[MV] cignature - Smooth Sailing

[MV] ONEWE - SALTY BOY

[MV] KIM SEJEONG - Voyage

[MV] NCT U - Baggy Jeans

Gets flashy in the performance shots.

I hate this so much. Lol. The disembodied dancing jeans in the MV are fun.

[MV] H1-KEY - SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)

[MV] SECRET NUMBER - STARLIGHT

[MV] HORI7ON - Birthday (Eng.)

[MV] The Rose - You're Beautiful (Eng.)

The wider shots where you can see the location are gorgeous. Beautiful location.

[PROMO] aespa - We Go

Promotional theme for 'Pokémon Horizons: Liko and Roy's Departure'.

[OST] BLACKPINK - THE GIRLS

Theme song for their mobile game.

[MV] JIHYO (feat. 24kGoldn) - Talkin' About It (Eng.)

[MV] SE SO NEON - Kidd

[MV] Young K - let it be summer

[MV] LIM YOUNG MIN - IN MY ROOM

[MV] JAECHAN - Time

[MV] Aylah - Adulting

[MV] HENG - Faded

[MV] J_ust - Stella

[MV] THORNAPPLE - Extinction

[MV] AKMU - Love Lee

Cute, feel-good AKMU!

[MV] NCT 2023 - Golden Age

Interesting interpolation with Beethoven's 'Pathetique' (2nd movement). Makes me wish it was two separate songs instead of this mashup with the awkward hip-hop/rap parts, but ya know... SM.

[MV] H1-KEY - Time to Shine

[MV] HYO - Picture

Flashing / flashbulb effects throughout.

The dude featured in this MV is so literally how I've always imagined Snape to look. LOL.

[MV] iKON - PANORAMA

There's also a long 'Drama Version' of the MV:

[CF] SOYEON X MOONO - I'm OK

Promotion for LG U+. Mobile phone service provider, I think? MOONO is the mascot.

[MV] XIA / Kim Junsu - Red Diamond

Really classic sounding ballad with a beat. Cute animation too. Don't mind my fangirling, but Junsu has sounded so good recently. I mean, he always sounds good, but still. Watched some of his live performances from his recent fanmeetings. Sounded smoother and stronger than ever. Dunno if there's a reason for it... or if I've just been missing new music from my ult. Lol. Either way. 20th anniversary in the industry this year. Crazy. Anxious to see what happens this December for DBSK's official debut anniversary. Jaejoong and Junsu have talked about doing something together. 🙏

[MV] RIIZE - Memories

SM's new boy group. Pre-release before debut.

[MV] xikers - HOMEBOY

[MV] MUSTB - RUSH

[MV] VANNER - PERFORMER

[MV] TIOT - Unbeatable

Pre-release before debut.

[MV] PATTERN - MIRO

[MV] SEVENTEEN - Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow- (Jpn.)

[MV] LAYSHA - SUMMER NIGHT

[MV] YERIN - Bambambam

[MV] Izykite - HEY

[MV] YEONJEONG - About Time

[MV] Purple Ocean - Fiction

[MV] ChiVee - Mirage

[MV] Hannah Jang - Cockamamie

[MV] Luli Lee - I Want You

[MV] HENG - DOT

[MV] Lacuna - Summer Cosmos

[MV] JIHYO - Killin' Me Good

Been looking forward to Jihyo's solo stuff. I was never super into Twice, but she was obviously always a good singer and performer. This track is nice! Haven't fully listened to her album yet, but digging it so far.

[MV] aespa - Better Things (Eng.)

Not bad! Don't love the rap-esque parts, but another one from aespa that's more chill and easier on the ears.

[MV] EVERGLOW - SLAY

[MV] tripleS - LOVElution 'Girls' Capitalism'

[MV] PRIMROSE - LAFFY TAFFY

[MV] LUCY - Haze

[MV] CHEN - Light Of My Life (Jpn.)

[MV] Loco - INEEDYOURLOVE

[MV] BLSG - hate you

[MV] STAYC - Bubble

[MV] HUH YUNJIN - blessing in disguise

[MV] U-KNOW - Vuja De

[REMAKE] ADYA - What's Up?

