#lalalay performances

[a-moth-to-the-light]

Comeback Celebration: Current Top Ten Sunmi Songs

I noticed, while I was working on this, that I talk about Sunmi the way orbits talk about Loona--I think you'll see what I mean as we go down the list! I think it's the admiration I have for how creative & well-crafted her releases are. "Heroine" was the song that got me into Sunmi, though her most recent comeback at the time was "Lalalay" (I remember because the ponytail dance was EVERYWHERE). My admiration was secured after her 1/6 album--even though her discography is still small, I think that album really fleshed it out, to the point where I finally felt like I could understand her as an artist. Happy Sunmi comeback to us all!

1. pporappippam

This is my "Butterfly". I remember when this song came out, I remember when it changed the world, it's all things divine, it's my conduit to a romanticized version of my teenage years, it's a supercut of all the most wonderful colors you've ever seen in the sky at sunset. In all seriousness, though--I really don't get how people find this song boring. It manages to be a soft, ethereal track and an addictive pop hit, a perfect balance of peaceful atmospherics and unrelenting pace. This one is really special to me!

2. 1/6

This is my "Loonatic". I got dream pop with this song--okay, "1/6" might not exactly be dream pop, but it's soft and dreamy in a way that made me finally see the appeal of that type of song, like why someone would want to get lost in that hazy sonic world.

3. Siren

"Siren" is a piano crashing into you from a third-story window. Like, I don't know how it's ever possible to be emotionally ready for this song. Its brute-force approach is just so goddamn memorable, especially because Sunmi doesn't overuse it in the rest of her discography--she usually goes for subtlety, but her vocals carry a powerful chorus like this one just so well.

4. Narcissism

This one's also in the brute-force category, especially because the production takes this really messy, maximalist approach--and fuck it, it works. I love this song a whole lot: the soft intro; the weird schoolbell-through-intercom-static sounds; the way the chorus hits; the way Sunmi navigates the song's rapid rises and falls. If you miss old-school EDM (read: if you obsess over Dreamcatcher's "Can't get you out of my mind" like I do), I think you'll really enjoy this one.

5. Call

Yeah, no surprise here, I always love club music. But this club classic is particularly intricate, built on a really interesting contrast: Sunmi's gritty vocals over an exceptionally pristine house beat.

6. Black Pearl

This song is just cool. Like, that saxophone solo is just really, really cool. Like, I want to be a guy who has this song at the top of his most-listened list. Maybe one day!

7. Heroine

Yeah, the beat drop is kind of wimpy, so that part didn't age all that great. But Sunmi's PERFORMANCE here?? That prechorus is one for the ages. Five years ago, the emotion of this song absolutely captivated me, and it still resonates with me today.

8. Lalalay

In contrast, this one aged wonderfully! Now that I'm not being constantly overloaded with beat drops in every other song (thank you, 2019 Twice & 2021 Olivia Rodrigo!), I can really appreciate how interesting "Lalalay" is! I used to think this one was boring and lacking inspiration, but now that I'm revisiting it, I think the dynamics of the chorus are pretty compelling (yes, I think the beat drop is compelling, sue me)--like, do you hear how the weird note thingie is fading in and out? how the volume shifts? I love it so much!! My favorite part is the bridge, though--the flight attendant bit remains iconic, and the segue into the final chorus is breathtaking.

9. Heart Burn

This will forever remind me of a song from my childhood--the melody of the chorus is vaguely reminiscent of Taylor Dayne's "Tell It to My Heart", which my mom used to play in the car--so this song hits unfairly hard for me. Like, it's already a reserved, mysterious summer hit, but to me it sounds like a half-formed image of your old living room, or the voice of an elementary-school friend whose name you can't quite recall speaking from the void. Cloudy, surreal, a bit unsettling, but altogether sweet. Also, the color scheme of this music video is super striking, so "Heart Burn", despite its simplicity, gets a LOT of bias points from me.

10. What the Flower

This is like the evil twin of Red Velvet's "Good, Bad, Ugly". They both go for the lounge-singer vibe, but Red Velvet have really pure, sweet-sounding vocals, while Sunmi's voice, and her work as a whole, have always been very savory (like, anti-saccharine?). Both songs are great, and I especially love how both allow for some wonderful piano appreciation (shoutout to the guitar in "What the Flower", too!). The singalong bit at the end of "What the Flower" is really striking, so this one has stuck around in my head over the years, even before I could really appreciate its quieter sections.

Honorable Mentions: 24 Hours (obligatory), Who am I, Curve (also obligatory), Tail (Sunmi's charisma wins this one), Call my name

[dreamzvelvet]

𝒮𝓊𝓃𝓂𝒾 ࣪˖་༘࿐

Sunmi is a unique K-pop artist who is highly recognized due to her authenticity – her art delves into emotions, different concepts, symbolisms, and into the fight against stigmatized boundaries and misconceptions. Starting from Wonder Girls to her solo career, she developed and captivated a significant audience on both national and global level.

𝒮𝓊𝓃𝓂𝒾 𝒹𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒲𝑜𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝒢𝒾𝓇𝓁𝓈 ˖་༘࿐

Sunmi, who was only 15 years old at the time, made her debut in the South Korean girl group Wonder Girls in 2007. Formed by JYP Entertainment, Wonder Girls quickly achieved international fame with their catchy music and hit singles such as “Nobody” and “Tell Me”.

Owing to debuting at such an early age and, therefore, not finishing school, Sunmi had to take a temporary hiatus from Wonder Girls to focus on her studies. Then, she rejoined the group during the “Reboot” era in 2015. After some comebacks, the group disbanded in 2017, leading Sunmi to embrace her career as a soloist.

𝒮𝓊𝓃𝓂𝒾'𝓈 𝓈𝑜𝓁𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓇 ˖་༘࿐

Even though Sunmi only came back to Wonder Girls in 2015, she had made a lot of progress in her solo activities. In 2013, she debuted with the single “24 hours”, the song involved a mature concept that Sunmi wanted to make its performance dramatic but the company prohibited her to do that; and, in 2014, she released the EP “Full Moon”.

After the disbandment, Sunmi left JYP entertainment and signed with a new company that matched her values, where she took leadership roles in production and composition in her own songs, MVs, and choreography. This creative control led to the release of her hit single, "Gashina".

Nowadays, Sunmi continues producing her own art, making music from her emotions, experiences and challenges she passed through. For example, the album “⅙” shows the instability, the conflicts, and the dubious feelings of someone who suffers from BPD, like Sunmi.

Another example is the album “WARNING” represents the difficulty of being always observed and judged by others for being an Idol, impacting Sunmi's mental health and questioning herself if the only way of living this life is by faking it. Although, these feelings were left aside when she released the song “LALALAY”, whose message is that she needs to be herself at all costs.

Other singles/albums/EPs produced by Sunmi are: “Noir”, “pporappippam”, “Tail”, “Heart Burn”, “Stranger”, and “Balloon in Love”.

