[MUSIC] Madison Beer - yes baby

 

[MUSIC] &TEAM - Deer Hunter

I'd call it Slim Team, look at those waists. Such a sultry track.

[MUSIC] aespa - Whiplash

 

This is fancy and interesting. Usually, I don't care about aespa as a group, most of their music will fly above my head since it's not my cup of tea, but I surprisingly liked this one (even if we better not talk about lyrics, just vibes and visuals).

[MUSIC] Madison Beer - 15 minutes

Madison Beer and her own cinematic universe. References to the movies are always the best.

[MUSIC] WHEE IN - coco water

[TL] Ah, ah

Ah, ah

Eh-eh-eh, journey

The weekend welcomes me with open arms

Sunlight filters through a half-drawn curtain

I fall down and down and down

Like a little paper boat

Ah, I swim along the current, yeah

While we're splashing and laughing

The heat doesn't bother us, we're oblivious

Summer nights filled with the scent of green

A breeze blowing on my hair

Let me surrender to the breeze

Take me anywhere, even if wе get lost, babe

Stomping on top of this cloud (Yeah)

Floating away, baby, can you comе through? (Through)

Smiling until my cheeks hurt, it's funny

I want to dive deeper into our summer journey

The more I drink, the thirstier I get

I'm curious about what's next, you and I

Smiling until my cheeks hurt, it's funny

I want to dive deeper into our summer journey

Oh-oh-oh

Eh-eh-eh, journey

The night deepens

Or maybe it's just in between

We’re leaving without a word, oh, yeah

Look up at the sky

The moon looks like it's about to fall

I want to fill my eyes with it

We fly along the dawn

Leaving footprints behind

The heat doesn't bother us, we're oblivious

Summer nights filled with the scent of green

A breeze blowing on my hair

Let me surrender to the breeze

Take me anywhere, even if we get lost, babe

Stomping on top of this cloud (Yeah)

Floating away, baby, can you come through? (Through)

Smiling until my cheeks hurt, it's funny

I want to dive deeper into our summer journey

The more I drink, the thirstier I get

I'm curious about what's next, you and I

Smiling until my cheeks hurt, it's funny

I want to dive deeper into our summer journey

Oh-oh-oh

[MUSIC] Billie Eilish - Chihiro

To take my love away

When I come back around, will I know what to say?

Said you won't forget my name

Not today, not tomorrow

Kinda strange, feelin' sorrow

I got change (yup), you could borrow (borrow)

When I come back around, will I know what to say?

Not today, maybe tomorrow

Open up the door, can you open up the door?

I know you said before you can't cope with any more

You told me it was war, said you'd show me what's in store

I hope it's not for sure, can you open up the door?

Did you take

My love away

From me? Me

Me

Saw your seat at the counter when I looked away

Saw you turn around, but it wasn't your face

Said, "I need to be alone now, I'm takin' a break"

How come when I returned, you were gone away?

I don't, I don't know why I called

I don't know you at all

I don't know you

Not at all

I don't, I don't know why I called

I don't know you at all

I don't know you

Did you take

My love away

From me? Me

And that's when you found me

I was waitin' in the garden

Contemplatin', beg your pardon

But there's a part of me that recognizes you

Do you feel it too?

When you told me it was serious

Were you serious? Mm

They told me they were only curious

Now it's serious, hm

Open up the door, can you open up the door?

I know you said before you can't cope with any more

You told me it was war, said you'd show me what's in store

I hope it's not for sure, can you open up the door?

Wringing my hands in my lap

And they tell me it's all been a trap

And you don't know if you'll make it back

I said, "No, don't say that"

Hm-hm

[MUSIC] Laufey - From the start

Don't you notice how

I get quiet when there's no one else around?

Me and you and awkward silence

Don't you dare look at me that way

I don't need reminders of how you don't feel the same

Oh, the burning pain

Listening to you harp on 'bout some new soulmate

"She's so perfect," blah, blah, blah

Oh, how I wish you'll wake up one day

Run to me, confess your love, at least just let me say

That when I talk to you

Oh, Cupid walks right through

And shoots an arrow through my heart

And I sound like a loon

But don't you feel it, too?

