[Review] (Album) Younha (윤하) - Growing Season (3rd album part B)
I just found out Younha had a comeback today. Ha. The girl needs a better promotion team. And, gasp, no Younha tags before? Omg.
Younha (윤하) - Growing Season (3rd album part B)
Release Date: December 11, 2009
Language: Korean
Genre(s): Pop, rock, jazz, blues, ballad
Purchase: Yesasia
01. Say Something [YT]
02. 오늘 헤어졌어요 [YT]
03. 좋아해 [YT]
04. 편한가봐 [YT]
05. 헤어진 후에야 알 수 있는 것 (Duet with 김범수) [YT]
06. LaLaLa [YT]
07. 스물두 번째 길 [YT]
08. 오늘 헤어졌어요 (Inst.)
09. 헤어진 후에야 알 수 있는 것 (Inst.)
You know how sometimes singers just promote the wrong song? I mean, sometimes, they have a bunch of great songs in their album, but they choose the most generic song to promote the album, which kind of sucks since that one song doesn't really represent the whole album.
That is what I'd say about Younha. For the past couple of albums, really, she had great material, but she just had to choose a song like 1, 2, 3 as a promotion song. Such a pity.
Younha's coming back to the K-pop music scene with her new album, Growing Season (3rd album part B). I love the songs, but from what it seems, she'll be promoting 오늘 헤어졌어요/Oneul Heeojyeosseoyo/We Broke Up Today, which is such a sleepy ballad that just doesn't show the energy packed in the album.
Say Something is a ballad rock song, that showcases Younha's vocal ability nicely. There's something familiar about this song, which makes me wonder whether it's a remake or not, but so far I can't put a finger on it yet. The chorus is a bit choppy, but Younha's voice comes out strong and sharp, a tad too strong sometimes on the higher notes, but that's her trademark. There's a part at the bridge which I'd love to hear her sing live, since it's a high note, and Younha stretches it out with attitude. It's a nice way to start the album.
Next up, Oneul Heeojyeosseoyo/We Broke Up Today seems to be the main song of the album, which is such a waste. It's a beautiful ballad alright, and Younha undoubtfully hits the notes right. But you know, Younha has a strong voice and it feels just wrong for her to sing something so soft like this. Plus, the lyrics are kind of, to put it, blunt and repetitive. It's probably one of the most unmemorable songs in the album.
The third song is 좋아해/Johahae/I Like You. Awesome, fun song. It's an upbeat rock song, nothing like 1, 2, 3. It's not even like Bimirbeonho 486/Password 486. The guitar chords are strong from the beginning and the melody starts out low and fast, then picks up around the chorus, the chords actually get stronger along the way. If anything I would've chosen this song as a promotion song, since it's repetitive enough, but not boring, very memorable and Younha puts attitude in singing the word, "johahae". (I personally like the way she emphasizes the syllable "-hae". Very enjoyable.) And the feeling to the song is young and fresh, which is what the whole K-pop scene is about, right?
편한가봐/Pyeonhangabwa/Must Be Easy is a soft ballad. I suppose they put this song her as a slow-down after the hip Johahae. The arrangement to this song is simple, a lot of strings, but personally, I wish they tuned down Younha's voice a bit since it stands too much from the background music. But perhaps that's what they're trying to do with the song: making it a showcase of Younha's vocal abilities.
Fifth track, 헤어진 후에야 알 수 있는 것/Heeojin Hueya Alsu Itneun Geot/Realize After Breaking Up, turns out to be a jazz song on the verge of blues. (Blues on the verge of jazz?) It's a duet with Kim Bum Soo, and since I love Kim Bum Soo's voice, I love this songs as well. Younha and KBS's voices match well, they both have that clean type of voice and can hit clear notes well. Plus, Younha is a great dueter. (Duetist? What's the word?) The song as a melancholic feel to it, but the beat isn't so slow, which saves it from falling flat. It's an interesting tune, and to hear Younha try jazz is even nicer.
LaLaLa is the sixth song in the album. Jazz again! The light improvisation at beginning of the song kind of reminds me of Ayaka's way of singing jazz, but moving into the lyrics, it becomes much sweeter. I don't really get why Younha's suddenly plunging into the world of jazz, but I guess it's due to the positive feedback of her Gee cover? Younha's voice just wasn't made for jazz, but nonetheless, LaLaLa is a fun song to listen to. Younha sounds pretty happy too.
Despite being an extremely quiet ballad, 스물두 번째 길/Seumuldu Beonjjae Gil/22nd Street, is beautiful. The piano comes really soft and Younha drags out her lines slowly, but I like how the song gives off an eerie feeling. Listening to the song is somewhat like watching the sun rise, since it starts off quietly, then the lyrics become clearer and clearer around the chorus. The accoustic guitar that comes after the chorus is beautiful and accompanies the piano wonderfully. Younha manages to tone down her voice and that does wonders to the song. This is probably the strongest ballad of the album. (Aha! All the piano-accoustic-guitar-capella reminds me of w-inds.' Eien no Tochuu. Old song, yes, but nevertheless nice.) This song could definitely rock the stage if someday Younha decides to do an accoustic live version of it.
Overall Score: B+
I like how Younha explores more kinds of music in this album. I can't wait for her live performances.
