[Review] Secret Time – Spica

It has been over two years (apparently two years felt like an eternity) since we last heard anything from these girls. Not much has happened in the previous two years since their last release, Ghost, which was not even promoted at all. They have changed to a different company, CJ E&M Entertainment (earlier this year) and since then, their activities have increased. Notably, Bohyung is appearing on the show, Girl Spirit, which allows main vocalists of underrated girl groups to shine.

If you don’t remember Spica or have not heard of them, remember them now. Their vocals and unique retro songs back in the day made them quite popular. And now they are back with the superb harmonies and vocals with this new song. It is as if there was no 2-year gap that could have undermined their vocal abilities. I am amazed at the quality of the song. Sure, it does fall short compared to other songs at the moment however I liken this song to like a “re-debut” rather than a comeback. Okay, more about the song. It is a very nice nu-disco track that makes me want to dance. It is funky and retro-y, fitting really well into the songs that Spica had released in the past. As I mentioned before, the vocal work in this song is amazing. I feel like they selected the right person for each part of the song. Jiwon, in particular, fits the chorus really well, in my opinion. Bohyung and Boa sounded amazing together. Narae and Sihyun (they don’t really shine in the song) sang really well. While they do all sound different, they came together really well and made the song flow spectacularly. I really loved the small short segments of no sounds, right after each chorus. It gave what followed through right after a nice punch and it made the song more vibrant and cool. The beat was there throughout the whole song and it contributed to that nice vibrant feel.

Not exactly fond of the video. I guess the song had a party-like vibe to it, so it made sense for a party to appear in the video. Love the idea of the skating centre. The set (and the idea) does bring you back to the times when roller skates used to be cool. I just feel like the events in the video are quite outrageous and extremely random, to the point where it did undermine the quality of the video (for me). I loved everything else regarding the choreography shots and the closeups. We need to talk about the “gun” nature in KPOP videos one day. This pretty much adds to my frustration when it comes to guns. The video, I admit, looked quite hardcore then. And then it turns to bubble guns and the girls are all smiling the next minute. I had a “huh?” face for the rest of the video. It makes no sense and it ruined the mood of the video. I feel like the video could have lost of the craziness and make it feel like a party. It is a way to capture our attentions, but as I said before, it was over the top. Like the addition of the backup dancers to the party was far too late.

Dance wise, it was okay. Sure, it could have been better. But Spica is definitely highlighting their vocals in this song. Hence if they had a more upgraded dance, their vocals were gonna be sacrificed. I understand that and for that, I can’t really say much about. Quality first. I did like the end of the performance where they line up in a diagonal line and do the “ssshh” gesture. That looked cool.

Final Rating – 8/10

 

 

End Of Year Charts 2014

Welcome to the end of the 2014 charts. This chart has every single song that was released from the 1st of January 2014 to the 1st of December. I left the nitty gritty stuff out (aka. the numbers I used for the ranking) and made sure that everything was fair. So that means for songs that were released towards the end of the year would have received some extra increment to make sure that they were levelled out with the songs released in January. Other numbers used included whether songs were on the YouTube Playlist of The Month and each song was re-reviewed in categories of “song, music video and dance”. Below are just some interesting facts that you may enjoy in regards to this chart.

  • The very first song released to be included on the charts are Rain’s 30 Sexy and La Song. The last song released before the cut off date was Infinite F’s Heartbeat.
  • T-Ara’s Sugar Free (2) was the only song throughout the whole chart to score the maximum of 40 for the song re-review.
  • VIXX is the first boy group to appear in the charts at 14th place with Eternity.
  • As touched on above, this year the charts are dominated by the girl groups, with 13 boy groups versus 37 girl groups (repeated groups not excluded).
  • Heavily promoted songs tend to rank higher than songs that were released as a single and not promoted.
  • The following artists achieved the next few positions after 50th place: SPEED, Crayon Pop, Z:EA, Zhou Mi (Super Junior), BTOB, Infinite, UKISS, AOA and Gain (Brown Eyed Girls)
1 Something Girl’s Day
2 Sugar Free T-Ara
3 Up & Down EXID
4 Monday Blues Sunny Hill
5 Piano Man Mamamoo
6 Darling Girl’s Day
7 I’m In Love Secret
8 Mr. Chu A Pink
9 Yasisi NS Yoon G
10 Red Light F(x)
11 One More Fiestar
12 Good Night Kiss Hyosung (Secret)
13 Ain’t Nobody HA:TFELT (Yenny – Wonder Girls)
14 Eternity VIXX
15 You Don’t Love Me Spica
16 So Wonderful Ladies Code
17 This Is Love Super Junior
18 Luv APINK
19 Like A Cat AOA
20 B.B.B (Big Baby Baby) Dal Shabet
21 Good Luck Beast
22 Cha Cha Rainbow BLAXX
23 Full Moon Sunmi ft. Lena
24 Error VIXX
25 Catallena Orange Caramel
26 My Copy Cat Orange Caramel
27 Don’t Look At Me Like That Song Ji Eun (Secret)
28 Back Infinite
29 8Dayz Megan Lee
30 What About You? Laboum
31 Dont Touch Me Ailee
32 I Swear Sistar
33 Singing Got Better Ailee
34 1004 (Angel) B.A.P
35 Danger BTS
36 12:30 Beast
37 Mr. Ambigious Mamamoo
38 Lonely B1A4
39 Beep Beep BTOB
40 Mamma Mia Kara
41 I Need You Bestie
42 Solo Day B1A4
43 Whatcha Doing Today? 4Minute
44 Pretty Age 25 Song Ji Eun (Secret)
45 1 Minute 1 Second Jiyeon (T-Ara)
46 Peppermint Chocolate Mamamoo ft. K.Will & Wheesung
47 FxxK U Gain (Brown Eyed Girls)
48 Touch My Body Sistar
49 Evanesce Super Junior
50 Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms HIGH4 ft. IU

