4 Lessons on Fandom Star Wars Taught Me

 Published on MacGMagazine, May 4th 2019

With today being Star Wars Day, and the trailer for the final movie of the Skywalker series recently released, I thought it was fitting to talk about Star Wars. I am fan of a lot of things, but Star Wars was probably my first love. 20 years and all of the highs and lows of the franchise, I still adore it and eagerly look forward to more content. Today, I wanted to talk about lessons that being a Star Wars fan has taught me fandom.

01 The thing you love doesn’t belong to you.

Star Wars has seen many changes. Massive tonal shifts, studio changes, long-held canon blew to bits within a single interview, and the fans weren’t always happy with it. A notable example of this is the petition to have “The Last Jedi” be removed from the official canon and be re-edited. Numerous actors have came forth, talking about the harassment they received from “fans.” Sometimes it feels like the fandom will never be happy with the finished product, myself included. Some may walk in with theories of how things should transpire and lash out when the movie deviates from the headcanon. That conveniently leads me to lesson #1.

Sometimes the drama doesn’t have a satisfying ending. Sometimes your favorite entertainment company will make terrible calls, and sometimes your favorite actor or idol will do something that will disappoint you. All you really do is accept it, and if it gets bad, walk away from it.

In the past, I felt like I knew the perfect way to fix the franchise, to “save” everything, but that way doesn’t exist. I can’t march up to Disney or SM Entertainment and tell them how to fix things. I can only support the artists and actors and accept that this was never mine to fix.

Even when you create something, you rarely have sole control of it. This very article had to be passed on to one of my incredible editors who, in turn, left their own mark on this. Things like Star Wars or K-Pop can indeed build a community, but that community doesn’t solely belong to one person. We all leave a mark on our fandom, for better or worse.

02 There is no “Fandom Police.”

Every so often, there will be someone who proclaims that if you don’t watch a certain movie or show, read a certain book, then you are a “fake fan.” The internet is plagued with people bemoaning their encounters with “fake” fans, and in an attempt to sort out the true fan from the fakes, we must ask tricky trivia questions to reveal who is who.
Here’s the thing. If you like something, you’re a fan. You like The Star Wars movies, you’re a fan. You’re not a fan of the movies but liked the games, you’re a fan. You’ve never played the games but liked the books, still a fan.
The same is basically true about K-Pop, Hallyu or anything fandom, really. You don’t have to consume every piece of media released on your fandom. There’s no grand all-knowing master that you have to prove your worth to. There are no fandom police who will come and take your stuff if you don’t know the ancestral home of your faves. If there is, I would have been ostracized years ago when I didn’t know that TVXQ and DBSK were the same group.

Yes, some will try to challenge you. Some might intimidate you with how much they know, but it doesn’t matter.

The real test of if you’re a real fan is if you’re respectful to people you’re a fan of, your fellow fans and dare I say, other fandoms. Also, enjoy the content you get. If you don’t like it anymore, then let it go. Don’t ruin it for others.
It’s that simple. No secret handshake, no contracts. Like the thing you like and be respectful.

03 The negative fans will always been the loudest.

Imagine you’re in a room with a hundred people. You’re all talking, having a good time, when suddenly, ten people break out into a fight. Security finally shows up and kicks them out The night continues but the memories of the fight will linger in your mind and perhaps in the mind of the people housing the party.

Fandoms are the same way. There will be the loud “fans” who spread rumors, start fights and in general, try to ruin the good time we’re trying to have. You can’t stop those fans, but you can report them (when it’s an option), ignore them and keep the party going.

04 Everyone is a nerd for something.

This is pretty straightforward. Years ago, a classmate tried to tease me for being a geek. (Not the first time that’s happened, definitely won’t be the last time.) Minutes later, the conversation shifted to sports and the same classmate talked about tailgating and his favorite teams. I turned to him and yelled, “Oh, nerds camping out for movie releases is stupid, but you doing for sports make it cool?” He tried to justify the difference but gave up when I called fantasy sports leagues Sports Fanfictions.

Don’t let those who tell you that it’s nerdy or weird stop you. Everyone is a nerd for something, from the the person who regularly watches every season of “The Bachelor,” to those who can identify fashion labels from 20 paces or the person who can tell you the entire history of Jack Kirby’s work. We all have something that we love and love talking about. It might be as common as sports, and others might be more niche like ancient Grecian battle strategies. We’re all nerds here.
With these four helpful tips, I hope you can go out and have some great fandom experiences! Happy Star Wars Day, everyone. May the force be with you.

