[Review] Birthday Wish – NMIXX

Yesterday was one of the days when so many groups made their comebacks (meanwhile, I was sleeping off some illness). One of them was NMIXX, who returned with the single Birthday Wish and their 6th mini-album, Heavy Muse. This comeback follows their Heavy Serenade comeback earlier this year. NMIXX has been on a roll with their last two comebacks (Blue Valentine and Heavy Serenade), so it was interesting to see how Birthday Wish would land. Right off the bat, the song has more of a dance-pop vibe, blending moombahton, afro, and future house. I liked how Birthday Wish starts (after the narration bit) and how they kept that melodic touch from the previous releases in the first verse and bridge. The chorus is great; I enjoyed how lively it got (though you could also describe it as being shouty) and am digging the “Celebrate, Celebrate” post-chorus hook. But while I appreciate the upbeatness and the refreshing vibes Birthday Wish brings, I am not a big fan of other elements of the song. The rapping in the second verse didn’t fit the song, and the bridge felt overly tight. The narration breaks the flow of Birthday Wish and could have been blended in for a more cohesive feel. Overall, Birt...