In honor of the KPOPme team attending BTS‘ concert at KCON 2014, I’m going to briefly talk about BTS’ upcoming comeback and why you should be excited for it.
As the majority (if not all) of us know, BTS debuted a little over a year ago with No More Dream. I remember watching that music video and wondering if this group of little boys would actually make an impact in the already overcrowded K-Pop scene. I am happy to say that they made me eat my words. Looking back at that music video the boys all look so young and innocent, butthey came out hard and continued to do so with their later releases.
2013 was the year of BTS. They won New Artist of the Year at the MelOn Music Awards and released their debut single album 2 Cool 4 Skool as well as their O!RUL8,2? EP. With each single and performance BTS proved that they were in this industry to make a long-lasting impact.
Although BTS won the New Artist of the Year award in 2013, they came out hard and ready to take on 2014. With the release of their second EP Skool Luv Affair, BTS proved, yet again, that they are always churning out hit after hit. Their debut track Boy In Luv stayed with the tough hip-hop theme of BTS’ previous singles. It wasn’t until Just One Day (하루만) was released that fans saw a softer side to BTS. They manage to perfectly blend their talented rapping with their beautiful vocals to create an appealing song.
The boys have been busy performing throughout Asia as well as in California since the end of their Skool Luv Affair promotions. But, they have constantly been uploading short videos to their YouTube channel to stay connected with their fans around the world. This past week BTS gave fans really what they wanted and released their comeback trailer for their first studio album Dark & Wild.
The tagline reads:
WARNING! Love hurts, it causes anger, jealousy, obsession, why don’t u love me back?
From the comeback trailer, as well as the tagline, it is clear that BTS’ next album will explore the idea of love and the roller coaster of emotions associated with it.
Dark & Wild will be just that. BTS continue to stick to the school-age love theme and why not, when it’s working so well for them? Naturally their material showcases the members’ growth in maturity since their debut. But they are still teenagers and sing and rap about what teenage boys are going through. That is one thing that I really enjoy about BTS. Their music speaks to who they are as producers, musicians, singers, rappers, and people. They don’t worry about the latest trends in K-Pop, but stick to their instincts to produce authentic material for their fans.
The comeback trailer starts off with a fairytale-like string and horn introduction and Rap Monster’s upbeat and happy rapping. He raps about his love for this girl and eventually how the two of them have confessed their feelings for each other. About half way through the trailer, the music takes a turn and slows down and is no longer happy and upbeat. Rap Monster’s tone also changes to one of annoyance and irritation. Even the graphics change from bright, warm colors and graphics to cold, dark tones and graphics.
All of a sudden he is the victim of a one-sided love, where he loves the girl and she no longer shows interest. The trailer perfectly depicts the tagline in the picture above. Things started out smooth and all lovey-dovey and then all of a sudden obsession, jealousy, and anger take over and cloud one’s judgement.
Based on the comeback trailer, Dark & Wild will be another amazing comeback for BTS. Even without the trailer I would still think that way. It’s all that’s keeping me sane until August 20th.
Are you guys excited for BTS’ Dark & Wild comeback? Do you think it will surpass their previous comebacks? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BTS-Dark-Wild.png6981279Tarahttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTara2014-08-09 18:45:262014-08-09 18:45:26What Can We Expect from BTS’ “Dark & Wild”?
Marriage, Not Dating may almost be over, but it is worth your while to binge watch the 10 episodes currently available and fall in love with the drama like the rest of us! I stumbled upon this drama randomly about a week ago and decided to watch the first episode. I’m glad I did because I was hooked after that and ended watching the rest of the available episodes that weekend. I did pick it initially for the title, I’m all for long term love and commitment, not for hookups and constant flings. That’s why I value marriage such a great deal, whether its atheist marriage, christian marriage, muslim marriage, it doesn’t matter because to me the qualities and morals of the pairing are all the same no matter what belief you have. So when I saw this, I thought wow this will take my fancy! And I was right, but not entirely for those reasons I had thought in the beginning.
There are a lot of factors as to why I enjoy this drama so much. I would say most of them are subtle reasons that cater to my personality. I love sarcasm, wit, one-liners, comedy, and romance. Marriage, Not dating has all of that and more. So I decided to highlight the 5 biggest reasons (according to me) why you should start watching this great drama (they are in no particular order).
1. The concept The storyline of Marriage, Not Dating is somewhat complicated and most likely unrealistic, but who cares? Gong Gi Tae wants to stay a bachelor, but his nagging mother wants him to get married. She tells him that she will set him up with a bride of her choice if he doesn’t get his act together. Gi Tae and Joo Jang Mi cross paths, and they end up starting a fake relationship. A concept that’s similar to how someone in real life might hire a london escort to be their “partner” at an event. So it’s not too far-fetched that they do this in the hopes that it will get Gi Tae’s mother off of his back. The end goals are so Gi Tae can live alone as a bachelor, while Jang Mi aims to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be Gi Tae’s best friend.
Meanwhile, Jang Mi’s coworker (and friend), Gi Tae’s friend Hong Doon, Hoon Dong’s employee Yeo Reum, and Gi Tae’s ex-fiance, along with Jang Mi and Gi Tae, all end up mixed together in a mess of relationships and pheromones (look here if you’re asking what are pheromones?). It’s not the greatest description of the show, but trust me when I say that it is an entertaining drama that will keep you begging for more.
2. Jinwoon of 2AM 2AM’s maknae, Jinwoon, has a fairly prominent role in this drama. He is Hong Doon’s employee and Jang Mi’s potential love interest. He doesn’t have very many lines in the first ten episodes, but he has plenty of screen time, and his smile will seriously make you melt.
I see why Jang Mi falls for him: he’s tall, handsome, has a great smile, he can cook, and he shows off his fit body while at the beach! From that description alone, he seems like the perfect man. But there are few things that have happened so far that may make you wary of him. And I have a feeling something more may happen in the later episodes. It seems like he has a lot of secrets, and it’s almost impossible to get them out of him.
