▂ ▆ ▃ MonoTree: The Popjustice Rate – #46 ▃ ▇ ▅

Wills

Wills

he/him
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Last we spoke, I’d finessed an entire BOYFRIEND singles rate, and got a couple dozen of you to comply by hiding them among 80ish other songs.

Sorry about that!

The original plan was to tackle their b-sides next, but when @junglefish sat me down and explained he’d be withholding his creative services, I knew it was time to pivot.

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Even though the Sweetune Singles Rate wrapped less than a year ago, it kinda feels like a whole different lifetime. Wouldn’t you agree? I know a lot’s changed for me since then – like how I get acid reflux now! Time marches on, and eventually, we all leave our past selves in the dust.

You probably see where I’m going with this; if not, let’s try a different approach. Take a peek at our Sweetune top 10 – notice anything odd? With only one exception, everything was from 2013 or earlier. The top 20 bore similar results, with 2009-2013 being thoroughly represented, offset by a single 2020 release.

It seems odd that a discography spanning an entire decade (and more! hell, we even made a last-minute addition to the songlist) would be so front-loaded. Almost makes it seem like something happened around 2014… like something chang— oh for God’s sake, you get it.

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Yes, in my personal favourite Kpop chicken-or-egg scenario, Sweetune’s gilded age started winding down just as a handful of members splintered off to form MonoTree. Did they see the writing on the wall and decide to cut their losses? Or did they callously take the magic with them?

Either way, MonoTree’s been hard at work since 2014, and they’ve made themselves a household name in that time – especially here on KPJ. Most famously, they were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the LOONAVERSE through what many of us consider their golden age. More recently, they’ve steered my personal faves ONF to great success, primarily under the care of founding member Hwang Hyun.

But anyone who keeps an eye on album credits will know that’s only a sliver of the whole story – MonoTree’s many members have been all over the damn industry, nabbing credits on title tracks, OSTs, and fan-favourite b-sides.

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Over the coming weeks and months, we’re going to celebrate their brightest moments (so far! something we couldn’t confidently say last time...)

And this time, there’s no MV requirement – it’s all fair game.

Welcome to MonoTree: The Popjustice Rate!
​
 
Wills

Wills

he/him
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(I spent way too long trying to archive this section under a spoiler so the first page wouldn't be longer than ELRIS' entire lifespan, but the damn formatter refused to cooperate. You'll just have to scroll – sorry!)

Listen, I have some apologies to make after everything you suffered through last time. And I’m serious about making amends – which is why I’m pleased to announce that MonoTree: The Popjustice Rate will be 100% submissions-based.

That’s right! This time around, there will be no heavy-handed curation. Instead you, the voters, have the power to decide the 64 songs that make it to the final songlist. Isn’t that fun? Isn’t that engaging?

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Here’s how it’ll work:​
  • Anyone is welcome to DM me a list of up to 10 eligible songs they would like to see included. See below for notes on eligibility!
  • This list should be numbered in order of preference – #1 being the song that absolutely must be included, and #10 being… pretty unlikely to get picked, honestly.
  • You can change your nomination ballot as many times as you'd like, right up until the deadline.
  • Once the deadline has passed, the order of everyone’s ballots will be randomized (meaning there’s no real advantage to submitting early – other than reassuring @Wills his rate isn’t flopping!)
  • Starting with the first selected ballot, the #1 choice will be added to the songlist, before moving onto the next ballot.
  • In the event that someone’s #1 has already been chosen, their #2 (or the next highest) will be added instead.
  • This will continue until all 64 songlist spots have been filled.
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Submission deadline: Friday, March 11th at 11:59PM in your timezone

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Make sense? Sure hope so!

Think carefully about your ordering – I’m only likely to hit everyone’s ballot 2-3 times, so don’t risk placing your must-haves too low. But what if your top picks are all super popular? Do you risk ranking them lower, assuming they'll be covered by someone else? That could benefit your more obscure choices...

Ooh! Can you feel the tension? Queers love games, yes we do!

—

Lastly, a note on song eligibility – and this is where I might break a few hearts:​

  • MonoTree have helpfully provided an exhaustive list of their output on their official website, singlehandedly making my job SO much easier than last time around. Everyone say thank you to MonoTree!
  • Pretty much anything found on that page is eligible for submission… with one big exception:
  • If MonoTree’s ONLY contribution was lyrics, the song is ineligible. I know that this takes a handful of forum faves off the table, and I do apologize! That said, we’re here to celebrate their composition and production chops, plus most of us don’t speak a word of Korean. So… yeah… yeah. Take it up with management!

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And there you have it! Any submissions that don’t make it to the final songlist will just have to wait until MonoTree: The Popjustice Rate: The MonoTreequel.



