K-pop's top shock diva Ga In is back with a pair of dark, sexy singles "Paradise Lost" and "Apple." The new tracks are off the Brown Eyed Girl member's Hawwah EP, titled after the classical Hebrew name for Eve a.k.a. the first woman created, according to the Bible.
"Paradise Lost" is the more striking of the two, based off the sound and video. Opening with ominous organs and strings, "Paradise Lost" opens with a nice balance of classical elements (piano, strings, sparse drums) and modern embellishments (booming beats, subtle electronica flourishes). But there's an unmistakable sinister sentiment as Ga In moans about wanting her lover to join her in paradise, her sweet vocals reverberating over the chorus' military march-like percussion.
The video is equally dark and seductive as a blue-haired Ga In writhes on the floor in a long, lacy gown and a black leotard amid images of a snakes slithering around the video set. There's loads of suggestive imagery -- from the choreography to Ga In letting droplets of water fall from a phallic-looking pipe -- but throughout it all Ga In looks strong and in control of her situation. It's only at the end, as Ga In sits on the ground as a horde of naked men crawl towards her, that she looks scared -- perhaps the moment where she loses the aforementioned paradise or the fantasy has gotten too intense for the brazen K-diva.
"Apple" is the second promoted single off Hawwah and features rapper Jay Park. On the surface, "Apple" sounds like the lighter single with its jazz-inspired production and sample of Fergie's "Fergalicious." (Who would have thought "Fergalicious" would one day make its way into K-pop?) But the lyrics tell a story of two people giving into their feelings towards one another, using the Bible story of Eve succumbing to temptation and biting the forbidden fruit as a metaphor.
The accompanying video is also sweeter, but just as seductive as "Paradise Lost" as Ga In hangs out in a backyard in a curve-hugging red outfit that showcases her "apple" very, very well.
Hawwah includes four other tracks including "Free Will," featuring popular rapper Dok2, the digital boogie track "The First Temptation," the soulful disco joint "Guilty" and more for one of the singer's strongest efforts to date.
While Ga In's global star blew up after co-starring in PSY's "Gentleman" video, she's managed to command global attention with boundary-pushing tracks ("Fxxk U" made Spin's Best Songs of 2014) and visuals ("Paradise Lost" earned more than one million views on YouTube in less than 24 hours).
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