Confess I loved you from the start

What's a girl to do?

Lying on my bed staring into the bluе

Unrequited, terrifying

Lovе is driving me a bit insane

Have to get this off my chest, I'm telling you today

That when I talk to you

Oh, Cupid walks right through

And shoots an arrow through my heart

And I sound like a loon

But don't you feel it, too?

Confess I loved you from the start

Confess I loved you

Just thinking of you

I know I've loved you from the start

[Music] EVERGLOW - Zombie

 

Wow, what a cool concept. Even if the word 'zombie' appeared not once before, but I don't think there was such an MV before. With the theme of mental hospital and all girls being glued to their phones with the contact "ex" they can't reach and the simple lyrics conveying how you feel like you died emotionally after a break-up. I love that it is soft-sounding with great ad-libs. I assume the soft sound is the latest trend among gg where no one chases the high pitch.

[Music] XG - Woke up

 

Yeah

I been here waiting lookin’ at ’em

Tryna catch up take it how you wanna take it

Left the place in panic

Left to take another planet

Left to make another statement

XG baby say the names right

Spell it out so u can learn it

You can smell the tires when they turnin’

You can smell the fire when it’s burnin’

You can tell we all made it work for us

Made it but we had to work for it

Work work work so perfect

That it hurt don’t it? surf on ’em

Right away ride the wave ride away

Cause we had the right of way

Bye bye bye flying past then we fly away

Into outer-space

Drop top in a coupe outside

When I hop up out of this plane

Look at my fit right now

When I just walked outta my bed

Fix my hair and fix my make up on the way

Bound to the next stop

Bound for the great

Make ’em bow down to the X (uh)

A little more than ordinary honorary

Underestimated leavin’ all you broke

I’m the judge and jury I don’t wanna hear it

I’m the one they fearin’ keep it on the low

This is automated I’m the motivator

Told my haters “Yo more the merrier”

Y’all my entertainment fascinated

I’m just laughing cuz it’s so hilarious

Little girl with a big mouth uh

Small group with a big house yeah

Big watch on the wrist now uh

I just thought of that flow now just now

Put a little more down for the buss down

Went on tour on a bus and tore the bus down

Everything custom now

Fans rushin’ out

Security had to push me out

48 laws of power

Little girl with a big motor on a kid tho mhm

Watch me rip tho

Watch me snap like motorola flip phone mhm

I don’t wanna hit you this hard on a intro

Bring that bounce like 64

Find me in tokyo rappin’ in a skirt

Are you catchin’ my drift tho

Woke up lookin’ like this

So don’t get under my skin

Woke up lookin’ like this

Like this

Woke up lookin’ like this

So don’t get under my skin

Woke up lookin’ like this

Like this

Light flex go easy

Tag it up graffiti

Drop a pin or addy

That’s where I’ll go

Rip the show and that’s all I know

I’m super visioned

Y’all just built on superstitions

Watch me do

Everything everywhere

All at once all the time

All around the world

Woke up lookin’ like this

So don’t get under my skin

X G A L X

And that’s the name of this ship “And that’s it!”

Den mother mother wolf

So don’t make fun of my kids

We all fam and stand tall now

So don’t talk down on my kin hey

Welcome to the party

Floatin’ like it’s mardi gras yeah

You can call me HARVEY

But I’m not your barbie doll yeah

Hardy hardy ha laughin’ at ’em

While we blast away

Black on black on black

Outfits all packed away

C to the O C O

That’s me lord have mercy

Young queen but I act like an unnie

Young blood but I’m built like an OG

Gotta lift weight for the bags

Lookin’ real fit for the mags

And I’m a wolf in a pack

So I just woof and attack uh huh

Woke up lookin’ like this

So don’t get under my skin

Woke up lookin’ like this

Like this

Woke up lookin’ like this

So don’t get under my skin

Woke up lookin’ like this

Like this

~ ~ ~

When it comes to rap I think no one can compare to XG on the Asian market. Maybe there are, but I would hear about them by now somehow? (the Internet is now following what you search and what you talk about and recommends it after all). They're so young, but damn you can feel they are living and breathing it.

