This award is Modern Family’s fifth win in as many years, tying NBC’s Frasier’s run from 1994-1998 and bringing ABC to eleven total, half of the number of awards in this category of the second place network, CBS.
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OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath on Girls, “Beach House” (HBO)
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, RN on Nurse Jackie, “Super Greens” (Showtime)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina Meyer on Veep, “Crate” (HBO)
Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn on Mike + Molly, “Mind Over Molly” (CBS)
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope on Parks + Recreation, “Recall Vote” (NBC)
Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman on Orange Is The New Black, “The Chickening” (Netflix)
WINNER: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO
This award is Louis-Dreyfus’ third consecutive win, her fourth of her eighth nominations, tying Helen Hunt (Mad About You from 1996-1999) but still one behind Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown in 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994 and 1995) + Mary Tyler Moore (The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1964 + 1966 and The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1973, 1974 and 1976). HBO’s fourth award (Sarah Jessica Parker won the only non-Louis-Dreyfus award in 2004 for Sex + The City) may not make it a historical stalwart but dominates the 2010s with Louis-Dreyfus’ third consecutive win.
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OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Louis C.K. as Louie on Louie, “Model” (FX)
Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan on House of Lies, “Wreckage” (Showtime)
Ricky Gervais as Derek Noakes on Derek, “Episode 6” (Netflix)
Matt LeBlanc as Himself on Episodes, “Episode Six” (Showtime)
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher on Shameless, “Lazarus” (Showtime)
Jim Parsons as Dr. Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, “The Relationship Diremption” (CBS)
WINNER: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory, CBS
This award is Parson’s fourth win of his six nominations for his beloved goofy scientist, bringing him into the winners circle alongside Michael J. Fox (Family Ties from 1986-1988, Spin City in 2000), Kelsey Grammar (Frasier in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2004) and Carrol O’Connor (All In The Family in 1972, 1977-1979). CBS’ nineteenth Emmy in this category may still be far behind NBC’s twenty-six awards but manages to continue the network’s uninterrupted dominance of the 2010s (Jon Cryer won in 2010 for Two + A Half Men) and is the last network show standing.
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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Mayim Bialik as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, “The Indecision Amalgamation” (CBS)
Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family, “The Feud” (ABC)
Anna Chlumsky as Amy Brookheimer on Veep, “Detroit” (HBO)
Allison Janney as Bonnie Plunkett on Mom, “Estrogen + A Hearty Breakfast” (CBS)
Kate McKinnon as Various Characters on Saturday Night Live, “Host: Anna Kendrick” (NBC)
Kate Mulgrew as Galina “Red” Reznikov on Orange Is The New Black, “Tit Punch” (Netflix)
WINNER: Allison Janney, Mom, CBS
This award is Janney’s first Emmy comedy nomination + award, her sixth win (The West Wing in 2000 + 2001 for lead, 2002 + 2004 for supporting) and seventh nomination. This award is also special to Janney because it is her second acting Emmy this year following her Outstanding Guest Dramatic Actress win for Masters of Sex, a repeat of her unmatched double win at this year’s Critics’ Choice Television Awards and a feat also achieved by Cloris Leachman (1974, supporting comedic actress for The Mary Tyler Moore Show + supporting variety/music actress for Cher) + former co-star Stockard Channing (2002, supporting dramatic actress for The West Wing + supporting miniseries/movie actress for The Matthew Shepard Story). CBS still commands the most awards (24 including Janney’s) but has not won since Doris Roberts for Everybody Loves Raymond in 2004.
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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Fred Armisen as Various Characters on Portlandia, “Pull-Out King” (IFC)
Andre Braugher as Captain Ray Holt on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, “Christmas” (Fox)
Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, “Spring-a-Ding-Fling” (ABC)
Adam Driver as Adam Sackler on Girls, “Two Plane Rides” (HBO)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family, “Message Received” (ABC)
Tony Hale as Gary Walsh on Veep, “Crate” (HBO)
WINNER: Ty Burrell, Modern Family, ABC
This award is Burrell’s second win (his other in 2011), matching his co-star Eric Stonestreet’s two wins (2010, 2012). ABC’s eighth award in this category is still miles behind NBC + CBS’ rack of awards but the Modern Family juggernaut is nearly unstoppable with this fourth win in the past five consecutive nominations in this category.
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OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Episodes, “Episode Nine” by Iain B. MacDonald (Showtime)
Glee, “100” by Paris Barclay (Fox)
Louie, “Elevator, Part 6” by Louis C.K. (FX)
Orange Is The New Black, “Lesbian Request Denied” by Jodie Foster (Netflix)
Modern Family, “Las Vegas” by Gail Mancuso (ABC)
Silicon Valley, “Minimum Viable Product” by Mike Judge (HBO)
WINNER: Modern Family, “Las Vegas,” Gail Mancuso, ABC
This award is Modern Family’s fourth consecutive + Mancuso’s second consecutive win (Mancuso was also nominated in 2011). This award streak has helped bring ABC within one award of CBS’ + NBC’s 16 awards each, who has not won an award since Barnet Kellman for Murphy Brown in 1992.
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OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees:
Episodes, “Episode Five” by David Crane + Jeffrey Klarik (Showtime)
Louie, “So Did The Fat Lady” by Louis C.K. (FX)
Orange Is The New Black, “I Wasn’t Ready” by Liz Friedman + Jenji Kohan (Netflix)
Silicon Valley, “Optimal Tip-to-Tip Efficiency” by Alec Berg (HBO)
Veep, “Special Relationship” by Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche (HBO)
WINNER: Louie, “So Did The Fat Lady, Louis C.K., FX
This award is both Louie + C.K.’s second award + fourth consecutive nomination (his previous win was in 2012). This win is FX’s second and fifth nomination, with Lucky by Mark + Robb Cullen in 2003 as the only non-Louie nomination.
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DRAMA
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Nominees:
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
House of Cards (Netflix)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Detective (HBO)
WINNER: Breaking Bad, AMC
This award is Breaking Bad’s second consecutive win + fifth nomination. If not for Showtime’s Homeland win in 2011, AMC has enjoyed six wins since 2008 (Mad Men won from 2008-2011).
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OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nominees:
Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson on Masters of Sex, “Pilot” (Showtime)
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison on Homeland, “The Star” (Showtime)
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley on Downton Abbey, “Episode One” (PBS)
Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife, “The Last Call” (CBS)
Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope on Scandal, “The Fluffer” (ABC)
Robin Wright as Second Lady Claire Underwood on House of Cards, “Chapter 26” (Netflix)
WINNER: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife, CBS
This award is Margulies’ second win + eighth nomination (ER from 1997-2000, The Good Wife in 2010-2012) and is notable for bookending Danes’ critically-acclaimed Homeland performances. CBS now earned twenty-five awards, nearly double the number of wins in this category over their nearest competitor NBC (thirteen).
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OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nominees:
Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias” (AMC)
Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy on The Newsroom, “Election Night, Part II” (HBO)
Jon Hamm as Don Draper on Mad Men, “The Strategy” (AMC)
Woody Harrelson as Detective Martin Hart on True Detective, “The Locked Room” (HBO)
Matthew McConaughey as Detective Rustin Cohle on True Detective, “The Locked Room” (HBO)
Kevin Spacey as Vice President Frank Underwood on House of Cards, “Chapter 26” (Netflix)
WINNER: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad, AMC
This award is Cranston’s fourth win + sixth nomination (third consecutive for this role + ninth overall, including three for Malcolm In The Middle in 2002, 2003 and 2006). AMC’s four wins in this category are all due to Cranston.
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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Nominees:
Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart on The Good Wife, “The Last Call” (CBS)
Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates on Downton Abbey, “Episode Four” (PBS)
Anna Gunn as Skyler White on Breaking Bad, “Ozymandias” (AMC)
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister on Game of Thrones, “The Lion + The Rose” (HBO)
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris on Mad Men, “The Strategy” (AMC)
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey, “Episode Eight” (PBS)
WINNER: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad, AMC
This award is Gunn’s second consecutive win + third consecutive nomination. Like Cranston, Gunn is responsible for AMC’s two awards in this category.
