Kwon Suk Jung’s “What’s the worry”: YG’s new way is AKMU
AKDONG MUSICIAN’s (AKMU) songs released on April 7 are still ranking at the top on major music sites. Many expected this to happen. Some artists even avoided AKMU’s album release date for their own release. In the case of Busker Busker, no one could predict their music chart domination, but it was different for AKMU. The reason is that they are not only the winner of SBS’s audition program K-Pop Star, but also because they belong to YG Entertainment. But the recent performance of the duo cannot be only attributed to their agency. It is right to say that AKMU’s music itself is being drawn up by the public.
[텐아시아=권석정] Why is AKMU being so loved? That would be because they have the charm that mesmerized the viewers on K-Pop Star. I was puzzled when I heard AKMU was joining YG Entertainment. YG is known for having a hip-hop style, which is quite distant from AKMU’s music. All three entertainment giants SM, YG, and JYP pursue their own style. While they are agencies, they are also a music label. Musicians who belong to major agencies such as the three find it difficult to free themselves from the style. And the two members of AKMU are still teenagers.
As AKMU’s style is based on acoustic pop, I was curious to see what kind of songs would be produced through YG. I was also a little worried that YG’s color could dilute the original colors of AKMU. But I was wrong. Listening to the album “PLAY,” it becomes clear that YG actually vivifies the colors in LEE CHAN HYUK’s songs. The added sounds are kept to the minimum in AKMU’s songs, which would have been composed with just one guitar.
The songs in the album like “ON THE SUBWAY,” “ANYWAY,” and “GALAXY” carry AKMU’s witty lyrics and vivacious melody, which are familiar to us. The rapping in “200%” that goes, “Among all the competition surrounding you, Yes I’m a soldier for you, Before I bring out my sweet mint, Gentlemen, have you warmed up your lips? (Yes completely) Kanjang kongjang kongjangjang equals kan kongjangjang (yeah I’m ready)” is something with which only AKMU can come up. YG’s founder YANG HYUN SUK, who once described their music as “a picture that is drawn by children in the rural area who pick sweet potatoes,” did not get in the way of AKMU’s naivety at all.
AKMU is a duo that has a perfect blend of Two Months and Busker Busker. Having a guitar as the basis, they can make Two Months-style urban music while also possessing Busker Busker-style fresh sentiments. In other words, they are capable of doing anything from a sweet R&B and rhythmical “200%” to a quiet folk “ON THE SUBWAY” all so naturally. Coincidentally, “200%” is mainstream, while the latter is a hit in the indie music world. It is their flexibility such as this that can satisfy all ranges of listeners.
Through AKMU’s “PLAY,” YG proved that they can produce an “indie” (although this is not a perfectly fitting word) style album. But looking closely into AKMU’s album, we can also see that it is not too remote from YG’s style—there are indeed some similarities. An example is the song “CRESCENDO,” a song filled with LEE CHAN HYUK’s rapping and LEE SOO HYUN’s soulful voice, which the duo calls it their “most idol-like” track (as it would not be awkward if BIGBANG sang this song). Such similarities would have acted as “lubricant” between YG and AKMU to result in such perfect harmony.
Among “PLAY,” the two songs “HAIR PART” and “DON’T HATE ME” would be the tracks where we can see the colors of YG. YG supports the songs well utilizing their know-hows on the so-called African-American music (soul and hip-hop). YG does not interfere with AKMU’s intentions on composing the song, but instead acts as a supplement. As a result, AKMU now have their very own album, while YG acquired the skills to add their own style to a work of singer-songwriter. Is this another method unique to YG? Enriching the style and uniqueness of the musician? This is certainly a path not yet paved by other idol entertainment agencies.
2014. 4. 15.
