There’s been a lot of online discourse lately about the quality of K-pop vocals, and this conversation makes me think back to my favorite second gen groups and the fact that you could easily distinguish each and every members’ voice. To me, vocal character is more important than vocal skill, but Daesung has both. As the main vocal of a group whose music didn’t always call for that kind of bombast, he’s found ways to temper his power with incredible character.
That character gets new single Falling Slowly over the line, but he really deserves stronger material. I could happily listen to Daesung sing just about anything, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for dull songcraft. Falling Slowly is a pleasant midtempo, but the melodies are unmemorable and the production doesn’t do anything to distinguish itself. It’s been paired with a dramatic music video that will likely garner more attention than the song itself. In that way, it feels very coded to this current K-pop generation!
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
G-Dragon is the perfect example of a great vocal performer who doesn’t have the greatest vocal skills. He just owns his songs, his lines, within his own bespoke bratty growl through force of personality. (Like Bob Dylan.) He also knows what not to do – eg go outside of his range or pick the wrong songs etc.
Daesung belongs to the class of great singers with limited range. There is a whole class – a quick google will turn up specialty blogs with bucu examples. From kpop, I might put Kei of Loyelz on the list, really cute but only C to C or thereabouts. Perhaps Rose’ of BP as well. But all three of these have such a distinctive instantly identifiable timbre. All can sing the shit out of the songs they are given, live live.
I was thinking about Big Bang the other day because they did such great arrangement of their songs. Thinking in particular of Bang Bang Bang and Fantastic Baby, which perhaps started the overused YG Teddy sound, but are the best examples of it in its classic form. Each of the group get their own verse, their own moment for 4 or 6 or 8 lines to own, their own styling. Each with their purpose in the song. Not one line at a time in contemporary kpop, but a whole damn verse.
Daesung is or was always the atmosphere section, like a soft velvety expansive cloud. His voice soaks up reverb like buttah. My favorite is probably “Love Song” – when he kicks in, it starts to lift the whole song in flight. I am also a sucker for “Ko ewo kikasate”.
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Daesung has that beautiful tenor and voice color that I really could listen to sing a chicken soup recipe, and I wouldn’t complain for some time😂. There sure are kpop tenor vocalists with a similar color, but for some reason all of these I can still distingish and they also have the character. Also it’s really not about the given voice, because out of some baritones out there, I still don’t prefer them even though they are rarer..
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soft velvety expansive cloud is the exact correct description. His voice is so unique, and it really makes you feel something. So much character in that tone!
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Simply outstanding meaningful review. So rarely seen these days. Thank you from a Canadian whose lifelong interest and investment in all music has only in the past 7 or so years included that coming from S Korea.
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To be clear my comments pertain to MyMaGoogle’s comments.
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Unlike BIGBANG themselves, we LOVE this Love Song..
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I think I’d agree with the review. I’ve always had a soft spot for Daesung’s voice. It’s so distinctive and he’s very good, it’s a shame he’s not had more accessible solo work.
This is nice and it builds and I love the mv but I’d love to hear him really tear into something.
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