A reminder that the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards voting period is still on. It will officially close 11:59 PM (AEST) on the 31st of December. So make sure you vote before then! Do so by clicking here if you haven’t voted yet!
Even though we are in the final days of 2019, comebacks are still happening and KPOP is business as usual (which wasn’t the case a few years back, with releases being scarce). Today, we see the comeback of Jiyeon, who returns with the single Take A Hike. We last saw the T-ARA member in a music context through her One Day Winter single last year.
Take A Hike, as the title may suggest, is no Winter single. It is a soft club dance track, featuring a trendy, attitude-heavy flute drop during the chorus that I am sure would be perfectly paired to a sensual and mature choreography routine. The chorus also had a nice hook to it, that I thought was both decent and simple. I thought the verses were very captivating themselves as they engaged Jiyeon’s lower vocals and raspy tone, which made the verses standout. To me, the song feels fulfilling. It is fairly bare but I think this made Take A Hike stand out. I can see how some people would call it boring though, as the bareness might lead to the thought that it is lacking in a way. But at the moment, I choose the former thought to be what I think of Take A Hike.
The music video is very intriguing. I really like the mysterious vibes she gives off during the scenes where her face is no way shown to the camera (i.e. the bedroom scene, the large hat scenes). The large hat scenes are probably my favourite out of the entire video as they do really help enhance the attitude I felt coming from the song. The way she acts when her face does appear is equally as captivating. I am not sure how to properly describe my thoughts (and I am probably overthinking it), but I feel like there is something else to those scenes rather than a simple closeup.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.3/10
As this is a VIXX related review, I wish to inform that Leo is nominated for Best Male Soloist in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Leo by clicking the link here to vote for him and your other favourite artists before the 31st of December (which is in 5 days!!!).
VIXX has a relatively quiet year and it seems like this is going to be the case over the next couple of years since the members are fast approaching the age of military enlistment. Leo (Romanticism) and Ravi (Tuxedo) have remained active through solo works. And Hyuk joined them last week with the release of his first mini-album, Winter Butterfly. The title track shares the same name as the album. The mini-album also contains the handful of solo singles that Hyuk has also released throughout the year.
For those who don’t know me, I am always a sucker for the lesser known members of the group. Hyuk falls under this category as he is always under appreciated when it comes group performances. His vocals are a lot weaker than Ken or Leo, while his rapping isn’t as dynamic as Ravi. And hence solo releases tend to be blessings, showcasing what we would never get in a group setting. Winter Butterfly does just that, offer us more of Hyuk’s vocals. The rock ballad (which is one of the few styles that I tend to really enjoy) starts off soft, which compliments Hyuk’s usual style of vocals. His voice remains soft throughout the song but it builds as the instrumental develops. It somehow remains well-balanced and I really like that about the song. I like how the song doesn’t revert to the verse-chorus-verse-chorus etc. formula. I didn’t notice this at first, but it caught my attention after a while. He only reverts to the softer sound to close out the song. A fairly large section of the song is in English, which I thought he handled nicely. Overall, Winter Butterfly is extremely satisfying and I am glad that Hyuk is finally getting his moment to shine.
The music video is pretty much standard yet also makes quite sense. To compliment the song, Hyuk walks around enjoying nature and the local scenery in the music video. I feel this works well with the song, as you can get ‘lost’ with the song, which is similar to how one could get ‘lost’ while experiencing something breathtaking such as nature. I really like the brown and golden hue that the video features, which gives off a warm feeling and fits more of an Autumn setting. The snow, I guess, is incorporated to make the music video fit into ‘Winter’. But it seemed to be included post-production, as there was never any snow around him.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.6/10
Merry Christmas again! The second Christmas related review of the day is by The Boyz, who released a Winter single titled White on the 6th of December (which was also released on the exact date that they debuted on 2 years ago). It is the group’s third release of the year, following Bloom Bloom and D.D.D. The group also made their Japanese debut with the predominately Korean track, Tattoo. However, it wasn’t all positive news this year as Hwall withdrew from the group in October.
White starts off with a sample of Feliz Navidad, one of the many songs that is blasted throughout shopping centres every Christmas (not that I am complaining…). But it soon transform into a different track, losing its Christmas carol feel. Instead, it transform into a lighthearted track that suits the festive season. The bells you associate with the season is probably the more prominent element of the song that relates the song to the Winter season. The deep brass that appears when it changes from carol into song and the post-chorus reminds me of childhood and the music that my parents used to listen, while the rest of the track (verses, chorus etc.) felt practically like a typical KPOP track. The vocal work is pretty standard but I think them all singing together helps make the track a lot more warmer and homely. I also really like the rapping, as it gave a little more to the festive song.
