[Review] DESSERT – Kim Yo Han (WEi)

Kickstarting the new week is Kim Yo Han’s solo comeback. For those who don’t know Kim Yo Han, he currently the leader of WEi (a six member male group under Oui Entertainment) and is a former member of the short-lived X1 project group formed via Produce X 101. He is also an actor, currently known for the recently ended School 2021 drama. On the music front, Kim Yo Han made his solo debut a month prior to his debut as part of WEi with No More back in 2020. Today, Kim Yo Han returns with the mini-album Illusion and title track, DESSERT.

Kim Yo Han’s return is a more track when compared to No More. That one I was not much of a fan of. As for DESSERT, I feel that it fairs a bit better. However, reading over my review of No More, I can’t help but notice that a few elements of his solo debut track were also brought over into DESSERT, namely his vocals. I still find them dry and bland in DESSERT as per my main gripe about his solo debut track. They just don’t excite me, nor provide much expression or character to the song. There was a bit of amplification for the chorus. And while I did enjoy the pop melody here, I am still of the opinion that more can be done on the vocal front for this song. The bridge was interesting, with Kim Yo Han playing towards his strength here. Instead of a usual high note as per most KPOP songs, he instead opts to fade his vocals out. It isn’t spectacular, but it different aspect to other songs which I had noticed, and made the relaunch into the final chorus satisfying. As for DESSERT‘s instrumentation, I felt that it was too mainstream and safe – not really offering more than other KPOP dance tracks. However, I do appreciate the funky touch it had, which helped make the song a bit more appealing to my ears. This really helped pull me through the song and made DESSERT‘s centrepiece a bit more enjoyable. Once again, Kim Yo Han’s rapping was the song’s best part and pairing it with the funky nature of the instrumental was wonderful. Overall, DESSERT is a step in the right direction but still doesn’t show Kim Yo Han off as much.

Like the song itself, the music video and overall concept for this comeback takes on a much darker concept than when we last saw him as a solo artist. The mysterious vibes at the start of the video really pulled me, and I naturally wanted to find out what happens in the video. In the music video, we see Kim Yo Han tied up and undergo a transformation from pure to dark. At one point in the music video, we see Kim Yo Han take a bite of an apple, representation of the forbidden fruit, which caused the transformation. The forbidden fruit in this video represents the irresistible love in which Kim Yo Han likens to dessert in the lyrics. It is a topic that has been approached by many concepts in the past, but it is interesting to see how different companies and groups portray the story. And I feel like this music video did it clearly and well, whilst also using a lot of red.

The performance has a sensual tinge to it, which made the performance interesting and kept me around for the whole performance. Some of Kim Yo Han’s facial expressions were also on point. I also liked the laidback vibes that I also got from the performance, which were well incorporated and helps makes it more alluring.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 1st Week of January 2022

Welcome all to the first Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 1st Week of January 2022! And it already a big week, given the massive list of new releases down below! Just looking at the list has me tired. I will work on the reviews for those releases in the coming week, as I am focused on finalizing the results for the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, which I am hoping to get out before the end of the month. Lots to do there, so I will move onto the other big news of this post.

For the 1st Week of January 2022 (this Weekly KPOP Charts), I will be now including non-Korean language songs in the Weekly KPOP Charts! This is due to the fact due to the rise in non-Korean language songs in the last year thanks to KPOP artists now branching out into the JPOP, CPOP and Western pop industries. The same rules apply as other releases already accepted – the songs must be by a Korean artist (or former Korean-related act) and must be a lead single (usually indicated by the release of a music video, though I will admit the boundaries for this particular criterion are blurred nowadays). A short list of songs over the last nine weeks have been entered into the chart system and are shown below.

New releases of the Week

The first official week of 2022 was loaded with new releases including Kep1er’s WA DA DA, ONEWE’s Universe_, UP10TION’s Crazy About You, P1Harmony’s Do It Like This and loads more:

  • Frozen – Taehwan (VANNER)
  • Runaway – 1iL
  • BOBBIN’ – BLITZERS
  • Fever – Max Changmin (TVXQ)
  • Ruby – WOOZI (SEVENTEEN)
  • Catch The Stars – woo!ah!
  • ATHLETIC GIRL – H1-KEY
  • LOVE ME LIKE – OMEGA X
  • TNT (Truth & Trust) – TRENDZ
  • TATTOO – AleXa
  • Find You – BZ-Boys
  • Lost On Me – Eric Nam
  • I Don’t Know You Anymore – Eric Nam
  • Super Yuppers! – WJSN Chocome
  • Let Me Drown – Hyunjun Hur

I also added some non-Korean language tracks to the list this week due to the change mentioned above. They will be removed like other songs per the nine week rule/based on their release date.

  • Bee With You – LAY (EXO)
  • White Miracle – Wonho
  • Freaky Cinderella – Fei (former Miss A member)
  • Don’t Dance – Amber Liu (f(x))
  • Human – Max Changmin (TVXQ)
  • ANOTOKIE – NIK
  • Power of Love – SEVENTEEN
  • You Problem – MONSTA X

Throwback corner

In light of the news that IMFACT has left their former company, Star Empire Entertainment, I revisited some of their past tracks this week. I may have also went down a trip down IMFACT memory lane as I was under the impression the group had disbanded (which is not the case, they just simply left their company). My pick from their discography is Lollipop!

Non-Korean Release of the Week

Even though I will be adding non-Korean releases by Korean artists (or KPOP-related artists), I do not see them rising to the top of the charts. So I will continue to highlight a release (most likely the highest ranked one, or a new release from the week). For this week, MONSTA X’s latest English title track, You Problem, is my pick for this corner.

The Charts

Congratulations to Kep1er for debuting at the very top of KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Chart with their debut track, WA DA DA, which was released earlier this week. For more of the charts, keep on reading!

