K-Pop Hot 100: Ailee Rules Second Week at No. 1
Ailee's 2013 keeps getting better as she meets iconic producer Quincy Jones while ruling the K-Pop charts.
By Jeff Benjamin
Jeff Benjamin
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Ailee YMC entertainment
Ailee rules the K-Pop 100 for a second week with throwback-inspired jam "U&I" this week, topping a chart with few shake-ups.
The accomplishment comes on the heels of yet another excitement benchmark in Ailee's red-hot 2013: meeting legendary producer Quincy Jones. According to Ailee's Twitter feed, where she posted a photo of the two, Jones was in South Korea for a concert and had personally requested to meet the 24-year-old. The man who helped create iconic works with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra expressed his excitement for Ailee's future after he watched her performances. See if you get the same excitement after watching this live rendition of "U&I" live on music program "M COUNTDOWN."
Ailee perched at the top means Apink will have to settle for the No. 2 slot with bouncy dance track "NoNoNo." While the single sizzles on the charts, the sextet released a music video from another track off their "Secret Garden" EP, released in early July. The song, "Secret Garden," is sweet ballad that showcases the young girls' vocals front and center. The visual hasn't sent "Secret Garden" into the K-Pop Hot 100, but is a nice treat for fans supporting the girls for over a month now.
Veteran co-ed group Koyote — comprised of members Shinji, Kim Jong Min and Baekga — skyrockets into the Top 10 and snags the Hot Shot Debut entry at No. 9 with its latest single, "Hollywood." It's a fun dance track with a twist: the song begins with a soulful blues intro, but crosses over to thumping disco, blending synthesizers and orchestral strings. Its accompanying music video features the members as pop culture icons: Kim Jong Min is Superman and Baekga, as Iron Man, fight for the affection of a Marilyn Monroe-playing Shinji. Koyote has released an extensive catalog of mega-hits since their 1999 debut, including "Encounter," "Pure," and "Emergency."
Yoo Sung Eun, a Top 4 contestant for Mnet's reality singing competition "Voice Korea," leaps to No. 7 from No. 9 this week with debut single, "Be OK" featuring BAE CHI GI (the rap duo who hit No. 1 in January with "Shower of Tears"). "Be OK," was composed by hitmaker Huh Sung Jin, who has worked with SISTAR and Ailee. The song is a hybrid of R&B, blues and pop topped with organ sounds and dynamic beats. The music video for "Be OK" is divided into three parts, each featuring a different genre and instrument. First, Sung Eun sings to the accompaniment of Sam Lee on the guitar. Then Kang Soo Ho accompanies on drums and, finally, Sung Eun performs by herself. Watch below:
With less than half the week to rack up sales and downloads to chart on the K-Pop Hot 100, girl group f(x) landed a truly impressive number of tracks on the chart this week after releasing new album "Pink Tape." The girls have revealed their favorite tracks on the LP. See where your favorite and the quintet's favorites stacked up on the chart:
No. 14 "Rum Pum Pum Pum"
No. 25 "Shadow" (Krystal's favorite)
No. 33 "Goodbye Summer" (Amber's favorite)
No. 47 "Airplane" (Luna's favorite)
No. 57 "Signal"
No. 58 "Pretty Girl"
No. 61 "No More"
No. 63 "Snapshot"
No. 75 "Toy"
No. 85 "Kick" (Victoria's favorite)
No. 86 "Step" (Sulli's favorite)
No. 93 "Ending Page"
The girls will continue promoting lead single "Rum Pum Pum Pum," which fans can expect to see in the Top 10 next week. Watch one of their comeback performances below: