So my favorite singer, bassist, guitarist, radio DJ, lyricist, composer, arranger, author, Young K, has released his first solo album!
This is my most anticipated album ever. I was really curious how it will sound cause Young K also makes Day6 songs, so I wondered how different it will be, what kind of color he will give to his solo? it was soo exciting to wait for the release of the album just as much as the release itself.
And to mention that the album feels a lot more personal. There is a lot of Young K's identity in the style of the visual, logo, color, photo, even the styling also depicts Young K's glory days back in 2016-2017ish, with the light hair and lots of accessories (to this day, every day is his glory day, I know). So even for me, who already promised myself to do a no-buy year this year, and who haven't bought any physical album since 2012 no matter how big the temptation is, I can't help but ordered this album! Yeay for my first-bought physical album after 9 years!
Okay
First of all, congratulations on your solo debut, Young K!
 |
| Source: Day6 official Twitter |
Second of all, I can't just listen to it without making a dedicated blog post to appreciate the beauty of the album, so here is my (not really) first listen impressions and review of the songs.
It's not the first listen because I have listened to track 5 at the Even of Day Online Concert when Young K did his solo stage. Aaaan also it's not the first listen, cause my first listen to the songs was a bit chaotic as I was super excited for the studio live. Yes, he sang all of the songs live 1 hour before the official release. Look at how dedicated this singer is. How amazing.
Okay, I'll start now!
 |
Source: Day6 official Twitter
|
The first track is BEST SONG
What was the title? Best Song. Yes, it's the best song on the album for me. Literally the best song. I really like the vibe of the song, really light and makes my heart doing small jumps in excitement. The lyric is also very flowery. You're the best song, the only melody that I want to sing. It is the song that you want to play while walking an epic scenery, enjoying the view, jump, and twirl cause you're just so happy in that moment. This is that song.
The overall vibe is just, happiness.
My favorite part is every part of the song, but this part is epic,
I hope you know
How I'm feelin' inside
Wow. Just wow.
The second track, 끝까지 안아 줄게 (Guard You)
This is the title song. Let's appreciate how Young K really creates songs for every moment. This one is like, in a chaotic situation, I will guard you till the end. Like Young K said, he wrote this while imagining chaos, like a lot of arrows shoot around, the earth explodes, and you try to protect your loved ones, and say 'It's okay, I'm here for you'. From the listener's perspective, it's also like being with a person that is ready to protect you in a very apocalyptic situation.
I really like the transition in pre-chorus to the chorus, the sound makes it feels like the world is really gonna end, but it is fine because the next lyric is,
흠집 하나 안 나게 (I won't let you scarred) I'll hold you
내 모든 게 다 망가져도 (Even all of me is broken) I'll guard you
불안해 하지 마 (Don't be anxious) I'm here for you
웃고 있는 나를 봐 (Look at me smiling) it's my all for you
While reading and thinking about the lyric in-depth (it's just my hobby), I kind of feel maybe this is what Lily Potter felt when she holds baby Harry and tries her best to protect her baby from the chaos caused by Voldemort. I can imagine she tried to smile in front of Harry just to make Harry not feel anxious. Ah...
The third track, 사랑을 얼어 죽을 (not gonna love)
This song is the twist of the twist.
Just from the title alone, I thought it would be a hurtful song, with dramatic sound, sad, and everything. But then the album sampler showed the 'rap' part of the song so I was like 'this is so unexpected??!!', it was so far from what I imagined. How dare I, think I know everything lol.
The genre is punk rock. Punk rock. The track is really dope, full of anger, and the lyric is like an angry person annoyed with what is happening to him, expecting more. This is my other favorite in the album! I just love the punk rock vibe and the variety of vocal utilization in this song. Rap, scream, normal voice, everything, I don't know the term but anyway it's a crazy chaotic song and I really love it.
My favorite part and lyric is the pre-chorus!
행복하다 행복하다 행복하다 (Happy, happy, happy)
주문처럼 중얼대도 (Even if I mumble it like a mantra)
안 행복하고 복 없는 삶처럼 ( It feels like an unhappy and unlucky life)
느껴지는 건 뭔데 (What is this)
The way he sings this part like a mantra we say to our self 'I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy' is just the best, and then we actually feel like 'but my life is not happy anyway!!', and followed by the angry chorus, is fully expressing how frustrating it is. I really admire the flow and the lyric of this song. My love.
I already imagining singing this in karaoke while fully screaming at the top of my lung, throwing all the stress away haha.
