It is a new week. And that comes with new comebacks and debuts. Kicking it off this week is DOYOUNG’s solo debut with the single Little Light and his first studio length album YOUTH. DOYOUNG becomes the fifth member of NCT after TAEYONG, MARK, TEN and JAEHYUN to have some sort of a solo career outside of their NCT works, which spans across NCT, NCT U and NCT 127 discography. If I also read correctly, we will be expecting more NCT solo works this year. We already have TAEYONG’s TAP and TEN’s Nightwalker (which I have yet to review) this year, and JAEHYUN is preparing a solo album himself.
But today’s focus is on DOYOUNG’s Little Light. The track is described as a band song with powerful guitar riffs (according to SOOMPI), which is an accurate description for Little Light. I would have also thrown in a ‘refreshing’, ‘revitalising’ and/or ‘uplifting’ descriptor into the mix when describing Little Light. When I first heard the song, I thought how nice some strings would have been in the background (particularly at the end of Little Light) and that led me to think of LUCY’s work (a South Korean band that I have reviewed before who is known for their use of strings in their band tracks). It turns out that Little Light is co-written by Cho Won Sang from LUCY! As for DOYOUNG, he sounds really nice. Not only does his vocal tone showcases those extra descriptive words I mentioned at the start of this section, I like how he presents himself throughout Little Light. There is a bit of a range with some some powerful notes, high notes and even some falsetto. Each were well used and at the right time, furthering Little Light as a captivating track. I do wish there was a bit more consistency within the melodies in Little Light to make it feel more cohesive. But as it stands, Little Light ticks off many boxes for me, especially the idea of it being a band track with a refreshing vibe.
The lyrics to Little Light talks about how a little light can lead someone to their hopes and dreams . Certain lines of the song speak about how it needs to be lit, is it can be the dimmest light you can ever find, or even be a star in the sky that is miles away etc. It is all quite clever imagery and presents to us the idea that little light can be something different for all of us. In the video, DOYOUNG goes searching for his little light, which he does come across a number of times. He goes chasing after it, but he loses sight of it just as many times as he spots it. But as it is his little light, it does come back to him to lead him forward. DOYOUNG went through windy conditions at one point, and also trips and grazes his face/hand. At one point, he almost gives up on his search. All of this represents the tribulations and journey we all must go on that is life. But in a happy ending, he finds his light and follows it to a hidden area that has even more little lights. While not shown, these lights somehow take him home. But before we think it all a dream, DOYOUNG notices his hands (and we can see his face) are still scraped, which alludes to the fact that journey he went through the previous night (i.e., life) still occurred. I also notice that the little light in the video is green in colour, which is also NCT’s colour. And I have a feeling that all those little lights that become one big light might be reference to the NCT fanclub. I also enjoyed the scenery and the aesthetic of band instruments behind him in the scenes where he is singing into a microphone. What a stunning backdrop.
Song – 9.5/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.3/10
NCT DREAM made their return yesterday with a brand new mini-album Dream()Scape and the single Smoothie. This is the group’s first release after their ISTJ, which featured the title track of the same name, saw a whopping 4.2 million in pre-orders and 3.65 million in sales. Dream()Scape is already breaking records for NCT DREAM, with the new mini-album already breaking the group’s highest first day sales record (from what I could see on my timeline on X).
Unlike what the song title suggests, Smoothie is not a smooth song. It is definitely more coarse in terms of texture, given the mixture of rough and hard-hitting synths, intense rapping and melodic vocals (which does give Smoothie a hint of smoothness) that make up the new NCT DREAM track. I also note that Smoothie is a lot darker than usual, with the song leaning super hard into that intense and serious territory via these same elements – not expected with a song titled Smoothie at all. Each of these elements are great aspects of the track. The backing of Smoothie goes down hip-hop territory with 808 bass line and snare rhythm (based on a Soompi article). There are also some cool and interesting synth choices made for the detailing of Smoothie throughout the track, which gives the backing of Smoothie some liveliness and colour. The rapping is definitely the highlight of the track, with MARK, JENO, JAEMIN and JISUNG really bringing their A-game to the track and contributing to the intensity of Smoothie. And as mentioned above, the vocal sequences are melodic and brought a much needed relief from the intensity in the form of smoothness. The only gripe I have about Smoothie is the chorus. As charming and catchy as it is, it felt plain. I was waiting for something exciting to happen in the central part, but that never eventuated due to the simultaneous and consistent monotonous repetition of the title and the anti-drop in the instrumentation. Overall, another song from NCT DREAM, just let down slightly by the chorus.
The music video (and every teaser that was released prior to the video) was quite interesting to watch. I presume they are all linked together, as my theory involves the ()SCAPE videos being the first chapter of the story, followed by the Dirty Smoothie teasers and then the music video. The first chapter showed the members being brainwashed by an entity via instructions, medication and binary code. While they do break away from the brainwashing facility at the end of the ()SCAPE videos, life doesn’t appear to be the same as at the start of the ()SCAPE video (note the glass of water on the table in the foregrounds of the initial and final video of the ()SCAPE series). The Dirty Smoothie teasers, we see the members assimilating back to normal life, but also ignoring the dangers and negativity around them. This to me suggest that the brainwashing was successful, but ‘in part’ as the members are not mindless as the facility had intended them to be. In the opening of Smoothie‘s music video, we see a black thorn wrap around the building they are in. As the video progresses, we see the members gather ingredients for a smoothie. By the end of the video, the members have drank said smoothie and the black thorny vines have unraveled, leading me to think that brainwashing has been dispelled. As for the rest of the video, you could definitely feel the intensity from different aspects of the visuals, matching up with the song quite well.
