IVE made their return at the start of the week with their 4th mini-album, IVE SECRET, and the lead single XOXZ. It is their first overall release since their July Japanese comeback with Be Alright and their first Korean comeback since their 3rd mini-album IVE Empathy, which featured singles REBEL HEART and ATTITUDE.
Except for last year’s Accendio and TKO from their previous mini-album, whenever IVE has promoted a song with an edgier and darker style, it has been a miss for me. The new single XOXZ appears to follow that trend. The choruses were the biggest miss in the entire song, in my opinion. It was very dry and lacklustre. There was some good to be found in the chorus, such as the dramatic flair in the instrumental and the whispery delivery of the XOXZ title. However, somehow, putting all of that together just didn’t have the desired impact and created a fizzler of a centrepiece. The fast-spoken lines should have been an intriguing component, but the execution just didn’t stick with me and was easily overlooked. A similar comment can be applied to most of the song. However, it isn’t all bad news for XOXZ. I really liked the ethereal pre-choruses. It is just a pity that the follow-through (i.e., the chorus) was a let-down.
The music video for XOXZ unfolds as a dream, starting with a truck crashing through the window of a high-rise apartment. This is then followed by the dream version of IVE taking the sleeping member on a journey of her dreams. I really liked IVE’s edgy looks throughout the music video, and I feel elements of the video call back to IVE’sAccendio‘s music video (i.e., the goat horns). The only aspect of the video I didn’t like was the dings that start to appear during the bridge portion and in the ending card. It just made the video feel overly cheesy.
The performance aspect of the comeback was pretty good. Nothing stood out on its own, but rather the choreography (as a whole) did a decent job of encapsulating those edgy tones from the song. I also enjoyed the balance between the members’ cuteness and power in the routine.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7/10
IVE has announced a comeback for later this month. So, it is nice timing to slide in an album review for their previous comeback from earlier in the year. IVE Empathy, their 3rd mini-album, was released in February, with REBEL HEART and ATTITUDE leading the mini-album. There are four other songs on the mini-album. The best word I can use to describe IVE Empathy is ‘pleasant’. All but one had this initial impression on me. I tried to be more descriptive with some of the songs, but it was the perfect word to use for certain tracks on the album. More of my thoughts on the mini-album down below.
2. FLU – FLU is a cute pop song that likens falling in love to becoming ill. While the flu itself is not something you want to catch, I did like how IVE and the producers made this pop song sound comforting. It’s the chorus melodies that give FLU that comfort factor. Combined with the strumming guitar in the background, the pleasant bouncy beat, and solid vocals from the members, FLU was indeed a nice listen. (9/10)
3. You Wanna Cry – You Wanna Cry might sound familiar to some– the chorus samples Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody. IVE’s You Wanna Cry is about supporting those having a hard time, lending a shoulder to those who need to cry. I liked the amped up chorus, which is thanks to the rock sound that the chorus adopts. IVE sound very sweet in this song, and the simple and straightforward melodies make it sound very pure. Overall, another nice song from the group. (8/10)
4. Thank U – Thank U is a message to their past selves, thanking them for their own growth and the maturity that they have developed since their debut. It is another nice listen from the group, with the instrumentation taking on a simple yet plain pop ballad-like sound this time around. The melodies and the vocals from all members are quite enjoyable. LIZ’s final line, “Hope you’ll cherish the six of us forever. All thanks to you“, changes Thank U slightly to address the fans, who have been part of their journey. This emphasises Thank U’s touching message even further. (7.5/10)
6. TKO – The mini-album ends with the release’s boldest and best number. TKO finds itself exploring more of a hip-hop sound profile. There is a heavier dose of raps in TKO, but I also love how charismatic the vocals sound throughout the song. The instrumental features heavy and bolstered beats (but more so in a classical sense), Latin-influenced guitars, and cowbells, creating a more serious sound. You might think the cowbells don’t lend well to a serious sound, but IVE pulls it off effortlessly. (10/10)
Weekly KPOP Charts are back! It has been a while since I posted one – the last was for Week 2 of December 2024. Thanks again for your patience while I restarted the blog. Getting back into the groove and loading the new songs into the spreadsheet is taking longer than expected. But I will get there! Below are some updates on the blog and segment, as well as the Weekly KPOP Charts for Week 1 of February 2025.
Updates on the blog
Somewhere on the blog, I mentioned I would be posting the Weekly KPOP Charts for Week 3 of December 2024. I have decided not to proceed with that post, as getting the data to post will be time-consuming. Eventually, I will get around to it, but it isn’t on my current priorities.
Similarly, the KPOPREVIEWED Choice for the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards have been shelved. They will still feature in the Winner Announcement post, which is still on its way! Currently, I am working behind the scenes to get that ready. I will be able to confirm an announcement date in the Weekly KPOP Charts for Week 3 of Feburary 2025!
Updates to the Weekly KPOP Charts posts
The usual sections that form part of a Weekly KPOP Chart post will restart from Week 3 of February 2025. These include the ‘Non-Korean Song of the Week‘ and the ‘What else I am listening to?‘.
This year, I will re-introduce:
a ‘Re-Enter‘ tag next to songs that have experienced a resurgence after dropping out of the Top 30, and
a ‘FW‘ tag next to songs that will be leaving the Weekly KPOP Charts if they are in the Top 30 in their final week.
When I first started the Weekly KPOP Charts, these used to be part of it. But laziness got in the way. But now that I have automated the process (#technology), I can bring them back!
You can see the ‘RE-ENTER’ tag in action below. The associated song (Stray Kids’ Walkin On Water) is the only song from the last Weekly KPOP Charts to remain on the charts.
