Coming from ENHYPEN’s Desire: Unleash mini-album last month is the follow-up promotional single Outside. It follows the promotions of their latest title track, Bad Desire (With or Without You).
If I had my way, Outside would not have been my choice for follow-up promotions. It is my personal pick for the least liked track on ENHYPEN’s latest mini-album. Outside is a hip-hop-inspired track featuring a trap-based instrumental. I do like one of the synths in the background that reminds me of a Billie Eilish song, so Outside had that going for them. And I suppose the song had some potential due to its intensity. It just never really got anywhere with it. Unfortunately, the rest of Outside just doesn’t do it for me. The shouty rapping and deep, husky delivery of the chorus flash by without much thought, while the vocals are plain and lacking anything memorable. There also wasn’t much of a hook to the song, thanks to the vocal processing.
The music video for Outside sees the members battling against shadow versions of themselves. The lyrics talk about the changing desire (a constant theme of the mini-album) that they are experiencing within themselves. As the desire takes hold of them (switching to their shadow versions), they ensure it happens to all of them (which is why we have the sniper SUNOO taking out JUNGWON). Conceptually, this is quite a cool video. I just wish the song accompanying it was just as cool.
Outside‘s performance shows an intense version of themselves that I don’t think we have seen before. It is an interesting dynamic, and I quite like what they do on stage with it. A compelling performance, overall.
Song – 5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 6.5/10
Welcome to the next edition of the Weekly KPOP Chart posts. This is for Week 1 of June 2025, which spans 1 to 7 June 2025. Another fast one today – let’s get right to it.
Non-Korean Song of the Week
Each week, the top-ranked non-Korean Song on the Weekly KPOP Chart is spotlighted (as this is an area I haven’t been focusing on as much on my blog lately). The non-Korean song of the past week is TABLO & RM’s Stop The Rain.
Bad Desire (With or Without You) has so much unrealised potential—it feels like it was heading in the right direction, but never fully got there. The verses are great, with the pounding beats and striking vocals that really sell the R&B-pop vibe. The autotune is noticeable but used effectively, adding a cool, crunchy texture that enhances the members’ delivery in “Bad Desire” (With or Without You). NIKI’s husky voice is definitely a standout element in the song. Where the song stumbles is during the chorus. While Bad Desire (With or Without You) flows naturally from the verses and sounds good, it honestly felt more like a pre-chorus, and the real chorus never arrives. Bad Desire (With or Without You) also doesn’t evolve much in the second half—the same verse and chorus repeat without much variation, and the instrumental doesn’t build the way it could have. That lack of development holds back Bad Desire (With or Without You). Overall, I would say Bad Desire (With or Without You) is a decent track. I liked what it offered, but it clearly had a lot of room to be something more substantial and impactful.
The music video explores the idea that desire can be both alluring (good) and destructive (dangerous), with supernatural elements serving as an extension of ENHYPEN’s vampire lore that they revisit once again through this music video. Despite the music video being released 7 hours ago at the time of writing this review, I think a lot of the scenes in the music video are already or will become iconic. From the way the members fall between the heaven and hell clouds, to how HEESEUNG was revealed on that balcony at the start of the video, to vampire NIKI biting not-vampire NIKI, everything feels bold and cinematic in the music video. In addition to those “iconic” moments, I find the members’ visuals and the camerawork in this music video to be very striking.
The choreography for this comeback really stands out, particularly in how strikingly the members execute each move. I especially liked the quick, sharp flicks and the moody vibe they bring to the whole routine—it really matches the song’s tone. I wish there were a more iconic or standout moment to make the performance truly unforgettable, but Bad Desire (With or Without You) still leaves a strong impression.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.3/10
ENHYPEN is nominated for Best Male Group and Best Pop Song for Sweet Venom, among other categories, in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards.Support ENHYPEN and Sweet Venom by clicking here to vote today. Voting closes later at 11:59 PM AEDT 31 January 2025 (today!!).
It is time to review ENHYPEN’s 2024 album releases – ROMANCE: UNTOLD and ROMANCE: UNTOLD -daydream-. The former was released in July 2024 and features the title track XO (Only If You Say Yes), the secondary promotional track Brought The Heat Back, the English version of the title track (featuring JVKE) and 6 side tracks. The album was then re-released as the latter in November 2024, featuring 2 new tracks, including the title track No Doubt. This series follows their ORANGE BLOOD album release in November 2023.
Altogether, the ROMANCE: UNTOLD series is a very strong showing from ENHYPEN. Both title tracks are great, and the side tracks have been fantastic to listen to. Most tracks were unskippable in my books, and this has helped make the albums standout releases of the past year. The rating wasn’t high enough to be eligible for Best Album in my KPOPREVIEWED Awards, but definitely notable enough. Continue reading below to see if you agree with me.