1st Week of Jan 20212nd – 8th Jan 2022
Pos.SongArtistStatus
1WA DA DAKep1er(NEW)
2ElevenIVE(▼ 1)
3Crazy About YouUP10TION(NEW)
4Do It Like ThisP1Harmony(NEW)
5PirateEVERGLOW(=)
6Universe_ONEWE(NEW)
7The Real (Heung Version)ATEEZ(▲ 19)
8TraumaSF9(▲ 14)
9GoosebumpsONF(▲ 1)
10PeachesKai (EXO)(▲ 21)
11TurbulenceATEEZ(▼ 7)
12RubyWOOZI (SEVENTEEN)(NEW)
13BARCODELilli Lilli(▲ 14)
14Rush HourMONSTA X(▲ 51)
15BeautifulNCT 2021(▲ 37)
16Winter FallsStray Kids(▼ 5)
17WayOnew (SHINee) & Punch(▲ 3)
18LUNAONEUS(▼ 16)
19HeartbreakMinho (SHINee)(▲ 43)
20UnthinkableFT Island(▲ 25)
21Need USuper Junior D&E(▲ 44)
22TIKI TAKAT-ARA(▲ 22)
23RING X RINGBilllie(▲ 42)
24Scars (Korean Version)Stray Kids(▲ 41)
25I’m a BHwasa (Mamamoo)(▲ 34)
26FantabulousMinzy(▲ 39)
27LOVE ME LIKEOMEGA X(NEW)
28CandlesTHE BOYZ(▲ 35)
29ANIRavi (VIXX) ft. Jeon Soyeon ((G)I-DLE)(▲ 21)
30TATTOOAleXa(NEW)

Songs leaving the charts this week

The following songs have left the charts this week as they have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system:

[Album Review] Return of The Girl (3rd Mini Album) – EVERGLOW

The first official album review I have written in the near year belongs to EVERGLOW, who made their comeback with their 3rd mini-album, Return of The Girl, last month. Leading the album is Pirate, which is followed by four additional new songs (all of which are reviewed below). Return of the Girl is another promising release for the female group, with amazing songs throughout that pushed the album into ‘recommended territory’. Check out the song’s below and see if you agree!

Return of The Girl Album Cover

1. Back Together – Interestingly, the album starts off with a ballad in the form of Back Together. It starts off as soothing and mellow ballad with a meaningful tone. Along the way, Back Together picks up and amplifies its instrumental whilst still having the vocal work remain in that ballad territory. Having this occur once was definitely amazing. But what I really liked about the song is how it dips back into the soothing and mellow start and resurges once again, replicating the same cathartic feel a second time around. Back Together also emphasizes and showcases EVERGLOW’s vocals, which were stunning throughout the song. (9/10)

2. Pirate (Title Track)Click here to read Pirate’s full review. (10/10)

3. Don’t SpeakDon’t Speak is a funky retro track. I really like the personality and character behind their vocals, especially in the verses. It added to the already appealing instrumental, which was super vibrant and bright – exactly what you look for in a retro dance track. The chorus seemed to bring a bubblegum pop tinge to the song, which was pleasant. I wished the chorus had a bit more funk to it, so that is concentrate what we got in the verses. The rapping and the EDM backing was a great change up. Overall, Don’t Speak was a nice track. (8.5/10)

4. Nighty Night – Judging from the title of the song, you would have expected that Nighty Night would be a lullaby. Well, don’t be surprised, but it was no lullaby. Nighty Night was a EDM dance track. I really liked the energy and intensity that came from the song. It definitely promises a great stage. Vocally, I didn’t hear anything worthwhile mentioning, though they definitely did contribute to the energy already mentioned. (8/10)

5. CompanyCompany is an even more concentrated and intense EDM track. There seems to be an exotic influence in the instrumentation, which adds a different flavour to the song when you compare to other (possibly more straightforward) EDM tracks. I liked the stomping effects that the chorus, though I did wish it hit harder and were more profound. On the note of the vocal department, Company showcases and has more memorable vocal work which adds so much more to the song. And like Nighty Night, Company definitely promises another great stage. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.9/10

Return of The Girl Teaser Image

[Review] Universe_ – ONEWE

Returning earlier in the week was ONEWE, with their new lead single, Universe_. And yes, the underscore is purposely present in the title of the song for whatever reason. Universe_ is featured on the band’s second mini-album, Planet Nine: Voyager, which dropped on Tuesday. This comeback follows the June 2021 release of Planet Nine: Alter Ego and Rain To Be, the release of single STAR (which I will review at a later date), and the release of the collaboration single with their brother group ONEUS, STAY (which I will also review at a later date).

I found Universe_ to be a stunning and beautiful track. The new song is a ballad for the most part, though the song develops more into a rock ballad as the song builds. Universe_ starts off as a very delicate piece with soothing and warm keyboard melody and soft vocals from both Yonghoon and Dongmyeong. This lasts for all of the first verse, before Yonghoon takes us into the chorus. I love the breathtaking nature of Yonghoon’s part. The instrumental is stripped to its bare minimum (i.e. the sparse use of keyboard once again) before the band instrumentation comes into play. His vocals were also so delicate and soft like how the song started, but ended up escalating in such a satisfying manner as the band instrumentation comes into play. The second verse was a lot shorter, given that it didn’t need to build as much as it maintained the band instrumentation. However, I thought the melody to be so beautiful in this part of the song. Not sure why, given it was the same melody throughout the song, but it just felt so pleasant and neat here. After the second chorus, ONEWE brought to us a relatively powerful electric guitar solo that just has the right punch of energy for Universe_, after which the final chorus is played out with the energy from the guitar solo also being maintained throughout via the presence of some high notes from the band’s two vocalists. To really reiterate Universe_‘s roots as a ballad, the song slows down for its outro, bringing back the song’s delicate and soothing start to close out the song. Overall, Universe_ delivers a great song and addition to ONEWE’s discography.

