Alma Mater KPop

A Light Hearted Tribute to the KPOP "Classics" of Yesteryear Welcome to Alma Mater KPop If you want to be featured, please click submit up above or hit us up on Twitter & Facebook or use #AMKP on Instagram, Twitter, Vine, and Tumblr.

[almamaterkpop]

I just want to make sure you all saw this Facebook post from former Kiss member, Jini, back in March:

So it is officially the first half of May, and I haven’t seen any updates... but I can’t be the only one that’s excited!

And if for some reason you can’t remember 키스, they were a group that seemed destined for super stardom with their breakout R&B Pop hit, 여자이니까 (Because I am a Girl), back in 2001. But due to a lot of behind the scenes matters, they disbanded after their first and only album. But fingers crossed because 15 years later, it looks like we just may see some more from the trio!

And as a throwback, here’s my other favorite song by them, “Without You”.

[almamaterkpop]

I admit, it’s been ages since the last post but I’m back and I’m resuming the RRR: Remakes, Remixes, and Rip-Offs feature to boot! For those that don’t remember, RRR is where we dive into classic KPOP songs that are actually remakes, remixes, and/or rip-offs of other material. Sometimes it’s sanctioned, sometimes it’s not, but either way - let’s talk about it!

So... S.E.S. For a while, this group was the yin to H.O.T.’s yang for SM Entertainment - a music company that dominated the music charts for much of the last few years of the 90s. Nearly any KPOP fan from that era knows of the female trio and most of the said fans are probably familiar with their lead single from their 1998 sophomore album, Sea & Eugene & Shoo.

But before we go revisiting that song, I want you to hear this 1998 joint by the Finnish pop group, Nylon Beat. It’s called “Like a Fool”.

Yea. It’s pretty much identical. The only difference is that S.E.S.’s cover is in mostly Korean and they added the requisite rap bridge. Now I’m really not sure if this is a remake or a rip-off... as I don’t know if SM got the rights to the song but either way it blew my mind to find out that it’s a cover. This was one of the more iconic songs from S.E.S’s catalog and it’s not even an original sound

[Edit] I dug up my copy of the album and can confirm, proper writing credit was given to the original songwriters. Good on them!

Oh well. To be frank, it doesn’t bother me probably because this is one of my lesser liked S.E.S. songs... and that’s saying a lot cause I REALLY LOVED that group. Now, if someone ever told me (Cause) I’m Your Girl is a cover, I’d probably be devastated... heart broken like cardiac arrest.

[almamaterkpop]

This post is about a month late but we’d be foolish not to comment on the fact that 2015 featured not only the comeback of Jinusean, but Turbo as well! Towards the end of the year, the group decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary (HOLY CRAP TIME FLIES) since their debut. 

When I first heard about the reunion, I thought that it made sense since 90s KPOP (and 90s culture in general) is currently going through a big nostalgic phase, and Kim Jong Kook has managed to stay relevant after all these years - so why not get the group back together? Besides, the rapper needs to eat too... But that led to a very big question, which rapper do you bring back? 

The original rapper, Kim Jung Nam, left the group after both members had a falling out with their management. This was after their 2nd album but KJK ended up returning to the company while KJN was left out. About a year later, he was replaced by Mikey and Turbo 2.0 was reborn in 1997 where they would go on to enjoy success until their disbandment in 2000.

So, once again, which rapper do you bring back? The OG that left halfway? Or the one who retired with the group? The answer is simple... both. And this is the result.

So what did I think of their comeback? I loved it, but mostly for nostalgic reasons. To be frank, the song is classic Turbo and the mix of rapping styles is a nice touch but it does lack some of the catchy charm of their older material. Although the video has garnered 6M+ views in the past month, I don’t see this as being a fan favorite down the line but that really shouldn’t matter. I’m just glad I got to see the group in all of it’s newly reformed glory again.

