"Awoo" Review

Lim Kim (alternatively known as "Kim Yerim") is a solo artist that debuted back in 2011. She was less known, however, during the first few months of her musical career. But after the release of her first official album "Goodbye 20", Lim Kim's promotions have begun to be more prominent. She is known for her soulful voice and unique sound. Her voice gives me a sort of Lee Hi vibe. I love the fact that her singing voice isn't high-pitch, which is what most music labels desire for their female artists.

Her most recent release was a mini album entitled "Simple Mind". One of Lim Kim's title track's is called "Awoo". Although it sounds like something a canine would say, the theme of the video is likened to that of a fussy cat and its owner. Initially, I wasn't interested in her newest song. But after seeing the video's thumbnail everywhere in a K-Pop social app I frequently use, I decided, "Alright. Let's see what all the hype is about!"

Song

"Awoo" was definitely a song down my alley rather than up. The song reflects the attention a girl craves from her partner, which was demonstrated quite amusingly in the video. Lim Kim's previous singles were either acoustic or smoother in sound. I'm more of a pop or R&B kind of girl, so when I heard "Awoo" for the first time, it was a little odd to me.  The melody is somewhat jarring at first. It has a contemporary sound mixed with subtle beats and catchy lyrics. But instead of clicking away from the video, I stayed to finish the rest of the song! I loved the weirdness of it, and it gets stuck in your head!

Music Video
The creepiness factor is definitely amplified in this video thanks to Lim Kim's intense, color-contacted gazes at the camera, the simple set designs, and the light color schemes chosen for the backgrounds. However, it complements the song perfectly!

In the video, Lim Kim shows some very catlike habits. She can be found lounging in odd places and even playing around with some goldfish from a distance-- a very catlike thing to do.

One of the main highlights of the video is Lim Kim and her boyfriend. He seems to be busy putting his puzzle piece together while Lim stares at him from across the table, as if expecting something from him.

In the video, we get to see that he is nearly done with the puzzle; he just needs the final piece to complete it. But where is this puzzle piece?

Aha! It's with her! Do you see how clever the producers were in trying to make this video similar to what you would see in a relationship with a cat and its owner? Lim Kim wants his attention. She's playing with him. I'm not much of a cat person, but I am aware that felines are known to behave a little naughty when they want someone to notice them.

As a result, he goes off to find Lim while in search of his missing puzzle piece, finally paying her some notice.

Over all, I was charmed by this simple, yet intriguing music video! I remember thinking to myself "What in the world is going on??" It makes you want to stay for the entire video and figure out the meaning of the whole thing.

Costumes
I can't say much about costumes in this video since the choice of outfits are pretty simple. I liked the coziness and simplicity of it all. That's pretty much it. It makes you focus more on the song rather an any excessive flashiness. I also love Lim Kim's nail art and rings, which was probably the only "flashy" thing in this video.

Final Thoughts:
"Awoo" was definitely a great choice in attracting more K-Pop fans (and even music lovers of all sorts) in search of something new! "Simple Mind" is a solid album! I love the unique sound of every track. Nothing sounds like a recycled song that was thrown in there just for the sake of making the finished product a complete mini album. This could very well be Lim Kim's breakout song in finally making her mark on the music scene! I look forward to whatever she has in store for us in the future.

Song: 4/5

Music Video: 4/5

Costumes: 5/5

Choreography: N/A

---------------------------------

Final Score: 13/15

Gee Rating: Contained feelings

"Catch Me If You Can" Review

Girls' Generation is finally back with their new single "Catch Me If You Can!" The SoShi girls are my number one girl group, and I was super excited to see them again! They had it a little rough last year (nearly all of SMent's artists did, actually, except for SHINee), but they've managed to pull through and show the true power that is So Nyeo Shi Dae!

Song

It's very upbeat. The sound at the beginning vaguely reminds me of another K-Pop song, but I just can't put my finger on it.

I'm going to find my heart~ 

I love the pre-chorus and the bridge, but that's pretty much all that struck me about this song! I understand that this is more of a dance track, but I was hoping we'd get a song that we could listen to during down time, in the car, etc., like Mr.Mr. Sure, Mr.Mr was also a good dance track, but there were more vocals than beat drops.

Taeyeon's vocals~ ON POINT~! My Queen never disappoints! I love how Yuri opens up the song. I was half-expecting it to be Hyoyeon, but choosing Yuri was just as great. I'm also glad the dance line got a lot more lines this time! Good job, SM!

Music Video

0:26 seconds into the video, and I hear nothing except cars racing against the wind. Are they trying to pull another Flower Power on me? Good thing I didn't max out my volume, or else the beat would have caught me by surprise again! I was a little disappointed at the numerous, weirdly-angled shots of the "Catch Me if You Can" sign. Like, okay! I get it! Can we please move onto the song and the girls?

The video is quite simple, as are most of their Japanese singles. I wasn't expecting to be blown away with a story line or individual face shots of the members singing. The camera work is alright; though, I have to admit I was getting a little dizzy in the middle. The set is odd, but very different! So, plus points for that, GG! The fire blazing in the background gives a nice effect, too. The daytime set kind of reminds me of Terminator: Salvation. I don't know why.

Yuri, Hyoyeon, and Sooyung (otherwise known as SHY due to the sub-unit rumors spreading these says) really stood out to me in this video! I completely forgot about the other members.

Costumes

I could say I like both outfits equally because the construction worker one has color on it, but I'm actually leaning more towards the crop top, military-ish concept! The girls are looking fierce! The dog tags were a nice touch, and the highlighter gloves add just enough hint of color-- much like Paparazzi and the infamous pink dish washing gloves! Haha! I kid. The construction worker outfits on the other hand.... Well, let's just say I was waiting for one of them to whip out an orange LED baton and start directing traffic!

All cars to the left!

Choreography

Powerful! Fierce! In this video, you really get to see their dancing skills shine! It was definitely a nice change compared to their Mr.Mr. choreography, which was somewhat disappointing because it was slow and too simple! My favorite bit is probably at the 1:18 mark where the members gradually join in the swaying move. On a side note, I found the ending pose a little amusing. It reminded me of Pacman.

Final Thoughts:

Solid enough comeback, though I did expect more. Nevertheless, the girls look great, they look like they're having fun, and they are continuously reminding us fans that they're no longer teenage girls but mature young women ready to take on the next era of Girls' Generation!

Song: 4/5

Music Video: 4/5

Costumes: 5/5

Choreography: 5/5

---------------------------------

Final Score: 18/20

Gee Rating: Contained feelings

Life Before K-Pop.: My First Encounter with The K-Pop World (Feat. SHINee's Ring Ding Dong)

I'll be starting a new series titled L.B.K, Life Before K-Pop! Or more specifically, life before I watched a certain music video, or life before I became the knowledgeable K-Pop fanatic I am today! You get the gist. ^_^

My first exposure to K-Pop

My first K-Pop encounter was when I arrived at theater class early one morning. Two of my friends were watching a video of a dance practice. (The dance studio had a sky background.) I thought the dance routine was pretty impressive! One of my friends told me she really wanted to learn it. I also liked the song, so I made sure to ask her what it was called. 

""Genie" by Girls' Generation," she replied.

I searched it when I got home and came across the Japanese version of Genie. While I was a bit confused as to why there were two versions of the song-- a Korean one and a Japanese one-- I found myself loving both of them, and I downloaded the songs instantly!

---

Flash forward to a month later.

I was never interested in K-Pop, until one day I kept hearing the word "shiny" being spoken of among my theater classmates! Later on, I found out they were talking about a Korean boy group called "SHINee". It was always "shiny this" and "shiny that" during break time! So when I got home, I decided to search them up on YouTube. I clicked the first music video I saw:

I only knew Key, after seeing my friend watching a Korean variety show of him on her laptop. Apart from that, I knew nothing else about this SHINee group. So from a non K-Pop fan's perspective, my reactions at certain points in the video were:

"What's with this guy's hair?"

"What is going on???"

"Um... drinking milk?? Okay..?"

"Okay, new outfits... Dancing on water now..."

"What's with the fake butterfly?"

"We're exploring now? What are they looking for?"

"WHOA! Look at that hair! Did this guy get electrocuted?"