The emotions didn’t really hit me as much when I listened to the song alone. But it definitely hit me when I listened to the song in tandem with the music video. I liked the homey vibes of the first half of the video. We see the members individually, and then with their love ones. Not entirely sure if they are really the members actual love ones, but I assume the additional characters represent either siblings, friends, lovers, mothers, grandmothers and pets. The members then go on a road trip to bury a time capsule-like object. At first, this part threw me off. It was such a warm vibe video, but then they switched it a industrial mining site in the night time. It was a random change in scenery that I wished wasn’t the case. Maybe something closer to home would have been approriate (i.e. trip down to the beach, for example). Anyhow, after burying the capsule, the members start running around in like a celebratory manner as the song reaches it peak. Those additional characters run alongside them, making it look like whatever is buried in the capsule is actually a piece of those additional characters that the ONEWE members hold dear to their hearts. This got to me (just loved the beauty of this final set of scenes) and it brought a tear to my eyes.

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

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 5th Week of December 2021

As mentioned previously, I was unable to post any Weekly KPOP Charts for the final two weeks of December (and 2021 in general) as I was on break visiting family and friends. The break is now over and I am officially back reviewing (as you can tell from the slow release of song reviews over the last few days). However, I have taken some time away from the reviews to do the maths and post these charts (so that there is a bit of a separation between 2021 and 2022 Weekly KPOP Charts).

Anyhow, as this is a late post, I will get right into it! I present to you the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Week of December 2021 (dates were 26 December 2021 – 1st January 2022) .

New Song Releases of the Week

These songs were released between 26 December 2021 – 1st January 2022, and hence are included in the Weekly KPOP Charts system:

  • nostalgia – Junny & JAY B (GOT7) ft. Lullaboy
  • Dreams Come True – aespa
  • Hope from KWANGYA – SMTOWN
  • Unforgettable – Kim Jae Hwan
  • Who You Are – BamBam (GOT7) ft. Seulgi (Red Velvet)
  • ADONIS – BF
  • Winter Sleep – IU
  • Beauty and the Beast – The Rose
  • Shutdown – Moonbyul (Mamamoo) ft. Seori
  • Savior – SF9
  • Flower Language – IZ
  • Nundongja – Moon Suijin
  • Shadow – THE MAN BLK
  • Step Back – GOT the beat
  • Anymore – Jeon Somi

The Charts

Congratulations to IVE, who held onto the top spot for the third week in a row, with their debut single ELEVEN. For more of the charts, scroll down below.

5th Week of December 202126th Dec 2021 – 01 Jan 2022
Pos.TitleArtistStatus
1ELEVENIVE(=)
2LUNAONEUS(▲ 12)
3ElectrifiedHa Sung Woon(▲ 29)
4TurbulenceATEEZ(▲ 21)
5PirateEVERGLOW(▲ 15)
6Christmas EveLStray Kids(▲ 15)
7Call MePIXY(▲ 62)
8A-HAHyolyn(▲ 61)
9Melting SnowmanOnlyOneOf(▲ 60)
10GoosebumpsONF(▼ 3)
11Winter FallsStray Kids(▲ 7)
12MAVERICKTHE BOYZ(▲ 10)
13Rocking DollRocking Doll(▲ 56)
14Adore YouB1A4(▲ 55)
15Beauty and the BeastThe Rose(NEW)
16Rolling RollingLUCY(▲ 53)
17Christmas is YouLUNARSOLAR(▲ 52)
18Cause I Miss YouVAV(▲ 51)
19Universe (Let’s Play Ball)NCT U(▼ 9)
20WayOnew (SHINee) ft. Punch(▲ 28)
21Waves of YouKisu(▲ 48)
22TraumaSF9(▼ 19)
23White LoveLABOUM(▼ 4)
24MAKE U DANCEADORA & EUNHA(▲ 10)
25Do The DanceLee Hyori(▲ 44)
26The Real (Heung Version)ATEEZ(▼ 22)
27BARCODELilli Lilli(▲ 20)
28Everyday ChristmasDAVICHI(▲ 41)
29Merry FantasyPinkFantasy(▲ 40)
30GiftZion.T(▲ 16)

Songs Leaving the Charts

The following songs left the Weekly KPOP Charts after officially completing their nine week run on the Weekly KPOP Chart System:

[Weekly KPOP Chart] 4th Week of December 2021

As mentioned previously, I was unable to post any Weekly KPOP Charts for the final two weeks of December (and 2021 in general) as I was on break visiting family and friends. The break is now over and I am officially back reviewing (as you can tell from the slow release of song reviews over the last few days). However, I have taken some time away from the reviews to do the maths and post these charts (so that there is a bit of a separation between 2021 and 2022 Weekly KPOP Charts).

Anyhow, as this is a late post, I will get right into it! I present to you the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of December 2021 (dates were 19 December – 25 December) .

New Song Releases of the Week

These songs were released between 19 December and 25 December 2021, and hence are included in the Weekly KPOP Charts system:

  • Rocking Doll – Rocking Doll
  • Heartbreak – Minho (SHINee)
  • STAY – ONEWE & ONEUS
  • A-Ha – Hyolyn
  • The Day in December – K.Will
  • Winter Poem – Kang Hye Won
  • Melting Snowman – OnlyOneOf
  • Shark – OH MY GIRL
  • Scars (Korean Version) – Stray Kids
  • Gift – Zion.T

The Charts

Congratulations to IVE, who held onto the top spot for a second week, with their debut single ELEVEN. For more of the charts, scroll down below.

4th Week of December 202119th Dec – 25 Dec 2021
Pos.TitleArtistStatus
1ELEVENIVE(=)
2LUNAONEUS(▲ 12)
3TraumaSF9(▲ 10)
4The Real (Heung Version)ATEEZ(▼ 1)
5BeautifulNCT 2021(=)
6Happy Death DayXdinary Heroes(▲ 37)
7GoosebumpsONF(▼ 1)
8G99Moonbyul (Mamamoo) ft. Minari(▲ 4)
9Favorite (Vampire)NCT 127(▲ 7)
10Universe (Let’s Play Ball)NCT U(▼ 8)
11SCIENTISTTWICE(▲ 33)
12Rush HourMONSTA X(▲ 17)
13Killing MeCHUNG HA(▲ 4)
14Sweet TravelVICTON(▲ 47)
15No More XTO1(▲ 43)
16Red Light, Green LightT1419(▲ 53)
17This Is The DayVOISPER(▲ 15)
18Winter FallsStray Kids(▲ 3)
19White LoveLABOUM(▲ 50)
20PirateEVERGLOW(▲ 4)
21Christmas EveLStray Kids(▼ 12)
22MAVERICKTHE BOYZ(▲ 23)
23I’m a BHwasa (Mamamoo)(▲ 46)
24CandlesTHE BOYZ(▲ 7)
25RING X RINGBilllie(▼ 5)
26TurbulenceATEEZ(▲ 15)
27XOXOJeon Somi(▲ 42)
28KISS KISSLABOUM(▲ 2)
29ElectrifiedHa Sung Woon(▲ 40)
30SpaceBOL4(▲ 16)

Songs Leaving the Charts

The following songs left the Weekly KPOP Charts once Christmas Day (25 December) wrapped up, officially completing their nine week run on the Weekly KPOP Chart System.

