Korean Music Wave in Google Headquarters

  On May 21 at 7pm PST, Mountain View, CA is going to be hopping with 10 of  K-pop’s most popular idol groups. Hosted by Girls’ Generations’ Taeyeon and Tiffany at the Shoreline Amphitheater, the MBC Korean Music Wave in Google is sure to be a concert to remember. And here’s the best part: it’s free!

  Word got out earlier this month through Osen and  Star News that Girls’ Generation, TVXQ, Super Junior, KARA, SISTAR, MBLAQ, BEAST and the Wonder Girls all had a trip to Google Headquarters scheduled for the end of May. But while the concert was no secret because it had been reported that the performances would be broadcast live through YouTube and MBC from company headquarters, most assumed that it would be a private affair.
   However, just yesterday Powerhouse confirmed that the concert will be open to the public, and revealed full details about the final artist line-up, time and location, with instructions for ticket acquisition. Tickets will be available on a first come-first served basis on their website starting May 12. (Their server is going to be crazy this Saturday!) Tickets to SM TOWN LIVE in Los Angeles, which will take place on May 20, are also  currently available on their site.

Photo Credit: Powerhouselive.net

  This is the first time that a concert of this nature will be broadcast live from a major internet portal like Google, proving once again that the appeal of K-pop is not defined by continental borders. A representative for the event stated, “After hearing the news that Korean artists will be performing at the Google headquarters, curiosity has peaked even among the local event organizers. I think that previous performances by Korean artists were targeted towards Korean-Americans or the Koreans living abroad, but this time its appeal will spread to all fans of pop music in the US.” 
  If you can’t make it, don’t sweat it! The concert will be broadcast live via MBC’s YouTube channel and on the YouTube Presents. channel at the above mentioned date and time.

Underrated Members Within Groups

   In becoming an idol, there are usually only two paths available to you. You either become a star with all of Korea adoring your every breath, or you just never get off the ground and bask in the darkness of your eternal irrelevance.
  However, there are some individuals that straddle the line between these two paths. These idols are neither adored nor are they irrelevant. They simply exist, latching onto the fame of their more recognized group members. It can be hard to argue that these idols are unpopular, but they certainly don’t have the same popularity that is proportionate to others in their crew. These individuals, while underappreciated, are immensely talented in their own way. The companies that house them should reconsider how to market them. Let’s take a look at four idols who are being left at the wayside.

Soyu – SISTAR

While 4minute is known as Hyuna + friends, SISTAR is known as Hyorin, Bora, and the two others. Soyu is one of the “others.” Surely, some of the fame is attributed to her participation (or lack thereof) in Sistar19. Probably the biggest reason for both her popularity and unpopularity is Hyorin. The main vocal’s unique and powerful voice will overshadow most idol singers, including Soyu, who actually has a great singing voice. A recent ranking of female vocalists placed Soyu above more well known singers like Park Bom and Song Ji-eun. Had Soyu been in nearly any other group, her vocal talents would be recognized and appreciated. Alas, she is in a group where the main vocalist’s popularity exceeds the group as a whole. Aside from Hyorin and Bora, Starship Entertainment seems to have trouble getting their artists on variety shows, which is the easiest way for Soyu to improve her popularity. If she could only catch a few glances from the public, her talent will draw in a crowd. Little known fact: Soyu almost debuted with 4minute. Seeing as how member recognition pans out for them, this is probably for the better.

Jia – Miss A

Jia falls under what many would consider “The Junho Syndrome.” She is an extremely capable dancer, but maybe not as strong as Min. She is also an extremely capable vocalist, yet as a whole, miss A is essentially on the same level. Like many Chinese idols in the industry, the language barrier makes it difficult for them to fully participate in variety shows. While f(x)‘s Victoria and Amber have appeared on We Got Married, Invincible Youth, and Invincible Youth 2, their unfamiliarity with the language becomes apparent (and sometimes part of their character).Contributing to Jia’s  lack of fluency (and probably Fei’s as well) is how much of their pre-debut activities were spent in China. Jia had only been signed by JYPE in 2007, with much of 2009 being spent in her home country. It’s very likely that Jia is not as strong in Korean as Victoria or Amber, making her public appearances very limited. JYPE actually tends to distribute lines extremely evenly between all members of a group, but for that reason it’s hard for members to truly stand out, especially in a group where the scope of talent is fairly uniform. Popularity in miss A is largely based on solo activities. For Jia to improve her popularity, she should honestly just put herself out there. It doesn’t matter if you can’t speak the language well, use it to your advantage. Luckily, Jia and Fei have been casted in a drama and will get them somewhere.

