Cube Entertainment’s rookie boy group Nowadays has struggled to gain traction in the market, but it seems the agency is finally ready to give them a push. They’ve been rebranded under the moniker “NOWZ” and given a pre-release track composed by and featuring i-dle’s Yuqi leading up to their appearance at this year’s KCON LA. Time will tell if this effort will bear fruit, but it’s nice to see the group gain a bit of support.
On its own, Fly To The Youth (자유롭게 날아) is unlikely to do much for the group, though I suppose stranger things have happened. The song is a classic pre-release in the sense that it feels a bit extraneous. Up to this point, NOWZ’s music hasn’t really been for me so it’s nice to hear them switch genres and offer something more melodic. However, Fly To The Youth is stuck between sentimental ballad and summer banger and ultimately doesn’t harness the inherent strengths of either. Instead, we get a tasteful pop/rock mid-tempo. I like the vibe, but the song doesn’t do much to stand out when compared to similar fare.
As I repeat nearly every day, a better set of melodies could elevate Fly To The Youth. The chorus is shimmering and pretty but lacks the melodic bite to truly captivate. I prefer the verses and pre-chorus, which feature some nice twists and turns that could have been capitalized upon further. I lay most of the blame on the production, which never commits to anything interesting. A remix/reworking could do wonders for the track, better accentuating its strengths and adding a more dynamic touch.
Hooks
8
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75