I'm ready too. Bingo?
a.k.a Review of SJ's new album Sexy, Free & Single.
"Sexy, Free & Single"
LOL-worthy title and lyrics aside (bingo is back in style in South Korea, apparently?), I like it a lot. It sounds more laid-back than "Mr. Simple", and it's definitely not a rehash of "Sorry, Sorry". (Although I must say I never thought "Sorry, Sorry", "Bonamana" and "Mr. Simple" sound exactly the same despite what a lot of people say. They have some similarities like the repetitive melody in the chorus, but the beats and the feel of the songs are different. Then again, I'm no music expert.) The MV teaser looks like it's going to be badass, can't wait for the full version.
"From U"
One of my favorites in the album. I'm glad they decided to record a version with SJ's vocals instead of Yoo Young Jin's over-the-top singing. Gotta hand it to him though, I love it when he writes groovy R&B songs like this and "Sorry Sorry Answer". The choreography for this song better include some sexy moves, or else. >.>
"Gulliver"
Yeah, not loving it so much. The 'Gulliver gu gu Gulliver' part gives me a headache, and I also don't like the way the beat suddenly slows down and then picks up again near the end. This is probably meant to be "Oops" ver 2.0 but I didn't really like that song to begin with, and this one's even less ear-friendly. Even Ryeowook's singing didn't help... well, at least Eunhyuk (who wrote the lyrics) knows his Jonathan Swift?
"Someday"
A good, straightforward ballad. I heard this is a remake of an old song, so no wonder it sounds like something one can perform at Immortal Song II, or maybe more serious music shows like Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook. K.R.Y. can make things glorious.
"NOW"
I like the rock-ish feel of this, but the rap part before the chorus feels out of place. The pause after Yesung and Kyuhyun's bridge lasts just a few beats too long that I thought the song would just end right there. Other than that, this is a different kind of song for SJ and I enjoyed it.
"Rockstar"
Some have said this sounds like LMFAO or Far East Movement, and I tend to agree. Perhaps those groups influenced Oneway's Peter and Youngsky, who wrote and produced the song. I can't help cracking up at Eunhyuk (ETA: it might have been Kangin or someone else, not entirely sure) saying 'Oh. My. God. I'm. So. Hot.' and Yesung being the only one who sings 'I'm a LOCKstar'. Why are my boys so precious. ♥ In any case, this is one of the album's catchier dance songs.
"Bittersweet"
I expected that this was going to be the album's ultimate ballad, being a K.R.Y. + S song and all, but it turned out to be a so-so mid-tempo tune. Either Sungmin didn't get enough parts, or K.R.Y.'s voices are just too dominant. XD Despite them being glorious, there isn't enough room in the song to make it so.
"Butterfly"
The less catchy dance song in the album, in my opinion. I don't know, I'm just not feeling it.
"Daydream"
Now this one is a fabulous R&B ballad, possibly the best slow number in the album. I love it and am thinking up imaginary, fanfic-y MV concepts for it in my head right now. If they perform this in concerts I hope there's a heartbreaking VTR that comes before it, since SM seems to be more invested in concert VTRs than actual music videos.
"A 'Good' bye"
This sounds like a weird mash-up between three different songs with different tempo. There are some nice parts though, and it brings to mind fairy tale-like images, like dolls coming to life or something. I'll give the song a chance, perhaps it'll grow on me more.
TL;DR
Lovin' it: From U, Daydream, Sexy Free & Single
It was pretty good: Someday, NOW, Rockstar
Just OK but it'll probably grow on me: A 'Good' bye, Bittersweet
Umm yeah: Gulliver, Butterfly
This is SJ and I'm biased, so I'm cutting them a lot of slack as long as they look hot in the video.
"Sexy, Free & Single"
LOL-worthy title and lyrics aside (bingo is back in style in South Korea, apparently?), I like it a lot. It sounds more laid-back than "Mr. Simple", and it's definitely not a rehash of "Sorry, Sorry". (Although I must say I never thought "Sorry, Sorry", "Bonamana" and "Mr. Simple" sound exactly the same despite what a lot of people say. They have some similarities like the repetitive melody in the chorus, but the beats and the feel of the songs are different. Then again, I'm no music expert.) The MV teaser looks like it's going to be badass, can't wait for the full version.
"From U"
One of my favorites in the album. I'm glad they decided to record a version with SJ's vocals instead of Yoo Young Jin's over-the-top singing. Gotta hand it to him though, I love it when he writes groovy R&B songs like this and "Sorry Sorry Answer". The choreography for this song better include some sexy moves, or else. >.>
"Gulliver"
Yeah, not loving it so much. The 'Gulliver gu gu Gulliver' part gives me a headache, and I also don't like the way the beat suddenly slows down and then picks up again near the end. This is probably meant to be "Oops" ver 2.0 but I didn't really like that song to begin with, and this one's even less ear-friendly. Even Ryeowook's singing didn't help... well, at least Eunhyuk (who wrote the lyrics) knows his Jonathan Swift?
"Someday"
A good, straightforward ballad. I heard this is a remake of an old song, so no wonder it sounds like something one can perform at Immortal Song II, or maybe more serious music shows like Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook. K.R.Y. can make things glorious.
"NOW"
I like the rock-ish feel of this, but the rap part before the chorus feels out of place. The pause after Yesung and Kyuhyun's bridge lasts just a few beats too long that I thought the song would just end right there. Other than that, this is a different kind of song for SJ and I enjoyed it.
"Rockstar"
Some have said this sounds like LMFAO or Far East Movement, and I tend to agree. Perhaps those groups influenced Oneway's Peter and Youngsky, who wrote and produced the song. I can't help cracking up at Eunhyuk (ETA: it might have been Kangin or someone else, not entirely sure) saying 'Oh. My. God. I'm. So. Hot.' and Yesung being the only one who sings 'I'm a LOCKstar'. Why are my boys so precious. ♥ In any case, this is one of the album's catchier dance songs.
"Bittersweet"
I expected that this was going to be the album's ultimate ballad, being a K.R.Y. + S song and all, but it turned out to be a so-so mid-tempo tune. Either Sungmin didn't get enough parts, or K.R.Y.'s voices are just too dominant. XD Despite them being glorious, there isn't enough room in the song to make it so.
"Butterfly"
The less catchy dance song in the album, in my opinion. I don't know, I'm just not feeling it.
"Daydream"
Now this one is a fabulous R&B ballad, possibly the best slow number in the album. I love it and am thinking up imaginary, fanfic-y MV concepts for it in my head right now. If they perform this in concerts I hope there's a heartbreaking VTR that comes before it, since SM seems to be more invested in concert VTRs than actual music videos.
"A 'Good' bye"
This sounds like a weird mash-up between three different songs with different tempo. There are some nice parts though, and it brings to mind fairy tale-like images, like dolls coming to life or something. I'll give the song a chance, perhaps it'll grow on me more.
TL;DR
Lovin' it: From U, Daydream, Sexy Free & Single
It was pretty good: Someday, NOW, Rockstar
Just OK but it'll probably grow on me: A 'Good' bye, Bittersweet
Umm yeah: Gulliver, Butterfly
This is SJ and I'm biased, so I'm cutting them a lot of slack as long as they look hot in the video.