Tag: 2PM

[International Song Reviews] Ten (NCT), Jackson Wang & Internet Money, Ten & YangYang (WayV), Yuqi ((G)I-DLE) & 2PM

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It has been a while since I focused on the International releases of KPOP, so I will spend the rest of today looking into these releases. If you want to read my review from the last time I covered International Songs from KPOP artists (TWICE, ATEEZ, SHINee, Jackson Wang and Rocket Punch), you can click here for that review. In this particular, I will be covering Ten’s SM Station release, Jackson Wang’s collaboration with Internet Money, WayV’s subunit release, Yuqi’s solo debut and 2PM’s grand return to the Japanese music market.

Paint Me Naked – Ten (NCT)

Early August saw Ten release the all-English single Paint Me Naked. It is a super energetic and expressive solo track that seems to take on a mixture of pop and punk. Personally, I thought the more pop-centric moments (i.e. verses and bridge) were a bit dry, but the punk side comes through via the chorus and definitely kicks the song up a notch. I liked how the song progress, with the final chorus giving us a satisfying blast of energy that helps peaks the song in a very strong manner. This vocals were consistently good throughout Paint Me Naked, showcasing his potential for the industry. The music video was okay. It channeled some of the energy from the song, but not entirely. It also wasn’t memorable and didn’t give you much reason to return to. The performance that came along with this release was a lot better and did a much better job of channeling the energy that we got from the song. Ten sang live on his performances, so unfortunately this hindered the energy he could have put into the performance. But this didn’t mean that the performance didn’t come off as fun or had a satisfying kick to it. (7.4/10)

Drive Me Home – Jackson Wang & Internet Money

Jackson Wang has consistently pushed out new songs this year and has featured in three of the six ISRs posted by me this year (not including this one, which will be his the fourth appearance this year)! Back in July (I know, a long time ago), Jackson released the English single Drive Me Home with Internet Money (a music producer). This isn’t Jackson’s most impressive song of the year, but it definitely one of his most heartfelt and emotional releases yet. Once again, his husky and raspy vocals are on full display. I really like how he used his vocals in this song to deliver that emotional side, especially during the choruses. I liked the consistency of the instrumental. It bubbles away in the background. It isn’t special (actually more typical than anything else), but it added necessary drive and substance to the song to make it more engaging and Jackson more expressive with his vocals. The music video was an interesting story. It began with the future, with Jackson being a successful applicant in a job. I noticed his workplace felt sterile and typical. It is like whatever happened to him lead to this outcome. From then on, we see the events of his life happen in reverse. Jackson is drunk, thrown out of the club after smashing it up, all the while crying his way through the club. Then we see him in rags on the road, stopping and slowing traffic and looks quite injured. The ending showed the unfortunate events that occurred, which explained everything that happened prior in the video. Jackson had fallen in love with the girl in the picture frame. So in love that he is distracted by her while driving, causing him to crash and accidently kill his lover. It is a heartbreaking story that was creatively and uniquely told in this video, and matches the emotional side of the song. (7.8/10)

Low Low – Ten & YangYang (WayV)

After releasing and promoting Paint Me Naked, Ten returned soon after with YangYang for the release of Low Low, another all English song. Low Low is a pleasant track, with smooth melodies and a somewhat fun and upbeat dance instrumental that carries hip-hop influences. I quite liked how Ten and YangYang sounded in this song, but I wished they were more striking with their vocals. I think this could have taken the song to a whole new level and not by limited by the ‘pleasant’ descriptor. For the vocals to be more striking, the instrumental would have needed a bit of a revamp as well to support any attempt for bolding, in my opinion. I did notice the producers seem to add a bit of inclination/build towards the final chorus by adding a bit of electronic synths into the the bridge for a dance break. And I would have liked it, had the final chorus continued that momentum. For the music video, I watched it once and didn’t even bother returning to it again since its release. It was also a pleasant video, but not memorable whatsoever. Like Ten’s earlier song, Low Low faired a lot better with the choreography. It isn’t anything grand, but it was a fun choreography overall, especially that brief dance break/battle we had between the pair. (6.8/10)

Bonnie & Clyde – Yuqi ((G)I-DLE)

The oldest release on this list is Bonnie & Clyde, one of the solo debut singles from Yuqi, who hails from the female group (G)I-DLE. It was released way back in May of this year. Bonnie and Clyde is a fantastic song. I really liked the uniqueness of the instrumental here, combining the likes of trance and rock. It is of a low register and it is bounces forward continuously, which kept the song moving towards its end. It pairs with Yuqi’s vocals extremely well, who also took on a much lower tone for this release. Altogether, the elements of this song really gets me reaching for the replay button. How it took me this long to actually review it is a concern that I need to reflect on! For the music video, Yuqi goes on the run after finding some diamonds. But first. she takes the diamonds to a very risky game of chess and wins back her diamonds which she had bet with. Then the police comes and she makes a run for it. We also see another version of Yuqi. I am not too sure what the relation here, but my wild mind says she has a split personality. One side is the risk taker, while the other side of her is more proper. But both are aware what happens when the other personality takes hold. (9.2/10)

With Me Again – 2PM

I end this ISR with With Me Again, the most recent track on this list.. It also doubles as 2PM’s grand return to the Japanese industry, which they had spent a lot of time in before the group had to enlist in the military. With Me Again encapsulates all the mature and sexy vibes that they are known for into one track. It comes off as stylish, classy and trendy. I liked the vocals throughout and I quite enjoyed the higher note that the main hook is in. I also liked that subtle tango tinge to the song’s instrumentation and the funky touch from when Taecyeon raps. I wished the rest of the verses were more memorable, as I don’t remember them as much as that main hook (which is quite striking over the classiness of the instrumentation). The music video was fine to watch. I really want to say ‘Nothing was memorable’ with this music video (as for the most part, this was the case). But unfortunately, one member’s scenes just stuck out for all the wrong reasons. I am not too sure how Chansung’s bull riding scene fits in with the entire concept and thought it looked ridiculous. I would gladly like to press the erase button on that and hopefully never want to think of it ever again. Thankfully, no bulls appeared in the performance version of With Me Again. Instead, the group reverts back to that stylish and classy manner that I had already mentioned. (7.5/10)

[Album Review] MUST (7th Studio Album) – 2PM

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It has been a while since we heard from this particular group. To be precise, five years. I am talking about none other than 2PM, who have been absent from the KPOP scene due to military enlistments over the last five years. At the end of June of this year, 2PM regrouped to release their 7th studio album, MUST, which features the title track, Make It. Amongst the new tracks alongside Make It is the acoustic version of their 2015 hit My House, which rose on the charts earlier this year once again. As per my album review rules, I will not be including this new version of My House and the intro in the final album rating score. This is also the final album on the album review blitz I have been working on over this weekend. Feel free to return to the home page to see the seven other albums I reviewed this weekend. Otherwise, here are my thoughts on 2PM’s latest release!

MUST Album Cover

1. Intro – The album begins the sophisticated jazzy intro, which I think is a great reintroduction to 2PM. It is mature. It is classy. It is everything that 2PM has pumped out prior to their military enlistment hiatus.

2. Make It (해야 해) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review of Make It. (8/10)

3. OK or Not (괜찮아 안 괜찮아) – For OK or Not, there are many great elements to this song. Firstly, the instrumental was quite dynamic. I liked the synthetic violins that were used in this song. It helped the song exude a mature and classy tone, but also fitted in with the rest of the synth instrumentation. Secondly, I liked how the members were in the forefront of the song. Their voices were clear and crisp, throughout. I did like the autotune filtering they applied to some of the vocals, particularly the hook, which added depth to the song. Lastly, the song’s hook was repetitive and catchy. It was also quite simple and clean, so it was super easy to appreciate. Overall, OK or Not is a strong and likeable side track. (9/10)

4. On My Way (보고싶어, 보러갈게) – I was lowkey waiting for a drop in On My Way, which ultimately didn’t come to fruition. The instrumental hinted towards a drop on multiple occasions, especially as the song was building up to the chorus. But instead, the song opted to just transition from pre-chorus to chorus without much flair, and this made On My Way slightly frustrating. Other than that, On My Way was a pretty straightforward song, with good textures thanks to the consistent use of clickity clacks in the instrumentation and the autotune. (7/10)

5. Champagne (샴페인) – Champagne is the first standout song on this album. The instrumentation was very cool, with the contrast of bass and metallic xylophone being one of the most memorable aspects of the song. The synths take on an almost screechy profile, but they work cohesively with the rest of the song. Another memorable aspect included the dynamic that Taecyeon and Jun.K brought to the song via their rapping. It added drive and additional cool points to the song. I also liked the subtle use of brass in the song. (10/10)

6. The Café (집 앞 카페) – The Café is a fun and bright pop song that remains within the classy parameters of the album. It is super easy to get into and enjoy, with melodies that I am sure will make you smile. I liked the additional highlights within the instrumentation from the xylophone tapping. The vocals and rapping were really nice here, as well. (9/10)

7. Moon & Back – Moon & Back is a R&B song that I find to be quite well balanced and thoroughly enjoyed from start to end. The instrumental is quite texturally packed, thanks to all of the small details we get throughout the song (i.e. the disc scratching, the taps and clicks etc.). The vocals brings the smooth texture that one would usually associate with the R&B genre. My pick for standout member in Moon & Back is Taecyeon, with his really deep vocals. They just had such a strong effect and brought a different colour to the song, despite being one of the briefer elements of the song. (8/10)

8. Two of Us (둘이) – Continuing the R&B on the album is Two of Us, but this time over jazzy instrumentation that brings out a warm and happy atmosphere. You just can’t help but smile whilst listening to this song. The chorus of Two Of Us exudes an undeniable sweet tone. The best part of the song has to be the ending, when the members harmonize with one another in an overlapping manner. It isn’t like your typical harmonization in a ballad, where the members come in at the same time. In this song, it appears that one member starts slightly later than the other, but they still come together cohesively. (8/10)

9. Hold You (놓지 않을게) – Hold You is a ballad, with a tinge of jazz in the background. I really liked how breathy their vocals are throughout the song, which gives off the appeals that fit right into 2PM’s wheelhouse. What makes Hold You even better are the harmonies we get between all the members following the chorus. I also thought the brass in the chorus adds definition to the ballad, making it much more dynamic than your typical ballads. (8.5/10)

10. My House (우리집) (Acoustic Version) – Click here to listen to the acoustic version of 2PM’s 2015 release, My House.

Overall Album Rating – 8.4/10


MUST Teaser Image

[Review] Make It – 2PM

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Kick starting this week’s comeback rush is 2PM, with their long awaited return with Make It. For those who don’t 2PM, they are a second generation male group signed to JYP Entertainment who were known back in the day as beast-dols (as they brought really masculine and powerful choreography to the stage during their heyday). We last saw the group in full in September 2016 with Promise (I’ll Be). Since then, the members (aside from Nickhun) enlisted into the military, and progressed their solo music and acting careers. In late 2020, the group resurfaced with their 2015 single My House. And today, the group returns with their 7th studio length album, Must, since their debut in 2008, and the title track Make It.

Right off the bat, 2PM’s new song encapsulates what I feel are the charms of the groups in their more recent releases. While they were known for their beast-like looks, concepts and physiques back in the day, the group have matured into a more sexy type of sound. And I feel Make It really concentrates that vibe. But it is not a sexy sensual sound. Make It feels more flirty and playful in that manner. And this set up reminds me of My House. All very suitable for 2PM. Music wise, Make It is simple. It isn’t as complicated like some of their previous tracks. The song opens with up some clangy guitar sounds, which reminded me of when you strum more tighter parts of the guitar. This effect progresses into acoustic guitar soon after, and then later some piano work. What spokes volumes in this part (the first verse) are the members’ vocals. They felt extremely clear and crisp, not muddled by vocal processing and other effects that we commonly get in today’s music. I appreciate that, quite a bit. And it is definitely nice to hear 2PM in their full glory once again. The chorus takes the song up a level, by giving us more bass and more of a beat to cling onto. It adds a bit of a bounce, which is a great contrast and differentiation point the verses. There is also a bit of saxophone (the ultimate instrument that completes any ‘sexy’ song) in the chorus. The melodies are quite enjoyable and adds a smoothness to the chorus that I find quite appealing. Following the first verse is Taecyeon’s raps. There are two things I like about this rap sequence. Firstly, it is layered over the top of the same instrumentation from the start. For once the rap sequence fitted right in perfectly without changing the flow of the song in any way. I also like the classy feel that Taecyeon’s deliver gives. When you think of rapping, you think if speed and intensity. But Taecyeon’s rap sequence does not give into either, hence why I feel it felt classy and mature. While I am talking about the rapper, he is also my pick for standout member in the song. His husky vocals during the first half of the final chorus was definitely fitting for the song’s concept that I had outlined above, and it really drew me into the song as it was practically a breathtaking moment. But the other member’s must also be commended for their amazing vocals as well. Overall, Make It definitely ensures that it is a simple song. It might be boring for some (I do acknowledge this, as it may not have the really catchy hook or addictive energy that other songs out at the moment have), but Make It is like a blank canvas that shows off the members’ charms for this highly anticipated return.

Make It is all about this pull that cannot be avoided. And in the music video, they just cannot avoid the pull that the lead actress has. Even in an apocalyptic event involving meteors crashing down just metres away from you and the rest of the world running away from the danger. I thought it was funny, but it does work well with the lyrics of the song. I like how they brought that flirty vibe I mentioned from the song into the music video. Taecyeon’s solo with the actress with his arm on the wall, cornering her was probably the most smoothest in the video. Junho’s solo with the actress was the weirdest, with his un-bottoned top buttons and water spraying on him.

It is great to see 2PM perform on stage once again. For this routine, similar comments about it being sexy and flirty at the same time can be applied. I might also throw in a classy descriptor for the choreography, as it felt that way as well. But what makes this performance even better is the charisma and stage presence that they managed to showcase. They have been on stage for 12 years now and they still got it, even after a five year break!

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

[Review] 30 Minutes Might Be Too Long – Jun.K (2PM)

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It has been a while since we heard anything from 2PM due to military enlistment. As far as I can tell, the rest of the members (Junho and Chansung) who are currently enlisting will complete their mandatory military enlistment next year. In the meanwhile, the members who have completed their enlistment (including Nichkhun) have been focusing on solo promotions. Today, Jun.K (who completed his enlistment early on in 2020) dropped his newest single, 30 Minutes Might Be Too Long, which is featured on his fourth mini-album, 20 Minutes. However, this isn’t his first song of the year. His first was This Is Not A Song, 1929, which was released back in June (which I completely missed).

Jun.K’s latest song is really good. But it really isn’t the reason to why I am reviewing the comeback today. Given that this particular comeback has no choreography, the only other reason to why I am writing this review is the music video. But more on that in a minute. I still need to write out my thoughts for the song. 30 Minutes Might Be Too Long is an acoustic mid-tempo R&B song. I did like how strong the acoustic guitar was throughout the song, even during the more upbeat sections of the song. The more upbeat parts of the song, which made the song feel more pop than R&B, definitely infused a lot of energy into the song and definitely gave a kick to an otherwise pretty standard track. Another really great element about 30 Minutes Might Be Too Long are his vocals. While he did get a little shouty during the chorus, it felt intentional to help make the song feel a lot punchier, which compliments the energy. The only thing I am a little confused about the structure of the song. Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like 30 Minutes Might Be Too Long was extended and the first round of the chorus was quite prolonged, before we went into a bridge and back to the chorus. I personally don’t have any issues with abstract song structures usually, but this one felt particularly odd. Not exactly sure why. But other than that, Jun.K’s newest single has an awesome vibe to, with great vocals and music.

With the song part out the way, I can now focus on the music video. The juicy bit of this comeback. It is a very interesting music video with two plot twists. The first felt very predictable. We open with a very stormy setting and a guy running away from this crazed lady. He tries to run as far away from her as possible, even seeking the security of his own home. But to no avail as she somehow makes it in. After a little teasing from her, she finally captures him, paralyses him (somehow), puts a ring on him to make him hers, and ends up putting a stick of dynamite in his mouth. She has this crazed moment where she does her evil laugh to signify her happiness in succeeding and lights the dynamite. But it slowly turns to regrets, showing us how mentally unstable her character is. We then cut to Jun.K, where it is revealed that he is shooting a music video (the first plot twist). Upon completion, he leaves the set and sends the text message to the actress who was playing the crazed lady to meet up later. They end up meeting up at his place, where he plans a cute date. But from my understanding, it is revealed that he is the crazed one. Firstly, she looks very disinterested in their relationship. Secondly, he does a lot of preparation for this one ‘date’, similar to her character. Thirdly, there is a stick of dynamite under the table (second unexpected plot-twist), which presumably blows up 20 minutes into their date (which matches his request for a final 20 minutes to win her back). Fourthly, I assume he survives and ends up returning to a place that looks exactly like the set of the video that was being shot, telling us the story in the video was his story. While I feel like a few kinks can be smoothed out with this music video, I really enjoyed the dark vibes and and the overall storyline of the video.

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

[Album Review] Gentlemen’s Game (6th Studio Album) – 2PM

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As per the Tuesday schedule, it is time for the next Past Album Review (PAR). This week, the artist I have chosen to focus on is 2PM. It has been been a while since we heard from the legendary male group from JYP Entertainment. Their last official full-group comeback was back in 2016 with the album I had chosen to focus on today, Gentlemen’s Game, which features the title track Promise (I’ll Be). We will probably be hearing some good news about music releases from the group soon, as the members are slowly coming back from their military enlistment. In the meanwhile, here is an album review to revisit and satisfy any 2PM cravings you may have. If you are after mature and sensual songs, this album is for you!

Gentlemen’s Game Album Cover

1. Promise (I’ll Be) (Title Track) – The combined review score was 6.5/10. Upon looking at my records, I originally gave the song component a 8/10, which contributed to the combined review score. Click here for the full review of Promise (I’ll Be). (8/10)

2. Uneasy – I really like the brewing nature of the verses in Uneasy. You just know that great things in the song are coming your way when they are slowly building to it in the verses. In Uneasy’s case, we get an amped up chorus, continuing that momentum that the verses had begun and built upon. The instrumentals are quite similar between the two sections. While I would usually make a comment about the song being consistent in this case, Uneasy manages to change things up slightly to keep the sections different. There are three differences: the subtle blast of energy when the choruses begin; the change in vocal techniques, such as Nichkhun’s falsetto; and smooth melodies. The bass gives the song a metrosexual type of appeal and binds everything together in a satisfying manner. (10/10)

3. Give U Class – Give U Class is another slow burning track. It delves into the R&B genre, infusing trap into the instrumental. Typical at the time of the album’s release and typical even now. As a result, I don’t find this song to be much of a standout instrumentally. What Give U Class does extremely well is the focus on the vocals and raps. The members shined in this song. But I don’t think anyone topped Jun.K’s delivery of his lines. When he sings in the chorus, you can hear the yearning behind his voice. And he ends his chorus lines with a short rap sequence, which definitely is a highlight. Other members that surprised me (in a good way) include Taecyeon and Nichkhun’s vocals and Wooyoung’s rap sequence that he wrote for himself in this self-penned track. (7.5/10)

