Winner has made their return to the stage with a brand new song, Everyday. Everyday is the title track off their latest full-album return, which is also titled as Everyday (styled as EVERYD4Y). Their last comeback was in September last year with Love Me Love Me. Usually, YG Entertainment would sideline them for a longer period. But with the success of Winner in the past year. it was expected that YG would bring back a lot sooner.
But maybe it isn’t all good. Everyday just fails to make the mark when it comes to the appealing factor. The song reminds me of the R&B tracks that you would get nowadays. Heavily autotuned and something I just want to avoid completely. The chorus just felt over the top with its autotune. It was catchy and possibly addictive. The autotune just went against it and its potential glory. But to base the song solely on the autotune does not seem fair. So if we strip away the autotune, the song has potential. I actually did think the vocals and raps were good. The verses were nice and the buildup to the chorus was decent. The bridge is also quite good. And as mentioned previously, the chorus would have been catchy and possibly fun.
Winner’s music video has me giving one big question, who on earth picks out the clothing for these videos? The video is set by the poolside and beach. The ladies in the video looked their part by wearing bikinis and swimsuits. Winner, however, is decked on with suits and casual clothing consisting of an excessive amount of fabric. They just don’t fit in or look the part. Even the backup dancers looked more casual than them. While I understand they need to look good, it just feels a little outrageous sometimes. Besides that, the video was nice to watch. I don’t have much else to say regarding the video.
That one dance move with the side hopping and fist pumping is back. Like it has taken the entire industry by storm. It was a nice performance to watch, overall. The post-chorus choreography looks cool in the video and I think it would look awesome on stage.
Song – 5/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 5.9/10
Please note these special posts are designed to be long and may require some time to read (if you plan on reading the entire post). To help shorten the length, the music video will be inserted as hyperlinked titles, so feel free to click the title of each section to watch the video.
The Unit was a survival program by KBS (Korean Broadcasting Station) to help reboot the unsung and little-known KPOP acts of the industry (i.e. to give some groups and singers that second chance of debuting). The show was hosted by Rain and aired from October 2017 to February 2018.
With the impending debut of both the final lineup of the male (UNB) and female (UNI.T) groups (i.e. the end goal of all the contestants), I thought it would be nice to take some time to look back on the competition. This is a 3 part weekly special, which I will be looking at the performances and songs that emerged from the show.
This week’s (the 1st part) post focuses on the initial songs of the show, which introduced all the contestants involved and the Top 2 songs of the Fourth Mission: Digital Single Releases for both female and male sides of the competition.
My Turn was a great opener to the entire show. While it didn’t have what it takes in terms of catchiness to rival Pick Me (from both seasons of Produce 101), the song was still pretty decent to listen to. The song was structured to have males perform/sing in the first verse/chorus, while females got the second verse/chorus. A shared intro and the final part of the song was performed together. Following the 2017 trend, the song took on the tropical house genre and became surprisingly addictive. The female rappers did a pretty good job with their section, with a rap sequence required at the point to keep the song from getting too dry. The only part of the song which irked me was the connection between the male and female’s section (i.e. the rewinding section). It felt awkward. But other than that, good song.
While they did only use some of the members in this particular song, the male members chosen did a good job at carrying both the vocal and rapping sections. The only section that had me looking the other way (as they say) is the chanting that formed the chorus “Last One One One“. It just didn’t work with the rest of the track. The bridge did feature an instrumental break. And while it was decent, it was rather short and I wanted more of it to build up to the final chorus. The choreography was quite intense, which I think matched the equally intense song.
I feel like the girls got the short end of the stick with some of their songs. Shine just felt childish and doesn’t feel like it met the same standard as My Turn or Last One. The EDM that featured in both previous songs was also featured in this song. It is just the cutesy sound backfired big time. The music video also felt cringy as they had to spell the word Shine, making it feel more like a children’s program. Their outfits also looked bland and boring in comparison to what they wore in the My Turn video.
All Day was the winning track on the men’s side of the 4th mission (Digital Single Release). And I can definitely see why. The song opens up with the hook and Hangyul’s raps at the start were also good. This sets the track up to be one good track. The vocals were okay but the rappers were the ones that I felt carried the track over the finish line. The chorus featured a good drop, while the bridge was awesome. Their music video was well produced (one of the perks of winning the mission was a music video for their track), which showcased an edgy vibe suitable for the song. The accompanying choreography was also quite intense and teasing for some of the fans.
