Showcase
Lyrics

Trot isn't exactly K-pop in my opinion since it is not popular amongst younger generations world-wide; I would consider trot as just old fashioned korean music or k-music. Regardless whether trot is k-music or k-pop, I'll cover it since it is their debut. Trot requires you to be at least 20 years old(adult or elderly) because trot are mainly songs about love, losing love, or finding a place for yourself; these are activities that adults do. "Love Score" is about love, so it gets a point for that one. Anyways, TROIKA are of the right age(over the age of 20) to sing trot; however, the physical appearance of TROIKA is a disappointment to pure trot listeners because you need to be balding and/or have a moustache. I have to take points off for that one. Modern trot requires comedy, yet hardly any comedy is in their music video; I have to take points away for that one. If you haven't noticed yet, then you must not be paying attention. I don't know how to rate trot in the slightest. Stereotypically and from my personal experience, Trot has always been played loudly in the background around drunk elderly or young adult South Koreans in either bars or Korean BBQ restaurants; the worst part was if these establishments had a karaoke machine. You'll find yourself with other South Koreans drunk off their rocking chair singing old tunes; it was completely embarrassing for everyone, but it was fun for what it was. Anyways, Troika isn't Kim YoungChul or Hong Jin Young, but they can sing trot rather professionally. They may be the future of trot. Unfortunately, trot doesn't evolve; it stays old fashioned and it is best to have it remain traditional as much as possible. Any slight deviation from its traditional roots will only degenerate or destroy the structure of trot. I could be proven wrong though. If TRIOKA can add their own style into it without breaking the structure or integrity of trot, then TROIKA might revolutionize trot. We'll wait and see. By the way, support this group or possibly drink some booze to them at least. Trot is obviously a dying genre and it needs all the support it can get.[On a side note, I can't give this song a "perfect score out of 100".]

Pre-release 3/4: Candy Crush
Pre-release 2/4: Flower Rhythm
Pre-release 1/4: Birth
BIRTH LYRICS

Candy Crush is ARTMS' third pre-release from their album <Dall>. If you listen to alot of old city pop from the 1980s/1990s like I do, then you'll find the instrumental familiar. Before accusing ARTMS of plagiarism, you have to listen to the instrumental and do a thorough analysis. It is suspiciously recognizable to an old american instrumental, which I will not name here(If you know it, then you'll notice instantly). Rest assured, the instrumental isn't a copy; it has its own style and changes, an entirely new composition. All city pop type of instrumentals have this type of pace that seem to sound identical. With that out of the way, ARTMS' R&B sound is natural, almost like they time traveled back from the past to the future and brought us a wonderful gem-like candy of a song. What a treat! Definately, ARTMS are R&B Queens, as well as visual queens while roller-skating. ARTMS is beautiful, especially with them fitted in modern street apparel. It's hilarious how most K-pop idols are all in "try-hard" or grind mode to get the attention of everyone while ARTMS, in their new music video, is simply relaxin', chillin', and having fun. They aren't competing with any other kpop idols; therefore, no one can compete with them. They are all on another level! ARTMS is just crushing on candies! It's like they confidently know who they are and don't have to pander to their viewers. I'm loving the aura that they are giving off, it is therapeutic and a breath of fresh air to listen to this track. I can't wait for their last pre-release "Air" on May 10.

<Pre2 : Flower Rhythm> is the second pre-release track of their album <Dall>. This particular EDM track is delightful for people who like doing body rolls all day. ARTMS effortlessly dances in an elegant fashion; they were mainly doing body rolls, struts, cat-walks, and swagger(there's different names for the type of dance). Confidence that they have shown in LOO∏Δ is also shown here, but multiplied by the umpteenth degree. ARTMS' delivery is blooming & their rhythm is majestic here. These girls are visual queens and their aesthetics are overwhelmingly artistic, it is like their presence brings an entire atmosphere filled with bright colors and an array of sparkles. It is as if I was transfered to another dimension of flower bliss with this awesome track. I can't wait for their next pre-releases on April 25 and May 10.

ARTMS, who are 5 members of the original LOONA(LOO∏Δ), have pre-released one out of four music videos: <Pre1 : Birth>. I've got to say that this pre-release surprised me because I did not expect them to create a haunting/horror-esque music video. Personally, I have no clue what the video is about, but I could only come up with some theory-crafting of what I think the song/music video is about. My interpretations could be entirely wrong. I love how the original members of LOONA transformed their whole image into some kind of experimental pop or acid trip hop. I'm not entirely sure of the genre; it is way different from what they previously produced. They stemmed so far away from their original material that it may be too alien for the original fans. I'm not entirely certain if their fanbase appreciates the change of LOONA. People who are expecting an ordinary kpop song will have mixed feelings about this song. Most people who are listening to kpop would frown upon this song because it is not a dance song. Unless, you are into interpretative dancing, then yes, you can dance weirdly to it. Regular people wouldn't expect kpop to sound like this and this may repulse them. However, for me, I'm open to listening to all types of music. I can't wait to hear their other 3 releases coming out on April 11, April 25, and May 10. Anyways, below I will provide my interpretation of Birth.

