Thus far, ZEROBASEONE have found a style that matches them and songs just diverse enough to be both consistent and adventurous. Their Korean title tracks have proven to be big growers on my own playlist, and now it’s time to transpose that onto the Japanese market. Yura Yura is their first original J-pop single.
As expected, Yura Yura borrows from ZEROBASEONE’s current sound palette and twists it just a bit for a new audience. The similarity is most notable in the percussion, which skitters through the track in an almost overstuffed way until the chorus hits with a light pop beat that recalls their debut. Even though they both took some time to grow on me, In Bloom and Crush each boasted unique calling cards that gave them their own sonic identity. Yura Yura feels much more slight in comparison.
Adding to the frustration, the melodies here just aren’t very pleasant. The verses pass by without leaving much of a mark, and the sprightly chorus uses repetition to its disadvantage. The “yura yura baby baby” hook is particularly grating and should have been replaced with something less sing-song. A noisy post-chorus breakdown doesn’t help, and without one or two instrumental highlights to give it character, the production feels colorless. On the plus side, the vocal performance is strong and confident. The guys deserve an equally strong song.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.25