A musical collaboration between Fendi and Bang Chan of Stray Kids appeared out of nowhere like Peekaboo. Initially announced on WWD, the song dropped today on Fendi’s platforms, with the music video showcasing Bang Chan’s various talents. The man was able to demonstrate his song writing, musical production, singing, and dancing skills, while also modelling Fendi’s collection with his own flair.
The K-pop idol engaged in a bit of banter on his Bubble (a messaging subscription service for fans) that he changed the lyrics to the song to be more family-friendly. In the WWD article, Chan teased the track and mentioned the song carried a R&B/Miami Bass sound.
If he wrote the track with Miami Bass as his foundation, then it is easy to believe the lyrics were likely to be more sexually explicit, as per the genre. Christopher is also no stranger to suggestive lyrics in his own work, which fans often highlight with works such as Red Lights and Railway. This song is no exception with him saying he has that matte black pure-bred stallion (a stallion is often regarded as a sexually active male), followed by him singing, let me take you for a ride in Roma.
However, unlike his previous works, this song gives a sense of nostalgia with the prominence of the steady kick-drum building the song with every beat. It is both an easy listening track, and a song that many dancers will love to groove to.
The stylistic auto-tune may be a point of contention for some listeners, especially those who may be new to his work. Bang Chan and 3RACHA have previously stated their love of using auto-tune for the effect and vibe it adds to their music. But, that may not be enough to remove the stigma that some associate with the tool.
Taking the collaboration into consideration, the song is the perfect for playing in Fendi stores as it exudes both a fun and sophisticated feel. The wordplay and references made to Fendi and its collection make for a perfect disguised advertisement while paying homage to where the brand was established.
For myself personally, the highlight of the song is the post-chorus. The pause between you and dance builds a sense of momentary anticipation, adding another musical layer of emotion. It works well with the lyrics that follow shortly (Girl, the way that you dress got my head in a mess), as if it is foreshadowing the way his rhythm is disrupted with the obsession over his love interest in the song.
The only critique I have with this song is that it’s under three minutes, which is sadly common in this age of music streaming. It doesn’t feel like enough, so it ends up on repeat (and that’s me falling into the intended trap).
Also, a personal preference, I would have liked to have seen more variety in the lyrics. I might just be a little old school when it comes to my R&B, and generally find many songs in English have become much more simple over the past decade. That’s more on my own taste and not a criticism on the song.
Overall, this was a great collaboration between Fendi and Bang Chan. It’s not often we get to hear him showcase his vocals on solo tracks, and this song highlighted a mellow and sensual side of Chris that was refreshing to see. Now, here’s to hoping we get this song on streaming services soon.
Oh, and my Roman Empire? That’s easy. It’s none other than Bang Chan himself.
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