I got the album last Friday, and haven't had a chance to review it until just now.
But a warning. It's really long. And also, it's only at my tumblr page. I am trying to transition so my tumblr is all kpop all the time and my blogger is more personal, with focuses on Korea and teaching and my life here, not just kpop (which believe it or not, is only a part of my life)
Anyways, CLICK THIS LINK to read my review!
Showing posts with label cd review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cd review. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
GD T.O.P. High High CD lyrics & Romanizations up!
Hey y'all! Big news: I've officially completed the High High CD Korean and Romanization lyrics over at www.reallykpop.com
This means it's time for the lengthy task of translating. I'm hoping to get at least the Intro and High High up by tomorrow. Now, I know I know, you can find the lyrics anywhere else, but I do this to improve my Korean in the hope that one days I can do a whole album of translations in a day or two, but for now, it's slow. Anyways, I'd really appreciate if you'd check out my hard work so far and check back at www.reallykpop.com from time to time for lyrics references.
So you know, I haven't peeked at my lyrics translations yet. I saw one posted on bigbangupdates, which was translated from Chinese, and I saw that even the Korean lyrics were incorrect, which I imagine might have some impact on the reliability of translations. What I shoot for is not speed of translation, but for translation accuracy and the best English translation I can create. Often i see translations that sound extremely awkward in English, and I'd like to do my best to avoid that on my site.
I just wanna get better at Korean, and this is just one of many ways for me to practice.
xoxo
A
p.s. I'm also thinking of uploading videos with English translations as I do them. It will slow down the overall pace of translation (because I have to insert translations and create a video for each song) but I think it'd be fun and a good way to get www.reallykpop.com out there.
This means it's time for the lengthy task of translating. I'm hoping to get at least the Intro and High High up by tomorrow. Now, I know I know, you can find the lyrics anywhere else, but I do this to improve my Korean in the hope that one days I can do a whole album of translations in a day or two, but for now, it's slow. Anyways, I'd really appreciate if you'd check out my hard work so far and check back at www.reallykpop.com from time to time for lyrics references.
So you know, I haven't peeked at my lyrics translations yet. I saw one posted on bigbangupdates, which was translated from Chinese, and I saw that even the Korean lyrics were incorrect, which I imagine might have some impact on the reliability of translations. What I shoot for is not speed of translation, but for translation accuracy and the best English translation I can create. Often i see translations that sound extremely awkward in English, and I'd like to do my best to avoid that on my site.
I just wanna get better at Korean, and this is just one of many ways for me to practice.
xoxo
A
p.s. I'm also thinking of uploading videos with English translations as I do them. It will slow down the overall pace of translation (because I have to insert translations and create a video for each song) but I think it'd be fun and a good way to get www.reallykpop.com out there.
Monday, December 27, 2010
GD T.O.P. High High CD review
Well, as many of you know, I purchased GD & TOP's full length album on Christmas Day here in Korea. I didn't listen to it until the 26th, but have been listening to it practically nonstop yesterday and today in order to prepare this review for you, the fans. In fact, I'm listening to it right now to make sure I don't miss anything.
The album overall
The album is really nice looking. I think it's much more sophisticated and expensive looking than the 2ne1 album, which was pretty but super flashy. This album manages to combine bling and sophistication. I actually really like the pseudo playboy bunny and the paisley print that was incorporated into the bunny design and the cd itself. But I just really like paisley in general. The pictures are generally pretty good although some of the styling is questionable in my personal opinion (I like animal prints and furs, but the headscarf gd wears, and the ladies fur coat TOP dons in two of the pictures are horrible). I really like the backgrounds of the pictures. Either really really super simple or really really eccentric. Just like GD and TOP. What I hate about the cd itself? Two things. First, there are two separate pages which both contain identical track lists. Why? I mean, the pictures are different, but why put the tracks listed twice? It's weird. Second, the album jacket which contains all the lyrics is glued into the cd case. I HATE THAT. 2ne1's album was the same and it makes me effing crazy.
Track List & Analysis:
1. Intro: The intro, which samples 70s legend Freda Payne's It's Yours to Have, is just enough of a borrowing from the past without copying, and still super super forward thinking. I feel like wearing some big ass earrings and a headscarf and some rollerskates, but at the same time, heading to a club and bouncing around. I also like how the last verse introduces all the songs. It's like an actualy introduction, not just some jibber jabber that starts the cd.
2. High High: We've all heard this song (unless you've been living under a kpop rock for the last month) but it's still awesome. It definitely sounds like something I would hear in a club in Seoul (although unfortunately not in most American university area clubs, with which I'm much familiar with). The hook is SUPER catchy. And the video, well, it's super American. It feels like something I'd watch on t.v. in America, except that some of the western girls aren't video girls at all (which is a true statement, this was just like a big party at the filming and lots of people who are not actually dancers or models attended). There are a couple moments I'd replace in the video to make it look more professional, but otherwise, I like the video a lot too. Also, I don't agree with Eat Your Kimchi's 5 out of 5 for English rating. Ghetto Electro isn't a real word, and their joke wasn't even that funny (don't get me wrong, I'm totally a fan of eatyourkimchi.com but that joke wasn't funny and I think their bias got in the way of the fact that the English in this song was not perfect and maybe deserves a 3.5 or 4 out of 5)
3. Oh Yeah (feat. Park Bom): Into is funky and fun. GD opening the first verse really screams of Heartbreaker to me for some reason. But when TOP steps in, he changes it up a bit. However, I'd say his first verse sounds a little forced and too clean. Part of the beauty of TOP's voice is it's roughness. But Bom KILLS this track. I get chills listening to her sing in this song. Also, you can tell TOP didn't have a part in the production of this video. It's a great song, and it fits GD's style perfect, but it's something TOP seems to need to conform to a bit. He does a good job of it, but it's not his best performance. But, I'm gonna repeat this because it's so true: Park Bom KILLED it.
4. 집에 가지마: This song is practically perfect, in my opinion. Bom was gonna feature on this as well, but as much as I love her voice, I'm glad she didn't. I like GD doing those vocals on the chorus. Also, I really like when GD echoes TOP during the first verse. Their voices sound so nice together, deep with the high. TOP is also back to his more voice. Even though this song is really smooth, they don't over auto-tone his voice, which was I think the problem I have on Oh Yeah. Also, I love when GD sings and raps on the same track. His singing voice and rapping voice are totally different, but they blend so nicely on a single track.
