Catching Up With Recent Comebacks: ROSÉ|WayV|SOYOU|Young K x PARKMOONCHI & Jun. K

(Please note – this is a real-time review, meaning I am typing down my exact thoughts while checking out each artist.)

On March 12th, ROSÉ (of BLACKPINK) made her solo debut with the single album – R –. Let’s check out the two songs on the album, and since I am fashionably late, I get to watch the music video for the B-side as well.

I love the visuals for this music video. ROSÉ looks stunning in every outfit and sounds equally beautiful. From the look of things, this song is entirely in English. “On The Ground” sounds like something that would get good play on Western radios. It’s a cute song, and I could see myself coming back to it a few times.

This music video also has fantastic visuals. “Gone” is more on a mid-tempo, and I love that the base instrument is a guitar. I enjoy ROSÉ’s vocal colour on this one more because it sounds raw and unfiltered. I will be playing this song a lot more than the title track.

WayV released their 3rd mini-album, Kick Back, on March 10th. I will react to the title track first and follow up with some brief thoughts on the album.

My babies!!! I’ve been itching to check out their comeback. I can already tell that the choreography is about to be sickening just from the first few seconds. Xiao Jun’s vocals, though! He gets me every single time; I love his voice. The chorus is quite catchy, the vocalists did a beautiful job during that section, + the choreography is fantastic. When this song first started, I wasn’t feeling it that much, but after hearing the chorus and vocal arrangement, I’m all in. Is it my favourite title track from WayV? No, but I LOVE IT.

I enjoyed the vocal quality on this album a lot. The way they layered the vocals, to how well each singer and rapper mixed on each track, every aspect of the production was beautiful. I sense some growth from WayV in this record. Kick Back gets a 10/10 from me and my favourite songs in no particular order are “Action Figure” – “Horizon” and “All For Love”

Up next is SOYOU. She released a single titled – “Good Night, MY LOVE” on March 11th, so let’s check it out.

The music video is interesting. I love how it starts like a short film before the actual song comes in. Soyou deserves more recognition. She has a great voice, and her MVs come with beautiful visuals, so it’s either her company is slacking on promotions, or people are sleeping on her talent. “Good Night, MY LOVE” is a relaxing ballad, and whoever did the backing vocals on this song served awesomeness on all levels. The way the singer’s voice melts into Soyou’s is impressive to hear. I love everything about this song.

Following up is a collaborative single from Young K (of DAY6) and PARKMOONCHI titled “What A Wonderful Word”.

From the few seconds of the instrumental intro, I can already tell that I will enjoy this song a lot. Young K’s voice is so smooth. The man has a fantastic set of pipes, + he looks good. “What A Wonderful Word” is a chill R&B; I love it. Also, PARKMOONCHI did great on the keyboard. I have to check out more from her.

JUN. K (of 2PM) released his 5th Japanese mini-album, THIS IS NOT A SONG, on March 10th. The title track is “Moon Light, 2003” but since it doesn’t have an official music video, I will go straight into sharing my opinions on the album. Before that, here’s the MV for the pre-release single – “THIS IS NOT A SONG, 1929” –

This album is pure R&B goodness with the combo of smooth and powerful vocals from Jun. K. Also fantastic production on the instrumentals for each track. Therefore it gets a 10/10 from me. Honestly, it’s hard to choose a favourite based on my first listen because every song has something fresh to offer. However, if I was recommending songs on this record right now, it will be “THIS IS NOT A SONG, 1929” for the vocal delivery and “River Flows, 1971” for the comforting message.

That’s all for now, and I hope you all enjoyed reading this post. Feel free to give me your opinions on each artist in the comment section🥰.

On April 14, 2021April 14, 2021 By chtajuIn MusicLeave a comment

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Serves An Enchanting Cover For W Korea’s February 2021 Issue

Jisoo graces the cover of W Korea‘s February Issue, and she does it so elegantly. Undoubtedly, this is one of my favourite editorial photoshoots of her, so I couldn’t help but share the visual feast with you all🥰.

(Please Note: none of these images are mine. I got them from official magazine websites and social media sites.)

