(Source: hyunsoos)

Which group is the best among idol groups?

Posts were recently released on an online community with the caption, “The newest version of girl groups ranking,” and “Boy groups ranking.”

SNSD ranked first and proved that they are the best girl group. The group was followed by 2NE1, T-ara, Wonder Girls, and KARA.

After the girl groups ranking was released, ranking for boy groups was also released.

On February 21, an online community posted pictures, which are captured images from tvN’s E News, which aired in January, 2010.

The show aired boy groups ranking, which was made by 30 entertainment reporters. The ranking was based on evaluation criteria, including, popularity, income, singing ability, dance skill, and fashion sense. As a result, TVXQ ranked first.

A person who posted the pictures said, “Since the ranking was made last year, Infinite and CNBLUE need to be added.” Then the person posted ‘The newest boy groups ranking’ and TVXQ still ranked first. The group was followed by Super Junior, Big Bang, and 2PM.

People responded: “The ranking is just for fun.” “The result will be changed if we rank groups again.” “TVXQ members are the best!”

TVXQ/DBSK/Tohoshinki’s Japanese album, “TONE”, alongside KARA’s “Girls’ Talk” and SNSD’s “Girls’ Generation” won Best Albums (Asian music category) at this year’s Japan Gold Disc Award.

This is the second time Tohoshinki has received “Best Album” award, they received the first one with their 2010 Best Selection album.

The Japan Gold Disc Award is one of the major annual music awards in Japan, held by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) since 1987, in recognition of the music sales and outstanding artists in the country.

(Source: golddisc.jp)

5. Girls’ Generation (소녀시대/少女時代) - The Boys

I thought The Boys is a crappy song, and still think so. The song is a mess in terms of flow, and the chorus is one of the most anti-climatic thing ever happened in K-Pop. What? Is 2011 the year of anti-climatic song or something? Because I found so many songs with the same type, see 2PM - Hands Up and CSJH Dana & Sunday - One More Chance here. Other than being anti-climatic, The Boys also proves that SNSD should not rap at all, or maybe a bit of Hyoyeon and Yuri are allowed.

Enough talking about the negative sides, should we? Despite being such a mess when we talk about musical merit, this song actually sits pretty at my iTunes with 30-times-played. After wondering some time, I decided that I actually liked playing it because the song is sort of easy-listening and easy to sing to. I am a semi-professional singer myself, so I always sing anywhere. Simply talk, I always hummed this song during its release, despite there’s a part of me who understands that The Boys is far from perfect.

There are other flaws about this overall comeback from Girls’ Generation. However, when we talk about music, sometimes logic is not needed, eh? So here you go.

4. 2NE1 - I Am The Best

Is this 3rd single from 2NE1’s newest mini album a perfect club song like their fans always dubbed? It is, the first 30 seconds perhaps. Teddy recycled his very own beat again to put all human races in a clubbing mode, added a cheap-borderline-great hook in there (“bom ratatatata”), finished it off with less autotunes. Until we move on to verse (Bom’s and Minzy’s part), which I find a little weak, or lacks punches. In short, I don’t find this song that brilliant by any means due to its weak verses or mismatched overall feel. 

However, like all rappers and DJs agreed with, you can never go wrong with killer beats. I Am The Best is still one of the best party anthem released in this year’s k-pop. I actually find one of the street music player in my country (which is far away from Korea, or Southeast Asian Country) played this song during his night jam. Way to go, 2NE1.

3. Miss A - Goodbye Baby

Goodbye Baby receives very good comments from various music critics. I kid thee not. From popreviewsnow to mcrothresidence, many people viewed this Miss A’s title track highly. Not that I’m not agreeing, I admit the song has brilliant points, say its whispering parts and the rich sounds. However, if there’s something I found lacking from this song, it is a strong middle 8. Well, this is the problem with all of JYP’s hits, actually. To say shortly, I found this song a little basic because of the lack of middle 8.

However, repeating what EatYourKimchi’s Simon and Martina said, the hook from this song is way out of everybody’s minds. I hummed to this song everywhere when it was released, the song was played in my mind when I was doing an exam, and I secretly sneaked through youtube to find live performances. I thumbed JYP up for the perfect concept, though. Brilliant!

2. F(x) - Hot Summer

When Hot Summer’s MV was released, My friend and I thought about the same thing. “This song doesn’t live up to f(x)’s best potential, it instead sounded like a commercial soundtrack.” Maybe I was just dumbstruck within my ~LA ChA tA~ (how is it spelled again?) land, and lived in a world where ~Pinocchio~ didn’t exist. 

Still, SM chose the best time to release this follow-up song. During mid-2011, there’s no K-Pop song that is even close enough to have summer-y feeling (except Mighty Mouth’s brilliant La La La of course). This hook song called like a wave of fresh air to me, when I just didn’t need to think so much about a song’s quality. Besides, what’s a summer without an anthem? F(x) answered it brilliantly. “Hot summer! A hot, hot, summer~”

1. T-Ara - Roly Poly

To people who love ballads and despise autotune, Roly Poly’s presence is as frightening as JYJ’s Ayyy Girl MV. So why is Roly Poly so different, so authentic that Korea loves it so much and the song landed as 2011’s Most Popular K-Pop Song in its own country?

Combine a perfect album concept, flawless fashion, brilliant music video, and a music that has broad audience. Sprinkled it with a timeless hook and pretty girls. The result?

“LONG LIVE ROLY POLY!”, like those commentators on 6theory said.

Indeed.

What do you think? ;)

Will come up next with Top 10 K-Pop Song of The Year! Stay tuned! :)