Honestly, to become a true DAY6 fan (or My Day), you have to take the long route and listen to all of their songs. But if you're a bit confused as to where to start on the band's flawless discography, here are some great jumping points you should consider:
1. "Shoot Me" (2018)
DAY6's long-awaited 2018 comeback did not disappoint, delivering their most sonically-aggressive Korean song. With reggae leanings and a rather eerie, Halloween-esque production, "Shoot Me" shows how much the band has grown during their hiatus, and I look forward to what they have in store in the future.
2. "When you love someone" (2017)
As part of their monthly comeback release schedule in 2017, DAY6 pushed themselves to explore different music genres with each month. Their October song "When you love someone" offered a melancholy and relaxing song to the mix, which is perfect for fall. If you like calmer songs, "When you love someone" is your cup of tea. I'm especially in love with the way keyboardist Wonpil sings the chorus. I'm also a personal fan of the lyrics and the accompanying music video:
3. "Dance Dance" (2017)
DAY6's May comeback was with undeniably-jam-worthy bop "Dance Dance". As the title suggests, this is a feel-good track that can get even the people with two left feet to want to dance their heart away. Upbeat, deliriously fun DAY6 songs are rare, but that just makes them gems.
4. "Blood" (2016)
With the song's falsetto-heavy chorus, I get extreme Maroon 5 vibes from this song, and that's what makes the song so great. DAY6's early days saw them drawing inspiration from western pop-rock music, and "Blood" is a testament to that interest in that genre:
5. "I Wait" (2017)
DAY6 kicked off their Every DAY6 project with January song "I Wait", which is the type of moody, angsty, rock sound that you would want from a monthly comeback. The song also utilizes Korean and English wordplay really well with the background "I wait" and "아왜" ("ah wae") vocals. A creative touch that you might not have been aware of!
6. "Feeling Good" (2018)
Off the same album as "Shoot Me", "Feeling Good" is one of those rare feel-good DAY6 tracks that must be cherished at all costs. Perfect for summer, "Feeling Good" immediately sucks you in and is perfect for blasting during summer car rides or late-night beach parties.
7. "You Were Beautiful" (2017)
This song is one of those songs, if you know what I mean. It's the My Day cult favorite for most fans, and it speaks to a very profound human feeling that the song has managed to express so well. Arguably it is one of DAY6's saddest songs, but that's why it's so powerful.
8. "Man In A Movie" (2017)
Yeah, this is an actual B-side for the group. Their B-sides are that good. Lyricist Young K, who wrote the lyrics for this song on his own, has said that he really loves this song, and that he was inspired to write it after seeing Me Before You in theaters. The production of this song is super unconventional, yet DAY6's personality continues to shine so clearly in the song. This has more of a classic rock feel to it, and honestly, it sounds like it would fit really well in a movie soundtrack.
9. "Congratulations" (2015)
The legendary debut song. Most K-pop artists can't claim that their debut song was that great (not a big deal, since the point of releasing music is to improve as musicians), but "Congratulations" remains a classic forever. I have yet to hear about a DAY6 concert that didn't have "Congratulations" on their set list. If you want to get into DAY6, "Congratulations" is a must.
10. "I'm Serious" (2017)
As part of their April release, "I'm Serious" offered a sound that's perfect for the transition of seasons. A favorite to perform by members after more than a year since its release, it makes sense that such a great and versatile song remains its longevity. It's also a personal favorite for me. For one thing, this is one of those classic sounds-happy-but-read-the-lyrics Day6 songs that add an interesting juxtaposition to it. Even with that said, listening to it just raises your mood.
11. "Letting Go" (2016)
After their debut in September of 2015, Day6 suffered a serious scandal in only a short few months: one of the members, Junhyeok, was accused of dating a fan and subsequently left the group in February of 2016 for the sake of choosing not to mar Day6's reputation. While the members wrote and recorded this song before Junhyeok's departure, it's safe to say that the music video and the lyrics of the song have remained tied to the former member. "Letting Go" bursts with the sort of angsty emotion that has become a trademark for Day6, but I think this song is the OG. It's so angsty that it almost makes the listener feel like they've let out their anger and hurt and despair in the song. Member and leader Sungjin is the real MVP in this song, especially when he belts out the heart-wrenching chorus. Listen to the rebooted version, and you're treated to a Bohemian-Rhapsody-esque bridge and more intense production.
