~ Everglow ~

Average reading time: 12 minutes

Members from left to right: Aisha, E:U, Mia, Yiren, Onda and Sihyeon. 

Who is Everglow?

Everglow is a south-korean pop girl group that is under Yuehua entertainment and who debuted on March 18, 2019 with their song "Bon bon chocolat". The group is made of Aisha, E:U, Mia, Yiren, Onda and Sihyeon. Their official fandom name is "For ever", and their latest release is their song called "promise"  in partnership with the Unicef campaign. Here are the group's official social media accounts if you'd like to follow and support them:

• Fancafe: EVERGLOW
• Twitter: everglow_twt / EVERGLOW_STAFF
• V Live: EVERGLOW
• Instagram: official_everglow / everglow_everday
• Youtube: EVERGLOW
• Weibo: YH_EVERGLOW_OFFICIAL
• TikTok: everglowofficial

Get to know the members

Stage Name: Sihyeon (시현)

Birth Name: Kim Sihyeon (김시현)

Position: Leader, Lead Vocalist, Visual, Face Of The Group

Birthday: August 5, 1999

Height: 168 cm

Weight: 50 kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Sihyeon participated twice in the produce series: produce 101 (ranked #40) and produce 48 (ranked #27). She trained for 2 years and 10 months before debuting. She’s known for her strong resemblance to Suzy. She likes Americans and black noodles as well as taking the bus. However she is very bad with directions. She's a fan of the song "electric shock" by f(x). Sihyeon's specialties are singing and dancing. Her unique points are her bunny teeth, her healthy hair, her hard work and her long neck. Her role models are U-know Yunho and Sunmi. She is good friends with all IZ*ONE's members, especially with Yena and Eunbi. On February 7, 2020, Sihyeon was chosen as a new MC for SBS MTV’s music program “The Show”.

Stage Name: E:U (이유)

Birth Name: Park Jiwon (박지원)

Position: Main Rapper, Main Dancer

Birthday: May 19, 1998

Height: 161 cm

Weight: 43 kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: E:U’s nicknames are Protractor and Sweet Unnie. Her stage name stands for ‘Especially for U’. Her unique points are her small hands, her passion and her husky voice. She likes fried food, americanos and black noodles. E:U's role model is Lee Hyori. She has a dog named Kongsam. Her sister (who's 2 years older than her) named it because his eyes look like beans. E:U likes taking the subway and eating hamburgers and French fries. She has a Peppa Pig stuffed toy. She is the oldest member.

 

Stage Name: Mia (미아)

Birth Name: Han Eunji (한은지)

Position: Main Vocalist, Main Dancer

Birthday: January 13, 2000

Height: 161 cm

Weight: 42 kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Mia's nicknames are Haneunji Maneunji, Mya, Han Mia and Miji. She hates hospitals and everything related to them and is afraid of the dark and of thunders. Her unique points are Satoori and her low voice. Her favourite music genre is Indie Pop. She loves pets, chocolate, and taking selfies. She has many role models: BoA, Hyorin, Park Hyoshin and Ailee. Mia's stage name means "beautiful child". 

 

 

Stage Name: Onda (온다)

Birth Name: Jo Serim (조세림)

Position: Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Visual

Birthday: May 18, 2000

Height: 165 cm

Weight: 42 kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Onda is the easiest member to scare. Her nicknames are Ebuki, Sloth, Serm. Her unique point is her smiley expression. She was on Idol School (Ranked #40).  For 18 years, she thought her Blood Type was A, but it’s B. She’s a fan of Harry Potter and Twilight. She hates cold and bitter things. Her stage name means “come to me” in Korean. Her motto is: "Always think deep and let’s work hard".

 

 

Stage Name: Aisha (아샤)

Birth Name: Heo Yoorim (허유림)

Position: Lead Rapper, Sub vocalist

Birthday: July 21, 2000

Height: 174 cm

Weight: 55 kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Aisha attended Anryong Elementary School (graduated), Gokban Middle School (graduated) & Hanlim Entertainment Art High School (Department of Practical Music). Her unique points are her duality and her charming eyes. She is one of the tallest female idol in Kpop. She took dance lessons at Night Dance Institute. She’s a former JYP trainee. She trained for 11 years. Her nicknames are Yoom and Judy (from Zootopia).  Aisha loves Day6 and listens to them everyday. She can break open an apple with her hands. Her favourite colours are purple, black and mint. Her role models are Blackpink and Sunmi. Her stage name is inspired by ‘Asia’, meaning she’ll be an idol who’ll take over Asia.

 

Stage Name: Yiren (이런)

Birth Name: Wang Yiren (왕이런) (王怡人)

Position: Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Sub Rapper, Visual, Center, Face Of The Group, Maknae

Birthday: December 29, 2000

Height: 163 cm

Weight: 42.3 kg

Nationality: Chinese

Fun Facts: Yiren was born in Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China. She participated in Produce 48 (through which the group IZ*One was created) and Ranked #28. Her hobbies are shopping and cooking. Yiren trained for 2 years and 2 months before debuting. Her speciality is Chinese dance. Her nickname is Pomeranian. She's the youngest member. In the group, she’s best friends with Aisha and she's also very close to IZ*ONE’s Yena. 

 

How I discovered Everglow and became a fan

I actually had the chance to witness the debut of these amazing girls. I remember thinking that "Bon bon chocolat" was a silly name for a debut song, but gosh it was so addictive. They killed it from the start. I can't say that I immediately fell in love, but I surely had their debut song stuck in my head for a couple of weeks. Then they released "Adios" and "Dun Dun". With these two songs I think they gained a lot more attention from the international community. And THEN, they released "LA DI DA", which was THE song for me, and for a lot of people as well. The retro vibe was a tendency around late 2020 (and it's still trendy actually, Sunmi just had a comeback with "you can't sit with us") and this song was a huge hit. I started considering myself as a fan since La Di Da was released, and I listened to them even more after their latest comeback "First" was released. I love this song so much because they're proving to everyone that girls can definitely pull off strong moves and attitude (not that I doubted it in the first place, but I personally wouldn't be able to pull this off). We can say that they found their style pretty quickly which is an advantage, because now when you listen to their songs you know it's them. 

About their discography

Arrival of Everglow - Debut Single Album  - March 19, 2019

On March 19, 2019, Everglow made their debut with their first single album "Arrival of Everglow" and its title track "Bon bon chocolat". When I first heard this song (and first watched the MV), I thought that it was a very "clean" debut, in the sense that everything's calculated and precise, from the outfits to the choreography, including vocals and face expressions. The choreography quickly became popular, due to the very eye-catchy and detailed movements in the chorus, as well as the "nanananana" part that will remain stuck in your head for a long time. The "Everglow" at the start became their signature phrase, just like "Blackpink in your area" for Blackpink. On this album there are two other b-sides: "Moon" and "D+1". I really like "Moon" as it is a more chill/good vibes song opposed to the "epic" vibe Bon Bon Chocolat gives out. "D+1" is clearly a ballad and has nothing to do with the two other songs on this album. You can really hear the exquisite vocals these girls have through this song.

 

Hush - Second single album - August 19, 2019

Only 5 months after their debut, Everglow are back with their second single album entitled "Hush" and its title track "Adios". Adios was like an electric shock, like taking an aphrodisiac, because this song and choreography go really hard, and I don't think anyone expected this from them. This chanting chorus type is really effective, it does give energy, power and attitude to the song even though it started strong from the very first second. Then you have two other songs, "Hush" and "You don't know me". Hush is a very pop-oriented track, mainstream and very easy to listen to, and then they actually performed you don't know me on music shows. I love the choreography for this song, and structure-wise it is very interesting. The song starts strong and cheerful, and the notes are in minor... and then when the pre-chorus comes, the vibe completely switches-off to a more cute atmosphere. And then, the second verse comes and we're back to the initial vibe.

 

 

Reminiscence - 1st Korean mini-album - February 3, 2020

6 months after "Adios" was released, Everglow is back with their first Korean mini-album and its title track "Dun Dun". Song-wise, "Dun Dun" sounds as hard as "Adios", however Dun Dun's MV is more elaborated in my opinion. The outfits, the set, the choreography, the attitude the girls portray on camera makes this MV look more fierce and badass. Then, you have 3 b-sides: "Salute", "Player" and "No Lie". Their b-sides give a really different vibe than their title tracks. "Salute" gives off a very girl-power but still cute vibe, although I am not used to use these words to describe an Everglow song but this concept still fits them. "Player" gives a more sexy vibe (and a more sexy choreography) while still being a relatively upbeat song. And then you have "No lie" that is very pop-centric, with a slight summer vibe to it. 

 

-77.82X-78.29 - 2nd Korean mini-album - September 21, 2020

7 months after "Dun Dun" was released, Everglow came back with their second mini-album entitled "-77.82X-78.29" and its title track "La Di Da". As I previously said on this article, I think La Di Da was the song that had the most impact on their career. This song was a huge hit and had this retro vibe that was very popular and is still is. And that "La di da la di da da di da di da" part in the chorus is so catchy. Plus, I think the girls improved a lot between "Dun Dun" and "La Di Da". You could see the fierce look they had in their eyes in the MV. Speaking of which, I think La Di Da's MV is their best MV to date. Flashy neon colours mixed up with black outfits and dark backgrounds gives off such a mysterious and badass vibe. They really stepped up their game with this comeback. The album contains 3 other tracks (b-sides): "Untouchable", "GxxD boy" and "No good reason". "Untouchable" leans on the pop genre more than the retro genre, although it has a small retro touch in the instrumental I'd say. I don't know how to describe "GxxD Boy", however it has a very experimental instrumental at the beginning of the song and in the chorus, and the verses are mostly made of rap portions or talked singing. The only part that sounds "conventional" is the pre-chorus, which is at the polar opposite of the chorus and the verses. Finally, "No good reason" is the feel good song of this album, easy to listen to and pleasant to the ears. I really love the vocals in this song, especially the harmonies in the chorus. 

Last Melody - 3rd single album - May 25, 2021

Almost a year after they released their second Korean mini-album, Everglow finally returned on May 25, 2021 with "Last Melody" and its title track "First". I think we can add the name of this song next to the "Epic" definition in the dictionary. This song is the living representation of "Epic". If the word epic was a song, it would be this one. When I listened to this song for the first time my jaw dropped and I was at a loss for words. Not only the song is epic, but the MV is as well. Whoever had the idea to add these special effects deserves a raise, because without them the MV would be bland, without any soul. The choreographer also deserves a praise, for imagining such a choreography for a Kpop girl group. This single album has two other songs in it: "Don't Ask Don't Tell", and "Please Please (last melody)". I think "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is my favourite b-side of their entire discography. The beat is catchy, and the vocals are somehow making me feel something. And then you have "Please Please (last melody)" that leans more towards the pop ballad genre. I think it's the only ballad they've had in their whole discography and it's pretty good.

Unicef promise campaign - Special Release - August 25, 2021

In summer of 2021, Everglow released a song called "promise" for the Unicef promise campaign. This song holds a hopeful and positive message, which translates into the song and the MV as well. The girls are dressed in white and pink dresses, white representing the colour of peace. 

To go further...

 I want to apologize because I couldn't find much variety content of Everglow for you to check out, and I don't think I've been a fan long enough to know the fandom's inside jokes. If your curiosity isn't satisfied, you might want to do further searches on the web.

Everglow sure knows how to dance, check out their random play dance on weekly idol right here.

Check out their live performance of their b-side "please please" right here, you're going to be blown away by their vocal abilities. 

That's it for Everglow's presentation! Take care and I'll see you very soon.

Love, Swan

 

Sources: Kprofiles, Mnet's YouTube channel, Everglow's official YouTube channel. 

~ Stray Kids ~

Average reading time: 20 minutes.

Stray Kids is a south-korean boy group under JYP Entertainment that is composed of 8 members: Bang Chan, Lee know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N. The group was formed through a survival show called "Stray Kids" and debuted on March 25, 2018. Their fandom is called "Stay". The 3RACHA unit (composed of Bang Chan, Changbin and Han) composes and writes most of Stray Kids' songs. Their latest Korean comeback was on August 23, 2021 with their second studio album entitled "No Easy" and its title track "Thunderous (소리꾼)". 

Follow and support stray kids on their social media platforms:

• Official website: straykids.jype.com
• Official website (Japan): straykidsjapan.com
• Facebook: JYPEStrayKids
• Twitter: @Stray_Kids / @stay_support
• Twitter (Japan): @Stray_Kids_JP
  
• Instagram: @realstraykids
• Instagram (Japan): @straykids_official_jp
• Youtube: Stray Kids
• Youtube (Japan): Stray Kids Japan official Youtube
• V Live: Stray Kids
• Tik Tok: @jypestraykids
• Tik Tok (Japan): @straykids_japan

Get to know the members

Stage Name: Bang Chan (방찬)

Birth Name: Christopher Bang

Korean Name: Bang Chan (방찬)

Position: Leader, Producer, Vocalist, Dancer, Rapper

Birthday: October 3, 1997

Height: 171cm

MBTI type: ENFJ-T

Unit: 3RACHA

Spotify: Stray Kids’ Leader Bang Chan’s Playlist

Fun Facts: Bang Chan was born in South Korea, but he moved to Sydney, Australia when he was very young. He can speak English, Korean, Japanese and a little bit of Chinese. He joined JYP Entertainment in 2010 after passing an audition in Australia. He trained for 7 years, alongside GOT7, Twice and Day6. He is friends with GOT7‘s BamBam and Yugyeom, and with Blackpink's Lisa. He starred in TWICE‘s “Like Ooh Ahh” MV as a zombie and Miss A‘s “Only You” MV. Bang Chan thinks his charming point is his dimples when he smiles. His nicknames given by his members are Kangaroo and Koala. His perfume is Versace Eros, his hobby is playing sports, he can play the guitar and the piano, and his favourite season is autumn. He has a dog named Berry, and his role models are Drake, Cristiano Ronaldo, and his dad. Bang Chan affirmed not having an ideal type, and his motto is "Just Enjoy". 

