[Review] f(x) - Rum Pum Pum Pum

Vocals: 7 / 10

The vocal structure of f(x) really hasn’t changed since debut (aside from Amber getting a little more of the spotlight she deserves for her singing voice). Luna and Krystal carry the bulk of the vocals, with Victoria and Sulli taking transitions. Victoria definitely sounds better, and the intriguing use of repetition between Krystal and Luna (sometimes Sulli) had good synergy and was executed very well. It’s been a while since a title track has had something similar. The rest of the song is pretty basic, with some funky dips in the verses and chorus. Luna could’ve used more lines, perhaps at the end, but with the song structure the way it was, probably wouldn’t have affected much anyway.

Appearance: 7 / 10

In terms of appearance, Luna and Victoria are flawless per usual. I wish I could say that I liked Krystal’s hair, but that’s damn near impossible. Luna’s black hair isn’t quite as flattering as the “La Cha Ta” natural black, but it still looks good. Sulli’s hairstyle at her first solo shots (“Attention boys”) looked really nice, but the others were pretty sloppy and questionable (and not the good kind of questionable). The colour seems to suit her very well, though. Poor Amber.

Dance: 7 / 10

The final seconds of the dance bridge with the clapping in the background were pretty neat, but that’s all there is to say about the choreography. The dances of f(x) title tracks in particular have never really been too expressive or impressive (with the lone exception of “La Cha Ta”) amd I’m not sure that the signature move of this song (whatever it is precisely I cannot tell) will stick like “Danger”, “Electric Shock”, or “NU ABO”. The dance break itself is good, since members like Luna and Victoria need more opportunities to showcase their talents, but this wasn’t the right song for it.

Rap: 6 / 10

What I expected was the typical 5-6 second rap from Amber. I wasn’t expecting the Krystal and Sulli follow up. It was an interesting spin, but it wasn’t anything standout, which is the norm when it comes to f(x), Amber, and rapping. I question the use of rap in this song since it didn’t seem to fit together well (in contrast to “Electric Shock”, where a good rap would’ve been a welcome addition) but it wasn’t awful so it’s not the worst case scenario.

Music Video: 2 / 10

Yawn. f(x) wandering around various boxes? Check. f(x) staring longingly at various objects that make no sense? Check. Various outfits and fashion to f(x)’s standard? Check. Creepy coloured lenses? Check. Everything about the stereotypical f(x) video is there, which is precisely why this is so terrible. Hey they threw in something new randomly, with the rotating mirror shenanigans. But honestly that just reminds me of 4minute’s “Mirror Mirror” which while not the same concept, certainly strikes a familiar look. Alternatively, it’s just a sidetake of that stupid slow motion 360 that SM loves so much.

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Overall: 58 / 100

After a year since “Electric Shock”, I was hoping for better. Not only is this arguably one of the worst song titles for f(x), but it’s everything standard about f(x). Nothing unique, nothing special. The trailer had some high hopes, but as we’ve all learned the hard way, SM likes to keep trailers and teasers quite different from the actual video product. “Rum Pum Pum Pum” is the first title track from f(x) that I haven’t really enjoyed. Oh well, try again next time, f(x).

[Review] Goo Hyesun - It's You

Goo Hye Sun is known for being a jack of all trades. The actress has done just about everything: from directing and writing to composing and singing. After two months since her last self-composed single in “Flying Galaxy,” she’s back with “It’s You.”  

Right away, the song opens with Hye Sun’s bright and soothing vocals, which stays consistent throughout the whole song. There are no fancy ad libs and crazy high notes, which help make this sweet serenade all the more enjoyable. The lyrics talk about a man Hye Sun has quickly fallen for, and while the lyrics of the chorus seem overly repetitive at first, there is variety in the melody and after more listens it sounds relaxing and reflects longing in Hye Sun’s voice. The instrumentals for the song is simple, mainly consisting of guitar and other strings. It’s very complimentary, especially during the chorus where the background voices add some depth without taking away from Hye Sun’s vocals.

The MV is also very simplistic. Hye Sun spends the entirety of it relaxing at home, enjoying the time to play around with her cat (who is absolutely adorable, might I add) and the guitar which adds a nice aesthetic feel with the instrumentals. Hye Sun looks very comfortable and natural throughout, with bits of aegyo and affection towards the viewer and the cat. While the MV isn’t fancy, it is a welcome change of pace compared to the box room videos that idol groups (and even solo artists) have released for years. On a side note, is it just me or is that room relatively poorly lit?

Some people commented that they were surprised or didn’t know Hye Sun is signed under YG Entertainment (myself included), perhaps because she’s only released a few songs per year, coupled with the fact that not many actors or actresses release music (especially those under the big name labels). The song is so bright and lively that the main surprise is that it just sounds so out of place coming from YG’s Youtube. Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful ballad that is a perfect listen for a warm afternoon.
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Overall: 90 / 100

With a sweet serenade accompanied by a light instrumental and good music video, Goo Hye Sun earned her spot among some of the top idol ballads like Ailee’s “Evening Sky” or Juniel’s “Bad Man”. Cheers to you, Hye Sun. I hope there’s more in the future!

[Bonus] Kpop Free Agency: Soloists

We’ve all imagined idol group shuffling, where members get exchanged for some dream, interesting, or just downright wacky new groups. But what about solo artists? What if they had the choice to join groups? Would they go for something that they’re right at home with, or try something entirely different?
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Ailee

There’s no secret that Ailee wouldn’t mind being in a group. Ailee has stated in interviews that she gets lonely at times and thus would love being in a group. Ailee named 2NE1 as the “dream” group she would like to be in. While Ailee’s powerhouse vocals and fluency in English would certainly help out 2NE1′s foray into the US (and the thought of listening to her in songs like “I Am The Best” and “Falling In Love” are highly entertaining), there is another group more tailored to her skills. Imagine if you will, Hyorin and Ailee the powerful juggernaut vocals of Sistar’s music, with Dasom and Soyu providing supportive transitions with their lighter voices. Ailee’s addition into Sistar would not only improve the already excellent vocal quality of Sistar, but also bring some more diversity in terms of the rapping. Bora and Ailee can share parts, which will either bring more exposure to Bora or force Starship to give Bora some singing lines.

