ONEUS Combines Traditional Korean Music and City Pop in New Comeback
ONEUS makes their third comeback of the year with new mini-album BLOOD MOON and title track “월하미인 (月下美人: LUNA).” The new album also features the group’s singles “Shut Up 받고 Crazy Hot!” and “Life is Beautiful” from their Theatre Project released earlier this year. Let’s take a look at what ONEUS has to offer with what is being called their strongest comeback to date.
Tracklist
1. Intro : 창 (窓 : Window)
2. 월하미인 (月下美人: LUNA)
3. 사랑의 결말은 모 아니면 도 (Yes Or No)
4. Life is Beautiful
5. Shut Up 받고 Crazy Hot!
6. 헤엄쳐 (We’re in Love)
7. Who You Are
Title Track: “월하미인 (月下美人: LUNA)”
“월하미인 (月下美人: LUNA)” is quite possibly the most interesting release of the year. The title makes a reference to the Dutchman's pipe cactus or Queen of the Night, a species of cactus that rarely blooms. When the cactus does bloom, it happens only at night, and its flowers wilt before dawn. The Chinese phrase in the title can be translated to, “Beauty under the moon.” The two titles combined create a beautiful sentiment where ONEUS refers to their love as beautiful, but also rare. Members Ravn and Leedo took part in writing the lyrics, and the song’s production was handled by hitmaker Inner Child, who has worked with ONEUS ever since their debut. The song mixes traditional Korean instruments with the nu-disco pop and city pop sound, which hasn’t been done before. The traditional arrangement gives the verses a serene, smooth vibe whereas the disco gives the chorus a fast-paced punch.
The music video finds the guys donning beautiful hanboks and suits. The sets are reminiscent of their 2019 single “LIT” with traditional Korean architecture, and the group incorporates Asian paper fans into the choreography. The music video also features various imagery referring to the blood moon, with references being made in all of the group’s visuals including their stage performances.
B-Sides
The B-sides open with “Intro : Window” featuring traditional vocalist Choi Yelim. The song was pre-released alongside a performance video and incorporates a flute and intense rap verses. The album continues with “Yes Or No,” a continuation of their song “Polarity” from their spring release BINARY CODE. “Life is Beautiful” and “Shut Up 받고 Crazy Hot!” pick up the pace both sonically and lyrically. While the tracks were released independently prior to the album, they fit perfectly in the album’s flow.
“We’re in Love” is a dance-pop track with a refreshing melody. Seoho, Leedo, and labelmate Park Hyunkyu of VROMANCE participated in the making of the song. The Korean title of the song translates to “swim” and the lyrics compare the feeling of falling in love with swimming in a sea of waves. The album closes with “Who You Are,” an R&B song that expresses the emotions experienced after falling in love, specifically the strange, dizzying feeling. The song showcases the remarkable vocal skills of each member.
ONEUS has constantly experimented with innovative sounds, and “월하미인 (月下美人: LUNA)” is no exception. The combination of traditional Korean music and the trendy city pop/nu-disco sound makes “월하미인 (月下美人: LUNA)” one of the coolest releases of the year. The album showcases their range thanks to the Theatre Project songs as well as B-sides like “Who You Are.” ONEUS is known for their powerful performances on stage, and RBW artists have always been known for their vocal prowess. ONEUS gets to share all this and more with the new album, inarguably one of their strongest releases to date.