DAY6 in 2018 (from left: Young K, Wonpil, Jae, Dowoon, and Sungjin)
K-pop-rock band DAY6, under Big 3 company JYP Entertainment, has been making a name for itself with its organic rock-sound since its debut in 2015. With their latest comeback "Shoot Me" last month gaining them a considerable amount of new fans and an ongoing world tour, it's about time people should start learning more about the band. Here are some reasons why you should stan DAY6.
1. All of their members sing so well.
And so distinctly as well. Before I knew much about the members, I could easily pick out who was singing at what time in any DAY6 song. While drummer Dowoon has yet to have a vocal part in a DAY6 song, he is taking vocal lessons and has sang at DAY6 concerts in the past. The other four are all incredibly capable of belting out high notes in addition to delving into lower ranges, and the members know each other so well at this point that the parts that they assign to each other are perfect and make the song 100 times better.
2. They self-produce.
All DAY6 members have helped in writing and composing for the songs. Member Young K is considered the group's lyricist, as many DAY6 songs have been solely written by him, but all of the members are involved in writing their lyrics and composition. Talented, indeed! What's admirable is that member Jae has stated that he has never studied music theory in his life, yet he's credited for composing much of DAY6's discography. If anything, DAY6's discography proves that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.
3. They're hilarious.
Call it the perfect marriage between funny fans and a funny group of men, but YouTube is littered with funny videos of the boys getting up to their (un)usual antics as a group. LA-born Jae is known for having his own Twitter account and YouTube vlogging channel, where he constantly jokes around in English. DAY6 inside jokes are also hilarious, whether that be fans (and even the members) calling Dowoon "drum", leader Sungjin "Bob the Builder", or Young K as "Brian" and his ongoing love with all things food.
4. They all play instruments.
Yes, they can sing and play instruments. Members Jae and Sungjin are guitarists, Young K is on bass, Wonpil on keyboard and synthesizer, and Dowoon on drums. They're truly a band, and the energy around is truly electric when they perform live.
5. Pretty much every Korean celebrity loves them.
K-pop idols, new and old, pretty much all love DAY6. Actors, TV personalities, you name it. They're not widely known, but DAY6 has a considerable celebrity cult following. Even if you don't love DAY6, your fave probably does, so you should definitely check them out.
6. They literally have no bad song.
I'm not exaggerating. All of their songs are incredible. While not every song is going to be your cup of tea, they're all composed impeccably well, are sung incredibly well, are written flawlessly, and are perfect matches with the kind of vibe they aim for in all of the above. There is no bad song, so rest assured you will have the guarantee that you will be spending your precious time on something worthwhile when you get into DAY6.
13-member group Seventeen is arguably my favorite K-pop group of all time. There's nothing not-to-love about this group: in my eyes, they are the perfect idol group, and the fact that they aren't even a bigger deal outside of Asia blows my mind. Here are some reasons why you should stan Seventeen:
1. They prove that numbers don't overwhelm team dynamics.
13 members is a lot. Their numbers come off as intimidating for many people, but there’s a reason why they’re so popular in Asia. It’s because their team chemistry is something truly special. Seventeen are truly a family. Members in the group have basically known each other for at least five years, and they have bonded over unfortunate circumstances early on in the careers as idols that have made them such a close group. That bond is displayed in the energy they display on stage. The group is so in tune with each other in a way that can’t be made artificially. It’s truly a sight to see.
2. They’re leading the newest wave of self-producing idols.
Seventeen are known by the Korean public as the “self-producing” idol group, and the title is deserved. All members have contributed to writing music, and a handful (Woozi, Hoshi, and Vernon especially) have produced for their group. Seventeen’s dance line have also choreographed all of their group’s performances, especially Hoshi. Pretty much everything they do is distinctly their own, and what they produce is very organic, authentic, and delivered with love and attention, something that isn’t very common in the notoriously manufactured K-pop industry.
3. They are the new kings of synchronicity.
Seventeen are synonymous with synchronicity when it comes to choreography. Even with such different body types and varying backgrounds and experience in dance, members display none of that in the group’s tight, high-energy performances. They’re never not in-sync. I sometimes doubt they’re humans, if I’m being honest. If anything, you can’t help but feel extremely satisfied watching the group perform. Every movement they do is just 100% together.
