Best of Weekly Music Shows: 5/9 -- 5/15

Welcome back to the Best of Weekly Music Shows! As summer starts to heat up the weather, the charts are starting to heat up with the incoming onslaught of summer comebacks and debuts. Girl group Moxie debuted this week, while Tiffany and Woohyun made their solo debuts. Stephanie and Kim Wan-sun made their comebacks, but the big name there was BTS, who went on to win on M!Countdown, Music Bank  and Inkigayo. Seventeen took the trophy on Show Champion, while The Show went to Vixx.

“Queen”, History, The Show, SBS MTV, May 10, 2015

If I had to describe “Queen” in a single word, it would be “slick”. The track is a highly polished jam; so polished that it sounds like the aural equivalent of silk. The all-black satin suits, the smooth vocals, the seamless choreography; everything about “Queen” just oozes class.

“Use Me”, Kim Wan-sun, Show Champion, MBC, May 11, 2016

In a music scene dominated by idol groups, it’s nice to see the older hands show the kids how it’s done. Kim Wan-sun debuted 30 years ago, and she’s still taking her juniors to school. Her ease on the stage is the result of years of practice, and she owns the electro-house track as if she’s never done anything else.

“Fire”, BTS, M!Countdown, Mnet, May 12, 2016

BTS are, hands down, one of the best performance groups in K-pop. Their energy, their charisma; they are mesmerizing to watch, and I don’t even like BTS. Their beyond killer dances are just the cherry on top. “Fire” is deceptively hard; in that it looks simple and laid back until you realize their arm waves are perfectly in sync and the footwork in the chorus is done at the speed of sound. My dance hat is off to you, good sirs.

“Attention”, Up10tion, Music Bank, KBS, May 13, 2016

“Attention” is a masterpiece of choreography, pure and simple. The moves are crisp and fabulously well-defined, in addition to being so, so intricate. Rapid fan kicks are hard, people. The formations are used to frame the solos, the  members interact and play with each other rather than dancing in bubbles. To be honest, I knew “Attention” would land a spot when I realized that the hand phone at 15 seconds was someone else’s hand.

“Destiny”, Lovelyz, Show! Music Core, MBC, May 14, 2016

“Destiny” is a song that is better when seen live. There is a powerful grace in the choreography that elevates the song beyond its basic potential. The twirls and turns provide a feminine aura that helps fill in the emotional gaps of the track, emphasizing the melancholy sound.

“Dynamite”, Vixx, Inkigayo, SBS, May 15, 2016

“Dynamite” is a fabulously fun stage to watch. After Vixx’s darker and edgier comebacks, it’s great to see them with a more lighthearted song, especially as their performances are just as good as ever. Their moves are still crisp, their energy is still up to eleven, but this a fun single for the fun season ahead.

These are some of my top choices of the week. If there are any you think I missed, leave them in the comments!

(Image via Mnet, YouTube [1],[2],[3],[4], [5],[6])