Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Up until now, Kiss Of Life’s solo song rollout has been remarkably consistent, delivering slick tracks with fun references to different eras of pop music. But this being K-pop in 2023, we weren’t going to escape without some lame nursery rhyme interpolation.
Haneul’s Play Love Games heavily weaves the 1908 Tin Pan Alley song Take Me Out To The Ballgame into its structure. So, not quite a nursery rhyme — but it might as well be one. Very few songs are able to make this approach work in an enjoyable way, and Play Love Games doesn’t elevate the formula. Its interpolation is so heavy-handed that the song almost feels like a cover. At best, it’s an interesting experiment. In any case, it’s definitely not for me.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I think the song is really interesting, but perhaps misplaced as a kpop song. Its more of a musical or parady material, and only a pop song if one compares this to Ariana “Seven Rings” type of song heavily leaning on a well known old melody to warp it to some more contemporary theme. That is the part that is missing – a more striking drop into some newer fresher sound that contrasts the old fashioned with the contemporary. Lean into it more!
Me, personally, perhaps high 7’s.
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Actually, if the production were different, Ariana would have done this on her first album
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At least there was no cringe screaming in the video.
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Nope, it was me screaming this time.
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in fact that could be the reason why I enjoyed this childish song more than the previous 2 XD
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I kinda like it, since I’m not that irritated by nursery tunes in songs. The song had the same vibe as Red Velvet’s Psycho: sinister, quirky, but a little more cheerful. However, I don’t see myself listening to it in the future. In terms of 2023 nurserywave, Nmixx’s “Young Dumb Stupid” is still the song to beat in this category, in my opinion. That song is bonkers.
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That was a waste of Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
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my favorite of the solos
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what country are these videos supposed to take place in?
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You know, a year later, this is by far one of my favorite Kiss of Life songs. Super fun in the car.
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