The Most Unforgettable Tracks from Oh My Girl's Fifth Season Era

Oh My Girl Fifth Season marked a significant milestone as the group's first-ever Korean full-length album. Released on May 8, 2019, this debut LP showcased the South Korean girl group's musical evolution with its enchanting melodies and captivating themes.

The album, distributed by Kakao M under WM Entertainment, featured 10 distinctive tracks including the title song "The Fifth Season (SSFWL)" along with its instrumental version. Available in two versions—Drawing and Photography—Oh My Girl the Fifth Season album delivered a cohesive musical experience that highlighted the group's versatility and artistic growth. Furthermore, fans were later treated to a repackaged summer edition titled "Fall in Love".

Despite being a debut full-length Korean album, The Fifth Season performed impressively on the charts. The album debuted at number 4 on South Korea's Weekly Gaon Album Chart and reached number 16 on the Monthly Gaon Album Chart, selling 21,203 copies by the end of May 2019.

The Fifth Season (SSFWL)

Leading Oh My Girl's first full-length Korean album, "The Fifth Season (SSFWL)" debuted on May 8, 2019, as an ambient electropop track that became the cornerstone of the group's musical evolution. The song quickly garnered attention for its dreamy atmosphere and rich orchestration, eventually earning multiple music show wins.

SSFWL track meaning

The intriguing title "SSFWL" represents the five seasons referenced in the song - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Love. This creative concept positions love as the emotional fifth season that transcends the traditional four, creating a poetic metaphor throughout the album. The track essentially compares the overwhelming feelings of newfound love to experiencing an entirely new season. This romantic perspective gives the song a whimsical quality, perfectly aligning with Oh My Girl's established fantasy-themed discography.

SSFWL musical style and arrangement

Musically, "The Fifth Season" showcases sophisticated production techniques that elevate Oh My Girl's sound. British producer Joe Lawrence crafted the song with:

Twinkling synths and tinny beats that create an ethereal atmosphere
Organic drum sounds blended with emotional orchestration
Dynamic shifts between softer verses and an energetic chorus featuring "la la la" hooks
Rich harmonies that complement the members' emotional vocals

The arrangement cleverly mimics seasonal changes, with the melody ebbing and flowing throughout the song. Consequently, the track balances delicate moments with more powerful sections, demonstrating Oh My Girl's vocal versatility. The chorus notably stands as the song's highlight, with a profound melody that captures listeners' attention after the relatively subdued verses.

SSFWL lyrical highlights

Lyrically, "The Fifth Season" explores the unmistakable sensation of falling in love. Key lines such as "If it's love, you'll know it at a glance / You can recognize it without being confused" emphasize the song's central theme of love's certainty. Additionally, metaphors comparing love to natural phenomena appear throughout, with lyrics like "You blossom in me / Making me dizzy like a heat haze" reinforcing the seasonal concept.

The chorus transitions seamlessly into the memorable "la la la" refrain, which adds a catchy, distinctive element to the song. Moreover, the bridge creates an effective harmonic connection between the final choruses, demonstrating thoughtful composition.

SSFWL performance and MV notes

The music video for "The Fifth Season" presents a visually stunning representation of the seasonal concept. Each member occupies settings that represent different seasons - Binnie in winter snow, Hyojung in vibrant summer greenery, Jiho in golden-hued autumn, and Arin amid spring flowers. When the members ultimately join together, the fifth season - love - becomes apparent.

Rather than featuring sharp dance movements, the choreography emphasizes grace with elegant arm extensions, gentle hand gestures, and refined body movements. One standout element is the running-like motion during the chorus, which critics noted as particularly effective.

Following the album's release, Oh My Girl performed "The Fifth Season" on various music shows, beginning with their comeback stage on M Countdown the day after release. The song secured music show wins on The Show (May 14, 2019) and Show Champion (May 15, 2019), initially facing a scoring error on M Countdown before being rightfully awarded.

Shower

As the second track on Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album, "Shower" offers listeners a refreshing take on newfound love through gentle electro-pop soundscapes. Released on May 8, 2019, this song quickly became a fan favorite for its dreamy atmosphere and relatable lyrics.

Shower track meaning

"Shower" (소나기) metaphorically compares the moment of falling in love to a sudden rainfall. The Korean title specifically refers to a brief, unexpected shower—paralleling how love often arrives unexpectedly. Throughout the song, the narrator recalls a significant memory where emotional realization coincided with the scent of rain, creating a sensory connection between natural phenomena and emotional awakening.

