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.
Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 1st Week of the final month of 2023. We are practically on the home stretch to the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. It is also that time of the year where I need to get a move on with some scheduled posts for over the Christmas break, which will be my focus for the next few weeks ahead of Christmas. So you can imagine there is a lot to do to keep the posts coming out running over the upcoming holiday break. But before I get back to those posts, here is the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st Week December 2023.
ICYMI – 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
If you have yet to vote in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, click the link here to be taken to the voting page to support your favourite artists, songs and performances of 2023.
This week’s throwback song comes from SHINee’s Melon Music Awards performance from last weekend. Of the four songs from the last decade (i.e., 2010s) that performed, my pick this time around is Dream Girl.
Non-Korean song of the week
Jun.K (otherwise known as Junsu from 2PM)’s latest Japanese single, Command C+Me, is this week’s top Non-Korean song of the week. It ranks in the 18th position this week.
The Charts
Congratulations to ATEEZ and their comeback single Crazy Form for rising to the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st Week of December 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.
Pos.
Song
Artist
Change
1
Crazy Form
ATEEZ
(▲ 20)
2
God Of Music
SEVENTEEN
(▲ 24)
3
Sweet Venom
ENHYPEN
(▼ 2)
4
Chill Kill
Red Velvet
(▲ 4)
5
LALALALA
Stray Kids
(▼ 2)
6
OOTD
Dreamcatcher
(▲ 6)
7
Talk Saxy
RIIZE
(▲ 57)
8
Soñar (Breaker)
NMIXX
(NEW)
9
Chasing That Feeling
TXT
(▲8)
10
To. X
TAEYEON (SNSD)
(=)
11
Baby Baby
Nam Woohyun (INFINITE)
(▲ 64)
12
What The Hell
DKB
(▲ 63)
13
NO WHERE, NOW HERE
ROTHY
(▲ 62)
14
VROOM VROOM
Weeekly
(▲ 18)
15
Must Have Love
ATBO
(▲ 60)
16
the soul savior ~ I don’t need a superman
Billlie
(▲ 59)
17
Gum
JESSI
(▲ 58)
18
Command C+Me
Jun.K (2PM)
(▲ 57)
19
Playground
LUN8wave
(▲ 56)
20
WATCH IT
THE BOYZ
(▼ 4)
21
I
Park Bom ft. Dawn
(▲ 12)
22
Screen Time
EPIK HIGH ft. HOSHI (SEVENTEEN)
(▲ 53)
23
Roller Coaster
24K+
(▲ 52)
24
Dropkick
&TEAM
(▲ 12)
25
ODD-VENTURE
MCND
(▲50)
26
Baddie
IVE
(▼ 2)
27
In The Mood
Whee In (MAMAMOO)
(▲ 27)
28
NEW STAR
n.SSIGN
(▲ 15)
29
War Cry
&TEAM
(▼ 22)
30
Do It
Youngjae (GOT7)
(▼ 7)
Songs leaving the charts
The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:
xikers is nominated for Best New Male Group and their single ROCKSTAR is nominated for Best Rock Song in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support xikers and ROCKSTAR by clicking here to vote for them and your other favourite artists, songs and performances today.
Today’s album review focuses on xikers’ second mini-album, House of Tricky: How To Play, which was released at the beginning of August this year with the title tracks DO or DIE and HOMEBOY. This is the group’s first comeback, following their debut in March 2023 with House of Tricky: Door Bell Ringing, which featured the title tracks Tricky House and ROCKSTAR (the latter is nominated for Best Rock Song of 2023 in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED in case you forgot to the read top part of this post). This latest mini-album really consolidates the rookie group’s presence in the KPOP industry this year amongst some very high profile male group debut acts. Pretty much all the songs on this mini-album are powerful, loud and noisy in their own way, which is pretty much on par with the rest of the industry. However, xikers keeps it interesting and has me coming back for more.
House of Tricky: How to Play Album Cover
1. Skater – If you are looking for a track that is filled to the brim, look no further than Skater. I like the brightness that the track exudes, which is thanks to its pop energy that the synths in the instrumentation form and the dynamic flair that the members give off throughout Skater. I particularly enjoyed the soaring effect of the vocals towards the end of the choruses and the rapping leaves a strong impression. I did feel Skater was slightly overwhelming, given how everything felt like it was piled onto one another. But I can also see it as a potential charm which might get listeners interested. (9/10)
4. Koong – Koong was actually the first song to be unveiled from this album via the release of a performance video a week before the mini-album and first title track dropped. I was going to review it separately, but have shelved that plan in the interest of time. Koong takes a serious turn, with powerful hip-hop beats and intense energy that packs a punch. This is heightened by the autotune and vocal processing applied to the members’ vocals and rapid rapping, and the piano work etched into the synth soundscape in the background at some parts of Koong. The track has a punchy hook in its chorus, but I like the shoutier delivery of the song title the most as it just has so much character to it. As a teaser to the new mini-album, Koong actually sets the bar up quite high. (8.5/10)
5. Run – Moving away from intensity is the brighter Run. After a powerful track like Koong, Run does come off as refreshing and I like that aspect. I am not entirely keen on the squirrely synths we hear in the choruses, and like the first track, Run does feel very full to the brim. But the rest of the song is solid work for xikers. I just felt more memorable hooks and melodies could have made Run even better. (7.5/10)
6. Sunny Side – Old school hip-hop comes into play for the final track on the mini-album, which is a different sound compared to the rest of the mini-album. Sunny Side still maintains xikers’ EDM profile, showing off some pretty cool synth choices that works really well with the old school hip-hop style. I found the “Sun is coming up” to be quite catchy. Likewise with the chorus melodies. Even the rappers felt just right in the song with their sequences. It is a definite step away from the rest in the mini-album, but I see that as a nice way to ease off a very energetic and full-on mini-album. (8.5/10)
Support your other favourite artists, songs and performance in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking here to vote today.
One of the songs nominated for Most Underrated Song of 2023 this year in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards (click here to vote today, if you have yet to) is BLIZTERS’ Macarena. Obviously, there is a reason for this nomination which I will address later on. Macarena is BLIZTERS’ only comeback in 2023 (thus far, but it is definitely looking like that is the case) and is featured on their second single album of the same name. BLIZTERS is a seven-member male group who debuted under Wuzo Entertainment in 2021 with Breathe Again.
