Year: 2018

[Review] Egotistic – Mamamoo

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 5 Comments

Two of my most favourite groups are making their return on the same day! This is getting a little too much to handle. But we are for Ma-ma-moo~! Mamamoo has returned with their Summer comeback, Egotistic, the main title track off their 7th mini-album, Red Moon. Mamamoo previously made their comeback earlier this year with Starry Night and they seem to be continuing on with their exotic flair concept with this comeback.

Egotistic brings on the Latin flair to a whole new level (with the basis being their Starry Night comeback). And it is an extremely powerful song, which I think plays towards their strengths. I say that because paired with the powerful vibes is the strong vocals we associate with the group. I really did like the guitars in the instrumental and liked how they managed to incorporate some change at the final moments by adding some electric guitar, which I felt was expected. What was rather unexpected was the reggae vibes the song managed to incorporated for Moonbyul’s rap in the second verse. It isn’t something that I would associate with the Latin flair but it worked really well. The chorus was super catchy and definitely making it on my playlist! I think the most impactful moment of the song was the final moments of the pre-chorus, which the members sing-speaking the ‘Egotistic’ title with the accompanying grunt.

Egotistic is a video that catches you off guard and you don’t know where to look after viewing the first few scenes (with the lyrics kick in). That is exactly what I felt when I first watched the video today. The video was extremely sexy, which was somewhat unexpected (though I should have paid more attention to the teasers, to be honest). The concept plays well with the song’s sound, going in with Latin and quite heavily with the exotic vibes. I really liked the use of fire for the final chorus, which definitely brought up the heat for viewers at home. I particularly liked the dress swirls at the end of the video.

I liked the performance because it looks relatively simple, allowing them to focus on their vocals during the performance. It definitely also played towards the song’s sound and was definitely very fitting. I think to match the overall presence during the music video, the choreography could have been a lot sexier but knowing Korean standards, this is good enough.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Oh My! – Seventeen

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

Seventeen are officially back with their brand new song! While a comeback was rumoured for some time now, the company denied such these claims for May or June. So I was genuinely surprised when they announced their return earlier this month, as I assume it would take a little while for preparations, especially since they are dubbed as ‘self-producing idols’. But I am not complaining! Their title track is Oh My! and it is the lead track off their 5th mini-album, You Make My Day.

The first thing that comes to mind with Oh My! was that it isn’t as powerful or impactful as their previous title tracks such as Clap or Thanks. Instead, it relies on a melodic drive, which I think is a nice change. The rappers were the exception to this change, who went for a busier yet well fitting rap sequences, which does keep the song feeling too cheesy. The melody of the song really makes you smile and it is something that I can find myself humming to after a few listens. It does suit the brighter season a lot. What really makes this song pop are the vocals of all members, particularly DK and Seungkwan, who are known to be happy viruses off the stage (what I mean is that this is more of their element). Where the song lacks in impact, it makes up in cheerfulness and melody, which still makes a memorable track.

I love it how with 13 members, a warehouse looking room was adopted to be the makeshift ‘bedroom’ for them. The concept for the video seems to be a sleepover and/or dreamland, which the members do find themselves on. And I think the message of the video is that the members still think of their crush while dreaming (at least, that is what I think when you combined the visuals of the video and the lyrics). It was a nice video to watch and definitely reminds me of the Summer nights in which you cannot sleep.

And once again, we find ourselves at the choreography section of the review. I liked it, quite a bit. There was a level of cuteness to it that wasn’t overbearing. It also felt remarkably fun. Vernon’s injury was considered for the performance, which I thought was rather nice than sitting out of it. Really like the shuffling of the members are the start and when Vernon rejoins the performance at the end of the song (DK has this part during the music video).

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

[Review] Stay – Taeyeon

Posted in JPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

I took a little break from my JPOP reviews last week because I was honestly running out of reviews to write. During that week off, I did find a few others so the JPOP reviews live on! Today’s focus will be on Taeyeon’s solo debut in Japan, Stay, which was released on the 30th of June. Taeyeon also recently made her solo return in South Korea and I reviewed both her title track (Something New) and album (Something New).

