Vernon’s Knockout Mixtape “Black Eye” Embodies True Pop-Punk Colors
Known as SEVENTEEN’s main rapper, many CARATs were expecting member Vernon to show off his rapping chops in a solo mixtape but lo and behold, his prolonged love for the pop-punk genre birthed a rebellious and ridiculously catchy “Black Eye.” Vernon is the third member from SEVENTEEN to release a mixtape as a part of the group’s ongoing series The Thirteen Tapes, which individually highlights each member and their unique approach to music. Different from sensual “Spider” by Hoshi and rock-fueled “Ruby” by Woozi, Vernon took inspirations from his favorite pop-punk artists including the genre’s princess herself, Avril Lavigne, to create his solo. As a result, “Black Eye” is a textbook pop-punk track done right – boisterous and unapologetic, with a hint of nostalgic teenage angst.
This isn’t the pop-punk lover’s first time releasing a song inspired by the genre. Vernon and Joshua dueted on the all-English track “2 MINUS 1” in SEVENTEEN’s ninth mini-album Attacca that came out last year. If the emotionally driven and high-energy track proved anything, it’s Vernon's ability to embody the genre perfectly. That potential was able to flourish even further with this solo project.
From the first few seconds, “Black Eye” is already reminiscent of those songs you once tried to burn to your mix CD or the background music to a coming-of-age movie in the early 2000s. The nostalgic guitar-driven melody and self-deprecating lyrics bring back incredibly sentimental memories for those who have experienced the emo-to-K-Pop listener pipeline, including myself. In contrast to the polished and often-filtered image of a K-Pop idol, Vernon’s mixtape and the pop-punk genre as a whole challenge that idea with its rough-around-the edge nature. Notably, the artist-composer’s favorite lyrics, “Put a muzzle on me / I’ll spit in your mouth,” is something he said can’t be found as a lyric in any of SEVENTEEN’s group music. Vernon took his solo project not only as a chance to pay homage to his current-favorite music genre but to also break boundaries within the idol industry.
“Black Eye” is direct in both lyricism and visual delivery. Vernon channeled his inner rebellion in a music video filled with smoke and fire. Adapting a Twilight-esque color grading with a blue-green tint throughout, the video helps convey the cynical essence of the lyrics. Vernon also rocks stylish clothing, including an all-black outfit accessorized with chains and a tank top-jean combo complete with a white fur coat. And what’s a pop-punk music video without the destruction of something? At one point in the music video, he is seen with a baseball bat destroying a retro TV. Way to nail it with the audiovisual homage to the genre, Vernon!
The true highlight of the song is its final bridge. The anthemic ending with a thumping drum-bass line and Vernon’s punchy vocals encourage one to headbang and even air punch to the addictive beat if you’re really feeling it. “Turn on the radio all the way up / Til’ your eardrums explode / Let’s dance all night long.” Quintessentially and successfully pop-punk, “Black Eye” is able to evoke feelings of nostalgia both as a stand-alone media piece and as a tool for listeners to reach musical catharsis. It is evident that the influences of Vernon’s favorite pop-punk acts such as Avril Lavigne and Green Day are beautifully weaved throughout this three-minute track.
Vernon began the year with a feature on the hyperpop remix of Charli XCX’s “Beg For You” and ended 2022 flaunting a cool rockstar image with his solo “Black Eye.” SEVENTEEN’s The Thirteen Tapes series continue to pleasantly surprise with its ability to showcase not only the members’ individual talents but also their versatility as artists. There’s no doubt that Vernon stands as a prime example of a versatile artist who is not scared to challenge himself by experimenting with different genres, especially genres that he loves and respects as an avid music listener.
Check out Vernon's music video for “Black Eye” on YouTube, and listen to the mixtape on Spotify or Apple Music!