Best Of K-pop 2016

2016 was both a good and bad (it was no 2014 but, then, what is?) year for K-pop: Lots of amazing music was released but we also lost several of our favourite groups and members. However, the good kind of outweighs the bad in my opinion. There were a lot of my favourite groups delivering, as per, but there were also people I'd never heard of before or had never paid much attention to, who blew me away.

Here are the 25 best K-pop tracks of 2016, IMHO. (Note: The order is arbitrary, I couldn't bear trying to rank all of these.)

1. VIXX "Fantasy"

VIXX released three mini-albums in 2016 and had an all around good year. The members were in dramas, movies, musicals and variety shows, released solo tracks for OSTs and, in the case of Ravi, a mixtape. 2016 solidified them as one of the best and most exciting groups in the industry. As a result of all this, there are a lot of tracks I could have picked (and lots I love) but I went with "Fantasy", which samples Beethoven, is slick as and shows the boys at their gothiest, moodiest best.




2. Rainbow "Whoo"
Rainbow announced that they were disbanding only recently and it's a serious pity. This release is catchy as hell (that "Clap. Clap, clap, clap" gets stuck in my head so bad), cute and epistomises everything that was great about the group. Also, how hot is Jaekyung?! Dang. 
It's only a shame that they never really got the recognition that they deserved. 


3. WINNER "Sentimental"

WINNER is one of my favourite groups, perhaps even second to VIXX. Obviously, they are another group about whom we got sad news this year, following the confusion about the failure for planned comebacks to actually happen and the eventual departure of Nam Taehyun. Sad as I am that Taehyun has left, I still love and support the group and can't wait for them to be able to get back to making music together now. It was hard to choose just one track from the releases that came out in the beginning of this year but I went with "Sentimental" in the end. Mostly because the kind of chacha move during the choreo in the chorus is adorable and addictive.

4. Sandeul "Stay as you are"

Much as I loved B1A4's comeback (finally), it was Sandeul's solo track that really stole my heart this year. The sentiment behind the song was destined to do so. I mean, I'm a romantic moron. Basically, it's about how he hasn't met the love of his life yet but wherever she is and whatever she is doing, he wants her to be happy and loved and only live well until he meets her, even if she is currently with someone else. And, of course, it sounds beautiful because, if Sandeul's appearances on singing shows in the past year have taught us anything, it's that he really is a stunning singer.

5. 4Minute "Hate"

Another group that sadly disbanded this year, 4Minute left us on a rather strong note with the cinematic, punchy, intense and excellent "Hate". It was a great follow-up to the similarly strong "Crazy" and a brilliant direction for the band, it's a pity that they didn't get to explore it a little more...

6. SEVENTEEN "Check-in"

SEVENTEEN are a group that make me smile affectionately like a doting older sister. They're incredibly talented and have a bright future ahead of themselves. They also work very damn hard. I mean, how many comebacks did they have this year alone? I could have chosen any one of those as each was catchy, bright and exciting but I went with the Hip-hop sub-unit's first mixtape track that was released with a video. The video is rad and the song is great but mostly I was just being lame and bailing on having to choose a favourite among their other tracks.

7. K.A.R.D. "Oh Nana"

I wasn't aware a co-ed group was debuting until this video had already come out. I checked it out out of curiosity but stuck around for the track. Can you say "bop alert"?! So. Damn. Good.

8. BTS "Blood, Sweat and Tears"

I can't not include BTS. If you're talking about bops, they definitely have to be part of the conversation. They are killing it and only going from strength to strength. I think they might even be the first K-pop group that will ever truly break into the American music market. But, even if that never happens, they are still the reigning princes of K-pop. There's a reason I look forward to their every comeback so keenly, they never disappoint and "Blood, Sweat and Tears" is fantastic.

9. Brave Girls "Deepened"

For some reason, Brave Girls are flying wayyy under the radar but all of their releases have been great. "High Heels" was a typical bubbly summer girl group track, yet still excellent and a little more refreshingly tongue-in-cheek and self-aware than many other groups who produced similar tracks. However, "Deepened", released at the beginning of the year, is a truly good song that is a breath of fresh air. I really hope these guys gain more of a following and get a chance to grow!