"Baybehh~ askjdkasjdgfkl Crayzeehh~"

"What is up with these poof-y hairstyles?"

"Wait why are they saying Cola over and over?"

"Ling ding dong Ling ding dong...."

O_O "So... they have wings now?"

Long story short, I became addicted to this song and downloaded it! I don't know why I liked it so much. It's inexplicable, especially with all the heavy use of autotune. But, hey. That was the trend in the music industry back in those days....

After that, I began to grow a little more curious about these guys. There were a bunch of other music videos on the Suggestions list, so naturally I just decided to click on this one:

Oh. My. Goodness. As soon as I heard that beat drop at the 0:02 mark, that's when I knew I was trapped. There was no escaping the K-Pop domain after that. Once you set foot inside, there's no turning back..

And that's where it all began! I'm sure you all have some interesting K-Pop testimonies, too! Leave a comment and share your first K-Pop encounters!

Welcome to EXO Planet: A Euphoria Special

EXO is a 12 member boy group that debuted under S.M. Entertainment in 2012. The group was originally split in half-- 6 members promoted in Korea (EXO-K), while the remaining 6 promoted in China (EXO-M). Their massive popularity, record-breaking album sales, and successful concerts prove EXO is a force to be reckoned with in the K-Pop industry. Though I'm already a huge fan myself, their international popularity is sometimes perplexing to me!

But HOLD UP! There's 12 members! If you have trouble figuring out who is who, I suggest you watch Simon and Martina Stawski's video below. They've put together a hilarious anthem introducing each of the members:

------

I'm taking a trip down memory lane! To commemorate EXO's recent comeback, this Rambling will bring back EXO's previous flagship songs starting from their debut all the way to their last song before "EXODUS"was released.

***Given how long this post will be, I'll try to keep my "fangirl-ing" to a minimum and won't give final ratings

1.) "What is Love"

Background

"What is Love" is the group's first ever pre-released track off of their "MAMA" mini album. While the music video is a compilation of the several teasers promoting the group, the song alone primarily features the two main vocalists from each group, respectively. (D.O. and Baekhyun from EXO-K; Chen and Luhan from EXO-M). It's an R&B song about imagining and wondering what love is. It's probably one of my favorite music videos from EXO because of it's cinematic feel. I could easily imagine this as be a teaser for an upcoming sci-fi movie! It's a refreshing take on K-Pop music videos.

2.) "History"
They're here to make history!

"History" is the second pre-released song off of EXO's first mini album. Their debut was highly anticipated, and the music label did something for the first time in K-Pop history: they released not just one, but TWO music videos before the group even made their debut. At this point, you can really see how much effort S.M. Entertainment put in to hype up their new boy group.

Song
"History" is an upbeat dance track about the boys making their arrival in the music world. When it first came out, I fell in love with it instantly, mostly due to the excitement surrounding the group. But much like "What is Love", I grew tired of listening to the song. I wanted something new. "History" is definitely a gem, but it's not something you could listen to casually.

Music Video

It's quite a spectacle initially! Space! Flying purple planet! Snow! Wind! Sand! Rocks! The set looked incredibly real, I thought they really filmed outdoors! "History" music video definitely set the bar for EXO and raised it for the rest of the 2012 rookie groups. It looks incredible, almost like a real alien planet. It makes sense, since the concept of EXO as a whole was aliens that possessed super powers.

***At the 2:29 mark, you'll see six other guys suddenly show up. Explanation: @3:20 mark, you'll see EXO as a whole. They are the members on the EXO-M side.

Costumes

Futuristic, but they still had the slightest hint of modernism in them. It was also the first time I had seen such loose-fitted pants! At first, I thought the producers used some ginormous fans to make their pants flap rapidly like that, but it was actually the members creating the windy effect by using their hands inside the pockets.

Choreography

This is some intense choreography! But whoever put this together did an awesome job. This type of dance makes EXO seem like they'd been around for a long time already rather than mere rookies. Check out the whole routine here:

3.) "MAMA"
The one that (officially) started it all...

"MAMA" is the group's official debut song and is the title track in their first mini album. We've looked at two EXO-K videos thus far, so I'm gonna post the Chinese version of MAMA instead. They deserve some love, too!

