Category: Reviews

[Review] Countdown – TWS:

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

TWS: is back with a new single titled Countdown, which comes off their 3rd mini-album, Try With Us. Both song and mini-album officially dropped this past Monday. This release is TWS:’ first major release since 2024, which saw TWS: debut with the highly successful plot twist and return with the equally successful If I’m S, Can You Be My N? and Last Festival.

Countdown very much continues the group’s ‘boyhood pop’ sound that they debuted with. The new song reminded me of plot twist from the first listen, both instrumentally, melodies and brightness wise. There are a few elements that differentiate it from their debut song, namely the deep “ba-bum” that follows some of the second and final choruses and the more intense rapping in the second verse. The former was quite intriguing yet fun, while the latter definitely helps ground the song. I also like how they prolonged the ending by splitting the final line into three parts. It makes the ending of Countdown feel like it offers up a little bit more. I would have appreciated other different elements to help give Countdown its own individuality would have been appreciated, simply because Countdown is very much familiar territory for TWS: and, dare I say, plays it safe. For example, the instrumental shares a similar foundation to plot twist. And their vocal style felt like it was lifted from the earlier song, which raises the “I wished there was more opportunity for the members to shine” comment I made in that review. That being said, Countdown hits the right spot in terms of energy and brightness, making it an ideal release to take us to the more energetic and vibrant summer sounds.

The members wonder what being an adult feels like in the music video, as they move on from their high school days in their previous music videos and into their young adult era. Plot twist – pun fully intended – being an adult isn’t all crack up to be with work, decision making and responsibilities. Just in case TWS: was looking for an answer hahaha…. There are a few different scenes in the video which all adults have experienced in some form, such as moving into your own place, the failed meals and the helplessness of a car breaking down (and your parents/guardians not around as a safety net). I liked the casual wear, which is a nice change up from the school uniform that they previously wore throughout 2024.

The choreography alongside this release is another TWS: routine that impresses. They always manage to make their dances appear fun, despite being super intense and energetic. The moves right after the intro definitely left a mark in my mind, as did the twist and turn in the first pre-choruses and the jumps during the choruses (just to name a few examples of the standout moments).

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Wait On Me – KAI (EXO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

After teasing us with Adult Swim and Walls Don’t Talk, KAI (from EXO) has officially made his first solo comeback since his military enlistment in 2023. The new single, titled Wait On Me, is from his 4th mini-album of the same name. As mentioned previously, his last solo comeback was with Rover in 2023.

Wait On Me continues the subdued nature of the tracks from the mini-album that KAI has unveiled so far. But one of the biggest changes he makes to this sound profile with Wait On Me is his (usual) sexy motif, which makes the new single more alluring. ‘Alluring’ is the exact word I would use to describe his delivery throughout the song. His vocals sound so airy and dreamy throughout Wait On Me, especially as we get to the choruses. This is Wait On Me‘s stand-out element in my mind. His rapping adds some oomph and intensity to the song, giving it some much-needed variety. Otherwise, Wait On Me would have slipped into that neutral gear. Instrumentally, Wait On Me contains a mix of atmospheric synth work and heavy Afrobeats with some groove on the side. They blend together in the bridge to create a really cool instrumental break that doesn’t break the flow or disrupt the song. And like the rapping, I appreciated the intensity this part gives to the song. Unfortunately, Wait On Me falters when it comes to the hooks and melodies department. I think there is a melody in there, but the delivery was so wispy that it was hard to really detect and hear. But the hook was nowhere near strong enough for my liking.

Just like the song, the music video for Wait On Me is just as alluring, and KAI is absolutely sexy throughout the video, just like always. After all, is it a KAI music video without his abs making an appearance? Also (since I am already asking questions), did anyone feel like the silver top he wore at the start reminded them of EXO’s debut era? Anyhow, I liked the use of depth throughout the video, with KAI standing/dancing in the foreground and the dancers in the background. It is a different type of framing that looks cool. The hazy brown colour palette was an interesting choice, but it works well overall.

Choreography-wise, KAI impresses once again with the artistic flair the routine had. It made for a very captivating experience and is easily one of the best solo routines of the year thus far. He pulls it all off so well and charismatically, as well. I really liked the sharp movements that make up the chorus section of the routine. He and the dancers also put so much oomph into the dance break – that was by far the performance’s best section.

