New Music: Khalil Fong - 'Journey To The West' (album)

Khalil Fong is back!! His latest album, Journey To The West, is a double album - Black and Gold, each with 10 songs. It's the first album released under his independent music label, Fu Music. There are plenty of amazing R&B tracks. Some of my favourite are: NMW, 味道 (Taste) feat. Zion.T and Crush, 很不低調  and As I do.

Check out his youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/KhalilFongofficial

Brief Album Review: Jung Jin Woo (정진우) - 'In My Room' (EP)

Album release date: 2016
Genre: R&B/Soul, Kpop
Rating: 4.5/5
Brief Review by: jct

Jung Jin Woo caught my attention back in Kpop Star 5, when he first presented on stage with his self-composed song, Satellite. His style. His voice. The lyrics. I love it! I am so happy he released his debut mini-album this year, which is entitled, In My Room.

All the songs are enjoyable from the beginning to the end.  The album displays passionate vocals, great lyrics and tasteful song production.  I really enjoy the title track, "B Side U" which is about telling a loved one not to be afraid as he will always be by her side, as he sings, "Dear love, Don't be afraid, even when everything changes/ if you stay there, i'll be side you".   I also love the bridge "...But I don't need anyone but you/ without you, it's like a blackout. You know it, turn on the light."

Jin Woo definitely has lots of potential as he wrote most of the songs himself and composed some of them. I do find that R&B/Soul seasoned with some hip hop suits him best rather than ballad tracks though.  Overall, Jung Jin Woo left a strong impression with In My Room.

Tracklist
01  집에 있을게  (Open House) (with Villain)
02  B Side U
03  광신도 (Fanatic)
04  Leftover
05  Bonne Nuit

Korean R&B music - summary 2016

Some Korean R&B music released in 2016, that are on my playlist (as of Sept 23, 2016):


Jung Jin Woo - 'B Side U'
- fyi: he released his debut mini-album this year, 'In My Room'. I've been waiting for his music since Kpop Star 5 ended. So happy to hear from him!


Jun. K - 'Think about You'

Joe Rhee - 'Insane feat. San E'

Bumkey - 'Better Man feat. Tablo' 
- fyi: Bumkey released a full album this year, 'U-TURN' and it sounds great!

Soulstar & Wheesung - '진짜 사랑 노래 (Real Love Song)'

DEAN - '풀어 (Pour Up) feat. Zico'
- fyi: some great tracks from his first album - '130 mood : TRBL'




Ra.D - '싶은데 (I Want You)'



NCT U - '일곱 번째 감각 (The 7th Sense)'
- pop/hip-hop genre



Amber - 'On My Own'
- pop genre.
- I love this song! great lyrics

Music Update - Sept 2016

Some awesome R&B music (released this year) from my playlist:

Tone Stith - 'Selfish'
- love the song! love his voice!
- fyi: lots of great singles by Tone this year, eg. Butterflies, Lucky Run, Rainy Days, just to name a few. Looking forward to his upcoming album!



H.E.R. - 'Facts'
- original lyrics and great vocals!
- really enjoyed her debut album which was released recently



Devon - 'Off the Ground'
- nice vocals and great beats!



Maxwell - '1990x'
- grown and sexy music right here!



Musiq Soulchild - 'I Do'
- Yeessss...love this song!




Anthony Pavel - 'HerStory feat. Saba'
- great song! I like it! some JT feel to it....




Yuna - 'Crush feat. Usher'
- love this song!  very smooth and sweet




Jeremy Passion - 'We Can'
- it's been soooo long since I've heard from Jeremy Passion. So glad he is back! love the song!

Jung Jin Woo (정진우) - 'In My Room' (1st mini album) teaser 2016

Jung Jin Woo is releasing his first mini album, "In My Room", this week, Sept 22, 2016.  Check out the album teaser below. Sounds really good! Really excited for his music!!

Music: Jung Jin Woo (정진우) - 'Rich Song / 유복하게 살았는데’

Jung Jin Woo's third original piece, entitled, "유복하게 살았는데 (Rich Song) or (I was well-off)". It's a song about a man who is well-off, falling in love with a woman but she doesn't return his love so he feels powerless and frustrated.

I really like this performance as it really brought out his charm. The fact that Jin Woo did everything himself from composing and writing lyrics to singing and rapping, is really impressive. So...can he just debut now?

Watch the performance here:



Lyrics (English translated):
I am well-off
Why are you making me pitiful
I had everything I want
But when I'm in front of you, I'm pathetic

Oh why, why, why, why
Oh why, why, why, why

I don't think of anything else
I'm only looking for you these days
You have different standards from other girls your age
I'm thirsty; I'm dried out without you

If I could have you
I can give you everything I have
I will get you the stars in the sky
Anything you want to eat
Anything you want to have

(Chorus)
I know I'm rich, but how can I reach you
What are your interests?
Should I become a lawyer?
I know I'm rich, but how can I reach you
If I'm well-off or not
You're close but far away

Girl, why, why
Tell me, why, why

Girl, why, why
Tell me, why, why

Hey what you looking at
This, that, I can buy you anything, just say it
I don't care what the price tag says
My mind is messed up but I have confidence
I'm ready to sweep you off your feet
I wasn't born in a rich family but I look fine
If I want something I never let it go
But when I stand in front of you, I always get humiliated
But I still dream of walking with you

(Chorus)

Girl, why, why
Tell me, why, why

Girl, why, why
Tell me, why, why

lyrics (English translated) credit: jctmusicnotes

Music: Jung Jin Woo & Lee Soo Jung duet - 'Sometimes / 가끔' (cover)

Another duet from Jung Jin Woo and Lee Soo Jung. This time, they did a cover of Crush's "Sometimes (가끔)". Their voices really complement each other! I hope they will collaborate again in the future.

