The nominees for the 12th Korean Music Awards were announced last week. Yesterday we had a look at the albums competing to become Album of the Year and today we’ll continue with the songs that have been nominated for Song of the Year.
9 and the Numbers – “숨바꼭질 (Hider and Seeker)”
Five years after the release of the celebrated self-titled debut album, and a couple of years after the critically acclaimed EP 유예, 9 and the Numbers returned with second full-length album 보물섬 (Treasure Island) end of November 2014. In the album info, album lead track “숨바꼭질 (Hider and Seeker)” was put forth as the most diverse song on the album with lyrics like a child telling a grown-up’s story and a melody combining a warm acoustic sound with radiant rock.
“숨바꼭질 (Hider and Seeker)” is nominated also for Best Modern Rock Song. Additionally, the album which it comes from, 보물섬 (Treasure Island), is nominated both for Album of the Year and Best Modern Rock Album. 9 and the Numbers were previously nominated for Song of the Year in 2011 with first album track “말해주세요”, which was also nominated for Best Modern Rock Song that year. The so far only KMA win for 9 and the Numbers came in 2011 for Best Modern Rock Album.
Zion.T – “양화대교 (Yanghwa BRDG)”
Zion.T released digital single 양화대교, named after the bridge that runs over the Han River between Hapjeong and Dangsan. Zion.T wrote the autobiographical lyrics and was supported by YG Entertainment’s songwriter Kush, Seo Won Jin, and jazz pianist Chon Yongjun in composing it. The song ranked at #7 on Gaon’s Korean digital chart the week that it was released.
“양화대교 (Yanghwa BRDG)” is nominated also for Best R&B & Soul Song. Zion.T was nominated for Best R&B & Soul Album and Song as well as Rookie of the Year in 2014. That year he won Best R&B & Soul Album.
Kwon Tree – “어릴 때”
With 2 EPs behind him, modern folk musician Kwon Tree won Hello Rookie in May 2014. First full-length album 그림 (Painting) followed in November 2014 including songs previously featured on second EP 지금. One of them was “어릴 때”, now selected as the lead track as it can be sung like the story told by a painting.
“어릴 때” is nominated also for Best Folk Song. Additionally, the album it comes from is nominated for Best Folk Album whereas Kwon Tree himself is nominated for Rookie of the Year.
Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon – “비밀 (Secret)”
After being independently active as singer-songwriters around Hongdae, Kim Sawol and Kim Haewon came to working together in 2014. The duo successfully crowdfunded joint EP 비밀 (Secret) for a release in September. The song with the same name is a Kim Sawol original that when performed together with Kim Haewon on the EP becomes a duet with a strong seductive air.
“비밀 (Secret)” is nominated also for Best Folk Song. Additionally, the EP with the same name is nominated both for Album of the Year and Best Folk Album whereas Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon themselves are nominated for Rookie of the Year.
Learn more about Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon and the EP through their mini-interview with Indieful ROK.
Soyou X Junggigo – “썸 (Some)”
In February 2014 Sistar‘s Soyou released digital single Some together with Junggigo. It included the song with the same name, featuring Lil Boi from hip hop duo Geeks. Lil Boi and Jungiggo have both contributed to the song‘s lyrics alongside Min Yeon Jae, eSNa (formerly known as Yoon Bitnara) and Xepy. Xepy and eSNA are both also credited for composing the music alongside Kim Do Hoon, who took home the Song Writer Award in part thanks to this song at the 2014 Melon Music Awards. “썸 (Some)” was the top ranked song on Gaon’s digital chart 2014.
“썸 (Some)” is nominated also for Best Pop Song. Soyou was nominated for Best Dance & Electronic Song in 2013 with “나 혼자 (Alone)” as part of Sistar. Junggigo has three previous nominations for Best R&B & Soul Song (2010, 2012, 2013) and one for Best R&B & Soul Album (2013). Junggigo’s so far only KMA win came in came in 2012 with “Blind” as Best R&B & Soul Song.
Yoonsang – “날 위로하려거든 (If You Wanna Console Me…)”
In September 2014 Yoonsang released his first solo single since celebrating his 20th anniversary as an artist in 2011. The title was 날 위로하려거든, featuring the song with the same name. The song is composed and produced by Yoonsang himself, but long-time Yoonsang lyricist Park Chang-hark has contributed the lyrics and electronica act Space Cowboy is responsible for the arrangement. “날 위로하려거든 (If You Wanna Console Me…)” entered Gaon’s Korean digital chart at #83 the week that it was released.
“날 위로하려거든 (If You Wanna Console Me…)” is nominated also for Best Dance & Electronic Song. Yoon Sang was previously nominated in 4 categories at the KMAs in 2010 (Artist of the Year, Best Dance & Electronic Album + Song, Best Soundtrack) but did not win anything that time.