Review: 4Minute - What's Your Name?

I'm trying to cover 4Minute and Shinee as soon as possible. May is like, the Kpop Comeback Month since ALOT of groups will be making their comebacks. So I'm trying to get these songs done before that happens. Busy busy busy...

Music Video
I have very mixed feelings about this video. 4Minute videos usually focuses on them being dark and mysterious and sexy, but this time it was full of really bright and vibrant colors. Even though the girls played up their sexy side here as well, you see bits of aegyo here and there in their acting. And despite my zero-aegyo stand, surprisingly in this video it works.

However, I think we can all agree that this music video was pretty confusing, to say the least. So it starts off with 4Minute hitting the streets together, doing girly things like buying jewellery and hanging out with the neighbors. Some guys try to get fresh with them, only to be brushed off completely. Nothing wrong there, just a regular day with the girls.

It's only when they get back home, all hell breaks loose. One of the members sees on TV that everyone they met on the streets just turned into brain-eating zombies!

GAAHH- Wait, who's recording this?

That's when they look to the door just in time to see the zombies break in.The girls freak out and throw stuff at the zombies, before escaping into the streets. But the zombies quickly catch up to them and surround them in a hungry frenzy. The girls are completely overwhelmed by all the zombies clamoring for a taste of some sweet, sweet, grey matter. Just your typical, everyday zombie drama.

Pictured: Completely normal.

But then for some inexplicable reason, the zombies let them go and they do a dance number together. Ummm, what just happened? I'm pretty sure the zombies were tearing into you just a few seconds ago and suddenly you're all BFFs? I mean, they don't even seem to mind the fact that 4Minute have an entire wall of zombie heads that they probably beheaded themselves, all of them labeled as "No Name".

They're missing both their bodies and their dignity.

Actually if I recall correctly, Michael Jackson once did a zombie music video for Thriller. For those of you too young to know about it, it's kind of similar to this one if you squint, sans the girly pink and Hyuna's legs. However in MJ's video, he turned into a zombie in the end so at least it sort of makes sense. But here, the girls are like the Zombie Whisperers or something because not only do the zombies not eat them, they are just as smitten with the girls as they were when they were human. Okay 4Minute, you seriously need to get over and help out U Kiss with their zombie problem.

They're getting a little desperate.

Song and Lyrics
To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the song in the beginning, but it gradually grew on me. It had a cool, techno-funky beat and the chorus was really catchy as well. Although I did think that they repeated "What's Your Name" a little too much in the song. I don't really like songs with too repetitive lyrics. In my opinion, they should have removed the two lines of "What's Your Name" after Hyuna's rapping and added more lines to the rap instead, because her part was awesome.

The lyrics are a little different from what you would expect from a girl group. Whether it's a guy group singing about a girl, or a girl group singing about a guy, one thing usually remains constant: The guy always takes the lead. It kind of brings in the cultural thing. I'm Asian, and I can tell you that I don't know many girls with the habit of taking charge and asking a guy for his name and phone number. So I think it's so cool that this song is all about the girls being the dominant ones and demanding the guy to quit messing around and hand over his number.

Dance
I usually have no problems with 4Minute's dances. They are one of the few girl groups who manage to pull off fierce-sexy really well. I still kind of like this dance, but my no-problemness is starting to waver a little.

Let's talk about the good things first. I thought the first eight seconds where the members danced together before the lyrics started was pretty good. And I think a lot of people are going to disagree with me when I say this, but I actually did like Hyuna's part while she was rapping. She had a good expression and I don't think she overdid the sexiness there. It was good. Also I liked the shooing hand gesture when they sang "You Know My Name" at 1.01 minutes. It looked like they were being all dismissive and I-don't-need-you-Jerk. I thought it suited the lyrics of the song.

Now for the parts that cannot be unseen. I think the focus point in the dance was supposed to be the cellphone-waving part, but my mind decided that it wanted to focus on other parts instead, mainly the grab-and-point dance. You know, the part where the girls chose to point towards the most unfortunate direction of their body? No?

Now you know.

There were also some parts in the dance that I recognized from the dances of other songs. Did anyone else notice them? Yay, it's show-and-compare time!

 BAP's One Shot

2PM's Hands Up

 Hyuna's Bubble Pop

Oh yeah, I totally went there.

Seriously though, watching girl groups slide their hands between their legs is equally as disturbing as watching guy groups grab their crotches. It is not sexy, it is not flattering, it is not appealing in the least. Choreographers, please stop doing it.

Fashion
Most of the members look great in the video. Their clothes are eye-poppingly bright and awesomely mismatched. And their accessories, from their hairbands to their rings and bracelets, are equally amazing. Jihyun, I want your earrings.

 In fact, I have no complaints about them. Except for Hyuna.

What I'm going to say is basically what a ton of netizens have already complained about. Hyuna isn't wearing any pants. What she was wearing was is, to quote Simon, "I've never seen anything more mini in my life". And no, stylist, body paint and fishnets do not count as pants.

This pose does not help.

You are not helping her image by making her wear outfits like that. I get that you're trying to market her sex appeal, but this is getting way out of hand. It's time to stop before her rep gets permanently damaged.