Author: kpopreviewed

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 4th Week of October 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 4th Week of October 2023. Once again, it is going to be another short intro to get right into the post, as I have some posts to draft and schedule for this week. Plus, something special is coming this week. Plus the usual Sunday chores that comes with adulting life. So I am going to get right to it with the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 4th Week of October 2023. (Honestly, how is it already November?)

Recap of the past week

Here is a recap of what I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • DANG! (hocus pocus) – Billlie
  • Gummy Bear – Do Hanse ft. BIGONE
  • Like Heaven – KWON EUNBI ft. Paul Blanco
  • Truth or Dare – PIXY
  • JOURNEY – DV.OL
  • RUCKUS – GHOST9
  • Gum – JESSI
  • Listen to this Song – Park Boram
  • Plastic Candy – Haeseul (ARTMS)
  • Loved – B.I
  • Fallin’ – Mark Tuan (GOT7)
  • Poppin’ Love – WayV
  • To My Boyfriend – ILY:1

Throwback Song of the Week

It has been a T-ARA type of mood this week. And during this type of mood, I have been listening to a lot of T-ARA’s Sugar Free. As such, Sugar Free is this week’s Throwback Song.

Non-Korean song of the week

THE ROSE’s Wonder is this week’s top Non-Korean song of the week. It ranks in the 4th position this week.

The Charts

Congratulations to SEVENTEEN and their comeback single God of Music for debuting at the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th week of October 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1God of MusicSEVENTEEN(NEW)
2B.O.M.BTREASURE(▲ 26)
3In The MoodWHEE IN (MAMAMOO)(▲ 75)
4WonderTHE ROSE(▲ 76)
5Perfect NightLE SSERAFIM(NEW)
6Talk SaxyRIIZE(NEW)
7Chasing That FeelingTXT(▼ 4)
8Give You My AllHIGHLIGHT(▲ 35)
9I’m Crying Over YouKwon Jieun(▲ 69)
10RINGOITZY(▲ 68)
11STRANGERSUNMI(▼ 10)
12Good EnoughCHANYEOL (EXO)(▼ 3)
13BaddieIVE(▼ 9)
14I Love My BodyHWASA (MAMAMOO)(▲ 18)
15You & MeJennie (BLACKPINK)(▲ 3)
16Love ItYOUNITE(▲ 26)
17TROUBLEEVNEE(▼ 13)
18Fact CheckNCT 127(▼ 16)
19InvincibleEVOlution (TripleS)(▲ 18)
20THIS IS LOVEQueenz Eye(▲ 58)
21Hongdae R&BBIBI(▲ 55)
22Back For MoreTXT with Anitta(▲ 45)
23StarDAWN ft. 10CM(=)
24HOWLCHUU(▲ 49)
25RockstarJay Chang(▲ 53)
26I’ll Be ThereJay Chang(▲ 18)
27SageFT ISLAND(▲ 51)
28SKIP OUTRoa (Rocking Doll)(▲ 50)
29nothing butYoung K (DAY6)(▲ 17)
30Your CityJung Yonghwa (CNBLUE)(▲ 48)

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:

  • Baggy Jeans – NCT U
  • Smooth Sailing – cignature
  • IN MY ROOM – Lim Young Min
  • SALTY BOY – ONEWE
  • Omnipresent – ONEWE
  • PADO (wave to me) – PENTAGON
  • I don’t wanna lose you – COiBLEN
  • SYNCHRONIZE – X:IN
  • SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City) – H1-KEY
  • Different Hearts – GINJO & SOLE
  • On My Way – Kim Woojin
  • Elevator – BAEKHO
  • WANT – B.I.G

[International Song Reviews] Anne Marie and Minnie ((G)I-DLE), LE SSERAFIM, ITZY & CHEN (EXO)

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Another International Song Review post is here. Last time I covered MISAMO’s Do Not Touch, from20’s Bad Revenge, SEVENTEEN’s Ima – Even If The World Ends Tomorrow – and The Rose’s Back To Me. This time, I am covering Anne Marie and Minnie ((G)I-DLE)’s Expectations, LE SSERAFIM’s Perfect World, ITZY’s Ringo and CHEN’s Light Of My Life.

Expectations – Anne Marie & Minnie ((G)I-DLE)

Language: English
Release Date: 9 March 2023
Release Type: Expectations (Digital Single)

I start off this post with Anne Marie and Minnie’s collaboration single, which I was promptly reminded of last week when they (and Expectations) were nominated for Best Collaboration at the 2023 MAMA Awards. For me, Expectations is very much on trend with the current sound of pop music in the Western world. I really like the instrumentation, which has an addictive vocal synth in the background, some really refreshing guitar work and the slight punkish pop rock sound in the chorus. Both Anne Marie and Minnie’s vocals are quite good and sound well-rounded. The bridge is probably a really good example of this. As for the chorus, the centrepiece of Expectations feels like an anthem, both easy to follow and easy to commit into our minds. I like how the instrumental makes way for the vocals at certain points within Expectations, allowing the vocals to have moments of impact. Overall a strong showing from the pair, with a song that has an impactful message telling you to go on your own way, rather than following the expectations of everyone around you.

The music video is a miss for me. I think I watched it once when the song was first released, but I definitely have not gone back since then. It is super cheap, and I think the company behind this video (Warner Music Korea) could have done a lot better. It honesty looked like two random rooms were chosen on the fly and the producers just gave a microphone to the pair to sing into. No additional styling or budget was given to give the rooms some life or identity. At least, there was some post production to the video, but even that was pretty ordinary.

Overall Rating – 7.1/10

Perfect Night – LE SSERAFIM

Language: English
Release Date: 27 October 2023
Release Type: Perfect Night (Digital Single)

Perfect Night is the newest track in this post, dropping only just yesterday. I would describe Perfect Night to be a pretty track, thanks to subdued instrumentation consisting of the twinkling synths, trap beats and the rhythmic guitar. This formula unfortunately doesn’t push any boundaries and doesn’t offer the usual upbeat energy that LE SSERAFIM puts behind their title tracks (which I kind of was hoping for in this collaboration – more on this in a moment). In fact, the instrumentation remains pretty much the same through and through. On the flip side, however, I found that LE SSERAFIM’s smooth and light-on vocals went quite well with the instrumentation subdued nature. Again, this is through and through Perfect Night. I think with that comment, you can probably guess that I found Perfect World to be quite consistent. As usual, I say consistency can be a good thing. But in the case of Perfect Night, I find the consistency to be a problem, where that multiple listens to Perfect Night might wear off the current charm and prettiness that I get from the song. At the moment, I find this new song to be “just nice”, but I don’t know if that is how I would describe the song the more I listen to it.

