Casual reviews of KPOP songs, music videos & dances
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.
BEOMGYU is the second member of TXT to go solo, having released his debut mixtape track, Panic, last Thursday. BEOMGYU follows on from YEONJUN mixtape track GGUM from last year. I hope we get news of the other members’ solo work soon.
Until then, I will focus on BEOMGYU’s Panic, which enters the rock genre. More specifically, it is a little amped-up soft rock track. I liked the heft that the rock brings to the table and how it elicits emotions by itself. Unfortunately, the potential created by the soft rock instrumentation is not realised in Panic. The main problem is BEOMGYU’s vocals. While he sounds really lovely in Panic, he also sounds very polished and clean, as if someone dialled back on the emotions that could have made Panic more heartfelt and impactful. I don’t think it is fair to describe BEOMGYU as emotionless in Panic, as there is some level of emotion and heft from him in the song. But some more oomph, texture or emotion behind his vocals would have given Panic so much character and robustness. Despite all of that, the rock makes Panic a decent listen.
Panic‘s lyrics convey that it is okay to take one step at a time to leave your struggles behind. In the video, we see this BEOMGYU leave the comforts of his home, a location that probably kept him stagnant and reliving his stuggles. He makes it off the uncomfortable bed that he can no longer sleep in, leaving behind the bare kitchen and the destruction that is his living room (which is where I presume a lot of memories are kept). When he steps outside for the first time, he is met with cold winds and massive waves, signalling that the world is trying to confine him to the house. At the end of the video, we see him venture outside. Yes, the world around him is still cold, but he gets further than ever, telling us that for there to be progress, we need to take it one step at a time.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
I am fully aware that STAYC made their comeback more recently, and a song review for BEBE is coming your way in the not-so-far-distant future. But until then, here is my review of their 1st studio album, Metamorphic. Released in July 2024, Metamorphic features 14 songs (slightly longer than the average studio-length album), including the title track, Cheeky Icy Thang. Metamorphic is a decent album with a mix of strong and fair songs. Keep reading to find out my thoughts on the individual songs that make up Metamorphic.
Metamorphic Album Cover
1. Twenty – STAYC kicks off the album with a formidable alternative R&B number. I liked the drumming in this one and the crisp vocals that give Twenty that power. Whenever I say I want oomph in a song, the direction the vocals went in this song is exactly what I am looking for. There are 2 downsides to Twenty – that it is very noticeably short, and I wished the instrumental was a bit more robust to prevent it from feeling as stagnant as it did. (8/10)
3. 1 Thing – 1 Thing is a very familiar sound for STAYC. It has the signature fun and brightness from its electronic pop instrumentation and STAYC’s delivery. Its chorus attracts my attention, thanks to its sassy delivery and how straight-shooting the members sounded. The bridge brings delicateness to the song before a dynamic and fun electronic instrumental break comes into play. (8/10)
4. Give It 2 Me – Give It 2 Me is a decent pop R&B track. But I feel like the autotune is heavy, and their vocals are rather piercing (in a not-so-good way). The highlight is definitely SIEUN’s rapping, it gives us some reprieve to the autotune and piercing vocals. But besides that, Give It 2 Me doesn’t speak to me as much as the other tracks on the album. (7/10)
5. Find – Next on the album is Find, a unit song by SIEUN, SEEUN and J. Find features neat and delicate vocals from the trio. The rapping brought some nice contrast, which I liked. The acoustic vibe of the instrumental is also lovely and different, especially as it is mixed with trap beats throughout the song. Some stronger melodies and catchiness would have helped lift Find to a new level. (7.5/10)
6. Let Me Know – STAYC revisits the pop genre in a pure manner in Let Me Know. It is quite a pleasant song. I liked the tempo of the instrumentation and the members’ singing in this one. I feel like that short ending sequence of the choruses, where the instrumental turns slightly atmospheric, and J ends with her “Let Me Know … Let Me Know” lin, has the potential for something more. I wished the song explored that potential. (8/10)
7. Nada – Nada brings a bit of hip-hop to the album. This differs from what I have heard so far, so it interested me. The pre-chorus is just something that gets me each time I listen to the song, while the instrumental was unexpectedly playful with the percussion. It makes Nada feel a little nursery rhyme-esque, contrasting with the song’s message about feeling nothing after meeting the person of their dreams. (8/10)
8. Fakin’ – Starting off the second half of the album is SUMIN and YOON, through their unit track Fakin’. The song is another pop track, with stunning vocals from the pair to make it an engaging number. I liked the simplicity of this combination and how easy it was to get into. Stronger hooks to make it more memorable would have sealed the deal for me. (9/10)
9. Roses – ISA is the only member to go solo on the album. Roses is a R&B number with a very intriguing instrumentation. The background has all sorts of effects, but it never feels overdone. ISA sounds quite good throughout the song, but stronger hooks and melodies could have improved the song further. (7/10)
10. Beauty Bomb – Beauty Bomb is one of the stronger songs on the album. The bubbly R&B (perfectly described by The KMeal) is quite fun, which is one reason why I find it so catchy. That ‘Doo Doo Doo’ in the chorus is hooky, as well as the ‘Blow my mind…’ lines that follow later on in the choruses. What I also like about Beauty Bomb is that it showcases STAYC well. Pleasant vocals and nicely contrasting rapping helped make Beauty Bomb engaging for me. (9/10)
