#MV: Shinhwa

[sexy-lee-min-woo]

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[VIDEO] 2018 Shinhwa - 20th anniversary

150+ videos - performances, presscons, MVs, other https://mega.nz/folder/HRZViAgb#lx5HX-QgnWKaKblyAczr5g

[kpopmultifan]

Legendary 1st gen boygroup Shinhwa’s 1st sub-unit SHINHWA WDJ, comprised of Minwoo, Kim Dongwan, & Jun Jin) has released the MV for “Flash,” the title track of their unit debut mini-album “Come to Life.”

1. Shape on Body [highlight clip] 2. Flash 3. Guest [highlight clip] 4. Rumble [highlight clip] 5. Tomorrow [Lyric Video]

[Apple Music/iTunes] [Spotify] [YouTube Music]

[narniacloud]

Shinhwa WDJ - BamBiNun (밤비눈) - MV

Source: Liveworks Company Official Youtube Channel

[youfufoo]

SHINHWA — 너의 곁에서, Pt. 2 Wedding March MV cut . . .

[married-2-the-music]

K-pop Discography Deep Dives: Rolling Quartz 🎸

Rolling Quartz is the fourth band I’ve covered here, and the first girl band, which is very exciting! They debuted in 2020, with five members: bassist Arem, guitarists Iree and Hyunjung, vocalist Jayoung, and drummer Yeongeun. They aren’t exactly K-pop, but instead a blend of that and k-rock. Here are my credentials: I’ve been a fan of Rolling Quartz for a while now, after being recommended their excellent cover of Dreamcatcher’s Good Night, and though I know they’re not that popular (and so this review is more for me than other people), I thought it’d be fun to do to break up the SHINHWA epic.

Blaze was their debut, and what a debut it is! Coming right out the gate with a blistering, half-minute-long guitar riff, inspirational lyrics, and Jayoung’s signature husky contralto. From this first song, they immediately stand out from the crowd: besides playing instruments, having a grungier style and music video, and dabbling more in rock, their music also feels more personal, probably due to the fact that they weren’t assembled by a company but instead formed on their own and have the power to write their own songs.

Delight starts out quieter than Blaze, though it doesn’t stay that way for long. It keeps the inspirational lyrics, with a slower, more minimalistic opening that feels like it’s holding its breath until the song explodes in rock bliss. It’s a masterclass in pulling back and rushing forward, and keeps you guessing—in a good way. This was never one of my favorites as a casual listener but I’m pleased to say this changed my mind.

Holler starts with the somewhat haunting call of “Holler, holler, holler”, befitting of the MV’s vampiric inspirations (especially Jayoung’s awesome dress), and the chant repeats again in the post-choruses as a break from the established build ups. It’s definitely reminding me of a Taemin song, with its seductive creepiness, albeit based on far more of a rocky vibe than is usual for him. Overall, I like this one more this time too!

From the EP, Fighting, I liked the crisp guitar riffs of Higher and of course their excellent cover of Dreamcatcher’s Good Night...but my favorite would have to be Azalea. Adapted from an old poem protesting the Japanese occupation of Korea, it’s the true definition of an anthemic, passionate, head-banger, and I hope one day (Hera willing) I’ll get to experience its incredibleness in concert.

One is a collaboration, and goes more of a teen-movie-soundtrack-pop-punk route; as one comment I saw said, “it sounds like it could be from a Monster High movie.” Which is absolutely not criticism, by the way; though I don’t think that One is as good as tracks like Blaze, Delight, or Azalea, it’s a fun break from the darkness and makes me want to relive my younger teenage years (though maybe not all of them, let’s be honest here).

Nazababara is their return after a while, and goes a much sunnier, brighter route, making it feel less like a political anthem and more like one for a night out for friends. I love the segments with less instrumentation in the pre-chorus so that the vocals have time to breathe, and of course the short “you got me, got me” bridge was a highlight too. It’s a short song, but a memorable one.

Sing Your Heart Out is a b-side, but it was given a music video so I’m treating it like a single. It’s harsher in sound and darker in tone than Nazababara, and more true to their usual sound. The guitar riffs are as sharp as ever, and have a great sense of build in those pre-choruses, before the chorus appears to smash everything out of the park. It definitely had me banging my head, especially during that great guitar breakdown and outro.

I’m A Loner isn’t a usual Rolling Quartz song in many ways; it’s both a collaboration with Nam Do-hyun, and an OST. But, it retains their staples of driving beats and Jayoung’s strong voice with those sharp guitars that propel it forward. I hadn’t actually heard this song before this deep dive, but I ended up liking it. I wish it had more of a cathartic end to its great build-up, but otherwise it’s pretty good.

