Music Digest: 1st Quarter 2020

In which Chiima creates another list-based series where she displays the music she enjoys from the year that is, and shares some thoughts with everyone about the releases...

Around the middle of April an idea sparked in my mind regarding a new form of favoured music updates for the months gone by, one that would essentially allow me the time to compile it without having to dedicate myself every other week, or even within a months period. And because I liked this idea so much, I decided to implement it into my regime for 2020.

Pretty much the love-child of my Music Selection series from 2017, Digest Quarterly was born from the desire to keep myself updated with my favourite releases of the year, whilst also pandering to my laziness in updating this blog. It's a win-win situation here, because I can now keep a log of my favourites from the months gone by, yet still not have to dedicate myself to it every single month. Instead, I will update it every three months, because supreme laziness!

I will have to note that, despite listing my favourite songs here on a quarterly basis, does not mean that they will allbe present in the Year End overview of my favourite songs from 2020. This is because, more often than not, I will fall in love with a single or album well after its release date, or I will fall out of love with something as time goes by. It is just the way it is.

Anyways, the ultimate aim of this list is to:

1. Log my favourite songs for the impending Favourites of 2020 list.
2. Share my music favourites with everyone! Because sharing is caring, y'all~
3. Write my quick thoughts on the release, and why I think it's good (without having to write a full-on review).
4. Because I wanted to fill a void, one that is ultimately there because I miss my Music Selections.
5. Mambo #5.
6. It's also a fun way for me to recommend music to people, and a reason to make lists. Because lists are good.

... And that's it. Those are the reasons why I wanted to create this, though I never needed to explain it. I just wanted to, because words and writing and all that rambling fun.

The ultimate goal of this Quarterly Music Digest is to simply share my favourite music finds with everyone, as well as to keep a log and recommend music that I think people will like. At the end of the day, I think that sharing what we enjoy in J-Pop, K-Pop an any damn bop is a good thing, and will further our music interests along the way. It's also a great way to discover new musicians, idols and artists to follow, or perhaps help you to rekindle a long lost interest in a group you abandoned way back when, for one reason or another. Either way, this Music Digest is here for both myself and my readers as a means to keep ourselves occupied with music, and to find new groups and singers to invest our time (and maybe even money) in.

So please read on, and enjoy! Hopefully you find some new groups and music to lose yourself in, or perhaps rekindle your love with an old favourite. Heck, you might just return to the same old groups, idols and artists you have been following for the last half decade. Whatever it is you happen to enjoy, we won't judge you...

Let's listen to some music~

Images From '17: The PV Awards Of The Year

2017 is ending, and 2018 is on its way, but before the year wraps up and leaves us to start anew, it's time to take another look back at just a few of the PV's that made our year of Idols wonderful, and just a tad disappointing.

It's my favourite post of the Year End series, and it's all about the things I pretend to know about best. We're heading into the PV Awards of the year, people, and we're gonna see which ones made it. ARE YA READY, READERS?

SURPRISE! There's a bunch of H!P in here, and boy oh boy, I hate myself for it. Not because I think my taste in videos is lacking (dude, I'm actually confident in that area. I pride myself on liking good videos), but because there seems to be a lack of diversity here, at least to me. Still, it is what it is - H!P released some solid music videos in the Year gone by, ones that I have thoroughly enjoyed and remembered since they made their debut.

At least there's that positive to come out of H!P for this year, amongst all the fuck-ups and whatnot. They had to get one thing right, at least.

Anyways, with this post, I'm going to do my usual course of action, and rank the PV's based on random titles. I really see no point in doing a Top 10~20 of videos, because I like so many of them throughout the year, and I can never place them in a numbered order. Plus, I like doing the titles.

Of course I have a definitive favourite that stood out more than the others, even a nope or two from 2017, and they will be rewarded accordingly, just as I did last year. For the rest, though, I have grouped them into categories, based on various factors. Some categories will have more than others, and a few will have less, but that's how it is. Depending on the category, I can be stupidly picky.

