[#14] Brave Girls - "Nowadays You"

From: "Re-Issue"
Format: EP
Released: February
Territory: South Korea
Previous Best of Appearances: #13 - "Do You Know" (2011)

I really liked the Brave Girls' when they debuted -- "Do You Know" was a really good song, and for rookies their performances were pretty good. But then what happened between that and "Nowadays You" was kind of strange, so I lost interest until I heard this.

A lot of things about this song make it a very stereotypical Brave Brothers production -- the choice of synths, the production, and even the hook. But Brave Brothers productions have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Most of the time they sound far too repetitive, but some of the songs they put out are too beautiful to not like.

One thing I noticed with this song is that the vocals are actually kind of whiny when you listen to them closely -- they're very nasal and push in the wrong ways. But for some reason it just works. It works nicely with that raw electric guitar-sounding synth line, it works with the dynamics of the song, and most of all it works with the melody itself. It's not a very complicated melody, but the pushing and the nasal-ness gives it some character.

I also love the dynamics on this song -- the bare yet urgent verses, the explosions in all the right places that lead to organized chaos during the choruses and hooks. You know this was made by a person with an ear for music at the very least, because even if the song's littered with predetermined formulas, they were put together really well.

"Nowadays You" is ridiculously catchy, and I guess that's also a big reason why I liked it. It's catchy but it doesn't compromise or forget the rest of the song in favor or just a few seconds of catchy. From start to finish this is a genuinely good song I've been listening to so much over this past year.

[#13] Brave Girls - "Do You Know"

From: "The Difference" (Mini-Album), South Korea
Released: April 2011
Rating: 3.89

The Brave Girls are the highest-placing rookie group on this year's list, and believe me, they deserve it. "Do You Know" is simple, it's clean and unlike all the other idol groups who make a contest out of their debuts, this is like the Brave Girls saying that they're above competition. Because they are.


Again, a very simple song, but it does the trick. It's sophisticated, it's graceful and it's laid-back, but it has conviction. Nothing on this song sounds lazy, nothing sounds half-baked, and that alone betters a handful of other girl groups. The smooth sound doesn't bore you to death, it relaxes you, and lulls you to sleep. This sounds like white chocolate -- smooth, creamy beyond belief, but convincing and sure.

Put together the fact that it was actually sung well, and that they can actually perform this live, and this is a recipe for a brilliant song. And what I really appreciate about the vocals on this is that they're not forced. No excessive belting, no trying to out sing everyone else in the band, and the vocals really match the sound of the entire song.

I can listen to this for weeks and not get sick of it. Strong production, and a simple, yet effective and well-done sound.