We have seen a number of Korean artist make their first step into the Japanese market. Joining artists such as Seventeen and GFriend, Red Velvet will be release their anticipated Japanese debut mini-album and single, #Cookie Jar, in July. This is the group’s first Japanese release since their debut in 2014 and it features the Japanese version of some of their biggest Korean hits, such as Russian Roulette, Dumb Dumb and Red Flavour. Today we are here to have a closer look at their debut single, so let’s get going!
#Cookie Jar was a little tame from what I had expected. Given Red Velvet’s portfolio of different and unique Korean hits (combined with the well-known oddness that Japanese media is known for), I had expected the track to be wild, at the very least. But instead, the song takes a more standard pop sound. I would have liked if the song had a little more colour to it. While the song is colourful, I little pinch of quirkiness would have allowed the song to become more memorable and unique in my opinion. That being said, the song does feature a decent retro instrumental, which gave it some colour. The chorus felt fun, with the ‘#Cookie Jar‘ opening to the choruses and the ending of the song being the most memorable moments of the song. For the vocals and the raps, I just didn’t feel like it was their best effort but they still sounded good. Overall, #Cookie Jar was a decent track for their debut but it doesn’t live up to what I had expected.
With the title of #Cookie Jar, it was expected there be a sweet theme for the video. And that is what we got exactly. Though I am not sure how the sweet theme presented in the video reflects the lyrics of the song, especially the ending of the video when they find out all their foods isn’t that fresh and edible. I really liked the colours that they used in this video, with some of the sets reminding me of the colour palette that they used in Russian Roulette. It was a decent video to watch, overall.
From what I could see in the music video, the choreography can be described as mediocre as best. Other than that, I wasn’t impressed with what they had presented us with.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 5/10 Overall Rating – 6.6/10
ELRIS has made their return to the stage with their Summer single, Summer Dream. This is my first time reviewing a song from these ladies, so let’s get acquainted with them. ELRIS is a 5-member girl group under Hunus Entertainment, who made their debut last year in 2017, with We, First. Summer Dream is their second comeback as the girls made their first comeback in September 2017 with Pow Wow. The group consist of Sohee, Yukyung, Bella, Hyeseong and Karin.
Summer Dream is your standard KPOP cutesy track fitted well for the Summer season. It isn’t necessarily the most catchiest or memorable song out at the moment but it has a few moments that really had me interested in the song. Despite the song being ‘standard’, the song does give off APINK’s Remember vibes. That being said, the two songs are not the same. Another section which I felt was odd was the instrumental breakdown at the bridge. It doesn’t necessarily suit the cutesy vibes of the song but it manages to work well together. The girls also have really nice vocals. Throughout the song, I was drawn to the song through the vocals, especially the moments where they are singing without any instrumental playing in the background as they sound the best there. Apart from that, the ‘standard’ issue does get to you. If they managed to make the chorus more dynamic and make the hook more catchier, I think they would have a really nice song. For now, it is decent.
There really isn’t much in the video to talk about. Summer makes you think of the beach, so this is where the video is set at. It does also take a cutesy approach, which was expected from the song’s sound. They also went with a sailor outfit, which looked cute. They managed to bold the colour blue, which really made the music video pop. But other than that, I wasn’t that interested in the music video.
It was a nice performance to watch, fitting in with the cutesy vibe of the song once again. But it wasn’t a memorable stage that makes me want to return to watch their performances.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 6/10 Performance – 5/10 Overall Rating – 6.3/10
It has been a very long wait for fans but BLACKPINK has a mini-album under their name! Woo! With multiple digital hits, BLACKPINK have gone past the level of success which their previous hits have reached with their latest title track, DDU-DU DDU-DU. Many records have been broken by the ladies themselves with this comeback. So without waiting any further, here is my review of their Square Up mini-album.
2. Forever Young – Opening up the song is Jennie, whose voice in this song reminds me of CL a lot. The song ended up being quite memorable, with a catchy beat and vibrant sound. The song feels very Summery, which would make sense with its youthful lyrics. The vocals and rapping were quite cool. And for that, the first two minutes of the song becomes quite memorable. The only issue I had with the song was the last minute. I think it could have been a song on its own and created this massive mismatch with the sound/vibe that came off the first two minutes of the song. It did bring the members together as a closer but it just didn’t feel right. (8/10)
3. Really – Really has a very simple R&B/hip-hop beat and hook, which makes me hear the song as ‘standard’. As a result, it doesn’t really hit the mark or feel that memorable. The vocals and raps were nice but not exactly their best. The raps attempted to give the song some texture but sadly I don’t think it was enough to make me fall for the song, like what the other songs on the album did. Personally, I think it is their weakest track on the album and in their portfolio. (6.5/10)
4. See U Later – I really liked how the song started for some unknown reason. I cannot pin the reason why but it set the verses up for success. And they delivered as a result. The verses had this bright feeling to them which made them pop out for me. But what was unexpecting was the chorus’s drop, which also included a drop in the tone and entrance into a more serious hip-hop domain. But it works wonderfully. The raps and vocals were awesome. Best part of the song has to be the sassy ending. (9/10)
Right after wrapping up their Sense/Only One promotions, UNB announced that they will be going straight into preparations for a new album. And they didn’t mess around with that announcement, as the newly debut group has officially dropped their second mini-album, which shares the same title as their title track, Black Heart. This comeback also features 4 special guests: Jungha (BEATWIN), Hangyul (IM), Jueun (DIA) and Anne (SIS).
From my understanding, none of the special guests participated in the recording of the song. Black Heart is a great dance song that is fast beoming another highly addictive song. I really liked the showtune-like piano introduction at the start of the song, which built up the suspense for what was to come. The song then progresses into a synth based dance track, which somehow felt unexpecting at first. There is this energy buildup within the verses, which allows the entrance into the chorus sound so much good. On top of that, I thought the chorus was really well done, especially with how all the members singing together. It gives the song a punch in its melody and makes it memorable. I really liked the post-chorus instrumental break as well. To keep the song from becoming repetitive, the song returns to that showtune piano introduction during the bridge, which also works wells within the song. The only thing I think the song is missing is a rap sequence, which could have added some interesting textures to the song. But othet r than that, it was a really good song.
Out of the 4 guests, the music video only features the male guest (that is, Jungha and Hangyul). To why it is only them, I am not too sure. But I have to admit, they fitted in pretty well. It did cause some friction within the screentime department, however, which is quite sad to hear. All the members (and the male guests) had good chemistry with the camera, which makes this video even better. I really liked the edgy vibe that was coming from their outfits. I thought the dance-off concept was rather interesting and well executed.
All 4 special guests feature in the performances. And I think it help boosts the number of people of stage, which contributes to the livelihood of the performance. I really liked the start of the performance, when some of the members are doing acrobatic-like jumps. The performance also features awesome footwork, seen most prominently during the post-chorus instrumental break. Also, the ending looked quite good.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
Please note that this theory may not be right and is just my understanding/take on the video. This is also a very long post!
Welcome to my theory for GOT7’s Flight Trilogy, which was released over the 2016-2017 period. A total of 6 videos formed this theory (Departure Trailer, Fly, Turbulence Trailer, Hard Carry, Arrival Trailer and Never Ever). If you have yet to watch the videos, I have linked a playlist below for your viewing pleasure.
For this theory, it will be extremely tedious to write out each member’s name. So I will be using the following key when referring to the members:
The entire video starts off the series with GOT7 going on a road trip. JB is driving while the rest of the members are having some fun. Notice what some of the members are doing (JS is filming the road trip, BB’s face is being drawn on, JB is close to a bird and MK is listening to music). In the midst of all of this, JY goes to sleep.
Snapshot of members having fun
He wakes up in a foggy environment and it seems he is the only one present in this scene.
JY then wakes up in the room, surrounded by the members. Take note of the surroundings and the members, everything seems to be a replication of the van that they were travelling in the initial scenes (the walls are littered with stickers and graffiti of the same kind seen on the van’s windows, JS is still filming, JB is holding a bird etc.). During this time, JY realizes something is up when JS turns to film JY but simply pans the camera over him (as if he isn’t there). He does make eye contact with MK in the room, who seems to know he was there.
He wakes up again and finds himself in the van. Everyone is outside. Like in the room, JY does not interact directly with the members nor do the members refer to him, regardless of what is going on. Once again, we see a similar replication of the van (i.e. graffiti on the ground is the same type as on the windows of the van and the walls of the room; same goes for the stickers; JS is filming again). JS’s footage catches YJ flying, with JS following soon after. BB, YG and MK are seen flying soon after. JB isn’t seen flying with the others but instead floats on top of a bed, with 5 other birds flying around with him (the birds signify the other members minus JY).
YJ is the first to fly. JS catches it on camera and starts to fly afterwardsJB is the last character (apart for JY) to fly and he does so in the presence of 5 birds
JY wakes up once again, this time around he is standing on top of a building and he falls down.
JY falls off the building
Personally, I do not think we can really interpret much from this. It isn’t until we get to the later videos that we can start connecting things together to form a proper story (i.e. why the members are flying; why JY is alone and cannot interact with the members; what really happened to the van).
Fly Music Video
The music video continues on where we left off in the trailer. It is assumed that JY falls off the building and join in with the flying fun. But it turns out he is the only one unable to fly and this only becomes a realization once he continues to drop while his friends continue to fly about. Also, I think at this moment he realizes that something bad happened to his friends, which can be implied through the teardrop while falling down. The rest of the members see JY falling down very fast. He then eventually falls into the mist and wakes up once again.
As JY falls down, he cries. Most likely because he realized something happened to his friends.
The music video’s second half is all we got to contribute to the storyline but it is probably one of the most defining moments of the trilogy. However, what did actually happen to his friends has not been explicitly visualised in the music video. It has only been implied. All we know for now that JY is alone and he knows he is separated from his members.
