As another exciting year has come to a close, the KoME team takes this opportunity to take a look back at the last 12 months and choose the best and worst events. A lot of good has happened, what with numerous artists (BoA, Rain and Se7en to name a few) trying their hand at cracking the American market and the opening of KoME Brazil, so it could be difficult to choose...
Katy (German Team Leader)
Best album? DBSK - MIROTIC; Not really hard to chose for me as a DBSK fan since their debut. I waited for their return to Korea as well and my expectations were high, though I thought they might disappoint me. I'm glad I was wrong because the album really is a great mixture every pop music lover should have heard at least once.
Best single? Wonder Girls - So Hot; It's catchy and it's sexy. Never before have I been into girl groups, but Wonder Girls changed my mind. I love this cocky side of them and their songs that get into your head so easily.
Best DVD? Tohoshinki - 3rd Live Tour 2008 T; I might be biased here because I like Tohoshinki, but out of their three tours in Japan, this one really is the best. The live band did it for me and it's always fun to watch. Also this DVD shows pretty well how their popularity has been rising in Japan and that their hard work over there is paying off.
Best thing that happened: 4th consecutive #1 for Tohoshinki, release of BoA's first US single Eat you up - I hope her breakthrough in the US takes place next year. And also Se7en's US debut.
Worst thing that happened: Probably the Shinhwa members joining the army and fulfilling their duty. They were one of the first Korean bands that I got into when I started listening to Asian music. So it makes me kind of sad to know I and all the other fans will have to wait long for their return.
Expectations for 2009: Great music once again! I expect much from Big Bang, because I hope they reinvent themselves next year and they come out with something new, I'm kind of getting tired of the Eurobeat. I'm also curious to see how new bands like SHINee, 2PM and 2AM will grow next year. They were successful in 2008 and I hope they get better next year as well. Lastly, I surely also hope KoME grows and get bigger next year
Cherry (German Team)
Best album? DBSK's Mirotic C Version (Annyeong sarang annyeong makes the album much better), Big Bang - Remember
Even though both albums are good, I'm sure there were far more better releases that I just didn't listen to. So I only have these two as nominees.
Best single? Big Bang - Stand Up (I know it's a mini-album but who cares! Haru Haru is on it, that's what is important), Battle - Step by Step (I really came to like this kind of music this year)
Best DVD? Tohoshinki - 3rd Live Tour 2008 -T-, despite the fact that this is the only one I've seen, it's really great.
Best thing that happened: The release of Tohoshinki's Japanese solo songs, especially Maze. I still like the live version better, but maybe there are more solos (especially like Maze) to follow which I'd appreciate. Did I mention that I like Maze?
Expectations for 2009: DBSK will have to work more than ever before (like every year), good thing is, that all of them started to contribute something to their albums, so it's not unlikely that sometime in the future there will be an album (nearly) completely composed/written by them. Perhaps 2009 is too early but I keep hoping for it. And of course they'll realize that they've always wanted to do rock music.
I also expect The Trax to release some new stuff, it has been too quiet around them.
Jade (French Team)
Best album? MIROTIC - DBSK, Dear... - Tenjochiki (number one for me), It's Hyorish - Lee Hyori, Recollection - Fly to the Sky
Best single? Tenjochiki - Stand Up People and Sukoshi de ii kara, DBSK - Mirotic, Rain - Rainism
Best DVD? Tohoshinki - Five in the black? It's not this year, but I'm waiting for a Tenjochiki DVD !
Best thing that happened: Rain's latest album, and BoA's debut in USA. I think it's very good for the Korean entertainment industry in foreign countries. I hope people will be more curious.
Worst thing that happened: Korea is number one for illegal downloads. For me it's really important. Because of illegal downloads, a lot of artists are worrying about their future in the entertainment industry. Please, when you love an artist or a song, buy the CD! They need support!
Expectations for 2009: Of course I hope that KoME will gain more popularity! But I also hope that we will have more "couplings" in Korean music (like Anyband last year).
Simi (German Team)
Best album? M's M RIZING. Maybe not a mind-blowing album but I just came to like it more and more.
Best single? Wonder Girls - Nobody. Just when I was convinced that I would never become a fan of Wonder Girls, they released this amazing and catchy song.
Best DVD? Tohoshinki - 3rd Live Tour 2008 T
Best thing that happened: New Korean releases from Rain and DBSK
Expectations for 2009: I'm really looking forward to Se7en's release in the US (after all, the guy has been working on it for over a year)
Pan (Brazilian Team)
Best album? Dong Bang Shin Ki MIROTIC. They came back to Korea and released an album fulfilling all my expectations and showing a more mature side of the band.
Best single? Big Bang Stand up. I love every single song on this mini-album. Haru Haru is probably the song that I listened to most in 2008.
Best DVD? Super Junior Super Show. Super Junior finally released their first solo concert and we could see why this band is so popular. I sang, I danced, I laughed, I screamed, I was touched and I cried watching this DVD. The boys are just too unique.
Best thing that happened: KoME Brazil opening, BoA's debut in the US, Rain becoming a Hollywood star, DBSK's growing popularity in Japan and Super Junior M in China, Seo Taiji's comeback and SHINee's debut.
Expectations for 2009: Super Junior's 3rd album, more Korean artists debuting in America and KoME conquering the world!
Liesbeth Soubry (Dutch Team)
Best album? Stand Up by Big Bang, even though it's not a full-length album.
Best single? I'm really liking 10 Jeom Manjeome 10 Jeom by 2PM.
Best thing that happened: Seeing Korean artists become more popular around the world, let's hope this trend continues.
Worst thing that happened: Rain's and DBSK's singles being censored.
Expectations for 2009: I'm looking forward to seeing Ninja Assassin (note: Hollywood movie starring Rain), and I'm curious about Super Junior's 3rd album. A lot of new and talented boy bands appeared since their last album, I hope they'll be able to keep up with them.
Jana (Brazilian Team)
Best album? DBSK Mirotic. There was a lot of expectation over DBSK returning to Korea and no doubt the album is better than I expected. Big Bang Number 1 is another album that I liked; it was the opposite from what I expected and that pleased me a lot. It was a surprise to see tracks in Korean and English in an album were we thought it would have Japanese versions of the Korean songs.
Best single? SS501 - Dejavu. The single's second track Neol Bureuneun Norae was surely one of the songs that I've most heard this year, and the remix version may be even better and more addictive.
Best DVD? Super Junior - Super Show (Also, my best purchase of the year). It is wonderful to hear and watch the boys at the same time; they're very charismatic and talented. The concert is exciting, lively and fun.
Best thing that happened: BoA's debut in the US.
Expectations for 2009: Super Junior's third album. I expect a DVD too!
sianface (English Team Leader)
Best album? SHINee - SHINee World. I really loved their first release and was really eager to hear what they did next and they didn't let me down!
Best single? Seo Taiji - 8th ATOMOS PART MOAI.
Best thing that happened: Seo Taiji's comeback, Korean artists debuting in America (Europe next?) and the opening of KoME Brazil!
Expectations for 2009: Another exciting year of music! Hopefully more artists will try to expand their activities overseas and make it over to Europe at some point.
