Who: f(x)'s Amber (featuring Taeyeon of Girl's Generation)

Song: Shake that Brass

Genre: Pop; Brass Everywhere

Video Featuring: Taeyeon and pretty much all of the Korean entertainment world

Another solo debut! 

Amber's solo debut!

I've never doubted that Amber was talented; and she finally gets the chance to show that off. 

Firstly though, I must say I am a little annoyed with SM Entertainment. No, it's not because it's taken so long for this solo (though as I'll get to, that is a crime by itself), and no, it's not because it seems f(x) has been on the back burner for a really long time (again, come on now, SM).

It's because this song is not the one Amber deserved. Don't get me wrong she makes it so much better than it would have been otherwise, and I know she put in a lot of work for this single and album, but the music video concept (and the song itself in some ways) seems very recycled to me; it reminds me so much of Taetiseo's "Holler," that I actually assumed that the same songwriters and producers were behind it. I'm now very impressed that there is no overlap in lyricists/producers (at least listed). It's quite possible that it's the same music video director, but still; I wanted a new concept for a new solo debut,

Now I enjoy a game of "Hey, it's that one person from that one thing" as much as the next person, but as this is Amber's solo debut, I wish the focus had been more on Amber showing her stuff rather than Amber showing off her friends. I get that Amber asked them to be in it, but it would have been more fun to see more Amber. The cuts to Taeyeon seemed strange since she didn't really have any parts until the last minute, and had I directed the music video, I would have waited until then to reveal Taeyeon as the second voice (even though from the "featuring" it wouldn't--or it shouldn't--be much of a secret). I would have loved to see more of the dance too. I know some people are saying Taeyeon "Stole Amber's show," but had she not been in the music video as much, and maybe if the focus had been on mostly Amber, or maybe even only had Amber and Taeyeon in it, I don't think anyone would be saying that.

Overall, the song is good--it's SM, after all. It's catchy, and as much as the lack of much besides the bass line, by the 10th listen, even I was singing along. I wish the concept to the music video had been different, and that the music had felt a little less brassy-filled, but there is no denying that Amber shines in the song. Even if others hate the song, they will sing along; it's infectious, and if the music video did anything, it showed how much everyone--EVERYONE--loves Amber.

Pros: Amber as a solo artist, at least one of everyone's favorites are in it, Amber + Taeyeon

Cons: Too many people, too much brass

Fun Fact: "Shake that brass" does not have an entry on Urban Dictionary (at the time of writing).

Last Words: Six Degrees of Amber