The Charts
IVE ranked first in 1st Week of February 2025 with their latest single ATTITUDE. Congratulations IVE!
In my review for REBEL HEART, I mentioned my plan to review the second title track from their 3rd mini-album (IVE EMPATHY) soon. Well, ‘soon’ has arrived. The second song is titled ATTITUDE, and it dropped with the rest of the mini-album on Monday this week.
My first impression of ATTITUDE was that it could have used a little more sass or attitude. There are definitely moments in ATTITUDE that give off this tone and energy, like the song’s main hook (sampled from Suzanne Vega and DNA’s Tom’s Diner and the rapping in the second verse. But I wished ATTITUDE went further, as it would have given the song more oomph and further impact. Elsewhere in the song, I enjoyed the instrumental’s dance beat and funky disco undertones. I liked the idea of the ascending notes in the final lines of the pre-choruses – breaking the note was a good idea. I also appreciated them in the choruses, even if it did get slightly unpleasant. On the topic of the choruses, they had good flow and melodies, but the vocals were plain to me. The most questionable element of ATTITUDE was the bridge. I agree ATTITUDE needed a change-up, but I wonder if a relatively toneless shouty delivery was the best way to go about it. Overall, ATTITUDE was a decent song. It is not as strong as their best tracks, but still worth a listen.
Based on the lyrics, the music video shows the members as inhabitants of the ‘Loveless society’. But they know that their time in this location is short. I like the confidence they exude, particularly in contrast to the other inhabitants of the society. Their outfits and styling were very pretty, showcasing their beautiful looks. I also like how the members do their own thing rather than following the norm. Overall, a great video to watch.
Like the song, I felt the choreography could have used more sass and attitude. There were a lot of bright smiles and moves, which was all great. I wished there was more balance with some other sides of the group they have shown before in the routine. For example, when YUJIN stood on top of those desks in the music video. That would have taken the choreography to the next level and worked well with the message behind ATTITUDE.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.3/10
Apologies for the lack of reviews this week. Jet lag caught up with me and work got me tired.
One of the releases that came out while I was on vacation was IVE’s single REBEL HEART. It serves as one of the title tracks for their (at the time) upcoming 3rd mini-album IVE Empathy. As of Monday this week, the second title track, ATTITUDE, and the mini-album itself were released. A review for ATTITUDE will be posted soon. IVE Empathy follows from their IVE SWITCH mini-album and HEYA/Accendio comeback in April last year.
I remember listening to REBEL HEART while on vacation and thinking it was a great song, minus one part. REBEL HEART begins with a rock tinge instrumental that develops into a bombastic sound that reminds me of their I AM single from 2 years ago. I like how the members channel and complement the rock sound, sometimes almost turning the song into an anthem. I do acknowledge the chorus is repetitive, but it is also very simple and catchy. The “So you can love me, You will never be never be never me…” definitely makes for an addictive hook. REBEL HEART does falter when it comes to the “Na Na Na” part in the bridge. This moment turned a strong and empowering song into something childish. At least, WONYOUNG and LIZ’s vocal follow-up picked REBEL HEART back up and made the song slightly mature again. Overall, REBEL HEART is a strong first release from IVE Empathy. This makes me excited for their now-released second track, ATTITUDE.
The music video for REBEL HEART features the members rebelling against society but staying true to themselves. After all, they are ‘rebels in their hearts’, and the song’s lyrics express solidarity with those who rebel. The group and ‘friends supporting friends’ scenes reflected the latter message. GAEUL and LIZ were probably the easiest rebels to spot in the video. GAEUL opted for activities like graffiti and hanging out in abandoned buildings. LIZ didn’t attend school on school days and was seen walking in the opposite direction of her peers. The other members’ portrayal of rebels was a little more subtle. REI wore an outfit that made her standout in public. WONYOUNG was an unhappy bride, while YUJIN took part in activities that did not fit the stereotype for her gender. The hardest to make out was LIZ’s portrayal of a rebel, who I guess is representing those who want to make a living through social media rather than other ‘typical’ jobs.
The choreography for REBEL HEART was good. I don’t mind the routine we got. But it could have gone for something punchier, as some moves didn’t fit the song’s rock vibe. It felt more focused on being youthful and pretty than taking advantage of that rock sound.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
On the album review front, IVE is next up in the hot seat with their second mini album, IVE SWITCH, released in April 2024. Led by the singles HEYA and Accendio, this mini-album features six songs. IVE SWITCH is quite a strong release for the girl group and is a definite improvement from their last era (Baddie) and mini-album (I’VE MINE, which I never got around to reviewing). More thoughts on this particular mini-album down below!
