Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
In a K-pop climate filled with copycats, an old-school musical concept feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a pity, then, that The Pink Lady is only a project group to promote a Korean staging of hit U.S. musical Grease. I don’t know if “God Girl” is a one-off or the first in a series of releases, though a “brother” group has been teased for the future. The Korean versions of Sandy and Danny seem inevitable.
For now, “God Girl” has only surface ties to the Grease oeuvre. Yes, the girls are each performing under a stage name lifted directly from the musical, but their debut is no straight cover of “Summer Nights” or “You’re The One That I Want“. Instead, “God Girl” is typical K-pop as seen through a retro lens. Its playful production recalls debut-era Mamamoo, offering a showcase for robust harmonies and impressive vocal runs.
The instrumental bounds with energy, never staying in one place for too long. Tempo changes abound, with an energetic brass section taking the lead as the song swerves fearlessly from segment to segment. This whiplash-inducing structure limits the melodic appeal, but its jazz-hands ready chorus provides an exciting rush that ties it all together.
I also love its Broadway finish, which slows the pace for a curtain call moment that fully embraces The Pink Lady’s theatrical concept. This certainly won’t be for everyone, but I’d rather groups like this go niche than hitch themselves to trends in an attempt to please the mainstream. I only hope we get to hear more from them before the Korean run of Grease is over.