The track delicately portrays that precise moment when feelings first bloom, expressed through lines like "It was like something dropped—strangely, my heart fluttered". This sentiment runs consistently through Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album, where natural elements serve as vehicles for emotional expression.

Shower musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Shower" represents a sophisticated evolution in Oh My Girl's signature sound. The production team behind this track includes notable names in the industry:

Steven Lee (who worked with BTS and Red Velvet)

The song builds upon an electro-pop foundation, incorporating modern synthesizer work and hazy flux synth sounds. What sets "Shower" apart from typical electro-pop tracks are its fusion elements, specifically the code changes and New R&B synth sounds that add complexity to the arrangement.

The members' sweet vocals perfectly complement the production, creating a harmonious balance between electronic elements and organic vocal performances. This musical approach effectively "upgraded Oh My Girl's unique song genre," as noted in the album's production notes.

Shower lyrical highlights

Lyrically, "Shower" captures the delicate beginnings of romance through vivid imagery and emotional honesty. Key lyrical moments include:

"Do you remember? As one drop, two drops fell, you and I stood there", establishing the rainfall as both literal setting and metaphorical representation of emotions.

The chorus emphasizes memory and time with "Remember? We filled each other's eyes, and time flowed on slowly, slowly", creating a sense of suspended animation common in significant emotional moments.

The pastel imagery appears prominently with "Inside my heart, a pretty pastel rain fell for the first time that day", connecting visual aesthetics with emotional experience—a hallmark of Oh My Girl's artistic approach.

The lyrics also capture the overwhelming nature of new love: "What do I do? My heart's already poured out; I can't bottle it up", showcasing vulnerability underneath the song's dreamy exterior.

Shower performance and MV notes

The day following the album's official release, Oh My Girl performed "Shower" alongside the title track on their comeback stage for M Countdown. This marked the television debut of both songs, highlighting the track's significance within the album.

While detailed information about music video specifics is limited, the song's performance aspects complement its lyrical content. The members' vocal delivery emphasizes the emotional narrative, with their "sweet voices unravel[ing] the feelings of love that just started on the day the shower fell".

According to member Hyojung, "Shower" holds special significance, as she personally recommended the track to fans. This endorsement underscores the song's resonance within Oh My Girl's discography and its standing as one of the most unforgettable tracks from the Fifth Season era.

Case No.L5VE

The third track from Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album, "Case No.L5VE" blends bouncing sound effects with rhythmic shuffle beats, introducing a playful yet mysterious approach to love. Released on May 8, 2019, this dance track demonstrates the group's ability to balance their signature sweetness with girl-crush charisma.

Case No.L5VE track meaning

"Case No.L5VE" (미제) cleverly conceptualizes love as an unsolved mystery. The title itself presents a wordplay—combining "case" (as in mystery) with "L5VE" (love)—suggesting romantic feelings are puzzles requiring investigation. Throughout the song, love appears as an unexpected encounter, similar to being caught in a sudden shower without warning. This unexpected nature of affection mirrors the album's overall theme of seasonal change and emotional transformation.

The narrative unfolds around a protagonist who receives an umbrella from someone during an unexpected rainfall, subsequently developing feelings for this stranger. Henceforth, this chance meeting becomes a "case" that needs solving, with the heart's emotions serving as clues toward the answer.

Case No.L5VE musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Case No.L5VE" stands out with several distinctive elements:

Bouncing sound effects that create playfulness throughout the track
Rhythmic shuffle rhythm providing a dance-friendly foundation
Textured production offering various sonic layers that maintain listener interest
Cheerful, happy pop tones especially prominent in the chorus sections

The song balances elegant vocals with extended rap sections that serve as effective build-ups to the chorus. These longer rap segments differentiate the track from others on the album, showcasing a different side of Oh My Girl's musical capabilities. Critics noted this variety kept the song "ear-catching" with enough texture to prevent monotony.

Case No.L5VE lyrical highlights

Lyrically, "Case No.L5VE" follows the protagonist's journey through unexpected love using vivid imagery. Key lines include "Like a sudden shower with no warning, I stood there not knowing what to do" establishing the initial encounter, with "Strangely, my heart tickles without reason" revealing the emotional aftermath.

The chorus captures the mysterious nature of these feelings: "As if hypnotized, I gently draw you again / Falling into a problem no one has posed / I wander looking for the answer, boy." This reflects the central theme—love resembles a maze-like puzzle without a straightforward solution.

