Category: Reviews

[Review] POWER – G-DRAGON

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

I am finally starting on the new releases for the week. But I am starting at the end of the week because KPOP royalty is back! G-DRAGON has officially returned to the music industry as a solo artist for the first time in seven years with the pre-release single POWER. We last heard solo music from G-DRAGON through Untitled, 2014 from 2017. More recently, we heard from G-DRAGON through the release of the BIGBANG single, Still Life, two years ago.

It takes all but 10 seconds for G-DRAGON to launch himself right back into funky hip-hop territory in POWER with a catchy and repetitive refrain. And it took the same 10 seconds for me to feel the beat and nod along to the song’s chorus. I loved how POWER packs a punch and contains so much vigour, which makes logical sense since the song is about power. G-DRAGON’s delivery was very nostalgic and punchy at times, almost jabby. But it wasn’t annoying or obnoxious. Instead, I found it to be calculated and well-timed. But whilst the setup was good, and I liked how it maintained its upbeatness and energy through and through (though this does bring up one issue – more on that in a second), POWER is let down by a few things. Firstly, POWER‘s short length makes it feel like it ends too quickly. I keep wanting more by the time it ends, particularly since POWER does end abruptly. Secondly, POWER is admittedly relatively consistent. I wish G-DRAGON played around more throughout the song. Potentially, POWER could have used some edginess to bring out some additional nostalgia and give us a taste of what we and the KPOP industry have been missing over the last seven years. But even despite those flaws, a returning song like POWER does feel as if G-DRAGON was eager to return after such a long period away.

It is my understanding that the music video references G-DRAGON’s career, including his most recent comeback with his fellow BIGBANG members in Still Life. It has been a while since I have watched G-DRAGON’s music videos, so I cannot tell what elements in this video is a reference to which music video. But I am sure the super sleuths of KPOP have (or will) come up with a list. I quite liked the addition of the hooded figures nodding along to the music. Very cool yet also mysterious and ominous. There is a bit of a dance at the very of the video that works well with the song. It has just enough edge to suit G-DRAGON’s style, but also a little craziness that matches the song.

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

[Review] Mantra – JENNIE (BLACKPINK)

Posted in Reviews, Western POPTagged , 3 Comments

Through my review of ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ APT. collaboration last week, I mentioned the BLACKPINK members have been making solo comebacks this year and that I would return to cover them on the blog. It is time to pick up JENNIE’s solo comeback with Mantra, which I have been revisiting a lot in the past week.

Mantra was released almost three weeks ago, and I didn’t care much when it was first released. This may be because I didn’t catch wind of JENNIE’s solo comeback until after Mantra dropped, and I was busy figuring out how I missed that piece of news. But almost three weeks later, Mantra had grown on me thanks to its repetitiveness. The way Mantra‘s chorus was set up and its spoken delivery was quite earwormy and catchy, making it memorable and addictive. It also helped that the chorus was a big chunk of the song, re-emphasising and laying the chorus thickly on the listener. There was no escaping the chorus. As for the rest of Mantra, things were not as memorable. While we get two verses and a pre-chorus in Mantra, you simply don’t remember much from these parts. They felt very brief, and Mantra‘s short length doesn’t allow JENNIE to revisit or explore these segments further. Some of it had intriguing delivery, which I find myself torn about. It was interesting in one sense but not great in another. Overall, Mantra‘s chorus was definitely the focal and standout point of the song, and I have been revisiting it more recently to enjoy it.

I hope the video’s opening pays homage to that classic scene from Rush Hour, where Soo Young is singing in the backseat of the chauffeur’s car before she is kidnapped. I love it! Personally, that is the most memorable part of the video for me. But aside from that opening, the music video also showcases JENNIE in a sexy summer way. Of all the looks in the video, I like all but the blonde bob (the one she dons while in the kiddy pool). The video is also has a lot of choreography scenes.

I really liked the energy she brought to the performance. It was sexy and fun. The former speaks to JENNIE’s appeal, while the latter indicates the track’s upbeatness and dynamism. There was a certain point in her career when she was accused of being a lazy performer, but everything in this routine points to the contrary.

