JENNIE’s Mantra is your pick for Best Dance Performance – Female Solo of 2024 in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Find out if your other favourite artists, performances and songs of 2024 won the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking the link here.
JENNIE also returned at the start of the month with her solo debut album, Ruby. The album features the title track like JENNIE (the focus of this post), last year’s Mantra single and the singles that have received music videos thus far (ZEN, ExtraL ft. Dominic Fike, Love Hangover ft. Doechii, and Handlebars ft. Dua Lipa). And there is a lot more to unpack in a future album review post. But for now, here is my thoughts on like JENNIE.
Right off the bat, likeJENNIE is fierce and powerful. The harsh metallic beat, hip-hop production and JENNIE’s delivery encapsulate that dynamic in the song’s two minutes. I liked how JENNIE and the song stood their ground and didn’t let up this momentum, creating a distinct statement piece for the artist herself. This fierceness and powerfulness also fit the song’s message, a statement about how only one JENNIE can exist. The chorus and hook were effective in delivering this message, but it also served as a double-edged sword, in my opinion. The only thing I can really remember about like JENNIE aside from the stomping instrumentation is her name, which is on repeat for what felt like most of the song. It took the focus away from the other moments in like JENNIE. For example, I know she raps in the song, but I cannot remember too much from those sequences (such as the fact some of it was in Korean) as her name is the only thing I get out of like JENNIE.
The music video opens with JENNIE as an astronaut consuming a tablet shaped like the letter J, which transforms her into the hip-hop form we see throughout the video. From there, we get JENNIE in the same way she presents herself in the song — fierce and powerful. I really liked the use of the dancers to make the choreography pronounced as JENNIE charms us with the above presentation and her charisma. Like the song, the music video is very much a statement piece for JENNIE, even as she reaches her final form as a capybara. This ending catches you off guard, but it is a memorable one to what felt like a jam-packed music video.
Fierceness and powerfulness are common themes for the comeback, so it is no surprise that JENNIE and the dancers give us just that in the choreography. The hip-hop routine accompanying this comeback is very much ‘in-your-face’, and I like how she showed off her command of the stage alongside the routine.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
Through my review of ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ APT. collaboration last week, I mentioned the BLACKPINK members have been making solo comebacks this year and that I would return to cover them on the blog. It is time to pick up JENNIE’s solo comeback with Mantra, which I have been revisiting a lot in the past week.
Mantra was released almost three weeks ago, and I didn’t care much when it was first released. This may be because I didn’t catch wind of JENNIE’s solo comeback until after Mantra dropped, and I was busy figuring out how I missed that piece of news. But almost three weeks later, Mantra had grown on me thanks to its repetitiveness. The way Mantra‘s chorus was set up and its spoken delivery was quite earwormy and catchy, making it memorable and addictive. It also helped that the chorus was a big chunk of the song, re-emphasising and laying the chorus thickly on the listener. There was no escaping the chorus. As for the rest of Mantra, things were not as memorable. While we get two verses and a pre-chorus in Mantra, you simply don’t remember much from these parts. They felt very brief, and Mantra‘s short length doesn’t allow JENNIE to revisit or explore these segments further. Some of it had intriguing delivery, which I find myself torn about. It was interesting in one sense but not great in another. Overall, Mantra‘s chorus was definitely the focal and standout point of the song, and I have been revisiting it more recently to enjoy it.
I hope the video’s opening pays homage to that classic scene from Rush Hour, where Soo Young is singing in the backseat of the chauffeur’s car before she is kidnapped. I love it! Personally, that is the most memorable part of the video for me. But aside from that opening, the music video also showcases JENNIE in a sexy summer way. Of all the looks in the video, I like all but the blonde bob (the one she dons while in the kiddy pool). The video is also has a lot of choreography scenes.
