Ok-Pop’s first technology is commonly referenced as the muse for the business we get pleasure from now, however there aren’t sufficient good English-language sources that give its music the main focus it deserves. I’m hoping to alter that with a unbroken flashback collection, spotlighting private highlights from the period – each iconic and obscure.
The period in query is commonly thought of to run from the debut of Search engine marketing Taiji & Boys in 1992 to the emergence of TVXQ in late 2003. The music featured on this collection will largely match inside that time-frame, give or take a number of years on both facet.
It was a time of bonkers tune buildings, wild trend, slamming techno beats, unhealthy reggae impressions, flagrant use (theft?) of American hip-hop samples, hearty energy ballads, foul language, the growliest rapper tones you’ll be able to think about and an anything-goes scrappiness that’s inconceivable to pigeonhole. To borrow the identify of a preferred second-gen act, these years have been the “huge bang” of an rising musical powerhouse, nonetheless discovering its footing and throwing all the things on the wall.
Try different “Again to Ok-pop’s First Technology” evaluations right here.
South Korea’s necessary enlistment for younger males stays a thorny subject, nevertheless it was no extra consequential to the Ok-pop panorama than in 2002 when widespread Yoo Seung-jun was banned from the nation for acquiring U.S. citizenship and thus evading his conscription. It’s a wild story, as he went from one of the vital profitable stars of the period to a blacklisted afterthought within the annuls of Ok-pop historical past. I don’t search to move judgment on this case in both route, however I do wish to shine highlight on his glorious discography.
Other than his music’s cringey obsession with “west facet” gangster language, his six albums of this period are filled with hits and buried treasures. 2000’s Summit Revival is my private favourite album, however I’d prefer to characteristic the lead single from his 2001 follow-up Infinity right now.
This tune represents a lot of what I like about Seung-jun’s sound. He’s a gifted vocalist, rapper and dancer and his music typically constructed upon the ‘new jack swing meets industrial funk’ sound acts like Michael Jackson and Bobby Brown constructed within the early 90’s. WOW is a cavalcade of rhythms, staccato and harsh and made for sharp choreography. The melodies are equally participating, jabbing and punching in a manner that will turn out to be extra frequent in Ok-pop’s second technology. In reality, I assume BTOB’s 2012 hit Wow is a little bit of an ode to this tune. The titles can’t merely be a coincidence, proper?
For reference, I’m linking the “Pt.2” model of WOW right here. It’s the superior model and the one he promoted. For some cause, the music video makes use of “Pt.1”, which is mainly a unique tune. I’ll embrace that too, nevertheless it’s not almost pretty much as good.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 9.5 |
Grade: A
