Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Review: Kim Jang Hoon (feat. Kim Heechul)–“Breakups Are So Like Me”



Kim Jang Hoon and Kim Heechul collaborate on an unexpectedly moving meta MV.


Did you like the song?
(Sorry, LOENT seems to have disabled embedding of their videos.) Kim Jang Hoon is a rock-ballad singer who has made lots of other albums over the years, but I definitely think it was a great idea for him to collaborate with Kim Heechul, a Super Junior fan favorite. And he even references Super Junior’s “Sorry, Sorry” and “Mr. Simple”! The song is an upbeat ballad that I enjoyed a lot.

Kim Jang Hoon Breakups Are So Like Me

Kim Jang Hoon and Heechul.

What was your favorite part of the song?
The chorus was the best bit for me. “SarAAAANgi tteonaganda~”

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me collaboration

Jang Hoon and Heechul

Does the English make you want to rip your eardrums out?
I think all of the English (other than “simple,” “sorry,” and “break it love”) is in the beginning and is, yeah, pretty bad. I always kind of giggle when I hear the word “collaboration.” Oh, Heechul.

Did you like the video?
Like Girl’s Day’s “Don’t Let Your Eyes Wander,” this is another meta video, by which I mean the music video consists of shots of the artists filming the music video. I like it best when it’s clear Jang Hoon and Heechul are having fun and enjoying each other’s company. Like here:

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me gif

But my issue with this video is that so much of the MV is shots of them being glum, bored, or otherwise unhappy.

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me

Why so bored?

Now, on one hand this attitude matches the gloomy lyrics about trying to laugh while the love of your life is leaving you. But on the other hand, the guys are not glum the entire video, just during a lot of it, so I’m not convinced they’re just acting this way to match the lyrics.

I’m also not sure whom I should blame for this, but I think it may be Heechul, who seems to have donned both his aviator sunglasses and a very world-weary view on life in his latest music videos. Maybe it’s because he was sad about having to leave for the army (or still down about Hankyung leaving—maybe seeing how depressed Heechul was made Jang Hoon criticize Hankyung like he did *conspiracy theories*), or maybe it’s something unrelated, but it makes me depressed. Heechul is so entertaining when he’s more animated, and he just hasn’t been much lately. Anyway, if you have any theories, no matter how far-fetched, I’d love to discuss them with you. :)

Was there a storyline? If so, did it make sense?
This MV basically takes us through the story of a collaboration: we see the artists arriving at the studio, meeting each other, doing the recording, hanging out in the city, then saying a rather emotional goodbye.

But what really makes this MV special is the way Jang Hoon seems to be basically a Heechul fanboy. It’s hard to describe, but he seems almost fascinated by Heechul, stroking his hair and watching him and basically ceding the limelight to Heechul whenever he can, letting Heechul dictate what they will do. This is best illustrated in the last scene, where they’re hugging, and then Jang Hoon rearranges their positions so that Heechul is closer to the camera. Now maybe this is just because Jang Hoon seems like a shy person (and has had an anxiety disorder since he was a child), whereas Heechul is completely the opposite, but whatever the reason, it makes the music video almost uncomfortably cute.

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me stroke hair

It’s nice to see that they’re so close, anyway.

There are two things I don’t understand, though: the Korean and the chestnut.

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me Korean chestnut meaning

Is there a symbolic gesture I’m missing?

Was the dance cool and distinctive?
Ahaha, Heechul actually teaches Jang Hoon the basic movies of “Sorry, Sorry” and “Mr. Simple” in the music video, as well as some other weird boxing-stance dance. So amusing.

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me gif

And we get to see Heechul’s high-kicking prowess.

Do the members look good?
Jang Hoon has, like, the whitest teeth ever. But dude. Heechul is in the MV. This question is superfluous.

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me

Jang Hoon and Heechul

Which member stood out the most?
I honestly think both Jang Hoon and Heechul captured my attention here. It was fun to watch Heechul, as always, but at times it was nice to watch Jang Hoon watch Heechul.

Do you like it enough to buy the song?
I think I will, actually. In many ways, the whole thing reminds me of “Close Ur Mouth,” by M&D—i.e. Heechul with TRAX’s Jungmo—a song I ended up really liking despite having my reservations in the beginning.

Any ending thoughts?
  • Heechul can’t return from the army soon enough for me.
  • If you’re at all interested in this song, I recommend you check out the adorable live version. And Jang Hoon’s thank you to Super Junior members for helping him with his comeback was also really sweet.
Boyfriend’s one-liner: “Meta videos are a fanfiction spawning ground (see banana cannon).”

Kim Jang Hoon Heechul Breakups Are So Typical of Me heart

*hearts*

Thanks to the Petals who wanted to see more Heechul. Please let me know what you thought of the music video!

0 kisses:

What did you think?