 

Stage Name: Lee Know (리노)

Birth Name: Lee Min Ho (이민호)

Position: Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: October 25, 1998

Height: 172cm

MBTI type: ESFJ-T

Unit: Dance Racha

Spotify: Real Dancing Gem Lee Know’s Mix

Fun Facts: Lee know was born in Gimpo, South Korea and is an only child. He graduated from Gimpo Jeil Technical High School and is ambidextrous. He was a backup dancer for BTS and trained at JYP for 1 year. His hobbies are hiking, choreographing and watching movies. His favourite dancing genre is hip-hop, and his favourite colour is mint. Lee Know's role models are 2pm, and his favourite 2pm song is "10 out of 10". His frequent habit is cracking his fingers and has a fear of heights. Lee Know has 3 cats named Sooni, Doongi and Dori. If he wasn’t in Stray Kids, he would be a dancer. He was eliminated on November 7, episode 4 of Mnet’s Stray Kids (the survival show) but he was added back at the end of episode 9. His ideal type is a person who matches well with him and someone he can talk comfortably with, and his motto is “Let’s eat well and live well.”

 

Stage Name: Changbin (창빈)

Birth Name: Seo Chang Bin (서창빈)

Position: Rapper, Vocalist, Producer

Birthday: August 11, 1999

Height: 167cm

MBTI type: ENFP-T

Unit: 3RACHA

Spotify: All-rounder Changbin’s Favorites

Fun Facts: Changbin was born in Yongin, South Korea and has an older sister. He graduated from Bora High School. He trained for 2 years before debuting with Stray Kids. His nickname given by his members are Mogi (mosquito), Jingjingie (whiny), Teokjaengie (chin) and Binnie. His specialties are writing lyrics and rap. His hobbies are listening to music and to go shopping, and his favourite season is autumn. His role models are BIGBANG‘s G-Dragon, Kendrick Lamar, as well as his mother and father. He thinks his charming point is being cheerful and active. Changbin likes dark things, horror movies and to collect things. He can’t sleep without his Munchlax plush toy, which he calls Gyu. If he wasn’t in Stray Kids, he would be a producer, writer or maybe tattoo master. Changbin's ideal type is a girl who can laugh with him when they’re together, and his motto is “Let’s live with a positive mind, enjoy the life.”

 

Stage Name: Hyunjin (현진)

Birth Name: Hwang Hyun Jin (황현진)

Position: Dancer, Rapper, Vocalist, Visual

Birthday: March 20, 2000

Height: 179cm

MBTI type: INFP-T

Unit: Dance Racha

Spotify: You Will Love Hyunjin’s Favorites

Fun Facts: Hyunjin was born in Seoul, South Korea and is an only child. When he was a kid he lived for a while in Las Vegas and can speak basic English. He got cast on the street and entered JYP in 2015 where he trained for 2 years before debuting. He graduated from SOPA (School of performing arts in Seoul) in February 2019 where he studied Practical Dance. D-CRUNCH‘s Chanyoung, and VERIVERY‘s Yongseung were his classmates. His role model is GOT7‘s Jinyoung. His hobbies are dancing, reading books and playing sports. He thinks his charming point is his lips. His favourite food is sushi but he can't eat onions, carrots and eggplants. Hyunjin’s favourite colours are black and white, and his favourite season is autumn. He talks in his sleep and is the hardest to wake up. Hyunjin is allergic to cat fur and has a dog named Kkami, which he raises since he was 16. Aside from his group activities, Hyunjin is an MC on “Show Music Core”. His ideal type is someone who would listen to his worries well and can empathize to them as if it’s their own worries, and his motto is “Let’s try even when you regret it later.”

 

Stage Name: Han (한)

Birth Name: Han Ji Sung (한지성)

English Name: Peter Han

Position: Rapper, Vocalist, Producer

Birthday: September 14, 2000

Height: 169cm

MBTI type: ISTP-T

Unit: 3RACHA

Spotify: Korean Lyrical Rapper Han’s Playlist

Fun Facts: Han was born in Incheon, South Korea and has an older brother. He used to live and study in Malaysia. He trained for 3 years before debuting. His nickname given by his members is Squirrel. His favourite food is cheesecake and chocolate cake, his favourite colour is red, and his favourite season is winter. He thinks his charming point is acting silly, and his special ability is a voice impression of Doraemon. He is also really good at drawing characters. His phone background is a drawing of Sailor Moon and a cat looking at the moon. Han's role model is Block B's Zico. He appeared in “King of Masked Singer” as “Imgeokjjeong”, he was eliminated in 1st round. If he wasn’t in Stray Kids, he would a producer. His motto is "This too, shall pass."

 

Stage Name: Felix (필릭스)

Birth Name: Felix Lee (이 필릭스)

Korean Name: Lee Yong Bok (이용복)

Position: Dancer, Rapper, Vocalist

Birthday: September 15, 2000

Height: 171cm

MBTI type: ENFP-T

Unit: Dance Racha

Spotify: It’s Felix’s Favorite Mix

Fun Facts: Felix's parents are Korean, but he was born in Sydney, Australia. He has an older sister (Rachel/Jisue Lee) and a younger sister (Olivia Lee). Before leaving Sydney, he attended St Patrick’s Marist College. He trained 1 year before debuting. He was eliminated on December 5, episode 8 of Mnet’s Stray Kids (the survival show), but he was added back at the end of episode 9. Felix shares his birthday with fellow JYP artist, Jae from Day6. His nicknames given by his members are Bbijikseu, Bbajikseu, Bbujikseu, and Jikseu. His hobbies are listening to music, dancing, shopping (especially clothes), traveling, and beatboxing. He thinks his charming point is his freckles (AND I AGREE). His favourite sport is soccer, and his favourite seasons are autumn and winter. His role model is Bigbang's G-Dragon. He knows taekwondo and even won a lot of medals when he was young. Felix also plays the piano. He has a bad habit of biting his nails. His phone background is a photo of himself with a stuffed bear. If he wasn’t in Stray Kids, he would be a song writer. His motto is "Just a little braver". 

 

Stage Name: Seungmin (승민)

Birth Name: Kim Seung Min (김승민)

Position: Vocalist

Birthday: September 22, 2000

Height: 178cm

MBTI type: ESFJ-A

Unit: Vocal Racha

Spotify: Dandy Boy Seungmin’s Mix

Fun Facts: Seungmin was born in Seoul, South Korea and has an older sister. He graduated from Cheongdam High School. He speaks English very well, though he only learned English in L.A for 3 months when he was in 4th grade. Seungmin and Bang Chan went to the same high school, and Bang Chan was his senior. His hobbies are writing in his diary, listening to music and eating. Seungmin is a morning person, and his favourite food is eggs. He joined JYP in 2017 after winning second place in JYPE’s 13th Open Audition. His role models are DAY6, Kim Dong-ryul, and Sandeul from B1A4. Seungmin was an MC for ASC (After School Club) and is actively an MC for "We Kpop". He shares his birthday with fellow JYP artists, Jinyoung from GOT7 and Nayeon from TWICE. His phone background is a photo he took of scenery. He is friends with AB6IX‘ Daehwi since high school. His motto is “Today you spent in vain is the day as tomorrow someone who passed away really wants to live through.”

