[#20] KARA - "Pandora"

From: "Pandora"
Format: EP
Released: August
Territory: South Korea
Previous Best of Appearances: #22 -"Lupin" (2010) / #20 -"Jumping" (2010) / #35 -"STEP" (2011) / #33 -"Jet Coaster Love" (2011)

If there's something to commend KARA for, it's having really, really good lead singles, because honestly, everything about them is mediocre at best. Everything from "Lupin" onwards has done a really good job of making it seem like KARA can carry the stage, "Pandora" is no exception.

Yet another Sweetune song, "Pandora" is ever to slightly James Bond/Spy movie-ish, with the choice of synths, and even the chord progressions themselves. I like it, I really do -- it adds a playfulness to the otherwise serious song, and justifies KARA's mousey vocals as a nice contrast.

It's very KARA lead single-material (which is no surprise there) -- you get that trendy, edgy vibe not only from the song itself, but from the treatment and delivery. It's young with a hint seriousness and a lot of mischief.

The vocals were treated extremely well -- chorus parts are padded, and harmonies or double-tracking is added as much as possible. Plus the fact that the melody itself has a graceful urgency at the verses, and lots of kick once the chorus hits. It's a simple melody, it's easy to hum, and it's radio-friendly. You hear any given part of the song and it draws you in -- the individual parts are strong on their own, but they're also cohesive with the rest of the song.

What I like the most about "Pandora" is that it's sexy without being slutty or cheap. It's a classy song, with outstanding production. I can't really ask for more.