With the recent disbandment of JBJ, a few of the members have announced that they will be launching their solo careers. Jin Longguo is the first member to embark on a solo career post-JBJ, with his solo debut track dropping earlier today, titled as Clover. It features very well known hip hop artist Yoo Mi Rae. For those who don’t know Longguo is one-half of the duo Longguo & Shihyun and is currently under Choon Entertainment.
Clover is a decent R&B track. It isn’t the best track out there but it is still something that I wouldn’t mind putting on every now and then to unwind. The R&B vibes that come from this track do put you in an easing state, with the instrumental being its main driver. His vocals, while they were good at some points, it felt like he was pushing himself at other parts. His section of the bridge (before final chorus) was probably his best moment. The song wasn’t that memorable, with his chorus not being that catchy, despite the presence of the repetition of the song’s title. I did like Yoo Mi Rae’s featuring, as her voice compliments this R&B style so well. I also liked how her sections did not feel like it was going overtake Longguo’s vocals as her past songs may be indicative of her potential to overtake. Overall, it was okay.
The music video was kind of dry for my taste. But I felt like the music video complimented the song nicely, fitting in with its laidback vibe. I like how the colours of the video and the clothing that he wore were also fitting for that vibe. There just wasn’t anything else engaging about the music video to really make me want to watch it.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 6/10 Overall Rating – 6.6/10
Please note these special posts are designed to be long and may require some time to read (if you plan on reading the entire post).
In some cases, some groups extend their promotional period by promoting a new song. And in some of these cases, the groups also released a music video for the follow-up song. Usually, these music videos are released after I have published my album review and hence I don’t go back to do a separate review (as I have already done a short one for the song). So, I dedicate this week’s special post to return to some of those missed music videos and do a quick rundown.
Initially, my plans for this post would be over two weeks. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is enough for two weeks. So I have scrapped the second week and will do the entire list of 6 songs today. I may return to do more ‘Missed Reviews’ special posts in the future, in case I find myself in a similar position.
Lady – Golden Child
As part of their Miracle album promotions, Golden Child followed up their It’s U promotions with Lady, which received a 9.5/10 rating on the respective album review. I actually think the group, despite their youthful charms, can do extremely well with this mature concept. The heartbreak can be seen throughout the video, as the members deal with their one-sided love. While dancing on top of a building has been done before, it looks really good here. I feel like when the members all sing together, the video could have focused entirely on all the members in the choreography shots (like for the first chorus) as they enhance the epic sound of the chorus. But overall, it is one good video that compliments the song perfectly.
Black On Black – NCT 2018
I wanted to review Black On Black like a normal song-mv-performance review, however, they didn’t get around to promoting the track until weeks after the album (and album review) was released. On the album review, the song was given a 7/10 ranking. Black On Black was a relatively simple video, which showcases a very complex choreography. The members were all wearing black, fitting for the song’s title. What I did like was the set of the video. Despite it being the one set, it was shown in 3 different lighting settings, which made it feel like 3 different sets entirely. I know the ending was meant to show all the member but I found the random zoom up into Taeyong’s belt really odd. Other than that, pretty good video.
Yestoday – NCT U
It was clear that NCT received a large budget for their multiple music videos and I guess there was enough left over for a 6th music video. Yestoday is sung by NCT U (made up of Taeyong, Doyoung, Lucas and Mark) and received an 8/10 rating. It is okay to say that I like this music video more than some of the others? Because I was very impressed with what was given to us. While the song had this jazzy feel, I felt like the video was more edgy, which I thought was a great contrast. Simplicity was the key but they did a lot of the video post-production which made it likeable and interesting. I liked the random inserts of images that flash by throughout the video.
SObeR – Suzy
At the time of writing any of the reviews, I don’t think I was aware of any news that Suzy had shot three different music videos for four of her tracks. The first of which is SObeR, which received a 9/10. And with that title, it kind of makes sense that the video will be set partly in a bar. To me, it was a ‘fun’ themed video, where Suzy acted wild and drunk, in order to woo her interest. In the end, she confessed that she wasn’t sober, which I guess could be a fun game at the club (PS. Not a club person here). I thought the various sets or places she filmed at had this elegant vibe which suits Suzy, who is considered to be South Korea’s top actresses. I also liked it how she didn’t go over the top in this video, which could easily have occurred. But it kept to her image and ended up being a nice video to watch.