Right off the bat, the first impression I had of Stay was that it could be the Japanese counterpart for Taeyeon’s iconic I. While Stay does not have the explosive vocals, the energy and colour between the two are commonly uniform. It does do a good job at showing off the soloist’s vocals, which does serve as a good reminder of how she started off in KPOP as a solo artist (especially given how all her Korean releases have been more of the unique nature). What I also liked about the song was its peaceful nature. It didn’t employ EDM or synths, instead opting for a more traditional sound and instrumental, which allows her vocals to shine more. I did think the bridge was a little too different from the overall feel of the song and I haven’t been able to get used to it so far. Other than that, it was a good song.

I really liked the golden lighting that they had throughout the video, which does compliment the song. It gives a warm atmosphere, which does go quite well with the song. Going back to the idea that this is the Japanese counterpart of the I debut, the music videos are quite similar. In both videos, it seems like she is rediscovering herself by putting herself into a foreign environment. Likewise, the golden fields in this video remind me of the green fields in the I video.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Weekly Chart] 2nd Week of July 2018

Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Welcome back to this week’s charts post. I am late once again due to a very busy day. And I can’t promise the next few weeks will be any better as I restart university and will have a bit on my plate this semester. But I will endevour to get reviews/posts out accordingly, so you don’t need to worry to much! I still have yesterday’s Japanese song review to publish, which I will do after this chart post is out!

But more importantly, who took out the top spot on the charts this week? As many would expect, TWICE sits neatly on the throne (i.e. first position) with their latest song, Dance The Night Away. In second position is last week’s number one song, APINK’s I’m So Sick. Momoland’s BAAM, AOA’s Bingle Bangle and Target’s Is It True completes the top 5 for this week. For the rest of the top 30 for this week, scroll down below!

I am super excited for the impending comebacks of Seventeen and Mamamoo tomorrow. And the comebacks of Triple H, Kim Chungha and Seungri (Big Bang) later this week as well. I may not be able to handle this week (due to these big comebacks), so follow me on Twitter to get a rolling update of how I am handling the week! (Was that subtle?)

8th Jul – 14th Jul 2018
Title Artist Status
1 Dance The Night Away TWICE (new)
2 I’m So Sick APINK (▼ 1)
3 BAAM Momoland (▲1)
4 Bingle Bangle AOA (▲14)
5 Is It True? Target (new)
6 Black Heart UNB (▲3)
7 Shoot Me DAY6 (▼ 5)
8 Complete ONF (▲6)
9 Our Page SHINee (▼ 4)
10 KeePer The Boyz (new)
11 Grapes Busters (▲36)
12 DKDK fromis_9 (▲13)
13 Let Me Golden Child (▼ 3)
14 Blue Moon Kyungri (9MUSES) (▼ 7)
15 Something New Taeyeon (SNSD) (▲9)
16 Sunset Kim Dong Han (▲15)
17 I Want You SHINee (▲4)
18 Semina Gugudan Semina (new)
19 She Bad MYTEEN (new)
20 Get It Pristin V (▲18)
21 I’m Not Afraid Holland (▲5)
22 No More UNI.T (▲17) (Final Week)
23 Déjà Vu NU’EST W (▼ 17)
24 Starlight BOL4 (▲5)
25 Only One For Me BTOB (▼ 17)
26 love4eva LOONA yxyy (▼ 11)
27 Ddu-Du Ddu-Du BLACKPINK (▼ 8)
28 Take Me Higher A.C.E (▼ 6)
29 Is Who Minseo (▲18)
30 Good Evening SHINee (▼ 18)

Songs leaving the chart this week are:

  • Salty – Kanto
  • How R U Feeling? – N.Flying
  • Fake Love – BTS
  • No More – UNI.T

Thank you once again and have a great week!

[Review] Grapes – Busters

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

Around a month ago, Busters made their comeback. But who is Busters? This is my first time reviewing them/hearing of them as well, so let’s find out. Busters is a 5-member girl group (consisting of Minji, Hyeongseo, Jisu, Minjung and Chaeyeon) under JTG Entertainment. All members were born after 2000 (and you can see more of their profiles here). They made their debut at the end of November 2017 with Lalala and Dream On.

But we are here to have a closer look at their Grapes comeback, which was released in June 2018.  The song is your typical cutesy KPOP song from a girl group. What do you expect from a song that relates sweetness of a grape to the love that the members can give? But while it does suit the youthful energy that the members have, the song is somewhat cringy at certain moments. However, multiple listens after, I am drawn to the song for its chorus. I thought the way the chorus was presented was extremely catchy and it soon became a very addictive song on my playlist. The verses weren’t that special, being the most skippable moments of the song. The chorus also provided some strong vocals. I am not exactly sure how the use of the synth in the post-chorus compliments the song but it works. Overall, it is a good song with some notable flaws. But definitely a great introduction to the group.

