“Feel me” and Golden Child’s New Youthful Edge
It has been fifteen, yes, fifteen months since Golden Child’s last Korean release. Much has changed since then, with Daeyeol’s return from the military and Y’s departure for his enlistment, leaving fans hungrier than ever for new music from the group. I, for one, enjoy few things more than a new Golden Child release; since their 2017 debut, the boys have never disappointed, constantly leaving me with high hopes for their music. But nothing—and I mean nothing—could have prepared me for “Feel me.”
Golden Child have a penchant for releasing good music. Whether it’s slinkier tracks like “Without You” or feel-good bops like “Pump It Up,” it seems like everything the group touches turns to, well, gold. But if Golden Child’s past title tracks are gold, then the rock-infused ode to youth “Feel me” is a diamond. Despite their stacked discography and overwhelming talent, the group has yet to truly traverse into the realm of rock prior to this (the closest probably being 2020’s “Bottom of the Ocean”). And I’m so glad they finally took the plunge.
“Feel me” opens with building atmospheric guitars before launching into its pulsating first chorus. ‘90s rock elements help set the stage for the song’s nostalgic feel, culminating in a melodic rock track that tiptoes the line between joy and sadness. It’s a melancholic feeling that anyone who’s looked back on their youth can empathize with, and one that Golden Child pulls off so effortlessly in “Feel me.” Once the chorus hits, the song turns into an explosion of emotion: Joochan and Seungmin really hit it out of the park here. Another unexpected twist in “Feel me” was Jangjun and TAG trading in their hard-hitting rap verses for smooth vocals. The rappers of Golden Child are one of the group’s biggest assets, offering some of the most impressive talent in the fourth generation of K-Pop; the fact that the absence of rap verses in “Feel me” is not a detriment, but instead a welcomed gift in the form of their vocals is a testament to the group’s well-rounded talent. The resulting sound is a freshly mature one for Golden Child, proving they have endless tricks hidden up their sleeves.
The video for “Feel me” follows the members as they take on the town, getting into typical youthful shenanigans for better or for worse. Anyone that’s seen the video for “Burn It” knows Golden Child is a group of thespians, and “Feel me” has the boys flexing their acting chops once more. Amidst grungy hues of browns and grays, there are more than enough scenes to pull at any viewer’s heartstrings.
Feel me is a single album accompanied by two other B-sides, “Blind Love” and “Dear.” The former keeps some of the rock elements found in “Feel me” but adds a bright pop twist. “Dear,” meanwhile, is an anthemic pop track, letting the group showcase their vocal and rap talents to the nines, thanks in part to TAG who contributed to both lyrics and composition of the song.
Check out the video for “Feel me” below and prepare to take it back to the years of your youth, and maybe get your tissues ready while you’re at it.