July 2024 – Page 2 – KPOPREVIEWED

[Review] Hmm BOP – HUI (PENTAGON)

July 14, 2024July 13, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Hui (Pentagon), Pentagon1 Comment

Way back at the start of this year, HUI (the leader of PENTAGON) made his official solo debut after debuting almost 8 years ago as part of PENTAGON. His solo debut consisted of the mini-album titled Whu Is Me: Complex (I can confirm there is an album review coming) and the title track Hmm BOP. My review on Hmm BOP is definitely overdue. The latter was recently named as the best KPOP song of 2024 so far by Billboard. HUI has also been active in the KPOP industry since debuting as a successful music producer (with works such as WANNA ONE’s Energetic and PENTAGON’s hits like Shine and Daisy to his name), and more recently as a trainee on Boys Planet (where he finished 13th).

The song has been out for almost 6 months now and I don’t have a reason as to why I have been putting off reviewing Hmm BOP. I just have. Listening to it today for this review, the song remains just as funky and groovy as I have perceived it back in January. Funky and groovy always translates to fun in my mind, which is undoubtedly hard to deny isn’t the case with Hmm BOP. The beat has foot-tapping energy and the brass just hits right in this retro inspired number. The electric guitar that features in the background blends in effortlessly and gives the track some much needed grit, keeping Hmm BOP from going overboard and feeling unbalanced. As for HUI himself, I still enjoy his expressive, dynamic and exciting delivery in Hmm BOP. His ad-libs throughout the earlier parts of the song were very impressive, but he definitely peaked towards the end when Hmm BOP goes down a chanty anthemic direction. He really shows off his vocal abilities with these ad-libs and it was all captivating to listen to. That chanty line “jiphap the jip to hap the jipjiphap we don’t stop“, which means “Assemble, The A-S-S-E-M To B-L-E The a-assemble, We don’t stop“, is super catchy and an addictive hook. So was the “Hmm BOP” that HUI repeats throughout the song. Altogether, I can see why people have raved about Hmm BOP. And if my praise of the song is saying something, I am most likely there with them.

It would be a complete injustice if the music video did not channel the fun of the song. Good thing that there is no sign of bad news for this release. The whole video is full of fun and colour. No matter what he is doing (ordering a burger in a diner, being the centrepiece at a formal dinner, singing on stage, playing an off-brand Grudge, participating in an aerobics video, controlling puppets, walking on the moon or just having a party), he is bringing the fun to everyone. As it was fun, HUI managed to get away with a few things that I didn’t like – such as the shiny fake tooth, that beanie etc. I mean, the video is intended not to be taken as seriously.

The choreography also promotes that fun, expressive and dynamic side of the song. I actually think it does so in a much better way than the music video does. HUI and his dancer’s expressions were very engaging. The moves were also of the similar nature and I liked the energy that both HUI and the dancers put behind them. I couldn’t remember how many abs reveal he does in the choreography, but rewatching the performance I am glad he didn’t over do it. Too much of them would have raised some questions and lessen the rating of the performance for me. Glad that wasn’t the case. However, I will definitely say that they look great and probably took a lot of work to get it to look like that for this release (which I will applaud him for).

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.4/10

[Review] XO (Only If You Say Yes) – ENHYPEN

July 13, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ENHYPEN4 Comments

ENHYPEN is another group to return this week with their second studio album ROMANCE : UNTOLD and the lead single XO (Only If You Say Yes). Throughout the rest of this review, I will be referring to the song as just XO for simplicity reasons. This release follows from ENHYPEN’s ORANGE BLOOD mini-album (lead by Sweet Venom) and a special mini-album titled Memorabilia (lead by the single Fatal Trouble for their Dark Moon: The Blood Altar webtoon). The group has also been busy embarking on their second world tour, which started back mid-last year and will continue to September of this year.

