Song Review: Tzuyu (Twice) – Run Away

As the Twice members slowly begin to develop solo careers, it’s interesting to see which girls release music first. Nayeon has become the most prolific, delivering two solo albums. Leader Jihyo also made a solo debut last summer. Now, Tzuyu is the next to follow in their footsteps. As a casual fan, I’m not familiar with specific genres or styles she gravitates toward, making me more curious to hear what her music has to offer.

Perhaps unsurprisingly in this current pop market, Run Away plays things right down the middle. This is certainly no “swing for the rafters” breakout, choosing instead to replicate a Twice-like sound with one voice rather than nine. This is no bad thing given the strength of Twice’s music, but the song’s generic execution fails to make an inarguable case for a Tzuyu solo career.

Run Away unfolds over a pulsing dance beat. What it lacks in character it makes up for in sheer drive, keeping its four on the floor momentum chugging along the entire time. The song itself is crisp and polished, cresting in a memorable chorus that takes advantage of the crystalline production. But like so many recent K-pop tracks, Run Away is high on style but low on everything else. The song doesn’t fully engage me because there’s no real gusto behind it. From performance to arrangement, its three minutes pass by without striking any tactile blows. Its as if the track is afraid to get dirty and slightly unpolished. What’s left behind is a pleasant — but ultimately sterilized — showpiece with a “look, don’t touch” attitude that keeps it locked behind glass.

Grade: C+