[Review] Memory – DOYOUNG (NCT)

Making his solo comeback yesterday was DOYOUNG, with his second studio-length album titled SOAR and the title track Memory (안녕, 우주). This new release follows his official solo debut with YOUTH and the single Little Light, which earned him nominations for Best New Male Soloist and Best Album in the 2024 KPOPREVIEWED Awards.

Cast your minds back to Little Light. The debut track was described as “a band song with powerful guitar riffs”. The new single, Memory, leans further into this sound profile, incorporating more rock energy and drive. This makes the heartfelt song more prolific and intense, which elevates its appeal to a whole different level. Memory also benefits from DOYOUNG’s sweet yet powerful vocals, which complement the rock energy and contribute to the song’s drive. The combination of rock energy and intensity, paired with DOYOUNG’s vocals, in Memory is captivating. The melodies flow beautifully, which contributes significantly to the stunning output that is Memory. Put these pieces together, and I think the best way to describe Memory is “straight-forwardly pure”. I couldn’t find any faults in the song, so it earns a perfect rating from me.

Memory speaks to the hope that even as time passes by, the memories we make will remain forever. In the music video, we see DOYOUNG live a very sterile life. That is until he spots a dead bird. He tries to ‘delete’ the memory of the dead bird. But the memory of the dead bird breaks through and recurs in his mind, leading him to remember memories of a dog he once had. And while the immediate memories he remembers first are the passing of his dog, we later see other happier memories of when his dog was alive. In the end, he considers formatting his memory (i.e., deleting everything to start afresh). However, I think the post-title screen suggests that he chose to preserve those memories with his dog, keeping them forever, as the lyrics express. I liked the touching story within the music video, as well as the summery yet emotional vibes being portrayed. The glitchiness at the start, which was part of the video, did catch me off guard. It made sense conceptually, but I don’t think it added much value to the broader video. Similar comments can be made about that giant creature in the sky.

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 9/10
Overall Rating – 9.6/10