Category: KPOP

[Review] Forever – aespa

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aespa was voted as the Best New Female Group of 2020 in the 2020 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Congratulations to aespa. Click here to find out who else won in the 2020 KPOPREVIEWED Awards.

aespa made their first comeback at the very end of last week with Forever, a remake of a song from the year 2000 of the same name by Yoo Young Jin. I am quite sure we are all familiar with aespa, who are the newest edition to SM Entertainment’s lineup and they made their debut at the end of 2020 with Black Mamba. The other half of this project (i.e. the original singer) is Yoo Young Jin and he is a song-writer and music producer under SM Entertainment. He has been writing and producing songs for many SM Entertainment artists since 1996.

Forever is a ballad that feels appropriate for the colder weather. While I do think this is the case, I do want to argue that the song seems better suited it was released around the Christmas/holiday season, rather than the backend of the coldest season. It just feels more appropriate for that time period, compared to the final weeks of Winter. But that might just be me. At first glance, Forever is definitely on a different level compared to Black Mamba. Their debut song was powerful and fierce. Most notably, it was a dance track. Forever, given its status as a ballad, is more delicate and warming. It features an instrumental that is a mixture of classical and acoustics, which is a really nice and balanced combination. Forever is another example where consistency is a positive aspect of the song, maintaining the feelings that I already mentioned from start to end. It makes the ballad quite appealing. What helps prevent the song falling into a rut are the members vocals. aespa definitely showcases a different side to themselves with this song. And they sound stunning. The melodies that carry their vocals really make the song flow along and they add that level of sweetness to the song that makes it more pleasant to listen to. I really like their harmonies when they sing the title of the song, especially at the end. Those harmonies and repetitions really encapsulates all the descriptors that I have used throughout the review thus far.

The music video seems straightforward. Closeups and choreography combination once again. I really like the set design and how everything reflected Winter quite well. Its pace matched the pace of the song and I am glad there wasn’t any change in the cinematography of the video as it progressed along. That would have been distract and off-putting. I do want to say that it is a great video. And for the reasons above that I have listed, it definitely is. But it isn’t one that I would replay constantly as there wasn’t much to it. Still a nice display of visuals regardless.

While I am big believer that ballads should not have a choreography associated with it, there have been some exceptions in the past. And it seems like aespa’s Forever is another one to add to that list. Their moves don’t distract you from the vocals or the song. It is all very soft and gentle. I really like the bridge sequence. If I were to be critical, I would say the members moving into position seemed a little clumsy. It could have been more polished in that aspect. But honestly, I don’t think anyone cares about that.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Sugar – Kim Woo Seok (UP10TION)

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Kim Woo Seok made his solo debut with Red Moon back in May 2020. Since then, nothing much has been going on with Kim Woo Seok. It is still a shock to me to know that he (and fellow member and soloist Lee Jin Hyuk) have yet to return to the group for a full lineup promotion. There is so much opportunity to group both the group and the solo acts alongside one another, yet TOP Media has decided to promote the two singers seperately from the group. And must I say in a poor manner. While other soloists were enjoying two comebacks throughout 2020, Kim Woo Seok was only given the opportunity to promote Red Moon and that was it. Flashforward to 2021 (i.e. 8 and a half months), Kim Woo Seok is finally making his solo comeback with Sugar and the mini-album 2nd Desire [Tasty].

Sugar is a sweet pop track. Not overly sweet, thankfully. Despite that, Sugar is quite a change for Kim Woo Seok, given that it has been a while since I have heard anything quite fluffy from him. I am guessing an UP10TION track was when I last heard Kim Woo Seok approach that sound concept. After the sensual vibes that Red Moon carried, this is pretty much a polar contrast. But while Sugar is more upbeat and colourful in its musical approach (which can be my thing if it is done well), I am disappointed with the song. No matter how times I have played the song since the music video dropped this morning, it just doesn’t excite me. It felt plain and typical. I would have enjoyed the song more if it had more energy or more of a pop to it. Maybe something a bit more punchy or texturally captivating. This just feels like candy that tastes a bit flat. The most promising part of the song was the ‘Right/Ready, Tasty, Yum, Yum‘ deep whipser that we got after the first chorus. I guess what savours the song for me is Kim Woo Seok’s vocals, which were solid throughout Sugar. That high note at the end was quite good. I am tempted to say that I like the bounce that came along with the song’s melody. But I just cannot get over the fact that the song’s instrumental was dull as a whole, and that practically sours that comment. Overall, I feel like Sugar feel victim to UP10TION’s plainness. I don’t want to constantly make the link of the two acts, as they are meant to be different and standalone. But I feel like the plainness of both are on par with one another this time around.

The visuals of the music video faired a lot better than the song itself in my books. To match the song’s pop tone, the music video opted for colour. And it isn’t KPOP if all the colour is not in its pastel form. It is still quite bright and there is a noticeable innocent vibe that comes from the video. Alongside the colour and the youthful tinge, we have a pretty solid set design that ties the sweet aspect of the title and lyrics together nicely by moulding the sweets concept. If you have a sweet tooth, this might be the video to indulge in.

For some reason, his company made him promote prior to the offical release of the song and album. I guess it is to hype up the comeback before it actually drops. So naturally with this technique, we are treated to an early taster to the performance version. I find the choreography to be quite fitting for the pop sound of the song. The entire chorus routine seems pretty decent and showcases some skills. I was nervous that the song would hevaily impact appeal of the performance. The sliding chair moves while Wooseok is sitting on it does seem quite tacky, however.

Song – 5.5/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.5/10

[Review] Memory – Kim Myung Soo (L)

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Many of our favourite second generation KPOP male idols have been enlisting into the miltary over the last few years. So we have been experiencing a lack of performances from those idols. However, they are slowly returning from the military, and we could potentially see these idols and their respective groups make their first comebacks this year. On the other hand, we are still saying farewell (temporarily) to some of these idols, such as Myungsoo (or L from Infinite). More recently, Myungsoo (or L) has been active as an actor since his departure from Woolim Entertainment. However, he is still committed to his fans and Inspirits alike. Last week, he made his solo debut with the single Memory as a parting gift before he enlists in the military later this month.

