Introducing LOONA's Debut Album [+ +]
Pronounced "plus plus" (Hangul: 플러스 플러스) - [+ +] is the debut mini-album of South Korean girl group LOOΠΔ. Containing 6 tracks including the lead single "favOriTe" and the title track "Hi High", it was released on August 20th, 2018, a day after LOONA's debut concert "LOONAbirth" on Aug 19 (Held at The Olympic Hall in Seoul, South Korea).
I have posted LOONA TV Episodes leading up to their debut concert HERE. The MV for "Hi High" was also released on August 20th.
And while I had previously briefly posted about the MVs HERE, in this dedicated blogpost, I will attempt to delve slightly deeper into [+ +] album, starting with the groups' FULL REVEAL leading up to the album release!
Featured below are a trio of videos leading up to the full visual reveal of the group (in Part 3), courtesy of caskerbox mirroring LOONA's VLIVE. Parts 1/3 and 2/3 are Audio Only on Darkened Screen (with English subtitles too! You're a LEGEND), before the 3rd video literally shows the girls in video, dressed in their "favOriTe" uniforms...! They had previously been seen separately and in their sub-units, but not as a whole group of 12...!
LOONA-content - while organised on their official YouTube channel excludes their VLIVES, which are literally kept alive via fans who mirror the video uploads, which is a absolute waste and travesty, as the girls' natural chaos can often be seen manifesting themselves, and are a huge part of their "charm", IMHO (As I am typing this, I am watching their reaction to their "Butterfly" teaser lol).
And while I had been privileged to have been able to watch their VLIVES (most times waiting for English subs, thanks), in my earlier LOONA-Journey, their dedicated vlive.tv channel has since been changed to membership viewing, although it is still apart of their "socials", as reveals and uploads parallel their other socials. Moving on...!
Featured above is the video Teaser for "+ +" (Uploaded "28 Jul 2018"), where the iconology of LOONA opening animated logo had manifested unto a scarlet moon, and said Lunar iconology enduring thru subsequent comebacks, except for when it somehow unravelled in "SO WHAT" MV with pieces flying and hurling towards the Earth... and pieces exploding unto the Earth seen in "WHY NOT?" MV (behind dancing HeeJin) .... And as of the recent "Slogan" reveal for [&], where we see a "New Moon" rising up from the horizons - the Teaser for this titled "New Moon" - all of which perhaps signalling a New Direction? Where Earth now Orbits The Moon? .... Okay, I'm thinking too far ahead... time to reign it back a little for [+ +] hahaha
Reposting below is the teaser for 이달의 소녀 (LOONA) go into Orbit (Uploaded on "10 Jun 2018") for their debut concert dated "19.08.2018", where the album [+ +] was released a day after the concert.
I am somewhat fascinated with the promotional imagery above, especially that of the girls dancing in a circle holding hands, an imagery since seen again in their "WHY NOT?" music video, but in reverse and perhaps on the "moon" (screen grab seen below) - a reflection/mirror of THIS scene down on Earth? A "cycle" now complete - somewhat paralleling HeeJin meeting Olivia Hye at the end of HyeJoo's EGOIST" MV?
The [+ +] album contains 6 tracks including the lead single "favOriTe", and the title track "Hi High", with the music video releasing the same day. This is the TRACKLIST:
1. "+ +" (00:58)
2. "Hi High" (3:16)
3. "favOriTe" (3:14)
4. "열기" (3:30)
5. "Perfect Love" (3:34)
6. "Stylish" (3:29)
Scroll to the bottom of this post to listen to the Audio for all the tracks.
The album comes in 4 versions, a Digital A and B version along with Limited A and B versions. It was later re-released as [X X] with six new tracks - an album that contains "Butterfly", and an album I am still hunting for ...
Above: Teaser for "favOriTe" (1 Aug 2018)
Below: "favOriTe" Full MV (Uploaded "7 Aug 2018")
THIS was the accompanying text (in captions of the MV):
At its maximum power for the first time, LOOΠΔ's lead single 'favOriTe' declares the signature sound of LOOΠΔ at its complete form."
The music video itself had a distinct "power" showcased by the girls, with hard(hitting) choreography - teetering between "attitude" and a ravishing beauty of the girls, a subtle pendulum swinging between "wholesome cute" and "sexy", without overt selling "sex". The school-girl uniform/outfits seemed less of a "fetish" than it is as a reminder of the girls' ages - which were not specifically "aged up", and I've always appreciated that of BBC.
