GFriend are quickly and quietly building up an impressive resume. This will be their third title track of the year, after the mature "Fingertip" and innocent "Love Whisper." While the former was an awesome step out of their comfort zone, it was a little disappointing to see them immediately revert back to their debut selves. "Love Whisper" was more like "Glass Bead" and "Me Gustas Tu" than their more impactful releases. But this isn't a review for "Love Whisper." "Summer Rain" might be late on the season but would be a chance to see what direction GFriend were going to take with release #3 in 2017.
That piano opening is lovely and a recurring theme in the song's background. It helps cast an eerie overtone despite the generic pop ballad mix that the song actually is. Upon first listen, it's easy to hear that "Summer Rain" is...very much a GFriend song. The influences from past hits of "Me Gustas Tu," "Rough," and others are hard to miss. "Summer Rain" is also one of the best instances of calm Yuju I've ever heard. She absolutely graces the chorus by gliding over her notes - it's beautiful. She is restrained but still able to show off her voice all the while sounding very comfortable. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the other members. Umji and Yerin in particular sound a few notes out of their range which does detract from Yuju's work.
My biggest complaint about "Summer Rain" is that like "Love Whisper," it doesn't really introduce us to anything new in GFriend's repertoire. Yeah, Yuju sounds incredible with the softer tones and yeah, the eerie piano is a nice touch but outside of that? There's hardly anything to write home about. There are various points throughout the song where you could easily merge into past GFriend hits, which is both a positive and a negative. Positive in that the same style is there and negative in that it's nothing we haven't seen or heard from them before. I get that consistency is key especially for younger aspiring groups but I was hoping "Fingertip" would help push them into a new phase.
GFriend stays true to their dance colors. This dance is fragile and beautiful, whilst incorporating elements from previous songs and dances. Admittedly I haven't studied the choreography / live performances that intensively but the most obvious example is of course when they lock hands and move outwards, resembling the move from the beginning of "Rough." The moves are generally simple and contained. Then there's also the part during Yuju's chorus lines where the lyrics are talking about time (or something relating to time) and they're moving their hands like hands on a clock. Nothing revolutionary about this dance, but it's clean and up to the usual GFriend standards. I hesitate to even bring up the shenanigans regarding Yerin talking about her group's choreography but it's certainly less exciting than their other songs'. Though this choreography in particular is their most tame compared to the rest, it's a simple set that matches the simplicity of the song. It would be very awkward seeing a hard-hitting dance.
For only the 597th time, we have a rather stereotypical and boring music video. The highlights of this MV include the umbrellas and rain. If you like seeing rain (real or fake) fall then this is right up your alley. There is lots and lots of rain. Other than that, most of the scenes show the GFriend girls wistfully going about their day. Thinking about the past, the present, and the future. Yawn. In other news, Eunha growing her hair out is wonderful. Bring the long locks back! She doesn't look bad in the short cut per se but the longer hair gives her a more elegant look which I appreciate. Come to think of it, GFriend have one of the most consistent rosters in terms of visuals. Besides Eunha cutting her hair short and Umji's evolution, everyone else has always looked strong since debut. Yuju, Sowon, Yerin, and SinB haven't undergone any disaster style changes for any comeback and that's great. Don't fix what ain't broken.
I suppose that with a title like "Summer Rain," one knows what type of song they were gonna get. Still, I can't help but want more of the powerful GFriend, with kickass instrumentals and a more mature sound in "Navillera" and "Fingertip." Ultimately, "Summer Rain" is the standard GFriend formula with a twist, but only a small twist. The song is delicate in nature, something that is embodied in instrumental, vocals, and choreography. Certainly a good listen when the mood is right, but otherwise only leaves a small impression. Combined with "Love Whisper," these last two pieces have felt uninspiring compared to their stronger releases of the past.
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