10. G. Soul "Where Do We Go From Here"

Speaking of flying under the radar, G.Soul is a JYP act that seems to be doing just that, which I cannot fathom. His releases this year were some of the better R&B k-pop tracks to be unleashed on the market...and yet he doesn't seem to be getting mainstream love. Atmospheric, moody and sexy, this is just some good shit. Plain and simple.

11. Wonder Girls "Why So Lonely"

Another JYP act that was killing it (the label was really having a good year) was Wonder Girls. Having ditched their CEO to produce their own track, they came back at us this summer, following their eightiestastic comeback in 2015, with the excellent reggae-inspired "Why So Lonely".

12. MAMAMOO "I Miss You"

Perhaps an unpopular opinion but, of the songs MAMAMOO released this year, "I Miss You", was, hands down, my favourite. Sexy and cool, I thought that it was the direction the group was going to take. It seems their retro concept has taken over since then and I've personally tired of that a little so, this remains my favourite release from them this year.

13. I.O.I. "Very Very Very"

I.O.I. is the group that was formed by the television show Product 101, which pitched 101 trainees from various record labels against each other to become part of a girl group. Their releases have been very typical "cute" concept tracks but excellent ones and, though I'm not a massive fan of said concepts, I love I.O.I. As they are only a temporary project and won't be working together anymore, I felt I had to include them on this list and this song...well, I defy you to not get it stuck in your head.

14. EXO-CBX "Hey Mama"

Speaking of getting stuck in your head, the similarly repeated "Hey Mama" of this track from EXO's first sub-unit is damn catchy. EXO-CBX is made of some of my favourite (and underrated) members of the group and the whole project is slick, fun and stylish.

15. NU'EST (MINHYUN&JR) "Daybreak"

Nu'est are an older group that have achieved a decent amount of fame and recognition over the course of their career but aren't exactly a hot topic these days, which is a crying shame as this year's comebacks have been, in my opinion, the best they've ever had. Their sound is definitely smoother and more R&B influenced these days and is doing something a little more interesting than the rest of their peers. Everything they've produced this year has been dreamy, stylish and a little arty. This track, an unofficial sub-unit formed by Minhyun and JR on the latest album, is exactly that, dreamy and stylish. It was hard to just pick just one song but this is the one I had on repeat. Plus, the boys look especially gorgeous in this video.

16. MINO "Body"

If we're talking looking gorgeous, WINNER's Mino's solo track, "Body"(as part of his sub-unit releases with IKON's Bobby) deserves a mention. The song is sexy, the video is sexy and he looks seriously good in it.

17. Kwon Jinah "The End"

I love Kwon Jinah. Her whole album is fantastic from beginning to (excuse the pun) end but this song really stands out. Plus, I'm pretty damn proud that I was able to understand all of the dialogue in the video.

18. J-Min "Ready For Your Love"

Another fantastic track from a female soloist was J-Min's criminally underrated "Ready For Your Love". Not only is the song great but the video is stunning. I played this on a loop when it first came out.

19. NCT U "The 7th Sense"

One of the best debut tracks of the year has to be NCT U's "The 7th Sense". Dreamy, vaguely futuristic and impossibly cool, it was a strong introduction to SM's ambitious new boygroup that has 50 members who will be introduced to the public in sub-units that explore different genres, concepts and audiences across the globe, rather than perform as a whole. There were various NCT releases this year but this is my favourite, by far.

20. Loude "Tonight without You (1:00 AM)"

By comparison to every other group on this list, these guys are tiny. And, yet, I somehow stumbled upon them and fell in love. Clearly inspired by indie and dance acts from abroad, this is a chill pop-rock track with a funky beat and excellent synth use that is a very pleasant listen.

21. Agust D "Agust D"

When Suga of BTS released his mixtape, I wasn't particularly interested. In general, K-pop groups rappers' mixtapes aren't all that interesting to me but this one was different. Like Rap Monster before him, Suga proved that BTS is on a different level than most other groups. This mixtape is fantastic and the opening track, "Agust D", that introduces us to Suga's solo alterego, Agust D (Suga backwards + D for Daegu, where he is from) is killer. With their skyrocketing fame and Suga's personal demons informing the tracks and a brutal honesty that is refreshing in the poster perfect world of K-pop, this mixtape goes hard in the best possible way.