IU

While a little behind on the timing, IU’s maturity from (bubblegum) pop to more serious songs really strikes a tune with Girl’s Day’s transition to “Expectation” and “Female President.” Girl’s Day has always been one of the girl groups with better line distribution, so including IU in the mix will not leave her overshadowed or underrepresented at all. IU’s voice brings another layer to Girl’s Day’s vocals, with her higher register meshing well with Minah. IU’s distinct voice will also provide a blend from members like Sojin and Yura who have lower voices. The primary difference that would result from being in a group like Girl’s Day is the outfits in MVs which are more revealing in contrast to IU’s more conservative outfits. All in all, IU’s unique voice and charm could help bring Girl’s Day into the spotlight with the recent releases.

Lee Hi

When first brainstorming this topic, Ailee and Lee Hi were the first two that came to mind. Ailee easily found a home with Sistar, but for Lee Hi, something was different. Her rich voice certainly appeared to be a valuable asset and could appeal to any group, but when you look at her music, it is so very much “YG” that it was difficult to think of a complementing group. A group like Brown Eyed Girls would bring challenges for Lee Hi as she tackles different genres, but joining 15& would accentuate the distinct voices of the girls already in the group. Something not yet mentioned thus far is age, which Lee Hi not only fits in age-wise, but also by the age of their careers, both having debuted in October of 2012. This also was the more interesting choice since she’s going from YG to JYP, but Lee Hi’s proficiency in English enunciation will only help her with the plethora of English found in most JYP songs.
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This was just a few ideas amongst a multitude of solo artists. I didn’t mention more seasoned singers like BoA and Younha, while neglecting male solo artists like Huh Gak and Se7en entirely (although for the latter, that may the better choice). The world of group theory is a diverse and interesting one. Who are some solo artists you could see fitting into groups, and which groups are they?

[Review] Ailee - U&I

Vocals: 25 / 25

Honestly, anything less than a perfect score is really a disappointment coming from Ailee. She’s a native English speaker so the lines are perfectly pronounced, and the high level of energy in the vocals is maintained from start to finish (almost!). I also liked the use of layering her voice to add some thickness / richness so it comes off a little more powerful. Wasn’t the biggest fan of the trumpets at the beginning but with some more listens they kinda melt into the background thanks to the awesome chorus. In contrast to the opening of the song, I felt the ending was a little weak / lacking, but it’s just a small misstep of an otherwise powerful showing.

Music Video: 17 / 25

This music video is supposed to be dance-centric, and it is. At the very least, every couple of transitions is to a dance part, whether solo or with backup dancers. In and out of the dance, Ailee is showing off her charm and energy. I did not like some of the lighting choices at the beginning. Specifically, the dark grey made her look really pale / like some sort of vampire so I was relieving when the video switched to brighter scenes. The box sets aren’t anything special, and the one with all the bright flashy signs reminded me of Girls’ Generation’s “Paparazzi” but that’s just flavor if nothing else. Average music video is average.

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Overall: 85 / 100

The vocals far surpass what a number will have to say about the song. “U&I” is a strong comeback for a standout vocalist. Ailee continues to leave her mark with solid title tracks left and right. It’ll certainly be interesting to see if she’ll try a different genre for the future, just because we’ve become accustomed to what she’s released before.

[Review] Girl's Day - Female President

Vocals: 10 / 10

I love the high notes and energy that the chorus (I guess that is mainly a mixture of rapping and singing) provides. Unfortunately that’s really all there is to the vocals. Minah and Sojin doing excellent work, while Yura and Hyeri with support roles. Yura’s opening of the second verse is very good, too. Easily rivaling Sojin there. I’m going to have to rip a line off of AntiKpopFangirl in that the song “builds up but doesn’t quite reach a climax”. Oh and if the climax is the rapping, I rest my case (more on that later).

Appearance: 8 / 10

Okay. Here is what I liked about the looks: the pink outfits. Those were really nicely done, and even some of the other outfits (the blue ones notably) were really nice. However, that clear see-through-esque whatever-it-is that Yura had in her first solo appearance is…beyond words, and not in a good way. Sojin’s hair is iffy, it frames her face a little awkwardly, and unfortunately for me Hyeri has Jiyeon syndrome more than ever and it’s quite frightening, to be honest. Minah’s still got those killer eye smiles going and that’s a pleasant sight amongst the more mature image.

Dance: 4 / 10

A butt shaking dance? Really? This isn’t even a good butt shaking dance no less. The music video and angles were totally not awkward or casual at all. Leave the butt dances to KARA and Sistar, Girl’s Day, you need something different, something else. It’s just so…bad. Like with the rest of the song, it just seemed like everything was rushed so management said “Hey let’s just throw this dance on for kicks”.

Rap: 3 / 10

Ugh. I thought the rapping in “Expectation” was mediocre. This is…awful. It’s high pitched and all, kinda energetic but overall I wasn’t the biggest fan. The song could have been leaps and bounds better in my opinion if the rap was either shifted into Yura’s lower register or simply removed entirely. The high energy of the song would have done nicely by itself. But alas.

Music Video: 4 / 10

It’s a standard music video with the boxes, solos, and cars / cameras. God writing about stereotypical music videos is so freaking boring nowadays, what do I even do here. Just leave it barren, apparently.

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Overall: 58 / 100

“Expectation” really drew me into Girl’s Day, but I certainly expected better than this. It’s very powerful and the vocals support that, but the sequence of rapping thrown in and some of the chanting just seems awkward and out of place, and ultimately sounds rushed as a whole song.