From the snippets of the choreography I could see in the music video, intensity and energy is definitely the first thing that pops into my mind, as the performance really throws both elements right at you. For the chorus, to complement the fact that the song slows down, the members maintain the intensity but goes down a more alluring path with their dance moves. Almost sensual, but definitely holding onto that cool factor. Definitely an interesting combination for the group that I definitely going to pay attention to.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.5/10
Another NCT related review, once again. This time around, the review is for NCT 127’s 5th studio album, Fact Check, which was released in October 2023. The album features the title track of the same name as the album and an additional 8 songs. Since the release and promotion of Fact Check (both the title track and studio album), NCT 127 had an additional comeback in December 2023 with a special Winter single Be There For Me and began their 3rd world tour – Neo City – The Unity. Anyhow, onto the review aspect of this post for Fact Check. There are a number of good songs to check out below!
2. Space (무중력) – After the tightness from Fact Check, Space provides us with some relief with a much looser track. From the get go, I find it to be an ‘oh so dreamy’ track listen to and I am totally digging that. The vocals add to this by adopting a raspier and breathy output. I also have to draw your attention to the punchy ‘Space’ repetition in the choruses, with each coming at the most ideal times. The synths give Space a modern profile and rhythm, but the saxophone in the background ultimately steals the spotlight as it fades in and out for the chorus and gives off a classy vibe. Everything felt balanced and perfect. As a whole, Space felt very chill and relaxing. (10/10)
3. Parade (행진) – NCT 127 switches back to their usual energetic style and intensity with Parade. And they really make sure that we know by amplifying a lot of the components in the track. Parade features a shouty-like delivery, in some parts, allowing the rapping to become more dynamic and richer. Parade opts down the hip-hop direction, which also contributes to the amplification of the song and builds a very solid foundation for the song. As for the vocals, they did a really good job of contrasting with the rest of the song, keeping it from going too crazy and grounding it. (9/10)
5. Yacht – Yacht takes a more laid-back approach. The energy is all there, but things feel a lot less intense in Yacht. I have to admit that I find that brass-like synth in the chorus to be a little too scratchy for my liking. I wished that was toned down a bit, as it does have its charming point. But I felt like it overpowered the chorus a tad. The rest of the retro approach to Yacht was appreciable. I really liked the idea of the vocalists and rappers harmonising with each other, which adds depth to the song. However. I wished the melodies were a little more polished, especially as we lead into the chorus, to really get the full effect of that. (8/10)
6. Je Ne Sais Quoi – Je Ne Sais Quoi takes us back to NCT 127 territory with a hip-hop track. There is a lot going on in this track, especially with the contrast between the rapping and vocals. Moments of Je Ne Sais Quoi had me doing that slight bounce you do when you listen to a bop hip-hop track. Other parts saw the song smooth right out for the vocals to be showcased. It all makes for an interesting track. Nothing really sticks out as a sore thumb and the different parts all come out together quite cohesively. If you want to hear multiple facets of NCT 127, Je Ne Sais Quoi is a good example of that. (8/10)
7. Love Is Beauty (별의시) – As one of the longer tracks released in the KPOP industry this year, Love Is Beauty is a captivating number to listen to. For me, the most amazing aspect of this track has to be the stunning vocals that the members showcase. It is really hard to pinpoint a member who did exceptionally well when everyone did a spectacular job in Love Is Beauty. We do get some rapping in the song, but they were tweaked in a way that fits the mid-tempo nature of Love Is Beauty. The twinkling synths and instrumentation was a really nice touch to what easily could have been a more typical R&B release. (9/10)
8. Misty (소나기) – Again, amazing vocals are on full display in Misty. But that is something the members have already done a few times on this album. What really sets Misty apart from the rest is the abundance of harmonies throughout the track, as well as the really atmospheric and dreamy instrumentation. I found it extremely hard to put the song down or skip it once it started, knowing that the whole almost 4-minute track needs to be experienced in full to really experience Misty and that it should not be missed. (10/10)
9. Real Life – Finally, the end of Fact Check (the album) features the softer pop track Real Life. The instrumentation actually gives the track a lot of life and colour. I particularly like the orchestral-like approach to the backing, which helps give the track a slight epic feel. The vocals and rapping were well done, as well as the melodies, which I find myself swaying to. The repetition of “Real Real Real … Real Life’ was actually quite hooky and catchy. Overall, a neat song to end off the album on. (8/10)
I know a lot of my reviews lately have been related to NCT, with the most recent reviews being the 4 tracks that had an ’archiving video’ from NCT’s 4th studio album Golden Age, the album review for that particular album, and NCT 127’s special winter single Be There For Me. But ahead of the album review for their fifth studio album Fact Check (released back in October 2023), I will also be spending some time to review the b-side Angel Eyes from the Fact Check album, which also got a full length-track video.
