Category: Reviews

[Double Review] Bom + Stars Over Me – BOL4

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It is time for another double review. However, this one features two songs from the very popular duo, BOL4 or Bolbbalgan4, which were released yesterday. The way they got popular made me think that they were going to be a one-hit wonder. But they managed to enter the limelight every single time they return, which goes to show that influence that BOL4 has over the Korean public. The two songs, Bom and Stars Over Me, are featured on the group’s latest mini album and are currently on top of the charts in South Korea. This is also their first comeback since Travel and Starlight.

And there is a reason to why Bom is currently on the top of the charts. Bom is a love song and its sound is very typical of this season. And if you don’t know, Korea really loves love songs during the Spring months, given the fact many love songs have trend during this time of the year. I found the song to be very sweet. But not overly sweet that gets me cringing, which is obviously a good thing. I like its instrumental. And the vocals were quite nice, which is expected from BOL4. The combination of two, however, makes we smile a lot and I can’t but think of spending time with the person I like while listening to the song, which is another reason to why I think it is successful.

To me, Stars Over Me is like Travel but more suited for the Spring season in which the release is in. But rather like a love song, the song focuses more on friendship (but it could still go either way). I like how more acoustic this song is, which I find it more in line with their previous releases. I also enjoyed the English in the track. It wasn’t 100% correct but it was still a fair effort on their behalf. It also seems like Jiyoon also had the opportunity to harmonize with Joyoung in the song, which I thought was also nice. Once again, there wasn’t anything that special about the song but it was still nice to listen to.

Bom’s music video is very twisted. While the storyline of Jiyoung (Cupid) using her arrows to make her crush love her is very fitting for the song, the way he comes back to her is essentially a case of Stockholm Syndrome (i.e. he remembered of those fond memories that she forced upon him by forcing him to love her). I did like the very start of the storyline where she missed two arrows and it ended up hitting Jiyoon instead. Stars Over Me is also like the song. It focuses on the friendship between the two members and showing them have fun at various places. I liked how the lyrics popped up on the screen every now and then, giving it more of that fun nature.

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

Stars Over Me
Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] Violeta – IZ*ONE

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It is time we turn our attention to one of the biggest groups to debut last year. IZ*ONE, for those who may not remember or no, was formed through Produce 48 and debuted with La Vie en Rose. And while the industry is in full swing for the next season of Produce 101, IZ*ONE makes their long-awaited Korean comeback with Violeta. The new track features on the group’s second mini-album, HEART*IZ. In other related news, IZ*ONE made their official Japanese debut earlier this year with Suki to Iwasetai (or I Want To Say I Love You).

It has taken me a few listens for me to warm up to the song. And while I am still warming up to Violeta, I am liking the song. One of the reasons why I haven’t really warmed up to the song yet is due to the first verse. It didn’t feel as captivating. But from the pre-chorus onwards, I am quite into it. Talking about the pre-chorus, I like the dramatic flair. I also enjoyed the rush of energy that the chorus gave off. It makes the pop and tropical mix very intriguing. The vocals were nice, especially during the chorus. The rappers, however, were amazing. I know they didn’t have enough definition to their part but the fact that it stepped back from the high energy filled chorus was ideal. I also like that dubstep effect at the end of the song, which really gave the song a little interesting effect to end on (and not be too repetitive). Maybe a few more listens will do it for me. But so far, it is looking (or sounding, in this case) good.

The entirety of the video has this pale colour tone to it, with some emphasis on the violet colour due to it being part of the title. While I do think anything pale is a little old fashion, there is a swing towards this at the moment in the industry, judging by the pale colour tones in music videos over the last few years. The video, from what I have read, is based on the ‘The Happy Prince‘ book. I know of the book, but it isn’t my first pick when it comes to literature. So since I haven’t read it, I don’t feel confident making connections. But this may be something to look into for a future Music Vidoe Theory post. I did like the choreography sets and the scene with the solo member dancing in the water looked really cool and trendy.

