B.A.P - Blue

B.A.P is a K-Pop group that's most famous for their dark and heavy hip-hop based music, but is also known for their versatility in exploring other styles. One example: their newly released single album, Blue.

The title track, "Honeymoon," uses bright and fun electronic beats, starting off with a pleasantly unexpected whistled tune that appears repeatedly in different forms throughout the song. Though it has the upbeat characteristics of EDM, it maintains a relatively mellow sound that makes it a softer feel-good jam. It does well in showing off B.A.P's powerhouse vocalists, particularly as they belt out the catchy chorus, while their rappers add in their own individual styles that they manage to flow into the verses' melody with ease. While the title "Honeymoon" gives the impression of a love song, B.A.P does what they do well by curving away from what's expected. The inspiring lyrics instead discuss pushing through difficult times and being able to simply love life. They embrace the moment that "feels like the honeymoon," when everything is okay and the world is theirs to enjoy freely. Many fans connect this to the group's long history of hardships throughout their lives as K-Pop idols and take it as the members' assurance that they're putting those times behind them. This could even be thought of as a response or continuation of their previous title track, "Wake Me Up," which discussed the experience of having serious personal struggles and essentially being the victim of your own mentality. So it's as though "Honeymoon" represents the result of being able to get through those dark and difficult times, even if it's only temporary. B.A.P also manages to leave a few traces of their signature calls to stand up to a corrupt and imperfect world that they're so known and respected for. This message that makes the song sound more personal to the group is what one could say gives it the special characteristic that makes it the most qualified to be the title track, despite the potential of the others through their worthy melodies. The music video that goes along with the track is immediately eye-catching with utterly stunning visuals. This includes many shots of the six members spread throughout the natural environment of an island, accompanied by numerous displays of symbolism.

"All The Way Up" shows elements of house music and is a very lighthearted, buoyant jam. Similarly to "Honeymoon," the lyrics of "All The Way Up" are about feeling happy and carefree. The intent behind this seems to be that if you allow yourself to be immersed in the music, the weight of your troubles will be lifted from your shoulders so that you can join B.A.P "all the way up in the air."

"Rewind" goes in a very different direction from either of the other songs, following the perspective of someone lamenting and resenting a person who left them. The style has a very vintage and seductive R&B feel. The seemingly raw instrumentation (with use of electric guitar, strings, drums, etc. as opposed to the more frequent multitude of electronic effects) even by itself would be enough to create a wonderfully entrancing work to listen to. But being paired with the soulful voices of B.A.P makes "Rewind" nothing short of mesmerizing. It can send your mind straight to the scene of someone sitting or standing by a window during a rainstorm in an old film noir setting. A gentle roll of thunder is even provided to help set the mood.

B.A.P has the habit of periodically showing their listeners a different side of themselves. While they've released content that's upbeat and fun like "Honeymoon" or "All The Way Up," as well as slowed down and seductive like "Rewind," they took the extra step in making the songs' styles a little different from what they've done before and therefore distinctive and fitting to this album.

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