(Change, BBC News, New York Times, DenOfGeeks, StarWars.fandom, L.A. Times, Star Wars.)

A Deep Dive into Bang Yongguk’s ‘Hikikomori’ & Kendrick Lamar’s ‘U’

 Published on MacGMagazine, May 16th 2019

I’m always curious about how artists can use similar topics or tools and make two different pieces or even how artists can influence one another. To exist is to consume, and the art we create is often influenced by the things we consume. Music is very much art, as it can move, inspire and transport the listener just as paintings and movies can.

Today, I’d like to compare two songs: Bang Yongguk’s “Hikikomori” and Kendrick Lamar’s “U.”

I’m not comparing these songs to determine which is better but to see how these two artists uses similar tools to create two outstanding pieces of art.

Trigger Warning: This article will be discussing various issues such as depression, suicidal thoughts and agrophobia.

Bang Yongguk released his eponymous album on March 15, 2019. Bang Yongguk and his former B.A.P members were open about numerous social issues such as mental health, corporate greed and hierarchical abuse in their music, an incredible feat for the young group. Yongguk himself also took a brief hiatus in his B.A.P promotions for “Noir” due to his anxiety disorder. He returned for their “Rose” comeback and the video for their lead single, “Wake Me Up.” The video touched on multiple mental health issues such as schizophrenia, body dysmorphia and depression.

As for Lamar, on March 15, 2015, he released his third album, “To Pimp A Butterfly.” Lamar, likewise, has been open about his past, growing up impoverished in Compton as well as social issues like police brutality, mental illness, gang turf wars and drug abuse. On the same album, the song “I” is a song about achieving self-love after persevering through trials. The funk beat keeps the mood light and energetic, compelling the listener to dance as Lamar proclaims “I love myself.”

That being said, the song I want to focus on is, “U,” an unofficial companion track that starts with a violent scream followed by haunting vocals and a dark jazz instrumental. Whereas “I” has the chorus of “I love myself,” Lamar and a background vocal chant “Loving you is complicated” throughout the first half of the song and a fractured sample during the second. Lyrically, it’s tricky to know if the speaker in “U” is someone close to Lamar or Lamar’s own insecurities and doubts personified. Nonetheless, Lamar pulls no punches in his words and delivery.

The song’s speaker bitterly criticizes Kendrick for neglecting loved ones and accuses him of being fake, spouting out songs like “I” when he’s actually plagued with depression. Lamar’s flow is quickfire and accusatory, only stopping when he reaches the second part. There, the song’s speaker is on the verge of tears and his words are punctured with the cracking emotions in his voice and the sound of glasses clinking, followed by him gulping down his drink.

“Hikikomori” starts much lighter, the sounds of footsteps walking away from people talking and closing a door. The light snare drums and keyboard are soothing until you reach the dark ambient chorus and the lyrics “If you love me, why can’t you leave me alone?” This slow escalation continues as the second verse leads a haunting piano and an animalistic breathing and screaming. There, Yongguk seemingly spits out his words and sounds out of breath.

Lyrically, “Hikikomori” is just as haunting and solemn. Vulnerable lines like “Don’t wanna be bothered in my own world, so I keep avoiding it” or “Do you know what it feels like, when no matter how much you eat and drink, you become overcome by sadness?” speak to the pain that not only Yongguk but those with depression, myself included, can feel in those dark moments.

When you listen to the two songs, you can hear some similarities: the frustrated delivery of each artist’s words, the saxophone being a key instrument in the composition, the cathartic screams. Bang has posted about Lamar’s music on social media in the past, so his inspiration is hardly surprising. What interests me most is how these two artists used similar pieces to tell their own unique struggles.

The titles themselves give a hint about their different themes. “Hikikomori” is a Japanese term for those who have completely isolated themselves from the outside world and stay primarily in their houses for over six months. On the other hand, “U” is ambiguously simple, not telling you anything until you finally play the song.

