Welcome to today's review! Today we are looking at TWICE's most recent Korean comeback and the associated title track Feel Special. Feel Special was released on September 23 in 2019 from the EP of the same name. With 7 tracks including a Korean remake of their Japanese hit song Breakthrough, Feel Special signalled the mammoth girl group's return to the Kpop scene in Q4 of 2019. This particular comeback was important due to the fact that it was the first song to feature the absence of member Mina in official promotions due to health concerns. Luckily for fans she was able to participate in the filming of the music video and production of the song which made the song's message extra meaningful to Once's and fans alike. Feel Special also served as a reminder to fans that since their previous release with Fancy You in April of 2019 the group has taken on a slightly more matured concept when compared to their previous releases. The reception of the group's concept growing slowly overtime has both been a boon and a bane for fans. Personally I think TWICE has done well to position themselves in the Kpop scene showing us they are capable of performing many different genres of music while holding true to the core sound and style TWICE has become known for. Their music video for Feel Special is in my top 3 for 2019 so let's take a look!
Even though this is a track that came out in 2019 I will be holding it to the same standards as all reviews on my blog. I will also be following the same review structure to give it the fairest review possible and to remain consistent with my readers. I will be judging Feel Special in 5 main categories scoring each out of 10. These categories including Music Video, Song, Concept, Style, and Dance. First up, the music video.
Visually TWICE's music videos have always been some of the most interesting and well thought out in my opinion. The videos for Likey and TT are among my favourite from TWICE with both videos highlighting the unique variety of styles the group is capable of. Feel Special is no exception to the rule, in fact I think is sets a new standard from what we should expect to see in 2020 from TWICE. Even though this music video is shot entirely on sets which have been constructed for the video they each have a purpose whether it simply be for entertainment value or to help push the narrative/message of the song's lyrics. By now I think many of us are familiar with TWICE's beautiful gold set design used straight out the gate in the music video. This wonderfully lustrous set immediately tells us what to expect from the group's new song in terms of visuals in just the few brief moments its visible. Not only that but we also are immediately treated to the members visuals in the first couple of seconds of the video. The matching white outfits are particularly striking against the contrast of the gold and waterfall-esque background. Each member looks absolutely gorgeous as they're each adorned with glittery jewelry to mimic the sparkle of the set behind. What I find most striking about the first moments of the song is that Mina is front and centre and given the recent events surrounding her health I think I can speak on behalf of all TWICE fans that's it's wonderful to see her once more, and boy doesn't she looks something magical.
As we progress further into the video we begin to see a narrative or story taking shape. While TWICE's Feel Special is one of your more conventionally constructed music videos filled with elaborate sets and performance sections, this particular video is aided by small stories being told throughout which each member's story being told by a combination of the visuals on screen and the lyrics of the song. TWICE are no stranger to having narrative in their music video and I'm glad to see them sticking to their style after all these years. As we move to around the 53 second mark in the video we get our first dance sequence. Here we see the set lit up beautifully in contrast with the pink, silver, and white outfits of the members. Overall you get the impression that no expense was spared to give the effect of glitz and glam in this music video and thankfully this notion is present throughout the entirety of the video. The cinematography in this music video is impressive to say the least. The director has done very well in capturing the beauty of both the sets and the members themselves without causing either to overshadow one another; no mean feat with the constant set changes and extravagant set designs. The highlight of the music video, in my opinion, is no doubt Mina's section where both the visual elements of the video and the song's lyrics meet perfectly in unison. As Mina walks through a forest that appears to be lit from within we see her singing softing about how she just wanted to hide and not face the world, a very impactful set of lines given her current situation. The first time watching the music video this scene had the most impact on me and I'm happy to say that, that feeling is still present today. The overall message of the song about being able to rely on someone no matter the hardships you face and that there is always someone looking out for you is powerful and the music video does well to capture this message while also being entertaining and visually aesthetic. The editing of the video also needs praise as it's the editing that largely allows the video to convey its message and visual appeal most effectively. A mixture of abrupt cuts and smooth transitions often match well with the genre of song employed in Feel Special and I appreciate how much emphasis the video has on close ups of the members themselves. No other TWICE video quite captures the members as well as Feel Special does. The music video also does a great job of highlighting the dynamic nature of the song itself with Feel Special being one of TWICE's most interesting songs in recent years.
