Category: KPOP

[Weekly Chart] Third Week of February 2017

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Welcome (once again) to this week’s (the 3rd week of February 2017) chart. How was your week, all? Melbourne is being weird again with its weather. Last week we had a few hot days (perfect for shorts and short-sleeves) and then the next day it becomes winter-like (which means I am wearing a jacket and socks in Summer). That’s my weekly update hahaha…

This week saw the comebacks of BTS, K.A.R.D, B.I.G, MelodyDay and the release of the collaboration by Soyu and Baekhyun. They all made their debut this week (see chart below, except for MelodyDay, who made their debut this week at #34). BTS also went forward to claim the top spot this week. Both Red Velvet and NCT Dream rose to the occasion and claimed the second and third positions. Interestingly enough, MASC and SF9 (last week’s second and third placed songs) dropped quite a bit this week.

In the next week, Taeyeon, Twice, Astro, 100% and Jungigo & Chanyeol will be releasing (or have released) new songs. It’s going to give the songs already on the charts a run for their money!!! It is going to be another big week in KPOP.

But with further ado, scroll down below for this week’s chart.

Some things that will help you denote the chart:
Green (↑)  – Song has gone up in ranking
Red (↓) – Song has gone down in ranking
Blue (=) – Song has remained in the same position as the previous week
Orange  (new) – Song debuts on the chart
Grey (Final Week) – Song appears on the chart for its final week.

12th Feb- 18th Feb 2017
Title Artist Status
1 Spring Day BTS (new)
2 Rookie Red Velvet (↑ 2)
3 My First & Last NCT Dream (↑ 11)
4 Not Today BTS (new)
5 Black or White Cross Gene (↑ 19)
6 1.2.3 B.I.G (new)
7 I Wish Cosmic Girls (↑ 9)
8 If You Wish Hard, It Will Come True I (↑ 20)
9 Hobglobin CLC (↓ 8)
10 I Wait DAY6 (↓ 4)
11 Don’t Recall K.A.R.D (new)
12 Don’t Say No Seohyun (SNSD) (↑ 1)
13 Roar SF9 (↓ 10)
14 Yes No Maybe Suzy (Miss A) (↑ 7)
15 You Were Beautiful DAY6 (↓ 7)
16 Highlight Seventeen (↓ 5)
17 Excuse Me AOA (↓ 10)
18 Chase Me Dream Catcher (↓ 6)
19 Honey Bee Luna (F(x)) & Solar (Mamamoo) & Hani (EXID) (↓ 2)
20 Mysterious Hello Venus (↑ 2)
21 Oh Na Na K.A.R.D (↓ 11) (Final Week)
22 Tina MASC (↓ 20)
23 Bing Bing AOA (↓ 18)
24 Downpour I.O.I (↑ 8)
25 April Story April (↑ 6)
26 Rain Soyu (Sistar) & Baekhyun (EXO) (new)
27 Last Goodbye AKMU (↑ 10)
28 Draw Me Wonder Girls (↑ 8)
29 Me & You Jung Joon Young ft. Jang Hye In (↓ 2)
30 Crossroads Sunny Hill (new)

I start university again the week after, so I have one more week of freedom before the daily grind of trains, lectures and assignments begin. So obviously, I am going to make this week worthwhile. And so should you! Make this week yours and I’ll see you next week.

[Review] 1.2.3 – B.I.G

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B.I.G has returned with a brand new single. Last time we saw them they were promoting Aphrodite, which had a much darker concept than their latest release. If you remember clearly, B.I.G is actually a five member group, but you may have noticed that only four members participated this time around. That is because Minpyo is taking a break due to health reasons. Hopefully we will see him return soon.

1.2.3 is a pretty good song. While it is different compared to their past releases, as it goes for a more disco pop sound than hip-hop (which they have done in the past), the song really does suit them. I really like their vocals in this song. While they have shown us their powerful vocals in the past, this time around they show it off on a different level. I like the differences between the verses and chorus. The verses is a little light on the bass and the instrumental isn’t as heavy. But when the chorus comes to play, they through the bass and make the instrumental feel a lot heavier. Knowing me, I probably described as an dysfunctional transition. But instead, it works really well. The chorus is extremely catchy and addictive to listen to. I love the way Benji drags out the words at the end of each chorus. It adds an interesting element to the song. Also really enjoyed his ad-libs, but as I said before, I really like vocals of all the members. Even the rapping was great. They toned that part down but it allows the rapper (Heedo) to shine with his deep voice. If you are looking a new group to get into, check these guys out. Some of their past releases have also been my favourites as well!!

