[IDOLOGY] Taeyeon - 'I' The 1st Mini Album Review (2015)

 

Kim Yoonha:

 

The biggest advantage of "I" is that it is a good example of an intelligent model student who seems to have prepared beforehand by looking up an existing text file titled "Commonly Made Solo Debut Mistake by Idol Group Main Vocal.txt". In this project, which is often self-destructive, people commonly tend to appeal to a different appearance, and a variety of their own charms which they could not show in the main group they're in. The album chooses the safest card with the highest success. Having already achieved box office success and mass popularity, Taeyeon's charming and explosive vocals are maximized. It is because the album is rotating centrally and solely around one goal: each of the songs are diverse at a glance, but they do not lose unity. The persistently contemplative title song 'I' which has a constantly changing vocal tone with a tune that overflows with deja-vu, and 'U R' which tests the limits of the emotions and techniques of Taeyeon's vocals at every moment are representative tracks for achieving the trinity: purpose, ambition, and talent.

 

 

Mimyo: 

 

For two years I mumbled in private: "Taeyeon's arena rock solo should come out." It is because of her rich vocal color that seems to be using a chorus effect which is close to a cool heroic reaching sound, and because she is a person who cannot throw away her cute image while doing such a thing. My expectations and so on are not important, but "I" with its texture of common pattern, an R&B diva, an electronic musician, and a collaboration is quite a welcoming attempt. It's a rock-based song; however, it is plausible that the rock introduction, development, turn, and conclusion was built based on a K-Pop tempo control. Above all, the spatial vocals overlapping with each other on a large scale, these advantages of Taeyeon's vocals that I mentioned are highlighted nicely. There is a sense of regret where the vocal's rhythm and the tempo's harmony sometimes leave a little, ambiguous, urgent impression, and there are parts that directly call up BoA. However, it looks like it has become a good song in terms of providing Taeyeon a way to be greedy with music. As expected, the big scale ballad "U R" after "Gemini" and "Stress", the R&B vocalist's technique and unique clear expressiveness are projected well. In "Farewell", just like "Can You Hear Me", a more mature mood is conveyed while satisfying the general expectations from Taeyeon. This album is an honest way to sound out and display Taeyeon's potential. To some people, it may excessively sound like a model student.*

 

*This analogy goes back to the idea that Taeyeon prepared and studied before experimenting with her debut album, and played it "safe" by including songs of genres that suit her vocal tone.

 

 

Translated by: Bee (@taengab)

Source: IDOLOGY.KR