GFRIEND - the discography rate ☾ #31

savilizabeths

savilizabeths

she/her









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Forever look into my eyes
I'm drawing out my heart with love for you

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8.346

Buddies: 10x5 (@eatyourself @junglefish @Serg. @aux @savilizabeths) 9.5x2 (@Slice of Life @Cotton Park) 9.25x1 (@KimLippington) 9x5 (@Music Is Death @vague @Monado @thommyh @soratami)
Antis: 6.5x1 (@M24) 7x1 (@Attis) 7.5x1 (@Wills) 7.75x2 (@codecat @ysev)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 10
@savilizabeths: 10
5 voters: 62
10 voters: 56
15 voters: 68
20 voters: 51
26 voters: 52

It seems we are in a Time for Us cull right now as I return to eliminate another one of my favourite tracks from the album. Written by Lee Seu-ran and beautifully produced by B.Eyes, 'Our Secret' surprises me. In some cases, choruses that focus more on instrumentation than melodies and vocals can turn me off a track but it's irresistibly charming here! It feels like an advantage rather than a flaw.

The album description of the song calls it a "pop dance song with flying synth sound and a strong bass line", which definitely fits it well. Especially the part about flying synths because they really do sound like that, don't they? Every time I hear the production in the chorus I just feel lifted, like I'm flying too. I think the problem with some instrumental heavy choruses is I don't find them memorable but that couldn't be further from the truth here. It's so catchy, an earworm. I don't care how many times it that one part loops, I don't get sick of it. It seems like a lot of you agree with me, considering how many high scores this was awarded.

The vocals are perfect too. It isn't a song that relies on vocal gymnastics or Yuju's gorgeous belt. It's simple, understated but gorgeous. Every girl sounds lovely with these melodies. It's comfortable and breezy with a lot of room to breathe and for their tones to shine through. There's something really warm and charming about Sowon's lines here actually. I really enjoy them! And Eunha is my other stand out. I absolutely love the airiness at the end of a lot of her phrases, especially in the pre-chorus. She delivers every line perfectly to me. Give her a gold star!

In my head, 'Our Secret' and 'GLOW' walk hand in hand. They're sister songs. I always associate them with each other. I have no idea why, maybe they just both sound so sonically breezy and summery that they just fit together in my head? Eliminating them both so close together feels both right and wrong. Right because of the pairing of them in my head and wrong because it's just too soon.

Now, when will the next Time for Us track fall? Soon? What do you think it will be? While you ponder your answers, let's hear the commentary.

@eatyourself (10) : Also my favorite song in the album along with Show Up and obviously another one of my 11s. One thing I appreciate about Gfriend's music is that it always... makes sense? The melodies are never too complicated or gimmicky, nor do they have to sing in an unreachable key to be effective. The instrumental on Our Secret may not be the most original ever ddd but I think it is successful at what it's doing. This to me has the same glossy summery vibes of the Fever Season mini. It makes me want to go diving!

@ysev (7.75) : I love Bali!

@M24 (6.5) : How the producers created such a catchy song from that quirky loop is beyond me. Surprisingly, my favorite parts are Yerin's and Sowon's lines in the chorus, they both slapped more than Eunha and Yuju here!

@Slice of Life (9.5) : This is how you do an instrumental-heavy chorus!!!!!



Now it's time to type the answers I told you to prepare earlier in the comments section of this thread. And until next time xx​
 
junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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A facial expression unknown to me
Like a secret that was never revealed.
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8.355

Buddies: 10x4 (@eatyourself, @codecat, @ysev, @nikkysan) 9x4 (@junglefish, @Crisp X, @soratami, @Music Is Death) 8.75x1 (@thommyh)
Antis: 6x1 (@Serg.) 7x2 (@Wills, @Monado) 7.5x1 (@boombazookajoe)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9
@savilizabeths: 8
5 voters: 13
10 voters: 32
15 voters: 42
20 voters: 47
26 voters: 51

After staying virtually untouched for the majority of the rate, 'Time for Us' is bleeding songs. Deservedly so? Hmm... In Show Up's case, it's hard to say!

Composed by frequent collaborator No Joo-hwan and Lee Won-jong, Show Up, whose Korean name translates as camouflage, is described as a FutureHouse song with a chorus that switches things up. And oh boy, does it switch things up! I might have overscored this track because the verses are so, so good. At the time, it was probably the more mature and sexy the girls ever sounded? There's something bright and airy about them but somehow also sensual with those synths and the throbbing bass underneath it all.

