Weekly Music Chart 2008 - January week 1

As this is the first chart posting in 2008, we’ve made several changes to the chart-scoring criteria in order to better reflect a song’s popularity. I’d like to go through this briefly before I post this week’s chart.

1. Album Sales now only count for 10% – Sadly, the overall album sales in Korea are declining every year. It’s getting to a point where more and more singers are releasing digital singles online instead of a full album. In the past three years, we counted album sales to be 20% of the chart score, it is time to lower it to 10%. To align album sales with a song’s popularity, it will still have a 2-week lag. The source is still provided from Hanteo and KMDIA’s weekly sales chart.

2. Air Monitor Chart – This is a new source I found. It records the airplays of a song within a week from TV and Cable channels, and also radio stations. Airplays are always one of the best sources of information to reflect a song’s popularity. The Air Monitor chart is a 15% source.

3. SBS Inky Gayo Chart – They don’t really have a chart anymore but I am using their old method of accounting for the Take 7 votes plus their internet chart and MP3 chart to get a ranking. I am making sure the Take 7 songs of that week is the top 7 songs on the ranking and also the Mutizen award winner is the top song of this source.

4. KBS Music Bank – Now they are having a ranking again, but this ranking is somewhat similar to an internet chart. I’ll include that as one of our new chart sources (5%).

5. All chart sources will now carry a weight of 5 to 15 percent, not more and not less. We want to spread it out among various sources as much as possible to eliminate bias. For full details of chart scoring breakdown, please refer to "sources of the chart" at the end of the post.

In addition, we want to get new songs on to the chart faster. As soon as a singer is performing a new song on gayo shows, we’ll start accumulating scores for that song. So you may see good new songs debuting at a lower position at first but moving up fast in the second or third week. I don’t think we’ll see many songs debuting in the top 5 ot top 10 very often in this new format.

We are also adding an MV link for the song (if available) along with the live performances so that readers can click on these to watch and listen to the songs at the same time.

Now here is this week’s chart:

1. (+8) F.T Island – 너올때까지 (Until You Come) *** 1 WEEK NO. 1 ***
Score: 866
Genre: Rock Ballad

Music + Lyrics: Ryu Jae Hyun
Album: F.T. Island Special album "Refreshment" Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Fresh off winning Album of the year (with their debut album "Cheerful Sensibility) and the new artiste silver award on our 2007 soompi gayo award, F.T Island are no longer rookies in 2008 as they want to become one of the top boy bands in Korea. They have a great start, scoring their 2nd No. 1 song. This song is written by Vibe’s Ryu Jae Hyun, who also wrote F.T Island’s other No. 1 song "Love Sick" last year.

2. (-1) Big Bang – 마지막인사 (Last Greeting)
Score: 859
Genre: Hip-hop / Dance

Music + Lyrics: G-Dragon
Album: Big Bang 2nd mini-album "Hot Issue" Track 6 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Our Soompi Gayo Award DaeSang winner of 2007. This song was No. 1 for the last 2 weeks of 2007. Altogether, Big Bang’s songs spent 10 weeks in the top spot in 2007. They have already started their effort to defend their top group title in 2008, releasing a new mini-album "For The World" (see our new album previews this week).

3. (–) SG Wannabe – 첫눈 (First Snow)
Score: 844
Genre: R&B Ballad

Music: Cho Young Soo / Lyrics: Ahn Young Min
Album: SG Wannabe – Story in New York 2008 Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative song for SG Wannabe’s special album, "Story in New York." The soothing ballad melds music-box sounds from the intro and a softened vocal style in general. It’s about missing an ex-lover on the day of the first snow and telling her "let’s not break up the next time we meet. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

4. (-2) SNSD – 소녀시대 (Girls Generations)
Score: 734
Genre: Pop / Dance

Music: Song Tae Joon / Lyrics: Lee Seung Chul
Album: SNSD Vol. 1 Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the title track of Girls’ Generation’s 1st album. A remake of a Lee Seung-chul hit, the song was arranged and made anew with Girls’ Generation’s uniquely bright vibe, which contrasts significantly with the original’s masculine style. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

