Jeon Somi has always embodied the essence of ‘extra’, being bold, colourful, and sharp in her past title tracks like “XOXO” and “Fast Forward”. But making her comeback after nearly a year with “Extra”, Somi flips the switch.
This time, Somi adopts a more restrained and introspective angle. Like an extra in a movie, “Extra” is mellow and emotionally subdued, echoing the ache of being extra in all the wrong ways. It also leans into dreamy textures, creating a distant, almost hazy soundscape without an explosive chorus, mirroring Somi’s unwillingness to face a fading relationship.
What’s the point if I’m your extra?
Don’t say no because it hurts more (Let’s try)
In this movie, I’m just an extra
Familiar but out of focus, extra
Yet for all its intention, “Extra” feels plain. Even if this restraint is an intentional creative choice to convey feeling unimportant and replaceable, the execution toes the line between subtle and forgettable.
Visually, Somi’s loneliness in “Extra” is expressed through muted colours, minimalism, and visual metaphors such as the sterile rescue simulation set, and her ‘I ME’ shirt. These elements reflect her loneliness and the loss of identity, but the MV suffers from mediocrity and repetitiveness.
Watch the first minute, and that’s all there is. Everything else is stretching it thin. The MV lingers on a single aspect without progression, resulting in a one-dimensional experience.
Directed by Rima Yoon, known for dynamic MVs like Seventeen’s “Rock With You” and Allday Project’s “Famous”, expectations were high. While “Extra” isn’t aiming for the same, surely there are better ways than relying on minimalism. Cycling between two locations, a rescue simulation and an open field, there is little visual progression. Having Somi blend in with identically dressed dancers to express isolation is great, but its impact is dulled by overuse.
Unless you’re a fan (or writing a review like me), there’s little reason to rewatch. “Extra” isn’t unwatchable. But in an era where elaborate MVs with layered storylines and dynamic visuals are the norm, “Extra” feels disengaging and less than impressive.
Ultimately, for a track that’s meant to build anticipation for her coming album, “Extra” feels more like a B-side. If this is intended to whet our appetite, it might have been better left unreleased. Rather than raising excitement, this lowers expectations for what’s to come.
It’s not terrible per se, but it just doesn’t quite feel like Somi. It lacks the spark that has defined her standout hits, like her last one, “Fast Forward”. From “Ice Cream” to “Extra”, Somi has failed to impress twice in a row. Hopefully, Somi can find her footing and do better in her next title track.
(Youtube [1]. Lyrics via Genius [1]. Images via TheBlackLabel.)
