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.

[Coming Soon] 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards

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Welcome to December, the final month of the year. In addition to being a stark reminder of how fast another year has flown by, around this time each year, I am officially announcing the reutrn of the KPOPREVIEWED Awards to celebrate the KPOP debuts, comebacks, performances, and artists that have graced our minds this year.

This year, the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, has been bubbling away in the background since October.

What does the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards entail?

Like the last few years, the winners of majority of categories in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards will be decided purely by your votes! I have done the hard work of providing the nominations of who I think are the best in each category, but you will have the ultimate say from that list!

Best Song of 2024 and Best Artist of 2024 award winners will be decided based on fan nominations (you will be able to pick up to 3 songs and 3 artists each when voting opens) and my Weekly KPOP Charts. Both will be weighted equally (50% each).

More details regarding voting will be published when voting opens!

I will also be posting my personal choice in the KPOPREVIEWED’S Choice post.

When will it all occur?

Key dates for the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards include:

  • Anouncement Post – 01 December 2024 (this post!)
  • Nominations Announcement – 10 December 2024
  • Voting Opens – 15 December 2024
  • KPOPREVIEWED’s Choice – 31 December 2024
  • Voting Closes – 31 January 2025
  • Winner Announcement – Late February 2025

What is the eligibilty period for the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards?

  • An artist is eligible for nomination in any category (including Best Artist of 2024) if they had a comeback between 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024 (inclusive).
  • A song is eligble for nomination in any category (including Best Song of 2024) if it was released between 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024 (inclusive).
  • An album is eligible for nomination provided it was released between 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.
  • A performance is eligible for nomination provided it was performed between 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024.

What will fans be voting on?

The categories your vote will decide include:

  • Best New Group/Soloists (Female/Male)
  • Best Subunit
  • Best Delivery (Vocal/Rap/Band Performance)
  • Rising Star
  • Most Underrated Artist
  • Best Non-Korean Artist in KPOP
  • Best Group/Soloist (Female/Male)
  • Best Group Dance Performance (Female/Male)
  • Best Solo Dance Performance (Female/Male)
  • Best Special Performance
  • Best ‘Return to Stage’
  • Best Stage Presence
  • Best Outfit
  • Best Concept
  • Best Music Video
  • Best Cover
  • Best Western Song By a KPOP Artist
  • Best Japanese Song by a KPOP Artist
  • Best Collaboration
  • Best Song per Genre (Ballad/Electronic/Pop/R&B/Rock or Band/Rap or Hip-Hop)
  • Best Remixed Version
  • Most Underrated Song
  • Best Album

You will also be able to nominate 3 artists and 3 songs to help determine Best Song and Best Artist of 2024. These votes will also help determine Most Voted Song and Most Voted Artist of 2024.

What will fans not be voting on?

Any catergory based on the blog and my Weekly KPOP Charts, as well as Best Side Track of 2024.

When will the winners be announced?

Some time in late February. I am unable to pick an exact date, as it will depend on a few factors (including how fast I can get through the count for Best Song and Artist of 2024 – these take the longest).

I will also be absent from the blog throughout January (trying to get some posts scheduled whilst I am away), hence why the voting period will end once I am back on board!

Come back on 10 December 2024 to find out the nominees of the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, and then on 15 December 2024 to cast your vote!

Make sure to follow me on Twitter (I know it is called X, but I still call it Twitter), Facebook and Bluesky (this is a new one for me!) for updates and reminders to vote. In the meanwhile, check out the blog for my song and album reviews!!!

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 4th Week of November 2024

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Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! It is going to be another quick one, as there is a special post coming later today which I would like to finish off and post, so stayed tuned for that later today. But I gotta run some errands beforehand (per my normal Sunday schedule). So let’s get to it!

Non-Korean Song of the Week

As this blog focuses primarily on KPOP songs, I want to draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song will be the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. This week’s highest-ranking non-Korean song is MOEVV’s TOXIC, which ranks in the 11th position.

The Charts

TWS’s Last Festival ranks in the top spot on the 4th Week of November 2024’s Weekly KPOP Charts. Congratulations to TWS!

