After making their long-awaited return earlier this summer, 2PM are releasing new music in Japan. They’ve always had a huge J-pop career – so big that it eclipsed their Korean output in recent years. We’ll see how commercially impactful With Me Again (僕とまた) ends up being, but when it comes to sheer quality, it definitely improves upon June’s Make It.
While Make It felt too flat for my taste, With Me Again constantly morphs. Structurally, it’s a tricky song to get your head around. Within the first minute alone, the instrumental tackles three different energies. The core elements remain consistent, anchored by a whistled hook. But, there are so many distinct segments within the track. By the time we’ve experienced the entire chorus, With Me Again is already half-over. And rather than swerve back into the structure of verse one, the song jolts into new territory. This has the potential to result in a total mess, but no segment feels jarring or out of place.
I wouldn’t call any of With Me Again’s melodies particularly potent, but there are many flourishes that gradually get under your skin. This rewards repeated listens. And with 2PM at the helm, the whole thing comes off smooth and sexy. Its confident vibe recalls my favorite of the group’s eras: 2013-15. And though I don’t think With Me Again lives up to undisputed classics like A.D.T.O.Y, it’s gratifying to hear a senior idol group so comfortable in their own skin. If this is any indication, their legacy hasn’t finished growing yet.
Hooks | 8 |
Production | 9 |
Longevity | 9 |
Bias | 8 |
RATING | 8.5 |
Nice little song, will be interesting to see how it ages though.
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I’m still thrilled that we’re getting 2pm releases. The visuals in the mv are perfect for the transition into Taecyeon’s first part, which was such a surprise the first time I heard it, but I really enjoyed it. His parts throughout the song are my favorite. My ear really wants the first line of the chorus to go up instead of down for some reason. I agree that this improves on Make It in a great way.
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I like that
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The music and scenes and their style was great
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I like it. It also looks like a car ad at times.
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The way that it keeps shifting makes it so relistenable. Make It was just okay for me, but I really like this.
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