1. (+5) 2PM - Heartbeat *** 1 WEEK NO. 1 ***
Score: 975
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music + Lyrics: Park Jin Young
Album: 2PM Vol. 1 Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: As expected, 2PM wasted no time to move up to the top spot this week with "Heartbeat". In this era of artists releasing singles and mini-albums, this is their very first full studio album titled "1:59." The title track is "Heartbeat" which does not have an exact genre but shows 2PM’s style. One can hear the sounds of a person’s heart palpitation along with drums and a full orchestra, which all flow together to make a dynamic feel. This song is likely to stay at the top for the rest of this year.
2. (--) Brown Eyed Girls - Sign
Score: 845
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music: Lee Min Soo / Lyrics: Kim Ina
Album: Brown Eyed Girls Vol. 3 repackaged version Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: If not because of 2PM's song being too strong, Brown Eyed Girls would have had another No. 1 song. Instead, "Sign" stay at No. 2 this week. Brown Eyed Girls has become one of the most consistent hit makers in K-Pop in the past 2 years. "Sign" was composed by Lee Min Soo who wrote "LOVE" and "Abracadabra" and penned by Kim Ina. The melody line is bright with sweet yet refreshing up-tempo beats. With this latest hit, Brown Eyed Girls have high hope to compete on the year end top female groups award.
3. (-2) SS501 - Love Like This
Score: 748
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music: Lee,Scott,Alexander / Lyrics: Park Hae In
Album: SS501 mini-album "Rebirth" Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: After one week at the top, SS501 fell back two spots to No. 3 with "Love Like This". All the hard work pays off for SS501 as their "Love Like This" finally became No. 1 on our chart before they end their promotions. It is also the whole group's first No. 1 song on our chart in 3 years. "U R Man" was No. 1 early this year but at that time they were only promoting with 3 members (Triple S). This is the title track of their latest mini-album. "Love Like This" which was composed by Steven Lee, Ryan Scott, and Sean Alexander. It is an upbeat synth pop track that was specially mixed by Ken Lewis who has also done works for top stars like Usher, Kanye West, and John Legend.
4. (--) K Will - 그립고 그립고 그립다 (Yearn Yearn Yearn)
Score: 717
Genre: Pop Ballad
Music: Hwang Chan Hee / Lyrics: Hwang Chan Hee, Cho Eun Hee
Album: K Will Vol. 2 Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: K Will is quietly enjoying a spectacular year in 2009, generating hits after hits, whether it is from his own albums/singles or from drama OSTs. Now he is releasing his 2nd full length studio album "Yearn Yearn Yearn". Despite having so many hit songs, this is K Will's first full album in more than 2 years. The principal track with the same name remains at No. 4 this week. "Yearn Yearn Yearn" is a powerful and emotional ballad which fits perfectly to K Will's vocal. With the addition of his latest hit, K Will is among the favorite to win the top male vocalist this year.
5. (--) See Ya - 그놈 목소리 (His Voice)
Score: 714
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music: Lee Min Soo / Lyrics: Kim Ina
Album: See Ya mini-album "Rebloom" Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the title track of SeeYa's mini-album "Rebloom." It has a simple yet very addictive "hooky" melody and rhyming lyrics. It is an electronic pop dance track with an abundant vocal effect, and it represents the musical transformation of SeeYa, which so far was popular for its ballads. (credits to Arirang TV - Pops In Seoul)
6. (+2) F(x) - Chu~♡
Score: 708
Genre: Pop / Dance
Album: F(x) first single Chu~♡ Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: F(x) who got listeners attention with their debut hit "La Cha Ta", returns with their first single album 'Chu~♡' consisting of three songs. Their title track 'Chu~♡' is a cute and trendy Euro-pop song. The song is about a girl whom awakens after receiving a kiss, and is filled with curiosity and expectations of wanting to get to know the world. This week it moves up another 2 spots to No. 6. F(x) debuted later than other top rookie female groups this year but is finishing strong. It will be interesting to see whether this song can take them into running of the top new artists award at year end.
7. (+7) IU - 마쉬멜로우 (Marshmallow) *NEW ENTRY*
Score: 651
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music: Kim Do Hoon, Park Soo Jong / Lyrics: Choi Kap Won
Album: IU mini-album Vol. 2 "IU...Im" Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Last year, IU debuted with "Lost Child", a ballad which is beyond her age but showcased her vocal power. This year, she is switching to a cute concept consistent with her age and having a lot of success. Now the teenager returns with her latest mini-album. The title track "Marshmallow" is another cute and colorful dance song. It is a hybrid of the 60's rock and roll and french pop which is currently popular worldwide. It's the perfect combination of retro and modern which displays IU's cute and mature sides. Songwriter Kim Do Hoon, who has written many hit songs recently, wrote this song for IU. This song already eclipsed "Boo" which went to No. 9 on our chart, thus becoming IU's biggest hit so far in her young career.
8. (+11) U-Kiss - 만만하니 (Am I That Easy Going?) *NEW ENTRY*
Score: 617
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music + Lyrics: Brave Brothers
Album: U-Kiss mini-album "Conti UKiss" Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: U-Kiss finally scores their first ever top 10 hit with "Am I That Easy Going?". They recently released their third mini-album CONTI UKISS which did well on the sales chart. The group added a new member Lee Ki Sub, making U-Kiss a seven-member group. The title song "Am I That Easy Going?" is a powerful hip-hop dance tune written by Brave Brothers who is also responsible for the group's previous singles.
9. (-6) SHINee - Ring Ding Dong
Score: 598
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music + Lyrics: Yoo Young Jin
Album: SHINee mini-album Vol. 3 Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track for SHINee's third mini-album, "2009, Year Of Us." The Afro-electro song was produced by hitmaker Yoo Young-jin and combines African Congo drums with contemporary electro synthesizer sounds. Its cartoon-like lyrics are about feeling like you have bells in your head when in love. (credits to Arirang TV - Pops In Seoul)
10. (-1) Park Bom - You And I
Score: 572
Genre: R&B
Music + Lyrics: Teddy
Album: Park Bom digital single "You And I" Track 1
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: 2NE1’s main vocalist, Park Bom has released her first solo digital single, "You and I" which was composed and penned by Teddy who has also responsible for 2NE1's "Lollipop," "Fire," "I Don’t Care," and Sandara's solo hit "Kiss." The song is about a love vow for endless love. Park Bom’s vocals are showcased in this mid-tempo R&B hip-hop number. This week "You And I" is at No. 10 this week. This song has already topped a lot of internet charts in Korea.