A lot of attention has been given to KPop groups lately, but not as much has been given to KBands. Which is a shame because I’d give my left arm to a lot of Korean bands, if I was asked to. A lot of talented Korean bands aren’t given as much attention, and sometimes that’s simply because they’re from smaller companies. I’ve decided to sit down and list my favorite Korean Bands, while also linking one of my favorite songs by each band.
#1: IZ
Is anyone even shocked considering I just made a post telling everyone they need to stop sleeping on IZ and should instead listen to their music? IZ has that beautiful rock sound that is hard to find. It makes me think of some of FT Island’s songs, meaning IZ a great alternative to people who are a bit iffy about listening to some of FT Island’s older music, considering the scandal with one of the (now former) members.
IZ is the definition of “underappreciated.” I have yet to meet a single person who stans them, which is a shame because of just how amazing their sound is! Plus, between the newest album (Re:IZ) and their stuff from a year ago, you can see their growth and improvement! It’s amazing!
#2: N.Flying
I am extremely biased when it comes to recommending N.Flying to people. Not in terms of having a bias in the group, but rather in terms of supporting them (I even have a signed album!). They’ve been through a lot, and they have a lot of amazing songs on both their regular channel and their Japanese channel. In fact, I’d easily say some of their Japanese songs are some of my favorites. I would’ve linked some of their Japanese songs, or their covers, but this is supposed to be a list of “KBands.” I might do a TOP 5 N.Flying songs, though, just to fawn over them.
This is a great time to be an N.Flying fan, actually, because they’ve been releasing a lot of videos lately. A lot are on their Japanese channel, and for a while they were just uploading medleys, but these videos are all a great way to really see just how talented they are.
(NOTE: there are three channels to follow if you like N.Flying: the official channel, the official Japanese channel, and 2IDIOTS, which is run by Jaehyun and Cha Hun)
#3: The Rose
The Rose is a four-member band that I’ve posted about on here before. When I think of their music, I typically think of softer songs, like “Sorry.” They’re amazing songs and the members are hilarious. The leader Sammy actually has his own YouTube channel for his covers and is known for his friendship with Day6′s Jae (and to a lesser extent, K.A.R.D’s Matthew). I feel like there’s not as much content for The Rose as there should be, but I expect that to change with their (slow) growing popularity.
#4: Day6
If you’ve heard of a Korean band, it’s probably Day6. I attribute their rise to both their talent and the fact that they are from a better known agency (JYP). They’re known for their deep lyrics, and they did release MVs and songs on the 6th of every month in 2017, which in and of itself must have been a huge project that shows just how hard the group has worked. Additionally, the band is attractive to English-speaking fans because Jae and Brian YoungK both speak English.
#5: The East Light
I, personally, don’t listen to The East Light. However, I think that those who like NCT Dream will like The East Light, as they’re another younger group with talented music. I don’t see a lot of people talking about them, but that may be because I mainly talk to Korean music fans around my age, and they’re a little young for my age group (the oldest ones are ‘00 liners). I think that, as people get into younger KPop groups like NCT Dream, The East Light will be a good band for them to support and grow up with, in the same way I grew up listening to FT Island as my Korean band.
I like to think that, as younger faces pop up in the KPop industry, The East Light will grow and flourish.
While my childhood was primarily shaped by anime, my teenage years were actually filled with both anime and manga. I found myself enjoying manga since I could read it much faster, allowing me to pass through the story faster with a manga than I could with the anime.
Looking back, I mostly read Shojo manga. I was homeschooled until eighth grade, so I was awkward around people by the time I started to really read manga. As such, it was nice to read Shojo manga and be transported into a world where love works out and is really, really cute. (Fun fact, I didn’t get my first non-long distance relationship until I was a Senior, and that ended after a week. I didn’t start dating again until 2018. So, of course I was into romance manga).
#1: Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You)
What really makes Kimi ni Todoke special to me is that, even today, I see myself in the main character. She’s a quiet student with no friends, but she does her best, even so, and is actually really cute. I wanted to pretend I could be like her and have a cute guy come in and sweep me off my feet and help me open up to make more friends.
Sadly, I was reading the manga as it was coming out, so I never finished it. I did, however, recently start watching the anime. The manga is also the reason I discovered one of my favorite bands (Marianas Trench) because someone on YouTube made an AMV using Kimi ni Todoke and the song “All to Myself,” and it was a really good video and I fell in love with the song.
