Girls of the Year by VCHA

 Last week JYP and Republic Records’ American k-pop group from the survival show A2K finally debuted with the single, “Girls of the Year.” The single is accompanied by a second track, “Xo, Call Me.” So, what has VICHA brought to the table with this debut?

 “Girls of the Year” is a high energy, fun and bouncy song. Similar to the group's pre-debut releases, this single is about chasing dreams without any fear. Though the song would put anyone in a good mood with its happy beat, I also found it to be a bit cheesy. While I don't have anything against chasing dreams and singing about it, especially when it's clear that the girls have worked so hard for this dream, I can't help but feel that the song is somewhat generic. It seems as if VCHA is only singing about their motivation for the future, and not necessarily the reason for it. Personally, I would love to see the group diving further below the surface level of the emotions their songs express. This is especially true in the rap verses. With the talent present in the group, there's potential for really great rap verses, but in my opinion the rap in “Girls of the Year” really isn't all that it could be. This isn't to say that the group lacks anything in talent. For all my complaints, the layers of vocals in the chorus and bridge are amazing. The music video is also special, showing VCHA practicing their choreography and then performing it on stage. The scene is peppy and fun, the color scheme perfect. There's also a scene towards the end of the video where Camila is in the crowd, watching herself perform on stage and seeing how far she's come. This is a beautiful symbol of the group’s growth.

 “Xo, Call Me” is VCHA’s first song that hasn't been about confidence, motivation, or dreams. Instead, this song is about meeting someone who you want to stay with, who you can't leave without telling them to call you. In some ways, this seems more generic than anything else, and yet the song feels unique and special. The beat sounds halting, a bit hard to get used to at first, but very enjoyable to listen to. “Xo, Call Me” also contains a rap that I genuinely enjoyed listening to. 

 In my opinion, VCHA is an incredibly talented group.Though a few aspects of their debut weren't to my personal taste, the songs are genuinely very well-done, and I'm excited to see what else we get from VCHA in the future!