#WE ARE LISTENING TO JOPPING

[sworcerie]

[ID: An edited screenshot of a tumblr post. The first user writes: "people who celebrate fictional character birthdays are annoying, pass it on." Another user replies "FUCK this post and happy birthday [jopping]." The last word has been edited in. (The described post is often remixed and used as a format on this fashion.) End ID.]

[ID, Image 2: The Youtube video statistics for the music video of the song "Jopping" by SuperM. It was posted on October 4, 2019, and has 125 million views and 3.7 million likes. End ID.]

happy jopping day to those who celebrate

[crispy6usiness]

what’s with all the jumping and popping?

[sanstropfremir]

tag game: put your 'on repeat' playlist on shuffle & let your friends pick their favorite of the first five songs! tagged by @hoforwonho <3

tagging @sapphicshawol @sonsband @moonflowerglowing

[wooahaes]

party of two

pairing: non-idol!joshua x fem!reader

genre: fluff. established relationship. silly fic <3

warnings: food mentions. reader having a lonely childhood/teenage years. mentions of reader being in therapy pre-fic. joshua hong being a silly, silly man. hints at suggestive stuff post-fic, but it's left vague. slow dancing to jopping <3

word count: ~1.1k

daisy's notes: ya think ya big boi throwing three stacks imma show you how to ball you a mismatch opinionated but im always spittin straight facts

The last thing you expected to come home to were streamers, balloons, and everything you’d need for someone’s birthday party.

Immediately, panic set in first. There didn’t seem to be anyone else in the apartment (and, truly, unless they were hiding in the bedroom or the bathroom, you would know), and Joshua had never gone behind your back to do something you asked him not to do before… But the decorations point to the party you asked him not to throw. Last year had been nice enough, sure, but you just wanted a quiet day with your boyfriend. Would it be worth it to step out and call him, just to clarify? 

Joshua walked past the entryway, stopping when he saw you were standing here. “Oh. Shit, you’re home early.” 

Forcing a smile, you just stepped over to slip out of your shoes and into your house slippers. “Mmhm. I was supposed to leave sooner, actually, but an emergency came up.” 

Joshua immediately set down the folded banner, snagging a party hat as he made his way over to you. “Well,” he said, stretching the string so that he could carefully put the hat on you. “We can party early, then.”

“Party?” You gave him a suspicious look.

“Party of two,” he booped your nose. “You said you didn’t have a lot of parties as a kid, so… When you told me to plan something fun, I thought we could do something silly.” 

Something about that made your heart swell in your chest. You’d told Joshua that you’d been a lonely kid (and teenager), rarely invited to parties and almost never having your own. It had messed with you growing up, sure, but you’d managed. Even though it felt silly to admit you’d gone to therapy over it, Joshua hadn’t judged you. He’d listened to your tales of attachment issues and other struggles carefully, nodding along and admiring your growth as a person. It hadn’t been easy, and it netted you some struggles with having healthy relationships in college, but you came out the other side with a new circle of friends who cared for you as much as you cared for them, and a healthy relationship with Joshua built on trust and communication. Still, it was nice to have him there to listen when you just needed to rant about how bullshit your youth had been. A week or so ago, it had been the realization that one of your birthday parties as a kid had been shared with a friend… who was probably the only reason people came.

“I don’t think that’s true,” Joshua had said after you finished your rant. “You were a kid. You said people liked you enough even if you weren’t invited to stuff.”

It was nice to have someone there who could ground you when you were getting too upset over things. Even now, as he stood before you with a stupid party hat sitting lopsided on his head, he’d taken your hand in his own. His thumb ran over your knuckles, watching as you looked past him to get a better view of the decorated living room. It’s all gold and shades of pink, and he just grinned at you.

“It’s all the store had today,”  he admitted. “I meant to go sooner, y’know, but… Kinda had some other things I needed to get in order.” 

Joshua took your other hand, swinging them as you finally melted a little and smiled at him. A party for the just two of you was particularly cheesy, but if it was with Joshua, you’d be happy to attend. “So…” You stepped forward. “What are we gonna do at this party?”