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

[Review] Cherish (My Love) – ILLIT

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

ILLIT is shaping up to be an interesting group. Their debut single, Magnetic, made them widely known in the industry earlier this year, so it comes as no surprise that their expectant comeback single would rival or even surpass their Magnetic beginnings. But Cherish (My Love) was released earlier this week and has not been able to reach the same heights that Magnetic did. Only time will tell if it does. But for now, it doesn’t look hopeful for ILLIT.

Two things stand out in Cherish (My Love) for me. The first is the “Che-che-che-cherish” hook. It takes that repetitive refrain from their debut track and makes it relevant to the new song. It is simple and straightforward, and the members’ soft delivery of the hook is cute and easy on the ears. The second thing that stood out is… well… nothing else. Aside from the main hook I mentioned above, I don’t remember much else from Cherish (My Love), which speaks volumes to me. The imbalance between the hook and the rest of the song is quite prominent, and this distracted me the first time I listened to Cherish (My Love), and subsequent listens to the song. With Magnetic, the instrumental was buoyant and upbeat. In Cherish (My Love), the instrumental stagnates and doesn’t develop into much. Cherish (My Love) needed much more in the instrumental to make it more memorable. Whilst lovely, the rest of the members’ vocals just don’t have a memorable element to them. I can say the exact same thing about Cherish (My Love)‘s melodies. Unfortunately, Cherish (My Love) doesn’t do it for me. I much prefer Magnetic, which does pop into my head from time to time.

The Korean term for ‘wisdom tooth’ is quite similar to the Korean term for ‘love’. It is so similar that Koreans link love to when your wisdom teeth start to grow. As such, the members are obsessed with their teeth and wish for them to grow to experience love. That makes so much sense and gives context to the cute teeth-themed video. I am glad some people on the Internet have clarified what the music video is about. Otherwise, this part of the review would probably contain some comments on the weird obsession of the members’ teeth, and given the controversy between HYBE and MHJ, this probably would not have boded well for the group.

The performance of Cherish (My Love) is very charming, and I enjoyed it. I am not sure if the “Che-Che-Cherish” move would surpass the likes of Magnetic‘s key dance move, but I think it has the potential to do so!

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

[Review] I’ll Be There – JIN (BTS)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 3 Comments

I jump from the start to the end of the week to cover JIN’s solo comeback. JIN is the first BTS member to complete his military enlistment. Soon after being discharged from the military, he is back on the music scene with a pre-release, I’ll Be There, for his upcoming solo album, Happy. This is JIN’s first solo release since The Astronaut in 2022.

I’ll Be There is a song with a hopeful and uplifting message for those alone. Combined with JIN’s vocals and the upbeat band instrumental, this pre-release will surely appeal to many people. While he isn’t BTS’ go-to vocalist, I liked the oomph JIN puts behind his vocals. It gives I’ll Be There so much body and robustness. I also thought the slight huskiness of his vocals worked exceptionally well in this song, establishing a personal and individual sound we don’t get from JIN in BTS releases. The melodies and hooks were catchy, helping keep I’ll Be There buoyant in several ways. As for the instrumental, I’ll Be There‘s pop-rock venture is cheerful and puts a smile on my face. I also observe that it is percussive-heavy, bringing upbeat and great energy. Usually, the guitar or keyboard work gets the limelight in these types of songs. But the percussion (via the drums) definitely speaks louder in I’ll Be There. That said, I’ll Be There could have used more guitar, particularly in the final chorus. We get a guitar showing briefly, but I would have loved to hear more. But overall, I’ll Be There is an excellent return for JIN.

I quite like the premise of the music video, where JIN brings people together with his music. After all, he is sending a message of strength to those alone. JIN also looks like he enjoyed performing in front of a growing audience, which makes sense, given he didn’t have much opportunity to do this over the last two years. Towards the end, JIN is shown to be alone, embracing that side of the message whilst he performs the song and giving those at the subject of I’ll Be There‘s message further representation in the video.

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

[Review] Whiplash – aespa

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

With each comeback, aespa is growing further in popularity. They completely smashed with the pre-release single for their last comeback, Supernova, and followed up similarly with Armageddon. Now, the group is back to do all that again and go even further with their fifth mini-album and title track of the same name, Whiplash.

