Category: Reviews

[Review] Lupin – Dongkiz

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

With no major release today, it is a great opportunity to pull another song from the ‘Coming Soon’ list to review. A lucky dip yielded Lupin by Dongkiz, which was released exactly one month ago on the 15th of March 2020. Interesting fact, I haven’t actually reviewed any songs from Dongkiz yet, even though I was planning to for their a release earlier this year. For those who may be unfamilar with Dongkiz, they are a five member male group under Dongyo Entertainment. Previous releases include Nom, Blockbuster, Fever and All I Need Is You.

From my understanding and limited exposure to Dongkiz’s past releases, the group has on delved into funky but bright sounds. Lupin follows the funky sound that the group has maintained, but gave it an edgy feel. And that funky description might be a little understatement. There is some funky guitar work in the song during the verses, along with some groovy and squeaky saxophone synths for the chorus. All coming together to create a really high energy and loaded song. The bit in between the verse and chorus was very interesting. Usually songs would buildup to the chorus, so that they can build up suspense for the drop. Lupin, does things a little differently. It still applies the same rules but this is very minor in comparison to the complete slow down that they went with. This, I found to be very unique and made the song rather cool in my books. Not only did this make the song sound memorable for me, but I thought the vocal melodies and instrumental hook were pretty addictive. I really like rough texture the rappers brought through their one-liners in the chorus. The vocals were very smooth and sounded very nice. Overall, Lupin attracts my attention to the group and I will definitely keep my eye out for them in the future.

I think the music video shows two sides of the group. The first is the more darker and badder versions of the group. They steal the jewelry in the art gallery. The second side is the investigative team that is tracking down the thieves. Moving away from the plot line, the music video actually looked good visually. I was concerned that since they were from a lesser known company, they would have a low budget style music video. But this actually had a fair amount of cool post-production work done on it. I mean the digital picture frames looked cool and the choreography shots were done in very stunning locations. The video was quite dark, so it was hard to focus on it at times. But overall, pretty decent.

The choreography was awesome. At first I thought they were actual walking canes that we would all associate with a much older generation. But they were actual magic sticks that could go back to be a simple piece of cloth. The members performed magic twice in one stage and I thought that was awesome. I also liked how they had to revert the cane back to the cloth, but incorporating it into the choreography.

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

[Review] Break All The Rules – CRAVITY

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

Over the last few years, Starship Entertainment has grown to be a highly successful label, with MONSTA X, Cosmic Girls (WJSN) and Jeong Sewoon each flourishing in their separate music careers. Today we observe the addition of a new group to that lineup. Cravity is a nine-member male group, consisting of Serim, Allen, Jungmo, Woobin, Wonjin, Minhee, Hyeongjun, Taeyoung and Seongmin. Some of the members may have familiar faces as four of the group members participated in Produce X 101, with Minhee and Hyeongjun going on to debuting as part of X1. However, X1’s music journey was short-lived after the recent voting scandal, which lead to the disbandment of X1 and the two Starship Entertainment members returned to their home company to rejoin their fellow trainees to debut under the name of CRAVITY.

Their debut song is titled Break All The Rules. It sadly doesn’t break any rules and plays fairly safe. It is a urban hip-hop track, one of the many subsets of the hip-hop genre, which has undeniably become the default genre of today’s KPOP music. They do manage to infuse some rock elements during some parts, gave a good rush of intensity in the song and added that funky synth to give the chorus a dynamic touch. But I wanted more. Something unique that sets this new group apart from the rest of the competition. Maybe they could have leveled up the intensity and dynamic nature of the instrumental by going with rougher synths that is loaded with impact. Like some of the songs that I have recently reviewed, I noticed that Break All The Rules had subpar hooks in this song was rather lacking. The chorus is slowly growing on me, but I don’t think it has that reach that they need to extend into the industry. What the group does well is on the vocal front. Great vocals and rapping from the group. It is a decent track. But I am not exactly sold on the group. Hopefully, their mini-album or next release can seal the deal for me.

What the song lacks is made up visually by the music video. Watching this video, it made the song feel more impactful and definitely boosted the song in terms of appeal. That is a sign of a fantastic music video. The cinematography and the lighting just blew me away. The sets, even though some were digitalised, looked amazing and very real. I also liked the minute use of colour in this video, which adds to the impact.

And what an intense performance. This group has the choreography chops down pat! It seems like it comes at the expense of their live vocals and rapping, as it was a little choppy in their debut showcase that they had today. But I don’t blame them. It is a powerful routine that I am 100% anyone would be breathless afterwards. I would have liked to some individual CRAVITY flair in the performance. But I was amazed nonetheless.

