AsiaPlayList: Seventeen

Showing posts with label Seventeen. Show all posts

Friday, August 31, 2018

July in Music

Here are my picks for the month of July!

1. Yoon Mi-Rae - You And Me

Korean

Released: July 5th

Often hailed as the best female rapper in Korea, Yoon Mi-Rae (AKA Tasha) is actually a very versatile artist that can do more than just spit bars. Her latest song is a chill R&B number that showcases her pleasant vocals. "You And Me" describes having an ambiguous relationship in which romantic feelings develop, but he ends up getting friend-zoned. Yoon Mi-Rae's songs exude such an effortless vibe, which is probably because she is a senior in the music industry. I already knew that she sounded good in a group and features nicely on others' songs, but this reminded me how well Tasha shines is her solo work. "You And Me" features Tasha's labelmate Junoflo and the MV includes the rest of the "Feel Ghood Music" crew.

Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 2/5

2. Luhan - Catch Me When I Fall (R3hab Remix)

Mandarin

Released: July 10th

Luhan is back with his EP "Re:Play," which is a collection of his old songs that were remixed. The original "Catch Me When I Fall" was released almost two years ago and expresses Luhan's experiences and progress. To me, the lyrics mean that everyone faces obstacles, makes mistakes, or feels blue at times. As a celebrity, Luhan may be compelled to maintain a certain image but we are all imperfect. "They keep telling me that I'm the chosen one. So I have to act like the one. All the time, It's hard to confess all the weakness. When I start to tell, It's even more than I can take." Dutch producer, R3hab added a dose of Trap and heavy EDM drop to the new version making it a club banger.

Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 1.5/5

3. Seventeen - Our Dawn is Hotter than Day

Korean

Released: July 16th

"Our Dawn is Hotter than Day" was released back in July along with the rest of Seventeen's comeback album "You Make My Day," but the dance video wasn't released until August. I much prefer this b-side over the album's title song because of its great beat. Filmed on a rooftop under the night sky, the choreo is perfectly synchronized (as expected of Seventeen!) The subtle movements are done so precisely and gracefully that it really enhances the emotion of the song. This is a good example of how a performance can still be powerful even without lots of fast jumping.

Review: Song - 4.5/5 MV - 5/5

4. Riri - Maybe One Day

Japanese

Released: July 27th

Last winter, Riri made her major label debut with an album and a single titled "That's My Baby," which I really enjoyed! It had a very Western feel due to being worked on by established American producers. Her newest song, "Maybe One Day" comes from the same vein of Pop-ish R&B and was likewise prepared in LA. According to her official website, "Maybe One Day" is summer anthem material that mixes "an emotional melody" with "dance music." The lyrics express the viewpoint of a girl who falls in love with her best friend, but he doesn't feel the same way. Unfortunately, the Youtube music video is not available worldwide, so here is a link to view it. However, both the Japanese and English version of this song can be found on Apple music!
Review: Song - 3.5/5 MV - 3/5

5. Astro - Always You

Korean

Released: July 27th

Astro caught my attention with their cute performance of "Crazy, Sexy, Cool." However, then they went on hiatus and I became worried about their future at the news of their label's financial issues. Now Aroha's (their fandom) can rejoice because the boys have debuted a special album dedicated to them. "Always You" the title track, stands in stark contrast to Astro's former tunes. It's serious and mature, with an intensely captivating music video. I'll admit, I half-expected something sweet like "Crazy, Sexy, Cool" and was disappointed to find it completely different. But, it's nice to see Astro active on the scene again.

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

6. Perfume - Let Me Know

Japanese

Released: July 30th

If you are familiar with Perfume, you'll know that their music is characterized by high-pitched vocals, game-changing bass drops, and fun electronic melodies. "Let Me Know" is pretty much that except it has a few additional characteristics - the composition is noticeably Westernized and slower in tempo. This release also seems to have personal meaning to the members. Nocchi, A~Chan, and Kashiyuka take a ride on a bus and meet three girls who likely are intended to be younger versions of themselves. The bus ride may represent Perfume's career, and while on this journey, they have a message they'd like to convey to their past selves. Some of the lyrics go, "Don't tell anyone, because you're about to be somebody. Believe in yourself."