Turbulence Trailer
We deviate a little from the storyline in this video with the entire GOT7 group on a flying plane. The members are mucking around of the plane in a similar manner to the car trip (JS is filming once again, BB’s face is drawn on again and cushions are thrown about). JY, on the other hand, is watching their antics once again but sitting away from the members. He also listens to music, which he does with MK during the car trip.
The plane then experiences some turbulence. JY tries to get to warn his friends however the flight attendant tells him to remain put. The rest of the group, ignoring the warning messages and lights, continues mucking about. The turbulence gets worse, so JY tried to warn the members once again but was held down by the same flight attendant (who also forced an oxygen mask onto him).
Flight attendant tells JY is stay put.
The video then shows JY sliding into a tank filled with water. He then wakes up, realizes where he is and struggles within the tank. We then are shown YJ opening a birdcage and removing the bird from its confines. We are then returned to the plane with the other members, along with flashbacks from both the Departure Trailer and Fly music video.
JY then wakes up at the scene of a plane crash. He is saved by paramedics but none of the other members are around. He turns to the side to see JS’s video camera lying about with footage from the trip.
JS’s camera found at crash site
I think this is the video that confirms that the members (excluding JY) are dead. The plane isn’t real but rather another representation of the van seen in the Departure trailer (proven by the presence of the footage on the camera). The video also gets somewhat cryptic with the YJ’s scene. My guess is YJ is freeing JB from the confines of the cage, as JB is the only member with a bird during the Departure trailer (and isn’t represented by a bird when he dies).
Due to the length of this post, I have decided to split it into two different sections. This is Part 1. To view Part 2, click here!
Please note that this theory may not be right and is just my understanding/take on the video. This is also a very, very long post!
THIS IS PART 2 OF THE GOT7’S FLIGHT TRILOGY THEORY. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ PART 1, CLICK HERE!
Welcome to my theory for GOT7’s Flight Trilogy, which was released over the 2016-2017 period. A total of 6 videos formed this theory (Departure Trailer, Fly, Turbulence Trailer, Hard Carry, Arrival Trailer and Never Ever).
For this theory, it will be extremely tedious to write out each member’s name. So I will be using the following key when referring to the members:
All members outside of car, with JY the only member suck inside car
Throughout this video (and Never Ever) we get a glimpse into what happened during the accident. The first thing we see in this video is the members at the wreckage site. Firstly, notice how we don’t see a plane but rather a car, which suggests that in this scenario, the plane represents the car. Secondly, every member is outside of the car with JY being the only member stuck in the car. Given that only JY survived, it is likely that the rest of the members returned to save JY but perished in the process.
The following I didn’t pick up until I watched the YouTube link and read some of the other theories below. We see JS on the plane, which suggest he may have died in the vehicle. BB grabs onto the oxygen mask in the ambulance, suggesting he died on route to a hospital. JB’s surroundings (floating green trees) suggest he made it to the surface but went back to save the others. He is later seen surrounded by the same trees but they are dead. JY, in the midst of this, starts to float up like how JB does in the Departure trailer but is dragged back down by the members (which confirms that the members went back).
JY flies up like how JB does in the Departure Trailer, but is pulled down by the other members right after
MK, during the second verse, is seen only in the plane wreckage, suggesting that he may have gotten stuck when trying to save JY (this becomes a little more clearer in the Never Ever video). YG was seen outside of the wreckage (which becomes an important detail in the next video). Note that both MK and YG’s scenes alternate between the plane and car wreckage. In JB’s next scene (with the dead trees), we also see him opening the bird cage and getting into the bird cage, which instantly transitions of YJ’s scene where he takes out the bird (which confirms that JB dies as well). We also see for a very small fraction of a second worth of YJ and the birdcage at the wreckage site (with YJ in white). In my culture, white is commonly worn as the colour of mourning. But I am not sure if this is relevant.
JB was previously in the same scene with green trees. Here, the trees are dying.
JY is in a box filled with water, representing the car filling up with water. YJ is outside of the box (in the ocean) and smashes the glass (i.e. break a window) to get JY out. From the Departure trailer, YJ flies first so he dies first. Hence, this very act caused him to lose his life. The other members (apart from YJ) swims to JY to help him.
YJ smashing the glass box in which JY is trapped inside of
Hard Carry is filled with different details which may look very complicated. But once you kind of list things as they happen in the video, you see bits and pieces come together. One of my working theories is that YJ represented teamwork in this (and Never Ever) as when he smashes the window, all the members come along to help JY. While this is plausible, I may have put too much thought into the one scene, hence why I didn’t include it into the main section.
Never Ever Music Video
I skip to the Never Ever video because it follows on from the Hard Carry video. The Arrival Trailer seems to occur after and concurrently with the Never Ever video.
The video starts off with JB inside a car on the passenger side, filled with plants. But no one is driving. This suggest that JB had no control over the van prior to the accident. We then see JY inside the car, surrounded by plants. If you skip forward, JY is in a similar glass box as Hard Carry, surrounded by plants. Hence, the glass boxes represents the confines of the car. We also see MK with the reflection of water on his face, standing outside the car (which goes back to MK dying in/next to the plane wreckage while saving JY). Finally, JS’s impact with the wall occurs at the same time as the car/van makes impact with the bridge, which is also the same bridge which the group was driving along in the first video.
