Single Review: Taeyeon – All About You

Ever since I came to Vietnam to teach, there was one thing that piqued my interest which was to understand why Korean pop music was so popular in this country. Despite having already been introduced to South Korean musical giants such as BTS and Blackpink, they still felt incredibly disposable after a few listens. However, there was one solo artist that grabbed my attention among the others. That artist goes by the name of Taeyeon.

Taeyeon (Kim Taeyeon) was part of one of South Korea’s biggest girl groups called Girls’ Generation or abbreviated as SNSD. After this, she pursued a solo career in which she has gone on to become equally as successful as her original band. Currently, she is still considered as the undisputed champion of being the greatest vocalist in the K-Pop industry.

On this record, it’s noticeable that Taeyeon is a lot more restrained on her vocals compared to other numbers such as UR where she really shows off how powerful her technique is.
– Mark Wong

All About You was a song composed for the TV series Hotel Del Luna. The track begins with a delicate cascading piano melody which perfectly sets the tone. Hearing this melancholic atmosphere within the opening bars recalls the styles from power ballad icons such as Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston. From a production perspective, it is very minimal with only vocals and a piano but in no way is it a drawback for the song as it makes Taeyeon’s soothing voice the centrepiece of All About You. 

The theme of All About You surrounds the idea of having lost a loved one. ‘Every time I think of a poem called ‘you’/ I want to memorise it so I can remember you’. Even though the song has a grieving atmosphere, the message can also be interpreted as being very hopeful as Taeyeon reflects on the fonder times within her relationship. ‘In the passing season my heart/I know it doesn’t change/Just the way you look at me’. Despite setting the scene through clichéd romantic lyrics, it doesn’t take away the fact that the concept of the song still resonates universally as it does have such a sentimental value at its core. 

In my opinion, Taeyeon is rightfully considered as a tour de force in K-Pop music as her releases are rarely ever matched in scope, sound or quality.
– Mark Wong

On this record, it’s noticeable that Taeyeon is a lot more restrained on her vocals compared to other numbers such as UR where she really shows off how powerful her technique is. By holding back, it allows the listener to pay closer attention to how refined and controlled her voice is, especially when she does go into a higher register. It’s an unusual but satisfying quality to have in the song as one can still appreciate the technique but without her having to belt out higher notes.

In conclusion, while we may get a partial insight into Taeyeon’s true vocal ability with All About You, the musicality of the ballad really complements the themes of grief wonderfully. It highlights why both the music and Taeyeon’s skillset can easily give the likes of legendary western pop icons a run for their money when it comes to these aspects. In my opinion, Taeyeon is rightfully considered as a tour de force in K-Pop music as her releases are rarely ever matched in scope, sound or quality.