"Candy" by Baekhyun

"Candy" by Baekhyun

"Candy" by Baekhyun

I gotta be real with you. 

When I first heard the song, I didn't like it.  I was SO EXCITED about this comeback because UN Village slapped and made me feel things that I didn't know I could feel.  It was... hot.  And that's being tame. 

So, of course, I was ready for Baekhyun to ruin my life with yet ANOTHER perfect song.  I wasn't a huge fan of the styling in the comeback teasers but I was willing to look over it because I knew that Baekhyun would deliver.  He always does, after all. 

I really tried to be excited, I really did.  But from the teaser pictures and the sample, I didn't exactly have a good impression of the song.  So when it came out I avoided it for like a week.  Maybe two. 

Let me tell you, I was really disappointed with the song overall because there was SOMETHING missing.  That classic Baekhyun thing was missing.  You know, it's that special something he brings to every single solo song he's ever done.  I don't know what that thing is, but Candy is missing it.  Objectively, it's not a bad song but the missing aspect just threw me off because it doesn't really feel like Baekhyun. 

The first solo album he came out with last year, City Lights, is phenomenal and I was not bored for a single second.  Like, it's so good and I love every single song.  Because every single song was unique and had Baekhyun's essence as an artist in it.  It would be SO EASY for him to be a ballad factory like some of SM Entertainment's other artists (**cough cough** Kyuhyun from Super Junior **cough cough**).  Like, this man could produce several albums of nothing but ballads because his voice would sound AMAZING on every single one but he doesn't.  SM took a gamble on Baekhyun and they've been giving him these incredibly interesting songs that I wouldn't really take to be Baekhyun's style.  But they WORK. 

"Young" ft Loco was such an interesting song with funky beats and a melody that I would have never expected from him.  "UN Village" was smooth and groovy and sexy and the ideal song.  "Candy" was funky and smooth in its own way but it doesn't make me feel the way "Young" or "UN Village" did.  I REALLY wanted it to.  I wanted this album to have the thing that "City Lights" does but... it doesn't.

I hate to even say it because I bias Baekhyun SO HARD.  

However, I listened to the song a handful more times and I listened to the album a time or two.  I'm still figuring out how I feel about the album itself, but I actually am starting to really love the song!  "Candy" is unique and it's got something that other songs that SM has put out doesn't have.  I will admit that I don't think this song would have worked as well if it was literally anybody else.  The dance is fun and cute and I'm glad that Baekhyun finally incorporated dancing into his act!  (I am not ignoring the, frankly, sinful choreography they added for UN Village for some of the live performances, one of which I was blessed enough to see with my own two eyes.)

This is starting to get rambly so let me wrap up:

My first impression of "Candy" wasn't great.  I love Baekhyun to death so it's not anything against him, it's literally the song.  However, it's started to grow on me and I really love the dance and the overall vibe of the song.  It's not my favorite song of 2020 or anything but Baekhyun once again has shown me that he is one of the strongest centers I know and that he is capable of just about anything he sets his mind to. 

Stan talent.  Stan Byun Baekhyun.