K-Pop A-Z Review: GFriend – Rainbow

One song. Every day. Alphabetical order.

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Rainbow (from Rainbow – 2017)

Previous Thoughts: “Rainbow is built around the sort of hook that is hard to find in 2017 K-pop — a snowballing refrain that incorporates multiple melody lines into a cohesive, sustained chorus. I especially love the raised note right before this segment, propelling us into the rousing key change.” (full review)

Updated thoughts: Imagine me thinking a “snowballing refrain” was hard to find in 2017! My 2024 self pities that sweet child of the past. Robust melodies are even harder to find today, and a song like Rainbow feels like a total breath of fresh air. It has the propulsive anime-esque energy the group is often known for, but the chorus is definitely stronger than the verses. This feels like a solid – but unspectacular – entry in their catalog. It’s certainly worth a recommendation, even if it falls short of their greatest work.

Grade: B