Produce 48, the third season in the Produce 101 series, recently wrapped up in August of this year. While it follows the same concept of allowing the public to choose the final lineup of the resulting girl group, it is an extra unique season as the Produce 101 series collaborated with AKB48 (and its sister groups) to form the contestant pool. Hence, the final group, IZ*ONE, which is made up of the top 12, is made up of both Korean and Japanese contestants. Today, they dropped their debut title track, La Vie en Rose.
La Vie en Rose started off with a bit of guitar (which sounded very unnatural) as the main instrument. It combined with standard synths, which didn’t feel too special at first. However, once we got to the pre-chorus, it had impact and energy which I really became fond of. I think the vocals aid in this and it results in what seems to be a pleasant sounding song. The chorus was lacklustre. It wasn’t what I expected and following the powerful pre-chorus buildup, I was expecting something a little more feistiness. However, the aesthetic of the chorus was rather interesting and fulfiled. So I am a torn between the two opinions. I personally did think the chorus was too repetitive, especially at the end of the song, hence why I am leaning towards the ‘I am disappointed’ opinion. I wanted to hear more rap because those small segments didn’t feel enough for me. It isn’t a terrible song by any means but I wanted more (if you know what I mean).
I like the concept of the use of red in the video. With everything very pastel and ‘bland’ in the video, the red allows the members to really pop. The song seemed to go in that direction as well, so I thought it as rather fitting. The video was made up of the closeup shots with the members interacting one way or another with the colour red and choreography shots, so there wasn’t anything too amazing with the video. It was a nice video and that is all that matters.
I really like the choreography for this song. Especially during that powerful pre-chorus buildup, which was definitely my highlight for the entire debut. I also really like the choreography during the bridge as it felt very strong and showed the girls off in a very promising and confident light.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7.5/10 Performance – 8.5/10 Overall Rating – 7/10
Monsta X returned earlier this week with their second studio-length album, Take 1. Are You There, which featured Shoot Out. The album features 10 songs, however (as usual), I have omitted the introductory track from the review. While there are other album reviews currently waiting for older releases, I decided to bump Monsta X’s album up for review to avoid falling behind for more recent releases. And it is also too good to pass! Continue reading for more of my thoughts on each song on the album!
Take 1. Are You There? Album Cover
2. Underwater – Underwater is a strong to start to the entire album, minus a very significant change in the song’s instrumental. It is extremely calming and soothing during the verses and the chorus. I really like the melody of the song during those parts and its smoothness. However, it isn’t a Monsta X song without some EDM. And we get that is very small doses. Very small unnecessary doses. I would have loved the song without those erratic changes in the instrumental but it too sudden of a change for me and I just can’t get used to it. (7/10)
4. Heart Attack – I personally like the way the start of the song hyped you up for the rest of the song. It is a rather simple tactic, but it really left a lasting impression. I thought the heavy bass was complimentary to the hype factor. Also, I thought the xylophones in the instrumentation were very interesting. The rapping perfect for the song and the vocal work was amazing. The song did get repetitive towards the ending but that was the main charm of the song, so I am not too troubled by it. (9/10)
5. I Do Love You (널하다) – Taking a step away from the dance tracks is I Do Love You, which is a nice house song that focuses on the vocals of the members. The rapping was nice, but it took more of a back-seat approach, giving the vocalists time to finally shine on the album. I thought the song would have been more suited for a release during the Summer season due to its brightness. I like the bridge of the song, particularly with (who I believe is) Minhyuk’s section (who also had the section ending the song), which quite refreshing. (9/10)
6. Mohae (어디서 뭐해) – While the last song was more of a breather, we quickly return to the dance elements that we know Monsta X for. And once again, the raps do shine in the song. The rap took up the majority of the second verse and it must be one of the best verses on the album. I thought the chorus was quite addictive and I really liked the melody. While the vocalists did an amazing job with their section, I wish to turn back to the rappers, who also had singing parts during the bridge, which I automatically liked. (8/10)
