F(x) has always been one of the most distinctive groups in K-pop, experimenting with sounds and elements not often seen until their debut, in 2009. Taiwanese-american artist Amber Liu seemed a good fit for this group that was born to be different – from haircut to clothes, the group’s rapper had her own cool style that differed from what female idols used to look like, and apparently SM Entertainment, the group’s agency, respected that.
But was it enough? Was Amber happy? How would Amber sound if she could make art in her own terms? With the release of Rogue Rouge on April 15, we have some answers.
This sixtrack mixtape was not the first time fans could see a different side of Amber, though. While in f(x) she had the position of main rapper, a role she also played in her bright/energetic solo release “Shake That Brass,” Amber has released several singles showcasing her singing voice: “Beautiful,” “On My Own,” “Borders,” and “Need to Feel Needed.” Amber also directed the Music Video for f(x)’s “All Mine,” and released a duo with f(x)’s colleague Luna, “Lower.”
One could say Amber has had multiple opportunities to do something different than what she does in f(x), and that’s true. But one can also say that, as an artist, she still has more to show and has the right to seek for creative freedom, and that’s true too.
That being said, Rogue Rouge may not have come as a total surprise for those who paid attention to Amber out of f(x); however, the mixtape can still shine new lights on what we know about her life and career.
Releasing a mixtape nowadays might have some sort of a charm, like a countercultural alternative to the polished and well planned release of albums and EPs. It’s also a popular way for a group’s member to show their individual colours, like what happened with the solo mixtapes released by BTS members Rap Monster, Suga, and more recently, J-Hope.
In Amber’s case, though, a mixtape released on a democratic platform like Soundcloud says a little more. Rogue Rouge is an independent work, made without any connection or money from SM Entertainment. Everything about Rogue Rouge was 100% the result of Amber’s personal efforts and collaborations with friends, such as Singaporean artist Gen Neo, who co-wrote “Closed Doors” and “Right Now,” who also provided vocals for this last one; and model and photographer Stefanie Michova, who directed the music video for “Closed Doors.”
There is no confirmation that Amber is still under SM Entertainment. Therefore, the very fact that Amber is able to do this mixtape suggests that her contract with them allows the space for a bit of artistic freedom. But, if the mixtape is available for free download, it could also mean that Amber isn’t allowed to make money out of her agency.
If you’re waiting to hear anything near K-pop or f(x)’s past music on the mixtape, just know that you won’t find it here.Sonically speaking, Rogue Rouge is quite an homogeneous piece of work, sticking to R&B tunes (“Get Over It,” “Closed Doors,” “Right Now”) and pop (“Three Million Years”), with little presence of EDM elements (“High Hopes,” “Lifeline”).
The production is far from the grandiose that K-pop instrumentals sound like.ut whether it’s due to being independent work or just Amber’s personal choice, it doesn’t really matter. The simplicity works perfectly fine here. Amber’s beautiful voice and interpretation are the big stars of every single track. Even the simpler songs sound so meaningful because it’s obvious that she’s putting a lot of love into them. It is possible that her choice to go for smoother jams could be saying something about how she feels towards the effusive, loud music she has been doing as an idol. But, just like any artist who has to deal with limited creative freedom (or no freedom at all) when they’re under a group, maybe she just wanted to do something for herself.
Lyrics
Amber wrote all the 6 tracks, with the help from Gen Neo in two of them.
They’re all in English, her native language, and most of them about heartbreak. Yes, it seems like someone broke Amber’s heart – and while such person deserves to be punched (!), seeing such a stripped and honest side of Amber’s lyricism is a delight.
by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastelum
It’s a not a side often seen from K-pop idols: they have to act, speak, sing in a certain way. No matter how bold is the concept, they can only go so far – and even if it’s very far, it’s only to cause an impression.
But in Rogue Rouge there’s just an adult woman being an adult woman, and it includes occasional cursing, heartbreaks, desire, the dilemmas of public versus private life etc.
Overall Feeling
From the emblematic instance when Amber spokeon social media about being neglected as an artist to how independently Rogue Rouge was done, it seems that Amber’s main wish is to just sing a story that’s all hers, rather than to prove anything to anyone.
Rogue Rouge has no climax or wow moments. It sounds genuine, though. The lyrics for “Closed Doors,” the best track, sums up the whole purpose of Amber with this mixtape: no overthinking or reinventing the wheel; no need to run, hide or “keep on choosing sides.” This is just Amber being Amber and doing what she feels like doing. If that really is her purpose, then, indeed, she wouldn’t need sumptuous instrumentals and complex songs to do that.
In Brazil, we have a saying for when we’re gifting someone we care about yet we can’t afford something expensive: “It’s simple, but it’s from the heart.” That seems to be the case here: simple (compared to K-pop) but meaningful music. Again, I don’t know if money has anything to do with the crude sonority of Rogue Rouge, but I don’t even care, and it seems like Amber doesn’t care either. She’s pouring her heart out, and for a project that aims for expressing individuality rather than charting, that’s more than enough.
Amber Liu's 'Rogue Rogue'
4
Let us know what you think of Amber Liu’s “Rogue Rouge” in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Amber.jpg5001000Ana Clara Ribeirohttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAna Clara Ribeiro2018-05-04 14:35:382018-05-04 14:35:38Amber Liu’s ‘Rogue Rouge’ album review
Slightly over a year since the airing of the first episode of the boy group survival show Produce 101 Season 2, the next installment of the show, Produce 48 has been attracting buzz with the revelation of the A-list trainers involved, such as FT. Island’s Lee Hongki and former Sistar member Soyou. The continuity of this Produce series can be attributed to the roaring successes of its first two seasons, and of the groups formed following the show (I.O.I and Wanna One). In fact, one year after the program, the K-pop industry is currently dominated by several idols who participated in it. Temporary and project groups have been formed, soloists have debuted, and existing groups were revived due to the popularity of the program, proving the great impact the show has had on the industry.
Wanna One
As the victors of the program, this group naturally had a lot of popularity right off the bat. With their debut song “Energetic” winning 15 music shows and topping both local and international charts, the members gained even more fans through their appearances on several variety shows such as Weekly Idol and Knowing Brothers. Their consistent album releases and music promotions helped sustain this popularity, and their most recent title track “Boomerang,” from the album 0+1=1 (I Promise You) also did wonderfully, netting 10 wins. Since their debut, the members have ranked highly on brand value rankings among idols, with center Kang Daniel consistently in the top ranks due to his numerous appearances in shows like It’s Dangerous Beyond The Blanket and Master Key. Even though the group is due to disband in December 2018, there will be more great music releases from them to come, both as a group and as individual members, and they definitely have bright futures ahead of them.
Nu’est W
Quite possibly the most touching success story from this second season of Produce 101, the five-membered group Nu’est experienced a surge of popularity following the appearance of JR, Ren, Baekho, and Minhyun on the program. With Minhyun in Wanna One, the remaining four members (together with Aron, who wasn’t on the show) formed a subunit called Nu’est W, and attained commercial success with their title track “Where You At” off the album W, Here, which earned them their first music show win since their debut. The experienced members shined throughout the program, with all four members making it to the top 20, and their eventual success proves that effort, coupled with talent, always pays off in the end.
JBJ
As their name “Just Be Joyful” suggests, the members of this group had every reason to be joyful because they were formed wholly out of fan demand. Consisting of members Noh Taehyun, Takada Kenta, Kim Yongguk, Kwon Hyunbin, Kim Donghan, and Kim Sanggyun, the group melded together well, releasing a string of consistently good music with their three mini albums. Another group with a timeline, JBJ recently released their final album New Moon, with the title track “Call Your Name” as a sweet farewell to their fans, full of promises to meet again in the future. With member Noh Taehyun returning to his group Hotshot after the disbandment of JBJ, I hope that the members, who all have so much potential as musicians, will be active in the music industry again soon.
MXM
A project unit formed with the two high-ranking trainees of Brand New Music, MXM consists of Lim Young-min and Kim Donghyun. The duo has released two EPs and one single album thus far, with their most recent title track being “Gone Cold,” which was released in early March. While both members have their own strengths, with Young-min focusing on rapping while Donghyun has a sweet singing voice, they work together very well to create music which reflect their distinct musical identity as a duo. While still a rookie group, they are already gaining a lot of performance experience through the Asia promotional tour they are embarking on, as well as through their participation in huge events such as Korea’s annual dream concert. There is also a high possibility that they will form a new group in the future, once Lee Daehwi and Park Woojin (their labelmates) are done with their Wanna One activities, which will be a group to look forward to given the amazing teamwork they displayed back in their Produce 101 audition.
YDPP
Another project group, YDPP is a four-membered group consisting of MXM, Jung Sewoon, and Lee Gwanghyun. As fellow members of Produce 101 Season 2, their comfortable chemistry showed through the fun “Love It Live It” release, which captured the musical colours of youth, dreams, passion, and purity that inspired the formation of the group. Lee Gwanghyun also made his debut through this project, and successfully showed his adorable charms along his members. Im Youngmin also showed a more all-rounded side of himself here because he got to sing and rap. The members complemented each other very well, and while this group is only temporary (like so many others on this list), the magic of this collaboration will last forever.
An adorable duo formed by the Korean trainees from Yuehua Entertainment, Hyungseop and Euiwoong have released two single albums so far, their most recent title track being “Love Tint,” which was released in April. While their debut track “It Will Be Good” was sweet and highlighted their youthfulness, “Love Tint” has a more melancholic and mature sound which allowed them to better showcase their rap and vocal skills, proving how much they have developed as musicians in the short few months between the releases. The rest of their second album Colour of Dream is also a treat to listen to, as they show several sides of themselves through the five tracks on it. If they continue releasing songs this well-performed and produced, the future for this duo is limitless.
Rainz
The second fan-created group following JBJ, Rainz is a project group consisting of Kim Seongri, Ju Wontak, Lee Kiwon, Jang Daehyeon, Hong Eunki, Byun Hyunmin, and Seo Sunghyuk. While none of the members made it very far in the reality show (the highest ranked member was Sunghyuk at 31), they gained a lot of fans due to their individual skills, be it in gymnastics, taekwondo, dancing or vocals, which they managed to display on Produce 101 despite their lack of screen time. Since their debut in October, they have released two mini-albums, their latest being Shake You Up with title track “Turn It Up.” The electronic track highlights their impressive synchronised dance and fully shows their charisma, made even stronger when the boys are together in a group. While the future of the group is uncertain, they have been busy leaving their mark on the industry thus far and will hopefully do more soon.
HNB
HNB is a boy group comprising of trainees from HF Entertainment, some of whom participated in Produce 101. As the group is undergoing an internal evaluation now, the exact number of members in the group is still indefinite. As a pre-debut release however, four members (three current, one past) of the group who were in Produce 101, namely Park Woodam, Jo Yonggeun, Jung Woncheol, and Woo Jinyoung released “I’m Your Light” to thank fans for voting for them. While the group is being finalized, Woo Jinyoung, Jo Yonggeun, Kim Hyunsoo, and Yoon Jaehee participated in another survival show, YG Entertainment’s Mixnine, in which Woo Jinyoung won first place in, hence making it into the final debut group for the show. The members have also been using V Live regularly to interact with their growing fanbase before their official debut.
Jeong Sewoon
Although he missed the debut lineup by just one spot (he came in 12th place), Jeong Sewoon has made it as a successful soloist thus far, with the release of his first mini album which came in two parts, Ever followed by After. He also completed a milestone first solo concert, and has been performing on prestigious stages such as Mnet Asia Music Awards 2017 and the upcoming Seoul Jazz Festival. His latest title song “Baby It’s You,” released in January of 2018, is a catchy and upbeat track which shows his wide vocal range and versatility as a singer. Beyond developing as a musician, he has also been active on the variety scene, with his appearances on programs like Sugarman Season 2 and Dangerous Beyond The Blankets, which he recently became a permanent cast member for.