The music video shows the members waiting for the first snow to fall, having fun in the snow as a group, preparing for their night Christmas party and other activities. Honestly, it is the type of video that makes sense for the Christmas season (i.e. the coming together of everyone). They were shot in a manner that made the members look cute. I don’t despise of such videos, but they have a very limited appeal in a very limited time frame before it is long forgotten.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 6/10 Overall Rating – 6.6/10
Merry Christmas everyone! As part of the Christmas cheer, I thought I review a few Christmas themed tracks this year. The first review is for the two tracks (Melting & Look Good) released by Brand New Music, where the company’s lineup (to be listed according to the song that they appear in) for these releases are collectively called BRANDNEW Year 2019.
Melting is performed by Kanto, AB6IX, Kang Min Hee, YODAYOUNG and BDC. It is a fun, vibrant dance track that doesn’t feel like a seasonal track until you looking into the lyrics. I feel like this could easily been passed off as a different track and you wouldn’t even notice. The vocal work is pretty good, adding to the vibrancy. The melody and hooks have a decent ring to me, which makes the song catchy enough to really enjoy. The rapping gives it some definition, which makes it very appealing. I particularly like Youngmin’s pre-chorus rap sequence, which gave the song a rush of energy that worked well with the chorus. My only problem with the track is that it focused too much on the males, leaving Kang Min Hee and YODAYOUNG small sections in the final chorus.
Look Good features Kebee, Bumkey, Kanto (he does not make an appearance in the music video), Gree, Yenjamin, Yang Da Il, Kitti B and Vincent Blue. These artists aren’t ones that I pay attention to much in the Korean music industry. But since the song was released alongside Melting and had a music video, I thought I review it as well. The song is also quite vibrant and upbeat, different from other the holiday tracks as well. I really liked how the song progressed along, with the rappers pushing each of their parts in a relaxed yet very cohesive manner, while the vocalists provided a nice smooth texture to the rest of the song. I found the melodies and simple band/acoustic influence within the instrumental to be very appealing and that I was tapping my foot along to the beat within a matter of seconds.
Music videos from this season tend to show the artists coming together. After all, Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends. The music video for Melting and Look Good depicts this nicely. Both felt lighthearted and perfect for the season without going overboard on the Christmas decorations. I liked the golden and brown hue of the Melting music video, whilst I enjoyed the simple set up to the Look Good video.
Melting Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
Look Good Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
Stray Kids is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Male Choreography in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Miroh, Side Effects, Double Knot and Astronaut are also eligible for Best Song of 2019. To support Stray Kids, click here to vote if you haven’t before voting closes next Tuesday!
The second last album review of the year focuses on Stray Kids latest mini-album, Clé: Levanter. This third part has brought their Clé series to a close, following the release of Clé: Miroh (featuring the title track Miroh) and Clé: Yellow Wood (featuring the title track Side Effects). To help raise anticipation for the new release, Stray Kids released Double Knot in October and Astronaut in November, before dropping Levanter in December (all links below). This is also the first album release without Woojin, who left unexpected in November, which delayed the comeback to December. Let’s have a deeper listen to the album and its new tracks that we haven’t heard at all yet.
Clé: Levanter Album Cover
1. STOP– A commanding title to a very bold start to the mini-album. I am already sold. And it is even better as the song delivers intensity, energy and suspense through its fast tempo beat. To me, it feels dirty but in a good way. I also liked how they amp all those elements up by including that brief pause in the instrumentation just prior to the drop. Something that I did notice was that I associated the sound and vibe straight away to Stray Kids, which is definitely a good sign, as this means Stray Kids have a sound (at least, to me). The rapping and vocal work were equally superb. I am just not keen on the abrupt ending, though I had a feeling it was coming. (9.5/10)
4. Booster– The group throws punches with Booster and they land these punches perfectly each time. It brings back the more powerful synths and definitely packed a lot of energy within its instrumental composition. I do think it could have been bolder, as it did feel a little tame. I found the vocals to be more melodic, with the melody in the chorus reminding me of ‘00s tracks. The rapping is a little more robust and gives it that roughness that I have come to expect with Stray Kids. (8/10)
7. Sunshine– Sunshine is a ballad with a typical Stray Kids touch. And quite a soothing one at certain moments. Ballads tend to draw out more of a delicate side of a group. And this was definitely apparent when it came to the vocal sections of the song. The rapping and autotune is that twist I mentioned, and it prevented that delicate side to fully flourish. I wished that maybe they kept the autotune to a minimum so that Sunshine can be a little more impactful. I did like the pulsing beat and appreciate their execution for this song, overall. (7.5/10)
8. You Can STAY – For those who don’t know, the group’s fandom name is STAYs. And given the emphasis of the word STAY in the title, You Can Stay is essentially a track for their fans, thanking them for making their members better. It is a nice track. I find it particularly refreshing, but that might be me experiencing sweltering temperatures in the past week. I did like the brightness that came from the track, thanks to the vibrant and bouncy instrumental. I particularly like the ‘uh-like’ synth in the instrumental, helping make the song memorable. (8/10)
9. Mixtape #5 – In the past, I never reviewed their Mixtape tracks. However, that changed earlier in the year when I sat down to review them as part of the Yellow Wood album review. So, I made the executive decision to also review them on their original albums from now on. It essentially is a song abut the colder weather and some of the lyrics is about their outfit. There is a fun touch to the band instrumentation, and it felt jazzy in some cases. I also found the track to be quite lively, which is something different in the season of emotions. (8/10)
Red Velvet is nominated for Best Female Group, Best Music Video and Best Female (Group) Choreography in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Voting closes on the 31st of December, which is almost a week away. So to support Red Velvet, click here to vote for them in the survey!
