In the lead-up to their newest mini album, ITZY have teased a variety of sounds with pre-releases Bet On Me and None Of My Business. I wasn’t a fan of either track, but I appreciate hearing the group expand their sonic palette. Title track Cake switches things up once again, reverting to the bratty sound that characterized portions of their debut-era material.
I can appreciate “bratty” in small doses, but it quickly becomes cloying. Cake is delivered in a highly-affected style, marring its strengths with a silly, repetitive hook and clunky production. After hearing the “cake cake cake” chant featured prominently in the song’s initial teasers, I’m pleased that the track delivers a stronger chorus as foil for this nursery-rhyme centerpiece. In another universe, I could see this being a fun, retro pop track. I grew to enjoy last year’s goofy Sneakers, after all.
But between the warped brass accents, sugary-sweet delivery and monotonous structure, Cake struggles to ingratiate itself. Its highlights are too slim and they’re surrounded by too much weird sing-talk. Sometimes I imagine ITZY’s concept as “Bratz dolls come to life,” and this can either be a compliment or a criticism depending on the strength of their material. Cake just isn’t campy enough to work as the weird little confection it wants to be.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I like the first part of the chorus. The second one, not so much.
On the other hand, Kill Shot is reaaally good, although a little bit repetitive and very short. I also liked Psychic Lover a lot. I hope either of those get a Buried Treasure feature.
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why is jype starting to become insufferable with these releases. i only hope we get an expergo-level music from jihyo and twice the rest of the year.
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I like the first part of the chorus. The second one, not so much.
On the other hand, Kill Shot is reaaally good, although a little bit repetitive and very short. I also liked Psychic Lover a lot. I hope either of those get a Buried Treasure feature
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I thought Cheshire was their low point, but this one takes the Cake
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LMAO
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Clever!
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I am OK with the song in theory.
In practice I was wondering when I would listen to this, what would I be doing, where would I be sitting or standing or walking? Its not quite peppy enough for a workout list unless you click 1.1x or 1.15x. speed.
I might put it at high 7’s.
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The n.ssign song out today “Higher” is quite good, if you haven’t listened to it already. Gorgeous and effortless.
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just listened and wow i really like it. thanks for this recommendation, wouldn’t have found it otherwise.
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jumped immediately to near top of my 2023 list
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This is another song that really could’ ve been faster to up the energy.
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No offence, but really boring. Defintely not one expects from BEP. The only upside is good bass production, which is undoubtedly one of BEP’s strengths.
Kill shot is decent though. Pretty decent layering of synths. Rare sounds in GGs.
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Kill Shot reminds me of The Great Mermaid by LE SSERAFIM which is still my favorite song from them
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If i haven’t read your comment, i’d never have guessed the whole BEP team (Black Eyed Pilseung, Jeon goon & FLYT) is behind that.
I’m a fan of the guys but i’m so disappointed. That said, i know they often embrace a group style for a first production (ex: WJSN’s Happy or Apink’s Only One) but it’s sure a damper. (Let’s hope it’s not gonna be like this for the upcoming STAYC.)
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Fun-zy is the best ITZY so I like it! Especially the first half of the chorus. Sneakers became one of my favorite songs of 2022. I’ll see how Cake will age.
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Kill Shot industrial/retro synths and Psychic Lover’s hook > CAKE^5
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This was hot garbage.
None of my business was much better.
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the fact this could be much stronger if they just deleted the “cake cake cake cake cake” hook entirely
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It’s just sad watching JYP burning their careers to the ground with progressively bad songs. I feel like JYP hates them. They should do a coup and change agencies. They are wasting their potential. I’m an ITZY fan and watching this was painful. It’s like watching your favorite basketball player limp thru the court and shoot an airball.
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It’s just sad watching JYP burning their careers to the ground with progressively bad songs. I feel like JYP hates them. They should do a coup and change agencies. They are wasting their potential. I’m an ITZY fan and watching this was painful. It’s like watching your favorite basketball player limp thru the court and shoot an airball.
