“Wayo” marks the solo debut single by South Korean singer Bang Ye Dam. Bang Ye Dam is also a member of the Kpop boy band “Treasure” under YG Entertainment. Let’s check out how Bang Ye Dam’s debut sounds.
Lyrics: B+
The lyrics of “Wayo” depicts a post-breakup between the singer and someone else, where he laments about missing his significant other in the opening lines:
The minutes are ticking away and I’m stuck here all alone
Girl, are you really doing ok, I’m a mess now that you’re gone
Never thought we’d grow apart always swore we’d live as one
Not So Tasty:
“Wayo” brings nothing new to the storytelling behind a heartbreak. The lyrics certainly do the job of expressing how the singer feels, however, the lyrics behind the emotion read as somewhat generic and do not go beyond the surface to feel more personal. With lines such as:
It’s so hard to say goodbye when you don’t have a choice
I’m trying to say I still love you, baby come home
Just trying to keep it together here on my own
But who am I fooling, I’m missing you
It feels like a missed opportunity to have explored a particular angle of the singer’s feelings rather than the typical “I miss you” route that many heartbreak songs take.
Tasty:
Although generic, the singer does express a progression in his feelings in the final segment of the song where he sings:
Bye goodbye bye
Bye, Goodbye, Bye
Tell me why, what’s going on
bye goodbye bye
Bye, Goodbye, Bye
These lines only appear once in the song within the outro, and adds a nice touch of showing that the outcome of the singer’s situation likely will not be a reconciliation; instead, Bang Ye Dam comes to terms with losing his significant other.
Production: A+
“Wayo” is a beautiful song in its production and vocal performance from Bang Ye Dam.
Tasty:
“Wayo” is a treat to listen to the entire time. The opening guitar works well with Bang Ye Dam’s voice in the verses and chorus, and the simplicity of the song at the outset compliments its message.
The instrumentation of the flute that comes before the bridge fits well and adds a new layer to the song, and interestingly, from this point onward the guitar is no longer the highlight of the instrumentation. The change in instrumentation makes a smart choice for the song because it sets up the climax and keeps the song from sounding monotonous.
The final section of “Wayo” after its bridge is definitely the highlight of the song, and brings a different level of energy to the song that contrasts with the prior sections perfectly. Bang Ye Dam eases up on the vocal restraint shown earlier in the song and begins to adlib, while at the same time the chorus picks up in volume. Everything about the ending climax of “Wayo” is executed perfectly and feels like a rewarding climax to the song.
The sound of “Wayo” by Bang Ye Dam is reminiscent of music by the artist Keshi. Check out our review of Keshi’s “Blue” here.
Replayability: A+
“Wayo” is an easy listen that is worth hearing multiple times for the climax alone. Bang Ye Dam’s voice is in great form within the song as well. At 3 minutes and 25 seconds the song feels shorter than it is — the outro climax happens just as fast as it ends — which is more reason to keep “Wayo” on your repeat playlist.
Final Grade: A
“Wayo” by Bang Ye Dam is a PopMocha hit. With its stellar production and vocal performance in his debut, this debut single marks a strong beginning to his solo career. We look forward to future music Bang Ye Dam has in store for his fans.
Color Vibe: Sunset Orange, Dark Blue
Season Vibe: Summer
Mood Vibe: Chill, Reflective
Mocha Quality: A
Tags: Kpop, Pop
Check out the music video for “Wayo” by Bang Ye Dam below.
Watch Bang Ye Dam give an interview sharing his journey to his solo debut in “Wayo” here.
[…] keeping this on replay.Check out our review of Bang Ye Dam’s song “Wayo” here, which features a similar style to […]