MV Monday: Gangnam Style by Psy

Psy's music video for Gangnam Style just came out yesterday. The music video is ridiculously awesome. I particularly like it because the dances are so dorky and amateurish... it looks like something that I'd make with my friends (like Party Rock Hong Kong). Psy (born Park Jae Sang) is an interesting artist. He was educated at Boston University and Berklee and made his debut in Korea back in 2002. He is known as the Bizarre Singer because of his style and appearance. I can dig that.

I used to live in the Gangnam area, so let me assure you that it isn't full of horses or garbage flying in the air. It is definitely one of the affluent areas of Seoul. Psy poking fun at it makes this song all the more enjoyable. Plus, I feel like I can actually learn the dance for when I hear it in the street. Bonus points.

Oppa is Gangnam style
Gangnam style

A girl who is warm and humanle during the day
A classy girl who know how to enjoy the freedom of a cup of coffee
A girl whose heart gets hotter when night comes
A girl with that kind of twist

I’m a guy
A guy who is as warm as you during the day
A guy who one-shots his coffee before it even cools down
A guy whose heart bursts when night comes
That kind of guy

Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Now let’s go until the end

Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style

Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh

A girl who looks quiet but plays when she plays
A girl who puts her hair down when the right time comes
A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who bares it all
A sensable girl like that

I’m a guy
A guy who seems calm but plays when he plays
A guy who goes completely crazy when the right time comes
A guy who has bulging ideas rather than muscles
That kind of guy

Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Now let’s go until the end

Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style, Gangnam style
Oppa is Gangnam style

Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh

On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
I’m a man who knows a thing or two
On top of the running man is the flying man, baby baby
I’m a man who knows a thing or two

You know what I’m saying
Oppa is Gangnam style

Eh- Sexy Lady, Oppa is Gangnam style
Eh- Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh

MV Monday: Younha's Run

I love this new song: Run by Younha (고윤하). Sure, it is kind of just another love song, but check out the music video.

The cinematography is great. Add in ET and a whale and how could you not love this video?

This is the first single I've heard from Younha. Apparently she is really popular in Japan, where her songs have been used in animes and dramas (this video looks a lot like something you would see in Japanese animation, doesn't it?).

Her newest album, Supersonic, was released last week (July 3rd). Something about this song isn't as K-poppy, and I love that. Many of her other songs are slower ballads, nice in their own way, but she also has some rockier and jazzier tracks. I'll be keeping an eye on her for sure. 

MV Monday: Love is Energy

Today's K-pop song is just a catchy, up-beat tune from Chi Chi.

I love these music videos with the English and Korean subtitles. ^^

This is a good summer hit and will be fun to hear in the clubs. Then again, it is a bit repetitious. I got it. Love is energy. In your heart. But that's what makes songs catchy, huh? Their relationship with this (assumed) guy is a little strange. He has all these secrets, he doesn't return your calls, he doesn't understand how you feel, yet you know you'll be in love forever. If only it were that simple.

The dance is basic and fun; the hand dance above the head has to be my favorite part. Super cute. I don't like the dub-step bridge, though, or the dance during the bridge. It just didn't fit into the song. Even though these dub-step sounds are getting big in pop music, it doesn't work for me. After the bridge, the key change is also really awkward. 


I'm probably not going to download this song, but I'll be happy to dance to it in the clubs or when it is playing in the streets.

MV Monday: Busker Busker 정말로 사랑한다면

Busker Busker's newest single and music video was released last week. Titled 정말로 사랑한다면 (If You Really Love Me), lead singer Jang Bum Joon starts out with a very soothing melody. His unique is perfect for this sad love song, which is about Joon's relationship with an ex-girlfriend. While he was trying to express his feelings, she felt like he wasn't being genuine.

