Yoon Jisung’s solo career has mostly consisted of ballads, but last year’s Love Counseling teased a more upbeat sound. It turns out he’s well-suited to the breezy, city pop style that K-pop currently has a huge crush on. Because of this, he was smart to pursue something more buoyant with new single Bloom. The song is hardly what I would call “edgy,” but it sticks out from Jisung’s past discography in a good way.
Bloom’s title says it all. It feels like spring, emerging with a bright energy like a bud blossoming into a flower. The icy synth tones are instantly nostalgic, forging an instrumental that would be right at home on a Yukika album. Add chugging rhythm guitar and you’ve got all the makings of a solid city pop track. The problem, of course, is that K-pop is stuffed with city pop influences right now. Had Bloom arrived a few years ago, it might feel more novel. Right now, it’s a small drop in a very big bucket.
Still, Bloom is successful on its own merits. Its melody satisfies. At times, it even reminds me of an old Infinite song – a mid-tempo Sweetune b-side you’d find toward the end of one of their albums. The whole thing could do with a kick in the butt, forcing that tempo to work harder. But, I love the way the melody slides and curves. It’s focused and catchy without being obvious. Jisung’s vocal powers us to the end, ensuring Bloom is bolstered with plenty of character.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
i just wish the melody for this song was a bit better but i’ll still take it. miyeon’s song is probably the best of today
anyway a bit of a ramble; i just finished watching this bl drama on Netflix called Heartstopper and i’m in love with it. i already read the comic it was based on so i kinda knew everything that was going on, but i still had a hell of a fun time with it. definitely the shining light in this dull year
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heartstopper gave me all the fluffy feels i craved 😦
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i still like love counselling a tiny bit more but this is good too, seems like this style suits him?
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Kpop is just about the only contemporary genre where you can hear songs like this these days. Back when, this would have been on the “soft rock” radio station all the time, this and artists like Billy Ocean and DeBarge and such.
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxX2gA18grk
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAQSZhazYk8
Unfortunately, kpop is also overstuffed with this sound these days. Its the classic OST light pop sound. Ha Sung Woon’s “Electrify” from last year is thiscloseto this same sound. I don’t really need another one in my life.
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i got some bad news btw
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Looking forward to whatever the hell Nick ends up doing with this one, lmao
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i like this a lot! i dont mind if he becomes a purveyor of city pop bangers for the rest of his career
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(which, to be honest, isn’t going to last much longer because he’s far from the popularity he used to enjoy in wanna one. and even in wanna one he was one of the least popular members.)
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it isnt anything new tbh but still a very yummy pleasant listen. playlist material for me
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This is not bad, but it doesn’t have a knockout melody that will make it a winner. Still, I’m biased towards this stuff, the city pop trend is one of the better ones as far as I’m concerned after having had to endure years of bad tropical house and trap influences…
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