Question took out second place in the 4th mission on the men’s side. To me, this song had potential. But it could have used some finetuning to make it more impactful. Each section worked well on its own but the way they made all the sections to connect together seemed a little messy and jagged, resulting in the song not flowing as well. Despite this, the song did feature a classy sounding instrumental and the electric guitar in the bridge was a likeable element of the song. The vocals were good but once again, the rappers stood out of the pack. I assumed earning second place resulted in a limited production of the music video. The video could have been so much better with multiple sets rather than a concrete setting. The choreography was good but the moves during the EDM bridge felt sluggish.
Always is the winning track from the 4th Mission on the female side of the competition. I mentioned previously that the girls stood on the wrong footing with their introductory song. Always is on a whole new level, with the cutesy concept done right. It is a catchy song. The members all sound good but they could have benefited with much clearer vocals. It isn’t a musically complicated song but it was still good. I really liked the stripped start to the final chorus, which changes up the song. Both the music video and choreography were sweet but they could have been more interesting.
Cherry On Top is the second position track from the 4th mission on the female side of the competition. And out of all the songs on today’s post, it is the best track out of the six. There are many catchy moments in this track including ‘Cherry On Top’, ‘Ta-lop” and “For For Your Love“. What also makes this track speak on such a higher scale was the minimalistic instrumental. I also like how they gradually joined in for the final moments of the song. I also like the mature concept that they used in the music video and choreography. The setting of the video sets to the tone, which compliments the song. The choreography also had a sexy element to it but in no way was it excessive.
Part Two will be posted next Wednesday, so keep an eye out for it!
Making their comeback today is The Boyz. They previously made their debut at the end of last year with their debut track titled as Boy. Giddy Up is the title track of their second mini-album, which is titled as The Start.
Giddy Up is a really funky and groovy track to listen to. They don’t hold back from the very start with the retro instrumental. Interestingly, the pre-chorus felt like it quite long. But with the awesome chorus, it was worth the wait. The chorus has a burst of energy that makes the song addictive. I really thought the hook during the chorus was fun and quite catchy as well. While the instrumental does feel extremely packed here, the vocals do make it feel much smoother. Their vocals are nice and the rap sequence for the bridge was cool. I did expect more rap in the song, however, which is usually what happens with a team that has many members and this type of upbeat song did call for it. So I was surprised when it was only limited to one not-so-long-lasting bridge. Also, the track does feel relatively standard to the other releases this week. There were cool elements but I don’t think there was anything particularly outstanding. Despite this, however, Giddy Up is another solid release from the new boy group.
I think this is a really well-done music video. The pinball machine set looked cool and I think it is unique in a way. The way they transitioned out their hockey shirts to their school uniform outfits were also really cool and unique, once again. There isn’t much else to the video but don’t worry. It is still one fun, energetic and well-presented music video to watch.
The choreography for this comeback is amazing. Their sync-ness with each was awesome, which already brought their performance to a whole new level. On top of that, some of the moves they pulled off looked awesome (such as 1:06 – 1:11). And of course, they had to include the horse riding move (I would have literally called them out if it wasn’t there).
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.8/10
Oh My Girl has made their unexpected return with a special subunit release. Dubbed as Oh My Girl BANHANA, the subunit consists of 3 members (Binnie, Hyojung and Arin). While the promotional track, Banana Allergy Monkey, is performed by the trio, the other songs on the release feature the other members of Oh My Girl as well. This is Oh My Girl’s first release since Secret Garden earlier this year.
Let’s start off with the title of the song. ‘Banana Allergy Monkey‘ is one randomly put-together phrase. But when you think about, what if there is a monkey that is allergic to bananas out there? But let’s stop right there before I go searching for one. BANHANA’s delivery of the song has to be one of the cutesy deliveries that I have heard to date. For the first listen, you get a really extremely childish sense from it, which works against the song. But once you listen to the entire track, it is quite catchy. The melodic hook is bound to get you humming to the track. And surprisingly, I got used to their vocals quite fast. The song could have used more harmonies, which could have given the verses a stronger backbone. The instrumental was quite retro with its 8-bit and video game styled sound, which works well with their concept (which I will discuss later on). Overall, the song is growing on me quite rapidly, so who knows if this can top the Weekly charts that I post regularly every Sunday.
