〖 k.arma (카르마) remember (this moment) (이순간) - h.a.m cover & tribute 〗
trcentertainment
Published on August 15, 2020
the video starts with some black and white shots of people setting up, adjusting lights, fixing the drapery on the floor for the set, etc. The staff members are faceless in these shots. The focus then shifts to the four girls of k.arma seated. some smile, others laugh. there’s no audio though. instead, it’s a voice over of kiyeon talking.
“h.a.m have always been an important part of my life, i feel,” she says as the video shows cuts of her smiling and talking with the other members and staff. the scene changes to her looking in the mirror as her hair is styled. “they were the girl group, you know? i grew up listening to their music. so now that their legacy continues on and it’s the anniversary of their last full length album i wanted to pay some respects to that.” it returns to kiyeon sitting next to the other girls. she looks at the camera and gives a small peace sign. “they were a big influence on me becoming k.arma’s kiyeon.”
the video in the beginning seems to follow that same format for the other girls as their voices come over: black and white shots of them getting ready for the video, small gestures to the camera, nodding and talking with staff and the like.
"i've always been a big fan of h.a.m sunbaes." jinah’s voice is next. there’s shots of her interacting with the members as they walk onto set. smiling at the camera as she passes. her voice is soft. "especially, their earlier albums. they have a very classic sound." there’s a clip of the members sitting together: doyeon, kiyeon, mona and jinah. the camera zooms in on jinah as she laughs. her voice over going over the clip. "i've always wanted to produce music but it was h.a.m that inspired me even more. i think they're the first girl group where all of the members had a hand in producing and were really at the forefront of making their sound, expanding on it and developing it but what i love most about h.a.m is their sisterhood, their bond. i hope karma can develope that."
doyeon’s voice is next. the next clip is of doyeon fixing her hair in the mirror. “yeah, i remember watching them and discovering dance wasn’t only ballet, then deciding i wanted to be an idol like them. i used to learn all their choreographies and perform to my friends at school.” there’s another clip. this one is of her talking with the girls. they seem to laugh at whatever she said, clapping their hands. “they are admirable seniors in the industry and i hope k.arma can walk on a flower path like them and become as memorable.”
the final voice over comes from the leader, mona. her audio is shorter than the rest. the clip is of her being the last to take a seat on set after she made sure everyone was ready. mic in hand. there were staff members scurrying about for last minute checks. mona’s voice is gentle. “i’ve always admired h.a.m sunbaenim. i’ve always respected them.” in the clip mona looks around before making eye contact with the camera. her eyes curve as her lips spread into a smile. “i’ve always loved their later works. like why so lonely? i really liked that song a lot....” as mona’s audio ends, the clip fades to black.
it reopens to all four girls seated in the same set from the barrage of clips we’ve seen. they’re dressed in plain clothes. they’re gently swaying as the music comes in. the tone is really somber. doyeon sings first. her voice is soft, perfectly matching the tone of the song. jinah’s voice comes in to supplement the hook of the song before mona sings the first chorus. they’re singing this live in the video. their vocals are clearly heard through the microphones they hold.
jinah sings the beginning of the verse after the chorus. doyeon finishes the verse for jinah’s voice to flow back in for the hook. this time, both mona and kiyeon lift their mics. they harmonise the chorus. kiyeon’s voice is stronger, her vocals the forefront of the chorus but mona sings in an alto, soft and weaving in the background of kiyeon’s singing.
doyeon and jinah both share the bridge of the song. they’re both fluent english speakers and it reflects as they sing. kiyeon’s voice comes in at the end of the bridge, supplementing the high notes of the song as doyeon softly sings the final chorus. mona’s strong and stable vocals come in to relay the final lyric of the song as it fades out. kiyeon rests her head on jinah’s shoulder.
“thank you for such a beautiful song, h.a.m sunbaenim,” she says into her mic, looking at the camera. the video ends.
