Making his solo return yesterday was Sandeul with One Fine Day. It has been a while since we heard from Sandeul or B1A4 for that matter. The group went through some changes recently, with Jinyoung and Baro (the group’s most popular members) departing WM Entertainment (which leaves a very large question mark on top of the group’s name) and CNU’s military enlistment. Hence their lack of members has left B1A4 absent from the public. Sandeul’s last comeback was his solo debut, which occurred back in 2016 with Stay As You Are.
It is no surprise to me that that One Fine Day is a ballad. That is also no surprise, as well, coming from Sandeul, who is quite well known for his vocals in the industry. One Fine Day has a straightforward ballad instrumental, consisting of mainly piano which builds up to a climatic classical infused track. Based on that description, there really isn’t anything fresh or new about the track. The one thing does stand out is Sandeul’s voice for me. I find his vocals to be a little different from before and this becomes a drawing point for me. I find the melody to be soothing and I can feel some emotions creeping up on you towards the end of the track. As much as I think it is decent, the track does seem to drag on, mainly because it is 5 minutes long (which tends to be uncommon in the industry). Decent yes but I don’t think it will be a song that I would continuous replay due to its length. I feel like multiple listens will make this song extremely heavy on me and that wouldn’t be a ‘soothing’ feeling.
The music video falls in line with other relationship centred ballads. But it is one of those rare cases where the majority of the story is there and you don’t have to guess your way through it. Sandeul and the actress meet in a very empty theatre and their relationship blossomed from there. I find this to be a cute relationship and their interactions depict them as a genuine couple. I think along the way, their relationship does seem to become lost and they end up breaking up. While I think she tried to break up in a ‘clean fashion’, he does end up chasing after her, leaving her in tears. I also feel like the bus stop scene was after their breakup and they go onto one last bus trip into the sunset (she doesn’t smile when he smiles and he takes the bus back during the nighttime in tears). I think this indicates that he let her go but tried his best to be cheerful for her. Like these small details and thought it was a nice yet typical story.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
Probably one of the biggest comebacks of last week was Lee Hi’s long-awaited return. And unfortunately, I missed it and delayed the review until today. Not to blame other people but I felt like if the comeback didn’t seem too sudden (Her teasers did come out of nowhere for me at least), I would have planned it into my agenda somehow. No One is Lee Hi’s first comeback since 2016 after the release of My Star. Since its release last Thursday, the song has topped charts all over South Korea, showcasing her power has remained the same despite an almost three-year break.
To me, No One starts off with a decent reggae beat. I did feel like the song did lose that particular colour that we normally associate with reggae as we progressed along with the song. While I think that sound compliments Lee Hi’s well-known vocals well, this ‘ loss of colour’ does make way for B.I’s rap feature. It gives the song a blast of intensity, which I think was much needed. Particularly after choruses that did not really seem to be captivating and were significantly underwhelming in my opinion. And it is because of this, I feel like the song hasn’t had the opportunity to stick into my head. It isn’t memorable and it doesn’t have me wanting to replay it. Based on what I have written, I think it is safe to say that I am not exactly into the song. The only thing (at this very stage) that has me interested is the fact that Lee Hi sounds like she curses in the song. ‘Officially’, I think she is singing a Korean word, but there is no doubt that about the presence of the ‘Shit’ in the song (even the English lyrics say so!). I am surprised about the lack of publicity or comments about this.
Not exactly sure what is going on in this video. But Lee Hi seems to be playing a cat with big dreams of falling in love and going on an adventure. While I do think the video is very YG, I felt the video to be extremely bland. I feel like the video is a good reflection of how expressionless Lee Hi’s face, as we have seen throughout her career. On top of that, we are treated to a lot of it throughout the video, as it did a good job of portraying some mystery. Lee Hi looks very pretty and mature in this video, which I think everyone is appreciating. I am not sure about B.I’s hair though. I did catch me off guard and looked messy (I talk from experience as I have a similar shaggy-like haircut as well at the moment).
From memory, Lee Hi doesn’t participate much in the choreography aspect of her performances. So it was nice to see her participate during the chorus. Though, it did seem obvious that she was more focused on live singing and not really perfecting the moves. As for the dance moves, I felt that they were quite bland, channelling the rest of the comeback.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 6/10 Performance – 6.5/10 Overall Rating – 6.1/10
Welcome back to the Weekly Charts post for this week. As you can see, reviews this week from me were probably rarer than some group’s comebacks. Hahahaha… I have been just loaded with assignments from the university. And while I have wrapped some up, I still got a few to go on with. But I do have the week off, so I will try to do better this week. But then again, I should study for my exams…
Topping the charts this week is, once again, EXID’s Me & You. As this is their last song for a while, let’s hope they do not keep us waiting for long and that they can top charts with some new songs soon! Rising to the second position is AB6IX’s Breathe, the group’s formal debut track released last week. Oh My Girl’s The Fifth Season (SSFWL) and GOT7’s Eclipse remains steady this week in the third and fourth positions respectively. Finally, the final song in this week’s Top 5 is CLC’s Me, which I expect to rise further on next week’s chart!
