December 2010 | Pop Reviews Now

Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 in numbers

11:50 PM 3 comments

It's exactly 11:50 PM in the Philippines, and while I'm busy counting down the new year with my family, why not take a look back at 2010, with the help of a few numbers?

I'd like to thank every single person who has read any one of my posts this year - you're one of the major reasons why I'm still here, 2 years on. To my loyal readers (I hope you exist!), thank you so much for sticking with me this year - it's been quite a ride, hasn't it?

33 Single Reviews
17 Album Reviews
32 Music Show Recaps
12 Perfect Reviews

1 inactive month (SORRY!)

195 Facebook Likes

Most-commented posts have 19 comments - JYJ's "The Beginning" and Super Junior's "Bonamana"

Most-viewed post from May to December was viewed 7,373 times with 17 comments - SHINee's "Lucifer"

34 consecutive posts from July 4 to November 8 all have comments

Google has referred readers to the blog 25,130 times from May to December

At least 40 Top Google search results, including terms like "SHINee lucifer review", "super Junior bonamana review", "SNSD review", "2NE1 vocals", "DBSK vocals", "simon curtis 8bit heart review", and the list goes on

9 out of the top 10 sites that refer readers to PRN are Google domains

Since May, 121 people have viewed PRN on a PlayStation 3 console

59,508 Pageviews from the US and 11,715 from the Philippines (starting May)

Over 650 comments from at least 200 different readers

182 Posts From January 1 to December 31, including this one

A total of 229,314 Pageviews

Exactly 999 days since my first post on April 6, 2008

Well that's it for me this year. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Thank you for a wonderful 2010, and here's to an even better 2011!

#1: JYJ - Long Way

4:39 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , JYJ 9 comments

I liked a lot of songs this year, and so choosing the best was literally like picking a specific needle out of a pile of needles that look exactly the same - nearly impossible. There was too much good music and too little time to take it all in. Question me all you want, call me biased or whatever, but I've made my decision and this is final.

#2: SHINee - Lucifer

5:00 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , SHINee 4 comments

Several people have guessed that this would be my #1 song, but I'm afraid it isn't - keep guessing! Although that most definitely does not mean that it's not any good. It's more than good actually, it's fantastic.

When I first got into kpop last year, I was concentrated on learning the history and grasping the sound throughout the years. This year, because I had already practically mastered the history and was writing about what would become history, I was concentrating on looking at current k-pop, sound-wise. And the result of that? My current opinion on Lucifer.

#3: The Saturdays - Higher

4:07 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , The Saturdays No comments

This getting on my list this year could mean a few things - my standards aren't the same as they were before, I haven't listened to an awful lot of Western songs in comparison to K-pop, and I adore a good pop song when I hear it. I'll go with the last one, thank you very much.

#4: Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way

5:13 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Kylie Minogue 1 comment

Essentially, this is the kind of pop I grew up listening to - fun and fresh, yet musically proficient in more ways than one. So essentially, this Kylie song in particular would have no problem climbing up my list this year.

#5: BoA - BUMP BUMP! feat.VERBAL(m-flo)

7:50 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , BoA 1 comment

OK, BUMP BUMP! wasn't the biggest hit ever and it didn't stay on the charts for a gazillion weeks, but who cares? This was one of the songs I had the most fun listening to this year, and even after playing it almost every day in the car (to my dad's approval, thank you very much), it's still one of the best.

#6: DBSK/Tohoshinki - BREAK OUT!

5:22 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , DBSK 4 comments

BREAK OUT! really marked the beginning of the end for DBSK as five, at least for the next few years. They could've very well given us a ballad parade (which I wouldn't really have a problem with as long as they're gorgeous), but they didn't, and I'm glad this song actually got the chance to be released, because it's brilliant.

#7: Robyn - Dancing On My Own

4:27 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Robyn 1 comment

Before we get on with the review, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! *hands out virtual gifts to everyone* I'm most likely asleep, tired from last night's festivities, when this is published and I'll most probably be out the entire day. But I really do want to wish you all a merry Christmas with lots of presents and food and people you love. ;D

There are times when I don't want to write about a song, for fear that I won't be able to put it into words properly and do it justice - I'd rather have the song speak for itself. This is one of those times. But I promise to try my best to somewhat put this epic song to words. Somewhat.

