Tag: Holland

HOLLAND’s plans for his latest comeback was a twin singles return. He unveiled his first single, I’m Not Afraid, two weeks ago. In that review, I had predicted that his second single would be titled as On The Second Moon as those were the words that closed off his music video. However, as always, I was incorrect and his second single as part of the twin single comeback is I’m So Afraid.

I’m So Afraid opens up like a ballad but it turns into an EDM track, which I thought was an interesting combination. The synths used in this song is a little more explosive (in volume) that we are used to. But in a way, I thought that this extra volume and the synths contributed to a more suspenseful drop and eerie feel to the song, which I thought plays neatly to the title of the song. Particularly during the buildup to the pre-chorus, there was this very epic yet gradually building feel, which I tend to like in some songs. His vocals throughout the song had some sort of quivering effect, which also worked nicely with a song called ‘I’m So Afraid’. It then closes off as a ballad, ending the song as a full circle. The song seems to allude to his feelings of himself prior to realizing/accepting who he is. Overall, the song was quite good and it is something that I would listen to often, given its epic buildup.

The video starts off with where we left off in I’m Not Afraid. HOLLAND wakes up in the forest, wearing pink pyjamas. However, HOLLAND only appears at the start and end of the video. The rest of the video involves a female dancer, who dances interpretively in a city setting wearing the same pink pyjamas as HOLLAND. I liked her dancing, which spoke in volumes alongside the epicness of the music. Besides that, I don’t really know what the meaning of the video is. I would like to learn a little more about the storyline and the connections between the two videos. Was the first video like the reality but on the inside, he feels more like the second video – conflicted and scared?

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9/10

Holland is back with a brand new single, I’m Not Afraid. For those who don’t know of the solo artist, he is openly gay and debuted with Neverland in January of this year. I’m Not Afraid is a two-part single project, with the likely title of the second single (to be released at a later date) being On The Second Moon, as these are the words that close off the music video for this comeback. But until then, let’s focus on his latest single.

While I wasn’t really a fan of Neverland, I find I’m Not Afraid to be much more captivating and interesting. I think this is partly due to the retro synth-dominated EDM instrumental that forms the basis of the song. I really liked the instrumental overall. It is refreshing and somewhat different to what we hear constantly throughout the industry at the moment. The echo effect that is placed on this vocals really make him sound so much better and adds an extra layer to the retro element of the song. I also like the way he sings ‘I’m not afraid anymore’, which is definitely a strong (in a subtle way) hook. While the song was consistent, I didn’t find it one bit boring or repetitive, which is a feat worth mentioning.

What also makes this a great comeback is the lyrics of the song. While Holland clearly takes inspiration from his life, I liked how the video isn’t just about him. Featuring in the video is people of colour, a drag queen and other gay couples. The song’s main message is that nobody should be afraid anymore. You shouldn’t be afraid to be yourself. I thought the video was well presented with everyone turning up for a party and enjoying themselves. It also pushes boundaries with a very steamy kiss between Holland and his boyfriend It was a good video with a powerful message.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10

Last week, we saw the debut of Holland, a new soloist in South Korea. He is currently garnering a lot of attention and support from fans and listeners for being the first openly gay KPOP idol, earning over 5 million views in just one week alone (which is really impressive for a debut act). While it is completely fine that he is gay, I am interested in what Korea’s response to the artist would be. But nonetheless, it is clear he has a lot of support already.

I personally don’t mind the song but if I were to be critical about it, I have to say it is rather stagnant. The song just felt flat from start to end and it doesn’t really develop into anything. Both the instrumental and Holland’s vocals don’t really do much to the song, which is why I put it on the backburner for a week to cover the other artists. It just doesn’t have that interesting factor. He does have a nice voice but the song just don’t showcase it. To me, the only reason why I still have this song in mind is that of his sexuality. Besides that, the song doesn’t have that memorable element like other ballads do. There was one thing that I did like that does leave an impression on me, however, and that is how he sings ‘Neverland‘ at the end of the chorus. But besides that, the song just isn’t for me.

You can tell how conservative South Korea is in regards to this issue because of the 19+ rating it was given. But I am not here to get political. I just personally do not agree with such a rating. The song definitely has an effect on the music video, with it not holding my attention for long. There was some development (which were the events building up to the kissing) but that doesn’t seem much of a highlight for me. But good for them.

Song – 5/10
Music Video – 4/10
Overall Rating – 4.6/10