February Favorites
Favorite Song: “Don’t Call Me” - SHINee
From the moment this song began, we knew it was going to be legendary. As an older K-Pop stan, SHINee is definitely a staple in heavy rotations, and it’s felt like an eternity since we’ve gotten new music from the group that was hugely important in the growth of the genre. SHINee has been around so long that there’s not much they haven’t done, yet “Don’t Call Me” showed a more intense, vicious side to the group. The highlight, at least for us, is the biting rap verses from Key and Minho that just drive home the point of the track. That, of course, is not to discredit the killer vocals from Onew and Taemin. The beat is infectious from moment one and the talent of each member layered over that makes for a perfect comeback. Second generation idols are here to prove their place in the modern K-Pop market, and we’re here for it.
Favorite Album: Bucket List - BIG Naughty
We’ll admit, things have been a bit difficult recently with bad weather and the entire global situation, so some days have been harder. On days where things seem too frantic or even somewhat depressing, the first album from H1GHR Music’s rookie BIG Naughty has been a surprising comfort and escape from the grind of daily life. The album has a number of different genres, but the overarching theme is a more relaxing R&B vibe that brings the feeling of comfort and home. It’s a good album to just sit and vibe with to escape from the world for a little while. We’re excited to see more music from the budding rapper in the future, and this album is a great start.
Favorite Music Video: “PARANOIA” - Kang Daniel
The real wild card this month in terms of our favorites is Kang Daniel’s return. Watching his transformation from Korea’s sweetheart into his own expressive artist is an interesting ride, and nothing highlights that better than “PARANOIA.” The video itself is incredibly dark, showcasing the true intense nature of the song and personifying all of Daniel’s deep-seated fears. It’s interesting to see his fears come to life via heavy black outfits and use of fire, but it definitely showcases the things the soloist has been through in his career.
Favorite Drama: River Where the Moon Rises
Admittedly, the biggest draw for this drama initially was the possibility of Jisoo finally getting the main male lead he deserves after spending his entire career as the second male lead. However, this is a historical drama, so total heartbreak is not out of the realm of possibility. River Where the Moon Rises is a drama adaptation of the novel Princess Pyeonggang, which follows the folktale love story of Goguryeo Princess Pyeonggang (Kim Sohyun) and On Dal (Jisoo). The princess, known as assassin Yeom Gajin in the present day, lost her memories of childhood and as the story unfolds, begins to recover memories of both Dal and of her true nature as the princess of Goguryeo. She is a cold, emotionally distant woman who grew up as a soldier after the tragic death of her mother, and stumbles upon Dal one day out of coincidence with no recollection of their previous meeting as children. Dal is best described as a golden retriever boy, very upbeat and sweet, with an attraction to Gajin that keeps him close to her. It’s a perfect drama for fans of the emotionally distant woman and a happy-go-lucky man (a.k.a our kryptonite), and with Jisoo finally getting the lead role, we can only hope their love story doesn’t turn to tragedy and he gets the justice he deserves as a male lead character.