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Olivia Rodrigo: Giving Voice to Gen-Z's Fear, Anger, and Anxiety

November 13, 2024

Olivia Rodrigo’s music resonates deeply with Gen-Z. Her songs—raw, fierce, and honest—are filled with fear, anger, and anxiety, emotions that define the reality of today’s teens. As much as we’d...

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How Taylor Swift Masterminded Her Way to Global Success

November 11, 2024

Taylor Swift’s success is no accident; it's built on an unmatched knack for songwriting. According to Toby Koenigsberg, Associate Professor and Chair of Popular Music, Swift’s songs are both...

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Frank Ocean’s Coachella Set: Redefining What Live Performance Means

November 11, 2024

In today’s music landscape, live concert broadcasts have grown increasingly predictable, packaged, and polished. But at this year’s Coachella, Frank Ocean shattered the mold with a performance that...

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Anticipating Lil Durk's Deep Thoughts: A Deep Dive into His Upcoming Album

November 11, 2024

The Chicago rapper Lil Durk is out with his ninth studio album Deep Thoughts on 22nd November 2024. This album is a follow-up to his album Almost Healed (2023) and will have no shortage of eager...

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Morgan Wallen: From Small Town Dreamer to Country Superstar

November 11, 2024

Morgan Wallen's country music career has been one of hustle, raw talent, and the sort of sound that has changed the genre. Wallen began his career as a small-town visionary but his music never...

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From McDonald’s to Global Fame: Pharrell Williams Journey

November 11, 2024

Pharrell Williams' journey from a McDonald's employee to a global music icon, fashion mogul, and cultural influencer is a testament to talent, resilience, and innovation. His story is not just...

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How Charli XCX Redefined 'Brat' in Pop Culture

November 9, 2024

In a world where pop icons often aim for flawless personas, Charli XCX has taken a different route, embracing a new brand of "brattiness" that redefines what it means to be....

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Addison Rae’s ‘Diet Pepsi’ Poured New Life Into Her Music Career

November 8, 2024

In a move that caught the music world by surprise, Addison Rae’s latest single, Diet Pepsi, has reshaped her image and proved she’s more than just a social media star....

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Coldplay’s Influence on Modern Music and Culture

November 8, 2024

Coldplay has been a cornerstone of the pop-rock scene for over two decades, with their sound evolving from melancholic, guitar-driven ballads to vibrant, arena-filling anthems that defy genre...

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Hit Songs You Didn’t Know Were Handed Over By Your Favorite Artists

November 8, 2024

In the music industry, some of the most famous songs weren’t performed by the artists who wrote them. Think of classics like Dolly Parton’s "I Will Always Love You" or Sia’s "Diamonds."...

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Quincy Jones: A Legacy That Will Resonate Through Generations

November 5, 2024

Quincy Jones, the legendary music titan, has left us at 91, but his spirit endures through every note, melody, and rhythm he touched. From his groundbreaking production on Michael Jackson’s Thriller..

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Compression for Beatmakers

October 18, 2024

Compression is one of the most crucial tools in any beatmaker's toolkit, shaping the dynamics of your track and helping achieve that punchy, polished sound....

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Weeekly Makes 2022 Return With “Play Game: Awake”

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Photo: @_Weeekly on Twitter

Weeekly pivots away from their bubbly and upbeat sound and makes a major transformation in their edgy and ambitious first mini album, “Play Game: Awake”.

“Play Game: Awake” marks Weeekly’s fourth comeback since their 2020 debut and makes dramatic shift from the group’s colourful lighthearted music that fans are typically used to seeing. It’s an undeniably fierce and powerful comeback that’s refreshing but has still left many listeners conflicted, missing their former cutesy sound.

“Ven Para” is a fiery song with a chant-like feel, an even more fiery music video, and a strong energetic beat. There’s also an angelic breakdown backed by sweet harmonies that is arguably the best part of the song.

Photo: 1theK (원더케이), Weeekly(위클리) _ Ven para

“Solar” definitely follows the same edgy formula but gives off a more confident, cool-girl feel, like the Weeekly girls have found their new sound. The beat during the verses shares both trap and EDM elements that elevate the verse and bring in more depth, coupled with the drama of the anti-drop, “Do you hear that?”, makes for a fierce powerful track.

“Where Is My Love?” brings us back to the dreamy soft sound we’ve been missing from the group. It’s sweet and full of harmonies that perfectly back the light bubbly vibe of the song and is definitely my favourite from the mini-album.

If there’s one thing we can take away from Weeekly’s, “Play Game: Awake”, it’s that these girls definitely have the range to perform both fierce, fiery music, and soft bubbly dream pop, and we’re ready to see how they balance these in the future.