#2 Vampire Knight
Vampire Knight is another manga I never finished reading because it was coming out as I was reading it. However, I got way up there in chapters. While the story line didn’t really affect my opinions on people in general, it did shape a lot of my youth. I was obsessed with the ship of Zero + Yuuki, which is how I came up with my online name “Zeki.” A lot of my usernames on other websites actually have usernames using “Zeki” in it, including my old YouTube channels (IamZeki and 4EverZekiVK). I also learned how much I can hate a character, as I was not a fan of Kaname at all.
#3: Hana to Akuma
This is by far one of my favorite manga ever, and it’s probably one of the only ones I read as a teenager that doesn’t have an anime to accompany it. I loved making videos dedicated to it, including one that now has over 33K views. I didn’t even know back then that there were that many fans of the manga, as you never really see people talk about it.
It’s a beautiful manga and I found myself absolutely in love with the story. I read it as fast as I possibly could, falling in love with the characters as I did. Even to this day, I can easily say it was my second favorite manga ever. However, it’s at #3 because Vampire Knight did create my online username before I started using Jacobsenia.
#4: Special A
This was one of my favorite manga, and it was another one I found myself constantly making MMVs for on YouTube. It was another high school manga, like Kimi ni Todoke, but it was about a rich-kid high school with classes based on grades. It was high pressure and funny. I especially found myself interested in the story of Megumi and Yahiro. I feel like it really affected the kind of ships I tend to support even today (that is...the jerk with a surprising nice side + whoever he decides he likes). I think good examples of ships I probably wouldn’t support if not for Special A include TinCan (Love by Chance) and the main relationship in To The Beautiful You (not that I know if there’s a ship name for it?).
I feel like I did finish this manga, but I honestly can’t remember. It was so long ago...but I’d be willing to bet $20 that I did finish it.
#5: Junjou Romantica
Every shojo manga fan has likely stumbled upon at least one gay manga in their lives. For me, my first taste of any sort of gay media was actually Junjou Romantica. I think that, if I hadn’t seen this, I would not have been as comfortable with gay media later on in life. After all, I live in a heavily conservative household.
Now, I’m open about what LGBTQA+ media I read and watch, and I often make jokes about it with my stepdad. I don’t think I’d have been this comfortable without reading Junjou Romantica (not that I ever finished it...it’s such a long manga). My own identity as a panromantic asexual somehow just became accepted facts without me ever coming out formally, but I don’t think they’d have been that way if I hadn’t first grown comfortable with it and discovered such media exists through Junjou Romantica.
I’m still not sure at which point I made the jump from reading that to actually watching gay dramas, though?
Okay, so, I love listening to rappers, and it’s not uncommon for my to bias a rapper in a KPop group (if I don’t bias the rapper, then they’re my bias wrecker). I feel like there’s a lot of emotion that can be put into a rap song, and I like when they rap about something other than sex or how much money they have or whatever. I’m a broke asexual, that doesn’t resonate with me.
Now, when reading this list, you’ll see there’s some overlap between the artists I like. I’ll compare their music, but only to show why I love it so much. I’ll talk about the videos, but only to talk about the style I enjoy seeing. You’ll also see that not all of the artists are Korean, and not all belong to a KPop group.
Without further ado- Here’s my Top 5 Rappers.
#5: NF
Okay, show of hands, who has heard of NF? I gave him the #5 entry because I haven’t heard a lot of his music, but I really like what I have heard. His songs are real, talking about mental illness and struggles. While the video I link is “When I Grow Up,” it was “Real” that inspired me to make this list. "Real” is from 2016, and the sound of it brought memories of RM’s earlier work (particularly, “Joke,” especially with the aesthetic of the music video in the “abandoned” location).
What’s really amazing about NF’s songs is that they’re something real and relatable. Its not just “hey look at me! I get all the girls and I’m rich!” Instead, it’s him rapping about mental illness, triggering topics, etc. With that, I want to warn readers that look into his music that some videos and songs can contain triggering topics, so proceed with caution.
#4: BANG YONGGUK
I am a very casual Yongguk fan. I never really got into B.A.P, but I love the solo work he’s released since leaving the group (not to say it’s good he left, but just to say I only started listening to him after).
