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The Best and Worst of 2011 K-pop Eye Candy: Music Videos

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Written by On December 27, 2011

Oh, K-Pop. Why are you so pretty? As much as we love the music produced by the good old K-Pop machine, it’d be useless to deny that a good portion of Korean Pop is about the aesthetics. And what’s the most aesthetically engaging part of a new comeback or release? The Music Video, or the MV. If a music video is great, it can make a mediocre song seem phenomenal. If a music video is bad, then we can all sit back and laugh at it. While JYJ‘s ‘In Heaven’ took home the honour for best music video of the year on our poll, and we acknowledge that certain aspects of it were well-made (storyline in an idol MV? Impossible!), we believe that there are other MVs out there worthy of some recognition. So for this article we, Ree and Subi, name and discuss some of the best, and worst, music videos of 2011.

Best Music Videos of the Year

#3. Trouble Maker, Hyunseung & Hyuna

Sex sells and Hyunseung and Hyuna are selling it in “Trouble Maker.” Using inappropriately appropriate mise en scene in a lavish hotel, filled with bold colors, animal prints, skimpy dresses, and fitted suits, the music video cultivates the perfect pallete for a risqué song, dance, and performance. And then in a series of quick cuts as well as graphic & action matches, the music video takes us on a whirlwind journey between a game of cat and mouse between the handsome Hyunseung and the sultry Hyuna that results in a climax of tension—both sexual and violent. “Trouble Maker” is a music video that uses the camera to enhance the aural ear candy with its own brand of visual eye candy, filled with the colors, patterns, pace, and style of the very dangerous arousal that the song itself is all about. For using the camera to sing a sexy tale of boys and girls misbehaving, “Trouble Maker” is 2011’s Third Best MV.

– Subi

#2. Love Song, Big Bang:


‘Love Song‘, the song itself was simple, clean, and had no frills attached. It isn’t something you’d particularly expect from Big Bang, but it isn’t something that’s out of their reach either. For a song like ‘Love Song‘, the best way to go is really simplicity, and the MV managed to do that whilst still adding a touch of the signature YG grandeur that we all love.

No gimmicks attached — that’s what makes ‘Love Song‘ such a great MV. There are no solo shots of the members making angsty faces at the camera, the focus isn’t on some kind of fly choreography. Everything about it is so different from your standard idol affair, and as a result it really stood out in the grand scheme of things. Whilst some fans argue that no Big Bang MV is a standard idol affair (a claim which is debatable, but that’s another story), then ‘Love Song‘ still sticks out by being above your standard Big Bang MV. There is no mirror smashing, or running from G-Dragon’s side. There is also a noticeable lack of foreign women getting all up on them in a club. Instead we have what was intended to be one unsaturated long shot of the members walking in circles amongst a smoky wreckage — representative of their lover’s death. For ‘Love Song‘ the boys ditched the bling for the most part, and kept it clean and relevant.

Style? Check. Creativity? Check. Relevance to the song? Check. Which was why even though ‘Love Song‘ only placed fourth on our ‘Best MV for 2011 poll’, to me it was one of the most minimalist, but also one of the most creative and beautifully constructed, artistic masterpieces of the year — and possibly one of the best YG has ever created.

– Ree

#1. Cleansing Cream, Brown Eyed Girls

In a mode of music that is dominated by frivolous fun, superficial satisfaction, and capricious captivation, “Cleansing Cream” gave us a music video that shed constructed artifice and instead embraced intellectual and emotional artistry. Brown Eyed Girls removed themselves from the MV and allowed a collection of story, character, and semiotics to unfold in a manner that evoke the expressions interwoven in the music, lyrics, and power of this song. Through juxtaposing montage, free camera, symmetrical and asymmetrical composition within frames, the music video sets up a series of investigative oppositions that explore several thoughts, emotions, and ideas and the inherent tensions between opposing forces. The real versus the fake, the external versus the internal, even the want versus the need–these are all things that this video, in conjunction with the music, asks us to consider. Instead of passively entertaining, this is a music video that actively engages its audience with aesthetic and technical charm and skill and in order to have us consider the root of external and internal human conflict. For delighting our minds and hearts, “Cleansing Cream” is the Best MV of 2011.