A major release this late into the final month of year tends to be quite rare, as groups are preparing from the end of year music festivals and other special events. But it seems like we will be getting a couple this year. The first is by Red Velvet, who returns with the final part of the ReVe Festival. The title track for this release is Psycho. Previously, the group returned earlier in the year with Zimzalabim and Umpah Umpah, as part of the ReVe Festival series.
Zimzalabim was probably one of their craziest tracks, while Umpah Umpah ended up resolving to be a regular pop track for Summer. So it was hard to form an expectation for Psycho. But it ended up being an urban pop dance track that felt very polished and refined. I would also say this would be a logical follow up to the R&B sound that we got through Bad Boy. Just Psycho ends up being much more appealing for me. The instrumental backdrop felt simple, allowing the vocals to do majority of the hard work. There was some falsettos in the pre-chorus and I really like how they all sing the chorus, making the song feel more impactful. The chorus also had this very addictive swaying effect, which helped make the song more alluring. The melodies also kept the song feeling fresh and smooth. There was a slight moment of rapping which I felt they could have extended to give the song an extra boost of oomph. But other than that, Red Velvet comes out with another smashing song.
The title Psycho definitely alludes to something eerie and dark. And I really like how the music video nails this idea. In terms of visual concepts, I must admit that Red Velvet is one of the most versatile groups ever. Of course, their stylists should also get a shout out for really helping Red Velvet pull off these changes. There seems to be a 1930’s vibe to the music video, given the sets and some of their outfits. Wendy’s shorter white coloured hair style is probably the biggest change of all. Each member looks very creepy, with the production team putting together a music video that makes the members look like crazed psychos/stalkers throughout the video.
Based on what I can see in the music video, the moves look like there is a bit of attitude infused into it. And it makes sense given the song style. Some parts look a little weak, while others look quite strong. So it would help if there was some live performance (to make a better judgement). But I don’t think there will be any until Christmas Day (25th of December) when the group’s first stage is scheduled at the SBS Gayo Festival. But for now, I think I rest with the comment that the choreography is satisfying.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 9.1/10
NEWKIDD’s debut track, Tu eres, is eligible for Best Song in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. It is very simple to select Tu eres as one of the best tracks of the year. Simply click the link here, vote for your favourite artists in the various categories and in the final question, type in ‘Tu eres – NEWKIDD’ along with four other of your favourite songs of 2019. Make sure to press submitonce you are done!
As mentioned a few reviews ago, I will slowly catch up on some reviews that I have missed, as we round out 2019. I had to take a short break from this, but I am now back and ready to do a review blitz. This review’s focus is on NEWKIDD’s first comeback track, Come. This was released on the 28th of November. And as far as I know, the track didn’t get much attention. Hopefully this review will help get the group and song a few extra listeners. Previously the male group made their debut with Tu eres.
One way to really draw attention to the song from the get-go is to do what Come did. It kicked the song off with the blaring brass-like synth that really caught my attention. And with an opening like this, I just had to keep on listening. The verses is a lot smoother, going with a sleek beat and vocals that just kept on flowing. The opening synth returns for the chorus, but this time they added deep vocals with some edge and attitude to give it a different feel. We return to the smoother verses, throwing us into the typical rap-vocal lineup that songs tend to opt for during the second verse. But the song doesn’t repeat the chorus. The song then changes up once again, returning with the same synth based instrumentation. But the vocals are changed, giving the song an even sleeker texture. It is a bold track and a definite improvement from the group’s debut track. There is something lacking that weighs it down and prevents it from being memorable. But what we got is very satisfying. There is definitely potential behind this track and group, waiting to be discovered. And Come is a step in the right direction.
