UNIQ Throws a Party in “EOEO” Comeback
Chinese-Korean boy group UNIQ made a powerful return to the K-Pop scene with the addictive track “EOEO.”
The five members of UNIQ made their first comeback in Korea on April 24, 2015 with the hard-hitting and addictive “EOEO.” The hip-hop inspired track was produced by Shin Hyuk and artists under Joombas Music Group and served as a departure from UNIQ’s brighter, pop debut “Falling in Love.” The members of UNIQ pulled double duty to promote their Chinese comeback “Listen to Me” that dropped the day after “EOEO.”
“EOEO” uses a catchy saxophone riff, a style that became popular in American pop music during the early 2010s and started to earworm its way into the K-Pop world. The opening track of the group’s first mini-album of the same name sits alongside four additional songs, including “Listen to Me” and their debut single “Falling in Love.” The music video accompanied the album release on April 24.
The music video for “EOEO” matches the song’s party energy with the members of UNIQ dancing through various glowing sets in baggy clothes, flashy jewelry, and tattoos. Viewers get the feeling of looking in on a late night warehouse party with the members covered in neon paint, dancing in darkly lit spaces, and at one point carrying torches before we see the words “EOEO” on fire in the background. Like the lyrics that call for fun and chaos, the video is filled with flashing lights, quick cuts between rapid zoom-ins, and shaky scenes as we see UNIQ swinging bats and throwing down mannequins.
However, because the song uses a “hip-hop concept,” there are also some instances of cultural appropriation in which the members are seen sporting cornrow braids. The style used predominately in Black cultures is described by historians as being used by African slaves to communicate escape routes to one another, as well as to hide seeds and rice to plant.
UNIQ made their fiery comeback on April 22, 2015 on Show Champion just before the release of their mini-album. Unfortunately the live performance doesn’t live online, but their following performance on Show! Music Core exuded just as much excited energy. The music video set was re-created with concrete walls and broken fences as the members took the stage in leather outfits and gold chains. The sensual points of the choreography, in which the members do body rolls while lifting their shirts and grind on the floor, became the most highlighted parts of the live performances.
Despite not appearing on Korean music charts, “EOEO” grew in popularity among international fans. It became UNIQ’s highest streamed song on Spotify with over six million plays and landed at No. 16 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart a week after release. The YouTube view count has also grown to more than 12 million, with many viewers saying they discovered the song in the last two years after coming to know the individual members from their TV and drama appearances.
UNIQ took home seven awards at the end of 2015, including “China’s Choice Award” from SBS’ The Show and “Popular Group Award” at the Asia Billboard Awards in Shanghai. Since then, the members of UNIQ have grown individual popularity with Wang Yibo starring in the drama series The Untamed and vocalist Cho Seungyoun now promoting as the soloist WOODZ aftercompeting in Produce X 101.