Current Events > K-Pop summer topic part 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

Twice at the Billboard awards was kinda impressive. Jihyo tried to make the most of it.
https://youtu.be/jjcRl8Jgd7U

Not sure how it is in Korea, but I find McDonald's chicken sandwiches meh
https://youtu.be/QEZSigcGokE

Aespa at Outside Lands this year. Wonder how they're gonna fit in. It's quite not like Coachella

omg

I had a hunch that Lesserafim would Nike ambassadors to counter Blankpink's partnership with Adidas.

But apparently NewJeans was lined up for Air Max month.
https://hypebeast.com/2023/3/newjeans-nike-air-max-campaign-photos-info

Twice performing their first stage of Set Me Free on Fallon tonight

https://youtu.be/w4cTYnOPdNk

Sounds decent.
Visuals pretty good

Still a little directionless imo with concept.
And I realized this with a lot of their singles: I don't know why it's like this, but they're a little dead when it comes to facial expressions apart from Sana, Dahyun, and Jihyo.

I've only listened a few times, but I like the album enough. I like the English version of Set Me Free a lot.

Twice quietly extended the presale registration period for their tour by 11 days and I haven't seen any reason why. Guess they are really pushing to sell out these shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7LJUS6oDn8

Interesting they put Yoon and Sieun on the rap verse. I'm not sure how well Teddy Bear is going exactly, but just kinda interesting they're capable of many different concepts, and they went that way.

https://youtu.be/rpp_PErKkdQ

Thing that strikes me about Pixy is they've got consistently nice choruses. I like how they went about it with Villian.

Believe the street setting is the same one as used in Antifragile. Windows on the left.

Mmm, I'm liking Pixy a lot more since they regrouped.

I know I keep saying this but it just keeps being true, each release I like Twice more and more, npi. Moonlight Sunrise was already great, even with the funny English, and yeah Set Me Free is a bit basic but I just love the direction they've taken, or "lack of direction" if you want. I mean this is Twice through and through, they'd just never really explored this side of them (although they've been circling it for a while). I have no excuses left.

KainWind posted...

I've only listened a few times, but I like the album enough. I like the English version of Set Me Free a lot.

Really? Hmm, I gotta check it all out. You're right, actually I think their English has gotten better, I don't know if it just mixes better with this sound or they just have more experience now lol, probably a bit of both. I wonder why they didn't do this version for Fallon, too? Probably just haven't practiced it. Not like it matters, for one as an elitist purist I still think people should like Kpop in Korean if they're going to like it (but eh). So I guess that's a good sign. But yeah it doesn't sound bad!

KaZooo posted...

Interesting they put Yoon and Sieun on the rap verse. I'm not sure how well Teddy Bear is going exactly, but just kinda interesting they're capable of many different concepts, and they went that way.

I mean it's BP, everyone's gonna rap. Yeah. I love this though, it helps that it's DDDD which is my fav BP, HYLT was getting overplayed already. I know you like it but to me it just symbolizes the beginning of the end for BP. As for Teddy Bear, people seem to love it, go figure, but good for them.

Also just because I'm a stickler for high standards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upi90X8DlbU

Ugh Monday, but not the idol. Ugh Daylight Savings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceieHmOrZZw

Hmm okay real quick Nmixx still confuses me but I also can't believe they sampled Morning Bells hahahaha yeah THAT is the trippiest thing I've ever heard in Kpop!

paerarru posted...

for one as an elitist purist I still think people should like Kpop in Korean if they're going to like it (but eh).

Dunno if this is common or not, but even with my kpop playlist currently sitting at 2242 songs I still always prefer English versions when available.

paerarru posted...

Hmm okay real quick Nmixx still confuses me but I also can't believe they sampled Morning Bells hahahaha yeah THAT is the trippiest thing I've ever heard in Kpop!

I listened to that the other day and had no idea what to think, I think it was good.

Hybe backing out of the SM acquisition.
I can't say for better or worse that serves.

paerarru posted...

