K-pop artists crossing into J-rock really working or not?

There seems to be a big boom in Kpop artists once again trying to cross over into the world of J-pop. Music and image wise it would smart to assume it is much easier for a K-pop artist to transfer over to another type of pop. Despite this there is a few artist who despite being pop artists in their homeland decide to take on a totally different image and genre when entering Japan's music scene. Sometimes changing a genre works sometimes it doesn't. The two artists recently entering the Jrock sphere are actor/singer Jang Geun Suk and and Duo M&D. Below are their PVs ( promotional videos,what music videos are called in Japan) and my reviews of the music and the video.

Jang Geun Suk- Let me Cry

When I first heard that Jang Geun Suk would be entering the Japanese music market as a rock artist I was happily shocked. Then I began to wonder how would this sound really? Would it sound like rock or pop with some guitars added into the background? Would the video fit the mold of this genre? I finally received the answer to my first question when I heard the audio of Let me cry, the harpsichord in the very beginning threw me off but my doubts were quickly quieted once the guitar riff started.

   No it was not pop music with a few guitars added in. The music was mostly devoid of synth which is really good in my book and I'm sure in the books of jrock fans. While it may not be "hard core" (which it surely isn't) I believe this a great attempt at breaking into the Jrock sphere. Jang Geun Suk's  slightly deep voice blended very well with guitars without being drowned out.In a small way he reminds me of Japanese rock artist Hyde ( check him out on youtube).
The music video was done very well  its grungy disjointed feel gave off the feeling of the young man (or woman?) in the song.

 M&D (Heecul and Jangmo)- Shut ur mouth

When I first heard about the duo M&D composed of Heechul from Super Junior and The Traxx Jungmo I was not as enthused as I was about Jang Geun Suk. I first raised my eyebrow at Heechul singing rock music. Second like with Jang Geun Suk I was concerned about the music, would it really be rock? Then I remembered it was a duo and Heechul's partner would be Jungmo from The Trax!! He has Xmas (his name from the trax) on his side!! Maybe this will be a real rock song! Sadly my hopes were dashed when I heard the audio for their song Shut ur mouth. In the first seconds I knew what I was in for.. the first thing you here is very loud synth accompanied by a guitar strike to reassure you that its a "Rock" song. However nothing can reassure me that this a rock song. Even though the melody of the song is  very catchy, Heechul's voice is extremely auto tuned in the chorus a major bad in my book for a rock song. Sadly with the exception of Jungmo's guitar break. This turned out to be a synth filled pop song with some guitars added in.
   Despite being let down by the song its self I hoped the video maybe would give them more of a rock image. Maybe they would wear some edgy clothes and Jungmo would wear his awesome Xmas eyeliner again (not really ) and rock out on his guitar . Only to be let down again the video is in a way acting out what is going on in the song a guy pretty much telling his girl to get lost. Heechul gets up picks up a camera and tries to leave his girl behind and while trolling the hallways bumps into different musical celebs. While not high budget I must admit it was kinda funny but I don't think it does the song justice. In my opinion its not a  real rock song to enter the jrock world they should call it a  techno pop song.

So I think you can see which songs I am going to say would work (Let me cry) and which one wouldn't (shut ur mouth).  In the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter as long as the fans love the songs.

Just for fun here's what Xmas used to look like in the Trax (too bad you can't really see his eyeliner)



wasn't he cool!











What do you think the concept is?

The group photo of the new Super Junior concept was released today.



Its very colorful and a bit unusual compared to the rest of the pop world. Like I stated in the post about Leetuk I hope the music is just as unusual as the concept photos. My question to you is what do you think the concept is?

TEEN TOP's comeback Roman bringing old skool back?

Nice!!

     It's no surprise that I like TEEN TOP to a degree. I featured them in the first segment of my ongoing series of K-pop that could make it in the U.S. for their song "Super Luv" it's also no secret that I'm a huge fan of old school K-pop. So I was happily surprised when I saw the teaser for their new single "Don't spray perfume" . The video that caught my ear was the R&B version of the song below

from the start I was taken back to the 90's with the tinny guitar chords with the smooth melody and old school drum beat (man the 90s were good times). This  song would be a welcome break from the extremely autotuned "electro" and "techno"  type of music that seems to be all the rage these last couple of years ( and still raging on).

