Hyolyn is back with her third solo release since Sistar’s remarkably graceful disbandment, this time a single called “See Sea.” With a title like that, and Hyolyn at the helm of the track, you can bet this song is going to serve summer vibes. But can it match the standard she’s set in the past both as an ultra-popular girl group member and female soloist?
Let’s “sea.”
Release Date: July 20th, 2018
Recommended For: Anyone looking for a chill summer jam, Sistar and soloist Hyolyn fans alike
NOT Recommended For: People looking for an aggressively upbeat summer dance track, or songs similar to Hyolyn’s much softer R&B ballads
REVIEW:
Oh yes, Hyolyn is back, and she returns with a track that is everything my Summer 2018 needed. I’ve been particularly unenthused with K-Pop releases lately, and while I won’t say this rekindled my excitement for the industry as a whole, “See Sea” is type of song that makes me glad I stuck around. It’s nothing new as far as pop music goes – in fact, this track is exactly the type of song I’d expect to hear playing on mainstream radio stations where I live in the USA. But something about it just does everything right: from Hyolyn’s sultry voice, to the whimsical hints of retro flair in the instrumental, and of course the characteristically fun and flirty choreography. Hyolyn’s cast of dancers are fierce, and the very look of the music video shoot is gorgeous all the way from wardrobe to ocean waves. I love it, I love her, and I think I can be mostly objective when I say this comeback was as close to the Summer Sistar Bop™ as we’re going to get any time soon.
Hyolyn’s previous solo comeback “Dally” was definitely a grower for me – and not in the “I’m forcing myself to like this because she is my queen!!1!1” kind of way. I’m just partial to Hyolyn’s more lyrical tracks, with “One Way Love” being a true standard for what I look for from a female soloist in K-Pop. “See Sea” delivers none of the subtly of “One Way Love,” but all of the sexiness, and the quality to go along with it. The verses themselves aren’t really anything special, but there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about the playful synths of the chorus. They accompany Hyolyn’s raspy vocals perfectly, which makes for the kind of loop that just circles around your head after just one listen. That’s all it took for me to love this song, and place it at its rightful spot at the top of my largely barren Summer 2018 K-Pop playlist this year.
But don’t take my word for it, go have a listen to Hyolyn’s comeback and join in on some of the beachy fun. I, personally, am off to go buy a fanny pack and pretend I’ll look even half as good as Hyolyn wearing it. If that won’t convince you of the summer magic “See Sea” is working, I’d don’t know what will.