Given the context behind the song and the circumstances that Myungsoo finds himself in, a ballad seems like that default style. And a ballad is what he gives us. The instrumental is pretty starightforward, consisting of a acoustic guitars and piano work. It progresses like most other ballads, where it slowly builds by incorporating more instrumentation as the song progresses along. It is still a captivating piece, nonetheless. What I do like about Memory is that it doesn’t tap into the classical side of the ballad genre. That would have been very cliche. But as previously mentioned, the ballad approach is very typical regardless. But it does still feel a tiny bit different from what I had expected. Memory also indulges fans of Myungsoo as it showcases the actor/singer’s voice. Myungsoo has always had a very unique voice and I really like the colour which he brings to Infinite back in the day. To know that he has a whole song to himself really makes my day. His voice takes you on a bit of a journey. I felt I easily got lost in the track, between his vocals and instrumentation. Together, the instrumentation and vocals bring forth that swaying effect that I often mention when it comes to ballads. And that swaying effect is always a good thing when it comes to ballads. Overall, Myungsoo doesn’t get points for originality when it comes to Memory, but rather execution and effect.

The music video is simply a bunch of closeups of Myungsoo in what seems like a photoshoot type of set up. We see him posing throughout the video in very nature-based scenic places. Occasionally, we get a picture form of what we just saw. I am sure fans enjoyed the visual aspect of the music video. There isn’t much else to the music video. I will admit that it isn’t a video that I would return to constantly, but I really like the paced nature of the video. It works well with the song and its balladry nature. It also felt like a blissful walk along the beach or somewhere scenic.

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

[Album Review] I Burn (4th Mini Album) – (G)I-DLE

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It has felt like it has been a while since I actually sat down to write an album review. The last one for AB6IX was two weeks ago. The artist I was going to review after fast-tracking AB6IX’s repackaged release was (G)I-DLE’s I Burn, which serves as the female group’s fourth mini-album release. The mini-album was released almost a month ago on the 11th day of the first month of 2021. Since the release of the mini-album and its title track, Hwaa, the group has taken out multiple weekly music show trophies. Even a triple crown on MCoundDown! (G)I-DLE also topped my Weekly KPOP Charts with Hwaa for the 2nd Week of January 2021. But enough awards talk. It is time to have a closer listen to their mini-album.

I Burn Album Cover

1..Hann (Alone In Winter) (한(寒)) – You may recognize the title of the song through their previous title track, Hann (Alone). The songs are lyrically connected, with the earlier song being about wanting for forget an ex-lover. This new song is about being unable to forget the ex-lover. This connection further adds context to the lyrics of Hwaa, which is all about recovering from that valley of emotions. This connection is quite clever and really adds some heft to the members singing. Their singing itself is already quite powerful and definitely captivating. What makes Hann (Alone In Winter) better is that it features a really beautiful instrumentation, feeling quite fantastical and dramatic. (10/10)

2. Hwaa (화(火花)) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Hwaa. (8/10)

3. Moon – Moon is a very interesting track, but in a good way. It is an aesthetic pop track, brought to life with really nice guitar work, captivating percussion and a bit of an electronic touch to the song. I really like the ending sequence, which is a perfect blend of these elements. It also makes for a really great start to the final moments of the song. In the body, all of these instrumental elements come together to create a solid background for the members voices. There is a lot of vocal techniques employed throughout the song. The chorus is my favourite part, with the start of the chorus being the most memorable thanks to Minnie’s vocals. (9/10)

4. Where Is Love – If Moon was a little slow for your taste, you will probably enjoy the more amped up pop energy in Where Is Love. The song tacks into the electronic side, making it a really fitting side-track for KPOP. It does have what it takes to be a title track, but I think the song tethers more on the plain side. But surely this song can be revamped into some edgier and more exciting. Nonetheless, Where Is Love is fulfilling as it is with its straightforward approach and its simplicity when it comes to employing that electronic side. The repetition of the song’s title is really catchy and I like the touch of autotune added to their voices (not much, thankfully). (9/10)

5. Lost – (G)I-DLE slows down the energy a bit with Lost. This isn’t a complaint, but rather an observation. Lost features consistent guitar work throughout the background of the song. They add other instrumentation to give it a more pop flair. But while that was enjoyable, I do feel like the song is stuck in a neutral gear. Soyeon’s rap does briefly cut the neutral nature of the song, which I appreciated. But I wanted more. (7/10)

6. Dahila – While it does sound like I have been looking down on the slower songs of the album, Dahlia is proof that a relatively slower song has the ability to impress me. While the instrumental of the song didn’t feel as special as the other songs, Dahlia’s driving force is the vocals. All the members were really good and stole to the show in the album’s final track. Soyeon’s raps give the song that little bit more of an edge, which I enjoyed. The song ends with Soojin and Minnie in an encore-type manner. I found it so haunting and riveting, making the song more appealing to me. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

I Burn / HWAA Teaser Image

[Review] Cinema – CIX

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The winners of the 2020 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, voted and chosen by you, have been announced! Find out who won by clicking here.

CIX is back with their brand new mini-album (their fourth to date), Hello Chapter 0: Hello, Strange Dream, and the title track Cinema. And so am I after a week’s absence from the blog! This comeback (CIX’s comeback, not mine) comes months after their re-scheduled promotions for Jungle and their third mini-album, Hello Chapter 3: Hello, Strange Time.

The first noticeable element of the new song is that is very much different to what we have heard from this male group in their repetiore of title tracks. We have heard stylish flair and intense electronic-based sounds from the group already. Cinema differentiates itself from that pack with its lightness that stems from its use of synthpop instrumental. And it is quite enjoyable and refreshing at the same time. I also really liked how they were committed to the sound, with no stray or unexpected changes to throw us off the direction of the song. I also like how they started off the song, adding to the concept of the song and comeback in an audio manner. But what I really enjoyed more about this song is how seamlessly it felt as it flowed along. Usually, each section (i.e. verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse etc.) feels very distinct and you can differentiate between them. But in Cinema, they feel blurred. Not in a bad way, but rather a really nice artistic manner which makes the song promising. Both the seamlessness and the lightness really benefits CIX when it comes to the vocal departments. I feel the falsetto and breathy vocals really show off some of their skillset. I also really like the melodic nature of the chorus, which is gives the song that enhances the flowy vibes of the song and gives the song that really nice smooth hook. And overall, Cinema was definitely catchy and a well put together song.

