LOVELYZ - LOVELINUS

Tracklist:

1. For You
2. Circle
3. BeBe



After their initial success with both 'Girls' Invasion' and 'Lovelyz8,' Lovelyz are back with a new single album, 'Lovelinus.' The title is pronounced Luv-Lee-Nuss ('Loveliness') although I keep thinking of this guy when I read it:


Linus, from the Peanuts comic strip

They kick off the album with "For You" that starts and ends the same way, "Doo doo doo doo, Oh my love," which makes a killer hook, and also has nothing to do with the rest of the song. Synth washes, a danceable beat, and sweet voices complete the picture. It's an ode to guy, and they're saying that they can get through the tough times as long as they have his hand to hold.

"Circle" slows it down, a mid-tempo ballad that's sweetly sung and still keeps good time. Part of what makes this song special is the harmonies, particularly JIN, Jiae, and Jisoo's parts. JIN is a dynamic singer and has some great belts here. It's a pretty song, having to do with never being quite able to connect with a guy.



"BeBe" starts out contemplatively, and then revs it into high gear, a high-energy, frenetic tune. The title is pronounced "Baby," in case you couldn't guess. You still have their trademark coos, but also some pretty sweet straight croons. It's nice to hear, and they don't bury anything. It's an interesting cross between pop and dance, becoming solid dance when it hits the chorus. It's about a girl getting the courage to admit that she'll always be his "Bebe."

I've always liked the Lovelyz' output, and while the high voices grate on some, they're fairly soothing to me. I think if the voices were more shrill or they tried to be bolder (which is not their image), it would fail. I like their concept, and I like albums like this. It's never jarring, short but sweet, and they still manage to surprise me in some parts, in defiance of the formula. This is another successful single from some talented girls.  

MV REVIEW

Watch the girls travel to Japan in their newest MV "For You!"

Yes, here we have scenes of the girls waiting for rides and hitching rides to get to Kin Town, Japan (we don't see how they actually got to the island). Here the girls run through grassy fields, frolic on the beach, and blow bubbles in a laundromat, among other things. On the whole, it looks like they're having fun.



While there's no dancing, there are scenes of them running around together, laughing, blowing bubbles, splashing in the water, and all the cute things you might expect while they're on vacation. I'm under no illusions that the shooting schedule was likely grueling, but the editing leaves with the impression that they were just enjoying themselves, and you can't help but smile watching them.

The costumes were the requisite shorts, sundresses, and short skirts that are part and parcel of MVs like this. Thankfully, it didn't try to squeeze them into something that looked awkward just to draw viewers, instead presenting them in a more naturalistic way. 

This is an entertaining video to watch, not just because of the aegyo type things, but also because some of the shots were framed with the sun in mind, creating scenes that could be the graphics for a beach commercial or a CF for suntan lotion. While things are a little too perfect to believe there are any candid shots, it still doesn't blunt the impact. There's nothing wrong with this MV technically or aesthetically. It's always fun to see places that you've never been (or may never get to). While Japan's not the place I'd think of as a vacation spot, this MV makes it look enjoyable enough to make me rethink that. Thumbs up on this one. 

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