Here are my credentials: (again) pretty few. NiZiU, like WayV, aren’t talked about much in kpop spaces, so I actually first heard of them through Bang Chan and Felix’s radio show, where Chan recommended a song of theirs that I liked. They’ve been on my list since, and I thought, since they’re having a comeback soon, now would be a good time to give them a try.

As you can see from the title, this is another review where I roped a friend or family member of mine into watching a bunch of music videos (for funzies), and this time it’s my friend Junie, who was very kind to spend a solid hour giving actual good commentary while I was indisposed with fits of giggles. So let’s get into it!

(Read Part One here)

Single #3: Asobo

With Asobo, my prayers for marching band influences have been answered! With an opening that sounds like the intro to a Pixar cartoon from the 2000s, lightsabers that turn into pompoms, and video game graphics in the hallways, we’re off to a strong start. The title actually apparently means “let’s start!” in Japanese and it’s pretty fitting. I loved the pre-chorus’ build, though Junie’s still partial to Take A Picture’s over this one. Both of us could’ve done without the several breaks for rap and sing-talk though; it felt like they interrupted the flow. Overall, though, it’s definitely a lot of fun.

Single #4: Clap Clap

“The…clap clap? Like…the venereal disease???” I asked the second we started the video. “I can’t with you,” was Junie’s reaction after I said that, which, fair. And then it got stuck in our heads. (“What are we doing here, ladies?”) But seriously, is no one at either JYP or SM aware that “the clap” is slang for an STD? No one? Come on, guys. Anyway, anyway, the song itself bounds along with a great sense of energy, I’ll give it that, but something about it just doesn’t quite work with me. It’s bit harsh on the ears in places, the hook could definitely be stronger, and again I have issues with the sing-talk. There are good parts, but the parts don’t fit together. “It’s not as catchy,” Junie agreed. “It’s good, but the others were better I think.”

Single #5: Blue Moon

Blue Moon is much more stripped-back and vocal focused than any of NiZiU’s songs so far, and because of that, feels more like a b-side or an OST, but that doesn’t mean it’s not lovely. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think it’s a nice change, actually, once in a while, for a group to do a song like this. It’s definitely made me appreciate their voices more. Funnily enough, this chorus is among their most fleshed-out, in my opinion. I just don’t understand why they insisted on adding a rap verse; their poppier songs don’t need one, and this song absolutely doesn’t.

But otherwise, it’s very nice; Junie and I were both swaying along to the instrumental, which is just so soothing. We did, as mentioned, watch these at ass o’clock in the morning in my dorm room, so, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make us a little sleepy. And their outfits in this were gorgeous; we added so many to our steal list. “Welcome back to Anna and Junie’s fashion judgement session, where we sip our tea,” Junie teased. “And roll our eyes,” I added.

Single #6: Paradise

As per my recording, the first thing I said upon starting Paradise was “oh…this is different,” to which Junie responded, “yeah, it feels more grown up, not as ‘Friendship-is-Magic’ as the others.” The song is very soft, opening with a twinkling piano not dissimilar to Blue Moon, ballad-heavy first verse with some light percussion, which wasn’t what I was expecting. “The others were hype songs, but this one’s just…damn, I really love you,” Junie said. And then it starts to build, and blossoms into this lovely power ballad about different kinds of love that just makes you want to call up your childhood best friend and tell her you love her.

“You know, this really does give anime song in the background while a character is contemplating life, always on a bridge in a flower garden or something”, Junie said. And the MV may be their most gorgeous so far, such great work with shadow and light, reflections in mirrors, and the somewhat cartoonish visuals of paper in their background. We were both so surprised by how much we enjoyed it, but I guess I really shouldn’t be; this kind of sound has always been a favorite of mine. It’s an excellent piece of work, altogether; it even made us a little teary, like the very stoic adults we are.

Album #2: Coconut

“See that’s the thing with kpop, you have these beautiful, heart wrenching songs about lifelong friendship and kindness, and then you have…Coconut,” I sighed. So, Coconut is a bit like a mix of TWICE’s Dance The Night Away and NiZiU’s earliest singles, going back to the poppier sound. I think that the build-up and verses and solid, but like before, the central hook and the post-2nd-chorus rap just take down the caliber of the whole thing. I liked the backing horns a lot. “I like it in an ‘I-wouldn’t-skip-it-if-it-comes-up’ way,” I said. “But I don’t think I’d search it out.” “Agreed.” Junie said. “It’s that one song by the artist you like that radios keep playing even when you’re like, ‘it’s fine but…they’ve got better ones’.”

We both adored the outfits, though with the pale pinks, blues, and yellow checked clothes; “I think I like them more than I like the song,” I confessed. “Real,” Junie agreed. “I’m just gonna call you up one day and say, ‘Hey Anna, I’m wearing outfit #27 from the third music video.” Thus began another digression I won’t trouble you with, because this is what happens when you get a fashion history nerd and an art museum curator wannabe in one room and tell them to watch a bunch of pretty girls in cute clothes. So, you know, worth it.

This album is similar to U, in that it consolidates the last couple of singles while adding on a few new tracks too. From those, I enjoyed the peppy sound of Look At Me, the slight backing choir in All Right, and the absolute delight that is the vintage, jazzy, Love & Like. I also liked the unit songs, which each featured two or three of them; my favorite of them was Mayuka, Rima, and Nina’s Love Yourself. Junie’s favorite was also Love & Like.

Next time, we’re onto Part 3! Tschüss!