The music video was quite disappointing. I don’t think it lived up to the standard that the music had set. The guys discover a girl on TV and is basically amazed by her beauty. And then they start following her around, which was where the video become confusing. I feel like the video is there to provide some comedy in some scenes (such as Benji’s high note) but then the rest of the video felt like a normal music video with nothing much happening.

The choreography was great. It adds to that more vibrant concept the guys went for and they did a pretty good job. Their costumes does make them look like they were stuck in time but besides that, their dancing was great, like their song. But sadly, no memorable moves.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 3/10 
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] I Wish – I (Cha Yoonji) ft. Tiger JK

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Source: https://0.soompi.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/11071947/i-cha-yoon-ji2.jpg

I (not as in me but as in Cha Yoon Ji) made her official debut last month on the 11th of January. Another a debut and review that should have been released a month ago. It is disappointing that it has taken so long to review this song, but better late and never. Cha Yoon Ji is currently under WM Entertainment, which also houses B1A4 and Oh My Girl. Interestingly enough, Yoon Ji was a potential member of Oh My Girl and her big brother is Baro from B1A4.

Just by listening to the song you can tell that is it a very unique song. From the very start, you can tell the song is holding itself back. You do expect the song to start “dropping the beat” or to pick up, but it doesn’t. And I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing for this song. Her vocals sound amazing but that held back electronic sound hip-hop sound really fits her vocals. It does feel underwhelming at first, but after a few listens you do warm up to it (well, at least I did). Tiger JK featured in this song (and for those who do not know, Tiger JK is a well respected and influential rap artist in South Korea). And his featuring really adds a breath of life of the song. It kept it from feeling dull and boring. Her short English lines at the very end of the song did the exact same thing as the rap sequence, ending her song quite smoothly. The rest of the song, while I do like it, felt too monotone and could possibly give off a dull feeling to someone who plays it once or twice only. If there was a little more flare in the instrumental or maybe possibly her vocals, the track would have been even better.

The music video shows Cha Yoon Ji living an ordinary life and is someone who wishes she would become a singer (or famous) like the person (who is also Cha Yoon Ji) on the television set. In the end, her wish came true as she is sitting on the bed in a very glittery shirt (unlike the pyjamas she wore earlier on) and in the corner, you also see the same scene on the television. Obviously, the song ties in very nicely with the song. “If You Wish Hard, It Will Come True” is the alternative title of the song (it was shortened due to its long nature) and that also makes a lot of sense. While the dull pastel colour filter seems to fit well with the video, I think it does dull the video quite a bit. The speed of the video was a little too slow for my liking and it wasn’t as memorable as you would want a debut video to be. You obviously want something impactful and memorable to get people to like the video. But then again, debuts sometimes don’t work out but a later release might hit it big.

Like her video, her performances aren’t that memorable. I watched a few but really haven’t gone back to them. Her dancing is something to look for but there really isn’t much to remember. Instead, I have avoided them. I only go back to play the performances for the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 4/10
Performance – 3/10
Overall Rating – 5.5/10

 

[Review] Spring Day – BTS

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BTS has returned with their repackaged version of Wings (title track was Blood Sweat & Tears), which was probably one of the best albums of 2016. Spring Day is their title track off the repackaged album. The group will also be releasing a music video for Not Today (another track off their repackaged album), which I will review next week (once the video is released on the 20th). I was also planning on doing an album review for their repackaged. But since I am already reviewing 2 of the 4 new songs and I think it probably too late to do an album review for the entire Wings album, I’ve decided to cancel it instead. My apologies if you had expected it.

Spring Day is a lot different to the group’s past hits. This time, they went with a song that is more vocally centred. And they do a smashing job of it. The song is something right up my alley. It has a really emotional melody, which you can hear through both the softer instrumental and vocal work. The instrumental is toned down (as already mentioned) quite a bit, almost resembling a soft electronic track infused with a ballad (also really like the drums). Even the rappers, who are known for their extreme toughness and power raps, have toned it down. The star of the show has to be the vocals of Jungkook, Taehyung and Jimin. Their vocals work, in the song, is amazing. You can hear the emotions in the vocals, being consistent throughout the song. J-Hope seemed to get the short end of the stick. When I first listened to the song, I noticed that I could not detect J-Hope’s voice anywhere. It turns out that J-Hope was the backing vocals for the chorus. While that does seem a little unfair, once you notice it, you can’t really unhear it. Now when I listen to the song, I move my focus between the different vocals, especially during the chorus. His backing vocals do a really good job of echoing the member who was singing at the time (usually Jungkook). It added a level of complexity and depth to the song. And honestly, if you strip J-Hope’s backing vocals from the song, the song would have felt empty and too simplified.

