GFRIEND - the discography rate ☾ #31

junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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( TIE )

The more you close your eyes, the more you can hear
Go on and cross the rainbow in my heart.
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8.432

Buddies: 10x1 (@junglefish) 9.5x5 @boombazookajoe, @RUNAWAY, @Slice of Life, @Wills, @Music Is Death) 9x4 (@eatyourself, @soratami, @aux, @savilizabeths)
Antis: 6.5x1 (@nikkysan) 6.75x2 (@M24, @Remorque) 7x1 (@Attis)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 10
@savilizabeths: 9
5 voters: 63
10 voters: 50
15 voters: 38
20 voters: 38
26 voters: 45

I feel like I may have cursed 'Time for Us' when I pointed out that it had been left practically untouched for a good part of the rate...

Truly Love, composed by Rim Go (Golden Child's I Know, Drippin's Firefly) and Woong Kim (IZ*ONE's Panorama, WJSN's Where You Are, VIVIZ's BOP BOP!...) is the seventh track on GFRIEND's second full length album, the aforementioned 'Time for Us'. And it's... so good? Why am I the only 10 here? Granted, Truly Love is giving some strong junglefish culture vibes but still, it deserved better than one measly 10.

What I love the most about this track is that it's trop bop adjacent and if you buddies know me even just a little, you know that I'll never turn my back on trop bops. It packs that sweet but melancholic punch I so badly crave every day of my life and for that it has earned a spot amongst my favorite GFRIEND album tracks. Well, when I remember it exists. Because for all the love I have for this song, I tend to listen to it only when I listen to 'Time for Us' or when I do a full discography listen (usually while sticking pins in a voodoo doll resembling Source Music's CEO.) Truth be told, it's not the most memorable song out there and it lacks one defining moment like, I don't know, a spectacular high note, a bridge that switches things up a bit or even Sowon trying to rap. Still, as I said before, I absolutely adore Truly Love and I wish it had gone further in the rate though I do understand why it failed to leave much of an impression on some of you.

Our eagle-eyed voters will have noticed that we're in for another tie! I'll try my best to post it very soon but before all that let's get to your commentary!

@eatyourself (9) : This makes me so happy and sad at the same time. The bass lines on this album are some of the best in their discography.

@M24 (6.75) : It's a bit of a soulless bop for me. In particular, the production in the chorus sounds super empty and lazy. It's decent, simply not good enough compared to the rest of their discography.

@Wills (9.5) : Structurally this feels like a trial run for Fever. And you know what? They nailed it here too!


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junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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( TIE )

I don't want to be scared
Of a love that is like a passing season.
Paradise.png

8.432

Buddies: 10x5 (@eatyourself, @Attis, @RUNAWAY, @Slice of Life, @Music Is Death) 9.75x1 (@codecat) 9.5x2 (@ysev, @thommyh)
Antis: 6.5x1 (@Wills) 7x3 (@soratami, @Serg., @eliminathan) 7.25x1 (@M24)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 8.75
@savilizabeths: 8
5 voters: 15
10 voters: 13
15 voters: 39
20 voters: 42
26 voters: 45

The song that leaves us today, Paradise, had at one point in the rate beat 8 (EIGHT!) singles. That's crazy! Unfortunately for the fans, it did a Move Ya Hips Billboard Chart run and plummeted all the way down to #45. Sad! Or is it? Mmmh.

One thing I love about Paradise is the intro. I don't know why but for some reason it makes me want to play Mario Kart??? Like... I can imagine myself waiting for the race to start in my pink kart (I'm playing as Toadette in this scenario, fyi) with this playing in the background. Only the intro though, because the rest of the song is, err, kinda like getting hit by a red shell and falling into a deep slumber.

