Earlier this week, TAEYEON made her comeback with her first Korean compilation album, Panorama: The Best of TAEYEON, to celebrate 10 years as a solo singer. That was 2015 with the I (ft. Verbal Jint), though this album only features a solo version of her solo debut track. Leading the 23-track album of TAEYEON’s past hits and title tracks is the new single, Panorama. This comeback comes 1 year after her Letter To Myself comeback in November 2024.
Panorama starts off with soft piano and guitar in a ballad-like intro. It slowly builds towards the first chorus, which adds in the presence of drums before slowly building up again and bursting into the proper form of Panorama – a pop-rock single. From there, Panorama maintains the same momentum and energy before easing out at the end. The second chorus, however, launches right into the pop-rock sound and doesn’t feature a build-up in its first half. As with any of her solo songs, each section features her stunning vocals, keeping you engaged and entranced. While I quite enjoyed the choruses’ melodies, I wished the verses had something similar. The chorus really takes away a lot of the focus, and while the verses were good, they just didn’t have the same impact as the chorus. Overall, it is rare for any of TAEYEON’s songs to go wrong, and Panorama is another song that proves it.
The music video opens with a young female entering TAEYEON’s bookstore. The latter hands the younger a book and proceeds to stare at the younger customer whilst she reads it. Not creepy, but this sparks a smile from the younger customer and a friendship blooms from there. As they go on a road trip, it becomes clear that the pair share common interests and care for one another (particularly TAEYEON). As the video goes on, it is revealed that the younger girl is, in fact, the younger version of TAEYEON, taking possession of TAEYEON’s red umbrella that we see TAEYEON use at the start and throughout the video. While this felt very apparent from the onset of the video, I did quite like the reveal. I also like the scene where TAEYEON holds a battered version of the umbrella as she watches the younger girl, symbolising the hardships she endured on her journey to where she is today.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
Welcome back to another Weekly KPOP Chart post! I am posting this at the end of Sunday (literally, the next thing on my to-do list is to get ready for tomorrow and head to bed), so I will get right to it!
Non-Korean Song of the Week
As this blog focuses primarily on KPOP songs, I want to draw attention to a particular song that isn’t in Korean in this part of the Weekly KPOP Chart post. That song will be the top-ranking non-Korean song on each Weekly KPOP Chart post. This week’s highest-ranking non-Korean song is IVE and David Guetta’s collaboration, Supernova Love, which ranks in the 3rd position.
The Charts
TAEYEON’sLetter To Myself ranks in the top spot on the 3rd Week of November 2024’s Weekly KPOP Charts. Congratulations to TAEYEON!
The last time I reviewed a song from TAEYEON was for Heaven in July. But it has felt even longer ago as I initially put down her To. X comeback in my initial draft of this review. Yesterday, TAEYEON made her solo comeback with her 8th mini-album and new lead single, both titledLetter To Myself.
Letter To Myself is a pop-rock track. While the verses were quite good, I didn’t get into the Letter To Myself until the moment the first chorus steps itself up (i.e., the ‘My head, my head‘ part of the central piece). This gives the song quite an explosive feel that makes Letter To Myself a memorable track in my mind. It also feels quite refreshing, despite delving into a sound profile done numerous times before and TAEYEON’s well-established vocals. From then on, Letter To Myself embraces the rock sound and TAEYEON’s stunning-as-usual vocals. Her ad-libs towards the end of Letter To Myself were fantastic, and you can hear the passion behind her vocals throughout the song. I would pay to listen to this song live one day just to hear TAEYEON belt out those ad-libs at the end. I liked how there is no official bridge or final chorus to this song, yet the song feels complete. Letter To Myself maintains that rock sound from the second chorus to the end, thus making the song feel whole. It also was a way to tap into the ongoing trend of forgoing those parts of the song structure. I am sure that will make the 3-minute song attractive (if that is what listeners really want). Overall, Letter To Myself is a great song.
I am unsure if my interpretation of the music video is right, but I understood this from it. Letter To Myself is about a letter she has written to comfort her past self. The video shows a version of TAEYEON in the past before the letter and in the present after the letter. Before the letter, it looks like TAEYEON was more timid and quiet, as shown via her ‘speech’ on the bus, which no one is listening to. After the letter, she finds her voice and takes over the bus by embracing that rock sound I mentioned earlier to get people’s attention. Later on in the video, we see a similar concept. The bus itself breaks down, and TAEYEON hops off the bus to fix it, whilst everyone else is unappreciative and mocks her. The lyrics at this point in time have the line ‘I’m done being used’, which prompts (though this is done visually by the human-sized teddy bear) everyone to hop off the bus and push it while TAEYEON finds herself steering the bus with that teddy bear. If my interpretation is correct, I think it is quite a simple yet cool video.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.6/10
TAEYEON made her comeback on Monday with her latest single Heaven. This latest release follows on from her November 2023 comeback with the single To. X and the mini-album of the same name.
Heaven is a groovy dance pop track, with the synth work giving off a disco pop groove. The upbeat nature, which comes as part of the disco pop groove, gives Heaven a brightness that feels positive (despite the sinister and creepy visuals of the music video – more on that in the next section of the review). This brightness goes well with the lyrics, which speaks to the feeling of heaven when desires and wants are fulfilled. I also liked the lightness of the arrangement, which makes Heaven an easy-on-the-ears listen. And Heaven glides along with TAEYEON’s effortless and smooth vocals and melodies. Overall, I enjoyed the song. But I think there are ways to make the track stronger. Making it longer could do some wonders to the song. Heaven is over before you realize, spanning just over 2:30 minutes long. It doesn’t help that a light arrangement and smoothness comes with some disadvantages, such as potentially making a song forgettable. You ought to really pay attention to the song to register that it is Heaven. And a short length doesn’t really help with that. I do think Heaven could also benefit from something to anchor us with, such as stronger melodies, given the light/smooth/short approach. The way TAEYEON starts off Heaven‘s chorus was amazing, but I don’t get that same energy through the rest of the chorus.
