More than anything, NewJeans’ music has become an interesting excuse to analyze pop music expectations and preferences. It’s increasingly clear that their songs are designed to be streamed over and over again in a loop. They don’t exhaust listeners with big, glitzy pop peaks. Their melodies are simple and sleek, often delivered in an aloof style just beyond a whisper. I’ve called this “background music” before, but that’s too simplistic and ignorant a descriptor. These songs are built this way on purpose, and their muted approach has become increasingly popular in the age of streaming.
This explains why it’s difficult for me to write about NewJeans’ music. This reserved — almost hypnotic — style is not something I tend to gravitate toward. I like my pop music big and in your face, after all. But I can’t deny that NewJeans’ team know what they’re doing. Add some art-house visual flair and you’ve got a trend-leading global juggernaut.
Cool With You is the latest in an atmospheric rollout for NewJeans’ upcoming album. It’s a wisp of a track, clocking in at just over two minutes. At times, it feels like a freeform development of one single vocal riff, placed over a nimble skitter of garage-influenced percussion. If you put this track on loop without paying attention, you’d scarcely realize when the song ended and started over again. This is the point, and from a business perspective it’s really quite genius. But with only so many hours in the day, I’m more apt to search out those pop music epics that give me more bang for my buck.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
when I heard the beat I almost started singing Seven by Jungkook… I don’t know, I think this is lazy. every single track in their new EP (bar ETA) has the same sound, and the melodies aren’t outstanding. I’m not even gonna mention the songs’ durations.
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omg I’m glad you said it because I had the exact same thought like this sounds like Seven or any other mellow bedroom pop song like that. Its just boring for me idk
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My relationship with nwjns songs is basically hoping that the release is going to be another bouncy, sugary Hype Boy and then feeling disappointed when it sounds like a stripped-down Attention. This one is no different.
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I loved its RnB, calm , chill, upbeat just everything
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Wow they got Tony Leung! that’s all i have to say about the song.
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These videos are cool. I can’t wait for the full album. Its their most backgroundy song but I like it. Its got a mysterious feel to it which matches the videos.
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newjeans is slowly shaping up to be a one-trick pony… but oh what a pretty pony it is…
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My thoughts exactly. If their next album/EP sounds the same, I think you will see a fall off of popularity. I’m not hoping for that, since I love the members and most of what they’ve done so far. If it’s in the playlist, I won’t skip it but their sound is just not something I go out of my way to find.
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Not something I would listen to much on its own, but it has enough of a light, melancholy vibe to fit that terrific video. Would have been cool to hear it matched with the more dramatic, cinematic string flourishes of a GFRIEND/VIXX/BTOB/INFINITE, though.
Think NJ has been valuable, overall, really helping shift the gg market away from the heavy Blackpink influence. It’s just can they add a little more dynamism in spots to go along with their light, airy, peppy vibe.
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Just a couple years ago when we all were at home for a while, I flitted among every possible atmospheric channel in youtube. Rain wind starry stormy gentle grass trees water palms sand ocean fire coffee jazz library attic cabin island cozy blue brown pink orange piano harp bells acoustic city country nature village Celtic Shaman African Mongolian intersellar lofi chill beatz for life.
Now there is another channel, featuring intonations by young kpop idols.
It’s a pass for me. I’ll just go stream one of the cat ones again. Catpuchino.
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Sorry, as much as I love New Jeans, if a song is under 3 minutes (or even 2 and a half) then it shouldn’t be counted as a song at all. I can forgive “New Jeans” being short because I counted it as an intro but what the heck is this?
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Smash hits by the Beatles that are under 2:30 minutes long: Eleanor Rigby (2:08), Love Me Do (2:22), Help! (2:18), She Loves You (2:18), I Want to Hold Your Hand (2:24), All My Loving (2:04), Please Please Me (2:00), From Me to You (1:56), I Feel Fine (2:25), Do You Want to Know a Secret (1:56), Can’t Buy Me Love (2:11), We Can Work It Out (2:15), Paperback Writer (2:16).
And all those old Motown greats, all of them under 2:30 mins long.
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It’s not necessarily about length for me. Those old songs you mentioned manage to fit everything I love about a pop song into a very short running time. Many modern streaming hits tend to skimp on bridges and third choruses and other exciting moments, which makes them feel incomplete.
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I think you’re speaking my mind better than me on this Nick. There’s nothing popping out to me in this song (in ‘New Jeans’ defence, “new hair, new tee, new jeans you&me” IS catchy). Also, this is probably amplified by K-pop culture, but I’m the type who likes to repeat a song a hundred times once it gets stuck as an earworm. Shorter songs might have been seen as a positive since you can stream it more often in an hour but then you’re also more prone to burn out of it (especially when there’s nothing noteworthy to repeat of).