My understanding of the lyrics is that the members liken their developing relationship with their lover to filming a movie/tv show. Memories created in their relationship feels like episodes that they can replay. In the video, we see the process of a movie being filmed with the members acting as lighting directors and just the standard director as well. Adding to the concept was the primary setting of their choreography shots, which was appropriately in front of a cinema. I am not exactly sure what is going on within the living room scenes. Maybe they are part of that movie they are shooting. They do feel a bit wacky, but felt fitting for the concept overall. I also enjoyed the golden aura that comes off the video.

I really like the start of the performance with how the choreographer got all the members to contribute to the clap that coincided with the voice over yelling ‘action‘. As the song is light in nature, the choreography has to fit with that hurdle. I found their moves be a lot more relax, fluid and carefree, which is obviously what you would want with a light track like this one. But when I watch the performance, I admit I do want to see that more intense side of the group. But Cinema‘s choreography was still enjoyable to watch.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

[Double Review] Thank U + Eeny Meeny – U-KNOW Yunho (TVXQ)

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Next up on the solo comeback list is U-KNOW Yunho, leader of the KPOP duo TVXQ! And this review is a double one, as U-KNOW Yunho made his comeback last week with two title tracks, Thank U and Eeny Meeny. It has been a while since we have heard anything from this member of TVXQ, with his last solo comeback being his solo debut with his True Colours mini-album and the title track Follow in 2019.

Thank U was released last week on the 18th of January and is the main title track off his latest mini-album. And it kicks off U-KNOW’s return to the industry with a very energetic and upbeat dance track. Personally, I like the pop sound of the song and the overall energy of the song. Both of these elements come together to make the song quite bold. It isn’t anything new in KPOP, but its lack of reliance on electronic synths and genres is quite refreshing. What is also bold is Yunho’s delivery throughout the song. I cannot say the song is not addictive when there is such clear cut repetition in Thank U. The whole chorus is built on this simple technique and I think it pays off. It has a really nice ring to it and works extremely well with the pulsing pop instruments. I also really like the bridge of the song, with the slow down motion and that brass that just makes everything suspenseful. The only problem with the song is the ‘I hate this‘ shouting line that pierces through the rest of the song in the second verse. It felt overwhelming and distracted me from enjoying the song. Overall, Thank U is definitely a really strong song, well positioned with a powerful instrumentation, bold delivery and an effective yet uncomplicated hook.

Eeny Meeny, released on the Monday that just passed, takes on that more funky trend that has no doubt taken over the KPOP industry. It is another bold number, this time with a more unique but exciting profile. A dance centric percussion introductory sequence kicks start the song and pushes the song forward. The song then gears up for the chorus with falestto-like high note in the centric position of this section. We then push into the chorus with the appropriate ‘Eeny Meeny Miny Moe‘, alongside a very textural piece that I am not sure how to even describe. It feels brass-like, but I am not entirely sure of this. What I find enjoyable about Eeny Meeny is that it showcases more of Yunho vocals, while the former song focuses more on rap (rap-speak delivery). And it is safe to say that he sounds stunning during those pre-chorus moments. The other parts were a bit ordinary. I also do wish we get more substantial rapping sequence than the super deep groans we get at the end. But that doesn’t mean this song isn’t fun or enjoyable.

The music video for Thank U is essentially a cinematic noir film (and you will need to be of legal age in your own country to view the music video due to the violence that is shown in the video). U-KNOW is brutally stabbed at the start of the video and is left for dead by a gang leader. Somehow, he is saved and escapes the hospital. Knowing that he would do that, the gang leader sends his henchmen in to kill him, but they all fail. Yunho ends up meeting with the gang leader and the pair ends up playing a game of lethal Russian Roulette. It is definitely an intense wait to see who would end up dead. The game is briefly stopped for a gunfight, which leaves the gang leader dead. Yunho (proving his immortality once again) leaves after dumping a pin (of which I don’t know the significance of). Honestly, it was a really great music video. I liked how they incorporated choreography shots into the storyline and managed to still continue the momentum (and the actual storyline). I just wished the gang leader said more than what he said at the start and wasn’t grunting his way through second meeting of the pair.

The music video for Eeny Meeny is more casual and lighthearted. It features Seulgi from Red Velvet as the person to steal U-KNOW’s attention. The urban setting of the music video works extremely well with the lighthearted but energy filled music. And I like how U-KNOW interacts with his surrounding throughout the video by stepping on and off cars and other vehicles. Or dancing away on big trucks. It all fits together and the video flows extremely well. I am confused about the ending of the video with him bleeding from the head (that should be looked at) and Seulgi just smiling at him. Maybe this is a dream sequence for when he is in hospital from the previous music video? Who knows?

When it comes to the performances, I prefer Eeny Meeny‘s one more. Simply because it is more likeable and carries on that casual and carefree feeling I mentioned a moment ago. Yunho looks like he is enjoying the routine and it feels a lot more vibrant. Thank U‘s performance was quite good as well, showcasing a more skillful routine that feels heavier and loaded. I really like the turns in the performance and how it compliments the punchier moments of the song.

Thank U
Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

Eeny Meeny
Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Celebrity – IU

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It is Solo Day for the next two days! A namesake day that I have called on the spot because I plan to focus on different solo comebacks that have recently occurred. The two comebacks I want to focus on today are very hot, occuring very recently to today. You probably already know which ones I am talking about with that clue. But in case you haven’t realized yet, one of them is IU’s Celebrity. Celebrity is a pre-release single ahead of IU’s official comeback some time later in the year. It was released yesterday and has since gone on to top all the major real time charts in South Korea, once again showing us IU’s power on the music industry and South Korea as a whole. This is IU’s first comeback since the release of the digital single, Eight (featuring BTS’ Suga), last year.

