August in Music

For the month of August.

1. IKON - Killing Me

Korean

Released: August 2nd

"Killing Me" is IKON's first official comeback after their massive hit "Love Scenario." This "New Kids: Continue" comeback had a lot of hype to live up to as "Love Scenario" earned the group their first Perfect All-Kill. Many enjoyed the light energy of "Love Scenario," but "Killing Me" takes a complete 180. It's a daunting break-up song that contemplates feeling regret after a breakup.  Since "Bling Bling," IKON hasn't returned to the swaggy hip-hop style that I so miss. But "Killing Me" still satisfies with its trap-dance genre and unusual, but pleasant tempo.
Review: Song - 4/5  MV - 4.5/5

2. LOONA - FavOriTe

Korean

Released: August 7th

After over a year and a half of intense teasing, the girls of Loona finally show what they can do as a group act. Since Fall 2016, the Loona members periodically debuted as soloists and subunits, slowing gaining a following of fans. "FavOriTe" is Loona's pre-release single from their debut album that intends to show the group's signature style. From the beginning, "FavOriTe" captures you with its barrage of sounds which include brassy instruments and energetic adlibs. Judging from the solo works, I always felt that many of the members' voices sound too similar, but that proves to be a major advantage. The voices of Loona's many vocalists meld together cohesively, instead of overwhelming the song with many different vocal tones.

 Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3/5

3. Pentagon - Shine (Japanese Ver.)

Japanese

Released: August 29th

In April, I failed to notice when Pentagon released "Shine." But after the song became their breakthrough hit, I wondered what everyone was raving about and gave it a listen. The song is pure joy! It's quirky, catchy, and playful with its concept of nerdy boys confessing to a pretty girl (that's presumably out of their league). The K-pop hit's success led Pentagon to send it over to Japan and the Japanese version keeps the original's essence. As usual, there are little differences that make me prefer one version over other.  Extra effort was put into the Japanese music video, but the Korean Shine is still a better listen. Both are enjoyable nonetheless!

Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 5/5

4. BTS - IDOL

Korean

Released: August 25th

BTS's Love Yourself series is a well-constructed narrative that explores falling in love and realizing that the love is fake. In the final conclusion. BTS discover the answer to their fictional narrative, an answer that can also be applied to their real lives - to love yourself! IDOL is an unapologetic ode of self-love that makes references to the hate they've received. The members show confidence in things that the media, haters, and even fans have tried to change about them. This loud and proud message is delivered with a sound that is equally as striking. IDOL a traditionally Korean and South African dance-pop track with blaring brassy instruments and bumping bass.

Review: Song - 3.5/5  MV - 2/5

5. NCT Dream - We Go Up

Korean and Chinese versions

Released: August 30th

NCT Dream is the NCT unit with the group's maknaes. They follow a juvenile concept that has gradually gotten more mature as the boys get older. "We Go Up" is an energetic anthem-like track that has 90s hip-hop influences and electronic bass. The song begins abruptly and has sharp transitions that make it sound as if two different songs were melded into one. This is not uncommon for NCT, as "Go" and "Cherry Bomb" are alike in the way. After getting over the strange transition, I began to really enjoy "We Go Up." The members' voices are maturing and, as always, they put on an impeccable dance performance.
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3.5/5

6. Baekyun X Loco - Young

Korean

Released: August 31st

SM launched the third season of SM Station titled "Station Young" which is "a cultural project for the younger generation." Like the prior seasons, Station Young showcases collaborations with artists from other labels. "Young" is the second track of Station Young and is performed by EXO's Baekhyun and AOMG rapper Loco. The message is motivational, as it encourages youth to go their own path instead of following the path written for them by others. I like the music video's artistic expression of the theme and the unexpected mix of electro-pop and R&B.

Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3/5

Sources
Info: 6a,b

Image: 1,2,*,4,*,*

* are screencaps I made myself

March in Music

Here are my top picks from last month!

1. IKON - Rubber Band

Korean

Released: March 5th

After the impressive success of "Love Scenario", IKON quickly followed up with a special single. Like the former title, "Rubber Band" is of a similar genre: it has a hip-hop beat hidden under a variety of mellow sounds. The lyrics describe a relationship that has been pulled too tight and is about to break - like a stretched rubber band. As usual, the lyrics and composition were worked on by IKON's leader B.I. But this time, rookie YG producer Millenium and Winner's Mino took part in the creation as well!
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - N/A

2. Sojung - Crystal Clear

Korean

Released: March 5th

Ladies' Code, member Sojung made her solo debut in April 2017 and now has had her first comeback. "Crystal Clear" was revealed ahead of Sojung's single album release and it clearly has the distinct style of Ladies' Code that fans have missed very much during the group's long absence. "Crystal Clear" is an electro-pop ballad that showcases Sojung's crisp, clear voice. The music video is beautifully artistic with shots of ocean and forest landscapes.  The ethereal scenery is filmed in black and white until finally, the picture bleeds color.
Review: Song - 3.5/5  MV - 3/5

3. Big Bang - Flower Road

Korean

Released: March 13th

Big Bang's last group project was in December 2016. Since then, the members have started enlisting for their mandatory military service (TOP, the oldest member was the first to start in 2017). Because of this, it was assumed that it would be years before the whole five-piece would be together again. But thankfully, Big Bang gave us a special goodbye song ahead of their long hiatus! "Flower Road" was initially intended to be a part of MADE, but was cut with a plan for later release. G-Dragon and T.O.P. wrote the lyrics with the group's enlistment in mind and the song's message conveys, "good-bye, for now, we will meet again."

Review: Song - 4.5/5  MV - N/A

4. BTS - Don't Leave Me

Japanese
Released: March 15th

On March 15th, BTS revealed a preview of a song from their third Japanese studio album. The song was later released in full on April 4th along with the rest of the album "Face Yourself". "Don't Leave Me" is an OST from the Japanese remake of the 2016 Korean hit drama "Signal". It's the group's first OST as an entire group and has a very intense, exciting EDM composition! I find that Japanese releases from K-pop artists tend to be much lower in quality than their Korean music, however, "Don't Leave Me" is definitely an exception. BTS sing and rap very naturally in the language, and the overall genre and style suit their voices well. 

Review: Song - 4/5  MV - N/A

5. Meng Jia - Weapon

Mandarin

Released: March 20th

Meng Jia (孟佳) surprises me again and again as a soloist. Each time she returns, she presents herself in a different way and masters each style that she chooses. In "Who's that Girl" Meng Jia was serious and self-reflecting, in "Candy" she was playful and coy, and now with "Weapon (炎)" we get to hear a pleading love song. "Weapon" opens with a memorable English line "drop your weapon please" and starts with a subdued beat. Then, the song moves into a more exciting beat and fun chorus. This is only a pre-release to Meng Jia's upcoming album and I'm very eager to hear more music from her!

Review: Song - 5/5  MV - N/A

6. Monsta X - Jealousy

Korean

Released: March 26th

Monsta X returned with a new album and its title track perfectly captures the group's unique color! "Dramarama", from their previous album, disappointed me, but "Jealousy" is pure redemption. "Jealousy" is a smooth, but upbeat R&B song with hints of hip-hop that point back to the group's roots. The entire package exudes the same manly aura that Monsta X delivered this time last year with "Beautiful".
Review: Song - 4/5  MV - 2.5/5

Sources

Info: 1,3,4

Images: 1,*,3,4,5,*

* are screencaps I made myself

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

January 2018 in Music

I hope you enjoyed the "Month in Music" posts of 2017 and now that the year has wrapped up it's time to begin again! Here are my top songs from January!

1. Diana Wang - Only Man

Mandarin

Released: January 3rd

Diana Wang has been dropping singles here and there since last September. They are all from her latest album "Poem", which was released at the end of November. I have been enjoying listening to the songs off "Poem" and was glad she released another music video. "Only Man" is what Diana Wang has mastered lately - smooth R&B. Shes sings to her "only man" and confesses that she is focused solely on him as if he were the main protagonist of a story.
Review: Song - 4/5  MV - 2.5/5

2. Monsta X - Spotlight

Japanese

Released: January 10th

Early in January, Monsta X revealed their third Japanese single. "Spotlight", despite not being in their native Korean, still captures the typical style of Monsta X. It has explosive synths and a hip-hop beat that makes it very reminiscent of the group's 2015 debut song "Trespass".
Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 4/5

3. Chungha - Rollercoaster

Korean

Released: January 17th

One of my favorite rookies of 2017 made her first comeback since her debut. "Roller Coaster" is a 90s inspired contemporary R&B track that showcases the cool and girly sides of Chungha. It's quite different from her hit "Why Don't You Know", but Chungha suits the genre well and is on the road to finding her own sound as a soloist. I find the smooth intro and the two-step rhythm of "Rollercoaster" very attention-grabbing, but the chorus feels too generic. For this reason, I think the music video is much better than the actual song. The neon-lit dance scenes capture Chunga's effortless charisma very well.

Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 4.5/5

4. Sunmi - Heroine

Korean

Released: January 18th

Months after her summer hit "Gashina", Sunmi graced us with another single that was also produced by YG composer Teddy. "Heroine" is meant to be the prequel of "Gashina" and the two music videos have a clear connection. In "Heroine", Sunmi claims that both people in a relationship should be themselves even if doing so results in a break-up. She might experience a sad ending and break up with her man, but she'll become her own heroine because, as she repeats throughout, "the show must go own". 

Review: Song - 3/5  MV - 3.5/5

5. Jonghyun - Shinin'

Korean

Released: January 23rd

One month following Kim Jonghyun's tragic suicide, SM Entertainment released his final album that he recorded just before his passing. His posthumous album was titled "Poet | Artist", a very appropriate title since Jonghyun was an avid singer-songwriter/composer who communicated through his music. "Shinin'" is the lead single off the album and is an enjoyable mix of electronic and tropical sounds. Through his final release, Jonghyun seems to convey double meanings. "Shinin" is about wanting to always be with the girl he loves, but there is also the underlying message that Jonghyun will always be with listeners and live on through his music. *I won't give a number-rating/review and, instead, I'll just enjoy the wonderful music. 

6. IKON - Love Scenario

Korean

Released: January 25th

IKON only had a double single to show for 2017, and even though I enjoyed it, many listeners were left underwhelmed - as apparent by its lack of commercial success. This time, the group is back with a full-album of mellower genres and the lead single "Love Scenario" is placed firmly at #1 on various charts! The seven members reverted back to a "boy next door" concept that is similar to what they had in "My Type" and "#WYD". Most interestingly, "Love Scenario" has the sensitivity of a break-up song but also the cheeriness of a love song. This is because the lyrics speak of a past failed relationship, while the melody is light and fun.  

Review: Song - 3.5/5  MV - 3/5

Sources

Info:1,4,5a,b

Images: 1,*,*,4,5,6

"*" are screencaps I made myself

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

Interesting K-pop Boy Group Concepts

Concepts, which are very important in K-pop, are styles or themes that artists take on for their music projects. They may be presented through the music video, styling or music genre and the whole 'package' is used to visually appeal to an audience. 

With that said, at times some concepts are overused. So when a group or artist uses that cliche without adding a unique spin it becomes boring. Fortunately, there are still some fresh concepts out there, and plenty of k-pop groups who add their personal spin on an old concept. Below are some boy group whose concepts I thought were interesting!

1. Hip-Hop Crew

IKON in Bling Bling

Hip Hop culture is characterized by rhythmic music, a strong attitude, and a distinctive style of dress. It also includes dance moves such as breaking and locking, that were popularized by dance crews. Through, "Bling Bling" and "Limitless", these boy groups took on some typical elements of the culture: hoodies & fresh sneakers, gold chains, powerful dance moves and, of course, rap. Both Ikon and NCT portrayed this urban influence so well that they reminded me very much of American Hip-hop dance crews.

Ikon - Bling Bling MV

NCT 127 - Limitless MV

NCT 127 in Limitless

2. Men In Black

Big Bang in Love Song

"Men in Black" may be used loosely to refer to mysterious men in black suits. With this concept, Big Bang and Winner are dressed suavely in a classic style like the main characters of a movie. They are filmed through a monochrome filter with high camera angles for extra appeal. Where is the mystery you may ask? These music videos are "mysterious" because there is really no plot. In "Love Song", Big Bang walk around in the middle of nowhere with no rhyme or reason, surrounded by destroyed objects. Winner has a classier take on the concept: they pose around dancers in a city square with no clear reason for doing so.

Big Bang - Love Song MV

Winner - Really Really MV

Winner in Really Really

3. Airplane Love Story

Got7 in Fly

Whether their love makes them fly, or whether their love is flying away, Got7 and Ikon aced the airplane concept. As expected, both music videos are set at an airport. Got7 are seen dancing in the airplane runway and (more comically) flying off of buildings. They sing about a happy, uplifting relationship which gives them the feeling of floating in the air. Through the same theme, "Airplane" by Ikon expresses the sadness of someone moving far away, not happiness. "We won’t ever see each other again after the airplane leaves..." The boys roam around the airport hoping they can stop the airplane and hold on to the girl that they like.

Got7 - Fly MV

Ikon - Airplane MV

Ikon in Airplane

Sources:

Images