While he’s released a video since “Hikikomori" came out, I have to say that I still favor “Hikikomori.” It’s a song that’s very honest about his experiences and what hes been through. It takes a lot for people to be able to be open about things like mental health and what they experience, especially when your every move is being watched by the public. Korea also isn’t known for their excellent viewpoint of mental health and mental illnesses (as we can see with the tragic lost of SHINee’s Jonghyun and BIGBANG’s T.O.P’s attempted suicide). Idols don’t have a lot of freedom to open up, and it’s really only in these past few years that I’ve noticed Koreal idols being more open with their experiences.
I think it is great that Yongguk was open about his stories, as it is something extremely personal. I feel like this is something listeners can relate to much better than a song about getting girls.
#3: Agust D
When it comes to Agust D, I love the speed, the lyrics, everything. I can easily say I still have his songs on my playlist years after their release. The self-titled track “Agust D” is probably one of my top three in his mixtape. I still remember the day it came out. I was on another website, watching as people posted updates and reactions to the MV. They were mostly freaking out over him cussing and flipping off the camera. I loved it. I had always kinda been interested in Suga, he had this dark air around him that made me want to know more, and I didn’t know a lot of people that biased him. This video really made me even more interested and his mixtape really helped highlight his abilities to fans that maybe hadn’t had a chance to look into it.
I still remember jokes online when J-Hope’s mixtape got added to Superstar BTS and fans were doing their best to succeed. They said that the day they add any Agust D songs is the day our thumbs fall off.
I love it. And I always will.
#2: Jackson Wang
I’m not gonna lie, all of Jackson’s solo work has been either a hit or a miss for me. I like his music genuinely, or I kinda laugh at the lyrics. I like that he’s stepping into a different style, in a sense. Most fans know him for his role in GOT7 as a rapper (with amazing arms and a cute smile). Many fans also know he is from Hong Kong. So, when I heard he first released a solo, I expected it to be in Chinese (like how EXO’s Yixing’s solos are) or Korean. I was pleasantly surprised each time he released a song to find out they’re in English, even though I knew he speaks English. I feel like, of all the languages, I just didn’t expect it.
That’s why he’s number two. He didn’t do something expected. I feel like he’s found a style he likes and is sticking to it, and I am 100% positive that the songs will get better in time, just as GOT7′s music grew over time. Unlike the other rappers on the list, he isn’t releasing songs in his native language or the language he’s been rapping in whenever he’s on concert. He’s doing something different, and I’d be shocked if it’s not a bit of a challenge for him. That’s admirable, and we like admirable.
#1: J-Hope
Throw stuff at me virtually all you want for including two BTS members, but I can’t help myself.
I honestly couldn’t decide which JHope song to link for this one. I love all of his solo songs, though I am partial to “Hangsang,” “Airplane,” “Boy Meets Evil” (that dancing, am I right?), “Daydream,” and “Mama.” I actually did a project in college where I wrote about how the lyrics of “Mama” related to the story we had read. Granted, I bullshitted the entire essay since I did not actually read the story. I just wanted to write about a JHope song.
While I support all of BTS’ members, J-Hope was actually one of the last two members I learned to identify and came to love. It breaks my heart, looking back. He stole my heart while watching him perform “Mama” live when I saw BTS during their Wings tour. Seeing his energy and how much he was enjoying himself, especially with the fans going “Hey mama!” with him...it warmed my heart.
A lot of rappers on this list have a dark aesthetic, especially with their music videos. Hoseok really switches things up, as he almost always seems to have a contagious smile on his face. While RM and Agust D’s (Suga’s) music videos for their first mix tapes were dark and gritty, Hoseok kept his bright and cheerful. That’s why he’s #1: he’s done something I have yet to see another idol do.
HONORABLE MENTION: HyunA
I 100% was going to make HyunA #2 instead of Jackson (sorry, Jackson) but...as far as I’m aware, she hasn’t released anything yet since leaving CUBE (because CUBE sucks and we support HyunA’s right to date). It’s expected, of course, since it hasn’t been long and it takes time to produce music and make music videos and all that. I want to support her fully once she’s releasing music at the new company, and as such prevented myself from listing her.
I will say, though, I love her style, her confidence, and her voice. She’s great because I feel like there’s nothing she can’t do.
I was really looking forward to this episode because, as those who read my first review may remember, I was lest than impressed with the first episode. It left something to be desired and I felt as though the plot was moving too fast for a single episode.
Episode 2 doesn’t fix everything, but I like it a lot more than the first one.