Of course it's understandable when it comes to forming a group that people are put together with a certain goal in mind. If you've seen some k-pop groups together you would see the disparity in overall visuals and also height. Sure everyone knows that XG is not k-pop. It's a Japanese group with Korean producer and they sing mainly in English. But probably because the performed in Korea and also even in this MC Cocona uses "unnie", you can't completely tear them off. The concept of 'xtraordinary girls' seems simple and I think it wasn't only to find talented, as mentioned they're young but they're striking. And I think they also have balls to experiment (heck Cocona shaving her head Sinead O'Connor style). 

I have no idea what type of vision their producer Simon has, so I can only assume it. I don't know why exactly he decided to go to Japan in search for talents, only assume that the Korean market might be thinned out, since Korean entertainment when it comes to idols debuted so many groups through years. Recently I always have a question about many groups - can they sing live? Those Music Bank and Inkigayo programs are not in the scope of research, since it's ibvious they use not only the original track but original vocals from the track to fill the gaps of live performance, have no idea how they call it nowadays.

Japan on the other hands loves pop, loves kawaii and sometimes many indie bands can get their own niche, but what about hip-hop and rappers? Don't mention South Korea, there are many talented rappers no doubt, but when it comes to girl groups I feel like it's just a position and the person in question might not really be too into it? Assumptions. But also some of the rap is 1) more like reading than rapping and 2) let's be honest, this has a lot to do with accent. What I like about XG is that they were ready for the international arena right away and when they sing I can understand what they sing. Even though Japanese also have a heavy accent and won't be able to pronounce 'r' and 'l' differently, even if their life depended on it. All said in good humor with no negative energy.

Back to the vision, so Simon comes to Japan, girls go through strictess draft and become a team. You can feel that they don't aim just to sing in their own corner,  after all prior to this some k-pop groups and let's mention Psy, who let everyone know that there is such energizer somewhere in South Korea, opened doors for Asian groups. It's not like they were the first ones, no, it feels like during this period the stream of groups going to international arena grew and became steady, instead of this arena waiting only for one specific artist and not giving a damn about others. It's not only groups, k-pop and k-drama hand in hand did this. Earlier I remember some aimed to make US releases, but now people became smarter maybe :) they sing their own, but still perform outside, without needing to conquer the foreign charts, their original songs aimed for domestic market can do it too. Thus in year or two XG already traveled to several countries and from concert videos you can see how welcomed they are. Although it sounds all materialistic like some business plan, but hey :D

The other part that I truly like about their rap is delivery and content. Unlike k-pop which I listen to a lot actually, a lot of rap in k-pop sounds silly to me, or flat.  It's like a bunch of random words put together. What about being cool, wearing famous brands etc. It's like look at my success and be jealous and that's it. XG might also have lyrics about success, but there is something about how they put words together, how they rhyme and deliver which makes the content feel better. I honestly feel like a pigeon that shook its' head while listening and I still do, because it's so addicting. So far I couldn't say anything bad about any of their releases. It actually feels diverse from hip-hop to ballads to something more pop and each time I always think to myself after listening to their new song - damn, they did it again :D

[Music] ARTMS - Pre1 : Birth

[TL] Take away a bitter kiss

Were you that sweet

Everything my everything

I wanna ask you one thing

Would I hold you in my heart

And close my eyes

Take me don’t lie to me

Through this long night without you

Though you fade away

You stay still

You swallow me

I can feel it deep inside

I could gather ex boyfriends

Searching for you with that handout flyer

Thank you, I’ve become your monologue

I’ve been rolling down my sleeping

I could make it better future

When I wake up tomorrow

I’m born with a fake smile

An illusion in delirium

Sheds light to my manipulated memories

Close your eyes and swear to yourself

Love me, it’s a gift

I’ll forget you, be forgotten, I’ll leave you be

I just keep lying to you, Lie lie lie

Fake it heart, fake it all

My pure face has been a lie all along

Fake it love, fake it all

What is the truth

Everything is yours

I could gather ex boyfriends

Searching for you with that handout flyer

An illusion in delirium

Sheds light to my manipulated memories

Close my eyes and swear to myself

Hate me, it’s a blessing

~ ~ ~

Props to those who wrote this and also directed such a music video. I think it's the first time I heard drum&bass in a music track in kpop and the music video with such interesting thriller/horror vibe. Deeply fascinating.