When it comes to music videos, I think it is clear that I do prefer the darker and edgy concepts. Compared to the music video for Tu eres, Come‘s video is definitely superior. I liked the mysterious nature of the video. It gives off an intriguing feel and I felt that a plot felt like it could have intertwined in the video, particularity when Hansol picks up the diamond at the end of the video. But the closeups felt just like closeups in the video and don’t offer much else to the video. I liked the emphasis on red and gold in this video, popping out from the darkness that surrounds the set.
The group definitely gives off a lot of charisma in this comeback and this is shown very clearly throughout the stages. Their smiles throughout the choreography was very alluring. I thought their chorus routines were very edgy, sleek and powerful this time around. Good job!
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 7.5/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.6/10
NCT is nominated for BestMale Group, while both NCT Dream and NCT 127are nominated for Best Subunit. NCT Dream is also nominated for Best Male (Group) Choreography and Best Collaboration (with Yeri from Red Velvet). Click here to support NCT and their subunits before the 31st of December.
While EXO hasn’t released a Christmas single for the past two years, it seems like other SM artists may be taking the mantle. NCT U has reformed into a four member subunit (Jaehyun, Taeil, Haechan and Doyoung) for the release of Coming Home, which is part of the SM Station X project. This is also the first NCT U release since 2018’s Boss (one of my favourite songs of the year!).
Per the Christmas singles that EXO have released in the past, Coming Home comes in the form of a ballad. Made up of classical instruments, the background has this very warm and soothing vibe to it, but this is a rather typical aspect when it comes to Winter singles. But I like how there isn’t a stillness to the instrumental compared to other ballads (i.e. they are made of strictly one or two instruments). There are number of instruments working together in this song at any one second, and this really helps push the song along in a captivating manner. I could also sense an elegant vibe to the song. Compared to the other ballad that I reviewed during the week, this one has a little extra appeal to it. This added layer of appeal can be attributed to the vocal work. Jaehyun, Taeil, Haechan and Doyoung are the part of the vocal line of NCT, so it was expected that we would be getting some sort of vocal push to it. However, we are treated to powerhouse vocals in this song, especially with all the high notes at the end. The song also allows the members to showcase and move about (in terms of their vocals), showcasing and exploring their talents in this department. Overall, Coming Home is a Winter single to enjoy.
At the start of the music video, we are shown the members of this NCT U lineup in a way that gives off the impression that they are alone. But as the the video comes to an end, we are shown the member are actually very close by as they walk in the background of each other’s shot. The song is about coming home to a loved one. But I think at the end it is shown that Jaehyun is the one going home and he is only imagining the other members as they are the people he is going home to. It is a nice concept and I liked how it wasn’t as emotionally charged as other songs. I really like their outfits and the sets created for this video.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
Park Ji Hoon’s performance for L.O.V.E is nominated for Best Solo Choregraphy in this year’s KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support Park Ji Hoon and your other favourite artists by clicking here to vote.
Between now and the end of the year, there will be three more album reviews (inclusive of this one). The first of the final three 2019 albums to be reviewed this year is Park Ji Hoon’s 360. His title track also shares the same name as the album. This is strong album from the solo artist, further highlighting his potential in the industry. Former co-member of Wanna One, Kim Jae Hwan, also participated in the album by co-writing the lyrics of the final track, Strange. To see what I thought of it, keep on reading!
360 Album Cover
1. I AM (Introductory Track) – Usually, I do not review the introductory track as it tends to be just an instrumental piece of some kind. However, if it contains vocals, I will include it in the review. Based on these criteria, you can tell by now that I AM contains Park Ji Hoon’s vocals. The track kicks off with a soft piano start, before transforming into a full-fledged EDM dance track. I really like his vocals in this song, especially paired with the background vocals and also the way he emphasised the English during the ‘chorus’ of the intro track. I also thought this was a nice and bright lead into the title track, 360. (8.5/10)
3. Whistle – Whistle takes a brighter approach, reminding the listener of Summer. It is super energetic and the instrumental even contains some subtle island sounds, hence why is suits the hotter months of the year. Park Ji Hoon does a really good job with his vocal work. His rapping, on the other hand, felt a tad too heavy and serious for the upbeat sound. I really liked the chorus of the song, with the ‘Whistle, Whistle now, Oh Oh Oh…’ keyed into my memory bank. I also like the fancy piano bridge we got. But it did feel a little ill-fitting for such a vibrant and energetic sound. But apart from that, it is a good track. (8/10)
