Girl Group Takeover: Twice, Lovelyz & Gugudan Make Comebacks

March has definitely been (and continues to be) the month of girl groups having comebacks. Ok fine; these groups did have had theirs in late February but they've mostly been promoting in March so that's why I'm saying so as well as other girl groups actually having comebacks this month but that's for another post. Anyhow; three different groups from three different companies with different concepts and musical styles recently dropped new releases, those groups being Twice, Lovelyz and Gugudan. There were some surprises and some not-so-surprises but overall three strong comebacks from the fourth generation girl groups of K-pop.

Twice had their comeback first with "Knock Knock" from their repackaged album "Twicecoaster: Lane 2" and I was personally really excited for this release. I did end up loving "TT" a lot but somehow I wanted something a bit stronger from them and I was hoping this would be it. Although none of their releases so far have been over-the-top sugary none of them have been as fierce and powerful as their debut release which was something I missed. They've definitely been playing more on the cute side as of recent but never without going too unnaturally cute as their releases has been age appropriate, but I personally wanted them to turn to a more grown-up side of the spectrum this time around. The teaser images for this comeback definitely felt more so, especially with the styling being more sexy and not as sweet, thus I was hoping the song would be up to par.

I can't say it was exactly like I had hoped but "Knock Knock" definitely has a vibe and a drive to it that I appreciate much more than for example "Cheer Up" which is a very cute-sounding song. "Knock Knock" is more pop-rock oriented and almost sounds to me like it could be a B-side of off one of their mini albums; and I mean that in a good way as some of their B-sides have been favored by me over their title tracks. It has a great instrumental with electronica beats as well as electric guitars and the overall pulse and tempo of the song makes it a very energetic and lively sounding track.

It also has a great melody and chorus with solid vocal performances from the members, leaving me not much to complain about. It might not have as much of a memorable hook as their other promotional tracks but I find that it has a maturity that the other ones might lack. It still borders on the cutesy side of things but in very natural way which I appreciate. It never feels like they're forcing anything but are rather just being their genuine selves who happen to be smiley, playful and energetic. The MV is also a genuinely good video and I like that it's connected to the story in the video for "TT", but in a fun and not too complicated kind of way. Enough so that you have to think about it but not so much that it'll give you a headache (yes I'm looking at you BTS). JYP himself makes a cameo as well which is nothing but hilarious, adding to the light-hearted vibe of the MV. The girls are adorable and I love that their personalities get to shine through, which is one of this group's most advantageous traits.

I also love the way the choreography is made to mirror the lyrics of the song and although it's not very difficult or complex in terms of moves the formations are really clever and the girls definitely sell it well. The way that the choreography is shown is with the use of stop-motion recording which means that the moves match the beat perfectly and add a bit of a quirk to the video. Overall I've enjoyed this comeback quite a lot and I hope that this is a direction Twice will continue walking towards; a bit sassier and a bit more mature but equally as lovable.

Song: 4,1/5
MV: 4/5

About a week later Lovelyz made their awaited comeback with "WoW!", which is their first release after almost a year. Their latest comeback was with "Destiny" last year which was somewhat of a departure from their previous material as it was less cute and upbeat and more dramatic and elegant. This time however they've returned to their earlier image which is dreamier and quirkier but with a song that is strangely similar to "Destiny"; or at least parts of it. The structure of "WoW!" is a bit confusing as the main hook of the song is neither a verse nor a chorus or something in between and the verses aren't really verses but rather two lines of build-up before the actual chorus drops.

There seems to be somewhat of a retro theme in terms of the styling and the hook of the song is kind of funky as well which is a theme I can get behind, but the chorus sounds like a rip-off of "Destiny" which I don't get at all. If I wanted to listen to "Destiny" I would and I don't really see the point in using almost the exact same melody and chord structure here as it does nothing to develop Lovelyz' sound or show any kind of growth. It's sad that it clashes with the otherwise funky retro sound of the song as it kind of worsens the entire impression of the song. It's a shame because the concept does have potential.

The video for the "WoW!" is not as underwhelming as the song however, as it's a very typical Lovelyz video in the sense of it being cute, quirky and creative with an eye for detail. The colors are great as is the styling and the sets and props in addition to good camera-work and editing. The idea of portraying the members as paper-dolls is also cute and matches the concept perfectly. Despite this I don't really feel anything when watching this video. It's certainly unique and well-made but despite this it actually bores me quite a bit which also is disappointing.

