It's One We rather than One Way. Really interesting comments. The main singer Yonghoon was also giving me Bowie vibes. You didn't mention it specifically but I'm sure you noticed the stylistic mix by the guitarist and bassist (Kanghyun and Cya) - for example, Cya breaking into a surprising funk groove I didn't see coming after the indie rock intro and Kangyun tossing in some shredding out of the blue in the middle of his solo. Gravity wouldn't have been my recommendation as your first Onewe song. It's the title track of their recent all-English album and tho I like it imo their Korean songs are better. I second the recommendations of Aurora and Montage for good rockers but Onewe's forte is power ballads like Universe, A Book in Memory and Parting. Yonghoon is one of if not the best male singer of the current kpop generation and he really shines on ballads. As to their instruments, tho Kanghyun was playing his white strat in the vid I'm not sure that's what he used on the recording. For the last couple of years he's mostly played a Sterling Majesty, one of the John Petrucci models, and he uses a Marshall amp & cab. He also sometimes plays an ES-335 and a Gibson acoustic, a J-45 I think. Cya normally plays a Bacchus 5 string bass but the one you see in the MV is a recent purchase - a Nash copy of a 60's p-bass. Dongmyeong plays several keyboards and he often breaks out a keytar, esp live.
"but Onewe's forte is power ballads like Universe, A Book in Memory and Parting" I disagree. Onewe's real forte songs are songs like "Aurora" which is not only their best song but also showcases what their unique sound is (i.e. Alternative Rock mixed with Pop Rock). The reason they have so many ballads has less to do with them and more to do with what is going to sell in South Korea. Rock has never been mainstream in South Korea so that's why pretty much every single Rock band over there puts out soft ballads and/or poppy songs. That's why it's a shame that they don't have many songs like "Aurora" and why songs like it are almost never chosen as singles for them or any other Korean band signed to a bigger music label. In fact, "Aurora" wasn't a single. It only got a music video because Onewe pushed for it but even then it's a very low budget video which is just them under a tree at night compared to music videos like "End of Spring" which is a full blown video.
@@DaRunningMan It seems like we have different taste in songs so we have different opinions about what they do best but I disagree that they have so many ballads because that's what sells. Besides the fact that they don't have any hit songs their ballads don't come across as things they wrote in an attempt to make a hit song. I think their ballad lyric writing is exceptional and unique and that their ballads showcase the best asset of a group with many excellent assets, Yonghoon's voice. I like Aurora too so you're not wrong to stick up for it but I'll stick with my opinion. If they just did alt/pop rock I probably wouldn't listen to them very much but I appreciate their rockers as part of a varied repertoire that includes ballads that knock my socks off. That's where taste and probably age come into it. I'm a jaded old fart ex-roadie and sound guy who's been mostly bored by rock for the last 20 years and I'm not easily moved but Onewe's ballads do it for me.
It's actually interesting that you bring up David Bowie, I did notice that he felt like that but I feel like whenever I compare musicians I have been off on that recently 😬
See I could talk gear forever! But that's cool he plays a John Patrucci because that is a very advanced guitar, people think that there is no such thing as an advanced guitar but there is. Marshall's pair well with them, I feel like most people go with the EVH 5150 when they pick up a Sterling but honestly, I like how they sound with Marshall amps
I did notice the nice scale work as well, I do think that there was some funk and blues inspired but that little shred solo seemed to be a pentatonic major scale. I think. I'm a little rusty on my scales 😅
!! Onewe!! so excited you’re checking them out ☺️ vocal range is crazy?? (Yonghoon and shinee Jonghyun are my favourite vocalists) their musical ability is insane, honestly. They’re self formed and they all compose, write and play several instruments each. plus, they’re all lovely~ I recommend Montage_ for harder rock vibes and A Book in a Memory for a rock ballad, AuRoRa everyone usually falls in love with (ridiculous guitar solo) Parting, and Universe_ - their discography is impeccable and they have a range of styles in their music ☺️
"Aurora" and "Montage" are in a very similar category. They are both Rockers. And "Aurora" is easily Onewe's best song which actually showcases what their sound could be if they weren't held back.
It's kinda cool to see so many people here enthusiastic about this group honestly whenever I check out more rock ish bands the video usually kinda tanks but this group has some good traction!
@@Killdeer25 yep. rbw does shit all promotion for them, honestly. It’s sad. They deserve a lot more recognition and support tbh. glad you’re checking them out more ☺️
thank u for reacting! onewe are so talented I also recommend their songs aurora, veronica, ring on my ears, montage, parting, universe, a book in memory (all those have mvs) and trauma (no mv) I really tried to rec as least as possible haha
Haha! Hey I always love seeing the passion and the recommendations, I absolutely comeback and look for song requests when I get past the lists that I have had drawn up
👍😄Really glad you liked them Aaron. This was the first song I heard from them and it got me in listening to more. I think it's a great song and MV. Just really fun to listen and groove to 🎸🎵
This was a really interesting reaction, I loved hearing your perspective! I'm a fan of ONEWE, but I still felt like I got a fresh look at this song through your commentary. Thank you! I'd love to see you react to their songs Montage_ and Parting, and if you are interested at all in slower, more ballady songs, their song Universe_ is also gorgeous.
