PTT : BTS- 화양연화 Pt.2 (In the Mood for Love Pt.2): Album Review

Hello everyone!

WOW.

Not gonna lie. It's been very long since you've heard from me. Heh... let's just say I don't follow a certain schedule, neither do I have the discipline to. Heh. Heh. Heh.

ANYWAY-

Excuses aside -HEY- look who's back! 

WHOOP WHOOP

It is your one and only very much dedicated kpop fangirl-
*cue the drumrolls*

LOU!
YAAAAAAAAAY!

Ahem.
Sorry, that was rather awkward.

That aside, today I'll be doing a review on Bangtan's (방탄소년단) new 4th mini album by the name of 화양연화 Pt.2 (Korean) , or In the Mood for Love Pt.2 (English). The album, containing 9 tracks, was released on the 30th of November 2015 along with a music video to their title track, "Run".

After a successful release of the first part of the album, fans were eager for the second of the two part series; a request which has now been delivered!

All 9 tracks were topping Korean Music Charts upon the album's release, with "Run" even claiming the seat of several number one spots. Yay for another milestone reached!

Below are the opinions provided by my brain alone. Please take no offence if what I say does not reflect your opinions. Also, yes, I'm a fan so... slightly biased... maybe?

TRACK #1: INTRO: NEVER MIND

Bangtan has always impressed me with their rapping, that's for sure. And they don't disappoint this time either. This time's intro was done mostly by Suga, with Rapmon and Jhope only rapping about 2 lines each.

One thing about Suga's lyrics is that they always make you think. He likes incorporating metaphors and similes into his raps and it gives each line a poetic feel.
Never mind is full of raw emotions and honesty. He tells us his experiences through his rapping and some of the struggles he's had to go through. I really like how he shares some of his stories like that with his fans. Sometimes, it just shows that they are human too and maybe have it harder than it seems.

random thought: Suga swearing. Idk why but I actually laughed the first time hearing it hahahahha...ha.. *cough*

TRACK #2: RUN

This album's title track!
It does give me a similar feel to I Need U (Tri said that too) but I think that is because of where the rap verses, bridges, pre choruses and choruses are placed. In this aspect, I believe Run mirrors I Need U.

There is a definite EDM feel to it. Very dynamic. There are definitely many layers to this song and they probably took a very long time to produce this. As a title track, I think it has delivered. However, comparing it with the other tracks in the album, you wouldn't really consider it 'superior', like what title tracks usually are.

A thing I'm sure everyone has noticed is that Jhope has been getting those rap-singing lines quite a lot these days, before going in with his rapping. Jhope was a more neutral (?) sounding voice and it makes the song more interesting. 

On another note: V's solo bridge gives me all kinds of feels. And Jimin's vocals have come a long way too, compared to previous songs.

No doubt is it a great song, with even line distributions too. I can't wait to see the live performances of it.

Random thought: The mv. LIKE WHAT EVEN.
BIG HIT.
YOU EVIL POTATOESSSSSS

TRACK #3: BUTTERFLY

Two words: SOOOOOOO AIRYYYYY

And I love it! This final version of the song has a different feel than the one in the Prologue. The piano introduction has been taken out and guitar chords have been added in. It does make the overall song slightly more upbeat. But either way, this has to be one of their best tracks.

They did a good job incorporating rap parts into it too without it sounding off. Originally having thought that this track was going to be a vocal-only song based of the Prologue, the raps were a pleasant surprise. The only petty complain about this song would be that Jin only has one line (if my ears aren't lying to me) at the very end. It would have been great if he could have showcased his voice more in this track.

And hey,once again Jhope does the half sing-rap thing.
Love the adlibs and backup vocals too.

Overall; a great track.

Random thought: urghhhurgurgfhhdhdhd *melts* Jimin's adlibs are keeling meh

DO YALL SEE HOW CUTE HE IS

TRACK #4: WHALIEN 52

Now, y'all. This song is kinda depressing. Rapmon took part in the making of this song and its inspiration is taken from a whale that lives in the sea alone because it produces sound waves at 52 Hz, which no other sea creatures can hear. Thus, this song talks about loneliness and being alienated.
It isn't really that difficult to figure out upon having a look at the lyrics. Hohoho...

This track does not disappoint but it does somehow remind me of "Move" from Pt.1.
Slightly?
Hmm maybe because of Rapmon's influences in both the songs.

Also, the high-pitched whale like (are they? I don't know?) sounds in the background add a nice touch to the song.

BUT.
DID YOU GUYS HEAR WHAT I HEARD?

"I'M A WHALE."

Wow, Kookie. That's definitely something new.
I couldn't stop laughing after hearing that, not gonna lie.