4. Hurricane – When I saw a track titled Hurricane, I expected something a little more erratic than a smooth sailing track that Hurricane ended up being like. It isn’t a bad track, but I wish that Park Ji Hoon’s production team would be a little more ambitious with his sound. And besides, I feel like Park Ji Hoon would suit an edgy song. The song included some flute work, which did sound nice. His vocals did feel a little tight and I think it would have been a little nicer to hear some space in his vocals during some parts, especially paired with an easygoing and light-ish sound. I did like the chorus and the odd ad-lib that Park Ji Hoon throws in the background. (8/10)
5. Casiopea(닻별) – It seems like my prayers that I mentioned in the previous song’s review are answered. Casiopea is distinctively different to his previous tracks, throwing a whole heap of that requested edge. It has sharp impact to its sound through its snare drum-like instrumentation. I also really liked how they kept on pushing the song by adding to the instrumental. It helped it develop the song and really gave it a dynamic touch. His voice helped inject a bunch of textures throughout the song, which I thought was really cool. His rapping is also quite unique, very unlike his other tracks. (9/10)
6. Still Love U – The last two tracks on the album are the softer tracks on the whole album. Still Love U still has the upbeat sound to it and I can imagine a nice choreography routine paired to it. I thought the beat was cool and consistent, but the instrumental felt somewhat bland. His focus on vocals really showed in this song. As a rapper, there is a bit of a husky and raspy tone in this song, which really helped the appeal of the track. Given the lyrics, it is a sweet song which I am sure would appeal to fans as well. Overall, not bad. (7.5/10)
7. Strange (이상해) – The final song on the album is Strange. It is an R&B track with sweet lyrics, ending the album on a very positive note. Interestingly, the song doesn’t really get into the ‘strange’ territory. There is the odd quirk with a sudden deep autotune twist at the mid-point of the song and few other smaller sections throughout the song. Park Ji Hoon’s shows off several different vocal technique in this track that showcases his capabilities. But whether he nails it, I am not too sure. I really like the chanting part of the song, which was my favourite bit. (7.5/10)
Many of your favourite artists are nominated in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. To find out who is nominated and to vote for your favourite artists, click here to be taken to the voting page!
Super Junior was active this year through the release of Time_Slip, SUPER Clap and I Think I. However, Sungmin did not participate in this year’s comeback. In fact, Sungmin has been an inactive member of the group since 2015, after fans demanded for his departure from the group due to his marriage. However, on the 22nd of November, Sungmin made his official solo debut with Orgel. This is Sungmin’s first solo track since the release of Day Dream in 2018 as part of SM Station.
Sungmin, while still active as a member of Super Junior, held the role of lead vocalist. And as cliche as it is (for a lead or main vocalist), Sungmin’s official debut song comes in the form of a ballad. Unfortunately, the cliche release doesn’t really offer anything new and felt like a typical ballad that we hear often at this time of the year. I have listened to Orgel a number of times since its release a month ago, but the song has sadly not stuck with me. It was often forgotten and I haven’t gone out my way to actually seeking the track to listen to it. Paired with a simple yet warming instrumentation featuring piano and acoustic guitar (made to sound like a music box, which I think was the intention based on the title of the song), we are given an opportunity to hear Sungmin’s vocals once again. He sounds nice, with a raspy voice and showcases falsettos during the chorus. And this does a lot to make the song feel appealing. But I don’t think that is enough to make the ballad a stand out. I do like ballads, but this one just felt standard to me.
Orgel, in Korean, means music box. And as mentioned in the song section of the review, the music does give off a music box vibe. In addition to that, something that I felt while watching the music video is that the song ended reminding me of the nice feeling when the sun manages to shine through the blinds in the morning and you wake up as a result. And we do get some of that through the natural lighting present in the music video, as Sungmin walks around the neighborhood. The music box that is shaped like a carousel is what he uses as inspiration for this song and the music that he writes in the video. And it seems like the mentioned music box also reminds me of his childhood, getting him to flip through that book with the cute drawings. Overall, I thought it was a nice video, going hand-in-hand with the song.
Song – 5.5/10 Music Video – 7/10 Overall Rating – 6.1/10
So many artists are nominated this year in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, including BLACKPINK, Dream Catcher, Red Velvet, Oh My Girl, CLCetc. Click here to support your favourite artists before the 31st of December.
I am finally getting around to finishing the album reviews that I intended to do from October and November (every album review up from the next one to the end of the year are December releases). The final album from November and the focus of today’s album review is AOA’s New Moon, which was released on the 27th of November. This is the group’s first comeback since reforming a five member. Changing the number of members is always a challenge, particularly if the group has been well known for a previous set of members (i.e. AOA’s OT7). But I found that AOA’s return (through this album) was definitely proves that they haven’t been impacted negatively by the change in lineup and is still a force to be reckoned with.