3. The adult content (don’t worry it’s all PG-13) There are a lot of dramas that don’t talk about kissing, boyfriends, girlfriends, sex, and things like that. Then again, there are a few that do. I’ve noticed that tvN’s dramas tend to talk more openly about relationships and what goes on while two people are in a relationship.
There are a lot of not-so-subtle moments where Gi Tae implies that he and Jang Mi are always sleeping together. He mostly says things like that to his mother, so she won’t keep barging in at his house. It’s refreshing to watch dramas that don’t shy away from all aspects of relationships (even if this relationship is fake). It makes the scenarios seem more realistic, and they are more relatable for mature audiences.
4. The comedy Another thing I love about tvN’s dramas is the comedy. Every drama I have watched on tvN has been more mature, with great comedic scenes, one-liners, and characters. Marriage, Not Dating is no exception! Since there are already 10 episodes that have aired, it’s hard to pick out a single funny moment.
However, there is one episode in which the Gi Tae’s mother visits Jang Mi in her workplace, and she desperately needs to use the bathroom. The whole episode shows Jang Mi’s struggle with trying to get to the bathroom before she explodes. In a way it’s a metaphor of her current position in life, where she’s constantly put into uncomfortable positions because of her fake relationship. But the acting throughout the episode really makes you feel for her. That is only one example among many throughout the series so far.
5. The REAL kisses I know I’m not the only one out there who gets so frustrated whenever there is a kiss in a K-Drama. More times than not, the kiss consists of the male character placing his lips on top of the female character’s lips. There is no passion, no movement… nothing. It’s awkward and sometimes cringeworthy to watch. Already in 10 episodes of Marriage, Not Dating we have seen two REAL kisses with two different men. You go, Joo Jang Mi!
It’s obvious when two characters are about to kiss. The way the director sets up the scene tells you something is about to happen. Most of the time the two characters look into each other’s eyes, and then the slow motion and repetition of scenes sets in. Other times, one character is rapidly talking about something while the other character stares lovingly at them. Then BAM, the kiss. And in this drama, we get real kisses with mouths open, reciprocal kissing, and most of all, passion.
There are still six episodes remaining, which I patiently await. I hope Marriage, Not Dating continues to impress me with the remaining episodes. SO many times a drama loses its initial spark toward the end of the series. But, I have high hopes for this one.
Are you guys watching Marriage, Not Dating, what do you think of it so far? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/marriage-not-dating.jpg400600Tarahttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTara2014-08-08 20:45:052015-01-19 01:11:135 Reasons to Watch “Marriage, Not Dating”
During an artist’s debut or comeback, they promote one or sometimes two songs from their recent release. I find more often than not that there are songs on the album that I enjoy much more than the title song, or songs that I think warrant the same amount of popularity as the promoted track(s). I will highlight a few of my favorite B tracks found in my K-Pop collection. This is by no means a definitive list; it is solely based upon my opinion and the styles of music I tend to gravitate towards.
There is no rhyme or reason as to how I chose these songs. If I enjoy the beat, vocals, instrumentation, etc. then the song is most likely on the list. I also looked at how many plays these songs have on my iTunes. That’s a pretty good indication of if I really like the song.
Artist: SHINee Album: Dream Girl: Misconceptions of You Song: Spoiler
When I first heard Spoiler I thought my iTunes somehow messed up the first song. I thought it re-downloaded Sherlock (Clue + Note). I rewinded the song a few times before I decided to keep listening to see if it really was Sherlock. SHINee got me good with that one. I realized after the first 10 seconds that it was indeed a different song. When I first listen to a song, I tend to listen to the beat and the music of the songs as opposed to the lyrics. For K-Pop, that’s really all I listen to since I don’t understand 98% of the lyrics. Anyway, Spoiler has a sick beat. There’s no way around it. There are so many different elements in the song, but they all fit together and don’t take away from the song or overpower the vocals.
Speaking of vocals, all five guys have a dark tone to their voices throughout the song, and especially leading up the chorus. This was the first SHINee album where everyone’s vocals really shined and impressed me. Obviously, Jonghyun and Onew always had great voices, but Key, Taemin, and Minho have all improved tremendously and Spoiler gave fans a hint of what to expect, vocally, on the rest of the album. I already loved the song, but after I found out that Jonghyun wrote it, and that it was a song that introduced the songs on their Misconceptions albums, I fell more in love with Spoiler, which is aptly named.
Artist: SHINee Album: Dream Girl: Misconceptions of You Song: Punch Drunk Love
I want to highlight another song from this album. Initially when I started to compile this list, I wanted to stay away from repeating an artist and definitely stay away from choosing more than one song on the same album. But as I went through my K-Pop collection I had to choose Spoiler as well as Punch Drunk Love. They are two songs that I will never skip over in my K-Pop collection. Alright, Punch Drunk Love. Listen to it with headphones. That bass is brilliant. The entire musicality of the song is a blast from the 60s, 70s, and a few elements from every era afterwards.
The instruments used and sound of the song was one reason I was initially drawn to Punch Drunk Love. The whole thing was different from the K-Pop songs out at the time (and even now a year and a half later). But the main element that made me fall in love with this song, aside from the super upbeat and funky vibe, was the harmonies of these amazing men. You can hear their wonderfulharmonies throughout the song, but it isn’t until the last 5 or seconds that the music cuts out and all we’re left with are the angelic voices of SHINee. Definitely the best 5 seconds of that song.
Artist: f(x) Album: Red Light Song: Dracula
Keeping it in the SM Town family, my next B track favorite is f(x)’s Dracula. Before I ordered their Red Light album, I listened to all of the songs online to make sure I enjoyed the majority of the album. I’m one of those people who tends to only like a small amount of songs on an album. But Red Light’s songs were all different and enticing in their own way. Dracula was one that stood out to me for a few reasons.
The first reason is the amount of English lyrics in the song. Obviously there are two native English speakers in the group, but I couldn’t help noticing and appreciating how good Luna’s, Victoria’s, and Sulli’s English pronunciation is.
The different tempo changes throughout the song all work really well together. The song starts off with a deep, dark voice and then goes into an uptempo beat. The transitions connect each tempo change perfectly. The leadup to the chorus brilliantly showcases Luna’s and Kyrstal’s voices. And that chorus, so simple, yet so so memorable. The song overall has a catchy beat throughout and an easy chorus to sing along to, and that stays stuck in your head (in a good way). Honestly, how can you go wrong with a song titled Dracula? Well, I’m sure you could, but f(x) certainly did not.
Artist: Zion. T Album: Red Light Song: 지구온난화 (Feat. 양동근)
Zion.T. I could leave my explanation for this choice at that. But I will elaborate. Zion.T has a unique voice that I absolutely love. It’s so smooth and has a tone I haven’t heard before. Every song he sings and features on is amazing. I love hearing his voice and 지구온난화 gives fans a different side on Zion.T. The song is heavily influenced by reggae, which is one musical genre that I love. Pair a reggae track with Zion.T’s voice and you win. Hands down win. The song has a chill vibe that will have you swaying and falling into Zion.T’s vocals.
This song is in the top 5 of my Top 25 Most Played Songs playlist on iTunes. And that is saying something. 오늘부터 1일 (First Date) starts with a piano and Nichkhun’s attractive vocals. The piano is prevalent throughout the song and keeps an upbeat tone as the guys sing of their love. We’re able to hear everyone’s vocals throughout song, along with Taecyeon’s rap. The piano is paired with horns as the song gets to the chorus, which adds another layer and more texture to the sound of the song. It’s a fun and cute song that fits with any season and always makes me happy when I listen to it.
Artist: Beast Album: Good Luck Song: We Up
Alright, alright. I’m breaking my own rules with this one. Beast did promote We Up with Good Luck, but I couldn’t overlook this song. For starters, the beat. I mentioned it before and I’m sure you have noticed, but if a song has a solid and catchy beat, I’m already into it. And if Junhyung’s “Give it to me now” in the very beginning doesn’t pull you into the song then his singing definitely will. Whenever I listen to We Up I find myself moving my head and shoulders to the beat.
The chorus, which Dongwoon begins, draws you in with the opening word “tonight” then Yoseob finishes it off with his beautiful vocals. I really can’t explain why I like this song so much. All of the elements are there. The music, the vocals, the beat, the tempo, the overall feeling. I’m not sure what We Up really means, but this song always puts me in a good mood. It’s perfect for blasting in your car with the windows down, not a care in the world.
Artist: Yong Junhyung Album: Flower EP Song: Slow
My next choice I’m going to Slow it down (pun intended unfortunately). This song is off of Beast’s rapper Yong Junhyung’s debut EP. Slow showcases Junhyung’s delicate singing as well as his attractive rapping. I usually do not enjoy slower songs, but Junhyung’s producing skills clearly pull at my heartstrings. Somehow, he manages to make me listen to the entire song without a thought of skipping over it. And that, my friends, is a great feat. I love the song. The beat, I love the beat and the fact that Junhyung is singing as well as rapping (I love his rapping). It’s a good listen.
Artist: G-Dragon Album: Coup D’etat Song: 너무 좋아 (I Love It) Feat. Zion.T, Boys Noize
Zion. T makes another appearance on my list, this time with Big Bang leader G-Dragon and Boys Noize. 너무 좋아 (I Love It) is off of GD’s most recent album Coup D’etat. The first time I heard this song, I was in awe. I think I replayed it at least 5 times afterwards. The beat, piano, vocals, rapping, production, overall mood, everything are all amazing. All of these elements fit effortlessly into this song to come together and create one of my favorite songs. It’s not only my favorite song on this album, but from out of all of G-Dragon’s solo collections.
And, can we just take a moment to admire the gritty vocal tone of Mr. GD himself? I LOVE IT (the pun is obviously there but not intended, because I’m being sincere). The singing and rapping fit together like missing puzzle pieces and they create a beautiful end product. Zion.T’s vocal quality and tone added to GD’s gritty, raspy vocals creates a beautiful pairing that should be utilized many, many times in the future.
Artist: History Album: Desire EP Song: I Got U
If you read my previous article about History, you’ll know that one thing I love and admire about these boys is how well their voices go together. Their harmonies are impressive, and they sound like they have been together for years! I Got U is the leadoff track of their latest EP, Desire. History promoted Psycho, which honestly took more than a few listens to grow on me. But as soon as I heard I Got U, I was hooked. I don’t know if it would have been a better promotional song, but I’m glad I came across it. I Got U is one of the reasons I bought Desire.
History’s always-present harmonies are sprinkled throughout I Got U and, again, that beat. It always draws me in… Always! However, the bass is definitely what holds this all together; it’s strong and prevalent throughout the song. But, I can’t just write about I Got U without mentioning History’s vocal abilities. It seems like this song excels at it all: harmonies, falsettos, strong vocals, soft vocals, sexy vocals, deep vocals, and pretty much EVERYTHING. These guys deserve more recognition!
Artist: CNBLUE Album: Can’t Stop EP Song: Like a Child
To close out this article I leave you with CNBLUE and Like a Child. From the title alone, you know this song is about innocence and the beauty found in the simplest of things. CNBLUE melts my heart with the melody of this song and Yonghwa’s vocals. I actually also put this song on my “Easy Listening K-Pop Edition” playlist. The piano and strings blend perfectly with the drums and guitar and bass. Everything fits so well and the song makes me feel weightless and happy.
