Zion.T(자이언티), Miss Kim(미스 김)

Am I being a total sheep if I write about Zion.T's "Miss Kim?"

On the one hand, yes, allkpop has already reported about Zion.T, as has Soompi.  They had very nice things to say, and after I read their articles, I almost felt lacking.  As if, once I posted, I would be judged on what I said, compared to what Zion.T's agency said about the song--how it's a trot/dub fusion, and it is hearkening back to Korea's roots.  Let's face it, I don't necessarily say awesome things like that.  I mostly just talk about how much I loved the video ;)

On the other hand (not to pat myself on the back TOO much), I am not a new fan of Zion.T.  I feel like I'm not such a sheep if I've been listening to his music, wishing for more, even if I post about the music video after others.

So, I'm gonna post about "Miss Kim," because (and I'm a little embarrassed to admit this), after I watched it, Zion.T shot up on my list of favorite artists.  I'm talking top 5.

Yeah, that good.

Alrighty.  A few first impressions:

My dancer friend (Christina, that's you!) loved that they were tapping in the streets.  She said something about soft-shoe and how she wished we could hear the sounds of them dancing.

Another friend (Mindy), loved the Korean typewriter.  My own thoughts were that it was such a fun touch that he was typing out what he was singing.  And when he lays his head on the keys, the spokes (or whatever those are called) move up in a creepy, claw-like manner.  Loved that.  One possible discrepancy:  Is that an actual Korean typewriter?  Because in one shot, they keys have Roman (English) characters, but when he's typing, the characters are definitely Korean (한글).  Is that how they work?  Anyway...

The song is really catchy.  I showed the music video to my brother who is NOT into all things Korean, and who had never heard of Zion.T before, and two minutes after he watched the video, he walked by humming it.  I laughed at him, of course.

The music video.

I want to say it's a video of the past, but not in it.  Maybe I don't even know what I mean by that, but the car looks like it's from the 40's, their fashion looks like it's from the 20's, ish, and the music?  It's a classy, solid, smooth fusion of the older Korean trot style and Zion.T's own Jazzy hip-hop style.

Love the black and white.  Black and white--especially with this video--adds to the overall ambiance of the video.  I want to say, however, when I see a black and white video, I'm always curious about what the colors are that the black and white is hiding.

The rain, the car, the flowers being dropped, the blurry figure--even the dancers, I feel--add to the sorrow and longing, the overall wistfulness of the song and music video.  Love it.

The music.

I just... I love it.

Catchy and classy and entirely different than the other pieces I've heard by Zion.T.  I wish it were longer, rather than just 2:34; but I also admire that he kept it short and sweet.  Some things are just complete, you know?

I love the sounds that he used.  I am bad with the whole instrument naming thing, but I think I hear an upright bass (sick!!!), and maybe an accordion?  I am so not sure about that one, maybe it's a woodwind that is making the actual notes... Or even a organ/keyboard?  Argh, watch me fumble.  I think what I really want to say is that the music also adds to the trot/dubstep feel of the whole thing.  

But.  What makes this song entirely his own is Zion.T's voice.  That man has the most amazing set of pipes.  Such a unique voice, such control and not breathy at all, unless he wants it that way.  I've heard him "live" on Youtube, and he is the real deal.  Maybe not spot on the entire time (no one ever is, and he's not perfect either), but his voice is so true.  My fangirl is showing...

Enough!  Go watch this amazing music video.  I do hope it speaks for itself and that you all love it as much as I do.  I listen to it over and over (probably 20 times since yesterday), and I love it.  Every time.

Enjoy!  I'll see you back here next week. Keep listening to your Chill Music, and have a wonderful holiday too :D

Raonjaena (라온제나), and 쿼트로코드 Quattro Code

Two for one today, darlings!  I have many reasons, but I think the most pertinent one is that the song I settled on by Raonjaena doesn't really have any singing...  So I felt I had to throw in another song, and I really liked Quattro Code for it.

Raonjaena (라온제나) first, shall we?

Their song is "New Begin, of the Day," and it is absolutely lovely.  I don't remember if I've told you all about this, but I am quickly becoming a guitar fanatic.  I love everything that has to do with the guitar, especially music that highlights its beautiful possibilities.  And boy, does this song ever do that!

New Begin, of the Day starts with a man, I suppose we can call him the star of the music video, telling someone (possibly us, his viewers) that it has been a long time since he's seen us.  In Korean, of course.  As I was watching, I thought to myself, "I would be okay if that were the only vocal part in this song, the instrumentals are so amazing!" And then it was the only spoken part, and I loved the song!

The keyboard work is also phenomenal.  I love everything about the pacing and the beautiful way the instruments compliment each other--I even love the 80's parts of the songs, where they dive into that wicked synth.  It fits.

The video could have used something different, I think.  If you're going to do a music video to accompany an instrumental song, I think you should show a story--perhaps the story of what the song is trying to depict?  I feel like we got a bit of it at the beginning and at the end with the main actor guy, but all of the in-between bits were shots of him lounging around with his self-constructed molecule trying to make it look interesting for the camera.  And then shots of the musicians.  That stuff is great, and I do appreciate it, but I also think that a story would have served this song better.

