June in Music

It's a little late, but here are my picks from the month of June.

1. BTS - DD Ceremony (Ddaeng)

Korean

Released: June 10th

BTS had their FESTA which is an annual celebration of their debut anniversary. As part of their 5th-year celebration, they released a few free tracks on SoundCloud for fans! "Ddaeng" is a diss track aimed at haters and at those in the industry who ignored BTS before they were popular. The song includes clever wordplays surrounding the term "ddaeng," which has various meanings, and hip-hop beats with Oriental instruments. It's performed solely by the rap-line-up (Suga, RM, and J-Hope) and is very reminiscent of their cypher series! There is no official music video, but the members put on a fire performance and uploaded it on BANGTANTV.
Review: Song - 5/5  MV - N/A

2. Blackpink - Ddu Ddu Ddu

Korean

Released: June 15th

One year of absence has built a swelling of anticipation among fans for Blackpink's comeback. Finally, the girls returned with their first mini album that takes on a different sound while still keeping Blackpink's essential style. "Ddu Du Ddu Du" is a powerful hip-hop trap song that opens with whistle-y synths and later blends in the sounds of East-Indian percussion. The lyrics assert a strong personality and a "go-get-it" attitude of girl power. Jennie performs as a rapper this time and the music video serves a lot of sass and creativity. Was "Ddu Du Ddu Du" worth the wait of an entire year? Well, I can only think that in that span of time Blackpink could have had hit after hit, since they are capable of having content this high-quality.
Review: Song - 4.5/5  MV - 5/5

3. BtoB - Only One For Me

Korean

Released: June 18th

After their hit "Missing You" from last fall, BtoB switches things up for the summer season. Instead of a slow, sad ballad, the group treats fans to a happy love song that is more suitable for the warm weather. "Only One For Me" is a very easy listen - it has a breezy melody and some added tropical elements. Since its BtoB,  the song showcases the group's stellar vocals, which can make even a bland song sound pleasant. It's worth to mention that this may be BtoB's last project as a complete group for a while. This is because sometime after the album release, the main vocalist Eunkwang enlisted for his mandatory military service. In the meantime, I expect the other group members to perform without him or maybe promote as soloists?
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3/5

4. Red Velvet - #Cookie Jar

Japanese

Released: June 21st

Red Velvet had their Japanese debut and (not surprisingly) its theme is food-related! They've had "Ice Cream Cake" and "Red Flavor," but this time the girls talk about another type of treat - cookies! Just like their Korean releases, "#Cookie Jar" includes the same cute, quirky charm that Red Velvet pulls off well. Though, at the same time, I find that the song feels very Girl's Generation-esque.  Its groovy beat and retro 60s feel remind me of SNSD's "Hoot," a favorite of mine! I'm happy to see Red Velvet back at their so-called "red" concept and I think this suits the Japanese market very much.
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3.5/5

5. Nu'est W - Deja Vu

Korean

Released: June 25th

Nu'est W is a subunit of Nu'est that will promote while member Minkyun is active with the temporary boy group Wanna-One. In recent years, Nu'est has taken on an interesting musical direction - they focus on a mature sound and incorporate mysterious elements into their album concepts. "Deja Vu" is a mellow pop song with a Latin influence and acoustic guitar that makes for a tropical vibe.  It has an unexpected but pleasant tempo and a smooth chorus that captivated me at first listen. Interestingly, the light breeziness of "Deja Vu" contrasts with the dark aesthetic of the music video. 

Review: Song - 5/5  MV - 3/5

6. Day6 - Shoot Me

Korean

Released: June 26th

"Vicious words hurt like bullets." This metaphor is the core theme of Day6's new single and is shown in the music video. "Shoot Me" expresses the feelings of a guy who is at the receiving end of his girlfriend's harsh remarks. He endures her verbal abuse and hot temper in hope that she will feel better by it. "Shoot Me" has a rich guitar and keyboard instrumental that brings back the exciting energy the band had in an older song, "How Can I Say." The abrupt drums and gunshot-like "bang bang" turn the energy up even higher and work as the most memorable part of the song. 

Review: Song - 4/5  MV - 3.5/5

Sources

Image: 1,2,3,4,5.*

* are screencaps I made myself

K-pop MVs With Floral Aesthetic

Many times the objects that appear in a music video can be symbolic and are an extension of a song's meaning.  Flowers, for instance, can be used to represent love, innocence, friendship and a budding season. Here's a bouquet of flowery k-pop music videos to brighten up your spring!

1. Taeyeon - Make Me Love You

Make Me Love You is a pop ballad from Taeyeon's first repackaged album. It explores a genre and a style, unlike her other projects. The music video, which is a perfect welcoming for spring, features delicate pastels, roses, and dainty pleated dresses. Taeyeon was filmed in a dim lighting which gives her an ethereal look and makes the film look dated. It's not just for show though, all of this beauty has metaphorical purposes and reflects the apprehension, but willingness in the lyrics. Seoulbeats puts it,"[Taeyeon] is a reluctant spring blossom who has to be nurtured by the light she shies away from before she can truly grow."

These delicate visuals don't undermine the song itself though, as the sound is just as delicate. So much so that the track lacks a significant point of intensity. Taeyeon sings the verses with substantial emotion, but the actual chorus is monotonous and robotic.

Positives: The music video is very beautiful: from the styling to the sets and the flowerbed!
Negatives: I don't like the lack of emotion, even if it was intended the be that way.

2. Nu'est - Love Paint (Every Afternoon)

In 2016, Nu'est released their 5th mini-album, 'Canvas'. True to the title, the album is laced with references to painting, colors, and drawings. The lyrics compare imagining an ideal relationship to sketching and compare getting to know someone to painting a picture. Each song on 'Canvas' represents a time of the day, Love Paint being "every afternoon". It is a serenade to a girl who "paints color" into his monochromatic life. The music video looks sunny, but not overwhelmingly bright, and has soft notes of color. Ironically, the sound of the song is random and takes an unexpected path, just like an abstract painting.

Positives: The art concept is fresh.
Negatives: The styling could've have been better. I'm not a fan of the pajama-looking clothes or Ren's pink hair.

3. Laboum - What About You

What About You is about a girl dealing with the pain after her man breaks her heart. She is stuck wondering what to do with him and is left lifeless from the relationship. This is reflected in the doll-like choreography: with glassy eyes and faces void of emotion, the girls of Laboum teeter and bend like mannequins.  The concept is completed by the winding and music box sounds that open and close the track. Really, there's a slight bounce in the sound, but the 'What About You' still has a melancholy vibe that is true to the feeling of heartbreak.

Positives: The mannequin dance is done really well and is very realistic. Also, the vintage outfits add a feminine and delicate touch to the music video visuals.
Negatives: None.

4. BTS (Bangtan Boys) - I Need U

Like many k-pop acts, BTS release Japanese versions of their songs. I Need U is an angsty song in which the singers experience emotional turmoil without the one that they love. Apparently, that emotional turmoil leads to burning things, taking pills and drowning in a tub as shown is the Korean music video. The Japanese version, though retaining the same lamentations as the original, has a music video that is much less dark and gritty. In fact, the bright floral arrangements may even seem like an oxymoron when paired with such a depressing song. Perhaps though, the flowers that are ever present represent how BTS are constantly reminded of the girl that they are missing. I also noticed some scenes with white lilies, which represent death in some Asian cultures. It's as if the BTS is saying, "I'm dying without you."

Positives: I prefer this music video over the original because of the bright visuals.
Negatives: None.

Sources

Info: 1

Images: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8