It has been over 4 years since we last had a comeback from Brown Eyed Girls. Boy, have I missed them (and I am sure you did as well). Today, the quartet breaks the drought with a full group comeback. Returning with Re_vive (their 7th studio album to date), the comeback features double title tracks and they are titled Abandoned and Wonder Woman.
Abandoned is the first song that I wanted to discuss. It is a ballad. And given Brown Eyed Girls discography, it is a really good fantastic and also a song that they can only pull off. The song is quite haunting yet breathtaking at the same time. Within the first listen, the song gave me chills and this was thanks to their vocals, which are layered on top of the classically driven instrumental that is quite eerie sounding. Their vocals were the main focus throughout the song, which is something I really enjoy with Brown Eyed Girls. From the whisper-like vocals at the start to the dramatic rush they give us at the end, the four nail the song. But I really like about the song is the buildup. It is perfection in my point of view. The song progresses, going from soft to dramatic, which I really like. The icing on the cake is Miryo’s rapping during the bridge, which gave the song a peak that I would never have imagined. And it was a great way of incorporating Miryo into the song, using her powerful rapping talents to give that impact.
Wonder Woman is the second title track and it a complete change-up. It is a lot brighter and upbeat, which isn’t something that Brown Eyed Girls is known for. But at the same time, it is different from the bright and upbeat tracks we often get in the industry. There is a bit of retro influence in the instrumental, which gives it an appealing sound. I also found the song to be quite catchy and I can see myself listening to the song a fair bit in the coming weeks. The song focuses purely on vocals, with JeA, Narsha and Gain really well utilised. There are some things that don’t have been feeling as positive in comparison to Abandoned. I am a little confused with which part the chorus is. And Miryo’s part was quite underwhelming. I think if she had a stronger section, this would have lifted the song to a whole new level.
The main reason why this is a double review is due to music videos. I think they are interlinked but they are shot so well that they can be standalone. I am also not sure of the order, but this is my theory. Abandoned shows the three vocalists as brides trapped in an abandoned house. It seems like they are abandoned by the guy, who comes looking for them in the first place. He tries to search for them but is unable to reach them as they are already dead. How so? Well, Jack seems to be the killer and ‘The Jack’ in this video is played by Miryo, who seems to toys with his feelings throughout the video. It was later revealed (via the framed book pages on the walls) that the guy had killed himself after the three vocalists (actually sisters) are convicted of being witches (due to Jack’s false information) and assumingly killed by the villagers. While the original story shows the witches killing the Jack. But in this video, Jack kills the witches, which resulted in them in donning similar male-centric outfits in the Wonder Woman video. In Wonder Woman, the group are attracted to the group of brides. It seems like JeA, Gain and Narsha ends up getting along with the brides just fine. Miryo, on the other hand, is cornered in her car by the brides, who show Miryo the Wanted posters for Jack, which is confirmed to be her at the end when you look at the soles of her shoes.
Abandoned Song – 10/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 10/10
Wonder Woman Song – 8/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 8.8/10
It has been a while since we last heard from Brown Eyed Girls. As a group, their last comeback was in 2015. Since then, solo works have been the main focus of the individual members. But it seems like the BEG drought will be ending in 2019. Reports were published regarding an impending comeback this year. I am very excited about that. And just last week, JeA (the group’s leader) made her solo comeback with a new single, Dear Rude, which features Cheetah. Let’s take a look at this new release closely, as the peek I had over the weekend blew my mind).
As suggested above, this isn’t my first time listening to the track. I am quite concerned because this comeback could have been easily missed, given the limited amount of teasers and lack of promotions for this comeback. But that is a discussion for a different day. Dear. Rude is a powerful track filled with the message of female empowerment. From the very first second, it aims to be striking and bold, which it succeeds in doing. The instrumental doesn’t stop to ease the momentum, which builds throughout the track. JeA’s vocals just continue to come at you. Cheetah’s rapping is powerful, strong and packs a punch. If I were to describe the song as a real-life scenario, I would say that the song backs you (the listener) into the corner, forcing you to hear the message of the track. I found the track to be thrilling and suspenseful from start to end. As mentioned previously, I have been blown away with this return and anticipate any future releases in a very eager manner (let’s hope I don’t miss them).
As a song about female empowerment, the music video and its accompanying story is quite twisted. If you don’t like 19+ concepts (not the sexy kind, but more of the gory type), then this video isn’t for you. But if you like a little zombie or vampire action in your movies, then do contribute to the views for this music video. The video revolves around zombies. Each male zombie represents a figure in society that looks down or have previous;y ‘controlled’ females. The older zombie is like a father figure, the more normally dressed zombies are like society. They are turned to vicious monsters and act like animals because of this behaviour. A female neighbour came by and ends up getting turned into a zombie as well. But she appears to be more civilised and receives a balloon from JeA. As for JeA, she becomes the Queen and leader of this little zombie crew. The tables have turned and she uses the animal-like behaviour of the male zombies to infect the world, going back to the message that she can do whatever she wants. It is a dark video and it is a very different way of putting female empowerment into context. I liked the black and white shots throughout the majority of the video before the golden colour comes in at the end, suggesting the start to a new day and JeA as a new sun.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 10/10
So I have a long list of albums that I wanted to do a review for. And that list just keeps on growing when I remember more artists. So, while I bulk write some album reviews for the next year, I have decided to release a few. Another one or two will be released this month, depending on the release dates to some of the albums for December 2017. The focus of this album review is Brown Eyed Girls most recent release, Basic. It was unveiled at the end of 2015 but didn’t do that well on the charts (from what I could remember). But it is one of their best albums to date (the other is Sixth Sense).
