As we celebrate Sistar19 and other K-pop acts who ruled this year’s K-Pop Hot 100, “Superstar K” singer Seo In Kuk’s “Loved You” tops this week’s K-Pop chart. The collaboration with female vocalist Zia reigns at No. 1, dethroning last week’s chart-topper, Hyorin.
The Year In K-Pop 2013: Sistar19, Cho Yong Pil, Lee Seung Chul Triumph
The handsome singer’s “Loved You” is a R&B-influenced pop ballad, topped off with acoustic guitar and cellos. The song, describing two sides of a breakup, was mashed up by MELODESIGN and written by Kim Ji Hyang.
This is Seo In Kuk’s second No. 1 on the K-Pop Hot 100. He earned a three-week chart topper with “All for You,” another duet, with Apink member Jeong Eun Ji.
Just below at No. 2, Lena Park’s “My Wish” rises from No. 5. An original soundtrack single off popular Korean drama “The Heirs,” the song is a slow, heart-wrenching ballad featuring lyrics lamenting the inability of two lovers to be together.
Aside from Lena Park, other tracks from the drama soundtrack charted this week: Lee Min Ho (the lead actor for the drama) sent his “Painful Love” single to its No. 10 debut, while 2AM’s Changmin and his previous Top 10 hit “Moment” drops to No. 36 this week from No. 33.
At No. 3 is yet another soundtrack single, Korean folk-rock singer Lim Kim’s “Happy Me,” lifted from the soundtrack to Korean drama “Reply 1994.” Piano chords and scales, along with a light-rock production, accompany the 19-year-old’s unique vocals fluttering from strong chest voice notes to airy head voice.
Quickly-rising boy band EXO earns this week’s Hot Shot Debut with its holiday ballad “Miracles in December” at No. 4.
This week, the 12-member act dropped its “Miracles in December” holiday EP in both a Korean and Chinese version. The boys managed to chart several songs from the EP on the K-Pop Hot 100, including “First Snow” (No. 29), “Christmas Day” (No. 38), “My Turn to Cry” (No. 51) and “The Star” (No. 53). Fans should check Billboard.com next Thursday to see if the release can land on any of Billboard’s holiday charts.
While three members were on hand for the group’s comeback performance of “Miracles in December” last week, check out the group’s latest “M COUNTDOWN” stage featuring four members singing, along with Lay on piano.
Last week’s No. 1 — Hyorin’s “One Way Love” — falls four slots to round out the Top 5.
Elsewhere on the chart, controversial girl group T-ara return with a new single “Do You Know Me?” The new single is a remake of a 1977 Korean track. The girl group released an addictive dance version and a ballad version. Check out a theatrical-themed, seven-minute music video below that features a portion of the ballad version along with the dance-pop version.
K-Pop on Other Billboard Charts:
—YouTube: 2NE1’s “Missing You” spends a third week at No. 21. The video has racked up more than 7 million views to date.
—Japan Hot 100: SHINee’s “321” debuts at No. 2. It’s the boy band’s third single to hit No. 2, but the quintet have yet to snag at No. 1 on the chart.
—World Digital Songs Highlights (Full Chart Only Available to Billboard Subscribers): PSY’s “Gangnam Style” is the biggest-selling K-pop song in America this week at No. 2 on World Digital Songs. EXO’s “Miracles in December” is the second-highest, debuting at No. 3.