My thoughts on Angel Eyes are super simple. Angel Eyes is a straightforward pop track with great vocals and rapping from all of the members. The pop rock instrumentation is extremely likeable. I personally felt the instrumentation was very clean and crisp, which heightens the pop rock energy and the members’ contributions to the track. Angel Eyes exudes a fun vibe, with my mind picturing everyone is having a blast with one another. It feels wholesome and pulls me in quite easily with its simple melodies. The chorus features everyone singing together, almost coming off in a chanty like manner. While that is sometimes a hit or miss, it works extremely well here in Angel Eyes. It is one of the best side tracks off the Fact Check album and I highly recommend you check it out.
The track video is rather simple. It shows the members performing live on a stage that is floating in a river near the city. Some shots of the cityscape at night, and the members are casually dressed with evidence of a nice breeze. It would have been cooler to see the members have a bit more fun, but they do look like they are enjoying their time out there on the river.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.6/10
NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while MARK (NCT) is nominated for Best Rap Performance, and NCT DREAM and NCT DOJAEJUNG are nominated for Best Subunit (amongst other categories) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NCT and their associated acts, songs and performances by clicking here to vote today.
Days prior to Christmas, NCT 127 released a special Winter single, Be There For Me. It follows on from their October 2023 comeback with Fact Check and the commencement of their 3rd world tour – Neo City – The Unity.
The comforting feeling of warmth comes through Be There For Me, especially since this new single steps away from the likes of EDM or synths that we know NCT 127 for (i.e., Fact Check) and into more acoustic territory (the organ in the background at the start signals this for me). The acoustic nature of Be There For Me naturally allows most of the members to showcase vocals and melodies, which were very easy on the ears and enjoyable to listen to. Be There For Me does have some rapping (courtesy of TAEYONG and MARK), and it brought nice rhythm. But they aren’t the most memorable aspect of the song. Aside from being a pleasant listen overall, I don’t have much else to say. My only complaint about Be There For Me probably is a ridiculous one but I found the song to be quite paced and mid-tempo, which does make it feel a bit long-winded. But that doesn’t offset any of the appeal and enjoyment that Be There For Me brings.
The music video brought a smile to my face. But I am not entirely sure if that was because of the combination of music and imagery, or the cringy nature of what is happening in the video. We start off with JOHNNY and JUNGWOO playing ping pong. JUNGWOO accidently hits the ball a bit too hard and it lands in JAEHYUN’s cereal. JUNGWOO and JAEHYUN fight, before DOYOUNG gets them to resolve their conflict so they can all seriously plan out their participation in a furniture auction. They build a chair and some fast auctioning happens, causing the auctioneer to bang their hammer down a little too hard, smashing all the windows. It causes the debris to fly everywhere, mimicking snow, which leads onto a snowglobe transition. That is what I took away from the video. I did like the beginning, which felt lighthearted. But the video got odd from the auction setting onwards.
The choreography was pleasant and enjoyable to watch. Nothing too flashy or too hard.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 7/10 Overall Rating – 7.8/10
NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while MARK (NCT) is nominated for Best Rap Performance, and NCT DREAM and NCT DOJAEJUNG are nominated for Best Subunit (amongst other categories) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NCT and their associated acts, songs and performances by clicking here to vote today.
NCT returned with 20-members (sans LUCAS, who left the group due to controversy, and SUNGCHAN and SHOTARO who both were transferred to RIIZE) in August this year with a new album – Golden Age. Leading the charge on this 10-track album are Baggy Jeans and Golden Age. In addition to the 2 title tracks, I have also been busy reviewing 4 songs that has an ‘archiving video’ released as part of the promotions. And with all possible tracks eligible for a separate song review now ‘reviewed’, the only thing left is the rest of the album, which is why we are gathered here today. Golden Age is a fair album, with some great tracks on the list. For more of my own thoughts on the individual, continue reading onwards.
2. Call D (TAEYONG & TEN) – You might remember the pairing of TAEYONG and TEN from their Baby Don’t Stop days (almost 6 years ago). They are paired together again (just like how Baggy Jeans reunited the initial NCT U lineup) for Call D. And boy, this is an amazing track! I really like the synth work in this instrumentation, which translates to an awesome performance. It feels very textural, and the glitchness double downs towards the end. I find both TAEYONG and TEN to be quite charismatic in Call D with their rapping and vocals (that bridge was beautiful), captivating us further. (10/10)
4. Interlude: Oasis(YUTA, JAEHYUN, WINWIN, JAEMIN & CHENLE) – Oasis is a very soft R&B-like number, much different to what we are used from NCT. ‘Easy on the ears’ as I tend to say, but this description also comes about from the overall smooth vibes that comes from the track. This interlude track also highlights the vocals and rapping from this lineup, particularly from CHENLE and JAEMIN. (8.5/10)
7. That’s Not Fair (JOHNNY, TAEYONG, TEN, MARK, JENO & YANGYANG) – That’s Not Fair takes on the hip-hop style of music in a unique manner. Firstly, the instrumental has this subtle type of intensity which bubbles way. It never really builds, but you can tell it happening in the background. I also like the ‘down low’ nature of the backing, which complements the deeper and lower registers that the unit delivers their line in. This lower tone also enables a monotonous approach in That’s Not Fair that just screams out hip-hop. The melodies that manage to come through helps push the song along, and there are some catchy hooks in That’s Not Fair. All of this contributes to an experience that I wouldn’t mind going back to time and time again. (8/10)
9. Not Your Fault(TAEIL, KUN, DOYOUNG, TEN, JUNGWOO, XIAOJUN & RENJUN) – For the second last track on this album, this seven-member vocalist lineup brings us a R&B ballad. Not Your Fault is pretty much a familiar track for the likes of an R&B ballad. It features a warm and pleasantly instrumented piano-centric backing and stunning vocals from the lineup – JUNGWOO’s vocals at the end is soooo nice. It isn’t the most memorable track of the bunch, but it is still a nice listen. (7.5/10)
NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while MARK (NCT) is nominated for Best Rap Performance, and NCT DREAM and NCT DOJAEJUNG are nominated for Best Subunit (amongst other categories) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NCT and their associated acts, songs and performances by clicking here to vote today.