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This is all going to be pretty boilerplate – you know how this works by now. If not, feel free to reach out and I'll clarify!
​
  • Rate all 64 songs on a scale of 0 to 10.
  • Quarter points (.25 – .50 – .75) are allowed, please don't feel the need to get any more granular than that!
  • As always, your one (1) single most favourite song of all can receive a score of 11.
  • For the love of God, don't be a jerk. We're here because we like MonoTree and many of the groups they've worked with, so please don't ruin it for everyone by 占 (TANK)ing a group out of spite. Although speaking of tanks, I will be calling in the big guns as a second set of eyes if your ballot lurches too close to the troll line. So just... spare us all the trouble and give everything a fair shot, yeah?
  • Commentary: YES! As much as you're willing to give, I'm willing to receive – I'm needy & greedy like that. Not everyone's gonna have something to say about every song, of course, so prioritize your top scores & songs that made your ballot. I wanna hear what makes your faves... your faves! Oh, and of course:
  • Commentary is required for any scores of 4 or less. If you're gonna sink a forum fave, at least let us dunk on your rationale a bit.
  • DM your ballot directly to me, @Wills – I'll be providing a highly recommended spreadsheet template for you to fill out (stolen directly from @Glitterizer, thanks bb!) but if you're an old maiden type of forum dweller, I'll accept scores directly in the DM.
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Voting deadline: Sunday, June 5th at 11:59pm in your timezone
​
 
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Wills

Wills

he/him
songlist.png


APRIL – Hey Yo Hey
BoA – Clockwork
CLC – Breakdown
DRIPPIN – Young Blood
ELRIS – We, First
ELRIS – Pow Pow
ELRIS – Roopretelcham
ELRIS – No Big Deal
f(x) – When I'm Alone
(G)I-DLE – $$$
GFRIEND – Apple
GFRIEND – Tarot Cards
Golden Child – She's My Girl
gugudan – Be Myself
HA SUNG WOON – Starlight
IZ*ONE – AYAYAYA
KARA – Starlight
LADIES' CODE – My Flower
LADIES' CODE – Galaxy
LADIES' CODE – Lorelei
LADIES' CODE – The Rain
HaSeul & YeoJin (LOONA) – My Melody
LOONA 1/3 – Love & Live
Kim Lip & JinSoul (LOONA) – Love Letter
LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – Sweet Crazy Love
LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – Uncover
LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – LOONATIC
Yves & Chuu (LOONA) – Girl's Talk
LOONA/yyxy – frozen
LOONA – Hi High
LOONA – Butterfly
Moon Byul – Lunatic
NATTY – Teddy Bear
NU'EST – Inside Out
OH MY GIRL – Twilight
OH MY GIRL & Keanu Silva – Rocket Ride (feat. Mougleta)
ONEUS – Valkyrie
ONEUS – Twilight
ONEUS – BingBing
ONEUS – LIT
ONEUS – LUNA
ONF – Complete
ONF – Incomplete
ONF – We Must Love
ONF – Moscow Moscow
ONF – Sukhumvit Swimming
ONF – Geppetto
ONF – Beautiful Beautiful
ONF – The Realist
ONF – My Genesis (Übermensch)
ONF – Goosebumps
Rainbow – Privacy
Red Velvet – Hear the Sea
Red Velvet – Aitai-tai
Red Velvet – Blue Lemonade
Red Velvet – Ladies Night
Stellar – Vibrato
Stellar – Sting
Stellar – Insomnia
TEMPEST – Find Me
TWICE – 21:29
YUKIKA – Yesterday
YUKIKA – Cherries Jubiles
2PM – Shall We?
9MUSES – KOONG CHIT DAK CHIT

—

Apple Music
Spotify
YouTube

—

Spreadsheet Template
(highly recommended if you don't want me to mess up inputting your scores!)

List for DM:
APRIL – Hey Yo Hey:
BoA – Clockwork:
CLC – Breakdown:
DRIPPIN – Young Blood:
ELRIS – We, First:
ELRIS – Pow Pow:
ELRIS – Roopretelcham:
ELRIS – No Big Deal:
f(x) – When I'm Alone:
(G)I-DLE – $$$:
GFRIEND – Apple:
GFRIEND – Tarot Cards:
Golden Child – She's My Girl:
gugudan – Be Myself:
HA SUNG WOON – Starlight:
IZ*ONE – AYAYAYA:
KARA – Starlight:
LADIES' CODE – My Flower:
LADIES' CODE – Galaxy:
LADIES' CODE – Lorelei:
LADIES' CODE – The Rain:
HaSeul & YeoJin (LOONA) – My Melody:
LOONA 1/3 – Love & Live:
Kim Lip & JinSoul (LOONA) – Love Letter:
LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – Sweet Crazy Love:
LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – Uncover:
LOONA/ODD EYE CIRCLE – LOONATIC:
Yves & Chuu (LOONA) – Girl's Talk:
LOONA/yyxy – frozen:
LOONA – Hi High:
LOONA – Butterfly:
Moon Byul – Lunatic:
NATTY – Teddy Bear:
NU'EST – Inside Out:
OH MY GIRL – Twilight:
OH MY GIRL & Keanu Silva – Rocket Ride (feat. Mougleta):
ONEUS – Valkyrie:
ONEUS – Twilight:
ONEUS – BingBing:
ONEUS – LIT:
ONEUS – LUNA:
ONF – Complete:
ONF – Incomplete:
ONF – We Must Love:
ONF – Moscow Moscow:
ONF – Sukhumvit Swimming:
ONF – Geppetto:
ONF – Beautiful Beautiful:
ONF – The Realist:
ONF – My Genesis (Übermensch):
ONF – Goosebumps:
Rainbow – Privacy:
Red Velvet – Hear the Sea:
Red Velvet – Aitai-tai:
Red Velvet – Blue Lemonade:
Red Velvet – Ladies Night:
Stellar – Vibrato:
Stellar – Sting:
Stellar – Insomnia:
TEMPEST – Find Me:
TWICE – 21:29:
YUKIKA – Yesterday:
YUKIKA – Cherries Jubiles:
2PM – Shall We?:
9MUSES – KOONG CHIT DAK CHIT:
 
