Street Performance 1(Focused Fancam)
Street Performance 2(Focused Fancam)
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .7/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .6/1
Stage Presence: 0/1
Facial Expression: .3/1
Objective Movement: .1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .1/1
Cosmetics: .6/1
Fashion: .1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.6 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.6 divided by 17 = 0.329411765
0.329411765 multiplied by 100 = 32.941176471

FINAL SCORE: 32.9%

Isn't it a little too late to release a summer song when it is nearly winter? In my opinion, summer songs being released in the winter is just weird. I guess this is for people who want to pretend that they are in summer; it's almost like there is an audience who are in eternal summer, gobbling up all summer-related songs, who don't know of the other seasons, such as winter. Whatever floats their boat, I suppose. T:EV stands for Together:Forever. This 3 member boy group, who are former members of AQA, just released their debut "The Story of Our Summer Day". The best word to describe this song is "regular"; it conforms to the basic korean music structure. This song is best when you listen to it while singing in the shower. A term that I use to call these types of songs is "Shower Songs", which is a term that I personally coined up, conjured, or made-up. You simply have this song play in the background as you take a shower or bath. It will make your shower or bathing experience quite pleasant. Other than that, I wouldn't listen to it normally. You can hear these types of music in shoe stores or any store that is equivalent.

Anyways, I hope this group all the best. There are people out there that will enjoy this type of music for its pleasant nature.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: It is well over a month, yet there is no public appearances, except for a street performance out in the cold weather(You can see how cold it is by watching the member's exhalation in real time). This street performance was recorded with a fancam of sorts. There simply is no way for me to accurately judge or critique their choreography/performance with bad quality footage such as these fancams. It just ain't happening. Unfortunately, T:EV has to be the most poorly developed and planned debut for 2024. I do not recommend this group or keeping their music on your playlist. It is up to you if you'd like to support "nugu" groups; "nugu" groups appear quickly and disappear quickly. It is just the tragic state of "nugu" groups unless something miraculous happens and they are whisked by a famous label. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

IZNA and TIMEBOMB
Debut Media Showcase
IZNA and TIMEBOMB
Debut Media Showcase
Another Angle
IZNA and TIMEBOMB
2024 MAMA
IZNA's 2024 MAMA Showcase
IZNA Live Stage
IZNA Lyrics
IZNA Lyrics 2
M2 Relay Dance
IZNA KBS Music Bank Debut Stage
IZNA Dance Practice
Studio Choom Performance(Full Focused)
M2 Performance37
M2 Performance37(Full Shot)
MBC Idol Radio Performance
MUPLY The Silence of Idol Performance Video
The First Mini Album: N/a (Debut Fan Showcase Replay)
SBS Radio Dance Performance
SBS RADIO(Interview)
Studio Choom Performance
Dance Practice
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Album Tracks:
Time Bomb(Studio Choom)
IWALY KCON STAGE GERMANY
DRIP KCON STAGE GERMANY
FAKE IT KCON STAGE GERMANY

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .7/1

TOTAL 14.7 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.7 divided by 17 = 0.864705882
0.864705882 multiplied by 100 = 86.470588235

FINAL SCORE: 86.4%

Unfortunately, my conspiracy theory and prediction of izna was true; I concocted or brainstormed this conspiracy theory/prediction during the survival show: I-Land 2(before they became "izna"). Please take a look at my blog under "MEOVV". I predicted that this group would release a mediocre or "side-dish" debut release. Lo and behold, it was mediocre, served as a "side-dish". Although I've predicted this mediocre release, I do not control the general sentiment around this group. Alot of fans do love this group and their debut; with tooth and nail, fans will defend this group no matter what. If you take a look at their sales number for their album, then you'll notice that it is through the roof, selling over 100,000 physical copies; I'm not certain if the number is skewed or manipulated, but it sure does look a bit suspicious; even if I'm right, they are still massively loved as an upcoming group. WAKEONE is in fact a strong and established label in the k-pop industry; usually, fans will hunker down with known labels such as WAKEONE and when there is clamor against their label or group, they'll vehemently defend it until the end, even through the apocalypse of backlash. Anyways, you may wonder why I'm describing their debut as "mediocre". The chorus is quite bland; it's just "na na na na" in a near monotone voice. It's like a flashlight without the flash; there's no sparkly vocal ensemble that lifts the music out of its drudgery. The drudgery is heard throughout the whole entire song; it mainly plays it safe with no bells or whistles. It stays within its boundaries without getting out of its restrictive threshold or shell; basically, you are waiting for a bombastic or inflated sound, but you end up with a sound that's dilluted/dulled down like the sound of a singular cowbell. Hell, even a cowbell has more bombast sound than this debut. Basically, the music gives the audience a "bare-bones" k-pop sound without any zest or zing. If this song was a car, then it would fit the description of a 1984 Third-Gen Honda Civic Wagon, also known as the Civic Shuttle. Yes, the song is as bland as the Civic Shuttle. There are parts of the song that feel like it is about to launch and take you to a more interesting part, but fails to do so. Another aspect of izna's debut izna is that it feels intentionally slowed down or in a state of slow motion. Overall, a mediocre song. I wish they've used their other track "Time Bomb" as their title debut track.

The music video was fairly empty just like how MEOVV's music video was. Again, I think this emptiness within their music video was to emphasize the member's visuals; it is so that the audience isn't distracted by objects and background scenery. I swear that all of the environmental objects and scenery have been re-used before in other k-idol group's music video, particularly from 2NE1. It does look alike, but the color-scheme of the set and set pieces have been changed to give the illusion that it is a brand new set. WAKEONE could be borrowing stuff from 2NE1's old set. I guess it is to save resource costs.

Their album tracks: Time Bomb, Iwaly, Drip, and Fake It are quite good. They've performed these songs in certain Korean Conventions before their debut, one of the conventions was either Germany or some other place. I forget.

Before their debut, they've done snippets or a compilation of dances at MNET's 2024 MAMA. izna performed quite great actually. Each member is quite solid in the field of dancing and have shown their skill at a prestigous show such as 2024 MAMA.

Let's take a look at certain visual features of izna that has caught my attention. izna's Mai's eyelids and her surrounding eyelid are definately similar to Itzy's Yeji(her eyelids are exotic/beautiful); it could be the magnificent work of the make-up artist. I was awe-struck by the similarities. Anyways, every member has a lovely appearance; that being said, the group Lovelyz comes to mind, as well as Itzy. izna feels like the amalgamation of Lovelyz and Itzy; for the most part, it is their elegant, yet aggressive visual presentation and movement as a group that led me to this description of them. Lovelyz and Itzy has somewhat the same aesthetics as izna, but izna has a serious demeanor about them; this could very well change over time though.

EDIT#1(12/26/2024): Overall, IZNA is a superior force in visual choreography. When it comes to choreography and appealing visuals, IZNA is definately a clear winner here. As for live vocals, a few members have been shown singing live on a few radio shows; however, those performances aren't vocally strong or impressive. Although their vocals aren't as strong as I wanted them to be, IZNA has the potential to make hit songs, so there are no doubts in my mind that they are capable of getting everyone's undivided attention. WakeOne did give IZNA a mediocre song, which was a wrong move on their part. WAKEONE's strategy is basically to "drip-feed" or gradually introduce slightly better tracks to their fanbase and audience. Each released track is slightly better than the previous one. This "drip-feed" method is a functional strategy to get anyone hooked; however, there is a chance that other groups from other companies can swoop in and capture IZNA's audience by sheer trendiness or social media clout. The weakness of mediocre releases can keep the audience temporarily "stary-eyed" and listen to IZNA's tracks; until, of course, audiences start noticing a shinier object in the distance. Eventually, Izna's fanbase may be swayed by more popular groups and releases. As much as I want this group to be successful, mediocre releases are IZNA's down-fall since audiences tend to look for more addictive music. Sorry to say this, but the "na na na na" will fade from your mind once you are exposed to other top-tier groups and high-end released music.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I recommend IZNA to all k-pop fans; however, do not expect the highest quality work. In the future, expect IZNA to produce some bops/bangers/hit songs. Through my assessment, you will probably get mediocre tracks for the most part. This is okay though. I favor mediocrity tracks versus awful tracks any day of the week, so be appreciative that we have a cool group like IZNA.

Simply K-pop Contour(Another Version)
Uncrushable Official
Arirang Simply K-pop Contour Showcase
Uncrushable(Debut)
and Get Ya(Pre-Debut) Showcase
Showcase
Showcase(Different Angle)
Showcase(Another Angle)
Audio Only
Dance Practiced(Fixed)
Pre-Debut:
KELT9b - Get Ya

Score Sheet

Vocals: .5/1
Instrumental: .5/1
Lyrics: .5/1
Addictive Song: .5/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: .8/1
Objective Movement: .8/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .8/1
Cosmetics: .8/1
Fashion: .8/1
Music Video Score: .5/1
Visual Role Model: .8/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .8/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 10.56 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
10.56 divided by 17 = 0.621176471
0.621176471 multiplied by 100 = 62.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 62.1%

KELT9B's pre-debut "Get Ya" was fire, but "Uncrushable" was awful! I had nothing but praise for their pre-debut, but their debut didn't hit hard at all. The song itself was a bad listen that I wanted my listening experience to be done and over with as soon as possible; it was like listening to outdoor construction work, where you hear loud jackhammers constantly hitting and chipping away on the pavement non-stop. You would pray to the high heavens that it would stop, but it just continues unabated. After listening to the song, I had to give my ears a rest. There was nothing enjoyable about the song. What happened to KELT9B? They were a group that I felt were promising to give us great hits; they also gave me a MINX(Dreamcatcher) vibe from their pre-debut. I guess great things are short-lived. Anyways, I will give the song another chance after my ears stop bleeding(kidding). Was this group a one-hit wonder or will we see something way better in the future? I have no clue.

EDIT#1(12/26/2024): It was difficult to give this group a lower rating because I enjoyed their pre-debut track "Get Ya", but I took a deep breath and had to do what I had to do. Kelt9b's debut "Uncrushable" is best described as "noise music"; it sounds like a bunch of construction workers just drilling their jackhammers into the pavement non-stop. Not only was the music too noisy, but the vocals/lyrics felt too disjointed and disharmonious like a bunch of pots and pans hitting each other creating alot of "clickity-clack" sounds. There was too much noisy sections of the track than actual enjoyable vocals and interesting instrumental composition. If I wanted to listen to noise, I'd rather just go to a construction site, where you hear hammers pounding nails unto walls, jackhammers drilling on pavement, bulldozers backing up(making that "beep beep beep" sound), and "hard hats" incessantly yelling at each other.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: You should definately place "Get Ya" on your playlist; however, for the high heavens, do not put "Uncrushable" in your playlist. Their pre-debut track was awesome, but their debut track is "noise music". Let's just say that it is better to listen to loud construction work than Kelt9B's Uncrushable. Let's just leave it at that.

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 actual debut is going to be like.

KBS Music Bank Showcase
Public Performance(DGDG Studio Random Play Dance)
Lyrics(DanalEntertainment)
Public Performance(DGDG Studio)[Different Angle]
Public Performance(DGDG Studio)[Different Angle 2]
KBS Music Bank Debut Stage
Arirang Simply K-pop Contour Showcase
Dance Choreography
KBS Music Bank Showcase
Arirang Simply K-pop Contour Showcase(Version 2)
Official Audio
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.66 divided by 17 = 0.862352941
0.862352941 multiplied by 100 = 86.235294118

FINAL SCORE: 86.2%

Love One just released their cute, simple, and gentle dance debut; all of their showcases displayed alot of fluid and flowy arm choreography. What a lovely song! Although the music is generic, you'll still have a fun time listening to the song.

Love One's Chaei is a T-ara's Jiyeon look-alike, a striking resemblence; Chaei's body type is slender than Jiyeon, but their facial structure is almost identical.

EDIT#1(12/15/2024): After reviewing their debut again, the whole concept reminds me of a group called "N*WHITE". Here's a link to N*WHITE's music video: N*WHITE - Hello Boy. Both Love One's and N*WHITE's music has the same vibe. I love that Love One is bringing this vibe back to k-pop. Personally, I miss this type of cute-core, "lovey-dovey", or cutesy concept.

EDIT#2(12/23/2024): LOVE ONE is autumn 2024's treat! Yes, critics may say that this track's musical composition is an over-simplified cute concept, down to its core. Critics are right; however, that's the beauty and attraction of these types of songs. Its point is to be simple, not complex; LOVEONE is not trying to build a rocket ship or solve a problem in quantum physics. LOVEONE did great work with less effort, barely lifting a finger and out-competing other k-idol groups. Isn't that the funny part about this song? LOVEONE debuted with no effort, yet completed a fabulous song. Honey, this was a catchy song!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: LOVEONE is one of my recommended rookie groups of 2024! You are most likely going to enjoy their simplicity found in their debut and possible future content!

Live Stage
Showcase Stage(Starnews)
KBS Music Bank Tower Cam
KBS Music Bank
Simply K-pop Contour
Show Champion Showcase
Live Performance
KBS Music Bank Debut Stage
Album Tracks:
MMM
Retry
Lyrics?
Choreography?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .6/1
Stage Presence: .5/1
Facial Expression: .7/1
Objective Movement: .1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .5/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .5/1
Live Vocal: .66/1
Live Choreography: .1/1
Live Visual: .5/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .4/1

TOTAL 9.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
9.66 divided by 17 = 0.568235294
0.568235294 multiplied by 100 = 56.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 56.8%

The group name has an interesting story behind it. 13Found's origin started or "Found" on the 13th Floor of a studio; they also completed their album production on that floor. They also debuted on November "13", which is not a coincidence at all. I'm not surpised if their next song is called "13", "Friday the 13th", or "13th Warrior".

13Found are not K-idols! They are K-artists! Although they are part of a label called TAKIEL, this 3 member boy group self-produced their 4 track album "Found". 13Found's creativity shoots right through the roof! K-artists are a dying breed within the K-pop industry and it is definately a breath of fresh air to finally discover a group that isn't entirely manufactured. "MMM", "Domino", and "Retry" are tracks that are a good listen. In my previous blog "My Closing Thoughts For K-pop 2024" at the top of the page, I briefly discuss about K-artistry dying away and being replaced by manufactured K-pop idol groups. Unfortunately, K-artistry only fits a certain niche audience while the general population(and worldwide audiences) enjoy their daily consumption of K-pop Idol groups. It's just how things are in the current zeitgeist unless the general public starts to reject manufactured kpop groups(this is unlikely).

13Found's showcases were okay. Chiwon and Seongyeon need better dance moves instead of just lazily walking around the stage like chickens with their heads chopped off; a simple dance choreography would get more people to take them seriously. It doesn't necessarily have to be difficult or intricate movements; they can simply incorporate spin moves or even a moonwalk. It is not too difficult to come up with a tiny choreographed scene. By the way, the third member is Minseo, who is in the back DJing while the rest are the center of attention.

Another showcase, besides the Show Champion, was their live vocal showcase. They aren't bad, nor good either. Not many k-idol groups can just go straight on stage and perform a vocal live stage. I love the fact that they showed courage in going up on stage to do their best. Isn't it wild that most k-pop groups won't do a live vocal group performance when it should be mandatory as a singer? Actually, isn't live vocals suppose to be the bare minimum? Anyways, I can get heated about this topic, so I'll stop it here. 13Found definately needs slight touches and improvements on their live vocals; overall, their performances were a good listen.

13Found's "Domino" has an interesting music video with the members acting dramatically throughout. I've noticed that many k-pop music videos incorporate doors; I guess "doors" are the trend for South Koreans. Within the music video, they are going through doors; there are no walls attached to these doors. It's an exquisitely designed environment that 13Found seem to be exploring in; it's all art with some blood involved. After watching the video, I tried to interpret it, but I truly have a blank expression on my face. It's mostly open to interpretations. I might dissect the music video later...

13Found's visuals aren't flashy as their photos on social media. I'm a bit disappointed about that, but it is what it is. I'm really not into this casual fashion that k-artists or k-idols have been wearing lately. Is this the current fashion for 2024? Mediocre/Casual fashion? It's unimpressive if you ask me.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/8/2025)]: Overall, "MEH" is the best way to describe 13Found's debut. Although I appreciate K-artists, who self-produce their own music, their overall performance wasn't up to par to the standard when it comes to modern k-pop. I hope South Koreans can support this group since they are actual K-Artists, who are a rare breed. In a sea of k-idols, it's always nice to witness a group of k-artists. Unfortunately, they have to do alot more work to even reach the standard threshold of k-idol performances. Personally, I would like to see more of 13Found, but not in a sub-performing condition. As K-artists, they need to do more in the highly competitive arena of k-idols.

Simply K-pop Contour Showcase
Another Version
Simply K-pop Contour Showcase
(Short Version)
Simply K-Pop Contour Showcase(1 Hour)
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .77/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.43 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.43 divided by 17 = 0.848823529
0.848823529 multiplied by 100 = 84.882352941

FINAL SCORE: 84.8%

This group is representing "Queer Liberation". When I think of LGBTQ, I think of Holland(KPlus); however, this time around, we are able to see a group representing queers(part of the LGBTQ). In their promotional video "Wolf", it only shows 3 of the 5 members; I'm thinking that there might be another music video or more content to be released for the rest of the members(just speculating). To be honest, I have no clue what's going on since the release dates are all jumbled, leaving the audience only speculating on the release date. ToTh6y is the combined forces of TMC and PinkFantasy. TMC is a duo that debuted this year as well; they had a cowboy-esque concept debut music video. Everyone knows PinkFantasy; unfortunately, PinkFantasy had an indefinate hiatus. All of a sudden they disbanded out of no where. PinkFantasy was well-known for their Halloween/Horror-esque music with a cutesy vibe. PinkFantasy's aesthetics may throw first-time audiences off because it makes you feel horrified and cuddly simultaneously; I call their concept or visualizations as "cutesy horror". Before I continue their review, I'd like to tell you a breif fact about South Korea. South Korea is mainly a traditional conservative culture, meaning that they are oriented around family values and principles. Now, imagine a liberal LGBTQ group ToTh6y parading around town; this might be frowned upon from the general South Korean population. A movement or a group that's representing a lifestyle or a different sexual orientation might turn heads, but at the extreme case, twist heads in an angrily fashion. Traditional Conservatives or "Tradcons" are brutal over in South Korea, where they will ridicule, shame, or even ostrasize people who are of the same-sex relationships or anything of that nature.

The studio recorded music is professionally recorded with crisp sound effects; the instrumental is familiar, but offers it's own style and dimension; it is upbeat, but keeps its unique spooky flavor. As for their vocals, they are all on point. Arang's rapping is strong. The vocals of Wonsik and Seunghyuk are strong as well. There's really nothing to complain about when it comes to ToTh6y's studio recorded vocals. I love the wolf barking and howls, which adds alot of hype to the song.

ToTh6y's choreography is mystical with slow motion and wavy/fluid executed arm movements. Each step ToTh6y take is heavily emphasized, which is a usual aspect of dance choreography; however, they've managed to make the steps look fun to attempt. You'll find that they do some kind of wolf claw signature move in their choreography, which may be delightful at first, but is not bold enough in their chorus(it could of helped if they repeated it more often).

As for ToTh6y's fashion and visuals, it is vampiric while staying sleek. There are tiny details such as wolf tails, furry wolf socks/shin guards, wrist bracelets, jewelry; they went all out in their fashion. Everything worn is thematically cohesive; there's nothing that strays away from their concept that they are trying to portray. What is cool is their white contact lenses that they wore time to time in the music video; I love that they showed their "wolf" or werewolf with their undead eyes.

Although everything they've done so far is perfect, I found that their music video doesn't offer the right preferences. Usually, music videos of this nature offers dark forests, fog, full moons, suspicious shadows, haunted shacks/mansions, and other elements that "scare" their audience. Although these elements aren't mandatory, they could help in the atmosphere of their concept. By the way, they have a concept that I could only call as "cutesy horror". This "cutesy horror" is very much dependent on costumes, materials, and environmental effects, such as the things that I previously mentioned.

Recent trends in South Korea seems to be in love with cats. ToTh6y is representing the other side of this equation, wolves. While they are going against the current trend in South Korea, hopefully, they can get the attention of dog/wolf lovers.

Anyways, I would continue the review, but I'm not entirely certain if they will make a new video with the rest of the members(OT5 ToTh6y); I think "Wolf" is considered more of a Sub-unit Debut, but I'll review it just in case the other two members join in. An OT5 ToTh6y Debut might be in the works. Momoka and Miku aren't participating with the promotional video, which was announced on one of the social media sites. For now, I'll be patiently waiting until November 12, which is their digital release of "Wolf".

ToTh6y's performance at "Simply K-pop Contour" was actually a blast. Visuals and choreography was all on point; it was like watching their music video again.

Edit#2(11/15/2024): By the way, I don't consider this their actual "debut" because all members aren't present. Hopefully, they actually have a full member release sometime in the future, which would actually be their official OT5 debut.

Edit#2(11/15/2024): This is just a reminder. ToTh6y has announced to do a live show on December 28 and 29 in Sibuya Rosso, Japan. I've hanged out in that night club last year and the year before that! There's actually a tiny/slight chance that I will be there for New Years...Hopefully, my plans align to this event...

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: ToTh6y is one of my recommended rookie groups of 2024. Hopefully, there will be an OT5(all members) debut. What would be awesome is if they can reunite all PinkFantasy members again. Honestly, that would be a sweet reunion and a dream come true if that were to ever happen.

SBS M The Show
The Show(Showcase)
tracer - 365(Audio Only)
tracer -365(Instrumental)
Lyrics(Fan Made)
Live Vocals Live Band Live Concert[it's live]
Music Video(Part 1)
Choreography? Performance?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .7/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: .7/1
Addictive Song: .7/1
Stage Presence: .7/1
Facial Expression: .7/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .9/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .6/1
Music Video Score: .7/1
Visual Role Model: .8/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: .9/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: .8/1

TOTAL 14 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14 divided by 17 = 0.823529412
0.823529412 multiplied by 100 = 82.352941176

FINAL SCORE: 82.3%

Gleamedia's tracer did a guerilla debut showcase, an unannounced performance without any teasers or promotional content. Within circles of gossips and rumors, k-netizens had told me that Gleamedia had a huge amount of trainees under them, but never utilized them at all. tracer is a group that was only mentioned in whispers amongst strangers. Alas, they finally debuted.

I found tracer's chorus plain, yet catchy; it sounds a little too robotic, almost like listening to automated voice calls, self-check out machines, or store intercom(electronic intercommunication system) announcements; whenever you visit a large local business, you often hear voices from a loud speaker above you, announcing news to their employees or customers. Unfortunately, tracer's vocals kind of sound like that. The choreography did match the chorus; as they sing the chorus "365", in sequential order, their fingers(sign language) represent each number within "365". It's a kindergarten or pre-school sounding chorus, almost like they are taunting/belittling their audience; the tone of their voices during the chorus sound condescending in an indirect way. Maybe, I'm looking too deep into their debut; they might be serious about their debut. Overall, the music felt a bit generic and unaddictive; one listen to their debut and that is as far as it goes. Personally, I did not listen to their song more than twice. Overall, these girls performed well, but the song itself is underwhelmingly too dull.

Besides the music, I took a look at their fashion. Soeun seems to be wearing a see through long-sleeve, which shows her sports bra. As much as I'm okay with this look, it doesn't suit well with the aesthetics of the group. It felt out of place. Actually, each member didn't match at all. Although they were going for this metro-surburban look, it was poorly executed.

Anyways, not much has been released. I will get back to this when more content is released.

Edit#1(12/6/2024): It is about a month after their debut, yet there is no promotional content besides them doing tik tok cover dances. It is great that they are trying to attract attention on different social media platforms(more social media clout ain't a bad thing), but there is a point where the group needs to promote their actual debut.

Anyways, I reviewed all of their content a second time around and I still feel the same way about them. In their introductory part of their choreography, 3 of the members sit down in front of the current singer; with further analysis, I found this particular part of their choreography to be awkward and somewhat clunky because of how poorly executed it was. Simply, it was out of place and didn't fit well with the rest of their choreography.

Overall, there's not much content out about tracer. Like I said, they seem to want to do cover dances on social media than their actual debut.

EDIT#2(12/27/2024): I'm totally confused about Gleamedia because they've procrastinated in promoting their own group, tracer; Gleamedia's procrastination shows that they are not serious about debuting tracer. Recently, they've promoted tracer on "it's Live". tracer did an outstanding job. What exactly is Gleamedia doing? First, they've slacked off promotions for tracer for a whole month; all of a sudden, Gleamedia, after a month of slacking off, decided to dedicate time and resources into promoting tracer. If I'm confused, then everyone in Gleamedia must be dazed in confusion, not knowing if they should be taking their k-idol career seriously or not. Anyways, I'm glad tracer was able to perform live because this particular performance bumped their score and rank a significant amount.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Overall, tracer is a decent group. My main concern is their company, Gleamedia, who has been procrastinating in tracer's promotional content. Imagine for a moment a taxi driver suddenly falling asleep on the road; as soon as they are about to crash into an immovable wall or lamp-post, the driver wakes up and goes back to expertly driving their vehicle, dodging fatal accidents. This is how I feel about Gleamedia; they've managed, at the knick of time, to save their group from a total disaster. Personally, I recommend tracer, but the company, GLEAMEDIA, is not doing their job properly or in a timely manner.

