Review: Chancellor - Midnight Ft. Gaeko

Chancellor may not be the most famous or popular name among K-Pop fans, but he is far from one of the least influential. Prior to leaving them, Chancellor, then known as Kim Jung-Seung, was part of the production duo Duble Sidekick, behind several classics. Some of their best songs include ZE:A's The Ghost of Wind, Kara's Mamma Mia, Sistar's Loving U, Boys Republic's Hello, Girl's Day's Something, NU'EST's Sleep Talking, and Momoland's Wonderful Love.

Other than the fact that all of those songs are largely considered some of the most iconic K-Pop songs of the early 2010s, it is also apparent how different the duo's productional style was. Thus, it was hard to expect what Chancellor would channel for his lead single Midnight from his second studio album, Chancellor. The fact that Dynamic Duo's Gaeko featured strongly suggested that it would be an R&B track.

However, with the '80s retro trend in full swing, Midnight channels its energy and strengths straight from one of pop's most influential artists of all time. Regardless of the controversial and wrong behavior in his personal life, it is hard to argue against the fact that Michael Jackson has cast a large shadow over the music scene. Despite this, the retro trend has not borrowed too much from him, rather taking influence from synthwave, as well as other '80s mega-stars, such as A-Ha. With Midnight, Chancellor is clearly paying tribute to the King of Pop's 1979 album, Off The Wall.

A large problem I, and many others, have had with the retro trend, is that while it borrows the production and trends from the '80s, it does this in a kitschy and meme-worthy style, rather than paying tribute to the melody and dance style of the era. Midnight is a very authentic track from this era, and minus the second verse, would actually not sound out-of-place on an early '80s, late-era disco album.

However, the melody is entirely original. It sure is Michael Jackson-esque, but feels fresh at the same time. Chancellor provides a strong performance, with the falsetto chorus being a particular highlight. For how capable a composer he is, his vocal skills are no slouch.Gaeko does his best, even if his rap break is a little out-of-place, and stretched a little too far. The rap is a little unneeded, but it does show definitively that this is a K-Pop track. In essence, the performance feels like what would happen if J.Y. Park took his art seriously.

Each hook lands as a particular highlight, leading to one of the year's most memorable choruses. The falsetto refrain is amazing, while the percussion, with drums and cowbell galore, is a stand-out. The '90s Vocaloid in the second phase is a particularly inspired choice, blending well with the instrumental and Chancellor's voice.

Overall, Midnight is one of the best highlights this month so far, taking full-advantage of the '80s trend, and utilizing it in clever ways. Modern elements can be mixed, and the rap break shows that, but it is hard to argue with the stunning chorus.

Rating: 8.75/10

Image Source: The Bias List