This has been such a ‘happening’ week in the world of k-pop with popular artists dropping their mini-albums/EPs or singles every other day. I found it interesting how all of them were somehow connected through a common factor of color—read on to know more!
EXO-SC (Sehun & Chanyeol) debut with EP — What a Life
Release Date: July 22, 2019
Artists
Oh Se-hun and Park Chan-Yeol, members of internationally famous k-pop boyband, EXO.
Album and Music Video (MV)
The album is 20-min long and consists of 6 tracks with What a Life as the title track.
Color Connection
One of those rare k-pop MVs with diversity in the MV for their title track. Aren’t the colors beautiful?! 🙂
Read: My fangirl blog on EXO-member, Baekhyun’s debut album, City Lights
Mamamoo (마마무) surprized fans with new single — Gleam (다 빛이나)
Release Date: July 23, 2019
Artists
One of South Korea’s much loved, k-pop girl band, Mamamoo. The group has 4 members: MoonByul (문별이 / Moon Byul-yi), WheeIn (정휘인 / Jung Whee-in), Solar (김용선 / Kim Yong-sun), and my favourite, Hwasa (안혜진/ Ahn Hye-jin).
MV
As expected from Mamamoo songs, this single (Gleam / 다 빛이나) is trendy and has a nice vibe to it. Fun fact: As per e! Online, the MV is essentially a commercial film for the South Korean eyewear company, Davich Optical Chain and was created in collaboration with them.
Color Connection
In early 2018, Mamamoo launched the one-year-long ‘Four Seasons Four Colors’ project—a series of mini albums, each one representing a color (Yellow, Red, Blue, and White) associated with the members (Hwasa, MoonByul, Solar, and WheeIn, respectively). This was an exercise in recreating the group’s identity. The song Gleam (whose lyrics reference ‘color’ in a few instances and also integrates it in the chorus) was released just days before their final concert in Daegu, South Korea. Since April, Mamamoo has been touring for their “2019 Mamamoo Concert 4Seasons F/W” which is a grand finale to their ‘color’ project; the tour ends on Aug 13, 2019 in Japan.
Must watch: Hwasa singing Bohemian Rhapsody + We Will Rock You | Mamamoo performing Egotistic + Starry Night and Solar’s jaw-dropping act, Cleopatra, at 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) Japan
Kang Daniel (강다니엘) debuted with solo album, Color on Me
Release Date: July 25, 2019
Artist
Kang Daniel, 22-year old Korean singer, winner of ‘Produce 101‘—South Korea’s popular singing (and performance) reality talent show, and member of former k-pop band, Wanna One.
Album and MV
Kang Daniel’s solo album is titled Color on Me. The MV is called What Are You Up To? (뭐해). Regarding the MV, Pulse News, Korea, earlier reported that Kang’s team has worked with some of world’s top choreographers, including Antoine, the creator behind performances of global pop stars Prince and Chris Brown.
Color Connection
Track titled ‘Color’ and an MV that’s colorful!
Lil Nas X and BTS’ RM’s collaboration on the remix for Old Town Road
Release Date: July 25, 2019
Artist
Montero Lamar Hill, popularly known as Lil Nas X, and RM (Kim Nam-joon / 김남준), leader of the globally famous, k-pop boyband, BTS.
Album and Music Video (MV)
The song dropped unexpectedly at an odd time of day. The Lil Nas-RM collab is a remix of the Lamar’s viral song, Old Town Road. RM gave it a little twist and called it Seoul Town Road.
Color Connection
The song took over the internet and even got labelled as “country-k-pop.” It gained popularity for 2 main reasons: RM’s wordplay on the Korean word ‘homis’ (a farm tool) and the album cover featuring a purple horse. Purple is the color associated with BTS’ fandom – ARMY – and it was one of the first things that caught everyone’s eye!
Overall, I found this to be one of the more exciting weeks in k-pop and couldn’t resist from blogging about it. Truly, what a time to be alive!!! The quality of Korean music is just getting better with every passing day and there’s so much content to listen and watch. Here’s hoping you can yeehaw your way through it! 😀
Blogs By Nerissa 