BM5's May 2026 Favorites

Favorite Kpop Comeback

The Collective Soul and Unconscious: Chapter Two - Billlie

Above is one of my favorite songs, Work, from the new album from Billlie. I believe that this body of work is such a fun and explorative listen that showcases why Billlie is one of my favorite groups to follow. They are incredible recording artists and it all translates to their live performances vocally as well as through their choreography! I love their journey through many cool corners of EDM on the album while maintaining some colors of their jazzy approach to much of their discography. I highly recommend listening to make your own opinion!

Favorite Campaign Trailer

This is Sera: The Becoming of a Former K-Pop Idol - Jamiya Wilson Studio

As a VIP member of Ryu Sera's fan club, I heard rumblings about this project pretty early on. I'm excited to now spread the news of this documentary in the works finally as well as promote sending in your support. Jamiya & Sera are also putting their own money into the series to delve into many aspects of her life from before, during, and after her idol life. I believe this will be amazing to see come to fruition and any support will be appreciated. I just ask you give this a watch to determine if you'd be interested in this being made and distributed on a major scale.

Favorite Kpop Debut

Lost in Proof - Heart of Woman

Despite not having been able to check out the album at this point, I definitely wanted to show my love to this new group strictly from the title track. Heart of Woman is a new group that I simply saw some advertisements for leading up to their debut. I don't often let these influence who I dive into, but I gave them a shot this time and was pleasantly surprised. They came with budget in the video and great music production too. I would definitely say that they are similar to the sound Kiss of Life started with. Therefore, depending on how you feel can get you excited or worried. I lean towards anticipating what they have to offer, especially since I've seen others praise the rest of the album already. So an album reaction will be in the works...

Favorite May 2026 Favorites playlist: click here

Fair Shake Reaction: The Collective Soul and Unconscious: Chapter Two - Billlie

The Collective Soul and Unconscious: Chapter Two - Billlie

(Genre: Kpop)

A Collective of links for your soul:

Zap (Music Video)

Work (Choreography Video)

Erika Justine Reaction (to Work MV)

ReacttotheK Reaction (to Cloud Palace Before Sunset live)

BM5's January 2026 Favorites

Favorite Comebacks

Disc 2 Track 2 - J. Cole

Having Cole back is such a joy! The long awaited Fall Off was teased with this new music video along with an album trailer. It couldn't build the hype up enough!! This track is gracefully written to chronicle J. Cole's life backwards from death to birth in an awe-inspiring way. It's not only the concept itself that makes it so captivating, but also the fact that he does it keeping the same rhyme pattern throughout the entire track. Rap nerds rejoice!! Oh, and I'm a rap nerd. I'm curious what else he has in store for us. Plus, I still have his Birthday Blizzard mixtape to check out still. Give the boy a chance!

Cloud Palace ~ Before Sunset live - Billlie

It's been sooo long since we've had a new Billlie comeback with the whole group. The way they decided to spoil us with our first taste with 5 different versions of the pre-release is such a blessing, too! Normally, remix albums I approach with little acknowledgement, yet with this group delivering 2 differing LIVE performances and 2 studio remixes with alternate approaches that still match Billlie's various colors: I am FLOORED! Plus, one of the versions give reference to other Billlie songs in the most tasteful way. I'm beyond excited for the full comeback. Have you heard about Billlie?

Favorite Music Discussion

How to Become a K-Pop Superstar (TED Talk) - Charlene Kaye

As such a huge kpop fan as I've become, to have Miko suggest checking out this a quick excerpt of this was a smart move. I instantly saw that a full TED talk was available to view and I had to chuckle the whole way through! Charlene is a comedian who also had dreams of kpop stardom, but realized it wasn't going to happen in this lifetime. Yet it didn't stop here from breaking down the multitude of elements needed to achieve your goal as an idol, whether male or female! If you have a sense of humor and love the genre like I do, I highly recommend this dose of laughs.

