Author: kpopreviewed

Hi, my name is Tony and I am the man behind the site, kpopreviewed. Currently an university student who wants to introduce people to KPOP and if you are already into KPOP, different groups and bands.

[Weekly Chart] 3rd Week of April 2018

Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Welcome back to this week’s edition of the weekly chart, for the 3rd week of April 2018. Boy, time is flying a little too fast for me. Just a quick update on the site. I will try to keep up with the releases but as I get to the ‘business end’ of my semester, things will get a little hectic and I will fall behind. But I will endeavour to do write reviews for the releases to the best of my ability. Anyhow, let’s get on with this week’s chart!

Topping the charts this week is TWICE with What Is Love?. Last week’s number 1 song, Love It Like It by YDPP, dropped down 1 position to the second position. Following YDPP are two songs jumping over 30 positions from last week to be in this week’s Top 5. This includes Blooming Days by EXO-CBX and Love Tint by Hyungseob X Euiwoong. Finishing off the Top 5 is EXID’s Lady who slipped last week but regained their footing this week.

Mentioned above are very large jumps in positions. Including those mentioned above, we also see the collaboration between Lee Hong Ki and Yoo Hwesung jump from positions 43 to 7. Eric Nam’s Potion also jumped 35 spots to the 17th position.

For more of the charts, scroll down below!

15th Apr – 21st Apr 2018
Title Artist Status
1 What Is Love? TWICE (▲ 1)
2 Love it Like it YDPP (▼ 1)
3 Blooming Days EXO-CBX (▲ 35)
4 Love Tint Hyungseob X Euiwoong (▲ 33)
5 Lady EXID (▲ 9)
6 Jealousy Monsta X (▼ 2)
7 Still Love You Lee Hong Ki (FT Island) & Yoo Hwe Sung (N.Flying) (▲ 36)
8 Shine Pentagon (▲ 5)
9 Sense UNB (▼ 6)
10 Lo Siento Super Junior ft. Leslie Grace (=)
11 Honestly Eric Nam (▲ 8)
12 Giddy Up The Boyz (▲ 5)
13 Call Your Name JBJ (new)
14 Scentist VIXX (new)
15 Snapshot IN2IT (new)
16 District 9 Stray Kids (▼ 5)
17 Potion Eric Nam ft. Woodie Gochild (▲ 35)
18 Dreams Come True WJSN (Cosmic Girls) (▼ 6)
19 The Chance Of Love TVXQ (▲ 9)
20 Banana Allergy Monkey Oh My Girl Banhana (▲ 5)
21 Baby The Rose (new)
22 Look GOT7 (▼ 11)
23 Boomerang Wanna One (▼ 18)
24 She’s Gone Jung Ilhoon (BTOB) (▲ 22)
25 Easy Wheein (Mamamoo) (new)
26 Baby Don’t Stop NCT U (▲ 19)
27 All Eyes One Me Hoya (▼ 7)
28 Starry Night Mamamoo (▼ 21)
29 One Samuel ft. Jung Ilhoon (BTOB) (▼ 11)
30 Candyland UP10TION (▼ 15)

The songs leaving the charts this week (and will not appear on the charts starting next week) are:

  • Spotlight – X:TIME
  • Where Am I Gone – Yang Yoseob (HIGHLIGHT)
  • Boss – NCT U
  • One Shot Two Shot – BoA
  • La La La – Weki Meki
  • Star – VROMANCE
  • Black Dress – CLC

Check back next Sunday for the next week’s chart!

[Review] Snapshot – IN2IT

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

IN2IT have made their comeback to the stage with Snapshot. This is their first comeback since they debuted last year in October with Amazing. Between these two promotional cycles, IN2IT reformed into a 7-member male group, after the departure of Jinsub due to health issues.

Snapshot is a really nice song. It opens up with a really cool verse, which felt extremely groovy and retro. It also took me back to some of the earlier KPOP releases back in the day. The chorus packed a punch with its instrumental, oozing energy and addictiveness. I do find the lyrics aren’t that catchy, with the main hook (for me at least) being the ‘Heartbeat go fast. Heartbeat go slow‘. We do end up losing that groovy vibe as the song conforms to a typical pop song after the first chorus, however that isn’t much of a problem as the song still manages to remain appealing to my tastes. The vocal work is decent but I think the rapping was the main section that showed some flair in the song. The bridge wasn’t special, being standard at best. However, it is the stripped entrance into the final chorus which I thought was the amazing part of the song, prolonging the drop to make the final chorus feel a little more impactful. Snapshot is a song that I would gladly replay again and again for its energy and the heartbeat lines.