– Subi

Worst Music Videos of the Year

#3. The Boys, SNSD

I’m a bit conflicted with ‘The Boys‘. On one hand, the visuals are stunning and the girls look amazing. But what’s the point of spending so much money on a dove music video, when it makes no sense whatsoever?

That’s a nice shiny rock, but how did it get so big and what does it mean? Where are those rose petals coming from? Wow, that slow motion dove release is hilarious, is this meant to be funny? Does the dove hold the meaning of life? Yuri, you look really hot throwing sand in your face, and that is very nice sand, but huh? The execution of the concept of this MV is so poor, that stunning visuals aside, it’s a bit of a disappointment.

– Ree

#2. Jelly Pop, G.P Basic

For parading a menagerie of peroxide, chest pops, and pre-pubescent girls in front of a cheaply noticeable green screen, “Jelly Pop” by GP Basic is the 2nd Worst MV of 2011.

– Subi

#1. A-Cha, Super Junior

So SM isn’t the greatest when it comes to making music videos, I know that, they know that, we all know that. The thing with them is they use a tired out formula, and they also tend to focus on the performance aspects of songs. Which isn’t a bad thing per say, but when they completely butcher even that, there’s really nothing left going for their MVs. And that’s where ‘A-Cha‘ falls flat. It doesn’t properly capture the performance aspect of the song, and instead we’re left with awkward mirror and overlay effects for close-ups, as well as misplaced whoosh noises. Which leaves it at the bottom of the barrel even when it comes to SM music videos. Unimpressed, boys. Unimpressed. Plus, the unfortunate dance version number one, is it real??? It’s enough to make a girl lose hope, or at least it’s enough to be crowned the worst MV of 2011.

– Ree

And that’s a wrap for 2011! Whilst some Music Videos shone and really pushed the boundaries of what we expected, others fell into the pool of generic-ness and left us with a sour taste in our mouths. Nonetheless, the idols remain pretty, the music remains jammable, and all in all it was a pretty okay run for 2011. Here’s to 2012, and hoping it brings even greater things.

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  • Mer

    Don’t be conflicted about ‘The Boys’.  That would be a waste of good brain cells.  Video/Song…… hot azz mess.  Everything else I agree with.  Well, except maybe ‘Trouble Maker’…. fake sexy, not so sexy :(

    • Rai-Rai

      “fake sexy, not so sexy” … you took the words right out of my mouth.  That video is horrible.  Almost like watching two kids pretending to be grown-ups…

      • jess1

        “Almost like watching two kids pretending to be grown-ups… ”
        Haha! This is what I say about those Hyunseung and Hyuna. Can’t watch them at all. 

  • http://twitter.com/09theyglover shengie ( 쉴라 ) ;D

    why do i have this sense that you guys isn’t much of a  fan of SME artists..

    • ME

      I share the same sentiments as some of SB writers. For me, it’s the opposite. I love some of SME’s groups: TVXQ, SNSD, Super Junior, SHINee. But the company has given them some of the worst scenarios (songs, lazy mvs, outfits, remakes, themes, styling, etc…) disregard of their talents. Some of them can’t dance, some of them can’t sing, some of them can’t act – but put them together, they can entertain, very entertaining (see some live performances). 
      So, why don’t give them the best? 

  • Vi Bui

    Definitely agree with your comments. Cleansing Cream was one of the most meaningful Kpop music videos I’ve seen. It has substance and doesn’t focus on any “idol” characteristics. When  it comes to SM music videos I’m always a little confused. We all know the company has the means to make a good MV but why aren’t they putting it to use? Have they been reduced to the dancing in the box formula? When you think about their past MV’s there are ones that been better (Super Junior’s No Other and It’s You (Drama version) or TRAX’s Let You Go for example.)