5. Baby Good Night: Besides 뻑이가요 this is my favorite song on the album (I think I may like it more than 뻑이가요 but they are so completely different it's hard to compare). When I heard this song on the world premiere, I though I wanna make love to this song. Not make love while this song is playing, but I want to make love with this song. It's so subtly sexy and juxtaposes GD's almost feminine voice with TOP whispering breathy raps. I've heard TOP speak live plenty of times, but I still kind of imagine that the way he raps in this song is the cadence and tone of his real voice. And it makes me love him a little. I don't wanna say goodbye to this song when it ends. Also, the french? HELLO SEX.
6.뻑이가요: The best live song I've perhaps ever seen performed in Korea (at least overally acoustic performance wise). The bass is so intense and hard in live performances and you see TOP shine really bright with his hardness and GD matches the hardness punch for punch with his own quirky version of street. TOP sounds natural here. This isn't exactly the standard GD we're used to, but GD stepped his game up like crazy on this song. My complaint is that this song falls a little flat on the production. No matter how I changed the EQ on my ipod touch, the bass wasn't what it could be. I feel like I have plenty of bass heavy tracks on my ipod (I listen to a lot of American hip hop as well as kpop) but this song is too studio on the album. I wanna record the audio off the YG family concert footage or from the T Social Party minus the audience noise, and I'd bump this song nonstop. Even Turn It Up has better bass than this song and it's on the same album. I don't get it.
7. Oh Mom (TOP Solo): This song is a little strange to me. The transition between 뻑이가요 and this song seems awkward (I feel like it should be place together with GD's 어쩌란 말이냐? which also has the rock influence. That being said, I don't normally like TOP's singing voice, but I'll listen to this song. It's not my favorite on the track, but it's decent. It's a bit depressing, with the rando feedback between the chorus and the second verse, and it's not Big Bang sounding or TOP sounding. Also, I don't understand the title. As far as I can tell preliminary, the song doesn't really directly relate to his mom at all. It's about letters and his fans and telling his fans that they aren't alone. I'm not sure. I'm gonna have to work hard on that translation and I'll get back to you. It reminds me of that Eminem song, Stan. hahahahaha.
8. 악몽 (GD Solo): Dark and intense. GD goes hard on this song. It's super American in the currently popular vain of that Eminem and Rihana song, Love the Way you Lie. It's got enough of GD using what he's comfortable enough (the chorus is super Heartbreaker to me) but the verses push him a little bit outside of what I'd call his comfort zone. This song is the perfect thing for me to push through something when I'm in a bad mood or feeling like I can't endure something. This song also pumps me up in a way I can't explain. I feel like I can work harder and more intensely with this song in the background.
9. 오늘따라 (TOP Solo): I love the sound of this song. It's so intense, but it doesn't have quite the over-the-top swagger of TOP's other really famous solo, Turn It Up. The hook makes me crazy. I could lose my head in a club to this song. It has just the right amount and degree of tempo changes and drums and percussion come in in an epic manner really just adding to the production value of this song. I really enjoy this song and it's kind of just a song that I can play anytime and feel good about it. I love this song.
10. 어쩌란 말이냐 (GD Solo): This song is probably my least favorite on the album. I would maybe like it more if it was put together with TOP's rockish song, because then I could feel the cohesion of the two songs, but they are separate, and I think that hurts the flow of the album. Also, GD's voice is a little fake/forced sounding. Maybe it's just not my style, but I don't like this song. I don't hate it, but I probably skip over it more than not. I pretty much just listen to it when I have my earbuds in and its too cold to take my gloves off to operate my ipod touch... Just not for me.
11. Bonus Track: Turn It Up (TOP): I don't need to review this I think. You've all heard it. You all know it's dope. So yeah.
Last note: props to the boys for writing the lyrics on all the songs (Teddy assisted on High High and Oh Yeah, which you can tell) and participating in production or arranging of all the songs except High High and Oh Yeah (also Teddy... duh).
That's it for me. Comment and lemme know what you think about the album. I'll be posting a video review sometime in the next week hopefully... ^_^
xoxo
A
The album overall
The album is really nice looking. I think it's much more sophisticated and expensive looking than the 2ne1 album, which was pretty but super flashy. This album manages to combine bling and sophistication. I actually really like the pseudo playboy bunny and the paisley print that was incorporated into the bunny design and the cd itself. But I just really like paisley in general. The pictures are generally pretty good although some of the styling is questionable in my personal opinion (I like animal prints and furs, but the headscarf gd wears, and the ladies fur coat TOP dons in two of the pictures are horrible). I really like the backgrounds of the pictures. Either really really super simple or really really eccentric. Just like GD and TOP. What I hate about the cd itself? Two things. First, there are two separate pages which both contain identical track lists. Why? I mean, the pictures are different, but why put the tracks listed twice? It's weird. Second, the album jacket which contains all the lyrics is glued into the cd case. I HATE THAT. 2ne1's album was the same and it makes me effing crazy.
Track List & Analysis:
1. Intro: The intro, which samples 70s legend Freda Payne's It's Yours to Have, is just enough of a borrowing from the past without copying, and still super super forward thinking. I feel like wearing some big ass earrings and a headscarf and some rollerskates, but at the same time, heading to a club and bouncing around. I also like how the last verse introduces all the songs. It's like an actualy introduction, not just some jibber jabber that starts the cd.
