Super Junior - A-Cha
Recognise them:
0:05 - Eunhyuk (rapper), 0:13 - Donghae (vocal), 0:28 - Kyuhyun (maknae), 0:33 - Ryeowook (vocal), 0:44 - Yesung (vocal), 1:14 - Leeteuk (leader), 1:29 - Sungmin (vocal), 2:19 - Shindong (rapper)
Review:
Someone must have had a word with Super Junior after reading my review yesterday, because life has returned to the members! Maybe it's because they've all had a normal amount of sleep (instead of an idol amount of sleep, which maxes out somewhere at three hours) but Eunhyuk, Yesung and Sungmin are all doing their best to make my ovaries explode in this performance what with their crotch grabbing and smirking. Donghae and Leeteuk still look tired, but both are more involved in today's stage. PD must have really disliked Ryeowook, Shindong and Kyuhyun because they got very little solo shot screen time. Sungmin sure did make his solo shot count though, he is one fine man. Overall a definite improvement from yesterday's stage, keep it up boys!
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Kim Janghoon feat. Yesung and Eunhyuk of Super Junior - Breakups Are So Like Me
Recognise them:
0:10 - Eunhyuk, 0:25 - Janghoon, 0:38 - Yesung
Review:
I love this song. I loved this song when Janghoon did it with Heechul, and I love this song when Janghoon sings it with Yesung. I could write an essay about the differences between Heechul and Yesung's performance in this song and why both do it really, really well in their different styles, but I'm going to turn this into a cautionary tale. Kids you hear Janghoon at 0:50, 0:57, 1:01 and 1:16? That's the result of improper vocal technique. That ragged sound, the strain in his voice at those time marks are the result of shouting instead of belting, meaning some less than perfect vocal chords. When he reaches for that high note at 0:50 and 0:57, he can't make it not because of a lack of power, but because his vocal chords pretty much say, "Nope, not doing that, we're too stiff and that's too big of a jump." At 1:01 he's straining to hit that note and make it last because, again, his vocal chords aren't cooperating as a result of some long term misuse. Then 1:16, the end of that note is typical of when people shout instead of belt. You want to hear some actual, proper belting the healthy way? Lend your ears to Yesung at 0:48 and 2:14. That effortless, powerful soaring is belting people. If you need further proof of the difference between these two, listen to them both at 2:28. Even though Yesung is singing the lower part, there is still power and the sound is effortless. Janghoon has the higher note and he is once again, shouting it. The difference is even more glaring - and awful - at 3:14. They're meant to be singing the same note but at that point, I think Janghoon's just trying to produce a sound.
Janghoon is well known for being a 'rock-ballad' singer (I'm quoting from Wikipedia here). Rock singers are notorious for shouting instead of belting, and unless you have vocal chords made from stainless steel, that will ruin a person's voice. Janghoon's voice has a great rawness and hoarseness which gives it character, but that probably came from the fact that his vocal chords are damaged. Another person I can think of who has the same problem (though to a greater degree) is Liza Minelli. When she pushes for the high notes it is never pretty and rarely does the note come out right. Though because Janghoon has been singing this way for the last twenty years or so (his first album was released in 1991) I think this is as obvious as the damage is going to get. It's bad - his vocal chords are just about giving up on him at 3:08, he really, really has to push to get the sound out - but it's not awful. He can still hold a tune and most of the time (all of the time on the studio recording), his voice is great to listen to. As I said before, his voice has character and that's the reason why this song has been on repeat even since it was released.
(Oh and because I'm a biased fangirl, pay some special attention to Yesung at 0:40, when he sings the word 'love'. I love that little moment. His vibrato, the slight riff, it's gorgeous.)
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Kim Kyujong - Yesterday
Review:
I would worship Kyujong's stylist if I knew his/her name. That person knows exactly how to make Kyujong look positively jump-able and I'm pretty my mind went straight into the gutter and refused to process anything else about the performance right when he took off his jacket (did he throw it into the audience, did a fangirl get it, WHO DO I HAVE TO KILL TO GET THIS INFORMATION). Was he singing? I can't remember. All I can recall is exposed chest, leather and stroking. Mind in a very, very bad place right now. Or good place, it depends on your point of view.
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Davichi - Don't Say Goodbye
Recognise them:
0:10 - Haeri (leader), 0:25 - Minkyung (maknae)
Review:
Davichi are considered to be the girl group in terms of vocal talent. It's what they're known for, what their fans love them for and they have gorgeous, gorgeous voices. Personally I think that only two groups should ever attempt to pull off harmony live on stage, and one of those is Davichi (the other is 2AM if you're wondering). The harmonies at 0:49, 1:40 to 1:46 and at 2:05 are beautifully executed. Continuing on with my lesson in recognising belting done the right way, 0:59 to 1:01 and 1:27 to 1:30 are both perfect examples of a flawless belt. Soaring, effortless and powerful. And that part is the chorus, so it gets repeated and ah beautiful, beautiful belting.
