JMusic: The Legends TVXQ!: 'Love Line' & 'The Chance of Love'

Hello, there beautiful readers! I hope all is going well in your lives. If not, I hope that whatever is burdening you lightens, even if just a little. The past few days for me have been great! I treated myself to some Ben and Jerry's ice cream because why not? Life is short, treat yourself every once and a while.

A little treat from me to you is this week's Juicy Jam, 'Love Line' and 'The Chance of Love' by TVXQ!

so juicyyyy

For those who do not know, TVXQ! is a legend in the K-pop industry. They hail from the second generation of K-pop groups which include other big names such as Big Bang, Super Junior, KARA, 4Minute, SHINee, 2PM, and so many others. Sadly, as fans of kpop become younger and younger and the genre gains newer fans, they do not know of these groups or are not interested in knowing the music of these groups. BUT! I am here to remind you that if it weren't for these trailblazers, your current faves would not be here. It was these groups that the members of EXO, NCT, A-Pink, and BTS for example listened and looked up to while growing up. They paved the way and gave them someone to aspire to be, a dream to chase. So know your history people! Plus, it's great to see just how far these groups have come. To see how their styles and members have changed AND you get a good laugh from the horrible hair and outfits. So give them a chance!

Exhibit A: bad hair, bad outfits, but happy idols. 

TVXQ! (which I have just discovered stands for Tong Vfang Xien Qi and roughly translates to 'rising gods of the east') also known as Tohoshinki (in Japan) and DBSK, which stands for Dong Bang Shin Ki (their Korean name) is a South Korean boy group under SM Entertainment consisting of members Jung Yun-Ho, stage name U-Know Yunho and Shim Chang-min, stage name Max Changmin. They are SM's longest lasting and most profitable group, debuting in 2003 originally with five members. Due to contractual complications, three of the members left the company eventually going on to form the group JYJ, leaving us with these two extremely talented men. Because of their talents, success and experience, its only fitting that TVXQ is dubbed the Kings of K-Pop.

In 2015, the duo announced that they will start their mandatory two-year service in the Korean military. Of course, fans were sad, I was sad! But they didn't depart without leaving us a gift.  They released an amazing album and two fantastic MVs for Yunho's and Max's solo songs 'Champagne' (a tiny, pre NCT dream Jisung can be found here!) and 'Rise As One' respectively. (I highly recommend listening to this album and watching these MVs. I listened Champagne on repeat for the whole summer, it's that good!!!)

Max and Yunho

This brings us to today. The kings are back! U-Know Yunho (I KNOW YUNHO! I just love that) and Max have returned from their military service and they got right to work. Reminding us just how phenomenal they are with the release of their ninth official Korean studio album and the seventeenth album overall, New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love and it, of course, did not disappoint. This album is described to have a fresher, more mature and metropolitan sound, and I just love it. There is not one song that isn't a bop. The album is a treasure and the title tracks, 'Love Line' and 'The Chance of Love' are pure gems. Let's get into it!

'Love Line' aka the best airline CF ever

This track came just in time for spring and summer. The instrumentals are fairly minimalistic. The smooth synth sounds and twinkling percussion under the silky falsettos and light, dulcet tenor tones of Max and Yunho give way to an overall breezy and summery sound. I love this song! It's relaxing, carefree and a lovely showcase of their beautiful vocals. I hope it makes you feel just as content as it makes me. 

The choreography is uncomplicated as well. We still get a look at their dancing ability, with the duo performing fluid movements that seem effortless but require just the right amount of finesse to execute. The MV itself is just as "pure". The cinematography is beautiful! The camera work added just the right amount pop and dimension and the vibrant colors are a breath of fresh air. We also a got a look at the domestic side Max and Yunho with the two completing simple everyday tasks with a loved one by their side. So normal, so "slice of life". By the end of the MV, I also really wanted to travel. I felt like I watched the best airline commercial. (Korean Air, this could be marketing gold!) Some may find this song boring but the purpose of 'Love Line' is to portray the simple things in life. It's an appreciation for the sometimes taken for granted, unfussy moments. 