11. Gummy Bear – The start of the verses for Gummy Bear, made up of trap beats and the swirly electronic synth, was interesting, to say the least. The rapping that pairs with this backing was fine, but the background is wacky. As the song progresses, I enjoy the rest of Gummy Bear. It develops into a feel-good pop song that feels pure and straightforward. I like how the vocals come off in this segment. The pre-choruses are another strong example of STAYC’s vocals. So, it begs the question of why we needed that start to even begin with, especially since the rest of the song is quite good. (8.5/10)
12. Stay WITH Me – STAYC visits the pop-rock genre through Stay WITH Me. The song is for their fans, and the lyrics are written by STAYC themselves! While it sounds good, and I liked how the rapping pairs up with the instrumentation, I wished I could say the same about their vocals. The vocalists could have been louder to match up with the energy of the pop-rock instrumentation. Stronger melodies, as well, would have helped them embrace the pop-rock better. (8/10)
13. Flexing on My Ex – The pop rock is definitely punchier and the members sound superb (and can be heard over the instrumentation)in Flexing on My Ex. We do lose some momentum as we get closer to the chorus, but this does help the centrepiece feel more impactful and prolific. (8/10)
14. Trouble Maker – The final song of this long album (not complaining here!) is Trouble Maker. It was such a fun and energetic song to end with. It literally makes me want to get up and dance (or cringingly dance along in my chair if you want a real-time update as I write this review). I love the song’s encore energy and the brass elements in the background. The expressiveness and bright vocals also make it a winning song. Pity is a short one. (10/10)
JENNIE’s Mantra is your pick for Best Dance Performance – Female Solo of 2024 in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Find out if your other favourite artists, performances and songs of 2024 won the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking the link here.
JENNIE also returned at the start of the month with her solo debut album, Ruby. The album features the title track like JENNIE (the focus of this post), last year’s Mantra single and the singles that have received music videos thus far (ZEN, ExtraL ft. Dominic Fike, Love Hangover ft. Doechii, and Handlebars ft. Dua Lipa). And there is a lot more to unpack in a future album review post. But for now, here is my thoughts on like JENNIE.
Right off the bat, likeJENNIE is fierce and powerful. The harsh metallic beat, hip-hop production and JENNIE’s delivery encapsulate that dynamic in the song’s two minutes. I liked how JENNIE and the song stood their ground and didn’t let up this momentum, creating a distinct statement piece for the artist herself. This fierceness and powerfulness also fit the song’s message, a statement about how only one JENNIE can exist. The chorus and hook were effective in delivering this message, but it also served as a double-edged sword, in my opinion. The only thing I can really remember about like JENNIE aside from the stomping instrumentation is her name, which is on repeat for what felt like most of the song. It took the focus away from the other moments in like JENNIE. For example, I know she raps in the song, but I cannot remember too much from those sequences (such as the fact some of it was in Korean) as her name is the only thing I get out of like JENNIE.
The music video opens with JENNIE as an astronaut consuming a tablet shaped like the letter J, which transforms her into the hip-hop form we see throughout the video. From there, we get JENNIE in the same way she presents herself in the song — fierce and powerful. I really liked the use of the dancers to make the choreography pronounced as JENNIE charms us with the above presentation and her charisma. Like the song, the music video is very much a statement piece for JENNIE, even as she reaches her final form as a capybara. This ending catches you off guard, but it is a memorable one to what felt like a jam-packed music video.
Fierceness and powerfulness are common themes for the comeback, so it is no surprise that JENNIE and the dancers give us just that in the choreography. The hip-hop routine accompanying this comeback is very much ‘in-your-face’, and I like how she showed off her command of the stage alongside the routine.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
TREASURE returned at the start of the month with a special mini-album (their third overall), PLEASURE. The title track, YELLOW, heads up this new album release. Also featured on the album is the single LAST NIGHT, which was released in December 2024.
YELLOW follows the same thread as LAST NIGHT, opting for pop rather than their familiar heavier hip-hop dance sound. Even though it is marketed as a ‘special’ release (which usually means YELLOW and the songs on the album are not part of the usual realm of TREASURE’s releases), I am still not entirely convinced YG Entertainment knows what they are doing with the group. But that is a topic of a larger discussion. YELLOW is pleasantly soft and mellow for a pop release, highly fitting for a song titled after the colour yellow. But as a whole piece, I find YELLOW to be quite plain. Because of this, I felt like the order of YELLOW and LAST NIGHT should have flipped, with YELLOW being more of a pre-release and LAST NIGHT being a more compelling title track for the group. I cannot pinpoint anything distinct about YELLOW that would set it apart from its competition, whereas I felt the previous release had that through its execution. That said, I liked a few elements in YELLOW. I enjoyed the vibrant and bright tone the members brought through their vocals and melodies. The bridge was sweet, with JAEHYUK, DOYOUNG and JEONGWOO sounding quite heart-warming. The chanting at the end was charming. The rapping in the second verse was nicely done, allowing the rappers to maintain a connection to their hip-hop roots in this pop song.
The music video shows the members preparing for a dance competition, where one member’s crush will attend as part of the audience. It is a cute music video, with DOYOUNG being the main character and the rest of the members being bubbly and happy around him. I like the whole sequence where his crush touches his shoulder, and he cannot let that go, even in a later soccer game. But I also like the revelation that the crush also had a crush on him, placing a love heart on him.
The routine plays towards TREASURE’s youthful and bubbly charms. Like the song, it was nice and pleasant, but nothing memorable came out. However, I liked their wavy motion when the “It’s love” chants began.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
Back to the week before last, today’s post reviews SF9’s latest comeback with their 15th mini-album and title track of the same name – LOVE RACE. It is their first release since Don’t Worry, Be Happy and the mini-album Fantasy last year.
If you base LOVE RACE on the first couple of seconds, you might expect to find the song subdued and coffee-shop-esque, which isn’t a style that you would expect from SF9. A couple of seconds later, LOVE RACE turns into a fast-pace pop dance track. Its instrumentation reminds me of an adrenaline pumping close-to-call motor race soundtrack – fitting for a song titled LOVE RACE and a fulfilling outcome for a song under 3 minutes. This backing is full of textures and colours that make me want to ‘go zoom’ (literally) while listening to it, making for an intriguing background piece. I find myself enjoying the rapping more in LOVE RACE. YOUNGBIN, HWIYOUNG and CHANI had a very cool presence in the song, especially during LOVE RACE‘s choruses. They themselves added to the high-octane and speedy feel of the song. On the flip side, the vocals were good. But I wished the material was more riveting. Both the melodies and hooks were underbaked in the song, leaving LOVE RACE less memorable than what it could have been. Overall, LOVE RACE is a decent song, especially if you are after something with a rush to it. But there is opportunity for the song to be more balanced and better.
It should be no surprise that LOVE RACE went with a race-themed concept. There are motorcycles, sports cars and quad-bikes in the music video, as well as elements of a car race and mechanic. Some of these are ‘driven’ by the members to look like they were driving very fast, while professionals were brought in to do wheelies and to circle around the members. Even the gear they wear throughout the video reminds me of a race. I just wished the music video was a little more than just close-ups and choreography (maybe a storyline where some of the members engage in a race somehow). But for the most part, it was a decent video.
SF9 pumps the gas in the choreography, matching the fast-paced nature of the song. The routine is intense, and you definitely see and feel when the song reaches its peaks throughout the dance. I like the idea of putting on and taking off the glove at the start and end of the routine, but I wonder if this holds any significance for the group.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
MARK continues to tease his upcoming solo debut album, which has now been confirmed to drop on 7 April 2025 and be titled The Firstfruit. The first release from this forthcoming album was Fraktsiya (ft. LEE YOUNG JI) from December 2024. And now, MARK is back with a new pre-release single +82 Pressin’, which features fellow NCT member HAECHAN.
+82 Pressin’ is a hip-hop track with abundant textures and superb delivery from the pair. While the influences were ordinary, I enjoyed the upbeat instrumentation, which keeps +82 Pressin’ dynamic and energetic throughout. The textures made the song “crunchy” and enjoyable. As for the pairing, both MARK and HAECHAN did a fantastic job in their own areas of delivery – MARK with rapping and HAECHAN with vocals. However, HAECHAN’s raspy vocals stood out more to me. But their chemistry is undeniable, especially during the parts where they come together. This should not surprise anyone, given their long history together. But what I thought was cool and made +82 Pressin’ even more intriguing was that they dabbled in each other’s motif (i.e., MARK with vocals and HAECHAN in rapping). It is not a new thing for them, but it is a memorable highlight of +82 Pressin’. The chorus was catchy, but I wished there was a more pronounced hook to remember the song by. I also would have liked them to break the song’s confines and show off more. These would have taken +82 Pressin’ to the next level for me.
Interesting that three reviews in a row, I have assigned a 10/10 for the music video scores. It has been a week of awesome music videos, apparently. In the video for +82 Pressin’, we see MARK and HAECHAN work together to fight crime. But when they encounter the female character, HAECHAN becomes brainwashed and turns on MARK. MARK continues his mission and fights the mobsters working for the female character. He succeeds against the mobsters but barely gets away from the female character before he is executed by his former crime-fighting partner. My recap here probably does not do justice to the actual storyline in the video, so I recommend you check it out. I did like the Sin City influence the video had going on, with the grayscale motif and retention of the red colour. The red colour is a key detail to note, as when HAECHAN is turned, his shirt collar goes from grayscale to red. However, it is back to grayscale at the end, so maybe HAECHAN has been against MARK all along?