As mentioned above, this release is actually a collaboration with the game Overwatch 2. Essentially, LE SSERAFIM are celebrities in this virtual world, and the OVERWATCH characters make their way to watch LE SSERAFIM’s performance of Perfect Night. The characters experience some problems, such as bumper to bumper traffic and forgetting the tickets. But having abilities, the characters bypass these issues quite easily. But the video ends happily with the characters enjoying the LE SSERAFIM concert. I also like the slight node to Fearless with the dance studio that LE SSERAFIM started in for this music video. As for the choreography for this release, it looks quite nice and matches up with the prettiness that the song embodies.

Overall Rating – 7.8/10

RINGO – ITZY

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 18 October 2023
Release Type: RINGO (1st Japanese Studio Album)

RINGO is a fairly new release that I haven’t actually checked out yet. So my thoughts on RINGO here will be my first impression. RINGO is a very in-your-face type of song, kicking off with some bold beats. I like the Latin tinge and the bombastic feel that RINGO brings to the table. The chorus concentrates all of this into a singular strong central piece, which comes off as both memorable and intense. The hooks were fantastic, as is the dance club energy that comes off RINGO‘s centrepiece. However, the disappointment aspect in the chorus, for me, were the vocals. They felt very shouty and was definitely pitched higher than what it needed to be. This approach makes me nervous for the group, because it makes things more difficult for the group and creates a needless form of tension in the song. Yes, the members needed to be heard over the bombastic energy coming off the background, but surely the producers could have been a lot clever about how to approach this. On the other hand, Ryujin’s rapping, particularly, in the second verse, leaves me impressed. Overall, I do like what RINGO has to offer and there is enough in the track for me to enjoy and remember the track by. But I think better execution in terms of production would have made RINGO feel more at ease.

RINGO is about forging one’s story, rather than following a story that is already set out for them, such as in the fairytales. The word RINGO is the Japanese word for ‘apple’, and the music video begins with the infamous fairytale of Snow White (which we all know features an apple). The bitten apple in the story turns into a sword and shield, the very same sword and shield that is later held by Lia. This represents that the members don’t need a prince charming (or another ‘saviour’) to help them out. Instead, we see the members protect themselves when they are under fire and finding their own way out of situations. We also see the members pick their own apple and taking a bite out of it, regardless of if it is forbidden or poison, going against the fairytales to create one’s one story. The choreography for this release is equally as strong and powerful as the song and story behind the music video. I like the many apple biting references and also that power walk that kicks off the final chorus.

Overall Rating – 8.5/10

Light Of My Life – CHEN (EXO)

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 17 August 2023
Release Type: Polaris (1st Japanese Mini Album)

In the lead up to the release of Polaris, CHEN dropped a single from the mini-album each week. This ended on 17 August 2023, when CHEN dropped the final and lead single Light Of My Life and the full mini-album. Light Of My Life is another beautifully executed and really well-done ballad to add to CHEN’s repertoire of ballads. But what I like about Light Of My Life is that it doesn’t conform to the ballad numbers that CHEN has previously released before in Korea. Instead, he opts for a mid-tempo band instrumentation and some orchestral touches in the instrumental, which is distinct from his previous tracks that were just orchestrally instrumented. The band instrumentation really helps make the track more powerful, in my opinion. It added some punchy moments that we haven’t heard in CHEN’s ballads in the past. The band instrumentation also allows CHEN to really show off his vocals and give Light Of My Life so much more oomph. When the combination of the instrumentation and his vocals peaks in Light Of My Life, you find these to be the most powerful moments in the song, and are truly breath-taking. Overall, a breath-taking number.

The music video features CHEN at two locations – the more memorable location (in my opinion) is on the moon. I thought the moon was a clever concept. The song’s lyrics features a message of finding the light, which implies that someone is in darkness. And the source of light in the night (which is when we commonly find ourselves in the dark) is the moon. So having CHEN sing on the moon, with the light shining of him is a clever way to represent light in the darkness. The second location is the city scenery, which were briefer moments in the video. CHEN doesn’t look sad in these scenes, even if the lyrics do feel emotionally charged. Instead, I think these scenes represents finding one’s way. And the only way to do that is if you get up and move about. For me, this was a super nice video to watch and works perfectly with the song.

Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Review] Talk Saxy – RIIZE

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RIIZE just made their debut with Memories and Get A Guitar at the start of September. It hasn’t even been two months on, but the newly debuted group from SM Entertainment has returned with their first comeback single, Talk Saxy.

I really do want to like Talk Saxy. After how much I enjoyed Memories and Get A Guitar, I had high hopes for RIIZE. But despite the listens I have given Talk Saxy since its release earlier today, I cannot seem to form a positive impression towards the song. Talk Saxy features (quite appropriately) saxophone riffs and 808 drum sounds in its instrumental. And boy, does it not shy away from using that brass. But as much as I love myself some brassy elements in my songs, the saxophone feels distorted at times in Talk Saxy and this makes the central instrumental element come off as scratchy. It isn’t all bad, but it could have been better. The 808 drum sounds was a nice accompaniment to the saxophone and gave Talk Saxy some much needed oomph. I also think there are some guitar riffs in the pre-choruses, but I might be mistaking that for even more saxophones (I hope I am not). I do think Talk Saxy could have used a bit more in the instrumental department to give the track some flair. A prime example is more piano in the bridge to accompany the smoothness of the vocals (and lack of the brassy element). Another thing that I noticed was the uninteresting chorus. Both the rapping and vocals in the chorus felt bland. It is like the producers removed all of the members’ own style and charms to create a chorus that could be executed by anyone in the team. But by doing that, the producers also created a soulless central piece. On the flip side, I found the members’ personality and style to be so much more prevalent in the verses. There was some good moments in terms of delivery in the verses, but it all disappeared when we entered the chorus parts of Talk Saxy. And that pretty much dulled the song for me.

The music video feels as simple as the song’s make-up was. For me, the music video felt very focused on the bright lights that made up the words “Talk Saxy” in the background and the members wearing baggy old school shirts that reminds me of hip-hop from the 1990s. It is definitely a good and trendy look. The use of lighting on this set to either show the members or their silhouettes was pretty cool idea, as well. But the rest of the music video (i.e. the gigantic speakers and focus on the colour red in the members’ outfits) just fizzles out and becomes a distant memory. I wished there was more balance.

The choreography for this comeback is quite good. I like the ‘Kick It‘ part of the choreography and also the prancy-like style they go for in the outro of the song. I also enjoyed the bouncy nature and the wide arm movements they had going on in the middle of the routine.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10

[Review] B.O.M.B (kaboom Ver.) – TREASURE

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TREASURE returned last week with a gift for their fans. B.O.M.B is a side track off TREASURE’s second studio album REBOOT, which was released a few months back. As a bit of a teaser for this coming weekend, a full album review post on REBOOT will be coming your way. But ahead of that, I wanted to review the new version of B.O.M.B, otherwise known as the “kaboom version”. In other TREASURE-related news, the title track off REBOOT is BONA BONA, which also dropped alongside the album.