7. Oh My! – This has to be their best song on the album. I am not going to even ramble on with this statement. Did you hear that line just before the chorus? So, addictive and very dynamic. I thought the chorus was very catchy and the ‘Oh My!” hook was so damn good. I also like the two deep drum beats that you hear with the ‘Jak Jak’ lines of the song. Really brings out the hype factor (which I mentioned earlier for another song). Both the rapping and vocals were superb. (10/10)
8. Myself – Nothing points to intensity better than a repetitive deep drum beat. But what makes this song so interesting is its approach in terms of both vocals and raps. Both elements of the song were a lot huskier than usual, which makes this so damn good. It isn’t anything you expect but it adds to the intensity. The song mixes R&B and Monsta X’s usual dance style, going for something in between. The song itself reminds me of a VIXX b-side as there is also a level of eeriness, which I thought was quite cool. It is another perfect song on the album but it just misses out on the title of ‘Best Song’. (10/10)
9. By My Side – What is missing from the album? The ballad, of course. By My Side is the closest we get to the ballad. It is slow and calming. It is just the song uses more bass than usual ballads and has a horn-like squeaky sound that you would consider atypical in ballads. I personally like it despite it not being the most pleasant synth out there, but it gives the song an intriguing vibe. Once again, the vocals were at the forefront for the ballad, but the raps were equally as good. (9/10)
Make their official debut this week is ATEEZ, an 8-member male group under KQ Entertainment. The group is made up of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San Minji, Wooyoung and Jongho. Four of the members (Jongjoong, Minji, Wooyoung and Jongho) participated in the survival show MIXNINE. Treasure is their debut title track, which comes from Treasure EP1 All To Zero. They did also release a music video for Pirate King (review coming soon) but it is interestingly omitted from the Treasure album.
Starting off the song is a whole verse of rapping. I think this is a great opener to the group as they boast some skilful rappers as part of their lineup. I like it even more as they put the rapping over that ‘movie style’ wind sound, giving us an opportunity to really process their rapping alone. We then have given a little taster to the vocals in the pre-chorus. Nothing too special however the two lines (the one with everyone joining in and the one split between Wooyoung and Jongho) give off some nice textures to the rest of the song. The chorus felt epic and definitely a major highlight. However, the winning combination has to be the bridge where some of the vocalists and rappers come together to provide a very epic climb to the peak of the song. And it just feels amazing alongside the drum beats we get (building suspense) prior to the final chorus. I would have liked to hear more vocals in the song (on their own) but what we have is an excellent debut song.
Whoever decided to the shoot the video in the desert is incredible. What I have failed to mention about the song thus far is that is rather intense. And the video does a really good job at channelling this intensity. Interestingly, they didn’t need a military bridge of backup dancers or crazy flashing lights to show off this intensity, They just had themselves, some beautiful yet deserted backdrops and the desert as ways to show off dominance. Their presence was very powerful as well.
To me, the choreography scenes in the music video didn’t feel like they were up to par with the song. It felt much weaker and I was a little disappointed by that. I cannot say for sure, as I cannot seem to locate a live performance for Treasure (they have only begun promotions for Pirate King – which is rather confusing). So I will update the performance section once there is a performance available.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 6/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
Due to my studies, I had to drop album reviews. But now, I have time and it is time to catch up on some many album reviews. The first album I have chosen to review is NCT 127’s first studio album, Regular-Irregular. This is the first album release to feature Jungwoo as the 10th member of the subunit and it also features the English version of their title track, Regular, which was recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel. This is one long review, so let’s get going!