                          

Song
First thing's first, they are NOT singing about their mothers, okay? In the Korean language, "mama" actually means "your highness" when addressing a queen. In this song, EXO is singing to their "queen" about how they're disappointed with the harsh realities of society. It actually has a very deep meaning, if you look into the entire lyrics' translation. So starstruck was I by the final debut of EXO, I paid no mind to the....

Careless, careless
Shoot anonymous, anonymous
Heartless, mindless
No one who care about me

...at the beginning. But if you can get past that, good for you! You can still appreciate this song! It gives off a Disney villain vibe.

Music Video
The Morgan Freeman/National Geographic/History Channel voice provides a great effect and all, not gonna lie. It makes the video more mysterious, but the things being said made absolutely no sense! I replayed the intro several times, and I STILL could not figure out what this guy was saying. But thankfully, I've found a clarified version here, although it's still mentally jarring.

On the other hand, the rest of the music video is awesome! I like how it reveals the members using their powers.

Costumes
These outfits have that EXO style. I don't know how to explain it, but this group has created a style all their own. Metalic jackets, patterned shirts, loose-fitted pants... You could look at these clothes and say, "Yep. That's the EXO look."

Choreography
Just as good as "History". Sort of like "History"'s big brother, in terms of choreography! ... Or "History"'s mother. Ha! See what I did there? Because they sing "MAMA" and it sounds like mama to us, and mama means mother and ehe.... hehe... yeah....

4.) "Wolf" 
"I will put you in my mouth like cheese"

"Wolf", or sometimes translated as "Wolf and Beauty", is the first song to feature all the members together. It is the flagship song of their first full-length album: "XOXO"

Song

Electronic song about how the members are dangerous wolves that have fallen for a beautiful girl. I haven't much to say about this, considering it's one of my-- and perhaps the entire fandom's-- least favorite song of EXO. The lyrics are pretty funny, especially the part about cheese. What I do like about it, however, is the intense vocals and mind blowing high notes that come flying in at the end. (THAT HIGH NOTE  @2:57, MAN!)

Music Video

Impressive enough, but the trend of S.M. Entertainment's box sets has returned... I get that the whole red-eye effect is an attempt to make the members look menacing and tough, but I just don't see it anymore (compared to my shock when I watched the teaser. I watched it in the morning when it was still dark out, and I got spooked!).

Costumes

I noticed numerous things in "Wolf". Kai's cornrows. Luhan's mesh top with the fluffy cufflinks. Striped socks. These were some of the crazier outfits of EXO.

Choreography

Awesome choreography. Very wolf-like. During the live performances, it felt like I was watching a musical number.

5.) "Growl"
The song that skyrocketed these boys to legendary stardom! If their previous songs haven't grabbed your attention, then this one definitely will!

One-take version:

Alternate version:

This is by far EXO's best track to date.

Song

"Growl" brought out the smooth side of the EXO members. The song is catchy, cool, and it has lovely harmonies in between. This song is about their protectiveness over the girl they like, telling other guys to back off . If this doesn't make you want to get up and groove, you might want to have your ears checked! That's all I can say.

Music Video
The first K-Pop video I've seen that recorded everything in one take! This is what really made it stand out, and it allowed us to appreciate the choreography through the whole video! I must say I favor the one take version more than the alternate one.

Costumes
I like how each member's uniform is made a little different instead of them wearing identical ones. In the alternate version, I like the use of those black straps. Combined with the simple button down shirts, it gives the outfits a unique look.

Choreography
BEST. CHOREOGRAPHY. EVER. I've even tried learning this myself, and it is not easy! Tony Testa choreographed "Growl". Due to its difficulty, member Kris had expressed that it took them 3-4 months to learn the routine!

6.) "Miracles in December"
The long-awaited Christmas album!

Background

"Miracles in December" is the main title track of their Christmas album that goes by the same name. The group expressed it was their gift to the fans in thanks for the their successful 2013 year. While most Christmas special albums are cheerful, this album takes on a more solemn tone, expressing regret over a broken relationship and the wish to being anew. There are only three members singing, but the video features cut scenes of all of EXO. I particularly like the set of the members standing in the snow. It makes me think of something you'd see in a movie, what with the depressing scene it creates.