Teenager – GOT7
This is the one video released last year which I never got the chance to look at. Teenager was featured on GOT7’s 7th mini-album (7 for 7) and I gave the song an 8/10 rating. The video focused primarily on the choreography. Despite that, it was still a high-quality video which I thought it was rather cool to watch. I really liked the visual effects that were shown at the start of the video. I like how the video cuts between black and white to colour. Also liked how the background complimented the hip-hop style of the song, while also adding an edge. The members also looked good (including Jinyoung’s golf pants). It is a simple video done well.
One and Only One – GOT7
One and Only One is the pre-release single for GOT7’s 8th mini-album, released earlier this year. It received an 8/10 rating, as well. What we have isn’t technically a music video. Rather, it showcases the song for a minute and that is all. I did like the blue background and how simple the video was (like above). I think if we got a longer video with some flashing lights and maybe a few different colours in the background, along with Hyolyn actually featuring the video and some choreography, the video would have been amazing. Or at least, what I think the video could have been.
Distance – CLC
Distance is a single off their 7th mini-album and the accompanying music video was released after promotions for Black Dress ended. In the respective album review, Distance received a 7/10 rating. The music video, on the other hand, would have received something much higher. I don’t know how to exactly describe the video. It can either be about heartbreak or something more sinister. The cutting of the rope can be about breaking up and physical distance. But the members disappearing, the blindfolding and just the fact they wear white alludes to something else. I have no idea what it is, though. On top of that, I thought it was a really nice video that complimented the softer nature of the song.
Thanks to all who stuck around to the end. This wraps up this special post (for the time being as I may bring it back as more music videos or songs accumulate). I will be back in two weeks time with special posts dedicated to even more music videos, so do keep an eye open for those! (Or make it easier by following me!)
As mentioned over the weekend, I will be going back to review some songs that I have missed over the past month. Today’s review is Strong, a collaboration between WJSN (Cosmic Girls) and Weki Meki. A total of 4 members make up their project group: Seola and Luda (from WJSN) and Choi Yoo Jung and Kim Doyeon (from Weki Meki). While I am not exactly sure as to why they collaborated, it may be the female version of YDPP, who ended scoring a CF deal with Pepsi.
I thought it would be an interesting collaboration and my expectations for the project single skyrocketed given how much I enjoyed YDPP’s Like It Love It. But the song ended being more boring and typical. It is still listenable, so don’t worry. However, I think the song could have been more dynamic and interesting. The song did have some strong moments and I wished the song built on top of these moments. Yoojung’s rap was pretty good, giving the song some momentum and managed to make it less repetitive. The chorus had a nice melody, which can become someone’s new ringtone. I just wasn’t impressed with the singing. Maybe it was the amount of energy that the song could have used via the vocals which could have given the song some more life into it. The pre-chorus was just a little too dramatic for my taste. Overall, Strong isn’t my cup of tea.
The music video goes into the cutesy side of KPOP. And while there have been some great cutesy videos from KPOP, I think this one misses the mark. While I like the sets and the colours of the video (which was all very vibrant and bold), I didn’t enjoy the acting. It was awkward and felt too exaggerated in some parts. And the addition of the serial killer in the background and long-haired Grudge lady was an attempt to serve as the humorous relief. But instead, they add to the video’s exaggeration.
I think the cutesy concept worked the best in the performance. I thought the choreography was nice and it didn’t seem to be as exaggerated as the music video turned out to be.
Song – 5/10 Music Video – 4/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 5.1/10
SHINee is still celebrating their 10 year anniversary with another part of their 6th full-length album, The Story of Light EP. 02. The title track for this part of the album is I Want You and you can expect an album review for the second part in the weeks to come. They previously released the 1st part of their 6th album (which I have reviewed) and the title track, Good Evening, two weeks ago.
I Want You continues the EDM sound with the song entering the tropical house genre of EDM. The song is good, with great vocals and raps from the members. The harmonies heard at various sections of the song (like the pre-chorus and chorus) really gave the song some identity and profile. Taemin’s high note is just extremely smooth. The chorus was moderately catchy and it uses melodies as the main driving point and hooks as its memorable pitch towards the audience. My only concern with the song is that it falls within ‘typical’ territory. I personally don’t find anything unique or memorable enough for my memory bank. Instead, it is plain and a standard song. Don’t get me wrong, I like the song. Just compared with Good Night, I Want You falls behind it.