This track is so mysterious and open to interpretation, but I think ARTMS has the true meaning of the song. Let's first do an analysis on the images of the music video. The white lady with the one horn is the Artemis, who is the Greek Goddess of childbirth. The tinier children are nymphs, who are Artemis' entourage. The deer/stag could represent men because in many greek stories, Artemis changes men into stags/deers with her powers. However, I'm not entirely sure because this video shows the stag with one horn. The stag could be interpretated as Artemis herself. It is strange that she shoots an arrow at the deer/stag(herself). Could this imply self-deletion? I can't say that word here, but it is when you take your own life. It feels like the nymphs(children) are visiting their Artemis(mother) after she had died(implying that she took her own life)? At the end, it shows Artemis as a glowing spirit. This could mean that she is no longer on the mortal realm; the ARTMS members are still in the mortal realm without their mother, but she is still around in spirit. The lyrics say that they are in "delirium", which means a type of confusion. Are the ARTMS members confused because their mother has passed away? There are a few scenes where someone is crying. This song could be about them going to their mother's funeral, but they are confused because it feels like their mother never left them since her spirit is in the background. This music video/song is esoteric; it has a hidden meaning. There's another meaning: Birth is death. Notice how everyone is alive, but they all look like they have died inside because of an incident. Below is an analysis on the lyrics.
Take away a bitter kiss
Were you that sweet
Birth and death are described as sweet and bitter(bittersweet). Birth is sweet and death is bitter.
Everything my everything
I wanna ask you one thing
Would I hold you in my heart
And close my eyes
Basically, when you say "Everything my everything" that is refering to someone you love, but in this case since the title of this song is "Birth", they are refering to a child. Could this be an emotional attachment to a child? When you close your eyes and hold someone in you heart, that could mean an emotional attachment to someone(that someone being a child).
Take me don't lie to me
Through this long night without you
Though you fade away
You stay still
You swallow me
I can feel it deep inside
I think this whole part of the lyrics is refering to the memory of someone. Memories tend to fade and sometimes stay still. Memories also "swallow" you when you remember everything about a person.
I could gather ex boyfriends
Searching for you with that handout flyer
Thank you, I've become your monologue
I've been rolling down my sleeping
I could make it better future
When I wake up tomorrow
I'm born with a fake smile
I'm not sure what they mean by "handout flyer". Could this be a missing person? When you handout flyers, it is usually pieces of papers or pamphlets describing either some event or something either wanted for work or something that is missing. In this case, since the title is birth, it could be for a missing child or finding a missing child? The next line is "I've become your monologue"; I'm thinking this person talks to themselves. The lyrics also say "rolling down my sleeping". When you are rolling in your sleep, it means that you can't sleep. In this case, the person can't sleep because something in the future is bothering that person. Since the person couldn't sleep, they wake up with a fake smile.
An illusion in delirium
Sheds light to my manipulated memories
Close your eyes and swear to yourself
Love me, it's a gift
Basically, someone had false memories and it was revealed by the confusion. At the time of birth, usually when a child is born, they see the world in confusion since it is the first time experiencing the world for what it is. And, the "Love me, it's a gift" could be the mother telling her new-born child this?
I'll forget you, be forgotten, I'll leave you be
I just keep lying to you, Lie lie lie
Fake it heart, fake it all
My pure face has been a lie all along
Fake it love, fake it all
What is the truth
Again, I think the mother is faking their love for her new-born child. I'm only assuming this because the title is called birth.
Everything is yours
Hate me, it's a blessing
Again, I'm thinking that a mother is talking to her child. She's giving her child everything, but asks her child to hate her.

Anyways, I think I'm too far gone now. I really don't know what the lyrics mean in its truest sense. It's really up to ARTMS if they want to reveal its true meaning since I have no clue. LOL! I bet many people know what's going on, who know more about the LOONAVERSE. Since I'm not part of the fanbase, I don't know any of the details about anything. It could be related to that or it could be something entirely different. From my understanding, this whole song is about an unloving mother birthing her child in a confusing world.

Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live???