#8: SM The Ballad - Hot Times

5:12 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , SM The Ballad 9 comments

We break into the top 10 today, right on schedule! Once we reach the top five, the posts will come once a day only - to add an element of suspense, perhaps? The countdown is scheduled to end on the 30th with my #1 song of the year. On the 31st I have something planned, but that's all under wraps for now. On to the review. Sorry.

When I first heard of SM The Ballad, I wasn't really so excited, partially because no one from DBSK, or HoMin, is in it, and partially because I didn't really like the idea of Jonghyun murdering more ballads than he usually does. And who the hell was that Jino guy? However, the day I heard the teaser for Hot Times, all my doubts and frustrations disappeared. The day I heard the full version of Hot Times, in HQ (not that crappy MuCore leak), I nearly cried - THIS. SONG. IS. GORGEOUS.

#9: 2NE1 - Clap Your Hands

4:15 AM 2010 , 2NE1 , Best of 2010 4 comments

I have a love-hate relationship with 2NE1, as you all may know. There are times when I think they're fantastic, but there are also times when the autotune goes overboard and my ears start registering them as a bunch of annoying chipmunks. However there are also times when I start out hating the song, but end up adoring the heck out of it after seeing them perform it, or even just see the video for it.

#10: Dae Guk Nam Ah/The Boss - 비틀비틀

5:51 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , D-NA , The Boss 5 comments

Apparently, they've never been D-NA to start with, so I'm calling them The Boss from now on.

So The Boss haven't exactly swept music show wins this year, nor have they really sold a lot both in Korea and Japan (do they even have a single out there?), but I like these guys. And for more than the fact that they remind me of my beloved DBSK.

#11: Diana Vickers - Jumping Into Rivers

4:58 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Diana Vickers No comments

The season of X Factor that Diana Vickers was on was the one I watched the most, as I've said countless times. (note: this was the same season JLS were on) And I REALLY wanted her to win, or at least get into the finals with JLS. She obviously didn't, and I was devastated to say the least, but the material she put out, years later, was enough to console me. For now.

#12: G.NA - I'll Back Off So You Can Live

4:27 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , G.NA No comments

G.NA is one of the most promising debuts I've witnessed this year, if I may say so. I've had my doubts, of course, but in the end there's something about this girl that makes me very curious, and very optimistic about what the future will bring her.

#13: 2AM - 잘못했어

4:02 AM 2010 , 2AM , Best of 2010 1 comment

I like 2AM - they're currently fighting SHINee for my second favorite boyband, seeing as their vocals are obviously a notch higher than SHINee's, even if both of them are fantastic in their own ways. My point is, if DBSK never existed, heaven forbid, they could very well be my favorite boyband. Because they can sing. Extremely well.

#14: Pixie Lott - Doing Fine (Without You)

4:26 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Pixie Lott 1 comment

I haven't really said it a lot lately, but I love Pixie Lott and I don't care what you say about it. Call it a guilty pleasure, call it whatever you want, really - I like her and you can't change anything.

#15: Sara Bareilles - King Of Anything

4:02 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Sara Bareilles No comments

Thankfully, this Sara Bareilles single is one of those Western releases I didn't overlook this year. Had I not heard this, I would've missed out on one of the best songs of the year!

HoMin - Athena

6:38 PM 2010 , DBSK , HoMin , Perfect Review , Single Reviews 6 comments

*note that I am not calling them TVXQ/DBSK/Tohoshinki for reasons I have stated a gazillion times already - DBSK is Jaejoong, Yoochun, Junsu, Changmin and Yunho and without even one of them, it's not DBSK. Therefore, I will be calling, and tagging them as, HoMin for the duration of their promotions.

Even before their comeback was officially announced, HoMin were the part of DBSK that I was really worried for - how were they going to pull it off? JaeChunSu were the "voices" in DBSK and they left - what remained was a dancer and a screamer, not the best combination in the world. But you know, the release of this song is one of the biggest reliefs I've had since the start of the lawsuit and everything, apart from what Jaejoong said during a recent interview.

#16: IU - Rain Drop

5:04 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , IU 1 comment

I think today is "songs that hold memories" day on the countdown, because this is probably the song that makes me the most nostalgic. Once again, it's story time.

#17: JoJo - Boy Without A Heart

4:33 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , JoJo 1 comment

If you were with me from the very beginning, you'll know that I acknowledge JoJo as the one who started, and fueled, my love for pop music - she's the reason why I write about music, and why I want a career in it. She's also one of the reasons why I feel the way I do towards the industry.