Despite the song itself showcasing a positive message of what heaven feels like, the music video goes in a different and much darker direction. The contrast is interesting, but worth exploring. In the video, we see TAEYEON prepare food for her lover, so they can experience the same feeling of heaven that she has experienced. The dish in question does involve a few interesting ingredients (she is holding an apple that skin is made from hair, and she chases down a bear) and preparation methods (such as chopping ingredients with an axe). She cooks up a storm, present the dish to her partner, who she watches over whilst they eat her creation. In the end, the partner does experience the same heaven she experiences, but for some reason neither have that same euphoria that she experienced earlier in the video. It does make me wonder if TAEYEON’s character is some sort of serial killer, who gets a high off killing (i.e. the feeling of heaven). And the victim is the lover, who is unable to provide the same high anymore after they are dead, so she moves onto the next person. This theory might explain the final scenes of the music video.
Song – 8/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
I am slowly wrapping up my time reviewing 2023 albums, but there are a couple more to be published over the next two weeks. TAEYEON’s To. X, which was released back in November last year, is one of the final 2023 albums to be covered for the time being. It is led by the single of the same name, and is TAEYEON’s first release since her highly successful INVU studio album from the year before. Comparing the two album releases, I do find that To. X is slightly weaker in comparison to the studio album. But there are still a few good tracks on this mini-album still worth checking out.
2. Melt Away – Melt Away is a very classy sounding track from the get-go thanks to the guitar riffs (which brings a light tinge of Latin influence to the song), brass and percussion. All of this makes Melt Away into a somewhat sensual track, as well. TAEYEON’s vocals are quite powerful and engaging throughout, particularly towards the end of the track where she soars. In the choruses, we hear go for a much more alluring approach, which fits the vibes of Melt Away quite well. (8/10)
3. Burn It Down – Gearing more towards pop, Burn It Down carries over guitar riffs and percussion from the preceding track. While I do like TAEYEON’s vocals here, with the more interesting melodies, my biggest take away and issue with Burn It Down is that it stays pretty neutral throughout and ‘doesn’t go anywhere’. I wished there was some sort of trajectory or progression in this track to make it even more interesting. (7/10)
4. Nightmare (악몽) – Sometimes consistency can be an issue for certain songs. But in Nightmare, I find it to be quite helpful in creating a stilling environment. The paced guitar riffs in this track and TAEYEON’s low and slight vocals add to that stilling atmosphere, creating a riveting track. I really like her breathy ad-libs in the track. (8/10)
5. All For Nothing – For All For Nothing, I really enjoyed the atmosphere that the track had. Consistency is also well utilised in this song, with the addition of piano to the guitar adding a nice velvety feel to the song. Paired with a much softer and breathier vocal approach from TAEYEON, I felt this is the best and most beautiful track on this mini-album. I particularly like the harmonies in this track. (10/10)
6. Fabulous – Changing up the momentum of the mini-album in the final track is Fabulous, which opts to include more of a retro profile with its background. It is also the most vibrant sounding track on this mini-album. I really like the prettiness that the instrumental exudes, though I could have done with less repetitive keyboard or piano. It feels a bit typical and cliché. Fabulous is also an all-English track that talks about self-confidence – a TAEYEON first. Her vocals are also really nice and feels comforting. (8.5/10)
Support your other favourite artists, songs and performance in the 2023 KPOPREVIEWED Awards by clicking here to vote today.
Also making her comeback on Monday was TAEYEON, who returns for the first time since her February 2022 INVU comeback. TAEYEON’s solo comeback is with the single To. X and her 5th mini-album of the same name.
To. X takes us straight forwardly to R&B land. The guitar work was very nice and provides a mellow vibe. The beat gives the song a nice bounce that anchors down the song. We also hear some very subtle atmospheric synths in the background (which becomes more profound in the bridge). But other than that, while it does feel extremely pleasant to listen to, I wished that there was a bit more to the instrumentation for To. X. It feels lackluster and repetitive. We do get a weird autotuned voice in the background just before the choruses as an interesting tidbit, but it doesn’t really add much to To. X other than help fill in the space. TAEYEON’s vocals do add a lot of substance and oomph to the song, never faltering in To. X. To me, this aids the message that TAEYEON delivers in the lyrics of the song, which is about moving on from a toxic and controlling relationship. The crisp and clearness shows her determination behind the lyrics. Her vocals also help bring great melodies and rhythm to the track, overall. The only aspect of her vocals that I am not keen on is that her high note felt awkwardly processed and tinny. I wished it was blended better into the song to really feel cohesive. That is only a minor issue, if you look at To. X overall – straight forward yet still an effective listen, though To. X could have been more interesting.