7.) "Overdose"

The last time we'll see the members as 12.

Song
Doesn't compare to Growl, but it's still a good song. We see a more mature side of EXO with this release.

Music Video
Not a big fan of the box sets, but this is definitely EXO's style. I like the maze scenes at the beginning, especially how it turns out that the maze is their new logo.

Costumes
Guy-liner and eyeshadow everywhere. The outfits are a little wacky at first. What's with the bucket hats? But the I realized that this song is about the effects of "love overdose". It makes you crazy. Sometimes, it makes you go insane. I think this serves as a reasonable explanation for the members' costumes. They look a little "crazy" in them. The suits, on the other hand, are. on. POINT! I love it.

Choreography
Just look at the thumbnail! I didn't realize EXO was going cheerleader on me! All jokes aside, it's very very creative!

-----

LABOUM, HOTSHOT, and CLC?!

"All caps" are the trend, apparently. I sometimes see it as the company trying to get you more curious/excited if they name with groups with all capital letters.

K-Pop groups are sprouting like weeds these past few years, and I mean that in the best possible way. (I can't elaborate, but you're free to use your imagination!) There are few groups that really break into the success margin of K-Pop, let alone scratch the surface. I am sorely disappointed with these next three rookies I'm going to Ramble about-- ahem, I mean review. There's nothing quite there ramble worthy. These three music videos just failed to catch my attention! Some parts were so yawn worthy, I nearly closed the YouTube tab. This is exactly why I've simply stopped getting into the newer groups after 2013.

I'm going to be very blunt and critical in this post, mostly because I've been a K-Pop fan for five years now. You may be wondering: who am I to judge? Well, this is just my opinion. I am in no way trying to force my views on you! But I've seen plenty of topnotch K-Pop groups and heard numerous high quality songs over the years that have increased my standards, and these recycled concepts that these rookies brought are just not my cup of milk tea.

This week's Rambling is about LABOUM, not-so-rookie-group-but-somehow-they-still-are HOTSHOT, rookie girl group CLC!

1.) "Sugar Sugar" by Playhouse Disney... Oh, no I mean: Hi 5! South Korea edition! ...Wait, this is LABOUM??

If you've ever read my first Rambling here, you'll know that I became an instant fan of LABOUM during the "What About You" era. After the announcement that they were coming back with a new single, I was really looking forward to what they had in store!

Unfortunately, I was beyond disappointed with this Playhouse Disney/Hi 5! music video and the generic, cutie girl concept song. Seriously? Was the team that put together "What About You" replaced? It was a such a strong song that could have potentially skyrocketed the LABOUM girls to instant fame! WHY did they decide to completely go south now?

Song
Oh, my goodness. What. In. The. WORLD. is this sad excuse of a song?! I understand that they might have been going for a 50s/60s approach, but this is just plain sad. The song is boring, and most of the lyrics comprise of "no way no way no way", "oh oh oh oh", and "oh boy oh boy oh boy oh oh oh". The little "suga suga suga" bit at the beginning is... *yawn*

I'm not even going to research the lyrics and study the song meaning. We can probably infer what this is about anyways based on the English lyrics I've mentioned up there ^.

Over all, this sounds like something I'd hear during a Playhouse Disney segment for little kids. For real! Put these girls in a colorful set, play this song, call in some young kids, and watch how this suddenly turns into The Wiggles (female version). What happened to the strong girls of "What About You"?

Music Video

Hi 5! meets Playhouse Disney. I don't know how many times I have to stress this enough. The sets are just downright cheap-looking.

Costumes

My eyes hurt. It's like Lisa Frank threw up on these girls during this Polly Pocket/Barbie themed slumber party.

Choreography

BO-RING. This is probably my least favorite part of their comeback. I figured after the great routine of "What About You", the girls would deliver something even more entertaining, but no!

That little butt shake they do at the beginning isn't even in sync, making the dance seem lazily executed. If it were in sync, perhaps it would be more bearable to watch. The happy dance they do during the start of the chorus is plain silly. Can you even call that dancing? A senior citizen could even bust that move! Who even authorized this choreography?