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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nominees:
Jim Carter as Charles Carson on Downton Abbey, “Episode One” (PBS)
Josh Charles as Will Gardner on The Good Wife, “Hitting The Fan” (CBS)
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones, “The Laws of Gods + Men” (HBO)
Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson on Homeland, “Gerontion” (Showtime)
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman as Breaking Bad, “Confessions” (AMC)
Jon Voight as Mickey Donovan on Ray Donovan, “Fite Nite” (Showtime)
WINNER: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad, AMC
This award is Paul’s third win + fourth nomination (third consecutive), tying him with Art Carney (The Jackie Gleason Show in 1954 + 1955 and The Honeymooners in 1956) + Don Knotts (The Andy Griffith Show from 1961-1963) for the most awards in this category. Like his Breaking Bad co-stars, Paul’s awards comprise all of AMC’s wins in this category.
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OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Nominees:
Boardwalk Empire, “Farewell Daddy Blues” by Tim Van Patten (HBO)
Breaking Bad, “Felina” by Vince Gilligan (AMC)
Downton Abbey, “Episode One” by David Evans (PBS)
Game of Thrones, “The Watchers On The Wall” by Neil Marshall (HBO)
House of Cards, “Chapter 14” by Carl Franklin (Netflix)
True Detective, “Who Goes There” by Cary Joji Fukunaga (HBO)
This award is Walley-Beckett’s first win + nomination. AMC has now won four awards, including Mad Men’s reign from 2008-2010, but this is Breaking Bad’s first win after the show’s first two nominations last year.
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OUTSTANDING MINISERIES
Nominees:
American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Bonnie + Clyde (A+E)
Fargo (FX)
Treme (HBO)
The White Queen (Starz)
WINNER: Fargo, FX
This award is FX’s first win + nomination (though American Horror Story: Coven was also nominated this year).
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OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE
Nominees:
Killing Kennedy (Nat Geo)
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight (HBO)
Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
The Normal Heart (HBO)
The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
WINNER: The Normal Heart, HBO
This award is HBO’s eighth consecutive win (eighteenth overall), continuing its dominance in the sometimes-altering category.
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OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Nominees:
Helena Bonham Carter as Elizabeth Taylor on Burton + Taylor (BBC America)
Minnie Driver as Maggie Royal on Return to Zero (Lifetime)
Jessica Lange as Fiona Goode on American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Sarah Paulson as Cordelia Foxx on American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Cicely Tyson as Mrs. Carrie Watts on The Trip to Bountiful (Lifetime)
Kristen Wiig as Cynthia Morehouse on The Spoils of Babylon (IFC)
WINNER: Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Coven, FX
This award is Lange’s second in this category (her first was Grey Gardens in 2009) and her third overall (her third was for American Horror Story: Murder House). This is also FX’s first win in this category.
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OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Nominees:
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes on Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Louis Lester on Dancing On The Edge (Starz)
Idris Elba as John Luther on Luther (BBC America)
Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard on Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo as Ned Weeks on The Normal Heart (HBO)
Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo on Fargo (FX)
WINNER: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: His Last Vow, PBS
This award is Cumberbatch’s first win + third nomination (second for Sherlock, the third was for Parade’s End in 2013). PBS adds their third award after Beau Bridges for Without Warning: The James Brady Story in 1992, Robert Morse for Tru in 1993.
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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Nominees:
Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau on American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Kathy Bates as Delphine LaLaurie on American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Ellen Burstyn as Olivia Foxworth on Flowers In The Attic (Lifetime)
Frances Conroy as Myrtle Snow on American Horror Story: Coven (FX)
Julia Roberts as Dr. Emma Brookner on The Normal Heart (HBO)
Allison Tolman as Deputy Molly Solverson on Fargo (FX)
WINNER: Kathy Bates, American Horror Story: Coven, FX
This award is Bates’ second win (her first was Guest Comedic Actress on Two + A Half Men in 2012) + twelfth nomination. FX’s other win in this category was also for American Horror Story for Jessica Lange in 2012.
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OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Nominees:
Matt Bomer as Felix Turner on The Normal Heart (HBO)
Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson on Sherlock: His Last Vow (PBS)
Colin Hanks as Officer Gus Grimly on Fargo (FX)
Joe Mantello as Mickey Marcus on The Normal Heart (HBO)
Alfred Molina as Ben Weeks on The Normal Heart (HBO)
Jim Parsons as Tommy Boatwright on The Normal Heart (HBO)
WINNER: Martin Freeman, Sherlock: His Last Vow, PBS
Freeman could have pulled an Allison Janney + won two separate acting Emmys but won only one award, his first. Freeman also beat out the heavily-favored The Normal Heart cast.
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OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Nominees:
American Horror Story: Coven, “Bitchcraft” by Alfonso Gómez-Rejón (FX)
Fargo, “The Crocodile’s Dilemma” by Adam Bernstein (FX)
Fargo, “Buridan’s Ass” by Colin Bucksey (FX)
Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight by Stephen Frears (HBO)
The Normal Heart by Ryan Murphy (HBO)
Sherlock: His Last Vow by Nick Hurran (PBS)
WINNER: Fargo, “Buridan’s Ass,” Colin Bucksey, FX
This award is Bucksey’s first win + nomination, and FX’s first win.
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OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Nominees:
American Horror Story: Coven, “Bitchcraft” by Brad Falchuk + Ryan Murphy (FX)
Fargo, “The Crocodile’s Dilemma” by Noah Hawley (FX)
Luther by Neil Cross (BBC America)
Sherlock: His Last Vow by Steven Moffat (PBS)
The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer (HBO)
Treme, “… To Miss New Orleans” by Eric Overmyer + David Simon (HBO)
WINNER: Sherlock: His Last Vow, Steven Moffat, PBS
This award is Moffat’s first win + third consecutive nomination.
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OUTSTANDING REALITY - COMPETITION PROGRAM
Nominees:
Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)
WINNER: The Amazing Race (CBS)
This award is the Race’s tenth win out of twelve years the category has existed.
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OUTSTANDING VARIETY SERIES
Nominees:
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
WINNER: The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
This is Colbert’s second consecutive win + continues his interruption of Stewart’s prior ten consecutive wins.
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OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY SPECIAL
Nominees:
Gregg Gelfand for The Beatles: The Night That Changed America (CBS)
Hamish Hamilton for 86th Academy Awards (ABC)
Louis J. Horowitz for The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)
James Lapine for Six By Sondheim (HBO)
Beth McCarthy-Miller (director) + Rob Ashford (theatrical director) for The Sound of Music Live! (NBC)
Apologies for the tardiness, but below are my top picks for Western music from this year.
Major house choons, throwback + forward facing hiphop and major 90s influences in my top 28 released/leaked songs from America + Europe.
28. Angelique Sabrina - “I’m Ready”
Though the Bahamanian songstress’ early singles earned premature comparisons to Rihanna, this elegant saxophone-infused ballad (co-produced by her producer father Gregg White, credited with signing alt hiphop figures Arrested Development) is more reminiscent of her idol Aaliyah as her silky cocoa butter coo alerts her paramour to the availability of her heart.
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27. Gazelle Twin - “Belly of the Beast”
English electronica enthusiast Elizabeth Bernholz whipped market barcode scanning into a spooky spine-tingler set for her sophomore LP, Unflesh, with her malevolently-modulated murmurings + simmering synths/throbbing taps instrumental designed to instill a hefty hair-raising helping of pure paranoia.
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26. The Kooks - “Down”
While pop embraces disco, the feeling-liberated British altpop quartet (lead singer Luke Pritchard, guitarist Hugh Harris, bassist Peter Denton and new drummer Alexis Nuñez) embraces funk with hiphop producer INFLO’s thumping breakbeat + Pritchard’s R+B-influenced scatting on their first musical sampling in three years, which simultaneously disappointed long-term fans of their indie rock sound and gained me as a devoted listener.
