Tag: RIIZE

After their pre-release Bag Bad Back two weeks ago, RIIZE is officially back with their first studio album, Odyssey. Leading the new album is the title track Fly Up. It is their first Korean release since their Combo comeback in September last year.

From the very first second, Fly Up attracts my attention through its upbeat and fast energy. It felt almost like the music you would expect to hear when accompanying a jive dance, just slightly more paced than your usual jive music. I loved how expressive RIIZE were with their vocals and rapping, which contributed to the liveliness of Fly Up. It also helps that the hooks were catchy and earwormy. The all-in-one ‘Fly Up‘ rings in my mind even after the song ends. SHOTARO’s rapping in the second verse was solid, while SOHEE’s high note was a perfect peak for the song. The only missing element I wished for was a deep tone to ground the song slightly, particularly in the chorus. The beats weren’t enough, and I think this would have created some nice contrast in the broader song. But aside from that, Fly Up is still a superbly fun song that has me tapping my foot along from the first listen.

Just like the song, the music video for Fly Up is super fun. I liked the musical-like concept with all the dancers dancing around the members as they sing along to the song, almost like High School Musical (just without the cheesiness and bad acting). It just heightens the energy and makes the video extremely enjoyable. I was extremely nervous watching the sweaters tied around the members’ waists, but somehow (perhaps sewn on for safety precautions), they stayed on the members. Memories from primary/elementary school have come rushing back, with the number of times sweaters or jumpers would loosen as I just walked.

It should come as no surprise that I also liked this comeback’s choreography. It was everything the song asked for – upbeat, packed, fast and vibrant. I loved how the members never let up throughout the routine (based on what I saw in the music video), which reminds me of that intensity and continuous nature of the jive dance. The jumps and footwork look promising, and the body waves at the start of the final chorus catch my attention because they are incredibly smooth in the fast-paced routine.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.2/10

RIIZE is also gearing up for a comeback with their first studio album, ODYSSEY, later this month. But ahead of the comeback, the group is teasing us with Bag Bad Back. It is the first comeback from the group since the release of the repackaged version of their first mini-album, Riizing: Epilogue, and the single Combo. It is also the first release following the official withdrawal of SEUNGHAN from the group.

Before I get on with the main parts of the review, I just have one thing to get off my chest – what on earth do they mean by Bag Bad Back? I don’t have the slightest clue. However, according to Soompi, the lyrics “makes a witty comparison between the essentials we carry in our bags and RIIZE’s own drive—their metaphorical bag filled with ambition and a shared vision to grow into shining artists”.

Anyhow, Bag Bad Back is a decent song. However, comparing this hip-hop sound with their previous works, I’d take their previous ’emotional pop’ numbers any day. I just find Bag Bad Back hard to vibe with, and I put it down to personal preference. After all, I have always been more pop-leaning compared to hip-hop. When I break down Bag Bad Back, there is definitely a likable quantity of energy and edge present in Bag Bad Back. I thought the instrumental was rather cool, with a nice simmering underlay that gives the track subtle amount of texture and the piano that kicks in at the bridge was very beautiful. Their vocals and rapping was quite good, though I think I would have liked a stronger and meatier hook in the song. The “Bag Bag Bag” chant felt a little too basic and straightforward for my liking. SOHEE’s high note was great peak for a low-tone song. Separately, I liked the elements. But together, Bag Bad Back doesn’t resonate with me. But I want to emphasis – it is not because the song is bad, but it is because it is simply not my style.

As for the music video, I thought it very cool. It took Bag Bad Back‘s hip-hop sound and translated it well into a visual piece. The video features a bag that represents RIIZE’s ambition, per the lyrics of the song. But for a bag carrying such an important aspect of RIIZE’s career, that bag is definitely not treated as well. It is chucked around a lot. I also liked the dance practice concept, as well as the suited look in the alley. The only thing I am uncertain about is what the accumulating classical instrumentals that concentrates as SOHEE’s delivers his high note represents.

