Tag: Sunhwa

[Album Review] Secret Summer (5th Mini Album) – Secret

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As a fan of Secret, it is time for a freaking comeback from this girl group. It is way overdue, with their last comeback from 2014. Secret Summer (the album in which this review revolves around) was released in August 2014 and is the last comeback as a four-member girl group. Since then, there have been no Secret comebacks, which leaves the year feeling empty, in my mind. So, while we wait around for their comeback, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at their 5th mini-album, Secret Summer.

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Secret Summer Album Cover

1..Feel The Secret (Intro Track) – Intro tracks aren’t really my thing. I usually gloss over them and then get right into the more fulfilling songs that follow. However, Feel The Secret is a show-stopper from the get-go. It launches you into the retro feel that Secret is known for and definitely hypes you up for the following tracks. (9/10)

2. I’m In Love (Title Track) – Click here for the full review of I’m In Love (8/10 – at the time of being published in 2014. In 2017, I have decided to bump the rating to 9/10)

3. Look At Me – One of my favourite tracks (other than the title track) on this mini-album. I thought the track was extremely sexy with their soft vocals. The song itself was extremely catchy. The random violin insert was what the song needed and despite it being random in theory, I thought fit in well with the song. The constant glass breaking sound throughout the vocal gave it a more interesting feel. The rapping could have been better in the song, but overall, it was definitely a highlight on the mini-album. (9/10)

4. U R Fired – The English in this song could have been better. However, it is a totally amazing song that is up there with the rest of the mini-album and Secret’s discography. The entire song felt like a mix between pop and country to me (mainly because of the guitar). Once the song hits the chorus, you can feel the song heating up, providing a somewhat intense but good beat. I thought the song grew to be a great song as it progressed, especially during the bridge of the song, where electronic components are brought into play. The song also hits some ‘high notes’ (not literally) with the vocals of the members, their best on the release. (9/10)

5. I Would Do Well – The song fulfils the expectations of a ballad track that is mandatory on every KPOP album. Though, I feel the track does that only. Their vocals are great, with each member (weak or strong) participating in the track. It feels weak overall doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the album. But it does end the song on a more relaxed and sweet note. I am just glad that this ballad still feels somewhat upbeat, rather than it slowing down to a standard ballad. (6/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.5/10

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Secret Summer Teaser Image (Source: ALLKPOP)

I’m In Love – Secret

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At the start of the week, Secret had made their official return after 8 months absence from the stage. Since their promotion of I Do I Do, the group had disappeared from the spotlight (and yes, I was Secret deprived for the 8 months). Hyosung made her official solo debut with Good Night Kiss back in May. She, herself, started acting appearing in the crime drama Ghost-Seeing Detective (which I really liked watching) and at the moment, My Dear Cat (which I also happened to be watching). Member Sunhwa recently restarted her acting career on Marriage not Dating. Besides that, I honestly have no idea what the other two, Ji Eun and Hana were up to. But who cares, they are now back with the sexy concept and a killer song.

This song is mega awesome. I really don’t know why they are not charting. It is driving me insane. But then again, a bigger rookie group just debuted and it seems that group is currently overshadowing Secret’s comeback. It is so depressing. Anyway, the song. Oh yes. I freaking love this song. You could say that “I’m in love”. Hahahaha…. This song is really catchy and is a lift up from their previous two songs that were a part of the cutesy concept. Now, they are becoming serious. Song Ji Eun probably has to be one of my most favourite main vocalists in all of KPOP. Her voice, especially in the bridge sounded so amazing. Talking about main vocalists, Sunhwa has gotten a decent amount of lines in the song, singing parts of the chorus. Hana sang about 1 line and rapped as well, but hey, it is a combination we have been dying to see from Hana. The slow ballad part is something that I don’t mind, but when you look at the song overall, it really does not fit in with the song. I really liked the chorus and the “Think I’m In Love” part was really well done. Overall, the song was amazing.

The music video, in my honest opinion, could have been done a little better. It seemed rather confined and boring to watch. There is like little to no plot in this video and I feel the sexual concept could have been taken to another level with this music video. It felt plain and lacked that excitement of knowing what is going to happened next. The music video opened up with a scene of what the girls portray as innocent, wearing white and being quite sad and shy about things. They are seen to be interviewed by a guy who looks pretty intimidating. After a while, they turn into evil ladies, who turned sexual and it seems like the girls instead of being innocent and shy, they torment the man and also tries to flirt with him. I really liked the solo shots and the blue lighting in the background. That looked really cool. The dance sets are really not that great overall. They are big, just really don’t have that great feeling to them. Also, Hyosung had nude scenes in the music video. But yet it has very little views.