The lyrics are touching; listening to this song, I can help but think about my old relationship with BH and how he has had such a huge impact on my life. Of course, I'm dealing with it in a different way than Joon, but that feeling of someone's scent being around . . . not just physically, but imprinted in memories of all kinds of places and activities. Keep up the good work Busker Busker. I found an awesome translation over at Korean Wave Times

Original       : 사랑한단 말로는 사랑할 순 없군요

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Dan Mal Lo Noun Sa Rang Hal Sun Oup Gun Yo

Translation  : It’s not enough to love you with the only word ‘I love you’ 

Original       : 그대 상처 주네요 나의 뻔한 그 말이

Pronounce   : Gou Dae Sang Chou Ju Ne Yo Na Oui Poun Han Gou Mal Yi

Translation  : My blatant words seem to hurt you 

Original       : 너무 쉽게 뱉은 말

Pronounce   : Nou Mu Ship Ge Baet Toun Mal

Translation  : That's so easy to say

Original       : 너무 쉬운 사랑은 다 거짓말이죠

Pronounce   : Nou Mu Shi Un Sa Rang Oun Da Gou Jit Mal Yi Jyo

Translation  : If a love is so easy, then it’s all lies

Original       : 그래 다 거짓말이죠

Pronounce   : Gou Rae Da Gou Jit Mal Yi Jyo

Translation  : Yes, it’s all lies

Original       : 무엇을 원하는지 얼마나 힘든 건지 신경 쓰지 않죠

Pronounce   : Mu Ut Soul Won Ha Noun Ji Oul Ma Na Him Doun Goun Ji Shin Gyoung Ssou Ji An Chyo

Translation  : I haven’t cared what you want and how hard it has been to you

Original       : 또 쉽게 넘어 갔나요

Pronounce   : To Ship Ge Noum Ou Gat Na Yo

Translation  : Did I pass something too easily again

Original       : 많이 힘들었나요

Pronounce   : Ma Ni Him Doul Ut Na Yo

Translation  : Have you had really hard time

Original       : 그대가 오늘은 헤어지자 말해요

Pronounce   : Gou Dae Ga O Noul Oun He Ou Ji Ja Mal Hae Yo

Translation  : It’s your turn to say good bye today

Original       : 정말로 사랑한담 기다려 주세요

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Dam Gi Da Ryou Ju Se Yo

Translation  : If you really love me, please wait for a favorable time

Original       : 사랑한단 그 말들도 당신의 행동 하나 진심만을 원하죠

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Dan Gou Mal Doul Do Dang Shin Oui Haeng Dong Ha Na Jin Shim Man Oul Won Ha Jyo

Translation  : I want your honesty of your word ‘I love you’, and even your attitude to me

Original       : 정말로 사랑한담 기다려 주세요

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Dam Gi Da Ryou Ju Se Yo

Translation  : If you really love me, please wait for a favorable time

Original       : 그댈 위해 참아줘요

Pronounce   : Gou Dael Wi Hae Cham A Juo Yo

Translation  : You may lump it for yourself

Original       : 당신의 행동 하나 아픈 추억 되가요

Pronounce   : Dang Shin Oui Haeng Dong Ha Na A Poun Chu Ouk Doe Ga Yo

Translation  : Each of your actions are going to become a painful memory

Original       : 정말로 사랑한다면 정말로 사랑한다면

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Da Myoun Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Da Myoun

Translation  : If you really love me, and if you really love me

Original       : 사랑한단 말로는 사랑할 순 없군요

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Dan Mal Lo Noun Sa Rang Hal Sun Oup Gun Yo

Translation  : It’s not enough to love you with the only word ‘I love you’

Original       : 그대 기억 하나요

Pronounce   : Gou Dae Gi Ouk Ha Na Yo

Translation  : Do you remember

Original       : 나의 뻔한 그 말이 그댈 웃게 했던 밤

Pronounce   : Na Oui Poun Han Gou Mal Yi Gou Dael Ut Ge Haet Doun Bam

Translation  : The night that my blatant words made you smile

Original       : 너무 깊은 그 밤은 다 지나 가네요

Pronounce   : Nou Mu Gip Poun Gou Bam Oun Da Ji Na Ga Ne Yo

Translation  : The very deep night is almost passing

Original       : 모두 다 지나 갔군요

Pronounce   : Mo Du Da Ji Na Gat Gun Yo

Translation  : It has all passed

Original       : 무엇을 말 했는지 얼마나 원했는지 기억하지 않죠

Pronounce   : Mu Ut Soul Mal Haet Noun Ji Oul Ma Na Won Haet Noun Ji Gi Ouk Ha Ji An Chyo