From their dance practice video for their single "Thanks" (2018)
4. They have an inspiring underdog story.
While their company Pledis Entertainment wasn’t in complete obscurity when they debuted, Seventeen was formed at a time when Pledis was essentially bankrupt. Members were given the bare minimum to debut as an idol group (partly the reason why they are self-producing in the first place: their company wanted to save money managing such a large group), and so they really started from nothing. Seventeen was so poor that they couldn’t even afford basic performance equipment such as in-ear monitors. The staff around them during their early days were borderline abusive, and their success seemed nothing but a very impossible dream. It’s truly heartwarming to see the group now witness immense recognition not only in their native South Korea but internationally as well, with some of the Korean public naming Seventeen as one of the top three newer-generation boy groups in South Korea (alongside relatively more senior artists EXO and BTS).
5. They are very extra.
When they’re not being disciplined machines of top-tier performance and professionalism, Seventeen descends into chaos. With thirteen members, you’re bound to have some over-the-top personalities that really lean into total absurdity and never break character, and Seventeen has that in spades. Members Seungkwan, Hoshi, and Dokyeom are known by fans to be the “moodmakers” of the group, not only injecting energy to the group’s dynamics but also to fans. Even members who are known to be on the calmer side have their weird moments. Basically, no one in Seventeen is normal. Check out what happens when you have the members react to their music video for "Clap":
6. Their unit system is really cool.
Seventeen has been splitting up into three “teams” since their debut, with an official sub-unit formed this year. Known as the hip-hop team (members Scoups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Vernon), the vocal team (members Jeonghan, Joshua, Woozi, Dokyeom, and Seungkwan), and the performance team (members Jun, Hoshi, The8, and Dino); these three units would release tracks that tended to focus on each unit’s specialties. Thus, a wide range of genres would be explored in unit songs that only added flavor to the group’s signature, core sound. Hip-hop team, with members that specialize in rap, tended to release tracks that are experimental, aggressive, and/or more indie in taste. Vocal team is known for their power ballads and mellower tracks. Performance team never fails to experiment with tracks that are always bops that showcase the members’ skilled dancing. Newly formed sub-unit “BooSeokSoon” (members Hoshi, Dokyeom, and Seungkwan) debuted with their track “Just Do It”, which perfectly encapsulates the trio’s over-the-top, incredibly comical sense of humor.
While I will always love my other groups, I honestly think Seventeen takes the cake for the most consistently-strong discography since their debut. Seventeen is the kind of group that I’ve never hated a single song of theirs. I might not love each one (and trust me, I love about 90% of their songs), but the fact that every song I’ve listened to hasn’t turned me off is truly a testament to Seventeen’s attention to detail. B-sides are generally lower-quality in an industry that focuses so much on heavily-promoted singles, but that’s never been the case for Seventeen.
8. Their music has a very distinct style, even as they explore various genres and influences in their music.
Seventeen are undeniably K-pop, but their music has always tended to infuse funk elements to the pop music they do release. Even if the group has developed a more mature sound in recent years (starting with their hit single "Don't Wanna Cry", which is very much an EDM track), the group still finds a way to infuse that youthful energy to their songs, such as the case with their rock-influenced, guitar-heavy song "Clap". Seventeen has a very strong musical identity, which isn't always the case for many K-pop groups, and that's what has made the group so distinct.
9. They have international appeal.
Not only does the group dabble in more western music trends (not to the point where it sounds like they're trying too hard, thank goodness), but they also have members that are foreign-born. Members Joshua and Vernon were born and raised in America and speak English fluently, and members Jun and The8 were born and raised in China and speak Mandarin fluently. Several members of Seventeen, especially Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Dino, speak Japanese at a pretty advanced level. There are even more members that also study other languages. Even with their distinctly K-pop sound, Seventeen has massive potential to blow up internationally.
LA-native Joshua (left) and American-born Vernon (right)
Chinese members Jun (left) and The8, real name Xu Minghao (right)
10. Each member is incredibly well-rounded.
Because of the way their unit system is structured, members are sometimes unable to display their wide-range of talents in their group. While the performance team usually leads dances and delves into pretty hard choreography for their unit stuff, each member are also strong vocalists, with members Hoshi and Dino also operating as sub-rappers in the group. Vocalist Woozi is an incredible dancer, and members of the hip-hop team can also sing and dance (being a member of Seventeen means you have to be good at dancing). And of course, they all are involved in the music they put out. Fully capable indeed.