This music video is is amazing and speaks directly towards the lyrics of To. X. We see TAEYEON inside the house for a lot of a video, as if she has been trapped inside by her partner. We don’t see anything forceful or physical to limit her movements, so it looks like that there is a lot of gaslighting and manipulation happening between her partner and TAEYEON. The shots of him in the background outside was very creepy, which represents his true nature. But she isn’t aware of this. The shots of her walking on the streets, finding the car upside down and a road leading to nowhere could have two representations. One is that it represents the fear he instilled into her (as she did look concern) and gaslighting I mentioned earlier. The other is that she realises that the world she is living in with him leads to nowhere (i.e., she is stuck or there is no future), but the flipped car and his ongoing presence shows us how far into her mind he has gotten. This leads to the events at the end, where he tries to remind her of how dangerous the world is via the upside imagery of the city (and it looks like she almost falls for it again with the fearful expression we see) and the happy memories they had. But TAEYEON has none of it and proceeds to burn down the house (and the memories of her now ex, based on his silhouette we see behind the house) that she once lived in with him. The dark lighting and imagery we also see throughout the video were all really aesthetic, but also provides further hints towards the fake world he built around her and his controlling nature that she didn’t come to realise at first.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 8.2/10 [Updated on 3/12/2023 due to calculation error]
The next album to be reviewed on this blog is GOT the beat’s first mini-album, Stamp On It, which was released way back in January of this year by SM Entertainment’s super female group – BoA, Taeyeon and Hyoyeon (SNSD), Wendy and Seulgi (Red Velvet) and Karina and Winter (aespa). It is led by the title track of the exact same name, and features an additional five tracks. If I had to share my thoughts on this mini-album and GOT the beat as a whole, I choose to echo part of the final sentence of song section of the Stamp On It review I wrote back in January this year – “a strong lineup, but yet the song choices for promotions have been a total letdown.” This sentiment stays true until this day. Honestly, SM Entertainment (which has been a mess this year) could have picked any song from the mini-album other than the title track, and that choice would be many times better than Stamp On It. I do prefer one track over the others, so keep on reading to find out which one of the other five songs I would choose.
2. Goddess Level– While I do hear the potential behind Goddess Level, there is just too much going on in the choruses all at once. Maybe if the producers lost one layer of instrumentation in the chorus, Goddess Level would have been fine. Definitely retain the saxophone layer and the bass beat, though, as both are very cool and makes Goddess Level stand out. The vocals and rapping at certain points were very strong, while at other moments (namely the verses) were pretty bland and just doesn’t live up to the standard the stronger moments had imposed on the song. (7/10)
3. Alter Ego – Alter Ego is a grower. Not in the sense that it took a few listens to get into the track. But rather, the opening and first verse didn’t do much for me. It was moody and dark set-up for the song, but I wished there was more to it. Instead, it was the choruses/post-choruses that really wins me over. The melody and vocals in the choruses was super addictive, while the post-choruses gave such an edgy and memorable tone to the song. (8/10)
4. Rose (가시) – Deep hip-hop beats open up Rose. Then comes the exploration of silky harmonies and vocals, and some low-tone rapping, confirming the strength of the song from the get-go. As Rose progresses, the song becomes even more complex with the instrumentation taking up more electronic synths and textures, while the members showcase soaring vocals, and more alluring and darker rapping. I would have appreciated a touch more consistency in the song, as it developed. But this isn’t a major issue for me. Rose is definitely a journey, and I was not disappointed by it. (8.5/10)
5. Outlaw – If you looking for a track that is completely full of texture and abrasiveness, then Outlaw is the song for you. I liked the fact that the instrumentation was relentless in both areas and it helped the song become quite dynamic as a result. I am super impressed by the vocals and rapping in Outlaw. Not only did they contribute to the dynamism of the song, the members stood out strongly over the instrumentation. BoA’s high note was impressive and the crashing percussion/gunshots at the end was such a cool closer. (10/10)
6. MALA– MALA tones down the album, closing out the mini-album in an impeccable manner. We still have the electronic touches, but nothing as high-powered as the tracks preceding this one. Instead, we get a flowy instrumentation. The flute in the background throughout the song was quite interesting. We get the usual mix of vocals and rap in this song, but I liked the more delicate notes in MALA when it comes to the vocals, while Karina and BoA’s rapping I the bridge ended up having quite an impact. (8/10)
As mentioned last week in my long overdue review for Step Back, GOT the beat will be making their official comeback this week with their newest single and first mini-album, both of which are titled Stamp On It. The group previously performed Stamp On It at SM Town Live 2023: SMCU Palace at Kwangya on the first day of this year. Today, the music video and album officially dropped, which now calls for a review.
Truthfully, I hadn’t checked out Stamp On It when the performance was first uploaded onto YouTube. So everything I say today is actually my first impression (or so). Spoiler alert: things don’t look too good for Stamp On It. For Stamp On It, I found the song to be very incohesive. Each part of the song was distinct and stayed distinct. In no way did I feel Stamp On It attempt to blend or meld together the different parts to make it feel like one whole song, rather than three separate songs mashed together. The first part (i.e. verses and choruses) did work with one another, but there was the recurring obnoxious and annoying vocal synth (“Goo Ooo“) in the background that really gave me a headache. It was overwhelming, and just distracted me from the the vocal work. And that is saying quite a bit, given that Stamp On It continues the powerful vocals that GOT the best also put on display through their Step Back release. To even be able to distract me from that is quite alarming! Following the first and final choruses, we get this “Baby Baby Baby” sequence that I don’t feel add much substance to the song. The synths here, whilst not as annoying, do head in that direction. The bridge was probably the most promising and likeable aspect of Stamp On It, as it didn’t feature any loop of synths. It brought a bit of smoothness via the vocals to the song, which I also really appreciated. It was then followed up with an instrumental break and powerful rap sequence. Said instrumental break could not escape from that same recurring synth, but that rap sequence showed promise. Overall, Stamp On It is not my cup of tea. I do like my mashes, but Stamp On It is too much. But my biggest issue with Stamp On It is that the unit has such a strong lineup, but yet the song choices for promotions have been a total letdown.