THAT’S IT!!! 2014 IS OVER AND 2015 IS APPROACHING. WISHING YOU ALL (IN YOUR RESPECTIVE TIME ZONES) A HAPPY NEW YEAR. I only have 6 hours to go and I am excited. Party hard (but not too hard) and I will see you next year!! aka. in the next few days ^^

Catch Up Review #6 – Girl’s Day, Ailee, Spica S

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These girl groups are potentially rising girl groups or rising solo artists (some may argue that they are already there as one of the hottest groups in Korea at this very moment). So of course, I had to review them… Cause they are basically the future of KPOP (no offence to any other bands out there) -runs away from fangirls and fanboys-

I Miss You – Girl’s Day

This song was released in a way to allow the girls to say thank you to the fans recently. On top of that, this is the first major release from the band that is basically a ballad. And this ballad was amazing. The vocals were superb. Sometimes, some groups have very unclear vocals when they sing ballad, but these girls are really clear. I have to say one thing though. The rapping should not have been included. It was autotuned and really did not fit the ballad style. The music video was also quite boring to watch. There really was nothing going on during the video at all, beside the girls remember past memories of their boyfriends. Not really that memorable. And that final scene with the snow. It really was a mismatch with them smiling, when the song and the rest of the video having a really sad mood. 7/10

Don’t Touch Me – Ailee

Ailee should always come out with really strong songs. And these type of songs really compliment her empowering voice making everything sound much better. Her vocals here, once again, are top notch. The chorus was really catchy from the song to the dance. The music video was a disappointment. I expected a little more beside “Ailee” close-ups. The dance was really good, especially at the chorus. Though, something that every single person has asked regarding this comeback, what the *%$? are the back up dancers wearing? Why are they in witches hat and stuff? What is this concept??? WHY??? WHY??? 7/10

Give Your Love – Spica S

This is by far not their memorable comeback to date. Spica S is essentially Spica with Boa missing, so really… But anyway, we all know how vocally powerful the band is but this song fails to highlight this exact skill that the members have. The song really was not a stand out and is something that will be forgotten easily. The music video was over sexualised. Like I don’t see what is so sexy about binding over filing cabinets, filing papers, shredding paper. The dance was okay, nothing really grand or memorable from this area at all. (Though, the rapper can sing and rap). But beside that, this comeback really does not fit into what the girls usually do, and unfortunately, that was a disappointment for me. 3/10

So the next review theme is actually a solo artist that is a part of a girl group. After promotions with her band, Song Ji Eun, made her solo comeback with her first mini album. But more on that tomorrow. See you next time!!!

 

 

You Don’t Love Me – Spica

Source: http://thekoreandrama.com/wp-content/plugins/RSSPoster_PRO/cache/44c48_spica_booty.jpg

Spica recently returned with their new single, You Don’t Love Me. This single is produced and written by their senior label mate and famous soloist, Lee Hyori who we all must know. This has to be one of the most underrated bands of all time. All their past singles have been amazing, but they have hardly been successful. It is quite disappointing. From what we are able to see here, is the retro concept. Now, if you think back a few years: Secret, T-Ara, Wonder Girls etc. all attempted the retro concept and they were deemed as mega hits. Now, it has been quite a while since those comebacks, so I am not sure if it can hold on as much as t did those few years ago, but if Korean still digs the same things, this song and comeback will be really a hit as well.

