Save One Drop One: Halloween Edition 🎃

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I enjoy ‘Save One, Drop One’ games, especially as they can often mean I discover new songs and groups. As we’re in October and it’s ‘spooky season’, I found a Halloween version by 오이 우유 / Cucumber Milk: BG, SAVE ONE DROP ONE: HALLOWEEN EDITION

Unfortunately, it is only Boy Groups, so we won’t see masterpieces from the likes of Red Velvet or Exid, but there are definitely some classics in these rounds!

I’ve linked each song in the title so you can play along too! I will be basing my decision on both the song and the music video.

Round One

SPEED – ‘Zombie Party (좀비파티)’ (2014) vs. SHINee ‘Married to the Music’ (2015)

Zombie Party is a fun song and the dance is cool, but the music video is essentially a dance mv in a grungy setting. I also feel bad because to go up against SHINee – who are my favourite boy group – is difficult on a normal day, but to go up against Married to the Music… These men love Halloween and this song is so fun, the chorus alone makes me instantly happy.

winner: SHINee

Round Two

Kang Daniel ‘PARANOIA’ (2021) vs. Kim Woo Seok ‘적월 (赤月) (Red Moon)’ (2020)

Paranoia is perfection. Kang Daniel sounds amazing, looks amazing and the aesthetic and stylistic choices for this music video are fantastic. It looks incredible and even the more mundane aspects (him walking about) are framed in an interesting way and match the ‘plot’ of the song.

In comparison Kim Woo Seok’s Red Moon feels boring. And the Halloween vibes just aren’t there. I also think that an all female dance crew would have matched with this song and made the music video better.

winner: Kang Daniel

Round Three

VIXX ‘저주인형 (VOODOO DOLL)’ (2013) vs. Cross Gene 「나하고 놀자」 (Play With Me) (2015)

VIXX and Cross Gene are very well known for their ‘Halloween’/’dark’ concepts, so putting these two against each other was hard!

Cross Gene’s Play With Me has a more upbeat, playful sound and this is integrated into the music video too. I enjoy this song, but I can’t not pick VIXX. Voodoo Doll is so iconic! The visuals and the vocals are wonderful (I love Leo’s voice).

winner: VIXX

Round Four

Baekhyun ‘Pineapple Slice’ (2024) vs. BOYFRIEND ‘Witch’ (2014)

The issue is that the sound for BOYFRIEND’s Witch is dated. You can instantly tell when this was released and it doesn’t sound as polished as Baekhyun’s Pineapple Slice. Obviously this also has to do with the amount of money and resources each company has and how SM outweighs substantially.

EXO are my second favourite group and their vocals are incredible. Baekhyun has such a smooth voice and it’s very easy to listen to. While his music video isn’t as overly Halloween as BOYFRIEND’s I prefer the aesthetic. The chorus of Witch is more fun though and I do wish Pineapple Slice had less English, but this trend of so much English in songs is super popular now (one I hope leaves but I don’t hold out much hope).

winner: Baekhyun

Round Five

SEVENTEEN ‘독 : Fear’ (2019) vs. TXT ‘세계가 불타버린 밤, 우린… (Can’t You See Me?)’ (2020)

SEVENTEEN’s Fear gives dark concept and then Halloween in the last minute in the music video. The song is great, I really do enjoy SEVENTEEN’s music whenever I dip into their discography as the vocal’s always sound great. TXT have great vocals too, but the song basically sounds the same the whole way through, so the break with Huening sounds disjointed.

winner: SEVENTEEN

Round Six

Changmin ‘Maniac’ (2022) vs. ATEEZ ‘THE BLACK CAT NERO’ (2020)

Changmin is so talented and I love the Rocky Horror Picture Show vibes Maniac has and the colours and visuals of the music video are so fun and also give camp!

The opening to ATEEZ’s song is so beautiful and then it goes full force into the beat and rap. I do love songs that immediately start with rap. Unfortunately, I found the music video a bit boring and compared to Maniac it sounds a generic.

winner: Changmin

Round Seven

VAV ‘THRILLA KILLA’ (2019) vs. BTOB ‘Thriller’ (2013)

VAV’s vocals are great and the raps are smooth to match the song which I really liked. There’s a distinct lack of Halloween vibes though. There’s only so much some hanging ropes can do and it’s not enough here.

BTOB’s Thriller doesn’t sound super outdated (their eyeliner on the other hand takes me back to when I was first introduced to kpop 😂). I have always enjoyed BTOB’s vocals ♥ The vibes are also on theme!

winner: BTOB

Round Eight

xikers ‘위치 (WITCH)’ (2024) vs. Park Ji Hoon ‘Blank Effect (무표정)’ (2023)

I don’t like how xikers’ Witch starts, but I definitely enjoyed the chorus and raps. The last 30 seconds of the song are really cool. The music video has Halloween vibes and it’s interesting to watch with the aesthetics (even though I dislike those shorts on anyone other than actual children and cute boy group debuts, but they’re in school uniform so I guess I’ll give them a pass).

