Weekly K-Pop Music Chart 2012 - September Week 1

Psy’s “Gangnam Style” becomes the first song in 2012 to score five weeks on top of our chart as it continues its dominance towards the end of the summer.  It shows no sign of slowing down as it is still getting a very high score of 974 points, only four points fewer than last week.  Even though “Gangnam Style” finally gave in to newer songs on most independent charts, it tops the idol dominated network rankings for the last two weeks to offset. So overall the score of this international hit remains steadily high.  For now, “Gangnam Style” is definitely the favorite to win “Song Of The Year”.

Not only did “Gangnam Style” achieve its fifth week on top, it is also running away from the competition this week.  The next six songs on the chart all flip-flop in positions in pairs.  At No. 2 and 3, BoA and Beast exchange place again with “Only One” beating out “Beautiful Night” this week.  Teen Top and Sistar also trade places at No. 4 and 5 with “Be Ma Girl” and “Loving U”.  Then it is 2NE1 and Skull & Haha reversing positions at No. 6 and 7 with “I Love You” and “Busan Vacance.”

There are two brand new songs in the top 10 this week and they are also debutants.  Ironically, these two songs ranked higher than “Gangnam Style” in most internet charts this week.  At No. 9, Seo In Young returns after switching to a new record company with a digital single “Anymore.”  This is a pop rock track that has funky electronic sounds and African rhythmic drum sounds, which accompany Seo In Young’s powerful vocals. Although “Anymore” has a bright and upbeat sound, it is about a woman’s determination to get over her past love and hurt.

After spending most of this year in Japan, Kara finally returns home and releases their fifth mini-album “Pandora.” It is the title track of their new mini album and debuts at No. 10 this week. “Pandora” is a synth pop dance song written by the same team of Han Jae Ho and Kim Seung Soo who has written many of Kara’s past hit songs.  Even though “Gangnam Style” looks to be the favorite again next week, don’t be surprised if “Pandora” makes a big jump to be the new No. 1 song.  Given Kara’s track record of being one of the most successful artists on our chart, anything is possible.

1. (–) Psy – 강남스타일 (Gangnam Style) ***5th Week @ No. 1***
Score: 974
Genre: Hip-Hop

Music: Psy, Yoo Gun Hyung / Lyrics: Psy
Album: Psy Vol. 6 Part 1 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

2. (+1) BoA – Only One
Score: 886
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: BoA / Lyrics: BoA
Album: BoA Vol. 7 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

3. (-1) Beast – 아름다운 밤이야 (Beautiful Night)
Score: 789
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Goodnite, Sleepwell / Lyrics: 4realz
Album: BEAST Mini Album Vol. 5 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

4. (+1) Teen Top – 나랑 사귈래? (Be Ma Girl?)
Score: 721
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Brave Brothers / Lyrics: Brave Brothers
Album: Teen Top Summer Special Single | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

5. (-1) Sistar – Loving U
Score: 643
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Ichiro Suezawa, Chance / Lyrics: Ichiro Suezawa, Chance
Album: Sistar Summer Special Album | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

6. (+1) 2NE1 – I Love You
Score: 592
Genre: R&B

Music: Teddy, Lydia Paek / Lyrics: Teddy
Album: 2NE1 digital single “I Love You”
Watch: MV

7. (-1) Skull & Ha Ha – 부산 바캉스 (Busan Vacance)
Score: 538
Genre: Reggae

Music: Ichiro Suezawa, Chance / Lyrics: Skull, Ichiro Suezawa, Chance
Album: Ya Man!! | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

8. (+3) Juniel – Illa Illa
Score: 517
Genre: Pop Rock

Music: Kim Do Hoon, Lee Sang Ho / Lyrics: Han Sung Ho
Album: Juniel Mini Album Vol. 1 | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

9. (new) Seo In Young – Anymore
Score: 507
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Kush, Jinx / Lyrics: Kush
Album: Seo In Young digital single “Anymore”
Watch: MV

10. (new) Kara – Pandora
Score: 469
Genre: Pop/Dance

Music: Han Jae Ho, Kim Seung Soo, Yue / Lyrics: Song Soo Yoon
Album: Kara Mini Album Vol. 5 – Pandora | Purchase this Album
Watch: MV

THIS WEEK IN 2007:

In this segment, we go back in time to re-visit charts of the same week in past years. The Soompi Music Chart began in January 2005. At first we had only 20 songs and later expanded to 50 songs.

Debuted in 2006, See Ya was labeled as the female version of SG Wannabe.  The trio was recruited by the same record company and trained by SG Wannabe.  At that time, there were not as many girl groups in K-Pop as now, and not many have the talents of See Ya.  They instantly become very popular.  “Shall We Marry” is the follow up song from the second album in 2007, probably See Ya’s most successful album. It was No. 1 on our Soompi Weekly Music Chart five years ago this week. Both this song and the album main title song “Love Greeting” became No. 1 songs.  It is always rare in K-Pop for two songs from the same album both topping the chart. 

See Ya broke up in early 2011.  Former leader Nam Gyu Ri has become a successful actress and also sings occasionally on OSTs of the drama she acts.  Members Lee Boram and Kim Yeon Ji are both pursuing solo singing careers.

About the Soompi Music Chart:

Soompi Music Chart is unlike any other music charts or television rankings.  It takes into account rankings by various major music charts in Korea and airplays of each song, making it an unbiased and objective tally of what’s going on in the world of K-pop.  Our chart is composed of the following sources:

Air Monitor Chart – 15%

GAON Music Chart – 15%
Various Internet charts (Olleh, Bugs, Melon, Soribada, Naver, Daum) – 15%
Billboard Korea – 15%    
SBS Inky Gayo – 10%
MBC+ Show Champion Chart M – 10%
KBS Music Bank K-Chart – 10% 
MNet M!Countdown Chart – 10%

Thanks to Mardi09 for helping on this week’s internet chart research.