---

In conclusion, this comeback was the worst I've ever seen (out of the groups I follow, of course). This concept does not allow the girls to shine or show us their talents! Instead, they come off as all-face-no-talent singers. I know they're capable of so much more than this, so why did the company choose to go for a boring song, a cheap music video, and a silly dance routine???

I even checked out the rest of the songs on their album, and it sounds like these were the songs that the producers trashed, but, for the sake of making this comeback an "album", they resurrected these tracks and added them on after all. Sigh. I had high hopes. I'll check back on LABOUM after this "Sugar Sugar" rush settles down (if you can even call it a "rush", because there is nothing to get excited about over this comeback).

Song: 2/5
Music Video: 2/5
Costumes: 3/5
Choreography: 1/5
---------------------------------
Final Score: 8/20
Gee Rating: Nope nope nope


2.) "Midnight Sun" by HOTSHOT

So, apparently this is HOTSHOT's comeback song. Believe me when I say I was completely lost when I saw this article show up in my Twitter feed. "Whoa whoa, these guys are having a COMEBACK? I didn't even know this group existed in the first place!"

Song

We gon' get up, we gon' get loud

Come on get up, it's gonna get wild

Hmm. Judging by this video, when exactly is anything gonna get "loud" or "wild"?

What up DJ? Turn me up!

.... Come again? I've tried looking up the English translation of the lyrics, but I can't seem to find them anywhere on the internet... and usually there's at least ONE site out of the many translation web pages that contain the lyrics. Maybe this indicates how unknown these guys still are (?). Sorry not sorry.

The song is generic for a boy group. I don't feel like getting "loud", much less getting "up".

Music Video
The video is somewhat reminiscent of Big Bang's "Bad Boy". The silver lining between them,
however, is how the they were done. "Midnight Sun" doesn't speak to me at all. It seems very low budget, and it doesn't even match the upbeat vibe of the song! I would have placed these guys at some hip and happein' place, instead of walking around the city in slow mo or loitering around.

Costumes
The boy next door look is a plus. The outfits are very familiar, so nothing quite stands out to me.

---

Unfortunately, HOTSHOT was a HOT MISS for this comeback. The music video just seems tired, and we see ZERO choreography. If there were a dance routine to go with it, or at least shots of it in the video, perhaps this group would be able to earn a few more points.

Song: 2/5
Music Video: 2/5
Costumes: 3/5
---------------------------------
Final Score: 7/15
Gee Rating: Not my cup of milk tea



3.) "Pepe" by CLC

CLC is a five member girl group that has just recently debuted under Cube Entertainment. Their name kept reminding me of TLC, but CLC apparently stands for Crystal Clear. I would have just gone with Crystal Clear, really. CLC makes me think of an antibiotic. It does not scream K-Pop to me, or "singing group" for that matter.

Out of the three artists I'm reviewing in this post, CLC is probably the one I'll have good things to say about.

Song

Alright. So the "hubiruae pe pe pero" in the chorus is throwing me off. What is it supposed to mean? I figured "hubiruae" meant something, but no. The lyric is translated straight into "hubiruae". Seriously? I have a feeling they chose "pepe" as the song title simply because it sounds cute to their listeners. What a turnoff. -Points for that. And the "lalalala" at the end has been used so many times in songs, it just seems like filler lyrics. It's almost as if the producers ran out of ideas, so they decided to use that instead.

The song is about how the boy they like is immature. Long story short, it's catchy but not strong enough if you're going for a "unique" factor.

Music Video

The set is quite different, almost as if the rooms are connected and rotating. +Points for the creativity. The white room where the girls are wearing the blue dresses, though.... Meh. Not so creative. We've seen that countless times for girl groups. Despite the plain white and black sets, I have to say this MV looks a whole lot more better than the previous ones in this post. At least some good money was spent on the sets!

Costumes

My favorite outfits are probably the ones they wear lounging around in the colorful rooms, and the pink varsity jackets. The white and blue dresses remind me too much of Apink. The white outfits in the black set are too plain. These costumes are nothing of an eyesore, but they're simple enough to appreciate... so I'll give them points for that.