Watch their duet here:




Lyrics (English translated):
It’s particularly cold tonight
I look up at the night sky again
It’s been a year already

It came back to me
All the memories of taking you home
They are all so precious

I used to think we’d share these memories
when you used to be right by my side
I wonder if you feel the same
but I can’t really tell

It’s just sometimes
I miss you
I miss kissing you and hugging you

It’s just sometimes
I want to see you but today it’s making me cry

I miss you I miss you baby
I miss you I miss you baby

I wanted you, wanted you

I regret I wasn't good to you when you were mine
But I don’t dare try to turn things back
I keep living like the idiot I am
with my heart locked up inside

It’s just sometimes
I miss you
I miss kissing you and hugging you

It’s just sometimes
I want to see you but today it’s making me cry

lyrics (English translated) credit: jctmusicnotes

Music: Jung Jin Woo & Lee Soo Jung duet - "Always is Never Enough" (cover)

Jung Jin Woo's 3rd performance on Kpop Star 5. It is a duet with a fellow contestant, Lee Soo Jung.

They did an excellent cover of Ariana Grande's "Almost is Never Enough" (with Nathan Sykes). I find Jin Woo's part much better than the original (Nathan). I love Jin Woo's voice, more R&B/Soul !

Watch their duet here:



Lyrics: 
I'd like to say we gave it a try
I'd like to blame it all on life
Maybe we just weren't right, but that's a lie, that's a lie

And we can deny it as much as we want
But in time our feelings will show

'Cause sooner or later
We'll wonder why we gave up
The truth is everyone knows

If I could change the world overnight
There'd be no such thing as goodbye
You'd be standing right where you were
And we'd get the chance we deserve

Try to deny it as much as you want
But in time our feelings will show

'Cause sooner or later
We'll wonder why we gave up
The truth is everyone knows

Almost, almost is never enough
so close to being in love
If I would have known that you wanted me, the way I wanted you
Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart
But right here in each other's arms

And we almost, we almost knew what love was
You are my...(hey)
Baby, baby baby, ooh
Almost is never, almost is never, enough


Lyrics credit: jctmusicnotes 
Note: Their song is shorter than the original, and it is also slightly different especially near the end. The lyrics I posted here is based on their duet.

Anime Series Reviews - Fall 2015 series

Fall 2015 anime series that I watched:

- One-Punch Man 

A story about a bald, boring-looking guy who is actually a powerful hero. He can easily defeat villains and monsters with a single punch. However, he has a hard time finding strong villains who present a challenge to him. He also struggles to gain respect as a lot of people look down on him. The story is pretty predictable and repetitive but it's still fun and enjoyable to watch. The characters are enjoyable and the action scenes are well done.
Rating: 8/10


- Noragami Aragoto

This is the second season of Noragami (see my review of season 1 here) and it is amazing! I'm always looking forward to more. This season provides more background about the characters and there is also plenty of character development. The plot is well paced with lots of intense moments. It continues to explore themes such as friendship, family, teamwork, trust and maturity. In addition, it provides great comic relief. 

Rating: 9.5/10

- Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen

This is the second season of Owari no Seraph (see my review of season 1 here). The story continues with the war between vampires and humans. Near the end, we found out that humanity is the actual villain and we have some 'angels' attacking everyone. It has a decent plot but the storytelling is messy and incoherent. There are also many things introduced but not explained such as the king of salt (who is he - because it's so random and there is no explanation). The animation is well done though. 

Rating: 7/10

New Music: Jung Jin Woo (정진우) - '하…/Ha...' from Kpop Star 5

Jung Jin Woo's second performance on Kpop Star 5. The song is called "Ha...", written by Jin Woo, himself.

I was expecting something more, but no denying he has great vocals. Perfect for R&B.

Watch his performance of "Ha..." here:



Lyrics (English translated):
When I can't sleep
I sit in front of the piano
I write lyrics to a song and I hum it
But it feels all in vain
Maybe it's because the weather is gloomy
Maybe it's because I saw you in my dream last night
I toss and turn all night
I think it's because you're not here
Everything's empty, I'm listless
I'm bored without you
I can't sleep. And time goes slowly
What am I doing? When can I fall asleep?
Yeah, It bothers me everytime
I'm sick of making these love songs
I can't sleep. And time goes slowly
I can't sleep. And time goes slowly
Ha...(sigh)

Lyrics (Korean):
잠오 오지 않는 밤
피아노 앞에 앉아서
기삿말을 끄적이고 흥얼거려도
다 부질없게 느껴져
날씨가 우중충한 탓인지
어제 꿈에 네가 나와서인지
뒤척이고 망기적이길
수십 번 난 너가 없어서 인가봐
다 공허해 무기력해 너 없이 난 무료해
잠은 안오고 시간은 안가고
내가 뭘하는 건지 어제쯤 잠이 오는 올린지
It bothers me everytime
I'm sick of making these love songs.
잠은 안 오고 시간은 안 가고
잠은 안 오고 시간은 안 가고

lyrics (English translated) credit:  jctmusicnotes