His gaze flickered down to your lips for just a moment. Yet the moment you leaned in, he reached up to press his fingers against them, stopping you in your tracks. “Keep it PG,” he teased with a mischievous grin you wanted to kiss off of him. “PG-13, if you have to.” He chuckled, kissing your cheek. But instead of pulling away immediately, he leaned in, breath hot against your ear, “we can do more later, if you want.” 

No promises made, though: you’d have to see how you were feeling then. But you did take the chance to press a quick peck against his cheek before he could move away. Joshua guided you into the apartment, already rattling off about all of the plans he’d made. He’d ordered a tiny cake for the two of you to share, bought your favorite flavor of ice cream, bought pizza to really hammer home the idea of this being a casual party (not that you minded: the two of you cooked for each other often enough, getting takeout was a welcome break). He made no promises of party games or a plethora of gifts for you to unwrap… But he did pull out his phone, connected to the bluetooth speaker and turned up music—loud enough for the two of you, but not enough to bother the neighbors now. 

“Well?” He extended his hands to you again. “Do you wanna dance?”

Joshua Hong knew you couldn’t dance for shit. It was one of the things he pointed out to you when you were half-asleep one night and he drunkenly needed to tell you the little things he loved most about you. He said you were as graceful as a baby deer, but he loved it when you felt safe enough to be silly around him.

So you just accepted his hands. “I’d love to.” 

He just smiled at you before pulling you in, chest to chest, as he began to sway with you to music that was far from swayable. “No, you wouldn’t.”

You snorted in response. “Yeah… I wouldn’t,” you reached up, draping your arms around his neck. The sounds of Taeyong’s rap in the background nearly made you laugh. “But I like holding you.” 

“Ulterior motives,” he hummed. “By the way… I was thinking… For our wedding song—”

“Joshua.” The two of you weren’t even engaged yet, but you already knew what he was thinking.

He gasped in mock offense. “Are you telling me you don’t want to walk down the aisle to Mark’s rap in this song?”

It earned a real, warm laugh from you, and the look of pride on Joshua’s face told you that his job was done. He’d let you go soon and dance with you properly… But for now, he’d continue to sway with you, chatting about your day as he admired you a little longer.

taglist: @twancingyunhao@wonuziex@synthetickitsune@porridgesblog@staranghae @weird-bookworm @bangchansbae @laylasbunbunny @bewoyewo

[uoalirie]

what's poppin (i just finished my assignment and i'm ready to cuddle fr)

uhm aCKTshually!! i'm listening to downtown baby by bloo >>

CAUSE WE BE JUMPING AND POPPING WE JOPPING 😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝😝

heh cuddle session sounds tempting.. now imagine binge watching disney tgt while eating ice cream in the dark with the ac on and the lights off 🤓☝🏻

if im being honest, i havent listened Bloo's songs (didnt even know who it was until now) should i listen now?

[endcant]

its almost time to make people listen to jopping otherwise ill go insane. is this a sadistic tendency? possibly. does it keep me functioning? yes.

i have to make these people listen to jopping or else ill have a very bad day

[riansdiary]

MUSIC FOR MANIFESTING Part 2 🎹

Dearest Gentle Readers

Hello everyone! I'm back with another music for manifesting blog! I immediately started this after writing up my last one because I love this category. I actually lost what I'm writing first when I accidentally clicked something and I'm so angry right now so let's just get on with it shall we?

2. Inspiring and Empowering Songs. Ones that can make you feel like a badass!

The next category is inspiring and empowering songs that can fuel you to keep going with your manifestations!

Queen by Loren Gray

Can't Catch Me Now by Olivia Rodrigo

Rotten To The Core by the Descendants Cast

What's My Name by China Anne McClain

Chillin Like A Villain by the Descendants Cast

ON by BTS

So What by BTS

Black Swan by BTS

Stronger by Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain

Not Today by BTS

I can't do any more linking after this so I'll start listing the songs down!