Had I gone forward with just the album review, B.O.M.B (the side track version) would have been described as “a really pleasant pop track from the ’00s”. I would also made specific comments on the dreamy instrumentation and the really smooth melodies that made the song pleasant. I probably also would have said something about the catchy hooks, in addition to the melodies, particularly around the choruses. The ‘kaboom version’ of B.O.M.B retains all of that, but adds more to the instrumentation to give it liveliness and energy. And honestly, this does help make the song feel more fun and energetic, which I think would have been well received by their fans. Whether all of it was necessary is a different matter up for discussion. I am definitely on board with the brass and extra bass that was added to the song. However, I felt the bomb dropping and explosion sound effect and the inclusion of a hip-hop dance break was cringy and embarrassing. But even while I feel this way about these specific elements, they didn’t detract from B.O.M.B whatsoever, and everything that was the side track version of B.O.M.B is very much still there. So overall, the side track version of B.O.M.B is probably my preferred version, but I don’t mind the kaboom version, as well.

We didn’t get a music video for this kaboom release, but rather a performance video. As such, I will be combining both the video and performance components of the release together. The hip-hop concept that they went with for this comeback makes sense for TREASURE, but I am not entirely sure about the song. But at least they keep it casual and don’t lean too much into it. We do get some closeup of the members, and a dance battle break that the members keep lighthearted and fun. As for the choreography, I find it to be quite good. It suits the group and the song in many regards. The choreography and energy feels youthful, which fits in with the members. The key moves during the chorus felt cutesy, which goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics which is about how one’s crush makes them feel giddy and alive.

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

[Album Review] 13egin (7th Mini Album) – INFINITE

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INFINITE made their grand return in July 2023 after a five year hiatus due to military enlistments and their departure from Woolim Entertainment. The mini-album, titled 13egin, also celebrates their 13 years career, which has definitely been fruitful over the years particularly in the 2010s. 13egin features a total of five songs, including an introductory track and the title track New Emotions. Like some other albums that I have been reviewing lately, 13egin has a fundamental issue of featuring the weakest track as its title track. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad to hear INFINITE in any form after so long (and hope that they continue to regularly release new music as a group into the future). I just think there are other songs on the mini-album that could have served as a better title.

13egin Album Cover

1. Intro: 13 – This introductory track really got me excited for what is to come on the mini-album. The mysterious piano and suspenseful interwoven vibration synths leads into some groovy guitar and synth work. The strings that come into play in the latter parts of 13 throws me back to some of Infinite greatest works, which have involved strings in some way. No vocals, so no score. But damn, 13 was amazing!

2. New Emotions (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for New Emotions. (7/10)

3. Time Difference (시차) – It seems like Time Difference is the more liked track on the album from what I can see online, and I completely agree with the public here. I really like how the track doesn’t require any powerful or dynamic elements (which is usually what I look for) to really sell the track. Instead, Time Difference features really pleasant atmospheric vibe, with its trendy synth line. I like the small additions to the song, which are well placed to maintain a consistent grooviness to the song. The members’ vocals are really well done, bringing a touch of brightness and a refreshing melody to the track, whilst all keeping aligned to that pleasantness mentioned above. (10/10)

4. I Got You – I Got You opts for a more upbeat pop number, yet the beats, string and synths elements in the instrumentation do continue the pleasantness that we heard in the previous song. The members do another amazing job in I Got You with their vocals, especially with how dreamy they made the song feel. In some cases, I liked the crispness the members themselves added to the song. Everything comes together to create a summery vibe that felt very clean and fresh. (9/10)

5. Find Me – The mini-album ends with a ballad, which gets me excited. INFINITE is one of the groups that I look to for amazing ballads. But rather going down the purely classical orchestration backing that INFINITE has done multiple times before, Find Me features some atmospheric synths and band instrumentation. However, the track does maintain the beautiful sound of the piano, which makes this track quite fulfilling. Once again, the members’ vocals are beautifully delicate and dreamier than in the last track. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10

13egin Teaser Image

[Album Review] MY WORLD (3rd Mini Album) – aespa

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MY WORLD Teaser Image

After holding onto a draft for the album review for aespa’s MY WORLD for quite a while now as I was due review the album’s pre-release single separately ahead of the album review, I have decided to forgo those plans and post the album review now instead. MY WORLD is the aespa’s 3rd mini-album, led by the single Spicy, the pre-release single Welcome to My World and four additional side tracks. aespa’s vocals are a recurring element I comment on throughout the album, with their showcase of skills in this department being consistently superb throughout the album. MY WORLD also becomes my highest rated album this year. Find out why I thought so positively of the mini-album down below.

MY WORLD album cover
MY WORLD Album Cover

1. Welcome to My World (ft. nævis) – This alternative pop track is so dreamy yet has such a haunting vibe, both of come together to create an impactful and memorable piece. Part of this is thanks to the vocals, which I give two strong thumbs up for. Like come on, the harmonisations are so beautiful and breath-taking. The instrumental also contributes to that dreamy and haunting vibe, as well. The orchestral sequence at the ending makes for such a cathartic ending. Despite it being a more vocally centric track, Welcome to My World still manages to incorporate some synths into its backing. Nothing too crazy that disrupts or destroys the delicate nature of Welcome to My World, but just enough to make it feel like it could be branded as an aespa track. An easy 10/10, in my opinion. (10/10)

2. Spicy (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Spicy. (9/10)

3. Salty & Sweet – Salty & Sweet starts off in a very bold manner, going for a darker and edgier vibe. The members do a really good job with channeling these vibes into their delivery, creating a very riveting and impactful track to listen to. The bass, beats and synth work in the instrumentational also has this trippy energy to it, making Salty & Sweet a very intriguing listen. (9/10)

4. Thirsty – Thirsty is another great showcase of vocals from aespa. Their vocals are just so sleek and captivating throughout this side track (if they hadn’t been yet in the other side tracks). Thirsty also revisits the dreamy vibes heard earlier in the first track of the mini-album, with their vocals also exuding this. The rapping felt so clean, as well. The instrumentation is basically your standard R&B backing, but the members really do take it to the next level. (9/10)

5. I’m Unhappy – I’m Unhappy is much more straight-forward track, in comparison to the other side tracks on this mini-album. The bouncier beat and bass in the instrumentation is quite consistent and felt playful. The squealy synth was a nice touch in cutting through this consistency. The vocal work and rapping felt uncomplicated. But nowhere along the way do I find I’m Unhappy to be a bore. It was all very interesting and another strong side track from the group. (9/10)    