4. Make Love – Make Love doesn’t waste any time, with the lyrics going straight for what exactly the title alludes to. Paired with the lyrics is a funky 80s instrumental. But this is no energetic retro spin, which is what KPOP is quite well known for. The song still remains sensual and mature as the lyrics are. The most I can be see being done with this track are body rolls. Aside from the falsettos we get in the chorus, there isn’t much in the vocal department to comment about. It is essentially what I had expected. The rapping could have been less cringy (sorry Taecyeon), as the opening line to the rap seemed to be a little more childish than 2PM mature, if you catch my drift. (7/10)

5. Without Trying / All Night Long (시도때도없이) – I find Without Trying to be rather dimensionless. While I do acknowledge that there is sophisticated nature to the R&B instrumental, it just doesn’t offer anything new or exciting about 2PM. In more blunt terms, I find the song to be quite dry. All the members may sound nice in this song, but I don’t hear or remember any memorable moments from the song. I also don’t enjoy that squeaky baby voice that pops up every now and then in the song. Sadly, a skippable track in my opinion. (5/10)

6. Never – 2PM re-approaches R&B with a more successful stride in Never. The instrumental, once again, enters typical land for me, though I do like the electric guitar. The instrumental also feels a little more upbeat, which I find enables for a decent choreography to be performed on stage alongside this song. I find the members vocals to be a lot smoother in Never. The melodies are quite dreamy and appealing this way. It also gets me to sway along to the song, which you may know is something I look forward to in a good ballad. Never is no ballad, but that measure can be broadened to other types of songs. The rapping also gives the song a little punchiness, which would make it sound really amazing on stage. I particularly liked how low the rappers went with their tone in this song. (8/10)

7. Humming (콧노래) – We divert slightly away from the typical R&B instrumentals for something a little more jazzy. I am already liking this change up. The song starts off with some nice harmonies from the members. Both the jazzy nature of the background and the harmonies kick off Humming in a warm manner. I liked how the harmonies continued into the rest of the song, but I felt they could have held back a bit with the quantity of harmonies we had by the time the song wrapped up. It felt like it was overdone and something so nice should have been used sparingly, so we wouldn’t get tired of it. The most surprising moment of the song goes to Jun.K, who has a really smashing and bold rap sequence in the bridge of the song. He does it in a way that fits the jazzy nature of the song perfectly, so there is no mismatch of tempos or style. (7/10)

8. How Is It? (어때?) – How Is It? reenters the funky domain, cutting the string of R&B tracks we just came from. Like most funky tracks, I am enjoy the energy that comes from it. It just makes me want to dance. I just like how the chorus had a bit of everything when it comes to the instrumental, making everything quite enjoyable and appealing to listen to. The only part of the song that I am not keen on is the bridge. It attempts to fuse trap together with the funky retro and this doesn’t come off as well. But other than that, it is a fun track. (8/10)

9. Perfume (향수) – Perfume steps away from the funkiness of the last song, but still stays within the boundaries of the retro genre. The main draw point of the song has to be the drums in the instrumental. Usually, it is synths or guitars that are the main centerpiece of instrumental, so it nice to hear drums as the main star, for once. This makes Perfume unique and distinctive. Everything else is quite enjoyable. The vocals, rapping, melodies, hooks. The lot was extremely pleasant, contrasting with the slight harshness that the drums bring to the song. (9/10)

10. My Last – My Last tethers between ballad and R&B genre. At certain points, we could say the song conforms to balladry. At other parts, the instrumental gives off a R&B feel. But that is fine, as the song comes together really nicely. There is a lot of velvety vocal moments in the song, such as Junho’s beautiful falsetto during the bridge/final chorus, Taecyeon’s rap (it didn’t feel out of place and felt somewhat refined enough for this song) and Jun.K’s ad-libs at the end of the song. All very appealing and enjoyable. (8/10)

11. Can’t Stop The Feeling – The final song on the album is brings back that jazzy feel that we heard earlier on in the album. Can’t Stop The Feeling seems to bring it up the notch and make it the main style of the instrumental. The brass and the low strings that we are so good. And those piano and electric guitar solos we get just before the song fades out! Too good! The members sound good in this song, like in most of the album above. For me, Taecyeon’s rap steals the show. I find this interesting, as I don’t find the genre to be the best match for him. However, his section is deep and has an upbeat kick to it, which made him more captivating than the rest. I also liked it when they all harmonise together with Jun.K leading at the end. Based on its position, I am giving it a hidden gem title. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8/10

  • Wooyoung Teaser Image for Gentlemen’s Game / Promise (I’ll Be)
  • Taecyeon Teaser Image for Gentlemen’s Game / Promise (I’ll Be)
  • Nichkhun Teaser Image for Gentlemen’s Game / Promise (I’ll Be)
  • Jun.K Teaser Image for Gentlemen’s Game / Promise (I’ll Be)
  • Junho Teaser Image for Gentlemen’s Game / Promise (I’ll Be)
  • Chansung Teaser Image for Gentlemen’s Game / Promise (I’ll Be)

[Album Review] Grown (3rd Studio Album) – 2PM

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Due to the number of songs on the album, this album review post is quite lengthy. 

Today’s ‘Past’ album review post will be focusing on probably what I consider to be 2PM’s most memorable album (form the top of my head). Grown was released back in 2013, featuring both A.D.T.O.Y and Come Back When You Hear This Song as the title tracks (links to their respective review can be found below). And while this album is almost 6 years old, I still return to it often. They did release a repackaged version, which contained many more songs but I think that is suitable for a follow-up post in the future. But before we get to that, we have to look at the original version!

2pm-grown-2
Grown Album Cover

1..A.D.T.O.Y (하.니.뿐) (Title Track) – Most of my comments in my original review stand. However, I felt that a 7/10 is a little unfair for this album review as I have enjoyed the song countless times since its release. Hence I have bumped up the ranking by 1 point. Click here to read the full review for A.D.T.O.Y. (8/10).

2. Come Back When You Hear This Song (이 노래를 듣고 돌아와) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Come Back When You Hear This Song. (8.5/10)

3. Zero Point (원점으로) – This is the style of KPOP that I want an artist to revisit. To me, this song sounds quite like Come Back When You Hear This Song. It utilizes a traditional synth-pop (but more pop centred) instrumental and is very easy on the ears. It shows off their vocals and I really liked the melody of the track. Those ‘violins’ they use in the chorus was so good, despite them feeling synthetic. I also liked the extra few seconds of suspense they add to the song during the pre-chorus, which makes this track so good. There were a few moments just before Taecyeon’s rap sequence that I thought they could have gone down the trap route but that is something common today and not so much back in the day. And this just makes the song feel so much more wholesome feeling. (8.5/10)

4. I’m Sorry – I’m Sorry is an R&B track that has a very smooth feeling, which you can feel straight away from its initial second. There is this sensual vibe going in the song, which I think the smooth R&B sound cannot avoid. But it definitely a mature sound that I personally like from 2PM. Once again, sleek vocals and amazing harmonies are heard in this song. The rapping was well tweaked for the song as well. My favourite line has to be Chansung’s “So I can’t stop stop stop thinking about the time…”, which is constantly replaying in my head. (8/10)

5. The First Date (오늘부터 1일) – Opening up the song is some piano. And from the first second, you can tell this song is going to be lively, changing the album’s flow. While the piano was nice, the brass in the chorus was perfect. It came on just at the right time and managed to add an extra influx of energy that I did not even know was missing from the song. The song is also capped with great vocals and I liked the rapping, which also added to that addition of energy that I have mentioned. (8/10)

6. Dangerous – The song has this jazzy and upbeat vibe to it, which gives it an intriguing feel. And as much as I want to like the song, I think Dangerous is a little weak compared to the other tracks on the album (but that in no means it is bad). It has a nice clean and modern touch, which from memory was something that was extremely big at the time of its release. The vocals were good and I thought the rapping added a little smugness to the song. I just think its placement in a sea of great songs was probably its biggest downfall. (7/10)

7. One More Day (오늘 하루만) – One More Day takes the form of a ballad. It is a nice soothing track to really kick back to. I don’t think it stands out much, like Dangerous and probably for the exact same reasons. I did like the instrumental of the track as it incorporates soft synths into the otherwise classical instrumental. I think it gave the song some character and really differentiated it from other ballads. I am personally not sure if a rap sequence was necessary. Taecyeon’s execution is not the problem but for a ballad, it felt a little too much. (7/10)

8. Game Over – Intensity has been missing from the album thus far. So it is really nice to really get something loaded with it. The powerful instrumental really sets it apart from any other of their songs (and if memory serves me right, any song released at the time). I wonder why they didn’t go with this track as one of the title tracks. It had maturity, an awesome dance break section, amazing vocals and definitely underrated rap sequences. Jun.K’s line ‘This Endless Game’ replays hauntingly in your mind as it was an impactful finisher to the song. (10/10)

9. Coming Down – Based on what I know of music and from movies, this is probably something you hear somewhere that you need to spend a lot of money. Otherwise known as a classy bar or cafe music. Coming Down follows a similar comment pool as per the jazzy songs before. But there is a little more to the song that makes this one a little more likeable. The jazzy vibes are felt but they don’t seem to be as prevalent, which I think is a rather refreshing twist. The vocals and rapping are just so clear and undeniably interesting. Hence, this is why I think this song a little better than the others of the same nature. (7.5/10)

10. Go Back (고백) – Go Back is one of those misleading tracks. The song started off as a ballad for the verses. But out of nowhere, the song builds up to a techno-focused chorus. I am not sure if it was the first of its kind but it is a rather interesting mix. And while the two are very different extremes, the song does merge well together. I also like how Taecyeon’s rapping was kind of the intersection of the two sides, as this isn’t something that occurs that much even in today’s songs where the mashup of two genres occurs often. I also enjoyed the ‘Eh Oh Eh Oh’ hook of the song as well. (9/10)

11. Love Song – An album will always have a weak song. That is how things work. Any fan who says that say each song is perfect on any album is probably lying to themselves. And since I started this section like this, I think you know what I am going to say. Love Song is the weakest track on the album. I think this song was the hardest to connect to. That jazzy sound returns and does show off some maturity. Some vocals also flourished but I simply pass over this track every time I return to the album. (6.5/10)

12. At Times (문득) – This is as ballad-y as you can get with a ballad. At Times is 2PM’s push for a promising ballad and I think they nail the song. Taecyeon started the song off very soft singing and by the time we swing to the chorus, the vocals make it feel like the peak of a ballad. It pushes the song forward and makes it feel very elegant and extravagant at the same time. But what makes this song so good is that it continuously builds, resulting in the final chorus to be truly spectacular (ticking all boxes for my style for a power ballad). I think it is a beautiful ballad and a powerful ending to the album. (9.5/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.1/10

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[Review] Quit – Jang Wooyoung (2PM)

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The End of 2017 Charts have been released and if you haven’t yet to check which song was selected as the Best Song of 2017, click here to check it out!

Last week, Jang Wooyoung teased the start of his promotions for this latest mini-album, Bye, by releasing the pre-release track, Going Going. Now, with the actual min-album officially out yesterday, Wooyoung has powered ahead with his promotions, with the release of the music video for this title track, Quit. He also released a separate music video for Party Shots and a special video for Don’t Act.

Wooyoung takes an unexpected turn with his main title track. Something along the lines of Going Going or Party Shots would have been understandable, but Quit is just completely surprisingly for me. The song starts with an acoustic guitar, strumming out a pretty nice rhythmic piece. Throughout the entire song, the guitar remains as the centrepiece of the instrumental, which is definitely interesting. They did bring out some percussion but it was much more light compared to the instrumental. What the song does best is bring out Wooyoung’s vocals really well, which isn’t something that you get often. It doesn’t feel masked in any way and just makes the song feel raw and pure. Despite the chill vibes from the song, his vocals add the emotional touch to the song. Overall, while it definitely was not the route I expected Wooyoung to go, its unexpectedness just puts the song into a stronger spotlight, in my opinion.

The entire music video is set after a breakup and how it has an affect on a person’s life. It plays nicely with the song and is definitely a toned down concept that mirrors the toned down nature of the song. Despite that, however, the video was more on the boring side of the spectrum. There just wasn’t enough to make me feel that interested in the video.

I suspect this will have a performance to it but we won’t see one before Thursday (if I am not mistaken). I will update this review (and the Block B review) on Thursday or Friday this week.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 6/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10

[Review] Going Going – Jang Wooyoung (2PM)

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Jang Wooyoung will be back with a brand new solo mini-album in South Korea next week. Despite this, Wooyoung has dropped a pre-release titled as Going Going for the fans on Monday, which is why we are here today. Wooyoung has been active in South Korea for the past few years after 2PM went on a hiatus to allow the members to individually enlist in the military. I just haven’t got around to review any of his solo works since Sexy Lady in 2012.

Anyone called for a throwback to the 90s? Going Going is a track that is overloaded with all the same elements (e.g. disc scratching) and vibes as some of the popular music from the 90s. And in reference to my earlier review today, I still think this track could have been a great title track for the Summer months, due to its vibrant sound. But this is just a pre-release, so I guess we have to let that slide. The drums in this song is definitely a successful attempt at trying to get the song to stick in my mind. That bridge with the consecutive drums was definitely a highlight. His English lyrics did catch me off guard when I first listened to it, making me doing a double take back to check the lyrics to be sure I heard correctly. And while I did like the vibrancy of the music, I wasn’t sure about the chorus. It just felt a little plain, in comparison to some of the other parts of the song. I feel like the verses had a lot more colour when compared to the chorus. Great song, though.

Following that vibrancy, the video is clearly shot to make it fit that Summer season. I just don’t know why the video was hit with a dark or pale filter, which really felt unnecessary in my point of view. Some of the shots didn’t seem to have the filters, which was pleasing to watch. Besides that, I don’t think there was much else to the video to comment on.

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

[Review] Think About You – Jun.K (2PM)

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[This review was written and scheduled a few months back in preparation for my absence in December. The standard posts for the end of the year (comebacks I have missed in November & December, the end of year charts + KPOPreviewed awards) will be written and posted after my return. No weekly charts will be uploaded for the last week of November and all of December.]

Jun.K (formerly known as Junsu) is the main vocalist from 2PM, under JYP Entertainment. He previously made his solo debut a few years back. He has actively promoted as a solo artist in Japan when he is not promoting with 2PM. Thinking About U marks his solo return to South Korea, in August of this year.

Thinking About You is a song that has the RnB sound, but is mixed with an EDM instrumental.  It is an odd mix but it works really with each other. Vocally, he sounds outstanding. His singing style doesn’t typically match the genres of music that the instrumental has us expecting. But somehow he makes it work. Those ad-libs at the end really do end the song quite nicely, boasting his talents even further. The lyrics of the song talk about the regrets that the guy has, who previously cheated or left his previous lover behind. Overall, I think it is a really good track. It is interesting that it combines genres that don’t usually go well together and still it manages to work.

The video was extremely boring to watch. There wasn’t much going on in it. Though, for someone who never took his shirt off, he has his fair of shirtlessness in this video. There just wasn’t anything captivating in the video. There were many close up shots in different sets and a few choreography scenes. But nothing that worth talking about.

During the live performances, Jun.K doesn’t participate in the dance (he focuses on the singing only, only dancing during the dance break). The dance is okay. His performance overall is a little boring to watch as well. I would have preferred just him singing into a microphone with this song, though.

Rating – 6.5/10

[Review] Promise (I’ll Be) – 2PM

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The beastly idols are back. Yes, 2PM has returned with their final album before enlistment. They were last on the stage for My House (last year). Moving away from their normal beast image, they have returned with more of a charming and romantic concept and look.

Promise is an EDM-based song. The song starts off with a very strong piano melody, but as soon as the chorus hits, the EDM blends in and drowns out the piano sound that we hear at the start and in the verses. It is a nice contrast, without going over the top or being too powerful that it makes me comfortable. The rap is powerful and hard-hitting, which goes hand in hand with the chorus that is succeeded. Not exactly fond of the complete slow-down of the song at the bridge (right after the rap). Though it does give the song more dimension and lead nicely to the final chorus, it makes the song lose its energy. Taecyeon’s rap sequence was the peak, but then it just all disappeared within less of the second and moved back to that piano medley at the start.  However, I did like the buildup during that part, and as I said, it leads nicely to the final chorus. The vocals were amazing. Each of the members shined their own in the recording of the song (the live was a little disappointing and some of their vocals fell flat, in my opinion). That charming and romantic concept were delivered in the lyrics of the song.

The music video shows 2 sides. Junho, Nichkhun, Chansung plays the guys who had broken up with their girlfriends. Wooyoung, Jun.K and Taecyeon play the guys with girlfriends. The song talks about being mature about love and the “promise” to be someone better next time. It seems like the members do play towards that in the video. This was evident for scenes like Nichkhun. He throws the bouquet of flowers in the air, but later one picks one rose up as if it was a sign of change or moving on. Not exactly sure how those with the girlfriends play into it. But maybe these shots are like before and after change?  The rest of the music video looks very elegant and fits in well with the concept. From the sets to what each member was wearing. The only issue was the small dance segments that were scattered throughout. I personally did not like them and thought it felt distant to the rest of the video. The editing between members for these dance shots made it look funny and it is a rather odd thing to have in the video. Also, Jun.K, the new guy in KPOP who can’t seem to keep his shirt on.

Disappointed by the dance. It doesn’t seem powerful. The instrumental is quite hard-hitting and sounds perfect for a more powerful choreography, but the entire dance lacks energy and does even deliver half the energy the song delivers.

Rating – 6.5/10

Time Spent Together – 2PM

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2PM is back with a brand new song. But you haven’t heard of any comebacks from 2PM? Well, that is because this is a Japanese song for a Japanese comeback. Well, more technically it serves as a goodbye single, from what I heard, as 2PM will be enlisting this year and this would mean that this could be the last song we see from 2PM for a long time (two years or so). Given that fact, it shapes our perception of the song. But more on that below!

Yeah, this is a very sad song. I am quite sure it was not written to be like that, but given the circumstances. But anyway, when I say “sad”, I actually do not mean literally. The reasoning makes the song sad, but the song can be described as touching and quite nice. 2PM has gone for a ballad this time around with all members singing in it. I repeat. All members sing in the song, even Taecyeon, who is the rapper of the band. And damn, do they do a good job at it. The song itself has this warm feeling when you listen to it and you can honestly feel the emotion that band tries to rely across to us. During the time I was listening to the song Beside that, I don’t have much more to say about the song. It is a great song that has a nice warm feeling to it. A song that I would listen to remember good memories and enjoy those times.

The music video that came with the song shows the guys having fun and enjoying each others company. For all we know, this could be their final time together as a group. And to the person who pointed it out when Nichkhun looked at the picture that he took of the others when he was sitting on the stairs alone, it is kind of sad to see something like this, since Nichkhun will be the only member who will not be enlisting and hence would have more of those moments in the future. Way to dampen my viewing experience, but honestly, I can’t say much. The video’s slowness complimented the slow tempo of the song and fitted in with the happy feels. What more can you ask for?

