THROWBACK #11: T-ARA & SUPERNOVA- TIME TO LOVE

Released: September 15th, 2009

This time we turn the clock all the way back to 2009, an era that will surely make you feel old if you can recall what was happening then. 2009 was best known for the ignition of girl groups that are considered today as the backbone of the 3rd generation. Some of the most recognized singles in K-Pop history were released that year (SNSD Gee & Genie, KARA mister, etc). But it was also well known for the debut of girl groups like 2NE1, 4MINUTE, SECRET, F(X), AFTER SCHOOL, and T-ARA who have all made a mark in the K-Pop books. Today I want to dive further into T-ARA's rich discography of singles that have weld their footprint not just in South Korea, but also in Japan and China. Their debut single Lie in July was certainly one of my favorites but Time To Love released 2 months later is the dark horse. With a little help from their labelmates SuperNova, T-ara's Time To Love is one of the most compelling classics that stays true to the original K-Pop sound, even to this day.

Time To Love wedges in between 2 generations of K-Pop by fusing the modern electronic sound (or more specifically, of the 2010s) with traditional hip-hop in the 90s and 00s, all molded together by a melancholic Korean melody. The melody in the chorus almost feels like an mesmerizing hook, with the girls singing notes that immediately ascend from the 4th to the 6th octave. If you hear the background carefully though it is very rich. The brass synths immediately hooks the listener in the intro and adds depth to the chorus, while the bass in the chorus and particularly the verses give the song more of a bouncy-feel that is very unique in hip-hop. The piano in the background is on rhythm with the vocals but plays a complete different tune from the melody, adding an additional layer on top of that already-gorgeous sound. Speaking of vocals, who knew the girls could also rap? As this is a hip-hop tune, both T-ara's and Supernova's rap parts mesh very well with the piano melody and the bass-influenced beat and I love the alternating between their parts. The bridge also deserves a huge amount of recognition, where the instruments cease, and the vocalist showcases her singing capabilities, before converting all that potential energy back into the final rapping part. The song treats us with more ear-candy one last time with a modulation of the final chorus and additional harmonies placed.

Even though it is hip-hop, I love the strike in balance where the verses never seem to overshadow the chorus and vice versa. However, my inner bias in me does beg for more vocal parts especially after hearing that masterpiece that is the bridge. What impresses me the most is how simplistic the song's structure is overall, yet how complex each of the song sections are. Rarely do you ever hear songs like these any more in this new decade, although you might be able to hear OSTs with a similar kind of melody in Korean dramas. Time To Love's willingness to experiment with a new decade ahead while staying true to its K-Pop roots is why it wins me over.

By the way, if the electronic elements here are more of your style, then you should check out Time To Love Ver. 2! It's basically an upbeat version of this same song here. If you are wishing for even more of a melancholic mood of this melody, then you should check out Ma Boo, which is on a minor scale and follows the same rhythm and blueprint as Time To Love.

RATING: 8.1/10