Category: Reviews

[Review] WANT – SOLAR (MAMAMOO)

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It has been almost a year since SOLAR made her solo comeback with But I and Colors. Earlier this week, she returned with her new single WANT and her second single album of the same name.

Right off the bat, I really enjoyed the feel-good vibes that WANT exudes, particularly during the choruses. This definitely makes for a great impression. Considering her the main singles from her last release (linked above), the thought that WANT felt a little ordinary did cross my mind. But WANT still manages to hit the right spots for me. I found WANT‘s hooks to be very catchy and earwormy. The song’s dance-pop instrumental is fun, bright and bold. I find myself nodding along to the beat every listen since its release. Solar’s vocals really shone throughout the song, especially when it came to the ad-libs during the final chorus. It shouldn’t come as a surprise given her widely known powerful vocals. But she really impressed me here with her spectacular high notes. I do feel like the verses were weaker moments of WANT, simply because I don’t remember too much from them. But the choruses (for reasons mentioned above) compensated for the verses, given how prolific they were. Overall, a decent song from Solar.

I am on the fence when it comes to the music video. It showcases the good-vibes from WANT. But I didn’t find anything enticing about the video to make me want to revisit the video in the future. I did like the classy hotel setting the entire video was shot in. But Solar’s outfits were rather plain and didn’t match the vibe of the location. She does look good (as she always does), but it is the pairing of outfits and location that gets me.

The choreography also encapsulated those same feel-good vibes that I keep on mentioning. But unlike the music video, I think it did a good job of this. I enjoyed the lightheartedness of the moves and it brought a smile to my face. Solar focuses on her live vocals for the performance (which makes it one to watch!), but does participate in the choreography to help keep it engaging (for me, at least).

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] Adult Swim – KAI (EXO)

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Just over a month after his discharge from the Korean military, KAI is back on the music scene. He is due to release his fourth mini-album, Wait On Me, later this month. But ahead of the mini-album, he is teasing us with a pre-release single, Adult Swim. We last saw KAI through his Rover comeback.

My comments about minimalism have been recurring recently. If you have not been tuning in or are visiting the blog for the first time, here is my recent hot take — a minimalistic sound can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be a vibe. In KAI’s Adult Swim, the minimalistic sound comes off as both suspenseful and sensual. KAI follows this vibe with a deep, monotonous repetition of the song title in the chorus that some could describe as alluring. For me, this was the most memorable part of Adult Swim. On the other hand, a minimalistic sound can also draw out an empty and lacking feeling. And honestly, that is what I feel and think the most about Adult Swim. The minimalistic sound makes the song feel plain and uneventful. This had implications, such as that I don’t remember much from Adult Swim besides the chorus. A few repeats tonight did help bring the ending of Adult Swim to the forefront, where more drumming percussion and a melody come into play. But while conceptually, it was a good addition to help make the song more interesting, it didn’t work out that way. Both kept in line with the rest of the song’s plainness and didn’t do much to make Adult Swim exciting. It also doesn’t help that it was very brief.

Firstly, it is great to see KAI back on our screens. He is an excellent performer, and his presence was missed over the last year or so while he was in the military. In the music video, we see KAI hanging out with his friends by the pool, which continues throughout the video. A bit standard, though. KAI looks great in the video, but I wished he had a wider variety of outfits besides the blue and grey crop tops. We saw glimpses of other outfits (and him being shirtless), but they were brief. Instead, the blue and grey crop tops looked very similar, so I thought he wore the same crop top for the entire video.

Based on what I saw in the video, I have a similar comment to the one I made above—it is great to see KAI back on stage. His moves in this routine find a really nice balance between sharp and fluid motions. It also feels a lot freer and less of a routine. The moves accompanying the ‘Shake, shake it for me‘ part in the bridge look fun and will probably be my pick for my favourite moment in the choreography.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.7/10

[Review] MONA LISA – j-hope (BTS)

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ICYMI – j-hope returned from his military enlistment in October last year. As soon as 2025 started, he got right back to releasing new music. These include two singles titled LV Bag (by Don Toliver, “Speedy” and j-hope, ft. Pharrell Williams) and Sweet Dreams (ft. Miguel). Last week, he dropped his third single of the year, MONA LISA. He has also embarked on a worldwide concert tour.

