Like many idols I’ve been writing about recently, VERIVERY is a group that I know of but don’t know well. I watched their first music video back when they debuted, which I found pleasant but a little young for my personal tastes. And I enjoyed seeing them on Road to Kingdom, but for some reason never got around to watching anything they released afterwards. I think it was I held off on listening to most post-show music so I could write an analysis to finish up my recaps… but then I got distracted and delayed my recaps, and I never ended up checking out some of those comebacks. (Sigh.) So basically, I haven’t really looked at anything VERIVERY since watching Road to Kingdom. Given my feelings about most boy group songs so far this year, I headed into “Get Away” anticipating another reaction along the lines of, “It’s nice and well-done, but it’s not for me.” I was incredibly happy to discover that this wasn’t the case at all.
“Get Away” is smooth and sophisticated, definitely a song that’s my style. I wouldn’t call it “sexy” because most of VERIVERY is significantly younger than me, but I feel like that’s supposed to be the intended effect on the group’s target demographic. The whole song is very clean and polished, and the members’ vocals are sweet and appealing – almost enchanting. While the verses starts out soft and inviting, they slowly build into a powerful chorus with soaring singing and an instantly recognizable hook. And it’s all backed by a relaxed and mellow beat. It’s a far cry from the bubbly retro vibe of VERIVERY’s debut song, and I find myself resonating with it a lot more. It also looks like they took some cues from their time on Road to Kingdom, because their choreography for “Get Away” is very intricate and detailed. It’s one of those performances that looks like something you’d see at the theatre, and it felt like I was watching a story unfold.
Another major selling point of this comeback – perhaps the biggest one – is the stunning and intriguing music video. I tend to quickly move on from music videos in favor of performances, but I think this one will require multiple views on my part. Not only is it aesthetically gorgeous, but it also has a really interesting storyline. I don’t completely understand the narrative (I never do), but here’s what I figured out: VERIVERY gets an invitation to some event, then they fall through a hole in a ground Alice in Wonderland style. They happily take part in the gorgeous banquet they come across, but suffer from its mysterious side effects and pass out. Unbeknownst to them, they are being observed by double versions of themselves… who seem to be pretty malevolent, since the video ends with them holding the original members at gunpoint and all.
If you look at the YouTube video for “Get Away,” there’s an official description about VERIVERY’s latest album. Part of it reads: “There are various symbolic meanings of ‘O’, such as holes, dots, eyes, lenses, circulation, infinite possibilities, loops, and connections, etc. VERIVERY fills the year 2021 with an album on and discovering the dark inner space they each possess through the ‘O’ series and on how to use the darkness.” So going by this, the music video seems to be a commentary on and/or introduction to that inner darkness. It looks like there’s some kind of experiment involved – there are a couple of shots where you can tell the members are wearing mysterious contact lenses. I feel like maybe it has something to do with virtual reality, illusions, and/or dreams. Since this is a series, it looks like we’ll have to wait for the other installments to get the answer… but I am very curious.
When I saw VERIVERY on Road to Kingdom, I very much got the feeling they were a rookie group figuring themselves out. Which made sense, because they had only been active for about a year at that time. Looking at “Get Away,” which is about six months after the show ended, I can see that there’s been so much growth. Since K-pop is so visual, I did notice that all of the members glowed up significantly – they look a lot older and more mature compared to when I last saw them. But that glow up isn’t just in terms of looks; it also applies to their skills and to their whole brand in general. I don’t always like to compare rookies to their company seniors because I believe each group is its own entity… but I really did see some elements that reminded me of VIXX, in a good way. And even though both groups have the same commitment to visual storytelling, there’s still plenty that’s unique to VERIVERY.
MY OVERALL INTEREST LEVEL
(NOTE: My options for each category are “Love,” “Like,” “Neutral,” “Not My Style,” or “Dislike.” But I rarely dislike anything, so I’ll mostly be using the other four.)
| Category | My Opinion |
|---|---|
| Song | Love |
| Dance | Like |
| Music Video | Like |
I really enjoyed “Get Away.” I haven’t gotten attached to a lot of 2021 music yet, so this was a really pleasant and wonderful surprise. VERIVERY has definitely moved up on my personal list. However, I’m a little sad because VERIVERY is pretty underrated, especially in South Korea, so I don’t think this comeback will get all of the attention it – and the group – deserves. And it’s a pity, because I can tell “Get Away” is the type of song that would get a lot of hype in the hands of a group with a bigger name. But I think “Get Away” also shows how much potential VERIVERY has, and I really hope it can be at least a stepping stone to them receiving more recognition going forward.
(“Knee Jerk Reaction” is a column I created to talk about comebacks or debuts when I don’t have a lot of time to write in-depth reviews. A knee jerk reaction is like an automatic response, so it’s a post about my initial thoughts on the song, the music video, and the performance if it’s available. Compared to my reviews, everything is more stream of consciousness and less analytical. And everything is 100% my own opinion!)
SOURCES: Music video and featured image belong to Jellyfish Entertainment.
Katherine Does K-POP 