Song Review: LOONA Release MV For "Star", MOMOLAND Make A Comeback With "Ready Or Not" And AESPA Debuts With "Black Mamba"

LOONA (이달의 소녀) - Star

Review

While LOONA's Korean title tracks often lean into high-concept, world-building and intense choreography, "Star" allows them to relax into a softer, more intimate sound. The song plays to the group's strengths as vocalists, giving them space to express tender emotions with breathy tones and delicate falsettos. "Star" envelops the listener in a hazy, romantic atmosphere, with lyrics capturing the dizzy euphoria of young love. "Starlight, starlight, with you shining in my mind," the members sing in unison over twinkling synths and muted electronic beats, their voices blending into gorgeous harmonies. Overall, LOONA's English version of "Star" is a dreamy, shimmering pop gem that showcases the girl- group's enchanting vocals and growing international appeal. 

Release Info & Mini Bio 

LOONA released today, on November 18, 2020, the official music video for their song "Star". The song is the English version of "Voice" from their third mini album "[12:00]". 

LOONA (이달의 소녀; stylized as LOOΠΔ) is a twelve-member girl group under BlockBerryCreative . The group debuted on August 19, 2018 with their debut concert and one day later they released their debit mini album "[+ +]". LOONA made their comeback on October 19, 2020 with their third mini album "[12:00]" and the song "Why Not?" as the album's title track. The physical album will be released in four versions simply named: A ver., B ver., C ver. and D ver. and will contain eight tracks. This album is the follow-up to the group's second mini album "[#]" that was released on February 5, 2020 with "So What" serving as the title track. 

MOMOLAND (모모랜드) - Ready Or Not 

Review 

Ready or Not is a summer-inspired song with a mix of fun, cuteness, and a touch of spice. The underlying base guitar adds a funky feel, while the shrill horn on the chorus adds an interesting element. The change up is cool, as without it, the song might have blurred together. The chorus, "Ready or not with the pow pow pow," is catchy in its simplicity and fun. The bass and electric guitar create an energy and atmosphere that keeps the song from sounding too cutesy. As the song progresses, the listener becomes more energized, making the experience extremely lively and entertaining. Overall, "Ready or Not" is a quirky, amusing and catchy song that combines fun and edginess. 

Release Info & Mini Bio 

Momoland (still a six-member girl group and still under MLD Entertainment) released their third single album "Ready or Not" on November 17, 2020 with the same-titled song serving as the album's title track. The single album will contain three tracks and will also be released physically on a CD. "Ready Or Not" is the follow-up to the group's first special album "Starry Night" that was released on June 11, 2020 with the same-titled song serving as the album's title track.

Track List 

1. "Ready or Not"
2. "Merry Go Round"
3. "Ready or Not (Inst.)"

aespa (에스파) - Black Mamba

Review 

SM Entertainment's highly anticipated new girl group AESPA made its debut today with the single "Black Mamba". The song is a powerful, dance-pop track with an addictive bridge and an explosive chorus, and its aggressive bass synths complement and elevate the group's confident and vibrant vocals. "Black Mamba", however, falls under a predictable style and lacks a distinct charm rendering it musically predictable. 

The music video for "Black Mamba" is a visually striking, effects-heavy production filled with surreal imagery hinting at a fantastical story. It features dark and glamorous visuals, referencing AESPA's unique concept and lore, based on a futuristic metaverse. Set in a hyper-cool, multicolored world, the music video follows the members as they battle a dark force personified by a giant CGI snake, the titular "Black Mamba". Brief appearances by the members' virtual avatar counterparts tease AESPA' unique AI concept.

The intensity of outfit concepts, backgrounds, and choreography in the music video feels a little over-the-top and disjointed, focusing more on displaying confidence and attitude instead of the members' unique colors and charms. No one can argue that "Black Mamba" is not a strong and charismatic debut track, but it could have been more melodic and memorable, and could have presented the individual members better, instead of focusing so much on the concept of the group as a whole.

Release Info & Mini Bio 

AESPA (Korean: 에스파; also stylized as æspa) is a four-member girl group under SM Entertainment. The group consists of members: Karina (카리나) (S. Korean), Giselle (지젤) (Japanese-Korean), Winter (윈터) (S. Korean) and Ningning (닝닝) (Chinese). The group made its debut on November 17, 2020 with the digital single "Black Mamba". Fun fact, the group's name is a combination of "æ", which means 'Avatar X Experience', and "aspect", which means double-sided. Together it means that you would being able to experience a new world through an avatar of yourself.