Close Your Eyes, also known as CYE, the 7 member K-pop group formed through the survival show Project 7, has released their debut album:  ETERNALT!  You know that adage – what is old is new again? That’s how I feel listening to the album – a sense of nostalgia mingled with a breath of fresh air. The album’s 8 songs are light and dreamy, easy listening that make me want to take a road trip through beautiful scenery while playing the tunes over the car speakers. I immediately liked all the songs on ETERNALT on first hearing.  But did I like all of them equally?   How would things shake out if I tried to list the Close Your Eyes Debut Album ETERNALT songs in ranked order?

Before jumping into that, here is . . .

A Quick Primer on the Members of Close Your Eyes

CYE Leader, Jeon Minwook, is also a member of the Kpop group BA173.  Minwook, the oldest member of the group, is considered an all-rounder – a person who can sing, rap and dance.  He handles a lot of the vocals on this album, as well as lending his honed rapping skills.

Project 7 first place winner Ma Jingxiang, from China, is one of the group’s main rappers. He, along with the next oldest member, Jang Yeojun, were also contestants on Boy’s Planet. (The show that launched ZEROBASEONE.) Jinxiang’s deep voice – both singing and rapping -is a nice counterpoint to the higher voices in the songs.  Yeojun, one of the best dancers in the group, can be heard hitting many of those high notes.

The next member in terms of age is half-Korean/half-Thai Kim Sungmin who is known for his visuals.  He is one of the least experienced of the group and is still developing his skills. Song Seungho, another member who excels at rapping, is also a surprisingly good vocalist. He, Jingxiang and Minwook have their own unique rapping styles which work well together and create interesting segments in the songs.

Sakurada Kenshin, the only Japanese member of CYE, often vied for first place (along with Minwook) throughout the Project 7 show.  Though Kenshin and Sungmin have the fewest lines of songs on the album, their vocals fit in seamlessly with the others – not to mention the fact they up CYE’s visual cuteness factor!

The final member and youngest, or maknea, of CYE is Seo Kyoung Bae.  Having taught himself to dance by watching music videos, his dancing skills surprised everyone on the show.  But more than that, he is the hidden vocal ace of the group who sings whole sections of the songs on ETERNALT.

Now for the Close Your Eyes Debut Album ETERNALT Songs Ranked

8) Subtitled

All the songs on Eternalt are nice to listen to, including Subtitled.  It’s just that the intro is not my favorite.  Then something magical happens in the chorus and I forget why I wasn’t into the intro.  “My lyrics become subtitles in this movie that contains you.  With all the light pointing towards you.”  The song features a nice mix of rap and vocals which highlight each member’s voice – though I think some of the other songs handle this better.  But then there is that chorus, which becomes even prettier when the members sing it together.  This ranking business is going to be harder than I thought!

7) How to Dance

How to Dance introduces an up-tempo beat that matches its “dancing in the rain” lyrics.  The vocals are pretty, especially Seungho’s voice which seems especially suited to the song.   With a running melody, there is no room for rapping. And harmonies and other frills are limited as compared to other songs on the album.   That’s okay.  Not all songs should bring the same thing to the table.  But overall, How to Dance is not as interesting to listen to for me, and the lyrics also don’t grab me the way some of the other songs do.

6) To The Woods

A mellow album like ETERNALT wouldn’t be complete without a smooth jazz track.  Minwook’s suave voice sets the tone at the start in this song about going to the woods to enjoy a sunset with the one you love.  To the Woods features a nice slowdown of the tempo followed by Jingxiang’s rap and vocals which hit just right.  Kyeongbae’s falceto is really pretty in this song.  Though the choreography shouldn’t play a factor in the listening quality of a song – I do like what they have come up with for To The Woods as performed during their debut showcase.

5) Laid Back

Looking for a catchy audience pleaser that makes you want to sing and clap right along?  Laid Back answers the mail.  The members individual vocals draw you into a playful song enhanced by riffs, raps and background whoops.  What a tease CLY is – “Carefully I come closer, pretending I don’t see you.  Hot but not too hot.   I’ll pretend I don’t see you.”  It’s like watching a scene in a romance Kdrama.

4) Close Your Eyes

Some viewers of Project 7 expressed concerns about a lack of strong vocalists in the debut group.  Many wondered if CLE would be able to pull off the message behind the new group’s name:  a vision to create songs that deeply resonates with the listener without visual aspects.  The introductory track, Close Your Eyes, assuages those fears by successfully inviting the listener to close their eyes and become immersed in the music.

The use of string music along with the lyrics reflect the feeling of standing in a hidden, sunlit cove next to a pool of sparkling water.  Gentle voices echo off the walls creating beautiful harmonies.  The members vocalize phrases in four languages, highlighting the group’s diversity.  Then, around the 2:00 minute mark, Kyoungbae’s velvety vocals soar followed by Minwook’s equally smooth sound.  Yeojun and Jingxiang finish out the song with their soft vocals leaving the listener wanting more. Catch this track in their Close Your Eyes mini-album introductory video.

3) Upside Down

Upside Down didn’t register to me at first, but the more I listen to it, the more it has become one of my favorites.  The song starts with a retro 60s bebop sound before dropping into Minwook’s skilled rapping.  And what a chorus!  The Korean/English phrasing is lyrical and super addictive.  Not to mention the fact the lyrics are just plain fun:  “Everything feels unfamiliar – This world has no gravity.   Aint’ it funny?  I can’t believe it, an apple falling from the sky.”  I looked forward to seeing the group’s choreography of Upside Down, imagining all kinds of cuteness in a similar vein to ENHYPEN’s Chamber 5 or Memories by RIIZE. Low and behold, I got my wish this awesome Upside Down performance video.

2) All My Poetry

For their debut, CYE needed that memorable first song to perform on various shows and social media platforms.  All My Poetry was a great choice.   It reflects the musical direction of this group and the theme of the album while at the same time providing opportunities for snappy choreography.  Whoever came up with the “grab your collar and bite it” choreo was a genius!  How can a shy move like that look so inviting? Harmonies and overlapping vocals shine in this song.  Not to mention the reminder that CYE is rocking that solid rap line of Jingxiang, Minwook and Seungho.   And how great is this phrase – “All the poems and novels in me – are stories embroidered with you”?

1) Stay 4 Good

If All My Poetry is the CYE performance I can watch over and over again, Stay 4 Good is the song I want to listen to all the time.  I find myself humming the catchy chorus as I’m doing the dishes or out for a walk.  Right from the beginning the bare drumbeat draws me in followed by Jingxiang’s deep voice and a strumming guitar – both setting a rich tone for the song.   The lyrics are uncomplicated and have a simple plea:   Can you stay with me for good? Forget about the clock, the morning or tomorrow – can you stay with me for good?  I love the sections where the group is humming and Kyoungbae and Youjun add in their riffs.  Yes CYE, I will stay – and keep listening to this song.

Final Thoughts on the Close Your Eyes Debut Album ETERNALT Songs Ranked

With 8 great songs to fill out any laid-back playlist, CYE’s debut album, ETERNALT, is a winner!