Rather than opt for a standard music video, TVXQ’s U-Know is promoting his newest mini album with a thirteen-minute short film, unveiling his cinematic concept via a full storyline. Even so, the album has an official title track in Vuja Deand that’s what I’ll be writing about today.
Vuja De embraces elements of big band and swing, which is well-trodden territory for TVXQ. U-Know’s lithe vocals thrive within this sonic landscape and the exciting arrangement compliments his flair for the dramatic. The song is featured prominently during the second half of the Nexus short film and benefits from its surreal visual. On its own, the audio is a bit more inscrutable. It’s splashy and reserved in equal measure — big, brassy peaks surrounded by moments that feel like they’re simply killing time.
I guess I’m trying to say that — while I like this song — Vuja De doesn’t quite come together for me. I admire its ambition and perspective and U-Know is a great conduit for this material, but the structure is a little all over the place. Maybe the track just needs more time to blossom.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
