[Review] "Goodbye" by Noel

If you're a fan of ballads, Korea is one place to dig through to find them. Once there though, you're faced with the dilemma of choosing which ones are worth listening to and which ones are simply non-entities. Well, here's one that might tickle your fancy. � "Goodbye" is Noel's latest single. Also known as Noelskye, this soloist falls under the indie/R&B category of Korea's musical repertoire. Noel's been around since 2007, and has worked with artists like Se7en, Gummy, Kim Bum Soo, and Big Mama. She has released songs for several OSTs, as well as a couple mini albums in 2010. One notable song also worth giving a listen is her 2010 single, "I Wanna Know", from the mini album of the same name. To get a good feel of her vocals, Noel possesses a smooth singing voice that is reminiscent of the queen of covers, Navi (Review: "Hello" by Navi); their tone is almost identical, as you'll hear in "Goodbye." � Korean ballads have this tendency to remind us of drama soundtracks, or just dramas themselves, since their arrangements are so melodramatic in nature. "Goodbye" falls into this chasm, as it features a broad orchestration and swooping melodies left and right. "Goodbye" does what we expect of it, unraveling from a simple piano line, to a piano line and cello accompaniment, to the wherewithal of a full blown orchestra. Noel matches the intensity of her backdrop by singing just as passionately and powerfully, almost offering us the explosive vocals at the middle eight that we've come to familiarize with the likes of British singer, Leona Lewis. I think some gratuitous high-falsetto notes would have given "Goodbye" that finishing touch to be considered an epic-like ballad for the masses, but it's nicely done nonetheless. � In truth, Noel's "Goodbye" is an easy-going, feel-good R&B song; it's nothing too mind-blowing, but we get to appreciate raw singing and we get a glimpse at what the Korean indie community is up to. � � Overall Rating: 4.1/5 � What are your thoughts on Noel's digital single? � Suggestions for a future review? �Hit the author up on�Twitter (@rothsresidence) or via�e-mail (arnold.arteaga@allkpop.com)! � Note: This article does not reflect the opinions of allkpop, only of the author.