Though HyunA released I’m Not Cool last week, she was originally scheduled to promote a different track last year. That song is Good Girl, which officially breaks free of its b-side status with a music video today. I liked I’m Not Cool well enough, but this feels more like a single. I’m glad that she’s choosing to promote it as well, even if it doesn’t quite live up to the best of her material.
Good Girl takes much of the same attitude and energy from I’m Not Cool, but adds a welcome shot of melody to give it a poppier appeal. The opening synth effect calls back to HyunA’s classic Bubble Pop, while the first verse offers a punchy hook that traces a satisfying melodic arc. The pre-chorus pulls back more than I’d like, but builds toward the song’s chant-along refrain with panache. I actually think Good Girl’s chorus is its weakest element. It’s definitely catchy, but the performance feels like it’s missing some punch.
I could also do without Good Girl’s noisy breakdown, which brings chaotic synths into the mix. Given the percussive nature of the track’s verses, I think a drumline instrumental would have fit better during this segment. Still, the track holds together pretty well despite its occasional messiness. It’s a great conduit for HyunA’s considerable charm, and I love the straightforward percussion that underlines much of the instrumental. It’s refreshing to hear confident drum beats that aren’t just high-hats and lurching EDM elements strung together.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
I liked it so much and then that chorus happened lol. The rest is really nice but they could’ve done so much more with the chorus.
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I definitely like this better than “I’m not cool”. However, I have to agree with you on the chorus, it’s catchy but doesn’t really feel like the centerpiece of the song, which is what I think it should be. Personally I don’t mind the synth breakdown which is suprisingly since I’m one of those people who often can’t stand these type of sections in kpop. Maybe be because it only happened twice? I think if they changed the melody in the prechorus and chorus this would an easy 9 for me. Still, I might actually listen to “good girl”, can’t say the same for “I’m not cool” lol
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This is a pretty good pop song, but one that sounds entirely generic. “I’m not that good girl that everyone likes” Sounds like it was song camped and shopped around all the usual girl pop stars and wannabe pop stars, and landed with Hyuna with some phrases translated into Korean just for her. I don’t know if that is what happened but that is what it sounds like to me.
Its OK, but not my style. Its the message, I’m not that good girl that everyone likes, its so overused. Me me me. Another song about being me me me.
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For us girls, bad is the new good apparently. What’s wrong with the good girl that everyone likes? The ‘me’ song trend is also extra prevalent in recent years..or so it seems. To me it often sounds less like confidence and more like bravado masking insecurity – but maybe it’s not that deep. I understand it’s meant as a fun, empowering sing-along.
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Yes, bad is the new good, again for this generation. (Taking the loooong view, Bad girls have been good girls ever since Mae West “Come up and see me some time”. Or perhaps Mimi in La Boheme and Fantine in Les Miz.)
Way overthinking it: its also the song of the loud obnoxious girl declaring her empowerment while also acting as the frenemy bully in the schools, which really just hides her own insecurities and bad parents. Its so cliche. Gah.
OK, moving on ….
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Same feeling as a male.
No I do not need to hijack my father’s truck while doing donuts around the parking lot then crashing it.
I am happy and content with my small group of friends who are *very* likable. You shouldn’t be toxic, that is not empowerment, I know that is not what Hyuna meant, but still. I am so tired that you have to be swaggering around when you could be a nice, genuine person.
Now here’s a video which showcases why I simultaneously love myself and hate myself.
“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJ21Gzp79E”
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Truly I think ‘good girl’ is associated with complete obedience and not being ‘good’ is supposed to signal individual personhood and/or a love of ones true self vs. having to be what someone else thinks you should be.
Especially in idol culture there’s a lot of tightrope walking women have to do so they’re ‘good enough’ and ‘safe enough’ which I can only imagine is lots of pressure so not being ‘that good girl’ seems to be more saying ‘I just want to be the full version of myself instead of a curated version’
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That’s a good point, thanks for clarifying!
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With the context of choosing herself and her relationship over lying to the public for Cube this video/song seems to be another personal assertion. Looking at the lyrics again she even says she isn’t a ‘bad girl’ but wants to be herself instead of ‘that good girl that everyone likes’ so it all tracks.
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That’s fair! I can see how the theme works for Hyuna because she has actually personally experienced being painted as ‘bad’ for choosing her own path.
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I like the beat under the verses, the chorus grew on me a little bit throughout the song but overall..this is not for me. There’s too much chaos and noise, not enough substance to hold it together for me. I think I actually prefer I’m Not Cool.
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I’m realizing hyuna has been solo for about a decade now and still doesn’t have a studio album. Why do female acts tend to get more EP than studio album? I feel like male acts tend to get them quickly
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Nick, are you going to review L’s new song?
