A week after the MAMA Awards, it’s Melon’s turn to throw its annual celebration. Since the ceremony is centered around a digital streaming service, the criteria is more statistics-based than other shows. However, I’m always surprised how many random award categories these events can come up with to make sure everyone goes home with something. Congratulations to all the winners, of course. It was nice to see so many newer acts be awarded so heavily.
Honorable Mention: ATEEZ
ATEEZ’s theatrical performance would have made my list if they had better songs this year. As it stands, it felt like a lot of pomp and circumstance propping up so-so material. Very solid on a technical and staging level, though.
5. AESPA
I still find Whiplash monotonous as a performance, but I loved the symphonic reworking of Supernova. I think they could have pushed the mix even further and gone really celestial with the instrumental. I would have loved some live instrumentation on the stage, too.
4. BOYNEXTDOOR
Wow, what a ferocious mix of Earth, Wind & Fire! BND lend themselves to a rock-infused approach and it was fun to see them let loose on this song. They really burst with personality and both songs drew upon that strength.
3. TWS
I predict we’ll hear just about every possible rearrangement of Plot Twist during TWS’s year-end stages. I didn’t love this video game mix as much as last week’s marching band interpretation, but it was still a total shot of adrenaline. The jump rope performance between songs was incredibly impressive.
2. TRIPLES
There’s a lot you can do on stage with so many members, and I thought the opening dance sequence was really well done. I also liked the rock remix of the track. You’ll always get me with a rock remix, and it was smart to focus the whole performance on one song rather than a medley.
1. RIIZE
Combo makes for a very dramatic awards show performance. The video interstitial between songs was a bit too long and killed momentum, but the combination of guitar and dance leading into Boom Boom Bass was brilliant and the rock mix toward the end of the song was even better. I told you I love a rock remix!