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ALBUM REVIEW: ONG SEONGWU - "LAYERS"
Written by: Frandae
Ong Seongwu, the idol, actor, and model best known as a former member of Wanna One, has released his first mini-album, ‘LAYERS’, as of the 25th of March, following the release of his first digital single, ‘WE BELONG’, back in January (reviewed by our lovely Social Media writter Nara here).
Seongwu has directly and actively participated in writing lyrics and producing and composing the tracks, as well as in creating the overall concept of the album, which as the name suggests, has to do with "layers" -- layers of his life and his lived experience as a solo artist for the past year. He wanted his first mini album to be personal, to convey his honest emotions, to let the listener feel the things he has felt: and accordingly, each song of the mini album (except ‘WE BELONG’) represents a feeling or emotion revealed through teaser pictures revealed prior.
'GRAVITY'
The title track of the mini-album is called ‘GRAVITY’, an expression of the term "Gravitate": he speaks of being attracted to a person, and how his world gravitates towards them as they become the centre and core of his life.
The song starts with small and mysterious sounds, that build up to a more addictive and upbeat melody going into the chorus. The idol sings: "Gravity, yeah, I’m drowning yeah, I’m drowning; I’m drowning in your love. Gravity, yeah, I’m diving yeah, I’m diving I’m diving into your love"; showcasing his powerful voice through emotional high notes.
Personally, I think the verses and the pre-chorus are a bit better produced than the chorus itself. While it's true that the chorus consists of the perfectly memorable set of phrases that you can blast and sing along to at top of your lungs (which for me, is essential in a title song), I think it needs a more complete instrumental arrangement, and some tweaks in production -- maybe, for instance, employing a more elaborate style. With the current instrumentation, the song comes off as somewhat dull. Neverthless, it's the perfect choice for a title track, since it contains the perfect balance for the idol to show off both his vocals and dancing through performances.
The music video, on the other hand, has a more dreamy mood, focusing on one of Seongwu's strongest points: acting. There isn't a single hint of choreography in the music video -- kind of shocking, considered his skill in dancing (as seen in his past in a more dance-oriented position) -- but this decision makes you appreciate the emotions and feelings poured into the song even more.
9,5/10
'CAFÉ'
The second track of the mini, ‘Café’, represents the emotion of "Comfort". With this song he makes the promise to always be there for you, and only you, whenever you need him, and to try his best to make you feel better and be at your side at all times.
The song is like a quiet, yet bright, afternoon, a conversation held over a meal, a day spent with the person you care the most about; a perfect mellow listen for the spring! However, it can seem a bit dull, lacking any real shifts or changes in the melody -- by the time you're halfway through the song, you can perfectly predict the rest. Neverthless, I think it's very well-executed, so it doesn't bother me that much.
I have to admit that even though this song does a good job displaying a different, sweeter side of him, I do think it clashes with the overall flow of the album a little bit. In my opinion, it should have been placed towards the end of the tracklist to give a feeling of warmth and comfort as a conclusion to the mini. To me, the abrupt transition from a very sweet and slow-paced song like this, to louder and more energetic ones, breaks the mood just slightly.
9/10
'AFTER DARK'
‘After Dark’ in sharp contrast to the previous two tracks, is a depiction of the "Hollow", talking about his experiences of uncertainty, loneliness and confusion over the past year.
This song is the most meaningful in the album and one of my personal favourites, not only for his amazing and emotional vocals (showcased perfectly, for example, from 2:36 to 2:50), but because of the message itself.
It's exploration of the dark, of his deepest fears and feelings, deeply authentic -- exactly what I'm looking for in a song: an artist's true story. When you get emotional over a song without even knowing what its words mean, you know you're listening to a real singer, capable of conveying a message even across language barriers. Now add to that the actual lyrics, and you'll find yourself in the presence of a hidden gem. For me, the moment that I think I felt what he was trying to communicate the most, is from 1:52 to 2:08; you can clearly distinguish the raw pain in his voice.
My only "complaint" is that, similarly to ‘Café’, it should have been placed towards the end of the tracklist, so as not break the flow of the album. An ideal arrangement might've put ‘After Dark’ first, and followed it with ‘Café’, to soothe the ache. But apart from this small personal preference, I think it's one of his best songs.
10/10
'BYE BYE'
Next we have ‘BYE BYE’ : an image of "Realization". In it, he speaks of realizing that he shouldn't have believed in the words or actions of others, and that his efforts are completely wasted on them. He finally understands that sometimes it's good to say 'Bye Bye' -- especially when it comes to people that are unwilling to listen to his side of the story; those who bring nothing but toxicity to his life.
It's a very funky and upbeat song full of internal contrast and exciting musical shifts, the sort of thing that picks you up and makes you feel powerful as you listen to it. The message of the song is also very important: you can't like or be liked by everyone, so sometimes it's better to cut your losses and say goodbye first, even if that hurts.