This is hard. Park Ji Hoon’s vocal’s are really good, but in comparison to xiker’s it’s all somewhat on the same tone throughout. The rap was a good inclusion, but it could have gone harder to amp the song up a bit more, especially as it would then have matched the visuals of the music video better.

winner: xikers

Round Nine

SEVENTEEN ‘Spell’ (2024) vs. NCT 127 ‘Favourite (Vampire)’ (2021)

The tarot concept was super cute in the music video for Seventeen’s Spell, but it’s giving Spring or Summer and not Halloween. The outfits are giving ‘true kpop’ and I love that! Look at those men in sequins, eye makeup and questionable outfits!! Really enjoyed the vocals.

NCT 127 is the NCT subunit I have most luck with and while I did enjoy Favourite (Vampire), there’s just something I don’t like about it, almost like it’s an old discarded EXO song that isn’t a proper fit for this group. The music video is also boring and looks like recycled sets.

winner: SEVENTEEN

Round Ten

Stray Kids ‘MANIAC’ (2022) vs. ENHYPEN ‘Bite Me’ (2023)

Maniac is iconic for several reasons and yes Felix opening the chorus is definitely the main one. Stray Kids can be hit and miss for me, but I really do like Maniac. While the music video doesn’t give Halloween, it does has a ‘dark’/sci-fi concept interwoven into the aesthetic.

This is so hard because ENHYPEN’s Bite Me is so cool. The vocals are great and I love the chorus! While the music video doesn’t have super Halloween vibes, there’s some ‘spooky’ elements and I love when male idols have female back up dancers that they interact with.

I think the vocals for Stray Kids, overall, are stronger.

winner: Stray Kids

Round Eleven

LUCY ‘Boogie Man’ (2023) vs. Xdinary Heroes ‘Happy Death Day’ (2021)

If you don’t know LUCY, you’re missing out! They’re a K-Band with a classical element (a violinist). With this concept the violin really creates such a chilling atmosphere to match the creepy lyrics and concept. There’s still an upbeat, fun element to the song though which contrasts nicely.

I just felt uncomfortable listening to Happy Death Day… I think Xdinary Heroes are not for me, which is a shame because they’re obviously talented. I mean it’s definitely giving Halloween/sci-fi/creepiness.

winner: LUCY

Round Twelve

Cross Gene ‘Black or White’ (2017) vs. TFN ‘Dracula’ (2020)

If you have an issue with fake blood, I’d maybe give Cross Gene’s Black or White music video a miss. There is so much! It’s definitely giving Halloween with the horror and evil personalities plot. I think the song is good, but it’s not especially memorable.

TFN’s Dracula was specifically released (pre-debut) for Halloween, hence the spooky face paint. It’s incredible to think they hadn’t even debuted yet! The vocals and performance are great and it’s a shame they’ve disbanded.

winner: TFN

Round Thirteen

CHANGMIN ‘Devil’ (2022) vs. EXO ‘늑대와 미녀 (Wolf)’ (2013)

Okay, but Changmin’s Devil is ART. It’s a masterpiece. He looks and sounds incredible. I wish the music video was darker and unfortunately, the aesthetic is giving basic SM with those sets/backdrops.

I know, Wolf is a stupid song, but it’s so fun to sing along to! And the little wolf ear dance, adorable. And while it is stupid, EXO give great vocals (as always ♥). Again, the music video is just basic SM sets with some CGI sprinkled in.

winner: Changmin

Round Fourteen

SHINee ‘Lucifer’ (2010) vs. 블락비 (Block B) ‘Jackpot’ (2014)

We all know that SHINee’s Lucifer is iconic. It’s fun, kind of silly and gets easily stuck in your head. The vocals are also great, Jonghyun is perfect as always. However, I really like Jackpot by Block B.

Lucifer’s video is boring and nothing gives Halloween, it’s straight up sci-fi. Meanwhile, Jackpot is set at a carnival! It’s fun and creepy, which is kind of the motto for spooky season. I also think that this era was peak Block B.

winner: Block B

Round Fifteen

VIXX [hyde] (2013) vs. BEAST ‘Shadow (그림자)’ (2013)

Another iconic song from VIXX. The chorus is perfection! The rest of the song… I’m not too bothered. I think the vocal’s are good, but there’s an odd choice of mixing and positioning. The music video truly gives Halloween.

I just love the idea of other groups releasing summer songs and these two come along in 2013 with these!