IU has proven her prowess as a solo artist through all tracks that she releases or features on. And I really like that her solo releases don’t necessary conform to one particular style of music. She is very versatile, covering pop, folk, ballad and R&B. She has probably also done electronic pop/EDM before, but Celebrity is the most recent song of this style to be added to her ranging portfolio. It definitely is an answer to current trends, but obviously does what it needs to do to showcase IU herself. And in doing so, she keeps the song pretty light, making Celebrity quite enjoyable. Even the deepest drop in the chorus isn’t excessively abrasive or emphasised by heavy thumping. And because the song comes off light, we get to hear IU’s vocals without any problems. Per usual, she sounds stunning. I particularly really like the set up of the chorus, with one drop accompanied by lyrics and that deeper drop which I just touched upon a moment ago. It isn’t necessary groundbreaking. But paired with IU’s innocent tone and airy vocals, it comes off as somewhat refreshing. I also feel that the deeper tone allows for IU to do a bit more experimentation in certain aspects of the comeback such as the performance, which is slightly different to what we see usually from the soloist. I find the chorus’ melody to be quite memorable, which is followed up nicely by the addictive ‘You are my celebrity‘ hook. it was pretty much ringing through my mind today, since hearing the song yesterday. Overall, IU continues to showcase her versatility through her music through another great song. Per usual, I am excited to see what is next for IU, which makes me anticipate her upcoming studio album.

The music video does a really godd job of giving us an interprtation of the lyrics. The lyrics simply tells us to embrace ourselves and enjoy being who we are. We are all individuals and sometimes not always perfect (You’re a star painted by a left hand). But because of that, we are all celebrities. IU also recently revealed that she wrote a song for a close friend, who happens to be a close celebrity. The music video showcases IU as a celebrity, always in the public eye. She catches a glimpse of a non-celebrity version of herself, which engrosses her. To celebrity IU, non-celebrity IU is a celebrity. But non-celebrity IU, after a bit of chasing, shows celebrity IU that it was actually herself the entire time, serving us a reminder that we should embraces ourselves no matter who we are. It is a very nicely put together video and I really liked the visuals of IU throughout the video.

We also see a bit of choreography for this performance, but it only kicks in when the second drop occurs. What we saw is pretty good and fitting for the music. It is plain, but I am willing to overlook that. I am joining in with fans who are rejoicing that IU has finally returned with a bit of a dance. It has definitely been a while.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10

[Review] I’m Not Cool – Hyuna

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Next up on day one of the two day Solo Day segment that I just literally named today is Hyuna! It has been a long while since we have last heard from this solo superstar. Hyuna’s last appearance on the blog was back in her Flower Shower days, which was from 2019. She was meant to make a comeback in 2020, but it was postponed for health reasons. Now that she is feeling better, her comeback was confirmed earlier in the month for today. Both the title of the new main promotional track and seventh mini-album is I’m Not Cool, which I am sure fans are completely disagreeing with.

I’m Not Cool is ironically quite a cool track. It is definitely a return to form for Hyuna, who we all know to be a sexy female solo act. In retrospect, Flower Shower was a really great track, but it did noticeably lack that flair we all know Hyuna for. It started off with a bit of a Middle Eastern flair thanks to the moombahton in the instrumentation. At first, I wasn’t too sure if it was that international influence because of the slight distortion. But the bridge of the song confirmed it for me. I’m Not Cool comes right at you right after that introductory sequence with its energetic enthuasism, which is thanks to Hyuna. It literally launches you right into the song. The moombahton comes back in the chorus in a more concentrated form, allowing us to get Hyuna alongside a more amplifed tone. I really like the energy in this portion of the song. Obviously it has to be quite memorable given it is the centrepiece of the song. But at the same time, it just really jumps out at you. Hyuna is actually quite catchy in this sequence, with her ‘I’m not … Cliche, that so funny‘ being a highlight for me. For the second verse, we get more of Hyuna rapping. I am not sure if it is intentional, but the shoutout to Dawn (her boyfriend) is quite cute (and well mixed in the song). Skipping along to the end of the song, I really like the anthem-like nature of the ending. It just wraps up the song really nicely and makes it feel complete. Overall, Hyuna’s I’m Not Cool is really powerful and bold song.

I really like that Hyuna went with a powerful and bond concept for the music video, which matches with the lyrics of the song and transcribes the vibes of the song into a fitting visual concept. I feel that the music video pushes the boundaries just that bit more, which we all know Hyuna has done in the past through her solo comebacks. I really love the use of colour throughout the video. For example, the dominance of one colour in some of the sets. Her outfits are quite outrageous, but not in a bad way. I have seen bad fashion choices in the past in KPOP music videos. But Hyuna’s random mis-matching outfits look like they were well curated for this cncept. They are a style that works just for her. I also really like how edgy her mannerisms for this music video are, adding to that boldness once again.

The fast upbeat tempo of the chorus really allows Hyuna to show her performance skills. I really enjoyed that part of the choreography as it felt like there was so much going on. Her entire routine was definitely bold and powerful, further adding to the visual interpretation of the song. I also really like how much she enjoyed herself in this routine, which comes thanks to the creative licence that she is able to take outside of her old company. Her facial expressions are defintiely something to watch out for.

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

[Review] Odd Eye – Dream Catcher

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Dream Catcher is back with a brand new release titled Odd Eye and their 6th mini-album, Dystopia: Road to Utopia. This comes after a jam packed year for the female group, including their first studio album, their fifth mini-album, promotions for Scream and Boca, the release of the special single R.o.S.E BLUE for another mobile game, Japanese comebacks and a bunch of solo work. Definitely quite a long list of activities. Let’s hope that 2021 is an eventful year for Dream Catcher! It is already shaping to be one with Handong officially returning to the lineup of the group through promotions for Odd Eye.

