of the best girl group performances, and, like the entirety of their "Sixth Sense" promotions, performances, songs, singles, this is girl group master class. To all the girl groups trying to be sexy with skimpy, but cheap, outfits, to all the girl groups trying to be fierce but failing, to all the girl groups trying to sing while dancing, this, girls, is how it's done. Watch and learn.

BEAST - "Fiction"
They didn't really do much to the arrangement of "Fiction", just softened a few parts, added bits and pieces here and there, and switched some things around, but the basic mould of the song is still the same. And that's the selling point of the performance -- it's familiar. However, despite it being pretty simple, the modifications were enough to keep things fresh and not bore people to death. It's also a very straightforward performance, but in being simple it's also very well-sung. And considering how good a song "Fiction" is to start with, it's a good thing that they didn't experiment too much, but still had the foresight to prepare for it. Like I said a while ago, I prefer a simple, but prepared performance over an elaborate but haphazard one.

DBSK/HoMin - "Keep Your Head Down"+"MAXIMUM"
Call it unoriginal, because the dance part most probably is, call it boring, because there were no significant changes to the arrangements, but what you can't deny is that Yunho and Changmin know how to perform, and they showed it. They hold the audience in the palm of their hands and they know exactly what to do to make them go wild, but they never, ever, forget the musical aspect of it all. Screaming, yes, chanting and interacting, yes, but stopping to sing just for the sake of it? Never. That's the kind of stage deportment that newer acts, even Super Junior and SNSD, lack -- they lack concentration and choose dancing, waving and being cute over singing. Image is important, yes, and they take care of that too, but they are singers before anything else, and singing should always be first priority. Yunho and Changmin are what idols should be, and THIS is how it should be done.

[November 5, 2011] MBC Music Core Highlights + Commentary

YAY! I made it through another recap! I'm pleasantly surprised with the sound and mics on today's show, MuCore is actually ahead of MuBank in terms of sound guy-competency this week! I really have been away for that long.


Video credit goes to CrazyCarrotNew210.

Boyfriend - "Don't Touch My Girl"
Well I guess their vocals are that much better than they were yesterday, but their vocals have no punch, and the song is lazy to start with, so it does nothing to hide that fact. I almost fell asleep while watching this, I'm afraid.

B1A4 - "Beautiful Target"
We'll talk when all of you go back to actually singing, B1A4.

Orange Caramel - "Shanghai Romance"
When the Taekwondo back-up dancers rolled onto the stage, I LOL-ed. When they just disappeared after a while, I LOL-ed again. That was probably the best part of the entire performance.

Infinite - "Paradise" + "Be Mine"
I will say this until your ears bleed, but I was on the Infinite bandwagon before everyone else, and I'm so proud of how far they've come, music-wise! Of course there are still members who can't sing, like their maknae, but the members who *do* sing, have gotten miles better, and really, as performers they really deliver. They have the material, some of them have the voice, and they have that unity on stage. The makings of a great band - it's all a matter of time. And more better material.

Secret - "Love is MOVE"
I admit that I was never the biggest fan of this song, nor was I jumping for joy over the video, so I never really bothered watching their live performances. I was dead wrong through, because this song is made for the stage. Secret's vocals have become increasingly better, and very consistent, which makes it even better to watch live. Even if their material has strayed from what I personally like, they pull it off well, they can sing, and they know what works for them.

U-Kiss - "Someday"
I believe that, once again, I predicted a post-album single. However, I do not have the honor of predicting that their live vocals will be a complete and utter disaster. Gorgeous song, but my God, what kind of vocals are those, U-Kiss, seriously. You've been around as long as SHINee, and they can sing something like this without batting an eyelash (and Jonghyun screaming his way though, but we'll save that for another time). I mean that guy in the glasses is fine, and the guy singing at the chorus (who I assume is the guy who has a throat problem so he can't sing that much) is great, so is the guy who does the middle 8, but everyone else, which is like, more than half of the band? Yeah, NO.

