Ever hear a song that reminds you of another? This is a friendly comparison of videos and songs with similar genres, concepts, and themes.
IU Palette v. Song Ji-Eun Pretty Age 25
As the lead single from her new album, 'Palette' is IU's subtle, yet bold self-proclamation of her newfound maturity. In this, she compares her 25-year-old self to how she was in the past. Instead of hot pink, IU now likes purple and instead of long hair, she prefers short. Palette is almost like a diary entry that shows her thoughts and hobbies. The song has a pop r&b composition that complements IU's soft, airy vocals. It also features a rap from G-Dragon, which gives an extra element of surprise.
Similar to IU's song, "Pretty Age 25" is a song about reaching a fresh age in adulthood. Song Ji-Eun (Secret) makes the point that she is no longer a young girl. She focuses very much on her appearance and is absorbed by the beauty of her age. The fast rhythm makes it a nice dance tune and Ji-Eun flaunts her beautiful vocal register.
I prefer the sound of 25: it's fun, has a catchy chorus and shows off Ji-Eun's clear and controlled voice. However, I appreciate IU's song more. Palette is self-written and shows her true feelings. She focuses more on her inner self rather than the vanity of appearance.
In April a lot of my expectations were fulfilled! Winner and IU made their comebacks, former I.O.I Chungha had her solo debut and Taeyeon dropped her first repackaged album. All of this and more!
1. Winner - Really Really
Korean
Released: April 4th
Winner returns as a quartet in "Fate Number For" with two new singles: Really Really and Fool. Both tracks, penned by group member Seungyoon, are both of good quality and a timely boost for the group after having lost a member. However, Really Really is what gained my attention the most because of its compelling beat and confident charisma. In the lyrics, Winner cooly confesses their feeling to a girl, hoping to gain her affections without being too pushy. This is backed by a mild tropical house beat and a musical-esque music video filmed by the famous American director Dave Meyers. Review: Song - 3.5/5 MV - 3/5
2. Ten - Dream In A Dream
English
Released: April 6th
NCT member Ten makes his unofficial solo debut through SM's music project 'SM Station'. 'Dream In A Dream' is an ethereal song that is heavily influenced by Oriental art and tradition. Ten sings in English, and while there are very few lyrics, listeners are kept entertained with the sounds of Asian instruments, echoes, and synths. The music video expands on the artistry: Ten, who is known to specialize in dance, showcases his skills through elegant choreography. Overall, even if one does not like the song like I do, the artistry is hard not to appreciate!
Review: Song - 5/5 MV - 5/5
3. Meng Jia - Candy
Mandarin
Released: April 6th
'Candy (糖果)' marks Meng Jia's (孟佳) third song and strive to brand herself as a soloist. Unlike her two previous singles, Candy has a playful energy and features a barrage of sounds: marching band drums, lips smacking and xylophone notes. This style was achieved by the composer, Shinsadong Tiger (a famous k-pop producer) and LE (of k-pop girl group EXID). Here is the lyrics video, colorful and vibrant. By now, I think they would've have released a real music video already if they had planned to.
Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 3/5
4. Luhan - On Call
Mandarin
Released: April 19th
The "King of C-pop" tries his hand at contemporary R&B with added electronic elements. Luhan, whose voice is particularly smooth, effortlessly delivers without the auto-tune he used in 2016. As always, his music video is very visually appealing and complementary to the song. Its scenes show a world in between reality and fantasy. There are visuals of an infinite flow of mail: letters that never get opened.
Review: Song - 5/5 MV - 4.5/5
5. Kim Chungha -Week
Korean
Released: April 20th
After competing in Mnet's trainee survival program, "Produce 101", Kim Chungha earned a spot in the girl-group I.O.I and has made a name for herself. Now that that I.O.I have disbanded, Chungha has started to follow her own path as a soloist. I believe she will do well because she is a good singer and a great dancer. 'Week' is a slow-rolling r&b ballad that expresses loneliness. It is only a pre-release single so I'm curious as to what is coming next.
Review: Song - 3/5 MV - 4/5
6. K.A.R.D. - Rumor
Korean
Released: April 24th
K-pop's one and only co-ed idol group debuted with 'Oh Na Na', followed-up with 'Don't Recall' and have now completed their trilogy pre-debut project with 'Rumor'. Up until now, K.A.R.D's songs have been narrating a story. First, a boy and girl begin a relationship, then the guy messes up and the couple breaks up, and in 'Rumor', the couple is hearing rumors about each other and are regretting their break-up. It has an obvious Latin influence and is not far in genre from their previous two songs. In the future, I hope to see them try a new genre, now that the trilogy is over.