2. Accendio(Title Track) – Accendio has grown immensely on me since I reviewed it. I have probably listened to the song more times than HEYA and have decided to bump the rating for Accendio to be on par with HEYA. Click here for the full review for Accendio. (9/10)
3. Blue Heart –To me, Blue Heart is the synth-centric cousin of the Accendio. There is something magical about the song, particularly in the charming chorus. The instrumental features fast-paced synth work, giving the song propulsion and a chic exterior. The vocals were nice, and something is captivating about the autotune over the spoken vocals in the choruses that just feels right in this song. The pre-choruses feel effortlessly blissful. There is a lot to like in Blue Heart, so it ranks high in this album. (9/10)
4. Ice Queen – As for Ice Queen, this is the more haunting relative of Accendio. It has all the maturity and mysteriousness that Accendio is characterised by. A difference is the hip-hop influence that the chorus features, which works well. On top of that, I enjoyed the bubbly synth work that adds that mysterious touch to the song and the “Woo Ah Woo” follow-ups in the song. If I wanted anything further, I think Ice Queen would have benefited from some sharpness. But another strong song from the group! (9/10)
5. Wow – Following on from the string of 9/10 songs, Wow does feel more standard than the rest. But that doesn’t mean Wow is not a good song. The pop song features extremely pleasant vocals and a textural chorus that I enjoyed. (8/10)
6. Reset – Reset confirms that this album had no bad songs. I really liked the use of Afrobeats in this track. I was lowkey having a mini dance whilst listening to the song and writing this part of the review. I enjoyed this subtle feel of the song, which makes Reset so good. The vocals were cute and the hooks were catchy. (9/10)
It has been almost a year since I posted an International Song Review post, a segment where I do mini-reviews for non-Korean songs released by some of our favourite KPOP artists. While I have covered some non-Korean songs this year, I have practically neglected this area of the blog, unfortunately, due to time pressures. Over the coming weeks, I will be looking to revive this segment to cover some great releases I have yet to cover on the blog and have chosen not to write in a separate standalone song review format.
Today, I will review non-Korean songs released in the last year by IVE, Kep1er, STAYC, YENA, and ITZY.
All Night – IVE ft. (SAWEETIE)
Language: English Release Date: 19 January 2024 Release Type: All Night (1st English Single)
IVE’s All Night is a remake of Icona Pop’s song of the same name and is marketed as their debut English single. The dance-pop instrumentation was fine, and Saweetie’s rap part was my favourite sequence in All Night. But I question what value IVE add to All Night. Yeah, their parts ring in my mind for a bit. But the members had no separate lines, and they all sang together for the entirety of the song. The promotional material could have easily said it was just one singer singing in the track, and I wouldn’t have known the difference. Furthermore, their vocals were oddly plain and lacked any characteristic that allows us to call it an IVE track. They were literally stripped of any identity in the song. There were some ad-libs towards the end, but they were very in the background, and I didn’t notice them until today.
As for the music video, most of it was IVE and Saweetie stuck in a small windowless office. If the video ventured anywhere else, it was either to the office lobby, the hallway or the elevator. Surely, the music video could have been a little more exciting and featured some choreography. I don’t think I am asking for much here. As for the performance, it was okay. Again, it was plain. But the members were all smiles, making the routine feel and look much better.
Overall Rating – 5.9/`10
Grand Prix – Kep1er
Language: Japanese Release Date: 22 November 2023 Release Type: FLY-HIGH (3rd Japanese Single)
Ending Kep1er’s busy 2023 was the release of Grand Prix. While most of Grand Prix was simply fine, the chorus was a big miss for me. I appreciate that it tries to be different, but it was just too much of a disruption from the flow and energy the verses were building up. The weightiness and heaviness didn’t match the brighter vibe the verses were going for. The dragged-out refrain just ended up feeling sluggish and felt awkward. To revisit an earlier point, ‘simply fine’ doesn’t mean that Grand Prix‘s other parts are okay. The verses didn’t have much to grab onto and were largely forgettable. But considering the entirety of Grand Prix, the verses were not the weakest parts of the song. Sorry that I don’t like this song, but I would recommend their more recent Shooting Star comeback in Korea.
As for the music video, it is obvious and logical to go with a racing concept. While it did, I expected more of the video to focus on the members in a car or the race track potentially, rather than in a store selling toy race cars. Also, their outfits could have better aligned with the concept. For the choreography, I thought it was a good form of edgy when it comes to the chorus. I may not like the song, but I can see past that to appreciate the performance.
Overall Rating – 5.9/10
LIT – STAYC
Language: Japanese Release Date: 6 December 2023 Release Type: LIT (3rd Japanese Single)
To be honest, I also don’t remember too much of LIT after nine months. Relistening for the purposes of this review, I recognise LIT‘s potential, thanks to its catchy chorus. However, the final product played it fairly safe. The instrumental keeps to plain synths and a cutesy sound, thanks to those twinkling sounds in the background of the choruses. Most Japanese tracks by KPOP artists follow this formula. Rarely does it work. More often than not, like in LIT, it feels constricting and forced. The members appear to contribute to this cutesy demeanour with their playfully toned delivery, though I am not as upset with this as it is their hallmark in KPOP. The ad-libs and the follow-up to the first and second choruses were definitely the best parts of the song, which is where the relevant members break away from the consistency of the track and do their own thing. I think the instrumental could have been reframed to be slightly edgier, which could have given LIT a breath of new life.
The music video shows the members enjoying their lives, reminding us it can be lit wherever you are. The choreography was okay, and there was nothing groundbreaking or new from the group here.
Overall Rating – 7/10
DNA – YENA
Language: Japanese Release Date: 7 February 2024 Release Type: DNA (2nd Japanese Single)
YENA’s DNA is her first original Japanese single. Based on her solo releases in Korea, DNA‘s venture into the pop-rock genre isn’t much of a surprise to me. What surprised me is how muted the song comes across despite the presence of a rock band alongside YENA in DNA. I am unsure what caused it, but I keep feeling an imaginary barrier prevents DNA from realizing its full potential. The fact that DNA doesn’t sound electrifying weakens the song’s appeal for me. Her vocals were solid and consistent throughout DNA, but the thought of it coming off plainly and too sweet also lingers. This dampens the appeal of the song further but doesn’t do as much compared to the instrumentation.
The music video shows YENA rocking it out with the band in the background. Her attire fits the JPOP landscape well, ticking the cutesy and edgy boxes. The post-production was an intelligent move from the production team, as the various sketches and effects give the video a little more than just the industrial-esque backgrounds.
