MAMAMOO  - "AAH OOP" SINGLE AND MV REVIEW

Having made a huge splash with their mega-hit "Piano Man," girl group MAMAMOO is back. Continuing the retro feel, the promo pics have a sort of 50's dress-style. Teamed up with label mate ESNA, together they take us along on a retro ride.

The new single has a definite bluesy sound to it, complete with horn section (or at least, a synth-version of such). It was written and composed by ESNA, and she has a lion's share of the vocals on the track, as well.



I'm usually critical of retro songs precisely because I missed those eras the first time round and have little desire to return to them. Doo-wop isn't my first musical choice at any rate. Blues, however -- that stuff is timeless and is replicated well here. An irresistible, sensual guitar to keep the time, a blast of horns to give it verve, a sizzling groove.  

The vocals are, as always, amazing. The vocal range matches, too, making it difficult to tell just who is singing at any one time (I said, difficult -- not impossible). Moon Byul comes in with an aggressive rap to give the song a modern twist. She sounds genuinely angry, which just adds to the awesomeness of the song. Whee In, Wha Sa, and Solar all kill it too with deep, stirring voices that show us attitude.



The concept of the song is a fairly fresh take. Taking girl power to a new level, the girls tell their man to look at their face and "just look don't touch." They also take on the idea that looks aren't everything and that respect is.  

As usual, MAMAMOO has crafted a smoldering take on the retro scene. ESNA's vocals convey authenticity, and the rest of the girls are on point as well. It's out there, it's immediate, and demands your attention (as well as the guy they're calling out). It's packed with power and spirit, and keeps you moving from start to finish.

MV REVIEW

Leave it to a K-pop group to make the 50's look hot. In the MV, the girls are cast as hairstylists, and they bring their bold and brassy style with them. As they have their man in a chair, they give him a wide array of crazy coiffure, all the while lecturing him like in the song.

It's a cute tune as they sway their hips to the beat, pose for pictures, sing into hairdryers, comb the guy's hair, mix the shaving cream, and whatever in general. The dance sequences are framed in that older style, as well, slamming home the idea that yes, this is retro.



The pictures on the wall are a nice touch as well with Rex Harrison and Elvis Presley hanging up close to each other. Very different styles, to be sure, but still classic.

At the end, they even set his hair on fire and post a picture of him up on the board with pics of other missing persons, letting us know he didn't escape unscathed.



This video was smoking hot. The confidence of the girls and the boldness of the song made it that way, plus the narrative running through the piece. It's good to see the industry finally feeding us videos that we can sink our teeth into, going beyond the sexy concept. I like this -- it made me laugh, and kept me watching.

I think I'm going to be careful next time I get a haircut. :) 

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