[Mini-Album] Suzy – Faces of Love

Faces of Love is the second mini-album released by Suzy. “HOLIDAY” was used as the promotional track, while “SObeR” was also promoted later on. The mini sold over 10,200 copies.

Released: January 29, 2018
1. I’m in Love With Someone Else (다른사람을 사랑하고 있어)
2. HOLIDAY
3. SObeR
4. Bxatxh (나쁜X)
5. Midnight (잘자 내 몫까지)
6. Confession (서툰 마음)
7. Sleeplessness (너는 밤새도록)

I’m a bit surprised that the album opens with the pre-release single as I’m in Love With Someone Else is a ballad. It’s still a beautiful tune and one of Suzy’s better ballads. Maybe it’s your standard sounding OST ballad, but I feel like it really shows of Suzy’s voice and it has a really pretty melody.

HOLIDAY is something I would expect from Suzy with its laid back pop/R&B vibes. It feels like Suzy did something like this on her last mini, but for some reason I really enjoy this song. These kind of songs can be hit or miss for me, but I like how it is relaxing but still catchy. Even the added rap was a nice surprise and didn’t detract from the song.

I would say that SObeR is my favourite song from Suzy. It still continues the laid back vibe of the last song but ups the energy a little and brings an even catchier melody. I think the thing I love most about this song is that it is so cheeky. Suzy brings some personality in the verses that contrast the airy and light chorus. Great song.

Bxatxh has a bit of a weird name considering its more acoustic delivery. I like this mini is continuing the light and summery vibe despite its winter release. This is definitely the end of summer type of tune with its lighter energy and airy vocals. Not much to say, but this is a pretty solid track.

I do like the softer delivery of Midnight with its focus on just the piano. While it is another ballad, it does show some different feelings. I don’t think it is as strong as while it brings a really nice atmosphere, the melody isn’t as memorable as the other ballad on here.

I feel the same about Confession. It’s a really pretty ballad and has a more fleshed out arrangement, but it doesn’t quite hit the spot for me and feels more like a random OST song.

Sleeplessness has a bit more energy to it thanks to its beat and I like its darker vibe as it reminds me of something from the 90s. Unfortunately, the chorus isn’t that memorable for me and I feel like it’s lacking in something to really set itself apart.

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Overall: This is a really solid mini and better than her first. However, while the first half is really strong, it falters in its second half. I feel like part of it is the lack of energy in the last three songs. They are beautiful tunes, but they are a little low on the energy side of things and their melodies are just not strong enough to make up for it.

A-

[Digital Single] Suzy – I’m in Love With Someone Else

“I’m in Love With Someone Else” is the 12th digital single released by Suzy. It was released as a pre-released single to her second mini-album, Faces of Love.

Released: January 22, 2018
1. I’m in Love With Someone Else (다른사람을 사랑하고 있어)

I’m in Love With Someone Else is a change from Suzy’s first mini’s pre-release single. Instead of something a bit more experimental, we get a pretty straightforward piano ballad. This isn’t a bad thing though and Suzy’s able to give a stunning performance. The song itself is your usual slow build-up with piano, strings and percussion into a final chorus that soars emotionally. It’s your typical sounding OST ballad, but there is something quite touching about Suzy’s performance and the melody is quite beautiful.

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Overall: This is a pretty generic sounding OST ballad kind of song, but it’s still a beautiful tune and is one of Suzy’s best showcases of her vocals.

B+

[Special] 2018 Top 100 K-Pop Songs 40-31

40. Suzy – SObeR [Faces of Love]
While Suzy’s first mini was more serious, I was excited to see that her second was much more playful. This feeling is especially embodied in the EP’s second single, SObeR, a funky midtempo pop song that brings in a bit of oldschool R&B influence. The song never really explodes with energy, but the bouncy music and cheeky vocal delivery help to keep everything fun and carefree. The hook is especially catchy and I love how Suzy’s airy vocals deliver it so cleverly. It’s just a groovy tune.

39. Golden Child – LADY [Miracle]
For me, the biggest grower of the year came with Golden Child’s LADY. As it is a Sweetune song by a Woolim Ent. boy band, it takes a lot of elements from Infinite’s past music with its heavy synth backing and soaring arrangement. At first, I thought the song was decent, but nothing too amazing, however, over the past year the melody has just stuck in my head. The hook is pretty simple with the “you’re my lady” line just being repeated over, but it’s the overall execution with that gorgeous instrumental and wonderful vocal performance that really get me.

