Month: December 2019

[Review] Thumbs Up – Momoland

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Happy New Year!!!

Momoland has returned just before the final day of the year with Thumbs Up, which is what I am considering the final major release of the year. This is the group’s first release since I’m So Hot from earlier in the year. The group also went on to release Pinky Love in Japan. More recently however, the group had to reform into a 6-member lineup due to the departure of Yeonwoo and Taeha (and presumably Daisy) from the group.

Many people have been disappointed with the group’s reliance on brass and structure ever since Bboom Bboom. It seems like I am one of those listeners who think differently and feel that any slight twist is enough to make it feel different. I personally think Thumbs Up is amazing. It is a song full of energy and vibrancy that is definitely fitting for the celebrations within a few hours. It is a definitely a little more versatile, as I am sure I will be listening to the song due to its catchiness and addictviness in the new year and weeks to come. Sure, it does sound mainstream and could use a little kick towards to the end so it doesn’t sound too repetitive. But Momoland was literally put into the spotlight with a repetitive song. The catchy ‘Thumbs Up‘ literally has become stuck in my mind and I feel like this hook is a little more lively than their most famous track’s hook. The rapping in the second verse is usually a miss for me. But I feel like the rapping this time around is a lot cleaner and clearer. It could have been left out, but I am not too picky regarding it this time around. Overall, another great song in my opinion.

Momoland operates Momo Express in the music video. Not exactly sure of the relevance of the packaging/delivery service to the song is. Maybe the group is using the ‘well known brand’ as a way to show that they have a following and whatever they do in the business earns them attention and ‘Thumbs Up‘. After all, they manage to delivery a package to the moon. The music video is already quite colourful, but I would have loved the video to have a little more pop to it. I also felt like the dresses weren’t as fitting.

Glad that they infused the Thumbs Up action into this performance. It would be a complete mistake to forgo the action that they are singing about. The dance is simple, so I can imagine it catching on quite easily. The rest of the performance looked really nice, showing a more elegant side to the group.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.1/10

[Weekly Chart] 4th Week of December 2019

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The 31st of December 2019 is a pretty big date this year. Not only is it the final day of 2019, it is also the final day of the decade. And this means that once we all wake up on Wednesday, we will find ourselves in a new year and decade! Woah! On top of that, the 31st is the final day of the KPOPREVIEWED Awards voting period. So if you have not voted yet, do so now!!! Click here to be taken to the page to vote instantly. Then come back to read through the final the charts of 2019!

Topping the charts this week is the return of Red Velvet with Psycho. While promotions for the new song is up in the air due to the unfortunate accident which has left Wendy in the hospital, I do highly recommend the song to everyone. Coinciding with the holiday spirit, Brand New Music released Look Good and this finds itself in the second position. 4 times reigning Queens, Mamamoo find themselves in the third position with HIP. Hyuk’s solo debut lands the artist in the fourth position with Winter Butterfly, while Kim Jae Hwan’s The Time I Need rises to the fifth position. For more of the charts, scroll down below.

  22nd Dec – 28th Dec 2019
Title Artist Status
1 Psycho Red Velvet (new)
2 Look Good Brand New Music (▲ 44)
3 HIP Mamamoo (▼ 2)
4 Winter Butterfly Hyuk (VIXX) (▲ 42)
5 The Time I Need Kim Jae Hwan (▲ 2)
6 Wannabe Golden Child (▲ 7)
7 Blue Flame ASTRO (▼ 1)
8 Curious About U Lee Jun Young (U-KISS) (▲ 20)
9 Astronaut Stray Kids (▼ 6)
10 Nuna Kim Jae Hwan (▲ 36)
11 Coming Home NCT U (▲ 4)
12 Melting Brand New Music (▲ 30)
13 As You Wish WJSN (Cosmic Girls) (▲ 4)
14 Levanter Stray Kids (▼ 4)
15 White The Boyz (▲ 31)
16 360 Park Ji Hoon (▼ 12)
17 Come See Me AOA (▲ 1)
18 TIE Oh Sae Bom (▲ 28)
19 Wonder Woman Brown Eyed Girls (▲ 5)
20 Oopsie (My Bad) NATURE (▲ 18)
21 Wish Wish LIMITLESS (▲ 25)
22 Mixtape: Gone Days Stray Kids (new)
23 Take A Hike Jiyeon (T-ARA) (new)
24 Touchin’ Kang Daniel (▼ 16)
25 Blueming IU (▼ 23)
26 Obsession EXO (▼ 14)
27 Nostalgia Night VICTON (▼ 8)
28 You Calling My Name GOT7 (▼ 17)
29 Numb CIX (▼ 15)
30 Above The Time IU (▼ 5)

Songs leaving the charts after the final week in 2019 are:

  • Moonlight Aria – ARIAZ
  • Abandoned – Brown Eyed Girls
  • Wonder Woman – Brown Eyed Girls
  • Follow – MONSTA X
  • Spark – Taeyeon (SNSD)
  • Remember Me – BDC
  • Savage – A.C.E

Happy New Year to all my readers!