Also, if you mess with ONE of them, the rest will come and show you want's what, even if they are nice girls...! LOL
"favOriTe" was promoted as the "Lead Single", and I've tried to search for any "Choreography Ver.", and instead found their various Showcase Stages (on TongTongTV), followed by a FanCam for their performance at @MCOUNTDOWN (2018.8.23)
A LOONA TV Episode (#427) was uploaded on "29 Oct 2018", which saw the girls presenting "favOriTe", and is somewhat the "closest" to a "Dance Practice" I could find online.
Featured above is a performance on "Show Champion" (EP.282), while seen below is a stage performance for "favOriTe" at "SMUF K-POP" (Uploaded "6 Oct 2019"), that has the girls in full "Butterfly" outfits, just in case you have a problem focusing on their dance routine.
The track "favOriTe" is composed by Billie Jean (BADD), Sophia Pae (중복아티스트비노출), Slyberry (BADD), and Kim Jin Hyung (BADD), with lyrics credited to Kim Soo Jeong, Darly (달리), and Jaden Jeong. Arrangement is by Billie Jean (BADD), Slyberry (BADD), and Kim Jin Hyung (BADD).
The track is categorised as "Alternative R&B, Dance" (all info via loonatheworld.fandom.com showcasing a hard(er) side of LOONA, and was quite different from their subsequent single "Hi High", which I personally thought showcased their variety and range, beyond the usual brilliance of the "LOONA-Sound" heard in their pre-debut and sub-units, along with other tracks of their albums.
Although I've always wondered what the caps for "O" and "T" in "favOriTe" stood for tho.... BBBRRRR-RRAARRRHHH!
It also just dawned on me (which I've not actively noticed before), as I was rewatching their "favOriTe" MV (for this blog-feature, of course), it was the first time I had captions on, and actually noticed the lyrics - for rather than English translation! And while I do not know a lick of (South) Korean (And NO, Kdrama-phrases do not count :p), I have been enjoying LOONA songs for their melodies and music thus far, and for how the sounds/music/way-the-song-is-sung, appeals to me and my memories.
Featured above is the Teaser for "Hi High" (Uploaded "16 Aug 2018") ... while seen below is the LOONA TV Episode #375.5 released by BBC, of LOONA behind-the-scenes filming for "favOriTe" and "Hi High", followed by the full MV for "Hi High" (Uploaded "20 Aug 2018")!
This is the accompany text (in captions) for "Hi High", which quite literally spells out the LOONA-lore folks and fans have been able to base their theories off of, IMHO. The sheer fact that they are written out in English, is a distinct focus on an International audience. I am sure there have been Korean descriptions and release for domestic press, of which I am obviously not privy to, cheers.
LOOΠΔ was born in its own universe with three uniquely structured teams. In other words, it was not designed as a group diving up into three units, but three teams were built to create one universe.
LOOΠΔ 1/3 is a combination of girls present on planet earth. These girls portray the most realistic and practical sceneries that can easily be found on the streets or in school. HeeJin, HyunJin, HaSeul and ViVi start their stories in France, Japan, Iceland, and Hong Kong to become unified as one.
LOOΠΔ / ODD EYE CIRCLE places itself in between the earth and the cosmos. The beginning of ODD EYE CIRCLE was by looking at three moons (ODD). Mutative, or varietal, girls gather to form the ODD EYE CIRCLE, and show themselves by taking control in love relationships instead of waiting passively.
LOOΠΔ / yyxy was also known as ‘Edenism’ as it was placed beyond the earth of 1/3 and the middle earth of ODD EYE CIRCLE, in the place where we call ‘utopia’. But, the girls of Eden decide to deny the rules of Eden to venture off on a forbidden quest to find their identities. The emotions of each girls, faith, hope, love, and anger gather to form a being named yyxy.
As the title suggests, the first track ‘+ +’ is a mash-up of the intro tracks of the albums by LOOΠΔ 1/3, ODD EYE CIRCLE, and yyxy.
The titled track ‘Hi High’ is a song in the genre of Hi Energy, emitting positive energy that the gathering of the twelve members create. The desire to play hard-to-get is portrayed in the lyrics through the characters of each member. HeeJin says, “I don’t want to pass my love on to you so easily,” while HyunJin says, “because I’m that pretty girl,” and Choerry says, “I’m not playing hard-to-get but boys will be boys, watch out, watch out,” telling what is on their minds candidly. The high BPM like a high-speed sprint along with melodies pouring down, and splendid track arrangements forces the listeners to hold their breath and focus on the music.
The official music video of ‘Hi High’, directed by the visual director Digipedi, narrates how LOOΠΔ 1/3 meets ODD EYE CIRCLE, and how these girls unite with yyxy to soar to the sky, with countless visual symbolisms hidden in the scenes.
The lead-off single ‘favOriTe’ is the iconic signature sound of LOOΠΔ, completed with beats and synth stabs that previous girl-groups have never tried before.
