Best of Weekly Music Shows is back! Remnants of summer’s sizzling heat can still be felt through these early fall performances. Everyone still wants to party it up before final magic hours of the sunny season. It appears that September is a popular month for comebacks as EXO, B.A.P, Lee Gikwang, and Pentagon seem eager to return to the music show scene. We also saw the debut of MXM, featuring former Produce 101 contestants Im Young-min and Kim Dong-hyun. The boys of K-pop are most definitely back!
If you’re wondering what happened to MBC Show! Music Core, it has been put on indefinite hiatus due to the MBC producers’ strike. No word yet on what will fill in that time slot, but hopefully, things will work themselves out.
On a more positive note, Sunmi finished up her “Gashina” promotions with a winning streak. Congratulations to her!
I’ve picked a handful of performances that were my favorites from the past week. These are just my selections, but we welcome readers to chime in with theirs in the comments below.
Jeong Sewoon‘s “Just U”, Mnet M! Countdown, September 7, 2017
If Jeong Sewoon had followed the same path as other ballad singers who play guitar, we might not have gotten this gem from him. From the moment he approaches the mic, you can tell he’s been waiting for this moment ever since his Produce 101 appearance. The thing I’m loving most about the former contestants is how relaxed and confident their stages are. Jeong Sewoon has a buttery voice that melts in my ears. I didn’t understand why he needed his guitar if he wasn’t playing it, but I appreciate him dancing with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpoJY2asMns
DIA‘s “Can’t Stop”, KBS Music Bank, September 8, 2017
A lot of students are back in school, and this song suits the occasion. The innocent school girl concept isn’t new, but I can’t overlook this choreography. It’s simply fun. The red ribbon came into play a couple of times, making me instantly think of double dutch jump roping. The girls move seamlessly through each other and come together as a big ole ball of fluff, figuratively speaking. It makes me smile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVQwPnnd3Bg
B.A.P’s “Honeymoon”, KBS Music Bank, September 8, 2017
First of all, I’m thankful that Jongup ditched the mullet for the live stages. Secondly, I prefer the fan chants over that infernal whistle that plays throughout their other performances. Third, I love the blue color scheme of the set and their costumes, which made the floor fog ten times more dramatic and heavenly. Fourth, if I’m keeping it a hundred, I stared at Jongup the entire time because he’s my bias, and he looked so hot in that shirt. Lastly, I need everyone to replay the moment two and a half minutes in when Yongguk finger combs his black hair back while rapping. Do it for your soul.
Good Day‘s “Rolly”, MBC Show Champion, September 6, 2017
This entire thing is pure sunshine from the beginning to end. The girls are so cute and bursting with charms, a definite bonus for rookie groups. The stage is overflowing with bright lights, which are a bit overwhelming, but it adds to the energetic spirit of this group. The bubbly choreo kept my attention throughout the whole stage. If you love over-the-top performances that echo Broadway musicals, then you need to watch this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EspAWQaPgUg
Sunmi’s “Gashina”, SBS Inkigayo, September 10, 2017
It’s the stage that you’ve probably seen made into gifs, memes, and clips all over social media. Yes, this is the one where Sunmi’s male and female backup dancers switch parts. It’s quite entertaining to see how well the dancers take on opposite roles. The ladies looked very sexy and powerful while the guys killed their parts as well. These backup dancers are true professionals for being able to pull this off without looking awkward.
Which performances did you like from this past week?
