The Singles Jukebox

No, we don’t have an algorithm yet for Most Adjective Consensus…

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Austin Brown: A pleasant slice of bouncy R&B, aided by funk licks and Timbaland-lite polyrhythms, and pushed ever so slightly over the edge from passive pleasure to active enjoyment by Younha’s feather-light lullaby voice.
[6]

Leah Isobel: “Parade” is so light and soft it feels like it might evaporate if I think about it too hard. Younha’s voice is warm and sweet, twirling around the high notes; the bouncy bassline keeps her within the pull of gravity, but only just. “It’s okay to think that you’re the star,” she sings, “sometimes.” The feeling that the world revolves around her is fleeting, but to that feeling she attributes a gentleness and a relief that linger.
[7]

Alfred Soto: A lovely chorus melody — plaintive, wistful — anchors this hologram of a performance.
[7]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: The GroovyRoom tag tips us off that Younha is trying to stay up to date with current musical trends in Korea, but the result is something as forgettable as her past singles. Younha’s vocals are as ineffectual as vapor, and the cute synth melody overshadows it completely. It doesn’t help that another veteran K-pop star joined forces with contemporary songwriters/producers last month and made something far more successful.
[2]

Michelle Myers: This cheerful pop tune might be utterly forgettable were it not for Younha’s strong yet delicate soprano soaring across the pre-chorus.
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Ryo Miyauchi: The fireworks pop rather quietly in Younha’s “Parade,” but she’s singing about a more private magic. She admires a love that doesn’t completely re-define her universe but simply adds to it more glow, rhythm and imagination. GroovyRoom’s signature sound gives her modestly changed world a fitting base: down to earth in its ambition, yet still cosmic in its dreaminess.
[7]

Alex Clifton: “Parade” feels like a moment out of time. It’s not untethered–Younha’s voice grounds the piece nicely and the backing track is busy but uncluttered–but somehow feels otherworldly. It’s been a while since a song made me feel shot out to the stars.
[8]

Iain Mew: A song that goes out of its way to be undemanding, it’s sweet and soft and offers a constant stream of gentle pleasure. I think I would need to be in a fragile mood for that to seem worth taking over a lot of other choices, but it’s something.
[6]

Ramzi Awn: Unlikely synths are always a plus, and Younha’s ethereal flow is refreshing. “Parade” boasts just the right balance of texture and melody, and the single’s light touch is more than just a pretty facade–it’s intuitive. I’ve been missing a good parade.
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