6. Til We Meet Again – The final track steps away from synths and into acoustics and simple band instrumentation. The acoustics of this track creates a very warm and inviting atmosphere, while their vocals (which have been top notch throughout the mini-album) makes us stay with their comforting aura. Til We Meet Again also revisits another aspect from earlier on in the mini-album – stunning harmonisations that just felt like icing on the cake. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.1/10

MY WORLD Teaser Image
MY WORLD Teaser Image

[Review] God of Music – SEVENTEEN

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Kicking off this week is SEVENTEEN, who returns with their 11th mini-album SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN and the title track God Of Music. Once again, SEVENTEEN has exceeded expectations by breaking records with the new mini-album, including becoming the most pre-ordered album release in KPOP industry once again. This is SEVENTEEN’s first comeback since their 10th mini-album FML (lead by the singles Super and F*ck My Life) and their first Japanese compilation album ALWAYS YOURS (lead by the single Ima – Even if the World Ends Today –.

Punchy feel-good energy is how I would describe God of Music. SEVENTEEN’s new song does not disappoint in any department, with the song making me do a bit of a boogie within the first listen. More repeats of the song since its release has me practically up and dancing. The liveliness of God of Music is thanks to the soul funk genre that the group went with. Plus God of Music had some extra lively elements that really helped enhance the energy and brightness of the song, such as the electric guitar riffs in the pre-choruses, the brass detailing in the background and that retro synthesizer riff in the instrumental break. The vocals and rapping are very strong in this track, both matching the energy that is coming off the instrumentation without much trouble. They blend with one another in the song, making everything feel super cohesive and strengthening the song further. The vocals in the pre-chorus propels God of Music forward in a manner that just sounds and feels so dynamic. The chorus itself features a really nice bright melody in the first half and then follows up with the punchy and catchy “Kung chi pak chi kung kung chi pak chi yeah” line. The verses themselves had some really nice rhythm and I liked the anthem-like direction that had going towards the end. Everything in God of Music melds together so well in the track, creating a super energetic and blastful song that feels just right.

The music video begins by setting the scene of a world where music has somehow disappeared. But this same world has SEVENTEEN in it, who reintroduces music into society. The song itself is an ode to music, celebrating how it can bring everyone together no matter where or who you are. We see music reach different life forms in the music video (from humans, ants, DJ donkeys and snails – the slower dragged out form of the music when the snail appears at the end of the video made me laugh). We also witness music reach people in different locations, including what seems like an urban American city, to the grassfields in the countryside and to the hospitals (which is a clever way of featuring S.Coups, who is sitting out most of the promotions to recover from a surgery). The bridge scene where SEVENTEEN and the crowd are marching across at the end was epic. Needless to say, the music video really matches up with the music and appropriately spreads the positive message in a fun and bright visual format.

We only get to see a small portion of the choreography in the music video. But from what I did see was a very lively and fun routine that pairs well with the music. I wish I can say more than that, but that is only what is on offer at the moment. Given that this is SEVENTEEN routine, I am willing to bet that the rest of the choreography will be fantastic, as usual.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.8/10

[Album Review] KILL MY DOUBT (7th Mini Album) – ITZY

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Kill My Doubt Teaser Image

For me, ITZY feels like they are the underdogs in KPOP at the moment. ITZY’s mini-albums have been a mixed bag for me and many others lately. It is interesting to note that the scores I personally been giving their album releases have been continually going down each time I review them. And so, I do hope that ITZY can turn things around and dispel the misconceptions about them to the KPOP industry. I am happy to report that KILL MY DOUBT does reverse the trajectory ever so slightly, and I hope this is a sign that their album outputs will improve, to the point they will release an album that will smash and changes people’s perception of them as artists. KILL MY DOUBT, released in July, features the title track CAKE, pre-release tracks BET ON ME and None of My Business and an additional 3 sides track, taking the total number of songs to 6.

KILL MY DOUBT Album Cover
KILL MY DOUBT Album Cover

1. BET ON ME – Click here to read my thoughts on BET ON ME in the combined review of BET ON ME and None of My Business. (7/10)

2. CAKE (Title Track) – As I had predicted, CAKE has grown on me a fair bit since I reviewed it. As a result of this, I have decided to bump up CAKE‘s song rating by 0.5 full point. My other thoughts on the song do stand, however. Click here to read the full review forCAKE. (7.5/10)

3. None of My Business – Click here to read my thoughts on None of My Business in the combined review of Bet On Me and None of My Business. (6.5/10)

4. Bratty (나쁜 애) – For me, Bratty is the mini-album’s most skippable song. First impression had me thinking that the track goes for a playful arrangement with its unique instrumentation. However, the more I listen to it, the less so does Bratty sound this way to me. The reason for this is because Bratty sounds quite linear, which didn’t bode down well in the long run for me. The members give Bratty some nice vocals, but they didn’t offer anything melodic or catchy enough to be get the song stuck in my head. (6/10)

5. Psychic Lover – Psychic Lover appeals to me with its pop rock influenced chorus. The energy from the central sequence of Psychic Lover feels pleasantly electrifying and exciting. The buildup during the pre-chorus was amazing, as well. My only wish for Psychic Lover is that the vocals followed through with the energy and stayed in this energetic form. This easily could have taken the song to the next level. ITZY kind of gets there at the start of the choruses, but the energy from them fizzles out as the choruses progresses, flatten its potential. (8.5/10)

6. Kill Shot – The shortest song by far is Kill Shot. And this is its biggest flaw. The electronic synths give such a dark, edgy and cool vibe to the song. ITZY themselves carries this edgy and cool vibe through into their whispery and low tone delivery. The song also manages to incorporate a ‘Ring around the rosie’ melody, which an unexpected development in the song. But it keeps it interesting, aligning with the rest of what we heard. I just wished Kill Shot was longer. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 7.3/10

KILL MY DOUBT Teaser Image
KILL MY DOUBT Teaser Image

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 3rd Week of October 2023

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Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 3rd Week of October 2023. It is going to be another short intro to get right into the post, as I have some posts to draft and schedule for this week. And the usual Sunday chores. So I am going to get right to it with the Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 3rd Week of October 2023.

