MUSIC REVIEW : BLACKPINK - 1st MINI ALBUM 'SQUARE UP', BLACKPINK IS THE REVOLUTION!

Hi guys, today I want to share my opinion and review about Blackpink latest songs and comeback. I intentionally write this with English than with Indonesian language, because I want to share my thought to all k-pop fans around the world especially to international Blink. I know that I’m not so fluently or excellent in English, so I’m so sorry if there was a wrong grammar or else in this post. So I beg you to don’t be hesitate for correct me if I do something wrong with my post here. So please correct me if I’m wrong, guys. By the way, this is my first time to make a review about music. i have prepared another blog which exclusively just for post about my interest to music, but unfortunately, i forgot the password, so i only can wrote it here.

Source : soompi.com

source : youtube.com

Who so excited to Blackpink latest comeback?! I am so excited. One of multitalented girl group in k-pop industry, blackpink has comeback after a long time since 2017 after releasing single “as if it’s your last” they released a 1^st mini album in 15 June 2018 SQUARE UP, after releasing SQUARE ONE and SQUARE TWO in 2016. The thirsty of Blink has paid off by Blackpink. I’m truly a multi fandom fans. But actually, I can say that I’m a blink too. I following the blackpink member since they are still a trainee in YG Entertainment. Especially to Jennie Kim. I’m so fan-girling at her. I like her appearance, personality, talent and her style. She good at singing and raps too. She always baddas.

In my humble opinion, Blackpink agency, YG Entertainment always make a long awaited comeback for their artist. I don’t know what the reason, but they did it to blackpink. Blink (blackpink fandom) are waiting so long for the comeback of the queens. It's tooks amount 1 years for blackpink comeback with SQUARE UP which contains their hit perfect all-kill title song, DDU-DU DDU-DU. The music video for the title song also hit the record, the become the fastest kpop girl group who hit 20+ million views in youtube after 24hr released (last update : Blacpink – DDU-DU DDU-DU MV has reach 50 million view!). The album also sweep out the global Itunes charts. But this long awaited comeback is not just happened to Blackpink. Other artist in YG Entertainment also encounter in its situation. Many netizens are critizing YG Entertainment, netizens make a comment sounds like “bring out our the queen or the princess from the dungeon!” will found easily in their Social media account. Such as Lee Hi. She still not comeback yet since her latest album, seoulite in 2016. I really miss her.. I hope YG also preparing a comeback project for Lee Hi as soon as possible.

source : blacpink official IG @blackpinkofficial

Back to the topic. In Blackpink comeback now, they give us 4 tracks in mini Album Square Up. Almost of all their songs written/composed by YG Entertainment popular composer, Teddy. I admit that I love almost all songs which written by Teddy. He really a genius producer/composer. He always make a hit songs which bring the YG Entertainment artist get success and great popularity in k-pop industry. I will begin review it all now:

1. DDU-DU DDU-DU (9/10)

Honestly on my first streaming of the music video of this track, its reminiscent me to 2NE1 Vibes, I could say that this song is very 2NE1-nish. Its feels has a similiar vibes belong to 2NE1 song ”I Am The Best” which has very addicting lyrics part “BAM BRATATATA TATATA TATA” But Blackpink has addicting lyrics part with “hit you with that DDU-DU DDU-DU” at the first sight of the teaser, I have a low expectation to this song, because I just make an assume just from the first time know the title, “what? It's a very ~~(sorry~~) dummy title” its sound so funny and I just spontantly imagine to baby sharks song, ddu-du-ddu-du kkkkk ~~sorry~~ :( If i compare it to their last unique title, boombayah, i think boombayah sounds more cooler and baddas than ddu-du-ddu-du. IMHO, After Ddu-du-ddu-du officially released, it's turn out more great than Bombayah! I admit that I was really really wrong, guys. The intro of the song begin with very attractive synth pitch that makes our ears a little bit frantic and the beats suddenly comes pop out following with back sound vocal from the powerful voice of Rosé and the opening verse begin with Jennie. This song really defines Blackpink. Rosé and Jisoo has a lot of parts of vocals. I think Jisoo has Improved her vocals, she can conquer high tone parts especially in pre-chorus part, she did well. Part of raps always steal my curiosity to this song, Lisa and Jennie has a good pronunciation in all their raps and vocal, I adore it. But I think in the closing parts of this song is quite ordinary and a lil boring. But it's not bad at all, i highly recommend this song for cheers you up, it's will inject you an energy instantly for start your day! Oh yeaa I like a lyrics which singing by Rosé in the pre-chorus of the song :

“두 번 생각해
흔한 남들처럼 착한 척은 못 하니까
착각하지 마
쉽게 웃어주는 건 날 위한 거야”

Think twice.
I can not pretend to be nice like everyone else.
Do not mistake it.
It’s for me to smile easily

Whoaaaa this lyrics so cool and savage!

