Song Review:: NOWZ: IGNITION- Fly to the Youth (feat. Yuqi) {Pre-Release}

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  • Release date: 2025 July 9

  • Album tracklist: Fly to the youth (feat. Yuqi), EVERGLOW, Problem Child, Louder, DAY_AND

  • Album runtime: 11 minutes

 After watching the music video for Snowy Summer, the one for EVERGLOW was next up on my list. So, I figured I'd do that one next. Well, the pre-release with Yuqi because it came out first. I have high, high hopes that I may finally get the thing I've been wanting since they debuted, which is a less rappy title track. I kind of got one with the BEAST remake that I'm in love with, but I've been waiting for a non-remake title track that I love. I've got a good feeling about this album, and I've been holding off on listening to any of the songs until I could do these reviews. Fingers crossed. Although, even if I don't get one with IGNITION, I'll still be holding out for one. It'll happen. Also, I don't know if I mentioned this with either of my earlier reviews, but the reason why I'm being so stubborn about this is because they debuted as adults, and I'm going to support that. And! And! The last song on this album, DAY_AND? Without hearing it and without looking up the lyrics, I am telling you right now that this is a fan song, and I already love it. I don't care what it sounds like. Also, I've updated the previous posts I've done for them with their new group name and in the tags, so you can find NOWZ under both "NOWZ" and "NOWADAYS".

So, it's not technically a title track under my rules, but YES MY PATIENCE HAS BEEN REWARDED. FINGERS CROSSED ONCE MORE FOR EVERGLOW.

The instrumentals remind of late 00s western boy groups. Your One Directions, your Jonas Brothers, your Big Time Rushes. Those guys. There's a certain Disney Channel vibe to the instrumentals where yes, technically, this is a rock song, but there's a soft friendliness to it where the teeth aren't even filed down. They're removed. Which is interesting, but not a bad thing, and I wouldn't call it soft rock, because it doesn't have some of the markers I associate with it. Again, none of this is a bad thing. It's a departure from their usual sound, and people may be upset about it, but it's reassuring for me. Plus, you know, the existence of what I'm pretty sure is an acoustic guitar is just incredibly satisfying, and if it was stronger or more prominent, I'd actually be willing to argue that this was closer to the country umbrella than the rock. I'd still be willing to argue this because almost three decades worth of listening to country music has my ears well-tuned to it; it would just make the argument easier to make. But that also means that I am going to connect with this song differently than my peers who do not have this music background. Is it a departure from their normal sound? Yes. Is it the title track? No, so they could still be maintaining what they normally release with this b-side and the title track being the harder sound. And I'm okay with that. I got what I wanted. I have something to return to for the next three or so years before I'll be restless for another sound like this. It's good. It's a good time.

We're not getting the famed vocals out of NOWZ that their older brother groups to come out of Cube have historically had, but, again, this song isn't in a style to really emphasize big bursts of vocals, nor is the trending style one like that either, which is a shame. I think we may get all singing in this song, which I appreciate a lot, because it proves a duality that you do see a lot with Cube groups, as well as more of the older groups. As JR said on Produce 101, idol rappers have to be able to sing. But you know what we do get? A very sweet falsetto ad-lib with this hug of a song. We don't get dramatic displays, but we do get earnestness. And I'm okay with that. Next step is a full ballad and there may be one on this album. If that's the case, I'm going to be happy as a clam.

This music video is incredibly satisfying. We have storyline. We have depth. We have societal problems to be addressed. There's literally nothing else I could ask from this music video. This is a gorgeous, gorgeous gift from Yuqi paired with a music video that doesn't need anything flashy to make a statement. 



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