[Bonus] Best Of Vocalists: Wild Cards

I originally made the fourth category a “support” one, referencing vocalists best at transitions, or “gluing” the group so to speak. Afterward I would throw in a few honorable mentions, and this wild card group is a combination. Not only are some of the singers fantastic at transition, I also find a few underrated, or just very unique, they deserve their own group.

Dara is often scoffed at when talking about vocals because she’s not really that standout live or studio, but I think she’s overlooked in terms of her transitional voice. She works the bridges and seams really well in 2NE1’s music, something I don’t see too much of. Dara is the glue voice, holding the explosive Bom, strong CL, and young Minzy’s voices altogether to make 2NE1’s sound.

Narsha reserves a spot for Brown Eyed Girls here. I really like Gain’s voice, but it’s at best a supplement of IU’s voice (most evident in “Bloom”). Narsha has…an innocent voice, which is certainly a curious quality to have for someone who is 31. She has good control and the consistency is appealing, in contrast to the different appealing like say her wacky appearances, outfits, and personality. Overall she adds another pleasant BEG voice to the mix.

It certainly feels a little funny to be putting IU here, but I think it’s where she belongs amongst the other categories. Not quite the powerhouse vocalist or the evident leader, but unique enough to share her voice across ballads and pop alike. IU’s voice has a fluid air around it, instantly transforming anything she sings into a “IU-ified” version, whether it’s her covers of “Sorry Sorry” and “Gee”, it’s a lively thing that definitely sounds IU.

Suzy is the younger successor or equivalent to Dara, At first listen it’s nothing spectacular but she easily grows on you and soon her vocal work in choruses and transition is almost as good as Dara. On a side note, Suzy possesses some of the best English out of all 32 featured vocalists who aren’t fluent speakers. Suzy’s voice is innocent (“Love Alone”) and very lively (“Classic”).

Yoseob’s a member of B2ST which is…a more dance and rap-oriented group than anything. Yoseob is the vocal carry of the group, in similar fashion to Sistar’s Hyorin and Secret’s Ji Eun. His fluid voice moves from one line to another, standing out from the rest of B2ST or in solos like “Caffeine” or backing his member’s voices when they sing.

I consider Junsu (I refuse to call him Jun. K or whatever he changed his name to) the most underrated out of this set. He has this mysterious vibrating quality in his voice. It makes it appear shaky during long notes but it’s really a good “addition” to his voice, so to speak. Like Yoseob, Junsu helps liven up the vocal quality of 2PM, and has stepped up significantly post-Jaebeom.

Onew has a truly distinct voice, and only loses to Jonghyun in the vocals department because his range is lower / smaller, and some awkward sound that arises through certain melodies. It’s weird, because Jonghyun’s voice is similar but with less apparent awkwardness. Now, that sort of thing is mainly subjective but it’s worth noting when talking about SHINee’s lead vocalists. Onew excels in baritone ranges (“One Year Later”) and can sound fairly good in the louder electronic music (“Juliette”), but most certainly out of place in others (“Lucifer”).

Jinwoon’s known for his role in 2AM, where he’s typically a quality support voice while Seulong, Changmin, and Jo Kown do the bulk of work. However, recent solo expeditions and OST work like “Now Or Never” and “You Walking Towards Me” have shown that he is more than capable of providing an explosive yet charming voice. Hopefully, JYP / Big Hit will integrate Jinwoon’s ability into 2AM’s music in the future (and I pray that it not be rap-related).

[Bonus] Best Of Vocalists: Specialists

Some may not have the widest range, some may not have the most powerful voice, but one thing is for sure. They’re incredibly talented at a specific aspect of music. Most of these people are members of very specialized groups, most notably main ballad singers (because I just fall for those easily), which only furthers their ability.

Minkyung is a member of Davichi, one of the best groups in terms of vocals. Their R&B ballads are amazing, and Minkyung’s solo appearances across shows are something to speak of. “Don’t Say Goodbye” is the main standout track that comes to mind, where she and Haeri pull off some consistent strings of graceful high notes. Minkyung kind of struggles in lower ranges, and sounds uncomfortable, but she makes up for it by having some rapping potential (“We Were In Love”).

