A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
Looking back, I was probably a little hard on Treasure’s Bona Bona. Its high points outweigh its missteps, but I tend to get pretty feisty when a K-pop song opts for a tempo-changing catchphrase chorus. On the plus side, I found this rock remix of the track and it greatly improves upon the sound. Even the central drop works so much better when bolstered by a wall of distorted guitars. I highly recommend it!
Luckily, the rest of the album is very solid. I’m shocked at how blatantly most of the tracks nod at late 00’s/early 10’s YG Entertainment style. So many of these songs could have been part of an old Bigbang album, and their nostalgia makes for a fun listen. I had a hard time deciding which track to feature. I love the punky rock energy of Run, the theatrical, brassy posturing of hip-hop track G.O.A.T and the sleek tropical pop of Wonderland.
I Want Your Love feels like what Bona Bona might have been had it not segued into that ill-fated drop. It’s a propulsive, vocal-driven dance track that leverages its straightforward consistency to deliver one of the album’s most uptempo moments. The chorus is a little lazy, but I’m digging the early-Brave Sound bounce of the beat. And, that second verse rap sounds fantastic over a thumping club beat.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Unfortunately, this and T5s Move were the only tracks on the album that really clicked for me.
I wasn’t thrilled with BONA BONA and aside from the the two I mentioned the rest of album came off safe and generic to me. Which in a post-Jopping world is interesting. Some are blaming YG for using an old formula, but I’m wondering if this was done because it’s their first release on Columbia.
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Considering how DARARI became a sleeper hit during the pandemic, I also wonder they didn’t even try to do a similar sound for the album/title track?
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I heard kpop fans saying this sounds like something Pitbull would have been featured in the 2010s and same thoughts. This is just good 2010s dance pop throwback even though the chorus could have been a little more explosive like that of 2010s. This should have been a title bc it’s a shame that yge is probably wasting this song as a bside only.
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It’s refreshing to see a focus on the hidden gems of K-pop albums rather than just the title tracks that usually get the most attention. The writer’s enthusiasm for the rock remix of “Bona Bona” is contagious, and I’m intrigued to check it out myself.
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It was good but underwhelming chorus
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