22. Yong Junhyung "After This Moment"

Another solo release from a K-pop rapper, this one comes from Beast's Junhyung and has a killer hook. This is one of my most-played tracks of the entire year. No video came out to accompany it, so I don't think it was crazily well-publicised. I imagine many people missed it but it's worth checking out.

23. ZICO "I am you, you are me"

Everything Zico touches turns to gold and he's been involved in a lot of great musical ventures in 2016 but this track from the beginning of the year is my favourite. The groovy rhythm, aesthetics of the video and styling are all right up my alley.

24. Jeong Jinwoon "Will (Feat. Tiger JK)"

With his move from JYP to Mystic, Jinwoon obviously got the opportunity to pursue the music he is really passionate about. Clearly, his love for rock needed to be explored after years in a ballad group and, while this debut was deemed a failure during subsequent television appearances, I really liked it. I think the styling and stylised atmosphere of the video and song are awesome. Plus, I love the Jarvis Cocker vibes.

25. BIGBANG "(FXXK IT)"

Even though this was just released, it has to be one of the best tracks of the year. BIGBANG are K-pop royalty, on a whole different level than everyone else. While I fuck with this a little less than last year's releases, it's still a fantastic song. It's just a damn shame that T.O.P. has to enlist in the new year and that other members are sure to follow shortly thereafter.

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I'm a big K-pop fan and this summer has been a particularly great one for launches and reboots. As summer is now officially over, I thought I'd pop some of my favourite songs from the last few months up here for others to discover/obsess over/fall into the endless pit of dreaminess/sign away their lives to being a lame fangirl.

(Also, the use of the term "k-pop" is being used a little loosely here as a couple acts are probably better described as rock or R&B bands but all are South Korean music groups/artists.)

A new BB cream + giveaway.

As I mentioned briefly in a previous post, I'm not a fan of high-end BB creams. I've tried a bunch, some by Benefit, Mac, Stila amongst others, but none have stood up to their price-bracket or my loyalties to drugstore versions. I'm under no illusions that they don't all pale in comparison to Korean versions but I've yet to find the right shade to confirm or refute this. For now, I can merely state that my first was Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector which I continue to love. Then I tried Maybelline's Dream Pure BB which has Salicylic Acid and is, therefore, great for breakout riddled skin.

The latest I've begun to use is Rimmel's BB Cream which has the highest SPF at SPF 25. This is one of it's best selling-points for me, as is the smooth formula. However, I find that it has slightly more coverage than I want when I'm reaching for a BB cream - to me, a BB cream is for a no makeup look. For those who do want that extra coverage, it's probably the best drugstore BB cream out there for that. So, here's how I apply it and what I put with it.

1. As this has higher coverage and it's Summer, I use Aloe Vera as my primer. This is an excellent natural alternative for a primer with anti-bacterial properties that are great for blemish-prone skin. Using it instead of a regular primer extends the wear of the makeup without feeling caked in product.

2. I take a relatively small amount of the cream on the back of my hand and use my fingers to apply it. The heat in my fingertips helps blend it very naturally and evenly into my skin. I start at the middle of my face and move outwards in arching movements with the natural line of my bone structure.

3. I fill in my brows with powder from Benefit's Brows A-go-go, keeping the look fairly minimal and the brows relatively small. Then I add a little of Mac's Mineralize Skinfinish Give Me Sun into the hollows of my cheeks and along my jawline for definition and finish with Maxfactor's Creme Puff Pressed Powder on top. 

4. Using the Naked 3 palette I brush a little of Strange onto my brow bone and inner eye as a highlight. Then I cover two thirds of my eyelid in Dust before working Buzz into my crease and outer corner.

5. I now curl my eyelashes with Eyeko's curler and brush a couple coats of Seventeen's Superlash to the outer edges of my upper lashes to give a natural yet feline flick to my eyes.

Et voilà!

Like the look of the Rimmel BB Cream? Well, I've three to give away! Sadly, I only have them in the shade Light but I promise to get more varied shades next time! 

