SHINee, U-KISS, and 2NE1?!

As much as I'd like to review some of the newer K-Pop artists, I want to bring back three famous tracks that played a key role in the increasing popularity of K-Pop. This week's Ramble is about the contemporary boy group SHINee, the Ubiquitous Korean International idol Super Star = U-KISS (yes, you read that right. Ubiquitous.), and the queens of 2NE1!

I can honestly admit that SHINee was the first boy group I ever got into. I remember hearing their name often throughout my Theater Class. It was always SHINee this and SHINee that! What's the big deal, I thought to myself, Who is shiny? During a break from studies, I decided to look them up on YouTube.

People like to joke: "Welcome to K-Pop. Enjoy your stay, because you're not leaving." Little did I know how true this statement actually was.

1.) "Replay" by SHINee

After that beat drop at the 0:02 mark, I knew I had entered a whole new world. Haha! Some thoughts I was having while the video played: Oh look a store, there's a guy and a girl, WHAT IS THIS BEAT, Who are these people, BOWL HAIRCUTS, Dancing dancing dancing, gold chains, WHAT IS THIS, Star Wars t-shirt, Basketball, Wicked t-shirt guy break dancing, Bowl haircut, dancing dancing, Competing for the girl, WHAT IS THIS, WHAT IS THIIIIIIS, Cool ending pose, *clicks replay button* Long story short, after watching Replay, I had officially become a fangirl of SHINee.

Song

The song is about a boy expressing his feelings for an older girl. Quick fact: Younger boys refer to older girls as "Noona" in Korea. In this song, they're saying "Noona neomu yeppeo", which translates to "Older girl, you're so pretty." The lyrics still confuse me a little bit, and the random English bits are no help whatsoever.

 Make up, shake up, break up?

But if you can get past all that, the song is very enjoyable! "Replay" was a huge hit in Korea, partially due to the "noona" fans of K-Pop.

Music Video

I like the outdoor sets, especially the basketball court and the second dance set with the fence. It suits the theme of a young boy taking a liking to an older girl. What would young boys be most found doing (before the technology explosion, of course)? Most likely hanging out with friends, shooting some hoops at the court, and.... hanging out by a fire hydrant (???). It's nice to see K-Pop music videos with shots OUTSIDE of the typical boxed set. SM Entertainment stans, you probably know what I'm talking about.

Costumes

The normal, boy-next-door outfits are definitely the best in my opinion. Not matchy matchy. The red outfits with the dangling gold chains are my least favorite. It reminded me of a city gangster look. While I do know that the boys are trying to seem older, the red outfits aren't doing it for me, almost as if they're trying a little too hard. The blue outfits are okay in my book.

Choreography

Spectacular! SHINee definitely set the bar high with their debut song's routine, and they've never failed to impress thus far! They're one of my favorite dance groups. You can also find dance practice videos to see the entire choreography on YouTube.

Song: 4/5

Music Video: 4/5

Costumes: 3.5/5

Choreography: 5/5

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Final Score: 16.5/20

2.) "Not Young" by U-KISS
[Warning: Harmless teasing ahead. Please don't take it to heart! I'm also a fan of U-KISS!]

You ready for this? U-KISS y'all. They're the new kids on this block, ya heard? Stop treatin' them like kids, because they're not anymore. 'Na I'm sayin'? They all grown up now.

All jokes aside, "Not Young" is sooooo 90s boy band era. I came across this video back in 2011, despite it being released in 2008. Watching this again after such a long time, I am just as amused as I was before. Boy, U-KISS will never be able to live this down. The members even admitted that "Not Young" is something they never want to look back on.

On a side note,  I didn't realize the first two songs I reviewed in this post were both about young guys trying to prove to an older girl they're all grown up.

Song

The English in the beginning, though... *cringes* Truthfully, I liked the song when I first discovered it. (I was still new to K-Pop!) I'm a sucker for songs that have piano intros, similarly to Big Bang's "Bad Boy". But listening to this song again, I just can't. I can't. I cannot.

Basically, "Not Young" is about the boys trying to convince us that they're all grown up and "ready for romance". Sound a little familiar?

Music Video

+Points for the outdoor shots. -Points for the slow motion basketball game. Seriously, are they even playing against anyone? And don't tell me they're playing against each other, because they're clearly wearing the same team jersey!

Costumes

Dongho's cornrows. Lakers' jerseys. Baggy pants and sweaters. Alexander's (ba da ba ba ba~ I'm lovin' it~) perm. It seems like the fashion case for boys back then is: The baggier the better? Whereas nowadays it's: The tighter the better? Hahahaha ha ha... I'm sorry. The only outfits I kind of liked were the simple t-shirts, plaid board shorts, and sunglasses. 

Choreography

Looks like fun, but U-KISS have gone on to prove they're able to master much harder dances than this cheerleader's routine of smiley gestures and bouncing. I'm glad U-KISS eventually ditched the forced hip hop concept and went in a different direction.

Song: 3/5

Music Video: 4/5

Costumes: 3/5

Choreography: 4.5/5

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Final Score: 14/20

Ubiquitous
/yo͞oˈbikwədəs/
adj.
Def: Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Synonyms: omnipresent, ever-present, everywhere

3.) "It Hurts" by 2NE1

Oh, is this the end?

Am I no longer in your heart now?

When I, I think about you

It hurts, hurts, hurts so much

*Grabs box of tissues* It still brings tears to my eyes! I've seen this music video more than once before, and I still get teary eyed whenever I watch it.

Song

The song is about how the boy had changed over time, causing the relationship to end. Seeing him with another girl causes the 2NE1 girls pain. I've chosen to post some of the lyrics' translation so you can get a better feel for what's going on in the song.

You wear the shoes I gave you and walk along the streets with her

As if it were nothing, you kiss her

You spray the cologne I gave you and embrace her

You’ll probably repeat those promises you made to me with her 

You look at my tears as if it were nothing

You continue to talk calmly again

You told me cruelly that you couldn’t deny

That you had absolutely no attachments or regrets

You’re no longer your old self

Because the you I loved and the you now are so different

Are you that shocked?

I just stood and cried Watching you become further away

No way, I can’t recognize

You’re not mine anymore

Around the 3:04 mark, Dara (the girl with the wild bushy hair) starts singing this when her lover suddenly appears: 

Did you have to change? Can’t you come back?

Did you really have to change? Can’t you come back?

Did you have to change? Can’t you come back?

Why did you have to change? Can’t you keep loving me?

Agh. My heart.

"Feels" aside, "It Hurts" is one of my favorite songs from 2NE1! The piano in the beginning was a big plus. Their vocals are incredible, and you really feel the emotion they pour into the song. Even if you don't understand what they're saying at first, the way they express themselves vocal-wise is enough to tug at your heart strings.

Music Video

What's the story here?

Most of it is already explained ^ above. Dara wishes upon the black candle to see her boyfriend again. He magically appears, and she spends a little time with him before the candle goes out.

This was released on Halloween, which explains the over-the-top set design and outfits. 2NE1's company did a great job with this video! Instead of a typical break up music video with the boy and his new girlfriend together as the old girlfriend watches from afar, they gave us a theatrical, Tim Burton-like set that evokes more solemn sentiments. The falling dead leaves, slight breezes, and dark skies make the set even more believable! Dara's house is awesome with all its decay and cobwebs. I like to think it symbolizes the emptiness and despondency one feels after going through a tough break up. It suits the song in its entirety perfectly. Simply put: I LOVE this set.

What makes this music video even more of an emotional-kicker for me is how I perceived the story. My writing side took over. I imagined Dara all alone in that gloomy, miserable world. Things were probably more bearable with her boyfriend by her side, but since he left (or rather, died, in my opinion), Dara's living out the remainder of her days heartbroken with nothing but memories to comfort her.

Costumes

I love each of the girls' costumes! It gives me a dark Wizard of Oz feel, and it contributes to the concept immaculately. Bom's stringy umbrella is so cool!

Song: 4/5

Music Video: 5/5

Costumes: 5/5

Choreography: N/A

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Final Score: 14/15

Which song did you like the most?

Next "Rambling": Red Velvet, Infinite H, and....