+82 Pressin’ was performed on MCountDown last Thursday. It was a fantastic performance. The hip-hop influence was a no-brainer given the song, but I liked how it came through in the routine. MARK and HAECHAN looked very natural throughout the performance, despite my initial thoughts that HAECHAN might look awkward in this form. Their moves, particularly their footwork, were super cool, and their chemistry (once again) made it engaging to watch.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.8/10
NMIXX also returned during the week with their fourth mini-album and third instalment in their Fe3O4 series, Fe3O4: Forward. Leading the new mini-album is the title track, KNOW ABOUT ME. This is their most recent comeback since their Fe3O4: Stick Out and See That? era.
NMIXX goes subdued with KNOW ABOUT ME. While this isn’t anything new in KPOP, it is new territory for NMIXX, and they do a good job with it. The start brings KNOW ABOUT ME‘s hip-hop influence to the forefront and is quite aesthetic. The latter wears down as the song progresses, but this should not be seen as bad. Plus, its presence is still around and comes through at times. Instead, a more mature and sultry motif comes through as the song develops, especially during the choruses. Again, it is still very different from the NMIXX that we know of. The instrumental for KNOW ABOUT ME is minimalistic and chill trap-based. Those trap elements are actually relatively piercing and feel quite pronounced. But just as KNOW ABOUT ME teeters into neutral gear, NMIXX changes up the song with a heavy rap from JIWOO and KYUJIN and a punchy EDM bridge. And I like how this heaviness continues as KNOW ABOUT ME reverts back to the main chorus to close out the song. Vocally and rap-wise, NMIXX handles it all pretty well, and I enjoyed the ad-libs (though I wished they were more pronounced to have more impact). My only qualm about KNOW ABOUT ME is the abrupt ending. I have never been a fan of those and will never be from the looks of it.
JYP Entertainment really outdid themselves with this music video. The high-quality feel, the futuristic aesthetics, the complex post-production, and the members’ amazing styling made for a memorable video. The song is about the emotions one has whilst embarking on an adventure in an unfamiliar world (adapted from Soompi), so we see the members travelling in the video in a futuristic airport. While we see a lot of different and potentially unexplored territories in the video, the members’ final destination appears to be out of this world, with the ship emerging from the ocean and going upwards into space.
The lotus flower start has to be one of the most aesthetic beginnings to a choreography ever. The chorus really encapsulates that mature and sultry feel I mentioned earlier, while the dance break during the punchy EDM was intense and cool. Overall, NMIXX delivered a strong performance.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
Welcome to the next edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. This week, this post contains 2 Weekly KPOP Charts for Weeks 2 and 3 of March 2025. Week 2 of March 2025 spans 9 to 15 March 2025, and Week 3 of March 2025 spans 16 to 22 March 2025.
I apologize for not posting last week. Time got away from me, and I planned to post the charts on Monday. But it was such a busy Monday (and the rest of the week) that I fell asleep on the couch. Not every day, though. I did lie in bed to ‘rest my eyes’ on the other nights, but I never got back up until the following day. Hahaha… And within a blink of an eye, the week was over, and here we are.
In case it gets busy again, I have scheduled (for real this time) reviews to post during the week. So stay tuned! But until then, here are the Weekly KPOP Charts for Weeks 2 and 3 of March 2025.
ICYMI – Winners of the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
I posted the winners for the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards the other week. Click the link and browse to see if your favourite artist, song and performances from 2024 won!
What else am I listening to?
Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts I listened to last week. This week’s song is NCT 127’s Fact Check.
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). For Week 2 of March 2025, the non-Korean song of the week is j-hope’s Sweet Dreams, which features Miguel. It ranked in the 35th position this week.
For Week 3 of March 2025, the non-Korean song of the week is JENNIE’s Love Hangover, which features Dominic Fike.
The Chart (for Week 2 of March 2025)
YEJI’s solo debut with Air ranked in the top spot for Week 2 of March 2025. Congratulations to YEJI!
Pos.
Title
Artist
Status
1
Air
YEJI (ITZY)
(NEW)
2
BLUE
ZEROBASEONE
(▼ 1)
3
Like JENNIE
JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
(NEW)
4
96ers
HxW (SEVENTEEN)
(NEW)
5
The Stranger
ONF
(▲ 4)
6
HER
MINNIE ((G)I-DLE)
(▲ 13)
7
Dangerous
INFINITE
(▼ 4)
8
YELLOW
TREASURE
(NEW)
9
STRESS
CHUNG HA
(▲ 17)
10
ATTITUDE
IVE
(▲ 19)
11
REBEL HEART
IVE
(RE-ENTER)
12
Dash
PLAVE
(▲ 15)
13
UP N DOWN
EUNHYUK (SUPER JUNIOR)
(NEW)
14
PYTHON
GOT7
(▼ 8)
15
Walkin On Water
Stray Kids
(RE-ENTER)
16
earthquake
JISOO (BLACKPINK)
(RE-ENTER)
17
Season of Memories
GFRIEND
(RE-ENTER)
18
IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU
BOYNEXTDOOR
(RE-ENTER)
19
The Chase
Hearts2Hearts
(▼ 17)
20
HOT
LE SSERAFIM
(NEW)
21
WINNER
ONEW (SHINee)
(RE-ENTER)
22
Lucky
SEULGI (Red Velvet) & Kim Wan Sun
(NEW)
23
Doctor! Doctor!
