〔 :sweet_potato: 〕 ❝ weekly recommendations┆week 87

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database

howdy and welcome to week 87!!!

wrt is getting so old omg. i'm your

host, jazzy, and you're watching

disney channel. hope you enjoy ♡

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[ jazzy ]

jo1 (stan them!!!)

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so sel gave me the go on writing for jo1 because they're from produce 101 japan which is related enough to korea's produce lmao, meaning i'm SUPER EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO RANT ABOUT THEM HERE AHHHHH!?&;$@:'

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jo1 (jay-oh-one) consists of 11 : yonashiro SHO, kawashiri REN, shiroiwa RUKI, kono JUNKI, sato KEIGO, kawanishi TAKUMI, kimata SYOYA, ohira SHOSEI, kinjo SUKAI, tsurubo SHION, and mamehara ISSEI. they are the final group from produce 101 japan, under lapone entertainment. they debuted on feb 16, 2020 with their title track: infinity

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oh my god so i'm just gonna rant about whatever comes to mind. number one: STAN JO1!!! i think i came across them through my youtube recs last year a little bit after their debut. i had never watched produce 101 japan (i didn't even know it existed tbh :sleepy: ) and i had never stanned or learned a jpop group prior. it was a completely new world to me. although jo1 has a very prominent "kpop sound," it was still odd getting used to hearing japanese, and yet they've grown to become such a beloved group for me.

first and foremost: their discography. it's often hard to stan a group if you don't like their music, but i can assure that if you enjoy bg-sounds, you will most likely LOVE their songs. infinity was the first song i heard from them and i was impressed, to say the least. while it isn't the most unique song you might've ever heard, it's SO SO addicting (even more so while watching the choreo). infinity is a flashy, upbeat, and powerful dance song, filled to the brim with energy. oh-eh-oh is their first comeback with even MORE energy. compared to infinity, oh-eh-oh has much stronger electronic synths with a rock-like beat. it's the type of song where your ears won't get a break until the very last second. while this song is great, i highly rec watching the mv because it's amazing :heart_eyes_cat: :heart_eyes_cat: shine a light is more recent and far different than the last two songs. rather than darkpop or rock, shine a light is...light. a fluffy, bright, and cute track, it's heartwarming to listen to. jo1 honestly have the most addicting point dances and shine a light is no exception (just watch the choreo to find out). ngl, i could legitimately listen to shine a light all day, it's freaking PERFECTION, okay moving on. finally, their newest release and only 3 weeks old as of the time of this post: born to be wild. another concept switch 🤩🤩🤩 rather than darkpop, rock, or cute, they went more funk this time AHHH!!! they can literally pull off any concept. okay a few things about born to be wild: 1) the chorus is perfect, 2) the choreo is perfect, 3) the vocals are perfect, 4) the rapping is perfect, 5) the whole thing is perfect. frankly, at first listen i was a bit ehhh on the song. however, by the second listen i was OBSESSED. DO YOU HEAR THEIR VOCALS?!" with shosei in the center then later mame is :kissing_closed_eyes: :ok_hand: *chefs kiss* i have no words because it's just too much. it's all too much. jo1 is too much lmao. cough, anyway. in conclusion: they have a great discography. they actually have quite a bit of songs for a year old group. trust that you'll enjoy at least ONE song esp if you're a bg stan :eyes:

the are a whole other story. even though i still haven't watch produce 101 japan (currently watching), based on their videos they're all sO precious 🥺 :heartbeat: if you're wary about stanning a jpop group because it seems so distant from kpop, i can assure you that jo1 is verrry similar to a kpop group. they DO have eng subs (sometimes). they're pretty much exactly like how you'd stan a rookie bg that doesn't normally have eng subs, the only difference is that they speak japanese lmao. BUT LET ME SAY THAT THEY HAVE THE CUTEST FRIENDSHIPS :weary: :heartpulse: :revolving_hearts: :gift_heart: you can't watch them and NOT smile. idk man, there's just something about them. even if there aren't any english subs, you can clearly see how well they get along and how well they work with one another. they're all so incredibly charming and endearing to watch. the great thing about having an 11-member group is how different each member is. you have your strange ones, your quieter ones, your questionable ones, your mature ones, and your child-like ones. and yet, they all flow together so brilliantly. i think that's also one of the beauties of having a survival show group. even if all the differ wildly from one another, they all share the same experience, hardships, and dreams :sob: :sob: :sob: :heartpulse: :gift_heart: :heartpulse: :heartbeat:

i'm gonna stop before i end up writing a whole blog lmao. needless to say, i freaking love jo1. they're definitely climbing up the ranks of my groups like :chart_with_upwards_trend: :chart_with_upwards_trend: :chart_with_upwards_trend: and i'm so okay with that. they're amazing. discography, choreography, skills, personality, friendships, they have it all. i promise, if you check them out, you'll most likely enjoy them as well. i can't recommend you check them out enough esp if you don't know them and are a bg stan. ALSO ANY JAMS, FEEL FREE TO HMU :eyes: :eyes:

final words: STAN JO1!!!

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[ bhoomi ]

choi jieun - 99.9 (haeun)

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even though i have just recently discovered the gem of a girl-group that is Bling Bling, i have a deep iration for Jieun !! she’s a bubbly vocalist with one of the most versatile voices i’ve heard in the industry for a while now :wind_chime: :love_letter: she conveys emotion with so much eloquence through her singing that is often dynamic in Bling Bling’s tracks yet starkly contrasting in covers as she chooses to sing emotional ballads rather than upbeat tracks ᥫ᭡

her cover of ‘99.9’ [ originally sang by the extraordinary solo artist, Haeun ] is an example of the the former — emotional ballads — full of a range of powerful high notes and raw emotions ~ the crescendo of tones paired with the intense melody makes you hold you breath, dying to hear what comes next ꉂ(ˊ0ˋ*) it’s beautiful how she sings from her heart : i almost forget that she is merely covering a song and not expressing a very real heartbreak <//3 Jieun’s singing style is that of one similar to a professionals — she can flawlessly blend her head and chest voice in order to transition to her higher range during the chorus around the 1:10 mark 🏙 :strawberry: my jaw quite literally dropped to the floor the moment i heard her small falsetto too !! towards the end, once she begins to whisper, voice smaller and more delicate, i get chills o_o i cannot fathom the fact that she sings this all in one take, making no errors and perfectly hitting every note . . . if i didn’t know better, i would have mistaken her for an OST singer ★°

going forward, i hope she continues to cover heart-wrenching ballads as they are a testimony to her large range and singing abilities ( ˃ ⤙ ˂ ) her company struck gold the moment they discovered her ; i hope they continue to her in a way that ensures she will receive the exposure she deserves ! i also wish that one day, Jieun is given the opportunity to create her own OST for a drama as i think she would do a great job at it :rocket: :star:

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[ jazzy ]

tong: memories

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i saw this on netflix for a while and i was pretty ehhh on watching it for the longest time, but for some reason i suddenly decided to start it and it's absolutely incredible. for such a short runtime, it's a fantastic action series that's both exciting and heart-warming.

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[ EPS : 12 | 15min ]

[ GENRE : action, drama, friendship ]

✎ . . . lee jungwoo, a high school freshman, gains a reputation for being one of the top street fighters in busan, though he prefers not to fight. his best friend, kwon doohyun, also fights alongside him, but constantly finds himself living under jungwoo's shadow . . .

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[ ACTING ]

normally i would write about the story first, but because this series is so short, there honestly isn't much of a story (it essentially only boils down to fights which leads to more fights with stronger opponents). the acting is amazing. when i watch miniseries, i tend to assume that the acting, cinematography, or storytelling won't be as good as a full-length drama. however, this proved me wrong time and time again.

in of acting, they each portrayed their characters wonderfully. in particular, i think heo jiwon (kwon doohyun) did a brilliant job of showing his desperation to become stronger and the boiling jealousy he felt towards jungwoo. this sort of touches upon the story AND the characters / relationships at the same time so i'm just going to talk about it in the next section.

as for the main point aka the action, i thought it was great. the choreography was exciting each and every time. nothing felt too slow or stale. it surprised me ngl. i was certainly not expecting that kind of action quality 🤯

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[ RELATIONSHIPS ]

because there isn't much story to this, undeniably the greatest aspect of this series is the friendship. although jungwoo seems like he'd be the main character, i'd say the main character is doohyun. set on gaining recognition for himself rather than only being known as jungwoo's "henchman," the story is more about their shattering friendship and his road to redemption. no spoilers, but i think i actually teared up a bit at the end lmao.

besides the main duo, the friendships between the whole squad was cute to watch. i really loved park jungtae haha. he had so much heart, even if he would be on the losing end 🥺 okay but yeah, cute bromance, guys!!!

