Music/Recommendation: Louie ft. Crucial Star - Walk

A few months ago I heard this playing in a store down in Ewha University's shopping district and I was completely sold. Surprised that I missed out on this one when I ran through Louie's album, Inspiration, as a huge fan of Geeks since I first heard them in Officially Missing You. It is one of the less popular side tracks in his album but definitely one of my personal favourites since I first heard it!

It has a simple mid-tempo melody, and Louie does a sort of speak-rap rhyme sequence throughout the song which makes it tremendously catch and fun to listen to. I really enjoy how the lines that differ in length rhyme so harmoniously together alongside the melody. The lyrics have a simple story to it; a couple separates and the guy pines for her to come back, realising that he can't live without her.

Recommendation/Music: Yoo Seungwoo - Hesitant Lips

Yoo Seungwoo is a Superstar K4 finalist, coming in 5th overall with decent critique from the judges. I'm not one to cult follow audition programmes (there are just sooo many of them) but from the few bits and various clips I've been watching he seems to have that acoustic rock thing going on and I quite like that.

This song however is a little different from what I expected from him - a ballad that is supposed to signify something about growth and maturity as he treads into the age 18 (16 everywhere else). It appears that he made his voice to be distinctly smoother than his K4 era. I really enjoyed the track, much more than I thought I would. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it's probably the straightforwardness of the youthful love ballad, the catchiness of the chorus which got me at first listen, his soothing voice or perhaps it's just the "ballad mood" working its charm. His other tracks in the album (Early 19) are pretty fun and easy to listen to as well.

I might add he's also pretty damn adorable.

Music/Recommendation: Standing Egg ft. Park Seyoung - Lean On Me

One of the more well known "acoustic emotional" indie Korean band, Standing Egg, released this beautiful and subtle song yesterday. As with all their songs, it's one great for listening while staying in under your sheets on a cold day. This is their second collaboration with actress Park Seyoung, whose soft and straight (the kind which does not utilise too much vocal tricks and techniques that, while great, may sometimes tamper with certain styles of music like this) voice adds a lot through her harmonising.

Take a listen at this healing sort of music.

"하루가 힘들 때면 난
너의 웃는 모습 그려
너도 매일 조금 힘들더라도
여율 갖고 나에게 기대"

When I'm having a tough day, I think of your smile.
Should you have a tough day too, relax and lean on me.

Music/Recommendation: Crucial Star - Three Things I Wish To Give You

At first listen, I knew I loved it.

I love the mellow sound. I love how Sojin, from Girls Day, made her voice much lighter and sweeter (I hear it as emulating the original; Park Hyekyung's version). I love Crucial Star's chill rapping and singing. I love the entire tone of the MV.

Completely right up my alley.

I've always loved Crucial Star's works particularly FALL which was chockfull of beautiful music, as well as his many featurings with other the other hip hop artistes. This song was sweet, mild and easy to digest, and the MV was simple yet exceptionally well executed and suited the sound really well. I also enjoyed the entire cliche (but beautifully done) love-at-first-sight scene of two strangers at an art gallery, and the fact that the artworks actually are reflected throughout the entire MV with the 2D silhouettes, shapes and pastel colour schemes. The combination of the yellow overlay, simple movements and the pastel colours made for a rather nostalgic and heartwarming video - great song once again.

I'm actually quite easy to please when it comes to hiphop. Heh.

P.S. This is the 2nd Girls Day member to make their featuring in a hip hop artist's song. The first was Minah, with Dindin, in another sweet love rap song which I also really liked.

Music/Recommendations: Sweet Hip Hop

I think that "sweet hip hop" is something definitely quite distinct to Korean hip hop and something I really enjoy. I love good rap sounds, and recently there has been quite a few songs that fits into the lovely x rap mould so I decided to look back into my music folder for more.


Din Din & Minah (Girl's Day) - Just Hold Hands


Giriboy ft. Crucial Star - Different


Swings ft. Lovey - Major Depression


Zizo ft. Lim Kim - Winter of Haeundae (previously mentioned here)


Sunny Side ft. Haye - First Love


Brother Su ft. Lovey - Another Star


BToB - 2nd Confession


2Bic ft. 79 - Your Eyes, Nose and Lips

Is this too much? Seems like a bit of an overkill. Heh. Either way I really had fun listening to some of the (relatively) older songs that I used to really enjoy!

Music/Recommendation: Zizo - Winter of Haeundae

MY JAMMMMM!!!

First of all, let's take a moment to talk about how beautiful the MV is. I love the usage of split screens, a couple of stop motion scenes, filters that added a homemade quality, and the depiction of winter through the higher contrast and tungsten lighting. It's simply yet beautifully shot, and I get to see Shin Soyul in all her big-eyed aegyo cuteness. It was exactly what I thought the visuals of the song to be like, except in my head it's an abstract mess that will never see daylight.

The song, performed by underground rapper Zizo and half of K3's duo Lim Kim, is nothing short of great. From the moment Lim Kim's distinctive honey voice (with just enough hint of rasp) hit, I knew I was in love. Not to mention Zizo's clean and relaxed rapping that really suited the melodic and upbeat winter song. Nothing pressuring or overbearing, just a sweet winter song.

Also currently loving: Togeworl's Talk To Me, B.A.P's 1004, and Soyu/Junggigo's Some

Music/Recommendation: Shin Bora - Frozen

Frozen is an emotional ballad that tells the melancholy of a woman who lost and misses her love. Not an extremely new song (last December, to be more precise), but it has been in my playlist since I first heard it awhile after it came out and I wanted to share this with anyone who might not have heard it.

A little bit of background: Shin Bora is a regular comedian at Gag Concert so she's actually not a professional singer. Pleasant looks, which is uncommon of gagwomen who frequently use their appearances as a joke, and a shockingly good singer. Rambling on, I also really liked her old segment 'Discoveries of Life'.