Manufacturing hubs across China have slowed the production of vital goods due to power outages resulting from Beijing’s ecological agenda and rising coal prices.
The situation has already led to shortages in the global supply of Chinese goods, from tech and electronics to toys and clothing. This sows fear among the country’s major exporters, especially ahead of winter, which could disrupt production further.
RT’s Boom Bust sorts through the factors that led to China’s energy crisis and looks at how the situation may impact the global economy.
Some 600 United Airlines employees face dismissal after failing to comply with the company’s Covid-19 vaccination policy.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority,” the Chicago-based airline’s chief executive Scott Kirby and president Brett Hart said in a memo to employees.
The company’s 67,000 US employees were ordered to provide proof of vaccination by last Monday. While the majority complied, 593 workers refused to be jabbed and failed to apply for the exemption on religious or medical grounds which the firm set as mandatory in the event of failing to vaccinate.
“Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United’s US-based employees was simple – to keep our people safe – and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work,” United said in the memo.
The company, however, will allow employees to keep their jobs if they have been vaccinated but failed to submit proof by the deadline, or if they will be jabbed before the formal decision on the dismissals comes through. This means unvaccinated workers have several weeks or even months under the union’s current dismissal rules to undergo inoculation if they wish to stay.
The airline announced earlier this month it would put employees who are exempt from the vaccine mandate on unpaid or medical leave from October 2. The plan was later scrapped after a lawsuit filed by six employees appealed the decision. Some 2,000 employees have so far requested the exemption.
United was the first US airline to impose a Covid-19 vaccine mandate on its staff in early August. Other US airlines have been uneager to follow suit, but moved to end pay protections for unvaccinated employees who test positive for the virus. Georgia-based Delta Airlines slapped a $200 monthly health insurance surcharge on staff who haven’t been vaccinated.
United is the fourth-largest airline by the number of passengers carried in the US, but has the second-largest fleet and serves the most destinations, according to pre-pandemic statistics. Like many other airlines, however, it was hit hard by pandemic-induced travel restrictions, having to furlough some 36,000 employees at the height of the crisis last year.
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.”
Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature.
In this feature, I’ll be putting on my A&R hat and taking a listen to five randomly-selected K-pop b-sides. I’ll write a mini review for each, including a Bias List rating, and rank them from least to most favorite. The winner will join a special Bias List B-side playlist. Think of it like my own little agency, hand-selecting songs I’d like to pitch to my nonexistent artists!
Okay, fifteen seconds of this and I know it’s not for me. There’s far too much repetition, far too many skrrt skrrts and a general sense of badassery I find so tired. Beyond that, the rap is fine and the beat is solid. But, I’m just exhausted by this particular K-pop sound. On the plus side, I appreciate putting EPEX’s desire for commercial domination into musical form. It’s a smart approach for a rookie group. But yeah… too much shouting here for me.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
7
Bias
6
RATING
6.75
Twice – Tuk Tok (2016)
Well, this is a fun little throwback. It’s comforting to travel back to a time when Twice were on the upswing, quickly climbing to a-list status. Tuk Tok isn’t a particular favorite of mine, but I like how unsettled the percussion feels. There’s a nice variety of groove, over which the girls deliver a more diverse series of vocals than we’re used to hearing from them. The chorus has a few nice hooks, but I could do without that irritating alarm effect that supports a large portion of the track. It sounds like a truck backing up!
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.75
IN2IT – Cadillac (2017)
Before their contract termination, IN2IT recorded quite a few bangers. Cadillac is a clearly an answer to Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic, which itself pulls directly from 80’s synth funk. Nevertheless, it’s a style I’ve always loved, and the song’s instrumental has me nodding my head. I appreciate the fullness of the sound. In fact, the beat is so addictive that the guys don’t need to do anything fancy with the tune. Cadillac’s chorus is a simple chant, while its verses offer more in the way of melody. It’s a slight effort, but that suits the song’s grooviness.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8.5
Wheein – No Thanks (2021)
I know a lot of people love this kind of sleepy, R&B-influenced pop, but it bores me to tears. Wheein has a great voice and we all know it, but that shouldn’t be a crutch preventing a song from putting forth effort via melody and production. Nothing here is objectively bad, but it all feels designed to fade into the background. It’s musical wallpaper. Slow jams like this can be so addictive, and a few have even won previous rounds in this feature. Apart from Wheein herself, nothing here is calling me back for another listen.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
7
Bias
6
RATING
6.75
Infinite H – Victorious Way (2013)
Ooh, an Infinite song! I’ll try to take my bias hat off for this, but you know my favorite group is always going to have an edge over others. Victorious Way arrives courtesy of Infinite’s hip-hop unit, and pays homage to old-school sounds. The beat is simple, repetitive, and lo-fi, vibing on the kind of breakbeats that were popular in the 80’s and early 90’s. The sampled chorus is a ton of fun, especially coupled with DJ scratches. The track itself feels a little throwaway, but builds toward a nice chant during the climax. Infinite H have delivered stronger material, but I appreciate how specific this sound is.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8
My Verdict:
Fifth: EPEX – Go Big Fourth: Wheein – No Thanks Third: Twice – Tuk Tok Second: Infinite H – Victorious Way
First: IN2IT – Cadillac
Congratulations to IN2IT’s Cadillac – the twenty-fourth winner of my Battle of the B-sides!