Fearless takes a more EDM-based approach to its rock, for another banger, this time choosing something I normally dislike: an “I’m-so-cooler-than-you” song…and yet, they pull it off! That guitar solo was perfection and I couldn’t resist the urge to dance along with them as they played their instruments in the rain (which I hope they didn’t have to film more than once).

Reminiscence is their most recent single, and though it starts with a sharp snare drum, its first verses are actually a quite straightforward ballad, made unique by the ever-present power in Jayoung’s voice. But of course, since this is Rolling Quartz, it soon becomes a power ballad worthy of single status, and manages to be incredibly captivating despite its music video only being them playing their instruments in their studio, and it actually became one of my favorites of theirs. Also, I had no idea that Jayoung plays piano, so that was a fun surprise.

I’m glad I did this! I knew I would have a great time, but it was still a fun ride. I forgot how few songs Rolling Quartz actually has, but when every one of them is so high in quality, I can’t really complain. I learned a lot more about them as people too, watching some interviews and behind the scenes content and having some good laughs along the way.

My Top 5 songs are Blaze, Azalea, Nazababara, Reminiscence, and Fearless, with Sing Your Heart Out as an honorable mention. Rolling Quartz gets a 9 out of 10 from me, the same as The Rose did, which isn’t surprising at all. I don’t think that there’s a single song of theirs I don’t like, and very few that I don’t love. They’re remarkably consistent and incredibly talented, and I can’t wait to see what they do next!

Next time, we’ll finally be finishing the SHINHWA deep dive, so stay tuned. Tschüss!

[soneprincess]

my ranking of shinhwa title tracks (pre sm departure)

T.O.P- this song is so angelic idgaf. SAMPLING THE MUSIC FROM SWAN LAKE. genius. i hate sm but they don’t miss

Wedding- idk every time i listen to it, it just gets better

Only One- first shinhwa song i heard and i do not know what i would be like today if i didn’t click on that silly little mv

Hey, Come On!- listening to it right now and the bridge & last chorus IS SO ADDICTING HYESUNG DOES NOT MISS ILHSM

헤결사/Solver- their silly little debut, it got stuck in my head the first time i heard it, the chorus is so good. i love it, and i love the choreo

Perfect Man- i’m ps this is one of their most popular/recognisable songs and rightfully so but the others are so much better to me x

i was listening to most of these whilst writing this but now idek if this is accurate bcs i love all these tt’s. 1 and 6 doesn’t change tho :)

[amaranth]

ok listen it's all your dreams by shinhwa bc it gives me the right whiplash between vocal gods like jongdae etc and that extra kick and more alternative and punk rocky in between for mcr and hockey

i like it!! the mv was so dramatic i'm 100% here for that

send me a song that matches my blog's vibe

[km-kindredspirits]

How my adventures with BTS began.

Some time in 2015, I saw the Dope MV. I actually ended the MV mid way through because the song was not my cup of tea. Even now, Dope is one of my least favorite BTS songs. Please note that I don’t dislike many of BTS songs. In fact, I like majority of BTS’ songs. This includes the solo projects, especially Mono by RM. I actually have a Moonchild tattoo on my wrist, because of his song. Dope just so happens to be my BTS introductory song. After Dope, I did not pay much attention to them; but still, I saw so many comments about BTS in YT videos unrelated to BTS. I looked them up and was super confused on why this KPOP group has so many names (BTS, Bangtan Boys, Bangtan Sonyeondan, Bulletproof Boy Scouts). Aside from Dope, this ended up being the second reason why I turned away from them. I did not think much of BTS... until June 2016.

Fast forward to June of 2016, I was watching the k variety show, “We Got Married.” One of the couples during that time consisted of comedian Jo Se-ho & kpop gg Fiestar's Cao Lu. While watching one of their episodes, I saw a bunch of comments under the videos talking about how ARMYs were gonna destroy him (I am paraphrasing here, but you know how ARMYs get when BTS are mistreated). I was super confused about why the Korean Army would care about Se Ho enough to do him harm. After reading too many comments, I realized that ARMYs were BTS’ fans. Of course, all the comments were related to the infamous burger incident. I then went to watch the clip of the burger incident and was appalled by the actions of Se Ho and some of the other cast members. On the flip side, this made me interested in Jungkook. I wanted to know more about him and what made him so beloved by so many fans. 