There are two sides to Whiplash—the exciting and the mild. For me, the exciting side of the song comes through the instrumentation. The catwalk strut energy from the electropop instrumentation (very on-brand for the group) in Whiplash is very prominent and something I cannot get out of my head. There were opportunities for Whiplash to be sharper, but the heavy bass makes up for it. As for the mild side, that was because of the members’ delivery. However, I don’t blame aespa for that. The serious tone from that catwalk strutting energy identified as great earlier probably stifles the material the members could bring forth. It constricts their ability to Whiplash feel robust and dynamic. Instead, that type of energy takes more of a back seat – it is still there, but it isn’t the driving force of Whiplash. As such, I don’t find their spoken delivery of Whiplash‘s title and chorus compelling. However, I am not calling it bad. This delivery does have its moments, particularly since it gives Whiplash a sophisticated and elegant feel. When the members get a chance to deliver some melodic lines, these parts add to that sleek feel. But when you compare their delivery in Whiplash to their delivery in Supernova or even Drama from the end of last year, Whiplash feels a lot drier and more effort to get through.

I have to say that the YouTube algorithm has been really pushing Whiplash since it dropped. However, I am not upset by this, as this music video was a spectacle. The members looked like models, embracing that side of the song. The video had a futuristic vibe that I found very cool, particularly with the camera elements in the beginning and the outdoor scenes. The choreography shots were simple but shot in a manner through camera work and angles that felt unique and different from all other music videos. Even the simple and empty backgrounds and text flashes felt sophisticated and artistic. To top it all off, the editing made what felt like a simple video into a complex masterpiece. Whiplash‘s video is definitely one to watch.

aespa combines their usual performance style with some sexiness to capitalise the music’s catwalk strut energy. And I am all for it. But I think the performance lacks that key defining dance move that I could associate with Whiplash. Nothing screams out strongly enough to be that move, which is disappointing given all of aespa’s title tracks in the last 12 months had a defining move for their given eras.

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

[Review] APT. – ROSÉ (BLACKPINK) & Bruno Mars

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , , 5 Comments

In 2023, BLACKPINK renewed their contracts with YG Entertainment for group-based activities while taking their solo activities elsewhere. Over this year, the BLACKPINK members have been busy working on solo projects (including song releases). We have heard song releases from LISA and JENNIE, which I have not reviewed yet but will do so in the coming weeks—watch the blog for those reviews. But for now, ROSÉ’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, APT., sneaks in to be the first song I will review from the BLACKPINK members’ solo careers post YG Entertainment.

It should take you less than a listen to feel the fun nature behind APT.. A few signs will help you make this realization. The chant that begins the song and the super catchy and fun “Apteu, Apteu” are familiar drinking games in Korea and have been heard on many Korean variety shows. The chant features giggles from ROSÉ and friends (a clear indication of how fun it should be), and APT.‘s main refrain is addictively catchy. Even the energy that ROSÉ and Bruno Mars exude during the song is playful and whimsical, contributing to that fun sound. And since APT. dropped on Friday, I have been playing it repeatedly because it is so catchy. But while the exterior is entertaining, I also have good things to say about the music of APT. itself. I love the song’s simplicity, with the straightforward pop-punk instrumentation reminding me very much of Arvil Lavinge in the early ’00s. I have also come across people saying it reminds them of Hey Mickey (which is so true), another song from the early ’00s that brings further nostalgia. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars sound amazing when they aren’t repeating “Apteu, Apteu“; the pre-choruses are a testament to that. While a little cringy, I also enjoyed ROSÉ’s bridge in the song. Altogether, APT. is a fun song that is easy to get into but hard to forget.

The music video also contributes to the song’s fun nature. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars are having so much fun playing around and dancing with each other. I can see everyone else (me included) joining in with them to just let loose and have some fun after a long day. Simplicity is also an appealing factor in this video. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars donned black leather motorcyclist jackets and had fun in a pink room. Nothing complicated about this video, which helps make APT. more enjoyable and appealing. Even the visual effects added to the video don’t feel crazy and just channel the same energy that ROSÉ and Bruno Mars bring out in the video.

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

[Review] A Sleepless Night – CNBLUE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

We haven’t heard CNBLUE’s name for a while. Their last comeback was in 2021 with Love Cut. Earlier this week, CNBLUE made their first comeback in 3 years with their 10th mini-album X and the title track, A Sleepless Night.