Same Changmin same

Just living his best life

'The Chance of Love' #thelittestclubever

Alright! This masterpiece here is the TVXQ we all know and love! For those who live for the bells and whistles, this track is for you. The godfathers of kpop came back from their military service and in a few short months produced this jewel of a track. (If that doesn't scream talent then I don't know what does.) 'The Chance of Love' features an off-culture sound with swing-infused instrumentals consisting of an energetic and festive melody, pulsating and snapping bass beats, a bouncing chorus, and the harmoniesssssss. So pleasing to the ear. (I LIVE for good harmonies) Let us not forget the classic oohs-aahs but with a twist! The way those two blended the nearly dissonant sounds, the musicality! The skill!
They killed their choreography. It was confident, complex, smooth and sexy, all things TVXQ. The MV was a masterpiece and expensive. This is the type of music video that SM exists to produce. The production level was high and it shows in the chic and stylish set. The gold architecture with blue accents (an uncommon color combination in SM music videos) the lighting, the cascading diamonds, and fluttering confetti added a level of uniqueness and to the classiness of the mv. Visually mesmerizing, it was more like watching a piece of an art exhibition than a music video. It reminded me of the opulence in the remake of The Great Gatsby.  It was also reminiscent of their track 'Something' (which you should totally listen to) and had the similar gentlemanly sleek sound of Super Junior's 'Black Suit' (which you should also listen to). #swagger #refined #sophisticated

scoping out the honiesss

just shuffling through the ladies

RUDE

Man! Despite being on a hiatus for two years, Changmin and Yunho did not miss a beat. Those two oozed confidence in both songs, which as a veteran group they of course have. The rest of the album carries same contemporary vibe including diverse genres such as deep house, mellow pop ballads, and sultry R&B sounds to name a few. (Listen to the album to hear other sounds. It's worth it!) It was experimentation done so, so well and they went above and beyond with execution. The duo has reached a level of artfulness and showmanship that younger groups pray they one day reach and we as fans should do well to remember that. Honestly, TVXQ was at the frontier of the Hallyu Wave (the movement of Korean culture becoming globally popular) and groups like them is one of the reasons why K-pop has the global reach it does today. 

NOSTALGIA

I enjoyed writing this post! I hope it brought TVXQ some new fans and taught you guys a little something. Thank you for reading and until next time!

Jen M.

JMusic: NCT 2018 'Empathy' (Touch, Baby Don't Stop, Yestoday, GO)

Hello, my lovely readers! Man! I really have dropped the ball these past few weeks. I'm sorry that I basically disappeared. I have been feeling a little burnt out and have been distant these past few weeks. Like I said in the last Juicy Jam post, if and when you need it, take a little time to take care of yourself, to detox, and de-stress. I guess that's what I have been doing, but I missed writing about and sharing these great jams with you and so many were released while I was M.I.A.

So I thought as a little way to make up for my absence I would write about NCT's latest album drop. The Juicy Jams for this week hail from NCT 2018s' album "Empathy".

Juicy Jamsss

The first and last time I wrote about NCT, I explained the group, their members and how they work, but there is some new information! There is a member I forgot to mention because he has yet to publically debut! His name is Kun (he is a cutie!) and he will be a member of  NCT U. Though he has yet to officially debut, he was on the Chinese version of 'Without You' and you can also find him in NCT 2018's 'Black on Black'. Also, Empathy, NCT 2018's first album has dropped! As I mentioned in the previous post, it is a collaborative project between all 18 members under the overarching NCT umbrella. It features tracks between all three groups, some oldies but goldies and some singles showcasing two or three members of a group at a time. 

NCT 2018
Credit: SM Entertainment
I know its hard to see their faces, but SM so smartly released a yearbook video and pics focusing on each member. So check those out to learn who is who! 

SM Entertainment has confirmed that there will be six MV's made for Empathy. I wrote about one, 'Boss' and I will talk about four others that have been released. The mystery here is what song will have the sixth mv????? According to Tumblr, many expect it to be ' Black on Black'.

The Juicy Jams from the Empathy album that I will cover today are... NCT 127 'Touch', NCT U 'Baby Don't Stop' and 'Yestoday' and NCT Dream 'Go'. SO JUICY

NCT 127 'Touch'

With ' Touch' (aka the best GAP denim commercial ever) NCT went a different direction. The MV, released on White Day, a South Korean holiday in which men express their love for their special someones, showcased a softer side compared to the punchy, intense hip-hop stylings we saw in 'Limitless' and 'Cherry Bomb' (both are tunes you should check out). The 90's imbued pop/hip-hop track was not lacking in any department with groovy (yes, I said groovy) instrumentals, streamlined synths, and brassy beats that hid under the vocals of all nine members. The juxtaposition of the hard-hitting instrumentals despite being a light and airy song, combined with the punchy vocals, sprinkles of sonorous harmonies and artfully placed adlibs (TAEIL) gave the seemingly simple song a very full sound. The romantic and carefree vibe contrasts with their usual, but the experimental single was like a breath of fresh air and allowed for the vocalists of the group to really shine and showcase their abilities. 

