Hallyuday

Hello! I'm Alexandra; I've been into K-Pop since 2008. I'm a hopeless music lover reviewing K-Pop songs and albums almost daily.

[hallyuday]

|Review| Got7 - You Are

From 7 For 7, You Are is the official comeback of Got7. One tidbit of trivia about this song is that JB actually participated in the writing and production for this song. You Are begins with an airy synth and guitar accompanied with a snap and distorted vocals. As Jinyoung begins the first verse, a bass kick emphasizes his warm-toned voice. Yugyeom continues after Jinyoung, adding his clear, bright voice to the track. Jackson, with his husky voice, brings in a little rap and flair. Youngjae, BamBam, and Jinyoung sings their way in, singing consecutively with a snare drum adding tension to the verse for the chorus. Then the chorus comes, and it’s a total switch on the track. The tempo is the same, but it almost sounds like a totally different track, taking on a more pure pop sound with the beat and vocals.

As the second verse begins with Mark rapping, I noticed the overall tone of the track now feels a lot lighter. Personally, I attribute this to the full, uplifting vocals of the chorus. When Bambam’s part in the second verse comes in, there’s a smooth, easygoing vibe to his vocals that’s incredibly refreshing. Youngjae, Mark, and Yugyeom guide the song to the chorus once more with emotion and smooth vocals. During the bridge of the song, I noticed an interesting switch to the track, yet again. There’s a snap and bass that’s similar to R&B songs, yet it blends with the pop synth in the back. The blending of those sounds really made me appreciate how well this song was put together. Also, JB’s high note was fantastic and powerful, as though he really did feel the emotion of the song.

Lyrics: The lyrics to this song give me a sense of two types of talk. The verses seem as though they’re internal monologue, considering the time before their love interest came along, such as ‘meaningless days’ and ‘I was completely destroyed before I met you.’ But things look up when they get around this person, the clouds part and suddenly it’s happy and sunny. The chorus is more of telling the person how they feel around them.

Final Thoughts: I love how much time everyone got in this song. Every member really got to shine. You Are was a dynamic track with a beat that was almost constantly changing, yet not once did it seem dissonant or clashing with the rest of it. As a side note, the lyrics really reminded me of the importance the simple presence in someone’s life can have on them.

If you would like to buy the 7 of 7 album, please click my affiliate link to buy the physical album from Amazon here for A version or here for the B version.

Click my affiliate link to buy the album off of iTunes here.

Also, support Got7 by streaming their music video below!

(Video and audio © JYP Entertainment and Got7, 2017)

[hallyuday]

Quick Update

Hello dears! I’m just letting you things have been a little crazy since I’m about to start school and college on Monday. I’ll still be keeping up with the blog though, so look forward to more reviews!

[hallyuday]

|Review| Taemin - Move

Move, the title track from Taemin’s second album, is a slow, sensual tune with deep, droning bass. The feel of the song is deliberate through its seduction. Move begins with a soft synth and, to fill the soundscape, they used electric guitar in an ambient way as well. To me, it gave a little 80’s throwback feel, like synthwave; a genre in its infancy yet certainly potent. The bass and a snap come in, but evolve into a funky, yet curiously sexy beat. Taemin’s vocals remain soft and coaxing as he croons. Background vocals during the chorus are clear and for emphasis, not to add to the melody, without bleeding into the rest of the track.

The song is in no way overstated, and that’s what makes it a powerful track; it didn’t layers of synth to give it life. Given the tone of the track, the spaces left empty from a lack of either Taemin’s vocals or background vocals only propels the song forward. It allows the listener to absorb the feeling of the vocals and the track, working seamlessly together. In fact, there isn’t a large amount of layered vocals, allowing those that are present to sound almost like a one-sided conversation. It’s extremely clever.

Lyrics: Move has vague enough lyrics that it’s not clearly stated that it’s about naughty happenings. However, the definition is obvious enough with lyrics such as “your neatly brushed hair can get tangled,” “your carefully applied makeup can smudge.” It’s easy to glean that he certainly isn’t talking about going swimming. The lyrics fit with the overall tonality of the track. He’s wanting to see his lovers moves and telling them not to worry about what they look like, they’re just fine: Instead, concentrating on the feeling.

