HONGJOONG (ATEEZ) – KPOPREVIEWED

[Review] MATZ – HONGJOONG & SEONGHWA (ATEEZ)

March 13, 2024March 11, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ATEEZ, HONGJOONG (ATEEZ), SEONGHWA (ATEEZ)2 Comments

As part of the ATEEZ’s latest album, The World EP.Fin: Will (which was released on 1 December 2023; album review coming soon), unit and solo tracks were featured on the tracklist alongside the title track Crazy Form. Each of these unit and solo tracks have a music video, thus making them eligible for a standard song review on my blog. Hence, in the lead up to the album review for The World EP.Fin: Will, I will be reviewing each of these unit and solo tracks separately. Naturally, the place to begin is the track with the first music video – HONGJOONG and SEONGHWA’s duo track MATZ.

With both HONGJOONG AND SEONGHWA being rappers in the group, it again comes as no surprise to me that the pair focuses on rapping and hip-hop in MATZ. While tracks like MATZ aren’t my instant go-to on any album, I can’t help but nod along to the song every time it comes up on the album or my playlists. I like how the pair does not hold back in any way or form – production or delivery aspects included. It feels like an onslaught of energy and intensity. The electronic and synths that were chosen to form the backing of MATZ is extremely textured and grungy-like. The intensity and robustness of the instrumental keeps us (the listeners on our toes). I particularly was caught off guard by the change in sound for the final sequence of the song. But the more I listen to MATZ, the more I feel it ties and sums up the song quite well by extending the aforementioned onslaught further. On the delivery side, both HONGJOONG and SEONGHWA bring a little something different to MATZ, which contributes to the heightened nature of the song. HONGJOONG sounds very expressive with his delivery, bringing energy and dynamism to the mix. On the other hand, SEONGHWA mumbles and slurs some of his words together, which I find adds a bit of personality and character to the song. I also find that he holds back the track – in the sense that it keeps MATZ grounded and not necessarily anything negative.

The music video sees the pair get kidnapped after a performance and held hostage. Later on they escape, only after they make a statement out of their escape. Further to that, HONGJOONG and SEONGHWA’s song is about their chemistry together, so the music video is definitely sending a message that nothing can hold them back when the two are together. Aside from that, I like the darker vibes of the music video, which matches up with that grungy feeling I was getting from the song. The only part that I didn’t like in the video is the use of the grills as part of their styling. Never liked them and probably never will.

As far as I am aware, MATZ is the only unit track from the latest ATEEZ album to actually have a ‘performance video‘ (i.e., there is choreography). Just like the song, the routine is super intense and the pair (along with the dancers) make sure to reflect this in the performance. I also like their chemistry and their individual expressions, which adds to the energy and vigor of the performance.

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

[Review] EENIE MEENIE – CHUNG HA ft. HONGJOONG (ATEEZ)

March 11, 2024Posted in KPOP, ReviewsTagged ATEEZ, CHUNG HA, HONGJOONG (ATEEZ)2 Comments

Also making her comeback today is CHUNG HA, who returns for the first time in 1 year and 8 months since her Sparkling comeback in July 2022 (and what was supposed to be the first part of her second studio album Bare&Rare). Since then, CHUNG HA went on an extended break from the industry, left MNH Entertainment and signed on with More Vision (the home of Jay Park, Honey J and some dance crews). Today, she returns with the single EENIE MEENIE, which features HONGJOONG from ATEEZ.

Signing onto a hip-hop label was the first sign that CHUNG HA was going down the hip-hop genre. But I did not expect that she would lean in this hard into the genre through EENIE MEENIE. Despite being well rooted in the genre, I feel that EENIE MEENIE keeps itself laid back. The instrumentation going with a minimalistic vibe, with the bass giving EENIE MEENIE a lot of character and personality to work with without the aid of much else. That being said, CHUNG HA does offer a bit more to the song down the track, with the pingy twangs we hear during the instrumental break adding further to that character and personality. As for her delivery, CHUNG HA’s main vectors in EENIE MEENIE are both graceful vocals and a sing-speak approach for the central piece of the song, with the latter being the more prominent delivery mechanism. There really isn’t much to the song that really give us an opportunity to sink our teeth in. But yet, I found EENIE MEENIE‘s minimalistic approach and CHUNG HA’s vocal charisma to keep us captivated and bring forth a stylish aesthetic. As noted above, HONGJOONG from ATEEZ also features in the song. His usual energetic delivery style is here, but I like how he also holds back to make sure he fits in with the rest of EENIE MEENIE. It might not be the track you expect from CHUNG HA, but it is definitely impactful and memorable.

First watch of the music video and I am totally digging it. So much so that I had 10/10 floating in my brain from the first watch. The entire video dons an urban look, which I find is simple and effortless looking. The post-production throughout this video is on point (particularly the changing garage doors). So are the camera work and styling. That person in the very shiny outfit was creepy but definitely a memorable aspect of the video. Also memorable is CHUNG HA’s visuals. Her outfits alone look amazing. I also like that HONGJOONG was part of the music video. Always nice to see the featuring artist in the video, no matter how brief it is.

Another part that contributes to the music video are the choreography shots. And given that this is CHUNG HA we are talking about, this aspect is (not surprisingly) nailed amazingly. She is both charismatic and captivating throughout the performance for EENIE MEENIE. It was hard to turn away from the her dance and the choreography scenes in general. And there is also a human slide that she slides down in the performance. As if that wouldn’t be up there with the rest of her epic performances from the past.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.5/10