Exid Night Rather Than Day Fashion

I'm a niggling on the fence with EXID.  I like the group themselves (Hani is i of my top biases), and I like their music.  Only none of their songs have really grabbed at me.  The only ane was "Up and Down," which I definitely overplayed to death.  I was slightly skeptical when they announced a new concept, because their image is so solid. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that "Dark Rather Than Day" is a great fit for them. And on height of that, it'due south my new favorite vocal!

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*Warning!* This review assumes the reader has listened to the music and/or seen the music video!

Concept: Fun, fresh, perchance retro

Past Concept(s): EXID is a sexy group, but they accept a very specific brand.  Compared to other types like cute-sexy (AOA) or playful-sexy (Sistar), EXID is pretty provocative – at least, for a Thou-pop group.  Their choreography usually has suggestive moves and their music videos are filled with innuendos.  Their vibe is very sassy and tongue-in-cheek.

SONG:

Music By: Shinsadong Tiger, Jion, LE

Bundled By: Shinsadong Tiger, Jion

"Night Rather Than Day" is much chiller than a typical EXID track.  The ladies became famous for in-your-confront dance numbers that are both brassy and sassy, with a heavy jazz influence.  There are still hints of that here, but I'd say it falls more in the R&B category.  All of those instruments that normally have the lead (synth, guitar, trumpets, etc.) become supporting players instead.  They're very much in the groundwork, helping fill out the vocal rather than define it.

EXID is ane of many groups promoting without a fellow member, as Solji is withal recovering from hyperthyroidism.  Ordinarily, she has a very large presence within the group every bit leader and main vocal.  I'd even debate that her voice heavily to their usual bold style.  Although Hyelin is more than capable of picking upwards her parts, Hani cannot bring together in every bit a second belter of loftier notes.  So I think it's actually smart to choose a more laid-back sound.  It fits Hani and Junghwa's softer and more feminine voices perfectly.  It's flexible enough that Hyelin tin can throw in some ability vocals.  And the casual feel too allows LE to color the song with her unique voice and provide its backbone.

I personally wasn't expecting annihilation so low-central from EXID, but I really dearest this vocal.  They've been criticized in the past for all of their music sounding the same, but "Dark Rather Than Twenty-four hour period" (andEclipse equally a whole) proves that they're more versatile.  I'one thousand especially impressed by Hani – I knew she can sing more than than the parts she tends to get, simply I had no idea she had such a range!

SCORE: 18/20

LYRICS:

Nearly groups nowadays boilerplate high school and/or college historic period, just EXID is generally in their mid-twenties. Therefore, "Dark More Than 24-hour interval" is geared more towards those of usa who take entered the workforce and the existent earth.  Considering we work all day long, the 24-hour interval is stressful.  ("In our busy schedules, we accept no time to see / at that place are and then many people outside") Only the nights are calmer, and therefore more fun – which is why information technology's better to run into our meaning others at night time.

This is EXID we're talking almost, and so in that location is of grade a sensual undertone to some of the lyrics.  It's non obvious throughout, unless y'all count "get it on, get it on, get information technology on baby" in the chorus. But there are some blushworthy moments.  Hani gets the fatal line: "Right now, I wanna lay downward and stay up all dark." And Junghwa adds: "Your body heat covers my caput, shoulders, knees and toes / Even my heart gets warm."  EXID is definitely a sexy group, but I like how the lyrics are more suggestive and low-fundamental similar the song.

SCORE: viii/10

LINE DISTRIBUTION:

EXID has a adequately standard formula when it comes to line distribution.  Hani always starts things off, and oft takes care of hooks or catchy lines. Hyelin and Solji split up the chorus, with Solji usually dealing with the high notes.  LE has substantial rap verses, and Junghwa gets brought in to make full out the rest of the vocal.  So keeping this in mind, I think that they divided the song pretty fairly.  It kind of feels similar Hyelin took what would be Solji's part. But that left her own original part open up, so Hani really had to footstep up to the plate.  Both she and LE heavily contribute to the soft and laid-back feel of the vocal.  Meanwhile Hyelin gets her high notes, and Junghwa does have a good share of lines.  All in all, I'd say information technology'due south a win for everyone involved.

SCORE: 9/x

CHOREOGRAPHY:

I absolutely dear the choreography for this song.  It's probably my favorite dance of theirs.  EXID routines are oft really simplistic and repetitive, so I'chiliad happy to see they've stepped information technology up a notch difficulty-wise.  Information technology does have a fleck of effort to larn since at that place are a lot of details, but once yous've got information technology down it's pretty easy to follow. I recollect it strikes the perfect residuum betwixt doing flashy moves and just grooving forth to the catchy beat.  And I honey the casual peace signs they throw every now and and then

EXID is known for their sexy moves – the whole reason they got famous was because of Hani'due south "Upward and Downwardly" fancam.  Though there are a couple of drops here, they generally stick to swaying, shimmying, and torso rolls.  Information technology'southward a much more than casual kind of sexy, and perhaps veers closer to girl crush territory.  I was surprised at first, because I'm so used to their strong image.  Just I do think it works for them, and there's enough of it to make the male fans happy.

SCORE: nineteen/xx

CENTER AND FORMATIONS:

I think that this dance is a very memorable 1.  It'due south conspicuously cleaved downwards into different sections, and each part has something to make it stand out.  A lot of this is because of how they use backup dancers.  Sometimes the ladies are by themselves, sometimes they're accompanied a grouping of female dancers, sometimes they have male partners, and sometimes they're all out jamming onstage together.  I actually enjoy the various parts, but I retrieve information technology would have been absurd if it was merely the male person dancers.  There's something virtually this song that has a couple vibe, and a full-on partner trip the light fantastic would have been so interesting.

Having a center in a smaller group is tricky.  If you lot cull a definitive eye, the group volition become "[Insert proper name hither] and the backup dancers" like Sistar.  But on the other paw, constantly shuffling around tin can brand things look messy.  This trip the light fantastic has a good compromise.  They separate the position between the de facto eye (Hani) and the most recent heart (Junghwa), but modify the formations often enough that the other members get time in the middle also.  Hani is an obvious choice because her visuals and mastery of sexy hip swivels and glares.  But if I'm not mistaken, Junghwa is the main dancer.  Now that she's older, she fits more than comfortably into these kinds of concepts and they tin can utilize her a little more.  I was happy to run across her go the spotlight in "L.I.E.," and I'm glad to encounter that continue to some extent.

SCORE: 8/10

MUSIC VIDEO:

The music video features EXID lounging almost during the daytime looking pretty and alluring. If you look closely, you'll see that they seem ambivalent and uninterested – directly contrasting with their lively dancing in front of a bar at night.  So the bulletin seems to be that the day is boring, while the dark is fun and exciting.  Unfortunately, the idea falters because they look good in both settings.  In fact, the day lighting makes them await really attractive.  Granted, this is Thou-pop – where people e'er look attractive.  But if they really wanted that idea to take middle stage, they should have been more farthermost with the differences between the two aesthetics.

The members' actions can also seem a little disruptive.  The easiest one to figure out is LE, who is dripping candle wax on a car central.  When she puts information technology down, nosotros see a sign that indicates no driving.  Presumably, she's trying to forestall her lover from leaving her in the morn.  With that in mind, we tin can see Hani is doing the aforementioned thing by cutting upwardly Metro cards.  I assume that Hyelin is enticing her significant other with nutrient, because the best fashion to someone's center is through their tum. I'one thousand not quite certain what Junghwa'south doing all dolled upwardly in the bathtub, simply I assume it has to do with seduction.

While I like everything else nigh this comeback, I recollect that the music video really missed the mark. Most of EXID'south previous videos have an intriguing narrative and evocative (or provocative) imagery.  Nosotros've seen them harassing a news anchor, scamming guys at a gas station, and being extremely passive-aggressive about some lovey-dovey guests at the hotel they work at.  While "Night Rather Than Day" is very pretty and colorful, information technology's quite bland in comparison.  It could really have benefited from a wacky premise like its predecessors.

They had the material in the song to go in a agglomeration of different directions.  I could call back of several scenarios that would exist interesting or amusing. But what nosotros get is ultimately pretty watered down.   It has nice aesthetics (I especially like the pastel neon colour scheme), but that's about it.  I'1000 okay with the music and choreography being different from their normal concept, just I wish EXID had put their sassy stamp on the video.

SCORE: xvi/20

STYLING:

The fashion is a key component.  Just like the music video setting, EXID has day and night clothing.  In the twenty-four hour period time, they rock the street chic style we've seen in some of their other videos (all-denim for the win). At night, they sport brightly colored jackets and shorts with a fun retro vibe.  I like both sets of outfits, which show off their fashionable and fun sides.  They seem absurd and chic, even so at the same time approachable.

STYLING MVP: Hani, a.k.a. the ultimate daughter crush

SCORE: ix/10

Concluding TALLY:

Song – xviii

Lyrics – 8

Line Distribution – 9

Choreography – 19

Center and Formations – 8

Music Video – 16

Styling – 9

Full: 86

Decision: I really liked this comeback. I wasn't expecting something similar this at all, and it was a great surprise.  The song and dance are fantastic, and I really like the aesthetic of the music video and the stylish outfits.  Merely at the same time, I felt that something was missing.  And it's not because of Solji, although a member's absence makes a concept alter more noticeable and open to scrutiny.

While EXID succeeded in this concept, they did then past leaving behind most of the things that they're known for.  There's very lilliputian sexiness or sassiness, and definitely no cheekiness.  I'm super glad EXID has proven they're not a one-pull a fast one on pony, and I wasn't overly attached to the sexy concept to begin with.  However, this comeback has shown me I was a big fan of their eclectic humour.  If they had merely kept a little bit of that in their music video, they would have been golden in my eyes.  But while I detect that lacking, this improvement is still pretty damn practiced.  I'm interested to see if they stick with this or get back, and what they'll do when Solji returns.

Sources: Youtube, Banana Civilisation Entertainment, Wikipedia

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