JS breaks concrete wall on impact
At the end of the first chorus, we see JB drowning on the outside of the car, alongside the sinking car, which confirms that he drowned. We then see YJ (dressed in white) smashing the glass once again, with MK being the one to save JY this time around. After smashing the glass, we do see YJ unable to do much because he is on the other side of the fence, which prevents him from helping MK, which confirms his final actions were the ones that killed him.
MK swimming to save JY
In the bridge and final chorus, we focus more on the hospital scenes (i.e. aftermath of the rescue mission). Only YG, BB and JY appear here. BB is shown to breathing through another gas mask, suggesting he died due to lack of air. YG seems to be the only member (other than JY) to make it to the hospital bed but dies while the staff are trying to save him (shown through the transition between the two), while the video ends with JY waking up once again. There is something about his face that has me thinking that he finally works out what happened to the other members.
BB and the gas maskYG in the hospital hallway
So here is an extremely quick rundown of the order of events, which doesn’t make that much sense, out of all honesty. Car goes underwater, all the members (excluding JY) gets out. YJ realizes JY is left behind and goes back to smash the windows to get him out but dies along the way. JS dies next, for unknown reasons. BB most likely drowned but does get picked up by some rescuers, who are unable to save him. JB makes it to shore but realizes what is happening to the members, so he goes back in to search for them. MK goes back and saves JY by going through the hole created YJ. MK’s successful rescue attempt manages to get JY out but he gets stuck and drowns as a result. YG manages to get rescued but dies on route/at the hospital. It is presumed that JB got lost while still searching for the others but no one can find him. As a result, he is presumed to have died.
That is my understanding of the order of events. JB dies last as shown by his scene with the 5 birds in the Departure trailer. JS’s death is the only one that doesn’t fit the timeline exactly. We can assume his impact with the concrete shown in this video signifies he died on impact but that would mean he is the first to die (whereas YJ is shown to die first with JS following shortly after). It is plausible that the impact caused his injuries which lead to his death (assuming that the impact collision hindered his possibility of swimming back to the surface).
Arrival Trailer
The end of the entire trilogy seems to be presented in the Arrival Trailer. Note that parts of this video occurs concurrently with the events in Never Ever (i.e. mainly the following paragraph).
JY washed up on the beach, alone
JY wakes up on the beach and realizes he is alone. This scene is a little ambiguous as it could be the scene in which he makes it to shore. Using this thought process, he remembers the events in the water, which leads to the written commentary of ‘I was trapped’. He also says ‘I failed’, which seems to be in reference to him not being able to get to his friends. The more likely scenario of what is happening can be told through the line ‘I don’t exist anymore’, as he believes he is in limbo (and why the video seems to emphasis the loneliness of JY in this scene). This is further proven by the next scene, where he wakes up in the hospital (same ending as the Never Ever video).
JY wakes up in the hospital
We then move back to JY in the snow. The following commentary is given. ‘Most people when they fail, they just give up and don’t challenge themselves. But I’m different. I will never give up. I am not afraid of anything because you were there. I am ready to fly‘. We then see the other members playing off in the distance with JY noticing them and looks at them from a distance. There is a smile on his face.
JY smiling while watching the othersGOT7 members (excluding JY) having fun in the snow
The above scene could easily be a message for fans to not give up, even during life’s hardest moments. It also shows JY commitment to continue living, as he has everyone around him, even though they are not physically there. But I think otherwise. I think JY is still barely holding on and that he still slips in and out of consciousness. He has only seen the other members in one scenario, when he was in danger of dying (i.e. unconscisouness). Hence, the only possible way for him to see them is if he is unconscious. But in all of the other scenarios, JY directly attempted to help them or be with them (i.e. getting up on the plane, struggling to get out of the confines of the box, jumping off the building to fly). The other members saved him in each scenario (JY waking up at the end of each scenario). So rather than trying to be with them in the moment, he learns that this around he has to accept death, whenever it comes. This does mean he gets to live but accepting death is the only way he can one day join them, without alerting the others to his dangers.
And that is my take on the Flight trilogy. What do you think of the music videos and the storyline?
After topping the charts with their smash hit Boom Boom, Momoland is back at it again with a new song in hopes that it replicates the same chart performance as Boom Boom (which is still on the charts as we speak). BAAM is the title track off their 4th mini-album, Fun To The World. The girls have also recently made their Japanese debut with their insanely popular song.
While the BAAM does sound similar to Boom Boom, BAAM is loaded with energy from the get-go. It has this club heavy beat and saxophone synths that really open it up to be quite catchy. The ‘BAAM BAAM’ repititon proved to be quite addictive and also added an element of fun. The song also takes a moment to focus more of the vocals of the group, particularly during the pre-chorus. The only section that I am not falling for (once again) is the rap sequence. It just doesn’t flow in this song felt too distinct for the rest of the song. I felt like they could have lost this section enitrely and still would have been fine with another verse, similar to the first. While I do like the song quite a bit, it is a little disappointing that the group didn’t venture into something different. But I understand why they are returning with a similar song, as it aims to build upon their success.