The fourth track, Microphone (feat. dvwn)
This is the song to accompany you while relaxing and lazying around in the late afternoon or night. The vocals of Young K and dvwn are really melting together, very smooth like butter. I enjoy the small details of the changes in the vocal and tone. The details are greaaaaatttt.
It gives a comforting feeling, that someone will listen to everything you say, no matter how insignificant is it. I think Young K did really well in telling that this someone is really having a lot of affection toward the person, in a not obvious way of storytelling.
Young K also already did few live performances of this song since yesterday! I can really feel that this is really comforting and also comfortable to listen to, you can enjoy the song while slowly moving your body and close your eyes. So great.
The fifth track, want to love you
We did listen to this song in the online concert. When he sang it, I was curious whose song was this cause the song was amazing, turns out it was an unreleased song, and now turns out that was kind of 'spoiler' for his album.
The chorus of this song sounds so grand, with the synth sound (?) and Young K high notes in the background. The message of the song itself is similar to 'Thanks to', although still, I was surprised (in a good way) when I read that this is a fan song (which means the song is written for the fans/about the fans). Because even though the message sounds like what he often says or implies to fans, the overall vibe of the song feels more hmm how can I say, like a very 'deep' love and longing for happiness towards the other person. Well in a way, that also can be fans' love.
The sixth track, 그대로 와 줘요 (come as you are)
The song sounds just like the title, very comforting, very accepting.
While listening to this song, my head pictured the moment when you open your house's door, after a tiring day at work, and then there's this song ready to hug you and tell you that you did well today. In a dark living room, you just lay down under the embrace of the song. I can feel the sincere intention of Young K to comfort us when he made this song. It just comes through your heart, and hugs you.
This song also feels like the existence of Dekira to me, the Day6 Kiss the Radio that he hosts every night. Very comforting, very accepting whenever you come to listen. The radio show has become a place to relax and find comfort, not only from Young K's stories, thoughts, and warm words but also because you can hear other people's stories as well, a lot of time those feel similar to your experience, so you feel comforted as well to know that we are all in this together.
Now I'm sad. I hope next month will never come ugh but yeah well. Okay, let's skip this sadness.
The last track, 잘 자라 내 사람아 (goodnight, dear)
We got the 'spoiler' of this song since forever. Young K did sing a little part of this song on the other radio as a lullaby. But still, it hits you differently with the full version.
The song focuses on Young K's warm voice that can help you to sleep. It's like warm milk and honey to drink before you sleep. The instrument is very minimalistic, fits perfectly for a lullaby. Very calm and comforting song. It just pats you in the head while saying 'goodnight, I hope you have a good sleep' and hug you lightly.
I must say this song is very Young K even though at the first layer it doesn't 'feel' like Young K, but it is. This song is so warm and calming just like him (listen to me first, as a fan I know what I'm talking about here, it's his attitude towards fans, really warm and calming). Also, the message in the song is the message that he often says as well. So the song itself feels like him so much.
And the last part of the song, where there is silence and he just sings,
잘 자라 내 사람아
잘 자라 내 사랑아
잘 자라 내 사람아
It brings you warm feelings and nice sleep.
The message in the song feels so pure, like a wish from a parent to their child to sleep well while singing a lullaby and stroking the child's hair.
The song sounds so pure it cleanses your heart. There I said it. Haha.
Overall impression:
I'm IMPRESSED.
Best album of the decade, very Young K, very comforting in many ways, very creative, very detailed, very cool. There is a wide variety of genres in this album, but they all scream 'This is Young K!'. The lyrics bring warm messages with warm feelings just like Young K. I admire his way of writing that expresses his message in many different ways.
I'm happy he gets to give birth to this album, and give a gift to all of us, after the whole year of working extra hard (he also worked hard before, but he does it again 100 times more), to give happiness, to comfort the listener.
I'm so thankful for Young K's hard work to entertain the fans and to make us happy in many ways, especially in this pandemic situation. I can't even count the times I got so much inspiration, comfort, and hope from his works. I will definitely need some time to get used to not be able to see Young K as much as now, but it's o..kay.... (while silently wishes for North and South Korea unification, if that can stop him from going to the military)
Wishing him health and safety while serving in KATUSA so he can come back and sing again for us, with us. (why are my cheeks feel wet....why are my eyes blurry...)
and I'm also excited for future solo projects of other Day6's members, I'm curious how it sounds, how are the style and everything. Their vocals and style are very different from each other, so it is certified greatness!
Until the day they come back, let's live happily too! (typing this while my invisible tears flooding my room)
p.s Happy birthday DAY6!
Comments
Post a Comment