38. ELRIS – Summer Dream [Summer Dream]
Another grower came with ELRIS’ bright and summery Summer Dream. Like the last song, it’s not just the hook that got me into the song, but its overall feeling and delivery. That explosive chorus opening just gets me every time and it really embodies the feeling of summer. While I do find the verses somewhat forgettable, that pre-chorus does a great job of setting things up for that euphoric chorus. The girls don’t have particularly strong vocals, but their light and girlish voices really work well here.

37. JBJ – My Flower (꽃이야) [True Colors]
Project group, JBJ, had a short-lived release time, clocking in at only 7 months. However, the group released quite a few solid tunes, especially this light-funk/pop song. My Flower takes elements from tropical house as well, but uses them as an addition rather than as the main focus, which I was really happy about. That groovy beat that runs beneath the chorus is absolutely intoxicating and I love the bright energy of the melody. Everything just soars, especially in the final chorus where it just goes up one more level. There are a few things that could be tweaked on, but it’s a stunning tune.

36. Wanna One – I Promise You (I.P.U) (약속해요) [0+1=1 (I PROMISE YOU)]
Another project group, Wanna One released a number of songs in 2018. While a lot of them were hit or miss, the one that resonated most with me was the EDM-charged I Promise You (I.P.U). The music is a bit more on the generic side with its slow build-up into that drop and piercing synth riff. What really sells me on the song though is the beat that comes in after the first chorus that really drives the song forward and the gorgeous melody that highlight’s the group’s strongest vocalists.

35. UNI.T – I Mean (난말야) [Begin with the End]
The third project group in a row, UNI.T unfortunately didn’t see as much success as the last two boy bands. However, this Brave Brothers dance tune is such an earworm. I Mean has a pretty classic Brave sound with its light synths and hook-heavy chorus. What really sells the song is the girls’ performance and the distinctive vocals heard throughout really helps to bring some needed edge. That and that chorus is unapologetically catchy. My favourite part comes from the bridge where N.CA’s strong vocals really power the rest of the song.

34. NCT U – Timeless (텐데…) [NCT 2018 EMPATHY]
For some reason, for 2018 I haven’t found too many ballad tracks that really stood out to me. Timeless was a bit of a blow. NCT U already had that stunning “WITHOUT U” that only featured three of its vocalists and Timeless brings the same three back. I’m not a big fan of the group’s hip-hop offerings, but this piano ballad makes me want to continue checking the group out. While the melody is quite gorgeous, all three of the boys featured here have stunning vocals that really carry it. The final minute is amazing. I really hope they bring these three back again for another stellar slow song.

33. Kim Dong Han – SUNSET [D-DAY]
Kim Dong Han was the first member of JBJ to branch out. Going the solo route, Kim Dong Han’s nasally but distinctive vocals are able to carry the song nicely. SUNSET is a crazy dance/pop tune with its static backing and touches of synths. It was something that wasn’t expected as I love the EDM elements that feel transformed to deliver something a bit different. The chorus doesn’t have the type of melody that really hooks you in at first, but it has some really subtle and stellar parts that slowly gain strength with repeated listens.

32. Lovelyz – That Day (그날의 너) [Heal]
It has been a while since I’ve absolutely loved a Lovelyz song. While the group has some pretty solid material, their title tracks haven’t quite felt this effortlessly amazing in a while. That Day is an upbeat pop tune with a really bright delivery that focuses a lot of on the synths. The chorus reminds me a lot of the group’s big hit, “Ah-Choo”, with its focus on an explosive hook. It still has that Lovelyz’s sound, but trades the stronger cute elements for something a bit more streamlined. That synth riff is especially gorgeous as well.

31. BTOB – Beautiful Pain (아름답고도 아프구나) [Hour Moment]
With BTOB slowly starting to enlist, the group released this mini without their leader and main vocalist. Luckily, the group is made up of some stellar vocalists that could fill in the gaps. Beautiful Pain takes its pages from 2017’s “Missing You”, with its focus on a gorgeous piano line and emotional delivery. I actually find this song reminds me more of something from J-Pop than K-Pop and I love that. While the verses aren’t particularly interesting to me, the pre-chorus and chorus are stunning. It doesn’t try to win you over with powerful vocals, but instead there seems to be a bit more attention to the details of the feeling it wants to give.

[Mini-Album] Suzy – Yes? No?

Yes? No? is the first mini-album released by Suzy. “Yes No Maybe” was used as the promotional song. The mini sold over 11,000 copies.

