Asian Addicts Anonymous

So 2011 is the year that all members of SS501 made their comebacks as solo artists vs. as a group. It is sad as I did love them as as group, but I also like them as solo artists since they are all talented individuals. So here is the breakdown on their comebacks. And what a surprise, they all came back with dance numbers first, even the “Ballad Prince” of SS501. Of course, Young Saeng and Hyun Joong also did a second comeback with ballads.

This post is updated with the final tally on the voting. All in good fun. I have to say that the results even surprised me. Who’d of thunk that this person would win? Well, I am happy he did because he’s totally awesome, but it was just unexpected. Although it was a really close vote for the #1 and #2 spots.

Park Jung Min, Not Alone [20 January 2011]
Jung Min was the first to kick off the comebacks with his mini-album Not Alone. It was slated for a late 2010 release, but was postponed due to the attack on the south from the north. I have always been a little ambivalent of Park Jung Min, Mr. Sexy Charisma, but he has really grown on me with his solo debut. I really do love this song for the message, the video, and even the dance, although it is done mostly by backup dancers and not Jung Min himself. I also really do love the orchestral accompaniment. Sometimes the orchestra can overpower a singer or just not jive with the actual melody, but this time it really added an extra something to the song. Jung Min really did show off charisma when he performed this song live and I liked being able to see the full dance which was more powerful than what you could see in the music video, which was pretty awesome itself. It is always nice when music videos relate to the songs and actually tell a story. Jung Min’s was very positive and showed that you really aren’t alone. A very satisfying comeback stage and his first solo album doesn’t have a song I don’t like.
My comeback score: #4 | Overall voting score: #3

Kim Hyung Jun, Girl [7 March 2011]
And then came the maknae of SS501. He has a more nasal voice that I wasn’t a huge, huge fan of, but I always loved him and his personality and I love seeing him with his little brother Kibum [so sad that he is no longer with U-KISS]. “Girl” has a strong dance beat and Hyung Jun shows that he does have the chops to shine as a solo artist vocally. He also, I think, does more dancing than Jung Min did in his solo debut. Boy, that Hyung Jun shows us in the video that he can really shake his hips. It is just sad that his debut didn’t garner as much attention as the others did. In fact, I am not sure that I ever saw this song peformed all that often on music shows [Okay, I mostly watch Music Core since its on DramaFever]. Even though “Girl” is a good song, I have to say I liked the follow up song “Oh! Ah!” better. That could be that I tend to like ballads or dance ballads better. To me the chorus and melody were just so addictive. Plus, the MV for the song has a story more so than the first. I like videos with a story. And one that actually makes sense when you look at the context of the song to boot.
My comeback score: #5 | Overall voting score: #5

Heo Young Saeng, Let It Go [12 May 2011]
LOVE Heo Young Saeng! He was considered the main vocals for SS501 and you can see why with his solo debut. Oddly enough, SS501’s ballad prince came back with a dance number then a ballad. But I loved both “Let It Go” featuring Hyuna of 4Minute and the ballad “Rainy Heart.” Out of the comebacks, I think this remains one of my top favorites. “Let It Go” had a video with a story, which makes me happy, and it seemed to suit the lyrics of the uncertain relationship well. And even though it was a dance number, it really did showcase Young Saeng’s smooth vocals. He has such a pretty voice and he showed that he was versatile and can suit dance music just fine. I loved it when on a variety show Hyun Joong revealed that he told Young Saeng to come back with a ballad as that was what he was really good at, but Young Saeng really wanted to do a dance song instead. This led to Hyun Joong getting teased about competing against him. I really liked how “Rainy Heart” was a 180 from “Let It Go.” Young Saeng shows why he’s the ballad prince of SS501. I also really like the acoustic guitar in there, and I really liked the video as well. I also like Hyuna’s complimentary performance in “Let It Go” and the male rapper in “Rainy Heart.” Sometimes I think that rap is thrown in way to often and isn’t necessary, but the rap flowed really well with the singing. There are times, to me at least, when the rap just seems a tad superfluous.
My comeback ranking: #3 | Overall voting score: #4

Kim Hyun Joong, Break Down [8 June 2011] & Lucky [11 October 2011]
Kim Hyun Joong is the whole reason I got turned on to SS501. I loved him on variety show X-Man and in the drama Boys Over Flowers. He is the dancing king of the group and he definitely showed that with his first comeback song “Break Down,” which I am not a huge fan of. I actually liked his follow-up song “Please” better, but that is not to say “Break Down” is bad. It’s a good song. Just not my cup of tea. I have to say that I do love how “Break Down” does show just how talented Hyun Joong is his dancing and performance skills. His dabbling in a more rock sound is also interesting and does suit his voice, but its weird at first since I’m so used to the more dance/pop of SS501. “Please” is a very pretty dance ballad. It showcases Hyun Joong’s voice better than “Break Down” did. I also loved how this MV had more of a story. And then he came back with yet another album! He’s one busy man. “Lucky Guy” has a nice beat and Hyun Joong does well performing it. Again, not a huge fan of this song, but its good and the 2nd EP is good just as his first was.
My comeback ranking: #2 | Overall voting score: #2
[Kyu Jong actually nudged him out of #1 by a few votes at the last minute. That shocked the heck out of me. I thought for sure he’d be #1]

Kim Kyu Jong, Turn Me On [27 September 2011]
Kyu Jong was the last to make his official solo comeback with “Yesterday.” I shouldn’t be surprised with how good this was, but I was just a little. I knew Kyu Jong was a good singer, but he always seemed to fall more in the background when compared with the others. With this song, another one that could be qualified as more of a dance ballad, he proves that he deserves to shine in the spotlight, too. I also really loved how the MV to this song really had a story and plot, unlike so many kpop music videos… or rather music videos in general. And I totally loved his suspender dance. Kyu Jong showed that he has the whole package, just like Hyun Joong. My only problem with his debut was watching the live performances. His initial promotional stages were a little…uncertain. But he definitely seems more at home now. I really want his album, but it hasn’t been released in the US iTunes store that I can find. It’s sad, but at least more and more Kpop artists are becoming available. Now if only they had more Japanese and Chinese music… Anywho, back to the subject. I like how this song starts off slow and picks up the tempo and Kyu Jong gives Hyung Jun a run for his money on sexy dancing. Yowza.
My comeback ranking: #1 | Overall voting score: #1

***28 October 2011***

So are you just as surprised by who won the comeback battle?

I was totally shocked that Kyu Jong somehow pulled ahead since he was in 2nd for so long. I think if you went by overall skill [vocals, dancing, MV, live performances, album sales] the ranking is probably closer to this:

1. Kim Hyun Joong
2. Kim Kyu Jong
3. Heo Young Saeng
4. Park Jung Min
5. Kim Hyung Jun

Thanks to everyone who voted and commented. I can’t wait to see more from them, both as solo artists and as a group. It would be nice to have SS501 perform together once more. They say there is definitely that possibility in the future and I hope that it does become a reality some day.