Remake of DIVA's 'Why'.

[MV] NELL - Wanderer

[MV] Jooyoung - BE (Eng.)

[MV] DKB - Told You & All Yours

[MV] UNE (feat. lIlBOI) - Villain

[MV] YABBI - PAPAGO

[MV] NAUL - Word

[MV] Hawoong (feat. SUMIN) - How are you

[MV] Loco - VOLVO

[MV] Wadi (feat. Paloalto, Chancellor) - Kicks

[MV] JO YURI - TAXI

[MV] JAEHYUN - Horizon

[MV] V (BTS) - Love Me Again & Rainy Days

Taehyung is gonna have five music videos for his solo debut. The R&B/jazzy genre is fairly expected since that's his thing in all his previous solo stuff and his personal taste. Still too much compression on his vocals in my opinion, but at least he's singing in a more comfortable range.

[MV] TAN - HEARTBEAT

[MV] Kwon Jin Ah - Love Me Love Me

[MV] APOKI - Hold On (Jpn.)

[MV] n.SSign - Wormhole: New Track

[MV] Eric Nam - Don't Leave Yet (Eng.)

[MV] ARTBEAT v - DUBI DUBI

[MV] Aylah - Stupid Cupid

[MV] BenchWeLeo - Raven (Odin's)

[MV] Woo Yerin - let it go! (daisy)

[MV] JEOM SOMI - Fast Forward

Banger banger banger banger banger.

[MV] THE BOYZ - LIP GLOSS

[PLAYLIST] KPOPPY's first half of 2023

Actually completing one of the yearly playlists I'm backlogged on? Shocking! 

Made that decision to make 1st half playlists 30 tracks and 50 tracks for the full year last year and then the draft of the 2022 full year playlist got accidentally deleted. Many months of diligent work wiped out in moments and unrecoverable because of the way Blogger works. So now I'm making my drafts elsewhere. Lesson learned. Anyway, that 2022 one will show up in here eventually. But in the meantime just trying to keep up with the present.

First half of 2023 was a story of girl groups with friendlier sounds and Rock showing up everywhere. A lot of the major boy groups are still doing the very aggressive, shouty, noisy, stuff so the guys are way outnumbered here. And as I hoped/expected, NewJeans has had a ton of influence this year in style and sound. More of that, please!

[Link to the full playlist on Youtube]

My 30 favorites in chronological order:

• Shin Youme - STAY
• NewJeans - OMG
• Nine (OnlyOneOf) - beyOnd
• H1-KEY - Rose Blossom
• GUNTAC - Long Night
• PRIMROSE - PRIMROSE
• Lee Seung Yoon - Shelter of Dreams
• damduck - TIME MACHINE
• KEY - Killer
• tripleS - Rising
• LIMELIGHT - Honestly
• MRCH - Aim for love
• TRI.BE - WE ARE YOUNG
• PURPLE KISS - Sweet Juice
• FIFTY FIFTY - Cupid
• BIG Naughty (feat. Lee Suhyun) - Hopeless Romantic
• Kwon Jin Ah - Raise Up The Flag
• ONEW - O (Circle)
• TAN - FIX YOU
• So!YoON! (feat. RM) - Smoke Sprite
• YEEUN - Strange Way To Love
• NMIXX - Love Me Like This
• Jimin - Like Crazy
• Izykite - Diver
• IVE - I AM
• Aespa - Welcome To MY World
• KISS OF LIFE (NATTY) - Sugarcoat
• KARDI - PARTY
• JANNABI - pony
• ID:Earth - ALIENS

A mess of other honorable mentions after the cut.

[MONTHLY] Favorites for JULY 2023

June was a little slim for me, but then July was packed with goodness! Loved lots of stuff. Really nice summery releases from Hyolyn, SURAN, LMST, Oh My Girl, among others, and also a few English language tracks I enjoyed. Plus the NewJeans blitz of solid releases.

