Moonbyul Wonders “Is This Love?” In Starlit of Twinkle Repackage
MAMAMOO’s main rapper Moonbyul is back with a ginormous repackage album. Released on August 21, Starlit of Twinkle comes with a staggering 21 songs: 12 of which she introduced in her full album Starlit of Muse. Moonbyul ponders the nature of love in its title track “Is This Love?,” but this repackage shows that love comes from listening to new music.
DIGITAL STREAMING TRACKLIST:
“Backpack”
“Is This Love?”
“Dear.”
“TOUCHIN&MOVIN (English Ver.)”
“Is This Love? (Sped Up Ver.)”
LP-EXCLUSIVE TRACKLIST:
“Backpack (Inst.)”
“Is This Love? (Inst.)”
“Dear. (Inst.)”
“TOUCHIN&MOVIN (English Ver.) (Inst.)”
Starlit of Twinkle comes with two different tracklists depending on the platform: through digital streaming or the physical LP, which only has 10,000 copies for purchase. In addition to the nine new tracks, the LP also includes the 12 tracks from Starlit of Muse. Since The Kraze reviewed that album in February, this review’s score only takes into account the new content.
“Is This Love?”
Created by “TOUCHIN&MOVIN” lyricists and composers Kim Minki and VROMANCE’s Hyunkyu, “Is This Love?” puts Moonbyul in a feel-good concept once again. “Is This Love?” feels like it merges “TOUCHIN&MOVIN” with TWS’s “plot twist.” I say this as someone who enjoys all the mentioned tracks. Both carry a wholesome and curious energy that I love. Within the lyrics, Moonbyul insists she ponders about love based on the experiences of others. She engages in the question as a bystander.*
Nevertheless, she has fun creating scenarios that explore the title question. The music video stars Moonbyul taking on different roles such as a news anchor, a meteorologist, a K-drama actor, a salesperson, and even a dedicated fan at a concert. It also parodies various commercial advertisements, which add to its creative and unserious nature.
The B-Sides
Starlight of Twinkle includes four B-sides: two unique songs, an English version of “TOUCHIN&MOVIN,” and a sped up version of “Is This Love?” Moonbyul described “Backpack” as a comforting song that affirms the choice to “leave our burdens behind.” In the song, old memories are shelved away in favor of new, more positive experiences. Moonbyul also said she wanted to provide a similar comfort with “Dear.,” a song simply asking about one’s day. Both showcase Moonbyul’s gentle tone with an acoustic guitar or piano backing, respectively.*
Sam Carter wrote the English version of “TOUCHIN&MOVIN,” which adds to Moonbyul’s small but growing list of songs in the language. As for the sped up version of “Is This Love?,” I have not warmed up to sped up songs in K-Pop. In other reviews for The Kraze, I have voiced my opinion that songs’ sped up versions fail to add any substance to albums. Maybe these have a place on TikTok, and I will someday see the appeal. But for now, these versions leave me wondering what to do with them.
*Note: Lyrics taken from English captions in the official videos.
“Is This Love?” TITLE TRACK SCORE: 9/10
“Is This Love?” MUSIC VIDEO SCORE: 10/10
Starlit of Twinkle ALBUM SCORE: 9/10
Overall Score: 9.3/10
Edited by Cara Musashi