Zerobaseone's "You Had Me at Hello Album Review

Hi everyone and welcome back to another review! I will be reviewing Zerobaseone’s, You Had Me At Hello, album which was released on May 13th, 2024. Zerobaseone is a group formed on a competition show called Boys Planet and debuted on July 10, 2023. Boys Planet is a competition show featuring some of the best trainees from different companies. Half were from South Korean companies and the other half were from international companies. The viewers would choose the final nine members of the group. I first heard Zerobaseone with their debut song “In Bloom” and quickly fell in love with them after listening to their debut album Youth in the Shade. They had such a unique sound and the vocals were very strong so I wanted to get into them more and have listened to every single comeback since. To me, You Had Me At Hello, is their strongest album yet with an already stellar discography. Before we dive into the music, I will briefly describe each member so readers unfamiliar with the group can understand who I am talking about since this is my first time doing a full review for them. 

Link to their debut song "In Bloom" and previous title track release, "Crush"

Management: WakeOne

Members 

Kim Gyu Vin (Leader, Birthday - August 30th, 2004, South Korean) 

Kim Jiwoong (Birthday - Dec 14, 1998, South Korean) 

Zhang Hao (Birthday - Jul 25, 2000, Chinese) 

Sung Hanbin (Birthday - Jun 13, 2001, South Korean)

Seok Matthew (Birthday - May 28, 2002, Canadian) 

Kim Tae Rae (Birthday - Jul 14, 2002, South Korea) 

Ricky (Birthday - May 20, 2004, Chinese) 

Park Gun Wook (Birthday - Jan 10, 2005, South Korean) 

Han Yu Jin (Birthday - Mar 20, 2007, South Korean, Maknae) 

Bias Line: Ricky (Main Bias), Matthew (Bias wrecker) 

Two music videos came out for this album, “Sweat” and “Feel The Pop” (Title Track), which I will discuss within the song discussion. Let’s get into the review! 

“Solar POWER,” is an intense trap rave song that starts the album off with a bang. The album itself is titled, You Had Me At Hello, which right off the bat tells you it’s going to be an album about falling in love. “Solar POWER” is a song that gets this love story going, when listening to the lyrics it discusses the feelings of when you first meet a new love. It talks about how you get all hot and flustered when you first fall in love. You feel blind to everything else around you and all you want to do is be with that person, it gives you a new sense of energy like how the sun gives you energy. This is how the boys discuss falling in love for the first time in the summertime, a summertime crush. It is a hard-hitting song and sung in a lower register but the vocals still stand out which is hard to do when singing a trap song like this. House is making its way into K-Pop this year and “Solar POWER” is Zerobaseone’s answer to that genre. “Solar POWER” is the perfect introduction to this album about falling in love and one that feels a little different for Zerobaseone. It got me excited to continue the album when listening to it. 

The title track, "Feel the POP," lives up to its name by being a genuine K-Pop song. This summer song has smooth vocals which are perfect for easy listening. Although the production of "Feel the POP" is enjoyable, nothing particularly stands out aside from the entertaining beginning and memorable chorus. This song highlights the vocals and has great potential for heavy rotation on the radio. I don't plan on listening to "Feel the POP" frequently, as it is not my top choice among Zerobaseone's songs. I was confused as to why they chose it as the title track because I believed there was a more appropriate song. However, It embodies the album's central theme, falling in love during the summer. Still, aside from that, it doesn't quite resonate as a typical Zerobaseone track with it feeling very commercial. Previous title tracks for "Crush" and "In Bloom," felt somewhat different, and captured the essence of Zerobaseone more than this song did. However, I believe some ZEROSE and non-ZEROSE listeners would appreciate this song, but personally, it's not my preferred genre.

“Feel the POP” MV review 

The “Feel the Pop” music video was more thrilling than the song itself. It immersed us in a virtual reality world as the boys appeared to be in an apocalypse and potentially were controlling it. The elaborate CGI indicated that the video was quite costly to produce. Some reactors on YouTube were puzzled by the cowboy outfits seen in the video, which may be related to the band's VR characters. Despite this, Zerobaseone looked damn good in their cowboy attire. The song's lyrics, “At this moment ride with me (Ride with me),” suggest a theme of riding off into the sunset with a Summer crush. It could also connect to the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” if the video portrays the end of the world. The cowboy could also tie in with the recurring appearance of a horse in their music videos. The visual appeal of the music video was captivating, with a summer vibe that aligns with Zerobaseone's seasonal themes in their albums and title tracks.

“Dear Eclipse” 

My favorite song from the album is "Dear Eclipse" because it perfectly aligns with my love for R&B music. It shows a more mature side to the artists and highlights their versatile vocals. In the context of the album, it serves as a great follow-up to "Feel the Pop," continuing the story of a romantic night. The lyrics are mature and sensual, describing a deep connection that is hard to resist. The song's slow tempo and romantic atmosphere make it feel like an interlude, reminiscent of classic love songs from the late 90s and early 2000s. It's the perfect track to charm a special someone into the night. 

“SWEAT” 

"SWEAT" was the initial release from the album and, in my opinion, would have been a more fitting title track. It perfectly embodies summer vibes and complements other title tracks like "In Bloom" and "Crush." With its lively and alluring beat, catchy hook, and stunning vocals, it outshines "Feel the Pop’s” catchiness and fits better with Zerobaseone's musical style. The production is more intricate, with a clear bridge, standout vocals from Tae Rae, and a house-like beat, currently trending in the K-Pop scene. It captures that feeling of a summer crush and sets the tone for summer.  

“SWEAT” Music Video Review 

Among all the music videos released this year, "SWEAT" has stood out the most. While not as extravagant as "Feel the Pop," the visuals and choreography were truly impressive. The boys looked amazing and captivated me in every way. The choreography was sensual and sexy, perfectly complementing the vibe of the song, watching the music video, I couldn't help but feel sweaty myself. The visuals had a summery feel, with scenes of rain and a beach, and a unique stage with what appeared to be a roller coaster in the background - the stage was reminiscent of early 2000s music videos. A car featured in the video may have hinted at lyrics from "Feel the Pop" and the upcoming song "Sunday Ride. All of these simple visual elements captured the scenes of a summer crush. 

“Sunday Ride” 

Similar to "Feel the Pop," "Sunday Ride" is a charming love song that evokes a feeling of sweetness. It has a slightly more whimsical vibe and could be enjoyed on a leisurely Sunday drive. The lyrics again express a summer crush and the desire to spend as much time as possible with that special person, even going so far as to suggest a "Sunday Ride" together. There is an inherent excitement in seeing this person and a longing to be in their company. I found "Sunday Ride" more appealing than "Feel the Pop," although I can't pinpoint the exact reason why, given their similarities in tone. Perhaps it's because "Sunday Ride" felt less repetitive and more engaging.

“You Had Me at Hello” 

Concluding the album on a perfect note, the song 'You Had Me at Hello' recalls the bittersweet memories of a summer love coming to an end. It captures the emotions of not wanting the season to finish, as the lyrics recall meeting for the first time and the instant connection they felt when they said 'Hello.' This ballad, reminiscent of a K-Drama soundtrack, showcases the vocal talents of the group and serves as a fitting conclusion to an album that beautifully captures the essence of a summer romance.

I was thoroughly impressed by this album and remain impressed by this group that was formed on a competition show. Their powerful vocal presence and distinct tone in their songs are remarkable. They have quickly become one of my favorite groups and I am excited to hear more of their future comebacks.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this review! 

Love,

Chynna