Category: Reviews

[Review] Reminisce About All – ONEWE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

It is a new week and we have a new group kicking off the many releases of this week. ONEWE, formerly known as MAS, is a brand new band under RBW Entertainment, which is also the company of Mamamoo, VROMANCE and ONEUS (who also made their earlier debut this year). ONEWE is a five-member band consisting of Yonghoon, Harin, Kanghyun, Dongmyeong and Cya. Previously, the group was part of The Unit: Idol Reboot Program, with Dongmyeong being the highest representative of the group, ranking in 16th place. Today, they released their first single-album, 1/4, and the title track, Reminisce About All.

I think if you want to be part of RBW, you need a lineup that boasts great vocals as this is evident by the band’s labelmates. ONEWE seems to be the perfect addition. I was drawn to the song within the opening seconds of the track. The vocals were captivating and I enjoyed how it built along with the song. The harmonies between the two singers in the group were probably one of my favourite parts of the song. But that is the vocal side of the song. Now, let’s move onto the instrumental. Not often do I think a ballad has the capability of being dynamic in nature. But dynamic is probably Reminisce About All most accurate descriptive term. The song starts off as a ballad. A simple piano and violins. Paired with the vocals, I think this was a breathtaking section of the song. Slowly, they added more instruments. The guitar crept up on me and I didn’t notice the moment it was added to the song. The drums were the most prominent addition, coming in during the peak of the track. This order of instrumentation is different from other bands and I think this is a pretty unique way to start. Overall, I found the song to be very aesthetically pleasing and appealing to my affinity of ballads.

The golden brown colour in this video is extremely suitable for the tone of the track. Since it is a song about reminiscing, a reflective atmosphere was desired. But using the golden colour tone, stillness in the video and slow camera movements, this reflective set up ended up being very aesthetically pleasing as well. There isn’t much to the video besides the fact the members are positioned in a circle and they are simply performing. But altogether, it was a well thought out video.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.7/10

[Review] Runaway – Eric Nam

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

Here I am, slowly catching up on reviews once again. If you noticed, I didn’t release an album review yesterday. That will be released later today! But today, we are here to have a closer listen to Eric Nam’s Runaway. This is the male soloist’s first release since Miss You back in October of last year. More recently, Eric Nam started a podcast called K-Pop Daebak, which talks about the recent releases in the industry. I personally have not listened to it yet but since it is growing in popularity, I might start once I have more free time.

It seems like the industry is slowly approaching the warmer seasons. Runaway is best described as a tropical based dance track, which has been KPOP’s go-to sound for the Summer season for past few Summers. But it uses some acoustics within its instrumental to really make this track feel different from the rest of other typical tropical dance tracks. Together, Runaway ends up being laid back and refreshing, which is perfect for the fast approaching heat. Eric Nam’s voice was very calming and delicate, which I think suited that laid back and refreshing vibe. The melody was very nice and the chorus was very catchy in my opinion. I think the only disappointing aspect of the song has to be the shortness of the track. I am not sure how it would turn out if it was longer but I did want more, as it went by quickly. Overall, Runaway was a pleasant track that gets me excited for the Summer season of music ahead. Note that I am currently suffering in the cold as Australia is currently in Winter.

The music video was filmed with a home video concept. You know, the home videos we all have of a holiday in another city or country with our family. The one that we don’t want anyone to see because you were doing some weird because you were with family (i.e. those you are most comfortable with). I thought it was a nice video. It was light, matching with the song’s overall vibes. While the song talks about wanting to run away with your significant other, Eric Nam and his friend in the video is shown to be running away to have fun. I also liked how the majority of the video was shot at night and the lighting also helped with making it light and refreshing video.

