Battle of the B-Sides:: KOYOTE: 웃자 (Let's Laugh)

 Okay, so, Koyote is a co-ed group that originally debuted in 1998, and since has had line-up changes like they're one of the Doctors. The current line-up is Kim Jongim, Shinji, and Bbaekga. Also, I just learned that they did a Killing Voice a year and a half ago (2023) so I recommend you all go check that out. They're there to have fun, and also sing. First gen idols are just built different, you guys. Also also, if you look into their history, there's a really good reason for all the line-up changes. It's a miracle the group has made it this long, even with these members, because it has just been one thing after another, so I'm really happy that we have a current line-up that is stable, long-lasting, and a lot less problematic. And I know I said on the review for Four Seasons that I'd be doing a GH post for this group, and I still intend to do so (so let me know if there's a title track you really like), but I'm doing one of these instead.

웃자 comes from their 2002 album 필립, when it was Shinji and Jongmin, and guest member Kim Youngwan. Just as a shout-out to the album, it had over 500,000 sales despite the drama surrounding the departure of one of the members and the reason for needing a guest member who could be the rapper. That's 500,000 in 2002. By comparison, H.O.T, THE boy group from SM, was selling 900,000 in 2000 and my beloved g.o.d, JYP's first boy group, sold a little less than 500,000 for their album from the same year. Those are good numbers. Those are very good numbers. This also may have been one of the albums they did under the name KYT. Which does make it a little more difficult to find their songs, but it is what it is.

I can't tell that they performed this anywhere; not that it's easy finding just about anything from the early groups pre-YouTube, but b-sides are a lot harder than the title tracks. The title tracks at least probably got performed on music shows. But when one of the media forms the music is released on is the cassette tape, there's some difficulty there combined with the changes and availability in cell phones and all of that. So, yes, technically this is two of these in a row where it's me talking into the void with only the track as supporting evidence, but I also think this group is worth listening to, even for more recent K-Pop enthusiasts, and if you're curious about the lyrics, I found them here. Korean Genie. I also had to dump the lyrics into a translation service, because while I'm pleased with how my study of the Korean language is coming along, it's nowhere near good enough yet. But the good news is that it does tell you who is singing what when.

This is such a cute song. It's a happy, upbeat song that, might actually work really well for workouts. Actually, and this is going to be a reference that might date me a little, but this has the kind of beat that you might find from a Richard Simmons-esque aerobics video with awful 80s graphics. Tell me that you couldn't do "Sweatin' to the Oldies" with this song. The fact that Shinji has an incredible voice does absolutely nothing to detract from how much this belongs in an aerobics video. Y'all know me. I really like to put music on repeat to write anything, and I can't with this one.

Why? Because I had physical therapy today and am currently unable to do much with my shoulder and this song is just begging me to start moving.

I mean, realistically, there isn't actually a bad song on the album, which clocks in at a grand total of fourteen songs and fifty-three minutes. Now, I recognize that this won't be to everyone's taste. And that's fair. But also, even though it's a b-side, I think it should get some recognition just for being such a bright love song. Does it specify the kind of love? Not that I can tell.

Also, Shinji. She's got such a sweet voice on her, and that is something that is loved by the fandom and has since the very beginning. Also, just as a related fun fact, the fandom name is Little Ssun, and that's kind of precious.

Anyway, this song has a great range with her voice on display, with excessive time spent in neither the lower part of her voice or the very upper. She's got gorgeous vibrato on display, though it's not overwhelmingly present, especially with the style of music this is. 

And can we take a minute to appreciate Jongmin's voice? The pair of them could form such a lovely, blended duet with their voices because of how well they compliment each other, but even separately, they still sound so good with this aerobic video track.