[Album Review] Moment (2nd Mini Album) – Kim Jae Hwan

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Kim Jae Hwan is nominated for Best New Male Soloist in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Begin Again is also eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Kim Jae Hwan, click here to vote before the 31st of December, which is in 2 days time.

Kim Jae Hwan is the focus for the final album review for the year and decade. I will update when album reviews will return in the new year on a later date. In the meantime, we will be diving a little deep into the soloist’s second mini-album, Moment (which features two title tracks, The Time I Need and Nuna). Kim Jae Hwan also joins the list of former Wanna One members to return a second time this year. I believe that leaves Ong Seong Woo as the only member to have one comeback this year, but he has been confirmed to be coming back in January 2020.

Moment Album Cover

1. The Time I Need (시간이 필요해) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for The Time I Need. (7/10)

2. After Party – While after parties tend to be full of celebration, Kim Jae Hwan’s After Party is a slow tempo track that delves into the R&B genre. I think the song is very straight forward and appealing to listen to as Kim Jae Hwan’s vocals feel very spaced out. It isn’t like other songs everything feels tight and loaded. I also enjoy the piano in the background and the simple percussion. He starts off the song in a rapping-like manner, but it progresses to showcase his vocals. I also like the inclusive nature of the chorus, which had him and the backing vocals singing together. I really like how his lyrics is remaining faithful to his partner, despite going to the after party and staying out all night. So wholesome. (9/10)

3. Nuna (Title Track) – As mentioned a few weeks ago, I do not review tracks without a music video. Nuna unfortunately fell into this category, despite it being one of Kim Jae Hwan’s title tracks for the album. The track is a lot more playful and vibrant, reflecting well with the song’s lyrics about being the younger person in the relationship. I like this vibe, which I also believe stay true to his age and personality. I thought the hooks were very catchy and aided the song in its playful tone. And based on the comments in which I am reading off YouTube, it seems like Nuna has many fangirls excited. (8/10)

4. Who Am I – Who Am I goes into the soft rock genre, which I really enjoyed. The track features his vocals in a very pleasing manner, and this really made the song stand out for me. Other that that, there really isn’t much else to the song. But it is honestly great as simple as it is, and any additional features would be unnecessary and potentially destructive. I wished I had a little more to say to the song, but I don’t. (8/10)

5. Paradise (파라다이스) (ft. Park Woojin from AB6IX) – This is super exciting track as it brings together another two former Wanna One members, which shows that they do keep in close contact with one another. Paradise seems to have a slight tropical influence to it, opting for a more typical EDM sound in this day and age. But it doesn’t get intense and remains quite light, which I quite like. The light nature is also an accurate descriptor for the melody and hooks, which I think makes the song quite pleasant. Park Woojin features a rapper in the second verse and he brings a sleek feel to the song. (8.5/10)

6. ZZZ – ZZZ seems to expresses the feelings that is present when you are spending the final moments of the day with your partner, even if they are not physically there. It is another wholesome song, which no doubtly goes extremely well with the soloist’s personality. It does have a typical feel to it, as the instrumental isn’t technically fresh or unique. However, the ZZZ that Kim Jaehwan repeats during the chorus is very catchy and I can confirm that a few listens to the song will have this hook engraved into your memory bank. (7.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

Moment Teaser Image

[Review] Mixtape: Gone Days – Stray Kids

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Once again, Stray Kids is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Male (Group) Choreography. Miroh, Side Effects, Double Knot and Astronaut are also eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Stray Kids, click here to vote if you haven’t before voting closes next Tuesday!

Stray Kids is currently in the midst of their Levanter promotions, as the only just recently made their comeback with the song and Clé: Levanter just earlier this month. But now, Stray Kids have made a surprise single release. Today, the group dropped their next mixtape track title as Mixtape: Gone Days (henceforth referred to as Gone Days).

Based on what I am gathering, Gone Days is a play on words with the Korean term, kkondae. It refers to a person who continually pushes outdated thoughts and expectations onto the younger generation purely based on their age and status. When you look at the lyrics of the song, it is definitely a diss track and probably is directed to someone. The song falls into the hip-hop genre and showcases the rappers in a very strong limelight. The vocals don’t get much of an opportunity to shine, mainly because their parts is so heavily doused in autotune. And given my past track record with heavy autotune, I am not much of a fan this time. I have to admit there is a nice ring to Gone Days and it might catch on in a few weeks, since there is a very bubbly atmosphere and active beat. But the heavy autotune is a very big fence to get over for me.

