Hey, it’s been two years without a new Wonho single! He’s been serving his mandatory enlistment and now seems ready to start a new era. For awhile there, he was dropping banger after banger, but pop has moved into different territory since then. The English-language What Would You Do fits into the more downbeat, subdued sound sweeping the charts at the moment.
Fair or not, my mind goes immediately to dance music when I think of Wonho. He feels most successful here, bringing needed showmanship to the male solo pop star role. What Would You Do involves no dancing, choosing instead to deliver a Ryan Tedder style mopefest over resounding percussion. There’s an air of seriousness to the track, meant more to admire than enjoy. But among Wonho’s many charms, his voice doesn’t feel suited to this material. His most compelling skills fall by the wayside in favor of a trudging energy and performative moodiness.
Much of my hesitance about What Would You Do centers around its instrumental. The melodies are rather slight, but could sound better with production that had more life and spontaneity. While listening, I kept thinking about how well TXT delivered angst in 2021’s 0X1=LOVESONG. The percussion there ebbed and flowed and built to dramatic peaks. What Would You Do just limps along, largely unchanged from beginning to end.
Hooks
8
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5