Tag: IVE

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

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

For those have missed the news, IVE will be making a comeback in a couple of week’s time with their 1st studio album! And in preparation for that, the group has already begun teasing the new album release with their pre-release single, Kitsch. The comeback and pre-release single comes of a super successful year for the newly debuted female group who had hit after hit in 2022, including ELEVEN, LOVE DIVE (which took out many Song of the Year grand prizes in the recently passed award ceremonies for 2022) and After LIKE.

Kitsch is definitely a bold piece for IVE, compared to their past releases. As a pre-release, it definitely does a great job of introducing us to a new era of the group. Hopefully, their title track shows a new side of the group, as Kitsch implies. Since its release on Monday, I have had a chance to process the song a fair bit, and I now find it to be the catchiest release of the week. This wasn’t necessarily my first impression of Kitsch but those few additional listens were really favourable and helped the song grow on me. Artistically, I really like their simple pop approach the producers opts for in the verses. It was calm and soothing,, while the brightness felt innocent and comforting. All of which was very much opposite to what the choruses were and this was probably done intentionally to make Kitsch‘s anti-drop choruses pop out and be so much more impactful. The chanty delivery was memorable and pretty much keyed into my head. The instrumental turns deep-toned and heavy with the stomping beat and more electronic-leaning background really holds its ground as a statement piece for the group. All of this shows produces a sassier side to the group, something I had not expected from group whatsoever. For me, one aspect of Kitsch that didn’t sit right with me was the entire rap in the bridge. It felt pretty cliché and I am not sure if that rapping style adopted for was the best choice. I would have liked it more if the rappers chose had a more attitude-filled energy to compliment the energy of the chorus. I also wished they went in harder to carry the momentum of Kitsch‘s chorus that preceded it. Despite the rap however, the boldness prevails and Kitsch is definitely raising the bar to their title track release in a couple of week’s time.

Just like the song, the music video turns from sunny daylight (and if the scenes were not in daylight, then there was a brightness to them they felt light and warming) to the a darker vibe (through the use of intimidating red/flashing lights, the darkness of the night sky). Even the way the group carries themselves changes. They go from having fun and an easygoing vibe to a much fiercer and powerful vibe. Overall, it is a music video that works well and goes hand-in-hand with Kitsch.

The choreography looks great. You can apply the exact same comments I had for the music video to the dance routine. My favourite bit has to be the chorus segment of the routine, where the group really shows a more mature yet powerful side of themselves in the choreography. And from what I can see in the music video, the group encapsulates the same energy we get from the song super well in the choreography. Can’t wait to see a live performance for Kitsch.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.5/10

The next release of the night belongs to IVE and is titled After LIKE. This is the group’s second comeback to date, and follows the tall order of LOVE DIVE (which was released back in April) and their debut hit ELEVEN (released back in December of last year).

I didn’t want to spoil the reason why I am also so keen on After LIKE. But now that we are in the song segment of my review, I think I can finally divulge. Like everyone who is highly anticipated After LIKE, I am enjoying the fact that the song samples part of its instrumental from the legendary disco hit I Will Survive (by Gloria Gaynor). I think it is ballsy for any producer to even touch songs like I Will Survive, given that it is so widely known by so many people. You got to make sure to do it justice. So, do I think After LIKE does it justice? I definitely do. Instead of oversaturating After LIKE with the sample, it is used sparingly (three times following the choruses) and merged neatly into the song, fitting in with the upbeat deep house instrumental that make up the rest of After LIKE‘s instrumental. It is interesting that After LIKE doesn’t go into full retro mode, which might have been the more cliché move but big expectation with such a sample. I quite liked how they kept it modern and simple. The sample does end up being the focal point, but it is used well. As for the rest of After LIKE, I can also say that it is a strong showing from IVE. Admittedly, the verses were a bit plain, but showed some good vocal work. After LIKE doesn’t mess around and gets straight to the point, which is something I quite liked. The chorus had some really catchy hooks and melodies that I don’t mind going back to. The rapping following the second chorus (and layered over the sample) was a very refreshing delivery for IVE and packs a of punch in the energy department, which I thoroughly liked. Overall, After LIKE definitely played its cards well and was great as I had expected!

The solo shots in the music video were really good. I liked the central colour for each member, which helps makes the music video colourful and vibrant, much needed with dark background for the choreography shots. Their central colour also corresponds to the accessories donned with their super plain outfits in the first round round of choreography shots. I am also loving the final set of choreography shots, with the fireworks in the background. The firework display was epic and helps makes the video go out with a bang! Whilst it might sound like I most of the video, I actually have a big issue about it. The really shaky camera work was terrible and very distracting. I understand the need to keep the music video dynamic, but I think the production team went over the top. There was a need for cleaner and smoother shots in this video, just so we could appreciate the music video and the members better. And it disappointing that the video didn’t give us that opportunity.

I liked, how despite the energy and upbeatness of the song, there was a sense of refinement behind the members’ moves in the chorus. It was quite neat and made for a good routine. But the best part of the choreography occurs the first and last runs of the I Will Survive sample. The sharpness contrasts the more refined moves aforementioned and leaves a much stronger impression on me.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.6/10

In December 2021, IVE made their debut and took the industry by storm with their first single, ELEVEN. Four months on, the monster rookie group is back with their first comeback, LOVE DIVE, which dropped earlier this week. The group surely has some tough competition this week, but they are definitely have proved that they can hold their ground on the charts.