Live Vocal Concert Live Band "It's Live"
Lyrics
Dance Practice
MBC MusicCore Showcase
Performance
SBS Inkigayo Showcase
Pre-Debut: Best Friendz

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 17 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
17 divided by 17 = 1
1 multiplied by 100 = 100

FINAL SCORE: 100%

ODD YOUTH just released their music video today. Without a doubt, their pre-debut and debut is a high budget production with high quality footage, professionally editted scenes, and the narrative has been directed without flaws; it is actually awesome that their label invested heavily into ODD YOUTH's future. This means that their company is highly confident that ODD YOUTH will keep making high quality performances and content. Their music so far has been hyper energetic. It's freezing where I'm residing, but the song made me get up and dance, which made my day alot warmer for the moment. You will enjoy their music if you're an Itzy fan for certain; it's a fun dance song that has the original pizazz of Itzy. Another Itzy inspired group isn't a bad thing; we can now add another group to our dance playlist.

ODD YOUTH did an excellent showcase at the SBS Inkigayo; however, there's a bit of a timing issue or choreography error(it doesn't look good). Myah(wearing the pink "deus" shirt) almost hit Ye Eum(wearing the orange yellow outfit) with her arm during the middle of the performance. I'm not familiar with the choreography since it is brand new, so it could have been Ye Eum going through the center at the wrong time. Anyways, it could be either of the girls' mistake or the choreographer didn't consider the timing windows of the moves. The girls did well, but there could have been an embarrassing moment if they actually crashed into one another. Gladly, none of that happened, but it was a close call. Hopefully, they review their showcase and consider improvement in their timing or tweak the choreography; you'll definately spot this "close call" if you carefully observe the details of their showcase. Overall, it's an error that is not a big deal; it can be fixed over-night.

With their high caliber talents and skills, Odd Youth performed their debut "That's Me" at "it's Live", which is a live vocal and live band concert. Not only did they show their supreme vocals, but have demonstrated their choreography along with it. These girls are just having alot of fun performing! Whenever a group does a live performance, you can see alot of seriousness radiating from the members; however, Odd Youth displayed alot of fun youthful energy while keeping a professional demeanor. Odd Youth is a wild card for 2024 and I must say they've surprised me the most with their hyper energetic performance; they gave me this "Itzy" vibe ever since their debut. Again, I'd like to repeat what I have said before that it doesn't hurt to have another "Itzy" in the k-pop industry. Overall, I recommend this group.

All the content that Odd Youth has displayed publicly passed with flying colors(at least, from my observation), everything went by smoothly without any major hiccups(huge mistakes). One component that is missing with Odd Youth is their social media presence, variety show, and possibly radio television appearances. Fans might be aching to figure who Odd Youth is; there is lack of "get to know" Odd Youth videos, which would help in promoting and publicizing their group. A member introductory video would help their exposure and capture the hearts of audiences that are on the fence about Odd Youth. I think I may be too early or "asking too much" for more content from Odd Youth since they are rookies. Generally speaking, their group name is strange to me because Odd Youth doesn't seem odd at all; Odd Youth seems even or balanced. If it was my choice to pick their group name, I would have called them "Even Youth". Again, I don't see anything odd about them at all unless their future content goes the opposite direction, which would be surprising. Overall, I'm curious of what they have in store for future releases and comebacks.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: ODD YOUTH is one of my highly recommended rookie groups of 2024. They are almost close to being Monster Rookies. Obviously, ODD YOUTH is an Itzy coded or inspired group. All we have to do is support their endeavors and wait for their comebacks. We are in for a treat with ODD YOUTH.

Their Best Friendz brand music video(pre-debut) was hilarious; it reminds me of the folklore of the Jersey Devil. The Jersey Devil would cause chaos throughout the city, but no one was able to spot the creature until the end. In this case, ODD YOUTH was finally chased in the end for causing all the ruckus within the town. I'm anticipating their debut, which is set to be released on November 1.

Arirang Simply K-pop Contour Showcase
Another Version
Debut Showcase: BLALA
Dance Practice
DEBUT FULL SHOWCASE(2 Hours)
Lyrics
Simply K-pop Contour Showcase
(Short Version)
Simply K-Pop Contour Showcase(1 Hour)
Moving Mix 4K
Koreanet's Kpop Star Showcase(1 Hour)
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Digital Single: Beautiful Story(Highlight)

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .6/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .7/1

TOTAL 14.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.3 divided by 17 = 0.841176471
0.841176471 multiplied by 100 = 84.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 84.1%

No broomsticks. No cauldrons. No cone-shaped black hats of antiquity. No black cats. No pagan wooden wands made of holly wood. No chants, hexes or curses.

What we do get is an outstanding performance from these beautiful young ladies. Each member rocking the long, straight black hair(classic korean look) and witch color schemed dresses(the red decorated on their dresses are eye-catching). They could have gotten away with wearing more red like in Red Velvet's Peekaboo. These girls are flying under the radar because they are a halloween themed group. It can be hard to search for a group on the internet that is based solely on halloween and magic-related content, especially when the web is over-saturated with Harry Potter.

I wish these girls would have done a music video to emphasize more ancient lore or mythology of witches. It be an interesting watch, but we have to appreciate what they can give to us.

W!TCHX performed at a showcase called "Simply K-Pop Contour". To be completely honest, I feel that they are reviving the spirit of disbanded South Korean group "Pixy". Everyone who is feeling a great deal of loss from the disbandment of "Pixy" may find solace in being a fan of W!TCHX, which is an equivalent substition, but not a complete replacement(no one can really replace Pixy). W!TCHX fills that niche that Pixy had abandoned.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: W!TCHX is one of my recommended k-idol rookie groups of 2024.

Audio Only
Debut Showcase
Live Stage
Dance Practice
Another Showcase(Different Angle)
Lyrics
Another Showcase(Wide Angle)
Entire Showcase(1 Hour Long)
Extra:
Remember You Live Clip
Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: .8/1
Fashion: .8/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .8/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 13.86 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.86 divided by 17 = 0.815294118
0.815294118 multiplied by 100 = 81.529411765

FINAL SCORE: 81.5%

izx! is a super group that consists of Mincheon(soloist), Ricky(PickUs), Prince(Ghost9), and Marcus(Hori7on).

From watching years of super groups like SuperM, izx!'s debut was a bit underwhelming, but it wasn't bad. They all have good vocals. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Like I said, I've listened to many super groups and I've concluded to not take any of them seriously. A quick collaboration may be temporary. If you are into groups that are formed quickly in a short amount of time, then you might expect them to be quickly inactive because each member will eventually go back to their original groups to continue their normal activities. This is what happened to SuperM. If this is your first time witnessing a "super group", then don't expect much.

A "super group" forms because their original company/group is going through financial problems, project re-arrangements, member re-organization, members going on hiatus/inactivity, etc.; the reasons of a "super group" being created is more implied than explicit, so expect companies to stand tall and say that "everything is ok". The active members form these "super groups" until their respective company and/or group is back in functional order, which may or may not happen. Hopefully, things work out for everyone.

EDIT#1(11/24/2024): izx! did a fantastic and "awesome" job with their showcases! Whenever they swooped or partially removed their dress shirt/over-shirt(second shirt), they sparked an excited response out of the audience; I was excited as well with their sudden "undressing move". I know it is fan-service, but it totally provokes a positive response. It isn't exactly stripping; it is sort of like "teasing the goods". All the ladies in the audience must have had a heart attack from those teasers! Anyways, I still feel the same way about super groups; I don't get attached. izx! did an awesome debut showcase performance. The song is a good lullaby song or pre-sleep song if that makes any sense; I have a k-pop playlist that is dedicated for "pre-sleep". I know I'm weird. Please don't hurt me. Anyway, this song is good to listen to before going to sleep. Its soothing melody and relaxing "wavy" vocals will calm your nerves and lighten your heart. "Wavy" is a good playlist song to add to your collection. Other than that, I beg of you not to take the group too seriously; they're all going back to their respective groups when their companies return to functional order.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: izx! is one of my recommended k-pop rookie groups of 2024. Please keep in mind that super groups are temporary. Each member will end up back in their original groups.

Track 2: You Be My Next
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: .3/1
Facial Expression: .3/1
Objective Movement: .3/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .3/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 0/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 7.2 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
7.2 divided by 17 = 0.423529412
0.423529412 multiplied by 100 = 42.352941176

FINAL SCORE: 42.3%

TRY1 is an "exclusive only" group. You can only access their content with their QR code, which may prove to be rather complicated for others around the world. The reason many people have not heard of them is because of what I said previously, their exclusivity. In order to fund their debut, a QR code is required to view their content. Again, there is nothing wrong with exclusivity to help fund their album. If a group wants to go that route, then they might find complications along the way. Exclusive content is a bad start for a debut because debuts require publicity to gain traction amongst old and new audiences. No one will be able to find their content without the QR Code or their social media account. It is what it is.

TRY1 kind of reminds me of Monsta X. The members of TRY1 are muscular. No wonder there's exclusivity, there's exclusive muscles for your viewing pleasure. You'll be paying for raw muscles! Anyways, there's nothing much I can review with this group since their content is behind a QR Paywall. In order to hear their album, you need the QR code.

Edit#1(11/24/2024): It has been a month and there is no public appearances, showcase, or interviews. The problem with an exclusive only release is that only a few people can view their content; what is worse is that they are a debuting rookie group that requires the publicity from korean and global audiences. If you don't have the QR Code, then you're simply out of luck. Anyways, their two track album is good. I wish their debut wasn't this restrictive; they are active on social media, but the content isn't displaying any of their debut content. So far, TRY1 is a visually focused group, showing off their muscles. From their live stage release, their dancing is horrible; everyone is not synchronized or unified with each other(movements are not in sync with each other); their choreography looks like a bunch of gophers sticking their head out of different holes, in different time intervals; even a group of orcas or dolphins in the ocean are better synchronized(no offense to orcas or dolphins). The timing and movement are all off. Any expert dancer will tell you right away that their moves are all rushed and lack precision. One of the members in the choreography jumps in the air in the most cringiest and anticlimactic form possible; it looked like he tripped over his group member. It is almost like this was their first time rehearsing their choreography together; it be hilarious if this was their first time meeting each other as well. Anyways, their vocals are fairly good and that's the highlight as far as I can say. Vocals and visuals are great, but their dancing is awful! Overall, this debut had to be one of the biggest flops and the most lackluster that I've seen so far. Unfortunately, I have to give them the title: "worst rookie dancers/choreography of the year 2024".

Edit#2(12/4/2024): I re-watched these guys again just to be certain that my eyes weren't deceiving me. After a thorough review, I'm certainly not wrong. These guys were dancing like they had two left feet! TRY1's arm movements were as precise as octopus's cephalopod limbs(no offense to octopus). Usually, I give a group many chances before making a proper judgement; TRY1 needs to go back to the drawing board and train their dance skills(at least a year or more).

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I put this group on my "trash" tier list because they can't dance if life depended on it. I do not recommend this group at all nor would I recommend that you purchase any of their content. Shouldn't it be a basic requirement for any k-idol group to be able to dance well, at the very least?

Debut Showcase
Showcase(Different Channel)
Showcase(Without Too Many Flashes)
Lyrics
Studio Choom Performance
Studio Choom Performance(Full Focused)
MNET Showcase
Performance
Arirang Radio Interview
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

ALBUM TRACKS/SHOWCASE:

Be A Star
(Live Concert Live Vocals Live Band "It's Live")
Wave Way(Audio)
Goldilocks Water Performance37
8llow Me and Goldilocks Water Showcase

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 16 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
16 divided by 17 = 0.941176471
0.941176471 multiplied by 100 = 94.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 94.1%

WIZ*ONES, fandom of the disbanded k-idol group IZ*ONE, must be ecstatic that Hitomi is returning to the k-pop industry, along with an entourage of younger, unknown idols. These young girls go by the name "Say My Name", which is under the iNKODE label. The co-producer of this group is no other than the infamous Kim Jae Joong(TVXQ!). Obviously, the main attraction of this group is their leader, Honda Hitomi; everyone loves this cute idol and she has alot of experience as an idol, so she can share her wisdom amongst the younger members! The rest of the members are newbies, fairly brand new to the k-pop scene; I think it is perfect that Hitomi is leading them. I'm going to say this bluntly, but the group name should be changed from "Say My Name" to "Our Babysitter, Hitomi". Please don't hurt me for trying to be comical, but I'm only being truthful. From my perspective, it feels like Hitomi is like the hired babysitter for these young k-idols; the age gap of 9 years is fairly huge between Hitomi and the maknae(that's about a decade in age difference). The maknae of the group is Seungjoo, who is debuting at the age of 14; this may spark K-netizens to create heated arguments against this group, but I think by now, it is safe to say that there hasn't been any problems lately about debuting minors. Hopefully, the company safeguards and protects their idols, especially the minors, from any and all dangers; the k-pop industry has proven to be toxic, inhumane, and brutal towards their k-idols. That being said, everyone shouldn't underestimate their talents/capabilities and block their potential; they've trained hard and earned their place in the spotlight.

The music video is attempting to display a somewhat of a dream-core or cute concept. From what I've observed lately, alot of groups are creating a sort of sub-concept; I could only label this sub-concept as "cat-core" or "cute cat-core" concept. Basically, music videos under this "cat-core" concept are incorporating cat-like movement and cat-like signature moves in their choreography. Also, there are cat arms, cartoon cats, and computer generated images of cats within their music video. It is really feeding into people who are cat lovers or people with Toxoplasmosis. Either that or there seems to be a social movement to worship/praise cats. Basically, the track Wave Way's main purpose is to celebrate cats. This new generation of k-idols/producers/companies seem to love cats; hopefully, this trend doesn't stay too long. I don't have a vendetta against cats nor am I against cat concepts entirely; it is just that I personally grew up exposed to alot of cats since I was young. To me, cats have become somewhat over-rated; however, if the new generation(alpha) are on this "cat-lover" bandwagon, then I'd have to desist from giving off bad vibes towards the general sentiment of the new generation. I'll just spectate from afar without having to involve myself with the current cat trend.

Before, I get into their debut performances, I would like to take a look at their album tracks. I love their Goldilocks Water track. It is my favorite track in their album; it is a must-listen. The rest of their songs are cute and catchy, but it hasn't caught most of my attention like Goldilocks Water has. Personally, I would have loved it if Goldilocks Water was their debut track.

So far, they've executed their choreography impressively on multiple showcases and performances. The cat inspired movements are cute.

"Say My Name" has a simple, casual, and down-to-earth fashion, which fits their cute/cat-core concept. There seems to be many groups out in K-pop that have fashion that is either unrelated or irrelevant to their concept. As for "Say My Name", they've hit the nail in the coffin when it comes to their fashion. I'm lovin' it!

I'll be waiting patiently for more content from this group in the future! All this group really needs is more exposure in the public's perception because no one really knows anything about the new members since they are completely brand new. Although "Say My Name" is a group filled with talented members, they still lack experience within the industry. Everyone already knows Hitomi; she has receipts/history of being experienced(going through the ringer) in the k-pop industry. I hope iNKODE will introduce the newbie members through V-logs, Variety Shows, meet and greets, interviews, fan conventions, etc, so that they are able to add fans to their fandom, attract investors/sponsors, etc. Newly created groups need public exposure as soon as possible in order to grow their popularity; a debuting group must not lose their momentum at the start when the general public's eyes are set on them. Remember, that 2024 and the upcoming years are crucial because there are upcoming "monster" groups that may steal the attention or "thunder" away from "Say My Name"; it is important for Say My Name to establish a fanbase before these "monster" groups show up. Saesangs, talent scouts, secret agents, k-netizens, and others have reported to me about these monster groups; this is not a conspiracy theory, but a fact. This group can't survive on Hitomi's status alone; every member needs to pitch in and play a role in showing off and getting the public's attention. I wish the best of luck to "Say My Name"!

EDIT#1(11/17/2024): Although Say My Name did a live vocal with a live band with their track "Be A Star", their debut title track "WaveWay" was ignored for a live vocal. To be fair with other rookie groups within my lexicon, I've decided to deduct Say My Name's score. Overall, this group is high on my tier list, but their debut title track should be the main focus or priority to their audience; instead, they cast "WaveWay" aside as a secondary track when it should be priority number one.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I highly recommend SAY MY NAME. I'm fairly certain that this group will release a ton of bops in the future, so hold onto your seats and enjoy the ride.

Simply K-pop Contour Showcase(Short Version)
Lyrics
Simply K-Pop Contour Showcase(1 Hour)
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: .66/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: .66/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .66/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .66/1
Live Visual: .66/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .4/1

TOTAL 12.7 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.7 divided by 17 = 0.747058824
0.747058824 multiplied by 100 = 74.705882353

FINAL SCORE: 74.7%

For some odd reason, this debut song sounds like it was produced for IZ*ONE or Kwon Eunbi. It sounds similar to IZ*ONE - PANORAMA. The major difference is that the female rapper of New-L has one of the deepest and powerful voices that I've heard for a long time in K-pop, which is a plus in the way I rate songs; I believe New-L's rapper is ChaeLin. ChaeLin's rapping voice is similar to Yubin from Wondergirls; this is a huge compliment. Hopefully, ChaeLin has more rap lines in future songs(if they get popular that is...). New-L's vocalists Wool and DiDi have such adorable/cute voices. Although their vocals are similar to members of the former k-idol group IZ*ONE, I enjoyed it as a nostalgic imitation of an era that has long passed. With that being said, I am not claiming that New-L is copying IZ*ONE. It is simply a song that draws inspiration from the IZ*ONE era.

"Focus" has an interesting upbeat instrumental that is super catchy. If you enjoy IZ*ONE music, then you'll probably appreciate a return of that style of music. During parts of the debut song, you'll notice either a flute, clarinet, or a recorder being played(Personally, I don't know what instrument it is); the instrument used that I mentioned adds a layer of hype or progression towards a strong chorus. The build up from the bridge of the song to the chorus is simply addictive; I find myself playing parts of the song repetitively because of how awesome the hook is.

All the dresses that New-L showed off in their music video is quite delightful. They definately should wear the sparkling ones for their showcase!

A factoid released to me from a K-netizen is that DiDi is the first Burmese K-pop Idol in history. You may notice DiDi's make-up palette is identical to a famous k-idol, Jeon Somi(Former I.O.I); the make-up palette has a striking effect to those who see it for the first time. It is very beautiful. The other members also have sparkling face stickers(I forget the actual term for them. I think it is called "sticky emblems".). The stylist and make-up artist should get a raise for doing a wonderful job on New-L.

EDIT#1(9/30/2024): I listened to their album. Their tracks "Beautiful Night" and "Tomorrow" are adorable tracks; these two tracks aren't similar to "Focus", but are a good listen. Since they only debuted a few days ago, there isn't much content out like any public appearances. I'll be waiting...

EDIT#2(10/28/2024): It has been well over a month after their debut, yet there are still no public appearances, nor are there any extra content. I know that DiDi is part of Rumble-G(another k-pop group); her activity could be conflicting with her recent group. Is this the main reason that New-L isn't active? New-L is a newly created group that should at least be promoting in order to sell their album. Am I not looking at the right channels or video producers for more New-L content? Anyways, I hope things go well with them. From the looks of things, a month of no promotional content spells disaster and could also mean that New-L was a "throw-away" group. A "throw-away" group is a company's attempt to make a viral sleeper hit, but fails due to many circumstances; as a result of not being a "viral sleeper hit", they halt all activity and production for the group. Hopefully, this isn't the case.

EDIT#3(11/11/2024): An anonymous k-netizen sent me a showcase called "Simply K-pop Con-tour", where New-L finally made some sort of public appearance.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: New-L's Focus is definately a track that's worthy of being in your playlist.

Lyrics
NPOP Limited Edition Performance
INKIGAYO DEBUT SHOWCASE
Dance Practice
MNET Showcase
MCOUNTDOWN FANCAM
OFFICIAL CHOREOGRAPHY
SBS INKIGAYO(2nd Showcase)
Live Vocals on
SBS Power FM Youngstreet Radio
Hosted By Wendy(Red Velvet)
Full Interview
SBS POWER FM YOUNGSTREET RADIO
HOSTED BY WENDY(RED VELVET)
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
COMEBACK: Toxic

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: .9/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .8/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .9/1

TOTAL 15.6 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.6 divided by 17 = 0.917647059
0.917647059 multiplied by 100 = 91.764705882

FINAL SCORE: 91.7%

MEOVV is a visually appealing rookie group of 2024! Not only are they beautiful, fitting korean beauty standards to the extreme, but they may resemble other k-idol super stars. Narin looks like a spitting image of a young(a lighter complexion version) Yoonmirae(MFBTY). Gawon looks similar(side-profile may be off a slight bit from being exact) to the Jung Sisters: Jessica Jung(SNSD) and Krystal Jung(f(x)). Anna looks definately like Lia from Itzy. Ella almost has the same facial structure as Danielle from New Jeans; however, Ella has a more vogue model appearance. Sooin looks like Suzy(Miss A), but with long, straight hair; throughout one of the teasers, I found myself uttering Suzy's name whenever she did an acrobatic move, fighting through the countless hoard of soldiers, who were guarding the cartoon cat vending machine. It is as though Suzy's live spirit fled into Sooin's body and possessed her. You may think that I'm delusional for comparing their looks to previous k-idol stars, but I'm being demure in my assessment. Take it as you will, but you will definately contemplate and connect the dots. You'll remember what I have said and wonder if MEOVV is blood-related or biologically-related to these aforementioned k-idol stars of the past.

Most people say that the music video was a "nothing burger". I beg to differ! They are not following the same "YG Formula" nor are they repeating Teddy's formula either; the sound has a more cool vibe to it like a cat lounging around(hence, their name: MEOVV). Although the sound is technically Teddy, it is composed by 24, Jumpa, Claudia Valentina, Zikai. The lyrics are encompassing Teddy's usual spiel of flaunting wealth; however, it is dialed down a notch. Yes, I'd have to agree with outspoken critics that the lyrics are trite and embarrassing in 2024 because no one in society(for the most part) flaunts their wealth in front of impoverished people, unless they are an arse or a jerk. The instrumental is not the usual Teddy The Black Label sound. It is more akin to funky EDM and the concept isn't exactly a "Girl Crush"; it is more flaunty and jaunty. The best way to describe the overall concept is a light-hearted, well-mannered girl crush. It is not exactly a replica of BlackPink, BabyMonster, or 2NE1. Another way of describing MEOVV's debut is that it is more à la mode to 2024, a modern fashioned girl crush, in short.

Anyways, I can see all the haters out there saying that it failed to be an anthem because it lacks a bombastic climax. They say that it is stale, boring, empty, flat, pallid, unremarkable, and the list goes on. I disagree with the general sentiment surrounding MEOVV's music video. The movie set was a bit desolate, especially within the cafeteria(tables, chairs, and benches scattered around); however, it is mainly to showcase the members' visuals. The main focus of debuting groups is to introduce the members' appearance, so it is understandable that the environment wasn't too distracting; empty areas such as a cafeteria is the perfect place to show off their visuals. MEOVV is not trying to be BlackPink, BabyMonster, or 2NE1. The critics are super demented! Often, I read comments comparing and contrasting MEOVV's debut with Teddy's original work. That's where the problem arises. The producers of MEOVV was not trying to clone previous groups that they worked with; this is an entirely new group carving their own path in the k-pop industry. Negative commenters have also said that MEOVV is a "discount girl crush". That was the last straw really! Again, people are expecting another "girl crush" group of the same caliber as YG Entertainment's groups. We've been there, done that, and got the T-Shirt. MEOVV is providing the audience with a modern change to girl crush. I kind of blame the teasers because it was over-hyped to the point that everyone had high expectations. It is what it is, I suppose. With that being said, I enjoyed the music video opposed to the majority, who don't understand nuance.

By the way, the group of Sasquatch(big foot) dancing at the end was totally random. I really don't know what to say about that since it has no real relation to the whole concept/theme. My assumption is that they had to provide the audience with some comedy, but I found it more questionable than funny. Instead of using Sasquatch costumes, they could have just used cat costumes to fit the concept of their song. What I pondered the most was the lack of cats in the video. I was fairly certain, before the debut dropped, that they'll add an oversupply of felines in their debut. A theory that I came up with was that there were computer generated images of cats in the video, but they scrapped the idea. If you have noticed all the empty spaces within the video, then you'll clearly see that the spaces were intended to be place-holders or pedestals for cartoon cats or actual cats. It was probably the main intention for all the empty space. I wonder why they didn't add cats when there's clear indication or motive to do so.

NPOP showcased MEOVV's "Limited Edition" performance. It was just as expected. They were superb! You can tell that they have some sort of signature move with the "cat claw". It is a nicely added addition to their "purr-fect" choreography. I bet their future releases will have cat-like movement or even cat-like mannerisms. It is somewhat rejuvenating to have cat-related choreography in k-pop; I don't believe there was ever any cat-related content besides fromis_9 - DKDK, AOA - Like A Cat, or CocoSori - Exquisite.

The Inkigayo showcase was questionable. MEOVV's stage environment changed at the end of their performance, as well as their clothing. I thought this was live, but it truly wasn't. I'll be waiting for a complete showcase in the future.