The choreography was quite nice. I enjoyed the majority of it. The first and last chorus (when there is that rush of energy) was probably my favourite parts. Unfortunately, the butterfly effect that started off the second chorus was not that great and I felt like that was a mismatch to the fast paced section.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] Beautiful Goodbye – Chen (EXO)

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As groups progress with their careers, we see a lot of the members branch out into solo careers. EXO is a fine example, with many of the members excelling at their solo careers, such as acting, collaborations and OSTs. What we have not yet seen from the members in Korea is actually a solo album! Lay took the honours as the first member to have a solo album, but that was released in China. But today, Chen will be the first Korean member to release a solo mini-album, April, and a flower, today. The title track from this mini-album is Beautiful Goodbye.

Given Chen’s amazing OSTs in the past, it was highly expected that Chen would go down the ballad route. And Beautiful Goodbye is a breathtaking ballad. A few reviews ago, I mentioned that there are the types of songs that you have to stop what you are doing and listen to it that way in order to fully appreciate the song. This is another perfect example of this. Beautiful Goodbye features only piano in the instrumental. As it is the only instrument in the song, it is extremely striking especially during the moments when the song ‘builds up’or peaks. Chen’s vocals compliment the piano. It doesn’t push himself in this domain nor does he reach ‘powerhouse’ mode. Instead, I find his voice to be very moving and also well-balanced.  This combination works in harmony and it leaves us with a fantastic song to listen to.

I also like how aesthetic the music video is. It isn’t artsy in any way but rather it is simplistic. It is all shot outside, with a very large tree-trunk like structure in the centre of the video. Within the centre, we find Chen and a piano player, whose piano is embedded into the structure. Surrounding them is are many female dancers, all dressed in a pale pink-ish colour that really works well with the setting. That is pretty much it to the video. I came across a news article today that stated that the video took 6 hours of filming and that Chen was concerned about whether he conveyed the right emotions. Well, those 6 hours paid off and Chen did wonders in the video.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10

[Review] Suffering For Love – EDEN

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It is time for another ‘catch up review’, which is what I am now calling these reviews that I should have completed earlier on. Eden is the next artist to have a review done weeks after his release. His single, Suffering For Love, was released on the 15th of March, alongside his 2nd mini-album, EXHALANT. However, you probably have never heard of Eden (I didn’t until the day of release!). He is actually a music producer who has composed tracks for GFriend, BTOB and ATEEZ! So he already boasts big hits under his name. And maybe his single might just join this list!

Eden doesn’t fit the profile of artists who I write reviews for. Firstly, he is a solo act. Unless they come from a group, a well-known company or have a particular history in KPOP, I would gloss over them. Secondly, he is a producer. Not that I have anything against his profession, but I don’t review songs from many producers (unless it is a collaboration with another artist). But his song is very good. I’d say it is a modern R&B ballad. I feel like the R&B side is very prevalent but the modern side is through the use of the synths to create a very emotional driven atmosphere. The chorus is by the far the most memorable bit, with his verses coming a close second. I really like the blast of energy that the song delivers through the chorus, creating a seemingly fitting chaotic atmosphere that is probably an accurate representation of his mind.  Just the English lines ‘I just want to love you, touch you, be with you…‘ and ‘I just want to leave you, hate you, erase you…‘ really summarises how torn he is in the song and why he is suffering. The verses were quite nice because it was like the ‘calm before a storm’. Overall, Suffering In Love is a very tragic but great song to listen to!

The music video shows two sides of the world and the only thing connecting them is a mirror. One side, which is full of light and brightness is the calm zone. We see this often during the verses (i.e. the calm before the storm). The darker scenes feature his partner and more hurtful emotions. It is seen predominately during the chorus. He goes out of his way to keep the mirror covered but at times takes off the covering. This shows that while part of him wants to keep the hurtful side of his life behind him, another part wants to revisit due to his love for his partner. I think this is a very smart and well-present concept and goes extremely well with the song.

