Welcome to this week’s recap of the music shows! This week saw comebacks from Secret‘s Song Ji-eun, VIXX, The Boss, and more and debuts by UNIQ, Crayon Pop‘s unit Strawberry Milk, and a few others. Wins were spread around this week, with Ailee takng one for “Don’t Touch Me” on Show Champion, Roy Kim taking two for “Home” on M! Countdown and Music Core, Kim Dong-ryul grabbing one for “How I Am” on Music Bank, and IU sneaking in the last for “Sogyeokdong” on Inkigayo. I’ve chosen a few of my favorite performances from this, but please comment below with your own choices as well!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtIZlspHIIY]Younha‘s “Wasted,” KBS Music Bank, October 17, 2014
Of all of her stages this week, I think this one more effectively captured the mood of her song. All shadows and slow movement, the setting helps to highlight Younha’s vocal performance.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br77mPWf0qc]Gaeko‘s “Rhythm Is Life,” Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook, October 17, 2014
This isn’t new, but I couldn’t resist when I saw that it was performed on Sketchbook. Every time Gaeko performs this song, without fail he is just so on point. He doesn’t need those backup dancers at all to make his impact because his voice is just so powerful alone in this song.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pJboOYPmgE]Primary (feat. Gaeko & Zion.T)’s “See Through,” Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook, October 17, 2014
So Gaeko and Zion.T are actually there to perform Gaeko’s latest music, but this was another one I couldn’t resist. The two play off of one another pretty well, and the song is just such a catchy one that it had to go on this list. It just had to.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0qRVTieCPk]Song Ji-eun’s “Pretty Age 25,” MBC Music Core, October 18, 2014
What sold this performance for me was the sheer delight on Ji-eun’s face at certain points of the performance. She looks just so happy to be on that stage performing this song, and I’m sure those heavy fanchants helped bolster her spirit. Her outfit for this particular stage doesn’t have all the glitz of some of her other ones, but I thought it was toned down just enough to let everything just speak for itself, especially since her set is already so full of bright colors. And that leg kick move is one that I can definitely do.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7SzpIgAC_g]VIXX’s “Error,” MBC Music Core, October 18, 2014
And here we have VIXX presenting a pretty darn engaging performance. I love the intricacies involved in so many of the formations or moves: the six assemble and break apart so effortlessly. I feel like that running move during the chorus would look ridiculous by itself, but when they all do it in time to the music, it looks much less odd and much more impressive.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvsgCllcNPE]So-hyang‘s cover of Michael Bolton‘s “Lean on Me,” KBS Immortal Song 2, October 18, 2014
It was Michael Bolton week on Immortal Song 2, which meant a lot of familiar songs getting reworked by a lot pretty great voices. The one that took the cake, however, was So-hyang with her cover of “Lean on Me.” She went all out in every aspect. The best part, though, was that she was so interactive with those that were one stage with her and with the crowd, always egging them on to join her in whatever way they could. That in combination with her vocals stole the show.
