Song Review: from20 x Hello Gloom – Blue

In both their solo endeavors and their team work, from20 and Hello Gloom have bounded from strength to strength this year. Their Way Better agency is aptly named, as it’s become the go-to place for high quality Korean dance music. The two traverse genres but tie everything together with an inviting energy and an ear for an indelible hook. New single Blue is a great way to punctuate their 2024 work.

The two previously collaborated on the uplifting Your Love back in July. Blue is similarly sentimental, though it draws its strength from skittering drum and bass rather than straight up house music. DnB has become a popular touchstone in K-pop this year, but is often used as a dull underpinning for uninspired melodies. Blue does some interesting things with the genre, utilizing dynamic percussion to transform mood and momentum. Each chorus sounds as if it’s being ripped into a wormhole and this sense of movement is quite effective.

Speaking of movement, my favorite moment in Blue happens right as the first chorus swoops into the second verse. This is the point where the vocal baton is passed from from20 to Hello Gloom and the transition is just lovely. I tend to be extra picky about second verses because I believe they can be the best part of a song if delivered well. It’s where momentum lives or dies in a song, and Blue guides us forward with style. As usual, I just wish the track was longer. There’s so much more that could have been done with an extra minute and it would have been great to hear from20 and Hello Gloom sing together at the finale. Still, this is another big hit from the Way Better team.

Grade: B