Despite being just dropped a day ago, I can feel the definite potential behind ENHYPEN’s latest song, XO. It is probably one of their most mellow and fluid title tracks yet. The best part of XO for me is its catchy hook – the “XO, Kiss Me, Don’t Say No“. It is repeated a number of times throughout the track and is delivered in two ways – a smoother and fluid delivery and the slightly bolder version with the vocal chop that feels elongated and prolific. The latter definitely sticks around in my mind after the song wraps up, and this pulls me back to the song (though I am not sure how this will play out with further listens and the fast pace nature of the current KPOP industry – more on this in a bit). The rest of XO does fairly well. There was a decent beat and rhythm that contributes to the flow of XO, with the overall groovy and R&B instrumental feeling very pleasant. There was just enough bounce and charm to the backing of XO to make it feel suitable for the current upbeat and dynamic season. The members sound nice all throughout XO, but I would prefer less autotune during the verses, so that the members do sound clearer. Stronger melodies during the verses would also make them more memorable, with the chorus stealing the limelight from majority of the song. The one other thing I worry about XO is how long the song will stick in my own and the audience’s mind. Despite the song’s catchy hook, XO doesn’t make much else to serve as an anchor, which is a recurring problem for ‘pleasant’ songs. This is particularly true for a song like XO, which I have also described as mellow and fluid earlier on in this section. Sure, the hooks will get XO some repeat listens. But over time as catchier and grabbier songs come out, XO can become lost in the pack. For the time being, I do like XO and will continue to enjoy as much as I can before something better inevitably does come out.

XO’s lyrics tell us of a story of a boy that is willing to do anything for the one he loves. But the story in the music video that accompanies the new release speaks to a slightly different story, according to viewers in the YouTube section. The members play characters who are willing to do anything for the one they love. However, when SUNGHOON mouths “I Like You” to his lover, the world stops and it is presumed that his lover did not hear his love confession (hence why the album is titled ROMANCE : UNTOLD). Similarly, JUNGWON imagines the walk he has with his lover, snapping back to when he was with the rest of ENHYPEN at the start of the video. As for the other members (i.e., JAKE, HEESEUNG and NIKI’s), there are a lot of looks of fondness but no confession, which probably meant their romance remains untold. And for the members were there was some sort of confession (i.e., JAY and SUNOO’s), these scenes might also be imagined like JUNGWON’s. I am not entirely sure what the darker scenes of the video represents. Though it might be a connection to the cool concept trailer that was released a few weeks back where the members were vampires being hunted by the authorities, but they took a risk to return to save the one person who got them. This video in itself also represents that idea of someone willing to do anything for the person they love.

The choreography for this comeback was good. Once again (and it might because of my mood this week) but I personally did not see anything that really stood out to me. But there was a lot to like. The X and O’s moves made sense. I also vividly remember the charismatic (and cuter, depending on the member in question) smiles on ENHYPEN’s faces. These felt fitting for this comeback and resulted in some of the same energy being transferred to the audience. I also liked the various outfits that they donned on stage and during the choreography shots in the music video. The casual one was the best, as it complemented the lightheartedness of the song.

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

[Review] JUSTICE – Dreamcatcher

July 11, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Dreamcatcher1 Comment

Making their comeback just yesterday was Dreamcatcher, with their 10th mini-album titled Virtuous and the lead single JUSTICE. This new release follows on from their 9th mini-album VillainS and the single OOTD, which was released back in November last year.

My final comments in the song section of my OOTD review was that it lacked the spark that makes it feel like a Dreamcatcher song. The first thing that came to my mind when I listened to JUSTICE yesterday was that they regained that missing spark. When you compare the two songs side by side, the main difference (for me, at least) is a powerful force. And JUSTICE is indeed a powerful track. Like all Dreamcatcher title tracks, JUSTICE definitely finds its roots in the rock genre. But the producers do a little more to the edges of the song to make it feel unique, and not a have JUSTICE repeat or rehash the rock genre again and again. The dramatic and sinister percussion that features as the main backing of the verses felt very theatric. There was also a touch of electronic influence in the chorus, as a result of the autotune that made the high notes of the song choppy. The pre-chorus of JUSTICE also brought forth a ‘We Will Rock You‘ type of vibe. All of these were really cool elements in JUSTICE and helps exude that powerful nature I mentioned the song having. Alongside all of that, the successive high notes that make up the chorus also aligns and allows the members (yes, they were pulled off by multiple members, not just one!) to contribute towards that same powerful force that makes JUSTICE empowering. Given the song’s use of high notes in the choruses, I did wonder how the the producers would top them as part of the final chorus, as just maintaining the same chorus without much change have been an injustice (ha!) to the song. But the ad-libs high note on top of the usual high notes in the final chorus worked like a charm and definitely helped sign off the song in a satisfying manner. Overall, I really liked JUSTICE and the return to form it brought along with it.