I am not too sure who Stray Kids is dissing in this track. But based on the music video, it seems like this person works at JYP Entertainment. After all, the horse figure in the music video is wearing a JYP Entertainment tag. I find this to be a fun video, showing the members rebelling against the horse figure in many ways. I also feel like Woojin is meant to be part of this video, based on the layout of the desks, but he was edited out due to his departure. My favourite part is Bangchan patting the horse figure, which seems like Bangchan is feeling sorry for the horse, who’s head is full of outdated thoughts and expectations.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.1/10

[Review] Take A Hike – Jiyeon (T-ARA)

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A reminder that the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards voting period is still on. It will officially close 11:59 PM (AEST) on the 31st of December. So make sure you vote before then! Do so by clicking here if you haven’t voted yet!

Even though we are in the final days of 2019, comebacks are still happening and KPOP is business as usual (which wasn’t the case a few years back, with releases being scarce). Today, we see the comeback of Jiyeon, who returns with the single Take A Hike. We last saw the T-ARA member in a music context through her One Day Winter single last year.

Take A Hike, as the title may suggest, is no Winter single. It is a soft club dance track, featuring a trendy, attitude-heavy flute drop during the chorus that I am sure would be perfectly paired to a sensual and mature choreography routine. The chorus also had a nice hook to it, that I thought was both decent and simple. I thought the verses were very captivating themselves as they engaged Jiyeon’s lower vocals and raspy tone, which made the verses standout. To me, the song feels fulfilling. It is fairly bare but I think this made Take A Hike stand out. I can see how some people would call it boring though, as the bareness might lead to the thought that it is lacking in a way. But at the moment, I choose the former thought to be what I think of Take A Hike.

The music video is very intriguing. I really like the mysterious vibes she gives off during the scenes where her face is no way shown to the camera (i.e. the bedroom scene, the large hat scenes). The large hat scenes are probably my favourite out of the entire video as they do really help enhance the attitude I felt coming from the song. The way she acts when her face does appear is equally as captivating. I am not sure how to properly describe my thoughts (and I am probably overthinking it), but I feel like there is something else to those scenes rather than a simple closeup.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Winter Butterfly – Hyuk (VIXX)

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As this is a VIXX related review, I wish to inform that Leo is nominated for Best Male Soloist in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Leo by clicking the link here to vote for him and your other favourite artists before the 31st of December (which is in 5 days!!!).

VIXX has a relatively quiet year and it seems like this is going to be the case over the next couple of years since the members are fast approaching the age of military enlistment. Leo (Romanticism) and Ravi (Tuxedo) have remained active through solo works. And Hyuk joined them last week with the release of his first mini-album, Winter Butterfly. The title track shares the same name as the album. The mini-album also contains the handful of solo singles that Hyuk has also released throughout the year.

For those who don’t know me, I am always a sucker for the lesser known members of the group. Hyuk falls under this category as he is always under appreciated when it comes group performances. His vocals are a lot weaker than Ken or Leo, while his rapping isn’t as dynamic as Ravi. And hence solo releases tend to be blessings, showcasing what we would never get in a group setting. Winter Butterfly does just that, offer us more of Hyuk’s vocals. The rock ballad (which is one of the few styles that I tend to really enjoy) starts off soft, which compliments Hyuk’s usual style of vocals. His voice remains soft throughout the song but it builds as the instrumental develops. It somehow remains well-balanced and I really like that about the song. I like how the song doesn’t revert to the verse-chorus-verse-chorus etc. formula. I didn’t notice this at first, but it caught my attention after a while. He only reverts to the softer sound to close out the song. A fairly large section of the song is in English, which I thought he handled nicely. Overall, Winter Butterfly is extremely satisfying and I am glad that Hyuk is finally getting his moment to shine.

The music video is pretty much standard yet also makes quite sense. To compliment the song, Hyuk walks around enjoying nature and the local scenery in the music video. I feel this works well with the song, as you can get ‘lost’ with the song, which is similar to how one could get ‘lost’ while experiencing something breathtaking such as nature. I really like the brown and golden hue that the video features, which gives off a warm feeling and fits more of an Autumn setting. The snow, I guess, is incorporated to make the music video fit into ‘Winter’. But it seemed to be included post-production, as there was never any snow around him.

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

[Review] White – The Boyz

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Merry Christmas again! The second Christmas related review of the day is by The Boyz, who released a Winter single titled White on the 6th of December (which was also released on the exact date that they debuted on 2 years ago). It is the group’s third release of the year, following Bloom Bloom and D.D.D. The group also made their Japanese debut with the predominately Korean track, Tattoo. However, it wasn’t all positive news this year as Hwall withdrew from the group in October.