I actually thought the video was rather suitable for the song. While it does have that typical vibe to it, the flashy lights and how classy the members looked made the video feel so much cooler and modern. That screen in the background displays really cool effect that compliments both the set built around it and the members. Talking about the members, they take the modelling concept, as seen by the amount of walking they do down the catwalk.

There seems to be some voguing going on in this choreography. It does fit in with their concept, so it does work. I also really liked the ‘heartbeat go fast, heartbeat go slow‘ moves and the Snapshot move during the chorus. Overall, I thought the entire dance choreography was quite good.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Album Review] Blooming Days (2nd Mini Album) – EXO-CBX

Posted in Album Reviews, KPOPTagged , Leave a comment

EXO-CBX made their long-awaited return with their second mini-album last week. The title track and mini-album share the same name, Blooming Days. A common theme that you will continually read throughout the review are comments in regards to how awesome the vocals and harmonies are within the album. For other comments, scroll down below!

exocbx-bloomingdays-2
Blooming Days Album Cover

1..Monday Blues – Opening the album is a smooth R&B track which features amazing vocals and harmonies. It is one of those songs that I can’t help swaying along to (which is a good thing though). It is rather slow-paced but it still features a decent chorus that seemed catchy. I really liked the ‘owoo-owoo-owoo‘ repetition, which was my favourite part. I am not a fan of the bridge, however, which felt rather boring when compared to the rest of the song. But overall, it was rather easy on the ears and felt like a well-paced song for the opener, leading onto the title track. (8/10)

2. Blooming Days (花요일) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Blooming Days. (9.1/10)

3. Sweet Dreams (내일 만나) – The song has a moderate upbeat nature, which made the track extremely pleasant to listen to. Also featuring (and it seems to be a common theme in the album) are the harmonies and amazing vocals from the trio. I can say everything about the song was decent however it just didn’t seem to catch on. Likewise, the song just didn’t seem to peak, instead remaining consistent with how it initially started. (7/10)

4. Thursday – Returning to another R&B (and somewhat jazzy) song, first impressions for this track was that it was rather soothing and calming to listen to. The chorus shined brightly as the chorus was a lot louder compared to the verses, with the contrast working extremely well. Out of all the songs on the album, I like the vocals here the most. Especially, that falsetto bridge where Baekhyun and Chen alternate. (8/10)

5. Vroom Vroom – Upbeat track that sounds like was it was going to be an addictive addition to the album. And that it was. The chorus was rather unexpected, being dominated by loud synths that competed with the vocals. Yes, it was rather chaotic but it worked surprisingly well. The retro vibes were also quite strong. Also, almost non-existent on the album so far are the raps, which were nice and well-fitting to the song. (9/10)

6. Playdate – While this song showcased great vocal work and harmonies as well, it felt relatively plain and just didn’t feel captivated. It seems like a sweet swoon designed to swoon some fans but it just doesn’t really appeal to me. The falsetto was nice and the bridge was rather good. (6/10)

7. Lazy (휴일) – Like the previous track, I wasn’t really falling for this track. It had a nice sound and was pleasant sounding. I thought the chorus was rather simple, yet classy and elegant. The instrumental break was interesting, with a somewhat quirky synth in the background.But it just didn’t feel as memorable as I had expected it. Once again, nice vocals and the harmonies were great. I also felt the ending was a little too soon, as they should have eased off with the song, instead. (6/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.6/10

exocbx-bloomingdays-3
Blooming Days Teaser Image

[Review] Easy – Wheein (Mamamoo) ft. Sik-K

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

Mamamoo seems to be readying themselves for multiple solo releases in the months to come. Moonbyul seems to be releasing something May, while Solar was just confirmed to make her solo comeback. But kicking it all off is Wheein with her solo release Easy. This isn’t her first solo track, however, as she has collaborated alongside with other singers, such as the chart-topping Anymore with Jungkey and Narccius with M&D.

