Four years after Source Music terminated their contract, GFRIEND is back together to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, and Umji released their special single album Season of Memories on January 13, a couple of days before the anniversary. Consisting of the two songs “Season of Memories” and “Always,” this small package represents another recent miracle reunion from girl groups. Though GFRIEND’s career has had its ups and downs, Season of Memories reminds the industry that the group still lives on.  

This single album’s title references GFRIEND’s debut EP, Season of Glass, which came out on January 15, 2015. The group gained recognition for their powerful choreography and initial schoolgirl concept, which evolved as the years passed. Their new comeback is teeming with throwbacks and sees previous creative collaborators transform GFRIEND for K-Pop’s fifth generation. While the members have either promoted solo or as part of VIVIZ, many fans have longed to see all six of them back on stage. 

TRACKLIST: 

1.  “Season of Memories”

2. “Always”  

A “Season of Memories” Made With Love

“Season of Memories” premiered at the 39th Golden Disc Awards, where the group performed for the first time in four years. Doubling as both the pre-release and title track for this special promotional period, “Season of Memories” brings GFRIEND’s classical elegance mixed with a popular J-Pop sound. The producers credited for the track have all previously worked with GFRIEND or its members in some capacity. Frequent collaborators Noh Juhwan and Lee Wonjoung (이원종) created their first GFRIEND song together in 2016, and the duo went on to craft title tracks like “Time for the moon night,” “Sunrise,” “Crossroads,” and “Apple.” While the final producer, Shintaro Yasuda, did not work with GFRIEND themselves, he helped compose and arrange Yuju’s “DALALA” and “Full Circle.” 

Everything also comes full circle in the song’s music video. Directed by Guzza, who also did GFRIEND’s videos for “MAGO,” “Apple,” and “Crossroads,” “Season of Memories” sees GFRIEND riding on a train through time. The train’s interior contains many past music video references such as the butterfly and glass bead seen in GFRIEND’s storyline, the rollerblades from “Navillera,” and the radio from “Love Whisper.” “Seasons of Memories” jumps between shots of the members and animations by Tezo Don Lee. This painted animation style bridges the past and present as seen when SinB sings her first line: an animated version of her, dressed in a schoolgirl outfit from “Rough,” walks into the next train car as her current self, the one returning to the group in between her VIVIZ activities. 

The video culminates as the group sings in a stadium full of fans, lightsticks at the ready. With trains carrying clips from past GFRIEND videos, GFRIEND enters a new era—one once thought of as impossible. The ending pose of “Season of Memories” caps off everything with its reflection of the ending from “Rough.” The group will hopefully see a sea of lightsticks replicated at GFRIEND’s upcoming tour, which takes place across East Asia this month and March. 

There is only one B-side on this special single album, but “Always” is an upbeat and fitting pairing with the title track. Produced by Lee Wonjoung, Lenno Linjama, and Leevi Haapanen, this retro disco track keeps the party going. GFRIEND tells listeners to stay for the celebration. “We keep on dreamin’, dreamin’, dreamin’ / Come with me now,” GFRIEND sings, using lines written by Yuju, Umji, and many other lyricists. It subverts the expectation that “Seasons of Memories” may end with a heartfelt ballad, opting to go with something that affirms the group’s determination to continue.  

Reflection From a Buddy

GFRIEND’s contract termination in May 2021 blindsided many K-Pop fans, Buddy—GFRIEND’s fandom—or not. The revival of the group’s social media accounts, reopening of their rhythm game SUPERSTAR GFRIEND, and return to music shows came as such a relief. Despite this, I do feel disappointed that Season of Memories only contains two tracks. 

“Always” is a great B-side, and my only gripe with “Seasons of Memories” is that its chorus does not shine as powerfully as I would have liked. However, it is already a miracle that the reunion happened. Source Music has not clarified how long this reunion will last, but as “Season of Memories” says, “in the season of our warm memories, we’ll be together forever.”

Edited by Joi Berry