The next month, Mamamoo released “Peppermint Chocolate” (썸남썸녀), a single featuring all four Mamamoo members with K.Will and Wheesung. On May 30th, a release featuring Solar, Hwasa and Wheein with the hip hop duo Geeks came out, titled “Hi Hi Ha He Ho” (히히하헤호).
HELLO
1. "Hello" (lyrics by eSNa, composed
and arranged by Kim Do-Hoon/eSNa)
This is a low-key, jazzy introduction of
each of the band members. The lead vocal is carried by Hwasa.
Background Vocals: Mamamoo.
0:00: Laid back bass, percussion and electric piano groove with the lead vocal line (Hwasa) supported by vocal harmony accents (such as would normally be from brass or strings), ending in a scat turnaround (Hwasa).
0:18: Repeat with variation in harmony parts and a whistle break, ending in a final held chord.
2. "Mr. Ambiguous” (Mr.애매모호) (title track) (lyrics by Min Yeon-Jae/Louie (from Geeks), composed and arranged by Kim Do-Hoon)
This funk/blues groove arranged in a modern “retro” style, features soulful vocal leads supported by jazzy vocal harmony parts, as well as a strong bass, piano and brass rhythm section. The lyrics express the speaker's frustration with (and attraction to) a man who does not make his affections clear.
Guitar: Hong Jun-Ho (홍준호). Piano: Hong So Jin (홍소진). Bass: Choi Hoon (최훈).Background Vocals: Mamamoo, eSNa, Park Hyun Kyu (박은우). Intro scat: Lee Seung-Woo (SoulstaR).
0:00: Opening featuring low bass vocal scat, band name harmony cadence and percussion
0:08: 1st verse (Solar) with piano joining rhythm section, Moonbyul spoken cadence
0:27: 2nd verse (Wheein) with added drums, guitar, organ, brass, Hwasa end cadence
0:50: Chorus (Wheein, Hwasa) with stronger vocals, added low brass elements, Wheein end cadence
1:29: 3rd verse (Hwasa), Wheein end cadence
1:52: Chorus (Solar, Wheein), Solar end cadence
2:30: 4th verse with Moonbyul rap, Hwasa/Wheein end cadence
2:53: Chorus (Wheein) with added Solar/Hwasa vocal adlibs, Hwasa end cadence, final rave up.
3. "Heeheehaheho" (히히하헤호) (with Geeks) (from single) (lyrics by eSNa/Kim Do-hoon/Geeks/Hwasa, composed by Kim Do-Hoon/eSNa, Arranged by Kim Do-Hoon)
The stylized rap of Geeks is coupled with the soulful vocals of Mamamoo in a laid back Urban R&B song with a groovy hip-hop beat. Moonbyul is not featured on this track. The latter part of the song uses a key change to add variation. The single release includes an instrumental version. The lyrics express a lover's appreciation to his/her partner for always being able to improve that person's mood.
Guitars: Hong Jun-Ho (홍준호).Background Vocals: Mamamoo.
0:00: Vocal chorus (Wheein with Solar “ay” accents) over laid back intro groove, rhythm section enters
0:21: 1st verse (Solar) driven by accented wah guitar rhythms and acoustic guitar
0:42: Pre-chorus (Lil Boi & Hwasa) with hihiat and electric piano melody
0:53: 2nd verse (Lil Boi)
1:02: Chorus (Wheein, Solar accents), developed from verse groove
1:23: 3rd verse (Louie, singing/rap), added guitar layers
1:44: Pre-chorus (Hwasa, whispered) with hihat
1:54: Chorus (Wheein, Solar accents)
2:15: Bridge with accented rhythms, cadence (Solar, Lil Boi, Louie, Wheein)
2:38: 4th verse variation without drums/bass (Lil Boi, Hwasa accents)
2:48: Chorus with key change (Wheein) with more developed Solar accents
3:30: Ending verse driven by guitars (coda) (Hwasa, Wheein)
4. "Baton Touch" (lyrics, composed and arranged by Park Woo-sang)
Uptempo “retro funk” verses open up into bridge sections with more open
grooves. The lyrics celebrate fun and excitement, and wish to "pass on" the same spirit to the listener. "Old school" rap is featured here.
Background Vocals: Mamamoo.
0:00: Drum intro, verse 1 (Moonbyul) driven by syncopated guitar/bass riff
0:14: 2nd verse (Wheein/Moonbyul) with harmony vocal accents (whoo)
0:25: Chorus (Solar/Hwasa, Wheein) with brass
0:48: 3rd verse (Hwasa raps) with stop time breaks, 4th verse (Wheein)
1:10: Chorus (Solar/Hwasa, Wheein)
1:32: Bridge (Hwasa) with piano fills, instrumental break
1:55: Bridge with accented vocals (Moonbyul/Hwasa), funk guitar, strings, brass
2:17: Chorus (Solar/Hwasa)
2:39: Coda with strings
5. "I Do Me (My Heart)" (내맘이야) (Hwasa solo) (lyrics/music by Hwasa, arranged by ZO, Jo Jae-Hyeop (조재협)/Song Ji-Eun (송지은))
This solo Hwasa track is strongly
informed by Southern hip hop. Hwasa’s father speaks in the bridge phone
call. In the lyrics, Hwasa expresses pride in her own individualism and her dismissal of social norms. She likes to drink and eventually wants to go to a nail salon.
0:00: Minimal beat with phone call sample intro, leads into vocal accents
0:28: 1st verse, chanted cadence
0:56: 2nd verse, etc
1:13: Chorus with synth melody
1:36: Verse variations
1:58: Phone call w father
2:09: Chanted cadence alternating with verses
2:32: Break
2:44: Chorus with synth melody
6. “Peppermint Chocolate (Some Guy, Some Girl)” (썸남썸녀) (w K.Will, feat. Wheesung) (from single, CD only) (lyrics by Kim Eana/Wheesung, composed and arranged by Kim Do-Hoon/eSNa/Lee Sang-Ho)
This song only appears on the CD as a hidden track. It is a mid-tempo R&B funk tune featuring all 6 vocalists. The single release includes an instrumental version. In the lyrics, two lovers prefer not to examine their deeper feelings, but instead take their time to develop their relationship (to be "cool", like peppermint chocolate, as opposed to "hot" like coffee chocolate).
Guitar: Jung Jae-Pil (정재필/영).Background Vocals: K.Will, Mamamoo, Park Hyun Kyu.
0:00: Filtered synth brass intro (Wheesung and “robo” interjections)
0:22: 1st verse (K.Will), 2nd verse (Solar)
0:38: Rap verses (add synth brass accents) (Wheesung/Moonbyul (Solar))
0:56: Chorus (K.Will, Wheein)
1:13: 3rd verse (K.Will), 4th verse (Hwasa)
1:31: Rap verses (end variation) (Wheesung (K.Will)/Hwasa)
1:48: Chorus (K.Will, Wheein)
2:05: Chorus variation w. synth (K.Will, Hwasa (Solar))
2:23: Break (filtered accents, scratching)
2:32: Synth break without drums (K.Will, Wheein)
2:51: Robo voice (chorus groove)
3:08: Chorus (K.Will, Wheein), coda (Hwasa)
7. "Don't Be Happy" (행복하지마) (Solar & Wheein w Bumkey) (from single) (lyrics/music by eSNa, arranged by Kim Do-Hoon)
Featuring just Wheein and Solar with Bumkey, this laid back tune was initially arranged for acoustic guitar, but was eventually rearranged as an R&B song with multiple guitars and brass accents. Like "Heeheehaheho", the latter part of the song also has a key change. The single release includes an instrumental version.
In the lyrics, the speaker declares that when he sees the object of his/her affection being happy with another lover it causes pain, and would rather the new couple "not be happy". The song also introduces the band Mamamoo at the end in an abrupt non-sequitur.
Guitar: Jung Jae-Pil (정재필/영).Background Vocals: eSNa, Park Hyun Kyu.
0:00: Intro with swelled brass accents, adlibs (Bumkey)
0:19: 1st verse (Bumkey) with light guitar accents, adding in brass accents
0:50: Chorus with brass accents (Bumkey), end adlib cadence w extra guitar
1:26: 2nd verse (Wheein), accented verse (Solar)
2:05: Chorus (Wheein/Solar)
2:23: Chorus variation with synth line and perc. (Bumkey/Solar)
2:45: Chorus w. key change (Bumkey/Solar, then Wheein)
3:05: Acoustic guitar coda (Solar, Bumkey, Wheein combinations)
Releases and exclusive online performances (tracks)120614 "Stuck" (Stacie Orrico cover) (Wheein)
120823 “Ottogi (Club House Ver)” (오뚜기), Solbi (Feat. Hwa Sa)
130117 “Biting My Nails (Fingernail)” (손톱), Phantom (Feat. Hwa Sa as HJ)
131115 “Break Up for You, Not Yet for Me” (넌 이별 난 아직), Standing Egg (Feat. Park Shinhye, Hwa Sa)
140109 “Don't Be Happy” (행복하지마), Mamamoo with Bumkey (on Hello)
140211 “Peppermint Chocolate” (썸남썸녀), Mamamoo, K.Will (Feat. Wheesung) (on Hello)
140217 "Love is You" (Chrisette Michele cover) (Solar) PV
140226 “Lay It Down” (Lloyd cover) (Wheein) PV
140317 "No Cool I'm Sorry" (UV (Yoo Se-Yoon & Muzie) cover) (Solar, Wheein) PV
140519 “Under Age's Song”, Phantom (Feat. Whee In)
140530 “Hi Hi Ha He Ho” (히히하헤호), Mamamoo, Geeks (on Hello)
140618 “Mr. Ambiguous” digital single (MV released previous day), Hello 1st Mini-album
130607 "Wash Away" (Geeks, feat. Solar) KBS2 Music Bank (also 130614)
140328 “Peppermint Chocolate” (with K.Will) and “Question Mark” (Primary) Modern K (cam)
140619 “Mr Ambiguous” (MNET M Countdown Debut Stage)
140627 "Peppermint Chocolate (w K.Will)" (KBS2 Music Bank)
140709 "Peppermint Chocolate (quartet ver)" (SBS Radio)
140712 "Love Me" (Stoosh) (KBS Cool FM Super Junior's Kiss the Radio)