As with music and most things, all videos included in this Ranking of sorts are the videos that, throughout the year, I have remembered the most. They are the ones that I recall out of all that I have seen, and the ones that are so impressive, I just had to include them. Of course, I won't list every video I have seen; that would take ages, and I don't have the time, and obviously, I won't include all your personal favourites.

As one blogger, and this being my blog, all videos included are subject to my own, acquired tastes. You may not agree with me on any of these listings, but I do hope that you respect what I have chosen to put in this list. I am catering to my own love for videos, though catering to your love for videos is an added bonus.

This is it, Reader dears. The PV Awards of the year 2017, in full. Which videos stuck out to me, and which ones are left in the dusty depths of the Honorable Mentions? Just who ranks the highest of them all, and who has hit rock bottom?

Plug in your earphones, grab a drink and get your viewing eyes switched on. These are the Images of '17, and it's time to press play...~

Will your group reign supreme in this unofficial ranking? Read on, find out, and enjoy~

Kim Jong-hyun of SHINee Passes Away (18/12/2017)

...

2017. Please end.

I'm sorry to say that today on December 18th, 2017, Kim Jong-hyun, Korean singer and a member of the boy band SHINee, has sadly passed away. He was 27 years old.

After reading various reports, it is now known that Kim Jong-hyun was found unconscious in a Seoul apartment, and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Further information includes that authorities were alerted by Jong-hyun's sister, who had received a series of text messages from her late brother that caused her concern.

SM Entertainment confirmed the news of Jong-hyun's death later in the evening, quieting suspicions that Jong-hyun was only unconscious, due to inconsistent reports. The company released an official statement:

"We're sorry to deliver such heart-aching, unfortunate news. On December 18th, SHINee member Jonghyun left our side unexpectedly. He was found unconscious at a residential hotel in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul and was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on the evening of the 18th."

"The deep sorrow cannot be compared to ones of his family who had to let go of their loving son and brother but the employees and artists of SM Entertainment, also in deep shock and sorrow, are offering condolences,

"Jonghyun was the best artist who loved music more than anyone and always worked hard for his performance. … We ask you to refrain from making rumors or assumptions based on reports in respect of his family who are in deep sorrow from the sudden news. As his family wished, his funeral will be carried out in the quietest manner with his family members and co-workers."

(via rolling stone online)

Jong-hyun's death is currently being investigated as a possible act of suicide.

...

This is so hard to fathom. I really can't get my head around the news that Jong-hyun is gone, that his life has stopped at the age of 27. How is it even possible? He was so young, he had a life ahead of him... How can it simply stop?

I am so shocked about this news. It just appeared in a facebook message from one of my groups, and I just... I didn't know how to react. I went cold, and I wanted to cry. I didn't know if it was true or not, as reports at the time were so inconsistent and flipped between 'unconscious' and 'death', with no clarity about what was happening, and when. So, I had my hopes up a little then, but the latest reports have confirmed the worst: Jong-hyun has passed away, and he has left family, friends, an entire industry, fans and a community in mourning.

Though I have never been an active fan of SHINee, they have been present on this blog, and have held a small place in my heart. They were one of those few Korean groups that actually intrigued me, and one I would become invested in whenever the time called for it. I found myself enjoying all they did, because they were a charming, fun group. I never actively followed them, but they still entertained me greatly.

And out of them all, I liked Jong-hyun the most. Even when I did mistake him for Mike.

It's really hard to think that he's actually gone. How is it that he's gone?  How has such an inspiring, beautiful man left this world behind? I am heartbroken by this news, and I really don't want to believe that any of this is real. I just wish we could turn back the clock and do something, anything.

This is a sad, cruel day. The world has lost another wonderful soul, and at such a young age.

