AsiaPlayList: Red Velvet

Showing posts with label Red Velvet. Show all posts

Friday, August 3, 2018

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

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

February In Music

February is the shortest month of the year, but didn't fall short in good music! Here are top picks from last month!

1. Seventeen - Thanks

Korean

Released: February 5th

Seventeen returned with "Director's Cut", which is essentially a repackage of their most recent album "Teen.Age". The title track "Thanks" seems like a song of gratitude towards the group's fans. With its electronic synths and emotional theme, the song looks back towards one of Seventeen's previous songs "Don't Wanna Cry". In line with the director concept, the music video is "behind the scenes" with cuts of the members in the studio writing lyrics and recording their songs. I interpret this as Seventeen showing a glimpse at the hard work they put into the production of their albums, and paired with song's lyrics, they are grateful to fans for rewarding their hard work!
Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 3/5

2. Monsta X - In Time

Korean

Released: February 6th

Monsta X always reveal special music videos for select b-sides of their albums. This special clip is extra special though because it was released to celebrate the group's 1000th day anniversary! Much time has passed since Monsta X has debuted, and coincidentally (or maybe not), this r&b ballad talks about wanting to stop the passage of time. "In time, time please stop, so I can see that beautiful light In time, so in this time and place." With this, I noticed that, aside from consistently releasing fanservice clips, Monsta X are also consistent in including a high-quality ballad on their albums. With its smooth melody and lyrics that were co-written by member Jooheon, "In Time" fails to disappoint!
Review: Song - 4.5/5 MV - 3/5

3. Riri - That's My Baby

Japanese

Released: February 9th

Riri is a nineteen-year-old Japanese pop singer who debuted in 2016. She is an apsiring talent, with amazing vocals as well as songwriting and composing ablilites. Her music influences are the likes of Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and Mariah Carey, so not surprisingly, the genre that she takes on is American-style R&B. "That's My Baby" has a good mix of Japanese and English lyrics and has a fun summery vibe, despite being in the winter months!

Review: Song - 4/5 MV - 2.5/5

4. NCT U - Boss

Korean

Released: February 19th

NCT U is a rotational sub-unit of SM Entertainment's boy group NCT. They were last active in 2016 with two singles, and now SM has brought them back to start out their new musical project "NCT 2018". Since the unit is rotational, the member line-up is not consistent and some of the members that participated in the unit's debut are not included. This time, Ten and Taeil did not participate, but new members Jungwoo and Lucas were introduced! "Boss" truly captures the essence of NCT. The music video was filmed in Ukraine and the members show a cool vibe, an atypical sense of style, and great choreography!

Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 4/5

5. CLC - Black Dress

Korean

Released: February 22nd

CLC has decorated their career with different concepts and music styles. This time they go for a strong, feminine concept that even seems a little bit dark. "Black Dress", a heavy EDM song with hip-hop elements, is about a girl who dons a black dress to make a man fall for her. The beat gets an A+ and CLC's vocals are on point, however, "Black Dress" falls short because the progression of the song is stagnant. Also, repetition does not always bother me, but I wish this song didn't rely so much on the words "black dress". With that said, it's nice to see their company's effort at making them a versatile group.
Review: Song - 2.5/5 MV - 3/5

6. Red Velvet - I Just

Korean
Released: February 28th

"I Just" is a heavy electronic synth pop song that was produced in part by SM artist Hitchhiker. It is a b-side from Red Velvet's second full album and explores the group's "velvet" side. The beat instantly makes this one of my favorite songs by Red Velvet, and it has quirky elements that set it apart from typical EDM. Though "I Just" was released last November (with the album), the group is only now a releasing music video. The MV a is very simple and homemade clip that appears to have been filmed with a cell-phone.
Review: Song - 5/5 MV - 1/5

Sources

Info: 2a,b,3a,b,6

Images: *,*,*,*,*, 6
* are screencaps I made myself

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Top 20 Most Beautiful K-pop Idols

Here's a list of the top 20 prettiest K-pop idols! They are ranked in order of their birth year (youngest to oldest). Note: This list is based on my personal opinion. Share your favorites below!

20.

Name: Chou Tzuyu

Nationality: Taiwanese

Birth Year: 1999

Group: Twice

19.

Name: Park Chaeyoung / Roseanne

Nationality: Korean-New Zealander

Birth Year: 1997

Group: Blackpink

18.

Name: Jung Jinsoul

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1997

Group: LOONA

17.

Name: Park Sooyoung

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1996

Group: Red Velvet

16.

Name: Hirai Momo

Nationality: Japanese

Birth Year: 1996

Group: Twice

15.

Name: Lee Hayi

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1996

Group: N/A (Solo)

14.

Name: Kim Chungha

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1996

Group: formerly IOI, Solo

13.

Name: Kim Jisoo

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1995

Group: Blackpink

12.

Name: Kang Jiyoung

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1994

Group: formerly KARA

11.

Name: Son Naeun

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1994

Group: Apink

10.

