Chuu’s “Only cry in the rain” Paints Hazy, Nostalgic Melancholy
Photos: ATRP Entertainment
Soloist Chuu’s latest comeback blends synth-pop with tender, whirlwind nostalgia – and a good ol’ cry session.
In her latest comeback under ATRP Entertainment, Chuu surrounds herself in dreamlike melodies and an ephemeral, sad-but-tender sentiment. Only cry in the rain is an EP to cherish, and to inspire. Chuu’s solo career is one of sentimental pop tracks, but Only cry in the rain deviates from its cheerier predecessors to reveal a covert emotional side.
Tracklist
“Only cry in the rain” [Title]
“Back in town”
“Kiss a kitty”
“Je t’aime”
“No more”
Only cry in the rain’s concept images and music video are those of a fragile time past. Featuring a happy, nostalgic Chuu alongside dreamlike friendships, the visuals capture precious moments in camcorders and hazy color-grading. Slowly, the misty past shifts to a bitter present; for when Chuu says she only cries in the rain, she means it.
“Only cry in the rain” cuts sharper than most heartbreak songs, prodding the loss of a moment in time, more than an individual. Be it mourning time, mourning loss, or mourning change, Chuu now stands alone, crying in the rain. In three short minutes, the music video evokes a drama, or a short home film. It holds friendship, loss, and change tenderly, as Chuu’s sincere vocals remind the listener, “You and I are the same/ We disappear in a blink [...] The night with a spring shower / cause I only cry in the rain.”
The story is told in contrasts: the sweet smiles of friendship, now lost; the brightness of spring, yet rain is forecasted. Sepia color grading complements a purple horizon. Chuu hops back and forth between the happiness of memories lived and the sadness of life lost, as the melody basks in the nostalgia of its mid-tempo airy synths. There’s a moment in the music video when the medium shifts from filtered, gritty camcorder footage and jagged crying scenes to animation: Chuu’s tear becomes a dove, which flies past her, an angel on a bike. The train, once live-action but now in pen strokes, passes by. It’s a keen choice, and a touching one, using the animation to solidify the metaphors across the music video. The track captures wistfulness effectively on its own, but the heartfelt visuals and resounding storytelling turn a good title track into a great one, as Chuu weighs in both hands the highs of love and the lows of loss. In what may be some of the most compelling K-Pop music video direction of 2025, “Only cry in the rain” is one to watch, as much as it is to listen.
The B-Sides
Only cry in the rain’s four B-sides blend dance, funk, and disco with the EP’s overall soft sensitivity. There’s a distinct retro feel throughout the album, and nowhere is this more exemplified than in “Back in town.” As a strutting, funky City-pop opener to the EP’s more upbeat corners, “Back in town” dries your tears and gets you on your feet – to dance!
“Kiss a kitty” is perhaps the most evocative, aligning dance-funk with layered, brash lyrics. Full of cat puns and 1980’s flair, “Kiss of kitty” sauces up the EP: “I don’t wanna kill it! I just wanna kiss it!” jives Chuu and her backing vocalists. Camp, gaudy, or peak tongue-in-cheek K-Pop? “Kiss a kitty” welcomes each and every label with open arms.
Clocking in at 2 minutes and 46 seconds, dreamy “Je t’aime” doesn’t waste any of its precious seconds. “Je t’aime” (I love you, in French) delivers the most characteristic track of the EP, and even perhaps of Chuu’s discography, in this author’s opinion. Unprocessed acoustic guitar melds with Chuu’s resounding vocals and the layered refrain of a simple, but profound “Je t’aime, Je t’aime” (I love you, I love you). The lyrics balance familiarity with bewilderment – opposites attract, so although Chuu can’t understand the other person, she knows the truest, simplest phrase to express herself: I love you. The song’s tight construction, whimsical production and mixing, and heartfelt, tender vocals result in the perfect, easy love song. It’s simple, and it’s profound: a tightly-bound love song that soars. Chuu alights on her own sound delicately; “Je t’aime” is the proof.
“No More” drives a reiterative bass line, minimal instrumentals, and sharp snares to a forward-thinking motivational chorus. “No more gloomy days!” Chuu promises, winding her journey through the past and settling her emotions to a conclusive end. “Love yourself [...] be happy” – it's on the nose, but achieves its desired intent: to inspire. As the rest of the album looks back on the past, on friendships loved and lost, throwback beats, and tender love, “No More” looks ahead, on the balls of its feet, choosing hope in the future.
Only cry in the rain stands alone in its corner, offering quiet, raw authenticity. Many of its counterparts attempt to plunk sincerity into their tracks, as if checking a box. Yet, Chuu, in only 14 minutes, breathes simple, refreshing wonder, heartache, and yearning. While some of the B-sides dazzle more than others, the tender performances, home-run visuals, and deft songwriting are a glimmering reminder of what K-Pop soloists can bring to the table. Chuu cries in the rain, but she shines onstage.
“Only cry in the rain” Title Track Score: 9/10
Music Video Score: 10/10
Only cry in the rain Album Score: 8.5/10
Total Score: 9/10
Edited by Lacey Diluvio