The dance is pretty good. The twerking, not so much, but hey, it is not a slutty job. I really don’t understand why Hyosung always have to have a little solo dance time in the choreography, it really takes her away from the group. I Do I Do, Talk That and now this. On top of that, I think the chorus dance was pretty good.

As I wrote this review (which spanned over what seems to be like 4 hours) I slowly realized that the group has been absented for far too long and no longer garner the same amount of views as before. Their company really needs to direct some more attention to them and get them back to the spotlight. They were at their peaks in 2011 and 2012, but now they are just going to be another forgotten group. 8/10

[Update] As part of my 2017 review of Secret Summer, the group’s 5th mini album, which features the title track I’m In Love, I had decided to ultimately increase the rating of this song to 9/10. This can be attributed to the changing perspective of the author.

Yoo Hoo – Secret

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I had to okay?
Source: http://popdust.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SECRET-YooHoo-MV-7-659×355.jpg

Secret is back with a brand new song. A new song that brings us back to the retro days and their award winning days. Shy Boy and Starlight Moonlight are the songs that brought Secret to higher grounds by winning awards. Did you know that? Their common theme, was the aegyo style. Poison and Talk That both ranked pretty high, coming 2nd in some cases, but did not have enough votes and popularity to win. As for Yoo Hoo, as it contains the ageyo style which many of us enjoy (men in particular), will they win? Or will Lee Hyori and 2PM take all the glory? Who knows?

Yoo Hoo is a very cute song. The title, maybe a little misleading, but overall the song pretty cool. I don’t have much to complain about the song. The only thing I have to complain about is the rap. Not the one at the end of the song. I have no problems with that. The ones in the verses, however, seemed to just be thrown in there to give Jung Hana some more lines (For those who don’t know, Zinger is Jung Hana. She just recently changed her stage name). The instrumental is quite addictive and the chorus was pretty cool. Their vocals have dramatically increases, each sounding better each time they make a comeback. The song talks about a girl who is trying to get out of the “friendzone”. I think. I may need to get back to you guys about that one.

The music video is quite funny. Hyosung was quite Hilarious in this video. But I will get back on that point a bit later. The music video starts off as the girls go on a holiday and a boat. They seem to be having the time of their life but soon becomes shipwrecked. Now, that boat looked like a bit grand. But why only does some planks of wood that comes from a different boat, maybe one a lot of cheaper, wash up to shore. They also seemed to be quite prepared for that. They have a mirror, dry set of clothes, a sand castle kit and an oar. Seems like they were not going to Bondi Beach or Surfer’s Paradise. An Australian Joke there. Anyway, they aimlessly try to find there way “off” the stranded island. They successfully find their way “off” the “deserted” island after finding a map and a guy’s jacket. Conveniently placed there. Just saying. Turns out they were not on the a deserted island, but near a rather busy highway. But it is how they get picked up is pretty funny. Here they let go of their shame and Hyosung, really acts silly here. But did you see who picked the group up! It was an old lady. Old Lady I say….

The dance is pretty cool. Liked how basic it was overall. The chorus and all were just perfect. However sport shoes don’t really seem to fit the feel of the song at all.

9.5/10. Really good. Will recommend to any fans out there. Linked below is also their Only U song as well. Have fun!

Everything Is Pretty – Youngjae (B.A.P) & Sunhwa (Secret)

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Source: http://d1i45kki000yqu.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/122712_youngjae_sunhwa.jpg

Towards the end of December 2012, an announcement was made by TS Ent about a secret collaboration between the companies two main groups, Secret & B.A.P. Later, it was revealed that Sunhwa and Youngjae had collaborated for a song which was later promoted in January of 2013. Talk about some boring talk, it is a good song, just did not fit well at all.

Now let’s get this straight, I really like B.A.P and Secret, and all the members for both groups. Just this song, was definitely not the best choice for these two particularly good voices. Both Youngjae & Sunhwa are pretty good singers, but this song was not the best option. I think this song would’ve have been much better for Daehyun (who I believe in being shoved to the side by TS to promote Youngjae) and JiEun. Youngjae’s vocals are very husky, while Sunhwa has a hint of cutey, aegyo voice in this song, just they both did not go well together. Actually, my ears kept saying something like, “They are not singing in the same harmony, Youngjae’s voice was too empowering for Sunhwa.” The instrumental was okay, but not as good. The song was not epic as I expected or anticipated. A major letdown.

The music video is just the singers singing and “recording” their song. Nothing much. So I will focus on the performance.

Let’s just say, this was one cute song. Sunhwa holding a picture of Kwanghee for Z:EA and Youngjae holding a piture of B.A.P’s fan group, BABYs. I liked the stage, and I think Youngjae actually toned down his voice just a bit for the performances, so it was okay. Nothing major though.

5/10. Sadly. But I am always sure that a better song or another couple can be chosen next time, if the two bands do collaborate again.