Overall Rating – 7.4/10
Algorhythm – ITZY
Language: Japanese Release Date: 15 May 2024 Release Type: Algorhthym (3rd Japanese Single)
Personally, I enjoyed Algorhythm. The upbeat deep house instrumental was quite remarkable, and their delivery was fun and classy. Had they stopped after the second run of the chorus, I think I would have been fine with the track—though I can’t promise that I wouldn’t comment about its length if that were the case. The change-up that we get right after the second chorus was really unnecessary. It was obnoxiously abrasive and loud (relatively speaking, which says a lot if that comment is coming from me), which did not complement the rest of the song. And that is a pity, as I liked everything except the change-up instrumental break. It does make for a good performance piece, however.
For the music video, the first half features the members as robots. The glitches during this section made the footage look rather cool. Halfway through the video, it is revealed that the members were simply shooting a fun video within the music video, after which they attempted to go on a holiday (I presume). But when you think the video ends, the members disrupt that thought and have a dance break at the airport. Interesting concept. As for the performance, it is the best out of the five releases that form this post. The routine started off doll-like, and then the moves became much more human-like. But the peak of the routine is undoubtedly the powerful dance break, which is aligned with the disliked instrumental break.
Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post – this time for the 4th Week of May 2024. Still no luck on coverage of new KPOP tracks. There was a slight uptick with four song reviews this past week. Two album reviews were also posted this week. I have a public holiday tomorrow, so I am hoping to get some reviews prepared ahead of time. This coming week sees new songs and album releases by aespa, CHEN (from EXO), TREASURE, Yves, ARTMS, ATREEZ and SUHO (from EXO). Per usual, you will have to wait to see who I cover in the new week. Until then, here is the Weekly KPOP Charts for the 4th Week of May 2024.
Throwback Song of the Week
Each week I pick a song from the past to feature in this segment. It is recognition for the fact I listen to more than just the currently charting songs. And revisiting these songs are truly a blast from the past. Plus, I am hoping that this segment introduces new listeners to some great songs that I have enjoyed from my many years of listening to KPOP.
With 2NE1 reuniting in a photo for their 15th year anniversary, and rumours of a meeting between CL and YG Entertainment for perhaps something more for the occasion, I went on a 2NE1 binge. As a result, 2013’s Missing You is my pick for this week’s throwback song.
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 the Korean language in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song is the top ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. The past week’s non-Korean song of the week is, for the third week in a row, Stray Kids’ Lose My Breath. It features Charlie Puth and ranks in the 4th position this week. Once again, I have posted the Stray Kids version of the song down below (given their promotional performances at the moment).
The Charts
IVE’s second title track from their second mini-album – Accendio – is the top song for 4th Week of May 2024. Congratulations to IVE!
IVE’s latest mini-album, IVE SWITCH (which was released at the very end of April), features two title tracks – HEYA and Accendio. I have already reviewed HEYA on the day of its release, while Accendio only became eligible for a review once IVE unveiled the music video for the song earlier this week.
I quite like Accendio, as it shows off a more mature sound for IVE. There is also this mysteriousness to the song that attracts my attention. This can be attributed to the paced beat of Accendio, which actively contributes to that mystique that I just mentioned and helps build some intensity in the song. But it also feels like a double-edged sword. It sets Accendio up to be somewhat neutral, which is never a good observation to make in an exciting music genre like KPOP. I kind of wished Accendio really picked up along the way and there was some infusion of oomph to the song. I do hear an addition of energy to the song via the pre-choruses and choruses of Accendio, which I am grateful for. But while this addition of energy was good in the first instance, it didn’t have the same effect when the song revisited the same motif again. Similarly, the instrumental break could have used some added zing (perhaps something more electrifying) to add further excitement to the song. While the backing of Accendio lacked in some regards, I am extremely happy with the choruses. I personally felt the central piece of Accendio had a killer start through a really simple yet addictive “Watch me, Don’t touch me, Love me, Don’t hurt me” chant and some attitude-laced catwalk-like backing. This made the chorus stand out and feel very catchy to me. So much so, I find myself humming along with the song and after the song ends. That particular line in the chorus was nailed thanks to the members’ rap-speak delivery, which we do hear at other times in Accendio. To me, this delivery felt more prolific and interesting than the other vocals we get in the song. Overall, I quite liked Accendio. It is far from perfect, but it allowed IVE to explore something slightly different.
I personally felt the music video for this comeback also had an air of mystery to it, which made it intriguing to watch. The plot of this video also adds to the intriguingness. Gaeul stars as the main character of the video. While the rest of IVE were underwater, Gaeul disappears, causing alarm amongst the other members. Turns out Gaeul had run away and came across a ritualistic group (another version of IVE – henceforth calling them evil IVE) and a magic wand. Gaeul steals the wand and brings it back to her members. Unknowingly to Gaeul, evil IVE were watching Gaeul make her way back to her members. The magic wand gives Sailor Moon-like magic powers to good IVE, who are provided a mission to protect the magic wand to keep their powers permanently. Evil IVE tracks down the wand and have a dance battle with good IVE for the wand. While it isn’t an action packed set of scenes like Mission Impossible, the subsequent battle scene (not the dance battle scene) was nicely choreographed to showcase a fight between the two versions of IVE played out to gain or protect the wand. During the battle, Gaeul had hid the wand in the fridge. Once the evil IVE were defeated, good IVE went to retrieve the wand from the fridge but found it empty. Turns out, the wand somehow found its way to a beach and picked up a young girl. And good IVE were watching this happen, implying they have become the new evil IVE, who were going to fight a young girl for the wand. Personally, I felt the ending a little awkward and wondered why a different version of IVE (or perhaps even an older girl) picked up the wand. Setting up the next battle between IVE and a young girl is a bit harsh for the latter.