The videos add another layer. While both feature the rappers in solitude, they play with the setting differently. Yongguk alternates between different action and emotions, trashing the room in anger and frustration in one scene, then hiding underneath a table in the next. The scene of him laughing in between screams is an incredibly powerful image. Depression is never one feeling or symptom.

Lamar’s performance is simple but just as effective. The video starts with him rapping off-screen to someone until the camera pans to the mirror, revealing he’s alone. The song gets interrupted by hotel housekeeping knocking on the door, and Lamar turns and raps directly to us, the audience. It’s as jarring as it is haunting, seeing him in the throes of a breakdown.

Another contrast is that while the message in “U” (“Loving you is complicated”) is constant and nagging, the message of “Hikikomori” (“Loving myself is complicated”) has a quiet sadness that seeps into your soul.

The albums “To Pimp A Butterfly” and “Bang Yongguk” are on streaming services.

If you feel you need help with any mental health problems, here’s a link to get you the help you need.

Playlist: K-Drama OST

Published on MacGMagazine by Jess Durr, April 3rd 2020

I’m always on the hunt for new music. I’m a music addict, that’s what we do. My ears are always open for a new tune that worms its way into my heart and my numerous playlists. So when I fell down the K-Drama rabbit hole, the soundtrack (OST) certainly made the journey much smoother.

I don’t have any rules from this one, however, I am pulling songs from the OST and songs that were only used during the dramas. With that said, this playlist is some of my favorite OST tracks.

Rush — Every Single Day

Gap-Dong centered around a group of individuals searching for the infamous serial killer “Gapdongi”. The original killer went missing after his 13th murder, 20 years before the start of the drama and right when a copycat has emerged. All of them have different motivations and different encounters with the original. The dark, atmospheric music has a driving force that perfectly encapsulates the cat and mouse nature of the show. The band, Every Single Day, also did the theme for Pasta, one of my all-time favorite dramas.

Jo Jung Hee — Now and Forever

You ever hear a song and from the first 15 seconds, you immediately know you have to own it? Yeah, this is it for me. Jo Jung Hee‘s voice has the husky, mature voice of a torch singer and just sells the flirty nature of the lyrics. In a drama discussing the hardships of romance, she makes it sounds so effortless. It’s like a siren’s call. “Let’s fall in love, why shouldn’t we fall in love?” Seductive and playful from start to finish.

Kim Ji Soo & Jo Moon Geun — First Love

I nearly didn’t add this to the list because it’s not on the Monstar OST and it makes me frustrated whenever I hear it! Nonetheless, this led me to the original Busker Busker song and I’m eternally grateful. This stripped-down version makes the original song sound bombastic which is also fitting. The song is about a person’s first love and this performance showcases a quiet but relentless take on the experience.

Clazziquai — She Is

Listen, I think we all know that I had to add this one. Ugh, where do I start with this one? I remember watching My Lovely Sam-Soon and just screaming “THIS MY SONG, Y’ALL” whenever this played. I’ve seen it parodied, I’ve obsessed over it for years and I’m still in love with it. I don’t say this often but it’s perfect.

Okdal — 옥상달빛

I started watched K-Dramas in July 2012 with Pasta. I’ve always loved the playful, almost whimsical melody of the song but could never find it. I searched the OST but I only found Jung Ah‘s You’re So Cute. Fast forward 6 years. I’m on my millionth rewatch of Pasta and happen to see a comment with the song title in it! It took me about an hour to dins it after that because the song title is “Rooftop Moonlight”. The band nickname? “Okdal”, which translates “Rooftop Moonlight”! Nonetheless, I found it and it never fails to make me happy.

Jay Park — Happy Ending

I very nearly didn’t add this to the list. I wrestled with what songs to add but I just had to add this on here. It is so sugary pop and completely different than most songs from Jay Park’s discography. And yet, this song just makes me so happy! It’s impossible for me not to dance or smile whenever I hear it. I can’t name many songs that make me as genuinely happy as “Happy Endings” does.

These are hardly all of the great OST songs so comment with some of your favorites!

Playlist: Groups Who Disbanded Too Soon

 Published on MacGMagazine, September 16th 2020

Welcome to another playlist! This is a playlist I’ve been playing around with. I’ve been doing Rapid Review a lot lately and I keep running into groups who came close to disbanding but managed to pull through. Unfortunately, I also ran into groups who just couldn’t find their footing.

