Best of Weekly Music Shows: 11/25 - 12/1

We’re ringing in the last month of the year with another installment of the best performances of week! Over the last seven days we’ve seen return performances from acts like Miss A, 2NE1, and VIXX, along with debut performances from Hyorin, Tasty, and M.I.B. We also said goodbye to Trouble Maker, as 2NE1 and Lee Juk took home weekly prizes. Unfortunately, “Mnet M!Countdown” didn’t air due to the MAMAs once again, but here’s a sample of what stood out this week. Be sure to add your personal favorites in the comments!

Hyorin’s “Lonely” and “One Way Love”, KBS Music Bank, November 29, 2013

Anticipation for Hyorin’s solo debut has been high, especially since her central role in SISTAR only emphasizes how capable she could be as a solo star. For her debut stage this week, she performed “Lonely,” a sweet and airy ballad complete with acoustic guitar. The song is nice, Hyorin has some moments to shine vocally on it, but the star of the show is “One Way Love.” While the song fits in well with SISTAR’s catalogue, it gives Hyorin the opportunity to show everything she can do. Her vocals are incredibly strong, but so is her dancing. She even raps briefly, without it seeming awkward or too unplaced. I also enjoyed her backup dancers, who provided great visuals while still making Hyorin the focal point.

V.O.S.’s “Fail to Understand,” KBS Immortal Song, November 30, 2013

This week honored singer Park Sang Min, and V.O.S. performed a cover version of “Fail to Understand” for the Immortal Song audience. The song is a fun listen, aided by the pickup in pace after a jazzy mid-tempo start. The harmonies between the V.O.S. members attracted by attention with their smoothness, and the whole performance gives vibes of grandiose showtunes. Nine Muses’s Euaerin also appears for a quick rap before joining in on the dancing.

Miss A’s “Hush,” SBS Inkigayo, December 1, 2013

Miss A has been a real treat to watch during their current promotions. Every performance of “Hush” really feels like a show, captivating to watch and listen to. The ladies proved that the right material can really come alive onstage, and I’ve enjoyed watching the live performances far more than I could ever enjoy the music video or listening to the song alone, a testament to Miss A’s skills.

VIXX’s “Voodoo Doll,” MBC Music Core, November 30, 2013

It’s a shame that VIXX’s performance was cut because “Voodoo Doll” is unbelievable to watch. After having to edit the choreography, the boys have been making the best of a bad situation, and every member captures the creepiness of the song and choreography onstage. With each comeback, VIXX shows just how strong they are at creating a powerful stage.

Trouble Maker’s “Now,” MBC Music Core, November 30, 2013

Alas, it’s time to bid farewell to Trouble Maker‘s promotions for “Now.” They finished strong on Music Core this week. Although their chemistry is a point of debate among K-pop fans, I see a lot of teamwork between Hyuna and Hyunseung onstage: they seem like they’re truly working for the benefit of the other person and aren’t moving as two discrete units simply dancing and singing at the same time. They’re precisely why we should see more co-ed idol team-ups in K-pop.