The performance was nice. The main focus was on his vocals and the choreography comes second in this case. I thought the dance moves were relatively simple and that goes well with the light and laidback vibes of the song.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] You – Xiumin (EXO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

Once again, we return to the topic of military enlistment. This time around, the male group in question is EXO and the member enlisting is Xiumin, the eldest member of the group. While Xiumin said his goodbyes to the members and fans yesterday, he bids farewell once again today through this week’s SM Station release. The song dropped a few hours ago and is titled You. A fortnight ago, Chanyeol releases his solo single SSFW (so if you haven’t heard it yet, click the title!). But we are here for Ximin, so let’s start the review!

Xiumin’s message in You is very simple. He expresses gratitude to everyone around him. And in order to sound meaningful, it is obvious that the ballad route would be chosen. The ballad ended up being typical in nature. That would be the best way to describe it. The instrumental was just plain but I think it did enough to really provide that blank canvas for Xiumin’s voice. We all know that Xiumin isn’t the most talented vocalist of EXO but I think he has an overshadowed voice. There have been songs by him in collaborations and units that do bring out the best of him. You does that as well. I really like his raspy vocals, which really made the song a tiny bit more interesting. I like how he manages to go along with the building instrumental and ended giving the song that needed climax. But I am not particularly drawn to the song melody wise nor do I find it memorable. But I am sure fans of the artist (and group) will.

A lot of the video seemed to be just a reflection for Xiumin. We see Xiumin staring off into the distance, taking in the sights and the fresh air. There isn’t really anything to talk about. The reflective nature matches the song’s message and tone. But other than that, I think I would be rambling on.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.8/10

[Review] The Fifth Season (SSFWL) – Oh My Girl

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

Returning yesterday is Oh My Girl, with The Fifth Season (SSFWL). This is the title track off their very first studio album, The Fifth Season. Based on the title of the album (and lyrics), it seems like the members are making reference to Love being the fifth season, in addition to the commonly known Spring, Summer, Fall (or Autumn) and Winter. The idea of the 4 Seasons seems to be a popular concept this year, with Taeyeon and Chanyeol each releasing songs about the seasons. But we are here to review SSFWL, which is their first comeback since Remember Me.

SSFWL returns to the fantasy-theme tracks that have been the centre of Oh My Girl’s portfolio. And I found this return to be quite strong, supported with amazing melodies and beautiful vocals. The chorus was by far my favourite part of the entire track. The melody at the start of the chorus was very profound and woke you up from the slightly bland verses. The second half of the chorus (i.e. the ‘La La La…‘) gave an extra kick to the song. And it was this combination that really made the chorus feel bold but perfectly fitting for the fantasy sound they were aiming for. And as I said, vocals were very nice, as proven by the chorus (and bridge). Mimi’s rapping was probably the surprising limit. I really liked how husky her parts were and this was quite impactful. I also enjoyed how they ended the song, which really the cherry on top for SSWFL. I think it is extremely safe to say that I really enjoyed this song and wouldn’t be surprised if this dominated my playlist for the next few weeks.

The music video shows the members in sets that can easily be identified as the different seasons. Binnie is experiencing Winter, due to the amount of snow available. Hyojung is in Summer, shown through the availability of a refreshing drink from the fridge and the vibrant green fauna. Fall is experienced by Jiho, who is on a train in appropriate attire, surrounded by a warm golden vibe, while Spring is experienced by Arin, as she walks through the fields and flowers. I assume YooA, Seunghee and Mimi are in certain seasons as well. But it is when the members join each other, does the fifth season (filled with joy and happiness) come apparent. Thought it was a very nice video to showcase this.

I thought the performance was pretty good. I really thought that running-like move in the chorus was cool. The entire performance looked very graceful, which fits in with the fantasy tone and concept of this comeback.

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

[Review] Hold On Me – Nam Woohyun (Infinite)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

One of the groups that I want to continue to see in the future is Infinite. Their releases in the past have also been outstanding and with the military enlistment period upon the members, I want something Infinite related in this Infinite-drought. Woohyun is probably my favourite member and it isn’t just because he is the one to break the Infinite-drought. Woohyun returned today with Hold On Me, his third solo title track.