Staying true to form, SM used their typical box sets for the MV but it allowed for the excellent use of color theory, making it aesthetically pleasing and giving each member some solo screentime (so you can finally get a chance learn who is who before they change their hair again!). It featured a lively and youthful NCT playing tug of war and exuberantly performing the choreography (there is a dance version as well, so you can get a better look). The pastel backgrounds, jumping in piles of feathers and the flirty bright smiles made the mv a fitting companion to the confessional lyrics and the sweet sound of the song. I couldn't help but smile as I watched this mv. I wanted to buy new jeans but it also made me the softest person ever. It was like I was invited to the best barbeque. SO WHOLESOME. SO FLUFFY.   

NCT U Ten & Taeyong 'Baby Don't Stop'

Credit: SM Entertainment
Look at that smolder

Right! So 'Baby Don't Stop' is a blessing from above (or below??) provided to us by two talented NCT U members, Ten and Taeyong. The two came together and delivered a captivating and magnetizing track. It was fitting as Ten's comeback into the k-pop scene after healing from injuries and gave us a peek into his hidden musical abilities. (We want more Ten!) The poppy, house tune immediately starts with powerful bass beats over the introduction of sensual synths, with splashes of instrumentals reminiscent of 80's nostalgia video game music and THE WHISPERS. It felt like I was being told a juicy secret. They added an intimate (and very necessary) ASMR element to the single, making it seem as though they were speaking directly to the listener of their want for them (swoons). Ten's airy, and smooth AF tenor vocals were a perfect counter to Taeyong's deep and gravelly rap. But, Taeyong also gave a little testament to his versatility when he showcased his vocal abilities. (Is there anything he can't do?)

Accompanying the music is a well-produced MV. The duet flaunted their dancing prowess with sharp yet sleek choreography in various states of undress, reminding us they are two of NCT's main dancers for a reason. Filmed in Ukraine (same place as the Boss mv), the building's architecture adds another level to the MV. It elevates the choreography and NCT as a group, challenging themselves and setting them apart from others by choosing a live location instead of building a set.



NCT U 'Yestoday'

Credit: SM Entertainment

NCT U's 'Yestoday' (after two years in the making!) is the fifth mv out of six released for the group's latest album Empathy. The track written by Taeyong was originally intended as a duet with Taeyong and Doyoung. The cleverly named track grew to include rappers Mark and Lucas, with all four of them reflecting on their regrets, past loves, and memories of yesterday while chasing after their dreams of today. 

The rap trio delivers these sentiments over a  chill-hop (a combination of r&b, jazz, hip-hop and a bit of lo-fi) vibe infused with an 90's hip-hop feel, background instrumentals that played with the stereo sound, going from ear to ear and Doyoung so smoothly executing the chorus with a silky finesse and a melody that suit him so well. As someone who slept on Doyoung's musicality, he woke me up and shined in this comeback. This song was another excellent portrayal of his talents. Of course, the rap trio killed it as they as always do with Taeyong getting the bulk of the time (understandably with it basically being his creation), and Mark slaying me (per usual) with his verse. (He is just so authentically and innately good!) Lucas, little baby Lucas came through and displayed his skill as a rapper despite just debuting. 

(WARNING: If you have yet to see this mv and suffer from photosensitive epilepsy or migraines triggered by visual patterns, do not watch or proceed with caution)

The MV matched the funky brass instrumentals well with neon, trippy animations and sprinklings of visual effects so subtle that you don't notice them unless you paying close attention. That, coupled with the old-school, grungy/garage aesthetic and the mood-lit but colorful set made for an aesthetically pleasing and mesmerizing music video. 

NCT Dream 'GO'

Credit: SM Entertainment

peep Renjun in the clout glasses. love it

Though not discussed in same detail as the other videos, NCT
Dream (my children) released an mv for their track 'GO'. The cute babies of Chewing Gum (my guilty pleasure) are no more, showing us the maturity they've gained in the two years since in Go. Though I am not their target audience, I have a soft spot for them and enjoy many elements of the song and these boys can sing! Here are some gifs and

the mv for your viewing pleasure!

