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)

4Minute versus the Undead (But Fashion-forward)

Last week was a nice break from the insanity, but this week we're back where we started with

4Minute- What's Your Name?

If you haven't seen this thoroughly entertaining and vastly interesting music video, check it out here: GET YOUR ZOMBIE KILLIN GEAR ON

As of May 20th 2013 it had 6,019,986 views.

Overall impression:

Ruby: So I have mixed feelings about this MV. I am a big fan of the hipster-kawaii idea, but its so easy to take too far. For me the clothing was over accessorized and over sexualized. Which is super sad, because there are some really cool, awesome pieces mixed in there. I love the splatter paint/zombie blood idea, the old school references and the wedge sneakers. Super cool and on trend, but there were so overwhelmed by too many accessories, fake tattoos everywhere and revealing cuts. I watched the choreography video, and was surprised by how cute the dance was, since in the video its all about words on butts and exposed crotches. Not to mention they look so much more comfortable with the dance when they’re not worried about clothing staying in place.

temporary tattoos make for a badass concept, 4minute.....

you might want to retie those shoes.

splatter paint zombie blood.... cute >.<

Em: My first impression was that I liked a lot of individual details in this, and that there was a lot mixed in that was very cool. A lot of the pieces individually could be taken out and used, even as regular clothing. However, a step back made me find the same thing Ruby did…it was chaotic and too much. This seemed like another band trying to pull of the style that f(x) has so well—the concentrated craziness that doesn’t just overwhelm. Even in Electric Shock, which was weird in itself, they still managed to look artsy rather than confused. The comment about the dance was accurate too…still fairly sexualized, but much more interesting than the MV made it seem.

F(X), from Electric Shock teasers, with cutely mismatched shoes

Other promotional Materials:

Ruby: The teasers were odd and poorly connected to the video I thought, though they themselves were really really cool. Blacklights make everything better. Stages still felt over worked but because they don’t change clothes, it is easier to absorb. They certainly make for fun and lively stages with lots of bling bling.  I still feel like the costumes limit movement sometimes and make me worry about camera angles and catching lady parts on camera.

Blacklight Teasers (BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE)

You might want to put some pants on before you leave the house next time.

Em: I didn’t think they were that poorly connected…I mean, the style seemed the same, it just wasn’t promoting the plot or anything, just the members themselves. They were fun. The comeback stages were fine, not too impressive…I feel like the could’ve used some unifying feature, like a color that everyone used, or shoes, or SOMETHING in common. It didn’t even feel like the stylists were going for individuality, just randomness.

Now that the salvation army meeting has commenced....

Continuity:

Ruby: Here’s the crux of the matter I think. I like a lot of the clothes but we see 3-4 different outfit sets within the first 10 seconds of the MV.  That's a lot of fast changes for a video laden with accessories and heavy handed detailing. There were so many colors and location changes props and lighting effects in this video that the constant changes in clothing and styling were disorienting.

Rings, necklaces, earrings, OH MY.

Em: Out of everything, continuity was definitely the main problem. I guess there was continuity in the level of craziness, but that doesn’t mean it looked clean and together at all. There were few consistencies, if any. I guess there were the weird fishnet shorts. Why would anyone want neon fishnet shorts? It defeats the point of both fishnets and shorts!

Neon shorts. Thanks Hyuna.

Band’s Overall Image:

Ruby: Oh 4minute.  They are known for their sexy, and its well deserved. The members have great bodies and dance well. For me, videos like Huh, Muzik and especially Volume Up really mastered the art of classy sexy. This video, for me smacked more of Hyuna, like Bubble Pop or Icecream. Fun videos, but definitely edging on overt and superfluous sexiness. I appreciate those videos and Hyuna’s solo work for very different reasons than 4Minute’s group work. I guess I would prefer them to stay separate, but only because I miss that presence in kpop of quiet, powerful and sexy.

4Minute's Volume Up outfits, still odd and mismatched, but coordinated and really cool.

Hyuna and her completely nonsexual music video Icecream.
Nothing here but sticky white goo and her boobs.

Em: Sometimes they’re successful, sometimes they aren’t. Though I don’t always agree with the fashion choices (see picture) they do usually have more continuity as a group. They need to simplify, and maybe make dance costumes a little bit more practical for dancing. They’ve done it before, they can do it again. Like the other picture has a similar idea of variety, but the colors are together so it isn’t like a neon unicorn threw up on you. And as much as I like unicorns…

4Minute looking insane

4minute looking less insane

NO UNICORNS HERE FOLKS.

Trends in K-POP:

Ruby: Kawaii-hipster. I swear it's a thing. There are a lot of bands that are playing with this idea of endless accessories, in the style of decora, harajuku etc. Sometimes it works, but I think its one of the harder styles for a band to pull off. It is super variable and it definitely doesn’t go sexy well. Then you have off trend, cute and sexy all in the same one. That's too much I think.

I wouldn't try to go through airport security like that.

I was so distracted by her clothes, that I completely missed
the super cool wall and set behind her. Really, look at it, it's super cool.

Em: Zombies are such a thing right now, like SHINee did stuff with zombies too in Why So Serious. In addition, with the kawaii-hipster thing (which in theory sounds fantastic), I think a lot of bands just go overboard with it. A little works, so a lot works better, right? Not really. It produces some really cool pieces though, like a lot of the t-shirts themselves were awesome. They just need more focus. Unless of course you want to hypnotize people, in which case go ahead have fun whatever floats your boat.

SHINee, Why So Serious Zombies. You should go read our review of that. 

Mickey Mouse T-shirts are super hipster. 

The Ramones. And gold pleather. And fishnets. Classy.

Conclusion:

Ruby: I think I would have been a really big fan if they had just simplified it a little bit. I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t help but be put off. I loved a lot of other promotions from 4minute but I think this was just not my style. That being said, cute choreography and a good concept, I think it just needed some more refinement.

Yes, what a cute dance.

This necklace feels very appropriate here.

Em: They had so many great styles that they brought together…I just want to see them divided up. If, say, the punk side was emphasized and they all wore leather jackets for the video, it would’ve been better. Same with the retro side of it. Just pick something! They just went for it though, and didn’t do too bad with pulling it off. Maybe they’ll simplify next time. Unless the whole being-zombies thing gets in the way, and they just end up eating brains instead of making music and dancing.

Yes, Hyuna, he really does want you for your brain.

Daily Dose of Daebak:

ZOMBIE SURVIVAL HINT FOR THE DAY:

YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A HAIRDRYER. THAT ALWAYS WORKS AGAINST REANIMATED CORPSES. TRUST ME I KNOW THESE THINGS.

Skateboarding in high heels. Kids, you should try this at home. Though I must admit I like the shoes anyway in all their glorious impracticality…. 

Leave us a comment and tell us your favorite zombie fighting technique or weapon of choice!!!!

See ya soon!

Ruby & Em <3