Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
Been a while, huh? Sorry about that, but we’re back and unfortunately haven’t missed that much, which seems to be a 2024 theme. Mostly covered the big names here if the smaller names didn’t make me want to comment.
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IVE – “SUMMER FESTA”
I know this is a collab with Pepsi, but it’s amazing how the hook seems like it’s for alcoholics. Hell, even that tortured “driiink” line sounds delivered intoxicated. Incredibly cynical disco shit as well.
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STAYC – “Cheeky Icy Thang”
Taking a group that can actually sing and having them mostly stick to sing-talking across the whole song is certainly a choice. It’s especially disappointing because the production is pretty interesting at first but it feels like it drones on, and replays exacerbate that reality. Just kinda lost interest after a while.
At least part of the dance looks like they’re JoJo posing.
"Cheeky Icy Thang" is another song with great production that just feels like K-pop forgot how to write choruses/hooks or something.
— Asian Junkie (@asianjunkiecom) July 2, 2024
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Lee Chae Yeon – “Don’t”
A familiar foundation without much of an interesting melodic or topline writing to get it over the top. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, but forgettable is what comes to mind, which might be worse in pop.
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(G)I-DLE – “Klaxon”
Well … they look fucking hot. But the song really sounds like a generic nugu girl group summer release? It’s bizarre, man.
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ENHYPEN – “XO”
Loved the intro, sounded like an RPG soundtrack, but it kinda just became a chill song that had effects on the vocals. My personal pet peeve, I suppose, but especially when contrasted with the vibe they’re aiming for here.
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NCT 127 – “Walk”
That bridge and finish was amazing, enough that it kinda pissed me off how flat and like a B-side it felt like up until then. Still, knowing the payoff is coming later helps things, and that alone probably makes it the best of the bunch here (for better or worse).
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Jimin (BTS) – “Who”
A relatively safe mainstream production, but the combination of his vocals and the effects/autotune that he/HYBE love to use just puts me off on the execution aspect. As long as that continues, it’s hard for me to enjoy the mainstream pop star turn he’s taking.
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Stray Kids – “Chk Chk Boom”
After the previous blurb it’s appropriate that this follows, and the same applies here to the effects on rapping for the most part. Add that to a chorus without much of a hook or oomph to it, and despite the production making it danceable, the cameos by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman were by far the highlights.
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Taeyeon will probably get something separate here.
I’m only three months behind, it’s fine. I really should prioritize covering the stuff I like more.