While Woohyun is my favourite member of the group, his previously ballads quickly wore off after their respective releases and reviews.  You can’t really help that if all you release are ballads. However, Hold On Me departs from this ballad train and jumps onboard a more upbeat and energetic train. Kicking off the track are some guitars that really perk your interest, particularly if you were expecting a ballad track. We were treated to some of Woohyun’s vocals but I did not expect such an early featuring of Junoflo right after. I liked the raspy texture he gave the song and the way they managed to blend together was very interesting. I think the best bit of the song has to the pre-chorus and chorus combination. The buildup was nice and the chorus had a rush of energy/colour (thanks to the vibrancy of the guitar), making the track quite memorable for me. Woohyun’s vocals were really nice, with the bridge of the song probably showcasing his vocals the best in the entire song. Overall, Hold On Me serves as a great drought-breaker and provides a fresh take of Woohyun!

The music video shows Woohyun remembering a past lover. Woohyun looked like he never moved on from his breakup, as the static on the television reminded him of his girlfriend and his place doesn’t look like he ever stopped drinking since that heartbreaking night. Towards the end, he does find her. But she seems to be a memory within his mind and the static effect is shown alongside her, representing the fact that she is now just a memory (and not a partner). I thought it was an interesting video. I did like the choreography set (I don’t think it was a real cityscape, which was rather disappointing). I think it would have been better with an actual cityscape, like his solo shots.

The choreography looks good. It isn’t as intense as other Infinite releases in the past but it is getting there. I think Woohyun focuses more on this vocals for these performances, which I think is the more appropriate thing for Woohyun, as his vocals his main weapon (though his dancing is as well).

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

 

[Review] Spring Again – Golden Child

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

Also returning today is Golden Child. Unfortunately, it isn’t their usual full comeback. Instead, Spring Again is the main track from their first special single album. At this very stage, I am not sure whether there will be any promotional stages for this release. But despite that, we must push on with the review! We last saw Golden Child through the group’s previous promotional comeback, Genie, which was released at the end of October 2018.

There is no doubt that when you look at the title, you will automatically think that it is a Spring song. And as long as Korea is experiencing Spring, the influx of Springtime songs will continually bombard the charts and our devices. Spring Again is your standard Spring track. While it sounds like I don’t perceive any element as mind-blowing, there were some good points about the song. I thought the vocals were very melodic and flowy, which is something I personally do enjoy. This paired nicely with the instrumental, which incorporated whistling and classical instrumentation to become a pleasant canvas for the vocals. The harmonies were also quite nice. The rapping gave a little definition to the song and provided something that usually isn’t there when it comes to other Spring tracks. Overall, typical may be part of the description for Spring Again but it was still a decent track.

Unlike past Golden Child music videos, Spring Again lacks choreography. It was quite obvious that with the idea of a Spring track, along with the fact that it was a special single, the ‘performance’ aspect of this release would be omitted. Instead, the video shows the members in a pleasant fashion. Cherry blossoms were in the background and the members were having an outing to look, smell and play within the midst of these flowers. Other than that, there really isn’t much to the video. I know the seasons are getting warmer but I found the greyness of the video made it look cold and dreary. I think if they went with a more colourful approach to fit the warmer temperatures, the video would be fun and vibrant. It would have also been a nicer fit for their music portfolio.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 6/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] 4:44 – Park Bom ft. Wheein (Mamamoo)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , , Leave a comment

If Park Bom was still under YG Entertainment, we wouldn’t be able to see much of her in the near distant future. But the good news is that Park Bom is no longer under YG Entertainment and therefore we are able to see her more often. Back in March, Park Bom returned with her first solo single in 8 years, titled Spring and featured fellow 2NE1 member Sandara Park. Within a month and a half, the soloist has returned with 4:44, which features Mamamoo’s Wheein. And in a recent interview, Park Bom hinted towards other comebacks within the year! So rejoice Park Bom fans, she is here to stay!