For more of the charts, scroll down below!
26th May – 1st Jun 2019
Title
Artist
Status
1
Me & You
EXID
(=)
2
Breathe
AB6IX
(▲ 9)
3
The Fifth Season (SSFWL)
Oh My Girl
(=)
4
Eclipse
GOT7
(=)
5
Me
CLC
(new)
6
UNDER COVER
A.C.E
(▲ 11)
7
Beautiful Days
Lovelyz
(▲ 3)
8
Superhuman
NCT 127
(▲ 1)
9
Twilight
ONEUS
(new)
10
Begin Again
Kim Jae Hwan
(▼ 8)
11
Feedback
Ladies Code
(▲ 7)
12
Really Really
Cherry Bullet
(▼ 7)
13
Ah Yeah
WINNER
(▲ 8)
14
No One
Lee Hi ft. B.I (iKON)
(new)
15
Bet Bet
NU’EST
(▼ 2)
16
SSFW
Chanyeol (EXO)
(▲ 35)
17
Hollywood
AB6IX
(▼ 1)
18
Runaway
Eric Nam
(▲ 11)
19
Violeta
IZ*ONE
(▼ 5)
20
Unspoken Words
DAVICHI
(▲ 6)
21
Focus
Kim Dong Han
(▲ 20)
22
You’re My
Jung Daehyun
(▲ 10)
23
Dramatic
BVNDIT
(▼ 4)
24
Spring Again
Golden Child
(▲ 19)
25
You
Xiumin (EXO)
(▲ 25)
26
Kill This Love
BLACKPINK
(▼ 2)
27
Spring Memories
N.Flying
(▲ 24)
28
Fancy
TWICE
(▲ 3)
29
Beautiful
TARGET
(▼ 4)
30
Bloom Bloom
The Boyz
(▼ 10)
Songs leaving the charts this week include:
Violeta – IZ*ONE
Beautiful Goodbye – Chen (EXO)
Bom – BOL4
Stars Over Me – BOL4
Universe – Minhyun (NU’EST)
Kill This Love – BLACKPINK
You’re My – Jung Daehyun
Hopefully, I will be back this week with more reviews! Expect Lee Hi’s review to be published sometime today! But just in case, see you next week!
I think one of the most anticipated comebacks of this week is CLC. For those who don’t know I been enjoying what the female group for Cube Entertainment has been putting out. I also think CLC has finally found their style and are sticking with this very edgy concept, especially after the success of Black Dress last year and No from earlier this year. Me’s teasers look like it is going to be an exciting comeback. So let’s have a review of Me.
I think the most prominent and memorable section of the track is the very heavy yet deep beat drop during the chorus. It does remind me of 4Minute’s Hate. This, however, feels very in your face and explosive. I personally quite like it because listening to this track is a wake-up call in its own way. And it is definitely a development in CLC’s mature song collection. I really like the hook of the track (Beautiful, Beautiful Me), as well. I really like the vocal section of the track. The pre-chorus was also a personal favourite section of mine. Mainly because we get to hear more of Seunghee’s vocals (who has pretty much been hidden since CLC has taken this concept change). I also really enjoyed that rush of energy her section delivers. I think the song would have benefited from a heavier rap sequence. What we got was a little bland in comparison to the rest of the song (i.e. they could have used a different instrumental beat (possibly hip-hop) that really brings more intensity. I will rather be overloaded with intensity in a song like this than not overwhelmed. But that is just my personal preference. Overall, a very good track.
Unfortunately, I am writing this review with very little time on my hands. So I don’t have any time to really sit down and take in the video. And I definitely do not have time to interpret the video. Though, there is something aesthetic about the video, which I think make it a very pleasant video to watch (if you don’t factor in the edginess of the song). If you think about it, the video doesn’t feel quite edgy, especially after you strip the music away. There is a play on beauty in this video with the number of masks and Seunghee admiring that painting at the start. There also seems to be an emphasis on art in the video. This is just me putting a poorly understood theory out there though. Out of all the sets in the video, I think the one with the red paint stroke was the best. It is simple but definitely speaks volumes.
I feel like the choreography does tick the edgy box. But it falls short if they were going for something sensual (which I kind of got from the verses). The song doesn’t really offer them a chance to showcase a sensual side since it was jam-packed with energy and had loud synths. I did like the chorus moves but I feel like, overall, the routine one wasn’t up to par compared to No or Black Dress.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 8.6/10
Apologies for the lack of reviews once again. I have been very busy and I am making some time today to squeeze in two reviews to just not fall way behind on the new releases. Returning today is ONEUS, a new male group who made their debut earlier in the year with Valkirye. Hence, this is ONEUS’ first comeback ever since their debut and their new title track is named Twilight. In related news, ONEUS’s band counterpart, ONEWE made their debut a few weeks back with Reminisce About All.
