Song Review: Moonbyul (Mamamoo) – Is This Love?

Across her solo career, Mamamoo’s Moonbyul has proven to be one of the more versatile members of the group, tackling a hodgepodge of genres and concepts with her trademark energy. Last winter’s double shot of Think About and Touchin&Movin was more effective than I’d expected, and now she’s returned with a repackage of that album and new title track Is This Love (내 친구의 친구 얘기인데), stretching this era far longer than most K-pop promotions.

Is This Love fits neatly beside the other two singles on the album, offering a bright, buoyant blast of pop. If you only heard a guide version, you’d be forgiven for assuming this was a TWS song! In fact, its structure, choreo and phrasing all borrow liberally from their popular viral hit Plot Twist. I never expected to compare these two acts in any way, but Plot Twist‘s influence has clearly entered the K-pop conversation.

Of course, facsimiles are rarely as successful as the original, and Is This Love can’t quite capture the magical melodies and earnest authenticity of its influence. Still, it’s a blast to hear Moonbyul play with this sound. Is This Love pinballs between catchy hooks, only faltering when the tempo slows to a crawl during its pre-chorus. Otherwise, the synths blast with jubilant energy and the chorus hits with addictive force. It feels like a song designed for a group and would improve with various vocal textures and tones, but at its core Is This Love is well-constructed and tons of fun.

Grade: B+