On February 6, 2021 By chtajuIn Pictorial|Poster FavesLeave a comment

Finally! BLACKPINK Has A Full Album🎉🍾🎉

Earlier today, BLACKPINK released their 1st full album titled THE ALBUM. There are eight songs on this record, including the title track “Lovesick Girls”

(Please note – this is a real-time review, meaning I am typing down my exact thoughts while listening to each song.)

Reaction to Official MV/Title Track:

Their pre-release single – “Ice Cream” wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.
I have my fingers crossed for “Lovesick Girls” or any other track on the album to completely blow me away.
Already, the visuals for this music video are stunning.
They all seem to be in some sort of toxic relationship and are fully aware of the dangers. The girls want to break away from the poisonous circle but are not strong enough to do so yet?
That’s the message I’m getting from the MV.
So far, this song isn’t doing much for me but let’s continue.
Jisoo seems to be the only one not in a relationship, while Lisa, Rose and Jennie are stuck with the wrong men.
The bridge section with Rose and Jisoo is the only part of this song that I love. That melody when Rose starts singing – “love is slippin’ and fallin’, love is killin’ your darlin’…” is quite catchy.
My issue is that although this song has a retro sound, it’s still too pop-ish. I have a love/hate relationship with the classic pop sound.
I’m going to listen to “Lovesick Girls” again without the video and see how I feel.
After my second listen, I think “Lovesick Girls” isn’t my cup of tea.
However, I love the bridge section. The vocals/rap are beautiful as expected from the ladies of BLACKPINK.

Album Review:

Here is the album preview –

How You Like That –I listened to this song once it dropped, but I’m still going to give some thoughts on here. I absolutely love the instrumental build-up, and vocal progression on this track + the chorus is very catchy. When I first heard “How You Like That”, I wasn’t into it, but it stuck after a few replays. I think it’s a great dance song that I wouldn’t mind going back to once in a while.
Ice Cream (Selena Gomez) –Still a no for me. In my review for “Ice Cream”, I mentioned that only one section of the song stands out. If you would like to know what I’m speaking on, read my review 👉🏼 BLACKPINK & Selena Gomez – Ice Cream: Music Review.
Pretty Savage – Interesting start and melody + the trap beat 🔥🔥🔥. Now, this is more up my alley. FINALLY!!! a song that I love right off the bat. “Pretty Savage” is a BOP. The chorus is groovy with those sultry vocals in the background. The girls sound beautiful and powerful. The whistling at the end is a perfect touch. I LOVE THIS SONG!!! It calls for body rolls.
Bet You Wanna (feat. Cardi B) – I’m listening to the enhanced album on Spotify, and I just saw a note that this song has the same producers as “Ice Cream”. I don’t know how to feel about that. Already, I’m getting a similar vibe, but this sounds way better. I love the deep drumbeats, + the chorus has a lovely melody. The background vocals are top-notch, and Cardi fits nicely into the song. Right now, I’m 90/10 on “Bet You Wanna”, but I will be sold entirely after my second listen because this is a well-produced track.
Lovesick Girls – This marks my third listen, so let’s see if my opinion changes. I love the melody on the verses/rap/bridge sections, but the chorus ain’t for me. Kudos to Jennie and Jisoo for taking part in the writing of “Lovesick Girls”
Crazy Over You – The intro does give the oriental feel they mentioned in the notes + the hip-hop beat that comes after is perfect. I also hear some Arabic influences. Lisa’s rap on this track is so good. Jisoo’s vocal tone always stands out to me in all of BLACKPINK’s songs. She has a rich tone. Wait, I wasn’t expecting a low tempo chorus drop, but I love it. I thought it was going to be a massive drop. “Crazy Over You” has a lot of surprises, and I am enjoying the production choices on this song.
Love To Hate Me – Jennie is always a good starter for BLACKPINK’s songs. She has a way of making her voice sound different and very befitting for each track. The way “Love To Hate Me” started, I thought I wouldn’t be the biggest fan, but the pre-chorus stole my heart. The instrumental is a bop + a nice message. Anybody who is always hostile towards you isn’t worth your time or effort. So throw their drama and attitude into the galaxy and live your best life. This song is perfect.
You Never Know – Looks like we are getting a soft song to close off the album. Rose sounds like a breath of fresh air. Excellent progression. I love how that it doesn’t stay on one tempo throughout. The switch-up is a perfect way to keep listeners intrigued. “You Never Know” is a beautiful song that I see myself coming back to every now and then. Rose nailed this song because, wow, she sounds lovely.