[December 19, 2010] SBS Inkigayo YEAR-END SPECIAL Highlights + Commentary

7:15 PM 2010 , 2AM , 2NE1 , After School , Beast , Inkigayo , IU , Kara , Music Show Recaps , SHINee , SISTAR , SM The Ballad , Super Junior , T-Ara , VNT 3 comments

I'm back! Why wouldn't I be - it was the Inki year-end special today and although not as packed as the MuBank one, it was fun revisiting my weekly Sunday routine of loading a truckload of YT videos then watching them all in one go.

#18: After School - Bang!

4:44 AM 2010 , After School , Best of 2010 No comments

I liked this phase of After School and as of now, only this phase. Diva and Ah! weren't my taste at all, LOVE LOVE LOVE is the Raina and Nana-fest, and even if I worshipped the ground Because Of You walked on, they couldn't pull it off live to save any of their lives. They couldn't actually pull off Bang! until the tail end of promotions, but I liked the song so much that I really waited.

#19: Girls' Generation/SNSD - Run Devil Run

4:20 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Girls Generation , SNSD 3 comments

I have a very well-documented love-hate relationship with SNSD both on this blog and on Twitter - one day I hate them, one day I adore them, for a number of reasons. What I cannot deny though is the fact that they get top quality SME songs, and that fact is enough to put them on the list this year, and rather high up for that matter.

#20: KARA - Jumping

4:54 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Kara No comments

KARA really shaped up this year in terms of singles, to be honest - they got well-produced, worth-your-while songs, and Jumping is no exception. In case you're wondering, I'll be talking about the Japanese version. Remember, it's one song per artist, per territory, this year, so what I'm doing is "legal".

#21: Simon Curtis - Delusional

4:35 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Simon Curtis No comments

Earlier this year, due to Paul's constant nagging and the fact that this album was legally free for download, I checked out Simon Curtis' 8Bit Heart. To say I was impressed would be an understatement - I was practically falling at my feet.

[December 17, 2010] KBS Music Bank YEAR-END SPECIAL Highlights + Commentary

10:11 PM 2010 , 2AM , 2PM , 4Minute , Beast , CN Blue , IU , Kara , Miss A , Music Bank , Music Show Recaps , Rainbow , Secret , SHINee , SISTAR , SNSD , Son Dambi , Super Junior , T-Ara 4 comments

EVERYONE, I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Out of the blue, after writing up all the posts I have to for tomorrow, I stumbled upon Music Bank's year-end special, with everyone performing hits from earlier this year. Then I got the brilliant idea of writing up a recap - this is as much a year-end thing for me as it is for them as I'll be able to trace the improvements, or deteriorations, of the idol groups who were on today.

Needless to say, I'm over my writer's block, and I'm so making the most out of this break.

[Christmas 2010] Christmas Staples Done Right

6:37 AM *NSYNC , 2010 , Carrie Underwood , Christmas , Glee , Josh Groban , Katharine McPhee , Libera , Mandisa , Stacie Orrico , Taylor Swift No comments

So here we are, a few days 'till Christmas, and what do I have up my sleeve? A whole host of Christmas songs for every possible taste. I mean it this year - I've chosen a much wider range than usual, some I like, some I don't. Christmas festivities on PRN this year come in 2 parts - this first part is all about the carols, the staples everyone knows. The second part will focus on modern Christmas songs, the non-carols. Yayyyy!

#22: KARA - Lupin

5:42 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Kara 2 comments

In the past, aka last year, I constantly declared my dislike for KARA, and I really mean DISLIKE. They can't sing live, their songs sucked, I missed the old days, bla bla bla, but looking back, they actually had a pretty damn good year in terms of singles. Album tracks are another story, so let's just focus on the singles.

#23: Katy Perry (featuring Snoop Dogg) - California Girls

5:22 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Katy Perry 1 comment

I'm most definitely not your biggest Katy Perry fan, heck, it took me a few months after the release of Teenage Dream to actually find out it already existed. So why put her on the list, and so high up for that matter? Before ANY of you people start firing "but I thought you hated Kary Perry!"'s at me and questioning my taste (yet again), hear me out, please?

#24: Supernova (Cho Shin Sung) - On The Days I Missed You

4:51 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Supernova No comments

I admit that when I first wrote about this, I got a little mixed up with the terms (to the person who corrected me, thanks. ;D), mainly because my brain had just gone through the biggest test of my life. So yeah. Now's the time to correct some things, and like always, fangirl over the song!