Case No.L5VE performance and MV notes

The track effectively showcases Oh My Girl's dual charms—their signature lovable presence alongside girl-crush appeal. This contrast creates a dynamic performance quality that reviewers found impressive. The song's flow and elegant vocal delivery earned particular praise, with one critic noting that "Case No.L5VE was definitely an ear-catching piece."

Though primarily an album track without its own music video, "Case No.L5VE" contains performance elements that highlight the members' versatility. The cheerful chorus sections paired with more assertive rap verses allow each member to display different facets of their talents, creating a refreshing addition to Oh My Girl's Fifth Season repertoire.

Tic Toc

"Tic Toc" stands out as the fourth track on Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album, bringing a distinctly playful energy that contrasts with the more elegant tracks preceding it. This upbeat song, with its theatrical structure and animated rhythm, offers listeners a refreshing change of pace in the album's flow.

Tic Toc track meaning

"Tic Toc" cleverly portrays the impatience and anticipation felt when waiting for someone's confession of love. The song expresses the conflicting emotions of a person who outwardly acts indifferent to receiving contact from someone they like, while secretly hoping for a love confession. The title itself mimics the sound of a clock counting down, symbolizing both the passage of time and the narrator's waning patience. Throughout the track, this time-based metaphor underscores the urgency of emotional honesty in relationships.

Tic Toc musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Tic Toc" features the highest tempo among the album's initial tracks, creating an immediately energetic atmosphere. The composition is markedly reminiscent of a musical, with theatrical elements that showcase Oh My Girl's versatility. Indeed, the track forgoes the elegance and gravitas found in other songs on the album, instead delivering a straightforward, solid pop tune with an exciting twist rhythm.

The production team behind "Tic Toc" includes Victor Carl and Sebastian Anton Atasd from Galavant, along with SING (Mark E. Robertson) and JAY Hong. Their collaborative effort created a distinctive sound that helps this track stand apart within the Fifth Season album's musical landscape.

Tic Toc lyrical highlights

Lyrically, "Tic Toc" presents a narrator frustrated by hesitation and mixed signals. Key lines like "Tell me something, even unfinished sentences are good" reveal the protagonist's willingness to accept even imperfect communication. The chorus emphasizes this theme with "How much time difference is there? You're always half a day slow. Why don't you wind up your heart quickly?"

The lyrics straightaway establish the scenario with "Hey, the ringtone rings," placing listeners in the middle of a phone call where the caller mumbles with diminishing confidence. Nevertheless, the song maintains a playful tone despite the underlying frustration, exemplified in lines about "batteries running down" and time "running short."

Tic Toc performance and MV notes

While detailed information about specific performances is limited, "Tic Toc" complements Oh My Girl's ability to portray youthful, cute concepts. The song's structure provides ample opportunity for expressive choreography that matches its theatrical composition. Furthermore, the energetic rhythm makes it a natural fit for engaging stage performances.

Critics noted that despite leaning toward a cuter, more youthful style than some expected from the group at this stage in their career, "Tic Toc" contains solid musical moments, particularly in its pre-chorus section. Consequently, the song has remained memorable for both its distinctive sound and its relatable portrayal of romantic anticipation.

Gravity

"Gravity" features the vocal unit of Hyojung, Seunghee, and Yubin (Binnie), showcasing their distinctive voices as the fifth track on Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album. This mid-tempo pop ballad demonstrates the group's versatility through its dreamy atmosphere and emotional depth.

Gravity track meaning

"Gravity" (유성/Yuseong) literally translates to "meteor" in Korean, yet the song primarily uses gravity as a metaphor for unavoidable attraction. The lyrics portray a protagonist who finds themselves inexorably drawn to someone, much like how celestial bodies are pulled together by gravitational force. Significantly, the narrative oscillates between trying to escape this attraction and ultimately surrendering to it, creating a bittersweet emotional landscape throughout the song.

Gravity musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Gravity" distinguishes itself as a mid-tempo pop ballad enriched by several key elements:

Repeated vox synths creating atmospheric texture
Interestingly developed melodic instrumental elements
Soft pop verses that build into uplifting, inspiring choruses

The production cleverly amplifies the song's emotional resonance through the contrast between softer verses and soaring chorus sections. What makes "Gravity" particularly compelling is its use of unconventional background synths that drive the song forward. The producers Lee Woo-min "collapsedone" and Mayu Wakisaka crafted a soundscape that perfectly complements the vocal strengths of the three featured members.

Gravity lyrical highlights

Lyrically, "Gravity" presents a poignant exploration of irresistible attraction. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes this theme with lines like "Gravity, with all my might, I'm going through you" and "You're my gravity, or I won't give you up in a second".