 

Stage Name: I.N (아이엔)

Birth Name: Yang Jeong In (양정인)

Position: Vocalist, Maknae

Birthday: February 8, 2001

Height: 172cm

MBTI type: ESFJ-T / ISFJ (His test result keeps changing – vLive Dec 2020)

Unit: Vocal Racha

Spotify: Stray Kids’ Youngest I.N’s Favorites

Fun Facts: I.N was born in Busan, South Korea. He has an older brother and a younger brother who is 12 years old, as of 2018. He graduated from SOPA (School of performing arts in Seoul), where he studied Applied Music. He used to be a child model when he was seven years old. He trained for two years before debuting. His nicknames given by his members are Desert Fox, Our Maknae, Spoon Worm Yang, Fiona and Bean Worm. His hobbies are listening to rock and pop songs and watching mukbang. His special ability is singing trot (he's exceptionally good at it). He likes all foods besides beans, his favourite colour is hot pink, and his favourite season is winter. His role model is Bruno Mars. I.N had braces for over 2 years and had  them removed on January 17th 2019. If he wasn’t in Stray Kids, he would be a singer, or an elementary school teacher since he likes kids. His motto is "Let's have a good time!".

 

Stage Name: Woojin (우진) (former member)

Birth Name: Kim Woo Jin (김우진)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: April 8, 1997

Height: 176cm

MBTI type: EFSJ

Unit: Vocal Racha

Spotify: Teddy Bear Woojin’s Playlist

Social Media Accounts: @woooojin0408 (instagram), @woooojinn (twitter), KIM WOOJIN (YouTube), kimwoojin.official (Facebook), KIM WOOJIN (V Live), @woooojinn (Tik Tok). 

Fun Facts: Woojin was born in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and has an older brother. His hobbies are listening to music and shopping (especially clothes). His specialty is kendo (modern Japanese martial arts). His special talent is that he can guess fried chicken brands. He can speak basic English. His favorite food is chicken with cheese on the top, and his favourite season is autumn. He can play the guitar and the piano, and he likes horror movies. His perfume is Versace Dylan Blue. He is a former Fantagio trainee and a former SM trainee (he used to train with NCT members). His role model is Bruno Mars. He trained 2 years prior to debut. Woojin left the group on October 27th, 2019 for personal reasons and has terminated his contract with JYP. On August 5th, 2021, he debuted as a soloist with 1st Mini Album ‘’The moment: 未成年 a minor”. His ideal type is a charismatic person, and his motto is “Let’s not make things that we regret.”

How I discovered Stray Kids and became a Stay

I discovered Stray Kids when they released their "I am You" album. I stumbled upon the title track first, and then I listened to the b-sides of this album which were really good. Then I discovered their other tracks while surfing on YouTube: My Pace, Hellevator, and District 9. Then one day I was recommended by someone on a comment section to watch the survival show if I wanted to know them better. And the survival show was the reason why I became a Stay. The best way to get attached to a group is by really understanding who they are, what they've been through, and what made them what they are today. And that was exactly what the show explained to me: why stray kids are stray kids, how they became stray kids, what are the hardships they've been through, etc. I literally cried watching Felix and Lee Know getting eliminated, but thank god they were brought back because the group wouldn't be what they are today without them. 

About their discography

Pre-debut mini album: "Mixtape"

On January 8, 2018, Stray Kids released a pre-debut album called "Mixtape" with 7 tracks on it. Most of them were performed during the survival show they were formed through: "Hellevator", "Grrr", "Spread My Wings", "Yayaya", "Glow", "School life" and "4419". Hellevator, besides being a very good song with a very nice beat, is a very meaningful song if you carefully listen to the lyrics. They are talking about how they struggled on their own, stuck in a maze that supposedly leads to their debut, with people constantly trying to tell them to give up on this "nonsense" dream. I think that, to this day, this song is one of the most meaningful ones they've ever wrote. 

On the other hand, "Grrr" is just as it sounds like: Aggressive. The rap in this song is very fierce, and Felix's deep voice adds to this raspiness and almost anger I'd say. I mean, just take a look at the lyrics in the chorus that are very raw: "It doesn't matter who you are, I bite you, tear, tear you up. Don't talk to me, You're suffocating, you all are, don't confront me." For a pre-debut b-side, this song really shows off Stray Kids' rapping abilities. I personally think that they have one of the best rappers of their generation. 

For the song "Spread my wings", they yet again went for a different message. They talk about how they're naturally growing up, how they are excited of experiencing changes due to them growing up (getting their ID card, looking at dressed-up shoes and not sneakers, etc.), but that they also feel anxious about the day they'll become real adults, when they won't have enough time anymore to do all the things they want to do. I find this message interesting and relatable because that's literally what I, and a lot of people, went through while growing up. 

Lastly, I don't have much to say about "Glow", "4419" and "Yayaya" so I'll directly skip to "School Life". I really like to listen to that song nowadays because it keeps reminding me that these boys are still normal people who went to school at some point in their life and know what it's like to wake up at 7am on the sound of your mother shouting at you but still wanting to sleep (that's literally what the lyrics say). 

Debut 1st mini album: "I am Not"

On March 25, 2018, Stray Kids officially made their debut under JYP Entertainment with their mini album "I am Not" (the first part of the "I am" trilogy) and its title track "District 9". The album has 7 other tracks on it: "NOT!", "Mirror", "Awaken", "Rock", "Grow up", "3rd eye" and "Mixtape #1".

Listen, "District 9" has everything you'd expect a good debut song to have. It's not perfect, but it has all the elements of a great song in it. First, the structure of the song. It's a very simple structure: Intro (the siren sounds) - Verse 1 (starting with lee know) - Chorus 1 - Post-Chorus (the "stray kids everywhere all around the world) - Verse 2 (Jisung and Changbin's rap) - Chorus 2 - Bridge (Felix's deep ass voice) - Chorus 3 - Outro. Second, it has enough vocals, a holy grail rap, a nice beat, and a nice choreography.

Then you have "Mirror", which is my favourite b-side of this album. This song is about not knowing who you are and asking for a Mirror to help it show you your true and inner self. The chorus goes like "In the reflection I'm a maze, the mirror that reflects my inner self my mirror. Where can I find it? For once I wish I could see myself." The performance video is shot in black and white, and the choreography shows the members mirroring their movements, which I find very creative.

I also wanted to talk about 3rd eye. If you're already a Stay, you straight up think about Felix's iconic rap part. But let me tell you that what he is saying is as deep as his voice. This song is about not wanting to see the reality of things and the real world that sometimes is being cruel, and needing a third eye (might be a person, an object, or anything else) to guide them in this chaos. 