[fdcenter]

KPOP IN PUBLIC SUNMI LALALAY DANCE COVER INDONESIA

Kpop in Public Dance Cover Kpop Dance Cover Indonesia Kpop Dance Performance Video Indonesia by FDCover Forever Dance Cover Indonesia | Top Video: https://www.instagram.com/fdcover | Best Video: https://www.tiktok.com/@fdcover | New Video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW8kB3xEZ8Yw_2iU_DJEEZw?sub_confirmation=1 Forever Dance Center Ballet Hiphop Kpop Modern Dance School Jakarta in Pulomas…

[sunmi-net]

LALALAY | Music Core 191019

[wondergirlsforever]

190901 Sunmi @ Inkigayo

[ryuu-to-sobakasu-hime]

Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime (Belle) Novel | English Translation | Chapter 1

**This is a machine translation. I put it together by extracting text page-by-page from a .pdf version of the Japanese novel, and running it through Google translate. I have only minorly edited some of the more confusing lines to make it more read-able. It is still a very rough translation, but it’s good enough to understand what’s going on. If there is anyone out there who wants to properly translate the novel, I am more than happy to edit it, if you’ll contact me.**

---------------------------------------------

Ryuu to Sobakasu Hime (The Dragon and the Freckled Princess)

In the world of U, Belle met a dragon with a wound on his back.

“Who are you?”

Chapter 1: Invitation

A white line emerges in the darkness.

It slowly approaches. What is this line?

It gradually becomes clear. It's a series of units with intricate details. They are lined up regularly and repeatedly, like cells seen under a microscope.

Cells?

No, it's a "city".

This is a mysterious megacity called "U".

Created by the five wise men, the "Voices" who control the intellect of this world,

U is the ultimate virtual world.

The largest Internet space in history, which has surpassed 5 billion accounts worldwide and continues to expand.

You haven't played "U" yet.

It is displayed opposite to the shaped figure.

"We are investigating various shapes of U particles to embody this ethos, similar to the differences and peculiarities of each person in the world."

“Much like the difference and particularity that makes each individual in the world unique, this explores a variety of different shaped U particles to embody this ethos......"

One of the innumerable U particles is determined.

Authentication is complete.

"Welcome to the world of 'U'.”

U particles pop out from a myriad of smartphone-shaped windows.

Welcome to the world of U.

It's you, authenticated.

The U particle instantly turned into a pretty rabbit-shaped girl.

The announcement echoes.

"'U' uses the latest body-sharing technology so that everyone can relax, gather and enjoy."

Here, the avatar is referred to as "Az" (Az = Autonomous self).

Autonomous self. Az is your alter ego in "U".

The best AI that "U" is proud of is your Az.

Perform automatic generation.

U particles that also logged in are generated one after another in Az and fly from the window.

You can see it popping out.

Your Az - that is, a lovely girl with white, fluffy ears popping out of her sleek hat, descends like skydiving with your first friends.

The sea of ​​clouds, which had filled the field of vision, suddenly opened.

The brilliance of the skyscraper town reflected by the light of the twilight.

You will instinctively yell out in admiration.

The elaborately constructed geometric skyscrapers have no top and bottom, no left and right, and are layered on top of each other, creating an overwhelming evening view that has never been seen before.

A gorgeous shopping mall. Release that left the company while it was still bright in the evening

In the feeling, wander around Fifth Avenue, Champs Elysees, or Ginza.

It's such fun. Az dressed in colorful costumes are like a Venetian costume ball, and it's fun just to look at them. Graphical pieces of florets are spinning and floating like confetti. When you pick up one of them and smell the scent, a refreshing young scent lurks in the gorgeous and sensual. Perfect for the view of this city. You suddenly look up at the heavens while swimming like a bird on the rippling boulevard. Even in places that should be empty, upside-down skyscrapers are so crowded that they look like they are about to fall. There is a huge park that looks like a hollowed-out skyscraper town, and you can look down on the Az who play with it.

Is there a city that makes you feel so free?

You realize without a doubt, this is the center of the world.

The moon can be seen in the gaps between skyscrapers.

The announcement echoes.

<< "U" is another reality >>

《Az is another you》

<< Here is everything >>

The crescent moon that draws an arc below seems to be in the shape of a "U".

<< Reality cannot be redone. But if it's "U", you can start over. >>

<< Now, let's live another you. >>

《Now, let ’s start a new life》

"Now, let's change the world."

Suddenly, the noise of the city was cut off.

It's a song.

Someone is singing.

Where do you hear it? Many Az try to find the voice of the singer.

I'm turning. You, too, listen.

The song is magnificent and delicate. Intimate and powerful.

I'm drawn in unintentionally.

"Over there!"

Someone shouted. The line of sight of many Az gathers at one point.

A whale.

A huge whale dressed up with countless speakers is swimming leisurely between the upside-down buildings. At the tip of his nose, a small figure in a crimson dress can be seen. The song seems to come from there. The whale makes a roaring sound from the countless speakers it wears. She stands on the tip of the whale's nose and sings with an overwhelming voice that is comparable to the sound pressure of the whale’s roaring. What looked like a crimson dress was a flower dress made up of various types of red, such as dahlia, gerbera, and echinacea. She has unrealistically long pink hair. Blue eyes as deep as the sea. A beautiful woman.

And on her cheeks, there are freckles that look like they are engraved.

"Belle!" "Belle!"

The Az looked up at her and called her name from their mouths.

Her name is "Belle."

Lalalai Lalalai Running through a nameless time Unbeknown to anybody To reach that crescent moon Lalalai Lalalai Want to get to know you No matter how many times I awake Feeling like I can't even make a sound

"Belle!" "Belle!" "Belle!"

You are among the wide variety of Az who call her name. I knew it. Unknowingly singing Belle's song. She turns her face and smiles in response to the cheers. For a moment you feel like her eyes meet you and your chest squeezes. Once you see her, you'll be attracted to her and you can't take your eyes off her anymore. You're already captivated by her, even though you've just met her.

"Belle!" "Belle!" "Belle!" "Belle!"

Belle crossed her hand in front of her chest and spread it all at once.

At the same time, graphical flowers were emitted all at once from her body.

The flowers spread all over the city from the top of the whale that swims leisurely. Belle sings loudly, as if to bless every person, every event, every life. Who the hell is Belle?

-------------------

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Dcx2NedPVBEdbfQaU-WC0pJMRmn20ASn7HSC0KY9R7E/edit?usp=sharing ~ Google Doc of the English-translated novel.

ryuutosobakasuhime.wordpress.com ~ English fan-site for Ryuu to Sobakasu no Hime where translations, scans, and other content is posted.