ROMANCE: UNTOLD Tracks
Romance: Untold Album Cover
1. Moonstruck – Kicking off the studio album is Moonstruck. This is a R&B number that features a sensual vibe from the members. I remember thinking this opening track was sluggish, but Moonstruck has grown on me since. I enjoy it quite a lot now. The “Just the two of us, moonstruck” line in the chorus is memorable. I also like the infusion of rock towards the song’s end. (9/10)
3. Your Eyes Only –The mid-tempo beat reduces the appeal of Your Eyes Only. But its the members that win me over. HEESEUNG’s “You & me, yeah” in the first verse and JUNGWON’s equivalent line in the second verse (in its entirety) were memorable moments. The other members brought solid vocals to the song, particularly JAKE and SUNOO, who shared the choruses. The “Ya Ya … Ya Sugar talk” hook and the “Read more” refrains were also quite catchy. (9/10)
4. Hundred Broken Hearts– We move into upbeat R&B territory in Hundred Broken Hearts. The synths and the autotune vocal processing used in the song give off old-school vibes that make this song attractive. I did wish there were more memorable elements apart from the instrumentation and nostalgia the song brings. (8/10)
6. Paranormal – Paranormal introduces drum ‘n’ bass into the album. While this brings some refreshing notes to the R&B heavy album, I wished the song tapped more into the grungy guitars-like synths (?) that it uses in the background. It is a missed opportunity to have them in Paranormal, but not used effectively. The members’ vocals are good in this track but would better suit a grungy or more substantial rock-influenced song. (7.5/10)
7. Royalty – Royalty sees the guitars as the instrumental’s forefront. The guitar riffs opt for a contemporary vibe. And in combination with the rest of the instrumentation, Royalty feels summery and beachy. SUNOO is the standout member in this song, particularly with how he starts the song. The choruses opt for a shoutier motif, the loudest we have heard from the members in the album. But as a mechanism to get your attention, it works effectively and I find myself vibing with Royalty. (10/10)
8. Highway 1009 – Highway 1009 is another pleasant track that hits the right spot. The track features a pop instrumentation that sounds clear and crisp. The same thing can be said about the vocal work that ENHYPEN outputs. The best part of Highway 1009 is the chorus, which has a stunning melody that makes the track standout and brings a smile to my face. (9/10)
9. XO (Only If Your Say Yes) (ft. JVKE) (English Version) – Refer to my review for the Korean version of XO (Only If You Say Yes) above.
ROMANCE: UNTOLD -daydream- Tracks
ROMANCE: UNTOLD -daydream- Album Cover
1. Daydream – Daydream does have a separate track video (embedded below), but it features three-quarters of the song. The actual song is only 2 minutes long, so I am unsure why the video limits the song further. Anyhow, Daydream is definitely an intriguing song. A prominent presence of whispery raps makes the track engaging and complements the lowkey minimalistic bass instrumental. The track does build on these whispery vocals to fuller volume vocals, but those are definitely not the main star. I liked the balance Daydream finds in all of this while maintaining that alluring uniqueness. (9/10)
ENHYPEN was one of the groups to make their comeback earlier this week with the new single No Doubt and Romance: Untold -Daydream-, the repackaged version of Romance: Untold from July (which I have yet to review, but will do so soon). The original album was led by the singles XO (Only If You Say Yes) and Brought The Heat Back.
No Doubt takes ENHYPEN into R&B pop territory. In a few ways, No Doubt feels similar to XO (Only If You Say So). This new track also feels mellow and fluid track, brought on by the smooth and airy instrumentation. The big difference is No Doubt features a very slight funky tinge, which gives both the beat and instrumentation a little more bite and body. The same can be said about that whisliting-like effect in the background. It doesn’t explore anything new, but it is enough to make No Doubt feel upbeat. There is a refined and polished vibe exuding from the song, which helps ENHYPEN bring a more mature vibe to life elsewhere in the comeback. But despite smooth being a constant factor of No Doubt, I do find the textural aspect of their vocals to be somewhat ill-matched. I wished the vocals were not subjected to as much autotune and processing to better compliment the rest of No Doubt. In terms of memorability, No Doubt sits on the fence for me. Part of me likes the direction in which the melodies and hooks of No Doubt goes and sounds. But another part of me realizes, once the song ends, they just don’t seem to stick and is easily forgotten. Maybe more listens will help grow No Doubt on me. For now, No Doubt is a good song, but could have been better.
