Lee Hyori - Black

Lee Hyori has long been a well-known name in the K-Pop world. Earlier this year, she returned from her two-year hiatus from the entertainment industry with her first music release in four years. Her new album, Black, consists of twelve songs that are fairly different from what she's known to have done in the past. They use and mix various styles and genres, including electronic pop, R&B, country/blues rock, and hip hop. Overall, the album is very relaxed and mellow in comparison to many of her older, more upbeat and fun songs that were hits on the K-Pop charts. The album seems to be experimental for her, reflecting her experiences and self-development during her hiatus. Because of this change, it may not be received and reviewed quite as well as many of her past hits, or the current hits in South Korea. However, there's a certain charm and intriguing factor to what she's done with her music. From the toned-down styles of the songs to the lyrical subject matter, they create something that feels more personal and independent.

"Seoul," featuring Killagramz, was first released as a single and resembles light, electronic R&B. In the song, she talks about the city and leaving it, referring to how she turned away from the spotlight to live in a much more rural area. She expresses still having some fondness towards the city, but speculates "Will I every go back to you? Will I forget or miss you?" The music video flips between two settings, showing her wandering and dancing through Seoul and the kind of natural environment that she traded it for.

"Black" is primarily country/blues rock, a style rarely to never heard in the K-Pop industry. A little dubstep is tied in as well, but the song maintains a gritty, rustic sound with her light vocals expressing the desire to go back to her natural self, most likely who was unaffected by the pressures of the entertainment industry. She implies that black is the natural color of herself, referencing her hair, eyes, the "writing" on her skin, and her clothes. The music video shows her living in the desert during a drought, searching for a consistent source of water. This is likely symbolizing her desire to be herself, or even her journey of finding herself.

"Rain Down," also known as "Rain Fall," is a soft ballad with a simple but sentimental arrangement of vocals and piano. In this track, she's asking the rain to fall down on the dry and dusty ground, later implying that it represents her own heart. Some have expressed boredom towards "Rain Down," but as a personal experience, one of the first times I listened to it was during a rain storm. Once I made the connection to the song's title, I took a moment to simply sit and listen to the music while watching the storm outside, which allowed me to appreciate the beauty and emotion of the song better.

As different and experimental as Black is, it appeals to a smaller audience than her past releases. Even so, it's highly recommended to give a listen to; because Lee Hyori's new work is interesting, unique, and deserves appreciation.

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