There are a lot of vocal notes in those chords behind the main melody, and those are all played on a keyboard. Take for example, the entire chorus of Twice “Knock Knock”, and big chunks of the rest of the song. But in my humble opinion in kpop it is used to thicken up the sound by a group that doesn’t have good singers. Done well, it can create a cool sound, spacey cyber cool. In kpop, for this effect they tend to use a simple vowel sounds, and the harmony is a simple chord progression rather than a polyphony. Here is a tutorial of sorts as to how it is done ‘ (This song as recorded can be heard here ‘) This is not new btw, people as far back as Herbie Hancock in the late 70’s used it. What I call a “not-sung harmony” are done by sampling a vocal snippet into the keyboard or computer program, and using the keyboard to add those harmonies. There are also Latin equivalents, Crappola, crappolae, crappolam, etc. So when I hear “Its like we’re under water”, it sounds like a twelve year old wrote it, or like a drunk lyricist was having a laugh at common problems in translation, shoved it in there and called it good.Ĭraptastic is from the Greek declension of the noun “kraptastikos”. A metaphor is harder to do, especially if the comparison is more unusual, but is considered to be upper class poetry. Hey, Shakespeare used it! But similes are considered to be like lower class poetry. Perhaps done intentionally it can be good. Teens do it all the time unintentionally, like oh my god. “Shall I compare thee to a summer day, Thou art more lovely and more temperate”.Ī simile is easier to accomplish: just add “like”. In a metaphor, the comparison is more subtle with no words to cue the comparison. (Simile is pronounces “SIH-mih-lee”.) In a simile, the comparison is overt with linking words like “like” and “as” or “just like” or “just as”, for example “My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun”. Sometime around 4th or 5th grade, which is about 10-11-12 years old, the kids start to learn about poetry and simile and metaphor and (to a lesser extent) rhyming and meter. “Its like” is awkward in English, and avoided by those who want to sound more educated. It’s SHINee doing what they do best, and once again reaffirms their status as one of K-pop’s most legendary groups. Where most tracks might climax in a single, well-placed power note, Atlantis rattles off several of them as casually as handing out candy on Halloween.
But although this might be the song’s centerpiece, the entirety of Atlantis is performed with incredible intensity. SHINee’s vocals are layered in that towering blend that’s come to characterize so much of their music. Atlantis’s chorus further expands this sonic palette, adding extra rhythm guitar and a propulsive electro throb. Synths and percussion rush in all at once, joined by icy strings and gorgeous vocal harmonies. Few K-pop groups could away with an arrangement this revealing, but SHINee’s talent has long since been proven.įrom here, the song opens widescreen and never looks back.
The instrumental has the movement of rolling waves, and provides a sparse backdrop for SHINee’s unadorned vocals. K-pop thrives on a larger-than-life sense of drama, but the actual music rarely sounds this immense.Ītlantis wastes no time, laying down tense bass guitar as a prelude to its powerful verse.
BTOB LYRICS SO FLY FULL
Hearing it again in full studio recording is an overwhelming experience. It was love at first listen, and its simple, descending hook latched onto my memory like a pleasant dream. Atlantis is undiluted, unbeatable SHINee, and a formidable force in a year that has already delivered its fair share of classics.įirst unveiled as part of the group’s Beyond Live concert last weekend, Atlantis has been swimming around my mind for days. Much of their newest album proves this, and now it has a title track to match. They can tackle pretty much any genre and make it their own (ie: Don’t Call Me), but no one does bombastic electro funk pop like they do.
With age comes clarity, and SHINee are at a point in their career where they know their strengths. There are few things more satisfying than a pop group in their element.