So, how do you win? Comment below telling me your go-to base (BB or otherwise) and make sure you're following me on at least one of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin (or all of  'em if you're feeling super-generous). Mention in the comment which one applies to you and your handle on that site so I can track you down if you win! This giveaway is open internationally to anyone (those under 16 need to get a guardian's permission to send me their address) and will close 11th of August at 00:00 GMT + 1:00.

Good luck x

EDIT: As some peeps were having difficulty commenting here I've opened up entry via comments on facebook/twitter etc as well.

What crazy crap is in my bag? - The one with a delivery and a lack of self-control.

I've been terrible at posting this week, I can only apologise. I have no excuse, I just didn't feel into it and that's the worst time to do it, it makes posting feel not genuine and forced. 

Tuesday saw me making dinner for one of my best friends and when I went to buy my groceries for a veggie moussaka, I also popped in to pick up a package from the post office. Finally, my Korean beauty products have arrived! Yayyyy!!1 

So, my bag contained my notebooks, wallet etc as per, alongside a courgette, two potatoes, garlic, some cherries, an aubergine, some organic eggs, grissini (breaksticks), a tin of tomatoes, my Tangle Attack, a beer and the package.

And, then, as I lack self-control I wandered into Boots, intending to look into a new concealer and ended up leaving with one of Seventeen's new Cheek Stamps...hrm. Suckered in by a complete gimmick once again. However, it actually has turned out to be great. A review is on it's way!

Bonus: Some pictures of the stuff from KollectionK. Some of it will feature in later posts with reviews etc. Look out for that! 

Cute little hello from the company.

Samples!

My modest purchases - SO CUTE.

PS Would peeps be interested in me posting more recipes and stuff? I'm no expert but that was a damn fine moussaka. Sarah can vouch for me!

Drawing on ma face.

Boredom in classes led to my drawing on my arms a lot as a kid. This urge to not only doodle but to doodle on yourself when less than stimulated followed me into adulthood. And the result of major internet usage over the past few years is that I cannot merely do one thing at a time. The insane range of things we can access at any moment in time and my lack of self-restraint has combined to make me gorge on the daily. I watch a movie while reading a manga or I watch tv while internet window-shopping and drawing on my face etc etc etc.

Drawing on your face? What ARE you talking about? - You may be thinking loudly at me through your computer screen.

I, of course, mean putting makeup on. 

I've not been drawing on my face with pens...much...

Putting on makeup is the female (generally - boo, repressed, strict gender roles), adult equivalent of drawing on your arms. Which is funny because on a daily basis I wear very little makeup. Not only because I'm lazy and don't care enough to get up earlier but because I have this weird thing where I only consider myself as attractive as I can be with minimal intervention. By this I mean that I feel hideous if I don't look passable sans hairstyle and makeup. Totally makes sense....And isn't a cycle of self-blame and disgust. Heh. I'm fine, seriously...But, basically, my wearing makeup generally means I was bored or procrastinating or both. If you meet me dolled up you can assume this to be the case.

The other day I caught myself unable to watch an entire episode of Dark Angel (despite the gorgeousness of early 2000s Jessica Alba and my loving the show) without needing to do something else at the same time. So, I started putting on makeup. Mostly I was playing around with eyeshadow which I normally never wear.

The following is the result of that evening. The above was just me being self-indulgent. Enjoy.

Smokey neutral eye + natural lip and flushed cheeks.

Products:

Benefit Porefessional Primer

Maybelline Dream Pure BB in Light

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

Oriflame Translucent Pressed Powder

Estee Lauder All-Over Face Powder Quad - Used as a blush (it's a light pink)

Mac 168 Blusher Brush

Philosophy Divine Illumination Love at First Light Skin Luminizer in Honey Gold 02

Clinique Eye Pencil in Brown Sugar 104 - Used to fill in brows and line eyes

IsaDora Triple Eyeshadow in Sandy Sky 06

Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara in Black

Ecotools Eyeshadow Brush

Smokey coloured eye + gothy burgundy lips

Products:

All are the same except:

Rimmel Colour Rush Mono Eyeshadow in Iris 350

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil in Jet Black 061

Catrice Baroque Glamour Lipstick in Purple Silk C04

Graphic cateye + peachy lips

Products:

Same once again except:

IsaDora eyeshadow repeated with only the white shadow used

Seventeen Superlash! liner in Black

Topshop Lip Bullet in Joyride

Heh, I totes know about makeup and shit...