Final Thoughts:

Honestly, I was a bit scared after hearing the title track, but thankfully, the B-sides saved the day. My favourite song on this record is definitely “Pretty Savage”. I also enjoyed listening to “How You Like That” – “Bet You Wanna” – “Crazy Over You” – “Love To Hate Me” & “You Never Know”

Six out of eight songs is an excellent ratio, in my opinion. The girls worked hard on this, and I am glad that they finally have a full album on their discography. With all that said, my rating for THE ALBUM by BLACKPINK is an 8.5/10.

On October 2, 2020October 31, 2020 By chtajuIn MusicLeave a comment

My Pictorial|Poster Faves: BLACKPINK IN YOUR AREA

Hello everyone, 😊

How are you all doing? I have been quite busy recently. I had to take a few days off to focus on essential issues. Due to my absence, I couldn’t give the usual song recommendations for the past three weeks. I should be back with that starting next week. Recently I have been gravitating towards blues, jazz, and afro songs; my upcoming weekly picks will be unique.

Alright, for this post, I’m sharing some of my favourite editorial photos from the ladies of BLACKPINK. They will be releasing their first full album titled THE ALBUM on October 2nd. Hopefully, it comes through with good songs.

(Please Note: none of these images are mine. I got them from official magazine websites and social media sites.)

First off is BLACKPINK’s photoshoot from their interview with ELLE Magazine (U.S.A). They all look gorgeous in this set of photos.

Next, is BVLGARI’s announcement photos introducing Lisa as their new brand ambassador. She is effortlessly beautiful.

Jennie for ELLE Magazine (Korea). She served face and simplicity in this shoot.

Up next – Jisoo for DAZED Korea’s 155th edition – 2020 Issue. My favourite aspect of these photos is the colours and stunning makeup looks.

To round up – Rosé for W Korea. The elegance and beauty of these photos are remarkable to see. She is rocking this purple-platinum hair to the core.

That’s all for this post. I am really looking forward to BLACKPINK’s first full album. Finally, YG Entertainment is doing right by them.

On September 24, 2020October 31, 2020 By chtajuIn Pictorial|Poster FavesLeave a comment

BLACKPINK & Selena Gomez – Ice Cream: Kpop Music Review

Earlier today, BLACKPINK released their collaboration single with Selena Gomez. It is titled “Ice Cream”

(Please note – this is a real-time review, meaning I am typing down my exact thoughts while listening to this song.)

Reaction to Official MV:

I love the teaser images for this comeback, and I feel it’s going to be a softer concept compared to “How You Like That”
They all look adorable, and I love the hot pink. Not my favourite colour but it looks beautiful in this video.
I love this short bob on Lisa, and Jennie is rocking that black shoulder-length hair. She is stunning.
Rose came in nicely, and I see my bias, Jisoo, is serving face.
I don’t know how I feel about the song yet, but I love the heavy drums during Rose’s first entry.
Whoever does BLACKPINK’s makeup deserves a raise. They are all stunning.
As of now, the only section I enjoy is – “it looks so good, yeah, it looks so sweet. Looking good enough to eat… Baby, you deserve a treat.”
The remaining parts of the song fall short for me, but I love the music video. It’s colourful and catchy.
Oh, I wasn’t expecting a solo rap section or Lisa with long hair.
“Ice Cream” is a cute song, but aside from the section, I pointed out, nothing stands out for me.
I will listen to it again, but this does not enter my top songs from BLACKPINK.
After my second time, it does sound better, but I’m not in love.
Therefore “Ice Cream” by BLACKPINK & Selena Gomez gets a 7.5/10.

Before I wrap up, let me get something off my chest.