The music video goes for that video gaming concept, which works well with that 8-bit sound that song has. But it gets very cutesy fast. My assumption is the trio portrays the monkeys who are unable to eat bananas, with the rest of Oh My Girl making their appearance as banana eaters. As a result, they go out to find alternatives (such as Banana Milk) in the far away places of the universe. That is my guess for the meaning behind the video. While I thought the sound was childish, I thought the cutesy concept was done relatively well. As a whole, I thought it was a fun video to watch.
Can I just give them their 10/10 for choreography here? I don’t think you can score any number lower than 10 if you are going to scratch your buttocks as part of the dance. Hahahaha… It made me laugh and I found it incredibly cute. Hopefully, this becomes a dance trend causing I can see it making the rounds, infecting every single KPOP idol out there.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
Shining brightly with their latest comeback, Pentagon dropped Shine as their comeback title track today. This is the group’s first comeback since their Runaway comeback in November last year (as well). Shine is the title track to their 6th mini-album, which is titled as Positive. I have yet to decide whether I will be writing an album review for Positive. But before I can make that decision, I must finish this review, so let’s get going.
Shine is one amazing track that I personally think everyone should just check out for the sake of it. To me, the song felt like something iKON would release. That could be mainly due to the hip-hop vibes that I got from the song. The same vibes were well infused into a melodic track, which felt groovy. Its instrumental was particularly bright and cheerful, which works well with the lyrics of the song (which is about feeling shy about love). I love the keyboard instrumental, which was simple yet still allowing the song to build up. Everyone nailed their parts perfectly, from the rapping to the vocals. Two people caught my attention but I am not familiar them, so I don’t know their names. The bridge was my most favourite part of the song (besides from the chorus), with the rapper started off the bridge and the guy who did the high-note being the two members that caught my attention despite each of their sections lasting a few seconds in the bridge. The song is super catchy and I can honestly see myself replaying this song constantly in the days to come.
The music video also had a retro vibe and I thought was the video was nice. Though, I think the video could have been set in a much more appealing area rather than something rundown. I like how the video did play towards the lyrics, mainly the many crumpled pieces of paper in the locker, which I am assuming to be many attempts at a love letter to their crush. It was a good video and I liked it.
There a few dance trends in the choreography, which made the whole thing quite epic to watch. Don’t ask me any names of these moves or else I will show how out-of-touched with the dance trends. Concept-wise, I think this is their take on the cute boy concept. I like this cooler take on the concept, which makes it more interesting and refreshing.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
Making their first comeback of 2018 just a few hours ago is EXID with Lady. This is EXID’s latest comeback since DDD, which was released in November last year. EXID is still 4-members, with Solji sitting out of this comeback entirely due to health reasons. With not much else to say, let’s get right into this review.
Lady is a 90’s throwback song. The song features new jack swing instrumental which literally takes you back to that era. Despite retro being a very large aspect of the Korean pop scene, Lady was surprisingly fresh and interesting to listen to. It features great vocals and raps, which is usual for EXID. The song also managed to throw in a few ad-libs by Hyerin (just before the chorus), which has confirmed how far Hyerin has come since he had to cover for Solji. While it only has been out a few hours, there were a few things that I noticed to be potential flaws. The first being the chorus. Don’t get me wrong, it is melodic and a decent chorus. But it isn’t as strong or catchy as their previous title tracks. On top of that, the chorus would have felt more lively if the jump into it was more exciting and attracting. Instead, what we go made the song feel almost ‘one-sound’. It may take a few more listens to warm up to the chorus but overall, it was still a decent track.
Like the song, their fashion in the video is extremely ’90s. It is a trend that I am seeing amongst some idols nowadays, with the reemergence of baggy clothing. However, this video does it extremely well, with each member looking stunning (what else do you expect from EXID). Also liking the pixelated quality of the video, which is similar to the VCR or just normal boxed television you would get back in the day. Some of their transitions (such as the star and the slow motion is distinctively ’90s. It is a very cool video that suits the song very well and honestly, there is nothing to else to add to the video to make it feel more like the ’90s.
I even think some of the moves they included in the instrumental are directly related to the ’90s. While I don’t think it has anything to rival their past popular dances, it looked fun.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7.6/10
After 6 mini-albums, UP10TION had returned to the industry with their very first full-length studio album, Invitation. While they have yet to release a hit since their debut, this high-quality sounding album seems to confirm that this chart-topping track is just right around the corner. So let’s get this album review going! Per usual, I have left the intro track off the list.
