WayV’s first full album released all the way back in 2020, leaving fans with infrequent comebacks prior to their new full-length On My Youth. The guys have remained busy appearing on NCT albums and performing at this year’s KCON LA. But now, they’re back with a track that blends old and new to great success.
On My Youth‘s opening verse feels quite refreshing, unveiling a slow build that centers on the members’ vocal prowess. The melodies and arrangement are classic boy band but the delivery is quite cool. For a moment, I thought I was listening to an early-2000’s track from Rain! On My Youth‘s chorus has a more current sound, especially its hip-hop forward moments. The chanted “blame it on my youth” hook has potential to grate, but it’s integrated well into the track and supported by engaging production that makes the track pop.
My favorite aspect of On My Youth is its steadily-increasing build. Rather than repeat the same tricks over and over, the song has an endpoint in mind and gradually adds elements to get there. The strings become more prominent and the performance heightens, making the track feel like an unfolding story with a natural climax. It’s a compelling way to structure a song and bodes well for its longevity.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Â Production | 9 |
| Â Longevity | 9 |
| Â Bias | 9 |
| Â RATING | 8.75 |
Grade: B+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I think I will love this once I get used to the choruses. I had the same problem with Sugar Rush Ride and now I love it.
I dig the “European designer chic 2nd gen angst” of this video, too. All the vocals were great, but Kun really moved me.
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100% agree👆…loved everything but the chorus throws me off a little bit. The problem is choruses are usually very important for me. Pretty sure I’ll get over it.
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so many songs this year, especially nct: i’m the best look at me just the coolest don’t you see
wayv: i’m a sad sack filled with regrets
for this alone i must give this song at least an 9.
but seriously, i appreciate how different this is and i think it’s successful. the chorus is puzzling at first but the pieces come together by the end and i found it quite satisfying. i think probably the same score for me. some really fantastic songs on the album too, poppin love is nearing pop perfection
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I thought the song was confused af. Like, I love wayv music and have really enjoyed their past releases (phantom and kickback not so much) but this is just??? And rhyming youth with juice and then singing it all stretched, it makes my ears hurt
love everything bridge onwards, but the rest of the song is very puzzling for me.
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May I bet On My Youth is going to be one of your november fallers? 🙂
Anyway, although to me this is just another conventional NCT AI-generated stuff (with just a “more symphonic-ballad approach and less skrrrt-skrrrt!” variation in the prompt), Poppin’ Love and Rodeo are actually the tracks we had been expecting from NCT 127 since Highway To Heaven and Superhuman, so not every NCT AI-generated stuff has definitely a silver lining.
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It wasn’t a faller, but it wasn’t a riser either.
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Yep, stayed at an 8.75 for me 🙂
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I like this song (though not as much as some others that they’ve had) and the album as a whole. I was looking forward to it. I love the beginning of “On My Youth” but I think the chorus does bring it down a little and makes the song almost like an NCT 127 song.
And, I’m not sure if it was just me, but it seems like from the promos that they tried to make Ten look like Taeyong to me? I don’t know if this was him or SM’s doing (or Label V) but I think it was a bad move to do that.
WayV is WayV, NCT 127 is NCT 127 and NCT Dream is NCT Dream.
I do applaud them for trying new things and trying not to be a “one-trick pony” though.
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Wayv’s Awaken the World was my favorite full album released in 2020, and honestly I could see On my Youth possibly following suit for 2023. I’ve enjoyed many releases this year but I enjoyed my first run through of this album more than any other first listen I’ve done this year.
The title is dramatic, almost haunting and it already has me in its clutches. It also feels like a gutsy move for a TT and I appreciate that. The B-sides are great, with Poppin’ Love and Moonlight!!! being total standouts. All the slower tracks also fully grabbed my attention. Even, Rodeo (the rap unit song) it a total jam IMO, and I don’t typically gravitate towards rap heavy songs.
Super pleased with the whole album and I sincerely hope Wayv receives all their flowers for this one because their overall performance here is spectacular (especially the vocals!). NCT across the board is quite popular but Wayv often takes a backseat to their Korean unit counterparts. Yet once again they have released the best NCT project of the year so I hope the album and the members receive all the love they deserve.
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I am going to say yes. Because the song makes me argue with it and it slowly reveals itself. If it had stuck to the first verse and first chorus style, it would have been frustrating. But as it continues and adds layers and variants, it just grows and because more and more interesting. And that makes it better and better.
I do want songs to challenge me, and this one does just that.
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I like better than I thought, the chorus being that bland and all. But the general gloom of the melodies and instrumentation is just the right dose of emotional. The main synth has enough dynamic for the song not to land in the boring rnb territory.
The more I listen to it the more I like it, it really builds well. The album sounds promising too.
Also, I can’t listen to this without thinking of Shinee’s Area. Is it the same chords progression ? I can’t tell…
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Yep! Same producer actually
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(this was supposed to be a reply to Warriorpa above – apparently I cannot delete this or respond to them, oh god the boomer feelings are starting to set in)
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Ohh I love the angst and emotions in this. I feel like C-pop (at least for idol groups) nowadays just emulate K-pop trends, but I really appreciate this song’s direction to combine modern styling with the emotional sentimentality of sad Chinese ballads. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an idol title track that is just plain straight-forward vocals. I was getting Infinite’s The Eye vibes in the first verse. I’ve always liked the super dramatic orchestral parts in WayV’s songs.
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That went from 10 to zero very quickly
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