It is about time I got around to reviewing Macarena, given that it is seven months old. With that in mind, I am deeply sorry for how long it has finally taken me to turn my mind to this song. As mentioned above, I did put this song forward as a possible winner for the Most Underrated Song for this year (and it is my personal pick, as well). There are a few reasons for that decision, but if I had to boil it all down to one reason, it is because Macarena is one fun track, thanks to all of the brass, toots and horns in the chorus. I also found the deep voice repetitive ‘Macarena’ hook in the centrepiece to be really catchy, and the combination of all of this means one super addictive track in my books. Even their delivery throughout the track was super dynamic, and so the playful energy of from the centrepiece of Macarena was definitely maintained and reflected through the verses. Overall, Macarena is a blast of a song and it is a track that I would have on when I want to or am experiencing a good time.
In the music video, one of the members wakes up from the dead, surrounded by the other members. They remind him of what I think is an embarrassing video, and he (along with the rest of the group) go in search for the video, which is contained in a laptop. Nothing that interesting in the first portion of the video, but the video takes a comedic turn when they all encounter zombies. All of them try to fight the zombies, as they appear to fail due to some funny stuff-ups, like accidently putting themselves to sleep by hypnosis, getting distracted by focusing on a dancing zombie, or sitting in car and enjoying some popcorn whilst the zombies are about). But somehow the group survives and they go onwards to find the laptop, which is held hostage by another group of zombies. After some negotiating with 7 kilograms of meat, the group succeeds in getting the laptop and the video is deleted. Cue the celebrations. However, in the end, we see the member who rose from the dead wake up again, in a Ground-hog day type of situation. Just like the song, this video is fun and light-hearted thanks to its funny nature.
With such a fun song like Macarena, I just want to dance every opportunity you get when this song appears on your playlist or queue. Probably not as coordinated as what BLITZERS performs on stage, but probably just as fun. Anyway, I love the circular and shaking motion that makes up the chorus, and I also enjoyed how they changed up the routine in the bridge every now (though it should have been more often) and then to give some variety and something extra to look forward to.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
Support your other favourite artists, songs and performance in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking here to vote today.
Making their comeback a month ago was WEEEKLY, their first in 1 year and 9 months after the release of Ven para. Their latest single is titled VROOM VROOM, which is the title track off their fifth mini-album, ColoRise. Since then, the group has been fairly quiet with some members participating in the Queendom Puzzle show earlier this year and a digital single release with Good Day (Special Daileee) for their fans last month.
Despite it being titled as VROOM VROOM, which I would usually associate to something fast moving like a race car, the song is rather pleasant. This pleasantness feels miles away from what we have heard from WEEEKLY in the past, and I feel like that is a good thing given that I do like the song under certain circumstances (more on that in a bit). VROOM VROOM consists of an elegant and classy vibe that helps the song stand out in the current soundscape of the industry. The subdued take on the retro influence in VROOM VROOM is very noticeable and likeable. I like VROOM VROOM for its easy on the ear melodies, though I feel like the melodies and hooks could have been more riveting. VROOM VROOM also feels more mature. It is a good piece to show off some vocals, and I felt that was achieved in the song, particularly at the end. I also like the textures brought to the song via the vocal processing. The rap-speak that does feature in VROOM VROOM was nicely suited for the song. I guess my main issue with VROOM VROOM is that I only really like the song when I really focus on it (i.e., for example, listening to it for the purposes of vetting the mini-album for a potential future review or for this song review). If I am listening to it in passing or it appears in my queue, I don’t think VROOM VROOM necessarily has enough pull to make me recognise or to replay the song. And this comebacks back to its subdued nature in combination with its weak melodies and hooks. But still, a neat song to listen to.
The music video complements VROOM VROOM quite well. I liked how refrained the different visual elements were in this video. I found the colours and tone to be quite soft, which matches with the effect that the music goes for. Even when there were bold colours in the background, it didn’t appear loud. Likewise, the styling of the members’ outfits felt right. Some of it brought out a more edgy appeal which matches with the dance moves which mimicked the revving of a bike. But it was all rather subtle and didn’t become too bold. Others were drawn from a pastels colour palette, which is a naturally soft set of colours.
The choreography encapsulates the song quite well. It focused on softer and delicate movements, and as a whole looked like a great routine. Nothing necessarily stands out for me, but I felt the chorus routine was quite pleasant to watch and enjoy.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.5/10
NMIXX is nominated for Most Underrated Artist and Love Me Like This is nominated for Most Underrated Song in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NMIXX and your other favourite acts by clicking here to vote today.
Ahead of their upcoming comeback in over a month on 15 January 2024 with their next mini-album, Fe3O4: Break, NMIXX has unveiled the pre-release single Soñar (Breaker) today. This follows on from their 2023 comebacks – Love Me Like This and Party O’Clock.
Soñar (Breaker) briefly revisits the MIXX-pop genre that NMIXX debuted with in 2022 to mixed reviews and opinions. For the most part, the song has this dramatic energy that feels like an appropriate extension to their Latin hip-hop chorus. And it is these dramatic parts of the song that I like the most. The rhythmic and powerful drumming just feels very clean and brings out an adventurous vibe. Everyone contributing to the vocals in the pre-chorus was also a memorable moment in Soñar (Breaker). The Latin hip-hop chorus was a bit lacking and sub-standard for me. The instrumentation wasn’t as engaging as in the first verse, the hooks did not feel as punchy as it was (though I can see it growing on me) and there wasn’t a melody. Following the first chorus, we get that touch of MIXX-pop with Soñar (Breaker) transitioning to a dreamy R&B sequence which features a UK garage background, however I am not sure why it was even there, before we switch back to that dramatic energy that I already mentioned I liked. As for the bridge, the first half showcases some great vocals from the group, which we know they are capable of. But I am not keen on the second half of the bridge (which is also what Soñar (Breaker) ends on), which felt cringy to me. Overall, Soñar (Breaker) a mixed bag of a song, most of which I am not a fan of.
I am sure there is more to the video than what meets the eye. I am just not entirely sure what that more is. The music video starts off aesthetic, but it loses that appeal quite quickly. I am not a big fan of the styling. The blue and pink outfits looked really nice, but the grey and hoodies outfits just looked dull and boring. I am sure they were intended to be an edgy look. But in combination with the white background or the quarry-like background, it just looked tired and uneventful. As for the rest of the video, it focused primarily on choreography, which I will touch on in the next section.
