Review: U Kiss - Alone

So...
I meant to get this out a whole lot sooner, before U Kiss's comeback as a matter of fact. But the review for One Shot took way longer than I anticipated and I can't even blame it on my no-longer-faulty laptop. Therefore I can only sincerely apologize.

 

Music Video

You have no idea how long it took for me to find this video. I don't what it is about U Kiss's Japanese PVs, but they are like the Holy Grail of Youtube. High definition versions are practically non-existent, which is why I apologize again for the crappy quality of the video link.

I see my prediction for U Kiss has come true. U Kiss are officially on the run from zombies again. This time though, it looks like they tried going on the offensive by blowing the hell out of the place. You can see the members decked out in military wear and standing in front of walls ridden with bullet-holes, or dancing in what's left of their fancy house after they blew it up. I'm not sure how the whole battle went down, although I hope they got rid of the zombies. I mean, they did just blow up their house, so it would be a bummer if those pesky zombies were still hanging around them.

Damn zombies don't know when to quit.

Okay, there were some parts of the video that I liked and some parts that I didn't really like. Allow me to tell you which parts I did like, so you can decide whether or not you want to kill me later on. I really liked the alleyway scene where U Kiss walked in all badass, looking like they were on their way to beat someone up. I don't think I've seen U Kiss look this gangsta since Shut Up.

My second favorite part was Soohyun's shot where he clung to that metal fence with that really fierce expression (Yeah, I don't know. It's my thing I guess). I thought that of all the members, he expressed best the emotions required for the song and video. And while I do kind of like the setting with the back alley plastered with U Kiss's name and the abandoned classroom they danced in, I have to say that the video directors totally missed a golden opportunity to feature a sweaty, shirtless Eli punching away at that sandbag.

 Representing an editor's mistake and crushed fans who can't get the image of sexy boxer Eli out of their heads.

The issues I had with the video was mainly the video editing. Video editors, you seriously need to stop creating those unfocused, blurry shots in U Kiss's videos. Normally I would have no problem with it, but it is starting to make my head spin. Also that parts where the video jerked around really really fast? I know that it kind of fits in with the beat of the song, but it was totally unnecessary.

Look me in the eye and tell me this doesn't give you a headache.

You know, I am starting to get a little concerned about the whole direction U Kiss is going with their music videos. I mean, this is the goodness-knows-how-many video I've seen where U Kiss does nothing but dance in old, abandoned places. I mean, I know about their zombie problem and all but still, this is SM's formula, and I don't want to see U Kiss go down that road. Even SM is switching it up with videos like I Got A Boy and Dream Girl. 0330 was the last video they shot which had an actual plot and it was amazing. So I really want to see U Kiss produce something great like that again.

Song and Lyrics
I don't know if this is my problem or if U Kiss songs are too deep to grasp sometimes, but I very rarely get what exactly they're trying to convey in their Japanese songs. In the beginning, Eli says "Does it get to see the shape of your fortune right?". Even though it's grammatically correct (I think), I have no idea what "It" is, neither do I know why I would want it reading my fortune. As for the rest of the song, in the beginning I thought the lyrics were about how we should seize our destiny or something, even if it means we'll be alone. Now it sounds to me like U Kiss are singing about a girl who left them and how she should just accept her destiny and stop running. Otherwise she'll always be alone. I don't know which is it, I'm really confused.

Okay, now I have to be honest. This is probably my least favorite Japanese song by U Kiss.

jokawasaki.com

 EJ's body was found three days later.

Don't get me wrong. The chorus is great and I loved it. Eli's rap in the very beginning, despite him going on and on about the mysterious It, was also pretty good and I also liked it. But the other parts......weren't that great. The rapping in the middle was really awkward for me. Eli, Dongho, I'm sorry but it didn't really fit in with the rest of the song. Maybe I'm just too used to U Kiss's super fast rapping to fully appreciate it at a slower pace.

I also really disliked the instrumental. It sounded like some badly behaved loud speaker which I might have blasted at full volume if I ever wanted my eardrums to explode. Lastly, the auto-tuned, metallic quality in Soohyun's voice right at the end was awful. Seriously, it was so bad. Soohyun is a great singer, he doesn't need auto-tune. Why would you do it??

U Kiss have produced great songs in the past. Forbidden Love was my all-time favorite Jpop song from U Kiss, Tick Tack being a close second. Those are tough songs to compete with and much as it pains me to say this: This time, Alone fell short.

Dance
The dance was awesome as usual. I mean, this is U Kiss. They take their choreography very seriously. The dance break was totally cool. Usually Kiseop does a solo for that part, but this time all the members paired up to do a kind of slow-motion-robotic-octopus dance......thing. I'm so sorry, I'm not well-versed in dance speak. T^T

It's this one by the way.

Anyway, it was perfectly synchronized, which is really difficult especially when you're dancing in slow motion. Even the part where they break into two groups and cut in between members as they switch positions was totally in sync. I am super impressed. I have complained before about groups who tries doing different dance moves at the same time but ends up creating this out-of sync, jumbled-up mess. U Kiss however, have done this for almost all their Japanese songs and they are still pulling it off. I cannot even begin to imagine the time and dedication it takes to learn and practice those steps. U Kiss, R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Fashion
I usually have no problem with U Kiss's fashion. They still remain one of the few Kpop idol groups who wears perfectly normal clothes in their music videos. I STILL have no problem with their clothes for this music video, in fact I think their gangster clothes and military jackets are awesome. However, I sense that U Kiss are creeping closer and closer to the edge of the cliff, almost ready to plunge into the dark hole of fashion catastrophe. So U Kiss designers, please reel yourselves in. Don't jump off that cliff.

Don't do this.

Let me start with Kiseop. I'll be frank, I am not a fan of animal print. They just don't look good on anyone. Secondly, I've said it before and I will say it again. What is up with Kpop and feathers? Why do designers insist on gluing a bunch of feathers on otherwise totally normal and acceptable clothes? More importantly, why do only male idols get feather-bombed? I'm pretty sure I've never seen female idols looking like they just punched a crow and got it stuck on their dress.

  

Happy birthday Eli!! Also, someone glued a feather duster to your sleeve.

If there is something Kpop designers love more than feathers, its hats. Really odd-looking, totally random hats. Actually, I kind of like Kevin's hat right at the beginning when they stood in the alleyway. But the furry Eskimo hat and Hoon's chain link military hat is just a little too random for me.

 I swear I'm not picking on him on purpose.

Anyway, I feel really bad for this review. I really am a fan of U Kiss, so it's hard for me to be impartial towards them. Maybe I was too harsh, I don't know. I'm still quite new in this whole blogging business. My next review will also be on U Kiss, and I promise to be nicer. And U Kiss, I still love you guys! Group hug!!

*U Kiss didn't want to hug her.*