Welcome to another Best of Weekly Music Shows. This week saw 4L’s music show debut on SBS Inkigayo and the subunit debut of Spica.S. In addition, T-ara, Teen Top, and 2PM all made their respective comebacks. The big winner of the week was Super Junior who swept all the weekly awards with their “Mamacita” title track. The performances below were my highlights for the week. Please make sure to include yours in the comment section!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOiu9QZJKmw]Park Ae-ri and Poppin’ Hyun-joon’s cover of Lee Jin-kwan’s “Life is Incomplete,” KBS Immortal Song 2, September 13, 2014
This is probably one of the strangest combinations of genre and dance that I have seen in a while, but it surely was also one of the most entertaining ones too. It starts off as a normal rendition of a trot song before the performance adds on break dancers. As it slowly takes a 180 degree turn with the dubstep instrumental kicking in, all my expectations were shattered. Featuring Madd Chadd, break dancers, fan dancing, and an old school songstress, make sure to check out this awesome collaborative theatrical performance.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8TzZGVFMn4]
Teen Top’s “Missing,” KBS Music Bank, September 12, 2014
6 members, 3 chairs, one golden mic stand. The set up is rather odd, but somehow the members make it work. I was initially taken aback by the disproportionate number of props which made the performance feel disjointed at times. I guess that’s the one thing that startles me about Teen Top – how unabashedly the company decides to push Niel to the forefront. Whether it’s during his solo runs or when he is singled out with the solitary golden hat and mic stand, the dynamic feels unbalanced.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1V9_biEyAA]Kara‘s “Mamma Mia,” MBC Show! Music Core, September 13, 2014
I have to put Kara on the list this week. The waacking dance elements were a great choice for this discoesque synth pop number. The performance is well staged to give each member a moment to shine during their individual parts. The red colored outfits during Music Core really makes them pop on stage.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X-Pyc4BOIs]2PM’s “Go Crazy!” on MBC Show! Music Core, September 13, 2014
2PM know how to put on a performance. This comeback in particular is infused with a jumpy, idiosyncratic energy. In fact, the boys are bouncing around everywhere – on the floor, piggyback on top of one another, on each others’ shoulders, in a vertical line, etc. They look like they are having a blast flailing about on stage. True to the title, the guys are having a crazy, fun time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7iPOFtL3cU]Puer Kim‘s “Bank,” Mnet M!Countdown, September 11, 2014
Puer Kim has quite the distinctive vocal character. With “Bank,” her voice is tantalizingly playful and shows off her versatile instrument. Everything about her stage is very simplistic, and she seems rather small in front of the large grandfather clock display in the background. However, the focus is clearly on her voice. Her animated facial expressions and confident vocal delivery make “Bank” stand out amongst her counterparts that favor a busier performance.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRHOHOrhYc]Jay Park‘s “So Good,” SBS Inkigayo, September 14, 2014
Sporting an iconic red jacket and a TLC shirt, Jay Park caught my attention right away. This performance was a mixed one for me. I like the funkiness and choreography, but I found the lack of live singing during the chorus to be distracting. While I appreciate the fact that Jay isn’t miming — and in effect deceiving the audience, perhaps Jay should consider adding some live backup singers to infuse those choruses with some live phonic energy.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgUY7TbfRWc#t=96]Spica.S’s “Give Your Love,” MBC Show! Music Core, September 13, 2014
There seems to be a trend of female quartets going around. Luckily for Spica.S, they function well as a foursome – definitely a lot better than I anticipated. To be fair to the group, each member can vocally hold their own, but I wasn’t sure if their chemistry would remain intact without Kim Boa. Narae does a solid job playing second fiddle behind Bohyung, who is oozing with confidence and charisma. All the girls do a solid job of executing their sensual dance in flesh colored outfits, and their singing does not falter either.