Dongwoon – BEAST

Dongwoon is an interesting case. He is essentially left behind in the pool of talent that is BEAST. Dongwoon is known for his atypical looks and his quiet reserved role as maknae. In Cube‘s quest to find an effective marketing strategy for ANYTHING, Dongwoon has participated in a few solo endeavors. He released a single with Davichi‘s Kang Min-kyung entitled “Udon.” It received a pretty warm response from the public, but many broadcasting channels would not air the song due to the mere fact that the title is in Japanese. His second solo activity comes in the form of singing a song for Shinsadong Tiger. However, to be perfectly honest, “In The Clouds” doesn’t fit his voice at all and really highlighted his faults as a singer. His greatest strength most likely lies in his personality. Given the right mentor (like Yoo Jae-suk was for Daesung or Kim Shin-young was for Sunny), Dongwoon could really develop into a memorable variety character. When compared to the other members, perennially aegyo-fied Yoseob and silly yet seductive Kikwang has its limits, but a truly 4D personality like what Dongwoon seems to exhibit can take him far in the industry.

Jungshin – CNBlue

Jungshin is CNBlue‘s bassist as well as back-up rapper and vocalist. FNC actually recognized Jungshin for his rapping ability moreso than his abilities as a bassist. His proficiency at rapping is relatively unknown since, at debut, he had inner braces. These braces hindered his ability to rap, causing most of the rapping to fall onto the lap of Yonghwa. Although his braces are now off, the effects are still felt. With CNBlue being rock-oriented, rap is generally avoided. Even when raps are present, Jungshin will have to divide it between Yonghwa and himself. This was actually a bad decision for FNC/Mnet as a whole to debut Jungshin in a pop-rock band. He’s tall (1.86m), good looking, and he can rap. Shouldn’t it be clear that he belongs in a more conventional idol group? Who knows, maybe he has two left feet (a la TOP) and they thought he might not be able to keep up with the normal choreography T-ara or Co-Ed School get. For some reason, it just feels like Jungshin is being wasted in CNBlue.

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These four individuals are just a few of the idols that really make you want to take another look at those popular groups. Sure, when you think about a group, generally the most popular comes to mind first. However just think about that member in the back, who seems to not belong. While the public might not recognize him/her for whatever reason: marketing strategy, language barrier, personality, you might come to realize he or she was placed in that group for a reason.

JYP on Details About His Comeback, 2PM and Wonder Girls!

   We would say that JYP Entertainment is about to get busy, but that would sound as if they haven’t been already! After 2 years, Park Jin Young‘s own comeback has arrived, along with more exciting news about his fellow agency artists. J.Y. Park is back!
Over the last few months, J.Y. Park has taken on a number of projects. Between acting ventures The Five Million-Dollar Man (movie) and Dream High 2 (KBS drama), producing mini-albums for 2AM and miss A, US promotions with the Wonder Girls, and judging for K-POP Star (SBS music competition program), he’s made time to go back into “artist mode,” as he called it. How does he find that time, you ask? Check out his mobile music studio, located in his car!
   His me2day went more in-depth with details, revealing that the Wonder Girls’ US album is finally finished, along with the title track for their new Korean album. He also promised a “quick surprise” this summer for 2PM fans who can’t wait until their new album in the fall of this year. A surprise and two new albums? Be still, our Hottest and Wonderful hearts!

 Photo Credit: JYP's Twitter

   According to Nate, JYP’s next mini-album, Spring. Five Songs I’m Sending to a New Love, will contain “styles and music never before heard from J.Y. Park.” Interesting – will he move away from his R&B/Soul/Pop intersection that he’s been grooving to since his debut? We’ll have to wait and find out about the rest of the album, but so far the JYP vibe is still there.  He released the first song from the album, “Someone Else,” a duet with Brown Eyed Girls‘ Ga-In, at midnight on April 22. Midnight on April 29 will bring another track, “You’re the One,” which tells the story of a “flashy-looking male celebrity and a normal girl.”

J.Y. PARK ft. GaIn -– “SOMEONE ELSE” MV
   He expressed a little nervousness about coming back after 2 years in his me2day post, but we see no reason for him to be, what with him being a immensely popular artist as well as a hit-making producer, composer, and lyricist. Are you familiar with JYP: the producer, but new to JYP: the singer? Take a listen to some of his hit singles from past albums and see for yourself why he’s earned the tagline, “the Asian Soul.”