FTIsland are not "Kpop". And they have specifically made this clear in interviews. FTIsland are a Rock band. CNBlue is a Pop Rock band. Calling everything "Kpop" just because it's music being sung in Korean is wrong and pretty insulting. "Kpop" is "Korean Pop". It's not "music sung in Korean".
@@DaRunningMan I referred to them as Kpop bands because they are part of the wider Kpop industry and are supported by a lot of Kpop fans. They also belonged to a company that had Kpop groups. It was a simplification, but it wasn't intended to be the insult you seem to be taking it as.
@@kl2894 "They also belonged to a company that had Kpop groups" Having Pop groups in an entertainment company doesn't make that company a "Kpop company" nor every musical artist signed to them a "Pop group". The label that FTIsland is from (FNC) also does a lot of management work for actors and actresses.
@@DaRunningMan If you're going to get picky, Yonghwa's debut solo song was Mileage which was about as Kpop as you can get. Both groups were trainees at an entertainment company, not the usual route for a rock band, they are friends with idols, have done songs with idols, appeared on variety shows with idols, appeared on the same music shows as idols at the same time as idols. Call them whatever you want, but they are a part of the wider Kpop industry. Also, all the major Kpop companies have actors and entertainers, that doesn't disqualify them from being Kpop companies.
Thanks for reacting to ONEWE! Definitely check them out more! I think you've gotten plenty of recommendations in the comments and I'd have to say the fun of ONEWE is that they do a lot of different styles but still definitely "ONEWE". They write most/all of their own music. (I want to say the company gave them a song once but it wasn't very "ONEWE" so they didn't repeat that.) Gravity was written by the main singer, Yonghoon. The three main composers are him, Kanghyun (Guitar), and Cya (Bass), though Dongmyeong (vocal, piano) and Harin (drummer) have also had a song released each! A few from each of them: Yonghoon: Reminisce About All, A Book in Memory, STAR Kanghyun: Regulus, Parting, Rain to Be Cya: Veronica, Montage_, TRAUMA Dongmyeong: Trigger_ Harin: Envision_ Also honestly just gotta throw a plug for my queen, COSMOS. It's a soft song written by Kanghyun but it's really just beautiful and the lyrics (like all ONEWE songs) are just stunning. Speculation time: As far as South Korea is concerned, based on what I've seen/comments I've heard (and their reception on the band show, Great Seoul Invasion...not that we can entirely trust what we see there because Mnet is a snake who loves to evil edit people.), ONEWE is in a somewhat weird place. Unlike most bands that are under a company, ONEWE existed as MAS0094 before signing with a label and being renamed. Some idol fans don't think they're "idol" enough (I think Dongmyeong once said that many other artists are scared to approach them because bands just have a rougher image) while some band fans give them crap for being too "idolish" (mostly because they're VERY VERY ATTRACTIVE). I've heard that it's because of this that they were marketed in a very underground way early in their career, as most hard-core band fans just follow the underground scene. Whether that's true or not, I can't say.
That's interesting speculation, I do think that it's an uphill battle for rock in most countries. I can see that for most labels, it's seen as a risk, but you know sometimes taking a risk is how you set new trends.
