K-Album Review: X1’s Emergency: Quantum Leap

Abhipsha Rana, Kolkata, West Bengal

X1, the boy band formed by CJ ENM through the reality competition Produce X 101, debuted with their extended play Emergency: Quantum Leap on August 29, 2019. The album consists of seven tracks including a physical edition bonus track, ‘X1-MA (지마; X1 version).’

Fans of the now-disbanded group that comprised of members Kim Yo-han, Kim Woo-seok, Han Seung-woo, Song Hyeong-jun, Cho Seung-youn, Son Dong-pyo, Lee Han-gyul, Nam Do-hyon, Cha Jun-ho, Kang Min-hee, and Lee Eun-sang, were delighted on the release of the masterpiece that included a variety of genres, and the members did not disappoint us. All the tracks in the album are beautiful and worth listening to! Here’s my review of the album:

Stand Up

‘Stand Up‘ is the intro song in this album. It begins with Kim Yo-han’s raspy ‘Stand up‘ and slowly moves to the upbeat melody. Unlike other intros, ‘Stand Up’ sounds more like a song, which is quite a different approach. This song has a cheerful but hard-hitting vibe, and it will lift your mood in an instant. The vocals are on point, and you’ll find yourself grooving to the tunes.

Flash

The second track, it is also the title song in the album. ‘Flash‘ has its charm as it oscillates between soft vocals and foot-tapping rap. The lyrics are catchy as well. They talk about how they are nothing without their fans and express their desire to fly higher with them. The choreography is equally exciting! With interesting motifs and moves, the listeners will be smitten by the music video.

웃을 때 제일 예뻐 (Like always)

The third track is titled ‘웃을 때 제일 예뻐 (Like always)‘ which translates to ‘you look pretty when you smile (Like always)’. This song is a cute one as the members express their love and support for their fans and promise to stand by them at all times. It will make you smile if you are going through hard times and will restore your faith in life. This is one of the songs that you can hear on the loop.

괜찮아요 (I’m here for you)

The fourth track is called ‘괜찮아요 (I’m here for you)‘ which means ‘It’s okay (I’m here for you)’. This ballad holds the most precious memories of the members from their journey starting from Produce X 101 to being X1 and is extremely comforting. It is also special to them as they talk about how they’ll be there with us forever and also reassures the fans who’ve tried their best at every point – ‘I’ll never let go of you, you can take a break.’

U GOT IT (X1 VER.)

‘U GOT IT (X1 VER.)‘ is X1’s version of the hit track from the concept evaluation on Produce X 101. It is heavy on EDM, and the members blend their voices to deliver a masterpiece. This song has a different approach but is quite interesting in its own way. And, the choreography is on point! You’ll love to listen to this song as it will lift your mood, and you’ll find yourself grooving to the melody.

움직여 (MOVE) (X1 Ver.)

The sixth track, ‘MOVE (X1 VER.)‘, is also X1’s version of another hit track from the concept evaluation on Produce X 101. It is a mainstream pop song which is produced by rapper Woo Ji-ho, better known as Zico. Another foot-tapping song, it has the rappers shining with their captivating raps. The bridge slows the pace for a while, but it soon returns to its tunes.

X1-MA (지마; X1 version)

The seventh track in the album is ‘X1-MA (지마; X1 version)‘ – X1’s version of the track sung by the trainees who participated in Produce X 101. This song focuses on the idea of not giving up no matter what happens. It is cheerful in its approach yet comforting. This song will never fail to make you feel better and will motivate you to chase your dreams. The energy during the chorus is powerful and is also a good example of group synchronisation.

What do you think of the tracks? Tell us about your favourite one in the comment section.