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[Weekly KPOP Chart] Week 3 of June 2026

June 21, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ONFLeave a comment

Welcome to the latest Weekly KPOP Chart post for Week 2 of June 2026, covering 14 to 20 June 2026. Not much to update you on again, so let’s get right to the usual segments!

What else have I been listening to?

Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts that I’ve been listening to. This week was a SPICA-filled week, so I have to link my favourite SPICA song from their discography, Tonight.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

Each week, the top-ranked non-Korean Song on the Weekly KPOP Chart is spotlighted (as this is an area I haven’t been focusing on as much on my blog lately). The non-Korean song from the past week is JACOB’s (from THE BOYZ) SLOW DANCING.

The Chart

ONF’s Open The Door claimed the top spot on the charts this past week. Congratulations to ONF!

Pos.	Title	Artist	Status
1	Open The Door	ONF	(NEW)
2	4 Flowers	MAMAMOO	(▼ 1)
3	DDI RO RI	MEOVV	(RE-ENTER)
4	Do Your Dance	RIIZE	(NEW)
5	ddok ddok ddok	BOYNEXTDOOR	(▲ 25)
6	Baby Flower	tripleS	(RE-ENTER)
7	Suddenly	I.O.I	(RE-ENTER)
8	Atmos	SHINee	(▼ 2)
9	BOOMPALA	LE SSERAFIM	(▼ 2)
10	2 LOVE	STAYC	(NEW)
11	Crow	i-dle	(NEW)
12	TOP 5	ZEROBASEONE	(▲ 7)
13	VIRAL	BOYNEXTDOOR	(▼ 11)
14	In Between Seasons	N.Flying	(NEW)
15	SLOW DANCING	JACOB (THE BOYZ)	(▼ 1)
16	PERMISSION	TAEMIN (SHINee)	(RE-ENTER)
17	Layback	JAY B (GOT7)	(NEW)
18	Dream With Us	TWS	(NEW)
19	EVERLOVE	Park Jinyoung (GOT7)	(▲ 4)
20	BUMPA	BIBI	(RE-ENTER)
21	FLY!	IDID	(RE-ENTER)
22	WDA (Whole Different Animal)	aespa ft. G-DRAGON (BIGBANG)	(RE-ENTER)
23	CPR	B1A4	(RE-ENTER)
24	Mmchk	NEXZ	(RE-ENTER)
25	Girl	SOYOU	(RE-ENTER)
26	Aurora	PARK HYUN KYU	(NEW)
27	DON’T HOLD IT	JUNGHOON	(NEW)
28	Run To Win	DRAGON PONY	(NEW)
29	TNT	CORTIS	(RE-ENTER)
30	MOYA	Kay Park & LNGSHOT	(RE-ENTER)

[Review] DDI RO RI – MEOVV

June 20, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged MEOVVLeave a comment

As promised in MEOVV’s album review for MY EYES OPEN VVIDE, here is my review for MEOVV’s latest comeback single, DDI RO RI. This song, along with their 2nd mini-album titled BITE NOW, was released at the start of the month. This release follows BURNING UP from October 2025 and is yet another MEOVV release that I have not gotten around to reviewing (but will do soon).

I am in two minds about the new track. I actually liked the idea of sampling Johann Sebastian Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. MEOVV really captured the sinister and suspenseful aspects of the classical piece well in other elements of the comeback. However, I don’t think the same can be said about its presence in DDI RO RI. Its presence at the start and throughout the song serves to attract attention. But its continued use is just lacklustre and unexciting. I thought the hip-hop-centric verses were boring. But the pre-choruses were very much the opposite, amping up the song and creating nice momentum towards DDI RO RI‘s chorus. The vocals here were really nice. Unfortunately, the chorus opts not to continue the momentum, repeating the sample in a repetitive loop and revisiting the bland hip-hop motif from the verses. As for the bridge, I liked NARIN’s vocals here, but the part felt unnecessarily rushed. It leads into the outro chant, which is my favourite part of DDI RO RI. The instrumental seems to layer the vocals over the repetitive loop of the sample and trap elements. It isn’t bad, but I wish there was a bit more hype and oomph to the outro. A lot of DDI RO RI was missing sparks to do the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor sample justice.

I am very impressed with the music video. The visuals look as if you had front row seats when they were filming the video. The ‘vampire in the attic/basement’ medieval concept goes nicely with the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor sample, which is commonly associated with Dracula. It also shows their rise from being hidden figures to the public eye quite well. There is also an unnerving side to the video that makes it quite intriguing to watch. I am mainly talking about the parts where the members appear with very plastic-looking makeup and silver hair, which definitely adds to that whole attracting attention aspect of the comeback. The same can be said about that whole montage at the end alongside the outro’s chant, where the silver hair look also makes an appearance.