Full January 2026 Favorites playlist: click here

Fair Shake Reaction: Appendix : Of All We Have Lost - Billlie

Appendix : Of All We Have Lost - Billlie

(Genre: Kpop)

Related links kept here, so they're never lost:

Remembrance Candy (Music Video)

Trampoline (Music Video)

Form of Therapy Reaction (to Remembrance Candy)

FiFiZappaReacts (to Trampoline)

It's Live Concert (Live Performance)

My Synk: Hyper Line Experience

Fair Shake Reaction: The Billage of Perception: Chapter 2 - Billlie

The Billage of Perception: Chapter 2 - Billlie

(Genre: Kpop)

A Billage of links are listed below:

Ring Ma Bell (Music Video)

Ring Ma Bell (Live Band Performance)

B'rave (Dance Practice)

Form of Therapy Reaction (to Ring Ma Bell)

ReacttotheK Reaction (to the EP)

The End of the World and the Awakening (Story Film)

BM5's May 2023 Favorites

Favorite Cover

Eunoia - ReacttotheK

Billlie's album is already one of my favorites of the year so far. Seeing that jazz musicians from ReactotheK did their own rendition made me even more ecstatic. I love what they were able to enhance from the original and I think they had so much fun doing it as well. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Favorite Live Performances

A Tribute to Pharrell - Tobe Nwigwe

The REFERENCES!!! Okay, to begin, I believe that Tobe is one of the few unique emcees of this time and for him to pay tribute to such a icon of creativity makes total sense. The musical nods they make towards Pharrell's career through the lyrics and even musical arrangement is so on point, I couldn't help but smile the whole way. If Pharrell himself was so amused, it can't be hard to believe that so will you.

Tiny Desk Concert - NIKI

Long followers of my reviews will know that I adore NIKI. One thing that I've always knew was how strong of a songwriter she is. One thing that I've been more critical of, though, are her performances. This is quite the exception, but I'm sure it's due to the setting. This more acoustic, intimate stage makes it so she doesn't have to exert herself to entertain a huge festival crowd. The music really gets to shine here and her vocals along with the band are at the perfect balance. Get a taste of it yourself.

Favorite Sera Ryu EP

Perfect Square - Sera Ryu

Alright, you got me. I just wanted to promote this project, yet for good reason. This EP is, in my humble opinion, the most solid that she's released this year so far out of the three. Each song has many selling points: the haunting nature of "Last Dance", the danceable vibe of "Star Crossed", the vocal layers of "Siren", and the balance of production and singing on "Zoom". Please support an independent artist and I don't think you'll regret it.

Full May 2023 favorites playlist: click here

Fair Shake Reaction: The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three - Billlie

The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three - Billlie

(Genre: Kpop)

Can you Belllieve what you perceive?:

Eunoia (Music Video)

Eunoia (Dance Practice)

Eunoia (Live on Arirang Radio)

Enchanted Night - White Night (Choreography Video)

FiFiZappaReacts (to Eunoia+Chapter Three)

Weekly Idol (Variety)

Fair Shake Reaction: The Collective Soul and Unconscious: Chapter 1 - Billlie

The Collective Soul and Unconscious: Chapter 1 - Billlie

(Genre: Kpop)

I collected these for you to consciously watch:

GingaMingaYo (The Strange World) (Music Video)

GingaMingaYo (Performance Video)

Yawnbi Reaction (to GingaMingaYo)

What's Your B? (Teaser Trailer)

Popkorn Interview

BM5's September 2022 Favorites

Favorite Music Video

We Cry Together - Kendrick Lamar feat. Taylour Paige

Here stands the stage play of one of the most standout tracks from Kendrick's newest album. On record, you can truly picture the entire situation and visualize it as some scene you would see in a theatre. Apparently that's exactly what was intended for years before release, this music video has both Taylour and Kendrick presenting the song live on set. The difference in delivery here also adds to the experience since some lines are said more naturally than on record where everything must be conveyed audibly. Truly this is a work of art, but only for those of age. There is a censored version, yet I can't vouch for it having the same impact without the language and eventual ending.

Favorite Performance

Tiny Desk Concert - JID

As mentioned before, JID is becoming a talent to take note of if you haven't done so before. Although this particular tiny desk performance is a bit less interactive with the audience, JID and the band provide a wonderful medley of some past work of his along with a few selections from his latest work, The Forever Story. Watching this performance made me proud to keep up with him since his Dreamville debut, The Never Story, allowing me to jam through this auditory journey. This here is more proof in the pudding that he's next up!

Favorite B-Side

B'rave ~a song for Matilda~ (Dance Practice) - Billlie

I love Billlie! They're so versatile and different, but when they hit that sweet spot of what I love...I could die. B'rave is a nice R&B tune from the girls that they chose as the b-side they're promoting with their title, Ring Ma Bell (What a Wonderful World). The vocal tones of each member fit their parts perfectly from the singing and raps throughout over the lovely seductive production. The choreography is also well matched with the sexy feel of the music and is executed flawlessly by the group. I could put this on repeat for days. So...yeah, did I mention that I love Billlie? (P.S. I still feel this possible could have been a NCT 127 b-side, even with some slight alterations to the choreo.)