[Review] Baek Ahyeon - A Good Boy

Vocals: 9 / 10

JYP finally found his own IU. That is certainly an accurate statement regarding Baek Ahyeon’s voice. While obviously not the same voice, they share the light and airy qualities while Ahyeon has some more power. Interestingly, she actually seems to struggle on some of the higher notes but at the same time it sounds very rounded like she isn’t. It’s very bizarre to say the least. The range of her voice fits this song rather well minus a few high notes during each chorus. Other than that there isn’t much left to say. She has a very pretty voice and might be limited in the genre versatility akin to Juniel. This was my first exposure to her though and she impressed.

Music Video: 8 / 10

First things first: I loved the transitions in this music video. They ranged from very cute and predictable to simplistic and pleasing to the eye. While something so simple as transitions isn’t too incredible, you have to keep in mind the standard of current music videos barely even have transitions to begin with, so one with nice transitions deserves more recognition. There’s choreography about as complex as any other soloist could do and mingling with the other gender in both the dance and non-dance scenes. It’s not really anything we can fault her for since most soloists happen to be vocals-oriented rather than dance or rapping (for obvious reasons / measure). Given she’s the first soloist out of JYP since Joo (where is she by the way) it’s nice to see her getting good music video quality from JYP. Woah wait, did this not have the JYP whisper? Mind. Shattered.

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Overall: 85 / 100

While the Korean title is rather silly, the rest of the song is not and definitely didn’t disappoint me for my first listen of Baek Ahyeon. A girl who has eye smiles in league with Girl’s Day’s Minah or f(x)’s Sulli along with a very pretty voice in league with IU or Juniel can certainly stand out and that’s precisely what she did. Accompanied by an airy soft instrumental and a colourful music video, this was one of the happier releases of 2013 and in season.

[Bonus] Best Of Collabs: Part II

Kyuhyun & Tiffany - Rise And Shine

One of many gems on the “To The Beautiful You” OST list, Kyuhyun and Tiffany have great complimenting voices and they know it. The song is upbeat, happy, powerful, and the harmonization is glorious. From the bright beginning to the lighter bridge and the powerful notes at the end, it’s definitely one of the best on the tracklist. The thing I like the most about this song is that neither Kyuhyun or Tiffany appear to be “in control” during the parts where they sing together (not solo parts or harmonies). You can’t tell that one has more presence over the other and that’s precisely it.

Hyuna & Hyunseng - Troublemaker

Yeah, the music video was all sorts of awk and bad, but Troublemaker is a ridiculously catchy tune and the whistling snaps are quite the hook. Hyunseng’s voice was clear and excellent. The belt near the end was a little weak but just a minor slipup. Hyuna’s usually subpar rapping is somewhat bearable, and it’s short which left more time for her voice. Kinda weird for a duo song, since Hyuna was the one on the lower register while Hyunseng was on higher notes but whatever works for the two.

IU & Seulong - Nagging

We went from happy and bright to a sexy dance song, how about something lighter and cuter? That’s IU’s cup of tea, and Seulong joined her for “Nagging” which was everything I mentioned earlier. I didn’t think Seulong would be a very good fit to the song based on that alone, but he didn’t really need to be. His raspy lower voice was a good at supporting IU’s brighter higher range on the chorus. Also, live performances of this song were half awkward and half cute.

Tablo & Taeyang - Tomorrow

Tablo’s return, signing with YG, and collab piece with Taeyang brought quite the amount of hype, and justly so. Tablo’s rapping is brief and good. Room for improvement but it was his first album since coming back so I can’t blame him for anything. I typically can’t enjoy Taeyang’s higher voice but the range was more pleasant than usual and so brought good contrast to Tablo’s rapping. While the music video was rather boring the song itself delivers, which is the most important part.

[Review] Sistar - Give It To Me

Vocals: 10 / 10

Sistar really came back with an improved synchronized sound. Dasom and Soyou really stepped it up with the light high notes. Dasom’s English is a little strange sounding, as I heard “that’s what I mean” instead of “that’s all I need” but whatever. Hyorin is still flawless, belting at the end of choruses and the power notes at the song’s climax are amazing. It feels like a throwback to the sexy and classy “Alone” but with the upgraded vocals (albeit at the cost of a more boring main chorus). Honestly, give Bora some lines next time. She’s like the only big name group rapper that hasn’t had any singing time. I’m sure the girl can carry a tune. I imagine her voice akin to Yubin if anything, which is still decent.

Appearance: 9 / 10

Honestly, Bora and Hyorin are known for their bodies since the Sistar19 debut but I’ve always taken a liking to Soyou. Her eyes are beautiful and fierce. Dasom’s bangs are a fresh change of pace, but with some angles and the lighting it looks a little weird. The outfits are flashy, a step up from “Alone” but that’s what the song is as a whole, a step up from “Alone” so it’s fitting.

Dance: 7 / 10

Let’s be real. A Sistar choreography without butt emphasis? That’s new. Although let’s be real again, you couldn’t even tell when they were actually dancing because this music video was more obnoxious than T-Ara’s “I Go Crazy Because Of You” with the scene switching, so aside from the hip swaying at the chorus I couldn’t see anything. So for that, I’ll just give it a 7 for it being a standard dance that doesn’t go too far to get banned but is still sexy.

Rap: 7 / 10

I was rather disappointed with Bora’s rap this time around, in contrast to the popular opinion. I found the rap a little too slow for the beat / instrumental of the song, and was expecting something along the pace of the rapping in Nine Muses’ “Wild”. The enunciation at the end is also a little jumbled. I thought she ended the rap with a very out-of-place “la la la” until I looked up the lyrics / watched live performances. There was some missed potential here, and it’s a shame.