The choreography looks good. I liked the chorus routine, particularly the moves they did with that chanty line identified above. I just cannot help but think that this isn’t their strongest routine. It was cohesive as a whole piece, but nothing really stood out in my opinion.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 8.1/10
As mentioned yesterday, this week is going to be a busy one. And it all begins with Monday’s comebacks. One of these comebacks belongs to IVE, who is returning for the first time since the release of Baddie. Their new single HEYA (해야) is the title track off their 2nd mini-album, Ive Switch.
HEYA continues IVE’s exploration of the hip-hop genre. However, unlike Baddie, I instantly found IVE’s delivery of HEYA to feel a lot more vivid, exciting and colourful. These are all words that I associate with IVE’s earlier releases, so I personally think this is an improvement from Baddie already. HEYA may not be as pop-coded as their earlier releases, but it definitely heads in that direction a bit. So aside from feeling different, what has the group done differently in HEYA? I like that the instrumentation did not feel as weighted, and so HEYA did not feel heavy. Going into Summer, a heavy song doesn’t usually bode well, so the producers were really clever in using flourishes in its percussion to help liven up the backing. Rei, Leeseo and Yujin’s rapping in the verses feels equally as lively and engaging, bringing out a more dynamic tone in HEYA. This pays off in dividends for the group, as it highlights a newfound edginess and powerful delivery. HEYA also features more vocal parts, which makes way for more melodic touches in the song. The bridge was extremely successful in championing this (which is my second best moment within HEYA, following the choruses). I also like how they extended the melodic touch into the opening hook of HEYA, setting up the catchy and chanty chorus quite well. The extra layer in the instrumentation for the final chorus did a really good job of signaling the end, in my mind. Overall, IVE and HEYA‘s producers did a really great job improving upon the previous song, making for IVE’s next hit.
The lyrics and music video of HEYA sees the group reference a traditional Korean folklore known as ‘The Tiger Who Loved the Sun‘, which is a story that speaks to the formation of the sun and the moon. In the video, we see the members appear as the tiger in the story, dancing in front of the sun and moon to enchant us, before leaving their mark on us. Just like how the tiger did so to the mother, just a lot less gruesome in our case. Keeping to the traditional influence, I really like traditional Korean elements in the sets and post-production. The colours and lighting made everything look very pretty and aesthetic. I also really like IVE’s look throughout the music video, as it adds a bit of a modern flair in the midst of all of the traditional Korean elements present in the video.
From what I can see in the music video, the performance for this comeback is going to look great. The start of the chorus already looks like it is going to be a catchy key point of the choreography, and the rest of the routine looks robust and dynamic.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
IVE is one of the many groups and music acts that made their comeback this busy week in October. The popular female group returns with their 1st ever mini-album I’ve Mine and the title track Baddie yesterday, following two pre-release tracks – Either Way and Off The Record (both of which I reviewed earlier this week). This comeback follows on from the group’s promotions of I AM and their first studio album, I’ve IVE.
IVE has been successful with pop numbers since their debut, so I am unsure why they needed to stray from it. To me, their pop songs have been comforting and likeable, but also punchy and catchy. Sure, IVE can definitely explore other genres if they want, but the producers should ensure the song is fit for IVE. Baddie takes on a hip-hop style that I believe doesn’t suit IVE. When I listen to the song, I don’t get any sense of character or individuality from Baddie, and their delivery feels pretty generic overall. Sure, Baddie is successful in showing an edgier side of the group via the instrumentation. The instrumental break serves as a good example of this and is probably the most dynamic aspect of Baddie. The pelting synth in the post-chorus hook was also an interesting and bold addition to the instrumental, and another good example of edginess. And I am pretty satisfied with the vocal centric pre-chorus (however, I would have liked it more if the second pre-chorus wasn’t cut short). But everything else, from the vocals and rapping elsewhere in Baddie, to the chorus, to the hooks etc. all sound bland and uneventful. ‘Stuck in neutral gear’ is how I would describe Baddie. Honestly, I am not even sure if there is potential for Baddie to grow on me with even more listens. And that says a lot to me.
The music video is an odd one, given its concept. Essentially, IVE is causing havoc in the world for being “cat humans”. They supposedly cause all sorts of trouble, attract attention in public and scare people off. What is interesting is that at night, they come together to carry out some kind of ritual that awakens bigger cats. I would have liked to see more of the havoc, trouble and these bigger cats that they awaken throughout the video, as I think there could have been a decent story in all of this. But as the video is only 2:48 minutes long, the producers have to gloss over the details to fit it all in such a short time frame. A more profound edginess to the video wouldn’t have hurt and could have boosted that intention in the song as well.
The performance aspect of the comeback was okay. It isn’t a resounding yes from me, but it suffices. The performance does focus more on looking good, rather than showcasing anything edgy, which I think the song does calls for. I did particularly like Wonyoung’s change of expression and moves during her “I’m thriller, so villain” line. That was pretty cool highlight.
Song – 6/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 6.5/10
Later this week, IVE will be making their comeback with Baddie. But before that, I have two of IVE’s pre-release singles (Either Way & Off The Record) that I need to review. I will doing that today. Either Way is the first pre-release single, which dropped on 25 September 2023. Off The Record is the second pre-release single, and was dropped on 6 October 2023. Baddie / Either Way / Off The Record follows on from IVE’s first studio length album, I’ve IVE, which featured the title track I AM.