Emotions
The episode itself starts off really heavy. If you haven’t started the series yet and are going it, the start of episode 2 flowers nicely after the emotions of episode 1. However, the entire first half felt extremely heavy and serious, so it was hard for me to really enjoy it. The first episode instantly made me laugh so that I couldn’t help but cry with the emotional ending. This episode has me feeling pity for poor Third, which helps make the second half feel funnier and also more genuine.
Altogether, an emotional first-half does help, but it made the entire episode feel too heavy and I was left thinking the humor was lacking.
ENTER: The Love Rival (I’m pretty sure)
The love rival can also be called “the curse of the drama fan,” as they’re typically the one they’d rather win than the main character’s actual love interest. When the love rival is typically introduced, the main character’s actual love interest is a huge jerk and it seems like the main character has no chance. For our KDrama fans, I typically think of the drama “To the Beautiful You,” which has Minho’s character Tae-Joon appearing as a jerk towards Sulli’s character Jae-Hee. Even though we as the viewer know Tae-Joon will win, many fans still cheered for Lee Hyun-Woo’s character Eun-Gyeol. Of course, by the end, we do support the main love interest, but we still cheer on the second one.
I, personally, have found that the love rival works well to help trigger a change in the main love interest. It’s not always the case, but they can help ignite jealousy and possessiveness, and even to help the main interest realize that they have feelings for the main character.
Now, granted, our new character Un isn’t necessarily a love rival yet. However, considering what I typically see with love rivals, he seems to fit the bill. We have the main love interest, Khai, who seems to be oblivious to Third’s feelings and actually causes Third frustration and pain. He’s carrying about his life like usual, and then this handsome af guy comes up and talks to Third like its nothing. The characters explain that he directs (like Third), he can attract girls without doing anything, and he’s kind. They also mention he’s been hanging around Third since their freshman year (three years, the length of time Third has liked Khai). Oh, yeah, and did I mention he’s handsome? He genuinely makes me think of Forth from 2Moons, as they’re both really handsome and kind (and neither will end up with the main guy, though I’ve heard Forth+Beam should be a thing in season 2 of 2Moons). Honestly, I thought Un’s actor (Earth) was attractive when I saw him as Type in Love By Chance (which didn’t finish airing that long ago).
Basically, from what we know about Un (which is basically how amazing he is + that he’ been friendly with Third since their first year), it seems like he fits the bill and will help ignite the romance a bit.
Wingman Failure
Two has a good heart. I said in the last review that, just based on the preview for episode 2, it seemed like he’d be a key ally to Third. His attempts to help actually make for great comedic relief since he’s really bad at helping Third. One thing that’s apparent early on in the episode is that Two doesn’t quite understand Third’s mentality. Third has kept this secret for three years! He was ready to give up and move on and never tell anyone the truth. It was just luck that Two walked in on him breaking down after having his heart broken yet again by Khai. What does this mean? It means that Third won’t confess just because the timing’s good. This lends itself to the central conflict of this episode: Third’s confessions. Or attempts at them.
In this episode, he has about three good chances to confess to Khai. One is set up by Two, which is when they’re collecting ambient sound. However, he chickens out. And who can blame him? Why would he just confess out of the blue to Khai? It’s not until Khai seems to drop hints about being open to a confession that Third can actually bring himself to do anything (however, Khai is an idiot and probably doesn’t realize that’s the message he’s sending. I’ll get to Khai later).
The second confession is when Third decides to take Two’s advice to copy a confession from a movie. He chooses the film “Love Actually,” which is where the episode’s name comes from. However, this ends in failure because Khai just thinks that Third is trying to help him find ways to get Milk back.
The third confession is set up thinks to Two’s brilliant plan. Using the classic “plan doesn’t go according to plan, but still works,” Two has Third pretend he can’t pay for his apartment. He then says he can’t take him in, planning to have Khai volunteer. Instead, Bone offers. Now, the sight of Bone’s room pretty much makes it clear that Bone should not invite anyone into his room ever and he should probably throw 90% of what’s in his room away. Finally, Khai takes pity and stops Third from staying there, instead inviting him over to his own place. Finally, third makes his confession, which is cute and poetic. The problem is, Khai is stupid and doesn’t realize the poetic statement is a confession. He tells Third not to say that to anyone else, not even their friends, because they’d instantly fall in love. He then walks off, giving Third yet another failed attempt at confessing.