Released: January 24, 2017
1. Pretend (행복한 척)
2. Yes No Maybe
3. That’s All (다 그런거잖아)
4. Les Préférences (취향)
5. Question Mark (난로 마냥)
6. Little Wildflower (꽃마리)

The mini opens with a familiar track, Pretend, which was released prior to the mini’s release. It has that laid back R&B/pop sound that has been very popular the last few years in Korea. While these kinds of songs can get a bit dry and forgettable, this tune is really beautiful. I love the melody and how the vocals are distorted in a way that changes things up. Also, the music has a great synthline that works beautifully with the melody and Suzy’s voice. Strong start and I think I enjoy it even more now.

Yes No Maybe is a bit faster and has a more powerful delivery. The music has some dance elements, which lends itself well to that charged melody. What I love most about the song is that Suzy does really great here. She knows how to play with her voice to bring a sensuality and she also sounds really powerful at times. The only problem I had was that her runs did sound a bit off at times.

That’s All is a slower tune and it follows closer to the sound of Pretend than that of Yes No Maybe. The music is very relaxing and the slight R&B vibe makes me think of current R&B in America. The beat is really great and helps keep the song moving forward. With that said, I’m not sure if I’m as enthralled with the melody as I want to be.

Les Préférences keeps the laid back R&B sound, but definitely has a different feeling to it. I actually like the touches of post-disco funk that the song brings and even though it’s a slower song, it still works nicely here. The 80’s influence helps to bring the song some character. I just wish the vocals were a little more interesting as I don’t think Suzy’s voice has enough character to really carry this song fully.

Question Mark comes in and brings something a bit more acoustic and Mediterranean. Unfortunately, these kinds of songs are not my cup of tea and I usually get bored of these kinds of tunes. Suzy’s voice does work nicely here and the airiness of her voice lends itself well to the music, but there’s nothing that really makes me want to revisit this song. Not a bad song, just not for me.

Little Wildflower is the album’s only full-fledged ballad and it focuses more on the piano. I think this song works wonderfully with Suzy’s sweet vocals and she pulls this kind of emotional tune off well. My only problem is that the song just drags on and on and is rather boring. It does get some power, but the melody doesn’t quite hit the mark and falls flat with the music.

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Overall: This mini started off pretty strong but just gradually declined. I love the first two songs as they had some really interesting melodies. The next two songs were decent and had some fun ideas in the music, but the last two songs just were not my cup of tea. I do like that the album focused on these R&B elements, but the last two songs didn’t and just didn’t have any outstanding features for me.

B

[Digital Single] Suzy – Pretend

Pretend is the tenth digital single released by Suzy. It was released right before her first mini-album.

Released: January 17, 2017
1. Pretend (행복한 척)

Pretend is a slower tune that fits with the light R&B/pop sound that is popular in Korea. What sets it apart is the chorus, which changes things up a bit by adding some distortion on Suzy’s voice and bringing in some synths. It’s a really nice touch and works nicely with the melancholic melody. While Suzy is an adequate singer, I wasn’t really expecting her to blow this song out of the water, but she does a really nice job here and her tone fits the sadder nature of the song.

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Overall: This is the kind of song I was expecting from Suzy, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it is changed up a bit in some areas so that it doesn’t totally sound like the usual light-pop/R&B music from Korea. It’s a nice tune where the music fits nicely with the somber lyrics.

A-

[Digital Single] Suzy – Wind Wind Wind

Wind Wind Wind is the sixth digital single released by miss A’s Suzy. It was used as a CF song for Beanpole Outdoor.

Released: March 10, 2014
1. Wind Wind Wind (바람 바람 바람)

I’m really surprised with this song because it has a nice Mediterranean vibe that I wouldn’t have expected from Suzy. It’s a bit on the midtempo end, but has such a dynamic instrumental that things never get too boring even though it is laid back. The thing I was most surprised about was just how good Suzy sounds in this song. She doesn’t sing that much, but when she does, her tone really suits the song and helps elevate the song. Wind Wind Wind is gorgeous!

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Overall: This isn’t my style of music, but this is a really nice tune and I’m pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous it is. Suzy sounds great and the guitar throughout the song is magnificent.

A

[Special] 2017 Top 100 K-Pop Songs 90-81

90. Chungha – Why Don’t You Know [Hands on Me]
Coming off the success of the mega hit show, Produce 101, Chungha has been the only member to really establish a solo career. Why Don’t You Know is an interesting pop tune that plays on the tropical house sound that was popular over the last year. There are some clever parts that come up, especially in the arrangement of the song. The gorgeous melodic synth line that pops up in the background really drives the song forward. The melody itself is decent, and that lower start of chorus is a really nice touch as well. It’s a catchy tune.

