SAY MY NAME Continues Chasing Their Dreams in “ShaLala”
Rookie girl group SAY MY NAME made their first comeback on March 13. “ShaLala,” the title track of their second EP, My Name Is…, gives off an optimistic curiosity. This curiosity carries through the rest of My Name Is…, which tells of a journey to finding one’s goals. Composed of Hitomi, Mei, Kanny, Soha, Dohee, Junhwi, and Seungjoo, SAY MY NAME debuted last October under iNKODE, co-founded by Kim Jaejoong. The group’s name embodies “their ambition to run towards their dreams.”
TRACKLIST:
“XOXO”
“1,2,3,4”
“ShaLala”
“For My Dream”
“He told me”
The Title Track: “ShaLala”
This comeback is a noticeable improvement compared to their debut. Though their second EP takes inspiration from genres currently popular among fifth-generation girl groups—UK garage and pop rock specifically— SAY MY NAME can experiment with more styles. YG Entertainment producer P.K composed the fusion of city pop and new jack swing in “ShaLala.” The song feels nostalgic, much like the school days portrayed in its music video.
Director Park Hyeongjun created a music video full of sunshine. “ShaLala” asks about the unpredictable yet exciting nature of the future, and the video depicts this questioning period as something to explore positively. It portrays the lives of schoolgirls experiencing the ups and downs of friendship. While friends may fight and argue, they can make up and return with an even stronger sense of trust.
The B-sides: A Story of Determination
My Name is… carries a message of resolve, one used to keep pursuing future dreams. It starts with “XOXO,” a trap and lo-fi song, which acts as a prelude to the retro and easygoing feeling of the EP. This serene sound continues in “1,2,3,4,” a UK garage song that keeps a similar tempo. The beats slow down for “ShaLala” but pick up again in “For My Dream,” an encouraging pop rock track. SAY MY NAME sings about “breaking free” and flying “up to the sky” for their goals.
Whereas the other songs on My Name is… speak of strength from within, “He told me” acknowledges external encouragement from others. “He told me,” which Hitomi participated in writing, starts with being told “your existence is never small.” This pop song concludes the EP with an appreciative reminder that everyone has their supporters. They can discard the pressure to face everything alone. SAY MY NAME’s first comeback succeeds in furthering the group’s dreams within the K-Pop industry.
Edited by Clark Royandoyan