Notable songs: Johahae/I Like You, Heeojin Hueya Alsu Itneun Geot/Realize After Breaking Up, Seumuldu Beonjjae Gil/22nd Street
Younha (윤하) - Growing Season (3rd album part B)
Release Date: December 11, 2009
Language: Korean
Genre(s): Pop, rock, jazz, blues, ballad
Purchase: Yesasia
01. Say Something [YT]
02. 오늘 헤어졌어요 [YT]
03. 좋아해 [YT]
04. 편한가봐 [YT]
05. 헤어진 후에야 알 수 있는 것 (Duet with 김범수) [YT]
06. LaLaLa [YT]
07. 스물두 번째 길 [YT]
08. 오늘 헤어졌어요 (Inst.)
09. 헤어진 후에야 알 수 있는 것 (Inst.)
You know how sometimes singers just promote the wrong song? I mean, sometimes, they have a bunch of great songs in their album, but they choose the most generic song to promote the album, which kind of sucks since that one song doesn't really represent the whole album.
That is what I'd say about Younha. For the past couple of albums, really, she had great material, but she just had to choose a song like 1, 2, 3 as a promotion song. Such a pity.
Younha's coming back to the K-pop music scene with her new album, Growing Season (3rd album part B). I love the songs, but from what it seems, she'll be promoting 오늘 헤어졌어요/Oneul Heeojyeosseoyo/We Broke Up Today, which is such a sleepy ballad that just doesn't show the energy packed in the album.
Say Something is a ballad rock song, that showcases Younha's vocal ability nicely. There's something familiar about this song, which makes me wonder whether it's a remake or not, but so far I can't put a finger on it yet. The chorus is a bit choppy, but Younha's voice comes out strong and sharp, a tad too strong sometimes on the higher notes, but that's her trademark. There's a part at the bridge which I'd love to hear her sing live, since it's a high note, and Younha stretches it out with attitude. It's a nice way to start the album.
Next up, Oneul Heeojyeosseoyo/We Broke Up Today seems to be the main song of the album, which is such a waste. It's a beautiful ballad alright, and Younha undoubtfully hits the notes right. But you know, Younha has a strong voice and it feels just wrong for her to sing something so soft like this. Plus, the lyrics are kind of, to put it, blunt and repetitive. It's probably one of the most unmemorable songs in the album.
The third song is 좋아해/Johahae/I Like You. Awesome, fun song. It's an upbeat rock song, nothing like 1, 2, 3. It's not even like Bimirbeonho 486/Password 486. The guitar chords are strong from the beginning and the melody starts out low and fast, then picks up around the chorus, the chords actually get stronger along the way. If anything I would've chosen this song as a promotion song, since it's repetitive enough, but not boring, very memorable and Younha puts attitude in singing the word, "johahae". (I personally like the way she emphasizes the syllable "-hae". Very enjoyable.) And the feeling to the song is young and fresh, which is what the whole K-pop scene is about, right?
편한가봐/Pyeonhangabwa/Must Be Easy is a soft ballad. I suppose they put this song her as a slow-down after the hip Johahae. The arrangement to this song is simple, a lot of strings, but personally, I wish they tuned down Younha's voice a bit since it stands too much from the background music. But perhaps that's what they're trying to do with the song: making it a showcase of Younha's vocal abilities.
Fifth track, 헤어진 후에야 알 수 있는 것/Heeojin Hueya Alsu Itneun Geot/Realize After Breaking Up, turns out to be a jazz song on the verge of blues. (Blues on the verge of jazz?) It's a duet with Kim Bum Soo, and since I love Kim Bum Soo's voice, I love this songs as well. Younha and KBS's voices match well, they both have that clean type of voice and can hit clear notes well. Plus, Younha is a great dueter. (Duetist? What's the word?) The song as a melancholic feel to it, but the beat isn't so slow, which saves it from falling flat. It's an interesting tune, and to hear Younha try jazz is even nicer.
LaLaLa is the sixth song in the album. Jazz again! The light improvisation at beginning of the song kind of reminds me of Ayaka's way of singing jazz, but moving into the lyrics, it becomes much sweeter. I don't really get why Younha's suddenly plunging into the world of jazz, but I guess it's due to the positive feedback of her Gee cover? Younha's voice just wasn't made for jazz, but nonetheless, LaLaLa is a fun song to listen to. Younha sounds pretty happy too.
Despite being an extremely quiet ballad, 스물두 번째 길/Seumuldu Beonjjae Gil/22nd Street, is beautiful. The piano comes really soft and Younha drags out her lines slowly, but I like how the song gives off an eerie feeling. Listening to the song is somewhat like watching the sun rise, since it starts off quietly, then the lyrics become clearer and clearer around the chorus. The accoustic guitar that comes after the chorus is beautiful and accompanies the piano wonderfully. Younha manages to tone down her voice and that does wonders to the song. This is probably the strongest ballad of the album. (Aha! All the piano-accoustic-guitar-capella reminds me of w-inds.' Eien no Tochuu. Old song, yes, but nevertheless nice.) This song could definitely rock the stage if someday Younha decides to do an accoustic live version of it.
Overall Score: B+
I like how Younha explores more kinds of music in this album. I can't wait for her live performances.
Notable songs: Johahae/I Like You, Heeojin Hueya Alsu Itneun Geot/Realize After Breaking Up, Seumuldu Beonjjae Gil/22nd Street