Revisited: The Brave Sound

The Brave Brothers have practically collaborated with almost every artist at some point of time (SiSTAR, U-KISS, After School), excepting SM/JYP artistes

With the multiple works they have produced, it's a good time to revisit their imprint on K-Pop




The first phase:

Yes, they were one of the early collaborators with the Brave Brothers. Open with a thumping beat, cut in to a rap intro, then the key hook (or chorus), do the rest of the singing to the looped electronic instrumental, go into chorus. Rinse and repeat till song end. Oh, and leave some space near the end for a little "twist"

The description of the Brave Brothers might sound over-simplified, but pop lovers bought enough of the song to send it No.1. Another Brave Brothers production, Son Dambi's Crazy, also went into the top 5, and made her a household name overnight.

The Brave Sound was here to stay.


The Peak:

Featuring more processed vocals (the chorus is so processed the guys just dance to its vocoded glory), electronic back tracks and distortion, the song starting straight from the chorus, it has all the hallmarks of a Brave Brothers track. That is if the signature introduction did not give the game away.

Despite this, the track was still addictive in it's sing-along way, and made others take notice of them, never mind that the sound aged quickly, and U-Kiss switched producers for the next single.


The Stagnation:

                                      

(Before another rant starts, let me clarify, it's not about the singer, it's about the way the song was done and the composition style) I do not hate any of the songs, and they have their strengths, just that the Brave Sound really takes away from things.

Still the same stick in the ear feel to it, still the same arrangements, the same way the beats are laid, only that they are different beats to make us think it's a new song. And to add on, the same vocal processing.

It's as if when a group comes up to them for a song, they just go to their beat maker, pull out something vaguely different, and proffer it to the group.

On one hand, the Brave Brothers are giving them a recognisable song, but as composers, it looks as if they have failed to understand the strengths of the singers, and tailor a song to them.

Yes it's an instantly recognisable tune, but it does not forge strong unique identities for the singers, and shows little to no development in the Brave sound over the years.



Comments on the Brave Sound: A fan of it, or starting to tire of it?