2008 First Half Top 10 K-pop songs

We have reached the halfway point of 2008. Just like previous years, I am going to summarize the 10 most popular k-pop songs so far in 2008, according to our weekly top 50 music chart.

If you are familiar with our year-end chart, we are using the same principle to calculate the mid-year chart. A song which appeared in our top 50 each week has a score (referring to our weekly music chart). This raw score is adjusted based on:

1. the song’s ranking that week (No. 1 song multiplied by 1.000, then from No. 2 to No. 20 each song multiplied by 0.035 less than the previous song, then from No. 21 to No. 50 each song multiplied by 0.01 less than the previous song);

2. the months this song appears on the chart, with more recent months receiving a higher weightage (June = 1.00, May = 0.98, April = 0.96, March = 0.94, February = 0.92, January = 0.90);

3. the competition of that week – this factor is based on adding all 50 songs’ scores for that particular week, divided by the average total scores of each week to arrive at a percentage adjustment.

After accounting for the above 3 factors, an adjusted score of a song for a particular week will arrive. Added to this is the score for each week the song is appearing on the chart and we will arrive at the total score of the song. Whichever song that receives the highest score will be our mid-year No. 1 song, and so on.

2008 HALF-YEAR TOP 10 K-POP SONGS:

1. Brown Eyed Girls – L.O.V.E *** 2008 HALF-YEAR NO. 1 SONG ***
Score: 7311
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music: Lee Min Soo / Lyrics: Kim Lee Na, Miryo
Album: Brown Eyed Girls single "With L.O.V.E." Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative song for the Brown-Eyed Girls’ mini album, "With LOVE Brown-Eyed Girls." Saintbinary, an esteemed musician in the electronica field, participated in the making of this electronica dance track. The song, which is about confessing love, shows off the Brown-Eyed Girls’ undeniable charm. (Credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

2. Jewelry – One More Time
Score: 7147
Genre: Pop / Dance
Original Song: Ingrid’s "One More Time" / Lyrics: M
Album: Jewelry Vol. 5 Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track of Jewelry’s 5th album, "Kitchi Island." The group has reorganized itself to include Park Jung-ah, Seo In-young, Kim Eun-jung and rapper Ha Joo-yeon. The song is a remake of a dance track with an electronica sound. Shinhwa’s Lee Min-woo wrote the lyrics while hitmaker Park Geun-tae wrote the music. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

3. V.O.S Park Ji Hun – 보고싶은 날엔 (During The Days I Want To See You)
Score: 6739
Genre: R&B Ballad
Music + Lyrics: Han Sang Won
Album: Park Ji Heon First Single Album Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative song for V.O.S.’ Park Ji-hun’s single album, "Button." The medium-tempo track showcases Park Ji-hun’s exquisite and delicate voice singing about the pain and longing that follow a separation. V.O.S.’s Choi Hyun-joon and Kim Kyung-rok participated in the chorus. The music video was made with footage from the movie "Open City," starring Kim Myung-min and Son Yae-jin. (Credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

4. MC Mong – 서커스 (Circus)
Score: 6587
Genre: Hip-hop
Music: Kim Gun Woo, MC Mong / Lyrics: MC Mong
Album: MC Mong Vol. 4 Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the title track of MC Mong’s 4th album, “Show’s Just Begun.” Featured artistes Lim Yu-kyung and $howgun’s unique musical style ring out in this upbeat hip hop track. The lyrics, which were written by MC Mong himself, describe him as the circus clown. The artiste’s close friend No Hong-chul added more fun to the music video with his appearance. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

5. SG Wannabe – 라라라 (LaLaLa)
Score: 6354
Genre: R&B/Country Style Ballad
Music: Cho Young Soo / Lyrics: Ahn Young Min
Album: SG Wannabe Vol. 5 Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: As the title track of SG Wannabe’s 5th album, "My Friend," this country-style number conveys the love and thanks to one’s lover. It’s the group’s first music video with new member Lee Seok-hun and follows SG Wannabe in their life as a group and also shows them singing freestyle. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

6. Nell – 기억을 걷는 시간 (Time Of Collecting My Memories)
Score: 6172
Genre: Rock Ballad
Music + Lyrics: Kim Jong Wan
Album: Nell Vol. 4 Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track for Nell’s 4th album, "Separation Anxiety." A gentle and modern rock ballad with a simple sound and keyboard at its center, it showcases vocalist Kim Jong-wan’s sob-resembling vocal style and sensual melody. Together they give off a surreal vibe. The poignant lyrics are about missing an ex. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

7. Gummy (feat. TOP) – 미안해요 (I Am Sorry)
Score: 6001
Genre: R&B Ballad
Music + Lyrics: Kim Byung Hoon
Album: Gummy Vol. 4 Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track for Gummy’s 4th official album, "Comfort." Gummy’s more relaxed vocals and a repetitive refrain that goes "I’m sorry" shine in this impressive electronica/Euro-dance song. BIGBANG’s TOP, who is featured in the track, and Sandara Park star and share a kiss in the music video. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

8. Epik High (feat. Ji Sun) – One
Score: 5955
Genre: Hip-hop
Music: Tablo / Lyrics: Tablo, Mithra Jin
Album: Epik High Vol. 5 Track 4 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track of Epik High’s 5th album, “Pieces, Part One.” The fusion of futuristic electronic sounds with hip-hop rhythms blends in well with former Loveholic’s vocalist Jisun’s voice. The song carries a message of hope to those who have been emotionally damaged. Jung Ryeo-won stars in the music video as a woman who has given up on her life. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

9. SNSD – Kissing You
Score: 5832
Genre: Pop / Dance
Music: Lee Jae Myung / Lyrics: Kwon Yoon Jung, Lee Jae Myung
Album: SNSD Vol. 1 Track 5 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Featured in Girls’ Generation’s 1st album, "Girls’ Generation," this house-style dance track showcases cute lyrics and a lively rhythm. Super Junior’s Dong-hae stars in the music video as the boyfriend of the group’s gals. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

10. Kim Dong Ryul – 다시 시작해보자 (Let’s Start Over)
Score: 5342
Genre: Pop Ballad
Music + Lyrics: Kim Dong Ryul
Album: Kim Dong Ryul Vol. 5 Track 9 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track for Kim Dong-ryul’s 5th album, "Monologue." It’s a classic Kim Dong-ryul-style sensual ballad that showcases his trademark gentle vocals. It"s about regretting things after a break-up and wanting to start again, even if it means feeling awful and fighting every day. (Credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)