Mamamoo builds up to their 12th anniversary with the release of their heartfelt special single “4 Flowers,” now available with its remixes in 4WARD.
Although BTS and Twice number among the most popular K-pop groups worldwide, one of the top contenders for influential artists in modern K-pop is Mamamoo. This girl group is best known for hits such as “HIP,” “Starry Night,” and “AYA.” Since the end of their first world tour in 2023, however, the members have gone on to focus on their solo careers to tremendous success.
In April, Mamamoo’s second world tour was announced, beginning this month on their 12th anniversary, and it became clear that their activities as a group would return. This was later signaled by the release of their special single 4WARD earlier this month, featuring their newest song “4 Flowers.”
A song of sorrow, resilience, and hope all in one
The song starts with vocals from singers Solar and Hwasa, accompanied by slow piano and violin tracks. Their breathy voice gives a floaty feeling not unlike Ariana Grande’s recent songs, as well as a similar sense of longing. It’s not until the faster-paced verses led by Moonbyul and Wheein that the percussion really kicks in and begins uplifting the mood of the song.
By the chorus, the song feels completely different from how it started. Solar and Hwasa’s vocals take a stronger and more grounded tone, but not many other changes are made across the song. The instrumental stays consistent, particularly the violin, even though the mood makes it feel completely different. When the song begins slowing down at the end, it returns to a slower tone much like how it started but feels more hopeful than sad.
Mamamoo sends a beautiful message of bonds that endure the passage of time
The mark of a good song is that it can express feelings and meaning across any language, and Mamamoo delivers on that well. The few English lines spread across the music are enough to give an impression of the whole song, which evoke the image of shedding petals, the soil supporting the flowers’ roots, and the light inside hearts.
These mental pictures are made even more meaningful by the rest of the song lyrics. Floral imagery is used a lot here, which further explores blooming and withering across seasons, and how even though the flowers are scattered, they still share the same root. This is clearly a reflection of Mamamoo’s history and how even though the different group members have gone down their own paths, their bonds are as strong as ever.
The music video of “4 Flowers” only supports this idea. The first verse opens with vividly colorful and stylized shots of each group member, though they have an underlying sorrow. This is followed in the chorus by scenes of Mamamoo reunited, smiling, laughing, and embracing each other.
“4 Flowers” and its official remixes can be found on Spotify
So far, Mamamoo’s YouTube channel has only released the music video of “4 Flowers.” On Spotify, the official release, its remixes, and its related tracks are now available on 4WARD. The intro “Blooming” features a hip-hop version of the track with muted but still distinct vocals. While the acoustic remix gives a lighter touch to the song, while the Latin remix has a far stronger percussion backing that gives it more weight. The final listing is the instrumental of the official version.
Moomoos, what did you think of Mamamoo’s return single?
Sources: KPop Official, Spotify