A Sleepless Night is a straightforward mid-tempo rock track, and I appreciate its purity. However, it falls short of three minutes, as with many songs in KPOP nowadays. Nothing wrong with this trend (though I did not expect CNBLUE to conform to it), but a recurring complaint I have made this year is that certain songs needed more to feel substantial. That isn’t the case with A Sleepless Night‘s length. The mid-tempo nature of the music keeps it paced, making it feel longer than it is. Vocally, YONGHWA sounds good. It is definitely nice to hear him (and the rest of the band on the instruments) after a long while. A definite trip down memory lane for me. But while the straightforward rock and nostalgic vocals help make A Sleepless Night appealing to me, I think it could have used something to be more defining of itself to attract more and new listeners to this incredible band. After all, it would be great to see them resurge with their classic hits like I’m A Loner, Love, Cinderella, and a personal favourite of mine, Between Us. An argument can definitely be made about A Sleepless Night sounding generic, and I potentially could have passed on A Sleepless Night if I had listened to it in passing without knowing who it was by.

Like the song, the music video for A Sleepless Night is also straightforward. For the most part, the members are trapped in a small room. This depicts the hold that the lingering memories and longing for their past love have on them. In the room is an unkept bed, which highlights their inability to sleep due to these feelings and longing (i.e., a sleepless night). There is probably more to the broken glass, but it expresses their frustration to me. When the group are together, they perform the song. I like the scenes where the trio is performing in a triangle formation, facing each other whilst the camera is spinning around them. It is simple, and the black-and-white filter carries through the video’s tone to the group scenes.

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

[Review] Colors – Solar (MAMAMOO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 2 Comments

Way back in April, Solar from MAMAMOO made her solo comeback with her second mini-album, Colours, and the title track, But I. Ahead of that release, Solar gave us a snippet of Colors, the first song from the mini-album, as a teaser for the comeback. A performance video for Colors later dropped. Finally, after six months, I am reviewing Colors in the lead-up to the album review for Colours.

Colors is totally different from Solar’s title track. That is one of the things I admire about Colors. It sets out to be bold and delivers in significant style. But I tapped into balladry and rock (the former is what you expect from Solar, but the rock influence wasn’t too far of a reach), whereas Colors delved into the house genre. It is a new sound profile for Solar that admittedly took a few listens to grow on me. Even now, it isn’t the song I would actively search for to listen to, but I still appreciate it. Colors is a suitable track for the club setting with its heavy stomping beat. The instrumental is unapologetic in many regards, and Solar (the sole lyricist and composer of the song) ensures the song is kept that way. All of her vocals in Colors are delivered in a very spoken manner. Definitely an interesting choice for a main vocalist. However, amid the spoken delivery was a stretched-out squeal in the first chorus. It took a few listens for me to enjoy it (and the song in general), but it is one aspect of Colors that I now look forward to when I listen to the song. Overall, Colors shows us a different yet fun side of Solar.

For this review, the music video and performance aspect of the review will be merged together, given the only official video for Colors is a performance video. Described as the first KPOP release with voguing from start to end, I find the video embodies the song quite well. It is both bold and fun in many ways. A big part of the video is the ballroom house aspects (from the House of Love to the choreography), which I enjoyed. Solar did a fantastic job herself – it didn’t feel like a first attempt. I liked how the video was also full of colour via the outfits and club set but was not necessarily in-your-face about it. I liked this refinement; it didn’t make the whole release feel too noisy. I could see the video being just that, had there been too much colour or a dynamic light show (some of the reasons I find clubs too overwhelming).

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

[Review] GOLD – ITZY

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 5 Comments

ITZY also returned this week with GOLD, the title of their 9th mini-album and latest title track. GOLD is also the first comeback in over a year to feature LIA, who went on hiatus last year due to anxiety. Glad to see LIA back on stage! This comeback follows ITZY’s 8th mini-album, BORN TO BE, and the single UNTOUCHABLE.

GOLD‘s powerfulness stands out to me. The opening kicks us off with an intro that just grabs your attention. It’s not perfect, as I keep thinking the vocals sound a little slurred during this part. But it definitely pulls you in. Moving onto the chorus, the clashing cymbals accompanying the hefty and prolific beat make it robust and hard to miss. It contributes to a bombastic result, and I appreciate that side of GOLD. However, all this power also acts as a double-edged sword. The powerfulness of the chorus and intro dominates GOLD, with the last remnants of the “It’s like gold” hook lingering faintly in the background (and that is only if I really pay attention). The rest of the chorus feels minute in comparison, and the verses are just forgotten. Listening closely, the hip-hop influence in GOLD is adequately maintained, even though the members’ delivery was lacklustre past the intro. The electric guitar strings were an interesting percussive element in GOLD, but the energy of the song’s central piece drowned its presence in both verse and chorus. The instrumental break was empty and stripped everything bold. Overall, I am genuinely perplexed with how GOLD weighs itself down and wish it was more balanced for better enjoyment.