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

[Review] poppop – NCT WISH

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

Continuing with the supposed SM Entertainment theme is my review of poppop, NCT WISH’s latest single from their new mini-album of the same name. It follows after Dunkshot and Steady from their 1st mini-album, Steady (all of which I have yet to review).

I found poppop to be an okay song. There were aspects that I didn’t enjoy, while there were parts that I liked. The chorus appears to be the most decisive part of poppop, and I completely get why. Launching right into rapping was very unexpected, and the vocal processing applied to the members’ shouty rapping voices in the chorus made the centrepiece feel obnoxious. But this choice of vocal processing was more widespread than just in the chorus, and made most of the other rapping sequences throughout poppop feel subpar. But not all rapping in poppop was disappointing. I don’t feel the same way about poppop‘s final chorus, where all the members do their shouty rap to close out the song. This part felt dynamic, and the vocal processing was less prominent than in earlier parts. I also liked the monotonous “pop, pop, pop” hook in the song, which followed the choruses. This just added a slight deep tone to the song, which offset the bright and bubbly tone of the rest of poppop. The vocal parts in the song were also a strong aspect, but better melodies would have enhanced the song’s quality. And while not as affected, they didn’t escape the vocal processing mentioned, and certain parts still sounded off.

The music video shows SION making a move on someone he has a crush on via message. However, after spending time with the other members of his group, he is almost late for the date. He makes it in time, with the other members running after him and wishing him luck. It’s a cute video, and NCT WISH does a good job of showcasing their youthful charm in the video. Talking about charms, the bubbly charms that appear throughout the video, and to SION once he gets confirmation that the other person is interested, contributed to the cuteness aspect of the music video. Though the scene associated with the second half of the bridge took an odd turn, with what I can assume was (but probably isn’t) the members sacrificing one of the charms for a successful date.

The performance for this comeback was quite good. Again, I enjoyed the “pop, pop, pop” move that accompanies the song’s hook, and I also liked the routine that closed out the song. The end is where the routine really picks up and really puts NCT WISH’s skills and talents on par with the rest of NCT for me.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 7.6/10

[Review] Walls Don’t Talk – KAI (EXO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, KAI teased his long-awaited return to the stage since Rover and his military enlistment with the single Adult Swim. There are only a couple more sleeps until KAI releases his 4th mini-album, Wait On Me. But ahead of that, KAI unexpectedly dropped another music video for another side track, Walls Don’t Talk, from the new mini-album on Tuesday.

Similar comments regarding Adult Swim can be transferred to Walls Don’t Talk. But I think Walls Don’t Talk has a slight edge over the former song. The minimalistic sound profile that Walls Don’t Talk goes for creates a seamless number. The song’s more consistent and tighter beats made it feel punchy, but I would have loved to hear more in the instrumentation. Repeat listens of Walls Don’t Talk have made, once again, the song’s instrumental feel very linear and neutral. Actually, I might even go to the extent of saying repeated listens have been ‘drying out’ the song for me. There have been a lot of songs with similar effects recently, so Walls Don’t Talk needed something fresh and different for it to stand out. The variety in Walls Don’t Talk actually comes through KAI’s delivery. He showcases nice vocals throughout Walls Don’t Talk, but I liked his rapping and spoken moments more in this song. It added a different tone to the song, which helped it feel a little more engaging.

For a while, I thought Walls Don’t Talk was the actual title track from the upcoming mini-album. I have since realised I was wrong, but this misinformed thought has influenced my perception of the music video. Essentially, I am trying to soften the fact that I still find the home video style the music video goes for disappointing. I have praised this motif previously, but it didn’t feel appropriate for a title track, as that is what I thought Walls Don’t Talk was at the time. It also generally looked incredibly low-budget for SM Entertainment standards. The only element that impressed me was KAI himself, who looked amazingly sexy in a tropical place in Japan.

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

[Review] Baby, Not Baby – SEULGI (Red Velvet)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

For some reason, in my mind, I have been reviewing just only SM Entertainment releases. That isn’t true, but I will be continuing this mindset with more SM Entertainment releases from the last couple of weeks to still review. One of them is SEULGI’s long-awaited solo return with Baby, Not Baby, the title track off her 2nd mini-album, Accidentally on Purpose. Her last solo release occurred in 2023, where she debuted with 28 Reasons (title of both her solo debut mini-album and debut single).

Baby, Not Baby is a cool song. It has a complete different aesthetic and sound to SEULGI’s debut single, showcasing variety in her discography and confidence in doing something different. Baby, Not Baby is a pop dance track, with a blend of orchestral and rock elements that come together to give the song a groovy and funky sound profile. I like the boldness that comes from the instrumental, especially when the orchestral elements give off a dramatic flair. This complements well with SEULGI’s sassy and attitude-heavy delivery style. Altogether, Baby, Not Baby has so much oomph and character. In addition to be sassy and attitude heavy, SEULGI manages to infuse a lot of charisma into her vocals, which just makes Baby, Not Baby‘s hooks very appealing and catchy. Personally, I was searching for a rap sequence of some kind, perhaps someone featuring in the song who could have given Baby, Not Baby more edge and heightened that sassiness mentioned earlier. While I did like the vocal-forward approach of the song and SEULGI does slip into a rapping motif at time (although briefly), I just felt that was a missing piece of the puzzle that is Baby, Not Baby.

The song itself is about how someone may appear innocent and pure to their lover, but they might not be in reality. The music video portrays SEULGI doing something innocent and cute, but then she switches it up to show her wild side soon after. For example, at the start of the video, she appears injured and about to be hit by a car. But she ends up smashing the car to get someones attention. In the next scene, she gives out free hugs to people in the mall, but no one wants one. She throws a fit, but uses that to capture the ‘perfect selfie’ and disregards everyone around her. We see her smash up a shop soon after. Overall, SEULGI’s acting was pretty good and I enjoyed watching the bold nature of the music video. The video did well in bringing that edgy factor that I wanted in the song to life in a visual manner.

I liked how engaging the performance from multiple standpoints. SEULGI showed off a very confident and sassy vibe that made the focus on her more exciting. I liked how the dancers added to the stage presence of the performance. And the moves showed off a mature and sexy vibe, without it going into that stereotypical domain of showing skin or looking explicit.

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

[Review] STUNNER – TEN (NCT)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

Last month, TEN (from NCT and WayV) returned to the stage with his second solo mini-album and title track of the same name, STUNNER. It is his first solo release since his official solo debut last year with Nightwalker (which I never got around to reviewing) and, the mini-album, TEN.

STUNNER is a great R&B pop number that shows off TEN’s mature vibe. The latter is definitely the track’s strongest asset, and the producers definitely took great advantage of this. His vocals and rapping were really nicely done. In addition, I liked the groovy sound profile that comes with STUNNER, which is another reason I found the track to be quite appealing. This just melds so well into the R&B pop genre and TEN’s style. But as the song progressed, I would have liked a little more to the instrumentation. By the time we got to the end of STUNNER, the instrumental sounded the same as everything that proceeded before we got to that bit and felt neutrally geared. Given this is TEN, a likely solution could have been the incorporation of an edgy instrumental break that keeps to the R&B motif, which then could have doubled as a dance break. But where STUNNER felt stagnant, certain parts of the song made up for it. The start of the pre-choruses, when the vocal lines were packed in, were an instantaneous highlight that caught my attention from the first listen. The simply spoken repetition of the song’s title in the post-chorus hook was also super catchy. Overall, STUNNER falls slightly short of being a stunner, but definitely had the potential to reach that status.

The music video sees TEN play a man with a magnetic charm that no one can resist. Everywhere he goes, the people around him are physically drawn to him. Even in the inanimate objects in his home have a hard time copying with his magnetic charming and are also drawn to him. It was quite a cool concept. But while the concept was cool, I did think the visuals could have been a little more complementary to the sound profile of the song. Mature yes, but I felt the music video really understated the groovy nature of STUNNER.

Through his stage performances for STUNNER, I could see TEN’s stage presence and chemistry with his dancers. This made for a strong and captivating performance, which is already powerful thanks to the defined body waves and sharp movements that make up the routine.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

[Review] Check Pattern – SUNGJIN (DAY6)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

Due to my poor time management, I have yet to review a few 2024 releases. One of them is SUNGJIN’s (from DAY6) solo debut with Check Pattern and the studio album 30. Today, I am finally reviewing Check Pattern, which will make things much easier when reviewing 30.

Check Pattern is a stunning rock ballad. I remember it being so captivating when I first checked it out upon its release, and it remains captivating even to this day. There are a few reasons for this. The flow of the song is one of these reasons. I love a song that can really hold my attention, and Check Pattern does it well. The moment I find myself captivated by the rest of the song, the flow pulls me along. I love how the pre-choruses deliberately still the song slightly before returning to the chorus. This gives Check Pattern some natural rhythm that helps it become a neutral piece. Another reason for Check Pattern’s captivating appeal is SUNGJIN himself. The hoarseness of his vocals just gives Check Pattern some emotional impact and tone. There is also a warmth to his vocals that I find very comforting. But the main reason I am so captivated by Check Pattern is its lyrics. It speaks to the emotions of meeting and separating from the person we are meant to be with for various reasons in life and the hope of meeting each other again one day. This was very thought-provoking, as it made me think about my experiences.

This is my attempt to explain the music video, as the idea is a little abstract and hard to explain in words. I might not have it 100% right, so I do recommend you watch this equally stunning and captivating music video to make sense of it. It shows SUNGJIN as a director, bringing a play that depicts the song’s lyrics to life. The play shows the audience (including us) the abovementioned emotions from many walks of life. Essentially, one person is in one season/location and the other in a different season/location. There is an idea that both know each other and want to meet but just can’t because they are in different times, places, or circumstances. They come close to meeting on some occasions (depicted by the hands reaching out). But they just can’t get there (as shown by the hands close to touching). However, like how the song speaks to the wish or idea of meeting the other person again, the play shows a happy ending where the individuals meet and be with one another. I love how this story was drawn from people’s experiences that they wrote down for SUNGJIN (as shown at the start of the video).

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

[Review] 1999 – MARK (NCT)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 2 Comments

SM Entertainment has been teasing MARK’s solo debut album since what felt like forever. The album was announced in May 2024, with the intentions to release the album in February 2025. But it was later announced that the album would be delayed to April 2025 to “ensure a better quality”. Since the announcement last year, MARK released three singles – 200, Fraktsiya ft. LEE YOUNG JI and +82 Pressin’ ft. HAECHAN. All these singles are included on MARK’s debut studio album, The Firstfruit, which is led by the single 1999.

MARK’s 1999 (and the rest of the album) has been out since Monday. But don’t take the time it has taken me to write this review as an indicator towards my thoughts on 1999. I have been really enjoying 1999 since my first listen. The fantastic blend of grand orchestra, funky guitar, brass sounds and whistling with the modern soft beats drew my attention from the get-go. It sounds like there is a lot going on in the background, but they all came together to create such a cool and unique instrumental backing. MARK impresses with his vocals in 1999. The melodies that come through during the chorus helps make 1999 smooth and velvety, overall. This gives 1999 a very unique style and I just love that. The chorus ends up being such a strong drawing point of the song, for me, thanks to the catchy repetition hook ‘99 yeah 99‘. I would gladly replay the song to just listen to the chorus. His rapping in 1999 is great, though it isn’t as memorable as compared to the vocal work. Even his rap-speak motif was more memorable than his actual rapping sequences. The end of 1999 is also a rather weak moment of the song. I do like how it attempts to give 1999 its last hurrah and close out the song in an a dynamic and energetic manner, but I felt the rapping here and instrumentation was a little muddled. Had 1999 closed out with a stronger, bolder and satisfying end and MARK’s raps were memorable throughout the song to the same level as his vocals were, 1999 would have been the near-perfect song.

My best guess of what is going on in the music video involves MARK traveling back in time to 1999 when it all started for him (i.e., his birth year). I am assuming he goes back to show the world what they are currently have to offer. And he brings all of his music (including his own debut studio album) to help him make his mark. I like the different MARKs we see in the video, from the time traveling MARK who is the main show, 1999 VJ MARK who helps spreads the news, and Fraktisya MARK who is flying the UFO/hockey puck. I also like the little inclusion of Canada MARK and New York MARK, which speaks to his birth country and childhood.

The blend of different instruments lends well to an interesting performance piece. I like the start of the routine, with the dancers emerging from behind MARK in a contemporary fashion. The chorus routine looked very cool. I liked how clean the execution was, and I am digging the “99 yeah 99” move (especially when it involves moving around the stage, as it just depicts the smoothness so well). I am also impressed with the footwork involved, particularly during the final sequence of 1999.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10

[Review] BREATHE – xikers

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

The last time we heard from xikers was through their WITCH era from their House of Tricky: Watch Out mini-album. A review for WITCH is long overdue, as is the mini-album. But that is not why we are here today. This past week, xikers released their 5th mini-album, House of Tricky: Spur, with the lead single BREATHE. As you can tell by the title of this post, that is today’s focus.

I might have a theory as to why I haven’t gotten around to writing a review for WITCH just yet (aside from time being a factor). BREATHE seems to confirm this theory – xikers’ output hasn’t been the same as in their earlier days. BREATHE is a loud and textural hip-hop dance track. While crunchy, it lacks personality, something xikers’s music featured a lot of in their debut year. Instead, I find it now just feels like any other song from a male group. BREATHE‘s instrumental conforms similarly. I did like the boisterous instrumental break we get in the bridge. Some of xikers’ rapping in BREATHE is powerful and prolific. But for some of the other rappers and the entirety of the vocal line, I don’t even remember anything from them. The repetitive ‘Breathe, Breathe‘ chant also doesn’t do much for me. Overall, BREATHE is not xikers’ best foot forward, especially since we know what they are capable of.

The music video opens with a scene showing HUNTER becoming possessed by the other members, passing on their fiery charisma. From then on, everyone is literally on fire (a visual representation of that fiery charisma). We see some members developing superpowers and being on fire (which might explain why SEEUN is holding a BBQ lamb chop). Set-wise, I think the exhaust set looked cool. The plain green background also looked good, especially with the black outfits – a classic pairing.

The accompanying choreography for this comeback looks super cool. I liked the intensity and robust nature of the choreography. With the energy going into it and how it never let up, the routine looked like a workout. My favourite bit has to be the dance break we get in the bridge, serving as the peak of the entire routine.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

[Review] BEBE – STAYC

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

STAYC returned a few weeks ago with their 6th single album S, and the new single BEBE. Today, I am getting around to writing a review for it. This is STAYC’s first release since GPT in October of last year.

BEBE is a strong track from STAYC. It is probably their most serious and mature-sounding title track yet. Their delivery of BEBE has so much attitude and sassiness, which is a whole new side to the group (for me, at least). I like the sing/rap-talk style the members use throughout the track. It helped make BEBE feel jam-packed and loaded, driving the song forward. This is further heightened by BEBE‘s instrumental, which carries a bold and prolific club vibe with so much oomph and style. I also like how the instrumentation doesn’t hold back or get in the way of the members. The hooks made BEBE catchy, and so I have been constantly revisiting BEBE since its release. Everything in BEBE melded together really well, creating a very cohesive track. I am a bit uncertain about the end, which to me felt abrupt. But at the same time, I am unsure if they could have ended it another way to maintain the bold nature of BEBE.

You will notice a consistent theme of me liking everything in the music video. I like how a part of the video shows the members strutting the stage in their outfits. It just fits the vibes of the song so well. I also enjoyed how the footage revolves around fashion, and the members looked fantastic. The sets were simplistic, allowing the focus to be on the members. I liked the framing over ISA and YOON’s lines in the first choruses and the whole magazine-like filter applied to J’s opening line at the start of the second verse (probably my favourite bit of the entire video). Everything was very cool.

I liked the stomping move they do at the start of the choruses. Something about that move and the flirty arm on the neck move got me. I thought better synchronisation between the members would have enhanced the overall performance. But what we got looks excellent!

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

[Review] WANT – SOLAR (MAMAMOO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 1 Comment

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)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 2 Comments

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)

Posted in Reviews, Western POPTagged , Leave a comment

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

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

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)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

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)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , Leave a comment

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