2. High High: We've all heard this song (unless you've been living under a kpop rock for the last month) but it's still awesome. It definitely sounds like something I would hear in a club in Seoul (although unfortunately not in most American university area clubs, with which I'm much familiar with). The hook is SUPER catchy. And the video, well, it's super American. It feels like something I'd watch on t.v. in America, except that some of the western girls aren't video girls at all (which is a true statement, this was just like a big party at the filming and lots of people who are not actually dancers or models attended). There are a couple moments I'd replace in the video to make it look more professional, but otherwise, I like the video a lot too. Also, I don't agree with Eat Your Kimchi's 5 out of 5 for English rating. Ghetto Electro isn't a real word, and their joke wasn't even that funny (don't get me wrong, I'm totally a fan of eatyourkimchi.com but that joke wasn't funny and I think their bias got in the way of the fact that the English in this song was not perfect and maybe deserves a 3.5 or 4 out of 5)
3. Oh Yeah (feat. Park Bom): Into is funky and fun. GD opening the first verse really screams of Heartbreaker to me for some reason. But when TOP steps in, he changes it up a bit. However, I'd say his first verse sounds a little forced and too clean. Part of the beauty of TOP's voice is it's roughness. But Bom KILLS this track. I get chills listening to her sing in this song. Also, you can tell TOP didn't have a part in the production of this video. It's a great song, and it fits GD's style perfect, but it's something TOP seems to need to conform to a bit. He does a good job of it, but it's not his best performance. But, I'm gonna repeat this because it's so true: Park Bom KILLED it.
4. 집에 가지마: This song is practically perfect, in my opinion. Bom was gonna feature on this as well, but as much as I love her voice, I'm glad she didn't. I like GD doing those vocals on the chorus. Also, I really like when GD echoes TOP during the first verse. Their voices sound so nice together, deep with the high. TOP is also back to his more voice. Even though this song is really smooth, they don't over auto-tone his voice, which was I think the problem I have on Oh Yeah. Also, I love when GD sings and raps on the same track. His singing voice and rapping voice are totally different, but they blend so nicely on a single track.
5. Baby Good Night: Besides 뻑이가요 this is my favorite song on the album (I think I may like it more than 뻑이가요 but they are so completely different it's hard to compare). When I heard this song on the world premiere, I though I wanna make love to this song. Not make love while this song is playing, but I want to make love with this song. It's so subtly sexy and juxtaposes GD's almost feminine voice with TOP whispering breathy raps. I've heard TOP speak live plenty of times, but I still kind of imagine that the way he raps in this song is the cadence and tone of his real voice. And it makes me love him a little. I don't wanna say goodbye to this song when it ends. Also, the french? HELLO SEX.
6.뻑이가요: The best live song I've perhaps ever seen performed in Korea (at least overally acoustic performance wise). The bass is so intense and hard in live performances and you see TOP shine really bright with his hardness and GD matches the hardness punch for punch with his own quirky version of street. TOP sounds natural here. This isn't exactly the standard GD we're used to, but GD stepped his game up like crazy on this song. My complaint is that this song falls a little flat on the production. No matter how I changed the EQ on my ipod touch, the bass wasn't what it could be. I feel like I have plenty of bass heavy tracks on my ipod (I listen to a lot of American hip hop as well as kpop) but this song is too studio on the album. I wanna record the audio off the YG family concert footage or from the T Social Party minus the audience noise, and I'd bump this song nonstop. Even Turn It Up has better bass than this song and it's on the same album. I don't get it.
7. Oh Mom (TOP Solo): This song is a little strange to me. The transition between 뻑이가요 and this song seems awkward (I feel like it should be place together with GD's 어쩌란 말이냐? which also has the rock influence. That being said, I don't normally like TOP's singing voice, but I'll listen to this song. It's not my favorite on the track, but it's decent. It's a bit depressing, with the rando feedback between the chorus and the second verse, and it's not Big Bang sounding or TOP sounding. Also, I don't understand the title. As far as I can tell preliminary, the song doesn't really directly relate to his mom at all. It's about letters and his fans and telling his fans that they aren't alone. I'm not sure. I'm gonna have to work hard on that translation and I'll get back to you. It reminds me of that Eminem song, Stan. hahahahaha.
8. 악몽 (GD Solo): Dark and intense. GD goes hard on this song. It's super American in the currently popular vain of that Eminem and Rihana song, Love the Way you Lie. It's got enough of GD using what he's comfortable enough (the chorus is super Heartbreaker to me) but the verses push him a little bit outside of what I'd call his comfort zone. This song is the perfect thing for me to push through something when I'm in a bad mood or feeling like I can't endure something. This song also pumps me up in a way I can't explain. I feel like I can work harder and more intensely with this song in the background.
9. 오늘따라 (TOP Solo): I love the sound of this song. It's so intense, but it doesn't have quite the over-the-top swagger of TOP's other really famous solo, Turn It Up. The hook makes me crazy. I could lose my head in a club to this song. It has just the right amount and degree of tempo changes and drums and percussion come in in an epic manner really just adding to the production value of this song. I really enjoy this song and it's kind of just a song that I can play anytime and feel good about it. I love this song.
10. 어쩌란 말이냐 (GD Solo): This song is probably my least favorite on the album. I would maybe like it more if it was put together with TOP's rockish song, because then I could feel the cohesion of the two songs, but they are separate, and I think that hurts the flow of the album. Also, GD's voice is a little fake/forced sounding. Maybe it's just not my style, but I don't like this song. I don't hate it, but I probably skip over it more than not. I pretty much just listen to it when I have my earbuds in and its too cold to take my gloves off to operate my ipod touch... Just not for me.
11. Bonus Track: Turn It Up (TOP): I don't need to review this I think. You've all heard it. You all know it's dope. So yeah.
Last note: props to the boys for writing the lyrics on all the songs (Teddy assisted on High High and Oh Yeah, which you can tell) and participating in production or arranging of all the songs except High High and Oh Yeah (also Teddy... duh).
That's it for me. Comment and lemme know what you think about the album. I'll be posting a video review sometime in the next week hopefully... ^_^
xoxo
A
Saturday, September 11, 2010
2ne1: To Anyone CD Review
Well, I've done reviews of Se7en's and Taeyang's recent comeback cds, so it's only fair that I complete the YG circle by doing a review of 2ne1's album too. Now, let me be clear, I like Taeyang and Se7en more than 2ne1 so those reviews were really biased. I still really like 2ne1, but I think this cd review will be my least biased.
Also, I will be posting up the lyrics to all the songs on the album by the end of next week on www.reallykpop.com Check that out for Korean and Romanji lyrics (and hopefully English before September is out, but I can't make any promises).
