Miki's Music Video Review

Hi guys~!! I'm Miki. (^o^) I'll be reviewing music videos from Japan, Korea, maybe even China, Taiwan, and the US. (◕‿◕✿) I prefer regular MVs, but dance MVs are okay too. I can also do dance reviews and song reviews as well. -Miki *************************************** If you have any music video requests for me please click the request link below and request an MV.

[mikimvreview]

U-Kiss - 내 여자야 (She's Mine)

U-Kiss is back with She's Mine!!

After their youngest member, Dongho, announced his departure from the group earlier this month, U-Kiss is back with a new sound and new look.

I liked this new sound.  The song was nice, but it felt a little too much like the other K-Pop sounds.  I liked the days when U-Kiss had their own style and was unique, but seeing as it wasn't bringing them popularity I'm hoping this new sound will bring them more luck. 

One problem with the song though....  Too much autotune and I can't tell apart who is singing.  They all sound like Kevin.  What happened?  I used to be able to tell them apart from their voice.

The black and white music video with a dash of color was nice, but I personally don't like making the colors pop.  It's unnecessary.  Also, their colored shoes against their black and white bodies where irritating.  I wanted to see their face, not their shoes.

My favorite scene:  2:43 minutes into the video, Eli trying to whip the dog statue like he was on a carriage behind it trying to make it run faster.

[mikimvreview]

Trouble Maker - 내일은 없어 (Now)

Hyuna from K-pop idol group 4Minute, and Hyunseung from BEAST have once again teamed up as Trouble Maker to bring us their newest song Now.  After receiving a lot of attention in 2011 for their first duet together for the song Trouble Maker, they've decided to get back together to bring us Now.  Now, much like their first song Trouble Maker, is another racy, seduction song, pushing the boundaries of the censorship in Korea. 

The music video for Now received a 19+ age rating.  It features a lot of alcohol, make out scenes, and half-naked people.  Trouble Maker, like their namesake, is known for pushing the buttons of censorship, making trouble, but overall Trouble Maker did not disappoint.  I will admit I felt like I was watching a rated R American movie, but I never felt that it would fall into a porno.

GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER!!

I can already visualize all of the sexual comments Trouble Maker will receive for this video, especially Hyuna.  Poor girl. 

The video displayed what alcohol does to your body and relationships.  After a night of drinking, Hyunseung wakes up with a girl on his bed, has a hangover and pukes.  His relationship with his girlfriend Hyuna is hanging on by a thread.  That scene with the Joker was representing the alcohol turning you into someone else, a monster.  It was a nice video, although there was a bit too much make out scenes for my taste, but I did like it.

The music was also nice too, but only Hyunseung's part and the chorus.  I'm sorry, but I didn't feel Hyuna at all.  She's a better rapper, so having her sing isn't such a great idea.  Her voice also lacks behind BEAST's lead vocalist.  However, the song was still nice.  It doesn't beat their first song Trouble Maker, but it was a good attempt without much disappointment.

Trouble Maker's second song Now was nice and very seductive.  The music video was nice, but a bit too rated R for my tastes.  I liked how it challenged the censorship of Korea, even though these two are from two of Korea's popular idol groups.  I can't wait for a third single.

[mikimvreview]

K.Will - 촌스럽게 왜 이래(You don't know love)

Finally veteran Korean ballad singer K.Will is back with a new song, You Don't Know Love!!

I'm not gonna lie, I did kinda watch the music video for K-Pop mega idol group EXO's Chanyeol who stars in the music video, but it was more because I wanted to see his acting since he's only know for rapping and has never acted before.  For K.Will to enlist Chanyeol to star in the video was a surprise since usually more established actors and singers who have already ventured into acting, star in his music videos.  I think Chanyeol did a great job with such high expectations on his shoulders, starring in K.Will's music video.

Moving away from Chanyeol to the music video itself, it was a nice video to watch.  K.Will's videos are always about some kind of cute, innocent love, and this video was no exception.  About a couple who fights, regrets fighting, and gets back together.  A cute, innocent love story.  His videos also have a distinct white background with pastel colors, making his videos memorable.  Not to mention the storylines make it seem like we're watching a movie, with K.Will's songs as the OST. 