I am not sure of the connection between the two videos that SHINee has released thus far. I am interested in knowing how they connect. My guess is that they get sucked into some odd world when they look and reach into the well. But apart from that, the videos don’t really connect. Parts of the music video for I Want You takes a more humorous approach, particularly the scene where Onew is smiling while being sprayed by the glass. Actually, most of the video seems a little far-fetched. The video does have strong retro vibes with the hazy filtering and the use of green screen. I personally thought it was a good video, as well.
There isn’t a live performance for the song yet. However, I think there might be enough to write this section within the music video. Really liked the dance move during that instrumental break during the chorus. Also, I liked the ‘Oh Nah Nah’ moves for the pre-chorus (?). Overall, the dance was extremely fitting for the song and the members seemed more connected to their performance this time around.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
As I mentioned yesterday, I am returning to do some reviews of songs that I have missed out over the last few weeks. Today’s focus is on PTL’s Hocus Pocus which was released almost a month ago. Planetarium Records (PTL) is a 5 member project group currently under a company of the same name. The members consist of Jinwoo, Villian, Gaho, Moti and June. Information on the group is quite limited so I don’t have much else to offer besides that they released songs earlier in the year (Blind and Blah).
I happened to stumble across the group when the song first came out and knew I had to review it. Apologies it took so long. Hocus Pocus is one damn catchy song that always blows my mind when I listen to it. It takes on the R&B and hip-hop genre quite nicely. For those who don’t know, I don’t really review songs from artists who do these genres unless they are big KPOP artists. But Hocus Pocus definitely has great energy and a groovy atmosphere that was hard to pass up. I thought the instrumental was extremely dynamic, with the muffled bleeping at the start of the song really intriguing. The raps and vocals in the song are quite good, part of the reason why I decided to put this on the ‘To Review’ list. The verses and the chorus really pushed the song along, with the latter being a very catchy part of the song. It may not be appearing on my Weekly KPOP Charts but I can assure you I have been listening to the song every single week.
The video seems to show the members trapped inside the confines of this place. But I guess it shows the members making the most of it. As you can tell, I have no clue what is going on in the video. I assuming Yoda, Zeus and Buddha make an appearance for a reason (at the very start of the video on the sheets of paper). However, it was a decent video. Despite not having heard of the group or the company before, it seemed like they had a decent budget for the video as it appears to be high quality and the sets didn’t seem to be on the cheap end of the market. The energy in the song was also channelled nicely through the video, which makes them a good match.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 7/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10
Over the next few weeks, I will be attempting to catch up on the many reviews in which I have missed out. BOL4 is in the midst of their promotions for their latest mini-album. The mini-album has two title tracks, Travel and Wind. I have already reviewed Travel (and Starlight) when it first came out. Wind‘s music video was released later on and I have been waiting for its release before writing a full review.
Wind is a ballad that mixes with BOL4’s indie sound. The way Jiyoung sings this song is pretty childish, however, I mean that in a good way. It felt like a child singing it, which gave the song innocence and a delicate vibe. Her vocals are good, so don’t misunderstand my initial statements with her vocals. The only issue that I have with the song it is quite dry and doesn’t progress much. The instrumental started off with just a very subtle orchestral sound and repetitive triangle tinging in the background. It does increase in volume as it goes on (ever so slightly). However, it wasn’t enough to give the song that momentum. Instead, I try my best to stay focus on the song. I personally don’t understand why it is a title track, as it feels like a standard sidetrack on the album. Starlight was a much better candidate.
The music video seems to also be shot in the same place as Travel and Starlight was shot. However, it shows a love story made up in Jiyoung’s mind. The male counterpart in the video is played by Jisoo and they meet in the laundromat after he tosses a blanket (or white shirt) on top of her by accident. And then a who imaginative sequence begins with the two dating and falling in love. Even though it was imaginative, the ending shows the possibility of the two actually falling in love when Jisoo gives Jiyoung the coin. It was honestly a nice video and the slow-motion that was applied to the video paired well with the slow tempo of the song.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
Seventeen has been hugely popular in Japan for some time now. And now they have returned to Japan to make their official Japanese debut. The group recently released their first mini-album there, titled as We Make You. The title track is an original Japanese single, Call Call Call. The album also features Japanese version of some of their Korean side tracks.