[Music] Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware - Kiss of Life

Come on, baby

Prove your love for me

Feels so good, I'm falling free

I've been patient, I've been perfect

Promise I will make it worth it

If you prove your love for me

If you only knew

(Every time I get a little taste of it, I die)

You could only see

(I'm in the moment, it's so sweet that I could cry)

Give me the kiss of life

Kiss of life

All night dancing

Free your mind

Pay attention

Keep your eyes on my lips

Sweet sugar highs

Give me the kiss of life

Come on, baby

You know what to do

Ah, yeah

Ah

Give me the kiss of life

Has anybody ever told you

Your kiss is delicious?

Give me the kiss of life

Cherry syrup on my tongue

Ah

How about a little fun?

Ah?

And make it higher, baby

And make it wilder, baby

And make it hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot

I've been patient, I've been perfect

Promise I will make it worth it

If you prove your love for me

If you only knew

(Every time I get a little taste of it, I just want a little more)

You could only see

(Don't know how you do it, but you're made for giving my heart flight)

Give me the kiss of life

Kissing

Oh

Kissing

All night

Give me the kiss of life

Kissing

Come on, baby

Kissing

All night

Give me the kiss of life

Kiss of life

All night dancing

Free your mind

Pay attention

Keep your eyes on my lips

Sweet sugar highs

Give me the kiss of life

Kiss of life

All night dancing

Free your mind

Pay attention

Keep your eyes on my lips

Sweet sugar highs

Give me the kiss of life

[MUSIC] 黃齡 Isabelle Huang 《 醉 》

I feel sorry that the MV was privated. Honestly have no idea what happened, but I still like the song, so I found the track. instead :)

~ ~ ~

Moonlight before my bed

Seems like frost on the ground

I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon

I lower my head and miss home

A light breeze kisses the branches

Teasing the heart

This love that spans dawns and dusks

Will remain unforgotten for eons

The moon is amongst the water

And my heart sways along

With each step I reminisce

Every inch forward breaking my heart

I look back on the road I came

We wander these two worlds divided

Life is like a pot of tea

Death is like a touch of incense's fragrance

The music may cease

But the sound remains

They have left

My sorrow is useless

Flowers bloom, flowers wither

Alone, like a dream, like a homecoming

I'm drunk, drunk, drunk

Alone, I sing to the liquor

I'm drunk, drunk, drunk

Alone, I sing to the liquor

Moonlight before my bed

Seems like frost on the ground

I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon

I lower my head and miss home

I look back on the road I came

We wander these two worlds divided

Life is like a pot of tea

Death is like a touch of incense's fragrance

The music may cease

But the sound remains

They have left;

My sorrow is useless

Flowers bloom, flowers wither

Alone, like a dream, like a homecoming

I'm drunk, drunk, drunk

Alone, I sing to the liquor

I'm drunk, drunk, drunk

Alone, I sing to the liquor

Ha-ah, ha-ah, ha-ah, ha-ah ha ha

That lonely reflection remains in my heart

This beautiful face has become a white-haired head

Dreams of woodwinds, misty rain, and verdant mountains

Still wander in my heart

The moon has illuminated the sky

My eyes have blurred

Whose shadow is it that soars across

The mist and clouds in the sky?

The moon is full again

I raise my cup to ask the blue heavens:

Why does the pain of longing seem to have no end?

I've closed my eyes in this empty room

This is like a dream, like a homecoming

I'm drunk, drunk, drunk

Alone, I sing to the liquor

I'm drunk, drunk, drunk

Alone, I sing to the liquor

[Music] B.I - BTBT

 

[Video] Pipa - Back to Lantern Festival in Tang Dynasty“Xulai”