Bit of an advance review. It’s unlisted for now, but it’s totally possible that I remove it (I don’t like my face out there so much), so I’d watch as soon as you are able. If you like it, and want to see more, let me know. It was fun doing this video, and if there’s demand, I would definitely consider scaling up the quality. Thanks for watching!
Woops, I was supposed to be doing economics research but then I ended up watching SHINee on Sketchbook. Since Jonghyun’s getting a solo debut this January 2015, I hope he’s been booked for Sketchbook as well.
Taemin
I definitely don’t give Taemin enough credit for growing so much in the past few years. While I’m not in love with this performance of Danger (weak as always because his low register is not comfortable for him at all and he mumbles instead of singing sometimes), his rendition of Experience and Replay are the best I’ve heard him, and could have been even better if Taemin gave up the cheesy dancing during Replay. When he sings Jonghyun’s vocalizations, there are some periods of uncomfortable tightness, but mostly it’s smooth and doesn’t feel so forced as it usually does. Like Replay, Taemin still has several periods of rigidity when singing in the progressively higher parts.
Huge shout-out to the guitarist supporting him both– especially for Experience– I would attribute a lot of the great flavor of Taemin’s performance to him and the other instrumentalists. Live bands make a big difference, which is why Sketchbook and Muzit performances are always a step-up from the average music show performance.
Watch Replay at 17m16s, and Experience at 23m45s.
Key
Key sings an older song, A Story of a Couple in Their 60s, placed in a lower range than SHINee normally sings– even for Onew. His rendition is excellent, especially when considering his broad lower range, which reverberates and projects. Like Taemin, his voice becomes stretched and too throaty when he reaches higher, but his lower parts are simply glowing. Easily the best I’ve ever heard Key.
Watch A Story of a Couple in Their 60s at 8m22s.
Bonus! Some thoughts on SHINee
Not the best Dream Girl performance from SHINee, though the live band is amazing. Seriously, I’d listen to this again and again just for the badass live band in the background. All of them are sounding strained, especially Taemin and a little for Onew, Jonghyun is way too nasal, Minho’s singing is surprisingly all right– he fudged the rap part big time, though.
The live band, though! A+! Instrumentalists are the best, after all.
There’s no live band in the Sherlock performance, sadly. Largely the same verdict as before, though Jonghyun mellows out in this performance and has a broader voice. SHINee is too shouty in both these performances.
As is my custom, I have compiled a list based on my last.fm statistics: my most played kpop / jpop songs of 2014.
1. Overdose, EXO-M / EXO-K
The first by over 300 plays; definitely a track in which SM shows what it’s the best at doing. Simple, clean visually-oriented music videos with a non-offensive, catchy dance track. I discussed it briefly here. Continue reading
1. Downtown Baby
This single can be seen as a follow-up to Lucky Star and Dazzling Girl, endearingly pop and catchy but not a particularly creative or more-than-ephemeral song. The vocals are all stylistically more consistent, warm, broad, and light– even Minho. Jonghyun in particular sounds more mild than usual, a tone he usually reserves for ballads and not for upbeat singles like Downtown Baby.
There’s nothing much to complain about this single, nor is there much to especially like. Continue reading
In the background, two humidifiers hum on and soft 2000s pop from the likes of Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne play. A scratchy cough punctuates the space every so often, threatening to hurt harder every time the afflicted person coughs.
Certainly not the way in which I anticipated in welcoming the new year, bedridden and recovering from a serious cold, for the first time in at least six years.
Graduating from college, giving two instrumental recitals, starting my first real job, amongst other things– 2014 was a mélange of accomplishments, some of which when I look back, I can hardly fathom how I survived. I guess, on the outside, I do not easily betray emotion or stress, I tend to tell people “I’m dying” with a sarcastic smile. If only they knew how many times I came close to unraveling. When I reflect, I wonder about the constant cycle of pressure I’ve become accustomed to putting myself under and why I do it.
In 2014, I have accepted myself more than ever. What is characterized as “ambition” to others, is simply a way of life for me. I’m grateful for where I am, but I’ll always be on the lookout for what’s next. Life without an uphill climb is simply boring. I have accepted that perhaps I can’t get along swimmingly with everyone. I value the straightforward, the disingenuous and likewise strive to be so myself– I recognize that to some, this personality is grating and without tact, but I accept this.
I accept that I am alone.
Here’s to 2015, and our continuing acceptance of ourselves.
I’m going to do some cleaning and archive (possibly put on private) some of my older posts that I don’t think are really representative of me as a blogger or personality. If you remember anything that you particularly enjoyed in the past, please save a pdf or whatever you would use to save the post. If you remember after I archive, please contact me and I can email you the blog post.
As a reminder, once cleaned, the archived posts will be unavailable to read on this blog.
In the spirit of being lazy creative, Taemin’s debut album, Ace, will be entirely reviewed in haikus.
1. Ace
Falsetto breathy
Too many nosebleeds from dance
Strangely his style
2. Danger
Hair so moppy mess
Beats good, voice over-processed
In lives warble heard
3. Experience
Sounds stupid at first
Cheap excuse for a dance break
Vocals passable
4. Pretty Boy
Another stupid
At least Taemin doesn’t rap
Stretched voice too throaty
5. Wicked
Too much brass, doo-wop!
Non-compelling, non-subtle
Not Taemin’s style
6. Play Me
Ace’s bland brother
Falsetto: breathy weakness
I prefer Reynah