Final Thoughts: This song gave me two different types of feelings. On one hand, it’s very ‘50 Shades.’ On the other hand, it’s so runway. The song screams sophistication, fashion, and glam for me. It’s confident and sexy. I can easily imagine a Victoria’s Secret show with this playing in the background. Overall, great song. It’s definitely a mood-making song.

Please support Taemin by streaming the Move album on Spotify If you would like to buy the album, click my affiliate links to purchase the album on Amazon or iTunes!

(Video and audio  © SM Entertainment and Taemin, 2017)

[hallyuday]

Requests are Open!

I am now taking requests for reviews. Please feel free to put in a submission through the “Ask Me Anything” button on the left side of my main page! Hope to hear from you soon! Much love, K-Pop family~

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS  - Outro: Her

The final installment of the Love Yourself: Her album is named Outro: Her. It begins with a smooth piano, but it quickly switches into a more synth-toned piano/organ melody. As the drum kit merges in, the track takes on a chill-hop tonality to it. As strange as this may sound, the outro is almost like a pseudo lofi hip hop cypher. The hi-hat and kick play off of each other nicely during the first verse, which is filled by RM. I have to give RM much respect because he has this way of playing his rhymes with the beat, enunciating during certain parts, especially at the end of each beat. Honestly, it’s masterful. The chorus brings the inclusion of another synth sound that I cannot quite place, yet it’s higher pitched and muted slightly so it feels like it’s farther away in the soundscape. Also, to RM; great job on harmonizing.

The second verse is brought through by Suga. Suga’s rap is effortless, almost like he’s simply talking to the listener, telling them a worry of his. His flow tends to spill over 3 or 4 beats before he really finishes a thought, but that’s what makes it sound so organic. J-Hope caps the song by giving us the third verse and this is when the beat changes; comprised of hallow bass, a droning, yet melodic synth that sounds like a sample. Then the electronic piano comes back with a new friend, a lilting flute that seems quite playful. That beat, however, does not stay and the original verse and chorus track comes back. J-Hope and RM finish the last chorus with sweet vocals.

Lyrics: Let’s be honest; these lyrics are sad. They’ve understood a new side of themselves because of this woman they’ve met and fell for. However, they’re will to put on a ‘mask’ and be what that person wants in a partner, and that they can’t really be who they are. Even in the lyrics, there’s an expressed fear that their true self isn’t revealed to the one they like. It really does remind, again, of the first stage of love where you present yourself as the best possible image to win over the one you admire.

Final Thoughts: Outro: Her felt like a bittersweet end to the mini album. I feel like the melancholy notes from Serendipity and Best of Me carried through to the end. While the beat kept some lightness, I believe this song to potentially be a hint of what’s to come with the repackage or even the next mini album.

Please click here to support BTS by streaming Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS - Go 고민보다

Go has a distinctly different feel to it from the start. It begins with a tropical ting, accompanied by what sounds like a Peruvian flute. Jimin’s vocals come in as an introduction, in what acts like a pre-verse. J-Hope ushers in the first verse with the tropical ting with a strong addition of bass to emphasize the tempo and add a hip-hop flare to the track. Jungkook sprinkles his vocals on the track in an R&B way, even the layered harmonies remind me of the early 2000’s in the R&B scene. With a strong rap, Suga bounces in. No seriously, he seemed to have fun on this track and his vocals seem free and bouncy.

The pre-chorus is interesting, however, because I feel as though there’s more than one part to it. Jin handles the first part of the pre-chorus, where the bass is stripped away, allowing his cool, smooth voice to shine. Jungkook and Jimin work up the rest of the pre-chorus, and it’s masterfully done. From Jin to Jimin, it’s a progression of intensity that send the chorus off. V, Jin, and Jungkook flow through the chorus, which isn’t packed with harmonies, but there is a pleasant reverb to give the effect of multiple voices. Another point I’d like to make about the chorus is that BTS kept it simple, not flooding it with vocals, which leaves plenty of audio space for the backing track to fill. V and RM work the second verse with carefree and playful vocals, which reflect the lyrics which we’ll dive into soon! The ending of the song is a dynamic tiered post-chorus headed by V, then passed on to Jin, Jimin, Jungkook, all with the track bringing in a clap to add more power to the beat.