  • Anonymous

    Replace Troublemaker with Sunny Hill’s Pray and this list will be perfect.

    • Anonymous

      I did not like anything about Trouble Maker- I’m still not buying the fake sexy image (the choreographed rubbing and grinding nauseated me), a lot of the MV was really gimmicky, and the whatever plot there was had a lot of holes. Pray, on the other hand, was visually striking, non-cliche, and meaningful, which you don’t get a lot in kpop mvs.

  • Anonymous

    Visually, “The Boys” was pretty but watching it makes me so confused. Nothing makes sense. The entire point of the video was this: we’re hot, watch us because we’re hot. After awhile, I came to love the makeup and the fashion in the video so I have a bunch of pictures and gifs of it but the video itself confuses the heck out of me. So does “The Boys,” in all 3 languages.

    I would’ve liked “Troublemaker” better if the chemistry between Hyuna and Hyunseung wasn’t so obviously weak. And I agree with other people: Hyuna comes across as a try-hard when trying to be sexy. Not appealing at all.

    I thought INFINITE’s “Be Mine” music videos were done very nicely, but I’m biased.

    BEG’s videos are always bomb.

  • http://profiles.google.com/jcho49 J Cho

    I would also add T-ara-roly poly as well. I thought that was executed well.
    Also I liked Afterschool-shampoo & sunny hill midnight circus and prayer.
    Just saying

  • Arbitrary_greay

    Upon seeing Love Song’s MV ending for the first time, I immediately stood up and yelled at the screen, “THAT’S TOTALLY CL’S CAR FROM THE END OF GO AWAY!” Her crash was was so epic that it ripped a hole through time and space and dropped into Big Bang’s MV. Like a boss.

    This article was perfectly written. SM know how to make good MVs, but choose not to. Thank you, fans who eat up the lazy bullshit they feed us in the name of supporting the idols. (Yeah, I’m still bitter over all of the things Sones spouted trying to defend the Bad Girl PV. I jumped ship to AKB48 for that period of time.)

    • Anonymous

      i like akb48 too. i really like their outfits in most of their mv, i swear if i had the money i would have bought myself couple of them…. u know if they were buy-able.(^_^;)

  • tegami

         You forgot SNSD’s MV for their Korean remake of Mr Taxi. In fact it really isn’t even an MV, it’s just a live performance of the girls in concert with the audio track synched over it.  It totally encompasses SM’s complete laziness and lack of creativity when it comes to their big name artists.  
         Just because those artists have a tremendous fan base to fall back on doesn’t mean  they can just cut corners, churn out complete garbage, sit back and watch the dough roll in.  And the most aggravating think about it is the fact that so many SONES just eat it all up with blind adoration.  They give pathetic excuses about the craptastic video, saying how SNSD are just too tired from their hectic schedule to learn new choreography and film a new MV.  Pffft.  
         Well what else are we to expect from entertainment artists?  Of course they’re gonna be busy with a million other things to do but that doesn’t mean they can just BS their work.  This is what they’re supposed to do, this is what fans pay them for, and what they’re trained towards.  
         With The Boys MV, at least SM put in money and time towards the video but for the MV of Korean remake of Mr. Taxi which SNSD is promoting? It’s just pathetic. Which is why it deserves to be the worst K-pop MV of the year.

  • Anonymous

    one of things that i don’t get about sme, is that they make these awesome mv teasers and then give us something completely different from teasers when the mv is release. what the heck, why don’t they stick to the teaser concept, the teasers are so good, that i actually rewatch some of them and shake my head over the osm that could have been.

