Midweek New Music Roundup :: December 11th - 18th

[hitokage]

It's still the middle of the week. Sort of. Close enough! I actually had all the reviews wrapped up last night, but by then it was time to feed the cats and go to bed, so we get the post tonight instead. I am not yet sure if I'll manage another one before January - on the one hand, I'd like to make a last sweep of the Christmas music with a post next week, and on the other hand, the holidays. We'll see where I am next week. I've also skipped the Mea Culpa section again this week; if I don't post again before the end of the year, I'll start fresh on the first.

So with that bit of housekeeping out of the way ... the listing this week is overflowing with Christmas music, most of it new original songs, so if that's your jam, you're in luck! And if it's not, well, there's plenty of non-seasonal music, too! From the pre-debut of new girl group UDTT to comebacks from everyone from AleXa to ZIDA-B (see what I did there?). Whether it's fresh hiphop from Mark Lee (NCT) or jazz from MUZIE, R&B from Min Jiwoo or rock from KiMMI, there's likely to be something for everyone, whatever your Kpop niche.

Banner artist slot this week goes to ATEEZ, who surprised ATINY with a special gift. And I'm nothing if not a predictable simp for my co-ults. 😅 Additional picks this week go to AleXa, Mark and Lee Youngji, Stray Kids, and, in spite of all my grumbling, P1Harmony.


Releases for the week of December 11th - 18th:
DaFF - Zombie (feat. UNEDUCATED KID) *
UDTT - Retry (pre-debut) *
Grizzly - FTS * ❌
YOUNITE - Taste *
ORβIT - Xmas-time (Japanese release) 🎄
soyo Jeong - Like a sudden rain shower (audio only)
L5ST - Free Fall *
VANILLA UNITY - Midnight Drive (audio only)
ONEW (SHINee) - Yay *
U.ing - ing *
Yohan Kim - Whiplash (YOHAN KIM Experience) *
Jeong Hyobean - Serendipity
OVAN - The Resolve *
OVAN - Beyond Time *
Lee Jinjae, Baby Blue - Cleaning *
Hary - Voyager *
Sup:hen - Elan Vital * ❌
X:in - ACHA (%) (audio only)
Stray Kids - Walkin On Water *
AleXa - Under The Armor *
Min Jiwoon - Someone *
Cluddy - Unraveling the heart (audio only)
무한도전 - All You Need Is Love (audio only) 🎄
ROA - Clock It *
Inyoung Park - Mom's Waltz (The Real You OST) (audio only)
KiMMi - Highway *
3WAY Project - Be My Love (audio only) 🎄
Songbee - Cosmic Heart (audio only)
JinE - Story of night fall *
BESWEET - Strange feeling *
CITI - In the Car *
Henry Lau - Hypnotized 🎄 *
Chanyeol (EXO) x Ouyang Nana - Baby, Don't Cry
MUZIE - White Christmas For You 🎄
Orange - Only One (Marry You OST) *
KONGALTAN - Snow Duck 🎄 *
Koh yujin (Flower) - My own grief *
iii - Lets Make a Fire (The Fiery Priest OST) *
&TEAM - Yukiakari (Japanese release) *
BABYMONSTER - Love In My Heart *
NIve - LOVE ME 2
TOUCHED - Last Day *
ON (ABLUE) - 알긴알까 (feat. misonyeon) *
Kyuri - 365 (Three, Six, Five) 🎄 +
YEGNY, 90idle - Your Side * ❌
WISH - What's your wish? 🎄 * +
GoldaMu Walking through Hongdae (audio only)
FIFTY FIFTY - Naughty or Nice 🎄 *
Stray Kids - Walkin On Water (Sleigh ver) 🎄 *
BIBI - Burn it (feat. DEAN) *
Rani - Happy Miyoung 🎄 *
Hyunjin (Loossemble) - Thank You 🎄*
Mark (NCT) - Fraktsiya (feat. Lee Youngji)
Jang Jane - The day we first met
Park Hyoshin - Hero (Firefighters OST) *
Jay Park - Lonely Christmas ;( (audio only) 🎄
Jay Park - Merry Merry Christmas :)🎄
I.N (Stray Kids) - Hallucination *
Yonghoon (ONEWE) - Timelord (Lord of Heroes OST)
ZIDA-B - Camcorder (feat. AISH) (audio only)
BLASÉ - Loadin' (feat. Lil Cherry)
Song Sun - Trouble Me
KARD - Detox *
P1Harmony - Jingle Bell Rock 🎄 *
Seungmin (Stray Kids) - As we are *
ATEEZ - Enough *
taehoonkeem - Crush On You (feat. Nu naeng) (audio only)
Koo Chaemin - December Jinyangho (audio only) 🎄
Big Baby Driver - Wintersleep 🎄


