[Review] f(x) - Electric Shock (Revisited)

The problem with mobile Blogger is that it doesn't translate to when you post from a computer. There are differences font-wise, spacing, etc. that will irritate my OCD. As I'm back next Monday this will be the last post from Asia - and I can fix everything that was posted previously. Today, it will be another revisit to a review from my humble Tumblr beginnings in 2012. Here's a group we haven't seen or heard from in a long ass time.

• So S.M. finally decided to show Amber some love and gave her singing lines! What a pleasant surprise! Sulli and Victoria’s vocals continue to improve and refine, and Krystal’s is nothing short of fantastic.

Come to think of it, f(x) was really the first girl group to have their rapper do some singing in title track releases. Amber was originally recruited as a vocalist anyway but still they set the precedent way back then. Surprising that I give Krystal's voice a lot of love. I always had liked her voice more than her sister's, but not to that extent.

• Is it strange that I thought Luna’s “I’m in shock, electric shock” sounded better than Krystal’s, even though Krystal is the fluent English speaker?

No, it's not strange because Luna's English isn't bad. This was a case of underplaying Luna's language skills and overplaying Krystal's.

[Review] Black Pink - Ddu-du Ddu-du (Blitz)

Black Pink is lucky I'm only doing a Blitz, for their sake. I can't rip them too hard for this comeback knowing there's a word limit. First off the title of the song is poorly formatted and looks dumb. It rivals Cube's new girl group's name in terms of how awful it is on the eyes, I won't refer to it at all. This song itself is so mediocre I can't believe I got hyped over their return after an entire year. It's really just...the sequel to "As If It's Your Last" in how each member's lines act as independent sections and barely string together at all. We do get to hear Jisoo improve on her vocals and that's good. Opposite her, Rose continues to struggle and I'm convinced she'll simply end up as Bom's successor in the singing department with the constant straining. Jennie's return to rapping "saves" the song and like Lisa in  "AIIWYL" is the only good part - if this track makes it to my library it will be thanks to fierce Jennie. The chorus' beat is utterly wasted by the lack of energy or emotion in the choreography and it's almost insulting to think all that time waiting was for this weak of a dance. They are Black Pink and I'm happy for their current success with this song but I'm still pissed. They deserve better. Fuck YG.

Word Count: 232

[Review] Wonder Girls - Like This (Revisited)

Well, assuming I can format correctly via mobile here's an idea that I can write while on vacation - albeit sparingly, as to save that precious phone battery. Plus it can be a recurring post even after my trip. In this blog's younger days I wanted to review songs of years past every now and then. What this series will do is let me revisit these songs and writings, to not only see my opinions then, but also how they've held up over time (and be irked with how I used to write). Because of this weird combination, I'll figure out how to properly categorize them. As I'm on mobile, there won't be any links, videos, or pictures. I'll have to create and edit them in later. But they should pretty brief with commentary on excerpts from the original piece of writing. What better review to revisit than my very first song on the blog back in 2012: Wonder Girls' "Like This!"

• The variation in vocals of the Wonder Girls has always impressed me, just within the last couple of releases.

This was never something I truly focused on. Just things you notice coincidentally. But it does help prevent songs from sounding stale. Recently VIXX' "Scentist" did just that and I noted the change as a nice touch. Same here.

•  I would like to see some Yubin lines in the future, because I’m assuming she’s had some vocal training.

Man, 2012 me would have loved to see this timeline play out. I mean, not the whole Wonder Girls disbanding part, but the Yubin getting to sing in a couple releases. Sidenote: have you heard her solo debut yet? She sings the entire song without a rap break. Truly inspirational.

[Recap] 2018 January-April: Power Start

Honestly I forgot about this whole Recap business. Have a dingo channel video instead of a banner. I nearly considered scrapping it - or at least the first 2018 installment - because of being one month late but enough of giving up / being lazy. Funnily enough, last year's first Recap also got published in June because I got busy with school. So there's that coincidence. Anyway I'm also leaving next week for Taiwan and Hong Kong, and likely won't be able to write much outside of Blitz reviews via mobile. What I'll likely do is write shorter pieces and edit them with images when I get back in early July.

[Review] Katie - Remember (Blitz)

Getting a new YG release might as well be winning the lottery. Then to have the song be entirely in English, too? We must be in an alternate universe for today. I understand that Axis isn't under YG but this was still released on their main Youtube channel. Anyway, Katie Kim makes her debut nearly three years after winning Kpop Star 4. As someone who never watched an episode of this series, I had no idea what to expect. Yet another fluent English singer is added to the YG* ranks. Her voice definitely matches the smooth R&B style that many other YG singers have. The song also frames her voice and talents beautifully, at least for a first impression. It's a relaxing R&B number and Katie's English glides us through the journey. The problem with music videos for soloists that don't have a choreography is showcased here. "Remember" has a collection of wannabe-gangsters and Katie just hanging around, and outside of some strange special effects and Katie solo shots, there's nothing of value. I get that this is her debut but you'd think after waiting so long she'd have a video with a little more substance. Also she was born in 1993. This seems a little late to be "starting" your Kpop career (at least compared to her contemporaries) but what can you do when YG locks you in the dungeon for years without a single promotion. Honestly, good for her on escaping and finally making that debut.

Word Count: 248