Let’s all put forward our best theories, shall we? Hahaha.. As per usual, this BTS music video is confusing as heck. So I decided to do some reading and watching, trying to see what others make of it.  I found a video that really explains the story quite well. Watching the music video by itself made no sense. But with someone breaking it down (and basically doing the hard work for me) made more sense and more understandable. Now, I am unfamiliar with the story of Omelas (the name of the motel in the video) and will probably do a shocking job at explaining it. So for an explanation of the video, CLICK HERE!!! I think what BTS (and when I refer to the band, in this case, I am also referring to the producer, director etc) has been doing with their reference to these mythological stories is really cool and unheard of (as a series) in KPOP. Now moving away from the plot, this video is beautifully shot. Everything from the camera angles, wide shots to the quality of the video made it look amazing. It makes the video look stunning and worthwhile to watch.

[UPDATED] The dance for this song is amazing. I am not too sure, but I am assuming they did a form of interpretive dancing and every time I watch the performance, I am in awe at their stage presence and fluid motions. I loved how the song is more on the softer side, but their dancing is leaves a very strong impression on you. It might be a tad early, but this is worthy of a Best Dance award already.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10 [UPDATED]
Overall Rating – 9.7/10 [UPDATED]

 

[Review] Black Or White – Cross Gene

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Source: https://0.soompi.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/07070658/cross-gene.jpg

Cross Gene has finally returned to South Korea after over a year’s absence. They last made comeback with Noona, You in January 2016. That didn’t mean the group went MIA for the year. They did release their first Japanese album in April 2016 as well. Moving forward to 2017, the group released their Mirror mini album, which features Black or White as the title track.

Cross Gene has made releases with an edgy sound and concept before. But this release takes thing a lot further. And it sounds really cool. There are a lot of horror influences with the instrumental and song in general. The use of rock during the verses, the howling wolf in the background at certain parts, a grunting sound from one of the members etc. The instrumental tries to pack a punch. For the most part, the electronic-based instrumental succeeds in doing this. But there are segments where they remove the intensity and replace it with a hip-hop sound. It kills the mood, which is disappointing. The difference was far too noticeable to avoid talking about. The vocals of the song, along with the rap, was quite good as well. It built and gave the song the intensity it needed. I guess this is the song you would listen to if you want to be sitting on the edge of your seat. On a more personal level, it sounds really cool (as I specified above), but it doesn’t amaze me. I do read other reviews to see what people think of the song and I do agree with a majority of them when they say the song has a familiar sound and has been “done before”.

The music video is quite graphic and if you are not into gory stuff or violence – do stay away from the video. Essentially, the video is similar to the Jekyll and Hyde storyline. Each member has an innocent side (which we will refer to as the good side) and the creepily insane side (which we will refer to as the dark side). The dark side taunts the good side and ends up killing the good side as well. Let’s just say stabbing, drowning in blood and strangulation are involved. The other methods that were used to kill the good side are a little too graphic to even put into words. The odd thing is the good side ends up living again. As if the dark side never even touched them. Or everything was just in their head. I have to say the guy who ended up being drowned did a good job at portraying the good and dark side. He looks really innocent one second and then insane the next. I feel like they should have ended with the dark side just in the background, while the good side is just to come to grips with what had happened. It would give a video a more eerie and ominous look (even though they got that covered). I thought the video was well shot. Some of the acting looked a little awkward but still bearable to watch. Overall, I liked it. It just isn’t for the faint-hearted.

The performance was generally quite good. They split the group into smaller groups of three. One being the white group and the other being the black group. The dance is also split amongst the two groups. Either group performed by themselves, with little interaction between the two groups. While this has been done before, the separation here looked more obvious made everything seem a lot edgier.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

 

 

[Review] My First and Last – NCT Dream

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NCT 127 kicked off the year for NCT with their promotions for Limitless. Now NCT Dream has returned with a brand new song, My First and Last. NCT Dream made their debut last year with the super cutesy and youthful Chewing Gum, a completely different vibe from their 127 or U counterparts.