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

[Review] Dumhdurum – APINK

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 5 Comments

The first major comeback comes from a group that has been around for 9 years in the industry. Given that most groups end after seven years under their belt (or much less), this is definitely a grand feat. I am talking about APINK, one of the many groups that managed to make cutesy concept work in their early days (see Mr Chu and No No No, as examples) and have more recently reinvented their sound to be more mature (see I’m So Sick and %%). Today, the group returns with Dumhdurum, which features on the group’s ninth mini-album.

The instrumental of Dumhdurum has a very strong disco vibe. We all know that a retro tune, such as a disco number, can be very addictive and unique in this current environment of EDM and other modern electronic genres. And for the most part, APINK nails the track. The instrumental wasn’t exact replica of 70s disco. But it was subdued to fit in with the mature sound that the group has managed succeed in their last two comebacks (linked above) and gave off a strong modern profile. I really liked their dance break instrumental that was inserted into the chorus, which was probably the most exciting part of the song. It also brought a lively energy to the song. I also find that rap speaking line that ends the chorus to be rather dynamic. Altogether, it helped make the chorus become memorable and appealing. My only issue with the song was how boring the vocals were during the verses and bridge. Riding the high that the chorus provided, I don’t remember much of the verses or bridge, which is hugely disappointing. They could have changed it up with some vocal textures or small vocal details along the way. Something to really grab my attention, rather than have it all in neutral gear. ‘

A similar comment can be made regarding the music video of Dumhdurum. The choreography scenes were probably the most exciting sections of the video. There were some close ups showed off the visuals of each member alongside the choreography shots. But in the end, this resulted in the video feeling like that very typical close up and choreography combination we see so often (i.e. a boring default). The video was partly set on a train and I wondered what that was all about. I am guessing there is a storyline in the video that I have missed, based on their individual sets, which all look like there is some meaning behind them. The name Marcella appeared at the start and a Google search yielded nothing that could pinpoint to a storyline. Does anyone have any theories? Let me know below.

The choreography looks good. From what I see in the music video, it definitely looks very dynamic and powerful. That dance break section looks really promising. Can’t say much else unfortunately, as we are pretty much limited to the music video for now. But I am sure the same feelings would carry over into the live performances.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 6/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Call My Name – BLACK6IX

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged Leave a comment

With this long weekend, I plan on tackling some of the previous comebacks that I missed over the last few months. I know I have attempted to do that previously, but unfortunately failed to continue it during the week. With some times on my hand and this ongoing isolation, why not smash out some reviews! First up is BLACK6IX’s Call My Name, which is featured on the group’s second mini album, Nice To Meet You. It was released mid-February and promotions for this comeback is still ongoing.

I find it very interesting that the song opened up with the line ‘…Pay Attention, People will die starting from tonight, I am a man of my word‘. Because a little threat from the singers to enjoy the song always help. Hahahaha… Moving away from that awful joke, Call My Name is a powerful dance track that is filled with angst and intensity. The intensity builds up in the song, as per the robust rush of energy we got in the final chorus of the song. However, while I acknowledge these aspects of the song’s overall sound, the instrumental felt rather typical and didn’t offer much uniqueness. The mixture of vocals and rapping in this was pretty good. I liked how they didn’t stick to ‘separate’ sections in the song (i.e. a dedicated rapping block’ in the song). I thought them going back and forth with the vocal and rapping lines made Call My Name a little more dynamic. Also, that high note at the climax of the song was rather impressive. Overall, a decent track, overall.

I thought the music video was pretty good. I thought the background to this video was very cool. All those lights (I am assuming the video was shot in front of a white wall, with all these lights and visual effects being projected onto it) really made the video look visually appealing. The angst could be felt in the video through the use of the shaky camera work and their outfits. The only aspect I am not too sure is in regards to the playful side of the video. It didn’t look that fitting in this video with such an intense sound and thought that the video could have forgone this side of the group for this video. But other than that, it was still a great video to watch.

There seems to be a bit of body and shoulder rolling in this performance. I find the overall choreography to be very fitting for the song. The moves just don’t have that memorable factor to it. It is definitely an intense routine and surprised that the members could pull off a live performance, as it looked very tiring, especially that final chorus.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

[Review] Remember – Winner

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

One of the biggest hurdles that male groups/artists need to face in the KPOP industry is the mandatory military enlistment phase of their careers. This is essentially a two-year period away from the public eye. Winner is one of the many KPOP groups entering that phase right now, with Jinwu enlisting in the military just last week (and thus will not be part of the promotions for the group’s third studio album). Fittingly, the group’s comeback title track is titled Remember, as Winner has confirmed that they will focusing on solo activities after promotions for Remember end. More recently, Winner pre-released Hold a few weeks back in anticipation for their comeback.

