March In Music

With March comes spring, so it's not a surprise that we were graced with songs and music videos that have a spring atmosphere. There were also awaited the awaited returns of popular boy groups Got7, B.A.P, and Monsta X. Moreover, Beast rebranded themselves as Highlight, Taeyeon dropped her first full album and SM kicked off season 2 of SM Station. Here are my Asian pop picks of March, not limited to Korean music.

1. B.A.P. - Wake Me Up

Released: March 6th

Korean

B.A.P. go darker and deeper in 'Wake Me Up'. The song, which is a combination of edgy rock and rugged rap, urges listeners to be awakened to reality. I found the music video to be...interesting but creepy. There are frightful scenes of people who are depicted with mental issues and emotional turmoil. Out of all the dark imagery and serious message, though, there is a hidden positive message: an emotional revolution. "putting back together the messy puzzle pieces in this game...Vive la revolution...Free, love, real, ill."
Review: Song - 4.5/5  MV - 2.5/5

2. Kisum X Cao Lu X Yerin - It's Spring Again

Released: March 15th

Korean

'It's Spring Again' is a three-person collaboration with Fiestar's Cao Lu, Gfriend's Yerin and soloist Kisum. It has a sweet, acoustic-based melody and a pastel music video that suits the current lush season. The lyrics express not being able to enjoy spring because they don't have a boyfriend. The girls also make other funny complaints, 'Why is it spring again? I’m allergic to pollen.Who does this benefit?"Overall, I really like 'Spring Again' because it's an all-girl affair. Such projects between female idols of different companies don't happen often!
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 4/5

3. Apink - Bye Bye

Released: March 21st

Japanese

In their 7th Japanese single, the girls of Apink say farewell to a flawed relationship and enjoy each others' company instead. 'Bye Bye' starts with warped sounds of a music box and turns into a mid-tempo bubblegum pop track, that is much like their Korean releases. Apink is as pure and girlish as usual, in a garden with cherry blossoms while wearing pastel tones that are perfect for spring.
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3/5

4. Monsta X - Beautiful

Released: March 21st

Korean

Monsta X complete their album trilogy with the release 'The Clan Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter'. 'Beautiful' is the lead single of the group's first full album. It opens with bubbly electronic synths which are followed by a barrage of abrasive rap from members Jooheon and IM. The song. which shifts between hip-hop and electro-pop, recovers from the roughness and welcomes a smooth chorus. What's more is, Monsta X demand your attention with their impressive choreography that exudes style and manliness!
Review: Song - 4/5  MV - 5/5

5. Shiny - Trainer

Released; March 27th

Mandarin

Shiny (姚亦晴) is a fresh-faced 20-year-old soloist from Taiwan. She has shown herself to have a powerful alto voice which she puts together with the music of the ballad and techno genre. Currently, Shiny is promoting her first full-length album 'Getting Stronger' which was released in January. 'Trainer (馴獸師)' is the record's latest single and features groovy synths with a mature, but hipster sound.
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 2.5/5

6. Red Velvet - Would U

Released: March 30th

Korean

'Would U' is the leading single of SM Station Season 2 and is sung by the vocal angels of Red Velvet. This medium tempo track tells of a girl's shyness as she approaches the one she has fallen for. Hopelessly smitten, she starts to imagine how her love would come true. Red Velvet's Irene stars in the music video with Kim Min Jae of BtoB as her love interest. Irene roams around in a garden, reading notes until her future beau ultimately finds her amongst the flowers.
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3.5/5

Sources:
Info: 1,3,5a,5b
Images: 1,2,3,4,5,6

Visual: Sports Concept

Some k-pop and c-pop music videos with sporty themes! :)

1. Twice - Cheer Up!
Cheerleader

2. Ikon - Rhythm Ta

Basketball

3. AOA - Heart Attack

Lacrosse

4. Popu Lady - Lady First

Basketball

5. EXO - Love Me Right

Football

6. Girls' Generation - Oh!

Cheerleader

7. Orange Caramel - Lipstick

Table Tennis

8. Apink - Mr. Chu

Tennis

Playlist 6. Sweethearts (Girl Ver.)

Theme: Sweet
Songs with a [♥] are my preference/a personal favorite.

A collection of sweet, lovey-dovey songs to raise your blood sugar! All the singers/groups in this playlist are girls, a boy version with the same theme is coming soon! 