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

[Review] Sha La La – Pentagon

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Also making their comeback is Pentagon, who has returned with SHA LA LA. This is their first Korean comeback since Naughty Boy was released in September last year. This comeback also sees the return of Yanan, who sat out of the last comeback. However, it is a gain-a-member and lose-a-member scenario with Pentagon, as Kino would not be able to participate in the stage performances due to an existing injury. In other news, Pentagon made a comeback in Japan earlier in the year with Cosmos, while Wooseok also formed a unit with KuanLin and released I’m A Star two weeks ago.

When I considered my thoughts for Sha La La, it felt like I was rather satisfied with the components of the song. But it is one of the songs that when you look at it as a whole, it doesn’t shine as much. It is a weird perception of things but I don’t know how else to really describe it. I really liked the house instrumental, especially with the groovy first half of the chorus. The second half was also quite interesting, providing the song with an infusion of energy which also contrasts well with the first half. The vocals were also quite nice, especially Hui’s falsettos. They were very clear and crisp. I also liked their trap-influenced raps, which I thought gave some extra punch to the song. But when you put these elements together, I felt like the song was rather typical and didn’t shine as much as the individual components. I might just be confused about my feelings but this is how they are at this very stage.

The music video is what I really like about the comeback. The bird-eye view perception we saw at the very start of the video was really intriguing. When they followed with a retro computer feel as the different images and footage was shown in the olden style windows, which I thought was really cool.  I thought the dance sets were really cool as well, matching with the dance vibes the song had. I also enjoyed how Kino was given a small frame in the middle choreography scene, which he couldn’t perform in due to his injury. It was rather nice that he was still incorporated and wasn’t left out.

I really liked how they picked Jinho up at the start. It too gives the performance an intriguing start. The best part of the choreography goes to the chorus. I liked how some of the moves were rather simplistic. But when you put them all together, it looked very complex and this matches the way the chorus came together.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Awake – JBJ95

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Yesterday, JBJ95 made their very first comeback since their debut back in October last year with Home. Now, they are Awake with their second mini-album, which shares the same name as their title track. As far as I am concerned, I haven’t heard much of the duo since their debut, which I thoroughly enjoyed even after its release. Let’s hope Awake manages to leave the exact same impression on me.

The very first thing that hits me in regards to the song is how similar it is to SHINee’s more recent releases. The song is of a house genre, which may be the reason why it felt so similar to SHINee’s tracks. But JBJ95 still manages to put their own spin on it. The song seems like it is more suited for a warmer climate but I think that is how the genre is set up. The song features a very nice drop into an upbeat instrumental. I also found that the instrumental was not overpowering in any way, which I think was rather nice and benefits the song greatly. The chorus was also quite catchy, which makes the song very memorable and appealing. Paired with a nice set of vocals from the duo, the song manages to feel refreshing for my standards. I also liked the trap-influenced rapping, which I think gave a nice kick to the song. It also kept the song from becoming too repetitive, which was much appreciated as the song could have easily gone into that mode. Overall, Awake is quite good and definitely catchy enough to get me listening to it some more.

I thought the music video was really good. Interestingly, we don’t see any choreography scenes, which is a little different to what we see typically. Usually, songs of this nature will have choreography shots but that was noticeably absent. Instead, they compensated with a fair amount of closeups for each member. Not only that, but the video included some abstract explosions created by some modelling software. I am a major fan of this in my life (based on the amount of Instagram accounts that I follow who post these really modern yet sleek videos of art). So, I thought they were a really cool addition to the video. I also like the pale colour palette that they went for and how they paired it with the music drops, which makes the viewing and listening experience a lot better.

Unfortunately, there is no live performance for Awake yet. A little disappointed but I guess we just have to wit for their comeback stages, which I think starts tomorrow. I will update soon during the weekend (and after my many reports are submitted).

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

[Review] L.O.V.E – Park Ji Hoon

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We have another Wanna One member in our midst. After Yoon Ji Sung and Ha Sungwoon, the third member we will be able to meet again through the stage is Park Ji Hoon. Since returning to his original company, Maroo Entertainment, Park Ji Hoon has already accepted an acting role in an upcoming drama and today, made his solo debut with L.O.V.E, which is featured on his first mini-album, O’Clock. Congratulations on the debut and here’s to a great career!