If Taeyeon’s voice is “bright” and Park Bom’s voice is “vibrant”, then Juniel’s is certainly “sweet”. It’s a very soft and pretty voice, the epitome of sweetness and for that reason her ballad works (“Bad Guy”, “Illa Illa”). An apt comparison is to IU, but Juniel has a lighter voice and higher register. Like I mentioned for Juniel’s excerpt in the Best Of 2012 set, she has a magnificent ballad voice but not so much for other genres, so that makes her a specialist.

While it seems to have faded away with recent releases, Gayoon possesses an incredibly powerful voice. It’s not as husky as someone like Ailee or Hyorin, but it’s extremely sharp sounding, in nice relation to her image. Whether it’s a surprise high note belt (“I My Me Mine”) or a predictable climb (“Mirror Mirror”), Gayoon is still able to send shivers with her powerful notes.

As a queen of KPop, BoA is certainly perfect for pop music. Her voice is lively and rich, making even doubtful and mediocre pop songs like “Hurricane Venus” and “The Shadow” sound good and of course excel catchy music like “Copy & Paste”, amongst other old songs. Utility wise, BoA has a smooth voice for ballads but even then, her ad libs clearly give off a pop vibe, like the wondrous work in “Dear My Family”. How this woman meshes her voice with choreography live is beyond me; she’s incredible.

Ahh, there you are, Yesung! Even apart from splendid work in non-ballad songs like “Sorry Sorry” and other Super Junior works, your voice is perfect for ballads. Between performances on Immortal Song 2 and stuff like “It Has To Be You”, there is nothing like listening to a ballad of yours to give my daily dose of emotion. And of course, one cannot forget how unbelievable the last 45 seconds of Super Junior’s “It’s You” are.

Ryeowook joins Yesung to make three Super Junior members so far. Ryeowook’s voice is quite unique in sound, and his range is extremely expansive. I’ve heard some Michael Jackson comparisons in regards to his singing but I think it’s more distinct, a little more energetic (“Moves Like Jagger”). Being a member of the KRY subunit gives him plenty of work to show off his ballad prowess, and collaborative work like “Falling In Love With A Friend” has also done him good justice.

Lee Hyun is known for being a member of 8eight and project group Homme with 2AM’s Changmin. Among those, solo work has also highlighted his ability / smooth voice. Like Hongki, it’s a delightful mixture of clearness and husky sound which creates a unique vocal timbre. “Still Eating Well” and “You Are The Best Of My Life” are some of Lee Hyun’s most outstanding songs.

The only non-ballad master for the guys’ list, Changmin makes an appearance because his specialty isn’t tied to a specific genre, it’s his impressive ability to hit those high power notes he does all the time. Whether it’s “Mirotic” or “Catch Me”, Changmin is belting his head off and he sounds so good at it. Like Gayoon, his power notes are capable of impressing no matter where and what he sings.

[Bonus] Best Of Vocalists: Leads

Leads are responsible for helping shape and define the voice of the group. For the most part, anyway. Often, they have unique attributes which easily differentiate them from the crowd, and are powerful that you can hear them amongst a sea of other voices.

Is there another like Bom? Seriously, Park Bom’s voice is so vibrant. It’s colourful, bright, and unique. Okay, her control is a little shaky and live performance leaves quite a bit to be desired to this day, but that does not shake away from just how amazing she sounds when she sings. 2NE1’s music isn’t too strongly motivated by vocals, but various songs like “Follow Me” and of course her solo endeavors, really bring out her skill. Bom is certainly a top tier voice.

JeA is amazing at ballads. However, I think her voice is really strong, and absolutely the strongest out of Brown Eyed Girls. This quality truly defines the voice of Brown Eyed Girls, where the other members’ voices mesh to compliment and support hers. Performances on Immortal Song 2 are solid and I don’t think she gets enough attention or acknowledgment for what she does and how she does it. Hopefully her first solo album changes that.

Sunye is interesting for me. On one hand, she is probably the most emotional singer or at least most capable, but on the other, her higher range makes her sound out of place. Thankfully, Wonder Girls’ music isn’t too vocally focused so the latter isn’t too often an occasion, not a strike on Ye Eun or Sunye but their music typically doesn’t put a huge strain or emphasis when compared to say something like “Twinkle”, but the consistency, control, and balance of emotions make Sunye stand apart and be a leader.

I think Luna is really underappreciated. Partly because she hasn’t had too much time to show off her prowess and partly because S.M. is awful at marketing her ability. None of f(x)’s songs showcase what Luna can do at all (in fact non-f(x) projects like “It’s Me” and “Dear My Family” are more complimentary to her), and that’s a shame because she has a hella strong voice that is only going to keep improving as she gets older.

If Park Bom is the signature standout unique female voice, then Jonghyun is almost certainly the standout male counterpart. It’s practically impossible to listen to a SHINee song and not hear Jonghyun somewhere in the background. That alone is enough to show Jonghyun’s command of the SHINee sound, but it isn’t everything. He has one of the best control over high / power notes, and so the heavy dance electronic robotic supersonic music his group releases is perfect, and the tenure of S.M. The Ballad gave him a chance at softer songs which he sang admirably.

In a similar vein to his labelmate, EXO-M’s Jongdae (Chen is a really boring name, sorry) also has a powerful and unique sound that makes even ordinary lines sound polished and supreme. Highlights are easily from some of the fancy extended notes in “History”, “MAMA”, and “Dear My Family”. Unfortunately, he’s a rookie which means he has not put out a lot of content, so I’m eagerly waiting for more stuff, especially “Baby Don’t Cry”.

Hongki, Hongki, Hongki. What would putting you in a group be like? For sure, you’d still remain a main vocalist. His voice is raspy but soft, aggressive but soothing, like a chameleon, it’s able to adapt as necessary to the song, sort of like alternative to Kyuhyun’s. Additionally, Hongki has this technical quality of being able to fluctuate his voice (crescendos, etc.) really well, like in “I’ll Love Everything”. I think his voice would be really good to try trot, too!

The only solo to make this set, Wheesung is a true veteran in the entertainment world and has been pulling R&B ballads like it’s his job…which it kinda is. Regardless, Wheesung is quite the vocalist, with medium deep range but the striking ability to throw a lot of emotion in his music (“He Is Coming”). On top of that, Wheesung has very nice high notes which aren’t harshly strained (“Insomnia”), too.

[Bonus] Best Of Vocalists: Balanced

In this “Best Of” series, we’ll be taking a look at the various fields of talent in KPop. What kind of talent? Vocal talent, of course! I’ll bring up eight of my favourite singers across four different categories, while highlighting some of their most impressive works of course.

While none of these are particular rankings, these eight might just be the overall best, balanced in pretty much every way between control, pitch, range, utility, and more. While they are essentially capable of being leads, they’re just too strong at everything else to be labeled as such. 

Younha leads the pack as my favourite vocalist ever. She may not have the widest range or the most powerful voice, but the ability to put emotion, innocence, and consistency in her voice is unrivaled and her versatility is remarkable. Through the emotional “Broke Up Today”, energetic “Houki Boshi”, and the powerful “Hero”, Younha is allstar material.

Hyorin is known for carrying Sistar, who are at best mediocre singers without her. Her prowess in lower ranges is incredible, and her high notes and belts are something, too, if but a little airy. Hyorin’s voice is probably best described as “running velvet”, or “silvery”. It’s like methodical but precise, able to adapt to various styles at ease. Hyorin is hailed as Korea’s Beyonce, and justly so.

In contention for said title is rising rookie Ailee, whose explosive voice (“Girl On Fire”) is also the same lofting beautiful light ballads (“Evening Sky”). Throw on being a native English speaker and the ability to rap (Wheesung’s “He Is Coming”), and Ailee was my candidate for “Best Rookie 2012” or at the very least the solo artist recipient. If all else, Ailee will probably have one of the best covers ever (“Halo”).

Taeyeon finishes off the girls’ list in glory, as the most impressive female group vocalist with 5+ years in experience. Years have gone by and all Taeyeon has is matured since 2007. Complete versatility (“7898”, “Devil’s Cry”, “Hoot”) and angelic power notes (“O Holy Night”) are some of the best qualities.

Over on the males side, Kyuhyun tops out Yesung for Super Junior’s representative (don’t worry we’ll talk about Yesung later). While Yesung is definitely the expert at ballads and emotion, Kyuhyun isn’t that far off and is also stellar at various genres like rock (“Pretend Party”) and pop (“Rise & Shine”), too.

When one brings up DBSK, Junsu is the essence of prime vocal ability. The unique sound he possesses and quality control make Junsu instantly recognizable and with work like “In Heaven” and even older releases like the “Timeless” duet with Zhang LiYin (which was lovely, may I add), it’s not hard to see why. Since the DBSK / JYJ split, JYJ’s music has always tailored more to the vocal talents, and Junsu utilizes that as much as possible.

