The performances I chose are some of the most creative, most confident, and best-executed performances -- they're strong from top to bottom and side to side. These are the performances that bring out some of the best talent in K-Pop, and that really do a good job of showing it off.
There are albums that come with fireworks and explosions left and right, but at the same time have all the foundations laid out firmly. It's those kinds of albums that made the list this year, but first I had to find them, because believe me when I say that there weren't a lot.
The acts on this list fall into one of those two categories -- acts who I think did a phenomenal job this year and deserve to get even bigger, and acts who I think have the potential to do well next year. These are the rookies who proved themselves, whether it be in one area or all, and managed to stand out.
Infinite started out with material a cut above the rest of their fellow rookies and now that as permanent fixtures in K-Pop, they carry on with material that's a cut above everyone else. "The Chaser" is everything this list aims to put forward, and everything that I, as a critic, want from a song.
This is what happens when you give a good song to a good singer and do a good job delivering it. This is what happens when people in the industry pull themselves together and do a good job because they genuinely want to. This, my friends, is called magic.
It’s taken me time to write about JJ Project because I’ve been enamored with them for the past week and a half, which led me to just watch them in awe and spazz over them (that and I got sick earlier this week, so I was pretty much useless after I put out my Inki recap). Even with just three proper songs on their EP, there was so much to digest, and so much happening. In a good way, of course, but a lot nonetheless. I think you’ve all caught on to the fact that yes, I like JJ project, despite half their EP being rap-centric.
The reason why I like them so much is because they’re convincing, because there is as much effortlessness in their execution as there is conviction. See, this is what I mean when I say that execution matters just as much as good material. While good material will take you places, equally competent execution will drive the point home.
And that effortlessness is really what you need for material as fun and straightforward as the songs on “Bounce”, because what these two guys do is give the otherwise thin JYP material some spring. Save all that soul for Miss A or half of the Wonder Girls -- I like my boybands jumping through hoops and fire like there’s no tomorrow. Not that JJ Project is technically a boyband, but then again, you can say the same about DBSK post-JYJ. Anyway. “Bounce” is what I’ve been looking for in a boygroup for a long time now -- effortlessly fun material, complete with literal jumping around stage. But at the same time, whether you watch them or not, the material is still brilliant, which instantly adds points to their score.
And really, the production on this EP is glorious -- almost reminiscent of what JYP did to “Wonder World”, which was epic in every way imaginable, the only difference is that while the Wonder Girls were sophisticated and crisp, and JJ project gave the material just that much more grit and spunk.
“Bounce”, the song, is all over the place. One minute you have rap verses, the next you have singing over a hip-hop loop, then out no nowhere this rock part comes up. In all honesty, if I wasn’t so used to the stunning “Rising Sun” and “O - Jung. Ban. Hap.”, I’d find it strange. And let's face it, it's not the world's most amazing and ground-breaking song either, However, two things make this song so right -- the fact that I have background in K-Pop, which eliminates all shock, and the fact that, again, the two of them carry the song so well, with the right amount of everything. And by everything, I really mean everything -- from intensity and conviction, all the way down to grace and effortlessness. Honestly, and I know you’ll all probably kill me for the corny pun, but the only way to accurately describe “Bounce” is that is has bounce. Literally. Good choice of title, JYP.
“Bounce” and “Hooked” remind me so much of pre-DBSK boyband material brought to the present, where we have all these fancy new recording equipment. The basics are all there though -- the rapping, the singing, the song structure, and even the melodies and chord progressions themselves.
“Hooked” is my favorite of the three, but I can honestly say that I love this entire EP as much as I love the songs individually, and this favoritism is more a personal preference than it is a technical one. The melody is gorgeous, the hook is catchy yet ridiculously subtle (did you even notice it?), and the rapping is so much more bearable than all the other acts I’ve heard over the years. It’s so 2005/2006 Rain/Se7en in the way it’s “Hip-Hop”. The song as a whole is slightly heavier than “Bounce”, but the effortlessness is different in “Hooked”. It’s like the difference between dark and milk chocolate -- while they’re both really good, dark chocolate is a lot heavier to the taste.
Honestly, if we were talking of just melodic parts, the ones on “Before This Song Ends” are my favorite. Backed by as epic as an instrumental as you can get from techno, the melodies are really flow-y and absolutely stunning, and Suzy sounded great as well. Although, what I didn’t like with the song is how even JJ Project’s execution couldn’t hold the song together. I mean, they did it with the same amount of conviction and effortlessness as the rest of the EP, and that part shows in the song, but the structure itself is very disjointed, even more than “Bounce”. Add that to the fact that the hook was deliberately made repetitive, and you have something that only really sounds good at a club or in large, open spaces, not at home, through your headphones. Although, may I say that it’s effective in being a clubby, and that’s basically the point of the song.
I know I said the Shinhwa album was the best release of the year so far, but I’m afraid they’ll have to relinquish that throne to JJ Project. JYP may have had a lot of blunders over the years, most of which I refuse to acknowledge anymore out of shame, but when he gets it right, he really gets it right. Because this, my friends, is how you handle a debut -- by going full steam ahead, carrying actual talent and bucketfuls of conviction.
I've made it out alive! Another week of complete music core recaps -- congratulate me! :D I quite like the current line-up, it has the right mix of good, bad, and in-betweens, and a lot of them to boot! We wrap up a complete comeback week for G.NA and B1A4, as well as debut week for VIXX and JJ Project. All our regulars are also in attendance -- TaeTiSeo, EXO-K, SISTAR and Infinite, among others.
*Recaps for VIXX and Dalmatian will follow in the next few hours.
JJ Project - "Bounce"
See -- a little enthusiasm goes a very, very long way. Though their Music Bank performance was still the most technically strong of all their debut stages, I still think that this is easily one of the best debuts I've seen since I got into K-Pop, simply because these two were made to be on stage. Breathlessness will always chase them, but apart from a few parts here and there, they're handling it very well -- and even rapping in mid-air! They carry the song extremely well, they move with both grace and firmness, and they show exactly how much they enjoy being on stage, and prove how much they deserve it. They have, single-handedly, reminded me of why I went into K-Pop in the first place.
Hello Venus - "Venus"
Another consistent performance today, and apart from the overpowering backing track which SBS is legendary for (in the bad way, obviously), everything else was in-check. Boring around the edges, but consistent, at least.
EXO-K - "MAMA"
Before they started singing the verses, I was ready to say that maybe their way of showing their so-called "passion" was too concentrated on their facial expressions, so much so that it no longer looks effortless. But then when the first guy started singing, I stopped trying to make excuses for them. How many weeks have these guys been promoting? Why do they still look so uninterested and confused? Again, I make exceptions for debut stages because from experience, going from rehearsal rooms to broadcast stations with dozens of cameras in every possible direction is confusing, but after debut week they should be over all this confusion. I really don't get it, because everyone says that "oh they have so much passion, oh they're such good performers", but I don't see it, because they sure don't move like it.
