Confessions of a Hyo Seong stan

Maybe it’s the corset, cinched tight to accentuate her waist and luscious, curvy hips beneath a froth of tulle bustle. Maybe it’s the song, pitched up into a key that always sounds like it’s just out of reach. Or the aerobic dance routine, with semaphore arm movements, that does nothing to show how gorgeous and elegant she can look when she glides.

Or maybe I just have to face it:

I have been stanning a visual.

Hyo Seong is officially Secret’s sub vocal and leader, but lately I have been wondering if she has missed her true vocation. She always seemed like she had so much to offer; she made other idols look like gawky girls, while she appeared assured, and 100 per cent woman. But her latest comeback exposes her flaws; it makes the least of her dancing ability, cruelly exposes her vocal limitations and devalues her beauty and sexiness.

The the title song is a real grower: Find Me is a Eurodance track that culminates in a hugely catchy chorus of staccato melody that mimics a brass section’s mambo. It isn’t easy to sing; less so when you’re struggling for breath and waving your arms around, I’d imagine. I’m amazed she doesn’t have an attack of the vapours mid-performance.

Still, someone with a stronger voice would probably handle it better. Hyo Seong would probably handle it better too, if writers Kim Kibum, Kang Jiwon (BAP, Warrior, Angel 1004; Secret, everything) hadn’t pitched it so high she had to sing it in a death whine. The song has grown on me, but I can’t watch the live stages without holding my breath in case she doesn’t hit the notes - which she didn’t in a ghastly stage for Dear Moon, a folk ballad from the mini, on her M Countdown comeback. The song, which has lyrics by Hyo Seong, has long sustained notes with a big range; it’s a tough one. She should have given it to Taeyeon. I am surprised TS Entertainment hasn’t pulled the performance from youtube.

There are some other good tracks on the mini: the opener, Follow Me, by Inoo and Park Soo Suk (a ton of stuff including one of my favourites, Come In, by 4 Minute) is a sassy big band number with a touch of swing and Busted, by Inoo and Park Soo Suk with Wonderkid (lots of wet stuff - Yoon Mirae, Davichi, SG Wannabe) is a lovely buzzy bop with tempo changes.

Her voice is pretty nasal throughout the recording - thankfully though her live performances seem to have improved - either that or the MR has been turned up so you can’t hear the vocal.

She is still a joy to watch and her stages have been a highlight of all the music shows lately. Although the stand out of them all was the special stage that saw her perform BoA’s My Name: sexy dance routine, great song, great performance.