The song is about the changing feelings in a relationship. And the video depicts this through multiple scenarios. At the beginning of the video, the members are office workers exposed to sweltering temperatures and weather. Nothing feels as long as a hot day with poor climate control in the workplace, and the members liken this to a long day that occurs as a result of missing their lover. The boxing ring scenes are a bit more obscure, but the song does have a line that says “I want you, it’s so painful but, Oh, I’d burn myself to prove it baby, no doubt“, which indicates their willingness to go through something painful (like boxing) to be with their partner. Though the most obscure part of the video is the lobster hand that Niki is seen growing and donning at the end of the video to punch a whole in the wall. No clue as to what that represents.
The most memorable aspect of this comeback has to be the choreography. The key move is, without a doubt, the should movement with ENHYPEN’s hands in their back pocket (as per my featured image for the post – it is also the only group moment with all the members in the shot that I could find without a member being covered up or behind another member). But there is something about Heeseung’s forward body roll during the choruses in the music video that also grabs my attention.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 910 Overall Rating – 8.2/10
Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! I know I said to expect another hybrid Weekly KPOP Chart across 2 weeks last week, but I have found time today to assemble a post for a singular week. Merging 2 weeks together for this segment has been a great help while I deal with something personal in my life. I think I will return to my usual transmission next weekend, so the week-by-week Weekly KPOP Charts are back on! Just be aware I may need to merge 2 weeks again for this segment unexpectedly. Anyhow, that’s my mini blog update. Let’s get to why we are here – my Weekly KPOP Chart post for the 5th Week of July 2024 (spanning 28 July to 3 August 2024).
Non-Korean Song of the Week
As my focus on this blog is primarily on KPOP songs, I draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song is the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. Last week’s non-Korean song is JEON SOMI’s Ice Cream. It ranks in the 10th position this week.
The Charts
ENHYPEN’s Brought The Heat Backis the top song on the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Weeks of July 2024. Congratulations to ENHYPEN!
Two weeks ago, ENHYPEN returned with XO (Only If You Say Yes) and their second studio album, ROMANCE: UNTOLD. Today, the group dropped a second music video for the side track Brought The Heat Back.
When you compare XO and Brought The Heat Back side by side, the difference between the two is very obvious. The former was more mellow and pleasant, while the latter was more energetic and flirty. I quite liked the upbeat nature of Brought The Heat Back, which feels fitting for the summery season when more dynamic music comes through. This upbeat nature results from the funky disco instrumental that drives the dynamism behind Brought The Heat Back. The members complemented this with their prominent vocals shining through, boldly delivering the song’s hooks and melodies. The “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” hook was particularly catchy and addictive. I have it on repeat in my mind as I write this review. The flirtiness results from the members’ delivery and the lyrics, which speak to their jealous feelings. For the most part, Brought The Heat Back was a solid track. But Brought The Heat Back has some elements that I find myself on the fence about. The vocal processing felt a bit hit-or-miss to me. During the chorus, the autotune brought character to ENHYPEN’s vocals, which made the chorus and its hooks stand out even more. However, in other parts of Brought The Heat Back, the autotune was applied a little too thickly, slurring their delivery and this did not sound as great. I am in a similar mindset regarding the trap-based instrumental break of Brough The Heat Back. Part of me liked the edgy factor that it brought, but another part felt like it was a drag. Either way, it doesn’t negate the bridge ended with an impressive high note from JAY. Overall, I like Brought The Heat Back – a totally different vibe from their title track, but much appreciated.
The music video for Brought The Heat Back was definitely a fun one. But instead of being visually fun (i.e., through the use of colours, imagery, etc.), the ENHYPEN members took a comedic direction with the video. It is different and somewhat refreshing, as that isn’t done as much in the industry. But the members pulled it off! The jealousy depicted in the lyrics makes them compete with one another to find the black cat ‘missing’ in the video (who I assume represents their lover). Falling coffins, flying fish, elevators turned into freezers and nailing coffin lids with multiple nails so there was one less person to compete with to achieve their goal was quite funny. They are so into this black cat that they all rose from the dead to find it, showing us how infatuated they are with it. This is further backed up by the dance break, where the members don glow-in-the-dark cat eyes in their attire. Remember, their lore is about vampires, not felines. I really liked the members’ acting in the video, which conveyed that jealousy feeling well.