Seulong has the smoothest voice in 2AM and thus overall. Being a member of 2AM, most of his work is ballads (“You Wouldn’t Answer My Calls”, “Even If I Die I Can’t Let You Go”), he has branched off so to speak with collaboration work in “Nagging” with IU and even under “I Did Wrong”, too.

Originally, I thought of Daesung as a support role. While he does do the vocal work in Big Bang, it’s not typically expressive enough as some of the other singers on the group. However, going back through older stuff reminded me on just how brilliant he can be, with more recent things like “Baby Don’t Cry” and “Bad Boy” highlighting his smooth voice. The very fact that I feel his voice is more utility but at the same time omnipresent is proof enough of his skill.

[Review] 2YOON - 24/7

Vocals: 10 / 10

Okay, this was definitely something new for Korean music. Country is so distant a genre but Gayoon and Jiyoon do a standout job with their voices. 4Minute isn’t really too known for their vocals but 2Yoon is quite solid and this is no exception. The B.A.P reference was utilized nicely and perhaps because of that influence, I felt other parts of the song were also pieced from other songs. I heard parts of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” and SHINee’s “Juliette” throughout the transitions and chorus. Regardless, everything comes together nicely to create this unique blend. Gayoon seemingly continues to lose her distinct voice but more than makes up for it in the bridge and her power note is fantastic. There’s actually a lot of underdiscovered adlibs and vocal work, it’s just shielded by the crazy banjo instrumentals and stock. The plethora of English was almost perfect, surprising me since nobody in 4minute is really English capable. The timing of “rodeo” was just too strange, in fact I thought it was Korean before looking at the lyrics.

Appearance: 10 / 10

Jiyoon’s hair is too short for my tastes but I can live through it. Gayoon looks awesome and both are for the most part, blended into the scenery as well as they can be. I was originally worried that Gayoon’s iconic sharp image would hurt her in a scenery like this but hat is off to her, she looked fabulous. What else is there to say? The outfits are also as basic as can be with regards to a country theme, and all the other supporting people (dancers isn’t really the right word) are the same. It would have been pretty hard to mess this one up, and I’m glad they didn’t.

Dance: 9 / 10

Well, along with the vocals, outfits, and setting, here is another fitting number. This isn’t some crazy intense hip hop movement or moves with loving emotion, this is just two girls dancing and having fun. Certainly not complex, but the choreography has some nice attributes that make it appealing. For example, they actually clap during the bridge, and the dance is just cute all around. “Boom, clap. Boom boom boom clap~”

Rap: 8 / 10

Firstly, this rap is probably one of the most appropriately used in all of KPop history, and this isn’t even pop! I figured if there was to be rap, Jiyoon would be the one to do it, since she’s got the lower and huskier voice but Gayoon doesn’t do too poorly. It’s essentially rap singing that meshes together with the instrumental as a makeshift verse. What first came off as sloppy execution or lazy decision making turned to innovative charm as I gave it more listens.

Music Video: 9 / 10

A strong message in the lyrics is iterated by the music video, where work turns to play at the lead of 2Yoon. They’re singing, dancing, drinking, and most importantly, having fun! The sets were stereotypical enough to match “country” as a theme, but I found the fog / light filters misplaced. The extra shenanigans of people around the neighborhood added to the MV’s fun factor. Interaction between 2Yoon and everyone else in terms of performance and dance reminded me of “Like This”, which is not a bad thing. More outside influences aside, the music video was still fresh, lively, and cute, if but a little claustrophobic. Also, random white guy in the background for the win.

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Overall: 92 / 100

This song is funky, energetic, weird, expressive…and I love everything about it. The recycling parts of familiar songs makes the music friendly and creative simultaneously. Even though I thought Jiyoon would’ve done the rapping and Gayoon the bulk of the vocal work, both executed their roles superbly. This theme is something no legit group or subunit would have thought “Hey maybe we should try this out” but 2Yoon takes the gold.

[Review] Super Junior-M - Break Down

Vocals: 6 / 10

There is just so much wrong in this song. Between the random breaks, bizarre melodies, and incredibly apparent amount of autotune, it’s not very easy to listen to. The chorus is bouncy and not in the good way. It’s not all bad though, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun are relatively strong, and some of Zhou Mi’s lines are also really nice. The enunciation of Chinese has also taken a step forward since the days of “Perfection”, but is still lacking when compared to psuedo counterpart EXO-M.

