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

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.

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.

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