However I have one, huge pet peeve which Davichi commit every single performance and stops me from enjoying any of their stages. Both of them, without fail, gasp for breath before and when they are belting - 0:57, 1:02, 1:08, 1:10, 1:18, 1:22, 2:18 (this particular gasp I just cannot), 2:24, 2:26... I almost want to excuse it because of the beautiful sound they both produce after the gasping, but the loud inhalation of air right into the mic will always always annoy me. And yes, it is a sign of poor breath control. (Lack of breath control in a group known for their vocal technique? BLASPHEMOUS but there you go.) Clearly they can control their breathing, during the verses their inhalations are quiet and at 1:06, Haeri does not gasp as she does mere seconds after. Again it's a nitpicky thing, most people won't notice and the majority won't care, but goddammit I notice and it freaking annoys me to my wit's end. Davichi are marketed and widely considered as being at the very top of vocal ability in the current idol market, and in many ways this is true. But until they control the gasping, I will not be watching any more of their stages, no matter how beautiful their voices are.
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U-Kiss - Neverland
Recognise them:
0:10 - Kevin (vocal), 0:15 - Kiseop (vocal), 0:19 - Eli (rapper), 0:23 - Hoon (vocal), 0:28 - AJ (rapper), 0:35 - Dongho (maknae), 0:41 - Soohyun (leader)
Review:
Okay enough with the vocal critiquing, let's have some lulz as served up by Kiseop right from the beginning of the video through to 0:06. That's some pretty intense um- elbow bending/lifting right there. In fact Kiseop was quite lulzy throughout this performance, like when he obviously forgot he had a hand mic instead of their usual head mic and started singing his line into nothing at 0:14. I reckon his thought processes went something like, be hot, solo coming up, make love to the camera, wait why can't I hear myself, oh shit.
While vocally as perfect as ever (Soohyun/Hoon should sing the soundtrack of my life just so I can listen to those beautiful voices all the time), I think the hand mics really hindered the performance overall. You can't punch or kick quite as violently or passionately if you have to worry about dropping a mic on the floor. Plus the boys look fatigued, there's not as much oomph as there usually is. I sincerely hope they're getting enough rest, heard their schedule for this month was ridiculous and I don't want any of them fainting and being on an IV drip at the hospital. Still another solid performance from U-Kiss.
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B1A4 - Beautiful Target
Recognise them:
0:15 - Jinyoung (leader), 0:29 - Baro (rapper), 0:43 - CNU (rapper/vocal), 1:15 - Sandeul (vocal), 1:35 - Gongchan (maknae)
Review:
With every performance I love this song more despite the truly horrendous english. The only reason I can take the whole 'joom joom my heart like a locket' business because the whole idea behind this concept is to have fun. You take it too seriously and it makes no sense. You sit back and just enjoy good looking boys romping about and being adorable it's amazing. So that's my official stance on this latest comeback. It's great, so long as you turn off your brain enough to ignore the english and the outfits. Concentrate on their cuteness people, nothing else matters really.
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Infinite - Paradise
Recognise them:
0:16 - L (vocal), 0:28 - Sunggyu (leader), 0:38 - Sungjong (maknae), 0:41 - Woohyun (vocal), 1:33 - Hoya (rapper/vocal), 1:43 - Sungyeol (vocal), 2:40 - Dongwoo (rapper)
Review:
Holy crap they put a lot of force into those hip thrusts at 1:20 damn Hoya and Dongwoo are looking especially delectable today and oh my sweet baby Jesus did you see Hoya's eyesex with the camera at 0:21, and the way he moves like silk at 1:32 and Dongwoo's expression at 2:45 and L and Dongwoo from 3:00 to 3:01 and Woohyun right at the very end and omgwhatdoIdowhyaretheylikethisbraincannotfunction-
Before my mind further descends into a hormone fuelled flail fest, I have to say that I don't like what they're wearing. Turtle necks seem counter intuitive, I want to see some skin dammit. Only Woohyun and Dongwoo carry the look off, all the others look a little smothered by all that fabric. Just take it off stylists, that would make all of the fangirls happy. And Sunggyu, oh Sunggyu I hate your hair but I love your bondage-esque part sleeve and your strong, clear head voice (1:26 to 1:28 in particular) is the stuff of dreams. I am loving this comeback boys, but I would love it more if you got rid of the turtlenecks.
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