I personally find Twilight to be a nice continuation from the group’s debut track. I just find that it lacks some energy when it comes to the verses, which result in them not being not as memorable as the other parts of the track. I did find the guitar-based instrumentation in the verses to be interesting to an extent. They do set a moody tone to the track, which I think is the element that keeps Twilight in line with Valkirye. The choruses incorporate a more upbeat and trap-like instrumental. I found this to be, obviously, the more dynamic section of the track. But it wasn’t the most memorable section of the track. That is awarded to the pre-chorus, that the song opens up with. The combination of the thumping in the background and the tiny bit of raspiness goes a long way. I also like how one of the vocalists and the rapper combine their voices together towards the end of the pre-chorus to create an ultra rough and impactful section of the song. That really stood out for me. The rest of the vocals and raps were quite good, as well.
I really like the building they shot the video in. While I am not always a fan of these classy styled buildings, the way the director shot this video really made the castle-like building stand out. It is absolutely a well-appreciated changeup, especially since they were in a box for their debut music video. I am personally not sure if there is a story embedded in the video for not. It seems like that is the case with how serious and how they interact with various components in the video. I see that they played the backflip card in the video and I thought it was a little cliche, especially how many male groups have a member (or two) capable of doing the exact same thing.
But the backflip did showcase some fierceness in the music video. And I feel like that fierceness was brought along to the choreography as well. I think the fast-paced section of the chorus is definitely a decent example of the fierceness. I also like that slow spin move that did during the bridge of the performance. That was quite cool.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10
I will not be publishing any other album reviews this week as I won’t be able to find time to do so.
GOT7 made their comeback last week with another dynamic track, Eclipse. And knowing that I am a big fan of GOT7’s discography (as my previous album reviews), I am not going to delay listening to this album anymore. Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity is the group’s 9th mini-album to date and it features 6 songs in total (all of which I will review today!). The physical album also consists of the instrumental for the title track. Jinyoung, JB, Youngjae, BamBam and Yugyeom each had influence in the music or lyrics of certain songs on the album.
Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity Album Cover
1..1° – Starting off the entire album is 1°, which I am viewing as a very strong start. I find the song very captivating. The dramatic flair that the song introduces with their short violin-like effect is very appealing. The song does become a little traditional with its R&B tune, but I find the atmosphere to be quite uneasy, which I think goes hand-in-hand with insecurity message that the song had. I think what the song manages to do amazingly is showcase the vocals of the group. I was very impressed with all the members. I found Youngjae’s part in the first chorus to be very impactful. Changing from a whisper to loud vocals without any notice caught me off guard and I enjoyed that. The effect wasn’t the same for the following choruses (which was disappointing, but I now knew what I was expecting). I really enjoyed the rapping tone of the members as well. Overall, a strong start (as I mentioned earlier). (9/10)
3. The End (끝) – Following the very intense nature of ECLIPSE,The End opts for a more melodic and soft approach. I personally didn’t find the start of the song to be that captivating and it felt more typical than anything else. But within half a minute, I found the song developing into something intriguing. I would describe it to be very calming and dynamic, but these two words don’t really feel like they go together usually. Its melodic approach to the chorus is definitely an appealing aspect to the song for me. I really like that extra layer of instrumentation for the second half of the chorus, giving some more energy to the song. It was catchy and (once again) managed to showcase nice vocals and rapping. (9/10)
4. TIME OUT – I think TIME OUT could have been more appealing in the instrumentation domain. There is an intriguing factor with what they started off with, but I quickly got bored with this. There wasn’t much attempt to change it up, which I thought was a disappointing aspect. The vocals were pretty decent but that ‘TIME OUT’ shout just before each chorus felt very out of place, in my opinion. I do get the message of the song, but that shout felt more suited for a song with a more hyped up instrumental. But to speak of the song in a more positive light, I enjoyed its soft nature and liked how it continued break from the intense nature of the title track (I did need two songs to recuperate from its energy). (7/10)
5. Trust Me (믿어줄래) – Trust Me seems to edge us back into the intensity realm. And I think it did a wonderful job as it just doesn’t launch you right into dubstep or anything overwhelmingly intense. Instead, it incorporates what I think sounds like R&B into the mix. I really like the kick they give to the chorus. Not too upbeat and well balanced with the more uneventful style of verses. I think the song showcases their vocals and raps best. I am reading it as a ballad on other sites, but I thought it could have been a spin on a traditional pop track that you really enjoy. You know, the pop tracks that artists release that doesn’t require flashy choreography and sounds more typical than anything else (but is still good). (8.5/10)
6. Page – By having Trust Me before it, we can officially move to a very upbeat track without feeling like it was thrown out of nowhere. The upbeat track that GOT7 follows up with is Page, which I think it is a great club-music track. I thought it was quite fun, especially with Jackson and JB’s addictive launch into the song’s hook. I found this track to be very dynamic as a result of its upbeat combination. I did want the song to have more bass to be even more exciting and hyped up. But Page does a fantastic job of rounding out the album. And like the rest of the album, it features good vocals and rapping. (9/10)
Another big (and one that I am highly anticipating) comeback during the week that I, unfortunately, have yet to review. Cherry Bullet made their very first comeback with Really Really on Wednesday. Previously, the group made their debut with their very addictive and catchy Q&A, which I still replay (around) once or twice a week. Let’s see if the group can continue with what they left off with their new single, Really Really.
