The “Cupid” sensation girl group FIFTY FIFTY, came back with a new mini album Love Tune, featuring a new line up but a similar lovelorn emotion from their previous releases.

After a dispute with their company in June 2023, it was announced the group would come back with only one original member, Keena, and four new members. Facing mixed reactions from fans, the group had a lot of work to prove themselves on their new release. The new line-up now includes members Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana and Athena.

The new album, ‘Love Tune’ was first announced three months ago, quickly after the lawsuit, leaving people unsure about the direction of the new group. The mini album features six tracks with two English versions. 

Behind the album are creative minds like Lee Hyung Suk — who has written for artists from LE SSERAFIM to TAEMIN — and Moa Lisa with credits on songs for Norwegian DJ and record producer, Alan Walker.

Despite the newly formed lineup, FIFTY FIFTY’s latest album refrains to stray away from what is considered the group’s original sound.

A refreshed FIFTY FIFTY

“Starry Night” was the first song from the album to be revealed. It served as a pre-release to tease the mini, a month before release. The song features both a Korean and English version and is a dreamy pop song packed with harmonies throughout. 

The highlight of the song is the chorus, where Hana and Chanelle show their vocal potential. The song is filled with hope for love, a topic approached many times in previous FIFTY FIFTY tracks. 

The girls yearn for a romance using stars as a metaphor for their love. This song feels very melancholic and although it’s a good track overall, it fails to distinguish itself from the average K-pop release — something FIFTY FIFTY had done successfully previously. 

“Starry Night” misses the opportunity to launch the new FIFTY FIFTY as an entirely fresh start and instead tries to utilise what was previously achieved by the group, without a unique sound to create exposure. 

What initially made FIFTY FIFTY so intriguing to K-pop and non-K-pop listeners, were the mesmerising tone of both their initial vocalists, Sio and Aran. The synergy of the voices of the original line-up, showed incredibly in their debut track “Higher”. 

With the rappers and the singers having opposite tones, one more nasal, the other more soft, they played off of each other perfectly. With “Starry Night”, the vocals carry out the song, yet are not close to the unique substance of their previous comebacks. The song feels nearly entirely expected, as a rushed attempt to bring back the name FIFTY FIFTY while it was still fresh.

“Push Your Love”, however, opens the mini promisingly. The addictive mellow guitar throughout the track, fusing with the group’s sweet voices, leaves room for more potential assigned to the group. 

The track is reminiscent of the FIFTY FIFTY’s older, more unique sound, and could have served as a more successful way to tease the album initially. Main vocalist and rapper, Chanelle Moon, in particular calls attention to both her rapping and singing exceedingly in the song. 

Chanelle was known as one of the most popular contestants internationally of the show ‘R U NEXT?’ and proves herself as a great addition to the group who is able to fulfill any role necessary. Members Hana, Athena and Keena also show off their vocal skills throughout the release comfortably.

“SOS” follows suit and is the title track of the mini album. It’s a compelling song with a funky bass line, soft acoustic guitar and soothing synths. FIFTY FIFTY express their loneliness in this track and find themselves above an addictive, nearing gloomy instrumental. 

The track also consists of two versions — English and Korean. It’s the best song on the album in my opinion, almost playing with nostalgia to older K-pop royalty like Apink with Mr.Chu, both in choreography and charm. 

The peak of this track are harmonies in the chorus, and the borderline whispering tone. There’s something hypnotic about this song, that makes it almost as addictive as their chart-topper “Cupid”, but with a more vacant feel. The girls are seen in the music video wearing purple and blue colours, in abandoned buildings and mazes symbolizing their desolate state in this song. The song also includes production from Adam Von Mentzer, who has worked with FIFTY FIFTY on “Cupid”.

The last song, “Gravity”, is a Pop EDM-resembling track. Athena and Chanelle’s voices blending in the chorus with opposite intensities perfectly summarise the powerfulness of the song. The same is seen with Hana and Keena in the second chorus, and Yewon in the last. 

Chanelle and Athena shine on the song as their voices fit perfectly with the mood. The new FIFTY FIFTY members prove in “Gravity”, that they are very capable of maintaining their brand as a vocal centered group.

With ‘Love Tune’, it’s hard to ignore that it misses the shine of FIFTY FIFTY’s past releases. It feels almost bittersweet to listen to songs like “Push your Love” or “SOS”, as they hit the closest to their original sound, but have a sadness to them that could only be explained by past circumstances.

Overall, ‘Love Tune’ is a promising release. It’s a coherent album demonstrating a new beginning for the group. But it’s undeniable that the original appeal that once popularised the group, is currently absent. While the group still attempts to find their own place within the K-pop space, ‘Love Tune’ is a good foundation for them, leaving fans wanting more from FIFTY FIFTY.

Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.