What better way to start off 2016 with IKON’s newest song from their debut album ‘Dumb & Dumber’! In essence, the title’s quite self-explanatory and seems more appropriate to be the rookie boy group’s anthem than the actual collaboration song between BI and Bobby’s song ‘Anthem’.
Although, with everyone returning back to reality after the festive season, there’s a need to spur back the motivation to keep on track with our work and our spirits high, here’s a song that will help ease the holiday blues!
Now, I haven’t followed IKON closely, so unlike the dedicated fans who have stuck by them through the long process before they finally were able to debut officially, I wasn’t fully anticipating them as much. While I can appreciate the amount of hard work and preparation each individual group or artist has to undertake to ensure that the very best is being produced, I wasn’t 100% sold on IKON at first. In the K-pop music industry, there is an abundance of groups being churned out all the time until it reaches a point where they struggle to stand out and be unique to remain in the spotlight past their debut days. With YG artists, it pains me to say this but I will acknowledge that they do have an unfair advantage when it comes to music in comparison to other noteworthy groups that fall under the radar because their companies do not have the same influences or power.
While I admit, I haven’t kept up to date with IKON pre-debut, there were expectations from awaiting fans about the kinds of songs they would release. However, I’m the sort of person who rarely takes a liking to ballads. I like them, but I feel that each individual has a certain taste when it comes to music preference. So, with IKON’s slower tracks, I can honestly say I didn’t pay much attention to them and many could argue that I’m missing out on good tracks because of that. Maybe I am, but with any group I’m more likely to give their faster paced songs a listen before the ballad, spine-tingling ones. So, it may not seem like a surprise that I really liked ‘Dumb & Dumber’.
Overall, I feel that out of all the songs that the YG rookie boy group have released up until this point, this is the main one that really showcases their contagious energies and characters. The concept of this appears to be quite self-explanatory in the sense that it’s nothing more than the boys having fun and not taking life too seriously. It’s overflowing with confidence and charisma that you would expect from a newly debuted male group. They will surely continue to grow through their music and no doubt their stage presence will also flourish with all the experiences of concerts, both their own and with the annual YG shows too.
Where to even begin with this music video? It’s expressive, the concept matches with song. It really brings the song to life, in the form of the IKON boys acting like derps as they toss away the ‘cool’ image, so to speak, and act like the lovable idiots that the fans know and adore.
IKON’s debut was very much hyped up and anticipated, as with most YG artists. While the ballads allowed them to take a step back, the slow melodies highlighting the underused talent of the vocals of the group, I feel that ‘Dumb & Dumber’ really allowed them to let loose and be the same energetic boys from ‘WIN TV’.
I did like the smooth transition from the start until the melody reached a slower peak, the lyrics behind it could symbolize the highs that the boys are going through then eventually it starts to fade, leaving only feelings of loneliness. The music video did a good job at providing a playful display of background information that gave the song more substance.
Here’s some highlights from the MV that really sees IKON really let go and get into the spirit of the music video.
Credit: Tumblr
IKON had also released another MV entitled ‘What’s Wrong’, so if you haven’t checked it out it’s certainly an interesting watch!
