December Favorites
Music
Favorite Song: “Obsession” - EXO
It’s technically a November release but since it came so late in the month, EXO’s “Obsession” didn’t quite get the time to make an impression last month. I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t very hyped for this comeback, mostly because my favorite members would not be participating, so I was surprised by how quickly this became a daily repeat. While the repeated robotic “I want you” phrase was somewhat annoying to begin with, it quickly becomes stuck in your head. I’ve found myself extremely drawn to the darker concept and the angry lyrics, much like I had been to the “Monster” comeback. Regardless, “Obsession” has been on repeat for over a month, and that’s probably not changing any time soon.
Favorite Album: From Midnight to Sunrise - Crush
Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with some new tracks from Crush, and the legendary R&B singer never fails to deliver. From Midnight to Sunrise is a full experience from start to finish, taking the listener through the emotional roller coaster of a day from dawn to midnight. Opening with a bluesy jazz number and exploring many different avenues in slower tempo R&B to sensual love songs to comforting lullabies, this album has all you need to get cozy and find your zen. In addition, From Midnight to Sunrise features some fan favorite artists like R&B king DEAN, DPR Live, and even a most welcome collaboration with Zion.T. Crush never fails to provide a flawless R&B album, yet From Midnight to Sunrise takes it to another level.
Favorite Music Video: “Psycho” - Red Velvet
Is it even possible to argue that Red Velvet’s “Psycho” isn’t a masterpiece? If the song itself wasn’t good enough, the music video makes the entire comeback totally flawless. Though I am often partial towards the group’s “Velvet” concepts, there is something about “Psycho” that is even more flawless than usual. Perhaps it’s the many homages to classic horror films or the powerful dark lipsticks that are almost never used in K-Pop, but either way, the videography is a force to be reckoned with. This concept came to kill, and it has definitely succeeded!
Favorite Music Show Performance - ATEEZ at MAMA
Everyone and their mother saw this one coming. Though it was the rookie group’s first appearance at the notorious MAMA awards, they delivered a flawless performance on both the red carpet and the main stage. Since they are a rookie group, it’s not a surprise that they didn’t get much time on the main stage, but the performance of remixes of “Say My Name” and “HALA HALA” on the red carpet definitely helped to supplement the group’s exposure. From the moment Hongjoong turned to face the camera with the signature ATEEZ flag in his hand, I knew this performance was going to be iconic. It was an absolute treat to get a cover of BTS’s “Blood Sweat & Tears,” Yeosang getting nearly all of the lines in SHINee’s “View,” and vocal legend Jongho absolutely destroying miss A’s “Goodbye Baby.” Of course, we can’t forget the completely unexpected shirtless reveal from Mingi during the finale (though not sure we’ve fully processed that experience yet).
Entertainment
Favorite Drama: The Tale of Nokdu
Admittedly, there hasn’t been much time for drama viewing this month, but I did take the time to dive into a drama that piqued my interest when I first saw a clip of it on social media. The Tale of Nokdu features Jang Dongyoon as Jeon Nokdu, a man who finds himself settling in a widow village in order to find out the truth behind the violent threats made to his family. Disguising himself as a female widow by the name of Lady Kim, Nokdu remains undercover in the village until he has an unfortunate encounter with lead female Dong Dongjoo (Kim Sohyun), who discovers his secret through particularly comedic circumstances. The two had previously met in Hanyang before the widow village, where Dongjoo was disguised as a male and was attempting to assassinate the king.
I’m only a few episodes in, but the plotline is already quite intriguing in the mystery regarding Nokdu’s assassins and Dongjoo’s intentions. The theme of cross-dressing is also quite interesting because in K-Dramas that I’ve seen before, there have been women dressing up as men but never men dressing up as women. I’m excited to see the romance between the two blossom and to discover the secrets that are being hidden in this intense historical drama.