I really liked the energy she brought to the performance. It was sexy and fun. The former speaks to JENNIE’s appeal, while the latter indicates the track’s upbeatness and dynamism. There was a certain point in her career when she was accused of being a lazy performer, but everything in this routine points to the contrary.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 7.7/10
2024 has seen a few collaborations drop. But I don’t think any got as much fanfare as SPOT! did, which sees ZICO and JENNIE (from BLACKPINK) join forces. Both artists are widely popular in their own right. ZICO is a very familiar name when it comes to collaborations and JENNIE is widely known for being part of BLACKPINK and her solo works, as well. SPOT! dropped at the end of April, so apologies for only getting around to reviewing it now.
I will be honest – I didn’t pay much attention to the song when it was released. I can’t remember the exact reason, but I just never really turned my attention to it. As such, time allowed SPOT! to develop on my mind. And now, SPOT! is a song I cannot get out of my head. The songs’ two major hooks are extremely catchy. JENNIE’s vocal hook is probably the song’s primary hook and it is executed in a way that really demands your attention. Some might call it forceful – had I reviewed the song back in April, I probably would have said just that. But the vocal hook now feels very bold and I liked how it developed into a shoutier line. The hype and buildup within just that one line is definitely grabbing. ZICO’s repetitive rapping that follows the choruses (i.e. the “Up and down, Round and round, Everybody hit the spot“) follows through from the energy of JENNIE’s part. The backing maintains that hype energy and adds further excitement. Elsewhere in the hip-hop song, ZICO and JENNIE executes their parts just fine. You’d expect a good rap sequence from ZICO in his songs, and JENNIE adds some extra colour in SPOT!. Talking about colour, I quite like how fun that pitchy and windy synth at the end was. It was one of the elements that I remember being unsure about. But once again, time has allowed it to grow on me, just like how SPOT! did.
The music video sees both ZICO and JENNIE have a casual time alone, with one another and in the company of others. I am glad they managed to get JENNIE in the music video, which isn’t always the case for collaborations. This usually creates a void in those music videos. But for SPOT!, this was not the case, given the presence of both artists. I quite liked JENNIE’s parts. For some reason, I don’t think I ever connect JENNIE to such a causal fit or atmosphere, given her more elegant visuals on stage and at events. So, it was quite refreshing to see in her in that style and environment. ZICO’s parts add fun to the video and I like how he could do that in any situation, as evident throughout the video. Not the most memorable music video ever, but it does the job and keeps the casualness of SPOT! alive.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.6/10
(G)I-DLE, Jung Kook (and his fellow BTS members), JENNIE’s groupmate JISOO and NCT (and its units) are nominated in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support your favourite acts byclicking here to vote today.
It has been a couple of weeks since the last International Song Review post, so it is time for another. Last time, I focused on songs releases by Anne Marie and Minnie ((G)I-DLE), LE SSERAFIM, ITZY & CHEN (EXO). This time, I will focusing on (G)I-DLE’s I Want That, Jung Kook’s Standing Next To You, JENNIE’s You & Me and NCT NEW TEAM’s Hands Up.
I Want That – (G)I-DLE
Language: English Release Date: 5 October 2023 Release Type: Heat (1st English Mini-Album)
(G)I-DLE made their official Western debut with the single I Want That, following from their I DO pre-release earlier this year. I don’t have too much to say about the track. I do like what they have offered to us, but I think more could have been added to I WANT THAT to really enhance it. The club style and heavy bass gives this dance track some sassy and powerful energy, which is backed up by their lyrics. The chorus is super addictive, thanks to the combination of the beat drop and repetitive hook. Personally, I would have liked more character from each member, as I WANT THAT does get monotonous at certain points. A bit more sassiness and attitude from the members in I WANT THAT would have taken it to the next level
The music video begins with the members on the boat, which I presume is the aftermath of the events in the video. We are then shown the toxic relationships between the members and this guy. At points, it is sweet and romantic. Other times, he is abusive and a horrible human. In particular, we see Minnie walking down the aisle as a bride to marry this guy. But when she turns back, she only see a dark church (which alludes to her future with him). She runs away from the wedding before it gets any further. In the end, she takes matters into her own hands by walking into the guy’s workplace and points a gun to his head. We see glimpses of the other members pointing guns at the same guy, which represents the anger from his past partners and revenge they want. He taunts her, but he doesn’t realize that she was determined and shoots him point blank. To finish the job, she also brought a bomb, which causes chaos with the other workers. In the end, Minnie and the rest of the members walk out and get on the boat we see them on at the start of the video. As for the choreography, we don’t get too see much of it. But it looks okay. I just wished the choreography scenes were better incorporated into the video and featured better styling.
