GFRIEND - the discography rate ☾ #31

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Okay so nobody got it right and, as much as it pains me to eliminate this song so early, I feel like it's karma for that terrible post of yours @codecat. Without further ado, it's time we say goodbye to...















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We held hands and ran
On top of the messy flower road.
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8.201

Buddies: 10x4 (@codecat, @Attis, @RUNAWAY, @savilizabeths) 9.5x2 (@Slice of Life, @Music Is Death) 9.25x2 (@Wills, @Vixen)
Antis: 5x1 (@Serg.) 6.5x1 (@eliminathan) 6.75x2 (@Cotton Park, @BEST FICTION)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9
@savilizabeths: 10
5 voters: 36
10 voters: 41
15 voters: 50
20 voters: 56
26 voters: 62

The title track of 'Parallel', Love Whisper was released in a weird time for the group. Having experienced kind of a setback after the release of Fingertip, a song that was very divisive among buddies, Source Music decided to go back in time and try to recapture some of the School Trilogy that made their flagship group a force in the K-Pop industry. Did they manage to do that? In a way, yes. Love Whisper is a bright song that immediatly brings to mind GFRIEND's hit Me Gustas Tu while not sounding as twee as the latter. It successfully incorporates every element that makes the GFRIEND sound and, in my opinion, is a great song. As someone who wasn't enamoured with Fingertip when it was released, seeing my favorite group go back to their roots was all I needed, so I was thrilled. At the time.

Looking back at it now, it's so very obvious that SouMu realized they should have waited a couple more singles before trying to change what had made GFRIEND successful and their attempt at course correcting the group's trajectory feels a bit cynical which, in turns, makes Love Whisper sound a bit hollow. Still, as I said before, it's a great song and definitely not one that should have left already! The production, as expected from Iggy & Yongbae is pristine, the girls sound good and we get some gorgeous moments from Yuju. I also love that dance break moment, infusing the track with some early '00s vibes. That along with Yuju's high note that arrives right after are my favorite parts of Love Whisper.

In the end, was Love Whisper a successful attempt at capturing what made GFRIEND so special? Yes and no. As I said before, it does a great job at being a GFRIEND song, it's only downfall is being released at a difficult time for a group struggling with its identity. Did it at least do well commercially? Well, the song and the corresponding EP ended up selling a little less than Fingertip so, while it wasn't a flop, it wasn't a hit either.

It's difficult to say what would have happened for the group if SouMu had decided to push forward with the new identity they had tried to carve out during the 'The Awakening' era. Maybe they would have managed to get the public on their side again and fill the void left by KARA, maybe not. It's also completely possible I'm just talking out of my ass and Fingertip was always supposed to be a one-off thing followed by a more typical GFRIEND song, but then my writeup would be much shorter.

Do you guys share my feelings for Love Whisper? Let's see:

@eatyourself (7) : I'm not a big fan of this one... This era felt like a poor retread for them and I'm glad they re-released the mini with Summer Rain and Rainbow.

@M24 (8) : My least favorite korean single from them… it's decent, I just feel like the chorus is not that good, only Yuju's parts kind of stop me from falling asleep. The outfits in the MV are a choice.

@Attis (10) : Clearly a course correction, though I won't complain because the song itself is amazing. It's so soothing and purifying.

@Slice of Life (9.5) : FFFFFFFF the way i couldve easily given this a 10 too! It has honestly grown so much on me yath!


Lastly, as a little bonus and just for funsies I went back in time to check what the forum had to say about Love Whisper on release day... Oh boy. Here's a little taste of what I had to deal with at the time!!! Names removed to protect the anonymity of those beasts:

I really like the new video for Me Gustas Tu.

Hmm, that GFriend song is incredibly bland. Let me play Pingatip.

The new GFriend is... a little disappointing to me. I'm devastated about it, but I have hope that it will grow on me soon. It lacks the bombast that all of their singles have had so far that makes them amazing.

I think it'll grow on me but it's not the best of their school girl bops. Rough & Navillera still knock so they didn't really top their best with this one.

This is such a step back for them. I don't mind that they've chosen to revisit their debut sound, but this had none of the excitement of their previous releases.

Love Whisper is boring.

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I really like the new video for Me Gustas Tu.

Hmm, that GFriend song is incredibly bland. Let me play Pingatip.

The new GFriend is... a little disappointing to me. I'm devastated about it, but I have hope that it will grow on me soon. It lacks the bombast that all of their singles have had so far that makes them amazing.

I think it'll grow on me but it's not the best of their school girl bops. Rough & Navillera still knock so they didn't really top their best with this one.

This is such a step back for them. I don't mind that they've chosen to revisit their debut sound, but this had none of the excitement of their previous releases.

Love Whisper is boring.

