TWICE has been one of the most recognizable and successful groups in K-Pop ever since its debut in the mid-2010s. They have broken many awards in the K-Pop industry, and have been one of the main artists that have helped expose the Western world to K-Pop in recent history. In the last year or so, TWICE has decided to let their members break off and start doing projects that are not in cohesion with the whole group. TWICE’s Lead vocalist, Nayeon, released her debut EP Im Nayeon in June of 2022, and the group’s leader, Jihyo, is set to release an EP at the end of this summer. In between these two projects comes an EP from MISAMO. MISAMO is comprised of the three Japanese members from TWICE, Mina, Sana, and Momo. In addition to being some of the most well-recognized members of the group, Mina, Sana, and Momo are all extremely talented individuals that are integral to the group’s success. All three of them have unique vocals that are super noticeable, and the trio is known for being excellent dancers as well(especially Momo, who is at the center of a lot of TWICE’s live performances due to her incredible stage presence and dancing abilities). Mina, Sana, and Momo have always dazzled as members of TWICE, and it is awesome to see that they are getting to shine as a trio now. With that being said, here is how I feel about MISAMO’s new project Masterpiece. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from this project, and also comment on how you feel about it as a whole.
Masterpiece gets kicked off with ‘Do Not Touch,’ which is a song I actually just wrote about in a piece about some of my favorite K-Pop music that has come out recently(if you love K-Pop, check out that article after this one). This was the last single released in anticipation of this project, and it got me very excited about the project’s potential. ‘Do Not Touch’ is a light and sleek Pop-Trap song that brings it back to the music that was big in the late 2010s. Particularly, this instrumental is reminiscent of some of the music Ariana Grande was making a few years ago. All three members of Twice shine through their vocals on this track, but the member that truly stands out to me is Momo. Her low tone and level of vocal fry sounds so prominent on this instrumental, and the way it contrasts the other members of Misamo gives the song so much life. ‘Do Not Touch’ may not be the most original or complicated-sounding song, but it is a good song to start the project with as it has a sound that appeals to a large range of fans. ‘Behind the Curtain’ is a track with a way different sound and style than the song that precedes it. This is a Jazzy Pop track that sounds like a show tune. I could literally imagine seeing this song in a musical like Chicago or Hairspray. I did not expect a song like this to come after ‘Do Not Touch’ considering it is so out of the ordinary and strange, and I really appreciate it. Although ‘Do Not Touch’ is good, it is pretty basic sounding, and ‘Behind The Curtain’ is anything but basic. I love the melody for this track, as it is so off-kilter and engaging. The member of MISAMO that rises above the others for me on this track is Mina. Her tone on this track is so crisp and fits the show-tune nature of the song. ‘Behind The Curtain’ is not the kind of Pop song I would ever expect to hear in, and that is what makes it awesome. ‘Marshmallow’ was the second single released before this project came out. To be frank, when I first heard this track, it sort of underwhelmed me. It is not bad by any means, but it is also not exciting. This an easy-going Pop track that will relax anyone who hears it. I probably would not have chosen it as a single, as it is too calm and does not pop like some of the other music from this project. I do think I know why it was made a single, though; the line ‘Walk, Rest, Running. Rest. Rest. Running…’ performed by Mina in the second verse is a total earworm and has gone viral on Tik Tok. Although Mina does have the most iconic line of the song, once again I think the best vocalist on the track is Momo. The low tone she raps and sings with contrasts the vocals of the other members and the style of melody in such a cool way. ‘Marshmallow’ may have not worked for me as a single, but it is still a tranquil and breezy track that sounds nice in the context of this EP.
‘Funny Valentine’ has quickly emerged as the fan favorite from this record, and it is easy to see why. This is a sassy and fierce track with a bit of a dark tone to it. This song has an R&B-tinted Pop song that makes me think of the early 2000s. I immediately thought of music from artists like Justin Timberlake or even the Pussycat Dolls when I first heard it. The melody for this track is so bold and funky, and the punchy beat gives the song a ton of emphasis. I love Sana’s vocals on this track the most, as her nasally, high tone fits the melody perfectly. ‘Funny Valentine’ is a song with a nostalgic quality that draws so many people in because it is so different from the R&B and Pop that is being made today. ‘It’s not easy for you’ is a track that fits well into the Pop-Trap landscape that is popular today. This track has a very modern-sounding Trap beat, and a guitar-driven melody that sounds like a combination of 2000s Rock and Country. ‘It’s not easy for you’ has a very dark sound, which creates a cool juxtaposition when compared to the rest of the songs on the record. It has an anthemic feeling to it that I imagine would be fun to see performed live. Mina’s vocals sound so full on this track, adding to the power the instrumental already has. ‘It’s not easy for you’ is such a strong and powerful sounding track that will energize anyone who hears it. Like ‘Behind The Curtain,’ ‘Rewind you’ has a distinct sound that makes it super appealing. This immediately makes me think of 90s R&B when I hear it. Artists like Aaliyah, TLC, or Brandy come to mind when I hear this track. The funky melody of this track complements the vocals of MISAMO so well. I especially love Sana’s vocals, as the high notes she hits adds so much vigor to the song. ‘Rewind you’ is such an underrated track and in my opinion, is the best on the project. Masterpiece closes out with ‘Bouquet,’ which was released as a single back in January for a Japanese Drama Television show. This is an easy-going Pop track with a Japanese City Pop feeling to it. The melody is so colorful and sweet; it will make anyone feel happy and warm when they hear it. I love the string instrument sounds that come in and out, as they make the track so euphoric. Mina shines as a vocalist on this track; her rich tone goes so well with this cozy melody. ‘Bouquet’ is a sweet way to end Masterpiece, as it closes things out on an ethereal note.
Mina, Sana, and Momo are three women who have always deserved their flowers. They are one of the biggest driving forces behind what makes TWICE click so well, as they all give so much to the group. On Masterpiece, each of them gets to shine and show how talented they are. This is not the most original or innovative-sounding project, but it is cohesive, concise, and has a lot of quality. All three members of MISAMO excel at different points on this project; all three of them get the chance to prove why they deserve to be recognized. Overall, Masterpiece is a fun EP that puts the spotlight on three awesome K-Pop idols, and I’m glad Mina, Sana, and Momo got the chance to showcase themselves in this way.
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