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25. Le1f - “Boom”
Following further awareness after his Late Show With David Letterman appearance, Khalif Diouf kicked off Terrible Records’ first hiphop release with another club-friendly dose of his braggadocious banjee flow that rides Dubbel Dutch’s eskibeat (a form of grime) production that melds dancehall riddims with stark electro that will help the talented emcee blow up even bigger.
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24. Iggy Azalea - “Fancy”
Not since Gwen Stefani’s 2004 hit “Rich Girl” (who hook vocalist Charli XCX successfully apes) has a female singer/rapper duet scorched radio airwaves but “Fancy,” with its fame-flaunting playground taunts, The Invisible Men’s electrohop electricity and Iggy’s charismatic chanting, is destined to be a new [summer] classic.
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23. FKA twigs - “Two Weeks”
Jamaican-British former backup dancer fka Tahliah Barnett’s entrancing Aaliyah-esque falsetto mixes so sublimely captures tantric coital bliss with its stewing hazy synths which build effortlessly to the captivating climax referenced in her lascivious consciousness-stream lyrics that she all but ensures her forthnight+ success.
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22. A$AP Mob - “Trillmatic”
While his fellow Mobbers incorporate dubstep + reggae, next-to-blow A$AP Nast throws back to a time when Biggie was ready to die, guest star Method Man was bringing the pain and of course, Nas rocked illmatic over a fly A$AP Ty Beats sample patchwork including a musical chunk from War’s “The World Is a Ghetto,” an adapted hook from Nice + Smooth’s “Hip Hop Junkies” and Marley Marl’s scratchology from MC Shan’s 1986 classic “The Bridge” to inject authenticity that harkens back to a golden era long passed but not forgotten.
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21. Twin Shadow - “To The Top”
Sidestepping the indie pop that made the Dominican Republic by way of Florida + Brooklyn an indie darling, George Lewis Jr. brings anthemic 80s arena balladry with his gospelly sing-a-long vocals, cavernous percussion and right place, wrong time lyrics about love that are perfect for an awkward school dance two-step or when Adele does not satisfy a kleenexfest anymore.
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20. Alicia Keys - “Zebras + Airplanes”
Remember Keys’ phenomenal 80s pop tinkerings under the auspices of Jeff Bhasker + Noah “40” Shebib for her 2009 fourth LP, The Element of Freedom? Released as a Valentine’s Day treat for her fans, this transcendental midtempo from those recording sessions, inspired by a Chloe Early painting, is a Keysian metaphor for a love that, to quote Keys’ blog, makes one’s body + soul “gallop + fly.”
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19. MOVEMENT - “Ivory”
The Sydney so-called “minimal soul” trio’s (Jesse James Ward, Lewis Wade and Sean Walker) gratifying groove builds from a sensual flirtation in the pensive, pulsating opener to a sweaty, sticky summer romp in the slinky shredding closer. The second single from their eponymous début EP oozes a yearning sex appeal thanks largely to Ward’s consuming croon + house-y keys that unexpectedly keep the track pleasingly downtempo to avoid too many broken headboards.
Runner-Up: “Us”
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18. Vic Mensa - “Down On My Luck”
Easy correlations can be made with the breezy bounce of his breakthrough single + the multi-racial rapper’s domestic tour with Eurohouse breakouts Disclosure, but the deep (hip)house escapist anthem owes more thanks to his hometown Chicago’s house/techno sound (R.I.P. Chicago house god Frankie Knuckles) with Mensa’s glib flow + Stefan Ponce’s pulsating bassline. Much of Mensa’s other music may cater more to an alternative hiphop sound, but the house beat/sing-rap mix is undeniably his most crossover work to date.
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17. Kiesza - “Hideaway”
Former Canadian Navy Reserve member/classically-trained ballerina turned dancepop diva Kiesa Rae Ellestad’s début single is a stunning deep house dance down memory lane with enough exquisite 90s dance influences (Chicago house, UK garage, trance) to tickle those of us stuck in the 90s but with enough contemporary electropop + EDM to satiate the masses. Crafted in a small window for her to arrive at, leave and come back to the airport to catch a flight, fellow 90s lover Rami Samir Afuni painted a stark landscape for Kiesza’s vocal stylings ranging from throaty belting to quirky yelps in the spirit of house divas like Robin S. whose soulful vocals lay against stark synth beats aimed at crowded, early morning dancefloors.
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16. Kimbra - “90’s Music”
The Kiwi Grammy winner’s jam session with producer Rich Costey underwent several transformations before becoming the year’s most chaotic, funky pop release from a major star so far. Production duo Major Dudes (drummer Stevie Cat Jr. + guitarist Timon Martin) amped up the guitars + percussion (particularly those industrial-influenced xylophones), Muse’s Matt Bellamy grafted in de-tuned guitar riffs and Foster The People’s Mark Foster injected a mid-song sonic shift until the name-checking ode to one of her favorite eras of music shows she can be a star in her own right.
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15. Ariana Grande - “Problem”
After the mini-Mimi’s début single “The Way” successfully contributed to re-injecting the 90s back into pop music (which saddens me that her follow-up single is a slice of EDM mediocrity), the lead single from her follow-up album continues that trend by drafting a potent 90s pop force: superproducer Max Martin (whose first major single was two years after Grande was born), who, along with his P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass” + Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” collaborator Shellback, contribute the uptempo production, with its trendy drums drenched in saxophone, pop’s instrument du jour. Though chic rap chick Iggy Azalea slings a pop-friendly girl power guest verse and Big Sean whispers the hook, on this crazy-in-love cut, the centerpiece continues to be Ariana’s grande pipes.
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14. Clean Bandit - “Rather Be”
After two years of excellent singles fusing classical music to house beats (members Grace Chatto + Milan Neil Amin-Smith play the cello + violin, respectively), British bandmates Chatto, Amin-Smith, keyboardist Jack Patterson and drummer Luke Patterson disproved ignorant labels who called them a “joke band” by hitting the commercial jackpot with this unabashed love song that puts a smile on my face every time I listen. Their breakthrough single could have been another nice piece of poppy deep house, but the baroque pop influences, the sizzling strings and full-bodied vocals courtesy of next-to-blow-up guest songstress Jess Glynne, there is no way the song should rather be.
Runner-Up: “Extraordinary”
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13. Ben Khan - “Youth”
Though the title of his début EP, 1992, follows the birthyear cliché and the infamous “Yeah! Woo!” sample crops up, this self-produced accessible lead single from the rising indie electrosoul singer/producer is far from trite. Soft, soulful vocals spouting cautionary lyrics float among a bright, steamy waterbed of comforts - a sumptuous bassline melded with sultry guitar riffs bathed in warm island synths - which demonstrate why those sonic comparisons to fellow Pabst British Ribbon+B artist Jai Paul may be just a nice frame of reference as the talented guitarist prepares for more mainstream notice.
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12. GoldLink - “Sober Thoughts”
This DMV up+comer’s deft delivery of the socially-conscious, eloquently-delivered lyrics about the dangers of an addictive relationship mixed with Canadian DJ/remixer Kaytranada’s textured 90s-influenced, 10s-inflected smooth-as-a-baby’s-behind production made for one of the most vibealicious underground non-mainstream rap singles in recent history. His début mixtape, The God Complex, put him on the indie rap map, but if sobriety creates monster hooks like this one, GoldLink will stay there.
Runner-Up: “Planet Paradise”
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11. BOK BOK - “Melba’s Call”
After producing two tracks on the breakthrough mixtape of Solange-cosigned soul sweetheart Kelela, London grime DJ Alex Sushon reunites for a crisp contemporization of 80s era Janet Jackson’s electrofunk ecstasy. The two strike a impeccable balance between Kelela’s voluptuous vocal harmonies + BOK BOK’s stop-start synth wall, imbuing the skittering soul single with an intoxicating rush of tension + anticipation of a relationship gone cold.
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10. Jess Glynne - “Right Here”
After appearing on smashes for dance acts Clean Bandit + Route 94, the British warbler connects with another popular dance act, Gorgon City (Foamo + RackNRuin), to generate some solo success. Instead of saturating the song’s elegant deep house production with horns, the jazzy stabs reflect a more subtle, intermittent touch suggesting a sophistication to match the infectious hiphop-influenced bassline. Glynne, who idolizes fellow Jewish Briton jazz/soulstress Amy Winehouse, flexes her considerably soulful pipes on the perfect début destined for summer playlists.