Odd Eye is confirmation that Dream Catcher’s title tracks cannot be without a rock influence. The first verse pretty much settle on a hip-hop influenced instrumental for the dance track. Hearing this influence got me excited for a bit as I thought that Dream Catcher was going to break out the mould of their commonly associated rock sound. It was definitely an interesting change to their usual style. Even the pre-chorus lead me to believe that they left the rock influence behind in 2020, infusing bit of an electronic texture to the song. But when the chorus rolls around, Dream Catcher hits us hard with the rock elements. And I really liked that, as it definitely helped made the chorus and rock elements feel a lot more explosive than usual. The textures in the chorus were really powerful, whilst the vocals were very crisp and clear. The second verse is pretty much of a mix bag, It doesn’t really return to that hip-hop styled verse we heard start off the song. Instead, it is a bit of a mix between the two styles of music, allowing for a bridge to be created to facilitate the ongoing momentum of the song and Dami’s great rapping sequence. I would have liked for them to explore more of that hip-hop influence though. For the bridge, I really liked how that humming in the background. It kept the song going without needing to opt for a slowed down or cut back sequence. It also maintained the song’s intensity, keeping up the suspense. Overall, Odd Eye does embark into foreign ground briefly. But it did not do so at the expense of what we know Dream Catcher for. In fact, it probably made Dream Catcher even more powerful than before.

With an electrifying song like this, it was nice to see the producers opt for a modern influence to the music video. The video features a fair amount of electronics and additional post-production effects to give off a technological advanced premise. It actually comes off quite cool. They also redesigned the setting of the tree that featured in the previous comebacks to fit in with the video here as well. As for the symbolism, I have no idea what the video is about. Nor how it links to the other music videos in the Dystopia series. It is interesting to see the message at the video, telling us that Dream Catcher couldn’t find their utopia. For the choreography shots, I really liked the black, white and red colour palette. It felt striking and also edgy, fitting with the musical influences they had in the song.

Fierceness is how I would describe the choreography and performance as a whole. The members just came at you with all this energy to be on par with the song. And it felt very satisfying to watch. It didn’t feel like their best work, however. But it was still up there, nonetheless!

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] Burn It – Golden Child

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The other group to make a Monday comeback today is Golden Child, who returns with Burn It and the mini-album, Yes. Golden Child had a pretty big year and it all started in the preceding year of 2019 through their Wannabe comeback. The group went on to release Without You and One (Lucid Dream) to form a trilogy of releases in which Golden Child explores a darker and mature side. In the midst of these comebacks, they also partipated in Road To Kingdom, before ending the year with the more chirper release of Pump It Up. Golden Child continues to venture out with their new release, kicking off what should be another big year for the group.

Burn It aligns with their more mature releases. My first impression of Burn It was that it felt plain. But why does it have that impression? Well, each of the three releases that formed part of that triology I mentioned in the previous paragraph had a really strong hook that captured my attention. Burn It had a few good hooks, butnone of them felt as as explicitly upfront as those hooks I could easily identify from the other songs I am comparing Burn It to. The good news is that the few re-listens I have given the song today so far to prep for this review has helped the song grow immensely on me. Now I find that the reggaeton styled dance track actually feels quite modern and smooth. Oh, you will always be surprised what a few more repeats of the song will do to you. To enhance the sleekness of the song, there is a bit of whistling in the background to really help emphasis this side of the song. The vocal work and melodies really help in this regard as well. It is also the melodies that help drive the song forward. TAG and Jangjun’s rapping really had a nice kick to it, giving the song that needed intensity fix. I just do miss that centrepiece that draws you in from the first listen. But Burn It comes together to be quite a cohesive track, satsifying the reviewer in me.

Korean media is very big on zombies. There are dramas that features the undead creatures. There are movies that features the same undead creatures. And for a brief while, they featured in the KPOP music videos. But it has definitely been a while since we have seen a zombie themed music video. And Golden Child really went for it in a video almost 7 minutes long. I won’t get into the exact details, but there were many subplots within the video. Family, romance, friendship and sacrifice. The main story of the video revovled around the romance side of the video, where one of the members fight to protect the lead actress. But it turns out the lead actress was bitten and slowly turned into a zombie. In her final moments, she tells her lover to not come near her. But he embraces her zombie form. We can only assume that she turns him at the end (though there was no clarification of that). I do like the subplots approach, because I am sure each subplot represents something larger. The interlude music in the video was a bit cringy and cliche for my liking. But obviously it was there to help build suspense to the final outcomes of each of the subplots (or their cliff hanging enders). I also wished they didn’t include the choreography shots, as those time slots could have been used to explore more of the stories. Have a separate video for the choreography, similar to what T-ARA used to do with their Cry Cry and Day By Day music videos.

The choreography is definitely quite intense and complicated. I really liked that intensity they fuse into the post-chorus hook sequences of the choreography. I also enjoyed the graceful moments of the verses, which felt fitting for the music and helped show off more of their performance skillset. I also really liked how the enitre group was essentially in sync for majority of the performance, emphasising that sleekness and attention to detail once again.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] U Mad – Bobby (iKON)

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Bobby makes one of the first comebacks of the week. Looking back at this previous solo work, it has almost been four years since we have seen any work from the iKON member. His last release was back in 2017 with the double title track release of I Love You and Runaway. Since then, Bobby has been mainly focused on his group activities through multiple comebacks. More recently, Bobby returned as a solo artist briefly for an OST. Today, Bobby made his solo comeback with U MAD and his second studio album titled Lucky Man.

U MAD is a very agressive song. While U MAD does feature a powerful instrumental, it isn’t the most explosive aspect of the new song. Rather, it is Bobby’s angsty delivery of his lines through his rapping that gives the song its blastful effect. And this actually sets the song a part from the rest of its competition. Most of the time, songs rely heavily on the instrumentation to show off that energy or flair. But in U MAD, Bobby shouts and growls his way through. It really does make an interesting song. The instrumental itself does help out a bit, framing itself around the hip-hop genre. The synths do make the song eventful, peeking through when it matters most to help deliver an effective song. The chorus was really cool. Not only does it combines the best of everything that I mentioned so far, I really liked that it started off with a question (‘Why you mad son?‘) that almost feels playful in a way. It is as if Bobby is edging on his opponents in this song (more on this in a moment). While I have specified in the past that songs like this aren’t really my thing, Bobby definitely manages to change that this time around with U MAD. The only thing I was upset about with this song was how quickly it was over for me.