PickUs is April 2024's unexpected ball from left field, a surpise that caught me off guard; this group spontaneously announced their debut without any early notifications or teasers. To be honest, I was extremely hesitant to cover kpop idol boy group projects because they often disappointed me in the harshest way, especially a group that was hand-picked by fans; however, their debut proved my prejudice wrong. This group has the whole package: vocals, dancing, and visuals. All I have to wait for is their showcase. If we're lucky, then they may release live performances. By the way, the whole group initiate this hilarious airplane choreography near the end of their performance that made me chuckle for a moment, but I realize how creative and genius it was. Another impressive move at the end of their choreography is one of the members perfectly do a spin move; I'm not entirely certain of the terminology, but I think the ballet spin move is called an "air pirouette" or in ice skating terms, a "double axle" or "triple axle". Overall, this group is an unexpected surprise!

ROCK THANG LYRICS
DEBUT MEDIA SHOWCASE
Pre-release Music Video:
Tiot - Moonrise
Frame the Blueprint : Prelude to Possibilities
Find the Way

TIOT(TIME IS OUR TURN), formerly known as Redstart Boys at pre-debut, is a 5 member group who recently released their music video "Rock Thang". You may have noticed these kpop idols as contestants from the survival show "Boys Planet"; however, they were eliminated within the show. From their failure, they've created their own way from the ashes. I've noticed a trend of K-pop Idol Groups, especially male groups, doing this type of "Chanting Rock Hop" or "Pop Rock/Hip Hop Rock" route, where their chorus is mainly yelled. Personally, I love canticle shouts/calls. Although there is yelling chants here, you can appreciate parts of the song that either have intricate rapping or a demonstration of their beautiful vocals. Within the instrumental of Rock Thang, you may notice a trap section interwoven before the chorus; this may be a hit or miss, depending if you are open to this type of music. I'm in favor of remixes within the instrumentals involving trap like this; it has its own flavor like picking either ketchup or mustard as a condiment to your meal(or possibly mixing your condiments together). Recently, you may have noticed a group called Xikers, who released their song "We Don't Stop". If you like Xikers, then you most likely will be interested in TIOT's Rock Thang. Also, I'd like to mention that Rock Thang is replete with Kum Jun Hyeon's high notes; he has outstanding control over his vocals. Overall, I'm loving TIOT's sound. Visually, you'll find their looks charming as well. Once you see their choreography from their media showcase, you'll find yourself off your seat trying to imitate their moves. It's a fast paced dance; nevertheless, it is a fun choreography to try for yourself.

Redstart Boys was rebranded to Tiot in 2023. From what I can hear, they have the voices for creating ballads; possibly, even rock & rap ballads. They've released pre-debut tracks back in 2023 that felt like hits. These guys are multi-talented and they can already act like they are from K-Dramas. When you watch these guys, you'll get a ton of BroMance vibes. lol Anyways, this group just needs the proper advertising and promotional material online/offline, and they'll be in the hearts/minds of alot of people. I guarantee it. Now, if they don't get the recognition, then there's no possible future for them in the kpop industry. Again, I'd like to repeat that this group is multi-talented, but all they need is exposure to the populace. People will love them right away.

Lyrics
MusicCore Showcase
Korean Sign Language Version

Big O!cean is breaking boundaries and setting a new category of genre called "S-pop," which stands for sign language pop. The very first of its kind, Big O!cean is a hearing-impaired kpop idol group, who are bringing awareness towards disabled individuals world-wide. KSL(Korean Sign Language), ASL(American Sign Language), and ISL(International Sign Language) are used by the group. This group can introduce a new type of choreography that incorporates different forms of sign language. It would be interesting to see more members added to the group or freshly created kpop groups in this new genre. Imagine a group using sign language while rapping and doing dance choreography. It would be beyond talent and entertaining! They've created a whole new bar of creativity and artistry alongside being a kpop idol group. The possibilities are endless now that we've been introduced to such a group like Big O!cean. If you're looking for a developing trend or movement, then Big O!cean has something new on the table.

Pre-debut NXD - Jump
ONEUS Opening Showcase

RBW(RainbowBridgeWorld) just released their 5 member kpop idol group: NXD(NeXt iDentity). On April 18, NXD released their pre-debut special kit "Jump". From what I've heard so far, they sing great. I can only assume that alot of younger people, their target demographic, is enjoying this song. After listening to their track "Jump" multiple times, I found their chorus annoying. It is a hype song at first impression; however, a repetitive listen to this song will make you want to "jump" off the top of a 10 story building. Overall, it is a "one listen and drop" song, nothing more, nothing less. Unfortunately, I'm unable to make a decent judgement on their dancing capabilities since the song doesn't accommodate for complex movements/dances; their dancing is mainly to cater and capture the attention of younger audiences, not to impress an older/dying generation. Although I've expressed a dislike to the song, I'm inclined to wait for future releases because their vocals are impressive.