On the stage, the group’s serious and charismatic visuals work really well alongside DDI RO RI. They also encapsulate those sinister and suspenseful elements from the song’s sample quite nicely to showcase their intensity and confidence in the routine.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Open The Door – ONF

June 19, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ONFLeave a comment

Back in February 2025, ONF made their comeback with Part 1 of their second studio album, ONF: MY IDENTITY, led by the single The Stranger. Pitching a Part 1 usually means there would be a subsequent part. But when it came to their November 2025 comeback, ONF return with a completely different sound to usual in Put It Back, and with their 9th mini-album, UNBROKEN, confusing everyone as we were expecting Part 2 of their second studio album. The sound change was due to ONF’s long-term producer, Hwang Hyun, being absent from production. But upon departing WM Entertainment earlier this year, the group has rejoined forces with Hwang Hyun under KI Entertainment to release Part 2 of ONF: My Identity and the title track Open The Door.

With ONF working with Monotree (Hwang Hyun) again, you know that they are in safe hands. And this is evident in their new song, particularly when it comes to its chorus, melodies and the familiarity of the members’ vocals. It all feels perfect for ONF and feels like a solid addition to their discography. Open The Door sees ONF bring in some rock intensity into the fold and the producers cleverly use it to their advantage to intensify parts of the track (like in the intro, outro and chorus). If I wanted anything more to Open The Door, it would to just hit it harder with the rock sound. The use of the “Door Door Door” echo as part of the instrumental in the intro and outro was quite interesting. I also enjoyed the simplicity of the “Open the Door” hook, which was quite memorable for me. The Latin in the bridge was a surprise, but served as a nice vocal interlude from all the members. And talking about vocals, we have to acknowledge the amazing outro, which literally ends with a high note from the members. Open The Door was a definite return to form for ONF, and like most ONF songs, I liked this one, as well.

The video makes perfect sense in the context of the song and its lyrics, and I also liked the encouraging messages it seeks to convey. The lyrics of Open The Door encourages listeners to ‘open the door’ and embrace the unknown beyond the door in our minds, particularly when you are in a dark place. The music video sees the members suffering from their inner demons and being confined by their own minds, before seeking to open the door to discover what sits on the other side. In the process, they escape and are able to destroy their inner demons.

The intense rock moments in Open The Door lends well for the performance, with the members able to show off with some intense choreography in the intro, pre-choruses, choruses and outro. I really liked the domino effect at the start of the routine and there are subtle door references to look out for in the routine, such as knocking and turning the door knob moves. Very relevant!

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

[Review] Do Your Dance – RIIZE

June 16, 2026June 17, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged RIIZELeave a comment

RIIZE kicks off the week with their new single Do Your Dance and their 2nd mini-album, II. It has been over 6 months since their last release, Fame, and over a year since their studio album Odyssey (featuring the title track Fly Up). An album review is coming up for that album, but first, my thoughts on the new single.

Unfortunately, Do Your Dance doesn’t garner a positive reaction from me. Production-wise, I think the electronic background is the song’s strongest (and only) asset. There was so much potential to it. And yet, the opportunity was not seized. Amongst the dynamic and intense synth work, you can hear the hip-hop influence throughout the song, with the instrumental break really concentrating that influence in a straight-forward manner. The buildup during the pre-chorus was amazing and created some heightened suspense that just didn’t go anywhere. Beyond Do Your Dance‘s instrumental, I don’t like the rest of the song. The lack of melodies, the monotonous and repetitive “Heads, Hips, Shoulders, Toes” chant that is intended to be the song’s primary hook yet sparks nothing, and the fact that the members are stripped of any individual character to all sound the same. There is some potential for the chorus to catch on, but the way I have described it in this review makes it looks bleak. I am honestly not sure what the producers were thinking for Do Your Dance.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the music video for Do Your Dance looks really cool. In case you didn’t notice, here were some impressive moments from the video that I noticed: the ‘hallway’ set folded out to become the stage for the first chorus; the spinning transition between the first chorus and second verse (flawless); the wavy platform during the second verse (innovative); the lead-up to and the transition between ANTON and SOHEE between the second verse and chorus; the jump transition into the dance break and the pyrotechnic waterfall at the end (which contrasted nicely with the rest of the set and the members still standing out during this sequence).