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overall, it's a super solid watch. the fights are wildly entertaining and the bromance is heartwarming / heartbreaking. it's a quick watch that's full of emotion. i highly recommend it if you're into action and you want a super short watch :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes:

[ MY RATING ] 9 / 10

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[ L ]

the uncanny counter

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I thought I already talked about this but apparently I didn't so I had to take the chance to talk about The Uncanny Counter as it's one of my favourite dramas. The Uncanny Counter is a Netflix drama of the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 which I binge watched in the span of a day after it finished airing. It's about demon hunters, also called the "counters", who catch evil spirits. Every counter has a special ability and So Mun, a high school boy who suffers from an injury, ends up ing the other counters. AHH when I think of So Mun I just- 🥺🥺.

I love action dramas and this had action combined with superpowers which was super fun to watch as the drama wasn't too serious. The basic concept of the show isn't special and not gonna lie, it becomes repetitive over time but I personally wasn't bothered by that and just enjoyed the beautiful journey this gave me. The biggest reason why this managed to deliver was the attachment I got to the counters which also came from the fact that they had an interesting background story which created enough depth for their character so that they were well written characters who had both strengths but also flaws. They showed great team work and they felt like a true family who protects each other, it was an amazing feeling to see them together and there were some touching scenes :two_hearts: .

I also had a great time watching the main villains, they also had their own stories. The acting was great too and I wasn't disappointed by the acting performance even though I didn't know most actors well before. I would have expected a bit more of the ending and the last episodes were missing a bit of the spark of the first episodes but I'd still totally recommend this drama!! One last thing I need to mention is that the drama contains severe bullying so it might not be the right drama for everyone. There are many more things I'd like to mention but I'm afraid I'd start getting into detail so give this a try if you love action and superpower things, great friendships and want to have a lot of fun :relaxed: .

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[ victoria ]

iu - coin

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today, i will be talking about the music video of the song coin by iu. the track is about gambling and the addiction that can be created by participating in such games. the music video commences with a shot of iu putting a coin into a vintage jukebox. then the catchy melody of the song starts playing. iu is dressed like someone from the past. she looks quite rough with her suspenders, loosened up blouse and checkered pants. the styling is done very well in this music video since it really enhances the story element of it. iu walks to the counter while being focused on the game that is ahead of her. creatures with animal heads move through the hallway, representing the savage world of gambling and how tough it is to survive in it. iu gets a coin and so she enters the merciless scene.

the dance breaks add more variety to the video. i like how the background switches to different colors at the same pace as the dance moves. it is also nice that there is some time to appreciate the lovely choreography and iu’s perfect execution of it. a sharp cut is the transition between the dancing and the tense game iu is playing. her acting is absolutely marvelous and the look in her eyes sucks me into the suspenseful atmosphere of the scenes. iu also takes part in a game of bowling, but the pins represent her rivals in the gambling world. this small segment underlines how competitive it can be and how people will sacrifice their enemies to win. iu wins both games, fireworks and an applause accompany her in celebrating her victories. she flips the coin she has attained and her whole appearance changes. her clothes become luxurious and her make-up pretty.

the shot then suddenly changes to iu in different settings and outfits. she sings in a disco bar whilst wearing a flamenco dress, sits at a gambling table in a black lace dress with a chic hat and poses in a photoshoot while wearing a mint suit-jacket with pearl necklaces around her neck. the fashion looks throughout this video are so well-chosen and they look amazing on iu. the festivities around her triumph continue as she pours wine into a pyramid of glasses, accepts tons of money bills and gets photographed as she has become a famous card player. in the last segments of the video, well-known actor kim yoon seok competes with iu. he has starred in many productions such as the gambling series tazza. his entrance is grande and his charisma completes iu’s acting. i really enjoy the casino aesthetic of the video and how exciting the final battle between kim yoon seok and iu is. sadly enough, iu loses to the master and veteran of games. he gives her a golden coin and she puts it into the music machine. she turns back into her simple clothing and her gaze gets desperate.

thus iu’s betting saga continues, endlessly and forever. the words move and change are the best summary of my interpretation of this video. as people we thrive for goals in the aspects of life we are ionate about. sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. we need to move on from our disappointments and change in order to improve ourselves and beat others with our upgraded abilities. altogether, i think this music video is a sensational showpiece of iu’s amazing sense of storytelling and talents in the departments of singing and dancing. her thoughts are presented in a meaningful way and the music video is a feast for the eyes, from the gorgeous color palette to the realistic sets and the wide variety in the styling wardrobe. i would recommend it to everyone who wants to be entertained by a good story, blessed by great visuals and awed by iu’s capabilities.