Easy is a very nice sounding R&B track. It features a nice melody, which makes the song flowy and groovy, which is a word I am using quite often nowadays to describe songs. But this is quite groovy, which isn’t something that I commonly associate with R&B. The chorus is also quite catchy, despite it being a style that I am not into. The line ‘Too late too late, your so stupid, stupid‘ is also quite addictive moments in the song. Also featured in the song is her husky vocals. It isn’t something you hear commonly in her Mamamoo work. Instead, she employs a more raspy sound which really sounds alluring and seductive. And while it may not seem like there is any, you could hear some attitude in her voice. She also tries a little bit of rapping, which was really good as well. The ain sequence was handed to Sik-K, who’s featuring is a perfect accompaniment to the other parts of the song.

The music video shows Wheein trying to get the attention of her boyfriend, who doesn’t really seem to care about her anymore. In the lyrics, she sings about how she went after him but now that he doesn’t really care anymore, she is trying to find a way out of their relationship. But what way out are you thinking of? Well, most likely kill your boyfriend using a fist missile didn’t pop into your head. And well, that is what Wheein results to at the very end of the video. Honestly, it makes the video a little more interesting with that quirky and unexpected plot twist. Also featuring in the music video is Hwasa and an amazing colour palette. Overall, it was a good video.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a full performance of this. I don’t think there are any plans to promote this (I am not sure). That small snippet of choreography around the 1:04 – 1:24 seems quite promising. However, as there doesn’t seem to be any hint of promotions (please comment below if I am wrong), I won’t include any performance section in the final rating below.

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

[Special] The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project Song Reviews – Part 3

Posted in KPOP, Reviews, SpecialLeave a comment

Please note these special posts are designed to be long and may require some time to read (if you plan on reading the entire post). To help shorten the length, the music video will be inserted as hyperlinked titles, so feel free to click the title of each section to watch the video. 

The Unit was a survival program by KBS (Korean Broadcasting Station) to help reboot the unsung and little-known KPOP acts of the industry (i.e. to give some groups and singers that second chance of debuting). The show was hosted by Rain and aired from October 2017 to February 2018.

With the impending debut of both the final lineup of the male (UNB) and female (UNI.T) groups (i.e. the end goal of all the contestants), I thought it would be nice to take some time to look back on the competition. This is a 3 part weekly special, which I will be looking at the performances and songs that emerged from the show.

This week’s (the 3rd and final part) post focuses on the songs that were performed during the Final Mission: Final Stage Battle. Note that I will be basing my reviews on the performances during the final episode.

Raise Me Up – Euijin (BIGFLO), Daewon (MADTOWN), Hojung (HOTSHOT), Feeldog (BIGSTAR), Kijoong (IM), Dongmyeong (MAS), Chan (A.C.E), Marco (Hot Blood Youth), Lee Geon (MADTOWN)

The song opens with a soft piano piece but progresses into an EDM track. Maybe because this has been done quite a bit already, it just seems a little plain. However, it was still decent to listen to. I feel like the song could have benefited with a more intense drop, channelling the same intensity as their dance break. The members did shine, showing off good delivery for the raps and amazing vocal work. Personally, the performance was a little boring to watch, with none of the moves impressing me. I think with a more intense instrumental or drop, there could have been a better set fo moves to complement the increased intensity. The main attraction is the dance break which gave that needed intensity that the song (and performance) lacked overall.

Dancing With The Devil – Rockhyun (100%), Jun (UKISS), Kim Timoteo (B.I.G), Ji Hansol, Donghyun (Boyfriend), Seyong (MYNAME), Jeup (IMFACT), Hangyul (IM), Suwoong (Boys Republic)

I think the killer part of the song has to be the line ‘Now I’m dancing with the devil‘, being the one part I want to hear over and over again. The song definitely feels a lot more intense, which the previous lacked. The chorus felt more flowy however I thought the instrumental was plain, not really living up to the rest of the song. I did like the pre-chorus, though. The performance was quite good, working well with the song. Once again, I think they could have enhanced the performance with a more intense set of moves to balance out that intensity. I did really feel like their facial expression looked a little devilish, which does suit the title of the song (and made the performance that little more captivating).

Ting – Semmi (Matilda), Somyi (DIA), Lee Suji, Jiwon (Park Sisters), Euna Kim, Yang Jiwon (Spica), Lee Hyunjoo, ZN (Laboum), Dan-A (Matilda)

First impression of the song was that it was a major letdown. But with multiple listens, the song does grow on you. The chorus was catchy, which was definitely the highlight of the entire song. However, there were some letdown. The verses were easily forgotten, the rap bridge wasn’t necessary and I thought the song ended a little too suddenly. The performance was cute, fun and lively. Some of the members, however, don’t really suit the concept, which felt something within the kid’s domain. However, it was still a decent performance to watch.