To Anyone Album Review
I'll start with a review of the overall packaging and image of the cd, because that is an extremely important aspect of the cd here in Korea. Packaging is usually over the top and larger than just a standard square plastic case. The cd came in a silver reflective rectangular case. It's pretty bold and shiny, but maintains a certain class with only the word 2NE1 emblazoned across the front in a sort of 반짝반짝 print. The cd case opens like a book and on the right is the cd, printed with some beautiful flowers. I really really like the actual cd. I've seen some really cool cds (Taeyang's deluxe edition cd is really good) but this one takes the cake. It's beautiful and it's a bit of too-infrequently shown soft side of the girls. On the left side is the photo book which doubles as the cd insert and contains all the lyrics. The pictures are bold and brazen, like the group. CL sports some intense red leather & metal platform heels. Minji wears a Jeremy Scott exclusive bright blue sweatsuit, with 2 inch spikes protruding all over the hood. In this picture, Minji is also wearing some intensely blue contacts. Other notable fashion pics: Minji's leather spikes corset-dress. It's super-provocative and hard as shit. The girls all wear pink haz-mat type suits with CL in the font wearing another Jeremy Scott exclusive: Black pants with white zippers on the shins, and a black top with some intense white piping through the neckline and shoulders. Sandara park in a black feather collar and smoky sexy eye make-up, Bommie is a green military style jacked and red red red hair. It also came with a 2ne1 family card.
1. Can't Nobody
The intro of this song is very very bass thumping like a 80's club hit. I like the end of the first verse, and the chorus is undeniably catchy with the combination of Minzy's English and Bom's voice. 2ne1 probably has the best English in the kpop industry as far as lyrics go (and up there in general english skills as a group). This song is heavily auto-tuned, with the strict exception of Bom's portion of the chorus. I also think CL's first 5 lines of the second verse are dooooope. The rest of the song (Dara's parts) are pretty much forgettable, in my opinion. Sad but true.
2. Go Away
Another song that is heavily auto-tuned. This will turn a lot of people away as people viciously attack the use of auto-tune as a crutch. I am of the opinion that some artists use it as a tool instead of a crutch. 2ne1's producers are one of them. T-pain and Kanye West are also among the people who use it as a tool to create a certain mood or theme. This album of 2ne1's is based on an idea of being extremely futuristic (something 2ne1 has always embodied) and the robotic auto-tune fits that. Plus, we already know they can sing. They have beautiful voices. Other groups like Kara, SNSD or even Son Dam Bi or Lee Hyori have infamously used the auto-tune to alter their artist's voices to make them perfect tonally when there are imperfections. That is not the intention in Go Away. Anyways, this is a slower song, which CL calls an upgraded version of I Don't Care. Frankly, I'm not crazy about this song. It's just kind of mediocre to me. There are points where you can see tremendous potential, but the lyrics and melodies fall just short. It's not an upgrade (except in tempo) from I Don't Care, which is the perfect moving on song. However, the video for this song is a huge huge upgrade from I Don't Care. It's a story video and holy shit, it's awesome.
3. 박수쳐 (Clap your Hands)
This song is my favorite of the three title tracks they are promoting. It's also probably the least favorite of my students. It's super interesting. The intro is club ready with the heavy bass beat, and the repetitive chorus commanding you to clap your hands. Minzy's line: 오늘 하루는 잠시 미미미쳐봐 욕심 따위는 모두 이이잊어봐 우리 신나면 ayo Walk Like a Champion 모두 준비 됐어 is a freaking perfect lead-in to the clappy chorus. Again, heavily auto-tuned, I think it's perfect for the club. My only complaint is the weird tempo change in the middle right before CL's rap. I don't like the tempo change, I don't like that weird racing sound that djs use so much. I don't like the rap very much. I don't like that scene in the m/v. It's just weird to me. However, I do fucking love the shit out of the second tempo change right after the rap where Dara says "I wanna rock your body, I wanna make some noise" It's so sexy and brings the song to a different level. Also, the "eh eh eh eh" part at the end is dope and it has an easy dance move in the m/v
4. 난 바빠 (I'm Busy)
My favorite song on the album. If you're looking for the electronic side of 2ne1, here it is. HOLY SHIT THIS SONG IS FIRE. Some people hate it like the author of the www.allkpop.com review, who said, "If the HAL 9000 computer from "2011: A Space Odyssey" decided to quit his day job, get a sex change and become a pop star, this would be the result." So some people don't like it? Well, fuck em, I love this shit. The electronic feel of this song is thorough and freaking awesome as hell. This is the one song that I cannot get out of me head. From the first word to the last one. SHIT IS FIRE.
5. 아파 (It Hurts)
This is a nice change of pace from the electronic feel. This song is nice. It's a said song about love. I really like this song, but I don't love it. It isn't edgy enough for 2ne1. I just look for a different level of showmanship from them and this doesn't quite cut it. This is most of my Korean student's favorite song. Granted, their voices are across the bored, beautiful here. I can appreciate this. I just don't think this will be the song I'll be singing it two weeks from now.
6. 사랑은 아야야 (Ouch Love is pain)
This is my preferred slow song off the album. Really this song is freaking perfect. The chorus picks up tempo just enough to make it really catchy, but their voices are really great. The song is auto-tuned in the chorus, but the verses are not clearly auto-tuned (although I'm sure it's used) and so the majority of their voices are clear and beautiful and I love love love love love this song. It's sad, but it's the song I'd listen to if my boyfriend broke up with me (oh god, please don't) but it's also still a song I can listen to when I'm happy and my relationship is fine. Again, the English, however infrequent is also impeccable.
7-9. You & I (Park Bom), Please don't go (CL&Minji), Kiss (Dara)
These songs were released a long time ago so I'm going to group them together. You & I is sugary sweet and cutesy, not unlike Bommie herself. The singing is lovely and the chorus is catchy. Please Don't Go is harder, fast tempo and intense, not unlike CL & Minji. There is no hiding the fact that Please Don't Go is easily one of my favorite songs of 2009. So, obviously I like this one. Kiss by Dara has one of the catchiest choruses of 2009. However, Dara is easily the least talented in 2ne1, so what her song lacks in raw singing talent is made up for in over-production of the song. The chorus is infectious, but aside from that, totally forgettable.
