Aespa - Forever (era)

Aespa, SM Entertainment's rookie girl group, surprised fans with their sophomore single "Forever," a remake of a classic song. The group, consisting of members Karina, Giselle, Winter and NingNing, took on the challenge of reinterpreting a track originally composed by Yoo Young-jin, a senior songwriter and producer at SM Entertainment. Yoo's influence in the K-pop industry is significant, with his credits spanning across generations of SM artists, from '90s legends like H.O.T. and S.E.S. to newer acts such as EXO, Red Velvet, and NCT.

The release of "Forever" on February 5, 2021, marked a departure from aespa's debut sound. While their first single "Black Mamba" featured fierce beats and strong vocals, "Forever" showcases a softer side of the group with a sweet, laid-back vibe perfect for the late winter season. This shift in style gave the members an opportunity to demonstrate their vocal ranges, with rappers Karina and Giselle displaying vocals on par with the group's main vocalists, Winter and Ningning.

SM Entertainment built anticipation for the release by promoting the hashtag #늘_네_옆에_난_서있을게 (#I_will_always_stand_by_your_side) on the group's official Twitter account. The company described "Forever" as a song with a cozy winter mood, setting the stage for the group's new musical direction. To further engage fans, SM announced that aespa would release a series of performances for the single in the days following its release, each featuring various concepts.

Aespa's debut single "Black Mamba" introduced the group with a powerful and confident sound. The song featured thundering drums and a strong vocal performance, showcasing the hallmark power vocals associated with SM Entertainment artists. The lyrics of "Black Mamba" hinted at a deeper narrative, introducing the group's unique concept of members connected to virtual avatars. The song's villain, Black Mamba, was portrayed as a force preventing the members from connecting with their digital counterparts.

With the release of "Forever," aespa demonstrated a significant shift in their musical style. While "Black Mamba" was characterized by fierce beats and strong vocals, "Forever" presented a softer, more laid-back vibe perfect for the late winter season. This change in direction allowed the group to showcase a different facet of their abilities, particularly their vocal ranges. Even the group's rappers, Karina and Giselle, displayed vocals on par with the main vocalists, Winter and Ningning.

The transition from "Black Mamba" to "Forever" highlighted aespa's versatility as artists. The contrast between the two singles demonstrated their ability to adapt to different musical styles and concepts. "Forever," described as having a "cozy winter mood," offered fans a chance to experience a more heartwarming side of the group. This shift in style also provided an opportunity for the members to demonstrate their vocal prowess, with many fans praising their "angelic" voices. Despite some mixed reactions, the release of "Forever" showcased aespa's potential to explore various musical territories, setting the stage for their future growth as artists.

SM Entertainment's decision to release "Forever" as aespa's sophomore single marked a strategic shift in the group's musical direction. The company announced the surprise release on January 29, 2021, promoting it with the hashtag #늘_네_옆에_난_서있을게 (#I_will_always_stand_by_your_side) on the group's official Twitter account. This approach aimed to showcase aespa's versatility, transitioning from their powerful debut single "Black Mamba" to a softer, more laid-back style.

The choice to remake Yoo Young-jin's original song from the 2000 SM Entertainment holiday album "Winter Vacation in SMTown.com" was significant. Yoo, a senior songwriter and producer at SM Entertainment, has been instrumental in shaping the company's sound across generations of artists. By having aespa perform a remake of his work, SM Entertainment demonstrated a connection between their new talent and the company's rich musical heritage.

The recording process for "Forever" was overseen by Yoo Young-jin himself, who produced the 2021 makeover. This collaboration allowed aespa to benefit from Yoo's extensive experience while putting their own stamp on the song. The production focused on refining the original's drum-heavy tune, creating a more pleasant and ear-friendly version that complemented the group's feminine touch.

SM Entertainment announced that the group would release a series of performances for the single in the days following its release, each featuring various concepts. This approach provided multiple opportunities to showcase the song and the members' talents in different settings.

The remake of "Forever" presented a unique opportunity for aespa to demonstrate their vocal prowess. Unlike their debut single "Black Mamba," which featured fierce beats and strong vocals, "Forever" allowed the members to showcase a different side of their abilities. The song's mid-tempo R&B ballad style, with its acoustic guitar sound and string instruments, provided a perfect backdrop for highlighting the members' vocal ranges.

Notably, the recording process revealed that Karina and Giselle, known primarily as the group's rappers, displayed vocals on par with the main vocalists Winter and Ningning. This development showcased the comprehensive vocal training all members had undergone, allowing them to handle both powerful performances and softer, more melodic pieces with equal skill.

The vocal arrangements in "Forever" also included impressive ad-libbing heard midway through the song, further demonstrating the members' vocal abilities and the effectiveness of their training. This vocal showcase helped establish aespa as a well-rounded group capable of tackling various musical styles and challenges.

The visual aesthetics of aespa's "Forever" music video showcase a winter-themed concept that aligns with the song's cozy atmosphere. While specific details about the costume design for "Forever" are not provided in the available information, it's worth noting that aespa's outfits have garnered attention in other appearances. At a recent awards show, the group's coordinated outfits featured a "school uniform vibe" with each member dressed to match their personality while maintaining a cohesive look.

The set design for "Forever" likely reflects the winter theme, although specific details are not available in the provided information. In general, aespa's visual concepts tend to be striking and futuristic. For instance, in their "Girls" music video, the group was featured in "out-of-this-world visuals". While this doesn't directly relate to "Forever," it demonstrates the group's tendency towards impactful visual presentations.

The makeup and styling for "Forever" presumably complement the winter theme, though specific details are not provided. However, it's interesting to note that aespa's makeup choices have been a topic of discussion among fans. In a recent appearance, netizens had mixed reactions to the members' makeup styles, particularly noting an attempt to achieve the "aegyo-sal" look, which emphasizes the skin beneath the eyes. This shows that makeup plays a significant role in shaping aespa's visual presentation across their various concepts.

Karina, known primarily for her dancing skills, has shown significant vocal growth since aespa's debut. Her appearance in labelmate Taemin's music video for "Want" in February 2019 and subsequent performances on music programs demonstrated her potential as a performer. While not typically highlighted for her vocals, Karina has proven to be a capable sub-vocal within the group.

Giselle, often referred to as aespa's "secret weapon," has surprised many with her vocal abilities. Despite being the group's main rapper, she has a strong background in singing, having been part of the choir for four years at the International School of the Sacred Heart in Japan. Her vocal range extends to supporting notes up to G4, with inconsistent support around A4. While she may have a slightly nasal tone and thinner voice compared to her groupmates, Giselle has established herself as a solid sub-vocal within aespa.

Winter and Ningning form the core of aespa's vocal line, often showcasing their harmonies in the group's performances. Winter, initially introduced as the main dancer, has proven to be a formidable vocalist as well. She has a supported range from A3 to B4, though she tends to get tight and shouty above C5. Winter's vocals have been described as having a good sense of support and intonation, with the ability to support notes up to Bb4, albeit with some nasality.

Ningning, on the other hand, stands out as aespa's powerhouse vocalist. With a supported range from G#3 to C5, she demonstrates good agility, breath support, and a relatively connected head voice. Her impressive lower register extends down to D3, while her upper register remains full and supported even up to G5. Ningning's vocal prowess was evident even before debut, as she was introduced as part of SM Rookies in 2016 and contributed to various projects, including covers for the Korean animated TV program "Shining Star" in 2017.

Together, Winter and Ningning's vocals complement each other, creating a dynamic and harmonious sound that has become a signature of aespa's music. Their collaboration on the soundtrack of the TvN drama "Our Blues" with the single "Once Again" in May 2022 further showcased their ability to blend their voices effectively.