ZEROBASEONE
(RE-ENTER)
24
Seize The Day
W24
(NEW)
25
Rupert’s Drop
ONEUS
(RE-ENTER)
26
I WISH
BXB
(NEW)
27
nu kidz
ARrC
(NEW)
28
Sugarcoat
AleXa
(NEW)
29
GIMME GIMME
ALL(H)OURS
(▼ 1)
30
Down For You
GHOST9
(RE-ENTER)
The Chart (for Week 3 of March 2025)
THE BOYZ’s latest single VVV ranked in the top spot for Week 3 of March 2025. Congratulations to THE BOYZ!
Pos.
Title
Artist
Status
1
VVV
THE BOYZ
(NEW)
2
Air
YEJI (ITZY)
(▼ 1)
3
earthquake
JISOO (BLACKPINK)
(▲ 13)
4
Walkin On Water
Stray Kids
(▲ 11)
5
Love Hangover
JENNIE (BLACKPINK) ft. Dominic Fike
(RE-ENTER)
6
96ers
HxW (SEVENTEEN)
(▼ 2)
7
KNOW ABOUT ME
NMIXX
(NEW)
8
The Stranger
ONF
(▼ 3)
9
HOT
LE SSERAFIM
(▲ 11)
10
GIMME GIMME
ALL(H)OURS
(▲ 19)
11
CBZ (Prime Time)
BSS (SEVENTEEN)
(RE-ENTER)
12
Love Me Right (Orig.: EXO)
NCT DREAM
(RE-ENTER)
13
Burnin’ Tires
CHANGBIN & I.N (Stray Kids)
(NEW)
14
Like JENNIE
JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
(▼ 11)
15
Dangerous
INFINITE
(▼ 8)
16
HOT MESS
EVNNE
(RE-ENTER)
17
Wonderland
I:MOND
(RE-ENTER)
18
Confessions
Flo Rida ft. Heeseung & Jake (ENHYPEN) & Paul Russel
THE BOYZ made their comeback at the start of the week — their first since moving on from IST Entertainment. The group has since signed on with One Hundred. Earlier this week, as mentioned, the group returned with their third studio album, Unexpected, led by the single VVV. This release follows their ninth mini-album (yet to be reviewed) and title track of the same name, TRIGGER.
From the many opportunities I have heard VVV this week, I have emerged from the song thoroughly enjoying it each time. There is just so much to like about VVV – I am unsure if there was even a bad or weak part in VVV. From the first second, VVV intrigues with their take on the old-school crowd sound before hopping into engaging vocals and rapping. I like the cohesiveness of the two forms of delivery throughout VVV. Still, I particularly liked the rapping, especially as it dips between vibrant fast pace or deep tones at different moments in VVV. When it comes to the choruses, I loved the nostalgia and smooth melodic touch featured, making for an excellent centrepiece for VVV. The start of the chorus feels comforting, and I love replaying that moment of VVV. The “Oh Oh Oh” post-chorus hook was very catchy and just felt perfect following on from the choruses. Most of the bridge was satisfying, especially the ‘Watch me dash, watch me dash‘ lines and the tinge of attitude it carries. I also enjoyed that final add-on of the chorus at the very end of the song, allowing VVV to feel complete. Finally, the synth-pop instrumentation was quite a dynamic piece, as well. It brightens everything up, yet it also feels robust for this comeback’s rapping and performance aspects. Overall, VVV is a very strong and refreshing release from THE BOYZ.
My best guess about what is happening in the video is THE BOYZ are infiltrating some sort of secret society, which explains the boxing concept they have going on, to spread their music within and beyond. It explains all the scenes of the music (in the form of an electrical current) moving internally through speakers and the whole choreography scene where the members are performing within the speaker. Some of the roles the members played were a little unknown to me, and I am a little confused about HYUNJAE’s presence at the end of the boxing match that JUYEON won (maybe recruitment?). But overall, an equally refreshing music video for this comeback.
I am impressed with the intensity of the performance, which matches the dynamic material of VVV. But to keep it bright and vibrant, the members smile throughout the performance, adding a light-hearted tone to the routine. The boxing concept emerges in the routine at the very start between JUYEON and HYUNJAE, with KEVIN serving as the umpire. I also like the twists and turns that form part of the post-chorus routine.
Song – 9.5/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.3/10
The next album up for review is Dreamcatcher’s VirtuouS. This is the group’s 10th mini-album and was released in July 2024. It is led by the title track, JUSTICE, and features an additional four songs. This album release follows their VillainS (title track OOTD) comeback from November 2023, the first part of their ‘VersuS‘ duology. Overall, VirtuouS is a powerful mini-album, with consistently strong songs across the board. This earns it a recommendation stamp from me (as you can see at the end of the post).
More recently, for Dreamcatcher, it was announced that Handong, Gahyun, and Dami were leaving their company, but it was confirmed that they remained in the group. In addition, JiU, SuA, and Yoohyeon will form a unit, while Siyeon will start a band. All these announcements are intriguing, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for each member of Dreamcatcher, though I hope there will be regular group comebacks, as well.