The premise of the music video was an action packed mission in which Bobby (number 1) had to find the missing CD that Bobby (number 2) had already taken. There was an epic fight scene between Bobby (number 1) and a bunch of guards who worked for Bobby (number 2), which I read Bobby attended stunt classes for. That is definitely commitment! Naturally, for the video to proceed, Bobby (number 1) managed to make it past all those guards (by pretending falling to his death before flying away with Spy Kids styled jet pack shoes) to Bobby (number 2), who was patiently waiting for him. We don’t get to see the aftermath so I am hoping there is a sequel of some kind on the cards. It was a really good video that literally comes out swinging, making it highly suitable for the new song. The only thing I didn’t like was the dreadlocks on Bobby (number 2). The only reason why this version of him is in the feature image is because it is the most decent closeup of the soloist I can get from the music video. I am sure the stylist could have given him a different hairstyle to show off the sinsiterness of the character.

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

[Album Review] SALUTE / SALUTE: A New Hope (3rd Mini Album / 3rd Mini Album Repackaged) – AB6IX

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This is one big album review post. AB6IX made their comeback way back in October 2020 with SALUTE, the title of both their 3rd mini album and title track. Originally, SALUTE‘s album review was going to be published at the end of December/early January, as did most of the reviews for the albums released in October and November 2020. But when I caught the news of an impending comeback with a repackaged version in January, I ultimately decided to hold off the album review. Today, I will be fast-tracking the album review and posting my thoughts of both the SALUTE mini-album and the SALUTE: A New Hope repackaged version in the one post. Altogether, there are 13 tracks. Two of the song were instrumental versions of the title tracks and another two were rearranged versions of two of their past songs (Surreal from VIVID mini-album and Blind For Love from their 6IXENSE studio album). The rest of the 9 songs are new and will be dissected below.

  • SALUTE Album Cover
  • SALUTE: A New Hope Album Cover

1. APRICTY – APRCITY is a pretty straight forward song. It serves as the opener to the repackaged version. The song features a pleasant level of energy and this promises a lot for the rest of the album. But aside from being a nice pop track, there really isn’t anything that really stands out for me. Maybe the repetition of the title during the chorus, but I don’t think the repetition was enough to make APRICITY one of their best tracks on this album release. (7/10)

2. Stay Young (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Stay Young. (9/10)

3. ENCORE (ft. ABNEW) – For those who don’t know, ABNEW is the name of AB6IX’s fanclub. Given that ABNEW is featured in the song (they chant the ‘Encore’ in the chorus), this is going to be one of those pop songs that are dedicated to fans. ENCORE felt touching and heartfelt. You can hear the smiles on each of the members’ faces and happiness that gleams off their vocals and rapping. I will admit that it is a bit slow for my liking, but it is hard to fault a song that is meant to be for their supportive and passionate fans. (8/10)

4. Mirror – Right off the bat, the album is pumping energy and intensity with Mirror. It is definitely a powerful song that is full of EDM. Some of it mimics the breakage of glass, while other parts give us a taster of what is to come in the title track. It is definitely a song that is ‘full on’. Personally, I don’t mind Mirror as the opening track of the original mini-album. But I would understand why some people might say Mirror is a bit much. Aside from the music, the group handles their vocals and rapping in this song really well. (9/10)

5. SALUTE (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for SALUTE. (7/10)

6. Heaven – Following two powerful songs, Heaven opts for something softer and more melodic. It is definitely a big relief. It is a bit of a typical track for my liking, but it was still enjoyable. I do note that there is some similarity between Heaven and SALUTE, despite being two completely different sounding songs – the potential to be epic. The backing of Heaven features what seems like choir vocals. This could potentially lend to an epic stage performance (provided that it sounds a bit tighter). Heaven also allows us an opportunity to focus more on their vocals, which had a cheerful tone to it. (8/10)

7. Maybe – Maybe follows Heaven and opts for a hip-hop influenced instrumentation during the verses, before developing into more a pop track in the verses. I liked how it started and wished they explored more of it, rather than opting for the pop influence. There wasn’t anything wrong with it. It just felt a bit typical. While Maybe lends well to showcase the vocals of the group, Woojin’s rapping sounds awesome and manages to steal my attention from the vocalists. He blends well into Maybe’s pop sound with his deep voice. (8.5/10)

8. Bloom – Out of all the side tracks on this mini-album, Bloom is my personal favourite. If you know me, I am usually drawn to more vibrant songs and Bloom is definitely a strong example, Bloom had everything from colour, energy and youthfulness in its house styled dance instrumental. On a side note, the house style music also reminded of their previous comebacks. The vocal work and rapping were on point and helped deliver all of the above to make the song even more appealing to me. (10/10)

9. Behind You – Behind You is the mini-album’s mandatory ballad. It is definitely an outlier on this mini-album, but it serves as a very nice and soothing ender to the album. My self-made indicator of a good ballad was activated and I was swaying along to the music. The classical instrumental was typical, but it was amazing to listen to. And the vocal work was stunning, especially when it came to Lee Dae Hwi’s ad-libs. Personally, I felt Woojin’s rapping to be the weakest moment of this song. I don’t think rapping was the right delivery mechanism in this song, which would have helped make this song even super meaningful to their fans. (9/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

  • SALUTE Teaser Image

[Weekly Chart] 3rd Week of January 2021

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Another week has passed. Before we progress to the next week’s worth of reviews (which will feature Golden Child, Bobby, Dream Catcher, IU and Hyuna to name a few), I will put my mindset into a bit of a reflective mode by writing up another Weekly KPOP Chart post. This particular post is for the 3rd Week of January 2021, as you can tell from the title of the post.

New releases of the week

If you have been tuning into my blog during the week, you would have seen my reviews for the new releases made by AB6IX, ONEUS, Cherry Bullet and CRAVITY. But this is only a small portion of releases from the past week, which also includes Epik High, U-Know Yunho (TVXQ), Berry Good, Chungha, PinkFantasy and SATURDAY. I will try my best to catch up on these reviews (and also the ones that remained from the previous few weeks).