In preparation for an album review for NCT’s Golden Age that dropped back in August with Baggy Jeans and Golden Age at the helm, I have been reviewing the tracks that had an ’archiving video’ released alongside it. And for the final time – what on earth is an archiving video? So far, I have reviewed PADO, The BAT and Alley Oop. But there is one more to review before I can post that album review – Kangaroo.
TAEIL, KUN, RENJUN, YANGYANG, CHENLE and JISUNG are the members that form the lineup for Kangaroo. Out of the four additional songs that I am reviewing separately from Golden Age, Kangaroo is the least interesting for me. I personally find this track to be fairly standard of the bunch and it doesn’t really offer anything new or memorable that gets me coming back for more. That being said, I don’t personally mind Kangaroo. If it pops up on my queue, I won’t turn away or skip over it. Kangaroo is still a bright and upbeat track. The members make it bubbly and fun with their vocals. And most notably, there is a pleasantness, chillness and carefree vibe which I do see as charming.
The music video is also just as bright as the song, and the members turn on their cute charms to bring it all to life. While I would usually find such concepts to be cringy, it isn’t as bad as it could have been. Maybe they could have expanded on the idea of the ‘escape plan’ that we see in the video. It is just kind of shown and casted aside. I also don’t really see much of a kangaroo reference aside from the paw-like dance move, which I think is a missed opportunity to make the video even more fun than what it is. Plus, I do like kangaroos (though that might be my Australian-side coming through).
The performance is just like the music video. It is definitely bright and cutesy. But I do also see the fun and kind of see the kangaroo reference in the video. Maybe more hopping would have made the performance a bit more aligned with the title, but I enjoyed this aspect of the release nonetheless.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 7/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.5/10
NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while MARK (NCT) is nominated for Best Rap Performance, and NCT DREAM and NCT DOJAEJUNG are nominated for Best Subunit (amongst other categories) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NCT and their associated acts, songs and performances by clicking here to vote today.
As mentioned previously, I will be reviewing the side tracks that was treated with an ‘archiving video’ (whatever that means) from NCT’s latest studio album, Golden Age. The album, if you missed it, was released in August of this year and is lead by the singles Baggy Jeans and Golden Age. In addition to those two songs, I have also reviewed PADO already. Next up is the 5th track from the album – The BAT.
The BAT brings together TAEIL, JOHNNY, YUTA, JUNGWOO, HENDERY, JENO and JISUNG. I can easily see The BAT being slipped into any of the main units’ (NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WAYV) discography. But I am glad that we hear it here on this NCT album instead, as it gives the best of the three. The BAT goes dark and sensual, which is a ‘done before’ sound profile that has been proven to be successful in the past. What makes The BAT slightly more unique than past iterations of these two energies merging together is the song’s textural and abrasive instrumentation, which is synth-heavy. Not entirely new territory for NCT (or KPOP in general), but the abrasive textures do feel unique as I don’t think we have heard anything that leans into that as much as The BAT. We also see some really impressive delivery from JENO and JISUNG in the second verse, where they both rap quite rapidly. Again, not as new. But fast rapping is no easy feat and can be a drawing point, as it was here. I also like the edgy vibes both the rapping and the instrumental gives The BAT. The ‘Ma bat apex’ hook was pretty memorable (though I would like to know the meaning of this line). The vocals are also impressive in The BAT, especially when the latter reaches its peak in the high notes. Another likeable track on Golden Age.
Dark and sensual is the way to go, and the archiving video for this release definitely went with that. The dark comes through via the concept of the video, which I can’t exactly pinpoint what that is. But the lighting, the heavy reliance on the colour black on practically everything from background, props and outfits, and the ‘dangerous’ aspects of the video (i.e., speeding) that alludes that they might not be up to any good just screams out darkness. The sensual comes through via the all of the members, with JENO and JISUNG really surprising me the most in particular. All I can say is you should re-watch the video in detail if you want to find out why.
Again, the dark and sensual vibe comes through in the choreography for this particular release. The darkness actually taps into more of an edgy territory, which I think works really well. And the slow and deliberate moves, along with the outfits, emphasise that sensual energy. It is an engaging performance, overall, which shows off each individual members’ fatal charms and performance skills.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video (or “Archiving Video”, in this case) – 9/10 Performance – 8.5/10 Overall Rating – 8.7/10
NCT is nominated for Best Male Group, while MARK (NCT) is nominated for Best Rap Performance, and NCT DREAM and NCT DOJAEJUNG are nominated for Best Subunit (amongst other categories) in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support NCT and their associated acts, songs and performances by clicking here to vote today.
