2018 – Page 18 – KPOPREVIEWED

[Review] Shoot Me – DAY6

June 26, 2018June 26, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged DAY6Leave a comment

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

[Special] Music Video Theories: Introduction

June 26, 2018June 28, 2018Posted in Music Video Theories, SpecialLeave a comment

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.

[Review] Deja Vu – NU’EST W

June 25, 2018June 26, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged NU'EST, NU'EST W2 Comments

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?

[Review] Our Page – SHINee

June 25, 2018June 25, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SHINeeLeave a comment

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

[Album Review] This Is Us (11th Mini Album) – BTOB

June 24, 2018June 25, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged BTOBLeave a comment

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!

btob-thisisus-2 — 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)

2. Only One For You (너 없인 안 된다) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of Only One For You. (8.5/10)

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)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

btob-thisisus-1 — *This Is Us* Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 3rd Week of June 2018

June 24, 2018June 24, 2018Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

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!

[Review] Stop The Rain – DAY6

June 23, 2018June 23, 2018Posted in JPOP, ReviewsTagged DAY6Leave a comment

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

[Album Review] The Story Of Light EP. 02 (6th Studio Album) – SHINee

June 21, 2018June 21, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SHINeeLeave a comment

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!

SHINee-TheStoryofLightEp2-2 — *The Story Of Light EP. 02* Album Cover

1..I Want You (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of I Want You. (7.5/10)

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)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

SHINee-TheStoryofLightEp2-3 — *The Story Of Light EP 02* Teaser Image

[Album Review] Beauty & the Beat (1st Mini Album) – LOONA yyxy

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged LOOΠΔ, LOONA, LOONA yyxyLeave a comment

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.

loonayxyy-beauty&thebeat-2 — *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)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

loonayxyy-beauty&thebeat-3 — LOONA yyxy Behind The Scenes Shot

[Review] Sunset – Kim Dong Han

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Kim Dong Han (WEi)Leave a comment

Last week, we saw the start of the return of the JBJ members as solo artists after the disbandment of the group, 2 months ago. Today, former member Kim Dong Han made his solo debut with Sunset (as the title track) and D-Day, his 1st mini-album. The album also features Kim Sang Hyun in the 4th track, who was also part of JBJ.

Sunset starts off soft and almost silent. There wasn’t much to the instrumental, simple clicks being the centre stage of the first verse. There was a slight incline in the route that the song was going to go with and I was hoping that the song would have a grand drop. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. It did pick up but I personally thought it wasn’t bold enough. Despite that, however, the song does gain some momentum (ever so slowly) afterwards and it does evolve to be a really nice song. The most unexpecting section of the song is when it climaxes at the instrumentation EDM break. That caught me off guard and quickly drew my attention. It just felt a little too extreme for the rest of the song, hence why I was caught off guard. It did give the song some edge but I think there would have been other ways to show some edge without going to a bridge like that. Other than that, I did like how Kim Dong Han sounded in the song, with his voice being another strong element of the track. Sunset was, overall, a great song, minus the theatrics of the dance break.

The music video was quite good. With the Sunset being the title of the song, you expect the music video to go with an orangey-red colour palette, which is exactly what we got. However, there were other colours employed throughout the video which I thought gave interesting contrast, such as the blue/purple (which I assumed represented night time) during some of the scenes and the dance break. His solo shots and overall cinematography of the video was nice.

I didn’t pay too much attention to JBJ as I hoped for. And for that, I am not really well-versed in each member’s abilities. However, Kim Dong Han can dance and thought that the choreography does the job with the song perfectly. My favourite move, out of the entire routine, was the start of the second half of the verses (see GIF below).

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

[Review] Only One For Me – BTOB

June 19, 2018June 25, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged BTOBLeave a comment

After a very successful comeback, BTOB has finally returned with their 11th mini-album to date. This Is Us (the mini-album’s title) features Only One For Me, which the title track and the pre-release single, The Feeling (which was released last week). As mentioned previously, the group made a very big splash in the industry last year with their Missing You track, which charted extremely high during their promotional run.