     I had been secretly wishing that someone would bring out a old school type song ( * cough*Jang Woo Hyuk* cough) to no avail. Maybe the fact that Eric ( from old school band Shinhwa) who had a hand in forming TEEN TOP had an influence of this song's direction?

 Even the cover eludes back to the old school days when groups(both female and male) often wore the same outfit sometimes in different colors. Bold colors were also very prominent in the 90's (something the younger generation makes fun of).

    The next day they released another version  of the same song this  "cool" version  sounds very much like the electronic pop of today and I'm pretty sure (  and dissapointed) that this will be the version they will make their comeback with. I can only hope that they will perform the R&B version and bring old skool back!!!

what's this?! something different ? (for a change) - a rant

Leeteuk from Super Junior

What's wrong with this picture? How long have fans been complaining that there has been a lack of creativity in Idol's images and music, tired of the same old same old? So why are fans complaining? Wouldn't a unusual style like this make your beloved idol standout among the clones?
Or is it a double standard? Its ok for female Idols to dress in strange colors and costumes but wrong if a male attempts the same? What do you think? (no really what do you think?)
I personally like the photo it sure did attract my eye (which I'm pretty sure is it's purpose). I can only hope the album this photo is promoting is just as interesting.

p.s. oh yeah and here's Eunhyuk

he kinda reminds me of  like Ash Crimson

Tony An -Top Star

   I was admittedly excited when Tony An mentioned he would release a new mini album, his first since his return from the Army. So I ordered it as soon as I could and got the one that came with a poster.
  After I went and picked up my package from the post office (-_-) and opened the package I was pleased with the quality of the packaging. Despite being a mini album the cd wasn't housed in a regular cd case but a small book like case with a little photo booklet of high quality photos of Tony An glued in (so it cant be lost I assume) even the cd had a nice design on it.
  I know that I am more than likely in the minority on the theme of this mini album. As an occasional ten gallon hat wearer myself, I appreciate when others take the style and  use it as a theme for a non country based music single. Also in the world of k-pop where everything is fashion based Tony An's theme stood out like a green dot on a red sheet of paper which is probably what he wanted.
   As  for the tracks this mini album is a big departure from his previous works like Believe (1st album) and  Yutzpracachia's Love (2nd album) where his commercial hits had a more sad/smooth sound with the exception of "Melody" (which was pop rock).  The title track "Top Star" is incredibly upbeat with its simple melody and almost completely synthesized music is most definitely meant to be a pop dance song.  I do like the fact that they try to make it more interesting adding layers of digitized drum loops and background vocals and I detected a disco beat in the bridge before Tony's rap section. Sadly like usual I didn't really enjoy the title track I guess I was expecting a more deeper or thoughtful song but it came out just in time to be a fun spring/summer song. Also I must admit is great to see him perform it with the dances  it seems to brighten the audiences mood.
   After Top Star is Truble Maker  that's right Truble not trouble.  Tony changes it up again going in the pop rock direction  like "Melody". The chorus of the song is were I think Tony shines greatly (except the I'm so trouble maker part ). Lastly Thank You feat. Simon D is an interesting song music wise. I like how it starts off with marching drums and a piano medley and the the background drums speed up which is usual (to have a fast beat with a slow piano medley) on the chorus Tony's vocal tone reminded me of his older works which is a plus for me. The following track is not a new song but a remix of his single I am going to see you right now that he released after leaving the army.  The original version of this song  gives you a feel of some of Tony's older works if you haven't heard any. The remix however tried to "update" it adding in the high pitched synthesizers  taking away the surprising smoothness the original had. I would recommend you give the original a listen. The last track is the instrumental version of Top Star which I didn't think would be interesting at all but was slightly surprised. In the instrumental it is easier to hear the layers of synth and  digital drums and the work that was put into the song.
    The mini album as a whole is a definite departure from his old style its too early to see if he will stay completely with this new style of music but hopefully he'll release a song or two in his previous styles that gained him so many fans.