Recap of the past week

Here is a recap of what I posted:

Joining all those new releases above this week are the following songs:

  • THIS IS LOVE – Queenz Eye
  • Possessed – ZELO
  • Give You My All – HIGHLIGHT
  • Kiss Me Baby – E’LAST
  • Rockstar – Jay Chang
  • I’ll Be There – Jay Chang
  • BROKEN IPHONE – LOCO ft. Woo Wonjae
  • NOT OK – LOCO ft. Minnie ((G)I-DLE)
  • FLIGHT – YOUHA
  • RINGO – ITZY
  • COUP D’ETAT – KINGDOM
  • Beam Me Up – SUPERKIND
  • Love It – YOUNITE
  • HOWL – CHUU
  • MACARONI CHEESE – YOUNG POSSE
  • Discord – QWER
  • Wave In My Heart – JINJIN (ASTRO) ft. YUNHWAY
  • TOO MUCH – Jungkook (BTS), The Kid LAROI, Central Cee
  • I’m Crying Over You – Kwon Jieun
  • B.O.M.B (KABOOM ver.) – TREASURE
  • PLUTO – Xdinary Heroes
  • REUNION – GIFT
  • Hands Up – NCT NEW TEAM

Throwback Song of the Week

This week’s throwback song is actually not a song that I listened to at all this week. But SHINee’s Dazzling Girl has been popping in my head recurring throughout this past week. I finally indulged into my thoughts and the song whilst writing up this post, so it is my pick for this week’s Throwback song.

Non-Korean song of the week

Stray Kid and LiSA’s Social Path is back as the top Non-Korean song of the week. It ranks in the 10th position this week.

The Charts

Congratulations to SUNMI and her comeback single STRANGER for debuting at the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 3rd week of October 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.

Pos.SongArtistChange
1STRANGERSUNMI(NEW)
2Fact CheckNCT 127(=)
3Chasing That FeelingTXT(=)
4TROUBLEEVNNE(▲ 19)
5BaddieIVE(▲ 4)
6FLIRTINGmimirose(▲ 78)
7SomebodyD.O (EXO)(▲ 68)
8Time To ShineH1-KEY(▲ 64)
9Good EnoughCHANYEOL (EXO)(NEW)
10Social PathStray Kids ft. LiSA(▲ 18)
11Break The BrakeXdinary Heroes(▲ 42)
12DazzlingPOW(▲ 72)
13Love EffectONF(▼ 12)
14HeartDAWN(▼ 8)
15I WANT THAT(G)I-DLE(▲ 54)
16Honey or SpiceLIGHTSUM(▼ 11)
17Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow-SEVENTEEN(▲ 38)
18You & MeJENNIE (BLACKPINK)(▲ 62)
193DJung Kook (BTS) ft. Jack Harlow(▲ 55)
20Baggy JeansNCT U(▲ 13)
21COUP D’ETATKINGDOM(NEW)
22Get A GuitarRIIZE(▲ 42)
23StarDAWN ft. 10CM(▲ 3)
24PERFORMERVANNER(▲ 60)
25The 6th SummerPLAVE(▲ 24)
26BYOB (bring you own best friend)Billlie(▲ 58)
27Golden AgeNCT(▲ 4)
28B.O.M.B (KABOOM Ver.)TREASURE(NEW)
29MemoriesRIIZE(▲ 8)
30Sure Thing82MAJOR(▲ 54)

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:

  • Golden Age – NCT
  • Unbeatable – TIOT
  • Bambambam – Yerin
  • Remember – January
  • STARLIGHT – SECRET NUMBER
  • Time – Jaechan (DKZ)
  • The 6th Summer – PLAVE
  • You’re Beautiful – THE ROSE
  • let it be summer – Young K (DAY6)
  • HOMEBOY – xikers
  • NEW DANCE – XG

[International Song Reviews] MISAMO (TWICE), from20, SEVENTEEN, The Rose

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Aside from last weekend, I have been churning out song reviews for the releases of our favourite KPOP artists that are not in Korean. Most recently, I covered JUN’s PSYCHO, TFN’s ICE CREAM, Mark Tuan’s Everyone Else Fades and TXT & the Jonas Brothers’ collaborative single Do It Like That. This week, I turn my attention towards songs from TWICE’s first subunit MISAMO, from20, SEVENTEEN and The Rose.

Do Not Touch – MISAMO (TWICE)

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 14 July 2023
Release Type: Masterpiece (1st Japanese Mini Album)

MISAMO sees the Japanese members of TWICE (Mina, Sana and Momo) come together to form a trio in Do Not Touch. For me, the song is another case of “more could have been done”. Do Not Touch definitely has drive thanks to its beats, synths and guitar work. I also like the moodier vibes that Do Not Touch feature heavily of. It is a different side to the trio worth exploring more in the future, simply because I don’t think TWICE’s sound allows for it. The members doing a decent job of bringing the song’s hooks and melodies to the table, with some good harmonisations and solid vocal work through Do Not Touch. The rapping in the form it takes in Do Not Touch actually fits quite nicely with the rest of the song as is. However, Do Not Touch has a heavy dullness to it, which I wished was shaken off. I personally think sharper beats, more memorable melodies that build off that and a bit more vocal variation from the members would have removed the dullness felt and given Do Not Touch a much needed boost in the oomph department.

What the song lacks, the music video definitely makes up for. Everything from the fashion, to the styling, to the looks throughout the video are all very striking and thought provoking, which matches perfect with the art gallery/museum concept they had going on. The detailing and the colours at times really pop out,. Altogether, the memorability of Do Not Touch‘s music video is definitely through the roof. The moodier and mature vibes of the song come off quite well in the choreography, with the performance going down a slightly sensual path. In addition to that, the choreography also features an artsy aesthetic, which looks amazing in practice and I find to also be quite memorable.

Overall Rating – 8/10

Bad Revenge – from20

Language: English
Release Date: 5 April 2023
Release Type: Bad Revenge (Digital Single)

Despite not reviewing it last year, from20’s Chemical was definitely on my radar and ended up being nominated for Best International Song by a Korean Artist (Western) of 2022 in the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. But I am not going to let from20 (former member of BIGSTAR under the stage name Raehwan) escape my blog this year. Bad Revenge was the soloist’s first release of the year. While Bad Revenge doesn’t necessary top Chemical, it is still a good song in its own right. Bad Revenge features a 80s retro synth backing which instantly convinced me to return for more when it was first released. In addition to that, from20’s vocals are great in Bad Revenge. However, I think some more vocal oomph could have taken Bad Revenge to the next level. I did like the vocal parts at the end of the song, which comes as an appreciative change in vocal colour and tone. Otherwise, Bad Revenge easily could have become overly consistent and that doesn’t always lead to a good outcome. I guess my final comment about Bad Revenge is that the song could have used more polishing the lyrics department, but that is a super minor thing and doesn’t take away from the listening experience that was Bad Revenge.

from20 spends most of the music video without his shirt on, and I am sure fans are loving that aspect of the music video. In addition to that, he is also fighting bad guys and works out in this video, determined to get to some happiness (as represented by the bottle in the middle of a laser field with the word “HAPPY” on it). I think there is a story somewhere in this video, but I find myself plugging in a lot of the missing information with my imagination. While that does give viewers some flexibility in terms of interpretation, I think this particular music video needs a few more details to it. The choreography looks very nice. I liked the groovy factor it brings to the table.

