GFRIEND - the discography rate ☾ #14

savilizabeths

savilizabeths

she/her
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At the end of every day when the lights turn off
I alone imagine our shy story

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8.663

Buddies: 10x6 (@eatyourself, @ysev, @Serg., @thommyh, @Music Is Death, @savilizabeths) 9.5x1 (@Slice of Life) 9x3 (@RUNAWAY, @Attis, @boombazookajoe)
Antis: 7.75x2 (@KimLippington, @Wills) 7.5x1 (@Crisp X) 7.25x1 (@M24)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 8
@savilizabeths: 10
5 voters: 25
10 voters: 40
15 voters: 36
20 voters: 36
26 voters: 36

I'm bleeding 10s now, aren't I? Will you guys give me a break next elim? I suppose time will tell. Regardless of my suffering, today I must send 'Crush' packing. Appearing on the groups fourth mini album, The Awakening, 'Crush' was written and composed by the legendary, e.one and it certainly sounds like it. Tell me this isn't a continuation of 'Gone With the Wind', I dare you! And good for it!

I have to keep talking about it, 'Gone With the Wind' and 'Crush' are so linked in my head. Lyrically, they're not very similar but there are aspects of the production and melodies themselves that really remind me of each other. In a good way, not in a stale, these songs are exactly the same kind of way. I think what really does it is that second half of the chorus and the post-chorus. The "duduru" parts and the instrumental breakdown in the post-chorus "ping dol ah" parts specifically. 'Crush' feels like a slightly more mature (again, not lyrically) version though. It's a little richer and bigger, with a little more punch. They're both 10 out of 10s for sure.

Is it just me or do the lyrics contrast really interestingly to the actual production? They're melodramatic, which fits with the punch-y strings but they're also quite sad. Singing about crying and suffering from an unrequited love. I kind of like this take though, we have plenty of brilliant, dramatic GFriend ballads. They just sound so happy though, especially in that chorus. It's amusing to me. I definitely enjoy the drama of the production. I adore how many GFriend songs prioritise strings in the instrumentation. Especially for their upbeat songs, I have a special place in my heart for up tempo tracks including some stellar strings! The electronic vibes are so fun and I just feel like the song has so much energy propelling you forward. The melodies are top notch too despite what @Wills says in the commentary section ddd. They're constantly changing and evolving and they're so catchy, I have them in my head for hours after listening to the song!

Even though Eunha actually has more seconds in the line distribution, this is a Yuju song to me. Every time she sings it feels like she's whacking me over the head with her powerful vocals, in the best way! Eunha and SinB sound good too, but Yuju really does run away with it. My one complaint is that her adlibs on the final chorus are buried so far back in the mix that I can barely hear them and I think we, as Buddies, deserve better than that.

Now let's hear what you guys have to say!!

@eatyourself (10) : Should have been a title track. Ping dol ah!

@Attis (9) : Certified e.one moment

@M24 (7.25) : A real grower! The chorus doesn't seem that good at first, but that's because it's so long and changing so it's difficult to get used to it! I love the melodrama in the lyrics too! This is the sort of teen love song I can get behind ddd.

@ysev (10) : Very very April! Ahhh I am getting emotional. Remember when Gfriend, April, Lovelyz and Oh My Girl were all active around the same time? We were all so happy those days…

@Wills (7.25) : Texture-wise, it’s among the best of their new jack swing tracks; melodically, it’s among the worst


​
 
junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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Hiding my fear in each step
I stumble through the harsh wind.

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8.692

Buddies: 10x6 (@junglefish, @Slice of Life, @Wills, @BEST FICTION, @Music Is Death, @nikkysan) 9.5x2 (@eliminathan, @savilizabeths) 9x4 (@RUNAWAY, @soratami, @Serg., @thommyh)
Antis: 6x3 (@eatyourself, @codecat, @boombazookajoe) 7.25x1 (@Vixen) 7.75x1 (@Cotton Park)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 10
@savilizabeths: 9.5
5 voters: 74
10 voters: 66
15 voters: 43
20 voters: 39
26 voters: 35

Now this is a mess. It's not enough that this song is leaving well before its time, three of you voters gave it a score of 6??? Insanity. I can't even accuse them of being haters because I know they're not! Anyway, I'm feeling... distraught but let's move on and talk about the incredible song that is Eye of the Storm.