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9. Duke Dumont - “Won’t Look Back”
Not content with two hit dance singles featuring potent female vocals (A*M*E’s star making turn on “Need U (100%)” + the Whitney Houston-sampling “I Got U”), breakthrough British beatmaker Adam Dyment pulled a hat trick by stripping down the triumphant keys, driving drums and forceful female singers of early 90s house (especially clear inspiration Black Box’s 1989 single “Ride On Time”) for another incomparable installment in Dumont’s already stellar catalogue. Featuring an uncredited soulful sanger (who sounds like dearly departed soul queen Loleatta Holloway, whose vocals were famously sampled without permission on the aforementioned “Ride”), Dumont switches from a stark synth beat + hi-hat harmonies to a luxurious piano-driven beast guaranteed to pack dancefloors for years to come.
Runner-Up: “I Got U”
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8. Future - “Move That Dope”
Despite being another hiphop song about drug dealing + the good life, including another nosetalgic verse from Pusha T, the fifth single from Nayvadius Cash’s sophomore LP, Honest, managed quite a few surprises, a rarity in contemporary hiphop to easily become the best posse cut of the year so far. Future, who single-handedly resuscitated Auto-Tune, delivers an entire song without the pitch-altering tech; Pharrell, fresh off his funky pop crossover success including a performance at the Academy Awards, holds his own as his tongue-twisting, Gandalf hat-donning Skateboard P rap alter ego; and Mike WiLL Made It, known for his atmospheric strip club anthems + collabos with rumored boo Miley Cyrus, successfully breaks away from that formula for the grimy, sinister beat that whips each emcee into a frenzy.
Runner-Up: “Benz Friends (Whatchutola?)”
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7. Sam Smith - “Leave Your Lover”
The easy, popular choice for the breakthrough singer’s MVP track would be the runaway successful gospelly pop soul of “Stay With Me,” but for someone who has followed Smith since his 2012 appearance on Disclosure’s house anthem “Latch,” I must respectfully submit his coming out cut as the superior song in the divo-in-training’s meteoric Adele-esque rise to fame. The tender unrequited love ballad, Steve Fitzmaurice’s aching guitar strums + heartbreaking strings, is pure Sam without all of the extra noise: his emotive, soulful pipes breaking with emotion as he pleads the male (!) apple of his eye to break up to be with him. A brave statement from a young soul ready for love.
Runner-Up: “Stay With Me”
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6. Tinashe - “2 On”
Plenty Cali rappers (Tyga, Kid Ink, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, to name a few) cosigned with DJ Mustard’s West Coast rhythmic yet melodic “ratchet” hiphop sound but not until indie R+B talent Tinashe Jorgenson Kachingwe did his stark electro stylings crystalize with a singer so immaculately. A naughty ScHoolboy Q verse + a Sean Paul interpolation add even more street cred to Tinashe’s commercial début but her lemonade-refreshing coo rides the delicious beat to get the Instagram crowd turnt up.
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5. Chromeo - “Come Alive”
While pop embraces disco, Dave “Dave 1” Macklovitch + Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel, the self-proclaimed “only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture,” continue to bring the (electro)funk on their brilliant, pop-friendly ode to a working-class Juliet beleaguered by double shifts at odd hours. Over P-Thugg’s 80s-inspired tinkling synths, optimistic keys and a danceable bassline, Dave 1 + scene-stealing guest Toro y Moi’s enchanting bromantic vocals, particularly the addictive chorus + the earnest bridge, demonstrate Chromeo sticking to their indie roots while aiming for mainstream pop success.
Runner-Up: “Jealous (I Ain’t Wit It)”
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4. Pharrell - “Gust of Wind”
Their last collabo was lucky enough to be the Record of the Year with its undeniable disco/funk charisma, but the absolute highlight of Pharrell’s sophomore LP, G I R L, is this inescapable, lush Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter + Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) collabo. Mr. Williams’ spectacular falsetto glides aloft his typically breezy keyboard/drum production until Daft Punk’s hypnotic vocoder + sweeping strings augment the song’s cool factor, building to a gorgeous climax that makes me infinitely more happy than his other output.
Runner-Up: “Gush”
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3. Mariah Carey - “You Don’t Know What to Do”
Perhaps not coincidentally guest emcee Wale misappropriates Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s classic phrase “Me + Mariah / go back like babies + pacifiers” from the elusive chanteuse’s last great uptempo summer jam, 1995’s “Fantasy” (okay, “Heartbreaker” was roller rink gold too). From its acoustic diva intro to Jermaine Dupri + Bryan-Michael Cox’s digging-in-the-crates sample of boogie bosses Inner Life’s “I’m Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair),” “You” glitters sparkles with polished disco flair + genuine fun missing from the two preceding singles, but at the center of it all is Carey’s still-opulent pipes, confident, playful and bursting with glamour on this partystarter on my summer soundtrack.
Runner-Up: “Dedicated”
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2. MNEK - “Every Little Word”
British musical prodigy Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike wrote a chart topper for Duke Dumont, produced for legendary dance diva Kylie Minogue and appeared on tracks from a handful of elite European house acts, including a star making turn on Gorgon City’s “Ready For Your Love” all before he hits two decades on this earth, but unlike some of hook singers/behind-the-scenes players whose solo material pales in comparison to their collabos with others, em-en-ee-kay’s stratospheric vocals means business (“do you fuck to this shit?” for pop lyric of the year). MNEK + producer Quintin Christian concocted a robust combination of new jack swing + soulful dance, merging late 80s funk (loving the syncopated bells) + vocoder sprinkles with a throbbing house bassline + squiggly synths to not only form the hottest beat of the year so far but demonstrate the infinite potential the Grammy-nominated upstart possesses.
Runner-Up: “Wrote a Song About You”
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1. Sia - “Chandelier”
Thank goodness the Aussie songwriter phenom did not pass this track to Beyoncé + Rihanna because neither of those polished pop icons could have injected the raw emotion or goosebump-inducing vocal that Sia effortlessly brings to the table. Though the lead single from Sia’s sixth LP, 1000 Forms of Fear, may have all the top 40-friendly trappings (just-gritty-enough electropop beat with reggae influences, soaring vocal competition-ready chorus), this powerful track is neither a balls-to-the-wall kamikaze shot nor a regret-laden morning after pill but a tragic, blurry gut punch when the difference between the two is so indistinguishable that carpe diem/YOLO becomes a curse rather than a motto. Lazy critics pigeonhole this song as an imitation of other artists, but as she proves on this track, the addiction-experiencing Sia authentically captures + delivers powerful content beyond classification.
The best of Europe met with the best of South America for a record third time in a World Cup final and only one could come out on top as the champions of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
July 13
Hit the jizzump for the winner!
Germany (1) vs. Argentina (0)
After scoring the Germans’ first goal at the 2014 World Cup qualification rounds in 2012, Mario Götze, 22, who substituted for all-time World Cup top scorer Miroslave Klose, executed the tie-breaking, game-winning shot during the 113th minute to land Germany its first official title (fourth overall counting West Germany’s 1954, 1974 and 1990 World Cup championships).
This match was the fifth World Cup final that ended in overtime without going to a penalty shootout and the first overtime sans penalty shootout that each country won (Germany) + lost (Argentina). This match was also the sixth World Cup final shutout, the second Germany won, and the second won against Argentina. Germany’s victory is the first time a European team has won at a World Cup hosted in the Americans after five past failures (including West Germany’s loss to Argentina at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico); the third consecutive European World Cup victory (Italy at the 2006 World Cup, Spain at the 2010 World Cup); and only the third European win over an Americas team in World Cup history (versus seven Americas wins against European teams) and the first in four tournaments (France’s win over Brazil at the 1998 World Cup).