From the very start of 4:44, you can tell that there is a heavy emotional tone to the song. It also tells you what type of direction the song would go into. Despite being in a time of sudden changes, I think vocally-centred and emotionally-based songs don’t become affected by such trends. But a trend that did affect the song is the use of an electronic instrumental for this R&B ballad. Even some of Park Bom’s vocals are autotuned. I am not too bothered by as they all blend well together. But they could have been a little lighter with the autotune. I find 4:44 very interesting for two reasons. Part of me finds certain moments quite nostalgic as it brings me back to her earlier solo works. Leading right after is that the Park Bom’s voice is very husky and airy in this track, reminding me of Soyou’s vocals when her collaborations were the go-to track to download. I think Wheein gave the song some lightness and crispness. Her part had a slightly faster tempo and this gave dynamic appeal. I also liked Park Bom’s ad-libs during Wheein’s feature, which I thought were rather cool.

Once again, the emphasis is on the colour blue. It definitely made itself the centre of attention. Apart from that, there isn’t a whole heap going on. Park Bom, for the majority of the video, walks around. I like the idea but I think she could have been a little less rigid while walking, which would have made the video appear softer. I also understand that Wheein wasn’t in the video. Many times, featuring artists cannot fit music video filming into their schedule. But getting the main actress to lip-sync doesn’t really cut it for me. And the small opening of the mouth really annoyed me. Maybe there was an artistic reason for this. But I just thought the lip-syncing was unnecessary.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Focus – Kim Dong Han

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

For the first time this week, I am able to post two reviews on the same night! This review will be for Kim Dong Han’s latest release (which just dropped a few hours ago). The song is titled Focus and is featured on the artist’s third mini-album, D-HOURS AM 7:03. We last saw Kim Dong Han through his Good Night Kiss promotions back in October 2018. Deviating from the review slightly, I like to inform you that Kim Dong Han was my pick for Best New Soloist in the 2018 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Now back on the review!

Focus is rather interesting. The song is all about focusing on your lover, yet the instrumental was rather choppy, creating a nice contrast to the usual expected peaceful conditions when you want to focus on something. And this definitely gives off more texture when compared to other songs. I really liked how they used the ‘Focus on You’line as p[art of the instrumentation as well. A dynamic touch to the song, if you ask me. Kim Dong Han also showcases his vocals in this song, which I thought really popped on top of this electronic instrumentation. I particularly like the way he sang (or maybe rapped) the pre-chorus section, which was another textural device but also very captivating when compared to the other sections of the song. I think the song could have benefited from a rap sequence via a featuring rapping. I think this could have boosted the song and made it more intense. But what we got is already very good, so definitely no complaints from me.

I don’t think there is much of a plotline to the video. But all the close-up shots that focus on Kim Dong Han seem to fit aesthetically with each other. Kim Dong Han’s visual game is rather strong, making this very appropriate for a song titled as Focus. I really liked the emphasis on the colour blue during those choreography shots with the blue set and Kim Dong Han’s blue pants. I think the music video is definitely captivating despite there not being much content int eh video besides close-ups and choreography shots.

But something that I am extremely excited for is the performance. It is his strongest effort and display of energy yet. His enthusiasm alone in the music video really makes me keen to watch his live performances. As for the dance, a lot of complex moves are present. My favourite so far has to be the jumpy moves during the post-chorus. But everything else looks amazing!

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10

[Review] After Party – SPECTRUM

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

The last few days I have so busy but managed to find time to write one review per day. Monday saw the release of three songs. I have already reviewed the releases from NU’EST and The Boyz. Today, I will be reviewing the third song, which is After Party by Spectrum. This is Spectrum’s first comeback for 2019 and is it also their first comeback since What Do I Do?, which was released back in November 2018.