The choreography itself looks good. I actually think NMIXX is inserting a bit of a cutesy side to the choreography, which somehow works. Normally, I would not be a fan. But I find it to be a unique aspect of this routine. But just like you would expect when you hear Soñar (Breaker), the intensity and edginess is still present in the routine and I appreciate that NMIXX doesn’t let go of that.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 6.7/10
ATEEZ is nominated for Best Male Group, Best Stage Presence, Best Male Dance Performance (for BOUNCY), Best Electronic Song (for BOUNCY), Best Concept (for their Outlaw concept for BOUNCY) and Best Special Performance (for San’s Warrior Performance) and Best Album (for THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW). Support ATEEZ in these categories and your other favourite acts by clicking here to vote today.
Ending this past week was ATEEZ with their latest comeback – Crazy Form and their second studio album, The World EP.Fin: Will. The group first unveiled their new song on the MAMA Awards stage earlier in the week before dropping the music video and album release on Friday. This comeback follows on from the group June 2023 comeback –BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) and their 11th mini-album, THE WORLD EP.2: OUTLAW.
After a string of powerful, intense and what some describe as noisy dance tracks, Crazy Form takes a step back from all of that. Crazy Form still has that ATEEZ vibe to it, just without that chaos that the noise, powerful and intensity brought when combined together. While it is just the first release without all of that, I already miss all of that and wished that Crazy Form went all out like its predecessors. There are some good moments, namely in the verses of Crazy Form that does give the song potential. The delivery had a sense of playfulness and rhythm to it, which I quite liked. The rapping doesn’t let down even though the step back on the instrumental front. And JONGHO’s soaring vocals and YEOSANG and YUNHO’s deep in the final moments of the pre-chorus that launches us into the chorus heightens the song. Unfortunately, the chorus is what makes Crazy Form feel flat. The lack of a punchy and blastful background for the chorus actually frustrates me, as the incline in the pre-chorus towards Crazy Form‘s centrepiece alludes to a bombastic and energetic chorus. What we get also isn’t even an anti-drop. It is like the producers forgot to hit the gas for the chorus. I don’t care for the melodies and the hooks suffers from the lack of energy. The only other promising aspect was the ending, when Crazy Form gets chanty and shouty, which brings Crazy Form to a very satisfying end. But all of that is let down thanks to a weak chorus, that I am not feeling this time around.
From what I can see in this video (and taking into account what has happened previously in this THE WORLD trilogy), the group is in its final phase of its rebellion that it has been building since the events in the Guerrilla music video. They just need to install their devices (produced by YUNHO and WOOYOUNG) around the city to illuminate an image of their pirate ship in the sky. The other members aid by distracting and taking out a few hurdles along the way that could impede on their mission. And in the end, the group succeeds with the pirate ship illumination (which is a nod to their ‘Pirate King’ start) and takes over the city in the end. I am going to assume that the shots with the city in the background is a celebration of their success, with pairs with their celebration under the water sprinklers at the bar.
The choreography is good, but it isn’t a standout in comparison to their past works (such as BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS), which earned a nomination for Best Male Dance Performance (Group) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards). The best part of the routine for me was the sequence at the end where the song turned shouty. The rush that the song exuded was captured well into the choreography.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8.5/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 5th Week of November 2023. Crazy to think 2023 is about to be over and that we are in December. Also, that we are definitely in award season, with two of the big ceremonies done and dusted – MAMA and MelOn. I did tune in to both days of MAMA, and tried to last night for the MMA (but realized it wasn’t free to watch this year – how stupid is that). Congratulations to all the winners who won an award at those ceremonies! I did take a few nights off this week, as a result. So I better get back to reviewing songs. But first, the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Week of November 2023.
ICYMI – 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
If you have yet to vote in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, click the link here to be taken to the voting page to support your favourite artists, songs and performances of 2023.
Joining BABYMONSTER and TAEYEON with new releases this week are:
I Wanted To Be Loved – DIVINE
FIGHT FOREVER – DV.OL
stewardess girl – ONLEE
Must Have Love – ATBO
the soul savior ~ I don’t need a superman – Billlie
Wait – DINO (SEVENTEEN)
Papa Noel – TRI.BE
MAD – BE’O
Baby Baby – Nam Woohyun (INFINITE)
Drop Kick – &TEAM
REBEL – Kang Daniel
NEW STAR – n.Ssign
LIT – STAYC
REMEMBER – ELLIA
VROOM VROOM – BÉBE YANA
Time Goes On – LUO ft. Yonge Jaundice & Sikiboy
What The Hell – DKB
What’s My Name – MAVE:
Must Be Nice – ONEPACT
Crazy Form – ATEEZ
I Want To Be Closer To You – Yukika
Throwback Song of the Week
This week’s throwback song is SPICA’s Secret Time, which I have previously featured in this segment of the blog. It comes after another SPICA binge.
Non-Korean song of the week
Jung Kook’s 3rd solo single, Standing Next To You, is this week’s top Non-Korean song of the week. It ranks in the 2nd position this week.
The Charts
Congratulations to ENHYPEN and their comeback single Sweet Venom for rising to the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Week of November 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.
Pos.
Song
Artist
Change
1
Sweet Venom
ENHYPEN
(▲ 2)
2
Standing Next To You
Jung Kook (BTS)
(▲ 43)
3
LALALALA
Stray Kids
(▲ 13)
4
I WANT THAT
(G)I-DLE
(▲ 73)
5
You & Me
JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
(▼ 1)
6
Hands Up
NCT NEW TEAM
(▲ 67)
7
War Cry
&TEAM
(▲ 77)
8
Chill Kill
Red Velvet
(▼ 6)
9
Miss You
Bang Yedam
(▲ 75)
10
To. X
TAEYEON (SNSD)
(NEW)
11
BATTER UP
BABYMONSTER
(NEW)
12
OOTD
Dreamcatcher
(▼ 4)
13
CRUSH
ZEROBASEONE
(▼ 2)
14
MEGAVERSE
Stray Kids
(▲ 7)
15
Potential
FANTASY BOYS
(▲ 69)
16
WATCH IT
THE BOYZ
(▼ 15)
17
Chasing That Feeling
TXT
(▲ 26)
18
MANIAC
VIVIZ
(▼ 3)
19
HEARTRIS
NiziU
(▲ 25)
20
Perfect Night
LE SSERAFIM
(▲ 15)
21
Crazy Form
ATEEZ
(NEW)
22
Feel Me
Golden Child
(▲ 30)
23
Do It
Youngjae (GOT7)
(▲ 5)
24
Baddie
IVE
(▲ 13)
25
Love Effect
ONF
(▲51)
26
God Of Music
SEVENTEEN
(▲ 7)
27
STRANGER
SUNMI
(▲ 51)
28
Guilty
TAEMIN (SHINee)
(▲ 1)
29
Give You My All
HIGHLIGHT
(▲ 12)
30
NOBODY
Jeon Soyeon ((G)I-DLE), Winter (aespa), LIZ (IVE)
(▼ 11)
Songs leaving the charts
The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:
(G)I-DLE, Jung Kook (and his fellow BTS members), JENNIE’s groupmate JISOO and NCT (and its units) are nominated in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support your favourite acts byclicking here to vote today.
