There’s a new Korean idol group on the horizon called CN Blue. CN Blue, composed of Jonghyun, Minhyuk, Jungshin and Yonghwa (who may be familiar to audiences as Kang Shinwoo on the immensely successful Korean soap opera You’re Beautiful), released its first mini-CD, Blue Tory, just this week, with a track, I’m A Loner (Oetoriya) as its carrier single.
What is particularly noteworthy about CN Blue is the quality of the song. It doesn’t sound like anything at all that’s come out from most Korean idol groups, who tend to focus on airtight harmonies and killer dance moves. The four members of CN Blue actually play their instruments, and don’t seem to focus too much on dancing, if their MV is any indication.
Late last week, CN Blue got itself into a little bit of controversy when I’m A Loner (Oetoriya) was accused of being plagiarized from a song called Blue Bird by another Korean indie band by the name of YNot. The songs do sound alike; the issue, however, in my opinion, is more a problem of the songwriters and not the band. (How were they to know if a song were ripped off or not anyway? Mariah Carey had similar issues when her Standing O from Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel seemed eerily familiar to KPop girl group 2NE1’s In The Club.) CN Blue seems to have gotten through it, though, and are currently doing the rounds of variety shows and music contests.
On a personal note, I think Oetoriya has a fresh sound compared to many other KPop groups. Stateside, I’d compare their sound to Maroon5 or David Crowder*Band. It’s a fast-paced, frantic, guitar-driven song that is certainly a lot of fun. Give I’m A Loner (Oetoriya) a listen and tell me what you think.
[audio:Oetoriya.mp3]