A Very K-Halloween 2021 #K-Scifi ~ Ash2theb

Hey Subbies,

First, I guess a little life update since October was super crazy like usually super hard to make these types of posts. I started doing more outreach for my job and getting more back-to-back projects. My body is not used to it and I literally need time to rest since my body fatigues/drained due to anemia. But I thought working 3x a week out would help so I need to switch it up endurance training. Plus, my supervisor keeps telling me we need to be at every beck and call of the execs. I hate Gmail threads that bury emails and are new to me and the google chat which used to be Hangout, notifications suck on the desktop.

Also, it was mercury retrograde (were in the shadow period) which isn't my favorite time and I know some people believe some people don't. But like I said in the past this is my space to express myself. I went to update a post on my Tumblr and I never check the notes. However, today I did and some random said, "I wasted my time since no one will care" but the post was for me to keep track of what is going on in the k-pop world lol. And some in the fandoms love to gaslight other fans within the fandom and mass report youtube videos that report on the scandals to bury the stories. That's why people can't even get into K-pop because of the fans mainly but I think no one should misconstrue the artist solely based on the actions of the fans (historically looking at human nature when it comes to worship/mania). And at the end of the day, the artist will still have a career regardless. But I hope, PR training for idols will become a norm because the international community is seeing everything.

But on a good note, I did go see Miyavi at being of October with my Kpop friends who also love music in general and since he is doing an American Tour. Plus some top celebrities came to see his tour as well. I also scored a setlist and went out to eat late-night Korean food near where I used to live when I was a kid. Enough of my venting lol let's get into my list for this year.

Twice - Alcohol-free | Fantasy
Encanto

The group revealed the tracklisting to the EP, revealing "Alcohol-Free" as the lead single. It serves as the lead single from the group's tenth extended play Taste of Love. "Alcohol-Free" is a bossa nova summer track with some hip hop elements, expressing the group's "unique colors". Running for 3:30, the song is composed in the key of G♯ major with a tempo of 97 beats per minute. Lyrically, it recounts the magical moments of falling in love, with references to alcoholic drinks and cocktails.

Aespa - Next Level | Sci-fi
Snakes on the Plane

"Next Level" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa. Composed by Yoo Young-jin, Adam McInnis, Mario Marchetti, and Sophie Curtis, the track is described as a dance and hip hop song with an upbeat jazz bridge. Karina mentioned that it is a "groovy and energetic with a dynamic musical arrangement" song while mentioning that they have tried bringing more power to the single through their voices. It is composed in the key of B minor, with a tempo of 109 beats per minute. The music video tells a story of venturing out to the wilderness to find "Black Mamba", the antagonist that's threatening and interfering with "Synk" which is the connection between themselves and the "ae".

Red Velvet - Queendom | Fantasy
Practical Magic at RVex

"Queendom" is the sixth Korean extended play and twelfth overall by South Korean girl group Red Velvet. "Queendom" was composed by minGtion, Anne Judith Stokke Wik, Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker, and Ellen Berg, while the Korean lyrics were written by Jo Yoon-kyung. Musically, the song was characterized as a dance-pop song. It is composed in the key of F major, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. Lyrically, the song conveys a message of positivity, highlighting that everyone's "unique differences" are what makes the world "so beautiful". It renders a "feminist-centric" message, while also focusing on the co-existence of sisterhood and individuality.

Everglow - First | Fantasy Sci-fi
Hidden Glow Shinobis

"First" is the lead single of the Korean single extended play Last Melody by South Korean girl group Everglow. The song has been described by the group as a high-energy electro hip-hop dance track. Musically, the song was characterized with some elements of organic orchestral instrumentation and gritty metallic synths. It is composed in the key of F minor, with a tempo of 152 beats per minute. Lyrically, the song conveys a message of Passion, highlighting that their"Confidence" is what makes them"Powerful". Their comeback concept is described as "Magic using warriors from the future" but "aesthetically, it's a mix of dark and light." And during the group's showcase for their single album Last Melody, it was announced that the leadership role of the group, originally held by E:U, had been transferred to Sihyeon.

Sunmi - You Can't Sit With Us | Horror
Warm Bodies

"You Can't Sit with Us" is the lead single from the singer's third extended play, 1/6. The song was written and recorded by South Korean singer Sunmi and was composed by Melanie Fontana, Michel Schulz, and Ross Golan. The song is a synthwave-inspired song characterized by a distinct '80s dance-pop style with a powerful synth. The song features a fast beat, addictive chorus, Sunmi's "breathy" vocals and aside from demonstrating her abilities as a vocalist, the singer is also seen exercising her rap skills. Its title was taken from a line in the 2004 film Mean Girls. The track summarizes the frustration and anger one experiences when they're at a crossroads with their lover. In terms of musical notation, the song is composed in the key of D minor, with a tempo of 145 beats per minute, and runs for three minutes and seventeen seconds. In a behind-the-scenes clip from the set of the "You Can’t Sit With Us" music video, the singer revealed that Marilyn Monroe inspired the choreography for the track. The music video begins with Sunmi lounging in her bedroom, seemingly irritated by frequent calls from her ex. Sunmi revealed that to film the zombie-apocalypse scenes, she had to receive training from the stunt director behind the Netflix series Kingdom and the movie Train to Busan.

