[Review] Ailee - I Will Show You

Vocals: 10 / 10

Was there ever any doubt? Even if you don’t follow Ailee’s escapades on Immortal Song 2 and don’t know of her talent, Ailee’s work in this song is amazing. Like everyone else, I was tricked into thinking this would be a slow, emotional ballad from the beginning. Pleasantly surprised by the breakout chorus, Ailee put out a dominating performance, consisting of high powerful belts, sorrowful notes, low husky lines, Ailee does a lot in this song. While I thought the bridge (which sounds mysteriously similar to “I Will Survive”) was out of place at first, I came to like it as a marker between the more confident Ailee in the prior choruses and the weaker and emotional Ailee in the final chorus. The transition from the second chorus to the start of the bridge could’ve been executed more smoothly, though. Everything is perfectly within range, the English is acceptable, and nothing is extraneous or unnecessary. 10점 만점에 10점!

Appearance: 10 / 10

Am I the only one who thinks that the only difference between the “ugly” Ailee and the “pretty” Ailee is that the former is just ridiculously cute in the pigtails and the latter is just downright attractive? Goodness G.O. You have no tastes. Ailee’s eyes are the highlight when she “transforms” shining bright blue and I was staring at her eyes with every close-up. Ailee’s hair is also flawless even in the more goofy styles (like the one particularly reminiscent of Dara).

Dance: 8 / 10

Choreography is never the focus of Ailee’s songs / music videos, but for what it is worth it’s simple and that’s enough to make me like it. Maybe in the future we’ll see some crazy choreography out of Ailee to show us that she’s indeed one of the best all around artists there is. Some of the sequences where there’d be one or two backup dancers standing still was weird. Usually I’d leave Ailee / whoever is the main stand in place while the others move around but hmm what do I know I’m not a choreographer.

Music Video: 8 / 10

This is a straightforward music video. See what I did there?! The setting looks good minus the rather creepy hospital-esque location at the beginning and bridge. All the people who previously ignored her (while she was so freaking adorable) suddenly drool over her asking for dates and marriage. Ailee initially rejects the now serious G.O. and talks about wanting better, described by the chorus but eventually seems to break down, showing the emotional rift and finally smiles after being hugged by G.O. (that lucky man). All in all it’s a good compliment. Extra credit to G.O. for some of the most stupidly forced and hilarious facial expressions I have ever seen in any music video ever.

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Overall: 90 / 100

This is a strong message backed by powerful vocals and a solid instrumental. Honestly, no one would ever recognize Ailee for the rookie that she is. But that is only by definition, and Ailee has proven time and time again she is no ordinary rookie solo amongst a sea of new groups.

[Review] Miss A - I Don't Need A Man

Vocals: 8 / 10

The lightheartedness of the song compliments Miss A’s voices well. The song doesn’t need to have standout belts or crazy falsettos, not that anyone in the group would be really capable of pulling those off, anyway. Suzy does good work on the chorus and slowly rising as a support vocalist. I do think the range is a little high for Min, Jia, and Fei but they make it sound nice, so i’sallgood. The use of the background “Hey!” “What!” and especially “Jinjja?” were really nice additions and executed perfectly. I want to bring attention to / praise the standout distribution of lines in this song. Miss A has consistently been excellent at balancing portions, never overexposing or overshadowing any one member. They are a prime example that other management labels could learn from for their small numbered groups: KARA, 4minute, SHINee, among others.

Appearance: 10 / 10

Absolutely no disappointments here. Everyone looks perfect regardless if they dressed as a woman or man. Min’s highlights look awesome and it’s a refreshing return to her debut look, while Suzy’s wavy hairstyle is breathtaking. Fei’s curly hair seems a little out of place compared to the rest of the group with straighter styles but it’s nice to see her continue to experiment with different styles. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I feel Jia could change it up every once in a while, it’s been too much straight hair and bangs from her. The “male” counterparts for each member were extremely legit, too. Fei looks absolutely badass with her hair like that and the stylish cap. Min…looks more or less the same, just in a shirt and tie, ha. Jia’s hair was kind of a mess but it’s characteristic of her plus she’s got dat cute puppy. Suzy’s finger mustache wins life, that is all. The outfits are cute and straightforward. The matching outfits for the dance sequences (the polka dot + shorts and black set) are the best in my opinion.

Dance: 8 / 10

The dance has a lot of leg movement. I say “a lot” not to sound disapproving but in explaining the main focus of the choreography being on the legs. The super furious hand waving indicating “I don’t need a man I don’t need a man” were fun, and the other instances of choreography involve the members just being loose around each other, independent of each other but as one full unit, enjoying the carefree lives that they live. Jia’s dance break isn’t really a break since it’s during the chorus and it was random at best but it’s a nice addition. In all honesty the music video doesn’t exactly highlight the dance too much so until a dance specific version is released I’ll leave it at that.