Davichi - "Love Oh Love"
Oh Davichi, you two are brilliant as always. Even if you get double-tracked like hell at the chorus you still push through and fight the stupid idea. YAY. Flawless performance, pretty song, why isn't this winning anymore. Oh right, because this is a popularity contest. I'm sorry, I forgot.

SNSD/Girls' Generation - "The Boys"
Apart from the fact that the entire intro was mimed and Jessica's mic didn't work until much later, I CANNOT BELIEVE MY EARS AM I HALLUCINATING OR SOMETHING. Because SOMEONE has finally gotten the levels on an SNSD performance right. This is how they should sound, and believe me, if they sounded like this all the time I wouldn't hate them as much as I do. I understand that their previous blunders had a lot to do with stupid sound guys behind big, shiny equipment they probably don't know how to use, but nothing is an excuse for bad singing, and if you are talented you will find a way. But the past is the past, and now you can actually hear their voices over the excessive bass! Best music show performance of this song so far.

[July 10, 2011] SBS Inkigayo Highlights + Commentary

Yay! Another recap! I can't guarantee you guys that I'll be back next week/this Friday, because this weekend was unusually light on assignments, but I'll try. Today's Inki was in celebration of Korea winning the bid for the Winter Olympics (or so I heard), so some of the acts on today had little gimmicks here and there. We say goodbye to f(x) for the year (I suppose), but HELLO TO CSJH!


Video credit goes to CodeAnalysisSeason5. Yay!

B1A4 - "Only Learned The Bad Things"
Weak vocals today, apart from that guy who sang first/did the middle 8, and I've come to the conclusion that B1A4 is better off with the uptempos. That's not to say that they're not proficient and the uptempos are a way to mask their incompetent vocals because they actually have decent voices, it's just that they do much, much better prancing around stage (while singing) - they all look more comfortable.

A Pink - "It Girl"
I really do not understand the rationale of making your voice light and incompetent ON PURPOSE. Do they want to be cute? Because it just makes them sound like bad singers. I'm pretty sure that majority of these girls don't sing like that in real life. Stop degrading yourselves, then we'll talk, A Pink.

Girls' Day - "Hug Me Once"
Can we just skip this entirely? I suppose I'd take this over Hyun A, but I'd hardly call that a compliment.

Rainbow - "Sweet Dream"
Another strong performance - I'm glad Rainbow are shaping up, it took long enough! And it's surprising because the girls who are now getting competent aren't the ones I originally liked, bar the girl who used to be blonde (with bangs?), who is apparently their lead singer.

f(x) - "Danger" + "Hot Summer"
So, this is the last we'll see of f(x) on music shows for a while. The girls have really stepped up this year, and at this point they really do deserve their status in SM. The performances are not up to par with their seniors just yet, but they're pretty close - they have the vocals and the presence down, all that's left is the command of the stage. They've not completely immune to Inki sound yet, which is why today's vocals were softer than usual, but a strong effort and a nice way to wrap things up.

Hyun A - "Attention" + "Bubble Pop"
You know, for all the insults and the crap I go through just because I like kpop, I've never been ashamed of liking it - until Hyun A started "singing". Like, in all honesty even with Girls' Day and A Pink and Dal Shabet I just shrugged them off, but Hyun A's case is more than just not being able to sing, even if I admit that's the biggest factor. It's a very cheap performance. You can argue that "but people have shown more skin before!", but it's not just about the clothes, it's everything put together - the clothes, the choreography, the song. And the fact that she's actually try hard to one, sing, and two, make it seem like it's not cheap just makes it worse. I don't know if I should laugh or cry because it's so ridiculous. I mean think about it, she's actually trying, and people actually like the fact that she can't sing. If it was just cheap I'd shrug it off because I live in a country where noontime shows are the epitome of cheap and showbiz shows aren't aware of the concept of tact, but they don't mask the fact that they're cheap. Bottom line is, this entire idea of Hyun A singing and releasing this single is ridiculous and I would like to shoot whoever thought of it.