Finally, if you need a bit more warmth and comfort, there's "Grow up". This song tries to motivate you and tell you that even though you feel like giving up because you can't handle things anymore, you have to take a break and give your head a bowl of fresh air and get rid of toxic thoughts.

2nd mini album: "I am Who"

On August 6, 2018, Stray Kids are back with their second mini album called "I am Who". The album is composed of 8 tracks: "WHO?", "My Pace (title)", "Voices", "Question", "Insomnia", "M.I.A", "Awkward Silence" and "Mixtape #2". "My Pace" is one of my favourite title track of theirs, because you just want to dance and sing along to it. The song and the lyrics are so refreshing and so encouraging, you really want to go run a marathon or achieve something big after listening to that song. I love the line that goes something like "there's no need to rush, keep going at your own pace". 

Then, there's "Voices", one of Stray Kids' best vocal-centric songs. This song is about hearing voices that are trying to keep you away from your dreams. At one point in his rap, Changbin says "Voices that act like they're for me but really they ignore my dreams", and Hyunjin says at the start of the second verse "Stop, all the sounds that judge me, it annoys me like noisy neighbours." They may be referring to all the people who were trying to stop them from being idols, pretending like it's for their own good, but actually pulling them away from their dream. 

Another song I really like in this album, and I think is pretty underrated, is Insomnia. I'm the type of person who cannot sleep because I have too many thoughts in my head, thinking about too many things at the same time. That's literally what the song is about.

Finally, you have the silly and cute Stray Kids appearing in "Awkward silence". I mean, this song is just a meme in itself and I absolutely love it because of that, and it shows you how versatile this group is. My favourite part of this song is definitely the bridge :)

3rd mini album: "I am You"

On October 22, 2018, a couple of months after the release of their second mini-album, Stray Kids are back with the last part of their "I am" trilogy: "I am you". The album is composed of 8 songs: "YOU.", "I am you (title)", "My Side", "Hero's Soup", "N/S", "0325", and "Mixtape #3". In their title track "I am you", Stray Kids found theirselves in the "You" (which I assume is their fans, stays, but which could also be the other members as well). The chorus goes like "I am You, I see me in You, I feel it when I'm with you. In the same space, in the same time, I can do anything." 

Diving into the b-sides, you have "My Side" that is very creative and out of the box musically-wise. In the second chorus, the lyrics goes like this: "I hope this song's lyrics will reach your ears, I hope these lyrics won't flow away and whirl around you. Even without any reason, that you who wants to come to my side, but I'm not able to be next to you. I'm on your side, I will go to you soon." I'd like to believe that they're talking to their international fans, telling them that even though they're not able to be by their side right now, that this song's for them and that they promise they'll be by their side someday. 

You also have "N/S" (North/South). This song is the "Awkward Silence" of this album. The song is silly, and so is the video they shot on the streets. So what I understand from the lyrics is that they don't like ambiguous situations and only like it when there's two answers whether it being yes or no, black or white, X or O, South or North. And I get that when you have too many options it gets complicated, so you really want to narrow down the options you have to make it easier for you to choose. I don't think I've ever heard a song talking about such a random topic, so this song's pretty unique. 

4th mini album: "Clé 1: Miroh"

Their "I am" trilogy behind them, Stray Kids came back on March 25, 2019 (their 1st debut anniversary) with a whole new concept... and the start of a new trilogy: "Clé 1: Miroh". This album is their fourth mini album which contains 8 tracks: "Entrance", "Miroh (title)", "Victory Song", "Maze of Memories", "Chronosaurus", "Boxer", "19" and "Mixtape #4". In my opinion, "Miroh" was a huge turning point in Stray Kid's carrier. Yes, they had previously released three mini-albums, but they all kind of had the same concept and same vibe. This fourth mini album acted like a first comeback for them, because the change in style was important. I believe it's also when Stray Kids really started to get noticed by the international community. Now, while I do understand that this song is really appreciated by the majority, it is not the best title SONG they've put out, and I insist on the word song because choreography-wise and concept-wise, this comeback was really strong. I'm sure this song would sound AMAZING in a concert, but listening to it just like that when I'm in my room or any other set up doesn't give me the "wow effect". 

In terms of b-sides, this album holds rough diamonds: "Chronosaurus" and "19" are my favourite ones. In their intro video for the album, Stray Kids described Chronosaurus as a song about the fear of time. They went on saying that in the endless city portrayed in their song "Miroh" (which is in itself a caricature of today's society) people are always afraid of time and being chased by it. In the song time is represented by a monster named "Chronosaurus". Bang Chan then explained that "Kronosaurus" was one of the most fearful dinosaurs in Australia and that they combined this word with "Chronos" (the god of time in the greek mythology) to get "Chronosaurus". 

5th mini album: "Clé 2: Yellow Wood"

Following the first part of the "Clé" trilogy, Stray Kids released their fifth mini album called "Clé 2: Yellow Wood" on June 19, 2019. This album has 7 tracks on it, 4 of which have been previously released: "Road not taken", "Side effects (title)", "TMT", "Mixtape #1", "Mixtape #2", "Mixtape #3", and "Mixtape #4". "Side effects" is the continuity of "Miroh". Stray Kids were previously trying to escape the crazy city Miroh portrayed, and in "Side effects" they have succeeded in escaping, but land in a strange place where they start feeling weird. It's kind of a transition place to get where they really want to get, a place where they're being tested. And if they succeed in escaping this place, they'll finally see the end of the tunnel. Now, talking more specifically about the song, it is a very heavy EDM track. I always said to my friends that they could easily play this song in a nightclub at like 1am with everyone being drunk shouting "My head hurts" lol. Because it is very heavy on electronic instrumentals, I don't really listen to this song very often. But they're really good at keeping up the storyline!

6th mini album: "Clé Levanter"

On December 10, 2019, Stray Kids came back with the third and last part of their "Clé" trilogy: "Clé Levanter". On this album you have 8 tracks: "Stop", "Double Knot (pre-released track)", "Levanter (title)", "Booster", "Astronaut", "Sunshine", "You can stay", and "Mixtape #5". Double Knot and Levanter are amazing tracks, and Levanter was actually a relatively new style Stray Kids were going for. Both songs were also released in English on January 24, 2020. This album is about finally reaching the destination they were going for, and finally being able to be theirselves. Then, you have Astronaut. This song is just amazing. It's so refreshing, it makes you want to sing along and dance along, and it instantly makes you smile! I know Stray Kids is known for making very "heavy" music like in Double Knot, but I really appreciate how they do multiple genres in a single album. 

 

1st Japanese repackaged album: "SKZ 2020"

On March 18, 2020, Stray Kids revealed their first Japanese repackaged album called "SKZ 2020". The album contains 27 tracks, all of which have been previously released, but three Japanese versions were made: Levanter (Japanese Ver.), "Double Knot (Japanese Ver.)", and "My Pace (Japanese Ver.). The rest of the songs are: "Hellevator", "Grrr", "Spread my wings", "Yayaya", "District 9", "Mirror", "Grow up", "My pace", "Voices", "Question", "M.I.A", "Awkward silence", "I am you", "Get cool", "Miroh", "Victory song", "Boxer", "Chronosaurus", "19", "Side Effects", "TMT", "Double knot", "Levanter" and "Astronaut". 

