SNSD are back in Japan, and though the video for this was released ages ago, the actual recording only came out this week. Which is the reason why it's not only eligible for single of the week, but also why I even chose it in the first place.
It's very difficult to review a recording based solely on a music video track or a live performance, for the simple reason that it's not the original recording. These things differ from critic to critic, and it's more of a personal stand than it is a universally-accepted standard, because there are instances where the visual delivery is just as important as the auditory aspects (e.g., 2NE1, Big Bang). But my stand is perfectly highlighted in songs like "ALL MY LOVE IS FOR YOU"
Watching the video, the only part of the song that I really liked was the melody, but I thought it was brought down by a boring instrumental that lacked both kick and beauty. Hearing the recording, I realized that the only part of that sentence that I got right was the melody, because it really is beautiful. The verses are very laid back, but sound almost hopeful, and the chorus, which is actually partially a chorus (yay!), is ever so slightly epic, courtesy of well, the chorus. But it's the fragile kind of beautiful -- the producers have to make the right decisions in terms of accompaniment, vocal treatment, and over-all production. Everything will just disintegrate if they don't.
There are two things that a fragile melody like this needs -- the first is kick to give it some conviction, and the second is depth to make it less sharp on the ears, and to support the fragile melody. And I think it's safe to say that the arrangement literally pulled it together and delivered.
The piano line isn't extremely obvious because the mix favored the vocals over it, but it's understated in it's beauty, and it gives the song that subtle kick. The strings are similar because they do take as much center stage as they can, giving it a much needed kick, but unlike other string sections, this one is simple to start with. It's structured more like a drone or a bass line than it is an actual melody, so it really has no reason to hit you over the head. Which is perfect.
But my favorite part of the song has got to be the drum line. You probably all know that I love a good drum line because my dad is a drummer, but as far as K-Pop (or K-Pop in Japan) drum lines go (at least the ones that exist), the one on this track is probably one of my favorites this year. This is the part of the song that gives it half of the depth I was looking for, without compromising the crispness that a drum line needs. While the strings gave it the kick, which is more like citrus or mint, the drums give it depth, like milk or cream. Those drum rolls are gorgeous -- they're forceful and confident, but so, so graceful. My favorite kind of drum roll!
So where does the other half of the depth come from? From the production, which is gorgeous without being generic. It's neither overproduced, nor is it underproduced -- it's just right. The way everything was put together, the way each element sounds in relation to the other, literally makes the song glow. There's no other way to describe this song, really, because it really does glow. Hearing it not only puts a smile on your face, it goes that extra mile and makes you all nice a fuzzy inside.
I love a pretty song when I hear one, and I think a lot of you know that. "ALL MY LOVE IS FOR YOU" is probably as pretty as anyone can get. For now, at least.
Knowing SM's history and lack of brain cells for some of the most important and potentially amazing projects, I wasn't head-over-heels excited for the Tiffany-Kyuhyun duet. I didn't jump to listen to it, and I actually got this part of the "To The Beautiful You" OST for the KRY song. Let's just say that I forgot about KRY and drooled over this masterpiece for an entire day yesterday. And I'm still drooling over it.
I first heard "To The Beautiful You" last Thursday, when I was about to work on this huge report for one of my classes. I was generally really stressed and tired from the exams and papers I had to get done during the previous days, and I thought I'd last maybe an hour before collapsing and not getting the report done. But then this song came on and not only was I shocked that it wasn't a ballad, but for some reason it managed to get me through three and a half hours of schoolwork, when I was running on two painkillers, a huge glass of milk tea, and pizza for dinner.
Because it's a damn good song.
It's no secret that I adore Kyuhyun and Tiffany's vocals, and that I think they're one of the best, if not the best, in their respective groups, but I never really thought of what they would sound like together. Little did I know that they made magic. Apart from the obvious fact that both of them can really sing, they work really well together. Though not as obvious on this track as it is in "Twinkle", Tiffany's voice seems to be aging backwards. While she still has hints of the timbre, her technique is changing, and her regular delivery (i.e., when she's not belting) is moving away from the slightly husky but feminine, towards the thin, slightly shrill -- it just so happens that it's also what contrasts Kyuhyun's very rich vocals. But when Tiffany start's belting, oh dear the belting -- gorgeous.
Vocals really do take center stage on "To The Beautiful You", but it also plays around with the dynamics of the duet part. I love the unison parts, because it's not like other K-Pop duets where the two people just do their thing for their parts of the song, then have a screaming match at the end. They have solos, of course, but they sound phenomenal when they come in together and they know when to hold back just enough so they can both be heard.
As far as the song itself is concerned, I really have nothing but praises for it. That melody is gorgeous, and we finally have vocals that can counter, and carry, the otherwise flat production. The arrangement and transitions are really, really, smooth, and they chose the right mix of instruments -- they're sure of themselves, sure in being a hybrid of K-Pop and Motown. I love those little piano lines in between too, I never thought I'd use this to describe a part of a song, but they're adorable.
This was the kind of graceful kick I was looking for in "Twinkle" -- it's like they finally took out the pillow that was between the kick-er and kick-ee for "To The Beautiful You". What we get is a well-done song overflowing with attitude, but at the same time melodic, with just a pinch of swing for good measure. See what a chemistry and a little attitude do to a song?
5/5
------------- Here I go again disappearing on you guys, for the same reasons as before. These past few weeks, this last one in particular, have been really stressful and bloody, complete with typhoons and monsoon rains in between. And, like all those other times, I just couldn't bring myself to write. I tried, a lot, but well, you all know what happened. Also, I said this over Twitter, but I also got a position at Popjustice, which was so unbelievable that I spend several days staring into space and pondering on the meaning of life because really, how did someone like me get a job like that? Popjustice was one of my "okay after I graduate maybe I can move there and try to get a job there", but now I have it. And I haven't even graduated!
Speaking of milestones, while I was away, you guys managed to get together and get Pop Reviews Now to over ONE MILLION pageviews! I know these days 1 million is a small number for big sites, and it's long-overdue considering that it's been a little over four years since I started, but I guess this really is the epitome of working from the ground up. Despite my long absences (which most of you should be used to now), thank you so much for sticking with me, and actually noticing me in the first place! Here's to two million? I promise to stick around. :D
To say I had high expectations for GLAM would be an understatement -- my expectations for them went through the roof ever since I watched their MTV reality show. (Which, may I say, was very well-done -- but that's for another post ;D) You have an idol group five girls who all have voices, two of them outstanding and the others with their own individual merits aside from voices, under an agency with considerable stature in the industry (2AM, etc.) -- does that not sound familiar?
Yes, my friends, GLAM is probably the closest we will ever get to a female DBSK.
"Party (XXO)" isn't ground-breaking, it isn't making me worship the songwriter or anything, but if you will recall, neither was "Hug". What those two songs have in common though, is that they are the formula, the quintessential idol group song -- done right, and with just that much more musicality. Of course debut singles have to be good, but over and above that, they have to show off the group as well as possible, and open as many doors for the future.
From the very beginning, the harmonies are there to go and say "hey, listen to us, we actually have voices" -- they're pretty generic and cheap around the edges, but the thing to pay attention to is that they don't sound like computer-generated harmonies, nor do they sound like one girl singing all parts just thrown together during post-prod. The harmonies have body, body only a group dynamic can give.
Those soft, but confident harmonies are immediately contrasted with a short rap part, before going straight into Gahee's solo. I didn't like her voice the first time I heard it (when they were auditioning for the Jokwon duet), but as a whole, the verses match all the girls sing it, and they're delivered with both grace and conviction. The verses also add that (bearable) "cute" dimension, without losing the technical proficiency we're going for on this song.
The chorus is gorgeous, and again, it sounds very simple and cutesy, but listen to it closer, those "dips"/"scoops" require trained, talented voices to pull off, and control. Give that to another useless idol group member and those dips won't even exist. The hook is melodic but catchy in it's own way, and again, those harmonies make it so, so much better.
And while all of that is happening, you have one of the most epicly Swedish instrumentals going on -- with bass you can actually feel, and gorgeous yet subtle synths. And really, as a whole the instrumental is extremely subtle, stepping in only when needed, and just sitting back and letting the girls do their thing, and do it well.
Add everything together and listening to it is such a pleasure because from the song alone you know these girls know exactly what to do, and you know they love it. There is nothing more effortless than talent laced with conviction.
I wouldn't call "Party (XXO)" the greatest thing since anything, but I give it high marks because it's extremely effective in showcasing everything that matters with GLAM. Vocal proficiency, femininity, conviction and sheer talent.
This, I believe, is a slap in the face to every female idol group who ever tried to do soft and feminine but confident, and failed. GLAM could very well be my new favorite girl group, if they manage to keep this up.
So, as many of you know, I started my sophomore year of university last month (time flies!), and while things were already hectic to start with, they're about to get even more stressful in the coming weeks. Aside from my 8AM-5:30PM schedule four days a week (T_T), I'm busy with all the work those subjects have, and a host of other extracurricular things. Which means that I won't be able to churn out full-length reviews on a regular basis anymore, unless I really have a lot to say.
But I don't want to disappear off the face of the earth either, because before the school year started I promised myself that I'd blog on a regular basis for the rest of the year, even with school. So, over the next few weeks I'm going to be trying a host of different ideas, and hopefully by the end of July or something, we (yes, we) settle on something regular, but not as time-consuming as those novels I usually write.
Starting with a single of the week. Basically this post will be half the length, and content, of a proper single review, but it'll still be a thorough enough walk-through and review of the song. Just less of my ranting and less context, which most of you can do without seeing as you're probably more updated than I am right now.
Shall we?
So "Android". Yunho and Changmin are back after wrapping up their (as always) record-breaking, historic "TONE" tour, and they're armed with a brand-new-single. While we all brace ourselves for their Korean comeback (which SM has absolutely no right to screw up, thank you very much), "Android" will have to suffice. And it does a pretty good job in doing that.
Since the split, Yunho and Changmin have gone for an edgier, more rock-inspired sound in Japan, mainly because Changmin sounds particularly good with it, and the melodies are less technically challenging than the likes of "Love In The Ice", but still highly melodic.
"Android" is just that. It's reminiscent of last year's "I Don't Know", with less spunk and more grace. The synths at the beginning and the percussion throughout give the song kick, but the melody, half of which delivered by Changmin's crisp vocals, and the production as a whole, sort of wrap the song in smoothness. It's like wrapping dragon fruit in cling wrap -- you can still see all the spikes and the fruit itself, but it's smooth to the touch.
Each element of the song is strong enough to stand alone -- the instruments give the song both character and finesse, the melody carries the instruments even further, all while being powerfully stunning, and the arrangement brings them all together neatly but naturally. Everything is so effortless -- effortless but fearless.
And really, the bottom line is, this is a gorgeous song. Need I say more?
4.5/5
---- Thoughts on the new "column"? Suggestions? :D