3. Target On(반해, 안반해) – Despite having a very standard instrumental, I think the song has potential to be a contender for the title track. Right off the bat, it suits the UP10TION’s sound. It had a great level of intensity and the chorus can be deemed as catchy. While I don’t have that much to say about it, I would return to the album to listen to this song. (9/10)
4. Finally (오늘이야) – In general, I liked the instrumental for this, particularly the drum beat. This pop song managed to showcase both the potential for the vocalists and the rappers of UP10TION. The fading out at the ended seemed a little force in my opinion. But other than that, its simplicity speaks volume, especially when we are continually inundated with EDM and more intense genres. And like the previous, it is another track that I would love to hear continuously. (9.5/10)
5. Habit (습관) – We have the first ballad on the album. The stormy sound effects do set the mood of the song, automatically making the song emotional. The start of the chorus was amazing and it is another ballad that has that swaying effect (which earns big ticks for me). The start of the rapping sequence was awkward but the rapping (overall) was decent. The change-up in the bridge was nice, while the vocalists got another chance to shine. (8/10)
6. Mixed Signals (모호해) – Opening Mixed Signals are some odd synths and a cough. And while it might be a little non-traditional, its uniqueness makes the song intriguing. I hope my ears are not playing tricks on me, but those some synths seem to play throughout the song (though very quietly). The song is perfect for hanging out on a Summer’s day. I particularly thought the bridge was cool and the drop into the final chorus made the final moments of the song pop out even more. (9/10)
7. Always(이대로) – Right off the bat, you get this cheerful sound from its uplifting instrumental. This makes the song pleasant and refreshing. Once again, the raps and vocals were on point. It features a catchy chorus and melodic hook. While the song does suffer from the ‘standard syndrome’, the group managed to nail its delivery very well. (9/10)
8. Superstar – I really like the ‘secret agent’ styled instrumental, which made his track feel quite cool. I also liked the ‘Superstar’ repetition at the start of the song (which was also played throughout the song). The chorus was also quite nice and it reminded me of a song that I just cannot think of right now. I think both the vocals and raps could have been more powerful, with some aggressive vibes fitting the instrumental perfectly. (8/10)
9. Love Sick – The song has this one guitar riff which I thought was awesome (just before the chorus). While we are also talking about the chorus, it was extremely explosive. I think the song could have benefited more if you listen to it with good speakers capable to inserting some bass into the song. I personally want to see a performance to this song and I think it is another track that could have rivalled the title track. (8/10)
10. Still With You(시간아 멈춰서) – This is the second ballad on the album and it is the one song that I am on the fence on. One part of me likes the normal pitched vocals, but I am not a fan of the falsetto vocals by Jinhoo here. Its effect is decent but it just felt pushy. Only the vocalists performed this song if I am not mistaken. And other than the falsetto, I think it was a decent track. (7/10)
11. I Need You (예고 없이) – I love the explosive nature of the instrumental of this track, which grabs your attention. It also is the one that features the rappers to an approximate level, who tend to be limited to a few seconds in some of their songs. And before you assume that I was not a fan of the falsetto songs here (I know, how contradicting of me), I think they were a much better match for the song. Once again, I would love to return to listen to this track, mainly due to its energy. (8/10)
Overall Album Rating – 8.3/10
Invitation Individual Teasers (taken from Wishnote)
Hoya has officially made his solo debut with his first mini-album, Shower. This is his first major release since leaving Infinite last year. He did previously release a pre-release single, titled Angel, a few weeks back. Shower also features All Eyes On Me, which is the title track of the record.
All Eyes On Me was exceptionally boring. I think that would be my nicest way of describing the track to you all. There isn’t anything holding me there to listen to it. Instead, it feels monotone and grey, which doesn’t really hold well with another R&B track. For a moment, the instrumental did perk my ears up during the chorus with that background echoey sound (not exactly sure what it is). But it just wasn’t enough to keep me interested in the song. His choice of vocals are interesting but it just slows down the song and robs its any energy it could have had. When I listen to his pre-release and the title track, Angel is the more superior track by far. The two of together, however, doesn’t really give off much impression, which has me concerned for the now-solo artist. As harsh as it sounds, those are my thoughts. Though I will admit, we have to see how his future releases stack up to be sure.
