Tag: Hayoung

Everybody Loves Apink

January 11, 2026

Eunji goes big with that “Oh, baby” and I experience something novel in my six years of K-pop fandom: nostalgia? Is that even possible? Their 2026 single “Love Me More” technically falls on the year of their 15th anniversary, but unlike with 2nd-gen contemporaries Girls’ Generation and Kara, Apink never really went away. I will admit that my interest lapsed around the time of Naeun’s departure in 2022, and I later assumed that they were simply nearing their end alongside 3rd-gen contemporaries Mamamoo, Red Velvet, and Oh My Girl. “Love Me More” and its EP Re: Love feels like a grand comeback, then, maybe because it’s so classical? Not only like it could’ve come from the middle of the catalog but because it’s got that throwback feel of the second generation, like ’90s American R&B. To clarify, people who were around and listening to K-pop in the 2010s would’ve known Apink as 3rd gen, but from my perspective, I can’t square Bomi and the gang as colleagues of Taeyeon and Tiffany. We’ve got a couple of liners here, with Chorong and Solar, and then Hayoung, Joy, and Yerin. … More Everybody Loves Apink

Congratulations, Apink!

April 19, 2021

Today is the ten-year anniversary of Apink, one of my favorite K-pop groups. I don’t have anything big planned to commemorate such an achievement, but I have been working intermittently behind-the-scenes on a podcast episode dedicated to them, something like “Apink: A Musical Journey” or “The Art of Apink.” I don’t know, whatever sounds less dumb. But I don’t mind being dumb, because Apink makes for sometimes simple pleasures, with their easy, listenable sound. This is their overall character, “soft” or “cute,” so they lull you and when the surprises come, they hit hard. There’s the gradual “maturing” in tone they’ve developed in the past few years, with hits like “I’m So Sick” and “Eung Eung” — both excellent — but I don’t want to look at that as a change of style. I think it’s all one thing, that there’s a central driver behind songs as disparate in theme as “My My” and “Dumhdurum.” We’ll talk more in-depth about their artistry later. … More Congratulations, Apink!

Top 10 YouTube 2020

December 29, 2020

Well, it’s that time of year again, where we count down the best YouTube videos of the past 12 months (I’d already used “year” in this sentence, so I couldn’t use it twice). What do you mean “again” doesn’t apply in this case? Well, true enough this site and its correspondent YouTube channel launched this year — and what a year! So exciting, wow. Primarily, what helped me through was YouTube, and what a year! Seems like everyone, from Yoona and Yuri to Hayoung started up their channels, providing so much wonderful c-o-n-t-e-n-t to pick up and watch. … More Top 10 YouTube 2020

K-Pop Pick of the Day: “Dumhdurum”

July 16, 2020

I love everything about this song — the music itself, of course, and also the MV. The colors, the lavish detail, the frowny-girl scowls, and even Naeun’s cornrows (speaking of appropriative). This is a really bold outing for Apink, as far as I’ve seen (having missed a few of their more recent evolutionary steps, namely “%%”). It pops. There’s a big synchronized hair whip in the choreography, and I think that’s the quintessence of the piece. It’s fast and fun — it’s a real jolt. And it’s lean, maintaining a consistent vibe throughout, rather than peaks and valleys. … More K-Pop Pick of the Day: “Dumhdurum”