I picture CNBLUE performing this song in a lush, green field with a light breeze and the sun shining upon them. The English translated lyrics say:
Like a child, just like heaven, a melody to spread all over the world Like a child, just like heaven, a melody to make you smile
How can one go wrong with the feeling of being a child again and the glorious elements associated with the belief of Heaven? Like a Child is a song that fits any season and any mood. This song can be played all day every day. If you’re feeling a little down, play Like a Child. If you’re in a great mood, play Like a Child. If you’re getting ready for a job interview, play Like a Child. It’s a mood changer and a mood maker; a beautiful song.
There are so many amazing B tracks out there and this is only a very (very) small portion of them. If you have suggestions of B tracks that I should check out, leave your choices in the comments below! I’m always looking to broaden my K-Pop horizons.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/b-tracks-2.png7681024Tarahttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTara2014-08-06 12:47:362014-08-07 17:26:47Best of the B Tracks
YG’s highly anticipated boy band WINNER is finally debuting. Although the group has already a large fan base around the world, there might be a few folks that may not know anything about the members.
WINNER consists of five members: Kang Seung Yoon, Kim Jinwoo, Lee Seung Hoon, Song Minho, and Nam Tae Hyun. They opened for BIGBANG in their Japan tour and starred in various CF prior to their debut. They successfully concluded their ten episode run of WINNER TV , where we all got to meet them without the stress of competing, went on to open senior label mates 2NE1 on their All Or Nothing tour, and appeared on Taeyang’s Ringa Linga video as backup dancers.
The group has already released various photos and teaser videos that demonstrate how their image has changed from their trainee days. They have matured their cool boys style into fashionista men. The launching show will be on August 8, 2014, followed by the online-release on August 12, 2014, and offline-release on the 14th.
[WINNER’s 1st Teaser, The Visitor]
[WINNER’S Debut Album Teaser]
The Name:
They were formerly Team A in the show WIN: Who Is Next? where they competed against Team B. They won the show and got crowned as WINNER, which became the name of their group.
The Members:
The leader Kang Seung Yoon might seem familiar: he was a former contestant of Superstar K2 and appeared on High Kick 3. He debuted as a solo artist on YG Entertainment with three successful singles: Wild & Young, It Rains, and Stealer. He was born in 1994.
Kim Jin Woo is the oldest member of WINNER. He is the main vocal of the band and started training in YG since 2010. Throughout the run of WIN: Who Is Next?, he showed that he was a hard worker. He worries a lot about his members, and, as their hyung, he takes good care of them. He was born in 1991.
Lee Seung Hoon is one of the rappers and main dancer of the band. He was a former KPOP Star 1 contestant when Yang Hyun-suk saw his potential and signed him as a trainee for YG Entertainment. He was born in 1992.
Song Minho started as an underground rapper, who then went to train as an intended member for BLOCK B and later on dropped the project. He debuted as a rapper on the group B.o.M, but the band disbanded after not having popularity. His rapping skills were recognized by his seniors, T.O.P. and Tablo. He got recruited for YG in 2013. He was born in 1993.
Nam Tae Hyun is the maknae of WINNER. His droopy eyebrows gave him recognition throughout WIN: Who Is Next? He is one of the vocals of the band and one of the most popular members. Beside having a beautiful voice, he helps the members with producing and composing the songs. He was born in 1994.
Everything seems to point out to the right direction for WINNER. They will have a very successful debut as the newest boy band from YG, since BIGBANG. They debut has been highly expected by many and the time has come for WINNER to show what they have.
What do you think of WINNER? Do you think they’ll have a successful debut? Don’t forget to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Intro-To-WINNER.png600800Alejandro Abarcahttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngAlejandro Abarca2014-08-05 17:57:372014-08-05 17:57:37Intro To WINNER
Once a week, KPOPme will post a list with all the latest music videos and singles released. We will aim to recompile every single song each week, but between the multitude of K-Pop groups and OSTs released weekly, sometimes we’ll miss something. Please let us know if we do! We aim to please.
Here are the release from the end of July and the first few days of August. Some of the biggest names (JYJ, HyunA) made comebacks, and some interesting debut songs (HA:TFELT, Red Velvet) were also released this week. Check them all out!
[Music Video]
JYJ Back Seat
Red Velvet Happiness
HA:TFELT (Yeeun) Ain’t Nobody
Clazziquai Project Madly
Sunny Hill Once In Summer
Tae Wan Good Morning feat. Vebal Jint
BESTie Hot Baby
4L Move
LC9 East Of Eden
HyunA Red
High4 A Little Close feat. Lim Kim
Sonnet Son Love Again
[Song]
Davichi It’s Okay, That’s Love [OST It’s Okay, That’s Love]
Bob Girls Oh My Boy (Summer Edit)
Sunny Days Half Of The World Are Men
What was your favorite song released this week? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
This Let’s Discover is a true one in that I will focus on rookie group Mamamoo. I’m not sure how many people have heard of this girl group, but I want to give them the spotlight. Personally, I didn’t discover them until a few weeks after their debut, and I decided to see what their music video was like. I am so happy that I stumbled upon this group. These four ladies have an immense amount of talent and I look forward to watching their career blossom.
Mamamoo consists of four girls: Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa. They debuted in June with Mr. Ambiguous. The song has strong jazz and swing elements to it, which is the perfect style for their sultry vocals. I did not hear anything about Mamamoo leading up to their debut, or even after their debut. Nevertheless, Mr. Ambiguous is a great debut song.
(Top, L-R) Whee In, Hwa Sa (Bottom, L-R) Solar, Moon Byul
As I mentioned above, the jazz and swing elements in the song make it stand out among other K-Pop songs. The song sticks to traditional instruments and does not heavily rely on machine-made sounds. It is not overly produced and, to me, it gives off a crisp feeling, because of the different sound from the mainstream K-Pop songs out now.