It would help if the lyrics made sense. They probably do in Korean (given it is a Korean song), but the English translation feels like a hodgepodge of words strung together to say something. Based on the music video, I guess the members liken themselves to gold in the lyrics, as well as everyone else. Hence, at the end of the video, gold eggs are found in the place of the members and all the other people in the background. Aside from that interpretation, I did like how the music video embraced that bombastic side of the song. There were explosions, dramatic light shows, and even cracks opening on the ground. The CGI and practical effects were cool, even if the other elements felt random.

GOLD sounds better on stage, at least the one I watched to see the choreography for this comeback. There is a lot of head-banging and swinging arms in this one. But while it sounds like there is a lot of freestyling, the routine is still quite sharp and well-synchronised. I also quite like the configuration of the song’s intro. Also, the members look like they are having fun with this routine, even though it looks exhausting.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.4/10

[Review] MEOW – MEOVV

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

Over a month ago, MEOVV made their debut with the single MEOW. The five-member female group is the first under THEBLACKLABEL, a label founded by YG Producers Teddy and Kush. Their lineup comprises Sooin, Gawon, Anna, Narin, and Ella. THEBLACKLABEL is also currently home to TAEYANG, JEON SOMI and BLACKPINK’s Rosé (who will be making her long-awaited solo comeback in December).

To be honest, my initial impression of MEOW wasn’t great. A month after its release, I am not yet convinced that MEOVV is the next big thing in KPOP based on MEOW. I recognise some potential behind the group and the song, but neither has won me over nor really put the group on my radar other than that they are attached to one of the Big 4 entertainment companies. Let’s focus on the positives. I have come around to the vocals. When MEOW does give us some melodies, SOOIN and ELLA pull it off well. Something a little more vibrant could have helped MEOW be more appealing (more on this in a second), and I think these vocals, through the melodies, could have been the best conduit for that. I can sense the edginess behind the choruses and the heavy hip-hop influence, and I believe MEOVV could take this to higher levels with the right song. The flute-like instrumental at the end of the song was a great addition and gave the song a little something different to end off the song. The biggest problem with MEOW, for me, is its heaviness. From MEOW‘s main refrain to the serious tone the members exude, it is pretty suffocating. This ultimately served as a barrier for me to get into the song. As mentioned before, the song needed some vibrancy to it. We don’t need much that disrupts the edginess that the group has going for them. But we needed something to balance out MEOW, at least to have it appear in my books.

When I see the music video, I cannot help but think it is a YG video that has been gutted. The quality is there, just like any other YG-produced music video. But many elements that usually make you go wow in a YG video are missing. Instead, MEOW‘s music video attempts to be minimalistic. That can be an aesthetic when done right, but I don’t think it was achieved here. It just feels empty. Instead, the video relies on the members to fill up the space. I like the edgy vibe the members exude through their outfits and demeanour. But it just wasn’t enough. The scenes where the members dance with the Big Foots were a bit fun.

The choreography for MEOVV’s debut was quite powerful and aggressive, making for a compelling case for the group. I did not expect the performance to be as aggressive for some reason, but I guess it makes sense, given the group’s roots and the hip-hop influence on them. That whole dance break at the end of the routine is very worthwhile to watch.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7/10

[Review] LOVE, MONEY & FAME – SEVENTEEN ft. DJ Khaled

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

Kicking off the week was SEVENTEEN, who returns with their 13th mini-album SPILL THE FEELS and the title track LOVE, MONEY & FAME (ft. DJ Khaled). We last heard from SEVENTEEN through their 17 IS RIGHT HERE compilation album, led by the single MAESTRO and supplemented by the unit tracks LALALI (Hip-Hop team), Spell (Performance team) and Cheers To Youth (Vocal team). While the mini-album features JEONGHAN and JUN, both are sitting out of promotions of LOVE, MONEY & FAME and their upcoming world tour due to their military enlistment and acting career in China, respectively.