PositionSong TitleArtistChange
1Last FestivalTWS(NEW)
2Like A FlowerIRENE (Red Velvet)(NEW)
3Whiplashaespa(▲ 6)
4Ice On My TeethATEEZ(▲ 4)
5When I’m With YouNCT DREAM(▲ 2)
6No DoubtENHYPEN(▲ 5)
7TRIGGERTHE BOYZ(▼ 1)
8Over The MoonTXT(▲ 5)
9POWERG-DRAGON(▼ 5)
10Letter To MyselfTAEYEON (SNSD)(▼ 9)
11TOXICMEOVV(▼ 9)
12number one girlROSÉ (BLACKPINK)(▲ 60)
13Shhh!VIVIZ(▲ 3)
14UnconditionalJAEHYUN (NCT)(▲ 56)
15APT.ROSÉ (BLACKPINK) & Bruno Mars(▼ 1)
16LOVE, MONEY & FAMESEVENTEEN ft. DJ Khaled(▲ 8)
17DRIPBABYMONSTER(▼ 7)
18CALL BACKMINHO (SHINee)(▲ 53)
19Love BomberMoon Jongup
(BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON)		(▲ 53)
20HOME SWEET HOMEG-DRAGON ft. TAEYANG &
DAESUNG		(▲ 44)
21AutomaticVANNER(▲ 51)
22MantraJENNIE (BLACKPINK)(▲ 1)
23PINATAA.C.E(▲ 40)
24GPTSTAYC(▼ 7)
25Cherish (My Love)ILLIT(=)
26I’ll Be ThereJIN (BTS)(▲ 41)
27CRASHJAY B (GOT7)(NEW)
28GOLDITZY(▼ 16)
29Supernova LoveIVE & David Guetta(▼ 26)
30DerreBIBI(▲ 42)

[Review] LAST PARADE – BAMBAM (GOT7)

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It has been months since BAMBAM made his solo comeback with the single LAST PARADE and mini-album BAMESIS. I am finally reviewing the title track today, ahead of a future album review post focusing on the mini-album. It is the first solo Korean release of BAMBAM’s since early 2023’s Sour & Sweet comeback.

LAST PARADE sees BAMBAM venture into a much darker vibe than ever before. I like the idea of exploring a new side of the artist when it is done well, and I think LAST PARADE is a good example of it being done well. LAST PARADE opens up with some anthemic choir before settling for a hip-hop-centred sound. But the song catches you by surprise. Instead of a punchy or upbeat production, the track holds itself back – maintaining a sparse instrumental and allowing the tension to simmer and build rather than explode. It is an intriguing way to approach things, but this does give LAST PARADE a memorable to let the song linger in my mind once it is complete. But while the instrumental remains sparse, LAST PARADE does allow itself to turn into a dynamic piece via the electronic follow-through of the choruses. The rush of energy in this part of the song contrasts nicely with the rest and feels quite a satisfying release of the tension mentioned above. BAMBAM does well with his rapping and vocals, with the pre-choruses standing out the most to me. The only part of LAST PARADE that I didn’t like was how it ended, which made the song feel incomplete and unsatisfying.

The music video is split into three chapters. The first chapter features BAMBAM as a leader of a city, in an almost dictator-like manner from the looks of it. He has complete control of an army that defends the city. The second chapter features BAMBAM as the leader of a rebel group who isn’t happy with the leader BAMBAM. The third chapter features the rebellion, where both BAMBAMs meet and fight. I am unsure of the intent of the third BAMBAM, who we see at the start of the video yielding the same flag as the dictator version. But he is definitely away from the action and is very blase about what is happening above him at the end of the video. Perhaps he is a more evil ‘all-knowing’ character who tempts the dictator version of BAMBAM to do his dirty work? Aside from that, I really like the epicness of the city, the darker and creepy vibes channelling through the video, as well as the Hieronymus Bosch presentation style of the music video. Put all this together, and you get a cool music video.

I really like the performance. The verses and first part of the choruses really build intensity in the routine, similar to how the song does the exact same thing. But then, when it comes to the second part of the choruses, BAMBAM and his dancers release the pent-up energy to create a powerful waacking-like piece.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10

[Review] Shhh! – VIVIZ

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It has been over a year since VIVIZ made their comeback with MANIAC. Since then, the trio embarked on and completed their first world tour V.hind: Love and Tears. At the start of the month, they returned with the single Shhh! and their 3rd mini-album VOYAGE.

Shhh! sees VIVIZ return with a more mature and edgy vibe. I like the idea of exploring this side of the group, but I wish the material was more engaging. Weeks after its release, the only memorable element of Shhh! is the pronunciation of “Boy Shhh!“, which is clever if it were intentional (I’m unsure if it was). The repetition also helped in this regard. Anyhow, I realize that the song has potential. But as the other elements don’t stand out independently or together, the biggest problem for Shhh! is that it is underbaked. The Latin influence on the instrumental is good and punchy at times. However, there is an apparent lack of it during the choruses. The front end of the choruses was incredibly plain and didn’t entice me enough to return to the song. More colour or flair could have done wonders for this part of the choruses. The concentration and added definition to the follow-through in the second and third runs of the choruses made these sections better and more engaging. My comment about the front end of the choruses being plain can also apply to the members’ vocals, the rapping and Shhh!‘s melodies.

