It's been a while since SHINee has released any Japanese material, and their new single "Dazzling Girl" is a great track to come back with. The upbeat, happy single stays true to the group's signature bouncy style while still showcasing their maturity as artists. Many SHINee fans feel that their Japanese singles are lacking compared to their Korean tracks, but I beg to differ. Singles such as "Stranger" and "To Your Heart" have proved to be some of their best material, and "Dazzling Girl" is no exception.
The instrumentation in "Dazzling Girl" is very unique and moving, resulting in there never being a dull moment. A soulful piano line introduces the track, followed by a funky electronic riff leading into the bubbly chorus. It also has a nice bassline, despite it being relatively unchanging. One thing I'm surprised about, though, is that synths are used sparingly throughout the song. This is rare for current K-Pop songs, as they are riddled with them; it works for "Dazzling Girl", though. Although the instrumental is full of various eclectic sounds, it's still a bit bare in some parts; but this allows for the group's hypnotizing harmonies and vocals to shine through.
One thing I've always loved about SHINee is that each member's vocals are really unique, and they can all make the best out of any genre they are given. The bareness in parts of "Dazzling Girls" allows for more vocal clarity than in their other uptempo songs, showcasing their distinguished sound. SHINee's last album, Sherlock, left me wanting for more, but they definitely delivered that with this single. 3.8/5