If I were to compare Really Really with Q&A (as that is my standard, given that they don’t have any other title tracks), the new single doesn’t really match or continue the momentum that their debut track had. But it did tick a few boxes. Really Really is another fun song in its own way. It is bright and bubbly, highly suitable for the Summer season once again. The vocal work was pretty good and the rapping was decent. The instrumental was a lacking aspect. While Q&A had a very powerful build-up (in my opinion), Really really had a lacklustre buildup. And because of that, I felt the chorus instrumentation wasn’t as dynamic as it could have been. I also felt that the chorus felt like a typical girl group release, as it didn’t have anything unique. Finally, I think the hooks could have been a little more powerful. I do feel like it is growing on me but ever so slowly. To sum up, Really Really is an okay song. It just didn’t fare well when compared to Cherry Bullet’s debut track.
What the music video continued with was the technological concept. Their debut music video had a futuristic video game concept embedded in it. Really Really opted for a video set more in the present but featured a lot of that electronic concept through the presence of augmented reality. And in a way, the video game concept continued on. Though, I guess their goal was to turn every heart into a cherry. The video also managed to incorporate some cuteness into it. While I do not enjoy this too much, I thought the song really allowed for the cuteness to filter through in a manner that didn’t feel overwhelming. After all, I did mention the song was bright and bubbly.
I did think the dance for this song was a little weak (For example, I thought the moves starting the chorus were a little slow and uneventful for the song). But watching it a number of times already, I am starting to think it is actually more fitting. Sure, I still like it to be a little more energetic and a little more powerful. But I can’t really think of the performance as any other way.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 7.5/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
The biggest news for NCT in 2019 thus far was the debut of their Chinese subunit, WayV. I do plan to go back to review their debut track at a later date, so watch this space. The next move from the mega group is the return of NCT 127 in South Korea. Today, the group returned with Superhuman, which they previously performed on Good Morning America back in April. The comeback track is featured on the group’s fourth mini-album, We Are Superhuman. This is also the group’s first comeback since Simon Says in Korea and Wakey-Wakey in Japan.
Based on the article by Soompi. the song is described as a ‘Complextro dance track with elements of EDM’. While my experience with music genres is quite limited, this is my first time hearing of this genre. So I think it would be safe to assume that this is the first of its kind in KPOP as well. Without the article. I would have described the song as a groovy EDM track with what seems to be a slight retro influence. I say this because the track felt something that SHINee would have released if they were still active as a group (Note – SHINee is currently in the army). It is right up the senior artist’s alley. Its unique style brings a mixture of different textures that allows the song to be very intriguing. I think the song does stand out vocally. I like how they push the vocals for the chorus, adding to the dynamics of the song. Also adding to this aspect are the raps. Like other NCT127 songs, the rapping does give the song some impact, despite the song already bring overloaded with a very memorable and punchy instrumental.
With its electronic style in its music, it is fair to assume that the music video would take a similar approach. Also fitting for the unit’s image is the fact that the video showcases a really edgy vibe. I think we could say it is their edgiest yet. I am not sure if everything comes together to form a story. Or if the video is just a bunch of solo shot and then choreography shots. I am leaning to the latter but there could be a slight possibility of the other. Watching the video, I felt the scenes built up with the music and this resulted in an awesome climatic ending.
To match the tempo and the electronic complexity of the track, the choreography had to be very powerful and complex. And NCT127 delivered in all aspects. I actually liked how they incorporated some sleek movements in their dance (i.e. the start and the start of each chorus). It was captivating and gripping in many ways.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8.5/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.9/10
As mentioned previously, EXID will be going on an indefinite hiatus after wrapping up promotions for their latest mini-album, WE. This is due to Hani and Junghwa not renewing contracts with their current company. However, despite this headline, the group have continually stressed that the group is not disbanding and that they will be continuing as a five-member group in the future. As this will be the group’s final mini-album for some time, I jumped on the opportunity to review the mini-album, which features 7 tracks, including an urban mix of their previous single, Lady, and the instrumental version of their title track, ME & YOU (Note that these two tracks will not contribute to the ‘Overall Album Rating’).