My First and Last follows that same notion of setting Dream apart from 127 and U. The song still delves into that cutesy but with a more mature sound to it. Actually, the correct word to describe the song is ‘youthful’. It’s a simple song. Not saying that in a mean way, but rather, I am referring to the overall sound and structure of the song. The song is super addictive and catchy. For a dance track, the instrumental is very soft but still enough for you to notice it. Many KPOP songs nowadays rely on a more heavy or hard sounding instrumental such as in dubstep or for a tougher vibe. Instead, this song relies on a more pop sound. Their vocals are the main focus. They stood out with the soft instrumental. The harmony during the chorus really does wonders with the song, bringing out that youthful side. The rapping was pretty good. I am a big fan of Mark’s “Let’s talk about love” rap than the one situated as the bridge. There was a lot more colour in the favoured rap sequence. But regardless, the two main components, vocals (including rapping for this point) and instrumental, goes hand in hand with each other and really make the song quite enjoyable to listen to. Give the song a try and see if it works for you.

The video recently became under fire for sexualizing the female teacher in it. But I think those people (ah netizens) are over-reacting. Just because she is wearing tight clothing and walking in slow-motion doesn’t mean they are sexualising her. And besides, most people have had an attractive teacher before. So, there really isn’t anything wrong about it. Essentially, the teacher are the guy’s first love and try to get her attention. They indeed fail because her eyes are set for the husband she marries and the child she has, which was revealed at the end of the video. But the way they get her attention is quite interesting. First, they try the “let’s misbehave in class” method. That didn’t work, so they decided to build functioning carts out of cardboard. Because everyone would want to drive or get picked up in a really cool car (or cart in this case). Honestly, someone give these guys an A+ for their technology, woodwork and science classes. Trust me, because I am half way through university and there is no way I can do what they were doing. Overall, the video is quite cool to watch.

Another amazing choreography. And this time, they don’t need hoverboards. Instead, the dance portrays the youthful side once again. I am quite sure the dance at the second chorus was meant to invoke childhood memories. But the highlight of the whole choreography is when the members hold onto each other’s legs (while lying on their side) and pull themselves closer to each other. That looked cool!

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.5/10

[Review] Last Goodbye – AKMU

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Hmmm.. I really need to get on top of some songs.I have been planning to review AKMU’s latest song, Last Goodbye, from their album, titled as Winter, which was released on the 7th of January. So that means this review is a month overdue. Whoops, I apologise for that. Last Goodbye is not their only title track from the album, with Reality being their second title track from the album.

Last Goodbye is a ballad with a really nice acoustic based instrumental. The later parts and chorus of the song focus more on the orchestral sound, but the verses are mainly guitar based. The guitar really brings out a really nice country-side feel. The song sounds like a night spent around a fire, regardless if you are in the comfort of your own home or outside in the wilderness. Their vocals are brought out quite well, with the emotional side of the song sounding very prominent. Each member of the duo alone does an amazing job with their own vocals. Harmony and sophistication can be heard when they sing together. The chorus, for this reason, sounds amazing. The chorus is also quite catchy. It is another song that makes you sway along with the instrumental and vocals of the members. The only problem was the verses. While they led to the chorus perfectly, they did feel a little underwhelming. But besides that, it is a really good song to listen to.

Like what I mentioned above, the music video was sung around an open flame on a camping trip. Perfect! The video is simply them singing. Nothing much is happening. There are scenes throughout the video that tie this video with their “Musical Short Film” (which features their second title track, Reality). The good stuff is in the short film, so there isn’t much to talk about here.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] Me & You – Jung Joon Young ft. Jang Hye Jin

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Jung Joon Young has made his comeback with his first album, The First Person. The title track, Me & You, features Jang Hye Jin, who is a famous South Korean singer who debuted back in 1991. This is Jung Joon Young’s first comeback since a scandal involving the singer became headlines in the KPOP industry. This is also my first review for the soloist.

Jung Joon Young delves mostly into rock music. From time to time, he does sing ballads, however, the ballad is always infused with the rock music he is known for. This song is strictly ballad (for the most part). His husky vocals are in the spotlight, with it being emphasised using the very soft instrumental. Jang Hye Jin’s vocals suit the song quite well. When the two join forces and sing together, you can barely tell a difference of age. The vocals go hand in hand. It isn’t until the end that the song starts to pick up, where it is launched unexpectedly into a soft rock ballad. Yeah, you don’t really think that the song will go in that direction, but it does. And it works. It makes the song quite memorable, giving it the “cherry on top” as some people might put it (well for me at least). I have pointed out how slow some ballads can be.While this can easily be inserted to the “very slow” ballad category, I like it a lot. It helps lighten Jung’s vocals and make the song sound very emotional and meaningful at the same time.