Full September 2022 Favorites playlist: click here

Fair Shake Reaction: The Billage of Perception: Chapter One - Billlie

The Billage of Perception: Chapter One - Billlie

(Genre: Kpop)

Below is a billage of Billlie links:

Ring x Ring (Music Video)

Ring x Ring (Dance Practice)

Fl!pping a Coin (Choreography Video)

Fl!pping a Coin (Dance Practice @ 1Million)

Bi11lie Chapter 1 (World View Video)

Form of Therapy Reaction (to Ring x Ring)

ReacttotheK Reaction (to Ring x Ring)

BM5's June 2022 Favorites

Favorite Movie Essay

Everything Everywhere All at Once is an Overwhelming Experience - Quality Culture

This is a channel that I've been scoping out from time to time, but this particular video had me in awe of the quality. The movie itself had me lauding its creativity and execution which led me feeling unable to properly review it. This here captured everything I wanted to say and more. This channel has some wonderful videos and this one is a fantastic demonstration of its worthiness of checking out. Plus it goes without saying, but this film is an absolute must watch, as well!!!

Favorite Reaction Video

Heejin's Pose Reaction - 달달구리

This capture clip from a VLIVE had me ecstatic! I was pleased to find that it was subtitled and even had the video super-imposed on. If you've seen the Queendom 2 finale, you know how wonderful this performance was. This clip here has Heejin recapping the highlights, alongside giving some behind the scenes commentary on the preparation & performance itself. For those who love this kind of insight, this is quite the treat!

Favorite Dance Cover

Tiger Inside - Moon Sua, Siyoon, & Tsuki of Billlie (Orig. by SuperM)

Once again we have the girls of Billlie giving a powerful cover of one of the SM boy groups and they do NOT disappoint. Each of these women have their own particular flair to their movements, but they are all executed in sync and with perfect charisma. Trust if you haven't seen this, (or even the full group's rendition of NCT 127's Kick It) you have some catching up to do. The talent on display here is an international treasure!!

Full June 2022 Favorites playlist: click here

BM5's November 2021 Favorites

Favorite TV Show Analysis

The Failure of Victorious - Quinton Reviews

This is actually part 3 of a loooong series to cover everything that ties into iCarly. Quinton has become a reviewer that I've come across and enjoyed for his deep dives into these particular topics even when I'm not a fan of the subject; just like Victorious. He covers all the seasons of iCarly and this particular review goes over most of Victorious. You can tell he's really taken to and overanalyzed each character to describe them in such an entertaining manner that I truly was engaged for all 5 1/2 hours. If you can handle the commitment, or put it in portions, I recommend it for fans and casuals alike.

Favorite Anime Analysis

The Best Isekai that's Getting Better: Mushoku Tensei - Manime Matt

Mushoku Tensei is a phenomenal show. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk... Honestly, this short impressions video of season 2 covers everything I need to say. The different points that Matt conveys prove that this show really has set itself apart from many shows in this overpopulated scene relying on this premise. It's been one of my favorite shows to watch this season, which isn't much, to be frank, and the preceding video explains why.

Favorite Music Video

Smokin out the Window - Silk Sonic

 

Do I really have to explain? This song and video really put the talents and humorous personalities of both Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak, in center stage. We got the Hooligans showing up and showing out with the choreo and background vocals, as well as you lovely ladies, of course. Plus the night I watched it premiere, I got sad because they made it look so easy. So not to be dramatic, but I wanted to die knowing I could never measure. If you haven't heard this, you've must've been comatose. ENJOY!

Favorite Debut

Billlie

Billlie has been an astounding group to watch during their debut. The mini album is top-tier goodness that is varied in sound, rich in vocals, and iconic in raps. The concept is extremely intriguing and almost confusing (which adds to the allure, by wanting to figure it out.) Above is the dance practice video to the title track, "Ring x Ring". In it, you can see the incredible details they execute to keep a feast for the eyes similar to a buffet. "Flipp!ng a Coin" has become one of my favorite hype jams of the year, also with superb choreo. Then "The Eleventh Day" has the smoothest listen with its lofi R&B vibe on maximum. Now, I just can't wait to see how they do adding Sheon to the following comebacks!

Full November 2021 Favorites Playlist: click here