Song Review: Misamo (Twice) – Identity

In the lead-up to their second album, Twice sub-unit Misamo unveiled a cover of Namie Amuro’s 2008 hit New Look. As a lover of the original song, I found the update supremely lacking. It drained all energy from an otherwise solid piece of music. Now, the girls are back to right the ship with original song Identity.

Concerns about energy are unfounded this time, as Identity gives Misamo an exciting hip-hop beat ornamented with bombastic brass and strings. The production has a ceremonial appeal, like a grand unveiling. The arrangement is big and fun, complimenting the song’s self-empowerment vibe. Sonically, Identity plays like a less-crazed version of ITZY’s Gold. Its elements are more refined but not as idiosyncratic. It’s a nice, safe sound for Misamo, taking advantage of their obvious charisma.

Identity gets itself into trouble when it comes to its hooks and melodies. This has become a pervasive issue with music lately, making me wonder where all the great top-liners are hiding. When thinking about melody, I often imagine stripping a song of its production and hearing an acoustic or even a cappella version. Identity just wouldn’t work in these contexts, which is fine (and not unusual) for dance/hype tracks. However, the most enduring music in any genre tends to be so airtight that it could flourish with a variety of arrangements. With this in mind, Identity is very reliant on its beat and performance.

Hooks 7
 Production 8
 Longevity 8
 Bias 7
 RATING 7.5