Regular-Irregular Album Cover
1. City 127(지금 우리) – Opening the album is a very classy sounding and melodic track that does not disappoint. There are a few things that draw my attention to the song including the already mentioned melody, the soft nature of the piano instrumental (which also allows the song to easily become a dance track), the very addictive whistling tune and the vocals/raps of the song. It is a rather peaceful song, which is usually not my preference for the opening track (You want my attention, you need to go big). But they do just that with City 127, which is rather unique. (9/10)
3. Replay (PM 01:27) – While Replay does play towards the trend of electronic music in the industry, it does a good job with its aesthetics (compared to their title track which tackled the Latin trend). The entire track was rather soft with its sound, which is reflected nicely in the drop of this song. It fulfils the need for a beat drop, yet it stays within the theme of the first half of the album. I liked how the vocals and raps also played to vibes of the song, which in turn, creates a winning track. The track does not include Mark and Taeyong, which is a pity, but it is interesting to see some other members shine. (9/10)
4. Knock On – Knock On is a ballad that sounds very soothing. It is the type of song that I would enjoy listening to on a rainy day and the instrumental makes it great for a bedtime playlist or café as well. Once again, the vocals are amazing in this song and I don’t think there was any rapping, which would have ruined the style and momentum of the song. I really liked the chorus, with Doyoung, Jaehyun, Haechan and Taeil shining the brightest in this song. (8/10)
5. No Longer(나의 모든 순간) – Another ballad appears, and the consensus is that this is a lot more emotionally driven. Performed by Taeil, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Yuta, Jungwoo and Haechan, the song focuses squarely on the vocals of the group. And they do an amazing job. I thought the chorus was nice, with its well-balanced start and sudden vocal push. I liked how they managed to pick up the song towards the end yet ended so nicely. The layering was short but sweet. The more I listen to the song the more I am drawn to it. It is my pick for one of the best ballads of the year. (10/10)
6. Interlude: Regular to Irregular – This is the turning point of the album. Up until this track, everything has been rather classy and ‘regular’. In this intermission, we hear Jungwoo narrate in Korean, Yuta narrate in Japanese, WinWin in Mandarin and Johnny in English, to music heard previously in the NCT 2018 Yearbook #1 video. Towards the end, the song takes a turn and becomes a little erratic (to the reverse version of Fire Truck), which starts off the ‘irregular’ side of the album. Very unique to split the album like this.
7. My Van(내 Van) – My Van is performed by Mark, Taeyong, Yuta and Jaehyun. Going back to the ‘irregular’ theme, the song takes a sketchier approach with its sound. The song takes on hip-hop and the combination of these two elements remind me of Fire Truck. I liked the instrumental for this song, mainly because of its uniqueness and it offers something that we don’t listen to often. (8/10)
8. Come Back(악몽) – Come Back was featured on the group’s Japanese debut album, Chain, which was released earlier in the year. It is their most upbeat sound on the album (excluding the bonus track), but it does work well with the classy feel from the first half of the album. Good vocals once again and the much-desired rap sequence in this song was amazing and ‘lit’. I think the only complaint is that I wanted to hear more of the rap earlier and for a much longer period. (8/10)
9. Fly Away With Me (신기루) – Out of all the ‘irregular’ tracks on this album, I think Fly Away With Me hits the mark extremely well. It is a soft pop track that really does the job well. The aesthetics of this track are also on par with the other songs which I mentioned aesthetics for. Amazing harmonises in this song and the bridge was a winning section that I really got me coming back to this song after it ended. And the fading ending was beautiful. (9/10)
11. Run Back 2 U – The bonus track was surprisingly the most upbeat song on the album. It is one of those tracks with multiple music styles joined together, such as trap and other electronic genres. They go well with each other. The song is well-situated in the hip-hop genre as well. It also features the fast-paced tempo that no song on the album managed to deliver and also a really well delivered (and fast) rap sequence, which I quite liked. It is good but not necessarily my cup of tea. (7/10)
Returning to the stage with their third comeback of the year is Golden Child, who has been growing in popularity thanks to their multiple comebacks. After It’s You and Let Me, the group’s third title track for 2018 is Genie, which is featured on the group’s third mini-album, titled Wish.
