Only Fashion

This week we turned right around and went REALLY mainstream with JYJ's Only One, which has clocked in at 618,792 views. You can see it HERE and it came out on September 15th, 2013.

Overall impression:

Em: So there were only 3 different outfits for each of the bandmembers, but each one was quite different. The first set, which they used most of the video, was preppy summer suits and boating outfits. Like seriously, there is not a single boat in the entire music video but there they are looking like they are about to hop on a yacht. Everything is white or pastel blue. It gets on my nerves a bit. The second set was in the ‘dance video’ they showed during the MV, and they had fairly casual, dance practice-y outfits. Nothing particularly spectacular. Finally they had suits with black bottoms and white jackets. These all had weird shirts under the jackets too. They were quite coordinated.

Preppy airport-goers

Suit things...Junsu looks out of place

Ruby: But we must also mention that there are all the people who participated in this video, like random runner girl and couple on a date at the sea! Thy also wore clothing! No but I mean its true, the video is very simple and VERY preppy. Its clean lines and light colors. Aside from the practice video, it’s extremely summery. For me its too late for that last gasp of summer video. Honestly. (I also live in the hinterlands, so). I mean, some of the pieces were nice, but if I see one more attractive young man with a sweater tied around his shoulders like my mom on a hike, I will be very very upset. No more mom sweaters Korea.

Shoulder Sweater Yoochun...not Ruby's mom

Other promotional Materials:

Em: JYJ did a couple video teasers that just had clips from the mv, except a little snippet of them in what looked like a photoshoot. They were all wearing suits though, in keeping with the rest of the MV. Jaejoong has an oddly green jacket. He still looks good. No one is surprised.

Booooorrinnngggg

Ruby: I suppose we should really mention that this video is a promotional video for a sports competition that will take place, the 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014. They’re game ambassadors and all, so they’re promoting the games early and will continue to for the next year until the games occur. Yup. September-October 2014. Check out the line up an maybe plan ahead and watch some of these events, the last one was in 2010, so it only comes around every so often!

Now it all makes sense...

Continuity:

Em: Within each set of outfits everything was very continuous. The black & white suits were distinctly different from the preppy blue and white ones, but at least they were consistent in the set. I wanted more though…more outfits, more interest. Different aesthetic, but that’s my preference. I wasn’t exactly blown away. Some of the accessories were nice. Jaejoong had plenty of shiny things.

Pastels. Yup. Shirt's not bad though.

Accessories!

Ruby: I mean, it’s promotional style. So. They’re dressed like happy people dress (?)… I guess. It’s light and fun and it works I think. They dress to represent different locations, reflecting the universality of the games. The preppy outfits are like, normal folks, traveling, clean and handsome. The suits are JYJ performing, all dolled up and the practice room are sweater and sneakers. And sunglasses. Take ‘em off Jaejoong. Just no. Honestly, I really like idols in their practice clothes. Its endearing.

Practice video...nice casual outfits. Seems more like real people.

Band’s Overall Image:

Em: JYJ has done some interesting things, and the most interesting to me is their solo work. I mean, technically In Heaven by all of JYJ’s MV is just Junsu in a suit, so not much to report there, but Junsu’s Tarantellegra was much more awesome. Jaejoong’s Mine also had him as a sexy angsty rocker, so very different and very much appreciated.

Junsu in Tarantellegra...a much more awesome blue

Jaejoong in Mine

Ruby: So I’m going to be THAT GUY.  and bring up DBSK. They have done solo work, but I feel like those reflect the artists personalities more rather than the group mentality. There was Ayyyy Gurrrrl…. (Rolling down ma  sexy window) Honestly its surprisingly similar. They wear color block suits most of the time. It's a bit more adventurous and there’s long hair and eyeliner…. But back to DBSK. They also did a lot of color blocking but there was always something sexy or daring about it. This video could have used an injection of excitement. It was just kinda boring.

DBSK in Ayyy Girl

Trends in K-POP:

Em: Suits. Again. Wow that’s different. Also yachting clothes. Pastels is unfortunately a thing sometimes too, like in the band Boyfriend. I’m not a HUGE fan of people looking like its Easter Sunday, but maybe that’s just me.

Boyfriend and their pastels

Ruby: I like that there are real people in this video. Even a few really confused businessmen. Rock those corporate suits. Honestly I think we see very little real clothing in kpop. And I appreciate the attempt to make their appearances relevant to the masses, I just have two issues: 1) you did it wrong. Last week we talked about MFBTY, they did it really right, simple, unique and wearable, 2) These three are not known for, nor do they typically look normal. Maybe especially Jaejoong. Its hard for me to swallow them trying to look average when all I can think of is sexy Jaejoong.

Sure, lets try dancing!

MFBTY's wearable clothes

Conclusion:

Em: Unlike many of the previous songs, I just didn’t like this. Sure it was fun and cute and whatever, but meh. Didn’t do anything for me. Though I was very amused by the random soccer players and businessmen. Oh and The Flannel Couple. Matching by ‘accident.’ Sure.

The Flannel Couple

Ruby: It was nice. Good promotional material. Cute, clean, wearable and totally forgettable. I think part of me feels like if I was handed JYJ and told like, you have a year to promote these games with this band, this is not the first thing I would have released. I mean sports are sexy, intense and passionate. Couldn’t you have played that up a bit. Not saying that only sex sells, but just that using that intensity that sports can have makes it more exciting. With a band like JYJ they have the ability to do intensity with so much class and power that it's a shame to waste it.

Junsu in athleticwear

Yes we'll buy things from you

Daily Dose of Daebak:

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT ANIMAL THOSE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. I shall call them the sun  minions.

IM HIJACKING YOUR DAILY DAEBAK. THEY ARE NOT SUN MINIONS THEY ARE THE GAMES MASCOTS, HARBOR SEALS NAMED BARAME, VICHUON AND CHUMURO.

So what did you think? Did you like it a bit better than we did? Are they sun minions or harbor seals? Or BOTH?