Introducing LOONA's [X X] Album
LOONA ALBUM: ]X X]
Pronounced "multiple multiple" (Hangul: 멀티플 멀티플), sometimes stylized as [× ×], is the repackage album of LOONA’s debut mini-album [+ +], but as mentioned, with an additional 6 tracks - making this 12-track album their actual first (and "only" thus far) full album released. This blog-feature will be solely focused on all-things [X X]!
TRACKLIST:
01. "X X" (0:48)
02. "Butterfly" (3:57)
03. "위성 (Satellite)" (3:09)
04. "Curiosity" (3:09)
05. "색깔 (Colors)" (3:15)
06. "Where you at" (3:27)
07. "Stylish" (3:29)
08. "Perfect Love" (3:34)
09. "열기" (3:30)
10. "favOriTe" (3:14)
11. "Hi High" (3:16)
12. "+ +" (00:58)
Hidden Tracks:
- "Stay With Me Babe" – 0:40 (Limited A)
- "Daydream" – 0:40 (Limited B)
As mentioned in my previous feature, I am a sucker for "hidden tracks", and will delve slightly into them for another separate feature, for the non-existent "LOONA the Ballad" album... Meanwhile, this was the Preview for the (LOONA) Repackage Album "X X" (Uploaded 14 Feb 2019).
[X X] was digitally released on February 19, 2019 along with its title track’s music video, "Butterfly". The physical album release was released later - with Normal version A made available on February 21, while Normal B and Limited A and B versions were released on February 26, reported loonatheworld.fandom.com. The physical album is one of my main LOONA-"grails" at this point in time.
What has amazed me about this era, was the amount of promotions for the album and MV release. And the amount of work and finance invested in this project. Flying overseas to film the promotional clips, the planning needed for this, the logistics required to plan and execute (this is not "bring your camera along and shoot what you please", thanks), is quite daunting and exciting (*to a guy like me who've been involved in media for nearly a decade), and very appreciative of the efforts and result... and OMG the result is nothing less than cinematic brilliance, especially for a (traditional) "KPOP"-group!
There are at least six (that I know of) standalone promotional clips - featuring LOONA Members interacting and even steeped in the LOONAVERSE lore - leading to the launch of "Butterfly". Quite an unparalleled visual spread and splendour we have not witnessed from LOONA since, IMHO.
Head to THIS BLOG-FEATURE to watch behind-the-scenes from the POV of LOONA members via LOONA TV, and scroll thru to watch the clips.
ABOVE: "X X" (14 Oct 2018)
BELOW: [Teaser] 이달의 소녀 (LOONA) "X1X" (31 Dec 2018)
Intriguingly, "X X" showcased scenes from Hi High but in reverse (I am unable to reverse the voices/audio that went along with the teaser, alas) ... while a brand new "X1X" showcased all the girls in glorious black and white, heralding a beginning of a new era - where gone where the cheer uniforms, replaced with refined black and a decidedly more "grown up" look.
ABOVE: "XIIX" (10 Jan 2019)
BELOW: "XIIIX" (20 Jan 2019)
"XIIX" was steeped on lore, with Go Won crossing over to HaSeul's MV set in Iceland, in a stunning cinematographic experience, featuring visual elements which tied into the lore, and as well into future MVs (such as the feather seen burning/unburning in So What).
Seen in "XIIIX" was the awakening of Olivia Hye, interspersed with scenes from Butterfly MV, as she breaks her chain of the past (?).
Seen in the following two clips, Yves and Chuu meet in Hong Kong, and dance in the middle of the street in "XIVX" ... while in "For all LOOΠΔs around the world", LOONA announces their message of strength and acceptance, via powerful visuals are quite different from what your notion of "KPOP" is and was.
ABOVE: "XIVX" (30 Jan 2019)
BELOW: "For all LOOΠΔs around the world" (15 Feb 2019)
As this point in time, I cannot help but wonder and long to be able to view these promos on the silver screen. Viewing on a laptop (as I am now), I am honestly left emotional - at the beauty and intent of the cinematography and the soundscape that embodies the visuals we see ... and can only but imagine of these were screened in darkened halls ala their "Cinema Theory"-era, and of how much injustice we are giving to the work to make these, IMHO.
The below featured teaser for the "Butterfly" music video is followed immediately by the members of LOONA reacting to said teaser, via their VLIVE (190213), with this being a "Highlights Cuts" version by caskerbox! *Indistinguishable Baby Sounds* FTW
ABOVE: Teaser for "Butterfly" MV (13 Feb 2019)
BELOW: LOONA Reacting to "Butterfly" Teaser.
"Butterfly" was released on February 19th, 2019, along with descriptions in the MV's captions for the [X X] album. I will also add the Audios for individual tracks, with Dance Practise for said tracks/songs featured afters.
Coincidence meets coincidence in LOOΠΔ to make each other’s fate.