#25: The Wanted - Personal Solider

5:34 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , The Wanted No comments

We're a little behind schedule in terms of the countdown, so I'll be speeding things up over the next few days. I hope my brain (and fingers) can handle it - they should be able to, judging by the fact that this is the upper half of the countdown and the songs from here onwards are really some of my all-time favorites.

So The Wanted - what I call the male version of The Saturdays. The big difference though is that they sound like a British boyband through and through - they've grasped the Take That sound, without completely copying it or completely disregarding it. For a boyband to lead a country's sound for a specific generation, that band has to not only put out fantastic songs, but acknowledge and deeply respect the past. Like I say, you cannot move forward without looking at your past. I'm not old-fashioned, I'm someone with respect for what has been done, and what is about to be done.

#26: Cheryl Cole - The Flood

4:41 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Cheryl Cole 1 comment

I didn't particularly like Messy Little Raindrops, but like Ken, Jio and Kat, I believe, I did adore The Flood. I mean, what's there not to love?

#27: BEAST - Easy

5:12 AM 2010 , Beast , Best of 2010 No comments

If there's one thing to commend BEAST on, it's that they were probably the most productive idol group this year. I mean come on, in a world of mini-albums and repackaged "big comebacks", BEAST released a total of not one, not even two, but THREE mini-albums this year, totaling 15 songs. And that doesn't include collaborations, remixes and drama OSTs. 3 albums also meant 3 rounds of promotions - the usual idol group only has 1, with the occasional second round, which isn't really taken seriously.

#28: Gummy - There Is No Love

4:45 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Gummy 2 comments

Like practically the whole list - I LOVE THIS SONG. However, what makes it better than almost half of the songs is that this is Gummy we're talking about, not some random, run-of-the-mill solo singer from a small talent agency with absolutely no idea what she's doing. (there's none of that on the list, so you don't have to worry) My point is - Gummy knows what the hell she's doing, and so obviously she'd come out with a damn good song.

#29: Brave Brothers - Bittersweet (R&B Ver.) (with 현아, M, 마부스, Red Roc, Basick)

5:31 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Brave Brothers 1 comment

And the parade of beautiful songs continues, with a song quite similar in sound to BoA's Ordinary Day, with that little bit more character. The Brave Brothers are known in my books for songs like this - beautiful, albeit autotuned, melodies and trademark beats.

#30: BoA - Ordinary Day

4:28 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , BoA 3 comments

One of my biggest disappointments this year was Hurricane Venus - I was expecting amazing and I got a "big lead single" that was all style and no substance. Majority of the album was the same, to be honest, except for the odd song or two.

#31: Se7en - Better Together

4:02 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Se7en No comments

I'll admit that I didn't really like Se7en back during my early days of fandom, partially because he was Rain's biggest rival (still is) and I was obviously a cloud then so I deemed Se7en unworthy of being compared to such brilliance that is/was Rain. However, it was only when I was no longer a cloud and I saw him perform this live that I realized he really does deserve to go head-to-head with Rain, because frankly either of them can win and I'd be OK with it.

#32: Hwanhee - ...하다가

5:12 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Hwanhee 1 comment

Hwanhee, oh Hwanhee. Formerly one-half of legendary SM-made ballad duo Fly To The Sky, Hwanhee, if I may say so, has one of the most beautiful voices in kpop. I am as serious as I can be right now. Although nothing can beat last year's Because I Missed Your Heart, this gorgeous song is pretty close.

#33: JLS - Eyes Wide Shut

4:56 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , JLS 1 comment

It's no secret that the season of X Factor that JLS were on was the season I really watched like a hawk, and it's also no secret that towards the end, I was really rooting for JLS. If I was in the UK, I would've been voting for them off the hook. Comparisons to Westlife, who were my favorite boyband at the time (you know how I get addicted to boybands), helped a great deal, but it all boiled down to the fact that I genuinely liked JLS. Their first album came around and I was a little disappointed with the album tracks but generally content with the singles, and now we have their second album, which was, in as few words as possible, a disappointment.

#34: Jesse McCartney - Shake

4:42 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Jesse McCartney 1 comment

I'll be honest with you and say that I actually enjoyed Jesse McCartney's albums - they're good, solid teen pop, and he's grown over the years, both vocally and musically. Which is enough reason for him to be one of my moderate favorites.

#35: Darin - Lovekiller

5:31 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Darin 3 comments

I was pretty much focused on kpop this year in terms of my reviews, but that doesn't mean that I completely disregarded my beloved European pop stars. That would be a crime against mankind, and maybe even Mel, Paul, PPG, and every other self-respecting music writer I know.