My understanding of the song is that it speaks to their alluring side and how they use that to get the person they want. As such, the other person doesn’t need to waste time and speak – the members can get straight to the point (unlike me…). The music video comprises many solo and choreography shots, all of which look fine. I did like how the producers embraced more of that mature and edgy feeling of the song in the video. But as always, with music videos that only have solo and choreography shots, I would have liked to see more in this video. If right, my interpretation of the lyrics would have lent well to a plot where the members attract people to be with them, but there could be a consequence for anyone who falls for them (i.e., VIVIZ playing serial killers). Just an idea 🙂

The most defining aspect of the comeback is the body and booty shakes in the performance. They definitely take on that mature and edgy side of the song that I mentioned above. I liked how each section is different from the other body and booty shakes throughout the routine, keeping the performance fresh and exciting at all times.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Like A Flower – IRENE (Red Velvet)

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Tuesday saw IRENE from Red Velvet make her solo debut with the mini-album and lead single of the same name, Like A Flower. This is her first release since Red Velvet’s Cosmic and Sweet Dreams, which were released earlier in the year. Fellow member WENDY also made her solo comeback earlier this year.

Like A Flower is another pleasant song. My use of the word ‘pleasant’ in reviews can either be a good or bad thing. But for the first time, I am unsure what side of the spectrum I fall on. Part of me really likes Like A Flower‘s pop-dance instrumental, which has an excellent rhythmic beat. The percussion was soft yet yielded an upbeatness that felt robust and dynamic. The piano melody that peeks through the backing makes it feel pretty and dreamy. There are also some textural vocal chops in the back of the latter parts of the chorus, which I also enjoyed particularly because they help cut the linear nature of the song. The rest of Like A Flower is where my liking of the song weakens. Mostly, the melodies came off as monotonous, and IRENE’s vocals ultimately felt bland. She does a decent job of making herself sound soft, but that comes at the cost of something riveting or captivating. The English lyrics in Like A Flower‘s chorus suffer a similar fate as ATEEZ’s Ice On My Teeth, though not as bad. Overall, Like A Flower is a decent debut track. However, it could have been more enticing.

The following is just my interpretation of the events in the music video. It starts with IRENE recording different sounds in life, including love. It is all shown in a bright and sunny environment, implying her hobby is innocent. I assume that doing this makes her want to experience her love, so she seeks out a guy she met once. She pleads to the internet to help her find the person, going to lengths of using a computer program to find the person and printing out a huge photo of him. But once she does, things turn a little sinister. The mood shifts from innocent to creepy as she chases after him. At one point, he looks up, and she is staring back down at him. This change in the video’s mood shines a different light on the van as she travels in at the start and stores her tapes. It is suspiciously spacious. Scary movie-loving me now thinks IRENE is a serial killer, and the tape recordings represent a victim, with the guy’s tape being titled ‘See The Sun’. I could be very wrong about the dark twist in the story, but that is what I got out of it.

I quite enjoyed the choreography for IRENE’s solo debut. It fully embraces the rhythmic beat I spoke about earlier, and the routine has a contemporary and elegant feel. There were some glitchy-like hand movements in the routine, which I thought was a standout detail.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Review] Last Festival – TWS:

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After snagging the ‘Best New Male Group’ and ‘Best Dance Performance – Male Group’ awards at MAMA this year, TWS is back with a brand new single, Last Festival (or 마지막 축제). This new song is featured on the group’s first single album, titled Last Bell. It also follows their debut with Sparkling Blue (the mini-album) and plot twist (the lead single) and their first comeback with Summer Beat (the mini-album – yet to be reviewed) and If I’m S, Can You Be My N? (the lead single).

Last Festival continues TWS’ strong ‘lead single’ output this year. It is supposedly a remake of Seo Taiji And Boys’ 1993 hit song of the same name, but reinterpreted to be a chill song. It still has an engaging beat and rhythm, which was the first thing I noticed about Last Festival when I checked it out on Monday. I think a pop element could have helped Last Festival stand out more. Not too much is needed but enough to give Last Festival extra energy. But its current form lends well to the wintery season South Korea is heading into. The hooks and melodies are catchy and work well with the chill background. However, I wish they had been a bit more fleshed out and had a punchier feel (the latter would have lent well to the pop tinge I am yearning for in Last Festival). This would have allowed TWS to work with more riveting and engaging material in the new song. I find the vocals and rapping in Last Festival a little dulled – not to the point where it bores me, but it does feel like the song is beginning to head in that direction. But overall, as it is, Last Festival is a great song from the group.

The music video shows the TWS members each realising their feelings for one particular female student in the entire school before the school year ends. However, as the video progresses, it is shown that the female student has feelings for only one of the members. So, we see the members’ reaction to the female student not choosing them, which obviously involves sadness, dejection and tears. The ending is rather bittersweet, as it is revealed that they are all friends based on the events during the end-of-year festivities. I liked the choreography scenes, especially how the sets were part of the school’s end-of-year production. The one which saw the members perform on the structure of the upcoming skyscraper featured some of the members falling gracefully off the sides of the set, which was a cool way to exit the scene.

I quite enjoyed the choreography and can see why the group was recognised for their plot twist choreography at the MAMA Awards this year (aside from the fact that dance performance went viral throughout 2024). I didn’t think it would be as sharp and fast as it was, and I thought it would have embraced more of Last Festival’s chill side. But it leans more toward the song’s beat and rhythm, which works well for this song.

