Take a Bite Out of Baekhyun’s Spooky New Single “Pineapple Slice”

The king of K-Pop vocals is back and baring his fangs: Baekhyun returned on September 6 with his new release Hello, World - The 4th Mini Album.

The release is his first since parting ways with SM Entertainment to establish his own agency, INB100, and is led by the oh-so-sinfully sweet title track, “Pineapple Slice.” If there’s one thing Baekhyun knows after all his years in the industry, it’s how to flex his vocals, and the velvety R&B sound suits his husky voice perfectly. It’s a song that’s similar enough to his previous singles that casual listeners will instantly recognize it as a Baekhyun release, and yet different in that it leans more into the dance aspect of things, effortlessly oozing sex appeal through slinky synths. The majority of the song stays in his lower register (and that’s saying something for a man with one of the most impressive vocal ranges in K-Pop), but the occasional falsettos sound like heaven in the moments they appear.

As we move into the later months of the year, any K-Pop fan knows that Halloween-influenced videos are bound to start making appearances, and Baekhyun is one of the first of the bunch this year. The music video for “Pineapple Slice” shows him dressed in muted, dark colors as he dances his way through Victorian and Gothic architecture with repeated motifs of bats and references to vampires. It’s subtle enough that the video can be enjoyed any time of year (after all, every day is the best day to listen to Baekhyun), but the horror elements are definitely there, giving the already sensual song an added bite.

The album includes the B-sides “Good Morning,” a tried and true Baekhyun R&B cut that instantly sets the mood. “Rendez-Vous” adds a jazzy flair with piano runs and a funky beat, while “Cold Heart” gives listeners a surprisingly guitar-ridden bop. “Woo” drops in tempo, leaving Baekhyun’s vocals to carry the song over airy instrumentals, before the album closes with “Truth Be Told,” bringing things full circle and to a sultry R&B-infused end. 

Check out the video for Baekhyun’s “Pineapple Slice” below and take a bite if you dare.

Edited by Rachael Lovette