Appearance: 6 / 10

Remember last week when I said Siwon should not have long hair? Yeah, it’s not a good look. Continuing the trend, Donghae and Zhou Mi’s hairstyles that counter their usual handsome looks. Henry is, well, still unchanged since “Maxstep” and prior, looking as youthful as ever. Sungmin is probably the first and only guy that looks good with the blue / purple tint. Ryeowook and Kyuhyun look the usual. The outfits are also fairly reminiscent of those in “Perfection”, and that is not a good thing.

Dance: 6 / 10

The last time a Super Junior M choreography was impressive, catchy, and appealing was “Super Girl”. As for this, I spent 50% of the time writhing, 10% of the time nodding in approval at the nice moves at the dance bridge, and a final 40% of the time laughing because they looked absolutely stupid doing their dance. The only time the dance was worth paying attention to was during the break, where some integrated footwork looked good amongst the dancers. Also of note, the “move one by one in a straight line” seems to be a new favourite.

Rap: 4 / 10

Eunhyuk raps twice in different length segments and both of them are at best random interjections between the singing. The raps themselves are only mediocre, so I’m not impressed. The song had some serious dubstep sound so I understand the urge to insert rap, but Eunhyuk can hardly rap in Korean, let alone in Chinese. Next time, save it for something that could actually benefit from decent rap, a la “Superman”.

Music Video: 4 / 10

Eventually, I’ll just use a carbon copy of a music video description for every SM review and just change a couple words. That way it’ll be exactly like the differences in music videos! I could even use colours or something! Well, there’s certainly no plot, and the rooms are bright, fancy, whatever. Also, Siwon doesn’t appear in the choreography because he’s supposedly hella busy acting, etc. But seriously, his solo shots are literally the same stance / look except for one at the near end of the video. I don’t want to think it since Siwon’s awesome but he’s on track to becoming the next Kibum of the group.

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Overall: 52 / 100

I think this is the lowest score I’ve given any song so far? And as a statement to how S.M. has been doing in terms of music, it’s certainly not a good set of marks. Across the roster, I’ve continued to not be impressed with releases over the last year or so. With word that the SME machine plans to continue its march strongly into 2013, I think they need to step up their game and change a few gears.

[Review] JYP, 2PM, Miss A - Classic

Vocals: 9 / 10

I will always give credit to JYP because he doesn’t just interact with his stars through writing and composing music, he’ll also perform, too. He, along with Wooyoung and Suzy create a soothing trio of soft vocals, furthered by the excellent strings / piano instrumental. While a little on the higher side for JYP, he does a good job in transitions between the verses and chorus. I’ve not been too much a fan of Wooyoung’s voice but he definitely does well in this supportive role, and Suzy’s chorus and short adlibs are both lively and lovely. Suzy’s English is also solid, thankfully, since there is of course a handful of English. Excellent work.

Appearance: 8 / 10

At a glance, everything falls into place. Nobody is too wacky, or stands out, following the setting and theme. I wasn’t really a fan of Wooyoung’s bright blonde, but overall the cut doesn’t look bad on him. Coupled with the athletic wear, he looks just like a typical high school / university student. Suzy is of course perfect. I actually thought her face looked a little chubby, which is something I like. Being too skinny freaks me out. Goodness, Taecyeon, please go back to short hair. Taecyeon’s part of that illustrious group of male visuals who should never have long hair: Siwon, T.O.P, Yunho to name a few others. JYP and Chansung earn a bonus point I guess?

Rap: 7 / 10

I’ve seen better, and I’ve certainly seen worse out of Taecyeon. While the vocals were soft and complimentary, Taecyeon’s low harsh voice cuts through the bridge with his lines. Using him to open and close the song with the same line was also a solid touch. But oh my, using “plastic” to rhyme with “classic” has got to earn a place on the list of “Worst Engrish” ever, alongside “Sexy, free, and single I’m ready too, bingo.”

Music Video: 10 / 10

Let me first note for the people who criticized the acting in the MV, that I did not find the acting bad at all. And truth be told, the fact there is actual acting in a music video is already leaps and bounds ahead of the current metagame of MV’s. The last time I remembered relevant acting in music videos was JYJ’s “In Heaven” (Song Jihyo <3). The “Romeo and Juliet” basic plot was certainly well executed, and there were actually many nice touches that I did not notice until a few more watches. The party in which Wooyoung and Suzy meet for the first time is the celebration of the engagement between Suzy and Chansung. The connections between all the characters. Taecyeon decides early, bringing Suzy the running shoes for her to GTFO. The quality of the story being memorable for the characters to watch it together again and again. It’s a lovely music video.