I was interested in seeing how Wanna One’s rapper would handle a solo track and what direction he would take. L.O.V.E is an R&B dance track that manages to pack a punch through the instrumental. It is like it is pulsing but in a very odd fashion. And I find this is a very unique point of the track. This pulsing effect is quite loud in the instrumental but I am surprised how Park Ji Hoon still manages to be hearable on top of it. And now, let’s return to Park Ji Hoon himself. He sounds wonderful in this track. We didn’t hear him sing too much in last year, so that is why I was unsure about the direction the song he ould take. But this was more vocals then rap, which was quite interesting. The rapping was quite good but I really like his vocal moments during the song more.  But that was my thoughts on it. Other than that, this was a very strong debut song and one that I would be coming back for more.

Whoever decided that this mansion was the best place to set the video needs a promotion. It was stunning and extremely majestic. And to really encapsulate the beauty of the setting, great cinematography was employed. I also liked the special effects that were put on top of the video. It gave the music video a magical feel. Throughout the video, he goes looking for his lover, which is extremely fitting for a love confession song. I think he does find what he is seeking for, based on the ending of the video. I did feel like the credits didn’t contribute much of the video and the cute BTS videos of Park Ji Hoon took away from the aesthetics. But it was still a nice video to watch.

I think the choreography for this stage was perfect of the song. It is one of those stages that feels like any changes would just take away from the performance if you know what I mean. I really like the chorus, which I think allowed the solo artist to show his dancing side more.

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

[Review] Miroh – Stray Kids

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Stray Kids have returned with their first 2019 comeback. Last year, the male group made their debut with District 9, and continued promotions throughout the entire year with My Pace and I Am YOU. If you ask me, that is an extremely busy year for a rookie group. Today, the group dropped their 4th mini-album, Clé 1 : MIROH. But they released the music video for Miroh 18 hours prior to the album drop, which was extremely unexpecting. But hey, I am not complaining.

Miroh is an even more intense sound than any of their previous releases. But we don’t really get a sense of that intensity at the start but you can definitely sense the exponential buildup as we head towards the chorus. Instead, we open with Felix’s deep tone voice and sirens layered over birds tweeting. We are then lead into a nice vocal verse. Out of nowhere, the intensity picks up and the rappers come at us with a very powerful rap pre-chorus (also my favourite part of the song). Continuing the momentum is the chorus, which takes a half-instrumental piece and half singing approach. I actually quite like this and thought the song was extremely dynamic due to the dance influence the instrumental featured.  I also find the ‘Woah-Oh-Oh’ very addictive as well, as it seems to provide relief after all the intensity. The fade-out was also nice. Not too typical for a dance song like this but given its heavy-handed nature, I think it works excellently, My personal biggest issue with the song has to be how short it felt. Two choruses in and I actually wanted more, though I am not sure how I would handle more.

I am personally not sure what the song is 100% about. My interpretation of the lyrics is that the song talks about reaching new heights and being yourself in the process (but this may be wrong). I like how the video relates to the song in a more literal sense, however. The members are singing about the concrete jungle and how they ‘ran to the next city’ to go ‘higher in the next city’. And we see that. We see the members taking over the city from the rich men who run it by leading another rebellion. We see them on top of buildings, performing their choreography. It all works out well. I like how the edgy feel of the song seeps onto the video. Furthermore, I enjoyed the editing in this video, which made everything feel so intense.

Big ticks for this choreography. The best part has to be the chorus for me, where the song peaks. And there is nothing better than the peak of a song! Definitely intense and I always like a jump that is timed with the song.

Song – 9.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.3/10

[Review] Bon Bon Chocolat – EVERGLOW

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EVERGLOW is a brand new female group to grace the stage. They made their debut last Monday with Bon Bon Chocolat and their very first single-album, Arrival of EVERGLOW (which I think is named very appropriately for a debut). The group consists of 6 members (E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha and Yiren) and are currently under Yuehua Entertainment. Some of the members may look familiar including Sihyeon (participated in Produce 101 and Produce 48), Yiren (participated in Produce 48) and Onda (participated in Idol School).