Simultaneously, the bridge introduces a heartbreaking vulnerability: "Drowning alone around the planet called you / If you find me lost and alone someday / Come give me a sign". This imagery of orbiting around someone like a planet effectively reinforces the gravitational metaphor while conveying profound emotional dependence.

Gravity performance and MV notes

Although "Gravity" wasn't promoted with its own music video, the unit song's performance aspects highlight the vocal chemistry between Hyojung, Seunghee, and Yubin. Each member brings distinct vocal qualities that complement each other throughout the track. Fans have particularly praised Yubin's vocal performance, noting that she "stands on her own alongside OMG's main vocalists". The pre-chorus and chorus sections create a soaring sensation that perfectly embodies the weightless yet powerful pull described in the lyrics.

Crime Scene

Bringing a playful twist to Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album, "Crime Scene" serves as the sixth track with its unique blend of detective-themed lyrics and synthpop production. Released as part of the group's first studio album on May 8, 2019, this track stands out for its witty conceptual approach.

Crime Scene track meaning

"Crime Scene" employs an imaginative metaphor by comparing the beginning stages of love to a detective investigating a crime scene. The title itself establishes this connection between romance and mystery-solving. Throughout the song, falling in love appears as a complex investigation where emotions serve as clues and hints. As the lyrics suggest, the protagonist becomes a detective trying to solve the case of their own feelings. This concept gives the track a unique perspective, making it resemble "a serious yet witty spy movie".

Crime Scene musical style and arrangement

Musically, Crime Scene builds upon a synthpop foundation with several distinctive elements that create its engaging sound. The track features an "exciting rhythm and dynamic melody" that keeps listeners intrigued from start to finish. Vocal snaps, chanted lines, and rap sections interrupted by sung interludes contribute to the song's playful character. Perhaps most uniquely, the backing track has been described as sounding like "a cartoon character getting a hair plucked from the top of their head", adding a whimsical quality to the production.

Crime Scene lyrical highlights

The lyrics reinforce the detective theme with investigation-related terminology throughout. Lines like "Everything you see is a clue / His actions are hints" establish the central metaphor, while phrases such as "Why all my fingers baby / Keeps pointing at you" showcase the protagonist's certainty amid confusion. The chorus repeats "Chilling your love," creating a memorable hook while maintaining the mysterious atmosphere. Furthermore, the lyrics progress through stages of uncertainty, attraction, and ultimately accepting these feelings.

Crime Scene performance and MV notes

Within Oh My Girl's Fifth Season repertoire, "Crime Scene" became a standout track primarily for its playful nature. Music critics praised the song, noting, "You can't go wrong with this song". Moreover, the track achieved recognition alongside others from the album, with reviewers specifically highlighting "Crime Scene" as one of the album's strongest offerings.

Underwater Love

The metaphorical depths of "Underwater Love" (심해/마음이라는 바다) invite listeners into an immersive emotional experience as the seventh track on Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album. Translating literally to "Deep Sea (The Heart as an Ocean)," this song creates a powerful parallel between romantic feelings and oceanic exploration.

Underwater Love track meaning

"Underwater Love" metaphorically depicts the heart as a vast ocean, portraying feelings of love as an overwhelming yet beautiful experience. Throughout the track, the narrator compares her growing emotions to water—initially a small puddle that gradually expands into an endless sea. The lyrics detail that precise moment when feelings grow beyond control, becoming as boundless and mysterious as an ocean. Primarily, the song captures both the excitement and fear of falling deeply in love, much like venturing into unfamiliar waters.

Underwater Love musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Underwater Love" presents itself as a medium-tempo acoustic pop composition enhanced by distinctive instrumental choices. The arrangement features contrabass and cello pizzicato that create a gentle rhythmic foundation. These acoustic elements, paired with Oh My Girl's rich vocals, produce a dreamy, atmospheric quality that perfectly complements the song's emotional depth. Interestingly, the production balances traditional instruments with modern pop sensibilities, resulting in a track that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Underwater Love lyrical highlights

The lyrics construct a vivid emotional journey using water imagery throughout. In the chorus, lines like "Feelings are an endless ocean / While gazing at you I was suddenly shocked / And scared that I couldn't touch the floor with my feet" convey both vulnerability and wonder. Even more poignant is the bridge: "If I stay motionless with closed eyes / I only hear my heart throbbing faster." Finally, the repetition of "When I wade my hands I can feel you" creates a tangible connection between physical sensation and emotional awareness.

