KMA2016: Song of the Year

The nominees for the 13th Korean Music Awards were announced at the end of January. Last week I had a closer look at the nominees for Album of the Year. This week it’s time to follow up with the nominees for Song of the Year.

BIGBANG – Bae Bae

After a 3 year hiatus, YG Entertainment’s premier boy band BIGBANG made a comeback on the first of May 2015 with digital single M. The double A-side release featured “Bae Bae” as the second track. The song is written by BIGBANG members G-Dragon and T.O.P together with YG Entertainment producer Teddy. “Bae Bae” finished at #4 on Gaon’s digital chart for 2015.

“Bae Bae” is also nominated for Best Rap & Hip Hop Song whereas “Loser” from the same single is nominated for Best Pop Song. BIGBANG is nominated for Artist of the Year. BIGBANG was previously nominated for Best R&B & Soul Song with “눈물뿐인 바보 (A Fool of Tears)” in 2008.

Kim Sawol – 머리맡 (Bedside)

Following critical acclaim for her work as part of Kim Sawol X Kim Haewon, modern folk singer Kim Sawol released her first solo album, 수잔 (Suzanne), end of October 2015. The album closes with lead track “머리맡 (Bedside)”, written by Kim Sawol herself. The arrangement is given extra strength from violin and cello by members of Salon d’O.

“머리맡 (Bedside)” is also nominated for Best Folk Song whereas the album it comes from is nominated both for Album of the Year and Best Folk Album. In 2015 Kim Sawol together with Kim Haewon won Rookie of the Year and Best Folk Album for 비밀 (Secret). The same year the duo had nominations also for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Folk Song.

Deepflow – 작두 (Cut Cut Cut)

Rapper and producer Deepflow put out his third full-length album 양화 (Yanghwa) in May 2015. Four songs off the album were chosen to promote the release via music videos, among them “작두 (Cut Cut Cut)” featuring fellow rappers Nucksal and Huckleberry P. The video got a 19+ rating, but the song itself appears to be more suitable for teenagers with the three rappers showing off their flows over a rough drum line.

“작두 (Cut Cut Cut)” is also nominated for Best Rap & Hip-Hop Song whereas the album it comes from is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rap & Hip Hop Album. Deepflow himself is nominated for Artist of the Year. Deepflow was previously nominated for Best Rap & Hip-Hop Album with Heavy Deep and Best Rap & Hip Hop Song with “Welcome To The Club” in 2012.

JYP – Who’s Your Mama? (어머님이 누구니)

JYP has been keeping rather busy since his debut on the Korean music scene in 1992. In addition to producing idol groups under his own company, he still records as a solo artist. Comeback track “Who’s Your Mama? (어머님이 누구니)” was released in April on digital single 24/34–the title referring to the waist/hip measurements of the girls JYP sings of. The song is written by JYP himself in a style he refers to as “electronic soul” and features Lucky J‘s Jessi aka Jessica H.O.. “Who’s Your Mama? (어머님이 누구니)” finished at #22 on Gaon’s Korean digital chart for 2015.

“Who’s Your Mama? (어머님이 누구니)” is also nominated for Best Pop Song. JYP was previously nominated for Best R&B & Soul album with Back to Stage in 2009.

Hyukoh – 와리가리 (Comes And Goes)

Indie rock band Hyukoh rose to fame in 2015. While “위잉위잉 (Wi ing Wi ing)” from 2014 debut EP 20 turned out to chart better, “와리가리 (Comes And Goes)”, the lead track off sophomore EP 22, managed almost as well. “와리가리 (Comes And Goes)” is written by Hyukoh’s leader and vocalist Oh Hyuk and tells of people that come and go out of on’s life. “와리가리 (Comes And Goes)” finished at #16 on Gaon’s Korean digital chart for 2015.

“와리가리 (Comes And Goes)” is also nominated for Best Modern Rock Song whereas the EP it comes from is nominated for Best Modern Rock Album. Hyukoh is nominated for both Artists of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

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