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In other news…
tripleS’ new title track is called “Girls’ Capitalism”…
Funniest name for a kpop song i’ve ever seen
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I absolutely loved this comeback, cake is my shit 10/10
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Extremely disappointed with this track and felt they could’ve led with any other song on album. Even Bratty was less “bratty” than Cake. In short if this song started off the album as a 0/10 for me, each song after got better and better leading to a great end.
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I’d take this over Cheshire, Loco, or Mafia. It’s fun enough and I’m happy to back in smiley Itzy territory. But really I’m still obsessed with Bet On Me, so I’m already satisfied by this comeback cycle.
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I can tell this one is going to grow on me. The only thing I hoped for with this track was that we got a sung chorus before the chanting of the song’s title (A la Antifragile, although I do think I enjoy that song more). I got just that, so I’m very happy. Praying that either Killshot or Psychic Lover will be a buried treasure, though. Itzy doesn’t get enough appreciation for their B-Sides.
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This song is just awful , chanty bratty singtalk are things i really don’t like in a song , i really liked Bet on me and there are a few other good songs on this album but the title isn’t one of them , also i can’t believe BEP would ever produce a song like this ….
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you know what… im not mad at it… that “cake” hook is still very annoying and the second verse just sucks but i really like the chorus which might be their stickiest in a while. the energy is there but the material is so-so. i cannot wait for itzy to finally get it right.
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I have such mixed feelings.. I think it will grow on me but i really am not a fan of the “cake cake cake” hook.
on one hand fans liked their debut era tracks more and this feels like a return to their original sound (although we could do without the brattiness— seriously. they’re adults), but it still feels weird and non-unified? like it’s trying to be three different songs. idk, so sad for itzy. they were my ult at one point but now idk
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Cake falls short as a lead single. It’s not bad but not wow either. However, I LOVE the EP. It has a great spirit. I love every song. Cake sounds a lot better between the other songs too. The girls just sound so good on the songs and I love the production of the other songs so much. I’m really in love with it.
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How has nobody mentioned Bratty (the song). How good is that?!
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I dont know why JYP asked BEP to produce the title track. I wouldn’t trust someone who has an active girlgroup, aiming for my girlgroup’s position.
Like, it could have been a B side, but BEP is obviously way more invested in StayC than in Itzy.
It’s like asking hitman bang to produce a IVE song
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Not bratz dolls, it’s more like polly pockets come to life…but sometimes they dress edgy
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I would like to know who TF picks Itzy’s title tracks. None of My Business and Bet on Me appeal to me lots more. (Just like when one of their best songs, Weapon, never got an official MV.) Not my cup-of-tea.
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Looking through all the albums released by JYP artists this year, I didn’t find any highlights from those albums, from the title to the b-side. It’s still a few months away but I don’t expect that much from the agency’s upcoming albums. Their titles today are either cut into smaller slices or dubious tunes deliver unmemorable moments. The trend somehow influenced their mind in making music, but I also suspect they have lost the ability to create iconic hooks that can knock listeners out from the very first seconds. Hence, they depend on tricks like making inconsistent tracks for the sake of ‘unique songs’.
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There’ s a few parts in here that I really like.
I am not against peppy or bratty.
Still, I hate the repetitive ‘cake’ hook. Rihanna tried this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leK4eoqwmfU) and it didn’t work for me at all. Itzy does not pull it off any better.
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It’s not a good year for BEP… Teddy Bear, the worst StayC song and Cake, it’s kinda disapointing from a producer who has made Fancy
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Still mulling this one over, but my general thoughts are that it sounds like cutting room scraps of two different songs mashed together. I think if they had discarded the brass sample and the sing talk and just leaned into the style of the chorus and bridge, they could have had a really nice summery 90s throwback, especially with that acoustic guitar and organ and horn in the second verse. There’s enough of a salvageable song in there that I’ll probably keep listening to it.
I haven’t kept up with Itzy releases since Not Shy so I have no idea if this is a new thing or not, but I do love that Lia got to sing in a lower register in the verses, she sounds much more stable and comfortable.
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