The song starts off with that really high and long note, which to me, was not really a great start to the song. I am not disappointed, but I don’t think it was a good thing to put that part at the start of the song. I liked the instrumental of the song and thought it was really good. It took me a few listens to get into the song, which is quite disappointing, considering that Spica got me into their other songs straight away. I found the rapping was not as great in this song and it really did not suit this song. But the chorus of the song is quite catchy and sounds pretty cool. The song itself talks about how the girl decide that the guy no longer loves them. Honestly, this song could have been better in my opinion. It is not as great as Tonight, but it still pretty good.

The music video was pretty good. Though, I was not much of a fan of the really old outfits and stuff that you would have expected to be trendy like is the 70s or 80s. However, the best part of the whole video was definitely one of the outfits and I think was the most amazing part. That ass!!! Yeah, really, beside that, there is not much about this music video to talk about. It is quite monotone and boring to watch and the only thing that was great were the asses. Yes, it is quite sad isn’t?

The dance is pretty cool. Again, not really to a high standard, but still pretty good. I notice that only two girls are given the spotlight in Spica and they are Bohyung and Boa. The other girls are really pushed to the side. I don’t why, but everytime I watch their performances, Ladies Code’s Pretty Pretty just appears in my mind. Maybe because of the retro feel of it and the dresses? Or is it just me?

5/10. Not that I am that disappointed with the comeback, I just feel too nice to give them a really good score for this song. Like most of the songs, I listed above with the retro concept, I actually had a hard time getting into them, so I guess this goes the same way.

Around over a week ago, I asked “Which sexy concept from January did you like the most?” Guess who won? Rainbow BLAXX’s Cha Cha. That caught me off by surprise. Girl’s Day, AOA, No comeback and Dal Shabet followed in the exact order.

Happy New Year!!!

 

Hi all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wow, 2013 is finally over. Can you believe it. With days to go, I will be unable to update this over my “break”. Beside that I have scheduled a whole heap of reviews. I promised you guys an End Of Year Charts, and with that very day 3-4 days away, I think it is time unleash the beast. Party hard! Welcome the new year in style! I will wish to see you all back on the 2nd of Jan 2013 (subject to change). At the very bottom of this post, there will be two links. One is a playlist for the winners of the BOB’s and the other is the top 20 songs of the year, as selected by this chart. Yay!!!!

Position Title Artist
1 Female President Girl’s Day
2 G.R.8.U (Your Impressive) VIXX
3 Tonight Spica
4 Hush Miss A
5 Damaged Lady Kara
6 24 Hours Sunmi
7 Voodoo Doll VIXX
8 Give It To Me Sistar
9 Expectation Girl’s Day
10 Only One Gummy
11 Be Ambitious Dal Shabet
12 Red Shoes IU
13 Number 9 T-Ara
14 Very Good Block B
15 Everybody SHINee
16 Kill Bill Brown Eyed Girls
17 Destiny Infinite
18 I Don’t Know FIESTAR
19 Only You VIXX
20 U&I Ailee
21 Madly FT Island
22 Love Blossom K.Will
23 Love Options BESTie
24 What’s Going On? B1A4
25 Growl EXO
26 Gone Not Around Any Longer Sistar19
27 Yoo Hoo Secret
28 While You Were Asleep JeA (Brown Eyed Girls)
29 1.4.3 Henry (Super Junior M) Feat. Amber F(x)
30 Dream Girl SHINee
31 Wild Nine Muses
32 Thriller BTOB
33 Goodbye Dasoni (EXID)
34 Insane A-Jax
35 One Shot B.A.P
36 Lonely Christmas Crayon Pop
37 Confused AOA
38 Bar Bar Bar Crayon Pop
39 Glue Nine Muses
40 Twenty Four / Seven 2Yoon
41 Jeon Won Diary T-Ara N4
42 I Like That GLAM
43 Tell Me Tell Me Rainbow
44 Stupid In Love Mad Clown ft. Soyu (Sistar)
45 Rocking Teen Top
46 No No No A-Pink
47 Why So Serious? SHINee
48 Baby I’m Sorry MYNAME
49 Dreamer History
50 The Letter Davichi

PLAYLIST 1: 

PLAYLIST 2: 

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM KPOPreviewed!!!

Tonight – Spica

Source: http://static1.allkpop.com/upload/2013/08/af_org/SPICA_1377293831_af_org.jpg

Spica recently made their comeback with a brand new digital single, Tonight. One of the best songs of the year so far, Spica has not been on stage for quite sometime. You know those groups who debut and then just disappear because they have not made it? Yeah, I thought that was what had happened to Spica. They have disappeared for near three quarters of a year, and I was quite disappointed. This is a really good vocal group that needs to win. I cannot stand to see them on 6th place and lower on other music charts. Seriously, this song is awesome and deserving to be higher on the charts.

