Music Asia

This was a very busy week all over the chart, especially within the top 10 with six new songs and lots of movement. Despite all that, Brown Eyed Girls’ “Sixth Sense” was able to hold on to the top spot for the third straight week. That is no small accomplishment considered that so many recently released songs by big name artists are eyeing the top spot.

Wheesung’s “Here They Come” moves up four spots to No. 2 this week, trailing “Sixth Sense” by 33 points.  This is Wheesung’s last release before he is enlisting in the army. It’s too bad that his brief promotion has to end prematurely due to health reasons. Otherwise this song may have already overtaken “Sixth Sense” as the new No. 1 song.

As mentioned, there are six new songs in the top 10 this week, and that is not even including a song that most people expects to see in the top 10 – SNSD’s “The Boys” (more on this later).

Moving up eight spots to No. 3 is FT Island’s “Like The Birds.” This song is coming from the group’s remake album. The original song is from Byun Jin Sup way back in 1988. FT Island adds a rock flavor to this song. Lee Hong Ki’s refreshing vocals matched with Song Seung Hyun’s rap liven this exciting track.

At No. 5, After School’s sub-unit Orange Caramel is back again. Continuing their “One Of Asia” theme which produced the hit single “Bangkok City” earlier this year. This time the lovely girls take their act to Shanghai with a Chinese flavored theme “Shanghai Romance”. This song has an all-star production team – composed by famous songwriter Cho Young Soo, who always like to explore new themes in his music, and the lyrics is by none other than Super Junior’s Kim Hee Chul.  This combination is definitely going to help boosting the popularity of this song, as it moves up 12 spots to No. 5 this week.

An even bigger move is found at No. 6.  Kim Hyun Joong’s “Lucky Guy” is up 14 spots from last week. SS501 members have all  been busy with solo activities this year. The latest hit by Kim Hyun Joong adds to the collection of many solo songs by SS501 members to reach the top 10.  “Lucky Guy” is an upbeat funky number with electric guitar and brass sounds. As a long time fan of rock music, Kim Hyun Joong combines dance with rock music for fans this time.

Our highest debut this week is at No. 7. Secret’s “Love Move” which enters the chart right into the top 10. After successful hits like “Magic”, “Madonna” last year, and “Shy Boy”, “Starlight Moonlight” this year, the talented quartet finally release their first full length album. “Love Move” is an addictive pop dance number produced by hit maker Kang Ji Won and Kim Ki Bum. The song holds lyrics about girls not being easy and to do well while you can. Secret has been very successful on our chart and is definitely a front runner for this year’s girl groups award.

At No. 9, Supreme Team member Simon D releases his first solo album “SNL League Begins”.  Title song “Cheerz” becomes his first solo top 10 hit. If this song’s style sounds kind of familiar to you, it may be because it is written by Keeproots and Clover members. Clover just had their hit song “Oppa I Know” dropped out of the top 10 this week.

The last new song at No. 10 is Lee Seung Ki’s digital single “Dating Generation”. This song is a preview song from his 5^th album to be released soon. Upon its release, this song immediately topped many internet charts.  Lee Seung Ki is expected to begin his full scale comeback next month.

Even though it is not yet in the top 10, but a song worth mentioning is SNSD’s long awaited comeback hit “The Boys” is just under the top 10 at No. 11 this week. This song has not appeared on airplay rankings yet, but it certainly will next week. “The Boys” definitely will leapfrog a lot of songs and can’t be ruled out of a big jump all the way to No. 1.

SOOMPI CHART for 2011, Month 10, Week 5

1. (–) Brown Eyed Girls – Sixth Sense ***3rd Week @ No. 1***
Score: 860
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Lee Min Soo / Lyrics: Kim Ina
Album: Brown Eyed Girls Vol. 4 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

2. (+4) Wheesung – 놈들이 온다 (Here They Come)
Score: 827
Genre: RB Ballad

Music: Kim Do Hoon / Lyrics: Wheesung
Album: Wheesung Mini-Album | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

3. (+8) FT Island – 새들처럼 (Like The Birds)
Score: 762
Genre: Rock

Music: Ji Geun Sik / Lyrics: Ji Geun Sik
Album: FTIsland Remake Album – Memory in FTIsland | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

4. (-2) Infinite – 파라다이스 (Paradise)
Score: 738
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Kim Seung Soo, Han Jae Ho / Lyrics: Song Soo Yoon
Album: Infinite Vol. 1 Repackaged Version | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