[Review] Do It Like This – P1Harmony

Next up is P1Harmony’s comeback single, Do It Like This, which is featured on the group’s third mini-album since debut, Disharmony: Find Out. This release is their first comeback in eight months, following the likes of Scared, which earned them a nomination in the Best Rap & Hip-Hop Song and is one of my picks for Best Song in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. I will be announcing the official winners of the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards (voted by the fans) later this month, so you will need to wait and see if P1Harmony emerges victorious. In the meanwhile, check out their latest song!

From the get-go, Do It Like This steps back into a more generic territory of hip-hop dance music. This thought registers even before I started comparing the new song with Scared (which holds onto its title as P1Harmony’s best song). Compared to Scared, Do It Like This is definitely less innovative and individualistic. But even though I describe it as ‘generic’ simply because Do It Like This is exactly what I think of when I think of hip-hop and dance together, it isn’t a terrible song whatsoever. Do It Like This is a fun, energetic and party-anthem like song that feels just right. Nothing in the song did not disappoint. The vocals and rapping were nailed perfectly by the members, delivering as much energy and drive to the song as the instrumental had. And while on the topic of the hip-hop dance instrumental, there was a nice sense of groove to the song that made Do It Like This so much more appealing to me (and that is saying a lot given that I am not too much of a hip-hop fan). The hooks make Do It Like This lively and memorable, which adds an additional layer of appeal and catchiness to the song. Furthermore, I think the hooks and overall energy to the song are growing on me, so I see myself diving deeper into the song in the coming days and weeks. The vocal bridge is the section with the biggest question mark for me. I find it doesn’t fit the rest of the song’s hip-hop vibes and would have liked if they went with something more appropriate sounding/fitting. Overall, while a step in a generic direction might have been the case here, Do It Like This still manages to deliver.

I am not entirely sure what the story line for this video is, but it seems like it has something to do with the start of a new age. Piecing the music video and the prologue together, it appears the members finding the place where ‘the light divided from the darkness’, which is where the group ‘resets’ their watches to realign them with the ‘first day’. In other scenes of the video, it appears that the members are partying it up prior to finding that location (based on the dusk like lighting we get) and the night time scenes. And there seems to be some celebration after finding the location, based on the scenes in the day time with the dancers.

The synchronisation is insane in the stage performance for this comeback. It is definitely a highlight for me. Other parts of the choreography that also stood out to me was the platform (made up of the dancers legs) at the start of the performance, the lead member at the start of the chorus rejoining the rest of the members/dancers after having a mini solo moment (again, insane timing and synchonisation here) and the airplane formation we get in the second verse.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10

Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Crazy About You – UP10TION

The next comeback from yesterday to be reviewed is UP10TION, who returned with their 10th mini-album, Novella, which is lead by the title track Crazy About You. This is the group’s first comeback since the release of CONNECTION and SPIN OFF back in June of last year. As per their last comeback and since their 2020 Light comeback, UP10TION continues to promote as an seven member group, with no news of Lee Jin Hyuk or Kim Woo Seok returning to the group any time soon and leader Jinhoo is still serving in the military.

Crazy About You is another decent song, though it might be another forgettable release from the group. Personally, I don’t find anything special or innovative with the song. It just feels like a standard release with a sentimental tone and EDM/orchestral blend instrumentation. Nothing memorable pings me from Crazy About You, which is bit of a disappointment since I think the song is a good indication of UP10TION’s abilities. Following the likes of SPIN OFF, which was a lot more vibrant and punchy with its vocals and instrumentation (though this may be attributed to the Summery season in which it was released), Crazy About You feels like a meh and boring release. But that being said, KPOP has delivered vibrant and punchy dance tracks in the Winter season in the past, and so I think this shouldn’t have limited the song. Anyhow, while Crazy About You does falter in comparison on their previous comeback and is a lot safer in terms sound, there was enough within the song to like still. And well, the entire package was quite enjoyable to listen to. The vocals and rapping from the members were solid work, and the EDM/orchestral blend instrumentation was fine as well. Once again, I reiterate that Crazy About You was not innovative, but as mentioned earlier on, it is still a strong showing overall. I think a strong melody or hook would have made Crazy About You stand out more.

It appears that the UP10TION members have taken on board a more mature look for this comeback. While Crazy About You does take on an undeniable sentimental tone, the members looked sensual and sophisticated look in their choreography scenes and the art gallery scenes. It does sound like a bit of a mismatch in terms of sound and visuals, but I think it works. On the flip side, the members also show boyfriend or boy next door visuals during their flashback scenes, which comes about when they inspect the artworks within the gallery.

I think the main reason to why those outfit works with the sentimental tone is that the choreography takes on the sentimental side of the song. The moves weren’t crazy powerful to match the instrumental, nor sexy as per their outfits. Rather, the moves were more so on the delicate side of things. Like the song, nothing original. But it was a good performance overall. I particularly like the backwards walking in the chorus, and how that helped make the chorus feel fresh each time.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] WA DA DA – Kep1er

Kickstarting what is already shaping to be a busy 2022 is a very long list of comebacks and debuts. The first release that I have selected to be the first review of the year is Kep1er’s debut single, WA DA DA, which officially dropped yesterday. For those who don’t know, Kep1er is a nine-member project group under WAKEONE and Swing Entertainment, formed through the survival show Girls Planet 999. The final lineup of the group consist of Choi Yujin (former CLC member), Shen Xiaoting, Sakamoto Mashiro, Kim Chaehyun, Kim Dayeon, Ezaki Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih (sister of Heungkai from TXT), Seo Youngeun, Kang Yeseo (former member of Busters). The group was originally meant to debut back in December 2020, but some of the members contracted COVID which resulted in the postponement of their debut to yesterday.

