trading b-sides : sf9

hi, hello, 안녕

i’m back with something I’m very

excited to share with you! It’s a

collab with this amazing person:

cait. now I don’t know how many

of you know her, but you should

because   she   makes   the most

amazing    content.   but   anyway,

today we‘ve come together and

have done a little group switch.

I’ve   given her ten ateez songs

and she’s given me ten sf9 songs

and we’re going to review them!

so      I       hope      you      enjoy!!

to read her blog click,

here

also before you read, I’d like to

give a quick disclaimer, I am not

an sf9 fan so I’m sorry if what I

say in this blog comes across as

harsh or cold. I’m really just trying

to review the songs as honestly

as possible. I’m going   into this

knowing that they’re an amazingly

talent   group   of guys, but they

rarely release music that’s been

my style,   except for a handful:

play hard, easy love, and mainly

other title tracks so I hope you

u n d e r s t a n d.

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SHADOW 》 4 / 5

                   so I really like the beginning instrumental.

          I like the pace that it starts off the song with,

           it makes me feel like the song is going to have

           a really solid and impactful chorus. and the

           beginning verses definitely help to set the feel

           of a strong song as everything seems to be

           building up to what I expect to be a beat drop

           in the chorus. also, side note, I can point out

           rowoon’s vocals and he sounds amazing,

           both a beauty and a talented singer.

          I like the prechorus instrumental change, it

           really paces things out well, giving a different

           flavor to the song, almost even a little break

           from the build up that’s been happening

           since the very beginning. I also like the use of

           the small rap section. I feel like it might be

           one of the best parts of the song if not the

           best part. but then the chorus comes in and

           there isn’t a beat drop like I had been hoping

           and even the second part of the chorus is

           even a bit more disappointing for me as I

           don’t like the sound of the section. it just

           kinda seems out of place to me.

          leaving the second chorus, we get a

          continuance of the more tough sounding part

           of the chorus at 2:27. I’m also not necessarily

           a fan of this sound but at 2:45, the

           percussion is switched to synth and my

           opinion entirely changes. I think I just really

           like the more melodic parts of the verses and

           am almost turned off by the rough parts in

           the chorus. I can see how someone might

           enjoy the switch between these two sounds,

           and I might actually learn to like it myself but

           as a first listener, I much prefer the almost

           tropical sounds of the verses over the rest of

           the song, particularly the second part of the

          chorus and the first part of the bridge.

          update: the more I listen to this song, the

          more I like it. it’s really grown on me since

          the start of the blog when I wrote this review

↓

UNLIMITED 》 4.5 / 5

                    whoever starts the song has a very

           alluring voice. and the instrumental has a

           really cool sound and feel to it, as if you would

           hear it playing at a middle school dance,

           which yeah I know is cringe-y but my middle

           school dances always had the best music. but

           then the chorus hits at 0:41 and I feel like the

           sound and the feel of the song changes kinda

           drastically but it’s not a bad thing necessarily.

           I like both vibes of the verses and the chorus.

           the chorus to me actually kinda starts out like

           oneus’ valkyrie to me, but that might just be

           the vocal sweeps that are included.

           regardless, I really like the sound of it. I think

          it’s pretty good and I actually enjoyed it.

          I don’t really have any complaints or anything.

          it’s a pretty solid song. all of the parts go well

          together and the overall sound is really good

          and fun at some points. I still just really liked

          the beginning verse, who ever started the

           song is great.

↓

SCOLD 》 3 / 5

                    not going to lie, the start of this song

            screams exo to me. from whoever said “just

            listen” to the instrumental, it really sounds to

            me like chanyeol is opening a new angsty

            exo song. so basically I’m really intrigued.

            and then I go from being really interested

            from being really confused. this song is all

            over the place for me. it’ll have one sound

            one second and then an entirely different

            sound the next. it’s interesting that they

            have all these different styles in one song

            but I much rather they stick to one, and even

            the main instrumental doesn’t work for me

            necessarily. it’s kinda like how I felt about

            shadow, they’re going for a rather tough

            sound and for whatever reason, I wish it

            were melodic. for example, I really like the

            part that starts at 2:17, another change from

            the main instrumental and sound yes but it

            takes on a more relaxed and simple sound

            and I much prefer that.

↓

FALL IN LOVE 》 3 / 5

                    so apparently this is one of the few sf9

            songs that I already had on my playlist. I

             kinda forgot it existed. I seriously don’t listen

            to sf9 that much and I have so many songs

             on my playlist, over 2,200. but let’s get to the

             song itself!

            the beginning is amazing. I’m a sucker for rap

            over a piano. I think the harshness of rap

             contrasts the softness of pianos really well.

             the vocals over the piano and the rest of the

             instrumental is also really nice. it has a kind

             of soft yet sad rnb, jazzy vibe. I don’t know if

             that’s the proper way to explain it but that’s

             the best I’ve got.

            overall, this song seems to be much more

             cohesive than their previous songs, keeping

             a clear vibe and instrumental the entire time.

             and I know it’s supposed to be a fairly calm

             song but I feel I would be more interested in

             it if it were more dynamic. I’d like to see some

             changes in the song, maybe some

             continuance is rap over piano or something

             like that. it’s a nice song but not necessarily

             one I’d listen to very much.