Now, there’s a lot of things behind the scenes we don’t know about: corporate shake-ups, personality differences, legal matters, etc. Still, there are so many groups who show great promise but can’t make it off the ground. Groups who had interesting concepts and sounds but couldn’t make it work.

Warning: My focus with this playlist is groups who didn’t get a fair chance and disbanded too soon. As much as I’d love to add groups like 2NE1 or Sistar, they were incredibly popular. Putting them on the same list as someone like Alphabat seems unfair. We’re going for the groups with maybe 20 songs under their belts and who deserved more.

Black Widow – Pristin

UGH, WE WERE CHEATED!! Debuting in May 2017 under Pledis Entertainment, the group had some good steam going. Seven of the ten members competed in Produce 101 and two even made it into IOI! Still, it wasn’t even enough and they disband in 2019.

I loved Pristin’s sound, a mix of cute, fierce, and mischievous. It’s something that’s rarely done in K-Pop as most groups go the “Cute”, “Tough”, or “Sultry” paths. Not that it’s a bad thing but I wish there was more for those who don’t see themselves that way.

I Like That- Glam

Did you know that BigHit once had a girl group on the label? A lot of people don’t, which is a shame. Debuting in 2012, Glam only had 4 songs but wow, this group slapped. Much like PRISTIN, Glam didn’t quite fit into the typical K-Pop boxes but that’s what made them work. Even this beat! Composed by RM (Yes, that RM but focus), it actually samples “Why Do You” by Chuli and Miae. It’s taking something old and giving it a new spin, much like the K-Pop scene at the time.

Unfortunately, the group didn’t make it big and disbanded in 2014 for some…..Interesting reasons. I’m still incredibly bummed that they never got made it big.

Moonlight Sonata – BIGSTAR

The magic phrase for this article is “What a waste”, dear reader. Bigstar debuted in 2012 and disbanded last year when their contracted expired. Total songs released by the group? 15! Some of you might know the rapper, Feeldog, from his variety show appearances but overall, they flew under the radar.

And this song shows what they could have done. They fit this smooth R&B sound well, a sound mainstream K-Pop was missing at that time. Maybe they wouldn’t be really big, but they could have found success. But their company, Brave Entertainment failed them, much like they failed with their other groups.

Ready Set Go – LC9

LC9 might sound a bit basic in a 2020 mindset but you have to remember that in 2013, there weren’t a lot of groups who successfully pulled off the edgier hip-hop sound. B.A.P. was taking over the mainstage and LC9 debuted just a month before BTS. It was anyone’s game at that time and LC9 very possibly could have been where BTS is right now. But we’ll never know. They disbanded in January 2016.

Galaxy – Ladies’ Code

Technically, Ladies’ Code went on hiatus after their contracts expired but I’m still putting them on the list. I have a soft spot in my heart for this group, especially after my review of their first 2 EPs. Ladies’ Code has a diverse sound that pulls from many different genres: jazz, disco, ballads, dance tracks and they handle it remarkably. I really wished they were known more for their music than the tragedy. And I wish these three ladies the best in their lives, wherever it may lead.

I know I missed a lot of other groups. Madtown, Tiny-G, History, just to name a few. Feel free to not only let me know who else I missed but to check out smaller groups who might be struggling. Your support can mean more than you think.

Yang Hyun-suk Has Left, But the YG Stank Remains

 Published on MacGMagazine, March 2nd 2020

When last we left YG Entertainment, Yang Hyun-suk and his brother had stepped down as CEOs due to criminal investigations. K-pop fans rejoiced his departure because, frankly, he was a thug pretending to be a CEO. Still, we hoped things would get better in this new Yang-Free YG. We no longer need to fight this company!

Oh, sweet summer child …

Yes, dear readers, we are here again because despite Yang’s absence, we back on this YG nonsense. Let’s take this blow by blow, shall we?

TREASURE/MANGUM/TREASURE13?

After Yang left, we finally got more news about Treasure! Mostly just new pictures of the young men and news of a variety show. But hey, baby steps, right? Unfortunately, news came in January that one trainee, Ha Yoon-bin, decided to leave the group in hopes of becoming a soloist.