For those who don’t know, I practically am a major fan of Seventeen and their work. Since their debut, they haven’t disappointed with any of their title tracks. And it seems like their Japanese releases hold the same effect on me. Call Call Call is a fast-paced dance track that fits in really well with their Korean portfolio. The song has some rock elements on top of the dance elements, which gives the song some drive and momentum. Their vocals are really great. But I think the true stars of the song are the rappers in the song. The entire hip-hop team had amazing sections from S.Coups and Wonwoo’s starting lines to Mingyu’s extremely addictive whisper-ish type of line. The song is super catchy and with its release a few weeks back, it has been a song I have been replaying constantly. It makes me wonder what their next release in Japan would be (since most artists tend to deviate from their Korean sounds in Japan and make their music more appealing for the Japanese audience).
Great music video as well. It was clear that they would go with a phone concept, given the title of the song. I liked how they mixed up the units and still split up into three small groups, like opposing gangs waiting for that phone call from their lover. We have neighbourhood boys (Vernon, Jun, Dino, Joshua), the ‘suited up’ dudes (Mingyu, S.Coups, Hoshi and Seungkwan) and the motorbike gang (Woozi, Wonwoo, The8, Jeonghan and DK). And the competition for the phone call was really intense. I really like the umbrella grab that someone from the ‘suited up’ group did and the Woozi transition with Mingyu’s punch.
Another section of the video that I really liked was the choreography. Seventeen doesn’t let you down in that aspect. I really liked how they moved into their different formations. Favourite part would have to be Wonwoo throughout the first chorus in the music video. Actually, the entire chorus was quite cool to watch.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
With the recent news that the supposed male group formed through YG Entertainment’s MIXNINE was not going ahead, a number of the groups associated announced their long-awaited comeback. A.C.E marks their return with their first mini-album, Adventures in Wonderland. The album consists of their previous main title tracks (Cactus and Callin’), along with the latest title track, Take Me Higher. The group has also returned with 4 members only, as Chan is promoting as part of UNB.
If you were expecting something like their previous title tracks (like me), you will be surprised with what the group went with. I don’t want to describe as the song as traditional, but compared with their EDM tracks, this song does sound rather traditional. There are no electronic synths or EDM elements in this song. Instead, it employs more of a pop sound. That ebing siad, I am really enjoying the song (partly due to its unexpected sound). The chorus of the song reminds me of Human Nature feel-good type of song. It just makes you want to smile. On top of that, the song zones right into the vocal abilities of the group and it shows how good their voices are. On top of that, the rapping fitted perfectly into the song. While the rappers tone was deep, it was well-paced to match the tempo of the song, which makes it fit in nicely. Overall, Take Me Higher was a another pretty good song, just not what I had expected.
To match the tone of the song, the video brings on colour and a playful concept. And from the start, it was a nice video to watch. I did notice that some of their outfits in the video seemed to be purposely allowing some skin to show. I personally thought it looked rather odd in this video (though I guess it makes sense for a video released in Summer). But besides that, it was a good video fitting for the song.
Their performance was quite good. On top of that, I think they performed live in the performance I am watching, which seems to be a huge feat, given how jumpy their performance is. I really liked the second half of the chorus when they get into the diagonal formation.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10
With the recent news that the supposed male group formed through YG Entertainment’s MIXNINE was not going ahead, a number of the groups associated announced their long-awaited comeback. ONF is the youngest boy group under WM Entertainment, who made their debut last year with ON/OFF. After a 10 month period, the group has returned with their second mini-album (You Complete Me) and the title track, Complete.
I really liked the song for a number of reasons. Complete was extremely energetic and upbeat, which really gets to you (in a good way). From the start, it felt like we were thrown into a very active and enjoyable party. The song takes on the tropical route but it has some elements that make it unique. Starting off with the chorus, I really liked the vocals within the first line. That already won me over to begin with (I am easily pleased) and I enjoyed expecting it every time the chorus was due to occur. But what really kicks the song up a notch is the brass tune that really bumps the energy up. Honestly, it was quite un-expecting. However, it made the song stand out for me and I enjoy replaying the song just for that part. I pretty much liked the muffled effect that brought the bridge into play and the EDM drops just before the final chorus, while also maintaining that same tune. Overall, the song is pretty much A+ and this is exactly why I will continue coming back to it.
I am not exactly sure what is going on in the video. It seems to be just shots of the guys having fun. But I wasn’t sure where the crashed plane parts were meant to fit in. Despite that however, the music video does help enhance the song. I don’t know because visually the video doesn’t account too much (from what I can interpret from it). It might be because the editing for the video is done so to match the song perfectly, which is why I think it does a really good job at complimenting the song.
