26/10/23
My dearest Keonhee,
As promised, I am back to tell you how much I love your recent work! 🥰 I warned you that this will be long, so let's start straight away with the album!
Intro: Beggin' You
This was unexpected for a ONEUS intro! It's quite funky, and I think it's a fun addition to the intros collection. I love it when you guys explore something very different from usual and make it your own. 😎
Baila Conmigo
Since I already talked about 'Baila Conmigo' when the music video was released, I won't add too much now. However, I read in the description box on the It's Live band performance video (which I shall rave about another time) that the music was based on Brahms' 'Hungarian Dance No. 4'! Admittedly, I am not as familiar with the Hungarian Dances as I should be, since Brahms isn't one of my go-to composers to listen to, so I was quite surprised. As soon as I read this information, I listened to the orchestral arrangement of 'Hungarian Dance No. 4' and did some aural comparison with 'Baila Conmigo'. I could hear where the trumpet part came from, but my curiosity wasn't satisfied! So I then went and pulled up both the orchestral and piano scores, and followed along while I listened to 'Baila Conmigo' several more times. Let me say, it was so interesting! As someone who likes classical music and pop music to be kept in their separate places, I very much appreciated the composers of 'Baila Conmigo' incorporating Brahms' original work in such a way that it didn't lessen its integrity. Only one small part was actually sampled; rather, the music was utilised in a way that makes one think, "'Baila Conmigo' was inspired by Brahms' music, but is very much its own song." That is difficult to achieve. I was actually so fascinated with this that I had to restrain myself from diving into it too deeply! I could feel myself ready to research it more and write an entire analytical research essay on it as though I was still at university! 🙈 (Writing essays is my strength and I miss it, but I don't have time for that right now!)
(...Did I say I wouldn't talk too much about 'Baila Conmigo' in this letter? 😶)
Simulation
'Simulation'. Oh, my goodness, 'Simulation'. What a song this is. It must be said, this is my favourite track off the album. I am obsessed with it. Musically-speaking, it is one of my favourite ONEUS songs. As someone who studied music, there are so many things I can appreciate about this song from a technical standpoint and from a performance standpoint. As someone who is very much a musical theatre geek, there are so many things I can appreciate about this song and its performance. I adore the overall feeling of it: it's haunting, mysterious, very atmospheric and a bit dark. It's the perfect combination of a lot of the things I am most drawn to and love seeing in musicals. And Keonhee! You! Your voice! I truly believe this is your best vocal work so far. The melody allows you to show off your skills and impeccable techique. Your performance is infused with emotion. The way you end your phrases in the choruses, especially in the first chorus, is beautiful. They are tapered off breathily with the most delicate decrescendo, giving me the impression of mist slipping through my fingers at night, wispy and longing. 🌬️ 🌫️ Your adlibs and upper harmonies near the end are so light and pretty, they seem to just float in the air. Your upper register sounds so pure in 'Simulation'. I re-iterate: this song displays your best vocal work. I can't enough of your diamond voice. So beautiful!💎✨
Epilogue
Do you remember how I mentioned in my Catch-Up 💙☁️ letter posted on 21 June that it took me literally fifty listens of 'ECHO' to be satisfied that it was indeed you who started the song? Well, it only took me a few seconds with 'Epilogue'! Progress? 🙈 I love hearing you try new things, and your opening here is yet another example of your versatility. I love the mood of this song; it is perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Baila Conmigo (Spanish Ver.)
I have one word: WOW! I am beyond impressed. I don't know too much about the finer details of the Spanish language, but your pronunciation sounds really light and pretty to me, and I have heard that Spanish-speaking people have complimented you on this track. ✨ That makes my heart feel warm, and I am so proud of you! 🥹 You must have worked incredibly hard for this version and it truly paid off. Multilingual king indeed! 😌👑
I know I talked mostly about your voice and some aspects of the song compositions, but I feel that this album showcases every member equally well. Everyone shines in every song, which is not easy to achieve. I applaud everyone's efforts and deeply appreciate the amount of work that has gone into this album. Thankyou again for all of the time, thought and hard work you put into 'La Dolce Vita'. 💖 ✨
Didn't I say this was going to be long? I have only written half of what I had intended, but if I finish it now, I won't be able to post it today. So, since I promised I would write to you today, I will end the letter here for now and write Part 2 sometime over the next couple of days. Besides, I don't want to overwhelm you! 😅
Thankyou for the song recommendations you sent on fromm last night! I listened to them all well and enjoyed them very much. I didn't get to tell you that I also listened to and enjoyed your recommendations from the 'ONEUS Playlist' Magazine on Weverse, but it seems the songs overlap! Here is my song recommendation for today: 'Fallen Leaves' by LA POEM. It was only just released tonight and it is beautiful. I hope you like it, too. 🥺🍂
Take care, my precious Keonhee, and sleep well tonight with sweet dreams of dancing amongst the clouds like the angel you are! ☁️🤍🪽 I hope you had a lovely day today and I wish you another lovely day tomorrow. 🫶🏻
252 012 4ㄹㅎ 💙
(이건희 영원히 사랑해 💙)
With all my love,
Elizabeth. 💜💕💜💕xxxx