5. (+12) Orange Caramel – 샹하이 로맨스 (Shanghai Romance)
Score: 690
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Cho Young Soo / Lyrics: Kim Hee Chul
Album: Orange Caramel Single Album – Shanghai Romance | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

6. (+14) Kim Hyun Joong (SS501) – Lucky Guy
Score: 674
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Steven Lee / Lyrics: Kim Tae Wan
Album: Kim Hyun Joong Mini Album Vol. 2 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

7. (new) Secret – 사랑은 MOVE (Love Move)
Score: 582
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Kang Ji Won, Kim Ki Bum / Lyrics: Kang Ji Won, Kim Ki Bum
Album: Secret Vol. 1 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

8. (-5) Huh Gak – Hello
Score: 527
Genre: RB Ballad

Music: Choi Gyu Sung, Rado / Lyrics: Choi Gyu Sung, Rado
Album: Huh Gak mini-album Vol. 1 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

9. (+3) Simon D – 짠해 (Cheerz)
Score: 509
Genre: Hip-Hop

Music: Keeproots, Gilmi / Lyrics: Clover
Album: Simon D Vol. 1 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

10. (+6) Lee Seung Ki – 연애시대 (Dating Generation)
Score: 505
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Ra.D / Lyrics: Ra.D, Lee Seung Ki
Album: Lee Seung Ki digital single “Dating Generation”
Watch: MV

Rank
Artist
Song
Score
11
SNSD (new)
The Boys
491
12
Kara (-7)
Step
474
13
Jung Yup (–)
눈물나 (Flowing Tears)
430
14
Davichi (-7)
안녕이라고 말하지 마 (Don’t Say Goodbye)
422
15
Tablo (+3)
Airbag (feat. NaUl)
413
16
Clover (-12)
아는 오빠 (Oppa I Know)
357
17
Ali (-8)
뭐 이런게 다 있어 (How Can There Be Such A Thing)
323
18
Boy Friend (+5)
내 여자 손대지 마 (Don’t Touch My Girl)
320
19
Sung Shi Kyung (-11)
난 좋아 (I Like)
315
20
Baek Ji Young (new)
여기가 아파 (Hurts Here)
309
21
Kim Kyu Jong (-2)
Yesterday
270
22
Zi-A (-8)
내가 이렇지 (Feat. 하동균) (The Way I Am (Feat. Ha Dong Kyun))
268
23
Hyo Rin (Sistar) (new)
내겐 너니까 (To Me It’s You)
227
24
Super Junior (-14)
A-Cha
226
25
Kan Mi Yeon (-1)
안 만나 (Not Meeting)
221
26
B1A4 (-5)
Beautiful Target
214
27
JJ (new)
바본가봐 Part 2 (Must Be A Fool Part 2 (feat. Mighty Mouth))
208
28
Lee Hae Ri (Davichi) (new)
사랑하는 사람아 (The Person I Love)
196
29
Lee Young Hyun (Big Mama) (+4)
사랑이라 쓰고 아픔이라 부른다 (Write Love And Call It Pain)
175
30
Kim Gun Mo (-15)
어제보다 슬픈 오늘 (Today That Is Sadder than Yesterday)
159
31
Maybee (+3)
Goodbye Valentine
152
32
Park Ji Hun (new)
Only You (feat. Ji Young Sun)
144
33
Sistar (-11)
So Cool
143
34
Suh Young Eun (+8)
그게 너라서 (Because That’s You)
140
35
Kim Jang Hoon (-4)
이별 참 나답다 (Breakup Is So Like Me)
115
36
Alex, Horan (new)
꽃이 피네요 (Flower Is Blooming)
108
37
Oh Yoon Hye (+1)
한 사람 (One Person)
102
38
Lee Ssang (-9)
TV를 껐네 (Turn Off The TV)
90
39
Verbal Jint (-9)
좋아보여 (You Look Happy (feat. Black Skirts))
83
40
YB (new)
꿈을 뺏고 있는 범인을 찾아라 (Find The Culprit Who Stole The Dream)
82
41
T-Ara (-9)
롤리 폴리 (Roly Poly)
70
42
U-Kiss (new)
Someday
62
43
AB Avenue (new)
Bye Bye
59
44
Monday Kiz (-19)
다음 사람에게는 (To The Next Person)
58
45
2Boram (new)
2love
54
46
Cho PD (+4)
Family Man
47
47
Ibadi (new)
아빠를 닮은 소녀 (Father And The Girl)
46
48
Cream (M.I.B) (new)
Do U Like Me
45
49
BNR (-12)
사랑을 글로 배워서 (Learned Love Through Writing (feat. Lyn, Verbal Jint))
44
50
G.na (-22)
Top Girl
43