Honestly, I do not think this is their best song as I think the song lacks a strong hook (like the one in Let Me). However, there were moments that were really impactful or memorable for me, which ticks a few boxes for when I am looking for songs to enjoy. Firstly, it was rather pleasant. I say this because the song started off very boring and standard. But there was a beat change in the first verse, which got me interested in the song. While it did seem to return to that standard feel for a while, another kick (the dance break) came in and it worked wonders in changing up the song once again. For a very bright and happy-filled song, I was surprised by the dance break, which was intense and felt like it came from another song. But I am not complaining! I liked the vocals and the rapping in the song, especially after the dance break. Overall, another good song from Golden Child.
The music video shows the members being workers in a factory, which seemed to make presents. Though, it did look like a factory that makes happiness from the way the video showed everything. I thought it was a nice and light-hearted way to showcase the song in a visual form. Towards the end, you get to see the members become dorky, which was rather interesting. Who knows, I may check out some of their other stuff like VLIVE’s now that I have some time on my hand. Also, the room at the start of the video (with all the scrunched up paper balls) is literally my room at the moment (I had a few intense days of studying). I thought that was rather funny.
The choreography for this comeback looked quite good. Once again, the dance break was fitting for the music but it looked like it came from a completely different routine. While I have seen many idols flip across the stage, I don’t remember anyone jumping like the guy in this performance (it was like a handstand mid-air). It looked cool and very memorable.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10
The Queen Is Back! BoA has officially returned with her 9th full-length album and her latest title track, both titled as Woman. For a while now, BoA hasn’t had the opportunity to make multiple comebacks (with promotions) within a year (her last was One Shot, Two Shot, released earlier this year), which is a very interesting observation. The Queen touches on a very important topic within the song, female empowerment, which could not have been released at a better time, with the topic all over the news (and dominating the entertainment industries around the world).
And as much as I really like how the idea touches on such an important topic, I am not too fond about the idea of having a guy say ‘Woman’ throughout it. It is striking and it does have a certain level of impact, especially the way it is presented. But I felt like a woman’s voice saying ‘Woman’ could have been more suitable, context-wise. What was even more striking was the sound of those high heels. I thought that was a very nice addition to the song which shows how confident BoA was with this song. The instrumental was nice but it did feel rather standard. I really like her vocals in this song because there were moments that were delicate (such as in the verses) and extremely powerful (like during the chorus and build up to the chorus). Overall, this song is pretty good.
Hands up if you think BoA looked amazing throughout this video! Mine is definitely going up. Never did I expect to see anyone in KPOP pull off a full-body leopard print suit. But damn, BoA rocked it. But my favourite scenes of BoA were when she is wearing those hats. Love it. What I didn’t like was how unnatural her blonde wig looked. If you look closely, you can also see her black hair underneath. It just looked out of place in this video. But everything else (along with every other element of the music video) looked amazing.
A very impressive choreography that was showcased in the music video. I thought everything was very cool and showed off confidence very well. But the most mindblowing part (and I think no other KPOP idol has ever attempted before) has to the very start when she is walking upside down! Like that was shocking yet so right for this performance/song/comeback!
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating – 9.2/10
The biggest secret when becoming successful in KPOP nowadays is making multiple comebacks. The very moment a gap between comebacks is a month too long, artists run the risk of being forgotten. This is especially important in the year of your debut. And Stray Kids has definitely taken this on board. With two comebacks already under their belt this year (District 9 and My Pace), the group is not going to be forgotten any time soon. And now their third comeback of the year, I Am YOU was released yesterday, so let’s have a closer look.
While District 9 and My Pace have primarily been about intensity and impact, I Am YOU takes a step back. It has been described as ‘sentimental’ on KPOP news outlets and I think that is a perfect way to describe the song. Despite that, the instrumental does have a particular Stray Kids sound to it, which I can’t really define it. Instead, when you hear it, it kind of makes sense. I thought the song had a nice melody and I liked the way the rappers were presented in the song. Vocally, this has to be their best title track yet, mainly because the step back from intensity definitely caters for their talents. The chorus was catchy (those English line at the start of the chorus are beautiful) but I feel like they could have done something to it to make it even more appealing.