It has been a couple of weeks since the last International Song Review post, so it is time for another. Last time, I focused on songs releases by Anne Marie and Minnie ((G)I-DLE), LE SSERAFIM, ITZY & CHEN (EXO). This time, I will focusing on (G)I-DLE’s I Want That, Jung Kook’s Standing Next To You, JENNIE’s You & Me and NCT NEW TEAM’s Hands Up.
I Want That – (G)I-DLE
Language: English Release Date: 5 October 2023 Release Type: Heat (1st English Mini-Album)
(G)I-DLE made their official Western debut with the single I Want That, following from their I DO pre-release earlier this year. I don’t have too much to say about the track. I do like what they have offered to us, but I think more could have been added to I WANT THAT to really enhance it. The club style and heavy bass gives this dance track some sassy and powerful energy, which is backed up by their lyrics. The chorus is super addictive, thanks to the combination of the beat drop and repetitive hook. Personally, I would have liked more character from each member, as I WANT THAT does get monotonous at certain points. A bit more sassiness and attitude from the members in I WANT THAT would have taken it to the next level
The music video begins with the members on the boat, which I presume is the aftermath of the events in the video. We are then shown the toxic relationships between the members and this guy. At points, it is sweet and romantic. Other times, he is abusive and a horrible human. In particular, we see Minnie walking down the aisle as a bride to marry this guy. But when she turns back, she only see a dark church (which alludes to her future with him). She runs away from the wedding before it gets any further. In the end, she takes matters into her own hands by walking into the guy’s workplace and points a gun to his head. We see glimpses of the other members pointing guns at the same guy, which represents the anger from his past partners and revenge they want. He taunts her, but he doesn’t realize that she was determined and shoots him point blank. To finish the job, she also brought a bomb, which causes chaos with the other workers. In the end, Minnie and the rest of the members walk out and get on the boat we see them on at the start of the video. As for the choreography, we don’t get too see much of it. But it looks okay. I just wished the choreography scenes were better incorporated into the video and featured better styling.
Overall Rating – 7.9/10
Standing Next To You – Jung Kook (BTS)
Language: English Release Date: 3 November 2023 Release Type: Golden (1st Studio Album)
Following the success of his other singles (Seven and 3D) earlier this year, the announcement of Golden and Standing Next To You became highly anticipated releases. I will be making plans to review Golden, but that might not happen until next year. But for now, I can say that my thoughts on Standing Next To You are somewhat positive. When I really focus on Standing Next To You, I really find myself appreciating the sleek vibes, retro energy and funky tones this pop track offers. I like that the track doesn’t mess with such a formula, keeping the track consistent from start to end. In the context of Standing Next To You, this is a very positive aspect of the track. Jung Kook’s delivery is charismatic and sensual in this song, which I am sure fans are enjoying. His falsettos can become quite addictive, but I particularly like the shoutier style he gives the pre-chorus, which heightens the chorus that comes after. But reflecting on the track afterwards and when I don’t focus on Standing Next To You, the track is rather forgettable and doesn’t really hold me as much as Seven and 3D did. It might be the case of being too sleek, but I boil it down to a lack of memorable hooks to really get this song into my mind and make me want to return.
In addition to the song, the music video also shows off Jung Kook’s charismatic charms that fans consistently highlight. His good looks are definitely are also on full display, which again, I think fans would be loving. The video is descried as showing Jung Kook chasing after a mysterious femme fatale. We see him catching up to her at the “light at the end of the tunnel”, which is a nice way of showing us the positive effect this femme fatale might have on Jung Kook. I did also think Jung Kook dancing in front of the big hole in a way is his way of showing how he could potentially fill that void in the femme fatale. All of this (and I am presuming the dancing also had an effect) convinced her to approach Jung Kook at the end of the music video. Talking about dancing, it is no doubt that Jung Kook’s performance skills were on full display, which I personally really enjoyed each time I have seen the music video. The sleekness and sensual nature of the song comes through really well in the choreography, and I also like the more intense parts of the routine, as well (such as the pre-chorus and the end).
Overall Rating – 8.2/10
You & Me – JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
Language: English Release Date: 6 October 2023 Release Type: You & Me (Digital Single)
You & Me was released following the conclusion of BLACKPINK’s massive Born Pink world tour. Upon first listen, I was disappointed with the track for a number of reasons, including the lack of personality, the disconnect between the different parts (particularly the verses and choruses), the lack of any memorable melodies or hooks etc. There was a lot in You & Me that just did not sit right for me. But the more I continued to listen to You & Me, the more I grew to like You & Me. After all, I am all about giving second chances when it comes to the music I listen to. The problems are still there, but they are less jarring then before. The standout parts of the song, for me personally, are the verses and the instrumental outro. The verses had a nice pleasant pop vibe to them. Sure, it isn’t anything riveting, but I felt a sense of nostalgia to those sequences. The heftier beats and electronic instrumental outro felt like a decent conclusion to the song, which was all very synth forward from the get-go. Heck, even the squeaks became charming for me. But there are some stuff in You & Me that I still feel the same way about from day 1 – the chorus instrumentation and vocal work was bland, there isn’t memorable melodies or hooks in the song to make the track memorable, the post-chorus vocal tone was not appreciable, and the rap speak sequence reiterated the song’s blandness. Overall, the good aspects were balanced out by the bad aspects in You & Me, and so I am on the fence for this one.
