2009 was an interesting year in the Korean music scene. We saw internal struggles between bands and record labels as well as several loved artists losing their members. To commemorate this, the KoME team took a look back over an eventful year and picked our highlights and lowlights.
Hopefully 2010 will prove to be just as memorable but maybe for better reasons.
R.: Brazilian team - Global moderator
Best album: Super Junior - SORRY, SORRY
K-Pop albums generally are not this cohesive and tight. I tend to prefer albums over singles because I really believe that the final order of the songs is what gives the album its overall tone. So every song has a place and meaning. With this album, Super Junior proved that they matured their sound a little bit but still managed to keep that same upbeat and fun spirit.
Best single: Big Bang - Gara Gara GO!!
Amazing song: It's catchy, anthemic and one of the highlights of Big Bang's career. Couldn't stop humming this song for over a month and still pops up randomly in my head.
Best DVD: Big Bang - Big Show
I don't think anything can come close this year. The packaging is beautiful, the technical aspects are great and the performances are top-notch.
Best thing that happened: Getting to know more about the Korean scene was really the highlight of my year. Korean pop won my heart forever (thanks Vanessa).
Worst thing that happened: Jaebeom quitting 2PM. The whole incident was horrible for all parties involved - Jaebeom, JYP Entertainment, 2PM, fans, media, netizens.
Expectations for 2010: Dong Bang Shin Ki overcoming their problems with SM Entertainment and making a new Korean album. A Korean artist in Brazil wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Pan: Brazilian team - Global moderator
Best album: Super Junior - Sorry, Sorry. Super Junior have definitely surpassed themselves with this album. It is very common in K-pop to release a CD with a hit and several other boring and unimportant songs. Super Junior’s first albums were not different, but in Sorry, Sorry we have several good songs in addition to the incredible title track, such as Why I like you, Reset, Monster, Shining Star and Neorago, from the repackaged version. About G-Dragon's solo album, all I can say is "love”!
Best single: 2NE1 - Fire. Since their debut, 2NE1 has been taking Korea by storm and without a doubt they were the best newcomers of 2009. Fire is one of the best songs of the year and shows the group’s incredible versatility.
Best DVD: Big Bang - Big Show. Just by having the orchestral version of Haru, Haru, the DVD didn’t need anything else to be the release of the year, but as the hits are sung, it shows the band’s evolution and the undeniable charisma of the members.
Best thing that happened: Big Bang in Japan, 2NE1, Super Junior’s comeback, the deserved recognition of SNSD, G-Dragon solo album, Wonder Girls in America.
Worst thing that happened: It was definitely not a good year for the k-music world. Disagreements between DBSK and SM Entertainment, the spread of swine flu that knocked out several artists, Daesung’s accident, Kangin’s problems with the police and Jaebeom leaving 2PM.
Expectations for 2010: I hope DBSK stay together and Big Bang take over Japan.
Jade: French team - Global moderator
Best album: G-Dragon - Heartbreaker.
Best single: F(x) - LaChAta.
I fell in love with this new girl band. They are talented and I love the fact that they are not just Korean, but also American-born Chinese and Chinese.
Best DVD: Big Bang - Big show. Awesome, I totally fell for it and the boys are more and more talented and funny.
Best thing that happened: Wonder Girls in America, F(x) and Epik High in France for the Midem. The fact that we can learn more and more about Korean music.
Worst thing that happened: I think it was pretty difficult for Korean music (pop or rock), this year. Disagreements between DBSK and SM Entertainment, plus the spread of the swine flu (very strong in Asia). It seems that everyone was going through a hard time, even us.
Expectations for 2009: I hope KoME will get more and more popularity and I'm waiting impatiently for Cheon Sang Ji Hee The Grace's comeback on the musical scene!
Katy : German team - Global moderator
Best album: Epik High - Map The Soul. Epik High parted with their label and tried to get their music out on their own. With Map The Soul they went back to their hip-hop roots and combined them with melodic pop sounds. With their own new label they reinvented themselves, so Epik High is not just a music group anymore -they also stand for a new movement in the music industry. Their first release, Map The Soul, was original and combined a lot of styles, offering a song for every occasion and person.
Best single: 2ne1 ft Big Bang - Lollipop. Colorful, popish, funky - 2ne1 appeared before the public as female Big Bang but quickly proved they can stand on their own feet. A catchy song together with their sunbae's was what brought them into the spotlight but throughout the year their popularity rose and they quickly became one of the most successful girl bands of the year. I was never a fan of girl groups but they got me completely and I'm a fan now.
Best thing that happened: Wonder Girls in America. Definitely. JYP knows how to promote his girls in a foreign country. Appearances in talk shows and hit show So you think you can dance made the K-pop fandom hope next year more and more Korean stars venture into the US market.
Worst thing that happened: Way too much. Surely the two biggest scandals : Jay leaving 2pm and DBSK filing a lawsuit against their label SM. Now Super Junior members have also followed their lead and we can only hope 2010 sees them happily united with their bandmates again.
Expectations for 2009: SM Entertainment’s artists getting what they deserve and especially DBSK and Super Junior to stay together. KoME growing more and more and, well, good music!
Simi : German team
Best album: Brian - Manifold. And I thought I'd never come to like Brian
Best single : Browneyed Girls - Abracadabra. It's always fun to watch people when this track is played.
Best thing that happened: Got to see Epik High live.
Worst thing that happened : Well, probably what everyone else thinks: Swine flu, Jaebom-Incident, and TVXQ's dispute with SM.
Expectations for 2010: Fewer scandals, more good music!
The KoME team would like to wish all of our readers a happy new year!