Source : hallyuvibe.com

2. FOREVER YOUNG (9.5/10)

such a vibes of summer song! i really more like this one than the title track. this kind of song make me remind to Winner's songs style. When I hear this song, I feel an atmosphere of Winner Songs titled “Island” which is a kind of my favorite dance songs. Exactly, Both are totally different. But in my ears, the both has a slight similar tone as well. The significant different is, winner – island contains rich of tropical house tone. I try to find out who is the composer, surprisingly both of the songs are has a same composer, it’s Future Bounce! in Island’s song, Future Bounce collaborate with Rebecca Johnson and Kang Seung-Yoon, but in Forever Young, he collaborate with Teddy and R.Tee. Every member more show off their personal vocals than in other song before. Lisa and Jisoo has more part of vocal in this song. Jisoo voice really powerful here, She really improved her singing ability, I like her sweet voice in this song and fall in love to Lisa's Cute voice. Also for Rosé, she always good at singing and I like the way and her style in pronounce the lyrics of all blacpink songs. And for Jennie, I adore her voice even more, she did well all her part of raps and vocals. in this song we can find meaningful lyrics "blackpink is the revolution!" i strongly agree with the lyrics, since blackpink was born, they give me a fresh wind and take me away from the bored feels to ordinary k-pop style like cute girl and else concept, but they are different. they has a baddas girl crush concept, which i love so much. I Swear, I love this song! It’s will accompany me during this holiday season. By the way I like lyrics which singing by Lisa :

“오늘이 가도 후회 없게

시간이 우리 둘을 떼어 놓을 수 없게

순간이 영원할 수 있게”

I regret not going today

Time can not keep us apart

So that the moment can be eternal

Source : hallyuvibe.com

REALLY (8/10)

Wow! a R&B song also available in this mini album! I’m so curious at the first time I listen to the sampler which uploaded by Blackpink Instagram, but after I hear the whole of this song, I don’t feel an addicting effect for this song. I expect this song will similar like R&B Style of Dean or Groovy Room, but it’s evidently far from my expectations. But honestly I don’t feel any disappointed for this song. It’s a good song, but It’s not so convenient or matching with my R&B taste. I imagine how great blackpink if they sing a song with a R&B style like Dean or Groovy Room. There is one part from several parts that singing by rose which always engraved in my mind, it's around in minute 1:44 to 1:45, Rosé sang "haha hihi hoho". But overall this song is quite good, it’s makes me reminiscent to my unlucky love story wkwk

“하늘의 별이라도 따주겠다 말해

시간은 많지 않아 있을 때 잘해

다른 여자 보기를 돌 같이 본다고 해

때론 거짓말 같지 않은 거짓말을 난 원해”

Tell me I’ll take the stars in the sky.

Good when you do not have a lot of time.

Tell her to look at another girl’s view.

Sometimes I want a lie that does not sound like a lie.

Source : hallyuvibe.com

SEE U LATER (8.5/10)

At the first time I listen to the intro of this song, I highly expect it will steal my ears to always listen to it. And I thought it was a bit right. The intro is so cool and strong, the first verse also opening by Jisoo, it's so unusually, because almost of Blackpink song always opened by Jennie (except STAY). The Pre-chorus is so pretty and I like the way Jennie and Rosé sang it. But I'm very shocked with the chorus, it's so ordinary and not so special or has a unique side which makes me interest to the chorus, the repeat of lyrics "see u later boy, see u later .." make me quite bored with that .. but i admit that I love every part of this song except the chorus. This song has a great and pretty in certain parts, but I think no with the chorus. But overall I like See U later more than Really. There are a lyrics that so cool for your ex- from Rosé:

“널 버려줄 게 recycle
네 옆에 그녀는 바보
오늘 난 말할 게

I don’t want you no more”

I will throw you away.
Next to her is a fool
I will tell you today I do not want you no more

Source : hallyuvibe.com

Okay guys, that is my review about blackpink’s new mini album, Square Up. I want to say that I’m not a pro or an expert for review a music. It’s just pure my opinion. So guys, how about your opinion about blacpink latest comeback? Let me know!

Thanks for reading

See you in another music review post,

ULI