This lead me to look up BTS MVs. One of the first MVs that popped up was actually a violin cover of Save Me by Youtuber JuNCurryAhn. After watching the cover and loving it, I knew I needed to listen to the original song. I watched the Save Me MV and was blown away by the song AND the MV. At that time, I knew NOTHING about BTS and was actually unsure which member was Jungkook. I guessed correctly but had to do a lot of comparing his visual from Save Me to the variety clip haha. Because I loved Save Me, I looked up their other MVs and the next song I listened to was I NEED U. I also really liked that song, so I moved on the RUN. After RUN, I was sold and the rest is history. I never knew that KPOP songs can be this palatable, easy on the ears, and lovely! Since that fateful day, I have never looked back.  

I actually grew up on 1st generation KPOP (H.O.T.; Shinhwa; S.E.S.; Baby VOX; Finkl; etc...), so KPOP is not new to me. In fact, as a preteen, I would watch my sister practice KPOP choreographies. After 1st gen, I stopped listening to KPOP for a long while. I knew about Big Bang and DBSK but did not care about KPOP during that time. I liked Run Devil Run by SNSD, but that was the extent of my interest in KPOP. I consumed mostly American music, although I thoroughly enjoyed Asian dramas (Taiwanese, Thai, and Korean) and listened to lots of OSTs from my favorite dramas. I still love watching dramas including American shows. 

A little more about me, I have a bit of an addictive personality. Once I like something, I tend to devote a lot of my time to it. If I like a song, I listen to it until I am tired of it. I prefer to binge watch shows versus watching new episodes each week. For example, I LOVED Vic Zhou due to Boys Before Flowers and Mars dramas, so I would look up his pictures online. At that time, Youtube was new so there was no videos of him that I can watch. To this day, Mars is still one of my favorite dramas ever. Because of my tendencies, I knew that once I go down the rabbit hole of BTS, I was never coming back out.

After watching the three BTS MVs mentioned above, I spent the next two days looking up everything I can about this group. I literally pulled allnighters because I was so intrigued by them. Side note: I am a night owl (hence the tattoo Moonchild), so this was not something difficult to do. When I learned that they use Twitter, I decided to follow them on there as well. I originally created my Twitter account in June of 2012 (June seems to be a lucky month for me), but abandoned it until my BTS era. Since then, I have not stopped loving and following BTS. They are so special and precious to me. 

Summer of ‘16 was actually the summer before I started the Masters program, so finding BTS during that summer was both a blessing and a curse. I was frequently distracted in school; however, BTS also motivated me to get through the 2 year program, so that I can get a decent paying job and buy all the merch I want! That was my driving force to get through the program LOL. This is a joke, but also not a joke :’). I did end up graduating from the program and getting a decent paying job, so I am doing okay in the merch buying department haha. 

Fast forward now to present day, I have been an ARMY for 6.5 years. If I tell people that becoming a fan of BTS is one of the best decisions of my life, some may say that that is strange or ridiculous or stupid or whatever, but it is the simple truth. BTS are not only artists, they are mentors, friends, family, leaders, trailblazers, teachers, and champions. BTS impact lives in ways that I think even they cannot fully comprehend. BTS make the impossible possible for themselves, which shows their fans that they are the makers of their own destiny.  Like RM once said, ARMY is not pushing BTS from behind, but instead, are walking with them side by side as they climb the mountain. If I can say one thing to BTS, it would be this, “I recognize that the love and trust between us is delicate and rare. I treasure this gift with tenderness and care. Your vulnerability and sincerity are fully felt by us. I have loved the adventures that we have experienced together thus far, and am so excited for all that is yet to come. I will wait patiently for the day that I meet the seven of you together again. Forever, I thank you.”

P.S. I don’t know if anyone will read this post, but if you did, thank you. I hope to learn about your journey with BTS as well.

[sexy-lee-min-woo]

[VIDEO] Dongwan - Man’s Love MV (2008)

1theK (원더케이)

[nugulover69]

Fall in Love (2018) aka Andy looks wistful for 3 and a half minutes

[kpopmultifan]

Shinhwa sub-unit Shinhwa WDJ has released the MV for their digital single “BamBiNun.”

[Apple Music/iTunes] [Spotify] [YouTube Music]

[narniacloud]

Shinhwa WDJ - Flash (Teaser 2)

Source: Liveworks Company Official Youtube Channel

____

It gets more and more interesting!

[youfufoo]

Minwoo (Shinhwa) & Bomi (M.I.L.K.) on 'Yo! (악동보고서)' MV . . .