Overall Rating – 8/10

Ima (Even If the World Ends Tomorrow) – SEVENTEEN

Language: Japanese
Release Date: 23 September 2023
Release Type: ALWAYS YOURS (1st Japanese Compilation Album)

Ima (Even If the World Ends Tomorrow) features a pleasant pop rock background. I really like how the guitar riffs is upfront, while the drumming propels the song forward. There is a bit more to Ima, including the string elements, the touch of synths in the background, the more dramatic drumming in the pre-choruses, the piano in the bridge. Each of these elements builds an the pop rock sound to make Ima even more beautiful sounding. Aside from the instrumentation, the group continues to focus on their vocals and melodies in Ima, which sets a solid foundation in making the song a beautiful one. I guess the one thing I really wanted from Ima that did not eventuate is a peak in the vocals. They kind of left to the instrumental, which I think is fine. But I think some of the members could have had a stake in that to take Ima to the next level.

The music video shows an end of the world event playing out, where everyone around the SEVENTEEN members are running to safety and their surroundings are on fire etc. But somehow, SEVENTEEN sees the beauty in all aspects of this, embracing the “now” and focusing on what time is left on their friendship, not worrying about the future as expressed in Ima‘s lyrics. In the story, some members hang back and do not participate in the evacuation, while other members sought or helped others to safety (but end up backing away to focus on their friendship with one another – such is the case of DK and Mingyu). Overall, a pretty music video and works well with the song. The choreography for Ima brings a smile to my face, as it embraces the pleasant side of the song. The members’ smiles whilst performing Ima also helps give off that smiling effect. Majority of the dance moves are a lot smoother than SEVENTEEN’s usual work, matching with the melodies of the song quite well.

Overall Rating – 8.7/10

Back To Me – The Rose

Language: English
Release Date: 23 September 2023
Release Type: DUAL (2nd Studio Album)

While I don’t cover them nearly enough on this blog, The Rose is probably one of the best band acts currently associated with the KPOP industry. They only release music that represents themselves, and there isn’t anyone holding them back from showing this. Back To Me is a quintessential rock ballad track. Nothing more, nothing less. This pure rock sound that comes about in Back To Me is what I want out of the rock sounds in KPOP and I am glad that The Rose are the ones to deliver it. The build up in instrumentation are definitely the highlights of the song. Adding layers to Back To Me are the vocals from Woosung and Dojoon, who both sound emotionally charged and bring angst with their delivery to give Back To Me more impact. Their delivery definitely adds more oomph and meaning to the song’s message of wanting one’s ex to return, despite the screw ups caused by the person singing. Back To Me‘s chorus, with its entirety also serving as the main hook, is super catchy and memorable, as well.

The music video basically features the members in full on rock mode. I like how straight forward it is, encapsulating the energy and tone of the song very well. I would have liked more variation in the video, however. Maybe different scenery, just to give it a bit more layers. But what we got was pretty good.

Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Review] Good Enough – CHANYEOL (EXO)

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Making his return as a solo artist today is EXO member CHANYEOL with the single Good Enough. This is CHANYEOL’s first solo song since Tomorrow in 2021 (which I hadn’t review yet). I have previously reviewed some of his previous solo tracks, such as SSFW and Nothin’, the latter being featured as part of EXO-SC’s first studio album, 1 Billion Views.

To me, Good Enough is straight-forwardly pleasant. Nothing more and nothing less. Sometimes that can turn into a bore, but Good Enough does enough to bring a smile to my face. Not necessarily a massive grin, but a faint smile. But I appreciate that, no matter how small that effect is. In addition to that, Good Enough‘s comes together to elicit a further comforting and warming effect, which helps it become an enjoyable listen overall. The background of the song is rather chill, with it embracing light and atmospheric synths. The beats are well paced and the synth detailing brings out a buoyant vibe. CHANYEOL’s vocals sound so nice in Good Enough. His slightly more hoarse voice gives Good Enough some texture to keep the song weighted. The melodies make CHANYEOL’s vocals mellow out and make the song easy to listen to. I also find them to be quite catchy, getting a few listens out of me already since its release just a few hours ago. Overall, I think it is needless to say that I quite liked Good Enough and welcome the comfort it brings.

Good Enough‘s music video could potentially be passed off as another music video for EXO, with fellow members CHEN, KYUNGSOO and BAEKHYUN featuring alongside CHANYEOL. The song features the message of “It’s okay, you’re good enough,” to those chasing their dreams who may experience anxiety and uncertainty (taken from SOOMPI). And as comforting as those words are, the video sees CHANYEOL hang out with his fellow members in an equally as comforting manner. I like how the three members help CHANYEOL deliver the hook of Good Enough in the video, by starting off the line and then have CHANYEOL finish it off each time. I also found the mini head bops to be endearing element in the video. I also like how they genuinely show off their friendship in this video.

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

[Review] STRANGER – SUNMI

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After over a year’s absence from the KPOP scene (partly due to a world tour), SUNMI has officially returned with the single album and title track, both sharing the name STRANGER. This is her first release since Heart Burn last year.

STRANGER is a peculiar song. The music video for STRANGER makes it more profound, but the song on its own is quite segmented into very discrete verse, pre-chorus and choruses portions that all sound alike to the ‘next’ alike portion. Essentially, STRANGER is a hybrid of three different songs mashed into one. One song correspond to the verses/bridge, which very much feels like SUNMI’s typical work. It has an alluring and sensual vibe that we all know SUNMI is super capable. Nothing new springs from this sound, but I liked the revisit to this side of SUNMI, which she is definitely queen of. I like the deep descending synth at the end of each half of the verse. The second song can be heard in the pre-choruses of the song, where the tone shifts (but not that far from the verses) to become more upbeat and have a vibrant feel. It is a little more typical with its pop sound, adopting a somewhat reggae motif. The third and final song of STRANGER is the chorus, which to me, is undoubtedly the more iconic part of the STRANGER. That is expected of the chorus, but the way STRANGER is set up makes it even more so. We get a spoken delivery in the chorus and I found it to be catchy instantaneously. The striking piano feels very appropriate background for both the concept and the current Halloween holiday that is fast approaching. In matter of fact, striking is how I would describe the chorus. While I don’t mind the three “songs” from one another, my issue is that STRANGER doesn’t feel connected. I know that is the point of the song, but it feels too disjointed and very apart to be considered one song. I wish there were better transitions (or more precisely, transitions to begin with) to give STRANGER a cohesive nature, somehow.