Only One For Me takes BTOB’s vocals (made popular by their ballad trilogy and Missing You comeback) and combines it with a Summer seasonal instrumental. While that combination doesn’t really make sense in my head, it works really well. And the melody for that section of the song was quite light and drifty. The song does manage to have a change-up, which you can hear in the second half of the chorus, where the group comes together as one and chants their way through. It gives the song a catchy foundation, which I gladly appreciate. It does maintain the instrumentation but the major change is how they vocally put themselves forward. The song does return to that melodic flow that it started off with, kicking up a notch for Peniel’s ‘hype-feel’ and Minhyuk’s powerful rap sequence. Vocally, the group sounded amazing. I really like the song and if you enjoyed their previous track, this is something you should check out.

I liked the opening shots with the members returning from some formal event and kind of kicking it back. They split up from each other doing their own thing. But I like how they managed to show the members in a one-shot motion, the camera shifting focus from member to member when they enter each other’s screens. The video then goes to some wharf, which the members relax on (while still in their formal gear). And then there were night shots with the members in more casual wear. It was a nice video to watch, complimenting the song’s ballad-y feels. I like how the shots were smooth, which also complimented the song.

[Updated] As expected, there was choreography in the performance of this song. I really liked the dance for the second half of the chorus, which looks even better when the fans are harmonising along with the song. Also, I thought Changsub’s solo moment at the very start of the song was quite nice, as well. It was a pleasant routine for a very pleasant sounding song.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10 [Updated]
Overall Rating – 8.2/10 [Updated]

[Review] Something New – Taeyeon (SNSD)

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SNSD, Taeyeon (SNSD)Leave a comment

The announcement of Taeyeon’s comeback and 3rd mini-album appeared out of the blue last week. She is known for her chart-topping hits, such as I and Fine. And with the release of her new mini-album, she will most likely add Something New to that list, with the release of both her mini-album and title track today. Taeyeon previously released This Christmas last year as a special Christmas single.

Opening up Something New is an autotuned yet harmonizing acapella-like introduction which really engages you. It isn’t something that you hear all too often hence why I found it intriguing. The song then takes a turn and progresses into a more upbeat territory which remains for the rest of the song. It takes on a neo-soul urban pop genre mashup, a first for Taeyeon, who has experimented in the past with different sounds. I really like the funky and groovy sounds you get from the song, which really puts it in an even more interesting light. I also liked how light her voice feels in this song, especially during the chorus. There is this balance between her voice and the instrumental, with the latter being bold yet still complimenting the vocals. I really liked the prechorus and the bridge of the song, as those moments stood out the most for me. The chorus had a decent hook but it wasn’t exactly the selling point for me. I think, just based on the different sound itself, the song does feel memorable. Overall, it is a nice song.

The music video starts off with Taeyeon’s makeup all over the place. We see a snippet of the video to come but you don’t really realize what is about to occur. The video then goes back to Taeyeon (who is beautifully presented) arriving at her hotel (?) and walking the red carpet inside here, with a sea of photographers and fans waiting for her arrival. It seems behind closed doors she is a taregt for everyone, with the bodyguard in the lift and the room service maid attempting to kill her. However in both scenarios, she emerges victorious and I assume their bodies in luggage. At the end of the video, we see her tossing all her luggage out into the sea and shooting them for good measures. Cash spills out of some of them. While I am not sure how the video exactly fits in with the song, someone on the YouTube comments suggested that the people out to get her were the haters and Taeyeon is fighting back. Makes sense. At the end, I think it was revealed that everything we had watched was a movie within the video, though I am not too sure. I thought it was a well produced video with an interesting plotline.

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

[Weekly Chart] 2nd Week of June 2018

June 17, 2018June 17, 2018Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Welcome to the second week of June 2018. Just a very quick update that I have one more exam left before I am on my break. Once the exam is finished up, I will be doing a lot of posting on this site, so prepare yourselves for that. On top of that, it is rather cold and wet where I live at the moment, so I don’t think I will be venturing out anytime soon, meaning more time on the computer and the site!

Still on top of the charts for the 3rd week straight is Bingle Bangle (by AOA). Also remaining steady in fourth and fifth position from last week is Lady by Yubin and DKDK by Fromis_9, respectively. Only the second and third position changed from last week with Complete by ONF and Take Me Higher by A.C.E rising from their respective positions last week. For more of the charts, you can scroll down below!