[almamaterkpop]

For nearly all of us, we will have at least one moment in life where we have the opportunity to do something extraordinary. Something that changes lives and alters history in a way that nearly transcends life itself, to ultimately become folklore or legend, to be passed down for generations to come.

This probably wasn’t that moment... BUT  when I was younger, my Mom wouldn't let me get all the crazy hairstyles that the 90s kpop stars had. In hindsight, I'm so thankful she stopped me. But as someone who still holds a nostalgic heart for the KPop of decades past, and as the humble proprietor of Alma Mater KPop, that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with my mane after growing it out for two and a half years!

Special thanks to Angela Choi for her fine work with the shears in making this possible. What can I say? I’m a silly man with silly dreams. 

If you want to (hair)cut straight to the chase, check out the pics below!

[almamaterkpop]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from #AMKP!

Props to you if you remember the background music to this clip hahahaha! And I know updates have been sparse but I’ve got a few things in the works so sit tight. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.

H.O.T. - “Wedding X-Mas” (1998)

[almamaterkpop]

To our North American followers, Happy Thanksgiving! Art credit: Eugene Song

[almamaterkpop]

Facebook profile pics vs tagged pics... you know it’s true.

[almamaterkpop]

Lena Park (박정현) had a somewhat unconventional career path as a KPOP star. The Korean-American R&B singer made her debut in the KPOP scene in 1998, and was a sizable success with her 1st album, Piece, selling 500K copies. This was especially noteworthy due to the fact that she faced a distinct language barrier AND her sales were achieved in the midst of the Asian Financial Crisis.

Park reportedly felt very uncomfortable with appearing on variety shows due to her lack of proficiency in Korean. But her vocal skill was widely acclaimed and she became something of a gem - at times being heralded as Korea’s Mariah since she also had the range and ability to hit some uncanny whistle notes, and exhibited a penchant for melisma. 

“P.S. I Love You” was the perfect introduction to the singer and remains one of her most treasured hits. Anyone who dare covers it better bring their A-game, which is precisely why you don’t see many singers attempt to do so outside the privacy of a NRB. But one singer, 차여울, decided to try her hand with her own modest cover - and she did it swimmingly with only the glory whistle note missing. But by showing some restraint, this understated cover has a sweet, approachable vibe all it’s own.

차여울 would later end up appearing on some Korean singing audition shows, and appears to have found herself in a group called 차여울밴드 - an appropriate name. It may not quite compare to the original, but it comes darn close.

Unfortunately, due to a lot of the factors previously discussed regarding Lena’s debut, there is no music video to the song (to my knowledge). But fret not, cause the live rendition proves she’s got the chops for sure. And that’s why after nearly 18 years in an industry filled with flash-in-the-pan idols, Lena Park is still doing her thing.

[almamaterkpop]

1996 marked a major milestone in KPOP. The debut of H.O.T. ushered in a new era, the idol era, where fandom grew to an immense measure. You know how crazy some fans are today of their idol groups? Well, this group is arguably the blueprint for such intense support in South Korea.

The quintet of Moon Hee Joon, Jang Woo Hyuk, Tony An, Kangta, and Lee Jae Won debuted with this edgy tune, “전사의 후예” (Warrior’s Descendant). Although it wasn’t a mega success, it was only setting the stage for their incredible rise to the top in just a few months time.

I honestly didn’t love the song when I heard it back then. But apart from the random Engrish lyrics (a staple of KPOP at the time), this song has aged better than some of their other work and has earned my appreciation. I’ll rock out to this every now and then. So I was pleasantly surprised when I came across the following clip.

Who would have thought to turn “전사의 후예“, a rock/rap song, into a smooth R&B tune? These fellas did during their Superstar K 3 performance. I don’t closely follow the show so I don’t know who any of the singers are or what became of them since, but I salute them for this cover. If only there was a full version to be seen/heard out there.

Anyway, seeing the clip led me to view the original MV, which sadly hasn’t aged quite as well as the song itself.

But all I know, if someone bought me their performance outfit, complete with ski goggles and/or visor and/or kangol, I’d totally rock it this winter.

