K-pop hasn’t always had precedent for girl group members going solo – especially while their group is still actively promoting. But, Cube Entertainment has done a nice job establishing the individual talents of (G)I-DLE. In fact, I prefer some of their solo efforts to their group work. Next on the docket is main vocal Miyeon, with the breezy, melodic Drive.
I didn’t know what to expect from Miyeon’s music, but this is a nice surprise. The light pop sound of Drive feels very IU-esque, but echoes her more anthemic tracks to great success. The producers were smart to bolster the song with an insistent drum beat, giving it plenty of heft. It’s easy to imagine Drive as a sentimental ballad, but the arrangement twists it into something much more upbeat. That buoyant energy fits Miyeon’s bright performance.
Melodically, Drive crests and soars in all the right places. It’s a one-trick pony, but that trick is pretty satisfying. The structure delivers a sense of movement right from the start, varying speed and emphasis to craft momentum. If anything, I wish Drive felt just a bit grittier. The synthline that emerges during the chorus hints at a more dynamic texture, but often the track is so light and wistful that it feels as if it might float away. That ethereal sound is part of the song’s appeal, so I understand the approach. Ultimately, the memorable melody carries the day and gets Miyeon’s solo career off to a solid start.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Cute!
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I’m crying. In a positive sense. This is some kind of masterpiece, seriously. Her solo debut sounds so refreshing and energetic, and I can’t get over that vibe. 9.25/10 for me.
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this song is really good! but idk something keeps me from coming back to it
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I rather like this. I’m not head over heels in love with it but I’m digging it. The IU comparison is spot-on. 8.5 is about right.
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When you say grittier version, I immediately think of Yves’s “new”. I remember Miyeon having rose comparison early on, but she sounds much more refreshing and lighter on this track. As to whether or not I like the song, I think it’ll grow on me. Kinda feels like it washes over you really quickly, to the point where it feels physically distant even though I just heard it
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Miyeon is my favorite in this group just because of her quirky personality. When I first heard she was going to do a solo track, I mistakenly thought it would probably be a ballad. This is a surprise and a well appreciated one. Great song! (and as expected, great vocals).
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Not bad, and I like Te Amo and Rose too.
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Okay. This is driving me crazy because I know I had the same issue on someone else’s title track recently, but I can’t remember who! I like Drive, but it wasn’t until I listened to the rooftop performance song that it really hit me. Something about the song in the MV, particularly the vocals, seem flattened. There are absolutely no dynamics or emotion because the mixing sucks the life out of Miyeon’s voice and puts it too far back in the mix. When she sings live (or at least sort of live-ish) for the performance, all of those nuances that were taken out of the official audio come through, and it makes the song so much better. Did anyone else get the same feeling?
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Same. same. same. The live performances she had after the releasing of the MV hit different. They made me appreciate the song.
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it really reminds me of some taeyeon songs like I and other titles (cant remember them all), like even down to the mv visuals reminds me of those types
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From the visuals, the styling, to the video, to the song, this is what on the ground might’ve been.
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