It’s been fun to watch G-Dragon’s Home Sweet Home go from surprise midnight drop to buzzy MAMA Awards stage to chart-conquering mega hit. It’s what someone of his stature in K-pop deserves and its success has made his long-awaited return feel like an even bigger event. Speaking of “long-awaited,” the roll-out for his latest album has been quite lengthy. Home Sweet Home debuted about three months ago and this extended promotion has built both anticipation and impatience. Luckily, GD has delivered two new music videos to compliment the album.
First on the docket is Drama. Despite being known for his energetic rap and rock songs, G-Dragon has an impressive lineage of ballads under his belt. From Butterfly to That XX to Untitled, 2014, his quieter work is some of his most effective and enduring. I happen to love when his impish tone twists an otherwise straightforward ballad into something that drips with pathos. Drama follows this approach with added vocal effects to paint an even more idiosyncratic tone. For much of the song, this formula works as well as you’d hope. The first half of Drama fires on all cylinders, from its haunting piano loop to the stark production that occasionally drops out entirely.
Drama is also okay during its second half, but at this point it feels like the track has exhausted its tricks and needs to move somewhere else melodically or sonically. There is nuance and change happening, but the composition can’t quite hit the tremendous emotional heights of its obvious predecessor Untitled, 2014. That’s a very high bar to cross, but a tempo shift or spike in… well… drama might have done the trick. As it stands, this is a solid addition to the album and the type of song only G-Dragon can pull off in this way, but it requires patience for a payoff that never really arrives.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
It’s an alright ballad. Wish the song build up to something more interesting (like a guitar, or some drums). Not something I’d visit much often.
8 (8, 8, 8, 8) for me.
LikeLike
What are your thoughts on the other songs in the album? I think for me, I liked all the songs he didn’t promote more than the ones with music videos and everything
LikeLike
Gosh, I am so picky. When has the word “dance”, it has to make me want to dance. “Clap your hands” to clap my hands. When it says “shocking” I expect to be shocked. When it says “drama”, it should have yanno actual drama.
I have played the shit out out of GD’s Untitled 2014. #3 all time plays on my itunes. Its GD in his best Bob Dylan moment, meaning a great song from a great songwriter, where the song is even better sung by a better singer, but the original has the best charm. (If I am ever on Masked Singer, which will be never, but if I were, I would sing this song.)
LikeLike
I’m of the same opinion when it comes to titles. They set up an expectation. Don’t call your song ‘Drama’ if it isn’t dramatic!
Also, ‘what song would you sing on the Masked Singer’ should be a question on one of those conversation starter cards.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like ballads but don’t always jibe with G-Dragon’s nasal tone. This is okay but the song doesn’t go anywhere.
LikeLike
I mean, it’s ok.
LikeLike
oh no, I usually find you reviews interesting and insightful but this is the very first time I disagree with you (nevermind, I still really appreciate your work!)
I think the lack of a payoff is what makes it interesting, it fits the theme of the song – a payoff (even a musical one) gives a sense of satisfaction while this song has a bitter, torn and .. unsatisfied feeling to it. I personally feel it haunting and I love that G dragon has not cared about making it appealing to stay true to the idea of the song
LikeLike
I’m a big fan of Untitled, 2014 and listen to it almost every day. Personally, I was surprised that Drama affected me even more. Untitled, 2014 made me feel sad, but Drama hit me on a much deeper level—it awakened a deep, painful feeling inside my mind that I didn’t even know existed.
I first heard it at midnight in the dark and couldn’t stop listening to it. Moreover, the hidden meanings in his MV surprised me as well. Every time I look at his expressions, I feel like I discover something new. At first, I thought the song was about a toxic love relationship, but after watching the MV so many times, I feel like he’s actually talking about his relationship with the entertainment industry—not a person.
LikeLike
I have dragged myself out from under life’s rock again to come see what the bias list says about GD’s new album.
Man, I wish I was excited about this album but I haven’t been able to muster it. Maybe it’s the February blues, but the songs I’ve listened to on this album haven’t blown me away. I don’t see myself replaying this a lot.
LikeLike
I like it, but I was hoping for more.
LikeLike
I’m not at all familiar with Gdragon beyond the biggest Big Bang songs. I came to this with zero expectations. It’s haunting, and I love that. I also love the mv – the fragility countered by that knowing glare. That glare… it eats right into my soul.
LikeLike