Welcome to Best of Weekly Music Shows. This week featured comebacks from FT Island, K.Will, Crayon Pop, NC.A and Laboum. Red Velvet won on both KBS Music Bank and SBS Inkigayo. Shinhwa received the trophy on Mnet M!Countdown for “Sniper,” and Boyfriend got number one on SBS The Show for “Bounce.” MBC Show! Music Core was not aired as the baseball season returned this weekend. These were my picks for the week, and please do comment with your favorites below!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHNcA8Xs3C4]FT Island’s “Pray” on KBS Music Bank, March 27, 2015
FT Island are amazing. I would love to see their live show because even while preoccupied by playing their instruments, they possess a magnetic stage energy. “Pray” is charged with ferocious drums from Choi Min-hwan leading up to the desperate choruses where the lyrics are about pleading with God to hear them. Lee Hong-ki is commanding when he uses his whole body to sing, and it is absolutely captivating.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1FGuQYachA]Ga-in‘s “Apple” feat. Amber from f(x) on SBS Inkigayo, March 29, 2015
Ga-in’s solo material is always top notch, and her latest mini album may be my favorite from her to date. “Apple” has grown on me with its whimsical production. It has a throwback sound with a modern twist. Ga-in delivers on all fronts, and this performance featuring Amber was just fun to watch.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ4T0m-ysSg]Red Velvet’s “Ice Cream Cake” on SBS Inkigayo, March 29, 2015
Honestly, “Ice Cream Cake” is not my personal taste. However, these girls are quite in sync and have strong stage presence as a quintet. They are all hitting the beats with their movement and seem united as a unit. That is the impressive part about them — their dynamic as a group enhances their performance output.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqJSB5znx_I]Shinhwa’s “Sniper” on Mnet M!Countdown, March 26, 2015
Speaking of teamwork, Shinhwa continues to be superb with their “Sniper” promotions. Their group dynamic is a perfection bred from years of working together. The choreography is mature and well executed. The staging and use of back up dancers enhances the groove they have going on in this song.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkfeIf1yJ6c]K.Will’s “Our Song” and “Growing” on KBS Music Bank, March 27, 2015
K.Will’s voice is smooth. “Our Song” has a more intriguing dance performance (but unfortunately, we only get to see a little over a minute of it here). I also prefer the mid-tempo beat compared to the slow ballad, “Growing.” That is not to say that “Growing” isn’t a good song. K.Will’s vocal prowess is on full flight. He has an innate ability to emote and navigate from his full voice to falsetto, which makes any ballad he performs a pleasant listen.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW5EAhIA2Ts]Stellar‘s “Fool” on SBS The Show, March 24, 2015
Stellar took me by surprise. They were very confident in their performance, and “Fool” is a great tune. The production and instrumentation to the song is very well done. The chorus with the “doo doo doo boo doo baa” melody is extremely catchy, and these ladies delivered it in style.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmwpP8Q0ZE0]Cherry Filter‘s cover of Deul Guk-hwa‘s “It’s Only My World” on I Am A Singer 3, March 27, 2015
The rawness behind Cho You-jeen‘s vocals is what sets this band apart. When she sings, it is pure emotion that isn’t limited to the prettiness of the notes but possesses a sheer grit to it. The band is excellent as well — building the tension and setting up the climactic vocal barrage at the end. Cherry Filter are a whirlwind of artistry just exploding with passion from the depths of their soul.