[pupa-cinema]

Omedetai Atama de Naniyori -きなしゃんせ。 (Come Come Everybody) - Lyrics English Translation

おかえんなさい　さぁ好きなとこ座ってよ Welcome back, come, sit wherever you’d like はいこれ　今日の御通し　鯛の煮付けね Here you go, today’s special otoshi, red snapper simmered in sweet soy sauce

いやまぁ知っての通り　ほんっといろんなことがあってさ Well well, as you know, there’s reallly been a lot goin’ on here recently みんなどんどんどんどんやめてっちゃって Everyone’s been quitting one after the other after the other この辺もだいぶさみしくなったもんだよね It’s gotten pretty lonely around here too

大声出して歌ったり　肩組んで歩いたり　その辺に寝転んだり People would always shout and sing so loud, or walk around shoulder to shoulder, or fall asleep on the spot and such ほんと馬鹿だなーと思いながら見てたけど　嫌いじゃなかったよ I always watched them thinking they were so stupid but, I never hated it

へいへい　らっしゃい　きなしゃんせ Hey hey, welcome, come come everybody へいへい　らっしゃい　何飲みます？ Hey hey, welcome, what would you like to drink? へいへい　らっしゃい　きなしゃんせ Hey hey, welcome, come come everybody へいへい　注文　何しましょ？ Hey hey, what will you have to order?

はい　おかわり　お待ちどうさん Hai, here’s your second serving, ta for waiting

まぁ正直暖簾を下ろそうかなって思ったことは　何回もあったよ Well, to be honest I’ve thought about taking down the noren many times now でもさやっぱりやめられないね But y’know, I just can’t find it in myself to quit だってこうやって会いに来てくれるわけでしょ People like you still come on in, after all 一人でもそういう人がいるんだったらそう簡単にはね Even if there’s only one person out there, I can’t just ditch them, do you feel me またあの頃みたいにワイワイやれたら　そりゃ嬉しいけど ‘Course I’d love if we could party like old times again but そういうわけにはいかないか Thing’s ain’t that simple

へいへい　らっしゃい　きなしゃんせ Hey hey, welcome, come come everybody へいへい　らっしゃい　何飲みます？ Hey hey, welcome, what would you like to drink? へいへい　らっしゃい　きなしゃんせ Hey hey, welcome, come come everybody へいへい　注文　何しましょ？ Hey hey, what will you have to order?

へいへい　らっしゃい　きなしゃんせ Hey hey, welcome, come come everybody へいへい　らっしゃい　何飲みます？ Hey hey, welcome, what would you like to drink? へいへい　らっしゃい　きなしゃんせ Hey hey, welcome, come come everybody へいへい　注文　何しましょ？ Hey hey, what will you have to order?

へいへい　らっしゃい　ララライ Hey hey, welcome, lalalai 経年メッカの夢の街 Over time becoming a mecca of a dream city へいへい　らっしゃい　ララライ Hey hey, welcome, lalalai おわらんはじまりはここから We’re not done yet, we’re just getting started

Interview:

ぶち上げ系じゃない、肩の力が抜けた���だってやらせろ！わ��かて疲れてるんじゃ。うああああ。という衝動からスタートした曲。 It ain’t a pump up kinda song. Lemme do a more chilled song at this point! Lil’ old man me’s tired. Waaaagh. Or at least, that’s what I said when I first started making this song. maoが作ったリズムの骨組みに、324が自由にギターのせてトラック完成。最初はイタリア語っぽく聞こえる日本語を組み合わせたラップにしようとしたけど、背伸びしすぎてる感が否めなく、結局語りのようになった。 With a rhythm mao made as the framework and 324’s freeform guitar on top, was the track complete. 録音のとき、「寂れた町の場末の居酒屋の大将になりきろうなりきろう……」という意識でやった結果、演技みが強くなったけど気持ちがすごくこもっているのだ。 “‘I’ve gotta become like a full admiral of an izakaya off the downtown of a rundown dingy city… I’ve gotta….” I told myself while recording, and as a result did it turn into an acting performance but… There’s actually a lotta emotion poured into the song. このときメンタル的にとても落ち込んでいたので、サビのメロと歌詞から、それはもうおびただしい哀愁オーラが出過ぎていて、メン���ーに引かれた。 I was super depressed at the time so, the chorus and melody and lyrics were just emitting this intense dismal aura. So much so that it nabbed my bandmates’ attention. 「せっかくキャッチーなリフレインパートがあるんだから、それサビにすりゃいいじゃん。」というぽにきの一言にハッとして今の形に着地。最初は居酒屋の入口の情景にすごくフォーカスしてたので、“暖簾ソング”って呼ばれてた。ライブに来てくれるお客さんを心地よくウェルカム出来る曲に育てたい。そんな展望。（赤飯） I had a eureka moment when Poniki told me “You made such a catchy refrain part that you can’t let it go to waste, just make it into the chorus.” Which led to the chorus we have now. I focused so much on the intro imagery of that izakaya entry scene that originally the song was just called “The Noren Song”. I wanna make this song into something that’ll be a warm welcome for people coming to concerts. That’s my future plan for now.

-Sekihan

[juanitasupreme]

rank sunmi's title tracks from favorite to least favorite

Miss Sunmi is such an iconic soloist!

Noir: this song is perfection I don’t have anything else to say

Pporappippam; PPP truly aged like fine vino. I even like it better each time I listen to it.

24 hours : we all know this song is a masterpiece. People were singing it at graduations weddings, funerals

Tail : some people didn’t like this song but I feel like it’s because it’s a little to ahead for it’s time. The ones who know know! Maybe the people needs to see the performance to understand better the artistry’s mind smh.

Gashina: we all know that Gashina is an icon, a legend! It was what you literally call a cultural reset. Sunmi wasn’t playing when she dropped this bomb.

Siren: still trying to grasp the 16 seconds of the wonder girls version this song could have been... the lala part literally being like hearing a siren ugh her mind. And fuck jyp

Heroine: the show must go on bitches

Full moon: perfect weather can’t get no better! Lena vanishing after this I hope wherever she is she is grateful to feature on a such iconic song!

Just using this space to say that the next song is far away from full moon lol

Lalalay : I still think this song was a satire. Sunmi was making fun of this trend of songs and their absurdity!

Sunmi is such an iconic artist it almost feels weird to rank this but here I come.

[demonlullaby]

A comprehensive review of my favourite k-pop releases of the first half of 2021:

January

(G)I-DLE – I burn

Title track: HWAA

Despite being released earlier in the year, I burn is still absolutely one of the most memorable albums of 2021 for me. I’ve followed (G)I-DLE since debut, but it was after Queendom and Lion era (and then Oh my god not long after) that I think they began to show their true potential, and this release is nothing short of a masterpiece. HWAA is the single I wasn’t expecting but I needed: everything from the icy but charged atmosphere, the haunting percussive vocals, Soyeon’s rap verse splitting the song in two, the simple but extremely effective choreography… It worked so well for me, and definitely made me fall even more in love with the group, and especially Minnie’s stunning vocals.

The rest of the album isn’t just a no skip – all the songs are genuinely so good and well thought out. Some are mellow and melancholic, and my personal favourites are definitely Moon (mainly because of Minnie’s vocals – I seriously need a solo album from her – but also Yuqi’s strong pre-chorus, slightly reminiscent of Senorita era). However Dahlia definitely takes the place as my favourite song on the album. Something about it is so sentimental, yet gives a feeling of strength and resilience. Minnie and Yuqi really left an impression through the whole album, and as always I can only applaud Soyeon’s immense talent in producing and songwriting; she���s really the backbone of (G)I-DLE.