NCT returned as a whole group in August this year with the studio album Golden Age. Leading the charge of that album are the title tracks Baggy Jeans (performed by TAEYONG, DOYOUNG, JAEHYUN, TEN and MARK) and Golden Age (performed by all 20 active members). Alongside the title tracks, NCT also released 4 “archiving videos” (whatever they are) for an additional four side tracks from the album. Over the next few weeks, in the lead up to the album review for Golden Age, I will be reviewing those tracks in separate song reviews. First up is the 3rd song on the album – PADO.
Performed by a lineup of 7 members (JOHNNY, TAEYONG, JAEHYUN, MARK, XIAOJUN, HENDERY, HAECHAN), PADO is quite the melodic track. The entire track felt classy from start to end, and this consistent vibe held me over to the end. I just cannot bring myself to skip PADO every time it comes up. I really like the vocal focus of the track, which all comes to a head during the song’s “You got me confused, You got me satisfied” hook line (delivered by Xiaojun and Haechan). And boy, was that line super memorable and catchy. While the song’s vocals are the more showcased element of the song, PADO does feature rap-centric verses that plays with the song’s texture a bit. Not too much, as PADO does remain easy on the ears, stays true to that classiness I already mentioned and never overwhelms us. The instrumentation of PADO was very clean and sleek, with the added brass and jazzy elements in the verses and choruses being the prime suspect for why PADO has such a classy vibe. The flute-like sound that comes into play after the choruses concentrates all the adjectives that I have used in this portion of the review into a common point. And all of that works exceptionally well with PADO’s beats, maintaining the tracks’ upbeat nature. Overall, a strong side track from NCT that I can definitely see being promoted into ‘title track’ status.
The archiving video places PADO into a bar setting, which makes perfect sense for such a classy song. The colour palette that the video does go for steers us down a refreshing vibe, with the simple screen of waves in the background over a white background being the big focal point of the video. The white is further seen in the bar and other props present in the video, while the blue is also seen in the background of the queue outside said bar and the signage of the bar. I like that as it feels modern and trendy, whereas the usual red colour that I would have immediately associated with the song and bar concept to be typical and bland. I also like the additional splash of colour the members have via their outfits, which give the video a bit depth and variety.
To match up with those classy vibes, this unit of NCT members bring a sensual tone to the choreography, which feels appropriate and brings out an engaging energy. The coloured outfits in the music video does detract from that unfortunately. But the performance they gave (whilst dressed in black outfits) at the recent NCT concert definitely showcases the sensual energy a lot better.
Song – 10/10 Music Video (or “Archiving Video”, in this case) – 9/10 Performance – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.5/10
(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.
NCT LAB is a series of solo songs by the members of NCT that don’t necessarily fall under of the works of their entire group or units. The series began in 2022 under SM Station, but was confirmed earlier this year to run as its own project. The first single, Child, was by MARK. But I have not gone back to review another NCT LAB song since then. Today, I am picking up the NCT LAB releases once again, beginning with song reviews for the 2023 releases and then returning to the 2022 releases at a later date. And it all begins back with MARK and his solo track, Golden Hour.
Golden Hour sees MARK bring together hip-hop, grungy rock guitar, familiar drumming that reminds me of Diplomacy’s Silver Lake Queen, a hint of elevator music and Gordan Ramsay references? The first three goes hand-in-hand with another, and all five elements comes together to create an eventful track. Golden Hour starts off with the three elements (hip-hop via MARK’s rapping, which I will touch on later, grungy rock guitar and drumming). But mid-way, the track transforms briefly into punkish rock, before the bridge adds in elevator-esque piano riffs to the background, following which Golden Hour returns to the three elements it began with to complete the circle. This all made it a dynamic listen. MARK himself is super expressive throughout Golden Hour, delivering a range of styles – rapping, singing, a combination of both and speaking throughout the track to match the different moments in the instrumentation and show some range. His flow was very good throughout Golden Hour and the hooks were catchy. As mentioned earlier, Golden Hour also includes lyrics that appear to diss Gordan Ramsay. But prior to the song’s release, MARK himself confirmed that he only mentioned GR and that Golden Hour was not a diss track (though GR himself did respond to MARK in the most GR way possible). Rather, MARK drew upon the interaction between a fan of his and GR, who apparently told MARK’s fan to break up with her boyfriend for cooking eggs terribly. The funny twist is that the image GR reacted to was actually MARK’s cooking from a TV show. Apart from those moments, the lyrics also bring out a much more mature version and the adult in MARK. I will let you work out what that means. But overall, there is fair bit happening in Golden Hour and it amounted to something worthwhile.
