BamBam Unwrapped His First riBBon as a Solo Artist
Tracklist:
“Intro”
“Pandora”
“riBBon”
“Look so fine”*
“Air”
“Under the sky”*
*Author’s Favorite Picks
After leaving JYP Entertainment, GOT7 kept reassuring fans that they wouldn’t leave them without projects to enjoy, and it is safe to say that Ahgases really are being spoiled with all these music and drama releases from the members, showcasing their individual styles.
riBBon is BamBam’s first solo mini-album under ABYSS Company and makes for a very authentic solo debut, with the mini-album as sweet as the title and color scheme suggested prior to release. The Thai artist experiments with a few different genres from playful pop to hip-hop and ballads in these brand new tracks. BamBam also contributed to writing and composing all tracks on this album except for “Intro,” which was created by the well-known producer Murda Beatz.
Although the beat is pretty addictive throughout the whole album and you will automatically find yourself moving to the rhythm, riBBon is actually quite simple and laid back. It’s cute and catchy, but nothing extraordinary. That being said, BamBam’s solo debut already topped the iTunes Top Album Chart and Top Songs Chart in several countries around the world, conquered Genie’s real-time charts, and was also trending on Twitter, which proves that its simplicity might actually be the charm of this album.
The Title Song: “riBBon”
“riBBon” is an easygoing trap-infused dance pop song with hopeful lyrics about the long awaited moment of starting fresh. It has an addictive melody and a catchy hook, which makes the title track quite uplifting. However, I don’t think it gives enough of a chance for BamBam to fully showcase his vocal abilities.
As the ribbon is unwrapping, BamBam gets to show a familiar, but still new version of himself—“a better version of my side, I'm like a feather now I feel so light.” The word “ribbon” also sounds like ”reborn” when you listen to the song, which I’m pretty sure was intentional, as this moment clearly marks a new beginning in the artist’s life. The title track was co-written and co-composed by BamBam, but to be honest, there is not much to review about “riBBon,” as it doesn’t sound like anything new or extraordinary. But I believe the song’s simplicity will be the reason for attracting many people—it’s not too niche and makes for a great summer song. It also works well with his cheerful and bubbly personality—and not only because of his iconic “skrrt skrrt.” It might be simple, but “riBBon” is a fun and cute song that makes you instantly smile, and sometimes that is all we need.
Music Video: “riBBon”
From the darker outfit and background, the “riBBon” music video quickly turns to the pastel scenes that complement the song very well. This change, and the birthday party scene, made me think of the word “reborn” once again. The title track is complemented by the dream-like music video with various vibrant sets that give off some Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel vibes.
Overall, the music video that reached 10 million views in 24 hours is just as cheerful and playful as the song. While the performance and choreography is also on the fun side, it’s nothing too much, just enough to showcase the upbeat feeling of the track. Also, as expected from BamBam, the fashion is excellent! Sure, the music video is cute and will make you smile no matter what, but I will be rewatching it again and again strictly for the outfits.
The Album: riBBon
As I mentioned before, the album shows some diversity in genres, but overall the whole mini-album is as easy and simple as the title track. The album starts off with “Intro” created by Murda Beatz, a dreamy instrumental that is a nice opening for BamBam’s new career as a soloist.
The second track on the album is “Pandora,” with a strong melody and soft hip-hop beats. It is quite different from the title song, showing a different side of BamBam while there is still a nice cohesiveness. I especially enjoyed the instruments and the record scratching sounds in the background.
This is followed by the title track “riBBon” right before one of my favorites from the album, “Look so fine,” which was also co-written and co-composed by BamBam. It’s more on the hip-hop side, and with its catchy beats, I’m sure it will become an addictive summer song. “Take a break and have some fun,” says the lyrics, and it actually feels like a deep, stress-relieving sigh right between a busy summer day and a chill summer night.
“Air,” the fifth track on the album, feels a bit more dazed, and was also produced by Murda Beatz and co-written and co-composed by BamBam. It is a completely English track about running out of air but not giving up. The melody is very enchanting and nicely complements the artist's honey-like vocals.
The closing track on the album is “Under the sky,” an R&B-infused ballad about remembering memories that shaped us to be who we are. Even though it’s a new beginning, we are still walking under the same sky. Co-written by BamBam, “Under the sky” has very stunning instrumentation. It’s a song that will make you feel reassured and calm. It was a beautiful choice to close the album.