JUSTICE (the song) conveys the message that all people are heroes, if they fight for their beliefs and idea of justice (taken from SOOMPI). And while the music video doesn’t have much of an explicit plotline, the video does portray the members being limited in the beginning, breaking free and fighting for themselves (and others). We see SIYEON throw away the dark crown, which was shown at the start alongside the words “For the souls swallowed by the abyss of malevolence“, which makes it represent the idea that some people’s souls become corrupt and this cause them to become ‘evil’ people. I did think the video was a little light on the individual shots, which could have portrayed a bit more of that implicit storyline. Also thought the choreography scenes were a little bare, as they were mainly in that big art gallery-like room.

Days before the comeback, it was announced that SIYEON would be sitting out of promotions due to health reasons. That does leaving a gaping hole for the promotions, given SIYEON’s position as main vocalist. However, SUA and HANDONG step to take over SIYEON’s high note without any problems. Good on them! As for the dance, I thought it looked good. Nothing really stood out to me, but it definitely showcased some artistic flair and a powerful side to the group.

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

[Review] Heaven – TAEYEON (SNSD)

July 10, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SNSD, Taeyeon (SNSD)2 Comments

TAEYEON made her comeback on Monday with her latest single Heaven. This latest release follows on from her November 2023 comeback with the single To. X and the mini-album of the same name.

Heaven is a groovy dance pop track, with the synth work giving off a disco pop groove. The upbeat nature, which comes as part of the disco pop groove, gives Heaven a brightness that feels positive (despite the sinister and creepy visuals of the music video – more on that in the next section of the review). This brightness goes well with the lyrics, which speaks to the feeling of heaven when desires and wants are fulfilled. I also liked the lightness of the arrangement, which makes Heaven an easy-on-the-ears listen. And Heaven glides along with TAEYEON’s effortless and smooth vocals and melodies. Overall, I enjoyed the song. But I think there are ways to make the track stronger. Making it longer could do some wonders to the song. Heaven is over before you realize, spanning just over 2:30 minutes long. It doesn’t help that a light arrangement and smoothness comes with some disadvantages, such as potentially making a song forgettable. You ought to really pay attention to the song to register that it is Heaven. And a short length doesn’t really help with that. I do think Heaven could also benefit from something to anchor us with, such as stronger melodies, given the light/smooth/short approach. The way TAEYEON starts off Heaven‘s chorus was amazing, but I don’t get that same energy through the rest of the chorus.

Despite the song itself showcasing a positive message of what heaven feels like, the music video goes in a different and much darker direction. The contrast is interesting, but worth exploring. In the video, we see TAEYEON prepare food for her lover, so they can experience the same feeling of heaven that she has experienced. The dish in question does involve a few interesting ingredients (she is holding an apple that skin is made from hair, and she chases down a bear) and preparation methods (such as chopping ingredients with an axe). She cooks up a storm, present the dish to her partner, who she watches over whilst they eat her creation. In the end, the partner does experience the same heaven she experiences, but for some reason neither have that same euphoria that she experienced earlier in the video. It does make me wonder if TAEYEON’s character is some sort of serial killer, who gets a high off killing (i.e. the feeling of heaven). And the victim is the lover, who is unable to provide the same high anymore after they are dead, so she moves onto the next person. This theory might explain the final scenes of the music video.

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

[Review] Klaxon – (G)I-DLE

July 9, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged i-dle2 Comments

(G)I-DLE started the year strong with their 2nd studio album, 2, lead by the pre-release single Wife, title track Super Lady and the unexpecting hit single Fate. The group has now returned with a new mini-album titled I Sway, which is lead by the single Klaxon. Following promotions for Klaxon, the group will embark on their third world tour, as announced back in May.