Hmm okay real quick Nmixx still confuses me but I also can't believe they sampled Morning Bells hahahaha yeah THAT is the trippiest thing I've ever heard in Kpop!

I can't say I'm too into it lol, but I think it was a smarter direction to try to be more relatable to their audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCQkEGcT0A8
Probably in the minority, but I do think Lily really gets to the edge of her range like when she belts out "Symphony". She clearly is trying to stay on key, but I'm thinking despite how much she can get behind louder notes, she might be better off not always pushing that out and hitting it a little more conservatively. Amazing outside of that (literally the entire song otherwise), though.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


I agree. They are my default favorite group if it ever comes up, though some groups are really close. They just have an absurd amount of good to great songs, and they stay current. The Story Begins came out the same year I got into kpop too.

Unrelated, what exactly is a fan meeting? It seems like a concert plus some other stuff and seems unreasonably expensive to watch the livestream.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


Jihyo! But yeah all great though.

KainWind posted...

Unrelated, what exactly is a fan meeting? It seems like a concert plus some other stuff and seems unreasonably expensive to watch the livestream.

Yeah they are usually just a mini-concert with some extra talk segments/games/audience interaction. Will likely get some special/cover stages. I assume you're talking about LE SSERAFIM's in a few days in which case the 2nd day is also Sakura's birthday so there will certainly be something for that during the show and it's pretty likely they will officially announce the date of their comeback and maybe tease the song. And yes it's weirdly expensive to stream for some reason

Seems like what was supposed to be a packed April for girl groups is thinning out a bit with Aespa and now LE SSERAFIM actually confirming for May instead. Kep1er still drawing the short stick though as IVE just confirmed they are coming back on the exact same day as them

Ruddager posted...

Yeah they are usually just a mini-concert with some extra talk segments/games/audience interaction. Will likely get some special/cover stages. I assume you're talking about LE SSERAFIM's in a few days in which case the 2nd day is also Sakura's birthday so there will certainly be something for that during the show and it's pretty likely they will officially announce the date of their comeback and maybe tease the song. And yes it's weirdly expensive to stream for some reason

Thanks, just wondering what I was missing out on. Kinda cool but doesn't sound like something I need to see.

I also saw Mamamoo is coming to the US this year. Sounds fun.

The whole thing will be recorded by someone and put up on bilibili/google drive/etc... in the following days anyway, happens with nearly every online concert/fanmeet

omg Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, and Choerry signed with Modhaus. Same company as tripleS.

KainWind posted...

omg Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, and Choerry signed with Modhaus. Same company as tripleS.

I like how the Not Friends gang stays together

They are the only ones to win their contract thing with BBC so far, hopefully Vivi and Hyunjin are next.

Did we need more dance practices?

Apparently
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNlCGt9agA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mYGh268vmA

I'm not even mad. Not that I'm on crazy repeat, but usually by now a song in this industry would wear out on me this far after release, and they've been staying a legit no-skip for me.

so jinni has resurfaced

https://instagram.com/jiniyxxn?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Momo amazing outside of a twice song
*hides*
https://youtu.be/qpR5-nbs_Kw

Yikes

Blind stylist decisions strikes again. Actually, I kinda have seen this in Asia in general. The way stateside things get distributed and picked up, most people don't really seem to know at all what a print suggests/says.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/4/2/AAHRm5AAETAq.jpg

https://youtu.be/EDnwWcFpObo

Was looking forward to this. There's a bit more cohesion compared to past high tempo singles. Kinda makes me think it's an ITZY song, just with better vocalists all around (and ITZY is already pretty good).

It still has this sort of random pick-and-choose visual setting like most JYP songs. There doesn't seem to be a dedicated concept to follow, but I like that they used some runtime against a simple white background for choreography. Will get played out if reused, but it's one of the better cuts I've seen in their MVs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8a2gZO2-Gc

KaZooo posted...