Overall, it is a very impactful and strong song, with a very dynamic, almost addictive sound, though sometimes, the wide range of musical elements used does seem like a bit too much -- for example, the somewhat mechanical, robot-esque section spanning from 1:31 to 1:40, came off to me as a bit jarring, not matching too well the overall sound (though the lyrics during that section do still remain on point). On the other hand, I think the breakdown from 2:10 to 2:18 was a nice touch that added more fun to the song!
9,75/10
'GUESS WHO'
Last but not least, we have the promotion b-side, ‘GUESS WHO’, representing "Curiosity". He wants to satisfy his fan's questions about him by playfully singing about his likes and preferences.
The song talks about all the little things Seongwu enjoys -- for example, he talks about his weakness for Iced Americanos (though as WELOs know, his ultimate favorite drink is the Caramel Macchiato: he is always seen drinking one no matter where he is or where he goes; he seems to drink more often than even water!).
He asks the fans to tell him all the little curiosities they have, so that they can gradually get to know him better as he gives them the answers they want. Another part I liked a lot was the english section from 2:29 to 2:43 -- a moment of perfectly light-hearted, sweet seduction.
He also sings about his desire to open up the different sides of his personality to his fans with his work in the future.
Overall it's a very light and fun song that puts you in a good mood: perfect for just dancing around and having lots of fun with!
9,25/10
In conclusion, I think this is really great as a debut mini album, perfect for the artist wanting to show different aspects -- "layers" -- of their person. As I said before, it's remarkable and quite brave of him to have co-produced and co-written for his very first solo venture into music, and it's clear that he put all his opinions, thoughts, experiences and emotions into the process. Additionally, it's a very diverse album that wonderfully showcases his vocal skills and explores different tones of music -- I'm sure that you can find at least one song you like a lot within this album.
I can only say that I'm really looking forward to listen to Seongwu's future releases, and watch him grow as a lyricist, producer, singer and artist!
________________________________________
Artistic Creativity: 10/10
Vocal Quality: 9,3/10
Music: 9,5/10
9,6/10
________________________________________
PROOFREAD BY: @Timingil
GRAPHICS BY: @Frandae
Written by: Frandae
Ong Seongwu, the idol, actor, and model best known as a former member of Wanna One, has released his first mini-album, ‘LAYERS’, as of the 25th of March, following the release of his first digital single, ‘WE BELONG’, back in January (reviewed by our lovely Social Media writter Nara here).
Seongwu has directly and actively participated in writing lyrics and producing and composing the tracks, as well as in creating the overall concept of the album, which as the name suggests, has to do with "layers" -- layers of his life and his lived experience as a solo artist for the past year. He wanted his first mini album to be personal, to convey his honest emotions, to let the listener feel the things he has felt: and accordingly, each song of the mini album (except ‘WE BELONG’) represents a feeling or emotion revealed through teaser pictures revealed prior.
'GRAVITY'
The title track of the mini-album is called ‘GRAVITY’, an expression of the term "Gravitate": he speaks of being attracted to a person, and how his world gravitates towards them as they become the centre and core of his life.
The song starts with small and mysterious sounds, that build up to a more addictive and upbeat melody going into the chorus. The idol sings: "Gravity, yeah, I’m drowning yeah, I’m drowning; I’m drowning in your love. Gravity, yeah, I’m diving yeah, I’m diving I’m diving into your love"; showcasing his powerful voice through emotional high notes.
Personally, I think the verses and the pre-chorus are a bit better produced than the chorus itself. While it's true that the chorus consists of the perfectly memorable set of phrases that you can blast and sing along to at top of your lungs (which for me, is essential in a title song), I think it needs a more complete instrumental arrangement, and some tweaks in production -- maybe, for instance, employing a more elaborate style. With the current instrumentation, the song comes off as somewhat dull. Neverthless, it's the perfect choice for a title track, since it contains the perfect balance for the idol to show off both his vocals and dancing through performances.
The music video, on the other hand, has a more dreamy mood, focusing on one of Seongwu's strongest points: acting. There isn't a single hint of choreography in the music video -- kind of shocking, considered his skill in dancing (as seen in his past in a more dance-oriented position) -- but this decision makes you appreciate the emotions and feelings poured into the song even more.
9,5/10
'CAFÉ'
The second track of the mini, ‘Café’, represents the emotion of "Comfort". With this song he makes the promise to always be there for you, and only you, whenever you need him, and to try his best to make you feel better and be at your side at all times.
The song is like a quiet, yet bright, afternoon, a conversation held over a meal, a day spent with the person you care the most about; a perfect mellow listen for the spring! However, it can seem a bit dull, lacking any real shifts or changes in the melody -- by the time you're halfway through the song, you can perfectly predict the rest. Neverthless, I think it's very well-executed, so it doesn't bother me that much.
I have to admit that even though this song does a good job displaying a different, sweeter side of him, I do think it clashes with the overall flow of the album a little bit. In my opinion, it should have been placed towards the end of the tracklist to give a feeling of warmth and comfort as a conclusion to the mini. To me, the abrupt transition from a very sweet and slow-paced song like this, to louder and more energetic ones, breaks the mood just slightly.
