One song. Every day. Alphabetical order.

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Cowboy (from 4 Walls / Cowboy – 2016)

As experimental as J-pop can be, it feels like a wasted opportunity that Cowboy is f(x)’s only original Japanese track. As such, it’s got a lot to live up to.

The song doesn’t disappoint, thriving on a catchy guitar loop that lends the track its own identity. What sound like whooping synths slowly reveal themselves to be cleverly altered vocal samples during the pre-chorus and second verse, but the real star of Cowboy’s rodeo is its pulsating chorus. The girls have catchier hooks in their arsenal, but Cowboy’s refrain is underlined by aggressive synths that give it great drive. And if that wasn’t enough, the track then swerves into a bizarre electro-hoedown where f(x) fully embrace Cowboy’s inherent camp. This all just makes me long for the bonkers Japanese discography we never got.

~ Rest in peace, Sulli. We will forever be grateful for the incredible music and spirit you left behind ~