Random thought: I have a feeling this will be their follow-up song... hmmm *ponders forever*

TRACK #5: MA CITY

HO. HO. HO.
So this track was released for pre-streaming for a day before the official release of the album, making this one of the first songs I heard of this album.

The rappers tell their stories in their own styles. Thumbs up for that. I also quite like the electric guitar in the instrumental. Maybe it's just me, but it makes the song have an... old-fashioned-ish... vibe to it? I don't know why, but it just makes me picture city scenery in black and white Haha

The best part of the songs for me would be the pre- chorus.

"자 부산의 바다여! SAY LA LA LA LA LA"

WOOOOOOO~

Random thought: HAHAHHAHAH. MIN. YOONGI. HIS RAP LYRICS FOR THIS. ABSOLUTE GOLD. *wipes tear*

note: But this song also sounds quite similar to Rihanna's Bitch Better Have My Money.

TRACK #6: 뱁새

Looks like we're going back to what Bangtan is known for; questioning and going against the stereotypes of society.

♤

(T/N: * 뱁새/ Baebsae is a Korean Crow-Tit but it is also used to call someone who ruins themselves by trying to imitate/ copy people who are better than them. It comes from the saying
새가 황새 걸음을 걸으면 가라이 가 찢어진다 meaning "If a crow-tit walks like a stork, it will tear its legs"

Trans cr; Mary & Sihyun @ bts-trans

♤

The lyrics go real and hard and are in your face. Seems they have nothing to hide, making this sound almost like a diss-track.

Sad that they don't have Cypher Part 4? Worry not because we have 뱁새, which ultimately makes up for the missing cypher. This probably being because of the hip hop elements in the song.
There's no doubt that this track will make you move along to its beats.

Oh and lol. It is so hard to differentiate the members' singing parts in this song.
Gah!
WHY DOES EVERYONE SOUND LIKE TAEHYUNG. (Unless he sang almost everything hahaha)

Random thought: YOU -YOU MU' BE KIDDING ME. YOU MU' BE KIDDING ME. YOU -YOU MU' BE KIDDING ME
KOOKIE. I SWEAR.

TRACK #7: SKIT: ONE NIGHT IN A STRANGE CITY

Bangtan has got to be one of the extremely few groups left that still do skits. As always, I really enjoy just hearing them bicker about random things. But if you don't understand Korean, you might need to see an English translated video for it heh (like me lolol. I only got about half of what they were going on about. Soooo yeah. STUDY KOREAN, EVERYONE! Or just look up the translation huehue)

Random thought: Bangtan bullying Jimin as usual pshhhhh and Suga being the grumpy grandpa he always is.
BUT HOSEOK NOOOOOOOOOO...

TRACK #8: 고엽/ DEAD LEAVES

YASSS Suga's track! I absolutely adore all the songs he has produced, Let Me Know and Tomorrow being two of my all time favourites.

Suga has a distinct style to most of his songs and it is something this track is not missing. He manages to make all the members shine individually in their lines with their own styles. 

No surprise here, but the vocal parts are wonderful. The rap sequences are also soothing to the ear.

Seeing that Suga likes producing things that are more on the emotional side, I say his songs are usually a great chance for Bangtan to show a softer side to the audience, different from their usual strong hip hop image.

All in all, a big clap to Suga for producing this song. A great job indeed.

Random thought: ALL THEM FEELS OMG. MY FELLOW ARMY, ROLL WITH ME.

TRACK #9: OUTRO: HOUSE OF CARDS

*sharp inhale*
OKAY.
THIS.
SONG.

I FLABBING LOVE IT.

It has a haunting melody accompanied by soothing instrumentals to give you the chills. It also has a jazzy feel to it and I love the effect the bboom-bba bboom-bba sound at the back gives. (sorry I'm not musically capable enough to use real terms hahaha)

Ah and the harmonies and adlibs; wonderful.

House of Cards is certainly my favourite track in the album.

Random thought: kaxjcgsksknsbxksjxhxxkssjdh *drowns*

OKAYYYYY and that is the end of the track list.

To conclude, the album as a whole was on fire! Nothing less to be expected from Bangtan. Great songs, great music, great production.
This mini album surpassed my expectations and may just be their best album to date.

To give it a visual and more definite standing point, I would give this album a solid 9 out of 10 points.

AAAANNNNDDDD
It looks like I'm done here!

Last words would be that (like many have said) I'm glad Bangtan has evolved their music to what it is today and have finally managed to find their own style and colour. 

There's no doubt that their more recent songs sound very much different from their past albums, but this is without question, a good thing.

Keep going Bangtan. I look forward to what they will come out with in the future.

And that is all for me today.
Have an enjoyable day/afternoon/morning/night and I'll see you in the next post, that hopefully, won't take very long to exit its 'draft' status.

GOODBYE!

credit to all owners of pics, gifs and videos.