Brought The Heat Back’s performance is much stronger than XO’s. They showed off much more style and encapsulated the funk and groovy vibes. I enjoyed the chorus, which showed us some of ENHYPEN’s style quite well. But the dance for the outro really sold me on the performance and (once again) ENHYPEN’s skills in this department.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.8/10
ENHYPEN is another group to return this week with their second studio album ROMANCE : UNTOLD and the lead single XO (Only If You Say Yes). Throughout the rest of this review, I will be referring to the song as just XO for simplicity reasons. This release follows from ENHYPEN’s ORANGE BLOOD mini-album (lead by Sweet Venom) and a special mini-album titled Memorabilia (lead by the single Fatal Trouble for their Dark Moon: The Blood Altar webtoon). The group has also been busy embarking on their second world tour, which started back mid-last year and will continue to September of this year.
Despite being just dropped a day ago, I can feel the definite potential behind ENHYPEN’s latest song, XO. It is probably one of their most mellow and fluid title tracks yet. The best part of XO for me is its catchy hook – the “XO, Kiss Me, Don’t Say No“. It is repeated a number of times throughout the track and is delivered in two ways – a smoother and fluid delivery and the slightly bolder version with the vocal chop that feels elongated and prolific. The latter definitely sticks around in my mind after the song wraps up, and this pulls me back to the song (though I am not sure how this will play out with further listens and the fast pace nature of the current KPOP industry – more on this in a bit). The rest of XO does fairly well. There was a decent beat and rhythm that contributes to the flow of XO, with the overall groovy and R&B instrumental feeling very pleasant. There was just enough bounce and charm to the backing of XO to make it feel suitable for the current upbeat and dynamic season. The members sound nice all throughout XO, but I would prefer less autotune during the verses, so that the members do sound clearer. Stronger melodies during the verses would also make them more memorable, with the chorus stealing the limelight from majority of the song. The one other thing I worry about XO is how long the song will stick in my own and the audience’s mind. Despite the song’s catchy hook, XO doesn’t make much else to serve as an anchor, which is a recurring problem for ‘pleasant’ songs. This is particularly true for a song like XO, which I have also described as mellow and fluid earlier on in this section. Sure, the hooks will get XO some repeat listens. But over time as catchier and grabbier songs come out, XO can become lost in the pack. For the time being, I do like XO and will continue to enjoy as much as I can before something better inevitably does come out.
XO’s lyrics tell us of a story of a boy that is willing to do anything for the one he loves. But the story in the music video that accompanies the new release speaks to a slightly different story, according to viewers in the YouTube section. The members play characters who are willing to do anything for the one they love. However, when SUNGHOON mouths “I Like You” to his lover, the world stops and it is presumed that his lover did not hear his love confession (hence why the album is titled ROMANCE : UNTOLD). Similarly, JUNGWON imagines the walk he has with his lover, snapping back to when he was with the rest of ENHYPEN at the start of the video. As for the other members (i.e., JAKE, HEESEUNG and NIKI’s), there are a lot of looks of fondness but no confession, which probably meant their romance remains untold. And for the members were there was some sort of confession (i.e., JAY and SUNOO’s), these scenes might also be imagined like JUNGWON’s. I am not entirely sure what the darker scenes of the video represents. Though it might be a connection to the cool concept trailer that was released a few weeks back where the members were vampires being hunted by the authorities, but they took a risk to return to save the one person who got them. This video in itself also represents that idea of someone willing to do anything for the person they love.
The choreography for this comeback was good. Once again (and it might because of my mood this week) but I personally did not see anything that really stood out to me. But there was a lot to like. The X and O’s moves made sense. I also vividly remember the charismatic (and cuter, depending on the member in question) smiles on ENHYPEN’s faces. These felt fitting for this comeback and resulted in some of the same energy being transferred to the audience. I also liked the various outfits that they donned on stage and during the choreography shots in the music video. The casual one was the best, as it complemented the lightheartedness of the song.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
One of the first posts after 30 June each year is my ‘Personal Favourite’ post. Each year, to help round out the first half of the year, I post a list of my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of the year. As we are now in July 2024, it is time to post my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of 2024 (with a few extra tidbits).
For this year’s post, I am following what I did last (and the year before that) year, as I quite liked how that turned out. In addition to the usual list of 10 songs (which are in no particular order and not related to my reviews as songs do grow immensely on me) for the first half of 2023, I will also be posting two songs from the November – December 2022 period I personally liked and 3 non-Korean songs (i.e. English, Japanese etc.) by Korean artists that caught my attention so far this year. So without further delays, here are the list of my personal favourite songs of the year thus far (in no particular order, of course).