I like how there was still a playful routine within the strict boundaries of the set moves in the performance. And while the members look physically tired here, the group definitely enjoys being on stage. I really liked the footwork when the brass hook kicks in and the start of the final chorus (connection from the bridge). Really nice performance, overall.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9.5/10 Overall Rating – 9.3/10
How haven’t I brushed everything (studies, personal commitments) to the side and write anything about this amazing song? Let’s backtrack, firstly. Yubin is the well-known rapper of the iconic (and now disbanded) Wonder Girls. Since the announcement of the end of the group, Yubin has been preparing for a solo debut. And this past Tuesday, it officially occurred with the release of Lady.
I personally don’t think we have seen anything as retro as this for a while now. Yubin’s solo debut track really takes you back to the disco era, especially (what I assumed to be) the Korean or Japanese disco era. The track does not hold back from the very first second, opting to throw you right into its addictive instrumental and hook. Both the verses and choruses were quite good but they don’t really live up to the standard set by that opening sequence/post-chorus. I personally love the slow-down in the bridge, along with the fact that Yubin, Wonder Girl’s resident rapper, does not rap at all in the song. I find that very interesting and surprised that she sounds so good. On top of that, I love the ‘Baby Baby’ that connects the pre-chorus to the actual chorus. I am hooked onto this whether I liked it or not and I can see myself constantly replaying this song in the weeks to come.
Fitting with the song’s sound, the music video is retro themed. From her outfit to the lighting in the video, everything points directly to the 70s or 80s. Even the filters placed on the video post-production (that hazy effect) and the overall cinematography just lines up with that era. There isn’t much else to the video. No plotline. Just Yubin and the retro vibes.
I really like how simple the choreography for that opening sequence/post-chorus instrumental section. But despite that, it worked perfectly to seem like a catchy dance move. I also like the chorus’s accompanying move as well, which seems to be a more angled version of previously described dance move.
Song – 9.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
fromis_9 makes their return with DKDK (두근두근 – the sound of a thumping heart). This is fromis_9’s first comeback since To Heart, which was released earlier in the year. The group is currently short one member as Gyuri is now participating in the Produce 48, another survival show (since fromis_9 was formed through the survival reality show, Idol School).
DKDK stays within the sound that the group has debuted with. It has a cutesy sound that is extremely hard to look down upon. It isn’t overly exaggerated and for that, I am quite grateful. I think we can attribute that to their vocal work, which I think is quite good in the song. Once again, the song suffers from that standardness that I mentioned in the To Heart review. To me, the verses and chorus weren’t that great highlights of the song. It doesn’t make it memorable. On top of that, the song doesn’t really have momentum or any sort of energy that makes it a song that I continually replay. That being said, the song is still listenable. There is one standout moment that does have me coming back. However, it is purely for the ‘Dugeun Dugeun‘ hook right after the chorus. It is unique and extremely catchy. If the rest of the song was as catchy and memorable, I think the track would have been a total hit.
The way the video was shot remind me of LOONA predebut music videos. I assume the same director or producer was used. I think the video simply shows the girls becoming obsessed with cats (which I assume represents their true love). They go to catch one, which happens to be the biggest cat out there. Not sure what to make of the plot other than that simplistic understanding of it. So do share any other theories. Really like the start and the end of the video how the girl (and in the end – the cats) appear one by one, in time with the music. Overall, it was a good video to watch which appeared to complement the cutesy vibes of the song.
The performance is quite lively and energetic, which reflects well with the song. I particuarly like the few seconds at the start once the clapping begns and they were all in sync. I liked how they got into their final formation at the very end of the performance. But I feel like they could have tidied that section up a little bit to make it more appealing visually. Overall, nice performance.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 7.5/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
Wanna One has returned with a brand new special album, 1 ÷ x = 1 (Undivided). Following their hits earlier in the year, I.P.U and Boomerang, the group has returned with the title track, Light. The special album (which I will review) features 4 other tracks produced by different and well-known producers. Each track contains different members, so it is going to be interesting. But that will be for the album review as we refocus back on their comeback title track, Light.