Lyrics: I believe, like many other fans that I’ve spoken with, that this song is a social commentary. It reflects living in a society where the most important thing is partying like crazy on a Friday, instead of paying the bills on Monday. “I don’t have money but I wanna go somewhere far away,” is a translated line from J-Hope which, for me, is entirely relatable. Everyone has likely had thoughts like this at one point or another. Other lyrics describe a mentality of savings just being a waste and that’s it pointless money when you’re not guaranteed tomorrow so just spend it today. Overall, the lyrics are thought provoking and I’ll explain why in my final thoughts, because it’s total opinion.

Final Thoughts: I find there to be a duality in this. One side is the ‘Go for it and spend like crazy, have fun,’ while the other is ‘Are you sure you really want to do that?’ In fact, I personally believe there’s subtext to save a bit for the future and find a way to still enjoy some money for today. This track is vibrant and fun. It’s a good party, or even Friday night, track. Just be careful, if you spend all your money, you’ll be trying to pawn off your necklaces.

Please click here to support BTS by streaming Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

[hallyuday]

I loved your reviews of BTS' Her tracks. You outline the detailson the songs that people like me don't catch. It's very enlightining. You really know what you're talking about. i hope you do more reviews of BTS. Thanks a lot.

Thank you so much for the input. I appreciate that you enjoy my reviews, and I intend to review as many K-Pop artists that I can get my hands on, including BTS. If there’s are songs you’d specifically like to see me do a review for, please send them as a submission, and I’d be happy to review it! Thank you again!

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS - MIC Drop

MIC Drop is what I consider to be a perfect evolution of their earlier music. The song carries a ‘don’t mess with me’ kind of feeling. Some fans have called this the ‘Cypher with all the members’; personally, I do not agree. I think MIC Drop definitely has a distinct separation of sound and format from Cypher (speaking of, I’m so looking forward to Cypher 5). The song begins with a twanging electric guitar just before a digital scratching record sound, and the dirty beat drops. The bass is low and aggressive. J-Hope begins the song with a smooth rap and flows well with the beat. He then tag-teams off to Suga. Suga’s rap seems effortless, almost taunting. It flows with confidence, but with a finesse that shows he doesn’t need to prove himself. The vocal line (Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook) handle the pre-chorus, which is accompanied by a switch in the beat. The pre-chorus synth gives me a throwback to late 90’s, early 2000’s rap music. Though when the chorus kicks, it’s a graduated version of the verse beat, with a thrumming, lilting bass that purposely sounds like it’s clipping just a little.

RM own the second verse off and I feel like his voice really suited the vibe of this track so well. In fact, there was a ridiculous amount of hype as he reaches a point to half-yelling with auto-tuned complimentary vocals in the back. He took no prisoners on this track; amazing job! After more chorus, Jin and V carry the post-chorus that segues into a bit of an epilogue to the track, again with deep, demanding bass.

Lyrics: This song is unafraid and confident, relaying they’re proud of the success that they paved for themselves. Going from dirt poor to Billboard Award winning artists, BTS decided to take one song to toot their proverbial horn. “Did you see my bag? It’s full of trophies” accurately carries the message to the ‘haters’ this song is directed at. I almost feel like RM’s lyrics are poking at some rappers (who shall remain nameless) that tried to discredit him and Suga because they were in an idol group.  I believe this to be validated because he’s telling them to look at their careers, and reminding them that he flies all over the world to perform. They’re not asking for apologies, they simply don’t want to hear or see them again.

Final Thoughts:

Please click here to support BTS by streaming Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS - Pied Piper

I have been waiting to get to this song, and I hope I don’t wax lyrically about it. Pied Piper is my personal favorite song from the Love Yourself: Her album, and not for the reasons you might think! To be honest, through the first verse, I couldn’t peg what the sound was reminding me of. There are smooth, sensual beats and vocals with a coy, yet ‘come hither’ sound that, for many, will be quite seductive. Then again, that’s all the more reason why Pied Piper is an appropriately named track. Upon reaching the first chorus, it hits me: Pied Piper gives me Daft Punk vibes. Now when I say this, I don’t mean emulation. It’s as though they collaborated on the track with Daft Punk, but with that amazing BTS sound, and it hyped me up so much.