MONA LISA is a straightforward hip-hop and R&B track. The word ‘straightforward’ is the key phrase to note. Execution-wise, I thought the song was fine. j-hope does a great job with his sing-rap delivery and the trap-based instrumentation was very clean. MONA LISA does have some ring to it, enough to make the song earwormy for some. But not me, unfortunately. There is just nothing exciting in MONA LISA. And that is the consistent theme I get from the song. Everything in the track, including the aforementioned delivery by j-hope and the instrumentation, feels very safe, lacks excitement and fails to do anything to grab my attention etc.. At the end of the day, I found MONA LISA to be a listen once and never again. There is just nothing enticing enough in MONA LISA that gets me coming back for more.

The music video is also relatively simple. Shot in a very contemporary art gallery, the video features j-hope and his dancers performing the song’s choreography. The location makes perfect sense, given the lyrics likens a special someone to a masterpiece. As for the choreography, it is pretty good and complements the straightforward hip-hop sound MONA LISA features. j-hope is quite flirty throughout the routine, which helps make the video engaging. Its not like they could have relied on the song for this). I enjoyed the one-shot-esque style of the video.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] BTG – KiiiKiii

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Starship Entertainment has been teasing a new girl and boy group since the start of the year. While the boy group is currently being formed through a trainee survival show, the female group has avoided this debut pathway. KiiiKiii, the new female group has been dropping pre-debut singles (I DO ME and DEBUT SONG, both of which I have yet to review and will try to do so in the future) since the start of the year. But they officially made their debut this week with BTG.

BTG stands for ‘Been That Girl’. This debut song combines a dreamy atmospheric sound with heavy rap and hip-hop. BTG doesn’t stop there, with EDM also thrown into the mix. While it sounds like a fair bit is going on, I appreciate the minimalistic theme that serves as a constant in BTG. And it is because of this constant that I find these differing sounds to have unexpectedly melded together to create a decent debut track. We get JIYU, LEESOL and KYA delivering rap-heavy beginnings to the verses, paired with straight hip-hop trap beats in the background. This is followed by soft thumping beats and dreamy vocals from HAUM and SUI. This culminates into the chorus, which features a groovy EDM piece and the catchy and sassy ‘Been That Girl‘ line. However, as I have mentioned before, the minimalism does come with its flaws. As much as I liked how the track came together and gave us contrast in BTG, it has also created a generic vibe that pulls the song down. BTG lacks development, and this prevents excitement. As such, BTG is the type of song you hear once and don’t need to hear it again, as it is the same throughout.

Each time I watch the music video, I imagine it to be a reality show where someone brings young and edgy city girls to a farm to see how they adapt to the different lifestyle. What other context would you find a greenhouse turned into a club and shots that look like they shot a hip-hop video on a farm? Judging by those otherwise unexplainable moments, KiiiKiii has adapted well. But aside from trying to poke fun at the video, I am unsure what the concept is and how it relates to the song (if it even does).

I like how the members found a good balance between the hip-hop and dreamy motifs in the routine. It is two very different styles, but like the song, the choreography melded them together well. I did observe sharper moves in the mix to complement BTG‘s beat, and I liked how this looks on stage.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Review] Panic – BEOMGYU (TXT)

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BEOMGYU is the second member of TXT to go solo, having released his debut mixtape track, Panic, last Thursday. BEOMGYU follows on from YEONJUN mixtape track GGUM from last year. I hope we get news of the other members’ solo work soon.

Until then, I will focus on BEOMGYU’s Panic, which enters the rock genre. More specifically, it is a little amped-up soft rock track. I liked the heft that the rock brings to the table and how it elicits emotions by itself. Unfortunately, the potential created by the soft rock instrumentation is not realised in Panic. The main problem is BEOMGYU’s vocals. While he sounds really lovely in Panic, he also sounds very polished and clean, as if someone dialled back on the emotions that could have made Panic more heartfelt and impactful. I don’t think it is fair to describe BEOMGYU as emotionless in Panic, as there is some level of emotion and heft from him in the song. But some more oomph, texture or emotion behind his vocals would have given Panic so much character and robustness. Despite all of that, the rock makes Panic a decent listen.