10. 날 따라해봐요 (Try to Follow Me)
It's unfortunate that the rest of this album isn't as perfect as this song. Seriously, this song is the best written, and best produced song on the album. It's obvious why this one was chosen to be released so much earlier than the album. It's got so many quotable lines, from "I got that bang bang if you know what I mean. It's goes bang a bang a bang a bang" and the chorus itself, plus like a zillion others. This song is audio perfection. Eh eh eh eh eh eh brrrap.
11. I Don't Care (Reggae Remix)
This song also came out a long time ago after fans requested a remake with G-Dragon and the girls collaborated with him and it became a super hit last fall. It was released digitally back then and it got tweaked a bit in the studio and was released for this album. I had heard this version of the song a long time ago when it was first released almost a year ago. It was change a fair amount. It's now a little less reggae-ish (if memory serves, I don't have the actual mp3 on hand to compare), and a bit more bluesy with the occasional steel drum. But still, it's great.
12. Can't Nobody (English Version)
HOLY SHIT I haven't heard an English version of a Korean song as good as this one ever in my whole life. Most times when an artist remakes a song into English, it gets completely changed (see Taeyang's Wedding Dress for the perfect example) and the English is pretty mediocre. However, whoever did the English writing for this song (I don't have the cd insert at the coffee place where I'm writing this) did an impeccable job. The lyrics fit the tempo and the feel of the song perfectly. Really, this competes with 날 따라 해봐요 as far as production and quality goes.
All in all, I'd say that the cd is pretty decent. On a scale of 1 to 5 (one being BahaMen's Who Let the Dogs Out and 5 being Michael Jackson's Bad) I'd give it a 3.5 It's not the best cd YG has put out this year (I think Taeyang's Solar blows this cd out of the water, but I am biased) but it's not the worst cd to come out in Korea this year. A lot of people are disappointed, but keep in mind this is easily the most highly anticipated album of the year. I think the expectations were for the girls to release an album where every single song was as good as Fire. I think very few cds have ever lived up to those kinds of expectations. My recommendations: If you can't afford the 14-16 bucks this cd will run you, at least download 난 바빠, Can't Nobody (Eng & Korean), 사랑은 아야야, and 날 따라 해봐요 on itunes and support the group. They are extremely talented. Also, I recommend watching the videos for their three singles. They are dooooooope. Well, at least the first two are. The third one got pushed back until Sunday at 10 a.m. I can't read the whole letter because it's long and all in Korean, but I got that much from their website: www.yg-2ne1.com
xoxo,
A
Also, I will be posting up the lyrics to all the songs on the album by the end of next week on www.reallykpop.com Check that out for Korean and Romanji lyrics (and hopefully English before September is out, but I can't make any promises).
To Anyone Album Review
I'll start with a review of the overall packaging and image of the cd, because that is an extremely important aspect of the cd here in Korea. Packaging is usually over the top and larger than just a standard square plastic case. The cd came in a silver reflective rectangular case. It's pretty bold and shiny, but maintains a certain class with only the word 2NE1 emblazoned across the front in a sort of 반짝반짝 print. The cd case opens like a book and on the right is the cd, printed with some beautiful flowers. I really really like the actual cd. I've seen some really cool cds (Taeyang's deluxe edition cd is really good) but this one takes the cake. It's beautiful and it's a bit of too-infrequently shown soft side of the girls. On the left side is the photo book which doubles as the cd insert and contains all the lyrics. The pictures are bold and brazen, like the group. CL sports some intense red leather & metal platform heels. Minji wears a Jeremy Scott exclusive bright blue sweatsuit, with 2 inch spikes protruding all over the hood. In this picture, Minji is also wearing some intensely blue contacts. Other notable fashion pics: Minji's leather spikes corset-dress. It's super-provocative and hard as shit. The girls all wear pink haz-mat type suits with CL in the font wearing another Jeremy Scott exclusive: Black pants with white zippers on the shins, and a black top with some intense white piping through the neckline and shoulders. Sandara park in a black feather collar and smoky sexy eye make-up, Bommie is a green military style jacked and red red red hair. It also came with a 2ne1 family card.
1. Can't Nobody
The intro of this song is very very bass thumping like a 80's club hit. I like the end of the first verse, and the chorus is undeniably catchy with the combination of Minzy's English and Bom's voice. 2ne1 probably has the best English in the kpop industry as far as lyrics go (and up there in general english skills as a group). This song is heavily auto-tuned, with the strict exception of Bom's portion of the chorus. I also think CL's first 5 lines of the second verse are dooooope. The rest of the song (Dara's parts) are pretty much forgettable, in my opinion. Sad but true.
2. Go Away
Another song that is heavily auto-tuned. This will turn a lot of people away as people viciously attack the use of auto-tune as a crutch. I am of the opinion that some artists use it as a tool instead of a crutch. 2ne1's producers are one of them. T-pain and Kanye West are also among the people who use it as a tool to create a certain mood or theme. This album of 2ne1's is based on an idea of being extremely futuristic (something 2ne1 has always embodied) and the robotic auto-tune fits that. Plus, we already know they can sing. They have beautiful voices. Other groups like Kara, SNSD or even Son Dam Bi or Lee Hyori have infamously used the auto-tune to alter their artist's voices to make them perfect tonally when there are imperfections. That is not the intention in Go Away. Anyways, this is a slower song, which CL calls an upgraded version of I Don't Care. Frankly, I'm not crazy about this song. It's just kind of mediocre to me. There are points where you can see tremendous potential, but the lyrics and melodies fall just short. It's not an upgrade (except in tempo) from I Don't Care, which is the perfect moving on song. However, the video for this song is a huge huge upgrade from I Don't Care. It's a story video and holy shit, it's awesome.
