Here are my credentials (again) I reviewed Lee Hyori‘s solo career last year , As mentioned, it’s their anniversary, and Fin.K.L.’s been on my list for a while, so I thought this would be a good time to write a review. Let’s get into it!

(Read Part ONE here)

Album #5: Memories & Melodies

Memories & Melodies is actually an album full of covers, which I wouldn’t normally…wait for it…COVER! (This was a joke exclusively for my Dad and one middle aged man from Colorado who’s gonna find it hilarious, so, you’re welcome guys) But either way, I thought it would be interesting to see how they do with other peoples’ material and maybe give me some ideas for korean bands and artists from before the 1st generation, because my knowledge of them is fairly limited.

Come On Baby Tonight (늘 지금처럼), like the singles for their special album S.P.E.C.I.A.L. doesn’t have an official music video, but it does have a pretty good opening, melding the brassier side of Fin.K.L.’s sound with a soft, light 80s city pop that sounds a lot like J-pop of the era. The verses are a bit less interesting, I confess, but the chorus is quite good; that mix of strings and a clubby beat shouldn’t work so well but it does. As a sidenote, I often wonder how a group (or company) selects a title track, but on an album of remakes, I’m even more curious. As for this song, from what I could find it was originally sung by Lee Yerin in 1996, but it seems like this cover has eclipsed the original’s popularity and not a lot of information is available about Yerin in English.

From the album, I enjoyed the breathy yet still powerful vocals of You’ll Never Know ([당신은 모르실거야], orig. Haeeunlee, 1975), the jazz club atmosphere of Pupil ([눈동자], orig. Uhm Junghwa, 1993), and the classic-sounding but still catchy hook of Scent in Time ([시간속의 향기], orig. Kang Susie, 1991). I didn’t have a hidden gem from this album, but I did want to mention the first track, Behind You (너의 뒤에서), which goes for a very classic 90s R & B sound and was actually created by Park Jinyoung, JYP himself, which gave me a good laugh.

Album #6: Forever

Forever (영원)…does not start at all like I was expecting it to. Instead, it has what sounds like a very serious voicever (which I could not for the life of me find a verified translation for, so if anyone can tell me what it says, it’d be much appreciated). The MV has each member doing something different, living a life that somehow doesn’t satisfy them: Hyori is an injured boxer, Joohyun is a dying florist, Yuri is a masseuse turning to alcohol, and Lee Jin is some kind of artist who takes her own life. I’m going to warn you right here: this video is absolutely not for the soft-hearted; it’s tough to watch and honestly quite heartbreaking at points. I don’t think it quite sticks the landing, but an attempt was clearly made, and I do appreciate that.

What I absolutely do not appreciate is the fact that they thought it was okay for Hyori to wear what are clearly supposed to be box braids—a choice that’s not only racially insensitive (at best) but also feels wholly random for what’s supposed to be a poignant music video about loss. Until this point, Fin.K.L. has not fallen into the common 1st gen trap of anti-blackness or AAVE affectations, and I’m so disappointed to see that they did here. As for the song itself, it’s not too different from your usual early-2000s ballad, with hushed vocals and lovely backing strings. It’s not as interesting to me as the MV was, I’m afraid to say, but I loved the background vocals and especially the last run of the bridge into the final chorus.

From the album, I enjoyed the great vocals of Goodbye and the acapella sections of Never, but my hidden gem was Changer. (Sometimes it’s also written as “Change”, but either way, it’s a great song.) With a pulsing beat and some of their most insistent vocals, it doesn’t waste any time getting started. Though it wasn’t really my style, I’m so happy to read that all of them participated in writing lyrics, composing, and producing; it’s always lovely to see a band involved in the creation process.

Single #1: Forever Fin.K.L

It’s unusual in kpop now to have a song with your name as the title—though obviously it’s been done, like Lisa’s Lalisa or Jennie’s Like Jennie. The difference with the song Fin.K.L. is that it’s neither a debut like Lalisa or a career mission statement like Like Jennie. Instead, it’s fairly par for the course for their work in terms of lyrics, dance, and video (though somehow the MV is worse quality than their 90s work despite coming out in 2005? I don’t know.) The song brings together what have been staples of Fin.K.L.’s sound so far: the brass, the R & B, the vocals, etc and updates them for what’s a much more early-2nd-gen sound than a late-1st-gen one. It sounds a lot like Brown Eyed Girls or maybe even early SuJu, which is always a good thing in my book. It may not be my favorite single of theirs, but it’s up there.

From the single, I enjoyed the acoustic-driven sound and the surprise harmonica of I’m Crazy About You.

Single #2: Just Like The Song That Remains

Just Like The Song That Remains is Fin.K.L.’s most recent release as of writing in 2025, and marks their 20th anniversary. I honestly don’t have much to say about the song; it’s lovely as always, and their voices sound better than ever. I was content just to watch them sing their lines in the studio gathered around a piano, half-remember old choreography, and just hang out on a beach together. Them giggling and joking around in the beginning of the recording felt like such a balm, and it earned genuine smiles from me. It was a lovely way to wrap up my review.

Verdict: TL;DR

I’m glad I did this. As is par for the course on Married To The Music, I knew very little about the group before I sat down to do this, and I’m always happy to have a chance to learn more about the early years of kpop. Since Fin.K.L. is an older group, I decided to watch their MVs on the floor of my parents’ living room, right in front of their TV, popcorn in hand (well….bowl, I guess) which gave the whole review a very nostalgic feel for me despite the fact that I was born a few years after they debuted.

I had some extra time now that I’m on summer break, so I was able to watch the reality show they recorded in 2019 while on a camping trip together, which was so lovely, as well as what they’ve been up to in their separate lives. Of course I know about Hyori’s solo career, but I also got the chance to watch a couple of Joohyun’s performances in Rebecca the Musical (the Korean version of course; though the German is a favorite of mine), and some clips of Lee Jin and Yuri from their respective acting careers.

My Top 5 songs were My Beginning, Pure Love, Rose, Like The Song That Remains, and Pupil, with Eternal Love as an honorable mention. Fin.K.L. gets an 8 out of 10 from me. Okay, okay, before you storm the palace gates, let me explain. I’m not denying that Fin.K.L. were (and really, are) a very important part of kpop history and shaped the way hundreds of groups that came afterward created songs and build careers. I’m also not denying that they’re all extremely talented or even that their music is good. The thing is, it’s just not for me. While I can acknowledge the skills and the craftsmanship that went into making their discography, that doesn’t mean I’m going to want to listen to it. So honestly, I kind of agonized about what grade to give them, honoring the change they made to the industry I love and how they’re still succeeding a lifespan on while still reflecting my opinions, and 8 out of 10 seemed like a fair compromise. Forgive me, Pinky, for I have sinned…

Whenever I’m finished with what’s sure to be a long, rambling confession speech, next time, we’re onto a solo artist and a boy group that’s been on my list for a while. It’s going to get very busy, very soon on the blog. Tschüss!