Welcome back to the Best of Weekly Music Shows where we select some of our favorite performances from this past week. There were a slew of comebacks this week with Beast, Lena Park, AOA, GOT7, History, Lee Ye Joon, and Fly To the Sky all returning to the stage. In addition, J-Min, Bob Girls, and Mamamoo made their debuts. Taeyang won on Mnet M! Countdown, KBS Music Bank, and SBS Inkigayo while Beast picked up their first trophy for “Good Luck” on MBC Show! Music Core. Below are some performances that caught my attention this week, but please share your favorites in the comments as well!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGgrRoMJ6Yc]Mamamoo’s “Mr. Ambigious” on Mnet M!Countdown, June 19, 2014
This debut performance from Mamamoo absolutely stunned me. These ladies are full of confidence. Even a slight mustache mishap didn’t hinder their stage presence and killer vocals. The harmonization at the end was great. The fun choreography, catchy song, and excellent execution have set these girls above the rest; to me, they are the rookies to beat this year.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUTZEEHijg4]
Beast’s “Good Luck” on KBS Music Bank, June 20, 2014
The fan cheers for Beast on Music Bank were unrivaled. However, the styling for these performances were a bit eccentric. Nonetheless, the performance was energetic and quite entertaining to watch. There were some reports that Hyunseung suffered an injury after their M!Countdown rehearsal, but I couldn’t tell based off of his emphatic dancing.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csfDqG6JKpg]History’s “Psycho” on MBC Show!Music Core, June 21, 2014
Straight off the bat, I noticed there were a lot of one eyed stares into the camera. Those furtive gazes added to History’s theatricality. Also, the hair pulling choreography was definitely something I haven’t seen before. With a strong hook and a charismatic mystique, these boys have done an excellent job of differentiating themselves with this latest track.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCph3CLMrnY]Lee Hae-ri’s cover of Shin Seung-hoon’s “Invisible Love” on KBS Immortal Song 2, June 21, 2014
Lee Hae-ri always has a pitch perfect vocal delivery. Her ability to emotionally connect with everything she sings is astounding. She never disappoints me, and this is another masterful and captivating vocal display.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTuGY8EWggQ]Taeyang’s “Eyes, Nose, Lips” on SBS Inkigayo, June 22, 2014
The staging for this was sublime. It was certainly better than his stage on M!Countdown. The staircase lighting up as Taeyang walked down each step was a nice touch. Also, the focused lighting in conjunction with the backdrop erupting in a sea of orange hues helped to emphasize the heightened feelings during the climax of the song.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BLDXkcKpXA]Ulala Session’s cover of Kim Gun-mo’s “Excuse” on KBS Immortal Song 2, June 21, 2014
This is the epitome of knowing how to perform. There was everything in it: tap dancing, magic, quick change, stellar vocals, and a playful toy-like dancing. These guys deliver the whole package and surprised me with how much they were able to include within the span of just one song. The big band, harmonization, and strong singing from all the members was just perfection. These men know how to put on a show and constantly impress in every aspect.