Choreography

Their dance routine definitely is my favorite part of this debut. The girls are energetic and you can tell they're putting a lot of effort into the dance. It's snappy, sassy, and it suits the quirky-ness of the song.

While their debut didn't wow me, CLC may be a tough rookie to face in the K-Pop market with a little polishing and stronger songs. I sense they have potential to pull off the tough girl concept, but for now we'll just have to sit tight with this song. They've just debuted a few days ago, after all.

Song: 2.5/5

Music Video: 3/5
Costumes: 3/5
Choreography: 3.5/5
---------------------------------
Final Score: 12/20
Gee Rating: It's okay

Next Rambling: (Hopefully) The Rambling Special!

ChoCoat, SPICA, and Ladies' Code?!

There are definitely a whole bunch of underrated K-Pop groups and artists wandering the K-Pop scene. While some rookies and unknown singers don't offer anything new or striking, resulting in their current lukewarm state, there are still artists that show a lot of promise! The music industry is very competitive, and you either make it or break it.

Part of me wonders if those lesser known artists ever feel sad they never receive awards on music shows such as Inkigayo, Music Bank, M Countdown, and so on. But as long as they're content with living out their dreams as a singer-- that's that bottom line of it all. It's not about the fortune or fame. They have the passion to continue doing what they love.

This weeks Ramble is about girl groups: ChoColat, SPICA, and Ladies' Code!

1.) "Black Tinkerbell" by ChoColat

ChoColat is a five-turned-four member girl group that debuted in 2012. What's unique about this girl group is that they boast having not one, not two, but THREE members of mixed race! Melanie, Juiliane, and Tia are all of Korean, German, and Italian decent.

Unfortunately, ChoColat has been inactive since after the release of their third single "Black Tinkerbell". They have lots of potential, and as much as I want them to come back, it doesn't seem likely. For now, let's just enjoy the music that they've been able to give us during their brief K-Pop career.

Song

I wasn't impressed with their debut song. Their second single was a big improvement compared to their electronic sounds with their previous release, but I wasn't entirely sold. But THIS song is what made me get on board the ChoColat fandom train. It's unlike anything I've ever heard from rookie Korean girl groups. It's catchy, and the lines are equally divided among the members, allowing us to hear their vocal skills even more.

The song is about a one-sided love. The girls are Tinkerbell, and the boy is Peter Pan. We all know that Tinkerbell is known for her jealousy towards Wendy. In the music video, the ChoColat members sing "I can't leave you, I can't leave you" despite the pain they feel seeing "Peter" and "Wendy" together.

Music Video

The water affects are nice; it gives the video a more mature, dramatic appeal. The barn room where the ChoColat members are lounging is a little random, though. Did the company not have enough money to give them a more convincing set?

Costumes

The sparkly dresses are pretty, almost fairy-like! The Cat Woman-like outfits show that the girls have evolved from their colorful concept and are going for a more mature vibe. Other than that, the rest of their outfits are pretty simple!

Choreography

I've actually tried learning this dance before. Haha! The dance move at the "I can't leave you, I can't leave you" part is so powerful. It's like, BAM! BAM! BAM! with their hips. The dance isn't too complicated, but it suits the song, especially the part where the members line up behind each other and use their arms to make it look like wings.

Song: 4/5
Music Video: 4/5
Costumes: 5/5
Choreography: 5/5
---------------------------------
Final Score: 18/20
Gee Rating: Contained feelings


2.) "I'll  Be There" by SPICA

SPICA is a five member girl group that debuted in 2012. They're one of the lesser known girl groups of K-Pop and fall into the UNDERRATED category. They've released quite a few solid singles and albums, but are still unable to get past the fence that has unfortunately separated them from immense stardom.

It was actually by chance that I came across SPICA. I had heard their song "Painkiller" playing in the background of another YouTube video, and I was immediately charmed by their husky, belting voices-- which is as rare as a shiny Mew (Pokemon reference) in the K-Pop world, where girls with higher pitch voices are sought after due to the "cute concept".

I just found out during my research for this post that "spica" means the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and is the 15th brightest star in the night sky. Very clever! Great name for a girl group. I always thought SPICA was an acronym like U-KISS, but I don't think anything beats the absurdity of MBLAQ: Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality.

Song

"I'll Be There" is a cheerful, upbeat song that encourages you to keep pressing forward despite the hardships you face. Instead of singing about blooming love or past love, SPICA's "I'll Be There" delivers a very positive message.

You don’t need to act tough

I already know you’re soft at heart (yes, I know)

You waited and you tried – tell it to my heart

When you’re struggling, just tell me

I’ll Be There

I’ll be there, right by your side oh

I’ll be a strength to you more than anyone else

I’ll Be There

I’ll be with you till always

Just like now, forever

I’ll Be There

It's a great song to send to a friend or loved one that's having a tough day. 

In terms of the song's sound, I am definitely digging the old school vibe. It almost reminds me of the Spice Girls. The beat and synthesizers are appealing. Over all, this song would put anyone in a good mood.

Music Video

I'm gonna be totally honest here. Seeing the little girl with the umbrella in a dark, wet alley, I half-expected a darker theme for the video, which is odd since the phrase "I'll be there" sounds very optimistic. Unless... something else is gonna be there, if you get my drift.... Anyways! The sets are very bright. The dark alley looks so much more "friendly" now that it's illuminated with sparkles. Although the sets are quite simple, it lets me focus more on the song and the members instead of flashy props and setups.

Costumes

My favorite outfits are probably the white crop tops and blue jeans, though they vaguely remind me of keys on a laptop. It also reminds me of what a professional painter would wear in terms of interior design, but that's just me.

Choreography

Simple and fun! Reminds me of old school bands.

Song: 4/5
Music Video: 4/5
Costumes: 3/5
Choreography: 4/5
---------------------------------
Final Score: 15/20
Gee Rating: Contained feelings


3.) "Bad Girl" by Ladies' Code

Ladies' Code is a five member girl group that debuted in 2013.They are the only rookie girl group from a non-mainstream Korean music company that I follow as much as Girls' Generation and Red Velvet. Ladies' Code had so much promise. They're not just pretty faces but are incredibly talented, as well!

I supported Ladies' Code from the very beginning, and I still do even after the accident. I don't know when they'll be back, but I hope and pray that the members recover well.

Song
One of the strongest debut songs ever! I love the James Bond-ish feeling it has. I didn't think I would love it as much as I did when it was released. Sojung (the girl with blonde and pink hair) has one of the most unique voices in K-Pop. It sort of reminds me of Lee Hi's voice.

"Bad Girl" is about the girls wishing their lover or pursuer to go away, because they're "bad girls". Based on the music video, I didn't exactly get the impression that the girls were bad.

Music Video
The submarine and ocean sequence was great! It almost felt like I was watching a secret agent movie. However, it took a very disappointing turn once I saw the barber shop scene. What is going on? Okay, so the customers aren't very nice but hey, that's what you have to deal with in the customer service world! The blue room was quite random, as well. Is it connected to the barber shop? And there's a secret stash of weapons somewhere?! If I knew my stylists were potential killers, I would never go there for a haircut no matter how good-looking the employees were.

A firing sequence ensues. I'm guessing the producers were going for the cool-ness factor, but the girls look silly firing at nothing. It almost looks like: "Ooh! Look at me and my shiny toy! I'm so tough! I'm so bad!" In the end, I really wish they had gone with the secret agent thing they showed at the beginning of the video.

The girls seem less like "bad girls" and more like immature teens. Drugging the men to fall asleep while giving them the ugliest, corniest sleepover makeover ever that can probably be washed off afterwards? Reaaaaally bad, girls.... You're grounded.

On a more light-hearted note, the actors are handsome. Har har har.

Costumes
The only costumes I like are the ones in the blue room. The barber shop ones are just plain ugly, in my opinion. The actors' costumes are okay, too (?).

Choreography
I love the dance up until the very end where their arms are raised and they kick their legs out three times. It reminds me of a dog drying after its done peeing. Doesn't feel classy or powerful. (I'm sorry! I LOVE Ladies' Code, but that's just my impression!)

Song: 5/5
Music Video: 3/5
Costumes: 3/5
Choreography: 4/5
---------------------------------
Final Score: 15/20
Gee Rating: Contained feelings

Next Ramble: A Rambling Special!