It is difficult to know where to begin when speaking about TWICE's song Feel Special. No other track from TWICE has quite had the same impact in regards to lyrics as this song has while maintaining a high level of interest and entertainment. Given the lyrics and message of the song you would be forgiven for thinking that Feel Special could have been a ballad, or atleast a mid tempo track that highlighted the lyrics more closely in tone. However, I'm happy to say that Feel Special went a different route and was produced as a brilliant, and highly polished, song filled with elements of Future House, Electropop and classic Pop flare. Following on from Fancy You and their more matured concept and sound, Feel Special borrows from the same aural palette as Fancy You but elevates it from 10 to 11. The immediate intro of the song introduces us to a club-like beat that we haven't seen TWICE double down on for quite some time, but we don't hear them for long as a softer more dreamy beat is used in the pre-chorus build. This section does well to highlight Tzuyu's and Momo's growing stability as vocalists before we enter the energetic chorus. It is here we are treated with the meat of the song both lyrically and sonically. While the instrumental in the chorus does play second fiddle the member's layered vocals over top, it still plays an important role in giving the song it's fantastic beat and elements of funk. A solid bass line keeps this song rooted in the EDM genre which contrasts nicely with the lyrics which normally one wouldn't associate with a banger. I love the duality here and it shows how the TWICE members, and the crew behind them, are experienced in delivery us quality songs with a twist. While this song is firmly placed in the EDM world it does well not to overbear the vocals of the members which each member able to shine during their respective lines. The members that stood our vocally for me were Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Tzuyu with a special mention going to Dahyun's clever rap serving as the introduction to the bridge. I am happy to say line distribution for Feel Special is actually impressive in that while the lead and main vocalists are here to carry the bulk of the song each member gets their time to shine with no member being left out unnecessarily. This is no mean feat given that the group has 9 members. Other groups could certainly learn a thing or two from this particular track in regards to line distribution. As a whole I think Feel Special is an excellent song that has fantastic duality behind it. It's focus on conveying a very powerful and personal message to the public while also being energetic and entertaining is impressive. More importantly I think this song also signals the future style of music TWICE is exploring and I'm all here for it. Now, let's talk about the dance for Feel Special.
TWICE's dances over the years have admittedly been a mixed bag with some dances being quite easy in comparison to some other GG's out there but in recent years I think that TWICE have been on a mission to change this image. Feel Special is their latest song to tackle this perception head on and prove the haters wrong. While we can agree that member Momo has been a standout dancer in the Kpop world for quite some time it's nice to see the overall group choreography begin to take on more elements, formation changes, and elevations. The live performances of Feel Special, while also serving as a visual spectacle with some of the outfits being some of best I've ever seen, have been a great place to showcase the growing focus on more complex and energetic dance routines from the group. I would also like to quickly mention that TWICE's stylists for this comeback have proven they know what they're doing even if a small few disagree. The outfits used in their live performances have been nothing short of spectacular and they've done a brilliant job of bringing over that glitzy aesthetic from the music video and incorporating into the stylistic elements of TWICE's live performances. I very much enjoyed the overall choreography of Feel Special with praise going to the clever use of hand gestures and positioning to mimic the lyrics and push the song's narrative even in live performances. I also love the ramp up in intensity post-bridge. Right near the end of the song we are treated with a highly energetic and complex section of choreo that serves to really drive home that TWICE are on top of their game even after this many years in the business. A warning to younger groups or a testament to their talent? Who's to say. The standout dancer for this comeback is none other than enigmatic leader Jihyo. While Jihyo is known for her deeper tone and powerful vocals she has demonstrated in recent comebacks she has really gone to great lengths to show the public she is an accomplished and powerful dancer as well. Altogether I think the dance for Feel Special is one that suits the song well while also managing to find a balance between matching the intensity of the instrumental and conveying the message of the song. Colour me impressed.
My rating
Music Video: 8.5
Song: 9.5
Concept: 9
Style: 9
Dance: 9
Overall rating: 45/50
Altogether I think that TWICE has really tapped into something...special..for this comeback and they've proven yet again why TWICE is arguably the biggest girl group in Kpop. Even though TWICE has already attained domestic and international success they're not afraid to switch up for their fans and deliver something wholly unique to them each time a new comeback rolls around. I cannot wait to see how TWICE transform as they begin to take on more mature concepts distant from their earlier material. If Feel Special is a turning point for the group and signals the direction in which the group will be taking, I might just have to become a Once. Well done TWICE!
Thank you for checking out my latest review. If you liked it and want to see more don't forget to follow me @TheHallyu on twitter. Please also share my review with your friends/retweet it if you liked it. Thank you again <3 - THR
Comments