Watching the teaser for the video, I was wondering how the public would view the various cultures that was represented in this video. In the music video, we have France, Vietnam, Egypt, Korean, Mexico, Phillipines and America shown in the video. While I didn’t take offence through their depiction of the ladies in Ao Dai using a cucumber as a phone (I am Vietnamese), some other cultures and people may be. For example, I am seeing some issues arising in the comment section of the music video due to the presence of the Phillipines’ flag (this is actually the first time I have heard that is was illegal to show the flag). Besides that, it was a fun and lighthearted video, which worked well with the fun elements of the song. I thought the scenes with the Korean person in Ancient Egypt was funny.
I am a little torn about the choreography. The routine for the chorus was a little too similar for my liking to theirBoom Boom dance (i.e. the hip swaying). On top of that, I thought the shuffle was rather unoriginal and have been the main point of a few dances (such as TARA’s Lovey Dovey). But I really liked the bridge of the song and the overall feel of the dance, which was also quite fun.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7.5/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7.6/10
Who is excited for DAY6’s comeback? Ever since I heard the album highlight medley, I have been wanting to hear this song and finally, it is here!!! DAY6 returns with Shoot Me and the mini-album, Shoot Me: Youth Vol. 1. This is the band’s first comeback since wrapping up their 2017 monthly releases. On top of that, the band also made their Japanese debut with If (We Can Meet Again)and will be returning the Japanese market with their Stop The Rain comeback in July.
I have been wanting a song to be described as a powerful rock sound for quite some time and I think DAY6 has managed to deliver with Shoot Me. And Shoot Me is really good on so many fronts. The chorus is undeniably catchy with its ‘Bang Bang‘ and ‘Bullet Bullet Bullet‘ start and explosive due to the drums. I have replayed it a number of times already since its release already, excited to relive the chorus each time. In really liked the pre-chorus which built up perfectly to the chorus. Jae’s vocals in this section was also amazing. I also really liked the intensity of the bridge, which was definitely another moment which I really enjoyed. My only one complaint would have to be how short the song was . But other than that, Shoot Me is a damn catchy song.
The music video shows a couple arguing. And from the combinations of the lyrics and the visuals, it seems her words have become bullets which continually wound him. I thought this was great imagery that showcases the lyrics in an interesting manner. But rather than limiting this to just lovers, everyone else in the cafe takes aim at him, which may suggest that harsh comments were said to him (irrelevant to the romantic storyline). He fights back with his fair share of bullets but he doesn’t hit any of them, suggesting that his comments back didn’t offend them directly or that he stood up for himself. The concept was rather intriguing and unique, which also has a strong message within it. Not sure about how violence seemed to be downplayed towards the end of the video (i.e. bullet holes through his shirt vs. paint splashing about) but this may allude to the nature of his comments that he fired back.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.6/10
If you read my reviews, you will notice that I have an entire section for the music video for each comeback. But what you may notice is that my interpretation of the music video is shockingly terrible (mainly because I am writing and posting the review within hours of its release – no time for research). In many cases, I don’t really talk about how they connect with other music videos. So, I have decided to go back to some music videos (particularly the videos in a series) and re-interpret them myself.
So how am I going to do this? Well, it consists of rewatching each music video and making thorough notes on the details of the video, which should allow me to form some understanding of the video. It will also involve reading up on theories which other fans have released. This will help me solve gaps in my interpretation of the music video, mainly because I am not well-versed in literature, arts and the artistic side of the English language. I will link the theories that I look at and take from at the end of each post.
The basic layout will have me recapping the events of the music video and various connections to other videos. I do some comparisons between my recount of events and other theories so it is easier for you to differentiate what is different with mine, while also showing you how I interpreted the video.
This is just my opening post that introduces the entire segment as I rather just jump right into the theory and avoid wasting your time with a repetitive introduction. Judging from the featured image, you might be able to guess which artists I will be having a closer look at. The schedule (which may change) will occur as follow:
27th of June – GOT7 Arrival Trilogy [ Part 1 / Part 2 ]
18th of July – Monsta X The Clan Trilogy
1st of August- Dream Catcher Quadrilogy
15th of August – LOONA Pre-debut Music Videos Theory
29th of August – UNB Sense Music Video
For the time being that is what the current lineup for this segment will be. Due to the work and time that is being put into these posts, I can only do 6 for now. If there are any music videos that you want me to do theories for, feel free to comment below and I may return to do another set at the end of the year.
After topping the charts with their previous comeback, NU’EST W has returned to do it all over again. The subunit makes their return with their second mini-album, WHO YOU, and the title track Deja Vu. In preparation for their comeback, I noticed their fans have been actively streaming their past hits such as Where You At and Yeobseyo (Hello). The music video for this comeback was also released later than 6PM KST, for unknown reasons (or at least, I don’t know why).