Amazing choreography, with thanks going towards SHOTARO, Lee Bada, J BLAZE, and THE BIPS for choreographing it (this information was also taken from Soompi’s article). I really enjoyed the hip-hop flair that formed part of the routine, as well as the different bag references (backpacks, duffel bags etc) throughout it. II also like it how the moves constantly keep the members on their toes, creating an exciting and energetic routine that shows off RIIZE’s dance capabilities once again.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

Making their comeback earlier this month was RIIZE, who returned with the repackaged version of their 1st mini-album. Titled Riizing: Epilogue, the new mini-album consists of all the songs from their Riizing mini-album (released back in June of this year), the latest single Combo (the focus of this review) and an orchestral version of Boom Boom Bass (to be released on 13 September 2024).

You only need to listen to Combo once to understand why it stands out among the many newly released KPOP songs. The vocal delivery in this track, particularly in the chorus, differentiates itself from the pack and makes Combo feel so prolific. Particular shoutout to SOHEE and WONBIN, whose hoarse and raspy vocals in Combo made the song memorable and attention-grabbing. Truthfully, it is rather unexpected and might be too much for some. But I appreciated the earthiness and grunginess the pair brought to the song. The rest of RIIZE did exceptionally well. I also really enjoyed the insertion of rap-speak or relatively softer vocals in the choruses, which brought forth some exciting depth and gave the rest of the members a chance to add to the already expressive choruses. As for the instrumentation, Combo takes on a grungy 90s punk-rock genre. The crunchy texture for the guitar work and the heavy drumming just sound so good and give Combo so much oomph, just like the vocals in the choruses. Together, you have a winning Combo. Pity that this isn’t being promoted (as far as I am aware) because they totally should!

According to Soompi, Combo‘s lyrics tell the story of an extraordinary love in which two different people turn each other’s worlds upside down but ultimately complete one another. In the music video, the idea of the lyrics is represented by the bond RIIZE shares. Alone, they are sad, lonely and bored. Together, they have fun, light up and are full of energy. What makes this comeback extra special is that Combo and this ‘special video’ (as it is called) was released on their 1st debut anniversary. And a story about their friendship and bond carries much meaning on such a day.

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

RIIZE officially started teasing the release of their first mini-album RIIZING way back in April of this year. They kicked it off with the full version of Siren at the start of April. Then followed the release of Impossible mid-April (which they promoted), and then followed up with the side tracks 9 Days, Honestly and One Kiss (released at the end of April – the former and latter I have yet to review). Two months on from the initial release, the group has released Boom Boom Bass as the primary title track from the mini-album.

While RIIZE has definitely explored funk before through the release of Get A Guitar and to a lesser degree in Talk Saxy (which is featured as part of the RIIZING mini-album), nothing has felt as concentrated as Boom Boom Bass. You get the funky and groovy vibes from the very first second and it stays present throughout the rest of the song. The guitar work in the background is definitely a highlight, as well as the pounding beat. Complementing that energy during the chorus is a bright pop energy that makes Boom Boom Bass even more likeable. Include a repetitive hook like the deep and low ‘Boom ba doom, Boom Boom Bass‘ and you have a song that is extremely hard to turn away from. Only just a couple of listens in and I can confirm that Boom Boom Bass has grown immensely on me, even though I was already enjoying the track from my first listen. The vocal work was vibrant and I liked the flair the rapping brought to the song. The ending sees the group get a little chanty, which I thought was a refreshing tone for the song. The only part within Boom Boom Bass that I am ‘umming and aahing’ about is the instrumental break. It obviously follows the momentum and trajectory that was built up prior to it, but it also felt too similar to the rest of the song. I think Boom Boom Bass could have been benefited from a little more flair to it. I didn’t feel that it seized the moment as well as it could have. But again, it wasn’t bad and it didn’t change the outcome of my final thoughts on Boom Boom Bass – that this is another great energetic song from RIIZE.

The music video begins with a mysterious guitar from outer space crashing into a music shop on Earth, causing massive chaos. I can only assume that everyone has heard and is searching for the guitar. While it isn’t shown, somehow WONBIN manages to grab hold of it. But as it is a mysterious guitar, it transports WONBIN back to outer space, only to come crashing down onto Earth once again. This time around, it makes the headlines. Throughout all the chaos and space travel, the RIIZE members still make the most of the situation and has fun throughout the events of the video. And this translates into a fun watching experience. For me, SOHEE had a strong grasp on me and stood out the most in the video.

