[Review] Pineapple Slice – BAEKHYUN (EXO)

Returning for the first time in over three years is BAEKHYUN (from EXO). We last heard a solo release from the EXO member in 2021, when he released Bambi – the title of his lead single and third mini-album. Yesterday, BAEKHYUN returned with his fourth mini-album, Hello, World! and the lead single Pineapple Slice.

If Bambi confirmed anything, R&B is definitely BAEKHYUN’s forte. So, it is no surprise that the new song Pineapple Slice (which has a very intriguing title) ventures into that domain again. And BAEKHYUN pulls it off, as expected. What sets Pineapple Slice apart from his past ventures into the genre is the groovy and textural synthwave instrumental in the background. It is a pretty satisfying piece to listen to, especially when it comes to the bassline, which makes the song pop out even more. BAEKHYUN does amazingly in the vocal department, infusing that sensual vibe associated with the R&B genre effortlessly with the grooviness of the instrumental. It is exciting to hear BAEKHYUN again, especially with his falsetto and charismatic vocals in the choruses. The melodies and hooks ring in my mind even after the song wraps up. Because of these (and practically the entire track), falling asleep last night was challenging. Does anyone have that problem when you listen to BAEKHYUN? No? Just me? Anyway, the music and BAKEHYUN himself slow things down in the pre-chorus. It is well appreciated after it makes the launch back into the chorus and the succeeding sequence much more impactful. I also liked how atmospheric the instrumental got for the bridge, and BAEKHYUN sounds the best in this part of Pineapple Slice. Overall, Pineapple Slice is a robust and solid comeback for BAEKHYUN, and I can’t wait to hit replay to listen to it again.

In the music video, BAEKHYUN plays a vampire who uses his ‘sweet like a pineapple slice’ charms to get with the person he is interested in. He is highly charismatic and flirty in the first montage of scenes. He shows off a more mysterious vibe when he is on the train. The video’s main scenes are the party scenes, demonstrating his control and power. At the start of the video, we see him (or rather, his bats) ravaging the other partygoers and putting them under his spell. Later, he revives them, just moments before he makes his move towards the lady who catches his attention and bites her neck. These scenes, as well as the choreography scenes, have a hint of sensual tension to re-emphasise BAEKHYUN’s charms.

Performance-wise, BAEKHYUN really shows his passion with this routine. He puts a lot of effort into his movements while also effortlessly executing the live vocals. This is what makes BAEKHYUN such a great performer. The routine complemented Pineapple Slice‘s upbeat nature and teased out that sensual tone within the track. BAEKHYUN and his dancers did a great job executing it all.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.9/10