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

Sources
Info: 4.6

Image: *,*,*,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

Saturday, February 10, 2018

My Top K-pop Boy Groups

The K-pop music scene is dominated by groups - both male and female! There is much fanfare around groups because they have a line-up of members with various talents, styles, and personalities. Here are my top 9 boy groups in K-pop. I included an introduction with background information, my favorite members, and some recommended songs!

9. Day6

Debut: Congratulations (2015)

Members: 6 5

Day6 is a K-pop rock band under JYP Entertainment. Like any rock band, Day6 incorporates guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard into their performances instead of choreography. The group was named Day6 presumably because the original line-up consisted of six members, but one member left the band due to personal reasons. Recently, Day6 has been more present in the music scene through their EveryDay6 project in which they dropped two songs (a title track and b-side) a month for every month in 2017.

Favorite Member(s):
Young K

Recommended Songs:

For the third month of their Everyday6 project, Day6 came out with "How Can I Say". When I initially read the title, I imagined the song would be about trying to confess your love to someone, but it's actually the opposite. Day6 are singing about trying to find the right words to admit that they fell out of love and want to break up. It is a moderately heavy rock song (as opposed to heavy metal or soft rock) and may be enjoyable for people who typically don't like the genre.

Congratulations
I Wait
Hi Hello

More Facts:

The members' names are: Wonpil, Sungjin, Dowoon, Jae, Young K
The group's fandom name is My Day, after the title of one their songs.
Day6 admire Maroon 5, U2, Coldplay, and One Republic.

8. Winner

Debut: Empty (2014)

Members: 5 4

Winner was formed through YG Entertainment's 2013 show WIN: Who is Next? and they competed against other trainees to debut. They won the competition, earning the name "Winner" and debuted as a five-membered group a year later. At first, listen, I could tell that Winner was like no other idol group. From the start, they played with different genres that strayed away from the K-pop trends. Their first album "2014 S/S" includes acoustic ballads and alternative rock, while their following single album includes a "blues-infused" song. One of the members, Nam Taehyun, left the group in 2016, and thereafter Winner redefined themselves as more mainstream. Whether on or off-trend, Winner continues to produce quality music.

Favorite Member(s):

Recommended Songs:

Winner debuted with two simultaneously released singles, "Empty" being the lead single off of "2014 S/S". "Empty" was written by B.I. (IKON), Bobby (IKON) and Mino (Winner) and co-composed by B.I. The song describes feelings of emptiness and loneliness after a break-up. It is alternative pop with hip-hop elements and has a mellow, subdued sound. "Empty" really highlights the different vocal colors of the members: Jinu and (former member) Nam Taehyun have light, sweet vocal tones while Yoon has a husky voice. Mino is a low tone rapper, while Hoony is higher.

Really Really
Color Ring
Fool

More Facts:

The members' names are: Hoony (Seunghoon), Mino, Jinu (Jinwoo), Yoon (Seungyoon)
The group's fandom name is Inner Circle and their official fan color is Nebula Blue.
Winner was the first YG boy group to debut in 8 years since Bigbang.

7. Seventeen

Debut: Adore U (2015)

Members: 13

Seventeen is appreciated for being a "self-producing" idol group and having creative control over their music. They are a rather large group, with thirteen members. Interestingly, they are divided into three units according to their special talents. There is the performance unit (which focuses on dance), the hip-hop unit (which focuses on rap) and the vocal unit. Seventeen normally promotes as an entire group but occasionally, these units have their own separate projects. I find this unit concept significant because in large groups it's easy for some members to be overshadowed. Moreover, the unit system allows Seventeen to be more versatile and attract listeners with different tastes. Listeners who like rap may enjoy the hip-hop unit's songs "Trauma" or "Check In". Whereas those who enjoy ballads may prefer the vocal unit's "Pinwheel".

