“Spring songs” don’t seem to be as big a deal in K-pop as they used to be. This time of year, we used to be assaulted with all sorts of gentle, coffeeshop fare perfect for the season. But now that “subdued” has become a K-pop buzzword, I guess many songs fit this bill without needing to sip coffee in some cozy setting.
Bang Yedam and Winter’s Officially Cool reminds me of the gentle springtime duets of Aprils past. It’s hushed and groovy all the way through, painting a warm tone that compliments both of their voices. It’s nice to hear a real duet where the performers interact with each other rather than simply trading verses back and forth. And though the song itself might be a bore, Yedam and Winter give it all they’ve got. They sound fantastic.
Now, about that song…
Officially Cool is relentlessly nice and will offend no one. I can see myself humming it while out shopping or at that dreaded coffeeshop, but it’s ultimately too modest to become a highlight on its own. I’d love to hear these two on a more dynamic track — something that leaned even harder into r&b and let them show off.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.5