October Favorites

Music

Favorite Song: “G.B.T.B.” - VERIVERY

I’m going to try not to gush too hard since I wrote the review for this comeback, but nothing has quite hit me as hard as VERIVERY’s latest title track. The group hasn’t been on the scene for very long, but they’ve already shown they’re able to conquer a number of different genres in their title tracks; yet nothing is quite as musically experimental as “G.B.T.B.” The hard-hitting track features a number of different directions within the composition, from different bridges into the chorus to a completely unexpected EDM dance breakdown two-thirds of the way through the song. The fact that the group can conquer not just the difficult and intricate choreography that goes along with this track but also keep pace with the strong rhythm and match its intensity vocally really shows how talented these boys are and how much more recognition they deserve. This track is the only ten out of ten in reviews given in 2020 so far. 

Favorite Album:  ‘HELLO’ Chapter 3. Hello, Strange Time - CIX

One thing has become clear during CIX’s career and that’s that the group consistently releases very well-composed albums. CIX isn’t necessarily a group that comes up on my radar, but it’s hard to deny the strength of each of the mini-albums they have released since debut. ‘HELLO’ Chapter 3. Hello, Strange Time has some more experimental sounds than the group had released previously, especially showcased in their latest title “Jungle,” which has a more mellow R&B touch to it. The song is definitely infectious from the first beat drop in the chorus and the ominous declaration of “Run” at the end of the chorus elicits a feeling of fear and uncertainty the likes of which they’ve never expressed before. The other tracks on the album are less foreboding, but still possess a level of differing melodies that are noticeably different from the usual K-Pop formula. This fact, and CIX’s ability to express it properly, is what makes the album stand out so strongly against all of the high number of releases this month.

Favorite Music Video: “MIMEW” - Yezi

This comeback will likely be overshadowed by the myriad of others, though it is certainly a shame knowing that she's one of the most versatile idols on the scene. The music video for the new single “MIMEW” especially sticks out for its creative use of animation. A lot of K-Pop artists don’t utilize interactive animation in their music videos, and the added element really brings a new dimension to the song itself. Through the video we see Yezi interacting with the animations as if they exist in real life, which helps to set the stage of the song.

Favorite Music Show Performance: “Why Not?” - LOONA on Inkigayo

Whether or not you’re a fan of LOONA’s latest comeback, it’s hard to deny how mesmerizing the performance of “Why Not” truly is. Perhaps it is the sheer number of members on stage or just their ability to remain in sync, you’ll surely find yourself dazzled. This particular Inkigayo performance has the girls dressed in all-black outfits, save for Cheorry’s gold crop top. The glittery black outfits paired with combat boots make for a very glamorous yet fierce look that is beyond fashion goals, especially Chuu and Heejin’s ensembles.

Entertainment

Favorite Drama: Tale of the Nine-Tailed

Some record-breaking dramas have begun this year and it’s been hard to pinpoint just one to focus on this month. But it’s hard for any person to deny Lee Dongwook, and he proves that tenfold in his new lead role as Lee Yeon on Tale of the Nine-Tailed. Fans of his role as a grim reaper in Goblin will definitely find joy in this new drama, as the story has him playing a fabled nine-tailed fox that has been searching for his deceased love’s reincarnation for hundreds of years. 

In the story, these foxes are able to shapeshift into humans, often using this in order to gain the humans’ trust and ultimately consume them. Lee Yeon was previously a guardian mountain spirit sometime in the distant past, but falls in love with a human girl and ends up losing his position after stopping her journey down the Samdocheon River (similar to the River Styx in Greek mythology) and interfering with the circle of life. In the present day, Lee Yeon works to catch supernatural criminals that threaten humanity and presents an emotionally flat and often humorous attitude. He crosses paths with Nam Jiah (Jo Boah), a feisty and unpredictable TV producer interested in chasing the supernatural after a traumatic experience in her youth surrounding the death of her parents (though that “death” does become questionable). The drama mixes humor, romance, horror, and action all into one delightful package and Lee Dongwook as the lead star is the icing on the cake of this intriguing story.

Bonus Spooky Content: “Dracula” - T1419

T1419 is a boy group set to debut in December, but the group has released a spooky pre-debut MV for everyone to enjoy! Despite not being a debut, the video already has over five million hits. Whether it be the intricate Halloween outfits and makeup or the mesmerizing performance, it’s hard to say what exactly seems to have caught the public’s attention. But it definitely shows us that we need to keep an eye on this new group.