The music video features scenes (and music) from the My Pace music video at the very start, which indicates that this is some sort of continuation. After the events in the previous music video, the members basically hang out with each other, creating a small oasis on the top of a building for themselves. It was nice. I did think they took a somewhat soft route in terms of issues, which does make sense but I personally felt the video was lacking. I did think the choreography scenes on the truck was cool (even though I know it is CGI) but it gave the video that kick that we got from past Stray Kids videos.
[Updated] Like the song, they have toned down the energy to make it fitting for the song. And it was quite fitting for the song. Despite it being slower, the performance felt very strong and felt equally as impactful as their more powerful dances tracks. I think the best word to describe it is ‘smooth’. The chorus was my personal favourite section as this was when the smoothness kicked in the most.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 [Updated] Overall Review – 8/10
It is a new week and we starting off strong with Monsta X’s comeback, Shoot Out. The title track is featured on the group’s second studio album, which has been titled Are You There? (and you can expect an album review in the coming weeks!!). It has only been a few months since we last saw Monsta X in Korea with Jealousy. Since then, the group has been busy with Japanese promotions (Puzzle and Livin’ It Up) and the rest of their world tour.
If I ever described their past title tracks as ‘their most intense comeback track yet’, I’d take that all back. The opening to Shoot Out has to be their strongest and most intense yet. The “walker walker growling‘ start is very interesting but quite addictive. I want to know why those were the lyrics and what the meaning is behind them. But putting my curiosity to the side, the tension is broke with a nice vocal part, which felt relatively smoother and gave a nice contrast. However, to me, it was the weakest moment of the song because I still feel like they took too much of the intense instrumental (which featured elements from multiple intense genres such as rock and trap) away. So when they returned to the catchy chorus, the vocal pre-chorus felt more like an unfulfilled hole (hopefully, that makes sense). It is still quite good, so don’t assume that I hate it. Vocally, all the members did really well. But it the rapping that stole the show here. Overall, another great song from Monsta X.
The music video matched the intensity of the song by using a very edgy concept. From their very simple yet intriguing sets to their outfits, everything like it came together quite well. There is some storyline somewhere amongst the different images we see on the video, as the ending of the video references the seven deadly sins. And those references just crept up on me, so I had no idea what was happening. Can I also take a moment to backtrack to their outfits, which I think looked amazing. The teasers image already amazed me (Jooheon’s, in particular, looked captivating). The outfits in this video just took it to a whole new level.
The music video featured many choreography shots which I have to admit looked awesome. Everything in the video just felt right for this song and their presence on stage is going to be killer if they manage to replicate everything from their stares and charisma from the video on the stage. I thought the vibrating start and the chorus looked cool.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
ELRIS made their debut last year with We, First and had a summer comeback with Summer Dream. Now, one of the members have branched out for solo promotions and it seems like she has brought the ‘big guns’. Sohee was a former participant on KPOP Star and was runner-up in her year of participation. Her solo debut, Hurry Up, was written by (and also features) BOL4, whom last year reached the top of their charts with their indie hits.
Right off the bat, Hurry Up doesn’t deviate from the traditional light-weight and youthful sounds that most KPOP girl groups start their careers with. It does, however, manage to stay modern with the use of its colourful and upbeat synth-based instrumental, which I personally like, as it is the what makes the song feel light. Her vocals also doesn’t step into that cutesy domain, staying at the border, which was nice. BOL4’s featuring was in the form of a rap, which I am genuinely surprised about, given their success with their vocals. Altogether, it was a rather clean song that was quite pleasant and well-balanced. Its memorability is the concern that I wish to raise. The hooks were there but they weren’t strong. Pleasant is good but the song can easily come and go and I wouldn’t bat an eye. Hence, it would be a nice addition to playlists but can easily be hidden around other tracks.