Then we get to the chorus.

Listen, it's not a bad chorus and I love how, huh, fresh it is, I really do. Just not in this song. I understand it's interesting to switch things up in a song, it makes it more memorable and all that, but sometimes it's not needed. Sometimes you should just take the easiest route and make that damn chorus fit with the rest of the song. I wish No Joo-Hwan and Lee Won-jong had taken a more traditional approach to Show Up because, like I said it before, the verses are brilliant and were at the time such a nice departure from what we expected of GFRIEND.

Oh well, I can't be too mad at the duo who gave us Time for the moon night, Labyrinth and Three of Cups. Let's see what you buddies and buddy-adjacent people had to say about Show Up

@eatyourself (10) : My actual true 11, but I didn't want to flop myself. So I gave it to a single.

@ysev (10) : Gay

@M24 (8.5) : In an extremely consistent album like Time for Us, many of the album tracks felt around the same level. This was the standout for me, because that chorus is a blast, particularly Yuju's first lines! Also surprised this was their first mention (I think?) of the word "girlfriend", considering that most groups namedrop themselves sooner or later, it took them like 5 years since debut for that.

@Crisp X (9) : This is what Chromatica wishes it sounded like.

@Wills (7) : Great verses let down by a lame chorus


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codecat

codecat

he/him
junglefish said:
Deservedly so?
Click to expand...
Absolutely not! One of the most interesting things about their discography is that they always had these very unexpected songs – not unexpected because of the genres they tackled, but unexpected in a way that these songs were so not GFRIEND but also so unique and well put together…Show Up being one of my favorites like this. Especially knowing that it’s made by their Time for the cooch night producer!!! The versatility!!! Time for us is a great album and I hope that Only 1 and It’s You are spared for a while!
 
junglefish

junglefish

he/him
codecat said:
Absolutely not! One of the most interesting things about their discography is that they always had these very unexpected songs – not unexpected because of the genres they tackled, but unexpected in a way that these songs were so not GFRIEND but also so unique and well put together…Show Up being one of my favorites like this. Especially knowing that it’s made by their Time for the cooch night producer!!! The versatility!!! Time for us is a great album and I hope that Only 1 and It’s You are spared for a while!
Click to expand...
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I should have given it a 7
 
savilizabeths

savilizabeths

she/her
What's that? A title track?








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What do I do? Yuju be my
Will you make my wish come true?

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8.375

Buddies: 10x5 (@Remorque @savilizabeths @Music Is Death @RUNAWAY @Attis) 9x8 (@codecat @boombazookajoe @junglefish @Slice of Life @Wills @soratami @thommyh @nikkysan)
Antis: 5x1 (@KimLippington) 6x1 (@eatyourself) 6.25x1 (@eliminathan)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9
@savilizabeths: 10
5 voters: 49
10 voters: 48
15 voters: 54
20 voters: 63
26 voters: 50

Today we not only enter the top 50 but we also eliminate the second title track of the rate. Do I think 'Sunny Summer' deserved a higher placement? Absolutely, yes. Am I surprised? No, I am simply disappointed. Jokes aside, I'm glad this summer bop made it's way into the top 50 at least. Imagine if we had stopped the count at 20 voters? Do some of you just hate fun?

'Sunny Summer' was written and produced by duo Duble Sidekick (their work is vast and varied but two of my favourite songs they've done are 'Mr. Chu' by Apink and 'Shake It' by Sistar) and Black Edition. On the week of it's release it debuted at number 23 on the Gaon Chart and peaked at number 11 the following week. Not bad at all! Considering Duble Sidekick has done a decent amount of work with summer queens Sistar, I'm not surprised they can deliver a killer song like this. It's a summer Kpop classic to me, agree or not.

I know a lot of the critique of this is it's just a bit...basic for a GFriend title and sure, maybe that's true. Basic or not though, 'Sunny Summer' packs a bright summer-y punch and the girls knock it out of the park. Maybe it's simplicity in comparison to their other title tracks makes it stand out even more in their discography, almost making it unique! I loved it on first listen and my feelings towards it haven't changed at all since. In fact, I've been in a pretty bad place this past week and I wasn't in the mood to sit down and put something as bubbly as this on repeat, even today. But as soon as I did, up went my mood. December in New Zealand also means summer, so it's the perfect time to blast this entire mini album with some cider or lemonade in the sunshine. It's sunny summer season!