Like the song, the music video is quite underwhelming. The only impressive part of the video is when Hoya is literally bouncing towards the camera (at the very start of the video). The video just felt empty and the lack of people doesn’t really reflect well on the minimalistic sounding song. As a result, you get a boring video that doesn’t keep me around.
Hoya is known for his performances and is always seen as the main dancer of Infinite. Unlike the song and video, his dance performance looks quite promising here. While it was fitting for the song, there were moves throughout the video which I thought was cool. The bouncing (mentioned previously) is one of them, another is the pre-chorus build-up.
Song – 4/10 Music Video – 4/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 4.8/10
Samuel is officially back with his second mini-album. Both the mini-album and title track share the same name, One. This is his first comeback of 2018 and his first since Candy, which was released back in November 2017. His comeback coincides with the comebacks of Wanna One and Hyeongseop x Euiwoong; and the upcoming debut of YDPP.
To me personally, One is Samuel’s best track yet. Right from the start, you get a burst of energy from the funky and upbeat ’80s instrumental. This same energy is channelled throughout the chorus, which basically sounds the same as the intro (just with lyrics!). The chorus was quite catchy, with the echoing of the autotuned ‘One‘ quite interesting but extremely fitting for the song’s style. I also like the instrumental segment at the end of the chorus, which allows for an amazing dance break. The only section of the song that I am not too keen on is Ilhoon’s part. His section deviates from the instrumental and takes on EDM. And while alone it sounds good, I don’t think it is fitting enough. The rest of the song was much better, returning the song to its initial vibes. The song just somehow shouts at me with its energetic vibe, something I don’t recall Sixteen or Candy doing.
Despite some scenes made him look like a pale vampire, the music video was decent. I am a little confused on what the story behind the video is. One moment he is awake from eternal sleep, the next he is discovering his surrounds (but is also quite scared of the masked figures), and then his is suddenly king of the area. What I did like about the video was the flashy nature of the lightings which went well with the instrumental of the song. I also liked the sets of the music video. While they don’t look like something I would usually be wowed by, they do actually look quite stylish and I love the industrial feel from them.
The performance was quite good. I did mention before that the instrumental break did allow for an awesome dance break and I felt he delivered. I did expect something a little more intense from the rap section, mainly because the instrumental there was EDM based. But everything else featured great energy, complimenting the song.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
The 18 members have come together to release their very first full-length album. While the does feature the 4 pre-releases released this year from each subunit, the majority of the songs are credited as NCT U tracks (due to its rotational nature). On top of the 4 subunit releases, the album features tracks from a few years back (some which you may recognise as you go down the tracklist). The album also contains 4 other tracks (an intro, outro and the Chinese version of the Without You and an extended version of Yestoday) but per usual, they have been omitted. Many songs (and links) to get through, so here is my album review.
6. Yestoday (NCT U) – This NCT U track features Taeyong, Lucas, Mark and Doyoung. This particular track isn’t that bad, much smoother than what is about to come. The song feels like it could have been enhanced with a visually aesthetic video. The song alone doesn’t carry much weight but it has a nice melodic feel to it that makes it sound nice (especially with all the high energy and EDM we have heard thus far). I also appreciate the jazzy instrumental, for the same reasons above. Doyoung gets to showcase his nice vocals, while the other 3 do a nice job with the raps. (8/10)
7. Black On Black – This is the first song that features all 18 members of NCT in the performance. The song actually only features 3 members (Taeyong, Mark and Lucas). Black On Black, to me, is NCT’s version of EXO’s Growl. Mainly due to the growling that features throughout the song. I am not too conflicted with the track, despite it changing its sound so many times. While ‘flow’ isn’t a word that applies to this song in any way, the choppy feel that the song did manage to give out gives the song a charming point. It is also its downfall, however, as it would give me a headache if I listened to it multiple times on repeat. Glad I haven’t (yet). (7/10)
This week, JYP Entertainment has welcomed a brand new male group to their line-up, joining 2PM, GOT7 and DAY6. Stray Kids is a 9-member male group was formed from the reality show, Stray Kids. They released Hellevator in October last year a promotional track for the show. In January, the group released a pre-debut album titled Mixtape. Now, the boy group is back with their official debut mini-album, titled as I Am Not and the title track, District 9.