WA DA DA definitely has potential as a debut song. For the most part, I quite enjoyed the song. But there were some parts that I did not like and created holes in an otherwise decent track. I would personally put WA DA DA into the ‘girl crush’ style of music. I know it is a generic sound in KPOP, but I just wished the producers of WA DA DA kept to just that. There seemed to be a desire to capitalise on the member’s youth, and so there are all these cutesy elements inserted into WA DA DA that I believe do not fit in with the the ‘girl crush’ concept. A prime example of this occurring is the two halves of the chorus. I really enjoyed the sassy attitude of the first half of the chorus. This felt great following the promise from the verses and rapping elements in WA DA DA. The second half of the chorus disrupted this energy and diverted the song into a more cutesy direction with high-pitched vocals, which I felt was a wrong move. The producers of the song could have just picked one direction and done that one extremely well, with my obvious preference being the girl crush sound. In other promising areas, the bold and strong vocals in the pre-chorus stood out for me. The other part of WA DA DA which I am a bit torn about is the song’s title and main hook. Looking back, it has its merits and is catchy. But I feel WA DA DA is a bit elementary and childish. It didn’t really fit in with the intense moments of the song, and hence I felt that it brought down the quality of the song. For a debut track and all the hype behind Kep1er, I expected something more solid for WA DA DA and not as flawed.

The music video was definitely going towards that girl crush concept direction, which I didn’t mind. Generic as it is, it isn’t a terrible concept/idea. Just unoriginal. I did like the post-production effects on this video, like how the members kept on disappearing and reappearing during the bridge/first half of the final chorus. Plus all the mini lightnings that were coming from their hands. It added a much cooler vibe to the video.

The performance overall was quite good. Again, I wished the performance went in one of the two directions (i.e. girl crush vs. cutesy). We get a mix of both here. I understand that the performance would need to conform to the song, so they did fine in this department for the WA DA DA that we got. I did like the different ways the members got into formation throughout this performance. I am, however, unsure of the various hand movements they had in the choreography, not sure what what they were to represent, if anything.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 7/10

Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Album Review] Guilty Pleasure (1st Single Album) – Hwasa (Mamamoo)

Kicking off the new year is an album review for Hwasa’s latest single album release, Guilty Pleasure, which dropped at the end of November of last year (kind of weird saying that when last year was only two days ago). The single album features the title track I’m a B and two other new tracks from the Mamamoo member. Guilty Pleasure and I’m a B follows Hwasa’s 2020 comeback, Maria, which I reviewed both the mini-album and title track for.

Guilty Pleasure Album Cover

1. FOMOFOMO is an all-English track that starts off with R&B sound. It is a sound that suits Hwasa and the song had a good beat and rhythm. I quite enjoyed her vocals, especially when it was strengthen by the backing vocals. Striking would be the word I use to describe her. But I note that FOMO wasn’t going anywhere, and I didn’t think I would like the entire song if it were just like this repetitively. That mentality was thrown out the door up when we approached the 1:20 minute mark, where FOMO breaks down and Hwasa brings in this soft, moody and ambient piano ripple. Her voice goes soft and whisper-like, and this really extremely bone-chilling. That change was an extremely bold, and worked a treat as it pays off in making the song memorable and unique. (9/10)

2. I’m a B (Title Track)Click here for I’m a B full review. (7.5/10)

3. Bless U – Hwasa wows me in Bless U with her vocals. Hwasa already has unique vocals in general and the huskiness and raspiness helps Hwasa stand out from afar. But in Bless U, she builds up her vocals and soars to make this a showstopping track. I cannot help but close my eyes to take it all in. The instrumental was a bit plain for the most part, but I liked how it kept a minimalist vibe so that the focus is purely on Hwasa’s vocals. Despite that, there is still a bit of build within the instrumental of Bless U, and I did like how the song ended with electric guitars. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10

Guilty Pleasure Teaser Image

[Album Review] BLOOD MOON (6th Mini Album) – ONEUS

ONEUS is nominated for Best Male Group and Most Underrated Artist, Best Outfits (for Black Mirror) and Best Electronic Song (for No Diggity) in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support ONEUS by clicking here to vote for them today(!) as this is the last day in which you can vote!

For the final review of the year, I have elected to review ONEUS’ November album release, BLOOD MOON. I chose BLOOD MOON to be the final review of the year based on the fact that LUNA was such an amazing title track and comeback (based on my personal thoughts – you can read more of my thoughts on the comeback in the full review that I have linked below in the body of the review). I personally felt this held a lot of promise for their album. Well, I don’t want to spoil anything, but based on my personal thoughts it seems like BLOOD MOON is exactly what I had expected. Alongside the title track LUNA, the album also features the tracks Life Is Beautiful and Shut Up 받고 Crazy Hot (which were released as part of the ONEUS Theatre series), a very captivating intro track and an additional three new songs from the group. So without further ado and for the final time in 2021, here is the album review!