From my observation, MEOVV has a ton of intricate movements in their choreography. Not only are their movement visually pleasing, but each move is difficult to do. These moves that they execute aren't easy to do; this may offer a challenge to those who participate in dance covers or "random play dance". What sets them apart from many girl groups is that they keep their elegant composure without sacrificing precision in their movement. It is a rare feature in any group to have a massive amounts of difficult moves without any errors. MEOVV was on my mind to be a contender for 2024's best debut dance/choreography, but they simply couldn't knock down BadVillain at all. BadVillain's energy is unmatched in this category. Although MEOVV didn't topple BadVillain, they are still top tier dancers. With that being said, I really hope MEOVV's future comeback will be much stronger than their debut. MEOVV have the potential to be a force of reckoning in the k-pop arena, a group worth everyone's attention.

Conspiracy Theory: MEOVV's debut was intentionally created to be mediocre for the purpose of having other groups shine much brighter. The "other groups" that I speak about are probably YG Entertainment group comebacks. We all know that YG Entertainment is having a world tour next year, so Teddy is giving us mediocre "girl crush" songs before the main attraction arrives, such as BlackPink, BabyMonster, Treasure, and 2NE1. This is mainly speculation, but I believe the next group to have a medicore debut is IZNA(WakeOne). Remember, this is just a huge assumption with no evidence to back it up. It is more of a hunch of mine that they will intentionally have IZNA flop a bit or have a "meh" debut. I truly hope I'm wrong with this prediction. It is sort of a strategy that YG Entertainment and TheBlackLabel look like they are initiating here. Before the main course, they give us the side dishes, which will be mediocre at best. Those "side dishes" that I speak about are MEOVV and IZNA(WakeOne). Remember, all of what I have said is just based on a cookie crumb trail that I followed and inspected out of curiousity; I could be entirely incorrect about all this. It is a matter of time before events start unfolding and revealing the whole truth of what is being played to the fans and the general audience. Another theory that I have is that The Black Label and WakeOne could partner in YG Entertainment's world tour, adding MEOVV and IZNA in their line-up. Not only will this be beneficial, but it could strengthen The Black Label, WakeOne, and YG Entertainment's partnerships. Hybe, JYPE, and other k-pop entertainment agencies wouldn't anticipate a move such as the combining forces of YG Entertainment, The Black Label, and WakeOne. Again, this is just a conspiracy theory. Just imagine the possibilities of agencies combining forces.

EDIT#1(9/9/2024): Hopefully, their next comeback will be alot stronger; I know that these young ladies have what it takes to be number one. I hope Teddy does something to enhance his own group! It is strange that Teddy gave other groups stronger music while MEOVV(Teddy's own creation/his pride and joy) didn't hit as hard as people expected it to do.

EDIT#2(9/30/2024): WOW! MEOVV's Live Vocals are amazing! On SBS Power FM Youngstreet Radio, which was hosted by Wendy(Red Velvet), MEOVV sang their debut Meow live. They are definately a powerhouse! I hope to hear more live vocals from these amazing felines(ah hem)...I meant to say...young ladies.

EDIT#3(11/11/2024): I have conflicting thoughts about MEOVV. MEOVV's visuals are breath-taking! Basically, they are simultaneously vogue models and k-idols. Every video MEOVV releases, I'm always stunned by their visuals. The cat-claw signature move is just a cherry on top and/or a chef's kiss to their supreme vogue visuals. Everything they've done so far is impressive! That being said, they are top tier in terms of visuals; however, they couldn't topple UNIS, a contender that I nominated for best visuals of 2024. For the past month, I was looking for more content from MEOVV, but they seem to take forever to release content, they are going at a slow pace like a sloth or a snail. No offense or anything, but from a high tier company such as The Black Label, they should be releasing more content to demonstrate MEOVV's talents and more. The Black Label is way too overconfident that they will allow MEOVV to simply slack off from promoting; this is an obvious misstep or error of conduct that MEOVV and The Black Label has done. The Black Label are simply relying on their prestige to carry MEOVV throughout their career. Their methods are working now, but the critics with the eyes to see and ears to hear know what is going on here.

EDIT#4(11/18/2024): MEOVV just had a comeback with a pop R&B title track called MEOVV - TOXIC. I've noticed that MEOVV is gradually building around vocal performance instead of focusing on choreography; personally, I appreciate this alot. Since MEOVV's debut, I've had premonitions that MEOVV has the potential to even overcome BlackPink if there is authentic synchronicity that surrounds their work. Again, the potential is there, but will they be able to tap into that potential? Who knows? MEOVV has been tip-toeing around their true potential. It's there, but not quite hitting the mark.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I highly recommend MEOVV. Honestly, I could have easily put them up on my "Monster Rookies" tier; however, they haven't demonstrated anything that's praiseworthy yet. MEOVV is simply being carried by their prestige, as well as being a k-idol group under a highly reputable label: The Black Label. There are no doubts that this group will increase in popularity in due time; there's even a possibility that they can even surpass BlackPink if they tap into their potentiality. Again, MEOVV is prancing around their potential, but not reaching the mark. It is like The Black Label is intentionally holding back and saving stronger music for their future comebacks. MEOVV has the goods and we are patiently waiting until they bring us an extremely viral hit song.

Dance Practice
Lyrics
KOREANET Interview
(A Performance Mid-Way)
Showcase Fancam
Simply K-Pop Contour Showcase(1 Hour)
Simply K-pop Contour Showcase(Short Version)
COMEBACK: Free Fall
Choreography? Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .7/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .9/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.06 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.06 divided by 17 = 0.827058824
0.827058824 multiplied by 100 = 82.705882353

FINAL SCORE: 82.7%

L5ST released their "bro-mance" music video. It's a good listen.

L5ST's dance practice shows a solid performance. There's a dude in the group who covered his whole identity during their practice. It offered a bit of mystery and suspicion, but more so, the ninja-like character distracted me frequently like a bee buzzing, annoyingly, in a room.

Apparently, there's no public appearances or any showcases just yet, but they've done a couple interviews here and there. It is nearly the end of the month without any sort of public appearance. This reeks of trouble to be honest, not to mention that one of the dancers in their choreography was mysteriously covered in black from head to toe, hiding his identity. Usually, rookie groups showcase instantly after their debut.

EDIT#1(9/30/2024): After digging through the internet, I finally spotted their live showcase called "J-Stage O!" within a place called Live Hall; this was recorded with a fancam, which was filmed a week ago. It looked like they performed in a private/exclusive venue in front of a small crowd. I thought that they did fairly well. The problem with groups debuting these days is that they aren't promoting in bigger, well known stages; honestly, showcasing in well-known stages are quite pricey; however, isn't it the priority of the company to invest in their own group? Tiny venues such as these only give them exposure to a tiny crowd of people(who are already familar to L5ST) when they should be exposing themselves to a wider audience, country wide, where new fans can be made. Now, I'm not downplaying the decisions of their company; it could be that the decision to go "cheap" was their only option within their budget. It is what is it, I suppose.

EDIT#2(10/6/2024): L5ST's needs more publicity. The only showcase that I found of them was in some kind of private venue, almost exclusive to a tiny fanbase. A debut should go all out and seek attention from all corners of public showcases, as well as the internet, but L5ST failed to meet this simple criteria.

EDIT#3(11/11/2024): An anonymous k-netizen sent me a showcase called "Simply K-pop Con-tour", where L5ST finally made some sort of public appearance. Mind you, this is about 2 months after their debut. L5ST did a phenomenal performance! I'd have to change the score that I gave them last month to reflect my current feelings about them.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Although L5ST is barely recognized, I'd still recommend L5ST with confidence.

Performance
LYRICS
Debut: UNO(Natural Version)
KBS WORLD TV
MUSICBANK SHOWCASE
MNET M2 PERFORMANCE37
MUSICBANK Choreography
DANCE PRACTICE
Live Band Live Vocals "it's Live"


Album Tracks/Performance:
MADEIN - DADARIDA(Performance)

MADEIN - DOPAMINE(Performance)

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .8/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 16.8 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
16.8 divided by 17 = 0.988235294
0.988235294 multiplied by 100 = 98.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 98.8%

143 Entertainment has been around for almost one generation(about 4 years). Under their label is another group called "iKon", who were considered as a top tier group 2 generations ago. "iKon" was under YG Entertainment before they transfered to 143 Entertainment. Although they are inactive, they've proven to be consistent in making memorable tracks. Anyway, MADEIN could possibly make a good imprint in the korean music charts if they follow the successes or footsteps of "iKon". I'm not holding my breath though; sometimes, the same recipe to success is different for other groups. MADEIN is just getting started.

MADEIN's album "Rise(Ascending)" totally rocks! The tracks within the album "Rise" are: Uno, Dadarida, Dopamine, and Timeline. "Uno" is a typical pop song, "Dadarida" sounds a bit afrobeat-ish, "Dopamine" is more of a club dance song, and "Timeline" is a ballad. Personally, I had a blast listening to these songs. Anyways, now I will talk about the negative aspects of their debut music video. First of all, I'm not totally against Artificial Intelligence; there are certain aspects of artificial intelligence that can help alleviate the pain of constructing a huge amount of objects within a project; the manual production of effects may take months while artificial intelligence can do the same work-load as quickly as a few days, which is exponentially faster than the work of an average human. When there is a task that requires a huge amount of work, then artificial intelligence does the grunt work instead of a human being having to pain-stakingly hand-draw billions of pixels; the mechanism within artificial intelligence is a process that removes a huge chunk of arduous and time consuming work, which is everyone's preferred method. In MADEIN's music video, artificial intelligence made everything look awful. Let me explain. The visual effects were great overall, but there was way too many unnecessary A.I. footage crammed in the video, which made it look like an amateur designed it. It looked like they inserted the A.I. footage all in the wrong places. Simply, there was too many A.I. imagery that served no real purpose but to captivate or "wow" a certain demographic(possibly a minority that praises graphical fidelity over actual relatable content). All the fans really wanted was a simple music video with the young ladies. Instead, fans received a hand-full of A.I. garbage and snippets of MADEIN themselves. Fans weren't asking for much either; they simply wanted a well edited video without all the superfluous A.I. slop. This is the best example of where Artificial Intelligence severely fails. Artificial Intelligence is usually utilized in the lighting, shadow, and graphical objects, which would be enough to have a pleasing video. It doesn't help that 90% of the video is A.I. generated, which drowned out the main attraction, the members of MADEIN. The fans deserve a better music video than this one.

As I said before in previous blogs, rebranding a group's name is rather risky because the name could displease the established fanbase. New members added to the rebranded group could also change the sentiment surrounding them. Although I found the newly added members quite satisfying, I bet that there are those foaming at the mouth like a pack of rabid racoons, ready to attack the newly added members. It is what it is. Rebranding is usually risky, but I think 143 Entertainment was forced to change the brand. Limelight, the original name of their group, wasn't really recognized in the k-pop community; they are slightly in "nugu" or unknown territory. Usually, k-idol groups start to diminish overtime because fans lose interest and find another group that they find more of their liking. I think Limelight was fading into the shadows, but I personally think that rebranding actually saved them from their fate. With new monster groups that are out right now, groups like Limelight would inevitably be overcomed and knocked down to oblivion. The only option had to be rebranding, which I didn't mind in this particular situation. It's risky, but it had to be done.

Limelight's original members are MiU, Suhye, and Gaeun. The added members are Mashiro(former Kep1er), Yeseo(former Kep1er), Serina, and Nagomi. I'm not complaining. 7 members is a good total. The more, the merrier.

Let's talk about the lyrics. It is cute, catchy, and simple with the chorus being spoken and counted in spanish. It's not a complex lyrical song at all; it only serves to make the audience happy.

The instrumental is simply a dance song with a trance/electronic/happy hardcore transition during the chorus. It is appreciative that they brought back an era long and lost, which is a time where people danced together, whirling glowsticks. Yes, there was a time where people enjoyed glowing objects being twirled and hurled around each other.

The concept of this music video is simply dream-core or cute-core. I think 143 Entertainment is attempting their own rendition or re-creation of ILLIT(BE:LIFT) or APRIL(DSP Media). Although the song is a fun listen, it's nothing original or ground-breaking. You may claim it is a "copy and paste" of other dream-core, which is plausible. Take a look at April - Take My Hand(Performance) and see for yourself. If analyzed in depth, then you'll notice how both groups look identical!

MADEIN executed their choreography masterfully. They killed their KBS MUSICBANK Showcase! I love every bit of it. Some parts of their choreography remind me of GWSN's Puzzle Moon, but it is more like a mirror reflection of the choreography, not an exact duplicate; the best way of thinking of this is by reversing the movement of MADEIN's choreography. You may be surprised to find MADEIN's choreography is similar to GWSN's choreography. There's an old saying that "birds of a feather, flock together." Their choreography displays alot of unification; MADEIN's movement is definately looking like birds migrating to a better climate before the winter season. Elegantly precise, MADEIN's choreography is made to look like a group of swans paddling across a great lake; each member's movement are synchronized, each offering a visual touch of heaven.

Let's talk about MADEIN's fashion. Wow! The choices of jewelry made these girls glitter during their MUSICBANK showcase! While they executed their choreography elegantly, the sparkling jewelry gave each member a princess look; whenever a princess shows up to the red carpet or ballroom, all eyes are on the princess; in this case, all eyes are on MADEIN. Their swan-like fashion is fabulous, each member wore white dresses with unique features attached to their clothing. Basically, the best label that describes their visual concept is "Swan Princesses".

MADEIN released their natural version of "UNO", which is the re-editted debut due to a majority of people negatively criticizing the over-use of artificial intelligence. The new music video is exponentially better than their originally released music video. 143 Entertainment is a label that actually listens to their fan's constructive criticism, unlike many k-pop labels out there.

After viewing MADEIN for quite some time, I discovered a particular doppleganger within their group. Nagomi looks like Yena(Former IZ*ONE) and a younger Baek Jiheon(fromis_9) combined. I'm not complaining about this. A Yena/Jiheon clone means fans can enjoy another pretty face in the kpop industry.

Edit #1(10/10/2024): MADEIN showcased their live vocals with a live band at "it's Live". They were marvelous! So far, this group has been professional, consistent, and persistent throughout their debut period.

Edit #2(11/11/2024): Gaeun is on hiatus for health reasons. These "health reasons" are a bit questionable because she had unfollowed 143 Entertainment's CEO on instagram after the announcement of her hiatus. Is this "health reasons" or something else?

Edit #3(11/22/2024): Rumors are flaming and firing up all over social media today with a huge wild fire of accusations. The CEO of 143 Entertainment(MADEIN's label) is rumored to have sexually assaulted Gaeun, a 19 year old member of MADEIN, who is also a former member of Limelight. At first I couldn't believe my eyes because she was the former Limelight member under that same CEO, who had sexually assaulted her. Secondly, MADEIN had such a great rebranded group debut; this news smacked me in the face in the worst possible way! At first, I didn't want to believe it until certain saesangs and k-netizens informed me about it. It is such a shame and outright disgusting that the CEO would harm her; there are rumors that Gaeun had been blackmailed, as well, by the CEO. All the news are slowly seeping itself to the general public. As of right now, everything is not official, but rumors; however, a ton of people are confirming that these accusations towards the CEO are actually true. Since I do not reside in South Korea, I have to patiently wait for the actual truth with reliable sources before I can make my own judgement. The rumor mill gets too wild sometimes and all the released news or noise may be speculation; personally, I want to hear the information from the horse's mouth, not from some random person on the internet. If this news is true, then we might have to see MADEIN disband because of a CEO sex offender running around, getting into underaged k-idol's under-garments. This also fuels the arguments against minors debuting; the cases seem to start building on top of each other, stacking immensely to the ceiling, and it is hard to deny the toxicity of the k-idol industry. Although I am not against minors debuting, this is starting to spell disaster for those that genuinely support minors debuting and living their dream career. I'm at the stance or position that minors, out of their own volition and/or decisions, can be a k-idol without anyone coercing them to do so; I firmly believe that minors are capable of matching and/or exceeding even adult k-idols. However, I do see the need for systems to be in place to protect and safe-guard minors from abusers/victimizers within this industry. For a moment, I thought that everything was smooth sailing and acceptable about minors debuting; however, events are starting to reveal the ugliness behind the glitz and glamour, which is shaping the future of k-pop. There really needs to be certain regulations that needs to be implemented so that situations like this doesn't happen again. Constantly, I hear lots of rumors about sexual assault and mistreatment within the k-idol industry behind closed doors; saesangs have sent me photographs of abused trainees, which I can't show here(it will be revealed sooner or later within certain outlets). I do not want to leak information or photographs because I do not want to be blackmailed in the process. Abused trainess can't say a word about their mistreatment because it jeopardizes their contract/employment within their agency. Plus, in South Korea, individuals, who are older than you have the final say in the decision making process; it's a cruel hierarchical system that forces people to "shut up" even if they are right. It also rewards people simply because they are alot older than you; these older authority figures have the final say and it can't be questioned. It's rather horrifying. Unfortunately, this hierarchical system is deeply embedded within South Korean culture and has always been part of their traditional ways; I'm not here to try and change it either(it is an impossible task). Simply, the only way things will change is if everyone collectively made a plan and took action to change things. Again, a revolution isn't for the faint of heart and that's why I don't think anything will change. No one is willing to courageously step up and change the k-idol industry without the repercussions or consequences of going against the grain. Anyways, I'll be waiting for the official news; I'm hearing all sorts of gossip here and there, so I have to calm down and not jump the gun with false information. It is saddening to see MADEIN potentially disbanding when they worked diligently in giving us a remarkable debut. Lastly, I hope Gaeun is safe and under the care of people who truly care about her; it is hard to trust anyone in the k-idol industry when the higher ups are running amok and causing mayhem.

Edit #4(11/22/2024): If the accusations are true about the CEO's sexual assault, then MADEIN's future is at the brink of collapse. The label itself may be under investigation as well with the other members of MADEIN. Another sad part is IKON is under the same label as MADEIN. Will they have to find another label as well? 143 Entertainment's reputation is tarnished as of right now and there seems to be no hope of salvaging it if the allegations are true. There's too many possibilities on the table right now. 143 Entertainment's future is in shambles and a shakey one at this point in time. There are also fans participating in boycotting 143 Entertainment; this boycott may grow exponentially amongst the k-pop community as news of sexual assault is involved. Unfortunately, this might spell the end of MADEIN. If MADEIN are able to transfer their group to a safer/responsible entertainment agency, then that would be awesome. MADEIN's momentum has grinded to a sudden stop because of their CEO's own folly. MADEIN is one of my picks for top tier rookie groups of 2024; however, their further development has stagnated because of a "higher up" unable to keep his pants up. Out of all my life, I never seen such a despicable act of a so called "adult" do to a young lady. As adults, aren't we suppose to have consentual or transactional relationships? We can't call this CEO an adult if he is unable to have any semblance of self-control. Isn't the CEO of 143 Entertainment like around 70 years old? Shouldn't age show your wisdom? Sexual assault doesn't sound like an action that a wise old man initiates; these are acts that a delinquent and petty thug initiates. It is wild to me that all the decision-making power and the management of resources within 143 Entertainment is controlled by a sex offender. Isn't it crazy that most people in power often have psychopathic traits, who are able to exercise their power without question on those who are weak and defenseless? The horrible thing about all of this mistreatment is that the CEO is probably just going to get a slap on the wrist and commanded not to do this again. If a regular person attempted to do what the CEO did, then they would have been sent to jail immediately with the escape key being thrown into the sea with no way of recovering it. I've heard that the CEO has resigned from his position, but is still roaming scot-free around 143 Entertainment doing god knows what. To ensure that more negative situations don't happen, it is an obligation for fans to boycott such a company that allows bad or evil behavior; the company must harbor toxic activity and could very well be a cesspool of degenerate buffoons in 143 entertainment. If anyone is truly good, moral, or ethical, then the only course of action is to boycott 143 Entertainment until justice is served on a cold silver plater; in other words, you should vote with your wallet(dont' support with your money) and feet(walk away from the toxicity). With that being said, it was a wonderful experience to have witnessed MADEIN's debut. Sadly, good things don't last long. I think there is more news to come...so stay tuned...

Edit #5(11/28/2024): Gaeun has left MADEIN and 143 Entertainment. Although the CEO has resigned, he is still roaming around 143 Entertainment doing god knows what. To all the fans of MADEIN and 143 Entertainment, it is really up to you if you want to keep supporting this company, where the CEO has displayed bad behavior. You vote with your wallet(use your money on what you support) and feet(walk away from toxicity).

Edit #6(11/28/2024): By the way, I did send a saesang to look around 143 Entertainment on 11/22/2024(she took as many pictures as she could around the place). She says that there's no way of snooping deeper in the place because there are alot of movement going around the place. She would get caught right away, which is understandable. She also spotted a bunch of suspicious people around the place. I have a hunch that there are other private investigators on sight. I'm not the only one curious of what is going on in 143 Entertainment.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Although MADEIN is a top tier group, their own CEO sabotaged the group with his bad behavior. Even though MADEIN has shown outstanding performances and created such a wonderful discography, I do not recommend supporting this group because of the CEO. MADEIN is like seeing a delicious carrot cake that you would like to purchase, but to only find a piece of dog sh*t lying right next to this delectable dessert. You wouldn't purchase this dessert because of the dog sh*t that is lying right next to it. Would you? I can go as far as not showing any support for 143 Entertainment. There's an old saying that birds of a feather, flock together. If the CEO is showing bad behavior, then do you ever wonder what the whole agency is like? It could be corrupted from the top to the bottom. Again, I'd like to state that you should vote with your wallet and feet(support what you like with your money and walk away from toxicity).

DEBUT STAGE
Performance
Dance Practice
Lyrics
Arirang Radio Live Session
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .39/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 15.05 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.05 divided by 17 = 0.885294118
0.885294118 multiplied by 100 = 88.529411765

FINAL SCORE: 88.5%

GENBLUE, a 6 member Taiwanese girl group, just recently finished their korean debut "COCOCO". It is odd that they'd do a korean debut instead of a chinese one, but I heard from netizens that they were going to do a full chinese lyrical one(don't quote me on that though). Possibly, there's a bigger market in South Korea for the type of music that GENBLUE produces than the market in Taiwan; there could be a higher profit to do a Korean debut than a Chinese debut. Airing on July 29, 2023, the reality survival show NEXT GIRLZ is responsible for creating GENBLUE; previously, GENBLUE had 9 members, but 3 of them were removed from the final line-up. Within 2023, GENBLUE had made a pre-debut album called "For You" as well as digital and special singles. The music video was a fun watch; it was a racing concept with a neon/radon light color scheme, which was exuberantly decorated through-out the background. The feel of their music video is almost like visiting an inner part of any city during the night, where there are flashing lights on the walls of store-fronts and billboards. In the music video, you'll find plenty of graphical effects such as sparkling blue flames; there are also computer generated trains and race cars.

"COCOCO" has a catchy chorus, but it is repetitive for the purpose of dancing to it(obviously). The instrumental is fast and groovey. Overall, it is a fun dance pop song to enjoy. If you love 2NE1's old discography of dance beats, then you'll naturally gravitate towards GENBLUE's music. 2NE1 and GENBLUE both have a similar style. 2NE1 and YG Entertainment type of music videos always have some sort of race car in it; GENBLUE must have the same taste as YG Entertainment when it comes to displaying fast cars.

Your attention should be on details when viewing GENBLUE's choreography. There's alot of fancy finger dancing in their debut choreography. Yes, you heard that right; the main focus of their dances are their fingers. You may find it funny at first, but you'll appreciate the fine details executed by these young ladies, especially with how acrobatic and fancy their fingers move. Although their leg movements are minimal, you'll find all their arm movements executed elegantly with style/flavor.

GENBLUE's fashion is quite colorful; to be exact, there are two colors that are emphasized in their fashion. Their debut stage outfits were more focused on the color magenta; at first, I thought it was pink, but it was a darker shade of pink. The color between violet and pink is the color that I'm refering to. Hopefully, magenta is the right name/label for pieces of their outfits. Anyways, they totally rock the color magenta. The patterns of their clothing look zebra-like with a delicate amount of denim material, so that the presentation doesn't drown in the magenta, which is their main color for their debut. I'm also loving the detailed materials added to their clothing like glasses, necklaces, ribbons, tassles, etc; all these details help with the atmospheric immersion. The environment plays a part in their aesthetics as well; it is blueish tint surrounding the members, which is to give the audience a new, fresh vibe. I'd say that the fashion details are quite extravagant(I'm lovin' it).

Overall, GENBLUE is a decent group. My main concern about this group is their methods of promotions. Are they going to stay in the South Korean, Taiwanese/Chinese, or both markets for promoting their music? It may sway fans back and forth since they may be expecting korean comebacks or vice versa(a chinese comeback). A group juggling between South Korea and Taiwan may come with its own perils, both for GENBLUE and their fans.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: GENBLUE is one of my recommended k-idol groups of 2024. The only problem that I see arising is that they are based in Taiwan, doing mainly chinese songs. Juggling between Taiwan and South Korea, Genblue might find this task gruelling, especially for fans that might have been attracted by their South Korean debut. It is what it is. If fans of GenBlue is dedicated and loyal, then their fans might eventually end up converting to pop music made in Taiwan/China.

