Best of Weekly Music Shows: 9/30 - 10/6

Welcome! This time we’re ringing in the month of October with the Best of Weekly Music Shows, officially shifting us into the autumn promotion season. This week we were treated to comebacks by Block B, Tiny G, and others, accompanied by return performances from acts including Ladies’ Code, F.T. Island, and Navi. Business is surely picking up in the world of K-pop, but here’s my group of standouts for the week!

Block B’s “Be The Light” and “Very Good”,  MNet M!Countdown, October 3, 2013

The formerly troubled Block B made a victorious comeback to music programs this week with lead single “Very Good.” While the music video managed to catch more of my attention, I couldn’t ignore what great spirit Block B brought to M!Countdown. The boys appeared to be having a great time on stage, and sounded great to boot. Block B is a group with a lot of charisma and personality, so their live performances – even of the song “Very Good,” which I found underwhelming on the first listen – are always worth a watch. Less bombastic but just as sincere was the opening song “Be The Light.” With sweet lyrics and an even sweeter melody, it’s nice to see Block B get a bit softer. They’re glad to be back and we’re certainly glad to have them.

BtoB’s  “Thriller,” MBC Music Core, October 5, 2013

This week we say goodbye to the perhaps lost-in-translation promotion of “Thriller” by BtoB. The song is undeniably underwhelming, but I enjoyed the crisp choreography on Music Core this week. BtoB is great at giving the right expressions on stage, and along with their motions, they add drama to the dance moves and the possibly dull track.

Seo In-young’s “Love Me” featuring SPEED’s Sungmin, MNet M!Countdown, October, 3, 2013

Let me first express that I LOVE this song. It’s got a perfect formula of electronic and jazzy beats, an engaging chorus, and a rap that doesn’t feel like filler. Seo In-young has a lot of style this time around, and while a little gimmicky, I even found the pink handkerchiefs to be a nice touch. Also, I really enjoyed her backup dancers (who may be upstaging her as far as capturing attention with choreography goes). Nonetheless, I think the song is fabulous and undeniably catchy in the best way.

Ladies’ Code’s “Pretty Pretty,” SBS Inkigayo, October 6, 2013

The charm of this song is undeniable. Funky and catchy, “Pretty Pretty” only asserts how capable of performers the girls in Ladies’ Code are. “Pretty Pretty” manages to be cute without being saccharine sweet. It has just enough spunk to not be sickening. Although my favorite parts are when they engage with the backup dancers, the girls hold their own throughout the whole performance.

NU’EST’s “Beautiful Ghost,” SBS Inkigayo, October, 6, 2013

I was so happy to watch NU’EST’s “Beautiful Ghost,” my standout track from their album Sleep Talking. It’s an interesting injection of rock into K-pop, and the outcome is this really great fusion track. The choreography also takes advantage of the guitar and, generally, they all look clean and cohesive onstage. Can’t ask for much more than that.

(SBS, MBC, Youtube [1][2][3][4][5][8])