As some of you who are aware of my major dork tendencies know, Secret's been my pet girl group since I started getting into K-Pop. I saw their video for "Shy Boy" and the next thing I knew I was a fan for life. As I explored them more and more, I found I liked them beyond that one song. They have the perfect balance of talent, personality and likability, and they've managed to become one of Korea's top groups through hard work and smart management. They're a true American success story...except they're not American. Besides that, their music incorporates more diverse elements than the typical pop groups whose primary style is synthesized dance pop. Not that I'm trying to diss those other groups or anything, but...I'll be honest, their music gets boring much more quickly.
Secret debuted in October of 2009, back when MLB was having one of its most forgettable postseasons in recent memory, and two years later, they finally have a full-length album. All their previous releases were mini-albums, none containing more than six tracks. This one has ten tracks, though only nine unique songs. The final track is just the instrumental for the first track, which seems to be a common disc-padding practice in Korea. I guess the popularity of karaoke in these parts makes as good an excuse as any.
The record store threw in a free poster of the album cover when I bought the CD, and it's brought the total of wall decorations in my room to one. Inside the bulky laminated cardboard case that houses the album (and its massive booklet), we can see a visual love letter to cosmetics. Someone really went overboard with the makeup here. In the booklet cover photo they almost look like mannequins, lacking any natural variations in flesh tone, and I didn't even recognize Ji-eun at first. This might be just another one of my crackpot theories, but when someone looks like a completely different person, that might be a sign you're overdoing it. Come on, image department, these girls are already beautiful. You don't need to paint a mural on their faces. It worked as sort of an ironic statement with Poison's Look What the Cat Dragged In, but here, it's just tacky. I prefer some of the photos inside the booklet, where they're more moderately made-up and look more natural.
Enough commentary on the visuals, though. The audio is the most important part! Let's start our journey through this disc, shall we?
The first track is "사랑은 MOVE," (which approximately translates as "Love is MOVE") the lead single that I posted the video for last time. What do I think of it? Well, ya know...it's pretty darn good, though not my favorite track on the album. It makes a good single though, with its upbeat, hooky chorus. The thing I like best is that it's got some genuine rock 'n roll elements to it. The intro sounds straight out of a surf-rock garage band's 45 single before the heavy bass and horns kick in. The piano in the chorus and the tinny distorted guitar harken back to the days when people still danced to that genre which is now known as the all-too-serious "rock." Eat your heart out, all you pop groups with backing tracks constructed completely through a keyboard!
The next track is "섹시하게," which translates as either "Sexy" or "Sexily," depending on who you ask. This is probably the album's catchiest tune, but parts of it are also pretty goofy. It starts out with Zinger saying "Hey! So sexy right now girl! Just like me! Come on!" over a guitar and synthesized handclaps. Why is she singing to a girl, and using the vernacular of a braggadocious alpha male no less? I'm guessing the rap part was originally written for a guy, but they ended up giving the song to Secret, and changing the English lyrics was a low priority. We English speakers really aren't the target audience for this stuff. Despite some silliness, I can't help but love this song. No matter where you turn...hey! Check it out! There's another hook! You can't fight its brain-sticking-ness, so you might as well give up and let yourself enjoy it.
You can't have a good album without a strong ballad (well OK, you can, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have one). Look no further than the next track, "웃지 좀 마," to fill that requirement. The title translates as either "Don't Laugh," "Don't Make Me Laugh" or "Stop Smiling." Someday I need to get fluent in Korean and translate this stuff for myself. Hyo-seong is the star of this one, as she has a good quiver in her voice that really sells the emotion. Very beautiful. They've been performing this one in their TV appearances along with "사랑은 MOVE," which is a testament to its quality.
"Movie Star" is an interesting one. It's jazzy and has lots of starts and stops, reminiscent of the Transport Tycoon soundtrack. While it's not hit single material, it's definitely strong album track material. Maybe it's easier to do than it sounds, but the way they incorporate Zinger's rapping so seamlessly against this musical backdrop is impressive.
