SAY MY NAME Introduces New Member Shuie Through “iLy”

Photo: SAY MY NAME OFFICIAL X

Eight-member girl group SAY MY NAME found a clever way to integrate their newest member, Shuie, into their latest single “iLy.” It references the 1967 American classic “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” and comes with a music video reflecting the group’s pre-existing branding. Released on August 1, “iLy” reimagines one of American artist Frankie Vallie’s hits with the UK garage genre. 

Shuie, a Chinese member who joined the group on July 10, adds to SAY MY NAME’s multinational status, with the group now having members from four nationalities: South Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Chinese. The group embraces its diversity and welcomes each member with open arms. They address Shuie’s arrival with a cute backstory in the “iLy” music video. 

The Reference Behind “iLy”

K-Pop groups take from all kinds of inspiration when mentioning classic songs, but SAY MY NAME’s “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” reference came as a surprise. Watching the “iLy” music video teasers made me curious about what the full release would sound like. The original romantic pop song, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1967, also gained massive global popularity. Throughout the decades, the song has been covered by musicians from countries such as Sweden and Japan. While many people across many generations know this song, I wondered how SAY MY NAME would incorporate it in their sound. 

“iLy” integrates some elements of the original alongside its own verses. The chorus starts with the same lyrics as “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” and samples the song’s brass instrumentation. Where the brass hits in the pre-chorus of “Can’t Take My Eyes off You,” it happens in the post-chorus of “iLy” instead. While the UK garage genre and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” are usually for easy listening, overusing the brass sample makes parts of “iLy” overwhelming. 

The Story Behind the Music Video

SAY MY NAME directly references that they gained an eighth member. The “iLy” music video represents Shuie as a kitten that the group finds. She later transforms into a person and the members teach her how to live as a human. This storyline also fits with the group’s cat-filled branding, which assigns a different colored cat to each member. Filmed in Okinawa, Japan, the video shows the group enjoying lunch, listening to music, and learning choreography together.

After the addition of a new member, many groups’ music videos never address this event happening. While not required, SAY MY NAME handles this topic in a heartwarming way. The music video acknowledges Shuie’s addition to the group through a sweet gesture.

Edited by Clark Royandoyan