B.A.P “One Shot” Music Video Review

I could seriously go on and on about this storyline.

Song

THANK YOU B.A.P. for sticking with the aggressive, warrior-like songs!  This type of song is what B.A.P. started with, and what fits them the best.  This song followed the same formula as their other songs: each verse started with raps by Bang Yongguk and Zelo, then Himchan and Jongup lead us up to a dramatic chorus sung by Daehyun and Youngjae.  I’m always so impressed with how B.A.P. divides the different lines among the members of the group.  The two rappers are incredibly talented and each has their own very unique style.  Beginning the song with a rap really prepares the listener for the epic song that will follow.  In the following lines, Himchan and Jongup complement each other very well by singing very similar lines but adding their own style to it, while Daehyun and Youngjae blow me away every time with adding beautiful vocals to such rap-heavy songs.

This particular song is definitely one of my favorites from B.A.P..  It had a dynamic beat and was incredibly catchy.  I especially liked Jongup’s parts leading up to each chorus.  My absolute favorite part was the “Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh” in the middle of the chorus.  It added a pop feel to the song without taking away from the desperate, dramatic cries of Daehyun.  The song was a perfect mix of heavy, dramatic raps and singing with moments of light pop that made this one catchy song. The addition of the violins and the dramatic choir in the background just made this song epic.

Score: 5/5

Story

This video had one of the best and most well thought-out plots I’ve ever seen in a K-pop music video.  It follows B.A.P, a gang living in a run-down warehouse, trying to rescue their friend, Youngjae who is being held ransom by a rival group. B.A.P are living their normal life when they receive a USB drive from the rivals.  All of the members of the group gather to watch it, and see the bad guys beating up Youngjae and demanding 10 million dollars.  The members get to work planning a robbery to get the money, and then carry out the robbery.  After the robbery, both groups meet, but as the bad guys are handing Youngjae over, one of them shoots him and the whole scene turns into a shootout.  Everyone is killed and as the head bad guy attempts to leave with the money, Yongguk shoots him and they all die.

After the song ends, everything rewinds to the moment when Youngjae is being handed over back to B.A.P..  It turns out the shootout occurred in Yongguk’s head and didn’t actually happen.  The police rush in and it turns out Youngjae was working with the police the whole time.  He and the bad guys were all undercover cops trying to arrest B.A.P.  The video ends with Youngjae walking away and Yongguk watching him in disbelief as he is detained by the police officers.

I was incredibly impressed with the detail and thought put into this story.  I was always aware of what was going on, which rarely happens in K-pop videos with full plots.  For example, in the robbery scene, all five members were given jobs that were realistically needed to complete the robbery successfully.  Yongguk was the lookout, Himchan caused a distraction, and Jongup, Zelo, and Daehyun took the money. This video felt more like a movie than a music video but wasn’t excessively long like some of T-ara’s fifteen minute videos.  It included action, suspense, friendship, and each component was very well-developed.  Yongguk’s acting really made me sympathize with him and I nearly cried when Youngjae and the rest of Yongguk’s friends were killed.  I was completely engrossed with the storyline throughout the entire video only to be completely mind-blown at the end when Youngjae turns out to be an undercover cop.

From what I see, the music video reflected how B.A.P. and any bad-boy-characterized gangsters are always targeted by society.  The fact that Yongguk, who had the purest of intentions when carrying out his crime, was betrayed by the very friend he was trying to save reflects how some people never have anyone on their side.  Some people may appear “bad” or dangerous, but at their heart they are caring and have values, as exemplified by Yongguk.

The single moment that confused me was in the flashbacks at the very end of Youngjae joining the group.  He slipped something into Yongguk’s bag and after watching this video countless times, I can’t figure out what it was or what the purpose of that scene was.  If anyone knows what that is about, I’d love to be enlightened.  Besides that, the story was perfect and thoroughly entertaining.

Score: 4.9/5

Cinematography

The cinematography was also perfect in this video.  The scenes in B.A.P.’s house looked very realistic (or at least what I think is realistic) for a bunch of gangster friends living in their own makeshift house.  I liked that there were many different scenes, such as the entrance to the house, the “living room” of the house, the robbery scene, and the train station.  While initially I thought the dance scene in front of the airplanes didn’t fit the theme of the video, after thinking about it I realized that even that scene conveyed meaning.  It distinguished the characters of the B.A.P the gangsters from B.A.P the singers.  While the characters they played lived in a ghetto with no means of getting money besides stealing, the actual singers live the high life with their own private jets and yachts.  Whether this is how they actually live or not, it put B.A.P the singers in a high class light and makes clear that there is a distinction from them who are telling the story and their characters in the story.

I also thought the use of flashbacks in this video was done exceptionally well.  My heart ached for Yongguk when he was flashing back to both visions of Youngjae happy partying on the yacht and the beat up Youngjae held captive with the rival gang.  Even at the end when the clip of B.A.P’s mascot bunny is shown, we assume the video is over and then are surprised to find the video rewind and introduce an alternate ending.  Finally, the scene of Youngjae walking away free while Yongguk is shoved to the ground watching him made the theme of betrayal so vivid and was the perfect finale.

Score: 5/5

Dance

(Note: The following video is not the official dance version, but it’s undoubtedly the best cover out there.)

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As always, B.A.P. impressed me with such an intense dance.  Their moves were so powerful and very precise in following the beat of the song.  I was impressed with how the moves of the dance fit the theme of the song.  During Himchan’s part before the second chorus, as he says “One Shot”, the rest of the members and the backup dancers surround him pointing imaginary guns at him.  The crawling on the ground move also reflects dodging a bullet and struggling in a battle.  I am again and again impressed with B.A.P.’s willingness to get down and dirty (in the literal sense) to produce an incredibly passionate dance to fit their intense and passionate songs.

While most of the dance blew me away, I found the air humps during Himchan’s first part to be totally unnecessary.  B.A.P’s dance skills are far beyond the not-so-subtle crotch-thrusting moves so many boy groups seem to be obsessed with these days.

Score: 4.9/5

Overall, this video was everything I had hoped for and more.  It was an amazing song with an amazing story and dance.  The twist just made it so much better.  B.A.P. really impressed with this video, and while there were minor things that kept them from a perfect video, I really feel this is as perfect as it can get.  So far, this is my favorite music video of the year.  Incredible job, B.A.P.!

Overall Final Score: 5/5

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Question of the Day:

What was your favorite moment in this video? There are really so many great moments to choose from!