Bon Bon Chocolat is not a sweet song as one would expect, based on the translation of the French title. Instead, EVERGLOW goes with an extremely edgy style that is surprisingly addictive. The instrumental is an electronic centred piece with a robust and tough hip-hop influenced drop. I think this is one of the elements that give the song its addictive nature. I did want more to the chorus, however, despite me already enjoying the simplicity of it. Another thing I enjoyed about this release is the vocals. Particularly the pre-chorus, where they go with some slight chanting before one of the members start singing. I also liked the drum beats during the same part. I did think the autotune did fit the song very nicely, though I hope they don’t become dependant on it in the future. While the vocals were all good, notably missing was a rap sequence. Surely a powerful and tough song like this could have used a rap sequence to really pull the track together. But they didn’t and I am not sure what to really think of that. I mean, the song handled it fine without one but it was an expectation to have one given its edgy nature.

Can we take a moment to look at the views for this music video? Almost 12 million views for a newly debut group not from the Big 3 within a span of a week? They must be doing something right! While the song is already doing a lot in gaining attention, the music video is extremely visually appealing. The quality is extremely crisp and something I expected from a larger company. I also like how they managed to showcase the beauty of each of the members. Usually, KPOP companies will focus on one member but everyone seemed to have a fair go, which I think is amazing. As far as I can tell, this is a debut done right.

The performance is on par with the song. It is edgy and powerful, as you would expect. I really like the chorus section of the performance. It feels very ‘in-your-face’, which I think matches with the song’s style. I also like the bridge of the performance. While they do they sing the exact same part as the pre-chorus, their formation is completely different and isn’t ‘towards the audience’. I think this is quite cool and a little different from other performances where everyone is usually facing the audience.

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

[Review] Four Seasons – Taeyeon (SNSD)

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Taeyeon has returned with a brand new single, Four Seasons. Actually, let me fix that. The music video for Four Seasons was released yesterday, while the actual song won’t officially be released until tomorrow night. But that won’t stop us from having a review written up as both elements for the review are present. We last saw Taeyeon through SNSD’s subunit, SNSD-Oh!GG and the title track, Lil Touch.

A few releases of Taeyeon’s the past have been of an experimental nature including Something New and I Got Love. Four Seasons seems to follow this trend. While it takes the form of an upbeat ballad, there is a slight reggae influence mixed into the melody of the song. Despite that, it featured some classical instrumentation, giving that impression of a ballad. And I think this is a fairly interesting mix. Since it is something we don’t get often, it is quite refreshing and unique. Once again, you cannot write a Taeyeon centric review without discussing her vocals. Her vocals are showcased very elegantly, with some variety in her tone. I particularly like those speaking moments just before the chorus. It gives the song some texture and really made the chorus feel slightly suspenseful. I also like the ‘Ooh Ooh‘ in the background. I can’t describe how it adds to the song but it is definitely there for a reason. Without it, I think would be a tad empty for my liking. Overall, Four Seasons was served as a fresh comeback from the pop queen.

The song talks about the pros and cons of love in each of the Four Seasons. And to compliment that, we have Taeyeon in each of the Four Seasons throughout the music video. She licks an ice cube and has the fan running in on Summer. The trees are bare and snow is present, alongside a deer during Winter. Spring features falling petals, while Autumn is a golden glow. Pretty aesthetic ways of showcasing the seasons. I also like how there is also time to include a different set, which involved Taeyeon singing in a very nice dress and in front of a large mural of a couple going in for a kiss. I also like the selected English lyric subtitled throughout the song and the borders we get with them. interesting to have but very nice, overall.

