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!