Chungha (창하) - Flourishing (4th Mini Album) [COMEBACK REVIEW]
By K-Pop Rambles - September 09, 2019
With Flourishing, that's how. But it remains to be seen whether I actually like the album or not, so let's take a look at it and see how it holds up!
1. CHICA
...holy shit, talk about starting with a bang.
Before I even listened to this album in full, I had a friend screaming at me via DM about how phenomenal this song was. So, I went in with high expectations that I was prepared to lower based on how much I liked it - but the best part was that I didn't have to lower them at all.
"Chica" is an uproarious female empowerment anthem that Chungha could do in her sleep, but it's the extra little details here that really make it fantastic. The accents of acoustic guitar, the echoey and slightly distorted adlibs/backing vocals, the lavish synths in the pre-choruses, the prominent drum rhythm, the tropical elements... This song is big and bodacious in just about every way. And I love that. It immediately grabs your attention, and refuses to let it go until the song is over. And even then, it'll probably keep your attention after that, because you'll immediately want to listen to it again! Chungha herself gives a fantastic vocal delivery here, too, especially with those choruses - her range CONTINUES to blow my mind, holy shit. She's got the right sort of charisma and charm to pull off this song, and it's very fitting with the image this album is going for.
On top of the song itself, we've got lyrics that continue that theme of female empowerment. From what I know, Chungha herself didn't have any involvement with writing the lyrics (which I was surprised at, because I swore she did), but that doesn't detract from them at all. They're certainly powerful and inspiring, especially in our current climate. The more female empowerment we have, the better, if you ask me - we really do need it sometimes. And "Chica" pulls it off perfectly! There are some little details in the lyrics that make them very endearing, as well as the small touches of Spanish to add to the vibe the instrumental has established. (There's also the fact that they're mostly in English, which is a very interesting yet fun touch!)
I want your true self, could you give me something new?
There's enough time, bring out your hidden self
You always hesitate
And by some utter miracle, MNH Entertainment apparently liked the song enough to let Chungha perform it as a side track for her goodbye stages. Whoever made that decision, I LOVE YOU. Because that means we've got choreography to look at - choreography created by Chungha herself!
And they also released a dance practice. The other K-Pop companies need to get on MNH's level.
Not gonna lie, I wasn't sure what to make of this choreography at first. When you see it in the live stages, the cameras are obviously focused on Chungha, and that might make this seem a little underwhelming. But the dance practice really lets you appreciate what's going on here.
The beauty of this routine isn't quite in the moves; it's in the formations and smaller details. Yes, the routine itself may be slow in some sections, and it's fairly simple, but the way the dancers move about and change positions is gorgeous. You can tell Chungha really thought it through. She's also playing to her strengths here, since she fits the choreography incredibly well. But probably my favourite thing about this entire choreography is the backup dancers. There is not a single male backup dancer in sight here - Chungha is backed up by a diverse group of women in this routine, and that not only matches the song itself, but really makes a statement. You can tell she's passionate about this, and she really managed to create a great routine here.
All of these elements combined ends up making "Chica" one of my favourite side tracks this year so far - definitely expect to see some Chungha on my year end list. Whether or not it'll be "Chica" is up for dispute right now - you'll see what I mean by that later on - but whether it ends up on that list or not, "Chica" is a fantastic album opener that really lets Chungha play to her strengths. More of this please!
2. YOUNG IN LOVE (우리가 즐거워)
This was a song I was seeing a bit of buzz around going into this comeback. Baek Yerin pretty much wrote all of the lyrics, which - considering how good of a knack she has for songwriting - was something to get hyped about. But I still wanted to hear the song itself before passing any judgement, and while this was a bit of an unexpected pivot from "Chica" previously, it's a surprisingly good fit for Chungha.
"Young In Love" takes a much more laid-back, funk-driven approach to its instrumental, with a very prominent guitar line backed up by trickling synths and a thumping bassline. It's very mellow, which's Chungha's upper register matches surprisingly well! Her vocal delivery is something that's normally overlooked in favour of her (insane) dance skills, but this really gives her a chance to show it off. Her delivery is very sweet and pleasant to listen to here, and it honestly gives me massive Boa vibes! Which, considering Boa's reputation, that's a very big compliment. If anything, the only major nitpick I have is that the choruses and verses can be a bit hard to distinguish from one another - an extra bit of oomph in the drum line or something like that would've helped a bit. It's by no means as bad as something like "Wow Thing," but it was something I noticed on my first couple of listens. Other than that, this song is easy listening at its finest, and it's a wonderful song to just sit back and relax to.
Speaking of wonderful, that's exactly how I would describe the lyrics. Just as everyone was anticipating, Baek Yerin's talent really shines through here. They seem to be describing a relationship that's very much focused on the little things - the stupid noises you make that make each other laugh, the way your relationship probably pales compared to the lavish relationships portrayed in dramas, and all the other little things about your partner that others wouldn't notice. They're incredibly heartfelt, as well as being very lilted and almost humourous in places, what with Chungha blaming all of these emotions on the alcohol. Drunk or not, these sorts of "mundane" details in love songs really appeal to me, and it's a surefire way to get me to like what would otherwise be a standard love song. I don't know, I find it really cute! It comes across as very genuine and realistic to me, and I love it.
There's no reality, it's just the two of us
Make a weird sound, I won't understand it anyway
[...]
I watched a drama, don't fight me - I can't afford that kind of love
I was going to take a look at the dance for this song that we got in the live stages, but... It's pretty much just Chungha with a microphone having fun on stage. There's not really much choreography to speak of - which is actually perfect. I much prefer that, especially with a song that's so light-hearted. I ended up liking "Young In Love" WAY more than I thought I would, and to say I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement! Whether or not I'll willingly return to is is something I'll have to see in the future, but at the moment, it's a really enjoyable love song with a lot of charm.
3. CALL IT LOVE
Okay, first off, who thought putting two songs called "Young In Love" and "Call It Love" next to each other on an album was a good idea? I've mixed these titles up so much at this point, it's ridiculous...
Jokes aside though, "Call It Love" is actually a ballad, which I was surprised at, but also happy to hear it from Chungha. I've praised her voice before, and she's definitely got the talent to pull off a slower song like this - from what I know, her OSTs have done well, so Korea definitely agrees. And I may as well just admit that ballads aren't really my thing; they're not something I'll readily listen to on a daily basis. I still do try my best to appreciate them, though, especially when they've got a vocalist like Chungha behind the mic.
"Call It Love" can be a little bit confusing at times due to how the key slides and changes around from verse to chorus, but it honestly makes it quite interesting. The subtle yet effective key change towards the end works wonders, too. But all in all, it's a very well-executed piano ballad - the flutes towards the end really stand out, and compliment Chungha's voice beautifully. She's got a very unique tone to her voice when she sings, and that's fully taken advantage of here. The main focus is on the lavish instrumental and the voice of the performer, which is exactly where it should be.
The lyrics are actually pretty good, too - they're emotional, but in a different way to how "Young In Love" tugged at your heartstrings. "Call It Love" takes a much more heartbroken approach, which Chungha looking back on what appeared to be a tumultuous relationship that ended badly. She still does believe that they really were in love, and that's why it ended the way it did. Even the ups and downs, and the moments where she was heartbroken were all a product of that. And yet, she does dispute that at some points, too, saying that maybe things would've ended differently if her partner really cared. They're very contemplative and reflective, and I could see these hitting home for people!
If you really think of me, the end would've been different
[...]
Even if there's this much pain, it's still love
In the end, "Call It Love" is admittedly a song I've glossed over on this album. That's not because it's a bad song - it's just because I'm not the biggest fan of ballads. I'm naturally going to gravitate towards the other songs here, just because they're phenomenal and more up my alley. But if you do care for ballads and slower-tempo songs that give you feels, "Call It Love" is a song you should definitely listen to.
4. FLOURISHING
Alright, NOW we're talking.
Over the past while, when I try to explain who Chungha is to someone who hears her music, I've started calling her "Korea's Ariana Grande". It's just what I feel fits her best, both in terms of musical style and popularity. And y'know what, "Flourishing" makes it seems like she's aware of this comparison, and that she's very much reveling in it.
"Flourishing" is full of trap snares, heavy bass beats and a simplistic, chord-driven melody line. It's definitely something you'd hear on the radio. But at the same time, it's got a lot of that character that we're used to with K-Pop; Chungha's vocal delivery is very airy and breathy in some places, which suits her beautifully. But the biggest thing to note about "Flourishing" is how much of a fucking FLEX this song is. Chungha continues to prove her versatility time and time again, and not only does she get to show off in that regard, she now gets to brag about her success while also remaining humble and wishing her haters the best. Her personality is off the charts here, and THIS is the sort of sound I love to hear her experiment with. It's a surprisingly great fit for her, and this has been on repeat for actual weeks for me. This song is why I said that "Chica" might not be my favourite side track from her this year - it's incredibly addictive once you get into it. It's a shame we didn't get choreography for this, honestly...
But for some people, this might not even be considered a K-Pop song - because there's no Korean to speak of here! It's all in English! WHY THIS WAS NOT PUSHED AS A WESTERN SINGLE, I WILL NEVER KNOW. Saltiness or not, these English lyrics really make "Flourishing" feel like a thank you to her Western fans, which I love. I have wanted Chungha to do a full English song for a while, you have NO idea. And yeah, the lyrics to "Flourishing" are pretty standard - they're full of casual flexing as Chungha talks about her mindset and how she plans to continue pushing forward - but it's Chungha's charm that sells them for me. She's surprisingly believable here, ESPECIALLY when she's in her lower range. She's got dangerous amounts of charisma, and she actually makes these lyrics fun rather than just another trap-driven brag song.