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

[Album Review] GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 (10th Mini Album) – ATEEZ

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I kick off the new week with another album review—this time for ATEEZ’s GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 mini-album. This is their 10th Korean mini-album since their debut, and it features the title track WORK (alongside 5 other songs). GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 is a consistent mini-album, ranking in the very good territory (if I had to name the album rating more descriptively). It doesn’t blow me away, but I appreciate the good songs on the mini-album.

More recently, ATEEZ returned with their 11th mini-album, the second part of the GOLDEN HOUR series. It is headlined by the single Ice On My Teeth, so check out the song in its review if you haven’t done so yet.

GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1 Album Cover

1. Golden Hour – The intro track to the mini-album features a thought-provoking narration that questions the ‘greatest moments’ in life – are they those that are the brightest and most memorable moments, or are they the ordinary moments (for example, a dinner or hearing each other laugh) that you spend with loved ones such as family and friends? The narration is over the top of a soft and paced instrumentation that makes it sound heavenly.

2. Blind – Right off the bat, ATEEZ feels like they are in their wheelhouse in Blind, a track with a fiesta flair to bring out a fun and vibrant sound. The instrumental hits hard, especially with the accordion-like and brass instruments used during the song’s instrumental breaks. The outro also hits hard for similar reasons. Blind also features playful raps from the group, though the vocal work was a bit standard for my liking and didn’t meet the bar that the rest of the song set. (8/10)   

3. WORK (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for WORK. (7/10)

4. Empty Box – Empty Box is a softer pop track that I remember for having a soothing effect. While there is a standard trap-like layer in its instrumental, I enjoyed the guitars’ presence, which grounded the song and channelled that already mentioned soothing effect. Vocally, I was very impressed with the huskier tones in the choruses and the breathy delivery the members adopted in the track. JONGHO’s vocals in the pre-choruses were exceptionally stunning, while HONGJOONG’s louder and shoutier raps were an interesting contrast to the rest of Empty Box. (8/10)

5. Shaboom – In Shaboom, we get pronounced reggae in the verses, while the choruses adopt crunchy and textural synths. By the song’s end, we hear Shaboom go fully electronic, retaining the crunchy texture. Altogether, it’s a very intriguing combination that does give me whiplash. But it ultimately works in my mind. JONGHO and the rappers ensure that the ATEEZ roots are kept in the song, though I cannot think of any other artist who would release Shaboom. The soft and elongated ‘Shaboom’ in the background at the start of the choruses is a very unserious detail that gets me each time I listen to the song. (8/10)

6. Siren – Ending the album is Siren, which brings us back to hip-hop and dance territory. While the instrumental does ‘pop off’ with its cool percussion, Siren is the mini-album’s plainest song. But it is definitely the most effective song that didn’t have me umming or uhhing at any point of the song. All the members were super engaging, and I really enjoyed the ‘Ringing siren’ chant at the end, where it goes from whispery to shouty. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

  • HONGJOONG’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • SEONGHWA’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • YUNHO’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • YEOSANG’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • SAN’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • MINGI’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • WOOYOUNG’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1
  • JONGHO’s teaser image for GOLDEN HOUR Pt. 1

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 3rd Week of November 2024

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Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! I am posting this at the end of Sunday (literally, the next thing on my to-do list is to get ready for tomorrow and head to bed), so I will get right to it!

Non-Korean Song of the Week

As this blog focuses primarily on KPOP songs, I want to draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song will be the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. This week’s highest-ranking non-Korean song is IVE and David Guetta’s collaboration, Supernova Love, which ranks in the 3rd position.

The Charts

TAEYEON’s Letter To Myself ranks in the top spot on the 3rd Week of November 2024’s Weekly KPOP Charts. Congratulations to TAEYEON!

PositionSong TitleArtistChange
1Letter To MyselfTAEYEON (SNSD)(NEW)
2TOXICMEOVV(NEW)
3Supernova LoveIVE & David Guetta(▲ 6)
4POWERG-DRAGON(▲ 24)
5Get LoudKISS OF LIFE(▲ 25)
6TRIGGERTHE BOYZ(▲ 7)
7When I’m With YouNCT DREAM(▼ 6)
8Ice On My TeethATEEZ(▼ 3)
9Whiplashaespa(▲ 10)
10DRIPBABYMONSTER(▼ 8)
11No DoubtENHYPEN(▼ 7)
12GOLDITZY(▲ 17)
13Over The MoonTXT(▼ 10)
14APT.ROSÉ (BLACKPINK) & Bruno Mars(▲ 1)
15Imaginary FriendsITZY(▼ 4)
16Shhh!VIVIZ(▲ 1)
17GPTSTAYC(▲ 33)
18IGLOOKISS OF LIFE(▼ 12)
19Moonlit FloorLISA (BLACKPINK)(▼ 3)
20Coming Of Age StoryLee Muijin(▲ 44)
21EverglowKINO (PENTAGON)(▲ 43)
22GIANTStray Kids(▼ 15)
23MantraJENNIE (BLACKPINK)(▼ 5)
24LOVE, MONEY & FAMESEVENTEEN ft. DJ Khaled(▼ 1)
25Cherish (My Love)ILLIT(▼ 13)
26He + She = WeAMPERS&ONE(▲ 22)
27What Would You Do?WONHO(NEW)
28Light Up3Piece(▲ 36)
29Electric ShockKANG DANIEL(▲ 35)
30Off The MaskYUTA (NCT)(▲ 34)