White starts off with a sample of Feliz Navidad, one of the many songs that is blasted throughout shopping centres every Christmas (not that I am complaining…). But it soon transform into a different track, losing its Christmas carol feel. Instead, it transform into a lighthearted track that suits the festive season. The bells you associate with the season is probably the more prominent element of the song that relates the song to the Winter season. The deep brass that appears when it changes from carol into song and the post-chorus reminds me of childhood and the music that my parents used to listen, while the rest of the track (verses, chorus etc.) felt practically like a typical KPOP track. The vocal work is pretty standard but I think them all singing together helps make the track a lot more warmer and homely. I also really like the rapping, as it gave a little more to the festive song.

The music video shows the members waiting for the first snow to fall, having fun in the snow as a group, preparing for their night Christmas party and other activities. Honestly, it is the type of video that makes sense for the Christmas season (i.e. the coming together of everyone). They were shot in a manner that made the members look cute. I don’t despise of such videos, but they have a very limited appeal in a very limited time frame before it is long forgotten.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Double Review] Melting + Look Good – BRANDNEW Year 2019

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Merry Christmas everyone! As part of the Christmas cheer, I thought I review a few Christmas themed tracks this year. The first review is for the two tracks (Melting & Look Good) released by Brand New Music, where the company’s lineup (to be listed according to the song that they appear in) for these releases are collectively called BRANDNEW Year 2019.

Melting is performed by Kanto, AB6IX, Kang Min Hee, YODAYOUNG and BDC. It is a fun, vibrant dance track that doesn’t feel like a seasonal track until you looking into the lyrics. I feel like this could easily been passed off as a different track and you wouldn’t even notice. The vocal work is pretty good, adding to the vibrancy. The melody and hooks have a decent ring to me, which makes the song catchy enough to really enjoy. The rapping gives it some definition, which makes it very appealing. I particularly like Youngmin’s pre-chorus rap sequence, which gave the song a rush of energy that worked well with the chorus. My only problem with the track is that it focused too much on the males, leaving Kang Min Hee and YODAYOUNG small sections in the final chorus.

Look Good features Kebee, Bumkey, Kanto (he does not make an appearance in the music video), Gree, Yenjamin, Yang Da Il, Kitti B and Vincent Blue. These artists aren’t ones that I pay attention to much in the Korean music industry. But since the song was released alongside Melting and had a music video, I thought I review it as well. The song is also quite vibrant and upbeat, different from other the holiday tracks as well. I really liked how the song progressed along, with the rappers pushing each of their parts in a relaxed yet very cohesive manner, while the vocalists provided a nice smooth texture to the rest of the song. I found the melodies and simple band/acoustic influence within the instrumental to be very appealing and that I was tapping my foot along to the beat within a matter of seconds.

Music videos from this season tend to show the artists coming together. After all, Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends. The music video for Melting and Look Good depicts this nicely. Both felt lighthearted and perfect for the season without going overboard on the Christmas decorations. I liked the golden and brown hue of the Melting music video, whilst I enjoyed the simple set up to the Look Good video.

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

Look Good
Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Album Review] Clé: Levanter (5th Mini Album) – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Male Choreography in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Miroh, Side Effects, Double Knot and Astronaut are also eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Stray Kids, click here to vote if you haven’t before voting closes next Tuesday!

The second last album review of the year focuses on Stray Kids latest mini-album, Clé: Levanter. This third part has brought their Clé series to a close, following the release of Clé: Miroh (featuring the title track Miroh) and Clé: Yellow Wood (featuring the title track Side Effects). To help raise anticipation for the new release, Stray Kids released Double Knot in October and Astronaut in November, before dropping Levanter in December (all links below). This is also the first album release without Woojin, who left unexpected in November, which delayed the comeback to December. Let’s have a deeper listen to the album and its new tracks that we haven’t heard at all yet.

Clé: Levanter Album Cover

1. STOP – A commanding title to a very bold start to the mini-album. I am already sold. And it is even better as the song delivers intensity, energy and suspense through its fast tempo beat. To me, it feels dirty but in a good way. I also liked how they amp all those elements up by including that brief pause in the instrumentation just prior to the drop. Something that I did notice was that I associated the sound and vibe straight away to Stray Kids, which is definitely a good sign, as this means Stray Kids have a sound (at least, to me). The rapping and vocal work were equally superb. I am just not keen on the abrupt ending, though I had a feeling it was coming.  (9.5/10)

2. Double Knot (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Double Knot. (9/10)

3. Levanter (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Levanter. (9/10)

4. Booster – The group throws punches with Booster and they land these punches perfectly each time. It brings back the more powerful synths and definitely packed a lot of energy within its instrumental composition. I do think it could have been bolder, as it did feel a little tame. I found the vocals to be more melodic, with the melody in the chorus reminding me of ‘00s tracks. The rapping is a little more robust and gives it that roughness that I have come to expect with Stray Kids. (8/10)

