[Review] The ABCD’s of NAYEON’s ‘NA’
Following the release of her first mini-album the TWICE member’s second solo release, ‘NA’, had big boots to fill.
Image: JYP Entertainment.
With lyrics by J.Y. Park “The Asian Soul” and composition and arrangement by Pdogg (South Korean record producer and songwriter who has written tracks such as “Spring Day” and “Boy With Luv” for boy-band BTS), “ABCD”’s reputation preceded it as a standout song.
The title track also had big boots to fill, following the popularity of the artist’s first solo release, “POP!”, with its catchy melody and equally addictive choreography.
First lending itself to an early 2000s RnB vibe and then melting into a Hip-Hop inspired track, “ABCD” has proven TWICE’s NAYEON as the Princess of K-pop once again.
The track marries weighty guitar strings with muted percussion and tops it off with the singer’s powerful vocals. A diverse track and an epic kick-start to the artist’s second mini-album, “ABCD” showcases a more mature side to NAYEON that fans simply ‘can’t get enough’ of.
The accompanying music video is equally as diverse as the song itself, featuring various styles from 1920s Hollywood to latin and hip-hop, and a sexy dance break where the artist reps a pair of designer knee pads.
While starkly contrasting the preppy vibe of “POP!”, this vibrant title track doesn’t disappoint.
Another vibey song with a heavy beat throughout that mimics the beating of butterfly wings, “Butterflies” reflects the reputation NAYEON built as a solo artist with her previous release ‘IM NAYEON’.
The second verse features a clever beat-breaker with clapping for the lyrics: ‘My heart goes boom, crack, crack’ and a fun camera sound effect to compliment: ‘A little mental picture, every time I’m with ya’.
This entirely english track with lyrics and production by LA-based singer and songwriter Rachel West and Barry Cohen (professionally known as Gingerbread) who previously produced TWICE’s B-side “Basics”, “Butterflies” is the perfect poppy and refreshing love song.
“Heaven”, featuring Sam Kim who has lent his honey-like vocals to many an OST, including ‘Our Beloved Summer’ and ‘Nevertheless’, is an easy-listening RnB track that leads listeners into a relaxed state before drawing them into another poppy collaboration.
“Magic (Feat. JULIE of KISS OF LIFE)” is the KISS OF LIFE member’s first feature song and is a lovely standout on the album. JULIE loans her uniquely toned rap to the track, seasoning it like cinnamon, and intertwining seamlessly with NAYEON’s preppy vocals.
Named after the card game in which player’s ring a bell when the cards played show exactly five of the same image (usually depicting fruit), “HalliGalli” is a ‘sweet and tangy’ track.
Produced by Lee Chan-hyuk of the brother and sister duo AKMU, this song is likely to be a hit in South Korea where AKMU are known as ‘The Nation’s Siblings’ and Halli Galli is the country’s best-selling board game.
This fun track likens the confusion and nerves of a growing attraction to the sometimes frustrating card game: ‘Love is a HalliGalli bell / The flickering glances, the hesitant motions / Look away for a second, bye, bye / Look straight ahead, my card matters.’
Images: JYP Entertainment.
The second-to-last track, “Something”, composed and arranged by Sam Klempner who previously co-wrote NCT DREAM’s “Dreaming” with North Yorkshire artist and songwriter Scott Quinn, immediately throws listeners into a fast-paced track. The song cleverly merges guitar chords with an EDM beat that would lend itself to a remix or two.
“Count It” is the perfect dreamy outro for this diverse mini album. With lyrics by SOLE, of the project group WSG Wannabe, and the return of Sofia Kay who co-wrote “YOU GET ME” from TWICE’s latest mini album ‘With YOU-th’, “Count It” has a gorgeous beat that compliments the higher range of NAYEON’s vocals beautifully.
This song draws NAYEON’s second solo mini-album to a close like a soothing lullaby, leaving listeners more than satisfied with the artist’s latest release.