[Review] Get Loud – KISS OF LIFE

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KISS OF LIFE returned to the stage a month ago before embarking on their first world tour! The comeback features the group’s third mini-album, Lose Yourself, which features the title track Get Loud (the focus of this post), the pre-release single R.E.M (which I have not reviewed yet) and the follow-up single IGLOO. This comeback follows a busy year for the group, which started with their Midas Touch and then Sticky comebacks.

Every time I play Get Loud, I recognise it as a fun and upbeat track from the group. The energy exuded from Get Loud is refreshing for this time of the year. The same can be said with the bright blend of hip-hop and Latin influences in the instrumentation. The vocal work and rapping were solid, and I liked the sleek nature of the raps in the song. All of this should make Get Loud another promising KISS OF LIFE song, making 2024 an even more exceptional year for the female group. But something holds Get Loud back for me. Since its release, I have never found myself drawn to go back to Get Loud, nor does it have that memorable factor that keeps it in my mind. Upon reflection, I put this down to weak melodies and hooks that don’t have the right punch. I wish the choruses had been more prolific; something like Midas Touch’s style would have worked amazingly in this song. Or perhaps, since the song is titled Get Loud, something concentrated and shouty that embraces the song’s title.

At first glance, the music video mostly consists of solo and choreography shots. However, Get Loud‘s video appears to have a reality vs. dream concept, which might explain how some of the solo shorts merge together around the start of the second chorus mark and how two versions of the group perform together at one point. Aside from that, I’m not entirely sure what inspired or how to interpret this video. What I do like is the high-quality nature of the video and how sophisticated it looks. NATTY’s look in the blue fur coat with her hair pinned up was fabulous and classy.

As for the choreography, I liked the tinge of attitude the members added to the routine. It just lifts up the routine and makes it more engaging. I enjoyed the complexity of the footwork, which keeps the routine on its toes. Overall, it was great and showcases why we should pay more attention to this KISS OF LIFE in the choreography department.

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

[Album Review] Troubleshooting (1st Studio Album) – Xdinary Heroes

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The next album up for a review on the blog is Xdinary Heroes’ 1st studio-length album, Troubleshooting. This album was released at the end of April and features 10 songs, including the title track Little Things. Xdinary Heroes impressed me with this album, which contains no songs worth skipping. Four songs got a 10/10 rating from me, and no songs went below 8/10. That is impressive and makes Troubleshooting one of the highest-rated albums this year thus far.

More recently, Xdinary Heroes also returned with their 5th mini-album, Live and Fall. I have reviewed the title track Night Before The End. The band has also been releasing monthly singles since June through their 2024 Xperiment Project, such as Love & Fear, Boys Comic, Save Me & iNSTEAD (ft. YB Yoon Do Hyun), all of which also form part of their Live & Fall mini-album.

Troubleshooting Album Cover

1. No Matter – No Matter grabbed and held onto me with its intensity. This is a bold track to start the album and get people hooked to the rest of the album. But Xdinary Heroes nailed it. The band’s rock instrumental was super-duper prolific and energetic, maintaining both a head-banging and foot-tapping (it is hard to not do both!) vibe throughout the song from start to end. Powerful vocals are also in the song to match the intensity and energy (as you would hope). But it also added texture and grunginess to the mix, making No Matter even better. (10/10)

2. Little Things (어리고 부끄럽고 바보 같은) – Click here for the full review for Little Things. (8/10)

3. UNDEFINED – To me, UNDEFINED starts with a little more pace during the verses and a mysteriousness to its pre-chorus before launching into similar intensity in its chorus as the initial track. Once again, the rock instrumentation was very cool. The drumming gave UNDEFINED suspense and bass, while the electric guitar in the chorus was pure electric. I just think it could have been longer. (9/10)

4. Paint It – Paint It continues the rock intensity coursing throughout the album thus far. It starts off with some fun and playful instrumentation, which the later intriguing and catchy “Ra-pa Ra-pa Ra-pa la-la-la-la” post-chorus hook is layered over. I really liked the playfulness the members added to the song via the different textures and tones they adopted throughout the song. Gaon and O.de pair up to rap alongside one another in the first and last choruses, which were executed well. In place of a bridge, Paint It opts for some guitar shredding and intense rock vibes that just give Paint It even more character and personality. (9/10)

5. Money On My Mind – Xdinary Heroes keeps to a clean and traditional rock profile in Money On My Mind. I like how straightforward the song is, unlike other songs on this album. I liked how the energy never lets up, and the choruses hit the ‘just right’ vibes. The guitar work by Jun Han in the instrumental break was superb, and those ad-libs at the end just give Money On My Mind something a little wild and out-there that fits Xdinary Heroes’ usual style. (9/10)

