Review

Song Review: aoen – The Blue Sun

Posted on by 15 Comments

If you would have asked me a few years ago what I thought about HYBE Corporation, I would’ve had a few choice words to share with you. But somehow, many of my favorite new K-pop acts have now emerged from HYBE. And given &TEAM’s excellent musical track record, I was eager to see what the label’s Japanese offshoot could do with a new boy group. So, I committed to watching survival series OEN High and found myself strangely invested in the potential group members. Nearly all of my favorites ended up making it into aoen, who make their debut today with The Blue Sun (青い太陽).

aoen’s music has been entrusted to producer Breadbeat, whose sound I generally enjoy quite a bit. This bodes well for their future and suggests a lighter pop style. That can be heard in The Blue Sun, which arrives in perfect time for summer. The song is more generic than I would like, but it’s hard to deny its upbeat energy. This is “Boy Group 101” on autopilot, from the sung-talk verses to the buoyant chorus. However, I’ll take this over a bunch of guys shouting at me any day.

For those of you whose ears perk up any time I compare a song to “roller rink” music, you should definitely lean in closer for this one. The Blue Sun bounds on a light disco beat, never once straying from its funky frame. The chorus is punchy if slight — more like a promise of future potential than a knockout debut. I look forward to material that allows aoen to build a more unique take on this ubiquitous sound. For now, I’ll be bopping out of courtesy if not quite unbridled excitement.

Hooks 8
 Production 8
 Longevity 9
 Bias 9
 RATING 8.5

Grade: B

15 thoughts on “Song Review: aoen – The Blue Sun”

  1. I really like this but my problem is the song sounds too muted and compressed, this sadly also happens to their Vocals too so it earns a 7 for production, but I really do like this!

    8. 25/10🩵

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    • Just from listening to the trailer I wish the second track was the title. The first one could still surprise me, but right now it sounds very repetitive.

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      • Let’s hope that’s just the intro, or even a post-chorus. They usually dont spoiler the whole chorus of the title track in their album spoilers. For example, it could be like cake and unveil a very good chorus. The track is 2:48 minutes long, as you can see on the spotify countdown.

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  4. I hadn’t heard HYBE was debuting a new group… which would make me worry about their promotion. The song is cute, although I agree with another reviewer that it all feels muted somehow.

    BTW Nick, since apparently you don’t mind getting indie song recs in these comments, have you heard Shin Jiyoon (ex-Weeekly) dropped some music?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNoXkrM00lk&pp=ygULc2hpbiBqaXlvb24%3D

    People are saying she seems to have sampled the legendary opening of Evangelion.

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  6. Oh in theory this is fine.  But after so many bright theme major key boy band debuts, I just can’t tell them apart anymore.  Skinny young guys with skinny jeans and all the same haircut. 

    Its like those donut shops.  Once upon a time, Duck Donuts was a special treat on the Outer Banks.  Now they are everywhere.  It’s a sweet donut freshly made with extra sweet frosting and toppings.  There is too much of a good thing.

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