5. (+25) Min Kyung Hoon – 슬픈 바보 (Sad Fool) *** BIGGEST MOVER OF THE WEEK ***
Score: 698
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Park Bong Sung / Lyrics: Go Suk Young
Album: Min Kyung Hoon Vol. 1 Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Part I MV Part II Live Performance
Comment: Our biggest mover of the week is from the first solo hit by Min Kyung Hoon, the former lead vocalist of Buzz. Min already gained a lot of popularity during his days from Buzz. It is not surprising that his solo songs are doing well. "Sad Fool" also has a similar style to Buzz’s songs, but has less rock and more pop. Check out our artiste of the week feature on Min Kyung Hoon.

6. (-2) Park Jin Young – 니가사는그집 (The House You Lived In)
Score: 645
Genre: R&B / Dance

Music + Lyrics: Park Jin Young
Album: Park Jin Young Seventh album Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Title song from JYP’s 7th album “Back to stage”. This is a funky up-tempo song that showcases JYP’s dance moves. Younger generations may know JYP as a producer but not be aware that he is also an excellent singer and dancer.

7. (+17) Wonder Girls – 이 바보 (This Fool)
Score: 602
Genre: Pop / Dance

Music + Lyrics: Park Jin Young
Album: Wonder Girls Vol. 1 Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: The follow up hit from Wonder Girls’ 1st album landed just under their teacher Park Jin Young this week, moving up 17 spots to No. 7. Wonder Girls were just named best new artiste of 2007 on our Soompi Gayo Award. They are still very young, but no longer rookies this year.

8. (–) Eun Ji Won (feat. Mr. Tyfoon) – Adidos
Score: 597
Genre: Hip-hop

Music: Keeproots / Lyrics: Mr. Tyfoon
Album: Eun Ji Won single album Track 2 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Featured in Eun Ji-won’s single album, "Love, Death, Thought," this song, by musician Keeproots, fuses Latin and hip-hop styles for an innovative type of melody. The lyrics, about a man who has been betrayed by love, go well with a fun beat. Mr. Tyfoon, who is featured in the song, wrote the lyrics.

9. (-4) Toy – 뜨거운안녕 (A Passionate Goodbye)
Score: 564
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Yoo Hee Yeol, Kim Tae Hoon / Lyrics: Yoo Hee Yeol
Album: Toy Vol. 6 Track 5 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the main song on Toy’s 6th album, "Thank You." It contains a retro sound popular in the 80s and a pop feel as well. The lyrics are about a broken-hearted man. Toy guest vocalist Lee Ji-hyung not only sang, but starred in the music video, too. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

10. (–) Super Junior – Marry U
Score: 440
Genre: Pop

Music: Kwon Yoon Jung / Lyrics: Lee Jae Myung
Album: Super Junior Album 2 Track 6 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Featured in Super Junior’s 2nd album, "Don’t Don," this sweet proposal song has a soft melody. Girls’ Generation’s Yoon-a makes a special appearance in the music video, which is about someone holding a concert for a former lover, confessing love and a couple re-committing themselves to each other. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

11. (New) M to M – 새까맣게 (Completely Black) *** HOT SHOT DEBUT ***
Score: 421
Genre: R&B Ballad

Music: Kim Do Hoon / Lyrics: Choi Kap Won
Album: M to M Vol. 3 Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: Our highest debut this week belongs to R&B duo M to M. Perhaps the most underrated out of the Big 4 collaboration (with SG Wannabe, Kim Jong Kook, and Vibe), M to M released a digital single "Evil Man" last Fall as a warm-up to this new album. They are working primarily with the same teams of songwriters as SG Wannabe. "Completely Black" is written by hitmaker Kim Do Hoon.