key:
* content warning - see item below for specifics
+ comes with "disappearing" hardcoded subs
❌ I was unable to finish watching this video - see item below for specifics
🎄 - seasonal/winter song


🎋 Normally, I would pull different versions of the same song back together, but since it's just the one instance, I didn't bother

DaFF - Zombie (feat. UNEDUCATED KID) https://youtu.be/XDXBw6AUS1M
genre: rock
cw: flashing, f-bombs
note: the flashing starts right out the gate, and while it's intermittent, it's high contrast/severe


UDTT - Retry (pre-debut) https://youtu.be/c96Wo97KxZM
genre: dance pop
cw: lens flare
note: this group already annoys me and it's not even their fault, really. That aside, I'm a little worried they're being set up to fail ... or at least get seriously chewed up by k-fans.


Grizzly - FTS https://youtu.be/4V3xth9hxYo ❌
genre: hiphop
cw: camera motion/cuts, language
note: I mean it's not even subtle that the title's a shortened "fuck that shit," so... XD But the cuts got too much, I had to nope out, so there may be further things I wasn't able to warn for


YOUNITE - Taste https://youtu.be/UEs4ZV5h2t0
genre: dance pop
cw: unsteady (self)cam, false color flashing
note: there's a couple times where the video flashes into false color then back, though honestly I was having a much harder time with all the camera motion, to the point where it distracted from the song and I almost didn't finish. (can't tell if I'm having an especially bad week or if things are just worse than usual this week in MVs)


ORβIT - Xmas-time (Japanese release)🎄 https://youtu.be/WLjGnwH15Go
genre: dance rock
cw: video artifacts, twinkling lights
note: aww, how cute, a bunch of boys having Christmas together


soyo Jeong - Like a sudden rain shower (audio only) https://youtu.be/0Uw1oueDY6o
genre: rock
note: I know how the romanization looks, but that's what's on the upload, so...


L5ST - Free Fall https://youtu.be/-fup9_T1AOg
genre: dance rock
cw: lens flares, flashing
note: guys that's...that's not how you're supposed to play with a basketball


VANILLA UNITY - Midnight Drive (audio only) https://youtu.be/jgQ6mvZ6jo4
genre: rock


ONEW (SHINee) - Yay https://youtu.be/Bgpcm9HbqS0
genre: dance rock
cw: flashing lights, surrealism
note: dare you not to smile through this


U.ing - ing https://youtu.be/0nWXcckRJYc
genre: pop rock
cw: flashing graphic additions, angel wings
note: Wait, are you an angel or a genie? These are two very different things!


Yohan Kim - Whiplash (YOHAN KIM Experience) https://youtu.be/5-ShxXN3KeU
genre: jazz/EDM fusion
cw: camera motion, flashing
note: yes, this is an aespa cover, so technically it shouldn't be in this listing, but how could I deny you all this wild sensory experience? The dual keyboards, those *shoes*.... When's the last time you had a jazz piano experience like this?


