Music Monday #251: ONEUS - Now (original by Fin.K.L)

[hitokage]

Wait, what do you mean it's Monday again already? Well crikey! How about something both old and new with this remake from ONEUS (pronounced one-us*, to match with their brother group ONEWE (one-we))? Sure, I'm late getting this up, but it's been A Year all year now, okay? Okay. :p

Song: Now
Artist: ONEUS
Release: May 2024
Genre: Kpop
cw: flashing, heist antics, literally not work-safe antics

Watch on YouTube

So if you've been into Kpop for awhile, you might know 1st gen girl group Fin.K.L who released the original version (cw: flashing, lens flares, potentially unhinged behavior) back in 2000. And if not, you probably should, since they've been hugely influential as part of the success of that first Hallyu wave of the early 00s. Of course the Korean pop idol machine is as susceptible to nostalgia as anyone else, and so we have ONEUS remaking a classic viral hit. The first obvious difference is the updated backing bass and harmonies that are more in keeping with modern dance pop style. There's also been a key shift as the song was transposed from women to men. It's both a tribute to the original and a song with ONEUS's own flavor.

The video's narrative sections give us a much less unhinged story, though it still involves breaking and entering, this time in corporate offices. Mind you, the exact methods of this heist are ... a bit all over the place and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't actually work as shown, but what else is new? Heist movies are about the implausible action sequences and outsmarting The Man, not sticking strictly to reality. The use of old school lock picking as a tribute to the original, the ridiculous janitorial subplot, even the two dancing ants at the end make me smile. I could have done without the flashing lights on the dance stage, but that's a me thing. Not to mention Leedo's sweater's struggle. XD

"Now" is available for streaming wherever you do your Kpop listening.


* yes, I know their official hangul has an "extra" "e" in there (원어스), let's not get into the written versus voiced thing

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