B.A.P. - "Power"
I don't know if I just wasn't paying enough attention yesterday, but today's performance sounds a bit flat. Their presence is still there, but during their last few performances, their delivery of the song alone made me want to watch the rest of their performance -- that didn't happen today.
B1A4 - "Baby Good Night"
Not only is the chorus extremely anticlimactic, it's also ridiculously cheesy and weak, which is why even the so-so verses can't make up for it. What makes it even worse is that they sound horrible live, because they can neither sing the melody or the harmony properly. Another example of okay performers and so-so singers being ruined by bad A&R. I don't know about you, but it definitely won't be a good night if I heard this song before I slept.
Dalmatian - "E.R."
The sub-par SBS sound is of absolutely no help to Dalmatian's case. The belting at the chorus was stronger than I thought it would be, which is good, but apart from that the rest of the song is like a jumble of whispers to me, not singing. Their presence is okay, but nothing special, and they, as a whole, are very generic.
A Pink - "Hush"
Pretty strong vocals, considering that it's A Pink, but I'm afraid even that isn't enough to make me like the song even a bit. (A)Cube just keeps screwing up this year, and I'm beginning to lose my patience for them.
G.NA - "Summer Star" + "2Hot"
It pains me to think that while comeback week for G.NA is finally over, we still have a good three or four weeks of her degradation to watch. I don't know if I can take that much. She's starting to get the hang of the ballad (ever to slightly -- it's only painful 80% of the time now compared to the 100% last Friday), but that's a very minuscule improvement compared to what could have been. In case Cube hasn't gotten the picture yet, I meant that they should've given her a better song, because this really is a joke. Please tell me I'm dreaming.
Infinite - "The Chaser"
And this, my friends, is how you do class on a mid-line budget. Get a distinct song, use the best production you can, and deliver it well with style and fluidity. This is proof that you don't need to be high-budget to be classy, because at the end of the day, majority of the sophistication comes from the performers themselves. And Infinite has class.
SISTAR - "Alone"
Let this be a lesson to girl groups everywhere -- please, if you're going to be cheap, you might as well go all the way. Don't try to hide it behind a flimsy "sophisticated" facade, because you'll end up like SISTAR. They may have a few talented members here and there, but that all went down the drain when their cheap material and stage mannerisms ruined it.
SNSD (Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun) - "Twinkle"(WINNER)
Seohyun just needs to work on her release. She's like an un-iced cake right now -- she has all the technique and she's pretty much good to go, but she could be a lot better. And, icing also allows the cake to adapt to whatever occasion it's for -- Seohyun doesn't have conviction in her flexibility as a singer like Taeyeon does. Otherwise, another strong performance
I don't know what it is with Saturdays, but up until just now, I wasn't planning on writing a recap. But then I realized that if I didn't write one, I'd just bum around the house, complaining about how bored I am and how my laptop is overheating because it's so hot. So, here I am. Debut week continues for JJ Project and VIXX, as well as comeback week for G.NA. Quite a few absences today from She'z, A Pink and F.Cuz, but Girls' Day are on again.
VIXX - "Super Hero"
So I listened to their EP after yesterday's show, and material-wise, I'm actually starting to like these guys! It's very Infinite-esque without being a complete rip-off -- classy in the low-budget kind of way, but classy nevertheless. Their vocals are okay for a rookie group, nothing special, (and what the hell was that rap part and why was the guy's voice cracking left and right?) but if they can work on that and at the same time sustain their good material, that would be great. I'm keeping my eye on them for now.
JJ Project - "Bounce"
One of the best parts of my "job" is when I get to watch, and talk about, groups like JJ Project. Seriously, they're probably the only rookie group since I got into K-Pop, that has managed to make me smile within five seconds of stepping on stage. Their stage presence is really, really strong, and even if it's what the song requires, they genuinely look like they're enjoying themselves, and that turns into fluidity and sophistication. Today's performance was a lot shakier than yesterday's, but their foundations were still firm, which is what's important at this stage. JB looked really distracted during his solo parts, which I find strange. He has to fix that by tomorrow, because the more he does it, the more it will stick.
Hello Venus - "Venus"
This is the point where their performances start to bore me, not necessarily because of the group themselves because when I actually watched the performance they were pretty much all spot-on, but because the song itself was never really that good. It was okay, and considering the circumstances it was released in I had no qualms about it, but once all that wears off and you're left with just the song, and girls who aren't the world's best performers -- it gets boring.
EXO-K - "MAMA"
I'm still really bothered by the fact that K is still so robotic when they perform. Like, fine, put it down to nerves when they first debuted, but it's been over a month already, the nerves should have settled long ago. Seriously, I stand by my statement that whether or not they really do enjoy the stage, they sure don't show it.
Dalmatian - "E.R."
Aaaand the whispering is back. Things were looking up for you, Dalmatian, why did you have to go in and ruin it? Today's performance was right in between "okay" and "painful", so one more performance like this and you guys are off my "to watch" list.
Girls' Day - "Oh! My God"
The best compliment I can give Girls' Day at this point is that I prepared a barf bag specially for their performance today, because seriously -- the combination of the girls and the song, and basically everything about this song, makes me want to puke.
G.NA - "Summer Star" + "2Hot"
"Summer Star" and "2Hot" are complete disasters, again. No surprise there, seeing as this entire promo cycle is a joke.
Infinite - "The Chaser"
Their performances just keep getting stronger and stronger every time. Stage presence, check, stable vocals, check, fluid movement, check, and group dynamic, check. It's such a joy to watch performances like this, because instead of complaining about every single detail I can just sit back and genuinely enjoy them.
SISTAR - "Alone"
A few seconds in, the YT video of this I was watching muted. Was that a sign that this performance was going to be boring anyway so why bother? I mean, I won't deny that I think it's a really good thing that people other than Hyorin are actually stable live singers now, but for a girl group for their stature, and considering everything they've won with this, I expect much, much more from them, and from the song. Such cheap performances, trying to pass for "sophistication".
SNSD (Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun) - "Twinkle"
Did I just hear Seohyun put that much more power into her belting just before the first chorus? Did I? I think I did! Granted, it's not much, but there's a part of me that really wants her to do well. But anyway, today's performance made me realize that I actually have a hard time imagining SNSD as nine, or TaeTiSeo in SNSD, partially because my ears are having such an amazing time hearing three girls who can actually do more than just hold a short melody, even if the song is meh. I don't know if that's good or bad, but for now I say it's okay.
Lots of acts to cover on this week's recap, with comebacks and debuts to add to the already-packed line-up. I was really surprised at how long this recap turned out to be! New girl group She'z, boy band VIXX, and JYP's JJ Project make their Music Bank debuts, and we see the return of F.Cuz, B1A4 and G.NA, all armed with new material. No more 4Minute, so that means that SISTAR should start wrapping up promo for "Alone" as well. Also in attendance are now-regulars EXO-K, A Pink, B.A.P., TaeTiSeo, Hello Venus, and a host of others. Is it really a surprise who won today?