From November – December 2023
Personal favourite non-Korean songs of 2024 thus far
Personal favourite KPOP songs of the year so far (January – June 2024)
Returning in November last year was ENHYPEN with their 5th mini-album ORANGE BLOOD and the title track Sweet Venom (links to this below). The mini-album also features 4 side tracks and 2 addition versions of Sweet Venom (an English version and an English version featuring Bella Poarch). For this album review, I have left out the English version from the final rating, but have included a rating for the version which features Bella Poarch. Overall, ORANGE BLOOD is a consistent mini-album. This follows on from ENHYPEN’s BITE ME comeback from May 2023 and the mini-album DARK BLOOD.
Orange Blood Album Cover
1. Mortal – Mortal serves as the introductory track for the mini-album. But its 3.5-minute length makes it look like a full track. The track features a dreamy blend of R&B and pop for its instrumentation, some vocals courtesy of JAKE and SUNOO, and the usual narrations from each of the members in their primary language (Korean, English and Japanese). The narration itself speaks to the willingness to give up immortality to be with the one they love. It leads on from their vampire lore, where vampires are immortal. But in the case of ENHYPEN for ORANGE BLOOD, they are willing to give that power all up. (8/10)
3. Still Monster – Still Monster is a pop ballad. I find it to be an alright track. Everything in it, from the instrumentation to the vocals, was just fine and there isn’t anything wrong as far as I can see. I just cannot connect with the track in anyway. The post-chorus sequences, where the ‘Na Na Na’ comes in, is probably my most favourite parts of the track. (7/10)
4. Blind (멀어) – We re-enter retro territory with Blind, but it actually comes off as rather subtle in the final alternative R&B product. I really like the display of vocals from ENHYPEN throughout Blind, overall. But particular mention needs to go to the ‘Meoreo, Meoreo’ (‘Blind Blind’) and ‘Peodeo, Peodeo/Geodeo Geodeo’ is delivered in the choruses to finish the lines sung by the initialising vocalists. This is my favourite effect in the entirety of Blind, as it keeps the chorus quite grounded and feels quite clever. I do think the instrumentation could have used some sort of zest to it, just to give it more edge and unique colour. (8.5/10)
5. Orange Flower (You Complete Me) – To me, ENHYPEN is known for their dance tracks, which are either dark and/or intense. But occasionally, we get to hear a much lighter sound from the group, with the prime example of Polaroid Love coming to mind (featured on their DIMENSION: ANSWER studio album). Orange Flower is that equivalent on ORANGE BLOOD, where the members actually sound a lot sweeter and loving in their vocals. The upbeat instrumentation was enjoyable, allowing the entire track to exude a pleasant and feel-good vibe. (8/10)
6. Sweet Venom (English Version) – Refer to my review for Sweet Venom above.
7. Sweet Venom (ft. Bella Poarch) – I just wanted to give my two cents on this version of Sweet Venom (which is only featured on the digital versions of the mini-album). The main difference is that it features social media star Bella Poarch. I would have expected that the track be extended to feature Bella Poarch, not completely remove half of the second verse to make way for her. Her sultry vocals do match well with the groovy and sleekness of Sweet Venom (and her airy ad-libs were a beautiful complement). I am all for her featuring – it is clear as day that she works wonderfully with the members and the song. But I am sure it should haven’t been at the expense of the parts of the members. (8/10)
Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts for the first official Weekly KPOP Chart post for 2024. Currently, I am preparing some more scheduled posts, I will be offline again between mid-January and mid-February period. I will announce proper dates as to when you can expect me to return with some fresh ‘off-the-press reviews’ in next week’s Weekly KPOP Chart post. But for now, a lot of drafting and scheduling is happening in the background to make sure the blog is still active whilst I am away. For now, here are the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st Week of January 2024.
ICYMI – 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
If you have yet to vote in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, click the link here to be taken to the voting page to support your favourite artists, songs and performances of 2023.
Voting page does not close until 15 January 2024, so keep on voting!
Non-Korean Song by a KPOP Artist of the Week
The highest non-Korean song by a KPOP artist each week is considered the Non-Korean Song of the Week. For the 1st Week of January 2023, that song is (once again) Jun.K’s Command C+Me, which ranks in the 30th position this week.
The Charts
Congratulations to ENHYPEN again for rising to the top of the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 1st Week of January 2024 with their single Sweet Venom. This is the second time Sweet Venom is in the top spot. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.
Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Charts, this time for the 5th Week of November 2023. Crazy to think 2023 is about to be over and that we are in December. Also, that we are definitely in award season, with two of the big ceremonies done and dusted – MAMA and MelOn. I did tune in to both days of MAMA, and tried to last night for the MMA (but realized it wasn’t free to watch this year – how stupid is that). Congratulations to all the winners who won an award at those ceremonies! I did take a few nights off this week, as a result. So I better get back to reviewing songs. But first, the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Week of November 2023.