Louder Than Bombs by BTS

Sheesh by Babymonster

The Climb by Miley Cyrus

Breaking Free by Troy and Gabriella from High School Musical

This is Me by Demi Lovato

Don't Call Me Angel by Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey

Bet On It by Zac Efron

Bad Idea Right by Olivia Rodrigo

I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift

Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift

Step On Up by Ariana Grande

(I love walking like a model while listening to this song! It's such a good song for a runway show!)

Make It Shine by Tori Vega

(This is a manifesting song right here! My favorite one to sing to! The lyrics are like affirmations!)

No More Dream by BTS

Hot Mess by Aespa

Armageddon by Aespa

Drama by Aespa

Black Mamba by Aespa

Savage by Aespa

Girls by Aespa

Rockstar by Lisa

Ddu Du Ddu Du by Blackpink

Pink Venom by Blackpink

Typa Girl by Blackpink

Pretty Savage by Blackpink

Shut Down by Blackpink

The Girls by Blackpink

How You Like That by Blackpink

Accendio by I've

Baddie by I've

Royal by I've

Wannabe by Itzy

Dalla Dalla by Itzy

Untouchable by Itzy

Mafia In The Morning by Itzy

Into The I-Land by I-Land Trainees

Kingkong by Treasure

Boom by Nct Dream

We Go Up by Nct Dream

Pirate King by Ateez

Shout Out by Enhypen

Treasure by Ateez

Hala Hala by Ateez

Answer by Ateez

Say My Name by Ateez

Boss by Nct U

Talk Saxy by Riize

Boom Boom Bass by Riize

Impossible by Riize

Blessed-Cursed by Enhypen

Future Perfect by Enhypen

One In A Billion by Enhypen

Karma by Enhypen

Chaconne by Enhypen

Monster by Exo

Jopping by Super M

El Dorado by Exo

Ridin by Nct Dream

2 Baddies by Nct 127

Watch It by The Boyz

Baggy Jeans by Nct U

Kick It by Nct 127

Supernova by Aespa

Fact Check by Nct 127

ParadoXXX Invasion by Enhypen

Limitless by Nct 127

Go by Nct Dream

Box by Nct Dream

(I'm completely and utterly obsessed with this song!!! 😍)

Dejavu by Nct Dream

Anti-Fragile by Le sserafim

Fearless by Le sserafim

Unforgiven by Le sserafim

Fire In The Belly by Le sserafim

Dash by Nmixx

Sonar by Nmixx

Woman Like Me by Little Mix

Confetti by Little Mix

Bounce Back by Little Mix

BO$$ by Fifth Harmony

That's My Girl by Fifth Harmony

Worth It by Fifth Harmony

Chasing That Feeling by TXT

Good Boy Gone Bad by TXT

Gimme Gimme More by Britney Spears

Hobgoblin by CLC

I Am The Best by 2NE1

Hero by Monsta X

Fire by BTS

Me And My Girls by Selena Gomez

Me Too by Meghan Trainor

Unstoppable by Sia

Boss Bitch by Doja Cat

Fabulous by Sharpay Evans

How Far I'll Go by Auli'i Cravalho

Flowers by Miley Cyrus

Fantasize by Ariana Grande

Greedy by Tate McRae

Exes by Tate McRae

Sexy by Avantika

Meet The Plastics by Renew Rapp

Someone Gets Hurt by Renee Rapp

Not My Fault by Renee Rapp

Looking At Me by Sabrina Carpenter

Confidence by Demi Lovato

Can't Back Down by Demi Lovato

Watch Me Woo by Plave

Like That by Babymonster

Forever by Babymonster

Kingdom by The Boyz

Under The Skin by &Team

Fireworks by &Team

War Cry by &Team

Dropkick by &Team

Road Not Taken by &Team

Final Countdown by &Team

Dejavu by TXT

Aphrodite by Ashley Sienna

(all her songs are literally made to hear to help you manifest!)