Per the song’s influence being around MARK cooking eggs, the music video also revolves around eggs and cooking, as well. We see flashes of the cooking references, but a lot of egg imagery and smashes throughout the video. In addition to eggs, there is a real edgy vibe that MARK does a good job of showing in the music video. He shows it in a loose and freestyle manner, but still makes sure it fits the grungy style that the song aims for. The stylists did a really good job on their part as well, keeping the brown jacket constant throughout the video. The continuous presence of the brown jackets allows the viewers to keep a constant an image of MARK in their mind, even after the video has ended.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8/10
I am moving some things around today as I am feeling a little unwell. So instead of posting tomorrow’s album review tomorrow, I will be posting it today. Song reviews will be posted tomorrow, instead. And as you can tell from the title of this post, the album review is for NCT DREAM’s ISTJ, their 3rd studio album. This album dropped in July of this year. Featured on this album is the title track ISTJ, the pre-release track Broken Melodies and an additional 8 tracks. For my thoughts on the tracks of this album, keep on reading below!
3. Yoghurt Shake – Adding some sweetness and youthful energy to the album is the single Yoghurt Shake, the track in which NCT DREAM followed up promotions of ISTJ with. It is a bright pop track, almost bubble gum-like thanks to the light and delightful instrumentation and melodies. This very much could have been a track from their early days. But there is a hint of maturity in Yoghurt Shake that makes it fit in with NCT DREAM discography today. Also, Yoghurt Shake also puts the vocalists in the forefront, with their vocals and harmonies being the main selling point of the track. (8/10)
4. Skateboard– EDM and hip-hop takes over in Skateboard. I really like the upbeat energy that this track exudes. I also like the 2000s flair the track brings. The hip-hop aspect of Skateboard, which comes through the beats and the members’ delivery, was very pronounced and the EDM was energetic but not overwhelming, which makes Skateboard so easy to get into. My pick for favourite track on this album. (10/10)
5. Blue Wave (파랑) – Blue Wave serves as the sequel to the single Dive Into You (which was featured on the group’s first studio album, Hot Sauce). It is also referenced during the outro of this track. Blue Wave is a very tropical sounding single, thanks to the pan flutes in the background that adds a level of freshness to the track. I really execution of the fast-paced lyrics/melodies in the pre-chorus, and the harmonies during the chorus of this track. A fun and pleasant track. (8/10)
6. Poison (모래성) – The sensual track video for Poison that was released in the lead up to the release of ISTJ shows a completely different side to the group, miles away from where they started off with. And those sensual vibes come through the entire R&B song. I like the groovy bass in the background, along with the body-wave vibe the chorus exudes. I also like the flirty rapping and the smooth vocals that feature in Poison. Whether this release alludes to even more mature sounds/concepts in the future is still to be seen, but I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing the group venture down this path at least once in the future. (9/10)
7. SOS – The group takes us down a more experimental direction with SOS. The track itself features hip-hop beats and the EDM creates suspense. The booming bass in SOS also gives the track a dynamic flair. I really like the very breathy whisper that kicks off the chorus. The rappers really have a strong hold in this track and nail their parts. I wish the vocalists had more presence in the track, as it felt like they were missing from SOS for the most part. (7.5/10)
8. Pretzel (♡) – Pretzel’ssynth line was very bold – it sounded very crunchy, but also spongy and dragged out a tiny bit. It makes for a very interesting backing to the track. Elsewhere in Pretzel, the members stay very much in hip-hop territory, which I think all members (vocalists and rappers alike) do an amazing job in embodying in this track. The bridge was also very delectable, just like the references to the baked good in the lyrics were. (9/10)
9. Starry Night (제자리걸음) – We enter mellow territory towards the end of the album, with the first of the last two tracks taking on a R&B pop sound. Starry Night also features bossa nova influences, which contributes to a softer direction in the verses and bridge. But Starry Night also features pop leaning choruses that takes things in a slightly bolder approach. Together, the two meld together quite cohesively to create a nice vocal-centric track. (8/10)
10. Like We Just Met – Written by all of the members, Like We Just Met features more of an acoustic R&B sound. The instrumentation was beautiful, from the acoustic guitar that starts and end the track to the orchestral peak. In addition to that, you can hear the sincerity behind the members, their vocals and lyrics. The all-in chorus was very fitting, especially following Jisung’s vocals (which is a moment I find myself returning to constantly). It is hard to fault song a like this. (10/10)
One of the group releasing new music at the end of the week (i.e., today) is NCT 127, who makes their second comeback of the year, following on from Ay-Yo in January 2023. This time, the group returns with their 5th studio album, Fact Check, and is lead the title track of the same name. This comeback also follows from NCT 127’s participation in NCT’s 4th full group studio album Golden Age which was released back in August of this year.
If I am basing Fact Check on my past experience with NCT 127 title tracks from the first release of an album, I am going to be disappointed by it. I much prefer the title track of the repackaged version one of their albums, which I have no clue is happening this time around. However, interestingly, I am not disappointed by Fact Check. I actually find the instrumentation to be quite rhythmic, especially during the chorus with the well-paced beat and percussive elements. And there is no obnoxious synth (looking at you, Sticker) to ruin the song for me. The post-chorus segment was also quite an entrancing listen, especially at the end of Fact Check. Elsewhere, I liked the suspense and tension created during the vocal-centric pre-choruses of Fact Check and its background. The vocal work in Fact Check‘s bridge was a standout moment and I liked the powerfulness it yielded from Doyoung, Jaehyun, Taeil and Haechan. The rapping that follows from Mark and Taeyong, along with the further dramatic drumming and orchestration, was quite cool, as well. There are still weak points to Fact Check. The rapping at the start of the song could have been a little less in your face and the chorus’ hook could have been more compelling (even though I do find it catchy). But overall, Fact Check is one of their better works in recent times.