6. Astronaut (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Astronaut. (9/10)

7. Sunshine – Sunshine is a ballad with a typical Stray Kids touch. And quite a soothing one at certain moments. Ballads tend to draw out more of a delicate side of a group. And this was definitely apparent when it came to the vocal sections of the song. The rapping and autotune is that twist I mentioned, and it prevented that delicate side to fully flourish. I wished that maybe they kept the autotune to a minimum so that Sunshine can be a little more impactful. I did like the pulsing beat and appreciate their execution for this song, overall. (7.5/10)

8. You Can STAY – For those who don’t know, the group’s fandom name is STAYs. And given the emphasis of the word STAY in the title, You Can Stay is essentially a track for their fans, thanking them for making their members better. It is a nice track. I find it particularly refreshing, but that might be me experiencing sweltering temperatures in the past week. I did like the brightness that came from the track, thanks to the vibrant and bouncy instrumental. I particularly like the ‘uh-like’ synth in the instrumental, helping make the song memorable. (8/10)

9. Mixtape #5 – In the past, I never reviewed their Mixtape tracks. However, that changed earlier in the year when I sat down to review them as part of the Yellow Wood album review. So, I made the executive decision to also review them on their original albums from now on. It essentially is a song abut the colder weather and some of the lyrics is about their outfit. There is a fun touch to the band instrumentation, and it felt jazzy in some cases. I also found the track to be quite lively, which is something different in the season of emotions. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

Clé: Levanter Teaser Image

[Review] Psycho – Red Velvet

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Red Velvet is nominated for Best Female Group, Best Music Video and Best Female (Group) Choreography in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Voting closes on the 31st of December, which is almost a week away. So to support Red Velvet, click here to vote for them in the survey!

A major release this late into the final month of year tends to be quite rare, as groups are preparing from the end of year music festivals and other special events. But it seems like we will be getting a couple this year. The first is by Red Velvet, who returns with the final part of the ReVe Festival. The title track for this release is Psycho. Previously, the group returned earlier in the year with Zimzalabim and Umpah Umpah, as part of the ReVe Festival series.

Zimzalabim was probably one of their craziest tracks, while Umpah Umpah ended up resolving to be a regular pop track for Summer. So it was hard to form an expectation for Psycho. But it ended up being an urban pop dance track that felt very polished and refined. I would also say this would be a logical follow up to the R&B sound that we got through Bad Boy. Just Psycho ends up being much more appealing for me. The instrumental backdrop felt simple, allowing the vocals to do majority of the hard work. There was some falsettos in the pre-chorus and I really like how they all sing the chorus, making the song feel more impactful. The chorus also had this very addictive swaying effect, which helped make the song more alluring. The melodies also kept the song feeling fresh and smooth. There was a slight moment of rapping which I felt they could have extended to give the song an extra boost of oomph. But other than that, Red Velvet comes out with another smashing song.

The title Psycho definitely alludes to something eerie and dark. And I really like how the music video nails this idea. In terms of visual concepts, I must admit that Red Velvet is one of the most versatile groups ever. Of course, their stylists should also get a shout out for really helping Red Velvet pull off these changes. There seems to be a 1930’s vibe to the music video, given the sets and some of their outfits. Wendy’s shorter white coloured hair style is probably the biggest change of all. Each member looks very creepy, with the production team putting together a music video that makes the members look like crazed psychos/stalkers throughout the video.

Based on what I can see in the music video, the moves look like there is a bit of attitude infused into it. And it makes sense given the song style. Some parts look a little weak, while others look quite strong. So it would help if there was some live performance (to make a better judgement). But I don’t think there will be any until Christmas Day (25th of December) when the group’s first stage is scheduled at the SBS Gayo Festival. But for now, I think I rest with the comment that the choreography is satisfying.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10

[Weekly Chart] 3rd Week of December 2019

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Quick everyone! The 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards survey will be closing in over a week. Make sure to cast you vote to decide who is the best in the various categories by clicking the link here.

Ho Ho Ho! Santa will be making a very quick Christmas visit this Wednesday. So in advance, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. For those who do participate in the Christmas traditions, Happy Holidays! But today is Sunday, so let’s have a quick look at how the songs performed this week.

Interestingly, no new songs entered the Top 30 this week. This is the very first time that this has ever happened in the history of the Weekly KPOP Charts segment. Mamamoo’s HIP returns to the top of the charts this week, after dropping down to the second position last week. IU’s Blueming rises to the second position, while Stray Kid’s Astronaut shoots up into the third position. Park Ji Hoon turns head in the fourth position with 360, while Sungmin’s Orgel completes this week’s Top 5. For more of the charts, scroll down below.

