The 5
El Donia Shabab
Sony Music Middle East
Three stars out of five
So it's finally here. After impressing fans this year with confident performances in The X Factor Middle East, The 5 were holed up in a Dubai studio working on songs that will form their much-anticipated debut album, and have now released their first single.
El Donia Shabab is a taste of what's to come, and the sound matches the group's ambitions. There is a heavy smattering of EDM, with its ascending synth lines and that all important beat drop. Meanwhile, four of the five members trade vocal harmonies with melodies as sweet as candy floss.
If you are a fan of Algerian member BMD, you will be disappointed because the track contains none of his raps. No doubt he will play a central role in The 5’s next offering.
In the meantime, El Donia Shabab does a solid job in demonstrating why this boy band are here to stay.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