Like the song, the music video is very slow-paced. From what I could tell in the video, the couple shared happy memories but their relationship deteriorated over time. While the song moves from just ballad to a rock ballad sound, the couple breaks up and you see scenes of the now former couple coming to grip with their break up throughout the video. Putting it into words make the video seem boring. I know it suits the lyrics and there is no other way to present a ballad in video format normally, but they do become a little repetitive and cliché over time. The video doesn’t really keep my interested. I have played it a few times, but have gone off to do something else rather sit and watch it. That is its only flaw, to be honest.

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

Farewell Wonder Girls

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Towards the end of last month, it was officially announced by JYP Entertainment, that the Wonder Girls would be disbanding. Another major girl group a few years back would be leaving us. The girls had decided to go their separate ways, despite reports of the girls searching for a new company. Ye-Eun and Sunmi both left JYP Entertainment, while Yubin and Hyelim decided to go on with the company.

This is another farewell post for another amazing girl group. We said goodbye to 2NE1 just last month. We said goodbye to 4Minute last year and now we have to say goodbye to Wonder Girls. It is no doubt that their presence within the industry is large and that they will not be forgotten.

Wonder Girls made their debut on the 13th of February 2007 with Irony. The lineup then included: YeEun, Sunye, Sohee, Hyuna (now former 4Minute member) and Sunmi. After their debut, Hyuna was withdrawn from the group and their company added Yubin to the lineup. The group went on to release Tell Me and So Hot (alongside some other songs).

It wasn’t until Nobody in 2008 that the group rose to the top and became the hottest thing in Korea. In 2009, the group embarked on a world tour and it was decided that JYP would debut the girls in the U.S.A. The girl returned in 2010 after Sunmi left the group and Hyelim was added as a new member. The girls released 2 Different Tears. The girls returned overseas and spent more time releasing English songs and starring in their own TV show. 2011 came and the group returned at the end of the year with my favourite Wonder Girls song, Be My Baby. The girls returned to South Korea in 2012 to promote Like This.

Sadly, the group went on hiatus after 2012. Sunye withdrew from the group to get married and now she is a mother of two children. Sohee also withdrew from the group to focus on her acting career. The group reimaged themselves into a girl band and went on to release I Feel You in 2015.  Sunmi returned to the group and the final lineup now includes: YeEun, Sunmi, Yubin and Hyelim). They later returned in 2016 with Why So Lonely. The girls (with the support on Sunye and Sohee) made the announcement in Jan 2017 of the disbandment and have gone on to release their final song today (10th of February), Draw Me, for their 10th anniversary.

Wonder Girls have a long history and to me, they have released some of the most iconic songs in KPOP to date. Their influence (along with 2NE1 from YG Entertainment and SNSD for SM Entertainment) has shaped and grown KPOP to what it is today. I will also remember the catchy tune of Nobody and will always remember the super addictive dance that accompanied it. I will remember how big of a fanboy I came when it Be My Baby or Like This came on. And I will always feel awestruck watching the girls form themselves into a band.

Like 2NE1’s final song, I choose not to review it. Instead, I choose to look back at their time in the industry. Writing both posts made me sad, as I now know how far they have come, how far KPOP has gone and how much they will be missed. The majority of this post looks at their history as a group, with a few personal comments, but hopefully, it is enough to say goodbye.

Maybe this goodbye is not forever. But nonetheless, I wish all members of the group success and luck for all future endeavours. Given some of their solo careers, I think we can expect great things.

If you have not yet heard Wonder Girls’ final song (which was released today), you can listen to it below.

[Review] Yesterday – Block B

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Block B has dropped a surprise release, in the form of a single, titled as Yesterday. I have no idea if this is going to be a pre-release for a future album or is just a single. I have been trying to find out but I have come up with no answer. This is the first Block B release since Toy last year. Since their last comeback, the members have each embarked on solo and subunit promotions.

Listening to Yesterday for the first time, I thought it had a Winner feel to it, more specifically Winner’s more pop centred songs such as Don’t Flirt. That thought still sticks with me but I have noticed that the song still has that Block B feel. I thought it sounded similar to Jackpot as well, just a lot lighter. Maybe it is the rock-based instrumental that gets me thinking like that. This time around, the group seemed to have inserted a bit of pop influence into the song. Overall, I thought the vocals were good. P.O’s raspy vocals and raps shined the best in this song. I like the way Zico raps, but I feel like he needs to show more variety, as like in his solo, when he is with the group. I felt like this was too similar to many of his past raps within Block B songs. While as simple as it sounds and as cliché as it sounds, I really like the “la, la, la” part of the song. To me, the song isn’t necessarily repeat-worthy, but it still nice to listen to once in a while.