Yikes

Blind stylist decisions strikes again. Actually, I kinda have seen this in Asia in general. The way stateside things get distributed and picked up, most people don't really seem to know at all what a print suggests/says.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/4/2/AAHRm5AAETAq.jpg

Meanwhile the next day she posted personal pics of herself wearing this, can't pass this one off on the stage costume team

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/4/2/AAL5lQAAETR2.jpg

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDoNwZvCej/?igshid=OGRjNzg3M2Y=

jyp figured out an audience that's underserved by kpop that's all

Producers: "We need to give Chae more of an edge to set her apart from the others"

Stylist: "say no more fam"

Oof, American media has caught wind of the recent fashion choices, will be interesting to see how that plays out

I got selected for the presale for their tour tomorrow! I doubt anyone who signed up cares about her unfortunate choice of shirt.

Well yeah, not even committing actual crimes deter kpop fans from supporting their biases, a swastika shirt sure wont, that was never in question, the group will be fine from that standpoint. They are making a huge push for the American market recently though so it'll be interesting to see if this effects that

Ryujin looked amazing in the recent Vogue shoot
https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/11y357a/itzy_ryujin_vogue_korea_april_2023_issue_pictorial/

Elle did Lia a lot of justice. He stage looks looks tend to be a bit overdone. Granted their MV and Stage stylist kinda throw together likewise outfits.
https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/11xzub6/lia_itzy_elle_korea_april_2023_issue_pictorial/

This promo slaps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSM24F8L62A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOI67IDlNMQ

I thought this started well, and I'm a fan of just staying to what I assume is his natural voice. It's just that sometimes lyrics and notes get mushed up together as the song escalates. Similar to what I was saying about Lily.

I was in the camp that didn't like the auto tune direction of "Set Me Free Pt 2". That rubbed off like it was adding voices, and detracting from the solo being an exhibition of just him.

https://youtu.be/wpvtB4oSxwI

Ariana covers can be tough to live up to. However Sieun probably would be of the only in the industry that I think can make something of it. Iirc she is bilingual tho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO9VkglQKgg

I think these scenes were more impressive than their showcases. Lisa as a choreography coach is always cool to see.

https://youtu.be/pNDNk79haQ0

Imagine if I watched Babymonster and then I got attached to one of the girls and then I bet YG would eliminate her and then I'd be so mad nahhhhh

KaZooo posted...

Elle did Lia a lot of justice. He stage looks looks tend to be a bit overdone. Granted their MV and Stage stylist kinda throw together likewise outfits.

Agree, for some reason their stylists seem to have yet to figure out how to properly do Lia. Well... that may not be completely fair, I think they've actually learned to make her look better than they used to, it's just that her beauty really demands a super clean, minimal style to come out best, and I guess it would look a bit out of place or not mesh well with the others.

https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/12050b7/newjeans_hyein_vogue_korea_x_louis_vuitton_april/

[insert a couple more meaty paragraphs full of praise for nwjns]

https://i.imgur.com/xl8xA4y.jpg

One of us, one of us!

Kpop summers last all year long! :D

paerarru posted...

https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/12050b7/newjeans_hyein_vogue_korea_x_louis_vuitton_april/

[insert a couple more meaty paragraphs full of praise for nwjns]

Without knowing, I originally thought she was the oldest of the group. Also thought she was also going to be the group's more central focus when seeing the Hype Boy video and distribution.

I've finally started watching some older shows. I just watched Sixteen and Produce 101 in the last couple weeks, probably Produce 48 next. I knew some results (especially for Twice, and only a couple from IOI), but I'm really loving seeing more of the idols and it's helping me learn who is who and where they are. Not to discuss a 7 year old show, but my faves in P101 were Yoojung, Chungha, Jeon Soyeon, and Im Nayoung. The middle two were biases because I knew them already. I'm gaining a lot more appreciation for some of their talents too, but the eliminations are killing me.

Not sure what other shows I might wanna watch. I've been keeping up with Fearless Kura, might poke around into more like that. There are plenty of groups I love that I don't know most of the members.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/80392310

Someone free to go for it.

7/26/22 to 3/26/23

8 Months exactly

Eh, I'll just do it.