3. Magic Spell (주문을 외워봐) – AOA shows an even stronger profile through Magic Spell. It is a typical pop track. But it features a bold and powerful rolling drum beat. There are some rock influences embedded in the instrumental, which really emphasis that strong side I am talking about. Alongside the whistling in the instrumental, I think the track ends up being very dynamic. I thought the vocal work was one of the best yet and the Jimin’s rapping packs a punch as expected from the rapper herself. One other thing I love about this track is the energy that comes off it, which also helps the track to become memorable. (9/10)
4. Ninety Nine – We start off with a sketchy autotune section courtesy of Jimin, with the lyrics just recognizable. The track then changes its tone with a more seductive and attitude heavy verse, on top of some bass guitars. The pre-chorus features some twinkling profiles, while guitars and falsettos are the main component of the chorus and the rest of the song. I thought the melody was quite strong and this helped the song become quite iconic on this album. The lyrics also go towards the suggestive/sensual side of the spectrum, which was definitely interesting. The song ends with another sketchy autotune segment, which I still have not warmed up to, despite it being at the start and end of the song. (8.5/10)
5. My Way – We end the album with My Way, which has a bold retro sound to it. The retro sound can be attributed to the brass present and the very deep thumping in the background helped with giving the song some stability. Though, I think the retro sound was loss towards the end thanks to the electric guitar. It was a catchy song, with strong hooks and a very appealing instrumental. I really like how the song pushed along with its momentum. Jimin’s rap sequence was also an interesting change up to the song, giving it edge and power in a unique sense. (8/10)
A reminder that voting for the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards have opened and will close this coming December 31st. Have your say on who is the best of the best by clicking here to vote for your favourites! Remember that YOU decide the winners!
Another week has gone by and we are slowly counting the down the days to Christmas and the New Year. And we are slowly seeing the influx of Christmas songs in the KPOP industry (though it seems a lot less than usual) and the resurgence of carols that you just unconsciously start humming while shopping. But as it is another Sunday, let’s have a look at the ranking of songs during the past week in the Weekly KPOP Charts segment.
For the past few weeks, we have seen Mamamoo and GOT7 fight each other for the top spot. However this week, Stray Kid’s Levanter manages to bypass both Mamamoo and GOT7 for the top spot. Mamamoo’s HIP finds itself in the second position, while GOT7 dropped out of the Top 5 this week. Kim Jae Hwan’s The Time I Need finds itself in the third position, while IU’s Blueming rises back into the Top 5, sitting snugly in the fourth position. Finally, WJSN remains steady with As You Wish, completing the Top 5 for the second week in a row. For more of the charts, scroll down below.
8th Dec – 14th Dec 2019
Title
Artist
Status
1
Levanter
Stray Kids
(new)
2
Hip
Mamamoo
(▼ 1)
3
The Time I Need
Kim Jae Hwan
(new)
4
Blueming
IU
(▲ 3)
5
As You Wish
WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
(=)
6
360
Park Ji Hoon
(=)
7
Remember Me
BDC
(▲ 42)
8
Numb
CIX
(▲ 11)
9
You Calling My Name
GOT7
(▼ 7)
10
Come See Me
AOA
(▲ 4)
11
Blue Flame
ASTRO
(▼ 3)
12
Curious About U
Lee Jun Young (U-KISS)
(▼ 9)
13
Touchin’
Kang Daniel
(▼ 2)
14
Above The Time
IU
(▲ 7)
15
Oopsie (My Bad)
NATURE
(▲ 21)
16
Obsession
EXO
(▼ 12)
17
Follow
MONSTA X
(▲ 11)
18
Wannabe
Golden Child
(▼ 1)
19
Astronaut
Stray Kids
(▼ 9)
20
Sweet Chaos
DAY6
(▲ 2)
21
Nuna
Kim Jae Hwan
(new)
22
Sweater
Ailee
(new)
23
Starry Night
BoA
(new)
24
Forever Love
Yoo Youngjae
(▼ 6)
25
Wonder Woman
Brown Eyed Girls
(▼ 1)
26
Poison
VAV
(▲ 17)
27
Nostalgia Night
VICTON
(▼ 4)
28
Flower Shower
Hyuna
(▲ 21)
29
Aurora
Rainbow
(▲ 20)
30
Coming Home
NCT U
(new)
Songs leaving the charts this week include:
Set Me Free – Ladies Code [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
SUPER CLAP – Super Junior [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
Dear Love – Lim Hyunsik (BTOB) [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
Good BAM – N.Flying [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
Blah Blah – 1THE9 [Fulfilled 9 Weeks on Charts]
Silent Movie – Yubin ft. Yoo Mi Rae [Leaving Charts Early]
Kim Jae Hwan is nominated for Best New Male Solo Artist. Begin Again isalso eligible for Best Song of 2019 (The Time I Need and Nuna are NOT eligible this time around). To support Kim Jae Hwan and your other favourite artists, click here to vote before the 31st of December.