So you can tell I am very impressed with this Japanese comeback. Hopefully, 2PM will return one more time to South Korea before enlisting. 10/10

 

[DOUBLE REVIEW] Fire + So Good – Junho (2PM)

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Junho from 2PM has returned to the stage as a soloist in South Korea this month, with Fire and made his solo comeback with a brand new album. The male singer has been achieve great lengths in Japan in the past few years with a lot of solo work. He made his official debut in Korea as a solo singer last year and this is his first comeback. This is also the first time I am reviewing a song from the artist, even though it has been some time since he debuted. 2PM has had a relatively quiet year, with the main comeback of My House just a few months ago. Junho shows off a different side of himself to the audience in this comeback, but damn, why is the promotions for him so short?

I definitely enjoyed both songs. Fire appealed to me more as the better track, but So Good was pretty catchy. So Fire is your rnb infused love song that I think is really cool. Junho killed it with this vocals and I was amazed at the high pitch he was singing at for most of the song. His English lyrics for this song sound a lot like he is asking for sex, but I think he is not technically aiming for that message. Honestly, the lead up towards the chorus was amazing and the instrumental was very calming. The song flowed very well and has me jaws dropping the whole way. So Good is like you Summer party track. Both songs were released in Japan before and I feel like this song was more targeted to the Japanese audience. But either way, the beat was addictive and the  way he sings the song makes him stand out. I absolutely loved his mini rap section after the chorus. It added more depth to the song. I know Junho is capable of these things, but like what JYP is doing to him, I forget about Junho’s talents. Both song was equally amazing and showcased his talents extremely well.

I watched the Japanese version of Fire and realized it was the wrong music video. While the exact same music video was used, the Japanese version was a lot darker for some reason, while the Korean version was much brighter. I don’t know why. There is just a short video for Junho’s Fire music video that was released for the Korean audience and there really is not much to say about it. I think the girl was very pretty. But I always think that filming would have been awkward due to their language barrier. But hey, the music video did not have any of that awkwardness, so I am quite amazed. So Good has a lot of eye candy and I think aims more for the female (and male) demographic. I am going to be honest, he looks handsome and his abs are probably to die for, for most guys. It seems like he is enjoying his time and I think him interacting with the camera for this music video made it a much better video, than just clips of him partying his summer away.

I haven’t seen much of the dance for So Good. But what I see from the music video, there really is not much to talk about. As for Fire, this live stages are phenomenal. Though I do get cringe worthy when I see artists interact with their microphone stand as if it was a girl. I honestly think it would be better if there was a pretty girl on this live stages. But then again, she might have been cursed at by certain fans…

It is such a pity that JYP is not promoting Junho. Junho deserves a whole promotional run, not just a week and a bunch of music videos. Refer to my rant at DAY6’s review. But overall, this was a superb comeback that got me in the summer feel. And I am sick with a cold at a moment.

Fire – 10/10

So Good – 10/10

My House – 2PM

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2PM is finally back with a new song. Last year, they made their comeback with Go Crazy which was seen as a go to party song for everyone to dance to. It did that job and probably turned into one of the most popular songs for parties for last year. This time, they are back with a more fantasy world comeback. I can’t think of the word for it. Maybe mystical?

The song is a pretty solid song. Though I have to admit it was a little disappointing for me. I think the song was a solid display that the vocal work and rapping was still pretty decent. But I don’t really associate this sound with 2PM. Jun.K wrote the song and I think he did a wonderful job with a song that had a bit of a mix up in the middle in terms of the sound. I feel like Nichkhun, Chansung and Junho got overshadowed in this song but I feel like they got their parts at the same time. It is a pretty nice song that reminds of the late 90s boy bands. I really enjoyed the autotune ad-libs during the song (the Rabbit in other words). I liked the guitar at the start with the slight electro feel we get in the song. The chorus wasn’t that appealing in my point of view and it just didn’t get me into it. But I think the song did its job pretty well, but it just lacked for me.

As for the music video, I liked the concept they are going for. It is pretty original. While I am sure we have all seen 1 fairytale story in a music video somewhere, I don’t think there has ever been a combination of them together in one video. We see different fairy tales in this video mashed up into one including: Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,  Alice In Wonderland, Red Riding Hood, Beauty and The Beast, Rapunzel etc. I thought it was a very well thought concept that matched the song as well. And the animals in this music video. I kid you not, the rabbit made my day when I watched the music video. I thought the rabbit scenes were adorable and so freaking cute. The wolf matched Taecyeon very well, so I guess their Beastly Idol image remains. It is a little confusing to talk about how it all fits in but I think the music video was pretty nice to watch. It wasn’t boring because I found that I was more intrigue about who she was going to choose.

When I first saw the dance, I thought they were pulling luggage. Not joke, it just made so much sense to me. So when I found that they were holding the girls hand and leading the way back to “their house”, my mind was blown. The dance fitted the style of the song (and the lyrics)  but to me it doesn’t have that 2PM feel to it. It just seemed like a pop song’s dance.

Overall, even though I find 2PM now losing a lot of their colour and identity, this was a pretty nice comeback. 7.5/10

Rewind: March 2015

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Through this new segment (Finally got to use that one word), we will be looking back at the third month of 2015. I get to rank my top 10 songs. But we also get to look back at other events that happened in the Korean music industry. This way, I can talk about big events in the KPOP industry and rely my thoughts to you all.

Lee Min Ho and Suzy Dating

This by far is the biggest news of March 2015. Just a few days ago, it was confirmed by both companies that Miss A’s Suzy and Hallyu actor Lee Min Ho are officially dating. More importantly, JYP (Suzy’s company) have announced that Suzy would not avoid questions regarding the couple. Now, usually companies try to “Hush” the rumours, so I thought it was a little wierd that JYP would say Suzy would be answering all questions. Though I get that both companies would have to confirm due to the evidence presented, but I think JYP is milking everything they can out of this big piece of news. Dating in the industry is going to be hard but I wish the very best for the two. Now let’s move along with Miss A‘s comeback, shall me?

Red Velvet First Win

The subheading says it all. Congratulations to Red Velvet on their first music show win. At the time I am writing this, they actually have won 4 music show awards. Their latest song is ________________________________________________________________. Sorry. Let’s leave this here and wait for the review to come out. Soon. I promise. I am not YG. It will come soon. Like next week probably.

2AM Members Change Companies

Another big piece of news with the 2AM members splitting up with their company. No, they are not disbanding (though it sounded a lot like it at first) but 2AM members have decided to go with different companies. Jo Kwon decided to stay with JYP Entertainment. Seulong decided to go with SidusHQ and Jinwoon decided with Mystic Entertainment. Changmin signed with Big Hit after his contract ended with JYP last year (I think?). This kind of says something about JYP Entertainment, but at the same time, we should be glad the ballad group are not going away for now. Let’s hope 2AM comebacks with a new song with this different formation with companies. (On a side note: all 2PM members – contract ended around the same time – resigned with JYP).