Look, we all know how I feel about City Pop by now. It's not that I dislike it, it's just that Korea has RUN THE GENRE INTO THE GROUND, so I've grown a bit tired of Paradise as well. I used to love it, and I'm going to prove it to you right now with a flashback to the illustrious City Pop Music Rate by @codecat and @thommyh. Click on the link and you'll be transported to a write up by yours truly, where I make the same Mario Kart reference. You'll see that at the time, I gave it a 10! Alas, that was then and this is now.

As this is already my second writeup on this song, I think I can get a pass and just stop right here fff. Let's hear from you, voters:

@M24 (7.25) : I love the production here! The instrumental is so dynamic and original. Having said that, the hooks and chorus don't do much for me. I still enjoy the song as a whole.

@Attis (10) : Will this be done dirty in the wake of recent citypop hatred ?

@Slice of Life (10) : That opening is an 11. Fabulous stuff!!!

@Crisp X (8) : Imagine if they hadn’t disbanded and this song would’ve been performed on “it’s Live”...


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junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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Like a drifting cloud
You appear to be within reach, yet too far.
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8.480

Buddies: 10x3 (@codecat, @ysev, @savilizabeths) 9.5x2 (@eatyourself, @RUNAWAY) 9x6 (@Attis, @Slice of Life, @Crisp X, @Cotton Park, @Music Is Death, @nikkysan)
Antis: 6x1 (@boombazookajoe) 7.5x4 (@aux, @KimLippington, @Monado, @BEST FICTION) 7.75x1 (@Wills)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 8
@savilizabeths: 10
5 voters: 9
10 voters: 32
15 voters: 40
20 voters: 45
26 voters: 44

It's been quite some time since we lost a song from 'The Awakening'! Today, we're saying goodbye to Contrail, the third track from that album.

First of, can you imagine if the song was actually called Chemtrail and was GFRIEND's way of coming out as conspiracy theorists? Could have been a bit iconique methinks. But that's unfortunately not what Contrail is about. Composed by Brian Cho, 220 and Erik Lidbom (who worked on gugudan's The Boots, Pastel Sweater, Lucky and Dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @codecat he wants to marry you), Contrail is according to its official description a 'song that stands out thanks to its ragtime piano riff', it also tells us that 'the melody throughout the song seems to express the footsteps of someone chasing their opponent'. Work. I'm not sure I get all that from the song, but work.

What I get is video game bleep bloop sounds, which I love! It almost makes me nostalgic because I can imagine hearing this in some Nintendo game that I'd have played when I was younger. Apart from that, Contrail is a very pleasant listen. Yuju sounds especially good and I love the girls' delivery in the pre-chorus and chorus. They sound a little *limp wrist mode ON* sassy *limp wrist mode OFF*. The bridge is, in my opinion, the weakest part of the song but thankfully it transitions into a short instrumental break that I love because, well, the instrumental really is the best part of the track.

Lyrically, it compares the narrator's love interest to a drifting cloud. Hmm... Maybe they're just not that into you? I'm just saying.

@eatyourself (9.5) : This Nintendo Wii lounge music, this shoujo ending credits song, this left-field, underground, jazzy-bluesy-synthy behemoth of a b-side.

@ysev (10) : I once went grocery shopping with this on loop and had such a moment to it. I will never forget you canned beans <3

@M24 (8.75) : Probably their quirkiest song? I could see Red Velvet doing a song like this too. It's very good, maybe it gets a little monotonous by the end, but I still enjoy it. Glad Yerin got so many lines here!

@Wills (7.75) : It’s fun when the organ does that little… thing it does! Doot da-di-la-di doo!

@Cotton Park (9) : One of the real underrated Yojashingu album tracks.