My first listen to LOVE DIVE yielded a very bland response. I just wasn’t feeling it the first time around. Not entirely sure why, but maybe I was feeling a bit off that day or I didn’t pay close enough attention to the song. But that response was short-lived, as I was reaching for the replay button after my second listen to LOVE DIVE. A lot of LOVE DIVE ended up appealing to me. It felt just as catchy and momentous just like ELEVEN, but it was more subtle and lowkey, whilst also taking on a mature and darker profile (compared to their title track). I also felt that a lot of the different segments of LOVE DIVE were quite dynamic, textured and robust in their own right. For example, the opening verse left a strong impression on me (just like how ELEVEN‘s did); the ‘Narcissistic, my God I love it‘ line was super memorable and impactful (and I quite enjoyed the subtle knocking sounding that played during this part); and the choruses’ ‘Woo‘ was smooth and ambient. These sections do repeat themselves, but they still felt fresh the second time around. LOVE DIVE‘s weakest point, but not by much, was the instrumental break we get in place of a bridge. While I liked the whispery vocals and the light but consistent percussion, that constant alarm-like whistle just didn’t work right for me. The part did need something there to fill the void, but the chosen sound just didn’t cut it. Once again, there were strong vocals from the members, with some of my favourite moments already mentioned above. Overall, LOVE DIVE is a strong addition to IVE’s portfolio that adds to the groundwork laid out by their debut track.

The music video was fun and worked well with the song. But there was not much of a personal connection to really ‘pull me’ into the song. For the most part, the video showed images of the members enjoying their time and hanging together. I didn’t really get much else of the video. The song had a strong independence message, with the lyrics portraying how one should dive into love anytime if they have the courage to love (description taken from SOOMPI). I would have liked to see that better reflected in the video. The good thing was their choreography shots showed us confidence and power, which aids with the first bit of the song’s description.

The entire performance for this comeback is top notch! I liked the entire look and feel of the choreography. It showed off the charisma and stage presence of the group extremely well, with this being felt strongly during the dance break section of the performance.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7.5/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10

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Making their debut earlier in the week is IVE, who kicks off their careers with the single ELEVEN. IVE is a six-member female group under Starship Entertainment, the home to acts such as MONSTA X, WJSN, CRAVITY, Jeong Sewoon and many others. The lineup of IVE consist of  Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo. Some fans might recognise Yujin and Wonyoung, as they were formerly part of IZ*ONE before IZ*ONE disbanded in April this year.

Even though it has been out for a couple of days now, I find ELEVEN to be an alright song. It is good in some senses, but I felt like it could have been better. The good thing about ELEVEN is that I can tell it will be a grower for me, and probably within a few weeks time, my opinions of ELEVEN might be much more positive than today. But until then, here are my thoughts on ELEVEN as it stands. The tribal-like percussion in the instrumental was very refreshing. I know we have heard it recently in another song, but I find its profoundness and prominence in ELEVEN to be exciting and appealing. For me, the verses were plain and monotonous. I wished there was a bit more flair to this part of the song, especially given the rest of the song. The vocals were decent here (I liked that the nasally tone the second vocalist in the song brought to the first verse), but they just didn’t have too much going on to really interest me. And I feel that this particular comment can also be applied to the entire song. Anyhow, what does make the song interesting those pre-chorus slowdowns. While we do get those from time to time to help make the chorus more explosive, ELEVEN‘s application of this technique is a lot more extreme, as you could really fill that the song was winding down. The rap-speak tone also helps out here. The pairing adds a unique touch to the song, which plays well with my comment of attracting attention. But with such a set up, I felt the chorus was a bit underwhelming. It was not as explosive as it could have been, and the melodies/hooks in the chorus were not as memorable. The only memorable part of the chorus was the ‘1,2,3,4,5,6,7, you make me feel like eleven‘ ending to the chorus, and even that was a bit soft. The rest of the song repeats the setup of the first verse and chorus, both for the second and final section of the song (with a bit of an extension at the end of the song). While this does sound like it would have been repetitive, I didn’t mind it as much. Overall, ELEVEN seems like a strong debut song, even though the song could have been better in some regards.

I know views are not everything. But they are particularly vital for groups starting out, as they are a good way to gauge attraction. If IVE’s debut views are anything to go by (at the time of writing, they have garnered over 28.5 million views within four days), they definitely have a lot of potential. They are doing even better than some of the top groups who have very recently released new music! Aside from views, I really like the mature vibe of the music video, which compliments the song. The sets looks great and elegant, while the matureness flows into some of their outfits (i.e. those white suits and blue gloves are definitely a memorable image from the video). The cinematography also helps make the music video look amazing. Definitely a strong music video!

Like the music video, the choreography for ELEVEN definitely a strong routine. The hip-shaking during the song’s main hook was definitely an unforgettable moment for me. The group’s charisma also needs to be mentioned, as they felt like they have been performing for many years than what they already have under their belt. I liked the contrast that the aggression brings to the performance, with Yujin being the standout member thanks to her aggressive facial expressions. It was subtle, but it definitely made the performance a whole lot captivating.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 7.8/10