After Party doesn’t really envoke the desire to continue partying after the main event. Rather, it feels like a song is more light than party-theme and is more about having a good time at that very moment. And actually, the lyrics reflect that. The song takes on the tropical island style of music, so it doesn’t offer anything new. And that is the case for most of the song. I found the vocals to be fitting for the track but not really mind-blowing. I did like the autotune and the rapping, which gave the song some texture. There is a fun element embedded in the song which you can’t help denying and I think the song comes together well to really bring that out and make it somewhat appealing. At least, it wasn’t just plain. The chorus was nice, with the post-chorus hook (the ‘Say La La La‘) being quite catchy. Though I did expect something with a little more hype and energy based on the title, After Party was a relatively chill song that I wouldn’t mind play once in a while.

The video seems to match the lightness and fun side of the song. There are no parties in this video, with the members mainly just having fun and hanging out. And since the video was just that, I don’t really have much to talk about. Because of that, it is one of those videos that you watch once and don’t really have the desire to rewatch it as it is fairly straight forward. Compared to other videos, this one does fall short. But it was rather fitting.

Like the video, the performance went in a fun direction. There really isn’t much else you can do. There really aren’t complex moves as the song doesn’t allow them to fit in. Hence, the dance was rather simple and was quite playful. My favourite part has to be the post-chorus section, which incorporated that Fortnite dance.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] Bloom Bloom – The Boyz

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

Also returning yesterday is The Boyz with their latest comeback, Bloom Bloom. This is the group’s first comeback since their 2018 comeback, No Air, which was released back in November. Since then, the group won Best New Male Artist at the MelOn Music Awards in December and embarked on an Asian Tour at the start of the year. They were also my pick for Best New Male Artist for 2018 in the KPOPREVIEWED Awards.

Bloom Bloom is a dance-pop track that is flowery enough for the Spring season but as intense and energetic as you expect with a Summer-focused song. Hence it exists in a limbo between the two, perfect for this time of the year. My first impression of the song wasn’t that great, as I wanted a song to have a kick like their previous tracks that I have enjoyed such as Right Here. But Bloom Bloom’s kick is a lot more subtle and the song has definitely grown on me with more listens (hence, if you don’t enjoy the song, I’d say give it a few more listens). The ‘Bloom Bloom Pow‘ start is definitely impactful. Usually, you would say ‘Boom Boom Pow‘ instead. But the extra letter makes sense for the song that focuses on innocent love and flowers. I thought the raping was overly dynamic for the song. They could have toned it down slightly to make it a little more fitting for the rest of the song. Vocals were pretty good. Overall, Bloom Bloom may not be my preferred sound for the group but it fits in well with their previous songs.

Going hand-in-hand with the lyrics and the title of the track, the song takes on a bright concept. The school-boy concept also returns through this comeback. The main action occurs on the baseball field, with it providing distractions in the form of a dying plant, which the members look after. A powerful whack of baseball also caused a spaceship to fall from the sky. This lead to the discovery of a special ball, which causes fireworks in the sky and the moon to ‘bloom’ in flowers. Overall, it was a nice video that was fitting for the song.

The dance was pretty nice as well. Once again, I like the energy that comes from the chorus. I also like the blooming effect they have in the background (with the members jumping up and down) just before the chorus kicks in, along with the wider movements in the chorus (which kind of give off the same effect).

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

[Review] Bet Bet – NU’EST

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

The mini Wanna One reunion occurred last week and it continues onto this week with the Minhyun’s long-awaited comeback with NU’EST, returning the group to its original 5 members. For those who do not know, 4 members of NU’EST (JR, Baekho, Ren and Minhyun) participated in Produce 101 Season 2, with Minhyun emerging to be part of the project group, Wanna One. JR, Baekho and Ren rejoined Aron to become NU’EST W during the time Minhyun was absent. Unfortunately, this meant that NU’EST has not promoted as a 5 member group since the release of Love Paint, released back in 2016. But that changes today!

