I hadn’t really connected with Vanner’s music in the past, but their post-Peak Time comeback album impressed me last year. The group harnessed a sleek funk sound that took advantage of their impressive vocals and stage presence. Now it’s time to see if that track was a one-off or if the guys can forge an enduring career going forward.
For Jackpot, Vanner have enlisted Pentagon’s Hui as co-composer — and you can definitely hear the influence. The song sounds like something he would have crafted for Pentagon, melding boisterous energy with rock influences and hip-hop spirit. When it comes to intensity, the song won’t leave you wanting. They really threw the kitchen sink at the instrumental, and that sense of maximalism is appreciated. It elevates an otherwise so-so song that hinges on a weird “jack to the pot” hook. I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean, and I can’t tell if it’s stupidly amazing or amazingly stupid.
Jackpot also joins the “two-and-a-half-minute song” club, but it doesn’t feel overly short. I guess this is due to its straightforward structure and continuous energy. It wastes no time getting going. At best, its combination of bombast and rambunctiousness recalls early 2010’s groups like Block B and B.A.P. It’s too early to know if Jackpot will endure in the same way, but I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Another day, another fractured English. I mean, what exactly does it mean to “take on me”. Or “jack to the pot”.
I am going to rate that line as “so craptastic, its fantastic”, wherever that rank is on my unofficial lyric scorecard.
The rest of the song, yeah, bright, old school boy band kpop. I was also hearing early Seventeen in there, where DK and SK would adlib some high motif. Its almost refreshing to hear these days. Nostalgia gives it a mid-8, but reality is probably closer to low 8.
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A-ha already explained what “take on me” means in 1984. Take on me. Take me on. I’ll be gone in a day or two.
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Did somebody mention the Unofficial MyMaGoogle Lyric Scorecard (2021)?
1. Intelligible English good lyrics that rhyme
2. Intelligible English good lyrics
3. Unintelligible English of any quality lyrics
4. A single lyric line that is so craptastic it is great (this is the rating I assume you’ve given to “jack to the pot”)
5. Mispronounced but decent lyrics
6. Cringey but campy lyrics
7. Oh so bland lyrics
8. What does that mean lyrics
9. A single word said over over like that will make it mean something
10. Well-pronounced lousy lyrics
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Yasssss, thank you for pulling it up for the team.
Yunsae = “People don’t change, We’ll do the shit again” = Level 2! Possibly 3 at other times in the song lyrics.
“Jack to the Pot” = Level 4!
Recent G-idle releases = Level 8. ”I cook cream soup, taste is coco loco” stupidly lives rent free in my brain.
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YES! I heard the early Seventeen influences in there and it made my early-Seventeen-enjoyer heart so happy.
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Semi-related, I was thinking of Zico just yesterday, and his song “She’s a Baby”, because there is a new Yunsae song out and I am seriously crushing on its English lyrics and the plunky plunky instrumental that reminds me of that Zico song.
Yunsae “People don’t change”, the main chorus lyric is
“People don’t change, We’ll do the shit again, People don’t change, We’ll do it day by day”
And I am just in love with this sentiment contrasted against the music box instrumental and Yunsae’s natural naive persona. It will probably be my song of the month.
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Oooh, this is really good. Very interesting juxtaposition between the song’s style and message, I love it. The English is not watertight but the lyrics are interesting and clearly intelligible and the song as a whole is saying something.
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I’m definitely onboard for what Vanner did during and after Peak Time, and to me they deserve what they achieved so far.
I like the punch of this title track a lot (while the previous ep was probably better and more catchy), and I hope Taehwan’s presence as a contestant in Build Up can help the group to gain some an increasing popularity. Anyway, one of the best songs of the month for sure.
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unrelated but this song came on shuffle while i was at the gym and i’ve forgotten how great of a song it is. its the kind of emotive dance sound thats largely been forgotten in today’s landscape (i also dont know why the hell it got a 6.25 rating back then???)
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the video didnt post, its solji and hani’s only one
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After reading, I had to hear what that kitchen sink sounds like😆. If I didn’t know it was Vanner, I would have sworn this is Seventeen, and my second guess would have been BSS. And it very much is kinda..kitchen sink.
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This song could fool me into thinking it’s longer than it is. It actually feels like a fully fleshed out song, despite its short run time. I LOVE the chorus before the “jack to the pot” kicks in. That has so much oomph behind it. The bit that follows still has a lot of oomph, and I love that, but I’m currently teetering on whether or not the craptastic English lyrics hurt the song for me or if I love it regardless. Pretty sure it’ll end up being the latter, and I’m happy to give it a few more listens to get it figured out.
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It’s the bookend to Form! I’m very pleased with it as Vanner are gone of the groups that dragged me into K-pop over three years ago. The rest of the album is solid as hell, and they have a nice dad rock ballad in Across the Stars. The Seventeen comparisons aren’t entirely off – I believe Jaehwan almost debuted in Seventeen. In short, I like it!
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Duh, TAEHWAN
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this was my shit back then (and still is) so big w for me.
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Anyone who knows me knows exactly what I’m going to say: This could’ve been Seventeen or BSS. I’m almost, in my little Seventeen biased heart, a little sad that it isn’t – because man, it’s so //good//.
“Jack to the pot” is silly in a way that reminds me not of BSS but of my other favourite acronymned subunit: EXO-CBX. Horololo and Ka-ching had plenty of silly catchphrases in the same vein. When a weird lyric is tied to a song that is so unapologetically energetic and fun, it just works.
Having compared this to two of my all time favourite groups, I have no higher praise left to bestow. Listening to this song truly felt like hitting the Jack(to-the)pot.
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As I’m diving into VANNER’s latest track, “Jackpot,” I can’t help but feel the rush of excitement that’s spreading among fans. The music video is like a mini-movie, grabbing my attention with its cool vibes and slick moves. The song itself? It’s got this infectious beat that’s hard to shake off, and the vocals are just on point. I’m also nodding along to the nods to Pentagon’s producers—it’s like a nice musical wink. Overall, “Jackpot” is proof that VANNER is carving out their spot in the K-pop scene, and I’m here for it!
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