WJSN Exhibits the Elegance of the “Butterfly”
It’s been a good minute since we’ve heard from the girls of WJSN! With their last mini dropping in November and maintaining their steady otherworldly image, the girls have chosen this time to switch it up from cosmic girls to the girls from Neverland. Despite the concept shift, the ethereal image remains a mainstay in the latest title “Butterfly.”
“Butterfly”
The latest title is already receiving rave reviews from fans for a fairer line distribution between the ten members as well as more screen time for girls like Dawon who tend to be stuck in the back. The song itself on the surface is pretty standard, with a dance and pop base to the melody, but it has the charm of traditional K-Pop and the catchiness that has always gone along with it. What really brings out the greatness to this song is the lyrics, which focus on personal growth rather than a generic love story as we’ve seen many girl groups confined to in the past. While there’s nothing truly wrong with that, something just feels special about the girls being allowed to express themselves outside the confines of simply falling in love. It’s impossible not to be captivated by the allure of the whole track as Eunseo declares “now, I won’t hold back anymore, more freely, I will find the true me.” There’s a powerful message in the chorus: “Fly like a butterfly, even if I’m not beautiful I will be free,” providing a very important message that is not often enough delivered to the world, especially for younger girls who are constantly bombarded by subliminal messages of the importance of beauty by the media. It’s refreshing to have such uplifting lyrics be paired with traditional bubble gum K-Pop, bringing a new twist to the original formula.
With the concept centering around Neverland and nature, it’s no surprise that the music video is downright gorgeous and bright. In the choreography shots, the girls are shown in flowy, all white outfits to portray their ethereal state as well as match the movements of a butterfly as they flutter along performing the choreography. Nature is an incredibly important element to the whole cinematic piece, with shots of Bona in a bottle surrounded by huge, bright pink flowers, Yeonjung laying daintily within a cloud with the moon pressed to her chest, and Soobin situated in a cute green house with a flower crown. And as expected, butterflies are littered just about everywhere, with Eunseo even sprouting her own pair of pink butterfly wings. It’s gorgeous and soft, a perfect complement to the song itself. Even if you’re exclusively a fan of the “girl crush” concept, it’s hard not to fall in love with this lovely and wholesome comeback!
The Album
Neverland is a six track mini-album with a number of surprises hidden within. The first B-side, “HOLA,” hits you with a surprisingly hot and summery melody, the initial halftime opener almost jarring compared to the predictable tempo found throughout the opener “Butterfly.” “HOLA” then quickly shifts into a traditional EDM influenced track, with the pre-chorus buildup into a drop. It’s a high-energy side of the group that provides a bit of a harder image compared to the delicate aura around “Butterfly.”
“Pantomime” brings the lighter sound back to the forefront, though a particularly eccentric accidental scale sound and heavy EDM is used in the chorus that contrasts the initial impression of the track. “Where You Are” brings back WJSN’s familiar sound, an upbeat, bubble gum song with a shiny disposition. “Tra-la” continues with this motif, and for good reason as it allows WJSN’s vocal prowess to shine through. Rounding out the album is “Our Garden,” a track that has just a little tinge of R&B in the rhythm on top of their usual M.O., which brings a nice twist. This song has a bit of a dreamier feeling thanks to the verses that are slightly muffled, keeping the track interesting from start to finish.
WJSN is a girl group that is considered to be particularly underrated, more than likely because a lot of listeners look only at the surface and don’t dig deeper to understand the true talent that goes into their music. Sure, they tend to stick to the cosmic and dreamy concepts, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only thing they can do, and “Butterfly” proved that. This is a comeback that certainly shouldn’t be missed!