ICYMI – 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards
If you have yet to vote in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards, click the link here to be taken to the voting page to support your favourite artists, songs and performances of 2023.
Joining BABYMONSTER and TAEYEON with new releases this week are:
I Wanted To Be Loved – DIVINE
FIGHT FOREVER – DV.OL
stewardess girl – ONLEE
Must Have Love – ATBO
the soul savior ~ I don’t need a superman – Billlie
Wait – DINO (SEVENTEEN)
Papa Noel – TRI.BE
MAD – BE’O
Baby Baby – Nam Woohyun (INFINITE)
Drop Kick – &TEAM
REBEL – Kang Daniel
NEW STAR – n.Ssign
LIT – STAYC
REMEMBER – ELLIA
VROOM VROOM – BÉBE YANA
Time Goes On – LUO ft. Yonge Jaundice & Sikiboy
What The Hell – DKB
What’s My Name – MAVE:
Must Be Nice – ONEPACT
Crazy Form – ATEEZ
I Want To Be Closer To You – Yukika
Throwback Song of the Week
This week’s throwback song is SPICA’s Secret Time, which I have previously featured in this segment of the blog. It comes after another SPICA binge.
Non-Korean song of the week
Jung Kook’s 3rd solo single, Standing Next To You, is this week’s top Non-Korean song of the week. It ranks in the 2nd position this week.
The Charts
Congratulations to ENHYPEN and their comeback single Sweet Venom for rising to the top of my Weekly KPOP Charts for the 5th Week of November 2023. For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.
Pos.
Song
Artist
Change
1
Sweet Venom
ENHYPEN
(▲ 2)
2
Standing Next To You
Jung Kook (BTS)
(▲ 43)
3
LALALALA
Stray Kids
(▲ 13)
4
I WANT THAT
(G)I-DLE
(▲ 73)
5
You & Me
JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
(▼ 1)
6
Hands Up
NCT NEW TEAM
(▲ 67)
7
War Cry
&TEAM
(▲ 77)
8
Chill Kill
Red Velvet
(▼ 6)
9
Miss You
Bang Yedam
(▲ 75)
10
To. X
TAEYEON (SNSD)
(NEW)
11
BATTER UP
BABYMONSTER
(NEW)
12
OOTD
Dreamcatcher
(▼ 4)
13
CRUSH
ZEROBASEONE
(▼ 2)
14
MEGAVERSE
Stray Kids
(▲ 7)
15
Potential
FANTASY BOYS
(▲ 69)
16
WATCH IT
THE BOYZ
(▼ 15)
17
Chasing That Feeling
TXT
(▲ 26)
18
MANIAC
VIVIZ
(▼ 3)
19
HEARTRIS
NiziU
(▲ 25)
20
Perfect Night
LE SSERAFIM
(▲ 15)
21
Crazy Form
ATEEZ
(NEW)
22
Feel Me
Golden Child
(▲ 30)
23
Do It
Youngjae (GOT7)
(▲ 5)
24
Baddie
IVE
(▲ 13)
25
Love Effect
ONF
(▲51)
26
God Of Music
SEVENTEEN
(▲ 7)
27
STRANGER
SUNMI
(▲ 51)
28
Guilty
TAEMIN (SHINee)
(▲ 1)
29
Give You My All
HIGHLIGHT
(▲ 12)
30
NOBODY
Jeon Soyeon ((G)I-DLE), Winter (aespa), LIZ (IVE)
(▼ 11)
Songs leaving the charts
The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:
ENHYPEN finishes off the week with their latest single Sweet Venom, and their fifth mini-album, ORANGE BLOOD. This is serves as the group’s first comeback since their DARK BLOOD mini-album, which was led by the single BITE ME. Sweet Venom also follows their second world tour and Japanese debut.
ENHYPEN taps very deeply into the retro genre with a sleek and groovy number. Sweet Venom is definitely likeable, with its catchy hooks and charismatic vocals from the members of ENHYPEN on top of the retro influences. The falesttos are definitely a nice touch and gives some variety (something the song was missing to a large degree – more on that in a second). The bass also makes the beats feel hefty, which naturally gives Sweet Venom some much needed oomph. And nothing screams retro as much as cowbells, which we definitely got in the bridge of the song. But while all of that was greatly appreciated, my initial impression of Sweet Venom was that it was a bit too consistent, and unfortunately never went anywhere. And it does bring me pain to say that, especially since the energy of Sweet Venom is just so strong and enjoyable. The song just never deviated in anyway, and so it sounded the same all throughout. I just wished there was more to Sweet Venom to offset that and give the song some more variety.
