What I'm Listening To: Ay-Yo by NCT 127
NCT 127 released their 4th album repackage this week labeled "Ay-Yo". For those unaware, a repackaged album typically includes the same songs from a prior album with a few new songs and a different visual concept. "Ay-Yo" follows their September album, "2 Baddies" with three new songs.
I really enjoy the title track, "Ay-Yo", but I'm surprised it's their title track. I'm not mad though. I think "Ay-Yo" is a new and refreshing twist for NCT 127. When listening to it, it came across as more of a b-side at first, not the title track. Compared to their last couple of title tracks like "2 Baddies", "Favorite", and "Sticker" this song felt calmer. It's not as loud and "in-your-face" as the previously mentioned tracks felt to me. It's a nice change of pace and it proves NCT 127's duality of style. The chorus just blows me away every time I listen to it.
The other new songs, "DJ" and "Skyscraper", are another change of pace too. I wasn't a huge fan of "DJ" just because it's not my style. I also think it sounds like a throwback. For those who are familiar with NCT, it felt like "DJ" could have been on their 2018 album, "EMPATHY". I don't have much to say about "Skyscraper", I like it and it feels like a very on-brand NCT 127 b-side.
This is really great! I personally do not listen to k-pop, I have several friends that listen to a bunch of k-pop groups, but I felt like I could never get into it! This is a great introduction, so thank you! The attention to detail you provide about this piece, and comparing it to other songs of theirs was an interesting take on how to analyze music. Great work! -Jenna S.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of repackaging an album, so this was very interesting to me. I wonder how popular repackaging albums and if I have never heard of it because I listen to basic pop artists. I really liked how in depth you were with your music review. It was very helpful especially for someone who doesn't know a lot about k-pop.
ReplyDeleteI find the concept of a repackaging album very intriguing. I think true fans of certain types of music greatly appreciate when their favorite artists rerecord songs and slightly alter them. I wish more artists would do this, especially some of my favorite singers. I think, for instance, Big Time Rush and Scotty McCreery's voices have changed and gotten better since they initially became famous. This being said, I think they should redo some of their early songs as I think I would enjoy them even more if they were recorded now.
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