Pretty In The Dark by Ashley Sienna

Give It Up by Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies

Bad News by Kiss Of Life

Gods by New Jeans

Yours Truly,

Say It Right by Nelly Furtado

(leaving you with the Gossip Girl vibes! 👋)

Lady Rian Whistledown 💋

[certifiedmaidenlessblog]

Tm saw how jopping was an unforgettable cultural reset and this is why we have to listen to songs called rizzness and GOAT now

[daincrediblegg]

for the fandom thing: the terror and/or chernobyl (depending on if you've received either of these already)

oh boy get ready:

FOR THE TERROR (in which I'm certain my answers will be very predictable and basic but it's fine we move):

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most) It's Francis. You know it's Francis. I know it's Francis. It's Francis.

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped) Again Francis BUT!!!! Jop also does make me want to pinch his cheeks like an italian grandmother. Little also brings out this instinct in me and I would were it not for his huge mutton chops getting in the way.

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave) Blanky probably. Like listen to me he is everything. In all honesty might be the realest dude on these two ships and I applaud him for his level-headedness while also acting like a mad bastard. My fucking king man.

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week) Probably Tozer if I'm honest. He's just a little manlet to me.

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave) James. He got a little lost in the imperialism sauce in an effort to rise above his shameful birth but he's working on it and doing his best.

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason) oddly enough it's Sofia. I'm not a jealous girlfriend I'm not. But she's kindof a dick to Francis (moreso in the book than in the show- and there's some interesting character work in there that I do enjoy that I think makes her a great character). but there's something to be said for how her choices are informed (both family pressure and appearances- even though I do believe she really likes francis but these things clearly outweigh any actual affection and that's a stupid decision to make for me). So like her. Also Lady Jane a little. The whole Franklin Family I would like to torment. Also it is unfortunately really fun to torment Francis and make him feel feelings with lady terror it has to be said.

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell) Hickey. it will always be hickey. Every time @trantors and I come up with a new au, we discuss briefly what stupid shit Hickey gets up to and fails horribly at and how he will inevitably perish under the circumstances. It is right it is correct and it is good for the little rat bitch.

CHERNOBYL:

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most) VALERA MOYA OHHHHHHHH I FUCKING LOVE THAT MAN the sweetest man on television. I need to give him a hug and a blowjob. I need to hold him sweetly and gently and give him the best orgasm he's ever had. I just need to love him. I always forget how much until I look at him but I do.

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped) Again it's Valery and no one else like really the man is the cutest thing on the planet I'm never going to be over it.

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave) Ulana Khomyuk! She's a bitch she's a boss I love her she is so smart and so important and she's just everything.

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week) God there are honestly a few of these because the background characters are such a great feature of this show but like. Vasily Ignatenko, Toptunov, Akimov, Yuvchenko, General Pikalov and General Tarakanov. those sure are some guys, I tell you. (oh and the miner guy. every time I mention him on the discord everyone demands I rewind to where he has his whole dick and ass out and it's really beautiful I gotta say)

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave) Going with Bacho (the "don't let the animals suffer" guy) he's a massive prick and maybe needs to go to therapy (a LOT of it) but he's interesting to me. also he played leo in a way out and is the director of that game's brother and he was my main when I played that and now every time I see him in anything I scream about it a little.

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason) Anatoly Dyatlov. that man deserves superhell too but like I definitely would want him tortured a lot more than he was for what he did first you feel me?

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell) fucking. Charkov. The fucking prick.

[revjem]

Shuffled playlist tag game

Rules: you can tell a lot about a person by the music they listen to. Put a playlist on shuffle, list the first 10 songs and then tag people :)

Aight, I was tagged by the lovely @crickets-lovely-place so this is for her specifically. I the playlist I chose is the one that I've spent the most time curating, it's called Rule of 3 and the concept is simple, I choose three kpop songs that are Thematic in some way (usually the title itself but it could be a specific lyric, the songs sound or smth else)

It's not the most accurate to what I listen to generally cuz there are songs on here that I don't just listen to otherwise, but again, I've spent a lot of time on this playlist of currently 164 songs.