Dance-wise, I think Boom Boom Bass has an awesome routine. The leg bounce movement that accompanies the main hook of the song looked very cool and brings a mature touch to the choreography. SHOTARO’s solo moment in the dance break was also very impressive – his performance skills are definitely on full display in that moment. And the energy the members deliver collectively at the end was fantastic.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10

At the start of the month, RIIZE dropped a comeback schedule that spans for more than 2 months, leading towards their first mini-album release, RIIZING. The first release as part of this schedule was the full-length version of Siren (which they unveiled as part of a pre-debut performance video) on April 3. The second release as part of this schedule comes today (April 18) through the form of the single Impossible. After Impossible. we are getting three side-tracks on April 29, followed by fan-cons in May and early June before the mini-album release on an unspecified date in June. So RIIZE are going to be very busy in the coming months. And I have been busy preparing my thoughts on Impossible for you.

Impossible is a dance pop track that actually comes off as quite pleasant. I don’t have anything negative to say about the song, with ‘pleasant’ being the simple one-word summary for this track. And to avoid any doubt, I mean it in a positive manner. Impossible features cool house beats and rhythm. The backing also features a variety of synth work, which brought some nice detailing to the mix. Throughout Impossible, you can hear some equally-as-cool squeezy-like synthesiser sounds in the background. Not exactly sure how to describe them, but they feel like someone took a synthesiser and squeezed the synth sound out of it. Towards the end, we get a splash of retro synths, which made for a nice ending to Impossible. The RIIZE members themselves comes into the song with a light approach to the song. Their consistent vocal work here definitely made the song enjoyable for me, and works well with the constant flow of bright and dance energy that the instrumental brought to Impossible. The only element I think Impossible is missing is a touch of some heavy. Presently, the overall tone of Impossible feels very light and this could make the song easy to miss. A hint of some something heavy would have helped ground Impossible and create an even more balance energy. Nothing too hefty or utilised too much, as that could throw out the entire balance of Impossible. But overall, Impossible is a really good song from the onset.

Keeping to the lightness of Impossible, the music video sees the members dance about and having some fun hanging out with one another. This just makes everything simpler and works well with the straight-forwardness of the song. The downside of this approach, however, is that there isn’t much else to the video. There were a few serious stares from some of the members throughout the video, so I wonder if this is just the beginning of something more as part of the bigger comeback.

The choreography for this release looks like a work out. The consistency of the song’s rhythm keeps the members constantly moving and there really isn’t much of a place to take a break. What stands out with the routine even more is the impressive footwork and leaps the members take during the chorus. Not only does that reiterate the workout descriptor of the choreography, but it also plays into the recurring lightness that I have mentioned throughout this review.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

RIIZE is nominated for Best New Male Group in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. Support RIIZE by clicking here to vote today.

Jumping forward to the present day, RIIZE made their comeback today with a new single titled Love 119, following on from their first comeback with Talk Saxy in October 2023. This is also the new male group’s first comeback with a six-member lineup after it was announced that Seunghan would go on indefinite hiatus due to some controversaries.

Another day, another SM track. Out of the three SM tracks I have reviewed this week, Love 119 is definitely more pop-centred than the others based on the instrumentation and how the song is sung. More on that in a second. I really what the producers did with the piano sample used in the song, which is from Izi’s Emergency Room (which was an OST from the the K-Drama Sassy Girl Chun Hyang). The other elements to give Love 119 also helps takes the song further into the pop direction yet maintain a certain level of pleasantness that makes Love 119 enjoyable to listen to. But aside from the sample, nothing too memorable. The track features some good singing from the members, but nothing exactly stand-out. The aspect of Love 119 that I am not 100% entirely keen on at the moment is the chorus, which goes down a chanty direction and contains a cringy line or two (the ‘Vroom‘ really takes the cake here). While I do think repeats of Love 119 will probably engrave the chant into my mind (simple is best and that is what the chant does opt for), a part of me does think that the chant is monotonous and flat. And this unfortunately hinders the loving feeling that comes from the song, which the rest of the lyrics and delivery does gear towards. Overall, a decent pop track to begin the year off on this blog. Maybe a more riveting centrepiece could have taken the song to another level.