Deja Vu is another song adding to the growing list of Latin pop songs. However, it is unlike any other Latin pop song. Instead, there is a particular feel to the song that makes it unique. It might because it uses various synths that also makes it feel like it mashed into EDM somewhat. Or rather the chorus isn’t overloaded with bass or an explosive drop, allowing the guitar to feature more prominently. I really like the melody to the song and the instrumental of the song. I thought the vocals were really nice, especially when they perform in an almost high pitch during the chorus. I thought JR’s rap was good but I think his section could have had a little more momentum for the better. Overall, the song does standout due to its sound and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have no clue on what is going on in this video which is a common occurrence nowadays. And as much as I try to understand the video, they just keep throwing more things at me to confuse me even more. However, that intrigues me a lot more and would love to hear some of the theories of the video. My gut instinct says that this video is connected to some of their past videos due to the presence of the sword and some of the sets. But I am not sure if this is even remotely correct. Other than the plotline, there are some other details which I liked. For example, the fake rooftop where we saw their silhouettes dancing and the very start where they are all dancing the same moves (just in different areas). It all looked cool.
I really liked the start of the performance where they are doing the same moves (there is something so graceful about that short period) and when they start singing (i.e. JR’s moment in the first verse with Aron interacting with him, moving to JR interacting with Ren). I also liked the slow footwork throughout the performance, which was emphasised greatly in the music video.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 8.5/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.6/10
Writing this review, I had a brainwave. A young goat is called a kid. So is the young girl (which we can refer to as a young kid) in the video the goat?
For the past month, SHINee has been returning fortnightly with different parts to their 6th studio album, The Story of Light. The first part featured Good Evening, while the second part featured I Want You. The third and final section of their album was released today, along with their third title track, Our Page. The final title track also pays homage to Jonghyun, who passed away in December last year.
After just one listen, I believe that SHINee left the best for last. Why? Well, the first element you notice when listening to the song is not the instrumental or its catchy hooks but rather the heartfelt vocals that deliver the lyrics of the song. You can feel the emotions layered throughout the song from each member which makes this song incredibly moving. As previously stated in the introductory paragraph, the song pays homage to Jonghyun, with lines such as ‘Five layers of folded hands, tears and memories‘ and ‘We’ll fill it up until the end‘. The R&B instrumental aids in this message, not going overboard in any area but rather staying clean and simple which allows their voices to be heard clearly. I also really liked how the members all sing together during the chorus, which makes them feel like one during the moving song (and it is my most favourite section of the song). The lyrics, melody and beat make this a perfect song.
The music video starts off with each of the members doing their own thing. Onew is producing songs, Minho is filming a movie, Key is playing games/dancing and Taemin is working out. For a moment, it seems like they don’t want to be where they are but they push forward and persevere. Once they regroup, it reflects the sentimental nature of the song. I really liked the scenes where they are sitting in a circle and the camera is spinning around them while they are singing to the chorus. But the most moving scene is when they are singing into their glass poles/microphones and there was a fifth one in front (with nobody standing alongside it), which represents Jonghyun’s position in the group. There is one tiny detail that does hold the video back from being the perfect video, however, it was still beautiful.
I don’t think there should be any choreography for this song. Mainly because of its meaning and emotional punch it gives. However, we might need to keep our minds open as we are not sure how SHINee will present this on stage. I will return once we have a live performance.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9.5/10 Overall Rating – 9.8/10
BTOB recently made their comeback with their 11th mini-album, This Is Us. It features a total of 7 songs in total, including the title track (Only One For You) and the pre-release single (The Feeling). While the title track was described as a follow to their vocally-centred Missing You comeback last year incorporated with a Summer feel, the rest of the mini-album shows a variety of different genres that show off different sides of the group. So scroll down below for the review of each track on the album!