Whether K.Will sings an OST or not, his ballad songs are always the best quality.  There is so much emotion in his voice and perfect accuracy in his notes that there really is nothing to pick at about his songs.  It's pure love.  I think he is the god of ballads.

I loved it.  You Don't Know Love is another perfect music video added to K.Will's collection.  The video was perfect and K.Will's song and voice were perfect as well.  Just perfection and and no disappointments.  Amazing.

[mikimvreview]

Kim Jaejoong - Just Another Girl

JYJ's Kim Jaejoong's heavily anticipated music video has finally arrived!!!

Just Another Girl was written by Jaejoong himself, who has been recently showing his growth as a musician, composing and writing his own songs.  With this new song he's trying to tell everyone that he's no longer a K-Pop idol, but rather he's become a musician.  I've been a fan of Jaejoong since 2008, through his glory days as a member of TVXQ, and through his battle against his former company until his rise again as a member of JYJ, so I can honestly say he is no longer an idol.

Just Another Girl is a 내 여자야 (She's Mine.  I didn't know what to expect from Jaejoong since he's been experimenting with his own music style, but he did not disappoint.  Straying away from the popular pop and contemporary songs, I think Jaejoong is finding his styles is more rock or some form of rock.  Jaejoong excels at ballads, pop, and any style you can throw at him, but I think he's very comfortable with rock music or some form of rock.  His last single was rock as well and he nailed it.

Going back to Just Another Girl, I just can't stop listening to it.  I'm hooked onto it.  He sings with so much emotion that it's mesmerizing.  All the sadness and frustration can be heard in his voice.  It makes me fall in love with him all over again.  The one thing I find picking at me when I hear this song is his English.  There are English phrases thrown in the song that I feel need to be pronounced properly instead of being mumbled.  I understand he doesn't speak English and it's not too important, but I think the song would be better if it were pronounced properly since it is, of course, in English.

Jaejoong's music video itself is great.  It's not abstract like his last video so I can understand what's going on.  I loved that he added a band and sang with them instead of just singing himself.  It brought life to the video.  I also loved the constant change in backgrounds.  Going from the parking lot to the house and to the tunnel it was amazing.  The part that really sticks to me is the scene in the tunnel with the flares.  I thought it was nice.  The strange scenes were when the piano, washing machine, and other household appliances were falling out of the sky.  It was so strange I liked it.  Also the blurred out cigarette was a funny.  I realize that Korea has laws about what can be put in a music video before it is banned, but that blurred cigarette was hilarious.  It was very obvious he was smoking with that blurry dot on his hand.

Kim Jaejoong did an amazing job with this music video and song.  I loved it.  I can see he's developing a style that he's comfortable with, so I'm more comfortable as I listen to him.  I music video was also amazing, my favorite part being the flares and the band.  I can't wait to hear more from Jaejoong.

[mikimvreview]

水樹奈々 (Mizuki Nana) X T.M.Revolution - 革命デュアリズム (Kakumei Duelism)

Japanese anime voice actress/singer Mizuki Nana and J-Rocker T.M.Revolution are once again collaborating for the popular anime series Kakumeiki Valvrave, this time with the song Kakumei Duelism for the second opening number!

As a fan of their first collaboration together for the song Preserved Roses (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zynxSanDBzg) I was looking forward to the second collaboration from the moment it was announced. 

Who would have though that J-Rocker T.M.Revolution and voice actress Mizuki Nana would have voices that compliment each other?  Their styles of song are very different.  Although they both have done their fair share of singing anime theme songs, with Mizuki actually voicing anime character in many other animes, it was such a shock that their voices matched so well.  I can vividly remember my mom who is Japanese tripping out when she was watching their music video for their first song, not to mention my Japanese friends were making a frenzy on Facebook about the songs.

Kakumei Duelism is an action packed rock number, T.M.Revolution's forte.  Both singers are belting out, almost shouting at each other throughout the song, it's so emotional.  I loved it!  Mizuki Nana's voice was prominent throughout the whole song I could barely hear T.M.Revolution.  They need to make his voice a little louder.  Mizuki Nana's voice is great, she's got the emotions in her voice and as well as the leading voice, but T.M.Revolution's got the drive and J-Rock tone that brings the song together.  Unless you're wearing earphones, like I am, you can't hear T.M.Revolution, you'll only hear Mizuki.  T.M.Revolution is screaming, singing more emotionally than Mizuki, and it's making the song more emotional and action packed, but it's too soft compared to Mizuki Nana's voice that the song is lacking, although it's barely noticeable unless you've heard it with earphones first.  Mizuki Nana is great, but rock music is T.M.Revolution's forte, they need to make his voice heard because he knows what he's doing.

