Well... this is where I'm at now. Let's start fresh!
Hello, everyone! My name is Grace, AKA, Lil' Miss Different; and I'm doing my first-ever music critique blog! I've wanted to do this for years, but I wasn't sure which direction to take, so I began writing 'How Would Sing' concepts of Alvin and the Chipmunks characters. That series is on indefinite hiatus; I love making those, creating different scenarios in my head, but a good chunk of those blogs don't hold up for me.
However, last year, I fell deep into the k-pop hole, and I ended up rekindling my love for music again. Today, I will be looking some k-pop songs that were released in the month of January. Not ALL songs, mind you - that would drive me crazy. Just a good number of them, enough to get a good picture of what k-pop was like for the month.
I will be giving each song a score out of 6, placing them in a different tier based on my own opinion. It'll look something like this:
0/6 - Crap Tier (basically means I hate the song, nothing about it works, never seek it out)
1/6 - Bad Tier (I still don't like the track, but it could be worse)
2/6 - Mid Tier (boring, or just not enough elements to keep me engaged)
3/6 - Decent Tier (just okay, listenable for once in a while)
4/6 - Good Tier (perfectly serviceable, but could've wow'd me more)
5/6 - Great Tier (exactly what you think it means, I love it, add to Saved Songs on Spotify)
6/6 - Amazing Tier (certified banger, instantly wow'd, completely in love)
If you couldn't tell, I like songs more than I dislike them, which is why my ranking looks like this. If you disagree with any of my thoughts on these songs, that's totally fine, but please be respectful about my opinion if you want me to respect yours.
With all that out of the way, are we ready?
'IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU' by BOYNEXTDOOR
Release: Jan. 6
Label: HYBE - KOZ Entertainment
Rating: 5/6
I really like BOYNEXTDOOR. They're a solid group. Their songs sell the themes of crushes and romance pretty well, in spite of some of the members' rougher voices. And this song isn't any different. It's a breakup track, but the instrumentation has a cheerful vibe to it, which is a nice contrast. The guys perform the song well, and they don't sound like they're wallowing in misery. Overall, this is just a nice, warm track; not much else I can really say. It's no 'Earth, Wind & Fire', currently my favorite track from them, but it works for what it is.
'Season of Memories' by GFRIEND
Release: Jan. 6 (music video released on 13th)
Label: HYBE - Source Music
Rating: 5/6
Now we move on to GFRIEND, a 3rd Gen era girl group who recently reunited for their 10-year anniversary. They initially disbanded in 2021, with two members pursuing solo music, one member went into acting, and the remaining three members forming their own group, VIVIZ (Seriously, check out 'MANIAC' and 'Shhh!' if you haven't. They're both bops!). GFRIEND aren't one of my personal favorite groups; I think they're fine for what they are. Though I do have a favorite track I love from them, that being 'MAGO', their last comeback before their disbandment. 'Season of Memories' might actually be a close second, because it's fantastic! It's a beautiful track, a love letter to their fans about the memories they made and how they stick with you forever. I also love the instrumentation, with the light guitar in the verses, and piano in the chorus, which I believe ends up remaining in the rest of the song. Something that surprised me is that the song is sung entirely in Korean, which doesn't happen in K-pop too often, funnily enough (as least not these days). If this does end up as my favorite GFRIEND song, I'd be totally fine with that!
'CBZ (Prime Time)' by BSS
Release: Jan. 8
Label: HYBE - Pledis Entertainment
Rating: 4/6
Here's something you might not know about me: I started getting into k-pop at around 2021 or '22, very slowly. I mainly stuck with girl groups (just 'cause I prefer them), I enjoyed BLACKPINK even before those years, and I'm a fan of the Just Dance games. It wasn't until late 2023 when I started taking the boy band side more seriously, when explains why I got into SEVENTEEN, one of the most iconic boy bands of 3rd Gen, later than I should've (Yes, I say 'boy band'. Sorry k-pop fans, I'm too old-fashioned to say 'boy group'). If we just go off on title tracks, these guys are great! They have a whopping 13 members, and each of them are so distinct from each other; and a lot of their songs conveying upbeat fun and happiness work so naturally, not coming off as corny at all (though they do have their dark/badass sounding tracks, such as 'Fear' and 'Super').
Which brings us to one of group's subunits, BSS, which maintains members Hoshi, DK, and Seungkwan. These guys all sing really well, and I like the song's message - to just enjoy your youth, even through rough times, hence the phrase "youth is now". However, what really draws me to this song is the instrumentation, which is produced by fellow SEVENTEEN member Woozi and fellow collaborator and producer Bumzu. I really like the handclap intro, and how the piano kicks in. I also like the light guitar (can't make out a specific kind, though) that kicks into the chorus; these instruments all give the song this country feel and a light-hearted atmosphere. I may have it at Good Tier for now, but I wouldn't be shocked if it grew on me overtime.