Showcase 1
Showcase 2
Audio Only
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.66 divided by 17 = 0.862352941
0.862352941 multiplied by 100 = 86.235294118

FINAL SCORE: 86.2%

4WARD made a hit with their debut "Kitty Cat"! These kids came out of no where! I searched the internet for this group because of the rumors, but I couldn't find it at first until the end of October. It's a bop! Each members vocals and rapping is elite for their age! One of the kids wore an over-sized hat, which blocked out her eyesight; that scene got me rolling on the ground laughing. They definately should continuing wearing over-sized hats; it is definately a stylish trend that is over-looked by many stylists/fashionistas. Imagine when they become alot older! They'll definately get everyone's attention with those over-sized hats!

They also did a live showcase, which was amazing! South Korea is definately riding this cat trend or cat-core concept for 2024, which may spill over to 2025. 4WARD is another kids group to look out for; they are the future of South Korea!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: 4WARD, a kids k-idol group, is an under-rated gem in k-pop. Everyone is under-estimating this group because of their age, but they are close to being top tier! I can confidently recommend this group. Since they are a kids group, we don't know if they will make a future comeback. Why isn't anyone talking about 4WARD? It is frustrating to find talent, but no one seems to care!

Dummy + Sour and Sweet Showcase
Mnet Showcase
Studio Choom Performance
Studio Choom Full Focused Performance
Sour and Sweet Lyrics
100 Seconds of ARrC(Live Vocals)[Dingo]
Dingo Live(Live Vocals)
It's Live(Band Live)
Dance Practice
Relay Dance Practice
Pre-release: Dummy
Dummy It's Live(Live Band)

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .9/1
Cosmetics: .9/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: .9/1

Best 2024 Debut Rap/Hip Hop(Exclusive Extra): 1/1

TOTAL 17.03 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
17 divided by 17 = 1
1 multiplied by 100 = 100%

FINAL SCORE: 100%

ARrC stands for "Always Remember The Real Connection". This 5 member group is under Mystic Story, a subsidiary label under SM Entertainment; Mystic Story is a merge between Mystic89 and APOP entertainment. Known groups from Mystic Story are Billlie(a girl group) and Brown Eyed Girls(a legendary girl group).

S&S(Sour and Sweet) is a roller-coaster of a song. As a result of hearing this song, you will either be ecstatic or nauseous. Like riding on a roller-coaster, you will be willing to experience more of it or you will be hurling chunks(your already eaten lunch) unto the concrete pavement, which is the result of riding on a tumultuous path of a roller-coaster. Roller-coasters go up, down, twirl, side to side, or in unpredictable directions, depending on which roller-coaster that you ride. There are people who will enjoy the experience while others will be in regret/remorse for listening to a structurely disorganized(cluster-f*cked) song; you may even think the composer has a "scatter-brain" mentality. In other words, the composer could have intentionally rearranged the parts of the song randomly to create a chaotic sounding composition. Unfortunately, there isn't a grey or middle area that one can position themselves when confronted with this song. Consequently, you will either think this song belongs in the treasure or trash bin. Personally, I found it a good listen; however, I understand how someone can find this song annoying. The chorus may turn you away with the wacky sounding "oh-woah-wee". There are sudden spurts of fast and slow paced rap/vocal lines, which can sound disjointed; the lyrics are almost unharmoniously placed together like stacked blocks in a game of Jenga. Since the blocks aren't placed accurately, the tower of blocks look as if it is about to fall, but somehow barely balances on top of each other for the next player's turn. S&S is best described as a game of Jenga when all the blocks are wickedly close to falling over. Imagine a tower of Jenga blocks stacked diagonally, leaning dangerously to the side, identical to the building called the "Leaning Tower of Pisa". You will find yourself in awe that this song still managed to be entertaining even if it is structured in disarray.

I loved ARrC's music video. ARrC's music video included their choreography, "The fox and the grapes" fable, graphical effects, a fantastic setting and materials, gigantic grapes, and the group just enjoying their time. Overall, a fun music video.

The lyrics of the song is based on a short story found within Aesop's Fables, which is a book containing a collection of short stories made for children or anyone looking for classic wisdom. These short stories within Aesop's Fables all have a moral message. Particularly, "The Fox and The Grapes" is the fable that is being told by ARrC's Sour and Sweet. Not to ruin the full story, but the moral of the story is that it is easy to despise what you cannot get. Since the fox can't get the ripe grapes from the top of the tree, the fox gives up and calls the grapes sour. Although the ripe grapes are obviously sweet, the fox pretends(or makes excuses) that the grapes are sour because the ripe grapes are out of its' reach. It is interesting that ARrC incorporated one of Aesop's Fables into their debut. This is a huge sign of creativity that many dismiss because many people don't look any deeper into the meaning of the lyrics. Instead, most people will just judge a book by its cover(only regarding the surface level) and ignore the meaning of the lyrics.

Let's take a look at their choreography for "Sour and Sweet". I felt the move done halfway through the song was awkward; it is when 3 members bow down with their arms sprawled upward away from the audience(their backside facing toward the audience). It seriously looks like they are farting, waving their flatulence(a putrid odor/gas) to their audience. Any move will do besides that lewd move; I call it the "waving fart bow". Overall, every move that they do is solid, done in rhythmic precision. My favorite part of the choreography is when all the members interlock their arms together, almost like multiple pretzels connected to each other; ARrC does this "team interlocking move" near the end of the choreography. I forgot to add that the introduction and ending has a dark trance vibe to it, which makes their moves look alot sharper. Although the choreography abruptly ends, I found the ending choreography quite sufficient like a ribbon, tying a gift's wrapping paper securely, ready to be shipped to the recipient.

Again, I hold the same opinion from my last blog about their visuals for their pre-debut; obviously, I would like to emphasize that their fashion is their weakness. This time they are wearing loosely-fitted(baggy) pants, loosely/unbuttoned dress shirts, and a tie. Is this really Mystic Story's trendy male fashion? It's a huge joke! It is like ARrC woke up late to prepare for their debut showcase. Rolling out of bed, ARrC indecisively search their surroundings for previously worn clothes to wear for their debut. At a last ditch effort to look stylish, ARrC adds ties to their already shabby clothing. Isn't it blatantly obvious that ARrC is trying too hard to remain relevant to current fashion trends? Not only do they wear ties, but it is worn in an unraveled fashion like a chain or necklace; their ties are simply to veil or hide their poorly chosen clothing. They might as well have worn nametags instead. From all my years of watching fashion shows, this looked mighty lazy because it is. Mystic Story is cheapin' out on their fashion, putting together clothing that they found in a "lost and found" box and giving it to ARrC to wear on their debut. ARrC really doesn't deserve such cheap fashion.

Dingo Music had ARrC do a 100 seconds of live vocals. Included within their 100 seconds, they do live vocals for S&S, as well as other k-pop hit songs. 4 days after the 100 second Dingo Live, ARrC releases Sour and Sweet Live. Simultaneously, ARrC did a live vocal and choreography of Sour and Sweet. At the end of August, they also showed up at "It's Live", which is a live vocal showcase with a live band. I would like to say that all their performances are impressive for a rookie group. In the K-pop industry, many rookies are afraid of going live right away, but ARrC steps up to the batter's box and hits a home run with their performances without hesitation. It feels like ARrC have no doubts on their talent and it pretty much shows on what they put forth.

Overall, their debut has a moral message, which made me like it alot more. On a surface level, you may love or hate it because of how unbalanced the song's composition is structured. If you like songs with roller-coaster effects, then you'll love it. If you generally hate roller-coaster effects, then you'll probably be blowing chunks out in the nearest restroom or on the concrete pavement. ARrC and other groups can't please everyone since each person has their own taste of music. "Dummy", their pre-debut track, is the crowd's favorite while the track "Sour and Sweet" is for the one's who appreciate finding the meaning by opening and turning the pages of a book. I bet if ARrC's management rearranged their discography differently, then their debut would of had a great reception. For example, if ARrC's management decided to place "Dummy" as their debut track instead of "S&S", then there would have been world-wide praise, positive reinforcement, and admiration without negative feedback. So far, there's mixed reactions of their debut. It is what it is. We can't turn back time and change their debut and pre-debut track arrangements. Personally, I have no problem with anything; however, many people may find the debut arrangement quite dissatisfying. While their debut wasn't as good as their pre-debut, I still hold this group in high regards; I chose this group as a contender for the best 2024 pre-debut rap/hip hop k-idol group. Until some debuting group in 2024 can match or topple ARrC's "Dummy", which I doubt, ARrC is still a top tier rap/hip hop rookie group. Hopefully, their debut, overall, leaves you with a sweet taste instead of a sour one.

Edit#1(8/29/2024): ARrC is not like any other group in the k-pop industry. They are very goofy, nerdy, and friendly; the interactions between members is super awkward, but satisfying to watch. Anyways, hopefully k-netizens and international netizens can calm down, enjoy their music, and laugh at their interactions.

Edit#2(9/4/2024): I rated ARrC as a top tier group with a score of 100%. If you take a look at my score sheet, then you'll notice that I rated their fashion below average. Please take the time to look at their fashion and critically analyze their clothing in S&S(showcases, music video, etc.). You can go to your nearest bargain clothing outlet(i.e. Target, Walmart, etc.) and purchase each of their outfits for under $30 USD. I am not sh*tting you! You can look exactly like ARrC with only $30. Mystic Story is super cheap! Anyway, overall, this group excels in every other category, except fashion.

Edit#3(11/16/2024): ARrC is talented! So, what is the problem? Well, they aren't necessarily fan friendly or perceived as socially connected to their fans. There aren't any known interactions between ARrC and their fanbase. It would help ARrC to at least hold a fan-sign, small rally, fan-con, or anything to bring their community together. If you check out their socials, then you'll notice that they have a tiny fanbase. A fanbase is grown, not given. I hope they can do social events even though that I noticed how socially awkward they are! If you check out their VLOGS, then you'll noticed that they are awkward amongst their own group members. LOL!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: ARrC is a Monster Rookie Group. Everyone is anticipating for new releases from this group. Overall, this is a group to look out for beyond 2024. If you have been following ARrC's escapades through their social media, then you'll appreciate all their content. You may say that they are socially awkward, but give them time to connect with their community and fanbase. People need to understand that they are in fact a rookie group, who are navigating through their first steps in their career. In due time, you'll be accustomed to ARrC and possibly even be their loyal follower or friend.

ARrC is being love bombed as I type this blog. "Love Bombing" is when someone or a group is giving a ton of compliments on a certain individual. Particularly, social media loves this group; therefore, they are commenting on how awesome this group is. Mystic Story definately has another shining star on their palm with ARrC, beside Billlie, a sister group. Remember, as an added note, Mystic Story is a merge between Mystic89 and APOP Entertainment; APOP Entertainment has Gain and Miryo, who are members of a legendary group, Brown Eyed Girls. Mystic Story is in fact a subsidiary company under SM Entertainment, so ARrC is in somewhat good care.

My overall impression of this group is that their pre-release "Dummy" went to infinity and beyond. Depending on how their future debut is received, I will stamp this group as a contender for the best debut rappers/hip hop k-idols of 2024. As a spectator looking into South Korea from the outside, I wonder if South Korea is having some kind of hip hop/rap renaissance. ARrC is like NCT on steroids with a sprinkle of Riize's vocals. You'll also love the string bass for their instrumental; it is bringing back a nostalgic vibe of old school break beats from early 1970s to late 1990s.

As for their choreography, everyone is on point. The dance that they do at the end of their performance music video was full of swagger; I'm assuming the name of the central dancer with the black tank-top is Choi Han(this guy has swagger beyond belief). Overall, ARrC reminds me of b-boys or break dancers, except without the fancy acrobatic freezes or poses.

From my assumptions, the rap line is Hyun Min(Main Rapper), Choi Han, and Jibeen. I'm assuming that the rest are vocalists: Kien, Ziwoo, Rioto, and Doha(Main Vocalist). Kien has an interesting voice with a slight squeek to it, which could prove to be catchy in their future content. "Dummy" has the catchiest chorus for 2024; I found myself rapping and singing the lyrics: "Dummy need this, Dummy need that" continuously throughout the day. Admittedly, I was humming the soothing vocals through-out the day without even realizing it.

The only obvious weakness of this group is fashion. I know ARrC was going for an underground city look for their Dummy Pre-release, but the vapidness found in their styling can divert the audience's attention elsewhere. Visually, this group may require a fashion director or stylist. ARrC could benefit from wearing matching clothing with added trinkets, embroidery, or attached jewelry(it could even be designer patches) to add a polished look without having to break the bank. Simple additions to their clothing can magnify their style. My advice can be taken or left; I'm just adding my 2 cents of an opinion to what I believe could add an extra "umph" to their style.

I've placed them on my list of highly anticipated debuts; I'll be eagerly awaiting for their debut, which is set to be released on August 19, 2024!

Shh(Arabic Version)
Shh(Live In Japan)
Shh(Live In Japan) Angle 2
Shh(Live In Japan) Angle 3
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: .7/1
Facial Expression: .7/1
Objective Movement: .8/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .7/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .9/1
Music Video Score: .7/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .8/1
Live Visual: .5/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .4/1

TOTAL 12.2 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.2 divided by 17 = 0.717647059
0.717647059 multiplied by 100 = 71.764705882

FINAL SCORE: 71.7%

"Shh" was a good listen. The whistling in the instrumental is super catchy. New And.B's studio recorded vocals are quite good as well. It was a cool music video with alot of the members staring directly into the camera, almost as if they are shooting an x-ray beam right into your soul. Besides the staring, the smooth choreography is like slicing a knife into a cube of butter; in other words, their dancing is suave. Visually, the music video incorporated a minimalistic amounts of natural elements, such as water, steam, fumes, flower petals, etc.; all these natural elements were to artistically portray their feelings, which worked quite well. As for their fashion, each member have a mono or dual color-scheme, either wearing black, white, red, or both; a mono-color, dual-color, or tri-color scheme works well with their concept. You wouldn't want too many colors or it will break the concept or at least disrupt the mood of it.

New And.B did a showcase in Japan. It looks like a tiny club studio stage with a small crowd. Anyways, they finished a good debut stage.

There is an arabic version of "Shh". The lyrics were changed, but there are subtle changes or modifications to the song; you wouldn't recognize the changes. I don't understand arabic, so I can't say much about this.

New And.B is way too "nugu". Adding a new member: Gunmin, New And.B finally got a little more attention. Heck, if Gunmin didn't show up, then I wouldn't have known this group ever existed. Gunmin is from the group B.I.G. from 2014, so it turned a few heads towards their direciton.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I don't recommend this group; however, I would keep their track "Shh" in your playlist. It's an irresistable track that you'll enjoy from time to time.

K-pop Live Session(Arirang Radio)
Simply Kpop Contour Showcase
Debut "Summer Version"
Comeback: Nothing Lasts Forever
Pre-Debut: Bang Bang
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .9/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: .7/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .7/1
Cosmetics: .8/1
Fashion: .8/1
Music Video Score: .7/1
Visual Role Model: .8/1
Live Vocal: .6/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .6/1

TOTAL 13.4 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.4 divided by 17 = 0.788235294
0.788235294 multiplied by 100 = 78.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 78.8%

Two Pre-debuts a year apart from each other is a bit questionable. I understand pre-releases or pre-debuts leading to an actual debut, but two pre-debuts a year apart of each other screams lack of confidence. There's also no follow-up anouncements of a debut date. This usually tells the audience that VVS are frightened of actually initiating a debut. What is VVS afraid of? From what I've listened to so far, they have fairly decent vocals. It may need retouching or slight work on the edges, but they've made two nice music videos. The snippets of choreography aren't bad from what I can see. VVS is touching the water with their toes in order to test the temperature of the pool. How many times does one have to test the pool for the right temperature until one dives into the pool? VVS is biding time and putting things in order for a safe debut, which sometimes doesn't go as planned. Is VVS aiming for perfection? Fans can't wait another year for another pre-debut. You have to be some kind of saint or guru to patiently wait for that long. Fans demand a debut while their face isn't riddled with wrinkles and their hair is still intact and attached to the top of their heads; by the time VVS debuts, their fanbase will probably be elderly being pampered within a nursing home. Many don't have the luxury or priviledge to wait that long.

EDIT#1(11/11/2024): Since I had extra time on my hand, I searched for pre-debuts online. Apparently, VVS had changed their Pre-debut to an actual debut, which was announced on an online streaming platform. Personally, I had no idea that they did this; no one within their company announced this information to their fans and/or audience that this had happened.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: VVS's debut track "We On Top" is definately worthy song to put in your playlist. Other than that, I personally wouldn't recommend this group to anyone. As for their future releases, that's really up to you to decide if you'd like to support them.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .5/1
Instrumental: .5/1
Lyrics: .5/1
Addictive Song: .2/1
Stage Presence: .5/1
Facial Expression: .6/1
Objective Movement: .44/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .44/1
Cosmetics: .6/1
Fashion: .5/1
Music Video Score: .44/1
Visual Role Model: .5/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.72 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.72 divided by 17 = 0.336470588
0.336470588 multiplied by 100 = 33.647058824

FINAL SCORE: 33.6%

Social media has been attacking this group since 2022; to this very day in 2024, they are still going at it. Clear:I's pre-debut was never launched, resulting in a disbandment. At the end of July, magically, their group rekindled, and they finally released their debut: Quest. Storming through all social media platforms, the hate train arrives to demolish their progress and try to eliminate this group by what seems to be like a boycott of some sort. The enraged k-pop community feels justified in putting a wrench within the gears of the machine in order to make Clear:I flop on their debut. It is important to know why all of this is taking place; the track record/history of the members has stirred the k-pop community in the wrong way, almost like putting a stick in a honey bee's nest. Apparently, two of the members: Sang(former ILUV) and Do Hayoon(former ILUV) was accused of bullying Min Ah(former ILUV); their bullying resulted in Min Ah attempting to take her own life. This is a serious matter that was dealt in court; however, rumors/gossip went around that the court threw the case away to never be revisited again. There are also rumors that Min Ah won the court case; however, Sang and Do Hayoon are still participating in k-pop group activities like the controversies had never happened. Personally, I do not know all the details of what has transpired between all the members and previous groups involved. All of the information about this incident is a consortium of "she said this or she said that" kind of gibberish. There is no way for me to confirm any of the incidents without evidence or testimonials, which is most likely confidential and private information. In other words, I wasn't there to bare witness to anything to take sides in this altercation. That being said, I will review Clear:I's debut in an unbiased way with the best of my ability without all these accusations clouding my judgement. Clearly, there is a stigma surrounding this group; it is almost like Clear:I is ostrasized from progressing any further in their k-idol career. Unfortunately, there are members of the group that were not involved in the alleged bullying; yet, they are guilty of association. It gets wilder and wilder as I read more about this group. Netizens have casted their judgement on Clear:I; their verdict of Clear:I is guilty before being proven innocent.

The music video is blurry from the start with light effects that create a visually impairing effect; the cinematographer had used a bad lense filming or the editor had an exciting time playing with an inventory of filters. Poor video quality should have been identified before-hand and removed, the effects were horrendous. The audio's tone seems to be heighten to a point where the vocals sound like it is screeching. Off the bat, the production is entirely low quality without any correction; in other words, the production was obviously rushed to meet a due date.

The instrumental doesn't mesh well with their vocals. There was no consideration in choosing the proper background music. Clear:I's vocal range is best suited for a different genre of music, such as Girl Crush concepts or a dance pop song similar to "Six Bomb - Wait 10 Years Baby". Instead, Clear:I is attempting a cute/love concept, which doesn't suit their strong, dominating voices. In conclusion, the instrumental and vocals are coerced together using cement, but even cement can't hold it together; you can clearly hear the non-cohesiveness between the instrumental and vocals.

Visually, Clear:I is pretty with a "Girl Next Door" type of fashion. The outfits look a little too normal; they are wearing what a regular young woman would wear on a daily basis. There is no effort into impressing their audience at all.

As for their choreography, there is no showcase, dance practice, or performance out as a demonstration of their talent. So far, from what I see from their music video, their dancing is regular, no ornate movements that stands out.

Clear:I has an unmomentous start at debut, especially with an enraged k-pop community ready to pounce and shred on all content being produced by Clear:I. Not only that, but their music video was a disaster. If anything, then there might be hope in their dancing skills if they decide to showcase them. Will this group disband after being run over and railed by waves of hate-trains or will they continue their quest as a group against all odds and ignore their haters?



[CLOSING EDIT(1/27/2025)]: Clear:I was clearly a dumpster fire before entering the gates of the k-pop industry.

KCON Fancam(2 Months Before Debut)
Lyrics
Dance Practice
Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: .9/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: .8/1
Fashion: .8/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .8/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .55/1

TOTAL 13.65 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.65 divided by 17 = 0.802941176
0.802941176 multiplied by 100 = 80.294117647

FINAL SCORE: 80.2%

At the beginning of 2024, Super Junior's Eunhyuk and One Pact's Jongwoo decided to produce a Reality Show called "K-pop House" on Fuji TV; this k-pop boy project is to document the process towards a debut. Gradually, the group debuted with the name: Celest1a, which consists of Japanese and South Korean members, who were contestants in multiple survival shows.

We are finally blessed after about 8 months with a high quality music video called "Panda". The setting of their music video takes place in what looks like an underground fortress or stairway with extraordinary light effects, which look like an escape from the darkness that surrounds the environment. The members of Celest1a look like they are in some-sort of ceremony or ritual; Celest1a is escorted or assisted by mysterious/occult-like characters, who are dressed in thin coverings, hiding their identity. Although the middle-eastern-esque clothing is simple, it is aesthetically pleasing.

Everyone's vocals are confident and powerful. The lyrics feel reassuring and liberating, as if I'm led towards the right direction from desolation. Celest1a gives off a leadership vibe, which may not be important in k-pop; however, the audience or fanbase can feel at ease with Celest1a's killer performance in acting/modeling. The instrumental has a good melody accompanied with rhythmic vocals; this is a recipe for an enjoyable track.

As for the chorus, you may find it random, hilarious, or both. "Panda" is such an unnecessary word to use, but I think the point of using "Panda" is to hook their audience with a repetitive word. There can never be anything wrong with associating a k-idol debut with a bamboo-eating mammalian creature. There may be folks in the audience that may find the chorus annoying within a serious sounding song; it is understandable to feel annoyed from hearing the word over and over and over. The best approach towards the chorus is to not take it too serious and to be relieved by thinking of a panda; the chorus is almost like a comic relief within a serious situation. It would have been interesting to at least have an actual panda in their music video.

Now as for their choreography, it is certainly a solid dance, executed very well from the members of Celest1a. During the chorus when a member starts repeating the word "Panda" expressively, they initate a dance, which I call the "strong man dance", where each member are lifting their arms above their head, flexing their biceps, which I found quite fitting for their song, especially to their chorus. The "bicep dance move" or "strong man move" is often used in many choreography in k-pop. Imagine a panda executing this move!

Visually, the whole group feels like members were personally taught by Taemin from Shinee. My statement may be farfetched, but please review their movement and style. Taemin(Shinee) could very well be their role-model.

Congratulations to Celest1a for completing their debut! Hopefully, there is more content to be released to showcase their talent.

EDIT#1(8/31/2024): There's not much content out after their debut except for a dance practice. Like I said before, each individual member moves like Taemin from Shinee. It's super impressive!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Celest1a's disbandment was sudden and shocking, almost like eliminating a main character of a story. Personally, I thought this rookie group was the start of something grandiose. With a snap of a finger, Celest1a was thrown away just like that and taken out back to the disposal bin. In my opinion, this was a waste of potential. There's an old saying that the brightest stars dies the quickest.

Unison Street Performance/Busking(Shorts)
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: .22/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .44/1
Music Video Score: .44/1
Visual Role Model: .44/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Visual: .55/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .77/1

TOTAL 9.86 OF 14 POINTS

Calculation:
9.86 divided by 14 = 0.704285714
0.704285714 multiplied by 100 = 70.428571429

FINAL SCORE: 70.4%

A 4 member vocal focused boy group that only did covers of songs since 2019. Now, they are debuting in 2024. It's better late than never. Congratulations to Unison for debuting!

Edit#1(8/29/2024): Unison did some kind of street performance or busking, which turned out to be a great performance. The only way to find Unison is by throwing a frisbee in a public park and accidently hitting them with it while they are busking. This unknown group is an under-appreciated and under-rated gem in the vocal-based k-pop scene.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Although I don't recommend Unison, Unison's debut "Only For You" is best kept in your playlist.

Lyrics
KBS Music Bank Debut Showcase
Arirang Live Session
Pre-Debut: Rambo[tingground]
Choreography? Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .8/1
Cosmetics: .9/1
Fashion: .7/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: .8/1
Live Visual: .8/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 13.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.99 divided by 17 = 0.822941176
0.822941176 multiplied by 100 = 82.294117647

FINAL SCORE: 82.2%

Cool Down is a fresh summer time bop! For those who like 1st or 2nd generation type of k-pop(Y2K for short), Dignity has you covered! The song obviously draws inspiration from an old group called "Deux". If you don't know who Deux is, then you won't be able to find them through conventional methods. Here is a link:

Deux - In Summer

Dignity's "Cool Down" is a modern-day re-master or reincarnation of "Deux - In Summer"; however, the instrumental keeps an unwavering pace, which is perfect for those who like a modern day dance beat. In other words, the song doesn't stagger or stray away from its original direction; you won't hear too many chops or interjections such as adding unnecessary over-the-top rap verses or high notes that stop the pacing of the song. Dignity offers a fresh breeze needed in these times, especially when many entertainment companies keep pumping out hot junk.

