Welcome to this week’s edition of Best of Weekly Music Shows! October has really been gaining momentum with some great music releases and performances. This week we saw the debut of JYP‘s latest girl group Twice and the return of Topp Dogg and N.Flying.
Taeyeon continued to rake in the trophies with “I,” but BtoB also took home their first number one win on Show Champion for “Way Back Home.”
Here are my picks for best performances of the week — don’t forget to leave your own in the comment section below!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYkGpOeqp4g]
“Like Ooh-Ahh,” Twice. Mnet M!Countdown, October 22, 2015.
Twice may be one of my favorite girl groups so far this year. Appearing on MNet isn’t anything new for the group, following the survival show Sixteen, but there was something so satisfying about watching the ladies make their long awaited debut. Not only is the track catchy, but the members of Twice have nailed their individual charms and present them so well on stage. There’s very little that’s ‘rookie’ about their debut performance, but I’m hoping we’ll see even more entertaining stages in the future. Also, the Halloween decorations are perfect.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bQsap8yTG0]“A Million Pieces,” Kyuhyun, M!Countdown, October 22, 2015.
Kyuhyun is back! Generally, ballads hold little appeal to me. Yet, something about Kyuhyun’s voice pulls me into each of his performances on an emotional level. The MV for “A Million Pieces” may not have made perfect sense, but Kyuhyun is able to communicate the intended story of the song with his voice alone. His vocals are wonderfully smooth, with beautifully executed high notes that he makes look easy. SM soloists are on a roll this month, and I’m loving it.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQgE_ZExCNI]“Closer,” Oh My Girl, MBC Show! Music Core, October 24, 2015.
The stages keep getting simpler for performances of “Closer,” but that hasn’t stopped Oh My Girl from maintaining the mesmerizing, almost fantastical feeling the track gives off. The choreography is executed with a crisp precision, but the moves never feel robotic as the members flow between the different formations. Comparing performances of “Closer” to their debut release “Cupid,” it’s clear that the young women of Oh My Girl are capable of embodying multiple concepts while still drawing the audience in each time.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk3_cCLzX7A]“Nothing,” U Sung Eun, MBC Show! Music Core, October 24, 2015.
U Sung Eun’s comeback has been one of the quieter returns this month, and it’s a little disappointing that “Nothing” has been overshadowed by some bigger name comebacks. U Sung Eun’s voice shines in this performance, with a mature and polished stage presence to match. “Nothing” is a bittersweet track, and U Sung Eun is able to convey the balance of sweetness and pain perfectly on stage.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4TB5-LHaGM]“The Beat,” Topp Dogg, SBS Inkigayo, October 25, 2015.
Topp Dogg is back with “The Beat” and without a few original members. Nonetheless, their Inkigayo stage this week is packed with energy that reminds us exactly how much the members enjoy being on stage and performing for an audience. I also like that the styling was a bit more toned down for this performance compared to the wild array of colors and styles present in the track’s MV. “The Beat” may not be their strongest title track, but, watching Topp Dogg stages, I can’t help but see the potential the group has.
Readers, what performances stood out for you this week?