There are no surprises with the way the song turned out for me. If Hellevator and their Mixtape mini-album indicated anything, the group would be putting out a hip-hop/EDM styled song for their debut. District 9 is exactly that and it is quite intense from the very first second. The song seems to refocus on the rappers, with the majority of the song being quite rap-dominate (given how the verses, bridge and some parts of the chorus were raps). The chorus does provide some variety with the vocalists given their chance to shine in the rap-dominated song. What I noticed with this song is that there didn’t seem to be a buildup to the chorus. Instead, we were thrown into the chorus straight after the raps finished up for that part. I am not disappointed with this, however, because it felt flawless and amazing. I am personally not a big fan of the hip-hop side of KPOP but this song, combined with its dance elements, gives this group a huge advantage in the industry at the moment. It is an amazing debut song.
And this huge advantage might already be paying off. Stray Kids have become the group with the highest amount of views within 24 hours of debut. On top of that, they have accumulated more than 11 and a half million views within a span of 3 days. That is amazing, considering they just debuted 3 days ago. The music video shows the members being trapped inside a futuristic prison (that seems to be hidden from the public, like Area 51). The members seem to realize this and find a way out of the prison by crashing through the unseeable barrier and the real world (or what they dub as District 9). Kind of like how it alludes to their debut. It is a great video to watch, pairing well with the intensity of the song. The cinematography is amazing and you can tell the budget is well used with this music video.
The post-chorus sequence was really well done. The performance also went well with the song. They managed to be in sync all throughout the performance, particularly amazing me for the chorus. Their stage presence is quite large and if anything can come out of this performance is that these guys aren’t afraid to give some of the other groups a little competition when it comes to dancing.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.3/10
It has been a while since we have seen the legendary duo, TVXQ, but as of today, they are officially back! Their last comeback was in 2015 when they released solo singles as part of their 8th full-length album (Champagne and Rise As One). The Chance of Love, the title track off their 9th full-length album (titled as New Chapter #1: The Chance Of Love), is also their first comeback as a duo since leaving the military last year. They did release solo SM Station tracks (Drop and In A Different Life) last year as well.
The first thing that attracts my attention to the song is the really fun sounding instrumental. It is described as a dance track with swing jazz elements throughout it. It isn’t something you get to hear often, so it is quite unique. On top of that, it reminds me of some Europen songs that used to be extremely popular back in the day. With all TVXQ comebacks, there is solid vocal work in this song. Not once did it feel awkward or out-of-place. I particularly like the ‘Eh, Hey Hey‘ at the start of each verse. Don’t know why but it felt like a perfect opener to each of the verses and it also provides a little something fun to the song. The chorus also features a nice melodic hook which is bound to get me singing along if I continue listening to the song. Honestly, the song ticks all the boxes to make it a perfect song for me. It’s a perfect comeback track to my ears.
The music video is also nicely done. I like it how SM has actually done away with the boxes and have branched out into new sets and scenery. While this music video is still recorded in a studio, everything feels fitting for the ‘Kings of KPOP’. The sets all look classy and elegant. The same words can also be used to describe the guys as well. My comments for this section might be short but do check out this awesome video.
From what I can see in the music video, the performance is going to be extremely fun. Going back to the roots of the song, it is fitting. What more can you ask for? I’ll return, though, with extra comments once I see a live performance.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating – 10/10
Monsta X has made their return with Jealousy, the title track on their sixth-mini album, The Connect. This is their first comeback after Dramarama, which also earned them their first win on the weekly KPOP music programs.
Opening up with the ‘ye-ye-ye‘ hook was probably one of my most favourite parts of the song. And that manages to introduce into what seems to be a great song. It isn’t as hard-hitting as their previous title tracks but Jealousy works pretty well as a Monsta X. It remains within their domain but it manages to stay different. The song features a trap-based instrumental with pop elements appearing throughout. There is a large focus on the vocals, split between Kihyun, Shownu and Wonho, who all sound spectacular. Kihyun probably shined the brightest in the entire song, based on the ‘A LittleJealousy‘ opener to the chorus, which also was extremely smooth. While we are also focusing on the chorus, I think this has to be one of their best yet. It was jammed packed and I enjoyed the energy that came from that part. I also really like the ‘Jealousy, baby, Jealousy‘ whisper at the end of the first and final choruses, though I do think the section at the end of the first chorus (just before Jooheon’s rap) ended a little too prematurely. The rappers also did a wonderful job with the song, with their parts, per usual, adding that extra intensity that the song needed.