Dreamcatcher – Dystopia: Road to Utopia

Title track: Odd Eye

Dreamcatcher delivers every single time and with Odd Eye once again they did not miss the mark. The song has everything I wanted: the trademark Dreamcatcher rock sound, beautiful vocals (Siyeon’s adlibs, anyone?), Dami’s unique rap verses and, of course, absolutely mind-blowing choreography. Dreamcatcher are truly insane to watch on stage, and I do think they all deserve more credit on all aspects – discography but also vocals, dancing and performing. SuA is my favourite female k-pop dancer, so you bet I have watched every single fancam of hers that is out there. It’s also incredible how everyone in the group is very strong in not just one area – main dancers can sing like main vocalists and vice versa. The album was, as expected, gorgeous. I feel like all b-sides deserve to be talked about because I loved every single one so much. Wind Blows has one of the most beautiful pre-choruses in their discography (also, if I didn’t mention it already, I was absolutely over the moon about having Handong back) and the hook is literally meant to bang your head to it. I LIVE. Poison Love is yet another example of how Dreamcatcher excel in whatever genre they decide to try; while their title tracks usually borrow a lot from rock music, their b-sides explore more synth pop, r&b and house or trap styles. Overall an extremely solid comeback, and I expected nothing else from them. They’re truly a different league.

Hyuna – I’m not cool

This was HYSTERICAL. This release was purely Hyuna in her truest, strange and always charismatic form: from the odd progression of the song to the extremely over the top aesthetic and wardrobe. I was obsessed from the start and still am. I cannot express how happy I am to see her thrive and back to making music she loves. Flower shower was kind of a letdown for me, but oh did this mini album make up for it. I wasn’t expecting such a difficult choreography from her, but Hyuna knows how to own a stage, and it really shows what a pro she is because she is always able to fill the whole place with or without back-up dancers. I feel like I’m not cool was more about telling a message – Hyuna’s flourishing and colorful identity – than it was about vocals or rap, and I really liked that. I also enjoyed the rest of the mini, although I think I’m in the minority who still prefers I’m not cool over Good girl.

Cherry Bullet – Cherry Rush

Title track: Love so sweet

This is going to be a quick, but well-deserved mention. I still don’t know too much about Cherry Bullet besides their previous title tracks, but Love so sweet was truly a breath of fresh air and one of my most replayed songs of the year. I think all cute concepts lovers are extremely grateful to them for this release, and they executed it perfectly from concept to performance.

February

Kang Daniel – Paranoia

Hearing this song for the first time was like getting a punch to the gut, and honestly I feel like I still haven’t entirely recovered. Before Paranoia I listened to Daniel pretty casually, knew some of his songs but not all of them, but this song sunk its claws in me and literally dragged me into the fandom so hey, I guess now I stan? Everything about it ticked every box. The music video was spectacular, and the song itself has an extremely haunting and dark feeling, also paired with truly gorgeous lyrics. I feel like it was a brave and personal release. It was different and raw and I could feel the deep and true emotion behind it, and relate to it as well. Still one of my absolute favourite songs of the year.

SHINee – Don’t Call Me

For some reason it feels like it’s simultaneously been ages since this release and yet also like it just dropped this morning. Just SHINee things, I guess? I was excited beyond belief to get a new full SHINee album after the boys’ much awaited return from the military, for reasons that go from musical to pure and simple affection. It was so good to see them come together again, perform on stage, talk about their music and style backstage. I think all SHAWOLs needed it – I definitely did. I know a lot of people weren’t very into DCM, but to be honest I loved it at first listen. I think SM delivered a beautiful and whimsical music video that went perfectly with SHINee’s trademark uniqueness. They’ve always been known to stray away from trends, try new and sometimes odd styles, and this is exactly what they did this time as well. Even though it was a very different track from their previous ones, it still had an unmistakable SHINee flavour to me. I was also obsessed with all of Key’s verses in the song for MONTHS. I feel like the album as a whole could have been a little more, as some tracks were played safe, but I do have to mention queen Body Rhythm, which is the sultry but classy SHINee style in a perfect 3.12 minutes of a song.

Sunmi – TAIL

OH MY GOD. I was so unbelievably excited for this release and Miss Sunmi did not disappoint. She is and probably will always be my favourite female soloist in k-pop, but even though I enjoyed both pporappippam and Lalalay a lot, I felt like something was still missing there. I believe Sunmi needed some time, after leaving JYP, to find herself and her sound again, and to me that’s exactly what she did with Tail. She has her own brand of sexy, which somehow manages to be both subtle and very in your face. I loved the storyline of the song and music video, and Sunmi’s voice is just perfect for such a sensual and mysterious concept. The choreography was also not simply complex but also extremely clever, and a true example on how to use back-up dancers to an artist’s advantage. Rather than overshadowing Sunmi, which often happens with some soloists out of sheer number, they made her shine even brighter. A special mention here goes to the stylists: they kept the theme for every stage but somehow never made it boring. And overall, it’s Sunmi’s incredible stage presence that makes her songs really come to life on stage.

DEBUT

PIXY – Wings

This debut took me completely by surprise and had me OBSESSED. I replayed the song continuously for a whole week, watched the music video several times (which I usually don’t do) and oh my, that choreography. Wings is probably in my top 10 gg choreographies now, especially including the extremely haunting intro they performed on some stages. Overall I think it was a brave and interesting choice to go for a horror concept straight from debut, and I saw a lot of potential in the girls, especially as dancers and overall performers. While I didn’t personally like their next release, I’m still definitely keeping an eye on them because of this phenomenal debut.

March

WOODZ – SET

Title track: Feel Like

I fell for Woodz hard and fast. This song has that delicious dirty r&b sound that tickles me in all the right places, mixed with some more urban influences, and I feel like sultry soul is where Woodz truly excels. I had been keeping an eye on him because I had really enjoyed Love me harder, but I didn’t know if he was going to go in a more mainstream direction after that… and he did the complete opposite. He gave slow sensual vocals, an instrumental from the GODS, a beautiful retro and almost Wild West vibe and the wardrobe was on point. The other two songs in the mini were honestly just as good, moving in the direction of an even more contemporary r&b with a gorgeous taste of synthwave and dreamwave in Rebound.

DEBUT

Purple Kiss – INTO VIOLET

Title track: Ponzona

10/10 best debut of the year and I’m not accepting other opinions. I had high expectations for Mamamoo’s juniors and they SURPASSED THEM. Purple Kiss came out with a dark and mysterious concept and a song to match, and I feel like the group is extremely balanced, which is rare to see: vocals, rap and dance all have one or more members who absolutely excel in that skill, and it makes their performances beautiful and very professional, despite just being rookies. Like all 4th generation groups there is a definite focus on performance but, for once, I felt like this time the vocals didn’t have to take the backseat for the performance to shine, and I really appreciated it. I am especially interested in seeing how Swan will develop as a vocalist, since she’s so young but already so extremely talented; I am in love with how unique her vocal tone is. The title track stole the show from the rest of the album, which was also very good but could not compete with how incredible Ponzona was. Regardless, I feel like Purple Kiss immediately established their place in the industry with their debut, and I can’t wait to see more.