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Or Gaho’s, for that matter.
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I second that, Home is a great song.
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Nick has never reviewed Gaho, but maybe if we keep mentioning him he will start today with Home … although last year’s Song for You / Beautiful double A side was more hella octave busting adventurous.
If I keep mentioning them maybe we will get one of those not-so-random random shuffles.
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Gosh, I loved Song for You and Start Over by Gaho from last year. Start Over made it into my top 50, and Song for You barely missed the honorable mentions, though technically speaking Song for You is more adventurous.
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Yes! Now go listen to Beautiful, which knocks Song for You off its pedestal.
I live for the guitar slide crash at 2:36.
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXfn2f3HoUY
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Man, his voice is no joke. I think I heard it once or twice last year, but never paid attention. Had I, it may have snuck into my top 50, it is great. Like his vocal range is pretty wide, I’d say second to Dimash Kudaibergen amongst male singers currently active.
Some Dimash songs:
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfIcuEzd6ps’
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44jyecSwdlE’
I’d love a song with Huang Qishan, Dimash Kudaibergen, and Gaho singing together, imagine the vocal harmonies.
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To quote every vocal coach youtuber ever: “Oh Dimash!”
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Lol so true!
As a Dimash fan, I find it borderline annoying. Dimash is a great vocalist, but I feel some of his fans are a bit over-zealous. He is though, the most talented active vocalist in the world.
A common criticism I see of Dimash is that he does not embody emotion through his voice like, say, Satoshi Fujihara. But in recent performance, such as Qaragym-Ai, he has finally began showing that heavy emotional depth.
That does not exactly make his new song a masterpiece, though. I wish we get the next song with him and Igor Krutoy, those two are a great duo.
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I’m listening, I swear! Undecided yet on whether to cover the new Gaho track. It’ll all come down to available time…
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Though the song may have some flaws within it, it manages to utilize everything I love about Hyuna as a performer. Beginning with a Juvenile taunt which Hyuna can sell before moving onto some fresh pop melodies which were missing in I’m Not Cool.
Good Girl‘s centerpiece carries Hyuna’s vocals over a flexible charisma which drives the whole track to effortless charm. It feels catchy and enlightened by her performance, but to me, I love the freewheeling structure of the verses, Hyuna chews every syllable and elongates it with her undeniable swagger. Every part of it seems worth it (Except that lame transition to the rap, it sounds incredibly jarring to say the last) and guarantees success to the track.
If there is anything I could do without that noisy post-chorus with its siren synth backing which absolutely kills any momentum the song could’ve offered. When Good Girl was gearing for its refreshing climax, this backdrop absolutely killed it. Luckily, Hyuna counters all of these problems and makes Good Girl a really satisfying listening experience.
Nick! One question, what is your FAVORITE SONG of All Time?
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You know you can’t ask me a question that big at the bottom of a comments section!!
My answer is… I have no idea. There are too many, and it changes depending on where I am in life.
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I always assumed it was the chaser by infinite
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I think yan was asking about a favorite song overall… not just K-pop. That’s a much harder question for me, because there are so many songs that have been part of my life for longer than I’ve been a K-pop fan.
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That is Nick’s favorite K-Pop song, he is a massive fan of some songs by Swedish band The Ark, and he previously on his old blog said that band’s “Calleth you Cometh I” as his favorite, along with their “One of us is gonna die Young”. He also is a massive fan of Rhythm Nation and its accompanying album by Janet Jackson.
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Oh yes, Nick has a big soft spot for Janet. Ms Jackson.
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…if you’re nasty!
I have such a soft spot. She was like my whole teenage/early twenties years.
I adore her and her music, and I try hard not to bring her up too often in the context of a K-pop blog 😉
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**I will add that it feels very weird reading someone accurately state a few of my favorite songs on my behalf…
It’s like reading my wikipedia page or something! (which doesn’t actually exist… but my book has one! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyship_Academy:_The_Pearl_Wars)
(it’s got a not-so-great — and occasionally inaccurate — plot summary to boot!)
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Sorry if it felt weird lol, but I guess it is kinda cool too.
If I am not wrong, you are mentioned in at least two Wikipedia pages, the first is for your novel series (aspiring author here too, but I am more for historical fiction. And my writing is more for me), and the second is in Chungha’s Stay Tonight review.
Must be pretty cool!
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It is! Now The Bias List needs its own (very complimentary, of course!) Wikipedia page 😉
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I think I’ve already spotted someone above with the knowledge to make it, haha!
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haha I think you’re right!
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Sorry for asking even more but what songs are you currently thinking of which makes you feel that way?
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Well.. ..it’s less “Mylie Cyrus 2.0” than her last release (I’m Not Cool), so there’s that…
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