One of the most prominent participants on Produce 101 from the start, his absence from the final debut lineup was shocking to many, but it also sparked a new beginning for Samuel, who debuted as a soloist one month after the conclusion of the program. While he is only 16, he has proven himself very capable of showing diverse charms, from the energetic “Sixteen” to the fiercer “One,” which he released in March. Beyond his charming outward appearance, he has an outstanding sense of rhythm which shows in his dancing, making him a wonderful performer. The best part —he’ll only get better as he continues growing.
Jang Moonbok
He first caught public attention back in 2010, when he went on Superstar K2. While he initially received a lot of hate and malicious comments, he triumphed through them and emerged stronger than before, earning him the respect of netizens as well as many of the other participants on Produce 101. With his enviable long locks, he became a very distinct personality and continued standing out throughout the show. After finishing in 27th place, he recently made his solo debut through mini album Peeps, with “Red” as his title song. Far from the Superstar K2 performance which he was criticised a lot for, Jang Moonbok has been improving his singing and rapping skills and remains an icon of persistence and growth.
Yoo Seonho
The chick trainee who captured many hearts during his run at Produce 101, especially with his many bromances and the continual growth he showed, finally made his solo debut with Spring, SEONHO in April. In line with his flower-boy and cute image, his title track “Maybe Spring” is a light-hearted ballad with a sweet melody. Just like a flower that is on the brink of blooming, Yoo Seonho has room for development, but his potential is already shining through from his mini-album, with tracks that diversify his music style by incorporating jazzy elements. He has also been busy with other activities such as CF filmings, music video appearances and a web-drama that he did with his fellow Produce 101 mate, Ahn Hyungseop.
Joo Haknyeon (The BOYZ)
After ending in 19th place on Produce 101, Joo Haknyeon was added to a new boy group under his entertainment company, The BOYZ. The 12-membered boy group has released two EPs so far, and made a comeback recently with “Giddy Up” from their second EP The Start. “Giddy Up” is a playful song with a nostalgic music video concept that would appeal to viewers of all ages. As the lead dancer, vocalist, and rapper of the group, Joo Haknyeon stands out due to his extensive stage experience but also blends well with the team to create a cohesive performance.
Lee Woojin (The East Light)
Soon after finishing the show, the beloved maknae of Produce 101 joined the talented band The East Light, which has an average age of 16.6 years, but whose members mostly have predebut experience and are skilled in various instruments. Despite the members being so young, the band has a very developed musicality. This contrast is emphasized to a somewhat humorous extent in their most recent comeback with “Real Man,” their third digital single, in which they dress in cool-looking suits, until their high-pitched and unbroken voices emerge. They have a charm that is definitely unique in the K-pop industry, and is a band worth looking out for, especially since Lee Woojin, who has shown his vocal prowess among his hyungs on Produce 101, has now joined the band as a keyboardist and vocalist.
Yoo Hwe Seung (N.Flying)
Rounding out the list is Yoo Hwe Seung. He gained much attention on the show for his vocal ability, and though he finished in 39th place, he was quickly added to FNC band N.Flying, who had made their debut in 2013. Despite being the maknae of the group, both in terms of age and experience, he quickly took center stage with his vocals and has definitely added a lot of colour to the group. Their most recent comeback, “Hot Potato,” is an addictive track reminiscent of the music of their sunbaes, FT.Island and CNBLUE, but filled with the group’s own playful flavour. Hwe Seung also created a stir with his ‘five high notes’ (rivalling those of IU’s famous three notes in “Good Day”) which he displayed through his recent collaboration with FT Island vocalist Lee Hongki, “Still Love You.” While the song is a typical ballad, and both singers gave amazing performances, Hwe Seung’s moment was the true climax and left goosebumps all over.
While the contestants have mostly went their separate ways, they are all making waves in the industry and will continue to do so for a long while.
Have you been keeping up with the Produce 101 boys? What do you think of the impact they have made on the K-pop scene? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/produce-101-season-2-logo.jpg720720Anna Cheanghttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2018-05-01 09:36:192018-05-01 09:36:19Post ‘Produce 101’: making waves in K-pop
After a year and a half of no official releases, soloist Anda returns with the help of superstar producer Primary. They have released a four song EP, the ominously titled Do Worry Be Happy, with each song getting a music video. Known for her controversial portrayal of lesbians in her video for “Touch” and for charming Middle Eastern billionaires without ever meeting them, Anda is an artist of unique sound and visuals. Her height and distinct facial structure help her to stand out from most Korean female soloists. Her music up to now has been stuck somewhere between pop and indie though leaving her with no distinct audience. Working with Primary is a great idea then as whatever you may think of him, he is probably the most successful producer at bringing indie sounds into the mainstream. Luckily, he’s matched his best style (the British indie inspired 2 album sound) with the compelling Anda.
Sounding like a more laboured version of something off of the Drive soundtrack, Primary and Anda open with “The Open Boat.” Featuring colde, the vocalist from R&B duo offonoff, “The open boat” is lumbering melancholic electro pop. The constant rolling synths are almost suffocating, their deep tones recalling vast oceans of nothingness. They restrain Anda, her trademark whispery style of singing tries to call out. She tries to scrape it back by pitching higher. “Touch the sky” she repeats in the chorus, her voice now more ephemeral. As the song grows she seems to be winning the fight, colde helps her break free, “Don’t stop and push forward.” Yet it is overwhelmingly cold. Together they have arrived at some sort of peace but musically not much has changed. The brisk synths continue, they have become a home for the intrepid pair but we remain locked outside.
Following this is “Zeppelin,” a song that works with Primary’s funk roots to move away from the wintery tone. “Zeppelin” is about how Anda gets out of her previous rut from “The open boat.” Her love takes her higher and higher. It’s not drastic though, it comfortably floats atop funky guitars and wavy ‘80s synths. Anda’s vocal is more childish here, and is really the only thing of interest going on. While she is distinct, it would be hard to call her voice actually good. She seems to be connecting with the wispy nostalgia of the track but not making it believable. Without hitting those feelings she would at least need to bring something strong which she can’t. “Zeppelin” should have felt fresh against the oppressiveness of “The open boat,” but it’s a mere respite rather than refresher.
The duo find their feet directly after, though, on lead single “Dressroom.” It picks up where “The open boat” left off with sombre electro pop. It immediately recalls Primary’s work on Uhm Jung Hwa’s “Ending Credit” but a little less clear. There’s a lot more space and reverb to the track. Anda, like Uhm Jung Hwa, is coming to the end of a part of her life. Where Jung Hwa is nostalgic, Anda is bitter. Her voice is vulnerable, she reverts to shouting instead of singing in the chorus. Trying to find a way out she bellows into the ether, “I broke down but I still couldn’t let you go.” It’s beautifully performed vulnerability. Anda never feels out of control, just conscious of her pain and finding ways of healing it. She has the same control in the video. She looks like she was born to be a model. Her body is being watched closely, she doesn’t take pleasure in it but doesn’t look uncomfortable either. She takes off her oversized jacket and keeps her composure. Bearing her own scars so we can forget our own.
Album closer “Moonlight” (featuring electro soloist Xin Seha) documents the effects that these troubles have on Anda. Primary keeps the mood down but plays with the track a bit more. The beat is alive this time, a constant stream of cymbals add the subconscious texture that causes Anda’s insomnia. “It’s not the coffee you drank in the afternoon,” she struggles to get out at the beginning. Primary uses Jai Paul-like details to give the song a sense of mystery. The bubbling bassy synths and warm guitar suggest strange feelings swirling around Anda and guest Xin Seha. Together they try in vain to understand but eventually decide “I will not sleep.” A resignation to the hypnotic beat.
This unlikely pair have created an album drenched in sensitivity by coming together. Anda and Primary seem like a mismatch given the producer’s usual clientele of the best vocalists and rappers Korea has to offer. Anda pulls him down to emotional depths he had never explored prior to this, though. Her voice is so light usually, almost always a whisper, and when strained to these heights it carries so much hurt. It doesn’t break but bends against the cold electronics of Primary’s music. Sometimes it’s too cold and sometimes it’s too slight. When it hits though, everything connects for a stunning look at a disaffected youth.
What do you think of Primary and Anda’s Do Worry Be Happy? Let us know in the comment section below. Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
Primary & Anda's "Do Worry Be Happy"
3.5
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Untitled-design.png7201280Joe Palmerhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngJoe Palmer2018-04-06 09:37:582018-04-06 09:37:58Primary & Anda’s “Do Worry Be Happy” Album Review
Finally after a year and five months, the very last LOONA girl, Olivia Hye, was revealed. It’s a testament to the time and effort put into the project that so many people were eagerly anticipating this moment and the moments still to come. LOONA has given us probably the most interestingdebut roll out in K-pop (all music?) history, considering that twelve girls were rolled out over that year and a half through twelve solo singles, 4 sub-unit singles (with more to come), and countless fan theories about what it all meant. To look back on this all before the last unit finish out the debut project we ranked the twelve solo singles.
12. “Around You” by Hyunjin
Hyunjin has the undesirable position of starting us off with her solo track “Around You.” Produced by Lee Juhyung of Monotree, “Around You” is by no means a bad song. Its reverberating piano refrain is in fact a gorgeously simple riff to build a song around. It is helped along the way by some more crisp stabs of the keys and glances of guitar details. Structurally the track falters though. By moving towards a more conventional chorus and adding more parts “Around You” loses the fragility of its opening. That frailty worked wonders with Hyunjin’s equally weak voice as she sang of her foolish patience, and if it had remained small and instead gone for a big change at the climax it could have held onto that power longer. This begs the question though, could Hyunjin have even been able to pull that off? I guess we’ll find out with LOONA’s debut.
11. “Love Cherry Motion” by Choerry
Choerry is the member of LOONA who exists on all sides of the Mobius. To the uninitiated that just means she can interact with any of the other members right now. She’s also one of the most energetic of them all and musically both of these traits are very clear in “Love Cherry Motion.” Her bubbliness comes through right from the beginning and makes the song as fresh as it should sound for the summer. Its pre-chorus delves into deep bass EDM territory and finally culminates with Middle-Eastern style synths to change things around. Switching genres on a whim is an overdone staple in K-pop at this stage and “Love Cherry Motion” feels like LOONA was pandering to that. Without her story, the song would be just another version of that. Producers Ollipop, Hayley Aitken, and Kanata Okajima do handle it well though. They let the darker sound take over for the bridge before transitioning back into the softer side with an ease they seemingly wanted to avoid at first. They tell the story of Choerry’s flexibility in the story of LOONA but also how it feels for a young girl to fall in love.
10. “One and Only” by Go Won
The last few girls of the LOONA project were unlucky in that they had to live up to increasingly high expectations. It’s a somewhat unfair prospect given that the solo songs as a whole are meant more as calling cards for the particular members rather than singles built to chart. Go Won’s “One and Only” is, like her, slight and mysterious. Produced by Darren “Baby Dee Beats” Smith, “One and Only” is shimmering but simple synth pop. Go Won delivers an equally simple vocal in variety of ways amid the synths and processed drums. She half-chants half-raps her wonderful feelings of self-love brought on by the moonlight, raising her pitch with each line, mimicking the ascending synth; Go Won’s self-love is simple but comes from hard, repetitious work. But, apart from the bridge, “One and Only” undergoes essentially zero structural changes. It is straightforward to a fault, the song doesn’t really have to go anywhere, but that’s because Go Won doesn’t either. She is happy being her one and only.
