Welcome back to another edition of Best of Weekly Music Shows! We’re into the third week of February now, and the flow of comebacks is slowly intensifying. Music shows saw the brand new stages of NU’EST, Rainbow, SS301, Jo Kwon and Brave Girls, while achievement-wise, Gfriend singlehandedly swept all the music show awards this week. This is a significant milestone for the group, as their consecutive wins over the past few weeks meant they earned their first triple crowns on M! Countdown and Music Bank. Without further ado, allow me to present to you my favourite performances from the week!
SS301’s “Pain,” MBC Show! Music Core, February 20, 2016
SS501 has been missing from the music industry for some time now, so it’s nice to see their return, even if it’s in unit form (SS301). Now considered veterans as K-pop idols, this comeback certainly reflects their senior status in the maturity of their concept. In addition, the black and while suits stage outfits are quite attractive, and the members also manage to be charming with the most subtle of gestures, with the straightening of a tie or a finger-heart. This comeback is one that doesn’t disappoint given the impact of the group on the K-pop scene in the past.
Rainbow’s “Whoo,” Mnet M! Countdown, February 18, 2016
Rainbow’s concept this time strikes a nice balance between sexy and fresh, and the members bring an impressive amount of energy on stage, which makes it pure fun for the viewers. The styling and set also help create the vibrance of the song, and I’m glad Rainbow are finally embracing the meaning of their group name with the almost overwhelming explosion of colours in their performance. All in all, it’s an enjoyable watch.
NU’EST’s “Overcome,” Mnet M! Countdown, February 18, 2016
Adding on to the collection of smooth sounding boy group songs in this list, NU’EST are back with a manly concept and a slow but dramatic song. Probably one of the most redeeming features of their live performances is the formation-based choreography — here are a number of interesting moments in their dancing lineup-wise, further highlighted by their impressive synchronisation and their ability to match the movements to the beat of the song. “Overcome’s” lyrics have a creative knight concept to them, and NU’EST stages certainly bring out that quality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzpRUBadCpY
Taeyeon’s “Rain,” KBS Yoo Hui-yeol’s Sketchbook, February 19, 2016
I’m sure I’m not the only one who wanted to see a performance of “Rain” live at some point, and I’m glad that Taeyeon got the opportunity through her Sketchbook guesting. Her appearance truly shows why Taeyeon is deemed as one of the best female vocalists by some. Flawless performance aside, she succeeds in captivating the audience when it is just her on stage alone without any fancy set or elaborate accompaniment, with her voice alone. Her other performances on Sketchbook, “I” and “Gemini” are also worth checking out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxC9caaop5U
Luna, Eunji, Ailee and Solar’s “You Let Me Go With a Smile,” SBS Inkigayo, February 21, 2016
I’m not sure why Inkigayo has been committing itself to special stages recently, but I can’t say I’m not enjoying the collaborations thus far. This week, it’s the power vocals unit who also performed a special stage during SBS Gayo Daejun, but instead of the sassy piece from back then, the quartet beautifully executed an impactful ballad this time around (viewers of KBS’s Trot Lovers might also recall Eunji covering this song in the drama as well). Looking carefully, the four are actually a clever combination — Eunji and Ailee with their slightly deeper voices and explosive vocals, and Luna and Solar with their higher pitched tones and lyrical singing. The four show a skillful level of control, from Eunji’s and Ailee’s quiet exposition, to the Luna and Solar’s gentle buildup of the first chorus, to the full-blown harmonies that are the final verse, complete with ad-libs and all. It is safe to say that these four would make a spectacular team should they ever become a unit.
