[OMONA ORIGINAL] 5 Underrated Bops Released this Summer '15

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

The summer is almost over and in it K-pop had a multitude of releases. Comebacks, debuts, you name it. A lot of established groups had new releases that guaranteed "success" and if a group had a smaller fandom, there was basically no chance to get recognized, unless you're GFriend, but I digress. Below are groups who released a Certified Bop ™, but were overlooked because someone else happened to comeback at the same time with mediocre. *coughgirlsgernationcough* *coughsistarcough*

1. Nine Muses - Hurt Locker
"Hurt Locker" is Namyu's second release after the departure of Eunji, Lee Sem and Matriarch Sera. Honestly, without Sera was it even worth to continue Nine Muses? YES! "Drama" was alright, not as iconic as "Glue", but no worse than "Gun". "Hurt Locker" is probably the best release of the summer, from anybody! Including that one group that dropped two new singles every month for the past four months. I don't live in Korea and I'm still not sure how promotions work, but I'll say this was under promoted.

2. Playback - Playback
Playback were one of the many groups this summer to brave enough to debut among some heavy competitors. "Playback" is a R&B influenced number reminiscent of early 2000 girl groups like 3LW, 702 and Dream. With strong vocals and a decent rap it's a shame this didn't get more recognition. Even Sooyoung recommended this!

3. Poten - Go Easy
Poten first hit the scene last year with four members and stylized as 4ten with "Tornado" and "Why", both not really being that spectacular. After changes to the line-up they returned this year as Poten with jazz influenced "Go Easy". I guess third time's a charm.

4. D.Holic - Chewy
If I believed in having guilty pleasures, "Chewy" would be the number one song on the playlist. D.Holic debuted last year with maybe the worst song that year. But thankfully you've probably never heard it. It seems their company did exactly the opposite of what they did last year for this comeback. I'll admit it's nothing to write home about, but it's certainly not worst then other songs that have won on music shows this summer...

5. Hellovenus - i'm ill
I was huge Hellovenus fan when they were under Pledis. They had an interesting sound of being cute, but still kinda grown. So when Pledis parted ways with them and they returned as AOA-lite with "Sticky Sticky", I was not here for it. Didn't help it was a Brave Bros. creation. Thankfully he stuck them in another niche with "Wiggle Wiggle", Club Bops ™. Since then I've been hooked, and if Hellovenus wants to be synonymous with booty-popping jams, I'm here for it.

Honourable Mentions
Sonamoo - "Cushion"
Stellar - "Vibrato"
LoveUs - "Tickle"
MelodyDay - "#LoveMe"


kt music 1 CJENMMUSIC Official 2 3 BUGS 4 fantiagomusic 5

what releases do you think were under appreciated this summer? did i miss any? did i mistakenly include any?

Comments

[slowitdownbaby.livejournal.com]

Idgaf what anybody says, Choco Chip Cookies was a cute little bop and much more enjoyable than nearly all of the girl group releases this summer.

[ponpirot.livejournal.com]

It really was. I actually bought it lmao

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Yes to 9Muses,Playback and Stellar, a billion nos to Hello Venus

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

guh, you know you love it.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

hurt locker was the first nine muses song i heard and it's so bland lol, i'm not impressed

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

i didn't include solo artist. that's another post.

[ponpirot.livejournal.com]

Vibrato, Choco Chip Cookies, Awoo and Touch were the only jams I got from the ladies this summer. Everything was meh

[chicology.livejournal.com]

yes awoo is another bop!!!

[pbutterlion.livejournal.com]

the comeback was cute and caught my attention, their hair colors didnt look like a total mess like even popular groups end up looking

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

bless u!!

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

rap in hurt locker was so weak and out of place... other tracks on this list were forgettable. melody day song is a bop tbvh, thanks for putting it on honorable mentions

[kidsalsa20.livejournal.com]

I love this song, it's one of my favorite girl group releases all year. Plus the video is really aesthetically pleasing

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

I don't think Hurt Locker is underrated at all (esp on Omona/Ontd).

I had no idea Hello Venus had a comeback.

Also this was qt for the summer:




Overall, I was a bit disappointed with a lot of the kpop summer releases. Kind of sad when the Infinity Challenge album is better than almost all the other songs that came out :(

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

i know hurt locker gets its just praise internationally, i meant korea tho. it never even cracked top 50 on melon, while sistar was number 1 for weeks.

[racquelle2005.livejournal.com]

I really can't get into any of these..well beside stellar's song but that mv..

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

I second 9 Muses and Playback! Stellar could have made the cut, Vibrato is a jam.
I guess solo artists are for another post? I would have a few suggestions (Lim Kim, Baek Ah Yeon, Hara) Anyway, thanks OP! I really like these kinds of Omona Original <3

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

you're welcome!

[missingmisnomer.livejournal.com]

Only underrated summer bop I can add here is Ring My Bell which didn't win any of the weekly shows sigh. I agree with op about Playback! One of my favourite songs of the summer

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

ring my bell didn't win anything!!?!?! i would have included it. it really was great. i thought for sure it won at least once. but i think it did well digitally.

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

From all of the Girl Group Takeover songs (post WG ofc), Hurt Locker was the only song I found good, although I still didn't like it much enough to download it. I didn't like GFriend's song, but I was totally here for how they kicked the choreo's ass.

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

Yes!! omg... playback chorus little choreo keep stuck in my head, if i could just flip my hair like playback girls do lol

and just for their effort (and for the good laugh) i will share Baby Boo debut

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

lmao that song was actually released in spring... and now i'm a little ashamed for knowing that

[hurtmybones.livejournal.com]

I loved Blady's Oochie Walla Walla!


also hello venus and aoa have become indistinguishable musically because they keep buying the shit brave flops keeps churning out

[frequency.livejournal.com]

melodyday's song was the best one imo.

"i'm ill" makes me angry every time i hear it and i really can't figure out why lmao

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

Honestly kpop needs 2NE1 and f(x) to comeback. They're the only ones who can save it.
(WG & T-ara have done a good job keeping it interesting)

[achan123.livejournal.com]

gurl but Tara's last song O___O
so bland.so unlike Tara...

[kittyboo17.livejournal.com]

I wasn't immediately sold on 9Muses' Hurt Locker but the song grew to be one of my fave songs released this summer, I love it ^^

[belintuchiha.livejournal.com]

Vibrato is the best song this summer tbh

[iviih.livejournal.com]

I really like Hurt Locker! It stuck in my head.

First Nine muses song that I liked tbh, the others omona loved them, but they were not my taste

Yeah I prefer hurt locker than Figaro, news, glue, Ticket (don't kill me! )

[burqaswag.livejournal.com]

I was hoping to see Chewy here.

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

it is! it's number 4

[chastainy.livejournal.com]

""Hurt Locker" is probably the best release of the summer, from anybody! Including that one group that dropped two new singles every month for the past four months. " lmaoooooo

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

this summer i've bought every single all-female kpop single that's come out and it's been rough on my wallet but heaven in my ears
so i didn't miss a one of these! i'm still in shock that hurt locker didn't do well; everyone i know loved it
what will it take for namyu to get their due?!

[kimbafierce.livejournal.com]

Justice for Hurt Locker, the best girl group comeback this summer imo.

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

i really liked HV's song, it's one of the only club songs that i seem to like. i think it's the drop before and after the chorus, the verses are definitely forgettable though.

agree with everything i've listened to on the list though!! minus cushion that was awful and boring even for sonamoo

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

9muses were honestly robbed, hurtlocker is a fucking jam