The second track on GFRIEND's 2019 EP 'Song of the Sirens', Eye of the Storm was written by what's almost a small village: "Hitman" Bang, Alyssa Ayaka Ichinose, Charlotte Churchman, David Brant, Mike Macdermid, nicejintime, Lee Min-seung, Lee Seu-ran, Yuju and Umji all apparently participated in its creation. I always find it funny when I see so many names attached to one song, like, how many are those are vanity credits? Maybe none and if that's the case good job to everyone because even with so many cooks in the kitchen, they managed to write a song that doesn't feel like a mishmash of ideas. It sounds coherent and fully fledged out all throughout, each part fitting perfectly with the next until it reaches its climax, that absolutely beautiful bridge that's one with the final chorus. A moment.

The genesis of Eye of the Storm is actually very interesting. Described as a 'rock-based song' with a 'trendy and emotional melody' and a 'powerful yet delicate-feeling sound', it was inspired by Yuju's diary entries from a few years ago, when she was going through some difficult and hectic times. Back then, she used to spend time alone for a few minutes every day to get herself together, a time she called 'Hour of the Eye of the Storm' and in which she wrote down everything that went through her mind. I don't want to speculate but I think every Buddy has an idea of when that was and it was pretty awful not knowing if Yuju was okay and if she was ever coming back to the group. I'm glad we got a great song out of it, at least!

The lyrics are very evocative and make a lot of sense when you know how the song came out to be. It basically tells us to push through the hardships because in the end those won't break you. Here the hardships are symbolized by the storm around the narrator, who walks straight to the eye of the storm to find themself again. From destruction comes creation and all that.

To end this writeup, I need to mention how good the girls all sound. I know I've said it a lot of my writeups but here it's even more evident. I especially love Eunha whose vocals are absolutely perfect for this type of song. She almost steals the spotlight away from Yuju. Almost.

@eatyourself (6) : I know I'm in the minority with my opinion on this song. It just feels a bit cosplayish, as if HYBE had thought "oh they make anime music?" and went with this one. The instrumental doesn't go hard enough, I miss guitars and heavy drums. The verses are super pretty though.

@M24 (8.75) : Another incredible b-side… the pre-chorus is sublime, and the chorus grew on me a lot. I think what ultimately made me settle for a high score was the lyrics: they seem to talk about finding oneself in adversity to come out stronger. The part "I hear the scream of silence in this silent refuge of promises" (or something of the sort) reads like an actual poem. And then the final chorus changes the lyrics and they're about coming out of the eye of the storm having found your own direction and rules. That kind of self-reflection is exactly what I need right now, trying to make a life for myself for the first time as an adult. If I weren't such a tough binch with my scores, I'd give it a 10.

@Attis (8) : Eye of the Storm is a case that just because it has faster beat, it will be great

@Slice of Life (10) : Dreamcatcher would KILL for a song like this

@Wills (10) : There’s not a single part of this that’s less than spectacular, but the bridge leading into the final pre-chorus? Jaw-dropping!

​
 
junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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ABCD, irony, somehow it's difficult
If you think about it too easily, you might get sick sick.

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8.701

Buddies: 10x7 (@eatyourself, @ysev, @RUNAWAY, @Slice of Life, @Monado, @nikkysan, @savilizabeths) 9.75x2 (@junglefish, @Wills) 9.5x3 (@M24, @boombazookajoe, @Serg.)
Antis: 5.5x1 (@Attis) 6x2 (@soratami, @Vixen) 7x1 (@eliminathan)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9.75
@savilizabeths: 10
5 voters: 40
10 voters: 23
15 voters: 34
20 voters: 32
26 voters: 34

Oop. Kind of a Monkey's paw moment for the good sis @Wills who's been clamoring for more Fever Season elims and sees his second highest score from that album eliminated today.