Another thing RIIZE nailed in this comeback is the choreography. There was sharpness, intensity, synchronisation and chemistry between one another, all of which made this routine really worth checking out. Alongside the song’s disappointing chorus, I liked how the moves were paced with the chant and still somehow made sure that it remained balance with intensity. The hip-hop dance break was also awesome. Once again, RIIZE really killed it with their choreography.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Album Review] MY EYES OPEN VVIDE (1st Mini Album) – MEOVV

June 14, 2026Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged MEOVV2 Comments

Before I get to reviewing their latest title track this week, let’s have a closer look at MEOVV’s 1st mini album since their debut – MY EYES OPEN VVIDE. Released in May 2025, the mini-album is led by the title track, DROP TOP. In addition to the title track, the 6-track mini-album features the pre-release single HANDS UP, as well as past tracks such as their debut single MEOW and later comeback tracks TOXIC and BODY. All music videos and links to their pre-existing reviews are down below.

ICYMI: MEOVV most recently returned with their 2nd mini-album, BITE NOW, and the title track, DDI RO RI. It will be up for review sometime this week (as mentioned earlier).

1. HANDS UP (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of HANDS UP. (6.5/10)

2. DROP TOP – Click here for my full review of DROP TOP. (8/10)

3. MEOW – Click here for my full review of MEOW. (6.5/10)

4. BODY – Released alongside the single TOXIC in November 2024, BODY is an energetic hip-hop track that expresses the message of confidence. It features a catchy chorus and cool percussive elements in the instrumental, making the track quite attractive. I did like some of the vocal moments in the second verse, but I remember the chanty delivery elsewhere in the song quickly dried up its appeal. The instrumental break that closes out BODY features really cool choreography that I suggest you check out. (7.5/10)

5. TOXIC – Click here for my full review of TOXIC. (8/10)

6. LIT RIGHT NOW – The only other new song on the mini-album, other than DROP TOP, is LIT RIGHT NOW. At first, I thought the song was a bit weak, but repeated listens really warmed me up to it. LIT RIGHT NOW delves more into R&B territory, and there is an ear-worminess to that that makes it an appealing listen. It is a nice track to ease us out of the mini-album, and I enjoyed the slow groove it produced. That saxophone synth at the end was also super cool, and I liked how it reflected the song’s hooky melody, which further extends its appeal. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.4/10

MEOVV’s teaser image for *MY EYES OPEN VVIDE*

[Weekly KPOP Chart] Week 2 of June 2026

June 14, 2026Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged MAMAMOOLeave a comment

Welcome to the latest Weekly KPOP Chart post for Week 2 of June 2026, covering 7 to 13 June 2026. Not much to update you on, so let’s get right to the usual segments!

What else have I been listening to?

Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts that I’ve been listening to. The song from the past week was SECRET’s Madonna. Earlier this week, we got news that the second-generation group may be returning based on a social media account, and that was confirmed when a teaser for their upcoming release and a 2026 version of Madonna were released (linked below).

JUNG HYOSUNG and JANG HANA will be returning, with new member YEBIN joining the lineup (see the video above; I am impressed with YEBIN’s addition). Unfortunately, there has been no confirmation that SONG JI EUN will be participating in this comeback. I am holding out hope that she will, but it is looking unlikely. With or without her, I will take any form of a SECRET comeback.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

The Chart

MAMAMOO’s 4 Flowers claimed the top spot on the charts this past week. Congratulations again to MAMAMOO!

Pos.	Title	Artist	Status
1	4 Flowers	MAMAMOO	(=)
2	VIRAL	BOYNEXTDOOR	(NEW)
3	LEMONADE	aespa	(▲ 2)
4	METRONOME	izna	(NEW)
5	IF I	TREASURE	(▼ 3)
6	Atmos	SHINee	(▲ 7)
7	BOOMPALA	LE SSERAFIM	(▲ 8)
8	CELEBRATION	LE SSERAFIM	(RE-ENTER)
9	Heavy Serenade	NMIXX	(▼ 2)
10	WAY 2 U	FLARE U	(RE-ENTER)
11	PWLT	Krystal	(NEW)
12	Spring Breeze, Again	WANNA ONE	(▲ 6)
13	YEAH! YEAH!	Jay Park & LNGSHOT	(NEW)
14	Slow Dancing	JACOB (THE BOYZ)	(NEW)
15	Crescendo	NMIXX	(RE-ENTER)
16	SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA	BABYMONSTER	(NEW)
17	Curious	AND2BLE	(RE-ENTER)
18	OMG!	ALPHA ONE DRIVE	(RE-ENTER)
19	TOP 5	ZEROBASEONE	(▼ 3)
20	Stick With You	TXT	(▲ 4)
21	WYLD	TAEYONG (NCT)	(RE-ENTER)
22	IDK ME	YOON SANHA (ASTRO)	(▼ 5)
23	EVERLOVE	Park Jinyoung (GOT7)	(RE-ENTER)
24	ECHO	EPEX	(NEW)
25	UNCHILD	UNCHILD	(RE-ENTER)
26	GRAVITY	XIA	(▼ 20)
27	NO REASON	YOON SANHA (ASTRO)	(NEW)
28	ACAI	CORTIS	(▼ 17)
29	Helicopter	CROSS GENE	(NEW)
30	ddok ddok ddok	BOYNEXTDOOR	(RE-ENTER)

