[Review] "If I Were Now" by Boohwal

"If I Were Now", released on March 29th, is one of Boohwal's� latest digital singles.� Considered legends, Boohwal have been active since 1986, have spawned 12 albums, and are still standing strong as they continue to release one brilliant record after another. Kim Tae Won (guitarist and leader) formed the band back in 1985 and has remained the brains and soul of Boohwal's music while (many) former members have come and gone over the years.� If you watch Korean variety shows, you'll definitely recognize him (far left in the picture above). The current line up - Kim Tae Won, Chae Je-Min, Seo Jae Hyuk, and Jeong Dong Ha - had stayed the same since 1997, until Jeong Dong Ha (the group's 9th vocalist) entered the picture in 2005 as the new front man. In three words, Boohwal's music is: emotive, intense, and raw.� I admire Kim Tae Won for his incredible set of songwriting and composition skills, because his span of work has always had a great sense of balance and the perfect amount of breathing room to enjoy, and "If I Were Now" is no different. --- Briefly, this song features a calming piano line, a classic orchestration, and all those rock elements that we absolutely love.� What carries this soft and meaningful song to the heights of perfection is a combination of two things: beautiful melodies (within the gorgeous verses and chorus) and astonishing vocals.� Those two elements should always go hand in hand, but there are definitely occasions when a song will have a catchy melody with some ho-hum vocals, and consequently ends up lacking the force, energy, etc. it may have intended to utilize. In Boohwal's case, they will never need to worry about this problem because 1.) they're veterans, and 2.) they have one of the most talented lead vocalists you'll come across in Korean music. Not only does Jeong Dong Ha (the maknae, if you will) have great technique, but he also�possesses�a very unique color to his voice.� His style of singing is raspy and throaty at times, and has the type of quality that pulls directly at your heart strings. In fact, it could possibly bring tears to your eyes, depending on your susceptibility to moving pieces and the intensity in which Jeong Dong Ha and Boohwal perform with (don't believe me? listen to "Thought").� That's how defined Dong Ha's vocal and emotional performance is, not to mention his range, so it's no wonder why this band has stood the test of time in this industry.� They are epic on all levels. --- If you're a fan, make sure to also check out Boohwal's recent song, "Everyone Should Love", from their Collaboration Project + 2 released on April 7th, featuring three of their former vocalists (Everyone Should Love). --- --- 5/5 --- What are your thoughts on this digital single? � Suggestions for a future review? �Hit the author up on�Twitter (@rothsresidence) or via�e-mail (arnold.arteaga@allkpop.com)! � Note: This article does not reflect the opinions of allkpop, only of the author.