    • Anonymous

      i forgot to mention that trouble maker is osm, normally i do not watch an mv more than two times but i watch it several times, i even show it to some of my friends who are not into kpop…. which is something i normally don’t do. I was really happy that they like it. I actually caught one of my friends doing the whistle in the song.^^ 

  • http://www.twitter.com/veiledheart VeiledHeart

     The dance version of A-Cha…I managed to miss that. My god, how I wish it had stayed that way. The shaking…the shaking. I feel like SM didn’t even to watch these after they filmed them. That was soo bad.

    I believe the moral of the story is to stay calm and enjoy BEG. They were so flawless this year.

  • suzy_me

    when BB’s LS mv came out, i was spazzing like crazy in YT (and yeah, i MIGHT have spammed…a bit) and people where asking me why i was. they said it was boring and in black & white. i was seriously appalled at first, i mean, could they not see the epicness of it? but then i realized they are just ignorant gits who wouldn’t know greatness even when it hits them it the face.

    a longshot – especially if beautifully done – always gets me and LS definitely did. KPop should do these kinds of MVs more rather than all the sex, boxes, still cams (overuse of this on some pointless & unrelated scenes i mean) & other whatnots.

    • Ann

      I had someone tell me they could make bb’s love song mv in their backyard. I would have loved to see it. It’d probably look a lot like a Rebecca Black video.

      Love Song is deceptively simply but it’s a masterpiece of cinematic technique and camerawork. Plus, like you, I looooooooooooooooooooove long shots. It’s one of the reasons I like Suju’s Neorago mv, the song is the other.

  • Anonymous

    While I agree with BEG “Cleansing Cream”, I don’t think I’ll put Big Bang “Love Song” or Trouble Maker’s in my top 3. They’re good, but there’re many better MVs imo. And Trouble Maker is… I don’t know, it felt weird, both Hyuna and Hyunseung felt awkward, and Hyuna’s sexiness isn’t work for me, I even prefer Hyuna “Buble Pop”. And I wonder why T-Ara “Roly Poly” isn’t in the poll and here. Personally, I think it’s a well-made MV, and the directors brought Melon trophy for this MV. I love the color pallets, and I especially love their outfits and settings. So does the whimsical IU “You And I”. As much I detest that short dresses (especially the awkward metalic-pink one) of her, I think the whole setting is pretty, and who can resist Lee Hyunwoo? Haha. JYJ “Get Out” is also an example of good MV, and I think it’s way better than “In Heaven”. People probably won’t complain too much if they win the poll with “Get Out” instead of “In Heaven”.

    And imo, one of the worst MV is B2ST “Fiction”. It’s dull, it’s unaesthetic, the group dance setting is lazy, it wasted my favorite actress (Park Boyoung), it’s all over the place, and the outfits are meh. I know I’ll never like CUBE MV except for 4minute “Muzik”, but it’s already too much. I even think SNSD “The Boys” is better, props to the outfits. But anyway, maybe I detest the MV so much because “Fiction” is such a good song, and I felt that the MV wasted the song.

    Honorable mention for me is Orange Caramel “Funny Hunny”. Lol.

  • Ryu

    I would replace Trouble Maker with BEG’s Sixth Sense. The concept and song were good, but I couldn’t feel the chemistry between HyunSeung and Hyuna at all. But I agree with A-Cha…there’s just all sorts of bad up in that MV and the dance version is even worse

  • Guest

    Troublemaker just does not work for me. It’s not spectacular in terms of style or technique and both Hyuna and Hyunseung just try too hard. I know I’m going to be in the minority but I don’t like cleansing cream either. I would pick sixth sense over it any day.

    Bigbang’s love song otoh is amazing. The level of skill and timing from both the crew and the group required to pull off a single shot, the way the camera moves so sinuously in pace with the song’s rhythm, the crisp images, the simple styling, and that fantastic end just really work. Best kpop mv I’ve seen in years and best yg mv by a mile.