HeeJin and HyunJin are real-life friends while HaSeul is like the mother of the team. YeoJin is the youngest sister of all. The team expanded its cells by family-like relationships. The only foreign member and an android ViVi gets introduced to become LOOΠΔ 1/3.
ODD EYE CIRCLE was born at the opposite end. With the story of three moons gathering to form a full circle, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry decide to stand at the frontlines to save the world, under their slogan ‘Girl Front.’
Born in Eden the utopian land, LOOΠΔ / yyxy chooses to embrace the forbidden and leaves to find their own selves. Yves, the leader of yyxy, had “faith” in being born again with the song ‘new’. Chuu keeps her “hopes" up with her yearning towards Yves. Go Won “loves” her unique self. Olivia Hye shows “anger” towards the taboos of Eden. When all of their emotions gather, a Neoanthropinae genes of yyxy manifests.
All of the units meet with YeoJin to add to the addition, resulting in their first EP [+ +] to announce the start of LOOΠΔ. At the ‘First full Moon of the LOOΠΔ new Year,’ LOOΠΔ starts their two-two-dimensional fusion with [X X].
The intro track ‘X X’ (below) foreshadows that the album is completed at the opposite side of where [+ +] is.
COMPOSER: Slyberry (BADD), Kim Jin Hyung (BADD), Billie Jean (BADD)
ARRANGER: Slyberry (BADD), Kim Jin Hyung (BADD), Billie Jean (BADD)
COMPOSER / ARRANGER: G-High (MonoTree)
LYRICS: G-High (MonoTree), Jaden Jeong
Shot in Iceland, Paris, and Hong Kong, the teasers of [X X] started on first of January to unravel the stories behind the universe of LOOΠΔ. Under the slogan of ‘For All LOOΠΔs Around the World,’ it spread worldwide, to all LOOΠΔs of the world.
LOOΠΔ causes a Butterfly effect through music for the listeners to gain courage, find oneself, and raise one’s voice. Anyone under influence, is another LOOΠΔ.
LOOΠΔ’s visual director DIGIPEDI toured around 5 countries from 5 continents for LOOΠΔ’s Butterfly effects to capture the freedom and courage of girl worldwide in the music video of ‘Butterfly.’
COMPOSER: David Amber, Ashley Alisha (153/Joombas)
ARRANGER: David Amber
LYRICS: ZNEE (153/Joombas), Jaden Jeong
COMPOSER: G-High (MonoTree), Ashley Alisha (153/Joombas)
ARRANGER: G-High (MonoTree)
LYRICS: Park Ji Yeon (MonoTree)
COMPOSER: Billie Jean (BADD), Hickee, Kim Jin Hyung (BADD)
ARRANGER: Billie Jean
LYRICS: Darly, Jaden Jeong
COMPOSER: Daniel Kim, McKay, Ylva Dimberg
ARRANGER: Daniel Kim
LYRICS: Jung Ji Won (MonoTree)
Additionally, in the limited edition of LOOΠΔ [X X] CD’s, the very first hints to the next album are hidden in two bonus tracks, to arouse more curiosity and anticipation.
LOOΠΔ collides fate into destiny to create coincidence.
The above audio for "Stay With Me Babe" - also known as "Hyper Ballad" - is the hidden track from the limited A version of the repackage album [X X], while the audio below is for "Daydream" - also known as "Crystal Ballad" - is the hidden bonus track in Limited B version. Both of them were meant to be a preview for an album that was never released (which I'll delve into in another dedicated blog-feature).
Dance Practice Videos for "Butterfly" (above) and "위성(Satellite)" (below) were both uploaded on "11 Mar 2019"... while "색깔(Colors)" was uploaded 15 Mar 2019. All of these pre-date their "Legendary Boy-Group Dance Covers" :)
I had clued unto LOONA in the beginning of their [#]-era, and had only gotten to know of LOONA's discography, specifically starting with Kim Lip's ECLIPSE, and subsequrrnyyly "knowing" the girls themselves - thru multiple LOONA TV episodes, and their variety show appearances (which will require a standalone blog-feature next), and was in awe of their "Butterfly"-era.
Above is another look at LOONA performing "Butterfly", with this upload from their VLIVE.
And while domestic Korea variety and music shows featured Butterfly, the most memorable online viewing experience for me has to be for KCON 2019 LA × M COUNTDOWN, where there had been an actual audience to react to their performance.
Besides "performances", here are a few of their Butterfly-era promotions, when their appearance on game/variety shows showcased more of the girls'
I missed LOONA reactions to their videos - which were exceedingly few and far in between - especially after the following reaction to the "Butterfly" MV (from THIS VLIVE), and seeing both the excitable and heartbreaking reactions from them ... It's one thing when folks complain about "unfair line distribution", but to not be able to see yourself in the music video, with the hardwork you have put it, can be heartbreaking, I imagine...
With the release of [X X] in Feb 19, 2019, it would take LOONA nearly an entire year, until they released [#] on February 5, 2020, which included lead single "365" and title track "So What".
(Info & Images via loonatheworld.fandom.com)
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