Putting This Together To Share With @aspec-kpop :

Putting this together to share with @aspec-kpop :

Anyone else here get this as part of their Spotify Wrapped? I don't think I'm one to go looking for things that are offensive but this one just made me a little sad. I get that it's supposed to just be a cute little throwaway comment but what does the word Romantic have to do with the fact that I enjoy music from more than one artist?

Run BTS: 025 | Game King

Original Air Date: 31 OCT 2017 Episode Length: 25:43 Total Parts: 1 YouTube English Subtitles: No, there's Chinese, Spanish, and Japanese though Title Song: Blood Sweat & Tears

Synopsis: Playing PC games. Divided into two teams with Yoongi as the MC.

Production: This one is disappointing. The first rule of video game let's plays is the audience needs to see what the player sees. We spend a lot of this episode not seeing the screen or not knowing who's screen we're seeing. Not a terrible concept but this wasn't the best execution.

Endearment: This episode was designed to rely on the guys' personalities, and I don't think they've quite got the hang of focusing on both pc games and entertainment at this point. They're not the worst I've ever seen, but they definitely improve in the years to come.

Winner: JH, RM, V

Loser: JN, JK, JM

Best Cheater: none? if there was one, we'd have no idea since we rarely see what's on screen.

Member Moments:

RM: aw, cute lil dance moment with Hobi

JN: Jin can get so sassy sometimes! 'who are you?!'

YG: Interesting that Yoongi would rather host than play. He's definitely got a feel for hosting already.

JH: The Jimin-Hobi standoff at the beginning was so great.

JM: Jimin, you should know, the one who suggests the punishment is far more likely to receive it!

V: V is taking this first game very seriously. too bad i don't have a clue what's going on, I'm sure he's very good....

JK: Why was JK standing with JM when he gave his little losing speech??

Bonus Content: none

CQ Rank: 1.5

(CQ Eval Date: 22 OCT 2023)

Check out this post for my Masterlist of all episodes and descriptions of how I'm evaluating these.

Previous Episode: 024

Next Episode: 026

I totally agree with you regarding JK’s solo area, and it makes me a bit sad because I had been waiting for his first solo album for years. Now that his promo has ended, I realize nothing about it has got me truly excited. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. For the most part I found it underwhelming. I haven’t been able to watch today’s concert yet though, I was busy at work unfortunately so I’ll try to catch up soon but it’s less fun not watching it in real time.

About GCF, to me it almost felt like watching a random YouTuber’s vlog and I find that meh. The whole point of GCF for me was that it was JK’s doing the editing on top of the filming but something is lacking now. It’s like they stripped GCF of its substance, as you said it could have been labeled as a Bangtan Vlog and I wouldn’t really have seen a difference. What I was expecting for this solo is to see the world through JK’s eyes and it hasn’t happened unfortunately. But I’m hopeful he’ll grow as an artist and come back with something more personal in the future. That being said he’s an amazing singer, his voice was really what stand out to me in this area!

Thank you anon! It's nice to know I'm not the only one! I've felt just so CONFLICTED this era. I YEARNED for JKs music for so long and now that we have it....hmmmm...I'm reminded why I try not to have expectations.

I honestly don't know if I'd feel better if I actively disliked everything so far because at least that would mean I felt SOMETHING about it all. It's just been so....meh.

Oh well, maybe when there's not so much 'pressure' and 'expectation' on him, we'll get more of what we've had a taste of.

Honestly, this whole GCF issue very likely just has a root cause of time. They clearly wanted it to release when it did but he's had a very full schedule and wasn't able to get the footage he usually would have or spend the time editing. I do wonder if he got the edit started though. The beginning is very much his style.