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[ victoria ]

iu - epilogue

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epilogue is the song on the lilac album that i hold the closest to my heart and cherish the most. it is also the track iu likes the most from the project, which really shines through in this performance. i want to start with praising iu’s stylist and make-up artist because she looks so stunning in that bright red flowery dress. the earrings she is wearing complement her glossy deep orange lips and glittery eyeshadow, but those are not the only alluring aspects of this stage. the set is so beautifully built and it looks like a real train station. the classic lanterns, modern standing clock, vintage train interior, brick wall pieces, golden and bronze accents in the set pieces create this nostalgic atmosphere and they add more depth to the song's lyrics. the mist that is being generated makes iu’s singing even more dreamy.

the camera work is also done phenomenally well and it manages to accentuate the beauty of this live stage. iu is truly the star that lights up the scenery with her heavenly vocals. it feels like she is singing this song to me, as if she is having a conversation with me. in the lyrics of epilogue she asks questions about how she has impacted others' lives. she says she can look back happily on her life if she knows that she has influenced the people around her in a positive way. by reading the incredibly sweet and precious lyrics my appreciation for iu has grown exponentially. through her delightful singing and candied voice iu pulls me into her fantasy world. her pretty smile melts my heart and gives me a comfortable feeling. she is very immersed in the performance and conveys her emotions so sincerely.

i think it is interesting how iu moves on the stage. she first sits in the train then goes into the station and takes a seat on the wooden bench. it seems like she waiting for the perfect moment to leave with her suitcase. before she disappears from the stage, the dancers waltz through the haze. it is like the important people in her life flash before her eyes. after she has seen them, she can leave them behind with a relieved mind. confetti slowly falls down and the blurred people walk to their destinations, deserting the one they have loved so dearly, to put her into their house of memories. the story behind this performance is so meaningful.

iu is really the master of telling stories through her voice, her lyrics and her performances. lastly, i would like to mention iu’s vocals one more time. her live singing is so clear and it sounds exactly like the recording. i am simply amazed by how magnificently stable she is and how she hits every note perfectly. i think everyone should watch this performance since it is a touching harmony of an atmospheric setting and a blinding illumination of a woman, who can only impress and interest.

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[ L ]

youha - zzz

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I rarely talk about female artists or songs (tbh I don't think I ever did so for wrt) so when I do it's definitely something special to me. Youha has become one of my favourite female artists so I was hoping I'd like Zzz when I saw that it's released and UGH it's so good! First of all, I love the fact that she wrote this song about her dog, it makes the song extremely beautiful and I can personally relate to the lyrics as well. "Who knows? If I call your name, you might come back so I keep waking up myself from the dream" made me get tears in my eyes as it's exactly how I felt when my bunny died in 2019 so after 12 - 13 years of spending time together it made me so sad and I miss my bunny so much, I sometimes dream of it. The song expresses how much Youha misses her dog and is scared of the future without it and hopes that everything is just a bad dream. When I first listened to the song I didn't know about the lyrics for a few days so I just felt that it made me thoughtful and how beautiful the melody sounds but after knowing the lyrics, it also gives me a feeling of longing for something and hopefulness. Youha's voice is very pretty and she's putting all of her emotions in the song. The chorus is making me speechless because of how amazing her high notes and the melody are! I wanna cry, she's so talented :weary: . Honestly in this song I don't have any favourite parts apart from maybe the chorus because all parts of the song fit together so well and there are only highlights :sparkles: . I also really like how it's rather calm, I think it'd be the perfect song for a walk while appreciating the beauty of nature as well as Youha's beautiful voice and I know that I'm going to listen to this whenever I miss my bunny 🥺.

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thank you for reading (or not reading)

hopefully you found something new to

check out :sunglasses: :point_right: :point_right: see you next week!!

or maybe not. anyway bye!!!

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