BLACKPINK have given us enough hits, fashion moments, and stadium anthems that will last an eternity and finally after a long hiatus, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa are back, and it’s not another solo project.
After a wait of nearly 4 years, here it is, the mini-album by BLACKPINK we have always waited for? This is DEADLINE.
A journey that bodes well
When the BORN PINK world tour ended, the fans wondered, when the queens of K-Pop would reunite. Arguably the biggest girl group the world has ever seen, the quartet were the spine behind so much great pop energy.
The solo eras were definitely something. They were rich with individual flavours that showcased their distinct identities. From Rosé’s Grammy-nominated collaboration with Bruno Mars on “APT.” and Lisa’s cinematic turn in “The White Lotus,” to Jennie’s chart-topping “Mantra” and Jisoo’s high profile team up with Zayn Malik, the members conquered fashion, television, and the Billboard charts individually. But now, they’ve returned as a united front.
Diving into the album – Not just another K-pop Comeback
The title DEADLINE might sound like an endpoint, but this is where the band is finding their ultimate footing, while giving us a sound that only they can fabricate. YG Entertainment noted the EP represents the quartet’s “most irreversible and defining moments.” This isn’t just another K-pop comeback, it’s a historical cementing of their legacy, emphasized by an unprecedented promotional takeover of the National Museum of Korea.
Diving into the brilliant and blistering pace of the title track, “GO.” Co-written by all four members alongside Coldplay’s Chris Martin, long-time collaborator Teddy, and Cirkut, it is an explosive EDM banger. The track is a powerful anthem of unity that utilizes punchy synths to mirror the group’s unstoppable momentum.
A sonic library, to inhale
“JUMP” comes in next, a club-ready track drenched in Euro-dance and industrial techno, one which dominated global charts last summer as a pre-release.
Instrumentally, we feel the group has gone back to the sonic texture of their earlier works, but with sophisticated maturity. There are beats that punch you in the gut and the kind of production that screams the group’s core identity.
Subsequently, “Me and My” serves up a playful, retro hip-hop beat laced with classy brass. It brings a meaty, rhythm rich songwriting contrast. Also worth noting that its production credits, featuring the controversial Dr. Luke, have sparked intense online debate regarding the group’s collaborators.
Love from fans and intentional songwriting direction
Fans expected a massive stadium-stomper, and “Champion” is exactly what its title suggests. They play to their strengths, bringing an anthemic chorus designed to be screamed by tens of thousands of BLINKs worldwide. They bring a version of the group from the past that made fans fall in love with them in the first place, while offering a new challenge.
Perhaps the softest song of the EP comes with the closing track, “Fxxxboy.” They know it is the mastery of both these heavy and delicate contrasts that makes them the group that they are. Perhaps intentionally, it chips away the low-end of the mix to showcase the group’s emotionally resonant vocal harmonies.
While some fans might initially clamour for more than five tracks after a nearly four-year wait, the production quality and tight curation of DEADLINE make every second count. By blending high-profile collaborations with their signature “girl crush” swagger, BLACKPINK hasn’t reached the end of the line, they are just getting started all over again!
by Raunak Bose
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