[ALBUM REVIEW] Girls' Generation II : Girls & Peace - Girls' Generation

                                      

Hellooooooooooooo :D

Well, it's rare to see me updating this blog about twice a week hahahahaha. Actually, it's because there are two albums that released only have about 1 or 2 days differences, that's why I feel like I want to update my blog. Anyway, let's hope that this tendency will last long, so I will update my blog more frequently O:)

Today, I'm going to write another album review. Yaaaayyy!!!! Hope you guys did not get bored with my "fangirl not so expert" review :') I also hope that this review will be better than my previous review O:)

Okay, stop with all of "story of my heart" thingy! The album that I'm going to review today is Girls' Generation (So Nyuh Shi Dae, SNSD, Shoujo Jidai (in Japanese)), which is my most favorite Kpop girl group, second Japanese album called Girls' Generation II : Girls & Peace. Many people, especially their fans including me, were anticipated this album because their first Japanese album, Girls' Generation, came out really good. Many people dubbed their first Japanese album as their best album. Beside that, SM Entertainment, their management decision not making them having a Korean comeback this year also make people cannot wait for Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun's latest Japanese efforts.

Sooo, this is the review for this album and like the previous post, I will review it based on their songs :

The first track which is also the title track is Flower Power. Unfortunately, I think this song is the worst song from this album. It's not really ear catchy and it did not really show the girls vocal abilities. The part that people will remember the most from the song is Sunny and Jessica part, but actually, this is the type of part that you either love it or hate it. The Music Video (MV) was also not impressive eventhough the girls look good on the tight leather suit (but, tight suit is actually not new thing for them, see Run Devil Run and Hoot). Oh and am I the only one who thought there were something wrong with the speaker at the beginning of the video and it turned out that there were actually no sound in the video?

The second track is Animal. I think this should be their title track. It has catchy beat that can make people sing and dance along. The refrain part (A a a I'm an Animal~~) was easy to remember too, so I guess it will stuck in people's head. This song is definitely better than Flower Power.

The third track is I'm a Diamond. This is one of my favorite tracks from the album! In this song, people can see different side of Girls' Generation since they rarely sing this type of song where all of them mostly sing in a low voice. I really like their "talking/singing with low voice" parts! It sounds soooooo mesmerizing.

The fourth track is Reflection. Apparently, Taeyeon, Girls' Generation's leader, said that this is her favorite song from this album. This another ear catchy and upbeat sound from the girls. This song somehow sounds almost similar with Animal. Because of this, it also had high potential to be a title track. 

After dancing along with the first four tracks, now people can cool down a little bit with the fifth track, Stay Girls. I always love Girls' Generation ballad songs and Stay Girls is one of it. This song is also one of my favorite tracks from the album. I absolutely love the meaning of this song! It is about when a girl grown up, she still has to keep her pure hearts and did not change. I think the girls also want to remind people (and themselves) that they are actually the same girls eventhough they become more mature. The girls vocals also sounds so soothing in this song.

Now, back with the upbeat track, we have T.O.P (of course it's not a Big Bang member) as the sixth track. This song was very different with Girls' Generation types of song that they usually sang. The refrain part was so badass! It consisted of them "talking" (some people considered this as a rapping, but I don't think this as a rapping). The beat was very catchy too. I like their confident on this song (We're on the Right Track, We're Still on Top, Girls~)! This song should be their opening song on their next concert because it just very suitable if people listen to it. And, of course, Sooyoung killed this song!!

The seventh track is Boomerang. From what I read on the internet, many people said that this song actually should be their title track for their 2008 Korean Comeback, but their comeback delayed and they did not use this song. Their comeback was postponed until early 2009 and at that time, they made a comeback with a song called "Gee" that made their popularity skyrocketed until they become very popular like now. I think if their comeback with this song, they may not as popular as now. I actually like Boomerang, it's a good song. I like the beginning part! But, it's not as catchy as Gee. Beside that, this song is more showing Girls' Generation sexy and mature side and I think if they automatically change their cute and sweet concept to this on 2008, people will get shock and it is not easy for them to adapt to the sexy and mature concept. So, I think it is a good choice of release it now.

The eighth track is the remake on their 2010 Korean releases, Oh!. I still don't get the idea why suddenly SM Entertainment decided to release the Japanese song of it two years after the Korean releases. I mean the girls looked too old to wear those cheerleaders outfit on the MV, Yoona and Sooyoung is still acceptable actually. Moreover, it's already the time of Girls' Generation to sing more songs that fit with their mature image and Oh! is definitely is not one of it. Anyway, the song lyrics was actually, sorry to say, meaningless. But, this is the best part of SM Entertainment, somehow they successfully managed it with unforgettable concept, catchy beats, and easy to sing along lyrics. Eventhough I think is one of the worst songs by Girls' Generation, the concept on the other way is my favorite concept especially the Japanese concept! The blue varsity jacket made me tempted to buy it and their blue cheerleaders outfits that they wear on Japanese Tv Show is one of their best outfits! Anyway, I'm still curious why SM Entertainment decided to still make the first two part of the refrain in Korean language on their Japanese releases.

Another ballad songs from Girls' Generation as their ninth track. It's called All My Love Is For You. This is also one of my favorite from the album! Soothing voice and great harmonization, especially Taeyeon and Tiffany at the end of the song. The girls also proved that they has good vocal abilities when they sing this song live at Japanese Tv Show. For the MV, the tone of color reminded me with their other Japanese ballad song, Time Machine, but All My Love Is For You Mv tone is more bright. I'm not a fan of their outfit in this MV, but I have to admit that Tiffany looks so pretty in this MV!

The tenth track is Paparazzi. Loving the "uulalala lalala~" part at the beginning of the song and also loving their choreography of this song. This is a type of song that gets better after a few listen. Anyway, what's with their outfits and pink gloves on the yellow background setting? Not a fan of it, but I kinda like the other outfits, especially Yuri, Hyoyeon, and Seohyun's, that they use in front of the theater.

The eleventh track of the album is Girls & Peace. This is the type of upbeat and cheerful song that appear in almost every Girls' Generation album. The song is actually pretty catchy, but there is nothing special about it. I also think that this song, along with Oh!, is not really suitable to be put in this album. But, on the other hand, this is the song that suited with their stewardesses concept.

Finally, Girls' Generation returned to their ballad songs as the last track of the album. It's called Not Alone. Compare to the other two ballads of this album, this song is my least favorite. However, this song had a meaningful lyrics. I also love Tiffany's ad-lib at the end of the song and Jessica's ending part of this song.

Overall, Girls' Generation II : Girls & Peace is a great album. It seems that their music in Japanese album is more into electronic-party type of music (okay, what is this word actually? hahahahaha). Moreover, their Japanese releases also showed more mature side of them. 

But, I think this album will be better if they remove Flower Power, Oh!, and Girls & Peace in this album. I know this sounds sooooo meeaannnn, but that's the truth :(

Moreover, their stewardesses concept was actually very interesting, but unfortunately, it has no connection with the songs in this album. It only suitable on "Girls & Peace" song which I do not know why I think that hahaha. I think they should use more party themed concept like they did in Flower Power MV, but they need to pay more attention on the outfit, make up, and hair, so it did not make them look cheap.

Anyway, I'm not really into their first Japanese album, so I think this is better than that album. Beside that, this album is also my second  most favorite album from Girls' Generation after Girls' Generation, their Korean first debut full album. So, readers, I recommend you to buy this album :)

                                          

My favorite tracks                                      : Stay Girls, I'm a Diamond, All My Love Is For You,   

                                                                          T.O.P

Best to be listen at                                      : On the way to a party with your friends and at the 

                                                                           party itself

Rate                                                                : 3.8/5

                                                                            

Categories: Girls Generation, Kpop, Music, SNSD, Songs