As for the performance video released to accompany You & Me, it is your standard high quality video that you would expect from YG Entertainment. It is more on the simpler side of the spectrum of music videos, but it still features a memorable moment or two, such as the silhouette of JENNIE and the male dancer whilst the moon in the background was brightest. JENNIE’s red dress is also pretty memorable. Performance-wise, it looks good. Nothing stands out to me, but it was a good routine nonetheless.
Overall Rating – 7/10
Hands Up – NCT NEW TEAM
Language: Japanese Release Date: 8 October 2023 Release Type: Hands Up (Digital Single)
The final song in this post is for a future group. NCT NEW TEAM is the current temporary name for NCT’s Japanese (and final) unit, who will debut next year. Beats me to why we don’t have an official name when they are already putting out Japanese songs. Hands Up is what you expect with NCT title tracks – a very synth driven dance number. There is more to the synths, but my mind keeps on coming back to describing the synth selection as “tinny”, and this I find to be pretty standard. The drumming/percussion added to the song does infuse more energy and texture to Hands Up. But I would also describe this to be quite tinny, so it doesn’t really add anything new to the song. At least, the energy and texture does provide a fun vibe, which is backed by hooks like the “Ooh Ooh“. The vocal work is a bit standard, as well. A good showing of skills, but nothing worth discussing further. And with every other NCT (or SM song for that matter), the bridge is definitely on point. As a starting point, Hands Up does a decent job of introducing us to the new unit/group. However, as they begin to pump out more songs (which I hope will be the case) and finds an actual name, I hope they can also develop a sound for themselves that is within the realm of NCT’s music.
The music video sees NCT NEW TEAM’s world become overrun with these green blobs that keeps on self-generating. The group, whom are just high school students, use their skills as baseball players and the power of the baseball to smash these green blobs. Ultimately, they kill the biggest blob with a power pitch and hit by the members, which causes all of the others to die. At the end, we see one of the members back on a train with a glowing green baseball, suggesting we might not have seen the last of the green blob monster. Overall, I quite liked how the producers showed off the group’s youthfulness and the new energy they bring to the industry. The choreography looks good, matching their synchronisation with what the other NCT units are very much known for. The energy they bring via their performance and choreography is refreshing and fun, as well. The choruses’ routine is the best bit.
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Also making her comeback on Monday was TAEYEON, who returns for the first time since her February 2022 INVU comeback. TAEYEON’s solo comeback is with the single To. X and her 5th mini-album of the same name.
To. X takes us straight forwardly to R&B land. The guitar work was very nice and provides a mellow vibe. The beat gives the song a nice bounce that anchors down the song. We also hear some very subtle atmospheric synths in the background (which becomes more profound in the bridge). But other than that, while it does feel extremely pleasant to listen to, I wished that there was a bit more to the instrumentation for To. X. It feels lackluster and repetitive. We do get a weird autotuned voice in the background just before the choruses as an interesting tidbit, but it doesn’t really add much to To. X other than help fill in the space. TAEYEON’s vocals do add a lot of substance and oomph to the song, never faltering in To. X. To me, this aids the message that TAEYEON delivers in the lyrics of the song, which is about moving on from a toxic and controlling relationship. The crisp and clearness shows her determination behind the lyrics. Her vocals also help bring great melodies and rhythm to the track, overall. The only aspect of her vocals that I am not keen on is that her high note felt awkwardly processed and tinny. I wished it was blended better into the song to really feel cohesive. That is only a minor issue, if you look at To. X overall – straight forward yet still an effective listen, though To. X could have been more interesting.
This music video is is amazing and speaks directly towards the lyrics of To. X. We see TAEYEON inside the house for a lot of a video, as if she has been trapped inside by her partner. We don’t see anything forceful or physical to limit her movements, so it looks like that there is a lot of gaslighting and manipulation happening between her partner and TAEYEON. The shots of him in the background outside was very creepy, which represents his true nature. But she isn’t aware of this. The shots of her walking on the streets, finding the car upside down and a road leading to nowhere could have two representations. One is that it represents the fear he instilled into her (as she did look concern) and gaslighting I mentioned earlier. The other is that she realises that the world she is living in with him leads to nowhere (i.e., she is stuck or there is no future), but the flipped car and his ongoing presence shows us how far into her mind he has gotten. This leads to the events at the end, where he tries to remind her of how dangerous the world is via the upside imagery of the city (and it looks like she almost falls for it again with the fearful expression we see) and the happy memories they had. But TAEYEON has none of it and proceeds to burn down the house (and the memories of her now ex, based on his silhouette we see behind the house) that she once lived in with him. The dark lighting and imagery we also see throughout the video were all really aesthetic, but also provides further hints towards the fake world he built around her and his controlling nature that she didn’t come to realise at first.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10 [Updated on 3/12/2023 due to calculation error]
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This week started with the long awaited debut of BABYMONSTER, the latest female group to debut under YG Entertainment. They kicked off with the single BATTER UP, which was released on Monday this week. For those who are now aware of who BABYMONSTER are, they are a seven member group formed through the Last Evaluation survival show. The lineup of the group consists of Rami, Ahyeon, Chiquita, Asa, Rora, Pharita, and Ruka. But days before their debut, it was confirmed that member Ahyeon would be sitting out due to health reasons, reducing the group temporarily to a six-member lineup for their debut.
My first impression of BATTER UP was that it felt very quintessentially YG Entertainment. The song is firmly within the YG wheelhouse of hip-hop. But while the company has put out songs in that realm successfully, BATTER UP feels like a drag and lacks any form of excitement. This really dampens the whole ‘long awaited’ description to the debut, as it a major disappointment after what felt like years of the news of a new group under YG Entertainment. Even the rapping, which usually is an eventful aspect of YG’s songs, just didn’t add any new or excitable energy to BATTER UP, making it feel even more lethargic and bland. Though, the skill is there. The chorus was so generic and lacked any form personality or soul that turns me away from the song (and if this is the what to expect moving forward, the group as well, though I am holding onto hope they will put out something better in the future). There are two good aspects to BATTER UP, in my opinion. However, both are not in any form a saving grace for the track The first are the vocals. There is definitely potential for the group in this department from what they showed us in this song. I just wished BATTER UP had more worthwhile material to really highlight that potential. The second is the anthem end to the song, the literal first sign of any form of energy in BATTER UP. Yes, such an ending is very YG and has been done so many times before by … you guessed it … YG groups. But in such a bland track, I will take it. Overall, unoriginal and terribly boring. Not exactly the words you would want to hear for a debut track.