6. Dreaming Girl (꿈을 꾸는 소녀) – Dreaming Girl speaks of a girl who is struggling to follow her dream, with Xdinary Heroes telling her that everything will be okay and to be persistent with what she wants. It is a comforting song, especially since it has a bit of emotion to it. You can hear it in the music and the heftier atmosphere that the song exudes. The members sound very genuine, and I like this more vulnerable side of the band. (8/10)

7. until the end of time – The band continues exploring their emotional side with this rock ballad. until the end of time is about the feelings upon realising that the promise one makes to be by their partner’s side ‘until the end of time’ is broken. I really love the emotional outpour reflected in both the music and vocals. You can hear the heartbreak and the dwindling hope the promise might be upheld behind the members’ delivery. And it is this that convinces me that until the end of time is another 10/10 ballad under Xdinary Heroes’ name. (10/10)

8. Walking To The Moon – After two vulnerable songs, Walking To The Moon brings a bit of cheer back into the album and puts a smile on my face. There is a slight groove to the song, thanks to the electric guitar and keyboard in the instrumentation. The vocals were awesome, and the energy that came from the chorus was delightful. (9/10)

9. MONEYBALL – MONEYBALL is the song from the Troubleshooting album I see everyone raving about online. And I agree with them. MONEYBALL returns the group’s energetic side and goes hard, particularly in the choruses. The instrumental goes down a prolific rock direction, with the guitars giving MONEYBALL great texture. I like that whispery delivery in the first verse and how it got relatively shoutier in the second verse. The chorus itself was a highlight, with great vocal melodies and the shoutier delivery of the song’s title, which also had me mouthing it alongside them. (10/10)

10. Night of Fireworks (불꽃놀이의 밤) – The final song on the album is Night of Fireworks. And it is another great yet deceiving song since it is a breakup song. Yeah, I regret digging into the lyrics for this one because I feel really wrong for vibing with the instrumentation whilst Xdinary Heroes is singing about their final night with their former lover. But the consistent drumming in the instrumental has just great head-banging energy, and I love the little synth work amid all of the band instrumentation. Another 10/10 for me, despite the bittersweetness Night of Fireworks holds. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.2/10

  • GAON’s teaser image for Troubleshooting
  • ODE’s teaser image for Troubleshooting
  • JUN HAN’s teaser image for Troubleshooting
  • JUNGSU’s teaser image for Troubleshooting
  • JOOYEON’s teaser image for Troubleshooting
  • GUNIL’s teaser image for Troubleshooting

[Review] Letter To Myself – TAEYEON (SNSD)

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The last time I reviewed a song from TAEYEON was for Heaven in July. But it has felt even longer ago as I initially put down her To. X comeback in my initial draft of this review. Yesterday, TAEYEON made her solo comeback with her 8th mini-album and new lead single, both titled Letter To Myself.

Letter To Myself is a pop-rock track. While the verses were quite good, I didn’t get into the Letter To Myself until the moment the first chorus steps itself up (i.e., the ‘My head, my head‘ part of the central piece). This gives the song quite an explosive feel that makes Letter To Myself a memorable track in my mind. It also feels quite refreshing, despite delving into a sound profile done numerous times before and TAEYEON’s well-established vocals. From then on, Letter To Myself embraces the rock sound and TAEYEON’s stunning-as-usual vocals. Her ad-libs towards the end of Letter To Myself were fantastic, and you can hear the passion behind her vocals throughout the song. I would pay to listen to this song live one day just to hear TAEYEON belt out those ad-libs at the end. I liked how there is no official bridge or final chorus to this song, yet the song feels complete. Letter To Myself maintains that rock sound from the second chorus to the end, thus making the song feel whole. It also was a way to tap into the ongoing trend of forgoing those parts of the song structure. I am sure that will make the 3-minute song attractive (if that is what listeners really want). Overall, Letter To Myself is a great song.

I am unsure if my interpretation of the music video is right, but I understood this from it. Letter To Myself is about a letter she has written to comfort her past self. The video shows a version of TAEYEON in the past before the letter and in the present after the letter. Before the letter, it looks like TAEYEON was more timid and quiet, as shown via her ‘speech’ on the bus, which no one is listening to. After the letter, she finds her voice and takes over the bus by embracing that rock sound I mentioned earlier to get people’s attention. Later on in the video, we see a similar concept. The bus itself breaks down, and TAEYEON hops off the bus to fix it, whilst everyone else is unappreciative and mocks her. The lyrics at this point in time have the line ‘I’m done being used’, which prompts (though this is done visually by the human-sized teddy bear) everyone to hop off the bus and push it while TAEYEON finds herself steering the bus with that teddy bear. If my interpretation is correct, I think it is quite a simple yet cool video.

