Rum Pum Pum Pumped Up Fashion

When we heard that the craziest fashionistas in kpop were coming out with a new mv, we couldn't resist the opportunity to take them on!

So OF COURSE this week, we're reviewing

Rum Pum Pum Pum - F(X) from their new album Pink Tape! 

Overall impression:

Ruby: Can I just say before I start that FINALLLLLY F(X) has another album out. And it really stayed true to their roots I think. For me, f(x) was really the original mismatched harajuku girls band. Their image is crazy, wacky, with endless accessories, colors and shapes. I thought this video stayed within that vein. There are less accessories this time (I demand the return of the cactus earring!) but more outfits (coming in with 5 different sets). There is definitely a lot going on, and this time some of it works and some doesn’t.

Less accessories but authorities are still investigating the color explosion

Matt: Agreed … for the most part. I hadn’t really noticed what Ruby pointed out about f(x)’s lack of accessories and excess of different outfits, but it really threw me off at first. Their new video, while definitely in keeping with the whole eclectic, retro, all-over-the-place fashion that we love about f(x), still seems fresh and surprisingly different. Maybe it’s the fashion choices, maybe it’s Krystal’s bright red hair, or maybe it’s the crazy videography, but the girls definitely have a new twist in this video when compared to their older singles.

 

Is Krystal's hair pink? or red? 

Other promotional Materials:

Ruby: The teaser for the mv was shots taken from the music video in the end. But since this is the lead single from a full album, there were also teasers released for the whole album, called Pink Tape. The teasers feature soft lighting and school uniforms while f(x) poses in weird spots. They don’t match well with the video but they are really cool photographs.

 

the end of the teaser featuring the tartan tragedy

meanwhile this gorgeous photo is from the same concept.

Matt: Yeah. The photographs are really interesting, and while they don’t necessarily correspond to the video at all, they pair up nicely with the song. Anyways, additional promotional materials include their Music Bank live performance, which channels the classic f(x) vibe much more than the actual music video. Perhaps it’s because of the lack of an overwhelming amount of wardrobe changes, but the live performance seems more casual, more energetic, and not as dressed-up.

 

a stage featuring the pink tape album concept

but then some stages also feature music video concept outfits

Continuity:

Ruby: So this is where f(x) is always going to struggle. For this video, I really feel like there was a great range of fashion. There was a fantastic continuum that is totally interrupted by the tartan mess. The other outfits are brightly colored and range from breezy beachy lounge clothes to sleek city party gear. And then from left field we have somewhat punkish, heavy, overwhelming tartan, wool, and leather. For me it just distracted from the rest of the video which is crisp, clean and bright. I mean who wears heavy wool clothes in a summer mv?

 

BEACH DAYYYYYY, lemme get my tyedye too!

Look at that snazzy clear raincoat with black detailing.

Matt: Krystal’s Scottish kilt themed hat definitely needed to go, but I also thought that the strange scene where the camera circled around the girls (and under their legs) didn’t add much to the video. Not only did the scene chop up the amazing choreography, but it also confused and distracted me. I love f(x), but the cinematography definitely seemed a little bit off in this video. Disoriented viewers and interrupted the video in a way that certainly didn’t help its continuity.

im running out of t words that mean disaster. tartan.... tumult.

Band’s Overall Image:

Ruby: f(x) has always been off the wall, crazy fashion. They pull from harajuku and avant guarde to create something that is really unique in kpop. I think that they have shifted in recent videos to brighter colors and cleaner backdrops, which work together nicely. One thing I’ve always appreciated is their affinity for sneaker, platforms, creepers and wedges. No stilettos here folks!

 

teaser photo for f(x)'s electric shock, look at all those semipractical shoes

Matt: The individual components of the video are definitely in keeping with f(x)’s overall image, but in Rum Pum Pum Pum, those components don’t quite add up in the same way that they usually do. Some of the fashion seems at odds with other pieces… think of the tartan incident. The overall videography of the band’s latest music video is also more experimental than usual. I’m not saying it’s bad. I’m just noting that it’s definitely different.

 

FOLLOW SULLI SHE WILL LEAD YOU TO BETTER FASHION

Trends in K-POP:

Ruby: F(x) is one of the first bands to really go for the all-out mismatched, harajuku, crazy cat lady fashion. Others have followed this up in various ways, from 4minute to SHINee. I think it’s hard other than that to pin point trends exactly since there is so much in this video. I did notice that Amber looks a bit like the 15^th member of exo in this video…. But that's another discussion all together.

Amber in Rum pum pum pum

She just wants to play with the boys of Exo in their wolf teaser

Thats a bit random, from 4minute's Whats Your Name

Matt: Speaking of Amber, the black and white “LOVE” text-print shirt that she sports in the video is similar to Taemin’s “STOP MAKING SENSE” shirt, which can be seen in SHINee’s “Why So Serious?” video. Graphic text prints are becoming a thing……. apparently =_=; Haha in all seriousness, though, I think it works for the both of them.

 

Amber spreading love

Taemin spreading... stop. I guess. In SHINee's Why So Serious

Conclusion:

Ruby:   It was a strong showing for f(x). Personally I’m slightly disappointed because Pink Tape has a cool retro feel album cover and the teaser photos were soft and intriguing. Despite the difference there most of the video was creative, colorful and very trendy. Pop colors paired together and bold patterns made f(x) pop against the clean sets. Of course, I dispute the tartan choice, but really that's about it for me.

Luna looking very pretty and quite trendy in her
pastel shirt, high waisted shorts and spikey headband.

Matt: It was a good video. Because f(x) is so fun and creative, my expectations were incredibly high for this video. For the most part, they sure didn’t disappoint.

Look how happy Sulli is! She is very glad to not disappoint Matt.

Daily Dose of Daebak:

Vicotria would just like everyone to know that she is going to the University of College.

Krystal would just like everyone know that she is going to the University of Edinburgh… Scotland. 

(Don’t hate me because I always satirize Ruby’s material. I’m not creative L… ) (shush mattmatt)

Well! We've sincerely enjoyed having matt guest on the blog for the last few weeks!

Leave us a comment below and tell us where you would wear the tartan terror!

Pleaseee leave us some love!

Ruby and Matt (and Em from somewhere above the middle of the country)