BLUE;S

On November 29th 2018, Mamamoo's 8th EP, BLUE;S was released. Preceded by Yellow Flower and Red Moon, this was the third of four EPs in a four-album series titled  "Four Seasons, Four Colors". In this year-long project, each album was designed to highlight one of four seasons, one of four colors, and one of the four group members. In this case, the album BLUE;S evoked the fall season, the color blue, and highlighted Solar's role. In contrast to the two previous albums, BLUE;S came out without any pre-release singles or any interim promotional singles, and thus all 6 tracks were totally fresh when released to the public.

BLUE;S

The title "BLUE;S" is derived from adding Solar's first initial ("S") to the end of the color "BLUE". Focusing on a "chillier", more melancholy atmosphere, one or two tracks also glance back to Mamamoo's earlier R&B/jazz roots ("Wind Flower" and "Morning"). Most of the songs on BLUE;S feature substantial guitar parts from long-time Mamamoo producer Kim Do-hoon, while producer/arranger Park Woo-sang also continues to contribute his "softer" touch to the album. BLUE;S features "Wind Flower" as its title track, and the song "Hello" (not to be confused with "Hello" from the album Hello) is presented as the solo spotlight for Solar.

Continuing Mamamoo's modern compositional trend, many songs are based on stable harmony progressions (such as heard in "Starry Night"). Instead of dramatic modulations, the song sections are defined by dynamic variations in their arrangements (added drums, guitar, bass, synth, percussion parts, etc) which further develop as the tracks progress. Moonbyul's role as a vocalist continues to expand as many of her "rap" parts are more like melodic phrases, simply delivered in a faster cadence than the other members' verses. The choruses in these songs also feature a more intertwined distribution of voices, creating a very organic, yet distinguishable, vocal sound (for this reason among others, the line distribution notes below are very general).

1. "From Autumn to Winter (Intro)" (가을에서 겨울로) (lyrics/music/arrangement by Kim Do-hoon). Supported by just a single rhythm guitar part from Kim Do-hoon, this song has a very intimate feeling, although the rhythm has a relatively busy, upbeat groove. The chords are actually the same as those in "Wind Flower", but played in a very different rhythm (this idea of "teasing" the harmony of a more arranged track in an intro track was also used in Yellow Flower). The lyrics describe how a relationship between two people can change (like the seasons), but they can also retain fond feelings for one another.

English lyrics  /  Color-coded lyrics   

Guitar: Kim Do-hoon

0:00: Syncopated acoustic guitar rhythm begins
0:08: 1st verse (Hwasa: "Wind flower...", Wheein)
0:25: 2nd verse (Solar: "Sunshine...")
0:42: 3rd verse (Moonbyul, Wheein)
0:58: 4th verse (Solar)
1:16: Coda (Moonbyul, Solar)

2. "No More Drama"  (Music/lyrics by Kim Do-hoon/Moonbyul/Solar, arrangement by Kim Do-hoon). Based on a repeated harmony, the dynamic arrangements define each section as this "alt-rock" song develops. In some ways this defiant song (lyrically a break up declaration) feels like an "infinite anthem".

English lyrics  /  Color-coded lyrics   /   Perf. Video

Guitar: Kim Do-hoon, Bass: Choi Hoon

0:00: Intro: Electric guitar rhythm in even rhythm with percussion accents/vocal effects
0:08: Chorus with only drum accents, hand claps become syncopated
0:41: 1st verse (drums drop back) (Solar, Wheein)
0:57: Pre-chorus with faster vocal cadences (Hwasa, Solar)
1:13: Chorus, now with developing drum groove
1:47: 2nd verse (Moonbyul)
2:03: Pre-chorus (Wheein, Hwasa)
2:19: Chorus with added percussion elements
2:53: Vocal coda (Hwasa)

3. "Wind Flower" (title track) & MV (lyrics by Kim Do-hoon/Moonbyul/Park Woo-sang, music/arrangement by Kim Do-hoon, Park Woo-sang). Although this song has a very modern production, it's main groove also recalls some of Mamamoo's R&B roots. Based on a syncopated rhythm guitar part, the song is propelled by cleverly-crafted drum breaks set in between each section. Like "No More Drama", the evolving arrangements help to define each section as the song's energy ebbs and flows. This song has been rearranged several times, notably as both a tango and a rock anthem performed on the Dec. 29 SBS Song Festival. The lyrics describe thoughts and regrets for actions which have led to a recent break up (although things "get better day by day"). The MV was filmed in Hong Kong, with the colorful cityscape acting as a poignant contrast to feelings of desolation after a break up. An instrumental version of this track was also released.

