Welcome back to Best of Weekly Music Shows! There were a number of artists making their return to the stage this week including Han Dong-geun, Kim Young-chul, Lovelyz, Navi, Young Cream, Psy, and the Unnies. The Show and Show Champion did not air this week. Among the other music shows, IU received top honors on Inkigayo. Sechskies won first place on Music Bank and Show! Music Core, and Hyukoh received the winner’s trophy on M! Countdown.
Without further ado, here are the performances that stood out to me this week.
Day6’s “I Wait” EBS Space, May 11, 2017
Day6’s full set on EBS Space is worth watching if you enjoy Day6’s music even remotely. The band has really grown and come into their own this year with their Every Day6 project. They have expanded their horizons from a band singing songs of heartbreak to one that can do just about anything. I love the driving energy of “I Wait,” and Day6 are rockstars here. These guys are vocal powerhouses, and I really hope they get a lot more recognition for the depth of their talent as this yearlong promotional project continues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsNtdaQGXbY
IU’s “Ending Scene,” MBC Picnic, May 11, 2017
IU’s performances on Picnic are an absolute delight to watch and listen to. As she makes her way through her four song set, you’ll notice the slight changes in arrangement; she gives her audience another look at her music, and that’s the beauty of it. The intimate setting and ambient lighting are also aligned with the tone of the performances. I chose to highlight “Ending Scene” as I don’t think she has performed this live yet. This gorgeous ballad, produced by Sam Kim and backed by piano (and live band), carries a hefty weight in emotion. IU’s voice has a vulnerable resolve which makes the delivery all the more captivating to take in.
Hyukoh’s “Tokyo Inn,” Arirang I’m Live, May 11, 2017
Hyukoh’s latest album continues to show the growth and maturity of the band. They played a 6 song set on I’m Live, and I’m always stunned by how well their recorded songs translate to their live performances. I would go so far to say that their live performances are more appealing to me because they carry a great energy to them. The emotional connection in their lives are brought to the forefront with Oh Hyuk’s unique vocal tone, and there’s this extra essence that fills up the atmosphere when they are performing in front of an audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFsWkvVudg4
Jonghyun’s “Deja Boo,” KBS Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook, May 13, 2017
Jonghyun showed up on Sketchbook this week and sang “Deja Boo.” This reminded me of his smooth, clear vocal power which really carried the song. His rapping rhythm wasn’t bad either. “Deja Boo” seems to be an exciting tune to perform live with the dancing and groovy song feeling like natural fit for Jonghyun. Altogether, it was great to see Jonghyun own the stage and have a little fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz-1vMzfOJI
Psy’s “New Face,” SBS Inkigayo, May 14, 2017
Psy has been especially intriguing artist to watch post-“Gangnam Style.” After a couple of follow up releases that aimed to extend the catchy, viral phenomenon; with this latest release, I believe Psy has found his way back to his roots. Even before “Gangnam Style,” he’s been known for these anthemic productions that have a note of satire to them. “New Face” carries on this tradition without sounding derivative, and Psy always carries out a live performance with just the right amount of confidence –that borders on arrogance but seems fitting for his image and music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh-cYHkO0bY
Unnies’ “Right?,” KBS Music Bank, May 12, 2017
The Unnies have come back, and they’ve completely revamped their lineup. After dropping their previous main vocals, rapper, and visual, they’ve added 5 new members – included I.O.I’s Somi, trot singer Hong Jin-young, former 2NE1 member Minzy, former vocal major/actress Yewon, and model/actress Han Chae-young. Given all the changes, the group dynamics have shifted significantly, but they are back with a youthful and pop-infused song that’s ripe for the summer time period. While this season was solely focused on crafting a girl group, their project really nailed what it takes to make a successful group. All the pre-release hype has helped to get them to the top of the charts, and their energetic song and dance is just the cherry on top.
