Ultimate Edition - Special Best [2 CD]

This was my first contact with the Korean latin dance queen turned protectress of privacy. I no longer remember how I first found out about her but I'm glad I did as this collection has many good songs.

#1 Zhurak 8½

Rather basic latin stuff.

#2 Dash 9½

Oh, this is so much fun. I can't forget the image of BJY performing this in light blue plastic and yellow hair, not to say anything about the crotch-endangering DDR graphy I designed.

#3 Putam 10

But this is even better! The intro with violins is just wonderful and served as an inspiration for Heart-Shaped Ice, even though that's not actually very clearly hearable.

#4 Sônthêk (Cool Samba Mix) 8

Little must Ricky Martin know how his samples have been put into Korean use. Well, I must agree with the Koreans, he clearly says "Oppa!".

#5 Shilly Shally 9

I still haven't been able to figure out what she's trying to whisper in French at the beginning. Someone suggested that a part of it would be "notre amour est fin", which might well be. The only upbeat song in majors in this collection, actually.

#6 Sad Salsa 8

I've long ago noticed that the Koreans don't mind recycling their samples but there has to be a limit somewhere. The very same "Oppa!" sample from #4 is here as well. Uh oh.

#7 Adagio 6½

Here this interesting concoction takes a U-turn into ballads with probably the most curious version of the classical composition.

#8 Pithal 6½

Failed to pay attention, so it can't have been too good or bad.

#9 Kytê Sêngkak 6½

If I had forgotten why I'm not too fond of Korean ballads, I'd start emembering by now.

#10 Wonmang 6

Ugh.

#11 Dream 10

And then, all out of the blue, the biggest hit of BJY's whole work. Too bad this is her only song in this style, atmospheric and flying. The first chorus begins exceptionally late for the first time, but great that it does because without it the song wouldn't be as interesting.

#12 Zakyn Parêm 6½

And back to ballads. This one is almost slightly better than the previous ones but I still wouldn't be able to tell them apart.

#13 Sorrow 6

Blää blöö.

#14 Last Scene 8

Oh, midtempo. Not bad.

#15 Kitarinyn Jôsim 6

Still no end in sight.

#16 Rithymôsy 8

Hey, this is an almost good ballad with a modulation!

#17 Blue Black 6

Sounds familiar somehow, like it was a cover of something Western. Doesn't help a lot, though.

#1 Intro

This second disc is supposed to be the better one and now I also understood the logic, I think: the first disc begins with BJY's biggest hits, followed by the ballads, and this second one has the dance songs and some remixes.

#2 Tri-Angle 9½

Oh yes. I always have trouble comparing these good songs that aren't Dream, Putam or Ttô Hanayi Sarang (or distinguishing them, for the matter). I think this should probably be the best of them.

#3 You & Me 8

Surprising inclusion as this is supposed to be the dance disc.

#4 Akaphe 9½

Another candidate for the best of the rest.

#5 Airôni 9½

And the third one. One of my favourite English word conversions, additionally. Tri-Angle might be the winner of the title.

#6 Ttô Hanayi Sarang (House Mix) 10

Became a surprise hit during 2006, if I remember correctly. Somehow before that I had hardly paid any attention to it but then it accidentally caught my ear and even ended up in Most Wanted for a while and still remains in Mostly Wanted along Dream and Putam, meaning it gets rather frequent play. I think the secret of this song is the very "pulling" instrumental.

#7 Latina 9

Needless to specify which genre we just moved onto. But oh! It's good! I must've missed this one as well.

#8 Pimil 9

This second disc is even better than I remembered. Too bad the first one's weighed down by the load of... ballads.

#9 Doctor Doctor 8

I might still not know this is a cover, hadn't i informed me. The o
riginal, I think, was called "Bad Case of Loving You" but I don't remember by whom. I just started wondering if the "Just push it" sample on the background is from Garbage...

#10 Mutzima 7

Uh how monotonous.

#11 Sêngzon 7½

Very basic.

#12 Emotion 9

It was pretty good, even though I already forgot about it.

#13 Sônhthêk (Euro Remix) 7½

Samba samba...

#14 Sad Salsa (TV Remix) 7½

These remixes are apparently regularly ½ worse than the originals.

#15 Putam (Sentimental Club Remix) 9½

Ooh, the "This is the beginning" sample in about its third incarnation. This remix isn't half bad, even though I can't tell where's the sentimental part.

#16 Dash/Sad Salsa/Tri-Angle (TV Special Edit) 9

I'm not sure what kind of a policy I've used to have with grading megamixes. Well, there goes.

#17 Emotion (Stadium Version) 9

I'm not exactly sure what's the difference to the original.