Review

Song Review: ATEEZ – Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)

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ATEEZ - BouncyMy trajectory with ATEEZ has been a bit of a mystery. Back in 2019, I found them to be one of the most exciting acts in K-pop. But as the years have gone on, it’s been harder to retain the same level of excitement around their music. I’m not sure why this is. Their core ethos (and core collaborators) haven’t changed much since debut. Ultimately, I guess it comes down to the strength of the songs themselves.

The irreverently-titled Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers) is an interesting ball of energy. It’s the most distorted ATEEZ have sounded on a title track. From vocals to production, the song has a prickly, confrontational appeal. The instrumental sounds as if it’s been driven over by a flatbed truck, twisted and corrugated and more than a little messed up. This constant distortion may destroy some listeners’ ears. I don’t find it super pleasant to listen to, but I appreciate the demolition derby of it all.

I would have loved to hear this aggressive production paired with vocals that weren’t so processed. So much of the track is shouting at us, often in an autotuned, cartoonish way. The pitched-up vocal during the chorus is a turn-off, especially after the rugged (and surprisingly funky) chant that precedes it. Still, I give Bouncy kudos for fully committing to its chaos. The song is truly unyielding. Listening to it feels like being caught in the middle of a tornado.

With this said, I think you have to be in the right mood to truly enjoy Bouncy‘s charms. It would sound great in an arena or as a pump-me-up during an intense workout, but it lacks the towering melodies or climactic sucker-punchs that have cemented earlier ATEEZ classics. Like last year’s Guerrilla, I fear the spoken chorus will grow old quickly. It makes me wonder if the guys are a victim of their own influence. With so many boy groups attempting the loud ATEEZ/NCT/Stray Kids hype track format, you’ve really got to find key elements that’ll make your song stand the test of time. Bouncy doesn’t lack ambition, but it retraces many steps the group has already mastered.

(And beyond the title, no nod to Red Hot Chili Peppers? C’mon, guys!)

Hooks 8
 Production 8
 Longevity 8
 Bias 8
 RATING 8

Grade: B-

48 thoughts on “Song Review: ATEEZ – Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)”

  4. These guys would make some fantastic rock operas.

    Instead they are stuck putting out kpop boy band shlock number 27……that in still going to bump tomorrow

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  6. Sure, Ateez know how to make a killer NCT-esque hype track, and their new comeback ain’t no exception. However…considering that their discography has already got a massive bunch of similar track, this also induces a feeling of repetitiveness.
    The title name sounds confusing to me, as its second half is…ehhh…somewhat of an insult to Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unrelated, but I’ve got RHCP songs being replayed in my head 24/7. On this note, it’s nothing but an act of plagiarism (speaking of the comeback title).

    As for the rating? Idk, probably 7.75 at best (8,8,8,7). Lowered the bias score bcs of the concept and that “K-Hot Chili Peppers” shit.

    Time to bring smth new on the table, guys! I kinda liked it, but did I feel any sorta excitement during the listen? Nah, not really.

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  8. Watching Ateez perform this song was funny since I didn’t listen to the song beforehand. This may either grow on me in a My Turn kind of way or just irritate me

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  9. At first this may seem like another lackluster iteration of the hype track format. But I actually think this is one of the best hype tracks that i’ve heard in a while. The issue with most boy groups is that they don’t put enough personality in their performances or do anything that is actually risky and exciting. ATEEZ have some of the best charisma in the industry and actually take risks and do things that are subversive of the standard formula on this song. I definitely wouldn’t listen to this in the same way that I would listen to most other kpop songs. I enjoy this in a more similar way to the experimental and avant-garde music that I listen to. When i’m in that mood, I want to be thrown for a loop because that means it’s actually making me feel something. It doesn’t necessarily go as hard as 100 gecs or death grips, but having a kpop perspective on this approach to songwriting is pretty cool.

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  10. I guess the entire ATEEZ post-Answer discography (or at least The World concept) is conceived to be performed live rather than to be looped on music platforms and/or music players. And I can say it works: I’ve been to their concert in Bruxelles last February and even their noisier tracks sound enjoyable and deliver a completely different sense of engagement.
    This is not one of their most remarkable title tracks (neither Guerrilla was, indeed) and it’s definitely their most mono-tracked and forgettable ep as a whole (apart from This World, which is kinda Cyberpunk 2.0), but I appreciate their balance between artistic direction and storytelling, which is always quite interesting despite the quality of the product itself. And if I was given the chance one day, I’d be glad to dance Bouncy in a club or at a party.

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    • Yes it seems so, that it is all intended to be performed. It is another one where the recording sounds a lot more raw and one take then most other kpop – aside from the ample post-production effects layered on after that one take of course.

