Secret - Gift From Secret (3rd Single Album) (2013)

In December 2013, Secret released a winter-themed EP that gave a nod to the Christmas season with the title Gift From Secret. The centerpiece was the Spectoresque “I Do I Do,” one of the catchiest and brightest songs in the Secret catalog. The intro track “Snowmelt” evokes a cozy evening spent indoors, and the nostalgic “Remember Me” recalls a past winter love. The only song that breaks with the theme is the techno-fied dance track “Fantastic,” which is placed non-disruptively at the end. “I Do I Do” is the only indispensable song here, but for the listener who wants the snow-covered musical experience to last just a little longer, the rest is worthwhile.

Secret - Magic Mini Album (Secret Time EP) (시크릿 - Magic) (2009)

After their techno/R&B-tinged debut single “I Want You Back” failed to make a large impact, Secret had much better success with the organic funk sounds of their second single “Magic.” “Magic” was a bona fide smash hit, with an infectious, danceable beat and a powerful, eye-catching music video. While their debut single was available only as a download, “Magic” was released as part of this six-track mini-album. Stripped-down versions of “I Want You Back” and its b-side “3 Years and 6 Months” were included, along with the synthesizer-heavy dance track “Spot Light,” the straightforward pop song “Figure It Out” and the R&B-ish “My Boy.” None of those non-single tracks is worth the price of the album by itself, but the single tracks are strong enough to make this disc a decent listen overall.

Cover art courtesy of ManiaDB

Cho Yong-Pil Vol. 1 (조용필 1집) (1980)

While Cho Yong-Pil had released music throughout the 1970’s, it wasn’t until his first release with Jigu Records in 1980 that he became a superstar. Many of the songs on this album are among Cho’s best-known to this day. “Return to Busan Port” is considered by some to be the most significant Korean pop song in history, its message resonating with Korean families whose relatives had gone abroad. The bluesy ballad “The Woman Outside the Window” and the synth-pop disco of “Bobbed Hair” were musically innovative, and there’s a reverence for previous generations of Korean music as well, with a recording of the folk song “Five Hundred Years” and a remake of the 1959 hit “Daejeon Blues.”

Several tracks here had been released previously, such as “Return to Busan Port,” “The River of No Return,” “Jeong,” and “Too Short.” “The River of No Return,” “Love Hasn’t Ended Yet,” and “The Woman Outside the Window” were originally musical pieces written for dramas. In a sense, this album is like a greatest hits collection of Cho’s 1970’s work and then some. It ended up becoming the first Korean album to sell a million copies, and far and away the best-selling Korean album of 1980.

Note: The CD version of this album has a slightly different track sequence. The sequence here is from the original vinyl album.

Album cover via ManiaDB

Clinah - We Are Clinah! (클리나 1집) (2011)

Way back in 2011, an unknown company called Dino Entertainment burst onto the music scene with their hot new girl group, Clinah (pronounced “Clean-uh”). This was no ordinary girl group, however. No, no, this was a real, legitimate, girl rock band! Members included lead vocalist Han Yuna (한유나), lead guitarist Rika (리카), rhythm guitarist Malja (말자), and bespectacled drummer Lee Soun (이소운). They were so legit they didn’t even need anything silly like a bass player. They released their debut mini-album in October of that year, and even scored some music show appearances with their single “Come On Boy.”

Of course, this “rock band” was nothing more than an idol group with the trappings of a rock band. Their live performances included choreographed moves while playing (miming) the instruments, and the recordings were typical heavily-produced fare, just a little more guitar-based than the dance-pop groups’ stuff. And that name. Clinah. What did it mean? No one seemed to know!

Whatever the case, Clinah failed to catch on. They never had a second single, and by early 2012 they were trying to stay afloat as cheerleaders for the SK Wyverns baseball team. Malja left the group because of health reasons that April, and no replacement was ever found. By 2013, Dino Entertainment’s website no longer existed.

While this group appears to be nothing but a piece of musical ephemera that belongs on the far back shelf of K-Pop’s reject warehouse, there’s something strangely fascinating about them. Their songs, while not deserving of any awards, were actually not that bad. Indeed, many groups with stronger financial backing have released far worse singles and their careers never missed a step. It’s more a statement about the secondary importance of musical quality within the pop music industry than it is of Clinah’s merits.

Had the circumstances been different, one wonders what might have been for these girls. Had they just been with a bigger entertainment company, they might have been more than a one-and-done no-hit wonder. Had their looks just appealed to viewers a little more, they might have gotten a larger male fanbase to fuel their popularity. Had the handling of the rock band concept not looked so silly, maybe they would’ve been able to develop from a pre-packaged band into a legitimate one, like The Monkees. After all, amid the silliness of the choreographed moves, it at least appeared that they knew what they were doing with guitars and sticks in hand. It’s doubtful they would’ve produced anything in the league of the K-Pop greats, but they might’ve ended up deserving a place just a bit closer to the warehouse entrance.

In the end, this one release is about the entirety of their musical legacy. Clinah’s sole mini-album is a fun little treat that grows on you, and is always a possible under-the-radar hidden gem for the adventurous K-Pop fan. It doesn’t reinvent the idol pop wheel, but it might leave you curious about what could have been.

Image source: ManiaDB

Secret - 2nd Single Album (Starlight, Moonlight) (시크릿 - 별빛달빛) (2011)

After “Shy Boy” catapulted them to the upper tier of K-Pop girl groups in early 2011, Secret followed it up with “Starlight, Moonlight” as their summer single. The accompanying single album included only two other songs, but like much of Secret’s work, they were different than your typical idol group offerings. In addition to the doo-wop styled single, there’s the country-ish “Oh! Honey” and the lounge jazzy “Melodrama,” all a far cry from the overly techno-fied world of idol pop.

While it isn’t a full album, this single album is a mini-delight. It’s not going to fight for a place among the greatest artistic achievements of K-Pop, but by idol group standards, it’s a cut above.

Cover art via ManiaDB