VIXX - "Super Hero"
Yet another new group I've never heard about. I should really do my homework before writing these recaps, because I literally just added these guys in when they came on with JJ Project. From the performance alone they're pretty average, but being a new group I see potential. The song itself has a beautiful melody if they can sustain singing it right live, and individually, they move very naturally on stage. Group dynamics are a bit off for now, but it's good that none of them move like robots individually. I'm keeping my eye on them out of curiosity.
She'z - "My Way"
While major label girl groups seem to be at a standstill in terms of vocals, it looks like the lesser-labels are starting to understand the concept of a "singer", because these girls are all rather stable live singers. The voices remind me of some members from the ill-fated Black Pearl (who didn't really have a good debut either but yeah), which is an okay thing, but with the right songs these girls could really work. We need to work on the material and the choreography though, and get you girls more flattering costumes. But I'd rather that be the problem than a total lack of vocal ability.
JJ Project - "Bounce"
And that, my friends, is how you pull off a debut stage, complete with literal jumping and prancing around stage. It wasn't a perfect performance, but what makes them so much better as live performers is that the mistakes they made, and the problems I saw, aren't the type that needs continuous practice and drastic changes -- they're little problems that can be easily fixed by telling them where they went wrong, like slips with the words, not looking at the camera, the little details like that. I'm starting to really like JJ Project, with their old-school K-Pop sound and their apparent talent laced with a good group dynamic, which was what I was worried about the most. When I saw the video I couldn't really tell whether the two worked well as a duo, but after today's performance (and yesterday's M!Countdown one as well), I think it's safe to say that I worried for nothing.
Hello Venus - "Venus"
These girls are really growing on me. I hate the poofy skirts today, but everything else about the performance is on-point. Vocals are stable, presence is there but not overpowering, and they're starting to move more and more like a group. I just really hope they don't go down the Girls' Day route, because this is a dangerously few steps up.
EXO-K - "MAMA"
This late in the game and they're still moving around like robots? I understand that it's partially the nature of the choreography, but EXO-M do it perfectly fine. It won't hurt to move with fluidity, and if anything, it'll make it much less of a chore to watch them perform if they show some semblance of delight or joy in their movements. Their vocals are doing a lot better, and they no longer sound like fighting pre-schoolers, which is a relief, but something has to be done about that scream at the beginning. If you can't reach that high, lower it!
B.A.P. - "Power"
Another strong performance from the five-piece today, and I really love how even if I'm not a big fan of the song, they literally peeled my eyes off my computer screen so I could watch the performance. I can't really comment on the rapping, but their vocals were stable today, and very gutsy. Not yet a convert, but I'm working on it.
A Pink - "Hush"
I love the outfits, but that's basically the only thing. Their vocals are getting much more stable, but it's of no help because this song was doomed from the very beginning. Just skipping along now.
Dalmatian - "E.R."
It's good that the whispering has been solved and I can actually hear actual, rather good, singing now, but E.R. is neither fresh, nor is it exceptionally gorgeous enough to catch my ear. And their stage presence isn't any stronger than groups of lesser stature, so they don't win me over with their performances either. Which is why Dalmatian is still meh for me.
B1A4 - "Good Night Good Night "
After last year's disaster of a single, it looks like B1A4 are starting to redeem themselves. "Baby I'm Sorry" was actually a pretty good song, and this new single isn't half bad either. It's a mess, but not as much as their previous releases. The chorus is... interesting, to say the least, anticlimactic if I were to be nice, and the rap middle 8 is a complete mess, but the verses are strong. Their performance is kind of understandable, and they've always had good stage deportment, so it was okay to watch. But that's all it is for now -- okay.
F.Cuz - "No. 1"
Oh wow, I haven't seen F.Cuz in what feels like ages. With one member moving on to musicals alongside my beloved Junsu, and whatever other drama they went though. I didn't particularly like them, but I kind of pity them because some of the other groups who debuted alongside them have already moved up the ladder, while they (and ZE:A) are still pretty nugu. Their vocals are nothing to write home about though, rather rough around the edges, and although this song is a massive step up from the stuff they put out in the past ("Jiggy", anyone?), it's still pretty generic. I'm putting them on probation for now. We'll see.
G.NA - "Summer Star" + "2Hot"
I pity G.NA so much, it's not even funny anymore. Because of all the crap Cube is giving her, she's basically regressed in terms of vocals. I mean she's never really had a stadium ballad-calibre voice, but old G.NA would've slayed "Summer Star", or even just pulled it off well. New G.NA did neither. Her vocals were thinner than usual, she let go at all the wrong places, and her belting wasn't even proper belting. And don't even get me started on "2Hot". The song itself is a disaster of a generic and cheap package (as usual), and it doesn't help that G.NA's vocals have deteriorated this much, so much that she has to sing like a 2 year-old to make up for it. Cheap song, cheap choreography, cheap everything. My only compliment would be that at least she's really cheap and pretentiously cheap like SISTAR.
Infinite - "The Chaser"
Brilliant performance today, and I love how they spiced up the entrance with the paper and all. Their vocals are getting better and better each week, and with the exception of some of the parts after the key change, everything was stable today. Infinite have come to the stage where they literally hold the audience in the palm of their hands, a stage I've been waiting a long time for, because it's a glorious, glorious time. They really move not only fluidly, but also as a group, and that makes it such a joy to watch them perform.
SISTAR - "Alone"
And I see SISTAR are no longer in the running for number one this week. Is this goodbye stage-week? Is it at least coming soon? Please? I mean, their vocals have become really stable and almost strong, and now one of the formerly-useless girls, Soyu I believe, is no longer as useless as she was before, which is one of the few good things to come out of this promo cycle, but "Alone" is just really boring now. Please, end my misery soon.
SNSD (Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun) - "Twinkle"(WINNER)
Not much change from last week's performances, which were not much of a change either, but at least they've been stable since the beginning (when we talk about this song in particular, because the "Baby Steps" performance did the stunning song no justice), and it's a song that really matches majority of them. Seohyun's still lacking that one, valuable component. She has everything else really mastered, but she still lacks the power.
Did KBS and SBS switch sound guys or something? For the first time in forever (or at least since I started music show recaps, which was a long time ago), SBS had better sound than KBS this week! Which I hope doesn't happen again next week, because MuBank is the only music show I can actually watch on an actual TV, and it might as well be the one with the best sound. But moving on, today's line-up is pretty much the same, with the exception of EXO-M joining EXO-K on their performance, which I assume was pre-recorded because SM TOWN is in LA right now.
Hello Venus - "Venus"
One of the things I like about Hello Venus is that their rapper can sing. What's her name again? Lime? Kiwi? I just know it's a fruit. But yeah, she can sing, which is always good. Today's performance was consistent with the previous ones -- the vocals are pretty much all there, the stage presence is getting a bit stronger, but their group dynamics are still off.