 

 

 

 

 

Single: "TOP"

On May 13, 2020, Stray Kids released two songs: "Top" (the opening for the anime "Tower of God") and "Slump" (the ending for the anime "Tower of God"). The Korean versions were released first, then the English versions were released on May 20 and the Japanese versions on June 3. I do prefer "TOP", the Korean version more specifically, although Slump is still very good. It's just that TOP hits harder as it is the opening. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st full Korean studio album: "GO Live" 

More than two years after their debut, Stray Kids finally got to release their first full Korean studio album on June 17, 2020 entitled "Go 生". The album has 14 tracks on it: "GO生", "神메뉴 (God’s Menu) (title)", "Easy", "Pacemaker", "Airplane", "Another Day", "Phobia", "Blueprint", "TA", "Haven", "TOP", "Slump", "Mixtape: Gone Days" and "Mixtape: On track". I think God's Menu is the most popular and the most iconic Stray Kids' title track. The majority of kpop fans know this song, or at least the "DU DU DU" part. I really like this song, not because it's easy to listen to because it's not, it's loud and hard and you don't want to listen to it nonstop or your ears will break. I like this song because it's catchy, because whenever the "DU DU DU" parts comes in you do the hand movement, you sing along because you can't get the "DU DU DU" or the "Tang tang" wrong, and you just go crazy. This song is definitely in my top 3 favourite Stray Kids' title tracks. 

As this is a full album, you have a lot of b-sides on it. My favourites have to be "TA", "Haven", and "Blueprint". Mind you, these three songs are very different. "TA" is a very hyped-up and energetic song, "Haven" is hopeful and cheerful song, and "Blueprint" has this amazing summer vibe to it. But listening to them one after another makes me feel like they complete each other (which can be interpreted as weird by some people but that's really how I felt listening to these three songs). All the songs on this album are worth a listen, but I can't really comment on all of them otherwise this article will be too long :)

1st full length Korean repackage: "In Life"

"In Life" was released on September 14, 2020 and is Stray Kids' first repackaged album. The album has 17 tracks on it, 8 if we exclude the songs that were included in their previous album. The 8 new songs are: "The Tortoise and the Hare", "Back Door (title)", "B Me", "Any", "Ex", "We Go", "Wow" and "My universe".  If Back Door had been released before God's Menu, or maybe 2 or 3 comebacks after God's Menu, it would've been more popular. The song is really good and catchy, and the choreography is as memorable as God's Menu's. But because it was released a short time after God's Menu it didn't get the recognition it deserved (although the song was really well welcomed, I'm not saying it was ignored). However as Back Door's a kind of continuity to God's Menu, it was logical that they released it right after God's Menu (and also because Stray Kids are known for always having continuous storylines which is one of their strengths). And then you have "Ex" that is, alongside Blueprint, in my top 3 favourite Stray Kids' b-sides. I just love how they're able to mix multiple genres in one album and make all the songs contrast each other. Usually when a western group does an album, all the songs have more or less the same vibe. But for Stray Kids (and Kpop in a more general way) you can find 2 or 3 genres mixed in a single album and I LOVE THAT!

2nd full Korean studio album: "No Easy"

One year after the release of their first Korean full album, Stray Kids released their second Korean full album on August 23, 2021. This album sounds exactly like them saying to haters "We are Stray Kids and we don't care if you don't like our style because we don't go by the rules." Indeed, it really feels like Stray Kids have finally found their identity and we're finally able to say while listening to this album "this sounds very Stray Kids". I'm a proud momma T-T

This album is made of 14 tracks: "Cheese", "Thunderous (title)", "Domino", "Ssick", "The view", "Sorry I love you", "Silent Cry", "Secret Secret", "Star Lost", "Red lights", "Surfin'", "Gone Away", "Wolfgang", and "Mixtape: OH". While describing the album in their "intro" video, Hyunjin said "All songs have become much more advanced and heavier overall" which I totally agree with. These songs are on a whole other level, starting by the title track "Thunderous". This song is such a great title track! I was so happy listening to it because it really sounded like they poured themselves into that song, shouting "Hey, we're stray kids, we're going to blow the stage up". I loved how they mixed traditional Korean elements aesthetically-wise and musically-wise with modern touches, and dang I love how they incorporated animation in the MV, it was so well done. Kudos to the team behind this. 

Let me also tell you that after I listened to "Cheese", I kept shouting I.N's line "자 하나 둘 셋Cheese!" (1, 2, 3, Cheese!) for a couple of hours. This song is SO GOOD! I never thought a song like that would exist but now it does and I'm so glad for it. While describing the song, Bang Chan said "We made the song wanting to express many different things with the word "cheese"" and it's true that you can think of this word as the cheese you put on top of the pizza and the cheese you do when taking a picture and smiling (I'm sure there are other meanings but I'm too dumb to figure them out :p). 

Overall this album is very complete as you have very different songs on it, each one talking about a certain topic, and each one being representative of Stray Kids' identity. 

To go further...

So, there's a person on YouTube who had this brilliant idea of making a song out of Stray Kids' memes. You can watch it right here. 

You can watch performances from the survival show they were formed through on YouTube. My all time favourite will always be "Hellevator" from their final mission in front of JYP himself. You can watch it right here.

They appeared on the 526th episode of weekly idol (aired on August 26, 2021) that you can watch right here. I didn't know they were so bad at reading on lips, they literally got me dying of laugh. 

Stray Kids participated and won Mnet's competition show "Kingdom". My personal favourite performance was the mashup of Blackpink's "Ddu-du-ddu-du" and their song "God's menu" which you can watch right here. Their reference to "Deadpool" was not left unnoticed and THE Ryan Reynolds reacted to this very performance and asking Bang Chan for an autograph. 

As for every album, Stray Kids made an "intro" video talking about how the album was made and the meaning of its songs, what were their goals with that album, etc. I'd recommend you to watch the intro video for their latest album "NOEASY" right here because it really helped me understand the true meaning behind this album. 

That's it for the presentation of the 4th generation Kpop boy group Stray Kids. I hope this article helped you getting more familiar with them, and if you knew them already I hope this article helped you learn something new about them. And remember: Stray kids everywhere all around the world! 

Take care and I'll see you all soon!

Love, Swan

 

Sources: YouTube, Kprofiles, Soompi. 