‘Non-KPOP release by a Korean artist’ of the week

If I am correct, this is the first new ‘Non-KPOP release by a Korean artist’ song to be featured in this segment. For those who may have missed it, Baekhyun made his solo debut in Japan with Get You Alone. The music video for this release dropped a few weeks back. But the song officially dropped with the mini-album, BAEKHYUN, this week. This new song will be featured on the upcoming International Song Review post (which has now been scheduled in two weeks time).

Throwback corner *new segment*

The throwback corner will be the section of the post where I show you what else I have been listening to. This will only feature KPOP releases that dropped pre-2021 (or the year we are in). Looking back at my YouTube history, it seems like GFriend’s MAGO is the first song to be featured in this segment. And I am sure you probably know why! Catchy, retro and fun. Must I say any more?

The Chart

And here is the goods! The main reason to why we are all here. Congratulations to Cherry Bullet’s Love So Sweet for debuting at the top of the charts this week. It is such a unique song that definitely got my attention when it was released during the week. For more of the charts, continue scrolling below!

  17th Jan – 23rd Jan 2021
Title Artist Status
1 Love So Sweet Cherry Bullet (new)
2 Stay Young AB6IX (new)
3 Cry For Me TWICE (=)
4 No Diggity ONEUS (new)
5 Crush MCND (▲ 25)
6 My Turn CRAVITY (new)
7 Panorama IZ*ONE (▼ 2)
8 Fav Boyz (Gold Star Remix) A.C.E & Steve Aoki ft. Thutmose (▲ 15)
9 Hop In Uhm Jung Hwa ft. Hwasa (Mamamoo)& DPR LIVE (▲ 32)
10 What I Said VICTON (▼ 6)
11 HWAA (G)I-DLE (▼ 10)
12 ASURABALBALTA T1419 (▲ 2)
13 Last Piece GOT7 (▼ 5)
14 In The Dark Jeong Sewoon (▲ 1)
15 Just Can’t Stop Loving You Jang Hyun Seung (▲ 25)
16 Beautiful Love Oh Sae Beom (▲ 32)
17 Camellia Jukjae & Hyuk (VIXX) (▲ 20)
18 MY TREASURE TREASURE (▼ 16)
19 Eternal Flame Pentagon (▲ 10)
20 Last of Us K-TIGERS ZERO (▲ 18)
21 Switch To Me Rain & Park Jin Young (▼ 5)
22 Resonance NCT (▼ 4)
23 I’m Cold Kim Sung Kyu (Infinite) (▼ 4)
24 BBUSYEO ONEUS (▲ 2)
25 WE STILL (BE WITH YOU) ASTRO (▼ 15)
26 Work It NCT U (▼ 5)
27 ON&ON Hong Eunki (▲ 17)
28 I Can’t Wait N.O.M (▲ 21)
29 Used To This Lee Hanbyul  (▲ 20)
30 Perfume Yubin (▲ 19)

Leaving the charts this week

The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run on the charts and will be removed to make way for new songs:

  • Breath – GOT7
  • 90’s Love – NCT U
  • Work It – NCT U
  • Bad Girl – woo!ah!
  • Understand – Oh Sae Beom
  • My Heart Skip A Beat – PURPLE KISS

[Album Review] MCND Age (3rd Mini Album) – MCND

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The next album review that I want to cover is MCND’s latest comeback. It is the first time I am sitting down to write an album review for the group, who made their debut back in 2020 with Ice Age. Their mini-albums have been on the shortlist for review before, but they ended up being cut due to time constraints. But not this time, as their side tracks on this mini-album deserve from praise. MCND’s new release comes in the form of their third mini-album and is titled MCND Age. The album was released alongside their title track, Crush, on the 8th of January 2021.

MCND Age Album Cover

2. Crush (우당탕) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Crush. (9/10)

3. LOUDER – Contrary to the name of the song, LOUDER isn’t actually louder than the title track in terms of volume. If anything, I felt like the two songs were on par with one another. But maybe the LOUDER title was based on the boldness of the song. This isn’t the case, however, as the song opts for a pop sound and just doesn’t have definition. But because of the pop direction, LOUDER is somewhat refreshing for MCND, who tend to go for heavier instrumentation and down the hip-hop hole. I find the song to be catchy and the drum work is definitely a highlight. (9/10)

4. KO, OK! – The boxing ring sound effects in KO, OK! aligns a little better with the song’s title. The song is also a lot bolder compared to the previous side track. It kicks off the song with some hype energy through the rap anthem. I liked that the song continuously returned to this hype sequence, driving even more energy into the song. This alone leaves a strong impression on me. The members do a really good job in the song, with both the rapping and vocal work coming off in a memorable manner. The synthesizer was definitely well utilized in this song and brought great texture to the song. It also made the song more addictive and interesting to listen to. (9/10)

5. PLAYER – We slip more into that hip-hop style of music that MCND has associated with themselves by listening to PLAYER. But while hip-hop tends to allow the rappers to shine the most, I find the vocal sections of the pre-chorus to be the most impressive showcase of MCND’s skills set. I find that to be quite interesting. But that doesn’t mean the rappers will let you down because they really help push the energy and intensity of the song. Essentially, if you enjoy abrasiveness effects, relentless energy and a pounding beat, then PLAYER is the song for you. (8/10)

6. Outro (ㅁㅊㄴㄷ) – Personally, I am not sure if this track serves as the outro of the album, or whether the song is simply titled as Outro. With the tracks that have fallen into the hip-hop genre thus far from this album, they have showed some uniqueness that I find quite interesting and different from the competition. Outro, as a whole, seems to step back into that generic side of hip-hop in KPOP. It is still a good song, nonetheless, as the other elements really made me overlook the generism. The piano introduction and the piano during the bridge showcased a nice style of different. I appreciate that the dance side of the song as it potentially could rival other groups whose music style is quite similar to Outro (i.e. ATEEZ). (7.5/10)

