Throwback Thursday: K-Pop And K-Hip-Hop From A To Z (Letter “J” Edition)
Photo: Dreamcatcher Company
Nine letters of the alphabet are complete, with many more to go. Today marks the 10th letter, “J.” Finding songs that begin with the letter “J” is not as hard as many would think. Ranging from K-Pop to K-R&B and K-Hip-Hop, there are plenty of songs to revisit that begin with the letter “J.”
SHINee - “Juliette”
On May 18, 2009, SM Entertainment's iconic boy group SHINee released their second mini-album ROMEO. A striking release with six songs, ROMEO tells a love story through every song. One song that caught many people's attention is their title track and the second song on the mini-album, “Juliette.” “Juliette” is an upbeat track with a groovy retro beat that really focuses on the strong vocals of the members. The track’s captivating, electrifying instrumental will have listeners ready to pull out their best dance moves, while the members' powerful vocals add more drama to the pop track. “Juliette” is a fun song that listeners can enjoy singing along to, while also feeling the romantic undertones of the message.
DPR LIVE - “Jam & Butterfly (feat. Crush & eaJ)”
On November 27, 2020, DABIN, formerly known as DPR LIVE, released the laid-back, groovy single, “Jam & Butterfly (feat. Crush & eaJ).” An R&B track with a lush, understated instrumental, “Jam & Butterfly” is a vocal-heavy track that showcases the vocal skills of DABIN, Crush, and eaJ. What catches many listeners' attention is the difference in each artist's verse and how they use their specific genres to make each verse unique from the last. DABIN starts the song; his verses are sung in a falsetto, but he still keeps that rapper flow throughout it. When he does begin to rap, that vocal tone we know from him is back and present. Next is Crush, and his usual R&B flow and tone dominate the verse, changing the vibe of the song from the rap track we were listening to. Then it is eaJ. His rocker voice is strong, and his English verse gives the track an added rock touch. “Jam & Butterfly” is a really good song and shows us a different side of DABIN.
Dreamcatcher - “Justice”
On July 10, 2024, Dreamcatcher released their hard-hitting mini-album, [VirtuouS] - EP. A striking EP with five powerful songs, each monumental and impactful. The title track for the EP, “Justice,” is an empowering track that will make you feel like a warrior. The track drives forward on a hard rock foundation accented by EDM production elements. The electrifying beat energizes any listener, and the members' powerful vocals command attention. As you listen, you hear the track's inspirational lyrics. Lyrics like, “Justice will make me fight,” and, “Yes, I’m a warrior, fight me,” will empower any listener—a theme that is common across many of the group’s tracks. "Justice" is a forceful track that stands as one of the group's most memorable.