Music

Favorite Song: “Teddy Bear” - Natty

So this choice was a bit of an unexpected one given the number of big-name comebacks this month. Despite more well-known artists taking the spotlight, Natty’s “Teddy Bear” has successfully lodged itself into my brain and it’s been impossible to get it out since its release. Maybe it’s simply the catchiness of the song that makes it so infectious, but the overall playful demeanor both of the song and video is a real mood lifter in a time of difficulties. It’s just fun and mischievous, and a great addition to the heavy rotations playlist for something new and fresh.

Favorite Album: BE - BTS

As a long time fan of BTS, I feel like I’ve watched them grow and succeed right before my eyes, and I have grown with them as well. However, it’s hard to deny that sometimes it’s not pleasant to see albums released with songs produced by big-name producers and less use of their in-house team, which is fantastic. Many of us came to love BTS for their hand in their music, which isn’t something other large companies grant to their artists, and sometimes it felt like that special something was slipping away to be put in the hands of others in the industry, especially in the West. That’s why BE feels like such a gift, because it’s a reminder that BTS does have creative control over their music. BTS is very special to many of us for varying important reasons, and seeing them hit superstardom has caused some fear for the direction of the future, so I think returning to their roots of musical creation is very important. On top of that, the entire thing is fully self-produced by the seven members, which we haven’t seen in the past. A lot of critics come out for BTS solely due to their overwhelming popularity, but stop and take a listen to this soft, heartwarming album and you may find the reason why they’re held so near and dear to so many hearts.

Favorite Music Video: “Black Mamba” - aespa

aespa is no doubt the talk of the town right now, a result of the sudden release of teasers and the rather adventurous concept of virtual members, which was definitely a hit-or-miss with the general K-Pop fandom. As the first SM girl group since Red Velvet, there was a ton of pressure on aespa and some huge shoes to fill, especially with the whole world watching. “Black Mamba” as a track definitely stands out and has gained tons of recognition, but the music video is really what caught our attention this month. It’s a beautiful mix of dark and light, with shadowy shots and black and gold ensembles to represent the poisonous side of the lyrics. On the flip side, we have bright, neon colors that contrast strongly with the darker scenes that help drive home the point of confidence. The use of these intense colors in the backgrounds is particularly alluring, since more often they are presented as highlights rather than focal point colors. The strong colors really activate the primal part of the brain and get you extremely focused on the video in a way that is both hard to explain and hard to ignore. 

Favorite Music Show Performance: “Salute” - AB6IX on M!COUNTDOWN

I feel like this comeback was not as talked about as others this month, but AB6IX’s “Salute” definitely came onto my radar early. Perhaps the former band kid in me was excited by the concept of the marching band, but it is very hard to ignore the members in their drum major outfits and commanding aura on stage. The large group of background dancers helps accentuate the performance of the four members, and a lot of the choreography is sharp and rather complicated. It’s a fun performance to watch and it’s a shame the song isn’t getting more attention.

Entertainment

Favorite Drama: More Than Friends

More Than Friends has received rather mixed reviews since airing, and probably is not the most popular drama Shin Yeeun nor Ong Seongwoo have participated in. But despite any criticisms, I’ve been unable to stop watching this drama. As a fan of the friends to lovers trope, the synopsis of this drama was appealing, but it is a bit different than simply friends quietly pining for each other. The drama focuses on Kyung Wooyeon (Shin Yeeun), a calligraphist who developed feelings for her high school friend Lee Su (Ong Seongwoo), an emotionally guarded and free-spirited photographer who would often leave Korea unprovoked. As he comes and goes for a number of years, the two keep meeting and Wooyeon keeps admitting her feelings and he keeps rejecting her. This goes on for 10 years before Lee Su returns to Seoul and joins back with their high school friend group, beginning to realize his own emotional wall with Wooyeon and what his feelings have been all along. Second lead On Junsu (Kim Dongjun) develops rather obsessive feelings for Wooyeon, and the drama gets rather repetitive at one point as Lee Su and On Junsu constantly fight for Wooyeon’s affection, especially when it comes to a point where she puts her foot down and the two still continue their rivalry. What really makes this drama addicting is Lee Su’s tsundere personality, where from the beginning it is clear he has special feelings for Wooyeon, but expresses them in a way that is not clear for her. If that type of male trope is your favorite, you’ll be hooked onto him almost immediately. In addition to the main love line, there are two interesting side romances. Kim Yeonghee (Ahn Eunjin) and Shin Hyunjae (Choi Chanho) are high school sweethearts in a 10-year committed relationship that face their own challenges, bringing an interesting perspective that is not often focused on in dramas. Block B’s P.O. plays Jin Sanghyuk, the upbeat, Golden Retriever-like friend who secretly holds feelings for Han Jinjoo (Baek Soomin), a successful prosecutor who has never had success in love. The differing types of love showcased in this high school friend group is definitely intriguing, despite the faults of the writing in repetitiveness on the main romance line.