BLOOD MOON Album Cover

1. Intro: Window (창 (窓))Window hits hard as an intro track. It blends together the traditional oriental sound, with modern day trap to create a powerful, memorable and unique opener to the album. Choi Ye Rim, a Korean traditional musician, provides the song with the folksy vocals from traditional Korean music, and her presence was extremely strong and riveting. ONEUS brings rap and performance to make Window high intensity and bold opener to the album. (9/10)

2. LUNA (월하미인 (月下美人 : LUNA)) (Title Track)Click here for LUNA’s full review. (9/10)

3. Yes or No (사랑의 결말은 모 아니면 도)Yes or No is fun and upbeat change to the album’s sound. For the most part, I quite liked it. The instrumental has this summery vibe to it, thanks to the brass elements within Yes or No. The chorus was quite catchy and there was good energy coming from the chorus. The vocal work is pretty good, and the rapping added a bit of heaviness and edgy vibe to the song. However, I wished the producers omitted the xylophone taps, as it heavily weighs down the quality of Yes or No. Firstly, I felt they were a distraction from the song and its reemergence on a regular basis was quite annoying. Secondly, I am not sure what value or purpose they had in Yes or No. Thirdly, it added a monotonous element to the song, which went against the rest of the song. It was a flaw in the song that had a big impact in the end. (8/10)

4. Life Is BeautifulClick here for Life Is Beautiful’s full review. (9.5/10)

5. Shut Up 받고 Crazy HotClick here for Shut Up 받고 Crazy Hot’s full review. (9/10)

6. We’re In Love (헤엄쳐) We’re In Love was an extremely nice pop track. The entire track was pretty standard and didn’t offer anything innovative. But it manages to tick the box for sounding good and I also felt that We’re in Love was a breezy listen. I can imagine blasting this song on a road trip when the weather is perfectly sunny. The vocal work was great and helped made We’re In Love feel bright and positive, while the rapping helped give the song an electrifying zing and more energy to make it lively. (8.5/10)

7. Who You AreWho You Are is a R&B track. It too is a bit standard in terms of instrumentation, but I felt that Who You Are is a polished ender to the album. The instrumental was smooth and it had an appealing vibe to it. The song itself shows off the team’s vocals abilities, especially as they soar as the song progresses. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10

BLOOD MOON Teaser Image

[Album Review] Electrified: Urban Nostalgia (6th Mini Album) – Ha Sung Woon

Ha Sung Woon is nominated for Best Male Soloist, while Sneakers, is also nominated for Best Male Choreography (Solo) in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Click here to support Ha Sung Woon and your other favourite artists.

Ha Sung Woon’s November comeback release is next up on the album review chopping block. The mini-album, which is his sixth one since his solo debut three years ago, is titled Electrified: Urban Nostalgia and is lead by the title track Electrified. As mentioned in Electrified‘s song review post, this mini-album is the last release from Ha Sung Woon whilst under Star Crew Entertainment – the company he has been under since his debut in 2014 as part of HOTSHOT. Thus, this release closes a chapter in Ha Sung Woon’s career. Since the announcement that this would be his last release under his old company, Ha Sung Woon has signed on with Big Planet Made, which is currently home to Soyou, Huh Gak and future debut female group VIVAZ (consisting of Eunha, Sin.B and Umji – former members of GFriend). So while Ha Sung Woon is settling in with his new company and is preparing for new releases, let’s have a listen to Electrified: Urban Nostalgia.

Electrified: Urban Nostalgia Album Cover

1. Back To You – Starting off the album is the blissful sounding Back To You. I really like the airiness of Ha Sung Woon’s vocals throughout this track. Definition to Ha Sung Woon’s vocals was added by the use of backing vocals, and the slight use of autotune at certain times helped blend everything together with the electronic pop instrumentation. Regarding the instrumentation, I liked its lightness and it had such a neat vibe to it. I also really like the presence of the piano, which helped keep Back To You grounded in my opinion. The melodies and hooks were all soothing and catchy as well. A strong start to the album. (9/10)

2. Electrified (Title Track)Click here for Electrified’s full review. (7.5/10)

3. Fairy Tale – Smoothness takes over the album through Fairy Tale. It is a R&B ballad that sounds really smooth but has a very typical instrumentation. I did think the typical nature of the instrumentation made the song dull at first, but subsequent listens and the song’s overall smoothness has changed that impression. However, I still wish the instrumental isn’t as typical as it is. Ha Sung Woon sounds really nice, utilizing his husky vocals and falsettos throughout the song. The melodies in this song are quite good as well, pulling me in. (7.5/10)

4. Love Sound (ft. Rauas)Love Sound gives off Christmas vibes. I am not entirely sure if this was meant to be the intention, but I don’t mind it. It gives Love Sound a happy and cheerful tone, which definitely makes the sound more appealing and inviting for me. It also helps change up the tone of the album a bit, as well. The rest of the instrumentation follows that happier tone and brings out that swaying effect I talk about often (regarding ballads). Ha Sung Woon’s vocals, which is pretty much in falsetto mode for majority of the song, also passes off as playful and sweet. Rauas’s hip-hop sequence was quite enjoyable and added a mellow touch to the song. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

Electrified: Urban Nostalgia Teaser Image

[Album Review] NO LIMIT (10th Mini Album) – MONSTA X

MONSTA X is nominated for for Best Stage Presence and their single GAMBLER is nominated for Best Concept. MONSTA X member I.M is also nominated for Best Rapper, while God Damn is nominated for Best Rap or Hip-Hop song. Support MONSTA X, I.M and your other favourite acts by voting in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Click here to vote now.

The next album review on this blog is for MONSTA X, who returned in November of this year with the their 10th mini-album, NO LIMIT. The mini-album is lead by the title track Rush Hour and an additional 6 tracks, which will be reviewed below! The mini-album is also the first to not feature Shownu, who enlisted earlier this year. Keep on reading for some of my thoughts on NO LIMIT. In some related news and following the release of this mini-album, MONSTA X went on to release their second studio-length English language album, The Dreaming, which is lead by the new single You Problem and previously release One Day. Just to let you know, I will be reviewing You Problem in a future International Song Review post early next year (once I am back from my break) and am still contemplating on whether to review the new album next year (which is only a few days away now – super yikes).