Readers, what do you think? Did you discover any hidden gems? Leave your own ranking in the comments!
I feel like I’m always writing about Kis-My-Ft2 being my favorite J-pop group, yet rarely provided suitable evidence. The group’s b-side game is strong, and that’s one of the reasons their 250+ song discography has so much to offer. This got me thinking about all my very favorite J-pop tracks, many of which never get a mention on this blog. With that in mind, I’m going to start introducing some new “Legendary Songs,” J-pop style.
So far, almost all of my legendary songs have been title tracks or singles. But, the vast discographies of J-pop acts lend themselves to legendary b-sides, and Even Now, There Are Endless Dreams is certainly one for me. This English title is a Google translation, with the Romanization of the track being Ima wa Mada Toku hateshinai Yume mo. I’ve got it translated as “I’m Still Far Away From My Endless Dream” in my iTunes library, but I’m not sure where that originally came from. Either way, this is a track about passion and yearning – two emotions I always connect with.
The beauty in Endless Dreams comes from two factors. First, there’s that incredibly melody. The song kicks off with its chorus, though the full brunt of the instrumental waits until later to kick in. I adore (like… ADORE) this melody. I think it’s so gorgeous and expressive and powerful.
Sometimes it’s the details that turn a fantastic track into a legendary one. For me, it’s the little inflection – that tug – on the second line of each chorus. This small moment fuels the desperate yearning that drives the entire song. It’s such a spot-on melodic flourish, performed with passion and nuance.
The second driving force within Endless Dreams emerges from contrast. The song alternates between forceful, determined refrains and softer, more unguarded verses. The track never becomes boring, but this series of peaks and valleys gives it a sense of purpose and a scope of emotion.
You all know how much I love using the word “anthemic.” Endless Dreams‘ chugging instrumental and chant-along post-chorus are made for stadiums, where live performances of the track prove to be explosive and cathartic. I know most readers will first hear this song on their phone or laptop, but if you’re able to find heartier speakers and surround yourself with the music, you’ll feel the full brunt of the track. Most Johnny’s acts specialize in larger-than-life spectacle, and this definitely fits in that category. This is no more apparent than during Endless Dreams’ final chorus, with that percussion stomping in and out and those strings pulling us to pop nirvana.
More than anything, Even Now, There Are Endless Dreams elicits a gut reaction from me. I prize songs that are able to do that. I love nothing more than a big dance drack anchored by emotion. They’re surprisingly rare to find, but that combination of heart and grandiosity is what makes this a legendary song.
Rather than release double title tracks, JYP Entertainment has been gifting its acts with a variety of music videos, blurring the line between singles and b-sides. In general, I think this is an exciting prospect, but I’m starting to wish the agency invested as much effort in making great music.
As I mentioned in my Buried Treasure post, I find ITZY’s newest album mostly forgettable. There’s a lot of chanting, a lot of tinny percussion and a lot of teen crush attitude. However, memorable melodies are in short supply. This is only emphasized by Swipe, a catchphrasey pop bop that feels more like an advertisement than a song.
Swipe’s herky-jerky beat shows potential, and provides a suitable backdrop for ITZY’s incessant sing-talk. They pull off this sound well, but it’s not an approach that does anything for me. The girls probably don’t mean for it to come off this way, and I know it’s not a reflection of their true personalities, but songs like this have a ‘mean girls’ vibe that’s really off-putting. I don’t think you have to empathize with pop music to enjoy it, but this boastful attitude coupled with the derivative instrumental makes it hard to find an entry point. Honestly, it’s an issue I’ve had with both girl and boy groups lately. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather hear genuine empowerment than material that comes across as hollow pandering.
It’s a shame, because there are flashes of potential buried within the track. As one-note as the hook is, I appreciate its head-nodding rhythm. The carnival-like synth in the background greatly contributes to the groove, adding an almost robotic pulse. And when ITZY fully engage with this beat, they’re able to harness that fierce energy that made them so exciting in the first place.
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “
I feel like I’m always writing about Kis-My-Ft2 being my favorite J-pop group, yet rarely provided suitable evidence. The group’s b-side game is strong, and that’s one of the reasons their 250+ song discography has so much to offer. This got me thinking about all my very favorite J-pop tracks, many of which never get a mention on this blog. With that in mind, I’m going to start introducing some new “Legendary Songs,” J-pop style.
Rather than release double title tracks, JYP Entertainment has been gifting its acts with a variety of music videos, blurring the line between singles and b-sides. In general, I think this is an exciting prospect, but I’m starting to wish the agency invested as much effort in making great music.