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Wills

Wills

he/him
 
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Wills

Wills

he/him
voters.png


Crisp X
soratami
boombazookajoe
nikkysan
lalaclairi_

Ana Raquel
Attis
FunkyButChic
eatyourself
RUNAWAY

Slice of Life
Salami
Glitterizer
thommyh
codecat

KimLippington
vague
ysev
junglefish
Remorque

and yours truly,
Wills

—

Alright, you can post – start throwing around FYCs! And everyone thank @junglefish for his help making this look beautiful, I'd truly be nothing without him ♡
​
 
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Slice of Life

Slice of Life

Staff member
Wills said:
Think carefully about your ordering – I’m only likely to hit everyone’s ballot 2-3 times, so don’t risk placing your must-haves too low. But what if your top picks are all super popular? Do you risk ranking them lower, assuming they'll be covered by someone else? That could benefit your more obscure choices..
Click to expand...
The level of stress!!!!!!!! I HATE YOU BINCH!!!!!!!!!
F9MEfj7.gif


If Ladies’ Code isn’t represented here, I will delete this thread and the Sweetune one too!!!!! Don’t play with me!!!!!!!
 
boom bazooka joe

boom bazooka joe

he/him
Me having no strategy and selecting 10 songs at random to submit:
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Nah, I kid I kid. I’m going to use this opportunity to at least go through their tracks by the group of artists I like, relisten to the faves I already know are getting my support, and make a cute list for you. Excited to participate!
 
eatyourself

eatyourself

He/Him
Wills said:
If MonoTree’s ONLY contribution was lyrics, the song is ineligible. I know that this takes a handful of forum faves off the table, and I do apologize! That said, we’re here to celebrate their composition and production chops, plus most of us don’t speak a word of Korean. So… yeah… yeah. Take it up with management!
Click to expand...
Regarding this part, there are some songs where Monotree's credit is "lyrics and composition", do they count? Or should we only focus on songs where they are listed under arrangement/production?
 
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soratami

soratami

Here for this! Love the song selection process too. The MonoTree discography page is great, but it's a bit unpractical to have to click on a ton of different artworks just to see the songs in each one, so I think this playlist might come in handy to help people make their picks:



According to the description it's based on the list on their website, and it seems very exhaustive (over 400 songs on it), the only issue is I imagine it also includes songs where the only MonoTree involvement is the lyrics, so need to keep an eye out for that.
 
Wills

Wills

he/him
Six ballots already?

ohh-wow.gif


Some incredibly obvious choices flopping right out the gate?

ohh-wow.gif


Forget @thommyh and his chaotic pop rate, this is gonna be the messiest songlist of all time.
Salami said:
Can I just send 10 ONEUS songs?
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Yes! The world is your oyster Salami.
eatyourself said:
Regarding this part, there are some songs where Monotree's credit is "lyrics and composition", do they count? Or should we only focus on songs where they are listed under arrangement/production?
Click to expand...
Aaa great question – that would be fine! Composition and arrangement/production are all fair game, it's just the lyrics-only tracks that we're vetoing.
soratami said:
Here for this! Love the song selection process too. The MonoTree discography page is great, but it's a bit unpractical to have to click on a ton of different artworks just to see the songs in each one, so I think this playlist might come in handy to help people make their picks:



According to the description it's based on the list on their website, and it seems very exhaustive (over 400 songs on it), the only issue is I imagine it also includes songs where the only MonoTree involvement is the lyrics, so need to keep an eye out for that.
Click to expand...

Oh this is super helpful, thank you!! I agree their site isn't the slickest method dskjksj, but it's nice to have a central source of truth.

Which, on that note – I will do a quick check of ballots to make sure only eligible songs are included (and I'll let you know via DM), but that'll likely come right at the end of the submission period. Why? Because...

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Addendum to Rules: You can change your nomination ballot as many times as you'd like, right up until the deadline! This may turn into a logistical nightmare, but I wanna see second-guessing and rejiggery, only to then laugh in your faces when a last-minute edit means 'frozen' misses the cut.

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So let's keep those FYCs coming! Even if you can't fit something on your ballot, someone else might be able to squeeze it onto theirs. If you're lucky, I might even provide some tea on songs that may or may not be in the running...
 
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