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the dance practice of koong is insane fr,I love the energy

I just wanna say I appreciate how fair and honest you are with your criticism. You also are really good at differentiating between "this is well-done, it's just not my vibe" and "this is right up my alley but I think it can still be improved". I feel like a lot of reactors feel pressured to show that they love everything, which considering the viciousness of some kpop stans I kinda can't blame them for. But you always explain your perspective and are clear about when it's just your taste vs a criticism based on your expertise. I slightly disagree with you on the performance video take, I personally prefer a performance video to be simple and focused on the dance and charisma of the group, while mvs can be reserved for showing off their storytelling abilities and weird concepts. So if it were me I'd strip back the Koong pv to just 1 or 2 locations, no vfx or props, minimal edits or just do it in 1 long take, maybe some fun drone shots to get up close to their facial performances and see the formation changes. But then my perspective isn't as a musician or dancer, just a talentless civilian who is most impressed by Xikers dancing out of all their talents, so focusing on that is what i'd want to see done differently. But the way you described how you'd play up the classical influence and drama of the song sounds legit cool and I'd watch the hell out of that!

@Koko3op

11 ай бұрын

Hahaha tasteless civilian is so funny but thank you so much for such an eloquent comment and it really makes me feel great than my intentions and attempt at objectivity is clear because I just LOVE music so I always want to give it a chance. Tbh I get that, a performance video just being simple makes a lot of sense, I agree so maybe the lighting and jump cuts were my issues but I also would like 1 or 2 shots in a different more dramatic setting with a bit of acting and intense make up but a transition to super clear and clean wide show look at the choreo. Glad you like my idea though!

i liked the title tracks for this album but i LOVEDDDDDDD the b-sides. To me they felt so fresh for them and i hop they continue with that kinda vibe

Xikers’s biggest charm right now is their energy. I’ve enjoyed both mini albums they’ve released. They’re one of my go to drive to work to wake me up groups. But they’re still new and really coming into themselves. There one of maybe two or three groups I’m looking forward to what they do in the coming years.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the album too I can't wait to watch the reaction! Also their comeback showcase I love all the live and clear vocals especially homeboy

blitzers macarena is what i feel like you described. It has a lot of personality to the video and the song compliments it very well.

@marig.1536

11 ай бұрын

i agree and i hope blitzers stays in that lane - it works for them. i was hoping there would be a boy group that took over from where block b left off, and they've done the best job at it so far imo.

@jessi5288

10 ай бұрын

⁠@@marig.1536I’ve seen like 4 groups hit their sweet spot this year and I’m really hoping they stay in that lane. Macarena was great and they def need to stay in that wheel house.

I always like xikers second title or bsides more than their titles I agree that they are now exploring more their own sound .

For me the problem with the Koong performance video is just that it's very dark and the camera jumps in and out a lot, so it's hard to see the best parts of the dance. I highly recommend the dance practice--you get a lot more of their energy and can see the way the choreo enhances some of the subtle things going on with the music. Do or Die is hard for me because there are various effects on their voices in almost every section. I prefer the live version because it sounds cleaner with their voices layered on top. I find the roll, roll, roll, roll in Skater addictive. The kind of almost static makes it more nostalgic. Digital music is quite clear, so static makes it feel like a throw back to me. Xikers' introductory chant is trick or hike. Andy and Jas said that dokkaebi (Korean goblins--xikers theme) will bless you if you play with them, but play tricks on you if you won't. They also have tricky and hiker versions of their albums. I've been wondering whether Tricky House, Koong, and most of the songs from their first album are meant to show their tricky/goblin side while Rockstar and most of the songs on this current album (excluding Koong) are meant to show their hiker/boyish side. I wasn't a huge fan of Koong or Do or Die at the outset, but like them both now, especially Koong. I loved Skater and Homeboy from the outset and still do. Thanks for taking a chance and listening to the album. ❤

i'm glad you gave them a chance. Skater and Homeboy are my faves, but i also appreciate the performance aspects of Koong and Do or Die a lot

I know we'll never agree regarding our personal preferences when it comes to bgs, but I love your reactions to them. You help me appreciate and understand the music differently.

@Koko3op

11 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

Don't let people tell you that you can't listen/react to BGs as a GG stan or vice versa. Music is made to be enjoyed and if you don't listen to something, you'll never know if you'll like it or not.