Well, that's all folks! I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope it makes up (even a little) for my absence. If you gained a little more of an understanding and appreciation of NCT and how they work, or if you're new to the group and developed some, then I did my job! I was thoroughly pleased by this comeback and concept and SM did a lot of work providing behind the scenes clips and vlives to make fans feel a little closer and learn a little more. If you'd like to watch those, they can be found on the SM youtube and vlive channels) Go give the album a listen if you have not, there is something for everyone on there, all of them 👌👌👌 I have to say my favorite song from Empathy, musically is 'Yestoday' and visually is Boss (I'm a sucker for sharp, group choreography). 

As usual, thank you for reading! Until next time!

Jen M. :)

JMusic: J-Hope 'Daydream'

Juicy Jamsss

Hello guys! Sorry I have been m.i.a for a little while, sometimes you just need a break! If you're ever feeling overwhelmed or down or just need a breather from the internet, make sure you take it. It's good for the mind and soul. BUT, after that, I am ready to return with this week's JUICY JAM  J-Hope of BTS 'Daydream'!

Jung Hoseok, internationally known as J-Hope is a member of the South Korean superstar boy group BTS. After debuting in 2013, the seven-membered group consisting of Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jung Hoseok, Kim Namjoon, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook struggled as a group, having an immediate international following but not being very popular with their fellow Koreans. They were launched into the limelight with the release of their two-part album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt 1 &2, and with the release of the repackage  The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever. The subsequent release of WINGS, anyone sleeping on BTS definitely woke up, breaking records and placing the group in a league of their own regarding their Korean and global popularity.

Honestly, if you don't know who BTS is, if you haven't heard of them, where have you been??? The group's members are more than just pretty and extremely good-looking faces. They are superlatively talented, each member excelling in various creative mediums.

J-Hope happens to not only be the main dancer and an amazing one at that, but he has the singing voice of an angel and is a skilled lyricist and rapper. He is one of three members of the rap line, along with Namjoon and Yoongi. Namjoon and Yoongi each have showcased their rapping, music production, writing and composition skills with their own mixtapes and now it is J-Hope's turn with the release of his highly anticipated "hixtape" Hope World. 

j-hope - daydream (백일몽)

The MV

'Daydream' is the promotional single on the mixtape Hope World, for his first time showcasing his abilities solo, J-Hope has done a phenomenal job. The MV was a testament to J-Hope's personality; very colorful, fresh, and quirky. The video was simple but not at the same time. It was like being on a giant acid trip with the use of the cinematic scope effects, shadow effects, the funky fonts and the bright colors and with how the video progressed. It was easy, carefree and psychedelic. 

The Song

Even though he didn't showcase his ace dancing skills, we got a closer listen to his vocal and rapping abilities. The up-tempo, retro, and youthful track had an old-school urban funk sound mixed with modern rap, which made for a different yet trendy, feel-good track. It was also the perfect opportunity for J-Hope to show us who he is as a rapper. He is one of the most versatile members of the group, being a rapper, vocalist, and dancer. But, he is often underutilized because his style of rapping doesn't always pair with the tone of BTS's tracks and the rapping style of the Namjoon and Yoongi. The two tend to be hard-hitting, charismatically dark and "cool" with their flow as demonstrated in their mixtapes compared to Hoseok's lighter, fun, non-traditional style. Now, we know he can fit Namjoon's and Yoongi's styling if need be, as seen in 'Boy Meets Evil ' off of WINGS, but that's not who he is as a person. This has led some to believe that he's not as strong a rapper as the other two when he is just as capable just different; he breaks stereotypes of what a rapper is.  This mixtape showed us his true ability and reaffirmed his vivid, almost acid trip of a personality. 

courtesy: j-hope 'daydream'

If the mv seemed like it was just for fun, and carefree, shouldn't we know by now that BigHit and BTS always have hidden meanings in their songs and music videos? The lyrics speak of the struggle Hoseok has with maintaining his two personas; his idol persona, the always bright, cheerful "I'm your hope, you're my hope, I'm J-Hope!", and his "real" self, the person he is when he isn't performing or feeling down. Avid fans of the group know his struggle with feeling like he has to maintain this sunny disposition even if all he wants to do is show his pain. He chose the name "J-Hope" because he wanted to be a light to the group and fans. This is both his blessing and curse. With his starry personality, he can lead others to better days, but even the brightest of stars dim. Out of fear of disappointing fans, he often has to save face when all he might want to do is scream and cry. That's a hard way for anyone to live, celebrity or not. 

courtesy: j-hope 'daydream'

Well! That's it! Wasn't this track JUICY? I could say so much more about J-Hope and BTS because they're one of my favorite groups and I love them! Their music has helped me through so much. I hope 'daydream' provides you the same comfort. It's a laid-back track with a profound message that we can all relate to. The mixtape is short with only seven tracks, but seven amazing, well-thought-out, stellar tracks; so go and give them a listen! I think there will be at least one you can jam to on the regular.

