July Favorites
Favorite Song: “Say yes” - Jeong Sewoon
This one is certainly a dark horse of the month, but there’s no doubting that Jeong Sewoon knocked this comeback out of the park. The soloist is primarily known for his participation in Produce 101 Season 2, but in the last few years has broken out of that mold into a different sound. “Say yes” has such an upbeat feeling that it’s hard not to smile when it’s playing. The track takes inspiration from retro rock n roll in the use of the heavy rhythm guitar that has an awesome groove. Put that together with the colorful music video and you’ve got a perfect mix for something uplifting in this otherwise dragging state that we all live in. If you need a quick pick-me-up, this song is absolutely perfect.
Honorable Mention: “Shadow Play” - PinkFantasy
As mentioned in the latest episode of The Krazecast, we’ve had our eye on PinkFantasy, and the main reason for that is the latest sub-unit comeback “Shadow Play.” The track itself has a special charm for its Egyptian-inspired concept, but dig a little deeper and it's hard to understand why PinkFantasy isn’t more popular. Contrary to the group’s name, they don’t often feature bright cutesy concepts and have more of a dark aura to them, much like we see in “Shadow Play.” Don’t miss out on this comeback!
Favorite Album: FEVER Part 1 - ATEEZ
Any month that ATEEZ has a release is going to be a great month and it’s almost guaranteed to be a great album release as well. That’s no exception with FEVER Part 1, the group’s first new era outside of the TREASURE series that they have been promoting since debut. As they had with their previous summer release one year earlier, ATEEZ called upon ATINY to decide the title track of the album, with choice given between “Inception” and “THANXX.” Upon first listen of the album, it will be almost immediately apparent that both tracks have title potential, so there really was no going wrong either way. The seven track album features a number of great summer flavors, from the breezy “Fever” kicking off the album to the hard-hitting “To The Beat” rap driven track and all the way to the sentimental “One Day At A Time,” a letter of comfort and warmth to ATINY. Anyone that has been sleeping on ATEEZ before this really should open their eyes, because there’s no denying that the group has something special.
Favorite Music Video: “Summer Breeze” - SF9
Hopes were high for the return of SF9 after the groundbreaking “Good Guy” in January, and while the track by itself may not be as strong on its own, the video is something to behold. While maintaining their sophisticated and classy aura from the previous release, “Summer Breeze” showcases the members in a more Wild West scenario, but with a modern twist. The members are split into factions and all end up meeting at a fancy bar, concealing handguns in preparation for a fight. It’s an interesting twist on the Wild West concept, adding SF9’s urban twist to the theme that culminates in a full on gun fight, much more theatrical than we’ve seen from them before. It’s so unique and so fun, we can’t help but have it on repeat.
Favorite Music Show Performance: “Yessir” - 3YE
3YE barely got cut the previous month for favorites, so it’s no surprise to see them here this month. “Yessir” is a great release that has showcased the growth of the trio since they debuted. The performance of the track is particularly eye-catching in the music video for the number of backup dancers, but the sentiment remains strong even on the music show performance. This particular M!Countdown performance has the girls in the original outfits, which are reminiscent of drum majors in marching bands that are meant to stand out as the leaders of the group. It’s fitting, given that the concept has a heavy marching band feel to it, which is quite refreshing amongst more predictable concepts.