IS:SUE -- Quartet -- Performance Video
https://youtu.be/YtMV1tJ8Nrs?si=zOsmjLuZYS9mO0FG

I continue to delight in this blending of the K into Jpop.

#Jpop #ISSUE #Quartet #JKpop #KJpop

🧵 1/2
Kana Nishino ft. NiziU -- Love Beat
https://youtu.be/AgqTpVY_T_k?si=1wK-6qgVV4wSfdxi

I've been enjoying NiziU of late and this MV will allow this pleasure to continue, even though I don't think the rap/sing-talk section fits in very well with the rest of this upbeat song.

I was impressed by the song being a real collaboration and was charmed by the para para dance moves and the overall cuteness of the MV. I am aware that some will find it too sugary or even oppressive in its hypergirliness.

When I first read the title, a little part of me hoped that it would be a version of...

#Jpop #Niziu #KanaNishino #LoveBeat #JKpop #KJpop

NiziU -- Too Bad
https://youtu.be/b_GqrwmptWo?si=2XpCHzcrymysRrc4

Although Nick James of thebiaslist.com, whose pop music taste is not a million miles away from mine, was decidedly lukewarm about this track in his weekly Jpop round up, I must say I love it - it's a great piece of dance pop. It's catchy, with a beat that you just have to move to, and in the final chorus there is ad libbing and a kick in of percussion to make the whole track satisfying.

The MV works well too. It's crammed with detail, so worth replaying with pauses, but doesn't seem cluttered; the co-ordination of colour and outfits helps keep it together. The choreography, executed with the help of back up dancers, is as good as that of a Kpop group.

In fact, this MV exists in that sweet spot where Korean and Japanese idol pop meet. I love it, I love it, I love it!

#Jpop #NiziU #TooBad #KJPop #JKPop #GirlGroups

MADEIN -- Nagomi

After a good deal of internal debate, I decided not to post MADEIN -- Super Obvious.

Although the song interests me for various reasons, I was mindful of the boycott a group of fans have announced following former member Gaeun telling of her being sexually assaulted by a senior executive at the agency.

The boycott seems to have been largely ineffectual, as the group seems to be getting decent figures on Spotify and YouTube. I don't know about their album sales, but I do know that they have a sizeable Japanese following who seem either unaware or just heedless of the calls for boycott.

I did think about posting a music show stage which maybe half a dozen people would watch and balanced the pleasure that post might provide me and one or two people here against the surely negligible benefit the post would provide for the bad actor at the agency.

But then I interrupted these utilitarian calculations by imagining what it would be like if Gaeun were sitting here with me. Wouldn't she feel hurt and betrayed if I pressed the post button?

So eventually I have decided not to post the video, but still feel frustrated all the same.

In addition, another part of me is thinking that my spending time and energy agonizing over a Kpop post on Mastodon is remiss in itself when I have all sorts of other and surely more important obligations to meet.

On the other hand....

The pictured member Nagomi was born in London. She left the city when she was three, but I think might still have family connections there. She admires Eunha, so that's a thumbs up from me, and she deserves another for looking so pretty here with her blonde bob.

#Kpop #MADEIN #KpopPix #Nagomi #JKpop #KJpop #Boycotts #MoralDilemma

Thank you @Erzbet for coming up with #onomatopoeia as a theme for #KpopMonday .

After School -- Shh
https://youtu.be/KN030ZVdMWY?si=RHdRbuwivitPr7c4

Japanese releases from Kpop groups can be so good.

#Kpop #AfterSchool #Shh #KJpop #JKpop

Every weekend I look back at the preceding week in Kpop and pick out a music video or performance that I have particularly liked. This week I have chosen XG – Hypnotize.

Although I wouldn’t put XG in my top tier of groups, I’ve definitely been warming up to them since the release of “Gala” last year. The MV for “Hypnotize” is striking, but I’ve chosen this stage because dancing seems appropriate for the disco/house/club sound. Chisa looks great, especially with her pink pixie cut!

XG -- Hypnotize
https://youtu.be/nFxCY9vrQwA?si=iSWM_AT9g0oCVxX3

#Kpop #KpopOfTheWeek #XG #Hypnotize #Jpop #Kjpop #Jkpop #GlobalPop #KpopStyling
@kpop @[email protected]

#KpopFediChallenge2025

-- OST

ILLIT sang "Almond Chocolate" as part of the OST for the Japanese film "It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love". Subsequently this MV was released.

Girl group synth /orchestral pop is absolutely my cup of tea, and I am not bothered by the vocal processing. The video is sweet too.

#Kpop #ILLIT #Jpop #KJpop #JKpop #OST #AlmondChocolate #ItTakesMoreThanAPrettyFaceToFallInLove #OrchestralPop #GirlGroups

https://youtu.be/qlgEadao-Sk?si=_WKO_mGyHFhodxZV

NiZiU -- Emotion -- Performance Video
https://youtu.be/uHlZlNY29H0?si=7P2FNdtANHNNPgTf

I'm charmed!

As is so often the case, I prefer the performance video to the original MV.

It's probably too packaged & polished Kpop in Japanese for a lot of Jpop fans, while those for whom the cute doesn't click will find this the ick!

Both music and dance reminded me at times of early Twice.

#Jpop #JKPop #KJpop #NiZiU #Emotion

ME:I -- Royal Energy -- Dance Practice Video
https://youtu.be/3WWcL8VW9Ms?si=lNcmDpnDUOrpzywe

I hope they release a proper performance video for this song.

#MEI #RoyalEnergy #Jpop #Kpop #KJpop #JKpop #DancePractice

As a Kpop loving Jpop fringenibbler, I find ME:I so appealing.

ME:I -- TGC 2025 A/W FULL performance THIS IS ME:I + MUSE + Click
https://youtu.be/88om1656TiA?si=nIVTMYm56JNHfcH4

#Jpop #KJpop #JKPop #MEI #TokyoGirlsCollection #ThisIsMeI #Muse #Click #GirlGroups