VirtuouS Album Cover
. Intro: 7’Dreamcatcher’ – Opening up this mini-album is an instrumental track. This one starts off captivating with the piano, before slowly developing into the very familiar rock sound that Dreamcatcher is known for. The journey to get to the rock sound was beautiful. When the track realises the rock sound, it is powerful and impactful. A stunning opener.
3. STΦMP! – With a title like STΦMP!, you expect the song to have some heft. And we got just that. With Dreamcatcher at the helm, it is no surprise that STΦMP! fully embraces a powerful rock instrumental. The “Stomp Stomp” chant at the start of the chorus is definitely the song’s highlight, and you can feel the group’s command on stage now during the chorus. Their vocals are powerful and impressive in this one. (10/10)
4. 2 RINGS – Right off the bat, 2 RINGS doesn’t mess around, launching the audience into a punk rock sound. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the guitar work in 2 RINGS, as it was an astounding element and adds so much momentum to the song. Dreamcatcher also doesn’t mess around with their delivery. Once again, they sound very powerful and exude a lot of attitude and sass in this number. Personally, I do feel like they could have stepped up all elements in the final chorus to really round out the song. But what we did get was already outstanding. (9/10)
5. Fireflies – Final song on the album is Fireflies. Hearing the piano and balladry direction of the song was quite a shift from what is on this mini-album. But this ‘shift’ is not a bad thing. Dreamcatcher whisked me away with Fireflies, with beautiful instrumentation and stunning vocals and harmonies. Those harmonies, especially at the end, make the final moments of this mini-album so emotional. Fireflies has everything I love in a ballad. (10/10)
LE SSERAFIM ended the week with their latest release, HOT, the lead single of their 5th mini-album of the same name. HOT follows their 2024 releases EASY and CRAZY.
Many of my comments in EASY‘s review apply to HOT. The new song is way too consistent for my liking. This contributed to HOT being more like a blur and breezed past quickly. In addition to being too consistent, the blur and quick breeze can also be attributed to HOT‘s short length and lack of anything exciting in the song. The melodies and hooks (not sure if there is one in HOT) didn’t offer much, nor did the members’ vocal focus delivery. They sound quite pleasant and soothing throughout HOT, but the material just wasn’t compelling. When I really pay attention to the song, I liked the atmospheric charm of the instrumental and the song’s bass. But other than that, I don’t have much else to say about the song, aside from the fact it felt like a repeat of EASY from last year.
I don’t know what is happening in the video, but I think there is a darker horror vibe alongside the moments of heat. The imagery of someone melting matches the lyrics, and I assume this forms a storyline of some kind. I do want to know how this all connects with EASY and CRAZY, because apparently, the three releases are a trilogy. Anyhow, the music video does bring on the heat, and the members look stunning throughout the video. My favourite part is the monochrome filter, with the members dressed in chic and sleek outfits.
The choreography for this comeback is definitely the best aspect yet! There is a sexiness and elegance to the moves that LE SSERAFIM pull off really well. Their stage presence was also felt, despite not being expected alongside a song like HOT. I like that moonwalk-like move in the chorus, and the whole routine at the end where Kahuza is in the centre and the members do that spin.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7.5/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 7.1/10
A new SEVENTEEN unit is one of the many comebacks that kicked off this week. HOSHI and WOOZI join forces in the new single 96ers (동갑내기). This is the third official unit from SEVENTEEN, the first being BSS, who recently returned with CBZ (Prime Time), and JxW (Jeonghan x Wonwoo).
If I had to judge the 96ers based on the first few seconds, it wouldn’t look good for the song. Those repetitive horns that open the song (the first major element of 96ers) were quite jarring, and the fact that it recurred throughout the song was not great. The next major element of 96ers is the interpolation of the ‘Red Light, Green Light‘ nursery rhyme, which we have heard before in KPOP. Plus, it was done multiple times in 96ers in both the pre-choruses and choruses. This pretty much got a yawn from me. The final major element is essentially the rest of the song, like the duo’s delivery and the hip-hop motif. The instrumental was playful, and the pair did a good job of relaying that vibe in their delivery. There were also a few references to past songs, like Mansae, Super and Cheers. There was just no standout moment for me to highlight. I commend the pair for working outside their box with the hip-hop sound, given that WOOZI is the vocal team leader and HOSHI was a possible vocal team member before switching to the performance team. Altogether, I wished 96ers yielded more positive thoughts than negative ones.
The music video taps into that playful side of 96ers I mentioned above, showing the pair as art pieces in a gallery or museum. In my mind, to be a piece of art in a gallery or museum means you are quite established, hinting at their current status. This complements the lyrics which speak about their own personal journey to get to where they are now. The photocopier scenes might represent their releases, videos, etc. that got to where they are (i.e., there are many copies of themselves out there in the world in different mediums). The treadmills are a little harder to guess what they represent. Perhaps the journey, but treadmills are devices you use to walk long distances whilst remaining in one place – maybe this is a hint that they are always art pieces since their early days, til now.
