Review: The8 - Side by Side
K-Pop group Seventeen's Chinese member The8 has released a few Chinese singles over his time as a singer. The most recent of them is Side by Side, which got both a Korean and Chinese version. However, for whatever reason, only the Korean version's MV was posted on MV, while only the Chinese version's MV was posted on Bilibili. This is not really that efficient, and I have a feeling this might have to do with HYBE's level of management of Seventeen's Chinese work. Or it could just be a weird policy.
Of the two versions, it is pretty clear that the Chinese version is better (at least for me). It feels that probably the Chinese version was written. It flows naturally, while the Korean version's flow seems a little more hindered as if the lyrics were written under constrained. Ironically, I remember the exact opposite problem for EXO's early work (in both Korean and Chinese), especially with Growl, where the Korean version flowed normally, while the lyrics for the Chinese version were barely making sense.
Side by Side thrives on its fun charms. It reminds me of those old-school, slightly cheesy love songs you'd see from the world as a whole back in the '70s. There is just some wholesome joy in this style, and I am pretty much sold, even if Side by Side is comparatively weaker. Maybe this was written for an Asian drama. I mean, the MV itself feels like one of those feel-good love K-Dramas!
The rhythmic textures through this track are certainly reggaeton influenced. This is interesting to note, as the instrumental is more old-school, almost like a musical with some jazz influence. Due to this, I can't help but feel that the opening jazz piano segment could itself be a really interesting song.
The8's vocal performance is more light-hearted fun than anything. This is a song that certainly does not require any peaks, and thankfully The8 realizes this, just letting his voice float like a log in a rushing river.
All in all, this is just a pleasant song, and it does not try to be anything else, that is its real strength. This, along with Hoshi's new release, hint at more Seventeen solos coming up.
I'll take all the SVT solos I can get!
ReplyDeleteSame here (and then some more)!
DeleteI have to agree, the Korean version is not really my style but the OG is better at least in execution and lyrics. Song-wise is not really my style but objectively it is good, it is not that cringy or corny but it exudes a certain awkwardness that is actually more than cute than cringe. The8, Jun and Hoshi did amazing for the solos. I wonder what others would sound like.
ReplyDeleteWell, I can explain for HYBE's weird Chinese relationship. Many Koreans these days have a very xenophobic perception of China, that is because China claimed ownership of kimchi, and that the GP really for some weird reason hates anything Chinese-adapted, may it be a webtoon, drama, play, book or even an artist. HYBE is playing safe with the Korean GP in the Chinese standpoint. Thereby, relocating the Chinese releases in Bilibili. Also, I noticed that HYBE was the only corporation not involved in anything Chinese, albeit releasing a BTS Chinese song last 2014.
SM, YG and JYP has strong Chinese connections that HYBE doesn't. HYBE also has strong American connections that SM, YG and JYP doesn't. It is an interesting standpoint I would say. The only thing breaking this tie is if one of them properly controls the J-Pop scene. JYP and HYBE are the only ones that can pull this off. SM tried to control Avex, unfortunately they failed.
Haha, SM trying to control Avex was really amusingly interesting. Not in the way SM wanted though...
DeleteAlso, BTS's Boy in Luv's Chinese version falls in the long list of Chinese versions probably written by someone who is Korean. Also, no offence, the members' Chinese performance was just better than mine lol. Still, an interesting experiment lost in time.
LOL. I really laughed at the performance part. Yeah, Crossover songs are a hit or a miss. The8 was charismatic to pull this off, others doing it would be cringy.
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