9. “Eclipse” by Kim Lip
Kim Lip changed it all. From the opening chords of “Eclipse” and Lip’s more mature voice, it was clear LOONA were starting off on a new path. “Eclipse” grows with impassioned ease, building an eclectic bed of sounds through which Lip can sing between. Even from just the music video she was by far the most natural performer, blatantly a girl the group could be built around. Produced by Daniel “Obi” Klein and Charli Taft, “Eclipse” was a new style for LOONA with a silky variety of synths. The bridge is a moment to savour, fingersnaps and gorgeous vocals slowing things down to reveal the depth of what Kim Lip can do. Over time however, “Eclipse” grew somewhat tired. It feels too busy in comparison to LOONA’s more simple moments and not busy enough compared to what the ODD EYE CIRCLE girls would do after her. Its impact came from its surprise factor but couldn’t hold attention much longer after that.
8. “Egoist” by Olivia Hye feat. Jinsoul
Closing out the solo cycle of LOONA was Olivia Hye and her song “Egoist.” Olivia enlisted Jinsoul to feature as well as taking on her future bass sound. “Egoist” is a less volatile and unfortunately less interesting take on what Jinsoul previously displayed, though. The production, by Artronic Waves, LAB301, and Pablo Groove, is filled with great and varying details, from the repurposed whistles to the always growing percussions. Olivia can’t quite match the song for personality though. She is at first cold, and from among bassy moody synths and piano she sings of a broken relationship. She’s hiding her feelings, and in their place she only shows pain. As the song moves forwards, stronger more expressive synths take over from the piano. They lift Olivia not to express her emotions but forget them. She learns to love herself but unconvincingly so, leaving the song a bit lacking.
LOONA’s sole Chinese member Vivi faced a similar challenge as Hyunjin, failing to make her song strong enough to stand alone despite her weak voice. For this, the LOONA team went for a throwback vibe. On “Everyday I Love You” Vivi reveals her feelings through hushed, breathy vocals over some quintessential 90s beats, while synths shimmer as a guitar nervously plucks out an accompaniment. Everything comes together for an exciting chorus. In the absolute highlight of the track, the aforementioned guitar slides to introduce the chorus, it’s a cliched technique at this stage but that is precisely why it works so well. Horns join as Vivi pushes her small voice to high pitched delights. It’s one of the most simple but fun moments in all of LOONA’s discography.
6. “Vivid” by Heejin
LOONA began as they meant to go on, with Heejin and Monotree releasing “Vivid.” As an opener it is odd but no less polished than everything that followed it. “Vivid” is a brash confident offering from Heejin. Her voice goes up and down with ease, as she inflects her words with a cheeky rasp over filtered brass and piano. Her ease as a vocalist and acting in the video were a clear warning that these girls were here for serious business. At first watch I thought she was a new soloist, completely ready to take on the likes of Lim Kim with a more youthful quirky take. But even knowing that she is only one small part of an unknown whole doesn’t change how good this was though.
5. “Heart Attack” by Chuu
Vocally none of the girls quite matched Chuu in terms of personality on their solo tracks. She teases us at first, leaving small breaths between each line as she gradually rises to the chorus. As soon as she reaches it though, she drops the intensity only to rise it towards the end once again. From there she doesn’t have a chance to breathe, showing some of the biggest vocals LOONA has seen, with raps and adorable little “ooh oohs” for added color.” Ollipop and Hayley Aitken return to the LOONAverse to once again bridge gaps between the girls. Here they bring back the orchestral elements of LOONA ⅓ but don’t shy away from more modern beats and details. They weave a variety of horns, pianos, and synths around Chuu’s voice, constantly challenging her to one up herself. She matches them step for step and they come together brilliantly on the climax, letting go of any restraints that might have been holding them back.
4. “New” by Yves
Yves bit the apple and led LOONA out of Eden with her solo track, “New.” Similar to Kim Lip she opened her era with supreme confidence, showcasing strong vocals and dancing as she easily performs to the retro stylings of Brooke Toia, Daniel Caeser, and Ludwing Lindell; it’s 80s synth pop through a modern lens. The production is deceptively simple, with just synths, a beat, and Yves’ voice. In the first verse, the beat doesn’t fully reveal itself at first, starting with just finger snaps and a bass drum but in the second one, an ascending high hat is added, slowly rising to the chorus. Those same few elements are used in the chorus and to great dramatic effect: the synths are heavy and satisfying, and Yves’ vocals airy but totally under her control. This magnificent drama tells a story of self-confidence, a tale that Yves acts out with such sincerity.
Behind the languid chorus of “Singing in the Rain” lies LOONA’s most complex song to date. Jinsoul’s luscious future-bass track (produced by Caesar & Loui) juggles a number of sections, all of which come together in the end to crushing effect. It opens with the most exciting and varied drum beat I’ve heard in years, and slowly rises and falls. The complexity is helped by her vocal range, as she was the first one to rap and sing in her song giving “Singing In The Rain” an edge when it comes to the second verse. A different pre-chorus is also added for the second chorus, lending the song a surprising, driving intent. It’s essentially a series of overlapping and intersecting circles, growing in intensity with every new one added. The track culminates with the genuine Hollywood euphoria Jinsoul had been looking for. “I used to be untouchable and dangerous” she sings, suggesting a wicked unpredictability to her.
2. “Kiss Later” by Yeojin
No track was helped more by Monotree and LOONA’s dedication to using real instruments and orchestras than “Kiss Later”. Yeojin’s solo is a Broadway musical-inspired pop explosion that really fits the young girl’s voice. It starts off with a soft, shimmering melody, and Yeojin uses her tinny vocals to great effect before the song crashes into a frenzy of strings, horns, and percussion. It’s such a satisfying pay-off, and lends the rest of the song an unwavering kinetic energy. The music blends masterfully with Yeojin’s voice as she likes to talk-sing at times, even as she playfully follows the pointed details of the track with great strong syllables. As the youngest member of LOONA, her anxieties are rendered almost like a game. She understands that there are adult concepts at play and can avoid them, but doesn’t, and still has the most fun out of anyone. There hasn’t been a song in the last few years that quite matches “Kiss Later” for fun on every level.
1. “Let Me In” by Haseul
Ending LOONA’s first year was Haseul, with her soft voice whispering confusion of her identity on “Let Me In.” The song is the key to understanding the first five girls of LOONA, a track that rejects common pop rules in favour of building a unique world. Written and Produced by 오레오 [Oreo] and arranged by 웅 킴 [Oong Kim] “Let me in” is a purely orchestral song with no regular beat or modern instruments. Among this Haseul restrains herself at first. Her voice, pitched beautifully high, tells of a love so strong she feels like she is becoming one with her lover. These joyous feelings are highlighted by stunning musical details, including the tweets of a piccolo, delicate pulls of a harp, and, most of all, the strings that constantly change. It builds a sense of history made believable thanks to Haseul tiptoeing right up to her range; her voice is strong but vulnerable. Overall, Haseul and “Let Me In” define the identity struggle that the whole LOONA project was about. On the cusp of womanhood, these girls felt the push and pull of various paths and this song contains the dangers and joys of all those paths.
How would you rank all of LOONA’s solo singles? Let us know in the comment section below. Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/LOONA_all_members_collage.png15621564Joe Palmerhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngJoe Palmer2018-04-03 05:22:512018-04-03 05:22:51The 12 LOONA Solo Singles Ranked
WJSN/Cosmic Girls had a pretty disappointing 2017. After releasing the best song of their short careers “Secret” along with an otherworldly concept to match their name, they turned to something more simple; “I Wish” had elements of the girl group’s concept in the music video but none in the music, and “Happy” was a complete 180 turn. Sticking to concepts isn’t something that groups should always do, and it is in fact often discouraged. But WJSN’s was perfectly pitched with “Secret.” So it’s no surprise then that they see a return to that style with their new single “Dreams Come True,” a strong return to form.
Song
Even though it comes months later, “Dreams Come True” feels like a direct sequel to “Secret.” This time helmed by producers Full8loom, WJSN bring their unique vocal flavour to a mix of europop synths and orchestral pop. Full8loom do a good job of replicating e.one’s style on “Secret,” combining electronics and an orchestra to create WJSN’s cosmic sound. The synths give it the classic sci-fi feeling while the orchestral elements sends it into the stratosphere.
It is clearly not a rehash though. “Secret” was decisive, an almost complete song right from the beginning. “Dreams Come True” takes more time to reveal itself. “Secret” would swap between its synths and strings within a section whereas “Dreams Come True” devotes whole sections to a particular sound, slowly adding elements to prepare for the climax. “Secret” was a song about hidden feelings, the anxiety of simultaneously falling for someone and barely knowing who they are while “Dreams Come True” is about bridging that gap, a song about gradually building the courage to give yourself to someone.
As the music begins its ascent, it is ambiguous. The girls are tasked with being the major deviations at the front of the song. WJSN have a lot of vocalists that have similar sounding voices but with noticeably different timbres when lined up. In the first verse it moves from Seola’s divinely clean voice, to then a quartet of Eunseo, Mei Qi, Bona, and Xuan Yi. Eunseo goes against the grain type by pitching high, accentuating her slightly nasally voice which meshes well with Mei Qi’s sensual whisper. Bona is more conventional and sets up the true alien of WJSN, Xuan Yi and her tiny and distinct, almost vacant voice. The sense of nervousness is clear with each one’s delivery: Eunseo complains that, “When we pass by we seem like strangers,” and Mei Qi replies, “And I hate thinking about it.”
Dawon takes advantage of the diminutive Xuan Yi to bring the power and lift the song as only she can. She represents the bubbling confidence of WJSN as she bellows, “It’ll become a miracle, It’ll pull us together, It’ll make our dreams come true so…” This line has its own weird internal rhythm. Dawon is fitting as much as she can into the bar, ignoring usual resting spots. Whether or not she is ready to believe what she’s saying, she knows she doesn’t have a choice but to trust it.
From there the chorus hits,at first with a thud and then grows as it goes on. It’s given time to breathe and slowly differentiate itself from the verse, andit finally ends with the opening signature synth which even Cheng Xiao can ride with ease into outer space.
Exy’s rap represents the biggest vocal shift of the song and the music follows her. Holding on to the electro tone of the chorus, it shifts into dubstep as Exy slows things down and opens with the ominous line, “I am in the dark.” Her rapping is nicely crisp but gets slightly more emotional as it goes on, increasing in tempo as she starts to move out of the dark. Finding courage, the beat intensifies and continually adds drum fills that changes the second verse.
The bridge’s stunning quiet moment is the highlight. It has time for four of the girls to sing variations of the same scale, while the track reduces itself to just strings, a few keys, and some beautiful harmonies. It’s a stunning moment of clarity and tension, as if the whole song was leading to this point rather than the actual climax. It contextualizes the cosmic dramas of their lives in terms of their lover’s dreams. “You and me to be drawn as a dream, it will be done as you dream,” they repeat, finding the hope of their love in the short moment of peaceful stillness among the shifting scales of the track.
“Dreams Come True” continues one of the better visual collaborations in K-pop as Kim Zi Yong and Fantazy Lab return to direct the music video. It is definitely a sequel to “Secret” as we see some references from it including the book with the iconic phrase, “Have you ever felt cosmo inside of you?” In “Dreams Come True” the girls are separated by space and time and are faced with the threat of a giant wormhole opening up over Seoul. There seems to be human versions of themselves that inhabit Seoul and the cosmic versions who are in a heaven type area who stay connected via phones. They work together to call down Bona from her flying space bed, and she flies straight into the wormhole, destroying it.
This is all communicated much more elegantly in the video by Kim. No one is better at connecting the real and imaginary worlds with special effects than he is. He uses a large amount of smaller moments to build his world. Each image has very simple fantasy elements executed perfectly, but this formula is slightly tired at this stage. Compared to “Secret” it’s not much better or worse but doesn’t have the same surprise factor. It also has an unnecessary and ugly bluish colour grade. If they had gone for something closer to the wizarding world of the teasers, there could have been a lot of room to try new things. Kim Zi Yong’s aesthetic has worked well in a number of concepts and would have been unique enough to separate itself from obvious potential Harry Potter comparisons.
