Worried that your friends won’t be ready for K-pop’s inevitable world
takeover? Or, more importantly, do you need more people to listen
to/talk about/cry over your favorite K-pop artists with, but don’t want
to scare potential fans away with the wrong song? Worry no more! MTV K’s
got your back.
Here are ten 2013 releases that not only have “Gangnam Style”-esque universal appeal, but also have the hallyu wave undertow to drag the listener kicking and scream—er… dancing and singing into the world of Korean pop music. Who knows? Soon they could be sleep-deprived from chain-watching music videos with you all night. What a good friend you are.
Jay Park — “I Like to Party”
Seattle-born rapper and singer Jay Park has a knack for cranking out hot tracks and matching them up to sick footwork. Know someone who loves music and partying and music about wild partying? This one’s for them.
Seattle-born rapper and singer Jay Park has a knack for cranking out hot tracks and matching them up to sick footwork. Know someone who loves music and partying and music about wild partying? This one’s for them.
4Minute — “What’s Your Name”
4Minute’s catchy dance track is perfect for that friend who loves songs with earworm hooks. They’ll being singing “what’s your name, wh-whats your name” in no time — make sure you’re prepared for that.
4Minute’s catchy dance track is perfect for that friend who loves songs with earworm hooks. They’ll being singing “what’s your name, wh-whats your name” in no time — make sure you’re prepared for that.
XIA — “Incredible”
XIA, a solo act who is also part of the epic vocal group JYJ, could perform circles around so many other recording artists out there. What’s not to love: he’s got a great voice, high energy dance moves, and this wonderfully diverse music video that speaks to his international fans. (Yes, that’s P.Diddy’s step-son Quincy Brown doing the rap.)
XIA, a solo act who is also part of the epic vocal group JYJ, could perform circles around so many other recording artists out there. What’s not to love: he’s got a great voice, high energy dance moves, and this wonderfully diverse music video that speaks to his international fans. (Yes, that’s P.Diddy’s step-son Quincy Brown doing the rap.)
Sistar 19 — “Gone Not Around Any Longer”
Open the curtains to the sultry and sexy side of K-pop with SISTAR19, a sub-group of one of the hottest girl groups in K-Pop today. Light R&B with a memorable hook with will grab their attention almost as fast as the leggy duo’s mesmerizing choreography.
Open the curtains to the sultry and sexy side of K-pop with SISTAR19, a sub-group of one of the hottest girl groups in K-Pop today. Light R&B with a memorable hook with will grab their attention almost as fast as the leggy duo’s mesmerizing choreography.
Ailee — “U&I”
Grab your friend who loves diva-type singers and dangle this MV in front of them. Rookie artist Ailee isn’t known as “the Korean Beyonce” for nothing—this Jersey girl has a voice to be reckoned with and a stage presence to match.
Grab your friend who loves diva-type singers and dangle this MV in front of them. Rookie artist Ailee isn’t known as “the Korean Beyonce” for nothing—this Jersey girl has a voice to be reckoned with and a stage presence to match.
SHINee — “Dream Girl”
Send your frind on a wild MV ride with this high-energy SHINee single. The pop/funk genre is a running trend in K-pop right now, so if they latch on to “Dream Girl,” it’ll be smooth sailing from here.
Send your frind on a wild MV ride with this high-energy SHINee single. The pop/funk genre is a running trend in K-pop right now, so if they latch on to “Dream Girl,” it’ll be smooth sailing from here.
2NE1 — “Falling in Love”
Is your friend in a warm-weather mood? Hit them with 2NE1′s hip-pop/reggae hit! This radio-friendly track is just as easy to latch on to as the group’s fierce club banger “I Am the Best.”
Is your friend in a warm-weather mood? Hit them with 2NE1′s hip-pop/reggae hit! This radio-friendly track is just as easy to latch on to as the group’s fierce club banger “I Am the Best.”
EXO — “Growl”
Don’t let the sheer number of members in EXO scare your potential K-pop fan away! Just get them to sit still long enough to hear the group’s latest hit: a track with an easy-listening, throwback vibe reminiscent of early ’90s hip-hop in the States.
Don’t let the sheer number of members in EXO scare your potential K-pop fan away! Just get them to sit still long enough to hear the group’s latest hit: a track with an easy-listening, throwback vibe reminiscent of early ’90s hip-hop in the States.
Jaejoong — “Mine”
Got a friend who’s only into J-rock? We got you. Kim Jaejoong (another member of JYJ) drew from Japan’s popular visual kei style, gothing it up for his first solo project. Leather, chains, and heavy eye-liner ahead!
Got a friend who’s only into J-rock? We got you. Kim Jaejoong (another member of JYJ) drew from Japan’s popular visual kei style, gothing it up for his first solo project. Leather, chains, and heavy eye-liner ahead!
Girls’ Generation — “I Got a Boy”
Remember when YouTubers reacted to K-Pop last month? There was only one video that the panelists unanimously loved: Girls’ Generation’s electro-pop jam “I Got A Boy.” According to statistics and science, your potential K-Pop comrade will probably love it, too.
Source: MTVK