      Ateez should do a live album. When was the last time there was a live concert album in kpop? Many 2nd gen release live concert audio – certainly SuJu Infinite SHINee others. But kpop has become more about the visual so the audio part of the concerts are an afterthought.

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  11. Amazing! No one can pull it off like they do.

    The song goes a bit too hard on the auto-tune for my liking, but still an incredible track.

    Imagine thinking this is standard kpop boygroup fare, the comment section is nuts.

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  13. While hyper-trap isn’t new in K-Pop, I think this is the most chaotic and brash take on it. It starts with a bang and keeps the energy high throughout. I like how it commits to the energy while serving an attitude characteristic of them.

    I’d contrast the approach of the chorus with aespa’s Savage, which is way more sparse and clinical.

    Being a Eurovision fan, I find it easier to enjoy this kind of high-energy tracks. BOUNCY is just so perfect to be performed live, when the song and performance should sustain its hype along that three minutes of fame.

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  14. this one gets points for fully committing in every regard. it goes off simply because the whole thing is turned up to 100. surprisingly, the chorus works maybe just because it’s so loud.

    but where is pirateez? I thought they were righting the ship w Halazia but this is not at all what I was expecting after that. I’m just going to loop the pirate songs until I come around to this album I guess.

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  15. I like it a lot.

    I mean, it doesn’t hold a candle to their Treasure series, but I think it’s just how their sound has evolved, for better or for worse. They’ve gone from brash and bold + big vocals to big and bold + brash shouting (Halazia was a nice exception), so maybe we shouldn’t compare them to their older stuff and instead judge it as its own song.

    And as it’s own song, I think it’s great even though I went it fully expecting to hate it. It had this kind of hypnotic quality that other songs of this sort I like have (Simon Says, Seoul Drift, Reborn), but it has enough of its own identity to separate it from the MANY songs in the same vein. 8.5 for me.

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  16. I consider it a good loud and experimental music. I say experimental because it sounds very all over the place. Then again, ATEEZ have made a name for themselves for loud and experimental music. 8.25 for me

    (Also I’m surprised that you gave it an 8. With that post-chorus, I thought it would get a 5.5 for something.)

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  17. The song and MV are great. They are chaotic, making me feel upbeat and energized. Whenever I listen to ATEEZ or Stray Kids, my emotional states are intensified

    You say that their songs are repetitive, but so is every other song. ATEEZ and Stray Kids bring variety to the table. Their repetitiveness carves out a familiar, rewarding path in my mind, allowing me to anticipate and participate in each part of their songs. The familiarity gives me comfort. And the comfort feels great

    To understand this, you’d have to have taste in music. Try to have some

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  19. Dude, what is going on with you right now? You gave this crap a score of 8? Few weeks ago, you also gave that new stray kids song a score of 8 which happens to be crap also. The most shocking part is you actually gave (G)I-DLE’s Queencard a much lower score juxtaposed to the 2 shitty songs above. This has been your trend lately, and it’s a bit concerning already.

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  20. Good thing I read this review before listening to the song lol. And right from the first second of the MV I knew this would be a disaster that would be redeemed by their performance! Note : I’m someone who actually loves the Ateez style so the repetition of that doesn’t bother me at all lol.

    If I’m judging the song by what I heard in the MV – I will say it was awful. But if it is what I heard on their live performance on Music Bank it is an amazing hype banger!! 🔥

    In the MV though we saw Ateez we didn’t hear Ateez. It was Boteez – with Bongjoong, Boan, Booyoung, Bongho, Bounho, Bongi, Bosang and Bonghwa. The voices were altered beyond recognition that it almost makes the auto tune in their old song “I’m the One (Fireworks)” non-existent in comparison. Ateez have really incredible vocal tones and to see it destroyed like this with the processing that muffled it and nullified any sign of individuality was honestly painful.

    Also I appreciate the concept of the MV but overall the quality of the images seemed low to me in many parts – and really dim lighting at many places too? Maybe it was on purpose to match the ambience but with nothing to focus on audio wise it would have helped if the MV was more brighter. Honestly throughout the song I was just waiting for it to get over so I could hit the live to actually hear the song.

    Now I’m gonna talk about that live performance – WOWOWOWO!!! 🔥❤ It’s still looping in my head!! Their real powerful voices in their actual high quality was a blessing to my ears. Hongjoong and Mingi’s raps were hype as ever! Yunho, Yeosang, San and Wooyoung had gorgeous parts! The chorus was super fun and catchy! The choreo was spectacular! And I actually heard Jeongho fully in many parts when in the MV I could only hear him once!! Aaaah…. it was beautiful. Even that parrot pitchy part in the live was soooo hypeeee?!