Overall
WJSN’s return to the cosmos has turned out to be as appropriately dramatic as can be though “Dreams Come True” lacks the dense, unique production of “Secret” that lends it its immediate qualities. Structurally though, “Dreams Come True” betters “Secret.” It produces an epic scale from disparate parts coming together and finally disappearing so the girls can dream clearly.
WJSN's "Dreams Come True"
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What do you think of WJSN’s single “Dreams Come True”? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ssis.png800800Joe Palmerhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngJoe Palmer2018-02-28 06:26:192018-02-28 06:26:19WJSN’s “Dreams Come True” Music Video & Song Review
Ever since the conclusion of JYP Entertainment’s survival reality program Stray Kids, where the nine members of the group took part in various challenges set by the company to prove that they were able to debut as a whole group, the victorious (and complete!) group was busy with promotions for their pre-debut EP, Mixtape, which featured the group’s tracks that were mostly performed during the program.
Following its release, Mixtape proved to be a fan favorite and topped charts in the States, and also proved to encompass the essence of what is unique about this group and, by extension, showcased the new direction that JYP Entertainment is taking in debuting this group. All the seven tracks on the EP were composed in some way by the members of Stray Kids, be it in lyric-writing, songwriting or arranging. In particular, the members of “3RACHA,” a previously established trio within Stray Kids consisting of leader Bang Chan and rappers Han Jisung and Seo Changbin, wrote the lyrics for all the songs and took part in the music composition for six of them. The ownership and individuality shown here is rare in the K-pop industry, considering this is a group who has yet to officially debut.
It is even more surprising considering JYP’s usual management of their groups. With the exception of rock band DAY6, whose debut EP was also composed of songs created by the members, JYP’s boy groups mostly started out with EPs and title tracks composed by Park Jinyoung himself (i.e GOT7’s “Girls Girls Girls” and 2PM’s “10 Out of 10”). The members of these groups eventually went on to create their own music for their later albums and title tracks (i.e Jun K’s “Go Crazy,” JB’s “You Are”) after a few years, which is a common practice in the industry. Stray Kids releasing Mixtape could thus be an indication of a shift in JYP Entertainment’s priorities for their new groups: no longer are they optimizing safe and polished debut performances but instead highlighting releases that showcase more musicality and creative freedom. Perhaps this is to align with the current trend of self-composed music in the industry but whatever it is, it is definitely paying off for Stray Kids.
The exceptional composing skills of the members, especially the members of 3RACHA, were constantly displayed throughout the program, an instance being their rap face-off with YG Entertainment trainees, where Changbin and Jisung wowed with their original track “Matryoshka” (from their third mixtape, Horizon).
Since last January, the trio have been releasing their original tracks through SoundCloud and YouTube, with a total of three mixtapes out at the moment. The exposure they received as trainees does explain their prowess now especially for long-time trainee Bang Chan, who has so-far single-handedly done the producing and mixing for most of 3RACHA’s tracks, with Changbin and Jisung contributing to the lyrics.
The trio’s experience shows in their works, and really helped the entire boy group establish a very unique musical identity right off the bat. With the music video of “Hellevator,” the title track of “Mixtape,” racking up millions of views on YouTube before the reality show even premiered, anticipation was high for Stray Kids thanks to this intense song which highlighted the various strengths of the members, in particular their synchronized dancing. The group continued to impress with their music through the missions on the show, where they took on challenges such as performing at a live broadcast and busking on the streets.
While the group as a whole is definitely still a rookie one, especially with regard to the vocal areas, Stray Kids has proven that they can (and do) distinguish themselves from other rookie boy bands, not just musically but with their fresh personalities as well. Often displaying tough and charismatic images on stage, they played up their youthful charms on the show once off stage and even now on the occasional V-live broadcasts that they do. With an average age of 20 (youngest member Jeongin is a 2001-er), the members are cute and playful especially when they interact with each other.
Speaking of which, the unity of this group is remarkable, despite only being formed a few months before the show. Perhaps this is where Stray Kids differs most from Sixteen, the survival show from which TWICE was created in 2015. In Sixteen, the 16 members competed against each other to get into the seven member group (it was later changed to nine members), which naturally created a lot of rivalry among the members. Stray Kids, on the other hand, was promoted and run as a show where the group “fought” with JYP to debut together. Their adorable friendship and dynamic were on display from the start, and got viewers passionately rooting for the group to stay together. The most unique part of this survival show was the lack of competition between the members and the cooperation they displayed. There was very little “fighting for the main part” that often goes on in such shows, and instead, there were so many moments where the more experienced members sacrificed their own practice time to help those who were lagging behind or in danger of elimination. The hard work and effort that the whole group put in to help each other improve led to heart-wrenching and tear-jerking moments for members and fans alike when a few members ended up being eliminated through the course of the show (they were eventually brought back in the final mission), further endearing the group to the viewers.
With all the hype and popularity Stray Kids has already gotten so far, their debut is definitely a highly-anticipated one. It still has to be proven if the “free-reign” direction JYP is taking with this group will last in the future, but for now, it’s producing results and I cannot wait to see how far this group will fly from here.
Have you been keeping up with Stray Kids? What do you think of the new direction JYP is taking with them? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/sk.jpg5001000Anna Cheanghttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAnna Cheang2018-02-27 19:25:592018-02-27 19:25:59Stray Kids: JYP’s new direction
Following the resignation of CEO Na Byung Joon under controversial circumstances, Fantagio Entertainment and all its artists’ short term futures were in doubt. Weki Meki were one of those groups and had apparently been preparing a comeback as the news broke. Thankfully things settled down enough for them to bring their follow up to debut mini WEME and divisive single “I Don’t Like Your Girlfriend.” They have done that in the form of Lucky, their second mini album which seems to be going as far from their debut as can be. “I Don’t Like Your Girlfriend” was a song of many contradictions and the album it came on was equally filled with ups and downs. As an album, Lucky is tonally much more coherent and an easier listen. Let’s find out if that’s a good or bad thing.
As is common in K-pop minis, Lucky opens with an intro track by the same name. I love K-pop intros. At their best they are abstract representations of the albums that follow it. They don’t have to follow pop rules so tend to be the most unconventional K-pop can be. They can also be like “Lucky,” acting as a slightly remixed and shorter version of the single it precedes. Alongside “La La La” producer Rodnae “Chik” Bell; Hyuk Shin, MRey, and Ashley Alisha (all members of the Joombas Music Group) are the composers here and don’t do much to alter “La La La.” It sounds like they put the harsh processed drums of “I Don’t Like Your Girlfriend” underneath and added heavier bass. As an intro it doesn’t differentiate itself enough from the follow to warrant inclusion.
The lead single “La La La” is, unfortunately, similarly derivative of much more interesting songs. In what seems like a response to criticism of their debut, “La La La” has the energy of “I Don’t Like Your Girlfriend” without any of the eccentricities. It replaces the electronics with a variety of guitars and brass in favour of a more traditional pop stomper style. Vocally, it stifles them. The members are restricted to trying more soulful singing and straightforward rapping. On “IDLYG” the girls could just about match the gleeful twists and turns of the track, pulling it into something that works. On “La La La” they do nothing to change the direction of the song.
This is best evidenced by the chorus’ lack of movement. Musically it has an almost imperceptible change which could have been fine if the vocals went somewhere. The “laaaaa la la las” and the cheeky rap one liners are nowhere near enough, though. Wherever you lie on the “IDLYG” scale, this is a major disappointment as the highly anticipated successor.
Luckily though, Weki Meki may soon become the queens of b-sides if their albums continue work like this. “Iron Boy,” produced by the Full8loom team, is the third track and a delectable slice of 80s style electro pop. Like all great retro tracks the key to success is a juicy bass line. On “Iron Boy” it gets things going alongside Doyeon’s slight but sultry voice. From there it blends more physical elements like a guitar with some wonderful synths. Like “La La La,” its structure doesn’t do anything new. But crucially it has musical progression. By the time the chorus comes along there is now spurts of brass and fluctuating synths. There are layers to its production and the members fit it well; Sei and Suyeon’s vocals in particular stand out, as they seem just about caught in the back of their throats in a childish but powerful way.
“Metronome” is much more modern. Producers Trippy and Le’mon weave a heavier house riff around the more indifferent vocals of the girls. A piano is used to create some sense of emotion in contrast to the bassy synths. It is in a sense monotonous like its title would suggest. The song transitions using the piano parts but does so with such nonchalance that it suggests that Weki Meki feel that thin line between dancing and emoting.
Full8loom return for the final two tracks “Colour Me” and Butterfly, both of which continue the retro theme. “Colour Me” is very much in the Bruno Mars mold of nostalgia. Disco synths and funk beats meet to create a super comfortable feeling. It gives the girls some room to stretch their vocals, even more than previous songs. In the pre-chorus there are some great harmonies, and the chorus has a variety of strong high pitches and whispers.
“Butterfly” is the epitome of a winter cash in. It’s plodding retro bass drum and chimes are cliched almost to the point of parody here. It is a cover, however, of “Butterfly” by Loveholic, and these parts are there to make it relevant to the Winter Olympics. The chorus remains utterly impressive. Bonus points for the adorable sign language choreography. Minus points for reminding me of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
Lucky is a settler for Weki Meki. Their rocky debut might have slowed their potential ascent thanks to Doyeon and Yoojung’s fame but it also made them distinct. Lucky doesn’t quite have the ballad lows or the “Fantastic” highs of WEME, and honestly suffers for it. Given a stronger single it could have been the perfectly solid mini they needed. Instead it falters right from the beginning and spends the rest of its run time trying to catch up. It is slick from there on in but not quite unique enough to match the Weki Meki we have come to love or hate.
Weki Meki's "Lucky"
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Let us know what you think of Weki Meki’s “Lucky” in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/28342643_954959777995167_1898900365_o.jpg6661000Joe Palmerhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngJoe Palmer2018-02-22 05:38:562018-02-22 12:46:51Weki Meki’s “Lucky” Album Review
There’s no denying that it’s a solemn time for the K-pop community. But it’s during sad times that it’s important to think about what puts a smile on our faces, and for a lot of people, that’s K-pop. Throughout 2017, artist gave us a lot of songs that made us feel happy and made us dance, which then gave us a lot of good times. And while it was hard to narrow down our absolute favorites of the year, here are our 25 best.
25. “Love” by DEAN feat. Syd
DEAN’s emotional sensitivity is always present on his music, but with “Love,” he takes on a very sexual topic in a very respectful yet sensual way. The song features American singer-songwriter Syd as the love interest in this song. Her voice fits perfectly with DEAN’s, creating the sensual mood of the track. The lyrics talk about a new relationship that seems to be full of sexual tension as they tell each other on the song, “I got intentions baby, But, I’m gettin’ restless babe, I need your blessin’, baby I’ll love you if you let me baby” which bring us to know that DEAN’s is very respectful and aware of consent in a relationship; whether it is about sex or taking the relationship slowly he can wait as long as the other person wants and until they are ready. “Love” starts with a little bossa nova and samba melody that transforms into a very minimal tropical record that seems very fresh and connects perfectly with the new relationship that the lyrics talk about. The beats keep a steady base that explodes at the climax, very similar to how a relationship starts and slowly builds up and gets filled with love as time passes by. DEAN’s solo at the end of the song represents how madly he is in love while the music changes drastically and gives of a feeling that you are in cloud nine. And, of course, nobody can forget the lyric when DEAN sings in a very sexy voice, “I’ll f*ck you if you let me baby.”
