Song Review:: V (BTS) (with Park Hyo Shin): Winter Ahead

• Release date: 2024 November 29

• Album tracklist: Winter Ahead

• Album runtime: 4 minutes

I don't listen to a lot of BTS. Not because I don't like what I've heard, but I don't want my algorithm to be nothing but them. However, V's voice? Wow. He has such a gorgeous timbre. And I'm so excited to hear what he has going on with this, and later the Bing Crosby collaboration. 

And look at that masterpiece of a song length.

There's nothing like a saxophone and a piano to set the mood for holiday music. This is such a quiet, gentle slow dance kind of song, with audience participation snapping. That's also not to mention the way that even though this song is what it is, it still has a gradual build in energy, and the addition of a violin about halfway through the song. I wish I could have the instrumentals for the song. I really do. It's just so pretty. 

As expected. This is my first encounter with Park Hyo Shin, so I didn't now what to expect from him, but I had fairly high expectations for V. He, at least, matched my expectations, perhaps even exceeded them. The parts where they're dueting? Be still my fluttering soul. I don't think I realized the song was fully in English, but I'm also not sure that I was necessarily paying attention to the words. Oh, I think I might have fallen in love a little.

I told y'all it was a slow-dance kind of song! Also, this music video took the song from "Oh, that's so sweet" to "Why did I suddenly start watching a Bioshock video?" very suddenly. It's a phenomenal music video, but if I'm in the mood to listen to this song, then I'm likely not going to be wanting to watch something so sinister. It's still excellently made though. Wow.