With a more cheerful song, the music video is expectantly more colourful and vibrant. The group also went with a sitcom-like theme but that concept seemed lost just before the 1st chorus, which then returned to a normal non-themed KPOP video. To make it seem more like a sitcom, they should have added the member’s name during the start because the start of the video seemed like a sitcom introduction. Moving along, the guys couldn’t contact their lover (who happened to be the same girl). They do their best to figure out where she was and what she was doing “yesterday”. But instead, they find out they are all following the same girl. They join hands in trying to figure out what she did “yesterday”. But they ended up failing at the end. The video was fun to watch, matching the song very nicely. You could probably not imagine another way to present the video or another concept to go with the song.

We only see a few brief seconds of the choreography in the video. Not too entirely sure if there is even a full choreography for this song. So I am not going to even try to rate this part.

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

[Review] You Were Beautiful – DAY6

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If you have not yet heard, DAY6 will be making monthly releases this year. They released I Wait as their main track for their January release. You Were Beautiful is now their latest track, released exactly one month after I Wait.

Once again, DAY6 does not disappoint with their song. I think the first thing every noticed was the past tense in the title. It does make a funny joke, but I rather not insult anyone. They went with a rock-ballad song, keeping true to themselves with the rock element, but showing off with a new side to the group with the ballad sounds. The track is much slower this time and you can feel more emotions in their vocals and lyrics in this song. Each member sings wonderfully in this song. I personally like the song a lot. The main issue is that some parts did feel like it was dragged out a bit. While I can overlook it, as everything else was sounded perfect for me, the thought does hang in the back of my head. But still, you all should check out the song. Given this track and I Wait, I am eagerly waiting for next month to come around to see what else the band has up their sleeve.

The video is quite simple. A female office worker finds (or is sent) videos of her past relationship with this guy. While all the memories are happy and she spends the majority of the video smiling, she ends up crying after remembering her break-up with him. The video is very clear cut. The band members are thrown into the video, scattered amongst the memories. Their presence in this video was underwhelming and honestly, not needed at all. The video would have been fine with just the memories and the female crying. Their presence through the song is more than enough here. An interesting theory seems to be that this is the continuation from their Congratulation video. In this video, the girl reflects on the past relationship she had with the guy, while in Congratulations, they meet unexpectedly in the future. While the actor does look familiar, the actress doesn’t. Nonetheless, it would still make for an amazing plotline and an awesome connection between the videos.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

[Review] Tina – MASC

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MASC has finally returned with their first ever comeback. If you have forgotten about them, they made their debut last year with Strange.

I am not entirely sure of my thoughts in regards to this song, but I think it is a pretty good song at the moment. The song has a nice rock sound, fitting with their debut single. This song, however, is more upbeat and vibrant. There is a lot more elements in this song that make it interesting, such as the trumpets blaring after the chorus. Even though what I described doesn’t necessarily sound classy, the song overall felt very classy but tough at the same time. The vocals were good. But like the previous review for SF9’s Roar, I thought the rap segments were the highlights of the song. But nonetheless, everyone stands out in the song. There is a part of me that feels that the song is borderline “typical” in South Korea though. Beside my compliments and highlights that I have pointed out, I felt the song just didn’t stand out that much when it is compared to with other songs. Sure, the song had class and a tough vibe, but they need something to set them apart and be different. To me, they have moved into the spotlight with this song, but they just need a push (aka. a unique song that suits them) to be the main star of the show.

The video is very boring. Reading the comments, apparently, the video has been uploaded 3 different times due to sound issues. At least it sounds like their company is committed to bringing the highest quality for their group and fans. I really like the classy and edgy concept the video was going for. It was very fitting for the song. The only problem is that there isn’t much going on in the video. There are scenes where the members act alongside the female lead, but you can’t really tell what is going on in those scenes. That made the video boring and uninteresting to watch.

The choreography was pretty good. Probably the most memorable part of the whole choreography was the rap segments after the choruses. They looked cool and with the song, it packed a punch, giving the stage something worth looking forward to.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

[Review] Roar – SF9

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SF9 has returned with their first mini album, Burning Sensation, and their newest title track, Roar. The group made their official debut last October with Fanfare.

