Tag: BOYNEXTDOOR

I know I have not yet finished reviewing all of BOYNEXTDOOR debut/pre-debut singles. I have already reviewed One & Only and But I Like You, but not yet Serenade (I will get to that). However, should that stop me from reviewing their first comeback single, which dropped yesterday? I think not. BOYNEXTDOOR has returned with their first mini-album, Why.., which features all of their debut/pre-debut singles mentioned above and three new tracks – one of which is the title track But Sometimes.

But Sometimes departs from the more innocent sound that they started off with a few months back and goes for a punkish rock sound. It is definitely an on-trend change in direction for the rookie group and I do like how they sound in But Sometimes (more on this in a moment). To be fair, I had expected the group to have debuted with an edgier sound, particular since the group boasts Zico as their producer. And the edgier tone in But Sometimes seems to satisfy that expectation. It also sounds on brand for Zico. I am glad that they do explore an edgier sound, as BOYNEXTDOOR sounds much more engaging in this form. I really like how straightforward the punk rock instrumentation was. The guitar riffs and drumming were very expressive in delivering the punk rock sound, but also they keeps the energy upbeat enough to form But Sometimes into a dance track. The melodies in But Sometimes were memorable, particularly in the chorus. There is something about those melodies and the group’s shouty delivery that just clicks and works tremendously well. Elsewhere, there was some other strong delivery from the members. For example, the second verse rapping sequence was top notch and well-executed. I also liked how clean the final moments of the bridge were, in both instrumental and vocal departments. It made for a really nice incline towards the final chorus. Overall, But Sometimes gets my tick of approval.

Compared to the music videos and songs released for their debut (which were all about falling in love), the music video and But Sometimes deals with the heartbreak associated with one’s first love. I really like how the video has tie-ins to their previous videos, such as the replicas of the burger joint sign and the house of their first love/crush. But instead of the sunny blue skies and lovely neighbourhood, the video depicts these settings on fire and the sky around them is a hell-ish red tone. I also like how the members are dressed in black whilst everything around them was burning, as if they are mourning and grieving. Elsewhere in the video, we see a teddy bear become decapitated and the members struggle through the heartbreak. It was a well-shot video that really sums up the meaning of the track quite well. I also like the recurring presence of doors, which I had pointed out to likely be a recurring element in their One & Only review.

The edgier sound mentioned above allows the performance to show a different range and energy in the choreography. And BOYNEXTDOOR pulls off the performance quite well. Nothing really stood out for me, but given it is their first edgy routine and that they pull it off well, I think the performance is a success. Their stage presence is also a positive, with the members having great chemistry with the camera.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

Continuing my coverage of releases I should have reviewed much closer to when they were released is BOYNEXTDOOR’s But I Like You. It was one of three singles off the group’s first single album, Who!, all of which had an accompanying music video and were promoted on the weekly music shows. The other singles include One & Only and Serenade (the latter I have yet to review, and will return to review on another day). In other related news, BOYNEXTDOOR is due to make their comeback next month.

But I Like You is a fair song. Not as punchy as One & Only, but it does the job as an introduction to the group, given it was the first of the three singles to be released. But I Like You features a held-back form of pop rock. The beat keeps the song bouncing along, but there isn’t much else to the song to build excitement. But I Like You just doesn’t have enough meat to really deliver on that front and I wish it had that oomph as it does slightly frustrate me when the rest of the song is quite good. Vocally, the members sounded very nice. Their vocals had the right amount of texture to fit that pop-rock motif and they give enough energy to give But I Like You a vibrant flair that adds to the song’s appeal. The melodies and hooks had a catchy tinge, just not to the same degree as One & Only. Had the instrumental not been suppressed, I think the reach of melodies and hooks could have heightened. My only other two gripes of the song occurs at the end – the fact But I Like You is very short (it only goes for 2:17 minutes) and it has an abrupt ending that leaves you hanging for more. And that craving is never satisfied, as the single album goes onto the next song. Overall, But I Like You is decent and it is clear to me more could have been done on many fronts to make go further.

But I Like You is all about the feeling of falling in love. In the music video, the members all express this feeling after falling for the same girl. Not a foreign concept in KPOP, but it feels like it has been a while. We see the members sit around at the start, explaining their interactions and excitement to each other. However, those interactions are quite brief, such unintentional physical contact, glimpses from afar or with one another and short text messages. They all get invited to a party and realize their feelings are for the same girl. An awkward second occurs during the party, before the members appear to play it cool and leave the party. A short video, but I liked how succinctly yet effective the story was. And this is in addition to the choreography scenes.

The members did a super good job at making the song appear more vibrant and poppy. Their chemistry with the camera and one another does not allude to the fact the group were a newly debut group. I also like how they express themselves in the performance, with a youthful and cheerful vibe to compliment the song.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 7.5/10

New group alert! BOYNEXTDOOR made their debut back in May with a triple title track situation – But I Live You, One and Only & Serenade. All the tracks come off the group’s first single album, Who!. Good question. BOYNEXTDOOR is a six-member male group from KOZ Entertainment (a subsidiary company of HYBE LABELS) and is produced by famous KPOP producer and Block B member ZICO. The group consists of Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak. This review will focus on their highest charting and what I think is their more recognisable title track, One & Only. But I do have intentions to return to review But I Love You and Serenade in the near future.

I found One & Only to be a cute number. I think it has been a while since I have described a male artist’s release like that, but it does take me back to the cringy days of KPOP when cuteness was the only thing male groups were putting out. One & Only appears to be more refined, without it going into obnoxious territory. I am very appreciative of that. The chorus was a fun little jingle that I cannot get out of my head. It was also playful vibe and suits the youthfulness that BOYNEXTDOOR clearly brings to KPOP. That being said, One & Only is not the perfect KPOP release, let alone a debut release. I don’t remember much from the song other than the chorus jingle, and the members don’t have much opportunity to really showcase their individualistic talents or skills in the song. This is particularly a major problem given that this is one of their first releases, and I don’t see anything that helps differentiate the team from their competition (which I believe will be heating up later this year). Thankfully, the other title tracks do provide this opportunity. But overall, One & Only does enough to attract attention to the group, and serves as a good starting point of the newly debut male group.

Given that the group’s name is BOYNEXTDOOR, I thought it was clever to make a door a recurring element in their music videos. Hopefully, the producers keep this up in future music videos, as this could be a trademark element for the group and it would be intriguing to see how this would be interwoven into future concepts that are not as casual as this one. As for One & Only specifically, the music video feels refreshing and has an exciting energy coming through it. The cuteness comes through as well, and it also isn’t obnoxious from a visual sense. The members look like they are having a fun time, which works well with the joyful and bright energy the group exudes from the song.

While the song doesn’t showcase the members as it should, the performance does a good job of showcasing their cohesiveness. And just like the rest of the comeback, there is a fun and playful vibe coming from the choreography that instantly makes me smile. I like how the door was incorporated into the performance, especially as it helps introduces the members and hides the members throughout the performance. The best part, however, was when one of the members shakes the door to make the others “fall” out.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 7.9/10