The music video is another ‘out-there’ video, which makes you question things. However, it is quite interesting to see the quirkiness, which I found to be quite cute. And the good thing is that is doesn’t go over the top. I really like the start of the choreography scene (first chorus), where she brings a completely different vibe with her outfit. I also like how the backup dancers were added to the video with the editing. It looked cool and quite unique.
The choreography was okay. I just didn’t find it that interesting while watching the live performance. Sorry for my lack of comments here.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 6/10 Overall Rating – 7.1/10
Another solo return from another artist! This time, it is Lee Hong Ki with Cookie. Lee Hong Gi made his solo debut back in 2015 with Insensible, which earned him two weekly music show awards. And while it has taken him 3 years to return, Lee Hong Gi has been active in dramas, variety shows and also FT Island comebacks (the most recent being Summer’s Night Dream.
I personally expected Lee Hong Gi to release a ballad for his solo comeback. So it was very unexpecting to hear tropical influences in his song. It feels like an attempt to modernise his sound for the current market, which is a complete opposite to what FT Island is doing. But it is still a fairly decent song. And even though it is a tropical house sound, Hong Gi brings his signature husky vocals, so you can’t really go wrong there. I personally really like the bridge as it brings out the best out of the vocals and instrumentation. Jung Ilhoon (from BTOB) also makes an appearance in the song. Surprisingly, his section is earlier on in the song and was fairly short. As the song progressed, I was kind of expecting Ilhoon to rejoin to fully complete the song, Just it never happened. I am also not too sure about the odd whisper of ‘You should wait for the cookies‘ at the end. What context is this in?
I am not too sure on what is going on in the video. It looks like Hong Gi is some alien with anti-gravitational powers that he may not be able to control. When he walks inside the building, the things around him start floating away. When he is supposedly meant to face off with Ilhoon, he causes both of them to float around. And everyone comes around him for some floating experience. I guess it would be cool. It isn’t the most interesting video but it boring in any way. Fun observation: Hong Gi also released a pre-release single with Cheetah featuring on it (review coming soon), which was also shot in a barn (and I assume it is the same one).
What perked my interest with this comeback is that it was going to feature some choreography Lee Hong Gi doesn’t dance when it comes to FT Island comebacks, so it was going to be interesting. I have to admit, while it isn’t much, he pulled it off well without looking awkward (which is the case for first-time dancers) and he looked really proud of himself. Good job!
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7.5/10
Also making her solo return today/yesterday (depending on your time zone) is Jeong Eunji, with Being There. The last time we saw Jeong Eunji promote solo was last year with The Spring. More recently, she appeared in the drama, Untouchable (if you enjoy thriller and mystery, this is a K-Drama that I highly recommend) and APINK’s latest comeback, I’m So Sick.
Give me any synonym to the word ‘Beautiful’ and they can all be used to describe the song. The vocals are what drives this song and give it that beautiful sound. Her voice was so captivating in this song that I had to stop whatever I was doing and listen to it in its entirety. The best part was when she sang with no instrumental in the background. This was a really lovely moment of the song that really had an impact for me. The song has a soothing instrumental, made of guitars and piano. It is quite warm as well, suitable for the cold Autumns. This gives light to the song, which touches on missing home. I like how she does that, as it can be an emotional topic for some people. Do check out this song if you want a nice ballad to listen, especially if the weather is getting colder.
It is an 8-minute long video that does a wonderful job of showing the song in a visual format. Jeong Eunji lives in the city and has a very set routine for her life (like most people who live in the city). However, she makes a snap decision and boards a train en route to her hometown. Once she arrives, we see her return home, greet her mum, share multiple meals and take in the memories she had at the place where she grew up, going hand-in-hand with the lyrics of the song. What I liked about the video was the focus on was Eunji. We never got to see her mum nor anyone else in the video. But we got to see Eunji take in her surrounds and have a beautiful smile throughout the video.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 10/10
Kim Dong Han had a successful solo debut with Sunset after the disbandment of JBJ earlier this year. He won a music weekly show with his solo debut song and became one of the memorable debuts of the year (for me at the very least). And now he is officially back with Good Night Kiss, which is featured on his second mini-album, D-Night. So let’s have a very quick dive into his new song.