PS: But I might also be too harsh on my previous comment. I didn’t grow up with the Beatles so I didn’t know they made short songs that I’ve known of before this, thanks for the info!
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There was a lot more content in the short 60’s songs. A lot more music going on. Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” is about 3:30, and how much they pack into it is amazing. They were limited because the size of the standard 45rpm 7″ single can only be maximum 5 minutes.
If a song has repeating sections to it like this song here has, the usual old school composition style is to lengthen the song to let the song breathe and stretch and grow. Many 80’s synth wave bands had longer 12″ releases in addition to the 3-4 minute long radio edit song on the 45rpm. New Order mastered this early and often – here is the “full” version of their “Blue Monday”
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bul0dJVfFQ
Frankly, the only reason New Jeans are this long is for the repeat streams because the format of the day rewards songs that clock in 2:30-2:55. They might even go shorter, but there wouldn’t be enough musical content to call it a song anymore.
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I think a lot of these abbreviated songs can be due to the Tik Tok generation (yeah, I just showed my age). It’s not a concern to me, as long as you enjoy the song. BTW, lov, love, love “Blue Monday.” I’m sure you have heard this instrumental version from the”Wonder
Woman” soundtrack, but if you haven’t: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEMIKBiDHeo
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Personally, everything by NewJeans has been a smash for me. Whoever’s doing the music must’ve spent a lot of time listening to Hyperdub, everything from Cooly G to juke. These tunes might be short, but they seem tailor-made to be plugged into DJ mixes.
K-pop’s maximalist, and NewJeans are minimalist, so I get why many might not like them. At the same time, I feel like this year in particular, Kpop’s settled into stale and predictable patterns, and it’s great to have someone doing something different.
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That’s not even to mention the music videos! My favorite filmmaker was always the Spanish surrealist Luis Bunuel, and I’ve always been drawn to the surreal end of literature (Borges, Cortazar, the magical realism of Garcia Marquez), and the MVs (especially Ditto!) have really appealed to me. The new one’s no different, starring Hoyeon and the incomparable Tony Leung, who’s been in so many of my all-time favorite films from Asia (like Wong Kar-wai’s masterpieces). This stuff is ear and eye candy to me;)
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Kpop’s title tracks tend to be maximalist but NewJeans is far from the first group to have vibey, chill, loopable songs. Those songs just tend to be the b-sides. They’re also far from the first group to have cinematic MVs. The group is fine but the most frustrating part of their ascent has been everyone insisting they’re doing things that have ~never been done before~ in kpop, it just reveals a lack of curiosity about the genre to me.
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Yes, their songs sounds like any other group bsides…. their dongs are just too bland gor me, no flavour no flair… its like eating only plain rice
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The tracks from the new album are so so different from Attention and Hype Boy. Those are certified bangers with enough build to a very rewarding and stand out hook. They needed tracks like that to get your “attention” (no pun intended) because they were brand new. Now they’re experimenting with more unique styles because they have a huge fanbase behind them. While the new tracks may sound “flatter” (they resemble lounge music) and are built that way by design. This is easy listening music folks, something to get you through a long day at work, or to accompany a glass of wine before your shower. May not be for everyone, but NewJeans is MEANT to be different from everyone else in KPOP. Again not for everyone, I’m into progressive EDM so repetitive music is A OK for me.
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It’s interesting, I see this take a lot because it’s actually the opposite for me – I listen to a fair amount of EDM and that’s exactly why I don’t find NewJeans that interesting. There are about a zillion other artists that do the sound in a more interesting way (not to mention with longer tracks that allow for satisfying ebbs and flows) that I really don’t need this in kpop. It’s the same way with any kpop group that attempts a “rock” sound, I can’t stand like 99% of it because it feels so… empty. Maybe if they brought something new to the EDM sound but for now it’s just feeling like a mid copy and paste.
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its pretty typical, chill music you can put on the background, nothing more
anyway, i wanna bring up this cantopop song i discovered on my daily trip on jasrac. its called bad by phoebus ng and its super good, plus it released just a month ago (and fun fact, tommy clint produced it)
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I feel like the discourse around this song is pretty mush the exact same as Super Shy, so i’ll just take this opportunity to share my favorite UK Garage release from this year.
‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EKC7JLBaJ8
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Review Cool with you (Side B) next
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ok song aside is nobody in this comments section gonna talk abt how incredibly fucking weird it is that newjeanss releases have almost always been plagued by min heejin pulling some super creepy shit…cookies lyrics the whole eta deal and now the scene in the mv where the girls (3 of whom r minors btw) r watching the two mcs having sex….like idc how “artsy” and “cinematic” the mv is thats still weird as fuck and i hate that ppl keep letting min heejin get away w this shit for the sake of “new unique directions in kpop” or wtv tf
(also min heejins been pulling this shit for YEARS b4 nwjns was ever a thing like. theres so many instances of her being super creepy towards sms underage idols when she was still there)
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Oh dear, the Puritans have arrived. Such scandals! Hoyeon’s bare shoulders; a couple kissing in an elevator; editing to suggest that the actresses who are acting have witnessed said act of kissing in an elevator. Alert the QAnon Pizzagate/Pedo-ring Hotline, bring in the Iranian Morality Police! It’s a global conspiracy!
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– Sorry! I would delete my comment above if I could.
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this is such a weird comment jfc
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Only 2 are minors. Danielle turned 18 in April.
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yeah and having a scene of minors watching someone having sex is weird no matter how u slice it and again this was made by someone w a history of weird pedophilic shit so
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#FireMinHeeJin
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Who had sex? I didn’t see that scene!
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Song is shit, big whoop.
Hype Boy and Ditto are some pretty solid tracks, everything else has been fairly mediocre. With Supershy and Cool being low points.
Also, how come they never pair any of these girls with asian bros.
It’s always some white or black guy. Come on now Hybe.
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This song as well as the whole EP is not made for Kpop infested ears and I also have to admit that while the first listen is already intriguing Newjeans’ music takes a few times to get me going. However once it you’re hooked you can’t stop. Judging from their success on the charts their music I guess I’m not the only one. The reason Newjeans is so successful is because they actually don’t make Kpop music. XG is also gaining traction because of that.
Their music gives me a refurbished and up-to-date vibe of 90s European pop music, “Europop” to be specific. Some of their songs also remind me of 90s RnB like “Hurt” and “Get up”. One thing everybody has already noticed is that their songs often leaves out brigdes in favour of longer choruses which makes the songs more memorable while simultanously leads to the songs being shorter.
Anyways I’m glad we finally have more listenable music without terrible English, forced and out-of-place raps or the scheduled high notes 3/4s into the song. If I wanted to listen to strained vocals I’ll listen to my brother showering when I turn off the hot water.
The day Newjeans starts making boring and generic Kpop music will be the day I’ll dropping them from my playlist.
And regarding the picture and the “nudity” in question:
Here in Europe we study art and literature like that in 6th grade already. That’s also the time when we also learn about sexual contraception. And you know what?
My country has one of the lowest teenage pregnancies among developed countries while puritan countries like the U.S or extremely religous and conservative countries are full of them.
Please be more progressive! If you have trouble not thinking about sex seeing that painting you should clean out your minds.
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yeah but see the difference is that studying art w nude themes isnt inherently putting minors in danger if ur educating them abt it in a non sexual way meanwhile min heejin is knowingly putting underage girls in a compromising situation that can be used as an excuse to groom minors
also where tf did i say anything abt teen pregnancy lol
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I completely understand the let down that most people are experiencing — how could you not have disappointment when the stakes and expectations are so ridiculously high? How do you follow up those two first era-defining EPs?
That said, I applaud ADOR for taking risks, rather than giving us more of the exact same formula. Yes, there is still that NJ signature simplicity, repetition and dreamy vibe, but they’ve gone and done something unexpected: they’ve leaned into the lost art of the album.
Each of these very abbreviated, seemingly one-dimensional tracks (I’m anticipating) will eventually add up to one long atmospheric ebb and flow of an EP — a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts— to tell a complete sonic narrative. This more album-oriented approach is well-known and something I personally enjoy and appreciate; exemplified by Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, Frank Ocean’s “Endless” and Solange’s “When I Get Home”.
These touchstones of ethereal, almost stream-of-conscious albums are also full of hooks, catchy earworms and seamless interludes — something, thus far, is on display with “Get Up”. Now, I’m not saying NewJeans’ EP is on the same level as the examples mentioned above, but more that I think it’s great this is being used in Kpop at such a large scale and high level.
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There’s a line inbetween ‘easy-listening’ and ‘lazy’, and I don’t know how it is with this one. However it’s one good vibing song.
I don’t feel NewJeans material often because it feels like a definite soloist material most of the time. I can find something like Super Shy, Ditto, or this one from female KRnB singers. It make sense to have an easy song for a soloist, but for a group, there’s a lot left to be desired from this kind of material.
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I was thinking the same about the soloist part! Honestly it doesn’t help that the members’ vocal tones sound similar, sometimes I feel like I’m listening to the same person singing if it wasn’t for Hanni whose voice stands out a bit from the others imo. I wonder if their otherwise easy-going songs would be more exciting if the girls sounded more “unique”.
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The pinkpantheressification of Kpop
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