I have one major tick box that needs to be ticked when it comes to writing these reviews. It needs a music video. When Kim Jae Hwan released The Time I Need two days ago, it did not have a music video. And hence I decided not to proceed with the review. But a music video was released yesterday, so now the review can be written. Accompanying The Time I Need is Nuna, as the second title track. But there is no music video, so no review. This is also Kim Jae Hwan’s first comeback after the release of Begin Again earlier this year.
It was slightly surprising to hear that Kim Jae Hwan didn’t release a ballad this time around as the title track. I had expected another ballad from the soloist, particularly given how ballads are well suited for the colder season. But at the same time, I am happy to hear that he is branching out with his sound in the main track off his mini-album. I found The Time I Need to be a very pleasant song. However, it is a typical pop track and it unfortunately doesn’t develop into anything grand or epic. Though, I did like the consistent fast keyboard tapping in the instrumental as it came off somewhat striking. What does earn a big tick is that Kim Jae Hwan’s voice was shown off nicely. Some parts were slightly muffled, which helped transform the song into some you would hear off a record player. I thought that was a nice and interesting touch. Overall, it was still a nice track. It just needed to develop in some manner to be even more interesting.
The main set that the music video looked really cool. The 3D clock that came out of floor is definitely going to be an iconic look. And if it doesn’t get to that status that it will definitely be an underrated set up. I also thought the colour emphasis was really good. The green scenes looked really beautiful, while the clock set were well accented with just the colour black. The sunset scenes with the yellow wall looked really nice, while Kim Jae Hwan’s red leather jacket gave off a bold look. The lighting played a really important part in the music video, especially during the sundial replication scenes. Overall, ticks all around for the music video.
A song about time should include clocks. They obviously did so in the music video. And I liked how they also included it in the choreography. The start looked really nice, with the backup dancers spinning arm clocks. The circular formations and flailing arms looked really cool during the chorus as well. The female back up dancer felt liked a shadow, which I thought looked really cool technique, as well.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8.5/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
TXT is nominated for Best New Male Group and Best Music Video (for Crown). To support TXT, click here to vote for them and your other favourite groups before December 31st!!!
Now this is one very delayed album review. TXT returned back in October with Run Away (also titled as Nine & Three Quarters), which was featured on their second mini-album, The Dream Chapter: MAGIC. The main reason to why I held back their album review was due to the release of a few music videos during the ‘Album Review Blitz’ I did at the end of November/start of December. But I have since realized that I won’t be able to write separate reviews for them, so I will look at the music videos some other time. And that brings us back to their album review, which I will finally publish today.
The Dream Chapter: Magic Album Cover
1.New Rules – The first song on the album starts us off with a fun and vibrant sound, which I quite like. The instrumental has this retro funk that really gives it that fun tone during the chorus, otherwise it would have been a very standard dance number. But the song manages to keep the retro funk subtle, allowing the song to get serious. I also like the rock touch that the song has, which helped supply intensity to the song. The group’s vocals were good but the rapping was probably the bigger highlight, especially when it went low and almost whisper-like, giving the song a very intriguing start and end. (8/10)
3. Roller Coaster – Roller Coaster is memorable, but it might only be so for a bad reason. All is good with the track up until the chorus. Everyone is saying it felt choppy. But to me, that piece was continuously looped. I am troubled by it, as it catches me off guard each time I listen to it and it does sound off-putting. Though, I assume that this was done for a reason. I just can’t see any reason that validates it. Some people have theorised that this was done to stimulate a roller coaster, but I don’t get this feeling at all. The vocal work in this song is pretty good, with it being consistent throughout the track. But that is the only thing good I can say about the track. (5/10)
4. Poppin’ Star – We are treated with a soft-ish bubblegum pop-like through Poppin’ Star. It is still a dance track, but it’s extremely light and doesn’t pack any heavy synths in its instrumental. The group members sound more like their age in this track, innocent and very youthful. It isn’t anything special, but it was likeable and enjoyable. (7/10)
5. Can’t We Just Leave The Monster Alive? – Henceforth referred to as Alive, the track brings back the tropical house and island influences, a trend that has disappeared. Its presence is slightly refreshing, as it has been some time since I have heard this style (oh, what a break can do to you). I like the how the pre-chorus becomes light, before they throw the tropical/island sounds at us. While their vocal work and rapping was okay, I wanted more from this department. It gives the song a linear profile and pretty much made Alive feel one-dimensional. (6/10)
6. Magic Island– Magic Island gives off an enlightening tone whilst dabbling in the R&B genre. It is the soft track, showcasing the groups vocals. I did like the huskier tone they incorporated into their voices, giving the smooth song some texture. The whistling in the background was a nice small detail. Overall, I find Magic Island to be quite different, given the fact that the group has been doing mainly dance songs up until now. I would like to hear the group explore this sound, provided they don’t put typical sound destinations on their itinerary. (8/10)
7. 20cm – The group gets even huskier in 20cm, compared to their other tracks. They also answer my wish for further exploration of this side of the group. My first impression of the song was that it felt like a BTS track. Even some of their voices sounded similar to the senior group. While the song was soft and the instrumental being almost ballad-like, I really liked how they used to the vocals to build up the song. It allows for a stronger focus on the vocals and made the song so much more captivating. What the song needed was a rap sequence, which I think would have really suited this song. (8.5/10)
8. Angel or Devil – Angel Or Devil returns the group’s sound to its more upbeat dance roots. The song seems to showcase subtle island influences in the background, but it overall felt like a typical dance track. I liked the fun and carefree vibe that came from the song. I also felt both the singing and rapping was on point in this track, bringing a slight hip-hop influence. It was also very catchy, bringing the album to a close on a very addictive note. (8.5/10)
Ailee is nominated for Best Female Solo Artist in the 2019 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. To support Ailee and your other favourite artists, click here to vote before the 31st of December.