Khai: Redeemed?
In my last review, I made it clear that I didn’t really like Khai’s character. He feels like this character that’s hard to like, as he just keeps hurting Third over and over again. We’re given no info on him other than the fact that he’s an attractive womanizer. However, there is some bit of redemption and hope for the viewer to like him more as the series progresses.
Khai’s redemption actually likes in the fact that he’s an idiot who keeps dropping clues, whether he means to or not. He’s not as big of an asshole in this episode, but he’s also talking about no longer dating girls who don’t really love him. We also see Khai as doing the job he should as a friend: helping and comforting Third. He seems like his heart is more or less in the right place, but this is only episode 2 and I really doubt Khai will be able to keep this up. I watched the preview for episode 3, and that only seems to confirm my suspicions that he’s going to chase after another skirt, leaving Third to feel heartbroken again while not being able to mope around because he’ll have to see Khai and whoever Khai’s hooking up with no place to escape.
Pan? Un?
We meet two new characters in this episode, Pan and Un. I’ve already covered Un’s introduction, but I’d like to reiterate that he really is an attractive guy and we’re not given much info on him aside from his popularity and relationship with Third. Third also seems to genuinely enjoy talking to him, so I really think that he’ll be an interesting character to see develop.
Pan’s timing for her introduction isn’t the best, in my opinion. She’s introduced in the very last scene, which removes any “I want more” feelings from the viewer. We see her talk to Bone, and we see that Bone is clearly interested. Well...there goes my wish that Bone and Two will pair up. Granted, things could change, but the preview also shows an introduction to a female character played by Neen Suwanamas who is clearly known by Two (mydramalist has her listed as Lin, but our Sotus fans may recognize her as May). While I’m fine with Two and Bone both getting girlfriends, I was kind of hoping that the series would feature a second gay romance to help break up the story of the one.
While we get almost no interest on Pan, her being introduced in the last scene would typically imply she’ll be an important character. This especially would hint at her being a key player in the next episode, but it could also be a poor choice for the ending scene in general. For that, we’ll just have to wait and see.
What I Loved
There were a few things I liked this episode. One of the main things I loved was Third editing together the sound clips to say “Khai, I love you” while crying by himself. It was a really emotional scene, especially with the song playing in the background. These are words that we, as viewers, don’t know if Third will ever be able to actually say to Khai. That makes this scene that much more emotional. While the shot did feel long, even with the cross fades between shots, the song playing did help. Besides, the cross fade and slow tears made it feel more of a real pain. It wasn’t him overwhelmed in his heartbreak and swearing to move on, it was him acknowledging to himself that he may never say those words to Khai.
I also loved the scene when they sat in the theater watching the credits role. While they did talk about the movie itself at first, they still sat watching in silence after they finished talking. They were the only people in the theater watching the credits role, which could have simply been setting up a nice shot. However, for me it felt more significant since they are film students. One day, that could be their names in the credits. Also, they understand the hard work that goes into making a movie because of their major. It’s really nice, even though I may just be imagining the whole thing.
Finally, I loved how they showed Third imagining each confession to Khai when looking for a movie confession to use. Each time Bone recommended one, Third imagined it and it was honestly hilarious. It helped lighten the mood for the episode a bit more, which I felt was vital after the serious feeling in the first two parts of the episode.
In general, the mood really picked up after the first half. I especially liked how it showed them together in the apartment, watching a movie, both crying over it. It made the relationship feel more genuine, which is important if the viewer is going to cheer for Khai at all and support the relationship.
Final Words
I left this episode liking Khai more than I had after the first. Additionally, the pacing felt a lot better, too. However, some scenes didn’t flow well and I wasn’t left with that feeling of wanting more after the episode was over. Between episodes one and two, I was eagerly awaiting the subs for Episode 2. I wanted t see what would happen after the emotional ending of Episode 1.
Since we, as the viewers, don’t understand if Pan is anyone of importance, since this is her first appearance, it’s hard to really like her introduction as the ending of the episode. While I know not every episode can end in a cliff hanger, I would’ve liked a more satisfying end to the episode.
I’d like to personally think Happyface Entertainment for always doing my girls justice. In terms of KPop Girl Groups, Dreamcatcher is an outlier. They have a unique sound - a rock sound. I find the group itself has the potential to one day encourage fans of JPop and JRock to get into KPop since Dreamcatcher has that “this is an anime opening” sound. Which, again, is unique and I love it.
