{"id":6173,"date":"2024-09-23T10:48:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T14:48:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/?p=6173"},"modified":"2024-09-24T21:14:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T01:14:11","slug":"kep1ers-stellar-new-comeback-marks-the-end-of-an-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/2024\/09\/23\/kep1ers-stellar-new-comeback-marks-the-end-of-an-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Kep1er&#8217;s Stellar New Comeback Marks the End of an Era"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Summer releases in k-pop don&#8217;t usually have strings attached. Kep1er released their first and final album as a nine-member group. Their 2.5 year contract came to an end, all but two were able to renew it. It\u2019s a goodbye for some, a bittersweet beginning for the rest. With their first full album, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/1z66tzLXZ5nI9EsJ79xSez?si=edXOGONNQ0OFD8Q-IlVFtA\">&#8220;Kep1going On&#8221;<\/a>, the interstellar group left us with ten songs that will tug at your heart strings hit you right in the feels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Kep1going On\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/1z66tzLXZ5nI9EsJ79xSez?si=ZcV7AHT6Q-WMhIUac1dJlg&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quickly preceeding their <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/7vehBp2yn4AlDZw0SQ8IHf?si=ccbtYKBiS0GlsdyP8eHmNw\">first Japanese album,<\/a> this release came out of nowhere. Everyone thought the May release of &#8220;Kep1going&#8221; would be their finale piece. A couple weeks passed, and preorders opened for another similarly named full album. As a fan I was excited but a bit concerned. I knew that if it was truly the end, they had to do it right. And trust me, they did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting off, the intro song &#8220;Last Carnival&#8221; immediately sets the tone for the album. In case you didn\u2019t know it was goodbye, you did after this. The minute and a half song is the perfect tribute and their best opening song (apart from my personal favorite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hr-325mclek\">&#8220;Up!&#8221;<\/a> from their second EP, &#8220;Doublast&#8221;.) There\u2019s a somber and nostalgic pop punk tone to this song. At only a minute and a half long, it is the perfect segway into this album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Last Carnival\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0RXURvZxEIoftiRprEFJPJ?si=c5feca705d5d41d0&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The standards for Kep1er&#8217;s title tracks are high, and still \u201cShooting Star\u201d is one of their best. The first pre-chorus took my breath away. The instrumental stops and Xiaoting carries on this delicate tone with intense harmonies. The hook is catchy but not at all boring. I think it fits perfectly with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xanm1i88Jl4\">the choreography<\/a> and they both complement each other. I think each member truly shined in both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VjOHYXzlZcM\">the music video<\/a> and the song. The synth and the strings combined perfectly to make such a magical vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Shooting Star\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/0k2JbfyqtVhiLqGgNuwQGX?si=41b063fffb504b91&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The energy of the album peaks at Double Up!. A reference to their second title track, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hr-325mclek\">&#8220;Up!&#8221;<\/a>, this song Is also really up beat and full of energy. I don\u2019t think it tops it, and I don\u2019t find it as catchy. But it\u2019s a great electro pop addition to the album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Double Up!\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/69fjA3aXjOb36q6FSKhyuC?si=655b45b79d904576&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The other choreographed song in this album is \u201cPROBLEM\u201d. This song has a retro sound that stands out from the rest. While watching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rps2A8yLyGE\">the live performance<\/a>, it gave me a moment to not dwell on the two members who are leaving. I really like the sound of the synths in this song. However, if it weren\u2019t the main b-side they promoted with choreography, I honestly don\u2019t think I\u2019d like it as much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: PROBLEM\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/5WFrthZ6n7ey81JRaETxzD?si=dd333a73c5e841ca&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there\u2019s one song I had to skip, without a doubt it would be \u201cPush Button\u201d. As I listened, I thought it was decent and solid. But after a promising lead-up, the chorus completely fell flat. Unfortunately I don\u2019t think it added much to the album. The other songs still create a balance of the emotional and upbeat tones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: PUSH BUTTON\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4z3Ef4WVHsJ029ssmB8S0F?si=f131765d4b094081&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKep1going On\u201d is such a wonderful album. It\u2019s the perfect finale piece for the creative and powerful energy this group has. Our remaining seven girls, \u201cYujin, Xiaoting, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru, Huening Bahiyyih, and Youngeun\u201d will continue on as Kep1er, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/kep1er\/comments\/1fi5vd1\/when_do_you_think_their_comeback_will_be\/\">with speculation of another comeback later this year.<\/a> But for the other two, hope is not lost. Mashiro and Yeseo have debuted this month with a new group, \u201cMADEIN\u201d. Mashiro is now the leader, and they\u2019re both happy to be back on stage with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dCTjOko-0Ps\">their new song &#8220;UNO&#8221;<\/a>. I&#8217;m looking forward to see what\u2019s next for both groups.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer releases in k-pop don&#8217;t usually have strings attached. Kep1er released their first and final album as a nine-member group. Their 2.5 year contract came to an end, all but two were able to renew it. It\u2019s a goodbye for some, a bittersweet beginning for the rest. With their first full album, &#8220;Kep1going On&#8221;, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":401,"featured_media":6175,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[16,17],"class_list":["post-6173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-opinions","tag-kpop","tag-music","entry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/09\/kep1er-shooting-star-wallpaper-scaled.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/09\/kep1er-shooting-star-wallpaper-scaled.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Kevin Daly","author_link":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/author\/kevin-daly06\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6173\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/dragon-chronicle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}