Comebacks for April

BIG BANG HAS BEEN CONFIRMED!!! Though, not exactly sure when the comeback is exactly. But BIG BANG HAS BEEN CONFIRMED to be the first YG artist making their comeback in 2015. On top of that, EXID will be making their comeback. Miss A and EXO just made their comeback at the end of the month. Dal Shabet, Mamamoo, Cross Gene have also be confirmed. SNSD (Girl’s Generation) will also be making their comeback in May BUT they will be releasing a track during April in both Japan and Korea.

Yewon and Lee Tae Im Scandal

This scandal I am not familiar with. Essentially what happened is that Yewon spoke informally to Lee Tae Im. After Lee Tae Im got angry and left, Yewon decided to curse out at Lee Tae Im, and hence causing this controversy. Essentially, Yewon is more of a younger person in the industry, so she had to be formal. I get it sometimes. I come from as Asian background and sometimes I don’t think the formality thing is right. Just because they are older does not mean they are right. Imagine this: the older person is cursing the daylights out of you and your loved ones, and you “disrespectfully” defended yourself and your family. Is the older person right and you are at fault? Though this is not what had happened, it seems like the industry zooms in on one part and leave the rest out for every bad situation. We don’t know 100% what happened. We will never know what 100% happened. Something could have happened before that got both angry. Those are just my loosely put together thoughts on the whole thing. Maybe Yewon is in the wrong. But what if she isn’t? Remember I am not siding with her. I am just being “opened minded” about things.

Top 10 songs of the month

1. Paradise Lost – Gain (Brown Eyed Girls)

2. Between Night n Music – B.I.G

3. FM – Crayon Pop

4. You’re Pitiful – Fiestar

5. Donghae & Eunhyuk – Growing Pains

6. I Am A Woman Too – Minah (Girl’s Day)

7. Ice Cream Cake – Red Velvet

8. Apple – Gain (Brown Eyed Girls) ft. Jay Park

9. Growing – K.Will

10. Bounce – Boyfriend

Guilty Love – 2PM

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2PM is back in Japan with a brand new single, Guilty Love. For a while now, 2PM has been focusing more on the Japanese industry with more regular releases of albums and songs than compared to the Korean market. With both Jun.K and Junho starting their solo careers in Japan in 2014, 2015 will see 2PM’s Wooyoung make his official debut later this month (according to insiders). On top of that, their newest Japanese single is receiving a lot of love with the song peaking at number 1 in the Japanese charts.

The title of the song sounded a lot like a ballad, so I was quite surprised when I first heard this song. But instead we get this Las Vegas sounding songs with a lot of trumpet work and with a grand feel to it. It really does not have that 2PM feel to it. Instead there is more of a popish feel to it, rather than a manly feel to the song that we usually get from 2PM.  The song is actually pretty good, and I feel that Jun.K’s (well the chorus) parts hook me to the song. The 5 grunts were totally unnecessary after Taecyeon’s rap.  But his rap is pretty good still. I feel that 2Pm really needs one of their Japanese songs to be one of their Korean songs. 2PM put out good music while in Japan, and sadly, they haven’t been as successful for their last two comebacks in Korea.

Prepare for me to review 1 minute and 32 seconds of basically the first part of the song. They carried the Las Vegas feel of the song to video. The background looks like the Las Vegas lights we see and think of when we hear about Las Vegas. The combination of the band and black and white filter gives off this really retro feel to the song. Even their hairstyles remind us of the retro times. I’d be a little creeped out my jukebox has a bunch of dudes just waving at you. And really beside that, I can’t say much about the music video. Seriously, Japan really needs to start releasing the full version of their videos, like when the song is released. Makes my life 10x easier.

As for the dance, it looks pretty solid. Not as memorable or catchy as their previous dances, but still pretty good.

Nice comeback for Japan. I think we need a comeback in Korea. Comeback to Korea after Wooyoung’s solo okay? 8/10

Catch Up Review #4 – 2PM, 2AM, Beast

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Once again, another KPOP catch up review with the biggest boy groups and bands in the industry today. And there are so much, that I had to split this category into 3 or 4 other reviews (which will be released gradually). On with the reviews:

Go Crazy – 2PM

One of the biggest boy groups in South Korea finally made their comeback with a new album. I liked the song, however their comeback was not successful overall.  However, that is a completely other story. Go Crazy kind of mirrors Hands Up, which to date, I believe is their most successful song, however I really expected a little more. The vocals are great and the song really wanted me to dance, but it just sound generic and really does not set the bar higher for future releases. The music video is a little boring. I really was not that amazed with guys flying across the moon and stuff like that. The dance was a little more freer and I thought it was nice to have a “random” choreography. It adds to the more fun and crazy side of the song. 6/10

Over The Destiny – 2AM

Let’s look at the opposite side. 2AM recently made their comeback with Over The Destiny and I honestly have no idea why I am reviewing this. But anyway, the song is a ballad. I am not a big fan of 2AM (mainly because I never got into them), but this song has a hint of catchiness in the chorus). Correct me if I am wrong, but Changmin has a pretty nice voice and this song showcases the fact he has a nice voice. As for the music video, I am a little confused regarding the actual concept, but at the same time, it was a very interesting concept. The dude was running to his main goal (the girl), but everything around him was dropping from the sky. Some things are not really stuff you find in the sky that is there to drop, hence it was a pretty interesting video to watch. Just the slow motion… 6/10

12:30 – Beast

This has to be one of the greatest ballad dance songs ever. The vocals in this song were superb. Like I don’t think, while listening to the song, that I was disappointed in it any one bit. Yoseob had an amazing voice during the song and all the other members. Rapping is not really a great combination with such a slow song, but Junhyung pulled it off really well. The instrumental itself was really amazing as well. As for the music video, it was boring to watch. Great a clock, great a scene between two characters arguing. It just was too cliche. Whereas on the other hand, the cinematography was amazing. The dance was pretty good as well, though it did mimic the cliche clock moves that all the clock concepts have had, but the dance here was really well done. 9/10

So yeah, that is my views on the comebacks by such big names. But hey, you probably are wanting to know where the biggest group Super Junior review is coming? Cause they too are a very big boy group as well and widely popular. Well guess what? It is the next review! Super Junior reviews everywhere!!!