Hello, I hope you all are having a great week. I finally have some time to spare, and I’m happy😊 because I miss working on my blog😢.
As you can tell from this post’s title, my recommended song for this week is “For the gone”. It is a collaborative track from ELLE Korea, and CODE KNUST + the music video was written and directed by actor Park Jung Min. CHOI JUNG HOON of JANNABI and Simon Dominic also lent their voices to this project, while Lee Je Hoon, Lee Sung Kyung and Park Jung Min starred in the cinematic music video.
“For the gone” marked my first time hearing anything from CHOI JUNG HOON or his indie rock band – JANNABI. His vocal tone gives off a very homely vibe. People sometimes say that a singer’s voice feels like a warm hug, and that’s precisely what CHOI JUNG HOON’s singing does for me. I also love the instrumental for this song, most especially the guitar & keyboard sections. It’s such a chill and beautiful energy, so kudos to CODE KNUST for the sweet production👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Another plus to this project is the captivating rap verse served by Simon Dominic. I truly enjoyed his flow on this lovely slow-tempo track.
Concerning the lyrics, I believe it’s generally about longing for a past time and the feelings that made you feel great then. It can also relate to how everyone in the world misses their everyday lives before COVID-19 happened. Now, if any of the features I complimented above rocks your boat, then this song for you😊. Also, feel free to check out the live performance at the Melon Music Awards –
This post is a compiled review of the comebacks I missed from last week –
BIBI – “Eat My Love”
I love the beat on this song, and as always, BIBI sounds beautiful + the animation for the music video is adorable. I adore her quirky personality and how that shows in all her videos and singing style. She will surely make it big in the K-r&b arena because of her versatility. People need to stop sleeping on Korean R&B solo artists in general. The English translation of this song is available using this link 👉🏽 Color Coded Lyrics. “Eat My Love” is a cute song with a lovely message but not my favourite from this artist.
LAY – “Joker”
See, I already know that with LAY, I’m getting BOPS. Hence I came into this song expecting excellence, and I got that 100%. “Joker” is a lit track🔥. The beat is not all up in your face, but it’s the perfect tempo for LAY’s groovy vocals/rap. I went ahead to watch the live performance, and his stage presence fully sold me, and now this song is on my playlist.
PRODUCER contains nine self-composed songs from LAY’s time on the Chinese entertainment show – CZR II: I’m Singer-Songwriter. In this record, he gave a perfect balance of slow vibes, R&B sweetness and lit beats. I enjoyed the mix, and even though I can’t pick a favourite song right now, I live for the vocal quality on track 5 – “Stay With Me”.
SECHSKIES – “DON’T LOOK BACK”
Another beautiful ballad from SECHSKIES. Older generation groups always have so much emotional power in their voices, so I enjoyed listening to this song. The instrumental is equally captivating, and overall the production of this song is excellent. They also did well with the acting of each role for the music video. “DON’T LOOK BACK” is already on my playlist.
KIM MYUNGSOO (L of INFINITE) – “Between memory and memory”
This release is L’s 1st single album, so I was very excited about it. You all know I love ballads, so that already gave the song a fair chance in my books. I enjoyed watching the music video. It is beautiful, and every frame could be a legit screensaver. Plus, I love the serene vibe, and L looked effortlessly stunning. The instrumental is lovely and paired well with L’s calm vocal tone + I love the choral effect they used in some sections. “Between memory and memory” is a song that I see myself replaying a lot.
asepa – “Forever”
I believe this is asepa’s second single, and I haven’t listened to their first. The visuals for this music video are beautiful, and I love their voices. They sound stable for such a sweet slow track. I was genuinely impressed by the soft vocal runs from their main vocalists (sorry, I’m not familiar with their names yet.). I love that they’re not pushing their vocals to get extreme high notes but rather working effectively within their vocal range. “Forever” is a lovely song, and I already added it to my playlist. I’ll make time to check out their debut song.
CIX – “Cinema”
CIX is one of my newer interests. I first heard “What You Wanted” from Spotify, and I got intrigued. My favourite songs from their EP – Hello, Strange Time are “Jungle” & “Change Me”. So I’ve been dying to check out more from this group, and here is the perfect opportunity. “Cinema” has a catchy beat, and the vocals are equally top-notch. The set/visuals for the music video is very detailed and perfect for the upbeat vibe. I adore the retro sound of this song; it’s something I can always play on repeat.
