BoyNextDoor's Confident Comeback: 'Hollywood Action' Blends Jazz and K-pop

《Songwriter's Insight by Min-Kyung Lee》
Min-Kyung Lee, a current singer-songwriter, shares her perspective on music, analyzing hidden meanings and behind-the-scenes stories.

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BoyNextDoor expressed their confidence at a media event on their comeback day, stating that their new song is the best they've released so far. Their title track 'Hollywood Action' is praised for its completeness and mass appeal.

On October 20th, BoyNextDoor released their mini-album 'The Action' at 6 PM. The album includes the title track 'Hollywood Action' along with 'Live In Paris,' 'JAM!,' 'Bathroom,' and 'You Know.'

'Hollywood Action' stands out with its unique blend of jazz and hip-hop within the K-pop genre. Although the album describes the song as centered around swing rhythms, it leans more towards a jazz swing style adapted into K-pop. Unlike traditional swing rhythms with emphasis on the '2, 4' beats, this track features a typical K-pop rhythm with emphasis on the '1, 3' beats.

The fusion of genres allows listeners to experience familiar K-pop rhythms with a hint of swing, reminiscent of Mamamoo's debut track 'Piano Man' from 11 years ago, which also combined jazz and K-pop.

The song's chorus features a catchy hook, making it easy to hum along. The members confidently stated that it has the best hook among all their songs. The phrase 'Everybody Hollywood action' is more of a chant than a melody, making it easy for listeners to sing along. This style is characteristic of KOZ Entertainment's head Zico and BoyNextDoor's identity. The lively brass melody that follows is short and repetitive, leaving a strong impression.

On the same day, SM Entertainment's group Hearts2Hearts released their first mini-album 'FOCUS.' With KOZ Entertainment under HYBE and SM Entertainment idols making a comeback on the same day, there's significant interest in how their performances will fare.

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