My favorite songs of the year, #10-6.
Onwards for part 2!
#10: Sunny Hill—“The Grasshopper Song”
This song and its catchy chorus grew on me a bit, but I knew right away that I would like it once I heard that gorgeous violin. That “ring-a-ling-a-ling” part never gets old. Couple that with a cool and meaningful and totally gorgeous music video (though a bit overly talky for me at the beginning), and I’m not sure how this wasn’t nominated for a music video Mnet Asian Music Award.
Can’t wait until Janghyun returns from his military service, but in the meantime the four ladies are still producing great music—check out their “Princess and Prince Charming” as well.
I did a full review of this music video at this link.
Boyfriend’s one-liner:
“First attempt at escape—no hat. Get thrown out on butt. Second attempt at escape: hat + umbrella. Success!”
#9: B.A.P—“Warrior”
What. A. Debut. This song has serious swag, from Yongguk’s deep rapping in the beginning to Zelo’s crazy fast-paced section (he even has to fake-pause for breath, lol!) with a wonderfully aggressive chorus and Daehyun’s great climactic high-note in the song. Love it. I am, however, beginning to be concerned with how many of my favorite songs have well-timed gunshot sound effects and gestures in them…
I did a full review of this music video at this link.
Also check out their songs “Power” and “No Mercy,” which came out this year and were very good!
Boyfriend’s one-liner:
“All those skulls but no Hamlet reference? For shame!”
#8: Teen Top—“Be Ma Girl”
Okay, okay, so maybe the English is a bit lame (L.Joe’s “I wanna love you all day, wanna love you all night”)—but at least it’s grammatically accurate—and maybe it’s a bit whiny at times, but damn, I love this song. The “ooh, oohs” mixed with the Spanish guitar feel make this one of my most re-listenable songs this year.
Boyfriend’s one-liner:
“I wish I could go glow-bowling, but I have too much dandruff. :(” Too much info, I think…
#7: SNSD—“Paparazzi”
Ah, SNSD, how I love your music. It tends to grow on me like nobody’s business. I feel like this song is one of the most self-reflective in SNSD’s repertoire, basically about the group’s relationship with the paparazzi and how they are always watched, with lines such as (translated) “Life is a party: the more damage it causes, the more it sells.” I think the song does a pretty good job at portraying how the girls’ lives might be filled with glamor and car chases and crazy nights, but there is a dark side in the form of having to avoid rumors and the press—the price of fame and all that. I do think the girls’ lives might be more frustrating and lonely than this song can necessarily portray, but I admire it for trying, at least. Listening to a song about being bored stuck in a hotel because the press are milling around everywhere maybe isn’t as interesting.
I love the mix of old-timey and modern trappings in the music video (“Singing in the Rain” and burlesque costumes interspersed with pictures of the girls dealing with the press at the airport), showing how their lives are always on view to the public: they’re basically always on stage. The newspaper at the end is even called the “Weekly Exploitation Press,” and you don’t get more obvious a message than that.
The song itself is more modern, but it does have the “ooh la la la” parts that are so pretty—and the “ra ta ta” bit that I associate with 2NE1’s “I Am the Best.” So I guess I just like gibberish? But when it’s catchy how can I resist? The chorus is very exciting, and I love how the “boom, boom, boom” parts are timed with Tiffany and Yoona’s picture-like hand gestures in the video.
(The boyfriend wishes to express his displeasure at the police siren sound effects in this song, which alarmed him when we played this while driving.)
Boyfriend’s one-liner:
“How on earth does it never actually rain in this music video?”
#6: Block B—“NanlinA”
So Block B has made it to this list not once but twice (you will see tomorrow!), which really surprises me, but what can I say? When something is as catchy and badass as this, I will tend to love it. And they were great this year, despite some controversial behavior during an interview in Thailand back in February, for which the boys later apologized.
But let me tell you, you can behave as badly as you want, as long as you keep releasing songs like this. Catchy, memorable, danceable, manly, and overall fun, with just fantastic choruses and members who are musically giving their all: yeah, that works for me. Zico growling will always be sexy to me (“rrrah!”). I think the only things I didn’t like in the song were the high-pitched electronic “We rockin’ now” line, the “googoo, gaga” bits, and U-Kwon’s confusing “I don’t know, but I’m hot” line.
I did a full review of this music video at this link.
Boyfriend’s one-liner:
“If you’re going to be in a badass gang, it’s probably more practical to wear contacts instead of glasses…” (Oh, TaeIl.)
Next up tomorrow, songs #5-1! :)
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thanks for posting
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thanks
Hey, thanks for your comment. I did just post a review of Hyuna's "Ice Cream", but I just post reviews of music videos, not Kpop gossip. Though it is interesting to read! :)
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