Kakumei Duelism is such a great song, why did they mess it up with a crappy music video?!!!  They should have picked up from where their first music video left off from because that was a nice music video and it left us at a cliffhanger with the dark Mizuki Nana awakening.  This new music video was great, and I liked the concept better than the previous video, but that duel scene.  T.M.Revolution and Mizuki Nana were singing against the chains, singing facing each other, but the sword fighting... what was that?!  I know it's "Duelism," so they stuck in a duel scene, but it just didn't fit.  Why?  Because one, I can't see T.M.Revolution and Mizuki Nana's face, and two, T.M.Revolution is dressed as a gladiator, while Mizuki Nana is dressed as an assassin.  Did they have to give T.M.Revolution the most ugliest costume in the world?  They could have made him an assassin too to make him look cool, but no, they have him a gladiator costume, fake abs and all. 

I don't know what's going on with the costumes, but it's not working and it's dragging down the music video quality.  This entire music video is centered on this duel, so the choice of costume is important.  If they want to keep the horrendous gladiator costume, then that's fine, but I need to see their faces.  I see their eyes, so I can assume it's them, but I can't see their face.  I was waiting for that dramatic moment when they take of their masks, stare each other down, then start fighting each other again, but it never happened.  I feel like I don't know who was dueling, even though I know it was them.  If they wanted to keep the duel in I have no problem with that, but T.M.Revolution's gladiator costume has to go, and they both need to reveal their faces.  It's anti-climatic.

Moving away from their costumes, the rest of the music video was okay.  It wasn't too fancy, but the graphics were amazing.  I liked the backgrounds, the chains, the fire, the rain, everything.  Even their acting was amazing.  T.M.Revolution didn't disappoint with his emotion packed acting, while Mizuki Nana I was very impressed by.  Her acting was horrible in the first music video and her lives were so unemotional compared to the over dramatic T.M.Revolution that it was hard to watch them on stage together.  In this video Mizuki seems more into the song, so maybe it was making her acting was better. 

Kakumei Duelism was amazing.  It did not disappointed.  Everything other than that gladiator costume and their masked faces was amazing.  I am in love with the song and will be buying my copy as soon as I get my paycheck.  I want to see another T.M.Revolution and Mizuki Nana collaboration, so I hope the anime series runs longer and keeps enlisting the help of these two fabulous artists.  I haven't seen the anime, Kakumei Valvrave yet, but I just might if the anime is as intense as its opening song.

[mikimvreview]

絢香 (Ayaka) - ありがとうの輪 (Arigato no Wa/ Net of Thank yous)

J-Pop singer Ayaka is back after a short six months hiatus with her song Arigato no Wa.  Arigato no Wa was released as a commercial song for the popular candy Kit-Kat. 

For those of you from America or other places that are unfamiliar with Kit-Kat or other candy or snack brands enlisting popular artists to endorse their brands through song, this is not new.  American companies are generally very peculiar with picking their models for endorsements.  They prefer unknown models for their commercials because it's cheaper that hiring an established celebrity to endorse their brands.  Japan, like a few other countries like Korea and such, often hire well known celebrities to endorse their products.  Celebrities have endorsed everything from jewelry, underwear, clothing, candy, instant ramen, video games, to even pet food.  They have also not only posed for the camera, but also starred in commercials and written full songs, not just jingles, for their products.  Commercials in Asia are dominated by celebrities that while watching a drama on your favorite celebrity the first commercial during the drama may also star the same celebrity.  American celebrities like Brad Pitt, Angelia Jolie, George Clooney, and more have also starred in Asian commericals.  It's interesting to watch Brad Pitt running through the streets as fast as he can to get his love, the special bottle of shaving cream instead of a running off to save a woman in distress.

