As the final BLACKPINK member to finally have their own solo release, JISOO (thankfully) does not disappoint. ‘꽃(FLOWER)’ masterfully showcases her unique vocal at the forefront of a sultry and playful instrumental that puts an interesting twist on a dated sound.
“The album is titled [ME], portraying JISOO’s confidence as a solo artist. She’s set to take over the hearts of music fans with her fresh and enchanting charm distinct from what’s been shown to the public before,” shares YG Entertainment.
Behind the flourishes and the beauty shots, and the obvious product placement for Dior (she is the brand’s global ambassador after all), there’s a lot to appreciate from the brand-new single.
Vocally. ‘꽃(FLOWER)’ sets the stage for the ‘How You Like That’ singer to showcase the full range of her vocal ability—unfortunately, this is something that she has never had the chance to accomplish within BLACKPINK’s releases. Given their upbeat and energetic tracks that place a bias on upper ranges, her lower register and thick and rich tone have frequently been glossed over. Moreover, if not ignored, it has been misused and misplaced, leading others to question her worth as a singer—just take a look at one of their recent releases ‘Shut Down’, that pre-chorus just did not fit at her at all—even the best vocalists need a well-suited song that best showcases what they have to offer.
Musically. Honestly, there isn’t much going on with this song, it can get pretty repetitive at times. What’s intriguing, however, is that the instrumental almost sounds as if it were a modern reiteration of ‘Stand by Me’ by Ben E. King—the snaps on the second beat, and those stabs on every off-beat, ear candy! And that leads us to the track’s beat-drop chorus. With the use of vocal chops to lead an instrumental-heavy chorus, and combining that with the foundation of the instrumental, what seems to be a dated sound that we’re all but used to is elevated and transformed into a unique listening experience.
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Listen to her first album single ‘ME’