Music Video: 7 / 10

This is T-Ara’s “I Go Crazy Because Of You” music video on crack. Seriously these scene changes are no joke and happen every two seconds at best. What makes this particularly obnoxious is that the scenes will change to (a) group shots, (b) solo shots, (c) a shot of members who aren’t even singing. It’s just very jumbled together and there are essentially no transitions. Not to mention that the sets vary in brightness and colour, making this not easy on the eyes at all. What saves this MV is Shin Dong Yeop’s appearance at the end, very worth bumping this up to a 7. His “pervertedness” is oh so casual and the reactions on the girls’ faces are priceless (especially Bora with the glitter).

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Overall: 80 / 100

Even though the chorus is hyper-repetitive and uninteresting, the rest of the song is well executed by the voices of the members, and Bora’s rap serves as a decent transition to the whispering bridge before Hyorin’s power note. Collectively the vocals are very good and the dance is good enough (for what little we could see of it, at least). The music video is too flashy and jumpy, I’d much rather have a calmer box video like with “Alone” than the mess this was.

[Review] Henry - Trap (feat. Taemin & Kyuhyun)

Vocals: 22 / 25

Henry has always been a good singer, absolutely. His voice is perfect for the dance pop / pop rock sound that “his” music has emphasized and been structured around. Even in some ballads his voice is a good fit. This is no exception, and it deserves the good score it has here. The only reason it’s not perfect is because of the belts (more because of the voice rather than the belts themselves) and lack of anything interesting, really. Taemin is actually a pretty good compliment to Henry’s voice, and while it wasn’t really picked up in that awful mess in “Maxstep”, this song did much better. Kyuhyun’s entrance was…strange. While he doesn’t sound bad per se, it’s definitely out of his comfort range due to the higher register, and it seemed like Henry would’ve taken that bridge much better.

Music Video: 18 / 25

I’ll admit that I was expecting something more than the standard off the teaser. Instead, it’s just the empty room with backup dancers (because this would be hella boring without them) and the piano prop. Henry gets points for playing said instrument and the choreography is pretty good. I’m sure choreography involving a handkerchief has been used before, but few and far in between. I guess in the more twisted way, this music video really does exemplify the title “Trap”, as Henry has been and still is stuck in the S.M. dungeons. I don’t think we got to see the girl’s face either. Stop copying that theme, it’s weird.

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Overall: 80 / 100

Henry’s vocals are solid and a good listen, but his voice is going to keep him locked into one genre whereas superstar soloists need to be versatile. The choreography is neat and all, but will certainly affect Henry’s live performances which were already shaky to begin with. Kyuhyun and Taemin’s appearances in both the vocals and music video aren’t overwhelming, but it’s still a dance box boring music video. All in all it’s a decent start, but I’m not entirely sure if there’s enough promise down the line.

[Review] EXO - Wolf

Let’s take a look at one of the more anticipated comebacks of early 2013. I will be taking into account both the Korean and Chinese audio, but will mainly be referring to the Korean version.
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Vocals: 10 / 10

Note: I don’t consider the whole chanting chorus as part of the vocals. The vocals start at around 1:15 in the video. For starters, there’s a lot of power and energy in the vocals and it’s pretty good carry work from D.O, Baekhyun, and Chen. Even in the Chinese variant, D.O and Baekhyun get a considerable bulk of the lines, which is really for the best since the rest of the group only has okay voices. High notes are everywhere and the main vocalists pull them off superbly. The bridge is also beautifully crafted, with Suho, Chanyeol (!), and Kris (!) bringing up the lower register, leading in the D.O and Chen peak. I’m glad to see Chen showoff his skills in Korean, because he’s incredible.

Appearance: 9 / 10

I was concerned, thinking some of the outfits / hairstyles would be reminiscent of “Mama”, but that didn’t happen. There are two errors: Kai and Chen. Kai should never do this again. Taeyang doesn’t even pull it off that well to be honest (and I don’t recall Changmin’s look), so Kai is only worse. Chen’s hair was a little weird. While mostly everyone’s hair was spiked, giving the sort of “wild” look, he had hair down or messily parted. Outfits were okay, and I see D.O borrowed Siwon’s hat from “Perfection”.

Dance: 5 / 10

With the likes of B.A.P, SHINee, and U-Kiss, this choreography was underwhelming. There are nice parts, like the tree, fluid movement / running and such, but the “wolf” actions look pretty goofy and the “claws” make them look more like cats then anything. At first look it seemed interesting, but now they just look silly. There was potential for this, but wasn’t executed well.

Rap: 2 / 10

To be honest, this should probably be a 1. I didn’t like any parts of this rap. Between the horrific pronunciation of “wolf”, the sloppy spikes, super nasal “saranghaeyo”, obnoxious wolf noises, this was awful on the ears. This is a different kind of bad than say a Minho or Yunho bad. I’m going to give a grace point that the soft rapping during the bridge didn’t murder the entire thing. EXO has some good talent in rapping with Chanyeol and Kris, but this was really really lackluster.

Music Video: 4 / 10

My first thoughts after looking at the teaser (aside from flinching at the rap) was that there was gonna be some form of a plot, complete with angry scenes and a girl and some skinship to top it all off. Now, because SM never labeled this music video as the dance version I am just going to assume it’s just that: a music video. So where is the plot? Something I did like about the music video though is the use of screentime. More specifically, it helped mask the subpar line distribution between members. Almost everyone gets a flash of the camera across the rapping and chanting. There are some instances where one member lipsyncs another member’s vocals and it’s pretty obvious and a weird decision.

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Overall: 60 / 100

While “Wolf” isn’t the mashup clusterfuck akin to “I Got A Boy” and “Why So Serious”, it is still yet a rather disappointing release from the SM supergiant. Thankfully, it also follows the recent SM trend of “bad title tracks”, as the rest of the songs on the album look promising (mainly Baby Don’t Cry), but I felt that as far as a powerful comeback was concerned, EXO fell quite short with their fangs.