I am a bit torn as to whether I like Klaxon. It has potential to be a hit and there are some likeable elements in the song, but it doesn’t surpass the likes of DUMDi DUMDi (a (G)I-DLE summer time hit from 2020). The track itself had brightness and energy. But it felt held back and Klaxon didn’t fully embrace these summer time essentials. On the other hand, Klaxon also features brass elements and upbeatness, and these definitely helped sell Klaxon as a summer time song. But beyond that, the backing of Klaxon does still feel rather basic and not as bold as (G)I-DLE’s more recent tracks. Had Klaxon embraced some boldness (perhaps accented the background a bit better) and maintained the current summery vibes, the song would have a lot more bite to it and it could have rivaled the other Summer time hit (G)I-DLE already have under their belt. As for their vocals and rapping, I thought they were good. Again, basic melodies. But the members delivered those well. An awkward aspect of Klaxon are the hooks. The song’s two main hooks were rather lackluster and not as enticing as in the past. These dry out the song, though I have to admit the randomness of the “Hon hon hon hon hon honk” hook does keep things a bit interesting. Without any context (like how Klaxon is another word for horn), it feels like an odd choice. I just wished it was delivered with a little more emotion. The other hook in the song, the “Oo, Oo, Wa-Oo“, was indeed much better in terms of effect and delivery, but also lacked innovation and felt typical. Overall, another song that has resulted in mixed feelings.

As for the music video, the members fully embraced the summer heat and made it into a sexy summery music video. I liked that, especially the fact the members did not shy away from donning the outfits throughout the video. SHUSHUA definitely stole my attention with her looks throughout the video, with MINNIE’s curls being a close second. However, I am not keen on whatever the hair situation YUQI had on the beach. Elsewhere in the video, it appears the members are chasing someone. But it only becomes apparent towards the end of the video during the desert scenes. The connection here with the song is that the members have fallen for this mystery person and are driving after them to get their attention (presumably by honking the horn of the car they are in).

The choreography for this comeback looks relatively simple. And I quite liked that. It works well with the basic profile of the song, and sometimes simplicity is indeed better. I liked the various key moves that accompany the hooks of the song (not matter how basic and typical they sounded), as well as the cascading bit in the bridge of Klaxon led by Minnie.

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

[Album Review] Killin’ It (1st Studio Album) – P1Harmony

July 8, 2024August 3, 2024Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged P1HarmonyLeave a comment

Believe it or not, but P1Harmony only released their first studio album in February of this year*. For some reason, I have it in my mind that they have already reached this feat ages ago. Titled Killin’ It, the album is lead by the single of the same name. In addition to the title track, the album also features 9 tracks on it (some of which I am dubbing as hidden gems). Continue reading to find out which of the 10 songs on the album have been rated 10/10.

Overall, this studio album garners a very positive review from me. P1Harmony is not one that springs to mind when I think a KPOP artist who has the strong albums or even repertoire of side tracks. But I am impressed with P1Harmony’s fairly consistent output over the last year on the mini-album front and Killin’ It proves that once again. I do recommend you check out this album (per the recommended sticker at the bottom of the page) and hopefully you finding something cool and engaging that only P1Harmony can put out!

*While I have moved onto February 2024 albums, I will be swinging back to a couple more January 2024 albums on this blog in the near future.

1. Killin’ It (때깔) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Killin’ It. (8/10)

2. Late Night Calls – Following the title track is a R&B based track, which features a more mellowed mix of acoustic guitar and electronic percussion in its instrumentation. I liked the melodic and vocal focus of Late Night Calls, which is a different motif than what P1Harmony puts out usually. KEEHO’s vocals were distinct and showcased well in the song. While the way Late Night Calls comes together makes for a pleasant listen, a stronger hook would have made Late Night Calls better, but what we got was pretty good in itself. (8/10)

3. Everybody Clap – Despite not being as heavy handed as their title track, Everybody Clap returns the album to what P1Harmony is most known for – hip-hop dance tracks. That being said, Everybody Clap is quite a lively and well-balanced hype track. I quite enjoyed Everybody Clap’s chorus, particularly how it delivers the eventuating hip-hop and hype energy. From the electric guitar that accompanies the song’s catchy and playful descending melody, to the clean vocals and energetic rapping from the group. I found a lot to like in Everybody Clap. (9/10)

4. Love Story (꿍꿍이) – Love Story is the closest we get to a ballad on this album. It falls into the pop realm, but also exudes a soft profile that is synonymous to ballads and incorporates an acoustic touch. This was a good direction for P1Harmony, fitting in better with their sound profile than compared to the more usual slower and classical route. Their vocals also sound very nice in the track. I liked how they elongated the ‘Love Story’ references in the choruses, which helps makes it dreamier and more delicate. The sing-song rapping was also perfect for this motif, and is an excellent way for the rappers to twist themselves to fit into Love Story. (8/10)