Pleasant was the first impression I had when I listened to LOVE, MONEY & FAME. And since its release two days ago, that impression has barely shifted. It definitely sounds nice and is an easy listen. The song is more vocal-focused than most of their other title tracks, with only VERNON delivering LOVE, MONEY & FAME‘s lone rap sequence. The melodies are enjoyable. The R&B and hip-hop-styled instrumental feels streamlined and sometimes feels dry. Beyond that, I don’t have much to say about LOVE, MONEY & FAME. This is the first time I have been left with little to say about a SEVENTEEN comeback, which feels disappointing. We all know that SEVENTEEN can do so much more, so LOVE, MONEY & FAME feels underwhelming. As you can tell from the song title, LOVE, MONEY & FAME also features DJ Khaled. It has been a while since I have heard his music. While he did come together with SEVENTEEN to make a pleasant song, his line at the start and end of the song was harsh relative to the rest of LOVE, MONEY & FAME, which truthfully started LOVE, MONEY, & FAME on a not-so-good note for me. I wished it wasn’t as full-on in the final product so that it goes with the rest of the song.

LOVE, MONEY & FAME conveys that love comes first, no matter the other options (like money and fame). The video depicts the members putting love first, no matter the circumstance. It could be a car crash or pile-up, an evacuation on a plane, a daytime robbery, or even bouts of fame as depicted in THE8’s heroic scene, WOOZI’s phone call on an interview show, or by JUN walking away from the glamorous lifestyle. All the members choose love in the end. I quite like the montage at the end of the staircase – it gives off maturity in a way that doesn’t overdo it. The members also look quite good in those scenes.

The choreography was good. I liked how the routine captured the easy-going nature of the song and the R&B and hip-hop influence. It also had a nice bounce. It does feel simpler and more casual than usual, but I think these are inherent characteristics that the routine had to lean into due to the music. But it was still a good performance nonetheless.

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

[Review] NVKED – AB6IX

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

I have been so busy with work (and recovering from the overwhelming work) that I completely missed the news that AB6IX (amongst other artists) was making a comeback. During the past week, the four-member boy group returned with the single NVKED and their 9th mini-album, BORN LIKE THIS. It follows their GRAB ME and The Future is Ours: Found mini-album and a special mini-album consisting of the latest batch of the group’s solo tracks from their recent world tour.

NVKED is probably the most unexpected song title for a KPOP group. I was surprised to see it on my YouTube subscription page with the group’s name attached. But rather than being nude, NVKED is a song about being confident and open. But there is more to NVKED than the surprising title. I like the music because of how simplistic yet simultaneously fun and upbeat it is. Funky instrumentation sets up the song to be quite entertaining and energetic. Nothing too complicated here, which helps NVKED achieve its straightforward and easygoing vibe, as already mentioned. The members cleanly deliver NVKED with their vocals and rapping. I particularly enjoyed the falsettos in the chorus, which effortlessly adds complexity to the straightforward pop song. The simplicity of the hooks helps make this part of NVKED stand out even further. The vocals in the bridge from all the members were another part of NVKED that I put on repeat. Overall, NVKED is a well-rounded track that is a great listen when you want something more energetic but not something too loud.

Like the song, the video does not feature nudity. Instead, it looks like the members are preparing for a party—choosing an outfit, decorating the place, and then partying it up with alcohol and friends. There really isn’t much else to the video, which does make it a bit bland. They could have done a bit more with the premise of the video, like have the member do something exciting in the lead-up to the party (other than reading the newspaper) or give the party some more flair (rather than have it look so basic).

I really enjoyed this performance. I like how it embraces the funky and upbeat nature of the song and makes the routine look like a blast. Everything felt lively, fun, and more, from the choruses to the ending. Their live vocals throughout the performance are super stable, considering the routine, which highlights their performance abilities.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.1/10

[Review] NEMONEMO – YENA

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

YENA returned to the stage just under two weeks ago with NEMONEMO. It is her first Korean comeback since January’s Good Morning. She also released new music in Japan.