Luo, formerly known as Moonbong, was part of two groups that rebranded and disbanded: SEVENUS(formerly known as Masc) and JN Entertainment's Boy Group. By the way, I loved Masc's song: Strange. Luo can't catch a break; he had to go through all these difficulties throughout his career. Hyeongjin was also part of the JN Entertainment's Boy Group. Hopefully, these two members can be part of an established group, so that they can focus on their career as a k-idol. Anyways, the rest of the members look like they are new to the scene.

For now, I'll be waiting for their showcases since their music video didn't really display much. Overall, their debut should be added to your playlist as it is a nice summer bop.

EDIT #1(7/29/2024): Dignity's choreography is way too easy and simple to do, especially the arm propeller dance or helicopter arm dance that they do. Ronald McDonald himself has done more complex movement than Dignity. Although the song is a bop, their dance moves were obviously choreographed by a child attending kindergarten or someone who has procrastinated until its dead-line. Veteran/Experienced dancers will notice this straight off the bat.

EDIT#2(8/25/2024): Dignity's Hyeongjin is facially identical to BTS' Suga. If you were to put them both in the same room, then you might have to figure who is who for possibly 10 minutes. This was a shocking realization! Anyways, I didn't bring attention to him for no reason. Hyeongjin has elite/top-tier/upper-rank strong rapping talent, a natural MC voice. He pretty much carried the song "Cool Down" unwaveringly. If you were to remove Hyeongjin from the line distribution, then you'll figure out instantly that he is a crucial "cog" or mechanism that keeps the song afloat and functional. Everyone sings well, but who stands out the most is obviously Hyeongjin; it's like night and day when one notices a "key" character or V.I.P.(Very Important Person) within a K-idol Group. Hyeongjin is just "him".

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Dignity is one of my recommended k-idol rookie groups of 2024.

Dance Practice
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 0/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .55/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .44/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 7.98 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
7.98 divided by 17 = 0.469411765
0.469411765 multiplied by 100 = 46.941176471

FINAL SCORE: 46.9%

A corny and cheesy song like a cheese-corndog! I bet the song made you blush in embarrassment.

Edit#1(8/25/2024): Although the song is corny and cheesy, you'll love the retro feel of this song. Unfortunately, I only gave this group a low rating because they did not do any public appearances. Music like this is often disregarded because it simply re-hashes old music. Currently, the trend of music in South Korea is to update the outdated, evolving music to a global level; Sleeper-Hit's "Tell Me You Love Me" just won't cut it in these modern times. Regardless, it is a good listen.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: In a highly competitive k-pop industry, I do not recommend Yokjjuhaeng nor would I have it on my playlist; however, I do know that there are people that would enjoy this song. By all means, if this debut track gets you through your day, then support this group.

Dance Practice
Performance
Showcase
Lyrics?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .77/1
Music Video Score: .77/1
Visual Role Model: .77/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .77/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .77/1

TOTAL 13.85 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.85 divided by 17 = 0.814705882
0.814705882 multiplied by 100 = 81.470588235

FINAL SCORE: 81.4%

You may be wondering or curious about the members of Like A Movie debuting in the group APEX. It is because Like A Movie is actually APEX; Like A Movie rebranded their name to APEX. You may also wonder why I'm covering this group since they've already debuted. I've concluded that rebranding is equivalent to starting from scratch; basically, it is an entirely new group; in other words, a debut. For a slight moment, I thought that I was hallucinating when I saw Siryu, Mingyu, and Joha in the group. The new members who joined the rebranded group are: KDAY and Gyeom, who were originally from NCUS(under different names). With my deductive reasoning, I'm assuming that Top Cloud Entertainment decided to pull the trigger and rebrand Like A Movie because of many factors. First of all, Woohyuk left the group with severe panic disorder while performing on stage. Second, Howoo had injuries and left the group without any valid reasons. Third, Domo left the group because he was evading his military service, which is mandatory in South Korea. Like A Movie was stricken with a series of bad luck because of the sudden departure of 3 members. At this point, their group's name is tarnished, unlikely to be salvaged. Like A Movie is like a sailboat unable to sail because the main parts are permanently damaged; the rudder, keel, hull, tiller, boom, jib, mast, and mainsail no longer work. It is actually a great idea for Top Cloud Entertainment to take action(almost like a leap of faith) to rebrand the group. Although rebranding is risky, I think this was the right decision that Top Cloud Entertainment to make since Like A Movie's current state was in shambles. Rebranding is risky because of the potential risk of losing their established fanbase. The new name and/or added new members may repulse their current fanbase. Imagine established groups like Stray Kids changing their name to Stray Children; additionally, imagine Stray Children adding a convicted sex offender, Seungri from BigBang, into their group. This would change certain fan's or all fan's perspectives and perception of their once favorite group. Although loyal fans will stick around, the general sentiment changed by simply changing their name and/or adding new members.

Let's talk about their debut music instrumental. Notably, the instrumental part before the chorus(the pre-chorus) is mesmerizing. It sounds like the instrument used in Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, or Pakistan to charm snakes; I believe the instrument is called a pungi, bin, or murli. I'm not entirely certain of the origin of the instrument or if it is the correct name of the instrument, but it gives off a catchy middle-eastern sound. I found the instrumental catchy.

The vocals of APEX are fairly good; the rapping feels a bit like Stray Kids. In order for me to make a final assessment on their vocals, I probably would need to listen to their live vocals, which wasn't released. I'll be waiting for their live vocals within a month or so.

From their showcase, performance, and dance practice videos, I'm certain that APEX has solid dance skills and choreography. My favorite part of their choreography is near the end when they point their hands like they're holding pistols while someone is in the center receiving the shots. Other than that, every member hit the beat of the song, executing each move precisely to the bass/percussion.

I wish they could have worn the clothing from their music video for their public appearances; the clothing looks like middle-eastern/arabian/pakistani garments. Visually, this would have been eye-catching and unique; it is important to stand out from other groups; however, I haven't seen them wear it in their showcases. Hopefully, they can give that a chance since it would help with their recognition.

Anyways, I hope APEX receives all the luck that they can get moving forward since Like A Movie was a total train wreck of bad luck.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: APEX is one of my recommended k-idol groups of 2024. I wish this group good luck because of all the bad luck that they've endure while they were in "Like A Movie". How do you lift a curse of bad luck from k-idol group? I have no clue.

AUDIO ONLY
Instrumental
Showcase
Dance Practice
Performance?
Lyrics?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .9/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .77/1
Cosmetics: .7/1
Fashion: .66/1
Music Video Score: .44/1
Visual Role Model: .66/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .55/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 12.34 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.34 divided by 17 = 0.725882353
0.725882353 multiplied by 100 = 72.588235294

FINAL SCORE: 72.5%

Astell's debut is like discovering a brightly radiant cereal box; however, as you open and peer into the cereal box, you discover that it is completely empty, devoid of any substance. Basically, Astell's debut lacks content. There was no public appearances, music video, dance practices, or any content of that nature; I don't want to sound like a spoiled brat, but k-idol debuts should release as much content as possible to attract fans(fans mean more revenue/money being funneled to their debut); it is almost standard procedure or normal activity to do during a debut. Astell's debut reminds me of those "false-front architectures" from the Old West, where the front of the building shows a stable structure, but it is actually a facade once you've looked on the other side; the other side of these false-front architectures has no walls(three walls not built), no roof, and no furniture. It is almost like Astell is dangling carrots in front of their audience while the audience is eagerly awaiting to receive their carrot. Eventually, when the audience had thought that they would finally snatch a carrot, Astell cruelly decides to consume it, leaving the audience frustrated. I can keep going on with these analogies and scenarios; however, I'll stop here. Overall, it looks inconsiderate of Astell to not produce content for their fans after their debut announcement; fans are willing to support them; there was not a single word on social media of their where-abouts after their debut announcement. Astell's debut failed to meet their audience's expectations.

There's nothing out yet, except for the audio and instrumental. Is the music video delayed? Apparently, there is only a teaser with all the members walking towards the camera. I guess I will have to wait like everyone else for actual content. From listening to the audio, it has this hardcore gangster concept/girl crush vibe. The song is slow-paced with a catchy instrumental; in my own words, I can only describe the instrumental as dark ambience. There's no information about this group besides a member, who stirred up k-pop for a bit. One of the members of Astell is well known: Byeoljji, who is formerly from We Girls. She produced a rap, which she intentionally created to ridicule another k-idol; I believe she was trying to ridicule another k-idol named "Sleepy". This controversy was short-lived and a tiny blip in k-pop history, which no one can really recall(except for me, of course).

Edit #1(7/25/2024): By August 9, I will give this group a score, but the group lacks content. A week after their debut, I was contemplating whether or not I should "yank" or stop my review of this group. How can one review a debut when there's nothing to review in the first place? This group exists. Their social media account show photographs of them working on their debut; however, nothing is being released. Also, there are many fancams of Astell doing dance covers on stage of already released k-pop songs; however, they aren't even promoting their own original work. It could be that their company "Errday" is slowly debuting Astell by small increments via dance covers or busking(street performances); I'm assuming that Errday must be dead-broke; companies with a limited or small budget may have a difficult experience in properly promoting their newly created group. The lack of promotional content are obvious signs that Astell's company "Errday" is in some kind of problem, most likely a financial one. If Astell is not suffering financially, then it could be a dysfunctional work environment or poorly executed business plans. Who really knows?

Edit #2(8/10/2024): Although it has been a little over a month, Astell finally released their music video. I do like the dark and gloomy atmosphere within a ballroom(prom room?) that is portrayed in the music video; it has a count dracula vibe without the vampiric or ghostly activity. It fails to deliver the correct graphical aura/effects such as wind, thunder, mist, and other elements to display a proper storm, which the music video needed; a large fan, dry ice(for fog), and a camera flash could have been enough to create artificial storm effects.

Astell showcased their debut song about 2 weeks ago, but I had to do a thorough dig on the internet to find the showcase; it was well hidden amongst a wall of posted showcase videos. Astell looked like they were either glistening or sweaty during their live performance(you may feel disgusted, aroused, or both); overall, they performed quite well in what seems like hot temperature during the night. That must have been tough. A part of the choreography that I found unnecessary is when a member of Astell runs from one side to the other; this could have been done in a more glamorous way without it looking like an athletic sprinter or a cross-country marathon runner.


Edit#3(12/23/2024): Astell disbanded, but all members signed up for a new label called "Midas Entertainment". Are they going to keep the name "Astell" or rebrand?

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Astell's debut track "Island" is simply a playlist song. Particularly, I don't recommend this group; however, I wouldn't mind listening to more content from this group. I'm not entirely certain if they will keep their name "Astell" under their new label: Midas Entertainment.

Dance Practice
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .8/1
Cosmetics: .1/1
Fashion: .1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 9.1 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
9.1 divided by 17 = 0.535294118
0.535294118 multiplied by 100 = 53.529411765

FINAL SCORE: 53.5%

What the heck? Specifically, Howon University is debuting a k-idol boy group! Isn't this a first? While I was a bit skeptical about viewing this debut, I decided to give it a chance. If I had to choose one word to describe this group, it would be "impressive" for what they have to work with. Apparently, Howon University has a specialized department just for K-pop. It is rather interesting and somewhat baffling that a university would delve into the k-pop industry. Aren't universities suppose to be associating with higher forms of education instead of different degrees of butt shaking? I'm flabbergasted of the notion that there is a department in a university analyzing BlackPink's twerking. I thought I've seen it all, but strange things seem to pop up into existence from out of no where. It would be hilarious if there is a part of the department simply for studying the curvature of Laysha(for fashion reasons, of course). Anyways, I was pleasantly surprised by the story that's embedded into the music video. It's quite a common narrative though. The music video has a fairly typical love story: boy meets girl, boy wants to express his love to girl with a letter, boy finds out that girl is with another guy, and, lastly, boy gets his heart broken. It is what it is, I suppose.

Anyways, I'll wait for more content from this group; their debut lacks content, but I think there's a fair amount to observe. I'll have to wait for an actual showcase. I wonder if the University will allow a showcase of their own boy group. So far, their dance practice is decent. I've noticed that some of the members execute their moves in a terrible posture like they are hunchbacks of Notre Dame. They need to work on their formation and posture. With that being said, it would be profitable for universities to give scholarships to K-pop Trainees that register and attend their courses. Not only would universities be raking in profits, but students can study courses like bio-chemistry while achieving a PHD in K-pop. I'm laughing now, but it would probably be a sought after endeaver to achieve such an honorary degree for entertainment. We live in strange times where someone in the streets can flaunt their degree in K-pop Studies without being ridiculed.



[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I honestly don't recommend UNIV for the sole reason that they aren't showcasing at all. From my assessment, this group needs alot more training; they are pretty good as university students, but it simply doesn't meet the k-pop industry's standard. The lack of showcases of any group is a huge red flag that indicates a temporary appearance. A group formed by a university could be interesting at first glance, but overall, you shouldn't take this group seriously. Most likely, the students participating only wanted to fulfill some kind of extracurricular activity to show on their resume or work history.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.3 divided by 17 = 0.311764706
0.311764706 multiplied by 100 = 31.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 31.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!

[CLOSED]

Showcase Live Stage Concert
Showcase 2
Live Session
Lyrics
Digital Single: Must Have Love(Making Film)
Choreography? Performance?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .66/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .9/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .9/1

TOTAL 15.46 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.46 divided by 17 = 0.909411765
0.909411765 multiplied by 100 = 90.941176471

FINAL SCORE: 90.9%

B.D.U. stands for "Boys Define Universe". As a precautionary step to finding out that this group was formed from a survival show, I had to play the music video from a distance, a 10 foot pole's length to be exact. With my hands covering my ears, I proceeded to play the music video. Actually, B.D.U. wasn't bad at all. From my experience of listening to a plethora of survival show contestants, I've always had a bad after taste like moments after eating an entire onion. MNET's reality survival show "Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survivor" finally dished out a pretty good group. It looks like B.D.U. has a 2 year contract, so hopefully we'll get great music coming out of this group within their duration. In their debut showcases, they did a live vocal performance, which was near perfect. You can hear tiny mistakes here and there with their vocals, but that's just me being over-critical in judging performance. Don't forget that they were also doing their choreography with their live vocals, which was tremendous! My initial impression of this group is mostly on the positive side. Although their vocal prowess is, like I said before, tremendous, groups like this may suffer the lack of creativity. Hopefully, their company is able to consider different concepts for B.D.U. that suits them and aren't generic, a "copy and paste" of what existing groups have already attempted. Simultaneously, their music should be competitive in the k-music market. There's plenty of hurdles for groups these days since it is over-saturated with clones of other groups. People will stan a group that has an original concept, offering a fresh and brand new aesthetic. Anyways, B.D.U. has a good start with a good first impression. Hopefully, they get the attention of music lovers with any form of promotional content. I forgot to add that their music video had a narrative; I love when music videos incorporates a story while being able to display the group's visibility. There are plenty of music videos simply displaying the k-idol's performance while neglecting a story. It is simply the result of a lazy director to not add a story or even a director cutting corners and going the cheap route as much as possible. B.D.U.'s music video was a bit grainy in video quality, but I think it is the style that they have chosen to go with. I kind of blame this Y2K concept era of music, where everything looks like it is being recorded by an old school camcorder created in the late 1990s. In my opinion, B.D.U. requires a more opulent fashion/look to accentuate their already naturally gifted appearance; usually, more oppulence in appearance, the more attention they will receive from the public eye. This Y2K style(trend) video cinematics that they are trying to pull of, especially in the music video, doesn't serve them; there are better avenues to explore instead of riding this Y2K concept bandwagon that has plagued the kpop industry for the past years.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Jay Chang! Jay Chang! Jay Chang! That's all you need to know about B.D.U. Anyways, this group is one of my highly recommended rookie groups of 2024. Again, generally speaking, South Koreans love Jay Chang for his obvious live vocal skills; the rest of B.D.U. are simply sprinkling on the cake, offering their own style to the group.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.3 divided by 17 = 0.311764706
0.311764706 multiplied by 100 = 31.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 31.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!


[CLOSED]

Live Debut: Voyage to the Unknown
Asphyxia Dance Practice
Wave Dance Practice
Prelude Music Video
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 0/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 13.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.66 divided by 17 = 0.803529412
0.803529412 multiplied by 100 = 80.352941176

FINAL SCORE: 80.3%

At first glance, you'd think that IHOTEU is a J-POP group; however, as you listen to the lyrics, it is actually korean. After all, IHOTEU's members were formerly from DENPAMARU!, a 2022 live idol group from South Korea. A ton of people only assumed IHOTEU is a japanese based group because of the sound of the music, as well as their fashion. IHOTEU looks deceptively japanese. Yes! Your eyes are playing tricks on you! Anyways, this group is awesome! The only problem I see about this group is their exposure to the public; barely anyone knows about this group, only a few thousand, which is a tragedy. People usually ignore the japanese aesthetic because it is over-used and over-rated in modern times; however, IHOTEU seems to have integrated their korean styling into a japanese style. In May, I accidentally skipped this group because I was certain that this was JPOP, but I was dead wrong; I never gave it a listen at all. Now, I'm regretful for not giving this group a chance. I apologize greatly. Overall, it was a fun listen! Not only was it fun, but their live debut showcased their outstanding performance. Do not be quick to judge, as I have, about the japanese aesthetics and sound. You'll soon enough regret not having a listen!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I do recommend this group, but they are under the radar most of the time because they are focused on live performances. In other words, in order for you to see them, you'll specifically need to go to Hongdae(Seoul, South Korea). You'll have a blast listening to their live Electronic Synth Rock!

Show Champion Showcase
Lyrics?
Dance Practice
Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .66/1
Visual Role Model: .55/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .55/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .55/1

TOTAL 12.64 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.64 divided by 17 = 0.743529412
0.743529412 multiplied by 100 = 74.352941176

FINAL SCORE: 74.3%

There was a week delay for their music video debut because an issue was found in their distribution process. I discovered I:MOND by reading about one of the members, E-seol, who was originally from the groups X:IN and MEP-C. Youngwon was formerly from Melody Pink, which is a group who I never heard of until now. The other 2 members of I:MOND is unknown. Anyways, I:MOND's debut song "Slippery" is a nice, little dance song. The music composition follows a basic/rudimentary structure of typical dance songs; unfortunately, there's no extra bells and whistles. Although "Slippery" is enjoyable for those looking for a dance song, it may sound generic to say the least. The instrumental has cave echo sounds, electric guitar sections, and disc-jockey record scratching that made it feasible; the sounds balanced out the song quite well. As for the vocals of I:MOND, all of their voices are decent, but nothing spectacular; in other words, I was not awestruck with sparkling, wide eyes. From attending thousands of fashion shows and showcases(I'm not exaggerating either), I can say that I:MOND's fashion is below average, especially for a modern k-idol debut. I've seen plenty of unknown entertainment companies with a "shoestring" budget(only able to afford a ball of yarn) that still managed to display their idols/models flashy and prismatically. No offense to the ethnoreligious groups or cultures, but I:MOND has a fashion sense of an Amish. There are so many ways to spruce up groups without a million dollar budget; it only takes creativity. While watching the music video, I've noticed that I:MOND's music video environment is located at one of those cargo shipping areas, which is a place where most low-budget entertainment companies, companies going the cheap route, or companies going out of business shoot their music video; 9Muses shot their music video for "Hurt Locker" on one of those cargo ship locations. I'm not certain if it is the exact same one, but it is most likely another one because of the color of the shipping containers. Anyways, I wish I:MOND luck in their future endeavors and I hope to watch more content from I:MOND; hopefully, in their next comeback, they aren't wearing any clothing bought from a garage sale or a thrift store. I have nothing against people wearing cheap clothing like a hobo, but for a k-idol group, it truly matters! A k-idol group's main objective is to attract their audience by any means necessary; fashion is a staple priority when it comes to grabbing the attention of others. It is an injustice to have these beautiful young ladies to wear such sumber/drab/dull outfits; in my opinion, k-idols wearing drabbish clothing is criminal.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Although I don't recommend this group, I:mond's debut track should be in ever k-pop fan's playlist. Within the rumor mill, I've heard that I:mond is coming back with a new album called "Under My". Again, I'd like to emphasize that this group is playlist worthy. There's also a possibility that their future comebacks could be on my recommended list.

MNET MCOUNTDOWN SHOWCASE
Live Session?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Dance Practice
Studio Choom Performance
Lyrics
Comeback: ZOOM
PRE-DEBUT:
HURRICANE
+82

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

Debut Choreography of the Year(Exclusive Extra): 1/1

TOTAL 15.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.66 divided by 17 = 0.921176471
0.921176471 multiplied by 100 = 92.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 92.1%

I'm on the fence with mixed feelings about BadVillain's debut. Simultaneously, I'm astonished and bitter from watching their debut music video. BadVillain is a hodgepodge of all my favorite girl groups wrapped into one group; BadVillain is like a pizza with all your favorite toppings. Although it is astonishing to have a group with all the ingredients that make up an outstanding group, other fans may compare and contrast this to YG Entertainment's groups, such as BabyMonster. BadVillain is pretty much the frankenstein monster of K-pop. The reason that I say they are a frankenstein monster is because it feels like they borrowed and join together all of the best parts of different girl groups. You can sense heavy influence from YGE's BlackPink and other girl crush focused groups, such as Everglow. I'm not upset that it follows a typical girl crush concept; I absolutely love that they took YGE's girl crush concept formula and remixed it to create their own unique spin to the concept. BPM Entertainment has been mishmashing and experimenting with all sorts of girl crush concepts to create this frankenstein monster of a song; the bridge to the chorus could really hook alot of people(it did to me). Now, I have to tell you what made me bitter. The pre-debuts +82 and Hurricane led me to believe that their debut would sound similar, so BadVillain's debut was instantly put on my list of highly anticipated songs for June. Since +82 and Hurricane was a hip-hop/rap/trap oriented, I was expecting their debut to be exactly the same. As soon as their debut dropped, I rolled my eyes in hearing another typical girl crush concept music video; however, I started to appreciate it for what it was. Imagine for a moment that you are a passenger on a train. Everything is running smoothly on the train, but the train conductor, without any announcement to their passengers, purposefully derailed the train from going to the announced destination. Now, the train is traveling on unusual terrain and going straight to an unknown destination. Wouldn't you feel mad about the change of direction of the train's destination? I sure would be. This is how I feel about the pre-debuts +82 and Hurricane leading to their debut "BadVillain". BPM made a detour or U-turn from their original artistic direction to a standard direction; in this case, a girl crush concept. Again, I am not hating on the group or company; I felt reluctance, and/or hesitation, and in due time, bitter, since they changed the direction of their group's concept. Anyways, BadVillain's instrumental is classical/orchestral; it almost sounds like a symphony made by Beethoven. Although I loved the instrumental, the chorus is not memorable. The bridge to the chorus is epic though. The ending part with a ton of "LaLaLaLaLaLa" verses could be somewhat annoying, a hit or miss part of the song. It really depends if you've heard "LALALA" too many times from other songs in kpop(I sure have). As for the rapping, one of the members(I believe her name to be Chloe) sounded like Soyeon from (G)I-DLE; however, she adds a squeeky/whiney dash to her voice, almost sounds like squeezing a rubber ducky. In no way am I insulting her rapping, it is actually catchy and unique to their arsenal of vocals. By the way, their vocals are angelic; however, their rapping is villanous; they can play in both departments masterfully. When it comes to their choreography and dancing abilities, they are definately on the top. I love all their intricate dance movements, which is all done with conviction. There is no half-heartedly done moves here; they hit each move packed with a wallop like a whip snapping in the air. Will BadVillain dethrone Le Sserafim's position as the leading female dancing k-idol group? It sure looks like it. Le Sserafim must be shaking in their boots as of right now. All jokes aside, there's alot BadVillain can offer in terms of dancing; in their introductory performance, one of the members does a back hand spring(I believe that the name of the backflipper is INA)! I was shook in amazement!

Visually, BadVillain can rock all outfits, costumes, decor, and masks effortlessly. It looks like BadVillain takes the cake for best versatile fashion for 2024. Seriously, you have to look at all of their outfits from their camouflauge gear to their majestic attire; definately, BadVillain deserves 2024 K-pop Fashionista award(if there is one).

EDIT#1(7/5/2024): BadVillain has to be one of the ultimate groups of 2024 with high skills in choreography and rapping. All their visuals are all on point too; they are killing it with their outstanding fashion and cosmetic artistry. They've excelled in all aspects, but one. My main concern for this group is a major one, which is live vocals. Many groups have fallen because of this main factor. A huge chunk of spectators, especially South Koreans, harshly judge on whether or not a k-idol can sing live. K-netizens are very harsh when it comes to live singing and this harshness is justified in my honest opinion; all it takes for you to understand is by checking out South Korean forums. I hope that BadVillain can show off their live vocals, so they can avoid the incoming hate train from K-netizens and global music critics.

EDIT#2(9/6/2024): BadVillain's channel was hacked and deleted! BPM is apparently trying to recover everything! This is unfortunate. The links that I posted may not work!