[Review] 2PM - Come Back When You Hear This Song

Vocals: 8 / 10

I’m very impressed. For a song that didn’t offer too much variety or have interesting happenings, 2PM sound really synchronized for the first time in a long time. It’s surprising, since essentially all the vocalists are in the relative range of the others, you’d expect more songs to have a similar synchronous sound like U-Kiss, but the last song that I felt this sort of harmony dates back to “Again & Again” when Jaebeom was still part of the group. I wanted more of Junsu (I refuse to call him Minjun or Jun.K or whatever name he uses now) but still pretty good.

Appearance: 8 / 10

Junsu looks awesome and Junho looks awesome. They’re easily the best looking members of 2PM. Wooyoung and Nichkhun can look good too but these hairstyles don’t really do them any justice. Chansung and Taecyeon will never look good without short hair. That’s basically a fact. Everyone’s got fairly standard outfits so nothing is too obnoxious, and nothing obnoxious is a godsend from those horrid outfits of “I’ll Be Back”…

Dance: 6 / 10

For the first time in basically forever, I felt that this dance simply didn’t match the song or instrumentals at all. It just seemed weird watching the dance with the vocals. Maybe it was partly from the awkward movements, or the seemingly random individual headbanging / rocking, but everything about this choreography just didn’t seem right. Ehh, I didn’t want something as energetic or crazy as “Hands Up”, and certainly not something as stupid as “I’ll Be Back”, but something was just off about the dance, and it makes it weird to watch.

Rap: 6 / 10

This was one of the forgettable moments for Taecyeon. His voice is too high for it to be enjoyable in any means, JYP should utilize his lower register more. Oh well. The super serious words at the end “I’m sorry, and I love you” were not only random but out of place, too. The rest of the rap is fast paced and building but the spoken words just cut through any momentum. Standard Taecyeon is standard. At the very least, he was the only one rapping this time.

Music Video: 9 / 10

I enjoyed this music video. The use of the seven deadly sins did a good job of painting the overall picture of the MV / story, even though I didn’t even notice “pride” at the beginning on the necklace and thought the video was gonna get racywith Chansung and “lust”. It was neat to see the sins intertwined with the members and them being active in “fixing the past” per se. Speaking of lust, what about that one girl sharing six guys hmm? Oh well. Cute and ordinary sets, and the solo shots were actually directly linked to the other scenes which I liked. It’s a good MV fitting the song (read: not the dance).

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Overall: 74 / 100

Holy crap, 2013 is turning into the year of incredibly long (English) song titles… “Gone Not Around Any Longer”, “Come Back When You Hear This Song”, “The Reason We Broke Up”, etc. and don’t forget the other 2PM title track “All Day I Think Of You”, a song that got abbreviated for Youtube. All in all it’s a good song but lacks that sort of edge other big comeback names have like “Venus” or “Keep Your Head Down”. It’s good work by JYP / 2PM but I think something bigger could have been possible.

[Review] Younha - The Reason We Broke Up

Vocals: 25 / 25

Younha struts her stuff or rather her voice quite well in this song. She goes from sounding light, to powerful with fluid transitions all around, while bringing plenty of emotion into the mix. Furthermore, the instrumentals are excellent at complimenting her voice, filling in the empty spaces throughout the song without being too excessive, and the restriction to acoustic and some strings was a really nice touch. With “The Reason We Broke Up”, you have a variety of sounds all tied together nicely, and the two ad lib sections are delightful. Honestly, not many of Younha’s songs would get less than perfect (“123” is a rare example) so this is no exception. The ending is a little fuzzy but easily forgotten.

Music Video: 23 / 25

I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t find the dancing throughout the video very interesting, or fitting. But after a few more watches and I started to see the artistry in it. The MV starts off practically frozen, with Younha and the ex-boyfriend but as things continue on, the people provide graceful movement and act as visual transitions. The movie theater scene especially. It’s also a welcome addition because generally speaking Younha videos are about love and relationships, meaning she’s nearly always seen in music videos looking upset (understandably so). With something else to look at, it adds another flavor to the MV. Also, all of Younha’s solo shots involve blurred out backup actors playing the supporting instruments which I loved. On an end note, Younha’s hairstyle (you know which one I’m referring to) is sexy. Jussayin’.

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Overall: 96 / 100

“The Reason We Broke Up” is another incredible addition to Younha’s repertoire. Mirroring the score of the fantastic “Run” over half a year ago, it’s the second song to achieve this high a score from my reviews and rightfully so. The emotion and vocal showing is flawless and the music video is just as complimentary as the instrumental track. It’s a perfect ballad piece which provides a familiar piece on the new EP.

[Review] SHINee - Why So Serious

Vocals: 4 / 10

I did not want to listen to this song twice. One listen was enough and I really didn’t want to, but since it has been a while I gave it another chance (I regretted said decision almost instantaneously). It’s similar to both Super Junior M’s “Break Down” and Soshi’s “I Got A Boy” in both structure and sound, which are not good comparison songs to be used. The awkward jumps between three or four different mini songs was terrible and none of the individual “pieces” of the whole song sound good to begin with, unlike with “I Got A Boy” which had at least individual pieces that sounded good but didn’t mesh together. I considered talking a bit on how some parts would’ve sounded incredible if Jonghyun was here, or how Taemin stepped up big time but it’s not even worth it, everything is just bad, simply put.

Appearance: 8 / 10

Onew and Minho look good, per usual. Key’s hair doesn’t suit him at all, or to be more accurate that colour hair doesn’t suit many people at all, so it’s not really his fault. Taemin’s hair could also be scrapped. He easily looked the best in “Disturbance”, with a simple and clean look. I miss Jonghyun.

Dance: 9 / 10

I guess if the vocals and song of SHINee will disappoint then I can look to the choreography. There’s all sorts of fancy things going on here from the zombie dancing to splits and other various intricacy. It’s pretty neat and all definitely but something many people mentioned that is without a fifth person, the choreography lacks of a center point, the main person of interest per se, the glue holding everything together. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Jonghyun but there is something missing and it’s definitely evident. Regardless though it’s a super cool dance.