BONUS TRACK:

Kim Hyo Won – 고백해요 (Confess)     
Genre: Pop  Ballad
 
Album: Kim Hyo Won single “Love Is (Part 2)”
Listen To: Full Song
Comment: Singer songwriter, Kim Hyo Won, who is known for her vocal skills, releases her second single album, “Confess” this fall, three months since her first. This song was composed and penned by the singer herself and arranged by Kim Young Un. The lyrical melody along with the singer’s appealing vocals is expected to crumble listener’s hearts with emotions.  (credits to motoway065 for translations)

About the Soompi Music Chart:

Soompi Music Chart is unlike any other music charts or television rankings.  It takes into account not only sales and rankings by various other charts in Korea, but also airplays of each song, the number of live performances and appearances, making it an unbiased and objective tally of what’s going on in the world of K-pop.  Our chart is composed of the following sources:

Air Monitor Chart - 15%
GAON Music Chart – 15%
Various Internet charts (Olleh, Bugs, Melon, Naver, Monkey3, Daum, Cyworld, Soribada) – 15%
ChartKorea - 5%  
Hottracks Weekly Album Sales (1 weeks lag) – 10%
SBS (Inky Gayo Take 7 + SBS Miil weekly rankings) – 10%
MBC Inky Top 100 Chart - 10%
KBS Music Bank K-Chart - 10% 
MNet M!Countdown – 5%
Gasoo appearance on gayo shows  (MBC Music Core, SBS Inky Gayo, KBS Music Bank, M!Countdown) – 10%

Thanks to Mardi09 for helping on this week’s internet chart research and motoway065 for song title translations.

On October 29th, JYJ became the first Korean artist to hold their own concert in Spain. 3,000 fans from all over Europe made the journey to Barcelona to cheer on their beloved idols and take part in a dream coming true.

JYJ held a press conference with both the Korean and Spanish press, answering questions about their limited appearances in Korea as well as their hopes for their European tour.

Reporters asked, “Although you’re promoting in various parts of Asia, the Americas, and Europe, even in places where Korean singers aren’t well known, it seems that we have the hardest time seeing you perform in Korea. Do you have any wishes about being able to promote without restrictions?”

Yoochun replied, “To be honest, I don’t think broadcast appearances are something we should think about… If I had a wish, it would be to be treated fairly. Although I know we can’t do anything about the fact that we’re missing from charts and such… From one perspective, those things are the results and repayment for our Korean fans who buy and listen to our album, so for those results to be missing – it’s upsetting. I wish things like our album sales and other numerical figures that represent the amount of love we’re receiving from the public could be recognized.”

The members also discussed the reasons they chose Spain and Germany as locations for their first Europe tour.

Junsu stated, “Although it’d be nice if we could tour all of Europe, we aren’t able to do that yet… We started receiving love calls from various European cities since last year, but we weren’t sure how far our influence had reached, so rather than coming up with irrational figures, we decided to pick countries that would be easy for fans to gather at… The best locations were Spain for Western Europe, and Germany for North and Eastern Europe. If a second Europe tour is possible, we’d like to perform in more countries.”

When asked whether they had anything special planned for the concert in Spain the next day, Jaejoong replied, “We’ve worked on some passionate performances and acrobatics with a famous local choreographer, Rafa Mendez.” Jaejoong also added that they plan to show themselves as who they are, rather than putting on a different front just for the Europe venture.

He stated, “This Barcelona concert will have about 3,000 audience members. Although it’s small, we think that the majority of the audience will be of JYJ mania fans. Instead of seeing something that got reinterpreted to fit Spain or Europe, I think that they may want something more authentic and ‘Korean’. That’s why even though this is our first European concert, we don’t feel a pressure that’s any different from the usual.”

Junsu agreed, “The order of performance also hasn’t been changed too much from the earlier tour in the Americas… We are coming as K-Pop and Hallyu singers, so I think that there will be a lot of fans who want to see our way of holding concerts. We didn’t try to make a special change. We will try to show ourselves as we are.”

In addition to their concert in Spain, the members were also invited to perform at the Spain Manga Festival. The boys will now move on to Berlin, Germany, for their concert on November 6th.