Basic Album Cover
1..Time For Ice-cream – I think this is an ideal opener to the album. The jazzy track grabs your attention with its unique sound from the very start. The lyrics were quite suggestive, despite the innocent title misconception. The vocals and raps were good but not impressive. The idea behind the track was good but I just don’t think it was delivered in a favourable manner. (8/10)
3. Wave – The soft piano and funky instrumental works really well together. I also loved the guitar riffs in the song. I also think this is one of the best tracks, vocally, on the album. The raps were also equally awesome. The combination of everything makes it a track to die for and it remains interesting each time I listen to it. (10/10)
5. Obsession – Obsession has a nice Latin influence that sounds extremely seductive. This statement is the most applicable to the song’s rap section. The harmonies were on point and JeA does the bridge justice. The song just doesn’t feel grand compared to some other tracks on the album. (7/10)
6. God Particle – With the start of the album focusing on darker and serious sounds, it is nice to see a brighter song, giving the album a ‘breath of life’ of some sort. I really liked the bold instrumental, which consists of drums and horns. The vocals and raps were amazing. Miryo gave the track a more retro feel. The best part was the ending, with the ad-lib and cymbals. (9/10)
7. Light – Light is a ballad with a hip-hop twist, given Miryo’s rap. Out of all the tracks on the album, their vocals are the best in this song. The song is quite uplifting and the chorus itself felt like the light at the end of a dark tunnel, making it the most impactful song on the entire album. (10/10)
8. Atomic – Returning to the brighter side of the album, Atomic feels extremely retro and I felt that it could have easily passed off as a song on the Hairspray (‘70s) with its showtune sound. Vocal work here is quite nice and it was extremely catchy. The track itself had a ‘dynamite’ moment with the ad-lib at the end of the track. (9/10)
9. Dice Game – I admit the Spanish flare was extremely strong in this track and the vocals were quite nice. But sadly, I am not keen on the track, particularly the autotune in the background during the chorus. Also, the rap section felt skippable, as with the rest of the track. (6/10)
10. Fractal – The ballad and guitar-based instrumental made the track sound quite beautiful. The vocal sand harmonies in the track were also quite delightful. The only issue with this track is the abrupt ending, which meant the entire album ended on an abrupt note. But overall, still, a nice track to listen to. (8/10)
Gain is a member of Brown Eyed Girls and is consistently known for her unique concepts that no other artist or group in KPOP have ever done. Her songs and music videos are just proof of this. Now, she has returned with part 1 of her new album and the title track, Carnival.
This is an 180-degree turn around for Gain. All of her concepts in the past have emphasised the sexiness. From the sound to the looks, everything has been sexy. This new sound is a lot different and quite unexpected. The songs are more of an orchestra inspired or theatre based 1930’s song. Staying true to her versatile roots, she still manages to go for a style that is not done that much in the industry. It does remind me a lot like IU’s Red Shoes, however, this song is still quite different. First of all, the song sounds a lot brighter and more “happier” (in a sense). Secondly, this song also compliments Gain’s vocals quite well. Gain isn’t known for her vocal work but is quite known for her voice’s huskiness. Not once did I listen to the song and think “boy, if only she had a more powerful voice for the song”. She handles it perfectly, to the point where I wondered why I always thought she was vocally weaker than others. I did have my doubts with the song, though. The first few listens, I thought the instrumental would have been a little too overpowering for her, but after a while, I realised there was much more of a nice balance. Personally, I really like the track. Though it is much different from her past songs, she managed to pull it off and still sound stunning. I totally love the grand nature of the instrumental and that ending was perfect, ending the song on such a grand and elegant feel.
While I did say she had an 180-degree change, she still managed to keep the sexy in the video. I believe we all saw the shortest length the dress will ever become in the video. Anyway, the video is quite complex. The plotline confused a lot of people (myself included) but I think most people agree that in the video, Gain had died and the every start and end of the video are parts of her funeral. The parts where she gets up from where she was laying and starts randomly dancing with an umbrella seems to be when she is a ghost and reliving the memories of her past, including when she met the man of her life (aka. the old guy who attends her funeral at the end). I love the sets. Everything looks stunning and breathtaking. Especially those firework scenes at the end. I love how her outfits still carry that early 20th century feel to it while keeping the sexy in. Beautiful video.
I love the use of umbrellas in this dance. Especially how it is used with the ending of the song. Really gives the stage that extra sense of boldness and uniqueness. I, however, am disappointed with the rest of the dance. While it does keep to the roots of that era, going around in circles and giving small kicks in the air for the dance isn’t amazing nor spectacular, like the song or video.
Welcome to the end of the year! Each year, I do this “End Of The Year Chart” where I properly rank songs via a personalised ranking system, which shows which songs I liked the most (and which songs I did not like at all – but I won’t name and shame). How do I rank the songs? Simply taking the score that I gave them in the review published earlier in the year, adding it to new review scores for the music, video and performance. Then I add those to other scores from “Songs of the Month” in my Rewind posts and to ensure that I can properly order them, I turn to my iTunes play count. And when I say “add”, there is a mixture of mathematical operations (and I am going to stop here, before I can bore you). In no way is this chart influenced by my choice of best song in the BOBs. But I do highlight them here :).