I find the music video for Sweet Venom to be quite an interesting concept. The song itself describes the desire to stop living in order to be with their lover, by relating their love to ‘sweet venom’. In the music video, we see the world stop around ENHYPEN. At first, it is whilst the group is just hanging around with the people in the background, so we don’t think much about it. But the later choreography shots show time stopped as lightning is about to strike. The video goes to the idea that time stops just as someone is about to die, as it is supposedly the final moment they could ever remember if they were about to die. In this case, ENHYPEN is about to die from the lightning strikes (as they mention in the song) and the time stoppage around them is what they would remember as their final moment. The choreography shots bring a bit of irony into play, which I like. In addition to the interesting concept, I really like the MJ homage the outfits have, which works well with the retro side of the song.
Choreography-wise, I am also quite impressed. They definitely went down the retro route with their performance, as well, which just encapsulates everything the song stands for. I really like their synchronisation and the smoothness of the choreography at certain parts. The side to side movement of their heads, in tandem with the catchy parts of Sweet Venom, will probably go down as the defining move of the routine.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 10/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
DARK BLOOD is the next album to be reviewed following my recently posted review for the follow-up single Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). Alongside the follow up single, the May 2023 release DARK BLOOD has features the title track BITE ME and four additional side tracks. Like all my album reviews, the links for the full reviews for BITE ME (noting that I have bumped up the song score from what I had in the original review) and Sacrifice (Eat Me Up), along with my thoughts on the sides tracks can all be found below.
DARK BLOOD Album Cover
1. Fate – Starting off the mini-album is Fate, their usual introductory track. The instrumental for this one was show-stopping. The harp, the synth-organ, the slight hint of a choir humming/vocalising in the background and even the synths in the latter half of Fate was really striking and makes for a powerful piece. The narration work by all the members was extremely suspenseful, while the vocal work in the latter half was gripping and served as a nice vehicle to carry us to the end of the intro track. (9/10)
2. BITE ME (Title Track) – As alluded in the song review I posted recently for ENHYPEN, BITE ME has grown considerably on me since its release in May. As a result, I have decided to bump up the rating by one full point. My sentiments in the original review does still stand, however. Click here to read the full review for BITE ME.(7.5/10)
4. Chaconne – Chaconne takes the group into hip-hop territory, which isn’t unfamiliar territory for the group. I liked the darker and more sinister tone that this track had, which allows the members to dig deep. We even hear some low notes to really hone into that side of the song. The electric guitar was also very a nice touch and gives the track some edge, especially since it was layered underneath the rest of the instrumentation. I just wished the melodies were a little more prolific to take Chaconne to the next level. (7.5/10)
5. Bills – Switching up the album is Bills, which refocuses the mini-album a brighter and distinct sound. The vibrancy that the members give via their vocal work makes Bills stand out from the pack. It also definitely helps that the melodies of Bills is catchy and I found myself humming to the song each time it appeared on my playlists/recommendations. The instrumental of Bills takes on lo-fi hip-hop, and this helps makes the track quite a dreamy one. (8/10)
6. Karma – The brighter touch that Bills gave the mini-album ends up being transitioned into an energy-packed ender to the mini-album by Karma. The brighter punk rock instrumentation feels miles away from how the mini-album started, while ENHYPEN brings strong vocals, harmonies and hype energy to the track. It is a bit plain and traditional, and I wished the track went somewhat experimental to keep us on our toes. But still, a solid ender to the mini-album. (8/10)
Following theirBITE ME comeback earlier in the month of May, ENHYPHEN followed up promotions with the side track Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). As Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) does have a music video, it is eligible for a song review on my blog and hence why we are here today. Both BITE ME and Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) are featured on their fourth mini-album, DARK BLOOD (which I will be reviewing soon).
Sacrifice(Eat Me Up) is another song that I would consider to be decent, but it would have really benefited a lot had the producers really built on it and given the song more oomph. BITE ME ended up growing on me (Heads up: I will be making a slight adjustment to the song’s rating in the album review) , which is thanks to the song having some bite to it. I consider this to be the missing element in Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). Don’t get me wrong. There is definitely potential in the song, with the group showcasing more of their vocals in this mid-tempo R&B song than usual. I enjoyed the raspiness and breathy delivery of the vocals, which makes way for a potential excellent listen (had the rest of the song picked itself up). Undoubtedly, the members shine brightest during the song’s chorus where there is a more melodic flow – my pick for the most memorable element of Sacrifice (Eat Me Up). Unfortunately, everywhere else in Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) is a rather bland. I find the mid-tempo nature develop an ‘overall’ sluggishness to the song. Apart from the choruses, the melodies elsewhere were pretty bland and lack any memorable pull. The instrumentation, while solid, didn’t have much excitement coming from it. I think it could have accented and bolden in some parts to give off a harder and rougher touch, as opposed to the softer and more subdued approach Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) took. The pre-chorus was a good example of what that could have sounded like. I am also not entire sure of the wobbly synth, which I only just noticed today, that you could hear throughout the background. Had Sacrifice (Eat Me Up) been more dynamic in some way, this would have helped make the song more appealing.