I may write a lot of reviews but I have yet to understand the connection between ‘connected’ music videos. The Connect : D is the pre-release music film for this comeback, so it is clear Jealousy is somehow connected this pre-release video. If you know how these videos are connected, feel free to comment below. I managed to find a video (which I will link in the comments below) that theorises about the sequence of events in the pre-release video but have yet to find anything about the music video. Anyway, about the Jealousy video, I thought it rather cool. They managed to bring out this edgy vibe in the video through their visuals and the setting, which I thought was relatively cool. Each of the members looked awesome (Kihyun just stands out for me). I enjoyed the camera work, which started off fixed and very smooth but by the end of the video is got hectic and shaky, which also worked well with the song.
There are two parts of the choreography which I really liked. The chorus was awesome, with that scarecrow move being my absolute favourite. The second part would have to be the bridge (when Shownu and Kihyun are singing). That I don’t think I have seen before. But being something quite simple made it look awesome.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
Wanna One is the latest group to make their comeback in the past week. They completely took over the latter half of 2017 with their comebacks and it is expected, with their fan following, to do extremely well this year as well. Their second mini-album consists of Boomerang, two versions of the pre-release track (I.P.U) and 4 other songs. So let’s get going with Wanna One’s album review!
0+1=1 (I Promise You) Album Cover
1..Gold – There was an epic and grand feel to this track. It isn’t the most amazing track out there but it was a nice opener to the album. The EDM (and rolling drum beat) instrumental was awesome. The vocals were quite smooth, while the rappers were also quite nice. The song had a nice melodic hook that was enjoyable and pleasing to listen to. (8/10)
4. We Are – This seems to be the weakest track on the entire album. It has potential to be an awesome track. However, some aspects do hold it back. The drop could have been more epic. Everything in the EDM instrumental works, just the drops just didn’t feel special or mind-blowing. Rather disappointing, if you don’t mind me being blunt. The vocals and raps each add a different texture but it all cohesive. Finally, the final moments of the song just feel like an unnecessary extension of the song. It draws it out longer, which doesn’t make much sense. (6/10)
5. Look (보여) – Just with one listen to the track, I want to see this being promoted alongside the title track (or even replacing the title track). The instrumental to this track is particularly attention-grabbing and epic. When the song first started, I thought the song went with a jazzy style but I was caught off guard with the EDM elements that emerged later on. I also liked the launch into the final chorus and the choppy effect at the very end of the song. (9/10)
6. Your Name (너의 이름을) – Your Name is a ballad on the album. It has a nice melody and the vocals were quite heartfelt. The rappers also contributed by ensuring the song wasn’t boring or too repetitive. I really like the orchestral-like instrumental and everyone knows I am a sucker for violins. I liked how all the members sung together in the final chorus. (8/10)
7. I.P.U (약속해요) (Confession Version) – Different versions of the same song make you feel different emotions. I.P.U‘s original version (see track 2) is EDM based, while this version is more ballad-like. And it is clear that the song works both ways. In a way, the song sounds very emotional and extremely heartfelt. The vocalists shine with the ballad style, while the rappers (with some tweaking) managed to work well despite the limited scope of the instrumental. Some reshuffling and parts were removed but everything worked. Overall, it was a nice closer to the album. (9/10)
Welcome to back to this week’s Weekly Chart post for the 3rd Week of March 2018. It was a relatively quiet week in KPOP with only a few comebacks including Wanna One and Yong Junhyung (from HIGHLIGHT). Making their debut this week was BSS (from SEVENTEEN) and Honey Popcorn.
Just a heads up that you will see I won’t be posting a lot in the coming days. I have my mid-semester tests throughout the first 3 days of the week so I will be dedicating my time to that. I will return once I finish up. I should be able to sneak in one or two reviews but that is dependant on how I use my time.
To quickly summarise the new top 5 of the charts, there was a switcheroo between last week’s 1st and 2nd place. GOT7 and Mamamoo switched positions, placing GOT7 on the top of the charts. UP10TION takes the 3rd position with Candyland. BSS tells you to Just Do It from the 4th position, while CLC rises back to the top 5 with Black Dress to take out the 5th position.
For more the charts, scroll down (as usual). Really need a new idea for this section.
