Music for Jess

My friend Jess and I got into a music swap today. She was sending me Russian ska and I threatened to retaliate in K-Pop but I realized there were so many more songs that I wanted to share with her that I was just going to have to sit down and dedicate a block of time to fully getting into it without interrupting her work day too much. So.... here we go.

Mayfly - Playing with Paints

Lyric video: https://youtu.be/PCKVCAIbh20

Performance video: https://youtu.be/yTJiKjZy5Xo

This one I actually already shared with her - but since it's what started the sharing trend in my head, it's where I have to start again. This is from the recently ended South Korean idol competition show Kingdom: Legendary War. It was part of the combo team challenge and was the "rap team" entry. It's rappers from BTOB, Stray Kids, & ATEEZ coming together - and it is glorious.

BTS - MAP OF THE SOUL:7 'Interlude: Shadow'

MV: https://youtu.be/PV1gCvzpSy0

This is SUGA from BTS (also known as Agust D). It's the rap of an introvert who dreamed of fame dealing with the reality of his own success and how it has created conflict between the psychological concepts of persona and shadow within himself.

TXT - '0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) feat. Seori'

MV - https://youtu.be/d5bbqKYu51w

Choreo MV: https://youtu.be/fJF_eZzTka8

The title track from Tomorrow X Together's latest comeback. It's the next generation of K-Pop exploring Rock, grunge rock, and emo elements and mixing it in with their teen chaos themes.... and it WORKS.

BTS - DDAENG

Ok... this song takes some work to truly appreciate... but I know that Jess enjoys the kind of work it takes so...

1st listen - lyric video: https://youtu.be/LbSU1_SG91w

2nd listen - Korean explains DDAENG - https://youtu.be/fdJl1SL03Ac

3rd listen - behind the scenes making of DDAENG - https://youtu.be/h2nKAqf6bvY

4th listen - stage performance - https://youtu.be/JuZwvYDQ92E

The wordplay.... oh my god the absolute ART of the wordplay.....holy crap.

Agust D - Burn It feat MAX

Lyric vid: https://youtu.be/s1I-xjAySRs

Just.... a really juicy track.

SUNMI - pporappippam

lyric vid: https://youtu.be/vqE5kJygNjc

More bubblegum in sound, but there's nothing wrong with that. The alliteration of "purple night" in Korean makes for a super fun rhythm in the lyric that I really enjoy.

SEVENTEEN (DK, Mingyu, THE8) - HEY BUDDY

lyric video: https://youtu.be/vSxbOOt4Ui4

Speaking of bubble gum... they lyrics aren't anything deep. It's a fun buddy song. But.... would you like some funk/big band in your K-Pop? I know you would!

While we're on the subject of seventeen.....

SEVENTEEN (Performance Team) - 13월의 춤 aka lilili yabbay

MV: https://youtu.be/VKuvYk-FsPM

More electro than I would usually recommend but they do some super interesting things with the background and vocals and the dance is SO GOOD.

SEVENTEEN (Hip Hop Team) - TRAUMA

lyric vid: https://youtu.be/zwkNAVBkL7g

It's a great song without the lyric translation.... the beat, the synth work, the flow and just the VIBE of it all.... but WITH the translation.... an entire song about how trauma can push you to create art (sing) without actually that trauma actually being healed by the art.... yeah. Have a song.

Jackson Wang - 100 Ways

MV: https://youtu.be/87VRaM5_bAE

On the shorter side but... an amazing video and a SUPER catchy song

Stray Kids - MIROH

MV - https://youtu.be/Dab4EENTW5I

I don't actually think Jess will need the translation to enjoy this one (but the vid does have eng subtitles). I think all she needs to super enjoy this is to realize that the it's written mainly by a Korean/Australian and is him adding Maori hakka into K-Pop to get his generation heard. Yeah. It's a fun slap in the face.

Jackson Wang - BULLET TO THE HEART

MV: https://youtu.be/NZbsCXrBcyA

Another Wang song that is short, interesting, and has a video with amazing visuals. I think Jess will especially enjoy the guitar work.

TXT - New Rules

Dance vid: https://youtu.be/OxtraGjrKz0

Another TXT song, but from an earlier album so it's more High School in some of the lyrics - but the post production vocal effects are interesting as is the weird meld of punk and K-Pop that shouldn't work but oddly does.

BTS - Dis-ease

Lyric vid: https://youtu.be/wJdjHxQCUPw

Work-a-holics deal with the pandemic... and mental disease - but it translates really well to the experience of any post gifted kid dealing with trying to adult post gifted programs.

J-Hope - Daydream

MV: https://youtu.be/OK3GJ0WIQ8s

J-Hope has such an amazing flow that he mixes so well with his great vocals. I love how he drifts from singing to rapping.