I haven't cried yet, not whilst at work and not when I'm at home in any line of sight. I have a feeling I'll probably cry tonight before I sleep, because whilst I cannot say I am a true fan of SHINee or Jong-hyun, I have had fun and happy times watching SHINee videos, and fallen for various aspects of their on-camera personas, Jong-hyun especially. And now I won't see that in a SHINee video ever again.

And after Jong-hyun's passing, I know that I will see an incomplete SHINee. There will be a core part missing from the group, and though I cannot speak for the fans or the group members, this might be the case for everyone who has been a part of and supported SHINee from its beginnings. They will never be the same again, but in Jong-hyun's memory, I hope they continue and bring their music to the world, because their music can help those who are grieving, those who are sad. I hope beyond all hope that SHINee and the fans do what they can to keep Jong-hyun alive in their hearts.

It's a cruel thing, to be taken from this world so young, and an even crueller thing to know that Jong's death may have been his last solution in this world of suffering and heartache.

This news is devastating, and I'm in mourning for Jong-hyun, a beautiful creature who brightened a small part of my life, and gave me enjoyment in his performance through music videos and song. I am sorry that this wonderful young man has been taken from this world so early, and I am sorry for his family, his friends, fellow members, fans and co-workers. I am sorry that for him, he had to find a way out when he couldn't ease his hurt any more. 

Now, I hope that he is at peace. I hope that his suffering has ended, and that Kim Jong-hyun, member of SHINee and beloved Korean Idol, will be at ease and look down on his group and the community he helped to build with love and spiritual support.

Today is a day filled with grief and sadness, but please keep Jong-hyun, his family, friends, fellow SHINee members, fans and colleagues in your thoughts and hearts this day. We have lost another beautiful, talented creature, and the industry is at a loss now that a talent and glorious soul has departed our world in such a sudden way.

For the short time he was your Idol and inspiration, he lit up your lives and gave you happiness. He delivered high-quality performances and let you into his world of music and life, and showed you all a side of him that was yours to remember dearly. Please think back to those happy times, remember those moments of joy he produced, and do not let the darkness overlap what he delivered in the past.

An inspiration, an icon and an Idol. Kim Jong-hyun, thank you for everything you gave. Now, we can only feel sorrow, and we will miss you so much, but we will always remember you fondly.

Please, Rest In Peace, Kim Jong-hyun. You don't have to suffer or feel hurt any longer, but you will be in our thoughts, and you will forever be in our memory, and from then until now and beyond, we will adore you.

Chasing Nightmares and Lullabies - Dreamcatcher's 'Chase Me' [MV Review]

When you go to sleep at night, a pretty dream catcher hanging so nicely above your bed, you only look forward to a night of peaceful dreams and happiness. But what if the dream catcher's power was reversed, and only nightmares were fed into your now restless slumber?

Don't let your nightmares consume you, dear reader...

My Yankee Angel introduced me to this video, and honestly, I was absolutely taken by it. Upon first seeing the video that is Chase Me by Dreamcatcher, I couldn't help that think it felt a little reminiscent of The Shining (1980), directed by Stanley Kubrick. I hadn't actually seen the film at that point - I have now, however, and GAWD IT'S GORGEOUS! - but I could definitely see a few similarities. Above all, though, I was taken by how beautiful this video was, how captivating it is, and how it makes me feel as a viewer, too.

From what I know, this is the first release from Dreamcatcher, in name and lineup. Previously known as Minx, the group changed their name and made their re-debut this January, and had added two brand new members in November 2016. Chase Me is the lead song in their Nightmare single-album release, and honestly, it's glorious. Ever since my dear Angel sent it to me, I told myself that I would review it, no matter what.

It's been a month or less since I first saw it, and now that predia week is over and done with, and I am free as a bird until essays throw themselves at me... It's about damn time I finally sat down to review it! I am totally ready for this sweet nightmare to begin!

The question is, are you?

You might want to sleep with one eye open tonight...