February Favorites
Favorite Song: “Interlude: Shadow” - BTS
It’s true that this interlude was released a month ago, but the full version on the new album Map of the Soul 7 is a true gem. As a longtime fan of BTS, it’s easy to get nostalgic for their earlier sound before superstardom, but it’s a relief that lovely SUGA will always be there to provide for fans reminiscent of their hip-hop roots. “Interlude: Shadow” is a beautifully composed track delivered flawlessly; the emotion within the lyrics is brought out not just in the chorus, but in the melodic shift that occurs during the final verse, where the intensity ramps up tenfold and takes on a completely different musical quality from a sentimental confession to an intimidating and inescapable dark reality. That darkness and the realistic depiction of the struggles of life are what brought BTS so far, and sometimes it feels like it’s not there in their music as much as it was before. But there’s no doubt that “Interlude: Shadow” brings that organic side of BTS back to the forefront.
Favorite Album: Dystopia: The Tree of Language - Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher’s title releases have always been executed flawlessly, but sometimes the albums themselves fall to the wayside in comparison. That definitely isn’t the case with their first full album Dystopia: The Tree of Language, a 13-track release full of exceptional songs. The girls aren’t afraid to explore different genres within the album, yet they all somehow manage to maintain a cohesive sound throughout, keeping their dark concept the main focus of the melody. Even drastically different musical tracks like “Jazz Bar” and “Daybreak” are done so well that they still fit into the overall composition of the album. It may only be February, but this is one of the best albums of the year, at least from our perspective. The group is extremely underrated, seeing as the girls have consistently put out fantastic music and boast incredibly talented vocalists.
Favorite Music Video: “Dr. Bebe” - PENTAGON
Who doesn’t love a good dark concept? PENTAGON is definitely not known for them, but they may be after their performance of “Dr. Bebe.” This track was a strong contender for favorite song of the month, but the visuals in the music video were just out of this world. Aside from having an intensely strong opening with silent shots of the members visually confused and hurt set to the sound of a ticking metronome, the initial group shot shows the members clad in all black and leather, a dark blindfold covering each of their eyes. The main light used is a blood red, accentuating the heavily dark atmosphere. Their painful emotions are highlighted by scenes of Hongseok wrapped in chains, Wooseok’s face covered by a tight sheet, Yeo One wrapped up almost like a zombie, and Kino surrounded by unrelenting hands tormenting him. The ferocity of this song is perfectly encapsulated in the music video, and those raw emotions are portrayed so openly by the horrific atmosphere that it is pure art in its own way.
Favorite Music Show Performance: “Scream” - Dreamcatcher on Show Music Core
Dreamcatcher really stole the show this February—the group could have taken the top spot in all categories. The live performance of “Scream” really takes the track to the next level. For this particular performance, the all-black outfits, combat boots, and matching skirts adorned with chains are a perfect fit for the concept. There is less focus on being sexy or cute, and more on the unique, darker concept the group is known for. The point choreography of devil horns in the chorus plus Gahyeon’s mask bit are particularly impactful, along with the girls circling Gahyeon when the second chorus hits. The performance of this track really is the icing on the cake for the comeback, and it perfectly showcases Dreamcatcher’s power not just in performance, but in vocal prowess and overall aura.