English lyrics  /  MV  /  Color-coded lyrics   /   Christmas Ver.  /   Perf. Video

Guitar: Kim Do-hoon, Bass: Choi Hoon, Piano/Brass/Drum Programming: Park Woo Sang

0:00: R&B rhythm guitar intro, drum break
0:08: 1st verse (Hwasa, Solar) with added guitar accents, piano and drums
0:25: 2nd verse (Wheein, Hwasa) with accented bass added
0:42: "Wind flower..." pre-chorus (Solar, Wheein), opening with clean guitar breaks
0:54: Drum break into chorus (developed from verse harmony)
1:30: 3rd verse (Moonbyul), opens with a drum break, 2nd half with house beat
1:47: 4th verse (Wheein, Solar, Hwasa)
2:04: Pre-chorus (Hwasa, Wheein)
2:16: Chorus 
2:50: Bridge (Moonbyul, pre-chorus variation opening with guitar strums)
3:09: Chorus with added brass swells and accents, trumpet lead
3:43: Final guitar coda

4. "HELLO" (music & lyrics by Solar, arrangement by Kim Do-hoon, Mingky). Solar is the highlighted member on BLUE;S, and so the album features her solo song here. This song is a mid-tempo rock anthem supported by closely-woven electric guitars over drum machine programming. In the lyrics, Solar fondly remembers the feelings she felt when first saying "hello" to a person who soon became her lover (and has since left). In the song, the lyrics are spoken from two points of view.

English lyrics  /  Color-coded lyrics 

Guitar: Jung Jae-Pil (Young)
Background vocal: Solar

0:00: Electric guitars introduce the main harmony
0:09: Vocal intro over guitars
0:18: 1st verse with programmed drums entering and reduced lead guitar
0:18: 2nd verse
0:37: Pre-chorus
0:55: Chorus
1:13: Vocal intro
1:22: 3rd verse with vocal ornaments entering
1:31: Pre-chorus
1:50: Chorus 
2:08: Bridge over distant piano, building up
2:26: Chorus with additional vocal layers
2:44: Vocal intro reprise, coda

5. "Better Than I Thought" (생각보단 괜찮아) (lyrics by Moonbyul/Lee Hoo-sang, music/arrangement by Lee Hoo-sang). Like the previous tracks on this album, this song is also driven by a strong rhythm guitar part (this time with a somewhat melancholy Latin flavor). The arrangement of each verse builds phrase by phrase, climaxing in chorus sections dominated by voice-processed "doo-doo-do..." accents. In the lyrics, the speaker states that a recent break up has been tough, but also not as hard as she had expected.

English lyrics  /  Color-coded lyrics   /   Perf. Video

Electric Guitar: Kang Hyun (Onewe), Drum Programming: Lee Hoo-sang
Background vocal: Ryu Jisu, Mamamoo

0:00: Syncopated rhythm guitar
0:09: 1st verse (Hwasa)
0:30: 2nd verse (Wheein) with added guitar layers
0:49: 3rd verse (Solar, Hwasa) with added perc. and pitch-shifted vocal effects
1:11: Chorus with bass and background vocal accents (Solar)
1:21: 4th verse (Moonbyul)
1:41: 5th verse (Hwasa, short)
1:51: 6th verse (Wheein, Solar) with full band
2:11: Chorus (Wheein accents)
2:21: 7th verse (Moonbyul/Solar, Wheein)
2:41: 8th verse with full band (Hwasa)
3:02: Chorus

6. "Morning" (lyrics by Park Woo-sang/Moonbyul, music/arrangement by Park Woo-sang). This final track opens with strings but soon develops into a laid-back R&B ballad supported by electric guitar. The verse and chorus sections are introduced by vocal breaks highlighting each of the members' vocals. The bridge features some fresh harmonic cadences as it takes the song to a final climax. The lyrics are about meeting someone in your dreams and the regret of their absence in the morning.

English lyrics  /  Color-coded lyrics  

Guitar: Jung Jae-Pil (Young), Piano & Drum Programming: Park Woo-sang, String Arr.: 권석홈, Strings: RB-INJ

0:00: String intro with piano
0:19: 1st verse (Hwasa, Wheein) with opening vocal break, guitar ornaments, hip hop drums
0:48: 2nd verse (Moonbyul, Solar) with drums and bass added
1:16: Chorus (Wheein) w vocal break supported by piano rhythm, joined by band (Solar)
1:47: 3rd verse (Hwasa, Solar) with added violin line and strings
2:16: 4th verse (Moonbyul, Wheein, Solar) with drums and bass added
2:44: Chorus (Wheein, Hwasa, Solar)

3:12: Bridge (Moonbyul) with modulation and harmony vocals, rising cadence (Solar, Wheein)
3:43: Coda (Hwasa, Wheein, Solar), reduced arrangement based on chorus

Notable Releases During this Era

181129 BLUE;S, 8th Mini-Album, "Wind Flower" title track
181129 "Wind Flower" and "Better Than I Thought" live [Media Showcase]
181201 "Wind Flower" Comeback Stage [MBC show! Music Core]
181201 "Wind Flower (Piano jazz)", "Starry Night", "Egotistic" [Melon Music Awards]
181204 "No More Drama" live [SBS MTV the Show]
181212 Solos, "Starry Night", "Egotistic" (MAMA)    

181213 "Better Than I Thought" Perf. MV
181218 "Eyes, Nose, Lips", Solar, Wheein, Jooheon, Kim Jae Hwan [2018 MAMA]
181220 "Starry Night/Wind Flower w. Intro" [Korean Popular Music Awards]
181221 “Part of world + Reflection + Let it go”, Solar [Music Bank Christmas Special]
181222 “Hey (Paul Kim)”, Moonbyul  [B-day gift]
181225 "Starry Night", “Wind Flower (Tango ver)” (SBS Gayo Daejeon)
181228 "Flower Road", Moonbyul, Bomu, Dahyun, Eunha [SBS Gayo Daejeon]
181229 "Starry Night, Wind Flower (dance ver)" [MBC BEA]
181231 “Bohemian Rhapsody + We Will Rock You”, Hwa Sa [2018 MBC Music Festival]
190105 “Handclap”, Hwa Sa [The 33rd Golden Disc Awards]
190105 “Starry Night”, “Egotistic (jazz)” 33rd Golden Disc Awards
190107 "Wind Flower" Christmas costume Choreography
190110 "Sleep Talk" [Radio pre-release]
190115 "Starry Night (Latin ver)"/"Egotistic"/"Wind Flower (Funk ver)" [Seoul Music Awards] 
190130 "Fly Me To the Moon (Mandolin ver)", Hwasa [MBC Radio Star]
190205 “Wind Flower (Japanese ver.)” MV
190205 “Temptation” (유혹), Solar [Rewritten Charts Show OST]
190206 “Wind Flower (Japanese Version)”/ "Sleep Talk" digital release (on 4colors)
190213 “TWIT”, Hwa Sa [1st solo single] (on Maria) 

190215 "Rising Sun (DBSK)", Hwasa [Yu Huiyeol's Sketchbook]
190216 "TWIT" Performance MV
190221 "This Moment", Solar [birthday gift song]
190221 Solar begins "Solarsido" YouTube channel

190309 “Tear Drops” (주르륵), Dindin (Feat. Whee In)  
190309 “When You Come to My Heart” (그대 내 맘에 들어오면은), Hwa Sa [Yoo Heol's Sketchbook]
190312 “Farewell Under The Sun”, Moonbyul, Sandeul [KBS In Sync/Kiss Ep. 2]

 

Additional Notes

 

In February 2019, Mamamoo also performed a few Japanese shows ("showcases") to help promote the release of the Japan version of "Wind Flower", as well as a new Japan-exclusive single "Sleep Talk" (unveiled earlier in January). More concerts eventually followed in Indonesia. 

 

On February 14th, Hwasa released her first solo single TWIT, and on February 22 Solar premiered her well-known YouTube channel "Solarsido".