Panic‘s lyrics convey that it is okay to take one step at a time to leave your struggles behind. In the video, we see this BEOMGYU leave the comforts of his home, a location that probably kept him stagnant and reliving his stuggles. He makes it off the uncomfortable bed that he can no longer sleep in, leaving behind the bare kitchen and the destruction that is his living room (which is where I presume a lot of memories are kept). When he steps outside for the first time, he is met with cold winds and massive waves, signalling that the world is trying to confine him to the house. At the end of the video, we see him venture outside. Yes, the world around him is still cold, but he gets further than ever, telling us that for there to be progress, we need to take it one step at a time.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] like JENNIE – JENNIE (BLACKPINK)

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JENNIE’s Mantra is your pick for Best Dance Performance – Female Solo of 2024 in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Find out if your other favourite artists, performances and songs of 2024 won the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking the link here.

JENNIE also returned at the start of the month with her solo debut album, Ruby. The album features the title track like JENNIE (the focus of this post), last year’s Mantra single and the singles that have received music videos thus far (ZEN, ExtraL ft. Dominic Fike, Love Hangover ft. Doechii, and Handlebars ft. Dua Lipa). And there is a lot more to unpack in a future album review post. But for now, here is my thoughts on like JENNIE.

Right off the bat, like JENNIE is fierce and powerful. The harsh metallic beat, hip-hop production and JENNIE’s delivery encapsulate that dynamic in the song’s two minutes. I liked how JENNIE and the song stood their ground and didn’t let up this momentum, creating a distinct statement piece for the artist herself. This fierceness and powerfulness also fit the song’s message, a statement about how only one JENNIE can exist. The chorus and hook were effective in delivering this message, but it also served as a double-edged sword, in my opinion. The only thing I can really remember about like JENNIE aside from the stomping instrumentation is her name, which is on repeat for what felt like most of the song. It took the focus away from the other moments in like JENNIE. For example, I know she raps in the song, but I cannot remember too much from those sequences (such as the fact some of it was in Korean) as her name is the only thing I get out of like JENNIE.

The music video opens with JENNIE as an astronaut consuming a tablet shaped like the letter J, which transforms her into the hip-hop form we see throughout the video. From there, we get JENNIE in the same way she presents herself in the song — fierce and powerful. I really liked the use of the dancers to make the choreography pronounced as JENNIE charms us with the above presentation and her charisma. Like the song, the music video is very much a statement piece for JENNIE, even as she reaches her final form as a capybara. This ending catches you off guard, but it is a memorable one to what felt like a jam-packed music video.

Fierceness and powerfulness are common themes for the comeback, so it is no surprise that JENNIE and the dancers give us just that in the choreography. The hip-hop routine accompanying this comeback is very much ‘in-your-face’, and I like how she showed off her command of the stage alongside the routine.

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

[Review] YELLOW – TREASURE

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TREASURE returned at the start of the month with a special mini-album (their third overall), PLEASURE. The title track, YELLOW, heads up this new album release. Also featured on the album is the single LAST NIGHT, which was released in December 2024.

YELLOW follows the same thread as LAST NIGHT, opting for pop rather than their familiar heavier hip-hop dance sound. Even though it is marketed as a ‘special’ release (which usually means YELLOW and the songs on the album are not part of the usual realm of TREASURE’s releases), I am still not entirely convinced YG Entertainment knows what they are doing with the group. But that is a topic of a larger discussion. YELLOW is pleasantly soft and mellow for a pop release, highly fitting for a song titled after the colour yellow. But as a whole piece, I find YELLOW to be quite plain. Because of this, I felt like the order of YELLOW and LAST NIGHT should have flipped, with YELLOW being more of a pre-release and LAST NIGHT being a more compelling title track for the group. I cannot pinpoint anything distinct about YELLOW that would set it apart from its competition, whereas I felt the previous release had that through its execution. That said, I liked a few elements in YELLOW. I enjoyed the vibrant and bright tone the members brought through their vocals and melodies. The bridge was sweet, with JAEHYUK, DOYOUNG and JEONGWOO sounding quite heart-warming. The chanting at the end was charming. The rapping in the second verse was nicely done, allowing the rappers to maintain a connection to their hip-hop roots in this pop song.

