Dreamcatcher - You And I
In an industry saturated with girl groups who cycle through countless concepts and music genres, it’s really refreshing to see a group fully commit to not only a single concept and sound, but also one that is quite uncommon and underutilized in K-pop. Formerly known as MINX, a purely pop group with five original members, the group re-debuted last year as Dreamcatcher with two new members, a couple of singles, and a whole new look and sound. Dreamcatcher’s story paints the members as nightmares who haunt people’s dreams. Their origin stories are revealed throughout their Nightmare Trilogy and continue in their most recent release, ‘You and I’ from their second mini album, Escape the Era.
Not straying from their previous releases, ‘You and I’ is an energetic metal rock song with a melodic structure very evocative of Japanese rock songs. The members’ strong voices stand out against the electric guitar without ever straining, even with their powerful notes in the rapid chorus. I especially love how JiU’s sweet croon during the bridge is contrasted by Siyeon’s amplified verse immediately after. Dreamcatcher is stepping out of the conventional K-pop expectations, and I’m excited to see how their haunting story unfolds.
Check out one of their stage performances where Dami literally shows us some magic.
- Julie
Seo Eun Kwang x Changsub - My Day
BTOB’s leader Seo Eun Kwang and lead vocalist Changsub pair up for a sweet duet in ‘My Day’. It never ceases to amaze me how perfect the voices of BTOB are together. Between Eun Kwang and Changsub, it sounds like they have excellent vocal control to be able to take turns either expressing clarity or offering support with a softer harmony. Both their voices are soothing and compliment the lyrics, singing sweetly of the unforgettable little things everyday that make their hearts beat faster.
- Julie
BTS - Euphoria
Released as a video single, BTS’s 'Euphoria' has been getting me through some stressful moments these past weeks. True to the ROTW name, I've literally been playing this song on loop!
It starts with a montage showing the aftermath of past BTS storylines. These scenes are dark with muted colors but gradually lighten as you follow Jimin down a hallway. The piano swells and it fades to Jungkook’s smiling face as the music drops down to nothing. Jungkook’s voice pierces the silence with the track’s title. The next thing you hear are the clicks of a gun, then electronic beeps like that of a video game take over. For me, the implications of this song on BTS’s overall work can be distilled into this moment. It signals a transition from BTS’s past, which is about youthful rebellion and flirting with danger, to a more joyous present. In one scene, Suga pretends to shoot the others with a finger gun, and the others playfully act like they were hit. The real feelings of rebellion once embodied in their music are now understood as the playthings of children. The song represents their maturation into young adults and with it an acceptance of themselves. As 'Euphoria' continues, we see multiple scenes of the members, at first by themselves, but then quickly joined by the others. The loneliness here is in direct opposition to the loneliness from the beginning montage. Each member looks content in themselves. When the others show up, they are always so happy to see them. The main idea, for me, is that being happy with yourself is just as important as having a group of friends for support. Together, that is euphoria. While all of BTS is in this video, Jungkook is heavily featured, which makes sense as he is the sole singer. The meaning of the song changes if all the members participated in singing it. It would become more about the euphoria of the group. Since it is a solo song, for me, it seems like somebody’s love song to the group. I should stop here, but it's obvious that I think this song is incredible. It would be amazing if Jungkook gets to perform it in their upcoming tour!
- Alan