Overall Sound
As is expected of Dreamcatcher, the song itself is powerful. Like their other title tracks thus far, it sounds like an anime opening. The music is strong, like something I’d expect from a band, while managing to not overpower the girls’ vocals and rapping. It’s a song that keeps you captive as you listen and only pulls you in more as it progresses.
MV
This editing is gorgeous. I especially was a fan of how the two outfits worn during the choreography scenes matched. it made it easier for me to keep track of who was who and made the transition from black/red to pink and back go much smoother. If the outfits had been too different, it would have looked rough and choppy. I’d also like to say I’m always a fan of girl groups wearing pants. Please, give me more outfits with pants.
Like most of Dreamcatcher’s MV’s, I don’t know what’s going on at all, but I’m till drawn in. The video is both creepy but enchanting. I found myself pulled along with the storyline. I don’t quite know if their MVs are supposed to be connected since the album names seemed to connect, but...they’re all really fun to watch and well edited.
Lyrics Meaning
WTF is a “Piri”? The lyrics tend to translate to “blow the piri.” Since I’m sure my lovely readers don’t feel like searching that up, I searched it. Honestly, my only results brought up the piri-piri pepper?
Overall, the song’s lyrics really fit the whole nightmare thing they have going on for the album. They talk about needing to be saved and saying they’re in a drastic situation. The lyrics themselves don’t seem to hold any “deep” meaning, but that’s not always expected with music. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a powerful rock song, y’know?
Choreography
When I look at choreography, I look at how it makes me feel. For “Piri,” it’s not the same “moved to tears” I get with some other dances (see: “Knock” by KNK). However, it still keeps me captive. I love the range of motion, the movement, the graceful elements (ie, the graceful hand motions while staying still) mixed with elements that seem more “hard rock” (ie, them going up and down while their legs are spread and slightly bent). The entry perfectly pulls in your attention as they start with an opening that requires each member move at just the right time and be at just the right position to make it work. It’s so complex that it can’t help but catch your eye.
I’d listen to this song if I was...
This is one of my “going to work” songs. I love a good rock-sounding song to get me ready to deal with whatever the day throws at me. Since I work retail, I feel the need to be pumped up and ready to go. This song perfectly does that for me.
You might like this song if you like...
Because both songs give me the feeling of an anime opening, the first song I’ll recommend is “Run to You” by SEVENTEEN. Many fans of this song have compared it to an anime opening and I’ve always agreed. It’s another song I’ve tried to use to get my JPop loving friends into KPop.
“Stand By Me” by N.Flying is a Japanese song (by a Korean band) which also sounds very anime-ish. Some fans say anime opening, others say close. I’d, personally, pick an anime opening for it. N.Flying themselves are extremely talented as a band and I’d easily say they’re my favorite Korean band (sorry, Day6).
When it comes to songs I love to just rock out to my car, “Sing Sing” by Marianas Trench goes alongside “PIRI” and it’s not uncommon for me to play them one after the other. Marianas Trench is often good for those before-work songs like Dreamcatcher. I often rely on both to really get me ready to go.
Final Words
If you want to get into girl groups but aren’t into the hip-hop style and are tired of the overused cute style, Dreamcatcher is the group for you.
Trios aren’t easy to come by in KPop. For me, personally, the only other trio I listen to is BSS - which is a subunit for SEVENTEEN.
What’s great about M.O.N.T is that they’re the perfect balance of rapper and vocals. Two vocals to one rapper. I’m excited to see people get into this group and I hope others are as well.
Overall Sound
“Fun” doesn’t even begin to cover this song. It’s fun, yeah, but it’s also able to be called upbeat, bright, cheerful, and summer-y. The group is perfectly balanced, with one vocalist being what I’d call “mid” (not too high, not too low) and the other being a deeper voiced vocalist. It’s a great debut song because it pulls the listener and makes you want to keep listening over and over again.
MV
If the song is “fun,” the MV is an amusement park. You can have fun without an amusement park, but the amusement park makes it even better. It’s a bright video that’s absolutely hilarious to watch. If anyone wonders what it’s like inside my head when I like someone, I’m just going to show this MV. It’s crazy, the song works, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with the trio.
What I especially love, though, is that they introduce the three members instantly via name cards (Narachan, Roda, and Bitsaeon). While the names of our vocalists feel bigger than the group itself, the members really get to let their personalities shine through. I especially love how they chose to make Roda blonde with Narachan blue and Bitsaeon gray. It keeps the vocalists grouped while allowing the rapper to stand out.