—Alejandro
24. “You Are” by GOT7
For their second comeback of the year, GOT7 went ahead and switched it up again, further proving just how multifaceted these guys are. In a very unexpected move, J.Y. Park allowed the group to release a single co-written by one of the members, JB. “You Are” diverts from the hip-hop and trap sounds from their previous singles and presents a smoother, dreamier, synthier soundscape. The song is just as contrasting as JB is: velvety smooth vocals yet with an EDM, uplifting vibe. It’s impossible not to smile when listening to this song, for the members’ deliveries is probably their most tender and, dare I say it, sincere yet. “You Are” might not have done well in Korea, but it let audiences know that GOT7 is working towards producing and writing their own tracks in the near future. We can only expect bigger, experimental switch ups by them next year and we can’t wait.
—Alexis
23. “Plz Don’t Be Sad” by Highlight
After ditching their old company, the majority of Beast formed their own company Around Us Entertainment and returned as a new group, Highlight. Their first release as Highlight was the bright song “Plz Don’t Be Sad.” Written and produced by Junhyung’s production team Good Life, the song is about the boys doing anything in their power for you to smile. And with such a vibrant and upbeat song, it is very hard not to. With their first song, Highlight chose to break away from the typical sound their former group’s singles went for and instead offered up an extremely catchy chorus full of “woah ohhs” that are bound to get stuck in your head. The video is fun, and features colorful images of the group doing random things while the chorus has them dancing around in bathrobes. Everything combined makes absolutely no sense, but you ultimately can’t help but smile at the ridiculousness.
—Katherine
22. “Kokobop” by EXO
From the title alone, you would expect this song to be a super summer bop, and of course EXO did not deliver less than this. But what we couldn’t predict is that “Kokobop” would be a reggae-based instrumental song. More surprisingly, elements of trap and EDM were present as well. Does this combination work well? To be honest, I’m still not sure, and maybe that’s why this was one of my most listened to songs of the year. There’s something intriguing about “Kokobop” that makes it grow on you. I guess it’s one of those songs you just find noisy and a bit messed up when you listen for the first time, and then you get trapped listening to it again and again, trying to understand where does the chillin’ “awooo”’s, “down down baby”’s and “oh oh oh”’s connect with such aggressive trap beats and the loud breakdown. Those alone, however, are very fun moments, and that’s more than enough for “Kokobop” to have been one of the catchiest tunes of the year.
—Ana
21. “Camo” by BoA
The long reigning queen of K-pop BoA returned and graced us with the presence of her new single “Camo” this year. The song starts off with a staccato base beat that crescendos slightly to the chorus, but the tempo of the song overall does not change much allowing the tune to flow seamlessly and without effort. The video also does a very good job complementing the elegant style with a bold red and black color scheme and the optically pleasing effects that occur throughout the video. The song, video, and dance all give off an edgy and sophisticated mood which is complemented even further by BoA’s sultry voice. “Camo” may not be as in your face as many songs are now a day, but it still was able to capture it’s audience with minimal effort; something only a 17-year industry veteran has no trouble achieving.
—Katherine
20. “Eclipse” by Kim Lip
Kim Lip began the ODD EYE CIRCLE era with an easy confidence on this smooth electro R&B track. “Eclipse” grows with impassioned ease building an eclectic electronic bed of sounds for which Lip can emote between. Even from just the music video she was by far the most natural performer, a girl the group could be built around. Produced by Daniel “Obi” Klein and Charli Taft, “Eclipse” was a new style for LOONA but nothing too progressive by itself. It more than makes up for that in its silky variety of synths. The bridge is a moment to savour as well, as fingersnaps and gorgeous vocals slow things down revealing the depth of what Kim Lip can do.
—Joe
19. “Shine Forever” by Monsta X
After the initial release of their first studio album The Clan Pt. 2.5: The Final Chapter in the first quarter of the year, Monsta X did the K-pop thing to do and followed up with its repackage, Shine Forever. With this, we were also introduced to the eponymous “Shine Forever,” a natural future bass follow up to the electronic-heavy “Beautiful.” Staying true to its genre, the prominent bassline and synthesizer inform listeners of the song’s modernity, albeit at the expense of a more enthralling hook. Indeed, trends seem to trump over a classic refrain, but if we can ignore this minor musical faux pas for the pre-chorus and raps that’s always been the focal point within the group’s discography, the rest of “Shine Forever” is actually quite fetching. Life is too short to fuss over diction when I.M’s iconic “One and only like a holy” is the best introduction to a narrative since “Once upon a time.” The progression to the pre-choruses only gets better as more layers of claps and percussions are overlaid to amount to an exciting climax. The boys’ eternal preoccupation with beauty and light reaches new heights with “Shine Forever,” making the single yet another valuable contribution to their growth.
—Shelley
18. “Babe” by Hyuna
Hyuna had us used to expect fun, bold, sexy and irreverent songs everytime she makes a comeback. So, who would expect something like “Babe”? Although it still has some of Hyuna’s trademarks, like her rap and proper beats for an energetic choreography, “Babe” is different from everything she has done so far, and that change was very welcomed. In this cute, delicious synthpop jam smartly filled with some trap, hip-hop and tropical house elements, Hyuna sings about a lover that makes her feel like 25, 24, 21-years-old when she is actually 26. Youth has always been an implicit background for Hyuna’s works, due to the fact that her solo works revolved around concepts of partying, exploring sexuality, and others associated to teenagers/young adults’ yearning for living life to its fullest; but with “Babe,” the feeling of youth shows us a different side of her. Driven by a lighter production and a girly melody, “Babe” leaves the impression that, this time, Hyuna’s sassy and fun personality is flowing naturally, with no need of a concept that would push her to show it.
—Ana
17. “Goodbye” by 2NE1
While this song passed over the radar of most K-pop fans this year, Blackjacks like me will never forget the emotional weight of this track’s dropping. Singing over a beautifully repeating guitar riff, CL, Dara, and Bom reflect on the unbearable pain of splitting up: “Don’t look at my tears that can’t hold onto you/Just don’t go.” CL’s vocal performance is especially evocative, questioning, “Does anyone know, does anyone know/how it makes me feel?” repeatedly throughout the choruses, and demonstrating through her vocals alone her attachment to the group even after its disbandment. The song is beautifully simple, demonstrating that even after break-up, 2NE1 is a name known for musical quality. And the lyrics of this song, many of which imply some future continuity for the group — “until the day we meet again,” “when winter passes, spring will come again,” and the self-explanatory Korean-to-English translation of “안녕 (Annyeong/Goodbye)” also signifying “Hello” — indicate that 2NE1 is a name that may (hopefully) return in the future as well.
The highly anticipated debut of Wanna One, a group created from the top 11 winners of survival show Produce 101, definitely didn’t disappoint. Right from the piano intro, “Energetic” was a perfect match for the skills and image of the group, where their individual strengths were harnessed to create this catchy dance track and they could each be highlighted. The vocal thrills provided by members Jaehwan and Sungwoon further tightened the song, and when paired with their synchronised complex choreography this performance was such a joy to watch. It’s no wonder that their popularity, both domestically and internationally, continued to skyrocket after this debut track. While they’ll only be active till the end of 2018, I’m looking forward to the amazing music they’ll be releasing till then.
—Anna
15. “Untitled, 2014” by G-Dragon
If you’ve ever wanted to see the unadorned side of Kwon Jiyong, better known as G-Dragon, look no further because “Untitled, 2014” is the open book he’s been waiting for you to see. When people hear the name “G-Dragon,” they think of his styling and swag; G-Dragon the rapper. But Kwon Jiyong, the artist, the musician and singer, is what made “Untitled, 2014” the treasure that it became. G-Dragon illustrated his sentimental and compassionate side with this ballad and he made all of us “soft.” With the accompaniment of just a piano, it allowed listeners to focus in his voice and his emotions without being caught up in anything else.
—Tam
14. “Black Suit” by Super Junior
There’s something innately satisfying about seeing a K-pop group well into its second decade able to come up with something that feels very much in accordance with their biggest hits but that also improves musically. Serving both as a testament to the act’s malleability and capabilities, “Black Suit” does just that. Like all of Super Junior’s biggest hits, there’s an immensely danceable, repetitive hook of a chorus. But, as with their other more recent singles, there’s a sense of maturation in the swing-infused, brassy sounds of the retro-tinged song that may be a surprise to people who haven’t kept up with SuJu’s most recent releases. Though two of their main vocalists, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun, are serving in the military, there’s nothing remotely disappointing about this dynamic single as its energetic tune serves up both Super Junior’s typical sense of playfulness and their finely-honed vocals.
—Tamar
13. “All Night” by Girls’ Generation
Alternative title track “Holiday” is, from a lyrical standpoint, likely more direct in celebrating Girls’ Generation’s success and long-lasting togetherness. To me, however, “All Night” is the more powerful 10th anniversary release for the legendary girl group. Embracing EDM and vaporwave influences on this retro-oriented track, GG demonstrates how easily they devour new songs and make them entirely theirs, demonstrating the endless versatility characteristic of K-pop’s face-value girl group. Seamlessly moving between melody and pseudo-rap, the song shines most in its chorus, which is at first minimalist but grows in speed and power with each iteration. Along with dubstep brilliance in the bridge, “All Night” is indicative of the fact that Girls’ Generation is a musical and performative force in the international music industry that cannot be, and should have never been, ignored. 10 years in, they continue to innovate on the concept of dance pop in ways that reflect their maturity from girlhood into womanhood.
—Kushal
12. “Spring Day” by BTS
Expectations were high for BTS’s comeback in early 2017, due to the enormous success of their previous single, “Blood, Sweat and Tears.” Some got disappointed when the long-awaited song was the mellow “Spring Day.” But, honestly, at that point, BTS was already standing in such a high place (even though no one could imagine how immensely they’d still grow over 2017), that the only way to ruin everything would be by releasing something really really bad —and that’s not the case of “Spring Day” at all. The song is very touching and shows more emotional colours of the boys, something that was great to see after constant fierce and powerful comebacks. Of course, being a work from BTS, a group that is making their mark for their carefully planned concepts, “Spring Day” is not only a cute song about missing someone. The word “spring,” in this context, represents the flourishing of a new phase, perhaps a more mature one, after their previous concepts that focused on youth. Just like the season of flowers, “Spring Day” was, for them, a beautiful prelude to a series of bright moments, that would end up becoming their most memorable year so far.
—Ana
11. “Limitless” by NCT 127
Hip-hop is not a genre we associate with SM Entertainment’s current generation of K-pop idols, so when NCT 127 first debuted last year, skepticism arose. However, any doubt went poof right at the start of 2017, when the group dropped “Limitless.” With the help of SM’s two best rappers (yes, I went there, don’t delude yourself otherwise), a slew of outstanding dancers, and vocalists with honey smooth tones, NCT 127 delivered one of the most powerful performances of the year. With a grime base, “Limitless” offers pulsating beats, tempo changes, and a climatic chorus sung by all the members — a rarity in K-pop. In probably one of the most competitive eras in K-pop, NCT 127 proved this year that they’re ready to take on the big boys, and it all started with “Limitless.” SM finally debuted their most well-rounded group, with members that both embody what everyone has always loved about K-pop so much and what the scene is becoming as of late. The NCT concept is still a confusing one, with its various units and rotating lineups. But we for one hope NCT 127 is a permanent one, for they have the potential to become a staple as early as next year.
—Alexis
10. “Peek-A-Boo” by Red Velvet
Red Velvet capped off the best year of their career so far with “Peek-A-Boo.” The girls encountered wicked attraction in “Rookie,” a comforting love in “Red Flavor,” and on “Peek-A-Boo,” all of those emotions get tied up into anxiety. Producers Moonshine, Cazzie Opiea, and Ellen Berg Tolbom build a minimal bass of bubbling synths and a drum beat as they slowly let those anxieties creep into the song. Horns blast in and out, a xylophone style synth is there (for the trademark childish sound of theirs) and the girls ad-lib at every moment they can (sometimes of fear “oh gosh!” sometimes of excitement “let’s go!”). These details reveal how they feel about falling in and out of love. They struggle to define it while trying to convince themselves that they are “fine fine fine.” There’s an unpredictability to the way Red Velvet realise a song. It’s a feeling totally unique to them, and it makes them the most exciting act in K-pop.