The music video was definitely quite crisp and I appreciate the high quality it was shot in. The concept seemed to be a commercial for a new soda brand called Grapes, which I think is quite creative. I think their use of green screen and special effects is probably one of the best in the industry, which is quite surprising since they come from a smaller/unknown company. The rest of the video consisted of choreography and cute close-ups, so I don’t have much else to say about the video.

I wasn’t impressed with the choreography. It looks typical and doesn’t set them apart from the rest of the competition. The most memorable part would have to be the start of the chorus but it was honestly still quite forgettable.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 4/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10

[Review] KeePer – The Boyz

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

Despite wrapping up promotions for Giddy Up a few months ago, The Boyz have returned with a brand new special single, KeePer. The single is produced by Park Kyung from Block B, who is known for a number of chart topping singles. This comeback also marks the return of Hwall, who was not present during the promotions for Giddy Up due to an injury.

From my understanding, all of Block B’s title tracks were produced by Zico. However, KeePer, despite being produced by Park Kyung, has a few moments that reminded me of Block B’s tracks, such as the start of the song. On top of that, the song was quite pleasant sounding and had a similar flair that I would commonly assoicate to the one Springtime or Summer season song that would get popular on the charts. There was also an innocent and youthful feel to the song which suits the group quite well. Its instrumental was more traditional and refreshing compared to their past title tracks which have been more eletronic based. KeePer had good vocals and rap sections, which added some more colour to the already bright sounding song. I found the chorus to be quite catchy and the track overall stands out because it is a little different to what I would associate with the group. Overall, it is a good song.

The music video takes on a Summer concept where the actual group is split into two smaller groups who don’t really hang out together. Through some events, the two groups come together in the video. I think that was the main plotline in the video, but I am not too sure (I confess I haven’t read the lyrics of the song yet but I have been told that it is a confession song). What I did like was how bright the video felt and the fun vibes that they were channeling through the video.

Despite being limited to a few scenes throughout the video for the choreography, I think I have seen enough to say this performance does stand out due to its youthful and fun vibes. I really liked the formations, particularly the X formation seen at 1:34 of the music video. Also really liked the aeroplane they form at the start and end of the choreography and it is equipped with propellors!

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Album Review] You Complete Me (2nd Mini Album) – ONF

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged 2 Comments

For those who notice, there are a select number of artists for whom I will always write an album review for (usually, they are my favourite artists). However, I do give all albums that I can find a listen to see whether they have anything worthwhile to talk about. In my recent hunt, I identified ONF’s 2nd mini-album, You Complete Me, as one with high potential. Hence, why I am writing an album review today (it is also one of the late ones, apologies for the lateness).

onf-youcompleteme-2
You Complete Me Album Cover

1..Complete (널 만난 순간) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Complete. (10/10)

2. Fly Me To The Moon – The song follows up nicely after the title track. It has potential and I see how it attempts to ease us off the high energy from the title track. However, I personally think the track could have been more cohesive if the song was a little more intense. I was really impressed with the rapping in the song, with Wyatt’s deep voice very unexpecting but extremely fitting. I thought the chorus had a good hook. But my favourite bit has to be the bridge, with the slowdown for another Wyatt rap section and the saxophones delivering some flair to the song as well. (8/10)

3. Good Morning (아침) – Good Morning is a sweet ballad, fitting for the Summer season. There is a nice melody and the harmonies were quite good. I particularly like the final chorus when ‘everyone’ is singing together, which is something I am liking more and more nowadays. I put ‘everyone’ in quotation marks because I don’t think the rappers participated in the song. And while it was an enjoyable song, when you look at the entire album, this song fails to standout, in my opinion. (7/10)

4. fifty fifty – fifty fifty started off quite soft but knowing that there were some electronic elements in the song, you could tell it was going to build up to become a dance track. And if you thought the verses were promising, then you will be speechless with the chorus, which kicked the song up a notch by providing intensity and energy. Vocal work (particularly the high note) and the rapping were also quite good. My only complaint against the song would be that borderline annoying ringtone sound played throughout the entire song. Other than that, it was a promising song. (9/10)