The choreography is precisely how I expected it. It encompasses that hip-hop motif, whilst also showcasing a more carefree and loose style. I also like how their presence commanded the stage, making this an incredible performance.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7/10
Many comebacks are kicking off the new week. While I have checked them all out, I must prioritise my favourite release from the bunch—YEJI’s Air. This is YEJI’s solo debut single and is featured on the same-name mini-album. YEJI is also the first member of ITZY to officially go solo with this release. We last saw ITZY through their GOLD / Imaginary Friend promotions (the latter I just reviewed last week).
Yup, out of all the releases that dropped today, YEJI’s Air is the one that caught my attention most strongly. It wasn’t the first or second release I checked out, but it is the one that remained in my mind long after, prompting me to write its review first. So, what aspects of Air caught my attention? Well, I put it down to the combination of Air‘s synth-pop instrumentation and the catchy hooks. The synth-pop got right to business and didn’t mess around. I really appreciated it that. There was also a touch of electric guitar in the bridge and the song’s final moment. I like how it added a dash of edginess to the music and channels the momentum Air had built. The beat also made the track quite compelling and pulses it along. As for the hooks, they have been beyond addictive. The “Air air air, all my air” line has been repeating in my mind since the first listen. As for YEJI, I liked how fresh her delivery made the song feel. You could also feel how vibrant and passionate she was. And this pays off quite well, with the chorus feeling bold and enticing. The verses were a tad bland from her part, but that is only a small detail. Overall, Air is a very good song and kicks off the week in a positive manner.
One thing I wanted in the song was some charisma from YEJI. But I held back on that suggestion, as charisma doesn’t need to be delivered in song format. Instead, it can be a visual element. And YEJI delivers it flawlessly in the music video. It is exuded a fair bit throughout the video but is most profound in the choreography shots. I like how the video has an odd side (see YEJI’s walk from the couch before tripping over a log, and the wacky pose we see her in at the start and end of the video) through how the shots were captured and edited (I presume). In addition to being memorable and different, it follows well with the song in the sense that it is refreshing. I also liked the idea of the crash scene, with YEJI laying on the bonnet – symbolising how YEJI’s breath is taken away by the person she is singing about.
As expected from ITZY’s main dancer, the choreography does not disappoint (from what I can see in the music video). While charisma and confidence are definitely exuded, I like how the routine has both a refined and fun energy (though the latter might be due to the music video). My favourite part is the back-bending move before the song wraps up. The sexy hand drag over her body was a very close second. While we do not see all of the routine, I am sure the rest live up to those expectations.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
It has been over a month since I posted my last album review to focus on the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. With that out of the way, I can finally return to the forever growing backlog of albums. First up is NCT 127’s 6th studio album, WALK, which was released in July 2024. It features 11 songs, including the title track, Walk (which I nominated for Best Rap or Hip-Hop Song in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards – unfortunately, it didn’t win, but it was my personal choice). This is the first album not to feature TAEYONG in the promotions, as he (at the time, and still is) enlisted in the military. But he did feature in the songs! This is also the last album to feature TAEIL, who was removed from the group soon after the album’s release.
With Walk leading the charge for this studio album, it was a definite positive sign for what would come on it. Two songs got perfect ratings from me, while a few almost got there as well! This made WALK good enough to be a recommended album. Continue reading to find out my thoughts on each song.
WALK Album Cover
1. Intro: Wall To Wall – Nowadays, a two minute and 30 second intro track is pretty much a full-fledged track. Despite that, NCT 127 maintains that Wall to Wall is an intro track. Wall to Wall features an atmospheric instrumental that combines an organ with hip-hop influences. In combination with an amazing instrumental, there is an equally amazing set of vocals and passionate rapping from the members to kick off the album. (9/10)
3. No Clue – No Clue emphasises the two sides of NCT 127. It starts with some cool rapping from TAEYONG and MARK, before we revert to smooth vocals from the vocalists. No Clue continues this pattern of cool rapping and smooth vocals for the remainder of the song, even in the chorus, to create a very unskippable hip-hop track. (9/10)
4. Orange Seoul (오렌지색 물감) – Orange Seoul is quite a fun number, joining jazzy instrumental elements with some strong vocals and rapping. This sounds like a great soundtrack for walking down the street in a very good mood. I liked Orange Seoul the most when the members and the instrumentation get super expressive. It is hard to pass up. (9/10)
5. Pricey – Grooviness hits you from the very first second in Pricey, setting up the song for success. Alongside it was some cool piano work and hip-hop elements, which add a lot of buoyancy. The continuous flow and delivery by the members were other amazing aspects of Pricey. Altogether, another good song. (8/10)
6. Time Capsule – Time Capsule sees NCT 127 slip into mid-tempo territory with this R&B/hip-hop track. But this is not something to look down on – Time Capsule is a stunner. The smoothness of the track was fantastic, and the rapping was nicely balanced to give us that hip-hop flair without becoming overbearing. Ultimately, the vocals won me over and made me come back for more. (10/10)