@Koko3op

11 ай бұрын

Agreed that's why ultimately I do what I want anyway haha

Your critiques on performance videos are interesting! Plain choreo videos, especially for loud and aggressive songs, never hold my attention well. This video kept me engaged more than most, probably due to the pacing of the song. The live stage energy of this group is fantastic, though, and makes me appreciate the songs a lot more Some other performance videos with a lot of character are Oneus Theatre videos (mostly choreo focused and each one themed around different movies) and 1theK stage breaks (dance covers). I feel like Xikers is developing their own sound with this album, and it’s a lot more distinct from Ateez this time. I’m not the biggest auto tune fan, but it fit whenever they used it. I enjoyed the more laidback songs and I’m so thankful for mostly 3.5+ minute songs. Hope you enjoyed the rest of the album and thanks for giving them another chance!

i love that you give groups a chance to grow on you bc i do the same lol. i wanted to love xikers bc i was a fan of ateez at their debut, but so far they aren't really for me. i do like skater a bit, and i agree with you that they should pursue the fun/brighter concept more. they're obviously talented, so maybe they will grow on me at some point... all it takes is just one song or concept to sway me. but rn, they're missing a certain it factor or magnetic quality for me and i don't quite know what it is.

@Koko3op

11 ай бұрын

Thank you! In my Patreon album reaction I basically said a strong vocalist or vocal hooks would elevate a lot of their songs and I think that's a part of it but only time will tell.

@riza5999

11 ай бұрын

"A strong vocalist or vocal hooks" I feel that. One of my main complaints for their first ep and it followed me with this one too

@Koko3op

11 ай бұрын

@@riza5999 Glad it isn't just me!

ok back again on another xikers reaction haha. but i am curious now to see your thoughts on homeboy since it has a mv and performance video out now 👀 do or die also didnt really do it for me when i first listened to it, however listening to it with head phones on is a whole other experience and the song is much better that way, in my opinion. but the bsides on this album won it for me for sure~

@Koko3op

10 ай бұрын

Hdhshdhsh I’m tempted but I’m starting to develop a fear of things I may not enjoy lol

am i the only one who gets girls aloud- sound of the underground from the instrumental or do or die between the intro and the first verse (i think its the drums)?

@carolinebaden978

11 ай бұрын

someone mentioned in another review it reminds them of the Hey Mickey! song and I kinda agree. there's similar elements. while also being alternative rock with rap added in.

First of all, I didn’t realise RUN was 4 minutes long 😨 until another reactor pointed it out so I went to Spotify, to Twitter etc to find if it was true and my jaw dropped, and this reaction shouldn’t be normal, imo. Cause for example NEWJEANS and Enhypen’s latest songs were shockingly shorts and it was a little bit disappointing cause why those amazing songs are 2 and half minutes long? I want to enjoy them and have the right length. Anyway, thank you for giving a chance to them. I know they have just started their first comeback but I think KQ and Edenary team production are trying to “experiment” more rock genres, rock vibes with xikers. Rockstar was a song that has rock feelings from early 2000 rock bands and teenage tv series and movies like camp rock, School of Rock etc. while with Do or Die they decided for a punk, alt rock mixed with late 90’ pop vibes, so if in the next album they have a song with rock vibes then that’s the approach for xikers’ music or at least for this Albums serie. Mmm vocals, yup this is surely where they need more improvements but as someone who, somehow, ended up following them since pre debut they actually improved a lot since last year, and sure Junghoon’s absence is a gap that you can feel, he has a distinct voice that would have certainly help them in this album and it’s weird that he’s not here, his knee injury might have been more severe than I thought considering he wasn’t able to sing even one song, hope he will comeback soon more healthy and strong then ever. Thank you for the reviews and giving them a chance.

It doesn’t even surprise me anymore how much u hit the mail on the head. Everytime groups groups do a performance video like this I always think if they would’ve just titled it dance video or like some play on words related to dance kinda, like XG move it would be so much more understandable

@Koko3op

11 ай бұрын

Ha that is such a big compliment thank you cos sometimes I think I'm just saying something only I understand! Yeah there's so many lost opportunities.

Their music sounds like ateez vibe,,not hating but nothing new in terms of sound and vibe..

@victoriab98

10 ай бұрын

probably why i enjoy their music so much as someone who ults ateez 😁

Their music is not for me at all but I will say do or die sounds like it would be really fun to play in pump it up