Last week was the 10th anniversary of MNet KM Music Festival Awards, also known as MKMF. Award/performance shows like this generally aren’t my thing, I believed I watched it (or something similar) last year and ended up thoroughly annoyed at some of the choices and the balantant insider favouritism and music scene politics, so I decided to spare myself the annoyance and not sit through it. But I got all caught up on the end results, and thought it’d make a good (and long, sorry XD) blog entry for today.

The actual event took place on November 15th, but overseas viewers could cast their votes online on the MKMF 2008 website back in October.

Nominees for the Best Male Newcomer category were JYP‘s two boybands 2AM (이노래) and 2PM (10점 만점에 10점), SM boyband and currently the latest craze SHINee (누난너무예뻐 REPLAY), hiphop/pop duo Mighty Mouth (사랑해) and yet another boyband U-Kiss (어리지않아). Unsuprisingly enough it was SHINee that won. No offence to SHINee fans but I really don’t see what it is about them that has all the girls going crazy. I think it’s just a current trend right now to be a “누나” fan, and get into the younger boybands.

Nominees for the Best Female Newcomer category was DSP‘s female solo artist 선하 (Chantey Chantey), duo 다비치 (미워도 사랑하니까), 문지은 (여우가), 이현지 (Kiss Me Kiss Me) and JYP‘s female solo artst 주 (남자 때문에). 다비치 were the ones to snag the award, and in my opinion definitely deserved it, I’m not too into the female artists but they are my favourite out of the nominees.

The Best Male Group category was filled with unsurprising nominations: SM boyband 동방신기 (주문 (MIROTIC)), YG pop/hiphop group Big Bang (하루하루), hiphop group Epik High (One), poprock boyband F.T Island (사랑후애) and R&B team SG Wannabe (라라라). What was surprising was the fact that it was Big Bang took the award, leaving 동방신기’s fans in total shock. I’m really proud of Big Bang for getting themselves that award, it’s a huge achievement especially up against 동방신기 who used to have such a monopoly over the boyband scene. I would have been happier if Epik High had won, or F.T Island, but that wasn’t gonna happen XD 동방신기 didn’t go home empty handed however, snagging for themselves Auction Netizen award, Best Style award, Mobile Popularity award, Overseas Viewers award and one that actually mattered: Album of the Year. Big Bang stepped all over the hearts of 동방신기 fans however when they got themselves the well earned Artist of the Year award.

Best Female Group had the nominees of JYP‘s Wonder Girls (Nobody), SM girlgroup 소녀시대 (Kissing You), R&B group 브라운 아이드 걸스 (L.O.V.E), trio 씨야 (Hot Girl), and 쥬얼리 (One More Time). Another surprise winner, with the Wonder Girls taking the award. I had really been expecting either 브라운 아이드 걸스 or 쥬얼리 to take that one. Wonder Girls with Nobody also got Song of the Year, which also surprised me since I didn’t think it was that catchy or great but apparently so, and they also got Best Video if I’m not mistaken.

For Best Male Singer there was rocker 서태지 (모아이), Big Bang member 태양 (나만 봐라바), MC몽 (서커스), 김동률 (다시 시작해보자) and 토이 (뜨거운 안녕). As expected (or at least hoped), 서태지 took this award, though I also would have been happy if MC몽 had won it, since he’s crazy and cool.

Best Female Singer had the nominees of 거미 (미안해요), 서인영 (신데렐라), 엄정화 (D.I.S.C.O), 윤하 (텔레파시) and the sexy 이효리 (U-Go-Girl). Not a surprise at all that 이효리 won. I love that woman XD

Nominees for Best Mixed Group were 거북이 (싱랄라), 자우림 (Carnival Amour), Cherry Filter (Orange Road), 쿨 (사랑을 원해) and 클래지콰이 (Robotica). Does anyone know who won? Because I sure don’t o_O; I’ll put my money on 클래지콰이 though, everyone loves 클래지콰이 XD

Best Rock Song had the nominees of 자우림 (Carnival Amour), 문희준 (Obsession), 넬 기억을 걷는 시간), 서태지 (모아이) and 트랜스 픽션 (Radio). I know 자우림 is a rock group but that single was so painfully not rock, why was it even nominated for that?! Despite being up against 서태지, it was 넬 who took the prize.

For Best Hip-Hop Song, the nominees were Dynamic Duo (Solo), Epik High (One), 은지원 (Adios), MC몽 (서커스) and Mighty Mouth (Energy). Epik High won, which makes me a happy fangirl!

The Best Ballad/R&B Song nominees were 브라운 아이즈 (가지마 가지마), 김동률 (다시 시작해보자), 태양 (나만 봐라바), 박지헌 (보고싶은 날엔) and V.O.S (Beautiful Life). I’m a little surprised to see only male nominees in this one, as there are a couple of good female ballad/R&B artists floating around. 브라운 아이즈 took this award though!

Best Dance Song category had the nominees of SM‘s 동방신기 (주문 (MIROTIC)), 소녀시대 (Kissing You) and Super Junior H (Cooking Cooking!), Wonder Girls (Nobody) and 이효리 (U-Go-Girl). I don’t know how Super Junior H got nominated for anything other than being set on fire, but thankfully for my sanity and faith in humanity, sexy 이효리 won the award.

The category of Best House and Electronica Song had Big Bang (하루하루), 브라운 아이드 걸스 (L.O.V.E), 거미 (미안해요), 엄정화 (D.I.S.C.O) and 쥬얼리 (One More Time). 쥬얼리 took this one.

The Best OST Song category had only four nominees: F.T Island (One Word (Drama: On Air)), SG Wannabe & 김종욱 (운명을 거슬러 (Drama: East of Eden)), 소녀시대 member 태연 (만약에 (Drama: Hong Gil Dong)) and 유승찬 (그대를 사랑합니다 (Drama: 엄마가 뿔났다)). SG Wannabe & 김종욱 won this category.

One thing I do like about the awards is that there are at least a couple of categories for the people behind the artists, like the song writers or the MV directors and MV screenplay writers. I’ll confess to not knowing any of their names or who has worked on what, but I think that their contribution to the process is immensely important and that a lot more value should be placed on the hard work and talent of these people. A bad song will obviously give an artist less chance of having a hit but a badly written or directed MV will also harm their chances just as badly. Think of it like a really sucky commercial. It’s not gonna make you remember the product or want to have it. MVs are an artist’s commercial to sell themselves and their song.

There was also a MKMF 10 Anniversary Commemorative Award, which was given to 문희준 on behalf of former boyband and pop scene legend H.O.T. And pop-ballad singer 신승훈 got given a MKMF Special Award – though I’m not sure what that is.

Oh yeah and Big Bang‘s T.O.P kissed 이효리 for their special stage – clearly MKMF 2008 was the night to be either 이효리 or a Big Bang member. XD