World of K-Pop: INFINITE to come back with "Destiny"

Someone hold me- Infinite is making a comeback!!! As of June 30th, their official website was updated with a new chrome on black infinity logo, and the very next day, a "Destiny" video teaser announced their July 16th comeback. They were also spotted at the LAX airport on the last week of May to film their newest music video. Under a company of creativity and secret weapons, Infinite is the first idol group to obtain permission to film at Universal Studios on the set of Transformers, The Amazing Spiderman and Inception. The set location is known to be super-exclusive and has only permitted filming rights to top stars like Lady Gaga and Chris Brown. Most of their filming took place in LA and Las Vegas during a 9 to 10 day stay. As much love as there was for their latest title track "Man in Love," this summer comeback indicates a return to the dramatic Infinite concept that ruled their prior hit track "Before the Dawn."

Infinite "Destiny" Teaser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP0LhxkJua0

"Destiny" MV Making Teaser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsDcpvoCeA

"Destiny" Album Official Preview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_NfwZIiw0U

"Destiny" MV (Version B)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BDbpE6qHDSA#at=147

"Destiny" Making of MV (Eng sub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1mSq8KXs20

"Destiny" Mini-Album Tracklist:

1. Destiny (title track)

2. Inception

3. Going to You

4. Mother

"Destiny" Live Stages:

"Inception" & "Destiny" Live at Mnet 20's Choice Awards (130718)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qh_lI85XqKI#at=493

"Destiny" Music Bank Comeback (130719)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LMYCokyqxU

"Mom" Music Bank Comeback (130719)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYXmER1R6xc

"Destiny" Music Core Comeback (130720)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJHPsQPYWJE

"Destiny" & "Inception" Inkigayo Comeback (130721)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PJZXjrScAA

Woollim Entertainment dished out almost one million US dollars to film this Holly-wood blockbuster video, and Inspirits all know Woollim provides impressive teasers even without the budget. The background music is already ridiculously stimulating, so the epic cinematic visuals just make this comeback that much more exciting. My heart isn't just racing, it's threatening to blow apart. Big screen Infinite? Bring it on!!!

MV Comments:
The "Destiny" MV definitely lives up to Infinite's mounting popularity scale as it combines both stimulating visuals, scope and hype. However, what this MV lacked compared to their previous MV's was creativity. You have a practically legendary film set in Universal Studios, and the most innovative ideas you can come up with is speed-running, hand-flaming and chair throwing as the climax? If not for the layered camera angles, BTD style (epic) dancing and the members' charisma, the MV would've fallen very flat for me, especially since the set backgrounds were all very barren. In that sense, the stylists did a great job in integrating rough black and white patterns and texture (stitches, straps and buckles) to make the boys look larger than life despite their MV setting. If I had to compare, their MV for "BTD" was much more engaging (albeit a little too dark and creepy)

As for the song itself, "Destiny" sounds determinedly epic and would be a great addition to any Transformer's/Iron Man type movie. It has a very electric, technological sound with dramatic breaks that leave audiences waiting for some enthralling climax where a building will explode or the hero makes his last stand. I love that the theme of "Destiny" is all or nothing, and the boys still epitomize their (consistent) obsession with lost love. The main difference is that they're promising not to leave their significant other anymore, instead of being the "chasers."

Side Notes:
I see a reserved, slightly more determined Infinite than ever before. I think the group is at the point where the can see how far they've come, and there's no option now but to reach for higher plateaus. I bite my lips to see them comeback so soon because they have always been so active in promoting that any mistake can be a real tragedy. Thank goodness their personal records are still pretty clean, because the recent controversy with Sunggyu jokingly (but inappropriately) calling a female cast on "The Genius" a "yomul" (woman who uses deceit to lure guys in) has already been damaging enough. It's just one word in a situational context, but on national television (even cable) there will always be repercussions. So with that, I hope they guard their popularity well and always remember that their first priority is Infinite the band.

Unfortunately, I can only loosely call "BTD" a 'hit track' because it was an awesome song combined with intricate choreography, stellar live stages, outfits and intriguing action-style MV film style, but they were still too young a group in early 2011 to have the song be fully recognized for the genius composition it was. It definitely wasn't the only dramatic K-pop tracks at the time, but it was definitely one of the most distinct comebacks with the utilization of an interpretive storyline, intensely dark filter and an intro that made you wonder if you had accidentally clicked on a horror movie. Then the music begins and these seven guys in full black clothing are in an arena that looks both barren and desolate. They start relating an obsessive, defeated love to starving and extreme conditions. Members Woohyun and L later appear, completely beat up, dirty and frozen, running for their lives in a foreboding building with a tall hulking man catching them at every turn. They fight, continuously lose, work together, and still end up prisoners. What gets me is the cloud of cold air issuing from their lips as they cry and beat out their desperation on solid metal bars. They can clearly see the way out- there's just no way to get there. Now that is dark. Surely, the only thing that didn't make "BTD" a mega-hit was its lack of notice at the time.

Fangirling:
What was your favorite scene in the teaser??? Mine was when Dongwoo drove down the barren desert. There's nothing more romantic, sexy and intriguing than a guy driving to nowhere with all thoughts directed somewhere. His hair is lightly blowing, and his air of casual sophistication is superb. What about Sungyeol's short hair and outfit transformation? Is it just me or does he look even slimmer than before? It's not a bad look for him with his long legs, but he sure looks solemn with the tougher image. Both Hoya and Sungjong look stylish in entirely different ways, while L is still working on his posing skills, haha. It seems like the main vocalists are the only ones not making dominant appearances, but we have yet to see the full music video. ;)