FOREIGN FRIDAYS: Girls Generation delivers classic K-POP charm

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ADAM HAGEN

I’ll tell you right now: SNSD brought it with this album. My lace-front came clean off.

SNSD, known in the United States by Girls Generation, is a Korean girl group numbering eight strong, due to the loss of main singer Jessica Jung. Being that Lion Heart is their first full album after Jessica’s departure, I was surprised to see that the girls still managed to appear as a complete ensemble.

Lion Heart starts strong with the title track, which appears to be a cute ode, at least sonically, to the classic Hollywood. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the lyrics being that 99 percent of the song is in Korean but trust me when I say: THIS. SONG. HAS. A. BEAT.

However, Lion Heart does contain some hiccups, namely the first half of “You Think” which I would say is the longest, most unnecessary length of repetitive boredom I’ve ever heard on an SNSD album.

As someone who has BEEN listening to SNSD since Oh! all the way back in 2010, I can say that the girls are at their best when they stick to what they know: making fun pop songs. With the exception of ‘Catch me if you can’ in 2015, which fully scalped me, I have actually been disappointed every single time SNSD has attempted to waver from their usual style. That being said, they certainly gave me classic. From beginning to end they stuck to the formula and gave me what I came for.

I must say that “Show Girls” and “Fire Alarm” are actually where it’s at in Lion Heart. Magnetic beats elevate these songs to the same level of classic SNSD tracks, but can’t dethrone legendary ones like “Run Devil Run” or “Gee.”

If you’re interested in losing your edges, give this album a listen. If you’re interested in diving into the abyss that is K-POP, give this album a listen. There’s legit something here for everyone.