Overall Rating – 7.9/10
Standing Next To You – Jung Kook (BTS)
Language: English Release Date: 3 November 2023 Release Type: Golden (1st Studio Album)
Following the success of his other singles (Seven and 3D) earlier this year, the announcement of Golden and Standing Next To You became highly anticipated releases. I will be making plans to review Golden, but that might not happen until next year. But for now, I can say that my thoughts on Standing Next To You are somewhat positive. When I really focus on Standing Next To You, I really find myself appreciating the sleek vibes, retro energy and funky tones this pop track offers. I like that the track doesn’t mess with such a formula, keeping the track consistent from start to end. In the context of Standing Next To You, this is a very positive aspect of the track. Jung Kook’s delivery is charismatic and sensual in this song, which I am sure fans are enjoying. His falsettos can become quite addictive, but I particularly like the shoutier style he gives the pre-chorus, which heightens the chorus that comes after. But reflecting on the track afterwards and when I don’t focus on Standing Next To You, the track is rather forgettable and doesn’t really hold me as much as Seven and 3D did. It might be the case of being too sleek, but I boil it down to a lack of memorable hooks to really get this song into my mind and make me want to return.
In addition to the song, the music video also shows off Jung Kook’s charismatic charms that fans consistently highlight. His good looks are definitely are also on full display, which again, I think fans would be loving. The video is descried as showing Jung Kook chasing after a mysterious femme fatale. We see him catching up to her at the “light at the end of the tunnel”, which is a nice way of showing us the positive effect this femme fatale might have on Jung Kook. I did also think Jung Kook dancing in front of the big hole in a way is his way of showing how he could potentially fill that void in the femme fatale. All of this (and I am presuming the dancing also had an effect) convinced her to approach Jung Kook at the end of the music video. Talking about dancing, it is no doubt that Jung Kook’s performance skills were on full display, which I personally really enjoyed each time I have seen the music video. The sleekness and sensual nature of the song comes through really well in the choreography, and I also like the more intense parts of the routine, as well (such as the pre-chorus and the end).
Overall Rating – 8.2/10
You & Me – JENNIE (BLACKPINK)
Language: English Release Date: 6 October 2023 Release Type: You & Me (Digital Single)
You & Me was released following the conclusion of BLACKPINK’s massive Born Pink world tour. Upon first listen, I was disappointed with the track for a number of reasons, including the lack of personality, the disconnect between the different parts (particularly the verses and choruses), the lack of any memorable melodies or hooks etc. There was a lot in You & Me that just did not sit right for me. But the more I continued to listen to You & Me, the more I grew to like You & Me. After all, I am all about giving second chances when it comes to the music I listen to. The problems are still there, but they are less jarring then before. The standout parts of the song, for me personally, are the verses and the instrumental outro. The verses had a nice pleasant pop vibe to them. Sure, it isn’t anything riveting, but I felt a sense of nostalgia to those sequences. The heftier beats and electronic instrumental outro felt like a decent conclusion to the song, which was all very synth forward from the get-go. Heck, even the squeaks became charming for me. But there are some stuff in You & Me that I still feel the same way about from day 1 – the chorus instrumentation and vocal work was bland, there isn’t memorable melodies or hooks in the song to make the track memorable, the post-chorus vocal tone was not appreciable, and the rap speak sequence reiterated the song’s blandness. Overall, the good aspects were balanced out by the bad aspects in You & Me, and so I am on the fence for this one.
As for the performance video released to accompany You & Me, it is your standard high quality video that you would expect from YG Entertainment. It is more on the simpler side of the spectrum of music videos, but it still features a memorable moment or two, such as the silhouette of JENNIE and the male dancer whilst the moon in the background was brightest. JENNIE’s red dress is also pretty memorable. Performance-wise, it looks good. Nothing stands out to me, but it was a good routine nonetheless.