Although it's Ayaka's not the first artist Kit-Kat has enlisted to promote this band, I have to say she is probably one of the best it has enlisted.  Although Ayaka's song doesn't have a catchy jingle or pop tune to it, her song sounds more like a charity song, which the Japanese people instantly fall in love with more than jingles or pop tunes.  Her voice is perfectly calling out, asking for help to love the children.  The song mentions nothing about Kit-Kat, only singing about love and thank yous, turning it into a light that makes the world go round.  It's as if Kit-Kat is saying love the children by giving them treats, Kit-Kats.

The music video has nothing to do with Kit-Kat.  Instead the video is about the children, loving them and making them come together with love.  Judging by the shortness of the video, the lack of a Kit-Kat bar in the children's hands, and Ayaka's appearance in the video I am assuming that this is not the actual commercial for Kit-Kat, but rather a music video for herself to promote with and later Kit-Kat will release a commercial promoting it's candy using her song.  I highly doubt that incomplete drawing in the beginning of the video will turn into a person holding a Kit-Kat bar, although it might.  Too bad the video was cut short.

I really enjoyed the song.  I wanted to hear more of it.  It was a pity that the music video was cut short.  A lot of Japanese official Japanese videos on Youtube are cut off at two minutes, so I'm wondering if there is a Japanese music video law on youtube.  Regardless, I would like to hear more of the song and hopefully see more of the video.  It looks interesting.  Ayaka chose a nice song for her return from a hiatus.

[mikimvreview]

Show Lou - Cast the Net of Love

Show Lou, a Taiwanese singer, TV host, and actor, is back with his newest musical number Cast the Net of Love.  I'm not too familiar with Shou Lou's music or Show Lou, but I do watch a few Youtube clips of him interacting with my favorite Kpop bands when they go to his show in Taiwan.  This is very different from the interestingly funny TV host that I'm used to watching.  Also I haven't been listening to Taiwanese pop music in a few years, so I'm not too up to date with the Taiwanese music scene.  The last time I listened to TW-Pop Fahrenheit still had four members.

Regardless of my lack of current TW-pop music, I clicked on the video because I saw the thumbnail of Show Lou in a beautiful cage and the caption that K-pop idol Ga In from was the video.  I was expecting an overly sexy video since Ga In was in it, but I was greeted with a strange, almost abstract, sexy video.  Honestly it was weird.  The intro was awkward too.  Maybe it was because I understand English, but that intro was weird.  It didn't match the video, although the intro did explain what the video was about,  (something I really needed since it was a little too abstract for me.) 

The visuals, as well as the use of animals and cages, I thought, were nice and different from the usual music video.  Sexy storylines are popular these days.  Even though it was another seduction video the use of animals were different so I liked it. 

I also liked the costumes for the female animals it was.... different.  Show Lou's costume... OH MY GOD NO!  The poor guy is wearing a lion on his suit.  Nice touch, but not my style.  Also the lion was deformed because his jacket was open and his vest was also the same lion.  It was like the lion had three heads, or was molting out of his lion shell.  Get rid of the suit immediately.  He's lucky he's a celebrity or he probably wouldn't wear that in public, I know I won't.

The music was a nice, but the chorus caught me off guard.  It felt like they put in two different songs and mashed it together.  It was like they put in a Show Lou song and mashed it together with Justin Timberlake's SexyBack for the chorus.  I didn't like the song as a whole because it sounded like a mash-up.  I felt like I would like it if it were two different songs instead of just one. 

Sorry Show Lou, you sound great, but I didn't like the style of it.

Oh, I'd also like to mention about the chorus of the song, I hate the dance!  The dance for the chorus was just horrible.  It looked like someone made up the choreography five minutes... no, one minute before the filmed this music video!  It was just lazy and awful to look at.  It's the only part of the video where there's dancing for goodness sakes, put more thought into it.  Geez, even a preschooler can dance those moves in a second.  You can dance way more cooler moves with that beat.  It's a seduction song right?  You ain't gonna be seducing anyone with those moves.  Even the lioness will roll her eyes and walk away.

Show Lou, I think this music video was great, a bit abstract but in a good way.  I liked it.  The music too.  Although I'm not a fan of the weird mash-up like essence of the song, it's not too bad.  It's still catchy and listenable.  The wardrobe and dancing... I need to have a word with your stylist and choreographer.  The stylist I won't scold too much since the lion suit did match, but I think it was more of that weird lion suit on lion vest that I'd scold the stylist on.  The choreographer... I want that person replaced!!  As a dancer I won't except half-butt choreography like that.  Like I said earlier, "You ain't gonna seduce anyone with those moves!!"  It makes you look like a wannabe and a pervert.  Just... No.  I can't even think about that dance.  I swear it wasn't even a dance.  Just replace that dance and the music video will be great.