I think it goes without saying that this comeback left me quite let down. I've never been extremely into this group but I've always enjoyed their singles and I really liked their last mini-album so this comeback comes as a surprise. The song isn't living up to expectations and although the concept is good it doesn't weigh up the overall underwhelming feeling of this comeback, sadly. The problem isn't that it's bad in any way because it's not, it's just that I feel like they could do much better.

Song: 3,2/5
MV: 3,5/5

Only a day after Lovelyz Jellyfish Entertaiment's first and only current girl group Gugudan had their first comeback after debuting last year with "Wonderland". I personally wasn't all that impressed with their debut as it felt extremely rushed and thus lacked quality in both song and concept, but with this comeback it seems like they've taken their time. "A Girl Like Me" is quite different from "Wonderland" in every sense of the word and I definitely think this comeback suits the group much more. They've taken it from a girly and sweet fairy-tale-like concept with bright colors to this confident and classy piece that's all about loving yourself.

"A Girl Like Me" is as a song is very different from "Wonderland" as it's less cutesy and bubblegum sticky sweet and much more powerful. It's still a pretty ordinary electronica pop track but there is a drive to it and a stronger feeling that I guess along with the overly confident lyrics makes for a song that leaves an impression on you. You should all know by now that if there's one thing that I love it's girls singing about praising and loving themselves and that's exactly what "A Girl Like Me" does.

In this song the girls sing encouraging words towards their love interest as they tell them to hurry up as they're girls who don't have time to wait for guys who can't act on their interests. Lines such as "Sorry I know we've never seen each other before but I wanna make you mine" and "This isn't a chance that you can get everyday" speak loudly about the confidence that they have and the awareness of their own self-worth which I can't get enough of. You go girls; get all them boys!

To reflect the lyrics' nature being almost borderline narcissistic the video does everything in its power to show off the girls as self-centered as possible; but in a fun way. Each of the girls have their own individual set that in one way or another showcase their exaggerated confidence, such as Mina's bedroom being covered in pictures of herself, Mimi posting countless selcas and videos on social media, Nayoung living the life of a photoshoot and Hana being surrounded by mirrors. All of them have their own little story in which their self-obsession is clearly shown and all of this in sets with great use of props and strong, bold colors.


Another aspect of this comeback that I really enjoy is that although their concept has switched from their debut one to a more sassy and fierce one they haven't suddenly changed their initial girlishness and gone all "bad girls" as one may would associate with these kind of lyrics. Said lyrics may be written to portray them as strong and independent but they're still dancing and singing in dresses and skirts in typically feminine colors, which is a combination we don't see enough of in K-pop. The styling may still be more on the cute and girly side but that doesn't mean they can't send a message of confidence and self-love and that's actually a really important message. I do hope they can continue this type of style, both musically and stylistically, as it seems to suit the girls much better and has also produced one of my favorite comebacks so far this year.

Song: 4,2/5
MV: 4/5

Video of the Week #39

Lovelyz - "WoW!" And Gugudan - "A Girl Like Me" On Dingo Music

Both groups perform live versions of their new songs on Dingo Music (reviews of said songs will be posted tomorrow by the way) and they kill it. Their live vocals are slaying left and right and I just have to say how much I love all these new girl groups.

15 Favorite B-sides Of 2016

I thought I was finished but then I remembered that I hadn't posted this list yet, so here it is! Not going to lie, this was probably the hardest list to put together out of all of them. There have been a lot of good albums this year with plenty of great b-sides. I initially tried to narrow the ranking down to my top 10 but it was actually impossible, and so I've instead managed to gather my 15 favorites with a big number of honorable mentions. Let's dive into it!

Lovelyz - Dear You

This is one of my absolute most played songs of 2016 without a question, and one of many great tracks on "A New Trilogy". It has that special J-pop-inspired bubblegum sound that Lovelyz does so great and a melody, structure and instrumental that's to die for.

Day6 - First Time

Don't get me wrong here; I do genuinely love every single track on the mini-album "Daydream" but "First Time" definitely stood out to me. Not only is it a fantastic opener to the album but the song itself is quite simply put everything I enjoy about pop-rock music.


Hyomin - Gold

Although I tremendously enjoyed the other b-sides on this album "Gold" is, in my opinion, on another level. This sounds like it could be a western song with the way the music and melody is constructed, and I mean that in the best way possible. It's incredibly beautiful.