The music video shows the members preparing for a dance competition, where one member’s crush will attend as part of the audience. It is a cute music video, with DOYOUNG being the main character and the rest of the members being bubbly and happy around him. I like the whole sequence where his crush touches his shoulder, and he cannot let that go, even in a later soccer game. But I also like the revelation that the crush also had a crush on him, placing a love heart on him.

The routine plays towards TREASURE’s youthful and bubbly charms. Like the song, it was nice and pleasant, but nothing memorable came out. However, I liked their wavy motion when the “It’s love” chants began.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] LOVE RACE – SF9

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Back to the week before last, today’s post reviews SF9’s latest comeback with their 15th mini-album and title track of the same name – LOVE RACE. It is their first release since Don’t Worry, Be Happy and the mini-album Fantasy last year.

If you base LOVE RACE on the first couple of seconds, you might expect to find the song subdued and coffee-shop-esque, which isn’t a style that you would expect from SF9. A couple of seconds later, LOVE RACE turns into a fast-pace pop dance track. Its instrumentation reminds me of an adrenaline pumping close-to-call motor race soundtrack – fitting for a song titled LOVE RACE and a fulfilling outcome for a song under 3 minutes. This backing is full of textures and colours that make me want to ‘go zoom’ (literally) while listening to it, making for an intriguing background piece. I find myself enjoying the rapping more in LOVE RACE. YOUNGBIN, HWIYOUNG and CHANI had a very cool presence in the song, especially during LOVE RACE‘s choruses. They themselves added to the high-octane and speedy feel of the song. On the flip side, the vocals were good. But I wished the material was more riveting. Both the melodies and hooks were underbaked in the song, leaving LOVE RACE less memorable than what it could have been. Overall, LOVE RACE is a decent song, especially if you are after something with a rush to it. But there is opportunity for the song to be more balanced and better.

It should be no surprise that LOVE RACE went with a race-themed concept. There are motorcycles, sports cars and quad-bikes in the music video, as well as elements of a car race and mechanic. Some of these are ‘driven’ by the members to look like they were driving very fast, while professionals were brought in to do wheelies and to circle around the members. Even the gear they wear throughout the video reminds me of a race. I just wished the music video was a little more than just close-ups and choreography (maybe a storyline where some of the members engage in a race somehow). But for the most part, it was a decent video.

SF9 pumps the gas in the choreography, matching the fast-paced nature of the song. The routine is intense, and you definitely see and feel when the song reaches its peaks throughout the dance. I like the idea of putting on and taking off the glove at the start and end of the routine, but I wonder if this holds any significance for the group.

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

[Review] +82 Pressin’ – MARK (NCT) ft. HAECHAN (NCT)

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MARK continues to tease his upcoming solo debut album, which has now been confirmed to drop on 7 April 2025 and be titled The Firstfruit. The first release from this forthcoming album was Fraktsiya (ft. LEE YOUNG JI) from December 2024. And now, MARK is back with a new pre-release single +82 Pressin’, which features fellow NCT member HAECHAN.

+82 Pressin’ is a hip-hop track with abundant textures and superb delivery from the pair. While the influences were ordinary, I enjoyed the upbeat instrumentation, which keeps +82 Pressin’ dynamic and energetic throughout. The textures made the song “crunchy” and enjoyable. As for the pairing, both MARK and HAECHAN did a fantastic job in their own areas of delivery – MARK with rapping and HAECHAN with vocals. However, HAECHAN’s raspy vocals stood out more to me. But their chemistry is undeniable, especially during the parts where they come together. This should not surprise anyone, given their long history together. But what I thought was cool and made +82 Pressin’ even more intriguing was that they dabbled in each other’s motif (i.e., MARK with vocals and HAECHAN in rapping). It is not a new thing for them, but it is a memorable highlight of +82 Pressin’. The chorus was catchy, but I wished there was a more pronounced hook to remember the song by. I also would have liked them to break the song’s confines and show off more. These would have taken +82 Pressin’ to the next level for me.