NEMONEMO cannot have come around at a more perfect time. I have been pretty run down the last couple of weeks because of work. However, one of the things that has helped increase my energy levels has been NEMONEMO. The dopamine hit NEMONEMO delivers and the hyper energy from the fast-paced instrumental really impacted me as the listener, especially when the song unexpectedly popped up on the queue. The overly bright synths and the cutesy energy YENA packs into the song also help. Interestingly, this combination should have made NEMONEMO feel artificial and excessive, and I would generally avoid this type of song (with the usual exception or two). But there is something about YENA that somehow makes NEMONEMO okay and standable. It could be that this is YENA’s style, and I know I should expect that. It could also be how YENA still makes it feel like a substantial song. The bridge brought a nice infusion of vocals into the mix, and the verses felt similar. The choruses were fun, and NEMONEMO‘s hook was addictive. My main concern with NEMONEMO is actually its repetitiveness. I can see myself getting tired of the song quite quickly if it were on repeat, which is why I have gone out of my way not to have it on repeat. But for now, listening to NEMONEMO has been a blast.

NEMONEMO compares love to a square. Falling in love should be akin to something warm, fuzzy, and soft. However, YENA has difficulties appealing to her to-be boyfriend, so she describes their love as more like a crooked square. Squares are more rigid and so don’t fit the descriptors above. Plus, a crooked square is nowhere near perfect. In the video, he is more occupied with his phone while she tries to get his attention. He also makes her jealous by meeting other people and is too popular to notice her. So, she hatches a plan to get his attention by kicking a ball (or a cube in the video) into him. As he is rushed to the ambulance, she runs after him and worries about him, which makes him notice her in the moment and fall in love with her. At the end of the video, the guy is revealed to be Park Myungsoo. Overall, cute video.

Just like the rest of the comeback, the choreography is cute. YENA looks the part, too! The square is also present throughout the performance, and some rigid moves resemble a square’s qualities. Also, the fan chants for this comeback were insane.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Cheers To Youth – SEVENTEEN’s Vocal Team

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

I am finally finishing reviewing the newer songs from SEVENTEEN’s 17 is Right Here compilation album. Last up on the list is SEVENTEEN’s vocal team’s Cheers To Youth. Previously, I reviewed the album’s main title track MAESTRO, the Hip-Hop team’s LALALI and the Performance team’s Spell singles. As it is a compilation album, the rest of the two-disc album consists of the Korean versions of all their Japanese singles and every Korean title track released over their careers thus far. And finally, getting around to reviewing the new songs off the album is timely since the group is gearing up for their next comeback ON MONDAY! So more SEVENTEEN to come!

Cheers To Youth delves into the J-Rock genre with a wholesome message that everything will be okay. I really enjoyed this single a lot. There are a few great moments in Cheers To Youth that I must point out. The upbeat instrumentation is definitely the song’s strongest asset. Still, I particularly love the funky direction that bridges the soft piano opening of the song and the launch into the J-Rock genre. It was an entertaining sequence and really lifted up the song. JOSHUA’s part in the second verse when the electric guitar steps up was another moment I found myself gravitating towards repeatedly. The “My, my, my” that follows the second chorus (noting the first chorus occurred during the intro) was also another moment that I found so soothing and peaceful. Elsewhere in Cheers To Youth, I found the vocals, melodies and choruses to be extremely comforting and uplifting, which suits the song’s message mentioned earlier. Overall, Cheers To Youth is a lovely song with a positive message to reflect on.

The video features the five members facing their own internal struggles with themselves. WOOZI has social anxiety that prevents him from going outside, DK is a student in a pressurised education system who is worried about underperforming, JOSHUA is an office worker who is constantly on the lookout, SEUNGKWAN struggles with loneliness, and JEONGHAN worries that he isn’t enough and that there is always something wrong with him that needs fixing (taken from ichsanjulian-ed4so’s YouTube comment). But together, they join the Tiny Issue club, where they can speak to their internal struggles and help each other through them. With each other, WOOZI goes outside, DK is awarded for his academic successes, JOSHUA is praised by his co-workers, JEONGHAN feels better about himself, and SEUNGKWAN (along with the rest of the team) gains life-long friendships with one another. At the end of the video, the club invites a sixth member, a tiger, representative of fellow member HOSHI, whom the song was inspired by.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] I Like The Way – KIM WOOJIN

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

It took KIM WOOJIN just about two years to make his solo comeback between his debut with Ready Now and Still Dream in 2021 and his first comeback with On My Way last year. For his second comeback earlier this year with I Like The Way, it took him only eight months to return. Today, I will finally review I Like The Way, the lead single off his 3rd mini-album of the same name.