Bet Bet is the name of their new title track. The first impression of the track was that it features a very intense sound that manages to do a good job of captivating me. While the foundations seem to very standard and plain, I think the various effects really made it appealing to me. The high pitch wailing effect and the drumbeats that are heard throughout the song really give the song a unique definition, which I really enjoyed. I also enjoyed the rush of energy that the chorus gives us, which is something that I really enjoy in other songs.  Vocally, I think the song is really good. Baekho’s vocals that kick off the chorus really does reach out at you, which I think is fantastic as it matches that rush of energy that I am talking about. I also liked the vocals in the pre-chorus, when the song slightly slows down. The rapping (by JR) is also very good. Overall, I think Bet Bet is a fantastic song for the group to return as a whole. I just hope next time around, they go with something a little different or unique like their past releases, as that was what I was yearning for.

The music video, as confirmed by Pledis Entertainment, completes the storyline shared between Overcame, Love Paint and Universe. It starts off with the Queen sitting in her throne. She seems to have all the members trapped in her world and they are trying their best to get out of it (I think this is suggested by the chess board, where Baekho versus her with all the pieces but she only plays with the queen). Minhyun seems to be a little more daring and climbs to her throne and looks closely at her eyes (which has been covered by since the start). This may have flustered and distracted her, allowing Baekho to win against her in the chess game. I am not too sure about the other members, however (I am not familiar with the card game or the casino based game they are playing, so I can’t really tell what’s going on). The second half of the music video is Minhyun’s awakening (presumed from the end of Universe), where he rejoins the others in Utopian world full of colour and plants (and based on this, they escaped the Queen’s grasp). As you can see, my interpretation is a little choppy. So, feel free to throw your thoughts into the comments below! Maybe I am wrong. But whatever it is, it is shaping to be a very interesting music video theory post.

The choreography for this was very cool. Aron was noticeably absent from the choreography shots in the music video, which I presume was due to his injury. But based on the showcase, he is back performing. I liked the fierceness of the chorus, particularly the sliding and kneeling move.

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

[Review] Tu eres – NEWKIDD

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

Making their debut in the past week is NEWKIDD. They may actually be a familiar name with two subunits of the group making their debut in the past, along with NEWKIDD member Ji Hansol making into UNB through the survival reboot show, The UNI+. So, the group has some experience on the stage already. But here is a quick recap before we dive into Tu eres. The group is a seven-member male group (consisting of Jinkwon, Ji Hansol, Choi Jiann, Yunmin, Woochul, Kang Seungchan, and Hwi) currently under J-Flo Entertainment.

To me, Tu eres is a standard house dance track. There really isn’t anything that flashy about the instrumental to really set it apart from the competition. The start was promising, especially with the keyboard or piano. But once the beat became comfortable, I wasn’t really that blown away. What did manage to really reel me into the song were the vocals and the raps. The vocals were quite crisp, clear and showcased proudly over the instrumental.  The raps gave the song a dynamic feel and a sense of boldness that I didn’t really register with the rest of the song. Together, I think they did a lot in place of the instrumental which, once again, featured more standard elements than anything else. The song didn’t seem catchy, which is disappointing as you want a debut track to be memorable. But then again, many groups have come back from non-memorable debut tracks in the past, so there is always room to improve, especially when they did demonstrate potential.

The camera quality for this debut music video is on point! I think this already has me biased. The content doesn’t seem to have much, with the video focusing mainly on choreography and close up shots. The video is set in a foreign outdoor marketplace, similar to the concept that the (G)I-DLE’s LATATA and Hann music video. The video was also situated in this classy black backdrop scenery, with the now normalised water dance shot. Together, they may seem like ideas done before but I think it was a nice video regardless of that.

