As popular as it has been, Twice’s Japanese material has left a lot to be desired thus far. Pursuing a hyper cutesy motif, it’s only seemed to accentuate the group’s most cloying instincts. But the teasers for BDZ — the lead single from their first full J-pop album — seemed to promise something more mature. Many fans have been clamoring for Twice to pursue a sound closer to K-pop’s “girl crush” concept, and BDZ begins to dip its feet in those waters.
However, this is still Twice we’re talking about. There’s a pervasive lightness surrounding BDZ, even as the instrumental slows the tempo to a more restrained pace and the arrangement focuses on a smoother vocal technique. The song’s verses have a more straightforward appeal than most Twice singles, with little focus on personality-driven aegyo. The song was written by JYP himself, and it feels like something he would’ve churned out years ago for a group like Miss A. This sense of nostalgia is instantly comforting, even if BDZ doesn’t ever break new ground.
The song’s chant-along hook misses the quirky energy that has fueled the best of Twice’s music, but it’s an undeniably catchy bit of pop. Its sing-song melody isn’t remotely demanding, but has a nice, simple swing to it that fits surprisingly well with Twice’s aesthetic. This is supported by the pleasant thump of an electro r&b beat that rarely modulates but remains ingratiating throughout. BDZ is easily the strongest Japanese track Twice has released yet, though it would be even stronger if it built to the kind of iconic moments the group has made their name on.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
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The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
This is another classic track for TWICE, I hope it does well in Japan. But the MV is super annoying, takes forever to get into the song, then stops midway before continuing. I hope they release a version without all the drama.
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I know this is old, but noooooo way I love it.This has all of the excellent JYP minimalism and bounce of songs like “Good-bye Baby” and “Bad Girl, Good Girl.” The space in the arrangement allows for the interplay of elements, feeling almost like an updated version of (the best Girls’ Generation single) “Chocolate Love.”
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For some reason this song worms its way into my head every once in a while. There’s something supremely catchy about that chorus melody. While I can only listen to the “rap” in utter confusion, BDZ is a solid Twice track for me.
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This is one of my all-time favorite TWICE songs, and my vote for most under-rated tune in their oeuvre. It’s just a classic JYP tune, the kind he used to turn out seemingly effortlessly with the Wonder Girls and Miss A. In fact, it just might be the last tune he turned out in this retro style – by 2018, both the Wonder Girls and Miss A were defunct for a few years now, and JYP had turned his attention to GOT7, debuting the Stray Kids, and furthering Twice’s bubblegum pop. So why is BDZ usually rated so low? Besides being slightly anachronistic in 2018, another reason I think is because of the MV – it’s too long, and the song keeps getting interrupted. I’d love to see JYP debut a new group that leans into the retro style he’s so good at writing for.
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