Run BTS: 024 | BTS vs Zombies

Original Air Date: 24 OCT 2017 Episode Length: 32:47 Total Parts: 1 YouTube English Subtitles: Yes Title Song: Blood Sweat & Tears

Synopsis: Zombie games at an amusement park

Production: I was so torn on this episode going into this review. I know how much it's beloved by army, but this one is so frustrating to try to follow the escape room game. it's very clear the guys didn't really understand it enough either, but I think that's why we got the coverage we did in the edit. This was absolutely a learning episode for the production team, as I don't think it ever gets this bad again. on the other hand, the concept is great, and I think the puzzle itself and tag game were well-prepared. but let's also not forget the camera team, absolute rockstars this episode! they got excellent coverage of the guys, the zombies, the game content, all while everyone is screaming, running around, and trying to not be in the shots.

Endearment: This episode is absolutely carried on the endearment factor. Before i watched it for the first time, i knew how much army loved it, and with the production issues, it's hugely due to the guys and how much the audience invests in them.

Winner: JN

Loser: none

Best Cheater: YG, sneaking unfreeze stickers onto JK. lol

Member Moments:

RM: Poor RM, couldn't see the tickets that were right in front of him. It's good that Jin knew to check over the same area.

JN: Jin using english with the zombies... do you have ticket?? I'm in love.

YG: Suga is absolutely fight over flight...no doubt about it. but I love how supportive of Jin he is

JH: Hobi's poor shoe, the clear star of the episode.

JM: I LOVE Jimin's moment of checking behind the photos like that's what he intended to do...of course, he wasn't scared and running away, not our big strong Jimin!! ;)

V: Of course, V made friends with the zombies. His little face after getting hauled off during that instant re-freeze

JK: I really wanna know what JK said to RM at the back of the bus when they found out it was zombies.

Bonus Content: Be prepared for a LOT of screaming if you watch this. Some cute moments during the freeze tag game.

CQ Rank: 4

(CQ Eval Date: 22 OCT 2023)

Check out this post for my Masterlist of all episodes and descriptions of how I'm evaluating these.

Previous Episode: 023

Next Episode: 025

Well this post feels appropriate to bring back now... for anyone looking, here's a link to the Justin Timberlake remix of 3D.

On first listen, I absolutely hate it more than the original version. The lyrics aren't as crude but the sound in JTs parts are horrific. And I am so over ppl referring to JK like they're best buds. I'd be shocked if JT and JK were ever even on the same phone call at any point in this. There's absolutely no basis for the familiarity... but whatever. Definitely not entering my Playlist.

LAST CALL: Which Jimin Dance Time was your favorite?

QUICK COMBO: ABYSS | EPIPHANY (demo ver) | MOON

My Thoughts on the QC:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIN! I can't wait until he's back with us to celebrate properly!

I actually had a difficult time with this QC, at first I had no idea which songs I would even consider and then there were too many. Jin's ballads are right up my alley musically but I don't usually seek out his tracks in my playlist.

Abyss is a song I've featured in another QC of beautifully tragic songs that don't leave me actually feeling sad. It's also a song that I usually play when I'm around my parents as it's not too kpop-y if that makes sense...

Oh Epiphany...I'm going to confess something here, I actually don't like the released version of Epiphany...like at all. The MV doesn't really appeal to me either. BUUUUT the demo version!?! Oh man, yes, I realize the english lyrics have some issues but THE MELODIES!!! (This song actually competes a little bit with Letter in my preferences but since I can only listen to it through the discs or 'other' sources, I'll never have stats on it. Anyway, I just love it. Best demo I've ever heard (even in comparison to the DNA demo, which we all know is astounding).

Moon is one of those songs that sneaks up on me and immediately goes back into hiding. Every time I listen to it, I'm reminded just how good it is and I don't know why it's not frequently in my playlists.

I would also like to give an honorable mention to Take Two. That song almost made my Jin-Birthday-Combo post purely due to Jin's high note around 2:45. I melt a little more inside everytime!

Listening Links:

I'm not giving you a link to Epiphany... go find the demo version yourself. 😉