Remember is undoubtedly an emotional track. When the song first started, I thought the group was going in the direction of their Empty debut. But instead, the song took a more ballad-like feel, very much different to what the group has ever attempted before. The song opens with a simple acoustic guitar backing. As the song slowly progressed, they added a little more to the instrumental, ranging from echos to drums to add some definition to the song. What did remain consistent throughout was the guitar, which I think made the song feel so much more sentimental. The second thing that is strong about this song are the vocals. I have never really gotten why Winner was nominated for their vocal performances in the past. I know they have really good voices. But I never really thought it was nomination-worthy. This song changes the perception. The instrumental can be described as a blank canvas (my analogy is back!). And their vocals, well, they paint a very touching and stirring picture on the canvas. Each member brings something different to the song and I really like that aspect in this song, as the group sings about not forgetting about them. Overall, a solid track.

The music video I thought was definitely very well shot. The member alone looked like they were experiencing the painful breakup that they can’t bring themselves to do (as they allude in the song’s lyrics). When the four members are together, however, they bring that sentimental feeling to the video. While the song’s lyrics were very emotional and tear-inducing to some, I do like how they weren’t just all sad or pained in the music video. There were smiles and laughter, which brings a bittersweet but reflective tone to the video. I also liked how they interlaced footage from their concert and survival show, WIN: Who Is Next?.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.4/10

[Review] Assa – CIGNATURE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

Also making their comeback this week is CIGNATURE. For those who many have missed the group’s debut with Nun Nu Nan Na, CIGNATURE is a seven-member female group under J9 Entertainment. This rookie group made their first comeback at the start of this week with their new single, Assa. The single is part of the group’s debut package, as this was teased to be their ‘debut lead single [B]’, with Nun Nu Nan Na being their ‘debut lead single [A]’. With this release style, we may be seeing more ‘debut lead singles’ in the future. Until then, this is my review for Assa.

The one aspect of Assa that really jumps out at me was its instrumental. The use of the low guitar bass tones and thumping drums in the instrumental managed to make it unique and different from what we constantly hear in the industry. The chorus has this very detectable but mildly plated level of funkiness to it, through use of that twinkling-like synth. There is also restrained buildup in the instrumental, which complimenting the use of subtlenesss in the rest of the song’s backdrop. The bridge and the final instrumental section adds a little flair to the song that keeps it from being overly consistent. Unfortuately, while I am praising the instrumental side of Assa the vocals do fall short of expectations. I am not saying that the whole package does. I was very satisifed with certain (but limited) sections of the vocal work including the opening line to the pre-chorus and the rapping, in general. We also get a glimpse of some strong vocals in the bridge that I definitely desired while listening to the song. But the verses were extremely plain. I also felt like the producers under-delivered the potential for some strong hooks in the song, with the plain and typical singing.

I find the music video to be good. The sets and their outfits look really cool. There is a fair amount of smiling in this girl crush concept, which I think makes it seem like one of those videos that crosses the cutesy concept and the girl crush concept, a pairing that I don’t understand or think go well with one another. I feel like the video could have toned those smiles and this would have been perceived as a stronger girl crush concept. But that is just my thoughts on the video, overall. But as of now, it is definitely a good visual compliment to the song.

The choreography looks so cool. The chorus definitely had some intensity and sleekness when the girls performed their hair pullback move. Their outfits (suits and the urban hip-hop gear) looks so fitting for the choreography, either way looks very appealing. The one thing I didn’t really like about the choreography was the need to add some cutesy moves into the performance. I think that this ruins the feel of the dance.

Song – 6.5/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 7.5/10
Overall Rating – 6.9/10

[Review] Oh My God – (G)I-DLE

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 4 Comments

(G)I-DLE ended 2019 with their attention-gathering appearance on Queendom, who showed the industry that the new ‘concept Queens’ are here. They also finished the year off by promoting their Queendom single, Lion. Interestingly, Lion was also the only single out of the 6 songs performed by the participants that later had a music video released alongside it. But enough of their 2019 promotions. We are currently in 2020 and the female group is now making us go ‘Oh My God‘ at their latest comeback, which was also released today. Their title track ‘Oh My God‘ is featured on their latest mini-album I Trust.

This track, undeniably, sounds different from what we are used to in KPOP. We start off with Minnie hauntingly speak out some lines, which reminds me of one of their Queendom performances. The song then develops quite quickly, building up between Soyeon, Yuqi and Miyeon’s sections in the first verse and pre-chorus. We get some vintage piano in Soyeon’s section (and Soojin’s second verse) that really stands out in this song. The rush we get here is very fulfilling and intense. The song continues to infuse managed to add more intensity through the hip-hop centred chorus. I liked how they paused the music as the rush from the pre-chorus is about to climax, dissipating the flow/energy we had gotten so far and replacing it with a completely different energy for the chorus. This does annoy me to an extent but it is one of the song’s charms that continues the intensity along the song. The ‘Oh My God‘ echoes in mind even after the song ends, showcasing its memorability after just a few listens. I also like the beat of the song, overall. It was added some catchiness to the song. Soyeon’s rapping section in the second verse also adds more hip-hop flair to the song. The song ends with Minnie’s opening chant, capping the song with that eerie feeling again (and also reminding us of the intensity that we felt throughout the song. Overall, I think is this one of the group’s best releases yet.

This music video is already a contender for Best Music Video in 2020. I just want to put that out there. The music video is so elaborate and jam-packed, I am overwhelmed and speechless. I don’t know where to exactly start with this new side of the group. I wouldn’t even say this is edgy, as it would lump it alongside other music videos and concepts that I have already described using that term. And this is like no other. As mentioned there is a lot to take in with this music video. There seems to be a heaven and hell dynamic in this music video, along with fallen angels. The devil, played by Soojin, in this video tempts everyone. Soyeon was already tempted, but she is placed in the white hallway or limbo to help Soojin gain followers. Minnie is a new person being brought into limbo and she is tempted from the start with the red wine. She tries to fight it off, but ultimately fails. Yuqi seems to be an innocent wanderer in the corridors that lead to an angel (i.e. the way she holds her hands together remind me of someone praying), but she is later tempted by some red wine as well (i.e. her eyes look like they were bleeding). Miyeon is an angel sitting on a throne. But she is turned when Soojin’s followers (i.e. the dancers dress in black) surround her throne, forcing to be tempted. Shuhua is another angel, dressed in white and all pure. But she is also tempted, following the dance moves that we see Soojin do at the front of the group during the chorus. We see Soojin kissing Miyeon’s foreheard, and Soyeon appears (a known tempted member). That’s my take on the video and I can tell you right now, there are a lot of details that I don’t have time to mention.

The performance looks fanatasic. I really like their moves in this choreography. It has that contortionist type of feel to it, especially in the chorus. The use of backup dancers really helped drive the eerie feeling of the performance as well, making it very captivating to watch.

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

[Review] Chocolate – Max Changmin (TVXQ)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 2 Comments

Max, otherwise known as Changmin, debuted as part of TVXQ back in 2003. And while he has been an experienced KPOP artist, he has yet to officially make his solo debut. That is, until today through the song, Chocolate. He may be a familiar face to some fans who have been listening to KPOP for some time, however he may be quite unfamiliar to any new fans to the industry. Come to the think of it, it has been a while since we have heard from Changmin. To be precise, the last we saw Changmin (in Korea) was through the TVXQ’s Truth back in 2018 (He and fellow member Yunho have been slightly more busy in Japan – their last comeback being in 2019).

The one issue I find when it comes to artists who have been around for some time is that their solo release ends up being something tacky in an effort to fit in when it. Other times, they release something too typical. Chocolate is neither of these things. Right off the bat, Changmin grabs your attention with the flawless vocals and the pretty random line ‘I ain’t scared of electricity’. The flawless vocals continue throughout the song. It sounds like he is shouting during the pre-chorus but it feels very controlled and grounded. The verses sounded like he was whispering in comparison and I enjoyed the sing-speak for the actual chorus. I also like the rap-speak that he brings, adding texture to the song. The instrumental is full of other different textures thanks to the use of various synths. It is definitely a funky mix, overall and one that undoubtedly keeps you captivated. I also find it interesting that the producers kept the chorus very short and sweet. The repetition of the ‘Chocolate‘ does not feel overwhelming or overly repetitive. Like the food item, this song is definitely one to take in moderately. Or else, you would just be replaying the song all the time.

The music video shows a failed heist. We open up with the ending. Changmin is holding on to the edge of a building and subsequently dropping down to the bottom. The thrill of this probably compliments the same feeling we got from the start of the song. The story then goes to Changmin being interrogated (which I believe is the start of the story). He then escapes, plans the heist, fails are getting the fancy marble-like structure (his hands hover near it, but he never touches it) and then proceeds to go on the run. At the end of the video, he is seen on the roof, which re-links the story back to the start of the video. I think the video wraps up nicely. I am just not sure about the other sections. Unless, I am missing key details or misinterpreting it entirely (which seems to be the case most of the time). Let me know what you think about the storyline in the comment section below.

The choreography is quite good. It may not be as ground-breaking (from what I could see in the music video) in comparison to what TVXQ is commonly known for. But it still does the job. There seems to be a flirtatious facial expression that Changmin puts on during the chorus, which I am sure fans will enjoy.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10

[Review] Q – ONEWE ft. Hwasa (Mamamoo)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , , 2 Comments

Since ONEWE’s last comeback with Regulus in August 2019, we have not heard too much from the band. The only thing I do remember coming from the band since their last comeback was their cover of MAMAMOO’s Hip, which they performed a number of time on the live stage. Today, the band returns with their 3rd single, Q. It features their Hwasa from MAMAMOO, their senior label-mate. I just dug up some information that Q is a pre-release single for their upcoming album, which will be released some time in the future. So keep your eyes peeled for ONEWE’s impending comeback.

As a band, ONEWE is quite rare in the KPOP industry. So to hear some R&B with actual instrumentation in Q is probably the rarest of rare treats, especially with the current synths and dance music environment. At first glance, the song does fall on the dry side. But with the many listens that I need to write a review, I am slowly warming up to the song. Overall, the song felt very restrained, which is where my initial ‘dry’ reaction to the song came from. But as I listened on, I felt the restrained feel of the song was definitely a charm, rather than a flaw. The use of actual instrumentation really makes the song feel warm, a feeling that would not possibly be achieved if it was artificial. The instrumental itself enables the singers to use a lower tone. This means that they showed off a huskier and raspier tone in their voices, which compliments very neatly with Hwasa’s widely known husky voice. That high note in the background was a memorable part, as well. There is a really neat melody and ‘ga’ hook in the chorus, which I find to be catching on. The song gets very interesting at the bridge, with the vocals going with a slightly different melody and the guitar solo brings a bossa nova feel to the song.

The video seems to reflect well with the lyrics. Based on the lyrics, it seems like the guys are in love with partner (who is played by Hwasa) and vice versa. But it is not a good relationship. The guys question why their lover acts differently every time they meet up, while Hwasa’s lyrics basically shows us that she is fed up. In the video, we see Hwasa putting make up on, making an effort with a very pained and depressed facial expression. We then see the members experience some ‘pain’ as she puts make up on. After Hwasa finishes, she throws things around the room in anger. Both of these represents how bad their relationship has gotten, but they don’t know how they got to that point.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

[Review] Magnolia – TOO

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

There is a new male group entering the industry. TOO (Ten Oriented Orchestra) is a 10-member male group under N.CH Entertainment. The group was formed through the show WORLD KLASS, which aired in 2019. They were originally scheduled to debut on March 18 with Magnolia, but this was rescheduled for today (1st April). And even though they are newly debut, they have already been confirmed for their first competition show, Road To Kingdom, which is the male version of last year’s Queendom. They will be particpating/performing alongside Pentagon, Golden Child, VERIVERY, ONEUS, The Boyz and ONF.

I enjoyed TOO’s Magnolia and the group’s direction with this song. I just waited for an explosion that never came. I personally felt that it would really bolster the song and add some definition to their sound. Magnolia is a dance track, described to be a blend of trap and euro pop. It is a good mix and pleasant mix. But with a dance track, a pleasant mix doesn’t sound right. I wanted it go that extra mile, but we just never never got to that point. We get a teaser of this through the chorus when the electric guitars and rock influence are brought in, adding some depth to the song. But I just wanted more (sorry, if I sound a bit greedy). Their vocals and rapping infused some hip-hop influence to the song, which was good and helped out to an extent. But it feels very typical in that regard, as many other male groups have been doing that in the past few years. The transition from second chorus to the bridge was very awkward and sounded odd. I think that was the only section that had the song’s flow disrupted, but they managed to patch the rest of the bridge up with electric guitars.

This is a hard video to interpret, as I have very little clue on what is happening plot wise. Usually, I give the interpretation a go (see most of my other music video reviews that involve a plot line or my music video theory posts). But I am not going to try with this music video because I know I am going to screw up the interpretation of this story regardless of which direction I take the story. All I know is that it revolves around a flower (the magnolia) and focuses around a rebellion. Do you have any theories? Comment below! Apart from the story line, the video was well shot and the post-production edits/ transition made the scenes look more intense and cool. I also enjoyed their edgy look in the music video.

It seems like TOO has a lot to offer in the performance department. And watching them dance, it makes me excited to see what they will bring through their upcoming Road To Kingdom appearances. It is intense, edgy and powerful. I really liked the moments they have where two members versus each other. I thought that was a dynamic part of the performance.

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

[Review] Unfamiliar – H&D

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

It is time to familiarise ourselves with a new group. Well, new group in the case for my blog. H&D is a male duo, consisting of former X1 members Lee Hangyul and Nam Dohyun. They have yet to make their official debut, but they did release a track (and promoted it) back in February 2020, Toward Tomorrow. I haven’t reviewed this track and will do once I get some free time in the near future. But rather than waiting around for that review, let’s dig into their comeback pre-release single, Unfamiliar, which is released ahead of their upcoming official debut on April 21.

Unfamiliar is a mid-tempo R&B track that is bound to blow you away for a number of reasons, especially if you are unfamiliar with the members or H&D, in general. At first, the song is structured liked a ballad with a simple instrumental and the start zones right into the duo’s vocals. But as the song progressed along, a beat became more apparent and in the forefront. It started to build up into a really stunning piece and I liked how the song kept the classical roots as it built up. That’s the first aspect that I enjoyed with this track. The second aspect has to the vocals. Both members sounded so damn good. The harmonies are beautiful. I really like the slight husky touch in the back of Hangyul’s voice, helping bring a very mature feel to the song. Also remember that Dohyun is only 15 years old, his deep voice is remarkable in the song. And while we are talking about Dohyun, his rapping is something that cannot be missed. There was just so much depth in his rapping voice, I was in awe. The final aspect has to be the emotion that they put into the song. It sounds so heartbeaking and emotionally driven, with the latter usually being a good sign of a song. With Unfamiliar in mind, I am definitely looking forward to what this duo can bring to the world in late April.

When it comes to the visual representation of an amazing song, such as Unfamiliar, sometimes simplicity is the key. You want the viewers to focus on the song, to feel the emotions and power of the vocals. You don’t to steal that away ability from the viewers. The producers of the Unfamiliar music video did just that. In a grey setting, they placed two black pianos in the centre and dressed the duo in white, creating a strong and striking contrast. And that is it to the video. Visually, the pair stood out. But the video wasn’t over complicated with colour and plotlines that would have distracted you from the song. I find this to be a perfect music video.

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

[Review] Let’s Love – Suho (EXO)

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged , 4 Comments

We kick off the new week with a solo debut that I am sure many fans will be overjoyed to hear about. I am talking about Suho’s return to the music scene with Let’s Love. For those who may not know Suho, he is the leader of EXO. Recently, the group was announced to be focusing on solo promotions this year and Suho’s solo debut would be the first of the many solo activities we can expect from the EXO members. We last saw EXO and Suho through their Obsession comeback in late November/December.

Let’s Love takes on the modern rock genre and it sounds amazing. There is a level of aesthetics in the sound profile to this song that amazes and floors me at the same time. And it is genre that I need to get back into as Let’s Love just shows me how blissful the genre can be. But enough about the genre. Let’s Love capitalise on Suho’s vocals, as you want to in a solo release. I have never really been a fan of Suho’s voice, as I do find it plain in most EXO’s songs. But here, there is a sense of balance that just makes his voice feels right. He doesn’t push himself too hard, which definitely compliments the softer rock style. His ad-libs are definitely within his range and adds that ‘main vocal’ touch to the song. My favorite part has to be the ending, where he sings in a very huskily manner, ‘You’re My Dream, You’re My Dream‘. The main concern I have with the song is its lack of a strong hook to really make listeners want to return to the song. There is a decent melody that makes me sway along to the music, but I don’t think it will serve in that purpose. But other than that, this is another great solo debut.

The song itself is about the desire to go back to a previous relationship. It talks about how his former partner completed him and how he followed them to get their attention at first. We essentially see the aftermath of the relationship, that period of desire in the video. Now that his partner had left, his world is barely nothing. We see his world is full of infinite darkness and the long concrete corridor extends further and further as he looks into the distance. But as they always say, there is light at the other end of the tunnel. And that is what Suho experiences at the end of the video, that there is that chance to go back. But that chance is reliant on that former partner. That is is my interpretation and understanding of the song’s lyrics and music video. Please note: I may be completely wrong (I have been told many times previously) and would like to hear what you thought the video. I thought the imagery was quite nice and the monotone colour palette to be very suiting.

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

[Review] Hold – Winner

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

No, I haven’t forgotten about Winner’s review. Winner’s latest single, Hold, was released on Thursday this week and I had somehow missed the news that the quartet would be releasing a single ahead of their upcoming 3rd studio album in April. Once I realized that they had a release (which was after I had published the Lie review for Favorite), I put Hold‘s review right into my agenda and Saturday was the first free day without a review. And now, here it is!

There are two sides to Winner. One is their more serious side, as we saw in their debut and in their most recent comeback prior to Hold (i.e. SoSo). The other side is the more carefree and bright tone Winner, which we have been seeing a lot lately (i.e. Millions and Ah Yeah). It is definitely obvious where Hold sits (i.e. carefree and bright tone). The cheerful vibes that the song contains do project on you, just by listening to it. I couldn’t help but smile upon hearing the song. The song’s falls under the ‘lighthearted hip-hop’ umbrella and features good level of energy in the instrumental hook. I liked how upbeat and loud the chorus was, similar to when you hear the right number of consecutive cymbals clashing in some songs. But it isn’t perfect sounding. The weakest part of the song was the vocals. The verses, where the vocals were most present, were pretty forgettable. If it wasn’t for the loud energy of the chorus, I don’t think the song would have been deemed memorable. The rapping just before the chorus was decent and gave the song some buildup/momentum towards the chorus. The song earn some major ticks, but not all major ticks from me.

The music video features Suhyun from AKMU, a label-mate of Winner. Known for her innocent looks, Suhyun plays the youngest member of the Winner family (with Winner playing her obnoxiously annoying brothers). In this episode of the Winner family, the brothers notice that Suhyun is dating/have a crush and make fun of her. She invites the guy over, and the brothers break into her room (whe the crush was there) to embarrass her. The video is shot in a sitcom like manner, incorporating laughter from the audience. As the song sounds, the music video is intended to be lighthearted and fun to watch. There is also some dialogue that points in that direction. Overall a great video to watch.

There is a bit of choreography in the music video. Though I am not exactly sure if it is the actual choreography. But given the nature of the song and music video, something simple and entertaining like kicks in the air (what we see the members do at the 2:33 minute mark of the music video) makes total sense.

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

[Review] Lie – Favorite

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 1 Comment

It is time to tackle another track from the ‘Coming Soon’ list. Today’s focus will be on Favorite, who returned the other week with Lie. Favorite, for those who may not remember, is a female group currently under Astory Entertainment. They debuted with Party Time in 2017 and have had a number of comebacks over the years. Most recently, the group returned with their Korean single, Loca, and their Japanese single, Catch Me.

The major issue with Lie is that it doesn’t offer anything new that we haven’t of. Nor does it take what we have heard previously and try to repackage it into something refreshing or bold. Right off the bat, the song opens up with guitars that are play into the Latin genre, an already heavily used and tiring genre nowadays. The song then adds a little more to the instrumental by incorporating a very neutral sounding dance beat. Together, I felt the instrumental to be extremely plain and helplessly dry. The vocals do add a level of sweetness to the song, which I can deem as helpful. But only to a certain extent. Like the instrumental, the vocals do not add much momentum to the song. The rapping is a little bit better, with it being the best part of the song for me. The chorus was weak, in my opinion. I did like the melodic and flowy nature of the chorus. But paired with the already neutral instrumental, it just isn’t enough.

The group opts for their most mature image yet. Dressed in red suits, the group performs in a cathedral or church like setting, with a red carpet running through the place. While red on red isn’t the greatest visual idea ever, both the red suits and carpet standout in the dark setting. The rest of the music video is closeup shots, which show off the beautiful faces of the members. And that’s all to the video. I’ll be honest, this is one of the few better looking ones. But the basic formula of closeup shots and choreography just makes it sound plain.

The choreography takes that mature path that I had mentioned as part of the music video review section. It definitely felt refined and pleasant to watch. But it just didn’t have anything memorable within it to really make me come back to continually view it.