~ A.C.E ~

A.C.E (pronounced "Ace") is a south-korean boygroup who debuted on May 23rd, 2017 under the label "Beat Interactive". The group consists of five members: Donghun, Jun, Wow, Kim Byeongkwan and Chan.  "A.C.E stands for Adventure Calling Emotions, meaning that the group wants to cause emotions that urge people to go on adventures and make their dreams come true" (from Kprofiles). If you are a fan of A.C.E, you are called a "Choice". Their latest comeback was with their fifth Korean mini-album "Siren: DAWN" and its title track "Higher". You can follow the group's activities by following them on social media platforms:

• Homepage: A.C.E
• Facebook: officialA.C.E7
• Instagram: @official_a.c.e7
• Twitter: @official_ACE7‬
• YouTube: A.C.E Channel
• NaverPost: officialace
• Weibo: officialACE
• V Live: A.C.E Channel
• Fan cafe: A.C.E
• Soundcloud: A.C.E (에이스)
• TikTok: @officialace7

Get to know the members

Stage Name: Jun (준)

Birth Name: Park Jun Hee (박준희)

Position: Leader, Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer

Birthday: June 2, 1994

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 58 kg

Fun facts: Jun was born in Suncheon, in South Jeolla Province, South Korea. He has 2 older sisters, and his nickname is Suncheon’s Kangta. He moved to Seoul in order to follow his music career when he was 19. He previously had been a trainee under CJ E&M and Jellyfish entertainment for nearly seven years, and almost debuted three times. His favorite anime is "Attack on titans" and his favorite colours are red and blue. Jun can play the guitar and the piano. He likes soccer and strawberry yoghurt. Finally, he was a participant in the idol rebooting show ‘The Unit’ (ended on rank 21st).

 

 

 

Stage Name: Donghun (동훈)

Birth Name: Lee Dong Hun (이동훈)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: February 28, 1993

Height: 176cm

Weight: 58kg

Fun facts: Donghun was born in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. His nickname when he was young was Dongdong.He has a brother and his mother is good at music, she received the grand prize on a program called ‘Dojeon Jubu Gayo Star,’ which inspired him to become a singer. He attended Changhyun Highschool and made it to the top 10 in superstar K5 in university. Donghun was a vocal trainer for middle schoolers when he was in college. He said on Twitter that his favorite colour was purple. He likes romantic movies and watching movies alone. He also likes to skateboard and to play basketball. Donghun participated in YG's survival show "Mixnine" and ranked 8th place (was supposed to debut with the winning team but the debut got cancelled). 

 

 

Stage Name: Wow (와우)

Birth Name: Kim Seh Yoon (김세윤)

Position: Main Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: May 15, 1993

Height: 176cm

Weight: 60kg

Fun facts: Wow was born in Jeolla-do, South Korea. He also has a younger sister, Kim Eun Suh who's a former SIXTEEN contestant and also a contestant in Idol School. At the age of 19 he auditioned in front of YG's ex-CEO Yang Hyun Suk and became a YG trainee. However, he left the company after 1 year. Wow said he’s the best in having no facial expressions. His hobbies are watching movies and shopping and his favourite colours are black and white. He's good friends with BM of K.A.R.D. Like Donghun he participated in YG's survival show Mixnine but didn't make it to the final lineup (ranked 11th). 

 

 

 

Stage Name: Kim Byeongkwan (formerly known as Jason)

Birth Name: Kim Byeong Kwan (김병관)

Position: Main Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: August 13, 1996

Height: 174cm

Weight: 57kg

Fun facts: He was born in Seoul, South Korea and has a brother. He lived in Canada for 8 months when he was in the 5th grade. He can speak English. He was inspired to become a singer after watching Rain’s Rainism. He told his father the next day and he immediately enrolled him into a dance academy. After he came out from Hanlim Multi Art School, he participated in different auditions but kept getting eliminated in the 3rd round. In 2014, he won the JYP’s 11th audition stage and trained in JYP until sometime in 2015 alongside his bandmate Chan. His hobby is playing games and his favourite colour is sky blue. He is friends with Got7’s Yugyeom. They learned dance together in middle school before Yugyeom got into JYP. He's also close to ASTRO's Jinjin since High School. Byungkwan participated in YG's Mixnine and was supposed to debut with the final lineup (he ranked 4th) but the debut was cancelled. He was in the Top 12 Visual Male in Mixnine (ranked & chosen by Knetizens).  

Stage Name: Chan (찬)

Birth Name: Kang Yu Chan (강유찬)

Position: Main Vocalist, Maknae

Birthday: December 31, 1997

Height: 177cm

Weight: 59kg

Fun facts: Chan was born in Jeju, South Korea and has two brothers. Although his parents had a record store, Chan did not want to become a singer at first. From elementary school to middle school, he was a soccer player. After entering high school, he enrolled in a dance club. Chan was in JYP for 6 months alongside bandmate Byeongkwan. His favourite colour is yellow and he likes soccer. Chan’s ideal date is at an amusement park and at the movies. Chan was participant to the idol rebooting show ‘The Unit’ (ended on 9th and joined the debut team). Chan had his debut with UNB on April 7, 2018 and promoted with them until they disbanded on January 27, 2019. Chan's role models are Seventeen. His ideal type is someone who he can share a conversation with and talk well with as he think communication is important.

How I discovered A.C.E

The first time I heard about this group was actually through watching Chan and Jun's entrance performance on "The Unit". I watched that video once again before writing this article, and I thought "damn, they've gone a long way". I remember them being insecure about their future and having trouble finding motivation due to harsh training conditions. But when I see where they are now, I think that all those hardships were worth going through. 

When I think of A.C.E today, I think quality music video. From undercover to savage to goblin to higher, their  music videos got better and better, to the point where you can compare them to literal visual art. They also have amazing acting skills in front of the camera (which is not something any group can have), as well as amazing singing skills and choreographies. I suggest you go through their discography, from "Cactus" to "Higher" so you understand how far they've come. 

About their discography

1st debut single: Cactus

A.C.E debuted on May 23, 2017 with their debut single "Cactus". They went for a very electronic almost chaotic sound with that song. Back then, people criticised their "hot pants" dance. Even Rain on "The Unit" asked why they had decided to dance in such outfits. I personally didn't find this funny and was mad at people for not giving them a chance just because of shorts... Nevertheless, things calmed down as A.C.E has grown more mature and more popular. Regarding the song itself, I personally don't like it. It doesn't mean that it's a bad song, I actually find their vocals pretty stable for a debut. However, I don't like the 100% electronic sound-based instrumental. I would've loved to hear other things than artificial instruments and weird sounds only a computer could make. 