Name: Jung Soojung/ Chrystal

Nationality: Korean-American

Birth Year: 1994

Group: f(x)

Name: Im Jinah

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1991

Group: After School & Orange Caramel

Name: Choi Sooyoung

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1990

Group: Girls' Generation/ SNSD

Name: Yoon Bora

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1989

Group: formerly Sistar

Name: Park Gyuri

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1988

Group: formerly KARA

Name: Kim Jaekyung

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1988

Group: formerly Rainbow

Name: Ho Hyunjoo/ Jessica

Nationality: Korean-American

Birth Year: 1988

Group: formerly Lucky J, solo

Name: Wang Feifei

Nationality: Chinese

Birth Year: 1987

Group: Miss A

Name: Park Sandara

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1984

Group: formerly 2NE1

Name: Lee Hyori

Nationality: Korean

Birth Year: 1979

Group: N/A (Solo)

Honorable Mentions:

You may also like:
Top 20 Most Handsome K-pop Idols
Top 20 Most Handsome Korean Actors

Sources:
Info: Wikipedia
Images

Friday, June 16, 2017

K-pop MVs With Dream-like Aesthetic

Concepts are very important in K-pop music videos. The attention that was put in the special effects, lighting and sets give these music videos an ethereal feel. So much so, that it brings the song alive and makes it even more enjoyable. You may even feel as if it was all a dream!

1. Ten - Dream In A Dream

NCT member Ten made his unofficial solo debut through SM's music project "SM Station". 'Dream In A Dream' is an ethereal song that is heavily influenced by Oriental art and tradition. Ten sings about a love that is somewhere in between a dream and reality. While there are very few lyrics, listeners are kept entertained with the sounds of Asian instruments, echoes, and synths.

The music video is an extension to the artistry. Ten, who specializes in dance, showcases his finesse through elegant choreography. He dances in front of a lighted background that switches between warm and cool colors. The visuals of the video are built on simplicity: every scene has one focal point. The veil decorations, smokey background and slow-motion scenes all make up Ten's hazy surroundings and give viewers the feeling that they are not completely awake.

Positives: It's artistic and looks like a theatrical performance.

Negatives: None

2. Heize - Star

Many people expected Heize to make rap or hip-hop music after competing as a contestant on "Unpretty Rapstar 2". Instead she released a string of groovy r&b songs and strayed even further from the rap genre with her single 'Star'. 'Star' is a soothing ballad, much like something IU or Lee Hi would do. It can even be compared to Taeyeon's SM Station track 'Rain' for its theme and sentimentality.

This lullaby-like song is complemented by the dreamy outer-space concept of the video. Heize is in an illuminated room suspended in outer space. In other scenes, she is sitting by self on the moon. Heize is often portrayed looking up into the starlit night sky which conveys the loneliness, longing and wonder expressed in the lyrics. "Even if I can’t see you because of the clouds...Every time I can’t see you I get nervous."

Positives: The color scheme of the music video is one point and the aesthetic (glitter, lights, and Heize's styling) is enchanting. It's also nice to hear Heize sing as she has a nice voice.

Negatives: Heize's rap in the song is very lacking.

3. Red Velvet - One Of These Nights

Up until recently, Red Velvet have taken on either a "red" or a "velvet" concept for their releases. 'One Of These Nights', being of the later concept, is a soft, smooth r&b ballad. Also called "Seventh Day of the Seventh Month/ July 7th", it is based on the Korean folktale of star-crossed lovers who could only meet on that one day out of the year. Red Velvet sing this mournful song hoping to meet him once again, even if it is in a dream.

There many curious things in this video. For example, the girls of Red velvet are dressed rather brightly for such a sad song and the scenes transition in an imaginary fashion. Also, they all mysteriously face water in someway during the duration. Some fans have come up with the theory that 'One Of These Nights' is a tribute to the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy. They support this theory with the fact that Red Velvet appear to be on a boat that fills with water, along with other "proof".

Positives: The symbolism in the music video and soothing sound of the song are both compelling. The transitioning reminds me of Red Velvet's 'Automatic'.
Negatives: The video may be hard to understand at first, but it makes more sense after reading about the Sewol theory.

4. Kim Chungha - Week

Kim Chungha earned a spot in the girl-group I.O.I and has made a name for herself after competing in Mnet's trainee survival program "Produce 101". Now that I.O.I has disbanded, Chungha debuted as a solo artist. 'Week', a pre-release single from her first mini-album, is a slow-rolling r&b ballad that expresses loneliness.

Chungha sings in a soft, breathy voice and in the same way, the music video has soft colors and delicate visuals. And just the lyrics: "Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun. Where am I?... Another day passes and I fall asleep", the theme is the passing of time.

Positives: I love the music video and Chungha's vocals.

Negatives: None

5. Moon Hyuna - Cricket Song

Moon Hyuna started her career as a soloist after leaving the girl-group Nine muses in October 2016. Her style of music proved to be very different from that of her former group. 'Cricket Song' is an electro-pop with a mild beat and light vocals.

This is very much like 'Star' by Heize mentioned above. The songs is like a lullaby or something one would listen to in the middle of the night. The music video also focuses on the night sky and string lights.

Positives: It's nice to see Hyuna grow as a artist. She's establishing her own sound and even participated in writing the lyrics.
Negatives: The vocals do not sound good to me.

If you liked this post, check out more posts about aesthetic concepts:

K-pop MVs With Floral Aesthetic

K-pop MVS With Dark Aesthetic

Sources:

3,4,5

Images;

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Asian Pop Stars With Blue Hair

Pop stars tend to be daring when it comes to fashion, and with hairstyles too. In k-pop. it's very common for idols to have bright hair in unnatural tones. These K-pop, J-pop and C-pop stars went for aqua, turquoise, teal and electric blue locks!

1. Lisa