Something that you should know when it comes to South Korea of both the country itself and its music industry is that Rock has never been and still is not mainstream over there. This is a very important thing to keep in mind because it has affected and continues to affect all Rock bands over there. Most of the songs that are chosen as the main promotional singles are many times not actually reflective of what the band actually wants. Usually, the main singles that are chosen are very poppy and/or soft ballads. Those are the kind of songs that Rock bands in South Korea have to put out eventually it order to make money. This means that you have to actually listen to the deep cuts of their albums in order to listen to what it is that the band actually wants their music to be. You'll notice for example with Xdinary Heroes, who you have reacted to at least a couple of times, that with songs like "Hair Cut" and especially "Strawberry Cake" there is very little guitar. In fact, "Strawberry Cake" is barely Rock at all. Yet you will see Xdinary Hero fans constantly recommend it. But "Sucker Punch" which is a non-single track off of their debut EP that is much more of a Rocker gets buried as a deep cut and ignored by supposed fans. You'll almost never see any Kpop fan that claim to like Xdinary Heroes recommend "Sucker Punch" even though it's actually a Rock track and much more in the wheelhouse of any genuine Rock fan. In my opinion, "Sucker Punch" is Xdinary Heroes' best of their original songs so far but it was never going to be picked as a promotional single because it's too "Rock". Instead the label and Kpop fans push "Strawberry Cake" which has almost no guitar playing apart from a literal 4 second guitar solo towards the end. Even an indie Rock band like Rolling Quartz has to deal with this. You reacted to their cover version of "Sing Your Heart Out" (the song is originally from a Korean Punk band called "Crying Nut"). Their cover version of "Sing Your Heart Out" was the b-side of the main single at that time which was "Nazababara" that is a super poppy track and would shock any unsuspecting listener checking out Rolling Quartz's output. That's because "Nazababara" is what's going to make them money in South Korea and not a song from them like "Blaze" or "Sing Your Heart Out". South Korea is not like Japan. In Japan, Rock has always and still is mainstream which is why several Korean Rock bands have actually gone to Japan and have made their best music over there as not only the songs that get chosen as the promotional singles reflect most times what the band wants but also they have much far more creative freedom. Sadly, a lot of Korean music fans ignore the albums that Korean Rock bands do in Japan and that's a shame because as I said it is usually their best work. I was hoping Onewe would also go to Japan to let loose but the lead singer and guitarist are currently doing military service so they won't be back for a couple of years. Apart from Japan and deep cuts on an album, another outlet Korean Rock bands have to be more of what they want is when they do unofficial covers. I say "unofficial" to mean that the covers are released online as a performance but not put out as an official release on any albums. On those kinds of covers, since they are not official they are given much more leeway creatively. You'll see that in many of the covers that Xdinary Heroes and Onewe have done the sound is many of them is harder than you will ever hear on their main singles. This song here "Gravity" by Onewe was obviously aimed at an audience outside of South Korea not just because it's 100% in English but also as you can hear it's different than the songs that get chosen as their promotional singles. It's not Hard Rock but it has a bit more edge to it than their main promotional singles like "Rain To Be" or "End of Spring" which are very poppy. Onewe's best songs like "Aurora", "Montage", "Trauma", etc... are all non-single tracks. I just wanted to share this information with you because it's a very important fact to understand about Rock in South Korea that many overlook. You just can't approach Rock (and that includes Metal) in South Korea the same way you would do in other countries. South Korean Rock bands have it so much harder.
Thank you for this post, it clears up many of my questions. I’ve always wondered why there isn’t much rock to be found in SK music. I would guess a lot of the blame could be placed on the powers that be - entertainment companies? F.T. Island is one of my favorite bands but most of their later releases are all ballads. It’s really too bad that rock is a mostly ignored genre. I am a huge k-pop fan, but I also enjoy rock and guitar driven music. I will check out the various songs you mentioned.
On this we completely agree. Rock bands in Korea, especially those outside the major entertainment companies, really struggle. I've lost quite a few decent Korean rock bands over the years because they just can't survive if they do anything outside of cutesy pop rock or rock ballads (heavy on the ballad, light on the rock). It's a crying shame really.
That is interesting, I'm not really super surprised but I think the other thing that is important there is the fact that the rock that is coming out is extremely fresh sounding as well though. It's awesome
Little late to the party, but thank you for your reaction! I really enjoyed your perspective, especially because of your experience with Rock/Metal. I'm no musician, but I also think they have a balanced way to harmoniously showcase the vocals and instruments while delivering a great song. I used to listen a lot to rock (a little bit of Metal) when I was younger ; ). Age changed my interests and the Pandemic brought me to K-pop + Korean music scene. Nowadays, Onewe's music is my favorite among the Korean bands/groups I've had the opportunity to discover. I second the song recommedations below: Montage_, Aurora and Parting.
yes! I am still pretty enthralled, even last night I found a new group that is pretty insane in the metal world. but that is kinda what is happening to me, I absolutely needed to branch out and check out some new stuff here. it has been fun! Kpop and Krock has been quite a nice surprise in many ways!
Thanks for reacting to Onewe!! Glad you liked them! They have a lot of great live performances, including a bunch of acoustic songs that really showcase the lead singer's vocals. They're pretty eclectic. I agree with the recommendations for Aurora and Montage for rockier songs, esp Montage. This live electric performance of the song Star is what got me hooked on them. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OE0aDqVcZ5I.html Live version of the ballad Universe ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qFcrljop-80.html They also have this cover medley of girl group songs and put their own rock twist on them. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GUnF-iAu3i0.html The guitarist, Kanghyun has this cool guitar solo video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-npN1eZY5-L8.html Hope this isn't all too overwhelming, haha! Honestly though, you kind of can't go wrong. They're all great songs!
Also, if you're interested in other recommendations, the band The Rose has a little softer sound, also with a really great lead vocalist. I recommend their song "Sorry." Pentagon - "Basquiat" is also a good one.
it is not haha! I love these kinds of comments, I will be checking them out! I am interested in seeing the guitar stuff as well, as a rhythm guitarist I am huge on this stuff