Favorite Member(s):

Vernon, Mingyu

Recommended Songs:

Seventeen reveal a more serious and subtle side of themselves through this emotional EDM track. In "Don't Wanna Cry" a heavy American influence can be heard: there is a Chainsmokers-esque beat and the instrumental follows the recent Western trend of Tropical house. I particularly like how the intro is soft and restrained. Then, the song becomes more dramatic and slowly builds up to a satisfying beat drop.

Highlight (Performance Unit)
Thanks
Rock

More Facts:

The members' names are: Jun, Dino, Hoshi, The8, Mingyu, Vernon, Woozi, Wonwoo, Seunkwan, Joshua, Jeonghan, S.Coups, DK
The group's fandom name is Carat and the official fan colors are Rose quartz (pastel pink) and Serenity (pastel blue).
Seventeen's name comes from the fact that there were supposed to be 17 members, but 4 never debuted. The group name was given a new meaning by the concept: 13 members + 3 units + 1 group = Seventeen.

6. Monsta X

Debut: Tresspass (2015)

Members: 7

Monsta X is from Starship Entertainment and the members were selected during the 2015 trainee survival program No.Mercy. They debuted with a hip-hop concept and are known for their signature powerful sound. Monsta X has proved to be very well-rounded because they are equally talented in dance and vocals. Additionally, their rap lineup is balanced between the high-pitched, energetic rapper Joohoen and the low, more monotone rapper I.M.

Favorite Member(s):
Kihyun

Recommended Songs:

In May 2016, Monsta X started an album trilogy called "The Clan" series. The first part "The Clan 2.5 Part 1: Lost" focuses on "loss and hurt" and "the inner world of youths". "All In", the lead single of the album, is the complete package with a rhythmic rap, a catchy beat, and a chorus that just captures your attention. Like much of their music, it has a heavy-hitting electronic beat. The music video introduces The Clan storyline and the members are in a village that is facing conflict and unrest. Monsta X later revealed the choreography version of the video (included above).

Beautiful
Shine Forever
In Time

More Facts:

The members' names are: Shownu, Minhyuk, Wonho, I.M., Kihyun, Jooheon, Hyungwon
The group's fandom name is Mon Bebe and their official fan colors are Pantone 2221 c (Light Blue), Pantone dark blue c, Pantone 2405 c (purple).
In their debut year, Monsta X received the "Next Generation Asian Artist Award" at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and the "1theK Performance Award" at the Melon Music Awards.

5. EXO

Debut: MAMA (2012)

Members: 12 9

EXO is comprised of two sub-groups: EXO-K (who records music in Korean) and EXO-M (who records the same songs in Mandarin). By this method, EXO simultaneously targets audiences in both South Korea and China. They debuted in 2012 with twelve members after releasing two pre-debut singles "What is Love?" and "History". Since then, three members left the group but EXO has achieved great commercial success nonetheless. Each year, SM Entertainment promotes EXO in a systematic pattern: album releases in Spring/Summer, album repackages a few months afterwards, and a Winter Special Album in December. Because of this, EXO releases quite a bit of content each year and continues to grow in popularity.

Favorite Member(s):
Sehun

Recommended Songs:

"Monster" is sung from the viewpoint of a man who focuses his interest on a girl that he likes. But, he is rather unapproachable and frightening, hence the lyric "You can call me monster." Not surprisingly, the song has a very intense instrumental and equally intense music video. EXO are depicted as beaten and bruised rebels with tough exteriors.

Overdose
Call Me Baby
Universe

More Facts:

The members' names are: D.O., Chen, Baekyun, Chanyeol, Suho, Kai, Lay, Xiumin, Sehun
The group's fandom name is EXO-L and their official fan color is Cosmic Latte (Gray)
Exo's sophomore album XOXO was the best selling album of 2013 in South Korea.

