foreign mück'

One British bloke's collation of the highlights of pop gems sung (mostly) in languages other than English. There will be German hip-hop, K-Pop, a bit of J-Pop, French chansonnerie and Eurovision bangers. I am no-body's 'Stan', and for me a good pop song stands out even if you can't understand the lyrics.

[foreignmuck]

Modern classic Turkish song - with weird electrofish.

[guysofeurovision]

[brilliantlens]

When your friends pass you the AUX cord in the car, but all you have is KPOP.

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 1: Dalshabet(달샤벳) _ B.B.B. (비비비) (Big Baby Baby) Who would have thought that my favourite song of the year would have been released back on 6th January? If Hazell Dean were to make a comeback, you'd expect it to sound like this, except perhaps in English. Why no-one has done a mash up of this and the Eurhythmics' 'Sweet Dreams' is beyond me. If only I had the software and a week with nothing better to do...

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 2: 티아라 T-ara - Sugar Free (BigRoom Ver.) Whatever genre K-Pop tries to emulate, it takes everything to its logical, almost self-parodying conclusion. Occasionally it is done with such brilliance that its success is undeniable. It is this 'pop-as-science' not just 'pop-as-art' that I actually love about manufactured music: something we in the UK are trying to forget happens by getting Ed Sheeran to write for One Direction. Anyway - if you like your dance music electronic, you'll like this - complete with percussive 12/8 section, air-thumping chorus-announcing snares and reverse reverb whooshes, you can hear the cans of Coke Zero exploding from here.

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 3: 2NE1 - COME BACK HOME They've certainly had a doe of the Will-I-am in this one (see if you can spot his contribution - fits in so smoothly!) As with all the best K-Pop songs, this is basically bits of 3 different songs chucked together with a pretty video. (I sell them so well, don't I?)

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 4: RAIN(비) _ 30SEXY The best Justin Timberlake song ever. Just not by Justin. Also, the best lighting in a music video since Kylie's 'Get Outta My Way'.

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 5: INFINITE "Back" A lovely gradual build-up for the first minute and a half before we go all synth-pop happy.

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 6: 빅스(VIXX) - Error Physical-Theatre-Rave-Ballad-O'clock!

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 7: HYUNA - ‘빨개요 (RED)’ (Official Music Video) A party at the Kim Hyun-A house looks like a pretty tame affair… She’ll be hovering up that glitter for weeks!

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 8: EXO-K_중독(Overdose)_Music Video Bringing 90s Bucket-Hat-Realness kicking and screaming into whatever people will end up calling this decade, EXO-K release a song I have to like even though I am a BIGBANG fan and that’s apparently not allowed. I like the tonality, OK?

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 9: Girls’ Generation 소녀시대_’Mr.Mr.’_Music Video Excuse me! is this operating theatre sterile? One key change for ‘yes’, two for ‘no’.

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 10: GD X TAEYANG - GOOD BOY M/V Like a really lame Haarlem Shake with Boy George and PJ (of ‘& Duncan’ fame)…

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 7: HYUNA - '빨개요 (RED)' (Official Music Video) A party at the Kim Hyun-A house looks like a pretty tame affair... She'll be hovering up that glitter for weeks!

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 8: EXO-K_중독(Overdose)_Music Video Bringing 90s Bucket-Hat-Realness kicking and screaming into whatever people will end up calling this decade, EXO-K release a song I have to like even though I am a BIGBANG fan and that's apparently not allowed. I like the tonality, OK?

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 9: Girls' Generation 소녀시대_'Mr.Mr.'_Music Video Excuse me! is this operating theatre sterile? One key change for 'yes', two for 'no'.

[foreignmuck]

Top 10 K-Pop of 2014 Number 10: GD X TAEYANG - GOOD BOY M/V Like a really lame Haarlem Shake with Boy George and PJ (of ‘& Duncan’ fame)...