1
Ah Yeah
EXID
2
Paradise Lost
Gain (Brown Eyed Girls)
3
If You Do
GOT7
4
Closer
Oh My Girl
5
You
G.Soul
6
Love Me Right
EXO
7
I Need U
BTS
8
Sing For You
EXO
9
Shake It
Sistar
10
4 Walls
F(x)
11
Dumb Dumb
Red Velvet
12
I
Taeyeon (SNSD) ft. Verbal Jint
13
Like OOH AHH
Twice
14
Oh Um Ah Yeah
Mamamoo
15
Mansae
Seventeen
16
Just Right
GOT7
17
Crazy
4Minute
18
Insensible
Lee Hong Ki (FT Island)
19
Run
BTS
20
Yey
Beast
21
Between Night n Music
B.I.G
22
Shake That Brass
Amber (f(x)) ft. Taeyeon (SNSD)
23
Hot Pink
EXID
24
Beautiful Liar
VIXX LR (VIXX)
25
Brand New World
Brown Eyed Girls
26
Ring My Bell
Girls Day
27
Hurt Locker
Nine Muses
28
Growing Pains
Donghae & Eunhyuk
29
Run Away
Royal Pirates
30
Black Swan
Rainbow
31
Congratulations
DAY6
32
Catch Me If You Can
SNSD
33
Me Gustas Tu
Gfriend
34
The Answer
Kim Sung Gyu (Infinite)
35
Dope
BTS
36
Pray
FT Island
37
Cinderella
CN Blue
38
You’re Pitiful
Fiestar
39
Hopeless Love
Jimin (15&)
40
Bad
Infinite
41
Might Just Die
History
42
We Like 2 Party
Big Bang
43
Chained Up
VIXX
44
Fire
Mad Clown ft. Jamsil (Mad Child Soul)
45
Bell Bottoms
PSY
46
Ice Cream Cake
Red Velvet
47
Break Ya
LU:KUS
48
Kontrol
Kim Sung Gyu (Infinite)
49
I Feel You
Wonder Girls
50
Wow Wow Wow
Junjin (Shinhwa) ft. Eric (Shinhwa)
And here are some interesting facts about this year and the chart itself!
A total of 180 songs were ranked on this chart, but a total of 195 songs were reviewed this year (which I believe is a personal best).
The first song reviewed and included in the chart is BTOB’s The Winter Tale (released at the end of last year). The last song reviewed and included in the chart was EXO’s Sing For You
A total of 16 girl groups, 17 boy groups and 9 soloists are featured on the chart.
There is a better mix of boys and girl groups this year, compared to last year, where the first boy group did not feature on the charts until after 16th place.
BTS had the most songs on the chart (I Need U, Dope & Run). followed by: EXID (Ah Yeah & Hot Pink), GOT7 (If You Do, Just Right), EXO (Love Me Right, Sing For You), Kim Sung Gyu (The Answer, Kontrol) & Red Velvet (Dumb Dumb & Ice Cream Cake).
Rookies were actually a strong force this year with Oh My Girl, Seventeen and Twice ranking quite high up in the charts.
The following ranked after 50th place: IU, B.I.G, Crayon Pop, VIXX, Seventeen, Changmin, Big Bang, Brown Eyed Girls and CLC.
And finally, this year chart was actually reflected on the BOBs this year. I crowned EXID’s Ah Yeah as best song for both segments.
AND THAT IS IT!! 2015 will be ending shortly. 6 Hours To Go (for me at least)!!! Hope 2015 has been a great year for you all. I thank you all once again for another year of KPOPreviewed. Your support has been amazing. Every comment and like (heck even every view) makes me happy!! Nearly 5 years and still going strong!! Thank you 2015 and I wish you all a Happy New Year wherever and whenever it is time. Let’s make 2016 our year!!! (First review: 2nd of Jan).
015 is at its end, and with days away from the new year, we must reflect on 2015. And per usual: excellent songs, videos and dances have gracefully entered our lives and probably have not yet left us. From comebacks from big name acts to debuts of new rookie bands, 2015 has been a splendid year in my opinion. This year I decided to do the BOBs differently. Usually, I post a list of nominees and categories, but I don’t get you guys to vote for them (nor do I have the capabilities and time to allow you guys to vote for them, but maybe in the future), so I thought I should change it up this year, but posting both nominees and winners in the same post. This is part 2 of the BOBs and part1 was released yesterday (Click Here). Also, the traditional End of Year Charts will be released on the 31st of December, at 11:55 pm, so please wait around for that. Let’s get the post on the road!!!
These awards do not reflect any review score that I gave out this year. My personal preferences will always change (i.e. an 8 review score can currently be a 10 OR a 10 review score can currently by an 8).
