It’s time for another round of the Best of Weekly Music Shows! The week has been a whirlwind of fun for those who went to KCON LA, but for everyone else, it meant enjoying seeing their faves behind a screen. While some groups were entertaining their international fans on the Western hemisphere, others were making debuts and comebacks on the east side. In fact, it seems everyone was in a celebratory mood as MBC Show! Music Core held a summer festival in Ulsan, and SBS Inkigayo showcased the final performances for the Ultra Dance Festival. GFriend and FT Island had more reasons to toss the confetti with their wins on the music show circuit, so congrats to them!
In between activities at KCON LA, I found time to compose a short list of performances that stood out to me this week. Unfortunately, I couldn’t include anything I saw at KCON itself, but that doesn’t mean other idols don’t deserve recognition as well.
Fei‘s “Fantasy”, Mnet M! Countdown, July 28, 2016
Fei exudes charisma on the stage. I love the fiery color of her hair, and how she plays up her role as a dream girl in this song. The glittery hula hoops gave me some pause, but once I saw how they were integrated into the choreography, I hated them a bit less. Regardless of questionable prop choices, I was still entertained by the essence of Fei herself. It’s hard to describe in words what draws me into her performances, but the woman is simply enchanting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoMILV39YGQ
Sonamoo‘s “I Like You Too Much”, KBS Music Bank, July 29, 2016
From debut until now, this group has gone through a number of musical changes in an effort to find their sound. I don’t feel like they’ve quite discovered it, but this song is definitely one of the few to make its way to my playlist because of their stages. The ladies are full of charms and energy, and it helps greatly that the cameras worked in unison to match key points of their choreography. Everything comes together perfectly for this endearing performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ1e8iOObbI
Vromance‘s “SHE”, KBS Music Bank, July 29, 2016
Mamamoo’s brother group is proving that talent runs strong within their company. Like their seniors, this group isn’t short on vocal skills or charisma. It hasn’t been that long since they debuted, yet fans are already flocking to them because of their sound. I wasn’t immediately sold through their music video, but this live performance opened my eyes. I may have a new rookie favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ei64Hsyig
FT Island’s “Take Me Now”, KBS Music Bank, July 29, 2016
I haven’t been a huge fan of FT Island’s foray into heavy rock music, but this song is a bit lighter than their previous release. What I appreciate the most in this performance is how it’s not heavily Hongki-focused. This is one of the few times where I felt like they were truly a band and not just Hongki with a backup band. It’s also a relief to see him pull back on the emo stage antics — enough to like the song for how powerful it is. I hope they keep this up.
Seventeen‘s “Very Nice”, MBC Show! Music Core, July 30, 2016
I LOVE this performance! While the cameras were all over the place, they did magically capture some of the better moments of this fabulous choreography. Seventeen is no stranger to electrifying stages, and this song’s title is quite fitting to the dance. I had too many moments of near-fainting and proverbial pearl-clutching to count. I don’t think it’s residual KCON feelings speaking here; they are just so good on stage that even without seeing them live, I feel just as excited. Watch the video and see if you feel the same way.
Readers, what were your favorite performances from this past week?