ZE:A - "Watch Out!" + "Heart For 2"
Weak vocals on the first song, but nice try - I'd like to see a full performance of that song, to be honest. As much as I like "Watch Out!" and as much as their vocals are actually pretty decent on it (which is the deciding factor most of the time), I cringe whenever I see the choreography and the wardrobe. Of course the first songs sounds like a gazillion other songs out now, but if they can pull it off well (which, by the looks of it has rather slim chances but is worth a shot) and not make me cringe, I can manage. Basically, what ZE:A have to do now is put together all the good points they've shown so far, and put something out that emphasizes all of them - because it's possible.

Secret - "Starlight Moonlight"
Earlier this year I was THIS close to liking Secret, but I'm afraid it just wasn't meant to happen. Starlight isn't a bad song, and considering all the other songs out right now I really shouldn't be complaining, but the song just isn't my taste. Secret have turned into rather competent and strong live performers since I last saw them, which is good - even Sunhwa and the blonde girl got pretty strong! The performance makes me like the song a bit more, but not enough I'm afraid. Strong performance as a whole.

T-Ara - "Roly Poly"
To be honest, today's performance wasn't half bad. It's the kind that you know isn't the best, but it draws you in and makes you want to watch 'till the end because their vocals aren't painful and the concept is rather intriguing. Core Contents knows how to sell T-Ara, and T-Ara know how to sell a song - I'll give them that.

2NE1 - "I Am The Best"
But of course, when you talk about a girl group who makes you want to watch them even if you don't like the song, 2NE1 win over anyone active right now. These girls are playing - they have enough actual talent to just not think about the technicalities for a second and just make you, force you, to watch them. Willingly. The crazy outfits, the choreography, the song - everything makes sense, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.

SHINee and f(x) - "Hello"
Before I start, WHERE THE HELL IS ONEW AND WHY ISN'T HE HERE. So anyway. I think we learned a lot from this performance, didn't we? Victoria and Sulli should never be let near another SHINee song and should just sing f(x) songs forever because they don't sound sad. Krystal's so-so, Amber is SURPRISINGLY NOT BAD, and Luna can sing anything she wants to. But we all knew that. Key got his nice timbre back, THANK GOD, Taemin needs more practice but he's still Jaejoong v2 for me, and Minho isn't half bad. It was a competent performance, but lacked a bit of punch at some parts.

CSJH (Dana And Sunday) - "One More Chance"
I understand that they're not on this week's Take 7, but to have CSJH perform that early in the show is insulting - I'm insulted. This is not some random girl group - this is CS freaking JH, the queens of kpop. But what's done is done. Today's performance was one of the rare times that I prefer listening to the live version over the recording - even with the small slip-ups, as a whole their vocals on this had much more life and punch and body compared to the recording (the one on the music video, at least) and even if it was there during the past few days, the "we're the queens, we can do anything we want to so bow down now or else" attitude of the performance is getting stronger and stronger. And may I just say that these were my favorite outfits from the video - not my favorite hair, I like it when they have their hair down, but these are classy without being too stiff - it matches the song well. The whole performance was really like being in the presence of queens - it was frivolous but not too excessive, strong but not perfect to the point of being robotic, and a feast to your senses. My mind is spinning just thinking what it'll be like to see all four of them on stage again.

2PM - "Hands Up" (WINNER)
They're not completely undeserving of their wins, but I wouldn't say that they're the most worthy either. To be honest, today's performance went right through me. When you're not concentrating on the performance and really picking out the nitty gritty the entire thing just whizzes by leaving no trail. I was like "wait, that's it?" - the song itself just goes on and on and on, and I'm afraid their less than spectacular vocals don't really do much to help it. When you think about it though, it's an OK song and a pretty fun performance.

[May 7, 2011] MBC Music Core Highlights + Commentary

I don't know if this is just me, but I'm rather disturbed that the likes of After School, f(x) and 4Minute are the most senior performers on today's show. All 3 groups debuted in 2009. OK, I'm VERY disturbed. If U-kiss were on I might've been a bit less disturbed, but disturbed nevertheless. Mmmm. But anyway.


