I’ll make a potentially unpopular confession: I’m just not a fan of Chen’s solo material. Given his status as a balladeer, the headwaters were always going to be against him. I don’t have much space in my music library for soft ballads. But, I love his voice and there are quite a few EXO ballads I absolutely adore (Miracles In December is a holiday classic, after all!). I prefer ballads that have a sense of musical drama – the same peaks and valleys that make any type of song enjoyable.
New single Last Scene (사라지고 있어) is a snooze. A native speaker might have a different opinion, as lyrical sentiment seems equally (or more) important than the music itself. But as someone looking for a great melody and bravura performance, Last Scene leaves me cold. It’s about as slow and hushed as a song can get, placing Chen’s voice over subdued piano. In this way, parts of Last Scene have similar heft to my beloved Miracles In December. But, the song lacks a great tune. It laps in and out like a gentle tide rather than weave a satisfying story with build and payoff.
Last Scene is at its best when it lets Chen stretch his vocals and go full-on musical theater. He sounds stirring on these big power notes, even if they never amount to a show-stopping moment that could act as a natural climax. Before we know it, the song has faded to a close without imparting much of an impression. It’s a missed opportunity, but I’m sure it will do well among ballad-lovers – especially during these chilly fall and winter months.
Hooks 7 Production 7 Longevity 7 Bias 7 RATING 7