Translation  : I don’t remember what you said, and how much you wanted

Original       : 그대만 지쳐 가나요

Pronounce   : Gou Dae Man Ji Chyou Ga Na Yo

Translation  : Are you already growing tired

Original       : 많이 힘들었나요

Pronounce   : Ma Ni Him Doul Ut Na Yo

Translation  : Have you had really hard time

Original       : 그대가 오늘은 헤어지자 말해요

Pronounce   : Gou Dae Ga O Noul Oun He Ou Ji Ja Mal Hae Yo

Translation  : It’s your turn to say good bye today

Original       : 정말로 사랑한담 기다려 주세요

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Dam Gi Da Ryou Ju Se Yo

Translation  : If you really love me, please wait for a favorable time

Original       : 사랑한단 그 말들도 당신의 행동 하나 진심만을 원하죠

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Dan Gou Mal Doul Do Dang Shin Oui Haeng Dong Ha Na Jin Shim Man Oul Won Ha Jyo

Translation  : I want your honesty of your word ‘I love you’, and even your attitude to me

Original       : 정말로 사랑한담 기다려 주세요

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Dam Gi Da Ryou Ju Se Yo

Translation  : If you really love me, please wait for a favorable time

Original       : 그댈 위해 참아줘요

Pronounce   : Gou Dael Wi Hae Cham A Juo Yo

Translation  : You may lump it for yourself

Original       : 당신의 행동 하나 아픈 추억 되가요

Pronounce   : Dang Shin Oui Haeng Dong Ha Na A Poun Chu Ouk Doe Ga Yo

Translation  : Each of your actions are going to become a painful memory

Original       : 그때 또 하필 잡으려 건네는 이 뻔한 한마디

Pronounce   : Gou Tae To Ha Pil Jab Ou Ryou Goun Ne Noun Yi Poun Han Han Ma Di

Translation  : At the most inopportune moment, I passed a remark to keep you from leaving

Original       : 쉽게 뱉은 말

Pronounce   : Ship Ge Baet Toun Mal

Translation  : That's so easy to say

Original       : 사랑한단 말로는 사랑할 순 없군요

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Dan Mal Lo Noun Sa Rang Hal Sun Oup Gun Yo

Translation  : It’s not enough to love you with the only word ‘I love you’

Original       : 허 허우워 아아아 허어어

Pronounce   : Huh Huh U Wo Ah Ah Ah Huh Uh Hu

Translation  : Huh Huh U Wo Ah Ah Ah Huh Uh Hu

Original       : 아아아 이젠 사랑할 순 없군요

Pronounce   : Ah Ah Ah Yi Jen Sa Rang Hal Sun Oup Gun Yo

Translation  : Ah ah ah, I can’t love anymore

Original       : 사랑한다 기다려 주세요

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Da Gi Da Ryou Ju Se Yo

Translation  : If you love me, please wait for a favorable time

Original       : 사랑한단 그 말들도 당신의 행동 하나 진심만을 원하죠

Pronounce   : Sa Rang Han Dan Gou Mal Doul Do Dang Shin Oui Haeng Dong Ha Na Jin Shim Man Oul Won Ha Jyo

Translation  : I want your honesty of your word ‘I love you’, and even your attitude to me

Original       : 정말로 사랑한담 기다려 주세요

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Dam Gi Da Ryou Ju Se Yo

Translation  : If you really love me, please wait for a favorable time

Original       : 그댈 위해 참아줘요

Pronounce   : Gou Dael Wi Hae Cham A Juo Yo

Translation  : You may lump it for yourself

Original       : 당신의 행동 하나 아픈 추억 되가요

Pronounce   : Dang Shin Oui Haeng Dong Ha Na A Poun Chu Ouk Doe Ga Yo

Translation  : Each of your actions are going to become a painful memory

Original       : 정말로 사랑한다면

Pronounce   : Joung Mal Lo Sa Rang Han Da Myoun

Translation  : If you really love me

MV Monday: IU's Every End of the Day

Who doesn't like IU? She is ridiculously cute, writes some of her own music, and has very catchy songs. She's also only 19 years old. Why I'm I so old and unsuccessful?

Her newest single is Every End of the Day (하루 끝)

You can see the lyrics in English on the youtube video.

Although the song is a little repetitive, I think it is a nice breezy song for the summer. Throughout this entire music video, IU is just continuously adorable. I also love that she visits Venice. Cute.

Can't wait to see what she does next.

MV Monday: Baek Ji Young's Good Boy

Baek Ji Young, one of Korea's older pop stars, has a new single. It wouldn't have popped up in my radar but it has caused a little bit of controversy because of the lyrics.