9/10
'AFTER DARK'
‘After Dark’ in sharp contrast to the previous two tracks, is a depiction of the "Hollow", talking about his experiences of uncertainty, loneliness and confusion over the past year.
This song is the most meaningful in the album and one of my personal favourites, not only for his amazing and emotional vocals (showcased perfectly, for example, from 2:36 to 2:50), but because of the message itself.
It's exploration of the dark, of his deepest fears and feelings, deeply authentic -- exactly what I'm looking for in a song: an artist's true story. When you get emotional over a song without even knowing what its words mean, you know you're listening to a real singer, capable of conveying a message even across language barriers. Now add to that the actual lyrics, and you'll find yourself in the presence of a hidden gem. For me, the moment that I think I felt what he was trying to communicate the most, is from 1:52 to 2:08; you can clearly distinguish the raw pain in his voice.
My only "complaint" is that, similarly to ‘Café’, it should have been placed towards the end of the tracklist, so as not break the flow of the album. An ideal arrangement might've put ‘After Dark’ first, and followed it with ‘Café’, to soothe the ache. But apart from this small personal preference, I think it's one of his best songs.
10/10
'BYE BYE'
Next we have ‘BYE BYE’ : an image of "Realization". In it, he speaks of realizing that he shouldn't have believed in the words or actions of others, and that his efforts are completely wasted on them. He finally understands that sometimes it's good to say 'Bye Bye' -- especially when it comes to people that are unwilling to listen to his side of the story; those who bring nothing but toxicity to his life.
It's a very funky and upbeat song full of internal contrast and exciting musical shifts, the sort of thing that picks you up and makes you feel powerful as you listen to it. The message of the song is also very important: you can't like or be liked by everyone, so sometimes it's better to cut your losses and say goodbye first, even if that hurts.
Overall, it is a very impactful and strong song, with a very dynamic, almost addictive sound, though sometimes, the wide range of musical elements used does seem like a bit too much -- for example, the somewhat mechanical, robot-esque section spanning from 1:31 to 1:40, came off to me as a bit jarring, not matching too well the overall sound (though the lyrics during that section do still remain on point). On the other hand, I think the breakdown from 2:10 to 2:18 was a nice touch that added more fun to the song!
9,75/10
'GUESS WHO'
Last but not least, we have the promotion b-side, ‘GUESS WHO’, representing "Curiosity". He wants to satisfy his fan's questions about him by playfully singing about his likes and preferences.
The song talks about all the little things Seongwu enjoys -- for example, he talks about his weakness for Iced Americanos (though as WELOs know, his ultimate favorite drink is the Caramel Macchiato: he is always seen drinking one no matter where he is or where he goes; he seems to drink more often than even water!).
He asks the fans to tell him all the little curiosities they have, so that they can gradually get to know him better as he gives them the answers they want. Another part I liked a lot was the english section from 2:29 to 2:43 -- a moment of perfectly light-hearted, sweet seduction.
He also sings about his desire to open up the different sides of his personality to his fans with his work in the future.
Overall it's a very light and fun song that puts you in a good mood: perfect for just dancing around and having lots of fun with!
9,25/10
In conclusion, I think this is really great as a debut mini album, perfect for the artist wanting to show different aspects -- "layers" -- of their person. As I said before, it's remarkable and quite brave of him to have co-produced and co-written for his very first solo venture into music, and it's clear that he put all his opinions, thoughts, experiences and emotions into the process. Additionally, it's a very diverse album that wonderfully showcases his vocal skills and explores different tones of music -- I'm sure that you can find at least one song you like a lot within this album.
I can only say that I'm really looking forward to listen to Seongwu's future releases, and watch him grow as a lyricist, producer, singer and artist!
________________________________________
Artistic Creativity: 10/10
Vocal Quality: 9,3/10
Music: 9,5/10
9,6/10
________________________________________
PROOFREAD BY: @Timingil
GRAPHICS BY: @Frandae
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thanks for reviewing fran
this is my first time listening to the album in whole, but i really liked guess who~
this is my first time listening to the album in whole, but i really liked guess who~
Well-written review Fran!
My favorites are 'Guess Who' and 'Gravity'! I agree 'Gravity' is a good choice for a title track because it shows off his high notes. Overall, this album is solid, and I'm glad he actively took part in producing and writing all the tracks
My favorites are 'Guess Who' and 'Gravity'! I agree 'Gravity' is a good choice for a title track because it shows off his high notes. Overall, this album is solid, and I'm glad he actively took part in producing and writing all the tracks
oof this was a good read frannie!
my fave tracks are gravity, guess who and bye bye
my fave tracks are gravity, guess who and bye bye
Wozumo
Stan- Joined
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After Dark is soooo gooood, deserves the 10/10. the lyrics are so emotional
I didn't get the chance to dive into this album when it first released, but I have been listening a lot recently and I really like it. I don't normally pay attention to lyrics but I love the lyrics here! They feel like his own stories and things that he wanted to say. They catch my attention in a way most songs don't. My personal favorites off the album are Gravity and Guess Who. Really wish the Guess Who stages had dancing though!