7. Can’t Help Myself(영화처럼) – Another stunning track comes in the form of Can’t Help Myself. Again, it is the vocals that floors me. The ad-libs in this one are phenomenal. I originally thought the “I can’t, I can’t help myself, I can’t, I can’t help myself no oh” lines were a little abrasive. But they have grown on me and give Can’t Help Myself some texture that allows it to be different from other vocal-centric tracks on this album. (10/10)
8. Rain Drop – We return to the R&B and hip-hop mix we heard earlier in the album in Rain Drop. But Rain Drop is much lower in tone and is sleek. I like how atmospheric the instrumental was and how it felt like the jazzy music that matches a rainy day. The rapping also adopts a low tone approach, which was very cool. The vocals were lovely, and I love HAECHAN’s incline in the bridge. I am in two minds about the shouty “I can hear you, my rain drop yup” line that breaks up the song. On one hand, it is a pretty memorable aspect of Rain Drop. On the other hand, it is a bit jarring (relative to the rest of the track). (8.5/10)
9. Gas – Gas taps into trap side of electronic music, combining it with hip-hop elements. This track feels very NCT 127. While I appreciate the latter, I am not a massive fan of the former. I also find the repetition of the song’s title to be very bone-dry. It is still a well-conceptualised track, and I like how it showcases that bounce synonymous with hip-hop. I also liked how they took the energy to the next level towards the end with that dynamic changeup. (7/10)
10. Suddenly (서서히) – The penultimate track on WALK is Suddenly, which takes us back to the R&B side of the album. The instrumental makes Suddenly a nice track. I like the mix of acoustic guitars, dynamic piano and refreshing percussion. We are also treated to some brassy elements in the chorus and some trap elements later on that form the instrumental break. The vocal and rapping work and the paced delivery of the chorus are also quite refreshing. A lot to like in Suddenly. (8.5/10)
11. Meaning of Love (사랑한다는 말의 뜻을 알아가자) – The final song on the album is Meaning of Love. It is a cute and sweet song from the group. Probably a bit of a mismatch when you compare it to the rest of the album. But Meaning of Love isn’t a terrible song by a longshot. I like the upbeat vibes from the more acoustic instrumentation in the background and the build-up that the track features. The vocals were very nice, particularly the husky tone the rappers used in the song. (8/10)
Welcome to the next edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. This time, it is for Week 1 of March 2025, which spans 2 to 8 March 2025.
There is not much to update on this week. As you can tell, it has been a relatively silent week for me. Hopefully that changes this week. I have a day off tomorrow, so I hope to get some reviews drafted and scheduled for this week. But until then, here are the Weekly KPOP Chart posts for Week 1 of March 2025.
NOW LIVE – Winners of the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
Last week, I posted the winners for the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Click the link and browse to see if your favourite artist, song and performances from 2024 won!
What else am I listening to?
Each week, I spotlight a song not on the Weekly KPOP Charts I listened to last week. With INFINITE returning this week, INFINITE has been on my mind. So, this week’s song is INFINITE’s The Chaser.
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). For the past week, the non-Korean song of the week is once again JENNIE’s Love Hangover, which features Dominic Fike.
The Chart
ZEROBASEONE ranked in the top spot this past week with their latest single BLUE. Congratulations to ZEROBASEONE!
There have been a few debuts this year, and I haven’t covered any of them on my blog yet. That is until today. Hearts2Hearts is the first newly debuted group I am picking up for a review. The group comprises 8 members (Carmen, Jiwoo, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian, and Ye-on) and they are SM Entertainment’s latest female group (the company’s first since aespa). Their debut single, The Chase, was released almost 2 weeks ago.
Right off the get-go, The Chase is pleasant and soothing. The elements, particularly melodies, exude calmness and smoothness. But there are risks with this style, and The Chase fully realises some of these risks. The Chase is an empty track and it doesn’t have much for me to ‘grab’ onto. The smoothness I mentioned earlier helps glide the song along. But unfortunately, nothing sticks. The hooks or melodies were not compelling, and I missed the chorus several times because of how hollow it sounded. From what I can tell, the members sound okay on both the vocal and rapping front. But, I wish the material was more interesting so that we can appreciate each member individually. Finally, The Chase is supposed to be a debut song. But when compared to other debut tracks we have heard in the past, The Chase is underwhelming. To be honest, this soothing style would have made for an okay side-track. But as a debut track, this isn’t a good start for Hearts2Hearts, mainly since I have forgotten the track. The only thing that attracts my attention towards the group is that they are from SM Entertainment. I am willing to give Hearts2Hearts another go, but hopefully it is with a bolder track.
The music video accompanying The Chase also doesn’t connect with me. But I am not sure if this is more so the song speaking rather than the actual video. However, since they are paired up, it is difficult for me not to find the visual material boring. The music video has a few things going for it, though. I liked the mysterious vibes that the video started off with. However, I wished the entire video wasn’t just mysterious vibes, which raises more questions for me. The members look great (especially the chic look they don while in the lobby location), and I liked the flowy vibes the music video exudes. But there isn’t much else to remember the music video by.
The performance is good. It fits the dreamier motif that The Chase goes for in the song. I did like the circle formation they made towards the end of the performance. But aside from that, there isn’t anything that memorable in the performance.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 7.5/10 Overall Rating – 6.6/10
KPOPREVIEWED 