1. El Dorado by EXO - This song is grouped with Wonderland by Ateez and Atlantis by SHINee. It's such a good song an absolute bop! 8/10

2. Good Lil Boy by Ateez - Grouped with Pretty Boys by the Pentagon Rap Unit and Big Boy by T.O.P (formerly of Big Bang). This song honestly needs to be listened by everyone, it's one of the best Ateez b-sides 9/10

3. Red Moon by KARD - Grouped with Not by the Moon by GOT7 and Luna by Oneus. Red Moon goes incredibly hard, KARD consistently goes hard and because of BM's time growing up in Brazil their songs have some great Latin influences and Red Moon is no exception 11/10

4. Spider by Hoshi (SVT) - This song actually recently lost its place in playlist, cuz it had been paired with Venom by Stray Kids and Pink Venom by Blackpink, but it's been replaced by Sweet Venom by Enhypen. I just haven't removed it yet, cuz it's so good. I'm hoping to find it a new home. Spider is so good, and his performance video is a Much Watch. Ugh he's so good! 9/10

5. Good Love by KARD - Grouped with Like by BTS and After Like by IVE. Ooooh a second KARD song, Lets go! Good Love is a really fun chill summer time vibe, again with nice Latin influences, KARD only has Like 6 minialbums, everyone should listen to their whole discography but I digress. 8/10

6. 100 by NCT 127 - Grouped with 100 by SuperM and 100 Ways by Jackson Wang. One of NCT's least stupid songs, it does start out referencing a 1000cc engine tho so it's still stupid. God I love NCT. 100 is a pretty good gateway song to NCT tho. 7/10

7. DDU-DU DDU-DU by Black Pink - Grouped with God's Menu by Stray Kids and Doom Du Doom by P1Harmony. No intro needed, everyone knows DDU-DU DDU-DU it's an instant classic, a true banger YG give BP more comebacks 10/10

8. CALL by Stray Kids - Grouped with Don't Call Me by SHINee and Call Me by BTOB. This song is so lovely, Stray Kids are so good! They DO NOT MISS. A chill lovely vibe. My heart yearns 9/10

9. Doorbell Ringing by xikers - Paired with Thats a No No by Itzy, I need a third "Dont kill my vibe" song still 😫. MY BOYS! Xikers is just over a year old at time of post, and i love them! They are gonna be at the top of the industry for 5th gen. As of their third mini-album this is a top 5 xikers song! It's legit so good! It does not kill the vibe, it IS the vibe! 12/10

10. Jopping by SuperM - Grouped with Horololo by EXO-CBX and Sorry, Sorry by Super Junior. WHEN WE JUMPING AND POPPING WE JOPPING!!! BROS This song is IT (it being the very beginning of my descent into the madness that is stanning NCT) But fr this is an absolute banger, you will be jopoing by the end of the song, I have no notes, everyone needs to hear this song STAT! 100/10

I'm gonna tag @plaid-n-converse @emperor-xerneas and @freelancerofthetriforcekeyblade

[vaeolus]

i was watching a streamer i like today and he mentioned he'd never listened to any k/pop song all the way through and i said "not even jopping?? when we jumping and we popping we jopping??" and he said "when we jumping and we popping..... we jopping...... so true..... i have no idea what you're talking about." and i was too high to not lose my shit

[colorisbyshe]

every time i see a post that’s like “music tumblr listens to half the list is musicians i’ve literally never once seen on my dash

and it’s just like perhaps your dashboard is not universal. cause according to my dash everyone listens to… mitski, hozier, and then panic at the disco but like in the past tense like everyone used to listen to just enough panic to have a personal vendetta against brendon. and that’s it the rest is just music specific people post about a lot

if we went by memes tho everyone would like jopping and sticker

[apencilandpen]

Top three kpop ask thing:

1. Top three silly songs (affectionate)

2. Top three iconic performances

3. Top three unit tracks

Silly songs (affectionate):

okay, first we have to acknowledge that the silly is one of the load-bearing walls in the house of kpop, and that's okay!