Light falls in line with their past tracks. It is dance track that features trap synths in the background. The first initial listen did feel a little underwhelming but the song has definitely grown on me within hours of its release. I particularly like the vocals in the song but it stands out the most in the opening moment of the song. I really liked the flick upwards in the final syllables in some of the lines. The song buildup was nice, pairing well with the raps. Unfortunately, I think the chorus was a little too straightforward and I feel like they could have made it different somehow to make it pop more. While the ending did work, a part of me feels like they could have eased off instead of going out abruptly. Despite that, the song was still quite good and it has landed on the replay playlist for this week!
When it comes to the music video, I was disappointed. For a group of this popularity, I expected them to go all out with each music video. Personally, I thought the choreography shots were good. However, they were quite limited. The rest of the video consisted of closeup shots of the members staring at the light and then running towards it. There wasn’t anything going on besides that really kept me interested. The feature image I chose (that section of the video) was the one part that had to be cringing though because you can tell it was filmed on a green screen a mile away. I am used to videos doing it in a more polished manner, which ends up looking good. That wasn’t felt much here.
The performance was quite good. They take a more sensual approach with their slow hip thrust for the chorus. While hip thrusting has been done before, it looks and feels completely different in this performance, which is a great thing. I also liked the contrast between the fast-paced music and the slower yet powerful dance moves. They pair well together and it makes for a good choreography.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 6.5/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
Moonbyul made her solo debut 2 weeks ago. Clearly shows how ‘up to date’ I am. But once again, better late than never. Moonbyul is Mamamoo’s well-known rapper (and starting this year, vocalist). The main title track is Selfish, which also features Seulgi from Red Velvet. The two previously participated in Idol Drama Operation Team. Furthermore, I have decided to include In My Room, which also had a music video (hence the review).
Selfish is a nice song that does bring a smile to your face. The song is quite melodic and slowly paced (but not too slow), which makes it pleasant to listen to. When rappers released solo songs, they are usually fierce and energy packed in the way the lines are delivered. However, Moonbyul’s solos tracks are one of the few examples that don’t really conform to that. Seulgi’s vocals in this song pair well with the soft nature. But my favourite part in the entire song is the harmonies, particularly in the final chorus. It is clear that Moonbyul can sing (as seen through her group’s releases this year). But there is something about the harmonies that has me falling in love with the song. Overall, it is quite good.
In My Room takes on an R&B approach. In this song, she takes on both the vocals and raps herself. Though, there seemed to be a male singer featuring in the middle of the song, who didn’t seem to be listed on any of the tracklist or information that I could dig up. I like her vocals in the song and when she changed to rapping as well. The instrumental was also quite nice, which gets me swaying along to the music. Sadly, I don’t find this song as memorable as Selfish was. However, it was still pleasant to listen to and showcases Moonbyul’s talents in a much more softer manner.
The two music videos are polar opposites. Mainly due to the atmosphere the song creates. Selfish’s video was more fun-filled, while In My Room was more emotionally centred. The message of the Selfish video can be seen clearly throughout the video (see the English translations for the song) but I really liked the comedic approach they took in some of the scenes (e.g. the kids intimidating and getting the singers’ money). In My Room seemed to conform to that typical R&B visual, with the darkness and nightlife scene. On top of that, I thought the loneliness that Moonbyul was easily experienced just by watching.
Selfish Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
In My Room Song – 7/10 Music Video – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7/10
NTB (Naughty Boys) made their debut on Monday last week. Despite having an odd meaning to their name, they are a 6 member boy group who are currently under One World Entertainment. The members include L.Min, Seowoong, G.O (not associated with the MBLAQ G.O), Youngbo, Jaeha and Hyobin. Their debut title track, Dramatic, features on their first mini-album, also titled Dramatic.
For some odd reason, I did expect something along the lines of a dramatic sounding song. However, I should have known better that KPOP doesn’t always follow literal meanings. Instead, the group debuts with a song full of electronic synths and explosive-like sounds. The instrumental was really good for the song and it is one of the factors that drew me to the song. Initially, I thought the song was quite underwhelming. However, multiple listens after had me enjoying the instrumental. I also thought the vocals were good, particularly the final line of each chorus where the main vocalist goes into the higher pitch. I thought the raps were good but it didn’t necessarily feel like a strong aspect of the song. The launch into the final chorus, with the various pauses and delays, made it song end on a good note. While I do personally like the song, I don’t think it really sets them apart from other groups. There isn’t anything ‘new’ in this song.