And if this doesn't make sense to you, my baby
I, I still wish you the best
I've gotta focus on the moment, ain't no looking back
Got so much love in my chest
So yeah, this song is amazing and I really want Ariana Grande to know Chungha exists so she can make a remix version of this please and thank you.
5. SNAPPING
So. This was it. The big follow-up to "Gotta Go". My nerves going into this were off the damn charts. I was scared I'd hate it. But I mean... did you SEE that fucking music video? DID YOU SEE THAT FUCKING MUSIC VIDEO?!
I don't make an MVs of the year list, but if I did, "Snapping" would run away with the top spot. HOOOOOO MAN. That MV is fucking mind-blowing.
Gorgeous MVs aside though, I may as well just get it out of the way - no, I don't like "Snapping" as much as "Gotta Go". I mulled over it a LOT when the song came out, and really thought hard about it. But in the end, it doesn't blow me away quite as much. But does that mean that "Snapping" is a bad song? FUCK NO. This goes just as hard and I am very much a fan.
In terms of its stance as a follow-up, I don't think "Snapping" could've been any more perfect. But it's important to look at it as its own song, too, and not just a follow up to "Gotta Go". And that song is full of blaring synths, a STRONG bassline, and a really unique and catchy melody that lets Chungha shine from start to finish. She's in her comfort zone here, and she knows it. It feels very clean and polished, but it doesn't lose any of its charisma due to over-production or lack thereof. It's pretty damn masterful, and really serves as a demonstration as to why Chungha is as popular as she is; she's a musical, charisma-driven powerhouse, and "Snapping" proves it.
Lyrically, "Snapping" actually took me by surprise. These lyrics are about love, in a sense, but not in the way you'd expect. Chungha almost seems to be playing with her partner's heart and emotions, and they seem to be suffering for it - it almost seems like she's trying to warn them, and then processing the side effects of her actions when their relationship suffers because of it. That's what I get from it, anyway. They're honestly a bit hard to break down. But if I'm at least a little bit close to correctly interpreting what's going on here, then damn! These are a really nice change of pace. That extra layer of emotion is very much welcomed. They're sexy in some places, contemplative in others, and they carry a big sense of swagger overall (for lack of a better word).
On your way home, drop me off, lightly take it off
Push me away before the night is over
[...]
I'll let you go
Of course, since this is the title track, I have choreography to look at here! And overall, I think it's pretty damn good.
As we all know by this point, Chungha is an incredible dancer. It's what she's mostly known for - so to see her get so into the routine for "Snapping" is a delight to see. (Seriously, did you see those stank faces toward the end? She was popping OFF.) There's something about the way she dances that's so clean and sharp, and it's really damn entertaining to see her perform. And I know there was a lot of buzz about her backup dancers - especially the guy with the bun, for some reason - and yeah, I can see why! They really compliment Chungha well here, and they've got fantastic chemistry with her. "Snapping"'s choreography is really well-crafted, too, with plenty of complex yet smooth position changes, intricate moves and overall eye candy from start to finish. It's not a mind-blowing routine, but it's an incredibly memorable one. I haven't actually sat down and learned the dance, yet I know pretty much all of the choruses and some of the verses just from watching Chungha perform it. That's how you know you have a great dance on your hands! It's memorable, it's distinctive, and it's another phenomenal routine from Chungha.
In the end, I do feel like "Snapping" managed to live up to the hype! That did seem near-impossible to me initially, but now I feel like there's nothing Chungha can't do. She's Korea's darling right now, and both she and her company are aware of that. "Snapping" was exactly the comeback she needed to really cement her popularity, and not only is the title track great, but the album behind it was fantastic, too. I actually ended up buying it physically - which, let me tell you, if you like this album, GO BUY IT PHYSICALLY. It's a gorgeous album from top to bottom. (If you don't believe me, watch this unboxing. It doesn't really do it justice, but hopefully you'll at least see my point.)
But I can confidently say Chungha has delivered yet again! If this is the sort of standard she's going to display in K-Pop, I cannot wait to see where the next few years take her. She's destined to be huge, and Flourishing cements that thanks to its quality as an album. Go listen to this if you haven't already - they called the title track "Snapping" for a reason.
They knew. They absolutely knew.
•••••
ALL THE SOURCES FOR THE ENGLISH LYRICS I USED IN THIS REVIEW:
Chica
Young In Love (우리가 즐거워)
Call It Love
Snapping