From what I could see, the music video depicts the members’ desire to escape their feelings for a more euphoric paradise, with the lyrics highlighting their partners being that escape. We see the members at different stages of their struggle/escape of with their emotions. Some of them are very much still trapped or buried underneath them, looking towards the light signifying their desire to be freed from that cage of emotions. Others make it out of the dark ‘cage’, but still struggle to get to the absolute top. But we do see Jake, making his way up the stairs and leaves his dark heart at the top of the platform, confirming that he does achieve that desire of the members depicted in the video. The wings do make a nice touch to the video. I would like to know they significance, but it does make the video appear like a reverse fallen angel type of story. Aside from that plotline, the music video also showcase the members’ visuals, especially in the brighter paradise-like scenes.
The tempo of the song does enable the group to showcase a more sensual and slower routine, which they do pull off well. There isn’t anything too extreme, and I did think there was potential for some more intense moves. But what we got on stage was visually pleasing to watch and complemented the song quite well.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 7.5/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
ENHYPEN makes their comeback this week with their new darkened tone single BITE ME and their fourth mini-album DARK BLOOD. It follows the group’s third mini-album MANIFESTO: DAY 1, the lead single from that release – Future Perfect (Pass The MIC), the group’s Japanese debut and their first world tour which wrapped earlier this year.
For me, BITE ME is an underbaked title track. There is a bit to enjoy in this track and there are some parts that could have been improved upon. In some cases, some parts could be removed entirely. It is a mixture that leaves me a bit confused. Per usual, let’s start on the positive aspects of BITE ME. The chorus instantly comes to mind. I really liked the more melodic approach that was taken in this comeback, which brings on a smoothness in the song that makes BITE ME appealing. The “Oh My, Oh My God” sequence within the verses was a highlight in my opinion, and gives the plainer verses a bit of a coolness to them. As for the vocals, I felt the members did a decent job. I liked the character they give the verses and the mini uptick drag at the end of each second line in the choruses. More could have been done, but I would put the vocals on the side of being a positive aspect of BITE ME. Moving onto the parts which I think could have been improved upon. I felt the song needed a more prominent rap sequence, something to really intensify the track and give it a bit of an edgy factor. Likewise, BITE ME could have used a bolder instrumental to give the song some flair. To me, they play it very safe with BITE ME, and I don’t think that is what the title of the song calls for. It is a bold title, and the momentum or direction of BITE ME just doesn’t get anywhere near what I had expected from the track. As for the parts that I think could have removed, there are two. The first is the ending/outro of the track. To me, it brought no value to BITE ME. I get that the track is an extremely short one – spanning just over 2.5 minutes for a title track. But it just doesn’t give BITE ME much. The second, and the one part that I feel most strongly about, is the chanting pre-choruses just before the choruses. It is a jarring change to the song that does not fit the rest of the song (but I guess they were trying to make it feel ‘ENHYPEN’) and disrupts the flow of the otherwise decent track. The song would have been so much better off without this part. Overall, there is an air of disappointment over BITE ME. I am hoping more listens will help convince me otherwise.
I really enjoyed the dark vibes that the music video had. I did expect something darker, based on the teaser images that were released in the lead up to the group’s comeback. But what we got fits the bill quite well without being too creepy. There were some really nice imagery, such as the members turning into coffins, the use of shadows and silhouette. The sets were cool, such the choreography set that had a stage that light up and colosseum-like walls. The lighting was well used in this video, as well, which goes back to the good use of shadows and silhouettes that I already mentioned. My favourite part of this entire video is that short sequence in the second “Oh My, Oh My God” segment, where the members faces transitioned into the next member. It literally spanned for two seconds, but it left a very strong impression on me.
A darker concept comeback can mean many things. But with a more melodic track like this one, the creation of a sensual atmosphere makes for a strong pairing and that comes through in the choreography. I really liked that they went with this direction. From what I can see in the music video, the chemistry between the members and the female dancers was spot on. I also enjoyed the edgy side of the choreography, which comes through that dreaded chanty pre-chorus.
Song – 6.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 7.5/10
KPOPREVIEWED 