The songwriting team found a way to make 'Sunny Summer' truly special by spirnkling in the clever wordplay. Hearing each members name expertly weaved into the song is an adorable delight every single time. And the fact that they got each member to sing the lines their name is featured in? Perfection! If I didn't already think this song was a 10, that would push me over the edge easily. It's infectious. So simple, yet such a fun unique detail that the first time I heard it I let out a squeal of delight. The lyrics overall are very sweet and easy to sing along to, which is truly what I have been doing for the last half an hour. I keep getting distracted.

I wouldn't say there's anything too notable about the vocals, but I like that every girl works together really well. Nobody is overpowering anyone else, they all play a supporting role in making the song as good as possible! I mean, Yuju steals the show with her pre-chorus and her "yeoreum yeoreum e!" but when doesn't she? Look at Sowon getting lines too! I think she sounds really sweet here. They all do.

I know you've been reading for awhile but since this is a title track, let's talk about the music video for a minute. First of all the girls look lovely! I love Eunha's long hair, Sowon's curls and SinB is stunning! Though I'm not the biggest fan of Yerin's bangs, I do think she pulls them off well. The entire video brings a smile to my face and makes me want to get out there and make the most of the summer time. Maybe I'll make a cute little summer bucket list after I finish this. It's one of their most fun videos and the choreography is really enjoyable as well! They just look like they're having such a good time. Yerin's facial expressions are on another level truly, she's a blast to watch!

Alright, I'll stop rambling. I'm still getting back into the habit of writing these but thank you to anyone who actually reads the whole thing. To sum it all up, 'Sunny Summer' is a gem of a GFriend title track and deserves more appreication. I'm happy to see a decent amount of high scores, but it's still gone too soon. Now excuse me as I blast it for the rest of the night.

@eatyourself (6) : It's funny how 70% of my commentary could be summed up into "this makes me want to go to the beach" and yet that feeling doesnt apply here. This is probably my least favorite title track by them, it's just not memorable enough and the chorus is a let down. Eunha sniffing a dirty sock in the video kinda said kink rights though.

@M24 (8.5) : Groovy instrumental, I love 80s-style Gfriend. The "yeoreum yeoreum he" hook is pretty good, helping the chorus stand out. I only give it an 8.5 though because it doesn't feel that special considering their whole discography, and maybe you could argue it's a little generic, in that any group could've pulled off a song like this. I still admit it was nice that they changed up their style after Love Whisper, Summer Rain and Time for the Moon Night, which were sort of of a similar vibe.

@Slice of Life (9) : Kinda basique for a GFriend summer single (like, just compare it with Navillera) but I can’t deny that it’s a motherfucking bop!

@RUNAWAY (10) : I....seriously came around to this song. Like WOW I can’t believe how good this is and how well it's aged.

@Wills (9) : The name dropping remains the cutest thing in the world



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junglefish

junglefish

he/him
And let's pretend I didn't forget to post this in time:
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Season of Glass
Glass Bead
Neverland

Flower Bud
Me Gustas Tu
Under the Sky

Snowflake
Rough
Say My Name

LOL
NAVILLERA
Compass
Gone with the Wind

The Awakening
Hear the Wind Sing
Fingertip
Contrail
Crush

Parallel
Ave Maria
Life is a Party

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
Only 1
Truly Love
It's You

Fever Season
Fever
Mr. Blue
Smile
Wish
Paradise

Fallin' Light
Fallin' Light
Memoria
Flower

回:Labyrinth
Labyrinth
Crossroads
Here We Are
Eclipse

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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savilizabeths

savilizabeths

she/her









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Flower petals fluttering in the blue sky
Just like destiny, would you come for me one day?

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8.394

Buddies: 10x2 (@Vixen @thommyh) 9.75x1 (@savilizabeths) 9.25x2 (@eliminathan @Wills) 9x5 (@BEST FICTION @Music Is Death @Monado @KimLippington @junglefish)
Antis: 4.5x1 (@Serg.) 5x1 (@eatyourself)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9
@savilizabeths: 9.75
5 voters: 76
10 voters: 68
15 voters: 70
20 voters: 53
26 voters: 49

Time for the Moon Night loses another song today. It's been awhile, which is good because the remaining songs on this mini album are some of my favourites in their discography. 'Tik Tik' is absolutely brilliant, but I suppose it would be my pick to leave out of the bunch. If I had my way though, every single song from Time for the Moon Night would make it into the top thirty or higher. I really do adore this album so much.

