Raps rouse jumper

[koganbot]

Nine Muses' "Wild" doesn't quite make it as a rousing jumper à la Kara's "Jumping" and Nine Muses' own "Figaro," though it's got the pounding disco beats and producer duo SweeTune's usual menagerie of electrosquawks and buzzes. Reasonably good melody. Ache and passion. What gets it across, actually, are the raps, from two very different voices: Euarin* is punchy, direct, and powerful, Eunji more a frantic street squall, a young woman tossing syllables every which way as if waving her arms to keep her balance. I intend to search the back catalog with an ear for her.

Watch on YouTube

The video has generated a surprising 1,200 comments at allkpop, mostly favorable. I'm wondering if this means Nine Muses have finally gotten a flat-out hit single. Seems not. "Wild" enters the Gaon chart today at only 32; and even though it had only half a week to garner sales, if you prorate the numbers for a full seven days the track is still no higher than the teens. Their agency, Star Empire Entertainment, has been persistent (two years ago the great "Figaro" peaked at a mere 66), is allowing for slow growth and middling results. I don't know the business models in K-pop, or the situation. I'm sure there's far more to it than the chart numbers. But my impression is that few performers get this long-running support. Fingers crossed for D-Unit, GLAM, and Evol.

*Euarin is one of the few K-pop performers with four syllables in her stage name: Seems to be pronounced "Ee-yoo-ay-reen."

Comments

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

9Muses are very popular with guys in the military and do a lot of military shows, is my understanding.

Here's part of a military show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DuDHxR3QSMs Cutie Honey!

[petronia.livejournal.com]

Tune reminds me of a 90s anime theme (though the production is less chintzy of course).

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

That's because it is (http://onehallyu.com/index.php?/topic/1518-nine-muses-under-fire-for-plagiarism-allegations) a 90s anime theme, XD.

[koganbot]

Wouldn't be surprised if the anime isn't the first melody like that, since the melody to "Wild" sounded familiar to me and I'd never seen the anime. Btw, I don't think the two melodies are close enough to constitute plagiarism.

[azacab.livejournal.com]

I'm having a hard time enjoying "Wild," especially since it deviates from the disco sound Nine Muses does so well. Their first EP was awesome, "Dolls" was solid, but this seems like a remake of "News" which slams harder and faster.

Considering how many groups disband after not making big debuts, I'm surprised Nine Muses are still giving it a go. It seems like you have to land a reasonable hit right off the bat in order to stay alive.