Interpolation Holds Somi Back in “Closer”

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Somi’s “Closer” is kind of odd: not the eccentric, quirky, and artistic kind of odd, but the kind of odd that just leaves you with a bunch of ‘whys?’

Anyone’s first thought upon hearing “Closer” would be “this melody sounds familiar.” That’s because it’s an interpolation of Sean Kingston’s 2007 hit, “Beautiful Girls.” As Somi shared with the Korean Herald,“it’s challenging to turn a well-known song into something original. But I feel ‘Closer’ blends old-school charm, today’s house and techno trends, and my own voice perfectly.”

It’s an unusual choice…but perhaps Somi or someone on her team just really, really likes “Beautiful Girls.” Fair enough. As her second house track after the success of “Fast Forward” in 2023, it is no wonder that she’d revisit this genre.

Reinvention is generally welcome, but only when it’s well done, like, for example, Riize’s “Love 119” which interpolates Izi’s “Emergency Room”. Unfortunately, “Closer” plays like a random remix from start to finish, with a shouty chorus that adds little value. It lacks a distinct identity and more importantly, it lacks Somi’s signature touch. Yes, Somi is reinventing Kingston’s summery and nostalgic “Beautiful Girls” with a colder and glitchier sound in “Closer.” However, in doing so, she loses the original essence and emotions.

For a song called “Closer,” the theme is barely reflected in its lyrics, except for a single line that contains the word:

> Call me your beautiful girl > > And I’ma let this body work > > ‘Cause when it’s you and I, oh, you and I, oh > > I’ma need you closer

As Somi shared, “its playful unpredictability mirrors the lyric ‘a beautifully crooked dream,’” which reflects the search for herself amid uncertainty. The sense of uncertainty is (somewhat) there as Somi captures the thrill of being lost in the moment and wanting to stay closer to her lover:

> When I’m lookin’ in your eyes > > I forgot about the time > > Oh, when we start to sway > > It’s like I’m losing my mind > > And I never thought that we would end up with each other (with each other)

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However, “Closer” is generally weighed down by generic, flat, and uninspiring lyrics. Given how many times the words ‘beautiful girl’ appear compared to ‘closer,’ the song might as well have been titled “Beautiful Girls (2025)”.

The lyrics of Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” simply overshadow what Somi wishes to express, and this is the very problem with the interpolation. It is restricted by the original material. The chorus, in particular, forces the inclusion of ‘beautiful girl’ in a way that feels shoehorned, suggesting that the rest of the lyrics are built around accommodating it.

It is indeed hard to strike a balance between honouring the source and injecting your own lyrics. Instead of recreating the source material, a good interpolation should be an expansion of it. In this case, “Closer” simply becomes a stylish but hollow remix that depends on the popularity of “Beautiful Girls” for recognisability rather than building on it. Knowing her discography, Somi is more than capable of expressing her theme vividly, as she did in “Watermelon” or “Anymore”, both English tracks that proved that she doesn’t need to rely on familiar tunes.

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On the visual side, the MV is creepy, uncanny, and overstimulating. Flashing lights and glitchy effects create a chaotic and disorienting experience, making one wonder if this is meant to throw stimulation at its audience to make up for what the song itself lacks. Somi and her dancers dance on a grass-covered floor, tree branches endlessly sprout in the same room, and having lost part of herself, Somi takes on an almost alien form.

However, unlike pre-release MV “Extra”, at least this MV shows some progression. Somi’s mania, insanity, and uncertainty intensify as she shape-shifts into a metallic version of herself. The only way to describe it is as if a Gentle Monster store was turned into an MV: uncanny, surreal, metallic, and avant-garde (if we can even describe “Closer” with this word).

Then there’s the use of AI in the MV. While some may say it adds to the unsettling tone, the same could’ve been achieved by engaging actual artists. For someone of her calibre, it feels sloppy and underwhelming to say the least.

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Ultimately, “Closer” raises a question that came to mind when reviewing “Ice Cream” and “Extra” as well: why was this chosen as the title track? Even with Somi having a hand in creative decisions, she still seems to struggle with picking the right pre-release single and title track. There seems to be a general consensus that “Chaotic & Confused” would have been a stronger choice. Personally, “Escapade” isn’t bad either.

I wanted to like “Closer, but it left me, well… confused. Perhaps it’s fitting since her album, after all, is titled Chaotic and Confused. After reviewing Somi’s work thrice, I feel like my goodwill has been extended for long enough.

With The Black Label’s newer artists like Meovv and Allday Project seeing big success, no one knows when Somi’s next album, or even single, will be. Chaotic & Confused was her chance to build on the success of “Fast Forward” in 2023. It feels disappointing that it only amounted to this.

(Korean Herald, YouTube. Lyrics via Genius. Images via TheBlackLabel.)