3. 박수쳐 (Clap your Hands)
This song is my favorite of the three title tracks they are promoting. It's also probably the least favorite of my students. It's super interesting. The intro is club ready with the heavy bass beat, and the repetitive chorus commanding you to clap your hands. Minzy's line: 오늘 하루는 잠시 미미미쳐봐 욕심 따위는 모두 이이잊어봐 우리 신나면 ayo Walk Like a Champion 모두 준비 됐어 is a freaking perfect lead-in to the clappy chorus. Again, heavily auto-tuned, I think it's perfect for the club. My only complaint is the weird tempo change in the middle right before CL's rap. I don't like the tempo change, I don't like that weird racing sound that djs use so much. I don't like the rap very much. I don't like that scene in the m/v. It's just weird to me. However, I do fucking love the shit out of the second tempo change right after the rap where Dara says "I wanna rock your body, I wanna make some noise" It's so sexy and brings the song to a different level. Also, the "eh eh eh eh" part at the end is dope and it has an easy dance move in the m/v
4. 난 바빠 (I'm Busy)
My favorite song on the album. If you're looking for the electronic side of 2ne1, here it is. HOLY SHIT THIS SONG IS FIRE. Some people hate it like the author of the www.allkpop.com review, who said, "If the HAL 9000 computer from "2011: A Space Odyssey" decided to quit his day job, get a sex change and become a pop star, this would be the result." So some people don't like it? Well, fuck em, I love this shit. The electronic feel of this song is thorough and freaking awesome as hell. This is the one song that I cannot get out of me head. From the first word to the last one. SHIT IS FIRE.
5. 아파 (It Hurts)
This is a nice change of pace from the electronic feel. This song is nice. It's a said song about love. I really like this song, but I don't love it. It isn't edgy enough for 2ne1. I just look for a different level of showmanship from them and this doesn't quite cut it. This is most of my Korean student's favorite song. Granted, their voices are across the bored, beautiful here. I can appreciate this. I just don't think this will be the song I'll be singing it two weeks from now.
6. 사랑은 아야야 (Ouch Love is pain)
This is my preferred slow song off the album. Really this song is freaking perfect. The chorus picks up tempo just enough to make it really catchy, but their voices are really great. The song is auto-tuned in the chorus, but the verses are not clearly auto-tuned (although I'm sure it's used) and so the majority of their voices are clear and beautiful and I love love love love love this song. It's sad, but it's the song I'd listen to if my boyfriend broke up with me (oh god, please don't) but it's also still a song I can listen to when I'm happy and my relationship is fine. Again, the English, however infrequent is also impeccable.
7-9. You & I (Park Bom), Please don't go (CL&Minji), Kiss (Dara)
These songs were released a long time ago so I'm going to group them together. You & I is sugary sweet and cutesy, not unlike Bommie herself. The singing is lovely and the chorus is catchy. Please Don't Go is harder, fast tempo and intense, not unlike CL & Minji. There is no hiding the fact that Please Don't Go is easily one of my favorite songs of 2009. So, obviously I like this one. Kiss by Dara has one of the catchiest choruses of 2009. However, Dara is easily the least talented in 2ne1, so what her song lacks in raw singing talent is made up for in over-production of the song. The chorus is infectious, but aside from that, totally forgettable.
10. 날 따라해봐요 (Try to Follow Me)
It's unfortunate that the rest of this album isn't as perfect as this song. Seriously, this song is the best written, and best produced song on the album. It's obvious why this one was chosen to be released so much earlier than the album. It's got so many quotable lines, from "I got that bang bang if you know what I mean. It's goes bang a bang a bang a bang" and the chorus itself, plus like a zillion others. This song is audio perfection. Eh eh eh eh eh eh brrrap.
11. I Don't Care (Reggae Remix)
This song also came out a long time ago after fans requested a remake with G-Dragon and the girls collaborated with him and it became a super hit last fall. It was released digitally back then and it got tweaked a bit in the studio and was released for this album. I had heard this version of the song a long time ago when it was first released almost a year ago. It was change a fair amount. It's now a little less reggae-ish (if memory serves, I don't have the actual mp3 on hand to compare), and a bit more bluesy with the occasional steel drum. But still, it's great.
12. Can't Nobody (English Version)
HOLY SHIT I haven't heard an English version of a Korean song as good as this one ever in my whole life. Most times when an artist remakes a song into English, it gets completely changed (see Taeyang's Wedding Dress for the perfect example) and the English is pretty mediocre. However, whoever did the English writing for this song (I don't have the cd insert at the coffee place where I'm writing this) did an impeccable job. The lyrics fit the tempo and the feel of the song perfectly. Really, this competes with 날 따라 해봐요 as far as production and quality goes.
All in all, I'd say that the cd is pretty decent. On a scale of 1 to 5 (one being BahaMen's Who Let the Dogs Out and 5 being Michael Jackson's Bad) I'd give it a 3.5 It's not the best cd YG has put out this year (I think Taeyang's Solar blows this cd out of the water, but I am biased) but it's not the worst cd to come out in Korea this year. A lot of people are disappointed, but keep in mind this is easily the most highly anticipated album of the year. I think the expectations were for the girls to release an album where every single song was as good as Fire. I think very few cds have ever lived up to those kinds of expectations. My recommendations: If you can't afford the 14-16 bucks this cd will run you, at least download 난 바빠, Can't Nobody (Eng & Korean), 사랑은 아야야, and 날 따라 해봐요 on itunes and support the group. They are extremely talented. Also, I recommend watching the videos for their three singles. They are dooooooope. Well, at least the first two are. The third one got pushed back until Sunday at 10 a.m. I can't read the whole letter because it's long and all in Korean, but I got that much from their website: www.yg-2ne1.com
xoxo,
A
Friday, July 2, 2010
CD Review: Taeyang- Solar
Ok. So this is my first CD Review. I'm gonna go ahead and say it flat out: I'm biased. I love the FUCK out of Taeyang. Sure, I have delusions of Young Bae and myself getting married and producing little Youngbae juniors. Sure, my students call me Donglison (it's a terrible mashing of our names). Sure, I know his height (174 cm), his weight (56 kg = 123 lbs... eff off haters), his blood type (AB) and his birthday (May 18, 1988). So? It doesn't mean my review will be biased. Ok. So my review will be biased. Who the fuck am I kidding? I think YoungBae could literally take a shit, package it and sell it for 25,000 won a pop and I'd buy it and say it's the greatest thing ever.
That being said, this cd is still pretty awesome. Sure, it's not the greatest piece of musical genius created. No, it's not groundbreaking or innovative really. But, in its defense, it is incredibly catchy, with very danceable songs and a few noteworthy cameos (read: G.D., Teddy, Swings). I've fallen in love with it already and I've hardly had a chance to listen to the whole album.