5. Countdown to Love – The hip-hop returned in Countdown to Love. But this time around, the track features an impressive backdrop of electronic guitars and drums that gets the adrenaline rushing. It isn’t necessary a rock track, but it is similar to that realm. Countdown to Love does diverge into hip-hop through some trap synths and characteristic rapping from the group. Despite the changes in the background, I liked how the song maintains a consistent energy. This made the song exciting and thrilling to listen to. I do think a more memorable hook would have sealed the deal on the song, however. (9/10)

6. Emergency – Emergency pushes things further than the previous song, thanks to its more dynamic flair. The instrumental maintains the rock-like sound and hip-hop affair from the previous and title track, but also features a much punchier synth work. I like the small 90s detailing in the background, as well. The vocals and rapping definitely has this excitement to them, which makes Emergency prolific and carries us through the song’s intensity. I am always excited to listen to Emergency, as I know it will be a blast each time. And I have listened to it so much that it has become one of my favourite side tracks from P1Harmony. (10/10)

7. 2Nite – Another side track that attracted my attention is 2Nite. This one brings some funk and groovy energy into the album. No matter how many times I listen to 2Nite, the funky and groovy direction makes P1Harmony sound classier and upgraded. Nothing against the hip-hop dance style P1Harmony is known for (as that can be exciting on occasion), but it isn’t my personal style. The bridge was probably strong evidence of this additional class, as I found that part to be oozing with style. Again, the vocals were well polished and clean, while the rapping adds intensity. I also find the “Oh No!” at the start of the chorus to be super punchy and catchy. (9/10)

8. Let Me Love You – Let Me Love You maintains the funk and groove in this electronic track. The instrumental already captures my attention, but there are a few additional elements that makes Let Me Love You stand out to me. The first has to be the choruses’ crunchy harmonisation with the backing vocals. The second is JIUNG and KEEHO’s singular hoarse line in the pre-chorus (that really took my breath away). And the third is SOUL’s smooth and flowy line in the bridge. These three elements alone was able to bump Let Me Love You to a perfect rating. (10/10)

9. Street Star – Hip-hop comes back into play in Street Star. It is the first song on the album where I didn’t feel the instrumentation. I felt there was a lot going on in it and this made it distracting for me. I did like the attitude and angst the members infused into the song via their respective deliveries, particularly the rap line of P1Harmony. I also enjoyed the fast and forward trajectory of the song. Just wished the instrumental was more palatable for me. (7/10)

10. I See U – Wrapping up this 10-track studio album is I See U, a hip-hop track that is dedicated to the fans. I like the happier and upbeat motif this number has. The way the members delivery the “You” in the chorus was actually quite earwormy and catchy. I also enjoyed the pace delivery of the rapping, which matches up with the slower beat of the song and also eases us off the album quite nicely. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

[Review] Sticky – KISS OF LIFE

July 7, 2024July 6, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged KISS OF LIFE3 Comments

Another group who made their comeback earlier in the week was KISS OF LIFE, who returns with their second single album Sticky. The title track also shares the same name. This summer comeback follows on from their Midas Touch comeback earlier in the year.

While KISS OF LIFE have stuck to more powerful pieces in the past, Sticky offers something a little different. Sticky is still a summer track, but it is more flowy, melodic and lowkey than other summer-time tracks that we have heard in the past. And it is this distinction that makes Sticky stand out and feel extremely charming to me. I usually think of something more dynamic and energetic for this season, but the laid-back vibes of this song is ideal for moments in Summer when you do not want to be moving about as much. The Afrobeats instrumentation felt extremely peaceful and soothing, and the percussion was nicely light but prominent enough to ensure Sticky‘s upbeat motif. I also quite liked the violins present throughout the track as well. The melodies and hooks were well delivered by KISS OF LIFE, and they ring in my head even after the song finishes. And needlessly to say, their vocals were quite good, putting Sticky on par with the rest of their discography. That brief touch of rapping just prior to the final chorus was also well executed and placed in the track. I guess the only weakness in Sticky (and it is negligible given what I had already described about the song), and is the case with other subdued songs, is that all parts of the song really need to be compelling to avoid the song being forgotten. While the choruses does hold Sticky‘s ground, it could be argued that the verses didn’t hit the mark as well as they could have. But I am not as fussed by this and think Sticky managed to push through as a memorable track.

