Review: Swings Shows His Bilingual Swagger in 'Would You?' Featuring Seo In Guk [VIDEO]

English phrases get tossed around a lot in K-pop songs.

Especially when they are delivered with questionable accuracy, their inclusion in a carefully-crafted jam can be baffling to Westerners.

That is one reason why Swings's song "Would You?" featuring Seo In Guk is so refreshing.

Featuring an intro in English and rapping that flows seamlessly in and out of Korean, the English lines are a natural inclusion in "Would You?"

The result is a sonically intriguing marriage of the two languages, delivered with the trademark confidence that Swings is known for.

Korean rapping inevitably takes hip hop to some new, unexpected places. But jumping between Korean and English, as Swings does with such ease, is a sonic departure that would make even the most purist hip hop heads stand up and take notice.

It is not easy to name a long list of bilingual rappers, however with a feel-good flow this original, Swings might just start an international trend.

The rapper has relaxed phrasing that keeps the track as smooth as a yacht-ride through the Florida Keys.

Seo In Guk is also in top form, singing laid-back R&B lines for his longtime collaborator Swings, slick enough to even evoke the original bedroom bard R. Kelly.

The producer of "Would You" keeps the track bumping but not oppressive. Seo In Guk's voice soars, but never overpowers the overall track.

The video for "Would You" employs the same type of tasteful restraint.

With a backlighting effect reminiscent of American fashion photographer Terry Richardson, the clip employs a stripped down, art house vibe rarely seen in K-pop music videos.

Directing team Digipedi stay in control of the frame; avoiding clutter and keeping the shots strikingly minimalist.

The result is a video, where many of the still frames could be hung on an art gallery wall.

The two unlikely stars of the video, a beautiful girl in a cast (played by singer S Yoon-G) and a cat only work to emphasize just what is so different about the "Would You" video.

Name one other hip hop video where a cat and an injured person are the central characters.

This clip could go toe-for-toe on a visual level with anything the music video world has to offer right now.

It is interestingly shot, with excellent shot framing and realistic performances.

If Swings and Seo In Guk are aiming for the Western world to take notice, they are most definitely ready for their close-up.

A leg cast never looked so good.

Check out the new music video for the Swings song "Would You" featuring Seo In Guk RIGHT HERE

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Seo In Guk
swings
Would You
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