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codecat

codecat

he/him
Omg I have so many things to say about this song shdhdhhd why is Yuju so EXTRA in the chorus!? Spanish speakers: Yuju says CHOCHA in the chorus! Ah…The Awakening is so full of classics, definitely my favorite EP of theirs. Something about this song makes me feel like I’m trapped in a 90’s sitcom meshed with a Ghibli movie on which I am the main character running around the streets of Tokyo…perfect writeup my beautiful beignet @junglefish! Also:
junglefish said:
Erik Lidbom (who worked on gugudan's The Boots, Pastel Sweater, Lucky and Dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @codecat he wants to marry you)
Click to expand...
He should get in line!!
 
junglefish

junglefish

he/him
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Our time filled with white snow
A dream I can not hope for anymore.
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8.490

Buddies: 10x5 (@codecat, @ysev, @Attis, @Crisp X, @soratami) 9.75x1 (@eliminathan) 9.5x2 (@junglefish, @nikkysan)
Antis: 6x1 (@Monado) 6.5x1 (@Wills) 6.75x2 (@thommyh, @Remorque)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9.5
@savilizabeths: 9.25
5 voters: 18
10 voters: 25
15 voters: 30
20 voters: 44
26 voters: 43

Oh this elimination makes me sad.

It's You, the ninth track on 'Time For Us', was composed by SPACECOWBOY and written by MIYAO, JADE and Kim Areum. Wait a minute. City pop darling Kim Areum? Yes! KPJ's favorite indie chanteuse actually had a hand in writing this beautiful song, which I feel is karmic retribution for me shitting on City pop all the time. Now I have to praise ha for a minute! I don't know how involved she was in writing this gorgeous song but I'd say probably quite a lot because she even included a cover of the song in her album 'SUMMER CITY'. I've included it in the media section and you should definitely give it a listen because it's very good.

Anyway, I was surprised to read that people were disappointed in the chorus. For me, it's easily the best part of the song? I don't know, I like that it picks up the pace a little while still feeling very whimsical. You know when you wake up from a really good nap and you're not sure what time it is or where you are? To me, that's how the verses feel like. Then the chorus hits and that's like the moment where you realize you just had one of the best naps of your life. Or one of the best naps you've had in the past week, at least. Your brain is still a bit fuzzy, you're letting out a big yawn and it all just feels right. Yeah I just turned this writeup into a love letter to naps, what are you gonna do about it?

For once, the official description of the song is pretty spot on, mentioning SPACECOWBOY's 'dreamy arrangment' and how It's You is a song that 'expresses the charm and sensitivity of each member of GFriend as a vocalist.' It's true that all of the members sound great here, their parts tailored to them and their abilities.

Lyrically, well. I wasn't able to find a good English translation. From what I gather, it juxtaposes the end of a relationship with the end of the Winter season. All in all, a sad but very pretty song!

@eatyourself (8) : I like most of this song but the chorus is a let down.

@ysev (10) : Ahhh this sounds so urgent and whimsical! The best b-side on Time For Us!

@M24 (8.25) : This song feels incredibly soothing to me, almost like a lullaby. The girls did really well to match their tone to the song. If it had a stronger chorus, I'd score it even much higher.

@Attis (10) : This is a cover from Kim Areum, right ? I'm sorry for bringing them once again in another rate dd but yas at the Lovelyz vibes

@Slice of Life (9) : That post-chorus melodrama!!!!! Fack!!!!

@Crisp X (10) : What I love about this one is how it sounds like it was written with Lovelyz in mind. The melodies and the arrangements feel so them that hearing GFRIEND howl over this soundscape is inchresting. It’s all so cloudy, melancholic, and pleasant to my ears!

@Wills (6.5) : Some interesting backings that should’ve been more prominent in the mix, this doesn’t make much of an impression overall!


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Attis

Attis

Baby it chu baby it chu…
Only it chu only it chu….
Baby it chu baby it chu….
Oh only it chu only it chu….

The voice slowly disappears into the air as the tango guitar, light arpeggiated synths and sound of waves come crashing down.

anime-sunset.gif


Truly a magical moment in musical history. Wow a moment I will never forget.
 
savilizabeths

savilizabeths

she/her
HAPPY 2023 BUDDIES! Let's celebrate with an elimination, shall we?





