[Review] CYNICAL – SUNMI

It has been a while since I wrote a review for SUNMI. The last one was 2023’s STRANGER. Since then, SUNMI has been relatively quiet, with only a single release in 2024 (Balloon In Love) and another earlier in 2025 (BLUE!). Last week, SUNMI made her solo return with her first studio album (12 years after her solo debut), Heart Maid, led by the single CYNICAL.

CYNICAL sees SUNMI tap into a groovy dance number, made hefty with electronic synths and solid bass. While the instrumentation is relatively neutral and consistent throughout the song, it has a certain vibe that aligns with SUNMI’s style and past release aesthetics (more on that later in the review). Nonetheless, the neutralness and consistency extend to SUNMI’s delivery of CYNICAL, with her vocals coming off as monotonous for the most part. This develops into an equivalent-style chant for the chorus. However, I think this is intentional, given that a definition of the word ‘cynical’ involves mocking others in a way that disregards them, and that is what she is doing in the lyrics. And while the repetitiveness usually doesn’t help make the monotonous approach appealing, CYNICAL might be an exception. I definitely would have liked to hear something more dynamic through instrumentation, vocals or hooks, CYNICAL still managed to stand out somehow. It could simply be because it has been a while since I last heard from SUNMI, but I think it is because CYNICAL manages to do something right.

The music video features a fun and comedic Korean ghost (played by SUNMI herself). I am probably one of many who thought this video and concept was a missed opportunity for Halloween 2 weeks ago. According to some comments under the music video, this is due to ABYSS (SUNMI’s company) delaying the comeback to the start of November, when it was initially scheduled for a mid-October release. It’s a pity that they couldn’t align it better with Halloween; this would have been so good during the spooky season. As mentioned, it features SUNMI as a Korean ghost, dying after twisting her ankle and falling to her death in a public bathroom. She doesn’t ‘cross over’ into the afterlife immediately, instead lingering in the world of the living for 49 days (a common Buddhist belief). Throughout the video, she mocks Death as he waits around to take her into the afterlife. In the end, he does take her to the afterlife, but without one last scare. I also mentioned that the video is comedic, especially at the start, where SUNMI has to change out of her club outfit and don her Korean ghost white outfit.

I thought the routine for this comeback was very good. She does an excellent job, as do the dancers, in making this feel creepy through their stone-cold facial expressions, while also making sure the moves complement the electronic synths of the song. The former actually taps in well with her past performances and concepts.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.4/10