Welcome to another #10YearsAgo today article! My first introduction to the group and really my favorite album of theirs. Nothing else hit like Black Label for me. “Mirror” is fantastic, but I don’t remember much of the album, A Delicate Sense. So that’s something I gotta go back to. “Apple Pie” I also don’t remember much.
Okay, let me back up a bit with an introduction of the group and the members. Fiestar made a predebut release with then label mate IU called “Sea of Moonlight“. I love that some members went to see IU’s concert last year. They officially debuted in August 2012, with the song “Vista“.
They were a six member group under LOEN Entertainment, leader, vocalist, and visual Jei, lead dancer, vocalist, and face of the group, Cao Lu. Main vocalist and visual Linzy, lead vocalist Hyemi, and main rapper, main dancer, vocalist and maknae Yezi. Cheska was the group’s main dancer, lead rapper, and vocalist, but she ended up leaving the group in 2014. So they’ve been five members for a while. The group officially disbanded on May 15th, 20218. Black Label is the group’s first mini album and the lead single, “You’re pitiful” had me HOOKED.
I miss this era of tons of girl groups having dark and mature concepts like these. We have groups like Dreamcatcher and Pixy, but it felt like 10 years ago, we had more of this concept frequently with girl groups. The instrumentals at the beginning have this eerie vibe. But it’s such an earworm. Of course, the legendary Shinsadong Tiger was behind this track. Along with LE from EXID (I don’t think I knew that before) and Yezi for her rap.
The group came back together to rerecord the song last year, thanks to Cao Lu buying the copyright to the song and funding the group’s comeback.
The new version is slightly different, but I still like it. There’s a bit of a jazzy and house sound going on with it compared to the OG. I love the simplified music video and the rain effect. Idk how I missed that they had this reunion. Cao Lu and Yezi were my two favorite members when I was following the group. I always forget I’m a few months older than Yezi. If you look at their Kprofiles profile, the pictures are from the 2024 video.
My favorite Fiestar song is from this album, “Turn Off The Light”. It actually fits so well with the 2024 remake of “You’re pitiful”. Once I heard “Turn Off The Light”, I started exclusively listening to it and only it when it came to Fiestar. I love the vocals and harmonies in it so much. They went in on this song.
Both songs are more what I typically describe as midtempo, just fast enough to dance to but not fast enough to work up a sweat. You can chill out to them as background music while working without being completely distracted.
My next favorite song is “Cold” and it slows things down even more. I forgot how much I love this one too until I hear it again. I have it on my Rainy Day Kpop playlist.
“Hello” is a similar style. So if you enjoy “Cold” you’d enjoy “Hello” as well. It’s got a sick piano rift going on. “Today” is written, arranged, and music done buy Linzy. Kim Jongsu and Lee Jincheol are also credited under arrangement on Wiki. It’s a good song as well, the slowest one on here. Straight ballad territory, so I don’t listen to it. But if that’s up your alley, highly recommend. Okay, last song.
“So Tight” is funny because it’s very much reheating “You’re pitiful” nachos on the same damn album. This is the second Shinsadong Tiger track on this album, so maybe it’s more of his style blatantly showing. But I love this one too.
This album is very much the same in that if you like two main songs on here, “You’re pitiful” and “Cold”, you’ll have a great time with this album. I’ve been dying to talk about Fiestar and this album on here for a while. It’s so good, totally underrated. So when I saw it was turning 10 this year as well, I knew this was my opportunity to share it with y’all.
So what are y’alls thoughts on Fiestar, and Black Label? Are you new to them? Or do you miss them as well? Tell me everything in the comments. Next up, we’re talking about Super Junior D&E. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, & BlueSky. Annnd happy 6th year since debut to ⭐️⭐️TXT⭐️⭐️⭐️
Take care!
Ash💫