10/10 - Music Critics Association Winners
A few months ago, I got an email from StillBangtan (Now going as Deforested) from Deforested Music asking me to join in a collaboration of reviewers writing about their nominees and winners in various categories. So, I decided to join in along with Mr. Simple of 555 Reviews and Tony of KPOPREVIEWED.
For these awards, only K-Pop singles are counted, and only those with MVs are included for the song picks. For the albums, only K-Pop albums are counted. For artists, only K-Pop artists are counted. You get it. After all, I can't spoil my end-of-year countdown!
Also, we only have a record of the year award, which is about production, rather than both production and songwriting, Song of the Year is exclusively for songwriting, and does not count production. Thus, neither of these are giveaways for my top songs of the year list!
For each topic, there will be eight nominees, listed randomly.
Quick note: I award a song for how good they did in their own category. For example, a rock song could be the best song of the year, but it could lose the rock song category, but win the song category, if it was not as good a rock song as a pure rock song.
We are now at the winners. For each category, there is one winner. May the best artists win!
Be sure to check out everyone else's lists!
Album of the Year
Epik High - Epik High is Here Pt. 1
Seventeen - Your Choice
Key - Bad Love
N.Flying - Turbulence
Lucy - Gatcha!
Verivery - Series O Round II: Hole
ONF - City of ONF
Winner: SHINee - Atlantis
While it was close, SHINee's repackaged version of Don't Call Me barely outdid the City of ONF for the win. Filled to the brim with sonic ambition, Atlantis instantly starts out with a double punch in Atlantis and CODE, before moving on to several songs in varying genres, from R&B to Hip-Hop to Electro-Funk. However, through all the variation, the album maintains a strong continuous tissue, telling the story of a love uniting and dividing. Its slower moments such as Days and Years and Kind might be some of the best tracks this year.
Image Source: The Bias List
Artist of the Year
Brave Girls
Golden Child
IU
ONF
aespa
Oneus
Tomorrow X Together
Winner: SHINee
SHINee went from strength to strength this year. They released a fantastic full-length Korean album, repackaged it, released a Japanese mini-album, while two members also released solo EPs. In their temporary break from military hiatus, they accomplished much, and with a level of skill few can achieve.
Image Source: Hallyu Life
Song of the Year (Best Melody)
Brave Girls - After We Ride
Key - Bad Love
ONEWE - Rain To Be
ONF - Popping
IU - Lilac
ONEWE - Veronica
Shaun - Closed Ending
Winner: ONF - Beautiful Beautiful
Perhaps one of the most acclaimed K-Pop melodies of modern times, Beautiful Beautiful provided a wonderful take on funk trend that was distinctly ONF. The A Capella bridge is a highlight, along with the towering chorus.
Record of the Year (Best Production)
Yoo Young-Jin - Savage (aespa)
Brave Brothers - After We Ride (Brave Girls)
MC Mong - Dream (Song Ga-In)
Rolling Quartz - Blaze (Rolling Quartz)
AKMU - Nakka (AKMU, IU)
Hwang Hyun - Beautiful Beautiful (ONF)
IU - Lilac (IU)
Winner: Kenzie - Bad Love (Key)
Bad Love dominated the late year, with a powerful and futuristic production worth everything else Key has provided in his career and more. The stunning bass alone is worth the price of entry.
Best New Artist (For Debutants)
Just B
Ciipher
Lim Seo Won
Wendy
Yuqi
Kingdom
Purple Kiss
Winner: Rolling Quartz
Rolling Quartz have slowly built an indie fandom the old way, through their slow promotions. At the same time, female rock bands are a rarity, especially in Korea. As trendsetters, as well as being great musicians, they deserve a spot as the winners.
Best Pop Song
SHINee - Atlantis
Brave Girls - After We Ride
BDC - Moon Rider
IU - Lilac
AKMU - Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes Ft. IU
Yuqi - Bonnie and Clyde
Lee Hi - Red Lipstick Ft. Yoo Mi Rae
Winner: ONF - Beautiful Beautiful
Perhaps one of the most acclaimed K-Pop melodies of modern times, Beautiful Beautiful provided a wonderful take on funk trend that was distinctly ONF. The A Capella bridge is a highlight, along with the towering chorus.