Rap: 4 / 10

Key is a better rapper than Minho, Minho is a better rapper than Taemin, and all three of them were downright terrible for this song. It’s just all sorts of bad, with the bizarre high pitch changes and all that random jumble akin to some of the verses. If it makes me cringe while merely typing about it, it’s ten times as worse to listen to so I’m stopping here.

Music Video: 3 / 10

I’ve noticed my music video ratings have become more harsh with a steep decline. This is probably due to me getting very quickly tired of generic boring music videos. Five boys I mean four boys going after one girl, nothing new. Everyone dancing in empty rooms with fancy designs and such, nothing new. Some incoherent form of a “plot”, nothing new. I don’t even think we get to see the girl’s face this time, in comparison to “Replay” or “Sherlock”. But I guess this is following the so-called trend starting from “Dream Girl”. One of these days / songs S.M. will make a good music video, but this was certainly not the song.

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Overall: 56 / 100

OK, so Jonghyun got into an accident. OK, so S.M. was gonna have SHINee return as four. OK, that’s understandable given the money making machine S.M. is, but I would have appreciated if this song was enjoyable in the slightest, which it isn’t. The song is a mixture of three smaller songs and none of them are enjoyable, and the rapping makes things even more atrocious. Ultimately, this song ends up being flashy choreography of which if I want to watch, I’ll just load the video then mute it, because unfortunately, it really is that bad.

[Review] 4minute - What's Your Name

Today marks the start of finals week for me, so in spirit, we’re gonna have to review some recent things that make me upset or bother me. Let’s get into it. They’ll be a little short and sloppy, but in reality it reflects ultimately on how I feel about the song(s).

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Vocals: 5 / 10

4minute is considered a mediocre group in terms of vocals, but only because Gayoon and Jiyoon are so underrated and underappreciated in their music. Gayoon (had) a unique sound with incredible power and high notes while Jiyoon brings sustainability and can also reach high. That said, everyone else is average, but this song and setup didn’t do anyone justice. I’d say the chorus was the “best” part, but even then it’s just repetitive and sounds a bit awkward. Additionally, no one in 4minute is really that great at English (even though Hyuna’s antics with G.NA were pretty hilarious) so “What’s your name” tends to sound like “Watch your name”, which is, for a lack of a better word, bad. I chose not to add anything rap related because Hyuna is terrible at it.

Appearance: 8 / 10

Gayoon is easily the best looking for this release. Out of the teasers, the only one with any mesmerizing qualities was hers. The hair is absolutely fabulous. Jiyoon really needs to grow her hair back out. I think it would fit this concept more, and make her look more badass and confident all around. That, and she looks too much like Sohyun and if not for her standout voice I probably couldn’t differentiate the two. Hyuna and Jihyun are worth a mention I guess, but not anything good.

Dance: 6 / 10

There was a dance to this song? Oh yeah I guess you can call all the hip movement and whatever else there was choreography. 4minute has never really been a dance heavy group; the only dances I really recognize are Hyuna’s “Change” (her best solo work-ish) and “Hot Issue” (thanks Jihyo). I really tried to watch this video as least as possible (you’ll see why come MV section) but even through a few looks, nothing ever stood out of the dance to me. I don’t tend to mark dances lower than 5, unless they’re really really really bad or laughable but hey it saves 4minute here.

Music Video: 5 / 10

I’ll admit that I didn’t notice the scenery similarity to “I Got A Boy” until I read comments about it, but even then that isn’t what upsets me about the music video. You guessed it, it’s the zombies. Pray tell, what was the point of the zombie apocalypse intermission? I have many gripes about this issue. It seems like just a completely random copout to save some box dancing time and some extra solo shots. There was no real contribution to the plot and in fact took away from that: flirting turns to fleeing. Then there’s the issue of what the hell were they doing after the zombie apocalypse was announced? They “escaped” into more zombies and eventually just come to terms with it and…start dancing with the zombies. I didn’t see any visual evidence of the girls having turned into zombies so I’m still lost (or blind, maybe both). I will give the girls props for being active at the beginning, hanging out with a bunch of men and flirting around. But that’s the best I can say.

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Overall: 58 / 100

When you look at this group at a glance, the girls seem really lackluster. Vocal talent is hidden amongst the group, line distribution is horrific, choreographies aren’t that interesting and faux rapping leaves much to be desired. Sometimes I think if it wasn’t for Hyuna’s solo endeavors (and their agency) they’d just become a nobody, and I find that a huge shame with the incredible vocal talent of 2YOON and the quirky personalities the group has. If they could bring back just one release that went along the sounds of “I My Me Mine”, I’d be content and then probably stop following, since release after release I’ve been consistently disappointed by Cube.

[Review] Jay Park - Joah

Vocals: 20 / 25

I’ll be honest with you here. I never liked Jay’s voice. I found it higher in range, less flexible than most, and usually tend to gravitate more towards his rapping than singing. I considered Taeyang from Big Bang a better vocal substitute for pretty much all of his solo work. The only instances I’ve enjoyed his vocals were when he was just starting out solo (“Nothing On You”) or when he was being carried by Junsu (“Again & Again”). With this, however, I am pleasantly surprised. Excluding the short spread of falsettos which I will pretend didn’t happen, this is a good showing by him throughout the verses and chorus. However, those falsettos were really unsettling and also unnecessary and so bring this score down a significant amount.

Music Video: 25 / 25

As far as artful goes, this music video brings it all. Creativity, colour, realism, and simplicity combine all together for a fresh music video. Everything is filmed outside (or at the very least not in an obvious decorated box) where the scenery is nice and gives you room to breathe. The clothes Jay has are pretty average, adding a sense of connectivity (that’s a word right?) or familiarity with viewers and fans alike. Walking around, being with the girl of interest, hanging out with people, are all elements modern music videos lack. Even the ones that are filmed outside usually don’t have this level of flavour (Big Bang’s “Bad Boy” for example). I don’t really care about production, this type of music video will look better than any enclosed room other entertainment companies can conjure. Oh yeah, and the girl is super cute, too.