Fanfare, til this day, has not left an impression on me and thus became a forgettable track. Roar takes one step in the opposite direction, as I do remember this song for a number of reasons. The instrumental was interesting. That boing-boing sound (how do you explain the sound???) really catches your attention from the very start. They don’t overuse it because it could easily annoy the crap out of everyone and ruin the song. The verses needed some sort of foundation or backing to give the song more of an impact, in my opinion. The vocals are okay. The adlibs at the end don’t really seem to fit the song that well. The clear standout goes to the rapping. Each the rappers sounded amazing in this song. The buildup that the rappers contribute to the choruses sounded rough yet very fitting to the song. Though, their part in the bridge could have gone for something else rather than cowbells. I don’t know why, but I thought it was a little odd. While I did think the buildup to the choruses was pretty good, the immediate launch into the chorus is done perfectly. It packs a punch and leaves an impression in your mind.

Like the song, the video is quite fast-paced. You blink and you may have missed 30 seconds of the video. The sets and the solo shots don’t look as impressive as you think they will be. Honestly, the sets for the solo shots looked like they have been used elsewhere in the KPOP realm. Maybe it is the camera shots that make the sets seemed overused. The video also lacks colour. That one colour lighting seems to be trendy in South Korea, but I think it makes videos look dull and boring. The editing for the video is quite good as well, especially during the choreography shots.

The choreography is pretty good. I would have liked more moves that packed a punch and felt more strong. There were parts that did feel quite slow (even though they were made to fit with the speed of the song at that part) and they did weaken the overall look and feel of the choreography. The one thing I did like was how they broke themselves into smaller groups at the start and smoothly combined the two to make one group.

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

[Review] You Seem Busy – MelodyDay ft. Jung Ilhoon (BTOB)

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MelodyDay has returned with a brand new single. The last time we saw them on stage was through the promotions of Colour, last year. Unfortunately, I didn’t get time to review their comeback last year. As you can tell from the title of this review, their newest track is titled as You Seem Busy and it features Ilhoon from BTOB.

The girls came back with a much slower song, compared to that last few releases. I love the ballad instrumental in the song. To me, it sounds very calming and soothing. Throw in their vocals, along with Ilhoon’s rap, and the song pretty much makes you sway along with it. Not technically fond of the first verse, as it felt quite dry. But those final moments leading up to the first chorus really builds the song up from out of nothing, launching straight into the chorus quite well. The rest of the song doesn’t really repeat that same sort of impact and that does leave the song hanging a bit. The only other flaw with the song is that it can fall into the more “generic ballad” catergory.  It did take a few listens to shake that feeling off. It wasn’t until I unexpectedly listened to the song (through YouTube automatic recommedantions) did I actually notice the impact and the song itself.

The music video tells the story of a waiter who seems to just be pushing through with work to just pass the day (or make a living). The same thing happens every single day, which makes his life dull and boring. On this paritcular day, the customers (the two comedians) give him a hard time. One of them notices him and starts a conversation, while the other one becomes jealous and tells the waiter to essentially get lost. He takes some time out and notices the girls on stage, who are in fact MelodyDay themselves. They perform their song, which also lifts his spirits, which leaves a smile on his face. It isn’t a flashy video, but very fitting for the song, as both goes hand-in-hand with each other (just check the English lyrics in the video below). A nice video to watch.

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

[Review] The Song – Zion.T

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Zion.T is a RnB/hip-hop artist who has a very extensive resume when it comes to the South Korean industry. Many of his songs go on to top the South Korean charts. For example, his album is beating out the OST of the trendiest dramas at the moment. That is quite an incredible feat, considering how the OST have such a big influence on the industry. Zion.T recently left Amoeba Culture and is now officially a part of the YG Family.

Not exactly my cup of tea, but it is a good track to listen to. I don’t really listen to Zion.T that much when he sings in songs by himself but I do like listening to his collaborations with other artists. While you can hear the RnB roots in this song, there is a  definite pop influence. The instrumental for this song is quite simple (from what I can hear – I am no expert in composing) and I think this suits the lyrics of the song, which involves him singing about how he wrote this song for his girl (but releases it for everyone to hear – which I guess indirectly references composers who put their life-story into songs). His vocals are very sweet in the song and quite smooth as well. His rapping was quite limited in the song. I would have liked to hear more of his rapping in the song because it compliments the song quite nicely. Honestly, the song felt quite short and while it was three minutes, it felt like it was 2 minutes. Not exactly sure if that is a good or bad thing yet. Overall, do listen to it if you like your RnB. Just expect a little more happiness to the song, especially if you are used to a more emotional sounding Zion.T song (like me).

