Song Review: Lovelyz – November

I adored Lovelyz while they were active, but I don’t think I fully appreciated them until their style of lush, melodic girl group pop fell out of favor. Nowadays, there simply isn’t a K-pop group like them. The industry’s musical focus has changed so completely, leaving their discography as an enticing time capsule. Today, it’s our chance to unearth that capsule and discover a new treasure in special reunion single November (닿으면, 너).

Woollim Entertainment finally did something right this year (though apparently they couldn’t fund an actual music video) and gave Lovelyz a classic Lovelyz-sounding track to remind listeners why the group should be so missed. November is all synths stabs and delicate twinkles — a well-constructed blend of power and grace. The girls’ familiar vocals feel like a warm embrace, perfectly matching the sonic landscape.

With this said, November isn’t a discography standout. It’s b-side material at best, struggling to find a series of melodies as engaging as their best work. Though their signature sound is omnipresent throughout, the arrangement is also oddly muted. Above all else, November is a nostalgia play that never attempts to move beyond pure comfort. For weary third generation fans, this is enough to elicit a gracious smile, but will likely have them rushing back to the group’s discography rather than playing this song on repeat.

Grade: B-