Jeong Hyobean - Serendipity https://youtu.be/fElNsJbGz3U
genre: R&B


OVAN - The Resolve https://youtu.be/mq7PAnDk8X4
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares, flashing, fireworks, shirtless OVAN
note: giving y'all the warning I wasn't XD

OVAN - Beyond Time https://youtu.be/ynI_7dZyI1A
genre: R&B
cw: background light effects, aggressive flashing
note: the color effects aren't so bad, but the stark flashing was Unnecessary, sir. Someone's lucky he's got a pretty face to go with that pretty voice.


Lee Jinjae, Baby Blue - Cleaning https://youtu.be/HcCuOrFOaXk
genre: R&B
cw: lens flare
note: the font choice for the hard subs is maybe not ideal, but at least they stay consistently distinct from the video? Which is more a reflection of wardrobe than anything the video editor did, but shhh. XD


Hary - Voyager https://youtu.be/M0K5szabeBo
genre: rock
cw: flashing effects, implied magic
note: this video uses a variety of flashing effects added in post, but the worst is probably the last applied to the lamp post


Sup:hen - Elan Vital ❌ https://youtu.be/SxFxW_RqNc8
genre: electronica
cw: flashing, surrealism
note: there's a couple cats in here, but not enough cat content to really make it worth wading through the horrid graphic effects that were so bad I had to stop watching


X:in - ACHA (%) (audio only) https://youtu.be/dp_CEIzUEr8
genre: dance pop
note: I was initially expecting an actual MV, so I'm sad this is all we get, but also ... I'm not even sure where I'd start to make an MV for this pile of nonsensical lyrics other than a performance version.


Stray Kids - Walkin On Water https://youtu.be/ovHoY8UBIu8
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing lights, supernatural elements (magic), assassins, horses, the Felix effect
note: referencing back to Thunderous perhaps?


AleXa - Under The Armor https://youtu.be/3uTHwYslLgs
genre: hiphop
cw: lightning, lens flares, flashing, supernatural elements (magic fire, phoenix)
note: dammit, Alex, I'm already a lesbian! XD


Min Jiwoon - Someone https://youtu.be/_WH5BEVx_ZY
genre: R&B
cw: background flashing, giant fly
note: it's a fishing lure, not an actual insect, but it took me a bit to realize it


Cluddy - Unraveling the heart (audio only) https://youtu.be/gBN8VAX1I7k
genre: folk rock
note: sometimes something unexpected really hits in the heart...this is one of those times


무한도전 - All You Need Is Love (audio only) 🎄
genre: rock
note: the song isn't inherently Christmas, it's just a very Christmas version of it. And yes, this is another cover because Christmas version


ROA - Clock It https://youtu.be/BeHRstEYXbw
genre: dance pop


Inyoung Park - Mom's Waltz (The Real You OST) (audio only) https://youtu.be/YdtDDqA-kYc
genre: neoclassical instrumental


KiMMi - Highway https://youtu.be/h3sz_08l-a8
genre: rock
cw: flashing, lens flares
note: I'm not saying the video's the story of a rock girlie growing herself a harem, but I'm not NOT saying that? XD


3WAY Project - Be My Love (audio only) 🎄 https://youtu.be/mq9eD_pj69E
genre: dance pop


Songbee - Cosmic Heart (audio only) https://youtu.be/lkvJQYzRESM
genre: rock


JinE - Story of night fall https://youtu.be/-MFiPxE_-P4
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: brief flashing
note: and yet at no time in this video does night actually fall 😜


BESWEET - Strange feeling https://youtu.be/BhRgIfE9vf4
genre: R&B
cw: on-screen grieving
note: I almost didn't warn for the grieving cuz it's fairly subtle, but have the potential hanky warning anyway


CITI - In the Car https://youtu.be/AD2S5idLkCM
genre: R&B
cw: flashing, lens flares
note: oh the sad Motown vibe is strong this one


Henry Lau - Hypnotized 🎄 https://youtu.be/19uouOTv8Qc
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: Surprise holiday song! The acoustics of that lobby are either a dream or a nightmare


Chanyeol (EXO) x Ouyang Nana - Baby, Don't Cry https://youtu.be/5VcJjVVga70
genre: R&B
note: Why yes, I'm on an accidental-cover-make-an-excuse-quick roll week, with this cover of an EXO-M track. I don't really have an excuse other than Chanyeol made me do it.