Interesting that three reviews in a row, I have assigned a 10/10 for the music video scores. It has been a week of awesome music videos, apparently. In the video for +82 Pressin’, we see MARK and HAECHAN work together to fight crime. But when they encounter the female character, HAECHAN becomes brainwashed and turns on MARK. MARK continues his mission and fights the mobsters working for the female character. He succeeds against the mobsters but barely gets away from the female character before he is executed by his former crime-fighting partner. My recap here probably does not do justice to the actual storyline in the video, so I recommend you check it out. I did like the Sin City influence the video had going on, with the grayscale motif and retention of the red colour. The red colour is a key detail to note, as when HAECHAN is turned, his shirt collar goes from grayscale to red. However, it is back to grayscale at the end, so maybe HAECHAN has been against MARK all along?

+82 Pressin’ was performed on MCountDown last Thursday. It was a fantastic performance. The hip-hop influence was a no-brainer given the song, but I liked how it came through in the routine. MARK and HAECHAN looked very natural throughout the performance, despite my initial thoughts that HAECHAN might look awkward in this form. Their moves, particularly their footwork, were super cool, and their chemistry (once again) made it engaging to watch.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

[Review] KNOW ABOUT ME – NMIXX

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NMIXX also returned during the week with their fourth mini-album and third instalment in their Fe3O4 series, Fe3O4: Forward. Leading the new mini-album is the title track, KNOW ABOUT ME. This is their most recent comeback since their Fe3O4: Stick Out and See That? era.

NMIXX goes subdued with KNOW ABOUT ME. While this isn’t anything new in KPOP, it is new territory for NMIXX, and they do a good job with it. The start brings KNOW ABOUT ME‘s hip-hop influence to the forefront and is quite aesthetic. The latter wears down as the song progresses, but this should not be seen as bad. Plus, its presence is still around and comes through at times. Instead, a more mature and sultry motif comes through as the song develops, especially during the choruses. Again, it is still very different from the NMIXX that we know of. The instrumental for KNOW ABOUT ME is minimalistic and chill trap-based. Those trap elements are actually relatively piercing and feel quite pronounced. But just as KNOW ABOUT ME teeters into neutral gear, NMIXX changes up the song with a heavy rap from JIWOO and KYUJIN and a punchy EDM bridge. And I like how this heaviness continues as KNOW ABOUT ME reverts back to the main chorus to close out the song. Vocally and rap-wise, NMIXX handles it all pretty well, and I enjoyed the ad-libs (though I wished they were more pronounced to have more impact). My only qualm about KNOW ABOUT ME is the abrupt ending. I have never been a fan of those and will never be from the looks of it.

JYP Entertainment really outdid themselves with this music video. The high-quality feel, the futuristic aesthetics, the complex post-production, and the members’ amazing styling made for a memorable video. The song is about the emotions one has whilst embarking on an adventure in an unfamiliar world (adapted from Soompi), so we see the members travelling in the video in a futuristic airport. While we see a lot of different and potentially unexplored territories in the video, the members’ final destination appears to be out of this world, with the ship emerging from the ocean and going upwards into space.

The lotus flower start has to be one of the most aesthetic beginnings to a choreography ever. The chorus really encapsulates that mature and sultry feel I mentioned earlier, while the dance break during the punchy EDM was intense and cool. Overall, NMIXX delivered a strong performance.

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

[Review] VVV – THE BOYZ

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THE BOYZ made their comeback at the start of the week — their first since moving on from IST Entertainment. The group has since signed on with One Hundred. Earlier this week, as mentioned, the group returned with their third studio album, Unexpected, led by the single VVV. This release follows their ninth mini-album (yet to be reviewed) and title track of the same name, TRIGGER.