'REBEL HEART' by IVE
Release: Jan. 13
Label: Starship Entertainment
Rating: 6/6
Now we move on to one of my favorite girl groups in k-pop. To me, IVE are one of the most consistently incredible groups in the genre, releasing bop after bop. Heck, a couple of their earlier title tracks even managed to crack the Canadian Hot 100 (and one on the ARIA Singles Chart), so that's how you know how strong their group run started. Although last year seemed like a transitional period for them, moving away from the pretty, easy-listening sound, to something a bit more bombastic. 'HEYA' was really solid, and 'Accendio' was awesome.
And here we have 'REBEL HEART', the pre-release track for their upcoming album, and I have to say, this is amazing! This song is so triumph, from the electric guitar, to the marching drum. I love how the guitar ramps up at Wonyoung's and Yujin's part in the opening part of the first chorus. I also love Liz's high note at the end of the bridge, as she sounds lovely there. Even though I put this in Amazing Tier, the song isn't quite perfect. The message 'we are rebels in our hearts' sounds a bit cheesy, and the 'la-la-la-la' part in the post-chorus can get a little annoying, but those are pretty ignorable if you let your mind ease up. Overall, this is a really great track, and the girls all sound really good. I can't wait for that album to drop!
'IKUK' by ONEUS
Release: Jan. 14
Label: RBW
Rating: 5/6
Well...another boy band. Actually, ONEUS might be another one of my favorites. They seem to have this theatrical(?) concept, which looks really cool, and I also like the members' voices (Leedo especially - his is pretty deep). I just find their music really solid overall. And this song is no exception - it's really good! I love the bass that opens up the track and plays throughout, along with that melodic hum. I really like the hook, with Seoho and Hwanwoong playing off of each other. Speaking of Seoho, I saw a line distribution video of this song, and he sang just over half the song! I know he's the main vocalist, but dang! Surely, Xion could've had more than just a little over six seconds worth of lines, right? Unfair line distribution aside, this is still great, though not one of their best (those for me being 'No diggity', 'Baila Conmigo', and especially 'LUNA'). Also, I'm just learning about this, but Seoho's enlisting in the military in a couple weeks, so wish him good luck.
'Graffiti' by ALL(H)OURS
Release: Jan. 17
Label: EDEN Entertainment
Rating: 4/6
Yeah... Can you tell this is a boy band-heavy month? And trust me, they won't be the last. This is ALL(H)OURS, a seven-member group who debuted last year, and are under EDEN Ent., a company does not have its own Wikipedia page at the time I'm writing this. It does have its own page on the Kpop Wiki, and here's its story: it was founded in 2019 by Jo Hae Seong, a former vice president of JYP Ent., one of the biggest companies in South Korea, most notable for spawning acts such as TWICE and Stray Kids.
What do I think of ALL(H)OURS? They're fine. You can tell Stray Kids are a heavy influence in this group's music, leaning towards the noisy/bombastic side of k-pop and having an interesting range of voices, but not as charismatic. 'Graffiti', however, seems to take a slight step back on that sound for something more light and upbeat. The beat is quite danceable, and I really like how catchy the hook is. I prefer 'SHOCK' personally, and this song seems to be the pre-release track for their upcoming album, so I'm looking forward to what they do next.
And while we're on the topic of boy bands from JYPE...
'Mama Said' by KickFlip
Release: Jan. 20
Label: JYP Entertainment
Rating: 4/6
I was looking forward to this debut. I didn't mention this yet, but Stray Kids are by far my top favorite k-pop group. I'll explain that another time, but I want to bring up this: have SKZ been the only active boy band under JYPE for a while? I'm just talking exclusively about its Korean groups, because while 2nd Gen alumni 2PM are still under this label, they haven't releasing new music since 2021, and GOT7 left the company that very same year. I guess there's also NEXZ, who debuted last year, but that's technically a global group. Meanwhile, there's three active girl groups, those being TWICE, ITZY, and NMIXX.
I'm getting off track. Let's talk about KickFlip. They consist of seven members, with some of them even competing in the reality show LOUD...which aired in 2021. Yeah...their debut was long overdue. This song, 'Mama Said', displays a youthful and care-free energy with a bit of an edge. The bouncy production does take some time to get used to, but it does pick up as the song goes on. I like the electric guitar that plays just before the second chorus, and is that a triangle playing in parts of the track? The guys themselves sing and rap pretty well, and they match the attitude of the song. Although one member that stands out to me most is Minje (who got the least lines, funnily enough), but I think that's just 'cause his voice is deep. I mean, he's no Felix, let's make that clear, but he works for what he is. Overall, this group seems pretty good. I'm looking forward to what they do next.
'PYTHON' by GOT7
Release: Jan. 20
Label(s): Warner Music Korea/Kakao Entertainment
Rating: 3/6
Funny that I brought up GOT7 in the last segment... I have mixed thoughts on their music; they have a good amount of bops, their vocalists sing well, their rappers are fine, but they could be much more interesting (to me, anyways). What's funny is that I think the guys themselves realized that, which may explain why they left JYPE once their contracts at that label ended to begin with. Their last comeback was in 2022 with 'NANANA', which unfortunately didn't leave much of an impression to me. Group activities went quiet after that, with the members releasing solo music, and Jay B and Jinyoung fulfilling their military service (which just ended in November).