[mikimvreview]

MUSH&Co. - 明日も (Ashita mo/ Tomorrow Too)

MUSH&Co. is one of two fictional bands, the other is CRUDE PLAY, from the upcoming Japanese movie Kanojo wa Uso wo Aishisugiteru (The Liar and His Lover) which is due to hit the theaters in Japan on December 14.  The movie is based on the manga of the same name.  MUSH&Co. is comprised of actress Ohara Sakurako, and actors Yoshizawa Ryo, and Morinaga Yuki.

This music video is a little better than it's counter part only because of it's upbeat tune and the fact that you can see all of the members faces and smiles.  I couldn't help but bob my head up and down to the beat like a dork when I watched the video. 

As I watched the video I couldn't help compare the singer's voice to more established J-Pop singers Otsuka Ai, Ayaka, and YUI.  This seems like a song they would sing.  I don't know much about the actress who's singing, but her voice is amazing.  I think it's an honor to be compared to Otsuka Ai and Ayaka.

Moving on to the music video itself, it was rather refreshing to watch.  I liked watching them enjoy themselves as they happily jam to the music.  They seem to have this fresh new band, doesn't care about fame, and just doing it for fun, kind of attitude as they play which I find refreshing and nice.  Most bands nowadays are all about looking cool, showing off their skills and fame, so it's fun to watch these three enjoy themselves.  It's hard to remember that this is a fictional band while watching this video.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching this music video.  The singer's voice was amazing and their performance in the video was refreshing to watch.  I'm a little disappointed that this is a fictional band as I can see this band going places, especially this lead singer.  I think she could have a career in singing if acting doesn't work out for her.

After watching this music video I know I have to watch the movie.  I'm hoping that MUSH&Co. will have more songs in the movie and this won't be their only song.  I'm seriously contemplating on buying a plane ticket to Japan just to watch this movie now.

[mikimvreview]

CRUDE PLAY - サヨナラの準備は、もうできていた (Sayonara no Junbi wa, Mou Dekiteita/ Already Prepared to Say Goodbye)

CRUDE PLAY is one of two a fictional J-Pop bands, the other is MUSH&Co., from the upcoming Japanese movie Kanojo was Uso wo Aishisugiteru (The Liar and His Lover), which is due to be released in Japan on December 14.  The live-action movie is based on the manga of the same name.  CRUDE PLAY is comprised of actors Miura Shohei, Kubota Masataka, Mizuta Kouki, and Asaka Kodai.

When I clicked on this video I was honestly a little scared.  I only knew Miura Shohei and none of the other actors.  When I saw Miura Shohei was the lead singer I was skeptical since I only saw him as a talented actor and I didn't know if he could sing.  However, boy was I wrong.  Miura Shohei has a sexy voice!  I was impressed by his singing.  It made me want to cry.  His acting in the video wasn't helping either.

Thinking of the video as an actual music video, rather than a promotion for the movie, CRUDE PLAY's music video seems very bland and boring at a first glance with it's lack of stunning visuals, however I loved it.  I found the plain background matched very well with the music.  The song is a sad rock ballad about how even though the boy loves the girl, he was prepared for their breakup from the moment they started dating.  I thought the plain setting was perfect for the song as it showcased the emotion of sadness with its dim lighting and Miura Shohei's acting.  I found the dim lighting in the room as a metaphor for the sunset which would represent the end of the day, the end of the relationship.

Overall I really enjoyed this short music video.  Miura Shohei's voice was amazing and I want to hear more from him.  I can't help but wish the music video was longer.  I want to hear the whole song!  In fact I want to watch the movie just to hear the song.  Why can't they play the movie here in the U.S?  I'll have to wait until someone uploads the video onto Youtube, or wait a year or so until the DVD comes out, so I can have my friends from Japan buy it for me just so I can watch it.

[mikimvreview]

E-girls  - クルクル (Kurukuru/ Round and Round)

J-Pop girl group E-girls is back with their newest song Kurukuru featuring 18 girls of their 29 members.