[Album Review] We Are (8th Mini Album) – i-dle

June 13, 2026Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged i-dleLeave a comment

Ahead of their upcoming comeback next month, it is time to review i-dle’s (formerly (G)I-DLE) 8th mini-album, We Are. This particular mini-album dropped back in May last year and was the first release since their rebrand as i-dle. It features a total of 6 tracks, including the pre-release single, Girlfriend, and the title track, Good Thing.

ICYMI: i-dle returned earlier this year with the single “Mono” (ft. skaiwater).

1. Good Thing (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of Good Thing. (7.5/10)

2. Girlfriend – Click here for my full review of Girlfriend. (9/10)

3. Love Tease – Love Tease is a favourite of mine from this mini-album. The retro/disco synth work was super fun and ear-catching, while the members’ delivery of the all-English song was quite sharp. Props to YUQI, one of the song’s co-composers. The ‘Love Tease’ repetition was super simple, yet also such a memorable aspect of the song. This ‘simplicity’ factor in Love Tease runs throughout the song, and I think it could have done so much more. But this doesn’t change the fact that what we got was quite addictive and a gem on the mini-album. (9/10)

4. Chain – Dark and sultry vibes come off the all-English, R&B-leaning Chain. This changes up the tone of the mini-album, which I really appreciated. I particularly enjoyed how mature the members sound and the sensual hints in the lyrics (co-written by MINNIE). Again, Chain is another song where more could have been explored to make it more interesting. (8.5/10)

5. Unstoppable – i-dle takes us deeper into R&B territory, with Unstoppable also leaning into mid-tempo pop territory. I enjoyed the warmth and cosiness this track offers. Written by MIYEON, this song really highlights her vocals. All the other members also sound amazing throughout the song, but MIYEON elevates Unstoppable in a way that feels impressive and noteworthy. Her ad-libs were also awesome. (8.5/10)

6. If You Want (그래도 돼요) – We Are ends with a beautiful and soothing ballad. If You Want has that sway that I like when it comes to ballads, and I also enjoyed the way it developed. The vocal work was really nice, and the song’s progression felt extremely gratifying. Written by SHUHUA (her first song!), If You Want was a lovely way to end the mini-album. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] IF I – TREASURE

June 13, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged TREASURELeave a comment

With each release that TREASURE puts out, I become more convinced that their company, the famous YG Entertainment, has no clue what to do with them. Their releases are consistent: they average 1-2 comebacks a year, but their sound profile changes frequently. After some strong performances exploring pop and retro-pop releases with LAST NIGHT, YELLOW, and PARADISE in 2024 and 2025, the group has made their first comeback of the year with a sound change (or reversion) with the title track, IF I, and their new mini-album, NEW WAV.

TREASURE hails from YG Entertainment, which is known in KPOP for its more hip-hop-leaning releases. And they did start off with some of that sound in their initial releases. Hence why I described this as a sound reversion. But at least the music back then had some meat to it. IF I perplexes me, however. It is very clear that the new song has mature and edgy vibes, intense production, and powerful delivery from the members throughout. But none of it lands. The production feels very generic and bland, and there isn’t a memorable aspect to the song. There isn’t much of a hook I can grab onto for the song to grow on me. IF I simply blur by with little recognition. To the point where I didn’t even get a chance to realise that the entirety of IF I was in English. Beyond that, I don’t have much else to say about the song, unfortunately.

The music video did fair a lot better than the song. I liked how IF I‘s edgy vibes translated into the music video’s visuals. The members looked cool and bold throughout the video, particularly in their styling. The monochromatic nature of the video helps build intensity and also makes it look old-school. Some of the reverse shots and the off-centring of some solo parts also make it feel modern and trendy.

Again, the members do a good job of showcasing the edgy vibes and their stage presence in IF I‘s performance. But what I remember the most from the entire performance was the penguin dance (not sure how else to call it) and the subsequent body vibration bit that occurs during the “IF I, IF I, IF I” part of the song/chorus.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Review] VIRAL – BOYNEXTDOOR

June 11, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged BOYNEXTDOORLeave a comment

After pre-releasing ddok ddok ddok a couple of weeks ago, BOYNEXTDOOR has finally returned with their first studio album, HOME, and its title track, VIRAL. This comeback marks BOYNEXTDOOR’s first release since last October’s mini-album, The Action, and single, Hollywood Action.

At first, VIRAL didn’t register as a BOYNEXTDOOR song to me. The new song sees the members adopt a more serious, emotional tone, which is very different from their usual vibrant, energetic hip-hop sound. But as the song progresses and the members start showing more of themselves, BOYNEXTDOOR maintains their usual sound in their delivery of VIRAL, so it registers as a BOYNEXTDOOR song. Anyhow, VIRAL features ‘intense guitar work’, which brought on a cool and classy vibe. But alongside the guitar work, the beat and percussive elements of the instrumentation give VIRAL some rhythmic flair. I really liked the chorus’s smoothness (thanks to the melodies and the members’ delivery), while the synths in the chorus just prick it at the right timing. WOOHAK and JAEHYUN’s rapping in the second verse also had the right level of punch. The same can be said as VIRAL goes through its tonal shifts, allowing for more intensity and delicate moments within the song, making it more interesting and dynamic. I also appreciate that VIRAL lasts more than 3 minutes, which allows the song to shift its tone and explore itself a bit more.

The hope in VIRAL‘s lyrics is that the song they created reaches their former lover, with whom they hope to rekindle their love with. But while the song does that, we see the members go through intense moments at home, at a factory, alone in a field, and during a weather event throughout the music video. These most likely represent the tribulations they are going through without their lover, as they desire to return to their former lover for a better future. I really liked the moody tone and colour of the music video. This is just my take on the music video, however, so I am open to hearing other theories if you have them.

This performance really showcases BOYNEXTDOOR’s capabilities on stage. I liked how the routine captured the smoothness of the chorus’s opening line, the delicacy of the stripped-back moments, and the song’s more intense moments. It all created a dynamic and cool performance to watch and enjoy.

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

[Review] 4 Flowers – MAMAMOO

June 8, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged MAMAMOO1 Comment

Welcome back to MAMAMOO! It has been four years since MAMAMOO’s last group comeback with ILLELLA. Since then, the members have been focused on unit and extensive solo careers. But as confirmed late last year, the group will return with new music and embark on a world tour. The first of the two events occurred last week with the release of the special single album 4WARD and its title track, 4 Flowers. The second of the two events (i.e., the world tour) will start later this month.

Given we have been deprived of MAMAMOO material for the last four years, it wasn’t going to take much for me to like the new song. I did have some concerns that the release could have been similar to some of the later songs in their career, which I agree aren’t among MAMAMOO’s best tracks. But upon hearing 4 Flowers, I am reassured that the track focuses on MAMAMOO’s greatest asset – their vocals. Their vocals just elevate the track, giving it some really stunning, enjoyable melodies to sink into. I enjoyed how graceful everything sounded, and then, when it came to the bridge, the members added some punch to the song through their delivery. I also liked how they sneaked some of their powerful vocals through ad-libs, and the shared harmonies between the four members at the end brought the track to a wonderful and touching close. On the instrumental side, 4 Flowers is more of a pleasant mid-tempo pop song, with beautiful piano and classical elements, lovely guitar work and nice drumming. Altogether, MAMAMOO’s grand return after four years, through the track 4 Flowers, is a nice reflection of what MAMAMOO does best.

It is very clear from its lyrics that 4 Flowers expresses their strong bond as a group over time. With lyrics such as “Even scattered, we share the same root“, “Flowers bloom, and flowers wilt away again,” and “After parting, we love even more“, you can definitely hear and see the everlasting bond that connects them together. In the music video, we see solo shots of the members in the sterile set, feeling empty and isolated. When they come together in the group shot, as in the featured image above, and as they hand outside in nature, the set becomes less empty and the colour in their world returns. Also, with the lyrics centred on flowers, the nature scenes felt logical and natural.

I used the word graceful earlier to describe their vocals, but I feel I must extend this out to their performance as well. I liked how they included choreography to embrace the more upbeat moments of the routine while maintaining their vocal focus, which is a nice throwback to their earlier stages that always did the same.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] Atmos – SHINee

June 7, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged SHINeeLeave a comment

It has been over a year since SHINee’s last release as a group, Poet | Artist, which featured the late JONGHYUN and celebrated their 17th anniversary. Since then, the members have been busy focusing on solo careers and activities. Earlier this week, the quartet regrouped to release Atmos, the name of both their 6th mini-album and latest title track.

No matter how many times I have listened to Atmos, I have found myself getting lost in the track. It doesn’t mess around, doesn’t let up and gets right to sounding like a SHINee track. Atmos sees SHINee revisit the house sound they have explored before. However, it is refreshing thanks to its tighter, fuller arrangement and glitchier, more percussive synth work. The bass also gives it so much depth and tone. From the instrumental alone, Atmos has so much energy and momentum that it shows great promise. SHINee’s vocals bring the familiarity and nostalgia to the song. I really liked how the instrumental moulds around the vocals to create such a captivating track. The twists and turns in the pre-choruses keep Atmos interesting, while the stripped-back approach at the start of the first and second choruses was a memorable moment in the song.

The music video depicts the members, despite being in different locations, as all connected in some way. It relates well to the lyrics, which describe experiencing a “perfect love” through each of the five senses, comparing the sensation to floating in the air. Essentially, the video relates the members to the five senses, which are all interconnected. I really liked how the various images and shots were crafted together to match the fast-paced tempo of the song and glitchiness of the synths. The animation sequence and the fireworks at the end were also super cool, with the latter ending the music video in spectacular fashion.

While the group has yet to promote the track on music shows, they have already performed at their latest concert. Even after 18 years, SHINee still manages to dazzle on stage. I enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the routine and the fact that they don’t hold back. I really liked the slight movements and lean that kick off the first and second choruses, as well. Along with that moment in the song, it has become a very memorable moment of the choreography for me.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] LEMONADE – aespa

June 7, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged aespaLeave a comment

After briefly teasing us with their WDA (Whole Different Animal) (featuring G-DRAGON) pre-release a month ago, aespa officially dropped their second studio album and title track at the end of May. Both the album and the title track are titled Lemonade, marking their first comeback since Rich Man.

Even though LEMONADE has had the benefit of multiple listens since its release to grow on me, I just can’t get over how much it sounds like a rehash of their hit Whiplash. There are some differences between the songs, such as LEMONADE having a fuller club-beat instrumentation and a different hook to remember it by. The instrumentation feels attitude-heavy and sassy, just like the former song. I also enjoyed the drive and momentum behind the song. There is a lot of potential in LEMONADE‘s production – it just wasn’t used well. On the other hand, the song’s primary hook has become especially grating as I relistened to LEMONADE in search of something good on the track. The “I’ll make it lemonade, no way, no way, I’ve got no ETA-TA-TA” makes very little sense, and using it as the main feature of LEMONADE was a bit silly, in my opinion. But don’t fret, my search for something decent within LEMONADE did yield the bridge. I enjoyed both the vocals and the rapping in this part of LEMONADE, which was a nice relief from the intensity of the instrumental’s club beats without losing the song’s drive. It would have been better if the bridge had not been sandwiched between the choruses.

My guess, based on the lyrics and what is shown in the video, is that both are exploring the saying “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Throughout the video, the members are nonchalant and don’t worry about much, even as lemons are being hurled at them from the ground or as the giant hole forms in front of them. The members appear to also be taunting someone or something by pouring lemonade onto the ground. The production in the music video was very cool, and the members look amazing throughout, in both retro and modern outfits.

It looks like there were parts of the choreography where the members seemed to be having a blast. We often see aespa in a more serious, stoic light, but this routine manages to embrace both the serious and the lighthearted sides of the group. However, I don’t see anything defining in this routine to be the comeback’s killer move, which is slightly disappointing.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] Week 1 of June 2026

June 7, 2026June 14, 2026Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged MAMAMOOLeave a comment

Welcome to the latest Weekly KPOP Chart post for Week 1 of June 2026, covering 31 May to 6 June 2026.

As I should be focused on reviews today (as mentioned in yesterday’s post), I am going to keep it short. Also, I didn’t listen to anything beyond the music on the charts this week. Though I did listen to a lot of podcasts, they were more background noise I fell asleep to. Anyway, here are the charts!