If you have been living under a rock or you're stubborn or just new to the k-music world, go give some of BTS's tracks a listen, there is something for literally everyone. Many people like and dislike them for all sorts of irrelevant reasons, but what's most important is the music. They are a truly talented group of individuals, who worked hard to create amazing content. (even john cena like them!) It's mind-boggling but fascinating when you discover the effort and hidden gems they placed into the stories they tell.

As always, thanks for reading! 

Jen M. :)

JMusic: NCT U 'Boss'

Jen's Juicy Jams

Hello Hello Hello! What's up my beautiful readers? For those that celebrated it, I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day whether, through treating yourself, spending the day with a special someone or through feeling the love with family and friends.

If you didn't that's ok! because I'm here to treat you with this week's Juicy Jam, NCT U 'BOSS'!

Courtesy Photo: NCT U 

Before I get into the juicy track, let's break down NCT. NCT, which stands for Neo Culture Technology is a group of units: NCT U, NCT 127 and NCT Dream, all managed by SM Entertainment. Each group has their own target demographic and sound with NCT U and 127 focusing on more "mature" genres such as hip-hop, rap and R&B, and Dream focusing on feel-good pop with a youthful, innocent flair. 

NCT U is a special group that represents all the NCT units by rotating its members, meaning that members from different units come and go. The debut members were Ten, Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun and Mark, who were in the group's first release, 'The 7th Sense'. Since debut, Ten was out of commission due to a knee injury (but he will return!) and NCT 127's Taeil was rotated in for the vocal line's singles, 'Without You' and 'Radio Romance'. For this comeback, Taeil was rotated out and fellow NCT 127 member, WinWin was added along with new members to NCT, Jungwoo and Lucas, who will make their official debut to the kpop world with this comeback. 

This comeback also kicks off NCT's special project, "NCT 2018". 'BOSS', is one of the tracks on the upcoming NCT 2018 album, which will drop in March and consist of tracks from all NCT units.

Current NCT U members. Courtesy NCT U. 

The MV

The MV, filmed in Ukraine was quite simple, as are most of NCT U's music videos, but the simplicity draws focus to the group's intense choreo and strong performance presence. Throughout the MV, there was discord between the younger and the older members, the fight culminating with Mark and Taeyong, the respective representatives of each group jumping on a table and actively charging at each other. These two charging at the other is interesting because Mark is in all three NCT units and the leader in Dream and whereas Taeyong is in NCT 127 and U but he is the leader in both. Perhaps Mark is using this fight as a chance to beat Taeyong and show us all who the real boss is.

We were served LEWKS the whole time as members showcased their confidence and charisma with aggressive, fierce and in your face choreography paired with the occasional body roll. The alternating wardrobe between stylish logo bearing athleisure outfits and black military uniforms (swoon) which could be a play on the battle between the older and younger members did not disappoint either. It was visuals, visuals, visuals. 

EXCUSE ME JAEHYUN??? (the one in the grey blazer)

THE SONG

The song is a powerful electro, hip-hop dance track, in line with their usual sound. 'BOSS' is like a melodic version of 'Cherry Bomb' infused with the grungy bass synth riffs featured in 'Firetruck'.  The honeyed harmonic tones of the vocal line offset the swag-filled, punchy verses of the rap line and the assertive chants in the chorus, which made the song even more badass. I have to say the two new members did not disappoint. Lucas shocked me because with his cute, elfin features who knew he would have that deep voice and verse flow. AND JUNGWOO. Let's talk about Jungwoo. 

When I first heard his vocals

That boy can sing! He might have to fight Taeil for best vocals in NCT because his sweet tenor voice during that bridge and Doyoung coming through with that high note at the end of it... That is talent right there! I had to bring it back and listen a few times. IT'S THAT GOOD.