This is my first time seeing an E-girls music video, although I have seen one live performance on a variety show.  Maybe it's because I'm not too familiar with this group or because there is so many girls, but I could not tell the difference between any members, and I don't even know if all 18 girls got their fair share of screen time.

Now moving along from not being able to recognize their faces to their music video.  The music video was pretty nice for a J-Pop video.  I'm used to J-pop artists singing in front of only one or two backgrounds, but this video had quite a few backgrounds, so I was impressed.  The background visuals really captivated my attention more than the girls themselves.  It also helped keep my attention on the song, which I thought was a little bland and overplayed, a typical J-Pop song.  The one visual I clearly remember is one of the girls laying down inside a suitcase.  I can't believe she fit in there!

I really enjoyed the short dancing bits they included in the video.  I know E-girls is know for dancing, so I was expecting a little more dancing in the video.  I think the dancing bits were a nice, but forced in.  I really did like the choreography where they held their legs up and made a small circle with their leg during the chorus.  I wanted to join in on the dancing.  However, I did not like the girls dancing in that weird line in the middle of the room.  It was like they were on a small runway trying to dance and it was not working for me.  I did like the girls dancing on the chair though.  Something about chair dances captivates me.  I liked the use of canons during the choreography.  It looked really nice since they have so many members.

As the first E-girls music video I've seen I was impressed by the video itself.  I wasn't expecting so many colorful backgrounds.  However, I don't think I'll be coming back to watch this video sometime soon though.  It's another common J-Pop music video that another artist will release soon within the next month or two.  Aside from being a common video the song was unoriginal as well.  I can say I liked the video, but I don't think I'll be coming back to this E-girls music video anytime soon.

[mikimvreview]

Kanto -  What You Want (말만해) Ft. Infinite's Kim Sunggyu

Rapper Kanto from Show Me the Money 2 fame officially debuts with "What You Want" featuring the vocal talents of Infinite's Kim Sunggyu.

A rather typical korean rap music video, Kanto, a typical playboy, tries to impress a hot girl at a club.  As he continues to seduce her, she first seems uninterested, but eventually she leaves a folded paper in his jacket.  Happy to get her number be opens the paper, but still playing hard to get her message is "I will call you."  Smirking, he goes back to flirting with the other girls.

Quite frankly, the music video is nothing special.  It's the same as all other rap music videos, the rappers player trying to get a hot chick that playing hard to get, nothing unusual. 

The only thing in the video that was original that I liked was the use of the cut out words, "What you want" and "Kim Sunggyu."  It was interesting to watch Sunggyu sing behind the words and have the words etched onto his face with the lighting passing though the words.  Although it looks like a cheap effect I was rather captivated by it.  However, other than that the only thing that keeps the video interesting is the music itself.

At first the music sounds like a typical R&B song played a coffee shop until Kanto busts out rapping.  He raps about having an unrequited love with a woman asking "What you want?"

Then Sunggyu starts singing the chorus, his melodic voice bringing the entire song together.  Maybe as an Infinite fan I'm biased, but Sunggyu sounds amazing although he's not belting or showing off his voice.  He's a perfect accompaniment to Kanto's piece.  It's catchy too, so I know I'll be humming the song for a while.

As Kanto's debut music video it's not too bad.  His music is pretty catchy and similar to other R&B style Korean rap songs.  As a former contestant on Korea's raping competition-reality show, Show Me the Money 2, I was hoping to hear a dirtier, faster, maybe more American style of rap showcasing more of his rapping talents, but I think he's playing it safe as his debut song with the popular R&B genre.  I hope to hear more from Kanto.  He sounds like a decent rapper.

[mikimvreview]

TEEN TOP -  못났다' (Love Fool) Real Self

K-pop boy band TEEN TOP just released their newest music video Love Fool.

The Love Fool music video is not your standard music video with intricate dances, elaborate storylines, and extravagant backgrounds , but rather a simple music video that looks like it was shot on a handheld camera with the boys fooling around, playing with puppies.

The video does compliment the catchy pop ballad, going for a more natural vibe instead of a professional feel. 

The boys fooling around and playing around like dorks is rather refreshing to watch.

I enjoyed watching the scenes where the boys sat together awkwardly in front of the camera, especially at the end when they were all rocking their heads side to side.  Such dorks!