Aside from the refreshing sound, the music video for Mr. Ambiguous boasts appearances by well-known celebrities. Wheesung, K.Will, Lee Jonghyun (CNBLUE), Bumkey, and Baek Ji Young, among others, all make appearances in the music video. Even if these girls do not have a strong commercial following (yet), they are certainly given love by some of the big names in the business.
From the music video, it’s clear to see that these four ladies are talented individuals who shine as a unit as well. The style theme they chose for their debut sticks to the older sound of their song. They wear fitted, yet modest dresses, sensible heels and just the right amount of makeup to act as an accessory rather than a separate character. Their hairstyles and colors are also simple and do not take away from their vocals, which was the right decision for this debut. With voices like these, the outfits, hair, makeup, and accessories should accent their vocals, not overpower or overshadow.
Mr. Ambiguous was a perfect debut song for Mamamoo. And the fact that part of Mamamoo’s choreography incorporates fake mustaches was enough for me to like them. Their mini album Hello contains six songs all of which stick to the older, jazz, and swing sounds.
As I listen to the mini I picture myself in a lounge enjoying a cocktail while Mamamoo perform their songs flawlessly on stage. Their songs transport me to an era before I was born, but one that I long to experience.
Aside from a kick-ass mini album, I literally just found out today that Mamamoo sings a song from the OST of my favorite drama at the moment. Love Lane appears in the drama Marriage, Not Dating, and when I fist heard it played in an episode, I immediately paused the episode to look up the song. I was excited to see that it was Mamamoo, and not in the least surprised based on the vocals in the song.
I hope Mamamoo gains the love and support they deserve. I’m interested to see if their future comeback will stick to the jazz and swing-themed music or branch out into other genres. Quite frankly, with the vocal ability of these four ladies, they could probably pull off any genre. Only time will tell.
What do you guys think about rookie group Mamamoo? Do they have what it takes to thrive in the constantly-changing K-Pop genre, or will they thrive in other ways? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
You may remember our past article on BEAST‘s music video fashion in Good Luck, but I think it’s imperative to go back in time and take a look at their overall comeback. Once you really look into the music video, you’ll get caught off-guard at how symbolic it is!
Music Video
This may not be the most amazing video in the world, but it’s near the top of my favorites list. You see, it combines intense choreography with a meaningful plot that really ties into the song; watching this music video was quite the pleasant experience.
The video wastes no time on dropping the mood on you; right from the beginning, the dark, cool colors and scenes of cheating and dischord. At some parts, the coloring is almost completely unsaturated, which does partners well with the atmosphere. Other scenes focus on a blue and orange color scheme, with pops of green and red now and then. Implementing complementary shades definitely works well for the conflicted feeling you get from the idols, acting as the foundation for this well-executed video.
The introduction, with an orchestra playing a Gothic sequence, also serves as the warning seriousness and reflects the dark emotions experienced by the members. Add the repetition of the “make you mine” and “good luck to you” wording during their street sequence to the camerawork that ebbs and weaves through their expressions, and you realize how hard it is for them to accept this reality of a break-up.
Plotline
I generally see the same story in these break-up videos with male groups: there’s a girl whom everyone loves, but she’s cheating on all of them. So yeah, the plot is a tad typical. However, that doesn’t mean that this is a typical video. There’s a complex mix of emotions that are heartbreaking when you figure out what’s going on, especially with Jonghyun’s scene at the dinner table.
But first, let’s observe the numbers, 2046 and 2047. They’re most likely used as time markers, but I like to do a little research just in case there’s a hidden meaning. I managed to find some interesting tidbits: 2046 was a Hong Kong-Chinese film that dealt with an affair, while, in 2013, researchers predicted that a climate departure would occur in the year 2047, in which the average temperatures around the globe will be significantly higher than those in the past.
At 2046, Doojoon puts back the woman’s heel as she lies motionless on a bed; this appears to indicate the aftermath of an affair. At 2047, Kikwang finds out about the promiscuity of his beloved, and that’s when the heat begins to rise, and the action picks up.
If you go by American time, 2046 translates to 8:46, which was the approximate time that 9/11 occurred and the first airplane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Even extending from time alone is 8:47, corresponding to John 8:47, which states, Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.
When you look at the music video through those perspectives, the amount of shock and horror resonates as the BEAST members find out the truth. After catching onto the affair, Kikwang most likely doesn’t see his sweetheart in the same light, as she is no longer with him.
Of course, these is merely me being extremely analytical and pulling out a tad too much meaning. However, I’m not going to ignore the obvious Biblical allusion that comes at the 3:30 mark of the video:
At first, you think it’s just representing the feeling of betrayal that Jonghyun feels from the girl. However, it’s not a shallow feeling; the dinner table alludes to the Last Supper, after Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty silver coins, and before Jesus was ultimately arrested in Gethsemane.
That’s a pretty awful sense of betrayal, and the video makes it worse by showing you how the girl stabs Jonghyun in the heart, with no fighting back from him. This resonates with Jesus accepting his fate and still forgiving Judas while awaiting his demise at the cross: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
That pretty much ties everything together with this song; the members know what their love has done to them, and, while they hate the act, they still love the girl and wish her good luck.
It’s been a while since I’ve watched such a heavy-laden video!
Makeup
As uber fashionista and fellow writer Alejandro already went into detail about the fashion, I’ll just talk about their makeup. This darker concept made good use of the pale skin, black eyeliner, slightly smoky eyes, and finely groomed, straight brows that reflect the emotions of each member. A matte, light BB cream was most likely used for their faces, although the color editing probably affected our perception of their looks. Nude and light pink lips showcase the rawness of the video, and that’s basically their makeup for the video. Simple but effective!
Choreography
This video was roughly about 60 percent plot and 40 percent dancing sequence, which means that we got a pretty good glimpse at the choreography. I definitely liked what I saw, from the high energy to the sharp movements. There were moments of restraint, especially at the chorus when they say good luck:
They pause when they give the victory sign, as if they’re still unsure about letting go. The focus on the legs and arms represent their chase of of this love and the eventual release of such love:
I think watching their live performance is a better example of the choreography (plus they’re great at singing live):
Song
I really like this song, from its flow to the way it picks up the tempo to the fluid transition to and from the raps. You don’t just feel sad from listening; you feel regretful, betrayed, and angry, and that amount of depth is always wonderful.
Instrumental
Although I was pulled into the video because of the orchestra, the instrumental is still beautiful. They may rely on electronic sounds, but the moments when they use the piano and guitar are played very well. I’m also adoring the tempo, especially when there’s the pause right at the chorus. It’s addicting, and, even though that moment doesn’t have instrumentals, you still get pumped up because it’s a build-up factor.
Lyrics
The lyrics may have more of a bitter aftertaste, but you can still understand how much they loved and how much they lost. Here’s the English translation from pop!gasa:
Why why you leave me alone baby I’m still still loving you You’re leaving me right now but I hope you’ll be happy You always had a habit of telling me our looming farewell (the last) I always had a habit of telling you I’ll do anything to protect you
(I wanna) Hold you tight Make you mine Never leave me alone I only want you, that’s all I need Eventually everything fell apart Why are you leaving me like this
Good luck baby Good luck to you You better be happy if you’re leaving me, the one who only knew and looked at you. Good luck baby Good luck to you No matter who you meet you better be as happy as the amount of pain you’ve left me with.
I hate you love you Several times a day Up and down Feels like an elevator Heal me I’m heartsick There ain’t no cure for my disease I’m worn, because of you I can’t uphold the immense pain you’ve left me with In this situation I find myself putting my hands together for you. I pray for ya, Good luck to ya
(I wanna) Hold you tight Make you mine Never leave me alone I only want you, that’s all I need Eventually everything fell apart Why are you leaving me like this
Good luck baby Good luck to you You better be happy if you’re leaving me, the one who only knew and looked at you. Good luck baby Good luck to you No matter who you meet you better be as happy as the amount of pain you’ve left me with.
You have to be happier, just remember this no one will love you more than I did I might be just one of your many farewells but you will be my first and last.
Good luck baby Good luck to you You better be happy if you’re leaving me, the one who only knew and looked at you. Good luck baby Good luck to you No matter who you meet you better be as happy as the amount of pain you’ve left me with.
Ouch! Even if this ex doesn’t know the amount of pain, you can feel it from the lyrics alone. What’s even more heartbreaking is that they wish her happiness; a lot of people want their exes to suffer for their betrayal and break-up, but it’s so depressing when you see how they’re the ones accepting the pain.
Style & Vocals
Yoseob is known for being a great vocal, but the wonderful part about this comeback is that everyone gets to shine! Each member gets a decent amount of lines, and they’re not the easiest notes to hit when you’re dancing as hard as they are. This style is something that BEAST has done before, with Fiction, but there’s more energy this time around, with more layers to the song. It combines ballad, pop, and rap well; this ranks just as high as Fiction on my favorites list.
Overall Ratings
Do you really need me to explain my ratings?
MV: 9/10 Song: 9/10 Both: 10/10
Did you notice all the allusions in this video? How did you feel about BEAST’s release? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a fan of HyunA; her charisma and variety show personality are just too interesting to ignore, and her songs are quite catchy. While I wasn’t a huge fan of Ice Cream, Red is a completely different matter. When I saw the first teaser, I was a little bit weirded out –what exactly was her theme? Needless to say, my question was pretty much answered when the music video came out.
Music Video
Let’s just get this over with: yes, the big props and white backgrounds do remind me of Miley Cyrus‘s We Can’t Stop. However, that doesn’t mean that HyunA is copying Miley’s “style.” If you haven’t already noticed, We Can’t Stop is basically an upgraded version of Lady Gaga‘s Just Dance, so let’s stop the copycat-name-calling and actually pay attention to HyunA’s style development.
At first glance, all I got from watching this video was the following: HyunA is a queen who’s holding a pretty rad party that involves a little booty. Actually, a lot of booty. But when you look past the bums, you can really tell that this is just a really fun music video. In addition to the light-hearted feel, you also get to appreciate HyunA’s cool side as she raps. I prefer this side to her rather than an overly cutesy, cringe-inducing baby voice and aegyo overload.
The setting switches around, from a jungle to a room to what appears to be an Egyptian-style arrangement. All in all, it brings together the whole “HyunA is back, she rules” feeling.
Plotline
So… Plot… Yeah, I can’t say too much about whatever storyline this video has, but I can guess. There’s obviously a lot of emphasis on red (duh) and monkeys; the song takes inspiration from a popular children’s song involving monkey butts, although I’m a little wary of how this song will affect the children.
It opens up with a baboon butt and someone stabbing a poor apple with a sharp heel (I’m assuming HyunA), and the obliterated apple imagery continues throughout the video.
The apple, in my opinion, could very well reflect HyunA moving on to a new style; it could also be her response to any anti-fans who don’t approve of her sexy image. She does take a bite of the fruit later on, so that might just be her way of saying “I don’t care.” The lady knows she’s sexy, and she’s killing it, so why not a sexy comeback?
The majority of this video is just the idol showing off both her sexy and cute side, with some really funny scenes involving butt-slapping and an intense party with big props.
Even in all this seemingly nonsense silliness, there are moments of seriousness in the bridge. She pauses the fun to contemplate something, but, unless you understand the lyrics, you’re not really sure what she’s thinking about.
Fashion & Makeup
I’ve always loved HyunA’s makeup, and this was no exception. She went with the big, dolly eyes route with colored lenses and an extended eye crease makeup look. Add that with a combination of nude and bright red lips, and you’ve got a winning number!
Let’s also not forget about this beauty mark that brings out an extra umph factor:
Her eyes really draw you in with some spaced out, natural looking lashes (I’m pretty sure they’re falsies, but she could be using fiber mascara), and pulling out her natural eye shape with some dark eyeshadow and tightlining with black eyeliner. Her smoky eyes and contacts compliment each other; I really commend her makeup artists!
As for her hair, she’s keeping with a more natural, dark brown-black, layered cut and side bangs. This really fits her face shape very well, and I envy her hairstylist as well.
For her fashion, there’s a lot of things that she wears, from fur coats, turtlenecks, and animal (and banana) print to a leather outfit, a sheer nude maxi dress, and, my personal favorite, a Playboy bunny-esque gold minidress with a matching mask that includes bunny ears:
She also uses long earrings that slim down her face and brings attention to her lips.
Choreography
If anyone has ever told you that dancing in a sexy manner is easy, then you should point them to the choreography for this song. Believe me, you might think it’s just a bunch of wiggling your butt around, but it’s WAY much more than that.
In fact, I’m so mesmerized by how intense this choreo is that I’m gonna share the live performance:
You notice anything? It’s a dance that puts fluid body rolls together of hard-hitting pops and drops; throw in some six inch heels and you might just end up in a hospital if you’re not conditioned like HyunA.
There’s a lot of leg power going into this, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she has rocking quads and a firm butt because of this dance.
Song
I love the song, but not all of its parts. As a whole, the vocals and the instrumentals work well together, but when you break it down to three parts, including the lyrics, there are some issues.
Instrumental
The instrumental is a fault, albeit not a big one, for me. It’s very upbeat at some points, but it honestly feels cluttered at other points. I could do without every single electronic effect put into the song; when you put in the vocals, then it works well. However, when the instrumental is by itself, then it’s a little too busy for me.
Lyrics
With complete honesty, I have to say that I did not understand the lyrics when I first read them. Do I understand them now?
Not really. I do know that they’re inspired by a children’s rhyme, but, other than that, it mainly feels like an anthem for HyunA’s return. Like a “Hey, I’m back!” sort of deal, with an addicting chorus. Here’s the translation from pop!gasa:
Make it so cool, make it more hot Red lipstick, make it more red (red) Make it so cool, make it more hot Red lipstick, make it more red (red) I put on red lipstick, I’m red (red) My cuteness that makes you wanna bite me is like art Every night, you think of me like spicy ramen Come in first if you like me
Hyuna’s back A better body than anyone else is a full option for me I’m gonna warm up and run Because that red thing, that’s me Now I’m gonna go up on stage
Don’t leave me, I’m so lonely right now At least you don’t leave me, I’m the only one here I might change right now
A monkey’s butt is red, what Red is Hyuna, Hyuna is yeah A monkey’s butt is red, what Red is Hyuna, Hyuna is ah
(Oh~ Eh Oh Eh Oh) Uh, uh red is Hyuna (Oh~ Eh Oh Eh Oh) Uh, uh red is Hyuna
Make it so cool, make it more hot Red lipstick, make it more red (red) Make it so cool, make it more hot Red lipstick, make it more red (red)
Everyone stop, I’ll punish you so stick out your butt You won’t be able to handle me every night Say H Y U N and A A killer dance, I’ll kill on stage, My confidence reaches the sky I won’t say much more
Don’t leave me, I’m so lonely right now At least you don’t leave me, I’m the only one here I might change right now
A monkey’s butt is red, what Red is Hyuna, Hyuna is yeah A monkey’s butt is red, what Red is Hyuna, Hyuna is ah
(Oh~ Eh Oh Eh Oh) Uh, uh red is Hyuna (Oh~ Eh Oh Eh Oh) Uh, uh red is Hyuna
Red is Hyuna
Hyuna is red, Hyuna is red Hyuna is red, red is Hyuna
Hyuna is red
Don’t leave me, I’m so lonely right now At least you don’t leave me, I’m the only one here I might change right now
A monkey’s butt is red, what Red is Hyuna, Hyuna is yeah A monkey’s butt is red, what Red is Hyuna, Hyuna is ah
(Oh~ Eh Oh Eh Oh) Uh, uh red is Hyuna (Oh~ Eh Oh Eh Oh) Uh, uh red is Hyuna
However, I’m not going to overlook the spicy ramen, nor the “I’ll punish you so stick out your butt,” because those are just golden. I laughed more than anything!
Is this a piece of compositional genius? No, not even close. It’s just really fun. And funny.
Style & Vocals
Red brought me back to HyunA’s Change era, with improved rapping and charisma. Her style is definitely moving along with what’s popular with a Western feel. She retains her own personality, with more development, and I’m pretty proud of her improvement!
For her vocals, I think they’ve remained stable from her past comebacks and collaborations, and that’s still good. While there are a lack of power vocals, it’s understandable, given the intensity of the choreography.
Overall Ratings
I did honestly like this comeback. It’s something that isn’t really common in K-Pop, and I think that’s interesting. I did have difficulties understanding the lyrics and video, but that didn’t prevent me from enjoying Red. Here’s my rating:
MV: 6/10 Song: 8/10 Both: 7/10
How do you feel about HyunA’s new sexy video? Was it funny, cute, or strange? Be sure to share your thoughts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/HyunA-Red.jpg720960Thucydideshttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngThucydides2014-07-30 21:45:162014-07-30 22:03:25HyunA’s “Red” Music Video & Song Review
SM Entertainment’s upcoming girl group is raising a lot of expectations, but most people don’t really know anything about the four members of Red Velvet. After doing a little bit of digging, here’s what is known about Red Velvet.
The four members, Seulgi, Irene, Wendy, and Joy, have all been part of SM Entertainment for sometime- the first three were introduced to the public several months ago as part of the pre-debut unit SM Rookies, while Joy was trained in the formal SM system.
So far, the group has released a teaser for its debut song, Happiness. Happiness will be released on August 4, according to Korean sources.
The Name:
Red Velvet, according to SM Entertainment, “brings together red, a fiery and seductive color, and velvet, which evokes feminine and soft images.”
Fans may recognize Seulgi, as she recently appeared in Henry’s music video for Fantastic. She also featured on Henry’s song Butterfly. Seulgi was the first member of Red Velvet to be cast by SM Entertainment, when she joined the entertainment company in 2007. She is known to speak Japanese. Naver says that Seulgi was born in 1994.
Irene followed Seulgi, and joined SM in 2009. She is said to be skilled at rapping and modern dance. Fans may recognize her from Henry’s 1-4-3 music video. Irene and Seulgi appeared in a SR14G (SM Rookies pre-debut group) video for Be Natural. Irene is rumored to have been born in 1991.
Red Velvet’s international member, Wendy, was born in 1994 and is from Canada. She was cast in a 2012 SM global audition, and plays several instruments. Prior to Red Velvet, Wendy released some solo songs, and was featured on the OST of the drama Mimi with the song Because I Love You.
Joy is a bit of a wildcard, since she wasn’t publicized as a member of SM Rookies. Other than the fact that she was also cast in 2012, there seems to be very little information about Joy floating around.
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What do you think of Red Velvet so far? Will this group be SM Entertainment’s next hit? Don’t forget to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
https://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Red-Velvet.jpg9401598Tamar Hermanhttp://kultscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/KULTSCENE-LOGO-2018-TRANSPARENT-RED.pngTamar Herman2014-07-29 15:55:462014-08-03 15:23:30Intro To Red Velvet
In light of Sistar‘s recent comeback, I wanted to dedicate this Artist Spotlight to the sexy quartet. Sistar came on to the scene back in 2010, with their debut track Push Push, a Brave Brothers creation. In terms of a debut song, in 2010, I suppose it was pretty decent. As I watch the music video and listen to the song today I realize how generic and bland it is.
For me, Push Push fell flat. The autotune is too much and the beat doesn’t really add to the song. The video is pretty standard in that it is a lot of Sistar dancing in different sets with different outfits on. The song has a good amount of English lyrics, which makes it easy to sing along to and hard to get out of your head.
However, I don’t want to take anything away from Sistar’s debut. It’s hard to be able to see what a group will become from their debut song. Luckily in Sistar’s case, things seemed to keep going up and up.
Brave Brothers produced Sistar’s debut mini album, and don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of Brave Brothers’ songs and productions, but sometimes the songs all just blend together. Shady Girl and How Dare You are both different from Push Push and each other, but to me they do not sound all that different from each other; they’re too cohesive (in my opinion).
As Sistar released more and more singles, they began to show who they really were as artists and as singers. As 2012 came around, Sistar was back at it again with the help of Brave Brothers. Alone was a smash hit and this is one of the styles that I prefer from Brave Brothers. Alone is raw, sexy, and showcased the ladies’ enticing vocals.
This was a huge step up from their debut and really showed K-Pop listeners what Sistar was about. The choreography for Alone is a perfect example of how a simple leg dance can become viral overnight and help define an group’s song.
Since debut, each member of Sistar has completed solo projects. They have all done numerous activities, including Hyorin’s solo debut, Soyou’s duets and collaboration projects, Bora and Dasom’s acting, and, of course, various appearances on variety shows by all of the members.
Each member of Sistar brings a different element to the group. Hyorin is the most recognizable and well-known member of the group. Her amazing vocals can been heard on her solo album, singing with Stevie Wonder, and singing the Korean version of Let It Go in the film Frozen.
Not only is Hyorin a well-known vocalist and member of Sistar, but she is also a member of the sub unit Sistar19 with fellow member Bora. The duo had a spectacular comeback with the Brave Brothers song Gone Not Around Any Longer, which became an immediate commercial success. The song created, yet again, an infamous dance this time with a table.
Bora is more recognized for her variety show appearances and her athleticism at the Idol athletic competitions. The petite speedster can hold her own on the stage as well as in the field with the best athletes of the idol world. Bora has recently dipped into the acting pool as well. She was a supporting character in the drama Doctor Stranger that ran from May through the beginning of July. Hopefully we’ll see her in more acting roles in the future.
Soyou had an extremely successful collaboration with Mad Clown for their song Stupid in Love. The song became a success, and even earned the duo a win on Show! Music Core. Stupid in Love allowed Sistar fans, and music listeners in general, an opportunity to truly hear Soyou’s beautiful vocals.
Dasom has appeared in a number of music videos and most notably acted as the lead in the drama Melody of Love. Out of the four Sistar members, Dasom and Bora are the only two that I have seen numerous times on variety shows. I remember watching one show that Bora and Dasom were on, and Dasom stole the show with her wit, humor, and fun and care-free personality.
Since their debut, the ladies of Sistar have continuously improved their craft and stepped out into acting and variety shows. They may not be a huge force in the latter two, but nobdy can deny that Sistar has a certain spark about them that makes people attracted to their songs.
Recently, Sistar made their comeback with Touch My Body, a fun song not produced by Brave Brothers. Sistar, as I’ve mentioned, is known for sexy and sensual dances. Touch My Body‘s choreography includes those aspects, but also adds a bit of humor and oddness with the stiff leg wiggle.
Without listening to the lyrics, the beat, instruments, and overall production of the song is a perfect mid-summer jam that makes me want to dance all night with my friends under the hot summer sky. Oh Sistar, you’ve hooked me again with your catchy tunes.
From Push Push to Touch My Body, Sistar has definitely evolved in vocal abilities and range. They are clearly comfortable with themselves to sing about deep and mature subjects such as loving and drifting apart as well as the obvious lust and attraction between two lovers.
Do you enjoy Sistar’s earlier songs or their more recent songs? We’d love to hear you thoughts and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.
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