—Joe
9. “Easy Love” by SF9
As the first male dance group to be formed by FNC Entertainment, which is more well known for bands such as FTIsland and CNBLUE, SF9 does showcase fancy choreography in “Easy Love,” but what stands out more is their vocals and the music production of the track. With four rappers in the group, it’d be hard for each one to stand out, but SF9 does precisely that with each having a distinct style in their parts. The build up to the chorus and the chorus itself are also done well, with traces of EDM present but with the interesting melodic lines constantly being highlighted, especially in the chorus where there is a lot of both upward and downward movement. It’s only been a little over a year since their debut but SF9 show a lot of promise and will definitely be able to release even better music as they grow as artists.
—Anna
8. “Don’t Recall” by KARD
Scoring a top 10 position on this list is a feat for any artist, let alone a new one. Let alone a pre-debuted one. Let alone a pre-debuted co-ed one! KARD is completely unique in the K-pop world, from tropical house-inspired musical stylings to a refreshing co-ed member lineup. And “Don’t Recall” captures exactly what makes KARD an exciting addition to the world of K-pop, with innovative, gender-bending choreography (gender-bending by K-pop standards, that is), an enticing blend of male-female vocals, and stunning post-chorus dance break. While the group itself will need to keep innovating to find a variety of sounds and styles that suit them, KARD’s “Don’t Recall” is an amazing demonstration of what co-ed member structures could mean for musicality in the K-pop world.
—Kushal
7. “Red Flavor” by Red Velvet
One of the year’s iconic bops, Red Velvet came through guns blazing with “Red Flavor.” The title itself sounds so similar to their group’s name — seemingly fitting of a song most definitive of the group’s musical and performative character to date. Paired with its quirky and slightly overwhelming music video, RV succeeded in capturing the essence of a quintessential summer track in the context of their own quirky aesthetics and musical stylings. With building instrumentals and bouncy vocal harmonies in the chorus, Red Velvet establishes and carries their own trademark Red Velvet sound, a factor useful in maintaining popularity at this point in their very successful career as a girl group. “Red Flavor” is undoubtedly going to be one of the most-remembered 2017 K-pop songs, an iteration of K-pop girl group summer almost desperately needed in the power vacuum created by some untimely disbandments between this year and last.
—Kushal
6. “As If It’s Your Last” by Blackpink
Usually when a song is one of those three-fers kind of deal, the end result makes its listeners question who let it slide by production. But what happens when production is one of the most renown, one of the most prolific? Teddy, YG Entertainment’s veteran in-house producer, lets experience speak for itself and challenges just how many distinct compositions he can fit in approximately three and a half minutes with “As If It’s Your Last,” and for the first time in K-pop hot mess history, it doesn’t suck. The beginning is something of a red herring, where synths and a pounding bass digresses away from whatever subset of EDM it was supposed to be, and make way for a variety of upbeat drums. The gritty front that the girls assume rapidly dissolves as well when the song unexpectedly makes a turn for the bright and poppy. The displaced hook lends the song its ultimate “Pink” quality, which is truly refreshing in light of all the “Black” concepts the group have done up until then. Thanks to seasoned producers, Blackpink is able to enjoy elements of house, pop, moombahton, and more. Now if only they were able to come back with more than a single a year…
2017 was the year of trop-house in K-pop, and while it’s arguable whether we were done with the genre by the mid-year, seemingly out of nowhere we were bamboozled by a gem in the most unexpected of places: the competition show Produce 101. Produced by Hui, Wooseok, and E’dawn of the Cube Entertainment group Pentagon, they gave the show their song “Never” for the concept challenge and was performed by Sons of the People. While the beat is a bit repetitive, it is the overall performance and vocals what made the track impactful and impossible to resist. Consisting of a lineup of members of which almost all of them ultimately made it into Wanna One (#JusticeforJonghyun, never forget), “Never” seemed like the one that was ready to be a single. From Woojin’s sleek and assertive rap to Seongwu’s surprising vocals to Minhyun’s angelic visuals to Jaehwan’s iconic belt, how could this song not reach an all-kill on the charts? In a way, it was “Never” what sealed the deal for the members, for it showed just how much star power and talent they had and how cohesive as a group they could be. The managed to take your typical trop-house song and made it into a hit. And it is so popular and a great live performance track that Wanna One rearranged it to include the rest of the members and perform it at their shows.
—Alexis
4. “Move” by Taemin
It’s hard to explain the magnificence of “Move” as a song itself without alluding to its music video or to the very figure of Taemin. After all, musically speaking, it is possible that another vocalist could have done a decent or perhaps even a good job, but it wouldn’t be the same thing; it wouldn’t sound as if the song was straight tailored for someone who’d connect every move of their body to every note of this simplistic yet exquisite melody. The chords and the basslines of “Move” are almost like sonic representations of Taemin’s eyes in the music video, it’s not even funny. The single resembles the groove of pop legends such as Prince and Michael Jackson, whose work had influenced Taemin in previous occasions, and it’s indeed a performance-oriented song. But these aren’t the only reasons that make this song so perfect for him. Neither 80’s influence nor songs made for dancing are rare in K-pop. But when it comes to artists who can carry a song so full of sexual tension with that level of elegance and artistic maturity, especially in such a young age, Taemin is definitely one of a kind. There are many moments in which “Move” could have taken a different direction in order to sound more like a catchy mainstream hit, but I love the fact that it didn’t. There isn’t one distinctive, outstanding moment, as this is definitely not a song that guides you to one specific highlight. Instead, it keeps you holding your breath during the whole time, never allowing tension to be released, and almost forcing you to pay attention to every word Taemin’s singing. The SHINee member handled this song amazingly and presented us one of the most fascinating moments of the year.
—Ana
3. Sunmi ‘Gashina’
Explosive in its dark synth-pop glory, Sunmi’s “Gashina” is the unapologetically vengeful breakup track that defined much of K-pop in the final months of 2017. With dancehall elements and dramatic, ‘80s-styled beats, the song is a sultry banger that’s filled with double entendres as the former Wonder Girl questions why her former love has turned their back on her pretty, and perhaps thorny or even bitchy, self. Confidently explosive, this is one of the fiercest songs K-pop has seen in years and Sunmi’s dominating, feminist-forward style captured the attention of all of Korea through the gun-shooting and gender-role-swapping choreography of “Gashina.” Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of this from Sunmi as she takes ownership of her return to her solo career.
—Tamar
2. “Not Today” by BTS
In stark contrast to the mellow “Spring Day” off of the same You Never Walk Alone reissue, “Not Today” is the badass sibling and solution for fans of BTS’s dynamic powerhouse sound. It attempts to replicate the underdog hubris of their “Dope” days and large scale, militaristic production of “Fire” while retaining its own identity so as to not get lost within the group’s body of similar works. The inflections in Jungkook’s “겨눠 총! 조준! 발사!” (“Point, aim, shoot!”) battle cry and RM’s monologue in the introduction among other details definitely makes this their most combative song to date. Beyond using their platform as a means of resistance and a call for action, the electronic inspired track feels cinematic too, with blaring, dramatic synths cueing imminent peril. Those synths, in addition to the purposeful lyrics, continue to resonate with us even as we cap off 2017.
—Shelley
1. “Really Really” by WINNER
After losing their lead vocalist, WINNER could have played it safe and returned with the sort of mellow music that they started their career with. But instead, they amped up their sound with the addictive rhythm of “Really Really.” Nothing was quite as trendy this year in K-pop as breezy trop, and this song was the epitome of that with its relaxed beats, dynamic drops, and full-bodied synths. Co-written by Kang Seungyoon and Mino, there’s an immense sense of what WINNER wants to be without Nam Taehyun. Split pretty evenly between rappers and vocalists, the single plays up the band member’s individual skills, with the finely-crafted house track emphasizing their soft blend of hip-pop to create a sound that’s both captivating and fun to dance to.
In a pretty crappy 2017, “Really Really” arrived not only to reinvigorate WINNER’s career but also give the K-pop world a work that was vibrantly uplifting. It’s a good look for the now-quartet and they continued it with their follow-up singles (“Island” and “Love Me Love Me”) and hopefully next year will see even more of that from them.
—Tamar
Make sure to also watch our video countdown of the best songs of 2017!
What was your favorite release of the year? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/50best2017a.jpg7681021KultScenehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2017-12-23 12:41:582017-12-24 07:22:1825 best K-pop songs of 2017
While the year may be closing in a very sad and unfortunate manner with the passing of a K-pop icon, artists consistently delivered memorable songs throughout 2017. This year saw a lot of great moments from some of Korea’s most popular new acts, while newer acts also proved their worth with addicting, sleekly-produced music. Trop was the king of this year’s K-pop trends, but far from the only genre of music that saw its moment in the limelight.
Check out the first half of KultScene’s 2017 best K-pop songs list below:
50. “Circle’s Dream” by Subin
Subin is trapped in an endlessly repeating contradictory cycle in her self-written and composed single “Circle’s Dream.” She is told that she is round and that’s good, but then that it’s not. She wants to be angular, to pierce her lover, to make him feel like how he made her feel. Yet she is also trapping herself within a recurring musical structure, as an acoustic guitar plucks an incisive riff throughout the song. It is the only angular part of Subin’s song yet has no variation. Her stark synths come in late but their slow rhythm only accentuates the repetitiveness. Each element is perfectly realised to tell her story. Her voice completes it. Its soft and sweet but particular pronunciations like denggeureureu are key. This word alone combines both the round and angular sides to her. It has repetitions but in order to say it properly she still has to roll her tongue. Subin has enwrapped her whole song with the confusing ideas in her head. No solo idol has ever produced something of such pointed precision.
—Joe
49. “Wee Woo” by Pristin
If “Wee Woo” had been released at the 2012-ish heyday of Hallyu, Pristin’s debut song would be considered legendary right now. It’s barrage of shifting sounds and onomatopoeic vocals are absolutely classic. The Pledis Entertainment regular songwriter Bumzu brings a bright and breezy feel to the whole production with disco electric guitars taking the brunt of the work. This allows the girls room to deliver the most hooks in a single song EVER. Each part is so complete on its own you could take them individually and create five more songs around them. The fact that they all come together for something that doesn’t feel so monumental is the greatness of “Wee Woo.” It’s arrogant in its effortlessness all the way down to making the primary hook out of the most simple term of jowahae nol jowahae (“I like (you) I like you”).
—Joe
48. “Beautiful” by Monsta X
Monsta X’s cultivated sound and signature unruly charms finally comes together for the consummate “Beautiful.” Perhaps because it is supposed to be representative of the group’s first studio album, the single feels particularly significant. For one, there’s really nothing quite like the opening out there. Scattered with a prominent distorted electronic beat that is quickly followed up by Jooheon’s explosive raps, the real hook is not in the chorus but here in the introduction, where the task for the listeners to not mimic the unique noises or the clever near-rhymes is near impossible. The vocalists dwindle down the excitement sometimes without sounding monotonous, almost acting like the Apollonian restraint to the Dionysian madness. The constant shower of peculiar oscillations, whirs, and horns all make up the perfectly organized chaos that Monsta X is known for, and though “Beautiful” did not grant the boys their first music show win like it should have, it will always remain a tour de force in our hearts.
—Shelley
47. “Where You At” by NU’EST W
With their revival in popularity following some of the members’ appearance in Produce 101 Season Two, this subunit of Nu’est (missing member Minhyun who debuted in Wanna One) released this flashy track which stayed true to their unique music style. Bursts of electronic instrumentals are mixed with a calm piano backing track and adds a lot of contrasts to the song. It also highlights the strengths of each member, with Baekho’s explosive high notes complementing Ren and Aron’s softer and sweeter voices. JR’s rapping is as stable as ever, and he definitely shines more back in his own group. It’s wonderful to see this talented group get more recognition for their talents, and I can’t wait to see the full group back together again soon.
