Hello, k-dreamers! It’s getting late in the year and I’m starting to feel a little restless. I know it’s October and good music is just around the corner, but nothing has caught my ear yet. That is, until this song came just in time to wake me up from my monotony. Let’s check out “Bad Love” by Key.
There is something about this song that flows differently.
There is something refreshing about “Bad Love” that feels new. It has this chord progression that you don’t see often: Em-Bm-D-A. Notice that the progression starts with minor chords and ends with major chords. When people hear that shift from the minor chords to the major chords, we are able to feel the liberation from the bad love Key was experiencing. That’s what makes the chord progression stand out to my ears.
Who knew I could like a song with a crying baby noise?
Key’s artistry really shows in “Bad Love”. The song begins with an oscillating synth noise, which can easily be distinguished in any playlist. And then he even manages to add a sound that reminds me of a screaming baby and not make it intrusive. This sound continues to echo in the rest of the song. I wonder if that’s Key’s own voice making that sound. Either way, Key is still a creative genius.
Everyone in SHINee has such distinct voices that you can’t help but feel nostalgic when you hear them sing. Key is certainly no exception. With Key in particular, he has always struck me as somebody who’s always doing his own thing. “Bad Love” can only be as unique as the artist himself. My favourite part of this release is not the interesting sounds featured in the instrumental, but Key’s piercing vocals all throughout the song. (It actually got me thinking that I would love to hear him sing with Lee Hong Gi from F.T. Island.)
Honourable Mentions: Ciipher – Blind, Kim Woojin – In My Space (The lyrics for “In My Space” are beautiful!)
If you like this song, check out: Taeyeon – Something New (2018), Ladies’ Code – Feedback (2019), MOONBIN&SANHA – Bad Idea (2020)
I know that “Bad Love” isn’t the first solo release that Key has done, but it’s the first I’ve checked out. I realized while listening to this song that I’ve never heard Key sing for this long. What do you think of this release? Let me know in the comments!