You & I – Euijin (Sonamoo), Woohee (Dal Shabet), Yebin (DIA), NC.A, Yoonjo, Yeoeun (Melody Day), Shin Jihoon, Chahee (Melody Day), Lee Borim

Once again, I have a favourite on this list. And another song on the female side of the competition manages to take over my list. With the sound alone, this song seems to match the age ranges of all the members (including the final line up). It has a mature yet bright sound. The chorus was nice and captivating, with the structure of the chorus being a highlight for me (and it sounded as a result). The verses weren’t that memorable however still pleasant-sounding. The raps were good, fitting nicely into the song, which the vocal work was equally as promising. The performance also felt more mature yet still managing to fit into the bright side of the spectrum.

Present – All Artists Listed Above

In all these survival shows, there is one song that is dedicated to the fans, who have supported each individual contestant and the show. Sometimes these song are quite heartfelt and emotional. But Present wasn’t that. It evoked no tears, nor was it bittersweet. Instead, it felt cheerful and happy, which makes the ending for fans and these contestants a lot better (in my opinion). The vocals and raps were equally as nice, while the song had a nice melody.

Click here for Part 1 of The Unit Song Review

Click here for Part 2 of The Unit Song Review

Thank you for all reading these Special posts for The Unit. The first of the next set of Special posts will be revealed to you all on 2nd of May.

[Review] The Light – IMFACT

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

IMFACT have made their return to the stage with The Light. This is their first comeback since Tension Up, which was released last year. Since their last comeback, 4 members (of the 5) participated in The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project. Jeup ranked the highest at 11th missing out on a position as part of UNB, while Ungjae, Taeho and Jian ranked 26th, 27th and 49th respectively.

The Light combines hip-hop, pop and electronic music, which is a common combination nowadays. The question is whether they make it work. And for the most part, I thought the song was rather cool. I really enjoyed the chorus, which was upbeat and unique. That high pitch synth really made the song stand out, along with the upbeat nature providing energy that I did not expect whatsoever, particular during the opening rap. The rapping parts of the song were okay. They weren’t terrible but they felt mismatched with the rest of the song. They just didn’t feel as captivating but did allow the chorus to take me by surprise. The vocal sections of the song (i.e. pre-chorus and bridge) were pretty nice. I thought they were the better parts of the song. The real winner is the chorus which I cannot stop thinking about.

The music video had this really cool element to it. I really like that holographic lighting they used and the sets were awesome. The stylists also gave them completely different looks, to the point where I couldn’t recognise anyone. I almost thought they got new members. The abandoned sets looked cool and I like how the choreography sets had flashy lights, which felt worked well with the chorus. Besides that, I don’t have much else to say.

Surprisingly, there weren’t much choreography scenes in the music video. While that isn’t a problem, I would have expected more choreography. At the moment, I can’t seem to find a showcase or live performance, so I shall return once I find one.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – To Be Updated
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Call Your Name – JBJ

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

Despite some talks of contract extensions for the popular JBJ, they have just unveiled their final comeback song, Call Your Name. Call Your Name is featured on their 1st full-length album, which consists of all their previous tracks such as My Flower and Fantasy, while also featuring 2 new tracks. It will be sad to see them go however it does mean that they will be returning to their original groups and hopefully we will see them all on stage once again.

Listening to the song the first time around, it sounded very bittersweet. It didn’t help that I watched the video as well. More on that later. While it is an upbeat sound, there is still a heavy atmosphere surrounding the song. The lyrics aren’t much help with dissolving this atmosphere with touching lines like ‘We both knew the end but why did we give love to each other‘ and ‘Let’s meet again on a fine day‘. Even though I was not a fan of JBJ, it does sadden me when I see such lyrics in a farewell song. The song had a nice yet very typical (in today’s standard) instrumental. I like the alternating vocals and raps throughout the song and the rapping in this song (for both rappers) felt extremely fitting. I particularly loved the rapping just before each chorus, pairing well with the violins in the background. The drops into the chorus were nice and following that buildup, felt somewhat epic.

As mentioned previously, the music video was no help with the bittersweet feels from the song. There were moments throughout the video where the members (individually) looked away from what was going on, knowing that these are their final moments together. Arghhh… The feels. Besides that, the music video featured a nice beach scenery, where the members hang out for the day, before going back inland to camp. The music video looked like they were having a lot of fun and I thought they pretty much enjoyed their time.

As far as I am aware, there is no choreography for this comeback. As far as I know, they won’t be promoting it. This final comeback was just their final say of goodbyes to their fans. Though, if something is uploaded involving a choreography, I will update this part as soon as possible.

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

[Review] Scentist – VIXX

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

VIXX have made their return to the stage with Scentist and their 3rd full-length album, EAU DE VIXX. This is their first comeback as a full group since Shangri-La was released back in May last year. The concept for this comeback is ‘scents‘, which when combined with ‘artists‘ becomes ‘Scentist‘. Their teasers have also been presented in a way that resembles perfumes and colognes.

Scentist takes on a softer approach compared to any of their past title tracks. It feels very elegant and classy, despite being EDM based. The verses had nothing that special, in my opinion. However, its the buildup to the chorus that has me excited. It isn’t a sharp climb nor does it employ obvious instrumental techniques to show off the buildup. Instead, they kept it soft (to match the other parts of the song) and you had to listen closely to figure out whether that buildup was there or not. And the vocals during that section was amazing. The chorus was nice but I feel like they could have gone with something a bit bolder, which in my mind, might enhance the song to a whole new level. The chorus seemed catchy and it may grow into an addictive song. Ravi’s raps paired with the song quite well and I like Ken and Leo’s harmonies at the end. Scentist is another great song for VIXX, which went for something a little different to what we were used to.

The music video was amazing. I really liked the laboratory scenes where they made their perfumes. The white background with the white cabinets and tables allowed the colours of the other items to really pop. It also allowed the individual members to be the centre of attention. There were a few things that I am a little confused about, such as the car and the snake. A part of me feels like they were creating some kind of reverse ageing potion, with the young kid copying Ravi (and Ken – not sure) at the end of the video. Overall, I liked how the music video looked and it seemed like an interesting story can be pulled from it.

Earlier this year, VIXX garnered attention for their end of year performance of Shangri-La. This particular comeback seems to take notes from that performance and Shangri-La itself, as it is rather elegant and classy. When the song picks up for the chorus, the dance moves seem to become intense, which I think is extremely ideal. I really like N’s moment at 0:40 of the music video, which I think can rival N’s killer smile during the Dynamite promotions.

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

[Review] Baby – The Rose

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

One of the aims of this site is to introduce some of the audience to new groups whom they might not have heard of. And I think many of you all may enjoy the songs that The Rose put out. Just, they have been around for a year now and I somehow forgot about them (whoops). Please accept my many apologies. The Rose is a 4-member band under J&Star Company. They debuted last year with Sorry and returned in October with Like We Used To. This comeback features their title track, Baby and their first mini-album, Void.

I really like this alternative/indie rock sound that they have going on in the song. It isn’t that head-banging type of music but it isn’t a slow rock type of song. Instead, it is in between the two, offering both within the same song. Usually, when it comes to bands in KPOP, we focus on the guitarists or vocalists. The drumming this song was awesome, giving the song some suspense without needing to peak anywhere along the way. It only took me one listen to become amazed. Surely, their vocals were awesome. The main attraction (and the reason why I am quickly typing this up) is the launch into the final chorus, which felt so well done. That retro keyboard synth type sound that felt completely misplaced in the entire song, yet still managing to fit in a way to keep the song engaging. It was unexpecting but overall, it a unique touch. Baby, along with their other tracks (I’ve linked them above), manage to fall into my style of music, making them a group that I am always excited to listen to.

The music video is quite interesting. It seems like the main vocalist lost his girlfriend somehow (whether it was a breakup or some other circumstance), with her disappearing throughout the start of the video. The rest of the scenes have him revisiting the places he associates with her to try to see her again. Clearly, he is drunk and not that sane in the video. It is quite captivating to watch. The music definitely enhances the video, pairing nicely with each other. I really like the introduction of the flashy band scene, which makes sense as they are rocking it out during that final chorus/instrumental part. It looked awesome, cool and amazing!

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Review] Gangsta – NOIR

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

There is a new boy group in town and some of the members also happen to come from Produce 101 Season 2 (last year). NOIR is an 8-member boy group from LUK Factory, consisting of Seunghoon, Yeonkuk, Junyoung (former member of INX) Yooseung, Siheon, Hoyeon, Siha, Minhyuk and Daewon. Their debut mini-album, titled as Twenty Noir, features Gangsta as the title track.

The song starts off with its intense EDM instrumental at the very start, with its powerful sound trying to get you excited for whatever is about to come. I am absolutely loving the energy that is channeled through and the awesome drop that comes. That screeching high-pitch synth is a little off-putting but it does become a charming point in the instrumental. I also noticed that the instrumental stays within the same domain, however, it changes up every section, which does keep things interesting. Also interesting was that the dance break took up the second verse, which is uncommon (from what I remember). The group features a decent lineup of vocalists but this song was made so the rappers could shine. And in the entire track, I absolutely enjoyed the ending as it got faster (and more intense). The slowing down made sense but it made the song just feel typical in the end. If they ended the song as the song was getting faster, that would have been mindblowing, so it was a major pity. Overall, it is a great debut track.

The music video shows some sort of graduation formal party, with the members in the background doing their thing at the party. And when I say that, I meant their jobs (i.e. waiting, greeting guests, hosting etc.). It gets to the point in the night where they award the prom queen. Clearly, the guys were not impressed with the initial choice. They seek out the one girl who they thought was worthy. As cliche as it sounds, she was a shy girl in the corner and she wore glasses, which were taken off before she was crowned prom queen. And in all of this, the video was shot to make the hall look very small. Yet, it took them a decent amount of time (in the music video’s world) to get to her. Despite that, it was a nice video to watch. The choreography scenes looked cool.

More about the choreography, it matched the intensity that the song had oozing from it. While they did look like they were fairly in sync, I think the choreography would have been enhanced to a better level by finetuning that element. The dance break was cool.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10

[Review] Potion – Eric Nam ft. Woodie Gochild

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

Eric Nam made his return with Honestly last week. But around 18 hours beforehand (this is just a random guess based on my memory), Eric Nam unveiled a pre-released music video for another track on the album, titled as Potion. This song features Woodie Gochild (whom I have never heard before). After a quick Google search, the featuring rapper was a contestant on last year’s Show Me The Money season.

Potion has this Latin feel with what seems like an instrumental that mashes your typical Latin sound with electronic music. The song is quite addictive, with its upbeat vibes being its main driving force. In a way, the chorus also presents itself as a groovy song, which definitely helps make it memorable. The ‘Pour It Up, Pour It Up” line has me a little confused literally but the way it incorporated into the song does give the song some hype. Eric Nam also sounds good but it isn’t his vocal work in the song that I am a fan of. Instead, Woodie Gochild’s featuring rap was amazing It was at a faster pace than the rest of the song, which definitely was a nice contrast to the normal paced music. It also kept the song going and made it become more interesting, preventing the song overall from getting too repetitive. I think Potion might be the better song out of the two (compared with Honestly), mainly due to the rap.

If you are wondering what type of potion Eric Nam is taking, it is the infamous alcohol. My guess is that the alcohol he is drinking is tequila since he is in Mexico. The lighting in the video is an interesting aspect, as some scenes, you can’t really see much. But I think that is a way of making the ‘drunk’ effect more prevalent. During the rap section, we also see Eric Nam ‘dance’, which I thought seemed like a fun scene to film. Overall, I thought it was an okay video, complimenting with the song.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Love Tint – Hyungseop X Euiwoong

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

I, unfortunately, skipped writing a review for Hyungseop and Euiwoong’s debut as a duo last year (most probably due to a lack of time). The two members, Ahn Hyungseop and Lee Eui Woong, made their debut last year with It Will Be Good in November last year. They previously participated in Season 2 of Produce 101. They are currently managed by Yuehua Entertainment, which also manages UNIQ and Cosmic Girls (alongside Starship Entertainment).

Love Tint can easily be described as a Summertime song, with its use of the tropical house genre to portray that bright and refreshing vibe that you commonly associate with the EDM genre. It, interestingly strips away the EDM during the verses, opting it only to be present during the chorus.  That being said, the verse still had synths present but in no ways as much as the chorus. This allows the chorus to be more impactful and become a lot bolder. It also easily becomes the highlight of the song, with it being the most memorable part. Vocally, the duo sounds nice. But there wasn’t anything in it to make me become amazed. The rapping felt a little more promising, kick in when it was required. The bridge seems very typical for these EDM songs, with the buildup very predictable but still working nicely. Overall, it does feel like the song does fall into that ‘standard’ boat but it was still pleasant to listen to.