Both Either Way and Off The Record takes on a subdued sound, something that IVE hasn’t really promoted with ever. I also find both releases to be the blandest IVE releases to date. They do both have their individual charms, however. For me, Either Way is the prettier of the two pre-release singles. And I put this down to IVE’s vocals and the melodies in the song, which the combination of sounds immaculate. There is something to the variety of melodies that the members do a good job of delivering in Either Way and the distinctly more nasal tone than usual. When it comes to the chorus, the song becomes more vibrant and profound, particularly thanks to Yujin’s contribution to the chorus. This boost the song up quite nicely, and helps add more variety in the song. The “I, I, I” and “My, My, My” hooks were pretty striking, as well. But apart from that, nothing else really stands out in Either Way. The slow and paced synths instrumental was interesting take on the balladry sound, but there isn’t anything memorable coming out of it. Maybe it is atmospheric when I think back on Either Way retrospectively, but that doesn’t come to me as a first impression.
Off The Record is the opposite – in the sense the song’s charm is actually the instrumentation and the vocals don’t do anything to me. The instrumentation for Off The Record is a lot punchier thanks to its underlying groovy vibes. Off The Record ends up settling for a mid-tempo upbeat nature, which I find to be quite pleasant. The bridge of Off The Record features an interpolation of The Cardigans’ Lovefool, which admittedly is the biggest highlight in both songs that I am reviewing today. Elsewhere in the song, the rapping in Off The Record was also quite well done, with the soft rap-speak motif adopted in the song quite fitting for the mid-tempo atmosphere and pleasant vibes I just mentioned. But as mentioned above, the vocals are the weak point of the song. I just didn’t find them interesting and I honestly have no memory of them once the song is over. It is quite disappointing, especially since Either Way proves they are capable of sounding beautiful.
Either Way‘s lyrics has the message that “we cannot be free from other people’s gazes”. For the most part, we see the members alone. But the scene with all the other members staring at Leeseo through the mirror was a very clever way of depicting the people’s gaze. This causes an internal struggle that leads them to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. In the end, the members come to term with this struggle and put it behind them in the decorated room. What I do find to be quite interesting is that the music video starts in that exact room with the gazes mentioned above, so I think that represents that this is a struggle the members feel on a day-by-day basis and gives meaning to the “we cannot be free” part of the song’s message.
The music video for Off The Record is a lot brighter and light-hearted. Essentially, we see the members confess their secrets during a late night slumber party to one another. And their secrets happen to be about the person they love, based on what I could make out from the video. But rather than being something quite innocent, which is what the video attempts to convince you of, the secret appears to be a bit more scandalous, with the members splitting up another relationship to be with the person they love. I am unsure if it was successful or not, but it was definitely a sinister and unexpected secret to see the members confess to.
Either Way Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
Off The Record Song – 7/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
As you can see, I am determined to cover more songs by Korean artists (or those who have a connection with the KPOP industry) that aren’t in the Korean language. Last weekend, I reviewed songs from KANG DANIEl, Golden Child, AB6IX and THE BOYZ. This week, I am reviewing VERNON’s BLACK EYE, ATEEZ’s LIMITLESS, TWICE’s HARE HARE and IVE’s WAVE.
Black Eye – VERNON (SEVENTEEN)
Language: English Release Date: 23 December 2022 Release Type: Black Eye (Digital Single)
Going over my records during the week, I realized that VERNON’s Black Eye (which was released at the very end of last year) had not yet been reviewed on my blog. So, here is the review! Black Eye is a straight forward pop-punk track that brings forth a nostalgic feel, This song style is one that suits VERNON super well, and his delivery throughout Black Eye proves just that. VERNON’s hoarse vocals is perfect for the genre and I liked the oomph he gives to bump the song upwards. I did wish there was a bit more to the song instrumentation, just to take it to the next level – maybe a solo guitar moment would have been ideal. I also wished the f-word wasn’t bleeped out (this would have potentially helped the song become bolder) and the lyrics were not written to feel like an angsty barely-of-age adult thinking they are cool in their rebellious phase against the world. A more mature outlook would have been better recieved. But overall, Black Eye was definitely a strong solo track from VERNON.
Now that I put my thoughts on the lyrics into words, I can’t help but think VERNON channeled this mentality for the music video. It changes my way of looking at VERNON in the music video (especially when he is very close to the camera), which I had originally thought was a good showing of a more angsty and rebellious side of the SEVENTEEN member. Other than that, the video does a good job of channeling the energy and pop-punk vibes of Black Eye.
Overall Rating – 8/10
Limitless – ATEEZ
Language: Japanese Release Date: 22 March 2023 Release Type: Limitless (2nd Japanese Single Album)
Again, Limitless is another song that I had realized that there was no review for. But that will change today. My understanding is that the song also serves as part of the OST for an anime titled Duel Masters Win. I don’t know too much about that anime, but the instrumentation of Limitless does fit the bill of an anime soundtrack. The synth work in Limitless has a forward trajectory and momentum that made it sound very cool from the get-go. When Limitless amps up in the chorus, the addition of the drumming percussion makes the track feel explosive. The electrifying rock back to the rapping in the second verse was also very exhilarating. As for the members, I wished there was a bit more character to their vocals and rapping. Everything felt held back in the track when it came to the members and it does dull out Limitless. A more robust melody and vocal line would have taken the chorus to new heights, and more oomph would have channeled more explosive energy into the song. The vocal part I did like was the pre-chorus, which featured a keyboard/piano like riff that just helped add a fragile tinge to the song, which I felt complemented Limitless‘ lyrics of embracing the limitless power and inner strength everyone has.