The Deluxe Edition includes a t-shirt, a photobook, a signed pictures, and a YG Family Card. The regular edition includes a shorter photobook, the cd (albeit with 2 fewer songs, since this one doesn't have the re-releases of 나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me] and 기도 [Prayer]).
The full Tracklist is as follows:
1. Solar (Intro)
2. Superstar
3. I Need a Girl (feat. G-Dragon)
4. Just a Feeling
5. You're My
6. Move (feat. Teddy)
7. Breakdown
8.니가 잠든 후에 [After You Fall Asleep] (feat. Swings)
9. Where U At
10. Wedding Dress
11. 기도 [Prayer]
12.나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me]
13. Take It Slow
As far as composition goes, the great majority of the songs were composed and written by Teddy. But YoungBae wrote the lyrics from Solar, Just A Feeling and Wedding Dress. He also composed the music for Take It Slow.
Anyways, onward with the actual review:
Solar is just an intro, and in it he speaks only English, although it's mostly him saying yeah, it's still awesome. Just a really epic lead-in to the cd.
The first song, Superstar, starts out super strong with horns in the intro. The song is kind of a mid-tempo pop song. Not very dancy, but something you can just groove to. Taeyang switches expertly between English and Korean in this song. Seriously, parts of the song are a line in Korean, a line in English, a line in Korean, and so forth. Also, part of the lyrics: "So baby let's get it on, get it on, girl" which is something every girl can imagine Taeyang is whispering just to her. At least that's what I did.
The next song, I Need a Girl, which features best bud G-Dragon is the first release (after Wedding Dress and Where U At I guess) off the album. The video was released today and can be found here. The video is as amazing as the song. The verse is mind-bogglingly catchy. A student told me today that this is a remake of an older Korean song. Regardless, it's fucking awesome. A line of G.D.'s: "I love Girls, Girls I do adore," which is a nice little Jay-Z (Girls Girls Girls) reference. I hate Dara in the video (only because I'm totally jealous). Anyways, I didn't like the song that much when I heard it for the very first time, but as I hear it more, I love it more.
The next song is one which Taeyang wrote himself, Just a Feeling. The hook and even more so the bridge is just something that I imagine will be stuck in my head for like days. Taeyang also says he wants to make love to ME in the song. He says it. I'm gonna hold him to it. This song is a great dance song. Not too fast, but just perfect for a dance party in the morning when I'm waking up. You've got me saying yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
The first slow song on the album is You're My. Frankly, I just don't think anything will ever top Taeyang's 최인, which is the single sexiest slow ballad in the whole world. This song starts out so beautiful, with a little keyboard action However, I think the song is just a little to high and a little slow and lacks the vavoom that Taeyang usually brings to his ballads. Also, it's really unfortunate the metaphors he uses in this song. "You're my chocolate, my sweetest chocolate, I really wanna have you" "You're my ice cream, my sweetest ice cream, I really wanna have you" and "You're my candy, my lollipop candy, I really wanna kiss you, I really wanna love you." Really, Taeyang? You agreed to sing this? And really Teddy, you told Taeyang this was a good idea? I'm sorry. This is the one song that gets a thumbs down from me.
Then comes Move featuring Teddy. I'm gonna say this: the intro is hilarious and AWESOME. "Ay, all my sexy ladies on the floor. I like the girls that know how to move it right... They know what it is now, but don't get this shit twisted. This is for the ladies." Not only is don't get it twisted on of my favorite phrases, but Teddy makes it very clear. Taeyang is for the ladies. And a lady I am. This song is really pretty sounding. I think it caters to Taeyang's style. It offers just the right number of higher notes (unlike You're my which is ALL high notes) and gives us the upbeat R&B Taeyang that we all know and love. Also Teddy's rap is so sexually explicit and it's so funny because Taeyang is famously uber-religious. But hello, these lyrics? "I cock it and unload it call me Mr. BigRocket/I'm so vicious like sid with my sex pistols...Niagra Falls baby girl I got you wetter then." bwahahahaha.
My favorite song on the album is Breakdown. The hook is so damn good. I literally had this song on repeat at work, and I just have this one dance that is so perfect for this song. Plus Taeyang banks on the auto-tune fanaticism going on here. He doesn't over-use it like some other artists we may know (T-Pain) but just a little during a verse. I just wanna take this one to the club and "break it down down break it break it down."
The next song is the only song on the album that is in Korean: 니가 잠든 후에. It means after you fall asleep. It features the rapper Swings. There is very little English in this song compared to the others. Also, this title makes it seem like it will be a slow song, but nope. It's a dance track. It's very dancy, with a very electronic beat in the background, with a lot of echoing reminiscent of a club song. The Swings verse is pretty fresh. His voice is great and really locks you in.
The next two songs are already solidified as classics in Taeyang's repertoire: Where U At and Wedding Dress. I don't have much to say about these songs because they are so flawless. I love both of these song so effing much. Seriously, Youngbae has excellent writers (except whoever penned you're my... that guy should be fired immediately) and he performs the songs immaculately. Seriously.
Then are the two re-releases of 기도 and 나만 바라봐 which are from his Hot mini-album. Again, bonafied Taeyang classics. I find it pretty unfortunate that the song 최인 (Sinners in English) gets so much less attention. It is easily my favorite song he's made, and in my opinion, the highest quality song he has. It's so beautiful constructed and sung. So passionate and thoughtful. Anyways, that songs not on the cd, so I should leave it out. hah.
Last is Take it Slow, which Taeyang composed himself. I think this is a pretty nice wrap-up to the album. It's nice to see a piece he composed turn out so well. This is the clutch slow jam (besides wedding dress) that Taeyang really needed in the album. Since You're My fell so short of my very high expectations, it's nice that this song is so good. It's a really love ballad. I agree YoungBae, let's take it slow. I will slowly savor every bit of this cd (minus you're my, which is getting skipped consistently), and dream of the day when you and I will be together... *fades into sentimental day dreaming*
Oh, for those of you who are interested, here are two videos I posted on my youtube channel of me opening Solar, and the BigBang Big Show concert CD, which I also picked up today:
That being said, this cd is still pretty awesome. Sure, it's not the greatest piece of musical genius created. No, it's not groundbreaking or innovative really. But, in its defense, it is incredibly catchy, with very danceable songs and a few noteworthy cameos (read: G.D., Teddy, Swings). I've fallen in love with it already and I've hardly had a chance to listen to the whole album.