The choreography shares the same fate as the music video. Nothing new but it was still enjoyable to watch. I did like the energy they put into their moves. Apart from that, I don’t have much else to comment on.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] I’ll Be There – Yoon Ji Sung

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

Now, there was one earlier arrival to the Wanna One mini reunion today. Yoon Ji Sung made his solo return with I’ll Be There on Thursday. I was a little busy with assignments so I couldn’t write an immediate review, so hence why I decided to have him join the reunion as well. This is Yoon Ji Sung’s second promotional track, with In The Rain (released back in February) being his first. Yoon Ji Sung also recently confirmed that he will be enlisting in the military on the 14th of May, making this (possibly) his final release for the next few years or so.

Once again, I’ll Be There takes on the ballad route, which was expected of Yoon Ji Sung when he made his debut. But it is a lot different to his solo debut track. The guitar at the start made the song sound very beautiful and definitely set the tone. The combination of the guitar with some of the other elements remind me of Park Hyo Shin’s Happy Together, released a few years back. One of these elements has to be the melody of the chorus, which paired with the backing vocals, definitely gave off those vibes. I particularly thought the harmonies that Yoon Ji Sung shared with the backing vocals, in particular during the bridge, really gave the song some definition, alongside the guitar. Happy Together was more of a happier song, whereas this still has an emotional component to it. The song talks about writing memories into a book and that the relationship is going due to the number of pages written in. I thought was a nice concept, making this a promising ballad.

Going back to the lyrics, Yoon Ji Sung ends up reflecting a lot in the video. While the song was about writing memories of a relationship, Yoon Ji Sung spends most of his time alone and with his diary. He writes memories in there. My theory is that since this is a special album, it is farewell (for now) song. And the solo path that Yoon Ji Sung makes is kind of like ‘self-discovery’ time, just before his enlistment. So he writes about this in his diary. There is no sadness, rather it looks likes his mind is wandering and we do see some smiles throughout the video. We do also see a glimpse of a page but I am not too sure about what it said. To me, the video is one of those that is on the dry side but if my theory is right, I think it would a nice video for fans.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] Hard To Say Goodbye – Bae Jin Young

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

Major alert but today’s Wanna One reunion isn’t over just yet! I just posted my review for AB6IX’s pre-debut single. Now, it is Bae Jin Young’s turn.  Since departing from Wanna One, Bae Jin Young returned to his company, C9 Entertainment, and has been taking a break from activities after a years plus worth of promotions. Now, Bae Jin Young returns by making his solo debut with Hard To Say Goodbye, which is featured on his first ever single album.

To me, Bae Jin Young is one of the more ambiguous members of the now disbanded group. He just never got to really shine in the midst of all the other members. So I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect once he returns. Hard To Say Goodbye ventures in the ballad regions of the Korean music industry, something that I personally would not have thought occur. And while I do have doubts, one listen confirms that there is no need for any concerns. Bae Jin Young’s vocals have this slight raspy tone which I have never noticed before that sounds very touching on top of the traditional sounding instrumental. He sounds very nice. Another thing I was concerned about was how would he give the song that peak it needed to really bring the track together. But he does so well with this ‘peak’ in his own way, which I think was definitely my pick for the highlight of the track. Overall, I thought it was a nice ballad. Not exactly the best for reasons I will discuss later on but still nice.

One of the things that set a good ballad singer to another is the ability to convey emotions. I don’t think Bae Jin Young hit the mark with that aspect as I didn’t feel 100% connected with the vocals. But it is the music video, paired with the song that made it feel touching.   Throughout the video, you get a sense that he is lonely. But we think this partner left him for another person or broke up with him. He starts off his day by looking over some plans and buying some flowers. He then uses those plans to build a chair, assumingly for his past lover, kind of like he was finding hard to let them go. However, the ending was surprising and it was the small plot twist that got me sad. Bae Jin Young, dressed in a black suit, crying over the chair he built and the flowers he bought are placed on top of it. I suddenly come to the realization that his former partner passed away and it wasn’t because they broke up with him, Instead, they left in the saddest of ways that really made me think that I should have been quick to assume.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Hollywood – AB6IX

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

Did anyone know that AB6IX would be releasing their pre-debut track today? I haven’t been paying too much to teasers lately, but I do have an understanding of when certain artists will be making their comeback. Not that I am complaining, though. AB6IX is a brand new male group under Brand New Music. They are one of the highly anticipated debuts of the year as the group consisting of two former Wanna One members (Lee Dae Hwi and Park Woo Jin), the MXM duo (Lim Young Min and Kim Dong Min) and newly revealed Jeon Woong.