Good Night Kiss is quite good though it lacks in some areas. I thought the future bass genre was quite nice and offers a little something different in this climate of EDM songs. He showcases good vocals and there is a slight rapping tone in the second half of the verses, which was a nice spin on the song. I liked the melody of the chorus which felt smooth. But I didn’t get the need for autotune for the song, especially the chorus. While it isn’t as bad as some other songs, it did feel unnecessary. Also, the song lacks impact. I wanted a strong drop that would wow me. But it felt slightly weak and underwhelming. I feel like if the song was somehow made punchy (not sure if it is possible for future bass but creativity knows no boundaries), I would have enjoyed it a lot more. It is still a good song, however.
I liked the style the video went with. It is sensual, which went well with the song. It was also quite mysterious which makes it enjoyable to watch for some odd reason. The kisses were left everywhere, which was definitely a mystery in itself. I do know the song is about the feelings of a first kiss but the video gives this an interesting spin. The one thing that bugs me, howeer, is Kim Dong Han’s outfit. That lack of fabric in his chest area is very distracting because it looks so weird. While it isn’t necessarily terrible, it isn’t my cup of tea.
I thought the dance was cool. I liked everything about the routine as it felt extremely fitting for the song. The thing I would like was some smugness at the very start of the choruses, which would lift the concept to a new level and fill the odd void during those closeup shots.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
APRIL has returned with a brand new song, Oh! My Mistake. This is the group’s second comeback of the year, with the first being The Blue Bird which was released back in March. Oh! My Mistake is featured on the group’s 6th mini-album, The Ruby.
Oh! My Mistake takes on a completely different sound that was completely different from my expectations. APRIL has made comebacks with bright songs, while also some mature sounding track due to the instrumentation that they went with. However, this felt powerful but in a very subtle way. It feels linear or monotone at first as it doesn’t feel like it builds up to the extent you want it to. However, the pre-chorus builds up in a way that really gives the song some punch. The chorus was also quite catchy, especially with the hook in the second half. Looking back, the buildup was there but it wasn’t as profound or that obvious like in other songs. The song has this retro sound which feels really cool. I thought the instrumental break was a well-done connection between the retro sound and our current era. I personally like this song and think it is a great addition to their portfolio.
The music video had elements of the retro era such as the VHS tapes at the start and the end of the video. I liked the direction they took. APRIL is a group that I usually associate a really strong cutesy charm too, as this has been utilised in their comebacks on numerous occasions. But there were no cutesy charms here. Instead, they looked mature and it really suited them.
While there isn’t a live performance for this comeback yet, there was enough in the video for me to say that it looked really nice. It isn’t your most energetic routine but it was formed in a way that suits the perceived linear nature of the song. They showed some of the pre-chorus routines which I liked, along with the routine in the second half of the choruses.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
One of my favourite underrated male groups has returned to the stage. If you do not know this group, I highly recommend you check out some of their past tracks (which I have linked at the end of this paragraph). VAV has returned with a brand new single, Senorita. This is their second comeback of the year, after the release of Gorgeous and Spotlight earlier this year.
VAV’s comeback is obviously a Latin-influenced track, which is definitely an undeniable trend now. Last week along, 3 artists (Super Junior, NCT 127 and VAV) made their comeback with the Latin sound. But unlike the other two tracks, I found this one to involve fewer synths and felt a lot more acoustic. I thought that was quite nice, especially in a climate where electronic and Latin tends to be smashed together to become modernised. Instead, it forms a pleasant sounding track that isn’t drowned out by instrumentation. Vocally, I thought it was a good song. The rapping was also quite nice. However, I felt the song could have gone an extra length to be more memorable. There are hooks but there just wasn’t enough of a strong hook to really make it that addictive track that we commonly seek for in a KPOP track. Overall, it was good but it could have been better.
