As summer winds down, things liven up on the Best of Weekly Music Shows. Familiar faces trickle in as newer ones make their first appearance. Gfriend, Winner, N.Flying, JJ Project, Dreamcatcher, Raina, and CLC returned to the music show scene in fine form. ONF, Apple.B, Longguo & Shihyun are among the newbies of 2017 making their debut. With such a large variety of idols, there was no shortage of entertainment.
There doesn’t appear to be a shortage of wins for EXO as they took a clean sweep this week in awards. Congrats to them on their amazing achievement!
I saw a lot of great stages but could only select a few favorites. If you have any you’d like to share, feel free to put something in the comments.
Longguo & Shihyun’s “the.the.the.”, Mnet M! Countdown, August 3, 2017
The sleek and chill vibe of this song matches well with this subdued routine. Considering this is Longguo & Shihyun’s debut stage, it’s pretty decent. The set design was kept simple, so the audience could focus on the duo’s performance. It’s too early to call it, but I see this duo going places if they steadily build on their chic image. My favorite part was the hammock move thirty seconds in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxYz9q_dkM
CLC’s “Where Are You?”, KBS Music Bank, August 4, 2017
This is going to sound like the silliest reason to pick this one, but it was the cheese factor. The styling of this entire performance stepped straight out of an old ’80s music show. The saxophone in the beginning pushed the theme further as the girls stared dreamily at the camera. Their stage outfits are quite unique, grabbing my attention for the oversized bows and hi-low hemline. Who says K-pop isn’t creative anymore?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecviaSgrN6M
9Muses‘ “Love City”, KBS Music Bank, August 4, 2017
Putting on a far less campy performance were the lovely ladies of 9Muses. These ladies don’t get nearly as much shine as they deserve. It’s a shame since their stage presence is no joke. This routine made me feel nostalgic as I was reminded of K-pop in the late 2000s but on a less colorful note. Their choreography also accentuated one of their best physical features — their long legs. I don’t know another group that could put on a show like this and produce the same result.
Gfriend’s “Love Whisper”, MBC Show Champion, August 2, 2017
They’re dancing in water. Correction: They’re dancing all out in water. It’s wonderful anytime a memorable bit from the music video makes it to the stage, but I never thought they’d bring in the pond. Gfriend doesn’t shy away from kicking up the waves and even do a spinning move that lands them in straight into the water. How many groups are willing to go this far for a fabulous visual? That’s an admirable level of commitment for a great stage.
KNK‘s “Rain”, MBC Show Champion, August 2, 2017
I’m so thankful I got to put this on my list. Working props into any dance routine is a task in itself, especially when they’re something as tricky as umbrellas. Obviously, a lot of applause should be given to the backup dancers making this magic happen, but let’s not overlook KNK either. Their timing is impeccable as they seamlessly weave between the umbrellas. The most memorable parts for me were the car and the reveal of each member through a set of spinning umbrellas for their solo lines. Bonus points for the rain sound effects.
Readers, what caught your eye last week in the music shows?