2. We Are – Reading the lyrics to this song, We Are is a song for the fans. The members thank their fans in the song and remind that ‘We Have Each Other’ no matter what. It is definitely touching and at certain times, you can hear some emotions behind their voices (particularly Solji’s part of the song). The song itself features an R&B influenced instrumental and a chorus that continually repeats the title of the song in a heavily autotuned fashion. I am not too troubled by this as it gave the song an interesting texture. But I do see how it does chip away at the emotive side of the song. Personally, my favourite part of the song is the ending, with each member singing one line to the outro. It is definitely a nice way to leave us for the time being. (8/10)
3. The Vibe (아끼지마) – Impact is delivered from the very first second with The Vibe. Hani starts off the song in a spectacular manner that I cannot stop replaying. And her vocal performance throughout the rest of the song is outstanding. Usually, Solji is the member that gets the attention for vocals. But Hani is the real winner in the song. The other members (including Solji) do display great vocals. And while I really like the bluesy feels of the song, I felt the song was lacking in the instrumental domain. Sure, a complex instrumental would have been detrimental to the song and hide the vocals in this track. But I think the one they stuck in The Vibe was relatively plain and almost bland (if it wasn’t for the vocals). (8/10)
4. How You Doin’ (어떻게지내) – This is probably my pick for best song on the album. How You Doin’ has a groovy beat that I cannot help but enjoy. The upbeat atmosphere was something missing on this album (excluding the title track), so I am quite appreciative of the energy it brings. Junghwa’s ‘How You Doin’’ repetition was addictive and hooked me onto the song. The vocals and rapping were amazing in this track, drawing me in from the start as well. Some of the members brought a husky tone to the song, which I really enjoyed. I personally do not think there is any disappointing second in this song, which is an excellent thing. (9/10)
5. Midnight (나의밤) – Midnight closes out this album review, but it isn’t the final song on the album. Midnight has a pleasant tone to it. I cannot deny that. The song just doesn’t have any aspect that I think it is worth diving in for a second or third listen. In other words, I find it to be the weakest song on the album. The vocals were okay, but they don’t offer anything interesting, as per the other songs on the album. Likewise, the hooks weren’t strong or memorable enough. The ‘Bam Ba Bam’ was probably my pick for the highlight for the song but it just didn’t stick around for much due to the progression of the lyrics. (6/10)
AB6IX may have been part of that big Wanna One reunion week back in May, which saw Yoon Ji Sung, Bae Jin Young, Hwang Min Hyun (as part of NU’EST) return with music. AB6IX made released their pre-debut track, Hollywood, which left a lasting impression that particular week. And it was promised at the end of the music video for Hollywoodthat the group would make their debut on the 22nd of May. Well, that day has finally arrived (it was yesterday!) and the five-member group have officially debuted with Breathe.
As I said, Hollywood left an impression on me. Breathe definitely tries to make that same lasting impression but I am confident in saying that the song fell short of that goal. At least, it has for the number of listens I have given the track. The house track definitely has aesthetics, namely that very sleek drop that started off the chorus. It was groovy and definitely appealing. I personally thought that was a really cool aspect of the song. Likewise, I felt the rapping to be another great aspect. Woojin’s deep voice, in particular, was so fitting for the song. The vocals were also definitely another highlight for me. However, the song did feel underwhelming as a whole. I wanted the rush of energy. I wanted something to really make them stand out of the crowd. I wanted something that comes off Hollywood‘s high and really drills AB6IX’s name into my mind. This was good but it didn’t deliver on those desires I had for AB6IX.
I like the video’s edgy vibe. And I feel like the images we saw on the screen really gave off an urban vibe, which I think is equally as suitable for the track. I find the smokiness or the haziness in those scenes other than the choreography was very fitting for the song’s title. I like how it added an extra mysterious layer to the video (or was that just me). I enjoyed how they converge at the end together, which I think ties up the video nicely. I also like their dance set (the one shown in the featured image). Another set but quite cool looking.
I found the performance to be very captivating. I really liked how they linked arms with each other just before the chorus. I thought that was really cool and definitely unique. I have rewatched the performance from today a few times already and I keep on picking up something new each time. I also like the energy in this performance. Not too crazy and upbeat, as that would be mismatching with the song. Instead, it is more subtle.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10
This week, we continue that reunion of Wanna One that we saw a few weeks back. The ‘next’ member to return to the industry is Kim Jae Hwan, who was the only member to resign with Swing Entertainment for his solo promotions (i.e. the company that Wanna One was signed under when they were promoting as a group). While it has been a while since we have heard from Kim Jae Hwan, the artist made his official debut on Monday with Begin Again, the title track on his first mini-album, Again.