With this fourth title, Germany now ties Italy for the second-most titles won (behind Brazil’s five) but edges past Brazil for the most top two finishes (eight to Brazil’s seven) + most consecutive top three finishes (four to Brazil’s three). While Brazil’s unmatched flawless record at the 2002 World Cup is still the one to beat, Germany’s final record (six wins, one draw, no losses) matches the champion records of Argentina at the 1986 World Cup + France at the 1998 World Cup. Germany’s seventeen goals at this year’s tournament (a tie for their second highest number of goals with the 1970 World Cup but still well behind the twenty-five goals scored at the 1954 World Cup) place it first in scoring for the third consecutive World Cup. Germany, like the other top three placers, only had four goals scored against them.
Argentina’s third runner-up finish ties the Netherlands for the most second place finishes and follows the Netherlands’s performance at the 2010 World Cup as the only other team with a flawless record to lose in the final.
Well, that happened. The third place playoff at the 2014 World Cup floated by in a largely uninteresting fashion.
July 12
Netherlands (3) vs. Brazil (0)
Though not as catastrophic as their semi-final match, a penalty shot by Robin van Persie three minutes into play and a game-ending goal by Georginio Wijnaldum handed the Brazilians a tie for their second worst loss at a World Cup (their loss to host country France during the final of the 1998 World Cup), capping a disheartening World Cup. Daley Blind’s other goal for the Dutch propelled the incumbent runners-up to their first third place finish at a World Cup. The Netherlands tied their highest number of goals scored at a World Cup (1974 + 1978 World Cup) and now holds the record of the most top four World Cup finishes without a championship with five, surpassing Sweden with four (though Sweden has not passed the Round of 16 since the 1994 World Cup).
Brazil, still down injured star striker Neymar + suspended captain/star defender Thiago Silva, has not placed this low in the finals since their fourth place finish at the 1974 World Cup, where Netherlands lost to West Germany in the final. Fourteen goals total were scored against Brazil throughout the tournament, the most conceded by the South American superstars at a World Cup, surpassing the eleven goals conceded at the 1938 World Cup, and only the third time in double digits since the 1998 World Cup (ten goals). Poor Brazil. Here’s hoping they regain their mojo.
The final matches are set at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and here are my predictions:
Third Place Match
Brazil vs. Netherlands
July 12
These two World Cup superstars have split their matches (1994 + 1998 World Cup for Brazil, 1974 + 2010 World Cup for Netherlands). At this World Cup, Netherlands did not lose a match until yesterday’s loss to Argentina, while Brazil drew with Mexico at the Group Stage and scored one less goal than Netherlands, who led in scoring going into the semi-finals. Interestingly, Brazil has never placed third or fourth, while the Netherlands placed fourth at the 1998 World Cup following their semi-finals loss to Brazil. Following their devastating loss to Germany, the hosts are out for blood.
Advantage: Brazil
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Championship Match
Argentina vs. Germany
July 13
With this final, the Germans + Argentinians have set a record for the most meetings between two teams in a World Cup final. Despite Germany winning three of their four other meetings (1958, 2006 and 2010 World Cup), Argentina won at the 1986 World Cup, while Germany won at the 1990 World Cup. Two-time champion Argentinians is the final team standing with a flawless win record (Germany drew Ghana in the Group Stage) but the three-time champion Germans has scored double (seventeen goals) the amount Argentina has (eight), proving all the more potent with their huge semi-final win over Brazil.
In the other significantly more boring semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a two-time champion will get another shot at the title.
July 9
Argentina (0, 4) vs. Netherlands (0, 2)
After the World Cup’s first scoreless semi-final match, two-time champion Argentinians outscored the Netherlands in the penalty shootout, qualifying them for their first World Cup final since the 1990 World Cup. Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Garay, Sergio Agüero and Maxi Rodríguez scored in the shootout for Argentina, while only Arjen Robben + Dirk Kuyt scored for the Netherlands.
The incumbent World Cup runner-up Dutch will not get a chance to defend their title in yet another example of the team not quite hitting the mark at a key time.
This 2014 FIFA World Cup semis match is one for the history books.
July 8
Germany (7) vs. Brazil (1)
What was tipped as a fairly evenly matched game between two champions became one of the biggest (semi-)final blowouts in World Cup history. One goal shy of their all-time goals scored at a World Cup match (an 8-0 shutout of Saudi Arabia during the 2002 World Cup Group Stage), Germany scored the most points by a single team in a World Cup final and now ties Brazil for the most World Cup finals reached with eight. Not only did the Germans score five goals in the first thirty minutes of play, but four of them were in the space of six minutes, including two back-to-back goals by Toni Kroos within two minutes of each other. In addition to Kroos’s two, André Schürrle scored two goals, while one a piece were scored by Thomas Müller, Sami Khedira and Germany’s all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose, whose goal, his second at this year’s World Cup, allowed him to surpass Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo to become the all-time leading World Cup goal scorer with sixteen goals.
Brazil was down two of its star elements: striker Neymar, who scored four of Brazil’s ten goals leading into the semis, was sidelined with a fractured lower back vertebra, while captain + defender Thiago Silva was suspended for two yellow cards against quarter-final opponent Colombia. Though Oscar did manage a game-ending goal, the damage was far too great, resulting in more than double the host’s worst World Cup loss (0-3 to France at the 1998 World Cup final) that left many devastated.
Germany will play the winner of tomorrow’s Argentina vs. Netherlands semi-final for the championship title, while Brazil will play the loser for third place.
Two teams both earned their fourth consecutive World Cup semi-finals berth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
July 5
Hit the jizzump for a breakdown of the matches.
Argentina (1) vs. Belgium (0)
Despite several close calls throughout the game, an early goal by Gonzalo Higuaín was enough to give the two-time champion Argentinians their fourth semi-finals berth. The Belgians did manage to earn their second highest placement at the World Cup after not qualifying for two consecutive years.
Man of the Match: Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina)
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Netherlands (0, 4) vs. Costa Rica (0, 3)
Like the other first-time World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia, Costa Rica fought valiantly against far more decorated teams, managing to force a shootout with the Netherlands, the highest scorers going into the quarter-finals. Though they hold the title of fewest goals conceded by a team thus far, the Costa Ricans were unable to score as many penalty kicks as the Dutch, who earned their fourth World Cup semi-finals berth. Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt scored for the Dutch; Celso Borges, Giancarlo González and Christian Bolaños scored for Costa Rica.
Man of the Match: Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
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Argentina vs. Netherlands
July 9
The Netherlands is the leading scorer going into the semi-finals (Colombia, who also has twelve goals, is no longer in the competition) and is tied for the biggest margin of victory (4 goals), but Argentina also has the most wins (five) and the most clean sheets (three). Argentina has not only won the World Cup twice, including its defeat of the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup finale (the other is the 1986 World Cup), but the Netherlands, who won two of their four World Cup match-ups (Round 2 at the 1974 World Cup and the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals), holds the “honor” of losing the most finals without a single championship trophy (1974, 1978 and 2010 World Cups). Historically, the Netherlands, while a potent team, has come up short when it really counted, where the Argentinians have claimed victory more than once.
Two World Cup phenoms will meet at the first semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
July 4
Hit the jizzump for a breakdown of the matches.
Germany (1) vs. France (0)
Mats Hummels’ goal at thirteen minutes, the only goal in the match, led Germany to a record thirteenth World Cup semi-final (third consecutive).
Man of the Match: Mats Hummels (Germany)
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Brazil (2) vs. Colombia (1)
Colombian superstar James Rodríguez did manage to maintain his country’s honor by scoring a game-ending penalty that made him the highest scoring player at the World Cup so far, but Thiago Silva + David Luiz’s goals propelled Brazil to their eleventh World Cup semi-final (second only to Germany).
Man of the Match: David Luiz (Brazil)
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Brazil vs. Germany
July 8
These two World Cup titans have only met once before: Brazil shut out the Germans 2-0 at the 2002 World Cup final (though technically Brazil defeated East Germany at the 1974 World Cup). Brazil has won the World Cup five times (Italy is second with four, while Germany follows with three), Germany has been the runner-up four times (the Netherlands is second with three, while Brazil is tied for third with two), Germany has placed third the most with four times (Brazil is tied for second with two), and Germany + Brazil have each placed fourth once. At this year’s tournament, they each led their Groups with the exact same record (two wins, one draw, seven goals for, two goals against), both of their Round of 16 matches went into overtime (though Brazil’s ended with a penalty shootout) and their quarter-final matches were each won by one goal (though Brazil scored two goals to Germany’s two). Germany has made more semi-final appearances, but Brazil may have home court advantage.