I am a big fan of spooky season of Halloween. And the concept for this comeback just hits the spot. I think there is more than just Halloween tropes in this music video, however. To me, I think the music video kicks off with the idea that SUNMI is an author, who crafts the spooky story within the video. Essentially, we have SUNMI’s story character build a Frankenstein version of herself from a version of herself who dies from a lightning strike. But she forgets one bolt (love the relatable look SUNMI gives at this moment), which leads the Frankenstein version of herself to run away with the creepy guy in the woods. SUNMI story character follows them to get her creation back, which she does successfully. But the story gets out of hand, with some comedic moments like the filming of the music video with the Frankenstein version of herself as the main star. Also, the mansion in the story ends up going up in flames (which prompts the pages that SUNMI wrote her story on to also catch on fire). But the story ends off heavy breathing from SUNMI story’s character and the pose struck by Frankenstein SUNMI, which appears to be a play on the whole ‘ending fairy pose’ that all KPOP performance must end with nowadays. Adding more to the comedy of the video is the credits scene where Frankenstein SUNMI who becomes a maid finds the missing bolt, inserts it into her ear, and makes it sound like some earphones being activated/turning on. A fun and well timed concept.

The choreography complements each of the three songs I mentioned above and looks amazingly executed. We have sensual vibes during the verses, some bounce during the pre-chorus and very sharp movements to match the striking piano in the choruses. Altogether, the performance gives SUNMI great opportunity to show her many sides, performance skills and charisma all in one performance.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Album Review] EXIST (7th Studio Album) – EXO

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EXO made their long awaited comeback in July with their 7th studio album EXIST. And it is finally time to review EXIST. This latest album is EXO’s first album in two years (Don’t Fight The Feeling was their last album release) and follows a hiatus whilst the EXO members completed their military enlistments and focused on solo endeavours. That being said, EXO is still not yet complete as it is a 7-member comeback only, with KAI enlisting in the military just prior to EXIST‘s release (but he is featured on the album vocally and through the pre-releases). EXIST consist of nine songs in total, including the title track Cream Soda and two pre-release tracks Let Me In and Hear Me Out. My thoughts on the songs are below, as usual.

EXIST Album Cover

1. Cream Soda (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Cream Soda. (9/10)

2. Regret It – Regret It falls into R&B pop territory, for the most part. I really like the groovy underlay in the beginning, ending and post-chorus sequence of the song. It is a rather profound aspect of the track and adds a further layer to the R&B pop number. I very much like the chorus for this track. The vocals and pop melodies make it so straight-forward, yet give it so much oomph. Both Sehun and Chanyeol give Regret It a lively bounce with their rap sequences throughout the song. Overall, a very nice listen. (8.5/10)

3. Hear Me Out (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Hear Me Out. (8/10)

4. Private Party – The beginning of Private Party gives the track a classy and sleek vibe. But that isn’t what Private Party is about. Within seconds, the track transform into a punchy upbeat number, with trap beats and a hip-hop vibe coming into play courtesy of the rappers. As the track progresses, Private Party involves some very interesting and bold detailing in the instrumentation which adds colour and character to the track. The chorus was catchy, the vocals are solid, the rapping keeps that upbeatness alive. Private Party is very much a party I would like to go to. (8/10)

5. Cinderella – Cinderella is my pick for best song on this album. The harmonisation, the instrumentation, the melodies and hooks. Cinderella had it all for me. Everything was addictive, and the song very much remains just as addictive even months after it was released. I highly recommend you check out this number. (10/10)

6. No Makeup – EXO delves even further in No Makeup. Again, the harmonisation with the backing vocals in No Makeup is amazing and serves as a highlight within the song. The rest of the track has a fairly straightforward and mid-tempo R&B instrumentation, and the vocals elsewhere in the song are just as charismatic and sleek. The second highlight of the song comes during the bridge when the instrumental was stripped away, leaving just the vocals. That was a very strong moment for the track. The rapping at the end was nice addition and gives No Makeup a satisfying end. A very sexy track, overall. (9/10)

7. Love Fool – This is my personal preference talking here, but I am not a fan of the breakdowns following the choruses. It just cuts the flow of the otherwise solid song. I don’t like the vocal groans in the background of these breakdowns, as well. Sehun’s rapping is fine. I just don’t think it is the time and place in this song for it. Elsewhere in Love Fool, we do get a more typical instrumentation, but the vocals do take Love Fool to a new level. Pity the song is laced with the breakdowns. (7/10)

8. Another Day – Another Day is such a bright and poppy track. I love the feel-good nature that the vocals exhibit. And boy, the vocals just really grab at you from the get-go. The instrumentation was interesting, with the distorted scratches in the background of the verses being the main driver of this intriguingness. But somehow it works and doesn’t come as grating as it seems. The snappy percussion makes Another Day into a bright and bubby track. I quite liked this track. (9/10)

9. Let Me In (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Let Me In. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

EXIST Teaser Image

[Review] Golden Hour – MARK (NCT)

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NCT LAB is a series of solo songs by the members of NCT that don’t necessarily fall under of the works of their entire group or units. The series began in 2022 under SM Station, but was confirmed earlier this year to run as its own project. The first single, Child, was by MARK. But I have not gone back to review another NCT LAB song since then. Today, I am picking up the NCT LAB releases once again, beginning with song reviews for the 2023 releases and then returning to the 2022 releases at a later date. And it all begins back with MARK and his solo track, Golden Hour.

Golden Hour sees MARK bring together hip-hop, grungy rock guitar, familiar drumming that reminds me of Diplomacy’s Silver Lake Queen, a hint of elevator music and Gordan Ramsay references? The first three goes hand-in-hand with another, and all five elements comes together to create an eventful track. Golden Hour starts off with the three elements (hip-hop via MARK’s rapping, which I will touch on later, grungy rock guitar and drumming). But mid-way, the track transforms briefly into punkish rock, before the bridge adds in elevator-esque piano riffs to the background, following which Golden Hour returns to the three elements it began with to complete the circle. This all made it a dynamic listen. MARK himself is super expressive throughout Golden Hour, delivering a range of styles – rapping, singing, a combination of both and speaking throughout the track to match the different moments in the instrumentation and show some range. His flow was very good throughout Golden Hour and the hooks were catchy. As mentioned earlier, Golden Hour also includes lyrics that appear to diss Gordan Ramsay. But prior to the song’s release, MARK himself confirmed that he only mentioned GR and that Golden Hour was not a diss track (though GR himself did respond to MARK in the most GR way possible). Rather, MARK drew upon the interaction between a fan of his and GR, who apparently told MARK’s fan to break up with her boyfriend for cooking eggs terribly. The funny twist is that the image GR reacted to was actually MARK’s cooking from a TV show. Apart from those moments, the lyrics also bring out a much more mature version and the adult in MARK. I will let you work out what that means. But overall, there is fair bit happening in Golden Hour and it amounted to something worthwhile.