RED FONT – Winners, BLUE FONT – Honourable Mention
BEST MALE ROOKIE
Once again, 2015 saw many debuting groups enter the KPOP scene. And this category obviously allows me to pick who i saw as the best new male artist of 2015. And boy were the standards high this year. The nominees are:
I have to give it to Seventeen. They were the only new boy group on the block that left a massive long impression on me since their debut at the start of the year til now. At first 13 members may have sounded a little too much, but the songs they were releasing proved otherwise. Honourable mentions goes to Monsta X who only popped on my radar in the past few weeks. Yeah, their debut did not do much, but what they released after did a lot.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST FEMALE ROOKIE
Same as the above category, many new girl group emerged from the shadows and wowed a lot of people. Most not if all female rookies managed to amaze me and picking the nominees for this category had been one of the hardest things to do this year. The nominees are:
Hands down, it automatically goes to GFriend. As soon as they started, they had the press all over them and their comeback proved to be highly successful, ranking high on the charts. As for honourable mention… I am literally torn between Oh My Girl and Twice. Yeah, Oh My Girl did not do as well for this debut, but their comeback exceed my expectations so much (why? Find out later) but I am going to give it to Twice, as they have only released one song and also ranked incredibly high on the charts.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST DANCE/PERFORMANCE
One of the things that make KPOP so unique is obviously the choreography and performances. And this year saw an amazing variety of performances and dances that made fans all for certain groups harder than ever. Each of the nominees that made it onto the list truly deserve to be the winner as they were all equally unique and amazing. I nominated:
Screw the MAMA awards. The male category was a mess for Best Male Dance Performance. However, I am here to fix it. I am putting BTS – Dope as the best dance of the year. Yes. BTS was not nominated at all and that is so disappointing. Dope was such as “dope” dance that was in sync and perfectly executed. As for honourable mention, GOT7 – If You Do takes it away. Though it was nominated, but it did not win. And I was incredibly disappointed. Anyway, I can say this: all of the nominated dances deserve an award.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST ALBUM
Albums. Not my favourite thing to talk about. Mainly because there are songs on some albums that disappoint me, and hence I sometimes stay away from albums because of that. Each album is looked at as a whole and also each individual song is looked at in detail. I don’t listen to entire albums a lot, but here is a list of just some albums I did manage to listen to as a whole. The nominees are:
At of all of those albums above, there were two stands out. The winner was F(x) – 4Walls, their 4th album. I have to say each and every song on this album I adore to the point where all the songs on there have become more memorable than certain comebacks of big name artists. Honourable mentions goes to Brown Eyed Girls – Basic, their 6th full length album. The album came extremely closely to being the winner, but I do not personally feel the same level of excitement when I listen to the album.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Music videos per usual is an artists main form of promotion. And this year, the music videos released were to of an extremely high standard. Each of these music videos have some unique about them and that is what stood out to me. I chose these based on plot, cinematography, sets or scenery, acting (if applicable) and editing. The nominees I saw fit these categories were:
I think the simplicity was the key for me this year. G.Soul – You won Best Music Video in my point of view. There is essentially nothing in this video beside the singer himself and some lights. But yet it managed to become such an amazing video. Honourable mentions goes to FT Island – Pray. Their concept was so amazing that it was incredibly hard to pass up this video.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST FEMALE GROUP
Now let’s get down to business. I like to call this and the next category “the best artist of the year”. But since KPOP is highly populated with groups, I split them up into genders and call the categories “group”. The female groups this year have successfully wowed me (and probably everyone else this year), with many people being able to pick a favourite. The nominees for Best Female Group are:
I think I am going to agree with the ongoing trend and give it to EXID. From Up and Down, released last year, EXID shot into the limelight with a fancam of Hani and have since re-promoted Up and Down, came back with Ah Yeah and more recently Hot Pink. Each time they make a comeback, they go on to prove their popularity. As for Honourable Mention: Red Velvet. Their successful year yet, and I am 100% sure that better years will come. Ice Cream Cake and Dumb Dumb will remain as favourites for me.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST MALE GROUP
Now let’s move onto the guys. The competition was so tough this year. At first, I managed to list around 20 different male groups that I think deserve this award, but I only ended up choosing 10 nominees. It was so hard. But here are my choices:
I am going to choose GOT7 as the best boy group of the year. GOT7 released three songs: Just Right, If You Do and Winter’s Confession. Put together, GOT7 had one busy year and I saw a very large amount of growth in terms of the boys’ talents and sound. As for honourable mention, it would got to BTS. For this year, BTS has definitely matured and showed an ever fiercer and more powerful side of the group.
WINNER
HONOURABLE MENTION
BEST SONG
This category, each year proves to be my worst enemy. It is so hard to choose my most favourite song. This particular category is not influenced (in any way) by the charts that I am releasing tomorrow. The “best song of the year” chosen here are like my subconscious mind speaking, whom I really want to see be given the title. The charts tomorrow are more calculated and take into account my reviews during the year and what my current thoughts about them are. But as I said choosing this category is the hardest. So many songs deserve this title and if I could choose to give out multiple “Best Song” awards I can. The nominees are:
Let’s start with the honourable mentions: GOT7 – If You Do, Oh My Girl – Closer, EXID – Hot Pink & Seventeen – Mansae.
HONOURABLE MENTION
HONOURABLE MENTION
HONOURABLE MENTION
HONOURABLE MENTION
And finally, I give to you, 2015’s Best Song of the Year, which you can probably tell already by the video linked below.
EXID – Ah Yeah
Congratulations, EXID. 2015 has been proven to be your year. You can watch the music video for this year’s Best Song below!