11. They really, really love their fans.
Because of their humble and somewhat-unfortunate beginnings, Seventeen are truly grateful to their fans for the kind of support they receive as one of the biggest boy groups in South Korea. Known as "Carats", Seventeen fans are loved by the members of Seventeen, who all treat each fan as if they're their friends. Carats are known be the one of the "chillest" K-pop fandoms as well, and Seventeen tries their hardest to make their fans happy. Their recent Korean release "Thanks" is literally a long thank you letter to their fans in the form of a song. There's just a lot of mutual love and respect being passed between both parties, so why not join in?
12. They are respectful and aim to be socially conscious.
Seventeen has pretty close relationships with other idol groups such as their label mates Pristin and Nu'est, but they also enjoy close friendships with Monsta X, GOT7, and BTS. Certain members of Seventeen are also really close with certain members of EXO, NCT, and Pentagon. Seventeen are basically the social butterflies in the K-pop world, which is a testament to their easy-going and warm personalities. When covering girl group songs, Seventeen always take the covers seriously as opposed to making fun of the feminine side of the songs, which isn't something most boy groups do. Members have also repeatedly said that they don't like conforming to restrictive Korean beauty standards and have recently shown socially progressive stances in their music (a B-side off their full-length album Teen, Age opts for gender-neutral pronouns in a song about friendship and/or love, which is inclusive to their fan base).
13. They're only getting started.
Having recently celebrated their 3rd anniversary, Seventeen are still young blood in the industry. The fact that each time they come out with new music is only an improvement on previous releases shows that the group isn't slowing down anytime soon. The group is only going to become a bigger deal in the near future. Why not find out for yourself how amazing this group is?
Of all the groups I stan, 10-member group Pentagon is probably the most underrated-for-no-reason boy group right now.
Pentagon has been a recent obsession of mine, and I'm honestly upset I didn't get into them sooner. Here are some reasons why you should stop sleeping on Pentagon:
1. You've probably heard of songs composed and written by the members. You probably just didn't know it was from Pentagon.
What comes to mind immediately is project boy group Wanna One's debut song "Energetic", which swept the charts in Korea and rose the group to even greater renown than they already experienced on Produce 101 Season 2. A little known fact, but Pentagon members Wooseok and Hui wrote the song, with Hui even producing it as well. If you like "Energetic", then you should definitely check out the mastermind behind the song. 2. They're also self-producing.
Given that Pentagon members give out songs to other groups to use, it's no surprise that Pentagon also self-produces. Members Hui, Jinho, E'Dawn, Hongseok, Yuto, Kino, and Wooseok have all contributed lyrics and/or music to their discography. Main dancer Kino has even choreographed several routines for his group. They really are multi-talented.
3. Yes, their song "Shine" is an 11/10 bop. But so are their other tracks.
Pentagon's April 2018 comeback is certifiably the best thing ever. The general public started to get interested in the group, and "Shine" saw the group charting on Korean music charts for the first time. Arguably, the group has even better singles that just was never appreciated by anyone other than fans. So I suggest you also check out "Like This", "Critical Beauty", and their debut song "Gorilla". And while you're at it, check out beloved B-sides "Violet" and "Off-Road".
4. They're multilingual.
Members Yanan and Yuto are from Japan and China respectively, but members Hongseok and Jinho also have a pretty strong grasp on Mandarin and English in addition to their native Korean. The group has potential to really branch out internationally, and with growing interest for the group in the western hemisphere, it's worth checking them out.
Foreign members Yuto from Japan (left) and Yanan from China (right)
5. Their vocalists are incredible.
Main vocalists Jinho (a former SM trainee) and Hui (also the leader) are just amazing singers. While they are able to showcase their talents in their songs, you should check out Jinho's solo projects where he releases solo covers of songs each month, called "Magazine Ho".
6. They are an actual mess.
Seriously. Their company Cube Entertainment needs to stop giving them sugar or something. There's never a dull moment with the Pentagon members, as seen with the insane levels the group goes to celebrate member Yeo One's birthday.
7. They also have a great relationship with their fans.
Pentagon's fans (known as "Universe") aren't the largest fandom around (again, because people don't appreciate art), but they're devoted, and the relationship is mutual. Pentagon members honestly view their fans as friends, and it's apparent that Pentagon relies on their fans as much as their fans do for Pentagon.