Lyrics
Sing! & Shine Debut Showcase
Live Singing

Watch Out! Look no further and set your eyes on a modern day Apink. Although they may have the vibe of Apink, their sound has a bit of WeGirls(Afternoon Entertainment). This group is like an Apink and WeGirls combination. From my imagination, I can picture these girls doing well in Christmas/Holiday themed types of songs/carols because of their vocals(they have soothing voices like Apink). The choreography is amazing, especially when they move their arms like the pattern of waves, which is displayed around at the end of the song; it is not a coincidence that their group name has "wave" in it. I'm personally not fond of choreography that has the dancer lying down on the ground, but they make it look fun; in reality, the ground may have dirt or stones that can either damage delicate clothing or sharp enough to penetrate the skin of dancers. It's just a pet-peeve of mine to avoid ground dancing, especially since Bewave looks like they wear expensive outfits.

SHOWCASE
Lyrics

Be dazzled by Unicode's full line-up of japanese born kpop idols. The music video displays simple, cute, and stunning visuals. You'll find the song quite pleasant to the ear and not overwhelming; all kpop songs don't have to be sporadic and overly zealous. It keeps the kpop genre diverse with different flavors for different days. This is the type of music that you listen to while waiting for your clothes at a laundry mat. The vocals and instrumental are mesmerizing and addictive with its synthwave/retro/chill 90's sound. I especially loved listening to the last portion of the song, which was a chef's kiss all unto itself.

LIVE SHOWCASE
Lyrics

NCHIVE's showcase was a disaster! Standing cluelessly like deer in front of headlights, Yu Chan & HA.L decided not to initiate their dance moves at the introduction of their song. Not only did they both look like imbeciles, but the rest of the members were like "what the f*ck." Anyways, this is a mistake that I've seen plenty of times, and I can just shrug off the memory of their mishaps like nothing happened; however, since debuts are first impressions, critical fans may not "stan" them for making such an error. There are alot of unforgiving fans who will cherry pick mistakes and simply leave their fanbase; it could be minor mistakes that would displease and repel newly entering fans. I, however, will look past these mistakes and see the long road ahead. Although there was a huge flub in the beginning, I found the music video rather satisfactory. Everyone is basically a visual from what I've seen. The créme de la créme is their instrumental, it's nice to vibe out to. I would have given NCHIVE a high score, but I have to be fair, especially if members forget what dance moves to perform to their own song; mind you, they're not dancing to someone else's song. As a side note, one of their members, Min Jun, was injured prior to their debut, which makes their debut possibly less impactful then it should have been. It's unfortunate that the absence of a member could be a reason their debut showcase didn't do as well. With praise, I'd still recommend this group. Min Jun(the missing member) could be a wild card. We'd have to wait and see.

Media Showcase
Halla Lyrics

Triple IZ consists of members from Secret Number, ICHILLIN', & X:IN. Truly, I don't know why they would make this project group when they each already have an established group to mend & tend to; unless, of course, it could be that the members of their groups are on hiatus or there's some unresolved internal conflicts. It is what it is, I suppose. I stumbled on this song while I was scrolling around the internet; it came out of no where. It's a melodic song with suave lyrics. Hopefully, you won't be upset on what I'm about to say, but this song sounds almost identical to what Kard has produced(I'm not pointing any fingers or anything, but just listen to any Kard song and you'll realize the similarities). It is recommended that songs like this include a wide range of vocals, especially deeper voices, which complement with higher pitched vocals. Kard has already created pleasantly sounding music like this. I'm not trying to instigate any war between Triple IZ and Kard; I just find that Kard does this genre of music best because they have a diversity of voices that complements each other. The choreography is quite charming to observe for older audiences, but the movements may not cater to younger generations(the dancing may be too sensual). There seems to be people on the internet calling this group "NUGU"; I don't necessarily agree with that. For people who don't know, "NUGU" is usually an insult or a jokingly term towards a kpop group/idol who are unknown. Dita(Secret Number), E.Ji(ICHILLIN'), Aria(X:IN) aren't really talked about in the kpop scene because most fans usually pick their idols out of popularity. There's a "bandwagon effect" in play when it comes to fanbases of kpop idol groups; when groups of people have chosen their biases, then others will jump to the trend, ignoring the less popular idols. It's just the way things are in the kpop industry; the chosen idol may not be talented what-so-ever, but people just pick them because they are either controversial, did something trendy on social media, extremely beautiful, funny, or other reasons. Anyways, Dita, E.Ji, and Aria aren't popular, but they are talented. Popularity just happens like a roll of a dice. Anyways, this debut was a good listen, but it doesn't do the genre any justice like what Kard has done. Although I'm a bit of a Kard bias/fan, I did my best to give this song a fair shake.