We interrupt the World Cup coverage to bring you my annual mid-year mixtape focused on Korean music.
Blossoming boy bands, daring débuts and a penchant for throwback sounds of the 70s-90s are reflected in my top 28 released/leaked songs from my motherland: Korea.
Hit the jizzump for my countdown and check back next week for my Mid-Year Mixtape for Western songs.
28. MAMAMOO - “Don’t Be Happy”
One of the year’s best girl group débuts kicked off with this pop+B collabo single with ubiquitous Brand New Music crooner BumKey that finds the emerging quartet (Moonbyul, Solar, Wheein and Whasa) dueling to destroy the vision of a happy ex with soulful conviction.
Runner-Up: “Mr. Ambiguous”
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27. Verbal Jint - “Just Another Rapper”
San E + Swings join fellow Brand New Music emcee VJ on this bouncy single with plenty of bro-tastic high-fives + unmatched ballin’ but is blessedly devoid of a sugary R+B hook or K-pop shenanigans.
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26. 15& - “Can’t Hide It”
Precocious teen singing phenoms Jimin + Yerin were quiet after they wowed with 2013’s “Somebody” but returned with this adorable pop soul ditty written + produced by label boss Park Jin-young that captures love’s rush with both the soothing instrumental + their beyond-their-years panache.
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25. MBLAQ - “Be a Man”
Given their mentor Rain’s idolization of Justin Timberlake, it should be no surprise that his J. Tune Camp quintet (G.O, Lee Joon, Mir, Seungho and Thunder) would triumph with this shameless ripoff faithful homage to ★NSYNC’s 2001 Grammy-nominated pop+B ballad “Gone,” whose teardrop/acoustic guitar instrumental with haunting snipped falsetto ballad will prove nostalgic for turn of the millennium pop music fans but with producer Lee Ki’s added tinkling piano riffs + moody string arrangements to back G.O + Seungho’s vocal prowess.
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24. BEAST - “Good Luck”
For a time, BEAST seemed to be lesser than its members (Yoseob possesses one of the most enviable ranges in contemporary K-Pop, Hyunseung formed sexy, successful Trouble Maker duo with 4Minute’s HyunA, and Junhyung is becoming a mini-G-Dragon), but the Cube Entertainment sextet (Yoseob, Hyunseung, Junhyung, Dong Woon, Doojoon and Gikwang) finally catch my ear with this classy, game-upping lead single from their same-titled seventh EP with its dapper dancepop instrumental: growling synths, swirling strings and an almost-acoustic breakdown that demonstrates the band’s evolution.
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23. Baechigi - “Dduraeyo”
YMC Entertainment hiphop duo Moowoong + Tak disguise their emotional pain in their best disco outfit over producer team 3B’s (member ANGLEE takes the reins on the harmonious hook) driving drums + sparkling strings that bops along with an overall optimistic vibe that is often missing from or too forced in contemporary music.
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22. Park Ji Yoon - “Inner Space”
The innovative Mystic89 songstress coos as she rues the naughty things she has done to men and hides inside herself over producer 617’s dreamy soundscape of ethereal synths with this delightful new single whose subtlety + restraint in her self-reflection keeps her on the edge of creativity in the Korean music industry.
Runner-Up: “Beep”
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21. BtoB - “Beep Beep”
The Cube Entertainment septet (Changsub, Eunkwang, Hyunsik, Ilhoon, Minhyuk, Peniel and Sungjae) really hits their stride with this hippop+B ode to a post-breakup drive over a sophisticated yet youthful Brave Brothers production (one of the first of his I actually dig) comprised of pleasing keys (especially that somber piano bridge with Changseob + Sungjae’s tender vocals), Western vocal samples + scratchology (complementing Minhyuk’s post-chorus verse + Ilhoon’s outro verse, a rarity in music), string injections and of course car horns to give the cut a sophistication while still maintaining a fun youthfulness.
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20. Taeyang - “Eyes, Nose, Lips”
Following up last year’s brilliant trap-hippop “Ringa Linga” may be near impossible, so stripping his music down to a simplistic Teddy piano ballad follow-up may have been the best move for BIGBANG’s Dong Young-bae to Rise as he calls his former flame a memory. A cover project yielded a fantastic English remix by label mate Tablo that will only add to the original’s sensory-pleasing feeling.
Runner-Up: “Body”
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19. KREAM - “DALLA”
Indie Korean R+B singer Kim Do Hun sets out to prove he’s different with this stunning début single. Employing a strong, flexible vocal presence, KREAM reflects on his rise (“I’ll be a fucking star,” indeed) over one Korea’s finest ambient+B instrumentals to date that brims with quiet confidence + lighters-up determination from the first strum of the bass.
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18. Gary - “ZOTTO MOLA”
Last year, G-Dragon shook up the sheen of K-Pop groups with his divisive, genre-bending aural mishmash and this year, this off-kilter love song will see the rapping half of LeeSsang make a similar mark. The eerie looped female vocal + tinkling keys provide a unique soundscape for the Jungle Entertainment artist’s eloquent, rhythmically-interesting vocals to express the age-old desire to ball enough to gift to his honey Basquiat art.
Runner-Up: “MR.GAE”
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17. Humming Urban Stereo - “Bullshit”
One of the few new songs on Lee Jeereen’s fifth LP, Reform, achieves a slow 80s-influenced burn that really feels like it hums in stereo while overcoming the musical clichés that other, lesser songs may ultimately succumb to. The lush dance number is drenched in electronic ooze, punctuated by swirling keyboard riffs + dizzying symphonic interludes that complement the lost in love (sometimes Auto-Tuned) stylings of Brown Eyed Girls’ Narsha to such a tee that the other bullshit on the radio just melts away.
Runner-Up: “Insomnia”
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16. Philtre - “Last Scene”
Producer/remixer fka Bart brings together two incredible artists for an awe-inspiring Amoeba Culture collabo. Indie chanteuse Lim Kim’s distinctive nasal murmurs float next to the lyrical musings of Dynamic Duo’s Choiza on a stellar instrumental that transitions between mellow piano balladry + a comparatively dramatic school of synth fish shimmering in the sun.
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15. ALi - “What is LUV?”
After a controversy over one of her songs in 2011, the large-voiced singer, whose moniker is derived from Muhammad Ali, comes out “hwaiting” with this new soulful pop reggae single. A gorgeous acoustic piano intro gives way to a lush reggae arrangement with some Caribbean sway to complement ALi’s aching vocals and an unnecessary but not unpleasant contribution from rapper Loco.
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14. CL - “Mental Breakdown”
Despite a controversial background chant from the Quran, is executed with such upper echelon style that Chaerin Lee demonstrates again that not only should this song serve as an hors d’œuvre for her forthcoming solo début (rather than her group’s sophomore LP, Crush), but that she really is Korea’s baddest female. YG Entertainment superproducer Teddy grants the international superstar some serious hiphop bounce on the spastic synths + vivacious vocal loop for the 2NE1 leader to exert her braggadocious flow that will cause the world to have an actual breakdown.
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13. Ladies’ Code - “So Wonderful”
The Polaris Entertainment quintet (Ashley, EunB, RiSe, Sojung and Zuny) deliver another irresistible installment in their jazz-steeped dancepop discography. Damn the repetitious hook (though Sojung continues to be one of the most distinct + talented vocalists in a Korean girl group today), “So Wonderful” is a delightful dismissal of a debonair yet despicable dude marinated in subtle brass two-stepping with trendy synthpop to show that the ladies again are so, so, so, so wonderful.