There seems to a visual trend going around in some of the KPOP music videos. I think this is the third music video released just this month where filming took place on top of a building, in this case, a helicopter pad. At this rate, helicopters won’t be able to land in South Korea. Though I have to be honest, the video does take in great scenery shots, which I thought made the video feel enjoyable. Particularly at the end of the song (just when we get into the final chorus), if there were nighttime scenes with fireworks, I think the video would have been perfect for the song. But overall, it was a good video to watch.
Based on the performances I watched for this review, I wasn’t sure if this was meant to be a happy type of performance or just your typical ‘serious’ boy group performance. They had very stern and serious facial expressions at the start but once the chorus kicked in, it felt very lighthearted and smiles were flying right left and centre. The dancing was good, especially the second half of the chorus!
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7.5/10
GOT7 has returned to Japan with a brand new single, THE New Era. This marks their return to the Japanese market with Turn Up in October of last year. Promotions this time does not include Jackson, who most likely could not do so due to schedules in China. The group previously made their Korean comeback with Look, earlier this year.
THE New Era falls in line with their previous Japanese releases. It falls perfectly into the hip-hop genre. I feel that the song felt very cluttered and I felt, almost, liked a lost child. I felt this most strongly during that section where they all started chanting. Anyway, while I do feel that way, the individual elements of the song were good. I liked how the song does bring out the vocal abilities of JB and Youngjae, while it also adds a little melodic flair to the song. The rapping was quite good, particularly in the chorus. That being said, the rapping was pushed to be the hooks of the song. But it really didn’t work out, as the song didn’t seem that memorable after multiple listens. On top of that, I don’t understand why they made Mark have a deep tone. It seemed to replicate what Jackson sounds like and it doesn’t showcase Mark’s sound. Overall, I am on the fence for this song. While it isn’t terrible, it is still decent.
Not a major fan of the music video. There just didn’t have anything that stands out. Instead, it keeps relatively safe in terms of concept and doesn’t really all too much to the song. Though, Mark’s walk (while holding the bottle) does remind me of the bottle flip in one of their previous videos.
The choreography does seem to be the saving grace for this comeback. While I don’t have too much to say about it, it was the most captivating part of the comeback. It doesn’t have an iconic label on it however it suffices. It looked good and felt fitting for both the song and GOT7.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 5/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 6.1/10
(G)I-DLE is definitely this year’s monster rookie. Despite only just debuting, the ladies have already won a handful of weekly music show awards and have definitely already made a name for themselves in both domestic and international markets. They are still promoting at the moment and are still being nominated left, right and centre.
2. $$$ (달라 ) – $$$ is a great continuation of the hip-hop genre that is (G)I-DLE is clearly owning. One of the first things that is most apparent is that the song feels like it is a mashup of multiple songs. Despite that, the song flows neatly and there are no overlaps to create awkward moments. The song has amazing hooks and the differing styles between parts make it memorable. The rapping was pretty good in the song. I think the major issue is that while they had strong moments, it felt short-lived with the constant changes. I wished they continued with the strong moments rather than cutting it up. (8.5/10)
3. Maze – Maze is a R&B track infused with their hip-hop styles mentioned above. Honestly, I liked everything about the song. I really liked the instrumental of the entire track, including the very end, which I thought was extremely dynamic. The explosive nature of the chorus really gives the song some energy, which goes well with their softer guitar verses. Both the rapping and vocals were on point. I cannot fault this at all and is my favourite track off the album. (10/10)
4. Don’t Text Me – While the song takes on the R&B genre, likes its predecessor, it is a lot softer. It also has good rapping and vocals here. The instrumental reminds me of R&B back in the day but the use of synths really gives it a modern feel. You can also describe the instrumental as smooth with the synths added some texture. It does get a little dry towards the end but it is another great song from the group. (9/10)
5. What’s In Your House? (알고 싶어) – The song opens with a funky and groovy beat, which features the extremely catchy ‘What’s In Your House‘ repetition. It is another R&B track but I find it extremely soft to the point where you can include this in a café’s playlist. The rapping gives the song some texture and also prevented it from becoming too boring. The bridge was a complete slowdown (which I am not really a fan of) but they managed to recover the energy by going back to the catchy hook. (9/10)
6. Listen To Me (들어줘요) – Here we have the one song that conforms the album to a typical girl group album. The presence of the mandatory ballad. I am not disappointed by it, however, as it does show that the girls can be versatile. The song showcases amazing vocals and harmonies from each member (including the rapper). This makes the song captivating and end the album on a soft yet delicate note. (8/10)