89. Suzy – Yes No Maybe [Yes? No?]
Suzy’s solo debut wasn’t the most commercially or critically successful of the year in terms of solo releases, but I love how interesting Yes No Maybe is. A bit more on the midtempo pace, the song still keeps moving with its heavy beat and its breathy background vocals. The melody isn’t that powerful, but for some reason, it has this really addicting sound to it. It also does a good job of showcasing a more mature vibe from the singer and her voice has a depth to it here that wasn’t really heard in Miss A’s material.

88. Jessi – Don’t Make Me Cry (울리지마) [Don’t Make Me Cry]
Jessi is primarily known for her rapping, but she has been singing much more often lately. Don’t Make Me Cry is an interesting twist because we are given a slow, but dramatic soul ballad. The thing is that Jessi can actually pull this song off. The song has some 70’s soul vibes to it and Jessi’s raspy, raw and powerful voice fits perfectly here. She sounds absolutely ruthless and she really tries to inject the right amount of emotion into the song and it works.

87. Henry – That One [That One]
Henry released quite a few digital singles this year and while Girlfriend was the most successful, it’s the calmer That One that really took me by surprise. The song isn’t really that unique as this laid back R&B style has been popular in Korea for the last few years (not to mention in the US). The song does stand out by being fully sung in English, but it’s that beat and hook that really keep the song going. It sort of makes me think of a slower version of Ariana Grande’s Honeymoon Avenue.

86. N.Flying – Real (진짜가 나타났다) [THE REAL: N.Flying]
Never really listened to N.Flying’s material prior to this year, but I was pleasantly surprised by Real. Unlike many other groups, N.Flying takes on the band concept, but with a poppier edge. Real does a great job of fusing pop and rock into a fun fusion. While the verses and pre-chorus really help to bring up the energy, it’s that explosive chorus that really grabs the attention. The melody is insanely catchy and has a great exchange between the band’s vocalists. It’s an exciting song to listen to.

85. Gugudan – A Girl Like Me (나 같은 애) [Act. 2 Narcissus]
Last year’s Wonderland wasn’t as well-received as predicted when Gugudan debuted. While the more bubblegum pop tune eventually grew on me, it still lacks the hook that really drives A Girl Like Me. Here, there is still a bit of the Gugudan sound, but with something more exciting and clever. The playfulness coming from both the verses and chorus is something not really seen in a lot of other songs and it just seems like the song rushes by. While I do wish there was less “aegyo” bits, I do feel like the general delivery was that of a fresh and fun pop song.

84. GOT7 – You Are [7 for 7]
With the Flight Log trilogy finished, I wondered what GOT7 would bring. You Are is a gorgeous return. While the song does have some of the same qualities as their Flight Log tunes, the best thing that You Are brought back was a strong pop melody that really helped to lift the song. That opening chorus line is euphoric and really brings back that emotional edge to the group’s title tracks. I did enjoy Never Ever, but this is a solid pop blast.

83. Younha – Hello (종이비행기) [Hello]
Younha has always been one of my favourite Korean artists and I was awaiting her return. While her recent album wasn’t entirely to my liking, there were still some gorgeous tunes. Hello was released as a preview single and it comes off as a sister tune to the more carefree Run. Now there is the more mature girl who plays to her strengths. While I would’ve enjoyed a bit more displaying of Younha’s powerful vocals, the gorgeous melody makes up for it. It has a rush to it that just seems to go faster as the chorus progresses.

82. I – I Wish (간절히 바라면 이뤄질 거야) [I Dream]
I didn’t really know what to expect from ‘I’ (besides a confusing name), but I definitely enjoyed what I heard. I Wish is a wonderful pop song that really reaches back to the past for some inspiration while also trying to add a contemporary twist to it. The verses have the characteristics of the more midtempo R&B sound popular these days, but it’s that pop chorus that really brings a surprise. It really sounds like mid-00’s J-Pop and I love it. It’s been a while since I’ve heard this style and I’m excited to see what else ‘I’ can bring.

81. Nine Muses – Remember (기억해) [Identity]
Nine Muses used to be one of my favourite groups, but the reduction of the group from nine to four really put a dent in not only the image of the group, but also its future. I was pleasantly surprised by last year’s sub-unit tune and this year saw a return of those four girls. Remember does what Nine Muses does best, powerful and sexy pop tunes. From the calmer verses to the explosion of synths in the chorus, the song just demands attention. The heavy beat contrast the monotonous delivery of the melody, but it all just works together so well.