MUZIE - White Christmas For You 🎄 https://youtu.be/yERJgL_gXfA
genre: jazz
note: a simple animation - mostly the snowfall, but also the lights flicking on and off a few times, smoke from the chimney, and disappearing-reappearing footprints in the snow. None of which is really tied to anything but the ambiance, so call this a mood visualizer


Orange - Only One (Marry You OST) https://youtu.be/a4H7sWHWng8
genre: R&B
cw: implied drunkness
note: video is about half clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers.


KONGALTAN - Snow Duck 🎄 https://youtu.be/biYzIJf6gYs
genre: R&B
cw: flashing video effects
note: comes with hardcoded subs that wiggle (sigh) but at least have their own distinct space in the video


Koh yujin (Flower) - My own grief https://youtu.be/jgcpYZoThFs
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: on-screen grieving, implied hallucinations, implied drug abuse, implied SI, lens flare
note: yeah that first cw is kind of a duh, but...


iii - Lets Make a Fire (The Fiery Priest 2 OST) https://youtu.be/vrNKbrG0sgk
genre: pop rock
cw: religious imagery (Catholic), supernatural elements (magic), lens flares
note: video is entirely clips from the drama, so may contain spoilers


&TEAM - Yukiakari (Japanese release) https://youtu.be/0V6zjDb1YN0
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, blood/injury
note: oh look, callbacks to previous MVs released this year. It's not entirely explicit, but I'm getting baby werewolf pack vibes ... which they did have more explicitly in an earlier release (I forget which one, I'll have to look into it further later, I suppose), so I'm not completely losing it


BABYMONSTER - Love In My Heart https://youtu.be/1kXLsrun51s
genre: dance pop
cw: camera motion, lens flares



NIve - LOVE ME 2 https://youtu.be/2BHI4tvqNHA
genre: soft rock
note: video has been formatted/optimized for mobile screens


TOUCHED - Last Day https://youtu.be/i4ihwFkVAhU
genre: rock
cw: lens flares
note: filed under: further evidence that Korea shoots all music videos in the same half dozen locations XD


ON (ABLUE) - 알긴알까 (feat. misonyeon) https://youtu.be/BmDOgjlLZGc
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: pretty boy who, for some reason, reminds me of Xiah (Junsu, ex-DBSK)


Kyuri - 365 (Three, Six, Five) 🎄 https://youtu.be/7iHqHQAm9NE
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
note: the major animation is the falling snow, but it does cycle from day to night, complete with lights and twinkling pinpoint stars


YEGNY, 90idle - Your Side ❌ https://youtu.be/9CWGdtW_wVE
genre: adult contemporary (ballad)
cw: unsteady cam, lens flare
note: the unsteady cam was too unsteady, I had to bail around halfway through (I'm having a bad week, though, so YMMV)


WISH - What's your wish? 🎄 https://youtu.be/ejpX3fTXQDQ
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: singing about a snowy day while walking down an LA street is a choice all right XD Filing this under seasonal because reasons


GoldaMu Walking through Hongdae (audio only) https://youtu.be/_yLd2xYlVh8
genre: dance pop
note: tempted to label this as trot, but...


FIFTY FIFTY - Naughty or Nice 🎄 https://youtu.be/udDJrIPuIKk
genre: pop rock
cw: twinkling lights, taxidermied creature
note: I'm not sure what's on the wall, if it's a deer or something else, but it's not ever in focus long enough, really, so...