If there is anything YG certainly does well, that is the music video for their artists’ comebacks. And BABYMONSTER, fortunately, benefits from this. Visually, the members all looked very pretty or fierce, depending on what part of the song you are listening to. And they all look very good throughout the video. The music video sets looked very clean, the quality was very crisp. The best part of the video is the orange and black spikes in the background during the second verse of the song. That effect looked very cool and was the most memorable aspect of the music video for me. There was opportunity to make the music video cooler, with even more visual effects and stuff. But it was a well rounded music video, in my opinion.
In an interesting move from the company, BABYMONSTER will not be promoting BATTER UP on any music shows. While music shows are a bit scarce at this time, the lack of promotions is an odd path to take, especially for a debuting group. From what I can see in the music video, I find the chorus to be a bit awkward. The “looking at the ball” in a distance felt cringy with such an empty and lackluster chorus. The ending, when the energy in the song picks up, is the only decent part of the choreography. Logically, that was the only part of the choreography that I enjoyed.
Song – 5/10 Music Video – 7.5/10 Performance – 6/10 Overall Rating – 6/10
JEON SOMI is nominated for Best Female Soloist and her Fast Forward release is nominated for Best Solo Dance Performance (Female) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support JEON SOMI and Fast Forward and your other favourite artists, songs and performance, by clicking here to vote today.
JEON SOMI made her solo comeback in August of this year, her first solo release in almost two years following on from XOXO. Today, I will be reviewing her 2023 mini-album release, which is titled GAME PLAN. It features the title track Fast Forward, the follow-up single Gold Gold Gold and an additional three songs. While I am not a fan of the follow-up single, I am impressed with the rest of the mini-album – enough so that I do recommend this mini-album release to anyone who wants to get into JEON SOMI’s music or expand their horizons a bit. I liked the mixture of genre and sound profiles on this mini-album, and how well JEON SOMI executed the mini-album (with the exception of that follow-up single). Continue reading below to see my thoughts on each individual song.
GAME PLAN Album Cover
1. Gold Gold Gold (금금금) – Prior to this album review, I had intentions to review Gold Gold Gold separately as it had its own music video. But upon relistening to Gold Gold Gold for said review, I quickly scrapped those plans. I just couldn’t find anything to say about the song aside from the fact that I found it be quite cringy. It is intended to be a fun track, with an admittedly catchy chorus hook and the lyrics which depicts JEON SOMI flaunting her riches at the listeners. While JEON SOMI handled this track decently, the track felt awkward to me and I am sure that is not the vibe that Gold Gold Gold should have been going for. (6.5/10)
3. Fxxked Up (개별로) – Following the title track is the single Fxxked Up. I remember being caught off guard by the chorus when I checked out the song initially, simply because it was a lot poppier and percussive than I had anticipated coming after the verses. Not only does it created a strong centrepiece for Fxxked Up and delivered the right amount of punch as JEON SOMI drops the f-bomb, it was rather bold and striking to make it stand out on the mini-album. The percussive instrumental and whistling was quite cool throughout, and I love the glitchier approach to the ending which intensifies the energy and vibe of the song so well. JEON SOMI’s vocals and rapping were less memorable and I wished they were bolder to match the rest of the song . (10/10)
4. Pisces (자두) – Pisces features a change of pace, opting for a relatively softer sound compared to the tracks preceding it. Pisces does remain upbeat for its chorus thanks to the electronic beats and synths, however, so don’t go expecting a ballad when I say “softer sound”. I liked that the track allows JEON SOMI to show off a more delicate side to her vocals, which was nicely executed by the soloist. The R&B influenced instrumental and vocal combination also reminds me of some of her past title tracks, for some reason. However, it’s the plainer melodies that hold back Pisces for me, and I wished that was not the case. (8/10)
5. The Way – Within a matter of two seconds, I fell in love with The Way all over again. The retro synth instrumentation was immaculate. Paired with JEON SOMI’s most powerful showcase of vocals on this mini-album, this track just hits the spot for me. The Way is also an all-English track, so international fans can tell of The Way’s emotional pull, which JEON SOMI conveys super well in the track. A very clean and clear 10/10 to end off the mini-album. (10/10)
xikers is nominated for Best New Male Group and their single ROCKSTAR is nominated for Best Rock Song in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support xikers and ROCKSTAR by clicking here to vote for them and your other favourite artists, songs and performances today.
xikers returned back in August of this year with their first comeback and second mini-album, House of Tricky: How To Play. Leading the charge of this mini album was one of two title tracks from the mini-album, DO or DIE. A little more than a week on from the release of both the mini-album and DO or DIE, xikers also released the music video for their second title track, HOMEBOY, which is the focus of today’s song review.
HOMEBOY steps away from the likes of rock that has featured heavily in their title tracks thus far, going with a more lighter dance track instead. HOMEBOY also features a mildly slower change of pace, which was refreshing for the group, especially since their tracks that I can remember from them have been of a high energy manner. This allows the group to explore a sound that is more sentimental, which tends to lend well towards a showcase of vocals. While I don’t think we necessarily get that showcase in HOMEBOY, it does give us better opportunity to focus on and appreciate xikers’ vocals. That whole bridge, including the high note, was probably the closest we got to a “showcase” of vocals. It was nice and all, but I would have liked some really more profound moments. The rappers did a nice job of holding themselves back to not overwhelm and contrast too differently from the lightness of the track. Their parts definitely gave bite to HOMEBOY and also made the song interesting to listen to. That being said, the only part in which I felt could have used a do-over is Yechan’s rapping in the first verse, as I felt the autotune was a bit too thick there. His part in the second verse, along with Minjae and Sumin’s, was a lot clearer and easier on the ears. In addition to that, I would have liked stronger hooks and melodies to really remember HOMEBOY by, along with some vibrancy to the instrumentation, which would have helped make HOMEBOY feel more refreshing, offset the heftier beats and break up the instrumental a bit to make it not feel as overly consistent as HOMEBOY does at the moment. Overall, a neat change to what I am used to from xikers.
We see the members hangout and have fun in each other’s company in this music video. This works well with the song’s message of living life without any worries. There isn’t much else to the video, aside from some cool visual effects like the changing daytime/nighttime skies and the massive paper plane. I also really like the bridge scene, with all the members looking forward (see the featured imaged for this post). This part for some reason felt very stilling and profound for me, and their gazes really brought out that sentimental feeling of the tender kind.
