Taeyeon's Latest Comeback Falls Short: A Look at 'Letter To Myself' vs. 'To. X'

Renowned for her powerful digital presence among female solo artists, Taeyeon's latest comeback has not met expectations. Industry insiders suggest that unlike her previous hit 'To. X', Taeyeon may have focused more on following trends rather than sticking to her unique style, leading to the underwhelming performance.

As of 3 PM on the 21st, Taeyeon's mini 6th album title track 'Letter To Myself' is ranked 64th on the Melon TOP100 chart. Initially debuting in the top 10, the song began to decline, dropping to the 40s by the third day and further to the 60s by the fourth day.

While it's challenging for even famous artists to break into the Melon TOP100 immediately after release, the results are disappointing compared to Taeyeon's previous digital power.

In contrast, her mini 5th album title track 'To. X', released on November 27 last year, still holds a position at 79th as of 3 PM on the 21st. Despite being released over a year ago, it continues to be well-loved, highlighting the stark difference in performance with 'Letter To Myself', which fell to the lower ranks within just four days.

The primary difference between 'Letter To Myself' and 'To. X' lies in the vocal range. In her new song, Taeyeon hits an F5 (high F) in full voice repeatedly in the chorus. Compared to Ariana Grande, known for her high notes, who uses an E5 (high E) in the chorus and a G5 (high G) sparingly, Taeyeon's use of high notes throughout the chorus is significant. This makes it challenging for the general public to sing along in karaoke.

On the other hand, 'To. X' predominantly uses a lower octave range of C4~G4 (middle C~G) in the chorus, with the highest note being a D#5 (high D#) used as an ad-lib in the final chorus. This allows for more delicate vocal control, maximizing Taeyeon's strengths in 'calmness' and 'subtle emotional expression'.

Additionally, unlike 'To. X', 'Letter To Myself' lacks a catchy hook in its melody. While it has a chorus, it lacks the addictive quality of her previous songs. The instrumental arrangement is overly elaborate, overshadowing Taeyeon's voice, unlike the simpler composition of 'To. X' that highlighted her emotional depth.

An industry insider commented on Taeyeon's new song, saying, "Taeyeon's singing ability is truly outstanding. However, the confidence that 'because she sings well, she can do anything' might have been a bit excessive. Regardless of skill, there is music that suits an artist. Imagine veteran singer Joo Hyun-mi singing a Beyoncé song."

Music critic Kim Do-heon remarked, "The song itself is good, and Taeyeon performs it with her excellent vocal skills. However, it doesn't reflect Taeyeon's unique color." He added, "Compared to Taeyeon's past music, this song doesn't stand out, nor does its melody stick."

Kim also noted, "Since it incorporates pop rock, a genre trending overseas, there are many alternatives in the market, which might explain the lukewarm chart response. However, the song's performance should be observed over time."

By Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr