JJCC, the boy band formed and managed by martial arts
legendJackie Chan, has
dropped their new single, "ToDay." Formed in 2014, the group has a diverse
array of dance skills, and they speak English, Chinese, and Korean. "ToDay"
is their fourth digital single.
It starts with a basic synth, but soon becomes a
fuller song with electric guitars, a jangly rhythm guitar, and a fairly
understated lead one while a high pitched synth excitedly bleeps in the
background. They put this together well.
The vocals are very smooth, and all seven members
do a great job on the crooning. The raps are okay -- a standard idol rapping
that helps keep the time. The lyrics tell you they want to be more to the girl
than just friends.
I'm fairly sure they were going for upbeat and danceable,
because that's what this is. It's also really catchy, with a couple great hooks
that are a little fuller than what I've been seeing recently:"Please
don't be nice to me," and"Just once today."The chorus is also entirely singable and should
have you exercising your vocal chords too. If you're looking for something
while waiting for your bias' next comeback, check these guys out. You just
might find something new to stan.
HaniandSoljifromEXIDare coming back, only this they're not teaming as
subunitDasoni, but
instead under their own names. Their entertainment company claims thatEXIDwas entering a new era, promising more collaborations and
hinting at more subunits. This isSoljiHani's
first single under the rebranding, "Only
One."
The track starts off softly, with a contemplative
piano, very heartfelt and balladic. But once the chorus hits, it becomes a
mid-tempo pop song, with an understated synth keeping the melody, until it
finally fades into ballad stylings once more and quietly ends.
I've raved aboutSoljibefore, but both girls put in excellent
performances.Solji's vocals don't just soar, they explode like firework..Hanihas a sweet voice that manages to blend nicely withSolji's, making the song seem very sincere. Despite the
prosaic subject matter Despite the prosaic subject matter (a girl missing her man), this is not just a run of the mill song.
OOOHHHH the feels is
strong in this one.AOAJimin's
refreshing new single "Call You Bae" is just dripping with
saccharine sweetness. And Xiumin's vocals? Oh yeah, we're
definitely going to discuss that, too.
"Call You Bae" is a part of Jimin's "#OOTD" project, a
cleverly planned and promoted song that she teased for over a week before the
actual release. The song was bound to cause a commotion especially since Jimin
is in one of the trendiest groups in K-Pop. Of course, that commotion doubled
when it was revealed that Xiumin will be featuring! Though at first it wasn't
certain whether he'd be just making an appearance in the MV or actually get to
sing. Thank goodness for us that it was the latter not the former.
The song itself is pretty generic, a frivolous, easy melody with a piano based
tune, guitar, and bass that all burst suddenly into a energetic, synthesized
dance chorus. The abrupt transition could have been jarring but the song
progresses from the verse to the refrain in a natural enough manner that is
impeccably smooth. The jovial synths continue to tickle our ears throughout the
chorus, and juxtaposed with Xiumin and Jimin's harmonizations, it's a match
made in heaven.
Speaking of Xiumin's vocals...WHY ISN'T HE GIVEN MORE PARTS AGAIN?? His voice
is not the most spectacular nor impressive, and it sounds a bit overly strained
in some parts of the song--especially the chorus--but it's clean and not a line
is out of pitch. Of course, Jimin serves perfectly as the yin to Xiumin's yang,
dropping those verses like hot fire yet somehow managing to sound coy. If I
have to make a minor complaint, it is that I don't personally like Jimin's
style of rapping. Yes, she raps well and her flow is also good but her nasally,
whiny voice grates my nerves. But that's not really Jimin's fault.
All in all, the song is nice and easy to listen to. But I don't see it
dominating charts or lasting in my brain matter for longer than a couple hours.
To be frank, the melody was a little forgettable. I was a little disappointed
because I had high hopes for this collaboration, especially because FNC had
hyped it up so much. But unfortunately those high hopes were quickly crushed
with this generically produced track. If I may also add, Xiumin was the one who
really salvaged this mediocre track. Though the song was generic and Jimin's
voice failed to touch me in the right places, that was not so with Xiumin's
voice.
After their initial success with both 'Girls' Invasion' and 'Lovelyz8,'Lovelyzare back with a new single album, 'Lovelinus.' The title is pronouncedLuv-Lee-Nuss ('Loveliness') although I keep thinking
of this guy when I read it:
They kick off the album with "For You" that starts and ends the
same way,"Doo doo doo doo, Oh my
love,"which makes a killer
hook, and also has nothing to do with the rest of the song. Synth washes, a
danceable beat, and sweet voices complete the picture. It's an ode to guy, and
they're saying that they can get through the tough times as long as they have his
hand to hold.
"Circle" slows it down, a mid-tempo ballad that's
sweetly sung and still keeps good time. Part of what makes this song special is
the harmonies, particularlyJIN,Jiae, andJisoo's parts.JINis a dynamic singer and has some great belts here. It's a
pretty song, having to do with never being quite able to connect with a guy.
"BeBe" starts out
contemplatively, and then revs it into high gear, a high-energy, frenetic tune.
The title is pronounced "Baby," in case you couldn't
guess. You still have their trademark coos, but also some pretty sweet straight
croons. It's nice to hear, and they don't bury anything. It's an interesting
cross between pop and dance, becoming solid dance when it hits the chorus. It's
about a girl getting the courage to admit that she'll always be his
"Bebe."
I've
always liked theLovelyz' output, and while the high voices grate on some,
they're fairly soothing to me. I think if the voices were more shrill or they
tried to be bolder (which is not their image), it would fail. I like their
concept, and I like albums like this. It's never jarring, short but sweet, and
they still manage to surprise me in some parts, in defiance of the formula.
This is another successful single from some talented girls.
Yes, here we have scenes of the girls waiting for rides and
hitching rides to get to Kin Town, Japan (we don't see how they actually got to
the island). Here the girls run through grassy fields, frolic on the beach, and
blow bubbles in a laundromat, among other things. On the whole, it looks like
they're having fun.
While there's no dancing, there are scenes of them running
around together, laughing, blowing bubbles, splashing in the water, and all the
cute things you might expect while they're on vacation. I'm under no illusions
that the shooting schedule was likely grueling, but the editing leaves with the
impression that they were just enjoying themselves, and you can't help but
smile watching them.
The
costumes were the requisite shorts, sundresses, and short skirts that are part
and parcel of MVs like this. Thankfully, it didn't try to squeeze them into
something that looked awkward just to draw viewers, instead presenting them in
a more naturalistic way.
This is an entertaining video to watch, not just because of
theaegyotype things, but also
because some of the shots were framed with the sun in mind, creating scenes
that could be the graphics for a beach commercial or a CF for suntan lotion.
While things are a little too perfect to believe there are any candid shots, it
still doesn't blunt the impact. There's nothing wrong with this MV technically
or aesthetically. It's always fun to see places that you've never been (or may
never get to). While Japan's not the place I'd think of as a vacation spot,
this MV makes it look enjoyable enough to make me rethink that. Thumbs up on
this one.
LABOUMhas dropped their new single for the holidays! After training
for four years, the bandLABOUMwas formed in 2014 under the NH Media-Nega Network venture
GLOBAL H. The name "LABOUM" means "the party" in French. This
is their third single album.
"Intro" The intro is the main tune for their
title track, buried and much less busy. The lyrics are a couple lines straight
from the "Aalow
Aalow" single: "Love also happens" and"you're like me." It's
effective, if a bit meh.
"Aalow
Aalow" is a light, poppy
confection about a girl who's excited and shy at the same time over a boy she
likes. The song itself is drenched in synth, which works well for the main
verses, but in the chorus there's too much going on. It's like they were trying
to mask the singers, and that's no good. It also lacks a hook, which is unfortunate.
So not only is it too busy but also it's not catchy enough to really hold
interest. The title, as near as I can tell, is sort of how you'd say"Hello, Hello" with
an Aussie accent.
The
track "Tasty" is more to my liking. You can hear the
vocals much more clearly on this track, despite it being synth-driven. It's
frenetic in parts and much more danceable than "Aalow Aalow," with even has some idol rapping. You can
also hear them cut loose with the vocals, which is nice.Yulheecapably handles the rapping here, like usual, but
it'sSoyeonandZNwho shine during the chorus. The song is an ode to
a boy who's "Tasty."
This single is a mixed bag. The title track is okay, but it's
certainly not what I would have led with. "Tasty" really takes home that
prize with good hooks, fun rapping, and just an overall more interesting tune.
I've enjoyed their previous singles, but frankly, I hoped for more.
That's pretty much the whole video. They're inside a room
with some vague, large patterns on the pastel walls. There's very little going
on here, other than the girls acting somewhat bored and dancing. There appears
to be about one prop per girl.
There's probably about 3 outfits total. One almost looks like
skirts made out of shower curtain material, another is the cute outfits they
wear while being shown on TV, still another is the white shirt/green skirt
combo, and finally there are their outfits for the individual shots, which are
ordinary street clothes.
I was
hoping they'd do something with the dancing, but they don't show it very much.
It seems like it might be halfway challenging, but there's no drops or any
grandiose gestures, just footwork. I'm hoping it's more complicated than it
looks.
If they wanted to do an MV on a budget, this would be it. It
looked cheap, sadly. The sets were pretty sad, and while I'm sureLaboumdid what they could with
what they were given, they weren't given much. I don't know what happened here.
The teasers looked like tons of fun. The girls all looked lovely here, but
really, that's not enough.
Anda, formerly known asAndamiro, is back with another single! Ever since leaving
her previous label, her style has changed quite dramatically as the agency has
let her creative side run free alongside the musical concepts they push. The
change has lead to smooth tracks like"Mastering" and
now the whispery toned"Taxi."
Something about"Taxi"is mesmerizing. I'll
admit, upon first listen I wasn't interested since it made me miss Anda's
retro-funk. Her powerhouse vocals and raspy voice can't be appreciated over her
sensual, almost talking, lines in "Taxi," yet you can't stop singing
alongside her! Just admit it, "Taxi" is the jam that brings everyone
onto the dance floor at the clubs (much more than"Touch"). She has the elements of
today's hip hop scene incorporated well into her song, such as the finger
snapping, consistent clapping and "heys" shouted in the background,
which make it a perfect dance track, and carry her rhythm so it is on point. I
like how she can showcase her funky R&B interests in this sense because
even though it isn't as over the top as her previous songs, it still
incorporates her branded style. Not that America created this sound, but you
can easily see how this single was following America's favorites from tracks
like"Fancy" byIggytoTrey Songz' "Oh
Nana."
Lyrically, the song is easy to follow and is something you
don't have to think about. She expresses how she misses her previous lover and
needs a taxi to simply take her anywhere from Hongdae to Itaewon. It paints the
idea that this taxi is her escape from harsh realities- just like her music is
intended to be. Despite not having much depth, it is still well done for this
type of song. The easy-to-follow beat makes this song a great playlist addition
because of the familiar instrumentals and irresistible urge to move wildly to
her hypnotizing voice. If you haven't seen a live performance yet, Anda and her
dancers go ham in the choreography so it makes anyone wonder how listeners can
resist dancing to this upbeat track. The switch from the chorus to her bridge
raps are comfortably done, and she holds her own with each verse. If it weren't
for her low promotional budget, I am confident her charismatic charms would
bring her to the top. It could be quite possible she is doing well on the
Korean scene, but she still has a long road ahead of her as a solo artist. This
just means she will push out even better tracks as she has the potential to do
great things as an artist.
Unfortunately, the MV proved differently. It is just not
captivating or interesting enough that if it weren't for watching her live
performances, I doubt this song would have grown on me. Although, she is simply
doing what every other male rap artist in America does. Dress fleek, rap in a
boss car - boom, music video done. So I can't give her a low score for
attempting an angle most female artists in Korea don't. Other than that, I keep
to my previous comments that "Taxi" is a mood changer and the reason
I leave the bar to dance my butt off
Six Bomb isa
group that probably needs an introduction.SixBombdebuted way back in 2012 underJang Entertainment as a sextet. It wasn't long before
they were considered broken up. In 2015, Pace Maker Entertainment rebooted the
band with an all-new lineup and a remake of "Step To Me,"
a song from their first mini-album. Now they're back with an original single, "Wait 10 Years Baby."
The
song is okay, but nothing to write home about. It's kinda catchy, but there's
not a lot to it. It feels stripped down and spare, with just a lonely synth
beeping to keep the time. It's hard to tell about the vocals, nothing to
distinguish any of the girls from one another, and there's no amazing bridge or
anything similar. The only thing I liked was the rap, and that's because it
broke up the monotony somewhat. I was hoping for more to it, maybe a more
fleshed-out melody.
Not as strong as their previous releases, like "Chiki Chiki Bomb" and "Step To Me," so I was disappointed
with this track. Well, we've waited 3 years, and then another year after that,
so... yeah. I could have cheerfully waited longer for something of higher
quality. Maybe even 10 years -- baby.
Some things can't be unseen. I'm not sure what this is. It
defies description, simply because there's not a whole lot to describe.
Semi-cute girls, revealing outfits, and then...pink bodysuits? Oh, and there's
apparently a party going on. With balloons. And candy.
The
wardrobe was okay, the leather goddess schtick is a little cliche, and the pink
bodysuits were the wtf moment here. I'm not sure what they were going for, but
I think I missed a concept somewhere. That being said, the outfits in the party
scene were cute, but that was unfortunately a very small part of it.
The dancing was rather lackluster. It seemed like they were
just going through the motions, though everyone was in sync. It just seemed
like something they were doing to muddle through, and not like they spent money
on a choreographer. I was hoping that at least the dance sequences would excite.
*Sigh.*
In the
music world, you need to make a video. Sometimes, it leads to an amazing visual
feast that you want to replay again and again. This is not one of those times.
It's like they didn't know what they wanted to do with it, so they filmed three
different versions and took the best scenes (highly debatable) from each and
cobbled them together. Or worse, they started filming and ran out of money
three times. This MV was done on the cheap and looks it. I know they don't have
the best quality MVs out there, but I think they could have done a bit better.