The music video was okay. I really like the golden colour that the video featured which felt very fitting for the song and its roots. Everything else just felt standard and didn’t really become that eye-catching or overly amazing.
I thought the choreography was quite nice. Nothing spectacular once again. But I thought there was enough to be appropriate for the song. I like their air guitar skills that they played at the start of the performance alongside the Spanish guitar instrumental.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 6/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 6.7/10
With the ongoing issue regarding Fantagio, I did not expect to hear the return of their artists to the stage so soon. Astro surprised me with their special mini-album and Always You release. And now Weki Meki has returned with their second comeback of the year, the first being La La La. Kicks Kicks, the group’s first single album dropped on Thursday with Crush as the title track.
Crush gives off the same vibes as BLACKPINK’s songs do. However, it seems to be more pop than the hip-hop sound that BLACKPINK tends to go for. Crush is a tad messy with its overload of sound. It does get overwhelming during the initial listen but the song does grow on you as you listen to more of it. I thought the verses were good and I did like the explosion of instrumentation for the chorus (which is what I want when it comes to the most upbeat songs). The chorus was quite catchy but I felt they could have lowered the instrumentation a small amount because their voices were a little overshadowed by the music. I am also not a fan of the ‘Crush’ at the end of the first chorus (and end of the song). It just felt like it was thrown in there and didn’t really serve any purpose to the song. Vocals were okay and I thought they could have given more of Yoojung’s rap lines to another member. But overall, it was still a good song.
Watching this video, I felt like it was a BLACKPINK video mainly due to the presence of the black and pink throughout the video. I liked their concept but felt they could have fully committed. I didn’t like the producers presented the girls as cute and innocent when it came to what could have been an edgy concept. It just defeats the purpose of the ‘girl crush’ concept, in my opinion. Everything else was quite good just the execution of the video was a complete mismatch.
Their dance was a lot sexier and maturer than their previous comeback. And this does suit the song to an extent. It also proves my point in regards to the music video. Because when you see this dance routine, you do not think of cutesy girls.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 6/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 6.9/10
2018 has been one busy year for NCT. They started the year off as NCT 2018 and returned with a studio album, which featured songs from each of the three subunits. NCT recently made their comeback with We Go Up. SM Entertainment has also confirmed that a Chinese subunit will debut later in the year. NCT 127 also made their official debut in Japan with Chain. And now, NCT 127 is back with Regular, which the title track off their latest full-length album, Regular-Irregular. Woah!
I don’t think anyone expected NCT to go with a Latin sound, given their past work never fitted any of the ongoing trends of the industry. But it is a new twist in their portfolio that sounds somewhat fresh, as they managed to keep to their roots by infusing it with some trap. It is an interesting combination that works well with each other, in my opinion. It is just – I don’t mind the sound but I am not too keen on the ‘final product’. The song lacks a memorable chorus. Yes, there is intensity but hook-wise, I don’t really find it appealing. It just felt generic. While the rapping and vocals blended well with each other, they don’t really stand out, against each other or when heard with the instrumentation. I think the best part of the song would have to be there start-stop bridge they had. Overall, I feel like the song, to an extent, was good but it just wasn’t enough to really become a hit for me.
I did like the music video for this comeback, which felt really edgy and intense. The video featured great cinematography which really did a good job of capturing not just the members but also their surroundings. The black and white choreography scenes did look a little too plain, reminding me of some of their stuff earlier in the year. I also like Mark and Taeyong’s floating star scene, which looked cool. Same could be said about their individual close-ups. Them bringing many people in at the end of the video looks like the producers are taking a page out of BTS’ music videos. But it is done in a way here that looks boring.
The choreography for their comeback was definitely my pick for the highlight for the entire comeback. It fits in with that Latin sound, while also accommodating to the trap side of the song. I quite liked their footwork in this routine, which looks amazing on stage.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7.5/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 7/10
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