18th Mar – 24th Mar 2018
Title
Artist
Status
1
Look
GOT7
(▲ 1)
2
Starry Night
Mamamoo
(▼ 1)
3
Candyland
UP10TION
(▲ 4)
4
Just Do It
BSS (SEVENTEEN)
(new)
5
Black Dress
CLC
(▲ 7)
6
Touch
NCT 127
(▼ 1)
7
I.P.U
Wanna One
(▼ 4)
8
Boomerang
Wanna One
(new)
9
The Blue Bird
April
(▲ 1)
10
Dinner
Suho (EXO) & Jang Jane
(▲ 4)
11
Dreams Come True
WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
(▼ 7)
12
Thanks
Seventeen
(▼ 6)
13
Bad Boy
Red Velvet
(▲ 35)
14
One Shot Two Shot
BoA
(▲ 21)
15
Only Then
Roy Kim
(▲ 38)
16
Bibidi Babidi Boo
Honey Popcorn
(new)
17
Rubber Band
iKON
(▲ 15)
18
One & Only You
GOT7 ft. Hyolyn
(▼ 1)
19
Baby It’s U
Jung Sewoon
(▲ 10)
20
Love Scenario
iKON
(▼ 2)
21
The Boots
Gugudan
(▲ 15)
22
Mamma Mia
SF9
(▼ 3)
23
Flower Road
Big Bang
(▲ 30)
24
Gorgeous
VAV
(▲ 6)
25
Angel
Hoya
(▲ 8)
26
True Love
Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite)
(▼ 10)
27
Spotlight
VAV
(=)
28
Boss
NCT U
(▼ 19)
29
She’s Gone
Jung Ilhoon (BTOB)
(▼ 9)
30
Spotlight
X:TIME
(▲ 21)
Songs leaving the chart this week and will not be appearing on the charts staring next week are:
Neverland – Holland
Shinin’ – Kim Jonghyun (SHINee)
Turn It Up – Rainz
Awake – Target
In Love With Someone Else – Suzy
Baby It’s You – Jung Sewoon
To Heart – Fromis_9
Days Without You – Davichi
Love Scenario – iKON
So that is all for this week. Hope to you see you next week (which will be Easter!).
GOT7 has made their return with their latest mini-album, Eyes On You. The release features Look as their title track, their collaboration single with Hyolyn and another 4 songs. This particular album seems to focus more on the vocalists of the groups, as they stand out more (and are mentioned throughout the entire review constantly). So here are my thoughts on the songs of the Eyes On You mini-album.
Eyes On You Album Cover
1..One And Only You (너하나만) (ft. Hyolyn) (Pre-Release Track) – Unfortunately, I never got around to reviewing this pre-release track, mainly because only a short video was released for it. So, this is my chance to say that this another great track. The song has this deep autotuned vocal lines that are scattered throughout the song, which I really liked. In a way, it makes the song a little more non-traditional. There is also this energetic and bright energy, which makes it a great opener to the album. The vocals are really nice, particularly when Hyolyn and GOT7’s vocal line sing together during the chorus. (8/10)
3. The Reason – The Reason is another song that highlights the vocal ability of GOT7. It starts off with a soft sound but builds up instantly to the chorus. The song has an epic pop drop, which contrasts nicely with the soft preceding sound. Likewise, the rappers also were quite soft in their delivery but this fitted perfectly into the song. As a whole, the song is awesome and is a track that I won’t mind coming back for more. (9/10)
4. Hesitating (망설이다) – This particular song is another soft song, which resembles ballad with a more upbeat instrumental than usual. Both vocalists and rappers sounded good but it wasn’t that captivating as the other songs on the album. In fact, I think this is the most passable track of the entire album. Mainly due to the fact it is bland and not that memorable. (6/10)
5. Us(우리) – Once again, the vocalists are at the forefront of the song, particularly in the verses. And they hold their ground pretty well. But the rappers are the true winners in the track, despite being hidden away and receiving smaller parts in the song. All three rappers just sounded so smooth in the song. The song also had a nice melody and was also catchy without the energy that you would associate with a catchy song. (8/10)
6. Thank You(고마워) – The usually say the quiet people are the people we need to watch for. It might also apply to songs, which this one is a good example. What we have is a beautiful R&B track to end the mini-album. Per usual, the vocalists sound amazing. The rappers don’t get really get their chance to shine, mainly due to their limited sections. However, Mark manages to deliver a punch during his part. I love the background humming in the song, which seemed to get me swaying along to the music. (8/10)
KPOPREVIEWED 