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

[Review] Dear Diary – Yeri (Red Velvet)

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As mentioned previously, I am (extremely) slowly catching up on reviews from last week. Due to another week of a high workload, I predict that catching up on reviews for the past two weeks may lead onto the next week. But that is an issue to be dealt with then. Today, I have picked Yeri’s first solo single to be the main focus. Dear Diary was released last week on Thursday and is also part of the SM Station series. The track is quite special as it is self-composed by Yeri herself. that it was self-composed by herself. We also last saw Yeri as a solo artist in her collaboration, Hair In The Air, with members of NCT Dream for the Trolls show.

Dear Diary is an acoustic ballad that I find fitting for a nice day. But it isn’t a ballad that I am falling for. I find it a bit plain for my liking and hence why I haven’t been enjoying it as much. The song has a nice piano and guitar combination, keeping true to its acoustic description throughout the entire track. I also do think the song did a nice job of showing off her vocals. We don’t see much opportunity for her to do so in the Red Velvet title tracks. so it is quite nice to hear a Yeri solo track. I did like the airy sound she brought to the background vocals, which I thought was both nice and gave a flowy feel to the song. To me, the song is very straight forward and doesn’t have much to really create a cause for me to stay. I would be happy to listen to the song if it appeared on my playlist, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to really find and play it.

The music video is slightly better. I really like the simplicity of the music video and how this flowed to even the effects of the video. For example, I liked the snapshots of her footage appearing throughout the video. But rather than flashbacks or some fancy transition, they are just layered on top of the main scene as rectangles. There was no editing of colours or borders. Just straight forward footage on one another. I also enjoyed the lighting of the video. Really gave the song a homely feel. There was some dryness to the video which may have stemmed from the song. But overall, I thought it was a nice video to still watch.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Overall Rating – 5.8/10

[Review] I’m So Hot – Momoland

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Following a very successful 2018, Momoland has returned with a brand new title track, I’m So Hot. It is featured on the group’s 5th mini-album, Show Me. And as already mentioned, the track follows one of the biggest hits of 2018, Boom Boom, and a favourite of mine, Baam. So there are very big shoes to fill. But these shoes will not be filled by Taeha or Daisy, as they will be sitting out of promotions this time around due to health and personal reasons. It has already been promised that they will return in the next comeback.

I’m So Hot takes a retro spin to their existing formula adapted from their successful hits. The song opens up with saxophones that also doubles as the song’s instrumental hook, as it is played throughout the song and thus becoming extremely addictive as a result. I liked how it was combined with relatively simple electronic, reminding us that this is, in fact, a pop song. I have to admit that despite the blaring saxophone, I felt the instrumental was rather weak and didn’t have a bass component to really give it some definition. And I felt the chorus was rather messy with a lot going on at once. There are also other things that I enjoyed about the track. Firstly, the vocals are really good on this track. In particular, I enjoyed the vocals during the pre-chorus and that bridge-like part just before the final round of saxophone. If they can pull it off in the live performances, I think this will be a killer stage to watch out for. I also liked the rapping this time around. Yes, it clearly delved into the hip-hop genre once again. But it didn’t feel as overloaded as Baam’s rap sequence was and actually, it felt kind of fitting for the song. Overall, I’m So Hot was nice in some parts but it didn’t feel like a complete packaged.

The ladies of Momoland are showing off how they are ‘So Hot‘ as they prepare for their performance. And that was essentially the entire music video in a sentence. They did seem to have some fun along the way, though. There are some other things that I noticed that I just want to comment on. I know 1THEK now sponsors some of the music videos, especially for release on their channel, but their brand is becoming very noticeable. Like obnoxiously noticeable. I felt like the massive 1THEK brand just took away the appeal of the music video. I also don’t like their outfits as much. It seemed mediocre and didn’t feel as fitting as I hoped to the music video sets or sound of the song.

Like the song, this performance is very weak. After Baam, I expected something with a little more flair and attitude, especially since they will be explaining that they are ‘So Hot‘.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.3/10

[Review] Thrilla Killa – VAV

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It is time to also start catching up with reviews for songs released this week! So there is a lot to do! And we start with VAV, who made their comeback yesterday with Thrilla Killa. This is the group’s first comeback since Senorita, which was released late last year. This comeback also features a 6-member lineup, as Jacob has other schedules that prevent him from participating.

