iKON - ANTHEM/APOLOGY

Tracklisting:
1. Anthem
2. Apology

You've probably heard by now: iKON's new album has been pushed back to Dec. 16th. While you're waiting, they've dropped two new songs plus MVs to whet your appetite for the full release.

"Anthem" -- Rapped to a bouncy synth riff that reminds me a lot of India, this fierce tune is much more in your face than some of their previously released tracks. It's a got a great hook in "Turn up the volume, open the windows."  I compared them to WINNER before, but this track has much more ferocity than their last release. B.I. and Bobby's raps blend well here. The only issue I have is the beginning (and ending), with the refrain "iKON is coming to town." Substitute Santa Claus for iKON and you'll see what I mean. 



Directly contrasting with the first song, "Apology" is a slow R&B track that jumped to the top of the online music charts a mere 10 hours after its release, so the tune is getting tons of love. The actual title in Hangeul is an abbreviation for "Sorry I couldn't protect you." With a chugging beat and slow, steady piano, the boys pour their hearts out about how they couldn't be with their girlfriends because they were always too busy. On this song, the vocals are impassioned, with soulful snaps and angst-ridden raps that masterfully convey the tortured emotions they feel.  

I have to be honest, I wasn't that impressed with them on their initial outing. They were okay, but they needed to really do something to stand out musically. Now we have two very different songs and they kill it on both. B.I. and Bobby helped write both tracks, and it shows that they have a range and aren't just one-trick ponies; they can pwn the charts with both ballad and banger. Color me impressed.

MV REVIEW 1 - "ANTHEM"

If there was ever an MV that screamed "Cheap!" this would be it. B.I. and Bobby end up on green screens and we get treated to a variety of effects such as a very short runway with flags. And speakers. And white space. Every once in awhile they'll show a girl's derrière and the guys will gawk, but sadly, that's the whole video.

The clothing is meant to be reminiscent of hip hop, but they also snuck in whatever else they had in there. The overall effect is a good one -- often I see bands that were never meant to wear those clothes and it just looks hideous. Here, everything fits, and they manage to look cool.



The dancing is sparse, and mostly consists of bobbing, bending their knees a bit, or leaning their bodies this way and that. But it's a little hard to criticize what is barely there.

Overall, it's not a terrible MV, but it's not a great one. Obviously they have a budget they need to keep to, but they can do something a little more creative to make this MV really pop.  

Good song, meh video.

MV REVIEW 2 - "APOLOGY"

If the differences between the songs were night and day, so too do the MVs differ.

This time, the boys end up in a variety of locations while the girl they love slips out of their grasp or disappears into a crowd, etc. There are dynamic slo-mo scenes, and the backgrounds definitely add to the somber mood.

The boys play their parts well, with looks on their faces that range from lost to desperate to soul-crushing agony. Somehow, it doesn't end up being too much of a downer, though, which is refreshing. You can jerk tears out of me like Kyuhyun's "Million Pieces," but sometimes the net effect is bland. This, on the other hand, is well-done.



It's filmed in living black and white, a stylistic choice that adds gravitas to the whole thing. I like the way the scenes blend into one another, and each member gets a bit of time throughout to express his sadness. It's a drama video, but the music takes center stage and it's all done through that filter, no lines required. The actress by and large is faceless, we don't get to see much of her, and the attention is on the band itself.

I like this. It was watchable from beginning to end, and I never found myself losing focus or getting confused as to what exactly was going on. It lets you know, subtly, stylistically, that something has ended and you're not supposed to feel good about it. Still, I like the song, and they filmed a good MV to go along with it.
 

SEE ALSO: 15 Times iKON released Heart-Wrenching Songs