I’ve been asked several times to cover PLAVE songs on the blog. I try not to write about “virtual” groups since it feels like opening a can of worms I’m not yet ready for, but PLAVE have become surprising popular. I can’t say I totally get it, but there are lots of things in this world I don’t get so that’s totally fine!
What matters most — as always — is the music. As long as the song is great, a pineapple could sing it to me for all I care. PLAVE’s genre focus surprises me. It would be so easy and expected for them to go down the hard, aggressive NCT route. Instead, they opt for something closer to soft rock. This has clearly struck a chord with listeners, and a song like Way 4 Luv is relentlessly pleasant. It doesn’t do anything I can’t already get from a non-virtual group, but the track’s hazy, melodic sound goes down easy.
If I’m going to nitpick, Way 4 Luv lacks one unique punch that might help it stand on its own. The melodies and production are both solid, but unspectacular and unsurprising. The song feels more like a nice b-side than a standout title track. On the plus side, the vocalists behind this project are quite strong. I love the grit in their tones. It matches this rock sound very well.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
this feels like a txt song, which kinda makes since given the producer “EL CAPITXN” has worked for several txt (and hybe acts) songs in general.
8/10 for me.
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What ps2 game is this from?
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But the vocals are real … ??? So I guess they got some under-employed former 2nd or 3rd gen guys, and conceal their age behind animation … ?
Like whoever does the vocals behind Rozy is actually really really good.
Well, some day their real singer identities will come out, just like how we didn’t know about Marni Nixon for a long while. (Marni Nixon, who dubbed for the lead actresses in The King and I, My Fair Lady, and even West Side Story, among many others.)
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yeah, I’ve begun to think of these “virtual” idols as more like vtubers— real personalities and voices who are using animated avatars for whatever reason. Optimistically I’d like to think it’s by choice, but of course we’ll always have our doubts.
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It turns out that Gorillaz was an ingenious way for Damon Albarn to continue his career post-Blur. While other Britpop singers of the day are forced to become nostalgic legacy acts and play their greatest hits to an aging audience, Albarn gets to make eagerly-anticipated new music and stay relevant for younger generations. Even to this day, young teenage skateboarders think Gorillaz is the coolest thing going – having no idea they’re listening to a singer rapidly approaching 60, haha.
Even in concerts, sometimes he and the band would hide behind screens and let the virtual band appear; Albarn would only step out of the shadows during the encore
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Really? I find the idea quaint at this point. After all, Gorillaz (whom I love) debuted in 1999 to immense global popularity; so at this point, the idea of a virtual band, far from being revolutionary, is quite dated.
In fact, long before Gorillaz, way back in 1969, a cartoon band hit #1 with this, which probably most in the US have heard at some point:
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Maybe the difference could be that for Gorillaz it was known from the beginning (I guess?) who the singer is, but for these groups we have someone who’s not showing up, other than the writers and producers credited. Also, I’d say these “personalities” of the members date from vocaloid days maybe? I was also thinking how we always know the voice actor’s names for cartoon and video game characters.
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if you listen to jpop a lot, and Nick does, this kind of stuff isn’t new concept tbh. I follow Egoist for example, and the main singer has been going strong for decade plus without showing her real face or revealing her name
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Talking about virtual idols, have you ever listened to Vocaloid songs? 🧐
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“As long as the song is great, a pineapple could sing it to me for all I care.” Any Canadians in the house remember the pineapple from Telefrancais and its absolute earworm theme song?
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This feels like a very natural progression of the Vtuber and AI chat trends, and like some other commenters pointed out it isn’t all that new of an idea?
I can see the appeal of it for sure, but I think the animation here is sort of clunky for what it’s trying to be? I’m totally down for the endless creative potential of a virtual band, but this isn’t really tapping into that.
The song is allright and the singers are clearly experienced, that’s nice.
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Also today is apparently my 5 year anniversary of creating an account to comment on this blog! Time flies :’)
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