Speaking of Zinger, the next song is actually her first solo track! I'm happy with the decision to showcase her this way, as Zinger is my favorite member, and she also tends to be the most overlooked. After Ji-eun released a solo single in March, several fans (including me) thought Zinger should be the next to get a solo, as she's perhaps the most well-rounded member of the group. Fret not, our wish has finally come true! The title, appropriately, is "Amazinger." It's probably ironic that the rapper of the group is my favorite, as I'm not a big fan of rap music, but this track leans more toward old school rap than modern-day rap, so I actually find it quite enjoyable. I'm talking beatboxing, scratching, straight off the streets of New York. This thing's an oversized boom box full of fun. The only real disappointment I have with it is that it's probably not going to appeal to a very broad audience, and therefore, the chances of Zinger raising her profile as a solo artist like Ji-eun did are slim, at least with this song. That won't stop me from enjoying it though, and offering a 징거 화이팅!
Next is "Together," a slightly R&B-ish ballad. I say "slightly," because I doubt it could ever cross over into that market, and the chorus sounds like pure pop, but the chimes, synth-claps and slow piano in the intro definitely give it that feel. Compared to the stuff that came before it this one is more filler-y, but it's pleasant enough. I could probably say the same thing about "바래" ("Hope"), the next track. The only difference is that it's a midtempo pop song rather than an R&B-ish ballad. It's not bad, but not a highlight either.
The album takes a less-cheery turn with "Bastard." I never expected these girls to use such a provocative title, but I doubt they had much choice in the matter. Honestly this track seems like it would've fit the dark, sexy image of the teaser photos better than better than "사랑은 MOVE" did. It has a very heavy, angry sound to it. I'm not a huge fan, but I'll admit it's hookier than the previous two tracks, and might've gone over well with certain types of Korean listeners. I could easily picture a video for this song with the girls sneering at the camera, scrolling through six different sets of black outfits in frantic cut shots against black and gray-toned walls and...yeah, whatever. There are plenty of other girl groups who make those kinds of videos, but I prefer my Secret to be fun. I don't mind them trying to project a confident image, but a menacing one is kind of a turn-off. Besides, unless you're the Replacements, you probably can't get away with "Bastard" in the title of your single.
"Neverland" is the final unique song on the album, and it has an ethereal princess pop quality to it. No, there's nothing original here, but it has a great chorus with some fine harmonies. The translation of the lyrics I read seems to indicate that it's a song about love being an escape from reality. I can back that sentiment. I read Peter Pan to my kindergarteners recently, and Neverland does seem like it'd be a pretty cool place to hang, even if there is that whole issue of Captain Hook terrorizing you frequently. Back to the song though...I like it. It makes a good album closer, even if it's not technically the final track on the disc.
The aforementioned instrumental to "사랑은 MOVE" is actually pretty cool, even if it's more like a bonus track than a piece of the artistic whole we'd consider "the album." It allows you to hear more details in the mix and rock out a bit. I don't plan on learning the choreography and performing this song with three other people in a talent contest or anything, but you know what? Thanks to this track the option is there, and I appreciate that.
All in all, Moving in Secret is a fine effort, and it reinforces my status as one of Secret's few Euro-American male fans pushing 30. The girls' hard work is evident in everything they do, and TS Entertainment has done a great job in allowing them to stand out from the rest of the K-Pop landscape. I realize it might sound crass to mention their management company, but let's be honest: these girls aren't indie artists, they're a pop group. They bring strong talent to the table in terms of singing, dancing and rapping, and their distinct personalities and chemistry are a big part of their appeal. Without the guiding hand of some industry veterans though, there's no way they'd be what they are today. In the symbiotic relationship between producers and performers, we have here a case where both sides made out well, and I'll be waving the flag for them as long as they're still turning out fun, creative pop. It may have been dumb luck that led me to Secret in the first place, but it's the kind of serendipity I'll take any day.
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