5. Incomplete (나 말고 다) – Seeing the title of both this song and the title track are opposites, you kind of expect the same thing between the two. And that is what we get. Incomplete is a lot slower and soothing, despite there being a subtle upbeat atmosphere that prevents it falling into the ballad domain. I like the tropical influence during the second half of the chorus and the husky vocals that the song uses. Another element of the song that must be discussed is the lyrics, which are quite saddening (expressing their differences with the rest of the world). Altogether, this song becomes the hidden gem on the album. (9/10)

6. 86400 (스물 네 번) – The group finish off the album with an orchestral ballad. Everyone knows how much of a sucker I am to this type of song, so it definitely ticks the appeal box for me. It features breathtaking vocals, which are shown throughout the entire song. Even Wyatt (the deep voiced rapper) sings through his part! I really liked the build-up of the song and thought the bridge was amazing. The lyrics of the song seem to be reminiscent of memories of a loved one but I am not 100% sure. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

onf-youcompleteme-3
You Complete Me Teaser Image

recommended red round grunge vintage ribbon stamp

[Review] Is It True – TARGET

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

TARGET is a lesser-known KPOP group in the industry, who made their debut earlier this year with Awake. While I wasn’t exactly a fan of their debut track, I am always willing to give artists such as TARGET another go, mainly because the type of songs change as groups mature. Is It True is released as the group’s first single album.

Is It True isn’t as awkward sounding as their debut single, which already says this track is much more likeable as a result. The rapping this time around feels fitting for the song, going hand-in-hand with the melodic driven song. The vocal work was nice, with the vocalists each having a different colour or roughness to their voice, which in turn gives the song some texture. I did like its flowy nature, which got that swaying effect that I commonly like. The only problem with this song has is that it quite plain and doesn’t really develop much. It is nice but it isn’t something that sets the group apart from the other rookies that are debuting at the moment. I think the song would have done a little better if it was released a few years back, mainly because it does remind me of some KPOP tracks in the past (i.e. songs released earlier in the decade).

The music video doesn’t have much going on. In a way, it matches the peaceful vibes that the song has. However, I don’t really find it that interesting because it lacks that factor. I did notice how each scene had a certain dominant colour, with the rest of the scene in a very neutral colour (see image below). And usually, the dominant colour was very confined to a small section within the scene, which allowed it be bolder. Not sure what its intended effect was but it was an observation picked up from the video.

example_target_isittrue
Notice how the green is confined to a small section and everything else is rather neutral. This is seen often during the video.

Watching the choreography, I can’t help but notice that their hand movements resemble sign languaage. Know I don’t know exactly if this is the case (though some people agree according to the comments on YouTube) but it definitely makes the performance look extremely graceful and smooth. I also like the choreography during the bridge, especially when the members transition.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.1/10

[Special] Personal Favourite Songs from the First Half of 2018

Posted in SpecialTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

With the first 6 months of 2018 officially over, it is time to look back at my personal favourite songs from the first half. Last week, I recapped the top songs from the Weekly KPOP Charts. But some songs that I personally liked didn’t really make that list. So here are 15 songs released over the last 6 months that are my personal favourites AND continually listen to (irrespective of the charts and the reviews – as opinions do change).

[Review] SEMINA – gugudan SEMINA

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

Making their subunit debut yesterday is gugudan’s SEMINA (구구단 세미나), who is debuting with a song also titled as Semina (샘이나). Interesting fact: while the romanization of the hangul is the same between the title and subunit’s name, the title of the song can be translated to ‘Jealous’, whereas the subunit’s name is a combination of the names of the members who make up the subunit (Sejeong, Mina, Nayoung). Coincidently, the 3 members were also past Produce 101 contestants. This is gugudan’s second subunit to date (the first being gugudan OGUOGU).

When I first listened to the song a few hours ago, I was speechless. It is one of those songs that make you stop whatever you are doing and really tune in to fully get the full song (if you know what I mean). I really like the explosion of energy from the song. From the vocals to the instrumentation, it is definitely suitable for the Summer season. There is definitely an undeniable colour in the song, which I really think makes this a unique track. The song takes on a funky retro sound filled with brass that definitely brings energy to the forefront of the song. On top of that, the members put on an amazing display of vocals throughout the song. I am surprised that gugudan hasn’t put out a similar song to this yet as there are definitely vocals within the group worth looking into. On top of that, Mina does a really good job with the rapping sections, which proved to be quite fitting as well. I can’t find any flaws in the song, it is just that good!