Best Electronic Song
BZ Boys - Close Your Eyes
Just B - Damage
aespa - Savage
Golden Child - Breathe
A.C.E - Higher
Do Hanse - Take Over
Verivery - Trigger
Winner: Key - Bad Love
Bad Love dominated the late year, with a powerful and futuristic production worth everything else Key has provided in his career and more. The stunning bass alone is worth the price of entry.
Best Rock Song
N.Flying - Moonshot
ONEWE - Rain To Be
Tomorrow X Together - 0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You)
ONEWE - Veronica
Tomorrow X Together - LO$ER=LOVER
Lucy - I Got U
Rolling Quartz - Blaze
Winner: Pink Fantasy - Poison
A true winner, Pink Fantasy shot to attention with this Dreamcatcher-esque rock track. The chorus crashes with a level of speed and impact rarely even seen in the K-Pop scene.
Best R&B Song
Epik High - Based on a True Story Ft. Heize
Jeong Sewoon - In The Dark
Heize - Happen
Raiden - Love Right Back Ft. Taeil and Liliboi
Se So Neon - Jayu
WayV (Ten & Yangyang) - Low Low
Shaun - Closed Ending
Key - Hate That Ft. Taeyeon
This pre-release single stood as a surprise, with a heartbreaking melody on love now lost, Hate That is an excellent companion to Bad Love, and a fantastic track in its own right.
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song
SHINee - Don't Call Me
Monsta X - Gambler
ONF - Ugly Dance
Pentagon (Yuto, Kino, Wooseok) - Cerberus
FreezyBone - Freezy Vogue Ft. UU Milan
Epik High - Rosario Ft. CL and Zico
P1Harmony - Scared
Tiger JK - Love Peace
A stirring rise and fight anthem by one of Korea's most iconic rappers ever. Love Peace is a track with some great lines and flow, with a level of strength rarely ever scene in the K-Rap scene.
Best Music Video
P1Harmony - Scared
TXT - LO$ER=LOVER
ONEWE - Rain To Be
Everglow - First
Oneus - Black Mirror
AKMU - Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes
Golden Child - Burn It
Winner: U-Know - Thank U
Not really as bloody as the 13+ rating suggests (maybe 11+?), Thank U is perhaps one of K-Pop's most interesting MV. A full-on gangster war, the MV may not have a deep message like the best MVs but has some gorgeous shots, such as the one starting at 3:35.
Hope everyone enjoyed reading!
Thank you 108Ent! I really love this award show. In fact the winners here were really interesting. You know, I did not expect Atlantis to win Album, for a split Record-Song year, and finally Rolling Quartz winning Best New Artist. The Music Video pick was unexpectedly expected, I thought you would pick Scared. Everyone honored here deserved to win! I mean this was an awesome year. A year full of fun and great music. I am glad that we are all able to express it freely and so bravely.
ReplyDeleteThe critics association leg has been an instrument for all of us to really say something and award the song we would like to see shine and twinkle the brightest. Now as we end, we start the new era of awards. Everyone, please don't forget to witness the 2021 Critics Circle nominations on Friday and the 2021 Golden Tunes. Also the guilds are here... Stay tuned!
Wow, I was expecting easy guesses for you lol. I guess I pulled a plot twist, didn't I?
DeleteIt was close for Atlantis/City of ONF for K-Pop album of the year, but in reality, I love some other albums outside of Korea this year. I already talked about Miyavi, but Arooj Aftab and Altin Gun's albums were also standouts.
Rolling Quartz had it easy, no one else from Korea had a great debut year, unfortunately.
Looking forward to the Critics Circle, Golden Tunes, and more!
Woo! And congrats to all your picks!
ReplyDeleteI had to post out my choices before I could comment on anyone's post, in fear I would spoil my selection, even though they were blaring obvious to a degree! It was hard to pass up on BAD LOVE and Beautiful Beautiful - definitely some of the best releases of the year!
Haha, I feel you. Waiting to comment must have been hard!
DeleteBad Love and Beautiful Beautiful are quite amazing, legendary releases!