Squinchee's Music Room

Monday, February 23, 2015

Performance Review : Winner - "But"

I originally did a guest review of Winner's album 2014 S/S in the "Prober's Thread" on OneHallyu. I really liked the album overall, but immediately loved (I mean LOVED) the song "But", listening to it over and over again. Much to my disappointment, the performance flaws started to appear.

I can hear so much potential and am sad the finished product did not meet my unrealistically high expectations. Now, this song falls under the category of "I really like it, but it could be performed better." After writing a glowing commentary about Kim Jaejoong, I thought it would be good to show how I believe a song could reach its musical potential with a little twerking. (LOL autocorrect).

I have scientific (musictific?) reasons for this which I will now discuss. If you read my spiel about Kim Jaejoong read here then you'll get an idea of some of the ways a singer can shape musical phrases (and ruined me for other singers).

I didn't sniff out an official video for it, so here's a sample of "But" on Amazon.com
that starts out just before the rap section. (no, it's not an affiliate link, just for example)

I grieve some because there are very nice musical phrases that could have been given more attention and with a more deft hand, could have made it heartbreaking for me. Listen to the opening verse, second phrase "maltudo heomhaegajigo". There is a note that repeats 3 times in a row and he sings them all the same. "neo badajul namja" there is a two note phrase that repeats 2 1/2 times (up, down, up, down, up) that are sung the same way. The end of the phrase has two repeated notes that are sung the same. *banging my head on the wall*

There are so many opportunities to enter a little musicality. Any time you have a repeated note, each note should have a different importance, maybe it echoes softer, becomes louder as if leading into another phrase, or chop it with some staccato...ness. Plunking out the notes is just blah.

The same goes for the two note phrase - it was repeated and the second iteration of the two-note phrase should be different (see above). When you think about phrasing, think about the flow of the music and meaning of what you are singing. Not knowing the meaning of the words, the musical line could be shaped like this instead: jigo neo badajul namja (where larger letters are louder and smaller letters are softer.)

One redeeming feature of the performance is the rap section. He uses the rhythm of the words along with some energetic pronunciation. You can feel him singing from his gut (I don't know how else to describe the singer's total involvement).

OK, another redeeming feature - the group members had a hand in writing the album, and I think it's a pretty strong album.

LOL I just realized there might not be that many people who are as stuck up as I am about musicality. But come ON!!! They are with one of the big 3 in Korea!!!! You'd think their idols would be better prepared than the average Joe's idols.

I don't want to see companies churn out good songs just for profit and no musicality. It's me against the music industry.

for more info: The romanized lyrics are from https://kpopgod.wordpress.com/2014/12/09/but-winner-lyrics-romanized-english-hangul I have no idea if this is correct but I could follow along with the song well enough.

Friday, February 13, 2015

"Dutty Love" for Valentines Day

Valentine's Day makes me twitch. Seriously, my friend dragged me with her to help find the perfect card for her new boyfriend and I almost gagged from the gushing sweetness. She then proceeded to tease me about this guy I like, singing "I'll make love to you, like you want me too..." (Boys 2 Men). Ugh. It will never happen. I will be alone forever - the antithesis of mushy, gooey, lovey-doveyness.

Still, in grudging observance of Valentine's Day, here is a personal little ditty remembering someone special. A little Anti-Valentine.

"Dutty Love" by Don Omar ft. Natti Natasha...I have a love/hate relationship with this song, because it reminds me of you, Lauro Jose. My brief, summer/fall love, you are remembered with a salty sweetness.

You called yourself a Chicano - American born Mexican - and I loved your accent, which you very adorably denied having. When I said your name the first time, you did a double-take and said it touched you, because that's the way your mother says it. Therefore, you wanted to keep me for yourself because no one else could pronounce your name correctly. Go Spanish lessons!

There are no pictures of us, because you deleted the one and only picture we took together. You claimed that it made you look like an alien. To be honest, it kind of did make you look like an alien, but everyone knows that pictures can lie. (Unless you really were an alien...hmm)

Then there are the lovely memories of the time you tried to teach me Tejano style dancing in the parking lot. I secretly enjoyed when you held me close and led the dance. Well, maybe it wasn't a secret - it was probably pretty obvious. No regrets!

No one ever made me feel sparky the way you did, and I liked that you brought out that side of me.
We even moo'd at each other via text. How cute is that?

I also miss the way I lost my mind when you kissed me. (Wow, my motives seem so selfish now. Haha.) You said you "used to be a bad boy," but perhaps you are still 3 parts wild child. Still, it's hard to accept that you chose to never speak to me again. I'm sorry, I was shy.

When I hear this song, I think of you...can almost feel us dancing...think of the promise of teaching me Spanish, dancing and music. Sometimes music really sucks. Like right now. Go away song.

I miss you.