The video is a little unconventional if I were to put “crazy” into a formal way of writing. Some parts make sense. Others don’t really make that much sense to me. I get the slide scene at the start, where he slides to what seems to be his really long, ball-filled bathtub. Mainly because it was a part of the lyrics. But not too sure about the submarine or the “under-the-sea” scenes. I don’t I was meant to get too in depth with the scenes though as the video goes for a more fun concept, which goes hand in hand with the happiness I pointed out. Some of the sets had that typical YG feel, but overall, the video doesn’t feel like it came from YG Entertainment. Many of their artists who don’t really follow the KPOP route (such as Akdong Musician and now Zion.T) seem to have videos that fit their songs and image more. While that it is expected, it is fresh coming from YG Entertainment. Overall, it is a nice video to watch.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10 
Overall Review – 9/10

Recap of 31st Golden Disk Awards + Thoughts

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The 31st Golden Disk Awards was held on the 13th and 14th of January 2017, for the artists who the best and most successful acts of 2016. The award ceremony is split into two nights. The 13th of January was dedicated to the digital charts and the 14th of January focused on the album charts.

The first night was hosted by Hwang Chi Yeol, Seohyun and Jung Yong Hwa, while the second night was hosted by Kang Sora and Sung Si Kyung. Mostly everyone who won an award on those nights performed on stage with the exception of Lim Chang Jung, Bang Shi Hyuk and Jaejoong (JYJ). Uhm Jung Hwa, Gain (Brown Eyed Girls) and Rain was invited to perform as special guests.

Here is a recap of the awards:
Disk Daesang (Album Of The Year) – EX’ACT (EXO)
Digital Daesang (Song Of The Year) – Cheer Up (Twice)
Disk Bonsang (Best Artist) – Monsta X, Seventeen, GOT7, Infinite, VIXX, BTS, EXO, Taemin (SHINee), SHINee.
Digital Bonsang (Best Artist) – Twice, Mamamoo, GFriend, Urban Kakapa, Suzy & Baekhyun, Lee Hi, Zico (Block B), Taeyeon (SNSD), Lim Chang Jung.
Best New Artist – BlackPink, Bolbbalgan4, NCT 127, I.O.I
Popularity Award – SHINee
Best R&B / Soul – Crush
Best Band – CN Blue
Best OST – Gummy (You Are My Everything)
Asian Choice Award – Jaejoong (JYJ)
Ceci Asian Icon Award – Red Velvet, EXO
Global KPOP Artist Award – BTS
Best Performance Male Group – Sechs Kies
Best Performance Female Group – Sistar
Best Producer Award – Bang Shi Hyuk

The awards were fair. The artists for both digital and physical album awards did make a lot of sense. I am amazed at how little girl groups were present for the physical album night (second night). The only group there was Red Velvet and I am equally surprised that they didn’t win a bonsang for last year’s releases.

With regards to the performances, I was quite disappointed with the first night. Everything felt plain and very typical. The only standout was Zico’s medley performance. Not a major hip-hop or RnB fan when it comes to Korean music, but his performance was the only one I grooved along that night. I feel like Taeyeon’s performance would have been amazing (as it is an awesome song) but it was unfortunately riddled with audio and microphone issues.

The second night was much more promising. I guess the first night failed to do it for me because there were different genres, so of which I don’t really listen to. The second night was more KPOP centred. Seventeen’s performance was good, but why did they do their 2015 songs as well? They should have done rearrangements of Very Nice and Boom Boom as well. The hypocrite within is resurfacing because while I say that about Seventeen’s performance, I thought BTS’s medley of songs (from their debut to Fire) was amazing. Even if the Blood Sweat and Tears part was for transition, I need a full remix because it sounded amazing as well.  Infinite had a freaking bomb-ass stage with their dance breaks in the song. Finally, I really liked the For Life song (it grew even more on me) and when I heard they were going to perform, I was quite overjoyed. It was the one performance I waited for and they performed the track perfectly (luckily, no audio problems).

I think that will be it for this segment. I intended for this one to be up the weekend after the two nights, but I kept pushing it back. WordPress kept reminding me about it and at one point, I actually trashed it. But I ended reviving it and here it is. So just to notify you, I will not be doing for SMA 2017 and the Gaon Chart Awards.