Release Date: April 7, 2021
Tracklist:
- Take a picture
- Poppin’ Shakin’
- I AM
Total Runtime: 00:09:50
Recommended for: those who loved NIZIU previous upbeat tracks.
NOT recommended for: those who already want NIZIU to change their sound.
NIZIU is back and better than ever with their latest single release「Take a picture/Poppin’ Shakin’」It’s NIZIU’s 2nd single so far and captures the group’s energy much better than their debut! So without further ado, let’s get into this review!
Track Review:
Track 1 – Take a picture
Starting with the music video, I feel like it’s not often that we see a music video set in an amusement park these days, it really fits with the vibe of having fun and wanting to capture the memories with your friends. Filming at night time worked in their advantage because the carnival lights made everything feel so lively. One thing I want to point out, compared to their previous releases, is that their choreography was easy to learn (in a good way). I could see the general public dancing along to the chorus’s catchy hand movements.
On to the track itself, Take a picture is a very cohesive song that never has a dull moment. The Rima-Mayuka rap duo works so well, I hope it’s something that they keep in future releases (though I definitely would love to see them sing more). The addition of the camera flashes in the instrumentals was a nice touch.
Track 2 – Poppin’ Shakin’
The music video is cute galore, to say the least. I love the sets that they had in the music video, everything is colorful, matches the whole vibe very well. The camera work can be pretty chaotic at times, especially during the dance portions. Poppin’ Shakin’s choreography is definitely NIZIU’s most intricate and probably energy consuming one yet, feels like a workout!
For the song, the intro into the first verse felt like a 360 spin. Started out bubbly into this deep horn base BGM. When the chorus came around, I wasn’t on board with the melody until it got to the second half, that la-la-la segment is extremely catchy.
Track 3 – I AM
I AM is like a mix of TWICE’s earlier Japanese releases and ITZY’s self love messages. I love the transition between the pre-chorus into the chorus, Miihi strong vocals shined through the pre-chorus followed by Mako, Maya, and Riku (whom have pretty solid vocals). Something that felt out of place was a rap portion with Mayuka, sounded like a portion out of Bboom Bboom. One thing I noticed while listening to I AM is that every member had a part that fit them so well and showcased what they did best.
The single is available worldwide on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music as well as for purchase on iTunes/Google Play. Let me know what you think of NIZIU’s latest single down in the comment section below.
The Review
Review Breakdown
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Originality
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Cohesiveness
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Replayability