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Like a miracle moment, that's far away
I won't miss it, I'll hold you in my arms.

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8.5

Buddies: 10x2 (@codecat @Music Is Death) 9.75x1 (@Wills) 9.5x5 (@ysev @Attis @junglefish @Slice of Life @Vixen) 9.25x2 (@RUNAWAY @savilizabeths) 9x3 (@eliminathan @Monado @BEST FICTION)
Antis: 5x1 (@Serg.) 6x1 (@eatyourself) 7x1 (@Cotton Park) 7.5x3 (@nikkysan @Crisp X @boombazookajoe)
Hosts:
@junglefish: 9.5
@savilizabeths: 9.25
5 voters: 38
10 voters: 46
15 voters: 47
20 voters: 48
26 voters: 42

I feel like this is criminally low for how gorgeous it is. Sadly, today we must say goodbye to 'Eclipse', a b-side taken from the mini album LABYRINTH. The song was written and composed by members of the production group, 13, who we have heard from before in this rate and will hear from again. Most recently, they have worked on all of LE SSERAFIM's music so they definitely have a knack for making fresh and interesting bops, which is a category 'Eclipse' definitely falls into.

Two of our three commenters compared 'Eclipse' the 'Hear the Wind Sing'. While I see where they might be coming from, the songs feel very different to me. Both songs definitely have a propulsive energy but I feel 'Eclipse' has more urgency to it. It's more mature, more weighty with richer textures and production. There's a lot going on in this song with both it's melodies and instrumentation. It's an exciting listen. This isn't to say that 'Hear the Wind Sing' isn't, and I actually think I scored that song higher but there is a lot that differentiates the two tracks and I feel like the comparison doesn't do that justice.

God, what an instrumental this song has! It's a detail rich dream. It feels very classical and sort of majestic. I'm obsessed with the way the song begins with just Yuju's voice and a powerful piano line before building and bursting into full bloom. While I'm not great at identifying differnet instruments, the internet tells me there's accordian, harpischord, violins, cellos and more in here which explains why it feels so full and rich as I said before. The girls harmonies act as their own instrument too, and they're stunning here! I especially love them in the final section of the song, where a decent amount of the instruments pull back for SinB's chorus moment. They give me chills!

Of course the girls sound wonderful too! Is it just me or does Umji sound more mature here? And listen to Miss Sowon getting some (unimpressive but still) adlibs at the end! Yuju sounds so commanding and her vocal tone really shines with the orchestral aspects here. Eunha's voice sounds so strong and powerful here, SinB's smooth tone blends perfectly, Yerin isn't given a lot of time to begin with but sounds lovely when they let her burst into that chorus! Vocalists! They are vocalists!

The lyrical content matches the energy of the song. Something about 'Eclipse' makes me feel like I'm running towards something but never quite able to reach it, and the lyrics reflect this. The girls sing about trying to reach someone who is slipping away from you, to grow closer again. Actually, it kind of describes an anxious attachment style and hits sort of hard, because I've been in a big battle with mine lately. Yeah, actually reading these lyrics feels like a direct call out to my own recent feelings so we're not going to talk about them anymore ddd. Just know, they're quite gorgeous and very poignant I feel.

Okay, that's enough from me. Let's hear from the commenters!! Have a wonderful New Year, my Buddies!

@eatyourself (6) : A cheap Hear The Wind Sing cosplay, but still a mild bop.

@M24 (7.75) : I've only just realized this mini album is thematically about finding other people (and being found I guess!). One would think I could've guessed that from two songs being called Labyrinth and Crossroads but I didn’t lol. This song is my favorite bside of the mini after Labyrinth, it's got some lovely string melodies that sound like their earlier stuff, with a more modern arrangement than Crossroads.

@Wills (9.75) : Wow wow wow, this is stunning! It’s giving spiritual successor to Hear the Wind Sing: an ornate, intricate thing with all its interwoven instrumental lines

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