It is the expectation that the main vocalists of a group would make their debut with a ballad. We have seen this happen countless times and Kim Jae Hwan was no exception. I personally thought the ballad was rather nice. It takes on a typical piano and classical instrumental approach. So there isn’t really much to comment on in this aspect. But there many that can be made about his vocals. I like how they do shine brightly over the typical instrumental. You can his voice with no hindrance, which I think was smart. I find his voice to be charming from his previous works as part of Wanna One and I think Begin Again showcases this charming nature nicely. I also like the melody that presents itself in the chorus, which acted as a very flowy effect which I am known to enjoy. I particularly enjoyed the ending, especially how he came at us with high note after high note. It definitely gave the typical approach some uniqueness.
The video shows a couple (played by Kim Jae Hwan and actress Kim Yoo Jung). They were all lovey-dovey before, where they were playful with one another. However, something caused him to depart from the relationship (based on the lyrics). And something brought them back together again (the running around different floors scene). I am not sure about these two aspects of the video. But we see them exchange gifts (I guess as a restart to their relationship). He gives her a dress, while she gives him an emotional letter. Flash forward to the future where I think they are getting married or engaged. She wears his dress and they exchange rings. However, Kim Yoo Jung gets cold feet afterwards and takes away his ring, which I guess shows that she can’t go forward knowing how he left her and hence was unable to ‘Begin Again‘. I think this was a nice twist in the emotional love stories we see in music videos. However, I do want to know why he left her and the rest of that middle bit that I am not too sure about.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
Reviews for the new releases of this week will be posted in the coming days. Apologies for the delay.
Returning to the stage this past Monday was Lovelyz, who has returned with Beautiful Days. This new song is the title track off their 6th mini-album, Once Upon A Time, which also dropped the same day. We last saw the group through their Lost N Found promotions back in November last year. It has been relatively quiet from the girls since then, especially after what can be seen as a successful year for the group in terms of promotions (2018 saw them win their first music show and third set of concerts).
Given that the industry is now at full speed for the upcoming Summer season, it expected that some releases suiting the Summer season will be flowing in right about now. And you can definitely leave it to Lovelyz to bring a refreshing tone with their suitable track. I find the song to be quite light despite it being heavy with some synths. It is definitely extremely difficult to get that balance and Lovelyz nails it. The instrumental was nice. Once again, they go for a retro synth-pop but I like the mix of classical for the bridge. The vocals were nice but they didn’t offer anything new to really comment about. What Lovelyz does is stick to what they do best. The song felt safe than anything else, fitting in what I would consider a little too neatly with the rest of their portfolio. Beautiful Days is still listenable and definitely something you would associate with the group. But it just didn’t feel memorable when you consider the song as a whole.
I think pairing the song with the music video made the song feel a lot more beautiful. I am not exactly sure about what the video is about. But maybe that ‘association to Lovelyz’s past track’ was intentional. I say this because I noticed some aspects of this video showcasing some of their past concepts. The ball with the solar system rolling around reminded me of the spinning shots in Destiny. One of the members was holding a picture of the group during their Twinkle promotions. And the colour scheme for one of the dance sense is giving me very strong flashbacks but I cannot pinpoint which comeback (I think Destiny). But this won’t impact what I said before. I personally think it is a nice video for the group. It looked elegant and hazy filter didn’t impact the overall colour scheme of the video.
I think the performance is the best aspect of the group’s comeback. They bring a feminine charm that I cannot help but watch from start to end. I really like the complexity of the chorus and the fact that they kept in sync with each other. You usually don’t get that feeling with female groups. But given that they are from the same company who brought you Infinite (the original kings of that noticeably in-sync choreography), it was a given.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
Making their return a few hours ago is GOT7 with Eclipse! This is the group’s first comeback since Lullaby and Miracle as a full group. More recently, the group has been focusing on subunit and solo endeavours with the debut of Jus2 (JB and Yugyeom with Focus On Me); the return of actor Park Jin Young; and Jackson’s Oxygen release around one month ago. More exciting is the future, which has the group going on another world tour (Spinning Top) right after wrapping up promotions for this new release.
Eclipse is one strong release. Literally. I think the first thing that really jumps out at me is its extremely powerful chorus. It is robust, rough and really edgy. All of which fits in with their powerful image. Some parts did seem a little noisy and I think there was some ‘drowning out’, however. But I think their vocal performance (especially Youngjae’s) in Eclipse is one of their best and pairing the vocals with this chorus was definitely a very smart idea. The rapping is also quite good but I didn’t think it was the star of the release, unlike their past title tracks. I think the dubstep breakdown was expected, especially with the rough texture for the chorus. I did like it, so I am not complaining here. I also like the complete slow down for the bridge. I thought that was interesting. I think the biggest letdown was the verses as they were very forgettable (hence why I thought their rapping wasn’t the star). Overall, Eclipse is, what I would say, a decent track.