Per the song’s influence being around MARK cooking eggs, the music video also revolves around eggs and cooking, as well. We see flashes of the cooking references, but a lot of egg imagery and smashes throughout the video. In addition to eggs, there is a real edgy vibe that MARK does a good job of showing in the music video. He shows it in a loose and freestyle manner, but still makes sure it fits the grungy style that the song aims for. The stylists did a really good job on their part as well, keeping the brown jacket constant throughout the video. The continuous presence of the brown jackets allows the viewers to keep a constant an image of MARK in their mind, even after the video has ended.

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

[Double Review] BET ON ME + None of My Business – ITZY

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Ahead of their comeback with CAKE earlier this year, ITZY released two music videos for two side tracks off their Kill My Doubt mini-album – BET ON ME and None of My Business. Long overdue, but I am finally reviewing the two side tracks in this double review post ahead of the album review for Kill My Doubt which I am looking to post next week.

Neither BET ON ME or None of My Business are of bold title track material that ITZY always promotes with. Instead, I found both side tracks to be quite subdued, each in their own way for ITZY’s standard. While subdued tracks can be good, I find both these tracks to be very much on the generic side. BET ON ME is my personal favourite of the two. BET ON ME is just a lot meatier in my opinion, which I put it down to the pulsing beat in the background and melodies with a bit more bite to them. That being said, however, BET ON ME needs a bit more substance to it to take it to the next level. Otherwise, the generic comments I made at the start pretty much stand firm in this track. Maybe the chorus could have used a more effective and catchy hook and the vocals could have been more developed. None of My Business is a lot smoother in terms of melodies and had some catchy hooks, which I do like. Their vocals sound pretty nice in this track, and I appreciate how the rapping cuts through the melodies and prevents the song from becoming too repetitive. But the biggest problem I have with None of My Business is the sluggish instrumentation, which results in the energy of the track to be subpar. Released in the midst of the Summer season, None of My Business reflects that in a tropical sounding and mid-tempo backing. It does the job, but it is also very paced, feels draining and made me lose interest in the track quite quickly. Overall, it is clear that both tracks are lacking, and as such were not my favourite songs off Kill My Doubt.

The music videos for both BET ON ME and None of My Business fairs better than the songs themselves. BET ON ME‘s lyrics feature a message of believing in yourself, and we see that in the video. Each member is isolated or isolating themselves from the world throughout the video. But at the end of the video, we see each member one-by-one run come together to run away from the feeling and towards the light at the end of the tunnel – the brighter outcome that they desire. I like the grey tone featured throughout the music video. But like Stray Kids’ DLC, I wished there to be more colour as the members come together at the end, just to give a better expression of hope. However, on the flip side, they are still in that tunnel and so the grey filter does still stand on that side of the tunnel. As for None of My Business, the video opts for warmer colours and the members wear appropriate outfits to match the summery vibe the song had going on. The rest of the music video is rather simple, comprising of close up and choreography shots, so there isn’t much else for me to mention.

The choreography for BET ON ME was quite good. I liked how each member had a moment with the dancers and the routine during the outro to the performance. On the other hand, I feel like the subdued nature of None of My Business weakens its choreography, which felt already felt minimal and lacks energy from the members.

BET ON ME
Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

None of My Business
Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Album Review] Golden Hourglass (9th Mini Album) – OH MY GIRL

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OH MY GIRL made their comeback back in July of this year with their 9th mini-album, Golden Hourglass. It is the focus of this album review today. The mini-album features a total of five songs, including the title track Summer Comes. Golden Hourglass is another example of an album release where the title track was the weakest of all tracks on the mini-album, and the side tracks stood out more (and by a great deal). Further, if you have a desire to return to the warmer months (or are heading to Summer if you live where I am), I recommend that you should check out Golden Hourglass, which is very summery and upbeat. I also applaud Mimi, who is my pick for MVP on this mini-album, standing out in most of the tracks on the mini-album. There is a lot to like in Golden Hourglass, so have a listen to the tracks below.

Golden Hour Album Cover

1. Celebrate – If you ever want a very bright and poppy track that does not skimp on blastful energy, then Celebrate is the song for you. I just love the summery rush and energy that Celebrate provides. It is a track that genuinely makes me want to find a reason to celebrate by getting up and dancing along. The vocals from OH MY GIRL are also bright and bubbly. Even the rapping breakdown mid-way into the song felt right and adds some flair to Celebrate to keep it dynamic and fun. (10/10)  

2. Summer Comes (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Summer Comes. (7/10)

3. Queen B – I freaking love the tenacity and fun energy that the chorus of the Queen B exudes. The chorus is the primary reason as to why the song was stuck in my head for days when the album was first released. And now that I am revisiting the song for the purposes of this review, it is now stuck in my mind once again. Mimi’s rapping throughout Queen B was excellent, particularly in the second verse, as it cuts through the song very well and prevents the song from being overly repetitive. The high-pitched vocals during the pre-choruses were equally as nice, and also served a similar effect. (10/10)

4. Dirty Laundry – Dirty Laundry is actually quite a pretty song, when it comes to the choruses. I find that to be quite ironic. The “La La La Hoo” was very nice and easy-on-the-ears centrepiece. The vocalisation that brings that to life is definitely a successful aspect of the song. Mimi’s rapping is quite punchy, but I felt like it goes down a heavy-handed road that doesn’t quite match up with the rest of Dirty Laundry. I wished there was more balance. But Dirty Laundry was still a good listen. (8/10)

5. Paradise – For me, I like that Paradise brings out a different side of OH MY GIRL, whilst also keeping the usual profile of OH MY GIRL alive. OH MY GIRL have always had “pretty” songs, with the prettiness is a characteristics of the instrumentation or the melodies or vocals. And I feel like the chorus and melodies of Paradise maintains this side of the group quite well. But the post-chorus sequence led by Mimi gives off an edgier vibe, which I don’t register as much with OH MY GIRL. Both come together to create a strong and powerful track that I found to be quite enjoyable. I also like the brass in the instrumentation, which gives Paradise some flair and oomph. (9/10)

6. Miracle – The mini-album finishes up with Miracle, a sweeter and softer toned mid-tempo track. I like how upbeat and tropical the track was, which aligns it well with the rest of the mini-album. The vocals are comforting, the melodies were very nice and the track was easy on the ears, overall. The placement of Miracle at the end of the mini-album is smart, as it helps ease us out of from all the upbeat and summery energy that the mini-album is built around. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.8/10 [Updated due to missing song]

Golden Hour Teaser Image