The music video sees the members go to the gym and participate in some sports like archery and fencing. I think the archery and fencing touches on the lyrics. They are sports that are usually seen as low-key and not as ‘active’ compared to the likes of basketball and soccer. But they do require just as much skill and technique, and the effort and inner strength one must find and input to play and win at archery and fencing pays off just as much as those other sports. As for the gym scenes, I think fans of the group will be swooning and loving those scenes. The choreography aspect of Limitless looks okay. But I expected something a bit more bombastic for this song and that expectation wasn’t fulfilled. The hand-off of the microphone to Hongjoong was probably my most favourite bit of the performance.
Overall Rating – 8.1/10
Hare Hare – TWICE
Language: Japanese Release Date: 31 May 2023 Release Type: Hare Hare (10th Japanese Single)
Hare Hare continues TWICE’s success in the Japanese market with another bubbly and fun-sounding JPOP track. I found the track to be super catchy and that it brings back that brightness that featured in TWICE’s earlier works. Timing-wise, the brightness works really well with the summery season that it was released in. I would like to hear a tropic remix of the track, as I think that would work really well with the way Hare Hare sounds. While it is clear that I very much enjoyed the song, Hare Hare doesn’t necessarily bring anything new to the table. But it is still a great and enjoyable song. My only complaint about Hare Hare is the bridge. The breakdown did not fit the rest of the song whatsoever. If the producers somehow maintained that bubbliness that Hare Hare is quite consistent on elsewhere in the song, I think the breakdown would have been more successful and appreciable.
The music video works very well with the song, channeling the song’s bubbly and fun sound. The presence of the emojis, bubble words and the adorable bunnies around the members adds a neat cuteness to the visuals. The members also do a great job of channeling the same vibes from the song forward with their facial expressions and acting. I did think the platform on the soccer field needed a rethink. It was awfully plain and just didn’t fit the rest of the video. The choreography was super cute and fun, just like the song. It also channels the bounciness that featured in the instrumentation of Hare Hare, while the pre-chorus/bridge infuses a bit of sophistication and matureness to the routine to complement where TWICE is at with their careers.
Overall Rating – 8.5/10
WAVE – IVE
Language: Japanese Release Date: 31 May 2023 Release Type: WAVE (1st Japanese Mini Album)
IVE’s WAVE serves as the group’s debut single in the Japanese pop market. For an entrance piece into an international music scene, WAVE was pretty good. There are some weak points to the song, like the not-so memorable verses, the lack of character from the members in the song overall, the odd intersection in the instrumentation of the bridge, and the missed opportunity to really heighten the song in the final chorus/moments of WAVE. But WAVE is catchy enough thanks to its repetitive yet monotonous hook (which I found to be charming the more I listen to WAVE, though it was the wrong move to continue on the monotonous nature in the rest of the song) and there were some strong moments that helps compensates for those weaker points. For example, I really like the hypnotic vocalisation that follows the first verse (by Liz) and second chorus (by Gaeul) of the song. The percussion and strumming guitar instrumentational also does a lot in WAVE in terms of making it more exciting (more than what the members added to the song) and moves WAVE along, while the whiplashes in the background makes off an interesting punctuation in the song. I did think (and this might be due to the music video) think the ending was lacking, just because I expected there to be some sort of concentration in the music. But instead, we got a repeat of what we heard already.
The music video for WAVE features IVE as squash players, patrons relaxing at the pool and rock stars. The first concept was quite fresh, given I don’t think any KPOP music video has gone with the squash concept before. Everything else was pretty much done before. But the video still highlights IVE’s amazing visuals. As for the choreography, I think there was opportunity for the group to do something bolder. What we got looked great, but the chorus calls for confidence and model-like. But instead, we got small movements which doesn’t appear to capitalise WAVE as well.
IVE’s 1st studio album, I’ve IVE, is today’s album review focus. It released back in April of this year and features the pre-release single Kitsch, the title track I AM, and nine additional side tracks. 11 tracks in total, it is clear that this album full to the brim with new IVE songs – a nice change since IVE has only released single albums up until the release of the studio album.
While the presence of more songs from IVE does excite me, the studio album was more of a mix bag for me. There are some standout songs (one of which is the title track) on this album, but there also some fairly so-so and weak tracks on here that I am personally not a fan of. Find out which songs falls on which side of the spectrum by continuing to read my thoughts on the songs below.