It is a typical music video for the Summertime track. It is a bright video that features beautiful landscape and scenery that is bound to make become some envious (like me. Winter is fast approaching where I live). It seems like the video is shot somewhere in China, not too particularly sure. I am a little confused about why the sky turned purple in some scenes. But besides that, it was a very fitting video for the song.

I liked how bright their performance was. No, I am not talking about the lighting but rather the energy that comes with their choreography. It isn’t energetic but there is a vibe that I am not too sure how to exactly describe. It was a graceful dance, which felt fitting for the slower parts of the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.2/10

[Review] Still Love You – Lee Hong Gi (FT Island) & Yoo Hwe Seung (N.Flying)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , , , 1 Comment

FNC Entertainment recently launched FNC Lab, which gives an opportunity, for artists who participate, to experiment with music and release new songs for listeners to hear. In a way, the program seems to be the company’s own version of SM Station. The first song to come from FNC Lab is Still Love You, a collaboration between FT Island’s Lee Hong Gi and N.Flying’s Yoo Hwe Seung.

Obviously, the main focus of this review will be on the vocals. But before we get to that, the song is a ballad with such an amazing instrumental that really gives the song that solid foundation to build on. And now we snap back to the vocals. We all know how capable Lee Hong Gi is with his voice. We have seen in it his amazing solo debut and through FT Island. Per usual, he sounds spectacular in this song. I really liked the way he started the song and the chorus. However, the true winner in this track has to be Yoo Hwe Seung. While he does seem like a capable vocalist in N.Flying, I did not expect him to outshine Lee Hong Gi by miles away. That high note was amazing. I may not be a singer but damn, that was something. I also listened to the audio before watching the video, so imagine the surprise I got when I realized who did the high note. Even after all this time, I am still blown away by that particular section. He managed to pair so well with Lee Hong Gi and this is a collaboration that I am happy to see again (fingers crossed) in the future. 

It seems like the Lee Hong Ki and Yoo Hwe Seung is in some sort of love triangle with the lady. Interestingly, it seems like she parts way with both of them in the video after seemingly realized that both vocalists are in love with her. She is clearly distraught about making the decision and ends up leaving them both. It is a relatively simple video and storyline that still manages to be captivating but lets the song do the talking.

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

[Weekly Chart] 2nd Week of April 2018

Posted in Weekly ChartsLeave a comment

Before we step into the next week, we must find out who topped the charts for the 2nd Week of April. Welcome to this week’s edition of the weekly chart. Unfortunately, last week was a little hectic for me. So I wasn’t posting any reviews. After this chart post, I will be working on a few more reviews to be released today and tomorrow. So let’s get going.

YDDP (made up of Jeong Sewoon, MXM and Lee Gwang Hyun) topped the charts this week, rising 7 places from last week. TWICE managed to book out the second position with What Is Love?, while UNB makes their official debut with Sense in the third position. Last week’s number 1 song, Jealousy (by Monsta X) dropped down to the fourth position, while Boomerang stayed steady in the fifth position.

For more of the charts, scroll down below.

8th Apr – 14th Apr 2018
Title Artist Status
1 Love It Like It YDPP (▲ 7)
2 What Is Love? TWICE (new)
3 Sense UNB (new)
4 Jealousy Monsta X (▼ 3)
5 Boomerang Wanna One (=)
6 The Blue Bird April (▲ 17)
7 Starry Night Mamamoo (▲ 7)
8 I.P.U Wanna One (▼ 1)
9 District 9 Stray Kids (▲ 4)
10 Lo Siento Super Junior ft. Leslie Grace (new)
11 Look GOT7 (▲ 4)
12 Dreams Come True WJSN (Cosmic Girls) (▲ 15)
13 Shine Pentagon (▼ 2)
14 Lady EXID (▼ 12)
15 Candyland UP10TION (▲ 2)
16 Boss NCT U (=)
17 Giddy Up The Boyz (▼ 14)
18 One Samuel ft. Jung Ilhoon (BTOB) (▼ 6)
19 Honestly Eric Nam (new)
20 All Eyes On Me Hoya (▲ 13)
21 Touch NCT 127 (▼ 12)
22 Only One UNB (new)
23 Mamma Mia SF9 (▼ 1)
24 Just Do It BSS (Seventeen) (▼ 14)
25 Banana Allergy Monkey Oh My Girl Banhana (▼ 19)
26 Everyday Winner (=)
27 Black Dress CLC (▼ 6)
28 The Chance Of Love TVXQ (▼ 24)
29 Star VROMANCE (▼ 5)
30 True Love Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite) (▼ 12)