The amount of hate that BLACKPINK gets is unreasonable, and the ones from within their fanbase are even more ridiculous. In this video’s comment section, the highest things I could see were spam messages and sickening comments. On twitter, I see some blinks bashing one member for getting more parts this time around. Yes, most groups have unfair line distributions, but in my opinion, BLACKPINK isn’t one of them. I think this time, the producer was going for a certain vibe, which led to Lisa getting a rap section added to her regular lines. What’s wrong with that?

This type of individuals need to grow up, and the offensive fan wars need to stop. These girls are humans and deserve respect. They put in work just like every other group, hence why keyboard warriors shouldn’t try to undermine their effort. I wonder if these so-called warriors have tried dancing and singing live. It’s easy to mind your business if you don’t support a group or what they put out. Ain’t nobody forcing you.

Rant aside, I finally figured out how to switch back to the classic editor, but I’m also enjoying the block editor. I’m happy😊. That’s all I have to say. Enjoy the rest of your day, everyone.💕💕💕

On August 28, 2020October 31, 2020 By chtajuIn Music1 Comment

My Pictorial|Poster Faves: #ClassyLadies – Thursday RollCall

As already explained in my previous post, throughout this week, I’ll be sharing pictures of celebrities that naturally have an air of elegance and poise. From the way they carry themselves to how they speak and dress, they continuously keep things classy.

(Please Note: none of these images are mine. I got them from official magazine websites and social media sites.)

First on today’s list is BLACKPINK’s Rose for ELLE Korea –

Up next is the Chinese actress Cecilia Boey for Marie Claire China –

Third on this list is the Korean actress Kim Ji Won for Harper’s BAZAAR Korea –

To close this post, I have the Chinese actress Tong Yao for Bobosnap China –

On June 18, 2020October 31, 2020 By chtajuIn Pictorial|Poster FavesLeave a comment

Lady Gaga ft. BLACKPINK – Sour Candy: Music Review

American and Kpop collaborations are always a hit or miss for me but let’s see what Lady Gaga and BLACKPINK have for us with “Sour Candy”

(This is a real-time review, meaning I am typing down my exact thoughts while listening to this song.)

Official Audio –

Reaction to Lyric Video:

Alright, I hear that classic electronic sound that I know and love from Lady Gaga.
We are starting out with Jennie, and I think I like the instrumental so far.
I love it when Lisa sings. She sounds beautiful.
Jisoo’s vocal tone is quite shallow and soothing. I love her.
By the way, Jisoo is my bias.
Right now, we have the girls starting out the song, but I wonder what Lady Gaga’s part and the chorus drop will sound like.
Jisoo sounds so sexy on the “uh-huh, uh-huh” part. I love how they dragged and dropped her voice at the end. Plus, the background vocals were perfect for that section.
Ooo, Lady Gaga came in fierce and with a more melodic tone. Her part and Jisoo’s are my favourites.
I noticed that the beat switched up a bit once she entered the mix.
Wait… I wasn’t expecting this kind of chorus. She’s talk-singing in a monotone voice.😂
Took me off guard for a minute, but… okay.
I like the chorus and the melody for “Come, come, unwrap me. Come, come, unwrap me.” is quite catchy.
I really love Lady Gaga’s verses. The production is top-notch, and Lady Gaga’s voice is incredible.
And we are back to BLACKPINK with Rose’s sultry voice.
Oh, that “Take a bite, take a bite. So sour candy.” is groovy.💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
I am living for the retro instrumental.
I have to replay this song before giving my rating.
“Sour Candy” by Lady Gaga ft. BLACKPINK is an excellent retro/electronic song, and I absolutely enjoyed listening to it.
It took me a while to get into the vibe, but after blasting it on my headphones, I loved it more. So my rating for it is 9/10.

On May 28, 2020October 31, 2020 By chtajuIn MusicLeave a comment

BLACKPINK’s Lisa for Allure Korea

I am so happy that they finally posted the full set of Lisa’s pictures on the Allure Korea website. I wanted to share them earlier, but I could only find four photos. Now that I have everything, you all can enjoy the beauty that is Lalisa Manoban.

(Please Note: none of these images are mine. I got them from official magazine websites and social media sites.)