Overall Rating – 7/10
Hands Up – NCT NEW TEAM
Language: Japanese Release Date: 8 October 2023 Release Type: Hands Up (Digital Single)
The final song in this post is for a future group. NCT NEW TEAM is the current temporary name for NCT’s Japanese (and final) unit, who will debut next year. Beats me to why we don’t have an official name when they are already putting out Japanese songs. Hands Up is what you expect with NCT title tracks – a very synth driven dance number. There is more to the synths, but my mind keeps on coming back to describing the synth selection as “tinny”, and this I find to be pretty standard. The drumming/percussion added to the song does infuse more energy and texture to Hands Up. But I would also describe this to be quite tinny, so it doesn’t really add anything new to the song. At least, the energy and texture does provide a fun vibe, which is backed by hooks like the “Ooh Ooh“. The vocal work is a bit standard, as well. A good showing of skills, but nothing worth discussing further. And with every other NCT (or SM song for that matter), the bridge is definitely on point. As a starting point, Hands Up does a decent job of introducing us to the new unit/group. However, as they begin to pump out more songs (which I hope will be the case) and finds an actual name, I hope they can also develop a sound for themselves that is within the realm of NCT’s music.
The music video sees NCT NEW TEAM’s world become overrun with these green blobs that keeps on self-generating. The group, whom are just high school students, use their skills as baseball players and the power of the baseball to smash these green blobs. Ultimately, they kill the biggest blob with a power pitch and hit by the members, which causes all of the others to die. At the end, we see one of the members back on a train with a glowing green baseball, suggesting we might not have seen the last of the green blob monster. Overall, I quite liked how the producers showed off the group’s youthfulness and the new energy they bring to the industry. The choreography looks good, matching their synchronisation with what the other NCT units are very much known for. The energy they bring via their performance and choreography is refreshing and fun, as well. The choruses’ routine is the best bit.
This is not a drill. But BLACKPINK is returning! Just not as a quartet this time around. Instead, it has been confirmed by YG Entertainment that each member will be making their solo debut. Jennie’s solo release kicks off the series of solo debuts for each member with the title track titled appropriately, SOLO. We last heard from BLACKPINK via their smashing hit, DDU-DU DDU-DU.
This is one unique song. And I am really liking it. But before we jump into a shocking in-depth description, I must apologise for my lack of music terminology. This is going to be really hard. I thought the song had a nice minimisalitc vibe, especially in the opening verse. I also like those spaced out tapping (cannot think of the right word here) sounds which give off a classy yet epic vibe. Very ear-catching. I thought the pre-choruses was nailed perfectly. Her vocals just sound so good during this section. The chorus takes a turn and drops that minimalistic vibe. Instead, the aesthetics here are turned up, giving Jennie an opportunity to showcase some dance. I actually enjoyed the ‘SOLO LOLOLO‘ hook. I thought her rapping was on point and very sleek. I was hoping for the final chorus to have more a kick but they maintained the same chorus (with slight changes), which I didn’t mind. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was different yet so appealing.
So, the message behind the song is confidence. More specifically (and I quote this from SOOMPI): “Many women are in a relationship where they give up a lot of things just to be loved by someone else. But even though they put in a lot of effort, in many cases, it will return to them as pain. The song talks about being free rather than making up a fake version of yourself.” So the video shows two sides of Jennie. The first is showing her as hurt and in pain. The second is confident and strong. And this was rather cool. I liked the way the video was shot, with the cinematography being a major highlight for me. I actually enjoyed her final dance scene with the 20+ backup dancers. Jennie stood out in that crowd but yet the aesthetic of it was just through the roof.
The choreography for this looks amazing. I personally want to see how this would look on stage because the choreography for the first chorus looked more freestyle. But for the second and final choruses, I thought everything looked bold and very charismatic, obviously the exact vibes that Jennie was going for.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.8/10
KPOPREVIEWED 