Taemin - Idea (IDEA: 理想) | Psychological Thriller
The Cave

Never Gonna Dance Again is the third Korean studio album by South Korean singer Taemin. It consists of two parts, Act 1 and Act 2, that were later collected together in the repackage album, Never Gonna Dance Again (Extended Ver.). The second half of the album, Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 2, was released on November 9, 2020, alongside lead single "Idea", which includes vocals by BoA. Musically, the song was characterized as an intense harmonic 90s inspired R&B dance track with creepy orchestral elements and alarming synths. It is composed in the key of (B♭) B Flat minor, with a tempo of 121 beats per minute. Taemin is known for his "Fallen angel" or "Dark and Light" aesthetics that can also be seen in "Want" and "Criminal". "Idea" is inspired by Plato's theory of forms and the allegory of the cave. Taemin described it thus: "instead of 'being trapped in a cave' and living in the shadow of the truth, I want to free myself from the darkness and embark on a journey of enlightenment where I discover a new ego, identity, and meaning."

TXT - Magic | Sci-fi

"Magic" is the lead single of the Korean single extended play 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ by South Korean girl group TXT (TomorrowXTogether). "Magic" is a B-side from ‘The Chaos Chapter: Freeze’ and is the second track to receive a video treatment, following the album’s title track ‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’. "Magic" is also the only English track on the album. Musically, the song was characterized as a catchy Electro-Retro Pop dance track with elements of funk. It is composed in the key of (A♭) A Flat major, with a tempo of 108 beats per minute. The concept is a Futurist Sci-fi that is reminiscent of a Star Trek episode.

StayC - Stereotype | Fantasy
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

"Stereotype" is a song recorded by the South Korean girl group STAYC for their first Korean extended play (EP) of the same name. "Stereotype" was written and composed by Black Eyed Pilseung and Jeon Goon, and arranged by Rado. The song producer Black Eyed Pilseung revealed in an interview that The title track "STEREOTYPE" is based on the team's special signature TENFRESH genre, which features STAY's unique high-teen and elegance." Stereotype" was first written and composed before STAYC's debut, but was not chosen as their debut song due to the lyrics and the message the song delivers. Musically, the song is described as a "future bass with flute-like synths" with dreamy funk elements. "Stereotype" was composed in the key of F-sharp major, with a tempo of 148 beats per minute. The message of the song is trying to escape prejudice and stereotypes that try to judge others easily by simply looking at their appearance with the lyrics "Don't look at them with colored glasses." Instead of judging our colors in stereotypes as one thing, we want to let many people know through "color glasses" that we have various colors and natures.

AB6IX - Close | Fantasy

The fourth EP Mo' Complete: Have a Dream and its lead single "Close" is a song recorded by the South Korean boy group AB6IX. “Close,” which was produced by hit-making duo Coach and Sendo, Musically, the song is described as an early 90s inspired deep house music genre with elements of warped twinkling synths and heavy percussion. "Close" was composed in the key of C-sharp major, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. AB6IX lent their artist talents the concept and songwriting with this single; Daehwi also serves as one of the main producers on the track (and on the EP), while Woojin penned most of its rap lyrics.

Victon - What I Said | Fantasy
Live La Vida Loca

Voice: The Future Is Now is the first studio album by the South Korean boy group Victon. The album includes thirteen songs, including the title track "What I Said" and four solo songs, one each from Kang Seung-sik, Heo Chan, Lim Se-jun, and Do Han-se respectively. Musically, the song is described as a bouncy dance track with hip-hop elements and Spanish-styled percussion. "What I Said" was composed in the key of F-sharp major, with a tempo of 142 beats per minute. The Lyric express to live larger than life which is shown visually in the Music Video. The vocal/chorus is really catchy and the rap line is a major highlight of this song.

Dreamcatcher - Odd Eye | Sci-fi

Serial Experiments Lain

Dystopia: Road to Utopia is the sixth Korean extended play by South Korean girl group Dreamcatcher. Dystopia: Road to Utopia features six tracks including the lead single "Odd Eye", and is available in four versions: "D", "A", "R" and "K". Dystopia: Road to Utopia is the third installment of the Dystopia series, following the group's first album Dystopia: The Tree of Language and fifth EP Dystopia: Lose Myself, both released in 2020. The lead single "Odd Eye" is a nu-metal with a strong rock sound and hip-hop elements. It conveys the story of the EP implicitly, with a deep and strong will to move forward once again towards a true utopia." Odd Eye" is described as "a powerful song that mixes rock and hip hop elements. The lower register of a piano was used to give off a holy vibe. In the chorus, the vocal melody overlaps with a distorted guitar sound, creating a more attention-grabbing piece." "Odd Eye" was composed in the key of F-sharp minor, with a tempo of 160 beats per minute. The overall message is trying to find Utopia, a perfect world of beauty where no toxicity or negativity can follow but the truth is that it does not exist so it's better to look for the beauty within themselves.

LOONA - Star Star | Fantasy Sci-fi
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

"Star" is an English version of "Voice" recorded by the South Korean girl group Loona which was announced with ‘the Starry Festival.’ "Star" is a synth-pop song composed in F♯ minor and has a tempo of 158 bpm. The song is charged with "cosmic energy" until the very last chorus explodes with perfectly blended vocal colors and dazzling choreographic synchronization. The lyrics capture the precarious and once-in-a-lifetime nature of the group's global fame and their understanding of how much they owe their unprecedented nugu stardom to the rapidly growing community of their fans that gravitates toward them. The song has also been described as retro, having a low addictive repeated beat that captures the uncontainable excitement of being in love. Inspired by the midnight festival, Sleeping Beauty and the cosmos, the ethereal music video follows the members of the group as they wake up within a dream and chase their goals and aspirations after discovering themselves in a mysterious space. The group members put on a dreamlike performance in a private midnight festival, paying homage to the light of stars which gives them strength and confidence. The stars that appear throughout the music video represent the group's fans called "Orbits". It implies that as the members of the group chase their dreams, they are illuminated by their fans all over the world.

Honorable Mentions

Purple Kiss - Zombie | Horror