Smile is the third track on Fever Season and it's great. It's so sweet and such a breath of fresh air, perfect for a summer EP. Composed by longtime collaborators No Joo-hwan and Lee Won-jong, Smile is one of those b-sides you might like on first listen but not think about much once the last note hits. Until it slowly creeps up on you and you find yourself muttering 'Smile, smile more! smile smile more!' under your breath. With how catchy and repetitive it is, it could sound a lot more juvenile than it actually does and that it doesn't is thanks to the girls, of course. Even though you can hear they're forcing the cutesy schtick, it never gets grating. Even Eunha reins in the cheese factor, and we all know she sometimes struggles with that! She sounds great throughout the song and is really the perfect person to lead Smile.

My only complaint is that beautiful instrumental part in the bridge being much too short. I could have listened to that part for at least 15 seconds more tbh. The guitar, that random distorted voice in the background... There's something so fresh and fun about that part while being super well produced. I LOVE IT.

The lyrics are sweet, Smile is one of those, huh, self-help songs djhdfjd but it works well and I really like how confident the lyrics make the girls sound:

Look at me when I’m saying this nicely
Look only at me, treat me better
Smile, smile more
Smile, smile more
So that I’m not envious of anyone
Don’t hold back and look at me
So that I can feel all of your love
Smile, smile more
Smile, smile more
Even if other people give you strange looks
And it’s okay

What did you buddies think of the song? Let's find out!
@M24 (8.75) : Another incredible b-side… the pre-chorus is sublime, and the chorus grew on me a lot. I think what ultimately made me settle for a high score was the lyrics: they seem to talk about finding oneself in adversity to come out stronger. The part "I hear the scream of silence in this silent refuge of promises" (or something of the sort) reads like an actual poem. And then the final chorus changes the lyrics and they're about coming out of the eye of the storm having found your own direction and rules. That kind of self-reflection is exactly what I need right now, trying to make a life for myself for the first time as an adult. If I weren't such a tough binch with my scores, I'd give it a 10.

@M24 (9.5) : They sound a lot like Twice here… which is not a bad thing in my book! Eunha's parts in the chorus are killer here. If it weren't for those melodies in the chorus, the song would be a bit too grating with that hook alone. As it is, it is one of my favorite b-sides from them.

@Attis (5.5) : Sorry but I don't like the hook

@Slice of Life (10) : This one if for the innocent concept-loving unnies!!!!!

@Crisp X (8.5) : The serotonin shot that that is

@Wills (9.75) : For some reason I had it in my mind that Fever Season was mostly a miss for me, outside of the title track – so it was a joy to have this grow on me like a rash! The instrumental is controlled chaos in the best way.

​
 
Last edited:
codecat

codecat

he/him
junglefish said:
@eatyourself (6) : I know I'm in the minority with my opinion on this song. It just feels a bit cosplayish, as if HYBE had thought "oh they make anime music?" and went with this one.
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Bestie this is still from their pre-HYBE era but your comment got me thinking that for all their time as a group.......they were always in cahoots with Big Hit. It's one of the most fascinating things about the group – that they were always there until their unexplained disbandment! Also I'm smailing at this elimination!!!! Take that @Wills!!

YSp6nhP.gif
 
junglefish

junglefish

he/him
codecat said:
Bestie this is still from their pre-HYBE era but your comment got me thinking that for all their time as a group.......they were always in cahoots with Big Hit. It's one of the most fascinating things about the group – that they were always there until their unexplained disbandment! Also I'm smailing at this elimination!!!! Take that @Wills!!

YSp6nhP.gif
Click to expand...
It was for another song and I forgot to delete it oop
 
eatyourself

eatyourself

He/Him
codecat said:
Bestie this is still from their pre-HYBE era but your comment got me thinking that for all their time as a group.......they were always in cahoots with Big Hit. It's one of the most fascinating things about the group – that they were always there until their unexplained disbandment! Also I'm smailing at this elimination!!!! Take that @Wills!!

YSp6nhP.gif
Click to expand...
junglefish said:
It was for another song and I forgot to delete it oop
Click to expand...
I would never trash Smile that way, bestie. I'm too much of a Yena stan myself! But enough about Eye of The Storm!
 
nikkysan

nikkysan

he/him
Smile is the first cut that's a true loss for me, it was an instant favourite back when Fever Season dropped. But I can't be too mad looking at the average and what's left (8.7 and we still haven't hit the Top 30 yet... a discography)!
 
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