Bunni Pop's August faves: Jihyo, V, The Rose, XG, Seventeen and STAYC
I am in denial the summer break is over. But I'm also super excited for a very busy fall!
It’s September already?! While the summer break is over, the beginning of September is often the busiest time of the year for me. It is officially film festival season! While I will be busy catching some screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival the next two weeks, I am also covering concerts in the coming days too. Newsletter posts will continue to be posted regularly, but they may come a little later than usual. Nevertheless, I’m excited to break down some of the content I’ve been consuming over the month of August!
V - ‘Love Me Again’ and ‘Rainy Days’
No song has Kim Taehyung written all over it than ‘Love Me Again’. The aesthetics, the looks and the filters! It is just SO him.
Romantic, sweet and smooth, ‘Love Me Again’ has the BTS singer crooning about missing a former lover. The video is moody and retro, and really makes you want to go to the karaoke bar to sing your sorrows away. I also love his styling in the music video, and you can tell ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin (behind the group NewJeans) had a hand in helping visualize it.
Meanwhile, V’s other pre-release track ‘Rainy Days’ is typical lo-fi, bedroom pop, the type of song I’d play while I’m writing or studying in the wee hours of the night. This single also showcases V’s deeper vocal range, especially when he switches his tone midway through the song. It is just so satisfying to listen to!
If these songs are any indication of what his debut album Layover will be like, this project is certainly going to be more muted and understated compared to other BTS members’ solo works. I’m not entirely mad about it.
This is the type of album that perfectly suits Taehyung’s personality and vibe. I can’t wait to see what else he has in store as the project drops on September 8th.
XG - ‘New Dance’
XG is just one of those girl groups that keeps me on my toes with every new release. Each song sounds so different, yet they are a banger each time. While their track ‘TGIF’ is fun and perfect for the dance floor, I didn’t exactly gravitate to it as much as I did with XG’s latest offering, ‘New Dance.’
‘New Dance’ is the type of song that evokes nostalgic feelings of vacationing and hanging out with your friends at the beach. It also came with the pleasant surprise of Cocona’s vocals.
Cocona is more known for her amazing rapping skills, but I actually think she should sing more. Her voice is honey sweet and so smooth to listen to. She is easily the highlight of this track for me.
‘New Dance’ is the third pre-release single by XG ahead of the group’s upcoming mini album NEW DNA. The project drops on September 27th.
The Rose - ‘You’re Beautiful’
The Rose’s upcoming second studio album DUAL is set to highlight different sides of the South Korean rock band. Using the themes of dusk and dawn, the project is set to showcase the group’s duality.
While their July pre-release tracks ‘Back to Me’ and ‘Alive’ follow more of a pop-punk vibe, The Rose’s latest single ‘You’re Beautiful’ is much more mellow in comparison.
‘You’re Beautiful’ is a melodic love letter to listeners, emphasizing the importance of inner beauty and the deep connection that can be felt in the presence of someone truly special. Combined with Woosung and Dojoon’s vocals, the ballad definitely feels like a warm hug for the soul.
I had the opportunity to see The Rose perform twice during Lollapalooza weekend. It truly felt like a special moment because the group was in the midst of celebrating their sixth anniversary. To be part of the crowd with fellow Black Roses is something I will never forget.
I will have more to share about The Rose in a later post. Until then, their album DUAL comes out September 22nd.
STAYC - ‘Bubble’
No group does catchy hooks and bubblegum pop quite like STAYC. Their latest offering ‘Bubble’ certainly follows that trend.
What I enjoyed most about ‘Bubble’ is how it reminded me of the kind of songs a lot of 2nd generation/3rd generation girl groups have released. Sure, it’s a little saccharine…But it’s really a nice departure from the hardcore synths and melodies girl groups like aespa and Blackpink often have.
For the record, I don’t have a problem with the latter. But sometimes, I just need a song that is more simplistic in its sound.
Jihyo - Zone (EP)
Having had the chance to see Twice in concert two days in a row in July, I can truly say that no one loves their job more than the group’s leader, Jihyo. This is a woman who puts her heart and soul on the stage. She slays her vocals and choreography each time. She will take nothing less than 100 percent. That is why I couldn’t wait for her to release her debut EP Zone, and I am happy to say she exceeded my expectations.
The lead single ‘Killin’ Me Good’ has Jihyo showing off her signature timbre and serving look after look in the music video. Jihyo has never looked better!
Twice has been leaning into a more mature and sultrier side in recent years, and it’s nice to see Jihyo getting to showcase new versions of herself after years of performing cutesy concepts.
The rest of the EP is also very solid, with Jihyo exploring different genres including R&B, ballads and dance-pop with some Latin inspiration. However, the highlight for me is her track ‘Nightmare’, which Jihyo previewed during her solo stage performance during Twice’s Ready To Be tour. The song is an anthem that really lets Jihyo’s vocals shine, and the drama that makes it perfect to be sung in a big arena. I had goosebumps hearing it live!