 

 

 

2nd single: Callin'

On October 18, 2017, A.C.E returns with their second single entitled "Callin'". If you listen closely to the chorus of this song, you'll notice that it is pretty similar to "Cactus", their previous release. And because they sound the same, the chorus isn't my favourite part of the song. However, I absolutely love the start of the song as well as its verses. Also, there was a HUGE improvement cinematographic-wise on the MV. The MV for "Cactus" was pretty simple, shot in one location. In "Callin'", they played a lot more with effects, colours, and used different locations (or at least that's what it seems like). Finally, can we talk about the colour scheme of this video (especially at the start)? That orange mixed with green and the yellow of the sun's rays, so beautiful. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st repackage album: Adventures in Wonderland

On June 7, 2018, A.C.E came back with their first repackage album entitled "Adventures in Wonderland", on which were 9 tracks: "Cactus (선인장)", "Callin'", "Black and blue", "Take me higher (title track)", "Dessert", "5TAR (Incompletion)", and the instrumental versions of "Cactus (선인장)", "Callin'" and "5TAR (Incompletion)". The song Black and Blue only features members Wow and Jun, and is pretty rap-centric (which is pretty interesting). It doesn't have a music video as it is a b-side track which wasn't promoted on music shows. Another b-side on this album is "Dessert", and it has NOTHING TO DO with "Black and Blue". This song is very chill and good to blast in your car! If you're still not satisfied with these two different vibes, you have "5TAR (Incompletion)" which falls under the "ballad but not so ballad" register (yes I know this genre doesn't exist but I didn't know how to explain it). Finally, we have the title track "Take me higher" which also has nothing to do with their previous title tracks "Cactus" and "Callin'". First, it has a distinctive summer vibe (as the album was released during summer). Second, the instrumental is less heavy which makes it easier for me to like the song. And last but not least, the chorus is catchy. What's better than a catchy song to listen to for the entire summer? 

 

2nd mini-album: Undercover

On May 17, 2019, A.C.E made their long-awaited comeback after almost a year with their second mini-album "Undercover" and its title track of the same name. The album is made of five tracks: "Do It Like Me", "Under Cover (title track)", "Mr. Bass", "If You Heard (들린다면)", "5TAR". I really want to applaud this group for busking on the streets even after their debut. That's what they did with their song "Do It Like Me". This song is a pretty bad-ass one, with a very energetic choreography. For "Mr. Bass" they went back to this electronic sound, but this time with more focus on vocals. The harmonies they went for reminded me a bit of Shinee's style. And then, you have "If you heard" which has a much softer vibe, and it seems like this song was made for their fans. Finally, you have the title track of this album that is "Under Cover", and this is when I believe the group started climbing. I started paying attention to A.C.E when they released "Under Cover", and a lot of people did as well. This song hits hard, the choreography is creative, and the quality of the MV just got to another level. This is when, according to me, the group found their style. 

 

1st Japanese debut single: All I want is you

On August 29 of 2019, A.C.E made their Japanese debut with their first Japanese single entitled "All I want is you". The song is fully in Japanese and is a vocal-centric ballad. I don't have much to say about this song because I'm not really familiar with their Japanese stuff. One thing I can affirm though is that their pronunciation is pretty good for non-native Japanese speakers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd mini-album: Undercover: The Mad Squad

On October 29, 2019, A.C.E came back with their third Korean mini-album "Undercover: The Mad Squad" and its title track "Savage". Me who thought that Undercover was going hard, Savage went even harder, especially choreography-wise. My favourite part of the song is the pre-chorus, especially Byeongkwan's part when he says "점잔 떨지 말고, 입꼬리 올리고" (translation: Don't let your dignity waver, Raise the corners of your mouth). Also, that theatre was used as a set for a Kpop MV... again x) This theatre was literally used in so many MVs. On this album you also have five other tracks which honestly I'm not very familiar with: "Intro: Escape", "Slow Dive", "So Sick (나쁜말)", "Holiday" and "Take Me Higher (Complete Ver.)".

 

 

 

2nd Japanese single: My Lover

On March 29, 2020, A.C.E released their second Japanese single entitled "My Lover", following their first Japanese single which was released almost a year prior. After listening to this song quite a few times, I have to say that I really appreciate how this song starts and how that beat got stuck in my head for a few hours. They released a dance practice for that song, and I'm glad they did because the choreography for this song is really nice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th mini album: HZJM : The Butterfly Phantasy 

On September 2, 2020, A.C.E released what I personally think is their best album to date, their fourth mini album "HZJM : The Butterfly Phantasy" and its title track "Goblin (Favorite Boys) (도깨비)". Their songs got a thousand times better with this album, especially the title track. That start is just so epic and hits so hard that it left me speechless the first time I heard it. The beat drop after that "welcome to the jungle" was just amazing. The chorus is a bit chaotic in terms of shouting but it doesn't affect the general impression of the song (and some people might like the shouting). And I didn't even mention the MV! You guys, the music videos keep getting better and better. The outfits here are just GORGEOUS, and the sets are spectacular. The chorography is also really badass and full of attitude! I'm in love with this music video. There are four other tracks on this album: "Golden Goose", "Baby Tonight (황홀경) (恍惚境)", "Stand by you" and "Clover". "Golden Goose" could have easily been a title track for this album. It goes hard just like all of their title tracks, the song is catchy and you want to dance to it. "Baby Tonight" gives a more mature and a more sexy vibe (love the outfits they wore on the Mcountdown performance, you can watch it right here). "Stand by you" has a more melancholic and nostalgic vibe, almost sad. This shows you how versatile this group is. I absolutely LOVE the electric guitar that kicks in during the second verse, it ads so much more emotions to the song. They made an MV for the song that you can watch right here. Finally, there's "Clover". This song is my favourite b-side of this album, with "Stand by you" being a close second. I don't know what to say other than that I'm glad that this song exists. 

 

 

5th mini-album: SIREN : DAWN

On June 22, 2021, A.C.E released their fifth mini-album entitled "SIREN : DAWN" and its title track "Higher". Me who thought that "Goblin (favourite boys)" was their best MV, I was really wrong. Their previous music video was gorgeous, but this one is, heavenly, sumptuous, majestic, everything! Plus, the song is really balanced between the powerful chorus and the "gentle" verses. This balance is what was missing for me in their previous songs. And this hairstyle on Donghun? The ponytail look was so good on him. There are four other tracks on the album: "INTRO : Miserere Mei Deus (We Fell Down)", "Atlantis", "Chasing Love", and "Story". I honestly didn't give these song a listen, but I promise I will. 

 

 

 

 

To go further...

A.C.E released an all-english digital single in collaboration with the singer Grey called "DOWN", you can watch it right here. The MV is a meme in itself, they're just so funny. 

A.C.E are singing "Spark", the OST of the Korean Boys Love drama called "Light on me" which aired from June 29th till August 19 and which you can watch on Viki and YouTube. Watch the official MV for "Spark" and get a glimpse of the drama right here.

They did a couple of covers, including Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved", James Arthur's "Empty Space", 5SOS's "Youngblood", and VIXX's "On and on". 

They shot underwater twice for their jacket shooting, and the result was... I don't even have words. The first shooting was for "Goblin (favourite boys)" where they wore traditional Korean clothing: Goblin underwater photoshoot, and the second shooting was for "Higher", their latest comeback, with two parts. The first part was based on an "enchanting sirens" concept. The visuals were enchanting, with bright and shining colours: Higher underwater photoshoot part 1. The second one was really mysterious, dark, and you feel like you're being hypnotised: Higher underwater photoshoot part 2. 

That's it for A.C.E's presentation! I hope this article was useful and will let you consider checking out this group who still unfortunately lacks recognition. Trust me they are worth checking out. And for those who already knew A.C.E, feel free to leave your favourite song of them in the comments section :) 

Take care and I'll see you soon!

Love, Swan

 

 

Sources: Kprofile, YouTube, Wikipedia.