I'm guessing covering "Bubble Pop!" was @koganbot.bsky.social driven? (The blurbs are fascinating as time capsules; whatever you thought about the "out-of-place dubstep breakdown" at the time did not prepare you for pop music 2012–present) thesinglesjukebox.com/hyuna-bubble...

It was me, I went back and found the email where I suggested it to confirm! I did get turned onto K-pop initially by @koganbot.bsky.social picking After School's "Bang" for Amnesty Week the previous year though

I suggested it too! (jul 12) along w/ T-ara's "Roly-Poly" (which we didn't run), tho was hesitant ("I don't think these tracks are up there with 2NE1's 'I Am The Best,' and since we've got all of Asia to cover we might want to take a break from Korea") so'll be glad to give you the credit.

Hesitant 'cos Edward hadn't yet convinced the constituency to go full international, not 'cos we shouldn't've done both. Told him that "Roly-Poly" would confirm a lot of people's stereotypes about Asian pop (that was an argument in its *favor*), then said about "Bubble Pop!"...

"Actually, *this* will confirm everybody's worst conceptions about Korean pop. Until they see the video, that is, which will *really* confirm their preconceptions. Anyhow, the song is good though maybe not as insanely catchy as 'Roly Poly.' I surmise that HyunA is well on her way

"to being the country's Wet Dream Queen. Certainly she has the world's greatest hair, though what color it is changes from hour to hour." [photo included in email]

I'll take most of the credit for GD & TOP "High High" (lobbied Will for about a month over Xmas break) and a lot for "I Am The Best" – I introduced Edward to it (E: "WOW THIS IS REALLY REALLY FIERCE"), selection committee was busy doing life events so Edward finally rammed it thru unilaterally.