EXO-K+M - "MAMA"
Excuse me while I cry over the fact that this was lip-synched again, so now I have to spend the entire time complaining about it. Ever since I found out from Ree that EXO-M were going to join in a couple of music show performances, I've been really excited because now I can actually gauge who the better group is. I haven't seen the other performances, but just with this alone, all that has gone down the drain. But I must say, I like EXO-M's group dynamic and stage deportment much, much better than EXO-K's. M already has the foundations of a good group dynamic, and they move with much more effortlessness and less of that Lee Joon "I'm so great, I'll exaggerate everything I do on stage" complex that I hate so much.
B.A.P. - "Power"
In terms of what I think of them, B.A.P. are slowly turning into a Big Bang. I've said this before -- there are basically two types of groups I like. The first is obviously, the DBSKs of the world, the bands who I really like for everything they are -- material, performance, vocals, the works. The second, however, are the Big Bangs -- the bands who I don't necessarily like material-wise, but who have my respect because they do put good material out, and above that, they are really talented individuals and a well-rounded group. That's what B.A.P. are. Their music isn't my taste, but seeing them perform today, and in the past few weeks, has made me admire them, at the very least. The stage presence is there, the group dynamics are good, and most of all, they know what they do well, and they stick to it. Respect is something else, but they're moving towards that. We'll see.
A Pink - "Hush"
Did A Cube somehow not get the memo that these retro-inspired songs were last year's thing? Or are they really just stuck in a time warp? Either way, "Hush" is the kind of song that needs really strong performers to be able to salvage whatever goodness is left in it, and while A Pink aren't horribly bad performers like they were when they debuted, they aren't exactly outstanding either. I liked their outfits today though, but that's it. Can we please just move on to whatever's next? Please?
Dalmatian - "ER"
Here we go again with the whispering during the verses, guys. Is that how you were taught to sing, or are you really that shy? The chorus is much better than the verse, and lightyears better than last Friday's performance, but I'm not really convinced. I hear some voices now, and they all pretty much have some kind of stage presence, but this sounds more like a filler track or an intermission number to me.
Infinite - "Only Tear" + "The Chaser"
I watched yesterday's performance (for my ill-fated MuCore recap, which will probably never see the light of being published), and their "Only Tear" performance today is definitely a lot better than the previous days. It's still pretty average, the unnecessary vibrato has pretty much been cleared out now, and the high notes are much clearer. Their performance of "The Chaster" today was my favorite of all their comeback stages, for a variety of reasons. First off, they used my favorite set and my favorite outfits from the video! So classy. Today's performance also made me realize why I like watching Infinite so much -- because even if they don't all have amazing vocals, they're all pretty stable, and even if their choreography is very heavy and they keep moving, they do so with a spring in their step, with a sense of effortlessness. They literally prance around stage. First, and probably only, round of goosebumps I got tonight. And the only performance I genuinely enjoyed watching from start to finish.
SISTAR - "Alone"
Oh SISTAR. I've tried to like you, time and time again, and Hyorin has a gorgeous voice, but whenever I think I'm about to like you, you put out a cheap song with a cheap performance and move with little grace. Being sophisticated isn't just about putting on these supposedly "expensive-looking" dresses, diamonds, pearls, and releasing a song with so-called "high instruments". It's not in what you do, it's in how you do it, and that's where you always fail. In all honesty, I'd much prefer it if they stopped trying to look sophisticated, because "Shady Girl" was my favorite single of theirs, and it was actually really good.
4Minute - "Volume Up"
What did I say? I knew it was goodbye week, I just knew it. If anything, Jiyoon and Gayoon have obviously gotten really comfortable with the song. I wish I could say the same for useless leader (whatever her name is) and HyunA, but I can't, because it wouldn't be true. In terms of performance though, I liked their auras today -- they were happy, and it's not just because they were all smiling, but the way they moved was very springy and bright, a nice contrast to the very dark sound of the song.
SNSD (Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun) - "Twinkle"(WINNER)
I loved the outfits today -- the cut, the color, how they looked on the girls. Other than that, it was more of the usual. Competent vocals, competent presence, command of the audience -- the works.
Guess who's back! *insert sobbing over Junsu's obvious and predictable absence from music shows* But on the bright side, this week's line-up seems to be a fair mix of good and meh acts+singles, so I'm not complaining! The only problem is, it seems like the KBS sound guy either hates everyone on today, or is just too lazy to do his job, because today's show was a backing track fest! Focus, KBS, focus!
I don't own any of the videos, and I got them from everywhere this week.
Hello Venus - "Venus"
I watched one of their debut performances last week, and just like what happened today, I had a hard time figuring out whether or not they were lip-syncing the performance. However, high notes and ad-libs are always a giveaway, and I've come to the conclusion that KBS turned their backing track too high, but they're singing live during the choruses, and most probably drowned out by the backing track during the chorus. You lied to me -- I thought we'd never have this problem, KBS! Individually the girls are pretty confident, fluid and natural on stage, and considering the new groups we've seen so far this year, they're actually pretty high-up the group dynamics chain. There are still portions where they don't look like a group, and the chorus can be a bit uncomfortable to watch if you don't already like the song, but they're not ridiculously bad. Performane-wise, they're right between meh and okay right now.
B.A.P. - "Power"
"Power" is a very idol performance, and reminds me a lot of late 90's/early 2000's boy band "world domination" singles. This song in particular isn't really my taste, but as performers I'm completely drawn in to these guys. Their average singing today is half their fault, half KBS', but since majority of the song is rapping and semi-screams mixed with growls, it's not that obvious that KBS has totally screwed up the sound today. I'm keeping my eye on you guys.
A Pink - "Hush"
Sometimes, I wonder how Cube can ruin it's acts this well. "Hush" isn't a ridiculously bad song for K-Pop standards, but aside from being average and un-singable, they're a year late in terms of sound! This is the problem when you copy another group who also copied something else -- if you do it right after them, you'll be called a copycat, but if you do it much, much later, you'll be called late. And it's not like this is a big re-arrangement or they're outstanding singers or anything. You were going in the right direction with "MY MY" Cube, but you just had to break that streak! The performance was painful vocally, and so boring.
Dalmatian - "ER"
Wow, okay. I've never seen any Dalmatian performances prior to this, and I haven't heard their new EP yet, but this is pretty bad. Apart from the distracting guy who is literally prettier and thinner than me, when sounds actually come out of their mouths, they come out as whispers. Or wails. Apart from the blondish guy who sings the first line of the middle 8. Apart from that, the vocals are pretty much a disaster. Performance-wise they're okay, but nothing out of the ordinary for a band of their stature.
Girls' Day - "Oh! My God"
Whenever I hear this song I suddenly have the urge to strangle something, or someone. Preferably whoever thought it was a good idea to let humans hear something like this. But even after all the pain, they're a bunch of girls in their late teens/early twenties prancing around, sounding like my 4 month-old nephew. Cute, but ridiculously inappropriate, so much so that it just gets annoying. I'm kind of proud to say that I've never wanted to try and like Girls' Day.
