Weekly K-Pop Music Chart 2014 – November Week 5

Big changes in our chart this week as half of the top 10 songs are brand new, including the top three songs. Super Junior’s Kyuhyun took home the top spot with his first solo hit “At Gwanghwamun.” Kyuhyun has previously showcased his ballad skills as member of Super Junior’s sub-unit KRY. This time he has the stage to his own. “At Gwanghwamun” is the title song of Kyuhyun’s first mini-album. This Kenzie written ballad is a tailor made song for winter. The lyrics describe a couple’s separation by using the seasonal transition as a metaphor. Kyuhyun’s beautiful vocal reminds us of ballad kings Shin Seung Hoon and Sung Shi Kyung. This song won on three music shows last week (Music Bank, Music Core, M!Countdown.) It is also doing very well on all independent charts. Congratulations to Kyuhyun.

Moving up 15 spots to No. 2 is AOA’s latest hit “Like A Cat.” This song is the title track from AOA’s second mini-album of the same name. Collaborating once again with Brave Brothers, “Like A Cat” is a Latin style pop dance hit with cute lyrics about how girls want to look pretty to guys they like. This song won on Show Champion last week.  AOA has enjoyed a breakout year in 2014 that sees them rising from relatively unknown to one of the top girl groups. “Like A Cat” capped their great year heading into the year end award season.

No. 3 is a special collaboration between Lee Hi and Akdong Musician’s Lee Suhyun. Together they called themselves HI SUHYUN. Their single “I’m Different” moves up 13 spots to No. 3. This song won on SBS Inkigayo last week. New YG group iKON’s Bobby is featured on this song. Even though the two girls have unique, contrasting voices, they are in perfect harmony on this song.

The fourth new song in the top five is a surprise hit at No. 5. Moving up from No. 27 last week is indie duo 10cm’s “Sseudam Sseudam.” This song is one of the three title songs from 10cm’s third studio album. The unique folksy melody of this song instantly separates it from the rest of the top 10. This is highest ranked hit song by 10cm to date. The only other time they were in the top 10 was back in 2012 with “Sorrow.”

The last of the five new top 10 songs is at No. 9. It is from ballad singer Ali’s “Pungpung.” This is the title song from Ali’s third mini-album “Turning Point.” This week it moves up 21 spots to No. 9. Ali has gained a lot of recognition participating in the TV Program “Immortal Songs 2.” “Pungpung” is a song with a wide range that showcases Ali’s talented and unique vocal. The lyrics are about a girl who cannot stop crying while remembering a past love.

About the Soompi Music Chart:

Soompi Music Chart is unlike any other music chart or television ranking. It takes into account rankings by various major music charts in Korea as well as the hottest trending artists on Soompi, making it a unique chart that reflects what’s going on in K-Pop not only in Korea but around the world. Our chart is composed of the following sources:

GAON Music Chart – 25%
Various Internet charts (Olleh, Bugs, Melon, Soribada, Genie) – 15%
Soompi Airplay – 15%
TV Music Show charts (SBS Inkigayo, KBS Music Bank, MBC Music Core, MNet M!Countdown) – 45%