an anthology of infinite the chaser reviews across the decade

[yestoday]

Perhaps a few hours late in Korean time, but this is it: happy 10 glorious years to the magnum opus of K-Pop, The Chaser by INFINITE.

I had the swell idea of making an anthology of The Chaser reviews and analyses with points I feel do the brilliancy of the song utmost justice in my point of view. This is in place of writing one from scratch myself, because most of what I have in mind has already been said by others, and they say it in a much more articulate and concise way than I will ever be able to, anyway, so I'm going to curate a collection of their words to let them represent my own.

"the chaser": infinite's (and k-pop's) magnum opus
by springbreeze, via YouTube. (May 15, 2022)

[This is the one I just watched (and of which resulted in the motivation to arrange this collection). I thought this is a great tribute, although, according to springbreeze, "not a cohesive, well thought out analysis by any means," it still touches on many of the points I, personally, would emphasize on for this song.]

"The song is very lush and wide [and grand] in production… There's a lot going on, but not so much that it distracts you from whatever is going on. Whatever the elements are, not one single element overpower each other, which is some kind of the best thing that you can achieve in a pop song. Every single element in this song work in a way that they function like cogs in a machine: if one cog is missing the machine won't run." (5:05)

"This production is very simple; it's a very straightforward four-chord structure—like verse, pre-chorus, chorus, bridge structure—it's a very simple pop song. But… simple is the best; less is more, and they take whatever less elements in the song and then just flourish it so much." (7:10)

"Dongwoo and Hoya really execute the rap part such in a way that it doesn't disturb the flow of the song, but rather continue to add gas and fuel to the song so that the machine is well oiled and can run faster." (8:10)

"Dongwoo's rap parts definitely have this melody line that is like standard to the song; it's the common motif. But, when Hoya's rap part comes up, the melody completely changes into a different one. The melody shift is… so integral to the song… it really makes you believe that you're being taken to a bridge, to a climax, because that sounds like a turbulence in the song that… you want the song overcome!" (8:34)

"This song has really excellent story-building… you have the protagonist going on an epic journey… fighting their battles… a brief moment of defeat… and then they pick themselves right back up… as we reach the big, final boss… the key changes… you're giving it all your might, and then by the end of the song, you raise triumphant… and you raise victorious as a hero. This song is a hero's journey. Wow, this song is an entire feature-length film; this song is an entire storybook, a novel." (10:07)

Legendary Song: Infinite – The Chaser
by NICK, via The Bias List. (January 6, 2016)

"…so perfectly crafted and utterly thrilling that, even after an uncountable number of listens it stills sounds like you’re making an incredible discovery each time you hear it."

"When individual ingredients coalesce so flawlessly, it’s hard to point out what exactly makes the song so damn good, but one thing that I would like to note is the idea of build… The thing about The Chaser is that the entire song is build. It’s not content with amping up your excitement only to release it and start again. Even when the song transitions to chorus, or dizzy, constantly accelerating hip-hop segments, the track’s trajectory is on the incline."

"…when [INFINITE's vocals are] combined by a master production team like Sweetune, they can be as powerful as a full-scale choir. Main vocalists Sungkyu and Woohyun particularly shine on this track, offering one of the most dynamic, forceful performances of any kpop song. That last minute or so just completely explodes in desperation and power."

"The unique soundscape [Sweetune] arranged… draws influence from 80’s synthpop, but augments it with strong eastern elements and vocal flourishes that almost sound otherworldly."

Eight Lessons that 2019-era K-pop Could Learn from INFINITE’s The Chaser
by NICK, via The Bias List. (October 6, 2019)

"The Chaser is an ever-shifting beast, but its energy never flags. Its second verse is a master class in how to pull off this arrangement with flare. We get a rap breakdown without sacrificing tempo, and then a brief lull that keeps the intensity charged even as the instrumental recedes."

"The Chaser’s choreography is iconic, partially because it’s grafted so strongly to the song itself. The music never has to shift or pause to accommodate the dance. I imagine this makes the song much more punishing to perform, but that’s what makes it worth it!"

"…you could classify The Chaser as “dance-pop” or “synth-pop,” but it doesn’t really follow any trends or feel beholden to any specific playbook. It felt different and fresh back in 2012, and feels even more so today."

[Summarizing the main ideas from this article: 1) The Chaser has an unrelenting build and ever-escalating structure that doesn't fall into the trap of an anti-drop that a lot of recent music in the pop scene turn to. 2) INFINITE's vocal diversity is top tier, and it's this colorful palette of vocal timbres that Sweetune can utilize and build on to produce the apex of their musical potential. 3) We need to take advantage of epic key changes in songs again.]

K-pop Throwback: "The Chaser" Shows Infinite Possibilities 
by Cjontai, via Seoulbeats. (June 6, 2015)

"…it is one that showcased [INFINITE] as a rising force in K-pop. It cemented the Infinite brand as one that represents a group dedicated to details and perfection in their work."