This Is Us Album Cover
1..Call Me – Starting off the album is Call Me, which I can easily describe as a great opener to the album. The entire song had this ‘party hype’ vibe to it. It did start off a little slow, however once Ilhoon’s rap appeared in the first verse, the song instantly becomes so much better. I really enjoyed the chorus, with the great vocals during the first half and the unexpected trumpets which gave it a nice touch. The ‘Come and join your part, you’re the one and only’ hook was addictive. I thought the vocals and rapping were great. Combining that with the overall atmosphere I got from the song, this was easily one of the best songs on the album. (9/10)
3. Yeah – The song had a nice laid back type of feeling to it, which made it easy to listen to. It also incorporates a summery feel to the song, which results in some brightness. Overall, I wouldn’t say the song was exactly memorable but it was still decent. The vocals were good but they weren’t amazing, like other songs on the album. Instead, the rapping here was component I liked best in this song. Likewise, I thought the xylophone was quite cool, just the rest of the instrumental felt lacking. (8/10)
4. Blue Moon – The song is the jazz central of the album. Compared to the previous songs, there was a hint of seriousness, which I thought was rather interesting. Despite that, the song maintained it upbeat-ness, with the instrumental described as groovy. I enjoyed the piano instrumental break and I thought the rappers incorporated their sections very creatively into the song. Vocals were amazing. But I think the winning component/moment in this song is the final chorus, which layered everything from vocals, raps and instrumental into a ‘show-stopping’ moment for the entire album. (9.5/10)
5. Icebreaker (Rapper Line) – This is a fun sounding track that is full of energy and brightness. While that is usual mechanism of getting me to enjoy the song, there is a few things that do stand out that you don’t think too much of. Firstly, I liked how the 3 members evenly participated in the songs (usually they are given one small section or one member outweighs the other two in terms of lines). I thought the hip-hop vibes in the chorus were nice. And it was expected that clean delivery of their lines, given their past works. Secondly, the best part of the song is unexpectedly Peniel, who usually is the member who is under appreciated in their group. His section was good and the little monologue at the end was hilarious. It gave the song a unique and standout moment. (9/10)
6. 1,2,3 (BTOB-Blue) – While the rappers got their own song, I am glad the vocal line of the group also got their own song. It is a R&B song that showcases their husky vocals (which, at times, felt almost like a whisper). Not sure of that repetitive synth in the background, which felt like it was depressing ‘Uh, Uh, Uh’. It did give an interesting texture to the song but it did get annoying towards the end. I personally felt like the song was so soft that you can easily miss the track. But other than that, it was a nice song to listen to. (7.5/10)
7. The Feeling (Pre-Release Track) – This song was released a week prior to their official comeback. It takes the form of a ballad but it has a modern/non-traditional instrumental and is upbeat in terms of tempo. What makes this track standout even more is the great vocals and rapping. It is another track that is pleasant and ‘easy on the ears’. I liked the silence during the song verse for the rapping and how all the members came together for the final chorus, which rounded out the song nicely. (8/10)
So earlier this week I started my holidays. While that should mean I am working on this site a lot more, I kind of took the week off and tuning for some reviews. I am super tired after that stressful exam period and kind of worried for the upcoming semester. However, after some rest, I am ready to pump out reviews especially for next week with so many anticipated comebacks including NU’EST W, SHINee, DAY6, Momoland, ELRIS and UNB.
For this week, we see BTOB’s latest comeback, Only One For Me, top the charts this week, ending the 3 weeks consecutive run of AOA’s Bingle Bangle (which feel to the fifth position this week). Remaining steady from last week is ONF’s Complete and A.C.E’s Take Me Higher, while SHINee’s I Want You rises to the fourth position. For the rest of the charts, scroll down below.
17th Jun – 23rd Jun 2018
Title
Artist
Status
1
Only One For Me
BTOB
(new)
2
Complete
ONF
(=)
3
Take Me Higher
A.C.E
(=)
4
I Want You
SHINee
(▲ 5)
5
Bingle Bangle
AOA
(▼ 4)
6
Good Evening
SHINee
(▲ 10)
7
Secret
Kim Dong Han
(new)
8
Something New
Taeyeon (SNSD)
(new)
9
Ddu-Du Ddu-Du
BLACKPINK
(▼ 2)
10
love4eva
LOONA yyxy
(▲22)
11
Get It
PRISTIN V
(▼ 3)
12
Lady
Yubin
(▼ 8)
13
Time of Sorrow
VICTON
(▼ 3)
14
Light
Wanna One
(▼ 8)
15
Fake Love
BTS
(▼ 2)
16
LATATA
(GI)-DLE
(▼ 4)
17
That Day
Lovelyz
(▲ 9)
18
You & I
Dream Catcher
(▼ 4)
19
O.M.G
Halo
(▲ 10)
20
DKDK
fromis_9
(▼ 15)
21
How R U Today?
N.Flying
(▲ 9)
22
Travel
BOL4
(▼ 1)
23
The Feeling
BTOB
(▲ 4)
24
Mirror
Stray Kids
(▲ 10)
25
Tulips
Snuper
(▼ 10)
26
Falling In Love
Woo Jinyoung & Kim Hyunsoo
(▼ 8)
27
Bonnie & Clyde
24K
(▼ 5)
28
Dramatic
NTB
(=)
29
Crazy Gone Crazy
Berry Good Heart Heart
(▲ 13)
30
My Star
K.Will
(▲ 12)
Songs leaving the charts this week are:
That Day – Lovelyz
Tulips – Snuper
Dally – Hyolyn
The Only Star – Hwang Chi Yeol
Mirror – Stray Kids
Crazy Going Crazy – Berry Good Heart Heart
So once again, thank you for reading this week’s chart. Hope to see you all again during the week for the upcoming reviews!
If you haven’t heard yet, DAY6 will be making their Korean comeback next week and I am super excited. But before we get there, today we will be reviewing their upcoming Japanese comeback, Stop The Rain, which is due for release on the 25th of July. DAY6 also recently released their first compilation album in Japan, which features their past Korean hits and some ‘new’ Japanese versions of their Korean tracks.
Stop The Rain follows neatly in the footsteps of If We Can Meet Again, their 1st Japanese single released earlier in the year. It takes that craved rock sound that I really want to hear from the group from their previous song and kick it up a notch. The song felt like your mainstream rock song. Nothing more or nothing less. The entire track from the get-go was definitely taking that rock element on board and basically throwing it at you, with the only moment of relief being that 15 seconds worth of slowdown during the bridge. Other than that, the song gave me personally a rush of adrenaline and really left me wanting more at the end (and this is what I want). Vocally, the band was spectacular. I really liked the electric guitar solo during the instrumental break and the harmonies that followed soon after. Overall, I felt I wasn’t let down by the song at any moment and this made it an amazing song for all to listen to (that is if you like rock).