Wide-Eyed and Bargain - SEVENTEEN SUPERlash Mascara

Another new segment here on Wide-Eyed and Blind is going to be bargains I share with y'all. This probably won't be a weekly post but I'll try to do one every time I've got a good'ne.

I mentioned having bought SEVENTEEN's new mascara in a previous post. Now, I'll admit to having initially been suckered in by the cute packaging - it intrigued me, what can I say? I've never bought anything from the brand before but have been previously tempted by its price bracket and packaging.

The pop art style of design and reference to superheroes in the bold primary colour scheme immediately drew my interest but it was the bargain that cinched the deal. At the moment, if you buy it in Boots, it's at a lower introductory price of €5.99 plus with a free gift of their SUPERlash eyeliner pen.

So, I bit the bullet and gave it a go.

And boy, am I impressed by both products. The mascara has a wand with a small brush that creates a fuller lash look that is very natural and suited to everyday use. The combination of the eyeliner pen (the first I've used) and mascara promises to be great for more dramatic event or evening looks. The eyeliner is very dark and the shape of the nib means that it can be applied quite thick or more thinly and precisely if you have a steady hand. I certainly am going to need some practice if I want to get the hang of it.

Overall, I'm impressed. The mascara is probably going to become a regular favourite and it rivals my sister's recent purchase of the Mac Extended Play mascara, at a much lower price. The liner proves tricky for someone as inept with makeup as I but I like it and it'll be fun for procrastination days.

If you're in search of a new mascara, look no further - especially if you're not up for spending a whole lot.

What (crazy stuff)'s in my bag? WEaB-style.

(WEaB - It's short for Wide-Eyed and Blind...I just thought that setting up a short-hand miiight just be easier for everyone in the long run.)

So, many of you will be familiar with What's in my bag? videos, blog posts and interviews but mine has a wee bit of a twist.

You see, when I was in first year of my undergrad degree, in the first term, very near to the start of the year, I went to a comedy gig. It was my first and I was nervous - I'd seen dvd's of live comedy gigs and it had put the fear of God into me. I knew not to sit in or near the front row. My party, however, had other plans. Horror of horror, the comedian (who I shall not name but now like to call my Arch-Nemesis just because I like the idea of having one - I'm not that bitter, I swear) spotted my shopping underneath my seat and proceeded to empty my bags on stage.

I took it better than I thought I would, I laughed along and agreed that I had a pretty weird collection of things. There was a lunchbox-grater, a season of Angel on VHS tapes, a wireless mouse, Microsoft Office something and other things that now evade memory.

The point of all this is that, traditionally, my friends have known me to be the person with weird crap in their bag. Whether it's an attempt to be prepared for anything, a shopping expedition I forgot to unpack or having spotted something bizarre that would make a particular friend smile, there's generally a reason for the weird. But it doesn't make it any less weird.

So, now, as a light-hearted take on the What's in my bag? and a fun new weekly post, I introduce what was in my bag two days ago. 

Bag: Longchamp Nylon Le Pliage in Beige. See here. 

Wallet: Mulberry. Similar here.

Sunglasses: Topshop. See here.

Random Crap:

I went into the two euro shop for one thing...and then ended up buying...
Pirate sword and mask set (so fun),
Travel mug,
Spray bottle (for a DIY coming soooon),
Hello Kitty Glow Jewellery Kit,
Knight helmets x 2 (AWESOME),
Spongebob Squarepants sweets.

I also had my passport, dayplanner, pencil case (with an Andy Warhol print, bought by my uncle in the Met), Smarties in case I got peckish and a Miro notebook.

A visit to Fallon & Byrne (a supermarket) saw me purchase Mulled Wine spice bundles for the 'rents because it may no longer be the season but they are still fans.

Nourish, a health food store, saw me pick up a new toothbrush which is biodegradable and made from sustainable materials.

And, finally, in Boots I grabbed a Real Techniques blending sponge and a SEVENTEEN SUPERlash Mascara plus free eyeliner. These are all great and I will review very, very soon.

Kinda eclectic, huh? Tune in for next week's edition!

Colette out.