3) Show, Super Junior - nothing can prepare you for this as the final song on an album, preceded by a ballad and a headbanging song

2) Jopping, SuperM - listen, it's a banger but it's so fuckin silly

Ring, Ding, Dong, SHINee - i will not elaborate

Iconic performances:

ATEEZ's From the Wonderland performance on Kingdom. It's what tipped them over the edge for me and i keep coming back to it

Basically like any SHINee, but specifically Woof Woof bc i love it

BTS's Idol at the MAMAs that one time. It's just really cements the drama and theatrics that make kpop so different from American pop

Unit tracks:

this require too much thought to remember whats a unit track, but off the top of my head these are some of the ones that stick out:

UGH!

3racha

Rat in the Trap

[meduseld]

Daniel and Cozier are having a drink, away from the nutcases they willingly listen to.

Cozier: In my defense, I was his hostage and we were in the middle of nowhere.

Daniel: In my defense, I was paid 10 million..

Daniel also Lives For the Drama. Crozier gets the cliff's notes from Jop. But yeah I think they weirdly would get along <3

[struggle-but-its-all-ocean-floor]

Jopping is such an icon. Mark's verse is *chef's kiss*. I remember the first time I heard this song. It was the most atrocious song I'd ever heard, but I was so wrong, it's a masterpiece. Never has a cringe SM song with terrible English lyrics and a ridiculous MV been this cringe and this good. SM boy groups' specialty is cringe lyrics that you can't help but internalize until the song becomes good, but Jopping is the crème de la crème of cringe songs. 2 Baddies 1 Porsche who? Ring Ding Dong who? This song has aged like fine wine. The more you listen to it, the funner it gets. It's a total banger, an icon, show me a song with lyrics this cringe that is this hype. Sorry, Gangnam Style, Jopping is the clear winner.

'Cause when we jumping and popping We jopping (+1)

Oppan Gangnam style (-1)

[lordmayokcorner]

NCT 127 Regular-Irregular - Album Review

-- Image: MTV --

NCT 127 is actually a group I found through LOONA’s live cover of Cherry Bomb. I loved LOONA’s performance and the song so much I decided to check out some more NCT 127. I haven’t listened to all of their albums yet, but I know a good amount of their stuff. This album is split into side A, Regular, and side B, Irregular. Note that this is the original version, not the repackage.

I’ll listen to each song 3 times and rate them afterward. Each song will be rated on a scale of 1-10 with 5 being completely neutral, 1 being my least favorite song, and 10 being the best songs ever. Please take my rating with a grain of salt, my goal is to be honest, no hate :)

City 127 - 6

Clean piano chords, varied percussion, and smooth bass form the beginning of this song. Paired with almost hushed vocals, this song really sets the mood for the Regular side of this album. It feels very Bruno Mars, almost a campfire song vibe. Somewhat repetitive and dry, but that’s to be expected with an intro song. Vocals are not top notch, but the vibe is there for sure. I overall like this song.

Regular (Korean Version) - 7

This song takes the same subdued energy from City 127 and puts a fun spin on it. The beat is relaxed but playful. Verses aren’t spectacular but the chorus slaps holy f*ck. It has the same sort of bad*ss energy as AUTOMATIC by Chancellor or We Go Up by fellow subunit NCT Dream. It has a very strong movie soundtrack feel, in a good way. Unfortunately, the rhymes and vocal rhythms are not as good as the English version for once in kpop, so it loses some of its charm. For that reason I’ll have to lower its score.

Replay (PM 01:27) - 8

Another track that could be described as both energetic and relaxed. That mood combined with the distant vocal chops and stab synth remind me of LOONA’s Heat from XX. Both songs remind me a decent bit of Diplo’s production. Both are produced by highly esteemed names in kpop: Heat by Daniel Caesar (Red Flavor, New) and Replay by LDN Noise (Jopping, Dumb Dumb). All tangents aside, this song is great and feels iconic, though its similarity to so many songs makes it somewhat ‘done’ already. Despite that, its hype is undeniable.

