“I would like all of it and I ain’t ever gonna settle / Even when all of that is only a fantasy.” These are the opening strains of the English model of ‘Set Me Free’, sung confidently by TWICE’s chief, Jihyo. In them, she shares an unabashedly daring assertion and one which makes the lady group’s stance on their twelfth mini-album ‘Prepared To Be’ crystal clear – they’re in full management and able to kick something, or anybody, that doesn’t match their imaginative and prescient to the kerb.
It’s a power that’s been brewing in TWICE’s lyrical world for a while. Again in 2020, ‘Extra & Extra’ discovered the ladies declaring: “I do know I would like it / I’m not gonna attempt to please you anymore.” Though different current title tracks like ‘Really feel Particular’ and ‘Alcohol-Free’ have put the facility in another person’s fingers (“You make me really feel particular”, “I’m drunk in you,” they sang on every, respectively), ‘Prepared To Be’ places the 9 members of the JYP group within the driving seat.
The glittering Miami bass-pop of ‘Moonlight Dawn’ – their second authentic English-language track – is probably the strongest instance of TWICE’s burgeoning directness. “Child, I don’t actually imply to hurry / However I’mma actually need your contact / If I’mma make it by the night time,” Nayeon and Mina coolly share, earlier than they drop the invitation: “Come take a shot on me, I gotcha.”
Clearly, TWICE are usually not in a timid temper. Tzuyu reinforces that feeling on ‘Wallflower’, a Latin-flecked track that might raise off right into a banger however as an alternative retains issues to a compelling hush. As an alternative of adopting the shyness of the track’s title, the singer drops a confrontational dare: “What do you consider me? / Look me within the eye.” Later, Momo and Dahyun tease: “Are you shy? I’m wondering why,” they ponder. “Come a little bit nearer.”
The group could be totally embracing their upfront facet on this launch, however that doesn’t imply they’re simply utilizing it to tug individuals into their lives. On ‘Loopy Silly Love’, it’s the other story. “After temporary however intense encounters and pleasure / I acquired uninterested in your ineffective lies,” Dahyun, who co-wrote the observe, explains. “I’m so carried out with this loopy silly love,” the group sing later, shrugging off an outdated flame and rushing off to higher issues.
Lately, TWICE have additionally been altering their sound, smoothing out the exuberant pep and cheer that crammed their music since their 2016 debut into one thing extra subtle. As they’ve bloomed into one thing extra elegant, that giddy cheer has remained of their undercurrent however has been layered over with extra refined sounds. Typically, the ladies have turned to retro genres to tug this off and ‘Prepared To Be’ isn’t any totally different.
Right here, although, they step into new floor. They’ve already proved they will do disco and do it effectively, so ‘Set Me Free’ takes a contemporary method, shifting right into a retro-futuristic zone, propelled by a squelchy synth bassline and dramatic string slashes. ‘Received The Thrills’ is effervescent, sunkissed euphoria captured in a Balearic dance-pop bottle – blissed out however not largely memorable. ‘Blame It On Me’ – one other Dahyun co-write – modifications gears utterly, zooming into dive bar rock riffs. “You’re so into me, You’re, you’re so into me,” Chaeyoung sings, their lyrical stutter mirroring the chugging guitar that accompanies them.
Any second of progress is vulnerable to faltering sometimes and, for all of TWICE’s spectacular improvement, ‘Prepared To Be’ does have some awkward junctures. Dahyun’s slow-mo rap on ‘Set Me Free’ feels clumsy and clunky, out of step with the remainder of the observe in a method that throws the momentum off. On ‘Received The Thrills’, Tzuyu attracts out the phrase “tremolo” to suit the track’s melody, nevertheless it feels barely like making an attempt to place a sq. peg in a spherical gap.
In TWICE’s larger image, ‘Prepared To Be’ surpasses these blips and helps solidify additional the sound the group have claimed as their very own. As they proceed to hone it – and their daring perspective – much more, count on them to change into more and more ingenious and unstoppable.
Particulars
- Launch date: March 10, 2023
- Document label: JYP Leisure