Red Velvet - Some Love

Sadly I was quite disappointed by Red Velvet's "Russian Roulette" as a mini-album, but this song was the one and only saving grace. It's light, poppy and sweet but with a slight undertone of maturity to balance the playfulness. Again it's one of my most played songs of 2016.

Luna - Galaxy

Once again I had to choose from a mini-album full of marvelous songs, but there was no hesitation that "Galaxy" was my favorite out of all of them. Apart from the fact that it's a beautifully put-together dance track my favorite part of it is the joy it exudes, much thanks to Luna's vocals.

I.O.I - Hold On

B1A4's Jinyoung participated in writing b-sides for both of I.O.I's mini-albums, but this one must be my favorite one. The young ladies of I.O.I do a great job with the vocal work but it's the song itself that pulls me in the most; the mixture of feminine softness, maturity and emotion is wonderful.

Twice - Next Page

I was completely floored when I heard this song for the first time as it felt to me as a song with a sound that Twice hadn't really tried before. Gone were the high-pitched vocals and sticky sweetness and instead it allowed room for the members larger registers and a rockier, edgier sound.

SHINee - Don't Let Me Go

This track really is a standard SHINee-esque mid-tempo ballad and they've done quite a few songs similar to this one throughout the years, but I still can't get enough of it. The vocals are spot on as usual (I especially enjoy Key's part) and I love the emotion of the melody and chord structure.

Oh My Girl - Step By Step

Another song composed by Jinyoung, this time for his label-mates for their mini-album "Pink Ocean". It has many of the great characteristics that have made his songs so popular, but it's truly brought to life by the ladies flawless vocal performances.

Winner - Pricked

A duo by Mino and Taehyun (the later no longer being in the group and yes I am still upset about this), it's a emotional guitar-based ballad with painful lyrics heartfelt vocal performances from both of them. It pains me that now we might never see this song sung live.

Astro - Innocent Love

I was actually surprised when I heard this song since Astro's regular sound, the one they're now associated with, is always so upbeat and lively. Although this ballad is about being young and experiencing first love it's actually very mature-sounding and definitely beautiful.

GFriend - Water Flower

It was so hard to decide which song I liked the best from "LOL" because there are so many, but in the end I think the song I've listened to the most is this J-pop-sounding piece. It literally sounds like it could be the opening theme to an anime and that a fantastic one.

BTS - 2!3!

This is probably me being a sappy BTS fan but this song really speaks to me on an emotional level. There are many great b-sides on "Wings" but there's no denying that "2!3!" is the one that I hold most dear, with its lyrics directed to all BTS fans and a chorus that hits right in the heart.

NCT - Switch

This song was featured as a bonus track on NCT 127's mini-album, but it's well-known that this is the unofficial song of NCT as the performed it when they were still trainees. It does certainly hold a lot of nostalgia, but it's also a genuinely great song.

B.A.P - Ribbon In The Sky

Although I loved most songs on "Noir" it was clear from the first time I heard it that this song was the one I loved the very most. It's dark and powerful and has just the type of sound I need to hear from this group, as well as having a strong chorus not easily forgotten.

Honorable Mentions:

Taemin - Soldier

Got7 - Rewind

Seventeen - Say Yes
GFriend - Distance

BTS - 21st Century Girl

Monsta X - White sugar

I.O.I - When The Cherry Blossoms Fade

EXO - Artificial love 

SHINee - Feel Good
4Minute - Canvas
NCT 127 - Wake Up

Video(s) of the Week #32

I previously wrote a post about Oh My Girl's Seunghee and her marvelous performance of "Cheer Up", but that performance isn't the only good thing to come out of JTBC's singing program "Girl Spirit". Below you'll find some of my favorite performances of the first season (won by Spica's Bohyung) and I'm already looking forward to the next one.




One word: chills. 



Both of them are just fantastic performers.



Two vocal powerhouses and sexy Lovelyz, yes please!



The tears are flowing.



This performance hits me right in the heart.

Glorious Photoshoots - June

Welcome everyone! Summer is finally here and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy these lovely and summery June pictorials with all our favorite singers and actors. Got7's visual couple Mark and Junior team up with Céci for this colorful shoot above.

K-pop April Recap

Welcome back to another recap post; this one revolving around the releases in the month of April. There weren't actually as many comebacks as I thought it was so this post isn't going to be as long, or at least I hope so since I do have a problem of writing a bit too much at times. I will say though that this month, and the last one too really, have been dominated by newer groups. I guess with a lot of older groups either splitting up or having long breaks between comebacks the newer groups are really getting the chance to shine and snag awards on music shows.

