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Rhodes piano in Korean pop/R&B

Started by TheStranger, January 18, 2015, 11:45:06 AM

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TheStranger

Over the last year I've really gotten into Korean music and it so happened that my favorite group, Girls' Generation, released this wonderfully poppy track off of their Mr. Mr. EP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE7jbicJqHg

When I heard those bass notes I was like "Is that a Rhodes?!" And then one of the songwriters basically confirmed it not long after:
http://brentpaschke.com/girls-generation-goodbye/

Since then, I've noticed how much easier it has been to find Rhodes piano-based music in the Korean mainstream scene as of late.  A much more typical example is R&B crooner Zion.T, who even featured the piano itself as part of this music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkozsve2oKU
1980 Mark II Suitcase 88

David Aubke

Quote from: TheStranger on January 18, 2015, 11:45:06 AMwonderfully poppy track
Indeed.

I always wonder why lyrics written by or for performers not native to English are so often at least partially in English. Is that a sort of nod to the genre's origins?

I'm so glad to see the Rhodes used in current popular music. Glad that it's still got hip cache. Makes me hopeful that I'll be able to continue my restoration hobby for a long time.
Dave Aubke
Shadetree Keys

Student Rhodes

If you watch the video, you'll see around the three minute mark, that they have the harp cover on the wrong way on the piano.  Always bugs me when I see pics of he Rhodes with the top on the wrong way.

Tim Hodges

Quote from: Student Rhodes on January 19, 2015, 03:56:38 PM
If you watch the video, you'll see around the three minute mark, that they have the harp cover on the wrong way on the piano.  Always bugs me when I see pics of he Rhodes with the top on the wrong way.

I remember they did that for CSI too (somebody on the board made a post about it) and the consensus was that it was probably done to prevent the logo being shown, perhaps for license reasons.
Bristol Electric Piano
UK

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pianotuner steveo

I did not see a video, only a still picture...

I still laugh when I see keyboards and guitars with black tape over the brand name...

As if we can't tell what they are...
1960 Wurlitzer model 700 EP
1968 Gibson G101 Combo organ
1975 Rhodes Piano Bass
1979 Wurlitzer 206A EP
1980 Wurlitzer 270 Butterfly Grand
2009 73A Rhodes Mark 7
2009 Korg SV-1 73
2017 Yamaha P255
2020 Kawai CA99
....and a few guitars...

TheStranger

#5
Quote from: David Aubke on January 19, 2015, 07:38:53 AM
Quote from: TheStranger on January 18, 2015, 11:45:06 AMwonderfully poppy track
Indeed.

I always wonder why lyrics written by or for performers not native to English are so often at least partially in English. Is that a sort of nod to the genre's origins?


I feel like with the case of SM Entertainment's groups (Girls' Generation, Red Velvet, EXO) this is more to capture international fans' attention - they are one of the few companies that almost always titles their kpop songs in English.  In that same vein, they do also tend to include at least one American member in their girl groups: Girls' Generation has Sunny and Tiffany (and formerly Jessica), CSJH has Stephanie Kim who has spent more time in the US of late, f(x) has Amber and Krystal (who happens to be Jessica's younger sister) and Red Velvet has Wendy who was born in Korea but spent extensive time in Minnesota and Ontario.

(Worth mentioning that Goodbye was originally composed by two Canadians and an American and then was translated into Korean)

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Speaking of Zion.T, who has been avidly incorporating the Rhodes in much of his material the last three or four years, here's one that really brings out the atmosphere of the piano:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weL6ia2NF_w

And his earlier breakout hit with the keyboardist/producer Primary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6ZelDkI6JY

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Another really smooth track from 2015, Younha & Jonghyun's "Love Belt"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxr0BOl5N4U

Jonghyun had collaborated with Zion.T for his single "Deja Boo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcvDR5xz97g

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Hidden a bit in the mix, but I think there's a Rhodes in this little pop gem, "Secret Love" by Goo Hara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzSdZy3yBMQ

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From this past week, Girls' Generation's Taeyeon released this lovely tune "Rain" with a mix of electric and acoustic pianos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHir_vB1RUI

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A few songs where I'm not sure if there's actual Rhodes piano or not in them:

Red Velvet - Automatic (if so, it's processed heavily)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px2Q47O0_eE

Nicole Jung - Lost (sounds like an emulated Dyno rhodes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXuUiyMvIJw

Rain - I Do, from 2004
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l7SNJHu604

Wonder Girls - This Time
https://youtu.be/lSh7i3ZnuDA?t=35s

BoA - Disturbance, from 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac4e7PRl_Ec

Her later song "Home" from her 2015 album Kiss My Lips seems to use the real thing though to very very nice effect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MghOzhdVNL0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NoUaScXKUM
1980 Mark II Suitcase 88

TheStranger

A couple of more examples I heard yesterday:

TVXQ - Everyday It Rains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkCYDFB2928

IU - A Pierrot Smiles At Us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i5-uPL7PzU
1980 Mark II Suitcase 88

TheStranger

Caught these two songs watching KBS World and an Arirang rebroadcast this evening:

Teen Top - Warning Sign (mostly in the intro/verses)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLH8CxDfL_Y

Yu Seung Woo - Whatever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRSXHzdQMeU

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As an interesting comparison point, probably one of the few times I've ever heard a Wurlitzer-type tone in Korean music, Urban Zakapa - Tell Me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4vAYyUVWSg
1980 Mark II Suitcase 88