Dreamcatcher Brings a Twist to Summer in “BEcause”
We’re smack in the middle of the summer season and the yearly summer comebacks, beach vibes, and bright colors with upbeat dance tracks taking center stage as everyone celebrates the season. Not exactly the type of atmosphere that Dreamcatcher’s music tends to fit into, but the girls have returned nonetheless with distinctly summer vibes. You won’t find the traditional summer concepts in this comeback, but there’s no denying that Dreamcatcher’s distinct twist still fits in with the season.
The Title: “BEcause”
Even from the teasers of the music released, it was clear that this title was going to be different from previous releases. There is obviously still the distinct heavy metal influences with the electric guitar in the pre-chorus and the creepy haunted doll influences in the sound that give us a taste similar to “Red Sun” with a more upbeat tempo. What makes “BEcause” feel more summery is the pop influences early on in the melody, which may aid in the song getting more traction in Korea since it feels a little less niche this time around. Regardless, longtime fans and new ones alike will find the song addicting, especially considering the stellar vocals that we are all so familiar with.
For the video, we see the classic haunted carnival! Scenes of an abandoned carnival and a darker, almost gothic-style hotel take center stage to set the creepy vibe. The track opens with doll-like choreography to further solidify the concept they’re aiming for. One of the most striking additions to the video is in one of the choreography scenes, they have a mirror image of the girls dancing on the roof in purple rather than red. The video brings a refreshing twist to the upbeat dominant summer comebacks, while keeping to the theme of the season.
The Album
Special album [Summer Holiday] kicks off with an almost deceitful intro, a sweet music box type of melody with a soft aura that gives very sunny vibes. The tone shifts about a third of the way through to a more driving beat that fits along with the title, adding just a pinch of an unsettling air, but in general maintains an upbeat feeling. As per usual, it is a great instrumental extension of the title track that follows.
The first B-side “Airplane” has a tinge of Latin flair in the melody, a refreshing change from most of their tracks. This upbeat track is definitely the type of thing you’d hear as a summer title, with all the classic makings for a summer hit. It’s rather interesting to hear this type of track from Dreamcatcher considering their niche, but it’s nice to get a bit of a different genre from them. “Whistle” comes next and incorporates more EDM elements into the melody, bringing an infectious beat to the forefront. Interestingly enough, EDM is a genre that fits the girls really well, as demonstrated in their last album with “Poison Love.” “Whistle” is more traditionally cheerful in comparison, but the composition is similar.
“Alldaylong” brings a more chill, tropical type of vibe to the album, with a relaxing beat fit for a sunny beach day. It has a calmer tone than all of the other tracks, and is a surprising yet nice addition to the album. I never expected to like this kind of song from Dreamcatcher, but it’s impossible to deny how actually calming the song is and how nice the vocals of the girls fit into this type of song. Wrapping up the album we have the final song “A Heart of Sunflower,” a traditional slow-tempo ballad with a simple piano melody created to place as much emphasis on vocals as possible. It’s not the first ballad Dreamcatcher has released, and if this genre is your thing you’re bound to love this release too.
In my opinion, [Summer Holiday] is a refreshing release with lots of genre diversity, and is an awesome summer release for including their own special twist to a classic while also conquering the classic sound. The reason so many people are so dedicated to Dreamcatcher is because they have been able to display their musicality and genre diversity, and this special mini-album is a perfect example of that. There’s something for everyone, even if you aren’t a huge fan of their niche metal influences. While the title is not my favorite that they have released, it has its own charm and perhaps may have the power to get more traction in Korea.