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

[Album Review] EXHIBITION: Look Closely (1st Single Album) – YOOK SUNGJAE (BTOB)

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The next album for review is YOOK SUNGJAE’s single EXHIBITION: Look Closely, released earlier this year. Like standard single albums, this one featured three solo songs, including the title track BE SOMEBODY. This is his first solo release since leaving CUBE Entertainment at the end of last year and signing with iWill Media. He also remains a BTOB member.

Exhibition: Look Closely Album Cover

1. BE SOMEBODY (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for BE SOMEBODY. (8/10)

2. Without You – While I am not a fan of the consistent use of the metallic twang and similar effects in Without You, the choruses hit the spot for me. The instrumentation was gratifying and reminded me of the early 00s punk rock vibe. YOOK SUNGJAE’s vocals are superb throughout Without You, and I love how prolific he gets during the choruses. (8.5/10)

3. The Ghost – Similar to a recent song review I posted, a full English song from YOOK SUNGJAE was unexpected. But he sounds good in The Ghost. His vocals are a definite highlight and you can feel the emotions. I do think the producers could have gotten more out of YOOK SUNGJAE had The Ghost been in Korean, just for a better connection to what he is singing in The Ghost. The track combines band instrumentation and synths to make a dramatic single. But I think the instrumentation could have felt more polished and refined to hit the nail on the head of the dramatic flair. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.2/10

Teaser Image for Exhibition: Look Closely / BE SOMEBODY

[Review] TOXIC – MEOVV

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MEOVV kicks off the new week with their first comeback, TOXIC. The latest release follows on from their September debut with MEOW.

TOXIC keeps it simple with a vocal focus and minimalistic electronic instrumental. It’s so simple that the song has barely anything to it instrumentally, and I have yet to decide whether this is a good thing. The instrumental comprises a paced beat and a consistent soft bubbling effect for most of the song. Occasionally, an atmospheric sheen comes into play for certain parts of TOXIC, such as during the choruses and the end of the song. All is good, but it is so beige at the same time. Keeping TOXIC‘s instrumental bare allows MEOVV’s vocals to shine and be heard unfiltered. It is a risk, as there isn’t anything to hide behind. But listening to TOXIC a few times since its release, I don’t see that being a problem for MEOVV in this R&B ballad track, which is about realising how much one depends on a relationship despite it being so toxic. You can hear how stable the rookie group sounds, and you can also hear the emotions behind the voices, which makes the subdued TOXIC more impactful. I am drawn to the members’ falsetto in the choruses and vocals in the pre-choruses. But I wish the melodies and verses were more riveting.

My take on the video is that it shows two sides of MEOVV—once innocent angels (dressed in white and light colours) who have fallen due to a toxic relationship (dressed in black and with black wings). But regardless of whether they are innocent angels or fallen angels, they continue to do everything they used to do before, indicating that they prefer the status quo and hence can’t leave the toxic relationship (as depicted in the song lyrics). However, the fallen angel version of the group does have the added pensive moment. At the end of the video, we see a glimpse of one member trying to ascend back to Heaven via the elevators, which might be the code for escaping the toxic relationship.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 2nd Week of November 2024

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Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! This for the 2nd Week of November 2024. I have a fair bit to do today, including drafting new reviews to schedule this week and into the future. So let’s get right into the Weekly KPOP Charts.

Non-Korean Song of the Week

As this blog focuses primarily on KPOP songs, I want to draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song will be the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. The highest-ranking non-Korean song this week is Stray Kids’ GIANT, which ranks in the 7th position.

The Charts

NCT DREAM’s When I’m With You ranks in the top spot on the 2nd Week of November 2024’s Weekly KPOP Charts. Congratulations to NCT DREAM!

PositionSong TitleArtistChange
1When I’m With YouNCT DREAM(NEW)
2DRIPBABYMONSTER(▲ 5)
3Over The MoonTXT(▼ 2)
4No DoubtENHYPEN(NEW)
5Ice On My TeethATEEZ(NEW)
6IGLOOKISS OF LIFE(▲ 58)
7GIANTStray Kids(NEW)
8I’ll Be ThereJIN (BTS)(▲ 14)
9Supernova LoveIVE & David Guetta(▲ 59)
10Running WildJIN (BTS)(NEW)
11Imaginary FriendITZY(▼ 6)
12Cherish (My Love)ILLIT(▲ 23)
13TRIGGERTHE BOYZ(▼ 11)
14Flying KissNCT DREAM(▲ 29)
15APT.ROSÉ (BLACKPINK) & Bruno Mars(▼ 2)
16Moonlit FloorLISA (BLACKPINK)(▲ 30)
17Shhh!VIVIZ(▲ 30)
18MantraJENNIE (BLACKPINK)(▼ 8)
19Whiplashaespa(▲ 5)
20IdentityMISAMO (TWICE)(▲ 29)
21Night Before The EndXdinary Heroes(▼ 10)
22You Are My Reason8TURN(NEW)
23LOVE, MONEY & FAMESEVENTEEN ft. DJ Khaled(▼ 17)
24Hit The FloorThe Crew One(▲ 15)
25SAD SONGP1Harmony(▲ 6)
26SOSFIFTY FIFTY(▲ 42)
27I KNOW YOU KNOWONEUS(▲ 11)
28POWERG-DRAGON(▼ 9)
29GOLDITZY(▼ 20)
30Get LoudKISS OF LIFE(▲ 38)

[Review] When I’m With You – NCT DREAM

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Moving back to the start of the week, NCT DREAM also returned with their fourth studio album DREAMSCAPE, led by the single When I’m With You. The album also features the pre-release single Flying Kiss (yet to be reviewed on the blog) and their first English track Rains In Heaven. DREAMSCAPE is not to be confused with their DREAM()SCAPE mini-album from earlier this year (led by Smoothie).