The Chart

MAMAMOO’s long-awaited comeback with 4 Flowers claimed the top spot on the charts this past week. Congratulations MAMAMOO!

Pos.	Title	Artist	Status
1	4 Flowers	MAMAMOO	(NEW)
2	IF I	TREASURE	(NEW)
3	DDI RO RI	MEOVV	(NEW)
4	AWAKE	CRAVITY	(▲ 16)
5	LEMONADE	aespa	(NEW)
6	GRAVITY	XIA	(NEW)
7	Heavy Serenade	NMIXX	(▼ 1)
8	Motto	ITZY	(▼ 7)
9	LIVE LAST DIE SLOW	TAEYANG (BIGBANG)	(▲ 4)
10	Hooligan	BTS	(RE-ENTER)
11	ACAI	CORTIS	(NEW)
12	MOYA	JAY PARK & LNGSHOT	(NEW)
13	Atmos	SHINee	(NEW)
14	Baby Flower	tripleS	(NEW)
15	BOOMPALA	LE SSERAFIM	(▼ 8)
16	TOP 5	ZEROBASEONE	(▼ 13)
17	IDK ME	YOON SANHA (ASTRO)	(▲ 1)
18	Spring Breeze, Again	WANNA ONE	(NEW)
19	TA TA	KIIRAS	(▲ 5)
20	Glow	XngHan&Xoul	(RE-ENTER)
21	BUMPA	BIBI	(NEW)
22	Girl	SOYOU	(RE-ENTER)
23	Sign	82MAJOR	(RE-ENTER)
24	Stick With You	TXT	(▲ 4)
25	WDA (Whole Different Animal)	aespa ft. G-DRAGON (BIGBANG)	(RE-ENTER)
26	So Cute	HWASA (MAMAMOO)	(RE-ENTER)
27	You, You	TWS	(▲ 3)
28	All Ages	LUCY	(RE-ENTER)
29	CEREMONY	QWER	(RE-ENTER)
30	Curious	AND2BLE	(▼ 28)

[Weekly KPOP Chart] Week 4 of May 2026

June 6, 2026June 7, 2026Posted in Weekly ChartsTagged ITZYLeave a comment

Welcome to the latest Weekly KPOP Chart post for Week 4 of May 2026, covering 24 to 30 May 2026.

You might have noticed that this post is being posted a week late, and I have been quiet on the blog over the last week. Work has been tiring, but I expect to be back on board with new reviews from tomorrow. Thanks for your patience, and see you tomorrow!

The Chart

ITZY’s Motto claimed the top spot on the charts this past week. Congratulations ITZY!

Pos.	Title	Artist	Status
1	Motto	ITZY	(▲ 1)
2	Curious	AND2BLE	(NEW)
3	TOP 5	ZEROBASEONE	(▼ 2)
4	Suddenly	I.O.I	(▲ 2)
5	OMG!	ALPHA DRIVE ONE	(NEW)
6	Heavy Serenade	NMIXX	(▼ 3)
7	BOOMPALA	LE SSERAFIM	(▲ 6)
8	WAY 2 U	FLARE U	(▲ 11)
9	No Tears On The Dancefloor	LEE CHAEYEON	(RE-ENTER)
10	FLY!	IDID	(NEW)
11	CELEBRATION	LE SSERAFIM	(=)
12	EASY	J.SEPH (KARD)	(NEW)
13	LIVE FAST DIE SLOW	TAEYANG (BIGBANG)	(▼ 8)
14	PERMISSION	TAEMIN (SHINee)	(NEW)
15	Mmchk	NEXZ	(▲ 1)
16	Feel It	Rain	(NEW)
17	WYLD	TAEYONG (NCT)	(▲ 4)
18	IDK ME	YOON SANHA (ASTRO)	(NEW)
19	It’s Me	ILLIT	(RE-ENTER)
20	AWAKE	CRAVITY	(RE-ENTER)
21	Crescendo	NMIXX	(RE-ENTER)
22	ddok ddok ddok	BOYNEXTDOOR	(▼ 7)
23	REDRED	CORTIS	(RE-ENTER)
24	TA TA	KIIRAS	(NEW)
25	Highs and Lows	WONPIL (DAY6)	(RE-ENTER)
26	Do You Love Me	SHOWNU x HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)	(NEW)
27	Starlit Voices	BOYFRIEND	(NEW)
28	Stick With You	TXT	(▼ 14)
29	UNCHILD	UNCHILD	(▼ 7)
30	You, You	TWS	(RE-ENTER)

[Review] Motto – ITZY

May 30, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ITZY1 Comment

Following YUNA’s solo debut earlier this year (with Ice Cream), ITZY regroups with their latest single, Motto, from their 12th mini-album of the same name. It is also ITZY’s first release since their November 2025 TUNNEL VISION comeback and the unexpected resurgence through the track THAT’S A NO NO.

