This is the make-or-break point for Apink for me. It's been four years since "Mr. Chu" - which I consider their best hit - was released, and they've yet to recapture that magic since. It's actually concerning how many mediocre songs they've had during that time. Not that they had terrible songs per se, just nothing that really stuck. However, teasers for "I'm So Sick" showed plenty of promise, and actually got me excited about Apink for once. Would that hold?
With "I'm So Sick," Apink have (for the first time in a long while) abandoned the cutesy dance pop theme and instead shifted to a more mature sound. This is clearly a win in my book because I've always liked that style more across all girl groups. They also have the vocal ability to not make it sound terrible, which is a plus. Honestly the prechorus and chorus are gorgeous, while the instrumental and background vocals during the dance breaks are splendid as well. However, the structure of an Apink song has gotten so incredibly stale: Chorong gets an early part, Eunji and Bomi sing the chorus while everyone else mops up the rest. It really wouldn't hurt to mix things up during each comeback...
The verses from Naeun and Chorong are easily the weakest part of the song, not to mention the shortest. I don't have the actual data but I feel Apink always had short main verses, and the ones in "I'm So Sick" are even shorter - especially when half of each part has no singing. Thankfully Chorong got another chance to showcase her beautiful voice in the bridge with an assist from Eunji. Speaking of, she is as consistent as ever. I've said this before, but you can see how Eunji is pigeon-holed into a singular style with Apink. It's why I enjoy her solo material so much, since she can venture out and try different things.
It goes without saying that a more mature song will have a more mature dance, and that's certainly the case here with "I'm So Sick." The moves of the chorus alone are more womanly than anything Apink has ever done. Considering the visuals on the team, it's a welcome change. This dance is similar to Girl's Day's "Something" and I've desperately been waiting for girl groups to do more of that. The term "classy sexy" is cliche and a bit of a meme by now but that's what this is: classy sexy. That wiggle during the dance break is funny but hey it works. Apink hardly does dance breaks anyway, at least from what I remember.
Bomi and Hayoung carry Apink with their visuals. That's right, even more than Naeun. But that's honestly fine. Naeun will get her chance to shine in the next project of Girl Group Visual Power Rankings. But they all look really good, and even Namjoo's recent plastic surgery shenanigans aren't too bad here. Elsewhere, this trend of giving a primary vocalist bangs needs to stop. Red Velvet's Seulgi, Apink's Eunji, and Mamamoo's Wheein being the most recent examples. It's not even that they look bad, but they certainly could be looking better. Let those foreheads shine! Other than that, nothing noteworthy happens. It's the stereotypical Kpop music video once again. Yawn.
This is easily Apink's top release since "Mr. Chu" and maybe even their new magnum opus. Yeah the verses are short and the structure predictable but the song still sounds wonderful. Predictable good is still good. Bomi and Hayoung are in their element through both voice and visual, while everyone else is no slouch either. The mature direction they have taken is paying dividends and immediately puts "I'm So Sick" on the radar for best songs of 2018. "I'm So Sick" is a beautiful track and Apink doing this makes it even more beautiful.
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