Pre-debut Single:
3Way Project - On My Way
Lyrics

3 Way(World Wide Wonder) Project is a 6 member boy group. In my honest opinion, this group feels like a carbon copy and paste boy group, a mediocre duplicate of The Boyz from 2021 & reminiscent of X1(Swing Entertainment). Equivalent dancing & singing to a conveyor belt robots, 3 Way feels procedurally generated and bland, almost like watching open heart surgery, but without the blood. It is like this group went up stairs from their biochemistry class and did their after school project on the roof. I'm a sucker for beginning groups, so I will give them the benefit of doubt. There's a slim chance that they can turn their debut to something grand, so I will not count these boys out just yet. I'll be waiting for their debut, but I am not losing any sleep for it.

Lyrics
Showcase 1
Showcase 2

Nowadays is quite a funny name because that's what old geezers say when they've had a fun childhood and a boring adulthood. It would be funny if there is a group called "Backindadays"; this group would be a counter group to Nowadays. Anyways, this 5 member group is quite handsome; however, Yoon is presented to look like a meanie on their profile teasers(he was carrying around a fake assault rifle & bores a hole in a mannequin). Why would a label put one of their kpop idols in such a negative light? It has me scratching my head about that. Cube Entertainment made alot of heavy hitters such as 4minute, CLC, Beast, BTOB, etc. Like I said before, Cube Entertainment does strange things to their kpop idols that has me scratching my head. Anyways, I bet they intentionally do this because they want negative attention(negative attention is still currency). I think CUBE Entertainment know what they are doing; they've been in the kpop industry for a long period of time. The whole song is fun, fast-paced, and it should have all the youngsters trying out the choreography. At the end of the song, the choreography ends abruptly with a jump, which appears poorly choreographed and lackluster. The chorus of the song has a interesting part; it is when one of the members say "Where ever your heart goes oh". I particularly found this part of the song catchy. Obviously, the music video is of high quality and budget. Cube Entertainment seems to have an unlimited budget for music videos. I love that there is a story within the music video. While Nowadays, the "Anti-love Squad," are portrayed as the heroes, a blue cupid is portrayed as the criminal. They are chasing around the blue cupid; they are also collecting evidence of the blue cupid's criminal activity. Quite the story that they have going on in this music video. As a note, Cube Entertainment has been relying on (G)I-DLE's success for such a long time. Will Nowadays activity lift the heavy burden off (G)I-DLE's shoulders for even a few seconds? Cube Entertainment hasn't had a killer line-up, only (G)I-DLE has been carrying this company since the disbandment of 4Minute. I might be stepping on people's toes here, so I will stop. This was a great debut; I hope to see more of this group in the future. Is there a chance that this group will be a heavy hitter like all the predecessors? Time will tell.

Lyrics
LIVE DANCE PERFORMANCE

SPIA is a 5 member girl group, who was formerly known as Campus Girls. After their Pre-debut, two members left, but they ended up getting 2 more in their place. Cinematography on their music video was high budget, crisp, and expertly done; there was no bad shots at all from what I have observed. The instrumental is epic and fits well with this somewhat of a girl crush concept. The cosmetic artist, stylist, or make-up artist is a master at their talent. From looking at their teaser/trailer videos, the whole 5 member group was entirely innocent looking. Once the debut dropped, everyone ended up becoming too sechsy. It was unbelievable how well their hair was done and make-up. Big kudos to their fashion stylist or whoever picked out their outfits. Everything was masterfully done, this also includes the video editor, who put together all the footage. My favorite part of the choreography is when they aim their fake pistols to the sky and say "oOoOo"; that "oOoOo" is catchy; however, I found the rest of their choreography plain(that's just me being picky though). Overall, I wish SPIA success. Actually, they don't need my wishes; they've already produced a fine piece of art.

Lyrics
Inkigayo Showcase
Performance
LIVE CONCERT

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about this group. Babymonster is dominating the kpop scene without even debuting yet. Now that their 7th member, Ahyeon, is back, they are finally debuting. There's really no competition; they are in fact a sister group of BlackPink, so they are working with alot of experienced staff plus more. YG Entertainment is on the top right now; set aside all those scandals, which I will not get into, they are reigning supreme in the kpop arena. The only competition that I see are older generations doing a massive comeback such as Everglow, a group under a Chinese label, but they aren't as active or hyped as they previously were.

Edit: There seems to be a disagreement amongst the kpop community(knetizens and netizens) that "Batter Up" is their official debut. "Batter Up" is the OT6 debut, a debut with 6 members. "Sheesh" is the OT7 debut with all 7 of the members; "Sheesh" is their official debut.