Thrilla Killa continues the group’s highly satisfying list of songs that they have been releasing since last year. The song draws from funk and retro, combining it a modern pop take of electronic music. I found the track to be very energetic and upbeat, as you would want with most dance tracks. At the same time, I thought the song was very polished and definitely had a classy vibe, which managed to come through via their vocal and instrumental combination. While we are talking about their vocals, I thought it was rather nice. I also like that autotune ad-lib or shout that they used a hook. Definitely addictive but also a very interesting textural component in the song. I also like their melody, which was another reason why the song was polished for me. I also liked how their rap didn’t go onto the ‘hype route’. Instead, it stayed within the boundaries of the song and remained classy like how I mentioned before. There was also an auotuned section in the bridge, which I think counts as a rap sequence. That, once again, gave the song nice texture and felt perfect for the rest of the song.

The music video features DIA’s Chaeyeon (who also made her comeback yesterday with her group. Check out the review here!). She only appears at the start, where she seems like she is looking for something. One of the members is behind her and shines a light at her, which she blocks out. So what purpose does she serve in the video? As you can tell, I am not too sure about the plotline of the music video. The lyrics suggest that they are falling for her and I guess they become hot and bothered in the process. That’s my take on the video though and that is probably not right. Anyway, the music video was very stylish. From the sets (especially the golden hallway with the rapper) and outfits, I think everything was well-aligned to the song.

Another good performance from the group. It wasn’t as spectacular as I had hoped it to be, given the instrumental of the track, however. But there were some good moments, namely the chorus as a whole and the mini dance break, where the autotuned rap sequence was present (this, in particular, looked cool).

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 7/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Feeling – Jeong Sewoon ft. Penomeco

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The second comeback of the day that I wanted to discuss is Jeong Sewoon’s Feeling, which is featured on his fourth mini-album, Plus Minus Zero (also dropped today). The song features Penomeco, an R&B singer and rapper. This is Sewoon’s first comeback since 20 Something, which was released back in July of last year. Since his last comeback, we haven’t much from Sewoon (from what I remember). But I did come across news that he was debuting as a musical actor in a Grease production earlier this year (and I think there are some videos of him performing on a stage somewhere on the internet).  Congratulations to Sewoon for his debut once again!

Sewoon brings back the guitar from his debut single, Just U and plays it very passionately throughout the song. The guitar flourishes within the pop instrumental and it works extremely well with the rest of the instrumentation to create an energetic and upbeat atmosphere. There isn’t a dance performance for this comeback so I will mention it here. Sewoon looks like he is having a lot of fun with the guitar on stage and his interaction with the band surrounding him shows his commitment and willingness for the song. Once again, his vocals are so good in the track. It is extremely hard to really point out anything wrong with his voice. The winning part of the song was when she speaks ‘I Like You‘, right after the first chorus and before launching into an instrumental break. It is so deep and contrasts so well with the rest of the song. Penomeco’s rapping sequence (and vocals) was very cool. It gives a smooth feel to the song and I really liked how his delivery went along with the guitar. I think this is one of the few times that I do agree with the abrupt ending, giving the song that climax it needed at the very end.

At this stage in time, I cannot find the lyrics of the song in English. But I think I have an idea regarding the music video. Essentially, the video shows Sewoon singing about the feeling of love. It seems like he hasn’t confessed to his lover just yet, as we see him sitting from afar and smiling just by being in the presence of his crush. He also gets nervous when he dreams about her. In the end, it seems like he confesses to her and I think we infer that she accepts the confession. I have to admit that Sewoon was rather cute during the music video. His smiles are just so loveable. I also like the band scenes, where Sewoon is seen strumming it out on the guitar. I also like the ‘film’ border that surrounds the music video, kind of like showing his time in the video as a memory to reflect upon in the future.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10

[Review] Woowa – DIA

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I know that I promised reviews for songs last week but I just finished scheduling them and they will be spaced out this week! But there are two exciting comebacks that I wanted to write about tonight so I will be prioritising them first. The first comeback is by DIA, who has returned with Woowa. This is the group’s first comeback since WooWoo, released 7 months ago. WooWoo also earned the group’s first weekly show win ever! Hopefully, they can win again this time around with Woowa. Unfortunately, the group will have to do it without Jenny, who is not participating in this round of promotions.