On stage, xikers’ performance looks very fun and endearing. Despite the slower pace, I like how upbeat and cheerful the performance looked. The start was very interesting, and I liked how well timed the members running in the circle was. The airplane-like move was a nice addition and made sense as the lyrics do mention flying, although it became less airplane-like as the performance went on and become wavey-like instead.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 4th Week of November 2023. Finally back the usual posting schedule with the Weekly KPOP Charts post (i.e., Sunday), which I am hoping with continue until Christmas this year. Per usual, Sundays means chores day for me and drafting some posts for the upcoming week. So let’s get going with the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of November 2023.
ICYMI – 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
If you have yet to vote in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, click the link here to be taken to the voting page to support your favourite artists, songs and performances of 2023.
Joining all those new releasesabove this week are the following songs:
MEGAVERSE – Stray Kids
Melting Point – ZEROBASEONE
ANTI HERO – ICU
A HA – Hyunseong (BF)
SAVIOR – PUZZLE
Changed Man – J.Y.Park
To You Who Don’t Know – Kim Dohee
It’s Okay – Ryeowook (Super Junior)
Roller Coaster – 24K+
Grand Prix – Kep1er
BEEP BEEP – Jessica
Playground – LUN8wave
ODD-VENTURE – MCND
Forbidden Midnight – iii
I – Park Bom ft. Dawn
Potential – FANTASY BOYS
BLOODY – Kim Boa (KEEMBO) ft. Microdot
ONLY ONE – Bang Yedam
ICN > YVR – BIG NAUGHTY
Command C+Me – Jun.K (2PM)
Throwback Song of the Week
This week’s Throwback song is truly a throwback song, released back in 2010. After School’s Because Of You is my choice, after it appeared on my timeline on X during the week. Cue me slipping into Because Of You nostalgia.
Non-Korean Song of the Week
This week’s Non-Korean song of the week for the 4th Week of 2023 is JENNIE’s (from BLACKPINK) You & Me. You & Me ranks in the second position this week, and will be reviewed in an upcoming International Song Review post.
The Charts
Congratulations to THE BOYZ and their comeback single WATCH IT for debuting at the top of the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of November 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.
Pos.
Song
Artist
Change
1
WATCH IT
THE BOYZ
(NEW)
2
Chill Kill
Red Velvet
(=)
3
Sweet Venom
ENHYPEN
(▲ 9)
4
You & Me
JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
(▲ 32)
5
LUCKY ROCKY
ROCKY
(NEW)
6
Amnesia
VIXX
(NEW)
7
HOODIE E BANBAJI
Lee Hyori
(▲ 83)
8
OOTD
Dreamcatcher
(NEW)
9
Sure Thing
82MAJOR
(▲ 62)
10
PUPPET SHOW
XG
(▲ 78)
11
CRUSH
ZEROBASEONE
(▼ 5)
12
Good Enough
CHANYEOL (EXO)
(▲ 78)
13
Screen Time
EPIK HIGH ft. HOSHI (SEVENTEEN)
(▲ 70)
14
Fall In Love Again
P1Harmony
(▲ 76)
15
MANIAC
VIVIZ
(▲ 36)
16
LALALALA
Stray Kids
(▼ 15)
17
Hmm-Cheat
CRUSH
(▲ 73)
18
Loved
B.I
(▲ 69)
19
NOBODY
Jeon Soyeon ((G)I-DLE), Winter (aespa), LIZ (IVE)
(▲ 71)
20
MACARONI CHEESE
YOUNG POSSE
(▲ 70)
21
MEGAVERSE
Stray Kids
(NEW)
22
NEVERLAND
NINE.i
(▲ 43)
23
Bailia Conmigo
ONEUS
(▲ 14)
24
4 Letters
B.I ft. James Reid
(▲ 66)
25
Rockstar
Jay Chang
(▲ 27)
26
X.O.X
Moon Jongup
(▲ 64)
27
Sugar-holic
ITZY
(▲ 63)
28
Do It
Youngjae (GOT7)
(▼ 24)
29
Guilty
TAEMIN (SHINee)
(▼ 16)
30
f
Bobby (iKON)
(▲ 11)
Songs leaving the charts
The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:
JIHYO is nominated for Best New Female Soloist, while Killin’ Me Good is nominated for Best Solo Dance Performance (Female) and ZONE is nominated for Best Album in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support JIHYO, her releases and your other favourite artists, songs and performance by clicking here to vote today.
Today’s album review post focuses on JIHYO’s solo debut mini-album ZONE, which was released in August of this year. It features the title track Killin’ Me Good and 6 additional sides tracks. This is honestly one of the best albums released this year, in my point of view. All songs on this album were definitely of a high calibre and shows off JIHYO’s potential as a solo act outside of her group work as part of TWICE (which we all know are very high quality already). I rated 4 songs 9/10 and 2 songs 10/10, which already pushes up the overall album rating to be above 9 (which is a rare sight this year). So keep on reading to find out which songs were assigned those scores (and what I rated that remaining song).