Infinite - "Only Tear" + "The Chaser"
"Only Tear" was okay, a few slips here and there, but I most definitely prefer these guys doing an all-out idol singing and dancing extravaganza. I mean okay, some of them can sing, but the rest are very, very unstable live, what more doing a ballad. Boring around the edges, and not something I particularly enjoyed. "The Chaser" is a completely different story though. I love their outfits, because on other groups they would actually look really cheap, what with the red, yellow and black combination, but they carry it well, just like they carry the performance and literally hold the audience in their hands now. I mean listen to the screams in relation to the noisy instrumental -- they don't stop. They've gotten very comfortable with their music, something a lot of groups never get the chance to do, and it shows in their vocals. Sunggyu and Woohyun sound amazing (yes, I've learned their faces already!), and everyone else is comfortably stable. Best performance of the show.
SISTAR - "Alone"
I know those huge slits on their dresses are the main points of the choreography and whatever, but they also contribute to the reason why everything about this performance looks so cheap. Their vocals are gotten surprisingly stable, which is probably the only good thing with this performance. Otherwise, I'm not sold. At all.
4Minute - "Volume Up"
So I see Hyun A still hasn't learned how to sing. Other than that, their performances of this are beginning to bore me, which means that one, promo is almost over, and two, this song is getting stale. Not that it was that amazing a song to begin with (better than "Alone" though), but you get my point.
U-Kiss - "DORADORA"
Before they came on stage, I completely forgot what "DORADORA" sounded like -- it's so bad, it's not even memorable in the annoying way. This entire song lacks kick, and while U-Kiss are pretty competent performers and they do have stable vocals in the band, as shown by today's performance, it's just not enough to save a song as flat as this.
I have come to the conclusion that that's really all Seohyun can push, which is a pity. She has a voice, a really pretty one for K-Pop standards, but it's just not cut out for this song. The technique is all there, complete with vibratos and sliding notes, but her voice just really doesn't have enough power for these songs. However, I'm glad Tiffany no longer sounds like a three year-old, and that Taeyeon hasn't regressed.
I think majority of us are in agreement that if there’s one member in 5-piece DBSK that deserves a solo album the most, it’s Junsu, obviously because he’s the whole package. His voice is this close to becoming a national treasure, his stage presence is something else, and his dancing is pretty good too, so I’ve heard. So when news of a proper solo release came out, everyone freaked out. I'll admit that I was one of those crazy fangirls who were freaking out yesterday over the mere idea of a Junsu solo release, which would lead to an album, but I think it's safe to say now that I've gotten down from that high. So, when all the hype is gone, what are we left with? Well, that's a pretty long story in itself.
There have been a lot of mixed thoughts about "Tarantallegra", both the song and the album, and I completely understand the people who say they don't like it -- more than their personal preference, I get why and what could make them dislike it. However, my response would be that you're looking at the wrong thing. Like what I said in my review of Big Bang's "Alive", you have to look at, and think of, the right element in order to completely appreciate it.
The main focus of "Tarantallegra" isn't the visuals, it isn't the production or even the material itself -- it's Junsu, and how he both shows off and manipulates his stunning vocals. Think about it, the visuals, his clothes and everything, are cringe-worthy most of the time, the production is fine, but nothing I'd rave about, and the songs themselves are actually pretty generic and could've been sung by anyone. The point of this album is really Junsu, and in my opinion, that's what makes a good solo album (from a former idol, that is), because idols who go solo don't need material that overpowers them, they get enough of that in their respective groups, they need material to overpower. Material that just sits there and lets them fly off to wherever. And that takes a certain skill level to be able to do.
I won’t lie and say that this album is everything I expected and more, because it’s not, and I was disappointed when I first heard it because I was expecting everything to be equally brilliant -- the material, the delivery, the production -- but hearing the album now, this is the most ideal way to do a solo album. This isn’t just an album, this is Junsu’s album, and that has to be made very clear. But even that, I'm not entirely sure about.
There are things I don’t like, and the more I listen, the more problems I find. I don’t like the production on the entire album, because it dulls Junsu’s vocals, and in turn, dulls all the songs. Junsu still carries the songs, but dull production is something out of his reach, and it does absolutely nothing for the generic material. The songs don’t have to be loud, because the album is actually pretty soft volume-wise (not dynamics-wise), but I would’ve liked the production to be crisp.
Half of the album, or more than actually, is made up of ballads. I was half-expecting this, as always, but I was also hoping that Junsu wouldn’t go down this route. He’s had enough ballads in and out of DBSK, solo or group, to last him several lifetimes. Some of the ballads on this are gorgeous, of course, and Junsu sings them better than everyone else, but this is the same thing all over again. On the other hand, for a first solo release, sticking with something comfortable may be better. Who knows.
I listened to “Tarantallegra” the song again this morning, and I do agree with some of the comments on yesterday’s single review -- it’s potentially boring, and when I listened to it again without the music video, there were parts what just went on and on and on. However, the song gives me the impression that you really have to look at the entire package (and all it’s ridiculousness) to fully appreciate it. The song leans towards boring by itself, but if you really focus on Junsu’s vocals it’s really something else, and add in the video, Junsu’s performance as a whole in particular, and it gets that much better.
The synths on “Set Me Free” are so Christina (Aguilera) circa-”Keeps Getting Better”, and now that I think about it, the entire song is so Christina. Period. It also reminds me a bit of After School’s “Dream” around the edges. But again, the focus of this entire album isn’t the material, which I’ve already deemed average, it’s the delivery. For me, Junsu’s vocals are enough to draw me in.
Okay, fine, “No Pain” isn’t a ballad ballad like “사랑이 싫다구요” or the others in the album, but it’s not the uptempo I wanted either. Although, even as a slow R&B track, I hate to say this, it’s pretty generic. Gorgeous, yes, and I’ll give it to Jaejoong for making something that has his name all over it, but this song is far too frail for anyone to salvage, even Junsu. Nice try, Jaejoong, but this song just didn’t move me.
The problem with “사랑이 싫다구요” is a problem I see in a lot of other Korean ballads, actually -- they’re too low. I was watching K-Pop Star a few weeks back, and from what I got the industry opinion on these things is that they’re “emotional”. I’m sorry, but the only thing this song does to me is give me a sore throat. The same goes for “알면서도”, a few tracks later. It has OST song written all over it, but honestly, at this point it sounds too much like a better-sung version of “사랑이 싫다구요” in the right key.
Which is why, while the choruses of both songs are gorgeous and Junsu’s voice takes center stage, as it should, I prefer “돌고 돌아도”, not just because it’s in waltz-time, even if that’s a major reason too. Junsu’s singing in the right range, and we actually get the chance to feel the emotion, because he isn’t scratching our throats anymore. And the arrangement laced with the ever so slightly oriental melody has a much more natural flow than the previous song. If “Mulan” had one of those ballroom scenes appropriated for China, this would be the song playing.