    Another fave would be sunny hill’s midnight circus. Beautiful sets, great style and palette and some really hard-hitting images. And gd&top’s 3 connected mvs – knockout, don’t go home and baby goodnight. Each one was different but all were impeccably styled and shot, had some great inside jokes, fit the songs to a tee and just captured everything that was great about gd&top. Plus, there were butt chairs.

  • epidemy

    I have to agree that SM really poor on Music Video. Someone has to know them over and made them produce a proper MV for their artists. They can’t rely on the artists popularity only…As for the Best I still think Sixth Sense should be on the list. It’s a video which made me captivated and in a sudden feel the power…

    • Anonymous

      unless they start focusing on the music, i don’t think we’ll see a particularly good mv from them anytime soon because the personification of these artists is what brings in the dough. they’ll never do an mv like cleansing cream unless they’ll act in it. 

  • http://twitter.com/ryzlbrmudz Rayzel Bermudez

    Agree with your choices! And woah – it never actually sunk in that BIG BANG’s ‘Love Song’ was filmed in one continuous shot – until it was pointed out. Makes me love the MV even more, it’s one of my favourites, crisp, simple and stylish – so artistic. And although I don’t like GG’s ‘The Boys’ as a whole, I thought the intro with the rose petals and the dove, and even the music – was really beautiful and fascinating to look at. But that’s as far any affection goes xD

  • Anonymous

    i feel weirdly pleased knowing that 2 of the best 3 videos of the year chosen are ones of slower songs. a bit far from kpop catchy upbeat autotuned trends. and i completely agree with those 2/3 of ur choices. i really appreciated BEG for going ‘faceless’ again this time after their sexy sixth sense MV, which i believe should also be included in the top 3. BB’s love song, i dont know if its objective or biased-ly speaking, is the best 2011 MV in the world ;) i have never been really interested in Trouble Maker sub-unit. ive watched the video once, but already forgot what was going on in that MV.

  • Pinky

    Not into BB, but I loved the MV.

  • angelivil

    okay,, for the third I’d like to replace it with BEG-Sixth Sense or Baby Goodnight-GDTOP.. IMO, the color that used in Trouble Maker doesn’t work for me, also the concept, story, camera angle, and choreography.. for me, troublemaker is trying too hard to be sexy, not naturally sexy *Gain, T.O.P, Hyori are naturally sexy, IMO*.
    and I do like 2ne1 “Hate You” MV.. It just different than other MV..

  • Boo

    GDTOP’s Jibe Gajima should be somewhere in the top. Really, there should just be a separate ranking for all of YG’s MVs. lol

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LL4QDJLVFDT2RDIZYBALSE75JE angel29

      For the 2011 releases, my YG ranking of videos would be:

      Love Song
      Lonely (Jap)
      Baby Goodnight
      Lonely (Kor)
      Don’t Go Home
      Tonight
      IATB
      Hate You
      Bad
      What Can I Do?
      Ugly
      Tomorrow
      Go Away (Jap)

  • Windchaser72

    somehow i prefer the movie-style MVs.. something like Huh Gak’s Hello Davichi’s A Sad Love Song. they give in-depth meanings to the songs and lessons to learn. but perhaps only ballads can be turned into those kind of MVs. there’s a strange feeling though that JYJ’s In Heaven’s storyline is a copy of another MV i’ve seen before but i’ve forgotten the name. the one with Han Hyo Joo in it.

  • Lilkiki3413

    SM has a second dance video to A-cha and it wasn’t even better. I was getting a headache from trying to watch the 1st one(didn’t even get far with it) and I felt dizzy trying to watch the “zoom in zoom out” effect with the 2nd.(didn’t even finish that one either)
    I guess they thought without the effects it would be like were watching the Sorry Sorry dance video so they added it to be “different”.

  • Anonymous

    Haha, the dove. I admit, the only thing I really remember about The Boys is indeed the dove xD. 