  15th Dec – 21st Dec 2019
Title Artist Status
1 Hip Mamamoo (▲ 1)
2 Blueming IU (▲ 2)
3 Astronaut Stray Kids (▲ 16)
4 360 Park Ji Hoon (▲ 2)
5 Orgel Sungmin (▲ 41)
6 Blue Flame ASTRO (▲ 5)
7 The Time I Need Kim Jae Hwan (▼ 4)
8 Touchin’ Kang Daniel (▲ 5)
9 Come NEWKIDD (▲ 25)
10 Levanter Stray Kids (▼ 9)
11 You Calling My Name GOT7 (▼ 2)
12 Obsession EXO (▲ 4)
13 Wannabe Golden Child (▲ 5)
14 Numb CIX (▼ 6)
15 Coming Home NCT U (▲ 15)
16 Follow MONSTA X (▲ 1)
17 As You Wish WJSN (Cosmic Girls) (▼ 12)
18 Come See Me AOA (▼ 8)
19 Nostalgia Night VICTON (▲ 8)
20 Momento IZ (▲ 12)
21 Sweet Chaos DAY6 (▼ 1)
22 Flower Shower Hyuna (▲ 6)
23 Run Away TXT (▲ 16)
24 Wonder Woman Brown Eyed Girls (▲ 1)
25 Above The Time IU (▼ 11)
26 I Like That Lee Jin Hyuk (UP10TION) (▲ 14)
27 +I Quit180327+ CL (▲ 11)
28 Curious About U Lee Jun Young (U-KISS) (▼ 1)
29 +PARADOX171115+ CL (▲ 8)
30 Spark Taeyeon (SNSD) (▲ 3)

Songs leaving the charts this week are:

  • Love Me – NU’EST
  • Poison – VAV
  • Run Away – TXT
  • Forever Love – Yoo Youngjae
  • Sweet Chaos – DAY6
  • NomNomNom – Sunny Hill
  • So So – WINNER
  • Find You  – MONSTA X

Hope you all enjoy whatever you have planned for this week!

[Review] Pinky Love – Momoland

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Momoland is nominated for Best Female Group and I’m So Hot is eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Momoland, click here to vote for them and list I’m So Hot as Best Song. Make sure you do before the 31st of December, as that is day the survey closes and I start counting the votes!!

2019 has been an eventful year for many artists. Momoland is no exception. 2019 saw comebacks in both Korea (I’m So Hot) and Japan (Pinky Love – the focus of this review). The group is also confirmed to be returning to Korea at the very end of the year with Thumbs Up!. However between comebacks, the group has said goodbye to Yeonwoo and Taeha, who have both departed, effectively reducing the group to 6 members (Daisy’s status is also being discussed at this very stage). But in the meantime, let’s have a closer listen to Pinky Love.

I have been very satisfied with Momoland’s Korean releases. However, their first original Japanese track is a step in the wrong direction. It just felt too overly saturated with the ‘idea of cuteness’ that is becomes literally too much. Opening the song is Nancy’s really unnaturally high pitch vocals. This criticism does apply to some of the other members, but Nancy’s was definitely the most obvious. The pop instrumental was incredibly plain and bare. It was literally begging for something bold or defined. But this was never delivered. The hooks felt cheap and plain, and hence it didn’t feel memorable. One thing that I did not like whatsoever was the rap-chanting bridge, which I believe overtakes ITZY’s DALLA DALLA chant breakdown as one of the worst sections in a song of the year. Unfortunately, the comeback just doesn’t sit well with me and I wish there was at least something positive to say about the song.

I am no expert when it comes to makeup. But I feel like an overuse of blush never looks cute. Apart from that, the music video for Pinky Love seems to suffer from a low budget, based on the emptiness of the set and their plain outfits. The only good thing that I can comment on is regarding the editing/post-production, which at least makes the video feel bearable.

The choreography isn’t as terrible as the rest of the comeback, which might be the saving grace. However, it doesn’t really offer anything new, fresh or dynamic. But it worked well with the song that we got. I just wished that they had better material to work with.

Song – 3/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 4.7/10

[Review] Vampire – IZ*ONE

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IZ*ONE is nominated for Best Female Group and Best Female Choreography. Violeta is also eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support IZ*ONE and your other favourite artists, click here to vote before the 31st of December (which is 10 days away!)

The review catch-up blitz (I really need to think of a better name for this) is also applicable to the many Japanese releases that I have missed out. And there is a lot to cover in the two final Saturdays of the year. IZ*ONE, a month or two prior to the ongoing voting controversy and the postponement of their Korean comeback, made their Japanese comeback with Vampire. The track was officially released at the end of September and I personally apologize that it had taken me this long to review it. But as many say, better late than never.

