Whenever I see a new girl group track with an onomatopoeia title, I get nervous. If I could change one thing about current girl group trends, it would be to replace all the chirpy dum diddy la la la bum bums with melodies that show off the performers’ vocal skills. It’s not that this assembly line of exclamations can’t be fun. But when everyone is following an early-Twice/ITZY template, the style loses some of its bite.
Thankfully, Lunarsolar’s DaDaDa comes armed with a thumping dance beat that gives its sing-song melody the anchor it needs. As with so many modern K-pop tracks, this is needlessly upended by a tempo-shifting second verse. The song is majorly blunted here, but recovers as we head into the second chorus. Meanwhile, the opening verse delivers the best this style has to offer. It’s crisp, exciting and performed with tons of attitude. Rather than twist their vocals upwards to feign aegyo, the girls pull each line downward. This makes all the difference, and lends the verse a surprising amount of grit.
DaDaDa’s chorus employs an addictive electro texture, giving it plenty of oomph. I’m not as sold on the melody or vocals here. On one hand, this refrain embraces a more full-throated melody. But, it also feels a little repetitive as the song goes on. Still, DaDaDa doesn’t lack catchiness. Its sprightly energy and brisk tempo keep the party going. All it’s missing is the kind of rousing climax that made a track like Secret Number’s Got That Boom so fresh and exciting.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I am OK with this. I don’t know why – it is such a pastiche of some dozen other songs, yet, it doesn’t hit the wrong buttons for me. Bits of Red Velvet “Happiness” in the choral opening descending line, parts of Purplebeck verses from “Crystal Ball”, the bass and rhythm line from Rocket Punch “Bouncy Bounce”, the butt dance homage, the sing song la da di da stuff from several 2020 songs, old Madonna styling circa Like a Virgin era (bustier + tuille skirt) (in the “live” showcase). Well, OK, there is the rap triplets that every one is doing this year, that hits a button.
Yeah, its ok! Rating is about right.
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I want to give a shoutout to the MV. I love when Kpop videos have a sense of humor like this. The reveal of the stage they’d been dreaming about is perfectly timed. The girl going back to bed is a great ending too.
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Yeah, this is pretty fun. Something about the production feels a little flimsy or empty though.
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I think you have a good point here. For kpop we are used to hearing more layers in the instrumental, more is more. If there are quieter sections, it is sporadic and short. This song has vast sections where there are only 2 or 4 backing lines.
Maybe subliminally the sparseness added something even more for me.
I grew up on 80’s music where the number of synth lines were very finite since each had to be individually and painstakingly crafted, and there were only so many layers allowed in the memory banks of the equipment, and they only had so many tracks on the recording tape unless they started doubling and tripling up.
This is where I usually bring up my Vince Clarke examples.
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oh, go on, yeah, here’s one. I just can’t get enough of Vince Clarke. Also, sung harmonies! The instrumental is canned here though – how to tell? the electrical cords only go to the mics.
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I agree that it’s not necessarily bad – but in this kpop song it wasn’t doing anything for me. I think I’m biased towards more layers and complexity in instrumentals. I love this example of yours though. This song is insanely repetitive and I’ve heard it a million times but I still like it for some reason. the harmonies are doing so much here. Awesome performance.
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they remind me of mamamoo (it might be their quartet formation), and i’m pleasantly surprised. i’m definitely keeping an eye (or ear) out for lunarsolar!
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Lately, when a new song drops, it’s starting to feel like:
A: Someone asks me to close my eyes.
B: They position me in front of a fully lit Christmas tree.
C: They then ask me to open my eyes.
D: They point to one specific lit bulb.
E: They ask “What do you think?”
It’s a fine song. Additionally, the video included all the usual trappings. Next…
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and now they’ve disbanded 😦
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