Author: Denise Coley
The end is year, so now we face the final curtain as we reveal the top ten best songs for 2014. As with the rest of the list, there are quite a few surprises on top. Let’s close out 2014 with some songs that made the year worthwhile! 10. Younha “Umbrella” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTVvtlfU-Ts Ten years after the original release, Younha released “Umbrella” sans Tablo. Younha still provides strong emotion and beauty which makes the updated version just as gorgeous and memorable as the original. The ending notes where “forever in the rain” echoes and trails off packs such a heart-wrenching punch,…
The beginning of 2014 was a huge shock for the EXO fans. As much as they were excited for the comeback, things didn’t go the way it was planned. After a week or two the music video was released and the group started promoting ‘Overdose’ it all went down hill when it was all over the news that Kris had filed a lawsuit against SM for not giving him fair choices and taking advantage of him. His reasons were that when he was sick, he couldn’t take time off to rest, money wasn’t given fairly, etc. I understand his point…
This week has been a competitive week for the artists. There are so many singers/groups making comebacks and the rankings on the chart have been on and off. 1) Number one on the charts would have to be EXID- Up and Down. This song was released in the summer and wasn’t very known, but when a fan uploaded a fan cam of the member Hani dancing to the song, it started gaining more and more attention. This video instantly went viral and it almost has 5 million views on YouTube, which has higher viewers than the music video. Their song…
The end is in sight with our countdown of 2014’s top songs. At this point, it’s clear some really great songs were left off, but then the list would be hundreds of songs in, and really, “ain’t nobody got time for that” to quote the Internet meme. With that said, let’s get into numbers 20 through 11! 20. Block B “Her” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0WCva5Stk4 Block B’s signature quirkiness and wacky antics provide one of the most feel-good songs of the year. It is impossible to not dance along to “Her.” The song’s addictive hook and beat are enough to propel to top-20…
We’re at the middle of the road with the music; the end is in sight! Numbers 50 through 31 brought some surprises and shocks, I’m sure, and that’s not going to stop. So what other songs made it? Let’s find out! 30. Stellar “Mask” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnROp2RyanM Stellar was another group mired in controversy this year due to their initial comeback single “Marionette.” When they returned with “Mask,” a sexier concept remained, but this time it was toned down and people took more notice to the music. “Mask” has a mid-2000s K-Pop feel backed by pretty singing. The parts where they sing…
Welcome back! The countdown continues with 2014’s top 50 K-Pop songs. Numbers 50 through 41 rang in yesterday, so who will shine today? Here are numbers 40-31. Where did your favorites rank and who is yet to come? 40. Lip Service “Yum Yum Yum” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnCAj6ssJj8 Lip Serviced earned attention for their food anthem for good reason. The then duo (now trio) showed they can be cute, fierce, and relatable with a kitschy song that quickly earned them a fan base. But in all honestly, how can anyone turn down a song with hamburgers and Americanos? 39. Berry Good “Love Letter”…
2014 brought K-Pop lovers some awesome songs from Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” to Girl’s Day’s surprise hit “Something.” But the music scene can’t always be perfect, and artists in the industry can release some stinkers here and there. So what were some of 2014’s worst?[i] Hyomin “Nice Body” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYs_GMfCqTI While Hyomin may have wanted to empower women to be proud of their bodies through good health and exercise, the overbearing message many received was that women should be thin in order to be considered beautiful. In fact, many comments on the video’s YouTube page thank Hyomin for encouraging eating disorders…
So long, farewell! We’re now saying goodnight to 2014, and what a year it’s been! 2014 brought us a lot of thrills and chills in the music industry. Despite the highs and lows, the music never stopped. The year brought us some amazing albums like Taeyang’s Rise, Roy Kim’s Home, Good Luck from B2st, and 2NE1’s Crush, and with these albums, we had some memorable songs. Ranking the 50 best songs from 2014 is a tough task because there were so many good ones this year. Rookies came out strong while some veterans faltered a little although they provided some…
Most K-drama fans would agree that once you start watching K-drama that suits your taste, it’s difficult to drop watching halfway through when the storyline unfolds. Some writers would even go as far is re-writing the storyline at the last minute just before the show airs- making it mega difficult for the viewers to predict the ending. The Korean drama production is undertaken as quickly as possible under very tight schedules. The filming crew, writers and actors spend months shooting into the night, lacking sleep, overworking to produce something good for the viewers. Hallyu, a.k.a the Korean Wave is a…
B.A.P’s Schedule Since 2012 By Vocal & Visual & TIVOLI April 01 2014 – Oct 30 2014 20140403 JAPAN 3RD SINGLE “NO MERCY” Release event in Fukuoka 20140404 JAPAN 3RD SINGLE “NO MERCY” Release event in Osaka 20140405 JAPAN 3RD SINGLE “NO MERCY” Release event in Nagoya 20140406 JAPAN 3RD SINGLE “NO MERCY” Release event in Tokyo 20140413-20140422 Live On Earth 2014 US Attack Concert: New York/ Chicago/ Dallas/ Los Angeles 20140427 Live On Earth 2014 Europe Attack Concert in London 20140430 Live On Earth 2014 Europe Attack Concert in Paris 20140503 Live On Earth 2014 Europe Attack Concert in…