We have seen the two sides of the spectrum when it comes to IZ*ONE’s Japanese releases. From the amazingly sounding I Want To Say I Love You to the poorly pieced Buenos Aires, it is safe to say that Vampire sits in between the two extremes. Where it lies on the spectrum exactly is up to debate. Vampire has a really nice Latin inspired instrumental. It felt polished and I think it could have been an amazing backdrop. It just is a mega pity that Vampire ended up getting vocals similar to Buenos Aires. The cutesy sound that feels very stereotypical of Japanese female groups pop release just did not fit the instrumentation. Though it is a little bearable compared to Buenos Aires. There are hooks in the song worth mentioning, but they come off lackluster thanks to the poor vocals. I really hope that (if given the opportunity) IZ*ONE will ditch whoever is producing their recent J-POP tracks and return with something like I Want To Say I Love You that shows off maturity and style.

Interestingly, the music video for Vampire is pretty well produced. With a title such as Vampire, I don’t think cutesy bow ties and polka dots would cut it. Hence, a dark concept such as this really worked well. The sets were stunning, the members outfits looked very dark and even the post-production looked very promising. I am not exactly sure what the music video is showing but it seems like it shows the members turning into vampire. I thought the bridge (being the best part of the song for me) was very nicely put together in this video as well.

The choreography looked like it was confusing about being mature or cutesy. And hence, it looked very weird. Naturally, I am drawn to every move that isn’t cutesy, as I think that is more fitting for their concept. The bridge was the best part (once again), with the moves and formations looking bold.

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

[Review] Come – NEWKIDD

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NEWKIDD’s debut track, Tu eres, is eligible for Best Song in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. It is very simple to select Tu eres as one of the best tracks of the year. Simply click the link here, vote for your favourite artists in the various categories and in the final question, type in ‘Tu eres – NEWKIDD’ along with four other of your favourite songs of 2019. Make sure to press submit once you are done!

As mentioned a few reviews ago, I will slowly catch up on some reviews that I have missed, as we round out 2019. I had to take a short break from this, but I am now back and ready to do a review blitz. This review’s focus is on NEWKIDD’s first comeback track, Come. This was released on the 28th of November. And as far as I know, the track didn’t get much attention. Hopefully this review will help get the group and song a few extra listeners. Previously the male group made their debut with Tu eres.

One way to really draw attention to the song from the get-go is to do what Come did. It kicked the song off with the blaring brass-like synth that really caught my attention. And with an opening like this, I just had to keep on listening. The verses is a lot smoother, going with a sleek beat and vocals that just kept on flowing. The opening synth returns for the chorus, but this time they added deep vocals with some edge and attitude to give it a different feel. We return to the smoother verses, throwing us into the typical rap-vocal lineup that songs tend to opt for during the second verse. But the song doesn’t repeat the chorus. The song then changes up once again, returning with the same synth based instrumentation. But the vocals are changed, giving the song an even sleeker texture. It is a bold track and a definite improvement from the group’s debut track. There is something lacking that weighs it down and prevents it from being memorable. But what we got is very satisfying. There is definitely potential behind this track and group, waiting to be discovered. And Come is a step in the right direction.

When it comes to music videos, I think it is clear that I do prefer the darker and edgy concepts. Compared to the music video for Tu eres, Come‘s video is definitely superior. I liked the mysterious nature of the video. It gives off an intriguing feel and I felt that a plot felt like it could have intertwined in the video, particularity when Hansol picks up the diamond at the end of the video. But the closeups felt just like closeups in the video and don’t offer much else to the video. I liked the emphasis on red and gold in this video, popping out from the darkness that surrounds the set.

The group definitely gives off a lot of charisma in this comeback and this is shown very clearly throughout the stages. Their smiles throughout the choreography was very alluring. I thought their chorus routines were very edgy, sleek and powerful this time around. Good job!

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Coming Home – NCT U

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NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while both NCT Dream and NCT 127 are nominated for Best Subunit. NCT Dream is also nominated for Best Male (Group) Choreography and Best Collaboration (with Yeri from Red Velvet). Click here to support NCT and their subunits before the 31st of December.

While EXO hasn’t released a Christmas single for the past two years, it seems like other SM artists may be taking the mantle. NCT U has reformed into a four member subunit (Jaehyun, Taeil, Haechan and Doyoung) for the release of Coming Home, which is part of the SM Station X project. This is also the first NCT U release since 2018’s Boss (one of my favourite songs of the year!).

Per the Christmas singles that EXO have released in the past, Coming Home comes in the form of a ballad. Made up of classical instruments, the background has this very warm and soothing vibe to it, but this is a rather typical aspect when it comes to Winter singles. But I like how there isn’t a stillness to the instrumental compared to other ballads (i.e. they are made of strictly one or two instruments). There are number of instruments working together in this song at any one second, and this really helps push the song along in a captivating manner. I could also sense an elegant vibe to the song. Compared to the other ballad that I reviewed during the week, this one has a little extra appeal to it. This added layer of appeal can be attributed to the vocal work. Jaehyun, Taeil, Haechan and Doyoung are the part of the vocal line of NCT, so it was expected that we would be getting some sort of vocal push to it. However, we are treated to powerhouse vocals in this song, especially with all the high notes at the end. The song also allows the members to showcase and move about (in terms of their vocals), showcasing and exploring their talents in this department. Overall, Coming Home is a Winter single to enjoy.