Along with the announcement of Ha’s leaving came the news of none of the members writing or producing any of the music, as previously told. Also, the group would be more like two brother groups who occasionally collaborate rather than the originally planned one group. When all 12 combine, they’ll be Treasure13, although I hope they’ll tweak the name. Also, we still have no debut date and one of the groups is named (thus far) Magnum! I’m both really glad that Ha left when he could and saddened he could sneak the other ones out too.

Don’t get me wrong, I wish the best for the group. They’ve worked hard to get where they are. But I don’t trust this company. YG Entertainment has burned a lot of artists and fans. Speaking of people they burned …

B.I DESERVED BETTER

In June 2019, allegations came forth about iKON‘s leader, B.I. According to reports, he contacted someone about buying some drugs due to his then anxiety problems. B.I claimed he never actually purchased the drugs but decided to leave his group regardless. Nonetheless, what hurts the most was YG Entertainment’s poor handling of the situation.

The whole thing happened in the span of hours. I remember waking up to the news of the allegations, B.I’s removal and YG’s statements that morning. They handled with efficiency we’ve never seen from them before. Yeah, I went there. I’m still mad. What makes this frustrating is on Feb. 27, 2020, B.I tested negative for drugs.

YG is hardly a stranger to drug scandals, even before last year’s drama. BigBang‘s T.O.P and G-Dragon on separate occasions have been caught using drugs, as well as in-house producer Kush. Park Bom was signed with YG when her murky drug scandal hit the public. So why did B.I leave? Why didn’t the company protect him by at least putting him on hiatus while the investigations went on? Why is it that both T.O.P and G-Dragon are still with the company, despite admitting to drug use, but B.I isn’t?

It’s bad enough that they’re still using B.I’s songs and arrangements on iKON’s latest album. Why couldn’t they have waited for him? They only needed to wait six months for this to clear up. Trust me, it’s hardly the longest time we’ve waited to hear more from a YG artist or group! Speaking of the terrible YG waiting game!

THEY’RE ABOUT TO DO ANOTHER ONE

On February 26, YG Entertainment announced they’re forming a new girl group and hoping for a late 2020 debut. Remember how I mentioned earlier how we still don’t know when Treasure13 will debut? The group that’s been waiting for debut since January 2019? Yep!

This is especially frustrating as BLACKPINK, who is currently YG’s only girl group, still doesn’t have a full album. I honestly search for words, but all I can form is “Why is this garbage?!” I’m not a fan of theirs, but they deserve more than this. Granted, YG has mentioned an upcoming secret project for the group. But goodness only knows what it’ll happen or when we’ll see it.

If they move forward with this girl group while they continue to neglect BLACKPINK, this is only going to lead to animosity between the groups and their fans. Yes, the company desperately needs to rebuild its image and artists. But as we can see, they’re doing so at the expense of others.

Yang Hyun-suk might be gone, but it seems this fight is far from over.

(Soompi, Korea Times, Billboard.)

Netflix's 'Vagabond' Leaves Fans Hungry For More!

 Published on  MacGMagazine, February 7th 2020

Netflix just wrapped up on “Vagabond,” its latest joint project with Korean networks, and fans are hungry for more! Partially due to the intense plot and charismatic cast but mostly because the series ends on a major cliffhanger. It’s been over two months now, and while the crew is up to return, neither Netflix nor SBS has confirmed anything. While I haven’t seen it, I’ve read the ending and I completely understand the cries for a season 2. This leads to an interesting thought, though: Will multi-season K-dramas become more common? Should they even be more common?

Of course, there have been numerous dramas with additional seasons, but typically they feel more like anthologies than a straight-up season 2. “Let’s Eat” has had three successful seasons following the eating exploits of Goo Dae-young, played by Yoon Doo-joon. The Reply series and “I Need Romance” borrow framing devices from past series but feature mostly new characters.

However, there are the occasional sequels that continue the story of the original characters. “God’s Quiz” has had series that end with cliffhangers, most notably series 3 which ended with the main character in a coma. We also have the recently released movie “Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos.” “Bad Guys” already has a season 2 with a new cast, whereas the movie follows two of the characters of the first season. I’m not complaining about this because I need to know how my boys, Jung Moon and Tae Soo, are doing.

With that said, things have changed in Hallyu these past five years. Netflix has been streaming K-dramas for well over a decade now. Once more free streaming sites went online, more people started watching. I myself stumbled upon my first drama on Hulu in 2012, a year that saw a large spike in new Hallyu fans. Now that foreign shows and movies are more accessible and common, Netflix has a possible gold rush in their laps.

