Running Head: MERGE OF GENRES 1

Day6’s Merge of Genres and The Outcome

Lesly Gordillo Santoyo

Arizona State University

MERGE OF GENRES 2

Abstract

The Korean band Day6 debuted in 2015, with their most recent album called Moonrise released

on December 6, 2017. The members that form the group are Jae, Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil, and

Dowoon. In general, their music consists of pop and rock styles. With Moonrise being their

second album, they are gradually obtaining more fame. Moonrise primarily has a nice mix of its

two main genres, though one can hear the different approaches and uses of the two categories.

From the album Moonrise, “I Need Somebody” was a song that stuck out. Unlike its counterpart

“Be Lazy,” one can tell that “I Need Somebody” was a more a painful song correlated with times

of stress. In all parts of the song, the voices supplemented the pop genre of the song. A song that

falls under this category tends to have a vocally attached component to it. Music that classifies as

rock is more instrumentally focused. The drums and guitar are the main instruments that guide “I

Need Somebody.” “I Need Somebody” is an effective model for this band’s genre combination.

Keywords: “I Need Somebody,” pop rock, instruments, vocals, music, genre, Day6
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One group member left, another one came. Moonrise and Sunrise are their two studio

albums. “I Wait” gave the band the highest recognition thus far, emerging at number three in

U.S. rankings (Benjamin, 2017). Billboard calculated The Day, one of their extended play

records, to last four weeks on the charts. Five members form this band. This band is called Day6.

Day6 is a Korean music band with members Jae, Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon.

While they are known to compose Korean pop music, Day6 is a unique group. Unlike many K-

pop artists that are associated with this genre, Day6 added another genre that makes them

different from other K-pop artists. Pop rock is the element that Day6 decided to play with.

Pop rock is the fusion of the genres pop and rock, clearly as the name denotes. This

category of music incorporates pieces of both pop and rock, making it an interestingly nice blend

of experimentation. Pop is more known for its catchy, usually upbeat tone. It tends to be

associated with the power of its vocals and lyrics. This can be seen through songs like Justin

Bieber’s “Sorry” in which the title itself is the word that people will sing to. Likewise, it is more

danceable. Rock, on the other hand, concentrates on the production of sounds through its

instruments rather than the singers. Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” demonstrates how rock

is appreciated through its drums and guitar that noticeably heighten its tone creatively, especially

towards the end of the song to create a lasting effect to show it is the end. Both of these genres

constitute to the creation of pop rock, which has both a vocal and an instrumental influence.

“I Need Somebody” is an exemplary work of art that Day6 composed that can help define

the genre of pop rock. In the pop aspect, “I Need Somebody” contains strong lyrical parts. The

song focuses on the narrators secluded feeling and questions whether there is truly anyone that

cares about them, giving off an abandoned and grayish tone. Jae, the main vocalist, starts the

song off with his gentle voice. Wonpil follows Jae with his soft, more high-pitched voice until
MERGE OF GENRES 4

about 55 seconds into the song. Then, Young K boldly booms the song’s chorus with “Why am I

alone?” This potent section can be considered the part that people will most likely sing to, not

only because it is the chorus but also because Young K’s voice roars loudly enough to stick in

someone’s head. Sungjin similarly bellows the second part of the chorus and adds on to Young

K’s already prodigious and dramatic segment. Jae and Wonpil continue with a few more tender

verses. With English phrases here and there throughout the song, a singer may feel compelled to

join the two singers in these moments, especially since they are elongated melodiously. With the

minute instrumental break in the middle of the song, it can be noticed how harmonious the band

members’ voices intensify the meaning of the song and how they sing it is crucially and

purposefully supplemented. After the quiet instant, the chorus singers come back to demonstrate

the importance of their sections that add on to the mood of the song. Suddenly, Young K and

Wonpil change the pattern of the song and euphoniously duet the next few verses. With Young

K’s more intense and deeper voice and Wonpil’s lighter and more soprano-like voice, they sing

together to perform a magical transition to the once again mighty chorus, ending in a puissant

and dynamic outro.

While their singing produced an impactful impression, the instruments enhanced the

ambience that the song wanted to deliver. The instruments especially imparted the realization

that “I Need Somebody” included rock. The main instruments in rock music include guitars,

drums, and the bass, and they are clearly involved in “I Need Somebody,” with discreet

contributions from the synthesizer. The beginning of the song is presented with a slow piano

piece which impeccably accompanies the first vocalist. Then, the first chorus exhibits a more

rock-like personality to the song with some light help of the guitar, allowing the singer to show

off his skills. After the chorus, the drums join in and finally give off more of a rock vibe. The
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drums become remarkably notable in the second chorus and give the song a more passionate

feeling. The change in verses discussed earlier is now coordinated with less instrument

involvement to show a small twist in the song, and to make it seem more dramatic once it comes

back to the chorus and make the chorus more pungent. At the end of the song, the instruments

cease suddenly as if saying that there is no more to discuss about the narrator’s loneliness. While

the expressions of instruments are different than that of voices, they participate in a prominent

form that can easily change the tone of the song.

Day6’s song, “I Need Somebody,” validates the ideal of a pop rock song, with both

components contributing well to its creation. Pop and rock can be balanced and even compliment

themselves in songs like “I Need Somebody.” This goes to show that both vocals and

instruments can work together pleasantly. Since they work in a K-pop dominated industry,

“Day6 is pushing against the tides of pop, ballads, and coffeehouse indie… [carving] out a place

for themselves in the industry” (Melendez, 2016). Day6 and their songs like “I Need Somebody”

will soar through pop rock and become known for how they synthesized genres in an innovative

and unique way.

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References

Benjamin, J. (2017, January 18). Day6 begins year of monthly releases with 'I Wait' hitting new

peak on world digital song sales chart. Retrieved April 18, 2018 from

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/7661721/day6-i-wait-goodbye-

winter-world-digital-songs-chart

Day6. (2018). Billboards. Retrieved April 18, 2018 from https://www.billboard.com/music/day6

[Day6]. (2018, January 30). DAY6 “I Need Somebody” _every DAY6 concert in October [Video

File]. Retrieved April 18, 2018 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-TcFt2OVSw

Melendez, M. (2016, June 27). Day6 talks the meaning of rock, career aspirations & fusing

dance music with their sound at KCON New York 2016: exclusive. Retrieved April 18,

2018, from https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/7416626/day6-kcon-

new-york-2016-interview