Hello, Strange Dream is their 4th EP with five songs. After listening to this record, I officially became a fan of CIX. They have perfect vocals, captivating music, and their vibe is right up my alley. I’ll find time to check out their full discography and learn more about the members. I enjoyed all five songs on this new album, but if I were to pick just one to have on replay for days, it would be “Stairway To Heaven”.
That’s is all for this week’s catching up with recent comebacks; see you all in my next post💕💕💕.
Back to the grind with the second set of my “catching up” compilation –
HyunA – “I’m Not Cool”
This song is the title track of HyunA’s 7th mini-album – I’m Not Cool. She looks stunning in this video. I love her makeup and the vibrant colours for the music video; I can tell they spent money!!! The choreography is quite quirky but still hits hard. As for the song, it’s catchy but not precisely my vibe. In this case, I don’t even mind the heavy EDM elements, but my issue is that the verses lack enough substance while the chorus is a bop. Hence the entire song isn’t hitting the right spot. Maybe “I’m Not Cool” might grow on me much later; who knows?
Overall this is a solid mini-album from HyunA. The title track did get better for me with each new listen, but I still prefer the B-sides. My ranking for the songs in this EP is as follows – “Party, Feel, Love” – “FLOWER SHOWER” – “Show Window” – “GOOD GIRL” & “I’m Not Cool”. I think this record deserves a rating of 9.5/10.
KYUHYUN – “Moving On”
You all know I love ballads, so this song is right up my alley. KYUHYUN has such a powerful and emotional voice, so he delivered “Moving On” so beautifully. The actors also did well with showcasing the sentiments of their roles. From the lyrics, I can tell this is a breakup song, but the video also makes me feel like the boyfriend passed on??? I’m not sure, but I love this song all the same. It’s for sure going on my playlist.
U-KNOW – “Eeny Meeny”
The beat for this song is a groove + the chorus is super catchy. U-KNOW is serving smooth vocals, and the choreography is perfect considering the tempo. I also love the music video’s visuals. I was hoping that Seulgi would sing, but I enjoyed her cameo; she looks beautiful. “Eeny Meeny” is a bop that I will be replaying for a long time.
Yang Da Il – “Hurt”
This song is the title track for Yang Da Il’s 2nd full-length album – our joys and sadness. “Hurt” is a solemn ballad, and I love the music video. The actors did such a fantastic job conveying the emotions of this song. Yang Da Il’s vocal delivery is impeccable; his voice pierces the soul.
“Sometimes”
“Sometimes” is a pre-release single for the album and an equally beautiful ballad. I’ve noticed that most Korean ballads tend to be about breakups, but I don’t mind since they’re always so relaxing. This song has a very chill instrumental; hence Yang Da Il’s vocal delivery is more soothing and not too power-driven like in “Hurt”.
“Darling”
Another pre-release, and I remember listening to this one when it dropped. It’s such a touching song and has an entirely different storyline from the previous two. “Darling” is about an older man reminiscing the time spent with his now-deceased partner. I love this song, and the visuals for the music video are so peaceful. Of course, Yang Da Il’s lovely vocals are what truly drive home the sentiments of this beautiful piece.
“Understand”
“Understand” is a digital single from the earlier months of 2020. I love the moody colouring for this music video and how the video events occur in the background as Yang Da Il sings his heart out. He sounds incredible on this song, the vocal runs on this one are pure bliss. The actors for his videos are always so good, and yes, I am living for this serene energy.
“My Love”
Another song that was released earlier, but this one is from 2019. By now, if you’re not already familiar with Yang Da Il, you would have realized that he is a core ballad singer. Therefore our joys and sadness is a full-on slow tempo album. “My Love” is not a breakup song but rather like an appreciation letter to that special someone who makes your world more beautiful each day. I love the aesthetics of this music video, the scenery for each scene is stunning.
This album is perfect in every shape and form and deserving of a 10/10 rating. Yang Da Il served vocals and emotions on all twelve tracks, + every single song had something distinctly beautiful that captivated me. I love a good ballad record because I could play it in the background on repeat while doing anything, and it puts me in the most peaceful space. So do I love our joys and sadness, YOU SURE BET I DO. There are also some good chill neo-soul tracks on this record, which means I get an excellent mix with this one.
Alright, that’s all for catching up with the recent comebacks. You all will probably see more of this type of post during the first half of this year because I’m busy with school and can’t react to everything immediately. Still, I’m doing my best to show up as often as possible, and I’m grateful for the support so far. 💕💕💕
This week had so many comebacks, but I couldn’t react to each artist immediately, so here is my usual ‘catching up’ compilation. In this post, I’ll share brief thoughts on each song, and when there’s an album involved, I’ll list out my favourite tracks.
IU – “Celebrity”
I believe this song is a pre-release single for IU’s upcoming album. First off, this music video’s visuals are stunning, and IU is gorgeous. I love all her outfits, and she sounds fantastic as always. The rhythm and melody for “Celebrity” are very catchy. I think this song encourages everyone not to give up no matter how rocky things get. Even if you start to lose yourself in the process, make a trackback, keep working hard and trust that you’re a star that will surely shine someday. That’s the message I got; hopefully, I’m partially correct. All the same, I love “Celebrity”, and I added it to my playlist already.
BOBBY – “U MAD”
This song is the title track from BOBBY’s 2nd album – Lucky Man. “U MAD” is an intense song, right up in your face! I enjoyed BOBBY’s flow, and the beat + the chorus section is LIT🔥. I like how they stripped out the instrumental during the second verse to let BOBBY bring more heat to his rap. The music video’s visuals are good, + the production on “U MAD” served excellence. From the lyrics, I know this one is for his haters, and I LOVE IT!
The one word for this album is LIT!!! Well deserving of a 10/10 rating because BOBBY served bops back to back. I enjoyed the in-your-face vibes, + the features from other IKON members were so good. Every song on this album is perfect; hence, I can’t exactly pick my favourites now.
DREAMCATCHER – “Odd Eye”
“Odd Eye” is the title track off DREAMCATCHER’s 6th mini-album – Dystopia: Road to Utopia. I love the music video’s distorted visuals and the EDM/Rock elements for the beat. The majority of songs I have heard from this group are heavily rock-influenced, but I appreciate how they still sound different on each track. Dami is a force to be reckoned with because her flow and presence are insane. Would I say “Odd Eye” is my favourite song from DREAMCATCHER? No, but it’s certainly a good vibe.
The album is good; it gave me some anime intro vibes but still followed the title track’s EDM/Rock style. My ultimate favourite song is “Poison Love”. My rating for this record is 8/10, which means it’s okay, but still not something I see myself replaying a lot.
NCT 127 – “First Love”
This song is NCT 127’s pre-release single for their upcoming Japanese album – LOVE HOLIC, which releases on February 17th. The main things I enjoyed on this track were their voices, harmonization, and how they layered the backing vocals; it gave off such a cool effect while listening. The beat is also fire, and overall the production is top-notch. I certainly see myself going back to replay “First Love” a lot, and I’m looking forward to the album.
How’re you all doing? I hope this week has been good, but if it hasn’t, no worries because you still got this. Hwaiting!!!🏃🏼♂️🏃🏼♀️.
As you can tell from the title of this post, my weekly song recommendations are back. First one for this year, and I’m super excited. I chose “Sorry” by 2F since it’s one of my favourite soundtracks from the currently airing Kdrama – Run On. Both the drama and this song have been such great comfort for me throughout this month of hectic preparations for school, so I have to share it with you all. For those who need to know more about 2F – I believe they are an extension of 4Men, a renowned first-generation R&B/soul group in South Korea. Since 4Men is no longer active, Shin Yong Jae and Kim Won Joo promote under a new name.
“Sorry” is a very relaxing ballad track with insanely beautiful vocalization from 2F. I live for whenever this soundtrack comes on in the drama because I know it will be a touching scene. Honestly, if you’re up for a fantastic slice of life series or want a break from the action, murder or revenge stories, Run On is the answer. It’s a chill, and heartwarming show without all the unwanted clichés + there are no love triangles or second leads to worry about, so go check it out on NETFLIX. Also, I hope you all enjoy listening to “Sorry” by 2F.
Hwasa and Jike Junyi are both effortless beauties and equally impressive singers. This post will showcase some of their recent photos and highlight a few of my favourite songs/performances.
(Please Note: none of these images are mine. I got them from official magazine websites and social media sites.)
First off is Hwasa for VOGUE Korea. I believe this is a photoshoot from last year, and she looks fierce in every shot –
Hwasa always stands out no matter what’s she doing. Her beauty and presence are very striking + she has a captivating and emotionally driven voice. Here are some of my favourite songs/performances from her–
Following up is Jike Junyi at the GQ 2020 MEN OF THE YEAR AWARD. She was glowing at this event. The outfit, hair and makeup was so on point –
Jike Junyi, also known as Summer, is a Chinese singer from the Yi Ethnic group.
The Yi or Nuosuo people are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam and Thailand that live primarily in mountainous areas. Jike Junyi is best known as the second runner-up of The Voice Of China Season 1. It wasn’t easy to find her music videos on YouTube, but I still listed some of my favourites –
This video ☝🏼 can only be viewed directly on YouTube, but try to check it out because it’s hands down my favourite performance from her.
On January 18th, Epik High returned with a new album titled Epik High is Here (Part 1). This record has ten songs, including the two title tracks – “Rosario ft. CL & ZICO” and “Based On A True Story ft. HEIZE”. I couldn’t skip reviewing this iconic hip-hop group, so let’s get right into it.
(Please note – this is a real-time review, meaning I am typing down my exact thoughts while listening to each song.)
Reaction to “Rosario” (Feat. CL, ZICO) Official MV –
They are back with their trademark vertical videos, and for some reason, I feel like I’m watching a 3D clip. Maybe this is due to the way they filmed this music video.
Okay, I am 0.26 seconds in, but I already know that this song is a certified BOP.
I love the slight Spanish influence, and DJ Tukutz’s acting is on point.
Trying to pay attention to both the lyrics and visuals at the same time is impossible. For my first listen, I’m going to focus on the visuals alone.
Wow, the beat for this song + that guitar in the background is exquisite.
Tablo is flowing as expected. I love how they amplified the bass during his second verse.
CL came into the mix smoothly. I love her raspy voice, and her outfit is giving QUEEN VIBES!!!
Kudos to whoever designed the set for each artist. It’s so detailed and stunning👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.
Of course, ZICO came in with the heat and that three-piece suit is doing him justice😎.
The production on this song is serving 100% quality, and I’m in LOVE.
The shots for this music video are insane. Did you see the way the camera moved during ZICO’s scene?
From what I’ve seen, I feel like this video has a deeper meaning. Hopefully, I can get the gist of this once I read the lyrics or else, I’ll watch an explanation video on YouTube later.
CL truly brings the right amount of sauce to the chorus section.
Now it’s Mithra’s turn to kill things. Oh, the beat got even nastier on his part, and I love his intensity.
This music video looked simple at first because of the vertical format but Nah!! This is some A+++++++++ direction and filming work.
I love the instrumental outro after Tablo says “moment of silence.”
After paying close attention to the lyrics, I feel they’re calling out people who rudely criticize every little thing celebrities do. These same individuals turn out to be hypocrites once something terrible happens to the same artist they once hated. They try to sympathize and act like they didn’t partake in what led to the demise. Just as Tablo mentioned in his verse, their actions are equal to murder.
I love the message. Inconsiderate people that call themselves ‘fans’ need to know their place. PERIOD!!!!
“Rosario” is a solid title track. Every person on this song came through and served.
Reaction to “Based On A True Story” (Feat. HEIZE) Official MV –
A slower track than “Rosario”, and once again, I am in awe of the music video. It’s visually pleasing to watch.
HEIZE sounds beautiful, and the pianist backing her is incredible. You all know how I love a good piano instrumental.
I am getting chills from the soothing harmony between the piano, violin and HEIZE’s vocals.
“Based On A True Story” serves pure bliss energy, and I am here for it.
I love how Tablo came in singing before switching into a slightly upbeat rap section.
Nah, at this point, Epik High is just disrespectful, but what did I expect? They are killing the production on these songs. Every aspect screams excellence, from the vocals to the rap sections, the beats, and most notably, the violin & piano sections on this track.
I think this music video’s filming style comes off quite personal, which makes sense considering this song’s title.
I keep getting goosebumps because the melody for this song is so beautiful.
The lyrics for “Based On A True Story” are sad, but I truly enjoyed every second. Big ups to Epik High and HEIZE👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.
Album Review:
Lesson Zero – Another soothing track from Epik High. The opening vocals are so serene, and the visuals for this video is beautiful. “Lesson Zero” is a befitting opening for this deep-felt and solid album. Yes, I said solid because I know Epik High doesn’t disappoint. Tablo stays spitting facts. This song holds some profound insights into the world and the systems that run us. I feel “Lesson Zero” is about tracing back to who we want to be rather than focusing on what society has set for us to become.
Rosario (Feat. CL, ZICO) – No need for too many words because this is my song!!!
Based On A True Story (Feat. HEIZE) – It still gives me chills, such a beautiful song.
Acceptance Speech (Feat. B.I) – Okay, Mithra Jin started this song right off the first second, + the beat came in hard. It’s nice to hear B.I’s voice after so long. He nailed the chorus section, making me reminisce the “Born Hater” era. Yet another song with deep-felt lyrics. When you’ve met a lot of fake people in life, you begin to build up walls and, in turn, become immune to anyone that tries to mess with you again. The sad aspect is that these fake friends tend to feel entitled as if you owe them something.
Leica (Feat. Kim Sawol) – Quite an intriguing keyboard entry for this song. Tablo is riding the beat so well, and his flow is sick. The melody for the instrumental is very catchy. I think this is my first time hearing anything from Kim Sawol, and she has such a calm vocal tone. I need to check out more songs from her. “Leica” has a groovy beat; it makes me want to body-roll. Nah, this was too short. I needed more time with such a fantastic track. From the lyrics I read on genius.com, I think this song is about living in the moment rather than being consumed with storing everything in a photobook or taking countless pictures on a camera.
In Self-defense (Feat. Woo, Nucksal, CHANGMO) – Ooo, this one is a hardcore rap zone, and I live for this type of energy. I love how Woo came into the mix, and his flow is impressive. All the features on this song are serving it hot. “In Self-defense” gives me cypher vibes because of how quickly they move from one rapper to the next. No time to waste on this beat, and this song is LIT🔥. I believe this song is hinting at the high level of competition in the music industry and how chaotic it can become + just showcasing that Epik High paved the way for many other rappers.
True Crime (Feat. Miso) – Open up your chest for another person’s entertainment🤨? Now that’s some toxic relationship, in my sincere opinion. I love Miso’s soft voice and how the EDM drop wasn’t too intense because the lyrics seem dark. After reading the English translation, I think my initial take was wrong. This song is about two people in love that are criticized continuously due to societal norms? So far, “True Crime” is my least favourite. I need more time to appreciate this song’s sound.
Social Distance 16 – Another track but very befitting for our current times with the constant lockdowns, social distancing, mask life, depression and uncertainties regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
End of the World (Feat. GSoul) – Alright, let’s talk about it because I’m confused. He was G.Soul, then it switched to Golden, and now he’s back to GSoul? Anyway, I love the guitar intro on this track, and GSoul’s amazing vocals stay constant no matter the stage name. This song is my kind of vibe, I love the instrumental, and the vocals + rap sections are groovy. Tablo’s flow on this one is sweet, and Mithra Jin went in on his verse. GSoul’s vocal runs are pure eargasm, and I could listen to this man sing all day. “End of the World” is that song!!!
Wish You Were – Okay, this is an outro; hence I don’t mind that it’s only 1 minute and 33 seconds long. We got some smooth vocals, a groovy beat, Haru’s sweet voice and honest lyrics. “Wish You Were” served its purpose as the perfect closing to this fantastic album.
Final Thoughts:
I had to take my time on this review because when Epik High releases anything, they serve vibes and give free life lessons. I am delighted to have them back, and I hope everyone enjoyed reading this post. There’s no need for me to comment more at this point. Epik High is Here (Part 1) is an album that speaks for itself as a complete MASTERPIECE. Hence it gets a bulletproof 10/10 from me.
Yesterday, Jamie returned with a new single titled “Apollo 11” (Feat. Jay Park). This review marks my first time listening to anything from Jamie, but I’m excited to see what she has to offer.
Park Ji-min, popularly known as Jamie(formerly Jimin Park), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and television host born on July 5th, 1997. In 2011, she participated in K-pop Star S1 and emerged as the winner. She then got signed to JYP Entertainment and debuted as part of the duo act called 15&. Eventually 15& went on a hiatus, and Park Ji-min made her official solo debut with the single “Hopeless Love” in 2015. She is also currently a member of the project group – M.O.L.A. After her contract with JYP Entertainment expired in 2019, she signed with Warner Music Korea and changed her stage name to Jamie.
(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:
The visuals and lighting for the music video are stunning.
Jamie has a lovely vocal tone. Her voice is giving me strong R&B vibes, and I always enjoy listening to such artists.
Also, she is pretty.
“Apollo 11” is a smooth but quite groovy song.
I am living for that soft beat drop during the chorus.
From now on, I need to pay attention to Jamie. This track is such a solid R&B jam.
Ooo, I thought Jay Park was going to rap, but then he came in singing!!! I get butterflies whenever he sings.
This song is, for sure, going on my playlist.
I enjoyed the chill vibe + the vocals are beautiful.
Hence why “Apollo 11” by Jamie gets a 10/10 from me.
I am so happy that I have been getting good music back to back throughout this week.