It would have been really cool if this music video was shot in a one-camera shot style. This could have really boosted the music video’s profile and earned a lot of praise from me (and probably a lot of the viewers). What we got was more of a faux version of that one camera shot style. It is not the same, but we got a similar product in the end. I really liked how KISS OF LIFE really pushed the boundaries in the video, making it sexier to what KPOP is used to. I also like how they made sure to portray the lightness of the song through the video as well, which was much appreciated by me. We don’t see anything too harsh in terms of lighting or colours. Everything felt easy on the eyes and looked good. I would like to know what the ending means. It felt like a cliffhanger, perhaps to their next release.

KISS OF LIFE really turns up the heat with the accompanying routine for Sticky. A fair bit of twerking and a lot of sexiness is delivered by the group. I like that they are not afraid and definitely pushes the boundaries in this regard. I did think dancers could have made this performance a bit more dynamic and showed off some additional chemistry that we saw in the music video.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Cheeky Icy Thang – STAYC

July 6, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged STAYC2 Comments

After a string of successful title tracks on mini and single albums since their debut in 2020 (such as last year’s Teddy Bear, RUN2U and ASAP), STAYC has returned with their first studio album Metamorphic. Leading the charge on this album is the title track Cheeky Icy Thang.

Cheeky Icy Thang receives mixed feelings from me. I liked some parts of Cheeky Icy Thang, but other parts felt questionable (at best). Let’s start off with the positives of Cheeky Icy Thang. The electronic strutting instrumental had good drive and forward momentum. There was also this attitude to it, which I wished the song explored a bit more. This could have made Cheeky Icy Thang into something else. I also enjoyed the detailing in the background. This added a layer of the playful STAYC colour that we all know and enjoy, and also kept the backing as a compelling listen. Very brief parts of Cheeky Icy Thang, such as the second half of the verses, had this vibrancy from the members’ vocals, which adds more STAYC colour to the song. I am not exactly sure if it fits in, but considering the other weaker points Cheeky Icy Thang which I am about to speak to, I am labelling this vibrancy as a positive. I also find the concept of the some of the delivery to be quite good, such as the autotune that bridges the verses and choruses. Now onto the weaker parts of the song. The lyrics were definitely questionable and felt more like gibberish. “Whisky ring a ring ding dong” just doesn’t do it for me. While I did like some of the vocals and concept of some of the delivery (as mentioned above), the silliness of the lyrics made the delivery and execution awkward. The use of rap-singing felt overused in the song, as well. Lastly, the abrupt ending (and lack of a bridge and final chorus) meant Cheeky Icy Thang didn’t close in a satisfying way. Cheeky Icy Thang has its charms and it could be a matter of further listens to really have the song grab me. But for now, mixed feelings is the best way to describe my thoughts on the song.

While that the above is how I think about the song, the music video fairs a bit better. I liked watching the accompanying video to Cheeky Icy Thang. That strutting vibe that I mentioned above is reflected in the music video, when the members cause chaos behind the scenes at a modelling shoot. I think this is supposed to demonstrate a “cool” side of the group. Elsewhere, the chaos continues on outside on the streets. What I saw reflects the summery season with the bright sunlight, cheerful smiles from the members and a casual vibe. The music video was designed to be light-hearted and fit in with the dynamism of the song, which I personally think worked.

Choreography wise, it looked okay. I am not sure what would be a better way to show Cheeky Icy Thang in some dance moves, but I am not sure what we saw in the routine was that. I did like the part of the routine for the instrumental break, however. The ending pose is growing on me, but looked a little awkward at first.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] FOREVER – BABYMONSTER

July 5, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged BABYMONSTER2 Comments

Back in May, YG Entertainment announced plans for BABYMONSTER to return later in the year with their first studio album, and that a single would be released in July as a pre-release. Well, it is now July and YG Entertainment confirmed BABYMONSTER release officially dropped on Monday as promised! Hahaha… Remember those days? The pre-release single is titled FOREVER and follows on from the release of STUCK IN THE MIDDLE and SHEESH from earlier on in the year.

