Battle of the Title Tracks: Uhm Jung Hwa’s “Come 2 Me” vs. Nu’est’s “Good Bye Bye” vs. miss A’s “Hush”

As a spin-off to my Battle of the B-sides characteristic, I’m happy to announce the arrive of “Battle of the Title Tracks!” On this characteristic, I’ll be pitting three Ok-pop title tracks/singles in opposition to one another and selecting a winner. These songs will largely be from pre-2016 since I’ll attempt to give attention to music I haven’t but written about on the weblog.

As at all times, the competitors is all in good enjoyable. Most significantly, I hope you uncover (or re-discover) some nice songs!

Uhm Jung Hwa – Come 2 Me (2006)

This was a little bit of an odd interval for Jung Hwa’s music profession as she tried to veer away from the high-energy techno influenced pop of her early iconic singles. That’s to not say she hadn’t dabbled in additional refined R&B sounds earlier than. There’s a motive 1998’s Invitation is such a traditional. Nonetheless, Come 2 Me feels fairly new for her. The music borrows the favored hip-hop type of the second – a really Neptunes-esque funk beat that’s brittle and sparse. Her voice works nicely with this manufacturing, casting an addictive temper. However other than a catchy hook, there’s not a ton of meat on these melodic bones. Come 2 Me feels extra like an interesting curio than a permanent, iconic hit.

Nu’est – Good Bye Bye (2014)

We had been in such traditional Ok-pop territory in 2014 that I bear in mind largely dismissing Good Bye Bye when it was first launched – particularly when in comparison with Nu’est’s early singles that I beloved very a lot. Nonetheless, time has been very variety to this observe. What it lacks in bombast it makes up in temper and melodrama. The melodies are attractive all through and the manufacturing employs a refined construct that creates sudden climaxes. The observe drips with texture, pairing the fellows’ emotive voices with a guitar-laced instrumental and requisite dubstep breakdown (it was 2014, in spite of everything!). The accompanying album can also be amongst Nu’est’s strongest work.

miss A – Hush (2013)

Oh, to return to woman group fare like this! Hush is a shot of sonic drama, constructed upon the catchiest refrain of miss A’s profession. The music snowballs because it goes, rising extra intense with every second. Its fundamental construction is sort of easy, however reasonably than really feel repetitive the observe finds a technique to inject further components every time its hook repeats. Hush’s moments of restraint serve to intensify the strain, making certain its climax generates as a lot drama as doable. Above all else, it’s placing to listen to a music the place the women are given free reign to sing with panache. That traditional strategy enshrines Hush into the pantheon of Ok-pop classics.

The profitable observe of this version is miss A’s Hush!

Readers, what do you assume? Go away your individual rating within the feedback!