12. (New) SMTown – 사랑은하나죠 (Only Love)
Score: 407
Genre: Pop Ballad

Album: 2007 Winter SM Town Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: Title song of SM Town’s annual Winter album. In the past, songs from their winter albums did not fare as well as songs from their summer albums. This song may already have the highest chart position ever for this series of Winter albums. As usual, you’ll see all their stars in the MV.

13. (+10) ERU – 겨울나기 (Feeling Winter)
Score: 402
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music + Lyrics: Ha Kwang Hoon
Album: ERU Vol. 3 Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Featured in Eru’s 3rd album, "Eru Returns," this sweet ballad is about two people in love promising each other their souls. The music video is filled with star-studded cameos led by Eru’s father Tae Jin-a, Song Dae-gwan, Lee So-yeon, Park Sang-myun and others. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

14. (New) Shinhwa – 눈 오는 날 (The Snowy Night)
Score: 373
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Lee Seung Hwan / Lyrics: Eric
Album: Shinhwa Winter Story 2007 Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: Other than SM Winter Town, Shinhwa may have the longest running winter albums. Even though the 2007 release is only a single, it still became a hit just like all other Shinhwa songs. Singer songwriter Lee Seung Hwan wrote this song for Shinhwa, and member Eric wrote the lyrics.

15. (+2) Lee Seung Ki – 아직 못다한 이야기 (Unfinished Story)
Score: 369
Genre: Pop Ballad
Music + Lyrics: Kim Do Hoon
Album: Lee Seung Ki Vol. 3 repackaged version Track 1
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: Title track from Lee Seung Ki’s 3rd album repackaged version. This is a ballad written by Kim Do Hoon, who teamed up with Lee Seung Ki previously on "Words Hard To Tell" from his last album.

16. (+23) The Name – 그녀를 찾아주세요 (Please Find Her)
Score: 358
Genre: R&B Ballad

Music + Lyrics: Yoon Min Soo
Album: The Name Vol. 3 Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: This is the representative song for The Name’s 3rd album, "This is The Name." Vibe’s Yoon Min-su wrote the music for the piece, which showcases a grand and full string melody. The track, which poignantly expresses the pain of missing an ex you can no longer meet, goes well with The Name’s richly emotional vocals. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops in Seoul)

17. (+14) Kim Jo Han – 사랑이늦어서미안해 (Sorry for the love being late)
Score: 331
Genre: R&B Ballad

Music: Sung Shi Kyung / Lyrics: Yang Jae Sun
Album: Kim Jo Han Vol. 5 Track 3 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative track for Kim Jo-han’s 5th album, "Soul Family With JOHAN." The ballad, written by Sung Si-kyung, is sung not by the R&B crooner Kim Jo-han, but by the artiste in a new role as a ballad singer. Jessica of Girls’ Generation stars in the music video as a woman who has lost her love, shedding tears in some of the more moving scenes. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

18. (-5) MC The Max – 사랑을 외치다 (Call Out Love)
Score: 320
Genre: Rock Ballad

Music: Shin In Soo / Lyrics: Yang Jae Sun
Album: MC The Max Vol. 5 3nd repackaged version Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is the representative song for M.C The Max’s 5th repackaged album, "Fall… In Love." A trademark M.C The Max ballad, it showcases a poetic melody and Lee Su’s deeply appealing voice. The music video tells the story of the song’s poignant lyrics. It’s about a man unable to forget a woman and going on a trip to deal with his pain. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

19. (+6) Yurisangja – 12월의로망스 (Romance in December)
Score: 299
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Park Sung Jin / Lyrics: Lee Se Jun
Album: Yurisangja – Scent of Christmas Track 1
Watch: MV
Comment: Ballad duo Yurisangja released a Christmas album in 2007 and this is the title song. It is one of the more successful Christmas hits in 2007, and it is still rising on the chart. Yurisangja are known for their great harmonized vocals and this song plus their voices add warmth to the winter season.