I believe the music video gears towards a heist concept. I am not entirely sure, but that was the impression I was getting with the museum type of setting and the presence of the diamond and expensive art around them. Other than that, it was a strong video in terms of style and visuals. Each member looked amazing. But the standout moment from the video has to be when Seulgi brushes her hair backwards at the 2:30 mark of the music video. That definitely left a strong impression in my memory bank.
I am a bit disappointed with the choreography for this comeback. I feel like the moves were all ‘soft around the edges’, which was a mismatch towards the harsher and heavy synths. I wished there was more boldness to the performance and the moves appeared to be sharper.
Song – 5.5/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 6.5/10 Overall Rating – 6.5/10
Needless to say, this review is very overdue. But as the saying goes – better late than never. Got the Beat is due to make their comeback on Monday with their first mini-album, Stamp It Out. So in preparation for that, I have decided to finally write me review for Step Back, their debut single that officially dropped early 2022. For those who may not have tuned for Got the Beat’s debut, the lineup of this super female group hails from SM Entertainment’s female artists and consist of a legendary lineup, including BoA, Taeyeon and Hyoyeon (from SNSD), Seulgi and Wendy (from Red Velvet) and Karina and Winter (from aespa).
My impression of Step Back from a year ago is exactly the same today. And it isn’t any good news, unfortunately. While I commend the lineup for their powerful energy and vocals (however, this does become an issue – more later on) that will definitely wakes you up no matter what state you are in, my biggest gripe about Step Back is that it is overly repetitive. Aside from the bridge, which features a very smooth slow down in momentum and an really cool yet unhurried ramp back up towards the final chorus through the use of raps and high notes, everything else in the Step Back‘s instrumental just felt like it was on a loop. The same synths was just on repeat and there was never any new offering (until we got to the bridge). And even the final chorus, which was an opportunity for Step Back to concentrate or offer something new (or do anything more than feature the same loop), just featured the same synths we heard earlier on in the song. The melodies have a nice ring to them, but they do feel slightly monotonous. A major help to Step Back were the vocals, which I have already described as powerful. Standalone, each member really had their moment to shine in Step Back, with the many high notes flooring me. But as I mentioned at the start of this paragraph, the powerful vocals do become a bit of an issue when it comes to the chorus which all (if not most) members of this super female group contribute to. I just felt all of them singing at once created an overwhelming effect, which felt slightly uncomfortable in my opinion. Had the vocals been toned back, just by a slight amount, this effect would not have been apparent and Step Back would have just have repetitive issue as its Achilles’ heels.
Another reason to why I had not reviewed Step Back earlier on was that I was waiting around for an actual music video to drop. But that never happened. Instead, the performance video that was first release stands in as the main promotional video. It looks cool and all. But I felt a proper music video would have helped made everything feel more dynamic and interesting, rather than seeing the same set and outfits for almost four minutes. The performance video does make do, however. I liked how the lighting in the background helps transform the same set into what felt like a few different sets. The performance itself was pretty amazing. I did like the sassy attitude that the performance featured, which is miles away from the disappointing lyrics. They really put all of their energy and power into making the performance a strong one, and it delivered.
Song – 7/10 Music Video / Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.4/10
The album review for this weekend fits in with my focus on solo artists. Taeyeon (from SNSD) needs no introduction, as she is currently one of the most famous solo artists in KPOP at this moment. Since her solo debut back in 2015, Taeyeon has been delivering hit after hit, proving herself to be a momentous artists in the KPOP landscape. In February of this year, she returned with her third studio album, INVU, which features the title track of the same name, two pre-release tracks (Can’t Control Myself and Weekend) and ten other singles on the album.
INVU (the album) is another great release for Taeyeon. And this comes as no surprise to me, as I have already mentioned that she has many hits under her belt. A lot of the songs on INVU steals my attention, and Taeyeon’s vocals are shone in its best light yet. If I had to choose one word to describe the release, it would have to be ‘captivating’. Sure, the album has its strong and weak songs (find out which songs fit in which category below). But as a big picture, INVU does not disappoint.
2. Some Nights (그럼 밤) – If you are after a stunning pop ballad, then Some Nights is the song for you. It is hard for me to even write just a few comments about this song whilst listening to it, as I have to drop whatever I am doing to take it all in properly. Taeyeon’s vocals captivates and leaves me in awe, especially when she soars. The instrumental, which takes on a bit of a R&B profile, was heavenly and soothing. And together, they create an emotionally loaded atmosphere that is hard to ignore. (10/10)
4. Set Myself On Fire – Set Myself On Fire is another song in which Taeyeon’s vocals just steals the show. The balladry instrumental we get acts as a blank canvas, whereas her vocals act like the paint strokes that paint an intense image. The harmonies, ad-libs and high notes she brings to the Set Myself On Fire act as noticeable details in image that adds depth and so much meaning to the song. Another 10/10 song in my opinion. (10/10)
5. Toddler (어른아이) – We enter more upbeat territory after a string of ballads with Toddler. But we aren’t talking anything overly upbeat. I actually find Toddler to be in the middle ground between what I would consider fully ‘upbeat territory’ and the songs that came before it. The funky instrumental does add colour and a much-needed kick to the album, while her vocals and melodies added an aesthetic touch that also makes Toddler a great piece. (8.5/10)
6. Siren – Like many of the other songs on the album, Siren is quite captivating and consistent. What impresses me about Siren is the chorus. It is impactful without being explosive or doing much. The synth backing differentiates it from the rest, and the presence of the barely audible sirens in the background was a nice addition. Taeyeon’s vocals are riveting (as always), and I quite enjoyed the spoken rap-like delivery that subtly changes things up in the second verse. (9/10)
7. Cold as Hell – Cold as Hell is probably the most relatable song on this album at this moment in my life. Winter has started (not formally, but it definitely feels like it), and it is Cold as Hell. Anyhow, back to the song. I like how the instrumental embodies strength and power, opting for an instrumental that features splashes of trap, haunted house music and rock. It was sinister and creepy, but also has that empowerment tone to it. And the EDM drops give it a cool effect. I liked how Taeyeon’s vocals build in this, though I think her vocal delivery could have been more memorable in this song. (8/10)
8. Timeless – I like the upbeat pop energy that Timeless has. It is vibrant and colourful, which is much appreciated following two songs that were on the serious side of the spectrum. The instrumental was more on the ordinary side, however. I liked how Taeyeon’s vocals soared in Timeless, and how simple the melody was. But unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to make Timeless the most memorable or strongest song on this album, but it has its merits. (7/10)
9. Heart (품) – Another track that undoubtedly highlights Taeyeon’s vocals. I just like how her vocals inclines in the chorus, making it a memorable aspect/sequence of the song. This is different to her vocals in the verses which were a lot quieter and more grounded, and so I didn’t get much out of those verses. The instrumental takes on a pop ballad profile, driven by guitar riffs in the verses and constant piano tapping in the chorus. Again, a bit ordinary. But there were some good elements in Heart. (8/10)
10. No Love Again – The beat to No Love Again is quite addictive and definitely foot-tapping worthy. In addition to the beat, the guitar work and Taeyeon’s vocals come off as quite striking. While these elements should have been enough to make No Love Again stick for me, it interestingly did not. I guess it is a matter that the album had better songs, that ended up shoving No Love Again out of the spotlight. (7.5/10)
11. You Better Not – You Better Not is my absolute favourite from this album. The song doesn’t shy from its rock roots, with the constant strumming guitar strongly indicating the direction in which You Better Not goes in. But the chorus still manages to surprise with its textured approach. It adds that head banging potential that I mentioned in my last song review. Also, the way Taeyeon’s deliver the pre-chorus was also a positive sign that I was going to enjoy the song. Taeyeon’s vocals were soft in that part (and for the rest of the song, as well), but was jammed packed into a tight timeframe to appear fast tempo. The falsetto at the end of each line at the start of the chorus was also a really nice touch. (10/10)
13. Ending Credits – Taeyeon wraps up the album with a song appropriately titled as Ending Credits. Taeyeon’s tone and the music did a great job with closing out the album, conveying the right level of each to signal the end of the album. The synths brought an ethereal-like atmosphere to the song (though I might argue that they are slightly overpowering), and the actual ending of the song faded out so satisfyingly. It is lovely, overall. (8/10)
Also making her grand comeback is Taeyeon, who returns to the spotlight today via her 3rd studio length album and latest title track, all sharing the name INVU. This comes after she released Can’t Control Myself as a pre-release single ahead of this album release. It is also her first major release since Weekend, which she dropped last year as a digital single and is featured on this latest album, as well, as a side track.
INVU is a pop dance track, with a house based instrumental. While it ultimately is what I would consider to be an atmospheric piece, INVU feels mostly bare and typical on the instrumental front, as well. I was waiting for something to happen in the instrumental, but it never came to. We do get some flute work in the chorus and a funky vibe, but both were subtle or brief and didn’t really add a huge deal to INVU. The benefit of being a fairly empty track is that the focus can be placed elsewhere. And well, the only other thing you could really focus on was Taeyeon’s vocals. And boy, did she come through! INVU definitely showcases Taeyeon in a more mature limelight, and I thought her vocals were quite captivating for the most part. The English in the song really popped out at me, and I thought the INVU title was quite clever (‘I Envy You’). However, I still think INVU could have benefited had something been worked into the background, so that Taeyeon could have reacted alongside it to make INVU more gripping. I guess my takeaway from INVU is that I wanted more in this already decent song.
I think we might already have a contender for the Best Music Video award for the 2022 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. The entire set and post-production of the music video was simply stunning. There is no other word that could describe it. The marble set looked impeccable and flawless, and the cloudy background was so fitting. It has to be one of the best high-budget music video productions I have seen in a long time. Taeyeon herself is also stunningly beautiful throughout the video. I am not entirely sure, but I think Taeyeon plays some sort of goddess (my guess is Artemis, based on her bow/arrow and the moon).
Performance-wise, it was good. I think because the song was literally bare for the most part, there wasn’t much to work with on the choreography front. But from what we did get, I really like the INVU move. The poses that Taeyeon were in felt striking. And if they replicate the same aesthetic on stage in the video, the performance would be fine to watch and not as boring.
Song – 7.5/10 Music Video – 10/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 8.4/10
Next up is Taeyeon’s Can’t Control Myself, which is the pre-release single for her upcoming third studio album. Her last release was Weekend, back in July of last year. Now regarding this soon-to-be-released album, all we know at this current stage is that it will be dropping some time in February and will feature Can’t Control Myself. Other than that, we are still awaiting further teasers, hints and other tidbits from Taeyeon or SM Entertainment. Until then, here is my review for Can’t Control Myself.
Can’t Control Myself is a ballad that showcases Taeyeon’s vocals, as most ballads do for the singer that is performing them. And like usual, Taeyeon sounds really great in the song. The melodies are also quite gripping to listen to. But what make Can’t Control Myself different to other ballads is the presence of the punk that we get in the chorus, which amps up the song to a whole new level and makes it relatively more powerful. It is also brings a different sound and dynamic to the genre than acoustic, rock or classical ballads that are in abundance in the KPOP industry. Other parts of the song that were quite impressive as well was that guitar work we get in the first pre-chorus (it felt like it was an acoustic guitar, and if so, then the transition between it and the electric guitar in the chorus was quite powerful) and the pairing of the piano melody and the English lines in the bridge (i.e. ‘Feels like heaven, feels like hell‘, the sarcastic laughs and ‘… I don’t care‘). The emptiness behind this sequence alone and the memorable nature of the melody around these lines in the bridge is another reason (on top of the punk ballad sound) to why I have revisited Can’t Control Myself so many times tonight already.
The song is all about how longing for love from someone who would cause them pain in the end (taken from SOOMPI). In this music video, we see the aftermath of a breakdown of Taeyeon’s relationship. This breakup, despite she knowing what it would do to her, literally destroys Taeyeon, who subsequently kills him at some point. Note that she is washing her hands of blood at the start of the video whilst still wearing a ring. That start has to be in the video for a reason. I am guessing she couldn’t accept reality and kills him. What we see on stage (the performance of how they meet and reunite) were all fragments of her imagination and not a retelling of their relationship (i.e. how they met etc.). Instead, I think he is literally attached to this ‘perfect’ world that she had created for herself on stage, where they are preforming the perfect love story. But when we see him backstage and behind the crowd of reporters, Taeyeon is just broken. The way he also carries on as if nothing is happening (i.e. no awkwardness, no anger, no happiness) seems to back up the theory that he is dead, is quite haunting and is a ghost that only Taeyeon can see and hence is constantly being reminded of. This theory also explains why he continued acting as a stage actor at the end of the video, and why no one noticed Taeyeon’s massive breakdown on stage (which I think the constant reminder was a breaking point for her). I hope this theory makes sense, as I think it explains a lot and is quite a different story to have.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9/10
Taeyeon is officially back with a new single! Earlier this week, Taeyeon made her solo comeback with Weekend. This is her first release since What Do I Call You?, the lead single from her December comeback and fourth mini-album (of the same name). It has been relative quiet for Taeyeon since then. However, this quietness from the soloist may be a good thing, with rumours of a SNSD comeback happening later this year. It was rumoured earlier in the year that the eight members of SNSD were lining up their schedules for a mid-year comeback. Well, we just passed the mid-year point of 2021 but no confirmation yet. But no confirmation doesn’t mean anything, particularly since none of the members are actively promoting (aside from Taeyeon for this comeback) and could pretty much well be preparing for an under-wraps comeback. Fingers-crossed!
But first, a closer listen to Taeyeon’s Weekend. For me, Weekend is one of those ‘pleasant but nothing more’ types of song. It is enjoyable and has a nice polished energy to it. I wouldn’t mind listening to it when it is on my playlist. But it isn’t a song that I would really go out of my way to listen to. Weekend taps into the current growing retro trend, combining the likes of city pop and disco elements together to create a song that appeals to the listeners and fans of both trends in KPOP. While the music is upbeat and chilled in a way, it isn’t as memorable as per some of previous works. And that is also compared to other works from other artists who have dabbled in similar sounds and music. What I did like was the lightness of the instrumentation, which in turns compliments the soloist’s vocals. Taeyeon sings Weekend with at a higher note than what she usually does and with falsetto. And this in combination with the retro instrumentation gives off the lightness illusion, which helps create an appealing pleasant tone for the song. I also enjoyed the ascending melody we get in the pre-chorus (and lesser so in the bridge of the song). The most interesting part of Weekend has to be the rapping in the second verse. I personally liked it and the way it was handed to us felt like it was a no-commitment style to something that could have disrupted the light tone. It also helped keep the song falling into that consistent trance that would have otherwise neutralised any appeal of the song. Overall, Weekend is enjoyable and pleasant. I felt more can be done to make the song more appealing, but it is still a nice listen to chill to.
And chill is part of the message of Weekend‘s lyrics. To be more exact, Taeyeon tells us to enjoy our weekends with no hesitations to do what we like. And the music video appropriately shows Taeyeon relaxing in the clouds, after a lot of work. For the music video, it conveniently features a time-stop concept, allowing Taeyeon’s relaxation to be extended indefinitely. We unfortunately do not have that luxury, though we should always try to do something we enjoy other than work (whatever that may be). I like the pastel colours of the music video, which compliment the light tone of the song. Nothing is harsh and the music video has a feel-good type of feel to it, which is appropriate for the message. A decent music video, overall.
A strong centre of balance is required for the chorus for the music video. It might not look too difficult, but combined with everything else you need to do on stage (remembering choreography, lines, live singing etc.), I am sure it is remarkably difficult. Altogether, the performance is equally as pleasant as the song was.
Song – 7/10 Music Video – 8/10 Performance – 8/10 Overall Rating – 7.5/10
Taeyeon joined the December comeback lineup on Tuesday with her solo release on Tuesday, What Do I Call You. This, and her fourth mini-album, follows her previous 2020 releases which includes Dear Me (the lead single from her repackaged Purpose album), her Happy single and her #GirlsSpkOut Japanese comeback. So Taeyeon has been quite busy during 2020, which has lead to her nominations for Best Female Soloist and Best Vocals in this year’s KPOPREVIEWED Awards (link above – and apologies for this shameless plug here). On with the review.
What Do I Call You moves away from Taeyeon’s pop ballad or straight ballad sound and opts for a more indie sound, which I thought was slightly different (though definitely something in her willhouse, given that she has released songs of this style before. The song is primarily driven by acoustics and then some mid-tempo beat that is brought into the song via percussion. It is a simple combination, but one that I thought was actually quite nice and pleasant. The only downside is that it doesn’t really give the song an opportunity to peak, with the song’s momentum plateauing once the percussion comes into play. Aside from that, the only element to really left discuss is Taeyeon’s vocals, which is superb. As mentioned above, she is nominated for Best Vocals in the 2020 KPOPREVIEWED Awards and What Do I Call You definitely consolidates all the reasons to why she deserves the nomination (and possibly the category overall – but that is up to you). Her vocals really bring the song’s melodies and add to that pleasantry note of the song. Another splendid song that adds to Taeyeon’s repertoire.
The music video shows us the story of Taeyeon in a post-break up limbo, unsure what to call her ex whom she still has lingering feelings for. In response to this feelings, Taeyeon signs up for this service that erase her memories of this ex (which is the panda wearing mask person). Interestingly after getting her memories wiped, she enters a hallway that brings her back to the first time she interacted with him at a party, where I assume they begin another relationship. To further back this ending up, she plays a toy crane machine and regains the same orange diary that she gave up in the memory wiping service. Likewise the polaroid of her and her ex that was hanging on her wall at the start as found still hanging on the wall at the end of the video after the memory wiping process. It is interesting video and I thought it was a clever twist at the end.
Song – 9/10 Music Video – 10/10 Overall Rating – 9.4/10
For those who may not know or remember, Saturdays used to be when I dedicated a review to a Japanese release made by a Korean artist. This year, I made the move to expand to more music releases that aren’t Japanese based and now the segment includes music releases by Korean artists in other languages such as Chinese and English. Since we find ourselves on another Saturday, and now that found enough releases to post two International Song Review posts (this one and another one next week!), it is time to revisit the segment. The releases in this post are more of the recent releases including SEVENTEEN, SNUPER, Taeyeon, NU’EST and Jackson Wang.
24H – SEVENTEEN
Two days after I published my last ISR (i.e. the 24th August 2020), SEVENTEEN dropped their latest original Japanese single, 24H. To me, 24H impresses with its refined take on their Korean releases, opting for maturity in the way they deliver 24H, without necessarily using an ‘edgy’ and dark concept to relay this maturity. The start of the song, which features S.Coups’ vocals, opens as if it was a Western pop song. I particularly like this as its allows the song to kickstart with something different than what we are used to. As the song progresses with acoustic guitars at the forefront of the background, the song gets heavier with its beat. The chorus feels rugged, with the guitar used here moving the song forward with a chugging momentum. The bridge amps up the chorus with what seems to be the song version of going ‘all out’, before returning the song to how it started before launching us into the chorus once again. Over its structure, the more vocal-centric side of the group appears, allowing that refinement to be taken to the next level. 24H‘s melodies and hooks are quite strong as well, giving myself an excuse to return to the song.
24H‘s music video continues the aesthetics from their Fallin’ Flower music video, albeit more darker. However, it doesn’t look like the members opted for a dark concept, just more serious. They do end up showing more of a masculine energy through this video, something I would love to see them show off in their Korean releases. Not exactly sure what it going on in the video plotwise, especially with S.Coups’ scene at the end with that metallic floating wire attacking him. I haven’t seen a theory for this video just yet, though I can tell it is going to be interesting. The choreography also carries some of the aesthetics, especially the sequence in which they form circle around Hoshi and The8. Overall, a strong Japanese comeback for SEVENTEEN.
Overall Rating –8.8/10
Oxygen – SNUPER
It has been a while since we have heard from SNUPER. Domestically, the group has not released anything since 2018. On the Japanese front, the group was more active in Japan with releases in 2019 and now Oxygen in 2020. Oxygen is a song that is driven by a deep house club beat. We don’t get that deep house club beat until the chorus hit. At first glance, it was thrilling drop that felt wholesome and quite pure. But the more I listened to the song, the more I felt that the chorus could have been a little more ‘spicier’, if you understand what I mean. What we get in Oxygen leans slightly to the more generic and unimaginative side. The verses that surround Oxygen were pretty lackluster and failed to really bring anything more to the song. Even the rap sequences opts for a trap-based background, which is pretty generic move.
With the lack of promotions, it seems like SNUPER no longer has a substantial budget for their music videos. While the visuals were quite crisp and high definition, the uninspiring sets and location really dulled the music video. The dark lighting was probably done so to make the group feel more mysterious. However, it was a poor choice as we couldn’t really see the members in the poor lighting. For the moves, I thought they mismatched the upbeatness of the song, especially when it came to the chorus. The moves felt sluggish and could have been snappier.
Overall Rating – 5.7/10
#GIRLSPKOUT – Taeyeon
Taeyeon made a surprise drop earlier this month with the release of the music video, #GirlsSpkOut, the title track from her upcoming Japanese mini-album release of the same name. It is pretty disappointing that SM Entertainment haven’t done much promotions for this MV release. It literally dropped out of nowhere. That aside, when I first heard the song, I thought it was going to be a 2.0 version of Taeyeon’s Spark due to its use of acoustic guitar. However, #GirlsSpkOut ended it being quite different. It sounds a lot funkier and it had more of a substantial pop feel to it. And as you listen to more of it, the song builds into something decent. If you were to judge the song by listening to only the first chorus, you are listening to it all wrong. It isn’t an active representation of the latter choruses, which both have more of a kick to them. Unfortunately, this extra energy never actually amounts to a peak, leaving #GirlsSpkOut as a somewhat flawed release. #GirlsSpkOut also features Japanese rapper, Chanmina, alongside Taeyeon’s nice (and well-known) vocals. This is something new, Korean artists have never really collaborated with someone from the Japanese music industry as far as I remember for a release. Chanmina’s featuring in #GirlsSpkOut was needed to give more energy to the song and help build the song. But her delivery was something I was not a fan of.
Based on the title alone, anyone can tell that the song is about female empowerment. And the music video tells you just that. Taeyeon is approached by a guy who doesn’t seem to understand the answer ‘no’. He is involved in an accident (a falling light sign – what are the chances?) just moments after Taeyeon leaves him. He is taken to the hospital in a full body cast. Taeyeon and her female friends band together to teach him a lesson. Chanmina also features in the video, which was also a nice treat. The choreography scenes were okay. They just didn’t show anything impressive or amazing-looking to make me go wow. Her visual game and outfits though looked awesome!
Overall Rating – 7/10
Drive – NU’EST
It has been a while since we last heard a Japanese release from NU’EST. Their last was 2015’s Nanananamida, the title track of their first Japanese studio album, Bridge The World. 5 years on, the group dropped Drive earlier this month, alongside their second Japanese studio album of the same name. Drive is a little different to your standard Japanese release, opting to step away from a choreography-required song. Drive focuses more on the singing and rapping, upfronting a pretty pleasant instrumentation made up of nice rhythmic guitars and an upbeat pop melody. I like this change up in style for the Japanese music industry, which separate the group’s release from the pack for uniqueness. The singing pulls you in and captivates you. It also compliments the instrumentation, adding to Drive‘s pleasantness and softness. As a result, I would gladly put this song to listen to the NU’EST vocalists. I did feel that the rapping was a little mismatched for the song. It could have potentially been more fitting if it was a tad smoother. But overall, a really good display of style and refinement from the members of NU’EST.
If I were to breakdown the music video, it is simply a music video full of a bunch of closeups. ‘There is a storyline embedded into those closeups, with JR approaching each member and pulling them to the circle of chairs we see in the video. I am not sure what this is supposed to mean and whether it represents something in the lyrics or not (I couldn’t tell). My best guess is that it something about coming together after being separated for so long. As mentioned previously, there is no choreography for this comeback. Instead, the group scenes were shots of the members singing into microphones, which was a nice touch that compliments the softness of the song. I liked the golden aura that comes from these scenes.
Overall Rating – 8/10
Pretty Please – Jackson Wang & Galantis
The final song on this list today is Jackson Wang and Galantis’ collaboration, titled Pretty Please. For those who are not familiar with Galantis, they bring the funky and groovy electronic-based instrumental that forms the backbone of Pretty Please to life. It is a really awesome backing for the song and feels super addictive. Jackson brings the vocals to the song. I really like his deep and raspy vocals in this song. He adds some unique colour to the song and the texture is super appealing over the electronic instrumentation. Music-wise, big ticks from me. My only complaint is the song goes by so quickly. Two and a half minutes is nothing. And especially with such a fun, groovy and upbeat instrumentation, it literally blurs by in a matter of seconds. I wished there was more to it, as every time I listen to Pretty Please, I am caught off guard by the unexpecting ending that comes out of nowhere.
The end of the music video gives a bit of context to the idea behind the video. Jackson has always wanted to shoot something along the lines of ’90s Hong Kong movie’ concept. And I agree with him that it is a pretty cool setting to shoot in. The video starts off with Jackson and his friends at a Chinese restaurant, watching a documentary about wolves, emphasising the idea of loyalty of friends and to partners. Enters the actress, the same one who played his love interest in 100 Ways. He notices that she left a pendant of a wolf and starts following her to get her attention down the street in a cool montage. And he doesn’t stop, presenting us with the first of the two loyalties. The second of the two loyalties is shown in the lead up to the dance choreography, where his friends (shown as wolves for a brief moment) come running from the restaurant to join him in the choreography shot at the end of the video. The video cuts to dark and it is revealed at he is still in the restaurant with his friends and he is holding the pendant. His eyes turns white, revealing him to be a wolf and is probably going to go searching for his female counterpart later on. The choreography in this video looks really cool and matches with the funky vibes of the song.
Today, Taeyeon makes her grand return with her single, Happy. This comeback was meant to happen 2 months ago on March 9th, which is also her birthday. But due to her father’s death on the same day, the decision was made to delay the comeback up until a week ago when the new single confirmed its new release date. Before I begin the review or go any further, I would like to express my condolences to Taeyeon and her family for their loss. On a happier note, this is Taeyeon’s first comeback since the release of her second repackaged studio album and the title track, Dear Me.
Happy is the first release of May that will be a tough digital contender throughout the month, as is the case for most of Taeyeon’s releases. And listening to Happy, you can tell there is a certain level of boldness in this song that is needed to achieve high rank on the charts. For Happy, this boldness comes in the form of a deep and loud thumping drum, which not only gives the song boldness but it also adds a little cute flair to the song which makes it extremely appealing. The song is said to combine old school doo-wop and R&B to create such a heartwarming and wholesome song. And it is because of these feelings that just make you want to smile. Adding to the really positive atmosphere that comes from the song are Taeyeon’s vocals. They just feel down to earth and really captivating without the singer pulling out crazy vocal chops. In a way, she keeps to a simple presentation and I quite like this. The melodies were just so flowy and this too adds to the appeal. Altogether, the song manages to bundle happiness in a 3:46 minute track.
I am not too sure if this is the original music video that was meant to be released. But I find the video to be extremely relatable (not including the fridge positioned in the middle of the living room) to the current circumstances that we find much of the world in at this moment. I wonder if this was the intention of the music video, if it was not re-filmed to be applicable to current times. Essentially, we see Taeyeon enjoy her time alone, with what I assume is memories with her love one. We also see Taeyeon in a fake field, surrounded with flowers. This may be an artistic choice, or it could be due to the restrictions in place around the world. I thought this was a great video. The lighting was extremely bright and complimented the happy tone of the song. I would say the music video was simple to a degree, as there wasn’t much going on. But it managed to work with the song.
Song – 10/10 Music Video – 9/10 Overall Rating – 9.6/10
KPOPREVIEWED 