The music video is definitely perfectly fitted for the Summer season, as well. The members take a break from their lives and go on a holiday. What I liked more was the humour that was shown in the video. My favourite example was Nayoung opening a bag of popcorn and indulging herself. The next scene shows her hula-hooping to work off those extra calories and her facial expression says it all! I think all the members looked amazing in the video and some of the shots were really nice. I also liked the bright colours throughout the video.

Not sure if the performance I am watching was lip-synced but they really have stable vocals despite the choreography. I really liked the start of the chorus. However, the rest of the performance was rather plain in my opinion.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10

 

[Review] She Bad – MYTEEN

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

It has been a while but MYTEEN is back with their first comeback, She Bad. For those who don’t know MYTEEN, they are a seven-member boy group who made their debut last year with Amazing. While they haven’t had much activity since their debut, they did participate in the now-failed MIXNINE survival show.

She Bad starts off with these distorted/muffled sounds that really grab your attention. While it does kind of tell you that there would be an upbeat nature with the song, the opening verse does a really fantastic job at easing you into the song. With promising vocals and an awesome slow-ish rap section at the very start, the song gives you a taster to what is in store. But while I praise the verses, the more interesting section is actually the chorus. It doesn’t really take you in the direction that you would expect, particularly after that buildup during the pre-chorus. Instead, it takes a more minimalistic approach in terms of instrumentation and allows the vocals to take reins of melody. I would like to have heard some more bass to give the chorus that extra bit of appeal but it was definitely quite cool. And that is just the 1st minute of the song. The rest of the song falls in line pretty nicely. The only other aspect that I personally thought could have made the song better if the song developed a little more towards the end to create some instensity.

I thought the video was equally as interesting as the song. The members kidnapped by their lover escape from their confinements throughout the video. There were certain shots throughout the video which I thought was really well done. For example, the start when the vocalists were blindfolded and on the floor. I thought that was a really good angle and lighting. Likewise, the scene where the member is taping the statue’s mouth had equally good lighting. Only thing that seemed to be out of place were the outfits that they wore. Didn’t necessarily fit the vibe of the video. But other than that, good video.

Really liked the choreography during the chorus. I thought it looked rather cool and sensual, which I think would appeal to the likes of many fangirls/boys. Also liked how they got into the single line during the second pre-chorus and the way they got into the diagonal formation during the bridge. Overall, it was good to watch.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10 

[Review] Dance The Night Away – TWICE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

Summer is always a great time for a comeback and TWICE is joining in on the fun with their latest release. Dance The Night Away is the group’s first Summer single, and it is featured on the group’s repackaged album, Summer Nights (formerly What Is Love?). While the release took place 4 hours ago, the girls have already topped the charts, proving once again that they are a force to be reckoned with inside the industry.

Right off the bat, Dance The Night Away appeals to me. Mainly because it doesn’t feel like anything else that we have listened to in the industry. The verses were quite good, showcasing their vocals. Not so much in the second verse but the first verse featured some moments which drew my attention. The pre-chorus definitely hyped me into the chorus, making what we were about to get into very worthwhile. The chorus, to me, feels very unique, especially with the presence of the brass instrumental and catchy lyrics. The combination of these make the song very addictive and it may be hard to stop listening to it. I think the only section that I didn’t really feel much for was Dahyun’s rap.  It just didn’t feel like it carried the same momentum as the rest of the song but more like an addition to give Dahyun a section in the song (Chaeyoung, the group’s other rapper, was given vocal lines instead). But other than that, loving the new song.

Me being me who have watched many music videos in the (almost) 7 years I have operated this blog notices a few impossible (but funny) details. Firstly, the girls are washed up onto the beach. No wet clothes, not that much sand in hair. Secondly, they managed to pack extremely stylish and plentiful clothing in the limited luggage that came onshore with them and also some decorative lights, to which they somehow power up at the end of the video. Thirdly, they see a boat on the horizon and they didn’t bother with getting its attention to be rescued. But then again,  they have electricity already, so they are kind of set for the technological side of life. I only point these out because I didn’t know what else to say besides it had a fun vibe and was well-presented.

I thought the choreography was really nice. I liked how well the dance moves paired with the chorus, especially when the chorus kicked in. Extremely fun and definitely hints of tropical influences in their inspiration here.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10

[Album Review] Who, You (2nd Mini Album) – NU’EST W

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged , 1 Comment

NU’EST W is officially back with a new mini-album, Who You, after their highly successful return as a subunit last year. And I thought I check out their mini-album this time around as well. Once again, I feel like this is a little late, due to some shuffling. But better late than never (which I say quite a bit here). So before I do some even more shuffling, let’s push along.

whoyou-nuestw-2
Who, You Album Cover

1..Signal – Opening up the album is a dance track which has elements of tropical and EDM but feels R&B-like. I thought that is a rather interesting combination. Starting off the song, there was a seductive nature, which I think would make this a great performance song. I thought the pre-chorus was awesome, particularly the vocals at this moment. Overall, I thought the song was really impressive, with the chorus kicking it up a notch. Also, I really liked the final section with the instrumental feeling more dynamic here than any part of the song. The rapping is also quite commendable in this song. (8/10)

2. Déjà Vu (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Déjà Vu. (8.5/10)

3. Polaris (북극성) – I personally do not have much to comment on in regards to this song. It had a slow jazzy ballad type of instrumental, which I thought was cool. The verses do a good job of showcasing the vocals. The chorus had a nice soothing vibe, with the falsetto in the latter half of the chorus, complimenting the jazzy sound. The raps were really well done (especially since rapping isn’t commonly associated with this type of music). (8/10)

4. ylenoL – The bright and upbeat nature of the makes this song really unique and stand out for me. I thought the instrumental which felt groovy yet jagged, which gave the song some interesting textures. The title of the song is ‘Lonely’ spelt backwards. I thought that was rather interesting, as the word tends to have a negative connotation. But being spelt backwards, it flips its definition in the opposite direction, leading to this positive atmosphere. The ‘Lonely’ hook as also quite catchy, and the vocals/raps were quite cool. (9/10)

5. Gravity and Moon (중력달) – Can we take a moment to appreciate how smooth Ren’s vocals are in this song? I thought that was a nice element. Apart from the vocals in the song, I thought it was rather typical. The instrumental didn’t really feel like it stood out on the album. Other than that, I thought how the lyrics complimented the title was nice. I did like the ‘Singing’ hook in the song (for the time being) but it is the type that can easily become annoying if you do not control the number of replays. (7.5/10)

6. Shadow – The album ends on an appealing song. There was a groovy vibe to the song with its fast-paced tempo standing out. I also thought the slowdown during the bridge was nice, along with the launch back into the chorus. I found the combination between the vocals/raps and instrumental to be quite dynamic. I really like the way Baekho sings ‘Shadow’ and the raps that were delivered by both Aron and JR. I would like to point out that the instrumental of this song is quite like HOTSHOT’s Jelly (only during chorus). I liked both songs but I am not too sure about the technicalities of this situation. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.33/10

whoyou-nuestw-3
Who You Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 1st Week of July 2018

Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Welcome to the second half of the year and the latest edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart. I was incredibly busy today hence why this chart is out a little later than usual. But at least I have managed to fit it in today! Let’s get on with the show before I bore you anymore!

Last week I posted a recap of the top songs from this segment (Weekly KPOP Charts), which you can view by clicking here. This week, I will be doing a more personalised list of my favourite songs and this will be released on Wednesday!

Topping the charts this week is APINK’s latest comeback, I’m So Sick. DAY6’s Shoot Me (last week’s Number 1 song) dropped down to the second position. Lovelyz’s Wag-Zak has started out on the third position, while Momoland’s BAAM has dropped to the fourth position. Finishing the top 5 is SHINee’s Our Page, which has dropped down one position.

Per usual, scroll down for the rest of the chart!

1st Jul – 7th Jul 2018
Title Artist Status
1 I’m So Sick APINK (new)
2 Shoot Me DAY6 (▼ 1)
3 Wag-Zak Lovelyz (new)
4 BAAM Momoland (▼ 2)
5 Our Page SHINee (▼ 1)
6 Déjà Vu NU’EST W (▼ 3)
7 Blue Moon Kyungri (9MUSES) (new)
8 Only One For Me BTOB (▼ 2)
9 Black Heart UNB (▼ 4)
10 Let Me Golden Child (new)
11 Time Of Sorrow VICTON (▲ 15)
12 Good Evening SHINee (▲ 7)
13 Lover Teen Top (new)
14 Complete ONF (▼ 6)
15 love4eva LOONA yxyy (▼ 1)
16 Light Wanna One (▼ 5)
17 Fake Love BTS (▼ 7)
18 Bingle Bangle AOA (▼ 9)
19 Ddu-Du Ddu-Du BLACKPINK (▼ 12)
20 How R U Today? N.Flying (▲ 16)
21 I Want You SHINee (▲ 11)
22 Take Me Higher A.C.E (▼ 6)
23 Travel BOL4 (▲ 4)
24 Something New Taeyeon (SNSD) (▼ 4)
25 DKDK fromis_9 (▼ 3)
26 I’m Not Afraid Holland (new)
27 Bonnie & Clyde 24K (▲ 15)
28 The Feeling BTOB (▼ 15)
29 Starlight BOL4 (▲ 9)
30 Teenager Samuel ft. Lee Ro Han (▲ 1)