7. Not Over (아직 끝난거 아이다) – Not Over seems to be a mix of styles in one song. Luckily, it comes together to be one cohesive track. It quite easily could have been disjointed and lacked harmony. But Not Over remains as one whole. I find the song quite nice, with a playful tone in one section, followed up intense vibe in the next. But it all balances out. Once again, the dance sections of the song provides high hopes for a really bombastic and dynamic performance. The rapping and vocal work also shows some level of skill. Overall, MCND ends the album with an all-rounder. (8/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10

MCND Age Teaser Image

[Review] My Turn – CRAVITY

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The next comeback being covered on my blog occurred back on Tuesday (apologies for the delays, once again). I am talking about CRAVITY’s My Turn, which dropped alongside their third mini-album, HIDEOUT: BE OUR VOICE – SEASON 3. This is their latest comeback following their debut with Break All The Rules and their comeback in August with Flame. The group also promoted Cloud 9 and Ooh-Aah (from their two mini-albums) throughout 2020. So without anymore delay, I present to you my review for CRAVITY’s My Turn.

The biggest elephant in My Turn that needs to be addressed is the chorus. Everything else in the song is just fine, though very unimaginative. Better words to describe the rest of My Turn is generic and plain, given that it felt like your typical edgy dance KPOP track and nothing more. But I can overlook that. Despite that, there was some interesting aspects to the song. The dull metal clanging was intriguing. Vocally and rapping-wise, CRAVITY does sound good and more refined The song’s bridge felt very NCT-esque with the slowed down instrumentation, smooth high note and the brief rapping sequence just before the chorus is brought back into play. The pre-chorus tracked a bit better in my books, with a slightly more promising appeal thanks to the incline in the song’s momentum. But instead of a drop to bring up the dynamics of My Turn or a drop that would drasticially change the direction of the song, the producers went with a childish centrepiece. Never did I think I would hear ‘Vroom Vroom Skrrt‘ as the literal main hook of a song. It felt very elementary. When I heard My Turn for the first time, I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. As some time has passed, I will admit that I have gotten used to the idea of ‘Vroom Vroom Skkrt’ as the chorus’ main selling point. But all of those thoughts I had initally about it being childish and such still lingers. And that really maintains that disappointment in the chorus. The insrtumental is another element that hones straight into that plainness description, with it not doing much other than maintaining that generic momentum that the verses contained. Overall, disappointed about the chorus of My Turn. And not much feeling towards the rest of the new song.

I think the visuals within the music video for My Turn fairs better than the song. But ultimately, the video is weighed down by the song. There are many aspects of the video that I enjoyed. The set designs and the overall feel of the music video felt like it was very stylish and modern. The lighting really helped in that aspect. The use of black, white and red felt very sleek. But with a song like My Turn, I think the video had wasted potential. A more dynamic song would have made everything in this video even more sasitfying (with some slight adjustments to the lighting to ensure that the dynamics is reflected). I also note that CRAVITY is being blamed for plagarism once again. Firstly, it is not their fault. It is their company’s fault for these accusations. Horrible planning, poor vetting of the creative minds and ideas – all faults are pointed at their management. Starship Entertainment really needs to be up their game became plagarism is never a great word to be associated with a group.

The choreography was actually quite good, It definitely fitting for the song. The edgy concept they were going for with the song was actually abundantly present throughout the performance. I appreciate the serious mode they were in, which made the childish nature of the chorus disappear briefly whilst watching the performance.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.3/10

[Review] Love So Sweet – Cherry Bullet

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Apologies, once again, for drip feeding the song reviews again this week. But the weekend will definitely feature more reviews (and this time I am for real as I will be spending my time indoors away from the hot weather, which means more time on the blog!). The song I want to focus on today is Cherry Bullet’s Love So Sweet (as you can already tell from the title of the post). The now-seven member female group returned on Wednesday with the new song and their very first mini-album, Cherry Rush. This is their first mini-album release since their debut in 2019 with Q&A. This is also their first comeback since Aloha Oe last year.

While I have yet to show it due to my slow reviewing capacity, Love So Sweet is fast becoming a favourite of mine this week. To me, I find the song’s instrumental to be so unique, memorable and addictive all at the same time. The start of the song gave off a modern TWICE-like feel, before settling with a minimalist beat that reminds me of the Western pop industry. The pre-chorus kicks the song up a notch by transitioning the song from bubblegum into a more intensive pop sound. And I really liked how it bridged the gap between the verse and the chorus, which also felt defined. The chorus was fun and continues the energy from the pre-chorus. It definitely honed in the fact that Love So Sweet was of the cutesy nature. But while high pitched vocals and sweet melodies were used, I didn’t find the song overly saturated with this vibe. I did like the paced nature of the instrumentation, which really helped in preventing the song from becoming too overly cutesy. Following the actual vocal section of the chorus comes the song’s best part – the post-chorus hook. It brings back that minimalist vibe of the verse in a really unique and sophisicated manner. It also drives the energy down slightly to give way to the slightly more energetic (relatively to the first verse) second verse. I personally didn’t like the rapping in the bridge, but everything else in the segment was fine. Another really strong moment was the high note and its pairing with the subtle blast of energy for the final chorus. It was very fitting and definitely helped make the song peak in a very satsifying manner. I also like how they borught back that post-chorus hook at the very end, ending the song with the highlight of the entire three minutes. Overall, Love So Sweet is definitely a sweet song. But done in a way that was enjoyable and refined.

I really liked the concept of the music video. Essentially, each chunk of the song has given a particular room or setting. The transition between each room was done by a singular doorway, which was a very unique idea for me. I am certain they reused the same rooms, just with different lighting to give off a different feel and make it seem they set up a new room for each scene. Pretty smart. I also liked the editing at the end of the video, where each set was flashed for one second. It was quite flawless. I tried to work out if one member was out of place or not. But I guess the director had such great attention to detail because I couldn’t pinpoint any issues with the quick transitions.

The cutesy charm of the group came through in the performance. Once again, I am glad it didn’t look over saturated with this. There was no bad moment throughout the choreography. My favourite part has to be the during the post-chorus hook segment and after the high note at which the song peaked (and so did the performance!).

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10