Though GFriend may be no more, its members have kept busy in 2022. VIVIZ are wading their way through season two of Queendom and Yuju debuted as a soloist. Next up is Yerin, who has signed with Sublime Artist Agency and is out with her first mini album. Debut solo single Aria isn’t worlds away from GFriend’s material, but lacks the punch and individuality that marked their best work.
At just two-and-a-half minutes, Aria is a wisp of a song. It comes and goes just as you’re starting to get into it, and pulses on an unassuming dance beat that wouldn’t feel out of place in a fashionable boutique. Yerin is a competent vocalist, but doesn’t bring much personality to the track. Of course, a song like Aria doesn’t offer much opportunity for identity. Its push-and-pull beat drops are slavishly fused in lockstep, moving in all the expected directions. On one hand, this continuity is satisfying. But, it’s also kind of dull.
While I’m happy the ex-GFriend members have branched out on their own, the sting of their sudden disbandment has been compounded by how generic most of their post-group output has sounded. Aria exacerbates this fear. It’s perfectly fine, but feels as if it could have appeared as a b-side on any number of girl group albums. It’s very IZ*ONE in execution, which may scratch the itch of those still mourning that group’s dissolution. At any rate, I’d love to see Yerin embrace a sound more unique to her. The punchy pop-rock of b-side Believer is already a more promising start.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Apropos lyrics for an “out with the old / in with the new” restart, or what?!
—
I know I’m trapped in my reflection in the mirror
It feels unfamiliar while I’m searching for a new me
Changing my path to a different direction
Each time whenever I want to
Uh oh my
It’s all lies
Do you know why? why?
Erase the appearance that you’ve drawn of me
I’m being washed by my hidden colors
With my audacity yeah yeah So that there’s no time to think
All the eyes of the world I’ll take away
ARIARIA ARIARIA
I’m throwing you away for keeping me locked up
As I gently let go of the breath I’ve been holding
ARIARIA ARIARIA
No need to be afraid
It’s who I’ve always wanted to be
I’ll stop pretending and be what I’ve always wanted
Keep treading softly
Forget rules I’ll do as I want
Uh oh my
It’s all lies
Do you know why? why?
Erase the appearance that you’ve drawn of me
I’m being washed by my hidden colors
With my audacity yeah yeah So that there’s no time to think
All the eyes of the world I’ll take away
ARIARIA ARIARIA
I’m throwing you away for keeping me locked up
As I gently let go of the breath I’ve been holding
ARIARIA ARIARIA
Words that caused the pain
I say goodbye, again
I won’t hide in the dark
Don’t let me get cut up by those keen looks
Take away
ARIARIA ARIARIA
I’m throwing you away for keeping me locked up
As I gently let go of the breath I’ve been holding
ARIARIA ARIARIA
—
Oh, and I really, really, really, really, really, like this one.
P.S. Really!
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A bit basic for me. It’s also not very rangey, so it runs out of ideas before the song is over. Since it sounds like it a group song, they would normally stretch the material by varying the timbre. Here, with one person singing all parts, it gets very samey.
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Although upbeat, summery dance tunes like this are my type, I’d confirm that Yerin’s debut is an exception. It feels pretty generic, and the overall atmosphere is too cutesy and saccharine for me. In addition, the chorus sounds somewhat messy because of its melody, and I wish that the hook went meatier at that moment. I’ll give it a 7.25.
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rating would be the same for me too tbh. i do like believer from the album much more, reminded me of yena’s releases from this year.
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It’s a crime they didn’t run with Believer as the single
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Oh man I just LOVE the instrumental in this song, esp the chorus.
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The sidechained bass is massaging my ears very pleasantly.
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Another mid title track with a bopping pop-rock b-side. Is this pattern going to be 2022’s calling card?
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I’m pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy this. This instrumental and structure can be generic and bland but 1) I love Yerin 2) melodically and instrumentally, this has just enough pep in its step to keep from being a total snoozefest. Mid 8s for sure, better than almost everything IZ*ONE has done.
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While Believer is quite fun (and probably buried treasure worthy), I love Aria’s electronic quirkiness. I guess it comes down to Yerin’s voice and my enjoyment of this sound.
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Completely unrelated but I can’t decide whether I’m excited or terrified for SNSD’s comeback.
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Why not both?
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Why are you terrified?
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Me too.
I am excited and terrified.
Even more after BigBang last song.
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I think the song’s both strength and weakness is its straightforwardness. The song is stable enough with usual song structure, but it quickly wears down without any interesting moment at the end (post-chorus/YG-like last chorus). I think the producer(s) know to make that since they can top chorus’ tropical toot-toot sound with lyrics, so why not give climax at the end?
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People are comparing this to IZ*ONE and their right in that it sounds like her voice has been squeezed out of a juice press. The b-side “Believer” is pretty good.
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I’m really unconvinced by yerin as a soloist, from the video to the song I don’t see someone who’s supposed to be a soloist.
The song just comes and goes, I liked the production especially during the chorus but no melodies really stuck
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moonlight arias evil weaker twin
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Love my gfriend girlies but no one other than Yuju should ever go solo.
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