From the many opportunities I have heard VVV this week, I have emerged from the song thoroughly enjoying it each time. There is just so much to like about VVV – I am unsure if there was even a bad or weak part in VVV. From the first second, VVV intrigues with their take on the old-school crowd sound before hopping into engaging vocals and rapping. I like the cohesiveness of the two forms of delivery throughout VVV. Still, I particularly liked the rapping, especially as it dips between vibrant fast pace or deep tones at different moments in VVV. When it comes to the choruses, I loved the nostalgia and smooth melodic touch featured, making for an excellent centrepiece for VVV. The start of the chorus feels comforting, and I love replaying that moment of VVV. The “Oh Oh Oh” post-chorus hook was very catchy and just felt perfect following on from the choruses. Most of the bridge was satisfying, especially the ‘Watch me dash, watch me dash‘ lines and the tinge of attitude it carries. I also enjoyed that final add-on of the chorus at the very end of the song, allowing VVV to feel complete. Finally, the synth-pop instrumentation was quite a dynamic piece, as well. It brightens everything up, yet it also feels robust for this comeback’s rapping and performance aspects. Overall, VVV is a very strong and refreshing release from THE BOYZ.

My best guess about what is happening in the video is THE BOYZ are infiltrating some sort of secret society, which explains the boxing concept they have going on, to spread their music within and beyond. It explains all the scenes of the music (in the form of an electrical current) moving internally through speakers and the whole choreography scene where the members are performing within the speaker. Some of the roles the members played were a little unknown to me, and I am a little confused about HYUNJAE’s presence at the end of the boxing match that JUYEON won (maybe recruitment?). But overall, an equally refreshing music video for this comeback.

I am impressed with the intensity of the performance, which matches the dynamic material of VVV. But to keep it bright and vibrant, the members smile throughout the performance, adding a light-hearted tone to the routine. The boxing concept emerges in the routine at the very start between JUYEON and HYUNJAE, with KEVIN serving as the umpire. I also like the twists and turns that form part of the post-chorus routine.

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

[Review] HOT – LE SSERAFIM

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LE SSERAFIM ended the week with their latest release, HOT, the lead single of their 5th mini-album of the same name. HOT follows their 2024 releases EASY and CRAZY.

Many of my comments in EASY‘s review apply to HOT. The new song is way too consistent for my liking. This contributed to HOT being more like a blur and breezed past quickly. In addition to being too consistent, the blur and quick breeze can also be attributed to HOT‘s short length and lack of anything exciting in the song. The melodies and hooks (not sure if there is one in HOT) didn’t offer much, nor did the members’ vocal focus delivery. They sound quite pleasant and soothing throughout HOT, but the material just wasn’t compelling. When I really pay attention to the song, I liked the atmospheric charm of the instrumental and the song’s bass. But other than that, I don’t have much else to say about the song, aside from the fact it felt like a repeat of EASY from last year.

I don’t know what is happening in the video, but I think there is a darker horror vibe alongside the moments of heat. The imagery of someone melting matches the lyrics, and I assume this forms a storyline of some kind. I do want to know how this all connects with EASY and CRAZY, because apparently, the three releases are a trilogy. Anyhow, the music video does bring on the heat, and the members look stunning throughout the video. My favourite part is the monochrome filter, with the members dressed in chic and sleek outfits.

The choreography for this comeback is definitely the best aspect yet! There is a sexiness and elegance to the moves that LE SSERAFIM pull off really well. Their stage presence was also felt, despite not being expected alongside a song like HOT. I like that moonwalk-like move in the chorus, and the whole routine at the end where Kahuza is in the centre and the members do that spin.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.1/10

[Review] 96ers – Hoshi x Woozi (SEVENTEEN)

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A new SEVENTEEN unit is one of the many comebacks that kicked off this week. HOSHI and WOOZI join forces in the new single 96ers (동갑내기). This is the third official unit from SEVENTEEN, the first being BSS, who recently returned with CBZ (Prime Time), and JxW (Jeonghan x Wonwoo).