As a fan of Asian dramas, I feel torn at the prospect of more multi-season dramas. I love how different it is from Western shows. The unique storytelling and perspective, the depth of character development, they quirky plotlines that can pull on my heartstrings. I love it all. While I love the idea of expanding stories, there are always concerns. In the mad rush to become more popular, I’d hate for K-dramas to lose their own special magic.

I also love that they’re often one season. I’ve had beloved shows canceled too soon, and a story told over a single season is comforting. Even if it ends poorly, it’s not years of my life gone, only a few months. What if the second season isn’t as good as the first? What if we end season 1 on a cliffhanger only for season 2 to never happen? Constantly, we see series with great promise get tragically canceled.

Nonetheless, I’m curious to see how this ends and what more awaits the future of K-dramas.

(Wikipedia, Viki, Soompi, YouTube [1][2].)

‘… But at Least the Special Effects were Decent!’

 Published on MacGMagazine, June 29th 2019

The point of art is to make the viewer feel something. Granted, that intention may fail and the viewer might feel something other than the desired feeling. Nonetheless, an emotion or reaction was experienced. The art may be in poor taste, poorly received or mass produced by a company with dollar signs in their eyes, but that experience exists.

Movies and television are relatively young art forms, especially compared to literature’s whopping millennia to film’s century. It’s also one of both auditory and visual expression. Editing, cinematography, direction, writing and countless other things are done to support that art, to build this moving, breathing thing we behold. But what about when a key part of of the project itself apart? What then?

A great example of this comes from “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” In the last season, the main characters go to a play that depicts an abridged retelling of the show’s events. The play is over-the-top, gets numerous things wrong (casting a hulking woman to play a small ten-year-old girl being one of them) and even deigns to foretell future events for our heroes. One by one, the characters air their complaints about the play, ending it with the line, “But the special effects were decent!” Hilariously, the movie based on the show would suffer similar reviews.

While done as a joke, it speaks to my question. There’re countless movies that have weak writing and acting but might be visually stunning. “Transformer: Dark of the Moon,” which has more problems than I could possibly list, does have many visually stunning scenes. The Star Wars franchise helped create new tools in filmmaking in its long history and yet has many flaws.

What if the show or movie started off promising but falls apart as it continues? The first two season of the BBC‘s “Sherlock” were amazing, but the show lost its steam during later seasons. That being said, its interesting visualization of challenging concepts (such as Sherlock’s deduction process and his mental breakdown after an overdose) were exceptional.

What about its intentions? Recently, “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” an addition to the long-loved franchise, hit theaters. The plotting and script are definitely weak, but it also acts as a love letter to the titans featured in it. I recently watched it, and you can feel the care and love the crew had for the project. So should that be discounted as a mindless spectacle or something more?

At what point should we appreciate art, as flawed as it may be, as art? At what point is the whole greater than the sum of its parts ? I don’t have the answers, but as we get further into the year, maybe it’s something we should think about.

EXO’s Obsession: A Message to Fake Fans and Haters

Published on MacGMagazine, March 11th 2020

It’s been 4 months and I’m still not quite over EXO‘s “Obsession.” Despite my bias, Suho, trying to kill me and being three members down, it’s easily my favorite comeback from them. Weeks after, news broke about Chen‘s engagement and his fiancee’s pregnancy. I, like most EXO-Ls, flooded the internet with our well-wishes.

However, it didn’t stop some fans from protesting the group and demanding his removal. While SM Entertainment has announced he’s staying, it’s yet another case of fandom entitlement problems. Now, these weeks later, I hear something more from “Obsession”: a preemptive message to those fans. But I need to ask you something before we get there.

WHAT IS A FAN?

That sounds like a simple question, I know. But in these days of the internet and international media, it needs to be asked again. A fan is simply someone who likes a particular thing. A movie, a show, a song, etc. Granted, over the years, the word gives different images (often negative ones), but at its core, that’s what it is. No amount of gatekeeping idiots change that. Of course, fandom is hardly that simple sometimes.