The song is really well done. This group is known to have amazing vocals, but hey, this song showcases that and even more. I literally love every aspect of the song as it is amazing. From the instrumental to the rap to the vocals, I was literally blown away with this song. I thought Lonely and I’ll Be There were awesome but this song probably tops those. Also would probably add that this is the song of the summer. It has that refreshing and cool feel that makes you feel like you are at the beach.

As for the music video though, I was quite iffy about where my thoughts lie upon the line. I am not really quite impressed, but I feel that the song fits the video. But it also seems that this band is not getting the full funding that they should be. Coloured powder paint was so last year. Actually no, it was a few years ago. It has that feel that After School Red did for their music video, witht hat desert kind of theme to it, which I never actually liked. Honestly, a bit more expression on the girls faces would be better, as they look they have no expression, don’t care about life, or that “get me out of here” look which they share. And those girls, why are you dancing on the road? Don’t you know the dangers of cars and at night? Also, some season, they look quite drunk and really “out of it” if you know what I mean. I love the ending though, where they watch a sunrise, which is amazing. Fits the song perfectly.

I am IN LOVE with this stage performance. The dance to the costumes (actually, I will take it back) is amazing. The dance formations are totally cool and the dance just make me want to get up and dance. Woo! Awesome. The chorus was pretty cool and the dance is not that hard to follow. Trust me.

9/10. Mainly because of the music video.

Have fun….

Lonely – Spica

Source: http://seoulbeats.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/20121122_seoulbeats_spica5.jpg

The girls have made another comeback and have not failed to impress this time. You may know as this as the song that rips Sistar’s Alone big time, but I believe that this is a unique style. Yeah, so screw all of you haters out there. Wait, I mean, the girls have shown a different..um…style..to Sistar. Yes, I was meant to say that….

Anyway, the song songs equally as unique as the girls have gone for something a lot serious. Screw happy girls, these girls are mature. They sound more mature than their other song, I’ll Be There, which was happy and full of life. This song however is quite different from I’ll Be There. This song has more highlights for me than their previous songs.  I found the start of the song is quite subtle its lyrics and it slowly brings the full glimpse of the song into full as it edges closer to the chorus. I love the”papapapapapapa” in this song. It adds to the feel of the song much more than a boring instrumental. However, I have to say. Lonely is the title of song. However when they pronounce at the start of each line in the chorus, they sound unrecognisable. But beside that, really awesome song.

The music video has not plot. It is just them, a few solo shots and them dancing. KPOP companies, it is not that hard to make good music videos. I guess they only had themselves in the music video, so they can look “Lonely”, but beside that, not bad. I guess you can say they stole Sistar’s dress, however not everyone who wears a tight dress and has a cut down the side is considered to be Sistar’s dress. Even this dress seems quite loose and is made of a different type of material compared to Sistar’s near glossy-plastic type.

The live is pretty good. The dance kind of reminds me of  Marilyn Maroyle (Is that how you spell her name?), where she would stand on top of a fan, with a fan underneath, her dress would fly up, and she would only cover the front of it. Pretty good dance.

I’d give this song a 8/10. Pretty good.

I’ll Be There – Spica

Source: http://americankpopfans.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/09.19-spica.jpg

Back from their debut earlier this year (I think) with a different song. I am sure earlier this year they made their debut with Russian Roulette, right? Well, they showed off their vocals there and new style, which was different in a sense. They also had a comeback with Painkiller, which showed the girls in a totally different style, showcasing their vocals. I liked thier Painkiller song, and compared to this, this was much of a letdown. However this is still a good song, right?

The girls set the standard a bit too high with their previous song, and to make a comeback with a song in like an 80’s era really does not match that standard. (Yes, you may guess, I do not like 80’s). But this song still has some of their vocal talents in it. It is also really great that they are trying something new for once, not like certain bands. It really matches their image though, they are the type to do these songs. It is has that cute feeling that is carried through the song to the music video. I guess the most memorable part of the song would be the “I’ll be there!” It really brings the song to a whole new level. From crappy to pretty modern. But I am sure it can be agreed that some parts can be fixed. The raps do not match the feel of the song, and some parts sounded thrown in and mushed together.

The music video is quite weird. Something tells me it is quite similar to Girl’s Day Twinkle Twinkle or Oh My God! Horse head and something you do not see everyday: a horse as a DJ. Duh, best part ever. Just imagine the clean up bill for that one. I am not sure about the start of the music video. A girl in an alleyway in the rain kind of sounds really out of place for me. But with the stars as well, make the whole thing seems like a gospel to me. You know? Not really great. One last thing: the shirts. All I can see is now is SsPpIiCcAa. Yeah, gibberish.

The dance here is kind of okay. I mean, I don’t really have much to say about the dance. Actually you know what, I have not noticed an of the live performances. I just listen to the song. Weird! But hey, the group still have their dance skills.

7/10. I think that is reasonable.