If I had to judge the 96ers based on the first few seconds, it wouldn’t look good for the song. Those repetitive horns that open the song (the first major element of 96ers) were quite jarring, and the fact that it recurred throughout the song was not great. The next major element of 96ers is the interpolation of the ‘Red Light, Green Light‘ nursery rhyme, which we have heard before in KPOP. Plus, it was done multiple times in 96ers in both the pre-choruses and choruses. This pretty much got a yawn from me. The final major element is essentially the rest of the song, like the duo’s delivery and the hip-hop motif. The instrumental was playful, and the pair did a good job of relaying that vibe in their delivery. There were also a few references to past songs, like Mansae, Super and Cheers. There was just no standout moment for me to highlight. I commend the pair for working outside their box with the hip-hop sound, given that WOOZI is the vocal team leader and HOSHI was a possible vocal team member before switching to the performance team. Altogether, I wished 96ers yielded more positive thoughts than negative ones.

The music video taps into that playful side of 96ers I mentioned above, showing the pair as art pieces in a gallery or museum. In my mind, to be a piece of art in a gallery or museum means you are quite established, hinting at their current status. This complements the lyrics which speak about their own personal journey to get to where they are now. The photocopier scenes might represent their releases, videos, etc. that got to where they are (i.e., there are many copies of themselves out there in the world in different mediums). The treadmills are a little harder to guess what they represent. Perhaps the journey, but treadmills are devices you use to walk long distances whilst remaining in one place – maybe this is a hint that they are always art pieces since their early days, til now.

The choreography is precisely how I expected it. It encompasses that hip-hop motif, whilst also showcasing a more carefree and loose style. I also like how their presence commanded the stage, making this an incredible performance.

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

[Review] Air – YEJI (ITZY)

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Many comebacks are kicking off the new week. While I have checked them all out, I must prioritise my favourite release from the bunch—YEJI’s Air. This is YEJI’s solo debut single and is featured on the same-name mini-album. YEJI is also the first member of ITZY to officially go solo with this release. We last saw ITZY through their GOLD / Imaginary Friend promotions (the latter I just reviewed last week).

Yup, out of all the releases that dropped today, YEJI’s Air is the one that caught my attention most strongly. It wasn’t the first or second release I checked out, but it is the one that remained in my mind long after, prompting me to write its review first. So, what aspects of Air caught my attention? Well, I put it down to the combination of Air‘s synth-pop instrumentation and the catchy hooks. The synth-pop got right to business and didn’t mess around. I really appreciated it that. There was also a touch of electric guitar in the bridge and the song’s final moment. I like how it added a dash of edginess to the music and channels the momentum Air had built. The beat also made the track quite compelling and pulses it along. As for the hooks, they have been beyond addictive. The “Air air air, all my air” line has been repeating in my mind since the first listen. As for YEJI, I liked how fresh her delivery made the song feel. You could also feel how vibrant and passionate she was. And this pays off quite well, with the chorus feeling bold and enticing. The verses were a tad bland from her part, but that is only a small detail. Overall, Air is a very good song and kicks off the week in a positive manner.

One thing I wanted in the song was some charisma from YEJI. But I held back on that suggestion, as charisma doesn’t need to be delivered in song format. Instead, it can be a visual element. And YEJI delivers it flawlessly in the music video. It is exuded a fair bit throughout the video but is most profound in the choreography shots. I like how the video has an odd side (see YEJI’s walk from the couch before tripping over a log, and the wacky pose we see her in at the start and end of the video) through how the shots were captured and edited (I presume). In addition to being memorable and different, it follows well with the song in the sense that it is refreshing. I also liked the idea of the crash scene, with YEJI laying on the bonnet – symbolising how YEJI’s breath is taken away by the person she is singing about.

As expected from ITZY’s main dancer, the choreography does not disappoint (from what I can see in the music video). While charisma and confidence are definitely exuded, I like how the routine has both a refined and fun energy (though the latter might be due to the music video). My favourite part is the back-bending move before the song wraps up. The sexy hand drag over her body was a very close second. While we do not see all of the routine, I am sure the rest live up to those expectations.

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

[Review] The Chase – Hearts2Hearts

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There have been a few debuts this year, and I haven’t covered any of them on my blog yet. That is until today. Hearts2Hearts is the first newly debuted group I am picking up for a review. The group comprises 8 members (Carmen, Jiwoo, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian, and Ye-on) and they are SM Entertainment’s latest female group (the company’s first since aespa). Their debut single, The Chase, was released almost 2 weeks ago.

