The charming and underrated quintet woo!ah! is back with their first mini-album, JOY, promoting the music video for their title track, “Danger.” After a year since their previous comeback with “Purple,” woo!ah! returns with their signature experimental musical fusion with quirky vocals. In a world full of sweet treats and a colorful world, woo!ah! expresses how falling in love can often feel dangerous. 

JOY contains six songs in total alongside their title track. The first B-side, “Joyride,” transports you to a bubbly fantasy world that is certain to fill your body with a huge burst of energy and plenty of serotonin! Next is “Go Away,” a pop song that features 8-bit retro scratching sound effects that pair excellently with woo!ah!’s light vocals. “Switch Up” is a rock-inspired song that focuses on positivity, expressing that even the worst situations can be forgotten by dancing the negativity away. Then comes “Straight Up,” a more delicate track in comparison to the previous, with an increasing intensity of the drums little by little before reaching a bouncy chorus. The last track, “Catch The Stars,” previously released in January as a digital single, is a breath of fresh air that embraces the funk-pop sub-genre and is given the final spot on their first mini-album. With how popular the single got, it’s wonderful to see it added to the album. In the 20-minute album, each song exudes its own colorful flavor and certainly gives an addictive aftertaste, leaving you wanting more of woo!ah!’s signature sound. 

“Danger” 

Composed and written by LIL G, HAE, and Sonny, “Danger” is a deconstructed pop song with EDM sprinkled into the track. There are tons of unique “flavors” placed into the track—rhythmic bass, percussion, and addictive synths—making it stand out from the first listen with its musical fusions. The name of the title track is a play on words with the title pronounced as “dan-geo,” translating to “something sweet.” When woo!ah! sings the lyrics “Sweeter than chocolate, it’s dangerous,” and “I’m in love, I’m in danger,” it expresses a double meaning of falling too far for someone that it becomes uncertain while referring to a love interest as “something sweet.” Comparing love to danger makes for an interesting combination and double meaning that you wouldn’t normally expect from a catchy pop single. Thankfully, woo!ah! brings out all the stops and surprises, experimenting with new sounds that differentiate them from others. 

The pastel music video for “Danger” can be deceiving given the context of the song. woo!ah! is on their way up in an elevator that leads them to danger. Wearing a schoolgirl ensemble of white and yellow plaid, the members are in a world filled with sweets that are anything but ordinary. There are even cartoon-like animations popping up throughout the video to emphasize this. The choreography contains a special move—a “sugar sprinkling” dance, holding up one hand like a plate and using the other to mimic sprinkling something—as a point dance that fits the theme around desserts. The refreshing charms and dash of girl crush are found in the sleek dance break choreography towards the end of the music video, giving woo!ah! the chance to show off their dance skills. 

With “Danger” and the entire mini-album JOY, woo!ah!’s sound continues to strengthen and mature with each release. JOY contains a variety of genre styles and sound fusions that have a unique flavor for all to enjoy. With one of the most unique and unconventional styles among other girl groups, woo!ah! succeeds in solidifying their sweet image and deserves more recognition for it. If you’re looking for something different in K-Pop, woo!ah!’s discography has something for everyone. 

JOY is available for streaming on multiple streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, and Apple Music. For more from woo!ah!, make sure to follow them on their social media channels: Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Check out the music video for “Danger” below! 

Edited by Aleena Faisal