Crayon Pop - FM

Yes! Yes! Yes! It's been awhile since Crayon Pop have graced us with their uniquely quirky brand of addictive pop, but now they've returned with a track that's almost impossibly catchy. Better yet, it's paired with a music video that awakens the nostalgic 90's child in me. Though it's not specifically what's being parodied here, most western viewers are going to see a whole lot of Power Rangers and Sailor Moon in the colorful video. It's pure, giddy eye candy. But even if we take the visuals away, there's absolutely no denying the candy-coated assault going on in the music itself. The beat is big and bright and propulsive. The melody of the chorus reminds me a bit of AOA's similarly catchy Elvis, but even better. It simply doesn't let up. The girls are well and truly back.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the mini album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles of 2014: 35-31

35. Conchita Wurst - Rise Like A Phoenix



The most deserving Eurovision winner in years, and an epic James Bond-ian torch ballad at that. The vocals and theatricality on this are still so impressive.

34. The Fooo Conspiracy - All Over The World



The first entry from Sweden's best boyband. I like to call think of them as Scandinavian's answer to K-Pop. A dance group that sings, complimented by herky jerky beats and hooks for days.

33. Crayon Pop - Uh-ee



An unusual mix of electro and traditional Korean trot music, this will certainly be one of the more polarizing tracks (and groups) on the countdown. But whatever you think, you can't deny that bonkers hook.

32. Robin - Onnellinen 



The brilliant piano line will get you first, and then you'll be won over by that dramatic, soaring chorus that gets better every time it repeats.

31. Epik High - Born Hater (ft. Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I., Mino and Bobby) 



By far the "hardest" hip-hop track on the list, it's a veritable who's who of YG Entertainment's formidable tribe of rappers. What's more important, though, is that it boasts one of the year's best beats.

Don't forget, if you'd like to listen to the Top 50 Singles Countdown in full, download the audio version!

Top 50 Singles of 2014: 45-41

45. Gravitonas - People Are Lonely (ft. Army Of Lovers)



A stark, melodic ballad bringing together two of Swedish mastermind Alexander Bard's pet projects. Delightfully weird, yet emotionally mainstream.

44. BTS - Danger



A charismatic hip-hop track with an addictive, guitar-fueled hook. Remixed later in the year with an equally good, slowed down tempo.

43. Dami Im - Super Love



An Avicii-style dance track that could have been generic if not for Dami Im's superbly soaring vocals.

42. Crayon Pop - Hero 



An off-kilter duet that sounds a bit like Abba on crack. Won't be for everyone, but it's definitely for me!

41. Michael Jackson - Love Never Felt So Good 



An unreleased track by a musical legend, updated with today's production while still retaining its classic, groove-filled feel.

Don't forget, if you'd like to listen to the Top 50 Singles Countdown in full, download the audio version!

Crayon Pop - Uh-ee

I've gotta stop posting every single these ladies release, but it's so hard when they keep punching us in the gut with ridiculously catchy, bubblegum-infused pop. Uh-ee is a very weird little concoction. It is probably unlike anything you've heard before. What it does is marry electro-k-pop with traditional Korean trot (or "teuroteu"), which is sort of a foxtrot with quick two-beats and a unique vocal style. The track's got one foot in the past and one in the present. You could call it a novelty (and really, you could call everything Crayon Pop do a novelty), but that takes away from the sheer pleasure gleaned from listening to it. The band is opening for Lady Gaga this summer. Can you imagine hearing this track in that context? It's just crazy.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Crayon Pop - Hero

I just love this song. From the get-go, I was smitten. Crayon Pop became the unlikely breakthrough group in K-Pop last year with their riotously catchy Bar Bar Bar. They've released a few things since then, but this is my favorite. Hero, a duet with rock singer Kim Jang Hoon, is a charity single for firefighters (which quickly becomes apparent when you watch the music video), but it's not one of those boring, slow, super-serious "tributes" we're used to associating with charity. No, this is FUN. For some reason it reminds me of an 80's track, albeit sung in a very J-Pop, almost video-gamey, style. Most important is that chorus, which is as jubilant as a chorus can be. This is pure happiness bottled into a pop song.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. No idea where to preorder the single, but it's out tomorrow. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 35-31

35. Crayon Pop - Bar Bar Bar



In the wake of Gangnam Style, this was the next big novelty hit from Korea. And it couldn't have been catchier.

34. The Vamps - Can We Dance



Could've been released back in '06/'07 when the indie rock craze was all the rage in the UK. Would love more of this sound in the future.

33. EXO - Growl



This was the Korean boyband well and truly arriving. After an amazing 2012, this funky r&b stomper cemented their place as one of the biggest bands in Asia.

32. 2NE1 - Falling In Love 



In a year that saw far too few releases from these girls, their first comeback wormed its way into my head and became a Summer staple.

31. Robin - Haluan Sun Palaavan (I Want You To Return) 



The sound of this Finnish teen popstar maturing. A striking wintertime ballad that transcends the language barrier with a shot of emotion.

Crayon - Bar Bar Bar

Don't ask me what the hell Bar Bar Bar is supposed to mean. Nothing, I'd bet, based on the overall gonzo-ness of this song. It should be called Jumping, since that's what the girls sing and do over and over again in the bizarrely addictive music video. Crayon Pop are a newer K-Pop girl group that seem to be going for a slightly quirkier, sillier pop sound than most of their contemporaries. With this song, it totally works. It's one of those kind of tracks you can sing along to even before the first listen is over. Ridiculously addictive. I dare you not to succumb to its charms!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the song here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.