Rap: 9 / 10

Jia is probably one of the better rappers out there - or at least specifically under JYP. She can rap, sing, dance, and is pretty damn flexible, too. This rap is powerful yet smooth, perfect for the occasion. With Suzy hazing made her rap debut in “Touch”. Min hops in for the latter half of this song and does a nice job of it, the rap being more suited than the verses for her lower voice. Here’s hoping we will see Fei rapping in the next release.

Music Video: 8 / 10

I swear JYP has to find some way to shove his face into every music video he creates. Other than the intro sequence, this is a relatively standard music video. A lot of people have commented on how Miss A showed a lot of swag in this video, but I don’t think it’s so much swag as it is quirkiness. Jia’s facial expressions during her rap the perfect embodiment of being quirky. They are independent ladies and so they are free to do as they please, not worrying about relying on men’s money, or borrowing from their parents. This is their life that they have worked at and they will enjoy it! Yes, there are obvious pretty sets and empty rooms blah blah blah, but the MV gives a general sense of understanding from that and shows that the girls are recording on set and they even join together “off camera” to relax and hip hop their way around the cameras and staff. This is a nice feeling / vibe even if it ultimately leads to the girls walking into another set. My goodness did you guys see Suzy? This girl is practically oozing charisma and it’s incredible.

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Overall: 86 / 100

Seems like 2012 is the year of overestimated riffs, what I imagined would be quite irritating in the strings in EXO’s “What Is Love”, saxophone in Secret’s “Poison”, and the oriental instrumental here end up being very pleasant. Miss A really hasn’t disappointed ever since debut for me. Release after release, they continue to improve in skill and increase in popularity. From the fragile and emotional image in “Touch”, they’ve become strong women who don’t need no man! Gotta love the quirky tune the song brings, I just can’t sing it out loud!

[Review] Younha - Run

Departing from the classical structure of my music reviews, I have to write a little differently to talk about Younha. Younha has no fancy choreographies to show off, and hardly ever raps in her pop rock dominant style of music. So, the only viable options to talk about are her vocals and the music video, both of which I will rank out of 25.
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Vocals: 25 / 25

I have said this numerous times and I will say it numerous times more, Younha is hands down the best vocalist in South Korea. Yeah, she is under some serious competition with the rising powerhouses like Ailee and Hyorin but for the moment she remains #1 and will be there for some time. Younha miraculously blends enough power and proper emotion into anything she sings. Between quality control, high levels of energy, an innocent / cute sound, lower husky voice, beautiful falsettos, Younha can do it all. Having all these talents grants her incredible versatility in singing bubblegum pop in “1,2,3” to emotional ballads like “Broke Up Today” and powerful songs in “Hero”. “Run” in particular emphasizes her smooth vocals and happy / upbeat emotions, along with some brilliant falsettos. You can practically be swept away if you just close your eyes and follow the song. With the vocals and music video, it really flows well together, almost as if truly running. Needless to say, Younha does not disappoint.

Music Video: 23 / 25

This is a very straighforward and colourful (okay, it’s mainly black and white, but still) music video! The song is called “Run” and Younha is running! And looking good, while at it. Younha is one of the original short cut wearers, and while it’s a great / cute look for her, the long hair is far more flattering and more mature. Younha’s eyes shine brightly (a sort of radiant bright, different from the Tiffany moonshine eyes or Sulli’s eye smiles), especially at the beginning of the video. The various camera angles and effects were perhaps a little excessive (like the turbine part, what) but they did compliment and enhance the straightforward video. Throughout the crazy effects and flares, Younha is running for her life amongst flying debris, some creeper on a carriage, and a metal whale(?). How she managed to land on her feet after getting absolutely slammed by a large chair is beyond me. You mean she’s athletic, too? Man that’s practically not fair! All in all it’s a different type of video for a different type of song than what most Korean music is used to.

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Overall: 96 / 100

After what seemed to be an eternity, Younha returned with a spectacular album with standouts in “Run” and “Would We Have Changed”. “Run” is a refreshing ballad that will surely lighten your mood, and is a song which covers Younha’s struggles when she was under Lion Media.

[Review] Psy - Gangnam Style

Vocals: 7 / 10

Compared to “Right Now”, there is even less singing in this song. The verses are pretty much all rap and so is the very simple chorus, leaving the buildup to chorus and the infamous “Ayyyyyy sexy ladayy” segments as the only ones with vocals, and as such a similarly clean, short, sweet and to the point marking for Psy. Think of it this way, if Psy was a really talented singer it must just be a little unfair for everyone else in the competition!

Appearance: 8 / 10

Has Psy changed since the last time we saw him? No not really, at least not that I could distinguish any significant weight gain or loss from the get go, I knew I would / should be expecting more of the same, anyways. The song is about living life and as such, all the costumes are clean, simple, and nice, leaving another impression of being down to earth. I did not and could not even realize that Big Bang’s Daeseng and Seungri were hidden in the video, either. They are supposedly the two old men playing chess / board game together during the explosion scene. Highlights go to the young Hwang Minwoo (I think that is his name) and Yoo Jae Suk in a striking yellow. Hyuna, please get some eyebrows, thanks.

Dance: 10 / 10

How many celebrities around the world have tried to mimic this dance? That alone should tell you the scale of how big this dance is, mostly because it just looks so freaking stupid! What else is there to talk about? Go join a “Gangnam Style” flashmob and you will see for yourself (although admittedly most of the attempts in the United States has just left everyone dancing around like total idiots, technically the same result, but just a tad different). Little Minwoo’s dance is quite the killer as he shows off his skills and happy facial expressions, while the nation’s MC Yoo Jae Suk literally crushes Psy in a pseudo dance battle. The elevator scene will easily go down as one of the top moments in the video alongside the “Ayyyyy sexy laday” parts. Hyuna’s dance was uhh, strange? I guess one would feel good if they walked into a subway and an attractive girl with no eyebrows was doing a dance for you before breaking out into the horse riding dance.

Rap: 10 / 10

What makes Psy’s raps stand out is the quality, not necessarily the quantity, although there sure is quite the quantity. Psy provides the high level energy and even some power in certain lines which only heightens the appeal of the song. If you just include the faces Psy makes while rapping, it makes it all the more funny. In my opinion it would be worth having / seeing G-Dragon and or T.O.P. Come sing this song with Psy, with YG’s signature rappers, you know stuff will go down.

Music Video: 10 / 10

Just watch the damn video again, it’ll speak way more than what I can put into words. :3

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Overall: 90 / 100

While Psy’s song may currently be the entire world’s new love, one can only imagine the thoughts and plans behind that man’s brain as he prepares for his next album. Will it shock and disgust us? Or will it captivate us and cause us to love him all the more? Regardless of which action he takes, it’s clear Psy has been a significant marker in Korean music’s expansive history. In the meantime, keep on Gangnam stylin’.

[Review] Psy - Right Now (Throwback)

Vocals: 7 / 10

Psy isn’t exactly the greatest singer, but he can still carry a tune (one would hope so after having like ten year career). Even though this song doesn’t exemplify fantastic singing talent or anything, Psy does a nice job with the chorus and definitely can hit some of those upper notes in repitition. Since the chorus is the only part with vocals, I can’t drag out this segment much. As such, a clean score for Psy.

Appearance: 8 / 10

This man is not out there trying to fool anyone. He isn’t the most attractive and not the most built, but that gives him a much more friendly vibe without shooting eye smiles and acting all cutesy / aegyo. From the nerdy office worker look to the stylish party out in the middle of the streets look, Psy looks charismatic as always. As with other flashmob videos, the backup dancers / participants look and are in very typical settings and so do not look too extreme. Even Psy doesn’t change costumes until the crazy party begins to breakout. The pinkish white looks pretty fancy and contrary to popular belief so he doesn’t wear sunglasses all the time.

Dance: 9 / 10

There isn’t too much choreography, the most notable being the bridge / buildup to the final verse, and with reason. It’s a flashmob song which emphasizes letting loose everyone once in a while so there isn’t so much set choreography. Of all the dancing though, the fellows at the subway sure know how to impress and battle with each other across the lanes. During the bridge there’s a slow paced build that matches the song and even a nice little homage to Super Junior’s smash “Sorry Sorry”.

Rap: 10 / 10

Psy earns a perfect score here. No, it isn’t because he raps the fastest, no it isn’t because he raps with the best flow or rhyme schemes, his charisma is more than enough and he’s probably one of Korea’s most charismatic, ever. He may not be on G-Dragon’s level of charisma but he has the energy of a thousand suns and if you watch his live performances they are all just as ridiculous as the last.

Music Video: 10 / 10

The music video provides the setup and perfect mixture of dance sequences and crazy partying / hilarity. Like some other signature YG videos, there’s just so much to comment on. The calm buildup with office worker Psy dancing around like a moron amidst traffic. All the scenes where it’s just a few people but then hype builds out through the song and then it’s just one crazy party flashmob. Psy and his “ripped body”, etc. There is a Seo Woo version of the music video where she lipsyncs from her perspective instead and it’s a neat variation I suppose, if not for her awful lip syncing. Also did you see the blonde guy? He was in every scene. He’s a magician!

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Overall: 88 / 100

Before the global sensation of “Gangnam Style”, was “Right Now” and this song really drew me to Psy where I realized what a great personality / character he was. While it may not be the dropdown silly antics and hilarious choreography, it’s still a very well produced hype song perfect for flash mobs and parties. Performance wise, Psy was so into it that he ripped his pants once on stage. ‘Nuff said.

[Review] TVXQ - Catch Me

Vocals: 8 / 10

Only 15 seconds in, and Changmin is powering through some kickass belts already? I am going to like this song. Or so I thought, until I remembered the teaser was all sorts of high energy dubstep and so was tentatively waiting for the dubstep to kick in. And so the dubstep enters and I’m like “Okay, I could still dig this.” but then shortly after it returned to the original ballad theme. Couple minutes later and we get a rap to dance bridge akin to the dubstep and back to the chorus and one final hurrah with the wubwubwubs. The way the song presented itself was very confusing to me, and it would have been so much more appealing if the entirety of it was either dubstep or ballad, not some bizarre mixture of both. But there are major saving graces here. Yunho’s voice is actually a perfect compliment to this specific ballad style / tempo, which is great since I never found his voice that strong. Not much really needs to be said about Changmin, he holds a permanent slot on the top 10 male vocalists in all of Korea, hitting those high notes like it’s a walk in the park.

Appearance: 8 / 10

Not many male singers can pull off having lots of hair, and Yunho is no exception. Bring back the shorter hair, man! On another thought, maybe it’s not necessarily the length of the hair as it is the style, maybe I just don’t like it. Also, both members have one set where their hair kinda just drops down on their faces like mops which makes them look pretty silly. Changmin being a hero and saving the day though, looking good in the blonde. Somewhere along the lines of “incapable of looking bad”, someone scribbled “Max / Changmin” into the crevices. The backup dancers also don’t look quite as creepy as they did the last time around in “Keep Your Head Down”. Cut your hair, Yunho, and you’ll have a perfect score for your next comeback. Or something.

Dance: 7 / 10

To be honest, this dance really isn’t even that appealing. While it is great to see TVXQ depart to more of the duo style choreographies (not simply a mirrored or back and forth version of each other), It’s more or less a collection of straightforward movements / sequences with some powerful moves that are overexaggerated by flashy camera effects and lighting. The seemingly unnatural high amounts of repetition also did little to help this score. The choreography of the chorus is really good, but everything else after that is “ehh, it’s alright”. Additionally, the dance bridge was rather underwhelming compared to the rest of the song. The inconsistency of the song also affects the choreography, leaving slow fluid movements for the verses and chorus but powerful moves for the dubstep and bridge parts. They play together like a whole unit with their backup dancers, though, leaving no one behind. All in all it’s a good dance, and I’m sure I would’ve been more impressed had there not been any of the flashing lights / splashing water / slow motion camera pans.

Rap: 7 / 10

I am willing to give this rap said score for Changmin’s brilliant vocals and fierce expression. The bridge isn’t half bad with Yunho’s even paced raps that almost make me forget how bad he was in “Keep Your Head Down”. The “push and pull” between Yunho’s low rap and Changmin’s high power notes sound strong together. Furthermore, Yunho’s voice matches well with the song and dubstep portions, something I mentioned earlier. It’s a little repetitive but nothing too far on the negative aspect.

Music Video: 4 / 10

Not only are TVXQ still stuck inside interestingly designed rooms, but this time they only got one other new room to play with. I counted one other set that was significantly different than the others, of which were just the same room with some minor changes and different lighting. TVXQ’s rooms / sets for their solo shots don’t even count. The earlier ones are merely extensions of the main dark room and the later one is literally the same for both members. At least in “Keep Your Head Down”, they had unique ones and the MV for “Before U Go” was actually interesting. The one save I like is that the outfits are identical for Yunho, Changmin, and the backup dancers, making both members seem more incorporated with the dancers and vice versa. In “Keep Your Head Down”, it was a little awkward seeing Yunho and Changmin rotate with outfits that stood out from the others. Yunho and Changmin have some good charisma throughout the video though, just for some minor saves.

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Overall: 68 / 100

Man, I remember “Before U Go” and thought “Wow SM can actually make a good video!” Those days are long over, and it’s back to same formula. I am convinced SM loves their slow motion centralized camera pan just as much as YG loves spitting “EH” in 2NE1 songs and JYP loves…well himself LOL. Good song, but I know everyone is just waiting for the live performances, myself included.