K-Pop Ranter

Review: VIXX G.R.8.U

Posted by : KimAngie August 08, 2013

Oh...shirtless men.

Phew.

Although it may be a bit late, there's some things about this comeback that I need to get off my chest. I, being a big fan of VIXX (Ok, maybe a huge fan of VIXX), panicked when I heard that they were going for a summer concept because that usually includes...aegyo...*shivers*. Now, I have nothing against cutesy-concepts-- for all I care they can go all out-- it's just they almost never win me over. But VIXX, oh VIXX, somewhat managed to?

These six handsome boys, along with JellyFish Ent., decided to spice things a bit and go opposite from the mainstream by using a backwards masking technique for their video. What's that, you ask? "Backmasking is a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward", thanks Wikipedia. If you haven't checked it out, today's your lucky day because here you go:

The video - Do you see how their lip-syncing matches the song even though the video is being played backwards? Wonder how? It's not some out-of-this-world video editing, no, it's that while recording these boys sung the song backwards (yeah, backwards)- meaning they memorized the lyrics backwards- and once they re-winded the recording, boom!(shakalaka) the magic happens. Their lips matches the song, and they're doing all sorts of chaotic things...backwards.

Now, you may be thinking that the reason why they decided to go with such an unusual technique only seen twice by Seo Taiji and Epik high is because they're hipsters-- but that's not the case. In their previous release (which you can check out here, if you already haven't), they played these vicious and savage vampires who just couldn't control (ha! Get it?) their love for a girl that brought out their inner monster. It may seem random, but trust me-- it's not. You may or may not have heard the idiom 'Jekyll and Hyde,' but it means a person with a good and evil side-- a split personality. What they're doing is portraying Hyde (the title actually makes sense!), their evil side, which then transitions into Jekyll, their good side, in G.R.8.U. This is no careless doing though, we all know that the video is being played backwards and they're all having a jolly-good time while making a ruckus(who doesn't love destroying rooms), but there's a reason for this.

As what was aforementioned, the video is being played backwards but it's because it's a flashback of when they were Jekyll(good), explaining why they looked so happy. Notice how towards the end their outfits are checkered and the lyric says 'I think I'm losing control,' portraying that their transition into Hyde(evil) is commencing. Then in Hyde they wear complete black outfits and the lyrics change into 'Just can't control' meaning that the shift is complete. Can I just...can I just squish JellyFish Ent. for this glorious and mind-blowing concept? It's one thing putting it together, but it's another thing pulling it off in such a majestic manner.

So much love for you JellyFish.

The Song - The song on the other hand, while the lyrics managed to send me to k-pop landia where I once more regained hope for the Hallyu Wave (man I sound delusional), the tune...not so much. Yes, it's catchy-- yes, there's not too much sugar that will make my cup of tea way to sweet for it to be acceptable, but...it just didn't manage to captivate me like Hyde did. I felt like for me it was a 9.5/10. Just that one .5 that seemed a bit lacking before they could completely have me jamming my jar out and repeating it until I've gotten enough. And also, my Starlight feels didn't allow me to dislike it any less than that.

N, the respectable and impressive(ha! Another pun) leader of the group, choreographed the dance. He had mentioned before that he was interested in choreography, so they allowed him to. The dance itself wasn't as...well...eye-catching as Hyde, but since it's his first time-- I'll let that slide. But if he disappoints me again, I won't let him off so easily.