At the start of the music video, we are shown the members of this NCT U lineup in a way that gives off the impression that they are alone. But as the the video comes to an end, we are shown the member are actually very close by as they walk in the background of each other’s shot. The song is about coming home to a loved one. But I think at the end it is shown that Jaehyun is the one going home and he is only imagining the other members as they are the people he is going home to. It is a nice concept and I liked how it wasn’t as emotionally charged as other songs. I really like their outfits and the sets created for this video.

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

[Album Review] 360 (2nd Mini Album) – Park Ji Hoon

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Park Ji Hoon’s performance for L.O.V.E is nominated for Best Solo Choregraphy in this year’s KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Park Ji Hoon and your other favourite artists by clicking here to vote.

Between now and the end of the year, there will be three more album reviews (inclusive of this one). The first of the final three 2019 albums to be reviewed this year is Park Ji Hoon’s 360. His title track also shares the same name as the album. This is strong album from the solo artist, further highlighting his potential in the industry. Former co-member of Wanna One, Kim Jae Hwan, also participated in the album by co-writing the lyrics of the final track, Strange. To see what I thought of it, keep on reading!

360 Album Cover

1. I AM (Introductory Track) – Usually, I do not review the introductory track as it tends to be just an instrumental piece of some kind. However, if it contains vocals, I will include it in the review. Based on these criteria, you can tell by now that I AM contains Park Ji Hoon’s vocals. The track kicks off with a soft piano start, before transforming into a full-fledged EDM dance track. I really like his vocals in this song, especially paired with the background vocals and also the way he emphasised the English during the ‘chorus’ of the intro track. I also thought this was a nice and bright lead into the title track, 360. (8.5/10)

2. 360 (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for 360. (9/10)

3. Whistle – Whistle takes a brighter approach, reminding the listener of Summer. It is super energetic and the instrumental even contains some subtle island sounds, hence why is suits the hotter months of the year. Park Ji Hoon does a really good job with his vocal work. His rapping, on the other hand, felt a tad too heavy and serious for the upbeat sound. I really liked the chorus of the song, with the ‘Whistle, Whistle now, Oh Oh Oh…’ keyed into my memory bank. I also like the fancy piano bridge we got. But it did feel a little ill-fitting for such a vibrant and energetic sound. But apart from that, it is a good track. (8/10)

4. Hurricane – When I saw a track titled Hurricane, I expected something a little more erratic than a smooth sailing track that Hurricane ended up being like. It isn’t a bad track, but I wish that Park Ji Hoon’s production team would be a little more ambitious with his sound. And besides, I feel like Park Ji Hoon would suit an edgy song. The song included some flute work, which did sound nice. His vocals did feel a little tight and I think it would have been a little nicer to hear some space in his vocals during some parts, especially paired with an easygoing and light-ish sound. I did like the chorus and the odd ad-lib that Park Ji Hoon throws in the background. (8/10)

5. Casiopea (닻별) – It seems like my prayers that I mentioned in the previous song’s review are answered. Casiopea is distinctively different to his previous tracks, throwing a whole heap of that requested edge. It has sharp impact to its sound through its snare drum-like instrumentation. I also really liked how they kept on pushing the song by adding to the instrumental. It helped it develop the song and really gave it a dynamic touch. His voice helped inject a bunch of textures throughout the song, which I thought was really cool. His rapping is also quite unique, very unlike his other tracks. (9/10)

6. Still Love U – The last two tracks on the album are the softer tracks on the whole album. Still Love U still has the upbeat sound to it and I can imagine a nice choreography routine paired to it. I thought the beat was cool and consistent, but the instrumental felt somewhat bland. His focus on vocals really showed in this song. As a rapper, there is a bit of a husky and raspy tone in this song, which really helped the appeal of the track. Given the lyrics, it is a sweet song which I am sure would appeal to fans as well. Overall, not bad. (7.5/10)

7. Strange (이상해) – The final song on the album is Strange. It is an R&B track with sweet lyrics, ending the album on a very positive note. Interestingly, the song doesn’t really get into the ‘strange’ territory. There is the odd quirk with a sudden deep autotune twist at the mid-point of the song and few other smaller sections throughout the song. Park Ji Hoon’s shows off several different vocal technique in this track that showcases his capabilities. But whether he nails it, I am not too sure. I really like the chanting part of the song, which was my favourite bit. (7.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

360 Teaser Image