Review: Nayeon - POP!

(Nayeon - "POP!" M/V. Credits to JYP Entertainment)

TWICE, to me, is the quintessential K-pop group. Even if you don't necessarily classify yourself as a hardcore fan, there is no doubt you know the majority of their discography. This rings true for myself as well-- I don't necessarily consider myself a Once (TWICE's fandom name), but the group has somehow always made it into my top 5 artists on Spotify. They've been on a nonstop roll for 7 years straight at this point, and nearly every one of their releases have gone on to become cult classics, from 'Cheer Up, to 'TT,' to 'What Is Love,' to 'I Can't Stop Me'-- the list goes on and on. It's quite surprising that none of the members haven't already pursued solo ventures, then, but main vocalist Nayeon has finally made the step forward.

Her debut mini-album, IM NAYEON, is composed of 7 new songs, including title track "POP!" Initially, I will admit I was not excited about this release. The snippets of "POP!" that were released felt a bit too... gimmicky and airy, so I feared the song would follow too much in the footsteps of quieter, more refined productions like Le Sserafim's "Fearless" or this album's own "Candyfloss." Not that this is a bad style, but K-pop has seen way too much of it recently. I begrudgingly set aside my expectations for the song, convinced it would just be more Tik Tok pandering. But boy, was I wrong.

(Nayeon - "POP!" M/V. Credits to JYP Entertainment)

"POP!" is anything but gimmicky or desperate. It's a solid pop song that lets loose and has fun instead of being overly serious. It's big, bold, and bedazzling, using brassy horns, retro-inspired instrumentation, and cheeky vocals that, together, craft a grand, summery treat. The song gets right to business, busting out the horns, bells, and drums that sweep across the entire runtime. While the verses opt for a more focused production, the chorus immediately soars into open ground, imbibing the song with a refreshing, exhilarating quality. While Nayeon doesn't perform any vocal acrobatics here, the combination of the 50s spy-style guitar melody, the fun bells and percussion, and the sustained notes compensates for the full sound quite nicely. The "pop, pop, pop" refrain is catchy, too.

Apart from the explosive chorus, I especially love the bridge. The countdown from five towards the final chorus while Nayeon struts around the imposing set in lifeguard-inspired outfits-- it perfectly captures the fun essence of the song. And of course, who could forget the music video? It's delightfully sassy, matching the atmosphere of the song quite well. Nayeon adorns a plethora of stunning outfits over beautiful sets, including a summer villa, and a magnificent indoor Teen Beach Movie situation. I also have to compliment Nayeon's dancing skills: the choreography is quite robust, combining lots of intricate, smooth hand movements and formations that emphasize the song's energetic and confident feel.

(Nayeon - "POP!" M/V. Credits to JYP Entertainment)

"POP!" is a very straightforward, fulfilling song. As a whole, it reminded me much of TWICE's earlier fare, but Nayeon's own growth is evident. The song seamlessly integrates playfulness with this sense of enticement, almost like a combination of "Birthday" by Somi and "Bubble Pop" by Hyuna. Not only does this suit Nayeon's personality incredibly well, but she pulls it off beautifully.

K-pop's 2nd generation was so chock-full of iconic girl group soloists, from the likes of Taeyeon and Bom, to CL and Sunmi. These artists released such genuine music that didn't try to grasp for gimmicks, trends, or experimentation to satisfy a short-term craze, whether it be Tik Tok or otherwise. The manner in which nearly all of their releases have become K-pop classics only cements this point. They proved themselves outside the context of their group, only intensifying the connection and respect we attach to them. To me, one of the 3rd generation's greatest pitfalls is that it has lacked such artists. Even Blackpink's solo music didn't quite hit the same spot because of how Westernized it felt. But this, this does. "POP!" has to be one of the few truly satisfying and fresh K-pop songs that has come out this year, nevertheless a new girl group soloist. It's just pop, well done. I easily foresee Nayeon becoming one of K-pop's biggest soloists in the future if her discography continues in the path "POP!" has set forth. And I cannot wait to see what else the other TWICE members have to offer!