In the lead-up to their second album, Twice sub-unit Misamo unveiled a cover of Namie Amuro’s 2008 hit New Look. As a lover of the original song, I found the update supremely lacking. It drained all energy from an otherwise solid piece of music. Now, the girls are back to right the ship with original song Identity.
Concerns about energy are unfounded this time, as Identity gives Misamo an exciting hip-hop beat ornamented with bombastic brass and strings. The production has a ceremonial appeal, like a grand unveiling. The arrangement is big and fun, complimenting the song’s self-empowerment vibe. Sonically, Identity plays like a less-crazed version of ITZY’s Gold. Its elements are more refined but not as idiosyncratic. It’s a nice, safe sound for Misamo, taking advantage of their obvious charisma.
Identity gets itself into trouble when it comes to its hooks and melodies. This has become a pervasive issue with music lately, making me wonder where all the great top-liners are hiding. When thinking about melody, I often imagine stripping a song of its production and hearing an acoustic or even a cappella version. Identity just wouldn’t work in these contexts, which is fine (and not unusual) for dance/hype tracks. However, the most enduring music in any genre tends to be so airtight that it could flourish with a variety of arrangements. With this in mind, Identity is very reliant on its beat and performance.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Lol I kind of hate this. 5.5 for me
LikeLiked by 1 person
not what i was expecting the song to sound like but i enjoy it! the prechorus sounds really nice and is probably my favorite part
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like it but it doesn’t wow me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the clip looks great of course!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unexpectedly, I loved it, maybe because I lowered my expectations, but still, the song is great.
LikeLike
As a big fan of three person subunits (apparently), this unfortunately does nothing for me. The beat is too slow somehow to really be catchy and the girls perform it as if they’ re incredibly bored. Where is the energy? TT
LikeLike
I didn’t expect a lot after Misamo’s previous tracks didn’t really do anything for me, but I like this fine. It could definitely have a bit more punch, but it’s an enjoyable listen.
By the way, are you planning to review Holland’s Bitch He’s Mine? iirc you reviewed his past releases and it does have a MV. Granted, it’s a very bizarre MV for a song that doesn’t do anything all that oustanding, but a MV nonetheless.
LikeLike
I definitely like this the best out of all their work this far (caveat: I’ve only listened to their singles). It’s fun and the instrumental is reminiscent of early Gwen Stefani. This isn’t a song to chew on, but it is tasty, at least.
I am continuously wondering why Sana (a clear star) isn’t pushed more by JYP.
LikeLike
The production lacks tension. There is space for it, both in the instrumental and the vocal direction. But for some reason, the whole song is played like its kids bop version.
Let’s take the section starting at 0:26 ascending line followed by diminution. Rising play it coy and sly, at the top and down flip it to dark and sinister.
The chorus (what think is the chorus) starting at 0:52, “I know what I want, who I am” = I get it these girls don’t inherently have dark voices, so surrounded them by fatter darker sounds, and they are the sour candy floss on top. Add a instrumental vamp, make them play act like they are the disney villains or descendents. It is Halloween time, this could have been a poison apple special.
LikeLike
Mmmhhh I agree for some of the comments… maybe I’m becoming “resistant” to k-pop as I listen too much of it? But personally I find it really dull and a bit dated.
I would understand if this was a b-side for Twice in 2016. It’s a pass for me, sorry.
LikeLike
Unfortunately, I love the chorus!
LikeLike