Lyrics
Showcase

At first listen to the audio, I was taken back to the past. I knew in the back of my mind that I listened to this before or something similar. What I did next was to research a little bit more about this group. It hit me like a bag of bricks. They're under Brave Entertainment! It has the same sound as Brave Girls - Deepened and other Brave Entertainment produced songs. No wonder I was reminiscing about the past. Is this group like a Modern Day Brave Girls or Brave Girls 2.0? Why did they choose the name Candy Shop? Anyways, these girls are good at what they do. They are slightly the whole package. The biggest and noticeable flaw in this group is that I don't remember anyone at all; not a single member stands out or is recognizable. They are almost like card board cut outs or ginger bread men, who I can't tell apart. I'll cut them some slack since this is their debut, but it is important to burn or imprint your image and sound into the audience's mind. When you are a dancer, singer, presenter, performer, or whatever, it is a basic requirement to make your audience love you or attentive to what you are presenting(make it bold). If you don't do that, you are basically a footprint on the beach, which will be washed away from the ocean, leaving behind no trail or marks. Often times, I see alot of kpop idols that are perfectedly talented and skilled in their craft, but they are forgotten because there is no charisma or they lack quirkiness(quirky aspects of themselves). Leave out the quirkiness and you start to look like an empty husk of a person. Candy Shop is a well-rounded group with singing and dancing skills, but they are difficult to remember, which is important, especially in a competitive arena such as the kpop industry.

LYRICS
SHOWCASE
Live Concert

I can already tell you that this group is going to be big in the future, but hopefully, no internal conflict or drama happens within the group or management. It has a growing fanbase, especially amongst the younger generation. Social media has their eye on this group. Theoretically, kpop groups only get better as they train on their skills; they may even win everyone's heart and make a viral hit song. I'm only speculating that this group will make a mark in 5 years(if they remain a group). Only time will tell whether or not anything will happen.
The only issue I have with this group is: they're super young. They are literally South Korean babies(there's also baby foreigners in the group as well). From my understanding, they aren't forced to do this kpop idol lifestyle; they chose it for their ownself. When I was this young, I was climbing trees, flying kites, playing badminton, and riding my bicycle; children do all sorts of recreational activities when they are young. I hope these kids have emotional support, especially in this brutal kpop industry. With that aside, South Korea has an interesting future in store for them with this promising group: UNIS.

LYRICS
MNET SHOWCASE
Live

Visually, ILLIT gives me a New Jeans vibe(almost like a replica of New Jeans); however, they are all cutey pies. I'm not saying that New Jeans aren't cute. ILLIT amplifies their cute character by a hundred-fold. I don't know how to explain it in detail, but their cuteness is the major factor going for them so far, and dare I say it, exploitative towards those who fall easily to cuteness. They are giving the audience what they want: cuteness. Basically, ILLIT is cuteness overload. If anyone remembers the group APRIL, then you'll also have similar feelings because of the cuteness. The difference between APRIL and ILLIT would be a slight difference in demeanor; ILLIT being alot gentler in their movement. Now to talk about their choreography. The choreography can be done by anyone, even a paraplegic army veteran can do the steps; the dance moves are catered to a wide-ranged audience. Their movements are simple and it should be; their dance moves are matching the song perfectly, which is entirely simple. Simple & Catchy Lyrics, but it is my favorite since it incorporates MBTI(Myer-Briggs Type Indicator) into the lyrics. I love it! Overall, this song is a spring bop.

Media Showcase
LYRICS
Pre-Release:
RESCENE - yoyo

Opinion on [Rescene - UhUh]

Rescene has the elegant sounds of WJSN. This took me by surprise because I never had to bring up WJSN(Cosmic Girls) for a long time as a comparison. Their vocals are similar to WJSN in many aspects; each member of Rescene offers a lovely distinct sound, almost like the vocals of each member is an exotic/unique instrument in an orchestra or even as multiple songbirds harmonically chirping in a tropical rainforest. I love the variety and diversity of the vocals, especially a plethora of vocals in one group. Visually, their fashion and overall look feels similar to the original LOONA; however, there's a bit of discrepancy in style. Classy, smooth-sounding, and cool is my overall impression of Rescene's look. It looks like this group has a high budget from the start by just observing their pre-debut and debut music video/showcase. Now, they are far from perfect though. The choreography isn't as great as I thought; I watched their debut showcase and the movement looked a bit stiff. With discriminate eyes, you can also identify moments where their dance moves aren't accurately timed to the song. If you are a regular person watching their choreography, then you wouldn't care whether or not the timing is off. Personally, since I've watched thousands of South Korean choregraphy, it is a problem since I've seen many dancers crashing into each other on live performances because of bad timing in their dance moves. Timing & accuracy is important. There's alot of room for improvement, so I expect their group to be top notch when they're exposed to more dances. Anyways, this group is a hybrid of WJSN and LOONA. I'm lovin' their whole entire presentation.