So I am reading some thoughts about the music video and it seems like not many people are impressed. One of the reasons is the shares the same production format as Look,Dalla Dalla and Fancy. I personally don’t think it is that bad and actually enjoyed it for the most part. It does seem like it is starting to become overused by JYP Entertainment but that can only be confirmed by a few more releases from other artists. I think what did prevent me from having the same thoughts was the more theatric nature of the video. The spinning was rather cool and I think the camera angles and CGI complimented this really well.
From what I can see in this video is that the performance is definitely shaping up to be one of their most intense routines. That is expected given the nature of the song. I just wonder if the stage will be as amazing, given that some of the camera angles in the video cannot be pulled off on a live stage. I really like that spiral effect they have during the chorus. And that dance break looks awesome!
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
It is quite surprising to see how long some artists are active in the industry before they get to release a studio album. For Oh My Girl, it has been four years since their debut back in 2015 and the group has just released this first studio album. It has definitely been a long time coming, especially after all the great mini-album releases we got from the group over the years. The Fifth Season contains 9 songs including the title track of the same name. The album also contains an instrumental track for the title track as well but due to the nature of the review, I won’t be having a look at it. So let’s start off the album review right now!
2. Shower (소나기) – Opening the track up is typical pop instrumentation that doesn’t differentiate them from other girl groups. And this typicalness flows onto their chorus, so there was that feeling in the air throughout the length of the song. I think similar comments can be made about the vocals and rapping. I did hear some attempts to disrupt this typical feeling with some textural changes in their voices, particularly around the second pre-chorus. But they weren’t that successful. There isn’t anything bad about a typical song, Just Shower ends up being a song to attract some yawns. (6/10)
3. Case No. L5VE (미제) – Now this is the type of song that I want. It does fall within that typical nature once again. But this one has enough to keep the yawns away (hahaha…). There is also a lot of textures in this song, which keeps it interesting and makes the song fun. Firstly, the chorus has this cheerful and happy pop tone to it, which I am enjoying. Secondly, there is a lot more rapping (and they last for longer periods), which I thought was a really nice build up to the chorus. Thirdly, I really liked the elegant nature of the vocals, which made the rest of the song so flowy. Overall, Case No. L5VE was definitely an ear-catching piece. (9/10)
4. Tic Toc – As soon as the song opened, and I heard the first member, I honestly thought I was listening to the wrong artist (I had to make sure I wasn’t listening to Twice). Tic Toc was a catchy and upbeat pop song that really gets me into a cheerful mood. Mimi’s rapping, once again, worked wonders in this song, giving it a needed injection of intensity. I also like the vocals and the melody that they have in this track. I find the melody to be an attractive part of the song. I also enjoyed the ‘Tic Toc’ Mimi (I think) says throughout the song and the mini outro we get, which dragged the song out by a few more seconds with an instrumental that I enjoyed. (8/10)
5. Gravity (유성) – So far, we have heard of a lot of pop tracks, but they do fall under that typical nature (sorry for the repetitive use of that word). Gravity changes it up slightly. While the song does delve headfirst back into the pop genre, the song does have a very dynamic appeal that comes from the chorus. I thought the ‘Gravity~’ hook they used was beautifully done and it sounded like you were floating away while listening to it. The instrumental ‘felt very wide’ and spacious, making the ‘Gravity~’ repetition very impactful. I also really think the elegant melody returns in this song, which I think is another positive aspect of the track. (8.5/10)
6. Crime Scene – Crime Scene is another fun sounding and vibrant track. I thought the title was very intriguing, given that I do enjoy crime myself. So, naturally, I gravitated towards the lyrics for this song. The song is being attracted towards your lover and the confusion that surrounds it. In the song, they question why they are being pulled to their partner. Though, I don’t get why they are ‘Chillin’ your love’. That is the only clue I haven’t cracked yet. Even though it does sound very odd in the song’s context, I found it to be very catchy and almost addictive. I really like the vocals and rapping in this track. I also like the slight change in tempo they gave us for the second half of the chorus. It made the song feel less linear. (8/10)
7. Underwater Love (심해 (마음이라는 바다)) – Underwater Love directs itself towards the ‘mandatory ballad’ of the album. It doesn’t get there exactly as it diverts with a pretty R&B instrumental. While I don’t regularly enjoy the ‘mandatory ballad’ track on the album, I find this one to cut the vibrant and upbeat nature of the album thus far quite well. I don’t find it as boring as I had expected it to be. The vocals are nice and I really like the soft whisper-like rapping tone in the song. Overall, I find it to be a decent track. (7/10)
