Having debuted back in 2022 under the name Song Soowoo (송수우) with the edgy-sounding song Love Me or Hate Me [MV], Song is back under the name NINA (니나) [almost impossible to look up without running into other Ninas] with the music video for Love Like This, directed by Jonah George.
Which, if you’ve seen the Bugs thumbnail on YouTube, looks Yu Aoi-inspired. I say Yu Aoi-inspired, because it’s mostly Yuki Tanada’s One Million Yen Girl and heavily references Shunji Iwai’s Hana & Alice for obvious shots. However, it also heavily references Iwai’s 1995 Asian hit Love Letter which has inspired a whole generation of filmmakers [1][2] and idols.
I like mentioned back in April [1], Yu-chan is featured on Hoshikuzu Scat’s (星屑スキャット) most recent music video directed by Birds Without Names director Shiraishi Kazuya~ The song, titled Shinjuku Chanson (新宿シャンソン), is featured on Kesho-shitsu (化粧室), the first album of the drag queen group, and was written by multi-talented illustrator-actor-writer Lily Franky.
Well, that was an exciting early morning. I got really hyped 10min. before the pre-orders for Moosical Bluray started because I wasn’t sure I was gonna get a copy, after what people went through while getting Solar’s Emotion. But everything went well, and then I was attacked by Paint Me (칠해줘).
I, obviously, have all the feels. The song DOES get better with replays. It did sound very West power pop ballad to me, which is explained by the fact that the song was composed by Mich Hansen, Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen, Chelcee Grimes, and Kara DioGuardi, who happened to have worked in Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics, which I loved. What really sold me the song are the lyrics, though. Written by JYP’s Jowul (조울), the structure of the song is telling the story of lovers— the beginning of love, the happiness of being in a relationship, the passion, and the heartbreak, with an abrupt ending that works thematically. It’s also a freaking sexy song, so I won’t lie that I wasn’t thinking that my favorite Kpop MV director, Hwang Soo-ah, should’ve done it. LOL
The song really called for a MV with storyline, but I know Mamamoo’s strengths aren’t on acting (‘Be Normal’ xD) and I also understand that Mamamoo aren’t in the position of not showing their face on their MV yet. But I imagined a very intimate MV with actors xD
I’m really looking forward to what they do in the album, even though I’m not looking forward to Sleep in the Car (잠이라도 자지) [1] AND Paint Me being in the same album [see: making albums].
Having said that— the promo photos. Whee-in, you bias wrecker, you. So I finally decided to put together my favorite era looks for each member ^^ Continue Reading…
I think there might have been an extra coma on the YT subs, that I may have put on my screencap, but whatever.
Feelings. Feelings were had. Maybe not the song as a whole, I still think World Without Tears (沒有眼淚的世界) [LV] is much more interesting musically, but the music video for Dearest (親愛的) [MV] by Chen Hung-i (陈宏一) totally sells it. I cried so much, I’ve been crying quite easy these past couple of days. Hwasa made me cry with her short version of Lee Moon Se’s (이문세) Whistle (휘파람). Then this, and now Leehom.
Dearest, you will forever be Baba’s baby.
A kiss on your cheek, so you sleep well through the night.
Dearest, no matter how long the road,
my love will be with you because
you are forever my Dearest.
Mamamoo has been delivering all weekend, I’ve been emo all weekend. [I also finished watching Meri Pyaari Bindu, and I was not ready, yo~ Extra emo] I’ve become that kinda fan, tho. LOL The one that finishes work on time for music shows broadcasts, and sets alarms for VLive sessions LOL I’ve set up repeat YouTube playlists and I’ve been checking the charts every few hours. I pre-ordered my double-album (because duh! SUN-BAE-NIM leader-nim said so LOL [truthfully, though, I did that before she said it]), I’m still waiting for it to be shipped (foes of international, farthest away regions) AND I also bought the album on iTunes.
Confession! On teasers and first few listens, Yes I Am [MV] wasn’t my jam. Now it is. It’s kinda how it was with Um Oh Ah Yeh and You’re the Best— those live shows get you going. Have you see the Music Core one? It’s already been subtitled, fan chants and all, BLESSED! Thank you to whoever did that, y’all really take care of us.
AZEGAG, however, damn~ that’s my jam.
There’s different kinds of fans listening to Mamamoo~
Listener 1: Those who didn’t like either AZEGAG and Yes I Am (probably just liked You’re the Best or Decalcomanie, unlikely both)
Fan 2: Yes I Am > AZEGAG
Fan 3: Yes I Am saved summer!
Fan 4: AZEGAG! Can’t get it out of my head HELP! Those trolls! Only Mamamoo.
Fan 5: Straight-up Moomoo. Loves all songs, has no favorites, all songs are their children.
Mamamoo Leader SUN-BAE-NIM, yo! Happy Bday, you big ray of sunshine! Thank you for being who you are and for treating all the Mamamoo kids so well, especially when you’re a kid yourself. Thank you for giving so much of yourself, but, please! Don’t spoil us so much~ Always take good care of yourself, be healthy and, most of all, happy!
Thank you for always spending so much time sharing with the fans, even on your special day. And thank the Mamamoo kids who, despite the picking on, love Solar so much to the point that she shows us her Yeba grin. Love her and protect her.
So I was browsing album covers on Xiami when I ran into the one for Ivana Wong’s latest single, Goi Sei Dik Faai Lok (該死的快樂, translated to Damn Happy)… which turns out has a brand new video. And I was like- where have you been all my life when I started going down her discography~
Jyu Jat (如一, As One) is great. Siu Sau Seot (小手術, Minor Surgery) is amazing with the Lyrics Video. It’s also helping me practice my Cantonese xD My jyutping game is totally poor. I also hate that sometimes I’m fixing my music library and it’s not Cantonese but Mandarin, so I gotta fix my romanization. But I’m totally digging her music. More her less popular songs that are not straight up sappy ballads. Her piano skills seem to be on point.
Just got the chance to watch Hany Abu-Assad’s The Idol and have gotten properly acquainted with Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf— I was impressed. He’s got a great voice, and he’s quite good looking! He’s also got the grace of God on his side, coz’ gosh~ really.
I don’t know what Sony is doing. But it’s effing it up, I just know it. Head over to YAM Magazine for the full rant and all track/MV info. I’m just going to put this video on here, and bask myself on the beauty of the music.
We all thought Henry Zuo released a good album. Goddamn~ Su Yunying just blew it out of the park~~~ I know it’s not ideal (physical buy is always the best), but do buy the album on iTunes instead of streaming it. xD