Opinion on [Rescene - yoyo]

Smooth, Classy, and Cool! High budget pre-release. This group is giving me a Loona vibe.

Pre-Debut:
KELT9b - Get Ya

KELT9b reminds me of MINX(They are now called Dreamcatcher). Is KELT9B the next Dreamcatcher? They are giving me this rock and roll/cheerleader vibe, but they can also delve in the same style as Dreamcatcher, which is a possibility. This group has a ton of energy at pre-debut. I wonder how crazy their debut is going to be.

I found this group on accident & it saddens me that this group is buried so deep in the internet. You need to either use binoculars or a device to detect hidden kpop groups. It looks like they're doing a girl crush concept, which is a concept that's a decade old(outdated). Honestly, I don't care if girl crush concepts are still around; I give all music a chance. I still listen to many girl crush songs. They are all talented and gorgeous wearing what seems like airplane stewardess style outfits. These gals are hardcore gangstaz doing their choreography in what looks like a car garage or a cellar? I'm not entirely sure, but they are totally dedicated. If you haven't realized yet, then you're in for a rude awakening. There are tons of groups in South Korea like N-Day that try to get into the entertainment kpop industry, but they are out of luck because they have either no business connections, funds, sponsors, investors, and/or their company is dead broke. Actually, I've seen many beautiful South Korean girls that are incredibly talented, but they're just out of luck because there is no real support for them. All you have to do is look around and rookie idols are every where trying to make it big. I once known a south korean who has taken ballet for 6 years, but who never even had a single recognition for all her hard work and efforts. It's the sad reality. Anyways, N-Day is one of those groups. Hopefully, people can shed some light on groups like this.

VVUP - Locked On Lyrics
Performance
First Pre-debut
Digital Single:
VVUP - Doo Doom Chit
Lyrics
MNET Showcase

The music video was odd because I was expecting the setting to be in a South Korean school; however, the setting ended up being located in some random western school with random american students. The environment felt unsettling with all 4 members dancing on top of tables, surrounded by american students. It would have been amusing if the librarian or teacher came in to discipline or de-escalate the situation & the members gazed their eyes on the teacher/librarian and they all "Locked On" to the teacher/librarian as the new target. Instead, we have all these american students as stage props or background characters doing absolutely nothing and pretending to be jealous of VVUP. The setting for the music video felt forced into existence. Nevertheless, I've come to witness their vocals, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. Anyway, VVUP's vocals are underestimated in kpop; I don't think anyone is taking their vocals seriously. There's alot they can do with their voices if they were given advanced songs, but that's just my wishful thinking. I see the potentiality of their vocals(like I said about their pre-debut), but there's only so much you can put in a debut. The choreography and showcase wasn't released for their debut yet, so I'm waiting on their releases. My observations still ring true and still linger in my mind that these girls look very similar to older generation kpop idols. It is the magic of cosmetics & possibly computer generated images, I suppose. I'd give this a higher score if the music video's environment or theme wasn't forced, but I could only wish for better things.

This 4 member group has potential. The pre-debut only gave me more questions than answers, so I can't make a proper opinion. I haven't seen their choreography & rapping skills yet(if available). The potentiality that I see is their vocal abilities. The song wasn't particularly catchy, but it was merely to display or showcase their ability to sing. Are these gals memorable? I'm not entirely certain, but their faces look familiar. Hyunny's facial appearance is partially similar to Nana from After School/Orange Caramel. Park & Suyeon also has partially similar facial appearances as Black Pink's Jisoo & Gugudan's Sejeong(both combined). By the way, as a side-note, Park & Suyeon look like twin sisters! I'm not even joking about the similarities, but it is a bit shocking. Anyways, I can't wait until their actual debut. Again, I see potential in this group, but it may be a flop depending on many circumstances. I will reserve the rating once the debut drops.

Edit(3/14/2024)[10:14:25 pm]: After I watched their MNET Showcase, I'm fairly convinced that they have potential. It was hilarious how the audience responded in the middle of their performance; in the middle of their performance, there is a cut or a break from the song that forced the audience to respond with a cheer/round of applause, but the song and the 4 gals continued their performance. I would be tricked as well since the song sounded like the end of the song. I'm not sure if the composition of the song was to have the audience react like that, but it worked. By the way, I watched the music video again, and I noticed an excessive amounts of graphical effects and photos all over the place. It is a bit confusing, but I'm guessing these special effects was to garner attention of the viewer. For me though, I'd rather have those effects minimized or out right removed, but I can see the allure of it for a much younger audience with an attention span of a goldfish. As I said before, 3 of the members faces resemble older kpop idols(when they were young, of course). I think it could be the cosmetics on Hyunny that creates an almost identical face as Nana(After School/Orange Caramel). Park & Suyeon have the same facial structure as Jisoo(Black Pink) & Sejeong(Gugudan), or a bit of a mix of the two combined. I know I'm not seeing illusions, but I find it uncanny. I am confident in giving this pre-debut a rating since I watched their live performance, but I'll reserve the rating once the debut drops. All I have to do now is wait for their actual debut.

