☭ marselip0910 叶俊华™

Note: This article does not reflect the opinions of allkpop, only of the author.
by Rowdyruff on January 22, 2011
—
Suggestions for a future review? Hit the author up on http://twitter.com/#!/rothsresidence or via mailto:arnold.arteaga@allkpop.com!
—



I.T.M Entertainment
LOEN Entertainment
2011/1/19

Those of you familiar with solo singer Navi know that she is widely referred to as the Queen of Covers. Navi 演出令人印象深刻performs impressive renditions day in and day out on Korean radio stations, taking on songs by the likes of 2NE1 and the Wonder Girls, and, 偶爾occasionally, shaking the integrity of the originals along the way. Covers are 很平凡的事a dime a dozen, but Navi is one of several singers who proves that she knows how to make any song her own. Basically, the Queen of Covers is 見鬼one heck of a good singer and can take on anything.

“2 Different Tears” Cover
“Hot Issue” Cover
“It Hurts” Cover

But covering songs is one thing. Providing new and original music stripped of popularity and recognition is a completely different ball game. See any American Idol winner, save the obvious Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and (maybe) Jordin Sparks.

In one of this week’s releases, “Hello” sees Navi step out of the shadow of her endearing title and into full stride as she utilizes her raw talent to captivate us, song after song, all on her terms and under no one’s name but her own. This album is definitely my favorite this week and I’m glad some of you recommended it for review.

01. “Go Again” ft. Yong Jun Hyung of BEAST


If you’re a fan of 2NE1’s Park Bom, you will absolutely love this song. Along with an R&B niche, both singers have a similar color of voice and you will hear the resemblance as the song progresses.

The best way to describe this opening track is to take Park Bom’s lines in Big Bang’s “We Belong Together“, add verses to make it a full length track, throw in the gratuitous idol rap and you end up with “Go Again”. Speaking of, there are instances in K-pop when it feels like rap is inserted into songs that just don’t make sense being there (you’ll find one in this album, unfortunately), but the way they set up Jun-hyung’s entrance here was a pleasant surprise. Navi lets out this gorgeous run and Jun-hyung slips right after with a subtle whisper. It’s very nice. The only thing that may raise an eyebrow is the electric guitar, as I’m not sure what it’s doing in this R&B number.

02. “Well Done”


This is the lead single of the album, composed by Lee Hyung Seung (Davichi’s “8282,” Gummy’s “Love You Even If I Die”), and it’s filled with those same, feel-good vibes that emanate from Alicia Keys‘ “No One“. It’s feminine, heart-pounding and we get to hear Navi in her element. It drags on just a tad at the end (at least for me), but everything else falls right into place.

03. “Fascinating”


It’s exciting to hear songs that are pure genius in every way, shape, and form. If I was choosing the leading single for “Hello”, I’d go with “Fascinating.” “Well Done” is nice and I totally hear the commercial value of it, but this song moves me completely and I can’t help but cheer ‘Navi’ to no end for delivering one of the most brilliant pieces this week.

The instrumental is simple, but it’s the force in her voice that carries the song with all of the beautiful melodies, and there’s a clear direction from the first verse to the explosive ending. Nowhere does she lose us, and for me, that’s what a good pop song of this caliber should achieve.

04. “오늘도 난”


Navi goes the distance in the exhilarating number, titled “오늘도 난.” Her vocal ability is in full bloom, ascending and descending in all the right places, accompanied by the really dramatic orchestration. I enjoy the chorus the first time around because the strings aren’t flying all over the place, nor ever overpowering Navi, who should really be the main focus anyway. They do, however, aid the song in soaring into this majestic wave of sound near the end. Trust me when I say this – when an orchestration is done right, it’s nothing short of an enchanting experience.

05. “A Broken Heart” ft. Crown J


Since Navi could technically be considered an indie artist (or underrated), her music tends to sound a little less contrived than that of some of today’s top idols. Even with the added element of rap, this song remains soothing to listen to.

06. “Listen To The End”


Following the relatively slower songs is a questionable dance track. Navi has already provided breathtaking pieces, so when this song kicked in, with its ho-hum chorus and cheesy ‘club’ synths, I almost keeled over. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as big of a fan of dance songs as the next guy, but this just isn’t Navi. It’s a valiant effort, I’ll give it that, and the verses are pretty good, but she deserves a little better than this. Besides, how do you follow a song like this when the rest of the album is clearly rooted in a completely different style?