EDIT#3(11/16/2024): The hate train has arrived, but I didn't expect it to make a stop at BadVillain. Netizens have accused BadVillain of copying and cultural appropriation. Let's start off by saying that BadVillain didn't copy XG or anyone; no one has ownership of a certain style of clothing. Recently, BadVillain released teaser images for their upcoming comeback called "Zoom"; these teaser images had shown the girls wearing multi-colored fashionable clothing. The best way I could describe the clothing is: over-the-top, eccentric, and flamboyant. The fashion is reminiscent of 2nd generation k-pop, such as Big Bang, where each member were wearing outrageously colorful fashion with immensely wild haircuts. Again, the color-scheme is similar to second generation, but it is entirely modernized to fit 2024's vibe. XG didn't create that style; it's been here since the dawn of man. If you take a look at other places such as South America, then you'll notice similar vibrant color-schemes in their parades. These types of clothing are either inspired by old fashion or passed on from generation to generation; however, it is adjusted to fit the concept or theme.

Secondly, let's talk about how INA was accused of cultural appropriation. In the same teaser photographs for their "Zoom" comeback, it shows INA with dreadlocks. Dreadlocks originated from ancient Africa, dating around 3000 BCE or even earlier than that. It is understandable that anyone who had viewed BadVillain's comeback photographs would call INA's hairstyle cultural appropriation, but all the fashion, make-up, and hairstyle was done by their fashion team at Big Planet Made. It could be that INA didn't choose this hairstyle for her ownself; rather, it is the fashion head or management who had the bright idea of giving INA dreadlocks. Even if this was true, they may not have been aware that cultural appropriation was still an issue or an issue at all; there is no ill intention in wearing the hairstyle to offend anyone(it looks more like a mistake in styling). From my observation, they used dreadlocks as a form of fashion or costume without considering the cultural significance of it; this may be due to ignorance of current fashion trends or news, which is the fashion department's responsibility. All this controversy shouldn't be weighed upon INA alone. Although most people have social media and is up to date on news, not all news about cultural appropriation reaches every single person; there may be a language, misunderstanding, or social barrier that is restricting INA or their fashion department to recognize the problem. In all honesty, from my own perspective, I do not care about what clothing, make-up, or hairstyle that you decide to put on. Everyone has the freedom to look like anyone that they want to look like; however, we have to be somewhat considerate that there are people out in public who will be offended of what you wear because of the history or story behind your fashion. It is mainly to cater to people who have undergone generations of colonialism. The problem lies in unresolved past histories, which cultural appropriation seemingly has aggravated diverse ethnicities from different countries. Cultural appropriation is not widely understood because it is unknown amongst most South Koreans and it is taboo to even speak about it in other countries. It's mainly the lack of understanding other's culture. Since we are all connected through the internet, social media, television, and other communication technology, we have to consider that the content that we produce could besmirch other cultures in the worse way possible. It's a matter of consideration. Personally, I say "be you"; you don't have to cater to anyone or to ask someone else's permission to wear what you desire to wear. This is my unpopular opinion, but we need to transcend cultural differences and leave the past behind us. We don't have to feel guilt for the horrific deeds that our ancestors have done. Also, we don't have to be obliged to continue our ancestral duties. I say to leave the past behind, live in the present, and plan for the future.

EDIT#4(11/19/2024): BadVillain - Zoom. BadVillain just released their comeback! What a blast! Please support them if you love dance music!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: BadVillain are Monster Rookies. Every rookie k-idol group pales in comparison when it comes to their dancing. Emma Song really strengthens the group, but as you have noticed throughout their dance performances, each member of BadVillain can hold their own. Not only that, but together they seem to energize each other, complimenting and supplementing each other's strengths. Each member is strong individually in dancing, but strongest when they are all together. They are the epitome of the classic animated robot Voltron, each member of BadVillain as each part of the robot(if that makes any sense).

My Opinion On +82:

If Hurricane was a battlefield, then +82 sounds like gladiators fighting other gladiators in a Roman coliseum. If anyone has ever heard of camelot era music, which is rare for anyone in Generation Z or younger to experience, then you might think the instrumental was sampled from introductory music used in medieval jousting tournaments. Hurricane and +82 sound like fight songs overall; +82 amplifies the effects that were present in Hurricane and adds unto it catchy phrases. To be honest, I don't know if they are repetively saying "bad", "gah", or "bah"(I think my hearing has diminished). All the "Bah Bah Bah" and "Gah Gah Gah" words are impactful and groovey. I never felt the need to move my head like woodpecker, knodding my head forward and backwards, to the "Gah Gah Gah" and "Bah Bah Bah" until I heard this track. The fashion is quite fitting for the video with all the members wearing outstanding individualistic street apparel, giving each member their own flare and separate style. You should check out one of the members with what looks like a white scarf(the furry snake-like garment that wraps around her)! She's gorgeous! I believe her name is Kelly. As for their dancing, I'm loving the hip hop ground work that they are doing; they are not afraid of getting down and dirty; this separates Bad Villain from the rest of the other kpop idols, who look clinical and sanitary in their movements. Alot of kpop idol choreography look like they are at a tea party while Bad Villain's choreography looks like they are out in the trenches, not afraid of the grime. All these girls are pretty much ready for war with their 8 pack abs(I know I'm exaggerating), but Bad Villain is visually impressive by showing how fit they are; I haven't seen a fitness oriented female k-idol group for quite a while(the name of the group escapes me). Wow! Their pre-debut films have been astounding to the senses so far. Currently, I'm only curious on what I'm going to experience with their upcoming debut, which is speculated to be released in June.

My Opinion On Hurricane:

BPM Entertainment has a special group for KPOP enthusiasts in 2024. Remember that BPM Entertainment is also working with VIVIZ(formerly known as GFRIEND), so this entertainment company ain't joking around. BADVILLAIN is particularly focused and specializes in rap/hip hop, but they also have angelic vocals, which aren't really heard in this performance. Fitted in camouflage drip, Bad Villain is looking like they are out in a battlefield and methodically eliminating their competition. With an unknown 7th member, they have added another combatant to their fully fledged armada. I love all the non-stop energy in their rapping. A catchy part of the rap is when one of the members start saying "Echo Echo Echo". The instrumental is wild, the pulse/beat sets the song to a fast tempo. If k-idols can exude anything, then Bad Villain exudes attitude, confidence, and ferocity. Fierceness leaks out of their dancing like water running out of a faucet. It is said that all the members come from a dancing background, so it is no wonder we get such a masterfully done choreography. There's alot of things in my mind about this group, but it is better to save it for the future.

Virtual Angel Lyrics
Virtual Angel Showcase Stage
Dance Practice
MONTBEST Performance
MBC Radio Live Session
Live Concert? Live Vocals?
Pre-release 4/4: Air
Pre-release 3/4: Candy Crush
Pre-release 2/4: Flower Rhythm
Pre-release 1/4: Birth
BIRTH LYRICS

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

Debut Album of the Year(Exclusive Extra): 1/1

TOTAL 15.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.99 divided by 17 = 0.940588235
0.940588235 multiplied by 100 = 94.058823529

FINAL SCORE: 94%

The long wait is over! ARTMS has finally released their debut track "Virtual Angel" from their album <Dall>, which stands for Devine All Love and Live. Before I begin their final review, I'd like to reiterate what I have said on a previous blog post and refresh your memory that ARTMS members were originally from LOONA(LOO∏Δ); there was alot going on within their original group and company, so I will not get into it; it will take forever. It is better for you to research LOONA for yourself. The members of ARTMS consists of Jinsoul, Haseul, Kim Lip, Heejin, and Choerry. To be honest, I would love the whole LOONA to be back together, but the world doesn't revolve around my desires or wishes.

Virtual Angel was awesome! The teaser pictures that ARTMS released on certain social media websites showed the members in dark-themed outfits, especially one of the members with black wings attached to their back; however, ARTMS didn't wear any black wings for the music video. The song itself was rumored to sound dark, but as soon as the debut dropped, it didn't sound dark at all; nevertheless, we were given a smooth dance pop song, which I appreciate alot. The smooth sound is not the only thing that I appreciate but the beautifully written lyrics, which was sung with angelic voices; they definately are "Virtual Angels". You may feel partially in favor of the flickering video clips; it made me a bit dizzy after the first watch. After the first watch, you should be able to watch it normally; or at least, be able to withstand the imagery. Sadly, Folks with epilepsy will probably be suffering episodic stuttering or shock after watching Virtual Angel; I feel sorry for those who experienced epilepsy while watching. As expected, the music video has a story with unknown symbology to be dissected, which I will attempt to figure out later in this blog. In their showcase, each member wore white clothing covered with more white drappery and tassles; the white clothing was embellished with a baby blue symbol. The fashion is quite fitting for their song. If they came out with any other type of clothing, such as leather, then it would break and destroy the theme; however, I'm not totally against wardrobe changes. I know for a fact that ARTMS can wear any outfit that goes against the theme and they'll still get praised and adored no matter what. If ARTMS decided to wear garbage bags to their showcases, then it will be the next fashion trend in South Korea. I could be taking it a bit far, but it is only the truth. Anyways, in their showcase, they demonstrated their choreography, which was done elegantly without them busting a sweat; their experience from their time in LOONA paid off and it shows how professionally they are at dancing.

Let's talk about the symbology found in this music video. You may have spotted the upside down pyramid or inverted pyramid; this symbol represents a shift of power in the physical world. It may mean that the power is divinely given to the impoverished and the rich/wealthy has become powerless. The spiritual meaning of this is the divine power above has come down to physical existence, such as angelic forces coming from heaven to visit earth. Basically, this usually means enlightenment or awakening from a dormant state, such as being asleep, in a state of unconsciousness or a state of non-existence. Scattered throughout the music video are subliminal phrases like "Save me savior", "Be Not Afraid", and "Savior". These phrases are spread randomly within the music video; actually, they are comments directed to the viewer or observer, which is you(the one watching the music video...YA...YOU!). The only person that can save you is you. You are the savior that you've been waiting for all this time. Once you've reached enlightenment, you are able to save yourself(you are the angel); hence, why ARTMS placed the inverted pyramids within the music video to emphasize that the divinity is within you, not outside of yourself. At the end of the video, the focus is now on the young girl with the camcorder, who seems to be recording the 5 symbols in the air. The 5 symbols represent the 5 members of ARTMS as the virtual angels. Virtual means simulated though not in actual fact, form, or name. The young lady with the digital camera(camcorder) is observing the virtual angels. The young lady with the digital camera is a representation of the actual angel(YOU). Remember, that virtual angel means the essence of an angel, but not the actual angel. The story of the music video is implying that the savior is your own self and looking outside yourself for a savior is simply finding a virtual angel, which is not your savior. Sorry for repeating myself like a broken record player, but I want to drill the message to the audience's mind. The frightening cult of ARTMS within the music video were searching for their savior outside of theirselves and found the virtual form of an angel, which was a sham. Anyways, the symbology and/or message that I interpreted could be entirely different from what ARTMS intended it to be. This was simply my interpretation, a puzzle that I pieced together from my observations; there are many theories out there to be crafted, but for now, this is what I have. You can take it or leave it.

ARTMS is offering a great album with 11 tracks to interpret; <Dall> is an album jam-packed with content! This is a "must-buy" for people who want to listen to wonderful tracks. From my analysis, <Dall> is a contender for debut KAOTY(Korean Album of the Year) because ARTMS offers a wide variety of genres in one album; each track in the album are bangers or bops. For theory-crafting types of people, such as I and other people, especially who were originally part of the LOONAVERSE fanbase("Orbits" for short), this is a pricless album that can offer insight of the nature of reality or simply music to shake your butt to. Although I was never an "Orbit", a part of the original LOONA fanbase, I can confidently say this album is worthy of your attention. I 100% recommend ARTMS' new album and their future endeavors.

Edit #1(11/1/2024)[Personal Blog For Moonshot Tour]: In advance, I copped an admission to ARTMS' Moonshot Tour through a close acquaintance. I forgot to mention about this last month in my blog because I was completely booked and too busy. It took 4 to 5 hours to drive to the Moonshot Tour because of the heavy traffic in certain regions. By the way, I went to the concert solo because everyone in my immediate life was busy on a weekday; I happen to have planned all the arrangements ahead of time and dealt with all inquiries that I needed to accomplish before setting off to the Moon Tour. This was a once in a lifetime event to witness ARTMS perform in an area that was relatively nearby, where I reside(about 5 hours away). Although it was a long drive, the road-trip was fun because I did alot of sight-seeing along the way. With spare time on my hands(about 5 hours), I was able to hang out and relax nearby picnic tables, which offered a scenic view of a large body of water. Before their Moonshot Tour started, I got a bite to eat at a cozy outdoor dining; unfortunately, a seagull swooped in, landed on top of my table, and gobbled up the remaining piece of my sandwich! At first, I thought a white sweater had fallen from one of the buildings, but it was actually a wet seagull just flapping its wings! The clerk and waiter was not surprised because this type of activity usually happens at their restaurant. This took me by surprise because a giant bird stealing food from me has never happened in my entire life! They offered to make me a new sandwich for free, but I declined the offer because I consumed like 75% of the sandwich already(before the seagull snatched it). With a ton of time on my hands, I walked around the area and noticed alot of vacant/foreclosed stores, boarded-up houses/buildings, graffiti-ridden store-fronts, entire sections of homeless, and garbage scattered around the ground, which surrounded certain establishments. It was crazy that ARTMS was going to perform nearby these ranshacked places! If it was up to me to plan ARTMS' tour, then I wouldn't have chosen this specific venue because of the potential of being mugged there. The location is known for alot of desparate homeless, druggies, street gangs, etc. I wouldn't want ARTMS to be in harm's way; their management made a risky call by doing a tour in this area. Although I would love them to comeback to a place nearby, I'd rather have ARTMS be safe than be in harm's way. Modhaus should take notes to not come near my location because of the potential harm. Anyways, at the Moonshot Tour performance, I didn't realize that I was close(a foot away) to Jinsoul until someone yelled her name. In real life, every member looked way more beautiful than in the photographs and videos. Since I was super close to Jinsoul, I was able to see every detail of her. She was like a goddess(an angel to be exact) that came from the heavens! Seriously! I'm not exaggerating either! For real! Anyways, I'm glad I was disguised throughout the entire concert! Every k-pop concert, convention, fan-meet, etc. that I attend, I always disguise myself to look entirely different than I actually look. I've mastered the state of blending in, mainly the skill to become invisible in all circumstances. In other words, I infiltrated the Moonshot Tour undetected, like a ninja, without anyone noticing my existence. Overall, I enjoyed the tour. I wish I was able to see the rest of the members close up, besides Jinsoul. I'd like to announce again that their album is personally rated as korean debut album of the year. By going to their tour, their performance only confirmed to me that I have made the right judgement. ARTMS rocks!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: ARTMS belongs in the Hall of Fame as giving us the best 2024 rookie debut album of the year. There are no doubts in my mind about ARTMS. They've managed to arrange one of best discography in k-pop amongst rookie debuts as well as in global charts. Now, the question is this: Is ARTMS able to overtake their own album in the future? That's a high bar to overcome, climb over, and outcompete. If they are able to do this, then they deserve a round of applause for taking on a challenge, especially against their own album. With this being said, ARTMS is a Monster Rookie group that you should keep an eye for in the future because you never know if they are going to try to overtake their 2024 album <Dall>. Who knows? They could very well do something beyond our expectations. We are all in anticipation and waiting for ARTMS to do a fierce comeback; whatever the project is, alot of people will support it!

"Air" is ARTMS' fourth(and last) pre-release track from their album <Dall>. It's not hot air nor is it cold air. You will simply get air, you breathe it in, and you breathe it out. Breathing is a simple process that all of us do on a daily basis. This song encapsulates on how it feels to breathe. It is a simple dance song, not complex at all. ARTMS look like they are just partying in one of those foreclosed town houses, which a real estate agent probably permitted ARTMS to inspect the inner and outer quarters. Hopefully, the real estate agent doesn't come back and find them just partying and shooting a music video inside! Oh ARTMS, you're suppose to tour foreclosed homes to lease or own the home, not party in it! lol! Like I said before, these ladies are celebrating and taking it easy before their actual debut. I'm not certain people know the concept or saying "Wu Wei" from Tao Te Ching. "Wu Wei" means effortless effort or actionless action. Particularly, this song incorporates a Wu Wei-esque style instrumental, blending well with their catchy lyrics; a style that isn't complex, but a simple style; the song has hints of reggae and afro-beat if you listen to it closely. By understanding the simplicity of air, one is able to understand the concept of Wu Wei. Is ARTMS closet or undercover Taoist? The reason that I ask is because this song has Wu Wei written all over it. The best way to understand Wu Wei is by describing or grasping(understanding) the scientific process of air. Anyways, It is a breath of fresh air just like their previous pre-release track Candy Crush. If you found "Air" to be awesome like I did, then you'll probably be anticipating for their debut! ARTMS is finally debuting with their track song titled Virtual Angel on May 31. I can't wait! I have no clue what it is about, but knowing ARTMS track record, then we're all in for a treat.

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? Performance?
MNET MCOUNTDOWN SHOWCASE STAGE
Live Session
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: Not Applicable/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: Not Applicable/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .66/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: Not Applicable/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

Best Rookie K-Ballad Group(Exclusive): 1/1

TOTAL 12.65 OF 14 POINTS

Calculation:
12.65 divided by 14 = 0.903571429
0.903571429 multiplied by 100 = 90.357142857

FINAL SCORE: 90.3%

WATERFIRE is a 4 member boy group, who were contestants of many survival shows; particularly, they are known for recently participating in a MNET survival show called "Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survivor". As noted, WATERFIRE is a boy group mainly focused on vocals. I think many people remember Sunyoul, who was a former member of UP10TION. Unfortunately, UP10TION is breaking apart slowly, but I don't think the group has disbanded just yet; hopefully, activity happens within UP10TION to revive what they've built. Anyways, all I have to say is WATERFIRE possess excellent vocals. If you remember a group called DAY6, then you might like WATERFIRE. Although WATERFIRE doesn't play instruments such as guitars or drums, you will still enjoy their vocals. I promise!

EDIT#1(6/30/2024): I just realized that k-idol groups who do ballad style/R&B type music has to be reviewed and rated in a different standard because they do not incorporate any sort of choreography. It wouldn't be fair to rate groups like WATERFIRE under the same standard as typical k-idol music. Instead of rating under the same standard(out of 17 points), I would have to rate groups like this out of 14. This is to ensure the rating system is fair in its assessment.

EDIT#2(11/16/2024): I've chosen WATERFIRE as the best k-ballad rookie group for 2024. There are many ballad rookie singers to choose from, but I found WATERFIRE to have the closest to the full package when it comes to ballads.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: WATERFIRE is easily the best ballad rookies of 2024. I've heard from the rumor mill that each member are doing their own activities; it would be a waste for them to split away from each other when there's high potential of creating high quality ballads.

Showcase
Relay Dance Practice
Audio Only
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: .7/1
Lyrics: .9/1
Addictive Song: .7/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .7/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL ? OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.66 divided by 17 = 0.803529412
0.803529412 multiplied by 100 = 80.352941176

FINAL SCORE: 80.3%

A pleasant surprise! These kids are good! The only problem is the instrumental sounds a bit like X1's Flash and Produce48's Pick Me. The music video is a bit strange with the space shuttle and space background; it felt totally out of place. Anyways, their showcase is great actually; they are young children, who execute difficult moves like a professional dancer. A young group with an attention to detail in their choreography is top tier in my opinion. The best of luck to Curious and their future endeavors. There's a possibility that these kids can catch alot of attention through their outstanding dancing, but since there are K-netizens, who are against minors debuting, then they may not see the light of day.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: A kids group that is out-competing older k-idols is super rare. Curious does have what it takes to be in competitive arena, even amongst adult k-idols. I could only imagine how much stronger Curious will be in a few years time; Curious is definately a wrecking ball. You better be watching out for these kids!

Lyrics?
Performance
Showcase
Showcase(1 Year Ago)
Showcase in 2024 Diyandi Festival in Iligan City
Comeback: Live A Lie
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .44/1
Instrumental: .44/1
Lyrics: .66/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .55/1
Facial Expression: .55/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .88/1
Music Video Score: .66/1
Visual Role Model: .66/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .66/1
Live Visual: .66/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 10.15 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
10.15 divided by 17 = 0.597058824
0.597058824 multiplied by 100 = 59.705882353

FINAL SCORE: 59.7%

It feels like B-ours is resurrecting old korean music from 20 years ago(I'm not certain if they are intentionally creating music to sound like this). I'm not against music that takes the audience back in time, where music was simpler; however, I think South Koreans and international audiences prefer modern pop music or at least music that resembles sounds that are up to date; I'm not entirely sure if there is a market for old school sounding music(it could be very tiny). I'm assuming that B-Ours found a midi file from a Windows 2000 PC and decided to use that as their instrumental. B-ours needs a bit more practice/training on their vocals. Since it is a music video, I couldn't observe many parts of the choreography; it was mainly tiny snippets of their choreography, so I can't make a proper judgement. Overall, I think it is a cute karaoke bar song for the early 2000s; this song is for people who are curious of how early 2000s South Korean music sounded like.

Edit#1(6/24/2024): Within the deepest crevices of youtube, I was able to watch their full showcase, which was from a year ago! A normal internet search of "B-Ours" only provided me with separate fan-cam versions of "Be Ur Girl"(each member having their own individual fan-cam); there was no recent group live footage besides the one that I found, which was performed a year ago. Whenever I search for this group on the internet, I end up empty handed like searching for water in a vast desert. It shouldn't be this difficult to find B-Ours, especially since they debuted a month ago; however, they've managed to be unnoticed and dodge public awareness. I noticed k-idol groups stop promoting their debuts when it results in poor viewership/attention and only gathers miniscule investment and/or opportunities; the incentives of promoting their group aren't favorable. B-Ours looks like they abandoned promoting their group or stopped producing content for their debut, which is unfortunate. The reason for their lack of promotion or production could be accumulated expenses or unpopular public reception. Overall, I felt their debut was short-lived.

Edit#2(10/30/2024): B-Ours randomly performed at Diyandi Festival in Iligan City, Philippines. A random person in telegram sent me the video clip. Usually, k-idol groups that don't get praise from South Korea, end up showcasing in South East Asian countries. This is actually a smart move because there are plenty of k-idol fans in South East Asia, especially in the Philippines.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2024)]: I've felt "MEH" about this group throughout their debut. There's nothing to particularly hate about this group nor is there anything praise-worthy. B-Ours feels like they are stuck in the middle, in a state of neutrality.

Lyrics
Performance
MCOUNTDOWN Showcase
Live Band Concert
Comeback: NALLINA
Comeback(Digital Single): Keep On Moving
2023 Pre-Debut: Miracle

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 17 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
17 divided by 17 = 1
1 multiplied by 100 = 100

FINAL SCORE: 100%

NEXZ brought us a chill/relaxing debut song. There may be some in the general audience who will find this song somewhat boring and its smooth melody to cause them to sleep(a snooze-fest); however, their choreography and visuals make up for it. This makes me question whether or not this is the perfect choice for their debut song because it doesn't demonstrate their vocal potential. Debut songs should hook in their audience to have their audience desire more of them, but I believe the song falls a bit flat in direction. I bet JYP Entertainment is simply cooking up or saving future songs in their hidden stash of bangers for future comebacks; JYP Entertainment are obviously playing it safe and strategic with NEXZ since they are noticably competing with other upcoming k-idol groups, who already have huge fanbases, such as TWS. Personally, I found the song quite pleasant to listen to while running errands, doing low-maintenance activity, taking leisurely walks, or simply sitting in a vehicle without it being too disruptive to others. Nothing else to really say about this debut except that you'll love the vibe or simply snooze to the vibe. The "Z" in "NEXZ" is a symbol that represents snoring while sleeping. Hopefully, their future releases won't lull the audience to sleep like their debut.

Edit#1(6/5/2024): I called their debut song a "snooze-fest" because it is; however, I didn't say they were a bad performing k-idol group. They were simply given an unfavorable song to debut with because it doesn't hook audiences(or makes the audience excited). In their live band performance, their live vocals were perfect; they sang their entire song without a single flaw. Not only did they sing live, but they also did their choreography while singing live. To be honest, their live performance is better than their studio recorded tracks. Everyone should recognize that NEXZ is a powerhouse offering the whole package: flawless live singing while executing their dance choreography with appealing visuals. I do recommend this group 100% for all audiences; hopefully, they don't get boring songs like "Ride the Vibe" in future comebacks.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: NEXZ is a highly recommended k-idol group, who are given boring music(unfortunately). They would be up in my "Monster Rookies" tier, but JYP Entertainment keeps giving them types of music that I would normally fall asleep to.

Second Track: Starlight
Lyrics?
Choreography?
Showcase?
Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 0/1
Facial Expression: 0/1
Objective Movement: 0/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 0/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .33/1

TOTAL 8.33 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
8.33 divided by 17 = 0.49
0.49 multiplied by 100 = 49

FINAL SCORE: 49%

257 is an independent k-idol group with a chill, cool, and collected two track album called "Black Out". Another track in their album is called "Starlight", which is nice as well. There's no accurate information about these 3 young ladies online; they're pretty much unknown. A random factoid that was presented on the internet is that "257" represents the month of each member's birth: "2" is February, "5" is May, and "7" is July.