Baekhyun – Bambi

Ah, what a bittersweet goodbye. And yet what an absolutely flawless one at that. Baekhyun has been my favourite k-pop male vocalist probably since the first time I heard him sing, so yeah, it’s hard to think we won’t get any more new music from him for almost two years. Bambi was, after the incredible and well-deserved success of his previous releases, a gorgeous, sleek and mature level up into pure artistry. The instrumental is stripped down to the essential and yet for that very reason it hits much harder, and the song can’t help but follow Baekhyun’s voice wherever he wishes to take it. I loved hearing him showcase both his incredible upper AND lower register, and he probably had my favourite music video of the year – minimalistic, elegant, sexy. It made me think I would really like to see a collaboration between Baekhyun and Woodz someday in the future… anyone else? I also loved the album as a whole. Something I’ve noticed with Baekhyun is that every time, even delivering amazing title tracks, the rest of the album is always still just as beautiful. Maybe I’m just too in love with the man’s voice, but to me every single track on the album was memorable and beautiful in a way that felt a lot like longing.

April

ENHYPEN – Border: Carnival

Title track: Drunk-dazed

The day this album came out, ALL I DID was listen to it over and over. The sound in all of the songs follows a very interesting and coherent story progression, and besides visuals and choreography, the music was the most fascinating part of this release for me. From the intro it felt extremely atmospheric, which was helped by the narration, and the transition into the title track was seamless. I love that ENHYPEN have a very clear and unique concept and are going against the trend that we’re seeing from most 4th generation boy groups. Drunk-dazed was a continuation to Given-taken in storyline and music, but also an upgrade, and everyone has improved so much and so quickly it genuinely left me shocked. I was especially impressed by how much more refined and controlled Jake and Sunghoon’s vocals now sound, and delighted to see that not only Niki had more lines but they even gave him a small dance break. He’s always the highlight of ENHYPEN performances for me, and I do really believe he’s going to become one of the most legendary dancers in all of k-pop. The music video was my favourite of the year in a tie with Baekhyun’s Bambi: the cinematography was sleek and movie-like, Sunghoon’s acting beautiful and never overdone, and the imagery both haunting and gorgeous, mixing cold marble and blood in a way that reminded me a bit of the music video for BS&T. The album as a whole was also one of the most memorable releases of the year. Fever allowed ENHYPEN to perform a more sensual concept, still in a youthful way that felt appropriate for them, and all the choreography was beautifully intricate. I feel like it’s a general consensus that Heeseung shone the most in Fever performances; he always gives 1000% on stage and it’s genuinely captivating to watch. While Not For Sale is not my favourite sound for them and just in general, it’s still a fun song and makes it so that, while keeping stylistic coherence, the mini appeals to a very broad audience. Mixed Up became my new n.1 ENHYPEN b-side at first listen: something about it is so passionate and determined, and gives off the same exact vibe I get from the boys’ performances: youth, hard work, fierceness.

BIBI – Life Is a Bi…

Title track: BAD SAD AND MAD

SHE BROKE ME. This album made BIBI shoot up in my list of best soloists and she landed somewhere in my very sacred top five. She has an indie and r&b vibe paired with class and extreme relatability, and I could seriously listen to her sing forever; her tone is new and unexpected, not only in sound but also in storytelling. The songs on the album felt honest, raw, truthful. Unfiltered. Umm life, the first song on the album, is also probably my favourite. It hit me in a very personal way, and I feel like I’m not the only one who saw herself in the lyrics and overall feeling of it. With this album BIBI touched on a lot of difficult and often taboo topics, and the music video for the single (literally… BDSM) was both visually tongue in cheek and, lyrics wise, sad, poetic and rich with complex imagery. I loved seeing BIBI perform on stage and I watched all of her interviews too. There is something about her absolutely unbothered attitude on and off stage that fascinates me, and the way she performs shows how deeply she really feels her music. She put out an incredible album with tracks that were all thought provoking and well-thought out.

ITZY – GUESS WHO

Title track: In the morning

Okay, look. I know everyone is out there saying the lyrics were cringy or the sound didn’t fit ITZY or whatever else, but ITM and Sorry not sorry are still some of my most played k-pop tracks of the year so, say what you like but DAMN ARE ITZY’S SONGS CATCHY. To be quite honest I didn’t know what to expect after the disappointment that was for me Not Shy, but In the Morning not only delivered, it went beyond expectations in a way I couldn’t have imagined. ITZY managed to showcase all of their strengths and also their infectious charm and energy. Every performance was new and entertaining to watch; I love Lia’s vocals, Ryujin is the real definition of center and I was also captivated by Yuna’s energy and bubbliness, but also her professionalism at such a young age. Yeji stood out the most to me and proved that, at least in my opinion, she’s without a doubt the ace of ITZY in dance, vocals, rap and more. I wish JYP would give more spotlight to Chaereyeong’s dancing, however, as I feel she hasn’t been able to fully showcase her abilities yet. The choreography was extremely strong as usual and, unlike previously, I was finally able to enjoy some of ITZY’s b-sides, particularly Sorry not sorry, KIDDING ME and SHOOT!,all of which I loved. What ITZY ultimately brings to the table is an energy that’s impossible to resist and that I think no one else in 4th generation possesses.

May

Oh my girl – Dear OHMYGIRL

Title track: Dun Dun Dance

Someone get this song out of my head, please. Seriously. This release grabbed me and catapulted me in the world of Oh my girl and hey, I’m not complaining. I was desperately waiting for a fun, summery release that did not feel like it was a rehashed version of a 2020 song, and this was IT. The song came with a very tasteful, light and romantic album which contains some of my new favourite gg b-sides, like Who comes who knows or Swan. The performances were impossible to stop watching; the girls took a concept that is known to work and has been done so many times and still managed to give it a fresh and personal feel, and I loved all of it. The choreography fit so well with the song and the group’s image, and something I particularly loved was the styling (give me all the crochet tops please) and just overall how much fun it looked like they were having on stage. Thank you Oh My Girl for officially starting the summer of 2021!

SOLO DEBUT

YUQI – A Page

Title track: Bonnie&Clyde

I can’t stress just HOW ANGRY I still am that this wasn’t promoted in Korea and was barely performed even in China. Is Bonnie&Clyde the best song of 2021? Most likely. So someone explain to me why CUBE acted like Yuqi’s solo debut wasn’t the huge deal that it was (kind of like they’re doing with Soyeon now, to be honest). I frankly do not get their decision to not capitalize on it more, because they could have made a fortune with proper promotions but, moving on. TWO SONGS AND MY ENTIRE YEAR WAS MADE, MISS YUQI DID. THAT. I don’t sing, and I learned the lyrics to both songs. I’ve never played the piano before in my life, but you can bet your ass I spent 48 hours watching tutorials and now know how to flawlessly play Bonnie&Clyde on the keyboard. Yuqi has one of the most gorgeous voices in k-pop and just pop in general, and the potential all (G)I-DLE members have is INSANE. Her concept was strong, empowering and with hints of pain and, mostly, survival and resilience. I didn’t feel a choreography was necessary and I still think it’s pretty ridiculous how some people are so mad that Bonnie&Clyde, a song made to highlight Yuqi’s vocals, had a very simple dance performance. I cannot wait for the day we get a full album from Yuqi and we can see her perform on music shows.