—Anna
46. “You Were Beautiful” by DAY6
The February release of the band’s “Every DAY6 Project” can be said to be their most successful, especially domestically, and it’s not difficult to see why. The raw emotions brought out by the members coupled with the sincere lyrics create a sentimental rock ballad which truly tugs on the heartstrings of listeners. The end of the bridge in particular, where Young K and Wonpil’s voices are layered, is such a beautiful and emotional climax of the song. Even though it appears simple to sing along to (and is apparently a favourite among other JYP singers for karaoking), the song is actually very vocally challenging due to the large range required, and the effortless way the DAY6 members sing it shows just how skilled and well-trained they are.
—Anna
45. “Tomorrow, Today” by JJ Project
After debuting ahead of GOT7’s debut with the exuberant “Bounce,” JB and Jinyoung returned as a more matured rendition of JJ Project this year and it was absolutely glorious. The two vocalists released this sweeping, introspective song about the very-millennial topic of making decisions and fearing regrets. The track provides the perfect forum for the pair to show off how well their vocals work together, with the duo harmonizing over guitar riffs, tapping percussion, and mellow synths. “Tomorrow, Today” is reflective in its warm approach to soft rock, and hopefully we’ll see more of this from JJ Project in 2018. It was a complete turnaround from their first iteration, and definitely more suited for the pair’s artistic style and capabilities.
—Tamar
44. “Don’t Know You” by Heize
Heize’s “Don’t Know You” is a very groovy song full of percussions with a slight mixture of disco, hip-hop, and R&B, which features the soloist using deeper vocals than what we’ve been used to hear from her. The overall appeal of this songs starts at the beginning of the track with the repetitive beats and the introduction of the synth drums that follow different tonalities on the record that give great texture to “Don’t Know You.” Her famous ad-libs are also present on this song as she goes from high to low tones, which are achieved by the reverbs added on the vocal track, that create great contrast between her sexy sweet voice and her solid rap parts. The harmony is very steady throughout and creates a great chill up-tempo track perfect to dance and groove to. Heize continues to show great promise with her experimental sound.
—Alejandro
43. “Tequila (feat. Hoody)” by G.Soul
One can’t help but want to book an immediate flight to somewhere like Bali while listening to “Tequila,” especially with the brutal winter quickly approaching much of the States. Hoody’s bewitching voice alongside G.Soul’s multifaceted vocals make for the perfect combo in this dancehall track, ideal for both a cookout and the club. Lyrically wise, “Tequila” might not be appropriate for all age groups, as G.Soul sings about only wanting a one night stand. But if you’re someone who’s over the generic “let’s fall in love” type of style that is prevalent in K-pop the majority of the time, this song’s for you. The lyrics aren’t candy coated or sleazy, but come off rather… inviting. This wasn’t meant to be a flashy song, which is what made it even more enjoyable. Although G.Soul wasn’t hitting those high notes (that I love so much) like he usually does, it wasn’t a lack felt by this song.
—Tam
42. “Wake Me Up” by Taeyang
It is no news that Taeyang can hold a ballad like no other, and in 2017, he gave us two great ones. “Wake Me Up” doesn’t have the same degree of emotional complexity of “Darling,” the other single from the album, but it’s its apparent simplicity what makes this song amazing and addictive. Objectively speaking, it’s a very linear song with no surprise factors when it comes to its structure. It might even seem like Taeyang doesn’t have much to say in “Wake Me Up,” but it’s definitely not because he’s lacking emotions. In reality, what we see is that he just doesn’t know what to do with them. Everything in “Wake Me Up” sounds gorgeously inconclusive and mysterious — from the airy sounds and atmospheric, echoed beats, to the lyrics that offer more questions than answers. No wonder the most touching moment of the song is when he’s constantly repeating “Is it love?” while delivering breathtaking high notes. Overall, Taeyang’s vocal performance amidst the ethereal instrumental creates just the right vibe for a song that is about love, but mostly about confusion and doubt. After so many years, you can still count on Taeyang to get you in your feels.
—Ana
41. “Honeymoon” by B.A.P
Coming out during the fall when it should’ve been a summer jam, “Honeymoon” is a delightful EDM track from B.A.P’s seventh album Blue. The whistling at the beginning of the song left the remainder open for interpretation; this song could’ve been a sweet one, much like the title suggests, or a somber one. I’m glad it wasn’t the latter. “Honeymoon” puts listeners in a lighter mood, whereas previous songs were dark and heavy, all the while still executing a clear message. “With the overflowing stars from beneath the palm tree. A film on the shining freedom and bright youth,” they sing. Through this track, B.A.P wants to remind us to live life to its fullest, fulfill your heart’s desires to its grandest and emphasises that today’s youth will be the game changer in society going forward.
Taking the bubbly girl group image and tossing it out the window, MINX re-debuted early this year under the name Dreamcatcher. Not only did the group have a new name, but they also gained two new members and an interesting concept and sound. Taking the term re-“vamp” quite literal, the group came out with a dark and creepy concept straight out of a horror movie. The video for “Chase Me” takes references from classic horror movies like The Shining but also has cuts to choreography to showcase the girls dance moves. The song begins with pianos and then picks up at the chorus. Adding31 to the darker image, the song melded hard rock elements with a dance pop track to create something very dynamic. There’s something about the mixing of heavy rock instrumentals and feminine voices that is very appealing. Although the song sounds like it’s straight out of an anime, it is also an interesting new sound that’s refreshing to the K-pop world.
—Katherine
39. “Never Ever” by GOT7
Ever since debut, GOT7 have switched up their sound with every release, experimenting with different styles and concepts, and their first comeback of the year was no different. “Never Ever” follows in the same angsty direction as “If You Do,” yet this track mixes electronic and trap sounds while giving it their signature bubblegum spin. Vocally, JB and Youngjae can always be counted on to deliver outstanding choruses and ad-libs. But reveal of the year was that “Never Ever” is probably the song where the rap line is collectively most stable and the flows, while different, work together. GOT7 is building up a name as a dance group whose choreographies are insane, and “Never Ever,” with its glitches and heavy bass, is the perfect performance track in their building discography.
—Alexis
38. “Love Story feat. IU” by Epik High
One of the two title tracks off of Epik High’s new album, “Love Story” is a beautiful song about love lost. The steady drum beats coupled with the sometimes frantic sounding piano and, later on, the smooth orchestra creates a complex yet easy sounding melody that balances well with IU’s sweet voice and the rap verses of Tablo and Mithra Jin. Along with the concept video of a girl reminiscing about her past relationship through videos and photos on her phone, it sets the perfect setting for a song about heartbreak and loss. As expected with most of Epik High’s collaborations, the group and the featuring artist blend perfectly to portray the story being told.
—Katherine
37. “Wake Me Up” by B.A.P
A lot of the times, K-pop consists of clichéd lyrics and similar concepts. There are times when a number of artists will put out a string of songs, music talking about love, relationships and breakups. Again, the repetitiveness. Just when you feel like you’ve had enough of that sappy stuff, B.A.P appears with an eye opener like “Wake Me Up,” a track that touches on societal issues and mental health to stimulate one’s ear buds. The song has a compelling beat, a sound so strong, it’ll act as the pillar that will hold you up when one is fighting off their inner demons and struggles in life. “This is an endless tunnel, in darkness with no light. Wake me up, wake me up. I need to find myself,” they sing. B.A.P wanted to push awareness and wake up a society that looks away and pretends that issues like racism, judgement, and depression aren’t real issues because these things are very much on going and continue to be real life problems.
—Tam
36. “Palette feat. G-Dragon” by IU
As one of Korea’s most prominent artists, IU on “Palette” seems to be comfortable with her fame and life, assuring both herself and her listeners that she’s changing in ways she embraces. Her lyricism uses cute examples, from changing color preferences to hair length, to demonstrate that she, “Knows a little bit about [herself] now.” The song’s instrumentals are a more alternative play on classic, theatrical IU releases. While the trademark ticking noises and sound effects are present, the song itself is slower and wispier, updated to match a more modern vibe that she seems to have grown into. The top female star of Korean music in the past decade, IU demonstrates that she remains focused on making hits, but now, on her own terms. With the help of a strongly performed and well-placed rap break from G-Dragon, IU on “Palette” lets us further into her excited, changing young adult world. Where she goes next from here, however, we’ll be watching.
—Kushal
35. “Dinosaur” by AKMU
AKMU is known for creating beautiful music, but with “Dinosaur,” the duo really surprised us: they finally added some EDM to their music while managing to make it their own. The electro beats and synths that appear through the track’s melody seem very stripped down and almost make it feel like an acoustic electronic song. The opening guitar in the beginning of the song especially feels like an homage to their earlier music. The synthetic kickdrums that blast before the beautiful notes from Suhyun during the chorus melody and are present through the whole track, giving it an unique mystery to the track. We also get more singing from Chanhyuk instead of his typical talk-like rap, which was surprisingly beautiful. Their voices blend and harmonize perfectly with the synthetic beats that made it an upbeat chill song for the summer. AKMU really had a lot of fun creating this track and used every tool that electronic instruments can give you as a producer. The song is simple but very detailed with a beautiful, heartwarmingly catchy harmony and a light beat that is very uplifting and instantly makes you feel good.
—Alejandro
34. “Dream In a Dream” by Ten
SM Entertainment’s Station project has produced a bit of a mixed bag this year, delivering some truly great pieces of music amid a majority of lackluster ones. But “Dream In a Dream” was one of its glorious high notes. The ambient, east-meets-west styling of the song serves to relay the performance-heavy music video, which highlights Ten’s immense dance skills. Providing a soundtrack to the highly-stylized, contemporary dance video, it’s a song filled with drama and passion. But even as a stand alone track, “Dream In a Dream” delivers something truly special through its symphonic instrumentals relaying Ten’s echoing declaration of love. Lush synths and pulsating beats guide the track as it layers traditional Asian strings and into the atypically-structured melody. So far, Ten has participated in both this and NCT U’s “The 7th Sense,” two hauntingly beautiful, choreography-focused singles, and if this is the direction SM continues pushing him in, it may be the thing that could breathe new life into this era of all-too-similar K-pop male acts.
—Tamar
33. “Shall We Dance” by Block B
Ever since Zico cemented his status as a hip-hop icon in Korea, Block B has pretty much taken a backseat on the ride. And after a couple of quirky, even cutesy releases, it seemed the group had gone awry of the sounds and concept they made a name with. That’s why when they dropped “Shall We Dance” it was way more impactful. More in tune with the “trendy” sounds Zico is known to produce for his solos, the track explores different urban Latino sounds, which particularly stood out this year when artists are still releasing trop-house songs. “Shall We Dance” is groovy, smooth, and just as the title suggests, dance provoking. Being an older male group with a diverse lineup of talented members, it’s important for Block B to color outside the lines and continue to push the envelope as they have always done. And with this song, they did just that.
—Alexis
32. “Girl Front” by ODD EYE CIRCLE
“Girl Front” felt like a particularly important moment for LOONA. When LOONA ⅓ debuted as a unit they were still fairly unknown, a weird project group going about their own thing. By the time of ODD EYE CIRCLE, they had significantly grown with more people both at home and internationally taking notice. The fact that they absolutely nailed it came as no surprise to me, but how they did it was so impressive. By combining the songs of three girls (Choerry, Jinsoul, and Kim Lip) producers Ollipop and Hayley Aitken created something unprecedented in K-pop. “Girl Front” has the peppiness of “Love Cherry Motion,” the dense, propulsive beat of “Singing in the Rain,” and the electronic sheen of “Eclipse.” It’s a miracle that it all comes together to form something coherent let alone this good. The girls give it the last edge of excitement with non-stop vocals as they bounce off one another with glee, building a climax of unstoppable motion and further push forward the most exciting story of the year.