Their pre-debut single is title Hollywood. Right off the bat, it throws intensity and edginess right at you. It is overwhelming to an extent but in a good way. Not often do songs leave me shaking and wanting more. It could be the cold climate that I am in at the moment but I like to think that it was the song’s effect on me. The song takes on dance trap elements, something that is a little different from the usual electronic and EDM music get nowadays from other releases. The line ‘Welcome To My Hollywood‘, especially Park Woo Jin’s opener, was very impactful but in a subtle way. To me, the rapping was definitely the other highlight of the song. It went extremely well with the intensity. That being said, the vocals were really good as well but the focus just wasn’t on them, unfortunately. I thought the mad energy rush during the final chorus was ideal, as the song needed a little extra push in that department or else it would have been a tad too consistent. Overall, Hollywood leaves me wanting more, perfect for a pre-debut single.

Unfortunately, this is only a performance video. So, there was mainly choreography shots throughout the video. I think the video started off with just the MXM members watching television and wearing their old outfits. But after a while, they get up and stare at the door, before walking through it to the set of the Hollywood music video (Who else noticed the locks were on the hinged side of the door?). One of the members takes off their jacket and MXM become appropriately clothed alongside the rest of the group. After that, it mainly choreography shots and a very surprise announcement at the end, informing fans that the 22nd of May will be their debut date. Mark your calendars because we will only be counting down days from now.

The choreography was amazing. It was extremely fitting for the intensity and I think pairing the song and choreography together just made everything so much more appealing. My favourite section has to be the entire routine for the final chorus as it makes that rush of energy even better!

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.7/10

[Review] SSFW – Chanyeol (EXO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 3 Comments

Intriguing teasers of a yellow car popped onto my news feed last week and it was later revealed that Chanyeol was the driver of the car. The teaser was for Chanyeol’s first solo track, titled as SSWF, which stands for Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. The single is released as part of SM Station Season 3 and will be released in 3 different languages (Korean. Chinese and Japanese) for many more fans to enjoy the song. This is the first EXO release since Chen’s solo debut earlier this month.

I was not sure what I was expecting when it came to SSFW. But I don’t think I expected to be hearing music that was so light and airy. The song felt fitting for the breezy weather, as I think it would be a nice listen as you have a stroll in the park or along the beach. When it comes to Chanyeol, you can always expect husky and raspy vocals. His rapping tone is already very deep, so the vocals were a given. The song manages to flaunt his extremely attractive voice to the listeners. I did like his voice in the second verse, which brought onboard a slight rapping tone, which I think gave the song slight variety. I thought the instumental was rather pleasant and contrbuted to the song’s light nature alongside the vocals. The song to me is nice at the moment but personally I do not see the longevity of it. I think I would get bored of the song if I was to continually replay it, which has been the fate for all the SM Station releases this year.

The song relates love to the four seasons, which may be similar to Taeyeon’s recent release,Four Seasons. However, Chanyeol relates his love to the more warmer seasons and wants to be together with his lover to “chase the cold away”. That is quite cheesy but it makes sense. The video shows cases, what I think, is all the seasons except for Winter. There are a lot of sunny seasons as that is the main focus, while the ending was overwhelming brown to reflect upon Autumn. Going back to how I thought the song would matchy a breezy day, the video manages to encapsulate that through the car rides with the window rolled down. I think this was a great representation. To me, it was a nice video for the song.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10