1. AOA Cream - I'm Jelly Baby

Korean

AOA Cream is a sub-unit from Aoa, featuring members Hyejeong, Yuna and Chanmi. The MV is bright pink with a dessert theme and slightly inspired by Sailor Moon. Hyejeong gets jealous when she finds her boyfriend with another girl.

2. Red Velvet - Oh Boy

Korean ♥

Songs like these are why I am a Red Velvet fan! The song really showcases their vocal abilities in this r&b track. I also like how they experiment with the dance music genre.

3. Popu Lady - Love Bomb

Mandarin

Popu Lady is a k-pop-esque girl group from Taiwan. So if you're wary about listening to c-pop, you should start with Popu Lady. Their early songs are cute and bubbly with a concept similar to that of A pink. Not to mention 'Love Bomb' is incredibly catchy!

4. A Pink - LUV

Korean

A pink stayed true to their cute concept in LUV. It's safe to say this song is an A Pink classic. "Do you remember the time we spent together? L.o.v.e. Luv!"

5. Girls' Generation - Gee

Japanese ♥

'Gee' was my very first k-pop song! No doubt it paved the way for the recent K-pop era and is a well known classic. All this aside I prefer the Japanese version. Shinee's Minho is featured in both music videos!

6. Twice - Ohh Ahh

Korean

Monster rookie Twice's debut song. So far Twice only have one mini album, but their lead single crushed the charts. The members are bright and the song is catchy enough. I included the dance version.

9. Orange Caramel - Lipstick

Korean ♥

Orange Caramel is a sub-unit of girl group After School. I love all OC's songs and this is in my favorites. Raina, Nana and Lizzy sport orange jersey dresses and crush on a tennis player. At the end of the MV, they battle some sort of tennis princess. Funny!

10. Jolin Tsai - Phony Queen

Mandarin ♥ 

Everything about 'Phony Queen' is to die for; from the song, lyrics and even the weird outfits. Apparently, Jolin wants to marry a phone, because it's more tolerable than a real man. "Want to be in a relationship? As it turns out the real is inferior to the fake".

11. TTS - Good-Bye, Hello
Korean

TaeTiSeo (the third sub-unit on this list) are from Girls' Generation. They received a lot of attention for debut song 'Twinkle' however their non-title tracks deserve attention too.

12. f(x) - Rum Pum Pum

Korean ♥

F(x) ambush the one that they love in 'Rum Pum Pum'. "Ouch! your head will hurt, you won’t be able to sleep, you won’t forget me easily, your true first love that appeared." The MV is as bold and vivid as the lyrics - I want those plaid dresses!

Playlist 5. Bloom

Theme: Flowers

Songs with a [♥] are my preference/a personal favorite.

Spring is near! So, here's a playlist with a flower theme and relaxing mood.

1. Lee Hi - Rose

Korean ♥

Lee Hi sings of the bitterness that hides behind the sweetness of love;"Every rose has its thorn". Her sass is toned down for this ballad, but Hi keeps her soulfulness. This song took a few listens for me to like, but now it's on replay.

2. Ailee - Ice Flower

Korean ♥

'Ice Flower' is part of the OST for the K-Drama 'Queen of Ambition'. It easily could have been a typical ballad, but Ailee made it heart-touching.

3. Xia (Junsu) - Flower

Korean

Not a fan of the music video, but the song is nice enough. It's serious, intense and works well with Junsu's baritone. Tablo is featured in 'Flower'. 

4. Ladies' Code - My Flower

Korean ♥

From the mini-album 'Myst3ry'. I feel like Ladies' Code poured out their hearts while singing this song, there are such heavenly vocals. I was a little disappointed they only released three tracks, but the quality makes up for it!

5. G.E.M. - The Rose

Mandarin ♥

Trans. from "寂寞星球的玫瑰"

A beautiful ballad from G.E.M. that's very emotional. I really admire that she's a singer-songwriter. Her songs never get old.

6. Ailee - Sakura

Japanese/English

Ailee is on this playlist again with an English cover of 'Sakura' by Ikimono Gakari. She calmed down her powerhouse vocals and sang this track more delicately. 

7. K.Will - Love Blossom

Korean

Happy, relaxing and upbeat, it's really sweet. L (Myungsoo) from Infinite stars in the music video.

8. A Pink - Flower Petal

Korean 

A Pink try to decide if they'll tell their crush that the like him while pulling the petals from a flower. "Should I tell you or not? Should I tell you I like you?" The music video is equally playful as the song.