Edit #1(6/18/2024): I only gave 257 a low score because they never made a public appearance for their debut. "Blackout" was such a great song; I have this song in my playlist permanently. If this group kept on promoting, then they would have made a potentially large fanbase. Since 257 is an independent group, I don't think they have the funds to make an impact in the kpop industry because music showcases require large sums of capital to promote there. Sadly, independent labels usually have tiny pieces of lint and toothpicks in their pockets, which is never really enough to promote on reputable music shows. Unfortunately, 257 will be swept under the rug along with great unknown groups of 2024.


[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: 257 is best kept in your playlist. I love their music; however, I do not recommend this group because of their longevity. Often, independent labels don't go as far into the future; they often just start and stop with their debut release. Basically, you won't ever hear of groups like 257 again because of the lack of funding needed to keep their group promoting into the future. Now, if 257 started to get the proper funding necessary to do comebacks, then you'll see my a$$ at the front of the line. 257 is a top tier group with no funding, so you'll find their content most likely swept under the rug.

LYRICS
Showcase Stage
Performance
Encore Stage
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Comeback: Visionary Vision(12 Members) - Hit The Floor
Comeback: Glow(4 Members) - Inner Dance
Comeback:(4 Members) - Polaroid[OST]
Pre-OT24: ARIA - Door
4Study 4Work 4Inst Vol.1(Instrumental Album)
All Their Releases So Far

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.76 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.76 divided by 17 = 0.868235294
0.868235294 multiplied by 100 = 86.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 86.8%

This is the first time that I have ever heard of a decentralized k-pop idol group; it probably is the world's first. With a squad consisting of a whooping 24 female members, tripleS is turning heads with their debut album: Assemble24(5 versions), which consists of 10 tracks. The fascinating feature of this group is that they can split their group into Sub-units. So far, they've split off into these sub-units: Acid Angel From Asia, +(KR)ystal Eyes, Acid Eyes, Lovelution, EVOLution, NXT, Aria, Glow, and possibly even more in the future. The possibilities are endless with this group because they can shuffle and alternate between members as an advantage, which makes this K-pop group the most versatile in different genres. Will this shape the music industry differently in the future? Quite possibly. The benefits of having a huge squad at this capacity is to have members fill in as back-up dancers; instead of hiring back-up dancers, members, who are not participating with vocals, can simply take part in that role. An awesome advantage of having such a huge group is that anyone with an injury or someone in a hiatus can be substituted with any member of the group. People have not recognized how endless the possibilities are with a decentralized group. If a vocalist is having a bad day with a hoarse voice, then another vocalist can simply fill in for them. Every one is basically covered in the long run; there's enough dancers, rappers, singers, and models to fill in the gaps whenever it is needed. MODHAUS is definately playing it strategically within the K-pop music industry; I'd say that it may lead to a successful group. One thing that caught my attention was that the group is involved with NFT(Non-fungible Tokens); I'm not really into these monetary instruments/investments, but it is somewhat risky to involve NFT's with K-pop. NFT's are experimental for the value of NFT's are currently fluctuating in price; in other words, the cryptocurrency space, and other digital currencies, is filled with volatility and possibly "rug-pulls". If you have a surplus of funds or a disposable income, then at your own risk or peril, you may want to invest in these tripleS NFT photo cards called "Objekts"; you may walk out with a large return on investment if you are smart and cunning enough. I'm not here to offer investment advice, so it is best to simply ask a licensed financial advisor/expert's legal advice about tripleS NFT's. Anyways, tripleS is definately changing the K-pop landscape if they are able to gain popularity amongst newcomers, veterans, and the casuals. Will this end the need for traditional/standard groups with a member count of 10 or less? It really depends if the audience or fans will accept such a change to continue and thrive. There's always a need for smaller groups because fans want to be able to root for familiar kpop idols instead of an infinite selection of kpop idols. The problem that I see arising is the audience may succumb to confusion between quantity and quality. Will the K-pop fanbase/community be dealing with anger or indecisiveness for the massive amount of k-idols to select from? Choosing a bias is now a dilemma for their fanbase/audience. Well, from my point of view, there's always room for every type of group, decentralized or not. Now, it really depends what the fans will support and be attentive to. Overall, an infinite amount of substitution can help with scheduling as well; concerts will not be delayed or cancelled because a member is missing in action. From my imagination, I can picture a music video/showcase that's 12 minutes long with all 24 members alternating amongst each other to present their particular role as a singer, dancer, or model. The problem with having such a large group is line distribution; each member should have an equal amount of lines to sing within each song. Like I said before, it would actually help to extend the duration of each song to be around 12 minutes(to compensate for the amount of members); however, I can see fans frenzied or enraged over a 12 minute long choreography or singing! Personally, I'd be quite cheerful, ecstatic, and amazed about a fully-featured 12 minute K-pop choreography and singing; it would be one of a kind. I wonder at times how MODHAUS has the budget to maintain such a member intensive group; they must be filthy rich/wealthy! Anyways, anyone's imagination can run wild with a group this large, so I will leave it as that.

Anyways, the debut song was good; it wasn't too extravagant or anything; it was a dark concept of a music video with an ominous atmosphere, black birds dying and accidents about to happen. The creepy parts of the music video had my butt clenching for a few seconds. It is a good tune. It will take time to remember anyone in the group though since there is no particular person that has caught my attention; mostly, it was overwhelming to try to remember names and faces. In situations like this, it is best to gradually accustom myself to the members. It is a difficult task because there are too many options to choose from that it makes me not want to choose anyone as a bias. I bet many have the same issue of being overwhelmed by the amount of members; I don't think it is just me who feels this way. Anyways, there's so much change happening in the K-pop industry with upcoming rookies, especially with this group tripleS.

Edit#1(6/9/2024): I've seen members perform live vocals for other songs, but not for "Girls Never Die". The members who sang live are within TripleS' sub-units Aria and EVOLution. By the way, their live vocals were pretty good. As for now, I'll be waiting for their live vocals for "Girls Never Die". When that is released, I will increase their score depending whether it was good or not.



Edit#2(6/29/2024): Modhaus did a good job hiding tripleS' encore stage because I couldn't find it at all until someone directed me to it. I have mixed feelings about their live vocals. You may say that encore stages do not qualify as live vocals and you are right. Modhaus should plan an actual live vocal performance for "Girls Never Die". You can tell that some members of TripleS are vocal queens, but some of them, I had to cringe hard and cover my ears. It wouldn't be fair to say that TripleS are vocal queens because only specific members can sing extremely well. You can even say that those specific members are vocally "hard carrying" the whole TripleS. If I could illustrate to you an overall description of tripleS, then it would be 4 members, with fidgety knees, carrying the other 20 members on their back and shoulders. Before I found this group, I predicted there was going to be an imbalance of singers, dancers, and visuals. Simply, there are members who specialize in certain roles that outshine the other members; while that's true, there will be members who fail in those roles horribly. As a conclusion, one can only judge TripleS individually and give credit, where credit is due. I can't say for a 100% certainty that the group is vocally outstanding; it is only a specific set of members who sing outstanding. It is the same for the dancers. Certain ones can dance extremely well while some need alot of work. There's alot of chaos that can ferment within a 24 member group if it is not organized in an orderly fashion.

Edit#3(11/30/2024): The 4B Movement in South Korea is using tripleS's debut "Girls Never Die" as their anthem. Basically, the 4B movement is feminism; however, it goes a bit further than feminism; South Korean women are swearing off sex, dating, marriage, and having children. This movement may be too extreme for the average westerner to adopt. In certain interviews, the 4B participants, promoters, and activists have said that this movement is to liberate women from traditional obligations, so that they can pursue a life of freedom. I'm not entirely certain if TripleS acknowledges, promotes, or participates with this movement, but it is definately good publicity for them since it is a growing and active movement in modern civilization. TripleS have been adorned with being the ambassador of this movement by outspoken social media activists. I wonder what TripleS's response to this movement and if they are okay with them being somewhat of a representative of it.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: tripleS is a k-idol group that I recommend for anyone. The only problem that I experienced as a spectator of this group is my inability to memorize each member's names; you might have a difficult time naming all 24 members. Each member of the group offers specific talents. You may love or hate certain members, depending who you are as a person. Certain members of tripleS has caught my attention for their outstanding performance, but I will not point them out in my blog. You'll notice them right away if you keep a close and accurate eye on the group.

LYRICS
Performance
Dance Practice
LIVE DEBUT SHOWCASE
Comeback: Sweet Devil

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 16 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
16 divided by 17 = 0.941176471
0.941176471 multiplied by 100 = 94.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 94.1%

WOW! WOW! WOW! This group is HAWT!!! I'm fairly certain that you will get an ear-gasm listening to their debut. They sing and dance live perfectly! Not only that, but all of them are charismatic models with their own individual style. If you remember groups like Highlight, Vixx, Viction, JBJ, and other kpop idol groups with heavy emphasis on vocals, then you will LOVE them. I guarantee it!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: ASC2NT is one of my favorite rookies of 2024; I highly recommend them!

Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
COMEBACK: Stunning

Score Sheet

Vocals: .11/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .11/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .11/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .11/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 6.43 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
6.43 divided by 17 = 0.378235294
0.378235294 multiplied by 100 = 37.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 37.8%

Daychild has to be the weakest vocal kpop idol boy group that has debutted for 2024. If you are looking for a monotone song to make your life even more boring, then look no further because you've found Daychild. Although their vocals are awful, you'll find their rapping average at most, which is the best the group has to offer. They should have just debutted as a rapping group instead of bringing us this illuminated stinky diaper of a song. There's nothing else I can say but vitriol, so I'll refrain from saying anymore.

Edit#1(6/7/2024): With further review, I found Daychild's choreography and dancing to be decent, as well as their rapping. Personally, I couldn't listen to their song again because of their terrible vocals. The best way for this group to move forward is to heavily work on their vocals or simply abandon the prospect and pursue other fields of entertainment. My suggestion is for Daychild to move into rapping or something else. For the love of GOD, I beg of Daychild not to do vocals ever again. If there is a morsel of progression, then I can consider it, but it is such a waste of time having to deal with debuting groups that obviously still need to train. There's a reason BabyMonster and other groups like them trained in the YG basement for years upon years. Basically, it is to hone their skills, correct their errors, and experiment with their vocal ranges. Daychild probably needs 5-10 years of training before ever considering in stepping foot in a competitive arena, such as the kpop industry.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I had to put DayChild in the "trash" tier because their vocals need alot of work. Vocal training should be mandatory before ever stepping in the k-pop industry. DayChild needs to go back to the drawing board to work on their vocals pronto.

MNET SHOWCASE
LYRICS
SHOWCASE
Live Session
Magic Hour(Korean Version)
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .11/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.77 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.77 divided by 17 = 0.868823529
0.868823529 multiplied by 100 = 86.882352941

FINAL SCORE: 86.8%

Once upon a time, I went to a shoe store and tried on a new pair of shoes, which I found to be flamboyant. To my disappointment, none of them fit; none of the shoes on the rack were of my fitted size; it was either too big or to small. TOZ is not a one-size fits all type of group; they cater to a younger demographic. They've managed to pull off the "boy next door" or "my high school friend" type of look perfectly; however, it was a mediocre execution of the concept compared to many kpop groups of the past. I'm not certain if it is only me that recognizes this, but every "boy next door" concept is starting to look like a rendition of each other; it is almost like the producers reduce, reuse, and recycle the basic components of what a "boy next door" concept looks like, which makes it feel disorienting. This group debuted back in 2023; apparently, they do have a fan base, which shocked me at first since I didn't enjoy their first Korean mini-album. Overall, the issue here is a demographic issue. TOZ seem to be in favor of younger people in Japan. Don't let my post dissuade you from enjoying this group and buying their first Korean Debut Mini-Album. This group's sound isn't for everyone, but it could be for you. For now, I will not be wearing and walking around with these "nu shoes".

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I recommend TOZ; however, personally, I wasn't invested into their debut. Their japanese release "Magic Hour" was definately one of my favorites and worth a listen.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Audio Only
Showcase
Showcase 2
Simply K-pop Contour
Music Core Showcase
Simply K-pop Contour(Showcase 2)

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 0/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: .33/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1
Best Tro(Exclusive Point): 1/1

TOTAL 13.65 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.65 divided by 17 = 0.802941176
0.802941176 multiplied by 100 = 80.294117647

FINAL SCORE: 80.2%

Most, if not all, trot singers can do live vocals, which is amazing. Although trot singers can do live vocals, their choreography isn't executed in a timely manner, which is fine by me. Trot should be a pre-requisite before anyone can attempt to become a k-idol; however, I don't make the rules in how things work. A good chunk of k-idols have a difficult time going up on stage and singing live because their main focus is in dancing and keeping their looks in order. K-idols only worry about vocals when it comes to recording their album's tracks in a studio. Live vocals actually don't have a huge market because people use their money to only purchase songs to dance to or listen to music while multi-tasking. Another part of the market is that people often purchase singles or albums because of popularity; usually popularity is the by-product of being extremely beautiful/handsome with outstanding fashion/cosmetics or a trendiness with their studio recordings. This is really where trot music falls short because simply the younger generation express no interest or attraction to live vocals. They couldn't care less if their k-idol is perfectly executing their high note; they simply want to cheer on their beloved k-idol, who is adored on a mass scale. Anyways, I might have gone on a tangent, but I promise it is related. ANEX perfectly sung "Hitman" live on stage. Most of the crowd looked like they were either adults or elderly, which is typical for trot showcases. Trot is usually enjoyed by older generations; younger generations simply ignore trot all together. Unfortunately, ANEX didn't put out a music video. It turns out that they are pretty much out of the radar to becoming a popular trot group. It is times like these that I find myself contemplating if I should blog about trot music because it usually goes to deaf ears, in one ear and out the other ear from the general masses. There are people who still appreciate old-fashioned korean music, but that group is slowly dwindling as more people draw their attention to new kpop music. Anyways, ANEX did a tremendously fantastic job in their debut.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: ANEX is the best trot rookie group of 2024. They are mostly unknown, but that doesn't mean that they didn't do one of the best trot songs of the year. Mind you, they are also a rookie group! With that being said, I hope they release more hits like "Hitman".

Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.66 divided by 17 = 0.862352941
0.862352941 multiplied by 100 = 86.235294118

FINAL SCORE: 86.2%

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!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: PickUs is a recommended k-idol group because of their surprising debut. Will they make a comeback someday soon? I still love that airplane choreography! It is too memorable!

Live Concert Showcase
Lyrics

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .33/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .33/1

TOTAL 11.98 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
11.98 divided by 17 = 0.704705882
0.704705882 multiplied by 100 = 70.470588235

FINAL SCORE: 70.4%

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".]

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Troika had a fun debut song. That's about it really. It deserves to be in everyone's playlist.

ROCK THANG LYRICS
Dance Practice
DEBUT MEDIA SHOWCASE
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Pre-release Music Video:
Tiot - Moonrise
Frame the Blueprint : Prelude to Possibilities
Find the Way
Comebacks:
The Long Season
Take It Slow

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.66 divided by 17 = 0.862352941
0.862352941 multiplied by 100 = 86.235294118

FINAL SCORE: 86.2%

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.

EDIT: I was ready to give this debut a high score, but TIOT didn't release a live vocal/concert for Rock Thang. Before "Rock Thang", I've seen them successfully do live vocals for various songs. Hopefully, they will release a live vocal for "Rock Thang", so that I can bump up the score.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I recommend TIOT. Although I would have loved to put them on my "highly recommended" tier, it wouldn't be fair. If they demonstrated more of their talents, then I would have put them on a higher tier immediately, in a heart beat. Alas, I'm at a loss for words because I really had high hopes for this group because of all the content they have released before their debut.

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
Second Digital Single: BLOW
Third Digital Single: SLOW
Title Track For Album: Flow
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .66/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .66/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: .66/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 12.97 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.97 divided by 17 = 0.762941176
0.762941176 multiplied by 100 = 76.294117647

FINAL SCORE: 76.2%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Personally, I keep this group in my playlist; all their tracks are quite catchy. To be honest, I don't closely follow this group; however, they are interesting because they are leading a sign language movement in k-pop, which is something completely new. If you're into this type of movement, by all means, you should follow them. For me, I'm just here as a spectator, listening to their catchy tracks.

Lyrics?
Choreography?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.3 divided by 17 = 0.311764706
0.311764706 multiplied by 100 = 31.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 31.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!


[CLOSED]

Lyrics
Dance Practice
Sing! & Shine Debut Showcase
Comeback: Hard To Get To You
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.66 divided by 17 = 0.862352941
0.862352941 multiplied by 100 = 86.235294118

FINAL SCORE: 86.2%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I recommend Bewave for those who miss music produced by Apink and WeGirls.

SHOWCASE
Showcase 2
Showcase 3
Lyrics
Live Session
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.99 divided by 17 = 0.881764706
0.881764706 multiplied by 100 = 88.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 88.1%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Unicode is one of the groups on top of my recommended k-idol groups of 2024. Although they've released a japanese version of their album, everyone is still waiting for a new release from these lovely girls.

Music Video?
LYRICS

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 0/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 13.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.66 divided by 17 = 0.803529412
0.803529412 multiplied by 100 = 80.352941176

FINAL SCORE: 80.3%

ViV is one of the hottest groups that I've seen for quite a while. I'd say this group is one of the hottest of Spring 2024. Alas, the only thing that is preventing them from stardom is promotional advertising and a lack of music video; this is probably the entertainment company's fault for not doing their work. There's also no one spreading their songs on social media, which is why I couldn't find this group in the first place; I would have covered this group a long time ago, but there was no information about them at all. It is as if they are being censored or hidden from the public. Further more, their group name could upset fans of VIVIZ, so their debut is a bit cursed from the start. If you haven't noticed yet, a ton of already established k-idol fanbases will clinch and shake their fist at any group who are copying their favorite k-idols, even if it is just a name, such as "ViV". It is what it is. Anyways, this group reminds me of two under-rated groups with high energy, Hot Place and 4TEN; the tracks that remind me of "ViV - Bomb" are: "Hot Place - TMI" and "4TEN - Severely", which were also not promoted at all. There's other groups that remind me of ViV, but the group names aren't registering in my mind at the moment. It's crazy how people don't spread dope tracks like this. Instead of tracks like this being popular, they just die into obscurity. Hopefully, ViV doesn't just disappear like all these k-idol groups in the past, who have "banger" songs. ViV has to be the "best-kept-secret" songs, but I personally would like them to be well known.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: At the back of my mind since their debut, I knew this group was going to disband because their promotional content was swept under the rug. A k-idol doomed at conception is the best way I can describe ViV.

Lyrics?
Choreography?
Showcase
Live Session
Live Concert
First Digital Single: Faded Letter
Comeback: Hakuna Matata

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: Not Applicable/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: Not Applicable/1
Cosmetics: .66/1
Fashion: .66/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: .66/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: Not Applicable/1
Live Visual: .66/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 11.3 OF 14 POINTS

Calculation:
11.3 divided by 14 = 0.807142857
0.807142857 multiplied by 100 = 80.714285714

FINAL SCORE: 80.7%

I don't classify this as K-pop, but I'd like to just bring awareness that there are classical music coming from South Korea. If you like Phantom of the Opera type of music, then you might like CREZL. CREZL already debutted last year, but this year they officially made an original music video.

EDIT#1(6/30/2024): I've decided to rate this out of 14 points instead of 17. It has occured to me that ballads/classical music and other music of this nature does not require choreography and it is also unnecessary because it would definately look awkward.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: CREZL is at the very bottom of my recommended rookie groups because they are either a hit or miss. Not many people consider opera/classical music as popular per say; it is definately a great listen for people with an open mind for new/emerging music. Overall, I recommend this rookie group, but I do understand people who hate this type of opera singing mixed with R and B. CREZL is simply bringing their own style to the genre, a new twist to plain R and B.

LIVE SHOWCASE
Lyrics
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Comeback: First Nchristmas!

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .33/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .33/1

TOTAL 12.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.99 divided by 17 = 0.764117647
0.764117647 multiplied by 100 = 76.411764706

FINAL SCORE: 76.4%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: Personally, I find NCHIVE to be more of a "playlist group". Basically, you would only have them on your playlist to fill the space. Other than that, I wouldn't take the group too seriously.

Media Showcase
Halla Lyrics
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .66/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .9/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 13.55 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.79 divided by 17 = 0.797058824
0.797058824 multiplied by 100 = 79.705882353

FINAL SCORE: 79.7%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: I don't expect much from project groups; you shouldn't either.

Lyrics?
Choreography?
Showcase At Start(Ends in 3 minutes)
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .11/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .44/1

TOTAL 13.55 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
13.55 divided by 17 = 0.797058824
0.797058824 multiplied by 100 = 79.705882353

FINAL SCORE: 79.7%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion.

Edit: After listening to this music video one more time, it felt like I was in the middle of a factory observing the production of chocolate bars. The music video and the song gives me this Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory vibe. If this group continues this type of music(or similar concepts), then they could pull off fun/trendy/popular music videos like how Crayon Pop has done in the past. I don't think they intended their group logo to look like the "Anarchist" symbol; I hope someone can alert them to use another symbol for their group.

Edit #2(6/19/2024): I found their live showcase. These kids are better than I thought! They are the future of Korea!


[CLOSED]

Lyrics
Showcase 1
Showcase 2
Choreography
Live Concert
Comeback: Why Not?
2nd Comeback: Let's Get It

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .8/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 16.8 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
16.8 divided by 17 = 0.988235294
0.988235294 multiplied by 100 = 98.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 98.8%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: NOWADAYS is a highly recommended k-pop group. Although I find Cube Entertainment's promotional content of this group questionable, NOWADAYS has proven to show their professionalism, even under strange circumstances. For instance, NOWADAYS did a cover of (G)IDLE's Queencard. Although NOWADAYS has performed outstandingly, the change of lyrics and presentation was completely off. This is mainly directed by Cube by the way. As I said before, Cube Entertainment does some strange things to their idols, almost humiliating activities. Cube Entertainment must know what they are doing though since they've been in the k-pop industry for such a long time. I've always questioned their strange methods of promotion since it puts their k-idols in a negative light. Cube Entertainment must love the negative publicity; however, they still are able to attract an audience with their questionable methods. Anyways, look out for NOWADAYs; they're doing great things.

Lyrics
Choreography
LIVE DANCE PERFORMANCE
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Comeback: Deeeep

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.66 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.66 divided by 17 = 0.862352941
0.862352941 multiplied by 100 = 86.235294118

FINAL SCORE: 86.2%

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 sexy. 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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: According to certain netizens, SPIA has disbanded. These netizens that I talk to has a good track record of giving me accurate information, so I'm pretty certain that SPIA has disbanded. SPIA's disbandment was a quiet one; nonetheless, they've brought us a great debut!

Lyrics
Inkigayo Showcase
Performance
LIVE CONCERT

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

Best Live Performers of the Year(Exclusive Extra): 1/1

TOTAL 18 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
17 divided by 17 = 1
1 multiplied by 100 = 100

FINAL SCORE: 100%

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#1: 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.

EDIT#2(9/3/2024): What I'm about to say is actually old news. Ahyeon and Chiquita were criticized for over-dancing. After I watched the footage of what the netizens were criticizing, I totally agree. In a group performance, it is important to move in unison with the group on whatever performance it may be. Now, if it was a solo performance, then Ahyeon and Chiquita could go all out and add their individuality to their dances without any sort of compromise. Since it is a group performance, adding individuality to their dancing would only make the performance look awful and disorganized. Unless, everyone in BabyMonster decided to over-dance as well, then there would be no issue at all. Personally, over-dancing isn't really an issue. I think folks in the audience/fanbase may have OCD or just really picky in how things should be done. It is a matter of perfectionism really; there's people out there that want everything to be nailed in nice and tidy into a board. A nail that sticks out of a board is usually a problem with certain netizens. Everything has to conform to the standard. In this situation, certain netizens don't want Ahyeon or Chiquita to express themselves to their full potential. The issue here is conformity and nonconformity. Is Ahyeon and Chiquita willing to sacrifice their freedom of expression to please their audience/fanbase/critics? It really doesn't matter what they choose, as long as they can live with their decision or not.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/7/2025)]: BabyMonster is 2024's Rookie Group of the Year. This k-idol group is all that you need and want, plus more. I promise that this group is guaranteed to satisfy all your k-idol and k-pop needs. There are no arguments or evidence, even the slightest, in saying that this group is not the pinnacle of k-pop for 2024. To all the people still questioning whether this is true or not, please put your hands down. You can battle test this group in all scenarios and they'll still be on top; even if you put them head to head with veteran k-idol groups, there is no competition as of now. If you are still doubting my judgement, then please sit your a$$ down and observe the entire work of BabyMonster. They've provided top-notch k-pop entertainment with no major mistakes; they'll run circles around other groups and still be on top when it comes to live vocals, dance performance, and more. BabyMonster is the rookie group leading and paving the way for k-pop 2024 and beyond. Now, all we have to do is patiently wait for their future comebacks.