NO LIMIT Album Cover

1. Rush Hour (Title Track)Click here for Rush Hour’s full review. (7.5/10)

2. AutobahnAutobahn starts off promising electronic song and ends up developing into a satisfying dance track with a decent amount of intensity. Auotbahn, for those who don’t know, means motorway/freeway in German, and I can imagine listening to this track while on the road. However, I don’t think I will coasting it down the road, though. Autobahn could have hit harder, especially when it came to the vocals in the song. They seemed to underwhelm. The chorus could also go further than just ‘satisfying’ by really concentrating that intensity. On the other hand, the rappers nailed their sequence and they add great flow and energy into the song. (6.5/10)

3. Ride with URide with U was a ride in itself. It is a very interesting song, with a lot of bold and memorable moments. I really like the groovy instrumentation that really comes through during the chorus. The pre-chorus was this smoothness to it, which makes the chorus punchier. The ‘Talk Talk Talk’ and ‘Love Love Love’ hooks that follow the choruses were very catchy and hard to get out of your head. I like how they stripped the instrumental at the every end, but retained the hook and created this purified outro. I was definitely a fan of that. Vocally and rapping-wise, Ride With U is a strong song. The bridge was also standout moment, really showing those strong vocals and rapping. (9/10)

4. Got Me in ChainsGot Me in Chains definitely got me with its instrumentation. I really like all the textures within Got Me in Chains, which really helped make the song really appealing. Even the subtle ones stood out for me. There were a few parts in which we only get to hear the instrumental in its raw form, and those were the best parts of the song. That however does not outshine the other aspects of Got Me in Chains. The vocal work in this song is pretty damn good, showcasing a sensual vibe during the chorus of the song. The rapping felt clean and neat for this song, which I think is a positive aspect of Got Me in Chains and works well with the sensual vibes from the rest of the song. (9/10)

5. Just Love – MONSTA X takes it down a step with Just Love, a R&B track. The guitar work in this song is very much in the forefront of the song with the vocals. It definitely helps make Just Love fulfilling, and less bare. Half of me is appreciative of this, the other half didn’t like it as much. The vocal work from all the members sounds super good. Even the rappers, in addition to their rapping duties, surprised with solid vocals during the chorus. A satisfying listen overall. (8/10)

6. MercyMercy turns up the dramatic vibe thanks to the combination of orchestra and electronic instrumentation, and this creates a different style of intensity than when I mention intensity in the above songs. Mercy is loaded up with this dramatic style of intensity and I feel that the song is perfect as a OST during the peak of drama or movie where the drama is very heavy between a couple or just people in general. MONSTA X’s vocals added onto that intensity with impactful lines and the rapping we got in Mercy was extremely thrilling and felt ‘edge of your seat’ like. Definitely my style of song and one of my favorites off the album. (10/10)

7. I Got Love – The album ends with a R&B track that ultimately focuses on vocals from all members. I enjoyed their vocals for the most part and you can feel the genuineness behind their vocals. The ‘I Got Love’ line stands out in a memorable manner. The instrumentation was a bit plain but had a nice sleekness to it, going with soft trap and hip-hop direction. It is quite consistent throughout, which made it less appealing as we got to the end. (7/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

NO LIMIT Teaser Image

[Review] Poison – Pink Fantasy

Poison is nominated for Best Rock Song in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Poison by clicking here to vote today!

The final song that I am reviewing from the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Song which I have yet to review is PinkFantasy’s Poison, which I have nominated as part of the Best Rock Song category. Poison was released way back in June of this year, and is the title track of the group’s first mini-album since their debut, Alice In Wonderland. This is also my first time reviewing PinkFantasy, which is currently eight member female group under MyDoll Entertainment. The group has undergone extensive lineup changes since their 2018 debut and the current lineup consist of Daewang (the unknown masked member – to be revealed in the future), SeeA, Yechan, Harin, Momoka, Arang, Miku and Heesun.

Personally, I have not followed PinkFantasy that much since their debut. My exposure to the group has mainly been their more cutesy and cringy music. Some of them were flagged for review in the past, but never went forward with a review for them due to priorisation of other releases. As a result, Poison also went under the radar initially. I only gained knowledge of the song’s existence after reading many reviews for it. And I am glad I did read those reviews, as Poison is purely an underrated rock song this year. It is an intense dance track that taps into the rock genre for some of its instrumentation. After the first chorus of the song, Poison concentrates this rock sound into screamo rock, which aligns with the intense feeling that the dance part of the song exudes. It also makes Poison a unique track in KPOP, as screamo rock isn’t really explored that much (based on my memory, which is already on holiday mode for your information!). Based on what I read, PinkFantasy has explored rock before, but Poison really shows a different of the group from what I gather. And based on my initial thoughts on PinkFantasy, that is also my personal impression. Poison also featured strong vocals from the members, complimenting the mature vibes of the rock influence song. I got J-POP vibes from Poison when the members sing in unison with one another for the chorus. Definitely a satisfying section of the song that I find extremely memorable. But the peak of these strong vocals have to be the vocals (courtesy of Seeya and Yechan) during the bridge and high notes that we get at the end. It gave Poison a wow factor and amazes me each time I listen to the song. Overall, Poison is a highly recommended rock song to check out from 2021 if you have yet to do so.

Amazing visuals throughout this music video. It definitely gave me the creeps and had me on the edge of my seat, even though the storyline wasn’t as developed as I hoped it to be. As a horror movie lover, I find this incredibly disappointing. I would have loved for the video to explore something scarier and I feel that the music video definitely has the set up for this direction. The video opens up with this cult-like ritual. I would have loved for the director/producers to really explore this in depth, as there is so much potential behind such a concept. I also feel like the video can be creepier. For example, the choreography scenes had a hallway off to the side with curtains blowing about. You can see a bit behind the curtains, and this would have been a great opportunity to have a ghost (perhaps some related to the ritual) stand behind those curtains intensely staring at the camera. Anyhow, that’s just my imagination running wild. What we got is also fine and worked well enough.

The performance for Poison took on a mature and sensual route. It definitely gives me a different vibe and impression from what I personally associated to the name PinkFantasy. I find their facial expressions to be fitting for the concept of the comeback and really helped made the stage more captivating to watch. Their live performance was impressive, especially considering how tiring the choreography looks. I also like the dance breaks we get during the screamo part of the song, and at the very end. Definitely intensifying.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Album Review] Rumination (10th Mini Album) – SF9

SF9 is nominated for Best Male Choreography (Group) for Tear Drop in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support SF9 by clicking here to vote today!