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Overall: 85 / 100

I didn’t want to make the title “JYP, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Suzy” since that’d be too lengthy, but in the end it’s a solid collaboration effort for Reebok and puts a certain SM collab work to shame. The vocals are standout and the story, while overused, is more than a reason in itself for such a nice music video. Taecyeon’s rap is okay, I guess they had to have him rap, otherwise what else would he do? Let’s not use the word “plastic” ever again though. 

[Review] Girls' Generation - I Got A Boy

Vocals: 7 / 10

This song has around four phases, all with different tempo, melodies, etc. and the transitions are mediocre at best. Some of the earlier transitions are good, but towards the end everything seems to fall apart and collapse on itself. I don’t know why but S.M. really struggles with effective transitions compared to YG (2NE1’s “I Love You”) and JYP (JJ Project’s “Bounce”). I’d much prefer so called “plain” songs if it means bypassing the feel of three very different songs hashed together. Don’t forget there’s rap, which also really hurts the flow of the already choppy song. Line distribution, however, is at its best in “I Got A Boy”, with all the usual vocalists getting everything and everyone else just rapping, and since there’s a good amount of the latter, it feels even. A lack of adlibs, power notes, really anything interesting keeps this score average.

Appearance: 9 / 10

I can’t give this a perfect score because Sunny decided to dump large amounts of ice cream into her hair and then shape it into a bush. I cringe every single time she shows up in the MV. Ughh. That said, everyone else is flawless. Yuri, Taeyeon, and Jessica in particular stand at the top. Seohyun’s bangs look good, and definitely make her look younger (maknae forever). I noticed the use of coloured contacts to I guess intensify the eyes? The problem is I only really noticed the positive effects on Seohyun (everyone else just looked a little strange), and secondly, this is really KARA’s ype of thing, and SNSD kinda shows only KARA can pull it off well every time. The outfits were colourful enough, in comparison to the sets and energy of the song. Fix Sunny’s atrocity on her head and I’d be able to say no one stood out for good or bad.

Dance: 10 / 10

Confidence, and lots of! Everything was powerful and crisp. There’s plenty of synchronized moves and a healthy amount of individual and group bits. When Hyoyeon did not get a dance break I was disappointed, honestly but I guess the highlight of the choreography is the extended “Ohhh (you’re something else / you’re crazy)”. There’s even a little aegyo thrown in rather timely. Certainly feels rather strange to be praising the choreography of SNSD as the best part, but that’s what it is: the best part.

Rap: 7 / 10

The segments of rap were okay. Not awful, not amazing. I think had they been used at the end I’d have probably given this a much lower score since the end was messier. The English transitions by Tiffany and Jessica were probably the better ones but mehh not impressed. I’m not a fan of extended uses of random rap unless it’s either used full time in a verse or is rap singing and like I said, SNSD is okay at best when it comes to rapping. Tiffany’s description of “explosive rap” was misleading, I think “bright” or “energetic” was the more accurate term.

Music Video: 5 / 10

The girls were not lying when they said “I got a boy.” There’s only one, and there’s no additional material to the plot / non-dance parts that wasn’t shown in the teaser save the first 30 seconds. What was the point of all the clips of them sharing the single boyfriend? They kinda just hide together and leave him hanging after he shows up, perhaps unaware they all live in the same house? Are they angry at him for being probably the best playa in the world? Denying? More questions than answers with this one. Oh and S.M. really had to fucking use the slowmo pan because it’s apparently the coolest thing since canned bread. Guarantee you Super Junior M’s upcoming “Break Down” will have it, too.

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Overall: 76 / 100

Girls’ Generation is back with confidence and charisma, certainly, but the song truly is underwhelming. The transitions are not “Flower Power” level awful but still leave much to be desired. The rapping and choreography definitely help make up for what is essentially three songs rolled together without much vocal showing. “Genie” remains uncontested as the top SNSD song for me. If S.M. had stuck with one theme (the “Ooohhhh” one preferably) I think the success would have skyrocketed, but hey it’s GG, it’ll probably skyrocket anyway.