Taemin – ADVICE

Genuinely, I do not want to talk about this album AT ALL. I have very complicated feelings about Taemin enlisting, what his artistry has meant to me through the years and the hell this man’s voice has got me through, and I still feel almost uneasy listening to this album. Restless. Advice was a risk for Taemin. He took a step away from his style both musically and in choreography, and it felt new and a little disconcerting, but deep down still extremely Taemin. It’s undeniable that Taemin includes in his art a strong element of, to put it simply, genderfuck; he represents both genders at once and also neither (I am in full support of recognizing “Taemin” as a new official gender identity :D) While the Move-Criminal-IDEA triad is still unshakable and probably impossible to top, Advice was something that, as a long-time fan, I needed. The album was as beautiful as I’ve come to expect from all of his releases (I believe I called Strings “slow, passionate sex” and I stand by that statement) and I have too many feelings I don’t quite want to figure out whenever SAD KIDS plays. As always, SHINee and Taemin’s music is more than just music or performance to me, and the reasons are many and complicated. All I really know is that Taemin’s voice manages to shake something very deep within my soul (throwback to when I first listened to IDEA and started full-on sobbing) and I am grateful to him for being the incredible artist he is.

EVERGLOW – Last Melody

Title track: FIRST

My girls!!! I am so proud!!! I feel like no one is giving EVERGLOW nearly enough credit for the growth they’ve done both as a group and as individuals. They started with BBC as an interesting but still somewhat lacking group, full of potential; having supported them since the very first day, I feel nothing but extreme pride as I watch their FIRST stages. They all look more confident and every single one of the girls absolutely owns the stage. I feel like finally Onda’s dancing was properly showcased (and I may have watched one too many fancams of hers because ?? Have you seen those shoulders??? *fans self*) and both Mia and Sihyeon’s vocals shone beautifully. They have grown up and become incredible performers, not just capable but extremely strong. In my opinion EVERGLOW have the most intricate and exhausting choreography amongst all girl groups as of right now, and this comeback they’ve shown they really are able to stand out in the midst of the industry oversaturation that is 4th gen. My only – but very real – complaint is: who the hell is writing their b-sides and why do they always sound so mediocre? I want to have a talk with the producer who thinks it’s ok to make C- songs just because they also delivered an A+ single. Also, EVERGLOW full album when?

TXT – The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE

Title track: 0X1=LOVESONG

HELLO??? WHAT WAS THIS?????!!!???????

Look, I didn’t even listen to TXT much before this; I just casually knew their title tracks and nothing more. Then they come back with emotional rock music, absolutely insane choreography and flawless live vocals??? OK GO OFF I GUESS????? (Can you tell I’m still in shock and absolutely not over it? You probably can)

This was most definitely the release that surprised me the most; I listened to the title track when it came out just to quickly check it out, to see if it was catchy and if I wanted to add it to my playlist, and then proceeded to listen to it about 50 more times before I moved to the rest of the album, and did the same with every other song (special mention to Dear Sputnik and Frost for literally being the best k-pop b-sides in history). I learned the dance down to every detail, marveled at Taehyun’s vocals, the hypnotizing way Yeonjun moves on stage and just overall their chemistry as a group and the impressive level of individual talent everyone in TXT has. It’s very rare to find groups where all members have such outstanding vocals, dance and performance, and I’ve been in a TXT loop since this release. Officially added to my stan list. What an incredible album.

June

B.I – WATERFALL

Title track: illa illa

This was… a lot. iKON was, back in the day, one of the main groups that got me into k-pop, and B.I’s departure from the group – if you can call it that – took part of the fandom with him, including myself. So, a lot of us set to waiting. I had trust B.I would eventually come back fully as a musician. He’s always been an inspiration to me and the snippets he let us see on Soundcloud before making his comeback reminded me how much his music is able to truly touch me. And then this album dropped.

B.I is without any doubt my favourite lyricist in all of k-pop, and it is even more impressive that he has been able to produce, write and arrange for his own group, other groups and now for himself as a soloist. Some of the lyrics in this album, especially for Waterfall and illa illa, keep staying with me through my days – I’ll keep building sandcastles even though I already know they’ll eventually come crashing down – and I was able to relate to him not only as a fellow artist but also, very deeply, as a person. This album felt personal to me and many others, and Hanbin did not hold back – he never does, but especially not this time. Waterfall opens the album true to its title: it pours out angry, tired, hurt, and it just keeps pouring. It speaks of wounds not yet healed and lays down the truth that, in life, some wounds do not ever truly heal after all. Following it is illa illa, which with the first few notes already introduces a few hopeful piano keys and B.I’s equally hopeful voice. It feels tentative, like seeing an end to the darkness but being so used to it that you can’t quite believe it. It feels like accepting and maybe, finally, moving on. The album goes from deep to playful to hip-hop heavy tracks and back to r&b, and I was also very happy to see B.I and Lee Hi collaborating again, as she’s also one of my favourite artists. I needed this ray of hope.

TWICE – Taste of Love

Title track: Alcohol-free

Was I skeptical when I first heard the title? Yes. Did I fall head over heels for this song as soon as I saw Twice first perform it? Also YES. This is this year’s summer song, period. The last one/two years have been years of discovery for Twice, of maturing, finding an updated but still authentic sound that fits them, and this album feels very much like Twice but also showcases their growth. Alcohol-free is the perfect title track, and I swear once I listen to it or even just think about it then I’m stuck singing SWEET MIMOSA PINA COLADA for the rest of my week. All the stages were phenomenal, and I swear I probably died and came back to life several times while watching Nayeon perform. I love how the song highlighted Tzuyu’s vocals better than most Twice title tracks, although I am still very tentative about Jeongyeon’s return. But at the end of the day, if she’s made the decision to come back then all we can do is support her and hope she keeps getting better. This era also gave us iconic Twice interviews and shows (who gave Momo the right to be so funny, seriously?) and overall felt almost like a new beginning, finally seeing the group as a whole for an official comeback again. I also think Taste of Love has some truly excellent b-sides that capture the summer feeling perfectly, without ever feeling repetitive or basic. I especially loved how catchy Scandal is with its whispered intro, the sensual and intimate feeling of Conversation and the perfectly captured naivety of young romance in First Love.

ONEWE – Planet Nine: Alter Ego

Title track: Rain To Be

I did not expect ONEWE to release my favourite k-rock album of 2021 and surpass even DAY6, but boy am I impressed. I feel like, given the chance, they could really take Korea by storm, and I really hope RBW starts to give them decent promotions and distribute their

budget a little better. This was just overall a gorgeous album with an incredible title track. It came out almost two weeks ago but I still play it several times a day because I absolutely can’t get over it. ONEWE’s take on rock is indie and very emotional; Rain To Be feels desperate in its passion, and the vocals are so soulful and honest the song manages to feel both exciting and heartbreaking. Also the bass. Just. THE BASS. It’s a beautiful album from start to finish, and I might or might not have cried a few times while listening to COSMOS. The music video managed to be epic while keeping an incredibly simple concept, and I loved the visual of them getting slowly submerged by water as the song reached further and further heights. I really hope at least one person reads this and gives ONEWE a chance and listens to their songs, because they’re relatively new to the scene but I feel like they already have left a very memorable impression on the k-rock music scene.