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12. TROY - “Green Light”
Prolific singer BumKey finally débuts his Brand New Music hip-pop+B quartet comprised of Changwoo, Jae Woong (the hunk who played gay in BumKey’s “Bad Girl” video) and Kanto in this jazzy carpe diem fantasy. BumKey’s charismatic crooning anchors the other magnetic members’ car metaphor-laden verses over a sophisticated, Pantene-silky guitar + horn-infused groove tailormade for funky flirtation at a cocktail dance party in my pants.
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11. Champagne + Candle - “What’s My Name?”
The Brand New Music duo Champagne (Son Seung Hwan) + Candle (Lee Kang) début with this slick single that should get some corks popping. Gifted with flow + production talents, this self-produced cut enwraps their flirtatious verses that reference Balmain + Chanel in a stark 80s Janet Jackson-esque bouncy percussion channeled through The Neptunes that should get people asking who they are.
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10. Rain - “La Song”
Two years in compulsory military service may have prevented one of Korea’s top international cultural exports from continuing to take the world by storm, but less than year after his discharge + signed to a new agency (Cube DC), Jung Ji Hoon brings rainy season back. Co-crafted with longtime collaborator JR Groove, the triumphant Latin-influenced horns, marching bassline, hiphop influences and electrifying guitar solo imbue the better track of Rain’s double A-side with a regal, militaristic energy tailormade for a comeback. Though his singing is limited to the elementary, repetitive chorus in favor of passable rapping skills about Maseratis + fancy shoelaces, Rain still commands attention like its 2006. “La Song” is likely to inspire me to make it rain while bumping it in my headphones at the gym.
Follow-Up: “30 Sexy”
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9. Kye Bum Zu - “Game Over”
Unlike more organic efforts from the Superstar K4 contestant, “Game Over” boasts funky horns + strings that takes Kye to the next level. Co-crafted with rapper/producer Buga Kingz’s Juvie Train, the funky track fuses the PJR Entertainment’s trademark ad-libs with a velvety vocoder, shiny synths, and danceable drums that blue the angry lyrics of a man done dirty. With rich, unique vocals and a bumping instrumental, this cut proves that it is far from game over for the talented Kye.
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8. TVXQ - “Spellbound”
Despite captivating both Korean + Japanese audiences with their potent house/dubstep hybrid style in the past two years, Max + U-Know completely switched styles for the title track of the same-titled repackage of their seventh Korean LP, Tense. Yoo Young-jin’s (also co-produced Girls’ Generation’s “I Got a Boy”) big band jazz meets funk not only allows the two talented singer/dancers to flex their vocal chops about a magical lady but completely differentiates them stylistically from the vast majority of K-Pop today with their phenomenal jazzy execution to once again leave audiences spellbound.
Runner-Up: “Something”
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7. Topp Dogg - “Arario”
After their 2013 output broke away from the breakbeat hiphop of their pre-début material into Auto-Tune-infested EDM/dubstep territory to become the hiphop EXO, I had almost given up hope until the Stardom Entertainment supergroup (A-Tom, B-Joo, Gohn, Hansol, Hojoon, Jenissi, Kidoh, Nakta, P-Hoon, Sangdo, Seogoong, Xero and Yano) rocked my world with the title track of their sophomore EP. Just as the group melds hiphop with dancepop styles, the production concocts a beastly mix that deftly enmeshes trendy Western sounds with traditional Korean sounds (Korean strings + woodwinds) to stunningly epic effect. A perfect export of Korean culture with modern elements that could put the group on topp.
Runner-Up: “TOPDOG”
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6. Girls’ Generation - “MR.MR”
With 2013’s “I Got a Boy,” the glorious SM Entertainment nonet (Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun) nearly perfected the Jekyll+Hyde pop workout that amalgamates two styles together seamlessly, but lightning strikes twice in a generation. “MR.MR” sounds as if Western dynamic production duo The Underdogs retooled lost 80s Janet Jackson instrumentals for the unwashed masses like her dearly departed brother’s posthumous compilation. The pop funk attack glimmers with both K-Pop sweetness + subtle plush synth beams bordered by gritty electronic growls and a banging dance break aching for a Janet ad-lib (“Edit!”) as the girls (notably Tiffany + Taeyeon’s vocal gymnastics) venerate an unnamed mister who can transform broken glass into stars.
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5. Gain - “Fxxk You”
Her last single, 2012’s “Bloom,” seems to be a tongue-in-cheek ode to her vagina and she may have guested in PSY’s “Gentleman” music video, but this time, the Brown Eyed Girls maknae is going directly for the 19+ rating. Gain’s filthy words (at least by Korean standards) are ironically clothed in her husky hum, making the first single from her Truth Or Dare EP a strongly worded but sweetly delivered argument for females to not allow themselves to be suborned into sex. BEG producer Lee Min Soo’s (IU, Sunny Hill) smooth bossa nova track (warm guitars, ticking percussion, cooing support vocals) is just missing the sax, just like Gain is missing the sex from her vocal partner, soulful crooner BumKey in an opportunity to choose both truth + dare by saying “fxxk you.”
Runner-Up: “Truth Or Dare”
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4. Dal★Shabet - “B.B.B (Big Baby Baby)”
After the Happy Face Entertainment sextet’s (Serri, Ah Young, Jiyul, Woohee, Gaeun and Subin) previous single “Be Ambitious” was judged sexist + anti-military, the group pulled a savvy PR move with this glossy gambit. “B.B.B” features a slammin’ interpolation of Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It” + Gaeun’s rapid-fire verses fitting exquisitely into superproducer Shinsadong Tiger’s synths reminiscent of the decade right before each of the members was born. The electropop bounce not only demonstrates the group’s newfound maturity but brought the supa dupa divas back onto the radar in the best way. The lead single deserves a B.B.B+.
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3. Girl’s Day - “Something”
The Dream Tea Entertainment quartet (Sojin, Minah, Yura and Hyeri) are another group to never pique my interest until a certain je ne sais quoi took hold. The title track of their fourth EP, Everyday 3, reflects a more mature sound (that the interwebs claim was pioneered by SISTAR) courtesy of production dream duo duble sidekick, complete with shiny reverb + pounding drums that bless the track to a dreamy post-disco bop. All the better for the quartet to display their maturing vocals, particularly Hyeri’s pre-hook falsetto licks + Minah’s lovely ad-libs (and sole correct English pronunciation of the song’s title). With this track, the Girls made my day by bringing something special to the table.
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2. Jun Hyoseong - “Good-Night Kiss”
The solo début of the lead singer + dancer of TS Entertainment’s marquee girl group SECRET is the kind of addicting bedroom romp worthy of repetition. Production impresario extraordinaires duble sidekick craft a seductive lullaby that slickly transitions from Hyoseong’s sing-song spelling bee whispers to the helium-infused sexpot trap breakdowns with synth accents straight from the decade of the chanteuse’s birth. Hyoseong’s cutsy vocals flavor the ear candy title track of Top Secret with an innocence that belies the tryst lyrics. “Good-Night Kiss” bucks the typical saccharine K-Pop instrumentals for a more adventurous début that proves Hyoseong is more amaZINGER than all the other females who tried.
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1. 2NE1 - “Come Back Home (Video Version)”
The road to the YG Entertainment quartet’s sophomore LP, Crush, may have been bumpy but CL, Bom, Dara and Minzy really hit their stride. The video version of the lead single sagely fuses the original version’s career-defining genre-fusing collabo work with Teddy (with additional assists from PK + DEE.P) with CL’s poetic interlude from the acoustic version to achieve a flawless balance of hard + soft. The overall vibe may cater a bit too much to trap/EDM trends but the undeniable earworm hook + moving lyrics from some of Korea’s most promising crossover artists make “Come” truly hit home.
The fourth + final day of the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup featured two well-fought matches that both ended in overtime with quite different past quarter-final records: one has advanced eight times to the quarters, the other only once before.
July 1
Hit the jizzump for a breakdown of the matches.
Argentina (1) vs. Switzerland (0)
Two-time World Cup champion Argentinians held out to best the Swiss with Ángel di María’s goal coming two minutes before a shootout would have been warranted, marking Argentina’s third consecutive quarter-final berth (ninth overall).