Song – 5.5/10
Music Video – 6.5/10
Performance – 6/10
Overall Rating – 5.9/10

[Review] GRAVITY – Ong Seong Wu

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 2 Comments

Ong Seong Wu was the only member of Wanna One to make his official solo debut in 2019 after the disbandment of the project group. He did release a special single, Heart Sign, in collaboration with Pepsi and Starship. But that wasn’t marketed a debut single. His official debut single was released earlier this year, We Belong, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Hence, this makes today’s release his very first solo comeback. GRAVITY is the title track off Ong Seong Wu’s first mini-album, LAYERS.

The way GRAVITY sounds reminds me of Western dance tracks, particularly it came to the chorus of this song. The instrumental is very typical for this style and it doesn’t really offer anything unique. But there are a few things within the song that stood out for me, which made me enjoy the song as well. First of all, the lyrics tell of the gravitational pull one would feel towards another and discovering one’s self along the way. I thought that was an interesting topic. With a topic like that, the mature vibes was the second aspect of the song that stood out to me. The serious tone is unforgettable, even though it is something we hear quite often. Thirdly, it has to be his amazing and powerful vocals. His voice pushes high up when he sings the word ‘gravity’, going in a completely different direction to ‘gravity’, which is an interesting concept to think about. The rest of the song feels rather weighted (I mean this in a good way) and adds that ‘gravity’ component to the song. I also liked the soft whispering of the song title as part of the bridge. It is like an echo that edges you towards the direction that you would be going in (in this case, the person he is being pulled to). Putting everything together, GRAVITY leaves a strong impression and I am definitely going to replay this song constantly while I stay at home for the foreseeable future.

The music video shows an aesthetically pleasing depiction of the lyrics. Ong Seong Wu’s life is relatively plain. He lives in a cabin made of wood in the forest. One day he wakes up and discovers an abandoned car nearby. Upon investigating the car, he is drawn towards a mysterious female character, whom we suspect is the owner of the car. He follows her and it is shown that everytime he follows her, he is becoming even more consumed with the idea of finding her (i.e. shown through the underwater scenes and how frantic he gets each time the story repeats) and that he unsuccessfully catches up to her. But yet the same thing happens everyday and he cannot avoid the gravitational pull that he experiences towards this mysterious figure. Even his dreams start replicating the same event and he gets even deeper. And deeper. Not exactly sure who this figure is, but it might be a past lover who may have drowned, which would explain why he would consistently go after her and why he would be shown to be underwater. I thought this was a well shot video and his acting in this video is far better than in some parts of the We Belong music video. I liked the grey and darkness of his video as well, adding to the aesthetics.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.4/10

[Review] Mixtape: On Track – Stray Kids

Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged 3 Comments

The next comeback to be reviewed is by Stray Kids, who just dropped their second installment in the Mixtape Project as a present for their second anniversary. The title of the new track is Mixtape: On Track and this follows their 2019 mixtape track, Gone Days. 2019 was also another big year for the group, with the release of Miroh, Side Effects, Double Knot, Astronaut and Levanter. This magnitude and high standard of comebacks in 2019 by Stray Kids lead to me picking them for Best Male Group in the KPOPREVIEWED Awards for 2019. Let’s see if Stray Kids can replicate the success of 2019 and possibly go further in 2020.

Gone Days is right up the alley of a mixtape, aligning itself with the genre in which a mixtape is usually strongly associated with. On Track is completely different path, opting to be more a traditional pop track and missing a heavy hip-hop influence. The instrumental that acts as the backdrop for this song is relatively plain and it does bore me. But thankfully, the vocals and limited rapping did help drive the song into a more appealing light. On Track is more vocally driven, as a result for its pop alignment. And I don’t mind this. Since Stray Kids commonly goes for a rough exterior with its sound, I wouldn’t mind any easygoing or melodic tracks from the group. When I am listening to the song, I find myself feeling a little heartbroken with the tone, for some odd reason. The song’s lyrics are a lot more brighter, mustering up courage to chase one’s dream (Source: Soompi). Not sure why I feel that way, but that was the initial impression I got from the song before looking up a translation or the source article.

For the music video, the group are film and acting students and are currently in production for some sort of love story short film (I assume short film). The main characters are Hyunjin (the cameraman), Lee Know (the main actor) and the female actress. Essentially, Hyunjin has this massive crush on the female actress but has never acted upon his feelings. While filming the various acting scenes, he becomes extremely jealous over the scenes that the female actress and Lee Know share. In the end, he makes his move on the female actress while filming. Poor timing, but it matches up with the meaning behind the lyrics of the song (i.e. gaining courage). It is a good plot line and was enjoyable to watch.

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