December Favorites
Favorite Song: “Blaze” - Rolling Quartz
It’s finally here, the day we’ve all been waiting for: Rolling Quartz has made their official debut. If you’re unfamiliar, Rolling Quartz is the first Korean girl rock band to hit the scene, and they will fulfill all of your metal dreams. The band has released a number of covers online since their official creation and has gained a bit of attention that way, especially lead singer Jayoung. There’s still plenty of room for rock bands to be explored in the Korean space, and even more so for all girl bands, and this debut is as awesome as it is exciting. Keep your eye on these girls.
Favorite Album: BETTER - BoA
Is there anything that BoA can’t do? BETTER was the album release celebrating 20 years since her debut, an amazing feat in such a cutthroat industry, and BoA is not considered a legend for nothing—BETTER is a stellar album all around that showcases the many talents of the vocalist. While the title track “Better” definitely left a strong impression itself, it’s not followed by an underwhelming album that is often the downfall of many strong comebacks. From sexy R&B influences to classic dance pop, BoA’s latest album continues to prove why she is considered the queen of modern K-Pop.
Favorite Music Video: “Panorama” - IZ*ONE
One thing's for sure when it comes to IZ*ONE’s releases: they always bring the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing concepts to their songs. That is most certainly the case for the latest title “Panorama,” blending together elegant sets with eye-catching pastels. Each member appears in a different movie setting of all different colors coupled with gorgeous outfits. The group shots are particularly stunning, with black as the main color contrasting the colorful backgrounds and hair and makeup choices. IZ*ONE definitely knows how to deliver the best in videography.
Favorite Performance: “Dona Eis Requiem (INCEPTION + Answer)” - ATEEZ at MAMA 2020
December is awards season, so there’s a plethora of top performances to view from all of your favorite groups. Despite Covid keeping many at home, MAMA brought the best out for performances. It’s no surprise that ATEEZ went all out for this one, looking to continue their reign in superior performance. It was certainly on full display in “Dona Eis Requiem,” a double performance of “INCEPTION” and “Answer” with a bit of a twist. Any K-Pop fan would know that these performances go above and beyond expectations, but ATEEZ’s stage presence is unmatched in this powerful show.
Runner-Up: “Not By The Moon” - GOT7 at MAMA 2020
I don’t know if it’s just me, but sometimes it feels like GOT7 is overlooked amongst the K-Pop talent, especially with the explosion in popularity of Stray Kids, the most recent boy group out of JYP Entertainment. While fans have a lot to say about the differences in promotion (important to remember they are in different divisions of the company), there is no doubt that GOT7 has made a name for themselves in the industry, and the performance of “Not By the Moon” certainly solidifies that fact. The high scale production shows a more mature and elegant side to the group that is known for being particularly goofy off stage.
Favorite Drama: True Beauty
Webtoon based dramas seem to be all the rage this year, and True Beauty definitely follows that trend. The drama features Moon Gayoung as the female lead Im Jugyeong, a high school senior who has been bullied her whole life for not being conventionally attractive. On the surface it seems like a pretty shallow concept, wherein the ugly duckling discovers makeup and becomes what others call a goddess, but there is more to the story once diving in. The first episode shows what discrimination Jugyeong faces, especially in her old school, culminating in a fateful encounter with Lee Suho (Cha Eunwoo). If you were a fan of Eunwoo as Do Kyungseok in My ID is Gangnam Beauty, you’ll instantly be smitten with him as Lee Suho, as the two characters are strikingly similar. The two continue to run into each other, with Suho being the only one at Jugyeong’s new school who is aware of her bare face, and as the two interact we are introduced to the second male lead Han Seojun (Hwang Inyeop). The drama does well in mixing humor in with darker themes and is a fun watch if you need something a little less heavy. Do be warned, however, that suicide is a major theme surrounding this drama, so proceed with caution if that is triggering.