Bust out the water balloons and popsicles because it’s time for the Best of Weekly Music Shows! This week certainly wasn’t lacking in excitement with the airing of KCON NY on Mnet‘s M! Countdown. Gu9udan made their debut while project group Unnies put on special performances. We also saw the return of Taeyeon, Astro, Sonamoo, Brave Girls, Melody Day, and Romeo.
Exo almost had a clean sweep of awards, but Sistar took first place trophies for “I Like That” on MBC Show Champion and SBS Inkigayo. Congratulations to both groups!
There were a lot of great stages, but only a select few stood out strongly to me. Of course, this is just a list of my favorites, so feel free to add your own in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoVc8n-pxxA
Taeyeon’s “Why”, KBS Music Bank, July 1, 2016
This is quite a departure from the ballads we’re used to seeing from SNSD‘s leader. The retro pop tune is given an extra boost of coolness with choreography that highlights the electronic synth melody. Because I’m so accustomed to Taeyeon singing slower songs, it was rather nice watching her groove with backup dancers for an upbeat song. This direction may not work for all SM artists, but it doesn’t appear to be hurting Taeyeon one bit. If anything, it just made her more interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS2i3NNCrPI
Ailee and Eric Nam‘s cover of “Some”, Mnet M! Countdown, June 30, 2016
I’m doing my best not to be jealous of those who attended KCON NY, but when you see performances like this through a screen, you can’t help it. It must have been so electrifying to witness this adorable collaboration live. It also must have been extra exciting for Ailee and Eric to perform in their home country in front of fans. Their interaction is so cute that I almost wanted to hug the screen. Maybe fans will be treated to more collaborations between the duo in the future.
Melody Day’s “Paint Your Love”, MBC Show! Music Core, July 2, 2016
Having watched countless hours of ballad performances, there is usually a formula that favors chairs over any level of choreography. Thankfully, Melody Day strays from that pattern with their simple yet elegant routine. Their song sounds quite nostalgic, which matches the mood of their movements perfectly. It doesn’t hurt that the ladies harmonize beautifully together. The song may not be that musically original, but I’ll take this over any quartet doing vocal run battles against each other on stage.
Romeo’s “Miro”, MBC Show Champion, June 29, 2016
If anything can bolster a group’s visibility, it’s sharp choreography. The group also needs the talent and charisma to hook the audience, which Romeo clearly possesses here. The bright and infectious tune is fresh enough for the summer and is aided greatly by the energetic routine. I love the transitions between the formations, and how cleanly Romeo executes their moves. They can steadily grow in popularity if they continue putting out solid stages like this one.
Babylon‘s “Crush on You” featuring Lil Boi, MBC Show Champion, June 29, 2016
Imagine if you combined G.Soul‘s R&B vocals with Jay Park‘s swagger and dropped a dash of Dean‘s sensuality into the mix. That was my first impression of this singer. His smooth voice instantly captivated me with its silky texture. I expected there to be a series of unnecessary runs and exaggerated facial expressions, but Babylon kept it simple. Why can’t all R&B singers do this? Emoting a song doesn’t require going overboard, and I appreciate Babylon understanding that basic principle of music.
Readers, did you enjoy my picks for the week? Did you have other favorites? Share them with everybody!
