Sour & Sweet

Sour & Sweet
Digital cover
Studio album by
BamBam
ReleasedMarch 28, 2023 (2023-03-28)
StudioAbyss Company
Length21:11
LanguageKorean
LabelAbyss Company
ProducerBamBam
BamBam chronology
B
(2022) 		Sour & Sweet
(2023)
Singles from Sour & Sweet
  1. "Sour & Sweet"
    Released: March 28, 2023

Sour & Sweet is the first studio album by South Korea-based Thai rapper and singer BamBam. It was released on March 28, 2023.

Background and release

After the release of B in January 2022, BamBam first shared he was preparing for a new record in July 2022.[1][2] In an interview with Cosmopolitan Korea in February 2023, he further revealed it was a full album and that he had been working on it since March 2022; he had also taken part in writing and composing all the songs, except for two.[3] On February 27, 2023, Abyss Company announced the title of the album, Sour & Sweet; pre-orders started the following day.[4] Released on March 28, 2023, Sour & Sweet is BamBam's first music release after one year and two months.[5][6] The music video for the homonymous title track was filmed in Greece, and sees BamBam becoming a detective who chases a criminal, only to discover it was him.[7]

Music and lyrics

The album presents the story of BamBam's journey, starting from "Feather", which tells his emotions when he arrived to South Korea's Incheon Airport after leaving Thailand, and concluding with "Wings", a song that portrays his current self, which has gained wings thanks to fans' support.[6][8][9] The narrative of a single feather now spreading its wings is complemented by autobiographical songs about his father and BamBam's identity as a celebrity.[8]

"Take It Easy" was written when he was struggling mentally and serves as a reminder that the world revolves even if he's not around,[9] while "Ghost" expresses resentment over his father's untimely death and the feeling of missing him very much.[8] The title track, "Sour & Sweet", is a city pop number.[8] BamBam explained that it illustrates two sides of himself: the bright, honest and "sweet" one he shows on variety shows, and the more serious one when he's working on music, which he decided to express with the word "sour".[8]

In "Let's Dance", he compares the romance between lovers to dance,[8] while "About You" talks about the life of a celebrity judged by the public.[9] "Tippy Toe" is about a person tiptoeing in front of a crush.[9]

Commercial performance

On the day of release, Sour & Sweet sold 24,368 copies in South Korea according to the Circle Chart.[10] It subsequently debuted at #3 on the Circle Weekly Album Chart with 103,377 copies sold.[11]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Feather"Jimmy Brown, BamBamCoach & Sendo, Jimmy BrownCoach & Sendo2:30
2."Take It Easy"Kyle Reynolds, Brandyn Robert Burnette, Nicholas Henriqeus, Garrison Webster, Jawon Daniels, BamBamKyle Reynolds, Brandyn Robert Burnette, Nicholas Henriqeus, Garrison Webster, Jawon Daniels, BamBam 2:07
3."Ghost"Adam Halliday, De'La, Sean Fischer, BamBam, Lee Seu-ranAdam Halliday, De'La, Sean Fischer, BamBam 2:37
4."Sour & Sweet"Jade.J, Kyle Reynolds, Emily Rebecca Vaughn, Jonathan Santana, BamBamKyle Reynolds, Emily Rebecca Vaughn, Jonathan Santana, BamBamJung Sung-min (Psycho Tension)2:27
5."Let's Dance" (Korean: 춤)Jimmy BrownJimmy Brown, HennyHenny3:27
6."About You"Hwang Yoo-bin, Higher Baby, Marty Valentine, BamBamHigher Baby, Sakehands, Marty Valentine, Softserveboy, SqvareHigher Baby, Sakehands, Marty Valentine, Jung Sung-min (Psycho Tension), BamBam2:45
7."Typpy Toe"Adam Halliday, De'La, Bekah Novi, BamBamAdam Halliday, De'La, Bekah Novi, BamBam 2:14
8."Wings"Jade.J, BamBam, Adam Halliday, Dillon DeskinAdam Halliday, Dillon Deskin, BamBam 3:04
Total length:21:11

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Sour & Sweet
Chart (2023) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[11] 3

References

  1. ^ Basbas, Franchesca Judine (July 28, 2022). "BamBam on his next album, coming back to Manila, a James Reid collab, and more". Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Chin, Carmen (July 29, 2022). "BamBam reveals he's working on his next solo album: "It's a big project"". NME. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. ^ Kim, Mi-na (February 24, 2023). "예능 치트키 뱀뱀! 성숙미 '완충'된 단독 화보" (in Korean). Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. ^ Yeo, Gladys (February 28, 2023). "GOT7's BamBam begins teasing first solo studio album 'Sour & Sweet'". NME. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Lee, Seul (February 27, 2023). "뱀뱀, 1년 2개월 만 컴백…3월 28일 솔로 앨범 발매" (in Korean). Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Yeo, Gladys (March 28, 2023). "GOT7's BamBam drops music video for 'Sour & Sweet'". NME. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Jo, Jae-yong (March 28, 2023). ""어릴 시절 마이클 잭슨 같다고"...뱀뱀, 'Sour & Sweet' MV 비하인드" (in Korean). Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Kim, Soo-jung (March 28, 2023). "[현장EN:]깃털로 시작해 날개 편 뱀뱀 "아직 갈 길 멀죠"" (in Korean). Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Ji-won, Choi (March 28, 2023). "From feather to wing, BamBam follows his growth in 'Sour & Sweet'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "Retail Album Chart – 2023.03.28". circlechart.kr. March 28, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Album Chart - 2023 Weeks 13". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 6, 2023.