Knock On - 8

Soft electric piano and pitched vocal chops set a calm, spacey vibe for this R&B ballad. This song feels as if you’re driving slowly down a country road with the windows down on a cool summer night. Perfect 10 by Red Velvet, that’s what I see in this song. Smooth, nurturing, and beautiful. Occasionally, use of autotune can be excessive, but mostly the vocals are beautiful. Lacks some excitement, but certainly soft and incredibly textured. A great track.

No Longer - 4

Minimalist R&B tinged classical instrumentation sets the stage for soft and sweet vocals. This song is a full-on ballad. Personally I tend to not be impressed by classic ballads. I generally want a bit of flair in these types of songs. That said, the vocals are quite nice in this song, and the slow build feels quite cinematic. Not my cup of tea exactly but a beautiful song no less.

Interlude: Regular to Irregular - 6.5

I know this isn’t exactly a full on song, as it’s an interlude, but I figured I should include it anyway. This song continues the classical vibe of No Longer but removes the R&B aspect. It’s as if from Knock On to this interlude there is a slow transition between R&B and classical ballad. Holy sh*t! About half way in we switch to Side B Irregular and WOW. It’s immersive, dark, hip hop inspired beat is stunning. The 6.5 score is an average between a 5 for the first half and an 8 for the second.

My Van - 7.5

Dark and frightening, this icy cold beat sets the stage for some incredibly smooth rapping from Taeyong and Mark. The sharp high pitched synth mixed with the low bass are a daring combo that work together perfectly. The deep echo and experimental dark remind me of The Weeknd’s first mixtapes. Can feel a bit “swampy” because of how tripped out it is. Good song though.

Come Back - 9

We’re bringing back the gritty synth from Regular to Irregular. It’s much more approachable than the interlude however, though still an intense song. These are matched with the harmonized low-pass filtered plucks for some ear candy juxtaposition. It actually feels quite a bit like Puzzle, the Charli Taft produced b-side off Choerry’s solo release. Generally a Charli Taft vibe with the synth sounds. In particular the verses are infectiously groovy. 

Fly Away With Me - 7.5

The instrumentals at the very beginning are relatively the same from My Van, but this song utilizes them completely differently. The song could be characterized as a high energy ballad. It has a certain quality, best described as a slow driving force. Between the harmony choices and the smooth but energetic feel to it, this song gives Red Velvet to me. I generally like this song.

Regular (English Version) - 8

Not only does this song slap, the english version is actually better than the Korean version. There are so many hilarious slang references and memeable lyrics. Doesn’t quite fit the Irregular vibe, but who cares.

Run Back 2 U (Bonus Track) - 6

Autotune at the beginning is a bit off-puttingly strong. Because of this and the lack of change in the music, the verses aren’t extremely impressive. I believe this isn’t the first time I’ve referenced Love Cherry Motion, but this song really reminds me of it. Smooth and soft turns into hard hitting and bad*ss. The different parts of the song could be slightly more coherent however. The rap parts remind me of My Van once again. Seems to be a motif on the Irregular side. Solid but not amazing.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed listening to this album! I love the concept of the Regular and Irregular sides. It feels like a throwback to the record days, with the A side and B side. I would say I preferred the sound of the Irregular side, partially just because, as the name suggests, it is certainly somewhat irregular in kpop, particularly songs like My Van and the interlude between sides. I really loved the gritty synths and driving feel to all of the Irregular songs. I would give this album an overall score of 7.5. Some songs were amazing and some were decent, but I didn't really dislike anything. If the ratings didn’t make it clear, my favorite song off this record is Come Back. It really reminds me of Ay-Yo from the 4th album repackage. This album shows that NCT 127 is a very, very versatile group and can dial in many different styles. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think!

- Maya