The music video sees the members falling in love with at first sight whilst at school, after they each recieve a text message that prophesises that they will fall in love at 6PM on 5 January 2024 (i.e., time of release of the music video). While what we do see in the lead up to that specific time is loving and cute, the events that transpired soon after appears to be more tragic. At the 3:00 minute mark, we hear a news announcer. While I am not entirely sure what is being said here, we do hear the sound of a train crossing. We are also shown shots of the girl that the members fallen in love with, but these shots really emphasise the fact that she is alone and that the members are looking for her. We then see a short glimpse of her at the crossing, an empty platform (the exact one that we see Wonbin on with the girl, presumably at 6PM on 5 January 2024) and the members in tears. Joining the dots, I think it is alluded that she dies soon after. We do see her playing the members in the snow later on, but in latter shots we only see the 6 members and a white butterfly flying around them. Butterflies tend to be used as a way to show that someone is no longer around. Now this theory may be wrong, as it doesn’t really consider the fact that she may have rejected Wonbin on the platform (we do see her shake her head at the end of the montage). Regardless, there is more to the video than the idea of falling in love at first sight and comparing it to an emergency (hence why the song is titled Love 119).

The performance was pleasant to watch, as well. I like how the additional oomph allows them to put in some energy to keep this routine moving, but yet they manage to balance out the choreography with some more delicate and softer movement.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

RIIZE just made their debut with Memories and Get A Guitar at the start of September. It hasn’t even been two months on, but the newly debuted group from SM Entertainment has returned with their first comeback single, Talk Saxy.

I really do want to like Talk Saxy. After how much I enjoyed Memories and Get A Guitar, I had high hopes for RIIZE. But despite the listens I have given Talk Saxy since its release earlier today, I cannot seem to form a positive impression towards the song. Talk Saxy features (quite appropriately) saxophone riffs and 808 drum sounds in its instrumental. And boy, does it not shy away from using that brass. But as much as I love myself some brassy elements in my songs, the saxophone feels distorted at times in Talk Saxy and this makes the central instrumental element come off as scratchy. It isn’t all bad, but it could have been better. The 808 drum sounds was a nice accompaniment to the saxophone and gave Talk Saxy some much needed oomph. I also think there are some guitar riffs in the pre-choruses, but I might be mistaking that for even more saxophones (I hope I am not). I do think Talk Saxy could have used a bit more in the instrumental department to give the track some flair. A prime example is more piano in the bridge to accompany the smoothness of the vocals (and lack of the brassy element). Another thing that I noticed was the uninteresting chorus. Both the rapping and vocals in the chorus felt bland. It is like the producers removed all of the members’ own style and charms to create a chorus that could be executed by anyone in the team. But by doing that, the producers also created a soulless central piece. On the flip side, I found the members’ personality and style to be so much more prevalent in the verses. There was some good moments in terms of delivery in the verses, but it all disappeared when we entered the chorus parts of Talk Saxy. And that pretty much dulled the song for me.

The music video feels as simple as the song’s make-up was. For me, the music video felt very focused on the bright lights that made up the words “Talk Saxy” in the background and the members wearing baggy old school shirts that reminds me of hip-hop from the 1990s. It is definitely a good and trendy look. The use of lighting on this set to either show the members or their silhouettes was pretty cool idea, as well. But the rest of the music video (i.e. the gigantic speakers and focus on the colour red in the members’ outfits) just fizzles out and becomes a distant memory. I wished there was more balance.

The choreography for this comeback is quite good. I like the ‘Kick It‘ part of the choreography and also the prancy-like style they go for in the outro of the song. I also enjoyed the bouncy nature and the wide arm movements they had going on in the middle of the routine.

Song – 6/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 6.7/10

Officially making their debut yesterday was RIIZE, the latest addition to SM Entertainment’s lineup. RIIZE is a seven-member male group consisting of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohhee and Anton. They pre-released the single Memories two weeks back ahead of their debut yesterday with the single Get A Guitar.