    Troublemaker… eh. HyunHyun are awkward, trying to sell their almost non-existent chemistry. I had more fun watching their BTS than the original MV.

  • ME

    I remember MBLAQ ‘Cry’ at the earliest days of 2011. The underwater shoot was good (and half of the members couldn’t swim), sans the eyeliners (yes, some SBers asked to leave it to Gain). And it complemented the song, very much. So, when ‘Monalisa’ came out, i just got my jaws dropped so low and wondered…. omoonononono…. 
    Hence, BEG ‘Sixth Sense’ won, big time.

  • jess1

    Love Song MV – i definitely agree.
    I’m not a big Big Bang fan and I don’t check them out always but I played their MV and I was happy after seeing it. The simplicity and flow of the music video was perfectly put together. I like MVs with stories, too, but I love this MV. It’s like seeing a moving picture. 

  • http://twitter.com/00erica00 Erica Chan

    TBH I quite like TB mv. The set is pretty, it’s spacious, the concept is quite good, this might be because I’ve am a Sone. SM is known for making their artists dance in ‘boxes’, but dem props don’t come in cheap, and they’re pretty boxes (I guess?) I hate the fact that SM doesn’t bother giving SNSD a storyline (or anybody else) for their mv (Oh! and RDR <3).

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5GV4TOMKR2OCUXAHXI2BFKCAYA Chu

    I would thought that MBLAQ would be in here as the best but at least BEG got in here for Cleansing Cream

  • nie

    I just saw BEG’s Cleansing Cream MV and it was indeed great! One of the best MV’s I’ve seen so far. :D

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7L2O4SIE4APFU6CKFFQRBSP4WU »-¯`v´¯-» love »-¯`v´¯-»

    니 눈을 보면 난 Trouble Maker
    니 곁에 서면 난 Trouble Maker
    조금씩 더 더 더
    갈수록 더 더 더
    이젠 내 맘을 나도 어쩔 수 없어

    니가 나를 잊지 못하게 자꾸 니 앞에서 또
    니 맘 자꾸 내가 흔들어 벗어날 수 없도록
    니 입술을 또 훔치고 멀리 달아나버려
    난 Trou a a a ble! Trouble! Trou! Trouble Maker!

    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!

    니 맘을 깨물고 도망칠 거야 고양이처럼
    넌 자꾸 안달이 날 거야 내 앞으로 와 어서 화내보렴
    내 섹시한 걸음 니 머리 속에 발동을 거는
    은근한 스킨십 얼굴에 비친 못 참아 죽겠단 니 눈빛

    갈수록 깊이 더 빠져들어 알수록 니가 더 맘에 들어 Baby
    아무래도 니 생각에 취했나봐 Lady
    I never never never stop!

    니가 나를 잊지 못하게 자꾸 니 앞에서 또
    니 맘 자꾸 내가 흔들어 벗어날 수 없도록
    니 입술을 또 훔치고 멀리 달아나버려
    난 Trou a a a ble! Trouble! Trou! Trouble Maker!

    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!

    어떻게 널 내 맘에 담아둘 수 있는지 (Trouble Maker)
    그냥 내 맘이 가는대로 이젠
    I never never stop!
    멈출 수 없어

    니가 나를 잊지 못하게 자꾸 니 앞에서 또
    니 맘 자꾸 내가 흔들어 벗어날 수 없도록
    니 입술을 또 훔치고 멀리 달아나버려
    난 Trou a a a ble! Trouble! Trou! Trouble Maker!

    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    Trouble Maker!
    http://www.friv2.org

  • http://www.facebook.com/johnjorell John Jorell Dimatulac

     You gotta hate SM’s concept of making MV right now. I found their MV’s too stereotypical and less creative which I didn’t grabbed its hype really. Girls’ Generation’s The Boys lost its luster when I saw it’s the same quality just with their previous MV’s but with little to no modifications at all. Sorry, SM Entertainment I gotta give you a very poor rating on your MV’s.