The Deluxe Edition includes a t-shirt, a photobook, a signed pictures, and a YG Family Card. The regular edition includes a shorter photobook, the cd (albeit with 2 fewer songs, since this one doesn't have the re-releases of 나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me] and 기도 [Prayer]).
The full Tracklist is as follows:
1. Solar (Intro)
2. Superstar
3. I Need a Girl (feat. G-Dragon)
4. Just a Feeling
5. You're My
6. Move (feat. Teddy)
7. Breakdown
8.니가 잠든 후에 [After You Fall Asleep] (feat. Swings)
9. Where U At
10. Wedding Dress
11. 기도 [Prayer]
12.나만 바라봐 [Look Only At Me]
13. Take It Slow
As far as composition goes, the great majority of the songs were composed and written by Teddy. But YoungBae wrote the lyrics from Solar, Just A Feeling and Wedding Dress. He also composed the music for Take It Slow.
Anyways, onward with the actual review:
Solar is just an intro, and in it he speaks only English, although it's mostly him saying yeah, it's still awesome. Just a really epic lead-in to the cd.
The first song, Superstar, starts out super strong with horns in the intro. The song is kind of a mid-tempo pop song. Not very dancy, but something you can just groove to. Taeyang switches expertly between English and Korean in this song. Seriously, parts of the song are a line in Korean, a line in English, a line in Korean, and so forth. Also, part of the lyrics: "So baby let's get it on, get it on, girl" which is something every girl can imagine Taeyang is whispering just to her. At least that's what I did.
The next song, I Need a Girl, which features best bud G-Dragon is the first release (after Wedding Dress and Where U At I guess) off the album. The video was released today and can be found here. The video is as amazing as the song. The verse is mind-bogglingly catchy. A student told me today that this is a remake of an older Korean song. Regardless, it's fucking awesome. A line of G.D.'s: "I love Girls, Girls I do adore," which is a nice little Jay-Z (Girls Girls Girls) reference. I hate Dara in the video (only because I'm totally jealous). Anyways, I didn't like the song that much when I heard it for the very first time, but as I hear it more, I love it more.
The next song is one which Taeyang wrote himself, Just a Feeling. The hook and even more so the bridge is just something that I imagine will be stuck in my head for like days. Taeyang also says he wants to make love to ME in the song. He says it. I'm gonna hold him to it. This song is a great dance song. Not too fast, but just perfect for a dance party in the morning when I'm waking up. You've got me saying yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.
The first slow song on the album is You're My. Frankly, I just don't think anything will ever top Taeyang's 최인, which is the single sexiest slow ballad in the whole world. This song starts out so beautiful, with a little keyboard action However, I think the song is just a little to high and a little slow and lacks the vavoom that Taeyang usually brings to his ballads. Also, it's really unfortunate the metaphors he uses in this song. "You're my chocolate, my sweetest chocolate, I really wanna have you" "You're my ice cream, my sweetest ice cream, I really wanna have you" and "You're my candy, my lollipop candy, I really wanna kiss you, I really wanna love you." Really, Taeyang? You agreed to sing this? And really Teddy, you told Taeyang this was a good idea? I'm sorry. This is the one song that gets a thumbs down from me.
Then comes Move featuring Teddy. I'm gonna say this: the intro is hilarious and AWESOME. "Ay, all my sexy ladies on the floor. I like the girls that know how to move it right... They know what it is now, but don't get this shit twisted. This is for the ladies." Not only is don't get it twisted on of my favorite phrases, but Teddy makes it very clear. Taeyang is for the ladies. And a lady I am. This song is really pretty sounding. I think it caters to Taeyang's style. It offers just the right number of higher notes (unlike You're my which is ALL high notes) and gives us the upbeat R&B Taeyang that we all know and love. Also Teddy's rap is so sexually explicit and it's so funny because Taeyang is famously uber-religious. But hello, these lyrics? "I cock it and unload it call me Mr. BigRocket/I'm so vicious like sid with my sex pistols...Niagra Falls baby girl I got you wetter then." bwahahahaha.
My favorite song on the album is Breakdown. The hook is so damn good. I literally had this song on repeat at work, and I just have this one dance that is so perfect for this song. Plus Taeyang banks on the auto-tune fanaticism going on here. He doesn't over-use it like some other artists we may know (T-Pain) but just a little during a verse. I just wanna take this one to the club and "break it down down break it break it down."
The next song is the only song on the album that is in Korean: 니가 잠든 후에. It means after you fall asleep. It features the rapper Swings. There is very little English in this song compared to the others. Also, this title makes it seem like it will be a slow song, but nope. It's a dance track. It's very dancy, with a very electronic beat in the background, with a lot of echoing reminiscent of a club song. The Swings verse is pretty fresh. His voice is great and really locks you in.
The next two songs are already solidified as classics in Taeyang's repertoire: Where U At and Wedding Dress. I don't have much to say about these songs because they are so flawless. I love both of these song so effing much. Seriously, Youngbae has excellent writers (except whoever penned you're my... that guy should be fired immediately) and he performs the songs immaculately. Seriously.
Then are the two re-releases of 기도 and 나만 바라봐 which are from his Hot mini-album. Again, bonafied Taeyang classics. I find it pretty unfortunate that the song 최인 (Sinners in English) gets so much less attention. It is easily my favorite song he's made, and in my opinion, the highest quality song he has. It's so beautiful constructed and sung. So passionate and thoughtful. Anyways, that songs not on the cd, so I should leave it out. hah.
Last is Take it Slow, which Taeyang composed himself. I think this is a pretty nice wrap-up to the album. It's nice to see a piece he composed turn out so well. This is the clutch slow jam (besides wedding dress) that Taeyang really needed in the album. Since You're My fell so short of my very high expectations, it's nice that this song is so good. It's a really love ballad. I agree YoungBae, let's take it slow. I will slowly savor every bit of this cd (minus you're my, which is getting skipped consistently), and dream of the day when you and I will be together... *fades into sentimental day dreaming*
Oh, for those of you who are interested, here are two videos I posted on my youtube channel of me opening Solar, and the BigBang Big Show concert CD, which I also picked up today:
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