↓

HEARTBEAT 》 3 / 5

                     I can’t help but see this title and think of

            2pm, what an iconic song. unfortunately, I

             have some doubts that’ll sound anything like

             that. but it kinda does, I guess because it

             has the heartbeat sound, which not gonna

             lie, is kinda unsettling. but the rest of the

             song is not as unsettling, thank god.

             it has kind of a relaxed and feel good vibe is

            always fun. I can see it being a song people

             would listen to when they weren’t having

             that great of a day. It’s totally a song that

             could bring a smile to your face if you

             needed one. but unfortunately the heartbeat

             sound does pop up a bit and I’m still not a

             fan of that. I also don’t really like the “I can

             feel your heartbeat” section at 1:53. I don’t

             really like the repetition or even zuho’s

             section as it seems kinda off putting to me in

             comparison to the rest of the song. I do

             however really like hwiyoung and chani’s

             sections but I usually always like their parts. I

             think it’s really just the instrumental. I much

             prefer the chill instrumental in addition to

             their voices.

↓

WATCH OUT 》 3.2 / 5

                    mainly, I think it’s interesting to listen to

            their earlier releases in comparison to their

            more current ones because you get a sense

            of how they changed from a more tough bad

            boy style to a more rnb smooth and mature

            style. and honestly the song itself reflects

            that petty well, having a more rough and

            tough vibe in the verse and then switching to

            something more melodic and smooth in the

            pre-chorus. this change from verse to pre-

           chorus and then back to chorus is probably

            the best instrumental change I’ve heard so

            far from sf9. the changes throughout the

            song from one sound to another are flawless.

            and even though, the song itself might not

            be necessarily my style, I can still appreciate

            how the song as a whole works really well.

            it’s a really well put together song.

↓

ROUND AND ROUND 》 3.5 / 5

                    I really really like the beginning

            instrumental. it has a really calming

            summery vibe. I really like how the vocals

            blend into the bounciness of the

            instrumental too. and then the chorus hits

            and it has a very open and broad feeling

            kinda like ateez’s utopia, which is a song i

            absolutely adore. now I don’t know much

            about sf9 but from what I’ve heard from

            them, this is definitely not a sound they’re

            known for releasing. I don’t necessarily know

            if I like this kind of song for them. I think the

            rnb style fits them much better but hearing

            different styles from groups is always very

            refreshing.

           my favorite part of the song might have to

            be the verse instrumentals but also more

            importantly the end of chorus part at 1:19 to

            1:36 and 2:23 to 2:39, i really like how it’s set

            up. I feel like the phrasing of their voices is

            really nice in relation to the complex

            instrumental. I also like switch back into the

           last chorus, staring with zuho at 2:47 and

           ending with vocals which I’m guessing is

            probably inseong. finally I like the added

            percussion to the last chorus. I really enjoy

            when groups switch up the last section of a

            song. I feel like if this changed the last part

            of the song even a bit more I would be so

            into it.

           this is probably a song that could grow on

            me, eventually ending up on my playlist. I

            really like the softness of it and the

            openness of the chorus. it could end up

            being a song I really like.

↓

ECHO 》 4.7 / 5

                    this though, this has caught my

            attention. I love the opening instrumental.

            it’s unlike anything I’ve heard before. it has

            both uniqueness in its overall sound and

            build. it really allows the song to stand out

            among not only tho list but als the larger

            scheme of all kpop songs. it might not be my

            favorite style but it definitely draws me in

            and makes me want to listen to it more

           this might not be the best song to showcase

            their vocal abilities, but that’s okay. their

            voices and raps go well with the song. I feel

            like they fit almost perfectly, complementing

            each other every nicely, especially in the

            chorus which is so loud and complex and yet

            their voices still hold their own, and I actually

            really like the speak-singing they do in the

            chorus. also, the rap section at 1:30 also

            deserves a shout out.

           then we have 2:48, which is the type of

            verses I literally live for. where instrumentally

           complex songs take a break allowing for

            more silenced and calmer sections to peak

            through. I just adore that kind of mix up,

            allowing for vocals to truly shine through.

           this was a great surprise to find. it’s taken me

           by storm honestly, I didn’t think I’d find a song

            i’d like this much but every time I listen it gets

           better and better.

↓

TOGETHER 》 2 / 5

                    okay so I’m so sorry in advance to

            anyone who really likes this song but this

            just doesn’t work for me one bit. it’s nice if

            you’re into sweet sounding electronic vibes

            but I just can’t get into it.

            it seems like a song you’d here during

            valentine’s scene. and I bet it’s a really cute

            song, but there isn’t even any part that I like.

           I’m so sorry, but this song is just not for me.

           please don’t hurt me fantasies.

↓

THE BEAT GOES ON 》 2.5 / 5

                     I’m sorry if this comes off a bit harsh,

            but the instrumental is too one dimensional

            for me. it’s one of my biggest musical pet

            peeves in kpop songs. when songs keep the

            same best throughout the whole song, there

            really need to be vocals or rap verses that

            add enough excitement to keep me

            interested. ans I know it’s more of a chill

            song so it shouldn’t be crazy or anything but

            you can still make a chill song and have a

            dynamic instrumental with builds.

           overall, it’s a really nice song. they sound

            good and I can see why someone would

            enjoy this softer side of sf9. but nothing

            really catches my attention until the bridge

            at 2:30 where the instrumental gives just a

            slight change to make it stand out.

»»-----------¤-----------««

in conclusion,

i think it’s really nice to branch out

from your normal songs sometimes.

obviously,   not all of these songs

were   hits but regardless, it’s still

really fun to experiment and try out

new     groups    and   new    sounds.

and honestly I have a much better

appreciation for sf9 and their music

now, and some new songs on my

playlist.        so        thanks        cait!

i hope you enjoyed my review of the

songs.   hopefully,   I didn’t end up

being too   harsh.   anyway, though

thank   you    for    reading!!

:

question time,

are you an sf9 fan?

what are your thoughts of these songs?

what did you think of my review?

⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢⌢

og pictures from pinterest

cover by cait + edits by me

⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣⌣

— ƒɑҍӏҽs