To conclude this review, here are my most played k-pop tracks of the year so far:

ONEWE – Rain To Be

ITZY – In The Morning

YUQI – Bonnie&Clyde

Jessi – What Type of X

B.I – WATERFALL

ITZY – Sorry Not Sorry

Baekhyun – Bambi

Key ft. Doyoung – COOL

Hyuna – I’m Not Cool

ENHYPEN – Drunk-dazed

WheeIn – NO THANKS

PURPLE KISS – Ponzona

WOODZ – Feel Like

Kang Daniel – PARANOIA

ATEEZ – Sunrise

Henry – Thinking of You

CLC – No

SEVENTEEN – Light a Flame

Stray Kids – My Universe

WONHO – Open Mind

Sunmi – TAIL

[dimensionsunited]

SEPTEMBER 2020 DIMENSIONS ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULES & REVIEW

Members may earn 3 points each (up to 6 points) for writing, by the end of October 7 KST:

A solo para of 400+ words based on their monthly schedule (does not count toward your monthly total).

A thread of six posts (three per participant, including the starter) based on their monthly schedule.

Threads do not have to take place directly during an important date listed on the schedule, but must be related to what the muse is mentioned to be doing in the paragraph explaining their schedule/the company’s schedule for the month and/or their thoughts on the mentioned activities or lack thereof.

These schedules may be updated throughout the month if new information needs to be added.

Reminder: August schedule posts are due by the end of September 7 KST. Please do not post schedule posts in the fmdschedule tag.

OVERALL COMPANY

As has become standard at this point, all idols under the company will be permitted a short, three-day break over Chuseok unless they have individual schedules (admin note: points claims) conflicting with the vacation. It is a true break, meaning idols may travel as they wish and are capable of doing within such a short time period and, if they don’t have individual schedules, their manager will be off the clock as well.

Important dates:

September 30(-October 2): Chuseok vacation (no activities save for any individual schedules).

DIMENSIONS SOLOIST 1

As her comeback approaches at the beginning of next month, she’ll spend the beginning part of the month perfecting her performance of the song before she shoots the comeback teaser photos and films the music video in the second half of the month. Earlier in September, she’s included in the performer lineup for this year’s Waterbomb festival in Seoul with a roughly twenty-five minute set (plus “Lalalay”).

Important dates:

September 5: Performance at Waterbomb 2020 in Seoul, South Korea (also performing: BC Soloist 1).

September 18: Comeback teaser photo shoot.

September 20: “Pporappippam” M/V filming day one.

September 21: “Pporappippam” M/V filming day two.

DIMENSIONS SOLOIST 2

After holding two concert dates in Seoul last month, this month, he continues his concerts with one date each in Bangkok and in Busan. The concerts have the same set list as last month, meaning the inclusion of his next release “When You Call My Name”. He’ll be in and out of rehearsals to make sure he gives his best performance possible for each date without error, but his schedule is relatively relaxed this month before he moves into final comeback preparations next month.

Important dates:

September 5: Zero concert at BCC Hall Central Plaza Ladprao in Bangkok, Thailand.

September 29: Zero concert at Busan Cultural Center Main Hall in Busan, South Korea.

DIMENSIONS SOLOIST 3

After the whirlwind since her solo debut back in April, it’s finally time for her to hold her first series of solo concerts, only five months after her solo debut. The quick turnaround signals both her success and how much faith Dimensions seems to have in her before she’s even made a solo comeback, so all of the staff involved in pulling the six concert dates off are aware of the importance of getting her good press by giving only successful shows.

Important dates:

September 18: Very Special Day concert at Nodeul Island Live House in Seoul, South Korea.

September 19: Very Special Day concert at Nodeul Island Live House in Seoul, South Korea.

September 20: Very Special Day concert at Nodeul Island Live House in Seoul, South Korea.

September 25: Very Special Day concert at Nodeul Island Live House in Seoul, South Korea.

September 26: Very Special Day concert at Nodeul Island Live House in Seoul, South Korea.

September 27: Very Special Day concert at Nodeul Island Live House in Seoul, South Korea.

GAL.ACTIC

Ahead of their comeback next month, the members of Gal.actic must continue rehearsing their performances and they have to complete their teaser photo and music video shoots. For this comeback, Dimensions has chosen to go with a “ style film” (flashing lights tw) to show off the more conceptual nature of the comeback. With Gal.actic having passed their ninth anniversary without a first win, the A&R department wants to attempt a gradual shift in image to something better designed to retain fans than the previous strategy of getting a blaze of press at the beginning of a controversial promotion run.

Important dates:

September 22: Comeback style film (flashing lights tw) and teaser photo shoot.

September 26: “Black Swan” M/V filming.

ALIEN

The next English single from their upcoming album is released mid-month and internally, a release date for the English album is confirmed for January of next year. The official release date hasn’t been made available to fans yet, but they won’t be releasing any more standalone English singles until the album comes out. In the meantime, Alien must return to the practice studio this month to get their concert set list back in their minds since they’ll be holding the Seoul finale concerts next month.

Important dates:

September 18: Release of “Middle of the Night”.

MARS

Dimensions had forgone any overseas promotion for the release of MARS’s new Japanese single this month in order to keep the group in Seoul to concentrate on preparing for their Korean comeback. This month, they move on to the next step of the usual comeback process: learning the choreography for “Chained Up” and “Hot Enough”. They’ll be given a more in-depth explanation of the concept Dimensions is going for with this comeback as they learn the choreography to best embody the concept in the way they’re so known for. Mid-month, they’ll also go in to shoot for next month’s issue of Cosmopolitan Korea as a precursor to album promotions in November.

Important dates:

September 9: Release of “Can’t Say” Japanese single.

September 12: Photo shoot for Cosmopolitan Korea’s October issue.

7ROPHY

7ROPHY is once again focusing fully on Queendom this month to give their best performance. The show has begun airing and although the ratings aren’t huge, the show is steadily growing popular in fan communities and Dimensions sees 7ROPHY performing well as an important chance to grow their fan base. 7ROPHY’s lead vocal will be representing them in the vocal unit stage, while their leader/main dancer/lead vocal will represent them in the performance unit stage. Full details of Queendom filming for this month can be found here.

Important dates:

September 3: Episode two of Queendom airs.

September 7: Queendom episode five & six filming.

September 10: Episode three of Queendom airs. 

September 17: Episode four of Queendom airs.

September 24: Episode five of Queendom airs.

