On the set of Mnet's weekly music show "M! CountDown"

Published on 2010/11/05 | Source

2AM members Jeong Jinwoon and Jo Kwon sing on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

It was finally the day the press conference for this year's Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) took place and the day the nominees for the show would be announced as well. That is why cable music channel M! CountDown which took place on October 28 took place under the name "2010 MAMA Special". Through a pre-recorded clip, 2PM member Nichkhun introduced the various categories artists would be recognized in at the 2010 MAMA and on stage, Ok Taecyeon, Wooyoung and Hwang Chan-sung talked about how they would react should they win an award. "I would make Khun wink", Hwang Chan-sung said. But the reason last week's M! CountDown was more special was because 2AM gave their comeback performance. 2AM's performance of "You Wouldn't Answer My Calls" had been pre-recorded but the four-member group overwhelmed the audience merely by taking to the stage in black suits. Of course, the most special moment for people who like girl groups were when Rainbow and miss A performed.

Simply put, what made Mnet's "2010 MAMA Special" really special was not it's name but each and every performance by the artists. There were one-time occurences like 2AM's comeback but there are performances which are repeated every week on music shows. And it is through such repetition which has created an excitement, that major events like 2010 MAMA can take place. Outsider's rap was still fast and SG Wannabe Kim Jinho's voice was still deep and rich. The audience is used to them but they are in no way ordinary. That is why Mnet's M! CountDown was 'still' special. Like it was last week, like it should be next week.

miss A [Chae Ki-son/10Asia]

Girl group miss A performs on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010.

miss A Fei and Bae Suzy [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

From left, miss A members Fei and Bae Suzy perform on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010.

2PM [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Boy band 2PM performs on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010.

2PM Nichkhun [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

2PM members Ok Taecyeon, Wooyoung and Hwang Chan-sung [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

From left, boy band 2PM members Ok Taecyeon, Wooyoung and Hwang Chan-sung prep ahead of emceecing on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010.

2PM members Ok Taecyeon, Wooyoung and Hwang Chan-sung [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

2AM [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Boy band 2AM sings on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010.

2AM members Jo Kwon and Lee Changmin [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

From left, boy band 2AM members Jo Kwon and Lee Changmin sing on cable music channel Mnet's "M! CountDown" at the CJ E&M Center in Seoul, South Korea on October 28, 2010.