Woowa starts off with a power rush of energy that really gets you excited for what is to come. The instrumental, particularly the main instrumental hook of the song, delves into a techno-funk sound. There is a very powerful retro vibe to the song which I am loving.  This combination results in a very groovy and upbeat track that I just want to dance to. I really like the tiny bit of brass you get during the start of the bridge and I actually want more of it in the song. The vocals were pretty nice. At first, I did feel that they were relatively plain, especially towards the end. But I guess the song is growing more on me as I don’t seem to feel that way anymore. The rapping is what I disagree with. They go with an ethnic sound which I don’t think suits the song’s groovy vibes. It does feel distant to the chorus and it does cut the flow of the song. But aside from that, I think Woowa is a really good track. It is getting pretty addictive.

The group goes to the roller skating rink in their music video. Besides that, the video is rather typical. It goes between choreography shots to close-ups of each member posing in areas associated with the rink. So there isn’t really anything to really comment on. However, I did like the set for the choreography scenes. The flashing lights are quite suitable for the song and I think the slight push of purple throughout the video really goes well with the dark lighting at the rink.

The choreography was quite nice as well. I really like the intro part, which was extremely fitting for that section and its tempo. It seems like the choreography went with a flaunting touch as the girls do a lot of that in the performance. I felt that they could have gone with something a little more relaxing or fun as the song seems to really go in that direction.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

[Review] Don’t Close Your Eyes (D.C.Y.E) – Lee Gikwang (HIGHLIGHT) ft. Kid Milli

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Making his solo comeback today is Lee Gikwang! He returns with his brand new single, Don’t Close Your Eyes, which is expected to be his last single before he enlists into the military next month. This is his first solo release since his solo debut last year with What You Like. I am glad that Gikwang went ahead with his comeback, especially since one of his fellow members (Junhyung) withdrew from HIGHLIGHT due to the ongoing chatroom scandal. I know that Gikwang had nothing to do with it but I thought the withdrawal would somehow affect the other members. But I guess not, thankfully.

Don’t Close Your Eyes should really be renamed Don’t Block Your Ears. D.C.Y.E is a very addictive song to listen to. Even though it has been out for several hours, I am already falling for its groovy nature and upbeat instrumentation. It is an R&B dance track that gives out major Michael Jackson vibes through the use of the small vocal details. I also really like the seductive chat-like style of vocals he went for during the chorus. It doesn’t necessarily go with the instrumentation in my opinion. But it somehow works well. The song also features Kid Milli, who does an extended rap sequence in the song. I am not familiar with Kid Milli in any way but his section gives the song a very urban and refreshing feel, which makes it stand out. Together, Gikwang gives us one memorable track to savour for the next 2 years or so.

The music video seems to also be a treat for fans. Abs and shirtless scenes galore for fans to really enjoy. I found the video to be very nice and sleek. I did like the emphasis on black and the darkness, which I personally find to be a very modern way of presentation. It is a lot harder to see things but the light really makes things pop and standout this way. When I also mentioned Michael Jackson vibes, you get some in the visuals of the video. The backup dancers were wearing suits and hats, similar to the outfit that the King of Pop donned during his Smooth Criminal days (but their outfits is fitting for the music video). Most notable influence has to be through the sparkly gloves, something that Michael Jackson is known for.

I think given the quality of the song and the fact that Gikwang is widely known for his dancing, you probably have a winning combination. And that is what I saw in the music video. While it may have been made fancier through the use of the darkness and lighting in the video, I thought the moves were very cool and fitting for a sleek performance.

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