BLACKPINK's Jisoo and ZAYN Release New Collaboration 'EYES CLOSED'

BLACKPINK's Jisoo has teamed up with former One Direction member ZAYN for a new track, and the collaboration is receiving praise for showcasing Jisoo's husky vocal charm.

Released at midnight on the 9th, the collaboration track 'EYES CLOSED' (Feat. ZAYN) was followed by the release of its music video at 1 PM the next day.

The newly released track is an EDM piece with acoustic elements. The arrangement, centered around a heavy bassline, complements Jisoo's husky voice, enhancing her vocal appeal. The melody is tailored to her lower vocal range, blending well with ZAYN's gritty voice.

However, there are some criticisms. While ZAYN's vocals have a free-spirited feel due to minimal tuning, Jisoo's vocals seem overly tuned, giving a mechanical impression.

The 'EYES CLOSED' music video garnered 1.4 million views within two hours of its release on YouTube. Comments on the video include, "The voice blends so well together and has pure emotion," and "This collaboration is iconic as both are from the world's most famous boy band and girl group. It's gratifying to see Jisoo, who has been relatively quiet among BLACKPINK members, make such a significant impact."

On the online platform X (formerly Twitter), fans expressed positive reactions, saying, "Jisoo's new song is really good. It has a bit of an old pop song vibe," and "Jisoo's voice is amazing. It blends well with ZAYN's." One fan praised, "Seriously, Jisoo's sexy husky vocal showcase."

ZAYN, a renowned artist in the pop market, rose to fame as a member of the global boy band One Direction. He debuted as a solo artist in 2016 with 'Pillowtalk,' which topped the Billboard HOT 100 chart, surpassing Justin Bieber's 'Love Yourself.' That same year, he won 'New Artist of the Year' at the American Music Awards.

Jisoo, who has taken a different path from her fellow BLACKPINK members actively participating in the pop scene, signals her intention to enter the pop market as a solo artist with this collaboration with ZAYN. Fans are eager to see what achievements she will make following in the footsteps of Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, who have already made their mark on the Billboard charts.

By Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr