[Misc] Thought Corner: SuperM and Supergroups

Not sure how I wanted to categorize this post since I'll be talking about SuperM and their upcoming debut but also expanding it to some group theory. Ah whatever there's always post-publish editing to utilize. Let's not talk about some other posts that should have been out for months by now...

[Review] Red Velvet - Umpah Umpah

Red Velvet is having another 2019 comeback before I've published the next iteration of Girl Group Power Rankings. They are getting on my case. But with Shine coming up this weekend (can't wait to immediately exit pools), I won't have the time or energy for a full post. So instead, we'll take a look at their latest project "Umpah Umpah." Besides reminding me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the title instills fear in me because...let's just say I don't speak of "Zimzalabim." Much like the song itself, I imagine this review to bounce all over the place.

[Misc] Thought Corner: China Trouble

If you've been living under a rock lately, you'll know there's some shit going down in Hong Kong. I'm not the person to best summarize the situation, but there are plenty of places for you to catch up. Basically there's a fuckton of protesting going on in Hong Kong, and as someone with Cantonese blood in my veins and plenty of family living there right now, it's pretty personal.

There's uproar all over the place, but in the Kpop sphere, many of the Chinese idols have been voicing their support with the mainland, and Hong Kong police. You can find plenty of this evidence on social media like Instagram, Weibo, etc. Lay, Victoria, Jackson, etc. Now, an average person jumps to conclusions and claims these guys are pro-China and all that jazz. While that might be (and in some cases probably?) true, it's not a blanket statement that could apply to every single idol that has posted about it. These are Chinese idols with a career and family, the Chinese government isn't exactly gonna let them off easily if they didn't say anything - or dared to support what's going on in Hong Kong.

So while I am definitely disappointed in some of these posts - Victoria especially - it's certainly not a good spot to be in for anyone. It's a fucked up situation through and through. There is always conflict in the world. Who knows how things will play out with this one. Have a nice Sunday.

[Misc] Live Laugh Love LOONA

That makes two consecutive fluff posts about Loona under the Miscellaneous tab haha. They are simply that good. Check out their cover of BTS' "Not Today," a grim reminder that LA's KCON will always be superior to their New York counterpart.

Though I must admit, I don't think this was as impressive a showing compared to their "Fire" or "Cherry Bomb" performances. Their movements did not look as sharp or synchronized, but maybe that's because of the choppy video? Having danced this choreography myself, and seeing others do so with, gives me more perspective to critique compared to their other two covers. Maybe they didn't have as much time to prepare for this special stage? That seems like oversight on the company's part however. Still, they did a good job and I was surprised to hear their vocals instead of simply doing a dance cover. Loona has plenty of stock going into their comeback.

[Review] Weki Meki - Tiki-Taka

I'm trying to give these lesser girl groups some love, ya feel? Two comebacks in three months will certainly help push me towards that agenda, so here's Weki Meki with another comeback with a tacky name. They've really yet to break out of their current tier and none of their releases have hooked me so we'll see if nth time is the charm for these girls.

[Review] 9MUSES - Lip 2 Lip (Revisited)

"Lip 2 Lip" was first reviewed three years ago. Let's see how time has handled one of 9MUSES' twilight pieces. I wanted to finish this yesterday as the original review was posted on August 7th but of course my lazy and procrastinating ass couldn't get it done in time, so here we are.

• For starters, "Lip 2 Lip" is a pretty standard dance track. The girls sing lightly but also with purpose, while the instrumental provides a bounce on their step. Hyemi and Kyungri take center stage, charming us with their voices from start to finish, but when has Kyungri ever been away from the spotlight? I'm pleased to see Hyemi get a fair share of the singing, because frankly she doesn't normally get these kinds of opportunities. In that vein though, I once again find myself lamenting the lines that Sojin was unable to acquire. Even though I didn't predict she'd have a rap, I still expected her to get some form of singing because we've seen her do it in releases past, even if only briefly.

"When has Kyungri ever been away from the spotlight?" Never. The answer is never. Once she was added to the group there was no turning back and she was the main girl from then until disbandment. Strangely, she was not like Hyuna who soaked up all the attention and love from media. Perhaps this was due to the larger group, or the way the talent was distributed among them. Either way, she enjoyed her status for sure. Had we known Sojin was about to make her way into the rapping department, this setup would've made much more sense at the time.

[Bonus] The Late Report: July 2019

Hm. Been busy with work, courses, and gaming but that doesn't make a week+ break acceptable. Welcome to the July edition of The Late Report. This is a grim reminder that I haven't been interested in too much new music lately, so here's hoping the beginning of the fall season brings some good stuff.

GFriend - Fever

There's not been much of note on the main front, but GFriend did drop something summery for us with "Fever." Immediately got TXT "Crown" vibes with the groovy instrumental and that isn't a bad thing. The dance itself isn't noteworthy as it lacks in comparison with their past choreographies. Eunha and Yuju continue to do the heavyweight vocal work, and SinB attempted to audition for Girl Group Rapper Power Rankings with her brief burst. Regarding the MV: why does Sowon need heels? The girl is a giant! Not a great song, but not a bad song either.