Miyeon traverses the other side of love on her second mini album MY, Lover and comes out of the fog changed, freed, and more herself than before.
On November 3, i-dle main vocal Cho Miyeon dropped her second EP, MY, Lover. Whereas her debut album MY, which was released three years ago in between promotions for i-dle hits “Tomboy” and “Nude,” was sparkling, sweet, and sentimental, MY, Lover presents a more elegant sound that reflects the idol’s own personal growth and maturity.
As companion albums, the titles reveal a lot about the themes of each EP. MY is Miyeon coming into her own as the second i-dle member (after Soyeon) to debut as a soloist. Fans responded to the album positively, saying simply that it “sounded like her,” sweet and optimistic. On the other hand, MY, Lover is billed as Miyeon’s interpretation of different perspectives on love. The title does not refer to Miyeon’s lover, but rather, “lover” is in reference to herself – “MY.”
Where most albums would tell the story straight from meet-cute to breakup, MY, Lover is an exploration of love in the aftermath. Much of the album is spent finding–or rather remembering–oneself after the dissolution of a relationship, and Miyeon makes the journey with vulnerability and bravery, taking us along for the ride.
Also Read: Call It A Comeback: i-dle’s Title Tracks Ranked
Tracklist Breakdown
Reno (ft. Colde)
“Reno” starts the album off with a literal bang, depicting Miyeon as a crazed lover who murders her man. For those unfamiliar, Reno is a city in Nevada known for its arid weather, casinos, and high divorce rate. Appropriate to its title, the song and music video have a distinctly Western noir feel with Miyeon’s narration backed up by mournful guitar chords.
“Reno” shows off the best of Miyeon’s vocals, as it gives her the chance to sing with a full voice without necessarily needing to hit incredibly high notes. The genre requires a level of theatricality that she bravely takes on, with a flair for performance reminiscent of her cameo in BTOB’s “Blue Moon” stage on Kingdom. Story-wise, the song is the inciting incident of the album, the breakup that sets her introspective journey in motion.
Say My Name
“Say My Name” completely flips the dry desert atmosphere in “Reno” to that of a rainy fall day. The beautifully shot music video has Miyeon wandering in slow motion through the painful memories of a love that won’t let her go. The song clearly struck a chord with many listeners, as it reached #1 on the Bugs Real-Time and Melon Hot 100 charts. It also topped the iTunes charts in 15 countries, including the Philippines.
While “Reno” would’ve done well as a title track—dramatic and dynamic as it is, it would’ve had an amazing stage—“Say My Name” does a better job of representing the album. Not to mention, its punchy melody lends itself well to radio play, demonstrating its ability to stand alone without visuals and potentially enhancing its impact. Miyeon’s vocal prowess shines in this track, especially in a brief but much appreciated bridge in the year 2025.
F.F.L.Y
One of the two songs where Miyeon contributed to the lyrics, “F.F.L.Y” (For Forever Loving You), is a gentle piano ballad lamenting a breakup so painful it made her regret falling in love at all. Though it doesn’t quite stand out in an album full of stronger ballads, it’s worth a listen for its sentimental autumn vibes and lyrics that journey through the seasons, each getting colder as it passes.
Even if this autumn passes,
My feelings will never fade
My love is gone
I couldn’t find me without you, boy
A winter without you is colder than any other
Boy, why did I love you?
Space Invader
A personal favorite, “Space Invader” centers around the metaphor of being thrown out of orbit after the crash of a breakup. The song is beautiful in its simplicity, describing the loneliness and fear of wandering the darkness, untethered to anything. Like an alien spaceship, K-pop is often covered with so many bells and whistles and flashing lights, but “Space Invader” does the most with a piano, a guitar, and Miyeon’s delicate vocals.
I feel like a space invader every day
Outside your orbit, the whole world is dark, I’ve crash landed
In this painful emptiness
I picture you and end this long day, my existence erased
I’m still a stranger, a space invader on the star of our parting
You and No One Else
A track that goes well with Miyeon’s princess image and coincidentally one she helped write the lyrics for, “You and No One Else” has a certain sophisticated tone that borders on bitterness. Deceptively upbeat, the song compares the singer’s sinking feelings to things that settle, like syrup in coffee and dust on a picture frame, as she finally realizes the situation for what it is: she loves someone who is no longer there to reciprocate.
You and no one else, you quietly settle
You and no one else, deep into my heart
All that’s left is an echo of you at the end of the day
You and no one else, feelings growing clear
All I really want
Petal Shower
“Petal Shower” marks a turning point in the album where the songs get significantly more positive. It starts off with the sound of a ringing alarm clock that was first heard in “You and No One Else,” symbolizing her waking up from the lethargic trance she had been in before continuing onward, confidently and joyfully. Miyeon dances in a swirl of flowers, freed by the realization that the love she had lost–and the pain that he brought her–is now far away.
I’mma fly
The wind embraces me, Ah
Freely, high
Pulled by the fluttering petals
A strange flowery scent grows clearer
Show
“Show” is the girls night out you spend with your friend who’s finally over her ex. This is basically Miyeon’s f- you song in a sea of ballads, a much needed and deserved moment of fun after heartache. It’s a great closer and a delightful bookend to the theater drama of “Reno.” Miyeon tells her ex that she won’t be a player in his show anymore and is ready to star in her own story.
“Listen to my side,” no I won’t
Just make me wanna scream
Shows! A monodrama within your broken point of view
Shows! Escaping your mold, now an error
Na na na na, stuck inside your own world, nah
Shows, wake up fella
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Out of the darkness and into the sun
MY, Lover is a record that does everything backwards and is all the better for it. It delivers on its promise to interpret love in a way that only Miyeon can, with her heartfelt vocals and introspective vision befitting an idol now ten years into the industry.
MY felt very distinctly Miyeon on the surface, released as it was during one of the busiest, liveliest periods of her career, but MY, Lover gives her the chance to reveal a deeper part of herself, showing how much she’s grown as an artist. Ultimately, this album succeeds in showing who she is as a lover—one who bears pain gracefully and returns to power like a queen.
What’s your favorite track on MY, Lover?