Iggy & Yongbae are also making their return and they knocked it out the park here, they really did. These are some of my favourite melodies in their music, they really make my heart skip a beat. There's just something so delightful about them. The song is just so catchy, it gets stuck in my head for days. Every moment feels unique and exciting but in a sort of understated way. The song isn't screaming out it's greatness but if you let it get it's hooks into you, I think it's impossible not to fall in love. How can you not smile listening to that chorus? I love the part where you think the bridge is over and heading back to the chorus but they hit you with an entirely new melody line and then an infectious instrumental section. Brilliant!

The instrumentation is so much fun too. It fits perfectly into the work that Iggy & Yongbae have done with GFriend, their signature sound but it feels special somehow. While I do focus more on the melodies here, the instrumental break really highlights how score the production is. That intro too! This sounds silly but I've been playing a lot of Superstar LOONA and I think 'Tik Tik' would have been so fun if I had played Superstar GFriend when it was around. 'Tik Tik' also has one of their most satisfying line distributions, at least for me. It's very even. They don't really utilize Yuju very much but on a song like this, I don't really think they needed to. Her parts fit her voice perfectly, just as the rest of the girls sound gorgeous in their given sections. I was actually surprised when I realised it was SinB on the first half of the chorus. I forget how sweet she can make her voice sound at times. I almost thought it was Umji or Eunha. Maybe it's because of how addictive I find that chorus, but I think SinB and Eunha deliver my favourite performances here.

I suppose I only have one complaint, and it's very minor. It just ends so suddenly. I still think I should have given it a 10 but I find it really jarring every time the song finishes. I think they could have just given it a little more and the song would be absolutely perfect! Oh well, even the best things in life have flaws.

We return to an earlier release for our next cut, any guesses?

@eatyourself (5) : I never remember how this one goes and it only gets worse with time.

@Attis (8) : I need additional chorus after the original chorus, it felt a bit unfinished.

@M24 (8.5) : The production builds up a lot of intensity to get to that chorus, only to pull back and then buildup again as it's finishing. It's sort of a weird approach for me, but somehow it works! The "malhae mal" part is super catchy! I went back and forth between scoring this higher or lower than the TT and Love Bug... eventually I decided to score the latter a few more points.

@Crisp X (8) : This would fit today’s landscape well, oddly. The funky bass and the slight disco influences… yup yup. And that instrumental break slaps.

@thommyh (10) : That instrumental part whewww.


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junglefish

junglefish

he/him
48.png

The newly spreading future, hello
I'm dreaming under this white sky.

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8.413

Buddies: 10x1 (@codecat) 9.5x4 (@junglefish, @Wills, @Music Is Death, @nikkysan) 9x5 (@ysev, @RUNAWAY, @Slice of Life, @savilizabeths, @Remorque)
Antis: 5.75x1 (@eliminathan) 6.75x1 (@M24) 7.25x1 (@Vixen)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9.5
@savilizabeths: 9
5 voters: 42
10 voters: 53
15 voters: 53
20 voters: 50
26 voters: 48

'Flower Bud' loses another song with Under the Sky leaving at #48.

Written and composed by Iggy, one half of the incredible production team Iggy Youngbae, and two persons with no other credits to their names, 'Under the Sky' is one of those early GFRIEND songs that feel so important in defining the group's sound and concept. You got that nostalgic feeling that makes you think this could be a bside on SNSD's debut album, you got those great vocals most of the girls came to be known for, adlibs aplenty, high notes and that rush of pure concept sugary goodness. A lot of people in those days and even later compared GFRIEND's music to anime music, meaning something you could hear as the opening or ending theme of an anime, and I can definitely hear that in some sections of Under the Sky. It might not be the type of song you think of when you think of the word 'anthemic', but it is! It really, really is. I don't think it's possible to listen to it and not feel energized and a at least a little bit happier.