This is pretty rare, but I actually like the Korean arrangement of "Intoxication" better than the Japanese one -- I adore the guitar line, in all its crisp glory and how it contrasts the vocal treatment (which, for once, matches the song) and the dynamics have much more punch here. But “Intoxication” is a brilliant song regardless.
I’m a bit disappointed with the number of uptempos though -- there are only four proper uptempo tracks. But at least they were spaced out and put between multiple ballads. Between “Breath” and “Fever”, I prefer “Fever”, but “Breath” is isn’t half-bad either. It’s very Simon Curtis circa-”8Bit Heart”, the arrangement especially. But “Fever” is something I’d imagine he’d bring to the US. I’m not entirely sure if it would work in terms of sales, but it works for Junsu because he sings with such ease and conviction, especially the chorus, which is glorious on all levels.
And the best song on the album? “Lullaby”. It’s stunning, and it was made and executed with a musical mindset. The arrangement half of the package, because it’s just as stunning as the delivery. The strings and chymes that lead into a very clean drum kit and gentle but confident synths, especially. Junsu sang the entire song flawlessly, and he really sounds his best on this song -- both technically and emotionally. He turned a potentially cheesy and lounge-y song into something stunning.
I’m pretty sure I’ve heard “이슬을 머금은 나무” somewhere before, but I can’t quite remember where. Nevertheless, it’s another gorgeous ballad, and currently fighting with “돌고 돌아도” for my second favorite song. It’s the kind of song that lulls you to sleep, not because it’s boring, but because it’s gorgeous and it relaxes you. Epic string section? Check. Half-real drums? Check. Junsu’s stunning voice? Check. Check. Aaaaaand Check.
“Tarantallegra” is an okay album, boring around the edges, yes, but I think another dimension to it is that Junsu himself is very comfortable with the material on it, so he delivers it much better than it actually is. Fair enough.
My favorite: "Lullaby" Song(s) I'd listen to again: "돌고 돌아도", "이슬을 머금은 나무", "Fever", "Set Me Free" My least favorite: "사랑이 싫다구요" The final verdict: 3.9/5
It’s no secret that I adore Infinite. I’m not at the stage where I worship the ground they walk on, because they have flaws that need to be addressed, but for what they are, they’re one of the acts who are higher up on my list. If there’s one newer group that’s close to being upgraded to bias status (something I don't give out a lot), it would be Infinite, and “INFINITIZE” is solid proof of why I like them so much.
The material on this EP is both familiar and fresh, but honestly, I’m just going to graze over this point because even for casual listeners, it’s blatantly obvious that this is an Infinite release. Their material may falter, it may be boring at times, but it’s theirs. They are one of the few groups who, since their debut, have managed to keep a very distinct, and functional, sound. Even my beloved DBSK are guilty of not managing that.
See? When all these little problems, problems that shouldn’t even exist in the first place, are solved, or don’t exist at all, it gives us more room to notice the good things, and I spend less time complaining about everything.
“INFINITIZE” is a gorgeous EP. It’s something that you don’t even have to think about for it to be gorgeous. Of course, intellectual albums have their merits (and I’m about to talk about one in a few hours/days), but there are times when you’re so tired that you just want to sit back and not think of anything. That’s exactly the situation “INFINITIZE” sounds best in.
But the best thing about this is that though the material most definitely doesn’t go through you, it doesn’t tie you up and lock you up in a dark box either. It’s fun, effortless, enjoyable material. Yes, even the ballads. The material carries Infinite, yes, but material that Infinite follows very well.
“The Chaser” is Infinite inside out, but instead of being a carbon copy of a previous single, which it could’ve easily been, it’s more like a combination, and a reflection of what their sound really is. If this were food, it would be a four seasons shake. Taken apart, the individual fruits are great and all, but put them together and somehow they taste better than they would’ve been if you drank four different fruit shakes. The Infinite synths are there, the rap part is ever so slightly familiar, and the melody is so well-done. Another thing I like so much about Infinite is how they make a potentially heavy song very light and flow-y, without loosing character and punch.
“Feel So Bad” is surprisingly cheery, something I wasn’t really expecting when I heard the opening line, but the melody is a gorgeous kind of upbeat, and the harmonies going on are pretty without being excessive. I could say the same for “In The Summer”, actually. I love how the drum line gives punch to a potentially boring song, and the delivery really does match their vocals. Gorgeous melody, gorgeous arrangement, gorgeous everything, basically.
I honestly didn’t like “Only Tears” when I first heard it a few days ago, because while it had its moments, I found it boring. But when I heard the entire album, I realized that this isn’t the type of song you can just listen to and expect to understand -- it’s a song that works best in relation to all the other tracks. Hearing it now, with the rest of the album in mind, it not only matches and sound, but complements it as well. I personally don’t like it, but it’s a gorgeous album track, I’ll give it that.
The electric guitar line was a welcome, and gorgeous addition to the already stunning “니가좋다”. This song is basically the epitome of the entire EP -- it’s fun, it’s light, but it’s like that because the technical elements, the arrangement, the melody and the instrumental, were all done effortlessly. It reminds me of an Infinite version of BEAST’s “Freeze”, which I adored as well. “Freeze” in the sense that it’s the upbeat, fun, song, but Infinite in the sense that the arrangement takes center stage. No doubt, my favorite song off the album.
I was a little iffy about this EP ending with a ballad, but looking at the bigger picture, this is the last of only two ballads on the entire package. “With…” is nothing special, honestly. But I like how they managed to sneak in a few very Infinite elements amidst your generic pretty piano line and sappy chorus. It’s the little details like the drum kit they used, some synths here and there, and an electric guitar line hidden under all the screaming during the chorus. Other than that though, it’s a very generic ballad, and not really something I’d rave about.
4.8/5
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I originally wanted to put the Junsu review out before this, but considering that one, it's nowhere near done yet, and two, I just reviewed the single yesterday, I'll have to push the album review back to maybe tonight or tomorrow. I'm working on it though, and I want it done by this afternoon.
I'll be honest and say that I had no idea how to start this review because the only thing running through my head when I listen to this song is "KSAFHSKJGKSDGHSJUNSUUUUUUUUUU" and all coherent, rational thoughts have just been completely thrown out the window. But then I realized, that's the point of this song, and the point of my review.
Because, in essence, that's what music is supposed to do -- it's supposed to not only make you freak out or jump around your room, it's actually supposed to make you near-insane. Not in a bad way or anything, but when you listen to a song, essentially it should move you, and move you more than just a tear or a few tapping fingers here and there. Again, music is half heard and half felt, and essentially what you hear should help you grasp what you feel.