[married-2-the-music]

K-pop Discography Deep Dives: 🌸 Fromis_9 🌸

Here are my credentials: Like…one and a half? I’d consider myself a casual fan of Fromis_9; I’ve enjoyed a good deal of their singles, I know a couple b-sides, and I’ll sing along if their songs come up on shuffle, but I really don’t know much about the members and I’m looking forward to learning more! Also, from a more logistical side, I’m just on the heels of a three week long SHINHWA deep dive, and I needed something shorter, more fun, and way less heavy.

Fromis_9, like many k-pop groups, was created through a reality show, and their name literally means “From Idol School”. They did originally have nine members: Chaeyoung, Nagyung, Jisun, Jiwon, Hayoung, Saerom, Jiheon, Seoyeon, and Gyuri, but Gyuri left after her contract expired in 2022.

So, their first song was Glass Shoes in late 2017. I heard about Glass Shoes before I heard the song itself; I’m almost always wary of managing my expectations when fans call something “the best debut in ___ years” and the like, and this was no exception. It’s one of the most k-poppy k-pop songs I’ve seen in a while, between the aegyo, the cutesiness, the pastel colors, and the schoolgirl outfits, which is often an uphill battle when it comes to my enjoyment of a song…but that actually wasn’t the case here! I wasn’t so sure at the beginning, but I loved Glass Shoes’ brightness and never-ceasing energy, and by the second chorus, I was nodding my head along.

To Heart was their official debut, as Glass Shoes was from their competition show, and begins with Gyuri playing the violin quite beautifully, before trailing into a more synthy, classic 3rd gen cutesy sound. The schoolgirl outfits have returned, unsurprisingly, but I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this one too. It’s fun and playful, and the touches of classical strings mixed with the very down-to-earth filming style and humor helped to ground it. 

From the 1st EP, To. Heart, I enjoyed the sweetness of the spoken-word intro The Way To Me, but my hidden gem was Pinocchio, for its flitting back-and-worth chorus, hints of doo-wop, and brassy instrumental.

If Glass Shoes and To. Heart felt very schoolgirl, DKDK is absolutely giving k-drama protagonists in the summer. As someone who both loves k-dramas and especially cats, I can’t deny that the music video gave me a huge smile. I like how its pre-choruses are a little lighter and fluffier before the synthy chorus takes over. Like with Gfriend, I’m much less annoyed by the cutesiness than I would be when it’s paired with other things and some good humor. Also, I’m not the biggest music video person, but I can’t deny that Fromis_9’s are pretty unique.

From the EP, To. Day, I enjoyed the sprightly distorted energy and rushing-forward chorus of Think Of You and the great layers of belting in Clover. My hidden gem was a song I’d heard of but not heard before: 22nd Century Girl, which is bubbly in the best way and utilizes synths for a roller-skate ready chorus without losing any of its youthful energy.

Love Bomb is one of the songs I know best from Fromis_9, and was my favorite of the few I knew of them for a while. It’s still very poppy and bright, but leans further into synth than their previous songs, with more minimalistic verses and a chorus that rushes forward like…well, a bomb. I like the comic book animations, the spacey backgrounds, and the stop-motion-esque dance; how an MV can be so delightful while heavily featuring dynamite is beyond me.

With a “Come on girls, get on the floor!” that leads right into the first chorus, FUN! certainly lives up to its name. It’s a little haphazard, going back and forth from rising verses to an aegyo-filled chorus that…seems to be an ad? Though I like almost all of its parts separately, together they don’t quite gel. I did enjoy the outro and watching the MV though; I was also happy to see Gyuri playing the violin again.

From the singles, From.9 and Fun Factory (respectively), I enjoyed the sleek, more mature sound of Dancing Queen and the light synths of Love Rum Pum Pum.

Feel Good is the beginning of a slight shift in Fromis_9’s sound, similar to TWICE’s maturation starting with Fancy and Feel Special. It relies on the synths always present in their songs, but with less cutesy vocals, a more toned-down brightness, and less of a pop overlay. Though I do like this one, I don’t think it quite feels like Fromis_9 and it sounds and looks like a lot of other k-pop girl groups of the time.  So, I don’t think I’d search it up, but I’m not going to throw a tantrum if it comes up on my shuffle. Also, the “nanana”’s are stuck in my head, likely as revenge.

From the EP, My Little Society, I enjoyed the “dripping, dripping, dripping” hook in Weather, the gentler vocals in Somebody To Love, and the jazz-tinged Mulgogi (Korean for “fish”, which is quite funny) with its funky guitar.