Earlier this year, Ailee made her long awaited comeback with Room Shaker. However, it was quickly forgotten due to lack of promotions and what was assumed to be conflict with her managing company. But since then, Ailee has signed with another company, making way for new releases in the future. She has also signed with an American company for future releases in the Western market. Her first release since signing on with different companies comes in the form of Sweater, a single released in both Korean and English.
Described as a Christmas ballad, Ailee draws our attention to Sweater in an effortless manner by appealing to our emotions through a beautiful and elegant sounding piece. Per usual, the ballad opts for a simple piano and violin instrumental, providing a very bare blank canvas for Ailee’s vocals to paint a picture on. And the image she manages to draw just sounds amazing. Her voice alone captivates and builds in a manner that makes the song as captivating as a dance track that builds perfectly into a dynamic piece. The only thing that changes between the two versions of the song are the language that the lyrics are in. I had expected there to be minute differences in the melody or overall audio aesthetics of the song (as often observed in Japanese version of Korean tracks and vice versa), but Ailee seems to have managed to polished both in a manner that these minute differences are well covered up or are non-existent.
Yes, you can feel the emotions when you listen to Ailee sing the song. But the music video just enhances the emotions you feel so that it is a lot more impact. Everyone we see in the music video has experienced loss. And from what I know, Christmas in Korea is more of a time to spend with your lover or friend, rather than family. So in this video, we see the first guy leave flowers by the intersection where his fiance was killed. The piano playing lady lost her husband and is counting down the days to his anniversary. The female student lost her mother, while the old man lost his wife. But each of these people have an item from their significant other. The guy has the two rings, the piano lady has a diary, the student has a key ring and old man has a notepad of his wife’s recipes. The saddest part is seeing them hold these items to themselves and watching them cry, as Ailee’s voice echoes in the background. In the end, we see them with their loved ones in a shop, showing the bond they had and still have during the Christmas period.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 10/10
A reminder that your favourite artists may be nominated in the 2019KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Click here to vote for them before voting closes this coming December 31st.
The legendary BoA has returned with a new mini-album. Newer fans of the KPOP genre may not know BoA, who made her debut back in 2000 and has since become the Queen of KPOP due to her many successful hits throughout the years. Yesterday, the Queen herself returned with the eponymous title track and mini-album, Starry Night. BoA previously returned to the industry with Feedback earlier in the year.
The one reason to why Feedback never got a review was simply I found it very boring and couldn’t think of anything to express my views in an appropriate manner without stating the obvious. So, when I heard that BoA was returning, I knew that I had to write a review to make up for the skipped review. Unfortunately, Starry Night gives off a similar first impression. It stays fairly safe and consistent with its twinkling instrumental and doesn’t develop into a more interesting track as it progresses. It is pleasant-sounding and extremely light, so don’t me wrong. There is also a warm feeling that the song does extremely well putting forward thanks to the husky vocals of the two singers (which also makes it well suited for the colder season). Both BoA and Crush vocals have been established in the past and Starry Night further reiterates this. Their harmonies were also quite nice, showing us that the pairing was ideal. But other than that, it needed something to make it captivating. Otherwise, it feels like another typical Winter track on our playlists, easily forgotten once the season is over.
I thought this was a very nice video, reflecting well with the warm sound that the song showcases. Firstly, it shows how sometimes your day can be frustrating or how it just go wrong (i.e. lock yourself out of your car or house, or how the vending machine just doesn’t work properly). But after a long day, everything will somehow work out, as it did for everyone in this video. In the case of the video, everyone had the help of a starry night, which gave them hope. The starry night in the music video happens to be BoA in a dazzling silver dress, that glimmers perfectly in the presence of the light directed at her. It looked really beautiful.
Song – 5.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 6.5/10
KPOPREVIEWED 