2. Talkin’ About It (ft. 24kGoldn) – JIHYO sings well in Talkin’ About It, which is an all-English track featuring 24kGoldn. Her vocal work was very good in Talkin’ About It. The guitar that we hear in the background of the pre-chorus was really nice, and the chorus takes us down a nostalgic dance pop direction. The hooks were straightforward, but catchy and ear-wormy. 24kGoldn’s feature comes during the bridge and his part helps break up Talkin’ About It from becoming overly consistent, which I appreciated. From there the final chorus sees an intensification, which I thought was closed out the song excellently. (9/10)
3. Closer – Closer sees the combination of R&B pop and Latin influences, which makes for a hypnotic and captivating listen. The consistent beat and catchy melodies definitely calls for a great performance, which we do see get to see (as Closer was picked to be the secondary promotional single during ZONE and Killin’ Me Good’s promotional run). I like JIHYO’s sexier and breathier vocals in this song, which makes Closer so much more alluring, as well. (9/10)
4. Wishing On You – JIHYO stays in the R&B realm for Wishing On You, albeit a dreamier motif is definitely on display here. But there is still a slow groove type of vibe to the track that I quite like and complements the slow groove quite well. The choruses’ “You-ou-ou-ou” was definitely the highlight of the track and the catchiest hook you can probably find. JIHYO delivers this in a higher pitch, which is a nice showcase of her vocal abilities. (10/10)
5. Don’t Wanna Go Back (with Heize) – JIHYO starts this R&B side track in a much softer tone, but showcases a stronger tone when she tackles the chorus. But she sounds best during the song’s bridge, where we hear a bit of everything, along with falsettos and a beautiful high note. Alongside JIHYO in Don’t Wanna Go Back is Heize, a popular R&B singer, who goes even softer during the second verses. And I liked how she brings the softness to the second and final choruses as a backing to JIHYO’s vocals. The melodies and instrumental were very nice in Don’t Wanna Go Back, as well. (9/10)
6. Room – Room is another dreamy R&B track. For the most part, I thought the track was a pleasant listen, with JIHYO vocals doing a fine job. The violins in the background were a nice touch, as well. JIHYO’s vocals intensify out of nowhere in the bridge of Room, which really pulls you back into the song. Furthermore, I really liked how the song ends with the instrumental fades out and you hear JIHYO’s vocals so clearly. (8/10)
7. Nightmare – Nightmare was previously performed at TWICE’s concerts this year and serves as the solo debut mini-album’s closing song. It is also my pick for my absolute favourite side track on the mini-album. I love the rock tinge that the song has and you can definitely hear the emotions conveyed by JIHYO so clearly. The command JIHYO has here in Nightmare is super strong and captivating, which makes Nightmare so worthwhile to listen to. A definite recommendation from me. (10/10)
Support your other favourite artists, songs and performance in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking here to vote today.
Former ASTRO member ROCKY has been very quiet since he left the group in February of this year following the expiration of his contract with Fantagio and his decision not to resign with the company. However, ROCKY is finally back with his solo debut single LUCKY ROCKY, which is featured on his first solo mini-album ROCKYST. In preparation for his solo debut, he had set up his own company, One Fine Day Entertainment.
LUCKY ROCKY is already quite a short song, spanning just less than 2:30 minutes. I find it quite interesting that an extensive amount of the song is dedicated towards instrumentation, leaving only a limited amount of time for ROCKY to work his magic as a singer and rapper. To me, in terms of a first impression, LUCKY ROCKY had me confused as to whether I was listening to a title track or introductory number. I wished there was time for vocals and rapping in the song, so it doesn’t feel limited and gives the soloist an opportunity to show more of his skills that we all know he has. But despite feeling limited, LUCKY ROCKY does not feel cramped. In fact, ROCKY somehow manages to squeeze in quite a fair bit into LUCKY ROCKY. In terms of his delivery, we do get some nice vocals, a decent amount of rapping and a brief high note that alludes to his skillset. In terms of the instrumentation, I found LUCKY ROCKY to be quite dynamic. I really liked the funky direction the brass elements gave the song, providing an ultimate groovy flair. But in addition to that, LUCKY ROCKY also had some time incorporate a three different styles into the instrumental break – a jazzy moment, edgy rock and some tap-dancing sounds. The hooks do feel somewhat underbaked, but I think more listens to LUCKY ROCKY can help change my impression of the hooks. Overall, an all-rounded song to begin ROCKY’s official solo career. I just wished there was more to the song in terms of length.
The music video begins with ROCKY looking down on an art gallery that is very plain and bare. This is further emphasised by the grayscale filter. It isn’t until the song kicks in almost half a minute into the video and ROCKY is dancing does colour come into play in the video and the art appears, which is a nice progression in terms of the video. From there, ROCKY sings and dance in the rest of the video both in and outside the art gallery. I did like the floating umbrella, which was a nice illusion. My only wish with the video was that the dance break did not have as bad lighting as it did. I think there was an opportunity to give some flair to the video during that part through some dynamic lighting.
Watching his performance today, you can definitely tell that ROCKY is in his natural habitat whilst on stage. ROCKY and the routine were captivating to watch, with the highlights for me being the twists incorporated into the routine, the cool tap-dancing and oomph he channeled during the rock part of his dance break. His charisma was shown off well and he looked like he had a ball on stage.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
Dreamcatcher’s BONVOYAGE is nominated for Best Rock Song of 2023 in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support BONVOYAGE and your other favourite artists, songs and performance, click here to vote today.
Dreamcatcher is officially back this week as well with their 9th mini-album VillainS and their latest single OOTD. This new releases follows their Apocalypse: From Us and BONVOYAGE comeback from earlier in the year.
To me, OOTD is probably Dreamcatcher’s weakest title track, to date. For the most part, OOTD‘s handles itself well. Once again, Dreamcatcher continues their signature rock sound that is synonymous with the group. OOTD differs by opting for a more electronica profile, which does have its merits. I really like how thick and grungy the rock sounds, which is a completely different vibe to the songs that Dreamcatcher have put out previously. The pre-choruses was probably the best part of the song, with the vocals bringing out a sleek and flirty vibe that I dig. The rest of the vocals and rapping in OOTD were pretty good, but there were some moments that I felt the members were too neutral, such as the rap-speak and slighter vocals that makes up the chorus. But the neutral vocals is only one of the reasons as to why I felt the chorus was a let down and left me unsure about the song. After all, the central part of the song is probably the most important part for the song to nail. It features an the anti-drop in the first half and a feeble attempt to rebuild itself after said anti-drop in the second half. I just felt the second half plays it too safe and keeps the energy to a minimum. This didn’t do the rest of OOTD justice and it held back the potential the song had to be a smashing number. The producers should have really amped up the second half of the chorus, to give it some punch and justify the anti-drop. Overall, while OOTD does continue Dreamcatcher’s sound, it is missing the spark that makes it scream “Dreamcatcher” to me.
Most of the music videos that we have seen from Dreamcatcher in the past have contained some kind of fantastical theme or element to them. This one doesn’t. Instead, Dreamcatcher are depicted as models in this video, showing off their OOTD. The members’ visual game in this video is definitely strong and their outfits and styling are stunning. In fact, their outfits where their don their hats is by far their most striking look in this entire video, especially when its comes to Siyeon’s hair. The virtual concept they had going on also looks quite cool, though I am not entirely sure what is going on. All I can say is that ending with the POV person drops down with the members just standing there and the computer screen later on just buffers was fairly creepy to watch.
The choreography for this comeback was both sharp and striking, and I really liked that. I particularly like their creative formations and how they moved about on stage. The routine itself also works well with the lyrics, giving the members to show off their looks and outfits.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 8.5/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.1/10
KPOPREVIEWED 