—Joe
31. “I Wait” by Day6
“I Wait” was the first release of the group’s ambitious project, which set a high bar for their following monthly singles. The opening of the song draws the listener in with somber synthesized keyboard notes and dreamy vocals. The mellow beats gradually increase to the more aggressive instrumentals of the chorus, showcasing a much harder sound than what the band has been previously known for. The song continues to bounce back and forth between a softer sound and the heavy chorus, which creates and interesting medium. The video itself isn’t really anything special but somehow still complements the song with the changing graphics and effects. Overall, “I Wait” fulfilled its purpose of drawing in the audience with a new sound, showcasing the band’s versatility and ability to deliver quality songs throughout the year.
30. “MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix feat. Desiigner)” by BTS
“MIC Drop” was already a good song before Steve Aoki’s remix, but with his production, the producer added the aggressiveness that the track needed to be fully solidified as an anti-haters anthem for BTS. He did this by converting the hip-hop track into a hip-hop, R&B, and EDM infused song that made us remember the old BTS from their debut era. The track is energetic and gets you pumped up as soon as you listen to it; V’s deep voice and RM’s raps are major highlights from this record. The lyrics take a very sarcastic tone that even if they seem cocky it makes us sympathize with them. With the new added English lyrics in the chorus, the song makes everyone want to stand up against haters and face them off. BTS creates yet another ode for outcasts and bullied kids all over the world by once again taking on topics that usually K-pop bands don’t talk about.
This ballad stands out with its somewhat unconventional structure and chord progression, but it’s truly beautiful and addictive when listened to in its entirety. The way that Taeyang’s smooth voice connects the various parts of the song elevates it and showcases his impressive range and ability. His raw emotions are showcased front and center here too, especially with the way the song “progresses” in intensity from verse to verse. It’s soothing and intimate all at once, and allows Taeyang to present a more honest side of himself, as compared to being a charismatic star glorified by the limelight.
—Anna
28. “Hola Hola” by KARD
Over the course of three project singles, KARD was able to develop a musical formula that worked. The tropical house and dancehall that undergirded “Oh Nana,” “Don’t Recall,” and “Rumor” provided a strong foundation for when they finally did make their official debut with “Hola Hola,” a timely and bright synthy number perfect for the summertime. Being co-ed is more than just a gimmick for this group; the exchange between tender vocals and throaty raps is the contrast listeners need to keep engaged. The chorus, on the other hand, shifts its weight onto an island beat, and while it would be easy to dismiss this sudden move as overly simplistic, the hypnotic effect is undeniable. It sweeps the carpet from under our feet and displaces us in a chimerical paradise. It is a nice recess from Jiwoo’s spunky rap midway or from any other strained moments, providing us with a sensual and personable comfort. “Hola Hola” only marks the beginning, but already the internationally beloved group has been dealt a good hand, and are making all the right plays to keep momentum going.
—Shelley
27. “Cherry Bomb” by NCT 127
Without a doubt, “Cherry Bomb” definitely encapsulates the sound of NCT127. The different mixes of genres that create a very fresh and futuristic sound create a unique style for the band that has everyone falling in love. The track starts off with a heavy bass and the repetitive “Hurry, hurry, avoid it, right Cherry Bomb feel it yum,” then goes off to Mark’s and Taeyong’s rap, with the pair proving to be the real standouts for this track, while the bridge explodes with Taehyun’s, Doyoung’s and Taeil’s beautiful vocals that melt any listener’s hearts. The song is filled with background synth noises, singed hooks, and creepy sounds that create a very chaotic but interesting track that is reminiscent of the album cover and the title of the song. It’s a classic, sassy and rebellious track and shows great direction for the boy band.
—Alejandro
26. “O Sole Mio” by SF9
Is it possible for someone who lacks rhythm AND coordination to find themselves swaying ones hips and body with precision to the entrancing latin sounds of “O Sole Mio”? This track comes from SF9’s third mini album, Knights of the Sun, only one year after their debut. Rather then SF9’s usual upbeat dance tracks, “O Sole Mio” is captivating in it’s own mellow way. The transitions between the vocal and rap lines were smooth and well-versed, building up to a tender climax without it ever being over the top. The fusion of latin pop to K-pop is still new, but, let’s be real: we all could’ve used a break from some of the generic sounds we’ve heard this year, and the fresh sound of “O Sole Mio” delivered just that.
—Tam
Stay tuned for the second and final half of our Best K-pop Songs of 2017 list, which will contain the top 25.
What was your favorite release of the year? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KultScene-50-best-K-pop-songs-of-2017-50-26.jpg7681024KultScenehttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngKultScene2017-12-22 05:12:512017-12-22 10:02:4250 best K-pop songs of 2017: 50-26
The boys of Astro have done it again. With the release of their fifth mini album Dream Pt. 02 at the beginning of November, they have proven that it’s possible to fall even more in love with them.
In many ways, this latest album marks a transition into a more mature concept for the group. A follow up to Dream Pt. 01, released earlier this year in May, Astro exhibited a more cutesy and boyish concept, as demonstrated by the album cover displaying a pastel sweet shop and the track list being released as a drink menu. But when the teaser images for Dream Pt. 02 were released, there was an obvious difference. In contrast, the new album cover showed six desks and six different colored books to represent each member, suggesting a studious concept. Additionally, the boys’ solo shots also exhibited maturity through their intense gazes and darker colored attire. The wardrobe shift used throughout the album imagery is largely a reflection of the change in weather, but it is also a representation of the change in concept. Whereas, the wardrobe for Dream Pt. 01 consisted of light-colored summertime button-ups, the wardrobe for Dream Pt. 02 consists of dark-colored suits and turtlenecks.
The maturity continues with the music, too. Right from the start, the listener’s attention is captured with the catchy opening notes of “With You.” Being the lead vocalist, it only makes sense that Moonbin’s smooth voice begins the song and entire album. The track begins relatively slow-paced, with Moonbin promising his undevoted attention to his love interest. An obvious transition begins when Sanha comes in, describing the girl’s beauty, and the song’s tempo quickens, building hype in typical Astro fashion. Right before the chorus, MJ comes in, his voice reaching ridiculously high notes, taking this song, as well as the boys’ skills, to new heights. Halfway through the chorus, there is a pause, strategically creating anticipation for what comes next, and the beat drops with all members coming in singing “with you.” Although the use of “with you” can be repetitive, this track does a good job creating an upbeat and fresh introduction to the album and their new concept. Whereas in Dream Pt. 01, the boys dreamed of the girl, “With You” demonstrates the bold move the boys take in already imagining themselves with the girl.
The next song on the album is the title track “Crazy Sexy Cool,” which really demonstrates the act’s matured sound. As opposed to the cheeky smiles and boyish energy Astro exhibited in their last single “Baby,” the boys exude a mature charisma in “Crazy Sexy Cool” with their new, smoother sound, making this a perfect choice for their latest comeback. As the title suggests, this song gives off a “cool” vibe with its slower, but still relatively upbeat, tempo and the boys’ falsetto voices. The smooth tempo of the song reflects the lyrics as they describe the irresistible charms of and chemistry they have with the dream girl. Eunwoo’s distinct and clear voice is especially showcased as he begins the chorus, hitting all the high notes and making listeners swoon.
The music video for “Crazy Sexy Cool” also demonstrates a stylistic change; it begins with a very peaceful scene of the boys sleeping and possibly dreaming, accompanied by a lullaby in the background. The calm is interrupted by a series of loud noises, startling the boys awake to a scene of themselves as the music starts. As always, Astro’s insanely exceptional but underrecognized dancing skills are showcased in the video, and it seems like their skills have only improved. With their crazy footwork and incredible ability to stay in sync, Astro leaves us in awe of the ways they are able to move their bodies. The overall vibe of the video is “cool” and more mature than “Baby,” as demonstrated by intense and piercing gazes that are unexpected yet seductive at the same time, catching us off guard in a good way. However, the boys still occasionally exhibit some of their classic cheeky smiles, reminding us that it is indeed, Astro.
Following the “cool” concept, the next track “Butterfly” carries with it a similar vibe. This song has a huge build-up, beginning as a muffled track with the audio slowly but surely clearing up. This time, Eunwoo begins the song with a “Hey girl” so smooth that it makes hearts melt while demonstrating how his voice has evolved to a more charismatic sound. Throughout the song, the boys compare the girl to a butterfly, cautious and afraid that at any moment, she will fly away. Their caution is reflected in the pre-chorus, as the tempo slows down to a steady beat before picking back up in the chorus. After the chorus, Rocky swoops in with his low husky voice, rapping about the effects this girl has on him and asking her to stay with him. Towards the end, we see a perfect pairing of JinJin and MJ, with JinJin rapping his feelings while MJ’s sings his signature high notes in the background to complement the rap. The caution that is shown through the lyrics and instrumentals exemplify how the boys have matured in the way they approach love. Instead of a carefree attitude, they recognize potential complexities and approach it accordingly.
Starting with “Run,” the album shifts to a more affectionate tone. The song opens with some smooth vocals and a muffled beat that slowly transitions to an intimate guitar melody. Sanha opens by singing about a dark evening sky, matching the serenity created by the acoustics. In a style that’s becoming quite characteristic of this album, the music pauses again before the chorus, allowing the listener to reflect on the lyrics that were just sung, before diving right into a catchy chorus. Eunwoo leads the first chorus this time, his sweet voice so filled with an intensity that convinces the listener of his earnest pursuit of the girl. After one more repetition of the impassioned chorus, the song ends similar to how it began — with a fading vocal and closing with just the melody of a guitar. This track, in my opinion, is the highlight of the album. It demonstrates how the boys have grown to be more intentional and sincere- each conveying his love and determination in his own way, through his own vocal style. I’m going to be real honest and say that when I listen to this song, I almost want to cry because of how sweet and sincere it is.
The concluding track of this album begins with a piano solo, signifying a more ballad-y tune. It makes sense for the last song to have the slowest tempo as throughout the album, we have seen a gradual decrease in pace. Eunwoo begins this track by singing about a lost love, which explains the more reflective nature of the song. When MJ comes in after Eunwoo, the pain in his voice of being separated from his love is clearly heard. After the chorus, JinJin comes in with a rap but it is less energetic than his previous rap from “Butterfly,” mirroring the regret he feels for not treating his love well. However, his rap picks up speed and his voice gains more energy as he describes how he will change and pursue his love again. In fact, I feel as if the entire song gains more energy as the boys sing about the lessons they learned and the hope that their love will be rekindled. The song ends with the piano solo we heard in the beginning, however, after the increasing passion of the song, the listener now interprets the tune of the piano solo as hopeful instead of sorrowful. This song makes for a perfect conclusion to the album as it illustrates the hope that comes with maturity and growth. Because of the lessons and experiences the boys have gone through, they are able to approach love in a new, refined way as reflected by all the songs on the album.
This entire album sticks to the concept of Dream very well and is a perfect representation of how the band has grown since their last album: the boys of Astro go from dreaming of a relationship with their love interest to singing about their dream girl to reflecting on a former love that they dream of rekindling. Every member shows incredible vocal growth and the rich combination of their unique voice creates emotions that the listener can’t help but feel themselves. Even the lyrics and messages conveyed show a more matured way of thinking. The album begins with a high energy that gradually simmers down to a contemplative song of hope. For Astro, it may be a closing song hopeful of the future of their love life but for fans, it’s a song that teases them with what’s to come from the next album from these talented boys.
What do you think of Astro’s latest album? Let us know your thoughts in the comment selection below! Be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all the K-pop news.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Untitled-design-15.jpg7681024Jolene Chaohttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngJolene Chao2017-11-24 11:59:472017-11-24 11:59:48Astro ‘Dream Pt. 02’ Album Review