PS, it still cracks me up that their first album lists them as High Five of Teenager... singular. They fixed it in subsequent albums.

[almamaterkpop]

I'm going to be part of an S.E.S cover performance soon, I'm excited! Wish us luck!

Awesome! Hope everything goes well! Thanks for keeping Old School KPop Alive and well! #AMKP

[almamaterkpop]

The art of song can be a beautiful thing. And when lyrics are set to music, sometimes we can convey and evoke emotions and sentiments that are otherwise nearly impossible to share.

Or sometimes we are young and silly, and are the only member of a 90′s KPOP boy band with even the loosest of grasp on the English language and have thus been brought onboard to bring a little Western street cred to the group.

Enter Eun Jiwon and his incredibly moving and poetic ad-libbed intro to Sechskie’s live performance of “기사도”, their lead single from their 2nd album.

Still don’t believe me? Watch the full clip of the actual live performance from 1998.

Ah-mazing.

Shoutout to CKP for bringing this gem to light. I had no idea, but my life is so much better now that I do. Check their site out, it’s a pretty fun look back at old school KPOP too.

[almamaterkpop]

Wheesung was one of those artists that hit the scene with a lot of hype. Back in 2002, word was spreading that a new R&B star was hitting the scene under M-Boat, a then sister company to YG. He had the cosign and support of artists such as Seo Taiji and Shin Seung Hun and so expectations were set high - but thankfully Wheesung met and exceeded them with his debut album, Like a Movie.

His lead single, “안되나요” became a near instant classic, and it has set a benchmark for K-R&B tunes to aspire to ever since. It’s definitely one of the harder songs to cover, and the fact that it’s held in relative reverence makes it a risky choice for any other artist to attempt.

But on one fateful day in 2012, a competitor of the inaugural season of The Voice of Korea decided to try her hand at this song. 하예나 (Ha YeNa) wanted to show the world she had the chops to tackle the source material and you know what? For the most part, she did.

The performance was definitely uneven at times and lacked polish, but when she kicks the emotion into high gear towards the end, it’s hard to not be in awe - if just for a passing moment. YeNa did not go on to win the competition but she held her own with such a tough tune.

But it truly is hard to do it any better than this:

[almamaterkpop]

When I first heard there was going to be a KPOP 90′s Legends Super Concert series in the States, I started to get super excited. As you can imagine for someone who runs a blog based purely on old school KPOP, the idea that 90′s KPOP nostalgia was making its way to our fare shores was enough to make my head implode.

But I gotta admit. After looking over the above line-up and locations, my enthusiasm waned just a bit. Yea, I’m a sucker for Jinusean, Cool, DJ Doc, R.ef, Clon, and more - but I would have l loved to see a few other acts added to the card, like H.O.T., FinKL, Sechskies, etc... though I know reunions are nearly always impossibly tough to navigate. And the biggest draw for me, S.E.S. is only performing at the LA show, which is a couple 1000 miles too far T.T.

Oh Eugene. Be still my 90′s teenage beating heart. 

But Regardless, this is a pretty awesome event and I’m really glad it was put together. Although, the promotion company is putting forth a bush league effort in getting this out there. The graphics, website, and videos all look like they were thrown together by a college intern. But whatever. 90′s. Kpop. Live. NY & LA.

What a time to be alive. =) Find out more at http://www.kpop90.com/!

[almamaterkpop]

It’s been a few weeks since we last had a RRR: Remakes, Remixes, and Rip-Offs, and we’re picking back up the series with one of my personal faves.

Hip-Hop has such deep roots in sampling, so it was no surprise that the practice would continue as the genre migrated to Korea. CB Mass was one of the main acts involved in taking Hip-Hop from a niche novelty sound to an established genre at the turn of the century. Comprised of Choiza, Gaeko, and Curbin, the three helped the art form gain momentum by riding the line between a gritty, underground vibe and a poppy mass appeal.