With Valentine's Day looming, I'm going to have to find an indoor activity and hide from the day that was created to irritate all single people.

I hope you enjoyed a trip into my memory lane. As always, feel free to comment. See you soon!

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Artwork for Squinchee's blog

My buddy momo likes to do fan art and I think it's great. So I wheedled and wheedled and finally she gave me some art. It was so cool that she put thought into symbolism that is all about me. I need a teary eyed emoticon right here.

Anyone who knows me will know what it means to be the dog walker (*hrrr hrrr. Proof positive - I am the dog walker.) She also used some symbolism from my bias. I'm really touched.

Thank you so much @Momo_hua !

I'M SO HAPPY! I GOT MY OWN FAN ART!!!

Of course, it's going right on the blog and you will be the first to see it. One will be on the sidebar,

and one will be my signature.

I'm bouncing off the walls! This proves that any endeavor is the result of the inspiration of many people. Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way, (KISSES MOMO!), and my pals on OH who are supportive even when the fur flies.

These are my logos and permission is not granted to use them on any other website.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Squinched Recap - B.A.P - 1004 (Angel) MV

This is a Squinched Recap of BAP's "1004 (Angel)" MV. Previously, I delved deeply into the heartbreaking symbolism of this video, but it was too depressing and now I need a break. Time to get squinchee!

If you didn't get to watch the video yet, here it is:

I'm just gonna forget that I saw some of that dancing. Perhaps they are showing the twisted pain of love by dancing like demented spiders. I just want to avert my eyes.

This video is overloaded with the symbols of heartbreak and tragedy. We get it. You're upset. Always sad, always frustrated and heartbroken, wanting what you can never have.

The Melon ad must have been place by a man...just sayin...

Speaking of wanting what you can't have, did you ever notice how gigantic this girl is? I'm thinking logistics here. Dude, if you fit into a dollhouse and she's not in there with you cuz she doesn't fit cuz she's 100 times bigger than you...well, I'm looking on as a concerned friend here when I tell you - It. Will. Never. Work. She's waaaay too big for you, dude. I suppose you wouldn't mind riding in her pocket all day, as long as it's close to her boob. Typical.

Does anyone notice the sheer number of antiques in this video? And are you telling me that this handsome young guy needs a projector because his memories are so old they can't be converted to an electronic file? Is he really like over 50 years old?

He desperately needs an iPad

Please take a moment to consider this scenario:

40 years ago Now

Then there's Yongguk digging vigorously next to a Super T-Rex ribcage in a barren wasteland. Does this mean that he's an archeologist? Um, make that an archeology enthusiast, cuz his raggedy digging technique would give real archeologists a heart attack. Follow your dreams, I always say.

Aggravating archeologists since 2014

Oh piggy bank!

After digging about four holes, he lays back and shows us the closure on the bottom of the church figurine. Wait, he was looking for his old piggy bank? I thought he was searching for love! My advice is next time you want to bury treasure, mark the spot with an X so you don't have to do so much digging. Poor planning on your part, my friend.

Let's have fun! Just kidding...

The special day at the amusement park...how romantic...except for the part where you electrocuted her on the merry-go-round. That wasn't very nice. (Oooo, now the hole digging takes on a sinister turn!) In any case, you should sue the amusement park for having faulty equipment. Or maybe you can't sue because you snuck in after hours like little vandals and used the equipment without reading the owner's manual.

Running back for Round 2 vs Merry-go-round

you can't hide in ME!

I don't know about you, but when you look in the mirror and see someone else's image, my first thought would be that it's an interrogation room. No wonder Youngjae is so frantic! The girl keeps pissing him off, so maybe if he punches the mirror, that will help. Ew, blood!

Violence against mirrors is real

Or, maybe he's just tired of seeing what the mirror is reflecting. Hmmm. Mirror reflects him alone, he doesn't want to see himself alone anymore, so bye-bye mirror. Let this be a warning to mirrors everywhere - you've got to fudge the truth a little.

At the end, we see the poster child for gun control laws. Dude, you shouldn't make important decisions when you are upset - it's like shopping for groceries when you're hungry.

Tricksie mirror

I just thought about the literal meaning of this image...he's standing in front of the mirror pointing a gun at it, but the mirror shows him pointing it at himself...either he took some hallucinogens that morning or that mirror is messing with his head!

So put the gun down and don't pay attention to that reflection nodding and telling you to pull the trigger. Can't you see that your reflection is EVIL? Something bad is gonna happen if you pull the trigger. Or scenario two: the mirror is getting nervous cuz he's pointing a gun at it and it threw up this image in an attempt at self-preservation. Chose wisely my son.

In closing, I think it would really help them out if they would just accept reality - they can never be happy because they are sad men in a video. No more senseless digging, or frantic searching in mirror mazes. You can never have it. There. Accept it and go have a beer.