Ok but we need names to go with these observations, see if people changed their minds since then

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It's sweeter than chocolate
I'm melting, I'm falling for you.
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8.211

Buddies: 10x4 @ysev, @Attis, @RUNAWAY, @nikkysan) 9.25x1 (@thommyh) 9x3 (@eatyourself, @Crisp X, @Music Is Death)
Antis: 6.5x1 (@Serg.) 7x4 (@M24, @Wills, @junglefish, @Cotton Park) 7.25x1 (@Vixen)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 7
@savilizabeths: 8.25
5 voters: 29
10 voters: 41
15 voters: 56
20 voters: 58
26 voters: 61

THIS beat Love Whisper? THIS??? Okay. I'm trying to be a gracious host but you gorls are making it hard!

I don't even hate Sweety, it's a perfectly fine album track especially in the context of its parent album but it's just very, huh, mid.

Anyway. Sweety is track numero tres on GFRIEND's special summer mini, the aptly titled 'Sunny Summer'. As we can guess by its title, the song produced by M.I.O is sickly sweet. It sticks to your teeth, it tastes like artificial strawberry flavor and it's coated in a thick layer of powder sugar. And if that wasn't enough, the lyrics are enough to give anyone Diabeetus, using chocolate, vanilla and fondant as metaphors for lurv.

Now, since when do I dislike sugary sweet songs? Since never! Like I said, Sweety is okay, it's not bad at all. I really enjoy the production which is full of twists and turns and never gets boring. The unexpected trap-ish elements are, well, unexpected and against all odds work quite well. Good for you M.I.O! Good for you. Good for you and that random guy you plagiarized. The girls sound *cough* good but it's easily one of the least memorable vocal performances from the group. It all seems a bit phoned in which, again, is okay. Yuju deserves a break from time to time.

Honestly, I think for me the biggest problem with Sweety is that it beat Love Whisper.

@eatyourself (9) : The production is to die for!!! I wish there was a bit more of the garage beat from the intro and pre chorus.

@M24 (7) : Another quirky, Twice-lite song. I much prefer Creme Brulee (which has smarter food related lyrics ddd) and Contrail to both of those (much more catchy to my ears). It's still good!

@Attis (10) : Why K-pop don't do more bubblegum bass songs like this ?

@Wills (7) : This one’s fast!

 
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Season of Glass
Glass Bead
Neverland

Flower Bud
Me Gustas Tu
Under the Sky


Snowflake
Rough
Say My Name


LOL
Fall In Love
NAVILLERA

Compass
Gone with the Wind


The Awakening
Hear the Wind Sing
Fingertip
Contrail

Crush

Parallel
Ave Maria
Life is a Party
Red Umbrella


Rainbow
Summer Rain
Rainbow


Time for the Moon Night
Time for the Moon Night
Love Bug
Flower Garden
Tik Tik


Sunny Summer
Sunny Summer

Time for Us
Sunrise
You Are Not Alone
L.U.V
Glow

Only 1
Our Secret
Truly Love
Show Up

It's You

Fever Season
Fever
Mr. Blue
Smile
Wish
Paradise

Hope

Fallin' Light
Fallin' Light
Emotional Days
Memoria
Flower

My My My!

回:Labyrinth
Labyrinth
Crossroads
Here We Are
Eclipse

Dreamcatcher

回:Song of the Sirens
Apple
Eye of the Storm
Room of Mirrors
Tarot Cards


回:Walpurgis Night
MAGO
Love Spell
Three of Cups
GRWM

Better Me
Night Drive
Wheel of the Year

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*crickets*










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You're my dreamcatcher, dreamcatcher
Make me wait for the night.
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8.230

Buddies: 10x5 (@boombazookajoe, @junglefish, @RUNAWAY, @vague, @Music Is Death) 9.5x1 (@savilizabeths) 9x3 (@eatyourself, @ysev, @Slice of Life)
Antis: 4.5x1 (@Serg.) 6.5x1 (@Attis) 6.75x1 (@M24)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 10
@savilizabeths: 9.5
5 voters: 58
10 voters: 41
15 voters: 60
20 voters: 58
26 voters: 60

This elimination is so fucking stupid.

Composed by Kim Yeon-seo (IZ*ONE's Eyes, TWICE's Love Foolish, BVNDIT's Dumb...), dvwn (Chanyeol's SSFW, SHINee's Heart Attack...) and minGtion (Red Velvet's Good, Bad, Ugly, Weki Meki's Tiki-Taka...), Dreamcatcher is the penultimate track of GFRIEND's EP 'Labyrinth'. On top of being the first album of the '回' trilogy, 'Labyrinth' was also the first release of the group under Big Hit, which is apparent when you look at the list of collaborators which is full of new names.