Songs leaving the charts this week are:

  • Seoul Night – Teen Top
  • Touch It – Cross Gene
  • Light It Up – SPECTRUM
  • Go Away – Junhyung (HIGHLIGHT)
  • Give It To Me – VAV
  • You And I – Dream Catcher
  • My Star – K.Will
  • Where Are You From? – Favorite

Thank you once again and have a good week!

[Review] I’m Not Afraid – Holland

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

Holland is back with a brand new single, I’m Not Afraid. For those who don’t know of the solo artist, he is openly gay and debuted with Neverland in January of this year. I’m Not Afraid is a two-part single project, with the likely title of the second single (to be released at a later date) being On The Second Moon, as these are the words that close off the music video for this comeback. But until then, let’s focus on his latest single.

While I wasn’t really a fan of Neverland, I find I’m Not Afraid to be much more captivating and interesting. I think this is partly due to the retro synth-dominated EDM instrumental that forms the basis of the song. I really liked the instrumental overall. It is refreshing and somewhat different to what we hear constantly throughout the industry at the moment. The echo effect that is placed on this vocals really make him sound so much better and adds an extra layer to the retro element of the song. I also like the way he sings ‘I’m not afraid anymore’, which is definitely a strong (in a subtle way) hook. While the song was consistent, I didn’t find it one bit boring or repetitive, which is a feat worth mentioning.

What also makes this a great comeback is the lyrics of the song. While Holland clearly takes inspiration from his life, I liked how the video isn’t just about him. Featuring in the video is people of colour, a drag queen and other gay couples. The song’s main message is that nobody should be afraid anymore. You shouldn’t be afraid to be yourself. I thought the video was well presented with everyone turning up for a party and enjoying themselves. It also pushes boundaries with a very steamy kiss between Holland and his boyfriend It was a good video with a powerful message.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Blue Moon – Kyungri (9MUSES)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , , Leave a comment

Nine Muses (also 9MUSES), for a very long time, has been known as a highly underrated group in the industry. And over the years, there has only been one member that has stood out. Kyungri is probably the group’s most well-known member, given that she has shot a few CFs in the past. And now the 9MUSES member has finally made her solo debut with Blue Moon. To make this debut extra special, her debut date also lies on her birthday, so Happy Birthday Kyungri!

Blue Moon takes on the well-known charms of Kyungri. That is, the song sounds quite seductive and trendy. And I think the song does a pretty good job of portraying the strengths of the artist. She is known for her vocals within the group and she puts them on full display. The chorus is extremely dynamic. It starts off with some deep thumping, which really gets the seductive nature going and then (maintaining the thumping in the background) goes on to a pop vibe instrumental, which sounds quite nice. While I was kind of irked by the presence of the autotune, it actually made the song feel a little different and kept it from being too repetitive. I like the instrumental break into the song, which I am sure is useful for a really sexy dance break (though I would have loved to hear some more vocals from her). Overall, really nice debut song.

Her next charm (and what I commonly associate with her) is sexiness and this video has loads of it. The entire video focuses on her and her charm, which I would say is a masterpiece. But the video was lacking and prevented me from really appreciating what I saw. I was rather disappointed with the sets. They looked incredibly plain and boring. They could have gone with a more elegant route for this video, which would have paired nicely with the concept and her sexiness. They could have gone for something glittering in the background or a fancy looking bar set.

Kyungri takes the seductive and sexiness nature mentioned and channels it well through the performance. It isn’t the most mind-blowing choreography out there but it definitely works. And the backup dancers (including the men) are all wearing high heels. That is definitely a feat and I liked how all the backup dancers do a wonderful job of meeting the standards set by Kyungri on the stage in terms of sexiness.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10