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Music Monday: Lee Hyori
Sep. 4th, 2023 08:09 amIt's Music Monday, it's my last day on break, and I feel like chatting about my college radio show some more, so get ready to learn about one of kpop's most successful solo acts, Lee Hyori.
Lee Hyori's career began as the lead singer of the 1st generation idol group FIN K.L. The single Rose was included in Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix Korean version, which is how I discovered their music: in a tiny arcade beneath Fenway that is now closed.
Anyway! Lee Hyori left FIN.K.L for a solo career, and immediately became A Big Fuckin Deal. The single 10 minutes from her debut album was a tremendous success, and also serves an ideal example of early 2000s global pop scene: an addictive blend of hip-hop and dance beats, (the BREAK at 2:42 👌 ) provocative dancing and lyrics, and an entire closet of designer brand looks in one video. Of all the music I played on the show, 10 minutes was the most reliable at getting people to stop by the station and ask about the song.
Unfortunately, Lee Hyori's early years were plagued by controversies. She was criticized for her limited vocal range, and her song producers were frequent plagiarists of international hip-hop and RnB hits. Eventually Lee Hyori apologized for her complicity in plagiarism and took a hiatus from the industry, although she continued to work as a show host and entertainment columnist. Although still controversial, people now complained about her animal rights activism, support for worker's rights, and her criticisms of the impossible standards demanded of female performers.
Not surprisingly, when Lee Hyori returned to performing her music reflected her shift to social rights. Miss Korea is a jazzy track with lyrics that highlight how a cultural obsession with beauty erases the real beauty of all women. She has also taken a more direct role in composing and writing her own songs. Black, the title track of her most recent album, has a country/rock influence that is wildly different from the music of her early career, but is still recognizably "Hyorish."
If you've read this far, thank you for listening to me ramble about one of my favorite Asian performers. I hope you enjoy Lee Hyori's music at least a little bit.
Bonus songlist: When I first posted this on Misskey, I cut a few tracks due to length. That's not really an issue here, so here's some extra recs for you!
Hey Girl, from Lee Hyori's debut album and another track with powerful 2000s vibes. It's less catchy than 10 minutes but the music video hilariously demonstrates many of the...less artistic qualities of pop music. Nearly all the comments on this vid are along the lines of "she was my first love" or raving about Hyori's outfits. (The pink angora dress & beret combo in particular is a favorite.) Not included because it's kinda mid if I'm being objective, but definitely doesn't hurt to check out that pink angora dress. ;)
Anymotion, an absolute monster hit produced for Samsung's Anycall flip phone. The ad campaign featuring this song was crucial in Samsung's pivot to a trend-setting brand, and the "stage mix" video linked highlights Lee Hyori's peerless dance skills--not that any performer can afford to be a mediocre dancer in the kpop scene, but even in such rarefied air Hyori's joyously sexual dancing is a cut above any kpop star I've seen.
Lee Hyori's career began as the lead singer of the 1st generation idol group FIN K.L. The single Rose was included in Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix Korean version, which is how I discovered their music: in a tiny arcade beneath Fenway that is now closed.
Anyway! Lee Hyori left FIN.K.L for a solo career, and immediately became A Big Fuckin Deal. The single 10 minutes from her debut album was a tremendous success, and also serves an ideal example of early 2000s global pop scene: an addictive blend of hip-hop and dance beats, (the BREAK at 2:42 👌 ) provocative dancing and lyrics, and an entire closet of designer brand looks in one video. Of all the music I played on the show, 10 minutes was the most reliable at getting people to stop by the station and ask about the song.
Unfortunately, Lee Hyori's early years were plagued by controversies. She was criticized for her limited vocal range, and her song producers were frequent plagiarists of international hip-hop and RnB hits. Eventually Lee Hyori apologized for her complicity in plagiarism and took a hiatus from the industry, although she continued to work as a show host and entertainment columnist. Although still controversial, people now complained about her animal rights activism, support for worker's rights, and her criticisms of the impossible standards demanded of female performers.
Not surprisingly, when Lee Hyori returned to performing her music reflected her shift to social rights. Miss Korea is a jazzy track with lyrics that highlight how a cultural obsession with beauty erases the real beauty of all women. She has also taken a more direct role in composing and writing her own songs. Black, the title track of her most recent album, has a country/rock influence that is wildly different from the music of her early career, but is still recognizably "Hyorish."
If you've read this far, thank you for listening to me ramble about one of my favorite Asian performers. I hope you enjoy Lee Hyori's music at least a little bit.
Bonus songlist: When I first posted this on Misskey, I cut a few tracks due to length. That's not really an issue here, so here's some extra recs for you!
Hey Girl, from Lee Hyori's debut album and another track with powerful 2000s vibes. It's less catchy than 10 minutes but the music video hilariously demonstrates many of the...less artistic qualities of pop music. Nearly all the comments on this vid are along the lines of "she was my first love" or raving about Hyori's outfits. (The pink angora dress & beret combo in particular is a favorite.) Not included because it's kinda mid if I'm being objective, but definitely doesn't hurt to check out that pink angora dress. ;)
Anymotion, an absolute monster hit produced for Samsung's Anycall flip phone. The ad campaign featuring this song was crucial in Samsung's pivot to a trend-setting brand, and the "stage mix" video linked highlights Lee Hyori's peerless dance skills--not that any performer can afford to be a mediocre dancer in the kpop scene, but even in such rarefied air Hyori's joyously sexual dancing is a cut above any kpop star I've seen.