"It’s a simple chorus repeated over and over, but when combined with guitars, brass, and a touch of ’80s nostalgia, it becomes a magnificent burst of joy for the ears."

"Also, we can’t overlook Dongwoo‘s poetic songwriting skills here: 'Forget it, I knelt down and beat my heart that paused in front of the words of separation // Go away, I drag myself, who is burnt with sadness that is like rotten firewood // Why is your cooled heart making my heart race and wander every day?' The imagery of his lyrics alone make my heart ache. …Infinite possesses two [idol rappers] who can sing, dance, rap, and write…"

[This article goes a lot more in depth into the other components of the release and era in its entirety—the choreography, the music video, the styling, the members' synergy—which I strongly believe is also worth taking note of. This comeback proved to be an all-rounded paragon. However, for brevity's sake, I won't go into detail on those here. I would still recommend checking out the remainder of this article for the author's thorough assessment of the ingenious flow of the dance and the consummate visual and energy aspect of the whole concept.]

What makes Infinite's The Chaser iconic? discussion thread
by u/thejondrettegirl on r/kpophelp, via Reddit. (February 19, 2022)

"…they just go hard the entire time with a lot of passion to deliver it. By the end of the song you feel like you just experienced something extremely exciting. The song is exhilarating to many. It has an adventurous feeling. Backed up by their amazing live performances, you get an experience." (u/Antiquedahlia)

"The climax is just a key higher except it's executed so well that it doesn't feel like a lazy cop-out in an attempt to just finish the song. Nothing really feels out of place in that song." (u/unitaya)

"Everything about The Chaser is iconic! The lyrics are only in Korean, and includes a traditional Korean instrument known as the 해금 (Haegeum) in the intro. The lyrics also include an old Korean saying. The logo for the album is an infinity symbol drawn in calligraphy to reflect the Korean elements. Sunggyu and Woohyun’s powerful vocals carries the song higher and higher. The composition of the song is a smooth build up… I highly recommend listening to the instrumental version of The Chaser on The Origin album. Even without the vocals, the instrumental is phenomenal. Aside from the song, the concept was well done. The outfits for The Chaser and each live stage are beautiful. It’s cohesive yet brings out each member’s individuality… Other interesting facts: Infinite was the first group and only group ever to promote the song on a helicopter visiting five cities in one day." (u/oolongboba)

"It's dynamic, it's powerful, and the production is fantastic. It was revolutionary back then and the sound still holds up so well today, it's a timeless track. It's everything that kpop can be and more. The song just keeps building and building with no real drop, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end, and the melody keeps you intrigued throughout the whole runtime. It's a masterpiece imo. When people talk about songs that can last forever, I immediately think of this song." (u/sPEedErMEiN)

"…it just has such an exhilarating energy, that builds and builds and culminates in an amazing final chorus with a key change. It feels like there is a lot going on but the instrumental and the vocals are so well layered that it doesn't feel overwhelming. Its just such a quintessential kpop song." (u/Xrin8)

More sources for evidential The Chaser love—a kaleidoscope of overwhelmingly positive critiques over the years to prove its timeless excellence and groundbreaking impact:

[Review][Single] INFINITE - "The Chaser" 
by TheProphetBlog, via allkpop. (May 17, 2012)

20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2012: BIGBANG, PSY, 2NE1 & More
by Jeff Benjamin, via Billboard. (December 21, 2012)
[The Chaser takes first place on yet another momentous ranking.]

Classical Musicians React: INFINITE 'The Chaser' vs 'The Eye'
by ReacttotheK, via YouTube. (March 20, 2017)
[After some thought, I decided to add this—even though the majority of the preference was leaning towards The Eye (a fair choice), there was still a notable amount of intricacies dissected on The Chaser. I'm sure everyone has encountered this channel at some point during YouTube browsing at unholy hours, but I will continuously heavily advocate looking into their content if you're into music fundamentals and its production in any way. They have people who can provide some of the most eclectic and thoughtful input into K-Pop songs. This is good music commentary! I especially love the Kevin guy—he always has interesting and specific things to say.] 

what do you love about infinite's the chaser? discussion thread
by u/19times on r/kpophelp, via Reddit. (June 14, 2020)

Throwback: INFINITE released "The Chaser" this week in 2012 discussion thread
by u/AutoModerator on r/kpop, via Reddit. (May 13, 2021)

The story of my undying devotion to Infinite's The Chaser on its 9-year anniversary 
by u/TwoHungryBlackbirdss on r/kpopthoughts, via Reddit. (May 14, 2021)

"The Chaser" is a Perfect Song and Here's Why
by mera, via YouTube. (April 12, 2022)

No matter how many analyses or assessments or dissections of The Chaser there are, I'll never get tired of seeing people gush over it. The insane amount of raw goodness in this song, this album, this era will never decay no matter how many decades it ferments through. God, making this made me nostalgic. I can't believe it's already been 10 years—and with a possible INFINITE reunion in mind, I can't help but feel my excitement grow that we might just get to see this masterpiece performed again sometime soon.