Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
SM Entertainment‘s rookie boy group RIIZE have shown some potential so far, at least in terms of maybe taking over as their next melodic-focused boy group. However, they have yet to put it all together and that trend of a promise but with an imperfect final product continues with “Love 119“.
Like with a lot of K-pop songs, but especially in recent years, the problem emerges in the chorus. For the most part it’s a soft, playful track about young love that gives off pre-release vibes, nothing too interesting but cute enough that it could be fine with a great chorus. Instead, it’s another shouty chant, like a chorus from one of those macho posturing tracks lost its way. I assume what they were attempting was expressing that the newly-discovered emotion makes them want to yell out, which would be fine if stuff like “1-1-9, 1-1-9, save my life, save my life” screamed at you was particularly addictive, but I found it rather unremarkable as a hook.
Of course, if the chorus was something that appeals to you (or if you can gaslight yourself into loving it), then the rest of it should make for a quality overall release, but I still find myself waiting for RIIZE to put it all together.