    Right now I’m deeply conflicted over how tf I’ll add this song to my Spotify playlist when the song I heard in the og MV was nothing like what I heard in their live. The live made me feel alive. Honestly I think my only bet now is to listen to every single live rendition of this over the coming weeks and learn it myself to the point when it starts playing on my playlist I’ll be so used to the song I can sing it out and vibe away to the beat 🙂

    So in a way I guess this is definitely a 8.5 or 9 for me! 🙃

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    • Turn the live versions into podcasts (if possible), then put it in your Spotify playlist. I have to admit it sounds a little crazy 🤣

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  21. I agree with you as always, Nick. The album as a whole is overstuffed and overproduced (though “This World” is pretty, a solid B-side in the vein of “Cyberpunk” if not quite at its level). EDEN-ary is trying too hard to go viral and losing its center in the process. Fans like me (and you, I think) got into ATEEZ precisely because it *didn’t* sound like everything else in K-pop at the time. And then…. A couple tracks on Movement: Ep. 1 made me hopeful this new series could turn the tide, but Ep. 2 is just more of the same…sameness.

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  23. Visually it’s gorgeous – haven’t been that invested in the plot of a kpop music video in a long time lmao. Personally love the gritty, distorted instrumental (unsurprising, seeing as I love NCT’s Chain), my problem is more with the lack of a truly strong melody to really take it to the next level. Didn’t even hate the high pitched vocal, just expected… there to be more…. As is, feels only like a medium on the nando’s spicy scale… wish the top line matched the intensity of everything else.

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  25. Really enjoyed the title track, not as much as Halazia, but more than Guerrilla. The album is really my vibe too, intense completely throughout. Definitely a gym playlist. I do agree that the title track is meant to be performed

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  26. also going off some of the comments on here ateez nct and onlyoneof r probably the only 3 groups that can truly do the noisy shouty pots and pans bg sound right bc each of them have their own unique take on that style where ppl will hear it and be like “yeah its them!” whereas when other bgs without a clear signature style attempt that sound it just feels like cheap cosplay (re: when tbz did maverick…..im sorry as much as i love my ults i still cannot fucking stand that song)

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  27. Honestly I would hate this if it were anyone else but Ateez…but because it is them, it works for me! While Answer is still one of my all-time favorite Kpop songs, there’s something about this kind of Ateez song (The Real, Guerrilla) that is so different and striking. And they inevitably end up being one of my favorite songs of the year. I’m not sure if this will make the list, but it sure is fun.

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  28. This is kinda amazing. It’a all over the place, playful and bombastic. And the live performances are like them inviting us along for the ride. So much fun! So much noise! So much bounce!

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  29. First of all, I ❤️ Ateez. They do what they do unapologetically and I respect that.

    About the song, this is the thing…I liked it, but I cannot listen to it without watching the MV or performances, which are incredible.👏🏻

    It’s the first time I like everything about a song, but I cannot listen to it. All together is just too much for me.🤯

    Except the chorus…that thing is so good and catchy I hear it in my freakin’ sleep! Someone help😂

    Following others’ comments, I’d pay to see this live in concert. I cannot listen to GUERRILLA either, but that has been the most amazing live performance I’ve seen in my life.

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  30. Before I listened to this song, I thought about Ateez being on tour a lot over the last couple of years. I don’t remember the last time they’ve had an extended break from the road, so I wonder if that is shaping the song and concept choices. I get the sense that the members and KQ really like these over-the-top comebacks because they set the stage for some really engaging music show and tour performances. And after watching their Inkigayo stage today, I’m not mad at their choices to go after concepts like this. The song has a lot of energy and Ateez brings the right amount of charisma to it. I think this may go on my Summer playlist when I need an energy boost.

    Although, I will admit I was expecting some sort of tribute or reference to “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers before I checked out the music video lol.

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  31. I like it somewhat even after these few day since its been released but idk if it’s just cuz it’s Ateez and they’re my absolute ult group or if it’s actually the song that I like. Too bad, I haven’t vibed with their releases for a while. Deja Vu was quite good but everything else since Inception just wasn’t my style (even tho I liked Fireworks era a lot)

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  32. Now I usually like some good shouting in my ears. Deafen me. Make it so loud that I can’t hear my own thoughts.

    This one doesn’t do it for me. Maybe it’s too slow? Maybe it’s the horrible chipmunk voice? Maybe the way the beat drones on is too grating for me.

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  33. The pitched up vocals and chant are probably the best part of the song with the accompanying production. I don’t really know know what the rest of the song is doing. Ultimately, I appreciate it but I doubt I’ll be listening to it at the end of the month

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