17 May 2018 - BIGBANG - Fantastic Baby

Wow.

Honestly, after watching this video, I'm not sure there's much more to say.

But there is so much more to say.  This is arguably the biggest K-Pop hit of all time.  It was released in 2012, and was on the US World Digital Singles year-end charts - so, charts for the whole year - in 2012, 2013, and 2014.  No song has charted on that chart (which is a weekly) longer than this one.

The song is a pretty standard dance-club banger, with a Sly and the Family Stone tribute mixed in for good measure.  Or did you think the boom shakalaka was just there because it sounded good?  The beats draw you in - it's a catchy song lyrically as well, especially if you know Korean.   

But this video.  My God.  It's a bit much.  And amazing. And a bit much.

 

16 May 2018 - BTS (방탄소년단) - MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)

I was going to try to ignore BTS. I mean, they're really good for a seven-piece boy band.

This song is popular because an American of Japanese descent remixed it.  And let's be clear - this song was a big hit.  It made mainstream pop radio Top 30, which is rare for a song with very few English words.  However, BTS is pretty front-and-center in this very visually-interesting video.  At the end of the day, Steve Aoki's remix gives the song some polish, but their singing and dancing skills carry the day.

Also, no, guys, I have not seen your bag.

 

Incidentally, this song does exist in a version without remix. This Japanese version of the video shows a side without Aoki.