It has taken me many months to finally write a review for I Like The Way, which might indicate my thoughts on the song. But don’t—I actually do like I Like The Way. I didn’t pay much attention to the track when it was first released. But there is something about the unfiltered groove in I Like The Way. Once it caught my attention, I couldn’t get enough of it, and it stuck around. The bass and beat in this song were excellent, and the guitar work was fantastic. There wasn’t anything meddling with the instrumentation, which made it feel simple and such an attractive element of I Like The Way. As for KIM WOOJIN’s vocals were consistently well-executed and sounded very fresh, even 6 months after the song’s release. The way KIM WOOJIN accompanies the instrumental in the verses was my favourite part and my pick for the most memorable moment of the song. The melodies and hooks were also catchy and added more to the addictiveness side of the track. My only wish for I Like The Way was the ad-libs were punchier. Some of the ones we got in the song felt a little forced and unnatural.

In the lyrics of I Like The Way, KIM WOOJIN sings about how certain people drive him to do better and prove his worth. It is a bit ambiguous as to who he is referring to. It could be the fans, which is a natural choice of persons for the song to be about. However, based on what is depicted in the music video, the people in masks represent the haters and try to get to him to hold him back. They have surrounded him with cameras, whispering in his ear, smashing his car or chasing after him. But throughout the video, he out-manoeuvres them and does everything he can to hold them back so he can get back on stage.

The choreography looks good. KIM WOOJIN shows off his performance skills quite well in this routine. His live vocals are stable, which is a definite highlight of the performance. I don’t have much else to say about it, but I like it when the choreography becomes more intense.

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

[Review] Spell – SEVENTEEN’s Performance Team

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 2 Comments

Two weeks ago, I started reviewing SEVENTEEN’s unit singles from their compilation album, 17 is RIGHT HERE, released in April of this year. I reviewed the Hip-Hop Team’s LALALI first. Today, I will review the Performance Team’s Spell. I will be back to review the Vocal Team’s Cheers of Youth later this week to be ready to review SEVENTEEN’s next comeback, which is happening in just over a week.

Spell is a sophisticated and elegant dreamy number. It is an interesting sound for the Performance Team, whom I associate with more intricate beats and heavier sounds that lend well to becoming a dance-centric performance track. But I am all for exploring different sounds, and Spell is a successful venture for the unit. The instrumental is soft, uniquely utilising percussion and Afrobeats to help create that dreamy aesthetic that we all feel from Spell. Also soft were the quartet’s vocals, which were superbly hazy and tranquil throughout Spell. Catchy hooks also help make the song even more appealing, even if some of it (the “Adila kiya akiya shurapoeh“) was a made-up language for the song. While listening to the song previously, there were times when I felt the members’ vocals took me away, just like you expect a good dream would do. But while the dreamy motif was a constant throughout Spell, I liked it when their vocals tapped into their lower and deeper registers. It was a good and subtle move from the producers to ensure Spell didn’t stay consistent, which could have been a real danger for this song. From how I heard it, they managed to just do enough to stop Spell from feeling dull and like it didn’t go anywhere. But I do think there is room in the song to do more. Nonetheless, Spell is a very different and unexpected direction for the Performance Team. But one that does pay off.

That dreamy aesthetic is carried over into the music video. The video features a tarot card concept, with the members each being a character on a card (see the featured image for this post)—THE8 being The Heart, HOSHI being The Wings, DINO being The Arrow, and JUN being The Apollo. The outdoor scenes, the sets, the outfits, and the makeup donned by the four members all have this dreaminess that puts you in awe and captivates your attention, just like the song does. Definitely a stunning video and one I recommend you check out down below.

As this is a Performance Team track, a choreography is attached. To match the song, it is smooth and features many soft movements. The Performance Team also adds sexiness to the routine, which just works wonderfully with the song. You can hear the fans go wild during these moments in the stage performance SEVENTEEN has uploaded for our viewing pleasure. But the choreography isn’t the only element to take away from the performance. Their smouldering looks and alluring vibe must also be mentioned and highlighted. It is a big part of the routine and highlights the members’ charisma and charm.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.1/10