BTS - Film Out

MV: https://youtu.be/zFT3f9biz68

The vid has eng captions... they are worth the time. A different vowel sound from the BTS guys since it's a Japanese song done for a TV show theme. More mellow in sound - but damn it is so good. I love soft rap in the middle of the lyrical soundscape.

BTS - Answer: Love Myself

Live vid: https://youtu.be/pzZPvh3VYKM

All you have to do is listen and read the lyric translation and this song speaks for itself. I chose a live version because they way they perform it to their fans just ads so much magic to the song.

PENTAGON - Shine

MV: https://youtu.be/Nu2yQ1zYDYU

Why is this song so good? I have no idea. Part of it is the intro piano... pre-chorus too... and it's a bop... but... like a bit dark bubblegum too? Their voices are different too.

THE 8 - Side By Side

MV: https://youtu.be/e5bqgvfz84E

60's lounge meets electro bubblegum synth pop in Korean.... yeah.

SEVENTEEN - Hitorijanai

Lyric: https://youtu.be/e5bqgvfz84E

Performance: https://youtu.be/uC4Jw59jmtM

More Koreans singing in Japanese - this time playing with subtlty in the lyric, the vocals, and the dance all while addressing feeling alone in these hard times. The English version of the song title is "Not Alone"

And... as long as we're talking about the beauty of subtlety, we need to do three more songs from SEVENTEEN - Home, Don't Wanna Cry, and Crazy In Love

SEVENTEEN - Home

dance: https://youtu.be/8EfdpvSLE-U

MV: https://youtu.be/R9VDPMk5ls0

And for an extra bonus of amazement - the group proving how syncronized they are on this dance on a korean idol show (this clip has Aju Nice and Home): https://youtu.be/r_vDkcItPwY

SEVENTEEN - Don't Wanna Cry

Performance vid: https://youtu.be/5-WCKa8bSBY

ICONIC - I simply can not get enough of this song.

Bonus: they do it a double speed: https://youtu.be/q90f5AlPjV4

2nd bonus - Without You is the "sequel" to this song which plays with how simple walking and turning can be choreographed in stunning beauty: https://youtu.be/gXpCm-IFBgE

SEVENTEEN - Crazy In Love

lyric: https://youtu.be/7buHJ_BHnfo

Choreo: https://youtu.be/gxsKfg0xK7Q

Peak subtlety full disclosure, I watch this choreo WAY MORE than I should.

ENHYPEN - Drunk Dazed

MV: https://youtu.be/Fc7-Oe0tj5k

Classical musicians react does a better job than I could as to why this song hits soooo good. https://youtu.be/jcsLJ_xlDsM

BTS - Friends

Live: https://youtu.be/zY21naMApa8

I just know that Jess will adore the friendly address of "Hello my alien".

BTS (J-Hope) - MAMA

Live: https://youtu.be/_nl1upMZA2A

BTS does an k-pop rap gospel tribute to parental sacrifice and support.

BTS - Not Today

MV: https://youtu.be/9DwzBICPhdM

Suga flow + RM flow + JK vocals + a super interesting hard beat and dance hook with great lyrics.

Red Velvet - Psycho

MV: https://youtu.be/uR8Mrt1IpXg

Girl Group k-pop but with an interesting Imogen Heap sort of feel and some odd boppy rap breaks that remind me of popcorn?

ATEEZ - Wave

MV: https://youtu.be/FIInyEWWW-s

Reggae + Beach Boys + K-Pop + actually using Hakuna Matata as a lyric ..... why the fuck does this work?

iKon - LOVE SCENARIO

MV: https://youtu.be/vecSVX1QYbQ

This song is what happens when a K-Pop group known for their Hip Hop feel writes a song inspired by the movie La La Land and tries to do a more "musical theatre" song. It's catchy, but waaaay more interesting on a musical level when you know how they got there.

IU feat SUGA - eight

MV: https://youtu.be/TgOu00Mf3kI

On the softer side musically, but super catchy and I love her voice. Rap break in the middle of the lyrical song.... so fun.

Shaun - Way Back Home

Lyric: https://youtu.be/S5yuugHlLBo

OMG this tune gets SO STUCK in my head. Share my pain.

Not as good is the English version with Conor Maynard.... I think his pop voice ruins it but - for comparison's sake https://youtu.be/lmUu0oIeHwQ

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - PONPONPON

MV: https://youtu.be/yzC4hFK5P3g

I can't imagine that Jess hasn't heard this yet.... but if she hasn't... she NEEDS to.

Anamanaguchi - Miku ft. Hatsune Miku

MV: https://youtu.be/NocXEwsJGOQ