There you have it! NCT came back and graced us with robust choreography, beautiful vocals, and charismatic showmanship. It was a perfect start to their year and an excellent introduction to NCT 2018. I'm high-key excited to see what the other units have in store and how well their sounds will blend together on this collaborative album. I recommend checking out NCT U's 'The 7th Sense' if you haven't already. The track, cinematography and the color correction in the MV are A1. Also, check out NCT 127's previous releases. They feature similar uptempo, hip-hop tracks; a couple of my faves are 'Back 2 U' and 'Cherry Bomb'. For those who prefer a more innocent and sprightly sound, NCT Dream's debut single 'Chewing Gum' might be your cup of tea. Though be careful, it's super catchy!

I hope you enjoyed this post. I hope you enjoyed the song and I hope that you are looking forward to new music from NCT! 

Thanks for reading! Till next time! :)

Jen M.

JMusic: Red Velvet 'Bad Boy'

JUICY JAMS!

Hello, my lovely readers!! How are you? How's life? What's up?

It seems like the first few days of February went by quicker than it took the whole month of January. If it seems like time is just drudging along for you, maybe this week's juicy jam will give you a little energy, put a little pep in your step!

Ok! So I know I'm a week behind with posting, but there were plenty of great bops that dropped last week. Like the juiciest, like those $200 square watermelon you can buy in Japan juicy.  I have had some great jam sessions to the same four songs for the past five days. it was hard but I can only pick one, so the Juicy Jam for this week is 'Bad Boy'- Red Velvet.

Courtesy Photo

Red Velvet, "Bad Boy"

'Bad Boy' is the title track on Red Velvet's repackaged album, "The Perfect Red Velvet". For this album, the ladies added three new tracks, 'All Right' and 'Time To Love' and instrumental versions of both 'Bad Boy' and 'Peek-a-Boo'. Each one amazing in their own right, and they fit in perfectly with the original songs. Even their placement in the tracklist was 👍👍. Each song just flows right into the next.

The MV

This MV slayed! I am so full from all the looks they served. The whole thing gave off femme fatale/ Sin City/ film noir vibes. Though "plotless", there was a juxtaposition between the sexy vibes of Irene, Wendy, Seulgi, and Joy and the more youthful image of the youngest member Yeri, with Seulgi even covering her ears at one point. This plays along with the look of the MV, there was something dark about it despite all the color.

It was fairly minimal but the implementation of the visuals and the lighting enhanced the video in a way that doesn't seem simple. It had more flair and showmanship. They let us know that they are no longer the Red Velvet from 'Happiness', they are all grown up now. Honestly, Seulgi looked so bad ass in this, I was dying.

Those pants are killer!!!!

The wardrobe and the set dressing were to die for. It was very trendy and hip, the ladies were definitely the cool girls. THEY ALL LOOKED SO FIERCE. One thing that I liked about their clothing was it highlighted the members in a very "velvet" way, compared to their other MVs where they still maintained a youthful appearance. They looked very grown up, they looked like women. Women who are in charge, confident with their appearance, in who they are and in their sexuality. They looked pretty kick ass. There was a playful, sexy feel; something cat and mouse about it but there was a lack of guy, instead they used each other. There was something inherently girl crush in this MV.

Courtesy Photo

Red Velvet, "Bad Boy"

The choreography was some of their sexiest yet, with suggestive hip and body rolls (I'm always down for a good body roll) and sultry come-hither hand motions that teasingly beckoned the camera and enraptured the audience. I know I was snatched! 

Courtesy Photo

Red Velvet, "Bad Boy"

The Song

The R&B laced track, 'Bad Boy' was a perfect representation of Red Velvet’s “velvet” side, in contrast to their youthful, more quirky “red” side, shown in previous tracks like 'Red Flavor' and 'Rookie.' The song was fairly minimalistic and hollow, meaning there wasn't too much going on instrumentally, which is a very 90's hip-hop characteristic. The scintillating and twinkling beats, the bumping deep bassline and the synthesizers combined gave the track a 90's hip-hop/R&B girl group feel. The song went hard without it being hard. And the vocals. Don't even talk to me about the vocals. The harmonies, beautiful and Wendy, as usual, SLAYED those notes and adlibs. It was music to my ears girl. I also liked that instead of the MV complimenting the song, the song compliments the visuals in Bad Boy, which is pretty rare. 

Courtesy Photo

Red Velvet, "Bad Boy"

OK! I'm done fangirling. Wasn't 'Bad Boy' pretty juicy?? I know Red Velvet and girl groups in general, aren't everyone's cup of tea, but this song was fire! I have been listening to this and other songs juicy tracks on repeat for the past 5 days.