And that is it for Part 2 of the BOBs. Check back tomorrow, for the End Of Year Charts. And then, lets all wait for the New Year to come rolling through? Got your New Year’s Resolution yet?
*All images and gifs belong to their owners/creators. Only those tables are mine.
Oh dear, oh dear. I don’t think Brown Eyed Girls do subtle. I can’t say the song disguises the sexual innuendo at all because well, it is on the surface of the song, it is within the song and I am guessing when we read the lyrics together, it is also between the lines. And if you have no idea what this is about, well here is a line from the song “fire in the hole, when you touch me down there, I’m not feeling very well, so hot in down there“. When that part first hit me, I was trying my best not to laugh but it was impossible. The song has this nice funky and disco vibe to it which mirrors the music found back in the day. It has that early 70s feel to it. I have to be honest, the song is quite catchy and addictive. Miryo’s rap and the chorus combined together is a tune that I cannot get out of my own head at the moment. Once again, this is a style that I think only Brown Eyed Girls can pull off like it is nothing. This particular, while it is bit sexual, has that Brown Eyed Girl style, just not the exact type of song that we all expected.
Holes, holes and more holes. This whole music video is full of different holes and a lot of spinning things. Holes in apples, records spinning on the turntable, blenders making smoothies, those really cool tunnels that form when you put air into them. It was a very bright video that has funky and disco vibe to it, making it fit hand in hand with the song. I absolutely love how intrigued they look when it came to the holes. JeA’s part was just a little too innocent. I don’t think climbing into a washing machine is that safe and furthermore kind look over the top for me. I absolutely love their rabbit ears and tails. It all fits into the video and comes together as a great concept.
The dance was anything but sexual. I thought it was very classy. Their costumes indicate otherwise, but the dance on its own really does not scream out slutty or anything that vulgar. Their bum wiggles are cute and fit in very well.
This part of their comeback goes really well together. The only big complaint that I have is: cannot take the song 100% seriously as soon as Miryo starts doing her lines. Not saying she is bad, just the content of the lyrics. 9/10
Every single song that I am hearing in November is giving me chills and Brown Eyed Girl’s latest releases have been exactly that. It wasn’t something that I personally expected and thought it sounded really weird. Not the same colour that I expected for a Brown Eyed Girl’s songs, but it is growing on me. I now believe that this song has a style that probably Brown Eyed Girl’s can pull off. But anyway, yeah it is a weird song. I honestly cannot think of a way to describe it as a whole. There are elements of electronic and funk in it, but there is more to it which I cannot identified (I think I identified the more obvious genres that are mashed up into it). It also has a futuristic sound or a sound that I would have associated with the portrayal of space back in the 80’s or 90’s. I absolutely love the chorus, with JeA’s and Narsha’s fast pace singing. Miryo’s rap is kind of iffy for me, but after listening to it a lot, I think she handles it pretty well. The creepy “Hey~” that are featured in the track actually that really nice touch, even though it sounds really creepy.
The music video is one a whole new level. Yeah, those back up dancers with Gain at the start in those shorts, it took me some time to figure out that they were men. And that is what I love about Brown Eyed Girl’s music videos. They seem to always attempt to push something upon us that isn’t considered as typical. The video has a lot of sophistication in it. While it suits the futuristic sound that the band is going for, I absolutely found those bright lights on some of the dance scenes really obnoxious. It is something that has always been a part of me and every time a video has it, it just annoys me. It seems to be the girls go time travelling or something that bends light. I love the concept and thought it was very interesting. I love the special effects of the random shapes that pop up from time to time during the video. Beside those lights, I love everything about the video.
The dance, while it is something that does not scream Brown Eyed Girls, it manages to do the job and goes hand in hand with the song. To me, this dance just shows the girls ages. It really isn’t that strong compared to in the past, and reading articles about the girl’s bodies seem to just confirm my suspicions. My absolutely favourite parts? The creepy “Hey~”. How to make an entrance according to Brown Eyed Girls 101.
Overall, amazing song and video. An okay dance. 8/10
I will be reviewing Warm Hole and releasing the review tomorrow. I chose to do them separately, mainly because I want to share a laugh with you all about Warm Hole. if you don’t understand, it is time to play Warm Hole and listen carefully to some parts. I’ll tell you the rest tomorrow.
It has been a long time coming but finally something has emerged about Brown Eyed Girls. While this is not a full comeback from the band, one member is pretty good, considering the lack of activities from the band. So when I heard Miryo was making her comeback, I was extremely happy. Yes I know, Gain did make a comeback, but compared to the other members, she is promoted a lot more than her other band members. Brown Eyed Girls also shot down disbandment rumours, by saying that they are currently working on an album and it should be released sometime in the near future. I hope they don’t disband and if it happens that this album may be their last, I don’t mind. Just give me the album. How selfish of me really. But considering their age, it is amazing at where they are today.
So Miryo made her comeback. And the rapper is known for her bad ass style and hardcore rapping skills. And that is what every expected. However, I have to agree with most people. This song is quite underwhelming. I don’t think it is bad, it just does not conform to our expectations of the rapper. That is quite disappointing. But nonetheless, I don’t hate the song. I thought it was quite good and continue to think that it is Miryo putting out a new style. If you consider it, if an artist writes their song and produces it, only to have their loyal fans express their disappointment continuously, it would be hard on the artist. Learn to appreciate the song. For the song, I thought it was classy in its own standard. The song stilled managed to flow pretty well. It was not a badly written song or was not an earsore. Is it a song I would listen on repeat? No, not really. Gain’s feature in the song is pretty nice. There is this thing where the vocals of Brown Eyed Girls blend very well together. There is still that hip hop sound to the song, just it is very tamed and low key. It is a great song to listen to, but yeah, did not really wow anyone.