Dreamcatcher definitely benefits from that influx of new collaborators. What could be the typical obligatory K-Pop ballad becomes something delicate and poignant in how restrained it is. The instrumental, light and breezy, meld r'n'b influences with a dash of acoustic-singer-songwriter vibes and a generous serving of electronic beats. The result is one of the most beautiful songs in GFRIEND's repertoire, managing to be as emotional and nostalgic as their dramatic violins and big chorus and high notes songs while being the complete opposite. My favorite part of the song is of course the stunning you're my dreamcatcher, dreamcatcher hook that is sung once by Eunha, once by SinB and once by Yuju. All of them do a stellar job, their voices lazily trailing along to the beat.

There's something so relaxing to Dreamcatcher. Even the girls sound like they're ready to doze off and rest under the loving gaze of the eponymous dreamcatcher, here referring to someone they long to see and wait for every night. I know, I wish this song was about the group of the same name but alas... It wasn't meant to be. No Siyeon x Umji pairing for us.

Unfortunately, you decided it deserved to be the first song to leave the top 60, so here we are. Let's see if some of you at least had something to say to justify your poor scores!

@eatyourself (9) : This should have been a b-side to Apple! It's so sultry and magical and fairylike.

@M24 (6.75) : It starts off so hauntingly, and I wish the song had carried that vibe all along. The end result is still lovely, I just don't find the chorus too special.

@Wills (7) : I wonder what “GFriend” by Dreamcatcher would sound lik– oh wait it’s just BOCA again




 
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Gently holding each other's hand
I want to walk down this path with you.
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8.240

Buddies: 10x2 (@codecat, @ysev) 9.5x3 (@boombazookajoe, @Slice of Life, @savilizabeths) 9x2 (@RUNAWAY, @Music Is Death)
Antis: 6.5x1 (@Monado) 7x2 (@M24, @Attis) 7.25x3 (@junglefish, @eliminathan, @Vixen)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 7.25
@savilizabeths: 9.5
5 voters: 46
10 voters: 50
15 voters: 50
20 voters: 56
26 voters: 59

Hmm. So... Did I underscore Fall in Love? Yes. Do I think it's a good song? Yes, I do! Do I also think it's a bit unremarkable? Yeah... Am I sad to see it leave? Not really.

Now that all that is cleared up, let's move on to the writeup! Fall in Love is the opening track of GFRIEND's first full length album, 'LOL'. Yes, the album that opens with an intro that samples bits of NAVILLERA and for some reason decides to follow that intro not with NAVILLERA but with Fall in Love. I mean, what the hell is that? Was SouMu already trying to sabotage GFRIEND back in the day? Because it didn't make sense back then and it still doesn't. It's actually infuriating but whatever, let's move on, it's not like Fall in Love is reponsible for its spot on the tracklist.

Composed by Oreo, a team of composers who worked with Red Velvet, Lovelyz and the former top girl group in the Korean peninsula Melody Day, Fall in Love is... cute! It's a very bubbly and sweet song that does what it set out to do very well. It's the kind of song that makes you want to fall in love for the very first time, feeling those butterflies and all that. From the instrumentalisation to the girls' vocals, it's the equivalent of cotton candy in musical form. A cotton candy your crush bought for you at the fair, one you know is gonna leave your hands all sticky and gross but whatever, you love it.

My issue with Fall in Love is that once it ends, I never remember what it sounded like. It's one of the rare GFRIEND songs I don't start to hum when I read its title, which explains the middling score I gave it. It's missing that little spark that's so often present in GFRIEND's discography, especially when they tackle this kind of sound. If it had only been up to me, Fall in love would have left a few eliminations ago but #59 seems fair.

@eatyourself (8) : Sunshine, seashore, the scent of sunscreen, popsicles, flip-flops.

@M24 (7) : Some lovely string melodies here! Unfortunately, the production sounds very similar to other stronger songs in this album, so it gets a low-ish score from me. It's still enjoyable when it comes on, for sure. I'm only just now realizing how much I like LOL as an album.



 
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Anyway. Sweety is track numero tres on GFRIEND's special summer mini, the aptly titled 'Sunny Summer'. As we can guess by its title, the song produced by M.I.O is sickly sweet. It sticks to your teeth, it tastes like artificial strawberry flavor and it's coated in a thich layer of powder sugar. And if that wasn't enough, the lyrics are enough to give anyone Diabeetus, using chocolate, vanilla and fondant as metaphors for lurv.​
Composed by Oreo, a team of composers who worked with Red Velvet, Lovelyz and the former top girl group in the Korean peninsula Melody Day, Fall in Love is... cute! It's a very bubbly and sweet song that does what it set out to do very well. It's the kind of song that makes you want to fall in love for the very first time, feeling those butterflies and all that. From the instrumentalisation to the girls' vocals, it's the equivalent of cotton candy in musical form. A cotton candy your crush bought for you at the fair, one you know is gonna leave your hands all sticky and gross but whatever, you love it.​

I'm living for these evocative food metaphors. George R R Martin whomst?
 
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