I’ve IVE Album Cover
1. Blue Blood – Kicking off the studio album is Blue Blood. From the very first second and the presence of those strings, you can tell the instrumentation tries to set up Blue Blood to be a striking track. And I am very happy to say it does achieve this goal. However, I did think the vocals could have been less processed and a lot sharper, and those vocals embedded in the background in the verses could have been lost, for Blue Blood to reach that striking impression sooner. But a strong opener nonetheless. (8/10)
4. Lips – Lips reminds me of a more defined Alcohol-Free, especially thanks to its beachside vibes and the bossa nova touches. It is a very chill number that you could relax to poolside. I do like the brief pause before the chorus of Lips and how that sets up the central sequence of the track. But it is IVE that holds back the song for me, as their vocals felt very dull and don’t really evoke much excitement from me. The instrumentation was there, but the execution was plain. (6/10)
5. Heroine – I personally would describe Heroine as a low-key track, as there isn’t much going on. But it is one of those that manages to stick in your mind thanks to the memorable melodies and hooks. The low-key vibes come about from the use of higher registers and a much lower tone used during those descending hooks during the post-choruses. The synths keep a low profile but also are aesthetic at the same time. (9/10)
6. Mine – Mine is an alright track. It is an example of a song that is quite linear and never really strays away from its backbone. We did get a bridge where everything was stripped back to vocals and a light presence of guitar. But in a soft pop track like Mine, it isn’t really a major change up. I did like the pleasantries from the instrumentals and the breathy vocals at the start and during the bridge. But everything else in Mine felt muted and uneventful. (6/10)
7. Hypnosis (섬찟) – For me, Hypnosis my most disliked track on this album. Its elements just don’t seem to meld with one another and everything just felt jarring and distinct. There also seemed to be no attempt to try to bring everything together. Aside from the instrumentation, I wasn’t vibing with the members’ vocals as well. While the members did introduce some much-needed smoothness via their vocals to Hypnosis, their vocals lacked emotion and just didn’t have an appealing effect to them. (4/10)
8. NOT YOUR GIRL – Korea is currently in its final weeks of Summer (though at the time of releases, they were gearing up for Summer) and the weather is ever-so-slowly warming up where I am. No matter what, I am enjoying the summery vibes that NOT YOUR GIRL was bringing to the album from the get go. There is a very bright energy coming from the song, and the instrumentation feels very tropical. I liked the energetic delivery by the IVE members and how well it compliments that aforementioned summery vibe. (7/10)
9. Next Page (궁금해) – Next Page is an interesting but enjoyable mix. I really liked the deep drumming in the background of the pre-chorus, and how this contrasts with the more pleasant and melodically flowy chorus that follows. The chorus also has a much cleaner production to it and there were backing vocals to help heighten the melodies they members bring via their own vocals. This is in comparison to the verses of Next Page, which went down a similar route as the choruses, but ended up feeling more boring as it went without the aspects that made the choruses stand out. (7.5/10)
10. Cherish – Good old plain R&B takes over completely in Cherish and I am all for it. I really like how the instrumentation doesn’t confuse, saturates or muddles the R&B sound in anyway. It is straightforward and direct to the point. the softness of their vocals in this track was impeccable, and the melodies are so smooth. This helps makes the chorus stand out. The rapping, an element in many of the above songs that I haven’t really touched on, was well executed in Cherish’s choruses and was a winning element overall in Cherish. (9/10)
11. Shine With Me – Per usual with most albums, the final track on the album is a song for the fans. And I’ve IVE is no exception. I actually liked how the chorus of Shine With Me steps up a level (relative to the verses) and the chimes add a very beautiful effect to the song. The strings in the bridge added a nice hint of dramatism without overdoing it. Their vocals were dreamy and lovable. It was a nice track overall, which I am sure their fandom adores. (8/10)
As already mentioned prior to my break, one of the first posts after posting the outstanding Weekly KPOP Charts will be the annual ‘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 in July of each year. As we are now in July 2023, it is time to post my personal favourite songs from the 1st half of 2023 (with a few extra tidbits).
For this year’s post, I am following what I did last year, as I quite liked how that turned out. This means 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. And I will be posting 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 2022
Personal favourite non-Korean songs of 2023 thus far
Personal favourite KPOP songs of the year so far (January – June 2023)
After that Easter long weekend and another unscheduled mini-break the last two days. I am officially back with new song and album reviews. And starting it all off is a review for what seems to be the biggest release of the week – IVE’s first studio length album I’ve IVE and their latest title track I AM. This follows a big year from the female group who rose to the top of the charts with hits like ELEVEN, LOVE DIVE and After LIKE. And so far, they are definitely replicating a similar amount of success with their pre-release single Kitsch which was released at the end of March ahead of I’ve IVE and I AM.
I AM now carries the torch of being the next IVE hit, and it is definitely shaping up to be just that. I AM is a grand track, bringing a very satisfying dose of powerful pop to the table. I like how the production of the song and the members themselves don’t hold back, and this really helps make I AM even more compelling listen. I enjoyed the dynamic nature of the pop instrumental. The consistency of it and the very upbeat tempo also kept I AM exciting from the get-go. The vocals were consistently strong throughout the length of I AM. From the softer and lower tones opted for in the pre-choruses to the higher pitch high notes in the chorus, everything pretty much impressed me. The “I am on my way~” line in the verses was the catchiest (and my most favourite part of the song), ringing in my mind even after the song had finished playing. The other hooks and melodies present in the chorus were also super addictive – all of which had kept me coming back for more. As for the rapping, I think Gaeul’s efforts in I AM shows redemption. I didn’t enjoy the rapping as much in Kitsch. But in I AM, the rapping felt lively and carried the momentum from the chorus preceding super well. The energy that comes off the final chorus was just the icing on the cake. Overall, I am definitely singing praises for I AM.
I wondered how the producers would top the music video. After LIKE featured a firework display as its final surprise to end the video. That seems hard to top off. But I AM surprised us with a jet taking off, followed by the members walking a catwalk on the runway. It definitely channeled the peak and energy of the song/final chorus super well and made it a very wowing moment in the video. Another OMG moment in the video is when Wonyoung backflipped off the plane. That was super cool, but not advisable in real life. The video definitely does a great job of showing boldness and confidence, the latter is essentially what the song is about. My only tweak would be to remove the golden elegant room setting where they performed the second chorus in. I think it was a very soft element to the video, whilst everything else was bold and striking.
Choreography-wise, I AM showcases a strong routine from the group. No move stands out by itself, but that doesn’t affect the impression I get from the watching the performance. It just consistent throughout. I did like how the choreography does amp up in the bridge and final choruses, carrying out the energy that I discussed with regards to the final chorus in a super fulfilling manner to watch. I do hope Rei recovers from her health issue soon and rejoin the rest of the group on the stage during the promotions (But definitely health first!).
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 9.3/10
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