As for the music video, I am sure a little more budgeting would have made this video into something that makes us go wow. Yeah, rumours have it that Nega Network (which houses Brown Eyed Girls) have been having financial issues. Anyway, the music video was very boring. There wasn’t anything to interest me. Close up shots of the rapper and then dark silhouettes. The use of the Queen cards were pretty smart. I am at awe of her figure as well. She looked very hot in this video and her clothes just made it so much better (much of a pervert???). The music video did fit the style of the song pretty well as well. Gain did not feature in the video, which was another disappointment for this comeback. Yeah.
Now, they say Miryo has a few songs lined up and will be releasing more towards the end of the year. That is what I read online. 2 songs ain’t going to quench my thirst. Hahaha… Or even better, get the whole band to make a comeback. Nice song, though underwhelming. 5/10
NOTE: There is a gif at the end of the review that sums up my thoughts on the whole comeback. It is from the video and I apologise in advance if you are offended by the gif. Please don’t scroll down until you are sure you’re parents (if you are young) are away from this. I am so sorry.
Yesterday, I reviewed Gain’s Apple which featured Jay Park and unfairly got slapped with a 19+ rating. Today, I am going to the other side. The side that I think fans know of more than Apple. Paradise Lost is the second title track and also the most heavily promoted song for Gain’s comeback (due to Apple’s banning). It is the mother of all comebacks at this moment for me. Everything I say this song is probably going to sound bias but at the same time, these are my thoughts and I thought this comeback was amazing. Rumours have it (and I hope so) that Brown Eyed Girls are planning their comeback. So let’s cross our fingers and hope for BEG to make their comeback.
This song be far has to be one of the best songs of the year. This ticks everything in my books for the perfect song. Great vocals, amazing instrumental, is catchy, addictive but also has a nice (in this case hidden) meaning. Though I don’t think the song is meant to offend religion or mega corporations (though it sounds like it) but rather the lies that people make. There are talks of it being a song that attacks the church, but that is mainly seen in the music video rather than the actual song. The English could use a little work but it overall was fluent and enough to make sense. I just love the bridge of the song. That part basically seals the deal for me. Gain’s husky voice and her saying “They’re talking about a fantasy, They’re making up another fantasy. They’re talking about a fanatsy. They’re making up a story so they can control you and me.” Her vocals were strong and fitting for this concept and style. The orchestral instrumental did wonders to me. If you have been on this site for some time, you probably know I dig anything classical or orchestra like.
I love how dark and eerie this music video looks. There is nothing in this video that I would change. But there is something that confuses me. How in the world is this music video rated 15 only? Shouldn’t it be rated 19+? Like she was basically dry humping the floor during the video (see gif at end) and there was a lot of dark and hidden meanings that aren’t really for a 15 year old’s mind. Though there is one thing that I 100% sure about. The music video shows to the world that Gain is amazing at this “sexy” concept. I put “sexy” in quotations because to many, this was art and it is going to remain as art. I loved her little dance routine part of the music video. I loved the ending chorus, where the screen is actually cut in half with the reflection thing going on. This music video has parts of the Adam and Eve story in it, but I don’t see it directly referencing the story from the bible. But anyway. This music video shouts one word and that is EPIC!!!
The dance is amazing. The dance is so good in the video. Her dance break was phenomenal and I commend her for that. I don’t think this idea has ever been seen in KPOP. I was surprised about how her costumes and clothing managed to get onto the stage. It was a pity the performances was cut down to avoid certain parts of her dance that were explicit, but it was an amazing dance.
This is art and this is why I love KPOP. Though there was negative criticisms from many regarding this comeback, it is still something that Gain (and probably only Gain) would pull off in the Korean music industry. Mad props to her and I will remained at her presence on the stage. 10/10
PS. Something I don’t want to confess but I think many people have watched the video and thought one thing about Gain. “Damn”.
Gain, from Brown Eyed Girls, have returned after a year since Truth Or Dare, which was released early last year. This time around she has got another 19+ rated music video for this song. Don’t know why but I will discuss it later. Her album this time has two title tracks and have proven to be a big hit in the industry. Though there are some criticisms and some of which I might add are double standards. But hey, that is what is known as an industry. Her other title track, Paradise Lost will also be reviewed. Most likely released tomorrow. Don’t quote me on that. That or next week when I finally go on my break.
This is a really nice summer song. It was refreshing and had a nice summery cooling effect on you. I think that was an oxymoron. But that summery effect was there, but it managed to cool you down. The song itself got slapped a 19+ rating by KBS. Don’t know why but KBS cited that the song had lyrics that suggested of a sexual relationship. Hmmm… Well, I think most songs need to be banned because a love song even though it is sweet, will lead to a sexual relationship in the end. In other words, KBS is not being making much sense. Music is meant to be up for interpretation. We don’t need people to tell us what this song means and what it doesn’t. Jay Park is an exceptional rapper and sounds amazing in this song. Gain has a really cute voice in this song. Something we don’t see much from her in her career. Together, I think they had really nice chemistry and would love to see this collaboration again in the future. Is it the best song out there? Probably not. But it really gives Gain a new side to her.
