I’m still trying to pretend that Tempest’s Dragon doesn’t exist. Others don’t seem to agree with this tactic, as the song has rewarded the group with their highest first sales week yet. Sigh. My consolation is the fact that K-pop album sales don’t correlate with the actual quality of music. It’s all about those photo books.
The weirdest thing about Dragon is that it sounds nothing like any other song on the album. The rest of On and On is very Tempest-esque – bright, funky and melodic. Taste The Feeling is emblematic of this sound, and the agency has been kind enough to give it a music video as well.
It’s a fine line between ‘fun pop song’ and ‘Pepsi advertisement,” and Taste The Feeling leans closer to the latter. You won’t convince me this wasn’t a rejected soft drink jingle repurposed into an idol group track. It hits all the expected marks, from its title to its bounding, vaguely-nostalgic melodies. This blunts the song’s overall effect and keeps it from becoming another Can’t Stop Shining, but Taste The Feeling is still a ton of goofy fun. I’m bopping along even as I’m glancing around to make sure no one else is seeing me bopping along. I guess you’d call that a guilty pleasure? Whatever the case, this is the buoyant energy that fits Tempest best and that alone earns it extra points. The taste of this feeling is relief, and a cautious optimism that Yuehua Entertainment hasn’t completely lost the plot.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
“I’m bopping along even as I’m glancing around to make sure no one else is seeing me bopping along.”
DamDaDi, anyone?
This song/pepsi ad’s alright. I think the title might have given it away…….
LikeLike
Oh, I bop to DamDaDi LOUD and PROUD!! haha
LikeLike
This is in the lane with TO1’s (then TOO’s) Take It Slow. I ended up playing that more than Magnolia, so I won’t be surprised if I play this more than Dragon.
Speaking of Dragon, I would love to know the rationale behind the decision to pick that song for the title. I originally thought it was done to mature their image. However, nothing screamed “mature” outside of a couple of members getting new hair cuts and the addition of background dancers and set pieces to their live performance. If they kept those changes and swapped Taste the Feeling as the title, I don’t think there would be a noticeable difference for the group.
LikeLike
You know, I wouldn’t really agree that Tempest’s (or anyone’s for that matter) first day/week sales are to do with the current release; it would be more of the build-up from the previous release and intervening activities I feel. Continuing sales during the break between comebacks on the other hand would be a sign of a growing fanbase which was probably added to because of current comebacks.
Anyway, either way, while I hope Tempest get to continue exploring their musical identity, I hope they don’t leave this behind them entirely – cliche or not, this fun style just works so well with them.
LikeLike
when i first saw this i thought it would be that awful “taste that feeling” song by avicii, but turns out it isn’t, and i like it
LikeLike
“My consolation is the fact that K-pop album sales don’t correlate with the actual quality of music”
LOL. Are you sure you can actually call it “a consolation”, or it’s rather the one and only source of the problem?
LikeLike
Haha in this case it’s a consolation. In every other case, it’s a massive problem!
LikeLike
Also sounds like Jackson 5 “ABC 123”. Shake it shake it baby.
A wee too happy clappy unskippable ad for me.
LikeLike