4. IKON

Debut: Rhythm Ta! (2015)

Members: 7

Prior to their debut, IKON (often stylized as iKON) was a 6-membered group of trainees called Team B. They competed against Team A (WINNER) on YG Entertainment's 2013 trainee survival show WIN: Who Is Next? but lost. Then the trainees were given a second chance on MIX & MATCH and were formed as an official group with the addition of one member. These shows showcased the individual talents in IKON some of which include the dance skills of Jay and the sweet vocal tone of DK. The group finally debuted in 2015 with Rhythm Ta. IKON's leader B.I. has written all and composed most of the group's music which is primarily hip-hop and dance-pop.

Favorite Member(s):
B.I., Bobby

Recommended Songs:

IKON tried a mix of rap and punk rock for the seventh single of their debut album. This is a style that has been tried before by other YG Artists (it was heard in 2NE1's "Ugly", Big Bang's "Sober", and G-Dragon's "Crooked") and I'm glad IKON gave it a try as well. "What's Wrong?" is about a guy being frustrated with his girlfriend because she is controlling and starts pointless arguments with him.

Airplane
Love Scenario
Apology

More Facts:

The members' names are: June (Junhoe), Song (Yunhyung), Bobby, Jay (Jinhwan), B.I., DK (Donghyuk) and Chan (Chanwoo).
The group's fandom name is iKONIC and their official fan color is Orange-red.
IKON is the fastest K-pop group to have a Tokyo Dome Tour after debuting.

3. NCT

Debut: NCT U - Without U, Seventh Sense (2016)

Members: Infinite

NCT is an acronym for Neo Culture Technology and the name refers to a collective group with unlimited members and unlimited sub-units. As of now, there are three units, which all debuted in 2016 and an upcoming project called NCT 2018. First is NCT U, which has 6 members. They debuted with two singles of contrasting styles: "Seventh Sense" which is a trippy trap hip-hop song and "Without U" - a vocal-centered rock song. Next is NCT 127 which was revealed to be the "Seoul-based unit", as "127" is the longitudinal coordinate of Seoul. Finally, is NCT Dream, a unit of the youngest members who take on fun, juvenile concepts. The NCT project has a lot of uncertainty as compared to the typical boy group - there is no pattern to which the units comeback and there's no telling exactly when a new unit may debut. Because of this, fans are kept on the edge of their seats as to what's in store for the group.

Favorite Member(s):
Ten, Taeyong

Recommended Songs:

NCT 127 debuted as a seven-membered group in 2016 but returned in early 2017 with two additional members. "Limitless" was the group's first comeback and first release with main vocalist Doyoung and lead rapper Johnny. It is "urban hip-hop" and is accompanied by two different music videos - the performance version (shown above) and the rough version which is meant to look like homemade video clips edited together. Notably, "Limitless" highlight's NCT's dance and vocal skills because of the complicated choreography and intricate vocal harmonies.

Wake Up
Paradise
Back 2 U (1:27AM)

More Facts:

The members' names are: Johnny, Yuta, Taeil, Win Win, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Doyoung, Mark, Haechan, Jeno, Jaemin, Renjun, Jisung, Chele, Ten, Jungwoo, Kun, Lucas
The group's fandom name is NCTzen.
NCT is a multinational group that includes members from South Korea, Japan, China, Canada, Thailand, and the United States.

2. BTS

Debut: No More Dream (2013)

Members: 7

BTS stands for Bangtan Sonyeodan which translates from Korean to Bulletproof boy scouts. It also stands for "Beyond The Scene". The group debuted with a hip-hop concept in 2013 and immediately boosted the ambitions of youth through their lyrics. Since then, BTS has attempted more genres and lyrically addressed different social issues. For example, "Am I Wrong" is a jazz-pop/blues song that calls out people's lack of empathy towards problems in society. Meanwhile, "Baepsae" which is primarily rap, criticizes the divide between the privileged and the underprivileged. Such topics make the young men of BTS very relatable to all kinds of listeners, especially since the members themselves take part in writing and composing.

Favorite Member(s):
J-Hope, Jungkook

Recommended Songs:

"Save Me" is a single from BTS's compilation album "Young Forever"- the final part of their artistically intricate trilogy "The Most Beautiful Moment in Life" series. The song is a complete turn-around from their confident anthem "Dope" and shows a more vulnerable side to them. "Save Me" has a whistle-synth chorus and tropical house elements. The one-take music video is rather basic, which draws more attention to their bouncy choreography.

Spring Day
I Need U
Best Of Me

More Facts:

The members' names are: Jin, Suga, Jimin, Jungkook, V, J-Hope, RM
The group's fandom is A.R.M.Y. and their official fan color is Silver-Gray
In 2017, BTS became the first Korean group to win a BBMA (Billboard Music Award) and the first to perform at the AMAs (American Music Awards).

1. Big Bang

Debut: We Belong Together (2006)

Members: 5

Big Bang, sometimes referred to as the "Kings of K-pop", are known for their talent, individuality, and versatility. The five-membered group is made up of three vocalists and two rappers (who occasionally sing as well). Big Bang has written and composed most of the music in their over a decade-long career. This is in part why they have gained so much respect and admiration from not only their fans but from the public as well. Despite the sky-high international and domestic success, Big Bang has remained humble artists, as apparent by their single "Loser". According to the leader G-Dragon, "Loser" aims to remind everyone that celebrities are human too and are not above having negative emotions or difficult circumstances. Their discography also has some upbeat party songs (Bang Bang Bang and Tonight) and some soft, sentimental numbers "Let's Not Fall In Love" and "If You".

Favorite Member(s):
G-Dragon

Recommended Songs:

Big Bang is often associated with their hype party songs, but as I mentioned above, they have tried other styles and sentiments too. One particular song that I want to recommend to is "Blue", which proved to be even more successful than some of their more upbeat tracks. "Blue" is an electronic ballad with acoustic and synths. The song is very mellow and it's lyrics describe feelings of emptiness and longing. While Bigbang sings their blues, they wander through the cold alleys of New York City. The color palette of the music video is primarily muted hues, which further captures the melancholy feeling.

Bad Boy
Girlfriend
Let's Not Fall In Love

More Facts:

The members' names are: T.O.P., G-Dragon, Taeyang, Seungri, Daesung
The group's fandom name is V.I.P.
With 150 million+ records sold, Big Bang is the best-selling boy band in history, outselling huge names like the Backstreet Boys and the Jackson Five.

Sources:

Images and Info

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

October in Music

Here are my top releases from October!

1. Seventeen (Hip-Hop Unit) - Trauma

Korean

Released: October 1st

Within the past month, Seventeen released singles performed by their units that focused on the members' particular talents. The hip-hop unit (Vernon, Mingyu, Wonwoo & S.coups), which naturally focuses on rap, dropped a very emotional song about trying to escape their anxieties. The members' trauma is reflected in how they are isolated in a room, restricted by strings. Overall, I like "Trauma" mainly for its lyrics. It's far from the typical Hip-Hop party anthem and explores an individual's deeper, darker emotions.

Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 3.5/5

2. Bii - Be The Light

Mandarin

Released: October 2nd

Bii is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter who debuted in 2010. He often performs ballads, one of his latest of which is "Be Your Light". "Be Your Light" is a contemporary rock ballad based on the notes of a piano and guitar. Bii captures listeners' attention with his soothing voice and an uplifting message "I'll be the light at every dark moment. I will survive for you." The music video is very simple (with shining lights and glowing galaxies) yet, it is altogether amazing.

Review: Song - 4.5/5 MV - 5/5

3. Anna - Huh?

Mandarin

Released: October 4th

"Huh?" is Anna's third single from her debut mini-album "My Name is Anna" which was released back in September. Produced by J.Sheon, an urban/hip-hop artist from Taiwan, "Huh" features an 808 bass drum beat. And most importantly, the music video shows off Anna's sick dance moves!

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

4. CLC - I Like It

Korean

Released: October 26th

"I Like It" is actually a b-side from an album released this past summer. So, the release of this dance practice video was highly unexpected, considering CLC's promotions are over. The song is a dance track with a sound that matches the spunky style of CLC's previous album "Crystyle".

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

5. Odd Eye Circle - Sweet Crazy Love

Korean

Released: October 30th

Odd Eye Circle debuted in September and recently came back with a repackage of their debut album. "Sweet Crazy Love" is an R&B pop tune that opens with the notes from a violin and follows through with electronic synths. Jinsoul, Choerry, and Kim Lip sing in a smooth, sweet that gives "Sweet Crazy Love" a completely different feeling from their debut.

Review: Song - 4.5/5 MV - 3.5/5

6. Diana Wang - Tomorrow

Mandarin

Released: October 30th

"Tomorrow", the second single of Diana's upcoming album, is a duet between Diana Wang and her mother, Wang Lei. According to the song's profile on KKBOX, Tomorrow is inspired by the Chinese Story "穆桂英掛帥". It is both modern and classical, as it starts out as an r&b ballad and then incorporates the traditional Chinese musical scale. Finally, Khalil appears in the end with his electric guitar, adding yet another element of auditory intrigue to the track.

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

Sources:
Images: 1,2,3,4,5,6

Info: 1,2a,b,3a,b,6

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

September in Music

Here's what the month of September brought us music-wise.

1. Bobby - I Love You

Korean

Released: September 14th

Ikon member Bobby his solo comeback releasing a 10-track album full of self-written and self-composed songs. With "Love and Fall" Bobby tries out different genres (unlike what he has done with ikon and his solo debut) and shows a new side contrasting with his hip-hop swag image. "I Love You" is a breezy electronic track that holds onto the summer vibe (even in September).

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

2. BTS - DNA

Korean

Released: September 18th

BTS go all out with DNA: a release as unique as what it's named after. They've been going all out this whole year with winning international awards and touring worldwide. In this song, Bangtan sing about how fate connects two totally different people. In other words, opposites attract. There's a breezy whistle and acoustic sound with an electronic break-down in the chorus. Overall, DNA is sensory overload. And I mean that in the best way.

Review: Song - 4.5/5 MV - 4/5

3. Odd Eye Circle - Girl Front

Korean

Released: September 20th

Odd Eye Circle is the second (pre-debut) sub-unit of upcoming girl group LOONA. Their debut single "Girl Front" is a bubbly, quirky mix of electro-pop with an odd concept, similar to Red Velvet's style. In the music video, the members' Kim Lip, Jinsoul, and Cheorry can be seen reflecting their own actions. Its aesthetic focuses on red, blue and purple, the member's official colors.

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

4. Seventeen (Leaders) - Change Up

Korean

Released: September 24th

Seventeen changed up in "Change Up"! Instead of their full thirteen-member line-up, they promoted as a unit with (leaders) Woozi, S.Coups, Hoshi and the three of them pull off a hip-hop groove. the falsetto and raps are really nice, and the chorus is mercilessly catchy, though some of the song's transitions lack smoothness.

Review: Song - 3.5/5 MV - 3/5

5. Luhan - Like A Dream

Mandarin

Released: September 27th

Luhan is back again with another great song! This year he's been reemerging every few months or so with new music. "Like A Dream" is a light mix of R&B and Hip Hop with a cute, romantic chorus. The music video takes inspirations from Andy Warhol's pop art, so it's very colorful and gives off a 1960's feel. Luhan actually isn't in the middle video, but (as a nice surprise) dancers from 1Million dance studio perform to the song.

Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 2/5

6. Diana Wang - Poem

Mandarin

Released: September 29th

"Poem" is the first single ahead of the release of Diana Wang's second album. It was composed by fellow R&B singer Khalil Fong (one of my favorite C-pop artists). This song has a soft, beautiful melody and is paired with a relaxing music video that has natural aesthetic. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more collaborations between Diana and Khalil!

Review: Song - 3.5/5 MV - 3.5/5

Sources:
1,6

Info:

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

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Top 20 Most Handsome K-pop Idols

Here's a list of the top 20 best-looking male k-pop idols. They are ranked in order of their birth year (youngest to oldest). Note: This list is based on my personal opinion. Who's your favorite on the list? And who do you like that wasn't included?

20.