BTOB and Taeyeon (SNSD) will be making their comeback next week so you may expect them to be on the charts next week.

	10th Jun – 16th Jun 2018
	Title	Artist	Status
1	Bingle Bangle	AOA	(=)
2	Complete	ONF	(▲ 6)
3	Take Me Higher	A.C.E	(▲ 12)
4	Lady	Yubin	(=)
5	DKDK	Fromis_9	(=)
6	Light	Wanna One	(▼ 4)
7	DDU-DU DDU-DU	BLACKPINK	(new)
8	Get It	PRISTIN V	(▼ 1)
9	I Want You	SHINee	(new)
10	Time Of Sorrow	VICTON	(=)
11	Wind	BOL4	(▲ 19)
12	LATATA	(GI)-DLE	(▼ 3)
13	Fake Love	BTS	(▲ 4)
14	You & I	Dream Catcher	(▼ 8)
15	Tulips	Snuper	(▲ 3)
16	Good Evening	SHINee	(▼ 13)
17	Strong	WJMK	(▲ 32)
18	Fallin’ In Love	Woo Jinyoung & Kim Hyunsoo	(new)
19	Clover	LONGGUO	(new)
20	No More	UNI.T	(▲ 5)
21	Travel	BOL4	(▼ 5)
22	Bonnie & Clyde	24K	(▲ 12)
23	Hocus Pocus	PTL	(▲ 17)
24	Time For The Moon Night	GFriend	(▼ 4)
25	Call Your Name	JBJ	(▼ 4)
26	That Day	Lovelyz	(▼ 15)
27	The Feeling	BTOB	(new)
28	Dramatic	NTB	(▲ 5)
29	OMG	Halo	(▼ 10)
30	Grapes	Busters	(new)

Songs leaving the charts this week (and will not be appearing on the charts starting next week) are:

Baby – The Rose
The Light – IMFACT
Scentist – VIXX
Call Your Name – JBJ
Easy – Wheein (Mamamoo)
Snapshot – IN2IT

Thanks for the great week and hope to see you next week!

[Review] DDU-DU DDU-DU – BLACKPINK

June 15, 2018June 15, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged BLACKPINK1 Comment

BLACKPINK is officially back. And finally, it isn’t a single. Instead, this is BLACKPINK’s first comeback with an actual mini-album. DDU-DU DDU-DU (뚜두뚜두) is the lead title track off their first mini-album, Square Up. Their last comeback was As If It Is Your Last, which was released back in June 2017. Since then, they did release a mini-album of their past hits in Japan and also released a very questionable lightstick.

DDU-DU DDU-DU has already topped the charts in South Korea and I can see why. First listen in and I was already enjoying the song. It takes on the hip-hop sound which their respective company centres around and they turn it into something that BLACKPINK can only release. I love the bass and the beat in the song, which really hypes up the song. The verses are made up of raps, while the pre-chorus focuses on the vocals. Can I just take a moment to just point out how the members sound flawless in this song, especially Jisoo and Rose during the pre-chorus. However, the standout section of the entire song has to be the chorus itself. I really like how simple it sounds but also it also presents a really catchy sounding instrumentation. I also like the change-up at the end with the exotic/foreign feel and the fast-paced flute (not too sure of the instrument), which ended the song on a bold yet strong note.

To me, the music video is BLACKPINK’s version of I Am The Best. The entire video shows BLACKPINK as strong and fierce women, which goes hand-in-hand with the song’s message. But there were some scenes that made me think of 2NE1’s famous video. The entire video is definitely on another league with me liking every single scene and set. I really liked the giant chessboard, the Audrey Hepburn/rain scene, the chandelier, the post-apocalyptic dance set and literally everything else that I haven’t listed. Each member looked flawless and bold with their stylistic choices.

It seems like the ‘gun’ dance that opens up the chorus (and occurs at the main hook) is going to be the next big thing. Actually, the entire choreography during the chorus looks amazing, with the group not holding back on the fierceness. While the entire performance isn’t out yet, I have high expectations. From what I saw in the music video, I think I can confidently give a rating.