Get A Guitar moves away from SM Entertainment’s venture into the world of synths with the debut and ongoing discography of NCT and aespa. Instead, RIIZE begins their career with a pop centric song that has a lot of funk and energy. Right off the bat, Get A Guitar makes for a fun listen. With the title making reference to the guitars, Get A Guitar features a recurring guitar riffs, some of which located in the chorus reminds me of Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust. These recurring guitar riffs felt like jabs throughout the instrumental and it made for a unique setup that pulls me in. Alongside the guitar, there is some old-school synthesizer in play in Get A Guitar, adding a retro flair to the song. This latter is present in the background of the entire song, but it is heard most prominently alongside the guitar solo that, in combination with one another, serves as the instrumental break in Get A Guitar. The vocals were quite refreshing to hear. While there isn’t much of a standout from this department, I did enjoy the simple melodies and the light approach the members took. Nothing felt too heavy and this made their vocals charming. The repetition and hooks were all very catchy and this helps makes Get A Guitar a memorable piece. Oh, also the absence of rapping in this song is notable, but felt just right. Overall, to my ears, Get A Guitar is a refreshing and successful debut track. Looking forward to RIIZE’s next release already!

The song is about coming together around the sound of a guitar and enjoying each other’s company. And we see this with the members hanging out with each other throughout the video. Of course, guitars make a presence in the video, just not as much as I had expected initially. While everything in the video is pretty sound and it does a nice job of showcasing the members as young teenagers, some of the members’ styling is questionable. I am not a fashion guru, but I feel like their mismatched styling here feels a bit too loose (some of the baggy pants were too baggy) and clashes with one another. Their hair styles, which I agreed with the general public looked dated in their Memories music video, have improved. But I guess that came at the expense of the fashion.

I quite liked the choreography. It really showcased the energy and funkiness of the song quite well. I like how some of the choreography had the members holding their arms to resemble them holding a guitar. We unfortunately don’t see any air guitar playing however (which feels like a missed opportunity). The funk was show clearly during the dance break and was a highlight to the performance for me.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 7/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

Earlier this year, it was announced that Sungchan and Shotaro would be leaving NCT and debuting as part of SM Entertainment’s newest male group that will not be associated with NCT. Since then, it has been announced that new male group is named RIIZE and the rest of the seven-member lineup has been confirmed (Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton join the two former NCT members). Officially, the group won’t be making their debut until early September. But they have teased their debut with the performance video for Siren and the pre-release single Memories (the focus of today’s review).

Surprisingly, I am not too upset with Memories. There are parts of the song that I really like more than others, and I do agree that there are some parts that do weaken the song. But despite those (and I will expand on them in a second) weaknesses, I didn’t go away from Memories with too many strong feelings about the song. Memories‘ chorus was very well done, bringing forth a very notable pop influence. If you have read this blog for a while, you probably could have guess that this is the segment of the song that I like the best and find super enjoyable. I like the impression of a faster tempo that came from the beat of the chorus, and the brightness and comfort the melodies and vocals brought to the song. On the other hand, Memories‘ verses were very hip-hop centric. While I thought the display of hip-hop in the first verse and pre-choruses were fine, it is the swap between pop to hip-hop in the second verse and bridge that I found to be clashing and jarring. They were good examples of the group’s potential approach into the hip-hop genre, and shows that the new group could potentially one day release a song that might be similar to the hip-hop style that is synonymous to NCT 127. But they just don’t mix well with the rest of the song. Overall, Memories does show promise for the new group in different areas. Memories doesn’t show much of it, but I am intrigued with this idea of ’emotional pop’ that SM Entertainment is marketing them with. I am also hopeful and looking forward to seeing what that style exactly means and what RIIZE has that separates them from the current groups.

The music video shows the group as a bunch of youthful teenagers hanging out with another. It is a decent introduction to the members and I hope what we saw showcases the members’ personalities to some degree. Something personalised would help start off their careers with a more relatable connection with the audience and also potentially be unique, so I think that would really help separate out the group with its competition somewhat. Apart from that, I concur with the recent articles that reported the group was being criticised for their dated hairstyles. I am sure the members have very little say in this, but some of the hairstyles in this music video (along with the outfit styling) looked very dated. I am also intrigued by the closing segment of the music video, which I presume alludes to their upcoming single Get A Guitar that is due to be released two Mondays from now.

While I found the switch between pop and hip-hop clashing in terms of music, I liked how they maintained some bounciness in the choreography for both sides of the song. It made for a seamless blend of styles on stage. I also enjoyed their fresh energy they brought to the stage.

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