Shadow from BEAST (now Highlight ♥) is so good. It opens with a rap, the vocals from everyone are great and I love the chorus. I really enjoy how there are several very distinct voices in this group.

winner: BEAST

Round Sixteen

HISTORY ‘Psycho (싸이코)’ (2014) vs. TAEMIN ‘괴도 (Danger)’ (2014)

I really like the chorus to Psycho and the vocal’s from HISTORY are good. It’s a shame they disbanded as I can imagine that they would have grown really well. I’m not a fan of the beat, it gives too artificial and doesn’t match the song, but it’s very reminiscent of the time though.

You can see that there is the same kind of techno sound in Taemin’s Danger which came out the same year. Again, unfortunately for HISTORY, Taemin is one of the best solo artists. His growth is truly incredible and his aesthetic is perfect. Danger is a little disjointed, but it matches with the style they were going for and I wouldn’t say it was Halloween, that’s just how Taemin looks 😂 For his solo debut it’s enjoyable, but I do prefer Ace ♥

winner: Taemin

Round Seventeen

TXT ‘Devil by the Window’ (2023) vs. KEY ‘Villain (Feat. JENO of NCT)’ (2022)

I like the chorus to TXT’s Devil by the Window, the softness of it is really great. However, I think the rest of the song needed to go harder to elevate the switch up in tone. It’s not a memorable song.

And when you’re up against Key, being memorable is important. Key’s concepts are very cool and Halloween-esque. SHINee are little weirdos, what can I say? I like the vocals, Key has become such a strong solo artist and matches well with Jeno.

winner: KEY

Round Eighteen

ATEEZ ‘해적왕(Pirate King)’ (2018) vs. xikers ‘도깨비집 (TRICKY HOUSE)’ (2023)

I don’t like Pirate King and I’m not sure why. The beat is good, the vocals are good, but it’s just kind of boring. Also, ‘pirates’… there’s not a high sea in sight, not even a boat. There’s a live performance that gives Halloween for sure, but they’re zombie convicts (maybe?).

I don’t really like TRICKY HOUSE either… I think I could if I was in a specific mood, it’s just a bit intense. The fast beat is pretty consistent and the tone of the song is erratic. The music video definitely gives Halloween vibes and it’s also kind of fun, but those giant plushies are nightmare fuel. I think xikers win for the vibes.

winner: xikers

Round Nineteen

Xdinary Heroes ‘X-MAS’ (2022) vs. Stray Kids ‘거미줄(VENOM)’ (2022)

I was so confused when a song called X-MAS was on this list and then I watched the video and read the lyrics and it’s about an evil Santa (question mark)… I enjoyed some of the vocals from Xdinary Heroes, but this is a music style I’m not super into. I think the vocals for the music needed to be more distinguishable and distinct.

I prefer the second half of VENOM than the first. Stray Kids have some great vocals, especially their rap line, but again they’re very hit and miss for me. The chorus is so anticlimactic and boring. My first thought was, oh this is a ‘dance chorus’ and I looked it up and the choreography’s not even that impressive…

winner: Stray Kids

Round Twenty

ZICO ‘괴짜 (Freak)’ (2023) vs. H1GHR MUSIC ‘The Purge’ (2020)

People in the comments were saying how Freak sounds like a Block B song and they’re right, which is why it feels a bit flat because it needs different vocals to elevate it. Zico’s tone is too consistent throughout which doesn’t match the great beats and music.

Both Zico and H1GHR MUSIC are giving post apocalyptic. The Purge consists of Jay Park, pH-1, BIG Naughty, Woodie Gochild, HAON, TRADE L, Sik-K (members who are under the label). I’m not often a fan of songs which consist solely of rappers, especially when it’s the more intense sound. I really enjoyed pH-1’s parts, but I think there needed to be some sort of breakup or more variety of vocal ranges.

This is hard as I’m not really a fan of either song… but I guess I’m more likely to listen to Freak again.

winner: ZICO

Bonus Round

JUN ‘PSYCHO’ (2023) vs. WAYV 威神V ‘Phantom’ (2022)

PSYCHO is not for me unfortunately. I love that Jun has the opportunity to release music in his native language and showcase his talent, but the vocals aren’t distinct enough from the music, which is often overpowering.The outfits in the music video are amazing.

WAYV all sound so good and I love when you have the ‘kpop boy group sound’ mixed with Mandarin. It’s somewhat giving generic SM Halloween, but it works! Phantom was swiftly added to my Spotify playlist so it’s easy to guess my winner.

winner: WAYV

Thanks for reading!

Do you agree with my choices? Or do we differ on some? Or all? Let me know!

I hope you’re having a lovely day and staying safe ♥