I am genuinely surprised with FOREVER, particularly when we hit the choruses. BABYMONSTER’s songs have not really pulled me in thus far, but FOREVER is the first to catch my attention and bring out a positive reaction from me (for the most part). The pop vibes in the chorus are different from what YG usually produces and releases for their artists. For the instrumentation, FOREVER‘s club-like background during chorus hits the mark, for me. The vocal work in the pre-chorus and choruses of FOREVER were nicely executed and further demonstrates that there is promise for the group. Even I received the rapping throughout the track positively. But while I do appreciate all of this, FOREVER does have a few issues that limits the song’s potential collectively. Firstly, I felt FOREVER was disjointed due to the various pauses between different segments of the song. If the song was ‘tighter’ on many fronts, I felt this would have made FOREVER more cohesive as one piece. Secondly, FOREVER suffers due to the presence of the not-so-innovative second verse. It isn’t the rapping that gets me (per my earlier comments), but rather it is the breakdown that has to accompany the second verse rap in every YG song. I don’t see the need to stick to a breakdown every single time. Surely, someone would have realized this by now. I also think this sequence features the same (or extremely similar) synths to what we heard in SHEESH, which confirms to me there is a lack of innovation at the company. Thirdly, not keen on the soft utterances of “Like I’mma live forever” and “Like I’mma like I’mma” in the background of the chorus. They felt needless and don’t add anything to the song. Overall, FOREVER is a refreshing turn for BABYMONSTER (and their company), but there are some issues meddling its overall potential.

With KPOP’s growing presence at the big fashion shows, we see BABYMONSTER get ready for one of them in the music video for FOREVER. And following that, they have fun in each other’s company, what is assume, is following that fashion show. I liked the classy yet modern looks they had on throughout the video, and the sets were pretty cool. However, I do feel like there is a slip in standards. YG Entertainment videos always scream out to me for its high quality, but I don’t feel that here.

FOREVER has one of those routines that looks goods and feels fitting for the song. But it didn’t have anything in it that really stands out.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Special] KPOPREVIEWED’s Personal Favourite Songs from the 1st Half of 2024 & more

July 2, 2024July 1, 2024Posted in JPOP, KPOP, Special, Western POPTagged aespa, Charlie Puth, DAY6, DOYOUNG (NCT), ENHYPEN, Gyubin, HUH YUNJIN (LE SSERAFIM), IU, KISS OF LIFE, MAX, NAYEON (TWICE), ONF, RIIZE, SEOLA (WJSN), Stray Kids, ZEROBASEONE5 Comments

One of the first posts after 30 June each year is my ‘Personal Favourite’ post. Each year, to help round out the first half of the year, I post a list of my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of the year. As we are now in July 2024, it is time to post my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of 2024 (with a few extra tidbits).

For this year’s post, I am following what I did last (and the year before that) year, as I quite liked how that turned out. In addition to the usual list of 10 songs (which are in no particular order and not related to my reviews as songs do grow immensely on me) for the first half of 2023, I will also be posting two songs from the November – December 2022 period I personally liked and 3 non-Korean songs (i.e. English, Japanese etc.) by Korean artists that caught my attention so far this year. So without further delays, here are the list of my personal favourite songs of the year thus far (in no particular order, of course).

From November – December 2023

Personal favourite non-Korean songs of 2024 thus far

Personal favourite KPOP songs of the year so far (January – June 2024)

[Special] KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Charts – Songs from July 2023 to June 2024

July 1, 2024July 1, 2024Posted in Special, Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

As we have already wrapped up another July to June period, here is a recap of a full year’s worth of Weekly KPOP Charts winners!

These are the song that topped the Weekly KPOP Charts segment between July 2023 and June 2024 (inclusive). These charts are decided me. As such, songs that I prefer rank higher as I tend to gravitate towards them more.

Normally, the same artists return to the top of the charts throughout the year. But I also tend to surprise myself when an unexpected artist rises to the top of the charts. There were a few surprises over the last year.

So let’s have this walk down memory lane and see who topped the Weekly KPOP Charts between July 2023 and June 2024

Small Talk – Kim Sung Kyu (INFINITE)
1st Week of July 2023

Cream Soda – EXO
2nd Week of July 2023

ISTJ – NCT DREAM
3rd Week of July 2023

Summer Comes – OH MY GIRL
4th Week of July 2023

DO or DIE – xikers
1st Week of August 2023

LIP GLOSS – THE BOYZ
2nd Week of August 2023
3rd Week of August 2023

Bubble – STAYC
4th Week of August 2023

Baggy Jeans – NCT U
5th Week of August 2023

Social Path – Stray Kids
1st Week of September 2023
4th Week of September 2023

Slow Dancing – V (BTS)
2nd Week of September 2023

Back For More – TXT with Anitta
3rd Week of September 2023