Compared to their previous comeback, When I’m With You is a bright and vibrant track. At first glance, the brightness made it feel like When I’m With You could have been a song from earlier in their career. But with where they are at (and this was definitely obsered), the new song has a mature focus and delivery. But there is a distinct difference between When I’m With You and the tracks from their earlier days. When I’m With You is a house-based electronic song with both a 90s and disco-pop tinge. I quite like this blend of styles as it has nostalgia, and it served as a solid upbeat base to the song. NCT DREAM’s vocals are good throughout When I’m With You. I like how melody-driven the song is and how well each member did on their own. When they come together for the chorus, When I’m With You felt wholesome. That being said, there were raps in the song and the sequence at the end of the song was very punchy. But while it sounds like it is all praises for the song, I also feel When I’m With You is too safe of a song for NCT DREAM. It lacks innovative or uniqueness that would help distinguish it from its competition, and this is that distinct difference I observed when I made that comparison to their earlier works. NCT DREAM was definitely known for a youthful and fresh sound when they started out. But I also associate an outgoing charm to them back then. In When I’m With You, I don’t feel it as much. The melodies in When I’m With You are ordinary at best, and they felt limited in their delivery. Had there been more dynamic melodies, or more substantial raps, or even allowed to flourish more vocally, these would have done wonders to When I’m With You.

The video shows the members depend on one another and working as a team to resolve their problems. The toy train set on the train represents the train they are on (how Inception is that?). Renjun’s apple drops onto the toy train tracks, causing the train to brake hard. Puzzle pieces and water go flying on the train, which become obstacles the members must overcome in their dreamscape (confirmed at the end when JAEMIN wakes up from his slumber at the end of the video) later on. But they work together to dodge the heavy puzzle pieces, reboard the train, get the train running again, and escape the carriage filling up with water. This is a slightly different interpretation of the lyrics of the song, which portrays the complicated emotions as one becomes irresistibly drawn to someone in the “DREAMSCAPE.” (taken from Soompi). The video just represents that someone as each other.

The all-smiles aspect of the performance helps makes the song come off a lot more vibrant and energetic. It also continues that youthful charm that NCT DREAM has long been associated with the group since their debut (as already mentioned).

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Ice On My Teeth – ATEEZ

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Following their earlier 2024 comeback with WORK and the first part of their Golden Hour series (yet to be reviewed, but it is incoming), ATEEZ has returned with the second instalment of the series. As part of that new mini-album is the new single Ice On My Teeth.

Elegant hip-hop is the first thing that came to mind when I heard Ice On My Teeth. The combination of the hip-hop beat and the classical elements melds together extremely well and created a very unique atmopshere. I do like how the song outros itself, re-emphasing the smoothness of Ice On My Teeth. But while I really liked the production of Ice On My Teeth, I did think the song could have gone further. It is quite subdued in its current state and the track really needed something to break this. I lowkey was expecting an explosive peak of some kind (perhaps an explosive high note from JONGHO or a really bold concentration of the music towards the end), just to really drive home the song. But we never got there. I can say the exact same thing about their vocals and rapping. They very much embrace the elegance and made sure they fit that vibe of Ice On My Teeth. But in doing so, they keep themselves so subdued and they needed some more oomph to break this consistency. The biggest issue I have with Ice On My Teeth are the lyrics. They stuck out from the very first listen, but not in a good way. If anyone can tell me what “I brought diamonds at my dentist, I’ve been playing like tennis” means, that would be much appreciated.

Just the song, the music video also goes down the elegant route. And there isn’t anything as elegant as a big mansion they are in. Throw in some renaissance art, ballerinas, chandeliers, headbusts – you pretty much get the picture. I do like how the video keeps it edgy (as this is ATEEZ we are talking about) by having everyone else in the video don balacavas (including the headbusts). The bonfire and setting the place alight also lends well to this edginess. All the members looks so good visually, as well as the camera work in the video.

For the performance, I really find their movement on stage to be so smooth. From the backwards shuffle to the slant crab-like walk (think there is a proper name for this move, but I cannot think of it), everything looked sleek and goes well with that elegance that is channeled through all aspects of the comeback. As for the rest of it, I liked how ATEEZ finds the balance to make sure it looks intense (like their other routines) without being visually intense. Their aura and charisma on stage must also be commended.

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