For better or worse, I don’t immediately associate Taeyeon’s solo career with dance tracks. So, when it was announced that new single INVU would have house influences, my ears perked up. A vocalist as powerful as Taeyeon would make a natural fit for a big club banger. But, INVU takes a different approach, painting a vibe rather than dropping blockbuster beats.
This approach shouldn’t be surprising. Taeyeon’s work tends to emphasis emotion and vulnerability. INVU fits right within this wheelhouse, albeit with a more insistent beat. As a song, it’s smooth and assured. A dull electronic throb powers the instrumental all the way through, culminating in a compelling loop during the chorus. I wouldn’t call INVU “trance,” but it has a trance-like quality that’s bound to hypnotize listeners. Taeyeon sounds fantastic – especially when the pre-chorus lets her vocal bust loose. The melodies are satisfying in their dreamlike appeal, and INVU builds toward a suitable climax.
(You all know there’s a “but” coming, right? It seems to be par for the course for my K-pop reviews these days!)
INVU delivers on its intentions, but I wish it would have set its sights just a bit higher. The song feels like it’s holding back, content to ride on groove and mood rather than go for the jugular. I realize this approach probably wouldn’t match the track’s vibe, but I crave a moment or two of real drama. The dynamic pre-chorus comes closest, and could have led into a knockout chorus instead of relying so heavily on the beat. Even so, INVU’s mesmeric qualities are bound to give it strong staying power.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I don’t know, even I was beguiled by the song, I wouldn’t say it’s instantly captivating. At the release of just the teaser, I was already kind of disappointed with the chorus. The actual song has the same issue. A more robust melody heavy chorus might’ve set things right.
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Yeah it’s a song that has production carrying it because the verses and chorus…are just there. I am all about hooks that’s why I instantly check out a song that was given a 9 or 10 hooks score in this site. I personally think a song that has a 9 or 10 hooks score with an 8 production score is better than a song with an 8 hooks score with a 9 production score.
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BUT, I wish you would stop being so nihilistic and just retire your page!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kpop will never be in 2012 again!!!!!!!!
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No
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BUT it’s a “strong” score … ?
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Unless you instantly call something SOTY and fawn over every little thing, K-pop stans will take it as a diss. It’s become a damn cult 🙄
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lol “nihilistic”
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People just be using words 😭😭😭
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ik!!!!!!!!! this song is SOAT and nick needs to stop being nihilistic about kpoop and just do something else with his life!1!1!!!!11!!!1!!!!1 /s
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“These days” ITS BEEN 4 YEARS YOU LOSER
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Deep breath. Breathe in, breathe out.
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me reading this in Key’s yellow tape voice
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As you should!
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then just don’t read these posts
chill out please?
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It’s his Blog, he can say whatever he wants to say. Personally I love that chorus, but an opinion is an opinion (also he wasn’t being really negative). if you want a different one, just don’t read this Blog. Easy.
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I concur: it’s solid but safe.
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It is also vastly improved by clicking the 1.25x setting on youtube.
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At this point, I’m starting to think we could click “1.25x” on the entire industry! 😂
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Can we do that to the Infinite hiatus? I am tired of goddamn waiting.
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I think we will be waiting a long long time for Infinite, alas.
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An…. *infinite* amount of time, would you say? 😏
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I like it!!! Don’t love it though. I don’t really yearn for the need of “drama” in every pop song similar to u but I do wish the song took a risk or two.
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Few more listens and it’s seaping in
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the album as a whole is so damn good though… GRAMMY AWARD.
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the album has something for everyone, but dance tracks such as ‘no love again’. ‘timeless’ and ‘toddler’ are where taeyeon truly shines as a solo artist
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It will probably end up being my album of the year! Such a strong body of work
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Her voice in the verse is still amazing, it brings emotion to dance track. But let’s be honest, Taeyeon is not a performance, so for the chorus that don’t have many singing part like this song, we expect an outburst performance, which Taeyeon can’t not give.
A K-Pop song is not just about the music, it’s the concept, visual, performance, style… everything. I’m kind of disappointed. I even like Can’t control myself better than this one.
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let see her performance in music show,i’m sure her perfomance will be good
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This song is perfect and i love it
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I almost never enjoy Taeyeon’s solo work (basically only like Something New and What Do I Call You), but this one is really good imo. Laid back and certainly not doing anything particularly exciting, but memorable nonetheless. Reminds me of some of the moody, trance-influenced stuff that came from jpop in the early 2000s – things like Utada Hikaru’s “Colors”, for instance. I was hoping she’d tap into that more on the rest of the album since she’s never done this sound before, but unfortunately it’s a pretty bland combination of her typical fare imo.
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This is probably my favourite Taeyeon song in a very long time
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It’s good but I’m honestly surprised it got a higher rating than I expected it to get. But then it’s a solid 8 (7,9,8,8) for me.
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Haven’t watched any teasers of this, so I just kept saying the title as one whole word. So when the build up to the I ENVY YOU came it really fvcked me up lol. Also I N V U is such a lady gaga thing to do and I love it.
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Oh SAME I also thought that the song had a nice build but could’ve been more beefed up in the last chorus. She looked great though, this is a stunning MV
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INVU sounds like Taeyeon in her Utada Hikaru-esque era, I guess.
A solid song!
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Have you listened to the album? I’m pretty sure Timeless would be your favourite!!!
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Yes timeless is really good
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I liked it a lot, though it’s probably not my favorite from the album. I think Taeyeon suits this style surprisingly well (though I’d except a vocalist of her caliber to excel at most things). Very Rihannaesque to me, mostly in the form of “Towards the Sun” but I could see an argument for “Diamonds.” I think the last chorus could’ve benefited from a repeat and maybe a few actual lines at the end (it ends so abruptly). Had the song been pushed a little further I think we would’ve had a real knockout. Still, Taeyeon never disappoints.
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Wow that MV budget is impeccable! There’s nothing better than a great song paired with a great MV
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OH, THIS is stunning. NGL, It’s been a while since K-Pop has amazed me like this. The progression of this song is so well thought out. I love the atmosphere of it. The music video is also so captivating. This is super fresh.
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She has such a lovely voice and the song is a shimmering mood.
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INVU & Cant control myself is perfect song but is so weird everytime taeyeon release new song, people in here always comment”i like the previous song better than this”
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Did you just gloss over the fact that some people said that this is their favorite taeyeon song in a long time? Did you also gloss over the fact some people called this their favorite album of the year? Did you gloss over the fact that some people loved the b-sides?
My man, only *one* person told that they liked the previous song better than this and even now you’re just nitpicking.
Just stop thinking we have some vendetta against Taeyeon dude, take a chill pill.
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The video is what I imagine Artemis’s debut as a kpop artist would look like.
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I went through my Spotify liked playlist and rediscovered Taeyeon’s INVU which lead me to listen to her album. Now I’m here wondering why ‘Siren’ wasn’t a buried treasure. THIS SONG is a solid 9 for me. It’s slow and unassuming build up leads perfectly into the atmospheric chorus.
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