P1Harmony Return with a New Kind of “SAD SONG”

My review of the group’s new mini-album

There are three main traits that have always made P1Harmony’s catalog stand out, and SAD SONG has examples of all three: a persistently optimistic outlook, a natural group synergy mixed with impressive dynamism, and musical instincts that transcend genres and eras. 

SAD SONG’s title track is a major earworm and an effective soundtrack for the feeling that P1Harmony breathlessly rap and sing about: being stuck in an emotional loop while choosing to dance through it! With lyrics like “Everyone dancing to this mad song,” they acknowledge the weirdness of feeling sadness and freedom at the same time, and they encourage “Everyone” to follow their lead in focusing on the latter. Rooted in a repetitive piano riff and Latin-inspired beats, this dance song channels both the feelings of being stuck and of letting loose!

“It’s Alright” distinguishes itself from “SAD SONG” by prioritizing pure singing skills over the playful, talk-like delivery focused on more in “SAD SONG.” On the other hand, “It’s Alright” follows a pattern initiated by “SAD SONG”: adding surprising twists - an additional guitar here, a second of silence there - on top of a repetitive riff. “It’s Alright” is a sway-worthy song that consoles with its casual confidence, as P1Harmony appear to talk directly to the listeners again.

While “It’s Alright” stays interesting for the surprises thrown on top of a straightforward instrumental foundation, “Last Call” entertains in ways that are much less subtle. “Last Call” is made for jumping up and down and is a great candidate for both a concert finale song and a selfie-camera-focused, fan-featuring music video. It has an uplifting and accelerating structure to its chorus, group chants, and nods to electronic trends of the 2010s, all traits that make it worthy of a live show!

“Welcome To” is a distinct kind of hype song. The members give each other boosts, repeating parts of each other’s lines. The instruments and their voices work in tandem just as well, with features like guitar reverberations amplifying the attention on certain lines. P1Harmony synergistically share their message with fans again, saying “Here’s your invitation” before diving into the exuberant chorus. “Welcome To,” like the songs before it on SAD SONG, works with electronic sounds, but it leans more into traditional rock elements, and it differs in its twists, which include a brief moment of soft harmonizing before the return to a fast pace. 

“All You” is another song that quickly settles into a familiar rhythm while still featuring curveballs. This time, those include funky synth noises, sporadic guitar sounds, and a finale with unison chants and brass accompaniment. “All You” can best be summarized as “melodic in more ways than one;” it is a sincere ode to a crush but does not take itself too seriously.

The last track on SAD SONG (besides the English version of the title track) is the most unexpected one: an experimental hip-hop song by INTAK and JONGSEOB called “WASP.” The fact this is P1Harmony’s first official unit song combined with the fact it takes clear inspiration from mid-2010s rap speaks to the group’s penchant for pairing the past with the present when finding inspiration.

One more thing to appreciate about SAD SONG: the fullness of each track, which can be fully enjoyed because the group never rushes too quickly into the next song. It appears to be the new normal to release social-media-primed songs that are closer to two or two and a half minutes than three minutes or more. To any music enthusiast, the trend of doing away with a bridge entirely is distressing, so P1Harmony going against that trend is beyond welcome! Plus, they do so while still having contagious fun; making music that deserves virality and making music that is built to last are not mutually exclusive. P1Harmony’s music can easily gain internet buzz and has not had to scale back the effort that goes into completing each song to do so.

While the theme of loneliness is frequent throughout SAD SONG, so is the theme of giving each other encouragement to believe in brighter days. P1Harmony sing about long-time love interests and new beginnings with equal spiritedness; this is a soundtrack for periods of both losing and regaining one’s footing. Life might feel like one “SAD SONG” after another, but P1Harmony insist that is no reason not to keep the pep in their steps! 

SAD SONG is a durable addition to the top tier of P1Harmony’s discography. The title track unquestionably earns a spot on fans' lists of the group’s catchiest songs, and each B-side shines in its own right. The songs tend to fall into comfortable rhythms, but with constant switch-ups along the way, the group proves that repetition and tedium are not the same thing. SAD SONG can be considered “easy listening” more often than not, but without sacrificing P1Harmony’s signature finishing touches. Overall, SAD SONG is a musical embodiment of the group’s colorful, confident, can-do style, and its openness (both “openness” in terms of the lyrical conversations with their audiences and “openness” in terms of musical experimentation) guarantees a good time for all!

Check out SAD SONG here, and catch up on past 17 Carat K-Pop coverage of P1Harmony here!

Photos courtesy of FNC Entertainment.