Seventeen - ‘Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow-’
Not a month goes by where I don’t miss Seventeen. In fact, it was just one year ago that I saw them play a show right in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. Hands down, one of the most enjoyable concerts I have ever attended!
While I am sad the group has no North American shows planned (for now), Japanese Carats must be having the time of their lives! As Seventeen prepares to tour across Japan later this year, the group released its new best-of album Always Yours on August 23.
The project also comes with two new original Japanese songs, ‘Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow-’ and ‘Sara Sara.’
Japanese releases by K-pop groups do not receive the same level of promotion as their Korean singles, unfortunately. But Seventeen is one of those groups that always releases very well-produced Japanese singles.
‘Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow-’ reminds me a lot of Seventeen’s track ‘Run To You’. I also really loved its hopeful and comforting message.
Listen to Bunni Pop’s faves wherever you go:
Lollapalooza - Ft. The Rose, NewJeans and TXT
It took me three decades to make it to my first major music festival. I wondered if I even had the stamina (barely!). But I can honestly say I can’t wait to do it all over again. Getting to see some of the biggest Korean music acts perform in a single event felt too good to pass up.
NewJeans performed their first U.S. stage EVER. And TXT made history as the first idol group to headline Lollapalooza. Fourth generation K-pop is truly in good hands.
The cherry on top was getting to spend my nights with The Rose two days in a row, which seemed fitting for the group’s sixth anniversary. The second show by The Rose was a once in a lifetime opportunity, with the group going back to their busking days and taking song requests from the audience.
It was SO good, especially mixed in with a bit of chaos and humour. The Rose performed some of their earliest tracks, including ‘Photographer’. They also sang a rendition of ‘Beautiful Girl’ by Woosung featuring Penial of BTOB.
“My name is Sam and I like some ham,” remains one of my favourite lyrics in a while.
Rina Sawayama
It was a pretty last minute decision to see Rina Sawayama in concert. But because I did not have Sunday tickets at Lollapalooza, I decided to bite the bullet to see her in Toronto just days later. After all, tickets were SUPER affordable. But having seen the show she was able to put on, I really should have paid her more!
While Rina rarely addressed the crowd with long speeches during her show, she let her songs do all the talking instead. Her album Hold The Girl is autobiographical, and you could really see some of her most moving, personal and difficult work on display. She came with production, costume changes, choreography and a cohesive storyline! Not to mention, her live vocals are amazing.
While her set was played in a club, it could have very well been shown in an arena to greater effect. Rina Sawayama is a pop star, and deserves way more attention than she currently gets.
SM Entertainment debuts new boy group RIIZE
I’ve recently been digging the new track ‘Get A Guitar’ by SM’s new boy group RIIZE.
RIIZE are a seven-member group from SM Entertainment, featuring former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan. The pair are joined by Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton.
Moving away from the synths and heavy beats heard in many boy group songs today, ‘Get a Guitar’ focuses more on a simple guitar rhythm (go figure!) The styling and concept takes me back to my Disney Channel days, and the choreography for this track is super fun. Certainly a group to watch for in the future!
‘Get a Guitar’ is also the title of RIIZE’s debut single album, which also includes the previously released song ‘Memories’.
HYBE uses AI voice technology for Netflix series Mask Girl
Supertone, the high-tech AI voice technology company by HYBE, is collaborating with the Netflix series Mask Girl.
Mask Girl is a seven-episode series that follows the journey of Kim Mo-Mi, an ordinary office worker who conceals her identity as an internet cam model by masking herself with mystery and allure.
According to HYBE, Supertone used its technology to meld the tones of two actresses (Nana and Lee Han-byeol) to help shape the voice of Kim Mo-Mi in different contexts and breathe “life into the character’s multifaceted personality.”
This isn’t the first time HYBE has used AI for art. Back in May, singer Lee Hyun released music under the moniker MIDNATT, using AI to record his track ‘Masquerade’ in six different languages.
This isn’t byline related, but it is my second year covering the Toronto International Film Festival! That means the next two weeks will be a hectic time, especially with projects and work on top of it all.
Stay tuned for movie reviews and other insights! Film is my other big love, and TIFF is often the most exciting time of the year for me :) If you happen to be in Toronto and plan on seeing some films, I’d love to say hi!
I also have a couple of exciting interviews lined up for bunni pop in the coming weeks, and another big feature being published elsewhere as well.
While I am sad that the summer break is ending, fall has often sent good energy and vibes. I am looking forward to what’s to come!
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Very much agree with your take on the new STAYC track. I had that same thought when listening to the new Lee Chae-yeon song that dropped today—an unexpected, but welcome, change of pace.