California Love:
Lyrics
Showcase
No Pressure:
Lyrics
Choreography

Update for their second part of their debut(California Love)(3/13/2024[01:04:21 pm]):

This is their second track to their debut. I still hold the same opinion. Every member sings and dances exceptionally solid; their MTN Star Showcase demonstrates their skills live. After reviewing their choreography, I particularly found their dancing rather pleasant during their chorus; one of their moves looked like they were balancing on a surf board. For their California Love music video, it was mediocre at best; it felt like a vlog, where a person is just recording their vacation. Like I said before, the production is super cheap. I guess they are promoting this to a rather different audience; I'm not entirely certain about this. The person responsible for promoting their content is doing a pi$$ poor job at it; barely anyone watched it. To be honest, I hope to see more of them, just not in poorly created production.

There's nothing to complain about NOMAD. Their singing and dancing is exceptionally solid. The only issue that I have is their make-up(face cosmetics). RIVR & DOY don't look healthy at all. I'm not entirely sure if their make-up is responsible for them looking alot older than they are. They should consider different cosmetics or hiring a decent professional stylist/make-up artist. Make-up is suppose to make you look younger, not make you look like an old geezer. The budget of the music video was not the cost of a diamond, but a cubic zirconia; it felt super cheap. Personally, I could afford the production of their music video with the cash in my back pocket. I hope their company can afford better stuff and hire more people for their production. Alas, Nomad has the talent, but the production team behind this music video was, at most, subpar. If a company is debuting a group, then a company shouldn't half-a$$ the production. They are trying to grow their brand, not tarnish it. Unless, of course, this is simply a "throw-away group" that will vanish within a few months.

Lyrics
Choreography

Over-exceeded my expectations in every field!

Lyrics
Choreography
Pre-debut:
DXMON - Burn Up

Most stylish group for January 2024. You'll also love their hair. Everything about this group is stylish. TK gives me a G-Dragon(Big Bang) vibe.

Lyrics
Choreography
Pre-Debut:
TWS - Oh Mymy : 7s

TWS's music video looks like it is inspired by GOT 7. In their pre-debut, I found Hanjin dancing horribly! Shinyu was showing mediocre dancing as well. Sometimes, there's alot of pressure on them that they tend to perform horribly. Kyungmin is multi-talented: sings, dances, and visually appealing in performance. The whole group shows alot of conviction and precise movement in their dancing, which is awesome. I hope to see more of them. Hopefully, I don't see more of what I saw on their pre-debut song.

Lyrics
Choreography

Everyone sings great until the rapping part. Kwon Hyeop's rap was cringey that it made me laugh out loud. I'm not sure if Kwon Hyeop is intentionally trying to copy BTS V, but it is not working out for him at all(it doesn't suit him). By the way, Ijun is seriously attractive; you can fall deeply into his eyes.

Lyrics
Choreography

Debuting ain't easy since there's pressure from all sides. Although these girls look like they've worked hard, I didn't enjoy this music video at all. I almost felt this was a dumpster fire, but there are some sections of the song that are enjoyable.

Edit: After reviewing the song a ton of times, I still hold the same opinion about the music video; I truly wanted to change my opinion about this debut. Particularly, I wanted the song to be sung in the korean language; I don't particularly agree with certain "Netizens" who state that any pop song can be considered as kpop. Kpop requires the song to be sung in Korean. Hence, the "K" in Kpop(Hint: Korean). Related to what I said earlier, I didn't find the song and music video "enjoyable" because of the aesthetics. The song & the music video was constructed in a way where it felt off-putting; it wasn't harmonious. I kept my rating for this music video the same.

Lyrics
Choreography

The group's choreography is awesome! They do alot of hand/arm dancing(I think the dancing is called "tutting"). There's a part of their choreo that stuck out to me. It was when they formed a diamond(a sideways square) with their arms! Andamiro has Rizz(charisma), but it may be too early to say since it is their debut. I hope to see more of this group in the future!

Edit: After re-listening to their song and re-watching their music video, I had to bump up(increase) the score. Voyage is a song that has to grow on you for a period of time in order to appreciate it. It's one of those songs that requires time to be digested.