The most surprising thing about “One Way Love”, is that it sounds like any other SISTAR release. But then again, that may be the least surprising thing about it too.
Solo releases are generally seen as a way for an artist to “reveal themselves” and differentiate themselves from their flagship group. This can be done musically, aesthetically or lyrically but much attention is usually paid to how an artist’s personality can be shown in a new light, given all the spotlight that is being given to what is usually a group affair. Hyorin may be an exception case to the rule. With “One Way Love”, Hyorin’s solo music video has all the trademarks of a SISTAR or SISTAR19 single but considering how Hyorin is already the force behind the group and sub-unit, this is more than acceptable.
“One Way Love” is a SISTAR song. The lyrics are written by longtime SISTAR producer Brave Brothers, who also assisted in the production and it shows. There’s those signature keys and high pitched electronic woops which dance over a beat that is pretty much all bass guitar and snare drum. Brave Brothers has been more miss than hit this year, but his team did well by Hyorin here. The sound is more minimal and the result is more of a slow dance pop song than the grungy disco feel that Brave Brothers often falls back on. As for the vocals, for the first two and a half minutes it’s nothing special. There’s not a lot of exhibitionism and Hyorin only lends a light husk and puts forth a workmanlike effort. The falsettos are uttered softly but nothing takes off. It more or less recalls a mixture of SISTAR’s vocal performance in “Give It to Me” and SISTAR19 in “Gone Not Around Any Longer“, only with Hyorin subbing in for the Dasom and Soyu lines, not exactly the best use of Hyorin’s talent. But then the last minute hits, and Hyorin reminds everyone why she is essentially a solo force already. Her rapping is so rapid and precise that it puts everything that Bora has done up to now to shame. The breakdown over the ending, where Hyorin finally lets loose a big brassy bellow, is well worth the wait. As a display of her range as a performer “One Way Love” may take its time (arguably, too much time) but the final half of the song more than makes up for it.
Brings the camera into focus through sheer willpower.
The video is a mixture of story and dance, and while it’s not very creative (SISTAR videos are never very high concept) it’s also not an eyesore in any way. The lighting alternates between bright whites for the choreography scenes and a warmer yellow for solo shots and the plot pieces. A soft light filter is also applied at points, and it’s done just gently enough to avoid looking like a Hallmark Film. Thankfully, there are no obnoxious constantly flashing lights and the direction doesn’t cut at a frenetic rate to the point where there’s no time to digest what’s actually happening on screen. The sets are nice and varied, from the obligatory sterile white dance sets, to the textured brick apartments to the dark cobblestone streets. The wardrobe does a good job to match the black and white theme that is carried out throughout “One Way Love”. It’s not the most subtle thing in the world, but its also not eye-rollingly blunt either. Hyorin could make a garbage bag look sexy, so it’s no big shock that she looks fantastic in this video. Heck, some of her outfits look like clothing appropriated from past SISTAR works as well (a compliment of the highest order). In all, the video doesn’t offer many surprises or take many risks but it’s a passable way to showcase Hyorin in all of her glory.
Glory be to Hyorin.
In one sense then, “One Way Love” feels like a missed opportunity. The lack of surprise is the main sticking point of “One Way Love” but perhaps it is just too much to expect to see something “new” out of Hyorin when her group efforts are pretty much solo showcases already. “One Way Love” proves that Hyorin can do it all; she can sing, dance, and rap and she does it all very well. She looks great and she has plenty of charisma to spare. Hyorin is a star and the only problem with this release is that these are things that everyone already knew. But if a release is going to have a problem, this problem is a great one to have.
Rating: 4 microphones out of one voice. Can we just retroactively call all SISTAR-related material Hyorin solo efforts?
Side note: Apologies for no Man Candy Monday this week. General spazzing about abs will continue on its regularly scheduled day next week, promise. Also, “Lonely” is an ok track, but One Way Love is more interesting to me and that’s why I chose this one. But both are good! Go hog wild!
Yellow Slug Reviews 
Yup. Sistar AND Sistar19 was Hyorin’s one woman show from day one. This solo only confirmed that Bora is even more useless than she already is, considering that Sistar19/Sistar could technically be better without her. In fact, Sistar19 should have been Hyorin and Soyou, because the latter is the only one in Sistar who has any chance of not being swallowed whole by Hyorin.
I think you’re underestimating the ‘visual’ prowess of Bora. I’m a late comer to K-Pop and Sistar19 was actually my introduction to Sistar itself.
To be absolutely honest, the first thing I noticed about Sistar19 with this..
Hot diggity dang!
Maybe I just don’t get it XD, but Bora never stood out to me visually. Then again, it’s not like Hyorin is my favorite voice in Kpop either. I’ve mostly been ambivalent with all things Sistar.
Bora’s legs are the second best thing about SISTAR (and to me, that is kind of where SISTAR love ends).
Actually, when I first saw Sistar’s MV “Alone” it was Bora that i first noticed and why i looked more into Sistar. In vocal, Hyorin is really powerful, but visual it is Bora. She has charm and looks really sexy. She isn’t swallowed by Hyorin. Hyorins voice and Boras look are the things that make the group popular. Soyu has a grate voice too, but I have a feeling that Starship doesn’t give her the opportunitie to reveal her voice to max. And for Dasom, I don’t now. I have a feeling that she is the unnecessary one.
Spot on review. After her Immortal Song 2 performances, Hyorin really had nothing much left to provide except she maybe she can ‘rap’ like Bora (although what passes as rap in K-Pop is debatable). Looking forward to her other tracks. I like this much better than ‘Lonely’ too.
I liked Lonely better than One Way Love, simply because I found it to be a better use of Hyolyn’s vocal talent, however that rap section in OWL (calling it that from now on) was superb.
Exactly! I feel like this video didn’t make use of her talent like Lonely did and instead was really…mainstream so to say? She’s now doing what everyone else is doing (rapping, wearing promiscuous clothing, showy dances) rather than being her more natural, talented self.
Add me to the “meh” category on this and Sistar in general. I like My Boy quite a bit, but none of their other songs really get it done for me. I recognize their talents both musically and aesthetically, but none of their songs are in my regular rotation. I want to like them. I just don’t.
“Alone” and “Loving U” are in mine, but the rest of their discography can be lacking, I’ll grant.
I like “FALLING” the best.
neat review…
I love “Falling” too!! I like One Way Love more than Lonely… But oh wait… Isn’t it that Bora’s the best dancer among the group? Hmmmm…. I think she is… 🙂