The song was rated half a star out of five.
Koreaboo
Former FROM THEM member Choi Yena, who carved out a solo career for herself following the group’s dissolution, recently released her new single “NEMONEMO.”
While fans expected another hit from the rising star, the song was met with some criticism. In particular, music critic So Seung Geun left a particularly harsh rating on the popular Korean review platform EXEC. The review surprised many, especially for its blunt reasoning and low rating: only half a star out of five.
According to Seung Geun’s review, “NEMONEMO” struggles to present itself as cohesive music. He likened it more to a chaotic mix of sounds, something you might hear in a video game or an anime soundtrack.
The reviewer pointed out that the frenetic beats and overwhelming synths completely drowned out the lyrics, leaving little room for listeners to appreciate the melody or song structure. He went on to say that while the sound may successfully align with Yena’s eccentric and carefree image, it fails to represent a true musical composition.
If this was an attempt to sonically portray Choi Yena’s carefree, tomboyish image as seen in the video, then it worked. But if the intent was to consider it music, it would be a misunderstanding. There is no music in these 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
— So Seung Geun
Yena, who has experimented with rock and pop-punk influences since going solo, has taken a different musical path than her former IZONE members. However, So argued that despite this bold move, the songs he produced post-IZONE failed to gain mainstream popularity, largely due to weak melodies and lack of staying power.
After IZ*ONE disbanded, Choi Yena explored a solo career in rock and pop-punk, taking a different path from her former bandmates. However, the songs, with their weak melodic lines, failed to spark any lasting popularity. Ultimately, mainstream music is a gift.
— So Seung Geun
As the scathing review continues to make the rounds on social media – shocking fans and even casual listeners who read it – many are wondering whether Yena’s career will continue on the same trajectory.
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