A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
To Sung Kyu fans, Answer might be a bit confusing because he already has a well-known title track called “The Answer.” This song is not the same thing, though of all his new material it feels most like it could fit comfortably on an older album. I’m a big fan of his voice intermixed with quirky synth sounds, especially when those tones have a nostaligic 80s appeal. That’s what made songs like Shine such classics.
I don’t think Answer is a classic, but it’s my favorite thing on the new album. The instrumental punches forward from the very first moment, bounding along its brilliant synth stabs. This remains a constant presence throughout the song (for nearly four whole minutes!) as Sung Kyu’s inimitable voice echoes the rhythm. Melodically, this is a simple and repetitive structure, but it gains desperation as Sung Kyu’s performance becomes more emotive. There’s a nice balance between drama and carefree summertime vibes in the song’s arrangement. It’s buoyant but substantive. Answer is composed by longtime collaborator Kim Jong Wan (who also wrote the other Answer over a decade ago). In this way, the song forms a nice bookend in Sung Kyu’s discography.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8.5
Grade: B
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