Next up on the album review agenda is SF9’s 10th mini-album since their debut, RUMINATION, which was released at the end of November. RUMINATION is headlined by the title track TRAUMA, and also wraps up their 9lory series that has spanned two years now. Alongside TRAUMA, the mini-album also consist of six other sides tracks, all of which will be reviewed in this post today. RUMINATION and TRAUMA follows the release of TURN OVER and Tear Drop earlier on in the year.

RUMINATION Album Cover

1. TRAUMA (Title Track)Click here for TRAUMA’s full review. (8/10)

2. Memory – I really enjoyed the minimalist vibes of Memory. There was a bit of a beat to the R&B track, but it does not get in the way of the piano that plays eloquently throughout the background. The rapping in Memory is superb, delivered in a manner that was quite airy, breezy and ballad-like in a way. The vocals were also really nice, with the melodies and hook being quite catchy. Dawon’s ‘Faded Love’ was quite a showstopper from the vocal department as well. (9/10)

3. DreamsDreams takes it up to notch with a more upbeat and heavier dance instrumentation. While the electronic parts of Dreams are very typical, it is still quite a dynamic and robust piece, and I can imagine a very strong performance from the group if they had chosen this as a side promotion track. The vocals stand out in this song, thanks to the melodies and hooks we get from Dreams. Their technique was quite good. The rappers had a nice bite in their parts and the song satisfyingly edgy. (8.5/10)

4. GentlemenGentlemen takes on that sophisticated style that I have grown to associate with SF9 following the likes of their previous title tracks such as Good Guy, Summer Breeze and Tear Drop. There is a bit more energy out of this song thanks it the instrumentation, however, which makes Gentlemen a bit punchier and livelier. I also like the violins in the song. Both the vocals and rapping were quite strong and well-executed in this track. (9/10)

5. On and On (잠시) (Youngbin, Inseong)On and On is a track from Youngbin (one of SF9’s rappers) and Inseong (SF9’s main vocal), taking on R&B genre. I liked the elegance of the instrumentation of On and On, which felt sensual and felt appropriate for a classy club at the same time. I really like the pairing of the two members, with Inseong bringing the emotions in his vocals and really nice ad-libs, and Youngbin provided fitting rapping that added a nice intensity to the R&B song. (8/10)

6. ScenarioScenario seems to follow a similar thread as Dreams. It is a very upbeat and fast-paced dance track that I think SF9 would have nailed on stage, as well. The percussion that followed the first chorus was quite playful and gave the song an interesting notion. Great and smooth vocals in this song, as well. That high note at the end was amazing, and I liked the jaggered entrance to the final chorus. Once again, the rappers of SF9 nailed their sections. The rapping in the second verse felt classy, while the sequence at the end threw in a last-minute punch. Overall, Scenario was a highly dynamic track and would be a song that I recommend you check out. (9/10)

7. For Fantasy (오늘이라서) – Based on the title alone, you can tell that this is a fan-service song. Its tone brought a smile to my face, and I am sure SF9’s fans would find this song touching, wholesome and lovely. Objectively, I find For Fantasy to have nice melodies and nice pop ballad orchestral instrumentation. The members also sound really nice. Overall, a nice ender to the album and this era of SF9 releases. (8.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.6/10

RUMINATION Teaser Image

[Review] Good Night MY LOVE – Soyou

Good Night MY LOVE is nominated for Best Ballad in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Good Night MY LOVE by clicking here to vote today!

The second of the two ballads to review from the Best Ballad category from the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards is Good Night MY LOVE by former Sistar member Soyou. Good Night MY LOVE was released back in March of this year and is her final release with Starship Entertainment (her company for 11 years, which she officially left in September).

Good Night MY LOVE falls into the ballad and R&B category of KPOP. But is much softer than your typical, and can be passed off as a lullaby. And I feel that lullabies are more ballads and I listed it as a nominee for Best Ballad in the 2021 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, as specified above. However, don’t let the ‘lullaby’ deter you from listening to Good Night MY LOVE. It is not boring or a dry song that puts you to sleep. Instead, I found it captivating and a beautiful track. Good Night MY LOVE is warmly instrumented, with an instrumental made predominately of acoustic guitars and piano. To me, the instrumental was a bit sparse and almost like a blank canvas. But this paired with Soyou’s husky and soulful vocals, you get a soothing and calming number that acts in a similar sense to a lullaby. Soyou’s touching vocals are the pure focus of the song, due to the sparse nature of the instrumental, and this really helps make the song captivating as her vocals carry you away. I also get a really touching vibe from her vocals. Now, the following might put you off the song, but I am intrigued by it and would like to hear some thoughts if you have any. I had to relisten to Good Night MY LOVE a few times to really make sure about this next point though. Within the background of the song, I heard snippets of a male voice. It felt like an echo and they were very brief. Personally, I am not too sure about them since it could have been a mistake or possibly even intentional. You don’t really pick up on them if you are listening to the ballad in a casual sense. They are masked well and are very very minute. But if you really pay attention (like I have for this review), they kind of stick out. Maybe my mind is paying tricks on me and there is nothing there or I have mistaken something else for a male’s echoey voice. Hopefully, I haven’t deter you from listening to Good Night MY LOVE.

The artsy music video features four characters (though one of them – the assistant – doesn’t get enough screen time). Each of these characters are struggling in one way or another. The female character is looking for a job. She is happy to hear her friends managed to find one, but is sadden that she is left behind once again. The male character who works at the pet shop that sells only fishes is an aspiring actor who is stressed over an audition and insecure about his skills. The second male character is the director, who is struggling to put together a story for his next project. Each of these characters are struggling, but they all put on a brave face and push on. The lyrics of the song talk about a star that is looking over them and ‘protecting them’ from the struggle. At the end of the video, we see the four characters come together. The director has put together a story to work with, the second male character lands his audition and the female character finds a job. They look happy with their struggles out of their way. Soyou also appears in the video, singing. Her high position in the video make her seem like that star looking down on the characters. My only issue about the music video is the lack of English subtitles at the end. We had them at the start, but they were omitted from the ending which doesn’t make sense to me. But overall, an artistic and aesthetic music video.

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