September 28: Queendoom episode seven, eight & nine filming. (unit stages, Fandora’s Box stage)

UNITY

Unity ends comeback promotions early in the month, only to immediately jump into preparations for the repackage they’ll be releasing in November. Dimensions’ hopes are high for their next release to only lead Unity to an even higher repeak, so the pressure is on. They have to go into the studio to record their next title track “Punch” along with b-sides “Nonstop” and “Make Your Day” (a unit song sung by the group’s main vocals and lead vocals). This must be completed before the CHAMPION members leave on tour again, as well as the photo shoot they have for the November issue of Dazed Korea.

Important dates:

September 4: Fan sign in Seocho, Seoul.

September 7: End of music show promotions.

September 9: Photo shoot for Dazed Korea’s November issue.

        ↳ CHAMPION

On September 25, CHAMPION once again flies out from Seoul to return to finish off their tour dates in the US. The routine is the same as before, but the members will fly out almost immediately after finishing their last concert in the states in order to return to Seoul in time for them to still have their full Chuseok break.

Important dates:

September 26: CHAMPION: We Are The Future Live concert at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA, USA.

September 27: CHAMPION: We Are The Future Live concert at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, USA.

September 28: CHAMPION: We Are The Future Live concert at SAP Center in San Jose, CA, USA.

September 29: CHAMPION: We Are The Future Live concert at ShoWare Center in Kent, WA, USA.

LUCID

Lucid may not bring home the same number of music show wins with “Navillera” as they did with “Rough”, but it’s a clear hit and well-received by the public. As promotions draw to an end mid-month, this leaves the future of their concepts in a limbo as the public has made clear what concepts they’re interested in from the group and which they’re not. Management doesn’t plan for them to come back until quarter one of next year, though, so they won’t be finding out their musical and conceptual future right away. Instead, the time between the end of promotions and their Chuseok vacation is spent making sure they don’t forget their stages to continue their LOL Asia Showcase tour next month.

Important dates:

September 5: Fan sign in Yeouido, Seoul.

September 7: Fan sign in Seocho, Seoul.

September 13: Fan sign in Mapo, Seoul.

September 14: Fan sign in Yeungdeungpo, Seoul.

September 15: Fan sign in Gangnam, Seoul.

September 17: End of music show promotions.

[12loona-archived]

[!]

LOONA’s cover performances at RUN.wav, recorded on 16th September 2019: Kim Lip, Choerry, Olivia Hye — Ariana Grande - "Greedy” Haseul, Yeojin Chuu, Go Won — Red Velvet - “Umpah Umpah” Haseul — “Quando M’en Vo” (opera solo) Vivi, Kim Lip, Choerry, Yves — Sunmi - “LALALAY” Heejin — “Slow Down” (guitar solo) Kim Lip, Chuu — Tangled OST - “I See the Light” Yves — The Weeknd - “Party Monster” (dance solo) OT12 — NCT 127 - “Cherry Bomb” and BTS - “Fire”

[high-heels-no]

Personal Top 10 hottest Idols from 2019

I don’t know if hot is the right word. In my language I would say “fesch” but they are no right translations for this in the dictionary so hot it is. This is subjective duh. For me most idols shine, when they are dance and/or performing.

10. Solji (EXID)

During “me and you” comeback she looked and sounded like an angel. She also opened her own youtube chanel so we all can hear her angelic voice more often. We are all #blessed.

9. Miryo (Brown Eyed Girls)

Getting a B.E.G comeback after four years was the best thing in 2019! They were all so talented and beautiful but I really love Miryos rap and stage presence. She was killing it! Y’all should go and watch the KBS Drama award Stage!

8. Sua (Dreamcatcher)

Sua killed it this year with her dancing and choreographies! Taki Taki is only on my playlist because of her! She is an amazing dancer and performer.

7. Seulgi (Red Velvet)

Everyone in Red Velvet has a golden voice and a beautiful face. This year Seulgi stood out to me the most. Especially with her dark lipstick and the femme fatale vibe!

6. Seungyeon (CLC)

She came for our necks with her monthly choreo vids and her dance breaks and she knows it.

5. Momo (TWICE)

Everbody who follows my blog knows I love her ... and that collab with Taemin and her dance break at the end of the year was all I could have asked for. She is a dangerous woman.

4. Solar (Mamamoo)

While last year I was all rooting for Hwasa this year Solar was my fave, especially after that “fire” performance. She has something hot and cute about her at the same time. Something cheeky. This one dance move in HIP killed me everytime (fashion). And she also had so many chances to shine vocally. My Elsa nr. 2 after Hyorin.

3. j-hope (BTS)

This man is getting more handsome every year, especially when he is on a stage performing. And black is his colour!

2. Siyeon (Dreamcatcher)

Dreamcatcher had such an amazing year. They are slowly growing in popularity and so is my love for them. This year Siyeon absolutly killed me with her EXO-Cover and her short blue hair. But I came back as a ghost to listen to their music.

1. Sunmi

I loved Noir and Lalalay so much and I love her even more. She will go down in kpop history as that one iconic bitch. No more words.

[sunmi-net]

LALALAY | Music Core 190831

[wondergirlsforever]

190901 Sunmi @ Inkigayo

[kawkawana]

Did the awesome and gorgeous Sunmi @miyayeah in one of her performances for Lalalay 🦋🦋🐥🐥Also tried some different techniques and I Love it Fiz a incrível e maravilhosa Sunmi em uma de suas performances de Lalalay 🦋🦋🐥🐥 Também tentei usar algumas técnicas novas e adorei!

[k-reviews]

REVIEW ROUNDUP: SUNMI, WOO

[SINGLE] Sunmi - Pporappippam

7.5 out of 10

The ever-eclectic Sunmi returns in 2020 adding onto her running hot streak in 2019 with ‘Noir’ and ‘Lalalay’. Where Sunmi’s earlier singles often had the charisma but lacked the songwriting, she has been able to capture both in spades with her previous two releases and once again with ‘Pporappipam’. It’s retro influences which dance between synth-pop and city-pop are blended excellently in unison with Sunmi’s consistently energetic and personable vocal performances. The magnetic pre-chorus is killer, leading into a silky smooth hook driven by rhythm guitars and Sunmi’s floaty vocals. Sunmi continues to find and reinterpret rich influences into fun pop tunes that are a cut above most. 

More Sunmi Reviews:

[Single] Siren

[Single] Gashina

[SINGLE] Woo - Used To (feat. Cifika)

7.5 out of 10

Out of no where comes a surprise single from Woo with ‘Used To’ (feat. Cifika). He strikes as someone who’s very careful with his output, given his relative lack of content compared to his labelmates, but his patience and deliberateness shows in his work. ‘Used To’ is an introspective track that is not only gorgeously produced, but also supplemented by a surprisingly catchy hook and killer feature. Woo’s flow is enigmatic as always, his darker, more subdued energy is not without precision over the lush instrumentation. Cifika’s contribution is brief but provides the track with a great sense of weightlessness in what is otherwise a rather heavy sound. Her vocal harmonies are also sprinkled throughout to great effect. Woo continues to be one of AOMG’s most interesting artists with a still imperceptible amount of potential housed within him. 

More Woo Reviews:

[Single] Taste (feat. Giriboy)

[Single] We Are (feat. Gray & Loco)