The music video also got a 19+ rating. I don’t see anything 19+ about this music video. Gain also wanted to challenge the rating on the music video. Yes, she wears extremely short shorts that resembles underwear and she holds a hose as if it was her d***. But beside it, it was a video that matched the summer feel of the song. She looked quite cute throughout the video running around after a ball and riding her bike. She obviously looked like she enjoyed herself. There was a lot of emphasis on the butt area, but like every other KPOP video out there that involves girl groups, don’t you think South Korea would be immuned to it by now? It was disappointing to know that the music video was quite short. Also, I rewatched the video. The music video was reassessed and given a 15 rating. At least we know these ratings are not final. Which means some bands can take unnecessary 19+ ratings if they want to.
As for the dance, we haven’t see much live performances of this song. Because it has been banned by so many broadcasting stations. However, last night, Gain performed Apple for the second time (as a full song) with the help of F(x)’s Amber. The cuteness also runs in the dance as well and Gain looks like she enjoyed her time on the stage. Not a memorable dance. but it fitted the song.
In conclusion (this whole review sounded more like an essay than a review), if you are going to ban songs, watch and make sure what ou say make sense. And remember music is very subjective. Overall, Gain did pretty well with Apple and it (alongside Paradise Lost) was a solid comeback. 9/10
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Brown Eyed Girls. Sign was released in 2008 after their hit single Abracadabra, which still serves as one of the biggest and well known songs in the KPOP industry to date. Sign was released as a repackaged album for their third studio album. This song was later released in Japan in 2010. After this song, they went on a break and later came back with hits like Sixth Sense and Kill Bill.
Not as great as Abracadabra or their later hits, but it still was pretty good. The piano instrument and electronic sound blended really well to make the song so good. Their vocals were superb and the rapping by Miryo was once again, probably one of the best raps ever. I really like the “sexy” bridge part. Gain’s voice sounded so sexual (this is not a complaint). But like I said before, this song really was not up to par compared to Abracadabra which was such a big hit. It just did not have the feeling of “most popular”. Actually, I am sure some people thought Brown Eyed Girls would become a one hit wonder. That being said, the song was popular in South Korea to a degree and since the band went on to release in Japan as well, showed that the song did achieve some of kind of value for the band. When I first heard this song, I was disappointed. But when I continued to listen to it a lot of times, it grew a lot on me.
This music video was a little controversial when it was first released. It literally made headlines from what I remember. So, the Korean version is a drama version. The reason why it got a lot of criticism because there was a scene in the music video where Gain drowns. Yeah, even though such a scene is confronting to watch, I see no problem. There should be a warning sign on the music video somewhere. I guess that is why they now have a rating system for music videos. The music video shows this man bashing some people up to help save Gain from dying. He, from what we know, completely fails and she sadly turns up dead in the music video. It is a solid plot to an extent. The Brown Eyed Girls members become ghosts throughout the video and sing creepily behind the fighting scenes. As for the Japanese video, they focused mainly on the dance.
The dance was pretty solid. It became a pretty popular dance and I love how they used the beat and incorporated that into the dance with the fans. Not people fans but “it is so hot” fans. Yeah, you probably get me. But it was a cool dance and I enjoyed it a lot.
Overall, a nice song. It just was not good enough compared to Abracadabra. How many times have I said that today? 8/10
This is my first LUNAFLY review ever. I was meant to review their debut song, but that song sounded to cheesy and at the same time reeks the sound of One Direction, so I stayed away from the song as much as possible. But now the band is back after a year,delivering a new sound so their fans. The band consist of Sam, the leader and guitarist of the band; Teo, the drummer and pianist of the band, while maknae Yun is an all rounder being able to play many instruments. The members are all vocalists of the band as well. This song, in particular, features their label mate Miryo of Brown Eyed Girls. Finally we get some kind of collaboration between the two label mates. Hopefully, we will be able to see more of them.
This song is pretty amazing. I love it and I think I find it the most enjoyable song since a very long time. This band goes for really simple sounds. There really is not much complexity in the songs that they release. It is all straight forward in my point of view. This song is pretty simple, that typical club beat but at the same time they mould the song into a more love ballad type of song. Well, even though the song has that club beat, it is a really soft club sound that I actually like. The part after the chorus is really addictive and basically what drove me to like the song. I also like it how they also make their voices fit the song. Those high parts in the instrumental have high pitch vocals which accompany the song. There are no over the top high notes here but the song still manage to blend well together. Even the rapping is pretty good. We all know Miryo for these really powerful raps, but this rap fitted the song, as it was quite slowed and remained in par with the vocals and the instrumental of the song. Amazing song.
Okay, I have to admit it. I expected a proper music video. There is nothing in their video. Just them playing their song at a club and a really bumping crowd. Beside that, there is really nothing to talk about at all. Miryo’s scene is in a different place, but they they combined her and the band at the club. Why? Was it seriously that necessary to put Miryo somewhere else and then put her in the club as well? I found it boring and uneventful.
The song itself is really beautiful, as for the music video, not so much. 7.5/10.