Source + Photos: Osen 1, 2, 3

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Updated 10/29/2011 02:20 PM

By: Lewis Dodley

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The new and improved Madison Square Garden kicked things off with a bang this week as Asian pop sensation Girls Generation took to the stage. NY1′s Lewis Dodley filed the following report.

Their name is Girls Generation. The nine-member group from South Korea was one of seven acts brought to New York by SM Entertainment who packed the arena at Madison Square Garden.

Watch an extended QA with the members of Girls Generation below.

Their energy, youthful beauty and catchy tunes shot them up the charts in Asia. Now they’ve set their sights on the U.S.

Their first English single called “The Boys” was released just last week but will it make Girls Generation a household name.

“Hopefully it will. We worked with Teddy Riley for the single. And he was very comforting and I think the result came out really well,” said Girls Generation member Jessica.

The single is one thing, but is America ready for nine girls in one group?

“Definitely looking forward to U.S. fans liking Girls Generation because there’s a variety of personalities and people so I think you can take your choice,” said Girls Generation member Tiffany.

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to the growing number of so called K-Pop groups. Though there are more than a million Asians in New York and 14 million across the country their goal is to appeal to the broader U.S market — something made easier by the power of the Internet.

“Five years ago it would be hard to imagine that people in Europe or all over the world would be listening to K-Pop,” said Key of SHINee.

And five years from now we might be wondering what took so long in the first place.

Girls Generation Sets Sights On U.S. Fan Base

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K-Pop stars have been celebrating Halloween with fellow singers! miss A’s Min, 2AM’s Jo Kwon, and Brian Joo from Fly to the Sky kept their fans up to date with pictures and posts from their Twitter.

Min has garnered attention for her realistic Halloween party costume. Singer Zhang Li Yin even posted on her microblog: “I met miss A! The costumes were awesome” along with a picture with Min and ex-U-KISS member, Alexander.

In the picture, Min is dressed up as a virgin ghost (well-known urban legend in Korea) wearing heavy makeup with a messy hairstyle. She added realistic touches through red paint all over her face and clothes to portray as blood.

Netizens who had had viewed the picture responded: “It is cool that she was noticed,” “This is very real,” and “This is what you call a Halloween costume.”

On the other hand, Jo Kwon uploaded a couple of pictures on his Twitter with the title “Halloween.” Jo Kwon is dressed up as a tiger and smiling widely at the camera in the revealed pictures.

Even the people who had taken the pictures with the singer were dressed up for Halloween. Netizens who had had viewed Jo Kwon’s pictures responded, “I was curious what you were up to these days but you look like you are enjoying yourself,” “You look like a cute, baby tiger,” and “Who is the girl next to Jo Kwon?”

Brian Joo also posted on his Twitter with a picture and captioned: “Me, Min, Jo Kwon in our Halloween costumes~ I’m supposed to be a waiter ”

Some of the ballad singer’s followers commented, “LOL! I wish I could have fun like you guys too~ D:,” “Ah~ a waiter costume?!,” and “Wow everyone looks so pretty and handsome~!!!! What are you supposed to be oppa?? Keke (lol).”

Following the last comment, Min commented on Brian Joo’s picture: “hahahhaha u shouda done something crazy! Like me (:”

Check out Min’s, Jo Kwon’s, and Brian Joo’s Twitter for more updates!

Following a two-day pre-sale period exclusively to O2 mobile users, “United Cube in London” opened ticket sales to the general public on October 31. Featuring 4minute, BEAST, and G.NA, the first-ever K-Pop concert in the UK will take place at the historical O2 Brixton Academy on December 5 6.

You can purchase tickets through the Live Nation website (www.livenation.co.uk) here. The concert is jointly organized by Cube Entertainment, CABA Entertainment, and Live Nation.

“K-Pop has arrived in the UK. Cube is honored and proud to present our artists in Europe. It means a lot to all of us. This will be the chance to light the fire and mark a new phase in K-Pop,” Hong Seung Sun, the CEO of Cube Entertainment said in a statement.

Yoon Du Jun, the leader of BEAST, also said, “We know lots of European fans have been waiting for this show. We are really happy and looking forward to having the show in this great venue where many respectable singers have performed. We will do our best to make it a memorable show.”

The two-day concert will take place at the famed O2 Brixton Academy. Built in 1929, the concert hall staged events for countless pop stars, including Madonna, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Manson, and Rihanna, in the past.