Cool is the recurring word I would use to describe this music video. I am not a big fan of the initial look that Mark donned in the video. But elsewhere in the video, Mark and the other members all looked fine. My favourite set of outfits has to be the one that are more of a traditional colour that are worn at the traditional palace location. Talking about locations, I found the sets and locations throughout the video are all very stylish and cool in their own way. Even the post-production looks cool (but I question why it looks like Mark is holding a goat that has been CGI into the video – did they run out of budget for a real goat?).
From what I can see from the choreography aspect of this comeback is that it very much embraces the rhythmic aspect of the song. There is also a subtle bounce to the choreography, which keeps in line with the upbeatness of the track. The best bit, for me, however is the t-rex-like walk (sorry, I don’t know if there is a properly name for the walk, but the way their arms are reminds me of a t-rex’s short arms) during the final post-chorus.
Song – 8.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8.5/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
NCT DOJAEJUNG is the latest unit to debut under the NCT group and consists of Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo. They released PERFUME back in April of this year, the shared title of both the title track and mini-album. Alongside the title track, the mini-album also features an additional five side tracks. Following this unit debut, the trio rejoined the rest of NCT for their 2023 full group comeback with Golden Age/Baggy Jeans (in the case of Doyoung) and the trio are also set to join the rest of NCT 127 in another comeback later this year.
PERFUME is a R&B centric mini-album, with the trio exploring the genre in all but one track. And their exploration of the genre is super engaging. I enjoyed all the tracks on this mini-album and each track got a high rating from me. This, overall, contributed to the higher end rating for an album release on my blog. I would recommend it to you if you are into the R&B genre or like the songs with the same effect or aspects of the R&B genre. Or if you are an NCT fan, especially if you find yourself overwhelmed with their more synth-heavy releases.
2. Kiss – The unit’s exploration of R&B continues in Kiss. This track has such a cool layered and rhythmic instrumentation that pulls you in. I liked the brass and jazzy elements that features in this song. The vocal work from the trio is on point and encapsulates what you expect from the R&B genre. The harmonies in the chorus also work extremely well. I particularly enjoyed the more jaggered approach Doyoung and Jaehyun took in the post-chorus sections that follows the first and last choruses. It was an interesting texture in this otherwise smooth number. (8/10)
3. Dive – Dive slows down the mini-album with a paced and atmospheric number. The instrumentation features short, sharp yet hefty beats, and a dotty but prevalent synth line. The trio takes a softer approach with their vocals, with Jungwoo and Doyoung really standing out in this song. Altogether, it is a very interesting mix. But it somehow works cohesively and is an extremely palatable track. (8/10)
4. Strawberry Sunday – Just as sweet as the title suggests, Strawberry Sunday is a sweet track. It is also the most upbeat number of the mini-album and I appreciate this infusion of energy. I really like the funkiness the instrumental had and the synthesizer was a really nice touch. The dreamy instrumentation to the bridge was also a highlight. The chanty moments in Strawberry Sunday gives some punch to the song. I also enjoyed Jungwoo’s part in the second chorus, where he breaks up the title (by syllables) between the beats. It made for a cool ad-lib in the track. Doyoung and Jaehyun also provide some ad-libs and these sounded amazing, as well. As you can tell by my long breakdown of Strawberry Sunday, there is a lot to like. And it all enough to earn it a 10/10 rating. (10/10)
5. Can We Go Back (후유증) – Signs of the trio forming a unit emerged many months ahead of this album release, with Can We Go Back being previously performed at the MBC Gayo Daejejeon. Can We Go Back features some smooth melodies, guitar riffs and rhythmic beat – all of which feels synonymous to the R&B genre. The vocal work from the trio is impeccable, especially in those memorable “Oooh, Oooh, Oooh” melodies. Each member had standout moments, with Jungwoo standing out in the second verse, and Doyoung and Jaehyun shining the most in the bridge of the song. (9/10)
6. Ordinary (안녕) – The final track on the mini-album is Ordinary and it departs from the R&B centric exploration. Instead, the final track is a ballad, which was expected somewhere along the way from the trio, given vocals is what comes to mind first when you put together the names Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo. The vocals are showcased well in the song, with the trio given another opportunity to convey emotions to the audience (which they do successfully). The piano centric instrumental does seem to have a tinge of R&B to it, which does help make it relevant and fit in with the rest of the mini-album. (8/10)
The release of Golden Age, the title of one of the two title tracks off the same-titled studio album of the NCT 2023 release, follows the news that NCT will no longer be an expansive group, with the lineup of NCT to be finalised following the the debut of the next unit (NCT Tokyo – the lineup of this unit has yet to be confirmed and any members debuting for the first time under this unit is not included in promotions for this NCT 2023 release). It is also follows the news that Sungchan and Shotaro are no longer part of the NCT lineup and have left the group to debut under RIIZE, and Lucas who departed from the group following controversy. We last saw NCT perform together as a group as part of their 2021 album release Universe with the single Beautiful.