"Tarantallegra" affects you like that because it's effortless, because it's overflowing with conviction. While there were times when I cringed watching the video, Junsu isn't afraid to deliver. Obviously, he has the talent and the technicals to do something like this, something not a lot of people in K-pop have. I always, always say that before you can think of identity and whatnot, you have to be proficient, and Junsu is perfectly capable of standing his own ground on a song, and carrying an entire performance just with his vocals. Now, because he's technically proficient, the song really becomes Junsu inside out. I's not just because he wrote it with his brother though -- if someone else were to sing it, no matter how technically proficient that person may be and no matter how accurate the notes are hit, "Tarantallegra" will lose a part of it's identity.
And that’s really all I ask from K-Pop as a whole, actually. Be proficient in whatever you do, and do what is you. If you’re doing something you love, something that’s a part of you, the effortlessness and the conviction will follow naturally. “Tarantallegra” is proof that those two elements, when put together, work effortlessly. I mean just look at it, it’s so ridiculous and Junsu’s orange hair is just plain weird, but the song, the choreography, and the video work together so well that I have no qualms. At all.
When the teaser first came out, a lot of people were pointing out that the synths on this song were similar to “Xiahtic”, and while they are, honestly, I don’t see a problem with that. The synths here and on “Xiahtic” give both songs different over-all sounds, and Junsu composed both songs -- we’ve heard so many other producers re-hash their own songs even more blatantly than this.
Years in K-Pop have taught me to either absolutely hate, or just not notice rap parts out of personal preference, but honestly, the rap on “Tarantallegra” is one of the few that I cannot imagine taken out of the song. It adds another dimension to the entire package, and Flowsik’s deep timbre both contrasts and compliments Junsu’s vocals.
The reason why I don't have a problem with the auto tune during the chorus is because everyone knows that Junsu is so much more than just a capable singer, that he's obviously one of the best in K-Pop, and even Asia, and so he can easily sing those auto tuned parts live. The thing is, when I go and criticize other acts for using too much auto tune, the reason why I do it is because those acts use it as a mask, to hide their lack of talent. But then, like I just said, Junsu's talent is no secret, and the auto tune on this song is more of an artistic/aesthetic decision than it is a blanket.
The verses are stunning, they really are. I get mini-heart attacks throughout both, and I’m not complaining at all. It shows off what has made Junsu’s voice so infamous, and I get the belting I wanted!
Speaking of vocals, the thing I really, really love about how this song was done is the emphasis on Junsu’s vocals. Autotune aside, “Tarantallegra” is a song that Junsu carries -- the instruments on the backing track do add something to the over-all dynamics, of course, but most of the time they just go in a straight line. Junsu’s delivery controls majority of what happens to the song, and he does it extremely well. I cannot wait to see this live, (even if he’s not going to be on music shows) because knowing Junsu, it’s going to be that much more brilliant live.
And that, my friends, is the challenge I give to newer acts -- make me smile, cry, freak out, and move me, with an uptempo. Hype, looks and aesthetics don’t matter -- use your material and your musical proficiency to move me. It’s easy to do it with a ballad, but uptempos are a completely different story. If a new act can do that, and do it with as much conviction as Junsu has just done, they have my respect. This is the new benchmark for uptempo performances -- because Junsu has managed to deliver effortlessness and confidence over and above a heavily choreographed and produced package.
Pledis is really on a roll this year after years without new groups debuting (new After School members don't count), and while I was a bit doubtful at first, looks like my doubts were proven wrong.
I know that apart from music show recaps, I didn't talk about NU'EST, but for both them and now Hello Venus, I honestly had zero expectations, which is both a good and bad. Obviously it's bad because having no expectations means that I wasn't impressed with anything before the formal album release, and considering how many misses Pledis has made with After School (in comparison to their hits, that is), I wasn't sure if I wanted more groups they could screw up. However, it's also a good thing because starting with zero expectations means that if they play their cards right, things will turn out perfectly fine. They did for NU'EST, because while fundamentally they're not the best at anything, they're not completely bad either, and they mix that competence with confidence and conviction. And I'm sincerely hoping they work out for Hello Venus too.
Because from this EP, they're not half bad. Of course there are a lot of things I'd like changed and improved, but all in all it's a solid first release, and though I don't know all the members, the material does a good job of showing off what they can do, along with what they're pushing for. In all honesty, it's the first K-Pop release I've genuinely enjoyed in quite a while (my dry spell was also partially because of all the mediocrity being released), and for a rookie group, of their stature also, it's not something I'm going to take lightly.
I don't ask much from rookie groups, I just want them to deliver their material with competence, conviction and a sense of togetherness, and I want them to show the beginnings of a musical identity. Surprises of all surprises, I found that in "Venus". While their material isn't exactly top-tier or revolutionary or anything, it's solid, again it shows off what they can do, and at the same time it matches their vocals.
"Hello" reminds me a lot of that ill-fated ZE:A single, whatever it was called, patched up and done that much better. As a song it's pretty boring and one-dimensional, but it's strong, and it gives off a rather confident impression, which is always a good thing for a new groups. Now I understand that "Venus" is a lead single, and while it's the second weakest song on the EP, it has a merit that no one should overlook. It's cutesy, yes, it's saccharine sweet and all that, but this is what I mean when I say that cute doesn't have to be overdone. You can be cutesy without sounding like 3 year-olds. There are still those baby moments here and there, but the hooks, and about 95% of the song, is cute without being annoying. Looks like Pledis can still churn out attitude. I personally wouldn't listen to it again for personal reasons, but I'm curious to see how they'll carry this live.
Now, I'll probably get backlash for saying this, or you guys will be like "not the ballad again", but "설레임" really was the track that convinced me these girls have some semblance of talent. It's not perfect, and I doubt they all have solos on this, but it's a fair attempt at a potentially boring song. The melody is gorgeous bordering on stunning once they hit the chorus, and while the arrangement is standard, honestly I think that's something they need to have on the album. They're rookies, and while everyone's "be yourself" and all that, at the end of the day, to me at least, before they can go frolicking around with whatever crazy idea Pledis has, they have to show that they have some semblance of fundamentals, and this song does it. I want to hear this live, Pledis.
"Love Appeal" starts out sounding like a T-Ara rip-off, and I thought it would be like that for the entire song, but surprisingly, both arrangement, melody and delivery-wise, it does a complete 180. I love the arrangement, I'm not ashamed of saying that, and it's currently fighting to be my favorite song on the EP. It's upbeat, it's happy, but it's also well-done and confident. The part I'm most surprised and pleased with though is the fact that part of the reason why this doesn't sound like a complete rip-off is because of the girls' vocals -- because on this song, they're not completely plain and boring, they actually have the beginnings of character.
I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I'm liking Hello Venus, and more than an "I'll keep my eye on you", it's more of a like where I hope they'll be able to deliver this material and live up to what it's shown us, and that, if they do have something to offer, they keep improving getting better and better material.
As I said yesterday, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I've come to a half-conclusion that I should just keep writing through whatever it is I'm going through right now. And, if I feel like writing, I should. So, here we are! Honestly, today's show had quite a nice line-up, and the right mix of new and old.