Song(s) of the Week #61

For the next few weeks I will include more than one song in this segment simply because there are so many songs I want to include that I didn't for the 10 weeks or so I didn't post anything on here. For that reason this week there will be multiple songs from various groups and possibly a few special videos as well. So until I get back on track with my posting you'll just have to endure this messy phase, but I hope it'll be enjoyable nonetheless.

Taemin - Soldier


This song is just so beautiful, and although Taemin's vocals aren't the very best he manages to pull off this quite challenging song in a lovely way, making use of his breathy vocals to convey the emotional message. "Soldier" is definitely one of those songs you hear and instantly love, and the fact that he wrote the lyrics all by himself makes it even more touching.

Astro - Innocent Love


I decided to listen to Astro's debut mini album since I liked their debut song, but I didn't know I would stumble upon this gorgeous ballad. For me, as you know, I either love a ballad or I find it extremely boring, and this one I can't get enough of. I don't know exactly what it is about it that makes it so, but the vocals are fantastic and it has a melody that's just the right amount of emotional.

Fiestar - A Sip Of Lips


My first reaction upon hearing this song was that it sounded nothing like any other song I had heard in K-pop before, and that in a good way. I don't really know how to describe the music and style either because it's so different, but I can say that it is a very sensual and sultry track that's quite subdued, and that it has a melody and hook that instantly catches you.

Oh My Girl - One Step Two Steps


"One Step Two Steps" went from being a pre-release single to a follow-up single, and I can't say that I'm complaining about the exposure of this song because it's a really great one. Composed by labelmate Jinyoung of B1A4 (who's gaining a lot of monument right now as a songwriter and producer) it's a fresh and lively tune matched with a great choreography.

Day6 - First Time


This is the opening track of Day6's mini album "Daydream" (which I absolutely adore) and this song might be my favorite on the album. It's a great rock track in every sense of the word and I love the melody and instrumental, but above all it has that vibe and atmosphere that you feel deep within your heart and cannot be expressed in words. Sungjin's raspy vocals are top notch too.

Got7 - Rewind


There are a lot of good songs on Got7's latest mini album, but this one definitely stood out to me. "Rewind" is actually the work of member Youngjae and a few more experienced composers, but I think it's great that the members are finally getting a chance to have input into their own songs. Youngjae does shine in this song as well, and it's definitely helpful that the song is just generally awesome.

Seventeen (Seungkwan & DK) - Say Yes


What is this? Another ballad? Yes that's right, here comes another ballad in the form of "Say Yes". It's performed by this groups' two main vocalists and it's really a beautiful duet. Both of them are such good singers and it's a real pleasure hearing them sing like this. The song itself is a genuinely beautiful and emotional ballad, with a perfect amount of dynamics.

Lovelyz - Dear You


Lovelyz are really carving out a signature sound for themselves, and although not every song is going to work for me I really do appreciate that they're staying true to their own sound and style. This song however is straight up my alley and although the chorus is deeply infectious the dreamy pre-chorus is definitely what does it for me. It would be great if they could promote a song like this sometime.

Girls On Top (Produce 101) - At The Same Place


This is what I meant when I said that B1A4's Jinyoung is getting famous for his composing skills, because this song written for "Produce 101" gained a lot of attention at it's release and climbed up the charts to a peak position of 8. I absolutely love this song and cannot tell you how many times I have watched this performance, and it still enchants me every single time.


I think that's about it for this week, but for the coming weeks there will be more tracks and videos that I have been watching and listening to as of recent. Stay tuned!

8 Favorite Female Voices In K-pop

Putting together this list was actually a lot harder than the male one I did months ago, and although I'm not entirely sure why (as there are plenty of female idols with amazing voices) I do have an idea. Since I, a heterosexual female, am the one putting together these lists the boys already have an advantage because they are, well, boys. Naturally I'm more attracted to male voices in general, and while there are some female voices I knew right from the bat I wanted to include here some I had to dig deeper to find. Nonetheless I did manage to put together this compliation of female vocalists, in no particular order, and like with the male version it's in no way representative of whom I find the most skillfull (although those two overlap too of course). Additionally this list only includes idols from K-pop groups, so that means that other extremely talented vocalists might be left out because they're singers rather than idols.