20. (-14) Zi-A – 바이올린 (Violin)
Score: 292
Genre: Pop Ballad

Music: Cho Young Soo / Lyrics: Ahn Young Min
Album: Music Story Album Track 1 Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: This is the representative track for the compilation album, "The Violin – Music Story Album." The medium-tempo ballad showcases the string instruments of a 30-member orchestra and a moving melody. It’s about telling a former lover that she was happy while they were together and hoping he’ll find someone better. (credits to Arirang TV – Pops In Seoul)

21. (+16) PK Heman (feat. Lee Ji Hye) – 못잊어 (Can’t forget) : 265
22. (New) Park Ji Hun (V.O.S) – 보고싶은 날엔 (During the Days I want to see you) : 261
23. (New) HaHa – 너눈 내 운면 (You are my destiny) : 242
24. (-4) Lisa – 그려봅니다 (I’m drawing) : 240
25. (New) Ayn – 한마디 (One word) : 230
26. (-15) Lim Jeong Hee – 사랑에미치면 (When you’re crazy in love) : 227
27. (-13) J-Walk – 여우비 (Light Rain) : 223
28. (-2) Sung Shi Kyung – 한번더이별 (Break up one more time) : 214
29. (-14) Voice One – 니가내린다 (You are bringing it down) : 213
30. (New) Kang Chae Yi – 젖은손수건 (Wet Handkerchief) : 212
31. (Re) Outsider – 남자답게 (Like A Man) : 208
32. (–) Jang Yoon Jung – 첫사랑 (First love) : 200
33. (New) Park Jung Hyun – 눈물빛글씨 (Writing for tears) : 197
34. (-18) V.O.S. – 부디 (By all means) : 196
35. (-13) Brown Eyed Soul – My Story : 191
36. (New) Tae Sa Bi Ae – 못된 사랑 (Bad love) : 184
37. (-9) Drunken Tiger – 8:45 Heaven : 175
38. (New) Clazziquai – Robotica : 167
39. (-27) Lee Seung Chul – 사랑한다 (I love you) : 161
40. (-22) Lee Seung Hwan – 내맘이안그래 (My heart isn’t like that) : 148
41. (New) Youn Ha – 첫눈에 (During the first snow) : 144
42. (New) Kai – 사랑한다며 헤어지잔 말 (You loved me but ask for breakup) : 134
43. (-9) Wheesung – 다쳐도 좋아 (It’s okay if I get hurt) : 128
44. (New) The Quiett – 한 번뿐인 인생 (The one and only life) : 109
45. (New) LPG – 스키장 가는 길 (On the way to ski resort) : 103
46. (New) Paran – 화이트 러브 (White love) : 97
47. (New) Eternal Morning – White : 93
48. (New) Andy (feat. Yoo Bin) – 엉뚱한 상상 (Irrelevant information) : 91
49. (-9) Tim – 사랑한만큼 (As much as I love) : 79
50. (Re) Ji Eun – 한번만 말해줘 (Tell me once) : 70

Blue: Songs to watch out
Green: Editor’s recommendations

Sources of the chart

ChartKorea – 15%
Air Monitor Chart – 15%
MNet M!Countdown – 15%
Various Internet charts (Melon, Jukeon, Dosirak, MNet, Muz, Bugs, Ohdio, Soribada) – 15%
Hanteo and KMDIA Weekly Album Sales (2 weeks lag) – 10%
SBS – Inky Gayo Take 7 poll + Internet Chart + MP3 Download Chart – 10%
Hanteo Gayo Chart – 10% (1 week lag)
KBS Music Bank Chart – 5%
Gasoo appearance on gayo shows (MBC Show! Music Core, SBS Inky Gayo, KBS Music Bank, SBS Music Space, KBS Yoon Do Hyun Love Letter, MNet M!Countdown, KMTV Show Music Tank, MTV Live Wow Special, Pops In Seoul) – 5%