The first verse has an effortless r&b/pop vibe with a synthesized bass that moves the melody forward. The addition of a guitar riff to the chorus, while subtle, really adds to the feel of the song, and amplifies the sweet vocals. But the second verse, when V begins singing, was when my brain overloaded. The backing track seems diffused and muted, and the sound of a talk box (used in funk music, and sometimes house music) comes through. It was that moment I knew just how different BTS was experimenting with their song and it blew my mind. The talk box sound also comes back in the final choruses.

Lastly, let’s talk about lyrics. Oh, you cheeky, cheeky men! Many ARMY are calling this a diss track. I would describe it more as being called out. They know their fans. In fact, they know everything. The reason I say this isn’t a diss track is because they’re very obviously condoning most of what ARMY does. Lyrically, they’re telling a story, or perhaps a truth, that shows an awareness of being beguiling and that many fans have fallen for their charms. As Jungkook so appropriately sings, “I’m taking over you.” J-Hope further solidifies this thought with the following lyrics; “I am your guilty pleasure, you can never get out of this. Never.” Essentially, this is about how BTS is completely aware about how enticing they are to ARMY. It’s another song full of confidence. I love it.

Final Thoughts: My mind is blown. For me, this is an amazing song. As a side note, I would pay double the money for a BTS x Daft Punk collab (please make that happen, BigHit).  This track proves that BTS can try basically any genre of music, apply their own personal sound and vibe to it, and it comes out amazing. I’m really looking forward to seeing what other types of sounds they’re looking to try.

Please click here to support BTS by streaming Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS - 보조개/Dimple

Dimple, the fourth track of Love Yourself: Her, is a catchy Pop/R&B that toys with a piercing but playful melody. Like Best of Me, I can also imagine this song being played on the radio simply because of how ‘Top 40’ it is, and I mean that in the best possible fashion. Between the emphatic bassline and the dynamic synth, this bright song brings an innocence to the album that is refreshing, yet it also leaves you completely unprepared for the rest of the album. The vocal line (Jin, Jungkook, Jimin, and V) serenade the listener. In fact, Dimple shows off vocals individually, allowing each member of the vocal line to showcase their strengths, and it all comes together fantastically.

 Dimple is, for lack of a more professional term, a ridiculously cute song. Each member singing about how their object of attraction is because of their dimple(s). They’re playfully giving fault to her by calling the dimples dangerous and ‘illegal,’ something I’m sure every ARMY would say with regards to those in BTS that have dimples as well. The song speaks in metaphor about the depth of the dimples by saying “I want to drown in them. You are my lake.”

  Final Thoughts: I find this song so adorable! It’s such a light-hearted tune and adds a fresh, bright attitude to the album. I find it natural to think of the words ‘young love’ when I hear this song. BTS had mentioned wanting to have more a boyfriend appeal for this comeback, and this song seems to nail it perfectly.

Please check out the music video below and click here to support BTS by streaming Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS  - Best of Me

Best of Me is the third track from Love Yourself: Her, and it features The Chainsmokers. I can easily imagine this song being played on the radio, even in the U.S., and at music festivals, either as the original or as a remix. It carries a contemporary EDM feel, a sound that BTS’s voices seem to blend effortlessly with. The song begins with Jimin’s gentle vocals, rich piano, and an emphatic bass kick that sets up a dramatic mood, giving it a movie-like feel. It slowly builds with the addition of more melodic piano, and a gently intrusive synth, that hints towards where the chorus will take the listener. The chorus, itself, is quite simple but that’s where the beauty lies. The vocals don’t mask over the track itself, instead the vocals play off of the beat itself and harmonized nicely at the end of the lyric ‘so please just don’t leave me.’

The second verse switches things up, as Rap Monster fronts this verse, having a more consistent kick to it, but holds onto the piano melody from the first, allowing the song to evolve in intensity. Then the unexpected happens; Suga comes in singing proudly. This for me was a mind-blowing moment, and I loved his vocals. As he finishes his section with a rap, one that stirs in with the increased pace of the drum. Then it strips away and goes back to the emotional pre-chorus. As the bridge comes in after the second chorus, Jimin and Jungkook are accompanied by almost a trap-like snare, and J-Hope pulls the song towards the final chorus with a rap that feels like a plea. His rap definitely added a new level of emotion to the song.