8. Their rappers are rising talent.
Rappers E'Dawn, Yuto, and Wooseok are all promising idol-rappers, having already contributed a lot to their group's discography in music and lyrics. Each member, when they rap, is also so distinct in every Pentagon song. Member E'Dawn has a sort of nasally, high-tone style of rap that usually turns me off but just works really well in Pentagon songs (the strongest example is the spotlight he receives in "Shine"). Yuto introduces his iconic deep-toned raps with "유토다" (Romanization: "Yutoda"), which translates to "It's Yuto" in Korean. Wooseok has an equally deep voice, but adds an extra layer of energy and a raspy kind of feel to his style of rapping. 9. Their reaction to receiving recognition with "Shine" is the purest thing ever.
Pentagon saw their April 2018 comeback song "Shine" receive love from the Korean general public by charting on Korean charts for the first time since their debut in October of 2016. Members held a sudden live broadcast where they built a cake out of Moon Pies, and they all posted messages of gratitude to their fans. While a small, insignificant achievement for other groups, Pentagon's gratitude for their song becoming the next sleeper hit in 2018 is so pure. You can really tell how humble the members are about their success.
10. They are well-rounded and hard-working.
Members of Pentagon are like chameleons, able to all dance and sing especially well. Some vocalists can also rap well, and the rappers of Pentagon can easily assume sung-rap roles in their songs. Each time they come back with music, it's always top-quality, and they always give 100% with anything they do. If anything, you can't help but respect how talented each member is and how seamless their dynamic is.
Global takeovers and pop sensations BTS (Korean: 방탄소년단; Romanization: Bangtan Sonyeondan) are arguably the biggest emerging boy group since the early days of One Direction. They're not stopping any soon.
BTS was my true introduction to contemporary K-pop, and it was interesting to see how a group like BTS has been the face of new wave of K-pop. It took me awhile to get into them, if I'm being honest. I haven't looked back on that decision.
1. They have an inspiring underdog story.
This is something I just really admire about the group. Coming from incredibly small company Big Hit Entertainment (founded by former JYP producer Bang Si-hyuk), BTS literally started from nothing, having very limited resources at their disposal to make it in the incredibly tough K-pop industry. It's amazing and a glorious miracle that the group has the kind of success it experiences now.
2. They're self-producing.
All members have been involved in some part of their group's music-making process. Truth be told, that just makes the music that they put out all the more authentic. BTS is one of those K-pop idol groups that blur the line between idol and musician. They're truly artists in their genre, and the stuff that they write easily transcends any barriers. Rappers RM, Suga, and J-Hope have all released mix-tapes that they self-wrote and self-produced, which reveal the personalities and music tastes of the rappers in a more intimate fashion. 3. They're incredibly grateful for their fans.
Because of their underdog background, BTS is incredibly thankful for their fans who have levitated them to the stratosphere of K-pop. K-pop is always reliant on fans above all else (money is, after all, money), but the sincerity that BTS expresses towards their fans is very special.
A scene from one of their many sold-out arena concerts
4. They always are mindful of their roots.
No one is more aware of their origins as BTS is. Their discography throughout the years is tinged by the sort of people-with-big-dreams mindset that landed them to where they are now, and they embrace their past selves even as they delve in various genres in their music. Above all, the group remains incredibly humble about the success they have achieved, and that's something very admirable.
5. They have some of the most unique vocalists in K-pop.
Arguably, their singers (Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook) don't have the best technique in K-pop, but their vocal colors are incredibly diverse and distinctive. I think that's what sets them apart from other groups, because there whole image is just imbued with identity, even coming down to easily distinguishing who's singing.
6. Their dancing is off-the-charts.
Despite only having three formally-trained dancers in the group, BTS is known for their synchronicity in their dances that also set them apart from other groups. The dances are hard, engaging, and incredibly seamless. 7. Their rappers are some of the best rappers in K-pop.
Part of it has to do with credibility. Members RM and Suga were part of underground hip-hop scenes before joining Big Hit as idols, for one thing. They also are just good rappers. All three members are known for their distinctive styles and their individual flairs that make BTS's rap line the strongest in K-pop. RM is known for his clever use of wordplay (especially with melding Korean and English lyrics to fit with that wordplay) and his diverse delivery. Suga's style is equally wide-ranging, whether that be adopting a very chill vibe or delivering bullet-fast verses, penning incredibly raw lyrics with little regard to censoring himself (he basically couldn't care less about what people think about his lyrics). J-Hope's personality quite literally bursts from his rapping, giving you a high sense of energy any time you listen to him.
Rappers Suga (left), J-Hope (middle), and RM (right)