(I'll add in the 4Minute video once I find one :D)
EXO-K - "MAMA"
The high notes are still painful, but their vocals are starting to take shape and develop attitudes. The same goes with their performance as a whole -- they're showing the beginnings of a group dynamic, as well as a sense of effortlessness. This is the point where I say I'll keep my eye on them, and hope they get a better second single.
B.A.P. - "POWER"
Apart from that hilarious gif of them with rice bowls for heads, I never really took notice of these guys, but honestly, I get what I was missing. I'm not a big fan of the song, and their over-all direction in general, but I actually enjoyed the performance. The guys who sing, can sing, and most of all, they look like they genuinely enjoy the stage. Even if it's a very rugged song and performance, they move with grace and just the right amount of confidence.
Supernova - "Stupid Love"
Like I said before, I hate the song, and I hate it even more for Supernova, and it doesn't help their cause that they sound horrible singing it. Obviously, I'd take their Japanese material over this, every single time.
U-Kiss - "DORADORA"
Everything about this bores me to death. There's very little dynamics, and the chorus is basically them whispering "DORADORADORADORA", so the song itself is extremely boring, U-Kiss vocals generally need to be carried by the song, so when you have something like this obviously they're going to sound flat, and this performance wasn't exactly jaw-dropping either.
SNSD (Taeyeon, Tiffany, Seohyun) - "Twinkle"
Taeyeon sounds amazing, she really does -- this song, flaws aside, was made for her. Still side-eyeing Tiffany and whoever made the decision for her to sing like a 3 year-old for half the song, and honestly, Seohyun lacks power in her voice, something this song badly needs. Her voice is smooth and she sings the line down to the last note, but her high notes are off at times and incredibly weak -- they lack attitude. Although, today's performance was much better than yesterday's, which is always a good thing.
Shinhwa - "Venus"
I don't know if I just missed it last week or something, but Hyesung's out of his chair and back dancing! A few cracks here and there, which kind of brought the performance down in terms of the Shinhwa side, but the atmosphere was something else. Shinhwa may be next to irrelevant with the international fandom, and new fans who haven't bothered, but watching these music shows and hearing how much louder and wilder their fan chants are, over the likes of SNSD, just goes to show how much they matter. Of course, I got the obligatory goosebumps from the combination of the song, the performance, and the wild, screaming fans. That's one of the main reasons why I don't believe in MR removed videos -- performances were meant to be heard as a whole, and taken as such. *joins the wild screaming fangirls*
SISTAR - "Alone"(WINNER)
Since I assume Hyorin's not sick anymore, she sounds like her normal self, but other than that, there's been little progress since I last did a recap, and Hyorin being sick doesn't really count as a basis either. Everything's still as cheesy and ungraceful as it was, outfits included. Which is why I'm extremely surprised that they're actually winning left and right.
When news broke of this SNSD sub-unit, I had so many expectations, and honestly, if we were looking at just my expectations, they were actually met. Being my three favorite voices in SNSD, I wanted a song that would bring out their vocals, and at the same time I wanted an interesting uptempo, not the obligatory sappy ballad that people with actual voices in K-Pop get. Twinkle is all of the above, actually. There's a good balance of singing and screaming, they all sound phenomenal, together and apart, the production is clean, and obviously, it's not a sappy ballad.
But I guess that's where the problem lies -- my expectations were vague and flawed, so the song is too. Yeah sure, the song's meant to have attitude, it's supposed to be gritty and soulful, but honestly, that kind of direction just doesn't work for SM. SM productions are cleaner than clean, and while the girls' vocals give the song attitude, in a song like this, ideally the vocals and the song itself carry each other -- both have to be on the same level. Balance is key.
Another big problem I have with Twinkle is that the entire song is so anticlimactic, mainly because the lines are too spread apart. There are too many awkward pauses in the melody, so much so that I have problems even calling it a melody because it seems to me like these are just individual lines put together. I understand the value of letting things sink in properly, but this is overdoing it, so much so that the dead air makes the song sound awkward, even if everything else is so polished. In being anticlimactic, the entire song loses the attitude that they were trying to go for, even if the vocals have them.
I see what they're trying to do, because it's the kind of music I grew up listening to, but aside from boredom, the impression I get from this entire song -- the vocals, the instrumentation, the arrangement and especially the production -- is that it's trying way too hard. The song isn't pathetic or anything, it has its merits, but at the end of the day, it lacks that impression of effortlessness. It sounds stiff, on top of being boring. This is supposed to be Stevie Wonder-esque -- soul music, soul music. Just because you sing the same way, use the same chords, and mimic the instruments, doesn't make it soul music. It has to have emotion, raw emotion that actually moves people.
The main culprit is actually the production. Once you get over the non-existent melody, the song actually has so much more attitude when they sing it live, especially from Taeyeon (side-eyeing Tiffany for sounding like a three year-old for half the song/when she's not belting out high notes). Twinkle is an interesting idea, executed in the wrong way,
3/5
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If you read my emo post on tumblr last week (was it last week?), I'm still not totally okay, and I still have a gazillion things to resolve, but I'm getting there. Thank you for all your wonderful comments and tweets, and even if I didn't respond to them (T_T), I read them all.
Music show recaps are still on hold, but we'll see what I can whip up this weekend.
For latest updates, sneak peaks on upcoming posts, quick, short opinions on brand new songs and a look inside my personal madness - Follow me on Twitter!
EUROVISION 2013: Denmark is Victorious
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At Malmo yesterday, four of my favorites placed Top 5 with fan favorite *Emmelie
de Forest *of Denmark being named victor.
My girl *Margaret Berger* of ...
Album Assessment: Osvaldo Supino ~ Exposed
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More of an extended EP than a full album, the new release from *Osvaldo
Supino* remains a triumph from start to finish. It addresses the power of
music, ...
The Unexpected Return Of Nick Clow
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A couple of days ago, I profiled Luciana's stylist. Today it's her
husband's turn. Apart from making the Queen of Clubs an honest woman, Nick
Clow is als...
Little Mix "How Ya Doin"
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These days, it's refreshing to hear something that isn't drenched with
synths and heavy beats. So, X Factor winners Little Mix's latest single,
"How Ya Doi...
[Review] Lee Hi, First Love / Part I
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Hey everyone! I'm back!
It's been a minute (understatement of the year, I know) - things have been
hectic on this end, but I am seriously thinking about ge...
Thoughts on some recent (and not so recent) music
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Long time no blogging! I’ve been really busy with school, and I still am,
but now I’ve decided to procrastinate by writing. Haha. Anyway, a lot of
stuff ha...
[BEDA] Blog Every Day In April: Days 22 through 26
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I am not sure how I managed to miss five days worth of posts but I am
enjoying BEDA and will complete it. Day 22: Most Precious Idol – UKISS’
Dongho Look a...