Overall, a beautiful video that seems like a really great intro to a new group.
Lyrics Meaning
I don’t think “cute” begins to define this song. It really defies words and expectations for a new group. When I had a friend who was struggling to confess to his crush, I posted the song in the group chat between us three (him, me, and the crush) and told them what the song was about. I said it made me think of “a friend of mine’s” situation. The friend it was about cussed me out, but he also understood what I was trying to do since he wanted my help confessing.
I find that for me, especially, the song tends to apply. I’m not big on romantic stuff. I don’t want to go out on fancy dates or to restaurants. But I also feel like I’d inspire these feelings in others because I’m not the kind to wait around to be kissed. I’m constantly moving and I know I frustrated the last guy who was into me because I’d suddenly leave when he wanted to kiss me (I can’t sense the mood at all).
Overall, I think the lyrics are really relatable to many people. I’d like to think even non-KPop fans would be able to read these lyrics and say “I relate.”
Choreography
Because they’re only a trio, M.O.N.T does make use of background dancers. Using four dancers, it allows them to move up to “seven members” - which seems to be the standard number for boy groups. However, while they do have four backup dancers, they hardly catch the eye as anything more than an accent piece, which is great because it allows the viewer to focus on our boys.
I’m a huge believer that M.O.N.T’s choreography for this song should be a standard all groups should abide by. While there are moments in sync, they also manage to pull attention to whoever is singing/rapping at that moment. For example, right away you have the other members + backup dancers facing outward and crouched down as Roda starts his rap.
Additionally, rather than keeping both sides perfectly “in sync” when moving up and down, they rely on a “left-right” method. That is to say, when the center points one way, that side goes up. When he points the other, that side goes up. It allows everyone to go back to being upright without boring the audience with lack of mobility. They also don’t just stay in one point. One thing that really drew my attention was about 1:30 into the dance practice, when the entire group gravitates to the left of the screen.
I’d listen to this song if I was...
Showering, cleaning, dancing around the house, or driving to work. This is an “all situations” song - which isn’t easy for me to find. It keeps me pumped up and excited. It makes me eager to do whatever I have to do. I can’t stop listening to it and I wish more of my friends would listen to it so I could gush over how amazing it is some more.
You might like this song if you like...
Cute songs, like “With Melody” by Huta. Both songs have a cute music video and that beautiful upbeat sound. They belong together on a playlist, both in terms of aesthetic and in sound.
“Complete” by ONF is another upbeat KPop song which could follow the theme. It’s very cute, cheerful, and makes you want to dance around your bedroom while it plays.
Mixing it up a bit in the languages, I’d say “Spark” by SBFIVE. Compared to “Whenever,” I like “Spark” way more. It’s upbeat, bright, and cute. I know not many people that listen to KPop also listen to Thai Pop (much to my dismay!), but I feel like “Spark” is a great gateway song if you like songs like “Will You Be My Girlfriend?”
Final Words
I know they’re still new and one MV usually isn’t enough to make a fan, but I know it’s extremely satisfying to watch a group grow. If you want a fresh group to get into that doesn’t have a huge, overwhelming fanbase yet, this is the group for you. Plus, it’s a trio, so that’s less photocards to have to search through. Have you ever tried to find a trade for the PC you want when you like a group with 13 members? It’s not easy!
Seven O’Clock has officially made a video featuring the newest member, Andy. Since Vaan’s departure, the group had released a song with the remaining five members. Now, they’ve welcomed a new member, Andy, who seems to be another vocalist. However, the MV left something to be desired and the group’s recent comebacks just haven’t been something I can truly enjoy. I’d easily give this comeback a 4/10 if there was a grading system.
See the fully review below.
Overall Sound
The song itself sound extremely nostalgic. You know those songs where companies will gather as many artists as possible to sing together for a good cause? Yeah, that’s what this sounds like. It can also be compared to an OST for a drama - loud, summer music but hard-to-hear lyrics that you may just plat in the background while characters shop. The music’s too loud, drowning out the vocals, and it doesn’t sound like most modern groups. Sometimes different is good, but I feel as though Seven O’Clock’s past two comebacks since signing their new company both sound too nostalgic and fail to fully realize the members’ potentials. Ultimately, the song doesn’t sound strong enough to stand on its own and it suffers because of that.