Motto has had the benefit of further listens since its release a couple of weeks back. But to be fair, I don’t think Motto needed them. Since its release, Motto has been a satisfying listen that I have really enjoyed. If anything, Motto has grown on me even more and become one of the top releases of the year in my opinion. The track delves into a dreamy synthpop style, with a hint of funkiness and grooviness. In comparison to the rest of their lead singles, Motto‘s instrumental is a little more muted than usual. But that doesn’t mean the ITZY quality isn’t there. I quite enjoyed the choruses, which are a definite highlight of the song. I really liked how clean and straightforward it is. ITZY’s delivery and its melodies are extremely pleasant (in a good way), and I liked how simple yet catchy the hooks were. For the most part, the rest of Motto was also really good. I really liked the relatively intense ramp-up in the second half of the pre-chorus and YEJI’s piercing note just before the final chorus. The only part of Motto that I am not a fan of is when the song gears towards a hip-hop motif in the first half of the pre-chorus. It felt cliché and didn’t fit the rest of the pop track.

ITZY is at the 7-year mark of their music careers. While they are able to survive the 7-year curse that ends other groups’ careers (they renewed their contracts last year with JYP Entertainment), Motto‘s music video serves as a reflection of some sort. This complements Motto‘s lyrics, which are about choosing oneself even in uncertain situations. In this case, their ITZY identity. The music video starts with small replicas of their past music videos, briefly reflecting on their career. They are pulled away to reveal a castle that appears like a blank canvas. Throughout the video, the members go through events and circumstances that help define them, building the castle around them, which they perform in front of at the end.

Many people have noticed that their signature crown move is missing from their performance. But I don’t think it is missing. Reflecting on the song’s lyrics and meaning, the formation the members stand in, and the outward arm movement they make at the very end, these elements symbolise the shape of a crown. In the context of the song, they have become the crown, choosing themselves over anything else, which is probably the biggest honour you can bestow on yourself.

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

[Review] Curious – AND2BLE

May 27, 2026May 27, 2026Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged AND2BLE1 Comment

Earlier this year, YH Entertainment withdrew their “trainees” from ZEROBASEONE (Zhanghao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin) and EVNNE* (Yoo Seungeon) to create the new male group, AND2BLE. Today, the group officially debuted with the single Curious and their debut mini-album, Sequence 01: Curiosity.

*YH Entertainment also withdrew Ji Yunseo from EVNNE, who ended up leaving the company soon after.

Curious is most enticing through its verses. The bold, thumping beat and powerful vocals from Zhanghao and Yoo Seungeon made for a very memorable start to their new chapter. Similarly, the thumping beat and Zhanghao created a really nice flow, while we got a little more from the other members through strong vocal work that followed. To me, the verses were a good showcase of their talents and skills, with their vocals definitely feeling refreshing. Curious ends up being more typical when it comes to the choruses. I did like how they maintained the bold energy in the central piece, but the chanting delivery was very ‘done before’, and the instrumental didn’t feel as exciting as the thumping beats at the start of Curious. After the second run of the chorus, the producers focused on a future house EDM instrumental piece that I have a feeling a few people might describe as loud and noisy. It closes out Curious, and I liked how they blended it with the “Da dda dum” hook from the very start of the song and choruses. This just makes the ending feel cohesive without having to rehash the standard chorus, and it doesn’t detract from the idea of offering something a little “different and new” to keep Curious engaging.

Curious‘s lyrics depict “the group’s confidence and ambition to face the changes brought by dangerous curiosity at the moment of a new beginning without fear” (from Soompi). Some digging around yields the following description from Chosun for the video: “The released video depicts the members waking up with a curious gaze in an experimental composition like a fantasy movie. The mysterious atmosphere, including the strange eyes of the five members staring at the front and the wing-shaped objects, added to the sense of immersion.” With all of this in mind, I am still not sure what the music video is about. But despite that, I do like this mysterious atmosphere, the industrial vibes and the members’ visuals throughout the video.

Performance-wise, it looks good. There is some cool footwork from the members, and I liked the hip-hop motif they brought to the choreography. It isn’t until the EDM instrumental break that the members show off more of their performance skills via an impressive dance break.

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