On December 5, 2014, TS Entertainment finally released an official response regarding the lawsuit B.A.P filed against them for “slave contracts.” The statement released by TS states how they tried to contact B.A.P members and their families and discussed money issues, but completely ignored the main element of B.A.P’s lawsuit regarding their human rights. TS Entertainment’s Statement Hello, this is TS Entertainment. First we would like to apologize for worrying those who have been watching us with care. We bow to you in apology. TS Entertainment, since its launch in 2008, has produced groups such as Untouchable, Secret, and…
Top 5 Korean Hobbies Koreans enjoy a lot of things Americans are into. There is not much of a difference besides maybe one or two things. Koreans love to exercise, eat, and watch TV, just like anyone else in other countries. Out of these five lists, you probably aren’t familiar with the last two. Especially number four, because I don’t think there are any countries with a place called ‘PC Room’ where you can just go in and play a bunch of games with people around your age and order food and drinks while you’re there. #1 Addicted to Smartphones.…
December is here, and that means the holidays are just days away! Throughout the year, the Asian music scene brings listeners’ bubbly sounds and memorable pop and rock hits, but what about during the holidays and winter months? Asian artists do provide fans with plenty of winter cheer and have had plenty of songs to create an entire winter playlist. As you prepare for the holidays, here are some essentials to add to your holiday playlist! Ailee “My Grown Up Christmas List” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha3RwFjOg7Q Ailee’s usually powerful vocals soften considerably for a song wishing for hope and peace. The tune provides…
Korea’s coffee industry is growing rapidly each day. The market has been incredibly high for the past few years. It’s no longer about business people drinking coffee in the morning from lack of sleep; now everyone, including students enjoy coffee. Now that there are varieties of flavors, more young people are gaining interest and so are the older people. The age varies from about 15 to 60 and coffee is one of the most purchased drink people buy besides water. Now that it’s winter, the number of people who buy coffee is increasing even more. Nothing is better than a…
He Jie (also known as Angel He) is a chinese mandopop singer, who became famous after the singing competition Super Girl, in 2005, placing in the 4th place. He Jie is signed under the record label, Huayei Media. As of right now, the singer has a total of five studio-albuns, one EP and a few singles. Due to her interest in music, she auditioned for the Super Girl show, which is one of the most viewed music shows in China. After the TV show, He Jie released the cover album, ”Hands”, in September 2005, which contained mainly her own redenditions…
On November 26, 2014, X-Sports News reported all six members of B.A.P filed a lawsuit against TS Entertainment. Many fans and the media were surprised, but the news was not shocking. Since May 2014, there were rumors B.A.P were working on a lawsuit after Segye Ilbo leaked clues in a vague post circulated among K-Netz and I-Netz on various social media platforms like Naver and Tumblr. These rumors were quickly dismissed as many fans felt TS Entertainment treated the group well. Or so they thought. Daehyun explains Himchan’s absence during a concert on Twitter/BAPTrans on Tumblr As months went by…
When trying Asian foods, some may gravitate toward sweets over the actual foods in order to work up some bravery before trying real meals. That’s okay; people have their quirks. If you’re a person who can relate, then Japan is the place to go if you want to experience something different when pleasing your sweet tooth. If you like candy and pop (because here in the Midwest, it’s “pop,” not “soda”), the Lotte Mixed Soda candy may catch your fancy. Not only do you get hard candy, but you can also taste some of Japan’s pops. It’s a two-for-one deal!…
Following a nearly five-year hiatus, MC Mong made his return November 3 with his full-length album Miss Me or Diss Me. Since its release, the title song earned wins on Music Core and Inkigayo, the latter win causing a weird silence to befall the hosts and fans. Even though time passed, his scandal is still a sore spot for many in Korea, and his reemergence isn’t necessarily viewed as a good thing despite how well “Miss Me or Diss Me” is doing or how good the album actually is. The Scandal In Korea, men are required to fulfill two years…
On a drizzly, dreary Saturday November 22, VIXX stopped by Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana for one of two U.S stops. For a month leading up to the concert, excited fans gathered on the Chicago VIXX!!!! Facebook fan page to discuss their biases, share information, and plan for an excellent evening. K-Pop coming to the Midwest is a rare event. VIXX joined B.A.P, who performed April 19, 2014, as the only K-Pop group to perform at Star Plaza. With high hopes in hand, the fans gathered to cheer for VIXX. Despite VIXX’s awesome performance, many fans were unhappy with…
Weddings are meaningful and beautiful in many countries, but besides the dress and the party, the traditions are even lovelier. Korea has many wedding traditions that are sweet and meaningful (and maybe even a little bit stressful) that the bride and groom and their respective families engage in leading up to marital bliss. It’s Not Just About the Couple In Korea, a marriage is not just about the couple: Marriage is about the joining of two families. According to Seoulistic, in many traditional-type marriages, an engagement is not made official until both families meet during a formal dinner. The Knot…