Repeats of the Week - December 1, 2017
- waekpop
- Dec 1, 2017
- 3 min read
LOONA (Yves) - New
Continuing their 18-month long debut project, LOONA revealed its 9th member, Yves. After weeks of teasing images of an angelic Yves dressed in Swan Lake white feathers, I assumed we were moving away from the edgy image of sub-unit, Odd Eye Circle, and back to a softer image, a la sub-unit, LOONA 1/3.
Surprisingly, Yves’s MV for “New” totally captivated me with a more urban look and mature sound. It is an 80s-influenced pop track with deep, brooding synth and that familiar gated reverb snare (I’m a sucker for this new wave of nostalgic synth pop making it’s way into K-pop). With a punchy sound that could easily drown out any voice, Yves’s vocal performance manages to stand out. Her MV image actually takes her in a direction we haven’t seen with the other girls. Ditching any cute or flashy girl crush concepts, we see a confident Yves radiating charisma and independence on her own (she reminds me a lot of Sunmi, don’t you agree?)
- Julie
Hoody - Can’t Wait
AOMG’s first female artist of the company since 2015, Hoody never fails to stun with her vocal performances. The R&B singer and producer released “하나만 해 (Can’t Wait)”, with lyrics by Hoody herself and shared production credits with Stally, who’s worked with other Korean R&B artists, such as Beenzino.
Hoody hits so many sweet spots for me in “Can’t Wait” and really shows how much she’s developed her voice over the years. Her vocal control allows her to effortlessly switch back and forth between an ultra-clear tone and her sweet, airy crooning. The lonely lyrics sing of her feelings for a man whom she runs away from, yet she can’t wait for his answer to whether or not the affection is mutual.
Check out this clip showcasing Hoody’s raw vocals while working on her song.
- Julie
Jun. K - A Moving Day (이사하는 날)
Jun. K’s Mr. NO♡ was one of my favorite albums of 2016. So when he announced his second solo album 나의 20대 (My 20's), I was ready to be impressed. And, to no surprise, Jun. K is out with a solid album and a great title track, “A Moving Day.” This song is a huge departure from his last title track, “Think About You.”
“Think About You” was an impactful, electropop track with a music video that hit hard with the bassline, choreo, and a whole lotta shirtless Jun K. In contrast, “A Moving Day” showcases the singer’s softer side. In the song, he’s reminiscing about the times he shared at home with an old flame as he’s getting ready to move. The music video tells the bittersweet story of the song. We see snippets of a couple in love mixed with movers taking away all of the memories along with the furniture.
- Laura
BLK - HERO
The boy group BLK is making their debut with “HERO,” the title track off their first mini album, INTO BLK PART1. BLK has already earned the nickname “acrobatic boy group,” and if you watch the music video for “HERO,” you’ll see why. In the music video, the six members go from looking like gangsters to assassins. It has a fun action-movie feel to it. The choreo is impressive with its many martial arts moves, even including fight scenes.
The song is not groundbreaking, but it is a solid effort from a brand new group. And the chorus got stuck in my head the first time I heard it. It’s simply a fun song to listen to when you need a little boost of energy.
- Laura