Underwater Love performance and MV notes

Within the Fifth Season album, "Underwater Love" stands out for its rich vocal harmonies and emotional delivery. The members' performances highlight their ability to convey complex emotions through subtle vocal nuances, further enhancing the song's dreamy atmosphere.

Vogue

A striking departure from Oh My Girl's usual dreamy concept, "Vogue" showcases a more mature and confident side of the group as the eighth track on their Fifth Season album. Performed by the unit of YooA, Mimi, Jiho, and Arin, this song offers listeners a taste of the members' "restrained charm" previously unseen in Oh My Girl's discography.

Vogue track meaning

"Vogue" centers around the concept of authentic self-expression rather than following trends. In contrast to songs about romantic love, this track focuses on self-confidence and individuality. The title references the fashion world's "vogue" concept—striking poses with confidence and attitude. Lyrically, the narrator emphasizes being true to oneself regardless of others' opinions: "Instead of following the trend, I'm just gonna be me / I just need that, baby baby."

Vogue musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Vogue" presents a retro dance genre characterized by dreamy basslines and prominent synth elements. Interestingly, the track begins with a whispered "vogue, vogue" followed by "turn me up" and "a little more," immediately setting a confident atmosphere. The production features rhythmic percussion paired with Oh My Girl's mature vocals, creating what their album description calls "an attractive song with a special combination." The funkier, attitude-infused route marks a significant departure from the group's signature lush, fairy tale sound typically associated with Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album.

Vogue lyrical highlights

Key lyrics reinforce the song's theme of self-confidence through fashion metaphors: "Lights camera action, look harder / Whenever you want, open up to me / Pose, pose." Notably, the narrator repeatedly emphasizes personal authenticity with "Instead of following you, I'm just gonna be me." The rap sections delivered by Mimi contain assertive lines like "Short cut camera action, a normal jacket is okay / This stage has already captured me," demonstrating a bold attitude throughout.

Vogue performance and MV notes

Music critics particularly praised "Vogue" as one of the album's standout tracks, with one describing it as "adventurous and addictive." Some reviewers even noted similarities to EXO's musical style "rewritten for girl vocals, in a really good way." As a unit song featuring only four members, "Vogue" allowed YooA, Mimi, Jiho, and Arin to showcase a more mature side, with their performance quality described as "catwalk-ready" with "vibrant" energy.

Checkmate

The ninth track on Oh My Girl's Fifth Season album, "Checkmate" delivers one of the group's most confident musical statements through bouncing brass sounds and assertive energy. Released alongside the album on May 8, 2019, this track showcases a bolder side of Oh My Girl's artistic repertoire.

Checkmate track meaning

"Checkmate" employs chess terminology as a metaphor for romantic pursuit and seduction. Throughout the song, the protagonist strategically approaches their love interest with calculated moves, much like a chess player cornering their opponent's king. Comparatively to other tracks on the album, "Checkmate" presents a more direct approach to attraction, forgoing dreamy metaphors in favor of confident declarations. The song portrays a bold girl who wants to seduce her partner through attitude and self-assurance, highlighting a different facet of Oh My Girl's conceptual range.

Checkmate musical style and arrangement

Musically, "Checkmate" stands apart with its sophisticated sound profile featuring:

Bouncing brass instrumentation creating a playful atmosphere
Addictive, earworm-worthy melody lines that showcase vocal maturity
Funky beat grooves that establish a dance-friendly foundation

These elements blend seamlessly with the members' enhanced vocal skills, demonstrating the group's growth since debut. Undoubtedly, the track's production quality helps showcase Oh My Girl's diverse musical spectrum beyond their fairy-tale image. Critics noted "Checkmate" as one of the album's "ballsiest tracks," pointing specifically to its edgier sound and memorable pre-chorus.

Checkmate lyrical highlights

Lyrically, "Checkmate" continues the strategic theme through lines like "I surround you, just give up" and "Your pieces are surrounded with no empty space." In fact, the recurring "Bam baram baram baram" in the chorus creates a catchy hook while maintaining the confident tone. The lyrics portray a protagonist who reads her opponent's expressions and catches their heart, declaring victory in this game of attraction.

Checkmate performance and MV notes

Oh My Girl members Mimi and YooA later showcased "Checkmate" during MNet's 'Good Girl' television program, where they "stole the show" with their performance. Their interpretation highlighted the track's attitude-driven choreography and powerful energy, further cementing "Checkmate" as one of the most unforgettable tracks from the Fifth Season era.