I’m quite happy to declare that from their debut, I have believed in the sound and the vision of BOYNEXTDOOR. It is safe to say that they have one of (if not the most) distinct sound among all groups of the 5th generation, mostly thanks to their incredibly unique vocal delivery somewhat derived from their CEO, Zico, though I would like to assert that each of the members still sound novel in their own way while united as a unit.
Released about year later, ‘Earth, Wind & Fire’, (which I shall now abbreviate as EWF for the rest of the post) might just their best release yet. It feels like the amalgamation of the members’ best qualities (their unmatched boyish yet quirky energy) with the production supporting it. While this evident in the entire song (like in the pre-chorus which was very sweet), it is most apparent in their post-chorus, which had divided people (including me) at release, with a sped-up and high-pitched chant might have just been a little too out there to be digestible. Yet, just as S.E.S’s classic ‘Dreams Come True’ (and with aespa’s remake) that employed something very similar, its quirkiness paid off in the long run with time revealing its charms, so does ‘EWF’. Its whole sound has grown to be iconic, creeping up on me in a way that I didn’t expect over the months. I would argue that it is definitely one of 2024 K-pop’s most defining songs just from the beat as the chorus comes in, alongside the vocal delivery and even the lyrics. ‘You’re my Earth Wind and Fire’ is a cute, memorable, somewhat cringe, yet sweet and wholesome way of declaring one’s inexplicable depth of their love for their loved one. I’m not going to lie, it will be one of those iconic phrases that will never leave my head for the years to come. And with it, I shall hear the jovial energy and remember the days where I bopped my head to this song and tried (in vain) to sing along the impossibly fast post-chorus, hoping to find my one and only, ‘earth, wind, and fire’.
My feelings for this song, as clearly iterated, go beyond aspects outside the technical aspects, but that is because it has already successfully taken me to a place where I don’t even think about it. I think that is a huge success in its own right. Time will tell if this shall be their Magnus Opus, but ‘EWF’ solidifies BOYNEXTDOOR as a group to watch out for.
Hooks – 9
Production – 9
Vocal Delivery – 10
Overall – 9.5
K-pop Evaluated 
Leave a comment