#36: Hwayobi - Ssso What (Feat. Beenzino)

4:27 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Hwayobi 2 comments

I like Hwayobi. No, let me rephrase that, I LOVE HWAYOBI. When I first heard her I found her voice very interesting, especially coming from a Kpop/K-hip hop act, but even in the Western world her voice is a bit intriguing if you listen carefully. The timbre of her voice, the body it has, and the texture that those two elements have.

#37: Infinite - She's Back

6:00 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Infinite No comments

After failing to impress me with live performances of their debut single, I gotta say, Infinite did a pretty good job with their follow-up single, She's Back. I'm leaning more towards the actual song rather than the delivery on this one, but I believe that the song is strong enough to carry their mediocre delivery, which I gotta admit was a lot better than the delivery on Come Back To Me.

#38: Untouchable with Narsha (Brown Eyed Girls) - 가슴에 살아

4:49 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Narsha , Untouchable No comments

I've always been a bit interested in Untouchable, because I had seen some videos of them and I had liked what I'd seen. When they came out with a duet with Narsha, one of my favorite girl group singers, earlier this year, I took it as a sign to properly give these guys a chance. And needless to say, I liked what I heard.

#39: XIAH Junsu - Intoxication

5:39 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Junsu 2 comments

The release of this single very much comforted me - it assured everyone during a very confusing time that at least one of the 5 (yes, all 5) was still serious enough about music to get something done and release a single. And it eventually led to JaeChunSu promotions in Japan, which we'll get to when the time's right.

#40: Secret - My Boy

4:55 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Secret No comments

I put a lot behind Secret this year, saying that they're good and they're this and that and they should get a better agency and all, so it's only logical that they show up on this list. Because they really do have a lot more potential than other girl groups of their stature.

#41: Son Dambi - Can't U See

4:42 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Son Dambi 1 comment

Son Dambi's "big comeback" this year was pretty much a flop, which was really no surprise to me because the girl can't sing and dance at the same time to save her life. That and the accompanying mini album wasn't that hot either. OK, it was crap, cohesion and material-wise. Except for this one song, Can't U See.

#42: Maroon 5 - Misery

5:33 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , Maroon 5 1 comment

I've never admitted it, but I haven't actually heard Hands All Over in its entirety. Well, now I have. Even so, I really do think that Misery is a very hard song to top.

#43: 4Minute - HuH

4:16 AM 2010 , 4Minute , Best of 2010 1 comment

When 4Minute debuted, I wasn't the biggest fan. When they came to the Philippines and I had to cover their showcase, I still wasn't the biggest fan - I was just working at the time. When HuH came out though, I got interested.

#44: JYJ - Be My Girl

5:03 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , JYJ 1 comment

It's no secret that I like beautiful songs and I especially like it when my beloved DBSK, or part of it, sings those beautiful songs, so I guess it's no surprise that this song has made an appearance. And no, it's not too early for a JYJ song to sprout out.

However, for all my spazzing and freaking out over JYJ, HoMin, and DBSK, I find it especially hard to write about them, for the simple reason that spazzing and freaking out don't exactly make for a decent review. But anyway.

Be My Girl is off their "international album", The Beginning, and it's in English. Although I've kind of gotten used to their slightly crooked English, there are times when it does get awkward, very awkward. No matter how much I don't care about lyrics, to a certain extent how you pronounce the lyrics and how the words flow can very much affect the over-all sound of the song.

The choruses are pretty, but the verses can literally make me cry from gorgeousness. I'm serious. Yoochun's part makes all the sense in the world, Junsu's part is stunning, and the mini-Jaejoong+Junsu duet gives me goosebumps.

The song may be as cliche as hell, but it has reminded me, and maybe even a gazillion other fans, exactly why I and many others deemed these three the best singers. They may lack a solid base and a wild top part (which I miss SO. DAMN. MUCH.) to make magic, but three stunning voices are enough to make me melt.

#45: HAM - We Are One

4:53 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , HAM No comments

HAM are one of those groups that have pretty much gone downhill this year, but they did manage to get this gorgeous track out. And I really mean it when I say it's gorgeous, because it is.

#46: f(x) - Mr. Boogie

5:31 AM 2010 , Best of 2010 , f(x) No comments

Even if the entire idea of NU ABO was one of the biggest mistakes in k-pop this year, this best of list revolves around individual songs only and believe it or not, these five girls actually came out with a rather good song this year.