Adding to all that are the lyrics which are a perfect companion to the sound. They're so uplifting and, sure, maybe a little cheesy but who cares? It's what you'd expect from a song like that and it works. I have several favorite moments but this one I like in particular:

When the future I’m dreaming of becomes blurry
When I get nervous because I don’t know when it’ll come
Then I’ll whisper to myself
Cast a spell, you can do it some day

Come on! Of course that kind of message is nothing new but sometimes it just feels nice to have someone sing in your ear about not giving up and that yes, despite whatever hardships you are going through, soon it will all be behind you. Now, I know it can also be kind of patronizing but let's keep it positive and not get into that, because I'm in a good mood. And actually I'm in an ever better mood after listening to Under the Sky while writing this elimination! I really should have given it a 10.

Speaking of 10s, it only got one from pure concept aficionado @codecat, who unfortunately didn't leave any commentary. Not many did actually, so let's keep it short and get to the ones we got.

@M24 (6.75) : I like the guitars, but the song itself is so… there. I still can't remember how it goes after I listen to it. It's still the best bside of the album, although that's not saying much. Neverland this ain't.

@Wills (9.5) : Listening to this, I was struck by how grand and fleshed-out it felt – and then I realised it’s one of their few tracks that clears the 4 minute mark! Devoting the extra bit of time for a victory lap was a wise call, and something I wish they’d had more opportunities to try.



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savilizabeths

savilizabeths

she/her









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Your gestures are like a landmark
My eyes are opened to a hidden heart

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8.423

Buddies: 10x3 (@RUNAWAY @Monado @Music Is Death) 9.75x1 (@KimLippington) 9.5x3 (@Slice of Life @junglefish @ysev) 9x2 (@codecat @aux)
Antis: 5x1 (@thommyh) 6.5x1 (@eliminathan) 7x2 (@boombazookajoe @nikkysan)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9.5
@savilizabeths: 8.75
5 voters: 30
10 voters: 37
15 voters: 43
20 voters: 39
26 voters: 47

I'm going to be completely honest here, Parallel is not a GFriend album I return to as often as the vast majority of their discography. It has bops and, while this is an unpopular opinion, 'Love Whisper' is up there in my favourite title tracks. Yet there's just something missing. Nothing feels overwhelmingly memorable for me. So, eliminating 'Life is a Party' doesn't really upset me in the way some past eliminations have. In fact, my last elimination was 'Tik Tik' and I think that should have lasted way beyond this.

The team behind 'Life is a Party' includes Hyuk Shin, RE:ONE, Davey Nate, MAFLY & Ponde. Several of them have pretty impressive Kpop discographies and MAFLY has already appeared in this rate a couple of times. In the song, the girls sing of love with some imagery of sunshine and fun. It does feel a bit summer-y and the lyrics do add to that. How many times can I say a GFriend song feels like a summer day? The true summer queens! It's definitely nothing that stands out lyrically but I do especially like the phrase "Questions fill my head. Exclaimation points wrap around me."

Yeah, I definitely think I overscored this. It's a solid 8, scratch the .75. It's good, it really is! It's hard not to enjoy it's bouncing vibes and bright vibe-y chorus. It's just not their best. The instrumentation is fun, but it doesn't give me everything it could I feel. The vocals are pretty, but they can deliver more. The melodies are catchy for sure, but they don't get stuck in my head the way so many do in this discography. It's all good but none of it is great. Except, perhaps, those raps! Those sections really add something special to the song. I find them quite addictive actually, especially SinB's parts. She absolutely kills it. Actually, she's my favourite vocal performance here too. Something about her tone.

I feel like such a downer here when I'm usually so enthusiastic. 'Life is a Party' is an enjoyable slice of retro pop with some bright raps that do elevate it. It's a party I would definitely attend, it's just not a favourite. Tell me how you feel in the thread and let's hear from the commenters!

@eatyourself (8.5) : This sounds like a Madonna - True Blue album track!

@M24 (8.5) : I love those synths! It's a little stagnant compared to Ave Maria, but still pretty good. I think my favorite part are the raps though, Sinb killed it!

@ysev (9.5) : Living my Sophie Marceau in La Boum fantasy to this gem/jam!

@Slice of Life (9.5) : Come on, rap chanteuses!!!!!!!!!!

@Wills (8) : Wish it popped off a bit more, this is serving Life is a Potluck at best

@thommyh (5) : Too weak in production methinks.


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