We Go is a song I’d heard before, when it came out during COVID. It has a synthy beginning as well, but feels like genuine, warm-hearted fun; exactly what was needed at the time. It’s straightforward and nothing incredible, sure, but its brightness and emphasis on optimism and friendship feels like it holds the heart of Fromis_9 in it, and had me going, “aww” at several points.

With We Go, I was reminded of something that I’d mentioned earlier; Fromis_9’s music videos are honestly some of the most unique and creative that I’ve seen in k-pop. They’re often funny, strange, and use interesting framing or setups like the excellent zoom boxes dancing in We Go or the comic book animation in Love Bomb. I don’t know how responsible the members are for their music videos, of course, but still, kudos to whoever is. I don’t think that I would love We Go as much as I do without its MV.

Talk & Talk starts where We Go left off—literally, the music videos are connected—and goes for a similarly bubbly, excited-in-love feel that takes from old video game chiptune. I loved this one’s matching 60’s / 70’s aesthetics, phone battery metaphors, and fizzy production, though I think it has a similar issue to FUN!: I like all the parts, but they don’t gel together that well. I feel like the verses should lead in to the chorus a bit more, personally, but that’s a small issue.

If the songs so far have felt like a sunny day, DM is more like a night spent out. The synths are paired with a more disco-y beat, more confident lyrics and tone, and a stronger hook at the beginning of the chorus that pulls from the gentle build-up in the pre-choruses. Though it’s still fun, it’s another step in what’s a longer maturation process that feels appropriate for a group now all in their 20’s. Also, I have to say that their voices sound great in this one!

The EP, Midnight Guest, is more on the melancholy, downtempo side than their past works, but is still strong. I enjoyed the sleek beat and strong vocal of Escape Room and the soft piano backdrop of Love Is Around.

Stay This Way returns to the sunny, summery songs from Fromis_9’s beginning, albeit in a more grown-up way that gives it a nostalgic, sun-drenched vibe with the lyrics about taking a break once in a while. It’s light and bright, and feels like a lazy afternoon at the beach. I’m (shockingly) not a fan of the random rapping in the second verse, but other than that, I quite liked this one, especially the bridge and final chorus.

From the EP, From Our Memento Box (which is much more upbeat), I enjoyed the fizzy, bright Up And Down, the lovely lyrics in Blind Letter, and surprisingly, the anti-drop lead-in to the chorus in Cheese, which normally I’d dislike.

#MeNow marks many firsts: the first full album, the first release in almost a year, and the first comeback without Gyuri, who left after Stay This Way. That’s a lot for one song, and yet #MeNow pulls it off. Beginning with a chic minimalistic sound before spiraling into a deeper, quasi-anthemic track led by a strong drumbeat, it comments on perfection and self-image while still feeling hopeful and bright and carrying the energy of a highschool sleepover. I’m not going to deny it, when they all began to climb the fence and run away together and the final chorus kicked in, I really felt something.

From the album, Unlock My World, I loved the mix of well…attitude and earnestness of Attitude, which was probably my hidden gem, but I also enjoyed the lyrics of going against expectations in Wishlist and In The Mirror, the danciness of Prom Night, the excellent disco influences in What I Want, and the warmth in My Night Routine. 

I’m glad I did this. I didn’t know much about Fromis_9 when I began this deep dive, and I’m happy to report that that’s changed, mostly from my watch of their “In The House” show, which gave me some great laughs. I enjoyed their voices more than I thought I would, and I also gained a new appreciation for how interesting and unique their music videos are. So, I can’t call myself a fan exactly, but I’m definitely excited for their next comeback! And who knows, I might become one in the future.

My Top 5 songs are Love Bomb, #menow, Pinocchio, We Go, and Stay This Way, with Attitude as an honorable mention. Fromis_9 gets an 8.25 out of 10 from me. Similarly to LOONA and Purple Kiss (albeit in a different style), I feel like the quality of their music is pretty solid and I don’t think there were any tracks I actively disliked. But there also weren’t any tracks that just grabbed me and made themselves favorites either. Don’t get me wrong, I would take their discography over a half-incredible, half-terrible one any day, but for now, there’s nothing that makes them truly stand out from such tough competition.

Remember I mentioned wanting a good discography all the way through instead of terrible and fantastic? Well…next time, we’ll be doing a pretty huge boy group, so stay tuned!

[shcjfrance]

Shinhwa Company’s Update:

[NOTICE] SHINHWA TWENTY FANPARTY ALL YOUR DREAMS

This Love STAGE CLIP

[dakbees]

Favorite debuts of all time (4/??)

↳ Block B - Freeze (2011)