15& - LOVE IS MADNESS
JYP's dynamic duo, 15&, is back with a new single, "Love Is Madness." 15& consists of Park Ji Min and Baek Ye Rin, who burned up the charts with sizzlers like "Can't Hide It" and their full-length album 'Sugar.' "Love Is Madness" is their highest charting single to date.
With their latest release, the girls appear to have deviated some from their faux-retro R&B style with the use of rapper Kanto of TROY, among other examples. The song begins as a semi-meditative piano ballad, but quickly turns it up with jangly chords and a mid-tempo beat, which I like better than the gale-force orchestral crescendos that they could have used. The girls' capable voices propel the tune forward, and then enter Kanto's punchy rap style.
There's only one issue I have with Kanto's rapping, and that is his rather jarring pronunciation of the English word "beach." His Konglish turns the word into "bitch," which is a bit edgy for 15&. He even puts particular emphasis on the word, which makes it seem like it's intentional? The translation assures me it's "beach," a better fit regardless.
This song, like most of 15&'s output, really showcases Ji Min's powerful pipes. Not to minimize Ye Rin, but they seem to have placed Ji Min center stage as her vocals begin and end the song. I'm hoping that's not a trend. They've both got the chops for singing, and they've proved it over and over.
If there are flaws, they haven't hurt this song's popularity. One thing is for certain: these girls can sing, and they do so well. This time the R&B vibe is a bit overshadowed by more traditional K-Pop, but that's just fine. They've put together an overall enjoyable tune, and that's really what counts, right? I'm looking forward to a full-blown comeback. 15& fighting!
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