Mere days after SHINee and U-KISS released new material, Teen Top are the latest second-gen group to join K-pop’s summer line-up. I’m not sure what a “hweek” is, but I’ll gladly take any kind of hweek that results in all my old favorites returning to the industry!
HWEEK (휙) feels like a companion to U-KISS’s The Wonderful Escape — at least when it comes to energy. I love how these older groups are throwing caution to the wind and delivering feel-good summer anthems with little concession to trends. HWEEK is ebullient and exciting. Its brassy instrumental bounds forward right out of the gate, at times recalling the rollicking nature of 50’s/60’s rock but cresting in an effusive chorus that’s pure K-pop summer. And speaking of choruses, Teen Top are generous enough to give us a good old-fashioned key change as we enter the songs’ climax!
On first listen, I wasn’t sure about HWEEK‘s series of bubblegum hooks. Are they too repetitive for their own good? Time will tell if this concern turns out to be warranted, but subsequent listens have already ingratiated the silly spikes of falsetto. The song’s carnival-esque atmosphere certainly helps. I’m not quite ready to go full-on “9” with the rating today, but I wouldn’t be surprised if HWEEK gets there in the end. It’ll certainly be a staple on my summer playlist.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
not sure about the chorus just yet but it’s good overall! I loved the references to their past choreos
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so quirky I love it lol
LikeLike
I only know Rocking from them, any recommendations? They seem like a group I could get into…
LikeLike
This was probably the one I’ve heard the most; this is like on every K-pop playlist my wife listens to when we’re driving, and Teen Top and Infinite have been her favorite bands since back in the day:
… or maybe this is the one I’ve heard the most. Honestly, between these two and The Chaser, I’m not sure which I’ve heard the most as a passive listener. These are the tunes that turned me onto K-pop:
I don’t know how Nick would rank their best, but rounding out my top 3 would be this gem:
LikeLiked by 2 people
Here’s my top ten list for way back when 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Be Ma Girl is one of my favorite boy group songs of all time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReyRdXsqlrE
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a completist with them (yet), but I love the Natural Born Teen Top EP, and ah-ah and Confusing are good songs from it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I wanna love” is my favorite from them. The chorus is short but sweet.
LikeLiked by 2 people
the falsetto transition is catchy!! And the key change made me so happy. Where are the key changes 4th gen?!? I can’t remember the last time I heard one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fifty Fifty’s Cupid. But wouldn’t you know it, for the English version, they dropped the key change – and it became a big hit! Grrrrr
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I forgot that one probably from hearing the English version too many times ;))
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to see Teen Top again after so long!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just love this. Old school weird and so catchy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
2nd Gen Representing!
Since I am on both Team Whistle and Team Key Change, this is easily high 8’s for me. Also note the Brass in the instrumental though keyed is still mighty fine and I will take it.
This sounds like every SuJu B-side ever circa 2015 Magic era, which is to say I love it dammit. Niel sounds so much like Donghae here or vice versa. Parts of the verse resemble Super Show theme song “Wow wow wow” sans choo choo train, extra camp and obligatory ELF shout out – a suggestion if you like this song you might like Wow wow wow. ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiIDl26TEjQ
LikeLike
Wait a sec = wait a sec!
What is this I hear, a “sped-up” version. OK, TEEN TOP is the TOPS this week!!! They must be listening. But here is the really funny thing, This is old school sped up like taking a 33rpm vinyl and clicking on 45rpm speed on the turntable, so the whole track goes faster and higher like chipmunks. Or somewhere in between 33 and 45 if you have a fancy schmancy turntable. Not like clicking the digital speed button like on youtube, where the speed in increased by dropping out sections of the music without changing pitch.
Swoon! Just for me! I feel like a kid again. Hah!
LikeLike
Second gen ate!
LikeLike