Gain officially made her comeback, joining the long line of sexy comebacks of the year so far. She made her comeback with Truth Or Dare, her third mini album, with the title track “Truth or Dare”. She also pre-released FxxK U which was a hit but did raise a few eyebrows. That song was BANNED from broadcast on every single station that you can possibly think of in Korea. And considering the amount of foul language in that song, I was not surprised. What I am surprises with though is the amount of foul language in this song and the intense video that accompanies it. I kid, I was being sarcastic! ( A little story: When I linked that picture(above) into the post, the first thing my eyes see is her crotch. I felt so weird. The picture is way too big and it happened to go straight to her crotch.)
Okay, I am not going to beat around the bush, but when comparing this song with FxxK U, I just think this song is not appropriate as a Gain style comeback. The song is so boring. I am impressed, but it lacked the sexiness in the voice which I wanted to hear. The vocals are so high pitch it just gave me shivers and I just think that this song is not that great. It was a good song, but it was not my personal favourite. There really is nothing to talk about. Well, the instrumental was interesting. It had this back in the day disco vibe with it, but I don’t find it as appealing as I had expected it to be. The song talked about and I am not sure but about the rumours she had in the industry. Many say she is basically the “wild child”, but in this song she is asking us if we actually really know her that well and to that extent. I thought the idea was great and I liked the lyrics of the song. I also liked how she joined that one line from L.O.V.E (Stop being like that and start talking). I also enjoyed the instrumental for the dance break. This song did lack a lot in feeling and could have been a whole heap better.
The music video is a like a mockumentary or documentary type of video which interviews the people Gain works with a lot to see what she is really like. A girl who cares for her figure, who is always wanting to woo guys and also a girl who loved to be touched sexy. Honestly, I found the video boring. Show Lo did also cameo, but he probably had the crappiest part of the video. But anyway, I like the performance version. It focuses a lot on Gain’s figure and I guess that kind of makes up for the lack of sexiness in her voice. Maybe, not really. I did like the colouring of the video and I guess she went for a more femme fatale look and style this time. Like all her videos, she looks amazing but yeah, the overall style was not that great nor it was something that I would have expected. Bloom and Irreversible were really up there is power, this in turn took it all down.
The dance is probably the best part. Though it had nothing major, it suited the song and its bounciness. On top of that, it worked out really well. I liked the dance break and how she would part away from the guys and then rejoin them. As I said above, she definitely had a femme fatale concept going on which looked amazing.
5/10. Definitely not the best song out there. Her other songs are way better. What was your favourite song? FxxK U or Truth or Dare? Put your vote down in the poll below!!! Check back next week when I announce the results! (Will update the playlist for this reviews and the other reviews when I get some time!)
Probably the most problematic song at the moment. Gain, the maknae of hot band Brown Eyed Girls, is back with a new mini album. She has been known for her many other singles including Bloom and Irreversible. Now she is back and once again is making headlines for her new pre release single. Though, she officially made her comeback yesterday, I only started to review her songs today, so… Anyway. Why is this song making headlines, I hear you ask… Try rereading the title. I don’t think any other song in this world (exaggeration here) is titled as “FxxK U”. And like every other person, I became surprised from the title. Always knew that Gain would go for the edgy type of comeback, but never thought it was that far.
This song is pretty amazing. Actually, so amazing, I think it is much better than her title track at this very moment. Now, as I said above, I would not have expected the song title of this song, and neither did I expect her to dress the f-bomb throughout the song like that. But hey, it was a song, and I liked it. Her husky voice really matches this song and it gives more meaning to the song every time she swears. Hahaha… The only complaint I have was that every time she did drop the f-bomb, she was kind shaky. I did not take her that seriously, and every time she swears, I have to giggle. I wonder if she even knows what the word means? Anyway, her duet with Bumkey is really good. I always thought he was a rapper, but he has a pretty good singing voice. I also like how at the end, she changes from the FxxK U to Love You, which really adds that extra meaning to the video. Overall, the song was quite nice and pretty amazing.
As for the music video, is it getting hot in here? No, cause I think I witnessed the first KPOP video with the most steamiest make out scene. And I though Trouble Maker’s Now was bad, this just takes things to a whole new level. Like that one was passionate. This one, they are fighting while doing it. Like the guy has his head between the Gain’s legs. Like wow, great way to start. Something did trouble me. They were getting ready, but the moment they have eye contact, Gain just pushes away. Like you’re not drunk, why is it taking out that slow to make a decision to enjoy yourself or walk away? Now, the ending is a little confusing. Did she kill the guy? Or did he kill her? What is with the blood thing? Why is that there? Also the shower curtain scene, looked a lot like the Human Centipede. No, just me?
9/10. I liked this song more than her new song. But her new title track is still pretty good in my books. But the amount of censorship with this song is already so large, I don’t know what is happening anymore.
Hi all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wow, 2013 is finally over. Can you believe it. With days to go, I will be unable to update this over my “break”. Beside that I have scheduled a whole heap of reviews. I promised you guys an End Of Year Charts, and with that very day 3-4 days away, I think it is time unleash the beast. Party hard! Welcome the new year in style! I will wish to see you all back on the 2nd of Jan 2013 (subject to change). At the very bottom of this post, there will be two links. One is a playlist for the winners of the BOB’s and the other is the top 20 songs of the year, as selected by this chart. Yay!!!!
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