‘열기 (9)’, is a track that proves a point that even without aggressive tempo, the temperature of the music can become heated up by the fervor of the girls. Along with it, a track with commercial sound that grabs you like love at first sight, ‘Perfect Love’, and a musical suggestion for you to become brave through the luxury of imagination that everyone cherishes in a corner of their hearts, ‘Stylish’ complete [+ +], the first album of LOOΠΔ with musical elements of LOOΠΔ 1/3, ODD EYE CIRCLE, and yyxy.
LOOΠΔ, building LOONAverse with belief and certainty, finally gathers all twelve members and stands on their first stepping stone."
Above: "Hi High" Original Choreography Ver. (Uploaded "4 Sept 2018")
Below: LOONA TV #426 (Uploaded "26 Oct 2018")
"Hi High" was composed by Hwang Hyun, GDLO (MonoTree), and Mayu Wakisaka, with lyrics from Jaden Jeong, GDLO, and Hwang Hyun (MonoTree). Arrangement is by Hwang Hyun, GDLO (MonoTree). This is pretty frantic "Hi Energy" POP, that I frankly did not adore on first listen, but subsequently grew on me, like an ear-worm burrowing into my subconsciousness, and filling up my usual negativity with sunshine OMG hahahaha
From "School Uniforms" of the "favOriTe" era, to the "Cheer Outfits" of "Hi High", this is a change of outfits in their stage performance for M COUNTDOWN (180906 EP.586):
The above outfits were replicated in Episode 449 of "Weekly Idol" (Mark 41:50 in below featured video), showcasing a LOONA nearly 2 years later after the song's debut.
Wrapping up my "Hi High" show performance feature with another costume change seen at their "Inkigayo" show (20181014), and I'd want to take the opportunity to give major kudos for the styling and costume team for dressing LOONA in a very "wholesome" sexy-cute-way, without overt selling of "sexy" and an abundance of skin-spilling, IMHO. I am neither a "conservative angel" nor am I a prude, but still, I am feeling more like a "proud elder" looking at them performing LOL
The following are Audio Only videos of the tracks (excluding their MV released), along with reposting of the song descriptions. Sadly my external CD player is busted, so I am left holding unto my [+ +] albums and listening to the songs embedded here instead...!
‘+ +’ "represents the ‘plus plus’ effect LOOΠΔ 1/3, ODD EYE CIRCLE, yyxy, and YeoJin gather to create."
This 0:58 minutes long intro was composed by Hwang Hyun, NOPARI, GDLO (MonoTree), Artronic Waves, Billie Jean (BADD), and Slyberry (BADD) ... with Arrangement by Hwang Hyun (MonoTree).
"열기 (9)" "is a track that proves a point that even without aggressive tempo, the temperature of the music can become heated up by the fervor of the girls."
Genre of this 3:31 long track is labelled as "Tropical House", and credits Brooke Toia, Daniel Caesar, Ludwig Lindell, Adelen Steen as "Writer(s)", with lyrics by Seo Jung Ah.
"PERFECT LOVE" (is) "a track with commercial sound that grabs you like love at first sight..."
Composed by Yoon Jong Sung (MonoTree), and Le`mon, with lyrics by Le`mon (AKA Lee Su Jeong 이수정), arrangement by Yoon Jong Sung (MonoTree) .... This 3:42 long track is labelled under "Miami Bass, Pop".
STYLISH (is) a musical suggestion for you to become brave through the luxury of imagination that everyone cherishes in a corner of their hearts, completes [+ +]."
Composed by Michael Macdermid, Emma O’Gorman, Mare Lian, David Brant, and Iggy (OREO), this 3:29 long track features lyrics from Iggy and LAMBO - both of whom are from South Korean music production team "OREO" - whom have also produced HaSeul's "Let Me In" and LOONA 1/3's "Rain 51Db".
I very rarely, if at all post "commercial numbers" and accolades, as there is no way to authenticate them, besides them being stated on websites.... But this was what I found on Wikipedia
[+ +] debuted at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart, at number 4 on the US World Albums and US Heatseekers Albums and at number 20 on the US Independent Albums.
The EP was the 6th best-selling album of August 2018, with 41,583 physical copies sold.[20] On September, the EP sold 5,903 additional copies for a total of 47,486 copies sold. On October 15, it was reported that the album was the best-selling album by a girl group that debuted in 2018, after surpassing 50,000 copies sold. The album sold 52,823 physical copies in 2018, being the second best-selling album by a girl group that debuted in 2018 after Iz*One's Color*Iz, 15th best-selling album by a girl group and 80th best-selling album overall in 2018."
(Photos & Info via loonatheworld.fandom.com)
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