Battle of SM vs Ex-SM - Tiffany v. Jessica
BATTLE OF SM vs Ex-SM - TIFFANY v. JESSICA
Both Tiffany and Jessica have dropped their solo albums. Tiffany has 'I Just Wanna Dance' and Jessica titled hers 'With Love, J.' The fun part is one is still with Girls' Generation, and the other is not. So, purely for fun, we're going to pit them against each other, SM vs. ex-SM.
Just imagine the crowded venue as you squeeze past a sea of knees and feet to find a seat. Posters of various performers line the walls, mementos of other idols performing in the past. The din is part talking, part hawking as merchandisers tout their wares. Two artists pitted against each other -- only one can win. The noise level rises to a roar as the two square off. Through the haze you can see Jessica and Tiffany...
First off, the title tracks. Tiffany's "I Just Wanna Dance" is a low-key dance track, whereas Jessica's "Fly" is a majestic pop number. Both are good, but I crave the beat of Tiffany's more. "Fly" has the better lyrics, but I like the overall feel of "I Just Wanna Dance" better. Don't get me wrong -- "Fly" is a good song, but there is just something about the feel of a solid dance song. Maybe the fact that the pop world is being dominated by mid-tempo tunes. There's nothing wrong with that intrinsically, but it gets tiresome after a time when you hear too many in a row.
Tiffany: 8/10
Jessica: 7/10
Just comparing album covers, Jessica totally wins here. Neither particularly excites me, but Jessica makes me feel like I'm in the tropics while Tiffany's album cover just makes me feel uncomfortable. I went so far as to replace mine with a respectable pic for my player. Here's a hint to photographers and producers: make your idols look like idols. Abs and biceps and legs will always be a thing -- appeal is not going away. But try to keep it tasteful. Besides that, Tiffany's album cover had absolutely zero to do with the concept.
Tiffany: 7/10
Jessica: 8/10
The two albums are worlds apart. Tiffany's album was not only written by diverse hands but also has some more experimental tracks. It crosses genres, embracing R&B, electropop, EDM, and more. From the cool grooves of "Yellow Light" to the beats on "What Do I Do," it makes you want to dance, much like the title of the album suggests. 'With Love, J' is mainly mid-tempo, soft pop crooners. It's also more mature-sounding. There are some great tracks on here, though, such as the slow-burner "Dear Diary" and the sweet "Big Mini World."
Tiffany: 9/10
Jessica: 8/10
The MVs couldn't be any more different. Yes, they both feature dancing, but after that they split. It's not that one is darker, but "Fly" has more symbolism while "I Just Wanna Dance" is pure, unadulterated summer fun. "Fly" had more interesting scenes, IMHO, even if you were struggling to fit the pieces together. Tiffany's MV has that y feel, whether she's traipsing around in a bathing suit or dancing, but I think "Fly" takes this one just for the sheer enthusiasm. There's this better days type vibe that really makes you feel good -- so I have to give this one to Jessica.
Tiffany: 8.5/10
Jessica: 9/10
They both largely performed dances from their videos during their live shows, not unusual in and of itself. What was notable was Jessica's 'V' app performance on Naver: miserable acoustics, and you could barely hear the vocals. There are fancams of her at Korea University, and those show off her vocal pyrotechnics nicely (better sound quality). Tiffany, backed by SM, put in a solid performance. Frankly, I was hoping Jessica would get more love, since she's basically clawed her way back into the music biz. I was also hoping to see more spectacle from both artists, something of a real stage show. Tiffany snatches this category, but probably money and prestige did a lot to support her.
Tiffany: 8/10
Jessica: 7/10
OVERALL:
Tiffany: 8.1
Jessica: 7.8
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