If you would have asked me a few years ago what I thought about HYBE Corporation, I would’ve had a few choice words to share with you. But somehow, many of my favorite new K-pop acts have now emerged from HYBE. And given &TEAM’s excellent musical track record, I was eager to see what the label’s Japanese offshoot could do with a new boy group. So, I committed to watching survival series OEN High and found myself strangely invested in the potential group members. Nearly all of my favorites ended up making it into aoen, who make their debut today with The Blue Sun (青い太陽).
aoen’s music has been entrusted to producer Breadbeat, whose sound I generally enjoy quite a bit. This bodes well for their future and suggests a lighter pop style. That can be heard in The Blue Sun, which arrives in perfect time for summer. The song is more generic than I would like, but it’s hard to deny its upbeat energy. This is “Boy Group 101” on autopilot, from the sung-talk verses to the buoyant chorus. However, I’ll take this over a bunch of guys shouting at me any day.
For those of you whose ears perk up any time I compare a song to “roller rink” music, you should definitely lean in closer for this one. The Blue Sun bounds on a light disco beat, never once straying from its funky frame. The chorus is punchy if slight — more like a promise of future potential than a knockout debut. I look forward to material that allows aoen to build a more unique take on this ubiquitous sound. For now, I’ll be bopping out of courtesy if not quite unbridled excitement.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.5