Lately, we’ve discussed more openly the darker side of fandom, those “fans” who believe because they’ve dedicated so much of their time to an artist or thing, they’re entitled. After all, “fan” is short for “fanatic,” a word often used to describe dangerous and irrational people. They’re obsessed.

“I WANT YOU”

“Obsession” stands out to me. It’s one of EXO’s more aggressive songs. Usually, their songs about toxic relationships go more, “Woe is me! How did we get here?!” or “Hurts so good. Curse this toxic love!” The narrator of “Obsession,” however, is well over this “relationship” and just wants to be free. That’s if this was a reciprocal relationship, which it certainly doesn’t sound like.

Where their other songs sound energetic, sultry or mournful, this sounds frustrated and catastrophic. It even sounds darker, with its relentless booming bass and altered voices during the verses and chorus. The group also sings at a more aggressive and fast pace than their usual songs.

One of the things that sticks out to me is the vocalist saying “I want you.” That one sentence is looped and triplicated throughout the entire song. I originally thought it stopped during the chorus, but it’s still there, haunting and persistent. The “I want you” line is the first thing we hear when we listen to it. No one sings for 13 seconds. The only time it’s gone is the bridge. Incidentally, it’s when Suho, the leader, and Chen sing the lines

The time we were happy together, I know
I have to end them now
Forget everything, yeah

In light of certain fans clamoring for Chen’s removal, it’s hard not to listen to “Obsession” and hear a message from EXO members to fake fans: “Shut up and go away.”

SHADOW BOXING

Thinking in that light, the video becomes even more interesting. Over the years, many idols have talked about their stage personas. Those who are bold and fierce onstage are often shy or quiet. Some who seem proud can have the biggest hearts. That being said, this duality goes deeper.

As an artist, you choose what part of yourself to reveal to the public. You welcome strangers to look at you and your work, hoping they’ll accept you. When it works, you can have a group of supporters. When it fails, you can have hordes of people who feel entitled to your life and know no boundaries. Unfortunately, as a public figure, you often get both types of followers.

So how does one use their platform to speak out about this? How do you express the conflict between your public identity and your private life? Or perhaps what your company says on your behalf versus what you truly said? It can’t be an accident that this is the video where they fight alternate versions of themselves. EXO the artists vs EXO the people.

TO THE FAKE FANS

It’s unfair to put this solely on EXO-Ls. There are far too many instances where “fans” have crossed the line, invading an idol’s privacy, assaulting them and even demanding they leave the group. Chen and EXO are hardly the first this has happened to. Heck, they’re not even the first artists at SM this has happened to. But it’s nice that in this way, they can possibly speak up about these toxic people.

And yes, they are toxic. “Fans” who try to stifle an artist’s growth, both personally and professionally, and threaten to remove their support are gaslighting bullies. To the people who feel entitled to other people’s lives, to those who try to stop artists from living happy lives, do us all a favor. Shut up and go away.

Rapid Review: Primary's "Primary and the Messengers"

 Published on MacGMagazine, March 16th 2020, 4:00:52 pm

As part of this new series, Rapid Review, I wanted to focus on older albums and EPs. I’ve noticed a lot of Hallyu fans joined the fandom during 2016-2019 and might have missed out on some lesser-known albums.

Today, I’m talking about the Korean producer, Primary and his 2012 album “Primary and the Messengers.” While he’s been on the Korean underground scene since 2006, this is the first album after he signed with Amoeba Culture.

Album Summary

It’s actually a double album, clocking in at about 71 minutes. This is one of the first albums my friend recommended to me as I was discovering K-pop. It’s honestly one of my favorites, but it’s been a while since I’ve really listened and examined it.

Most of the features are indie or underground artists such as E-Sens, Beenzino and Junggigo. This album is curious because it carries retro grooves like “Question Mark” and “Meet,” but it’s not afraid to shake things up. In “Far,” the instrumental is simple and mournful and then switches to sultry in “Mine Tonight.”

Primary has a distinct sound, but he still manages to diversify his style with his rotation of featured artists. “Poison,” for example, beautifully balances the simple instrumental paired with Zion.T’s ethereal vocals and E-Sens’s gruff rap.

Overall, it’s just a chill album that’s great to play in the background that has amazing bops. In 20 tracks, Primary manages to showcase a wide range that never left me bored or annoyed. Also, the bonus track, “거기서 거기읾” is a hidden gem.