8. Vogue – Vogue is sung by Mimi, Yooa, Jiho and Arin. And it is my pick for the best song on the album. Like I don’t think you can keep me away from this track. Vogue pays either pays homage to Madonna or the artist and her song heavily influenced the production of this song. But either way, it is done in a spectacular fashion as it goes straight for Madonna’s well-known style. It has this very mature sound to it that I did not know Oh My Girl had in them. The vocals are on point and damn, the verses are so good. They manage to give the chorus an upbeat feel, which I think manages to get the song to fit in with the rest of the album (and Oh My Girl’s releases) but at the same time make the song even more dynamic. (10/10)
9. Checkmate – Ending the album is another vibrant track that is bound to get you ready for any event. I think the use of brass in this song really makes it appropriate for parties. YooA is proving to be the star of this album. While I haven’t singled any member this far into the review, YooA has continually showcased herself in a very bold manner. Her vocals at the very start of the song was definitely a wake call for me. I also liked how the chorus was very sharp. This gives off a nice and impactful punch every single time, making it a very powerful track. I think the song had a lot of great hooks, making it extremely addictive. It is a great and very strong ender to the album (10/10)
The next song on the review list is Soyou and Ovan’s collaborative single, Rain Drop. This was dropped on Thursday of this past week and has since risen steadily towards the top end of the charts. For those who don’t know, this is very typical of many collaboration singles featuring Soyou. I will avoid naming such songs (as I think I do that will every Soyou related review and hence will be quite repetitive). The other half of the collaboration is Ovan, who is a Korean hip-hop artist and rapper. He made his debut back in 2017 and have many singles under his name since his debut.
Rain Drop is more like a cafe style of song, rather than a ballad as my previous draft of the review had stated. There is a slightly jazzy influence in the instrumental, which is slightly appealing to my ears. At this very stage of the year, I am wrapping up my semester of studies and currently on the hunt for soft songs to work with. This track practically ticks that major box for me. I find the vocals to be soothing and calming to an extent, which is also another box ticked for me. There were some moments that did have a certain typical nature to them. But for the most part, I thought the vocals were good. I did like the slight rapping tone Ovan brought to the bridge of the track, which attempted to throw an interesting texture in. Overall, I think this would be a nice song to add to my study playlist, as previously stated). Though, I am not too sure if it would fair well in a more recreational playlist due to the very nature of the track.
I am not too sure about what is going on in the music video. I have an idea but since the events were jumbled about, I am not exactly confident in my story that I have formed. The video showcases a cute couple from the moment the female character made her move on the male character (and thus starting their relationship) up until the moment that she leaves him on a rainy day (‘I watched you go away without an umbrella‘). However, in the end, it is another rainy day that brings her back. We see the male character slightly surprised at the end after seeing his former lover swiping her wet hair to the side. It is a slightly interesting story, especially with that twist at the end. I do want some closure with the story though, given that twist.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
The digital dominating ballad duo, DAVICHI, has returned with their latest comeback, Unspoken Words. Since the release of their latest single and mini-album, the pair have already taken over the major charts. This is especially worth noting as we find ourselves in another period of tough competition from other artists who have been dominating the charts for the past few weeks. We last saw Davichi through their Days Without Youpromotions, which also featured Kang Daniel in the music video.
DAVICHI is sticking to what they are known for and do best with, as Unspoken Words is another ballad. And as per their chart performance, it seems like this track will be another successful ballad from the duo. The ballad is quite warming and extremely comfortable, which I tend to associate with a Wintertime ballad. But there is a little energy making it appropriate for the upcoming warmer season. I think the instrumental is very beautiful, with the classical instruments building up to a pretty decent peak. It pairs extremely well with the member’s vocals, which I really think is shown off proudly in this track. As the instrumental builds, so does the vocals, which is pretty much ideal. I particularly found that small harmony moment between the members to be a stunning moment in the song. I think the song is quite strong but it just doesn’t jump out at me as their best. I do see myself getting bored with it, as ballads do come and go quite often nowadays as per my listening routine.
Given the title, you think the song would be emotionally driven. But with the majority of ballads, I tend to discuss an emotional sound. If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t touched upon that yet. I didn’t really hear that emotional connection. I find that quite interesting. But the emotional side of this comeback was felt more profoundly with the music video. We are shown a young female, standing at the beach and reminiscing about her past relationship. While doing so, she is brought to tears and this implies that she has some ‘unspoken words’ to her former partner. I think this provides a stronger mechanism to provides the song’s message, as images do end up being as powerful as the audio. I also liked the contrast of colours. It was colder through the sadder moments, while definitely colourful and warming in the happier memories.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
KPOPREVIEWED 