Best of Me seems to revisit the hinted melancholy I seemed to notice in Serendipity. The lyrics seem to shift the overall tone of the album. Of course, the track talks about only needing to hear they’re loved, and that their love interest is their winter and their summer; someone who’s perhaps both warm and cold. It still follows the poetic road of love, yet there’s more of a realization that this relationship could end someday, as stated in the previously referenced lyrics ‘so please just don’t leave me.’ The main message of the track, however, is that they’re simply so in love that they don’t want it to change from this moment. If the relationship could stay as it is right there, they’d be eternally happy. Final Thoughts: Best of Me feels very bittersweet. It’s another beautifully crafted song about real feelings of love, that most people have experienced. To me, it feels like the song is saying “Please, don’t let this love ever fade from how it is now.” From personal experience, this song is fantastic to listen to while driving down the highway with the windows down and volume up. It’s a bright, somewhat summery EDM beat with a depth to the lyrics. It’s a fantastic song, as is every other song I’ve reviewed thus far.

Please click here to support BTS and stream Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS - DNA

DNA, the second track from Love Yourself: Her and the first K-Pop song to make it to #67 on the Billboard Hot 100, is a fantastic blend of organic acoustic, electric guitar and thrumming electronic beats. The beat is dynamic and seems to sway musically, yet not in a way that is cacophonous. As the second verse comes in, Suga brings forth a new feel to the song with an accompaniment of a funky bass guitar. The addition of the bass made me almost feel for a second like it was a jam session, and I was experiencing something ‘off the cuff’.

The second pre-chorus is carried by Jin, and it so refreshing to hear his voice more (Thank you, BigHit!). The most interesting turn in the song was the bridge, where V’s breathy, warm vocals meld with the soft piano and twinkling synth that give it a feel of being of the bridge of some starship, before the vocal line brings the chorus back. The end of the track is an explosive blend of heavy bass, running harmonies and catchy ‘la la’s from J-Hope which round out this amazing track.

Lyrically, this song is the second on the album to carry the story of fate and destiny playing a part in love, even going so far as to say it’s the DNA within their own veins that knew. Essentially, down to the smallest parts of their being that they knew this person was special. The lyrics reflected a fearless, and even excited, jump into love, welcoming it wholly, because they believe this to be the person that they’ve spent lives with before, and will spend lives with again. 

Final Thoughts: What I love most about this song is that BTS sings and raps of love with a confidence that I do not believe I’ve heard before. Songs like Boy in Luv and I Need U carry this heavier feeling of either not being noticed, or having lost in love. DNA, however, is a new sound, and a new feel. It is as if BTS is swimming in love, completely submerged by it, and I absolutely love this sound.

Please check out the music video below and click here to support BTS by streaming Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

(Video and audio are © BigHit Entertainment and BTS, 2017)

[hallyuday]

|Review| BTS - Intro: Serendipity

The intro to Love Yourself ‘Her’ is whimsical, soft, and a gentle admission of love. It’s quite a stark difference from Boy Meets Evil, the intro for the Wings album (Still one of my favorite intros because of how fierce and intense it is). Jimin’s vocals lend a distinct feel to the track; a genuine, emotional vulnerability. In some parts, I almost get a pleasant sense of melancholy from the way his voice meshes with the backing track, and it creates an ethereal sense that I believe they were going for. The soundscape of this song gives me goosebumps because of how soothing it is.

The lyrics carry on the tone of loving whimsy, accurately portraying how one feels in the first stage of love. Allegorical uses of blooming flowers, penicillin to cure a person and make them better, and the usage of destiny as a trigger for this growing love are prevalent within Serendipity. In fact, it’s a thematic tone that carries through the majority of the Love Yourself: ‘Her’ album. The next review will be for DNA off of the same album. Please stay tuned for that, and check out the MV for Serendipity below!

Please click here to support BTS and stream Love Yourself: Her on Spotify.

Click on my affiliate link to buy BTS - Love Yourself: Her on Amazon or iTunes!

(Video and audio are © BigHit Entertainment and BTS, 2017)

[hallyuday]

Hello~

Welcome to Hallyuday, my blog! I’ll be reviewing K-Pop albums and singles from all artists. Please feel free to suggest songs, as I’m quite interested to know what you all are listening to! The main purpose of this blog is to keep it a fan-war and scandal free zone, where I concentrate solely on the music and not just how well a song is faring on the charts. Every artist brings something important to the realm of music, so I’m excited to explore it all!