Their self titled debut album from 2000 had a number of memorable songs, including the radio/club friendly “진짜”. But the song wasn’t so catchy completely on it’s own merit - it had some very dependable source material to borrow from.

Over two decades earlier, The Emotions released the Disco/Funk/R&B jam, “Best of My Love”, becoming an instant hit. It’s infectious bass lines and melodies would serve as inspiration for dozens of remakes, remixes and samples for years to come... including being used by a Hip-Hop trio half way around the world.

And this was the result:

I still jam out to this every now and then. If the voices and names of CB Mass sound familiar it’s because Choiza and Gaeko went on form Dynamic Duo after a rather public falling out with Curbin. The former have achieved only growing success while the latter has taken a backseat from the limelight. But the late 90s/early 00s were a relatively unified time for K-Hip-Hop. The infancy of the genre brought solidarity and camaraderie, as evidenced by the video cameos by Buga Kingz, Drunken Tiger, Dope Boyz and more. Unfortunately, many of the folks in those groups no longer speak to each other, but so it goes for a medium built on braggadocio and egos.

[almamaterkpop]

When listing the top classic KPOP ballads, it’d be nearly impossible to omit Solid’s 1995 hit, “이밤의 끝을 잡고” (Holding Onto the Edge of the Night), from their 2nd album, The Magic of 8 Ball.

When I found out that Ann One, a KPOP veteran herself that debuted in ‘02, was going to do a modern, moody cover, I was very intrigued. It’s a pretty different sound from the 90′s R&B original, but it’s a great listen in it’s own hauntingly beautiful/melancholy way.

What do you guys think?

Here’s some backstory behind her cover:

When I was fourteen years old, I went to a church camp that had several different churches there as well. I met three other older teens there that proceeded to do an impromptu performance of Poison by Bell Biv Devoe. The lead singer had just moved here from Atlanta, the keyboard player was from Anaheim, and the rapper was from Huntington Beach. We connected over music, and became lifelong friends. They eventually went to Korea to become the groundbreaking group, Solid. I had so much fun covering their song.

Oh, and here’s the original tune of course!

[almamaterkpop]

Do you remember these guys? Think hard. No, you’re not seeing double. Those are twin blonde korean pre-teens that debuted in 2000 as a Hip-Hop/Pop act,  량현량하 (Rang Hyun Rang Ha).

If I’m gonna be honest, I actually hated them when they first debuted. Their balls hadn’t dropped yet so their voices were whiny, and they were trying so hard to capitalize on the Hip-Hop/Breakdance culture that was sweeping the (South Korean) nation at the time... of course I can’t blame them too much - this was all the marketing genius of JYP. Although, there were many people that loved them and so they did have a mildly successful, but short career.

Case in point: “춤이 뭐길래” (What is the dance?)

Anyway, in case you were wondering, the fellas are all grown now and in the late 20s. Last I read, they were planning to make a comeback although I have no idea if that ever came through.

Wondering how they look now? See for yourself.

Good for them. If they do drop some music again, I’m curious to see how it turns out!

[almamaterkpop]

Hwayobi is one of those immensely talented singers that remains a bit underrated and tends to goes unnoticed, despite being an active musician for 15 years. She was never a headlining showstopper, but her airy, sultry voice and her bubbly personality on variety shows have made it very hard not to like her.

She debuted in her late teens in 2000, and much of her early work was full of slow, emotional ballads. She would later change her image a bit as she got older, embracing her sex appeal a little more and lightening the tone of her songs but it’s tracks like 2002′s ballad, “어떤가요” (How Are You?), that initially brought her some success.

The song is a bit heavy handed, and admittedly took me a few listens to appreciate too... so you can imagine my surprise when I heard a cover that I instantly enjoyed - even more so than the original.

I dunno who Dro is, but the dude slays this rendition. The slight jazz pop spin he puts on it, along with that male falsetto, is a perfect modern re-imagining of the tune.

Here’s the original for comparison’s sake.

What do you think?