Bol4 Deep Dive #2/2: Growing Up Through Song (2025)

Here are my credentials: I’d consider myself something around a casual fan of Bol4. Of course I’ve heard of them, listened to a couple of their titles (one of which is a particular favorite of mine), seen some MVs, but I confess I know next to nothing about them as people and basically no b-sides. So, let’s get started!

(Part One)

Single #1: Red Lipstick

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Red Lipstick goes for a jazzier sound than Bol4 has done before, as is appropriate from a single called Filmlet. I adored the sense of sassiness and critique of beauty standards while emphasizing the need to feel comfortable in your own skin, and of course the catchy hook of the brass in the chorus had me nodding my head. I didn’t even mind the short bouts of sing-talk, which is a rarity for me. On a more personal note, as someone who adores makeup and has been judged (often) for wearing it heavily, I really loved this one. (single)

Butterfly Effect is a track I hadn’t actually heard before, so I was excited to check it out. It’s synthier and less acoustic-heavy than her last work, but it gives her vocals a chance to shine that she absolutely runs with, to great effect. This was a nice surprise after several tracks that sounded similar, and I hope that her future work also emphasizes this sense of build that the chorus leans into.

EP #7: Seoul

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Seoul is a return to the more understated, warm guitar of earlier tracks like Fight Day and Some, and feels light and airy, heralding the beginning of summer with its gentleness. It’s essentially a love letter to both the object of her affections and the city itself, and features some great lyrics like “in this city full of light…a cool girl with a microphone in her hand” and “in the place where we once fell in love, if you remember my voice, let’s meet again”.

From the EP, Seoul, I enjoyed the slightly more striking guitar to offset the bubbliness in Love Story, and I loved the genuine emotion in Jiyoung’s voice and more electric guitar in the self-critical In The Mirror, which was my hidden gem.

EP #8: Love.zip

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Friend The End is a track that feels as though it could be a K-drama OST, with the genre’s penchant for fated love stories and leans into that wholeheartedly, with a music video that shows a love story between two people as they grow up and then return to their old school days together. I admit it, though I expected a track that felt like all her others, I couldn’t help but be won over. I especially enjoyed the combination of backing vocals with the rising guitar and striking percussion, and how the song erupts into joy after the bridge as the couple get together in a shower of confetti fitting of a movie.

From the EP, Love.zip, I enjoyed the “I really love you” hook in Chase Love Hard, the punchy, percussive guitar and humming hook in Rome, and the a-capella in When Love Becomes Goodbye.

EP #9: Merry-Go-Round

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Snowball is, as is expected, a warm, understated track focused on guitar and past love. I like the song more in theory than in practice, as it’s not that different from her past work, and there’s nothing that really distinguishes it from those like Friend The End’s storyline or Red Lipstick’s message of self-empowerment. That’s not to say it’s a bad song at all, of course; the lyrics are captivating as always, Jiyoung’s voice is lovely, and the MV is beautiful. But in such a similar discography, it doesn’t stick out.

From the EP, Merry Go-Round, I enjoyed the surprisingly upbeat Goodbye My Love and the slight strings in Miss U, Dear.

Single #2: Lips

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Lips just came out this morning, and dips into the poppier, brighter side of Bol4’s discography. Accompanied by her signature acoustic guitar and some snazzy horns, Jiyoung’s never sounded better. I really enjoy this sound for her, a summery, relaxed, and fun-loving one, and Giselle’s feature here is a great fit, though I wish it was a little longer. It’s a bit too early to really say, but I think this song is in my top 5 Bol4 tracks. Time will tell.

Verdict: TL;DR

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I’m glad I did this. I didn’t know much about Bol4 when I began this deep dive, and I’m happy to say I changed that. I gained a new appreciation for Jiyoung’s unique voice (especially in the more soft rock songs and ballads), and overall found some great b-sides.

My Top 5 songs are Travel, Red Lipstick, Fight Day, Butterfly Effect, and Lips, with Dear Teddy Bear as an honorable mention. Bol4 gets an 8.25 out of 10 from me, which is about what I expected. Her discography is very strong, with a lot of thought and technique put into it. But, I think that where it suffers for me is that a lot of the songs, while distinctive from k-pop as a whole, aren’t that distinctive from each other, relying on similar elements and similar beats. I’m sure at least part of this is due to me not being fluent in Korean; though I’m learning, I’m nowhere near the level needed to see all the little differences in such meticulously crafted songs.

Next time, we’ll be doing part 2 of NCT 127. Tschüss!

Bol4 Deep Dive #2/2: Growing Up Through Song (2025)
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