Song Review: Hong Joochan (Golden Child) – How Are You

Woollim Entertainment has dropped the ball when it comes to Golden Child solos and sub-units. The potential for fun mash-ups and interesting musical diversions feels endless, but the agency has a hard enough time even managing regular group comebacks. So instead of exploring new avenues for its talents, they give us the most predictable ballads.

Hong Joochan is one of my favorite K-pop vocalists of this era. In fact, he might be number one on my list. I could listen to his crystal clear, evocative tone sing anything. Because of this, his solo endeavors deserve to be more than old covers. 2019’s A Song For Me was a great (if predictable) choice, but now Woollim have gone crate digging once more for a cover of Park Hwayobi’s 2002 track How Are You (어떤가요) — itself a cover of Jeongbong Lee’s original from 1996.

Look, Joochan sings this very well. His work in musicals is clearly on display as he wrings every bit of emotion from the track. But despite its overwrought theatricality, I find the song a total snooze. The melodies don’t appeal to me and the slushy, OST-ready production is as predictable as it gets. A talent this radiant deserves an entire album of material that stretches his voice in unexpected and surprising ways.

Hooks 7 Production 7 Longevity 7 Bias 8 RATING 7.25

Grade: C

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