My love for Lucy’s music wasn’t immediate, but it bloomed big time over the course of 2020. The group is at their best when they embrace the full drama of their configuration, pulling in sweeps of theatrical violin courtesy of leader Yechan and pushing main vocal Sangyeop to utilize the full expressiveness of his rich voice. This ambition resulted in two classic tracks last year – the sprightly Snooze and the epic Flare.
New single Hero (히어로) fits within a different category. It maintains the group’s strengths (especially Wonsang’s killer bass playing), but the song itself feels like a typical idol band track trussed up with Lucy’s gift for arrangement. That still places it leagues ahead of many other K-pop offerings, but I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed. As genial as Hero is, it’s missing that one extra element that would put it over the top.
Like last year’s Jogging, Hero moves at a clip. After opening with a slow-burn introduction delivered by drummer Gwangil, a violin solo takes us into the jazzy verse. This section doesn’t do much for me, and feels like it’s simply killing time before we hit the chorus. Hero’s central refrain isn’t one of the group’s strongest, but I like how the percussion becomes swift and frenzied during this moment. The song’s highlight doesn’t come until its final moments, when the violin riff merges with vocal chants to create an uplifting finale that should have lasted longer. Hero is a good track because it’s performed by a good band. But, I wish they’d opted to promote something more ambitious (like b-side Stove, for example!).
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This song would sound great in the middle of a set at a festival in the park with a picnic and beer in hand. The next best would be in the middle of a CD at home on a weekend night on the porch with a beer in hand. Since I have neither this nor that nor a beer in hand, its just OK.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has the feel of an opening for a slice of life anime for me. Those end up being some of my favourite anime openings, so it’s pretty good in my book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pretty much everything they do fills me with joy, but Stove is particularly gorgeous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sort of agree? Kind of? Not really?
I think that, if I had to rank every Lucy title track in a couple weeks, Hero would be last, but I also think it’s at least an 8.5. For me, it’s less a matter of the track being underwhelming and more a matter of every other track being a kind of transcendent experience that I, myself, wasn’t really building my expectations up for here. I don’t know if that really makes sense, but I absolutely understand your gripes!
Next order of business is getting Lucy to release more full or mini albums so I can rationalize buying them 😉
LikeLike
I’ll genuinely be surprised and sad if Stove does not get a buried treasure post.
LikeLike
I’ve come to the conclusion that the longer the Lucy song, the better it is. Both Flare and Stove are over 6 minutes, Snooze is almost five minutes long, and flowering is 4 minutes. Unsurprisingly Jogging and Hero sit as the shorter title tracks at 3 minutes. And I think this makes sense because Jogging and Hero both have problems with pacing and Lucy’s best songs really thrive on taking their time to build up and grow and stretch themselves out.
LikeLike
You may have a point here! Lucy are at their best when they gradually build a song towards a transcendent climax. That’s hard to do in three minutes.
LikeLike
I love Lucy, I love this song. I agree it’s not their best but tbf there hasn’t been much kpop wise I’ve enjoyed recently so its refreshing. I love how Outro is a 6 minute instrumental, too used to 1 minute outros lmao.
LikeLike