My tops for the month were 'Super Shy' due it being happily stuck in my head the whole time (go NewJeans!) and KARDI's 'Skybound', which continues to grow my love for this band's sound.

In the full post: ITZY, NMIXX, KISS OF LIFE, TXT/Jonas Brothers, YUL2, ZEROBASEONE, BLASE/Lee Young Ji, ODD EYE CIRCLE, HYOLYN/Paul Blanco, Sandara Park, MISAMO,, (G)I-DLE, Huh Jee, NewJeans, SWJA, LMST, SURAN, OH MY GIRL, ILY:1, Susan, Jambino, SOYOU/Bora, and INFINITE.

[MONTHLY] Favorites for JUNE 2023

A couple of indie picks for June. I've become a big fan of KARDI. Love what they're doing and 'PARTY' is a lot of fun. Next is ID:Earth with her ethereal 'ALIENS'. Similar to the KARDI track, it's very contemporary, but has a little trace of a traditional sound/instrumentation. Great rhythms on them both.

In the full post: SHINee, R U Next?, EXO, Jooyoung, NATTY, KANG DANIEL, KIM JAE HWAN/BOBBY, JANNABI, tripleS, Clazziquai/Jaeyeon/Lim Sejoo, Dynamic Duo, and YENA.

[MONTHLY] Favorites for MAY 2023

Catch up time. May was pretty chill. Two top picks. aespa's typical sound is not really my thing so I appreciated a very different vibe from 'Welcome To My World'. Also throwing Chan & SHIRT's 'Look at My Shoes!' for being a feel-good walking pace kind of song.

In the full post: LE SSERAFIM, COCONA, HYNGSN, AIMERS, DALsooobin, The Wind, Kim Feel/Tablo, MIJOO, BULGOGIDISCO, 9001, BOYNEXTDOOR, MIGHTY MOUTH/Eunha, Dreamcatcher, Song Sohee, and Jiselle/GEMINI.

[MV] MAMAMOO+ - dangdang

[MV] BBGIRLS - ONE MORE TIME

I'm still forever going to think of them as Brave Girls. First release after leaving Brave Ent. and reuniting under Warner Music Korea with the name re-brand.

[MV] LIMELIGHT - MADELEINE

[MV] KWON EUNBI - The Flash

Great production.

[MV] Girls' Generation - Luck Like That

[MV] The Wind - WE GO

[MV] NINE.i - Turn it off

[MV] ABLUE - MAD

[MV] xikers - DO or DIE

Flashes of light and fast cuts throughout.

Yeesh. This is tough on the ears... and eyes.

[MV] BXB - Planet

[MV] KIM WOOJIN - Say Something To Me

[MV] Rothy - Rain Drive

[MV] KIM YUNA - Mirror

[MV] Kisum (feat. Boi B) - Let Me Be

[MV] AHN YEEUN - HONGRYEON

[MV] OVAN - Credit Cookie

[MV] PUNCHNELLO - riot!

[MV] LEE WOO - Empty

[MV] COOING - The Summer Night

[MV] UmYull - Wa;volution

[MV] XG - TGIF (Eng.)

[MV] DPR IAN - Peanut Butter & Tears (Eng.)

[MV] ITZY - CAKE

Far too much cake for me. Lol. 
Lots of nice detail in the choreo as usual. Just not the song for me.

[MV] INFINITE - New Emotions

Wild to have new INFINITE music again! Been so long. Kind of a different sound for them, but I can dig it.

[MV] TREASURE - BONA BONA

[MV] n.SSign - Higher

[DEBUT] SEVENUS - Wonder Land

Former members of MASC debuting as a duo.

[MV] XEED - BLUE

[MV] Stray Kids - PARTY'S NOT OVER

[MV] The Rose - Alive (Eng.)

[SM Classics] Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra - Sherlock (Clue + Note)

[MV] Clazziquai (feat. JAEMAN, Kei) - Static

[MV] Yang Da Il - Love

[OST] Sojung - Want to be Free

From the 'Not Others' OST.

[MV] Bizzy - MALIBU

[MV] VILLAIN - JON & VINNY's

[MV] YOUNGTAK - FORM