Glorious Photoshoots - December Round-Up

Suzy's shoot for 1st Look might be the best one she's ever done. I'm astonished by her beauty.

Top 10 Choreographies of 2015

The "Best of 2015" series continues, and today we will tackle one of the most exciting categories in my opinion; best choreographies. The dancing is arguably on of the best parts about K-pop in general, especially when you're from a western country where the pop groups rarely dance and if they do; poorly, and even my mom who isn't much of a fan is amazed by how great everyone is at dancing. Below I have compiled my 10 favorite dance routines of the year, with some honorable mentions at the end for those who were so close to making it, but sadly didn't. Enjoy!

SNS Friday #9

Ett foto publicerat av BANG YONGGUK (@bangstergram) Dec 11, 2015 kl. 6:55 PST

With one photo Bang Yongguk has once again conquered my heart. I can't with how hot he is.

Song (And Video) of the Week #55

Lovelyz - For You



Lovelyz recently came back with a cheerful, summary single to cheer fans up in the middle of the dark winter we're currently in, and I genuinely like the song with its upbeat vibe and uplifting lyrics. Sure, it sounds eerily like an A Pink track and probably the least Lovelyz soundning comeback titel they've put out, but I like it nonetheless. The girls traveled abroad to a seemingly warmer place to shoot this video, and although it would have suited being a summer single it works well as a warm gift for their fans.

Glorious Photoshoots - November Round-Up

Kang Dong Won shoots in black and white for High Cut, and thus begins this month's photoshoot round-up which is dominated mainly by men, something that I think hasn't happened before. Either way it's always great to see the many male actors and idols participate in all kinds of gorgeous shoots.

SNS Friday #5

Ett foto publicerat av hyoyeon kim (@watasiwahyo) Nov 17, 2015 kl. 10:08 PST

Hyoyeon, Yoona and Sooyoung are #squadgoals at their concert rehearsal.

Video of the Week #14

Lovelyz - "Beat It" Acapella Cover on Sketchbook


Girl groups: YES. Girl groups harmonizing: OH YES. Girl groups harmonizing acapella: I'M DEAD AND GONE. In all honesty I love that this trend is coming back to life with several new girl groups performing acapella covers (Mamamoo being one more example), and I love that Lovelyz are showing that they do have vocal talent and aren't just a cutesy, dance-oriented group. This cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" is amazing and was recently featured on a segment on FOX 32, which is truly impressive. You go girls.

Song of the Week #52

Lovelyz - How To Be A Pretty Girl




If there's one thing Lovelyz can be applauded for it's their consistent sound. They have a certain musical and aesthetic style that's their own, and although the individual songs can be hit or miss to me it's great that they've developed an identity. One song that did stand out to me in a good way on their newest mini album "Lovelyz8" was this one. It's pretty safe and harmless, but has a unique cute and quirky charm to it. Definitely my favorite on the album.

Lovelyz Continue Down Their Sweet, Bubbly Path With "Ah-Choo"

After debuting and coming back without one original member; the girls of Lovelyz have finally returned as eight. Member Seo Jisoo was caught in a huge scandal right before the group's debut, and it still remains not entirely solved as to this day. I personally felt quite upset when the scandal erupted, as you may remember, but a lot has happened since and since the case has been so confusing I don't quite know what to believe anymore. Nonetheless it seems at least Woollim thought it was time to let Jisoo back into the group, and now they've come back with yet another cute and feminine song; "Ah-Choo".

Video of the Week #13

Lovelyz - Ah-Choo (Acoustic Version) 



Thanks to this lovely little app called V, which I think you've all heard of, we get to experience these kind of precious moments with our favorite idols. Lovelyz sat down and performed multiple songs, but this acoustic version of "Ah-Choo", with Sujeong on the guitar, was the one that stood out to me the most. The girls all sound lovely (pun intended) and their harmonies are no joke. Keep it up, girls!

The Flawless Ladies of Lovelyz Say "Hi"

I love this group I kid you not. Although their debut song was a bit too lukewarm for my taste there were so many positive aspects about Lovelyz, both as a group and as a concept. I instantly thought they gave off more J-pop vibes and that their take on cute and innocent was fresh and exciting, but what drew me in most were the members themselves. Not only were they all stunning (seriously, what a visually appealing group of ladies) but they seemed to lack a black hole, something most groups are troubled by more or less.

Glorious Photo Shoots - February Round-Up

Prince Jung Yonghwa looks ethereal for "Céci Magazine"