And can we just talk about Joy? She is really coming into her own, since Peek-a-Boo she has let the audience know that she is here, and she is grown up! The girl is shining! The glow up is so real. 

Courtesy Photo

Red Velvet, "Bad Boy"

It was so hard to pick a juicy jam this week, there were SO many great choices that were just released. But that means more content for next time! I hope that this one gave you what you were looking for. GO check out the rest of the album, listen to the new songs and the original ones if you haven't checked those out yet. Everything on the album = MOOD. I might have to write about those too. 

Anyway, thanks for reading! 

Jen M! 

JMusic: Ladies Code 'Galaxy'

Hello, my lovely readers! I am here with the Juicy Jam of the week, and it's a good one!

This week's Juicy Jam is Galaxy by Ladies Code.

Ladies Code is a three-member South Korean girl group that debuted in 2013 under Polaris Entertainment. When they debuted, the group consisted of leader Ashley, and members RiSe, EunB, Sojung and Zuny. Tragically, on September 3rd, 2014, the women were involved in a serious car accident where member EunB was pronounced dead on arrival to the hospital and RiSe passed away four days later. The ladies returned as a trio nearly a year and a half later with their first release since the accident, album Myst3ry and its title track 'Galaxy'.

The now trio cited their fans as their main source of motivation to persevere and come back. Leader and member Ashley explained, "It is still hard to acknowledge that they are not with us, and we had a hard time deciding whether we should return to the stage again...When we were all lost, fans showed us their support. It helped us come to grips and eventually make this comeback possible." They took the strength given to them by their fans and their love for making music and came back with a different, more mature sound. 

The MV

OK! So! There is a lot going on in this MV. Besides the great cinematography colour correction and imagery, there is a lot of symbolism. You really had to pay attention or there was so much you missed. But no worries! I got the break down prepared and ready for you guys. 

 Scissors

There were a lot scattered throughout the MV. These may represent how the death of RiSe and EunB affected the group; it cut them apart both physically and emotionally. 

 The Number Five. 

During the choreography scenes, there were 5 of them dancing, and two would disappear and come back during specific lyrics in the song.  Also, there were two extra places at the table. I think this was the ladies way of representing EunB and RiSe, saying that there will always be a place for them. 

Triangles and The Number Three. 

Triangles and items in groups of three played a big role in the MV. These showcase the ladies accepting that they are no longer 5.  You can see this realisation visualised at the end of the MV when they are waiting for a phone call. This represents when they were waiting for news on RiSe's condition and ultimately received the news she didn't make and like that they were three and had to move on.

You can tell they put a lot of time, effort and thought into producing something that told their story. I love an MV that is not only visually pleasing but mind-boggling and entertains intellectually.

The Song

Understandably, this comeback had a more mature and sophisticated sound, it had more depth compared to their earlier releases. They incorporated their pain and healing into this song as most artists do when they experience anything. They knew what the gravity of losing two members carried, this is why you can sense the heaviness in the sound. The song wasn't catchy per se but had a lot of melodic variety and change in textures that moved it along and kept interesting such as the use of good synth, the drops and silence, embellishments such as twinkling chimes and bells,  and their beautiful harmonies. It also had a good sense of pacing, it started melancholy but had a nice crescendo to the funky electric bass and jazzy instrumentals at the end. The beat carried a lot of weight and kept a constant tempo but each one hard-hitting. A strong walking bassline usually represents movement forward as it did in the song, but the abrupt end of it could have been a statement as to how abruptly their lives changed. 

Well! There you have it the Juicy Jam for this week, Galaxy! Did you like it?

This comeback was special to the ladies and fans because it showcased the strength they had in the face of tragedy, and how they used that tragedy and portrayed it beautifully in their work. They were able to find some peace with themselves and produced a thought-provoking and touching tribute to their lost sisters. Despite being three, in their hearts, they will always be five.

As usual, go check out the rest of the tracks on the album, 'My Flower' and 'Chaconne', both are stunning and check out their other works. You can see the change in their style from 2013 to now.

Thank you for reading!
Jen M :)

JMusic: Suran 'WINE' (feat. Changmo)

Hello guys! I hope everyone is having a good day, a good night, a good whatever time it is when you're reading this, and if not, I hope this week's Juicy Jam, makes it a little better. A track named after the sweet, delicious result of working magic with grapes, WINE by Suran featuring Changmo. Juicy, no?