Man of the Match: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
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Belgium (2) vs. United States (1)
Despite not scoring against each other during regular play, Belgians Kevin De Bruyne + Romelu Lukaku scored in at the beginning + end of the first overtime period and American Julian Green scored at the beginning of the second overtime period to earn Belgium only its second World Cup quarter-final berth.
Man of the Match: Tim Howard (United States)
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Argentina vs. Belgium
July 5
Though they have met twice before (1982 + 1986 World Cups) and split the winning (Belgium at 1982, Argentina at 1986), Argentina is the far more decorated of the two: runners-up twice (1930 + 1990 World Cups) and champions twice (1978 + 1986 World Cups). Belgium, by contrast, has only made it to the semi-finals once before (1986 World Cup) and ultimately placed fourth.
The third day of the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup featured two European teams against two African teams. Yet another perennial favorite + another inconsistent but high performing favorite.
June 30
Hit the jizzump for a breakdown of the matches.
France (2) vs. Nigeria (0)
After a hard-fought game with a single goal towards the end of the second half by France’s Paul Pogba, Nigeria’s Joseph Yobo scored against his own goal off the game-ending corner kick to end Nigeria’s run.
Man of the Match: Paul Pogba (France)
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Germany (2) vs. Algeria (0)
Algeria’s Abdelmoumene Djabou scored in the last moment of overtime play but Germany’s two goals (André Schürrle in the first two minutes of overtime play + Mesut Özil in the last minute of overtime play) secured Germany’s ninth consecutive (sixteenth overall) quarter-final berth.
Man of the Match: Raïs M’Bolhi (Algeria)
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France vs. Germany
July 4
Though France did earn a better goal difference (+6 to Germany's +5) in otherwise identical Group Stage records, Germany not only bested their French rivals twice out of their three World Cup match-ups (wins at the 1982 + 1986 World Cup, loss at the 1958 World Cup) but is one of the World Cup’s most consistent high performers.
The second day of the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup yielded another perennial favorite + another who has never reached a quarter-final.
June 29
Hit the jizzump for a breakdown of the matches.
Netherlands (2) vs. Mexico (1)
The Mexicans drew first blood with Giovani dos Santos’ second half-starting goal, but two goals within the last ten minutes of play (one from Wesley Sneijder + a game-winning penalty from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar) gave the Dutch their sixth World Cup quarter-finals berth and Mexico’s sixth consecutive loss at this stage.
Man of the Match: Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico)
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Costa Rica (1, 5) vs. Greece (1, 3)
Though Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ overtime goal matched Bryan Ruiz’s earlier goal and forced a shootout, Greece only scored three of their penalty shots (Konstantinos Mitroglou, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and José Holebas) while Costa Rica scored all five (Celso Borges, Ruiz, Giancarlo González, Joel Campbell and Michael Umaña). Both teams have never made it to the levels they reached after the game (Costa Rica did manage to reach the Round of 16 at the 1990 World Cup).
Man of the Match: Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
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Netherlands vs. Costa Rica
July 5
Like Colombia, another quarter-final Cinderella story, Costa Rica may fall to a historically-superior opponent (the Dutch have reached the semi-finals four of the nine times they have qualified for the World Cup).
The first day of the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup yielded one perennial favorite + one who has never reached a quarter-final.
June 28
Hit the jizzump for a breakdown of the matches.
Brazil (1, 3) vs. Chile (1, 2)
After a goal each in the first half (David Luiz for Brazil, Alexis Sánchez for Chile), a scoreless second half required a shootout where Brazil emerged victorious 3-2 (Luiz, Marcelo Vieira and Neymar for Brazil; Charles Aránguiz + Marcelo Díaz for Chile) to advance to their sixth consecutive + fifteenth overall quarter-finals.
Man of the Match: Júlio César (Brazil)
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Colombia (2) vs. Uruguay (0)
Two unanswered goals from Colombian midfielder extraordinaire James Rodríguez led his team to cinderella themselves past six-time quarter-finalist Uruguayans for their first-ever World Cup quarter-finals. Uruguay was down its star striker Luis Suárez after a career third biting penalty caused a suspension that will last the remainder of the World Cup.
Man of the Match: James Rodríguez (Colombia)
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Brazil vs. Colombia
July 4
Despite their meteoric rise through this year’s World Cup, past history shows that the Brazilian football juggernaut has reached the semi-finals ten times, emerging as the champion half of those times.
With the Group Stage completed and the Round of 16 matches set, hit the jizzump for my predictions of the matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
June 28
Brazil (Group A winner) vs. Chile (Group B runner-up)
Brazil, the only national team who has played at every World Cup and not missed a World Cup quarter-final since the 1990 World Cup, not only beats Chile’s Group Stage record (Brazil’s 2-1-0 vs. Chile’s 2-0-1) but has bested Chile at every World Cup match to date (1962 World Cup semi-final, 1998 + 2010 World Cup Round of 16) and has one of only three players in the group stage to score four goals: Neymar.
Advantage: Brazil
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Colombia (Group C winner) vs. Uruguay (Group D runner-up)
Despite not meeting its fellow South Americans much at the World Cup, Uruguay is now down its star striker Luis Suárez after he was banned from the next nine Uruguayan matches (the rest of the World Cup) + fined 100,000 CHF (2,559,804 UYU or US$111,912) for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in the shoulder, his third career biting incident in the decisive match that advanced Uruguay + eliminated Italy from the Group Stage. Colombia, despite not advancing past the Round of 16 stage at a World Cup, won all three of its Group Stage matches and boasted the second highest goal count (9 goals) + goal difference (+7) in the Group Stage behind the Netherlands.
Advantage: Colombia
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June 29
Netherlands (Group B winner) vs. Mexico (Group A runner-up)
The last time these two powerhouse teams met was at the Group Stage of the 1998 World Cup, resulting in a draw. The Mexican team has qualified for the last five consecutive Rounds of 16, but the Dutch, 2010 World Cup runners-up, have gone past the Round of 16 five of the nine times they have qualified for the World Cup (vs. Mexico’s twice out of fourteen times).
Advantage: Netherlands
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Costa Rica (Group D winner) vs. Greece (Group C runner-up)
These two teams, never high performers, will meet for the first time at the World Cup. Both teams have rarely qualified for the World Cup (2014 is Costa Rica’s fourth, Greece’s third) but Costa Rica has qualified for the Round of 16 once before (1990 World Cup) and did not lose any of their group stage matches (their group stage draw against England was well fought), while Greece’s loss to powerful Colombia showed a potential chink in their defensive phalanx.
Advantage: Costa Rica
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June 30
France (Group E winner) vs. Nigeria (Group F runner-up)
Nigeria’s loss to Argentina was only by one point and their draw with Iran was scoreless. However, France’s 5-2 group stage routing of Switzerland and 3-0 shutout of Honduras demonstrated the French’s potent capacity for goal-scoring, yielding the Group Stage’s third highest positive goal difference (after Netherlands + Colombia).
Advantage: France
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Germany (Group G winner) vs. Algeria (Group H runner-up)
Though Algeria became the first African team to beat a European team at a World Cup during the 1982 World Cup by besting West Germany 2-1, Germany has not missed a quarter-final since the 1978 World Cup and out of its sixteen World Cup qualifications, Germany, whose Thomas Müller is one of only three players to score four goals during the Group Stage, boasts three championships, four runners-up and four third place titles, including at the 2010 World Cup.
Advantage: Germany
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July 1
Argentina (Group F winner) vs. Switzerland (Group E runner-up)
Another team with a flawless group stage record + the final player who has scored more than four goals in the group stage (Lionel Messi) has played + bested its Swiss opponents once before at a World Cup (1966 World Cup Group Stage, where they went on to place fifth).
Advantage: Argentina
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Belgium (Group H winner) vs. United States (Group G runner-up)
Belgium + United States scored the same number of goals in the Group Stage but the rest of their history is uneven: Belgium has not qualified for the past two consecutive World Cups and the United States won their last World Cup bout at the 1930 World Cup (3-0). No clearly discernible winner is obvious from the historical statistics but Belgium did win all of its Group Stage matches.
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