Stray Kids - Walkin On Water (Sleigh ver) 🎄 https://youtu.be/h2Mp1cW1i8Q
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing effect
note: I suppose this counts as a sleigh version, but guys, you could have leaned into that so much more


BIBI - Burn it (feat. DEAN) https://youtu.be/bJkJb6MCqKY
genre: R&B
cw: drinking, shirtless males
note: video has been formatted/optimized for mobile screens


Rani - Happy Miyoung 🎄 https://youtu.be/AJKtDlJG5Yk
genre: folk rock (instrumental)
cw: flashing tree lights
note: have a harmonica break~


Hyunjin (Loossemble) - Thank You 🎄 https://youtu.be/EL-Zl-1qy6o
genre: R&B
cw: lens flares
note: the seasonal-ness is more in the video than the song itself, so take that as you will


Mark (NCT) - Fraktsiya (feat. Lee Youngji) https://youtu.be/_GS3nQQex1g
genre: hiphop
cw: surrealism, flashing
note: yeah, I might be in love again XD


Jang Jane - The day we first met https://youtu.be/eVR19aKV66A
genre: soft rock


Park Hyoshin - Hero (Firefighters OST) https://youtu.be/yI0BNkRQWYE
genre: adult contemporary
cw: lens flares, dreamscape/surrealism


Jay Park - Lonely Christmas ;( (audio only)🎄 https://youtu.be/pGndbKiifOw
genre: R&B
note: that still was A Choice all right XD

Jay Park - Merry Merry Christmas :)🎄 https://youtu.be/DOiju9csDJo
genre: R&B
note: the way the video has an artificially low frame rate that makes it feel almost like stop-motion....


I.N (Stray Kids) - Hallucination https://youtu.be/n5B5q1Hwt_U
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing, soaking wet I.N, implied altered mental state(s)
note: who let the baby bread grown up like this???? Menace!


Yonghoon (ONEWE) - Timelord (Lord of Heroes OST) https://youtu.be/QRF7sxZm7gg
genre: rock
cw: flashing, fantasy/sword-&-sorcery elements
note: video looks like clips either from a game trailer or cut-scenes (or both)


ZIDA-B - Camcorder (feat. AISH) (audio only) https://youtu.be/vY_nVqHDJoM
genre: hiphop
note: this is lyrical enough that I almost shifted it from hiphop to R&B, then changed my mind XD;;


BLASÉ - Loadin' (feat. Lil Cherry) https://youtu.be/KyCJcFivtvk
genre: hiphop
cw: flashing, drinking/drunkenness


Song Sun - Trouble Me https://youtu.be/pP9Et104lfY
genre: dance pop
note: the pseudo-retro styling just makes me feel even older than I already do :p


KARD - Detox https://youtu.be/pBsC-VBIcI0
genre: dance pop
cw: flashing effects
note: not sure why this is marked as a visualizer, since there's hardly anything in it, but whatever makes them happy, I guess?


P1Harmony - Jingle Bell Rock 🎄 https://youtu.be/vQuBD1FlIzE
genre: rock
cw: twinkling lights
note: find the Canadian, Piwon edition. This video may rot your teeth.


Seungmin (Stray Kids) - As we are https://youtu.be/kAzmhLHePqU
genre: rock
cw: lens flares, unsteady cam
note: speaking of growing up....


ATEEZ - Enough https://youtu.be/7fg1n7KCnJg
genre: dance rock
cw: flashing effects, Jongho's aegyo
note: potential hanky warning! Also, not me trying to move the mouse pointer that's embedded in the video cuz it was on Seonghwa's face. XD Yes, we know the official liner notes say "god dang" but we all know better, don't we? ww


taehoonkeem - Crush On You (feat. Nu naeng) (audio only) https://youtu.be/12VCg0kT-kM
genre: R&B


Koo Chaemin - December Jinyangho (audio only) 🎄 https://youtu.be/Mg_r-E5Mbo0
genre: folk
note: seasonal but maybe not in the usual Christmas sense?


Big Baby Driver - Wintersleep 🎄(audio only) https://youtu.be/VfDs_leZmPM
genre: jazz
note: I started this filed under folk rock, but it's a bit too jazzy so that, so jazz it is


And that's the listing for this week, congrats on making it to the end! What were your favorites? Any surprises? Let's chat!




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