MV
Don’t watch the MV if you get dizzy easily. The camera changes too fast and it feels as though the person behind the camera couldn’t stop moving. A still camera can do wonders for an MV, especially when you’re going for more of an upbeat, summery sound. You don’t want the viewer to be unable to watch because you couldn’t stay still.
I’ll be honest, going into the video, I didn’t realize that it was the firs MV with Andy. As such, my first thought was that it felt like a debut video. The usage of the members’ names in the video is a great way to introduce fans, but it felt extremely broken up due to how the video was edited. Additionally, the heavy filtering made the boys look white as can be in some shots and then orange as...well, an orange in others. I understand wanting to add a filter to adjust for any inconsistency in filming time, but there is such a thing as filtering too much. I honestly felt as though the video was done by an amateur. It didn’t do any of the boys justice and there wasn’t enough solo-time for each member for fans to really get a taste of who their bias could be. It’s vital that, if you’re presenting an MV as a “re-debut” in this sort of style that fans really get time to know and love the members. If SEVENTEEN can do it with Mansae and 13 members, Seven O’Clock can do it with six.
Lyrics Meaning
It’s a bit of a confusing mess, these lyrics. It seems to be a breakup song, which is fine. I want to say it’s about being conflicted when you see your ex and realizing you still have feelings for them. It’s not something that’s often talked about, but I don’t know if the lyrics really fit the song’s sound. A breakup song should sound a bit more pained or dark. Not like you’re on the beach with your significant other and the relationship has never been better. It conflicts, to me, and makes it a bit harder to really focus on the lyrics when hearing the song.
Choreography
I feel as though Seven O’Clock’s choreography doesn’t do justice for the members. There isn’t enough focus on individual ability like other groups have. The dances are nostalgic, just like their sound. It’s mostly synchronized moves with the singer in the front. There’s nothing to really pull the viewer in and engage them. For example, Monsta X’s dances usually draw me across the stage and force you to keep your eyes peeled because I don’t necessarily know where the next person to sing/rap will pop up from. KNK’s dances move around a lot and find a way to lead the viewer’s eyes to the person singing at the time without always keeping them center. Even M.O.N.T, which is a trio manages to mix things up so the members aren’t just doing the exact same thing together.
I’m not saying I want them to go crazy. I’m just saying, have the members get on their knees around the rapper or something once in a while. When you’re from a small company, you have to try that much harder to stand out. Choreography and the music both must be unique. If you’re making yourself sound retro, at least stand out in terms of the choreography. I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt since they have been going through a lot and Andy is a brand new member, but I’d have liked to see things mixed up a bit.
I’d listen to this song if I was...
The most I can think is the same scene I mentioned earlier: sitting on a beach. It’s a summer sounding song. However, the lyrics don’t speak to me. If you don’t know any Korean, I’m sure you can listen without an issue. However, knowing the lyrics is half the love I get from music, which is why I’ll often search them up. As such, this song is a niche listen.
You might like this song if you like...
This song has a nostalgic sound to it. As such, older songs such as “Hello” by SHINee would be great. Older songs by B1A4, like “Beautiful Target.” I’d also say “1 2 3 4 5 I Love You” by the Bottom Blues, which is a Thai song (featured in 2Moons). Overall, though, I can’t think of any breakup-sounding songs with this sound, which makes it hard to suggest any that are similar.
Final Words
I wanted to see great things from this group when I first got into them. However, I feel as though their roster is changing too much for fans to keep track of them. It’s as if each music video is a new group or a fresh debut. It’s hard to form a lasting love for the members when things get mixed up.
Additionally, I’ve seen many fans agree that the group should have a darker concept for their videos, as it suits them better. When Seven O’Clock debuted, they had this dark concept that fans fell in love with. It’s what drew many fans in. I don’t think this bright concept suits the group and it ostracizes fans who originally fell in love with the group’s original concept at their old company.
I also want to say...they should have added another rapper, not another vocalist. 5 vocalists to 1 rapper is too uneven. Andy is adorable and I definitely want him to succeed with the rest, but I would have added another rapper in addition or instead. It only adds to the old school sound of the song. I understand there’s not replacing Vaan and it could be a gamble, but I feel as though it’s just as big of one to not add another rapper since Hangyeom either has to do twice as much rapping or risk having a song that just doesn’t sound balanced.