Suran, a South Korean singer-songwriter and record producer under the label Million Market, first debuted in 2014; and she has been making herself known in the world of Korean R&B, releasing beautiful singles and adding to the emotions in k-dramas with OSTs. WINE definitely propelled her into the limelight, seeing as it is her first chart-topper since her debut. It was so well-received, that it was nominated at three different award shows for four categories and won in three. YAY!

There was a lot of hype regarding the song due to the fact that Min Yoongi or Suga (his stage name), a member of BTS, who were really coming into their own at the time, took part in the production of the song along with Suran herself, Changmo, Slow Rabbit, and JUNE.

WINE, a funky hip-hop/R&B track infused with electro-pop beats and a strong, futuristic baseline, is a simple track; not a ton going on instrumentally but therein lies its appeal.  It's an outstanding track whose slightly old school feel, groovy rhythm and emotional melody is just enough for when you want to wind down and chill but still groove along. The lyrics tell the story of a person reminiscing about the memories of a past relationship through a glass of wine. Also her voice! I love Suran's voice. It's beautiful, soulful, melodious and absolutely unique.

What makes the single even more special is the rookies' gratitude towards her seniors and their help with creating the song. She spoke about times when she would work on music, but had a hard time and was felt depressed. She started to speak to Suga about music and about these struggles knowing that he went through similar things and from those conversations, WINE came about. When Changmo heard the track and agreed to feature on it, being a fan, she was very grateful to him for adding another dimension with his rap and bringing the single to another level.

So 'WINE', also known as 'If I Get Drunk Today', was it juicy enough? I love this track and I will definitely be listening to it for time to come. Such a quality track. You can find it on the album Walkin'  along with other bops, so I suggest checking that out! Also, check her OSTs, they are beautiful. My favourite so far is 'Heartbeat' for Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. It is such a sweet, fun song and the drama is SOOOO GOOD, go watch if you have not! It's so endearing, cute and funny and just excellent. 12/10 recommend. Another thing to check out is her latest release, 'Love Story', another feel-good, delightful track. That might be a Juicy Jam soon!

J.Music: - Taemin "Thirsty" (Off Sick Concert Version) Performance

Hey guys! I hope you all had a great holiday season and happy new year! What better way to start the new year than with the first JMusic post of 2018?? It's a good one!

The Juicy Jam (I think I'll call them that now?) for this week is 'Thirsty' (Off Sick Concert Version) by TaeMAN.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Taemin is a member of the South Korean boy group, SHINee; who sadly lost member Kim Jonghyun in December.  But before that tragic news, Taemin released fantastic solo content with his album MOVE, on which this song is featured.

Released for his SM STATION, he aptly named this track because he knew the thirst would be real after watching this.

Are you ready to be thirsty?

The MV

The camera work in this MV and the use of the fisheye perspective added an intimacy to the video. It seemed up close and personal and made it seem like we were peeping in on Taemin. The eye-catching red on red was undeniably seductive but the lighting added a soft balance to him. According to a fan, the red represents blood. In the choreo, there is a part where he kind of bites his wrist, and right before the break down he leans back on his back up dancers as though he is in a coffin. So apparently, there is an underlying vampire theme. Which makes sense when you consider the lyrics. It is not only pretty steamy but you can sense the yearning he has for a taste of whoever he singing about.

The Song

"I’m thirsty Ah ah

Wanna just take a sip of your lips

I’m thirsty

My breathing becomes rougher

My heartbeat becomes faster

I know, you know, we know

Your moon

Is too beautiful to just look at"

The sound of the song itself is wickedly sexy. The strong trap beats paired with slow, sensual instrumentals produce a seductive vibe. The way he vocalizes, where he pushes and pulls, you can hear the want he has for his "prey". The slow break down before an intense, almost frustrated chorus adds a duality to the feel of the song that also reflects Taemin. Someone who appears soft and innocent but can enrapture us with hypnotizing dance moves and a sultry voice. AND THE BRIDGE! The bridge just kills me. Everything just falls away, it becomes truly R&B and so so good. 

The Choreography

I have nothing else to say but that Taemin is the king of fluidity. A kind of androgynously sexy, fluid god of dance. There is something about the way he moves that doesn't fall into typically male or female choreography. It is almost genderless, and it's absolutely alluring. 

There you have it! If you were sleeping on Taemin, I hope you have woken up now! 

Though this song is juicy, it has left me parched! Your girl is dehydrated! But I love it! Like always, check out the rest of the album. It is so well done, the artistry is superb! And check out his first album Press Your Number, another beautiful gem. 

As always, thanks for reading! 

Jen :)