Video credit goes to CrazyCarrot270@YT. Some things never change.

B1A4 - "OK"
The song is SO JoBros/Disney sitcom opening song. I just had to say it sorry. Mimed performance today, so it's an instant no, but the performance itself was pretty good. I noticed something in the way they move though - they move like a less practiced, more chaotic Infinite. And I like the way Infinite move on stage - it's very clean and sharp. So not bad, guys. Scrap the miming and you're good to go.

A Pink - "Don't Know"
Stop acting like 10 year-olds, A Pink. You're a lot older, even if you guys ARE pretty young. I'm your age and I would never be caught dead singing like that. Never. Ever. Actually, some of them have gorgeous vocals, it's just that like a lot of other groups it's getting masked by a crap song and an order from their agency to act like a bunch of kids.

Block B - "Wanna B"
I now realize that the reason why I don't like this song, never have, is because majority of the song is rapping, mock rapping, talking, or the hook. When people actually sing, it's not bad, it's actually pretty strong, but it's not my cup of tea. And is it just me or are their performances a little too chaotic? Or is it the stupid cameraman trying out new angles again? A little of both maybe.

Rania - "Dr. Feel Good"
If you want manufactured girl groups at their best, Rania is it. Their live vocals are rather interesting, to the point where I don't know how to accurately describe them. The melody is correct, and I believe they're singing in key, and you hear the timbre of their vocals, but it's as if they're singing to you behind a thin paper wall. BINGO - the vocals are muffled. You know they're singing, and you know they have strong vocals, but this could be more of a technical problem than anything else - their vocals are muffled, they're not crisp.

Dal Shabet - "Pink Rocket"
There comes a time when a crap song just fades into the background and my brain just automatically shuts off when I hear it. This is that time.

SISTAR 19 - "My boy"
Now I gotta hand it to them for being consistent in their performances so far, and it's a lot better than them getting worse, but being consistent means being consistently boring. To the point where it's actually painful seeing vocals like that wasted on a lifeless performance. Now I know the song is laid-back and cool and all that, but apart from the vocals, everything else lacks urgency and/or grace.

Rainbow - "To Me"
Miming? Just when you were getting good, you pull this. And I was just about to say how much I liked blonde girl with long hair's voice. Hmph. I'm starting to like the song a lot more though. I just need Rainbow to convince me.

f(x) - "Danger"
Really not used to the fact that f(x) closed the show today. And I'm kinda disturbed by how clean their vocals are today. Partially because there was no live audience, but was this performance pre-recorded and overdubbed or the vocals mixed before broadcasting? Because it's not identical to the recording, but it's far too clean to be an actual live performance, no matter how good a singer you are - the levels are too even and it's freaking me out. Either they tinkered with the recording, or the girls are neither tired, nor do they have fans disturbing them. I really don't know what to think, to be honest, but I'm leaning more towards the overdubbing theory.

4Minute - "Heart to Heart"
Hyun A sounds a lot less annoying today, but she still annoys me. Magnae is getting better, and her hair helps too. Jiyoon. Oh Jiyoon - can't you just sing the entire song yourself please? PLEASE?!? Melodic really doesn't work for 4Minute - can't we turn back time and have "HuH" again please? But I gotta admit, that little twist towards the end was sneaky and kinda cool. And leader girl reminds me a lot of Victoria f(x) during early 'Danger' promo in terms of vocals.

After School - "Shampoo"
Sorry, I'm really not used to After School being the most senior group of all the performers today. Usually the last performance on my commentaries are reserved for the outstanding - the likes of Rain, DBSK/HoMin, Big Bang, BoA. You know, people who have been around? That's not to say that After School haven't been around, but you know what I mean - they still have a long way to go. Anyway. Their vocals have really improved, and by the end of the performance today I wasn't cringing like I usually do. Of course UEE should just go back to standing there and looking pretty (kinda) and Jooyeon is such an uninteresting and weak singer, but Jung Ah and Raina were on top-form today. Even Gahee and Bekah. New girl is really shaping up as well - she needs more lines.