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

[Album Review] Kratos (3rd Mini Album) – VIXX

June 15, 2018June 15, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged VIXXLeave a comment

I have been holding onto a number of album reviews for a while now and have decided to release them before I forget about their existence. For this particular week, I wanted to focus on VIXX’s Greek mythology trilogy, which was released back in 2016. The review for Zelos was published on Monday, Wednesday for Hades and Friday (today) for Kratos.

Here is just a very brief rundown of the album release. Kratos was released in October of 2016 and is the final part of their Greek mythology trilogy. Kratos is the Greek God of War, which formed the basis of their concept and song lyrics. The title track of this album was The Closer, which I reviewed previously. Kratos, along with the other two singles, was combined in November to form the VIXX 2016 Conception Ker (a compilation album of their trilogy).

1..The Closer (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of The Closer. (9/10)

2. Desperate – Opening the song is a very dramatic yet haunting introduction which fits perfectly into VIXX’s portfolio. And this same haunting effect followed throughout the verses. However, what I really liked is how the song sudden turned into an EDM based chorus in a matter of seconds. It was unexpecting but it does really make the song intense enough to become memorable. Both the vocals and the raps were perfect and it is an example of a song that has me coming back for more. (10/10)

3. Shooting Star –To me, Shooting Star felt like your standard pop song. There were few elements in the song that did leave me intrigued such as how the vocals were presented and how Ravi’s raps appeared throughout the song (instead of being condensed in a single section). The song just didn’t have enough to become memorable and have me coming back. Despite that, it was still a decent track. (7/10)

4. Good Night & Good Morning – The song is about wanting to break up. It is a lot softer in terms of volume as compared to their previous song, going with an R&B type of feel. Ravi opens up the song by singing, which is a rare event in the VIXX discography world. The touch of autotune was nice. Once again, I thought the vocal work was pretty nice, with Leo’s vocals during the chorus is the most memorable. There was also a pause towards the end of the song which made you assume that it was finished. I personally thought the song could have ended there, with the extra bit being an ‘excess’. (7/10)

5. Romance Is Over (로맨스는 끝났다) – This song is your standard ballad to have on any album. It showcases good vocals. Within the instrumental, I liked the drums and how it helps create a nice build-up to the chorus. Ravi’s rap was also quite fitting for the song, fitting neatly into the more delicate instrumental. My only issue with the song is the abrupt ending in the instrumental. But other than that, another good song. (8/10)
Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Falling In Love – Woo Jin Young & Kim Hyun Soo

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Kim Hyun Soo, Woo Jin YoungLeave a comment

You may have heard about it on the various news sites that report KPOP news. MIXNINE’s male group will not be making their debut as previously planned. Plans fell through and it allowed some groups to make their comeback or (in this case) make their debut. Woo Jin Young and Kim Hyun Soo both come from Happy Face Entertainment, home of Dal Shabet and Dream Catcher. Ranking in 1st and 14th place respectively, the two definitely have potential and their company is not putting their appearance to waste.

Falling In Love is their main title track for their debuting promotions. And while the song takes on that tropical sound once again, there were a few quirky moments embedded in the instrumental which really gave the song a fun and vibrant feel. Kim Hyun Soo sounds awesome vocally, which his parts reminding me of a good Summers day. Jinyoung has a deeper voice, which gave the song some nice contrast between the two members. I would have expected him to feel a little awkward (his voice is more fitting for serious and ‘dark’ songs, in my opinion) but he manages to settle into the bright song quite nicely. I did like the bridge, where Jinyoung sang and Hyunsoo rapped for a few seconds, that was nice. The chorus had a nice hook. Nothing that is instantly memorable but with a few more listens (and rainy days here), I will be playing the song a few more times to remind me of the nice warm days of Summer.

It was a good video to watch. Once again, the Summer vibes could be felt from different aspects of the video, from their expressions to the sun shining outside. The video also features Yoohyeon from Dream Catcher, whom the duo fall in love with as soon as they see her. I like the chemistry between the artists and while it was kind of cliche, everything felt quite nice.

I personally think they could have put their backup dancers in something a little more nicer than oversized white shirts and brown shorts. It was a nice routine to watch. The only thing that annoys me is that Hyunsoo should lose the glasses because it makes him look like he is exaggerating his facial expressions. But that might because of the performance I am watching.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10