07. “We Really Did Love Each Other” ft. K.Will


Truly inspiring duets aren’t easy to come by these days, but when Navi and K. Will released this little number back in July, it put a big smile on my face. You have Navi – lush, smooth vocals – in one hand, and K. Will – resonant and deep – in the other. Two amazing singers who came together for a song that is both sad and breathtaking.

In “We Really Did Love Each Other”, we get to hear how well Navi’s voice works with another singer, who I should mention is as talented as Her Highness. The entire song moves at a steady pace, allowing a lot of breathing room for all of these crazy-high notes and what have you. K. Will has such a beautiful timbre and both voices complement each other impeccably well. It’s one of my favorite tracks on the album, and because of its release prior to “Hello”, I’ve already played this a million times. No, really.

08. “I Love You”


This song was released a long time ago and there’s also a rap version featuring Tablo (Epik High) out there somewhere. I guess it’s nice to hear what a song sounds like without the added rap, but that aside, this song is the cute song on the album. It’s vaguely familiar to several OST songs I’ve heard, so if you’re a fan of anything on Personal Taste or this year’s My Princess, this song should strike a good nerve.

09. “The Road”


“The Road” is one of the more understated tracks on the album. It can easily be lost in the abundance of slower tempo songs, but it features a certain grace to it that isn’t noticeable in the others, and one that I happen to like. The pretty melancholy that looms over this track is striking, especially during the pre-chorus/chorus transitions. The simplicity of the bridge (and the production) is an attribute that is subtle, but very definitive of Navi as a musician.

10. “Wasteful Tears” ft. HyunA of 4minute


The last song on the album is “Wasteful Tears.” It’s a really catchy up-tempo track and, for me, far superior than track number six. However, the song has one major flaw: HyunA. It’s devastating to hear one of the few Navi up-tempos be weighed down by HyunA’s overly rugged rap. It may work in 4minute’s material, but it doesn’t make sense here. At all.
-
Granted, most of these songs were released long before their reappearance in this album, but Navi does greet us with several new songs that showcases those explosive pipes of hers. The rising star lays it all out: a strong production, infectious melodies, and a stunning use of her vocals, all of which you can hear throughout “Hello.”



Navi returns with ‘Well Done’ on Inkigayo
by Casper on January 23, 2011


Navi returns with ‘Well Done’ on Music Core
by Casper on January 22, 2011


Navi returns with ‘Well Done’ on Music Bank
by Casper on January 21, 2011


Navi returns with ‘Well Done’ on M! Countdown
by Casper on January 20, 2011



Hello Hello Hello Hello Hello
Don’t cry Don’t cry Don’t cry Don’t Hello

gaseumi neol an nwajwo amuri tteeonaedo
gyesok neoreul japgo an nwajwo amuri jallanaedo
meonjeo dwidora seol geomyeonseo wae saranghage hae
nunmuri daeche museun joeya

charari jal dwaesseo jaldoen iriya
apeuge sangcheoman jul neoramyeon
deo himdeulgi jeone miwojigi jeone
jigeumi jom deo naeuljido molla

gaseuma deo saranghaji marajwo
nan utgo sipeunde neoreul itgo sipeunde
naega bonaejulge jal gara nae saranga
apado useumyeo annyeong

jillijido annnabwa haneobsi saenggagi na
jeongmal mareujido annnabwa haneobsi nunmuri na
gyeolguk tteona beoril geomyeonseo wae bogo sipge hae
du nuni daeche museun joeya

charari jal dwaesseo jaldoen iriya
apeuge sangcheoman jul neoramyeon
deo himdeulgi jeone miwojigi jeone
jigeumi jom deo naeuljido molla

gaseuma deo saranghaji marajwo
nan utgo sipeunde neoreul itgo sipeunde
naega bonaejulge jal gara nae saranga
apado useumyeo annyeong

Hello Hello Hello Hello Hello
Don’t cry Don’t cry Don't cry Don’t Hello
gwaenchanha saranga nareul tteonado useumyeo neol nohajulge

da jwosseuni dwaesseo geunyang geugeollo dwaesseo
ama eonjenganeun naui gyeochi geuriwo
neodo apa ol geoya uneun nari ol geoya

gaseuma deo sarang haji marajwo
nan utgo sipeunde neoreul itgo sipeunde
naega bonaejulge jal gara nae saranga
seulpeodo useumyeo annyeong

Credit: Navi - Well Done KINGRPG.net
http://www.kingrpg.net