The following songs will be removed from the charts and will not appear on the charts starting next week:

  • Star – Yang Yoseob (HIGHLIGHT)
  • Gorgeous – VAV
  • Only Then – Roy Kim
  • Can I See You Again – Miryo (Brown Eyed Girls)
  • Daydream – Sungmin (Super Junior) [Leaving Early]
  • Dive – Jooyoung [Leaving Early]
  • Do You Have A Moment? – Suho (EXO) & Jang Jane [Leaving Early]

Hope to see you all again next week!

[Review] Only One – UNB

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

UNB made their debut last week with hopes of rebooting the careers of each member who made it through The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project survival TV show. Their debut consisted of two title tracks, Sense (which I reviewed last week) and Only One (which its music video was released during the week). For those who are unaware, I will be doing a special post for the music video of Sense later in the year. Unfortunately, I won’t be doing the same for this music video.

Only One is my type of song. Very easy on the ears yet still impactful in many ways. The particularly like the song because it uses a melodic piece as its backing, which is something that isn’t unheard of but definitely something that can be heard more of. The vocals and raps for the song quite heavy on the emotional side, which you can’t deny it makes the song so much more heartfelt and impactful. I really liked the soft piano start and the buildup, which allowed the chorus to be some much more epic and grander. Like Sense, I also liked how they brought the start of the song back to the end (yeah, it is a little confusing, but makes sense once you listen to the song) to finish the song, which also felt like a full circle this time around.

The music video is a 7 minute long, which gave each member ample time to appear on screen, which is a well-played move by their managing company. The music video essentially tells how each person is struggling (as shown by the many ropes bound around them, the thorns, the locked doors, the emptiness around them). But it shows that hope is always there (through the rays of sunshine that appear for each of them). Slowly, they make their way out of their confines and walk towards the light (i.e. the end of the tunnel), which says that there is always hope. That was my quick take on the video. It, once again, is rather artistic and quite aesthetic. Another great video to watch with a powerful message.

The performance was amazing. It took my breath away watching their very fluid and artistic moves. I like it how they don’t always stay together on stage, with a small group breaking away. The choreography was very fitting for the song and it is definitely something you shouldn’t miss out on.

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

 

[Review] Honestly – Eric Nam

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

Making his first album release since 2016’s Interview is Eric Nam with Honestly. The main title track also shares the same name. Despite it being his first mini-album release in 2 years, Eric Nam has still been on stage and released many digital singles. His latest single was Hold Me, which was released around the Christmas season last year. He also released Potion on the same day as his comeback, which I will hopefully review tomorrow.

Honestly brings back the tropical house genre which hasn’t been heard for the past few weeks (I think. I have been a little preoccupied so everything has been wiped from my head). It manages to incorporate his signature vocals into an upbeat sound, which reminds me of his Can’t Help Myself days, which was an evidently fun and bright song to listen to. But with Honestly, the electronic components are ‘held back’ or a lot softer, in terms of intensity, which definitely compliments his vocals. While it did sound generic for the most part, the song still manages to shine through. Particularly the pre-chorus, where his voice was all raspy and he emphasized each word. The end of the song manages to pick the song up. It does feel somewhat incomplete, however, as I did expect a ‘final chorus’ to follow right after that pickup, which now felt a little late. The final ending also felt abrupt, which doesn’t play well in my books. But Honestly is still a decent track to check out, so do listen to it.

The music video was shot entirely in Mexico. And like most internationally shot videos, a lot of emphases is on the landscape or townscape. And Eric Nam was still the centre of attention, so there was a nice balance. The video did, however, feel quite meh. It just didn’t really highlight the song in my opinion and it just wasn’t as breathtaking as other internationally shot videos.

For those who have longtime fans of Eric Nam, seeing him dance is always a weird feeling. He does look somewhat uncomfortable in the performance. The presence of the backup dancers definitely lifted the song’s energy. The final moments when the song does pick up worked well, managing to further push the energy, making it decent to watch.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10