Man of Korea, a rights group for, you guessed it, men, has filed a lawsuit saying that the song is degrading to the male species. Baek Ji Young is apparently comparing men to dogs, and that they need to be tamed.This quote is from an AllKPop article:

“Young men that listen to them obediently as well as dogs may be the fantasy of old women out there who dream of zooerastia, but normal, healthy men feel absolutely offended by songs like these. Even during a time where men ruled the world, men never treated women like dogs.”

Seriously? When men ruled the world, they never treated women like dogs? They just treated them like maids, vacuum cleaners, chefs, nannies, baby makers, but never like dogs. Yes, I could see how the references to this song could be a little degrading to men. But when you look at every other societal factor, men seem to still have the power here in Korea (and most places in the world). I think the lyrics are pretty much just saying that if she treats you well and you don't respond in kind, then you don't deserve her sweet touch. Makes sense to me.

You’re a good boy who listens to me well
You do everything that I ask you to do
But when you cause trouble, you’re a bad boy
When I compliment you, you become cockier

So after I started to treat you well
Who do you think you are to try to play me?
Oh oh oh oh oh mama
If you try to scheme, it’s over for you

Love is cruel, I’ve always been cruel
If you think girls are easy, you’ll get hurt
I’ve been saying yes to you, I’ve been complimenting you
And you really think it’s for real

Crazy in love, hurt by you
An obvious conclusion to love

Your words got rougher (what are you, a tough guy?)
Everything you say is a lie (your face doesn’t even change)
But you play on the palm of my hands
Who are you trying to deceive? (Stop being a child)

So after I started to treat you well
Who do you think you are to try to play me?
Oh oh oh oh oh mama
If you try to scheme, it’s over for you

Love is cruel, I’ve always been cruel
If you think girls are easy, you’ll get hurt
I’ve been saying yes to you, I’ve been complimenting you
And you really think it’s for real

You hold me and let me go, however you want
I’m not yo mama, this damn drama
You hold me and let me go, however you want
I’m not yo mama, this damn drama

I hate this love game
I treat you like a queen
But since when did you become my master?
It’s always ok for you but not for me
I’m always being pushed and you always push
Stop saying that I’m young, the things you do are so childish
What you say blah blah blah blah
Oh mama oh mama boy
I’m just a piece in your well cut out puzzle
(Aren’t you past puberty? This is so immature. Stop blabbering)
You’re like a piece of ice under my feet, I’m getting tired of this now
(Huh… I treat you well and this is how you repay your master?)

Love is cruel, I’ve always been cruel
If you think girls are easy, you’ll get hurt
I’ve been saying yes to you, I’ve been complimenting you
And you really think it’s for real

You’re the same, and I’m pretty frustrating too
I’m more pathetic for trusting and giving my heart to a guy like you
I’ve been saying yes to you, I’ve been complimenting you
And you really think it’s for real

You hold me and let me go, however you want
I’m not yo mama, this damn drama
You hold me and let me go, however you want
I’m not yo mama, this damn drama

MV Monday: Bounce

JJ Project just debuted with Bounce, which kind of has this nice mixture of hip-hop, rap, some rock, electronic and, probably my least favorite genre right now, dub-step.

I'm not that impressed with the song, but I do kind of like that the chorus is all in English... I feel like this would be a great song to use in elementary school to teach some commands; students could dance and sing along. 'I want to make your body move,' 'Baby, let your body groove,' and 'bounce,' seem innocent enough.

4 Minute: Volume Up

This song is a little more than a month old, but I just saw the music video today. I like the chorus and the beat, but the music video doesn't seem to really match the music video. The song is all about pumping the volume up, but then you have this very vampiresque dark music video.

The song is a good song to dance to musically, but I don't really like the Kenny G style saxophone rips in the background... it sounds too much like a jazzy Christmas.

Not my favorite 4 Minute song. That honor is held by 2010's Muzik (even though the beginning sounds like Lonely Island's I'm on a Boat. 
 

New MV: B.A.P. Power

I like this new video from B.A.P. even though it isn't my usual Kpop fare. The dancing is pretty darn good. However, I don't really get what they are trying to say halfway through the chorus (check the 1:30 mark). It sounds almost like they are saying 'hey, Jew'. Maybe they were going for 'hey, Jude' or 'hate you'. . . Anyways, check out this single: