Pentagon’s Jinho Brings Us Comfort and Serves Vocals In CHO:RD

Pentagon’s Jinho has been taking over our playlist for almost a month now. Jinho made his solo debut first in Japan at the end of August, and now he’s making his solo debut in Korea. And these songs are everything to us. It’s never been a secret that Jinho is one of the best vocalists in the industry, so we were expecting to be blown away when the day of his solo debut finally arrived. And that’s exactly what Jinho did with the release of CHO:RD, both in Japanese and Korean. CHO:RD explores the many sides of his artistry and showcases his voice in the most gorgeous way to remind us–not that we needed a reminder–how incredible he is.

‘Teddy Bear’

Jinho explored different sides of his talent with this mini-album. Each song is special in its own way, showcasing his versatility as an artist and singer. Jinho has always radiated an energy of care and reassurance, and somehow he managed to capture that feeling with the title track, ‘Teddy Bear.’ The song is a jazz-inspired, lowkey song that will comfort you at your lowest. For this song, Jinho plays with the softest side of his voice. Building off of such a cute concept as the teddy bear that comforts you when you have nightmares and is there with you every step of the way, Jinho found a way to make a soft yet sophisticated song that seems to embody everything he’s about. The music video encapsulates this unique concept in such a fun and sweet way, almost resembling a fairy tale.

Apart from being such an amazing song, ‘Teddy Bear’ feels like a warm hug on a cold day. And just like Jinho, this song is extremely precious to us.

CHO:RD

But CHO:RD is about much more than just ‘Teddy Bear.’ ‘Goodbye With You’ is the perfect opening track. It has a soft start, and the instrumental and Jinho’s voice slowly build the song to hit right in the feelings. The message makes it all the more powerful as Jinho sings about the process of letting go of someone and moving on. ‘Goodbye With You’ is a perfect song to showcase the control Jinho has over his voice and how he conveys emotions so beautifully. ‘Dear Precious One, Our Shimmering Days,’ on the other hand, is a song that sounds right out of an anime with its J-Rock energy. It’s bright and a boost of serotonin and energy; it’s that good. And just like ‘Teddy Bear,’ if we were to be asked which version of these songs is better, we wouldn’t be able to pick.

More B-Sides!

‘OVER’ is an instant highlight and the only song to be the same in both releases, as it is an all-English song. While the rest of the songs tend to be more subtle and have a slower build-up, ‘OVER’ does not hold back when it comes to giving us Jinho belting and outsinging everyone. It’s a striking, impactful, and frankly addictive pop-rock banger that never ceases to blow us away with how powerful Jinho sounds. The other b-sides are full of love, while this one is full of hurt and resentment, yet power and confidence. ‘OVER’ is really that b-side in CHO:RD.

Closing Tracks

Jinho released CHO:RD in both Japanese and Korean. Apart from the language, there is another difference between the two mini-albums, and that is the closing track. ‘merry-go-round’ is a Japanese exclusive b-side. It emanates happiness in the cutest way. While it is not explicitly a Christmas song, it would fit perfectly for the season with its bright, jazzy sound and its lovely message. And on the Korean side, we got ‘Bad Criminal,’ a much different song from its counterpart. The song explores a complicated relationship and carries a sensual energy with its rhythm, lyrics, and melodies. That’s the extent of Jinho‘s versatility.

Whether it’s in Japanese or in Korean, CHO:RD is a perfect solo mini-album for Jinho. He poured everything in the lyrics, composition, and vocals. Jinho will forever be one of our favorite vocalists. And to have CHO:RD in our hands is a dream come true.

You can listen the Japanese version here. And you can also check out the Korean version here.

Was ‘Teddy Bear’ what you expected from Jinho’s solo debut? What’s your favorite song out of CHO:RD? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.

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