Now that they're back, let's see what we have here. 'PYTHON' is just okay. I like the darker atmosphere, and the song has a nice twinkling beat. Though that nursery rhyme-esqe melody is really hard for me to get by, and the song is just over two and a half minutes long, which leaves a lot to be desired. Also, what on Earth happened to Jackson's voice? I don't want to say he sounds terrible, but his tone sounds really off here. I doubt I'll seek this track out too often. If you want to know my favorite tracks from them, check out 'If You Do' and 'NOT BY THE MOON'.
'Doctor! Doctor!' by ZEROBASEONE
Release: Jan. 20
Label: WAKEONE
Rating: 2/6
And here we have ZEROBASEONE, a project group I find pretty solid. If you don't listen to k-pop, you're probably wondering what a 'project group' is; it's a type of group, consisting of several members (in ZB1's case, it's nine), typically formed in survival shows, and aren't meant to have a long lifespan (think of the girl groups I.O.I and IZ*ONE and boy bands Wanna One and X1). After that group disbands, members either join another group or go solo (or do something else with their lives, I don't know). For ZB1, they debuted in July 2023, and their contracts should end in at least December of this year; unless they pull a Kep1er and keep the group moving forward.
On to the song, and funny how I called this group solid, because 'Doctor! Doctor!' is a weird miss for me. I don't mind slow songs, but this one's incredibly boring. The guys sing well, I'll give them that, but the rapping sounds really awkward on this track. Also, I know this is a song about falling in love, but the line 'L-O-V-Emergency' (and later 'Eternally') sounds incredibly cheesy. This is just the pre-release to their album coming out next month, so hopefully the next single on it won't be as mid.
With that out of the way, let's take a break from boy bands, shall we?
'HER' by MINNIE
Release: Jan. 21
Label: CUBE Entertainment
Rating: 4/6
Hey, a soloist!...sort of. Minnie is a member of the girl group (G)I-DLE (another favorite of mine), and has made her solo debut this month. She did have a pre-release track two weeks before this song and album came out, and honestly, 'Blind Eyes Red' is only okay; I think the autotune dragged that one for me.
This song, 'HER', is about self-reflection, as Minnie celebrates all aspects of her identity. I've always liked her voice - soft, yet icy - and her vocal delivery works so well here. Something that also caught my attention are the lyrics, which, aside from a few Korean lines sprinkled in the verses and chorus, most of the song is in English. I mean, this is just a nice-sounding track overall. Though I'm still waiting on (G)I-DLE's group comeback.
'THUNDER' by CIX
Release: Jan. 23
Label: C9 Entertainment
Ranking: 6/6
Well that break didn't last long. Here's another boy band in CIX, embarking on their first comeback as a four-piece group (they started out as five). All I have to say here is that this song's great! It's a glitzy 80's style synth pop track, just about falling in love. I like the members' lower voices, and I like that this song actually sounds like it has a pulse and energy to it, something I feel CIX's title tracks tend to lack. Overall, this is just an amazing track; might be one of their best yet!
'Love Hangover' by JENNIE & Dominic Fike
Release: Jan. 31
Label: Odd Atelier
Ranking: 3/6
Here's something I didn't think I would say when I fell in the k-pop hole: BLACKPINK are cool again! Okay, that's not fair; they're a great group (even with a couple of dud singles), the first act that made me interested in the genre back in the day, but their comebacks have been spread so far apart in the past few years, that it's been hard for me to really get into them. Which makes the members' solo releases outside of YG Ent. more of a blessing in disguise. Fellow member Rosé just released an album late last year and is currently having her monster smash hit 'APT.' with Bruno Mars (the song's at #3 on Billboard at the time I'm writing this).
As for Jennie, the member we're looking at, she opened her own label, Odd Atelier, and is set to release her album in March. Last year, she released the lead single 'Mantra' and was featured in Zico's 'SPOT!', both I found really good. And now we have her newest single, 'Love Hangover'. The song is about a toxic relationship that's hard to let go; the couple breaks up, they get back together, rinse and repeat. Jennie's labeled as the main rapper in her group, but she's also a really good singer; and it's no different here, as her voice sounds so lovely here. However, I think the song's downpoint has to be Dominic Fike, who isn't a very engaging performer to me. Maybe because I'm not familiar with his music, though I do remember '3 Nights' vaguely being a thing. The song's okay so far, and if it does well on the charts, I wouldn't be surprised.
And that's the end of the blog! I hope you enjoyed it, as I worked really hard on this! I know this isn't the full scope of k-pop in January - I mean, there were some 2nd Gen acts who had comebacks, but I'm not the most familiar with that era, which is why I didn't talk about them; so expect 3rd, 4th, and 5th Gen acts from me moving forward. I know BABYMONSTER, that new YG girl group, dropped 'Really Like You' (very cute song, BTW), but that's an album track from November. There's also KickFlip's pre-debut single, 'Umm Great', and Jennie's 'ZEN' (which is currently exclusively on YouTube).
What was your favorite song released this month? Was there one you disliked? If you want to stay updated on my content, make sure to follow my blogsite, check out my social medias displayed on the Home Page, and I'll be back for February reviews!
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