Repeats of the Week - October 13, 2017
- waekpop
- Oct 13, 2017
- 4 min read
GOT7 – You Are
Earlier this week, GOT7 released their latest mini-album, 7for7. The album shows a softer side of the group, and its lead single "You Are" gives you a taste of what the album delivers. The vocals really take center stage on the track. JB and Youngjae, in particular, shine in the chorus as they sing "It's a beautiful sky."
The MV itself is breathtaking, with Hong Kong providing the backdrop. The bits of choreo you get during the chorus isn't as hard hitting as what GOT7 has done in the past. But you get a sense of openness and freedom as they spread their arms out and turn in circles. The song and MV are uplifting and leave you wanting to go out and experience your own beautiful sky.
- Laura
Stray Kids - Hellevator
I’m really blown away by the talent in JYP's new group. It almost seems like JYP wanted to create a boy-group with a heavy emphasis on rap talent. The balance of nine members is comprised of six (yes, six!) rappers and three vocalists. And guess what - the rappers can sing at the same level as the vocal line too. Consider the bar raised.
“Hellevator” is a really strong preview for what we can expect from Stray Kids if they debut. That’s right, this isn’t even their debut. It’s just a creative way to highlight the group’s portfolio: their insanely good rapline, the ultra-clear vocals, production quality, and conceptual potential. It’s a smart move to hype up their upcoming reality TV show, where we’ll get to watch the trainees participate in missions and build their individual strengths and overall teamwork with the hopes of debuting as a group (which, by the looks of “Hellevator,” I don’t doubt one bit).
In an industry oversaturated with EDM, “Hellevator" still manages to stand out with an interesting pendulum of hard-hitting rap verses and a soft, airy melody tied together by a super catchy beat drop. I think the rap-focus was good, but it was definitely at the expense of some other areas, especially in showcasing their dance abilities. I guess we’ll have to tune in to their show to see more!
- Julie
Nu’est W - Where You At
Nu’est has had something of a rebirth lately. When four of the five members appeared on Produce 101 Season 2, their past albums ended up charting as new fans began to discover their work. As a result of the show, one of Nu’est’s members, Minhyun, made it into the idol group, Wanna One. This didn’t stop the four remaining members of Nu’est from capitalizing on the public’s newfound interest and promoting as Nu’est W. Their newest title track “Where You At” was released on October 10th.
The song hits every popular music trend. It interlaces a piano melody with a slow electro-pop build up, until it explodes into the chorus with a trap house beat drop and soaring vocals. The lyrics are heart wrenching, as the boys sing about trying to grasp someone that can’t, or won’t, be found. The accompanying MV is full of nifty camera tricks and symbolic imagery. It depicts each of the members alone in a room, surrounded by various elements of fire, water, earth and sand. The members attempt to escape these rooms and trek through different scapes, in an endless pursuit. They run and run, yet in the end, return to these rooms, unable to find the person they seek.
Nu’est W delivers a song with strong music production, accompanied by a visually engaging MV with just the right amount of weirdness.
- Kerry
U-Know (유노윤호) – DROP
TVXQ! is coming back! If you're a more recent K-pop fan, you might not know the legendary duo TVXQ. Both members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin recently completed their mandatory military service. And Yunho is the first one back in the K-pop scene with his recently released single, "DROP." This blending of high-impact music genres harkens back to the duo's later work. "DROP" is full of electro-pop and dubstep beats. And, of course, with a song called "DROP" you want to hear a least one good drop and this track delivers with plenty of them.
The MV has a dark, gritty vibe that matches the song. It starts with Yunho rapping as he starts what looks like a prisoner rebellion. And what rebellion is complete without sharp choreo breakdowns? I loved the "dystopian society having a rave" feel to the video. As a longtime TVXQ! fan, it has got me hyped for the duo's comeback, rumored to happen early next year.
- Laura
DPR LIVE - Jasmine (prod. CODE KUNST)
DPR Live, or simply Live, is a relatively new face on the scene, only debuting back in March 2017. As a part of DPR (Dream Perfect Regime) a collaborative, independent, multimedia production group, Live is known for putting out songs and music videos that distinguish themselves from the rest.
He returns to the scene with “Jasmine.” This song has a dreamy quality about it, enhanced by the aesthetic music video, which features the rapper against a variety of backdrops. He is shown standing in a rushing ocean, on a mountain swallowed up by clouds, and running down a road that cuts through a dense forest. It has a fantastical feel to it, almost as if he has been transported to a magical land.
The listener is grounded by the constant cadence Live keeps during “Jasmine.” The uptempo rap is counterbalanced by the melodic piano and ambient background track. With a chorus entirely in English, this is a track that easily bounces its way into your head.
- Kerry