Right off the get-go, The Chase is pleasant and soothing. The elements, particularly melodies, exude calmness and smoothness. But there are risks with this style, and The Chase fully realises some of these risks. The Chase is an empty track and it doesn’t have much for me to ‘grab’ onto. The smoothness I mentioned earlier helps glide the song along. But unfortunately, nothing sticks. The hooks or melodies were not compelling, and I missed the chorus several times because of how hollow it sounded. From what I can tell, the members sound okay on both the vocal and rapping front. But, I wish the material was more interesting so that we can appreciate each member individually. Finally, The Chase is supposed to be a debut song. But when compared to other debut tracks we have heard in the past, The Chase is underwhelming. To be honest, this soothing style would have made for an okay side-track. But as a debut track, this isn’t a good start for Hearts2Hearts, mainly since I have forgotten the track. The only thing that attracts my attention towards the group is that they are from SM Entertainment. I am willing to give Hearts2Hearts another go, but hopefully it is with a bolder track.

The music video accompanying The Chase also doesn’t connect with me. But I am not sure if this is more so the song speaking rather than the actual video. However, since they are paired up, it is difficult for me not to find the visual material boring. The music video has a few things going for it, though. I liked the mysterious vibes that the video started off with. However, I wished the entire video wasn’t just mysterious vibes, which raises more questions for me. The members look great (especially the chic look they don while in the lobby location), and I liked the flowy vibes the music video exudes. But there isn’t much else to remember the music video by.

The performance is good. It fits the dreamier motif that The Chase goes for in the song. I did like the circle formation they made towards the end of the performance. But aside from that, there isn’t anything that memorable in the performance.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.6/10

[Review] Imaginary Friend – ITZY

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In addition to GOLD, ITZY also released a music video for the single Imaginary Friend. Today, I will finally get around to reviewing this additional title track from their GOLD mini-album released in October 2024.

ITZY changes things up with Imaginary Friend. Instead of the usual dance tracks that they are known for, they opt for a softer melodic R&B approach in Imaginary Friend. The contrast between their usual style and Imaginary Friend is very intriguing and striking to me, and this makes the track stand out. Instrumentally, Imaginary Friend features vintage pop guitars and band percussion that give the song a lot of bite despite being a softer sound. I also really like the rock tinge we get more of in the post-chorus hook, which just gives the song more oomph. What makes Imaginary Friend even better is the fact that the melodies and vocal work are actually compelling. Stunning vocals and melodies are a definite drawing point in my books, and Imaginary Friend features both. The vocal processing was also amazing and well used to help make the vocals feel etheral. In terms of effect the song had on me, Imaginary Friend is actually quite stilling. Every time the song popped up on my playlist or queue, I find myself pausing with whatever I am doing and actually listening to the song to really enjoy and connect with it. That usually happens with ballads and similar songs, but Imaginary Friend is a special track.

The following is what I got out the music video. We see two forms of the members in the video. We first see the members as students, struggling to get through the harsh social conditions of the school environment. And these social conditions manifest into physical injuries. Later on, we see the members run through darkness, stuck in a circle and trying to avoid shadows that are out to get them. Quite sure we could generalised to scenarios where people may struggle and who find themselves in a dark place. The second form of ITZY we see is through the choreography shots, where they appear more gracefully as if they are guardian angels. At one point, they also wear white outfits that make them look like angels. When we see the choreography shots, they coicinde with comforting lyrics about being an imaginary friend and protecting the person so they can dream. To me, this represents a form that can bring hope and comfort to those in a dark place.

Even in a graceful motif, the choreography still manages to incorporate the signature “crown” at the start and end of the routine. I liked the balance between soft and sharpness in the routine and how they managed to make the choreography fit the song (which I have described as very soft). The little bit of intensity we get in the post-chorus rock instrumental sequences is also well-crafted, giving us a little more oomph to ensure the entire routine is engaging.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.5/10 [updated on 26 April 2025 due to calculation error]