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Overall: 90 / 100

A bright message, coupled with light vocals and a fantastic music video make this one of my favourite Jay Park songs. I wasn’t too moved by really anything he had released since his departure from 2PM but this turns things around. I hope Jay will release music similar to this in the future, because it seems like it’s very well received thus far.

[Review] Juniel - Pretty Boy

Vocals: 24 / 25

Juniel is not straying out of her comfort zone, and with her voice there’s truly no reason to. Everything from start to finish is lively and sweet, perfectly accompanying the meaning of the song. While it’s only been a year since her debut, she’s really proven herself early and shown that this genre of music is her strongpoint. I haven’t checked the performance lyrics (Music Bank, etc.) but the pronunciation of “Hello” in the bridges sounds more like “Hallo” and is pretty weird so I’ll take off a point for that. I really wish there were some more ad libs but I’ll manage without them. Very cute, and very lovely all around.

Music Video: 23 / 25

The immediate issue I have with this music video is the use of the guitar. While it was a really nice “prop” (use that word loosely, given Juniel plays it) in past videos, it definitely sounded out of place and looked a little out of place, too, given that most of the instrumentals is electric guitar riffs, at least from what I could tell. So yeah she’s playing the guitar and definitely knows how, it just doesn’t fit right with the music video or me. Another note, is the (creeper) fellow at the end the same one in IU’s “Good Day”? He seems vaguely familiar out of the creepiness factor. Otherwise, a good music video. As opposed to the darker emotional sounds of “Bad Man”, Juniel’s pursuing an interest so she’s in the outside world, transitioning from home (cute teddy bear) to the streets to a local cafe. There are secluded rooms for the “dance” but they don’t have too much screen time and a few instances have plenty of people interacting in the background, not just backup dancers. A very bright and energetic video, coupled with a tint of humor at the end, too.

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Overall: 94 / 100

I really like this song! Juniel is incredible with her vocal talents and her company knows how to utilize it extremely well. It’s cute, but without excessive aegyo. There’s empty room sets, but plenty of camera out in the open. This score is maybe the highest I’ve ever given a review, so kudos and congrats to Juniel for excellent work.

[Review] Psy - Gentleman

Vocals: 3 / 10

What very little portion of singing in this song was horribly murdered by excessive autotune and the buzzing background. Some songs can make tolerating autotune bearable (T-Ara’s “I Go Crazy Because Of You” for example) but this did not come close to achieving that. After a handful of listens it becomes more bearable but ugh I felt bad for my ears when first listening to this song.

Appearance: 8 / 10

It’s Psy. He’s not extremely handsome, he’s not extremely ripped, but he’s goofy and carefree and dressed like a gentleman. Not much else to say other than that. Everyone who made cameos get props: Gain, Jaesuk, HaHa, etc. etc. So many people were in this just like “Gangnam Style” so that’s always cool.

Dance: 8 / 10

I dunno about the general consensus but I thought it was a pretty cute / smart idea to incorporate the “Abracadabra” dance into this one. It wasn’t a complete copy, Psy added some funny new editions to it, and it also helps bring Gain and Brown Eyed Girls into some of the spotlight, in a similar but more impressive way than what was done with Hyuna in “Gangnam Style”. That being said, it’s certainly not a standout choreography but it’s still funny and has energy to match the song.

Rap: 8 / 10

Like with the vocals, I found that there was way way way too much autotune and buzz cluttering up what could have been a more decent sounding song with energetic Psy spitting lines everywhere, calling himself a “mother father gentleman”. The pronunciation could have been a little better or maybe it just sounds a little funny to my ears. But yeah, akin to “Right Now” and “Gangnam Style” it’s not that much different. However, the bridge was pretty uh…ineffective and also pretty awkward. Those are not lines anyone would really wanna be repeating out in public.

Music Video: 8 / 10

Following the heels of “Gangnam Style”, “Gentleman” also delivers a wacky tacky music video. I wouldn’t put the two in the same category, as this one is a little more crude / dark, but it’s a solid MV nonetheless. Trolling women, acting like a “gentleman” throughout. Jaesuk’s return in that same yellow suit is questionable but I suppose nobody (by that I mean non-KPop / Running Man followers) would recognize him otherwise. HaHa and the Infinity Challenge members had decent cameos and some also participated in the trolling. Gain’s role as the successor of Hyuna did fine, and I especially liked where she trolled Psy in return with the chair. I recognized a few Running Man locations scattered throughout the video, and the continued use of flipping between obvious sets and the real world provided plenty of change of scenery.

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Overall: 70 / 100

There is a lot going for this song: funny hooks, a goofy music video, Gain for eye candy, etc. But there’s also a lot against it as well: obsessive autotune, annoying buzz, and a boring bridge. When it comes down to it, it’s nothing near the level of incredible that “Gangnam Style” achieved and more of a sidegrade / release than anything else, but you know what? I’m perfectly okay with that, considering I liked some of Psy’s music before the Gangnam phenomenon took over.

[Review] Younha - It's Not That

Vocals: 25 / 25

“It’s Not That” reminds me a lot of “Set Me Free” at first listen. It’s very light and delicate at the start, but suddenly, it explodes, bursting with energetic belts that of which impress anyone regardless of whether or not they know of Younha. Like past releases “Hero” and “Run”, it’s incredible how Younha sustains such high notes and power for such a period of time. And it’s truly beautiful. I thought the background voices / mumbles were really distracting but I couldn’t even discern what they were saying behind Younha’s emotional voice to begin with. Oh well, not too bad a damper. Younha continues to be just about perfect.

Music Video: 20 / 25

Out of courtesy and love and respect, I’ll give Younha 20 points here. There was so much potential for a colourful and expressive MV but we got something much more tame, even after the buildup to the explosion of vocals. Younha looks very pretty and the sets have good design but that’s the entirety of the ballad. Past ballads like “Please Take Care Of My Boyfriend” and “Broke Up Today” were just as emotional with supporting music videos so I was a little disappointed here. I wasn’t looking for anything breakout like the MV for “Run” but something with a little more “oomph” in it.

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Overall: 90 / 100

Another brilliant piece by Younha with emotional and explosive vocals from start to finish. I wish the music video could have been a little more artistic but even superstars like her need to slow it down every once in a while to rest up. The only thing really “unacceptable” about this song is the variation of titles it could have.

[Bonus] Best Of Collabs

I’m a huge fan of collaboration work. Whether it’s within the company, between companies, or even two members of the same group, collabs help bring out sides of singers you may not get to see as often (or at all) when they are part of the group. I tried to have most of these selections have considerate portions, as opposed to short clips by one person and then 80% by the other. So without further ado let’s talk about some of my favourites.

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Super Junior & Girls’ Generation - Seoul Song

If there was a better song to be used to advertise Seoul, I have yet to find it. Take some higher tier vocalists from SNSD and some higher tier vocalists from Super Junior and you have a delightful melody. The spotlight was surprisingly for Sunny and Donghae for each group, both of which sounded incredible with Sunny’s high notes and Donghae’s verses. This is the type of range I’d love to see more of Sunny, but I digress. The music video was artful and is of course, a necessity given this is to attract tourists, and the cute coupling of various members and additional touches (like Leeteuk helping Taeyeon, etc.) made the MV even more enjoyable.

GD&TOP & Park Bom - Oh Yeah

You can’t go talking about collaborations without this glorious party piece. The chorus by Bom is kinda repetitive, but bright and rich thanks to her vocals. Backed by G-Dragon and T.O.P rapping the verses, it’s just the perfect song to emphasize the rapping highlights with Bom’s vocals. The English scattered throughout the song like some kind of condiment for a recipe is also pronounced accurately, given YG has some of the best English speakers / pronounciation in the industry. The ending where GD&TOP took the chorus for a final spin was also pretty nice.

Zhang Liyin & Junsu - Timeless

One of my favourite and earlier ballads during my initial wave of exposure to Kpop, “Timeless” brings two distinct voices together with some more than impressive results. Junsu is incredibly talented but Zhang Liyin more than pulls her weight here, with some lovely high notes, belts, and harmonizations. The music video was also a masterpiece, utilizing the acting skills of buddies Han Geng and Siwon of Super Junior along with Lee Yeonhee. Truly a tearjerker, and the emotional vocals did well to support it (or vice versa).

Jongkook, HaHa & Gary - What I Want To Say To You

I have to rep my Running Man buddies here, this song from Jongkook’s 7th album is a happy mix of ballad, reggae, and hip hop and the three pull it off smoothly. I actually thought the order of transition from Jongkook to HaHa to Gary was really good. You can’t undersell any of their talents, whether it’s Jongkook’s high voice, HaHa’s antics, and Gary’s light paced rapping. If Gary had more similar presence to HaHa I think this would have been even more enjoyable, or maybe utilize his voice, which I consider pretty decent.

[Review] U-Kiss - Standing Still

Vocals: 10 / 10

While U-Kiss does not have crazy standout singers that you could group with the likes of Junsu, Jonghyun, or Changmin, what they do have is such a synchronized lineup with so much synergy it’s ridiculous. You could probably have everyone lipsync someone else’s lines and any newbies would probably get their heads so confused they’d spin out in misery. Seriously though, you could easily rotate Kiseop, Dongho, Kevin to the main verses and Hoon and Soohyun to the transitions and it’d still sound just as good as this current one. Awesome work by everyone.

Appearance: 8 / 10

Looking slick, U-Kiss. Hoon and Soohyun look the best probably. The “dirty” style for Hoon looks good and Soohyun strikes a resemblance to some other idol whose name escapes me at this moment. Kiseop’s the ulzzang, right? Sometimes I think Soohyun could rob him of the title. AJ always looks angry for some reason, poor guy. Not to mention his hair is not doing him any favors. And Dongho has some serious Heechul syndrome with those hairstyles. Please stay away from that as much as possible.

Dance: 8 / 10

For a music video that was so boring (more on that later) the dance wasn’t too too memorable. It’s flashy and all but also relatively hard to follow (though in part due to the seizure MV). What could have been a dance break at the heavy electronic intro or soft bridge but those were replaced with…U-Kiss walking together and a burning flower. Artistic flavour? Sure. Choreography potential? Not so much. Even then, the only interesting parts are the chorus since the verses are pretty tame. It’s a solid dance but isn’t gonna be one of the more memorable U-Kiss dances.

Rap: 7 / 10

I didn’t really like AJ’s part, with the awkward autotune harmony for half of it. The latter half was pretty nice I guess. Eli’s English is perfect (as expected), so it just leaves me wondering if whether or not using Dongho in place of AJ would have been better, but given it was AJ’s return it wouldn’t have been fair to neglect him so much. All in all a short but decent rap sequence for Eli and AJ.

Music Video: 5 / 10

Think “Dream Girl” by SHINee except more empty rooms, less vibrant colours, lack of funny camera effects, seizure inducing transitions and a girl with creepy contacts. Was there even any fire? Goodness the music video was so dull I can’t even bring myself to remember (or watch it again for that matter). I don’t even want to write anymore.

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Overall: 76 / 100

Similarily to Girl’s Day and “Expectation”, “Standing Still” impresses with quality vocals but leave everything else with a lot to be desired. The dance is pretty soft and nothing really jumps out at you, and while the music video might do that to your eyes painfully, everything else is boring, boring, boring. More or less a solid single all around but I hope one day we can see impressive and attention grabbing music videos as a norm instead of this stuff.