VVUP - Locked On Lyrics
Performance
Showcase

Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Comeback: Ain't Nobody
First Pre-debut
Digital Single:
VVUP - Doo Doom Chit
Lyrics
MNET Showcase

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: .7/1
Facial Expression: .7/1
Objective Movement: .7/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .7/1
Cosmetics: .5/1
Fashion: .5/1
Music Video Score: .7/1
Visual Role Model: .5/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .5/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 10.16 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
10.16 divided by 17 = 0.597647059
0.597647059 multiplied by 100 = 59.764705882

FINAL SCORE: 59.7%

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.

Edit#1(8/29/2024): Sadly, Hyunny has left VVUP due to health issues. This group has high vocal potential, but now the group has been diminished. Like I said before, the production team behind VVUP is low quality(which produced awful visuals and music video), but the group itself has the vocal prowess that everyone has been looking for when it comes to k-pop groups. Nevertheless, I hope 3 members can continue and climb through with one less member through their career.

[CLOSING EDIT(12/7/2025)]: As a member departs from the group, a new member will be introduced, Jiyoon. No one has the slightest clue on who Jiyoon is, but hopefully she will fit comfortably in the group. I've read that they will introduce their new member through their comeback: "4 Life". Their comeback is postponed, but it will be released on a future date. As I previously said, this group's vocal prowess is top tier, but the production quality for this group's visuals, music videos, etc. is quite atrocious. Someone please hire a better production team. If you have bananas or peanuts, then you can probably get better production from monkies from a zoo.

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.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .66/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.63 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.63 divided by 17 = 0.331176471
0.331176471 multiplied by 100 = 33.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 33.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!


[CLOSED]

Lyrics
Showcase
Choreography
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Comeback: Don't Cry

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: .8/1
Addictive Song: .8/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .8/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 12.72 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
12.72 divided by 17 = 0.748235294
0.748235294 multiplied by 100 = 74.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 74.8%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: Although Candy Shop is under a reputable company, Brave Entertainment, they are still under the radar to many k-pop fans because this group hasn't shown any unforgetable content. As I said before, Candy Shop needs to find a way to catch the attention of their audience. Even with their comeback, it hasn't caught the broader audience at all. This is one of those cases, where the group is talented, but are unable to keep the attention from the audience.

LYRICS
SHOWCASE
Live Concert

Comebacks:
Curious
Poppin'

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1
Best Visual Rookies of 2024(Exclusive Point: 1/1)

TOTAL 18 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
17 divided by 17 = 1
1 multiplied by 100 = 100

FINAL SCORE: 100%

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 own self. 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 can only hope these kids have time to enjoy their youth and are surrounded by people who can offer emotional support, especially in this brutal and toxic kpop industry. With that aside, South Korea has an interesting future in store for them with this promising group: UNIS.

Edit: This group is outstanding so far, but I've heard fans express their concern over line distribution. Apparently, their Twice cover was not evenly distributed amongst the members. Honestly, it is not a big deal. It is simply a cover; however, I do understand fans feeling betrayed that their bias(their favorite member) is not getting fair treatment. Lines are only distributed to a member who can sing the part extremely well; there is a possibility that members did an awful job covering the lines, so they were excluded from participating in the cover. From what I have heard, "die-hard fans" took the unfair line distribution too seriously(to the heart) that they unstanned UNIS. It is a bit too early to make rash actions, such as unstanning, towards a k-idol group who just debutted. UNIS is still in its infancy stage and, just like any k-idol group, it will go through problems and course-correction along the way. Young fans are too hot-headed to see the metamorphosis of UNIS. Don't you know? A catepillar must go through the process that happens in a cocoon before it becomes a butterfly. The die-hard fans of UNIS have to be patient with the transformation process of UNIS, which is still at its beginning stages.

Edit#2(8/4/2024): Unfortunately, one of the members, Kotoko, has fainted on a live stage performance at a festival called "Midsummer's Night" in Haenam(or Haenim? I'm bad at spelling); it was a mini-kpop concert. Anyways, UNIS was doing a cover dance of "Twice - What is Love?" and Kotoko just fainted out of the blue; it was totally unexpected and devastating to watch. If you have checked UNIS track record, then you'll notice that they've done phenomenal performances since debut until this dreary event. Incidents such as injuries, exhaustion, or other ailments tend to happen to k-idols; this is actually normal and there's no way around such things. Even the best of the best of k-idols get the brunt of injuries. No one should blame anyone for these occurences. Sure enough, we can prepare ourselves to prevent or mitigate such incidents from happening such as getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and other such methods. From an objective perspective, Kotoko is a fragile young idol compared to the rest of the members; Kotoko might need extra, more emotional support, or intensive care than the others in UNIS; netizens nicknamed Kotoko as the "fake maknae". People call her by that nickname because everyone thought she was the youngest, but she is not. I hope her company can provide any extra support for her moving forward. If the company neglects the extra care needed to support a member such as Kotoko, then we'll be seeing the same incident happening again, history repeating itself. Fainting is not a performance issue, it is a health-related issue. UNIS will be fine moving forward. In order for UNIS to move forward, attention to their health and well-being should be priority number one. Management should do a regular health check or diagnosis before doing showcases by simply asking the idol whether or not they are feeling great. That's one step in the right direction. This incident also fueled arguments for those who are against debuting minors in the k-pop industry, which is totally understandable; however, I believe we are underestimating the youth and their abilities. UNIS has shown the public that minors can do what adults can do; they even over-exceeded expectations throughout their debut. The k-pop industry and community should safe-guard young idols, but it is entirely wrong to block their full potential when they are capable of doing it.



Edit#3(9/26/2024): Gehlee, the filipina beauty pageant model of Unis, has drawn attention for her "Pick Me" behavior; before Gehlee, another famous k-idol, Wonyoung(IVE), was labeled as "Pick Me" as well. This is a non-issue. I think the reason she has antis name-calling her is because she was nominated as the #1 most beautiful faces out of 100 k-idols in South Korea for 2024. This was the result of an online poll or by some other means that I do not know of; I'm not entirely certain of the details of how the ranking system works, but Gehlee was chosen out of hundreds from what I saw. Anyways, she is garnering alot of praise and also unwarranted hate. I really don't understand the hate towards someone that didn't do anything wrong; Gehlee doesn't deserve the hate.

Edit#3(9/26/2024): Seowon, the maknae of Unis, was profusely coughing/sneezing on stage; however, she seems to professionally disguise it when she was in the center to sing her lines. I hope F&F Entertainment is doing their job in taking care of their k-idols, especially Seowon, who is one of the youngest k-idol prodigies in the industry. From what I observed, Seowon looks like she has allergies. This is usually caused by particulates in the air such as pollen or perfume. There's also the possibility of food allergies; k-idols eating food that they are allergic to before a performance. Anyways, I hope all is well with Seowon.

Edit#4(10/17/2024): Everytime I go on social media, random video producers are using Kotoko's laughter in their tik tok video, shorts, or instagram videos. It is hilarious! I hope they give credit to Kotoko. Kotoko's laughter is such a meme!

Edit#5(10/30/2024): Social Media keeps showing me crazy footage of UNIS. During their UNIBUS tour of Busan, Seowon loses her baby tooth while eating! This is while they were filming their last episode. Here's the video(it is at the end of the video I think?): Seowon loses her baby tooth. When UNIS releases a video, she's literally showing us her growth spurt(puberty) right before our eyes!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: UNIS has to be my favorite group of 2024, but alot of people seem to distance themselves from UNIS because of their age. It is understandable to feel uncomfortable with the k-pop industry debuting minors; I can see the potential of mistreatment or downright abuse that can happen. Surprisingly, we haven't seen any terrible situations happen(hopefully, I don't jinx it). Ever since their comeback: "Unis - Curious", I only had praise and admiration for this group for their streak of outstanding content. From cute concepts to rock chic style concepts, they've proven to be capable of tackling multiple concepts and performing at the highest caliber possible. I feel their popularity isn't going as fast as I desired them to be. Overall, UNIS reminds me of SNSD(Girls' Generation) and Twice when they first debuted(I think highly of them). UNIS is highly recommended in my reviews. From what I heard, UNIS's contract ends in 2.5 years; we have about 1.5 years of enjoying content released from UNIS. It will be alot of fun! We only hope that they renew or extend their contract, but that's really up to F&F Entertainment and each individual member of UNIS to decide. Fans need to support this group to let their company and the members be in a state of affirmation to renew their contract; there's high potential for this group to create a viral hit and possibly boosting their company's reputation. I've known this great potential about UNIS since their debut and I still think the same way.

Media Showcase
LYRICS
Arirang Radio Live Vocals

Comebacks:
Love Attack
Pinball
Pre-Release:
RESCENE - yoyo(It's Live Concert Live Band)
RESCENE - yoyo

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: .8/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: .8/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: .9/1

TOTAL 15.83 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.83 divided by 17 = 0.931176471
0.931176471 multiplied by 100 = 93.117647059

FINAL SCORE: 93.1%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: Rescene is a highly recommended k-idol group of 2024. They've always been a wild card to me since their pre-debut; they keep gradually improving in all categories. At one point, I felt mixed reactions about their dancing; however, throughout their career, they've proven me wrong in many occasions. I wouldn't be surprised if Rescene suddenly creates a viral hit song out of the blue.

Opinion on [Rescene - yoyo]

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

LYRICS
MNET SHOWCASE
Live

Comeback: Cherish My Love

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1
Most Popular(Exclusive Extra): 1/1

TOTAL 15.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
15.99 divided by 17 = 0.940588235
0.940588235 multiplied by 100 = 94.058823529

FINAL SCORE: 94%

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.

EDIT: I am not taking sides on this skirmish between Min Hee Jin(CEO of Ador) and Bang Si-hyuk(Chairman of HYBE). It is just 2 rich folks that don't want to lose their positions of power within the K-pop industry; basically, it is a competition on who can add another yacht or lamborghini to their collection. It is a shame that these rich folk have to drag both Illit and New Jeans around in the mud with them. I'm just sitting back and observing the sh*tshow with my bag of popcorn. Who knows what will come out of this conflict?

EDIT #2: By the way, Illit is disliked by many who value live vocals; however, from my perspective, the kpop industry thrives by its diversity. It is best to just acknowledge that Illit has good choreography and visuals. Although they aren't the best at vocals, their strength relies on their choreography and visuals. I'm not the type to just dismiss their talent because they have bad singing voices. Simply, I accept their flaws and enjoy what they have to offer. The only problem is if the fanbase start defending Illit's bad vocals when they clearly aren't great in the vocal department. You don't blame a whale because it is incapable of flying; you simply acknowledge that they are good in other sections such as swimming. I'm certain that people will continue hostility towards Illit, and other groups with bad vocals, such as Le Sserafim. However, there is a fine line where criticism may turn into harrassment; it is best to keep things respectable and proper. Illit is still a new young group, so it wouldn't be nice to improperly greet a group at the entrance.

EDIT #3(6/17/2024): Every time I visit social media, there's always some trending news about ILLIT. Apparently, BeLift Labs created some kind of Microsoft Power Point Slide Show of how New Jeans was plagiarizing other groups. Although I'm not against BeLift Labs of defending ILLIT, I found this whole presentation to be quite uncalled for and pathetic. Imagine a cowboy reaching out to their holster, grabbing their revolver, putting their index finger within the trigger guard, twirling the gun fancily, and then shooting it. Moments later, the cowboy realizes that he shot his own foot. This is what I thought of when I watched Belift's accussations of New Jeans. BeLift made a video thinking that it will aid them in their case, but it back-fired. Instead of using the ammunition against their opponent, they donated their ammunition to aid their opponent. Like I said before, I'm not taking any sides with these internal affairs of Hybe. I'm simply a spectator with a bag of popcorn viewing the sh*tshow. I'd like to say that BeLift could have been on the high ground if they kept silent and let things just play out. Instead, they have to deal with a PR nightmare, which was the result of their 30~ minute video.

EDIT #4(9/2/2024): ILLIT's fandom name is "GLLIT". There's a bit of an uproar and split feelings about the name from netizens since the name sounds lewd/inappropiate. ILLIT seems to love the name though. It doesn't look like the name is changing any time soon. From my perspective, it doesn't really matter what name they choose since Antis(people who are against their group) will create jokes to slander any name, regardless of what is chosen. People will always find creative ways to make fun of a group and their fandom no matter what is presented. Overall, the name of the fandom is just fine.

EDIT #5(11/17/2024): ILLIT is being blamed for the potential disbandment of New Jeans. Fans of New Jeans should really change the blame to the authority figures or management of HYBE and ADOR. ILLIT is a young group that doesn't know what the "higher ups" are doing; they are simply following orders. Again, I need to repeat this multiple times. I am not taking sides in this; I'm simply a spectator with a bag of popcorn witnessing a huge sh*t-show.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025]: ILLIT is the most popular k-idol group in 2024 and possibly even in the future, depending on many circumstances. There's an obvious feud between fans of New Jeans and ILLIT, which is expected. Fan wars only rage on because there are dedicated "die-hard" fans that are strongly opposed to the other group. Anyways, ILLIT will continue to prosper as long as they keep fueling their viral sensational content; otherwise, they might flop, depending on the audience's general sentiment. Viral hits last long, but the question is: Will ILLIT continue their streak without faltering?

Lyrics?
Choreography?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.3 divided by 17 = 0.311764706
0.311764706 multiplied by 100 = 31.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 31.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!

[CLOSED]

California Love:
Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
No Pressure:
Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Comeback: Call Me Back

Pre-Debut: Eye 2 Eye

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .33/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .33/1

TOTAL 10.98 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
10.98 divided by 17 = 0.645882353
0.645882353 multiplied by 100 = 64.588235294

FINAL SCORE: 64.5%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: NOMAD actually has great vocals; they are actually a strong ballad group, but they went the pop route instead. The production of this group is very low quality and their visuals aren't great either. What stands out the most is their ballad-style vocals.

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .33/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .33/1

TOTAL 10.98 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
10.98 divided by 17 = 0.645882353
0.645882353 multiplied by 100 = 64.588235294

FINAL SCORE: 64.5%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: NOMAD actually has great vocals; they are actually a strong ballad group, but they went the pop route instead. The production of this group is very low quality and their visuals aren't great either. What stands out the most is their ballad-style vocals.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.3 divided by 17 = 0.311764706
0.311764706 multiplied by 100 = 31.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 31.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!


[CLOSED]

MNET SHOWCASE
Lyrics
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: Not Applicable/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: Not Applicable/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: Not Applicable/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 10.32 OF 14 POINTS

Calculation:
10.32 divided by 14 = 0.737142857
0.737142857 multiplied by 100 = 73.714285714

FINAL SCORE: 73.7%

I stopped listening to ballads after Davichi and T-ara created their masterpieces, but from time to time, I still find snippets of audio from K-dramas to enjoy sometimes from known and unknown korean singers. A Six's Lies All Love kind of re-ignited that flame of enjoying ballads again. It felt like a blast from the past hearing this track. Although my phase of depression has been done and over with, I stumble on tracks like this that reminds me about sad moments of my life, which is not a negative. Ballads are simply a reminder that depression fades away in due time. Anyways, I loved this track. The choreography was a bit funny because they are slowly walking from place to place on the stage; there's some music shows that have blurred their only choreography, which is hilarious. Anyway, if you forgot that ballads existed, then this song will spark memories or feelings again. Although I don't listen to ballads anymore, I recommend this song. By the way, A Six is a collaboration group mixed with members from BAE173, Fantasy Boys, and CLASS:y.

EDIT#1(6/30/2024): I've decided to rate A Six differently from typical K-idol groups because ballad style music doesn't require choreography. A Six will be rated out of 14 instead of 17. Choreography would just be awkward in ballads to be honest and unnecessary.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: A Six was a successful project group, but short-lived.

Showcase
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

2nd Comeback(Audio): Circus
3rd Comeback(Audio): One Two Three

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: .33/1
Live Visual: .33/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .33/1

TOTAL 8.97 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
8.97 divided by 17 = 0.527647059
0.527647059 multiplied by 100 = 52.764705882

FINAL SCORE: 52.7%

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.

EDIT #1(6/29/2024): I raised their score a tad bit because they did their showcase.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: N-Day has good music; however, I wouldn't recommend this group at all. The line-up of the group drastically changed too many times that you'll end up feeling detached; it is almost as if they are waves in the ocean constantly changing, never staying consistent in their formation. That's not the only problem. RJ Entertainment is a "nugu" company with a low budget, unable to promote N-Day properly. There's no publicity for this group at all.

Lyrics
Choreography
Live Concert
Showcase

Comeback: Last Festival
Pre-Debut:
TWS - Oh Mymy : 7s

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: 1/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: 1/1

TOTAL 17 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
17 divided by 17 = 1
1 multiplied by 100 = 100

FINAL SCORE: 100%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(12/5/2025)]: TWS is a highly recommended rookie group. Personally, I wouldn't call them "Monster Rookies", but they are definately high top-tier. The only frightening part of this group is that they are under Pledis Entertainment, which I grew to dislike over the years because of their mismanagement of their girl groups. I wouldn't be surprised if Pledis was also sabotaging their boy groups as well.

Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Debut: Liar

Score Sheet

Vocals: .33/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: .33/1
Stage Presence: .33/1
Facial Expression: .33/1
Objective Movement: .33/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: .33/1
Cosmetics: .33/1
Fashion: .33/1
Music Video Score: .33/1
Visual Role Model: .33/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 0/1
Live Visual: 0/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: 0/1

TOTAL 5.3 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
5.3 divided by 17 = 0.311764706
0.311764706 multiplied by 100 = 31.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 31.1%

Honestly, I don't know how to rate children since their voices and movement are still developing; it would be dishonorable to ridicule children at such an early stage in life. I would just encourage them to do their best and if it doesn't work out, then they should just move on to their next hobby or passion. I wish these children the best!


[Closed]

Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live

Comeback: Zip Zip Zip
Pre-debut:
DXMON - Burn Up

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.99 divided by 17 = 0.881764706
0.881764706 multiplied by 100 = 88.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 88.1%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: DXMON was one of my favorite groups of 2024, but one of the members, Jo, withdrawn from the group. Jo definately had strong visuals, especially with the hair. Unfortunately, things didn't work out. I still recommend DXMON though.

Lyrics
Choreography
Live Showcase
Shock Comeback

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .33/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.99 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.99 divided by 17 = 0.881764706
0.881764706 multiplied by 100 = 88.176470588

FINAL SCORE: 88.1%

Over-exceeded my expectations in every field!

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: ALL(H)OURS is the rookie group that only trained for a year before pre-debut. Again, they over-exceeded my expectations. They are definately a recommended group for 2024!

Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Vanilla Choco Shake(Mini-Album Comeback)
Pre-Debut:Dash

Score Sheet

Vocals: .9/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: .9/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: .9/1
Visual Role Model: .9/1
Live Vocal: 0/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: .9/1
Live Instruments: 0/1
Concert Ready: .66/1

TOTAL 14.16 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
14.16 divided by 17 = 0.832941176
0.832941176 multiplied by 100 = 83.294117647

FINAL SCORE: 83.2%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(12/5/2025)]: Waker is one of my recommended groups of 2024; however, you may find their rapping a bit cringey.

Lyrics
Choreography
Showcase
Live Concert

Score Sheet

Vocals: 1/1
Instrumental: 1/1
Lyrics: 1/1
Addictive Song: 1/1
Stage Presence: 1/1
Facial Expression: 1/1
Objective Movement: 1/1
Choreography/Dance Aesthetics: 1/1
Cosmetics: 1/1
Fashion: 1/1
Music Video Score: 1/1
Visual Role Model: 1/1
Live Vocal: .9/1
Live Choreography: 1/1
Live Visual: 1/1
Live Instruments: 1/1
Concert Ready: .9/1

TOTAL 16.8 OF 17 POINTS

Calculation:
16.8 divided by 17 = 0.988235294
0.988235294 multiplied by 100 = 98.823529412

FINAL SCORE: 98.8%

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.

[CLOSING EDIT(1/5/2025)]: Geenius is one of my highly recommended k-idol groups of 2024. I think everyone is wondering if they are doing a comeback.

?
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?
Pre-Debut: Burnt Out Cake

EPTS(Epic Travels) has a truly epic instrumental. Vocals are crazy good. The rapper has a unique goblin-like voice! This is not an insult; the rapper shows that he has his own rapping style! Overall, I had a good first impression of this group.

EDIT#1(12/16/2024): They released another Pre-Debut: Burnt Out Cake. Again, I'm enjoying their sly/smooth style music. I'd like to repeat that the rapper sounds like a goblin(this is actually a compliment)! The rapper also kind of reminds me of Dawn(Pentagon), who was Hyuna's ex-boyfriend.

?
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Cool pre-debut!

?
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

UDTT caught me off guard. For western fans, the name "UDTT" may sound funny to you because it sounds like a mainstream wrestling special move. Regardless of the name, UDTT is a group to watch out for in 2025.

?
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

Whoa, I love the traditional instrumentals. MYTRO modernized the song with rap verses, which were fairly good. I thought this was their debut, but this song was used in Lovestruck Sisters Episode 5, which is a "participation release", also known as a Pre-debut. It is only rumored that MYTRO is going to debut around February 2025; some k-netizens gossiped that their debut is going to be an all-out upbeat love song.

?
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

This trio is hip and lively! They totally remind me of MelodyDay combined with Mamamoo; 3piece has the same vocal vibration as MelodyDay and Mamamoo. If I were to listen to 3Piece's audio alone, then I would have mistaken 3Piece as MelodyDay or Mamamoo. Here are two videos of other groups that remind me of 3 piece: Mamamoo - Piano Man and MelodyDay - #LoveMe. Overall, 3 Piece has the vocal potential to grab the attention of old MelodyDay or Mamamoo fans, as well as new ones who enjoy jazz-esque/disco-esque dance songs. The only issue that I have is that 3Piece doesn't have a rapper. A group, such as 3Piece, would definately benefit from a rapper. Mamamoo had Moonbyul as a rapper and she definately increased Mamamoo's visibility in the past. 3Piece needs a fourth piece, a rapper, which would help fill the gap needed to create an interesting vocal group. A recommendation for 3Piece is to have an added member that can offer a deeper/bass vocals. Anyways, I'll be waiting for their debut, which hasn't been announced at all.

Pre-debut NXD - Jump

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.

Second Pre-Debut
Hey Girl
Pre-Debut Single: 3Way Project - On My Way

This third pre-debut was super cute. I've noticed 3Way is becoming alot better, sort of like they are smoothing the edges and maintaining balance as a group. This group is gradually getting better as time moves on; 3Way is clearly trying to find a niche or planting their foot down in a certain direction that they desire their group to travel.

Apparently, 3WAY held auditions for their project group and they managed to add an additional 4 members, which is now a total of 9 members. I've also heard from the rumor mill that they are still auditioning for more members. Are they trying to pull off a huge team like tripleS, a 24 member k-idol group? Has their company NineTwo Entertainment set a threshold for the amount of members joining their group? To be honest, I don't know what their project objective is ever since their release of their first pre-debut. I'm not entirely certain if this released music video is a pre-debut or debut to show off their new members; I'm only assuming this is a pre-debut. Obliviously scrolling through social media, I tripped over this post and decided to give the music video a watch. "Hey Girl" wasn't bad. It's a happy and joyful tune. The first pre-debut that they released was awful, but this second pre-debut was definately a refreshing upgrade and change of direction. Hopefully, they don't do that robotic pre-debut choreography again; however, I'm not here to dictate on what any group wants to do. Anyways, this song suits them; hopefully, we get excellent releases like this again.

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.

Pre-Debut:
Where Is The Love(Black Eyed Peas Remake)
Lyrics?
Choreography? Performance?
Showcase?
Live Vocals? Live Concert?

MEP-C is a multinational girl group, who recently did their pre-debut remake of Black Eyed Peas' "Where is the Love". To be honest, this is more of a cover than an actual pre-debut. Regardless, I will still review Mep-C. So far, there are 8 members; however, only 6 members participated in their pre-debut remake music video. Anika, who participated in the remake pre-debut music, unfortunately, could not partake in the pre-debut music video because of an ankle injury. The music quality has a muffled sound; it is almost like MEP-C recorded their pre-debut using a car's exhaust pipe. Although the music quality is not all great, I found a liking to their choreography, which was executed finely by the members. These girls can dance fairly well within the gloomiest of all places, which was on a wooden stage, right under a bridge; the film director recorded footage of MEP-C squatting in what looks like dilapidated rooms with the drywall utterly decimated. Someone please hire a contractor or a construction worker to repair the place! Anyways, I found their visuals to be mediocre. The gloomy setting could have contributed to their mediocre visuals. It could also be the lack of stage presence. None of the members gave me the impression that they are giving 110% of their effort. You may have realized this as well, but there is a lack of passion amongst the members. If you watch many successful debuting groups, then you'll notice a certain enthusiasm emitting out of those members, who look like that they genuinely want to be there. As for MEP-C, these girls look stone-faced or stoic(in short, a "poker-face"), not displaying any enthusiasm at the slightest. MEP-C just seems to be doing everything as instructed without any pizazz; every action that they initiate feels like they are on auto-pilot while cruising along a predictable path. I know it may be too early to cast any hard judgement on a group's pre-debut, but it occured to me that they are competing with other groups that desire the spotlight more than they do. On the other-hand, MEP-C doesn't seem to desire to be the center of attention or be present at their own pre-debut. Hopefully, their future debut brings out a full package instead of an incomplete one like their pre-debut music production.