High points:

Poison, I’m Back, Too Far and Playboy’s Diary

Low points:

Friendzone/Clean Entrance, High-End Girl,

In Conclusion

While there are some songs that I didn’t like, they didn’t drag the album down or the songs I loved. This album helped me find a lot of the artists I love today. It sounds as amazing as it did six years ago. I recommend this for someone who loves New Jack Swing or who wants to listen to more than standard K-pop fare.

Album Rating

7.5/10

BewhY's The Movie Star Singles Review

 Published on MacGMagazine, August 10th 2019, 10:00:26 pm

BewhY has always been an interesting rapper in my eyes. He came across my radar after his “Show Me The Money” win. His skillful rapping and deep lyrics had different labels trying to sign him. Despite having the means to jump ship, BewhY stayed with his company, Lumin Entertainment and continues to pursue his career his way.

Playlist: Live Performances

 Published on MacGMagazine on February 14th 2020, 6:00:45 pm

I love a great playlist. At the risk of sounding old, I feel like it’s becoming a dying art. The control of the flow and mood, the diversity of a shared thing. So in this article, I’ll be curating a list of songs around the theme of great live performances.

Now, before we get into this, I had three rules I wanted to (mostly) adhere to.

1. No end-of-year performances. Yes, the MAMAs alone could fill this list, but the camerawork and mic issues are frustrating and diminish a song.
2. No music show performances. Again, I could easily use a bunch of Inkigayo and Music Bank performances to do this. That’s exactly why I didn’t include them. I wanted to challenge myself.
3. I’m focusing more on vocal than dance performance, so no “Hit The Stage” or fancams. I want that good audio.

Now that we have that established, let’s go!!

Dynamic Duo — Dodoripyo

Dynamic Duo has been performing for over 15 years, and you can see how comfortable they are with their work. Even in this small and ridiculous setting, they bring this chaotic energy that hints at what their stage performances are like.

Park Bom — Hann

Yes, I realize this violates rule 2, but I had to add this one. Before this stage, I’m not sure if Park Bom has ever done something like this alone. She killed this stage! Much like Dynamic Duo, you can see her years of experience in how she just controls EVERYTHING. Park Bom showed up to remind you that she was in 2NE1 and she’s not here to play games with these kids. Then she did it with a cover of a junior group’s song! I had to break my rule for Bom.

SHINee — Excuse Me Miss

Listen, we all know that SHINee can just destroy a live stage. While doing this list, I was torn between this or the “Evil” performance from “SHINee World III.” I picked this because it is a perfect encapsulation of what makes SHINee spectacular. From Key‘s general fabulous and sultry existence to Minho‘s slinging his long limbs while Taemin is being extra. Onew is smooth and smoldering and the late, great Jonghyun being his tiny, disrespectful self.

So Hyang — Arirang

I don’t even know where to start with this one. The song “Arirang” is an honorary Korean national anthem, and So Hyang‘s delivery carries the majesty and emotions to even the least patriotic person. The background vocals perfectly compliment her, and the orchestra just launches this into another atmosphere. I typically don’t like songs like this because they often feel manipulative. This, however, feels sincere and uplifting. It’s a great example of how music can transcend language and culture.

Onew — Nessun Dorma

I want to give some backstory to this. In 2014, he had to have surgery to remove vocal polyps from his throat. While the typical recovery time for this procedure is a few weeks, Onew couldn’t talk for months. During that time, Jonghyun and Taemin made their solo debuts and not much news came from SM Entertainment about his recovery. This is actually the second time he’s sung this song, but this performance? With his vocals not only recovered but improved, this will always bring tears to my eyes.

Xia Junsu — 11am

So since we’re in our feelings, we might as well stay there for this one. Ugh, Xia Junsu! This makes me want to go to one of his musicals. This performance lives solely on the strength of his voice and emotions. He goes for nearly three minutes without any accompaniment. No background vocals, no guitar, nothing but a piano and some noisy birds that still work? He does so much with such a sparse setting and it’s perfect. The album version has more instrumentation, but to me, it pales in comparison to this.

There are so many other performances I nearly added to this list. When I first made my playlist of songs to consider, I forced myself to stop at 12 … And still added five more. But at the end of the day, these stood out to me and made me completely fangirl over.

Be sure to let us know what performances would make your list!