I was surprised by both the teaser and start of the Golden Age, which alluded to a potential balladry direction of the lead single. Golden Age opens up with a soft piano melody of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8, “Pathétique” 2nd Movement and harmonies from Doyoung. But this allusion was brief. The song then launches into some heavy electronic synths and less than memorable rapping (from Mark, YangYang, WinWin, Jeno and Taeyong). We then re-enter softer territory with a vocal-focused pre-chorus featuring Xiaojun, Renjun, Haechan. The members of NCT then all join forces to deliver an equally soft chorus, which features some comforting harmonies and melodies from everyone, that soft piano from the start. Yuta and Ten also gets some solo moments during the first run of the chorus. I will admit that the chorus didn’t have the level of impact I hoped it would, with the reversion to soft pop makes the song too mellow and drifty in my opinion. The rapping/synths verse, followed by the vocal pre-chorus and whole-of-group chorus, repeats itself, with Jaemin, Hendery, Jisung, Johnny, Jungwoo, Jaehyun, Ten, Haechan and Kun getting their own moments during this repeat sequence. Finally, Taeil, Chenle and (more) Xiaojun, YangYang, Jeno, Doyoung and Haechan are featured in the bridge, which brings the two sides of the song together pretty nicely. Golden Age then ends with a couple more lines of comforting harmonies, rather than a repeat of the chorus. While I like the potential of another beautiful song, the idea behind Golden Age and understand the complexity of incorporating 20 members into the song in a way where each member is given a fair go, I found Golden Age doesn’t come off as well as their past whole-of-group singles have like Beautiful or Resonance. I wished there was more memorable zing to the song (without disrupting the softness and flow of the track, as I think Golden Age has that covered as it is), just to make it more appealing and compelling to return to listen to.
I did like the two sides of the group that is shown in this video. On one hand, we have a softer and golden tinge to one half of the video (which mainly consist of the vocalists). On the other hand, the rappers appear in the video with an edgier tinge of darkness and red lighting. I would have liked to send more intersection between the two sides, but we do get some through the very brief interaction between Jaehyun, Ten and Jungwoo. I do want to know more about the keys the members are holding in hand. Some of the members hold onto theirs (i.e. Mark), but other members throws theirs into the fire (i.e. Jungwoo). I presume it might relate to the idea of the group now ceasing their international expansion and that they are becoming a fixed group without the need to open more doors. But that is just speculation from me.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
Welcome back to the Weekly KPOP Chart for the 3rd Week Of July 2023. This post is a bit later than usual, so I am going to speed through the introduction. Following this post will be an album review, so stick around for that. As for now, here is the Weekly KPOP Chart.
Recap of the past week
This past week, I posted:
song reviews for new releases, such as NCT DREAM’s ISTJ, NewJean’s Cool With You and ETA, and
This week’s throwback song is KARA’s Mister, one of the most iconic girl group songs from the late ’00s. Not just the song, but also the dance as well! Unfortunately, I can only find the Japanese version of the music video, so I have linked to that below.
Non-Korean Song of the Week
Each week, I feature the highest ranking non-Korean song by a Korean artist in this part of the Weekly KPOP Charts. For the 3rd Week of July 2023, that song is (G)I-DLE’s all English single I DO.
The Charts
Congratulations to NCT DREAM and ISTJ for debuting in the top spot on this week’s KPOPREVIEWED’s Weekly KPOP Chart. And also for surviving the NewJeans domination, whom ranks in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions this week! For more of the charts, keep on scrolling down below.
Pos.
Song
Artist
Change
1
ISTJ
NCT DREAM
(NEW)
2
ETA
NewJeans
(NEW)
3
Super Shy
NewJeans
(▲ 2)
4
Cool With You
NewJeans
(NEW)
5
BONVOYAGE
Dreamcatcher
(▲ 2)
6
Hear Me Out
EXO
(▲ 9)
7
HWEEK
TEEN TOP
(▲ 14)
8
Cream Soda
EXO
(▼ 7)
9
BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)
ATEEZ
(▲ 10)
10
Who’s Next
LAPILLUS
(▲ 62)
11
Ready To Move
REN
(▲ 61)
12
Voyager
LUN8
(▲ 60)
13
HARD
SHINee
(▼ 2)
14
Small Talk
Kim Sung Kyu (INFINITE)
(▼ 11)
15
PARADISE
JAY (iKON)
(▲ 57)
16
Queen
We;na
(▲ 56)
17
But I Like You
BOYNEXTDOOR
(▲ 31)
18
One and Only
ENHYPEN
(▲ 54)
19
S-Class
Stray Kids
(▼ 11)
20
BITE ME
ENHYPEN
(▲ 5)
21
#menow
fromis_9
(▼ 8)
22
FNF
Stray Kids
(▲ 50)
23
Broken Melodies
NCT DREAM
(▼ 1)
24
I WANT
IVE
(▲ 48)
25
Die For Love
B.I ft. JESSI
(▼ 11)
26
SNAP
Athena/PICK-CAT (from Queendom Puzzle)
(▲ 46)
27
Roller Coaster
NMIXX
(▼ 9)
28
SHALALA
Taeyong (NCT)
(▲ 44)
29
I DO
(G)I-DLE
(▲ 43)
30
Wild Heart
LUN8
(▲ 37)
Songs leaving the charts
The following songs have wrapped up their nine week run in the charts system, and will no longer be on the charts from next week:
KPOPREVIEWED 