I like the way the music video is shot. I particularly like the white scene with the many light strobes, which looked really cool when it was flashing along with the song. I also liked how they were performing in water and in some scenes, you could see a ripple effect in the water. The darkness and storm clouds we see throughout the video goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics of the video. On the other hand, I am not too sure about the members falling down. It would make sense with the members representing raindrops in the storm, however, that feels a tad too obvious. Other than that, it was a good video.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
SHINee’s comeback is in full swing with the release of the second part of their 6th studio album, The Story of Light. The group previously returned with Good Evening and the first part of the said album on the 28th of May. They are due to release the third part and entire 6th album this upcoming Monday (25th of June) and I may push the album review for the third part for next weekend (depending on how much work I can get done). But we are here for the second part of the album, so let’s get going!
2. Chemistry – I personally don’t know how to interpret the song. I feel like they could be hinting at something else but it felt more of the sexual nature (with a bouncy vibe). The instrumental develops into something that felt more standard pop. It also felt like the song’s boundaries were literally pushed out by the vocals and I felt this was a good technique to reel listeners in. I personally liked the pre-chorus and chorus, which definitely hooked me into the song. The song needed a rap sequence and that was delivered but it started off muffled which I did not get. Overall, the song was quite energetic, which was one of the other charms of the song. (8/10)
3. Electric – I personally like Electric. The song itself features an instrumental that feels like an electrical pulse and thumping effect combined. The song is about the adrenaline rush you get when you meet that special someone. I thought the drop to the song was really interesting and the repetition was extremely catchy. It also features great vocals, particularly around the bridge of the song. I think the only part of the song that leaves me disappointed is the rapping. I feel like it could have been more intense but overall, it was still a good song. (9/10)
4. Drive – Drive has to be my pick for the weakest song on the album. But weak doesn’t always equate to bad. The verses didn’t stand out too much, leaving the song lacking in memorability. However, the heaviness of the pre-chorus and the instrumental during the chorus definitely provided was probably defining moments of the song (just it didn’t seem to be enough). Like most ‘weak’ songs, this one has a few likeable elements that stood out for me. The harmonies in the pre-chorus and the vocals were actually good. On top of that, the rap sequences were noticeably absent, as they have yet to satisfy me in that department. (7/10)
5. Who Waits For Love? (독감) – I have to give this song the vote for best song on the album. Who Waits For Love? is a song about not being able to move on after breaking up and how the pain remains. The vocals in this song were superb, particularly Taemin and Onew, who stood out the most (I don’t know who did that high note but damn). The song also manages to satisfy my hunger for the rapping, particularly the section during the bridge. I liked how the song took on a slower tempo, which allowed the chorus to pop and be quite bold. Also enjoyed the fading out at the end, giving the song a peaceful yet somewhat unique feel. (10/10)
Wrapping up LOONA’s pre-debut project is LOONA yyxy, which is the subunit of the 12-member group, made up of Yves, Chuu, Go Won and Olivia Hye. Beauty & the Beat is their first mini-album and presents us with love4eva as the main title track. I thought that I shouldn’t avoid this particular album, especially with the quality of LOONA’s predebut solo exceeding my debut when I reviewed them a few weeks ago (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4). So here is my album review for LOONA yyxy’s first release.
beauty&thebeat Album Cover
2. love4eva (ft. Grimes) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of love4eva.(8.5/10) (I have noticed some issues with this particular review – spelling mistakes, missing performance review and incorrect member identification. I will fix it as soon as possible. Just feeling a little ill today so I will try to do it tomorrow).
3. frozen – The song (and the verses overall) focused on a softer sound while the chorus takes a more explosive approach, where the latter was my favourite sections of the song. Honestly, the thing you think of every single time you hear the song is how these two polar-opposites manage to go together. However, you remain surprised that it works each time. The contrast between these two makes the song interesting. I also liked the vocals, with certain moments (such as the high note) showcasing their abilities. The rap-speak right after the high note was a smart way of delaying (and creating suspense) to the final chorus. Overall, a very enjoyable song. (9/10)
4. oneway – This song is a ballad which was apparently on hold for a May 2019 release (according to the teasers) for LOONA the Ballad. It is unknown why they released early though but I am glad it does. Like the previous track, it also presents their vocal capabilities. The instrumentation felt very typical of a classically styled ballad however it did give the song a very grand feel. Overall, I felt the song was a little dry for my liking but its elements allowed it to stand out. (7/10)
5. rendezvous 18.6y – Finishing off the album is a retro-like sound, which I thought was a little odd at first. I don’t know but the song felt a little out there. However, it is one of my favourites off this album. Their vocals weren’t exactly the strongest here, however, there was this youthful element which really made the song sound light and sweet. The instrumental was nice and had a lively feel. (8/10)
KPOPREVIEWED 