“Everyday is Thursday”

Kim Ri-eun: Talk shows hosted by musicians have become a dominant trend in the YouTube ecosystem. The ways in which these entertainers have expanded their roles vary: some have chosen to focus solely on music much like the traditional music talk shows, some have chosen to play the entertainment game by creating a sub-character they can assume to show different sides of themselves, while others have taken to the full variety/talk show route. Among them, “Everyday is Thursday” stands out like a new litmus test, as it combines all of the above features. Jo Hyun Ah of Urban Zakapa is the host of the show. She is also a musician who sings a song that illustrates the guest’s career while playing the piano, and a producer who writes music that reflects the guest’s concerns. The host and guest talking over some drinks isn’t uncommon at all on YouTube, but the way Jo Hyun Ah navigates her show by giving depth to the conversation and coaxing variety show moments is remarkable.  She detects and amplifies even the most minor details that women in their 30s can bond over, like actress Shin Hye-sun sweeping her hair back. Even when she got teary-eyed after hearing  YooA of OH MY GIRL talk about her teammate Seunghee, she made everyone laugh by telling YooA to “just stay still, T” when YooA alone was unable to shed a tear. Jo makes bright music out of subjects that can get quite heavy, and gently clears the air, like when SUZY talked about how she avoids getting emotionally exhausted, or when Kwon Hyuk-soo talked about struggling to get more subscribers on his YouTube channel. Jo Hyun Ah who is both an excellent musician and entertainer is the one who paved the road to this new style. It’s an “exclusive high-quality premium urban one and only high-class music talk show” that blends cover performances, an interview, variety show, and impromptu producing, all in one 20-minute episode.  We are living in an era where even a talk show must prove that it is worthy of a long list of epithets.

On the Origin of Species - Kim Bo-young

Kim Gyeo-ul (writer): Though underappreciated despite her excellent career, Kim Bo-young is the first Korean science fiction writer to be longlisted for the National Book Award in Translated Literature. It was for her collection of short stories entitled On the Origin of Species and Other Stories. Kim who is known for illustrating the wonder of the SF genre through her short to mid length stories has become a core writer in the Korean science fiction genre, and has made a name for herself as a writer who writes “the most science fiction-like science fiction.” On the Origin of Species is also considered one of these marvels. The book features On the Origin of Species and Other Stories and On the Origin of Species: What Might Have Happened Later which had never been printed in Korea, and her latest work, On the Origin of Species: An Unlikely Story. The title might suggest that it is just another story on the origin of species, but you will find yourself riveted the moment you realize that the story is, in fact, about the origin of the robot species. On a cold, dark Earth, where water is frozen over and oil flows like the river, the robot-kind, born in factories, have built a splendid civilization. But where did all of it come from? Were the robots created? If so, by whom? The robots explore the origin of their species. The National Book Awards jurors comment as follows: “It is a portrayal of human and non-human beings and a reflection on the social and environmental issues.”

Killin’ Me Good by Jihyo (TWICE)

Randy Suh (Music Writer): When I hear the name Jihyo, the first thing that comes to mind is Twice’s “Talk That Talk” fancam video. One can feel pure joy radiating from her as she dances with a huge smile: her huge eyes are expressive, the tone of her voice is clear, her singing sounds surprisingly raw, her dance moves and body rolls are rhythmic and powerful. On stage, Jihyo is sexy, innocent, and energetic all at once. “Killin’ Me Good” expands on all of these qualities. 

The song is a stand-out among many “sexy” K-pop songs. The lyrics insinuate feelings of passionate love and relationship in one’s adulthood, but are far from risqué. The singer does not feign innocence, nor does she plead. Instead, she sings of complete bliss and satisfaction in the first person. The choreography that features gun shooting motions lends to this mature woman’s confessions. These elements culminate to portray a brand of independence that deviates from the traditional “girl crush” archetype, one who is constantly in a state of battle. It is a niche brand in today's K-pop, but there will undoubtedly be a strong following.

In the last scene of the music video, she slips off her T-shirt, drops it on the floor and stares into the camera as if to say, “I know exactly what I’m doing.” I think we would all agree that Jihyo is a new force to be reckoned with.