With DRIPPIN’s future uncertain, Rocket Punch disbanded and the vast majority of Golden Child gone, I think Kwon Eunbi may be Woollim Entertainment’s only active artist. What a sad state of affairs for an agency I dearly loved. Fortunately, her popularity remains high and strong management would likely fuel that ascent. I don’t trust that Woollim has the resources to deliver what her career needs, but their A&R team remains adept at picking solid material.
While not every Eunbi song has hit me in the way I’d hope, she has a high batting average and stands as one of K-pop’s most engaging soloists. Hello Stranger moves her dance-heavy sound in a slightly different direction, pulling influence from trends that were most popular in the late-2010’s. The rhythm has a tropical touch that makes it feel a bit dated when placed against the industry’s current output, but the production is generic enough to sidestep trends altogether.
While “generic” might slightly increase a song’s chance at timeless longevity, it doesn’t make for particularly interesting music. Hello Stranger is sturdy but unexciting. None of its elements hit in the way Eunbi’s best work has, even if the soaring hook shoots for the stars. The track slows way too many times, causing momentum to ebb and flow rather than blossom into a truly exciting arrangement. I like the vocal layering on the final chorus and wish the producers would have amped up the entire song in this way. As it stands, this is way too tentative to leave a mark.
Hooks
8
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5