Athletic R&B: Miss A BREATHE

[koganbot]

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Inspired to post this not just because I adore it, but also 'cause 67seven52 called "athletic R&B" his new favorite phrase. On this track, Miss A obviously put a lot of work into something that you'd think would feel light as a feather. Maybe if they'd put even more work into it, it would have actually seemed as light as that, and the effort

Comments

[koganbot]

I like all four of the Miss A's, but Min is the standout, has an extra suppleness, as if every single one of her muscles can hear and speak. Just amazing the way she has of letting the music ripple through her.

Fei is effective in a different way: she's tall and this gives a false sense of gawkiness, with an almost comic faux frightenedness in her eyes; it's very funny and hard to keep one's own eyes off of.

Watching that BoA rehearsal increased my respect for BoA 100%. I've never gotten her as a singer, though haven't heard much of her voluminous repertoire. I borrowed her American album from the Denver Public Library last month. A lot of the material is excellent, especially the stuff from Jonback/Bloodshy & Avant, a track called "Touched" in particular. There was this dance gorgeousness, a desire ready to saturate the atmosphere. But I got the feeling I sometimes get from Keri Hilson of an absence in the middle. The tracks seemed to be waiting for their Cassie, or Britney, or someone, a missing ache or neediness that needed to seep into the music. She was singing well, but not injecting enough character.

But looking at the rehearsal for "Look Who's Talking," I see immediately that BoA's got something: her whole demeanor, a completely flexible confidence, a casual command of space and an elastic joy that's capable of owning every cubic centimeter in the room, should she find her way to it. Maybe the trouble with the album is that the music doesn't reflect this ease, this motion. Maybe she needed more hip-hop, more disco, I'm not sure.

[askbask]

Yes.. I think she shines with this stuff

Although as you know I'm quite fond of her in ballad mode as well, and her latest Korean album. Her own compositions aren't really hip-hop-y but they're enjoyable, I like the casual lightweight sound of 'Ordinary Day' in contrast to its sinister lyrics.

[askbask]

She's generally been more rnb on her Japanese stuff

[askbask]

"completely flexible confidence, a casual command of space"

Exactly! Will be quoting this when talking about her strengths to others. I haven't always been happy with her singles, but am still mostly transfixed by her live performances because of this.