Shout out to the molecule guy!  The guy that opens and closes the song, and then during the in between parts looks like he's trying really, REALLY hard to make that molecule interesting.  I can just hear the cameraman telling him, "Okay, now spread your arms like you're flying!  Good!  Now you're playing with the molecule!  Great, that's great.  Now a thoughtful pose!"  Tee hee!

Even though I thought the video could have been different, I think they did an amazing job of filming it and staging and editing--the transitions were smooth, it was an interesting video to watch, and seemed very professionally done.  It just makes me wonder who gets to decide, in the end, what the video to the music is actually going to be about...

Quattro Code (쿼트로코드), and their song "붙어있을래요" is next!

I fell in love with this song, as well.  It's a little bit poppy, but I am not going to hold that against the song or the band :)  The song is just so smooth and cute and... I think hip and a bit jazzy.

I love so many things about this song.  I love the instrumentals, I enjoy the swinging rhythm of the drums and the bass, I love what they do with the guitar to give it a little spice (sometimes swinging high for a descant, sometimes just emphasizing the guitar's notes), and I adore their voices harmonizing.  The vocals are such a perfect fit for each other and the song, it's just so much fun to listen to.

This video is different and yet very similar to the one from Raonjaena that I just talked about.  Weird that I just realized it.

Yes, somehow I managed to pick two videos with the group being filmed in the "setting" of a story... but not really.  Come on!  Be a little creative, people.  I mean, yes, it used to be creative and fun to have videos of just your group singing and playing for the camera, especially in the studio.  If I wanted to come and see you perform, however, I would come and see you perform.  With your music video, I'd much rather you show me a story, or something actually creative, instead of you and your group performing for the camera and being cute.  Sorry.

After that rant (which I was hoping to aim at ALL of the groups just doing glamour shots for their videos, not only Quattro Code, I promise), I would like to say that I did enjoy the video.  It was really cute, and I thought it fit the sound of the song quite well.  Although, the shots of the musicians made them look like they were either concentrating intensely on their music, or trying not to be bored.

Here's Quattro Code:

All in all, not bad songs for the Chill Music Stash.  I'm going to chalk up the videos that I've seen in the past (like these) to both vanity and laziness.  Take the time to develop something interesting and unique to the group.  I don't know whose fault it is, it could be vanity on the group's part (or their entertainment company trying to get them face-time), it could be laziness on the entertainment company's part.  I just know that I would like to see more original videos out there.  

Wow, didn't realize this post would turn into a music video rant.  On that note, come again and keep listening to your chill music! :D

Shayne 셰인 "Be My Love"

I’ve been away from Chill Music Stash for such a long time, and I’m very sorry.  It’s been pretty hectic here, what with me moving in with a bunch of friends and having more of a crazy schedule than usual, and then I was sick, had a trip to L.A. to see VIXX, and then Thanksgiving, which was fabulous.  Thanks for asking ;)

But I’m back now.  And I wanted to come back with a very chill Bang.  And by bang, I don’t mean bang at all, actually.  I heard this song today and I just HAD to post about it.

It helps that this song is perfect for the gloomy ish type of day the weather decided to give me.

This song is “Be my Love” by Shayne.  Let’s start out with this: I have never heard of Shayne, but I am also fairly new to the Korean Indie/Chill Music scene.  And it looks like, from the comments below the video, that Shayne has been around for at least longer than this one song.

Next, I must comment on this—because I have my Bachelor Degree in English, I very much appreciate the usage of “love” in the title.  I’ve seen too many shortenings (he could have made it: “B My Luv,” which would have turned me off the song), and… just ridiculous words that aren’t even words in titles of songs, and that no longer appeals to me, if it ever did.  Thank you!!

I am deeply sorry that I chose just an audio track to comment on instead of a song and a video, but I just HAD to, because this song is just so ADORABLE!! 

The song starts out with an accordion-sounding thing, and an acoustic guitar, with this harmony of voices singing to you, “I need your love!”  Okay, really, the beginning is a tiny bit much for me, and I would have not thought it fit the song, except the harmonies are in the chorus too.  After that very first bit, which totally sounds like the opening to some cheesy romantic comedy, the song turns into this ridiculously awesome chill but still peppy song.  His voice is sweet and mellow, and I can only think of “adorable,” really. 

With this song, I kind of have a visual in my head of him singing and walking in a jaunty/bouncy manner down a clean, sunshiny street and singing into the camera as he passes cute houses in the suburbs.  Just being a cutie—dressed in, oh, I don’t know, a pastel pink shirt with tan trousers held up by pink and white striped suspenders; red plaid bowtie and a plaid cap.  Seriously, this just popped into my head!  Now, try imagining that as he’s walking toward the camera and smiling and singing.  No aegyo for the camera, because this song is just that touch more serious than a super cutesy ballad.

I will definitely be listening to more Shayne—I adore his style and his voice.  Of course, this could be the only song I like of his, too, which would be a huge bummer.  If you haven’t heard it yet, you should give “Be My Love” a try J  Perfect for any type of day you’re having—if you need a pick-me-up, or if you’re completely happy.

Have a great week listening to your chill music, and I’ll be seeing you next time!!  :D