Dance troupe turned K-pop group Artbeat v debuted late last year (minus the “v”), and since then the members have shuffled. Now a five-person act, they’re back with the sugary sweet new jack swing of Dubi Dubi.
New jack swing happens to be one of my favorite genres, and this is an incredibly straightforward re-creation of its charms. Usually, when K-pop attempts this sound it becomes watered down by modern tropes that chip away at the percussive punch of its big snare beats. Those tropes are present in Dubi Dubi‘s vocal performance, but apart from a slowed-down pre-chorus, the song delivers its rhythm with panache.
I predict the “dubi dubi doo doo” hook will grow old fast, but for today I’m enjoying this quite a lot — certainly more than Artbeat’s debut. The production is energetic and crisp and the girls seem game to embrace the retro concept. They may just have found a successful niche for themselves.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
they even did us a favor of releasing a sped up version in single. 9/10
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Yassss an analogue sped up version too, all smurfette chipmunked.
Though not quite as fun as TeenTop HWeek sped up mho.
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Fun! though the fun has already worn itself out for me.
Chorus >> Verse >>> prechorus
The New Jack Swing sounds sampled, and there are times when it sounds like they are using the wrong chromatic progression, the wrong notes in the wrong chord. Not cool sounding just wrong sounding. Like 0:51 and 1:56, what are trying to do there. The “I Want you” part of the chorus starting at 1:12 and again when it repeats, the NJS goes one way, the vocal goes another way, and they don’t match in a constructive way.
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I couldn’t stand the Dubi dubi hook from the first listen. I love the beat and the girls fit the vibe well. However, while I usually prefer girl groups to boy groups; I would’ve liked to hear a boy group do this song instead.
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I wanted to like this but it just didn’t hit for me. I appreciate the attempt at the new jack sound. My fav kpop new Jack song is Verivery’s Super Special…I wish they would revist this sound.
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