Chungha The 2nd Studio Album [Bare&Rare Pt.1]

The inner story of Chungha, the unrivaled summer queen, released the second regular album [Bare&Rare Pt.1]

In the hot summer, Chungha's Sparkling that will make this moment even more sparkling

Album Review

[Bare&Rare Pt.1]

Tears running down, wanting to disappear, 

Falling apart until I felt completely bare.

It was clear that It was time to face my own fears.

Two hands tight together with my Prayers.

Take me as I am...... Bare&Rare

- Chungha -

Chungha's 2nd regular album [Bare&Rare Pt.1] is divided into two chapters: Pt.1 (Bare), which talks about inner feelings openly, and Pt.2 (Rare), which contains new musical challenges. Following the special single [Killing Me], he directly participated in the production and writing of all songs in this regular 2nd album Pt.1. In particular, it contains efforts to compose music that is listened to rather than seen, and is an album that honestly and plainly contains the inner story that Chungha usually thought of.

The last regular album [Querencia], which was released with a bold direction and abundant 21 tracks, solidified its position as a female solo artist and was selected as one of the 50 best albums of 2021 by Billboard. She also won the first album award for her Kpop part at the 19th Korean Popular Music Awards Ceremony, and through various musical activities such as her OST, featuring, and duet, she fully demonstrated her wide range of vocalists. This album contains 8 songs that can be sympathized with by expressing the inner story of Chungha through her vocals.

The title song 'Sparkling' has a hyper vibe as its identity on top of a fast BPM of 160, and it is an attractive song with a cool sound like carbonation. Like the first sip of a cool drink on a hot summer day, it expresses a refreshing sensibility that is cold and tangy. In addition, Chungha's solid vocals catch the fast mood that can feel light, completing a cool yet sparkly track.

'XXXX', which opens the door to [Bare&Rare Pt.1], is an attractive song with a sharp and intense sound and Chungha's languid yet mysterious singing rap. 'Louder', which captures the desire to give bright energy in the pandemic era, and 'Crazy Like You', a pop number song that catches ears from the intro, is a song that pours out explosive energy with Chungha's solid vocals and BIBI's charming vocals.

'California Dream', a drive song that expresses the excitement of leaving all worries behind and leaving for a beautiful place with a cool summer sea, 'Good Night My Princess' of the ballad pop genre, where you can feel the lyrics of a loved one who lived a life as a sacrifice for me and Chungha's delicate emotions, 'Love Me Out Loud', which expresses gratitude to fans who have supported each other even when they have not met for a long time, and lastly, an R&B pop genre that expresses the beauty of Korea in a trendy box 'Nuh-Uh' is also included.

01.XXXX

Lyrics by Chungha, Sophia Pae, Fuxxy, Any Masingga, XIMON, WINNIE

Composed by Fuxxy, Any Masingga

Arranged by Any Masingga, Fuxxy

As if expressing an unstable state of mind, I pretended to be strong just by looking at the cracks in the broken glass. To be honest, I am still very timid and inactive. It seemed that the next story would unfold only when I accepted all these disappointing emotions, failures, and regrets. No, more honestly, I felt like I could end these feelings only then. I decided to try bumping into uneasy feelings, breaking and falling.

Upon closer inspection, more pieces of emotion than I thought showed the identity of a person called me.

As the light from broken and discarded wounds spreads in various ways, it seems to illuminate me in more diverse ways.

I want to see each and every one of them in the future. Therefore, I decided to gather more courage and share my honest stories... This song opens the door to my 2nd regular album [Bare&Rare Pt.1], which I finally completed after a difficult journey.

The title of the song “XXXX”, in the form of a piece of glass, expresses a beautiful and diversely shining appearance with a strong and sharp sound and an attractive voice.

02. Sparkling

Lyrics by BXN, Chungha

Composed by BXN, Prime Time

Arranged by BXN

"You make me sparkle, I'll be your sparkle" It's like my relationship with Byeolharang who shines on each other~ Let's spend a sparkling summer together as much as you've waited for a long time. Sincerely thank you always! 

It is an attractive song with a cool sound like carbonation, with a hyper vibe as its identity on top of a fast BPM of 160. Like the first sip of a cool drink on a hot summer day, it expresses a refreshing sensibility that is cold and tangy. In addition, Chungha's solid vocals caught the fast mood that could easily feel light, completing a cool yet sparkly track. The arpeggio of the analog synthesizer harmonizes with the retro yet trendy drum line, and the chorus also adds an electric guitar to create a tough yet witty and colorful sound. In addition, Chungha's sensitivity and emotional expression, which changes like a chameleon to match the lyrics, can be a key point of this song. Like Sparkling's lyrics, "You make me shine" and "I will be your light," Chungha's 'Sparkling' decorates our summer moments with a twinkle.

03. Louder

Lyrics by Chungha, Alma Goodman, Klara Elias, Tushar Apte

Composed by Tushar Apte, Alma Goodman, Klara Elias

Arranged by Tushar Apte

What I can say to me, what we can say to you... It's a cheering song with only obvious words. When you accidentally empty your thoughts and just manage to listen, I hope you can find your pure self smiling at the end of this song.

'Louder', with its cool Pluck synth and rhythmic and upbeat sound, is a dance pop song that lets you feel the energy-filled interlude. In the chorus part where you sing along with Chungha, you feel the bright energy and support that makes you forget all the difficult moments.

04. Crazy Like You (Feat. BIBI)

Lyrics by Chungha, BIBI, Luvssong, Ryan Jeon, Kloe, Sam Preston, Rick Parkhouse, George Tizzard Composed by Ryan Jeon, Kloe, Sam Preston, Rick Parkhouse, George Tizzard

Arranged by Ryan Jeon, Red Triangle

Just like you, whose gossip is as natural as a cup of coffee in the morning, and whose pretentious smile is the most beautiful.

The pop number 'Crazy Like You', which captivates listeners with its addictive and minimalistic synthesizer sound from the intro, draws attention to Chungha's delicate and solid vocals, while BIBI's charming timbre pours out explosive energy. In particular, it is an impressive song with tragic lyrics that say that there is nothing more to lose.

05. California Dream

Lyrics by Chungha, Kella Armitage, Josh McClelland, Gus Ross

Composed by Kella Armitage, Josh McClelland, Gus Ross

Arranged by Gus Ross

How can the short and fleeting memories of that time still be so vivid...

It contains just one day of leisure, memories from travel, and feelings of wanting to leave again when I can't even guess where time is taking me.

I hope it's a song that can give you the thrill of being able to freely go into that imagination at any time...

'California Dream', an upbeat pop number song where you can hear Chungha's refreshing and refreshing vocals on a light guitar riff and heavy bass line, contains lyrics that encourage you to put down your boring daily life and heavy burdens and have a happy time in a place where you can dance to your heart's content. It is recommended as a drive song to cool off in the hot summer.

06. Good Night My Princess

Lyrics by Chungha, Jo Yoonkyung

Composed by Hyun Sang Lee (ARTMATIC), Ji San Choi (ARTMATIC), ADORA

Arranged by Lee Hyun-sang (ARTMATIC), Choi Ji-san (ARTMATIC)

My mother, who raised me alone in a foreign land full of love, always told me not to live like herself, I'm sorry I couldn't do more, I'm sorry I couldn't be with you because I was busy with work, always reminding me of this time and saying sorry to me every time with tears in my eyes. He does. To such a mother, one day... Say it's okay, don't cry, Mom was always with you, Your sacrifice and love are so great that I can't be like you, I know I'm too small to resemble your greatness, Mom tells me Every morning when I left for work, I wanted to tell you about the greetings I secretly conveyed with my heart through the window and the images I prayed for my mother to be safe and well under the blanket... "My mother is my eternal idol, and it was me who met such a mother. It's the greatest luck for me... I'm so fortunate to have met such a hero. My eternal best friend and my great mother, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I love you."

'Good Night My Princess', a ballad pop genre song with an electric guitar riff melody, is a song that tells the story of Chungha's childhood. It is a song where you can feel the lyrics for the one you love who lived a life of sacrifice for you and Chungha's soft and delicate emotions.

07. Love Me Out Loud

Lyrics by Chungha, Jo Yoonkyung

Composed by Peter Wallevik, Daniel Davidsen, Mich Hansen, Neil Omandy, Phil Plested

Arranged by PhD, Cutfather

I like us who are guided by each other's voices and always guide us in the dark. You are the guide in my eternal heart, and I want to sing so that you can always find the voice of your heart. 

'Love Me Out Loud' is Chungha's second fan song of the up-tempo pop genre, characterized by an energetic melody line with a symphonic feel, and expresses her gratitude to the fans who have supported her in their respective places even when they have not met for a long time.

08. Nuh-Uh

Lyrics by Chungha, Isran, Fuxxy, Any Masingga

Composed by Fuxxy, Any Masingga, Alina Smith

Arranged by Any Masingga, Fuxxy

You should know what's REAL..... Truth never dies, History is still, and forever will be alive. Everything about you is just uncontroversially Absurd.

[Bare&Rare Pt.1] 'Nuh-Uh', the last track of 'Bare' and the connecting track to move on to 'Rare' of Pt.2, is a track to show what Korean style is buried in Trendy. I wonder if this is a new aspect of gugak that has not been easily encountered in the R&B pop genre so far. The Korean sound and color are distinct, Chungha's attractive voice, and sophisticated synthesizer sound, rhythm, and bass sound harmonize with each other to present a subtle and beautiful new trend. The harmony between East and West is clear, and aesthetics are contained in it.