Apink's Jeong Eunji Puts Her Spin on Remakes of Classics with Newest EP log
Over two years since the release of her last mini-album, Jeong Eunji of Apink made her solo comeback on November 11 with an EP featuring her own renditions of songs from household names, such as Korean rock band YB and veteran singer Cho Yongpil. The project was originally set to be released on November 2 but was moved in respect to the mourning period in South Korea for the Itaewon tragedy. Eunji’s newest project log is a record of the singer’s life and an ode to youth beautifully told through her own reinterpretation of hit songs of the 1990s and early 2000s.
The lead single, titled “Journey For Myself,” is a remake of the song by rock-ballad band Buzz. Known by her fans as the “singtoryteller,” Eunji stuns throughout this body of work with her ability to paint vivid imageries and express emotions thanks to her breathtaking vocals. The simplistic music video for “Journey For Myself” shows the singer strolling the beach to the powerful rock rendition of the 2005 release. The new arrangement with fast-paced instrumentation, including electric guitar riffs and Eunji’s effortless yet striking high belts, is an excitement to listen to.
Other remakes on the EP include YB’s “Blue Whale,” Cho Yongpil’s “Dream,” Kim Jonghwan’s “For Love,” and Kim Kwangseok’s “About Thirty.” Different from the upbeat lead single, the rest of the album is on the ballad side, perfectly showcasing Eunji’s impressive vocals. “Dream” is a city pop take on the original that starts out with a piano intro then speeds up leading to the chorus. The song expresses feelings of longing and loneliness when she moved from her hometown Busan to Seoul to pursue her singing career. In her comeback showcase on November 11, Eunji also said that “For Love” is a song she wanted to dedicate to her mom, who she revealed cried when she listened to her daughter’s rendition of the 1997 song. With other projects she has been diligently working on this year, from acting to radio DJ-ing, Eunji was able to make time to greet Pink Pandas through yet another meaningful body of work.